A pair of ships are slowly sailing towards their base while on open and calm Pacific waters as their patrol ends. The sun was still high and the visibility was great for any gun-armed ship but not a carrier
They alongside a number of other ships had been recently assigned here, away from the mainland even though the rumours of a revolution are getting louder and sounding more like facts, and one of them is clearly annoyed at their deployment as a conversation finally starts
"Why did those Naren assign us here..." A Girl said as she stood at the small bridge of her ship, an aircraft carrier which to call Light or Escort could be an overstatement
"Gott Verdamnt! don't start this again!" A girl said back as she looked over at the carrier while sitting atop her ships 21cm Superimposed turret
"But you know it's true! The writing is on the wall and at a time like this they are sending us and the rest of the fleet away... if Seydliz was here she wo-" The girl starts as the other cuts her off
"Don't bring the dead into this, Rhein!" The other girl yells
"Don't tell me what to do Yorck!" The carrier yelled as she looked at her comrade seeing the land behind her as they were close to the shore
"If you keep talking about things like this I'll start thinking you are one of those Nationalist-Socialist party guy's" Yorck said as she jumped onto the dock and unsummoned her rigging, a heavy cruiser armed with 21cm guns appearing in the dock space next to her
"They do have a point though..." Rhein said as she followed and did the same, a carrier with a fairly small and thin flight deck appeared in the dock space, the only armament visible being two win 88mm guns and four 37mm AA guns.
"What did you do to Rhein and why are you?" She asked jokingly looking at the blood-eyed carrier
"What's this reaction?" Rhein asked her
"Just a couple days ago you were saying how stupid they are." Yorck said "Have you perhaps met someone from their group or were you manipulated?
"Don't say such stupid things, My body, mind and soul belong to the Fatherland... and some of their points are right!" Rhein said a little red-faced
"Whatever you say~" Yorck responded with a shrug as she began walking towards the dorm building
"Aren't you gonna check your equipment?" Rhein asked as she ran up behind her
"Why should I? Out here we would get day's if not week's notice if an enemy was incoming to prepare... and besides I have such a diligent and workaholic friend~" Yorck said with a shrug and teasing voice as she looked back at Rhein
"Gottverdammt... I'm doing this the last time! Next time find yourself an engineer or someone else to do it if you don't want to!" Rhein yelled as she turned around and began walking to Yorck's ship to begin the maintenance
"Thanks! Liebe dich~" Yorck responded teasingly
"Just go you lazy Cruiser!" Rhein yelled as she was now in her work mode and went down some stairs as she now stood at the sea-level
Then she summoned a part of her rigging, her boots which were armoured and appeared to have the same propellers as the ones on her ship, while her ship was still in dock since she didn't summon it fully.
But as she began to slowly circle the ship's hull in search of any possible damages she sensed someone watching her as she looked up and noticed one of the officers standing and watching her, but she didn't pay him more mind than being aware where he was as she continued her inspection,
But as she did the officer followed her around Yorcks ship as now Rhein wasn't sure what the guy's problem was since he was just looking at her, but it wasn't in the usual, normal or perverted way which she found more creepy.
Finally finishing the inspection she would normally go back on land and then cross to her own dock but with the creep watching her up there she decided to use the water route to go around the concrete dock into her ships one.
But as Rhein went to inspect her own ship the guy didn't leave as she tried to take as much time as possible doing the inspection and checking everything three and even four times but the officer didn't leave as it got dark and she finally had to confront him as he stead near the top of the stairs
"Guten Tag, Rhein... beautiful afternoon we have... that's what I would have said if you weren't avoiding me." The man said as Rhein just rolled her Eyes
"What do you want from me... and who are you," Rhein asked with suspicious eyes
"Let's say... I overheard your distant conversation with Yorck and... have you heard of the National Socialist Workers party?" The officer asked as he discreetly rolled up his sleeve revealing a small piece of paper with a right-facing swastika
"Yes, I have... now then... Vorname, Nachnmane and Identifaction." Rhein said sternly but with an innocent smile
"Eh? W-what?" The man asked
"You heard me. Now, this is a military installation which requires a special kind of papers to be on... and if you do have them then show them to me or I will have to call the Feldjäger." Rhein said still having an innocent and happy smile as she had her eyes closed and hands under her chin
"W-wait... I-i wanted to ask you if you wou-" The man began speaking as Rhein grabbed his arm
"I realized that... but the protocol is protocol so you'll have to spend the night with the Feldjäger" She said with a smile and opened her eyes "But I'm interested so your mission wasn't for naught..." She put a hand into the pocket of his uniform and retrieved a piece of paper which the man was about to give her
"Eh?! W-wait don't do this!" The man begged
"Don't worry, I'm sure your organization already has people in high places who will release you~" Rhein said and patted the man on the bag as with the last once she didn't lift her hand and squeezed
"P-please don't do this!" The officer said as he looked at her with a terrified expression
"Don't worry..." Rhein said as she moved her mouth near his ear and whispered "You're better off spending the night in their custody than miiiine~kekh kuku" She laughed thru her teeth and began leading the man towards the nearest Military Policeman.
And just like she said he was released the next day and transferred to his base. Meanwhile Rhein decided to use the Invitation to see what was happening but to do that she had to get approved by the Naval Bases commander as she went to his office and knocked
"Come in!" The man yelled as Rhein opened the door and walked in, closing the doors behind her "What brings you here Rhein *sigh*" The Commander said tiredly "Did you spot another person doing something wrong?" He continued, clearly not being fond of having Rhein in his officer
"No, that's not it" Rhein began as the Commander looked surprised and sat upright looking at her
"Then what?" He asked with confusion
"Well, I want to go..." She began as she handed him a piece of paper which had the name of another naval base on it
"Why? May I ask?" The commander asked with a lifted eyebrow
"I have a package there waiting for me since they don't deliver mail or anything here..." Rhein said as the commander shrugged
"Sure why not... oh and by the way..." The commander stood up and walked up to Rhein "This is the current address" He said and handed her a different piece of paper "Give it at the doors" He said and returned back to his seat
Rhein looked surprised at this but she smiled lightly
"Will do," She said and walked out of the office, the commander meanwhile was deep in thought
"(They managed to convince her?)" He thought to himself as he took a cigar and lit it, taking a deep breath and exhaling smoke, smiling a little "(A carrier will be useful, heh)"
Meanwhile, Rhein was walking towards the dock as she meet the only other Kansen at this exact naval base,
"Goin Somewhere that isn't work related? You really are changing for the better ever since we got deployed here, Heh~" Yorck said as she patted the carrier on the shoulder
Rhein in turn smiled with an innocent yet creepy expression,
"I would call it work related though~" She said as she placed a finger on her lower lip in an oblivious manner
"Heh..." Yorck let out as she shook her head "Everything is work related to you? when you go on a walk you call it a patrol, when you go to shop you call it a supply run... is there anything you don't think of as work?" Yorck asked as Rhein closed her eyes and smiled, sighing in an amused manner as Yorck also smiled at this not often seen the happy appearance
"Well..." Rhein started as she opened her eyes and looked at Yorck over he shoulder "Dealing with you isn't work..." Rhein said as Yorck smiled
"Oh you're so sweet Rhe-" Yorck started as Rhein put a finger over her mouth
"...Because it's torture," She said with the most innocent smile on her face as Yorck deadpanned "Just joking~" Rhein quickly added as she took Yorck's hand off her shoulder
"So there truly is nothing you wouldn't call work?" Yorck asked further
"Hmm..." Rhein again closed her eyes as she was now deep in thought "Maybe there is something like that..." She said and looked up at the sun which was slowly going down "I Enjoy fighting... I wouldn't call it a chore or work..." She said with a creepy smile as she extended her arm forward as a mosquito sat on the inside of her palm "...Because I enjoy the thrill..." She added as the palm of her hand slowly closed in "...of inducing PAIN." Rhein finished as she quickly squeezed her hand into a fist, leaving a bloody spot after the mosquito, Yorck looked at her with fright
"Eheheh..." Yorck said and began walking away "S-so... see you soon!" She said and quickly left the carrier alone as she looked at her palm
"I'll squish everyone who stands in the way of the Fatherland..." She quietly said to herself and resumed walking towards the water of the harbour
She quickly jumped off the dock, summoning her rigging as on each of her elbows appear a twin-barreled 88mm turrets, on her back was the superstructure and bridge of the carrier, along her legs was the flight deck while in her hair on both sides above the ears were the two dome-like rangefinders
It didn't take long for her to arrive at the other naval base which was next to a city where her meeting point was.
And after that, it wasn't hard for her to join the party as the members and leaders were also ecstatic that she joined since they didn't have members in just civilians and military personnel but also a number of other Kansen, most of which were the survivors and veterans of the great war,
And as time passed she also got more entangled in the group's activities and before she knew it she was given an armband, a headband, and a new flag which she could hoist on her ship once they started the coup.
But while it was happening the main government in Berlin was growing more worried when the whole thing will start as they were ready to evacuate the second it started, their most loyal ships in the African colonies while those they suspected of becoming possible traitors and revolutionaries they sent to the pacific
And though no one knew it they accidentally send the most Loyal of the ships into a perfect spot because even though she didn't agree to the actions of the government it would take more for her to turn traitor
But back in the base where Rhein and Yorck were staying the pair of them sat on Rhein's flight deck as they both looked at their signs of loyalty to the coming coup
"So when did you join them?"
"Not too long ago... but I expected you would have joined them before me... and I was right"
"You really see me in such bad light?"
"Do you think anyone sees you in a good light? Even the commander doesn't seem to be fond of you"
She said as both of them turned around and looked at the couple of planes which stood on Rhein's flight deck,
"..."
"They really dealt you a bad hand... you were the last of the carriers built before they cut the funding and signed the naval treaties... and they couldn't even spare proper planes for you but old Biplanes"
"Maybe... but just because they are off an old design that doesn't mean they are useless... and besides as you know even the oldest aircraft if operated by a kansen can outperform any land-based human aircraft"
"Maybe...."
And as it would turn out this night would be the longest one as Rhein and Yorck parted ways, one going to take blockade position and the other to the new "Capital" and provide air cover
Not End Of Chapter 0