Kagerou, Batsubyoushimasu! Volume 1 Chapter 5 : Wood Part 2

Kagerou, Batsubyoushimasu! Volume 1 Chapter 5 : Wood

Part 2

On the appointed day of the Special Exercise.

The weather on this day was cloudy. According to the Naval Base weather station, it would be cloudy throughout the day. The waves were a little high. It’s unkown whether it would rain or not, so don't forget to bring an umbrella when you go out.

As for Fleet Girls, getting drenched was their business, and because it's seawater, it’s salty no matter where it is. It’s often difficult to distinguish between wakame seaweed and salted hair. Instead, rainy day was rather welcomed. So there were many girls who didn’t use an umbrella.

Of course you wouldn’t carry an umbrella at sortie times. 'Spirit is to accomplish the mission when there were typhoons and squall while drenched,' they said.

Kagerou looked up overhead. The clouds were still high. It wouldn’t be raining for now.

“...Why is the weather is all I care about, I wonder?”

I muttered to myself. Actually, I knew the reason.
It's because I was anxious. I wanted to somehow distract my mind. I wanted to concentrate in the training, but it couldn't be said that it was sucessful. I failed one after another, until we got in a fist fight in front of Atago and the battleship sisters.

Was it possible to be in the first place?

Kagerou shook her head. No no, I'm going to be pessimistic, what should I do? At least, only our friendship has increased. Excluding only Akebono. If everyone cooperated, we should have good results. Excluding only Akebono.

She turned around. All members of 14th DesDiv were in alignment. As usual, Akebono was still facing the other side, I could only think of her as such existence.

"... Well, we're going to get along."

“Hmph...”

Akebono snorted her nose.

"It's not good either."

Atago was sitting on a stand on the beach like a coast guard. She held the ewatch a number of times, and wrote something on the notebook. White waves ahead. The destroyers have returned. Atago turned the hand mic on.

"Please come up. The score is being calculated."

After exchanging conversation for a while, Atago talked again with a hand microphone.

"6th DesDiv results. 220 points."

‘Oohh’ voice came from the onlooker. It was the highest record until now.
As expected from the 6th DesDiv, of course those voices would come. They were the representative of the destroyer girls in the Yokosuka Naval Base.
Many Destroyer Divisions departed to the sea around the Naval Base with some time differences. Kagerou and others were the next in the order.

"Next. 14th DesDiv."

“Yes.”

On Atago's call, Kagerou got up and replied as if snapped out from reality.

"Please depart."

At that call, Kagerou looked at everyone's face.

“Setting sail! Let’s go!”

Everyone entered the sea from the pier. They put their feet on the sea surface.

“Both sides advance! Full speed!”

As they got on the waves, the 14th DesDiv went on.
This special exercise was, to simply put, just about escorting a fleet.
After joining, they would protect the convoy and return to the Naval District.
Of course it didn’t end with just that alone. The Fleet Girls who were designated as the enemy were waiting on their returning journey, they in reality carried out raid and bombardment training. The key of this exercise was how to escort the fleet from the attack and return.

As for the Fleet Girls who were the enemy, there’s an exercise control officer, who checked the movement of the Destroyer Divisions strictly. Also, as the fleet has been told about the exercise, the instructions would be purposely be made to be wrong and confusing. Among them, there’s also a fleet that plotted on "How to get rid of the escorting destroyers," at the other time, it's "Because the chicks in the cargo would die due to stress, please refrain from evasive action," or "Because more than twenty pregnant women were riding in the fleet, during the torpedo attack, I noticed every single one was born," like that, it has been reported too.

The Fleet Girls assigned as the Abyssal Fleet role were also undauntedly used pale makeup and put on a dark coat. Like Abyssal Fleet on a daily basis, howl practicing was also there that's why it's like genuine.

"Who are the one who's assigned as our enemies role?"

To Satsuki’s question, Kagerou remembered that she was told in advance.

"Hmmm, it's the Kongou-class sisters."

"Aren’t they battleships?"

Satsuki was surprised. Nagatsuki who’s lined up next to her also suprised.

"That time, they should have seen what we did, so they took over the role of the enemies, I guess.”

"Are they trying to punish us, I wonder?"

“It’s strange that Fast Battleships come out to attack a convoy to begin with. Well, there are some that are Pocket Battleships though.”

"It’s all about being able to respond to every event, right?"

Kagerou replied, but she didn’t know the truth either. Was there any meaning to be pleased with it? She also wondered.

She examined a glimpse of Akebono appearance. She remained silent. Even after that fight, only she who’s stubbornly still didn’t open her heart.

"Hey Kagerou, hey!"

“...Huh? Ah, I’m sorry."

"Is it already at the place where the Exercise started?"

Kagerou hurriedly compared it to the sea map. Certainly, it was supposed for the Exercise to start from here.
The main machines stopped. There’s almost no wind, and there were only Kagerou and others in the large ocean.
They were waiting for a while.
They waited, but the convoy did not come.
She looked around, but there weren’t any figures and even shadows. She stretched her back and examined as far as she could, but far from cargo ship, she couldn't even see Seagulls.
Kagerou felt dizzy.

“What is this…”

"I wonder if we are being scolded?"

Satsuki lamented. It’s miserable, however I couldn’t deny it.

"Arare, can you ask to YokoBase with Radio?"

"... For now, it's supposed to be sealed off… We might get a penalty...... "

"If that’s it, then as for how should we do the Exercise, I don’t know."

It seems that she was convinced, Arare remained expressionless and began to communicate with the Naval Base.
After replying with a few whispers, Arare reported to Kagerou.

"... Return back......"

"Ah, after all when the Exercise was already started, I wonder if I was hooked?"

Arare shook her head.

"Something like... there’s a real assault on the fleet...... the exercise is canceled......"

"Eeh!?"

Suprised, Kagerou contacted and confirmed it by herself.
What Arare said was true. Yokosuka Naval Base was at big fuss up and down.
The fleet that 14th DesDiv was supposed to escort was quite large and full of real supplies.
Safe route have been chosen, for the sake of the Exercise, and it was supposed to be borrowed a little.

It was Abyssal Fleet that shouldn’t have been appeared there. At first, the crew of the fleet seemed to think that it was an elaborate joke.
Fortunately, the Abyssal Fleet that have attacked were less, they were reconnaissance ships. However, the main force who received their notification eventually attacked. The fleet lives was regrettable. That’s why the emergency signal was scattered all over, they were evacuating at full speed.

It's not an Exercise anymore when this happened. The 14th DesDiv were ordered to return and Yokosuka Naval Base has sent out a fleet of interceptors.
Kagerou briefly explained to everyone.
To her surprise, it was Akebono who was the first to bite at it.

"What's going on now? Where is the raid?"

While startled, Kagerou answered.

"Wait a second…… The fleet is waiting. It looks like the rest is unknown."

A contact was sent from Yokosuka through the auxiliary vessel radio station. Because it’s interrupted from time to time, she couldn’t easily grasp the detailed situation.

"The Kongou-class sisters are going to intercept them. I don’t know well the place. If I intercept the 3rd Communication Channel, I wonder if I can predict it?"

"But we have nothing to do with them," So Nagatsuki said. Kagerou agreed.

"Well, it's canceled, so it's good to leave it here. Let’s go back."

Kagerou operated her main machine.

"The course is to Yokosuka… wait, hey.”

She turned to the back.
While everyone was in a row, only Akebono remained behind.
Kagerou was amazed. I wonder if this girl would still play truant.

"Don't lingering."

Unusually, Akebono made a word in a hesitant tone.

"...Hey, Kagerou. For example, only for example, if we are also be told to have to go intercept, what will you do?"

"That again. Isn’t Kongou-san sisters has departed?"

Kagerou made a puzzled look. Akebono said still.

"But because the fleet is attacked, isn’t it natural to go to help? "

"What, did you come up with another new fools joke?"

"I don't like fooling around, because it's a real battle..."

“In the recent training was also the same, but this time around, what’s the purpose for objecting what I said?”

“Th, that’s not it!”

"It's a violation of order. Akebono will go to detention barrack, and if that’s not enough, we will also be involved. Just stop it.”

“Wrong! That’s why!”

"If you're motivated, I'd like you to do it earlier. It's meaningless now."

“......”

Akebono casted her eyes downward and biten her lips.

Kagerou jerked her chin.

“Now, let’s go back.”

Akebono was still lingering. Kagerou only took a glance.

"......Aa, Ushio. Watch over Akebono so that she can't raise her weird mind."

Ushio extended her hand.

“Akebono-chan……”

She refused to take it.

"Don't touch! …….I knew it already!"

Everyone took a course to Yokosuka.
As expected, the fleet’s feets got faster. If four battleships has left , it would be fine, I thought, but I became anxious. When we returned, suddenly Atago's figure couldn't be seen. Because she's actually Admiral's secretary ship, I wonder if she carried out the mission herself? The area around the pier strangely were messed up, the Destroyer Fleet Girls who were supposed to do the exercises exchanged talk loudly.

“I’m back,” and Kagerou who said it incidentally got no responses.

“Eep! It’s serious!”

Satsuki, who went to stock information, rushed back.

"Kongou-san sisters seem to have been unable to meet the enemy. The compass is going amiss."

Kagerou and others all said "No way..." The point at which Abyssal Fleets appear was fixed, the Fleet Girls aimed at that and proceed toward the battle. Nevertheless, this time they went off route and went to a completely different point. This was expressed by the Fleet Girls as "The compass is going amiss."

The cause was unknown, and although several teams were formed for clarification, none of them came to a conclusion. The only thing that has been found is "It’s the Fleet Girl’s, but for some reason, we don’t know what is it." There were a lot of Fleet Girls who tried to escape from the troubles by praying to the shrines and temples, as so to speak, it was a destiny and couldn’t be helped by humans hands.
More than that, the Kongou sisters seemed to be stuck with that compass involuntarily.

“Then, what should we do?” Satsuki asked.

But could we make it in time? Kongou sisters were likely to fight in a different place. It's need to be noticed that taking injury was possible, it couldn't be helped that one must be put in dock for recovery. Thus, being carelessly hit, the fleet's whole survival would end, right?

Kagerou asked Satsuki.

“What about Fusou-san and Yamashiro-san?”

"It looks like they are dispatched to Okinoshima waters with the aircraft carriers. While Ise-san and Hyuuga-san are on a business trip to Maizuru Base."

In other words, the number of Fleet Girls who could go to help were too small.
If there were no large ships like battleship or carrier, the battle will be much more disadvantageous. If you stood up against opponent like Abyssal Fleet with inferior firepower, at any rate it became difficult.
Kagerou kept silent. She should've understand this urgent circumstances event.
Not only the girls, but the destroyer Fleet Girls were whispering here and there. Everyone was worried about the situation.
A broken voice was heard from the speaker.

"......Is the mic volume okay? Check, one, two, imitating Kirishima-san. Okaaay everyone, pleeease listen to me."

It's Atago. Sat on the above pier post, her voice was being carried away.

"As you know, a fleet loaded with supplies is currently under attack. Various rumors are flowing, but I will only tell you that I'm dealing with it with all of my energy."

The destroyer girls listened to Atago’s voice while holding their breath.

"As I mentioned earlier, the Special Exercises have been cancelled. Everyone of destroyer fleet girls, please return to the dormitory and wait. "

The Fleet Girls became astir. Among them were the voices of whether they should keep silent like this was also risen up. Atago’s voice continued as we saw through it.

“This is an instruction. Beware that violators will be penalized according to the rules. Big Sis don't want to do that. That's all."

The noise continued for a while, but because it’s an instruction, it couldn’t be helped. The destroyer Fleet Girls returned to the dormitory.
Kagerou was hesitating whether it’s okay to return as it was.
Why my chest is restless? Was it a bad premonition? For some reason I’m being literally uneasy.
I didn’t know the source of my anxiety yet. Was it the rumors from the destroyer girls?
Was it Atago’s broadcast?
But it was quickly backed on by Arare.
She was pulling Kagerou clothes.

“.......It’s bad....Akebono...is gone……”

"Huh. She’s gone..........gone!?"

Spontaneously Kagerou shouted.

"Isn't she together with Ushio!?"

As for Ushio, her face was pale and flustered.

"Ju-just some time ago she's here. While I'm listening to Atago's broadcast, she's gone unnoticed......"

Arare asked to Kagerou.

"......What should we do...?"

"Even if you ask me 'what should we do', anywhere she escaped from the Naval District, she'll be chased by the likes of Fritz X you know?"

[TL's Note : An anti-ship glide-bomb used by Germany in WW2 (and sank Italian battleship Roma). It’s the first precision-guided weapon deployed in combat and the first to sink a ship in combat. More info here : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fritz_X]

There were certain number of girls who quit being Fleet Girls because the training was different in the Naval District, they thought the training was hard on their own image. The quit itself wasn't particullary difficult, after completing the prescribed procedures and returning the equipments, even receiving the salary until that time and going home was fine. There were also cases in which Fleet Girl who thought too much silently escaped at night. In that case, there's a possibility that they would carry the equipments and ran away, so they would be chased.

"She finally ran away. Isn't she's so cold to us?" Satsuki said. Nagatsuki too agreed.

"If you have spent so much together, you can deepen your friendship, but it looks like Akebono can't really understand it, eh?"

"Uncooperative, isn't it?"

A loud voice rebuked at Satsuki who expressed a plausible impression.

"That's not right! Akebono-chan isn't that kind of person!"

Everyone stared at the owner of the voice startledly.
It’s Ushio. Everyone dumbfounded at the loud voice that you couldn't imagine from the usually timid Ushio.
She herself didn't notice that she's making a loud voice.

"Su...Surely, She's surely went to escort the fleet!"

"No way," Kagerou said.

"Isn't Atago-san has issued sortie prohibition order? After the battleship sisters returned, let's sortie once again."

"That isn't enough.
That girl, didn't hate fleet escorting. Even if she said it makes a destroyer a fool...
That's because ... ... because she knows the difficulties of escorting better than anyone else!"

Ushio was already half-crying.

"Akebono and I had once escorted a fleet. Akebono hasn't forgotten about that time even a bit...... If I talk about this....... She would be very angry......but,"

She's started to tell while sobbing.
Once, Akebono and Ushio have always been on the same destroyer division.
Of course this time's the same, but it's different than the strained relationship now, they talk normally, they laugh normally, they work hard normally, they were the typical destroyer fleet girls.
However, immediately after the sortie, they suffered a unusual phenomenon. The damages concentrated at Akebono. Although they didn't encounter any Abyssal Fleet, she was damaged somehow by the time of return due to a failure of the main engine or a direct hit of a high wave. In contrast, Ushio remained intact.

“Isn’t it just a coincidence?” Kagerou said.

Then Ushio replied, "Everyone said that, and Akebono was thinking so at the beginning, but... when we escorted a fleet..."

The expedition was to escort the fleet and it's supposed to be an easy task. In fact, nothing happened with any other Fleet Girls.
As a result, not only Akebono and Ushio but also injured ships have been dispatched.

The fleet name's Teni 6th Fleet. They're a group of transport vessels that stored ores inside their hull. It should have been just going and returning. [TL's Note : Not sure about the name of the fleet, it's テニ六船団]

The cause wasn't clear. It's said that, as matter of fact, the higher ups has overlooked the report that 'the abyssal fleet tends to increase' from the fleet girls who have returned from a forced reconnaissance.

It's not been reported to the admiral in the first place, and the Abyssal Fleet Movement Report at that time that haven't yet been found was hidden in a bunch of reports of the so-called highly classified information.

As a results, some people were dismissed by the Secretary Ship and it has been improved so that the reports went directly to the Admiral, but everything was after the festival.

The fleet were cruising in the ocean area that was stamped with "Safe" seal approval. The seal of approval itself was already half a year ago and haven't been updated.

Yesterday was fine, so today's also fine, they said, it has been backed up by a dangerous optimism that turned blind from the reality.

When we noticed, it was already too late. Just before, the lookout made a squall with difficulty as an excuse couldn’t be helped. If only we have radar, certainly she said, but we were blocked by a wall called budget deficit and "The development is unaccepted because of the difficulty."

Only then, Abyssal Fleet was attacking. First of all, the leading fleet girl was hit. The enemy detection and the hit of the shot were reported at almost the same time. It meant that they was too close to even escape.

The abyssal fleet's howl echoed on the ocean. The radio communication of the Fleet Girls and the fleet were running through as if it were being woven. Cannon roars could be heard all around, the sea surface's colour changed as that happened. All information jumped at once, Akebono and Ushio, who encounter the enemy for the first time, were on the verge of panic.

"Convoy, don't break the line and direction!"

The flagship of the escort Fleet Girl's voice were barely being noticed.

"Escorting warship, attack the Abyssal Fleet!"

Afterwards, the Fleet Girls expected to be ordered specificly, but the voice were interrupted. The enemy attacks were intense, so the communication was obstructed.

"Ushio, we too, let's go!"

Akebono pulled Ushio. Ushio agreed at first, but then her feet stopped.

"I......I will stay here..."

"The enemy is attacking, you know? We have to fight back and get rid of it."

"But we can't afford to abandon the fleet ..."

Ushio claimed that the mission was to escort, so she couldn't afford to leave easily. But she understood that it's just an excuse.

She didn't want to go. The Abyssal Fleet's roars were frightening. She couldn't help but turn her face. She realized that it's really impossible for a straight-on fight.

You wouldn't have to fight if you're here. There's also a reason to protect the fleet.

But Akebono kept pulling Ushio. In contrast to her, the first encounter battle was extremely uplifting for her.

"Let's go, let's fight with the seniors!"

"You should stay here! You can protect the fleet!"

"The enemy is approaching, you know?"

"If you leave your post, it's a violation of orders!"

Ushio waved her hand.

"Well ... if you want to fight so much, just go alone!"

More than the violation of orders, the words of going alone resounded heavily for Akebono.

Abyssal Fleets weren't fools, because they're lurking in the route before.

An abyssal fleet attacked. The ship in the front right and the ship in the rear left were caught at the same time.

There were too few things that can be done with just two Fleet Girls in a simultaneous attack. The cargo ships that made up the fleet were being caught from left and right thoroughly. They sank down to the bottom of the sea with their stern or bow uplifted, and only the small debris that was still remaining would eventually sunk.

Scream and shriek resounded. Angry roars were running around on the communication equipments.

Ushio trembled. Both the rules of engagement and the firing procedure were lost from her head. She's attacked by fear and couldn't understand anything.

The cargo ship sunk quickly, and it felt like all the enemies were heading towards them. A scream came out from her mouth. Her eyes saw an attack. She was unable to look straight at all out of fear, and scattered her shells to all directions. When she opened her eyes, she could only see the rising flame and the silhouette of the Abyssal Fleet.

How much time has passed? She didn't know at all.

When she noticed, there's only a cargo ship left.

It could be called as annihilation. Most of the resources were lost. The fleet girls who went to intercept weren't yet returned. It was a miracle that Ushio had not suffered a wound, and it's said that it's the only salvation.

In contrast, Akebono was tattered. She was lying on her back, and her eyes were staring at the sky.

“Akebono-chan…... Are you alright...?”

Ushio offered her hands, but Akebono brushed her with her wounded hand.

“Don’t touch me!”

She didn’t look at her face until they returned.

The survey concluded that because of the number of the Abyssal Fleets and the number of the escorts made it impossible to protect. Even if they headed to intercept, it’s likely to be sunk. Rather, because they remained alive, there was even an opinion on whether it was a good judgment.

That was not only related to Ushio. It’s related Akebono too.

“I’m pathetic…..”

Ushio was crying.

"I ... stepped on Akebono-chan’s pride as a destroyer… Akebono-chan's always proud of her being destroyer fleet girl... Nevertheless, she couldn't fight, she couldn't protect the convoy either... even she was injuried..."

Everyone were silent.

"...From that point on, Akebono-chan has become such character… She tried to find everyone's fault regardless of whoever it is, just to hate it... To make destroyers a fool..." Ushio said.

"Akebono-chan’s always regretted the incident that time. Because she couldn’t save the fleet even though she wanted to save them..."

“.........”

Kagerou, Nagatsuki, Satsuki, and Arare too, have been silent.

"Even after that, there were many opportunities for escorting a fleet.... But Akebono-chan rejected it every time…… ‘Should I stop being Fleet Girl?’ I thought, but once I became your friend and assigned in the same Destroyer Division with Kagerou-san and others, it changed little a little but… Finally, I thought that I was able to face that time. That’s why, now, I went to this salvation."

Kagerou and others no longer denied her speech.

Kagerou and others were aware that Akebono’s hiding her pride behind her irresponsible speech and conduct, but they didn’t know that it was based on a severe experience.

The Fleet Girls' impression of the Abyssal Fleet were often determined in the first encounter. In the early days, the Fleet Girls who were suddenly caught in a fierce battle suffered PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder), it wasn't unusual for them to retire.

As of present, before participating in the actual battle, a simulated experience using video and a simple expedition mission will be conducted. There's a good reason for that.

But Akebono and Ushio, above all, had a severe experience with the expedition.
The memory of that event remained settled at the bottom of their heart.
Ushio became introverted character to protect her mind, and Akebono resisted and opposed anything.

And now Akebono's heading to the fleet.
To overcome her nightmare.
This time's to rescue.

"I'll go too." Ushio cried.

"I shouldn't be feeling down. I'll go. I'll go and help Akebono-chan!"

But Kagerou shook her head.

"It's useless."

"Why!?"

"Because sortie isn't allowed."

Ushio's lips trembled. She stared at Kagerou as if saying 'I can't believe it'.

"If I don't go quickly, then I won't able to help Akebono-chan!"

"She wouldn't particulary die. Because she'll come back at dawn."

Kagerou replied with a curt tone.

"That sort of girl is, just simply being stubborn, that's why, somehow she'll come back, you know?"

"Akebono-chan isn't such a girl!"

"I don't know if she went to help the fleet in the first place. She may only be somewhere around the area."

"Absolutely! Absolutely, she went to escort the fleet! "

Ushio's screaming. Still, Kagerou didn't say "Yeah."

"Let's return back to the room. And wait inside."

"C...cruel!"

Ushio yelled with tears broken in her eyes.

"You're so cruel! I hate Kagerou-san!"

"I'm your leader. I've listened to all you have said."

Having said that, Kagerou took the initiative to return to the destroyer dormitory.

[30/03/2019 TL's note : Part 2's done! For the next week I'll be busy so I don't know if I could continue the part 3, but I'll try to find some free time to translate it. Next part is about Akebono's encounter with the abyssal fleet! Then the next chapter is about the fights. Please be patient!]