7116. The nickname Sh***y Kitty is to never again be spoken in the presence of CVN-81. Not only did Constellation, America, Enterprise(CVN-65), and John F. Kennedy(CV-67) get royally pissed, but the unfortunate shipgirl in question somehow went far enough that CVN-81 temporarily summoned herself to, quote, "Defend the honor of my namesake, you old scow."
Newport News, Virginia.
"It's a beautiful morning, isn't it, Admiral?"
Admiral Briggs turned and saw Franklin D. Roosevelt, Saratoga(CV-60), and America standing behind him.
"Yes it is, Sara, yes it is." he replied, smiling. 'I can't think of better weather for the ceremony tomorrow."
"She looks spectacular in the sunlight, doesn't she?" said America happily.
"She" was the newly finished aircraft carrier Kitty Hawk, fresh out of trials and ready to embark on her first patrol in two days. Moored next to the Nimitz, she gleamed in the early morning light, covered in flags and banners as her crew readied her for her big day.
"Say, where's E, Connie, and John F. Kennedy?" asked Briggs, noticing that half of FDR's squadron was missing. "Shouldn't they be here too?"
"Oh, they're here sir." said Roosevelt. "Just look at Kitty's bow."
Briggs looked back at the supercarrier, and sure enough, CSG 18's missing members floated in front of the Kitty Hawk's bow, gesturing with their hands. Wait, those gestures looked familiar.
"Are they playing peak-a-boo with the Kitty Hawk?" asked Briggs, surprised.
"Yep. Nimitz is playing too. See?" said Roosevelt, pointing to the other carrier.
Briggs followed her gaze and saw one of the Nimitz's signal lamps flashing by itself. Looking back at CVN-81, he saw one of her lights blinking in response. "Huh?"
"It's an old tradition Midway and FDR started with Forrestal when she was building." said America. "Since then, every carrier in the fleet has played peak-a-boo when she's building, being commissioned, and when she deploys for the first time."
"Yep, and this is the first time we've been able to do this as shipgirls." added Roosevelt. "Heck, I think the last time any of us aside from E or John F. Kennedy did this was with V."
"V?" asked Briggs. "Oh, you mean Carl Vinson?"
"Yes Admiral." nodded Saratoga. "Oh, look. Here come E, Connie, and Kennedy."
Enterprise(CVN-65), Constellation, and John F. Kennedy(CV-67) walked up and joined the little group. They spent the next half-hour chatting, admiring the Kitty Hawk, and in America's, Constellation's, Enterprise's, and John F. Kennedy's case, reminiscing.
"Oh, I wish Kitty was here to see this." said Enterprise wistfully. It took Briggs a moment to realize she was talking about CV-63, and not CVN-81.
"Don't worry kiddo." said FDR. "Knowing her, she's probably just taking her sweet time getting back here."
"Yeah, and when she does get here, all she'll say is "Oh, I was just taking the scenic route." laughed Saratoga.
"Not to mention, at least a part of her is still here." added John F. Kennedy.
CV-63's old crews had fought tooth and nail to save her back in 2018, but ultimately, she had met her end in Brownsville like her sisters, but her crew still won a victory, however hollow, by getting the Navy's promise to christen the upcoming CVN-81 in honor of their ship, and the materials used to build her included parts from Kitty Hawk the elder.
"Yes, J." said FDR. "She's here alright."
The seven continued to watch Kitty Hawk until another voice broke the relative silence of the pier.
"Wow, she's huge Caron." The group turned to see a pair of destroyers staring at the carrier.
"Yes Merril, she is."
"Is it true that they used scrap from the Kitty Hawk to build her?"
"Uh huh." said the other, presumably Caron. "They used pieces from the old Sh***y Kitty herself."
As the two destroyers continued talking, Constellation, Enterprise, America, and John F. Kennedy all had looks of shock and anger on their faces.
"Why that little twerp.." Constellation said as she began to walk towards them, only for Saratoga to stop her.
"Connie." she said, grabbing the younger carrier. "Stop. She ain't worth it"
"Like Hell she isn't." growled Constellation. 'Did you hear what that brat called my sister?!"
"I know." said Saratoga. "But you can't just go off on her like a bull in a China shop."
Before anyone could say anything else, the two destroyers started speaking loud enough to be overheard again. "Wait Caron, so if they used parts from the old Kitty Hawk to make this one, and that one was the Sh***y Kitty, does that mean that this one's also the Sh***y Kitty?"
Saratoga's calm face changed to anger in a flash. "Screw it. Connie you hold 'em down. I'll get the tools." she said, only for Briggs to stop her.
"Girls, girls, stop! That's an order." he said, stopping all of them in their tracks. "Believe me, I'd like nothing more than to let you by and get those two for calling your sister and CVN-81 those names, but.."
Before he could say anything else, a bright flash erupted from CVN-81's deck. and everyone watched as a young woman appeared and jumped of the deck onto the pier, landing right in front of the two destroyers.
"You got something to say about my namesake, say it to her face!" yelled the woman as she grabbed the two destroyers by the scruffs of their necks and hurled them out into Chesapeake Bay. Seeing the two destroyers fly off into the Sun, she turned, waved at the people on the pier and on the ships, and then jumped back onto the flight deck, vanishing in another flash.
"What the Helljust happened?" asked John F. Kennedy
"I think we just saw CVN-81." said Roosevelt.
Just then, a foghorn sounded from the Nimitz.
"You're right, Nimitz, shedoes have Kitty's temper." said Saratoga.
"I'll call the Coasties to go fish them out." said Briggs.