Our Bonds

"Finally they're gone." (Admiral)

"That's right. Everyone was on edge."

"They did well holding back. I thought all of you would become trigger-happy." (Admiral)

"Geez. Even if we are angry, we wouldn't do something as reckless as firing in our base."

"Yeah, yeah. Let's get back to work. Today we have a bunch of sorties to do. The others are waiting in the office." (Admiral)

"Yes!"

I followed Admiral back to the office. Today is the first time in a while I get to sortie with everyone else. No, that 'investigation' back then was not a sortie. It was just something Admiral came up with to get me out for a while. I cannot wait to try out the new glove he gave me.

"We have an emergency sortie. An Abyssal Carrier Fleet has just been spotted near Brunei Anchorage. Kure and Maizuru are to rush there and provide support. Looks like you and the others are up, Zuihou!"

"Roger!"

An emergency sortie. Haven't had those in a long time. It's supposed to be serious but I can't help but feel excited for it.

"Main Mobile Fleet 1, begin sortie!"

"Roger!"

--------------------------

The skies look grim. It's like a storm is going to happen anytime soon. We have met up with the girls from Kure. They sent in three battlesh.i.p.s, Nagato-san, Mutsu-san and Hiei-san, and three Destroyers, Ushio-chan, Hamakaze-chan and Naganami-chan. Seeing all of them makes me feel somewhat jealous of their size. This is so unfair!

"Zuihou, what's wrong?" (Agano)

"Ah, oh. Nothing."

"Nervous for your first mission in a while?" (Suzuya)

"No! In fact, this is rather exciting."

"As expected of the plane maniac." (Suzuya)

"Wh-what?!"

"Well, she ain't wrong." (Ryuujou)

"Ryuujou-chan, you too!?"

"Hmm? What's going on?" (Yuudachi-chan)

Before anyone could say anything, we received a telegram from one of our scout planes.

"The enemy fleet has almost destroyed half of Brunei Anchorage! Three enemies spotted! Two Battleship Water demons and one Abyssal Pacific Princess?!"

This is bad. The Abyssal Pacific Princess was a new type that was just discovered a few months ago. on top of that, there are two water demon types. One is already extremely tough, but two of them?!

Everyone else seems to have the same way too, as most of us start to panic.

"Everyone calm down!" (Nagato)

"I know this will be hard but we have to do it. Let's split into fours. Zuihou-chan, Hamakaze-chan, Suzuya-san and Shigure-chan, you four take on one of the water demons. Hiei-san, Agano-san, Ushio-chan and Naganami-chan will focus on the Pacific Princess. She should have a weak point somewhere. The rest of us will take on the other water demon." (Mutsu)

"Ugh... Gross!" (Suzuya)

"Ueeehh~" (Ushio)

"I have sent a telegram back to HQ about the situation. They should be sending backup soon. Let's hold out until then." (Hiei)

Wow. The battleship girls are so composed. They know what to do in these types of situations. Time to focus. We are already closing in on the three of them.

"Ready, now!" (Nagato)

On Nagato's signal, we split into our groups and engage our respective targets. Normally, the first one to strike would get the upper hand, but I don't think that would do much. In addition to its superior firepower, a Water Demon class also has extremely tough armor. It will take more than just AP shells and torpedos to even make a scratch on it. Even so, we know why the four of us were assigned to one. Our main job isn't to sink it, rather, it is to stall for time until the battlesh.i.p.s eliminated the others. In the meantime, we should at least try to whittle it's defenses down even by a bit.

"Okay, let's go. Attack corps, take off!"

I launched my first wave of torpedo bombers and dive bombers. Suzuya-san launched her Zuiun as well. The Water Demon is still out of our destroyer's shelling range, but within torpedo range. For now, we should be out of its attack range. The plan is to dish out as much damage while maintaining long range. At the same time, the destroyers would launch torpedo salvos while drawing it's fire. Risky, but this is our only chance of doing any damage to it. We will survive this, and go home together!

"First wave of bombers returning! Preparing the next wave!"

"Alright. Shigure-chan, Hamakaze-chan, launch your torpedos whenever you're ready. Don't launch all at once though. Stick to the plan." (Suzuya)

"Roger!" (Shigure and Hamakaze)

As I prepare my next squadron, a puff of smoke appeared from the water demon's location.

"Shells incoming!"

The shells hit the water. A bunch of near-misses. How? We should be out of its attack range.

"Tch! If it's like this...!" (Suzuya)

Suzuya-san suddenly charged forward.

"Suzuya-san?! Hurry and come back!"

"Just leave it to Suzuya~!" (Suzuya)

What the heck is she thinking? I quickly let loose my second squadron of bombers. I don't see any if Suzuya-san's Zuiuns anywhere. Did all of them got shot down?

"Zuihou-chan, can you launch another squadron?" (Suzuya)

"Suzuya-san, what are you planning?"

"Come on~ just trust me, ~kay?" (Suzuya)

"Got it. I will launch another one."

"Good. Shigure-chan, how many more torpedos do you have left?" (Suzuya)

"Hmm... One last one." (Shigure)

"One my signal, launch it. Hamakaze-chan, you and I will keep distracting it."

"Roger!" (Hamakaze)

Suzuya-san is acting uncharacteristically calm and collected right now. It's like she knows what she is doing. I wish she would tell us her plan first though.

"Alright. Hey, ugly! Take this!" (Suzuya)

Unbelievable! She just went right in front of the water demon and shot it point-blank in the face! All while it was distracted by the planes and Hamakaze-chan's shelling.

The water demon looks hurt, and definitely pissed off. It angled it's guns and shot Suzuya-san at point-blank range.

"Suzuya-san!!"

No, it can't be! There's no way anybody can survive a shot at that range. It can't end like this.

All my planes have launched and fire off their torpedos and bombs. Most of them were shot down. A destroyers main guns can't do anything to a Water Demon's armour. And they have already exhausted their torpedos. I knew it... From the start, we already lost this battle.