Part 1
Atago was, with her usual friendly grin, making a loud voice.
She was leading a fleet. Behind her was Takao. Behind them were the four sister of Kongou-class.
A force unit that came from Yokosuka Naval District. It was a fleet consisted of two heavy cruisers and four fast-battleships.
After reading the permission application letter that was put on her room, Atago immediately woke the admiral up which was sleeping in his seat and tried to touch her chest while half awake then got the permission to use the instant-repair bucket. Then she waited for Kongou-sisters return and made them go straight to the dock, fixed their equipment, and sortied again.
The compass didn't go amiss again either. And now, they're going to rush to Kagerou and rest’s place.
"You all, thank you very much for your information. You may step back," Takao told the fleet girls while cruising alongside them.
"Yes, but please let us stay here a bit longer," said Ushio who was pulling Akebono.
“Our precious friends are still fighting.”
Takao chuckled.
“It’s admirable, however, helping an injured friend is also a splendid duty. We’re taking the responsibility to take those Fleet Girls home.”
“......Understood.”
Ushio nodded, then pulling akebono and withdrew.
Takao gave a signal to Atago. Then Atago raised her voice further.
“Both sides advance! 4th battle-speed!”
Everyone all raised their speed at once.
Haruna said while examining forward, "Atago also treated her subordinate roughly, it seems. Soon it'll be sortie time."
"Because the one who has the standing is Admiral, so I will even use battleships," then Atago giggled.
Haruna chuckled.
"Those girls, you loved them so much, isn't it?"
"Yes. Because they even called me Big Sis, my precious little sisters."
Surface action was occurring in the front of them. They caught a group of Abyssal Fleet inside water pillars.
"The enemy, Abyssal Fleet, are inside shooting range. You can sho~ot anytime," Kongou said. Hiei, too, adjusted her aim.
"I couldn't fight because of the compass! I will put in my fighting spirit!"
Kirishima narrowed her eyes, confirmed to Atago then told her, "All gunports, open. Prepare to shoot. Atago, I will start shooting at your signal."
"Oka~y. Understood."
Atago faced toward the Abyssal Fleet, then raised a loud voice, “Open fire!”
Cheers were rising among the destroyer fleet girls.
"Injured fleet girls step back! I will send them flying!"
"We too, let's do it!"
Satsuki raised her hand. Nagatsuki was next to her also said, "Retreating here will bring shame to destroyers."
"...Let's do it..."
To Arare words, Kagerou nodded vigorously.
"Alright, once more time!"
Because of Atago and others' bombardment, the groups of Abyssal Fleet were falling into chaos. 'If you want to do it, now is your chance,' the spirit as a destroyer was telling them.
A Ro-class destroyer broke into two after it got hit by Kongou's shell. The surrounding was getting mixed up with its sinking. Kagerou and others in the meanwhile were running swiftly through the crowd.
Satsuki and Nagatsuki shot their 12cm guns. They hit the separated light cruiser He-class in succession, destroying them together with the hell fire.
"Nagatsuki, your shelling has become skillful, eh!"
"I won't miss even a shot!"
Nagatsuki repeatedly fired with unparalleled accuracy, while Satsuki evaded from left to right and toyed the enemy. Then Kagerou and Arare both plunged and aimed at the big shot.
The surrounding were all just water pillars. The severe bombardments seemed as if there's no other sea area that so thick with those density. There's no fear within Kagerou's heart.
Her nerve was sharpened and increased, she avoided the shells with an unbelievable reaction speed.
Everything was for the sake to defeat the enemy. For the sake of fulfilling her duty as a destroyer fleet girl.
The speed of the main machine was already reached the maximum. It raised a roar as it obeyed it's master. They poured their energy into their feet, push their way through the waves, those destroyers were going to charge.
"That woman!"
Kagerou pointed to the Ru-class battleship.
"Attack her! If you sink her, the other guys will run away!"
The destroyers only confronted against a battleship, which carrying an instant-kill weapon on her back. She had already shot, but the girls were still there. Asashio-class and Kagerou-class were equipped with the torpedo reload tube. A valuable[1] system that could reload even during battle.
"Next load!"
The torpedoes once again inserted into the launch tube. The completed reload buzzer echoed.
The Ru-class battleship howled. The Abyssal Fleet was trying to gather around them. Atago and Takao's shells were pouring down there. Many Ro-class destroyers were sinking.
Between the waves, another Abyssal Fleet figure appeared.
"15 degrees on the right! Chi-class torpedo cruiser!"
Arare changed her course at Satsuki's voice.
"...Won't let you..."
Arare fired her torpedo. The warhead which took the shape of a spearhead plunged forward in a straight line earlier hit the opponent with a blow. This time the fuse didn't malfunctioned. The moment it hit the Chi-class, it exploded and sent it into the bottom of the sea.
"Go! Kagerou!"
Nagatsuki shouted.
"In front of you!"
The Ru-class battleship became big. She scowled and plunged with hatred at Kagerou.
The 16 inch shells was fired. Kagerou avoided it just in time. Her body was covered in seawater and the downpouring fragments, but her course absolutely wouldn't change.
I will bring down that battleship.
The Ru-class battleship bombarded. The wind pressure grazed her cheek. Once more again, this time the shoulder gun barrels were aimed at Kagerou's head.
Bombardment sound. The Ru-class was inclined. Hiei and Haruna's bombardment hit it. The Ru-class lost it's balance and the gun barrels were aimed at another place.
"Eat this!!"
Kagerou shouted. It's happened simultaneously as she fired all of her torpedoes. Then, the torpedoes explosion resounded.
The Ru-class battleship was engulfed in flames. The cracked, ignited ammunition exploded.
GUAAAA....
A death agony was released from its mouth. It's gradually became smaller, and the other Abyssal Fleets were running away and scattering.
At the moment of that woman's death at the sea, all of the battles were over.
TL's Note : [1] 虎の子 (toranoko, lit. Tiger's cub) but it means treasure (as it is said that tigers treasure their young)
Thanks for continuing this series!
ReplyDeleteMuch obliged! I always wanted to read this series back then. But since TerminusTL stopped their translation, I decided to translate it myself.
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