Out Of Many, Always Be One: Voyage Of The United States

5. The Drums Begin To Beat

Darling Harbour, Sydney, Australia

The shocking announcement early the next morning by the United States of a Chinese warship intruding on RIMPAC 2026 was a mortal blow for US-China relations. It was now clear that a war was coming and someone was going fire the first shot. Such a move of getting KAN-SEN to spy on exercises was soon being called into question by both sides as they still wanted to maintain peace. Far away but close to the boiling point, the retired Australian submarine Onslow was monitoring the situation from the news reports, and she was definately not in a good mood.

Onslow: Those Communist bastards. Arseholes, the lot of them.

Vampire: What are going on about now, Onslow?

Onslow: Didn't you hear, Vampire? Bloody China is throwing a tantrum again because their destroyer got busted at RIMPAC.

Vampire: Bloody hell. And I thought after Beijixing was sunk last year, they'd think to stay away from Eagle Union-hosted exercises. Clearly, they don't learn.

Onslow: This means the girls at HMAS Kuttabul better get themselves ready because I feel the worst is about to happen.

Vampire: The invasion of Taiwan?

Onslow: (Gives Vampire a confirming look)

Vampire: Oh shit. Changing the subject, that famous Sakura KAN-SEN is over in Sydney.

Onslow: You mean Yura? Who's she here for?

Vampire: Would you believe it but our Lady Herron. Thank goodness she's getting some extra help as Jo has put her through enough.

Onslow: I'll be nice to see her under her own power again. I'd even be surprised if Lady Cutler shows up to see her little sister.

Meanwhile... aboard MV Lady Herron...

Yura: And the minister just kept saying lies until someone shut them up? You and your hull are quite lucky to survive.

Herron: Yeah. Jo is just the worst. Thank God that Freshwater, my big sister Northcott and the other ferrygirls chipped in.

Northcott: You know that there was also support from outside Sydney including Melbourne and across the globe. I could figure where the Melbourne help came from.

Herron: Ah, big sisters Cutler and McKell, just to see them again.

Yura: Right. Now, what needs to be done?

Herron: Some needs to be done on the upper deck, but it might be a hassle for you being stuck in a wheelchair.

Northcott: We can help her up.

Yura: Thank you, Lady Northcott-chan.

Northcott: (Chuckles) No, thank you. Not everyday you meet a former Sakura Empire KAN-SEN, given how few of you are left.

Yura: There are a few of us left. You just need to look in the right places. I think the last time I saw photos of your hull's originally planned destruction, the area between the aft bridge and funnels was gone. I could see it has been rebuilt.

Herron: State Government had to pay for the damages after Freshwater and big sister Northcott saved me. Right, girls. Let's get to work.

Yura: Mind me asking this but are you able to tell the full story of how your hull was saved?

Northcott: Me and Freshwater are better at explaining it and if we can, we'll drag in Waratah as well as she has a part in it.

Herron: More like you and Freshwater forced her into it.