The Olympian Sisters #2 The Great War

Chapter 26

HALIFAX NOVA SCOTIA DECEMBER 1 1917 "OLYMPIC"

I was completely provisioned and ready to go. Another transport, Imo was alongside me. She would leave in another week.

"Stay safe, Olympic." She said. "I will, Imo." I replied. I backed out of my berth and into the not-so-busy harbor.

Lately, inbound ships had been less and less frequent. That could mean 2 things. A. the colder temperatures prevented some ships from getting in or b. America required more ships to transport more men.

I was hoping for the latter. American troops were fresh. They hadn't been fighting a war for 3 years like England had.

The stream of fresh men seemed never ending. Logic told me that was good. National Pride told me it was bad. I could never decide which to listen to.

At around noon, my baroque whistle coughed twice, and then bellowed loud and long. Smoke began pouring from my funnels and my engines turned over.

My props began churning the water 37 feet below the surface, creating a white frothy wake that only grew larger as I moved forward and my speed increased.

I was met at the entrance by a small convoy of cruisers and destroyers. I groaned outwardly. While Britain abhorred the idea of me traveling in a slow convoy, Canada was insistent on it.

My escorts weren't friendly but they weren't hostile either. They were bodyguards and had a job to do. I had gotten used to Arizona's friendliness, even while on duty, so the sudden coolness was a bit of a shocker.

I had 2 destroyers on my starboard bow and quarter, the same thing on my port. One cruiser flanked the destroyers on either side.

There was a small PT boat that was particularly annoying. It zoomed around in small circles like a fly, darting in and out of my sight. The little thing could go around me at least 3 times in 5 minutes. Not bad for a little speedster.

"Will you quit that?!" I yowled to it as it leaped across my bow again. The PT boat just laughed and zoomed around again. Zigzagging in front of me, it winked and raced off again.

As it approached for a third time, I called "Cross my bow again and I'll run you over." It paused. "Aww, Olympic you wouldn't do that?" It said.

"Do you really wanna find out the hard way?" I asked, revving my engines to prove my point. The little boat shrugged and dropped back to zoom around my stern instead. "Wise choice!" I called. It rolled its eyes and continued on course.

"Just don't pull a Hawke, ok?" I growled, remembering my collision with the cruiser. "I'll keep my distance." It promised.

The destroyers slowed. "This is where we leave you." One said. I dipped my head. "Thank you." I whispered. "Just stay safe." She said and turned back for Halifax.

I had done this many times before and each time was no different from the last.

Sighing, I turned my bow towards England and Southampton where my precious fleet, what remained of it, was anxiously awaiting my return.