Legends

Chapter 58: Tungsten Magnets and Sources of Fun

Lafayette and downhill skiing really didn't mix. At least she didn't turn into a giant snowball this time although with all the stumbling about she did, the fact she kept her feet at all was only slightly of an improvement. Thyra certainly seemed to be getting annoyed with how many times she had to help her up again after each stumble.

"Your talent for being less coordinated in the snow than a drunkard at a pool party is beginning to impress me." She said.

"Oh ha ha!" Lafayette rolled her eyes, sticking her tongue at her like the mature ship she was.

Thyra's grin was genuine as was her laugh. She had a rather pretty laugh and Lafayette wished she'd give it more often. But all too quickly her humor slid away although not of her own fault. Lafayette may've secured her rigging but she still had her shipgirl senses and her head snapped around towards the north. She was not so hyper focused to fail to see Thyra do the same maneuver nearly simultaneously.

"Scheiße." She hissed.

"We have to find cover." Lafayette gasped. "Of course there isn't any nearby."

"There is if you'd use your eyes and know where to look!" Thyra snapped before pointing to a large depression just downslope of where they were currently. "There!"

For once Lafayette didn't mind the snowball approach. It got her in the hole faster. The large depression wasn't the best cover but there was an overhang on one side that offered some protection. Thyra leaped down effortlessly to join her, already undoing the straps on her harness. "Take Eugan." She growled.

"What- what about you?!" Lafayette gasped.

Thyra's expression was murderous and more than a little haunted. "I've seen their type before. I can handle them." She growled.

"Like hell you will alone!" Lafayette protested.

"STAY PUT!" Now Lafayette felt her power and by SecNav was it potent. That her rigging slid into place in the same moment and that the carrier saw that distinctive outline; four turrets, short conning tower, and wide beam, was a bonus. But it merely confirmed what she'd suspected for some time now.

"Viel Glück." She said in German and Tirpitz smiled before disappearing into the open. The raging sound of gunfire followed shortly thereafter and Lafayette knew the planes had engaged the German battleship when loud explosions shook the ground very close to her hiding place. The vibrations woke Eugan and Lafayette was quick to soothe her. "Slowly now." She whispered.

"Lafayette, where-where are we?" Eugan rasped.

"Norway, still.' Lafayette replied with a forced smile. "We're in Tromsø and there's a ferry waiting to take us back to Britain but the Abyssals decided to throw a surprise party."

"Normally that's my favorite but I don't recall being invited to this one." Eugan said and Lafayette chuckled.

Tirpitz' guns sounded again. She was still close by but getting farther away as she tried to lead the Abyssals away from her friends. "I have to go help her." Lafayette decided but Eugan was reluctant to let her go.

"Lafayette, your rigging is damaged to the point where it might not hold. If it fails, you'll be a sitting duck." She said.

"It's a risk I have to take." Lafayette replied.

"You're unescorted!"

"No I'm not. I've got a battleship out there who can watch my stern. Now I have to go and watch hers." As she spoke, the ground shook under the onslaught of a furious broadside. And it was enough to capture Eugan's undivided attention. She had, after all, heard that sound before. "Go then but be careful." She asked.

"Always am." Lafayette returned and climbed out of the crater that had, ironically, been made by the British in the last war. A quick consultation with her fairies told her she had six planes ready for launch. Not much but it was something at least. She had a quarter of her rounds left for antiaircraft fire, again not much but something. Being on land was a bonus in that she could focus her rigging more on combat than trying to keep afloat. It came to her instantly, settling into its position on her back. Her bow appeared in her right hand and she used her left to carefully select a Corsair from her limited number of fighters. These bombers needed to be dealt with and quickly so she loaded it into its notch and fired.

"I thought I told you to take cover." Tirpitz said, the sight of the friendly planes getting into a furball immediately capturing her attention. She was not amused and turned around to glare at the carrier.

"And let you hang out here by yourself with no air cover. Forgive me if I don't want to see a repeat of Operation Catechism." Lafayette shot back and the battleship winced.

"I wouldn't have to risk such a repeat if you hadn't come here in the first place!" Tirpitz growled, whirling her guns around to fire at another group of planes that appeared over the ridge.


"Are we really doing this now?!" Lafayette asked, her exasperation only half real. She recognized this from Eugan. This sniping, despite seeming to be harsh and sometimes cruel, was actually just the way that Germans made friends. Upholder's reports on U-103 suggested it went beyond just this generation as well.

Tirpitz smirked, actually smirked at her. For a moment, she looked like what Lafayette imagined her older sister would. Clever, brazen, and confident. "Only if you insist on talking instead of shooting something!" She replied.

"And here I thought I'd never get an invitation to this ass whooping!" Lafayette chuckled and she began filling the sky with flack. Both kanmusu moved in perfect unison. Tirpitz had never screened a carrier before so Lafayette decided to step back and follow her lead which she did know how to do. The biggest challenge for the carrier was figuring out how close she could get to her companion. Most battleships required course changes after they fired their main batteries. The recoil was often so powerful it threw them off their given path. But Tirpitz didn't have that problem. She remained steady as a rock, feet planted wide on the rocks as she fired round after round into the sky.

The Abyssals seemed unending but at last their numbers finally dwindled, helped not in the least by the timely arrival of RAF fighters from HMS Victorious. As the British took care of what remained of their enemy, Lafayette took a moment to catch her breath. Tirpitz sat beside her. "Nice work." She complimented and Lafayette was so pleased to be paid such a high compliment she forgot herself for a moment and let her French side show. She gave the battleship a kiss on both cheeks.

"Frau Kommendant?" Eugan's shaky voice broke them apart and Tirpitz was quick to rise to assist her former fleetmate as she climbed her way out of the depression. The two embraced and exchanged words in such rapid fire German that Lafayette couldn't have kept up even if she tried. She didn't. It sounded emotional though, if Eugan's crying was anything to go by. But that conversation was private and had nothing to do with her so she focused instead out to sea. The ferry in the harbor had been left untouched by the raid.

Eugan was able to limp along with Tirpitz' help. "Victorious will escort you into Newcastle." The battleship said. "You better get going, the ferry's waiting for you."

Lafayette was quick to pick up on the nuances. "You could come with us." She said.

"A generous offer and I thank you for it. But I am needed here." Tirpitz replied.

"And equally so elsewhere." Lafayette countered. "You could fight with us. The Abyssals have France. They've taken part of Germany."

Tirpitz looked pained and for a brief moment she looked like she would accept Lafayette's offer. Then she shook her head. "This is my home now." She replied. "But I shall always be here when you need me."

Lafayette grasped her arm and she returned the gesture. "Au revoir, Normandie." Tirpitz said before letting go.

Still supporting Eugan, Lafayette watched her go with great reluctance. "Auf wiedersehen." She whispered after her before speaking the battleship's name for the first time. "Tirpitz."