Legends

Chapter 26~ Big U Meet Europe

"I live with children." Curacoa thought as she watched Ledbury and Penn chased each other around in tight circles. Bramham was watching them dissaprovingly while simultaneously conversing with Campbeltown. The Towns-class was looking a little glum. Not surprising considering she wasn't originally assigned to this escort unit. But with Hood down with condenser troubles (damn that latest supply of chilli!) the destroyer had to do without her favorite traveling companion. Curacoa just hoped she could keep the maniac from causing too much trouble. She'd already had to scold her for sharing some of her unorthodox ideas with the impressionable youngsters.

The cruiser stifled a sigh as she held back her bordem. The fleet had been on station all morning awaiting the arrival of SS United States. America's star superliner was a welcome addition to Britain's system of convoys. The island nation had been fighting off its reserves for some time now and it was a huge relief to know their old ally was getting back into the fight, even if it involved saving their asses for a third time. Curacoa knew when to suck up her pride and be thankful.

Her musings were interrupted by Bramham's shout as the destroyer spotted twin stacks on the horizon. Steaming towards them with a massive bone in her teeth despite dropping her speed by five knots to permit her escorts to keep up with her, Big U's form was unmistakable. She lacked her lovely peacetime colors, trading them in for drab wartime gray. Curacoa thought the change made her look fierce and the 40mm weapons and 5 inch gun she carried enhanced that perception.

Spotting her escorts at the same time as they spotted her, Big U adjusted her course. Curacoa made a careful note of her zig zag pattern (that mistake was only to be made once) before forming up on her.

"Hi friends!" Big U waved at the destroyers who all waved back, offering various greetings. Campbeltown gave her a fist bump.

Curacoa however got quite a different reception. As soon as Big U looked at the cruiser beside her she put her hands on her cheeks and squealed. "EEEEE! YOU'RE SO CUTE! YOU'RESOCUTE!OMG!!" Her rudders were at their maximum turning angle and she all but plowed into her companion. A deja vu Curacoa could've gone without. But instead of stepping over her, Big U scooped her up and held her to her massive chest still squealing.

Even though she had not been run over, the cruiser still felt like her hull was coming apart. She wriggled, uncomfortable but there was no escaping 240,000 horsepower when it had a hold of you like this.

Big U continued on with Curacoa half draped over her shoulder. Bramham was giggling as she took up the lead position and Campbeltown, the little shit, was filming the whole thing. Curacoa stopped trying to fight, knowing it was futile and let her engines wind down, dismissing her rigging and hoping Big U wouldn't just drop her for the fun of it.

But the American seemed more interested in cuddling her than anything. She was still squealing, sounding off her whistles and foghorns almost continuously. Through the din, Curacoa tried one last time for freedom. She looked at Penn who was positioned just off Big Us starboard bow and mouthed "Help me."

The little destroyer, infuriatingly, just smiled and shook her head. Curacoa couldn't pout enough. Big U was comfy though so that was an unexpected plus and even up this high the liner didn't roll as badly as she thought she might. Unlike a certain British ocean liner, she at least had a pair of new stabilizers installed. (Thank you Boston)

Sighing, Curacoa let her head rest on Big U's right shoulder and watched the rear as the liner steamed at a leisurely 30 knots.