The Olympian Sisters #2 The Great War

Chapter 4

NEW YORK HARBOR MAY 2 1915 "LUSITANIA"

"For the gazilliath time sis, just drop it!" I growled. Mauretania was pestering me nonstop about the German U-boat threat. She wanted me to have an armed escort across the North Atlantic but I wouldn't hear of it.

I was serving my country, period. To every ship, the crossing was a risk and I wasn't going to put up with special treatment just because I was Cunard's leader.

What's worse was that the other ships agreed with my sister. Olympic in particular was persistent in the escort idea.

"Mauretania's right, if Cunard lost you now, where would that put all of us? Back to square one where we're all trying to best each other in the trans-Atlantic runs."

She had a point. If it wasn't for me, Cunard and White Star wouldn't even have their alliance. They'd be trying to best each other as usual. The fact that a Great War was going on wouldn't change that.

But, of course, I wasn't going to admit to her that she was right. I was just going to do my crossings as usual.

I had given strict orders to Mauretania that should I be sunk, nothing would change in the alliance between Cunard and White Star ships. Naturally, she wasn't happy about that but so what?

It was in the best interests of both lines to work together. We were all British and the country came before our rivalries.

I watched my passengers board me at the keyside. Olympic was docked at the White Star dock nearby. She was staring at me with concerned amber eyes. "Be careful Lusitania." She whispered. "The North Atlantic is dangerous enough without the added threat of U-boats." I nodded, understanding her concern.

"I'll keep an eye out for icebergs Olympic, don't you worry about that." I replied. "And if you should come across danger?" She growled. "You'll be the first to know about it." I answered. Olympic relaxed. "Alright then." She said. "Go on, but BE CAREFUL!" She growled.

I grinned. "I'm not Baltic, I'll be careful." I laughed. Olympic glared at me. "You may not be Baltic, but that doesn't mean you don't behave like her. Racing across the ocean at 25 knots is a setup for disaster." She snapped.

"I'm a Greyhound Sister so speed is what I'm built for. Besides the faster I go, the least likely I'll be in danger from U-boats." I replied.

Olympic sighed, her amber eyes weary. "Sorry I'm being such a worrywave." She said. "It's okay." I replied.

"Have you been getting any sleep lately?" I added, looking at her tired form. "A little." She admitted. "But no, I haven't been getting any real sleep." She said.

"Well, get some. You'll need it for your own crossing." I growled. Olympic rolled her eyes. "You sound like Oceanic." She said. "She used to scold me on that all the time." I laughed. "Well, some ship's got to keep you in line." I replied.

Olympic widened her eyes in mock surprise. "Really, keep me in line. Well, good luck with that Lusitania 'cause I'm not a ship who drops her anchors easily." She growled.

"Humph, I was under the impression you'd do anything I told you." I growled back. "Orders from you, no way?!" Olympic exclaimed.

"I could just give them to another ship who'd you have to obey." I warned. Olympic shook her head. "I'm not taking orders from Dreadnought. The battleship's nice but I won't listen to her if I can help it. It'd embarrass me to death." She growled.

"That's the whole point and I never said you'd be taking orders from her." I shot back, glancing at the Navy Yard.

Olympic saw where I was looking. "Hmm clever, Lusitania. Very clever, but not clever enough. Arizona's an American battleship and I am bound only to take orders from British battleships, even if they are rude and annoying." She said.