Legends

Chapter 37~ Damn the Torpedoes

Upholder never ceased to be amazed by the advances in technology since her time as a ship. Now was no different. The Washington had every amenity imaginable. Fresh oxygen created by electrolysis, a real honest to god washing machine and dryer. A grill and stove in the kitchen, not to mention the ice cream machines that seemed to mark every corner.

"Mein Gott!" exclaimed U-103 after being shown the torpedo room and the racks of Mark 48 torpedoes. "In a fair fight, you lot would have more kills than my entire flotilla!"

The girls got the full tour by a crew very eager to show off their boat to fellow bubbleheads. Even Upholder was silent as she took it all in. She looked almost envious as she eyed the impressive suite of instruments in the sonar shack. They arrived on the bridge and it took the experienced submarines seconds to spot what wasn't there. "No periscope?" Umbra wondered.

The lieutenant who was guiding them shook his head. "No need." He replied. "Our photonics masts can scan the horizon around us 360 degrees without ever needing to move a scope."

"No Dancing with the Gray Lady on this boat." Upholder turned to the new voice, spotting her immediately.

Dressed in the same khaki uniform as her crew and carrying lieutenant's bars on her collar was Washington herself. She had brown hair and her green eyes shone with youth despite the professionalism in her gaze.

"I see." Upholder replied to them both although she was staring at Washington when she said it.

The lieutenant looked as well although he saw nothing. "Sometimes I don't get kanmusu." He said, shaking his head.

"Yeah, join the club." Venture muttered. Upholder elbowed her in the ribs and Washington hid a snicker behind a hand.

They got underway right on schedule. The only excitement was when both Venture and Umbra were startled by the sheer amount water hammer going through the pipes as it was heated in the Steam Generator when the reactor was brought on line. Washington slipped up behind them so silently that when she rested her hands on their shoulders they jumped. Only Washington's strength kept them from hitting their heads on the overhead. "Relax," The Virginia spoke gently. "I know it sounds frightening but to me, the rush is greater than sex."

"What's it like, having a reactor?" Upholder asked.

"I don't have anything to compare it to." Washington replied, looking thoughtful. "You could ask the skipper though."

At that moment, Commander Christofk was walking towards the group. "Everything alright girls?" He asked. He'd heard Venture and Umbra yelp.

Upholder was trying very hard not to laugh as Washington walked behind her commanding officer and tried to play hansy only to go right through him as usual. Instead, she decided to take her fellow submarine at her word. "I was wondering sir, what it's like having a reactor instead of a conventional plant."

"Good question. The best analogy I can think of that you might understand would be comparing a sailing ship to the Turbinia." He replied.

"That different?" 103 wondered.

"You have more horsepower at your disposal than anything of comparable size except maybe those ultra fast raceboats." He explained. "Most of the crew compare Washington to a $2 billion sports car but I don't know if you girls know what that is."

"I do." Upholder said. "But that's only because I saw Campbeltown crash one into a tree once."

Christofk winced. "That was her? Yeah, of course it was." He shook his head. The antics of the American born destroyer were notorious enough to be shared amongst every branch of the two navies. Washington meanwhile had shifted her focus downwards, causing him to shudder. "Excuse me ladies, I must return to the bridge." Washington remained behind.

"You know, when he does eventually see you that he's going to give you hell." Upholder looked at her.

Washington shrugged. "So, we have 12 hours before we're on station. The chefs should have dinner ready by now."

"Say no more. Lead on Frau Kommendant!" 103 exclaimed.

"To the mess hall then. All ahead flank!" Washington and her four fellow submarine guests marched forward, following the smell of sizzling meat drifting aft from the mess.

The crew not currently on watch had also followed their noses but graciously offered their guests to go first. "We made sure to bring enough food to handle you plus us." One said.

Venture, who had always been critical of her modern successors, vowed she would never speak ill about modern submariners again. The Americans were the best fed military in the world and nothing but the best was saved for their submarines. Steaks, still dripping with their juice were piled in their bin. Garlic potatoes, bacon filled macaroni and cheese, fried chicken. The four kanmusu all but fell on the buffet line, filling their plates to their physical maximum before being forced to retreat once that number had been reached. They would be back inevitably. But in the meantime, they found an empty table. Washington joined them, chuckling as 103 took a bite of steak and all but melted into her chair.

"Would you-no you can't can you?" Upholder asked, silently cursing her insensitivity.

Washington shook her head sadly. "I cannot." She replied. "Something to look forward to one day, if I'm ever called again."

The appetite of four ravenous kanmusu about to go into battle was something rarely exceeded and many of the crew were praising supply's foresight in this matter as the girls didn't hog all the goodies. A quick nap was next on the list and once again Upholder was shocked at not only the luxuriousness of modern submarines but the generosity of the crew. The girls bunked in the CO and XOs staterooms.

Washington made sure they were settled before returning to the bridge but she was there when they woke a few hours later with a tray filled with steaming mugs of tea and coffee. "I wasn't sure which you would like so I just guessed." She said sheepishly.

"We're flexible." Venture smiled as she stretched, shaking Umbra awake.

"Hmm whatzt?" Umbra mumbled before the coffee fumes finally got to her and she was wide awake and reaching for a cup.

"Vhat did your crew think about you carrying that tray?" 103 asked as she sipped her own cup.

Washington rubbed the back of her head. "Well, I may have spooked one or two nubs." She replied.

"Nubs?" Venture was confused by the terminology.

"Non-qualified boys." Upholder explained before Washington had to. "I'm surprised the US is still investing in new recruits for their steel vessels. Ah-no offense."

"None taken." Washington waved it off although her smile was a fraction smaller. "I think someone realized what we still had left and understood that in order to get a shipgirl-"

"You have to have a ship first." Upholder nodded. "This is good coffee by the way." She raised her cup.

"Only the best for the Blackfish!" Washington exclaimed. Upholder sighed, Umbra rolled her eyes while Venture and 103 looked even more confused. Upholder decided to take a seat and watch as Washington attempted to educate her in modern American submarine shenanigans.

The surface fleet had performed their role perfectly and the five modern SSNs didn't encounter a single source of trouble as they slipped silently into the channel. By now, a well fed and well rested contingent of kanmusu stood on the bridge of each of their rides with said ride's kanmusu directly behind them, unseen by her crew.

Christofk addressed them. "We'll drop you off about a half mile outside the harbor. You'll have to make the rest of the way there on your own. I'm assuming at least one of you has been upgraded with Gertrude?" He asked and there were nods from both Upholder and Umbra. "If you need backup, use that and while we may not be able to hit anything, we can sure give those bastards a fright."

"We understand. Thank you captain." Upholder held out her hand.

"Good hunting girls." Christofk took it.

The kanmusu went down to the torpedo room. Virginia-class boats only had one in the bow. They had only needed one. Their four torpedo tubes, capable of spitting out up to 25 Mark 48 ADCAP torpedoes, each with a 650 lb warhead from 31 miles away. Modern technology never ceased to impress. Washington got a great laugh out of seeing Venture's face when that little tidbit was explained and then seeing 103s near faint when telling the German U-boat about how Washington didn't even need to see her target to shoot.

"Just tell me you aren't going to tether us too." Upholder said as she finished putting on her wetsuit. The US Navy's latest design it would help the submarine's glide out from the torpedo tubes for longer before they activated their own propulsion.

Washington snorted. "No offense Upholder but I doubt a guided wire could withstand your displacement." She replied.

There were grins all around as the submarines made the typical pre-attack jokes units often made with each other. "It's time." said the Lieutenant.

"Okay girls, into the rocket tube." Upholder purred. Washington opened the hatch on Upholder's tube and the British boat gave her a high five as she climbed in. With all four tubes loaded with the submarine kanmusu, the order was given from the bridge. "Fire one!" "Fire two!" "Fire three!" "Fire four! Execute reloading procedures, tubes 1-4."

As the lieutenant directed his men to reload the tubes with real torpedoes, Washington rejoined her captain on the bridge. "Godspeed, Upholder, Venture, Umbra, 103." She whispered as she rested a hand on his shoulder.

Two things happened in quick sequence. One, her hand didn't go straight through him like it used to. And second, Christofk turned his head and looked her right in the eye. "Wash, I am married you know."

Washington was so surprised she yelped, falling back into a chair with a clang. The entire bridge turned to look at the sound, a few of the oldest hands wincing at the noise. All saw the woman in a lieutenant's uniform, cursing as she slowly stood. "For SecNav's sake, captain!" She exclaimed. "You nearly sent me into meltdown!"

Christofk couldn't help it, he doubled over laughing.