Arpeggio of Blue Steel: Butterfly Effect

The Tale of a Phoenix: Part 2 (Ironbottom Sound Edition)

A/N: Had to unpublish for a quick tweak at the content, I apologize for the inconvenience.

The journey to Pearl Harbour was precarious, you had to cross between the battlefield to the neutral buffer zone designated by the Fleet of Fog, a small area before entering Midway and Hawaii's territory.

Verniy's haste led her to the I-417's nest in a part of the Pacific, Pearl Harbour was now fully equipped with help from Utah. Stealth mines were protecting the harbour as the destroyer barely noticed them when her sensors detected the weapons. The traps had the equivalent of 5 corrosive missiles and that meant destruction for a mere light cruiser with Klein Field.

With her sonar at maximum output, she was able to discern what's left of the submarine's battle with the enemy. Izumi had sank almost all of them by following closely to Hiyou's orders, he knew the pattern for the Pacific submarines and in addition, he had experience through the simulators he played against virtual vessels that had the capability as a real ship with real life crew members.

The submarine noticed the destroyer's presence and fired active decoys to begin her approach, a sonic torpedo disables visual for a few seconds and by the time Verniy detected the I-417.. there were at least 6 of them now.

But no torpedoes yet. It meant that they were on guard but still waiting for any hostile intent from the espionage ship, she was currently masked as the Hibiki so it was clear that the submarine had every right to perform anti-ship maneuver.

"It appears I need to unveil myself to access this path. I would not like to reveal my capabilities just yet."

The Hibiki took off her disguise and was revealed as the Verniy, this shows that Stalingrad had presence in the Pacific even without her physical body there. The decoys of the I-417 changed course towards the open ocean for scouting while the submarine herself surfaces up to meet the Verniy.

Hiyou got out through the hatch, while Verniy's mental model walked out from her bridge as the two made eye contact. It felt like the lad was used to this by now, meeting mental models of another ship side by side his vessel.

Izumi followed after her Captain as her head popped out from within her ship body, she shows a tactical screen regarding the destroyer's identity from before and after.

This was confusing for the youth because the concept of espionage was supposed to be forbidden to the Fleet of Fog.

"Verniy.. am I right?"

A nod was his only response from the mental model, she wore an emotionless facial feature while staring at him.

"What are you doing here? This is not an enemy territory if it's spying."

"My superior. Stalingrad sent me here to establish contact with I-417.. there is trouble in the air. Musashi is using a tactic never seen before.. it almost feels like she has humans onboard as her crew."

This alerted both Hiyou and Izumi of what Musashi is capable of, this war is not the same as fighting Bismarck and her whole force. The Yamato-class were war veterans from the Great Battle, they asserted dominance over the humans with sheer firepower and now that mental models exist, it is possible for them to use 'tactics' or strategy devised by humanity.

However, what elicits the biggest fear would be having human crew on a Fog ship, knowing what they can do with a submarine. A super battleship under the command of an individual would be alarming even for the Trinity.

"The Fog Student Council have made their move. The Task Force that Iowa sent to Leyte Gulf are in danger.. Stalingrad wishes to see what you will do. That is all I have to convey after making this far."