Abyssal Fleet Event 3

@[deleted] I think I found an artwork of one of our previous engagements! Well, from your perspective anyways. ^^'

Those Shindens and Kikkas were lucky you had the element of surprise. They might not fare so well next time. ;3

LucianDreamer wrote

Pre-battle scene of Pearl Harbor (7/30/2017) via IJN's perspective just to give @[deleted] a few hours heads-up.

Several hours have passed, and the 'Operation 69' force, a.k.a. the 17th Imperial KanMusu fleet in the dead of night still hadn't found O'ahu yet, as they sailed southeast from Tokyo amid the cloudy skies. Yamato is starting to get a little concerned they're low on fuel and have to slow down to conserve it.
Admiral Houki didn't pay much attention about the resources debate back in Tokyo the other day, her goal is to make sure everything goes as planned and operational.
Nagato then speaks over to the Admiral via the comm.

Nagato: "How far are we into our target position, Admiral?"
Houki: "100 nautical kilometers, we're bearing one-eight-zero, no sight of land, wind speed at 17 knots!"
Nagato: "We should be there soon. The sun is not up until around 06:00."

Yamato peers around, but no sign of any enemy patrol lurking in the Hawaiian Archipelego.

Yamato: "Radar scan reports nothing on our visual, everything is fine."
Nagato: "Good, saves us all the ammo we need in case everything fails. We will stay out of their radar range once we see the island."
Yamato: "Which one we're looking for again, Secretary?"
Nagato: "The second big one, the one dead ahead of us. Once we see it, we'll stop and commence."
Akagi: "Our plans as Carrier Division One, Nagato?"

Nagato takes out an old map of Hawai'i, it looks kind of torn up but still readable.

Nagato: "Once Tenryuu gives our attack signal, you straight away order your first wave to cripple as much of what their planes can see on sight before they notice we're here. Your first wave must destroy every single stationary enemy plane before they have a chance to take off, as well as destroy their key installations. Then, once they start to notice and sound their alarm, order your first wave to pull back and let your second wave in to destroy as much of the enemy fleet stationed there. We want at least 75% of them damaged or gone to buy us time."
Akagi: "And if somehow our planes get shot down a lot?"
Nagato: "You reel back your attack waves and put them on combat air patrol."
Yamato: "And what about the rest of us, Secretary?"
Nagato: "All of us will stay put, we let our carriers' planes do the work, and if all else fail, we will be prepared to fall back if necessary."
Yamato: "Aye, ma'am!"

ending pre-battle scene

So it's come to this, eh? Bring it. ;3

I'm actually gonna be doing some long-overdue spring cleaning, but I'll try to reply throughout the day. Also! I've taken the liberty of creating a list of special equipment you might encounter throughout the campaign. It's in my intro post if you wanna take a look. ^^

Terribly sorry for being late! I actually got roped by my mom into cleaning the entire garage, so it was incredibly difficult to focus.

I tried out like, five different starter posts before this one and none of 'em stuck. I do hope you'll find this one acceptable though. :3

Among the dozens of vessels performing their morning maneuvers in the great bay, one in particular might've stood out to an astute pilot. A petite young destroyer - Fletcher class - clad in a bright blue dress and trailing long locks the color of bubblegum. It was none other than the North American destroyer Conway, or "Connie" for short.
As Conway left the dock and picked up speed, she helped herself to a deep swig of the heady tropical air. Two months ago she might've been fast asleep in the dock, but that ship had sailed. She'd made a promise to her fellow destroyer, and if it meant seeing the smile on Jenkins' face, she was willing to endure early mornings and more.

Life had been good here at Pearl. Sure, Jennie and her fleet were still stationed somewhere near Midway, but in her stead, Conway had spent a good amount of time getting to know her fellow fleet girls, and even garnered a few acquaintances among their new allies, the Abyssals.
They were a strange lot, these ships. For starters, they often slept upright; back straight, legs bobbing in the waves, but with their heads slightly drooped and their eyes fallen shut. She hadn't had the gumption to ask why, but she reckoned it had to do with their unique origins as naturally-occurring Armadans.
She'd heard many stories about them during her fleet's brief stay in Japan. Yet despite those tales of "driving mankind from the sea" and "contaminating everything they touched", the Abyssals she'd met seemed perfectly cordial by her mark. Oh, they were terrifying to look at, certainly some of them; and a select few brandished monstrous appendages that could slice her to bits or crush her into scrap. But despite their myriad differences, they accepted the North Americans with open arms, providing comfortable quarters and full access to their naval academy. Chief Medusa was particularly interested in their shipyard, and could be spotted surveying the great gantries with Admiral Taylor in tow.

This was their home now. And for a brief moment that fateful morn, it seemed to Conway as if it'd last forever.

Her path took her past an Abyssal fleet oiler moored to a pier. Moments later, a burst of heat knocked the destroyer clean off her feet.

Conway: "Jesus Christ! Ach-... Fuck!"

Hacking, sputtering, cursing the whole way, she'd soon grabbed hold of some netting and hoisted herself upright. Noxious fumes burned her nose, and an errant shard of shrapnel had produced a large cut along the back of her leg.
With a tap of her outfit and a hint to her crew, she produced her five-inch gun and activated her sonar/radar suite.
And that's when she finally heard it. The unmistakable report of Japanese engines.
High above her, masked by the rising sun, a veritable armada of Lucian aircraft descended upon the harbor.

Conway: "Sweet mother of God..."

By then it'd become readily clear they were under attack, but without leadership the harbor soon fell into disarray. The Anchorage Princess Pearl was nowhere to be found, and the resident Air Defense Princess had just fled the gantry where she'd been undergoing a remodel. With the help of Medusa and Rear Admiral Taylor, she lifted herself out of the construction pit mere moments before a bomb turned her outfit to scrap.

Air Defense Princess Pearl: "Some of you humans are alright, you know that?"
Taylor: "Was that a compliment? D'awh, I'm flattered."

The very second after she spoke, Admiral Taylor picked up a disturbance in the corner of her vision. One of the enemy Zeroes was hurtling right for the three of them, kicking up tiny bits of concrete as its gunsight raced down the dock. Caught without cover, Rear Admiral Taylor dove out of the way. And when the Zero adjusted course, all she could do was curl up, cover her neck, and hope for the best.
Amazingly, she still seemed to have all her arms and legs attached when Medusa helped her up. A silent smile and small nod intimated her gratitude to the Abyssal who'd shielded her with her body.

ADP Pearl: "... Where to, Admiral?"
Taylor: "I've got an idea. Let's move!"

Meanwhile on the other side of the harbor, Conway was sinking fast. Feeling the water piling into her compartments and weighing down her left leg, she spotted a nearby beach and pushed her throttle to the limit. When she hit the sand, the entire world turned into a blur for a moment, till she found herself lodged against a nearby tree.
The first thing she realized was her right arm - it hurt like the dickens. Using her left hand, she found her shoulder warm to the touch, overflowing with her essences. Apparently that little stunt caused her some serious mechanical damage.
She'd little time to think, however. As another gigantic explosion took the life of a Battleship Princess, she resolved to shed her outfit and raise the alarm.
The pain was unreal as her heavy hull jostled the shattered struts within her arm. But with her outfit gone and her shoes kicked off, Conway was free to run to the nearest observation post and sound the alarm.
Lucians were beginning to take losses, but their attack remained fierce as ever. While Conway fumbled with the keypad in her off-hand, another unfortunate battleship went up in smoke.

Conway: "This is the NAS Conway to anyone on this line; designation, double-D five-oh-seven! Who's in command here? Please respond!"

No response. While she waited, an I-class destroyer let out the most horrible scream as a bomb turned it to scrap.
The young destroyer inhaled deeply. Then she pulled the general alarm.

Conway: "... Very well then, I am in command! All vessels and installations, we're under attack by enemy aircraft! The rising sun symbol has been sighted on their wings."

As the air raid sirens finally croaked to life, Conway's voice was interrupted by an explosion just a few yards away from the observation post.

Conway: "bsshiquarters, all hands! We need every available aircraft airborne immediately!"

Abyssal anti-aircraft guns shot down 28 Lucian aircraft, mostly attackers. However, they've lost many vessels, including three Ru-class battleships.
The alarm has been fully raised, and Allied forces are scrambling to mount a defense.

Girding on her outfit and hastening out of the deployment house, the North American carrier Enterprise entered into a scene of utter chaos. A swarm of North American and Abyssal aircraft did battle with their Lucian aggressors, barely even clearing her head with their shots. Dozens of Abyssal ships had turned to smoldering hulks of scrap, many of them still sitting in dock. Occasionally one of their Hellcats would bag a bandit, only for its fanatical pilot to ram her plane into the closest vessel.
At the end of the pier she found Yorktown and Lincoln swiftly emptying their quivers. With Saratoga in tow and the M3 carbine in her hands, Enterprise made haste to join them.

Lincoln: "Big E?! Aren't you a sight for sore eyes!"
Yorktown: "We're in a hell of a jam here! Forget tactics; just launch as many fighters as you can!"

With curt nods, the Mark 3 carriers raised their guns. One clip from Enterprise's semi-auto would produce a whole squadron of Hellcats to intercept the fighters, while Saratoga's Thompson emptied its entire drum magazine of Corsairs at the attackers.
The conversation continued as they reloaded.

Enterprise: "What's the story? Why're they attacking?"
Saratoga: "Why d'ya think, toots?! They wanna kneecap us before the big war!"
Lincoln: "I had a hunch..."
Yorktown: "... but I never thought they'd be so callous!"

Second clip, this time P-40s. Their skilled pilots worked in tandem with Lincoln's Wildcats, baiting Zeroes before catching them in a crossfire.

Yorktown: "Sara, Big E! Keep to the shallowest parts of the harbor! That way they won't be able to sink ya."

Meanwhile, Yorktown tracked her recon planes - Hellcats with droptanks - all across the island. These fighters had to come from somewhere, and finding the enemy carrier group might've allowed a devastating second strike.

Albeit at considerable cost to their own, Allied forces have downed over a hundred planes from the first attack wave. Most Abyssal ships are awake by now and the resident Anchorage Princess has assumed her station on Ford Island, raising the island's Alert Level by 25%.
American planes actively hunt for the enemy carrier, but their search is concentrated largely in the south. They have no idea where to find the flattops, unless perhaps they follow some of the returning attackers.

By then, Admiral Taylor and company had retreated to a camouflaged command tent just across the water from Ford Island. Concealed under ersatz bushes and a thicket of trees, the Lucian pilots likely never even noticed it.

Nakamura was there, along with a handful of scuffled, sooty princesses. Their enemies had planned prudently - the Abyssal armory had been among the first buildings struck by the Vals, and their dormitories were quick to follow.

Nakamura: "Ivy!"
Taylor: "Natsu!"

The commodore embraced her admiral with a long, tight squeeze. It was plain that she was tearing up.

Nakamura: "When I saw the bombs hit by the shipyards... I thought-"
Taylor: "I was gone? Heh, it's all thanks to her."

Ivy ushered everyone's eyes over to the Air Defense Princess. She nodded gracefully, assuring that it was the least she could do.

Taylor: "What's the situation? Where's the admiral?"

At that second inquiry, a great hush fell about the room. The princesses all looked at each other uncomfortably, pursing lips and balling fists before one of the destroyer princesses spoke up.

Destroyer Princess Solomon: "He's... gone, miss. I saw it happen; a lucky bomb from one of the Vals."

Whatever the princess saw, Ivy could tell it wasn't pretty. Her hand was clutched over her heart, her eyes downcast, her face a mix between sadness and disgust.
It was at this point that the youngest of them began to sob. Sensing her anguish, Nakamura knelt down and cradled her face against her shoulder, whispering gentle reassurance in her little ear.

Destroyer Princess Solomon: "He was... in the courtyard outside our dormitory. Making sure we got out safe..."
Taylor: "Mm, I see... If there's anything left, I'd ask you, please try to salvage his cap. Admiral Thotep was an inspiration to many, and a dear friend of mine throughout my time with him. We should not wish for him to be forgotten."
Destroyer Princess Solomon: "Of course ma'am. Thank you ma'am."
Taylor: "... Which begs the question, which of you is in charge?"

Another round of shifting gazes. This time, all eyes eventually ended up on the tallest of the bunch. She was a wide, well-built ship, boasting great silver blades in the place of her hands, and a massive displacement in her midsection.

Harbor Princess Pearl: "I was his secretary, I have the say. But, Admiral..."
Taylor: "Hmm?"
Harbor Princess Pearl: "With all due respect ma'am, I'd hesitate to tell you this under normal circumstances, but Admiral Thotep thought rather highly of you these past few months. He kept a copy of your service record on his desk at all times, and ruminated aloud about the tenacity of your fleet. Were he not ageless, he might've considered you his equal."
Taylor: "And, perhaps, the inheritor of the Abyssal Fleet?"

The princess nodded in return.
Ivy inhaled deeply. It was quite a lot to take in.

Taylor: "Well... With all due respect, I don't know if I could ever match Grand Admiral Thotep's unique charisma and ruthlessness as a commander, but if that's what you girls wish, I'll damn well try to."

Within moments, the mood decidedly picked up among the princesses. They were still scuffed, sooty, and forlorn from the loss of their loved ones, but a speck of hope now glimmered in their eyes.

Taylor: "Commodore, get me a damage report by oh-twelve-hundred hours tomorrow morning. The rest of you are to search for survivors and catalog casualties. Enlist the help of all non-combat personnel; even the local populace if you have to. We can't afford to lose any more-"

That's when she heard it. Without saying a word she rushed to the tent flap.
Off in the distance, flying high above the mountain range, a gigantic formation of small planes descended upon Pearl.

Taylor: "Oh dear lord..."

At that moment, in the great pool just north of Ford Island, the remaining North American carriers watched hundreds of planes hurtle straight at them. Lincoln, the youngest of the lot, clung to her bow and breathed heavily. Enterprise kept the stiff upper lip, Saratoga smiled, and all Yorktown could do was sigh.

Lincoln: "I'm out of arrows."
Saratoga: "Man, where's a Fletcher when ya need one?"
Lincoln: "Is this really the time for puns?!"
Yorktown: "You have a better idea?!"

They could hear them now, as they closed to gunnery range. The harbor's remaining flak guns downed over a dozen, but their evasive maneuvers minimized further casualties.

Saratoga: "Welp, this is it gals! Smoke if ya got 'em."

As she lit up, Enterprise glanced at her with a queer look.

Enterprise: "I didn't know you smoked."
Saratoga: "I don't! I just figured it'd be fun to say."

While Saratoga hacked and sputtered, Enterprise performed one last check of her magazine bag. She really wished she had another clip of Panthers.
Though the navy blue jets shredded the enemy's Oscars, there were too few of them to make a difference. The attackers pressed on.

Enterprise: "Ladies, it's been a pleasure. Wherever the wind takes us, I wish all of you you the best of luck."

This time there were no quips. With one last nod exchanged between all, the carriers broke off for evasive maneuvers. Perhaps by some miracle, at least one of them would survive the ordeal.

Yorktown: "I should've anticipated the second wave. If only I'd been smarter and stronger, perhaps..."

Hearing the bombs whistling on the way to her back, the carrier clutched her bow tightly. Her only solace was that the Thunderer and New Jersey still survived at Midway, and that their valiant efforts had sunk an entire convoy of troop transports.
There would be no invasion. They could still fight back. And perhaps, once Medusa finally rebuilt them, she'd finally be reunited with her younger sister.

Yorktown: "It's all up to you now, admiral... I'm so sorry."

There was the sound of splintering wood, and the sickening snap of her central bulkhead. The last thing she saw was the torpedo headed straight for her face, before the world vanished in a flash.

Nagato is such a cutie. Pity we'll hafta sink her someday. <3 ]]

As the submarines rounded the southeast tip of the coral isle, they might've realized just how well it was defended. The sea floor was exceedingly shallow near the beach, forcing them several miles off the coast to avoid detection. Patrol frigates circled the island in pairs. And as Goya and company drew near the tiny inlet to the west, they picked up the trace of a familiar enemy lurking in the deep.
Mines. Dozens of them laid out in a wide fan before the inlet, some clustered into clumps of ten. The submarines could easily bypass them with the aid of their sonars, but they'd slow them down considerably, and the shallow water made approach a thorny proposition.
They'd have to act fast. At 2 A.M. local time, the tide was just starting to rise.

 

[unknown vessel]
[unknown vessel]
NAS Key West (PF-17) - Tacoma class Mk. 2 - 18/18
NAS Allentown (PF-52) - Tacoma class - 9/9

Just as Goya said that however, her sonar suite sensed a new contact rounding the fortress in the middle of the lagoon. A quick peek through the persiscopes revealed her to be a seaplane tender - Barnegat class -  wearing a long leather hood and an ivory-handled Peacemaker at her hip.
She sailed leisurely through the shallow lagoon, apparently unaware of the hunters lurking within. Stopping almost directly above Goya and company, she knelt down to welcome a pair of floatplanes.

Yakutat: "There y'are. 'Bout time, I was startin' to get worried... Uh-huh? ... Don't worry cutie, you'll be safe with me."

Time was scarce, and there was little point in sinking the tender. As the vessel stowed the seaplanes back in her belt, Goya likely would've moved on.
A dimly-lit concrete dock presented itself on the eastern face of the fortress. The guards were absent from the pier, and the seaplane tender was content to wade about the west side of the lagoon.
By anyone's mark, it was the perfect opportunity.

 

NAS Yakutat (AVP-32) - Barnegat class Mk. 3 - 50/50
[unknown vessel]
[unknown vessel]
NAS Key West (PF-17) - Tacoma class Mk. 2 - 18/18
NAS Allentown (PF-52) - Tacoma class - 9/9