Legends

Chapter 41~ The Grey Ghost

Angry didn't even begin to describe how Enterprise was feeling. Rage came a little closer but even then it was still about as close as San Francisco was to Japan. As she readied another flight of Hellcats, she was vaguely aware of Yorktown doing the same beside her, readying her own Wildcats and Devestators. But Enterprise's focus was solely on the Abyssal fleet spread out throughout the harbor. She counted at least 30 ships, a good sized force. The sizes ranged from destroyer escorts to one gianormous battlecruiser. Enterprise would have aimed for her if she wasn't sitting in a defended position that guaranteed her aircraft would be shot down before they got close.

Nonetheless, Enterprise let loose. Two more flights of Dauntless divebombers joined their brethren. She didn't bother with fighter escorts as there were no enemy carriers or aircraft anywhere. Princess Tosa had only her surface fleet to protect her. "Big mistake, my friend." Enterprise's grin exposed a mouthful of razer sharp incisors.

Tosa was shocked at this sudden turn of events. She'd expected an easy victory when her fleet invaded Boston Harbor. New York had been a cakewalk. The kanmusu contingent stationed in nearby New Jersey put up only slight resistance. Tosa made sure they paid for that by killing one of them and ensuring their Admiral could never see the light of day again! Now, things could not have been more different. Somehow, the Americans had new kanmusu who were now sortieing their aircraft against her fleet. She had no carriers on standby to counter and was resigned to the bombers assault. While her screen performed their duty, Tosa began gathering her top command vessels. Victory over America would have to wait until she had a carrier of her own. She knew at least 12 were in the final stages of readiness at the secret base in Iceland. Being one of her Queen's longest serving Princesses' made Tosa privy to information few other Abyssals knew. Not even the kanmusu knew the full might of the Abyssal fleet. Yes, victory would be hers in the end.

Decision made, Tosa made a turn to the east, maneuvering into the Inner Harbor with her Re-destroyers providing cover. As she did so, she got a glimpse of her attackers. Two of them now making maneuvers in the Charles River as they dispatched Tosa's lieutenants there. Tosa could not believe what she was seeing. Her Queen had sworn that ship would never be awakened. "N-no. No no!" She cried, increasing speed in an effort to escape. Fear had taken over any discipline.

Her escorts made every effort to keep up but they couldn't hope to match their Princesses horsepower. Re-4 risked a look behind her and she was immediately filled with dread. Enterprise had made the turn into the Inner Harbor and was now giving chase with Yorktown close behind. The Grey Ghost met Re-4's panicked gaze and smiled, drawing a finger across her throat. Re-4 looked up in time to see two 500 lbs bombs falling down right to her. And in that moment she realized the truth. Her long serving loyalty to her queen did not matter. Not to Olympic and certainly not to Tosa. With hundreds more of her type getting ready to sortie from the Iceland base, she had been deemed expendable. Re-4 closed her eyes.

Enterprise watched the explosion with an impassive gaze. "That was for Constitution, you bitch!" She hissed.

Yorktown came alongside, halting to watch the fireworks. Both carrier's aircraft chased Tosa out of the harbor and up the close before low fuel forced them to return to their carriers. Yorktown rested a hand on Enterprise's shoulder. "We'll catch her again." She promised.

"Yeah..." Enterprise shook her head, turning back towards the city. With Tosa no longer a threat at least for the moment, her concerns shifted to Constitution.

By the time she and Yorktown returned to the rest of the fleet, Olympia had set Constitution down on her back and was working on bandaging the frigate. Liberte was standing upright but Enterprise could see her mid-section was wrapped. "Bent hull plates and broken rivets. Hurts like hell but I'm still seaworthy." She explained and the carriers nodded.

Yorktown went to Titanic who had a few MRE's for her. Enterprise ignored her own gnawing hunger to join Olympia. The cruiser had a concerned look on her face. "She woke not long after you left." She said. "Then slipped unconscious again. Unless we can get to a hospital ship and soon-" She didn't need to finish her sentence.

Enterprise knelt beside her, a hand reaching out and brushing back a few strands of the frigate's black hair. When she pulled back, both hands were shaking as she bawled them into fists. Without another word, she rose to her feet, turned and stalked off to join her sister.