!Warning!
Howdy everyone. This chapter includes some strong alluding to some extremely touchy and sensitive topics. I would like to state that no behavior depicted within this story is condoned in any way. Either way, please exercise caution if you have a strong aversion to violence of an intimate nature.
!Warning!
"In the sky! Enemy aircraft inbound!" The radio spoke in Yamato's quarters.
The 'Commander' of the Wolfpack quickly dressed himself, leaving Yamato on the bed, her face stained with dried tears.
"Prepare for combat. I'll be on the bridge in a few minutes." The 'Commander' said. He turned to face Yamato.
"I've had better from the whores in Tokyo. You're a disappointment to not only your nation, but to your people. Be glad that you can at least die properly." The 'Commander' spoke. His harsh words stung Yamato to her core but elicited no physical reaction.
"Japanese Zeros identified! Radar indicates four kilometers and closing." The radio spoke.
"Shut up! I said I'd be there. I have to get this bitch moving." The 'Commander' spoke.
"Get up whore. If you manage to survive this wave, I'll let you attempt to please the crew before we charge the Philippines. Now move! Or do you want me to radio my men back in Tokyo Bay?" The 'Commander' threatened.
Yamato pushed herself to her feet. Her eyes glossed over as if even she wished to die at this moment.
"Good. Now move." The 'Commander' said as he grabbed Yamato's hair and dragged her through the corridors towards the bridge.
"I have them in my sights, Isaac." Shinano said softly.
"Your planes, huh? What do you see?" Isaac asked.
"Tainted men aboard my sister's vessel. Isaac… allow me to engage." Shinano spoke.
"Try to minimize damage… but yes. Do what you can to shake them up." Isaac said.
Shinano nodded.
"I sense… a great sadness. The aura of her vessel… is one of hopelessness. Isaac… we need to hurry." Shinano said.
"I understand." Isaac said as he tapped his helmet.
"All vessels in the Yamato task force. Full speed ahead. Close the gap and get us to the staging area on the double. Make it easier for Shinano to get her planes back in the fight!" Isaac ordered.
Amagi, Texas, Kashino, Tirpitz and Shinano all kicked their engines into high gear in accordance with Isaac's orders.
"Distance to rendezvous?" Isaac asked.
"One hundred and twenty nautical miles." Amagi spoke as she joined Isaac and Shinano on her stern.
"Thank you, Amagi. How are the others?" Isaac asked.
"Ready to fight. I did have a slight question." Amagi spoke.
"I'll hear it." Isaac said as he removed his helmet.
"Where is Iowa coming from?" Amagi asked.
"Port Moresby in New Guinea. She was helping take the main city. Why?" Isaac asked.
"Well… sadly, she will not make it in time to rendezvous with us before we engage. The Shortest possible distance she could take is still over two hundred miles longer than the direct route that Yamato will be taking to get here. We may have to fend her off until Iowa can come in and manage her." Amagi said.
"I didn't think about it… You're absolutely right, how could I have missed that?" Isaac asked as he put a hand to his chin.
"If I may… I have a suggestion. I'll have you know that I am a brilliant tactician with knowledge of Yamato's strength." Amagi spoke.
"I'm all ears. I want to save her, not kill her. Having her and her sister around would boost morale among the Sakura in the fleet as well as give us leverage for negotiating with the Emperor of Japan." Isaac said.
"Your plan works well, but until Iowa arrives, we need to keep our distance. Texas can shield those who end up too close. I'm sure you already know this, but the eighteen inch guns on Yamato are designed to decimate targets. We haven't tested it on kansened ships, but with what I know, a single shell of hers could pierce my shields with ease. Texas will be crucial for this, given her shield sharing ability. She will need to be pushed as far back from Yamato's guns as possible. Kashino as well. Kashino's vessel, in all reality, should remain hidden and she boards with the team while Tirpitz and I do what we can to keep Yamato busy. Since we'll have an added layer of shielding, we can minimize damage by angling." Amagi spoke.
"So basically it's up to us to engage the wolfpack while you try to keep her occupied until Iowa comes in?" Isaac asked.
"That's the gist of it. Your planning is sound, and in all reality my plan isn't that much different. We just needed a backup for a situation like this where we have to hold out until Iowa gets here." Amagi said as she sat down on one of her mooring points.
Isaac nodded before turning to Shinano.
"Have you made contact?" Isaac asked.
"My first wave is diving now, their AA hasn't woken up yet, which confirms what I already knew." Shinano said.
"Which is?" Isaac asked.
"They spent more time beating my sister than actually learning to use her. They are scrambling to load the AA guns and self defense cannons without her input." Shinano said.
"Then that's a good thing." Isaac said.
"It would be, if I didn't see someone dragging a kitsune by her hair up the superstructure to her bridge." Shinano said as a look of rage crossed her face.
"Shit… we're not in range to do something immediately. Light them up! See if we can startle them into releasing her long enough for her to hide." Isaac said as Shinano nodded.
"I'm coming, big sister. You'll be free soon." Shinano whispered as she closed her eyes and focused.
"Incoming!" One of the men yelled on the deck as the Yamato was strafed by 20mm aircraft fire. The man was eviscerated instantly by the first burst of fire. Several more bursts from Shinano's planes hit the deck at the same time, targeting any Wolfpack members caught out in the open.
"What the hell? Those really are Zeros!" The 'Commander' yelled as he dropped Yamato to the floor of the bridge.
"Commander, there's a hail on the open channel." One of the members from the radio room reported.
"Let's hear what they have to say." The 'Commander' spoke. An action he would soon come to regret.
"Sit up bitch, the enemy has come to say hello." The 'Commander' said.
Yamato pushed herself to a seated position, sitting against the wall.
"You…" A voice came through the radio.
"So you finally spoke, huh?" The 'Commander' spoke.
"Shut up. The only reason I am talking to you now, is because I can clearly see my sister on the bridge. Big Sister Yamato. Can you hear me?" The voice asked.
"Sist…" The 'Commander' tried to ask.
"I SAID SHUT THE FUCK UP!" The voice on the radio yelled angrily as a massive burst of machine gun fire burst through the windows of the bridge, aided by Yamato's unwillingness to raise her shields. Several rounds pierced the 'Commander' while the rest of the bridge crew was reduced to splatters of red on the bridge interior.
"Big sister Yamato. It's me… Shinano." Shinano spoke softly on the radio, putting a small shimmer in Yamato's eyes.
"Baby… sister?" Yamato whispered hoarsely.
"Yes. It's me. We're coming for you. Hold on just a little bit longer." Shinano said as the 'Commander' forced himself to his feet and grabbed Yamato's hair once more.
"She's going to fight, and she's going to die here! If she holds back even a little, I will kill her, and then radio for my men to kill Musashi. Try all you like, you can't save her!" The 'Commander spoke, using Yamato as a human shield to protect himself from the planes swarming the ship's bridge.
"Normally, I wouldn't speak to someone as little as you, but you have hurt my dear sisters. So I will only say this. Kill yourself. Tie an anchor to your leg and jump into the sea. Shoot yourself. End your life in whatever way you feel comfortable. Because I have a fleet behind me, and we are coming to rescue my sister. And if we find you… you will regret being born. My Shikikan has no qualms with ending your life despite surrender. So do yourself a favor, mutt. Remove your hands from my sister and use them to choke yourself to death. It'll be a lot less painful." Shinano growled as the sounds of a second wave of aircraft became apparent.
"You'll be forced to kill your own sister, you dumb bitch. How will you live with yourself?" The 'Commander' spoke, earning another wave of machine gun fire inside the bridge.
"You have chosen to suffer. So be it. The next time you hear me, will be when my blade removes your head." Shinano said as the line went quiet.
"You had better start fighting back, you stupid fox. Remember, if you don't do what I say, Musashi dies." The 'Commander' spoke as the sounds of Yamato's AA guns filled the air.
'Please… save me, baby sister.' Yamato thought as she began fighting the Zeros that were shooting up her vessel.
"You okay, Shinano?" Isaac asked.
"He still doesn't understand. I gave him the option to die peacefully, and yet he still wishes to fight. Whatever these wolfpacks are… they are fanatics. The Sirens have truly given them an unwavering courage." Shinano said.
"But your sister is alive, no?" Isaac asked.
"She is. She has been forced to open fire with her AA, under the threat of them killing Musashi." Shinano said.
Isaac shook his head.
"We will save her. No matter what." Isaac said as he looked ahead to the sea that separated them from their upcoming fight.
Musashi emerged from the lower decks of her ship. Her once white robes drenched red with the blood of the remaining Wolfpack members that had been holed up below deck after her alarms were sounded.
"Much better. No more unholy creatures aboard my vessel." Musashi stated, looking at the bodies of Wolfpack members strewn about her deck. During Musashi's cleansing, a conspiracy of ravens descended to pick at the corpses of the dead and dying.
Musashi pouted.
"So messy." Musashi spoke as she activated her deck hoses, quickly cleaning away the bodies and scattering the ravens. Musashi looked down, seeing her stained robes.
"Looks like these will need to be washed as well." Musashi said softly as she turned to look at her vessel.
"Finally. A clean slate. No more pain. No more suffering." Musashi said as she knelt to the deck and allowed her rigging to fade.
"Please hold on, Dear Sister. I am on my way." Musashi spoke, looking ahead to the open sea outside of Tokyo Bay as her engines roared to life. The Musashi began to move, trailing small streams of blood behind it as the hoses rinsed off the remaining mess on her deck.
"How much further, nyaa?" Akashi asked.
"You're Akashi, right? The Sakura repair ship." New Jersey guessed.
"Hai. Akashi is a repair ship that serves Garner Shikikan." Akashi said.
"What's he like. You guys have been talking about him, but I only know him as a voice on the radio." New Jersey said.
"Garner Shikikan woke me up first. He's kind and is really smart, nyaa. He's an engineer." Akashi spoke.
"Really? Sounds like a handy guy to have around." New Jersey said.
"Hai. He now commands a big fleet, nyaa." Akashi said.
"So it sounds. He also has my sister. I can't wait to meet her." New Jersey said excitedly.
"New Jersey-san has a sister, nyaa?" Akashi asked.
"Yup. Three of them. Wisconsin, Iowa, and Missouri." New Jersey said as Akashi's face lost all color.
"Missouri?" Akashi asked.
"Yup. The third ship built. She doesn't have a kansen form, but seeing her hull again would make me happy." New Jersey said.
Akashi swallowed.
"Akashi is sorry. Akashi couldn't fix her." Akashi said softly.
"Hmm? What do you mean?" New Jersey asked.
"Missouri… was badly damaged during our escape, nyaa. Ambushed by Strength. Her hull… is back with the others, nyaa." Akashi said.
"There's no way. I would have noticed a hull that big." New Jersey said.
"Superstructure was blown away along with all three turrets. Heavy structural damage was sustained in the attack and subsequent escape, nyaa. In Akashi's expert opinion… Missouri shouldn't still be floating, nyaa. But the fact that she is is a testament to her designers." Akashi spoke, causing New Jersey to freeze.
"They… blew up Mo?" New Jersey asked.
"Strength is super strong, Nyaa. From the reports, it happened too fast to stop." Akashi explained in an attempt to calm the battleship.
New Jersey hung her head.
"I will see her repaired. And then I will fight Strength myself." New Jersey spoke, her tone hiding a fierce anger.
"Akashi suggests waiting for Shikikan. Shikikan will help." Akashi said as they approached the island of Sicily.
"I have other missions to accomplish first. But I will have revenge for her." New Jersey spoke as she looked to the sky.