Chapter Text
Interlude – Katheryn Harper and company
The group did sit around long; as soon as Akagi took to sea, they were escorted back to their truck. Most were quiet, alone with their thoughts as they watched their shipgirl companion turn north and sail back the way they came.
"Is Miss Akagi going to be okay?" Cloe asked nervously.
"I'm sure she will be fine," Katheryn brushed her child's bangs from her face.
What more could she say? The soldiers didn't say anything as they were placed on the trucks. However, from the way everyone was acting, it must be serious. She had a bad feeling about the storm brewing overhead but didn't want to express it with her child in the truck.
The roar of helicopters flying over caused everyone to duck as the truck began to move, reunited with the others in the small convoy, and drove south from whatever happened to the north that caused Akagi to leave them.
"So, she was one of those ship girls," Lucy sighed. "I thought she was special."
Everyone in the truck nodded.
"They didn't tell us much," Jacob, her husband, grumbled.
"Operational Security," Alan, who had been in the military, pointed out.
"But nothing good," Melissa, his wife, murmured, which only a few heard.
"So, you know kind of ship she is?" Katheryn asked, remembering a little of what she had read about the other girls who had appeared.
Alan chuckled. "Aircraft carrier, Japanese obviously, one of those who fought in World War Two. A pretty famous one if my recollection of history's correct."
"Cool," Cloe said with a smile, although everyone could see she was worried.
Katheryn bit her lip as another group of Humvees roared past them sometime later. One of many as they traveled south.
"That's a lot of soldiers passing us," she said worriedly.
"I wonder if our house is okay?" Lisa looked up at her husband, who shrugged.
"Hopefully, they will tell us what's happening when we get to the hotel."
"If we spend the night at the hotel and not on some gymnasium floor," Alan commented.
Lisa made a face.
"I thought we were going on a boat," Cloe looked at her mom.
"We will find out soon enough, sweetie," Kathryn smiled.
"I'm hungry," the young girl then grumbled, leaning against her mom's shoulder. "I want to go home."
Katheryn nodded, kissing her child's head. "I know, baby."
One of the first things the truck's occupants noticed when they drew closer to their destination was the hundreds of abandoned cars in fields around Ahukini Landing. The military had set up a checkpoint and forced private vehicles to park where trucks were waiting to take them further.
They also noticed the massive military presence, which was only growing as another aircraft loaded with troops landed at the small Lihue airport, only to take off , half the trucks ahead of them, filled with evacuees, turned off and headed in another direction.
"I thought we were all heading to the Cruise ship terminal," said Melissa.
"I guess they're not evacuating?" Kathryn frowned, which caused everyone to look worried.
"Where are they going to put everyone?" Lisa shook her head, touching her stomach concerned. "I don't think there is enough hotel space."
"Wherever they can, I imagine," Alan reached over and grabbed his wife's hand as they watched another group of trucks head towards what they realized was Vidinha Stadium.
When their little group of vehicles turned off the main road, away from the harbor, Katheryn knew they weren't leaving the island today. She didn't expect them to end up at the Royal Lihue Resort Hotel, though.
A female Marine greeted them as everyone helped one another off the truck. "Hello, my name is Seargent Williams. As you might have imagined, evacuations have been halted for now, but we hope to start again in the morning."
Melissa looked at the resort, wondering how much it would cost them to stay at a place like this. "Ahh, so does that mean we'll be spending the night here?"
"Yes, we have a set of rooms for you. Unfortunately, you will have to share, as space is limited but I imagine it's better than spending the night in a tent. Be sure to grab your things, please." The Seargent motioned the small group to follow her across the parking lot.
The next day started at the crack of dawn as the same sergeant knocked on their hotel room's doors. Much like the night before, breakfast was brought to them. Although the shared rooms were a little crowded, no one complained. The night had been spent in luxury compared to those stuck at the overcrowded cruise terminal or inside a tent. They also knew who to thank.
"Some of the smaller cruise ships have already left port; however, the larger ones will all depart at the same time. I'm sorry, we don't have time to answer any questions; however, someone will meet you at the dock to explain things. Does everyone have everything?"
With nods, she motioned them to follow. Passing through the crowded hotel, full of Marines and Navy personnel, they made their way toward a truck.
"Hurry up and wait," Alan laughed as they sat in the Cruise terminal.
Whatever special treatment they were getting ended when the group arrived at their destination. Although the military already had their names, which allowed them to cut in line, once inside, they had to find a place to sit like everyone else. But for now, they were all safe.
Interlude - Allied shipgirls
"I'm not German, you stupid muppet. I'm Dutch," HNLMS Java rolled her eyes at the stupidity of the American destroyer off her port side.
"How's your fuel?" USS John D. Edwards interrupted before the argument could continue.
The two destroyers and light cruiser had been pushing close to thirty knots throughout the night.
"All wet." Java shook her head.
The Clemson-class destroyer nodded; she was about the same. "Walke?"
"Not good," she grumbled, looking behind her. "If we make it to Pearl, it's going to be on fumes."
They had no clue how all three ended up standing in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. USS Walke's last memories were of sinking in November 1942, while USS John Edwards had survived the war. Thankfully, the two destroyers were close enough for their lookout to spot one another. HNLMS Java, a light cruiser from the Royal Netherlands Navy, was able to contact them by radio, even with the weird atmospherics playing havoc with all three ships.
The argument started because the American destroyers were not the only ones listening. The day after they met, the three were attacked by strange whale-like creatures that looked like destroyers of an unknown type. Java's 150mm guns made short work of them, but more appeared.
Luckily, none of them received more than superficial damage. However, when another group appeared, the American destroyers and Java decided it was time to get as far away as possible. When these corrupted ships appeared again, Walke accused Java of being a Kraut.
"Well, fuck, they're back," Edwards groaned.
As a massive wall of water exploded near them, Java calmly said, "Ranging shot."
"No shit," Walke screamed.
One reason they had driven hard during the evening was that a new ship had joined the chase, a heavy cruiser, by the look of it, who began tossing shells at the trio.
Java began firing back, but her shots fell short. Closing would be stupid; the enemy's torpedoes and guns were within range, so once again, the three picked up speed.
"Great, now the Nips are joining in on the fun," Walke said, pointing to the sky. She then prepared her anti-aircraft guns.
"Wait!" Edward screamed. "Remember, after the war, they became our allies."
Java, who had already been reading herself, turned to port and watched as a flight of Kate's started in an attack run. The demon ships were so intent on sinking them that they didn't realize they were also being hunted.
"Look, she's right." Then she cheered as two of the enemy's destroyers were obliterated.
Wilkes shot up her arm. "Take that, you bitch!"
"Oh, they don't see that Val's," Edward grinned as she watched the bombers wheel over and dive out of the sky.
The heavy cruiser, which had been a bane of their existence, noticed the incoming dark green aircraft at the last second, but it was too late. Several of the 250 kg bombs missed, but at least three slammed into the demon girl, setting her ablaze. Soon, she began to list then rolled over, disappearing beneath the waves.
When three zeros flew by, tilting their wings in greeting, the three shipgirls cheered and waved back.
"Wait!" Walke put out her hands. "Did we just get saved by the Imperial Japanese Navy?"
Java, smiling, looked up at the sky as more Japanese aircraft appeared to finish off the rest of the demon ships.
"Apparently so."