"Why. Mutsuki, Why did you leave us?" I was floating about in water. everything dark...

"Were we not good enough for what you wanted?"

"Did we do something to push you over the edge?"

"We needed you, Why did you sell us out?"

"Traitor."

"How dare you betray us. Get out of my sight."

Opening my eyes. I found myself facing the guns of... something, One that I had little information about that. "Who are you?"

"Your debt for betraying us." Acting on reflexes i didn't even know were there. I bought up my gunblade as i pulled the trigger and i saw the guns accelerating shells as everything went-


Awakeness came. but with it came heavy pain, A blue haze cloaked my vision as i tried not to cry out. feeling as though i was being shot over and over again, I convulsed and seized up until my head boiled over. and i started whining uncomfortably.

I thought over what had just happened. I felt as if I was Abyssal Kisaragi, being condemned by the friends i used to know and then presumably being killed by some unknown battleship. I really hoped that didn't meant abyssal conversion was a thing. Because that would be such a dumb twist.

I was a little afraid to fall back asleep after that, so i figured i might as well lay down on bed with the pain receding as i had nothing better to do in the night. I soon heard movement as someone slowly walked. It was... Himura?

"H-Himura...?" I called out, my voice pained and quiet. It seems that whatever i had been doing before I woke up had stirred the destroyer awake as she peeked in. Her green eyes gleaming in the moonlight and her black hair only added to it. It seemed she had only just woke up as she didn't appear to have been awake for some time now.

"Mutsuki-chan, Are you ok?" She asked. crawling in and sitting on the bed with me, I rubbed my head to calm down my headache as i sat up to get a better talking pose.

"S-Sorry. I just... Ugh, had a nightmare. I was... um..." My voice hitched as I tried to find the words for it, She quickly moved to hold me and i carefully returned the hug.

"It's ok. You don't need to tell me, I am here. Mutsuki-chan. and we're all ok. Yeah? We're still here." She assured me. I leaned on her shoulder as I grunted in discomfort from my receding headache. It took my willpower to not shut my eyes closed as I caught my breath.

"I...I was floating in the void and i heard voices, Voices of my friends. I can hear them screaming of crying at me. asking why i did these fateful things, Why i turned my back... T-Then.. they started calling me traitor, And I heard them asking they needed me... told me to get out of sight, A-And I saw a battleship... One i don't know. shooting me before i shot back as well..." I gripped my shirt. "It went white after that and... I woke up with lots of pain in my head! It still hurts so muchhh..."

Himura seemed a bit shocked that i had such a strange and bizarre nightmare. and she began to stroke my back as the pain went away more still. "M-Mutsuki, You miss them. right? I understand if you do. but we're your friends, and we support you through whatever happens!" Himura told me. She had to have been kind underneath that shy exterior. and i wondered if the Ro of the other I-class girls would have said the same. I had started out initially on rocky matters. but we had gotten closer ever since and there was no need for me to be a lone destroyer.

I let out a relieved sigh as the last throes faded. my head still on her shoulder, I still grunted. but the bridge-cracking pain was gone. which i was thankful for, "I... know. It was just a dumb nightmare... My memories are haunting me again."

Himura smiled, but she shook her head. "Mutsuki-chan. We're all worried on what might happen to us, We're all had nightmares about the unthinkable. But you're strong. Mutsuki. You're determinated. stern. and the best friend a girl could ask for, When we're out there on the sea. I know we're all glad to have you with us! You're caring and quick to worry. and for that, I am happy to know you. Mutsuki-chan. Even if we used to be enemies!"

"H-Himura..." I tried to smile gently as with how much noise we were making. I was getting worried about waking the others up. "I-I suppose but... i think you've going to wake up the others!"

Himura looked a bit sheepish as she held me gently. "O-Oh. sorry. Mutsuki."

I pulled back. a bit confused with a smile as I noticed the dropped honorfic but i didn't care right now. All i knew was that i did have people supporting me. and Himura would not be happy to see me hurting myself for me to care about the little 'chan'. "Uhh, Can you stay with me tonight. Himura?" I tried to go back to sleep as i heard nothing but peaceful wind.

Himrua blushed a bit but nodded. and she crawled under the blanket as well. I made sure it was comfortable for the both of us as I stared up at the ceiling. her face turned toward me as we cuddled up together. "I just wanna sleep..."

I felt Himura carefully as she watched me quietly trying to go to sleep. Something had changed, but i wasn't sure if i should mention it. I had just woke up with a pounding headache and a nightmare. and I didn't want to make things worse of even more weird than it already was. As I let my thoughts flow. It seemed Himrua had noticed that i didn't stop moving and she started opening her green eyes. catching me having just turned a bit to stare at her. "M-Mutsuki?"

Himura was quite precious and cute for a abyssal destroyer. and I tried to suppress a lewd if jaded thought. "Hmm? W-what is it?"

Himura too decided to lay down as she looked at me. "Mutsuki, What do you believe in?"

I closed my eyes as i tried to come up with something before finding it. "Hmm.. W-well, I believe in a world that's not on a downward spiral. economically and socially from its own leaders. Do you understand the meaning of 'The last one standing writes history'?"

"Ehhh? What do you mean by that, Mutsuki-chan?" She asked.

"Welll... Remember how the Soviet union's and America's horrors. one on a case of allying out of convenience and the other of a regime support war... all were covered up? Yet Iraq and Germany and Japanese and Yugoslavia and Libyan shock and atrocity propgandpa were all hyped up to boiler-breaking levels. only for the media to go silent on Libya and Iraq with the failure of the regime changes. Himura-chan? Knowing what the US did, I know what fate awaits me if we lose... And that's why i fight. Himura-chan."

Himura looked a bit surprised by my declaration but decided to reply back as i hoped i didn't wake someone up. "W-Wow, Mutsuki-chan. I never thought you would do what you did but... Did you really hate humanity that much or is there some other reason. Mutsuki? You're a bit of a airhead but kind. and you're... cute with your soft hair but...Was there a reason?"

"A-A reason? Oryo? Let's just say... With my powers... I would have been disappeared and then have my rights voided thus never existing, In other words. doomed to being scrapped. Himura-chan, Do you ever wonder what it's like?"

"I-I know!" Himura shivered a bit at the thought... maybe a little too loudly, I smiled sadly. but let her go on. "T-Then, Mutsuki-chan. We will support you no matter what happens. You're perfect. don't ever doubt yourself otherwise." I was afraid she was being a little too stern. But i wanted to make sure i gave her my reasons even if i wasn't the real mutsuki. "You're strong. Mutsuki-chan."

I stared and blinked at her, trying to have a idea on how to respond. Even if i may be a enemy. At least she knew how I felt and what were my reasons. and that was enough for me, Maybe i was being afraid. but i decided to hug her silently, This destroyer needed to know there was someone who cared for her instead of being one of the many countless casualties in this war.

"L-Let's just sleep... We talk tomorrow..." I felt her hand on my face as i gasped slightly. I noticed she had pulled in closer to me and I focused back on her eyes as she looked into my own. "G-Good night. Mutsuki."

"Oi... good night. Himura." I closed my eyes as i let myself be carried off to wonderland. not having to worry about any airstrikes or explosions in the distance as I felt relaxed and at peace with no dreams to haunt me.


Unknown time later. Possibly the next day of at least a few days

"Well. Fuck." These were the words muttered as I rode the waves along with my squadron and a bunch of other cruisers and a carrier along for the ride as a storm battered us with sea spray and lowered visibility.

I was deployed for a second time. Due to how i had been updated on the situation, i had requested extra forces. which was followed though quickly as in total. Including myself. Himura. Ine. Ioko. Rini. we were about 12 strong with 2 Atlanta-type Tsu class. 2 Hes of the Omaha subtype and another pair of Ri-class Myoko and New-Orleans subtype followed by a Independence-type Nu-class light carrier.

At some point during the noon. on one of our sightseeing trips we were again contacted hurriedly by that Ooyodo instructor Ri-class. I had learned her name might have been Wintara at some point, but with our professional relationship It was hard to tell if it was really her name. I would have to ask her at some point.

We were told that a enemy strike force had been sighted by a bunch of scouting cruisers, Most of the cruisers were either killed of torn apart. but they had managed to get a message out that they had sighted a combined Japanese-german shipgirl force before they blew up. There were also the confirmed presence of carriers which were one of my reasons for the selection of the Atlantas.

Seeing as i was the high-value specialist tasked with eliminating risky targets I was deemed fit for this job. Shortly after we departed however the weather quickly became severe as we were in the middle of a storm. We were getting more experienced but stormy weather was something some of us didn't deal with before in live conditions and while my electronics might ensure i would be the best in bad weather... My squadron didn't have the gift of modern equipment let alone specialized traiing to fight in high-wind. stormy conditions with low visibility.

That, and it also meant It virtually fell to me to be the one directing everything as we were practically blind beyond short distances and submarines would be likely hiding during the storm as well. I had been pulsing my search radars on and off so far and while its cutting through the clutter... The range is still reduced compared to clear daytime conditions.

On the upside however, I would know where they were at all times. and it was very hard to detect our group in this violent and cold weather. One of my sensors had malfunctioned at some point however and was undergoing some downtime before it was back up. It still left my all-weather aircraft viable as did the idea of calling up other surface units to search for possible echoes that i had detected. It's boring. but be it through my Kanmusu mindset or simply staring off into space. it's bearable.. for now.

Powering the AN-SPS 55 monopulse-upgraded RADAR, I just detected a bunch of contacts that were heading west ahead of me. Some time to narrow the search beam told me that they were making the better part of a fast cruising speed and while they weren't on a intercept course. They were steaming in a direction toward a friendly fleet that had been mentioned before pre-battle.

These didn't look like a submarine or destroyer-

The Main enemy fleet.

Right... Judging from how many contacts there were without being lost into one single target in the noise. There had to be at least 12+. at least possibly 24? That was enough to overmatch any sort of friendly abyssal fleet other than the home fleet ones. and even then it was said we were on a defensive mindset despite trying to go on the offensive, This had to be the enemy fleet in question... They could be destroyers or simply independent scouting units but... I was not going to risk it.

Well, Visibility was low and now that i had powered up the surface search radar. I knew they were there at the least, Nothing about direction of speed changed so it seemed reasonable to assume they did not intercept my active radar yet and they might continue to do so. The chance this was my objective was very high. But if they were simply something else, Was i going to pass the chance?

There were friendly fleets nearby. But any sort of radio traffic might raise suspicion and submarines were... dubious against a screen. So if i had the chance to hit them undetected with a breakthrough then I couldn't pass it up. Even with the risks involved and the possibility of enemy aircraft.

"Himura! To all of you! Enemy fleet detected on RADAR, Long range and ahead of us. steaming west! Prepare for possible anti air combat!" Hearing a affirmative. My fleet began arming theirselves and going on alert as i thought my options over... Could i direct the other squadrons and packs around here? Might i be able to direct the entire battle giving orders and directions as needed? Bomb them from beyond the clouds even though laser-guided bombs were unreliable with clouds? Maybe harass them with Exocet anti-ship missiles?

"Mutsuki, How the hell are we going to deal with them? Especially when we can't navigate straight in this bad weather?" Rini spoke up, Her concern was well-founded as she didn't have specialized training of the experience for stormy operations. However, If GCI could be applied to shipgirls despite the feeling of trying to herd cats onto a house every weekend...

"I vector you onto them, Risky. I know, But with the right element of surprise and the necessary reinforcements we can execute a anvil and hammer strike. Besides. it also goes the other way, they can't see us either and storms are not something my... former friends trained for, They trained for the night."

Ine stayed silent before giving her answer. "An excellent idea, Mutsuki! We can ambush them from both sides and launch torpedo attacks before disappearing into the mist. But how do we pull that off?" That was the problem, I was a fan of USSR Deep-battle operations and its compensation for lack of tactical skill. But it didn't look so easy when you were the one planning the attack...

"It's going to put a lot of strain on me but i think i can make it work, We however need to execute a overwhelming strike before withdrawing. Either that of we need to outnumber them two to one for this to work!" Knowing that reinforcements could also serve to increase my odds. I radioed back up the chain of command as i set about to calling for reinforcements even if i wasn't the equal of a full-fledged princess in rank anyway.

Ordering my crew to attempt communications. I began sending a radio message back. 5 destroyers. 4 cruisers and 2 heavy cruisers plus a Nu-class who were likely just green recruits would not hold up against possibly 20+ units that were at least trained or skilled. "Mutsuki to Local Fleet command. Picked up radar echoes just recently, Multiple signatures. Possibly 12-24 enemy units with at least a capital ship. Request local command of a friendly fleet. Stormy weather, Visibility low but still combat-effective."

"Mutsuki, What happens if we can't get reinforcements?" Ioko shouted over the storm, Without these reinforcements. any direct battle would be dubious at best which would only leave out attirtion and ambushes as the option. And trying to manage anything more than a few shipgirls striking at once with real-time updates...

"...W..We harass them and wear them down, It's too risky if we are outnumbered and Its best i save up my aircraft for striking a devastating blow." Soon. my crew got ready to establish communications as i got in touch with a local superior. Speaking with himes may be unpleasant, but at least you don't have to do so for more than several seconds.

'Request granted, Assigning a nearby fleet of cruisers and a battlecruiser. Continue shadowing the enemy fleet and intercept when opportunity presents.' With one of my fairies appearing at my shoulder again but being forced back inside because of the storm. I simply replied. 'Orders received. Squadron on hold and updating enemy fleet course and location.'

"Good news!" I said to my companions. who wondered what news it might be. "A friendly fleet of what i think might be several cruisers and a battlecruiser is on the way, Bad news? Well... Oryo... We still have to keep shadowing the enemy fleet but they will be here in time before the storm dissipates. Local defeats are nothing compared to striking a decisive blow!"

Both the I-class destroyers and even a few cruisers looked nervous at the idea of meeting a enemy kanmusu fleet who were just as well-equipped as them. maybe even better in certain areas, "We doing this? For real?" Ine replied as i nodded and gave my answer.

"Yeah... No backing out now, We do this and we strike with the force of a Desert's sandstorm. I will be backing you up as the situation demands."


Spending the better part of a hour of so going away at the plan, I had painted the location of the enemy fleet with pulses from time to time and while it seems i am evenly matched for the most part, There are a few things that would need to be addressed as they could affect the outcome.

The first was that if enemy carriers were involved. Then the Nu-class was going to do jack-crap-all since the Independence-type carrier would be too busy fending off fighters, We had autocannons sure. but what good does that do if ther was no medium-caliber gun available yet and a perfected FCS still hasn't been solved yet? That would strain my fighters and force me to allocate air superiority missions to them.

The second was the difference in experience, I'm noticing a pattern where rookie abyssals often end up dying on their first deployments. and the ones that are lucky enough to survive several sorties usually become the fearsome elites and flagship variants sometimes seen. Granted, it's not like a case of throwing a sea of bodies at artillery but... It was noticeable, though in principle this could be solved by planning around for that problem of by taking advantage of the element of surprise.

Third was the possibility of submarines-These lurking girls may not be in a battlefleet, But if they were around... That complicated matters with one of them taking a potshot at the least. Sure, my squadron was safe. but what about the other friendly fleet?

Fourth was how untested my planning and management skills were. I could plan and execute something like Deep operations... But these were on land, not sea. and some of them just looked like a massive variation of blitzkrieg. And without air support of even something like combined arms which made both Blitz and Deep operations so powerful...

Himura noticed me sighing and being in a unhappy mood as she placed a hand over my shoulder as we sailed in the storm. "M-Mutsuki! Is something wrong?"

I turned my head around and scoffled as i shot her a apologizing smile. "S-Sorry! I am just trying to think exactly how this will work!"

Against a IJN-German force. With Japanese advantages in nightfighting disrupted by storm and with me knowing where they were by pulsing my RADARs on and off every so often. The second friendly fleet was to accelerate to combat speed despite the stress this could cause and attempt to position theirselves so as to cross the 'T'. Granted. this was more for shock effect rather than having anything beneficial. but surprising them this way would likely lead to some loss in cohesion.

At this point, Torpedo units. which had been positioned at the shoulders of the fleet until now would go in. This included the Myoko and Omaha under my command. as well as the friendly fleet detaching a few of their own as well. They were to force a breakthrough. directed by ground control from me and vectored in until visual contact was acquired. At which point they were to launch a torpedo attack so as to disrupt the formation from trying to dodge torpedoes or either draw fire of their own.

Once that was done, The enemy fleet would be likely to turn around and flee or either try and destroy the shoulder holding abyssal shipgirls. Once the torpedo action was concluded, Me and the I-classes along with Rini and any remaining cruisers i had at this point would then launch a surprise attack from the rear. intending to cut off any possible escape and destroy these who did so while keeping them boxed in against the battlecruiser and the second fleet. The Nu-class's aircraft would also be flown no matter the danger of doing so in a storm along with my own, which likely would have rearmed at this point from having just attacked with GP bombs as well as ejecting flares to confirm the enemy's position. In effect, the second fleet would be just a Maskirovka attack and there would be multiple points of attacks happening-In this case with the first phase. From the front and the shoulders, then after that from the rear.

If they broke apart into two lines trying to escape from the rear shoulders. then one of them would be pursued and destroyed, If they didn't? I and the cruisers along with the I-classes would try to keep them boxed in for as long as possible before they broke through. The destruction of any shipgirls would be just a goal that was ultimately subordinated to me with the actual goal of intercepting and shattering a battle fleet. Nothing more. nothing less.

Now, I just had to execute it right... My crew got to work as i began sending messages and a burst of radio traffic. again hoping i didn't cause any suspicion...

I got a reply from one of the cruisers in that group as I set about to work. "Mutsuki, Don't you think we should just attack from both sides instead? We have the element of surprise here! surely we can do so right now instead of waiting for them to come to us?"

Sighing, I just growled back as i wasn't in the mood for herding cats into a house right now... "Hey~. Look, I am not in the mood right now! We need to achieve maximum surprise and confusion of the enemy. If they think turning around will help them, They won't be pleased when they find a line of destroyers cutting off their escape! Be patient and think rather than rushing straight in." Rini gave me a doubtful look about whether this was going to work while Ine and Ioko looked prepared for the fight that was able to happen, and the cruisers looked a bit nervous to say the least.

Feeling another wave crash over me. My crew made a comment to me that one of my bombers were going to have to undergo downtime. I cursed a bit but at least I was glad it was just one plane. I began tenaciously ordering each of the second friendly fleet's ships into position as i began pulsing my radars on and off with increasing frequency. I wouldn't attempt to screw up something in the plan now.

We managed to make it to the position before my enemy contacts did, And I took any extra time i had to send out a wing of F-111Fs loaded with Exocets and the heaviest bombs i could find, as well as a few Su-33s armed with Archers and Persuaders as a precautionary measure against any enemy aircraft and to provide flare marking. We were waiting for them to come as we held our position and the cruisers were still not rushing to the shoulders yet. It meant that we would have to relocate if they did change course. But it also meant that we could see them slowly coming over the horizon as well as avoiding detection in the storm. Which was far more important in my opinion as i needed to achieve surprise. So long as something unexpected didn't happen... The second fleet would take the brunt of damage if necessary.

So for now, It was just being rocked back and forth by the waves and waiting for them to pass into visual range as my fighters awaited the signal for flare dropping.

"Mutsuki, How much longer do we have to wait?"

"Sir?"

We had been chatting, but we kept it down to a minimum to try and avoid raising any signs something was wrong. The contacts were edging around the low visiblity fog and mist... There! Now was the time!

"Fighters! Deploy flares for signalling! Everyone! Eyes on where i am looking!"

Accelerating to supersonic speed as afterburners lit on, My Sea flankers needed no further proclamation as they suddenly turned around and powered up their RADARs in SAR mode. making low-level and medium-level passes once as they ejected flares and sure enough. I was able to see them.

They were lit up by the light from the flares as we began training our weapons on them. The kanmusu fleet looked confused over the blurs that had passed them-they had no time to identify these were my fighters as we got ready to execute the plan. I began identifying what i could as everyone tensely waited for the order to begin executing the plan (Though the Nu-class wasn't happy about having one of her dive bombers getting lost in the clouds above). From what i was seeing and confirming with my radar. The fleet consisted or Shikinami. Amagiri. Ariake. a few Shiratsuyus like Murasame and Umikaze plus Suzukaze, Amatsukaze and Maikaze. Then there was Isuzu. Natori. Yura. Sawaka. Noshiro. Prinz eugen. And finally it was all completed by Myoko and Nachi plus Chikuma. It was finished with the Ises and Unryuu and... Wait... Bismarck?

As I held fire tight. It looked like i was outnumbered for sure, However. it also meant that in the event one of them broke up. a pursuit against a fleeing line could inflict sizeable damage or perhaps annihilation. Total destruction was not needed and in fact went against my wishes, As with how poorly trained some of the shipgirls under my command for the time being were. such a attempt would probably mean getting killed by a counterattack of so!

"We have the enemy fleet in sight, What are your orders?" Someone spoke up as i gritted my teeth. Now that there were the Ises... Bombing them was priority, although bombing the lead ships might cause them to break up faster and deny them a screen against the shoulder units.

"Outnumbered... Fu, It doesn't matter desu! we execute the plan like we agreed to! Second fleet, Start the tactical battle as soon as i give the signal!" The cruisers and the battlecruiser gave affirimatives as we waited. but oen second more might mean they could realize they had been discovered...

Could the destroyers disrupt and chase down the cruisers?

"Mutsuki?"

Were they capable of crushing us if we failed with the surprise?

"We can't just stand around like this!"

Shaking my head, i narrowed my eyes as i gave a grunt. "U-Uaeh... Correct for any errors, Second fleet. Fire! Cruiser holding units hold!"

And just like that. the battle began as the Second fleet fired the first set of a hailstorm of salvos. Much to my disappointment however, some of them were off with the estimates as I saw misses and i heard chatter of corrections and cursing. Honestly, There was no telling how well this multistage plan may go. I have liked to at least have the full idea of what this strike fleet had in mind and whether the recruits could stay steady. But i had to trust them and have confidence they follow the plan.

At that point. I ordered my Aardvarks to go in for a supersonic attack run and drop bombs on anything with heavy firepower like Natori and a few on battleships to cause some panic and start fires. A few second later, My friendly fleet had finished correcting for factors and they fired the second storm of shells. It was a line of smoke and fog, and soon i was seeing a I-cloud of smoke.

I didn't care. I just wanted to get results already.

Unlike before, I observed some direct hits as interference from the explosions also caused by my own bombs nearly confused me. but effort on my own end meant that after correcting for errors and weather. I saw something that had me letting out a sigh of relief.

Multiple large-caliber hits on Isuzu and Yura. Fires started by bombs on the Ise sisters and Bismarck.

Finally, These group salvoes had finally scored some direct hits!

Then I heard the rumble of multiple return shots as the cruisers wanted to move in but a single order kept them still. I guess my former friends had gotten over their confusion and surprise and were trying to guess where the shells were coming from.

I will not lie. Part of me feared for the Second fleet especially if damage control was not up to par. I understood what worked for carriers didn't matter on battleships due to the duration of the damage involved. but still...

Instead the water around them exploded as multiple shells splashed down, too scattered to come close even if some had correctly guessed. The storm and severe visibility was adding up, But now there was the risk of the enemy fleet accidentally figuring out where the Second fleet was before the holding units could go in. and i was outnumbered here, If we broke up. the result would be a disorganized withdrawal.

I guess training quality was still important huh? But screw it, The second fleet was doing the job for now at least.

"Holding units... Wait a bit more..."

Next salvo went at the destroyers, Now that my friendly fleet finally had corrected for ranging. They were able to start shooting with full confidence as I saw a salvo smash straight into the Shiratsuyus and set them ablaze.

But my crew updates weren't good. It seems that the destroyers were now accelerating ahead to combat speed and were charging in to see exactly who their attackers were. I couldn't let that happen.

So the next thing had to blunt the destroyers and make them think going in was too dangerous. Forget about the battleships and cruisers. I couldn't let these destroyers get too close as otherwise they might discover the Cruiser holding units and figure out the second stage of the plan before i could set it in motion.

"fire rockets on Shikinami and Amagiri! Don't let her get close desu!" Complying with the order. my Su-33s set theirselves up for a attack from the sides as they fired Persuader rockets, hypervelocity warheads straddling and slamming straight into Shikinami. In Amagiri's case tearing her bridge apart as it opened up new holes. But there were still more destroyers backing them in as the main fleet was getting closer enough.

"Cruiser Holding units! Engage! Do as you see fit!"

But that was a problem for later, The second stage had now been activated with the cruiser holding units and right now it was an non-stop eruption of steel and high explosives as my Sea flankers released more flares to illuminate my main enemy fleet. Maikaze and Amatsukaze (Oh, the luck!) nearly exploded as the result of a firing solution given by the constantly computed impact ballistics on a few F-111Fs and Natori went up in flames. Several more destroyers had now activated their searchlights.

Now that the main screen unit had been hampered. It left the capital ships to deal with, I was outnumbered and outdone in quality. But to a considerable extent i was mitigating that by using the weather and knowing where they were. What's more. their cruisers and battleships were looking toward the cruiser holding unit's directions a bit too much. That and the Kanmusu fleet had already began firing back.

"Rini! Ine! Ioko! All of you! Accelerate to full speed ahead! We're commencing phase three now that the cruisers are on the move desu!" I shouted over the radio chatter as already i was starting to take casualties with one of my own cruisers going up in flames from the Second Fleet. but that didn't matter as offering some support fire and to sow discord I fired off my Exocet anti-ship missile tubes, specifically targeted at Sawaka and Prinz along with Bismarck, I also set SAMs to surface mode if needed.

"Right!" Ioko yelled as smoke came out from her smokestack before we began moving out. In the resulting chaos, we had to hope the searchlight beams didn't sweep any of us of that one of us didn't break the order to not fire yet as we sighted the fleed to the left of us. Trainnig was again against us, But with enough time to correct the firing solution... In any case i saw 152mm class shells raining down on Murasame. poor tsun.

In the chaos, I gave the order for the holding cruiser units to attack with the chaos of my anti-ship missiles having been just unleashed in a very bold move hoping to force them out of a ordered battle line and dislocate them. Finally. one of my cruisers exploded... But not before I had gotten a victim in the form of Umikaze who had found much of her interior missing. I felt a small pang of sadness but suppressed it as the shoulder flanking cruisers began their torpedo attack... but were to not fire yet for a bit more.

"Shift left!" I cried out as the battlecruiser cracked open Prinz... only for Bismarck to end up slinging her own shots into the Second fleet as i saw them beginning to lose cohesion and orderly organization. Some of them were already starting to fire wildly now in trying to split their engagement.

I caught sight of a He-class engaged in a running artillery fight with three enemy destroyers. The light cruiser was shooting as fast as she could to stop the oncoming screens. and already I saw the first signs that torpedos had been fired (not counting my flanking units) just before she ended up being the target for bombardment.

As much as I may have had success with the surprise attack and using the weather. We were still outnumbered as in exchange Ariake suffered severe damage and a few more again went up in flames of suffered secondary explosions. The flanking units however were doing their job good, the unexpected torpedo spreads and now the new threat of a flanking unit ensuing the disruption of the Kanmusu formation as shipgirls turned to avoid the danger of oncoming torpedoes. One of the dauntlesses from a Nu-class went out of control as it crashed into Yura. causing a bad-looking fire.

While there were a few hiccups and unexpected things there and there, Things were going with the flow for now and with the enemy fleet forced against a bullish cow It had also gave me the chance to approach from behind and execute multiple breakthroughs from multiple directions.

I knew that the combined fleet had no such options and that they were caught in a Third Kharkov scenario.

"Enemy fleet trying to change directions and fighting their way out against one of the shoulders!" I gave the order for the cruisers to keep them sealed in no matter what as one of my heavy cruisers again suffered a series of detonations from exploding ammunition storage but was able to still keep fighting albeit with a heavily reduced capacity. I locked my gaze onto the capital ships as Murasame and Suzukaze finally sank. I began dialing in for range as my radars and electronics directly computed the issue at hand before my crew blurted out the solution to my own fleet with me as they all took aim in turn.

"Accelerate to combat speed! Fire desu!" I started firing as the ones with me also did the same, Rini looking quite confident. I forced my radar to switch to Isuzu who was getting ready for another storm of torpedoes. I allowed my guns to fire in a harmony as the autoloaders rotated new shells in from the drum and shoved it onto the main loading mechanism. I found Ine to my right doing the same. and the cruisers with me were busy beating down Yura and Noshiro. I had to slow down a bit as some of my Sea flankers and Aardvarks had to return and rearm.

"Second Fleet. What's the situation?" I sounded over the radio as cannon fire thumped. If the Second fleet failed...

"Mutsuki!" I heard the battlecruiser forcing out a reply. "We lost a Kent and we have two Ris who are badly hurt. We have a torpedo squadron coming from right in front of us and you. plus these battleships are shelling the hell out of us!"

"Hold your position! The cruisers are going in but we have yet to see them panic!" I clenched my teeth as i needed to keep losses down...

"Alright! We try our best!" I kept up the fire. The enemy fleet starting to freak out as they found theirselves held in from 4 sides at once. As it stood however, it was not the time for a torpedo attack from me. Hearing the sounds of my Exocets loading theirselves however, I acquired a lock on Noshiro and Amagiri before the sounds of rocket motors overtook my hearing as the payloads flew into the air.

Noshiro and Amagiri only saw trails of light until it was too late as one of them. Noshiro began to sink. I turned my attention away from that mess of kerosene and high explosives and started firing on the more harder to hit targets like the destroyers only to see Bismarck shelling the Second fleet. In response i shifted my fire again, trying to start a fire of at least inflict superstructure damage.

"Enemy fleet starting to retreat!"

"Some of them are panicking... I can see it!" I gasped.

"Could be a good time to finish off Bismarck right now!"

"I agree. but we can't afford to suffer too many losses!" Now with Umikaze and Noshiro down along with Murasame and Suzukaze. They were trying to escape in a disorderly and shattered way. Good thing to know, but I had to pick which line to surround and destroy. There were so many targets... That group with a angry looking Prinz and Shikinami or the remaining Shiratsuyus and cruisers? I needed to decide which to cut off and shatter... In any case I only had one chance as i wanted to minimize casualties.

Deciding on Isuzu. Natori. Sawaka. Yura. Nachi and Chikuma plus Unryuu (who had been launching aircraft but in this weather..) as well as Hyuga and Maikaze. I barked out the orders as while the others could be covered down by fire... They were to all concentrate on them and crush them with many blows from multiple depths.

"Forward! Intercept them and do not let them get away desu!"

The Second Fleet began moving in as one of the holding units split off. 152 and 203mm guns as well as the occasional battlecruiser guns all now joined my firepower along with my second wave of aircraft, who all had rearmed and were now ready to go out again. This time. Exocets and Persuaders with flechettes would serve to fulfill their mission parameters. Hyuga and Nachi fought back but soon enough Isuzu finally went down as my Aardvarks and Sea flankers arrived. Still in disarray from the holding units as well as the attack from behind. The kanmusus were unable to react as I broke through and isolated them from the other retreating battle lines. and with many incoming units to close the holes were not going to be escaping anytime soon.

Persuader rockets went screaming as they flew faster than even Hydras. only for the middle body panels to fall apart and peel away to release a cloud of general purpose/medium armor flechettes. Against heavy armor they may just break apart. But on the exposed superstructure or secondary mounts. of the splinter-only protection of Japanese heavy cruisers... The results were like firing a giant shotgun as AA mounts had several new holes. and superstructures were turned into swiss cheese.

"Keep up the pressrue!" As shells began raining down amidst the storm. The trapped battle line were forced to split their fire between my fleet and the incoming Second Fleet as well as one of the cruiser flanking units. Something I tried to exploit as much as possible by maximizing the shock and conducting non-stop rocket and Exocet attacks with my aircraft. Now pocketed and caught in a unenviable situation. The only hope was if the other scattered battle lines managed to reform theirselves into a single. coherent effective fleet. and harassing attacks on Bismarck and the Ises, followed by the constant threat of torpedoes rendered that impractical.

After that, It was just destruction of the isolated enemy frontline units. which had been rendered irrelevant by rushing the reserves and strategic depth to bring about a catastrophic failure of the frontline defenses. And in this case it was Hyuga and her isolated fleet. and that would not take long.

Screaming

I kept firing as a torpedo found its attractor and Nachi exploded. Natori found herself showered by a hailstorm of shells and finally got blasted apart by the battlecruiser. Yura got bombed out by a Daunltess that was flying around unsteadily in the Storm. Chikuma was the target of numerous Exocet anti ship missiles. and Unryuu... was being shot at with everything.

Not letting up. My Type 22 surface FCS Monopulse and monopulse Air SG RADAR were churning out data as the crew slammed new shells into the autoloader drums. I kept pounding away at Unryuu as my fire only became more accurate and deadlier. My fleet was getting a bit uncomfortably close.

"Right! Torpedoes!" With a simple command. Torpedoes flew out from my launchers as they splashed down in the water. specifically aimed at Hyuga as even my Sea wolfs joined in. Missile trails screaming into the air and homing onto Chikuma to cause a rocket fire and destroy one of her directors as columns of water sprang up around Unryuu.

Before long it was only Sawaka. Chikuma and Unryuu... And I saw torpedo hits on Unryuu as she tried to say something to me, but in my stress and tempo of the battle i didn't seem to be aware of it. Finally. The second fleet and I shot up Chikuma and Sawaka.

"Don't pursue! We've done our job of shattering this fleet. we must retreat before they bring in reinforcements and a even bigger fleet to hunt us down! Second Fleet! Return to base now! We will return to our's." Again confirming my orders. The second fleet sailed away as the Battlecruiser gave me a salute before we went our separate ways.


We had lost at least 4 cruisers. including the He-class with at least 3-5 more severely hurt of nearly gone and the battlecruiser had one of her engines down from a penetrating hit by Bismarck, But in exchange we had took out 3 destroyers and virtually shattered the combined Japanese-German fleet's cohesion and destroyed 7. including a carrier.

This was a great victory for a fleet of green recruits with poor training and myself with a few battles worth of experience. And one that could mean a promotion for me soon.