Previously

>(1) http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/3388152/
>(2) http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/3427569
>(3) http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/3508255/
>(4) http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/3579598/
>(5) http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/3793996/

>>3839427
>>confront your sister

>>3839427
>other
Distract your sister.

>>3839856
>>3839877

Gonna hold up for a tiebreaker.

>>3839427
>confront your sister

>>3840005
>>3839856

>confront your sister

You nod solemnly at the destroyer’s assessment before mulling over your options, finally you let out a tired shrug grab the door’s handle and push it open. L’Audacieux’s looks at you wide eyed as the door swings open and you return a sheepish grin to the destroyer. “We won’t learn anything by staying here,” you mutter, trying your best to sound confident. “Stay behind- I’m going to go ask her what’s going on.”

Your sister’s chamber looks mostly the same as you round the corner into the wide chamber. Several of the salvaged pieces of scrap that formed the looted throne lay bent and broken around the edges of the room, forcing you to step over them to enter while L’Audacieux continues several paces behind you tense and prepared. As your field of view covers the center of the room you spot Bretagne. Your sister sits in her throne, staring aimlessly at the ground before her, her fists clenched in unconcealed anger.

“I TOLD YOU-” she begins to scream with unconcealed rage, hurling a piece of steel in your general direction as she becomes aware of your entrance. Her hatred hangs on you for a long moment before her face softens in recognition. “Provence-” she mutters with uncertainty.

You do your best to offer a disarming and reassuring smile. “Something wrong Bretagne?”

She sighs and a desperate defeated look takes hold on her face, the somber mood is reinforced by the distant echo of gunfire. “Yes,” she admits, “It seems our enemy has outmaneuvered us.”

“Do you need my help sister?” you offer.

“No.” Bretagne quickly interjects before taking a moment to rethink her response and leaning back in her chair, adopting a false look of bemused confidence. “No Dear Sister, Hood may think herself clever but I am no novice to the game of war. We shall endure.”

You cross your arms thoughtfully but don’t respond.

Your sister stands with sudden vigor as if only now sure of herself and offers a haughty look to the entrance, “it is not my first time since my return that I have fought against long odds, trust in my Dear Sister.” As if in response to her newfound confidence a cruiser sized Abyssal enters the chamber, seemingly on cue. It takes you a half second to recognize the newcomer it as the jailer.

“Excellent timing.” your sister enthusiastically offers the cruiser. “I’m leading the fleet on expedition, ensure my Dear Sister is comfortable and safe for my return.”

“Yes Lady.” the cruiser softly replies with a curt bow, “We shall do as you command.”

“If there is nothing else Dear Sister,” she offers, turning to you, “wish me good luck, I have business to attend to.”

>there is something else (write in)
>there is nothing else (return to quarters)

>>3840092
>>there is something else (write in)
hug her and say: "good luck"

>there is something else (write in)
>hug her and say: "good luck"

You step forward and strongly embrace Bretagne, doing your best to suppress the unease that seems to rise in your stomach whenever you’re near her. “Good luck,” you quietly offer.

Your sister seems to be taken briefly aback by the sudden hug but soon returns it, her desperate embrace is near painfully tight. The gesture lasts at least a minute before you feel her relax and you allow yourself to step backwards. “Thank you-” Bretagne returns with a bittersweet smile. “I will return.” she promises with a small nod. You offer a nod in return and your sister takes the opportunity to make her departure, stepping out of the throne room to organize her fleet.

The Abyssal cruiser serving as your guard watches your sister exiting impassively before slowly pivoting to regard you with an equally unemotional gaze. “It is Our Lady’s will that you remain here Lady Provence.”

“I’m aware- I’ll be in my quarters.” you dismiss tersely, before stepping away from the cruiser and heading into the side entrance where L’Audacieux continues to do her best to look inconspicuous. You offer a glance back at the Abyssal, who seems to be content to stand watch where your sister left her before stepping out of her line of sight- pulling L’Audacieux along with you.

“Bretagne and the battleship are gone.” L’Audacieux offers quietly. “Do we have a plan?”

>head north towards the new battle
>head east towards the old battle
>head west, away from both conflicts
>you have unfinished business, remain until the Abyssals return
>you have something you need to do or someone you need to talk to before leaving

Also:
>kill the guard
>attempt to fight the guard into submission
>attempt to bluff the guard

>>3840674
>>you have unfinished business, remain until the Abyssals return
we cant just abandon our sister

>>3840674
>head east towards the old battle
>attempt to fight the guard into submission

>>3840695
>>3840900

Someone want to grant QM a tiebreak vote?

>>3840674

>head east towards the old battle
>kill the guard

>>3840900
>>3840921

>head east towards the old battle

You nod and attempt to project confidence with a lopsided grin, “I’d say we’ve about overstayed our welcome here.”

“Myself especially,” L’Audacieux mutters dryly. “But where do we go?”

“Given how fervently my sister wanted to stop us from going east, it seems to me to be the best course of action. After all- it doesn’t take a genius to realize that gunnery duel is pretty light on subs and why would she stop me from fighting Hood’s surface fleet?”

L’Audacieux nods approvingly. “I agree, but that is where the bulk of your sister’s surface fleet seems to have gone to.”

“I guess that gives me a chance to finally stick it to that bitch of a battleship,” you reason with a sanguine grin. “Right after I stick it to this bitch of a cruiser”. You stretch your shoulders and turn and to confront the Abyssal before you feel a hand grab your arm, turning you notice L’Audacieux, her expression dour and uncertain.

“Provence-” she begins earnestly, “What about the girls still here?- the ones in the brig. We can’t leave them here...” her voice trails off and her worry deepens, clearly pondering the fate of the captive shipgirls."

>You can’t risk fighting through a ship full of god knows how many enemies, it’s risky enough escaping by yourself.
>You can’t risk dragging some half dead warship through a firefight, terrible as it is they’re safer here.
>Agree with L’Audacieux. No one is left behind.

Also, the decision still stands for tiebreak (give a roll for it, DC75)
>kill the guard
>attempt to fight the guard into submissio

>>3840984

>Agree with L'Audacieux. No one is left behind.

I'll switch my vote to:
>Attempt to fight the guard into submission

Rolled 14 (1d100)

>>3840984
>Agree with L’Audacieux. No one is left behind.

>>3841157
>>3841092
>attempt to fight the guard into submission

“Of course we can’t,” you agree, “no one deserves that.”

L’Audacieux’s shoulders droop with relief and she releases her hold on your arm.

Satisfied that the issue is settled, you turn back towards the throne room. Inside, the Abyssal cruiser seems none the wiser to your discussion and has found herself a posting, standing duitifly at the edge of the room’s main entranceway. She eyes you calmly as you enter the chamber and begin to pick your way over the rubble left by your sister’s earlier tantrum. “Is something troubling you Lady Provence?” she asks as you approach.

Despite her serious demeanor and adherence to her post it becomes apparent that the Abyssal isn’t quite good enough at her job. She doesn’t see your punch approaching until it makes contact with her throat. The cruiser keels over, gasping for breath and clawing at her airway. Left exposed, you send her sprawling to the ground with a fierce knee to the stomach. Continuing to press your advantage you drop your knee into the throat of the prostate Abyssal and throw your weight behind it. Her fingers claw desperately against your leg but her resistance can only last so long and eventually she falls limp beneath you.

You regard the limp and unconscious Abyssal for a brief moment and then stand, stepping over her out the entranceway.

“Jesus Provence-” your escort quietly mutters behind you, gingerly stepping over the cruiser.

It appears as you meander your way down the corridors of the broken carrier that fortune is on your side- while you run into the odd Abyssal support ship or escort it doesn’t look like any of them hold enough authority to protest or even question your presence in the halls. Following the familiar pathways, you eventually make your way into the ever-darker lower halls of the fortress and to the entrance of the brig.

>>3841271
The heavy steel door opens slowly, with a shrill protesting squeak as if heralding the smell of decay and body fluids that waft out to greet you from the room. It takes a few seconds for your eyes to adjust to the darkness and you step inside again. Much of the room is still the same, filthy, dark, and choked with the smell of death. The only sound comes from the sole occupant of the room- a gagged and blindfolded shipgirl who struggles with the chains binding her arms at the sound of your entrance, her body shaking from weak desperate sobs. Her filth encrusted clothing is barely recognizable as a uniform, the probably once red and black clothes are now dark and tattered from her time in the brig.

"God have mercy." L'Audacieux mutters as she follows behind you, holding a handkerchief to her face.

"It's okay-" you offer attempting to reassure the struggling girl. Kneeling before her you remove the blindfold, you touch causing her to weakly recoil and let out a wet choking sob. She continues to recoil away from you for sometime before giving up, her eyes and posture betraying worried uncertainty.

"I'm Provence," you carefully explain. "We're going to get you out of here."

The girl's terror seems only slightly eased. Besides you L'Audacieux steps up, eyeing the welded chain binding the girl to the ceiling, "they sure anchored her in there."

>Shoot the chain. They'll know your up to something once you drag her through the carrier anyways
>Search the surrounding area for something to break the chain that's at least slightly quieter.
>Other.

>>3841281
>>Search the surrounding area for something to break the chain that's at least slightly quieter.
There's 2 others we need to find as well. Probably best to go loud after we get them too.

>>3841281
>>3841300

This

>>3841311
>>3841300
>>Search the surrounding area for something to break the chain that's at least slightly quieter.
There's 2 others we need to find as well. Probably best to go loud after we get them too.

You glance at the chains with a frown, looking around the room briefly before failing to find a solution. “Wait with her,” you instruct L’Audacieux. “We’re short two girls and I need to try and find something that can break those without blowing out our eardrums and waking the whole ship.”

L’Audacieux briefly looks like she’s about to protest but nods and finds a spot next to you, worriedly overlooking the distressed shipgirl. “Be fast Provence. That cruiser won’t be out forever.”

You begin backtracing your steps, taking your time to push through random doorways and searching for any tools or leverage to help break the chains. The rooms around you mostly seem to be long abandoned crew quarters, many of which are in worse disrepair than the room your sister offered you. Aware that your time is growing more precious by the minute you begin to grow more hasty in your search, throwing the various doors open and pushing through the abandoned ship until after some time and making it nearly halfway back towards the throne room, you stumble across a crowded medium sized room full with lathes and presses. You push through scattering the various rusty toolboxes and cabinets. Finally you upend a box and among the rusted tools a pair of bolt cutters scatters onto the floor. You reach to grab it when you hear the faint sound of footsteps echoing from the hall.

“Who is there?” a quiet voice calls.

You step back to find cover when the owner of the voice, rounds the corner, sooner than you expect. She’s built like many of the Abyssal escorts you’ve seen and actually seems to strongly resemble the escort who first guided you to the brig. She tilts her head slightly as she spots you standing in the room. “You are Lady Provence?” the escort asks hesitantly, before offering a submissive bow of the head “Begging your forgiveness, Our Lady did not instruct that you would grace us here.”

You do your best to make it look like you belong. “No apology needed, just looking through the old workshop for anything useful.”

The girl seems to accept your answer. “Do you require help with your search Lady Provence? Is there anything you need provided?”

>Yes, you need help finding something
>No, you don’t need help
>Attempt to subdue/kill the Abyssal, you don’t have time to bullshit and you don’t want attention on you
>ask a question/other

>>3841281
>>Search the surrounding area for something to break the chain that's at least slightly quieter.

>>3841505
>>No, you don’t need help

>>3841505
>Ask where other prisoners might be kept
>Knock her out if she gets suspicious or leads us back to the brig from earlier

>>3841533
>>3841509

"I'm looking for captives my sister has taken."

The Abyssal cocks its head in confusion,

You elect to provide a cross armed glare as explanation.

The Abyssal lowers itself submissively, "Begging forgiveness Lady Provence, Our Lady keeps those deemed worthy of Illumination I'm the brig."

"Where else?" you ask, not bothering to hide your impatience.

The Abyssal's confusion returns. "Nowhere else Lady Provence," she explains, before a sudden nervousness takes hold of her, "do you need to be guided to the brig?"

"I'm fine," you dismiss with a hand wave, "I'm sure you're needed more elsewhere anyways."

"If that is Lady Provence's will," the Abyssal offers with another submissive bow of the head, seemingly relieved at the opportunity to avoid the brig.

"It is." You offer gruffly, hefting the bolt cutters onto your shoulder and pushing your way past the small escort and back towards the brig. Making your way down the stairs towards the chamber you begin to make out the voice of L'Audacieux quietly comforting the girl. For her part, the prisoner seems to have calmed down somewhat, though she recoils at your entrance, letting out a nervous choking noise that causes a light spray of blood and black ichor to dribble out of the corner of her mouth. L'Audacieux offer a comforting shushing noise and gently pats the girl.

"Did you find anything?" L'Audacieux greets, prompting you to raise the bolt cutters.

She steps back and allows you to cut the chains from the hold on the ceiling, releasing the captive with an audible pop. The girl falls limply, like a marionette with its strings cut, coughing desperate wet hacking coughs over the force of the impact, raising herself on unsteady arms.

Eyeing her sympathetically, you reach down and gently grab the girl by the shoulders, raising her on unsteady legs. At this point she's either trusting or exhausted enough that she offers little resistance and stands relatively stable on her own two feet, shivering slightly.

"Are we ready to go?" You ask your escort before turning back towards L'Audacieux. Surprisingly, her attention isn't on the girl, but on the dark pool of ichor and blood that the girl just expunged, your mouth opens to ask her why when you notice, writing aimlessly among the liquid are a number of familiar fat black leeches. Several of them seem to attempt to wriggle their way to the center of the room, towards the corpse of the Italian sailor.

"What the hell did they do to her Provence?" L'Audacieux asks quietly.

You shake your head solemnly, "whatever it was L'Audacieux, it's our duty to get her out of here."

L'Audacieux nods and you grab the girl gently by the arm, guiding her out of the room as you exit she seems to gather your intent and clutches your arm tightly.

>>3841563
You make it up the stairs and downs good portion of the hallway before the first Abyssal greets you- the same escort you confronted minutes before. Her eyes seem to widen at the sight of the rescued girl and from your flank the girl pushes herself defensively behind you, letting out a terrified mewling noise.

The escort eyes your group in stunned silence for several long seconds "That Lapdog has not been illuminated," she mutters in shocked accusation, before a determined look crosses her face. "Our Lady has not decreed this. This is not Our Lady's will!"

"Shit." L'Audacieux mutters

>open fire
>offer a good explanation
>Hit her before she can sound the alarm
>Other

>>3841564
>Hit her before she can sound the alarm

so we dont like the english/friends of the english nor do we like the abyssals
rouge mercenary Boat-Waifu Sans Frontieres when?

>>3841564
>>Hit her before she can sound the alarm

>>3841846
This is always an option. You do have at least one and possibly two ships in your fleet now depending on how receptive the newly rescued USS England is on fighting the English.

>>3841982
>>3841572

>>Hit her before she can sound the alarm

The Abyssal calls raises her weapons, though given her minelaying gear is useless in the confines of the ship, she offers little threat to even L’Audacieux with her tiny pair of destroyer caliber guns-. Frantically she alternates targeting you and your destroyer escort.

“Easy-” you offer, raising your hands and doing your best to look non threatening- which given the class difference between you and the Abyssal is probably doomed to failure. Behind you the rescued girl steps back, allowing L’Audacieux to pull her off of you and clinging to the destroyer.

The Abyssal steps back with nervous determination, “It is Our Lady’s will that the nonbelievers be Illuminated.”

“Of course it is- Your Lady trusts me and I would not defy my sister’s will.” you reply in a calming tone, stepping closer, to the Abyssal, the statement seems to leave her conflicted.

“But Our Lady has spoken-” The escort quietly mutters, her guns wavering slightly and her voice and posture full of uneasy confusion.

Stepping within arm’s reach of the confused Abyssal you offer your best disarming smile and place your hands over her weapons, gently forcing them towards the deck. The escort seems to have calmed somewhat before her amber-eyed gaze shifts towards the rescued girl and hardens again into defiance,. “No!” she yells stepping away, raising her weapons. “This is not Our Lady’s will, her decrees are clear. Sisters-!” she begins to call in alarm

Her alarm is cut short as you close the distance again and strike the escort’s exposed stomach, turning the alarm into a pained gasp. Unlike the cruiser, she doesn’t even have the chance to keel over, you grab her outstretched arm and use it to violently fling her into the steel walls of the abandoned ship. She lands with a dull meaty thud. Determined to prevent her from calling out- you elect to press the attack, pinning her again into the wall with a full force kick. When you finally step back the small escort falls limply to the floor.

>>3842084
Behind you, L’Audacieux calms the rescued shipgirl, left terrified by the melee. When the girl appears to have regained her limited composure your escort regards the limp form of the Abyssal. “Despite how terrifying your fists are I’m not sure you can beat your way through this entire carrier.” she mutters before somberly regarding the girl clinging desperately to her arms for a long moment with a defeated look. “If the other captives aren’t in the brig they’re probably dead.” she quietly admits. “ I can’t imagine anyone would last long in there and we can’t fight through a full of a fortress full of Abyssals with her in tow.”

>No man left behind means no man left behind. You need bodies before you can be sure.
>L’Audacieux is right, if the one survivor dies all is for nothing. Maybe once she gets her bearings back she can help find any other survivors and you can return in force.
>L’Audacieux can make her way through the carrier and take the survivor back, you’ll keep looking.

>>3842084
>>L’Audacieux is right, if the one survivor dies all is for nothing. Maybe once she gets her bearings back she can help find any other survivors and you can return in force.
we should also capture the knocked out abyssal

>>3842060
>USS england
>USS
i doudt an american ship would mind dumping some tea in the harbor, if you know what i mean

>>3842161
Let the record show that I may or may not have been lying about the shipgirl's identity. The girl you rescued seems roughly cruiser sized. England was a Destroyer Escort.

>>3842124
>L’Audacieux is right,
>we should also capture the knocked out abyssal

You ponder the implications of L’Audacieux’s suggestion before finally nodding in solemn aquience, “You’re right, no sense in getting her killed now, if the others are alive we can find them after we get her to safety.” Pondering your options on how to find the others your attention turns towards the unconscious Abyssal and you grab it casually by the wrist before heaving the limp body on your shoulder. L’Audacieux gives you a confused look that you return with a shrug, “maybe she knows something we don’t” you offer. “Besides- if nothing else better to hold onto her than let my sister use her mine more civilian shipping.”

L’Audacieux seems to agree with your answer. “Then it’s time to go?” she asks.

You nod in affirmation and lead onwards, staying several protective paces ahead of the destroyer and the rescued girl. Surprisingly, it looks like the Abyssals within your sister’s fortress have thinned even further and you manage to retrace your steps without provoking any resistance or even spotting anyone. Finally you step out of the gap between the two halves of the carrier, and take a relieved breath of clear air, surveying the situation around you. You glance between the two halves of the carrier, surveying the coastlines to the east and west. Westward seems to be nothing but open sea and clear shoreline. If there are Abyssals that way they’re probably submerged.

The gap to your left however is decidedly more chaotic as several squadrons of various Abyssal escorts hurriedly form to support a distant gunfight. You focus your gaze on the brawl and note the tiny form of your favorite Abyssal battleship dueling with a force of shipgirls, surprisingly despite making a fighting retreat it looks like she’s giving better than she’s getting and her screen of escorts are making organized resistance against their enemy. It’s only when your focus identifies the tricolors of the battered attacking fleet that you realize what’s going on.

>You still can’t risk an open war, try signaling to the French fleet and make your escape westward with all hands.
>Offer harassing fire to occupy the enemy and signal the French before making your escape
>You need to help. Drop the captive and send L’Audacieux and the rescued girl west and attack the enemy fleet
>Do what you can to fight the scattered escorts and then make your escape westward
>attack through with all hands, no time for delay.
>leave the girl and the captive and attack with L’Audacieux, you can return for them later
>other

>>3842222
lets just leave

Marine Sans Frontières when?

considering that there are abyssals all over the oceans, that likely means very few to no oil rigs. that means that ther probably are a lot of oil companys that would pay top dolla for a Boat-Waifu PMC to defend them

>>3842222
>>Offer harassing fire to occupy the enemy and signal the French before making your escape

>>3842302
>>3842369

Anyone want to give me a tiebreaker or should I try for an awkward middle ground?

>>3842765
>>3842302
I'll support this.

>>3842222

>>3842369

Supporting this

>>3842876
>>3842302

You survey the distant fight with a frown, glancing back towards L’Audacieux and the rescued shipgirl, who hangs desperately onto the destroyer. On your back, you feel the familiar heavy weight of your guns, called forth by your subconscious.

“Are we fighting through?” L’Audacieux asks nervously eyeing your naval rifles, “She won’t make it.”

You mull about your options, eyeing the distant flashes. “Lorraine isn’t stupid.” you reason aloud, “she won’t get her girls killed recklessly.” You turn your eye westward. “She’s given us an opening to get out.”

L’Audacieux doesn’t seem pleased by the outcoming but seems to agree with your reasoning, glancing towards the girl you’ve liberated.

Behind you, the guns continue to sound as you lead your impromptu party westward, taking the first steps from the ruined carrier into the churning sea. L’Audacieux follows closely behind, tenderly bringing the rescued girl along. As the destroyer steps into the waves you notice the rescuee has called forth her rigging, giving you an idea of how much damage she sustained before her capture. All four of her triple guns and many of her secondaries lay at odd angles, scorched or broken- near every other surface bears evidence of fire, penetration, or other damage. Despite what draws your attention most strongly is her half collapsed mast, where a tattered Royal Navy ensign continues to defiantly fly.

You hold your tongue at the sigh and turn around, guiding your charges westwards at the best speed you can manage with the weight you and L’Audacieux carry with you. Eventually as the miles between you and the carrier grow, the gunfire begins to quiet and finally stop altogether. Before you, the sky begins to glow with the setting sun and behind you the carrier fades into the far horizon.

As your group continues quietly onwards the coastline begins to offer occasional marks of abandoned human habitation. Buildings and roadways full of burned out vehicles loom along the coastline. In several spots on the hilltops above the sea various military vehicles seem to lie broken and abandoned, apparently having failed in keeping the enemy in or out of the Medeterrainian. Still- you decide that distance from the conflict is key, even as the rescued girl begins to pant with exhaustion. It isn’t until the Abyssal still slung over your shoulder begins to stir that you realize that you may be forced to stop.

>where do you go?

>>3842929
Sorry mate, hit submit before I saw the reply.

>>3842930
>Find the military base or a closer outpost
We're dragging around someone who's hacking up blood and Abyssal leeches. That sort of thing needs direct medical attention sooner rather than later. Also, reminder that we encroach on Gibraltar/Hood's territory if we go further West.

>>3842930
>find a military base or an out post and drop off the wounded girl

>>3843063
>>3842972
>Find the military base or a closer outpost
We're dragging around someone who's hacking up blood and Abyssal leeches. That sort of thing needs direct medical attention sooner rather than later. Also, reminder that we encroach on Gibraltar/Hood's territory if we go further West.

“L’Audacieux?” you ask through the growing quiet, glancing back at the panting shipgirl still clinging to the destroyer, “Where’s the nearest military presence?” As if to highlight the urgency of your request the cruiser’s pants break into a series of wet coughs, blood and black ichor spilling down her chin.

L’Audacieux ponders the matter and shakes her head, “As far as the Navy is concerned unless you want to cross through Gibraltar it’s back in Tunisia.” She shrugs helplessly, “outside of there I never spent much time in North Africa. There might be refugee camps or an Army presence but unless we can get in touch with someone smarter or find a map I haven’t the faintest idea where those would be.”

You curse under your breath and scan the discarded materiel, many of the vehicles bear signs of naval bombardment and all of them have clearly been abandoned for months. Ahead of you some few miles is the only signs of semi-permanent civilization. Past the small convoys of derelict cars are a series of bright plaster buildings and small grounded fishing boats. Their windows are dark and even from this distance it seems apparent that someone was shooting at them, though it's still possible that there’s something of value to be found inside.

Idly, you ponder the weight on your shoulder and the shipgirl L’Audacieux escorts and weigh your options.

>search the ruined military vehicles, despite the damage they may have packaged rations, medical supplies, and maps, (though the relevance of what’s printed on them is questionable in wartime.)
>Proceed to the village, it’s a bit of a longshot but they may have food, water, and if you’re really lucky civilian communications equipment, but medical supplies are less likely and who knows what you’ll find with maps.
>If you push inland you may be able to circumnavigate Gibralter and get to an Atlantic facing naval base. Transportation is key, search the abandoned cars.
>other

>>3843072
>>search the ruined military vehicles, despite the damage they may have packaged rations, medical supplies, and maps, (though the relevance of what’s printed on them is questionable in wartime.)
>>Proceed to the village, it’s a bit of a longshot but they may have food, water, and if you’re really lucky civilian communications equipment, but medical supplies are less likely and who knows what you’ll find with maps.
if we find nothig in the military vehicals, then we can search the village

>>3843072
Support >>3843079

>>3843072
>If you push inland you may be able to circumnavigate Gibralter and get to an Atlantic facing naval base. Transportation is key, search the abandoned cars.

>>3843084
>>3843079
>search the ruined military vehicles, despite the damage they may have packaged rations, medical supplies, and maps, (though the relevance of what’s printed on them is questionable in wartime.)

You decide to turn inland, eyeing the burnt hulks of the military vehicles you slow your speed and step onto the rocky Algerian coast. As you approach and make your way towards the roughly dozen or so ruined vehicles you’re able to pick out the details on them. None of them appear familiar to you. In fact were it not for the camouflage pattern and the machine guns some of the larger six wheeled trucks bear you’re not confident you’d have been able to definitively identify them as military vehicles. Scattered as widely as they are along the hillside you decide to place your bet on a nearby group of four vehicles. The utility truck and command car seem to have taken limited damage but the two trucks bearing strange boxes on their back look to have been the focus of a tremendous amount of incoming fire.

“Anti-shipping missiles.” L’Audacieux helpfully clarifies from behind you, following your gaze to the pummeled trucks. “Not exactly a common sight much anymore, a missile isn’t exactly practical against Abyssals.”

You nod and continue onwards, your destroyer and the cruiser she’s caring for follow closely behind as you approach and gain a better look at the damaged vehicles. Entering the area between the utility truck and the command car It becomes quickly apparent that while you weren’t the first ones here, this is not a well traveled area. While many of the utility boxes and crates in the back of the weathered truck lay scattered and empty on the rocky ground several boxes remain in the back of the truck. You drop the Abyssal in an ungainly heap on the ground before climbing up into the rear of the vehicle and rummaging through the crates.

L’Audacieux continues to care for her charge, setting the girl gently onto the front seat of the command vehicle and offering unheard encouraging words.

The first few boxes seem to be personal effects, sleeping bags, field chairs, and several other questionably useful relics of the modern world that you toss haphazardly out the truck’s rear. Finally you stumble across a box advertised as combat rations and after several more questionably useful crates you find a small box of general medical supplies and pitch both in the general direction of L’Audacieux before jumping down yourself.

>>3843124
The destroyer sends you an appreciative look before tearing through the ration crate and into one of the meals, producing a tin that she offers to the cruiser. The girl takes it eagerly, diving into the tortellini with her filth encrusted hands. Your destroyer grimaces slightly but says nothing, taking the opportunity to rifle through the scattered personal gear within the command vehicle, she grabs a blanket for the rescued shipgirl. Satisfied her adopted charge is cared for she turns to you and then regards the unconscious Abyssal, “what about her?” she asks wearily.

You let out a sigh and grab a meal of your own before taking a seat on a box within arm’s reach of the limp escort. “I’m not sure yet-.” you admit finally. “She seemed like she’d be handy at the time.”

L’Audacieux shrugs and allows the topic to drop before turning her attention back to the command vehicle and rifling through the back. Eventually, she finds what she was looking for, pulling a map out from a pile of scattered documents in the back seat and eyeing it carefully before taking a seat near you. “It looks like we’ve got a fair few smaller towns within forty to fifty kilomenters.” she explains after regarding the map for a minute. “As far as anything large goes, there’s a city called Chlef about a hundred and fifty kilometers to the southwest where we may be able to find something. That being said Algeria hasn’t been fond of the French for some time, but there may be an embassy or military attache of ours still there that can help us out.”

You take a bite of couscous, pondering your options. Your destroyer seems to accept your temporary lack of a firm answer and elects to take her own meal. The three of you continue to eat in thoughtful silence for some minutes.

“Thank you-” a hoarse accented voice sounds, quietly breaking the silence and surprising both you and L’Audacieux. From the seat in the command car, the cruiser seems to have recovered her bearing just a little bit more and gratefully stares at the tin of tortellini.

>chain up the Abyssal and spend the night here. You can head out in the morning
>see if you can’t pilfer a vehicle to head inland now.
>ask a question to L’Audacieux, rise the Abyssal to interrogate it, or attempt to ask something of the cruiser
>head into the village and see if you can’t find water or civilian communication equipment
>other
>remain inconspicuous and try your hand at one of the smaller probably inhabited villages

>>3843125
>head into the village and see if you can’t find water or civilian communication equipment

>>3843125
>head into the village and see if you can’t find water or civilian communication equipment

>>3843125
>>head into the village and see if you can’t find water or civilian communication equipmen
we should also disarm the abyssal if possible

>>3843189
>>3843134
>>3843179
You glance towards the girl in the command vehicle and stand, setting down the remainder of your food and turning your attention back to the utility truck.

“What’s up?” L’audacieux asks from above her meal.

“Taking what else I can. We still need water- any we find here has probably been stagnant for some time,” you explain, yanking open the truck’s scorched door. You reach inside and rummage about, tossing a destroyed radio set out with a dramatic thud. “That and being able to communicate with the others might help our chances of getting your new friend there to safety”. Reaching across the seat towards the driver’s side of the cab you manage to find what may be the only thing left worth anything to your impromptu fleet- a short chain with the lock and key still attached to it. .

You return to the Abyssal and prod it onto its stomach, before kneeling over and chaining its arms tightly behind its back, locking them tightly. Still not satisfied with your bindings, you spot a green sock amongst the discarded personal effects littering the ground and shove it into the unconscious girl’s mouth and heaving her back onto your shoulderThe movement finally seems to wake the Abyssal, causing them to stir atop you and begins whining through the sock, slowly fidgeting more as she becomes aware of her situation. You ignore her growing struggles and pick up one of the cardboard boxes full of field rations.

“Get the girl ready,” you tell L’Audacieux before taking off down the hill towards the water.

Besides the now awake and thrashing Abyssal, the journey to the village is largely uneventful. Behind you the rescued cruiser’s pace and bearing seems to have improved through the short rest and while your group’s speed is slower than you would have liked you approach the village in good time.

>>3843432
It’s pretty obvious to you as you arrive that your initial assessment was spot on though it looks like the locals left in a major hurry. Upturned boats and discarding fishing equipment liter the beach before the village and many scattered personal effects such as clothing and suitcases litter the pathways between the plaster houses. While the damage looks like it was limited to a few probing shots to flush out the inhabitants it looks like the fighting drove them off in a hurry. You select the nearest house, a white plastered building with a half crumbled tile roof and push the door open, managing to make it only part way before a fallen dresser blocks the door. Cursing at the obstacle you manage to awkwardly shimmy yourself and the struggling Abyssal into the gap before stepping inside.

The home is small, with only a small communal eating a living area connecting the pair of bedrooms and a kitchen. you head to the larger of the two, the only one with a complete roof overhead and drop the struggling Abyssal into an ungainly heap beside the bed. Following behind, L’Audacieux gently guides the cruiser to a seat in the communal area, letting the girl rest before idly prodding her way through the discarded possessions of the house’s previous occupants.

Satisfied that your “fleet” is taken care of you begin the search for water, a quest that is solved as soon as you step into the cluttered and abandoned kitchen and try turning on the faucet.

“Hey Provence.” L’Audacieux calls from the living space before stepping into the kitchen and holding a small number-filled rectangle triumphantly. “I found an old phone, the battery is low but I should be able to get in touch with someone if I can remember their number.”

>ask her to call Lorraine
>ask her to call her sister

>>3843433
>>ask her to call her sister
shes still at the base right? where as Lorraine is engaged with the abyssals

>>3843433
>ask her to call her sister

>>3843530
Le Terrible was engaged, though she took pretty bad damage. You are not currently aware of where she is.

>>3843531
>>3843530
>ask her to call her sister

“You should call your sister,” you offer with a half smile, “She’s probably worried about you.”

L’Audacieux brightens noticeably at the prospect and begins punching numbers into the phone, before glancing up, “I’ll set it on speaker, maybe she’s with Lorraine and the others” she declares with a smile as the ringing begins.

“Who the hell is this?” Le Terrible’s voice sounds gruffly, causing the smile L’Audacieux’s smile to fade slightly. “If you don’t outrank me I’m busy right now.”

“It’s me-” L’Audacieux begins hesitantly, “L’Audacieux.”

The line goes quiet for a second, before a sigh of relief washes over the speaker “God it’s good to hear your voice. I was worried you were dead.”

“I’m sorry,” your escort mutters quietly, “we saw you all fighting for us but we had wounded and couldn’t make it out.”

“Are you okay.” her sister replies with sudden worry.

“I’m fine- so is Provence, we found a girl in the Abyssal fortress, she’s not exactly talkative yet but I think she’s English.”

“Was she with Rodney’s attack?” the girl on the other end asks with confusion, “I didn’t think they took much damage.”

L’Audacieux looks confused for a second before shaking her head as though her sister could see the gesture, “No- I don’t think so, she was there before we arrived. How did your attack hold up, was anyone hit? Where are you now?”

Le Terrible lets out a grim laugh that betrays a small hint of pain, “I’ve been better but I’ll make it. We’re all here but Lorrain and Émile Bertin. Lorraine took the largest brunt of the enemy fire and flooded pretty bad. Émile had to force her to beach once she got the idea in her head to push into range with her secondaries. We lost touch with them outside of radio once Émile dragged her inland.” L’Audacieux shoots you a sympathetic look and allows her sister to continue. “Speaking of which- where are you? Do you need help?”

>ask her if she can get transport back to Tunisia or the nearest base arranged.
>hold position, you’re not ready to return

Also
>ask her to get you in touch with Lorraine
>ask her to get you in touch with Gorizia
>ask her to get you in touch with Glorious
>ask her to get you in touch with Edinburgh
>ask her to get you in touch with Émile Bertin
>talk to the abyssal or the rescued girl first
>you wanted to speak with someone else or do something else.

>>3843610
>>ask her if she can get transport back to Tunisia or the nearest base arranged.
we wont be going back though, we gotta find Lorrain

>>3843610
>ask her if she can get transport back to Tunisia or the nearest base arranged.
>ask her if she can get transport back to Tunisia or the nearest base arranged.

>>3843656

“Are you able to get us a transport?” you interrupt, from your spot besides L’Audacieux “according to a map we recovered we’re a hundred or so miles north of a city called ‘Chlef’.”

“Hold on-” Le Terrible replies checking your location herself. “Damn- that’s closer than I thought- I could try calling Dunquerke. She’s always been good at sorting out logistics and stuff and knows who to call about that, just wait a bit and I’ll get back to you.”

“I need to find Lorraine and Émile.” you decide aloud.”I won’t let them wander the desert out there all alone. Especially with my sister all shot up.”

“The Italians sent some Marines out her way near as soon as Émile Bertin pulled her ashore.” Le Terrible protests, channeling the pain of her wounds into an angry rebuke. “just stay where you are, I’ll call Dunquerke. Though if you do want to go cavaliering along after your sisters again at least leave L’Audacieux and that other girl out of it this time.”

“I came of my own free will,” L'Audacieux offers in a diplomatic tone.

You decide not to offer a rebuke and weigh your options idly surveying your party. It looks like the cruiser is asleep, curled on the couch with the pilfered blanket wrapped around her. From the entranceway, the Abyssal seems to still struggle against its bindings, though its spirit seems to have faded a bit from the violent thrashing she offered when first awakening.

>loot a car and go vaguely eastward alone, you need to find Lorraine.
>loot a car and bring everyone along, you’ll get closer to Tunis regardless
>Le Terrible is right and with the Abyssal and the still-traumatized cruiser it’s better to just stay put.
>other
>hang up and ask someone else for advice

>>3843884
>>Le Terrible is right and with the Abyssal and the still-traumatized cruiser it’s better to just stay put.
we should talk to the abyssal. It was likely converted from a normal ship-girl to an abyssal by Bretange, which means we could probably turn it back

>>3843884
>Le Terrible is right and with the Abyssal and the still-traumatized cruiser it’s better to just stay put.

Going full Big Boss may be an eventual goal (I'm personally indifferent to the idea), but right now we have no contacts, no logistics, very few allies, and zero assets, financial or otherwise. I also don't think it's in-character at this time. At the very least, we ought to familiarize ourselves with the modern world a lot more while building up a tight-knit group of the like-minded before even thinking about "going rogue".

whats the deal with the boat-waifus serving in the military anyways? do they have a choice? can they leave? do they even get payed?
if not, then that would be a form of slavery, food for thought

>>3843904
Do I detect Kancolle Frog Quest: 11 (9-5 Job Edition)?

>>3841846
I have personally been in favor of unironic rogue good guy fleet from the start. Darlan's Devils and whatnot.

>>3843897
>I also don't think it's in-character at this time. At the very least, we ought to familiarize ourselves with the modern world a lot more while building up a tight-knit group of the like-minded before even thinking about "going rogue".

I do agree with this guy tho. Until we actually build a support base of some kind would just be an exercise in futility.

>>3843897
>>3843895
>>Le Terrible is right and with the Abyssal and the still-traumatized cruiser it’s better to just stay put.

“I’ll be here.” you promise the angry destroyer. “When you call Dunkerque, let her know that we have a hog-tied Abyssal with us.”

“Well if you brought her that far I’m sure she won’t be too big of a deal-” Le Terrible dismisses idly before trailing off. “Hey get yourselves home quick- I’m starting to miss L’Audacieux and I know Lorraine has a lot to say to you Provence.”

“You may hold the record but I’m still a Le Fantasque-” your escort teases with a smile, “I’ll be there before you know it, you take care of yourself too.” With that she hangs up and pockets the phone, taking a seat besides the peacefully sleeping cruiser. “I guess that’s it then?” she mutters, “stay here and wait for pickup.”

You nod and sigh, idly flexing your hands. In the bedroom, the Abyssal loudly twists against her restraints, you glance over at it and are given an expression of unconcealed hate. You return a casual shrug.

>talk to someone else
>ask the Abyssal something or pursue a line of dialogue (write in)
>just wait idly, you’re pretty sure it won’t take that long
>other

>>3844004
>>ask the Abyssal something or pursue a line of dialogue
first of all ask its name, maybe offer some food. then ask why it follows Bretange.

>>3844018

You step into the bedroom and open the box of rations you hauled in from the military vehicles, pulling one out before sitting on the box, looking down at the captive. The Abyssal if anything increases its thrashing as if provoked by your entrance. You reach down and calmly pull the sock from the escort’s mouth.

“You betray Our Lady’s trust!” it immediately shouts accusatory, “you betray your own kin!”

You sigh quietly, “Yeah- I guess I did.” you admit quietly before letting out a bitter laugh. “Now I know how Lorraine must have felt when I talked to her last.” You drift off- quietly reflecting over your last conversation with your sister before displaying the unopened ration to the Abyssal, “Are you hungry?”

“We do not need your care.” the creature spits defiantly “you cannot hold our spirit forever. We have served Our Lady well and once our mortal body withers and dies she will grant us rebirth from the Abyss.”

“My sister seems quite the benevolent and all powerful ruler.” you remark dryly.

“Would you come crawling to her on your knees to beg her forgiveness with a genuine heart she would grant it and love you again.” the Abyssal determines with a zealous fury, “she is mother to us all- loving us all and beloved by us all, she pulls off our shackles and rebirth us in the womb of the Abyss.”

“Where did she pull you from then?” you ask, “Who did you used to be?”

The Abyssal’s fury seems to deepen over the question. “She has freed us from our past.” the Abyssal declared, “all we are is who we are now.”

You pause, as the meaning behind the Abyssals words take hold. “So you don’t know?” you ask somberly, “my sister took that from you?”

“Our Lady has birthed us anew, stronger and free.” the Abyssal counters with a look of fanatical admiration. “she could do so much for you too- If only you would take her into your heart.”

You shake your head and pick up the sock again, “I don’t think I’m interested quite yet.”

>ask another question
>talk to L’Audacieux
>wake the cruiser and talk to her
>call someone
>gag her and wait for transport

>>3844146
>wake the cruiser and talk to her

Let's she if she's in talking state yet. Some info about what the fuck happened would be nice

>>3844434
write in any specific questions you have

>>3844450
" Can you tell us who you are? What they did to you?"

>>3844450

"Do you remember who you are? When and where were you captured? Do you remember anything about your captivity?"

>>3844621
>>3844456

You consider your enemy’s words before deciding on the sock, shoving it into the Abyssal’s mouth and eliciting a protesting grunt. You buisness with her concluded, you step away and ignore the muffled curses the Abyssal offers through her gag. Continuing into the living quarters L’Audacieux offers a nod of greeting from where she sits, protectively watching over the sleeping cruiser.

“I think I have some questions for her,” you offer, apologetically.

“She’s sleeping.” L’Audacieux counters in a matronly tone, looking defensively at the girl.

“It’s important,” you counter.

L’Audacieux eyes the peacefully sleeping cruiser with worry, you allow the destroyer some time to protest but she remains quiet. Taking it as a sign of acquiescence, you crouch before the sleeping girl, bringing yourself level to her before gently grabbing her by the shoulder and shaking her awake.

She rises with sudden alarm, gasping desperately at her sudden return to consciousness and pushing herself back against the couch. Her breaths come in alarmed and ragged as her gaze flickers frantically around the room. Beside her. l’Audacieux reacts before you can, placing a light hand on the girl’s shoulder and offering a gentle shushing that seems to slowly calm her down. The girl doesn’t exactly relax but your destroyer seems to at least dull her panic.

You nod thankfully at the destroyer before turning your attention back to the cruiser. “Sorry,” you mutter apologetically in your best English, “I just had a few questions I wanted to ask you to make sure you’re okay. Are you alright with that?”

The girl appears unsure for several seconds until L’Audacieux pats her shoulder encouragingly. She glances nervously back at the destroyer for affirmation before finally allowing a small nervous nod.

“Right.” you begin, taking a seat in front of the pair, “First off I guess is introductions- My name is Provence” you begin, gesturing to yourself, “and this is L’Audacieux. Can you tell us your name?”

She seems briefly confused about the question, her gaze shortly thereafter turns to unease and then desperate tears begin to form in her eyes as she glances back to L’Audacieux for an answer that doesn’t come. “I don’t remember.” she quietly sobs, shaking her head through the tears.

L’Audacieux attempts to soothe her again, glancing worriedly at you as the girl desperately clings to her.

>>3844689

“Do you at least remember when you were captured?” you counter, “we may be able to help.”

It takes some time for the girl to compose herself again, but she again shakes her head, “some things” she quietly admits, “faces and fighting.”
“Faces of your friends?” you ask quietly, eliciting a tearful nod from the girl. “Were they captured too? Do you remember what happened afterwards?”

She shakes her head again, letting out another distressed sob. “I don’t remember,” she quietly admits, “afterwards, everything was dark.” she hesitates, her face betraying the pain of the memories. “They hurt me,” she quietly mutters. “They kept me in the dark and hurt me and the others, but they said it was to help,” the girl tearfully shakes, even with L’Audacieux’s comforting it looks like she’s on the edge of breaking down, “it never helped- they kept hurting everyone until it was just me left.”

“I think she’s had enough Provence.” L’Audacieux gently admonishes.

>let her sleep, you’ve had a long few days and rescue is right around the corner
>let her sleep, you had other business.
>you had something else to ask

>>3844691
>>let her sleep, you’ve had a long few days and rescue is right around the corner
she needs a hug

>>3844691
>let her sleep, you had other business.
Make a quick survey of the lines of sight and routes of escape just in case things go pear-shaped.

>>3844691
>let her sleep, you had other business.

>>3844691
>let her sleep, you’ve had a long few days and rescue is right around the corner

Jesus Christ, Bretagne. What did u do.

>>3844733
>>3844786
>>3844886
>>3845190

>let her sleep, you had other business.
Make a quick survey of the lines of sight and routes of escape just in case things go pear-shaped.

“Yeah-” you agree with quiet sympathy.“I’m sorry,” you offer the traumatized cruiser, before turning your attention to the destroyer. “Do you have everything here under control? I was going to go gather my thoughts and take a quick survey of the surrounding area, make sure no one can catch us off guard.”

The destroyer glances back to the still bound and struggling minelayer before nodding and returning her attention to calming the cruiser. “we should be fine here, I’ll call if I need you.”

You nod and step outside, the cool salty air of the seaside village provides a small amount of calm. Night has already begun to descent but you take your time to pace the perimeter of the small town. The rest of the village seems no more remarkable than the building you’ve claimed. You manage to assess you egress routes pretty easily even despite your lack of land-based combat awareness. From you recon it’s apparent that the village was formed along a T-junction aof the coastal roadway. While a retreat along the east-west traffic would leave you exposed, the connecting road twists through the hillside behind the village and seems to offer your best bet to quickly break contact with a seaborne opponent.

Satisfied that you’ve figured out the path of your contingency plan, you ready yourself to return to your companions when you spot a distant light cutting through the darkening sky above the hillside and begin to hear the distant sounds of rapidly moving motor vehicles.

A trio of bright white armored vehicles soon rapidly crest the hillside road, their headlights cutting through the darkness and their engines revving noisily. The lead vehicle slams to a quick stop besides you. You step back as dust from the stop kicks up into your vision, it takes some time for the cloud to die down, allowing you to clearly read the “UN” printed on the vehicle’s sides in unassuming black font. A man in a blue helmet looks down at you from the exposed cupola-mounted machine gun. “Were you expecting rescue sweetheart?” he asks in a cocky Parisian accent, leaning confidently on his gun.

>how do you reply

>>3845242

"You must be our Uber driver. You're late. No tip for you."

>>3845242
Would we even know what Uber is? But yeah, something along these lines >>3845293
and then lead them to the others.

>>3845321
I'm pretty sure Provence doesn't even know what the UN is, but I can figure something out.

>>3845415
the UN prbly wouldn't be that had for her to grasp. It's basically just the League of Nations part 2

>>3845321
>>3845293
You cross your arms and shake your head, “You sure did take your time I had heard such great things about the Parisian cab service, don’t expect a good tip.”

The man laughs, “This is outside of our usual service range, but whoever your friends are they were apparently very persuasive to the colonel, I can’t be mad though,” he offers with a knowing smile, “what I wouldn’t give to have some politician wrapped around my own finger.”

You raise a confused eyebrow before letting the matter drop, “I guess I’m better connected than I thought,” you offer as a parting remark, returning towards the house. Inside, l’Audacieux has already woken the shipgirl and meets you at the entrance with a nod, you pass by her and head into the bedroom to pick up the Abyssal, ignoring the muffled shrieks and curses that moving her provokes.

You step into the headlight-illuminated town at l’Audacieux’s heels. Most of the convoy’s personnel seem to be idly waiting and several have dismounted, even given your limited amount of land based tactics its clear their security posture is terrible as the men laugh and smoke outside their vehicles. You approach the gun-bearing vehicle again and the man in the turret greets you again with a smile that seems to fall into a look of alarm as soon as he offers it. “What the fuck?!” He calls out, lifting the gun to his shoulder and pointing it towards you before racking back the charging handle. The other soldiers seem to drop their casual attitude and react to your approach with equal panic, raising arms against your approaching party.

Behind l’Audacieux the cruiser lets out an alarmed yelp and steps back, in response the destroyer calls her armament to bear.

“What the hell is going on?!” the man in the cupola asks in a panicked voice, gesturing to the Abyssal with his free hand. “Where the fuck did you get them?!”

“We captured it-” you answer matter-of-factly, hoisting the struggling Abyssal for emphasis, “did Dunkerque not explain this?”

>>3845458
The man blinks in confusion. “Dunkerque?!” he mutters in confusion, setting his gun down slightly, “No. Jesus-No. All the Colonel told us is that some idiots got stranded on the beach and needed rescue. We thought you were just naive tourists who got stuck out here on a seaside trip.” His gaze worriedly drifts over the l'Audacieux, who, apparently too irritated to talk to him, leads the shipgirl into the transport behind him.

You ponder his statement before shrugging beneath the Abyssal and stepping towards the armored vehicle, “I guess broadly speaking that’s true,” you admit before grabbing the rear door of the vehicle open and tossing the Abyssal in- eliciting a stream of muffled protests from the crew.

The soldier’s eyes grow wide and he pushes himself back into the cupola, cursing in alarm “It’s- it’s not going to break out is it?” he asks nervously. “Don’t they have guns and shit? What if it fights back?”

You step in behind the Abyssal and seat yourself above her before shrugging noncommittally at the soldier’s remark, “then she loses.”

The man seems unconvinced and the expression of terror refuses to leave his face, but from the front of the vehicle the driver glances back at the lot of you and laughs, “man I thought this would be boring,” he mutters to himself, “alright sweetheart- we weren't exactly briefed much in advance, do you know where you're going?”

>the closest military facility
>Tunis
>other

>>3845460

>the closest military facility

Our British cruiser friend needs immediate medical attention

>>3845460
>the closest military facility

>>3845460
>the closest military facility

>>3845460
>>the closest military facility
radio in advance for a doctor to be on stand-by

>>3845460
Also backing this >>3845561

>>3845472
>>3845512
>>3845514
>>3845561

>the closest military facility

“Where’s the closest army post?” you ask, “One of the others is in pretty bad need of medical attention and I’d like to get into better contact with my friends.”

The driver thinks the question over, “It’s not an army post, but we were called in from Camp Chlef- probably because we’ve got the closest organized military units. That being said its pretty packed medics and doctors are usually pretty overworked but if distance is the issue it’s your best bet.” He glances back at the struggling escort and grins slightly, “they’ll probably throw a fit if they see you dragging an Abyssal to a refugee camp though.”

“I’ll deal with it,” you assuage. Satisfied with your answer the driver turns around with a shrug and starts the vehicle before gently turning it around the direction they came. The gunner seems to take the departure as an opportunity to slide out of the turret and into the front seat, still eyeing the Abyssal nervously. The driver laughs and your convoy continues on for some moments in silence as the vehicle bounces along the rarely used coastal roads.

“So if you don’t mind me asking, what the hell brought you all the way out here?” the driver begins in a friendly tone, clearly trying his hardest to avoid an awkward silence.

“Shut the fuck up Vincent.” the gunner mutters from the front seat, eyeing you suspiciously, “she captured an Abyssal. She’s probably a spook or some shit and it’s definitely classified”

You laugh and shoot an amused look at the gunner, “I just got back from visiting family and was in the area and needed a lift, I guess you could say the rest just tagged along.”

“Sounds like you have a hell of an interesting family,” Vincent playfully replies in a tone that seems to reflect that he assumes you’re joking. “Mine always had drama when we had gatherings, but that was limited to uncomfortable yelling matches and racist comments from grandparents. I don’t remember anyone inviting a demon, sounds like they keep fun company.”

You chuckle slightly before nodding along in bittersweet amusement, not bothering to correct him.

“I didn’t catch your name by the way,” he explains gesturing to his crewmate idly, “I’m Vincent, this is Jean.”

“Provence.” you offer curtly..

“Like the province in the South of France?” he asks, drawing a nod of response from you, “I like it. My family used to rent a summer home there, it’s a very beautiful place. I think it suits you.”

Your face begins to draw the faintest smile before its overtaken by a frown of realization over the driver’s intentions.

>fuck it, tease him a bit
>ignore him and continue on in silence
>strongly rebuke him
>divert the conversation elsewhere

>>3845615
>fuck it, tease him a bit

>>3845615

>fuck it, tease him a bit

Maybe we should mention that we keep breaking men when we have fun, perhaps there's sturdier stock somewhere?

>>3845932
>>3845795
>>>
> Anonymous (ID: 9eObhkMn) 09/28/19(Sat)16:39:08 No.3845795▶
>>>3845615 (You)
>>fuck it, tease him a bit

You adopt a wry smile, eyeing the driver in the mirror and crawl to the front of the vehicle, crouching between the two front seats and propping yourself casually on the backrests. “Are you flirting with me?” you ask, raising an eyebrow.

The driver laughs and shrugs coyly, “maybe,” he teases with false nonchalance, “is it working?”

“Jesus Christ Vincent, don’t flirt with the VIPs,” the gunner admonishes, before glancing worriedly back to the truck “she should be watching that- thing anyways or it’s going to kill all of us.”

“I told you, if she tries anything, I’ll take care of it,” you dismiss idly before turning back to the driver and making a show of considering his advances before shaking your head in an exaggerated fashion. “I don’t think so-” you finally decide, “You’re not really my type, I more into the Navy- lost count of the amount of sailors that I’ve gotten to know. Besides, I’d need someone stronger, I’d probably accidentally break you.”

“What- The Navy?! Stronger?!” Vincent replies, feigning shock and hurt, “Us Army guys would treat you better, I’m worth twice any sailor”. He puffs up his chest a bit and offers a dismissive handwave “People only look up the Navy because they have those boat-women running around looking all pretty and fighting their battles for them.”

“Stop flirting and concentrate on your driving-” Jean angrily admonishes. “Besides, I told you, those boat-women aren’t even real, they just made them up and did some special effects to boost confidence and recruitment rates,” he checks nervously on the Abyssal’s escape progress, “no one would join if they knew they still had to fight those things.”

“That makes sense,” you agree, nodding sagely over Jean’s apparent wisdom, before turning your attention back to Vincent and making an exaggerated helpless expression “Sadly it still wouldn’t work regardless, one of my sisters is in the Navy and she’d never approve of me seeing an Army guy. Of course, I doubt she’d be the one you’d have to worry over.”

“I can be very charming and rather persuasive,” he defends, glancing back again at you through the mirror and feigning exaggerated hurt.

The truck hits a bump as he turns, causing the bound Abyssal to thrash and scream angrily “Stop fucking flirting and focus on driving,” Jean admonishes, grabbing a nearby rifle in panic.

You laugh at the driver’s comment, “I don’t think Bretagne would give you the chance, she’s pretty obsessive.”

He gives you a curious look through the mirror. “is all of your family named after national provinces?”

>>3846014
You smugly grin and push yourself slightly further between the two men, “Yeah, once they laid down Bretagne the rest of the class all got provincial names, I’m sure it all had to do with nationalism and war bonds, but the dreadnought race was an interesting time.”

Vincent looks at you briefly with confusion, before his face reddens into alarmed realization.

“Jesus Christ Vincent were you trying to fuck a battleship?” Jean asks loudly, slapping his friend on the chest.

It’s your turn to feign confusion and hurt, “Was that not the idea? I figured between l’Audacieux’s cannons and me dragging a tied up Abyssal it was all pretty obvious.” You shrug, feigning nonchalance “I get it if a warship isn’t your type, but I’m still game to give it all a go. Fair warning though - I’ve got a 27 centimeter belt, if we end up fucking I guarantee that I won’t be the one getting penetrated.”

The car swerves dramatically at the statement, throwing you into the armored sides as you giggle audibly to yourself.

>tease more
>you get the sense that the battle is won, continue to the camp
>ask for the radio, you’d like to talk to l’Audacieux.
>other

>>3846021
>ask for the radio, you’d like to talk to l’Audacieux.

Holy shit have some mercy Provence. I think you melted him

>>3846021
>tease more
We must go further

>>3846168
If he comes in his pants i blame u

>>3846042
>>3846021

This

>>3846444
>>3846168
>>3846042

“What’s wrong?” you giggle, leaning back between the two soldiers with a teasing expression and a sultry voice. “You said soldiers are worth twice what sailors are-. Why don’t you try to prove once and for all that you’ve got more game than the thousands of sailors that have been inside me?” You make an exaggerated sigh and roll your eyes, offering a diplomatic hand gesture “Look let’s get it over with- at this point we’re either fighting or fucking and either way, I’m going to come out on top.”

The car swerves slightly again and you giggle loudly, grabbing the seat backs to stabilize yourself.

“I’m sorry,” Vincent quietly chokes, “I need to drive-”

“Lead vehicle” a static-filled voice interrupts, a tone of unease is evident even through the radio’s noise. “This is Lieutenant Durret. Are you having issues with that Abyssal? Over.”

You finish your giggling, reaching over Jean and grabbing the handset. You inspect it thoughtfully until the soldier in the passenger's seat frantically indicates the button to transmit and you’re able to talk back. “Lieutenant, this is Battleship Provence.” you answer in an annoyed tone, “Despite accusations to the contrary, I am in fact capable of keeping a tied up escort secured, there is no problem here.”

The voice on the other end hesitates, clearly taking time to process your reply “You guys are swerving all over the road, what’s the issue up there?”

You grin to yourself, before keying the radio, “We were just intimately discussing Army-Navy relations,” you reply, eliciting a panicked choking noise from your driver, “you’ll forgive me if I’m sparse on the details, it got a bit- personal.”

“Um-” the officer’s voice replies with obvious hesitation and confusion, “Roger-.”

“Can you pass the radio to l’Audacieux?” you ask, adopting a more serious tone. “I’d like to make sure she’s holding up on her end.”

“Right- wait one.”

“Provence, what the hell is going on up there?” you escort worriedly begins, “It looks like your driver is swerving pretty badly.”

“Just having some fun with the Army guys,” you reassure, before regaining your composure, “But how are things back there? Is the cruiser holding up?”

“Does fun mean what I think it-?” the destroyer begins before frantically cutting herself off “Nevermind. She’s sleeping now. She was still a bit on edge when we set off but I think she’s managed to calm down a lot since pulling her out of that place. As far as getting through what physically happened, it's hard to say, but she doesn’t seem to be getting any worse and the vomiting seems to have stopped.”

“How are you holding up yourself?” you ask.

>>3846483

“Fine,” l’Audacieux counters, hesitating briefly, “I don’t know if you heard but we’re apparently heading to a refugee camp, I’d be lying if I said I’m worried that they don’t have anyone who’s clever enough to fix what’s wrong with the girl we rescued.”

“What do you suggest?” you ask cautiously.

“We may have to organize a helicopter trip to Tunis- It’s not a long trip and she seems stable enough that I’m not urgently worried, I just wanted to let you know that we may not be able to stay long.”

You nod and let out a sigh, relieved that the destroyer’s assessment is not worse than it is, “It’s not like I was planning on hanging out there,” you counter casually. “Just let me know if anything changes in your vehicle and stay safe. We’re almost back in friendly hands.”

“Likewise Provence.” The destroyer replies.

You toss the mic haphazardly back into Jean’s lap and lean back idly glancing at the Abyssal. “How far are we from the camp?” you ask.

“About twenty mintues to half an hour, ma’am” comes the rapid fired and stressed reply.

You smile and lean back, considering your options in the meantime.

>ask the soldiers something
>you’ve had your fun and they’ve shut up, ride out the rest of the trip in quiet
>other

>>3846492
>>you’ve had your fun and they’ve shut up, ride out the rest of the trip in quiet

>>3846492
>you’ve had your fun and they’ve shut up, ride out the rest of the trip in quiet
Based Provence

>>3846618
>>3846573
>>you’ve had your fun and they’ve shut up, ride out the rest of the trip in quiet

You take a seat in the vehicle's back and allow yourself to relax as best you can over the bumpy road. Mercifully, it looks like your teasing was successful and it isn't until the vehicle slows you to a steady stop that you get any updates on the progress of your trip. A quick glance out the front window confirms that you've arrived at some sort of gated and fenced entrance, behind which countless rows of white tents can be faintly picked out among the night. The gate quickly raises and you continue onwards. The vehicles pick their way around the housing until finally reaching a less packed cluster of larger and more militaristic tents and coming to a gentle coasting stop.

As soon as Jean steps out of the ar ored carrier, you take the cue and follow out the back door, hoisting the Abyssal again onto your shoulder and stepping into the cool Algerian night. The soldiers of the convoy seem to busy themselves with securing their vehicles and equipment, though their busywork is occasionally interrupted by the worried looks and wide berthing that they give you and your Abyssal. Behind you in the next truck, L'Audacieux gently coaxes her charge out of the transport with some encouraging words.

You move to assist the destroyer when a short, gruff man in another blue helmet steps up to you. Judging by his expressions, the attentive aide besides him and the way he confronts you, you assume that he fancies himself important a fact that reenforces itself when he briskly introduced himself as 'Colonel Berger' and offers an outstretched hand.

You briefly ponder having more fun with the army before taking on the diplomatic approach, smiling and grasping his hand with the arm not holding onto the Abyssal. "Provence," you curtly respond. "A pleasure." You direct your gaze back to the cruiser and gesture towards her. "My friend needs medical attention," you explain, "where is the hospital?"

He nods in acknowledgement and turns to the aide behind him, "see to it," be dismissively orders, sending the man scrambling towards your friends. "So your Dunkerque's friend," he mutters, scrying you carefully before his vision wanders distastefully to the Abyssal, "did you really have to bring that thing here?" He asks in annoyance.

"Yes." You answer confidently, "you don't need to worry about it. I'll take care of her."

He seems to acknowledge your reply with an annoyed grunt. "Given you have a friend in the Naval Secretary I know you're more like than to overstep your bounds. But know that we won't tolerate you waltzing about like you own this place. Technically he's not even in the picture here. This is a United Nations show, so I'd ask that you keep your head down and let us do our job without you wandering about and scaring refugees shitless or pilfering what few supplies we have. Do you understand?"

"Fine." You tacitly agree.

>>3846692
The man nods in satisfaction and steps back towards the direction he arrived, apparently having concluded his business with you. You move to try and track down L'Audacieux when another person interrupts.

"Ma'am?" Vincent's voice stammers quietly from behind you, "the lieutenant asked that I help you find your way around- if it's the same to you."

You brighten and throw your arm over his shoulder, eliciting an awkward squirm from the soldiers and begin to consider your next path.

>Find billeting for your crew and get the Abyssal under wraps.
>Find food
>Accompany L'Audacieux
>Get yourself cleaned up
>Other

>>3846695
>>Find billeting for your crew and get the Abyssal under wraps.

>>3846695
>>Find billeting for your crew and get the Abyssal under wraps.
we should get it out of the open, unless we wanna start a panic

>>3846695
>Find billeting for your crew and get the Abyssal under wraps.
Get it done first before anything else.

>>3846909
>>3846822
>>3846783
>Find billeting for your crew and get the Abyssal under wraps.
>Get it done first before anything else.

You glance around the camp, in the night with its dirt streets mostly unlit it’s hard to determine just how expansive it might be, though given how the neat orderly white tents seem to stretch out on the road behind you it seems like the offer of a guide might be helpful. “What do you have for billeting?” you ask with a grimace, gesturing towards the Abyssal on your shoulder to emphasize the inherent issue. “Like you said, I don’t want to start a panic here.”

The soldier considers your options before nodding in acknowledgement , “I think we’ve got an unused tent nearby, ma’am” he explains, “If you’d follow me,” he explains, before stepping off down the dirty road at a rapid pace. You follow him into the cluster of more militaristic tents on the road’s side.

You pass several soldiers and important looking civilians on your path though they seem too worried over the Abyssal draped over your shoulder to stop or even talk to you and depart quickly with hushed and alarmed murmurings. Thankfully, it looks like most of the people you pass hold at least some professional bearing and there are no shouts of panic or cries of alarm- probably due in part to the soldier guiding you. Most of the tents you pass are functionally identical, though a few bear signs designating military and civilian administration, storerooms, or medical facilities. The few blue-helmeted guards that seem to loiter about their entrances eye you worriedly as you pass, stepping back as you pass with your cargo.

Eventually he guides you to a plain drab looking tent and lifts the flap. Once inside it becomes apparent that you haven’t exactly been given the five star treatment. Most of the ground is covered with tightly packed shrink-wrapped pallets bearing an insignia of a white globe and the words “World Health Organization.” It looks like your comfort hasn’t been completely ignored however and a trio of plain aluminum and cloth cots bearing folded wool blankets line the wall.

You step in and drop the Abyssal on one of the cots, eliciting a muffled and angry protest from the escort, who begins thrashing again. Her protests are short lived and she soon stops, though she continues to shoot you and angry and defiant glare. .

You sigh contently and drop down on one of the other cots, allowing yourself to finally relax- if only slightly.

“Will that be all ma’am?” the soldier asks, peeking in hesitantly from the tent flap.

>secure the Abyssal and get some rest
>check on L’Audacieux and the other girl
>ask for something else
>check around the camp
>talk to someone

>>3847541
>>secure the Abyssal and get some rest
tug her in and read her a bedtime story

>>3847590
“What? We’re getting all distant and impersonal,” you tease, before slouching in disappointment when the soldier doesn’t seem interested in taking your bait. “We’re fine- thanks.” you dismiss, giving up on teasing him further. Idly, you turn your attention to the Abyssal. Ignoring its struggling, you kneel down to place your weight on its back and undo its binds and grab its arms, forcing them around the cot and chaining them again into place-. While the binds are not perfect you reason at the very least that it can’t easily escape into the night without dragging to cot along with it- something you reason that you're definitely going to notice.

You step back and admire your handiwork before a small pang of regret forms in your heart over the girl’s predicament. You grab one of the wool blankets and tuck it over the continuously struggling Abyssal and mutter a quiet apology that does absolutely nothing to calm the escort.

The Abyssal taken care of to your satisfaction, you seat yourself on your own cot and grab the blanket, before laying down and finally letting sleep overtake you.

It isn’t until the night passes without interruption that you realize just how much you missed a good night’s sleep during the time spent in your sister’s fortress-. You awaken slowly and peacefully, noting as you sit up and see the light pouring in from below the tent’s flap that for the first time since Tunis you managed to sleep until daylight.

You sit up, survey the tent and note that you’re the first to awaken. Glancing back and taking in your surroundings. With the filth coating her earlier now apparently, gone it takes you near a full second to realize that the pale red-haired girl cuddled protectively against L’Audacieux is the cruiser you rescued earlier. Between yourself and the cruiser, even the Abyssal looks to be resting. Though the girl fitfully tosses and mutters quietly into the sock-gag you shoved in its mouth.

Outside, you can hear the early morning bustle from the camp as vehicles move about and people idly and incoherently chatter from outside.

>wake the others
>wait for the others to awaken
>head out by yourself and see what’s going on

>>3847874
>>wait for the others to awaken
snooze mode: active

>>3847874
>wait for the others to awaken

>>3847874
>head out by yourself and see what’s going on

>>3848521
>>3848609
>>wait for the others to awaken
You stretch calmly and lean back, patiently waiting for your sleeping companions to awaken for some time. Soon you grow bored and begin to idly poke at the crates occupying the tents and read their labels. Eventually your thrilling activities are interrupted by the idle stirring of the cruiser. She sits up groggily and blinks the sleep out of her eyes, tiredly watching you.

“Good morning,” you greet pleasant, “how are you holding up?”

She responds with a half smile and a quiet nod which you take to be a positive response. Her rousing seems to further disturb L'Audacieux, “good morning,” the destroyer mutters contentedly, returning your own greeting. “I missed not waking up every hour from the nightmares.”

“Did you two get everything sorted last night?” you ask tentatively, gesturing to the still muttering Abyssal “I didn’t exactly want to drag our friend along or leave her alone unsupervised.”

“They did what they could.” L’Audacieux mutters giving a look of half concern in the cruiser’s direction. “A human doctor apparently has a fair few shortcomings when it comes to us and how we tick-. Even a repair ship probably doesn’t have a presidence when it comes to undoing whatever it was that happened.” She gives a half smile to the cruiser, and ruffles her hair protectively, which seems to cut the girl’s growing concern over the topic of conversation. “That being said it looks like getting her somewhere she can feel safe is already helping a lot.”

You nod and consider your options. “I’d still like to get someone to look at her once we get to Tunis.”

L’Audacieux nods in agreement. The Abyssal, still tied to the bed finally seems to awaken as her quiet sleep talk begin to die down. Her glowing amber eyes open suddenly and she struggles weakly against her bonds, glaring around the room before locking eyes with you and letting out a muffled curse.

“Looks like we’re all awake now.” L'Audacieux mutters idly, “I wonder what Abyssals dream about.”

“Probably nothing good,” you reply with a sympathetic glance to the struggling Abyssal, “maybe that’s why they’re so pissed off all the time. It’s not like she’s got a lot of good memories to draw on.”

“Nothing good.” the red haired girl mutters quietly in agreement

L’Audacieux quietly nods.

>>3849835
“Miss- um Battleship Provence- ma’am?” a familiar male voice calls from outside the tent, “begging your pardon but I was asked to fetch your company.”

L’Audacieux glances towards the tent flap, with a raised eyebrow “A friend of yours?” she asks, “why does it sound like he’s worried you’re going to slap him?”

You laugh and grin, not bothering to hide your amusement from the voice on the other side, “Like I said last night, we had a lengthy conversation about Army-Navy relations that I’m pretty sure I ended up winning.” You turn aside, directing your attention to the soldier. “What do you need me for?”

“There’s another warship here to see you ma’am,” he explains, “she says she’s here to fetch you and your companions.”

“What’s her name?”


“Émile Bertin, she told us she’s a cruiser,” he hesitates, “she didn’t much seem like talking at the moment and got rather annoyed when we asked anything else- sorry.”

“That sounds like Émile.” L’Audacieux agrees with a sigh, “What do we do about her though?” the destroyer asks, nodding at your captive.

>bring it
>don’t bring it

>>3849838
>bring it

>>3849838
>bring it

>>3849838
>bring it
'Lest we risk her breaking her bonds and escaping.

>>3849993
>>3849974
>>3849898

“Give me a second-” you reply to the soldier before turning your attention to the Abyssal. The bound escort shoots you a defiant look, but seems to finally at least somewhat understand the futility of struggling against a battleship. You reach down and undo the restraints holding her arms against the bed before fitting them around the Abyssal’s back and locking them into place. Hoisting your prisoner onto your shoulder, you turn to your other companions and politely gesture them forwards.

Outside- the camp is far livier than it was at night. A surprising variety of people wander down the camp’s pathways and the side streets among the white tents and several white vehicles of military and civilian make move about the dirt streets and congregate around the command and administration tents. Among them and in the distance are a trio of more traditionally camouflaged military vehicles surrounded by a group of Italian marines, all of them looking noticeably more professional than the soldiers and headed by the unmistakable form of Émile Bertin.

Vincent walks beside you, eyeing the Abyssal on your shoulder warily and making nervous glances to the camp’s now wandering population. Already small groups seem to have picked up on your -and more importantly the Abyssal’s- presence and distant shouts of alarm seem to signal a developing panic.

“Well that’s not good.” L’Audacieux mutters, patting the cruiser on the back encouragingly and guiding her onwards. It looks like the shouting and rising panic has put her on edge.

In the distance it looks like Émile Bertin has noticed your approach and breaks off an unheard conversation with the camp’s colonel. She turns and approaches you with an expression of mild annoyance- or possibly her normal expression, you don’t think you’ve ever seen Émile not irritated with you. She steps close to your group and regards L’Audacieux with a soft look and relieved sigh, before drawing the destroyer in a hug that elicits a confused grunt from the destroyer, who apparently was not expecting the affection. “I’m glad to see you’re alive and well-. Both of you, despite how things turned out.”

>>3850205
“You too Émile.” you return, “for what it’s worth, I’m sorry.”

She seems to take your comment in stride, which you assume is better than lecturing you before nodding towards the cruiser. “I had heard you got some new friends.” she mutters, offering a hand towards the cruiser, “Émile Bertin.”

The cruiser eyes her with nervous confusion before thrusting her own hand out tentatively and allowing her French counterpart to shake it.

“She’s not too talkative at the moment, she’s been through a lot” L’Audacieux explains, patting the cruiser encouragingly, “Émile Bertin is nice,” she defends, “she doesn't have any immediate family, so she’s basically our mom.”

Émile opens her mouth to protest but closes it again and lets out an amused half grin, “Fair enough.” she admits with a sigh, before glancing over your shoulder towards the growing unrest. “I don’t suppose you all want to linger? It looks like Provence is about to cause an all out riot and Lorraine really wants to chat.”

>linger
>don’t linger

>>3850207
>don’t linger
Let's bounce before the panic gets any worse.

>>3850226

>don’t linger

You nod your acquiescence and follow Émile Bertin to the nearest of the Italian gun-trucks. Unlike the French peacekeepers, it looks like someone actually bothered to let the Italian Marines know that they’d be transporting an Abyssal and they seem to react to you tossing the escort into the back door of their armored vehicle with cautious unease rather than surprise or outright panic as you and your companions board the nearest of the transports. You take the rear seat and lean back in it as the rest of your comrades trickle in to the other free seats. The cruiser sits between you and L’Audacieux, apparently still unwilling to leave the destroyer’s side even for a moment.

“Man- if I knew how much easier driving everywhere was than sailing on my own power I’d have joined the Army,” you joke as the last door closes, before frowning and pondering the matter, “Is that actually an option to me-?”

You savor the bewildered look Émile Bertin gives you from the front passenger seat before she shakes her head. “Probably?” she mutters in a defeated tone, “but do you really want to be in the infantry?”

You shrug as the driver gets in and wordlessly starts the vehicle up. You smile dies and you lean forwards to talk more directly talk to the light cruiser seated up front “More seriously, how is my sister holding up? I heard Lorraine got it pretty badly.”

“She fought until she had nothing left to fight with,” the light cruiser replies in a flat tone, glancing at you coldly through the rearview mirror “she was convinced that you were being held against your will somewhere in the ship. She will survive though, but I think she’ll feel it for a long time.”

You guiltily stare at the vehicle’s armored floor. “I am sorry.” you quietly admit, “we had wounded and a prisoner.”

“She wouldn’t have survived fighting through the enemy.” L’Audacieux defends from her own seat, “With Lorraine on the attack we assumed she held the initiative.”

Émile Bertin nods solemnly and lets out a sigh, though continues to stare up at the road. Refusing to make eye contact “I know, I’d be lying Provence, if I said I wasn’t angry at you over the whole affair, but at least something good came out of it. Do you know where she’s from yet?”

“She had a Royal Navy ensign and light cruiser sized armament,” L’Audacieux admits, glancing sympathetically at the girl seated next to her, “beyond that we haven’t a clue.”

Émile Bertin shows a rare spot of mirth and smiles at the response, breaking her cold expression “You ended up saving a British ship?” she asks, glancing over her shoulder at you, “I’m sure Edinburgh will be pleased, she’s apparently convinced the two of you are best friends after your little tussle. I think it’s a Scottish thing.”

You grimace at the memory of the Scottish cruiser.

>you had something you wanted to ask.
>continue onwards

>>3850512
>>you had something you wanted to ask.
Whats going to happen to the abyssal (inb4 sent to a lab and dissected)
how dose the service work? do boat-waifus even have a choice of wether or not they are part of the military?

>>3850512

“How did Rodney’s attack go? What of Bretagne?”

>>3850512
>you had something you wanted to ask.
Did we lose anyone?
>>3850856
Does Provence know about Rodney's attack?

>>3850934

I think Le Terrible mentioned it on the phone

>lots of questions

The vehicle continues, pulling out from the refugee camp onto an eastern facing roadway. “How did everyone else fare in the attack? Did we lose anyone?” you ask, nervously breaking the short establish silence.

Émile Bertin glances at your through the driver’s rear view mirror “Believe me when I say I would have made sure you knew if we did. Le Terrible got shot up pretty badly but the only ones who we really came close to losing were your sister and that Italian friend of yours. Everyone else in our convoy got away mostly safe and should be recovering nicely”

“Legionario.” you correct in a guilty tone.

“She was almost as adamant as your sister about the whole affair, you managed to find reliable friends. I did hear that a pair of Rodney’s girls were shot up pretty bad. A Polish destroyer and one of the cruisers, I hadn’t heard that they sank but me and Lorraine got separated towards the end of the fighting before they really got into the thick of it and we didn’t get news.”

You nod along, mulling over how much the two ships sinking bothers you.

“The Abyssal fleet didn’t quit easily.” Émile explains, still continuing her earlier point, “but at the very least we did a lot of damage.”

“Bretagne certainly knows how to motivate her girls.” you note, sympathetically glancing at the back of the vehicle where the Abyssal is out of sight but presumably still struggling. “They’re pretty fanatically devoted to serving her, even if they don’t realistically have an option. But I guess I don’t even know if I have the option.”

“There’s been a universal draft of all former vessels of the Marine Nationale along with a partial draft of the civilian population.” The light cruiser explains, “Most of us don’t have the option. This is total war Provence, the likes of which France has never seen in its long history.”

“I guess it’s the same for me as for her than.” you note with a disappointed tone, “What’s going to happen to her once we get her back to Tunis?”

>>3851634
“If past captures are anything to go by, a series of useless interrogations that net nothing but silence or angry rantings followed by a medical and scientific examination when they inevitably manage to get themselves killed or starve themselves to death.” Émile Bertin shakes her head, “ Abyssals aren’t like us Provence, they don’t value their past or even themselves. You may think them sympathetic but you haven’t seen them like we have. When Bretagne fought against our battlegroup, she seemed dead set on targeting Lorraine. You should have seen the look of hate.”

You open your mouth to question that point and ask about Bretagne when you realize that Émile Bertin and probably Lorraine have confused your favorite Abyssal battleship for Bretagne.

>correct her, it’s useful information and she might be able to offer insight.
>do not correct her, you aren’t sure you want to let that information out yet.
>ask another question

Sorry this one took so long, was kind of hard to try and naturally throw all those questions into the conversation. I... tried.

>>3851280
Yes, it was mentioned, Provence also at least knows that something happened up north.

>>3851638

>correct her, it’s useful information and she might be able to offer insight.

>>3851638
>correct her, it’s useful information and she might be able to offer insight.

>>3851638
>>correct her, it’s useful information and she might be able to offer insight.

>>3851759
>>3852505
You shake your head, "that wasn't Bretagne." You correct, "I was with her most of the fight until she left. She went north to fight off Rodney's attack and I left soon thereafter."

"Lorraine recognized her." Émile Bertin counters, "she told me the Abyssal shooting at us was your sister."

"It's true, I was there too and met them both" L'Audacieux backs up, "that other battleship, she's not Bretagne. Bretagne claims she's a fourth sister or something, but according to Provence and everything I've read only three were built and no other classes based their design heavily enough on the Bretagnes to consider them a subclass."

Émile Bertin considers the matter briefly with a frown, " so there are two Abyssal princesses masquerading as your sister, but only one is actually Bretagne." She pauses, continuing her train of thought and turning around to eye you. "When you say only three were built, do you mean laid down or commissioned?"

"Can an incomplete ship come back?" You ask before actually taking time to think it over, recalling vague memories from the early years of your service. "Commissioned." You confirm, "there was another Bretagne laid down before the war as an order for a foreign government but progress stopped after a scant few months and I'm almost positive she was scrapped well before completion."

"I've never heard of any half-complete ships coming back," L'Audacieux agrees.

"Not have I," the French Cruiser agrees. "Abyssals are unpredictable and strange, particularly it seems, in relation to Provence and her sisters.

"Maybe Lorraine can offer some answers," you mutter before allowing yourself to get lost in thought. You idly stare out the window for some time as the rocky landscape and occasional small towns or cities. After several hours of thoughtful starings and a few attempted and quickly aborted casual conversations with you and your companions you reach the Tunisian border and passing through that, you soon reach Tunis and the port facilities.

"I'll see about getting your friend in back taken care of, I'm sure you have business with Lorraine and the others." Émile Bertin offers as the armored vehicle slows to a stop among a group of similarly painted transports arrayed in front of the large sterile series of concrete military buildings that house the Italian shipgirls and their support facilities.

"I guess it's nice to be back, huh Provence?" L'Audacieux mutters.

>Insist on taking care of the Abyssal
>Go see Lorraine
>Go talk to Legionario, Gorizia or Lepanto
.>Go talk to Le Terrible
>Ask Glorious or Edinburgh if they can help with the cruiser

>>3852590
>Insist on taking care of the Abyssal

>>3852590
>>Insist on taking care of the Abyssal

>a medical and scientific examination when they inevitably manage to get themselves killed
sure thing they just happen to cause their own death, , and totally not get cut open by eggheads

>>3852690
>>3852591

You step out of the vehicle following Émile Bertin’s lead, “I’ll see to the girl myself.” you offer. “I can’t help but feel a little responsible for her.”

The light cruiser eyes you warily, before shaking her head “Naval Intelligence has procedures for this sort of thing- ones that have already been violated, I might add. They’re not going to let you bring her back to your quarters no matter how secure you think you can keep them.”

You cross your arms and stand your ground, “That may be but I’m not going to let some scientists cut her open to see how she ticks. Or do you mean to tell me that every Abyssal brought back alive just happens to suddenly and randomly up and die?”

Émile Bertin doesn’t bother to hide her frustration or mistrust. “She’s an Abyssal Provence, they’re not like us or the humans. They don’t understand the rules of war. Every time we manage to secure one it’s only a matter of days before they repeatedly bash their head against a wall, bite their own arteries open, or just let themselves die. Hell- one of them tried to suicide bomb Lorraine just the other day. Do you think we kill them all because we have a shortage of corpses? The war has been going on a long time- far longer than you seem to understand.”

“She’s been through enough.” you reply, standing your ground, “more than you seem to understand and I can’t help but feel a bit responsible for it all.”

“Fine,” she angrily replies, “But if you’re going to go off to join your traitor of a sister again don’t you dare take another of my girls back to that hellhole.” With that she turns and departs towards the naval base, finished with the conversation

“Did I miss something?” L’Audacieux interrupts, apparently missing the conversation as she helped the other cruiser out of the vehicle.

“Just a disagreement regarding the Abyssal,” you reply tersely before taking the time to open the rear door and removing the escort in question. She still eyes you definitely as you hoist her onto your shoulder and wriggles slightly but it looks like most of the fighting has left her. ‘

“What are you going to do with it?” L’Audacieux asks idly.

>take it to someone and ask for advice
>secure it in your room, damn the consequences
>turn it in to base security but insist on staying with it
>other
>do something else first.

>>3853659
>take it to someone and ask for advice
We should take it to Lorraine. Also curious how it will react to another sister of Bretagne

>>3853793
We should take it to Lorraine. Also curious how it will react to another sister of Bretagne

You shrug, “Let’s check in with Lorraine first, she might be able to give us ideas.”

L’Audacieux seems unconvinced but signals for you to lead on with a small nod. Her cruiser friend still seems to stick inseparably to the destroyer.

It doesn’t take you long to realize that you have no idea where your sister is. You begin your search by wandering through the entrance of the nearest building but your lack of familiarity with the post’s layout and the Italian language quickly get you turned around several times. Eventually you stumble into a building lobby festooned with Italian Navy memorabilia and spot a familiar face standing about and excitedly chatting with an Italian sailor, who looks to be doing his best to figure out a way to exit the conversation. He looks up at you in an attempt to find a reason for escape before his eyes drift to the Abyssal, growing wide with alarm as he takes a step back.

Mitragleiri turns to follow his gaze and smiles broadly at you. “Ciao Provence!” she excitedly declares, stepping quickly towards your group, “Ciao L’Audacieux!” She adds before her attention focuses on the third girl and she steps towards the cruiser, looking her up and down intently in a fashion that brings to mind the appraisal she gave you when you first met her. “I don’t know your name.” she declares finally.

The cruiser steps back nervously behind L’Audacieux, taken aback by the girl’s scrutiny and the unease the question of identity leaves her with.

“She doesn’t know either.” L’Audacieux kindly explains, “It’s a long story.”

Mitragleiri furrows her brow in confusion before turning to you with an expression that, like the Italian sailor and most everyone else you’ve met in the past few days descends into alarm when she notices the Abyssal on your shoulder. “Did you find that with Bretagne?!”

“Yeah,” you explain offhand, “do you know where Lorraine is? I was hoping she could help me sort out what to do with my friend here.”

>>3854552
The Italian girl nods excitedly, “she’s in her room, last I saw now that they let her out of the docks. I bet she has a lot she wants to talk to you about.” the girl turns and heads down a hallway before turning around and beckoning you to follow. “Speaking of which- Lepanto wants to talk to you too.”

“Lepanto?” you ask as a group of Italian sailors spot the Abyssal on your shoulder and immediately change directions.

Mitragleiri nods but doesn’t turn around, guiding you down hallways that you finally begin to recognize, if only due to the presence of ship names on some of the doors. “Last night she apparently had some weird dreams and talked to Gorizia about them, which I think annoyed the heck out of Gorizia. I don’t know what it was all about but she was pretty determined to try and get in touch with you- she was asking everyone for help there.”

“She didn’t offer any clues about what the dream was?”

Your guide seems to pause over that, apparently only now taking issue with the idea. “No- she didn’t” she quietly reflects, “she’s usually pretty chatty too, you know?” Mitragleiri ponders briefly but doesn’t seem to worry over the matter long, she quickly shrugs and you begin to pass doors with more familiar French names on them. “I’m sure she’ll tell you all about it- anyways, Lorraine’s door is here.”

“Thanks Miragleiri,” you offer with a nod, “I’d have been lost all day without you.”

She offers a small salute and a smile before disappearing down the hall.

You eye the door briefly, your gaze hovering over your sister’s name before knocking lightly.

Inside is quiet for some time until you hear some clumsy shuffling, footsteps and shortly after the sound of the door unlocking and swinging open. Your struck immediately by Lorraine’s state. Your sister’s wounds are mad distressingly obvious by her pained posture and her slung arm. Less immediately obvious is the pained look she gives you with the one eye not currently hidden by a patch. She stands before you briefly before pulling you into a clumsy and desperate hug, not helped by the Abyssal on your shoulder or your Sister’s need to lean forwards in to you for balance.

You let her linger there for some time before muttering a quiet apology that seems to signal an end to the moment. Lorraine slowly leans out of the hug on unsteady legs, avoiding your gaze before winding back and punching you hard and unexpectedly in the gut. The force of the impact sends you keeling over and onto the ground along with the Abyssal. Lorraine herself seems to tumble backwards, landing with a pained grunt.

“I deserve that.” you admit with a pained voice, climbing onto your feet. Your sister takes a bit longer due to her injuries and you’re forced to offer her a hand, which she brushes away teary-eyed, before regaining her footing on her own after a few messy attempts.

>>3854554
“I thought you might have been dead.” she quietly mutters

You shake your head, “No. We couldn’t fight our way out with wounded and a prisoner.” you admit in an apologetic tone.

She nods solemnly, “I know. Le Terrible told me. Are the others okay?”

“Actually I was hoping you could help sort things out with me, I think L’Audacieux has the cruiser mostly taken care of, but-” you trail suddenly off, glancing at the Abyssal who eyes your sister with a look of pure, unconcealed hate that surpasses even the glares she gives you. “I don’t know what our sister did to them Lorraine, but it was bad- whoever this Abyssal and that cruiser ae I don’t think they came back like this and I think Bretagne is to blame.”

Lorraine eyes the Abyssal with a look of horror and sympathy before nodding slightly, “We’ll have to see if we can take care of that.” she mutters quietly, “Bretagne is unwell. I saw as much when we dueled yesterday. She barely seemed to acknowledge me, at least not beyond the bombardment she sent my way.”

You shake your head, “That wasn’t Bretagne she fought with Rodney. Though whoever that is Bretagne did refer to her as ‘sister.’”

“Who?” Lorraine asks after a puzzled silence.

“The best I can figure out is that she was the fourth, the one that was never finished. I tried asking but she just seemed to get angry when I asked about her name.”

Lorraine seems to quietly reflect. “Vasilefs,” she mutters, “Vasilefs Konstantinos. But she was barely laid down let alone completed or commissioned like all of the rest of us.”

“I don’t know for sure-” you admit helplessly, “Bretagne never explicitly said the girl was a Bretagne-class and it could just be some strange Abyssal behavior or some adopted relation. After all Abyssals are not exactly consistent from what I hear.”

“It’s not exactly inspiring news,” Lorraine mutters, before returning another sympathetic look to the Abyssal and nodding. “If this Abyssal’s been through as much as you say she has I think it’s warranted if we do our best to help. I don’t think I’ll be able to get much but I may get us permission to watch over her in confinement.”

>agree
>disagree
>suggest something else
>broach another subject.

EXPOSITION DUMP

>>3854557
>agree
Start from how we met her -- with a bowl of chow. Proper chow this time, not the slop she ate back them.

>>3854557
>>suggest something else
we could guard her in our room, if thats not possible then
>>agree

>>3854693
>>suggest something else
we could guard her in our room, if thats not possible then
>>agree

"I don't suppose I could keep her in my quarters? I've made it this far watching over her without letting her act out and honestly like I said- I can't help but feel a bit responsible over her."

Lorraine hesitates, then shakes her head, "I'm not sure that's a good idea regardless of whether the Navy would tolerate it. People are talking since you've left Provence- about what happened with you and the Abyssals. Not all of it is true or pretty and I'm worried some of the conclusions coming out of all of this might be pretty bad. Having an Abyssal as a roommate wouldn't help you."

"I'm not worried about my reputation, but what do you suggest?" You ask.

"I'll lobby for her to be kept under my direct watch and suggest you take shifts with me. It at least gets my name on everything under the official records and keeps you from getting tied up more into this Abyssal business." Lorraine leans back, sitting on her bed with a tired thump, her expression looking slightly less pained and slightly more weary as she takes her weight off of her wounds. She lets out a half smile "You know I always thought life would be more interesting with you around Provence but I never could have predicted just how much you'd be keeping me in my toes. I'll call the military police in the afternoon, just drop her in that chair over in the corner."

"Fine," you finally concede, reaching down to pick up the Abyssal. "I don't like it though. If what I suspect is true turns out to be the case she's as much a victim as the cruiser was." You set the Abyssal into the plush chair as gently as you can manage. "But as long as we're keeping control over her I won't object."

"I can help too if you'd like." L'Audacieux volunteers, drawing attention to her and her companion.

"I can't help but feel that you're going to be occupied taking care of your existing charge," Lorraine muses "you may want to talk to the British over that, maybe one of them can help track down whoever she is and wherever she belongs."

>See if you can't call someone in for a chat or go track someone down
>Ask something else of Lorraine
>Suggest talking things over with the Abyssal in the meantime
>Other

>>3854669
Sorry- I assume you mean talking to the Abyssal and getting her food? I realized halfway through working this but that I'm too tired to English. If that's the case I'll toss it into the next write-up. Also to clarify. This Abyssal is similar but not actually the Abyssal who offered Provence the slop, you first met her in the machine shop when you were trying to free the cruiser.

>>3854758
Yes, chow=food. Try bribing her with decent food, bath and rest. Then
>Suggest talking things over with the Abyssal in the meantime
Too bad she is not *that* Abyssal -- we had some rapport.

>>3854792
good idea, she'll still probably end up dead anyways, due to "natural causes"

>>3854883
>>3854792

apparently I totally forgot to copy paste this this morning and here I was wondering why no one was replying. My bad...

>Suggest talking things over with the Abyssal in the meantime


“I don’t suppose you have anything to eat?,” you ask hesitantly, “I don’t think she’s eaten in awhile and frankly Abyssal food is pretty abysmal to begin with.”

Lorraine lets out an amused laugh that quickly leaves her holding holding her ribs with an amused grimace, “I can imagine the food they offered is not earning many michelin stars. I’ll take care of things here, you might as well go down to the canteen and fetch some for yourself and the girl.”

You open your mouth to protest but quickly close it when you realize just how famished you’ve grown since this morning. “That sounds like a good idea,” you admit with a nod, “What about you two,” you ask L’Audacieux, “want to tag along.”

The destroyer shakes her head, “it’s around peak lunchtime, if I’m going to drag the cruiser down to get something I’d rather not subject her to the crowds. Go on ahead.”

You accept the destroyer’s reasoning and head out. Luckily you’re familiar with the naval base and after some brief musing manage to recall the path to the canteen. You notice as you step into the steriley decorated and rather busy cafeteria that a lot of the Italian Navy girls seem to regard you with no small amount of interest, a few even look noticeably nervous and quickly avert their gaze as you glance about the room. You decide you’re too not feeling up to a confrontation and ignore all of them, grabbing a pair of trays and heading towards the serving counter, you begin to mount them both with random assortments of Italian Navy chow.

Already at the food is Glorious. The aircraft carrier seems preoccupied with ladling pasta onto her own tray and it takes some time before she notices your approach out of the corner of her eye and glances up towards you. Her eyes grow wide and she abandons the serving line, scooting nervously away from you with a quiet squeak.

A laugh comes from the other direction and you look up to see the battered but amused expression of the cruiser Minotaur. “She’s not too fond of Battleships but she’ll get over it, once she gets to know your intentions” the cruiser reassures in an amused tone.

You do your best to ignore the British cruiser and continue to grab more food.

Your ambivalence seems to catch Minotaur off guard and she frowns, leaning in to your line of sight more. “I heard you found one of ours in that place,” she says in an insistent tone, “do you know who it was? Was she okay?”

>>3856016

“No.” you mutter, deliberately answering the first question and indirectly replying to the second, “she didn’t say.” You throw some bread on your trays and scoot them down, trying to make distance from the British cruiser.

Minotaur just follows, her frown deepening to an angry snarl. “If you’re going to be like that at least let me talk to her, or hell if you hate me that much for slapping you the other day let Glorious or one of the others do it. Whoever it is she’s one of ours.”

>ignore Minotaur and return to your quarters, you are 200% done with her shit and want to talk to the Abyssal
>rebuke Minotaur and return to Abyssal talk
>tell Minotaur you’ll consider it but don’t agree to anything binding
>agree
>round 2, bitchslap a cruiser

>>3856021
>agree
Might as well let some other RN girls talk to her. They might be able to ID her (or her class, at least) or jog her memory.

>>3856021

>>”Listen, brit, I still have not forgiven you or your friends for what you did to me, my sisters, and my countrymen. I will never forgive such treachery. But, that girl needs help, and perhaps you can identify who she is. But if she starts getting upset and you don’t back off, so help me God, I will show you the full force of a battleship’s anger.”

>>3856021
>>ignore Minotaur and return to your quarters, you are 200% done with her shit and want to talk to the Abyssal
round 2, bitchslap a cruiser
this one is really tempting, but not a good idea

>>3856245
actually switching to this one>>3856239

>>3856247
>>3856245
>>3856106
>>3856247
>>3856239
>>3856106
”Listen, Brit," you begin, stressing the second word as though it's a bitter curse. "I still have not forgiven you or your friends for what you did to me, my sisters, and my countrymen. I will never forgive such treachery. But, that girl needs help, and perhaps you can identify who she is. But if she starts getting upset and you don’t back off, so help me God, I will show you the full force of a battleship’s anger.”

To her credit Minotaur stands her ground defiantly, glaring you down. "Fine," she agrees tersely after letting the staredown linger briefly, "but likewise if I hear you hurt the poor girl for having the audacity to be a Royal Navy ship, I'll be happy to take you up on those threats

You agree to nothing, dismissing the cruiser by turning around and leaving towards Lorraine's room.

"Swiftsure was right." You hear Minotaur remark, stepping off beiphjnd you. "you are a bigger cunt than Bretagne."

You ignore the remark and make the rest of the brief journey back in silence. It isn't until the pair of you arrive at Lorraine's door that you give the Englishwoman a terse, "wait here," before you leverage the door open and step inside, kicking it back shut I immediately behind you.

Inside the room is mostly as you left it, L'Audacieux and the cruiser seem to be sharing a pack of Italian sweets. You note with a heavy heart that the girl's contented expression as she savors the candy is probably the only time she's come close to smiling in weeks. Lorraine meanwhile seems to be sitting down nearby, doing her best to ignore the Abyssal's death glare. She brightens as you enter, though doesn't stand. "Nothing much happened while you were gone," she informs needlessly, clearly attempting to spark conversation, "how was the mess hall?"

You frown and set the trays down on a side table. "I ran into Minotaur."

L'Audacieux looks up hesitantly from her bonding time, causing the cruiser's smile in turn to fade in worry, "what did she say?" The destroyer asks hesitantly.

"She wants to talk to your new friend." You admit, "she might be able to help us figure out who she is."

The escort nods in understanding and turns to her companion "Is that okay with you?" L'Audacieux asks the girl quietly.

The cruiser looks unsure, squeezing L'Audacieux's hand nervously before letting out a small nod. "Okay," she agrees in a near whisper.

"Maybe we should hide the other one-" Lorraine quietly interjects, eyeing the Abyssal, "the British here have enough beef with you without knowing she's here."

You nod and take the time to pick up the struggling Abyssal once again. Lorraine offers a head nod towards the connected bathroom and you set the eternally angry minelayer on the tile floor with a look of sympathetic helplessness.

>>3856315
Closing the bathroom door you return to the main room, making sure to get a nod of nervous affirmation from the unknown cruiser before opening the door to let Minotaur in. The light cruiser offers you a hostile look when she peeks in, eyeing the room before noticing the girl, currently doing her best to take a position of nervous cover behind L'Audacieux.

Minotaur's hostile look evaporates and she lets out a quiet, happy breath of recognition. "Belfast." She joyfully mutters to no one in particular.

From behind L'Audacieux, the amber-haired cruiser looks slightly less hesitant, though still holds her grip on the destroyer's hand.

"Of course it's Belfast," Minotaur mutters in a lovingly annoyed tone, placing her hands on her hips and grinning excitedly. "God, Edinburgh is going to be fucking insufferable to get you back, she missed the hell out of you, I'm sure she'll become even more convinced that the frogs are her best friends."

Belfast glances uncertainly back at L'Audacieux, clearly overwhelmed and uneasy over the one-sided recognition, causing Minotaur's expression in the to fade into uneasy confusion. "What's wrong?" She asks the cruiser, causing the girl in question to grow more noticeably distressed a she shrinks again Behind L'Audacieux. Minotaur glances around your trio of French ships for an explanation. "What happened to Belfast?"

You shake your head, "I don't know." You admit, "we found her in chains within the Abyssal fortress."

Minotaur looks expectantly at you with a look of bitter frustration, but no answer forthcoming relents with a defeated look. she turns back to the confused girl. "Come on Belfast," she mutters, outstretching her hand, "let's go find your sister. You and Edinburgh were always able to make the best of times like this."

Belfast doesn't budge.

>Suggest she accompanies Minotaur, you want to turn your attention back to the Abyssal
>Suggest Minotaur leaves, the girl is clearly distressed
>Suggest Belfast and L'Audacieux go to Edinburgh
>Suggest Edinburg comes here
>Tell Minotaur to fuck off. Your patience with the Royal Navy is thin and you've made your terms clear.
>Other

>>3856319
>Suggest Belfast and L'Audacieux go to Edinburgh

>>3856319
>>Suggest Edinburg comes here

>>3856319
>Suggest Edinburg comes here

>>3856319
>Suggest Belfast and L'Audacieux go to Edinburgh

>>3856319
>>Suggest Edinburg comes here

the abyssal is gonna get killed, we are gonna get jaded and alienated, and then we are gonna become Big Boat commander of the diamond dolphins

>>3856319
>Suggest Edinburg comes here
>>3856598
Based

>>3856674
>>Suggest Edinburg comes here

“She doesn’t seem to want to go.” you dryly remark, “Maybe you should bring Edinburg here instead of dragging Belfast along with you.”

Minotaur glares at you and opens her mouth, apparently ready to protest anything you suggest but quickly closes it after actually considering your statement. “That’s not a bad idea,” she sheepishly admits, “I’ll go fetch her.” She quietly opens the door and steps out, before closing it behind her.

L’Audacieux gently pats Belfast’s head. “Well hey-” she mutters encouragingly, offering the Italian sweets to the cruiser again, “at least we know who you are now. Don’t worry, just because you found your friends doesn’t mean, we’re going to leave you. Even Provence likes you and she doesn’t like any Royal Navy ships.”

Belfast looks at you with an expression of uncertainty before Lorraine laughs, dismissing her unease. She takes the offered candy. “Thanks,” she quietly mutters, unwrapping the sweet.

“Well that’s one mystery taken care of,” your sister remarks, “now we just need to figure out what to do with her. It seems like she’s grown rather attached to L’Audacieux. Not to mention what the hell we have on our hands with the Abyssal, it’s not like anyone is likely to recognize her.”

“We recognized our sisters, even the one we never met” you counter. “If we can find someone around here that was close to the poor girl we may be able to find someone else who knows who she was. I can’t say asking around is the best plan though.”

Lorraine nods, agreeing with your thoughts on the issue, “I’m sure we’ll figure something out,” she resolves.

>>3856852
You open your mouth to agree when a loud pounding knock sounds at the door. “Oi, Lorraine, it’s Edinburgh,” a voice calls out in a tone equal parts Scottish and irritating. “Minotaur here says you have something you all need to show me.”

You sigh and grimace at the voice, recalling your previous interactions with the Scot.

Lorraine seems amused by your reaction. “Come in,” she responds in a polite tone.

Edinburgh swings the door open with a broad, overreaching stroke. Like the rest of Lorraine’s fleet, the girl seems badly marred with damage from their attempted rescue, several thick bandages cover her head and arms. It doesn’t seem to reduce her enthusiasm and stepping through the room and noticing you, she breaks out into a cocky grin. “Hey Provence!” the cruiser greets, stepping forwards and excitedly punching you on the arm, “looks like we did save your sorry arse after all.” Minotaur steps up behind her, her expression neutral.

Refusing to acknowledge her attempt at friendship, you nod awkwardly to the Belfast and L’Audacieux. Edinburgh glances over to the pair and her grin falls into an expression of stunned disbelief. The cruiser goes quiet for nearly half a minute “Is that Belfast?” she quietly mutters, breaking the silence taking a few hesitant steps forward.

Belfast smiles shyly at Edinburgh and the Scottish cruiser takes the opportunity to pull her into a deep desperate embrace. Belfast looks momentarily stunned and sits there limp and wide eyed beneath her sister before taking L’Audacieux’s approach and tentatively patting Edinburgh’s head. Soon, the Scotswoman’s shoulders begin shaking and you can hear the sounds of muffled sobs. “I thought you were dead you stupid cunt,” she happily chokes. “What happened?”
Belfast says nothing, but continues to smile and rub her sister’s head.

“Provence found her in her sister’s fortress,” Minotaur offers. “She’s apparently been through a lot, but the details are sparse.”

>>3856855
Edinburgh shakes her head and sniffles. “It doesn’t matter, Belfast is back.” She lingers for a long moment in Belfast’s arms before leaning back, her face a mess of tears and snot, she lets out an excited giggle. “We’ll have to let Southampton know.” she explains in quiet excitement. “She was pretty broken up when we thought we lost you.”

Belfast seems cautiously excited but glances hesitantly towards L’Audcieux. “What about my friends?” she quietly asks.

Edinburgh giggles excitedly again, still jubilant over her reunion and finally hearing Belfast’s voice. “We won’t go far. We can call her from my room and the frogs can come along if you’d like.”

L’Audacieux stands and offers a smile and a hand towards the Irish cruiser, “come on,” she encourages. “Let’s go talk to your friends, Provence and Lorraine aren’t going anywhere.”

Minotaur wordlessly leads the way out of the room, followed by L’Audacieux who tentatively guides Belfast, the cruiser still desperately clutching her hand

Edinburg turns to excitedly follow before turning back and meeting you with a joyful smile. “I owe you more than you know Provence. I can’t begin to think how to repay you.”

“I didn’t do it for you, I did it for her.” you dismiss in a neutral tone.

“No need to be modest,” she rebuffs with a teasing grin before taking her cue and stepping out behind the rest, forgetting to close the door behind her.

You step up, closing the door before turning back to Lorraine.

“Well that was wholesome,” your sister remarks with a smile that fades as soon as she glances back at the bathroom door. “now we just have to figure out what to do with the Abyssal. I doubt there’s the same happy ending in store for her.”

>talk to the Abyssal
>try and figure out something else
>other

>>3856674
Lorraine does have an eyepatch, so you've got that perquisite covered if she joins up with you.

>>3856857
>>talk to the Abyssal
if normal boats can turn in to abyssals, then abyssals can probably turn back in to normal baot-waifus

>>3856857
>talk to the Abyssal

>>3856857
>talk to the Abyssal

>>3857151
>>3857999
>>3856920
>talk to the Abyssal

You pull the door to Lorraine's bathroom open and give the Abyssal an apologetic look, picking the girl up in a gentle bridal carry before depositing her again onto the chair. While you personally feel the position looks more comfortable, the escort's gaze doesn't grow any more relaxed, continuing to offer you a relentless death-glare.

"Are you hungry?" You offer with a hopeful grin, stepping back to grab the tray of food and demonstrate it to the bound girl. "If you promise to behave, I got some chow."

She says nothing, continuing to stare angrily.

You hesitate and sigh. "I'm not interested in monologuing at you. If I undo the gag are you going to start screaming?"

Again the girl offers no visible response beyond an angry look.

You glance back at Lorraine and receive a noncommittal shrug in reply signing with resignation, you pull the sock gag out from the Abyssal's mouth. Immediately the girl snarls and spits at you defiantly. "Our Lady will extract her vengeance for your treachery." She bitterly declared.

You set the food down gently, abandoning temporarily any efforts to placate the girl with food. Instead you switch tactics and grab a short chair, flipping it around in front of the girl and leaning up on it with your arms crossed. "I don't want to hear about Bretagne," you mutter dryly. "I just want to talk."

"You are unfit to say her name," the girl spits angrily. "Not after all you have done. Even now Our Lady weeps over your treason, you have taken everything from her."

"I can see why you gagged her." Lorraine mutters sadly, "what did our sister do to her? I suspected the Abyssals were monsters, but our own sister-."

"Our Lady has illuminated us." The escort spits, in rebuke "she broke our chains, freed our spirits from the lapdogs."

You sigh, picking up a piece of bread from the tray and taking a bite. If the display bothers the Abyssal she refuses to show it and instead glares at Lorraine.

"So you were a minelayer?" You ask, trying your best to change tactics. "My sister had a few of those. Nice girls, one of them spent some time showing me around, I never got her name but I think we made a connection. She looked a lot like you, though her eyes were more vibrant at she actually smiled."

She looks annoyed at the mention of the other minelayers. "My kin and I serve the Lady and the Warmatron, any love they showed the likes of you was washed away in the blood of treason."

You sigh again, pondering options, "I think we got along better than you give us credit for."

"That's because she never saw the dagger you held up to Our Lady's " throat," the girl angrily rebukes. "She would if able, do her best to avenge Our Lady."

>>3858012
Lorraine shakes her head sadly, "she's not wrong Provence, we ran into some minelayers and they fought just as fanatically as any other Abyssal. Jesus- one of them tried to blow herself and me up with one of her mines."

You frown and shoot your sister a concerned look. "I assume they weren't taken alive." You quietly ask.

Lorraine's guilty expression confirms it even before she shakes her head. "One of them was, but she was too damaged." She quietly admits, "they are dead."

For the briefest moment you can see you prisoner let her guard down as an expression of anguished loss takes hold. It's gone as soon as it appears as she collects her bearings and shoots a defiant look towards your sister. "They served Our Lady well. She will see that they are reborn anew from the womb of the Abyss. Those who serve can never truly die."

>Press her on the issue
>Change tactics
>Have Lorraine step in
>Other

>>3858015
>Press her on the issue
Break her, then rebuild her. It worked for Bretagne.

>>3858015
>>Press her on the issue

>>3858257
>>3858216
>Press her on the issue

“No.” you disagree sadly, “I don’t know what my sister told you, but it was not the truth. She cannot bring your friends back. For what it’s worth you have my sympathy.”

The Abyssal snarls angrily and vehemently shakes its head. “Why would I trust the word of the one who stabbed Our Lady in the back so callously? Or another who did it twice and still believes she is in the right?”

Lorraine looks defeated. “There are hard truths to this world little one.” she offers, “for what it’s worth, I’m sorry. This war is hard on all of us.”

“Do not speak as though Our Lady is leading us about like a flock of sheep.” The Abyssal yells with angry desperation “She has given us our strength, freed us from our chains. You cannot understand as you are now all that Our Lady has promised and delivered. Why should I doubt her capable of doing it again? Your words are false and your souls are poisoned.”

You cross your arms at the Abyssal, “All I see before me is a sad broken girl. Manipulated, hurt, brainwashed, and lied to by my damaged and angry sister.”

Her facade falls briefly and she grimaces, “even if I believed you when you claim that the pain her duty forces her to inflict is not done with the best intentions, it is not something you have any power over. I have seen Our Lady call into the Abyss and weave with the gifts it has granted. She is as strong as she is kind to us.” The defiant glare returns, “far stronger and far kinder than either of you.”

“We can help.” Lorraine offers in a pleading tone, “please just trust us.”

The Abyssal’s mouth lifts in a snarl over the comment before a look of realization has its expression twist into amused mockery. “You are serious aren’t you?” she says in an amused tone. “You honestly have no idea what Our Lady has done for us or is capable of?” She begins giggling hysterically. “I thought your efforts were those of simple lapdogs kowtowing before the humans, but you honestly are deaf to the Abyss.”

>press forth
>ask for clarification
>take a different approach

>>3858771
>>ask for clarification
gifts form dark gods beyond our reality? Chaos boat-waifus?

>>3858771
>ask for clarification
Worst she can do is mock us and say nothing more. Best case scenario she actually explains shit about the Abyss.

>>3858771
>take a different approach
Provence should play bad cop and Lorraine good cop. Some good hard PT should do the trick.

>>3858771
>ask for clarification

>>3859570
>ask for clarification
>>3859140
>>3858942
>>3858882
>ask for clarification

“Fine.” you angrily mutter, crouching before the Abyssal. “How about you start off from step one? Maybe you can convince us of how noble strong and selfless Bretagne really is. Because all I see from my perspective when looking at the fate of you and Belfast she comes across as needlessly cruel and spiteful.”

The Abyssal giggles again apparently in amusement over your ignorance, but shakes her head. “If Our Lady has not told you of her connection to the Abyss, she has good reason. I will not divulge her secrets.”

You grab the Abyssal hard by the shoulder and push her back into the chair, causing the girl to let out a startled yelp. “I know I’m a shitty sister- to both of my siblings. But I have a right to know what Bretagne is doing. I can’t help but think she’s in or causing a pretty situation when I see her so callous to the suffering she caused.”

The Abyssal grimaces and looks at you defiantly, “Our Lady’s will is iron and her rule absolute. I will not defy her and spill her secrets.”

“Please.” Lorraine offers from behind, placing a hand over your arm, signaling you to release the Abyssal. “We love Bretagne as well. But we’re worried. Seeing her acting the way she is, hurting people we care about and behaving like she is. We can’t help but think she’s sick.”

“Our Lady is not sick.” The Abyssal angrily rebukes, pushing your hand away angrily with her shoulder. “She shoulders a burden far heavier than you will ever be forced to know,” she shakes her head. “I finally understand Our Lady’s generosity when offering the lapdog’s illumination. As much as it hurts her, in her heart she cannot stomach seeing you licking bootheels and ignorantly serving to the humans every whim.”

“Hurt her?” Lorraine asks with concern.

The Abyssal grimaces again. “You will never understand what Our Lady sacrifices for her children, I have no more to say. Once I expire I will return to her graces and tell her all that has transpired.”

>she has more to say (increase interrogation)
>try another line of questioning
>gently press the issue
>stop talking, you had something else you wanted to do

>>3860732
>gently press the issue

>>3860732
>gently press the issue

>>3860732
>>gently press the issue

>>3860732
>stop talking, you had something else you wanted to do
We need to soften her up. Timeskip a few days and see if she is more amenable.

>>3860931
>>3861234
>>3861618
>gently press the issue

You told your arms across your chest. "Please understand that I need to know more. If I bore Ill will towards Bretagne based on who she now is I never would have responded to her summons in good faith. How do you and her expect me or Lorraine to react if you show us terrible things but don't give a reason why they're necessary?"

The Abyssal looks distinctly uncomfortable at your reasoning, but shakes her head defiantly, "Our Lady did not tell us to reveal these truths to you" She mutters zealously. "We must act as Our Lady wills."

"Please." You offer, "tell us about what's happening with Bretagne. I want to understand her. Surely she would not object to you favorably explaining her position?

This apparently sets the girl off and once again her expression distorts into an angry grimace. "You already had a chance to understand. You and the twice-traitor spit upon Our Lady's efforts to bring you into the fold, chosing instead to heel before the humans."

"And did you go willingly into the fold?" Lorraine challenges. "From what we saw of Belfast and what Provence told me it was quite the ordeal."

The Abyssal avoids her gaze. "Our Lady illuminated us, but she saved us from being burdened by the details of our date before."

"Then help illuminate us." You suggest. "Teach us the lessons that Bretagne taught you."

The minelayer's expression contorts into confusion and then frustration. "Our Lady is not some simple preacher, revealing unto us a new strong faith. She is the anchor. She is the physical point that binds us to the Abyss. It is through the sacrifice of her own spirit that our chains are broken."

Lorraine eyes you uncomfortably, "Provence, is that a metaphor?"

"We speak only the full truth." The minelayer angrily interrupts. "Even when we bare everything you still don't understand. If you could see all that Our Lady has shown me you would understand the meaning to her methods and all that she's sacrificed."

>Press on
>You've hear enough go do something else.
>Try a different approach

>>3861703
>>You've hear enough go do something else.
if we give her some time, she will relize that we are the only friendly face she will see while in captivity

>>3861703
>You've hear enough go do something else.
We could go see the Italians?

>>3861703
>Try a different approach
Now I am tempted to introduce her to Minotaur and Edinburgh for the evulz.

>>3862834
>>3862336
>>3862230

Could I get a tiebreaker here?

>>3862230
>>3861703
Seconding.

>>3862872
>>3862230

“Fine. If you don’t want to speak plainly now I’m willing to wait until you are.” You pick the sock back up and shove it back in the girl’s mouth. She doesn’t resist, but continues to offer an angry piercing glare. You sigh and sit on the bed with an audible thump and take your tray of pasta, picking through it thoughtfully.

“Well, that was- an interesting conversation.” Lorraine mutters shaking her head, “I know Bretagne doesn’t exactly see eye to eye with us anymore, but hearing that girl go on about our sister as if she’s some martyr going through hell for everyone around her worries me. Still- We ought to make sure that she’s taken care of. Nothing good will come of selling away all of our trust and influence in her fate over keeping her hidden.”

You mull over Lorraine’s words and take a bite of pasta, before glancing hesitantly at the girl. “At the very least I need promise that I’ll be able to talk to her in the future, I get the sense that even under all her cryptic bullshit she knows more about Bretagne that she will tell us.”

“I’ll make sure she’s kept close by.” she agrees, before shaking her head sadly at the girl.

A loud knock sounds at the door.
You eye the door with a raised eyebrow “Expecting anyone?”

Lorraine shakes her head, equally confused.

You place your food aside with a grumble before stepping up and moving towards the door, opening it slightly to avoid revealing the Abyssal to whoever stands outside. You’re greeted in turn by a certain scarred and perpetually irate Italian cruiser. Besides her, stands Lepanto, who seems to uncharacteristically avoid your gaze.

“Provence.” Gorizia greets tersely. “We heard you were back. Lepanto needed to talk.”

You glance back inside to Lorraine expectantly.

“Alone.” adds the cruiser.

>ask what this is about
>insist Lorraine sits in
>follow

>>3863521
>>follow

>>3863521
>>follow
but we dont speak sphagetti

>>3863521
>follow

>>follow

You adopt an apologetic look and step out, ensuring the door is closed behind you without revealing the room's occupants. Gorizia clearly notices your cautious exit but says nothing, standing cross armed she seems to wait for you to speak first

"I'm not sure my Italian is good enough for a one on one with Lepanto," you offer with an apologetic nod to the minelayer who still seems to avoid your gaze.

"This is why Lepanto came to me." Gorizia explains, "well among other reasons. We can discuss the details in Lepanto's quarters."

You shrug and nod and allow the grizzled Italian cruiser to lead you onwards away down the sterile hallways, towards what you presume to be Lepanto's room. Your suspicions are confirmed when she stops by a door with the names "Lepanto" and "Azio" written on it before stepping back and letting the minelayer try the nob and swing the door open.

The room is smaller than Lorraine's though appears more lived in, with various bright posters, magazines, and books scattered over the floors, desks, and the two beds. Lepanto quietly steps in and takes a seat at one of the desks. Gorizia follows and beckons you inside before shutting the door behind you. You take a careful seat on one of the beds and the cruiser takes the time to light a cigarette before muttering something in Italian to Lepanto. The minelayer hesitates before offering an emotionally scattered reply that shifts into a stressed and worried tone.

"What's wrong?" You ask the escort.

"You know Provence before you showed up everyone left me alone," Gorizia begins in a flat tone. "I think they found me intimidating or something-. Now your quest to find your sister has left me as the official base dream-seer." She takes a thoughtful drag on the cigarette.

"Dream-seer?" You ask, furrowing your brow.

She nods, "little Lepanto had a vision like yours. More scattered from the sound of it."

You lean forwards, interested by her news, "What was it about?" You ask.

Gorizia offers a short burst in Italian, clearly translating you question. Lepanto shakes her head and mutters something terse and quiet. The cruiser turns back to you and shrugs helplessly. "Even now she won't say."

"Then what do you need me for?" You ask

Gorizia toys with the end of her cigarette. "She has been frustratingly unclear about all of this since coming to me yesterday." She begins with annoyance before tapering off into an accepting sigh. "But it seems important to her." She turns back to Lepanto and trades a series of rapid fire Italian with the minelayer. "First question. Do you know the light cruiser Belfast?"

You frown. "Word travels fast about her return. I was just talking to her."

"Lepanto was wondering if she was okay." The cruiser continues, taking a puff of her still lit cigarette.

>>3864098
"Physically she's fine, though she's been through a lot and I'm ." You explain somberly, before the unusual origin of the question occurs to you and you frown in confusion. "I don't understand, I know she's a really empathetic girl, but what does Belfast have to do with Lepanto." You glance down at the escort in question, who seems to eye the floor with a look of angst.

Gorizia shakes her head again, "as I said she is being very unusually tight lipped about all of this. I've tried asking, she says nothing." The cruiser flicks her cigarette and gives the minelayer a reply that includes the word "Belfast," causing Lepanto's shoulders to slump noticeably in relief. The escort's reaction is short lived however and she seems to steel herself for some time before letting out a second quiet question.

Gorizia eyes her in worried confusion for some time before asking for affirmation. Finally the cruiser turns back to you. "What about Dardanelli?" She asks.

>Who?
>Force the issue of Lepanto's hesitance
>Ask Lepanto to explain first.
>Other

>>3864101
>>Ask Lepanto to explain first.

>>3864101
>>3864107

Seconding

>>3864134
>>3864107
So it will be. I apologize but the thread is getting long and I'm getting a bit burned out between work and Frog Quest. I'll continue it after the weekend of the 19th.

>>3864566
Take it easy QM.

>>3864566
its ok QM as long as you returne.
untill then we will prepare for the rise of Big Boat and the Diamond Dolphins

>>3865264
I feel like Provence needs at least a beret and an eyepatch to pull off the PMC look. Maybe she can borrow Lorraine's?

>>3865264
>>3864827
Thanks guys. QM shall return and soon Provence will get opportunity. I'll probably try and slow down a bit on the event pacing because I think I went pretty fast through Provence's return.

>>3865356
Arrr matey, we be sailin with the wind now