Enterprise, Illustrious, Javelin, Colorado, Unicorn, Belfast... I don't recognize one but the one with twintails is missing. Either way, we got the names of 6 of them. At least that's what I heard from the recording Shioi took. I even picked up some interesting words. Something about a cult called Sakura Empire, their Commander being missing and 'A world without Sirens'. I'm not too sure what the last one means though. One thing is for sure, they are definitely shipgirls as well.
I-401, or Shioi, is part of the unique i-400 class of Aircraft Carrying Submarines. They were the largest submarines back then, but never really saw any action since they were commissioned near the end of the war. Shioi is the tallest among her peers. Back when I was depressed because of that incident, Shioi stayed by my side till I pulled myself together. She is cute, hardworking, and eager to do work. She is one of my best and most trustworthy companion.
I wanted to start collecting information about their whereabouts as soon as possible, so I sent out the submarine girls to investigate every island in the Northern Area under the cover of darkness. Imuya and Goya searched the Moray Seas, Goya and Ro were sent to the Kiss Islands, and Shioi investigated the Alfonsino islands. For Shioi, she managed to find their location relatively easily. Unless the Abyssals decided to attack and set fire to a random piece of land, why else would there be a fire in the middle of an uninhabited island?
"I'm sorry. I wanted to find out where they were keeping Zuihou but I wasn't careful enough. I almost alerted them." (Shioi)
I pet the submarine girl's head,
"You did well. This information is more than enough. Thank you."
With this, I can at least know who and what we are up against. Taking account into their historical counterparts and how they sunk, I will put together a fleet that shouldn't be affected by the enemy's presence. I questioned Shouhou about her freezing up in the afternoon. According to her, the planes scared her. The sight of American Aircraft brought back painful memories, memories of her last moments during the Great War. At the time, aircraft from USS Yorktown and USS Lexington were responsible for sinking Shouhou. That's what I read from the War Archives. If that's the case, Zuihou must be extremely frightened right now, since there is a shipgirl there who took part in her ending her first life.
"It's late. Go to sleep."
"Okay. How about you, Admiral?" (Shioi)
"Soon. I promise."
Another lie...
"I will just put together a draft, then I will go to bed."
"We will get her back. I'm always ready to sortie." (Shioi)
"Thank you."
Shioi closed the office door behind her. Alright, my turn.
First, I need to take a refresher course and find out which shipgirl won't be affected by this unknown group based on their historical encounters. I don't want to traumatize them any more than necessary so girls who were never sunk by those names are ideal. Ideally, I want to initiate the rescue mission in the morning but if I can't finish... No. I will definitely finish and initiate the rescue mission in the morning.
I scanned through the Archives, picking out the girls who are eligible for this mission. If their technology and attack prowess are better than ours, we might need to leverage on numbers and speed. A Combined Task Force and a detached force is probably the best way to rescue Zuihou. The CTF will engage and distract the enemy while the detached force searches and rescues Zuihou. So I need at least 16 shipgirls for this. It will be great if HQ can provide some backup.
My phone rang. Who is calling me at this time? Oh, it's Rondo.
"What's up?"
"I knew it. You haven't slept yet." (Rondo)
"I could say the same to you."
Rondo, or more appropriately, Grand Admiral Rondo, is my best friend from High School. Both of us joined the Navy after graduating from University. Being the smarter and stronger one, he rose the ranks quickly. In fact, he was the first one to go against the abusive and slave-like practices our predecessors were engaged in. He gathered us young officers to petition and rebel against IJN. Doing something like this will definitely get us court martialed and thrown into the brig, but that didn't happen. Instead, it was discovered that the Admirals from each district and the Marshal Admiral had been embazzling military funds. All parties involved in that scandal were fired and prosecuted. The Marshal Admiral was replaced with Rondo's grandfather, who is a seasoned veteran with 30 years in the JMSDF, and all of us young officers were promoted and appointed accordingly. New rules were set to ensure the shipgirls were treated fairly and unfair practices such as Orel Cruising, something the submarine girls here are extremely familiar with, were banned altogether. It's not an understatement to say that Rondo was the one that changed to IJN.
"No thanks to you and all your reports. Anyway, let's do this chronological order." (Rondo)
"So the American Vessel first? What do the Stars and Stripes have to say about this?"
"That's the thing. Nothing. That vessel isn't US property in the first place. In fact, no country has reported the destruction of any vessel belonging to them." (Rondo)
What?
"Then, what did we just destroy?"
"That's what I wanted to ask you. Either way, what you guys blew up is a cause for concern. It could be a new type of Abyssal." (Rondo)
"One that is as huge as a warship and shoots lasers?"
"We have Abyssals who can create landforms and vomit out countless flying creatures with ease. How is that any different?" (Rondo)
"It makes more sense than lasers at least."
"Next, I understand Zuihou has been caught by an unknown group of Shipgirls. Unfortunately, HQ-" (Rondo)
"Won't be able to send in reinforcements. I sort of expected that."
"Due to an Isolated Island Demon taking over the MS Islands. The operation to clear out the Abyssal fleet was just ordered this afternoon and all of Yokosuka is involved. That's the bad news." (Rondo)
"Okay... So there's good news?"
"Zuikaku and Taiho from Sasebo along with Chitose and Hamakaze from Kure have agreed to help. They will arrive at Maizuru early in the morning." (Rondo)
"Wait what? You told the others?"
"No. You were the one that told them about the kidnapping. You sent out a company-wide email, you dumbass." (Rondo)
Hold on. I could have sworn I did no such thing. I scrolled through my email folder...
Oh shit. I did tag everyone instead of just HQ... Rookie error.
"Chitose and Taihou, I can understand. But I won't recommend Zuikaku. We are up against American Carriers. It will definitely affect her."
"She knows. But Azusa says she wants to save her friend. She is also the one approving Zuikaku's deployment." (Rondo)
"Azusa-chan is just a Commander. Why is she approving this? What about Yuito?"
"Yuito has been in the hospital since last week, remember?" (Rondo)
"Oh right. He got knocked down by a car."
So that leaves Azusa next in line to take charge. I was worried she would go and arrange something behind her superior's back. Not like hierarchy ever mattered to those two.
Admiral Yuito and Commander Azusa are in charge of Sasebo. They are childhood friends but contrary to popular belief, they are not in love with each other. In fact, Azusa is set to marry her boyfriend next month. Some guy back from her high school days. I couldn't be bothered to listen to her love story. Also, Yuito is smitten with Shoukaku and Zuikaku.
"So how's your plan coming along?" (Rondo)
"I'm still trying in the midst of figuring out which girl to deploy. You know they don't have a good history with the Americans."
I explained how I know the names of our enemies and my plan to rescue Zuihou. I also mentioned the points of interest I found in Shioi's recording of their meeting.
"I see. USS Enterprise... So that's why you said that." (Rondo)
"You think I said all that for fun?"
"Want my two cents?" (Rondo)
"Go on."
"Try not to fight them immediately. They just might be lost." (Rondo)
"You mean the whole there are no sirens in this world?"
"If what they said was correct, their Commander is missing. With no one leading them, they are just like confused little lambs. They probably mistook your girls as part of the weird cult they are fighting against and took the smallest, weaker looking one back for interrogation. What they want is information." (Rondo)
...Okay... That's one way to look at it.
"It's 3am. How do you come up with this stuff?"
"With the operation coming and your reports, I drank 5 cups of coffee. I feel like I can work till the next night." (Rondo)
"Sheesh. Have fun sitting on the toilet later. Reminds you of our Uni days, doesn't it? But thanks. I will keep that in mind."
"Anyway, how you want to approach this is up to you. So long as everyone comes back in one piece. I know how much Zuihou means to you." (Rondo)
"Thanks. I will make sure everyone comes home."
I hang up. Back to work. I will just count that discussion as a break. Maybe I should drink some coffee as well.
"...miral... Admiral!" (???)
The sound of someone calling my title jolted me out of my concentration. I looked up to see Shouhou and Agano standing at my desk.
"Oh. You guys have finished our repairs. When did you come in?"
"We knocked quite a few times but there was no answer. So we just let ourselves in." (Agano)
"Please excuse us for barging in like this." (Shouhou)
"I don't mind but it's already late and you girls have been through a lot this afternoon. Go to sleep."
"Admiral, we have a request." (Agano)
"What is it?"
"Please let us join the rescue operation!" (Shouhou)
I wouldn't have expected that. Really.
"Please! I don't want to let the moment be our last interaction!" (Agano)
That moment?
"Oh. You mean when you slapped her."
"Ugh..." (Agano)
"I can let Agano join but Shouhou, are you sure you are alright?"
"Yes! The planes were scary but as long as that person isn't here, I will be alright." (Shouhou)
True. I did not hear the names 'Yorktown' and 'Lexington' in the recording.
"More importantly, Zuihou is my sister! I have sworn to protect her this time! I will not fail again!" (Shouhou)
I can see the determination in her eyes. Shouhou despaired more than anyone during that incident. The thought of losing her sister a second time...
"Got it. I will put you two in the Rescue operation. The both of you will be part of the CTF that distracts and engages them."
"A CTF for a group of 6? That's on the level of a High ranking Abyssal Princess subjugation." (Agano)
"For a fleet that wiped the floor with us, I say this is the bare minimum. I have already decided. The CTF will engage and buy time for the detached force to find and rescue Zuihou."
I already have in mind the four girls who will be part of the detached force. 6 down, 10 more to go.
Wait for us, Zuihou.