Zhejiang and Enterprise (Book One)

Battle of Shanghai (P4)

Enterprise's (CV-6) POV:

????: [USS Enterprise (CV-6), on who's authority have you embarked on a journey to the Pacific Theatre?]

Using my designation as opposed to just using my name? Something must have occurred. Either that or they have something they don't want me to see but I couldn't care less about what they desire right now. I just have to see Zhejiang-

????: [Are you even listening-]

Me: [What do you want?]

????: [You-]

There's a break in the communication followed by the muffled sound of voices before I'm addressed once more. This time, it's the commander addressing me. I wasn't even aware that he'd recovered or that he had returned to headquarters...it's been so long since I've heard his voice I had even forgot...

Commander: [Enterprise, what's going on?]

No...regardless of what they say, they can't change the past. The commander is no longer with us, what am I thinking. He went down in the initial attack of the SIRENs along with many of the admiralty. Whatever this is...this is nothing more than a ruse to get me to stop.

Me: [Nice try but I'm not so easily fooled.]

????: [Very well, however, we still want to know why you are this far away from your designated area?]

Me: [You already know why.]

There's another break in communications before they return. This time, however, when they do it comes with an order. I don't get any other details.

????: [Very well, since you are already there, you are to rendezvous with our forces at this location. While they are currently in retreat and being pursued by the enemy, if you spot an opening to turn things around, you are authorised to use all means at your disposal.]

The connection ends the minute I receive the coordinates so I'm unable to ask for more information. It's odd, but I suppose it has to do with what they are trying to hide from me. I should probably at the very least go and see what it is all about. After all, from the looks of things, it's on the way to Dragon Empery.

Using something I learnt from Zhejiang, I deploy my carrier and summon a few planes. Getting inside of one, I taxi into position, planning my strategy as I do before finally taking off. The minute my escorts leave the carrier, it returns to me as planned and soon, I find myself moving towards my destination at a much faster rate, though I can't help but feel underwhelmed. I guess being in Zhejiang's planes so often has started affecting my sense of what is normal. 

Laughing to myself, I let the plane take control as I lean back, lost in thought as I recall the first time we ever went out together.

BOOOOM

An explosion knocks me back into reality just in time to see the lead escort go down in a trail of smoke and fire. A split second later, the aircraft beside me also explodes, going up in flames. Scanning my surroundings, I can't spot anything that stands out but still, not willing to remain a sitting duck for whatever's targeting my planes, I have the rest begin diving for towards the ocean.

Despite my efforts, however, the plane I'm in soon explodes, sending me plummeting towards the waves below. Right before I hit the water, however, two jets blast overhead and I'm instantly aware of whom they belong to. There are only two people with planes like those, Zhejiang and her sister, but why would they attack me? Did I do something or perhaps it's a mistake?

As I ponder this, the jets complete their turn and begin heading back towards me. Noticing the impending disaster, I consider bringing out my carrier but immediately think against it. If her bombs hit my deck, accident or not, I will sink. No, the best I can do is dodge their attacks as I am now. It wouldn't make sense to launch more planes either since her own can knock mine out of the sky from what feels like a million miles away.

Now determined, I brace myself for the impending attack but it never comes. Instead, the jets buzz overhead, firing off into the horizon as though there is a far more valuable target nearby and I don't know how to feel about it. On the one hand, I am glad I didn't get hit but...to be ignored, even by a plane...

Arizona: [Don't turn your back to the enemy!]

Cooper: [But?]

Colorado: [We don't have time for this, keep moving!]

Dewey: [AHHH!]

Huh? What's going on?

Georgia: [Don't stop! Move! Move! Move!]

Speeding towards their location, I can't help the growing fear inside me. First the weird interaction with HQ and then the attack by planes like Zhejiang's and now this? Surely it can't be a coincidence but in that case, what does it mean? Are we under attack by the Dragon Empery?

As I draw closer, the sound of battle is almost deafening. Screams fill the air, some from bombs or planes, others from the voices of girls. As it all comes into view, I'm left with even more questions than answers. Who's fighting who and who are those girls fighting our forces?

West Virginia: N-

The ocean seemingly lights up all at once. Every direction reveals nothing but fire, steam and shrapnel. There are screams in some places. There are calls for help in others but I can do nothing but stand and stare in horror. As the bombers boom overhead, I know exactly where this destruction came from and yet, I can't bring myself to accept it. It's simply not possible, surely.

I'm not given a lot of time to process, however, as one of the girls attacking the girls from Eagle Union turns her guns towards West Virginia. Without hesitating, I arm myself and fire straight for her. I don't know what's going on here but I won't stand by and watch my allies get massacred.