The Olympian Sisters #2 The Great War

Chapter 1

SHETLAND ISLANDS SEPTEMBER 8 1914 "OLYMPIC"

The day dawned bright and clear. I was leaving the English Channel and Southampton-Cherbourg for New York on my regular trans-Atlantic service run. It was probably one of my last before I was pulled from service until the war's end.

As I turned north towards Queenstown Ireland to pick up more passengers, my radio picked up a distress signal. A ship had run aground off of Foula, Shetland. My new captain, Commodore Bertram Fox Hayes RD RNR, was quick to act.

Turning me around towards the Shetlands, yet again was I to steam full ahead. "2 other ships have responded to the distress call." He said.

"HMS Alsatian and HMS Forward have responded and are moving in. They're much closer than us, so most likely will be able to rescue everyone. As far as I know, there were no casualties when the ship ran aground."

"Who was it?" I asked. But as I did, I realized I already knew. "Oceanic." Captain Hayes replied. I nodded.

At 21 knots, I steamed across the North Atlantic. I passed close by Queenstown where my passengers were waiting, but I didn't stop to pick them up. My only thought was to get to Oceanic.

HMS Forward called the other ships, including me, who had responded to Oceanic's distress signal. "All survivors on board." She said. "But we can't get Oceanic off that bank. She's got herself stuck on there pretty well."

I sighed. Using Hayes as my medium, I used my special gift and managed to contact HMS Forward. "Is Oceanic alive?" I asked. "Yes." Forward replied. "But only just. Her Propellerous is greatly advanced; she shouldn't have been working at all." She said sadly. "You couldn't get her off the bank?" I asked.

Forward sighed. "No." She said. "As I said, she's stuck on that bank pretty good. I couldn't get her off, I'm sorry Olympic." I nodded. "Thank you for telling me. You did everything you could."

My captain wanted me to turn around and go back to Queenstown but I wanted to head to Foula and see Oceanic.

"We'll go on the way back." He said to convince me. "But she could be dead by then. This could be my last chance to see her." I replied, struggling with all my might against his orders to have me turned around.

I had never learned how to control myself on my own. EJ had forbidden me to even try. But I was trying now.

At last, my captain relented. "Alright, we'll go. But we have to be quick." And I was quick, as soon as he gave the word I lunged forward, racing through the water. My powerful engines driving me at my cruising speed of 21 ½ knots.

I arrived at Foula around sunset. "We don't have much time, Olympic." Hayes warned. "The tide could lower at any moment. You'll have barely an inch of water under your keel as it is." I nodded. "I understand." I whispered.

I approached Oceanic carefully, Hayes was right. The water was shallow, there wasn't even a full inch of water beneath my keel and it was nearing high tide. I could not afford to linger long.

Oceanic lay on her side, partially submerged. Although the water was now deeper than her draft, she did not float free.

She was wedged in several inches of sediment that was holding her to the bank. She seemed so still and silent that I thought she was dead.

Then she spoke. "I knew you'd come, Olympic." She whispered. "Shh." I said. "I'm here. Save your strength." Oceanic laughed. "And why should I?" She asked. "I have none left to save."

"Don't say that!" I cried. "Of course you do. You always do." She shook her head. "Everything has an end to it, Olympic." She said.

"Not now. Oceanic, please don't go." I begged. Oceanic laughed. "You are just like Atlantic was." She said softly. "Fierce and brave. Always helping others around you, but you both were never able to realize when all your skills were for not; when you couldn't help your friends. And I'm telling you, Olympic that there is nothing that you or anyone can do to help me. I've been beyond help ever since Propellerous first showed itself in me." She sighed and relaxed for a moment, her eyes fixed on the stars above her.