View source for Kantai Collection - KanColle - Kakuyoku no Kizuna:Volume1 Chapter 4: The Meaning of Luck (Part 2)

===Part 4===

Several hours later, Zuikaku received the official sortie order. 

"I will now explain the details of the new operation." 

The Admiral's voice reverberated through the Naval District Office.  The skies framed in the window had long since gone black. 

Inside the office were assembled the four carriers notified about their role--Zuikaku, Shoukaku, Hiyou and Junyou. 

Zuikaku kept her distance from Shoukaku--she was not quite sure how to face her elder sister.  Shoukaku, it seemed, was of a similar sentiment, and both of them made sure their eyes would not meet. 

"As everyone is well aware, our naval district's last assault on the Okinoshima Anchorage was an abject failure, with well over half the main fleet heavily damaged by the enemy.  We now believe that the enemy main fleet anchored until now at the anchorage is preparing for an invasion of the mainland." 

Several fairies promptly suck a strategic map onto a whiteboard standing on the workdesk. 

"If we leave the enemy free rein, our homeland and this Naval District will most likely come under attack.  We must prevent this from happening at all costs.  As such, we will be deploying with you all serving as the main fleet in a Carrier Task Force capacity to the Okinoshima Waters for a third attack.  This operation will be referred to as 'Operation A-go.'" 

Zuikaku gulped.  The name of this operation was familiar.   

(The Operation that led to the battle at the Marianas was also called Operation A-go.) 

In "That War" and in this war, A-go represented the commitment to a decisive battle. 

"This time we will be betting our hopes on you four carriers preemptively neutralizing the enemy in order to nullify the enemy's suppressing fire."  

The Admiral explained in a heavier voice. 

"Thanks to previous developments at the factories, we have manufactured sufficient quantites of the prototype Suisei Kai to outfit two carriers.  Standard Carriers Shoukaku and Zuikaku will mount these Suisei Kai, along with Type 52 Zeroes, as the fleet's primary striking force.  Due to the limited number of Type 52 Zeroes, however, Zuikaku's remaining supplement will be equipped with Type 62 Zeroes." 

Zuikaku nodded slightly. As Yuubari and RJ had said in the factories, the Type 62 Zeroes were variations of the base Type 52 Zero model--if you could deal with their slightly inferior specs, they were more than capable of seizing air superiority.  When it came to battle against the main force, they would also be able to serve in a dive bombing capacity.   

"Hiyou and Junyou will deploy as always with Type 21 Zeroes, Type 99 Dive Bombers and Type 97 Torpedo Bombers.  However, we will be limiting the numbers of Type 99s, which will be primarily used as scouts.  In combat, we will rely on the Type 97s. The Type 99's dive bombs may be ineffective against the Ru-class." 

Hiyou and Junyou both responded with a crisp "understood." 

"As for the enemy patrols and pickets, please remove them with preemptive air strikes to the best of your ability.  Looking at their composition, you should have more than enough to wrest air superiority.  As long the enemy is disabled, it is acceptable to disengage and move on." 

The enemy's gate is down--that was what the Admiral's gaze said.   

"Once the enemy main force is encountered, focus everything on the first attack.  Even if the enemy is Ru-class, breaking the enemy's formation with torpedos should help to inhibit their suppression fire.  Your primary target is the Flagship Ru-class that appears to be serving as flagship.  As before, sinking the flagship should plunge the leaderless enemy into confusion." 

The fairies promptly affixed several photos of the flagship type <ref>taken during the battle, no doubt</ref> on the whiteboard.  A few of Hyuuga and Ise's observation seaplanes had managed to survive, and theses photos appeared to have been brought back thanks to their actions. 

As the Admiral said, the Flagship Ru-class had indeed stood in front of the enemy fleet; it seemed like that she was indeed the coordinator. 

"In the case that a preemptive strike fails, chances will be that you will lose the ability to inhibit their suppressing fire and thus suffer defeat.  If that happens, the enemy will close in on the homeland.  If this happens, the Naval District will deploy into Home Waters in preparation for a last-ditch defense." 

It didn't require much thought to realize that there was no plan at that point.  If they failed, the Naval District's home fleet would consist of Heavy Cruisers and other smaller vessels.  At that point, the battle plan would be encroaching on the nation's vital naval trade network. 

"The flagship this time will be Shoukaku--as before.  Are there any questions?" 

The Admiral looked to the four shipgirls. It appeared he wanted each of them to imagine the consequences of the failure of their last stand. 

"Just one." 

Shoukaku raised her hand.  There was no smile on her face now, only grimness.  The Admiral tipped his head lightly, beckoning her to speech. 

"As the flagship, there is something I would like to confirm with the Admiral in regards to this operation: when it comes down to it, is our priority 'our survival,' or 'the elimination of the enemy main fleet?'" 

(Shoukaku-nee....) 

Zuikaku gazed at Shoukaku and the Admiral uncomfortably.  Similarly, Hiyou and Junyou also eyed the two with tension written across their faces. 

"....of course, our priority is to eliminate the enemy main fleet." 

The Admiral's voice was low, but clear. 

"If we fail this battle, we will have lost the war.  If the price for destroying the enemy main force is your lives, I, as a commanding officer, am prepared to pay." 

His distress was palpable in his voice as he continued. 

"However, I forbid any of you from entering battle with this resolve.  There is a high likelihood that you all will be integral to our battles in the future; as such, I demand (however unreasonably) that you defeat the enemy and return to this naval district.  Fight, fight with every ounce of your soul against the enemy against you.  Whatever the result, I am prepared to take full responsibility." 

"I understand.  Thank you." 

Shoukaku nodded lightly as Zuikaku felt a pang of guilty. 

Her sister had doubtlessly brought up this question to make sure Zuikaku understood the Admiral's thoughts.  The Admiral had no plans to use the shipgirls as weapons.  Given, some decisions may have seemed the opposite, but for the Admiral, this remained a heart-rending decision-- 

(I understand this kind of thing....but, Shoukaku-nee...) 

"Moreover, regarding the remaining two ships..." 

"I was just about to explain that.  Come in, you two." 

The office door swung open with a heavy clack as from it came the shapes of two rather small shipgirls.  Zuikaku's eyes widened--one of the two destroyers wore a white sailor uniform as a large dress, with a pair of large binoculars hanging from her neck.  The other shipgirl wore a black-on-white sailor uniform, her hair an opulent, striking white. 

Zuikaku gulped.  She had seen these two destroyers before, and found what she had in common with them. 

(It can't be, these two are...) 

The Admiral's voice echoed through the office. 

"Destroyers Yukikaze and Hibiki.  They are this naval district's most seasoned destroyers, and I am confident they are upt to the task of escorting you all." 

The Admiral paused for a moment before regarding the six shipgirls before speaking a half-plea, half-order. 

"Please, use your power as shipgirls to give us humans a future."