NORTH ATLANTIC SEPTEMBER 1918 "OLYMPIC"
I raced across the Grand Banks of Newfoundland at 24 knots, my designated top speed. I was still fuming over Arizona's attitude about my sinking U-103 and her men. And her men. I shuddered at the thought.
I probably shouldn't have been so mean to Arizona but I couldn't help it. The battleship may've been trying to help, but she didn't appear to care about human lives.
My thoughts were interrupted by an incoming message from Adriatic via Captain Hayes. "Olympic, you better get back here fast, things are getting ugly." She said. "Ugly how?" I asked, thinking that things couldn't possibly get any worse. "Well, we've got an illness problem." She began hesitantly. "What is it?" I asked. "Influenza." She replied.
I shuddered. 8 years ago, my younger sister, Titanic, had fallen ill with the same virus and nearly died. I was almost too familiar with its affects. "Say no more, I'm on my way!" I replied and for good measure, I took control from an unsuspecting Hayes and raced off at 25 knots.
"Olympic, will you slow down, that's dangerous." He yowled. Ignoring his command, I showed him what Adriatic had told me. His face drained of color. "Scratch the last order. Step on it, Olympic!" He growled. I didn't need any encouragement. Hayes ordered all boilers brought online and all engineers, stokers, and firemen working the coal, regardless of shifts. Before long, I was racing across the water at 28 knots, a result of a combination of control, workmen and one determined ship.
I would remember this the next time I came across Mauretania and I wondered if I could challenge her to a race. I shook the thought from my mind. The prized Blue Ribband was the least of my worries, right now, my fleet needed help.
My only detour in course to Southampton was the store of fresh herbs hauled aboard at Queenstown, Northern Ireland. It pained me to see my once united birthplace torn apart because of the friction between Catholics and Protestants. Protestants were stubborn and did not care for religions other than their own. I didn't understand it, they both worshiped the same god, the same Holy Trinity. I remembered something that Adriatic once told me about another healer, her mentor, Germanic.
Germanic was the first and last merchant ship to fully comprehend our master's numerous religions with good, obvious reasons.
Forcing myself to focus, I set my sights on Southampton, forgetting about Cherbourg until Hayes forced me into the harbor. Dropping anchor, I waited impatiently for the two tenders Nomadic and Traffic to come out and unload my passengers and mail sacks.
Only Traffic came. "Nomadic is down with the virus." She explained. "How is she?" I asked, concerned for the safety of my most trusted tender. "She's got a very high fever, so that's a worry. But other than that, she's doing well. And I'm afraid that includes her mouth." Traffic paused, tipping her head towards Cherbourg as though listening for something.
Then I heard it. A string of curses in such colored language it would've impressed even the lowest deckhands. "She's understandably frustrated." Traffic muttered, wincing at Nomadic's rather gushing vocabulary.
I could hear her loud and clear but I will not stoop so low as to repeat what she said that night. I will say this much though. My ears were never the same again after that.
"Ugh, I didn't know such a small ship could have such a big flotsam mouth." I groaned. Traffic grinned, embarrassed. "Sorry, Olympic." She said. "I hear it all the time with the Black Gang, but I have to admit, Nomadic does have a certain flourish to the words." I replied.
Nomadic's cussing was a mixture of English and French swear words. "Good luck with her." I muttered. "Thanks, I'll need it." Traffic replied. "And for god's sake, be careful. White Star's in real trouble if you catch it too." She called as I turned towards Southampton. "I'll be careful." I promised and raced off.
When I arrived later that night, what struck me was the silence of the harbor. Southampton was usually a busy port and there was always chatter going on. But now not even a whisper could be heard. The silence was only broken by the occasional coughs of the stricken liners.
"Olympic, no stop!" Baltic cried, racing forward out of the darkness. I stopped just in time, a large, long tripwire ran along the opening channel. "Trigger that, and say hello to a new coat of permanent antifouling paint." She explained. I shook my head and she moved the tripwire aside. "First the war and now this. Baltic, you're actually unpranking someone, what is this world coming to?" I exclaimed.
"Don't sound so surprised, Olympic. War changes everyone who's affected by it. Apparently, it's having its effect on me." She replied. "Who was the paint for?" I asked. "Homeric. She's really getting on my nerves so I decided a little show of whose boss around here might shut her up." She replied. "The only boss around here is me and I say don't go picking fights where they're unnecessary. We've just got done with one fight, we do not need another right now, understand?" I scolded her. She nodded. "Yes, Olympic." She replied, sounding a little disappointed.
"How are the others?" I asked. Baltic sighed. "Cedric's down with a case, fortunately it's mild so she should be okay. And a couple of the Med's are down with it too." She added. I nodded. "Any others?" I asked.
"The navy's got a ship or two that has it. Dreadnought's got it pretty bad but she's strong, she should be alright. Cunard's got the most casualties though. Lucania's working overtime to try and keep up and Adriatic's doing the best she can to assist. Even so, Cunard's got several of their best crossers down. Carmania's down with a case, so is Caronia. And Berengaria came in with one last night." She replied. "Oh god." I whispered.
Baltic sighed. "Go and dock, Olympic. But remember, you'll be exposed to it if you haven't been already." She warned. "I've been exposed to it before and never caught it." I reminded her. "Just be careful, okay?" She asked persistently. I nodded. "I will." I replied. Moving aside, she let me proceed on to Southampton.
Celtic was waiting for me when I returned. She looked exhausted but her green eyes brightened considerably when she saw me. "Oh Olympic, you made it." She whispered. "Yeah, I did." I muttered. Adriatic bustled up and I gave her the herbs that I had. "You'll need these." I said. "Thank you, Olympic." She said. I nodded.
"Any luck finding a cure?" I asked. She shook her head. "I've been trying, believe me, but nothing seems to work. I've had no patients to try new ideas on since Titanic, and I'm giving 'em every day but it's depleting my stores. If we don't find something soon, this epidemic could very well wipe us all out." She replied.
"Now there's a cheery thought." I muttered. She managed to crack a smile in return. "How was New York, did you see Arizona?" Celtic asked. I had almost forgotten my conversation/argument with the battleship. "Yeah I saw her." I muttered.
"Uh oh, what happened?" She asked. "We argued." I replied. "About what?" Adriatic asked. "Arizona thinks that killing the men of U-103 was okay." I growled. "But Olympic, it was okay. If you didn't..." Adriatic didn't need to finish her sentence but a follow up from Celtic showed exactly what she meant when her sister tipped her head to the left and hung out her tongue.
Adriatic rolled her eyes. "Very accurate Celtic, but I think Olympic gets the norm." She snapped. "I do." I interjected before it could become a fight. I'd had enough fighting for one day.
"But seriously, Olympic, you did the right thing." Adriatic continued. I winced. "Since when is murder okay?" I asked. "I've seen it before, and watching others do it was bad enough. But doing it myself, and laughing about it like I did, it's horrifying." I shuddered.
"Olympic, you had nothing to do with your sister's deaths. Titanic made her own choice, regardless of what Campania did. And Britannic went down like the soldier she was. Mines are unpredictable and no one was at fault for that. U-103 was an enemy ship, she'd sunk numerous Allied shipping before you turned on her. You would've been her ninth kill had you not intervened. You did what any ship would've done in those circumstances. In peacetime, it would be murder. But that was war, Olympic, and war is murder in itself." Adriatic lectured. I nodded. "I understand." I sighed.
"Now I just have to figure out what I'm going to do about Arizona. The things I said to her..." I broke off. "She'll forgive you, if she hasn't already." Adriatic assured me. "I told her that we never should've met." I moaned. "Olympic, Arizona loves you. You're soul sisters for crying out loud. I sometimes hate Baltic for what she does, but I don't hate who she is. We sometimes say things to each other that we regret later but we always make up." Adriatic said.
"Ice and groundings may break my plating's but words will never hurt me." Celtic quoted. I smiled. "Ok." I murmured. "Next time I'm in New York, I'll talk to her." I replied. Adriatic nodded her approval.
"We support you Olympic. You're never alone." She declared. Celtic dipped her head in agreement. "I know that." I murmured affectionately. Nuzzling each in turn, I headed towards the docks.
Before I could dock myself however, I had to find Homeric and Majestic. They needed to know that Berengaria had caught the virus and they were not allowed to see her.
Majestic's berth was right next to mine. At first I thought she was asleep, but then she opened one sleepy eye. "Hey Olympic." She said. "Sorry if I woke you." I said. "You didn't, I was just drifting." She replied.
"Could you wake your cousin for me, there's something you need to know." I said. She nodded. "Sure thing." She replied and gave the sleeping ship beside her a hard nudge.
"Majestic, there's no need for that! I was already awake." Homeric snapped. Majestic shrugged. "Sorry cuz," She muttered. "But Olympic needs to tell us something."
I nodded. "Berengaria has the virus." I said. Majestic gave a low moan of distress and Homeric touched her bow to her side. "For your own good, she's been quarantined. You cannot see her." I added. Majestic nodded solemnly. "We understand, Olympic." She replied. "Thank you for telling us." I dipped my head and left.
Adriatic came over. "Before you dock, Olympic there's something else. The virus first appeared in the passengers onboard Leviathan, an American Line ship. Their merchant fleet is already exposed to it, and each time we enter New York, others are exposed to it as well. You know what that means." She said. I nodded. "Yes, I know." I replied.
I couldn't approach Arizona now. Not after being exposed to the virus. Although I might not have it myself, I could carry it to her. I wasn't going to risk that. I hoped she would realize that I wasn't avoiding her because I was still mad at her, but because it was for her own good.