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.
