MV Bulolo, a former armed merchant cruiser now cruise ship, is on her last voyage in 1968 to Taiwan for her fate with the shipbreakers. However, fate itself has other plans for the formerly great Australian ship as she is sunk in a storm prior to he...
The next morning at Azur Lane base, the first relief fleet was making final readiness with a last minute change. Hornet (AL) had to withdraw as her ship was reporting catapult issues and while it would be minor, the need for launching aircraft quickly was a requirement but with Victorious (AL) already being there as the fleet's carrier, the need for two was not necessary. This led to a spot being vacant for the fleet and naturally, Hammann thought this would be taken by Akashi (AL) but she was wrong. In the dawn sunlight, Queen Elizabeth and Melbourne were discussing who would form the second fleet.
Melbourne: So, Your Majesty, you're recommending Formidable to replace Victorious (AL)?
QE: It is a price to pay to withdraw Royal Navy's most modern carrier from there but at least they'll have the same class there.
Melbourne: I do have issues being that she might not be available for that fleet so she can return.
QE: I see your point there, Miss Melbourne. If Formidable can't be relied on, we'll see if Sakura Empire, Iron Blood or Eagle Union have a carrier to spare.
Warspite (AL): Quite right, Your Majesty. We can't just stretch our resources too thin. After all, Bulolo saw this in her old world and it didn't go well.
Melbourne: Too right. Stretch them too thin, the enemy will exploit it as a weakness and with the Sirens still at large, we can't be doing that.
QE: (looks out and sees a silhouette of a cruiser in the distance) Looks like Miss Kent has been out and about before we got up.
Warspite (AL): Your Majesty, I don't think that's Kent's ship.
QE: Then it must be Suffolk's. They are the same subclass of the County-class.
Suffolk: I'm right here, Your Majesty.
QE: Then if she's here and Kent is still asleep, who is that?
Melbourne used the more advanced sights she had for a better look. It was indeed a Kent subclass of the County-class heavy cruisers but this one was different. Astern, it was flying a flag she knew from her old world as the British Royal Navy white ensign but the other was unmistakable for any flag; a blue ensign with six white stars on it which one was under the Union Jack.
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Melbourne: That cruiser's Australian. I know that blue flag anywhere.
Suffolk and Warspite (AL) left the two as the heavy cruiser crossed by the headlands and into the base's waters. Many other shipgirls that were awake to see this warship just slip in nothing's the matter. Reliant only knew that this vessel might need to be docked so steamed the Reliant to the heavy cruiser before her.
Reliant: Hello? Anyone aboard? Need a tow?
All that came from the heavy cruiser was deathly silence. The paddle tug, while feeling scared, hoped aboard to search for life. She found her answer on the port side near its second funnel. It was a girl around Dorsetshire's height but she wore a military uniform form which she knew was the Great War. She had blonde hair in a fluff haircut and amber eyes. Beside her on her right hand was an old rifle. On her left was a slouch hat with one side up.
