Chapter 6: Great, more new enemies

The whole naval base was in chaos this morning. The blue light which appeared last night and how the black ship was destroyed are hot topics amongst them.

Even HQ was in chaos. It seems that the whole of Japan witnessed it. Other Naval bases are sending in reports and questions regarding the light. Argh... I got a feeling that there is going to be more work.

Yokosuka Naval District, our HQ. are sending in a Combined Task Force to investigate in the general direction where the light supposedly came from. A little overkill, I would say, but better to be safe than sorry. HQ also issued an order for every Naval District to sortie an investigation team and check every area extensively. We were assigned to the Northern Area, the same place Yahagi and the rest encountered the black ship. The investigation will take place from morning 1000 hours to 1900 hours, a whole day.

Taking into account of an possible encounter, either Abyssal or inorganic, Zuihou, Shouhou, Shigure, Shiratsuyu, Mogami, and Agano will be deployed to handle the investigation. I will send Suzuya, Kumano, Tenryuu, Kuma, Yuudachi and Shimakaze to act as an Escort fleet and assist with any retreats.

During the briefing, all of them were anxious. Can't blame them, with everything going on, they are confused as well. Aircraft will be used to cover the designated investigation area as much as possible. En route to said area, the same aircraft will scout and ensure we have eyes in the sky at all times. We don't want to risk getting ambushed.

"Investigation fleet 1 has been deployed! Investigation Fleet 2 beginning deployment!" (Ooyodo)

"Fleet 2, keep a distance from fleet 1 and maintain speed. That means you Shimakaze. Don't speed off on your own now! Make sure not to clash with fleet 1."

"How mean!" (Shimakaze)

"Flagship Zuihou, reporting in! We have spotted a small Abyssal fleet west of our location. 2 Destroyer Ro-class and 1 Light Cruiser He-class. They haven't spotted us. Should we engage?" (Zuihou)

A small abyssal patrol. Regardless, the main plan is to avoid any Abyssal ships if possible until we reach the Northern Area.

"Skirt around them. Do not engage."

"Roger!" (Zuihou)

The two fleets carried on till they reach the investigation area.

"Fleet 1 has entered the Investigation area." (Ooyodo)

"Fleet 1, first, investigate the Moray Seas, then Kiss Island, followed by Alfonsino. Lastly, comb the waters in this area. Fleet 2, follow the exact same route. Note for anything out of the ordinary including abyssal behavior. Most importantly, do not engage any enemies. If you get spotted, then don't give them a chance to react. Eliminate them immediately. If that's not possible, retreat. Our main goal is just investigation. Let's make this quick so we can go home."

"Understood." (All)

I watched as both fleets followed the investigation route set for them. So far nothing really worth noting. Though there is one thing that concerns me- the lack of Abyssal fleet in the area. Normally at least one Abyssal fleet would attack us once we entered the area. This time, there are none.

"Odd..." (Shouhou)

"It's too quiet." (Shigure)

"We going too slow!" (Shimakaze)

"Wasn't there a big fight with a large ship yesterday at this location? Should we investigate the wreck?" (Shiratsuyu)

"We could, if there is any in the first place. Whole damn thing just disappeared after exploding. Not a single debris in sight. Much less a corpse."

Even if it was sinking, it would take a while before it disappeared into the ocean. The black ship just blew up and disappeared. No debris, no oil spills, nothing.

"Go on. Just stick to the route. Keep your eyes peeled."

"Moving on to Kiss Island." (Zuihou)

"Fleet 2, begining sweep of Moray Seas. This serious atmosphere is seriously killing me." (Suzuya)

"Suzuya..." (Ooyodo)

"I know. I know." (Suzuya)

After a few hours of scouting Kiss Island, the girls moved on to Alfonsino. Just like the Moray Seas, there were no Abyssals in sight.

"I think I see something... I just lost one of my planes!" (Shouhou)

An attack?

"Shouhou, do you know where it came from?

"North of our current position. Directly ahead of us!" (Shouhou)

"Fleet 2, secure an escape route!"

"Got it." (Suzuya)

"Enemy planes on radar. They are approaching fast!" (Shigure)

Shit! The enemy was here!

"Fleet 1, diamond formation. Prepare for AA combat. Take down the enemy squadron and get the hell out of there. Do not like them track us!"

On screen, I can see the enemy planes. Unlike Abyssal planes, those look like prop planes. The enemy air fleet looks like it consists of fighters and bombers. Hold on, aren't those...?

"Enemy fleet spotted!" (Mogami)

It just keeps getting worse, doesn't it?

Behind the enemy air fleet, six silhouettes in a Vanguard formation can be seen. As they moved closer, their appearance can be figured out. All six of them look like humans.

Starting from the back, one of them has four large cannons. She wore a short white dress that nearly exposed her sensitive parts. Her white long hair which covered her left eye reminds me of an Abyssal Princess, I can't remember which one right now.

The next one wore a white top, which resembles a naval uniform, black skirt, black overcoat and a sailor cap. She had a large, long object which resembles a flight deck attached to her waist and wields a large black bow. An eagle perched her shoulder.

The one on her right was a busty lady clad in a white dress and wore a white sun hat. All she has is a large, black flight deck attached to the top of her skirt. I'm assuming the ones with the flight deck are carriers while the other one is a battleship.

The ones in front were not any less peculiar. The middle one was dressed as a European maid. Attached on her back were four platforms branching towards the front. Each platform had a main gun secured onto it.

On her right was a small girl with purple hair. She wore a white blouse with a purple striped skirt. One torpedo launcher and one main gun branched out from her back and faced in front. She even wields a spear.

The last one, on the left of the maid, was a girl whose hair had been tied into twintails with rabbit ear attachments. A small smoke stack is attached on her back and she held a searchlight in her hands.

They look unlike anything we encountered. Furthermore, their firepower and technology seems more advanced than ours.

"What are they? Shipgirls?" (Shiratsuyu)

"Fleet 2, change of plans. Move in to support fleet 1 now"

"Be there in 30!" (Suzuya)

"Fleet 1, launch everything you have against those things. Zuihou, Shouhou, get some Fighters in the air to take down those bombers!"

The two sisters did not respond. Did I get cut off?

"Shouhou, Zuihou, we need fighters in the air right now!"

Still no response. The two of them just stood motionlessly, staring at the incoming planes. What's up with them? I have never seen them froze up like this before.

"Guys, we need air support!" (Mogami)

"Shouhou-san!" (Shiratsuyu)

"Zuihou!" (Shigure)

Shouhou was the first to snap out of it. She drew her bow and sent out squadron of fighters accompanied by Bombers. Agano went to Zuihou, who was still in a trance,

"Sorry." (Agano)

She slapped Zuihou across the cheek, which seems to do the trick,

"Ow... Eh?" (Zuihou)

"Wake up. We need your help now!" (Agano)

Zuihou finally launched her own set of fighters and bombers. The skies were lit up with balls of fire as a dogfight ensues and AA guns from both sides start blazing. Despite their best efforts to thin out the enemy air fleet, most of our planes got shot down and the enemy planes dropped their payload on my girls.

"Scatter!"

But it was too late. The bombs fell, enveloping my girls in thick black smoke. Next to the monitor, their vital signs changed colours from green to orange and red. Shouhou, Zuihou, Shiratsuyu, and Mogami were in the red. Shigure and Agano were orange.

"Girls! Talk to me! Can you still move?"

"We are approaching in 5!" (Suzuya)

"Not fast enough. Shimakaze!"

"Oohh! Here I go! (Shimakaze)

I watched Shimakaze sped past the others. We just need to stall for some time till fleet 2 arrives.

I still can't see anything because of that damn smoke and they are not responding either.

"Comms are not getting through! We are being jammed!" (Ooyodo)

"Thi...Zui... Ca... hear me?" (Zuihou)

"Comms have been reestablished! Signal's still a bit weak." (Ooyodo)

Thank god!

"Zuihou! Is everyone alright? Can you all move?"

"I think so. Smoke's too thick. I can't- Ughh!" (Zuihou)

"Zuihou? Zuihou, what happened? Come in. Answer me! ZUIHOU!"

No response. No way. She couldn't have sunk! There's no way it would have happened.

"ZUIHOU!!!"

Wait. Calm down. Confirm the situation first. Zuihou's name hasn't greyed out yet. That means she hasn't sunk, just heavily damaged. We need to retreat and regroup first.

Shimakaze has reached the site, so visual can be reestablished.

"Woah. This looks bad." (Shimakaze)

Thanks to her, I can see the one wielding the spear and the one with bunny ears carrying Zuihou out of the smoke. The two of them joined the others and retreated. Why did they grab Zuihou and run? At this rate they could have destroyed the entire fleet. No. I should take this chance. I want to go after her but the well-being of the rest will need to come first.

"Fleet 1, retreat now! Fleet 2, cover their escape. Make sure there are no enemy planes following us."

"But Admiral, Zuihou is-" (Agano)

"I know! But now the enemy is withdrawing. We need to use this chance to retreat and regroup. She is still alive. I promise I will bring her home."

"...Roger. Fleet 1, retreating." (Shouhou)

"Shouhou..." (Agano)

"She is still alive. Zuihou is a lucky and tough girl. She won't be done in that easily." (Shouhou)

"Sorry... If only we were fast enough." (Suzuya)

"Don't blame yourself. I shouldn't have placed too much distance between the two fleets. But what's done is done. Head back home. We already confirmed something strange is going on here. So that's one task done."

"Admiral, don't you-" (Shiratsuyu)

"Not another word, Shiratsuyu! Do you really think I'm not worried about Zuihou?! Sorry. That was uncalled for. Just return back to base. That's an order."

I need to keep my head in the game. I lost my cool and almost lashed out at Shiratsuyu. My hand is throbbing. Must have slammed it somehow.

With both fleets on the way back, I got up from the command post. Negative thoughts filled my head. I can't bear to lose another shipgirl. Especially Zuihou. I already lost her once. I don't want the same thing to happen again.

For now, at least I know she is still alive. Her vitals remained unchanged. The enemy must have captured her for interrogation or something. Abyssals capturing shipgirls is not new but extremely rare. There was only ever one recorded case. But our aggressors don't look like Abyssals, rather they look... just like my girls. But that's not my concern right now.

"Ooyodo..."

"Yes?" (Ooyodo)

"We will sortie a Search-and-Rescue fleet tomorrow. All ships must be fast. I'm going to send a request for backup to HQ. We are getting our girl back!"

"Yes!" (Ooyodo)

Ooyodo had a determined look on her face. I guess our feelings are mutual.

I promise, no matter what, I will rescue you.