Kantai Collection Quest: Pacific Strike 44

>>>Oh, hi there.

>Other
Pat her head to see if she's real and not a hallucination.

>Woel is having delinquent adventures in Japan without us.

While being mistaken for a German shipgirl... or just German in general.

Speaking of German shipgirls, how about that Z3 CG, huh?

>all the German ships are abyssal defectors

It must be sad to be Kriegsmarine.

"Haven't I heard your name somewhere before...?" You frown as you try to strain your memory.

"I wouldn't know, I don't consider myself that famous of a ship!" Eldridge flashes a wide grin as she shrugs. "Anyways, I was looking for the Captain! I just got here and I was told I had to go see him!"

"Hmmmm... Eldridge..." Qyburn puts a hand to his chin. "Weren't you that ship that was wrapped up in all that Philadelphia Experiment nonsense?"

That's when you see Eldridge's grin waver for just a bit.

Oh yeeeeaaaah. That. Just one of those silly sea stories, you know? Like the Bermuda Triangle and Santa Claus!"

"Oh I agree, there was never any hard evidence to support it." Qyburn shrugs as he returns to his work. "Still, invisibility is quite the desired trait in a warship..."

"Yeeeeeaaaaah." Eldridge laughs nervously, her hair flashing a purplish red. "So you mind helping me out here?"

Well, it was a simple enough request...

>Point her to the Captain.
>Escort her to the Captain.
>Other

>>Escort her to the Captain.

>>Escort her to the Captain.

>>Escort her to the Captain.

>Escort her to the Captain.

So in other words...she's having a Bizarre Adventure?

youtube.com/watch?v=XUhVCoTsBaM

>Tirpitz is actually a Northern Ocean Princess

>Escort her to the Captain.

Nope. Nothing suspicious about this one. Not at all.

>Other
"So what do you think about that one X-Files episode about you? Whatever the truth is, how do you feel about your reputation?"

I mean, how many destroyers have movies and television episodes about them? The episode in question is Dod Kalm.

>WoWo's Beautiful Adventure

Clever.

>>Escort her to the Captain.

>Woel goes from Japan all the way to Egypt

You can only imagine the conversation.
>"How the hell did you get to EGYPT?!?"
>"Turns out that the Germans needed some help in the Mediterranean, so they shipped us across the Indian Ocean, then we hit Saudi Arabia, and travelled over land to the Nile, and ended up at the Suez Canal."

youtube.com/watch?v=RordBk3Ztk4

>Woel and Roma have to stop a group of empowered trireme-girls from becoming the ultimate lifeforms

>abyssals are trying to raise all the ships sunk in the Suez Canal

"Sure, I'll show ya!" You say proudly as you motion for her to follow you.

"I don't want to bother you, so just giving me direction is- ah!" Eldridge yelps as you drag her along. Being a destroyer escort, she didn't have the tonnage advantage over you, and you could already feel your new diesel-electric engines filling your with a new power you've never felt before.

"Don't be such a party pooper!" You laugh. "Besides, even though this base is pretty small, it's fucking easy to get lost. Believe me."

"Mmmm, yeah, if you say so." Eldridge sighs in defeat.

You give the area another small radar pulse. Still no positive return from Eldridge. It was like she was a goddamn black hole. Shit, if Anna were up, maybe she could provide more insight.

It would still take a few minutes for the both of you to reach the HQ building. Just enough time for some idle chitchat...

>Ask what's she's been doing so far.
>Ask what she did during the War.
>Ask her what she thinks about all the rumors about her.
>Other

>>Ask what she did during the War.

>>Ask what's she's been doing so far.
>Ask what she did during the War.

>Ask what she did during the War.

>>Ask what's she's been doing so far.

>>Ask what's she's been doing so far.

>Ask what's she's been doing so far.

"So, I guess we didn't really cross paths during the War." You say innocently, trying to strike up some conversation. "I was mostly in the Pacific.."

"Oh yeah, pretty much everybody's already heard of you and Taffy 3!" Eldridge chuckles. "That brave last stand at Leyte..."

"Yeah, I sorta figured." You nod in agreement. "I suppose you didn't have anything so... notable."

"Mmmmmm, just some escort duty in the Atlantic and Med, guarding convoys." Eldridge smiles with a bit of nostalgia. "Pretty smooth sailing, actually. I got in near the end of the war, so U-boats weren't really that big of a problem anymore. I DID get sent to the Pacific, but... that was after 'your time' and practically a week before VJ Day."

"Huh." You nod. "Well, could be worse. You could've pulled a Willie."

"I guess that's true!" Eldridge cracks up. "Honestly though, I sometimes feel bad for her."

"Eh, she deserves it." You shrug. "I hear they still gotta keep her at least two oceans away from Iowa."

"Ha, I wouldn't be surprised!" Eldridge nods.

"I suppose you've also heard about my more recent exploits."

"Who hasn't?" Eldridge laughs. "Hard not to notice when you're on every TV channel and youtube's front page!"

Ugggggh.

"And you?" You ask back.

"Mostly the same stuff. Escorting Atlantic convoys, chasing away Abyssals." Edridge shrugs. "Funnily enough, none of my convoys have ever really been attacked or even harassed."

You recall the black hole on your radar returns. Does she really not know...?

>Just let it slide.
>Ask her about her little radar trick.
>Other

>Ask her about her little radar trick.

>>Ask her about her little radar trick.

>>Ask her about her little radar trick.

>Ask her about her little radar trick.

I bet it's beautiful.

>Ask her about her little radar trick.

>>Ask her about her little radar trick.

inb4 Abyssals try to corrupt her and turn her into an assassin

"I'm assuming it's got something to do with that little radar trick of yours." You point out.

"So you've noticed." Eldridge sighs. "Should've figured."

"You don't like talking about it?" You raise an eyebrow.

"Well, it's weird, you know?" Eldridge shakes her head, obviously a bit down now. "I don't even know where all this 'Philadelphia Experiment' stuff came from, you know? I'm pretty sure I'd remember if something like that happened! And yet, here I am, simple destroyer escort Eldridge, with this weird and creepy ability not be be seen on radar!"

>I guess I sorta understand.
>I think that ability is pretty damn cool.
>Other

>I think that ability is pretty damn cool.
If we can't use our radar to look at her panties does that mean she isn't wearing any?

>>I think that ability is pretty damn cool.

>I think that ability is pretty damn cool.

>>I think that ability is pretty damn cool.

>>I think that ability is pretty damn cool.

>>I guess I sorta understand.

Destroyers are cute and have best fashion sense!

Schrodinger's Underwear. There's probably a mathematical equation that describes the probability of its color and whether or not they have little frilly bits.

Let's solve the mystery when we get the excuse to dress her in an embarassing costume

I'd say Abyssals in general have great outfits.

Nah, it means she has radar-absorbent underwear.

Does this mean somebody else putting them on will make them invisible?

>I think that ability is pretty damn cool.

"Fuck that, I think that's pretty damn cool!" You give a wide grin. "I mean, it's helped you and your convoys out, right? What's so bad about that?"

"I suppose..." Eldridge nods. "Well, no sense getting too worked up over it, huh?"

"That's the spirit!" You laugh as you slap the destroyer escort on the back.

"Ooof! Watch it!" Eldridge whines.

"Sorry, sorry!" You chuckle. "I forgot I got a few upgrades so I think I hit a bit harder than I used to now!"

"Damn right you do!" Eldridge groans.

At this point you've already returned to the HQ building and passed through the halls to the Captain's office. Once again, the Captain narrows his eyes at your return, and then nods in understanding when he sees Eldridge trailing behind you.

"Ah, good, you've arrived, Eldridge." The Captain nods.

"Yep yep!" Eldridge throws up a very casual salute and then leaps forward and hugs the Captain, much to your surprise. "I didn't cause the Admiral too much trouble, did I?"

"Fortunately, there are a few naval officers in Europe who owe him some favors, so it wasn't too difficult to secure your assistance." The Captain explains.

"Oh, that's great then!" Eldridge laughs.

"Well, since you and the subs are here..." The Captain turns to you. "We'll start spreading the word that the briefing will begin shortly. Is there anything else you want to do before we gather everybody?"

>I actually have to... (specify)
>No, I'm ready.
>Other

>>No, I'm ready.

>>No, I'm ready.
Time to rock.

>>No, I'm ready.

>>No, I'm ready.

>No, I'm ready.

>>No, I'm ready.

>>Other
Join in, hug the Cap

"No, I'm ready." You assure him.

"Good, then let's get down to the briefing room." The Captain nods.

The briefing room is just a short walk down the hall, and didn't really look all that different from the briefing rooms you've seen in practically ever other base you've been in. However, the main differences you noted were the British flag hung along the back wall in stead of the American one, and on the refreshment table there were several pots of tea rather than the regular coffee.

Damn Brits and their tea. You take a cup and take a little whiff. It smelled good, but you take a little taste and nearly drop the cup in revulsion. How the fuck do people drink this shit!?

"Eh, you get used to it." Eldridge chuckles, as if reading your mind. "I don't blame you, though."

"Ugh, fuck this." You grumble as you take a seat. Looks like you were going to have to stay awake the hard way.

Over the next few minutes, more and more shipgirls begin to file in. The rest of your task force, the British garrison, and the hree subgirls that had recently arrived. Hell, even Anna managed to arrive on time, though you do notice her holding a steaming ice pack on her forehead. You wave at her and pat the seat next to you to let her know where to sit.

That's when Anna's ice pack practically lights on fire, and she scurries away to sit with White Plains and Victorious.

Huh, guess she still needed some time to process what happened.

"Something happen between you two?" Portland raises an eyebrow as she sits down in the seat you were initially saving for Anna.

"She seems to be rather flustered." Dorsetshire nods in agreement as she sits on your opposite side. "Even moreso than Victorious, which is rather saying something..."

>None of your business!
>We uh, had a bit of "fun".
>What's Vicky's problem, anyways?
>Other

>I actually have to wake Anna

>>What's Vicky's problem, anyways?
Hmm?

>>What's Vicky's problem, anyways?

Time for truth!

>What's Vicky's problem, anyways?

>>What's Vicky's problem, anyways?

>>What's Vicky's problem, anyways?

>>What's Vicky's problem, anyways?

>What's Vicky's problem, anyways?

>None of your business!

So I have a theory that Anna's boiler actually a portal linked to an ocean on the Elemental Plane of Spaghetti. In truth she has an experimental generator to process the spaghetti for power and her face radiates the excess energy lost as heat away.

"Hey, what's Vicky's problem, anyways?" You ask, deftly changing the subject. You glance over at the redheaded carrier, still sweating profusely even when she's not the center of attention. "I mean, it looks like she doesn't want to be here, or anywhere, at all."

"Hmmmm, how should I say this...." Dorsetshire gives a deep sigh. "Victorious has some... self esteem issues. When she came back, her early battles were... less than stellar."

"That bad?" You frown.

"Not catastrophic, but it was considered that she didn't perform at a level a carrier of her stature and name would have indicated." Dorsetshire shook her head. "Combine that with an ill timed misstep and an ammunition crate..."

>Do tell.
>Holy shit I think I saw that online!
>Sounds rough.
>Other

>Holy shit I think I saw that online!

>>Holy shit I think I saw that online!

>Do tell.

>>Holy shit I think I saw that online!

>>Sounds rough.

>Sounds rough.

>>Sounds rough.

RNG is always fickle.

>an ocean on the Elemental Plane of Spaghetti
Does this mean a Spaghettibyssal can crawl out of her head?

>>Holy shit I think I saw that online!

>>Holy shit I think I saw that online!

She probably is one already; consumed by the spaghetti like how we could have been if we kept that shard in our head.

"Holy shit, I think I saw that online!" You gasp. You distinctly remember it as one of the top viewed videos on Youtube. You had never really made the connection until now, but it WAS Vicky tripping on seemingly nothing, faceplanting directly into an ammo crate being carried by two sailors, sending stray bullets flying EVERYWHERE.

Goddamn it was fucking hilarious.

"Shit, I didn't realize." You say, doing your best to suppress your amused snickering.

"Yes, well, after a public embarrassment like that, there was no way she could stay in Britain. Or at least, that's what she fooled herself into believing." Dorsetshire gives an tired sigh. "So she voluntarily transferred here, I suppose because she thought she could ride out the rest of the war under the radar here."

>I guess I sorta understand.
>That's literally the dumbest reason I ever heard.
>Other

>>That's literally the dumbest reason I ever heard.

>>That's literally the dumbest reason I ever heard.

>That's literally the dumbest reason I ever heard.

If she wanted to ride out the war under the radar, there's a crazy scientist with a top secret lab who is probably looking for volunteers to disappear.

>>That's literally the dumbest reason I ever heard.

>That's literally the dumbest reason I ever heard.

>I guess I sorta understand.

>I guess I sorta understand.
Let's not be a dick.

>That's literally the dumbest reason I ever heard.

>>I guess I sorta understand.
Poor girl...

>>That's literally the dumbest reason I ever heard.

>>That's literally the dumbest reason I ever heard.

GOOD JOBU!
...
MercCommand really is lord of fanartists

Did you just make this right now?

based drawfag

"That's literally the dumbest reason I ever heard." You grunt.

"I suppose that's the most blunt method of putting it." Dorsetshire chuckles lightly. "We all know it's quite silly, but despite all her self-perceived faults, Victorious is wonderfully stubborn."

"I guess." You grunt.

"Just leave it for now." Portland shakes her head. "As long as she perform on her end, I have no complaints."

"All right, it seems everybody has been assembled." The Captain coughs to grab everybody's attention. "We will now start the briefing, so please be seated."

The few remaining shipgirls who were still standing quickly darted to the nearest chairs. Satisfied, the Captain continues the briefing.

"As you know, we will be assaulting, a heavily fortified Abyssal base, the Atlas Oil Platform>" The Captain activates the projector screen, showing the fuzzy image of a massive black structure suspended above the ocean by a series of massive support columns.

"To assist us, we've called over additional support assets, who will greatly help us in the reconnaissance and infiltration role. Girls?" The Captain nods to the newly arrived shipgirls, who all stand. "These are USS Dace, Darter, Flasher, and Eldridge, all accomplished shipgirls."

"How would a destroyer escort help us?" Exeter asks, genuinely curious.

"Eldridge appears to have come back with the ability to evade radar detection." The Captain explains. "This will prove invaluable for us to get a strike fleet into position to hit Atlas with the element of surprise."

Eldridge just nods and smiles.

"Dace, Darter ,and Flasher here are some our most effective scouts and ambushers." The Captain continues, nodding to the subgirls. "They've been invaluable in providing intel and striking at Abyssal convoys, and will serve as the vanguard of our assault."

"Hihi!" Dace waves excitedly.

"Hi." Darter waves with slightly less excitement.

Flasher just nods wordlessly.

(cont)

"What exactly is Atlas, anyways?" Haida raises her hand. "I'm not familiar with that term."

"The Atlas Oil Platform was supposed to be the largest oil platform to have ever been constructed." The Captain explains. "Construction started a few years ago, funded by a conglomerate of South American nations. It was only partly constructed when the Abyssals attacked, and as you can see, they've finished the rest."

Indeed, the picture shows, that the oil platform was literally just a massive fortress, little notations on the picture marking what were likely to be fixed artillery positions and airstrips for launching aircraft.

"Not only does this platform serve as a forward operating base and staging point for Abyssal forces, but also provides a massive supply of oil for them as well." The Captain explains further. "A strike here would not only seriously hamper their ability to strike in the south Atlantic, but also cut off their oil supply."

"But didn't the your and the Royal Navy conclude an assault on Atlas would require over a hundred ships and shipgirls?" Dorsetshire inquired. "How will we pull it off with just our numbers?"

"This is where Eldridge comes in." The Captain nods to the destroyer escort. "She can cover a small strike team to sabotage the platform's defenses."

"Can't she just cover the whole fleet?" Heerman asks. "If she can protect entire convoys, can't she cover our entire force?"

"Ah, well, I only had to protect a couple of freighters at a time." Eldridge frowns. "I never had to do it for a whole fleet..."

>I think we should just stick with the strike team.
>I think we should try for the whole fleet.
>Other