The Olympian Sisters #2 The Great War

Chapter 20

KEA CHANNEL MEDITERRANEAN NOVEMBER 21 1916 "BRITANNIC"

I was on route to the British held island of Lemnos, also known as Murdros, for my 6th round trip of wounded soldiers and civilians to take back home.

It saddened me to see such young lives wasted like this. But this was war, and war was never good for anyone.

Did I believe that England could win? Yes I did. But I also believed that in war, no one really wins. How can you win, when lives are lost? I didn't know the answer to that and I doubted I'd ever find one.

My thoughts were interrupted by a sudden explosion on my starboard side, just below the bridge, followed less than a second later by an upward jet of water. I'd hit a mine. I shrieked in pain as my hull was blasted open.

Captain Charles A. Bartlett was quick to respond. Known as Iceberg Charlie due to his cautiousness, driving me aground to prevent me from sinking was just his style.

Kea Island was 3 miles away. When I started in this channel, I was in 600 feet of water, now I was in 400 feet and dropping. The question was, would I make it to the island?

Oh Neptune, the irony. My sister sank by an iceberg and my captain's nickname is Iceberg Charlie. And I was made to be stronger than my fallen sister and yet, here I was 4 years later, suffering her same fate.

The more I moved, the faster water came aboard. My propellers were coming towards the surface as my bow dipped lower and lower and my forward motion slowed.

Kea Island was now 2 miles away but I knew I wouldn't make it. Iceberg Charlie knew it too. He ordered the engines shut down but not before 2 lifeboats and 30 people were smashed to bits by my churning propellers. "So sorry." I whispered.

Iceberg Charlie waited for everyone else to leave before climbing into the last lifeboat with the other officers. "I'm sorry, Britannic." He whispered. "There is nothing to be sorry for." I replied.

Before he left, I gave him the herbs for the fleet. He'd promised that Adriatic would get them. "Oh, Adriatic!" I cried. "I let you down."

I thought of Olympic and the news she'd soon receive. I remembered her reluctance to let me go. She had already lost one sister and now she would lose another.

"I'm sorry, Olympic. I'm so sorry!" I wailed. I hit the bottom with a jolt. For a few seconds I did a headstand, then the weight became too much. My bow pivoted in the sediment and I broke my neck.

Darkness washed over my eyes and I was dead before my propellers hit the ocean floor.