Scene #4021: Operation Rei-Go E-3!

Owner	Pose
Wo	It was disarming, in a way. The sky is a clear blue, except for clouds drifting among the numerous coral islands on the horizon. The deep blue sea is also calmly lapping, peaceful enough that between the light swells, once can see the slightly distended reflections of those clouds and the distant land within it, like a funhouse mirror, before the next wave washes them away in foam. At this distance, it would be hard to tell that there was ever a battle here, much less one that was so devestating and costly to all parties. Yet, that is how nature operates -- hiding away traces of both mankind and the machines they built, in time. However, it had not been long enough to erase everything. At closer approach, the perfect canvas reveals its flaws: The tell-tale prismatic reflection of oil slicks smudging the water, from grisly, blackened, steel wreckage that has washed up on the islands' shores. Buoyant Abyssal drums and supply crates bob up and down, carried by otherwise unseen currents, in various stages of decay or damage. At times, one might even see the distinct parts of a Wa-class transport or Abyssal light cruiser, lodged within the surf, already partially buried. There is no longer any doubt, if any existed, that this is the same place. That means, while the supply chain has been, for the moment and with great sacrifice, severed, the caches and depots from which they operated are still carefully hidden somewhere around here. It is an opportunity with multiple facets, to recover some of which was spent in the effort, to look for more of those captured fairies that might have been hidden away, and to destroy what cannot be taken away to deprive any Abyssal resurgence of it. There is also, likely unspoken, another reason for coming back. Perhaps, despite all evidence, the lost could still be out here, merely stranded with no way to communicate? It is a distant hope, but perhaps...
Nagato	The place of carnage and lost kanmusu. A place Nagato never would have thought to go to again, but there was still things that needed to be finished here. Those were supply transports that were destroyed and there were kanmusu equipment and equipment fairies that were with them. Taking a small crew this time, along with Akitsumaru, Nagato floats around the area, a frown upon her face. That scene plays through her head, the torpedoes hitting Kuma and Natori to protect Shigure... the bombs dropping on them to finish the job and Kagurazaka and Amakasu going berserk at the enemy.. That night she spent... and the few days after to recover from that. She knew they made their choice, but it was no less than devastating. Shaking her head, Nagato takes the lead, Double Line formation. We shall be working on recovery and destruction of supplies left here. Now let's fall into line and approach, be on guard, there may be enemy personell still here for the same reason we're here."
Hoshi Amakasu	Hoshi ends up spending more of her time fussing with her new torpedo cruiser gear than she does thinking about where this particular expedition was going. The many torpedo tubes that she'd been refitted with ended up being a little heavier than what she'd become used to, and occaisonally she shifts around so that she can find a more comfortable way of cruising. It's a grace, actually... She didn't really want to think about the memories that started being dug up during transit. As a consequence, she didn't really talk much. Actually arriving at the place tore that bit of comfortable busywork away from her. The Sword Bride can feel the sharp pinpricks of forming tears before she sighs and brushes them away, taking her position further back in the Double Line to deal with her thoughts. "What a mess," she eventually says out loud, heaving a big sigh. "Not sure if nature hiding it makes it any better." It takes a quick swallow and a couple reaffirming slaps to her cheeks to get her head in the game. "So... what're the orders, Admiral? Take out the supplies we missed?"
Graf Zeppelin	Graf Zeppelin and Kasumi have both mobilized for this mission, the former taking position in the back line, and the latter taking position in the front. Kasumi nodded at Nagato's instruction, looking on ahead at the wreckage. "......." Her eyes narrowed a bit as she recalled how much damage Nenohi had taken that day. Not to mention Akebono's yelling... She didn't think the girl ever actually forgave Nagato at all. And for her part...well, her thoughts her complicated. But first and foremost, she would follow orders. Complaints wouldn't help her get the job done, as much as she questioned the viability of them. Graf Zeppelin felt much the same way. "Understood." She spoke in response to the Admiral, trailing along the water in the back line. She was glad that only her and Kasumi were taken out of the entire Sixth Squad. Naka would be a distraction, Nenohi...probably shouldn't be here. And Akebono definitely shouldn't be here. Let them all rest and leave it to the two remaining, she thought.
Yuna Kagurazaka	Kagurazaka is still somewhat the worse for wear, emotionally speaking, and returning to the scene of that catastrophic battle doesn't really help. That might be part of why Elner is actually next to her this time, an atypical gesture by the little robo-faerie. Or it might just be that Yuna asked Elner to be ready with sensors, just in case Elner can spot anything that the others might miss. And on that note, as Amakasu asks for clarification on the mission, Kagurazaka looks over at Elner. "Start scanning for what we can salvage, and see how efficient a route you can map out from one point to the next. Can you coordinate with our equipment fairies at all .. ?" "It would be my first time attempting such," Elner states, "but I can try. Admiral, what's your call on that?"
Shigure	Shigure is here. She's taken the Number 2 spot at Nagato's side. Her expression could be considered 'dour' at best. As the others speak, and discuss... She remains silent, her piercing blue eyes glowing faintly as she activates her AA and surface radar, scanning and distributing high return locations for salvage work. The Destroyer listens to the conversations, and when Kuma is brought up, her shoulders slump, just a little.
Wo	The caches are cleverly hidden, as expected. To have them operating in plain sight would be a grave strategic error. Nonetheless, they must be somewhere here: The radar hits and intelligence pointed to this as their disembark point. It will just take some investigation and a thorough search of the area. Eventually, a confusing glint of radar or sensor reading, off the otherwise fairly uniform and immobile islands, would uncover a curious visual contact. What looks like camoflaged webbing is strewn over a part of one of the islets, a cool breeze rustling it from somewhere deeper beneath it. There is little doubt that it is artificial, and covering up some kind of opening. That has to be one of the caches, doesn't it? With how inconspicuous the island is from a distance, it's no wonder it would be missed. This particular trove seems to be unguarded, from the outside, though it might be wise to be cautious all the same, in case of traps or something nasty living inside -- this is still the multiverse, after all. Getting closer, there actually seems to be a faint trail of smoke seeping from around the seams of the webbing. Drawing even that back, some orange-gold light could be seen flickering from deep inside the relatively narrow chasm. Was this one already on fire, somehow? Not precisely; should anyone small of body enough investigate, the smoke and light is coming from a camp fire some equipment fairies had built, all by themselves, from the wood of one of the supply crates this place is packed with. Since it is fairy built, though, some of the wood seems to have been turned into now-burnt penguin and cloud-puff plushes. At least they were good for something, this time around, since they're still flammable. Hearing the sounds coming from outside, regardless of intrusion, the fairies all look up and blink their button eyes, scampering out to try and peek around the webbing to insure it's actually friendlies, instead of more of those Abyssals that made away with them in the first place. When they confirm it, they begin emerge and begin frantically hopping up and down and waving their stubby arms. The crates themselves would contain bauxite and steel -- thankfully not explosive or flammable, for the fairies' sake, as well as the destroyer and cruiser equipment that they had belonged to.
Nagato	"Mission is to recover what we can, scuttle what we cannot. Elner, please try to scan the area for the fairies and the equipment, you can try linking up with my radar to get a better area." she looks down at Shigure in the number two position, placing her hand upon her shoulder. She doesn't say anything to her but the attempt at comforting is there all the same. "Graf Zeppelin, please launch scouting aircraft to make sure the site is clean." The new equipment on Amakasu gets noticed and she nods, she won't say anything about it at this moment, after all, the mission is more important. "Akitsumaru, you have your daihatsu's ready for materials acquisition?" "Yes, sir. Daihatsu's and drum barrels are equipped, sir. We should be able to recover at least sixty percent of the supplies here, sir." "Everyone, arm torpedoes, spread out and recover what you can. Deliver it to Akitsumaru for sorting and storage. Priority will be given to the kanmusu equipment and acquisition of the equipment fairies that were with them. You have your orders."
Shigure	"Radar contact. Bearing 0-1-9." says Shigure, nodding to the hand on her shoulder, but not coming out of her little 'funk' as it were. She offers her Radar up to Elner, while adjusting her course to approach that tiny island.
Graf Zeppelin	Kasumi nodded and kept her torpedoes ready to fire as she skated across the surface of the water, peering left and right. Graf Zeppelin meanwhile nodded t Nagato. "Understood." She produced a card from her deck pouch, sliding it into her flight deck and then angling and arm forward. "Go." With a burst of light, several scouting planes launched into the air, proceeding to fly through the skies and take stock of the wreckage below, looking about for anything out of the ordinary. The Carrier brought a hand to her ear, nodding occasionally. "...There is an odd visual at the coordinates posted. I'm getting reports of...some sort of webbing." She lowered her hand from her ear. "I recommend a moderate, careful approach. There may be stragglers in wait. Do not take the risk."
Yuna Kagurazaka	Kagurazaka is also wearing a relatively new set of Nagara-class light cruiser gear; she's been out on the water a few times to get accustomed to it, but she isn't completely comfortable with it yet. She's getting there, though - and with tonight being mostly recon and salvage, she's not too worried. Just generally ill at ease. Still, she nods to Nagato, arms her torpedoes, and looks to Elner as the robo-faerie links with Nagato's and Shigure's radar, adding the kanmusus' sensors (such as it is) to its own. "I wonder if any of the lost equipment fairies would have communications gear of some kind," Kagurazaka muses, looking around. Graf's mention of something peculiar at the coordinates picked up on gets her attention, but she's going to wait for Nagato to lead the formation in that direction. "Elner, can you get anything more detailed?" "There's enough background noise, combined with the minimal profle of the fairies themselves, to make it difficult to confirm until we get closer," Elner replies. "With your permission, though ... ?" "Don't get any closer than you have to until we know it's safe," Yuna instructs, "and keep your barrier ready - I don't want you getting killed." "Of course," says the robo-faerie; if Nagato approves Elner going to take a closer look, then it zips off, going high and ahead of the kanmusu and their allies. If Elner has to get closer, it'll descend (gradually) directly over whatever was detected at the location in question, until it can see clearly what (and who, fairy-wise) is there.
Hoshi Amakasu	Simple enough task. Hoshi reaches up to take her katana-hairtie out of her hair, then transform it. She uses the sheath to poke grimly at the floating bits of debris that she motored up to. It didn't really seem anything of value had been left at the battlezone after they'd picked up the equipment fairies and their gear. Shigure and Graf seemed willing to handle the spotting things, so for a moment Hoshi just stares out over the water with a solemn expression. Good thing for her, Shigure's radar pings, and Graf's planes, make sure that she can't just sit there like a dolt for long. Hoshi jumps a bit at the news, but immediately turns for the little islet in question for a slow approach along with the others. Coming in closer, she actually draws her sword and sticks the sheathe in her belt. "I'll be on point after Elner," she tells the others. It's the best place for her. She does wait for Elner to have a little time before going in, but once she's ready she cuts the camo netting with her sword and starts pushing forward again.
Wo	The fairies await their rescue, but they are still duty-bound and creatures of habit, so while waiting for the fleet to approach, they begin to assist in moving the crates for the retrieval of any deployed Daihatsu and fleet daughters. If not for the archipelago of sorrow where this is taking place, it would be quite adorable. The fairies are teaming up to heft wooden crates and equipment with surprising strength, carrying it out to the mouth of their little cave. This is probably best left to them and any fairies that get ferried aboard Daihatsu, though: While the grotto is theoretically large enough for some of the younger(*) destroyers to squeeze into, it would not be a comfortable fit. Just how did the Abyssals move stuff into and out of this place, anyway? They regard the approach of Elner, and by association Shigure and Hoshi, curiously at first, but seem to recognize the friendly, if investigative, composure. They offer more waves, since they can't actually speak. Most of them seem to be fairies accompanying 12.7 cm, 15.2 cm and 20.3 cm class guns, as well as some triple and quadruple torpedo launchers. One does seem to be an outlier, though -- a tiny, ponytailed girl lugging a tripodal arrangement of a metal frame, with several sets of antennaes visible on it. Fleet daughters would recognize this as a relative rarity, a (remodelled) Type 13 Air Radar. The fairies' industrious movements are interrupted, as they seem to take notice of something, and most scramble back into the cavern, back under the webbing. The remaining fairy, holding the air radar and a fairy-sized adjustable wrench, seems to have something dawn on her, and motions at Kasumi to come closer. And perhaps to take the radar, quickly! The scout planes and radar don't spot anything else immediately, other than this one island. There is still a lot of ground, to cover, though, and it is unlikely that the Abyssals would have put all of their proverbial eggs into one figurative basket. This is doubly confirmed as something curious happens -- long-range contacts by air radar, aircraft of at least some kind, and Graf Zeppelin's scout planes would be able to visually confirm a group of 'something', in the far distance. Yet their returns are stronger, and their speed and target profile, don't seem to fit any currently known Abyssal fighters or bombers. Perhaps they are some other force, or even a commercial fleet, that just happened to be in the area? If so, their heading likely shouldn't be straight for the islands. Confirming their identity is probably a good idea.
Hoshi Amakasu	Hoshi wasn't actually expecting the equipment fairies to start carrying the stuff out for them just like that. Not for the first time, Hoshi's face breaks into a little grin at their tiny, industrious nature. It feels nice to have something that she can smile at, even at a place like this. After calling out her report to the others, she leaned over to grab some of those quad-launchers that had just been brought over in her free hand, and nearly ends up overbalancing and splatting face-first. "Gah--whoa!" Thankfully she manages to /not/ do that; she's back up with only her blush to betray how stupid she felt as she started bringing the equipment out for Akitsumaru to take. Hearing mention of unknown approaching figures pretty quickly dampers her mood again, though. She looks up into the sky with a small frown while tugging her pendant free from her uniform. "Well, go figure... I drop one of my guns, suddenly we have air contacts. Do you think maybe it could be something not hostile?" Considering the Multiverse and her luck, it probably was. In fact, Hoshi's actally starting to hedge bets in her head about what kind of problem they'd end up having.
Graf Zeppelin	Kasumi nods and follows along after Elner and Amakasu as ordered, keeping her torpedoes ready, but not actually deploying them just yet. Just as well, given that there were fairies over there. ..And they were helping load up the cargo? That was....was... was so adorable. A bit of red stained the Destroyer's cheeks and she smiled a little bit. "Aw..." Wait, no, no, they were on a mission! Stay on target, Kasumi! Do not be taken in by the cute! But then suddenly, they all seemed to sense something and went scurrying back into the cave. ...All but one anyway. Kasumi blinked as that one fairy seemed to be calling for her. ...In that silent fairy way. ".....?" Looking at her, and then pointing to herself as if to make sure, Kasumi drifted forward, approaching the fairy and taking hold of the radar. "You want me to use this?" Graf Zeppelin meanwhile offered her report from the scout planes, before ordering them to approach the forms in the distance and ascertain what exactly they were. Making a beeline directly to the island definitely did not bode well. She had to make sure.
Nagato	Nagato gives a brief nod, listening to the reports over the radio. "Alright. Confirmation of equipment fairies. Akitsumaru, head towards them to receive the equipment and fairies." and with a studious nod, Akitsumaru sails off towards them, "Understood, Admiral." she briefly nods and mmms a bit at the air report. "Okay, new orders. Kagurazaka, Shigure, Anti air defense. Graf, recall your scout planes, ready up fighters." Planes, they took out two of her girls... she wasn't about to let them take out more here. "Type three Sanshiki loaded... I'll be ready for them. No, we'll be ready for them all." she nods, "Continue extraction efforts Kasumi, Elner and Amakasu!" Akitsumaru gives a brief look around before a scroll starts to glow inside of one of the daihatsus, "We shall be ready for them, won't we sirs..."
Shigure	Shigure frowns a little, and remaining silent, takes up a position in open water, between the incoming contacts, and the rest of the fleet. With silent determination etched into her stance and her face, she grasps her rigging, drawing it around on the mechanical arms holding it in place. "I am the bone of my weapon, steel is my body, and gunpowder is my blood. Yet my hands hold nothing. So, as I pray." The cannons cycle in flak shells, the autocannons swivel into position, and her eyes burn an unearthly blue.
Yuna Kagurazaka	And here Yuna had actively been hoping it would be a peaceful expedition; she should probably have known better than to let herself hope that too much.But it stands to reason that the Abyssal Fleet wouldn't want to let the kanmusu make off with the equipment and fairies which have all been gathered hereabouts. /To truly survive in war, you must slay your own heart --/ The words surface unbidden out of her memory, and the flinch which ripples through Kagurazaka's body is noticeable not just to her comrades, but probably to her current team of equipment fairies as well, a flare of intent resonant with determination and resolve. And as if answering Shigure's incantation, Yuna recites from an older but brighter memory: "I pray for a heart which shines as bright as the sun. I pray for a heart as clear as a white jewel. I pray for a heart inclined to justice. I pray for a heart which is lovely, without misleading inclinations." Her turrets elevate and traverse, her anti-aircraft guns raising up as well as each chamber loads the first round to be fired. "Elner," Kagurazaka calls out, "if the need presents itself, protect them. Protect all our allies, whatever you need to do." /Understood,/ Elner transmits, too engrossed in sifting and sharing data to realize just what Yuna asked of it at first. The full weight of that request only settles in gradually - and by that time, Kagurazaka is already moving to position herself as the first defensive line, unless pre-empted or ordered to take a back-up position. Either way, Kagurazaka's resolve is steadying once more. She remembers similar oaths from any number of heroes and heroines, an utter determination to protect ... and that same determination has set down deep roots within her heart. A heart that is not going to be slain, by Yuna's will or by anyone else's hand, so long as she has strength to fight.
Wo	The fairy that had been beckoning to Kasumi seemed to nod in agreement. She glances skyward a bit nervously, toward those distant contacts. It seems the fairies had sensed something, or at least know something about the area and what might still be lurking, closeby. That's likely to be useful in completing a sweep of the area. For now, though, there is a much more immediate concern. While the craft are definitely slower, and larger, than the usual Abyssal plane encountered, their approach is quite purposeful. As the black dots resolve further, their true and somewhat grisly form is revealed. These are unlike any Abyssal aircraft that would have been encountered before. They look superficially like those 'takoball type' planes that had likely been reported by Chitose's group, many months ago, when Yamashiro had been sunk by FUSOU, and they had to run for their lives. Yet, they are much larger, and rather than being jet-powered, an unearthly buzzing of twin propellors drives them forward. From within each, a glowing, Zaku-esque monoeye fixes on the fleet, and they gurgle between themselves, agreeably. These are...some kind of land-based bombers? Did the Abyssals really have that kind of thing? Paying no heed to the anti-air defenses or fighters that are readied and scrambled, they continue forward. They each have several machine gun mounts on their bulbous bodies, which train and track the incoming fighters, before opening fire on them, spitting out a large amount of lead, judging from the glowing tracers. Meanwhile, their bellies split open to reveal proper bomb bays, and they begin laying down a carpet of high-explosives on both the islands, and any fleet daughters in their path. Despite how much firepower they have, they are a slower and larger target than the standard Abyssal bomber. Hopefully, that will work in the fleet daughters' favor, as they launch their own defense and counter attack. Meanwhile, the equipment fairies -- except the Type 13 Radar one, that is hopefully climbing aboard Kasumi by now, cower inside their cave as they hear the whistling of ordinance, and explosions as bombs either strike nearby islands, or detonate by delayed fuse after striking the water. It almost seems like they're just as intent to take out the supply cache, and fairies, themselves, than causing damage to the fleet. But if that were to happen, that'd be a nice bonus for them.
Graf Zeppelin	"Kh...!" Kasumi hissed as those bomber types started carpet bombing the island. "We need to move! Hurry and get everything loaded!" She called in a hurry, looking back at the engagement began. She would hope that they could handle it. She was leaving her back open for now, but she was going to focus on loading up all of this equipment first, lest it get destroyed in the carpet bombing. She looked to the fairy that had gotten aboard her fitout and nodded smiling a little while she hustled. "Please keep an eye out for me, okay? If anything comes though, let me know." Graf Zeppelin meanwhile tched, and recalled her scout planes. While they were on the way back, she drew another set of cards, directing them into her flight deck. "Go!" And with an arm thrust forward, several bursts of light shot out from her deck, forming into Focke Wolfe Fighters that veered through the sky. They detatched into two lines, separating and leaving a gulf between them for the cannonfire of their allies. And while that happened, they opened fire from both sides, providing support.
Nagato	With the type 3's loaded, Nagato takes aim. Giving orders over the radio, she readies herself for things. She's not one hundred percent sure what is coming but at least she's prepared for an aircraft battle. But when the word 'bomber' is given... she clenches her fist. "All anti air units, fire!" Coming from the area where equipment is being loaded, a set of fighters are launched from an unknown area, at least until the planes are seen closely, Type 99 Fighters... but where were they launched from. Akitsumaru's holding a brightly lit lantern with the flight scroll having shadows reflected onto them, in plane shape. And as the lantern rotates, the fighters zoom off the scroll and into the air to join Graf's.
Yuna Kagurazaka	"ALL GUNS, FIRE!" Kagurazaka shouts, and her turrets speak in sequence, flak shells detonating in the air and aimed to form an interlocking pattern of explosions and shrapnel with Shigure's own pattern of fire. She's keeping her eyes open for non-Abyssal aircraft in the sky, too; she doesn't want to shoot down any friendly planes. Normally it's the kind of situation that she'd value Elner's support with in terms of scanning and analysis - but the robo-faerie is otherwise occupied, helping to locate fairies and equipment, and making sure that they get rescued properly, and loaded onto the Daihatsus if not onto Akitsumaru directly. Time is of the essence, and Elner knows it - even if it hasn't been stated as such, the longer it takes to load the rescued fairies (and gear), the more likely it is that the anti-air defense lines will let SOMEthing through ...
Hoshi Amakasu	The unfortunate part was, right now Hoshi couldn't even do anything particularly useful right now to stop this attack from happening. Since she'd switched out her guns for her torpedos... Then she remembers how hard anti-air was the first time. In this case, it may be better to leave this for the professionals. Which means she gets to scramble for the guns. The sword gets sheathed, because it jst wouldn't serve a point here anyway, and Hoshi starts grabbing guns in both hands, regardless of how comfortable she was with the gear or not, and bringing them back out. At least it seems like the pressing matters have made her better at it. Then she got to watch the slow, creeping doom of a bombing run aimed right at their face. It's not a very inspiring sight. "Admiral, should I summon Rosamond? I don't know how much her magic would help here, but maybe I could force them off course or something."
Shigure	Yuna's fire is joined, once the bombers breach her outer marker, by the 10cm fire of Shigure's guns, smaller, faster firing flak shells lashing out to fill the sky with explosive shrapnel. As they close even more, 25mm autocannons spark to life, barking out their tracer lines to fill the sky with even more dangerous obstacles for the big, fat lumbering aircraft to deal with. "You will not get past me. Not so long as I have ammunition."
Wo	The fairies huddle, until assisted by Elner and ushered onto the waiting ships and to transports. The whole reason they'd stay hidden was because they had heard these kinds of events' explosions all across the archipelago, and they didn't want to be next. They remain orderly, but it's certain that they're trying to load up as quickly as they can. A few dutiful ones try to assist with the cargo, all the same. Fairy pride, to the very end! The Type 13 Kai fairy, rather than immediately integrating with Kasumi's other equipment -- as this is still a temporary arrangement, after all -- rests on her shoulder for the time being, her normally whimsical expression giving a determined nod and frown, a small breath puff exhaled. Ponytail fairy with ponytailed girl, almost as though it were destined. All the same, the evacuation and recovery continues, as the explosions and reports of bombs grow closer. Their march forward is not unstoppable, however, and the fleet launches their counter-attack! These bombers are built of sturdier stuff than the carrier-based light bombers the fleet daughters and their planes are used to fighting. They are also quite heavily armed for defense, themselves. The wing of six bombers each have fire that comes from their nose, belly, top and tail, as well as a gun emplacement that seems to have a narrower field of fire on their side. Akitsu Maru and Graf Zeppelin's fighters meet these directed curtains of bullets, even as the lumbering bombers make no real effort to dodge their own fire. Several strikes impact their air frames, causing visible damage, but save for one of them, that gets struck on one of its engines, not seeming to greatly impact their airworthiness. The one with engine trouble, courtesy Akitsu Maru's fighter wings, begins billowing smoke and flame from that wing, as the propeller abruptly siezes. It doesn't immediately fall out of the sky, but its speed greatly lowers, and it becomes that much more of a sitting duck as the fighters continue picking it apart. The others continue on, gurgling between each other, not in delight, but with purpose. They begin to enter the dense cloud of combined anti-air bursts now, from both destroyer and light-cruiser caliber guns, as well as the beehives of the sanshiki shells, and for their kind of aircraft, there isn't much to do besides continue flying through it and hoping for the best. Were there fairies aboard these beasts, they would hear the rattling and ringing of bits of shrapnel being absorbed by their hulls. Another three begin taking shots to more delicate and necessary structure, and join the wounded one in trailing smoke. Even now, they continue dropping bombs, as they begin losing speed and altitude. The remaining two limp on, growing dangerously close to the fairies and supplies remaining in the island cave. The fairy resting on Kasumi's shoulder reaches a ball-like hand over to tug on her host destroyer's side-ponytail, and beckons desperately up. The two bombers' single eyes are so close now that their glow can be seen even from the ground and in broad daylight. Dare Kasumi defy orders, just this once? The fairy seems to think it's a good idea, and preemptively links her radar to Kasumi's guns.
Graf Zeppelin	Kasumi looked up from her loading as the fairy on her shoulder tugged at her side tail. "Yes?" And then she looked up. "....Tch!" The Destroyer kissed her teeth and swiftly dropped whatever she was carrying. Instead, she angles her guns upwards, and with the held of the temperily acquired radar, finds juuuuust the right position. "If they come any closer, the transport will be in danger! Admiral, I'm taking the shot!" She thrust an arm upward, and then gave her order. "All guns! FIRE!" Multiple explosions sound as every turret on Kasumi's fitout unloads their shells into the sky with pinpoint precision, aiming to take out those bombers before they got any closer than they already did. Not today, were they going to lose something else important! Be in fairy or fleet daughter!
Yuna Kagurazaka	"No - !" Kagurazaka exclaims as she sees Abyssal aircraft managing to weave past her and Shigure's curtain of anti-air fire. Her machine guns are still tracking the Abyssal craft, traversing and continuing their efforts to shoot them down, but her turrets need longer to reload - and there's always a chance of additional hostile aircraft coming in, trying to follow up on the initial wave's attacks. All she can do is call out a warning, to have Elner project a barrier and try to protect the fairies and transports. The robo-faerie has its own problems to deal with, though - like how to protect fairies, equipment, and transports without interrupting the evacuation. A flat force field would be enough, but Elner can't project one big enough to cover the entire island or even just the area which is being rescued and evacuated ... Kagurazaka's turrets finally finish reloading, and two of them swivel to launch additional shells at the aircraft which already got past the primary defensive lines. They may be too late to do any good, though - the shells will detonate high enough not to pose a risk to Kasumi or Amakasu or the others who are being defended, but that's the most Kagurazaka can do; most of her attention remains 'ahead,' save the piece of her which is now actively praying for her allies' safety. There's nothing else she can really do.
Graf Zeppelin	Graf Zeppelin meanwhile narrowed her eyes as her planes were met with return fire. They veered left and right, a couple taking hits in the wings and scuttling downwards towards the water. The fairies manning them abandoned the craft before they crashed though. "How irritating. It is as if they were ignoring us and planning to suicide bomb the island itself..." She shook her head and ordered the remaining planes to pull back a bit and focus on evasive manuevers.
Nagato	With a reload time that is quite large, Nagato pours on what speed she can towards that cavern. o O (I'm not going to lose another ship.) she mutters in her head, leaving Graf Zeppelin by herself. Nagato's on full on mother bear mode, her fleet's in massive danger with those bombers coming into her destroyers. "I'm... not going to lose another ship!" she shouts, turning a pair of turrets back and lets them fire, using the recoil to increase her speed. Akitsumaru frowns as some of her planes fall from the gunfire from the bombers own air-to-air. "My planes have been shot down, sir,. It will be a moment before I can send another wing. Becareful, sir." she starts changing one of the peices of paper on the lantern to get it ready for another. "All units, continue anti air fire, increase saturation. I'm reloading." a pause "Do not let them release their bombs!"
Hoshi Amakasu	Hoshi manages to make a couple runs moving at breakneck pace; refusing to look at the advancing doom that was coming their way helped with it. She's able to get a good amount of the supplies over to Akitsumaru. Then, she has to look up when she realizes just HOW close they're coming. Unconsciously, her hand goes down to take a firm old on her locket. She sends a couple of uncomfortable glances towards Nagato for the order to unleash Rosamond. Ultimately, she doesn't get it before she decides to say 'screw it' and go anyway. "PERSONA!" Hoshi cries to the sound of breaking glass. Rosamond appears at Hoshi's back; once she's completely formed she zooms straight up into the air. Her broadsword's tip gleams brightly in the sunlight when she points it directly, triumphantly above her head. Golden talismans and prayer scrolls form in a rough sphere a little ways in front of the bombers that begin to erupt in Holy explosions as they begin to enter the field. Unfortunately, the magic was nowhere near as strong as a couple direct AA shells; that said, they're still explosions. Hoshi can't rish sending Rosamond straight into a ahail of fire.
Wo	The four more wounded bombers slowly succumb to their damage, and the loss in elevation is soon complicated even further as the structural damage becomes too much to produce viable lift. They soon stall out, unable to keep their hefty frames afloat, and give desperate gargles of what almost sounds like pain, as they plunge out of the sky. Being larger than the standard Abyssal bomber also means they make a much larger splash, and in half their cases, explosion, upon smashing into the water. The two that emerge from the maelstrom of anti-air fire are not unharmed, either -- their outer shells show several scars and exposed framework, but they are rugged enough to withstand even that amount of damage and remain airborne. Their target now in sight, everything seems to have been worth it, and they give another buzzing crackle between each other as they lower in elevation, just slightly, to make their final run on that webbing cave, and the fleet daughters desperately trying to evacuate the last of the fairies. They begin loosing the last of their payload, targets firmly in their hungry sights. What they weren't counting on, however, is the determination of not only the fleet they've set their eyes on, but also one particular fairy. The airbursts from Yuna (and likely, Shigure) prevent them from lowering in elevation even further for accuracy, as they make their final approach, but they remain on course. Nagato surging forward causes them to give a moment's confused gurgle, before they seem to welcome the chance to bomb even more targets. They can see daylight ahead of them, and nothing but Hell Itself(tm) is going to stop them from finishing what their wing set out to do. That is about when something unexpected for them happens. They have tactics for dealing with ship-based weaponry, not so much Personae. The explosion isn't fatal, or quite damaging, but it does temporarily dazzle and rattle them at a critical moment when they should be starting their bombing run. Combined with Elner's shielding, while the cavern the remaining fairies are hiding in shakes and parts of the ceiling begin trailing dust...it seems to be holding. The bombers are still in the air, though, at least for a moment. Just as they emerge and begin to level off, though, they are painted by Kasumi's temporary, remodelled radar, linked to her cannon fire. The result is directed, and a good bit more devestating than the average air bursts, savaging large pieces of hull from the bombers and immediately causing them to catch fire. One spirals completely out of control into the island itself, engulfed in a gigantic fireball. One stubborn one, though, filled with hatred at being unable to fulfill its purpose, fixes a burning, green eye on Kasumi. Its bomb ejection systems jammed, but still precious little control remaining, it fixates on the destroyer that finally endeded it, heading straight for her, its outer shell cracking to let its otherwise fixed jaw hinge open just a little wider. "Gyaaaaah!!!" It screams in maniacal anger, building over the usual low gurgling to an almost humanoid screech. It looks like it's settling for trying to slam into her. They just don't give up!
Graf Zeppelin	That was a devastating volley. Kasumi looks most pleased with herself after that barrage pretty much destroys the two bombers. "Wow, this radar is something else." She smirked aside at the fairy on her shoulder. "I kind of wish you were a permanent part of my fit-out now." But then an angry GYAAAAH caught her attention. Gasping in surprise, the Destroyer turned to see the Abyssal Bomber in shambles, making a beeline for her directly for a suicide attack. "...! I-I don't have time to reload!" She panicked, waiting for her turrets to be reloaded and taking a step back with a worried look on her face. A cold sweat ran down te side of her face and she shook her head. "Hurry! Hurry hurry hurry!" But then Nagato's voice cut through the air. "Admiral...!?"
Nagato	Good, the anti air setups that she's got for her girls are working to great effect, this is good. One of them crashes into the island and Nagato pours on more speed, surging towards the destroyers. She couldn't be prouder of her girls than this moment. But something catches her eye, one of the bombers is going in for a suicide dive... towards Graf's destroyer! "Shit.." she mutters, putting the other two turrets behind her and firing them off for more speed. At the rate this bomber is falling, Nagato has only a bit of time to get there... and pulling a drifting maneuver, creating a small wave that covers a couple oil slicks, the battleship interposes herself between Destroyer and Bomber... giving a brief smile towards Kasumi. "The armor of the Big Seven is not just for show..." and she waits for the inevitale... She waits for that bomber to smash right into her back. She could take it, but Kasumi couldn't. "Just... duck."
Graf Zeppelin	Kasumi's eyes widen as Nagato literally interposes herself between the bomber and herself. "A-Admiral...? Admiral! I...!" She felt so useless now! She should have taken that bomber out, but even with help, she was no good? Gritting her teeth, Kasumi took the fairy off of her shoulder and into her hands as she ducked down and shouted. "I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'm sorry!"
Nagato	Nagato shakes her head softly, a smile is given. "You did wonderful, so don't apologize, Kasumi." she eyes that fairy, and she gives a nod, "You ... should stay with her." she braces herself and steels herself for the incoming attack. "Kasumi. I will not let you sink."
Wo	The bomber has long since stopped caring what it crashed into -- if it can even 'see' anymore. It gives one final gurgling screech as it finally impacts against Nagato's broad back and rigging, its heft being further enhanced by the bombs that were still within its belly, adding up to the battleship being suddenly silouhetted, from Kasumi's point of view, by an enormous, luminous blast. Avgas, bombs and air make for quite a mix, don't they. The resulting blast wave likely rattles a few strands of hair in the nearby vicinity, but when it settles, the charred, burning husk of what was once the bomber falls off of Nagato, crumpling to the beach head below.
Hoshi Amakasu	Rosamond's contributions aren't altogether much, but seeing them put off balance and then promptly destroyed by the combined efforts of the fleet is enough for Hoshi to give a firm nod, raising her fist in defiance of the the mechanical monsters while they finally came down. But that's when she notices how the very last one is deciding to end this game of chicken: ramming into the very person that had caused her defeat, the destroyer Kasumi. Hoshi's eyes go wide, and up above, Rosamond suddenly gives a delicate little flip before plunging down towards the bomber with amazing speed. But... the Persona was still too far away to do any good. Nagato had chosen to take the brunt of the attack, this time. Once again, the Sword Bride is incapable of helping. Rosamond comes to an abrupt halt before she, too, is caught in the explosion.
Wo	With the bombs having subsided, and the air no longer filled with the buzzing of propellers, that serenity from before once again settles over the islands. Well, mostly. There is the burning of fresh wreckage. With the order given to detonate the rest, it is perhaps fortuitous that the air radar's fairy, which had gone into hiding inside Kasumi's ponytail during the scary moments earlier, overhears the instruction and frantically tugs on her hair again. She knows it was shocking, what happened, but there's something important! She seems to be gesturing at another of the nearby islands, which had mostly gone unscathed by the bombs. Closer inspection would reveal more of that webbing -- but this time, unlike the other, it's covered in gross stuff like sea weed and other ocean detritus. At the mouth of that opening, something suddenly emerges. It's a good deal larger than a fairy, though, yet still much smaller than the average fleet daughter. A closer look would reveal something that looks like an Abyssal, given the black color scheme of its metallic armor bits, as well as its whitish-grey, pale flesh. It's way too small to be a proper ship, though. "Eeee! EEEE!!" It yelps repeatedly, as the amusing scene of newly emboldened fairy captives assault her with cutting torches, hammers and wrenches. Two others soon scramble out, covered in the assaulting fairies, "EEEK!" A pack of PT Imps, being given a dose of their own medicine, and forcing them out of the cave and into the water, where they quickly submerge in an attempt to escape. ...what the hell were those things? First medium bombers, now this? Most importantly, those fairies wait on the beach of their own island, flanking a pair that look slightly out of place among the more standard destroyer and cruiser fairies. A blonde with wavy hair, and another with silver-grey hair, beckon toward what looks to be a cruiser-sized gun, though it doesn't look to be domestically produced like the usual ones. More interestingly would be what's been frantically etched into the underside of it, before it was hidden away and entrusted to the fairies: 'Aiuto! (Help!) I was on a diplomatic mission to Hikari Sea Base when I was ambushed! I will be hiding at these coordinates. Stai attento!' It is likely that the name was beginning to be etched with whatever rough instrument was used, before they ran out of time, leaving only the first scratch.
Nagato	Nagato picks herself up, her back smoking and charred, her top convinently damaged but it still holds where it counts. "Nngh, at least you're okay." she starts as she slowly sails away, "Let's get all this loaded..." though when she hears the strange noises, she turns around and pulls out her axe from her rigging, "What the..." and then there are fairies attacking them. It takes a bit to keep Nagato from making some sort of adorable sound. She shakes her head and watches before turning away, "Finish loading up Akitsumaru and then torpedo the rest!"
Hoshi Amakasu	Hoshi ends up sagging in relief when the fire and smoke fades, and Nagato is still standing. She is also, of course, royally upset, and even her normal politeness isn't enough to blunt the knee-jerk reaction she has over the radio. Her heart is still pounding, dammit! But eventually, the sea was calm again, aside from the burning wrecks. Hoshi lets out a quiet, thankful breath as Rosamond fades away into blue mist. Everyone had come out okay... This time. The rush of adrenaline leaving her has her releasing a whoosh of air from her lungs, then inhaling again, before she's willing to start moving in the water. Which leads her to witnessing the spectacle of the PT Imps being owned by a bunch of equipment fairies. Hoshi considers for a second trying to go over and see if she could catch one, but... there was no need. They'd won today. Instead, she starts zooming over towrads the other island to help out the rest of the stranded bunch. She blinks slowly when she sees the two strange fairies among the rest, and the weapon they guarded. "Uh... Guys? I found something new over here," Hoshi reports. "It's a cruiser gun, I think. But I haven't seen it in our armory. It's got fairies, too." Eventually she leans over, motioning that she'd like to examine it. As long as she's given the okay, she lifts it up and examines it closely. "Hey, there's a message on it, too! Someone on a diplomatic mission to Hikari. Looks like she ran out of time to finish carving it, though."