84 Chapter 82: In the midst of an Operation
I watched on the monitor as the fire consumed the Southern War Princess. Her bloodcurdling screams echoed through my speakers and in my ears. This is one thing I do not want to get used to.
"I won't... be defeated... again..." (Southern War Princess)
"Like hell you will. We will keep kicking your ass back to hell, no matter how many times you spawn." (Tenryuu)
"Was that your attempt at a cool line?" (Pola)
"Shut up!" (Tenryuu)
"We already know the outcome, but just for the sake of it. Status?"
"Transport Team Wolf-Hunt has successfully cleared the fourth run. We will know proceed to the supply node and take whatever we can carry." (Tenryuu)
"Uwargh. Why do you have to pick that name?" (Sazanami)
I kind of agree with you, Sazanami. It's a cool name but part of me thinks it's cringy.
"That shitty Admiral shouldn't have put me in this fleet..." (Akebono)
"Akebono..."
"N-not you. I'm talking about mine!" (Akebono)
"Oh. Since when did Akiyama make you his?"
Ahaha. Her face is red. As foul-mouth as she is, Akebono is a good girl. And easily teasible.
"Wha-?! That's not what I meant!" (Akebono)
"Come on, guys. Let's get down to business." (Oboro)
The fleet proceed to the island that was hiding behind the Southern War Princess and the four Destroyers begin filling their drums with resources. We are into the fourth Transport Run for the first phase. As per the plan, the three transport fleets take turns to clear out the designated resource node. At this rate, and with a bit of luck, we should be able to empty the node in two more runs and move on to the next phase within a day or two. On the last run, the next team will move to the FOB in the Solomon islands just outside the Abyssal-controlled area.
"There we go." (Ushio)
Ushio tied the rope to her rigging and tugged on it, causing the three drum canisters she was holding to fall and float on the water.
"All set?" (Tenryuu)
"Let's head back already. I wanna drink~" (Pola)
"Just one more." (Oboro)
Oboro tossed a handful of bauxite into the drum canister before latching the lid shut. She then did the same as the oppai loli and made sure the rope was secured to her rigging. The little crab she carries as her pet watched as she tied the rope into a dolly knot.
"Alright. All set." (Oboro)
"All right! Let's go back to Rabaul! Wolf-Hunt, weigh anchor!" (Tenryuu)
"Oh my god..." (Akebono)
Whatever makes her happy...
"You girls already heard this from us over a million times by now."
"Yep. The missions not done till we get back to base in one piece. Master always tells us that." (Sazanami)
"Good. I'm signing off now. Tenryuu, you know what to do."
"Leave it to me! I will make sure the little ones get back safely!" (Tenryuu)
"Well, one of them isn't little." (Pola)
"Hey! What are you trying to imply?!" (Akebono)
"I get you, Pola. Ushio isn't on the small side." (Sazanami)
"?" (Ushio)
I shut off my monitor and microphone. After the first phase is over, we need to lure the main boss out of hiding. That's where my submarine girls come in. Intel suggests that obtaining a 'Perfect Defense' against the Abyssal air raids will be enough to lure out the new Abyssal Princess. After Tenryuu's fleet sinks the same Southern War Princess protecting the resource node, the submarines will follow the pre-determined route and launch their seaplanes to provoke the Airfield Princess and Lycoris Princess to initiate air raids on them. With the submarines hiding underwater, the Abyssal planes will have a hard time targeting them. That's where the Land-based Fighters provided by Yokosuka come in. While the Abyssal planes are busy searching for their targets, our fighters will swoop in to shoot put them out of commission.
It's relatively simple on paper, but a risky mission of my submarines. Their role is mainly to act as bait after all. If they do not crash dive in time or are not deep enough, they can still get hurt by the enemy bombs.
I want to check something...
"Ooyodo,"
"Yes?" (Ooyodo)
"Patch me to Azur Lane's Commander. I want to check with him on something."
"Roger. Establishing connection." (Ooyodo)
After a few short rings, I can hear the sound of the phone being picked up.
"Hello! HMS Javelin speaking. Ah. Admiral Keita." (AL Javelin)
A cheerful voice greeted me. I was expecting the head maid to pick up but this is nice surprise.
"Hi Javelin. It's been a long time. How do you know it's me?"
"Your name showed up on the display. How is Zuihou doing?" (AL Javelin)
"She is doing great. We are in the midst of an operation right now."
"That's good. Yeah, the one in the Solomon Seas, right? Actually, we just found something that IJN might want to hear about. Ah. He is here. I will let Commander do the explanation. Commander! The phone!" (AL Javelin)
Her voice got softer towards the end. I assume she placed it aside to call for Ao. I can hear a little giggle on the other end.
"Yo. Keita, what's up?" (Suwanto Ao)
"Been busy these days. I heard there is some kind of new development?"
"Yeah. I will get to that. But you called me for a different reason, right?" (Suwanto Ao)
"Yep. Your intel states that there is only one Airfield Princess and one Lycoris Princess in the area, right?"
"Yep." (Suwanto Ao)
"Only one of each, right?"
"Yeah. Illustrious and Enterprise did a full sweep and only found those two in the northeast part of the operation area. Far away from the main paths." (Suwanto Ao)
I'm still worried but if he says so.
"Zuikaku and Ryuujou also did a sweep and only found those two as well." (Suwanto Ao)
"How is she coping? I heard Shoukaku's rehabilitation is going smoothly."
"Yeah. As long as she continues to put in the effort, Shoukaku will be back on the seas within the next two months. As for her sister, well, she is doing fine but could be better. She and most of the other Sakura Empire Kansen that defected to us aren't getting along with the rest of Azur Lane. They are willing to work with one another but there is still this air of animosity around them. Nagato, Belfast and Unicorn are working hard to bridge the gap but these things take a long time." (Suwanto Ao)
"I can imagine. They were trying to kill each other just a few months ago. Can't expect them to patch things up so quickly."
"That's right... Anyway, I was going to inform your HQ about this but since you're here, might as well tell you first." (Suwanto Ao)
"What is it?"
"Just today, at 0730hrs, Enterprise's air patrol discovered a lone Abyssal Carrier wandering around. The tall one with a large hat and tentacles." (Suwanto Ao)
"A Wo-class?"
"Yeah. That one. I think it's a standard varient too. The pictures don't show any yellow or red aura around it. Usually, when we find a lone Abyssal, we would take it out immediately. But this one was acting weirdly." (Suwanto Ao)
A weird Wo-class?
"How so?"
"Well for starters, it was visibly smaller." (Suwanto Ao)
"Are you sure that wasn't a Light Carrier Nu-class?"
"A Nu-class?" (Suwanto Ao)
"The ones with freakish hands sticking out of its head." (Javelin)
It's soft, but I can Javelin next to him.
"No. It's not a Nu-class. I will send the picture to your Yokosuka later." (Suwanto Ao)
"Okay. So a small Wo-class. Is that it?"
"No. Usually Abyssals would attack anything in sight indiscriminately. This one didn't. Instead, it cowered and went into a defensive curl when it spotted Enterprise's Wildcat fighters and Dauntless Dive Bombers. It did launch a couple of planes as a distraction and to attack the bombers when they got into bombing range before making a run for it.. After that, Enterprise lost sight of it." (Suwanto Ao)
"That's... weird."
This is the first time I heard of an Abyssal behaving like that. The only strange Abyssal I know of is the Northern Princess we call Hoppou-chan. She is the only Abyssal Princess that befriended the humans and frequents Yokosuka Base for snacks. Hoppu-chan declared the Marshal Admiral as her grandfather and Misaki-chan as her soul sister. Hoppou-chan would stay at the base till her entourage comes to pick her up.
All Abyssal types attack everything without any discrimination but the Wo-class are one of the more aggressive types. They are largely responsible for the mass destruction during the initial stages of the war. A fearful Wo-class which flees at the sight of a potential enemy is an anomaly in and of itself.
"Based on that encounter, think it might be the work of Sirens? I mean, they love to screw things up in this world."
"I won't rule out that possibility, but even by Siren standards, I don't see a point in making a fearful Abyssal. That Wo-class was wandering around the area, as if it was lost. Enterprise's planes managed to get close enough to snap a couple of shots of its face. You see the expressions on it's face." (Suwanto Ao)
"Send the details and pictures later. I want to see."
After confirming that there isn't any other anomalies, I hang up the call.
"Ooyodo, what do you think?"
"About what Commander Ao said about the Wo-class?" (Ooyodo)
I gave a nod.
"It makes no difference if it's abnormal or not. It is still an Abyssal that needs to be destroyed." (Ooyodo)
"What if it is the same as Hoppou-chan?"
"That... will be a different story. But until proven that it is harmless, our duty remains." (Ooyodo)
"A classic answer, huh. Well, you're not wrong. Those things are a menace to humanity. Anyway, it's time for dinner. Let's lock up this place."
"Yes!" (Ooyodo)
As we packed our things and left the Command Centre, I can hear Ooyodo humming a tune happily.
"Someone's happy. Excited to be part of the Carrier Task Force?"
"Yes~!" (Ooyodo)
I locked the door and secured the latch with a padlock.
It's going to get extremely busy again.
