>>3388152
>Try to recall. Where were we last? Maybe that can help us figure out where we are now.
Sacre Bkey!

>>3388152
>>While your heavy armor and large guns seem to pull you downwards, raw horsepower and determination eventually pull you through another trial. Eventually, you breach the surface. Near incapacitated from the struggle, you heave from excerion on the waves as you collect your wits.
>Try to recall. Where were we last? Maybe that can help us figure out where we are now.

>>3388152
>Head towards the lights, you can figure things out when you're not sopping wet and completely disoriented.

>>3388152
>While your heavy armor and large guns seem to pull you downwards, raw horsepower and determination eventually pull you through another trial. Eventually, you breach the surface. Near incapacitated from the struggle, you heave from excerion on the waves as you collect your wits.

>>3388152
>While your heavy armor and large guns seem to pull you downwards, raw horsepower and determination eventually pull you through another trial. Eventually, you breach the surface. Near incapacitated from the struggle, you heave from excerion on the waves as you collect your wits.

>Try to recall. Where were we last? Maybe that can help us figure out where we are now

Liberte. Fraternite. Artillerie.

>>3388152
dead kusoge

>>3388152
>So its Le Fantastique, St. Louis or Richelieu.

>>3388152
>>Your desperate flailing eventually pulls you to the surface. For the first time you’re grateful for the treaties limiting your design. The paper thin armor and scattered medium caliber guns prevent the depths from claiming you and eventually your desperate flailing deposits you on the surface, gasping and choking.

>>3388262
Yes, Georges Leygues, and Bretagne

>While your heavy armor and large guns seem to pull you downwards, raw horsepower and determination eventually pull you through another trial. Eventually, you breach the surface. Near incapacitated from the struggle, you heave from excerion on the waves as you collect your wits
>Try to recall. Where were we last? Maybe that can help us figure out where we are now.

You are Battleship Provence. You aren't the most up to date warship but you still fiercely embody the might of the Marine Nationale.

Cold rain rolls off the brim of your hat and the twin barreled turrets hanging ready over your shoulders. You steady yourself on the rolling waves as you do your best to recall the events that brought you to this particular stormy night.

You died at home in France. Scuttled in harbor by your own crew with so many others to prevent capture by the boche. That much you recall with no small amount of indignity, though the exact events that led up to it feel somewhat jumbled to you. The memories beforehand come in piecemeal, slowly edging their way back into your mind as your thoughts settle following your sudden rebirth.

Recollections of quiet show of force missions with your sisters over the years drift back into your consciousness. You recall the years of idle chatter and the eager hope for glory you all shared in the uneventful patrols that faced you off against Austro-Hungarians, Greeks, and Spaniards.

And the British.

Your hands ball into a rage with sudden recollection. Your anger and hatred threaten to boil over. Your former allies turning their guns against you and your sisters. Bretagne’s shocked cry as a treacherous shell pierced her magazine. The panicked and scattered fire you and your comrades threw up to desperately try to fight off the English hounds. A mixture of a stifled cry and a bitter curse chokes itself in your throat as dark anger burns within you.

A deep boom of thunder sounds, echoing the sound of hostile guns and snapping you back into reality.

It's then you notice from the corner of your eye a bright light dancing briefly on the surface of the churning waves. Turning back you see the unmistakable beam of a searchlight. It pattern perusing back and forth in a searching motion. Looking for something- or someone. Stuck in unfamiliar land and with an unseen party combing the waves, you weigh your options.

>Go dark wait for the light to pass by, hoping it misses you.
>Run
>Open fire.
>Other

Roll a d100 for any check, needing lower numbers. Stats and abilities will become more apparent as you get your bearings and figure out your new world.

Next update might be a few hours, sorry unexpected family interruption

Rolled 94 (1d100)

>>3388280
>Open fire.

Rolled 71 (1d100)

>>3388280
>Other
Hail it

>>3388412
Sorry, was running late and unclear, other" was write-in option.

Rolled 74 (1d100)

>>3388280
>fire for effect

>>3388429
Also missed you wrote something, today is not my day. Carry on.

Rolled 82 (1d100)

>>3388280
>Open Fire
Also
>And the British.
Mers-El-Kabir will be avenged

Rolled 4 (1d100)

>>3388280
>Open fire.
Huh, a quest about French boats. Could be worse but at least we get to shoot stuff.

writing up now.

>Open Fire
>averaged roll. 64.

The implications of the light’s search pattern are obvious to you. Someone out there is on the hunt. Given the short list of friends you had in the last days of the war and the proximity to your return of the search, you don’t waste time figuring out their intent. Your earlier rage at the memory of Mers-El-Kerbir grows into cold anticipation. Behind your back, a battery of large caliber twin turrets slowly whir into position with a quiet grinding of metal.

Night fighting has never been your speciality. While your modernized rangefinder offers some advantage gauging distance to target, the lack of a good sight picture amongst the rolling waves makes this extremely difficult. Eventually, somewhat satisfied with your solution, you fire.

The first of your cannons echo loudly even over the storming water, followed quickly by the rest of the battery as all ten of your guns send shells screaming over the water towards the light.

The splashes and any audible reaction from your opponent is lost amongst the waves. But after a pregnant pause, the light quietly flails about the water in surprise before darkening quickly. A quick series of flashes short pops quieter than your own follow shortly after, signaling a sporadic return of fire. The rounds splash over the waves in a wide pattern, though a single low caliber shell catches your casements with an audible metallic clang.

From the way the guns echo in the distance, it seems your foe was caught off guard and is retreating.

Decisions
>pursue them and send them to the bottom
>they’re caught off guard, time to use this opportunity to escape
>continue pouring fire until you’re sure they’re gone
>other

Rolled 70 (1d100)

>>3389426
>pursue them and send them to the bottom
They are alone.
Run them down.

Rolled 10 (1d100)

>>3389426
>continue pouring fire until you’re sure they’re gone
Ah the language of telling things to fuck off in a direction away from your persons.

Rolled 86 (1d100)

>>3389426
>they’re caught off guard, time to use this opportunity to escape

>>3389426
>they’re caught off guard, time to use this opportunity to escape

>>3389426
>we must escape and find the homeland!

Your foe retreating, or at least disoriented, you let out a second volley. This time your guns sound in unison, momentarily pushing the storm back from the force of their muzzle blast. With one last glance towards the space in the night that conceals you pursuer, While the hunter may still be out there, without the confidence to use their light, anything beyond harassing fire is unlikely.

You instead turn away. cautiously changing your heading towards the distant lights you had spotted earlier.

You spend what seems to be hours, wet and tired, fighting the storm as the distant lights grow ever closer. Gradually you efforts pay off and the lights seem to form the regular shapes of urban sprawl among the hilly coast, though most of the lighting appears to come from the areas atop the hill rather than among the shore. As you cautiously get ever closer to the city the reason becomes ominously apparent. All along the coastline the world is quiet. the white multistory buildings boarded up and vacant. Vacant boats lie tied up along docks. Despite being among the roaring break of waves and the downpour the situation is oddly and uncomfortably quiet.

You take a glance along the coastline, it seems like the owners have moved further inland. Though the exact reason why is not apparent.

>Head into the city for shelter or answers
>Spend time looking for somewhere along the edge of town
>other

>>3390157
>Spend time looking for somewhere along the edge of town
Keep your guard up. There's no telling what may lie in store.

>>3390157
>Spend time looking for somewhere along the edge of town

>>3390157
>Head into the city for shelter or answers

>>3390157
>Spend time looking for somewhere along the edge of town

>Spend time looking for somewhere along the edge of town

You continue onwards, watching the eerie silhouettes of row after row of a abandoned buildings with mounting unease. As you pass the city buildings you notice that many of the structures bear obvious signs of damage. Large craters and rubble piles form at the front of many of the buildings. Though no sign of the inhabitants remain outside the lights at the top of the hill hidden behind layers of abandoned buildings.

Cautiously, you track your batteries along the coastline, doing your best to maintain alert even as fatigue sets grows deeper. You countinue to scan the ocean and the buildings for any sign of ambush until the large colonial structures turn into smaller suburban houses. Gradually the houses too turn into scattered rural dwellings amongst the rolling hilly coastline.

Eventually, you spot a small wood and plaster shack, clearly dilapidated and abandoned. Your limbs growing heavy from exertion, you slow your pace before pushing yourself towards the coastline. Unsteady from fatigue and uncertainty regarding your newfound body, you take a bow legged step onto the coastal sands, before making an awkward walk up the beach towards the building, still holding your cannons at the ready as you circle around the farmhouse, talking note to scan the surrounding farm for potential danger.

you push into the building with your guns at the ready and are immediately greeted with a putrid smell of rotten food, making it obvious that it's been abandoned for some time. Around the house furniture and personal possessions scatter around the floor as you steadily poke your way around the small household, clearing each room with care. Satisfied that no threat is nearby, you return to the bedroom and collapse in an ungainly pile on the partially overturned bed as the first light of sunrise appears. As you drift into unconsciousness, you make a mental note for your plans for tomorrow.

>Head up the coastline to figure out where you are.
>Poke around the surrounding area for any sign of life
>Watch the waters to see if whatever was chasing you comes back
>Other

>>3390548
>Scrounge for some kind of food
And then
>Head up the coastline to figure out where you are.

>>3390548
>Head up the coastline to figure out where you are.

>>3390548
>Head up the coastline to figure out where you are.

>Scrounge for some kind of food
And then
>Head up the coastline to figure out where you are.

By the time you awake from your slumber, light is already pouring from the small room’s windows. You rise with a faint groan, your skin and coat sticking to the mattress slightly from the partly dried saltwater that clings to your still body. The peaked officer’s cap that so miraculously held on yesterday is now barely hanging lopsided over your salt drenched auburn hair. Now mostly rested, you’re greeted with a new discomfort courtesy of your new body. Hunger.

You take the opportunity to examine the house in a bit more detail, throwing past the piles of discarded clothes, and a strange black box of plastic and glass that briefly occupies your attention. Instead you make your way into the kitchen. The smell of rotting food you so fondly discovered yesterday grows stronger here, half opened cabinets and drawers hanging slack indicate some sort of pillaging has taken place. The larger refrigeration unit in the corner hangs open as well, clearly the source of the rotting smell. The clear rot makes you grimace to yourself before a lucky sight catches your eye from an open cabinet. Five unlabeled aluminium cans are stacked haphazardly in the back corner, picking one of them out you briefly wonder how to open it before spotting a knife laying on the countertop below, grabbing it and jabbing the can’s brim fiercely rewards you with the salty smell of canned fish. You eagerly worm the knife back and forth until you’re able to extract the contents from within. The taste of the meat inside can hardly be described as “good” (not that you have a point of reference.) but it momentarily staves off the hunger.

-You got 4 canned food!

>>3391242

Now fed and with extra food to spare, you take the opportunity to rally outside, treading along the now well lit countryside towards the rocky hillsides that form the coastline. Now that you’re able identify the sea and land around you, avoiding enemy ships seems a less daunting task. Though it’s with some unease that you consider the threat of enemy air patrols or strikes.

Still, you manage to find your bearings. Gazing at the rising mid morning sun. You elect to double back the direction you came yesterday, presumably the east based on the angle of the sun. Which would of course make the coast you were skirting yesterday the southernmost of whatever body of water you’re currently occupying.

Despite doubling back down the same coastline, the daylight offers a new perspective. As you progress back into the more -formerly- densely populated areas, the bright buildings with colorful roofs littering the sides of the coastline bring an odd familiarity to the old ports in French North Africa. Though the coastal roads, exotic vacant automobiles and strange signs far seem different than anything you recall seeing. Still, you continue onwards, trying to place you exact location in relation to the seas you know.

Before you can find a definitive landmark a faint clicking sound in the distance catches your attention. The noise is followed by a pattern of thunderous blasts audible but distant. The sound of cannons trading fire. Further along the coastline, near where the urban sprawl you found last night was, you can barely make out the distant clouds of ships smokestacks and the puff of discharging guns. Though it’s too far to make out an exact size or number even with your modernized rangefinder. You swivel your cannons to watch the melee.

What do you do
>flank speed and damn the consequences. There’s bound to be someone there that’s not wanting to kill you
>wait until they stop fighting and see if you can’t piece together what happened
>turn tail, this isn’t your fight
>move slowly and try and figure things out without being seen.

>>3391244
>move slowly and try and figure things out without being seen.
Stealth mode engaged.

>>3391244
>move slowly and try and figure things out without being seen.

>>3391244
>flank speed and damn the consequences. There’s bound to be someone there that’s not wanting to kill you

>>3391244
>move slowly and try and figure things out without being seen.
Assuming this is ship girls vs ship guros this is our best option. If we go stealthy we might be able to pick a side easier assuming we want to. At the very least get the full measure of whose fighting

>>3391550
>move slowly and try and figure things out without being seen.

Writing it up shortly, could I get a roll for it?

Rolled 55 (1d100)

>>3391593

Rolled 89 (1d100)

>>3391593

Rolled 58 (1d100)

>>3391593

Rolled 88 (1d100)

>>3391593
Maybe we'll find some Tommies to pop

>move slowly and try and figure things out without being seen.
>average roll 72

Sticking to the shoreline, you do your best so slow your advance and suss out the situation before committing to the attack. As you make your way into observation range and the silhouettes turn into identifiable figures it becomes clear that the firefight is currently just a few direct hits south of a one sided slaughter

One girl, human in appearance is running a fighting retreat. Already clearly wounded by the way her left arm lays slack against her, she continues offering light caliber weapons in random uncoordinated harassment against her foe. Though seems more concerned with evading the incoming fire.

Her pursuers for their part are entirely different in appearance. A pair of humanoid females, twisted with malformed biomechanical weapons lead a pack of small demonic looking creatures in pursuit Your combat experience is limited but it seems obvious that the pair is toying with her, firing haphazardly along her path to lead her in one direction or another.

Leveling your weapons against the fight, you continuing on your approach until you’re just in range to engage. The girl spots you first. Noting your appearance with an expression of surprise and desperation. The two attackers notice shortly after, one of them following her gaze to your position before barking a short alert to the other.

They quickly spread out. The larger of the two begins to shoot out in flanking maneuver, eyes locked on you, the lion’s share of the pack of the creatures following in a screen. The second appears to ignore you. Focusing her attention squarely now on the girl, now firing with more deliberate intent to hit.

What do you do.
>concentrate on the monster harassing the girl
>concentrate on the monster making a flank
>split fire
>fighting retreat
>write in

>>3391843
>concentrate on the monster making a flank

>>3391843
Also give me a roll for the action

Rolled 18 (1d100)

>>3391971

Rolled 33 (1d100)

>>3391971

Rolled 74 (1d100)

>>3391843
>concentrate on the monster making a flank

With these averaging out I'm not sure if even attempting to roll under matters.

Eyeing the group led by the larger of the two humanoid opponents you turn to offer fire, bringing your primary armament to bear. Taking careful aim with you rangefinders you discharge one cannon after another, neatly bracketing the oncoming attacker with successive rounds before finding your target, scoring several direct hits that send the creature staggering with an inhuman shriek of pain. You continue your course and adjusting solution for their speed, you’re able to send a second volley before the creature even has the chance to return fire, again managing several direct hits on the chest and face. The creature lets out another scream and nearly doubles over from the impact. Enraged by your attack and with black ichor streaming down its forehead, the return fire the monster offers is near hilariously ineffective. Still, she carries on, now heading at an oblique angle to you with the less humanoid escorts forming up in line behind.

By the time the enemy is even in range to return fire with its lower caliber guns your casements offer rebuttal. Your shots carefully targeting the group of scuttling monsters following behind with good effect, the concentrated fire managing to pick off a few of the beasts, staining the water with oily blood.

A glance to the fight closer to the coast reveals that for her part, the girl seems to be faring poorly. Now slowed significantly, she offers only a single light cannon in rebuttal to the concentrated pounding the second group offers. Though she seems close to sinking, you note that a tattered Italian ensign, still flies defiantly from the equipment on her back.

What do you do.
>continue fire exclusively on the enemies moving up on you.
>switch fire to the ships harassing the Italian girl while keeping the enemy back with secondaries
>last you recall you were scuttled to prevent capture during the German reoccupation of the Free zone. France stands against the Axis, switch fire to both the Italian and her pursuer.
>other

Also meta choice. You speak one language besides French and other fleets will feature in this quest.
>Italian
>German
>English
>other

Rolled 3 (1d3)

>>3392255
>switch fire to the ships harassing the Italian girl while keeping the enemy back with secondaries
CHIVALRY!
Rolling for language. I'll roll for the attack in my next poast.

>>3392304
>>3392255
>English
English it seems
Rolling for earlier post.

Rolled 1 (1d100)

>>3392310
>>3392304
>>3392255
Qst pls

Rolled 4 (1d100)

>>3392255
>switch fire to the ships harassing the Italian girl while keeping the enemy back with secondaries
>English

>Average Roll 3

Biting back your bitter feelings during the war regarding the Axis powers and with the girl clearly in dire straits, you swivel your turrets towards the smaller of the two monsters- the one currently harassing the Italian shipgirl. Apparently your target has put full trust in her now-crippled companion. Completely oblivious to your shift in fire and well in range, she moves at a slow leisurely pace, pouring steady fire into her victim.

You’ve had harder shoots during gunnery training.

The first barrage is dead on target, the rounds penetrating your unsuspecting target’s back before letting off a tremendous explosion. You’re not sure what passes for a magazine on these inhuman abominations but you are pretty sure you just scored a direct hit on it. Stunned by the sudden explosion, the smaller creatures are clearly caught off guard and seem to briefly scatter to avoid fire.

You allow yourself a brief satisfied smirk over your work before switching targets back to the your original opponent. Resuming steady steady fire against her and her pack of creatures, you manage to pick off a few more stragglers from the escorts, though they continue to close the distance.

As they continue to close towards you, the intent of their attack comes clear. Torpedoes begin shifting to ready position from the mechanical launchers grafted to the heads of the beasts and with a hiss of air fly into the sea in a wide spread towards you. Their leader continues onwards, offering continuous though sporadic and ineffective fire and letting out a bellow of rage.

>alter course but finish off the escorts from the group harassing the Italian, you’re a battleship and a few torpedoes won’t sink you
>alter course but finish off your pursuers, you’re a battleship and a few torpedoes won’t sink you
>full evasive action
>damn the torpedoes, full speed and continue supporting the girl and finishing your pursuers

>also a roll.

Rolled 8 (1d100)

>>3392460
>alter course but finish off the escorts from the group harassing the Italian, you’re a battleship and a few torpedoes won’t sink you
Chivalry Intensifies

Rolled 26 (1d100)

>>3392460
>full speed ahead, they will learn too fear us once more

Rolled 71 (1d100)

>>3392460
>alter course but finish off the escorts from the group harassing the Italian, you’re a battleship and a few torpedoes won’t sink you

>>3392532
>>3392486

Gonna write up the next part after I get a tiebreaker

>>3392597
Already did m8 look
>>3392596

>>3392597
disregard, writing now

>>3392486
Well that and logically we probably have the least grudge against the Italians out of anyone. To my knowledge the British and Germans are definitely higher on that list. The British certainly for murdering Bretagne. At least the Germans had the decency to declare war.

>Average Roll 40


>alter course but finish off the escorts from the group harassing the Italian, you’re a battleship and a few torpedoes won’t sink you

You make an immediately and hard turn to port hoping to throw off the torpedo spread the escorts threw up against you. Instead, you focus on the scattering monsters reforming against the girl. Now identifiably a trio, you begin quickly plotting an new firing solution as the wounded girl continues to attempt to fend off her attackers. Targeting their formation, you send another volley from all five of your main guns towards her pursuers. Now alert to the threat you present and moving much faster as a result the shot much more difficult than your earlier barrage that killed their master. Scattering over a wide patch of sea only a single one of your rounds manages to score a hit, though the effect is impressive, beneath your high explosive rounds the monster lets out a pained roar before drifting unceremoniously beneath the waves. The other two, turn and increase speed, now clearly making a final desperate effort to kill you via torpedos.

You hardly have time to switch targets again before you feel an impact on your foot followed immediately afterwards by an explosion, momentarily causing you to stumble with surprise and pain. A second sends you careening further back. Though still you stand.

Snarling from anger and pain, you regain your footing and turn towards your own pursuers, you shift your primary turrets back into position and let loose with your secondaries against the increasingly desperate escorts. You turn to face your still wounded opponent. Within torpedo range and over calm water, the shot is a trivial one and you discharge all five of your turrets in anger, completely shredding the last of the humanoid monsters in a display of absolute overkill.

The display startles the escorts, who begin to break formation. Their torpedoes already expended, leaderless, and at point blank range, they prove easy pickings for your casements. Finishing them off in short time you turn your attention to the two currently launching a forlorn assault against you. With plenty of open water between you and them it’s easy to bracket them in with a few shots from your main guns and leave them drifting lifeless on the surface.

You cast a look at the Italian girl you just took a pair of torpedoes to save, her expression a mixture of relief, gratitude, and confusion. Her injuries appear severe, but not life threatening. Despite her wounded arm, a deep gouge in her forehead, and several crimson stains on her tattered uniform she still floats.

>you have suffered minor damage (damage will be given by light, minor, moderate, heavy, or severe)
> Your ammunition on your main guns is still high, but you’ve used about a quarter of your secondary ammunition in the brawl

>>3392806
Bobbing unsteadily in the water, the Italian girl continues to look at you expectantly.

>greet her and see if she can’t lead you to somewhere safe, she needs someone to look after her wounds
>bring the Italian girl to shelter and see if you can’t get her patched up with your admittedly limited medical knowledge (roll)
>your work here is done, continue onwards.
>write in

>>3392815
>bring the Italian girl to shelter and see if you can’t get her patched up with your admittedly limited medical knowledge (roll)
Leaving her is a terrible idea. She won't survive the night if another pack comes after her.

>>3392829
Yeh on second thought I'm actually gonna switch to
>>greet her and see if she can’t lead you to somewhere safe, she needs someone to look after her wounds
We can escort her. Language barrier or no, we should be able to get a simple message across. If she's operating out a base theres gotta be more ships there.

>>3392815
>>greet her and see if she can’t lead you to somewhere safe, she needs someone to look after her wounds

>>3392806
>>greet her and see if she can’t lead you to somewhere safe, she needs someone to look after her wounds

>>3392806
>bring the Italian girl to shelter and see if you can’t get her patched up with your admittedly limited medical knowledge (roll)
We need to get her off the water and get a quick repair done on her before we even decide on attempting another journey.

>>3392806
Do we know what class she is? Like a Cruiser, Destroyer, etc

>>3393027
>Already clearly wounded by the way her left arm lays slack against her, she continues offering light caliber weapons in random uncoordinated harassment against her foe.
Definitely either a CL or a DD.

>>3393049
Well in that case then yes, we need to escort. She'll die out here.

>>3393027
>>3393049

I'm writing the next part now. Explanation will follow.

You approach the girl carefully, doing your best to favor your unwounded leg as you close the distance. As you come close enough to identify her armament it becomes apparent just how outclassed she was in the fight. Her sole armament besides the damaged and the numerous empty mine racks across her legs seem to be a pair of destroyer sized decks guns and a smaller secondary cannon. She’s smaller than you expected, her clothes, previously a dull blue sailor outfit and skirt tattered and stained with the crimson evidence of her fight.

Eventually, you reach her position and slow to a gradual stop before her and are greeted by a tired but relieved expression, her eyes glancing up at the tricolor hanging on the rigging behind you.

“M-merci” she stammers in horrendously accent French before gesturing to herself. “Lepanto”. She mutters quietly.

“Provence” you return in introduction.

She seems to brighten at this and shows a slightly pained but genuine smile, before making a query to you in Italian in a question tone. Receiving a blank look on your own end she tries again, this time in a language unfamiliar and asiatic in sound. Receiving the same look, she looks down, thoughtful at how to resolve the language barrier.

You take things up on your own, doing your best to find commonality despite the language barrier. “We need to get you safe.” She shakes her head to demonstrate a lack of understanding. “Home?” you try. “Port?”

She brightens again at the mention of ‘port’. “Porta?” she asks questioningly.

“Yes. Si.” you answer.

She gestures off to the east and mutters something excitedly in Italian. She turns and offers a motion to follow before stumbling slightly in pain, the damage inflicted on her earlier setting in as adrenaline wears off.

It’s clear even from your layman’s perspective that she’s in no shape for journey of uncertain distance, however concern over whether or not her attackers have friends nearby means staying here is not an option. You ponder the choices available on how to move her before wrapping your arm around her shoulder to offering support, eliciting a surprise squeak of pain despite the care you use to maneuver her battered body. Though the difference in height and your own wound makes the position awkward the options available to you are limited.

>continued shortly

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italian_minelayer_Lepanto
Well damn, not what I was anticipating. Does this mean we're somewhere in Asia/the Pacific?

>>3393244
She was speaking to us in Japanese I would imagine
>this time in a language unfamiliar and asiatic in sound

>>3393244
I assume we're somewhere on the coast of France or perhaps Italy?

>>3393230
“Porto?” you ask, as much a question on whether she’s able to continue on as it is on the whereabouts of the port.”

She answers in Italian, the fact her sentence starts with “si” seems to serve well enough that she’s capable of travel.

You proceed onwards, carrying her as the day drags on until at last, in the distance, you spot the forms of several huge civilian vessels moving too and fro from an unseen spot to the east. Despite safety now being in reach, Lepanto’s condition seems to be worsening, she’s still conscious, but she steadily grows heavier on your side.

After several hours of travel and with evening fast approaching, you come into sight of the port’s mouth, revealing in turn an urban sprawl and a port within a large open bay. It becomes soon evident that you have already been spotted. In the distance, a trio of girl’s approach, their red and white striped stockings making it easy to spot them from afar. Lepanto offers a weak greeting as the group approaches. The concern on their faces over the minelayer is evident and as they slow to a stop before you, they immediately offer queries of rapid fire Italian to your charge, who respond weakly in kind. The conversation continues rapidly between each other for several sentences until Lepanto offers a gesture towards you and a short statement.

The leader of the trio looks at you as if just now noticing the battleship carrying their comrade and then glances down at the torpedo wounds on your leg. She turns to one of her companions and asks them a question. The companion in turn faces towards you.

“We are very grateful that you have helped little Lepanto.” she begins in accented but well spoken French, “we have facilities for repair. I’ll show you”

The third of the girls heads towards you and motions to take the minesweeper off your arms. Dropping the small burden your body only now allows your leg to demonstrate just how little it appreciates an encumbered journey of several hours after the damage you took.

>follow the girl and ask questions
>ask the questions for her, Lepanto, and the other two while she’s still here to translate

>>3393327
>follow the girl and ask questions
GOSH DURN NARMUCKLE CHEELIES, WHERE IN THE HELLS IS WE?!

>>3393327
>follow the girl and ask questions
We shouldn't hold her up.
Also ask her where and when the fuck we are?

>>3393327
>follow the girl and ask questions
WHERE ARE WE, LADY?

>>3393271
Yeah, that's why I made the guess.

>>3393303
Also possible.

>>3393357
I'm curious what year it is

>>3393327
>follow the girl and ask questions
Should probably ask them about the creatures that were trying to sink Lepanto

>>3393371
I'm equally curious as to what genius sent a mine layer unescorted into hostile waters

>>3393379
I wouldn't be surprised if she had only minimum back up and they got sunk.

>>3393402
Fair enough. At the very least we dragged Lapanto out of there.

You offer a last look back to Lepanto to ensure she’s safe before letting the girl lead you on for repairs , her two companions fall slowly behind, moving slowly as they carrying the minesweeper carefully between them.

“So, where the hell am I?” You ask, gesturing towards the coastline.

She looks back, offering a confused look. “This is Tunis. Just how far out of your way did you go to help little Lepanto?”

“I’ve mostly spent the last day trying to figure out just what the hell is going on.” you admit :There was a storm and-I” you search for the right word to describe your return to life, “woke up.”

Your escort offers a surprised look, then “You just came back last night then? No wonder you are so confused”

You nod and offer a slight sardonic grin. “It has been an interesting day. I’ve already been shot at twice by monsters that looked like they crawled right out of the infernos of hell.”

She nods knowingly. “Those are”- she pauses for a second. “I don’t know the word the French girls use. But they showed up some years ago from the depths of the sea. They kill anyone who dares even approach the ocean.”

“But- why?”

She shrugs, “No one really knows, they showed up shortly before we did and never offered explanation for it. They just continued killing anyone who got close.” she pauses and gives you an expression of nervous hope. “Speaking of the fight-. Did you see any of our other girls out with Lepanto?”

You respond only by shaking your head. Her shoulders droop and you watch the hopefulness seems to drains from her expression.

She’s quiet for the rest of the trip, guiding you past the rows of shipping containers, cranes, and civilian ships bigger than you’ve ever seen. Eventually, she brings you past a row of advanced looking military vessels lined up neatly together, all bearing Italian ensigns before turning into a covered concrete structure resembling a submarine pen with stairways on either side. She wordlessly guides you up and into narrow sterile looking tiled hallway before gesturing to a doorway,with a label you can’t decipher hanging above it

“You can repair here.” she offers somberly, opening it and pointing you inside. The room is empty, save for four large open air pools of water built into the floor. You raise an eyebrow and offer a confused look. “The water helps,” she offers apologetically.

You nod, and pace towards the water, before dipping a toe experimentally in the closest pool. Surprised to find the pain from your earlier wounds does begin to ebb slightly.

“Is there anything else you need?” She asks tone still bearing hurt from your earlier conversation. “I can have someone come help.”

>ask more questions
>make a request
>plan
>write in

>>3393567
>ask more questions
What year is it and how is the state of the world?

>>3393567
>ask more questions
What year is it?

>>3393567
>ask more questions
Do they know the whereabouts of any of our French sister ships?

>What year is it and how is the state of the world?
>Do they know the whereabouts of any of our French sister ships?

“Before you go-” you begin, dozens of questions that you’ve been asking yourself since your sudden return springing back into your mind. “What year is it- I mean, everything is so different since I saw it last.”

A guilty look crosses her face. “Sorry. I forgot there is so much you don’t know.” She pauses contemplatively. “For starters, it’s 2025. The war -the last one you remember- is over. The Allies won.”

You pause to briefly consider the mixed feelings that gives you . “And my sisters? The rest of the French Navy?”

She thinks over the question again, “Many ships remain gone I am uncertain who in the French Navy has returned. As for what has, most of the rest of the French Navy is deployed with us in the western Mediterranean, guarding shipping around Provence and Corsica. Occasionally we’ll get girls pushing down to Tunis, but ever since the enemy began appearing near Algeria in strong force the war in North Africa has gotten a bit rough for civilian traffic, particularly to the west of us.”

“I think there’s a few girls who do submarine patrols along the coast but for the most part the rest of Europe and the Atlantic is patrolled by the English and the Germans. I hardly know myself what’s going on in the Pacific. The enemy has so many odd island bases and outposts around the coast that the war there is still hard fought, even after the Americans and Japanese retook New Guinea.”

You nod, again mulling over the question before looking up at her again. “Another question- apologies- I never got your name.” gesturing yourself you offer introduction “Battleship Provence”

She offers a curt nod and a polite smile “Legionario, it’s a pleasure. I apologize for my brevity, it’s just-” she trails off before frowning again

The other girls of her squadron interrupt her explanation, entering the room pushing past the pair of you, Lepanto still draped tired between them. Gently lifting the girl between them they unceremoniously but carefully set her down in the pools of water, eliciting a small gasp from the minelayer.

“Thank you again for helping her,” Legionario mutters, eyeing the wounded girl.

>ask more questions
>make a request
>plan
>repair
>write in

>>3393861
>>repair

>>3393861
>repair

>>3393861
>Nod back to Legionario in understanding
>repair
[CHIVALRY MAINTAINED]

>>3393861
>repair

>repair
>Nod back to Legionario in understanding

“Thanks for the help Legionario” you offer the destroyer with a solemn nod. “And for what it’s worth- I’m sorry.”

“Thanks.” She replies, sorrow returning to forefront of her expression. “If there’s nothing else you need, I have some business to attend to.”

You nod and she departs, her two squadron mates following in suite, quietly conversing with each other in serious tones.

For your part, you turn back to the pool, stepping in gently before sliding downwards into a seated position across from Lepanto, who you note is already dozing comfortably in the water. Your wool petticoat grows heavy with water and you begin to wonder if perhaps you should have taken it off before entering, but as a comforting warmth overtakes the submerged portions of your body, you begin to drift off into sleep.

>Dark waves keels about you hull, lapping softly against the now cool water splashes steadily bringing you back into consciousness. You glance up, blinking sleep from your eyes and scanning the world around you. Everything is dark, illuminated exclusively by a single cold light that keeps the eerily calm water visible for miles despite the lack of a moon to illuminate the sky.

>You stand up, the gesture sending ripples skittering across the water “hello?" you call, before a long pregnant pause settles over your surroundings "Who’s there?"

>The night refuses the answer

>In the corner of your eye you spy a quick movement and turn to face it. Your turrets following in response of the unseen visitor.

>”Lepanto?” you call “Legionario?”

>As if to answer. The water stopped, settling to a completely placid mirror like surface beneath your feet. "They’re not here," a feminine voice answers from behind you in an exasperated tone. "Nobody is."

>You turn around, your cannons held steady.

-continued-

>A lone figure. Stands before you, roughly your own height, deathly pale and with her black hair cut short beneath a tattered and singed officers cap. A blue wool overcoat hanging around her shoulders bore similar burns accross its edges. On her back, a series of guns and turrets of similar make to your own sit fixed at odd angles, bearing thick rust and obvious violent damage. "Well
nobody but us, I suppose." the figure offers with a tired sigh, glancing around the placid water.

>"Who-?" you begin with uncertainty

>"Really Provence?." The newcomer remarks with scorn, focusing her gaze on you. “You think because you beat a pair of outdated and pathetic cruisers and their pack of destroyers, you’re suddenly the big girl in the ocean?”

>Your confusion deepens as you attempt to analyze the newcomer, your turrets still pointing directly at her face.
.
>A look of brief but genuine hurt flashes on the figures face, before it fades quickly into nonchalance. "I suppose it's to be expected that you forgot so much of yourself when you dragged yourself back out of the depths again." The figure muttered seductively, "I'm just surprised your own dear sister's face was among the memories dropped."

>She smiles an unreadable smile as surprise crosses your face "I have missed you dear sister." she replies.

>Your thoughts become jumbled in your head as you reach over "I-". you begin reaching over to touch Bretagne.

>The being claiming to be your sister offers a look of genuine sadness and pity as your hand glides effortlessly through her. "I'm sorry dear sister. I have missed you so much too. But reunions will have to wait. Soon. Now that you've returned we can be together again. Help is on the way. I promise."

You awaken slowly your mind gradually recalling your surroundings and situation. Above you, the shape of Lepanto stands gently shaking your shoulders as you lay in the water and muttering in a confused and concerned tone.

“Is something wrong?” you ask

She of course, doesn’t offer a response you can understand, but the response she does offer makes her concern evident.

>Figure out about what the hell happened
>Find someone who knows more about the world and your old comrades than Legionario did.
>Check on the trio of destroyers to see how their probably terrible evening went
>Find some food, you’re starving at this point and probably getting strange dreams from hunger. You have a sneaking suspicion it’s connected to your lack of ammo
>write in

>>3394160
>Figure out about what the hell happened, maybe grab a small snack to tide you over.

>>3394160
>Find someone who knows more about the world and your old comrades than Legionario did.

>>3394178
>>3394193

Waiting for a third vote. Then I'll write up the next part.

>>3394160
>Figure out about what the hell happened, maybe grab a small snack to tide you over.

>Figure out about what the hell happened, maybe grab a small snack to tide you over.

You offer a disarming smile to Lepanto and wave her aside before standing up, heavy from the water that’s soaked into your clothes during repair. You briefly make an effort to wring out your petticoat before Lepanto calls for your attention, pointing to a neatly folded pile of plain navy blue working clothes and black boots laying besides the pool you occupied. You seem to note that Lepanto herself has already traded her old tattered uniform for a fresh version of the blue petticoat and light grey skirt you saw her in earlier, her light brown hair now done up in a neat braid. You pick the offered bundle up quizzically before the minelayer points again to a series of doors lining the doorway side of the pool.

The changing room seems to demonstrate just how little you understand modern clothing, or even clothing and dressing yourself at all. Eventually however you manage to get everything sorted to a level of only “mild disheveledness”, before returning to Lepanto, thoughts of your earlier dream and her concern still on your mind.

“Where is Legionario?” You ask the girl. glancing about the room to drive the point home that you're looking for her past the language barrier.

Lepanto seems to understand, but shrugs and makes an offhand comment half to herself before heading towards the doorway. Turning to you and making a second offhand comment with an eating gesture. Noting your own increasing hunger you decide to follow her. Letting Lepanto lead, you continue down a set of hallways. s you travel you note that many of the Italian sailors of both genders wear a similar set of clothing to yourself and that some of the senior personnel offer you sidelong judgemental glances over your less than professional appearance, though none seem to offer comment.

Eventually after some wandering, Lepanto opens the door to a medium sized room filled with several tables and a canteen style food bar on the far wall. Several groups of girls, dressed similarly to Lepanto and Legionario’s squadron occupy the room. Your differing appearance appears to attract some attention as conversation dies slightly and several heads turn upon your entry.

>Continued

“Bonjourno” you offer in an accent that even you realize massacres the greeting, though the gesture appears to shake off most of the attention. For her part Lepanto is unphased and she continues on to lead you in pilin your tray with large helpings of pasta and soup. Every time you think you've grabbed enough, she gesticulates for you to grab more. Finally satisfied that you've taken enough to find somewhere to sit. You've scarcely looked before a familiar voice calls your name and you see Legionario waving you towards ner, a new girl, similar in build and appearance to Legionario and the two you saw previously is seated next to her. You accept the offer, taking a spot right across from the destroyer with Lepanto claiming a seat next to you.

“This is my sister Alpino.” She offers, gesturing towards her auburn haired seatmate as you take a seat.

“Ciao” Alpino offers

“Ciao” you return in your terrible Italian accent.

“Are you two feeling better?” Legionario asks before parroting the question in Italian to the minelayer.

Lepanto offers a quiet affirmative, though you furrow your brow at the question. “Actually I had a strange dream-” you ask have you ever had that?”

The girl across from you seems taken aback by the question, “no- what kind of dream?”

Despite your ravenous hunger, you paw the spaghetti awkwardly with your fork while considering the question. “I was talking to my sister, or someone who claimed to be my sister- she told me she was coming to help. Lepanto woke me up after that, she seemed like I worried her somehow.”

Legionario gave a concerned look before asking the smaller girl a few curt questions that seemed only to deepen her confusion. She turned to you again to resume conversation. “She said you were talking to yourself.” The destroyer reported, turning back to you. “Like you were having a conversation with someone who wasn't there.”

You briefly ponder this. “Is this kind of thing something that happens with any frequency?”

She shakes her head. “No, not that I've hears, but if you'll permit me to say something contradictory, as far as shipgirls are concerned unusual things are hardly unusual. Your best bet might be talking to someone with lota of experience dealing with us, like a high ranking officer or an older returnee.”

Alpino interjects, offering a side handed question to her sister.

“Ah, my apologies-. On the subject we had before your repairs I did some digging. There's apparently a convoy trade off with the French happening tomorrow afternoon and I think I managed to get in touch with Dunquerke who can set up a chat with your sister Lorraine."

>>3394607
You can't help but offer an excited smile in response to the news that you may be able to talk to at least one of your sisters once again and nod enthusiastically in response.

Next action
>Contact Lorraine and check in on her and the others (specific questions or lines of conversation are open)
>Try to find an old hand among the Italian shipgirls, someone who might be able to offer advice on your dream
>Find a human officer they might not be able to hit on your dream as accurately but they might have more advice than Legionario and will be able to fill you in on the war.
>Other

Calling for tonight, almost deleted a chunk of this last update and am running on fumes will continue on in the morning.

>>3394611
>Contact Lorraine and check in on her and the others (Friendly but concerned for their wellbeing, ask how she and the others have been doing and if they've been having dreams like the one we had)

Thanks for sticking with us so far OP, it's been pretty intriguing.

>>3394611
>>Try to find an old hand among the Italian shipgirls, someone who might be able to offer advice on your dream

>>3394611
>>Try to find an old hand among the Italian shipgirls, someone who might be able to offer advice on your dream

>>3394611
>Try to find an old hand among the Italian shipgirls, someone who might be able to offer advice on your dream

>>3394611
Seconding this>>3394616

>>Try to find an old hand among the Italian shipgirls, someone who might be able to offer advice on your dream

Tempted as you are to immediately drop you concerns and meet again with Lorraine, you can’t shake the unease your dream has left you with. Thinking quietly on the issue as you continue to poke the food awkwardly with your fork.

An offhand comment by Lepanto to Alpino shakes you out of your stupor and you look back up across the table.

“Actually Legionario.” you start hesitantly. “While I would love to talk to Lorraine, but I can’t explain why but something about this dream is bothering me. You mentioned talking to an older ship to see if they can help. Do you know anyone on post who could help?”

She thinks over the question for a second and begins a short discussion with her companions, before turning back to you. “Really the one you want to talk to is Caio Duilio. She came back during the Second Battle of Taranto- but last I checked she was in Sicily. Really the oldest returnee in Tunis right now is Gorizia.”

“How long has she been back?” you ask idly.

“Well she came back with Caio Duilio and she’s seen more combat. She’s just-” the destroyer hesitates for a second “she’s been through a lot.” you can tell Legionario spent some time trying to phrase the statement diplomatically.

You nod. “Can I speak to her?” you ask.

Legionario appears slightly uncomfortable at the prospect, but finally seems to relent “Let’s finish eating first.” is all she offers.

For the most part, the conversation idly continues between the trio of Italian ships as you finish your food quietly, only realizing as you polish off the small hill of food Lepanto insisted you take just how hungry you were.

>continued

>>3395222

As the others finally finish, Legionario offers a parting announcement to the other two, dropping the name “Gorizia”. It seems she’s explaining your intention. In response, Lepanto spares a glance towards you and seems to give an earnest reply. It looks like the minelayer will be attending your meeting.

Standing and grabbing her tray, the destroyer offers a brief farewell to Alpino, who returns a wave and smile in kind. She leads you and Lepanto onwards, depositing her tray near the entranceway and heading down the various plain white hallways, until eventually heading down a passage of evenly spaced doors with nameplates on them, finally coming to a stop by a doorway with “Gorizia” and “Fiume” written in plain block letters. She pauses briefly and shoots an uneasy look at Lepanto before knocking.

A terse and stern response comes back that seems to leave the two smaller Italian girls standing a bit uneasy. Behind Legionario you make a show of crossing your arms and staring down the door which seems to build her confidence slightly. The destroyer begins to offer an explanation before the door suddenly swings fully open, revealing a woman of medium build. Her short brown hair and the scars raking her left cheek seem to compliment her unamused expression. She gives you a suspicious look before looking down at the smaller girls, asking questions in an authoritative tone.

Eventually after some back and forth between the Italians the heavy cruiser looks at you with unscurtable eyes before opening the door slightly to let you in. Behind the doorway is a moderately sized but plainly furnished room with a pair of beds and a table with two chairs, a disassembled miniature naval gun sits idly on the table with a set of dirty rags.

Following her instructions you take a step into the room. She moves around you and grabs the doorknob reaching to shut the door on your two escorts, who based on the way they stand behind, seem to have been told in their earlier conversation with the cruiser that they would be left outside.

>You’ve come to the cruiser for advice and she knows what she’s doing, maybe something is going on that your escorts don’t need to hear about. Besides if she’s crazy or something it’s not like you lack the horsepower to beat her senseless.
>Lepanto and Legionario have come with you this far, maybe they can offer something to the conversation
>You’d like to have one of them participate in the discussion (Lepanto or Legionario)
>other

>>3395229
>You’ve come to the cruiser for advice and she knows what she’s doing, maybe something is going on that your escorts don’t need to hear about. Besides if she’s crazy or something it’s not like you lack the horsepower to beat her senseless.
Neither of them seem to know much about the dreams. Besides I doubt they would care if we have a 1 on 1 convo. We can always fill them in later.

>>3395229
>You’ve come to the cruiser for advice and she knows what she’s doing, maybe something is going on that your escorts don’t need to hear about. Besides if she’s crazy or something it’s not like you lack the horsepower to beat her senseless.
We must mine your mind oh fair lady of the sea.

>>3395229
>You’ve come to the cruiser for advice and she knows what she’s doing, maybe something is going on that your escorts don’t need to hear about. Besides if she’s crazy or something it’s not like you lack the horsepower to beat her senseless.

>You’ve come to the cruiser for advice and she knows what she’s doing, maybe something is going on that your escorts don’t need to hear about.

You offer an apologetic look as the door closes on your guides, though you suspect they may prefer not to have to deal with Gorizia at all.

The heavy cruiser hesitates to acknowledge you, reaching into her pocket and pulling out a pack of cigarettes and a lighter before walking over to the small lone table standing before the room’s only window. Taking a seat in one of the two chairs and lighting the cigarette, she offers neither to you though after taking a seat she glances over to you and finally seems to recognize your existence.

“So you had a bad dream?” she asks, as much a question as a statement in tone, her French coming out strongly accented.

“Yes,” you explain, taking the chance to take the second unoffered seat, “It felt strange. My sister was talking to me, Bretagne, telling me she was coming to help. I was wondering if you know other girls who have had something similar happen to them.”

She chuckles slightly, “Do I really seem like the kind of person who the other girl’s would turn to to interpret their dreams? No, if anyone else has had visions of their sisters visiting them from beyond, they haven’t asked me about it before.”

You nod solemnly. “So that’s it then.”

Gorizia ignores the comment holding her cigarette she stares intently at you, “The minelayer seemed to think you were distressed before she woke you up. The figure who visited you, claiming to be Bretagne, what did she look like?”

You think the dream over briefly before responding, “She was dressed like me, only- her clothes were burnt, damaged. Her hair was jet black and skin was pale.”

Gorizia nods as if expecting the answer, “How do you think Bretagne should look?”

The question takes you offguard, despite never directly interacting with your returned sister a vivid picture appears in your head when you consider the statement. “Warmer.” you start picturing her in your head, “the face is similar, but not nearly as pale.”

Gorizia nods again as if the answer was obvious and begins thinking. “It’s curious that you have such a vivid picture of what she should look like and then dream another one entirely.” She remarks, her tone indicating that the statement was intended as explanation.

Unease at the statement “I don’t understand,” you ask with unease. “If that wasn’t dreaming about my sister, who was that? I don’t think I had ever seen them before.”

“Our enemy is smarter than many of the navy and politicians will admit.” she starts, taking a thoughtful drag from her cigarette. “Everytime someone thinks they have the abyss figured out, they find a new and terrible way to fight back.”

You cross your arms and offer an angry look, annoyed with her roundabout answer, “What does that have to do with my sister?”


>continued

>>3395629
A look of annoyance crosses her face as though you interrupted her explanation, she crushes the cigarette on a nearby ash tray before continuing. “We’re more related that many girls care to admit. It’s easy to dismiss them as our anathema until Repulse insists that the monster throwing rounds across your bow bears an uncanny resemblance to Hood.” She glances up and notices your expression of unease, “Most of them are something else entirely, even the ones that look like people. Demons, spirits, monsters.” she shrugs apathetically. “But a fair few matching the descriptions of absent girls have been spotted deep behind enemy territory, acting as flagships or leaders. She points to the scar on her cheek “and let me tell you, they’re a mean bunch of bitches.”

You swallow hesitantly, clenching your fists angrily as the subtext of her explanation becomes apparent. “Are you implying- That Bretagne-”

She shrugs, “I don’t even like reading books, let alone dreams. But if you ask me there’s three possibilities. First, you were in a firefight with two of the humanoid ones right? Maybe you dreamt the whole thing up, maybe you ate a can of expired food and had a loopy dream.” She pulls another cigarette from her pocket “It’s also possible that our enemy is trying to talk to you and trick you, maybe you’ve got a bit of their darkness in you yourself, who the fuck knows?” she lights the cigarette, though holds it idly rather than inhaling it, “ Then again, maybe for better or worse your sister is reaching out to you.”

You pause, contemplating the explanation Gorizia offered.

She puts her cigarette in her mouth and reaches over to the disassembled naval gun and pile of rags. “Now if that’s all, kindly fuck off, I’ve still got stuff to do.”

>ask something else.
>ask one of the other girls for advice
>Talk to Lorraine (suggest subject)

>>3395636
>Thank Gorizia
then
>Talk to Lorraine (suggest subject)
Catch up some more on recent history. How has France fared? Also, which French ships have returned?

>>3395728
>>3395636
This, we have gotten more than enough from Lady Gorizia. Now is the time for LORE!

>Thank Gorizia
then
>Talk to Lorraine (Catch up some more on recent history. How has France fared? Also, which French ships have returned?)

You offer an awkward nod and stand, “thanks for the help.” You mutter before turning to leave. Gorizia manages only a grunt of acknowledgement in reply, her attention now focused on swabbing the barrel of the disassembled cannon.

Opening the door, you’re surprised to see your escorts speaking to each other in hushed whispers. The pair stops their conversation as you exit, both looking at you expectantly.

“Did she help?” Legionario asked tentatively.

You think her question over and offer a shrug. “She gave me some things to think about.”

Legionario nods, sensing you want to drop the subject.

“If you don’t mind me asking another favor, you mentioned you have a way to speak with Lorraine.”

The destroyer brightens at the mention of a cheerier subject “I sent an email out, Dunquerke said she can set up a video call as soon as you’re ready.”

You raise a confused eyebrow over several of the words she threw at you.

Legionario blushes slightly, “Sorry, I forgot, you just got back- Yes, I can get you in touch with her.”

You nod, in affirmation as the little destroyer beckons you and Lepanto onwards

Again, you find yourself led blindly on by the destroyer, who guides you on further down the various doorways until, glancing at the nameplates, you begin to read the names of various Italian Destroyers. Finally she stops you near a doorway with Legionario’s and Alpino’s names on it. Reaching into her breast pocket, the girl produces a set of key and unlocking the door she beckons you inside.

The room is similar in layout to Gorizia’s, though you note that the atmosphere is much warmer and it appears more lived in. Several bookshelves filled with bright-covered books, various baubles and posters line the walls, and several stuffed animals lay neatly on the bed. Leigonario walks by you, heading towards a flat box on the table. She takes a seat and flips the hinged lid up, before a bright light shines from the inside of the lid.

“It’s a computer,” she explains with amusement in response to your baffled expression, navigating through various bewildering functions as she fills Lepanto in on what she’s doing. The minelayer gives you an encouraging and excited look at the prospect of seeing you reunite with your sister. Eventually after the destroyer spends several minutes of concentration and effort, the computer makes a series of short beeping noises and a face appears on the screen, similar in build to your own. You immediately recognize it as your sister Lorraine.

>continued

>>3396295
Legionario stands up and beckons you to sit, which you comply, still somewhat bewildered by the device.

“I was beginning to wonder when you’d get in touch, Dunquerke told me this morning that you’d returned.” she greets in a teasing tone.

“I had to take care of something” you offer rubbing the back of your head, awkwardly caught offguard by how quickly she brought up your absence.

She laughs in response, “I’ve had two years to figure the world out, I think I can find it in my heart to forgive you for spending a few extra hours figuring out what the hell is going on. Still, it’s good to see you.”

“Likewise,” you respond, “I’m sure I have a lot of catching up to do with everyone. How has everything been going with my absence?”

Her cheery smile she’s worn ever since the call started wanes slightly. “Things have stabilized a bit in the last year as more girls returned. For the most part, the English, the Germans, and us have kept the French coast and Denmark secure but the Abyssals certainly keep us on our toes and the raids keep things busy. But from what I hear, you’ve already seen the problems they cause.”

You nod. “Yesterday was pretty interesting.”

Your sister laughs, “Well, we’ll all have plenty of stories to tease Bretagne with when she comes back and discovers she missed all the fun.”

You frown at the mention of your older sister’s name, but decide it might be best not to mention it at the moment. “So who all is there with you? It sounds like a lot of the girls have returned.”

Your sister thinks the question over. “Dunquerke and Strasbourg are here, beyond that and us the battleships are still gone,” She pauses and the cheery smile wanes again, “The destroyers and cruisers are the one’s really stretched thing though, we still have almost half of them missing and it really keeps the poor girls working overtime. Oh, and Béarn is back, I’m sure she’ll be the first one to tell you just how important she is to the war effort.” Your sister makes no effort to hide the eyeroll that accompanies the comment.

The conversation continues into small talk led mostly by your older sister, touching you up on day to day trivialities and silly antics she’s experienced at the hands of various destroyer pranks or drunken cruisers getting into trouble. Eventually as the hours wind down Lorraine lets out a long and tired sigh. “I think maybe it’s time I let you go to sleep,” she offers, “From what I hear you’re going to have a busy day aiding an Italian convoy tomorrow, I’ll push down to Toulons to meet you then.”

>dismiss the call and get some sleep, you can catch up more when you meet in person
>tell her about your dream, even if you’re not certain on the details she deserves to know something is up.
>offer something else in parting

>>3396318
>Ask her to be more careful than usual, you have a bad feeling about the rendezvous tomorrow.
And then
>Bid your farewells for tonight, dismiss the call and get some sleep, you can catch up more when you meet in person

>>3396318
>Ask her to be careful
>dismiss the call and get some sleep, you can catch up more when you meet in person

>Ask her to be careful
>dismiss the call and get some sleep, you can catch up more when you meet in person

You offer a warm smile to your sister. “Yes. Maybe it's about time I rest up. Just be careful tomorrow. Maybe it's paranoia over yesterday speaking but I have a bad feeling, watch out for trouble.”

She laughs at the comment. “It does seem like every time you hit the water someone shoots at you, doesn't it? I'll be careful. You only just got back, you're hardly in a position to offer advice,” she notes with a casual tease.

You scowl in response. “Goodbye, sis.” You mutter, before gazing at the box in confusion. “Legionario, how do I hang this thing up?” You call aside to the destroyer, who is spending her time currently holding a smaller glowing device and tapping at it idly. Before she can answer your sister laughs at you again and the area on the screen her image held goes dark. It looks like she beat you to it.

“Planning on sleeping up for your rendezvous tomorrow?” Legionario asks, interrupting your annoyed stare and the computer. “Lepanto’s off in her own bunks but no one really told me where you were supposed to sleep. I guess you can crash on my bed tonight,” she offers pointing at one of the two bunks occupying the roo . “I'll sleep in Alpino's bed, she has a night patrol tonight.”

Her comment leads you to think back on the past day’s events with confusion. “Does anyone in the Italian Navy even know I'm here?” you question suspiciously.

She blushed slightly and avoids your gaze “technically yes, I did include you in my report after you docked for repairs. I just didn't draw much attention to it. I thought you'd prefer time alone rather than a barrage of reports and briefings.

After some time she looks back up at you defensively, “I did really check in with the convoy tomorrow,” she assuages, “the girls know you'll be accompanying them.”

You smile and stand up to offer an appreciative pat on head to the destroyer. “Thanks Legionario. That's another I owe you.”

She responds with a pleased smile and turns back to her small growing rectangle

You take this as the opportunity to retire and crawl into Legionario’s bed. You spend some time pondering the last two days before fading quietly in unconsciousness.

You awaken slowly, light drifting into the window, noting with some relief that you seem to have passed the night without another troubling dream.

From behind her computer at the table, Legionario spares you a quick glance and an amused look. “So you're finally awake? I was beginning to think I'd need start shaking you to get you moving. You've got just over an hour and a half before the convoy sets out, I'm sure little Lepanto will be waiting there to see you off.

>Now would be the time to take care of any business you have in Tunisia
>Best to meet with the convoy now and have some time to figure out how the escort will be conducted.

>Best to meet with the convoy now and have some time to figure out how the escort will be conducted.

Thank you spaghettis, you're nicer without Mussolini-chan, we're going home.

>>3397501
>Best to meet with the convoy now and have some time to figure out how the escort will be conducted.
>>3397713
Relationship with the British traitors ended, Pasta is best friend now

>>3397501
>Best to meet with the convoy now and have some time to figure out how the escort will be conducted.
They's good girls in our books.

>Best to meet with the convoy now and have some time to figure out how the escort will be conducted.

“Thanks Legionario,” you mutter, groggily sitting up. “I should be good to go in a few minutes. I’d like to spend some time talking over things with the girls in the convoy and figuring out what the plan is.”

She nods, “let me know when you’re ready and I can show you to the docks again.”

You hastily get yourself sorted out and follow the destroyer one last time. She leads you out along a familiar path towards the large concrete structure you entered the base in. “My sister and several other girls will be on the mission.” she explains as you walk “Her French is not very good, but it should be enough to make sure you don’t get confused and do something silly.”

“Is it Alpino? I didn’t know she spoke any.”

“Mitraglieri,” Legionario corrects. “She’s a bit of a dunce, but she means well and knows what she’s doing.”

You nod as the two of you continue onwards through the base. Right before reaching the entranceway you used when you arrived, Legionario leads you down a side passage, where about halfway down, near a nondescript door with some Italian written above it you spot Lepanto standing idle. The minelayer brightens as the two of you come into sight. You wave in greeting and she runs towards you, before impacting you at full speed, hugging you across the waist.

You offer a pat on her head in return. “I’ll miss you too Lepanto.” privately you know she doesn’t understand what you’re saying, but you hope she appreciates the gesture. You turn to the destroyer besides you and ruffle her hair too, which elicits a blush from the girl. “I’ll be sure to call and visit when the opportunity is available.”

She nods and offers a bittersweet smile. “Thanks again for saving Lepanto. It means a lot to all of us. I hope things go well for you in France.” She mentions something in Italian to Lepanto and the girl releases her hold on your waist. She offering some final words and a sad smile that Legionario doesn’t need to translate, her intent to offer thanks and farewell is clear.

>continued

>>3399155
The destroyer offers a knock and then opens the door and you give a final wave to your companions before stepping inside.

Upon entry, it’s apparent that you’ve arrived mid briefing. The rows of chairs facing towards the front of the room are about half full, mostly of various individuals in plain blue military uniforms, but four girls about the height of Legionario sit together, giving the speaker mixed levels of attentiveness.

At the head of the room stand the speaker, a slightly taller girl appears to note your entrance. She glances down at one of the destroyers and gives a short order, dropping the name “Mitraglieri” within her command.

The girl in question stands up and ushers you to the back of the room. Standing besides you, she looks you up and down intensely.

You’re taken aback by the interest the girl puts into evaluating you.

“So you’re the French Battleship?” Mitraglieri finally begins with a disappointed tone “I thought you’d be taller.”

You flash an unamused grimace which catches the girl offguard, she looks to nearly let out a startled yelp. “Sorry, Legionario just talked you up a lot yesterday,” the destroyer awkwardly stammers. “Anyway Cadorna said I was supposed to tell you what’s happening since you don’t speak any Italian. You’ll be with them,” she explains gesturing towards the uniformed navy personnel. The destroyer then looks down in the corner, obviously avoiding your gaze. “She said to tell you that ‘unless the frigates start sinking she doesn’t want someone who doesn’t know what the hell they’re doing and can’t talk to her girls cluttering up her convoy.’ beyond that she said you don’t need to know anything.”

You frown, apparently you’ll be riding in a frigate on the convy.

>a reasonable request, you can’t talk to anyone in the convoy and might cause confusion, besides, it’s not like you can’t just jump ship when a fight starts.
>suggest to Mitraglieri that you talk things over with Cadorna. You can stay with her where you can be filled in on anything going on.
>suggest to Mitraglieri that you talk things over with Cadorna. You can stay towards the center of the convoy, out of the way and provide support if an obvious threat arises.

>>3399167
>a reasonable request, you can’t talk to anyone in the convoy and might cause confusion, besides, it’s not like you can’t just jump ship when a fight starts.
>however point out that if the situation goes horribly wrong don't think that we're going to just sit back and do nothing
We understand her reasons. But there is only so much before the weight of honour transcends the weight of obedience.

>>3399167
>a reasonable request, you can’t talk to anyone in the convoy and might cause confusion, besides, it’s not like you can’t just jump ship when a fight starts.
As has been mentioned we can just leap out. If anything this might be a good thing. The enemy won't be expecting a battleship to come out of nowhere. We might as well be a Q-ship

>>3399167
>a reasonable request, you can’t talk to anyone in the convoy and might cause confusion, besides, it’s not like you can’t just jump ship when a fight starts.

>a reasonable request, you can’t talk to anyone in the convoy and might cause confusion, besides, it’s not like you can’t just jump ship when a fight starts.
>however point out that if the situation goes horribly wrong don't think that we're going to just sit back and do nothing

You think the comment over briefly before finally nodding. “Okay.” you nod in acceptance, “but if things get out of hand, I’m not going to sit by and do nothing.”

You notice Mitraglieri’s shoulders slouch slightly in relief when you accept Cadorna’s stipulations, apparently she had been worried about getting caught between the two of you.

The meeting continues for some time, though given it’s conducted exclusively in a language you can’t understand, you get little value from the briefing. Finally, the cruiser in charge makes a dismissive gesture and the group begins standing up and preparing themselves for the upcoming operation.

Mitraglieri brings you to a group of Italian sailors and makes a show of explaining and introducing you to them, the oldest and presumably most senior of who gives a dissatisfied as the destroyer introduces you but says nothing. Mitraglieri then near immediately turns away with a small wave “good luck with the navy guys” she mutters before heading off towards the exit hanger with the rest of the shipgirls.

You stand awkwardly by the group of officers while they privately discuss the upcoming operation together and reflect that you've heard enough Italian spoken for ten lifetimes.

Eventually, the senior officer offers some parting remarks and they proceed onwards. You yourself elect to follow them, heading down an alternative hallway from the rest of the girls into some open air docks. Contrary to the most of the shipyards you saw earlier, this section of Tunis is occupied by small but armed warships whose bridges and masts are covered in advanced sensors and systems you don't even attempt to comprehend the use for.

Your small group continues onwards past the ships and several groups of sailors, many of who offer salutes and greetings to the officers. Eventually, the party turns off the dock towards one of the ships. Halfway up the gangplank, the senior of the group stops and looks over at you before giving a quick comment to a junior. Looking over at you as if just noticing you for the first time, the younger man translates. “Don't make trouble and stay out of the way.”

With that they continue onwards and you get the sense you'll have some leeway on the voyage.

>Get some food, you're a battleship and from the rumble in your belly you get the sense that that means you need to eat more than most
>Do your best to stay out of the way but poke around a bit, you want to see how ships function in this new age
>Stay on deck, if the destroyer girls get in trouble you'll be damned if you're not around to help
>Other

>>3400871
>Do your best to stay out of the way but poke around a bit, you want to see how ships function in this new age

Sneaky battleship

>>3400871
>Do your best to stay out of the way but poke around a bit, you want to see how ships function in this new age

>>3400871
>Do your best to stay out of the way but poke around a bit, you want to see how ships function in this new age
We should stay below deck. if the enemy attacks they wont know our side has a secret battleship in reserve

>>3400871
>Do your best to stay out of the way but poke around a bit, you want to see how ships function in this new age
What fabulous new age technology will aid the common warrior this era we wonder?

>Do your best to stay out of the way but poke around a bit, you want to see how ships function in this new age

You shrug at the man’s comment and board the frigate behind them, while the group heads off towards an open entryway near the bridge they don’t seem to make any further remarks to you, leaving you with the assumption that they don’t expect you to follow. You decide to hold back a bit before heading inside, wandering the deck briefly to assess the capabilities of the ship. For the most part it’s armament is unsurprising, though the strange pair of large linked boxes above the single turret leave you perplexed. In addition, the ship seems underarmed for a vessel of its size, especially as far as secondary weapons and torpedoes are concerned, perhaps it’s primary task isn’t naval combat but you’re still in some doubts over its capabilities. You make a mental note to ask your sister about changes to naval doctrine and technology that have occurred in your absence.

Eventually, your curiosity over the ship’s armament sated, you decide the best place to observe the functions of the ship and be ready for any trouble would be to join the officers in the bridge. Following through the entranceway they took, you find yourself in a narrow painted steel hallway, where groups of sailors hustle back and forth, the sight offers a familiar comfort. Despite the technological advances, the heart of a ship is the same as it was in your day. Spotting a staircase ahead of you, you ascend into what is obviously the ship’s command center. Several men and women sit in plain green cushioned aluminum chairs behind large computers and talk into headsets. A few glance curiously up at your entrance and some private comments are made between the crew, but most seem to ignore you. The bridge’s layout, like the halls, feels oddly similar to your own, despite the frankly gratuitous amount of computers.

Noticing your entrance, the senior officer who led your party down the docks offers you a spare glance from his chair in the center of the room and then gives a gesturing glance towards a chair in the back of the bridge. Seeing the chance to continue quietly observing and wanting to avoid causing too much pain to Mitraglieri, you comply and sit.

After half an hour of work and brief orders in Italian given too and fro in the bridge, the helmsmen takes the wheel and you feel the ship begin to move, slowly backing up and making a broad backwards turn. Outside the window, you spot a trio of the same massive civilian transports that filled the docksides of the harbor and a second frigate identical to the one you find yourself in. Stuck in the bridges rear and with the girls so small, you’re unable to spot Mitraglieri and the others.

>>3402308
The journey’s first few hours prove uneventful. With officers and the captains occasionally asking for reports and information and radio chattering going in and out. From time to time a crewman will look up from the display and offer an important piece of information. You suspect that this insider’s view of a modern vessel might be very informative, if only you spoke a bit of Italian.

After some time however, you notice the radio traffic come in quicker, the atmosphere appears much more serious. From behind him, you notice the helmsman increase speed and edge the ship closer to the container ships.

The tense atmosphere continues onwards for some minutes, until, ahead of you, you see the long unmistakable red glow of a flare shoot up just ahead of the civilian transports.

>ask someone what’s going on
>stay out of the way, no need to distract the crew when they’re focusing, if they need help someone will indicate or ask
>go out on deck and try and see what’s going on.

>>3402319
>stay out of the way, no need to distract the crew when they’re focusing, if they need help someone will indicate or ask
We dont blow our cover until we hear shooting

>>3402319
>ask someone what’s going on

>>3402319
>stay out of the way, no need to distract the crew when they’re focusing, if they need help someone will indicate or ask
Honor our word

>>3402319
>stay out of the way, no need to distract the crew when they’re focusing, if they need help someone will indicate or ask

Better make sure we're loaded and ready to go.

>stay out of the way, no need to distract the crew when they’re focusing, if they need help someone will indicate or ask

Despite the tension on the bridge you stay put, crossing your arms and watching the situation unfolding, waiting for instructions. Most of the crew seem to be monitoring their stations quietly. One by one however the sailors manning the terminals begin to glance up and offer brief reports to their officers, their tone conveying urgency but not alarm or surprise. You sneak a glance at the banks of computers and note that one by one, the once clearly visible text and images on the computers begin to grow distorted and unreadable before vanishing entirely. From the front of the ship, the deck gun begins to turn to the port side. On the still active communications echoing through the bridge, you can hear the terse serious tones of the shipgirls engaging. You stand up and cross your arms, feeling the heavy weight of cannons appearing on your back as your equipment returns to you. The shocked and impressed looks of the crewmen at your appearance giving you a twinge of pride as you continue to watch the unfolding scene

You are light cruiser Luigi Cadorna. Holstering your flare gun, you pull the binoculars on your neck up to your eyes and scan the water for periscopes . You thumb your throat mic “Mitraglieri” you bark, “where was the periscope?.”

“Um-” the familiar voice of the destroyer stammers out, slightly flustered over your accusation “Yes. -I think so. bearing 245, it was some way out though, I think it’s looking for us still.”

You curse under your breath and prepare to key the mic again before another voice interrupts

“Sonar contact!” the voice of one of you destroyers calls out “to the starboard side of the convoy.”

You curse again and swirl about to scan the waves. “How far out is it?” you ask.

“A good two kilometers or so out.” the girl answers. “It looks like they’re following our formation I’ve got- wait-.” the voice hesitates before calling out. “Surface contact! Starboard!”

A cannon shot sounds out, louder and larger than any submarine you’ve ever heard, followed in turn by return fire from your girls and the dull automatic thump of the frigates weapons. You kick your engines into high speed and whirl about to the starboard side of the convoy where the girl indicated the threat had come from. You key the mic again. “Mitraglieri, Freccia, hold formation, I’m pushing up to help.”

>continued

The two voices answer in the affirmative.

Slowing to join the fight, you spot the two girls trading fire with an abyssal. The beast in question is humanoid in appearance, its primitive breathmask and dark damp hair leads you to believe it's a submarine. On its shoulder however, a set of cruiser sized guns trade fire with your destroyers, keeping the pair of them dancing back and forth to avoid the fire.

You ready your cannons for return fire when a second voice, Mitraglieri’s reports a series of sonar contacts on her own side again, this time under the waves, though closing fast. You let out a bitter curse.

>pull Mitraglieri and Freccia to your side and pour firepower against the submarine-cruiser
>have all four of the destroyers concentrate on the submerged submarines and focus on the cruiser with the Frigates

>>3402820
>pull Mitraglieri and Freccia to your side and pour firepower against the submarine-cruiser
We can't really afford to leave our charge unprotected from the other angles.

>>3402820
>pull Mitraglieri and Freccia to your side and pour firepower against the submarine-cruiser
...Surcouf?

>pull Mitraglieri and Freccia to your side and pour firepower against the submarine-cruiser

You squeeze off a series of rounds against the cruiser-sub before keying your throat mic with your off hand. “Mitraglieri, Freccia. Concentrate fire on the surfaced submarine. We’ll pour firepower onto her and then switch to the submerged attackers.” you instruct. The two girls offer a series of affirmatives and join in on the assault, adding their guns to the considerable firepower brought against the submarine. Clearly significantly outgunned, the beast lets out an inhuman wail as rounds buffer the sea around it and it begins to slink down in the waves. As a last act of defiance, it sticks a hand above the surface, a long crude tube clutched in it. You raise your gun again to fire before the tube discharges it's contents. A rocket soars into the sky on a trail of thick acrid smoke, twisting above the convoy before detonating in a sickening display of vivid and disorienting light of impossible colors.

Mitraglieri and Frecca slow down as the target disappears. The twin destroyers on the starboard begin catapulting depth charges into the submarine’s last known location, great sprays of seawater erupting to mark their detonation.

Seeing the immediate threat gone you key your mic again. “Check again for underwater contacts, make sure those subs you heard earlier don't get close to the transports.” You check your watch and offer some choice dark mutterings. The French relief is still some few hours out.

Mitraglieri and Frecca begin to push along the port side of the convoy, their sonar headsets dialed in, intently tracking the submarine threat. They scarcely begin to search the Frecca’s eyes go wide and she looks up to you in alarm.

“We’ve got surface contacts.” She explains with unease evident in her voice. “Lots of them. Bearing 268.”

You reach for binoculars to search the horizon but stop as soon as you hand touches the spyglass. You can spot them with your naked eye. Roughly 15-20 thick black clouds of smoke, in the distance.

>Order your girls to push back to Tunis. It's further than French aid but the navy presence there is strong enough to deter the abyssals from attacking at all.
>You aren't yet sure the composition of the fleet, push in the opposite direction. You may be able to outrun them.
>Flank speed to the rendezvous point. With two battleships and a good amount of escorts you stand a chance of beating them back

Also
>Continue playing as Luigi Cadorna and tell the crew to keep the battleship in reserve
>Switch to Provence and join the fight, even from your place in the bridge you can tell something is wrong.

>>3403413
>Switch to Provence

>>3403413
>Order your girls to push back to Tunis. It's further than French aid but the navy presence there is strong enough to deter the abyssals from attacking at all.
>Continue playing as Luigi Cadorna and tell the crew to keep the battleship in reserve

>>3403413
>Order your girls to push back to Tunis. It's further than French aid but the navy presence there is strong enough to deter the abyssals from attacking at all.
If we can live long enough to reattempt a rendezvous, then it's good enough.
>Continue playing as Luigi Cadorna and tell the crew to keep the battleship in reserve
The situation isn't bad enough for Provence's presence on the battlefield.

>Order your girls to push back to Tunis. It's further than French aid but the navy presence there is strong enough to deter the abyssals from attacking at all.
>Continue playing as Luigi Cadorna and tell the crew to keep the battleship in reserve

“Cadorna, what do we do? The voice over the radio asks, the tension evident in the girl's voice.

“We’ve got to push our way back to Tunis,” you mutter, glancing back at the black pillars on the horizon with unease

“But we're almost to the rally point,” an unknown voice interrupts in protests presumably by the indignity apparent in its tone, the voice belongs to one of the captains of the transport ships.

You let out an annoyed grimace “And then we and the French and get to be shelled together.” You pause before keying the mic up again, “and get off the fucking communications network, we’re god damn busy here.”

If in response to your orders or admonishments, the big transports ahead of you slowly begin to turn.

You put the distant ships and of your mind and return to instructing your girls, “don't forget to keep scanning for those submarines. Just because they have a few warships over the horizon don't think they won't hit us from below.”

Your orders given and the girls affirmation following, you continue to watch the distant shapes on the horizon, a feeling of mounting urgency striking you as the agonizingly slow turns of the transports only now begins to finish. You grab your binoculars and scan the smoke columns. Several of the monsters have begun to crest the horizon, various fusions of flesh and metal that defy any logical identification or function. This isn't your first encounter however and swallowing your nervousness you pick them over, identifying a trio that look to be battleships or possibly large cruisers. As if noticing your attention, their leader, a large humanoid Abyssal with jet black hair raises an arm and dull flashes of light erupt out of first her guns, shortly fired by blossoming fire from the guns of the other two.

>Continued

>>3403796
“Incoming fire!” You scream in alert before kicking your engines into his speed and beginning evasive maneuvers. The shells screech down and erupt several hundred meters short of the convoy scattering black spotting dye over the waves. “Set a smoke screen, starboard side.” You scream into your throat mic.

Panicked alerts begin filing the radio networks as your girls, the navy, and the transports all begin filing in alarms and requests. The near white noise continues to fill your ears as a second Abyssal barrage is sent out against you, landing the same distance away as the first.

You ponder tearing off the headset to clear your thoughts when the shouts finally die down enough for Mitraglieri’s voice to sound above the confusing bustle of noise. “I have Lorraine on the line,” she explains in a strained tone. “The French are wondering if we need assistance.”

>The French can offer long range support against you, with the submarine's use of a flare to mark you, you're obviously the primary target.
>The French should trail behind and prepare to intervene if needed, but shouldn't get themselves mixed up unless needed.
>the French should pull back to port and not risk themselves becoming a target.

Meanwhile in the bridge
>Provence should intervene, seeing the ships turn and a smokescreen unfold means more than submarines are a threat. Besides, those sound like naval rifles. (Switch)
>You can see a billowing smokescreen from the bridge, given the convoy is pulling back and covering itself, there's little a battleship can offer to assist. (Stay as Cadorna)

>>3403797
>The French can offer long range support against you, with the submarine's use of a flare to mark you, you're obviously the primary target.
>>You can see a billowing smokescreen from the bridge, given the convoy is pulling back and covering itself, there's little a battleship can offer to assist. (Stay as Cadorna)
One last set up. Until those battleships or heavy cruisers close distance theres little we can offer. If the French attack the abyssals are gonna be forced to rethink. If they keep chasing we can come bellowing out of the screen in a big surprise.

>>3403797
>The French can offer long range support against you, with the submarine's use of a flare to mark you, you're obviously the primary target.
Artillery, the most unwelcome but welcomed support a soldier could ask for.
>You can see a billowing smokescreen from the bridge, given the convoy is pulling back and covering itself, there's little a battleship can offer to assist. (Stay as Cadorna)
We still have it, Provence's time is not now yet.

>The French can offer long range support against you, with the submarine's use of a flare to mark you, you're obviously the primary target.
Artillery, the most unwelcome but welcomed support a soldier could ask for.
>You can see a billowing smokescreen from the bridge, given the convoy is pulling back and covering itself, there's little a battleship can offer to assist. (Stay as Cadorna)
We still have it, Provence's time is not now yet.

You activate your comms “Mitraglieri ask Lorraine to try and hit them from her position, maybe she can take some of the pressure off of us. Freccia, contact Tunis and tell them we’ll be returning and to spare any help they can.”

Both girls answer in the affirmative and your line briefly goes quiet, offering you the opportunity to evaluate the effectiveness of the smoke screen. Luckily, wind direction seemed to favor you and while not perfect, the screen manages to billow out along the flank of the convoy, concealing all but the very tops of the large civilian container ships.

The enemy however seems unperturbed and their fire continues on., The rounds impacting just short of the convoy’s position outside the smokescreen. Soon the distant echo of gunfire sounds from the rear of your position as the French guns answer in retort.

You hear the splash of several more incoming shots before the Abyssals shift fire. Initially, you suspect Lorraine is the target and key your throat mic to order Mitraglieri to warn the French girls. You’ve scarcely have time to begin your order when the sound of wailing artillery shells shriek overhead, this time landing on the long side of the convoy, splashing ineffectively against the waves.

>>3404775
“Lorraine is reporting that the enemy is reforming,” Mitraglieri informs over the radio, “she says the enemy escort is holding a protective perimeter around the enemy battle line.” A second barrage sounds, shrieking above your head and impacting the same distance out as the first.
“”Hold on.” you hear Mitraglieri report over the radio, pausing briefly to receive a report from an unknown speaker. “They’re falling back!” she announces in an overjoyed tone. “Lorraine says their escorts are forming smoke and they’re all leaving. It sounds like they didn’t expect the French.”

A third barrage lands as if to signal the enemy retreat. This one again landing short among the first two.

Radio reports from your girls all begin to chime congratulations to each other before you cut them short. “Stay together and keep sonar watch. Don’t forget about those undersea contacts we spotted earlier.” Your charges answer in the affirmative and grow quiet, giving you time to collect your thoughts regarding the attack. Despite the relief no longer being shot at offers you can’t help but shake a feeling of confused uneasyness over the nature of the attack and how little resistance the Abyssals seem to offer.

The convoy meanwhile continues onwards for some time until Mitraglieri offers reports from the distant supporting French that the enemy has receded into the distance and shortly after the Tunisian coast comes back into view along with the far shapes of supporting Italian cruiser and destroyers moving fowards to guide your convoy back into the harbor. Scrying the approaching shipgirls, you grow nervous when the lead ship becomes recognizable as Gorizia, her arms crossed and her expression unreadable, making eye contact with you as she closes the considerable distance between Tunisa and the convoy. About halfway to your position, you spot her activating her own headset and hear her toneless voice in your ear. “Debrief. Fifteen minutes after we return.”

Overall your return to Tunisia is conducted with little fanfare, with the convoy returning unmolested there’s little sense of urgency once you reach the safety of the harbor proper. You offer a quick once over to the convoys, taking a small amount of satisfaction that at the very least despite failing to hand off the convoy, you managed to avoid losing any of your charges. Your musings lead your gaze to the Frigates, where standing just outside the bridge of one of the frigates the French battleship aboard surveys the harbor. Honestly you only now recall she was there at all, having forgot her during the engagement

>call to the Frenchwoman, maybe you should drag her into the debrief. She knows about battleships and could offer insight into what the hell the enemy was doing.
>leave her, with the rest of the French coming into port at your heels siib,
>other

>also, incoming perspective change. Write-in anything else you need from Luigi Cadorna’s perspective.

>>3404778
>leave her, with the rest of the French coming into port at your heels siib,

I can't exactly think of what we might need from Cadorna's perspective.

>>3404778
>leave her, with the rest of the French coming into port at your heels siib,
About time Provence met her sisters.

>leave her, with the rest of the French coming into port at your heels, you’re pretty sure they’ll take care of her. (Totally didn't fuck that up when I copy pasted it last time)

You are battleship Provence

You step off the frigate’s gangplank and onto the docks, oblivious to the busy work and idle chatter of the Italian sailors working to get their ship squared away. As if by some instinct recognizing the opportunity for a fight has passed, you feel your shoulder lighten as your battleship rigging fades away as easily and quickly as it was materialized. You continue onwards past several more of the assembled frigates, bitterly cursing the delayed return to your homeland. You scan the waters of the harbor, hoping to spot Mitraglieri and the rest of the Italian shipgirls in hopes they can offer an explanation for the encounter you just had with the enemy.

Not seeing the Italian girls, you elect to make your way back to the concrete building you've come to identify as the chosen entrance and exit for shipgirls hoping to run into someone who can offer explanation, when you spot a small group of girls pushing their way across the harbor towards the same entrance you've nearly reached. You scan the group for familiar faces and can't help but let out a broad smile. On each of the five girls riggings, a French tricolor flies proudly. More important to you however amongst the group you spot the familiar face of your sister Lorraine. You offer a broad handed wave towards your countrymen.

Lorraine looks up and your heart briefly sinks when your sister offers you a look of hostile confusion as the group sails up towards you position. “Le Hardi, tell the sailor fawning over us that we have urgent business. Maybe she’ll leave us alone” your sister mutters coldly, turning to a small girl with destroyer sized weapons and a sailor cap. The girl nods and turns to you with a stern gaze, letting loose a barrage of professional toned rapid fire Italian.

You’re taken briefly off guard before you glance down, realizing with slight embarrassment that you're still wearing the Italian Navy uniform loaned to you yesterday. “Lorraine, I'm not Italian, it's just a uniform,” you offer in an earnest tone, pulling on the front of the collar as if to demonstrate “it’s me- Provence, your sister”

>Continued

Lorraine narrows her eyes and offers you an inscrutable expression as if attempting to read you intentions. The gaze is short lived, her mouth ticks briefly upwards and soon your sister is laughing joyously and closing the final distance between you two, grabbing you in a tight hug and pressing you close. “It's good to see you sister,” she happily mutters. “It has been far too long.”

You've scarcely have time to return the gesture when Lorraine pulls away again and grabs you by the shoulders, a broad smile still on her face. “You ought to have more faith in me Provence,” she admonishes, “of course I recognized you, hell we talked just last night.”

The girls behind her offer short laughs as they climb up past into the base entrance, your own expression fading into embarrassment.

Your sister, too kind to comment on or just too excited to see you gestures to the entranceway herself. “Shall we?” She asks with a grin still evident on her face.

>Head down to the cafeteria, you might as well get to know your sister and her squadron a bit more and food is always a great conversation maker. (Write in topics if you have something specific you'd like to delve into with her.)
>It might be a good time to discuss what's been happening to you. That dream is still bothering you slightly.
>Head down to the cafeteria, you're not sure it's a good use of time to sit through the debriefing given your limited Italian. But you'd like to figure out what the convoy turned around.
>Try and snag Mitraglieri or Gorizia, you saw both earlier. You'd love to talk to your sister, but you need to ask what happened in the convoy.
>Other/write in

>>3405998
>Head down to the cafeteria, you're not sure it's a good use of time to sit through the debriefing given your limited Italian. But you'd like to figure out what the convoy turned around.

>>3405998
>Head down to the cafeteria, you're not sure it's a good use of time to sit through the debriefing given your limited Italian. But you'd like to figure out what the convoy turned around.

>>3405998
>Head down to the cafeteria, you're not sure it's a good use of time to sit through the debriefing given your limited Italian. But you'd like to figure out what the convoy turned around.
And lo and behold we are united once more.

>Try and snag Mitraglieri or Gorizia, you saw both earlier. You'd love to talk to your sister, but you need to ask what happened in the convoy.
>Other/write in

>Head down to the cafeteria, you're not sure it's a good use of time to sit through the debriefing given your limited Italian. But you'd like to figure out what the convoy turned around.

You sister offers a hard affectionate pat on the back as she releases your shoulders and pushes you towards the entranceway “It’s been a busy day though and I know I for one am famished.” she turns to her escorts. “Anyone want to get some chow? It might be a good time to get caught up with Provence and talk about the mission.”

Several affirmatives are offered and the group continues towards the entrance and inside the base. Lorraine seems to have been here before, continuing naturally down the hallway without need for instructions, offering occasional small talk between you and her escorts as you walk down the hall..

Entering the Italian shipgirls’ canteen, you’re struck by a series of mostly unfamiliar faces, thought buried in the back between several girls of similar build and chatting excitedly is Lepanto. She turns, following the sea of odd glances that the Italian girls greet you with. Most return of them to their conversations, but Lepanto’s gaze lingers on you for awhile, her expression confused and worried. You return a smile and a happy wave, which seems to placate her briefly, though you suspect she’ll soon be asking for explanation.

Your sister and her escorts seem to either not notice or simply choose not to comment on the odd look. Electing to serve themselves and sitting together at a nearby table, which you join them at.

“Now.” Lorraine begins, as the last of her escorts, a light cruiser if you suspect correctly takes a seat. “All of you I’m sure have gathered that this is my sister Provence.”

Several nods offer affirmation.

Your sister points to a black haired girl with a sailor cap, blue jacket, and shy expression on her face.”This is L’audacieux.” Your sister then switches to a similar looking girl who returns an eager smile “This girl is the aptly named “Le Terrible.” The smile vanishes, the girl shooting an accusatory gaze towards Lorraine.

Next your sister gestures to a pair of small white bloused destroyers “Bordelais and Le Mars,” she offers. “Though I hear you spent quite some time at dock with them during the war.”

Finally, she points to the last ship, the light cruiser, who calmly eats, apparently ignoring the entire affair. “Finally we have their mom, Émile Bertin.”

The cruiser stiffens at the comment, and offers an angry glare at Lorraine. “Flotilla leader” she corrects angrily.

Lorraine shrugs, her broad smile clearly displaying that the light cruiser had just given her the exact response she was hoping for.

>continued

“Now then,” she offers more seriously. “Debriefing. For starters, how did things fair in the hands of the Italians Provence? Did you notice anything unusual?”

You shake your head, “I was aboard the frigate the entire time in all honesty, Cadorna didn’t want me in the way.”

“Did you overhear anything? For the most part we missed out on the engagement except for me offering some long range gunnery.”

“Plenty. All of it in Italian.” you offer dryly.

Your sister laughs briefly over your sass, butÉmile Bertin perks up from her meal as if just now noticing the conversation. “It’s odd that none of the Italian ships were hit.” she offers thoughtfully.

The conversation stops, the implications of your sisters questions only now becoming clear to you.

“Abyssals can’t shoot for shit.” Le Terrible replies as if the answer was obvious all along.

>Having missed a good view of the battle, you have nothing to offer this comment, continue onwards.
>agree with Le Terrible, the smoke screen you saw out the window and distant gunfire spoiled their shot
>mention your dream and conversation with Gorizia
>suggest asking the Italians
>write in/a combination

>>3407814
>agree with Le Terrible, the smoke screen you saw out the window and distant gunfire spoiled their shot

>>3407814
>agree with Le Terrible, the smoke screen you saw out the window and distant gunfire spoiled their shot
>mention your dream and conversation with Gorizia
Even if it just ends up the ramblings of a dream long gone, it still should be mentioned to them regardless.

>>3407814
>agree with Le Terrible, the smoke screen you saw out the window and distant gunfire spoiled their shot
>mention your dream and conversation with Gorizia

>agree with Le Terrible, the smoke screen you saw out the window and distant gunfire spoiled their shot

You raise an eyebrow at the comment. “Not the way I would have put it, but yes- with the smoke screen in place and supporting fire, is it really that much of a surprise that they couldn’t engage us effectively?”

Lorraine shrugs. “Not necessarily, It’s just fortunate that no one was hit. The enemy’s ability to shoot things varies as wildly as our own does. I even got into a very short shoot out with some Abyssals that bore shocking resemblance to pre-dreadnoughts a few months back. We only ask because our enemy is often unpredictable. It sometimes helps to consider that they may be trying something underhanded.”

You nod. “I had a similar conversation with Gorizia shortly after I arrived. She seemed to share a similar mindset.”

Your sister gives you a teasing look, “Gorizia giving advice? From what I heard she was a bit of a loaner. My sister is quite the womanizer it seems,” she puts an arm around your shoulder and offers a look to the seated cruiser. “Watch your girls Émile, no doubt they’ll be around her finger in a day.”

Noting the angry look Émile Bertin offers the pair of you and the frankly disconcerting look of admiration L’audacieux gives, you brush Lorraine’s arm off and blush slightly . “I just needed some help with something that was bothering me. I had a strange dream in the docks.”

Lorraine drops her teasing and now looks interested. “What kind of dream?”

>>3409927
“It’s hard to say,” you offer. “It’s probably nothing but it left me feeling a bit- off. I had a talk with a woman claiming to be Bretagne. She was pale, cold. Didn’t look at all like how I thought she should. She said she was coming to help, offering vague promises of the like.”

“You saw Bretagne?” Lorraine asked leaning over the table, clear interest in her tone.“What did Gorizia say about it?”

“She said much of what you said about our enemy, that they’re unpredictable. That there’s no way of know what if anything the dream means.” You shrug again. “I did just get into a firefight and get shot, it’s not like I was thinking straight.”

“Béarn says we’re closest to the place we returned from when we’re undergoing repairs.” Le Mars chirps up in a helpful tone. “That sometimes we can dream glimpses back to it.”

“She also says we have a host of tiny fairies manning all of our guns and planes.” Le Terrible dismisses through a large mouthful of bread, “Béarn is just like that.”

Your sister gives a disappointed look and a helpless gesture. “It’s hard to say what if anything it means. But you are right, that is an interesting dream.”

You lean back and offer nothing, thinking over the dream again yourself.

“But, no use dwelling on it until we can figure out a bit more detail, eh?” Lorraine suggests, “We’ve got a few days before they try to send the convoy back again. Maybe we can put you through the ropes and see what you’re made of?”

>QM note, due to a packed weekend of work in the reserves, I’m not going to be able to continue the quest until sunday or monday evening so there’s going to be a bit of a time jump jump and if the bump count expires a brand new thread come next week. Apologies, though the story will go on and more success/failure content requiring rolls will appear.

>choose two
>Spend the next few days practicing gunnery.
>Spend the next few days practicing combined fleet tactics (ASW, AA, and Formations)
>Spend the next few days adjusting to new doctrine, both traditional bluewater and shipgirls
>Spend the next few days learning the history of the interwar period
>Spend the next few days doing something else (write in)

>>3409929
>Spend the next few days practicing combined fleet tactics (ASW, AA, and Formations)
>Spend the next few days learning the history of the interwar period
We can practice our gunnery later unfortunately.

>>3409929
Supporting >>3410290

>>3409929
>Spend the next few days practicing combined fleet tactics (ASW, AA, and Formations)
>Spend the next few days adjusting to new doctrine, both traditional bluewater and shipgirls

>>3409929
Backing this >>3411363

Yo OP, where the hell are you?

>>3417233
>QM note, due to a packed weekend of work in the reserves, I’m not going to be able to continue the quest until sunday or monday evening so there’s going to be a bit of a time jump jump and if the bump count expires a brand new thread come next week. Apologies, though the story will go on and more success/failure content requiring rolls will appear.

Also could someone get me a tiebreaker? If not I'll try to wrote up a balanced approach this afternoon.

>>3417522
Fuck, I really need to actually read instead of behaving like a chimp, but thanks for responding regardless.

>>3417522
Fuck it, changing my vote >>3410618 to this >>3411363

>>3417553
All good, I apologize again for the late reply, this weekend and today were packed for me, regular questing should resume shortly.'

>Spend the next few days practicing combined fleet tactics (ASW, AA, and Formations)
>Spend the next few days adjusting to new doctrine, both traditional bluewater and shipgirls

“No.” Émile Bertin explains, in an exasperated tone. “Battle lines and picket lines are not ‘the same thing but with destroyers instead of battleship.’ The goal of a battle line is to maintain formation and trade fire with the enemy. A destroyer picket is designed to identify and destroy enemy assets to protect carriers.”

You lean back in the chair, eliciting a protesting squeak as it’s aluminum frame resists your tonnage. Le Terrible laughs from the back of the classroom where she watches, whether mocking your lack of knowledge or your weight, you do your best to ignore her.

You hesitate “So the battleships don’t operate in the picket?”

The light cruiser rubs her temples and gestures again to the whiteboard . “No. No they’re not, the idea is detection and interception. It has nothing to do with direct fleet combat.”

You cross your arms again and from, contemplating the information. “If the destroyers are out front and the carriers behind where are the battleships and heavy cruisers? What’s my role in this?”

The light cruiser smiles slightly at your understanding- or at least seems to grimace slightly less. “Your goal and the goal of your sister in a carrier task group would be primarily fleet command and information dispersal. That being said, with the abyssal war throwing everything into chaos, gun battles are still a possibility.”

Le Terrible makes an exaggerated stretch and a makes a show of yawning dramatically. Eyeing you teasingly while she does it. Her yawn swiftly cut off in a choking gasp as her squadron leader gives her a cold stare and crosses her arms. “You’ve had three days of training Le Terrible.” She announces coldly, “I would think wisely about using them productively, lest I find the need to test your competence with some drills.”

The destroyer makes a mewling noise and excuses herself from the room, offering you a momentary satisfying grin before Émile Bertin turns her gaze back to you “Maybe a break from training on combined fleet structure would give you a chance to think all of this over?”

You sigh briefly and nod before the cruiser returns to the board, drawing several more ship icons on it. “Modern theoretical doctrine is substantially different from battle lines but still draws much from the later war American fleet structure.” she begins, heedless of your boredom “In practice this is different in engagements with Abyssals.”

You sigh and rest your head on your hands, doing your best to translate the light cruisers dry briefings as the next hours tick by.

>your knowledge on modern doctrine and Combined Fleet Operations has improved

>>3419222
Eventually, your instructor manages to conclude her points, the relief of being liberated from the briefings only slightly dampened by orders to return at the early hours of the morning tomorrow. Opening the doors to the same sterile Italian halls you’ve been living in, you’re surprised to spot your sister, leaning against the wall just outside the door Lorraine’s expression serious but not urgent.

“Have you been learning your fill Provence?” She asks beckoning you to follow.

You raise an eyebrow and follow, “How long have you been waiting for me?”

“Not long,” comes her response, flat voiced and devoid of her trade. “Émile is nothing if not prompt. I’ve got news.” she mutters dryly, “The Italians want to send out a second convoy in force in two day’s time. We’re stretched thin, so we’re going to push with them in force to try and convince the Abyssals to stay the hell away.”

You nod and continue down the hall. “Why do I get the feeling there’s something about this operation that bothers you?”

“Me?” She offers, reflecting genuine surprise as she rounds a corner towards the dormitories. “I’m more concerned about your feelings.”

As if to highlight her point you hear the sound of accented laughter coming from the end of the hall and you glance up. A trio of figures in dull red coats glance up to view you, the tallest of them glances downwards at her companions with a raised eyebrow, “Anyone know who the hell that is? Doesn’t look like any of the frog battleships I’ve seen yet” She mutters aside to the other two, her scottish accent unmistakable, though apparently unaware of your understanding.

>Time to avenge Bretagne (fistfight them)
>Introduce yourself
>Ask Lorraine to explain what they’re doing here
>other

>>3419225
>Ask Lorraine to explain what they’re doing here
>Introduce yourself

>>3419225
>Ask Lorraine to explain what they’re doing here
>Introduce yourself
Resist the urge to fist even though it's totally alright in our steel hull to do so.

>>3419225
>fist fight them
>HOW COULD YOU

>Ask Lorraine to explain what they’re doing here
>Introduce yourself

You cross your arms and glare at the British shipgirls. “Battleship Provence.” You answer in English. “Third ship of the Bretagne class.”

The tall girl raises an interested eyebrow and closes the distance between you. “Charmed. HMS Edinburgh, Town Class light cruiser.” she offers an outstretched hand.

You offer her a hostile glare instead of returning the gesture and turn towards your sister and return to speaking French. “Lorraine, why are there British cruisers in an Italian naval base.”

“They’re here to bolster our next convoy.” your sister explains in an unsure tone. “The Marina Militare was hoping to run a strong show of force with the next convoy to discourage active enemy attacks against future expeditions”

You offer a noncommittal grunt and glare back at the British ships.

“I get the sense she’s not too pleased to see us.” Edinburgh mutters, turning towards the two other ships. “Maybe it’s because you two remain strangers. Miss Provence, you have the pleasure of meeting HMS Minotaur and Swiftsure.”

You offer an acknowledging glance to the other two ships before you decide to continue to attempt to bore a hole into the British ship with your glare.

Minotaur crosses her arms and glances over at you before addressing Edinburgh “Weren’t the frogs our allies?”

You grimace at the comment but make no response besides switching your glare to the last girl that spoke

“Maybe we ought to have a sit down and talk through things.” Swiftsure suggests. “Some tea or rum ought to lubricate relations.”

>ignore the british and find a place to sit and think (converse again with Lepanto and Legionario)
>ignore the british and find a place to sit and think (converse over the matter with Lorraine)
>offer rebuttal to the british (suggest comment)
>other

>>3421599
>ignore the british and find a place to sit and think (converse over the matter with Lorraine)

>>3421599
>ignore the british and find a place to sit and think (converse over the matter with Lorraine)
It's not gonna casually heal anytime soon, the memories are still strong in us.

File: 074_04152014_17-27.png (263 KB, 754x801)

263 KB PNG

>>3421599
>other
Maybe a nice clean fight will be the start of a beautiful friendship.

>>3421599
>ignore the british and find a place to sit and think (converse over the matter with Lorraine)

>ignore the british and find a place to sit and think (converse over the matter with Lorraine)

You offer a last parting angry glance at the British shipgirls, before grabbing Lorraine by the forearm. “Can we discuss this somewhere else? I’m not exactly looking to trade courtesies to the English.”

Lorraine nods and allows you to lead her back to your borrowed sleeping quarters with wide gruff wide steps. Pushing past, Italian sailors and the odd shipgirl with your disappointed glare. Finally reaching the entranceway, you barge into the small room you two have called your own for the past half week. As your sister enters behind you you release her arm and confront her crossing your arms.

She offers an understanding quiet nod. “I know.” she mutters. “Believe me, a lot of us are on shaky ground with the Royal Navy girls. Both times I’ve seen L'Audacieux operate under British planes, she spent more time tracking the aircraft with her anti aircraft suite. You have every right to be disappointed to see them again. I know I was.”

“Then why are they here?” you ask curtly.

“Well, for starters. The Italians and our girls are not nearly as numerous as we would like to pretend, their help will be useful in the upcoming show of force.” she offers diplomatically, “In addition, the Mediterranean is a not a small sea dear sister. With the havoc the enemy plays with modern sensors it really falls to carrier to offer cover and wider reconnaissance.”

You nod, though offer no expression of satisfaction.

“Aquila and Bearn are hardly the pinnacle of carrier design.” she explains tactfully. “In this case we’ll be under HMS Glorious’s aircraft. I hear she herself had some unkind feelings towards the Krauts.”

“Fine.” You mutter. “Though I am not happy with the arrangement.”

She offers a conciliatory expression and claps a hand on your back. “You and the rest of the convoy, save for the British, most of who are too arrogant to ponder the matter.”

You smile slightly at the comment. “They did seem a bit surprised that I was anything but exceptionally polite.”

Your sister offers a second pat on the back. “No time like the present though dear sister. I’ve heard your classes are continuing in force again tomorrow afternoon. Émile would be very disappointed to hear you’re skipping out on important information, especially when you’re the one asking about it in the first place.”

You offer one of your trademark annoyed glares at your sister and begin to prepare to go to bed.

>continued

>>3423091
>ask another question (write in)
>go to sleep (spend tomorrow morning checking in with the Italian girls particularly Lapento and Legionario )
>go to sleep (spend tomorrow morning checking in and talking to the destroyers in your care)
>go to sleep (spend tomorrow morning sussing out the new British girls)
>go to sleep (spend tomorrow morning researching a new topic)
>go to sleep (head to your classes early, Émile doesn’t expect you until later but you’re pretty sure getting some extra time in with her would not be a significant burden on the light cruiser and you need the lessons)
>look into something else this evening/tomorrow morning

>>3423093
>go to sleep (head to your classes early, Émile doesn’t expect you until later but you’re pretty sure getting some extra time in with her would not be a significant burden on the light cruiser and you need the lessons)

>>3423091
>go to sleep (spend tomorrow morning checking in with the Italian girls particularly Lapento and Legionario )
A shame I missed the vote to punch one of the Brits. Oh well. Plenty more opportunities

>>3423093
>go to sleep (head to your classes early, Émile doesn’t expect you until later but you’re pretty sure getting some extra time in with her would not be a significant burden on the light cruiser and you need the lessons)