Ironblood's Helmsman

Chapter 16: Check ups

Graf Spee: "That's my Kommandant." she said, getting up.

Once they were on their way back, Andy pulled every trick he knew to try and evade the Sakura Empire. But his efforts were for naught as a Zero flew overhead and reported their position before they could shoot it down.

Andy: "Shit!" he yelled in frustration, "Now we have the Sakurans on our asses!"

Logan: "Wait, we're going into combat?!" he yelled, fear evident in his voice.

C Alex: "Yeah! That's what we have to do anyway!" he yelled back, "Engage riggingns and ready for anti-surface combat!"

The group all engage their riggings and form up.

Andy: "RADAR's picking up 2 Heavy Cruisers and 4 Escorts." he reported.

Logan: "Which ones?" he asked curiously.

C Alex: "Looks to be mass-production models, no kansen." he said, "Canon fodder for an experienced kansen but can mean the death of you if you're not good enough."

Logan gulped.

Logan: "Oh boy...." he said.

Andy: "Just follow our lead, new guy." he said, "All ships get into attack formation!"

Graf Spee: "Jawhol Kommandant!" she saluted.

The shipgirls formed an arrow with Logan, who was the biggest and slowest member of the fleet, at the back while Andy and C Alex stepped forward.

Logan: "Sirs?" he asked timidly.

Andy: "One-for-All Full-Cowling, 60%!" he yelled, activating OFA.

C Alex: "Ready to roll kweebs?" he asks.

Andy: "Definitely." he said, cracking his knuckles, "ALL SHIPS, CHARGE!!"

The massive formation loaded their weapons and shot forwards, with Logan following behind concerned.

On the Sakura Empire ships they were preparing to fire at the Eagle Union ships thinking they were attacking the Ironblood ships.

Sakura Empire CO: "Isogashī! Dōmeikuni o shien shinakereba narimasen!" he ordered. (Translation: Hurry! We must assist our allies!)

Sakura Empire XO: "Kakka, watashitachi wa sudeni saidai shutsuryoku ni tasshite imasu. Kore ijō hayaku wa narimasen." he reported. (Translation: Sir, we are already at maximum power. We cannot go faster if we tried.)

???: "Maniau yo, shinpaishinaide." she said. (Translation: We'll make it in time, don't worry.)

The men turn to see IJN Fubuki in the doorway of the bridge, she had tagged along in secret as assistance.

Sakura Empire CO and XO: "Fubuki-chan!" they saluted, surprised.

Fubuki: "Shinpai wa irimasen." she said. (Translation: At ease, and don't worry, we'll save them.)

Unfortunately for them they were severely outgunned, they couldn't even call for help thanks to a jammer Andy had created.

5 inch and 8 inch shells slammed into the water around the group giving them justification to attack.

Andy: "ALL SHIPS OPEN FIRE!!!" he ordered, "ALEX, LET'S ROLL!!"

C Alex: "Righto!" he said.

Logan: "Wait, where are you-?!" he tried to ask but was drowned out by the sound of artillery firing back at the Sakurans.

The duo of commanders then shot off into the sky and towards the enemy fleet, ready to sink those ships without clarifying anything to Logan.