Commander's Rounds

Entry 100-4: Universe of Battle

The commander and his reduced fleet raced against the clock to get to their comrades. In addition to the major forces in the area, there were also lighter roaming spoiler forces whose job it was to get in the way of anyone trying to assist each other, but the commander was fired up along with the rest of his fleet. The prospect of not only being able to swiftly find their friends but also saving them from disaster in the foreboding environment of a Mirror Sea had reinvigorated a fleet that had been constantly fighting.

So any time they ran across any Siren, they shot first without a second or even first thought, taking only as long as was needed to hammer them into submission and then moving on at full speed.

However, it was during one of these skirmishes that they got some unexpected help. Baltimore and Bremerton were fighting off a pair of Intruders, when the pair heard a loud gunshot and one of their opponents was very suddenly domed by a powerful long-range shot. They weren't about to ask questions about their mysterious benefactor, and so finished off their other opponent with a heavy and constant barrage of gunfire.

Baltimore called it in. "Commander, we've mopped up the rest of this group, but one of them was taken out with a long-range shot- and it wasn't from some kind of battleship gun."

The commander paused, and shook his head a little. "...There's a group of Kansen over there. It's on our way, so we'll take a quick look."

The fleet made full speed towards the source of the shot, and it wasn't long until the commander and the other ships noticed a small group of damaged Swordfish circling overhead, and it wasn't long after that when they encountered Forbin and Le Mars, who waved to the fleet. The pair then lead the Commander's group over to the source of their help.

There was a group of around two dozen destroyers from various factions who had rallied together, and the commander popped out of his hatch to have a better look. At the center of them all was Ark Royal, unsteady on the water, her knees quivering while she kept a death grip on her smoking, battered rifle. The carrier had a long cut on one cheek, and was bleeding from the mouth, but she still managed a weak smile when she saw the commander. The commander spoke up. "Ark Royal! What happened?"

Ark Royal was breathing heavily. "C-Commander... I did what I always said I'd do... I was able to protect our precious destroyers, just like I always talked about..." She grunted and doubled over, looking ready to drop.

Forbin turned to the commander. "It's true... A lot of us were scattered, and Ark Royal sent out planes to find us and bring us together." She shook her head. "...Siren planes attacked her to try to keep her from finding us, but she kept on sending out planes, and..."

The commander raised his hand. "All right. I'll have Vestal bring Ark Royal aboard. How are the rest of you?"

Forbin nodded. "We're in pretty good shape. Jervis is here too, so we're all ready to go."

The commander relaxed slightly. Finding Jervis was a good step forward- She could help out anyone else they found who was in a bad way. "All right, we'll get moving as soon as Ark Royal is on board."

Vestal soon came out and hauled Ark Royal on board, putting her in the impromptu medical bay she had set up inside the Orpheus. She took a moment to clean up Ark Royal and briefly examine her before setting her down on a floor bed next to Takao's. "You've taken an intense beating. I can make you comfortable, but you're not going to be doing more fighting today. Still, you seemed to do a good job protecting the destroyers. I think the commander is pleased."

Ark Royal rolled her head to the side. "...Of course I would..." She closed her eyes. "...I'm not deaf, of course... I know that people think I'm strange, or even that I'm a bit of a pest, but it doesn't matter, as long as I can see their precious smiles, even if it's only from far away..."