19 Worry

Aoba already leaves her command ship and follows Uzuki and Yayoi that already gather with the other Ship Girl. She knows that the flagship for this operation, Mutsu is waiting for her. So, she immediately moves to her and says,

"I'm sorry to come out late from the command ship because Admiral Okazaki gives me an additional order for this mission."

"That's alright, we are still in time to meet with the reconnaissance division," says Mutsu

Mutsu then looks around her and shouts,

"Alright, let's us meet the reconnaissance division to gather intel from them. Let's move and keep your speed at 80 knots!"

Everyone shouts to their heart content, including Aoba. When they moving into the formation, Mutsu sees Aoba still beside her and says,

"Why did you still here, Aoba? I believe your position is on the right side of the formation."

"I just want to report to you about the reconnaissance division finding regarding the enemy."

Mutsu really surprised to hear that comes out from Aoba's mouth. She immediately says,

"From who you get that information from?"

"The reason Admiral Okazaki gives me additional order because he already called Admiral Amarov to hear out about the intel first." answer Aoba

"Ah, yes. I forget that your Admiral and Admiral Amarov are really close with each other."

"Yes."

"Then, what's their report?"

"From their mission, they find that the enemy formation consists of two divisions of I-Class and Ha-Class Destroyer, three divisions of To-Class Light Cruiser, and one division of Ri-Class Heavy Cruiser. Each division consists of 12 Ships."

"Is there any report of Re-Class or Carrier at their side?"

"There is no sighting of that enemy class at 250 KM from our target."

Mutsu closes her eyes for a while and then says,

"Even if I already know this information, we still need to move and meet with them first. That's the order given by Admiral Ichijo for this mission."

"I know about that. After all, Admiral Amarov already orders his unit to search at 500 – 700 KM from our target," says Aoba

Mutsu nods and then looks around them. She then orders all of them to change the formation into a diamond formation. The Destroyer will cover the outer layer of formation and using their sonar to find out any enemy Submarine that lingers below them. The Light Cruiser will using their radar to find any surface enemy around them and will immediately give a warning shot or sink them immediately. The Heavy Cruiser launch their reconnaissance plane and using their radar to help the Light Cruiser units to find the enemy more. And last, the Battleship will prepare their plane and guns if they find the enemy. Their location is the center of the formation and they must aware of any movement around them.

Aoba looks around and then at the sky. The sky becomes darker and the wind blows really hard. Aoba then says,

"With this weather, Aoba really sure that it will be really hard to call someone else here."

And what Aoba fears become reality. When they almost arrived at their destination, Mutsu tried to call the reconnaissance division,

"Mutsu to the flagship of reconnaissance division. I repeat... Mutsu to the flagship of reconnaissance division... Have you already arrived at the destination?"

And that already happens from twenty minutes ago. Aoba looks around her once more and feels the wave become wilder and little by little she could feel the tense of the battle. Everyone is on high alert because they can't call the reconnaissance division and that really make Aoba worried about Harusame, Shigure, and Yuudachi.

Mutsu then shouts to everyone at the division,

"I will try again to call the reconnaissance division. Every unit, please tell me if your radar or sonar or your reconnaissance plane find the enemy."

Aoba only nods and focusing her mind on her planes. After some time, she suddenly sees a woman with one horn that looks at her plane. She makes a gesture towards Aoba to stay silent and after that her plane destroyed. Aoba surprised with that and mumbles,

"Who is that?"

Suddenly, Aoba hears everyone saying about their plane is taken down by something and most of them are talking about a woman with a beautiful black dress looking at their plane the moment before they lost their plane, just like Aoba.

Aoba thinks for a while about the woman, until she sees Mutsu worried face. Someone calls her and the news really shocks Mutsu. After that, Mutsu says,

"I just got the report from Admiral Ichijo. The reconnaissance division is ambushed by the enemy formation before their communication with their Admiral is cut off. Right now, no one knows how many of them survived the battle."

Aoba really surprised to hear that and hopes that Harusame, Shigure, and Yuudachi survives the battle. After that, Mutsu continues,

"Admiral Ichijo also says that in order to help us, they will send the defensive division to help us here. From the last report from the reconnaissance team, the number of the enemies is larger than all of us."

Everyone looks at Mutsu and then immediately focused their mind into the sea around them. They know that if they didn't find the enemy first, they will die. Mutsu then hears another order given by Mo. But, little by little Mutsu couldn't hear anything from Mo. Mutsu then says,

"Admiral... Hello... Mutsu to command ship... I repeat... Mutsu to command ship!"

All Ship Girls there are really surprised to hear that, especially Aoba. She then looks behind her and thinks,

"Did the enemy ambush the command ship group?"

When she thinks that, she immediately feels really worried about one thing. And in her mind is wondering the condition of someone behind there. Her mind becomes really blank and she only could say,

"Kimura..."