Chapter 45: Operation Pedestal

The members of Force Z gathered at the port. This operation is split into four phases. The first phase will be tackled by a single strike fleet. Force Z-A consists of Hiryuu, Souryuu, Zuihou, Shouhou, Tama, Murasame, and Kawakaze. Force Z-B has Prinz Eugen, Zara, Pola, Suzuya, Yuudachi and Shigure. Force Z-A will handle phase 1 on the operation while Force Z-B is in charged of providing backup.

"The first phase is the usual, classical straightforward task of sinking the Abyssal Mediterranean Princess. In typical Abyssal fashion, it will not be easy. Hiryuu, you are the flagship. I will take charge and give out orders while providing visual support. However, Hiryuu, you have command authority. Should you deem my decision incorrect at any point in time, don't hesitate to override my orders and make any necessary corrections."

Since I'm not on the ground, it will be better for those on the actual battlefield to make their own decisions to ensure the survival of the fleet.

"Roger!" (Hiryuu)

"We have two objectives in this mission. The first one is to make sure everyone comes back alive and in one piece. The second is to secure victory."

"Isn't it usually the other way around?" (Souryuu)

"Well, you know how our Admiral is." (Kawakaze)

"Yeah yeah. Anyway, you will be taking the northeastern route. Intel states there will be submarines and an enemy air raid at point B1, so take extreme caution and dedicate some firepower and planes to AA and AS combat. You will depart at,"

Ah. Forgot my watch. I glanced at the wall clock,

"1330hrs. Exactly 15 minutes from now. Let's make sure everyone comes back alive and get ourselves a win. Understood?"

All of them stood at attention,

"Roger!" (All)

"Good. Make any last minute preparations to your equipment. Dismissed."

The seven girls went off to do whatever they needed to do. Preparing their planes, calibrating their guns, taking a catnap. Tama... This girl keeps claiming she is not a cat but she sure loves to act like one.

I looked at my girlfriend as she made some adjustments to her bow and interacted with her fairies. I'm still reluctant to send her on this mission, but I have to respect her wishes. I can only pray that my commands during the mission are right and for her safe return.

"Worried about her?" (SHouhou)

Holy shit! When did she get next to me?

"You surprised me."

"Hehe. Don't worry. I will protect your girlfriend on the ground and make sure she comes back safely." (Shouhou)

"Thanks. But make sure you come back safe too."

"That's a given." (Shouhou)

Wait...

"Shouhou, what did you just say?"

"Oh. I will keep a secret as well. So you don't have to worry about that part." (SHouhou)

How did she know?! Oi, Zuihou! You told your sister, didn't you?!

"So much for keeping it a secret..."

"What are you two talking about?" (Zuihou)

Zuihou walked towards us,

"Nothing~" (Shouhou)

"Just some small talk."

"Is that so?" (Zuihou)

"Hey. Why are you looking at me like I did something wrong?"

"No reason." (Zuihou)

She is getting jealous again, isn't she?

"Zuihou."

"What?" (Zuihou)

"Come back home safely."

Zuihou looked around, before putting her head on my chest. Oi oi. No one is watching, right?

"I will. See you later." (Zuihou)

She ran off to regroup with the rest.

"We will be back." (Shouhou)

All of them formed up at the launch pad,

"Force Z-A, weigh anchor! Setting off!" (Hiryuu)

"Setting off!" (Force Z-A)

"Force Z-B, weigh anchor. Standby!" (Prinz Eugen)

"Roger!" (Force Z-B)

Force Z-A took off first. As soon as they are no longer in sight, Force Z-B set off.

I made my way to the command room. It will take them a few hours before they enter the mission area. I just have to wait for their radio transmission.

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"This is Flagship Hiryuu of Force Z-A. Comms check." (Hiryuu)

"We hear you loud and clear, Hiryuu. Send traffic." (Ooyodo)

The monitor switched on, displaying the Strike Fleet as they entered the bloodred waters. They are finally in the mission area.

"Mission area is in a crimson state. Visibility is clear, safe for a couple of landforms. Skies are overcast but low altitude flight is possible." (Hiryuu)

"In short, everything is normal." (Kawakaze)

Every mission area and unliberated zone is always covered in a red hue. Dark clouds, red seas, glowing enemies, etc. These sorts of things are normal in this era.

"Understood. Begin Operation Pedestal!"

"All units, fourth battle speed!" (Hiryuu)

"Multiple enemy radio waves detected! It's unencrpyted. I believe it's from enemy submarines." (Kawakaze)

"Confirm. Enemy radio transmission detected." (Murasame)

"All units, Line Abreast formation. Prepare for ASW. Tama, Murasame, you're up. Carriers, evasive maneuvers. Kawakaze, provide machine gun and anti-torpedo support. Save your torpedoes for later."

"Understood!" (All)

"Be it anti-ship, anti-sub or anti-air, let's do this!" (Murasame)

"My remodelled camouflage isn't just for show, nya. Nya!" (Tama)

Three shadows came into view,

"Enemy ships spotted to starboard." (Murasame)

"Found you nya. Nya!" (Tama)

Tama and Murasame threw a couple of depth charges into the water. An explosion sent a tower of water up into the air, followed by a ghostly howl.

"One submarine down. Nice, nice!" (Murasame)

"Incoming torpedoes! Providing cover fire." (Kawakaze)

Kawakaze aimed and fired her guns at the approaching tube-like shadows. One was destroyed while the other two slipped past the girls.

Tama threw another batch of depth charges into the water. There was an explosion, but no scream.

"Grr..." (Tama)

"Should I provide support?" (Souryuu)

"Nope. Save your plane munitions. We can handle this." (Murasame)

More depth charges were thrown into the water as the girls evade any incoming torpedoes. Two gurgled screams can be heard as columns of water burst out from the ocean.

"Nothing on sonar. Enemy submarine fleet neutralized." (Murasame)

"Good work. Keep moving."

"Roger!" (All)

"This is Prinz Eugen of Force Z-B. We are half an hour away from the mission area. Holding position." (Prinz Eugen)

"Copy that. We will call you when things get way too hairy." (Hiryuu)

"Viel glück." (Prinz Eugen)

The girls managed to safely pass through the wave of enemy aircraft and dealt with an Abyssal Cruiser fleet. They had some trouble eliminating the enemy fleet at point E. While the Light Carrier Nu-class kai, Light Cruiser Tsu-class Elite and the two Destroyer Ha-class Late Model Elites weren't much of a deal for the girls, it's the Battleship Ta-class and Heavy Cruiser Ne-class that was being the problematic ones. Shouhou, Tama and Hiryuu suffered light damages before those two got sunk.

"You three okay?"

"It's just a scratch." (Hiryuu)

"I'm fine." (Shouhou)

"Tama wants to take a nap nya." (Tama)

"You can take a nap in the docks later. Keep moving forward, but don't overexert."

"Zuihou, scouts please." (Souryuu)

"Launching recon planes." (Zuihou)

A squadron of three Type-2 Recon planes burst out from the arrow Zuihou just fired.

"All units, decrease to second battle speed. Wait for the scout planes to send an update."

Shortly after, red dots appeared on the console radar. There they are.

"Enemy fleet spotted. It's a combined fleet!" (Zuihou)

"Line ahead formation. Prepare for combat!"

"Increase to third battle speed. Be ready to increase speed at a moment's notice!" (Hiryuu)

"Roger!" (All)

"Visual confirmed! It's an Abyssal Mediterranean Princess!" (Zuihou)

A large ominous figure appeared on the screen. It was a pale, blue-skinned girl, wearing a frilly one-piece swimsuit. Attached to her back were two Abyssal lifeforms and a larger, masculine merman holding onto a swim ring. Accompanying the Princess is a Heavy Cruiser Ne-class Kai wearing Halter bikini, a Battleship Ta-class, three Heavy Cruiser Ri-class, one Light Cruiser He-class, 1 Light Cruiser Tsu-class Elite, four Destroyer Ha-class Late Models. I really don't understand why these Abyssals have a so-called 'Vacation mode'. It makes no sense.

"That's nice... You've done well making it here... Do you too want to see what lies at the end of the line?... It's an extravagant desire for you..." (Abyssal Mediterranean Princess)

"2nd CarDiv! Attack corps, take off!" (Hiryuu & Souryuu)

"Attack corps, begin takeoff!" (Shouhou & Zuihou)

The four carriers launched several squadrons of Dive Bombers and Torpedo Bombers. Within seconds, the planes destroyed the four Ha-class and He-class. The Princess was only lightly grazed.

"What do you plan to achieve? Courage? Hope? Hehe...! Foolish girls... Just what do you expect beyond that!?" (Abyssal Mediterranean Princess)

"Muzzle flash! Increase speed and evasive maneuvers!" (Hiryuu)

The girls sped up to dodge the incoming shells. Hiryuu and Souryuu both drew the bows, ready to launch another attack.

"Second attack required. Hurry!" (Hiryuu)

Another squadron of bombers made a beeline towards the enemy fleet.

"Kawakaze!"

"Fufun, good good! It's a destroyer's desire to fight, let's go!" (Kawakaze)

Mimicking her older sister, Kawakaze grabbed two torpedoes in between her fingers and threw them towards the enemy fleet. The torpedoes entered the water and sped towards their target. The combination of torpedoes and bombs sunk the Ta-class and one Ri-class. Murasame and Tama fired shells at the enemy. The shots landed, but only managed to flinched the Ne-class and another Ri-class.

"Foolish girls..." (Abyssal Mediterranean Princess)

The Princess carried out it's own set of artillery bombardment. The girls weaved through columns of water as they dodged the enemy's attack.

"Kyaa!" (Zuihou)

Shit! She was hit?!

"Zuihou!" (Shouhou)

"I'm fine. It was just a near-miss.' (Zuihou)

That's a relief. But I can't relax yet.

"We'll decide this at long range. Attack corps, take off!" (Zuihou)

"2nd Wave Attack Corps, can you form up? Then, take off when you can!" (Shouhou)

The sky was filled with allied bombers. The enemy conducted their own Anti-air, shooting down a handful of planes in the process. Tama and the two Destroyers fired a salvo at the enemy at the same time, dealing some damage and distracting the enemy long enough to stop their Anti-air. The bombs and torpedoes made contact and the fleet was covered in thick smoke. Loud screeches can be heard.

"Don't let up! Keep attacking!"

"Launch another wave!" (Hiryuu)

The four carriers drew their bows and let their arrows fly simultaneously. The arrows burst into flames as they transformed into bombers. Before it can even clear, more explosions can be seen within the smoke.

A large hand emerged from the smoke and with one power swipe, it blew the smoke away. From what I can see, all of its escorts have been sunk. The princess didn't come out unscathed either. It's bodies were covered in burns and holes.

"Now that hurts... I'll retreat for just a bit... This... isn't over yet!!" (Abyssal Mediterranean Princess)

The Abyssal retreated under waves, it's eyes glaring at the girls.

"No enemies in sight." (Souryuu)

"Rader is not picking up anything either nya..." (Tama)

"Confirmed. Enemy fleet signatures have vanished. The first round is success. Good job everyone!"

As the girls cheered, I contacted Force Z-B,

"Prinz Eugen, is the path home secured?"

"Yes. There only a few Ni-class that strayed too close. So we used them as target practice. But other than that, the seas are quiet." (Prinz Eugen)

"That's great. The first round is a success. Come back home."

"Roger! Prinz Eugen, out." (Prinz Eugen)

I watched the girls turned around and made their way out of the mission area before shutting off the monitor.

"We were lucky this time." (Ooyodo)

Ooyodo placed a cup of tea on the table.

"Thank you. Yeah. It's a good thing they suffered light injuries this time."

I took a sip of the tea,

"I need to do some reequipping. I think we sacrificed too much firepower for ASW."

"I concur. Maybe we can let the light carriers take part in ASW." (Ooyodo)

"Yeah. That sounds good. Murasame will remain as our dedicated submarine hunter. I will reequip Tama with a standard CL setup. Once everyone has been fully repaired, we will begin the 2nd round tomorrow afternoon."

Alright. Let's do this.