"You think our destroyers would ever do something this stupid?" Tennessee asked, adjusting her turrets and secondary batteries to target all three of the Sakura destroyers that had practically sprinted for the base with no apparent concern for their own safety.
"Without the Commander, maybe. But certainly not anymore. Laffey was more likely to run aground in her sleep," Pennsylvania declared, cycling her main gun shells to HE. She looked over at her partner, finding Tennessee's guns at an odd angle. "Tennessee, where are you aiming?"
"The bridge. Why?"
Pennsylvania sighed and rubbed her forehead. "You have AP loaded, don't you?"
"Of course I do. It'll be instant and painless assuming my aim is good, which it will be at this ridiculous range. It's more than they gave Oklahoma and your sister!" The battleship raged.
"And if our Commander behaved the way you do, you wouldn't be alive to entertain the idea of turning enemies into red mist," Pennsylvania snapped back, revolted at the idea of taking sport in killing unseasoned foes.
"What the fuck is that supposed to mean, Penny!?" Tennessee yelled over the radio. "Have you forgotten what these bastards did to us at Pearl Harbor?"
"Don't you dare," Pennsylvania replied quietly, her voice laced with murder. "Don't you dare accuse me of forgetting my sister! Aim for their vital points or ammunition storage. If I see you shoot at the bridge of any of those pathetic little ships I'll request the Commander to allow me to execute you myself. Now fire!"
The conflict between the battleships was given form and sound as their guns fired a barrage of shells at the Sakura destroyers, who had recently noticed them and were trying to turn within the confines of the base's bay. For the Union battleships it was fish in a barrel. Tennessee's main guns tore through one ship's shields easily and punctured the hull, detonating the ammunition storage and blowing the ship in two from the stern. Secondary fire from the two ships riddled a second boat and Penny's main guns set the third ablaze with massive explosions. They were spared having to reload as radio broadcasts came from the base and Akashi all at once. The catgirl was louder.
"Please, listen to Akashi, nyaa! Don't hurt the little ones anymore!" Pennsylvania was about to protest when one of the destroyers accidentally released a torpedo and hit its sinking sister in panic. She blinked a few times and eventually replied as she and Tennessee sailed back into the bay, their guns silent but at the ready.
"You know them, minty kitty?"
"Akashi begrudgingly accepts that she is a minty kitty but that is not the point, nyaa! Akashi would like to fish them out and save them please."
Pennsylvania looked to her right at Tennessee. The ships guns were returning to their resting positions. "They were no fun. Do whatever you want, Pennsylvania," Tennessee replied in a forced impersonation of Thorson. The raven haired battleship was about to tear into her friend when Shiranui cut in via radio.
"Thank you for allowing me to borrow this, Brooklyn. Pennsylvania-san, you are victorious I assume?"
"Yeah, didn't take much. Whoever was on those destroyers might as well have been born yesterday. Your buddy is fishing them out now," Pennsylvania confirmed, steering her ship back into its resting place as the Akashi moved through the burning wrecks, occasionally dropping her crane over the side and hauling up small and soaked figures onto her deck.
"Mmm, I see. Not that you have any reason to do what I ask, but thank you for your mercy today."
Pennsylvania sighed as she de-synched with her ship and stepped out onto the deck, taking in the early sun and wind. Her heart had more than settled following the scare of potentially having to lead the defense of the base on her own. She couldn't help but wonder what Thorson would have thought of her maneuvers, what he would have thought of her sparing Sakura shipgirls that they might experience the same wind on their faces. "It wasn't for you, Shiranui, but…I think Commander Thorson would have preferred things this way," she explained.
"Ah yes, our lovable, idiot Shikikan. I will be down shortly, but you should be the one to take them prisoner. I do not believe Shikikan's designation of authority to us extends to prisoners of war."
"Agreed. Meet us on the Akashi, then. Tennessee, you coming?"
"I'm going to go lift heavy objects and think about sinking every Sakura carrier I can find," Tennessee fumed. Pennsylvania didn't protest.
"Understood. Thanks for the help, Tenn."
The blonde battleship looked across the water at Pennsylvania as they both skated back to base. There was anger there, the frustration of vengeance denied. "Your mercy will get you killed one day," she swore.
"And Thorson's mercy is the only reason you're alive," Penny whispered, allowing her comrade to go without further debate. She instead turned for the Akashi, who had just finished her rescue operation and was heading back to dock. The Union battleship put on a burst of speed and beat them there, waiting with her hands behind her back on the dock as the gangway was lowered for her. She ascended quickly, her rigging still active, to ensure none of the three prisoners did anything rash. After a couple moments walking past cranes and AA guns, she found Akashi.
"So, where are they?" She demanded, noticing the cat's shadow was abnormally long. Leaning to her left, Pennsylvania saw three young girls hiding from her behind the exasperated looking repair ship. The line shifted right to avoid her gaze, but she saw matching hats as well as cat ears and tails aplenty. "What in the...they make Laffey look like a bombshell! What the hell were those three doing on warships?" Pennsylvania roared, mad at the fates of war more than anyone actually present. The girl with pink hair squeaked in fear.
"P-please do not eat Kisaragi! I don't taste good!"
"Uh, I was saving this for later but if she's hungry she can have my lollipop," the black haired girl said. Pennsylvania found her rather brave.
"Can I have it?" The final girl asked. Penny saw she had blue hair.
"No, Mikazuki. It's for the scary Union lady who wants to eat Kisaragi!"
"I do not want to eat Kisaragi! Now get in line before I decide to!" Pennsylvania barked, earning a chorus of terrified shrieks as they cowered anew behind Akashi. She sighed in frustration. "Can you...do something about them?"
"Akashi will try, nyaa. Girls, this is Pennsylvania-san. She does not harm Akashi and will not harm you if you do what she says, nyaa."
"But Akashi is a traitor," Mutsuki declared in her childish voice, parroting what she'd surely heard around the Sakura Empire's naval facilities.
"Akashi is not a traitor! Akashi still loves the gods, the Sakura, and Nagato-sama! Akagi and Kaga are the traitors who sided with the sirens! Now stand in line like miss Penny says or Akashi will throw you all back into the sea with your ships, nyaa!"
Pennsylvania's brows rose as the little girls complied, cowed into obedience by Akashi's sudden fury. She tried to smile down at them. "Alright, so we have strawberry kitty, chocolate kitty, and blueberry kitty," she said, taking a knee so that she could look them closer in the eye. "Until our Commander returns the three of you are my prisoners." Penny waved her hands quickly as they looked about to cry. "No no no, listen! As long as you do what I say you won't be hurt and you won't be eaten, alright?"
That promise held back the tears at least, but none of them would look her in the eye. Kisaragi had one of Akashi's sleeves in a death grip and the other two didn't look much better. "Eating them? That would certainly be a terrifying sight," Shiranui said calmly, having quietly floated up behind them all.
"It's the other traitor!" Mutsuki shouted as though winning a game of hide and seek.
"Stop calling them that or they won't give us food!" Mikazuki protested.
"The three of you will remain silent until spoken to," Shiranui ordered, her spirit fire flaring in rage at the label of traitor. "Akashi, until the Commander returns we should keep them here. There is no place for them on the base yet."
"I can help," Pennsylvania offered begrudgingly, not really wanting to deal with the children but knowing that someone had to. She was about to suggest a guarded trip to the mess hall when the base alarm sounded again. "You've gotta be kidding me. Brooklyn, what is it now?!"
"A fleet of six ships, Penny! Standard Union formation!" Came the cruiser's relieved voice. Pennsylvania felt a weight lift from her shoulders as she pushed down an odd desire to skate out to the horizon to meet him.
"Thank the fates...I almost got stuck with babysitting duty."
As Thorson disembarked from the Cleveland he was met by the leader of the bulin crew. She saluted with her wrench, taller than she was.
"Welcome back Commander! Where do you need us, buli?"
"Glad to be back, thank you. The Cassin needs immediate attention. She's suffered significant damage to her superstructure and may have hull damage as well. The other ships are yours to prioritize as you see fit," he ordered.
"Yes sir, buli!" The lead mechanic acknowledged his orders before running off to the warehouse to summon her sisters to work. The rest of Thorson's fleet, save Akashi and Tennessee, had made their way to the Cleveland's dock, with Downes assisting her sister. Cassin looked pale and weak.
"Brooklyn, status report?" He asked. The cruiser cleared her throat and gave a precise report, her long hair swaying gently behind her.
"Sir, one wing of the new dormitories has been completed thanks to the efforts of Akashi and the bulin crew, with the other side well on its way. Captain Stephens arrived the day after you left. My understanding is that he stopped by Pearl Harbor and was ordered to turn around immediately in an effort to fortify neutral and allied islands in the Pacific. I was unable to offer him any assistance at the time but we spoke briefly and he agreed to convey your message onward. I promised that upon his return we might discuss additional support for his convoy. I hope that was not too presumptuous."
"Thank you, Brooklyn. I approve. Please help Downes deliver Cassin to the new dormitories and help Shiranui deliver whatever care is necessary beyond rest and time," Thorson ordered, looking pointedly at Downes to reassure her that he did intend to speak with her at some point.
"Yes sir. There is one more thing though," Brooklyn mentioned. "We have a prisoner situation on the Akashi."
Thorson furrowed his brow at her. "Three Sakura destroyers?"
"I...yes sir," Brooklyn replied with unconcealed surprise. "Pennsylvania and Tennessee made short work of them."
"So we did catch up to them after all...very well. Pennsylvania, we'll meet to discuss your operation later today. Thank you for your efforts. You're dismissed."
"Yes, sir," she saluted. Thorson returned the gesture and gave her a faint smile that brought a bit of rose to her cheeks. The battleship turned and headed for the civilian area of the docks, intent on seeking out Tennessee. Thorson addressed the rest of his fleet.
"Laffey, Portland, and Indy, go grab some food and rest in the mess hall. We'll debrief there shortly and you can all be on your way. Cleveland, for now I could use an extra set of guns."
"Mmmhm! You got it, Commander!" His flagship affirmed as the rest of the sortie fleet dispersed.
"Now then, let's go deal with our newest guests."
After heading back to the bridge of the Cleveland and retrieving the M1A carbine he'd brought aboard, Thorson followed Cleveland to her crew quarters. She unlocked the door and he opened it, the noise rousing the three Sakura prisoners within. "We've arrived," he said shortly. "Let's go."
The three girls filed out nervously, giving him only the slightest of nervous looks as they passed. Cleveland headed the group as they emerged into the morning sun and stepped onto the docks. The captive girls looked around in awe as they walked over to the Akaski.
"This must be the base!" Yuugure whispered. "She's here!"
"Shikikan!" Akashi practically jumped from her ship, forcing Thorson to catch her with one arm. Hatsuharu and the others looked on in shock as Akashi stole a momentary snuggle with a commander who should have been her enemy. "You and Pennsylvania-san each captured three! Mmm, thank you for sparing them, nyaa," Akashi said softly, turning to wave at her former comrades as three tiny heads poked over the side of the Akashi to observe the goings on.
"You joined the Union?!" Shiratsuyu gasped at Akashi. She shook her head.
"Akashi joined Shikikan Thorson, not the Union, nyaa. What happened?"
"We found their fleet in the middle of the storm and engaged. Those three," Thorson gestured to the little destroyers who promptly ducked out of sight. "I assume are the ones who broke away and fled the battlefield. These three surrendered after the battle was won. Four escaped. One was lost." Faces fell around Thorson as he quickly summarized the battle for his repair ship, withdrawing a cube from his pocket. Akashi reached out tentatively and touched it with a finger.
"Nachi is gone, nyaa?" She sniffed, looking down at her feet. "Thank you, Shikikan."
"What?" Cleveland asked, feeling a bit of an outsider around seven Sakura shipgirls Akashi's reply to Thorson was uncharacteristically wise for the excitable shipgirl.
"Akashi could have lost seven friends and comrades. Instead she lost only one, and now the rest are here with Akashi, nyaa. Akashi is sure everyone will understand soon why she follows Shikikan Thorson, nyaa!" Shiratsuyu and the others looked at her with despair and betrayal in their eyes, finding it difficult to understand how one of their own could so willingly serve a Union Commander, even a merciful one. The number of guns pointed at them and the lack of their own rigging kept them mute.
"So, who are the kids?" Thorson demanded. "Get down here!"
Slowly, Kisaragi and the others waddled their way down the gangway to the dock, again hiding behind Akashi and pleading not to be eaten. After short introductions Thorson looked at Cleveland.
"Any chance you've seen a daycare somewhere on this island?
"Not funny, Commander," Cleveland replied. "I don't know how to deal with kids. Sisters, sure. Not kids."
"Nor do I. Akashi, Brooklyn said your work on the dorms is going well. Is there a place for them?"
"Of course, nyaa. But who will watch them?"
"The only person they can't annoy," Thorson replied calmly.
"Truly you are the most idiot Shikikan to ever exist," Shiranui fumed calmly, looking around the large room as the three little ones tentatively chose their sleeping locations and looked out the sliding door at the under construction portion of the dormitory across the inner courtyard. Akashi's choice to vary the sizes of the rooms within the dormitory was already proving quite wise. The three children had at least stopped requesting to not be eaten, too preoccupied with the futons and new sights to be seen. He considered that a victory.
"I know. And for what it's worth, I'm sorry Shiranui. I don't have any other options. Akashi already has her hands full with those other three in the kitchens," Thorson replied. Shiranui gave him a judgmental look.
"You actually let prisoners in there? Too much faith, idiot Shikikan."
"Gives them something to do, not to mention they have no rigging and there are more mouths to feed around here every day."
"Something to do like poison you and your fleet? It's what I'd do," Shiranui said. "But they are not me, and I understand they have you to thank for removing those disturbing shards from their bodies. Just be careful, Shikikan. There is a reason I was outnumbered when I presented my protests to the fleet."
"Sorry for making you worry. I have Cleveland in there too."
"I did not say I was worried for you, idiot Shikikan. And stop apologizing for doing what must be done. I know well enough this is the only option right now. We cannot afford to run a prison camp on this island."
"I'll take over for Brooklyn in the radio room while we're on base and the bulins get everything repaired. I think she has the sort of gentle touch necessary for this sort of thing. God above, I can't believe the cubes would do something like this," he said quietly as Kisaragi curled up in her futon for a nap and Mikazuki sat on the wooden walkway just outside their door, kicking her feet and looking at the clouds.
"On that I think we can agree, Shikikan. Now go tend to your fleet. I will handle things here."
"Thanks, Shiranui." Thorson extended a hand to her. She slapped it away.
"I will not be second to your Union girls who hug and fawn all over you so shamefully. Besides, who would want to shake hands with such an idiot Shikikan?"
Thorson's shock faded into a thin smile. So Shiranui is a young woman after all, he reasoned, taking her hand and kissing the back of her palm. "My apologies, Shiranui. I don't know what I'd do without you." Thorson got to watch a ghost ship blush.
"Leave. Now."
"How is she?" Thorson asked quietly, finding Downes and Cassin alone in a room just down the hall from the three Sakura children. The dark haired destroyer was asleep, and he saw a cup of tea next to her futon.
"She's beaten up pretty hard, I won't lie, Commander. But we're shipgirls. This sort of thing is just part of who we are. She'll be fine," Downes promised.
"You're sure?" Thorson asked worriedly, moving to kneel next to Downes at Cassin's bedside. He watched the injured shipgirl's chest rise and fall slowly with her breathing. It seemed stable.
"Yeah. I don't think you'd be able to handle it though," Downes said, flashing him a bit of a smirk before allowing herself to list to the side and rest her head on his shoulder. Thorson made no move to push her away. Eventually she rendered her judgment. "Mmm, so this is what it feels like? I guess I can understand a bit now."
"You did well out there, Downes," Thorson said honestly. "We had no business landing that many torpedo hits in those conditions. And you obeyed orders."
"Don't be so hard on Portland, Commander," Downes replied, wrapping an arm around his waist in a move of daring that had her new limbs tingling with excitement. "You ordered me to protect my sister. You ordered both of them into danger. Seeing the sort of battles we're capable of I guess that's their role, but it can't be easy on her."
Thorson sighed heavily, silently acknowledging Downes' point. "It's a bit more difficult when your weapons love one another."
"We got a Pandora shield out of it," Downes reasoned with no small measure of pride.
"And the whole Sakura fleet will know about Indy now," Thorson said dimly.
"Commander?" Downes lifted her head from Thorson's shoulder as he turned to face her, bringing their noses barely an inch apart. In perfect character Downes stole a peck on the lips. "Listen to me. We won that battle because you decided to take us into that storm, because you took a risk that made my heart pound and my cube sing. Indy's shield wouldn't have saved us on a clear, open water approach. She's a tool, just like me and my sister. We'll never win another fight if the only thing you care about is saving all of us."
"I…" Thorson stalled. "How am I supposed to use my tools like that when they think and feel? Each of you is so different, so unique. Even the girls we took prisoner. Hatsuharu and Yuugure look almost identical, but I can still tell how different they are. Yuugure is confident and outgoing. Hatsuharu is very shy."
Downes sighed with what sounded like happiness and brought him into a full hug, resting on his shoulder again. "Yeah…this is really good. I think I'm alright with this whole being a woman thing. Commander, our cubes may all be unique but I think everyone in the Union will agree on one thing. They sing for victory. We will hate you if you hold us back from our purpose."
Thorson felt like Downes was reaching out directly for his heart and wrapping her fingers around it, forcing him to confront the fact that one day one of his own ships might see the bottom of the ocean. "Thank you, Downes. I'll think on what you've told me." His promise earned him another kiss on the cheek.
"And when you're ready to fight again, I'll be ready."