Lady Liberty

Prologue

The Bell is Cast

XxXxX

Vickers Shipbuilding Yard

Barrow-in-Furness, Northwest England

October 11th, 1912

XxXxX

"So this is her," the man wore only heavy clothes in the spring chill. Though his accent gives him away as American.

"Yass, this is her," the Dockyard guide nods in confirmation. Tilting his hat up to have a good look over the unfinished ship, "Damn shame they wo't let us finish 'er."

"Yes," the American agrees, "But the US Navy can use her. We need a ship very much like her," he began to walk up the gangway to her, "Getting Congress to agree to purchase her, was a feat in and of itself."

The Englishman snorts, "I hear she is faster than yer ships and better armed to boot."

The American steps aboard with the Englishman, "Yes. Which is why we need her. We got lucky when, whether good or bad, I'll leave for interpretations of others, but with the Rhode Island to be scrapped, Congress was convinced to purchase this 'Battle Cruiser' upon which we stand now."

The Englishman nods, "Aye, I hear ye on that, but I am a mite curious as to what happened?"

The American sighs, he hates the story as much as any other American. It was simply rotten luck, but it gave men like him a chance. Still, they would gladly take it another way. Not what happened to Rhode Island.

"Some clever revolutionaries down in Mexico got a clever idea to turn a small boat into a partially submerged submarine and then leave it where one of our ships would hit it," the American looks up and down the deck as the two men walk her incomplete length. "As luck would have it, it was the Rhode Island that hit it. An explosion so great that the ship lost a propeller shaft and had a hole put into her underside from what I heard."

"So tey made a bomb out of some tramp thing?" the Englishman looks incredulous, he couldn't believe it and yet here an American told him so.

"More like the world's biggest Naval Mine," the American shakes his head, "Honestly, it was only pure luck that it caused so much damage. The propellers dragged it down as Rhode Island passed next to it and it exploded when it hit the ship."

"How bad was it really?" the yard dog might be able to share that information with his bosses.

"So far, I only know the propeller shaft was blown away, along with one of the rudders no doubt," the man winces in memory at the early report, "Some say her stern was completely blown off or that she has a 'mighty large hole' in her underside, but the damage and losses are true enough to be a loss."

The two men walk in silence as they enter the incomplete ship's hull. They take lamps with them, as it is dark in some places. The ship would be complete, only when she is finally paid to be completed.

"Rhode Island had not been battle ready either," the American admits sadly, "At least 40 were drowned immediately and another 40 burned badly. Of some several hundred men aboard, more than two-hundred were killed or injured."

The two men survey the incomplete ship's unfinished interior. The poor workmanship just as visible as the last bomb blast that killed 20 men. Her incomplete sections that were affected were distorted in the blast, but whether from the power of the bomb or from the bomb finding a poorly finished section, that is a purely academic question.

"How about it?" the Englishman inquires as they walk the passageway, eventually finding some of the guards that man the ship to prevent further sabotage.

The men turn and look at the two before going back to passing the time between their patrols. Mostly killing boredom and trying to stay warm by their small furnaces with heavy blankets covering the men. Hot tea, coffee, and rum get passed around to chance off the chill inside the ship.

Nodding to them, the two continue on their way, but the American speaks up, "She'll do," he nods, "Once we get our own men over from the States."

The Englishman doesn't deny that.

Between the strikes, rising costs, and sabotage, the hull of the Battle Cruiser Kongo is many weeks behind schedule and overbudget. There is a struggle to get her finished.

The costs had soared so fast, the Japanese had completely backed out, especially as the ship would not be delivered on time. More disastrously for Kongo, her design plans had been stolen and then revealed to the world in France. It is unknown if that was the purpose of the theft or the result of some unforeseen mishap.

Whatever the fact, the plans were now available to anyone who wished to build or know Kongo and her sisters.

As such, the remaining three Kongo-class being built in Japan are undergoing design changes, increasing their costs and complicating their construction. As such, the Japanese had to quickly part with Kongo herself and withdraw all of their specific parts to finish the remaining three, though rumor speaks of a two ship or three ship class being designed to replace the soon to be Hiei-class Battle Cruisers.

"Who will ye be hiring to keep your men safe and the ship too?" the Englishman inquires, quite honestly curious.

Given how queer things have been late, especially with those damnable anarchists and their ilk, the entire yard was either behind or under heavy guard. Normally both with the local constables often struggling to cope with all of the protesting and near rioting outside the yard. Fortunately, the Strikers have no stomach for a riot and even less like of anarchists, who have killed some of their fellow workers, but yet the workers are agitated to strike.

The American turns to the Englishman with a wide, relieved smile on his face, as he states who.

"The Van Dorn Detective Agency," the man states with great relief, "They once protected one of our Dreadnoughts as well as the development of some of our technology, such as the developments of our armor, weapons, and engines," the two shine their lights down into an incomplete section of the ship, "The spy they defeated even tried to pin the blame on the Imperial Japanese Navy, the Chinese, and even the Royal Navy itself, ha!"

"Absurd," the Englishman shakes his head, "What foolery was he thinking, I wonder."

Snorting, "From what I read, he was some criminal, a gangster perhaps, that somehow went on to become a deadly mercenary spy, saboteur, and even an assassin," the American nods, seeing the original work on lower sections is still intact and looking good, "Quite murderous too. Killed a Van Dorn in a busy train station, set fire to a number of naval buildings, leveled a steel mill, and even blantedly tried to attack the Navy as well."

The Englishman shakes his head again, "Sounds like some novel to me to read and pass the time."

"Ah," the American nods in agreement, but having traveled himself, knew a few things, "But the truth can be stranger than the imagination I have since learned."

As the two men walk and speak, they suddenly hear some odd sounds. Moving their lights about the interior of the incomplete ship, they both see what appeared to be a form of a woman disappear around a corner. Both men blink before going to have a look.

Instead, they find an empty passageway.

Both men look at one another, shrug and prepare to move on, only to hear the padding of what sounds like bare feet across the incomplete decking of another passage.

Investigating, they catch sight of a pale arm disappearing around a corner. The arm was that of a young woman and both men share a look again before frowning and falling.

Stopping at the edge, the two carefully peer around the edge. Just in case it is another saboteur or more of them. They see nothing, until a form on the edge of their lights pass by down the passageway they are in.

The American and Englishman both draw their hidden pistols and set about finding this strange intruder.

The two men carefully approach and look down the passageway. This time they see a very pale, a shade of this side of death form standing there. It is definitely a young woman, but before either man could cast their light and demand an explanation, she disappears again. Seemingly blending into the darkness and incomplete ship.

"By the Good Lord, what is that woman?" the American mutters as he and the Englishman carefully approach the bulkhead with nothing but a fall two decks down into the engineering spaces before them.

The Englishman is silent a moment before he speaks.

"Perhaps she be the Spirit of the Kongo," the man shifts nervously, "They say, in the yards as ships are built, that the spirit of a ship takes on a woman's form and can be seen by the workers as the ship is built."

Raising an eyebrow, "I've seen a few things in my life, but that one is one I have never heard of and I've been in the Navy for almost a decade and a half," the American naval officer states plainly.

The British man merely nods, "Of course not, unless you are with the ship from the keel to finishing."

"Not to date," the American admits.

"It is a tale told only amongst workers," the Brit nods as the two find and begin to descend a ladder, "But they say as the ship is built, so to does the spirit of the ship gain more appearance. Often said to be the appearance of a woman near death, as though the construction and painting of the ship gives her both form and color," reaching the bottom, the two continue on, "That she appears incomplete, like, I have not seen myself, but they say pieces can be seen missing, though an outline and parts are always there."

"Queer," the American states and the Englishman nods, just as the form dashes between two of the incomplete engines that were blasted apart by an earlier bomb, "Very queer this business and I don't mean the spirit we seem to be following."

Looking at the brunt blood that had yet to be scrapped away, "Aye," the Englishman agrees as the two come around a corner and almost right into a pair of patrolling guards.

After the scare between the four men, the four pistols are returned to their holsters as the four take deep breaths after that scare.

The two men state that all of the guards have seen a woman's form, young and next to death in pallor, about the ship for some time and it has terrified most, as they are security guards and not yard workers, to staying high and near the light cast by their small stoves and furnaces.

"If it cannot get stranger," the American mutters, "It will most definitely do so."

"Aye," the Scotsman guard nods while his Welsh counterparts spots their quarry suddenly appear and go around into another passageway.

With an annoyed sigh, the American and his three British fellows, begin their pursuit once more.

The four men continue to pursue, pausing to hear the tell tale sound of bare feet on the decking. An occasional creak and groan also guides them. It is a rather nerve wracking endeavour, but the four muster their courage and agree to not speak about it if they can avoid it.

The light cast by their lamps creates dancing shadows, made more distorted and even haunted by their quarry. It feels as though it has begun to gnaw at their sanity as they pursue. The long, incomplete lower hull is the darkest of the ship right now.

And the most deserted.

Or so they thought when they come around a corner and find three unconscious workers and a fourth desperately trying to reach and-

"By the Blessed Saint!" the Englishman is holding a hand to his chest, right over his fast beating heart as his pistol lays dropped on the deck two feet from him as he leans against a wall.

The two guards are even more pale than the woman they had been pursuing.

The American, being not much better, swears he must have soiled his myself, for how warm his trousers now feel.

Though, in his hands, are the wires that had once connected a simple clock to far too many sticks of dynamite and other explosives. And in the passageway and room before them, more explosives can be seen, all tied to the trigger bomb. A bomb that alone would have only damaged the ship.

But attached to so much explosives, likely would have blown out her sides and destroyed her slip in one massive blast.

"I shall," the American forces through dry lips and a desert for a throat as he breathes hard, "I shall be asking for more than the Van Dorns at this point."

"Good call mate," the Welshman states before keeling over and passing out himself.

But not before the four can see the woman, smiling with an incomplete mouth and face towards them. And for some reason… They can see a beautiful young woman, beaming happily at them with tears in her eyes and running down the cheeks of her face. As though, purpose and life have been given to her. Something that she truly desires.

Forty minutes later, the four injured workers are on their way to a hospital for treatment and the terrifying task of disarming and removing so much explosives begins.

Not even a day later, a guard shoots dead an anarchist trying to steal into the ship with another bomb to set off the explosives and his three confederates attempt to escape with two being caught by workers and one of the pair killed by the angry mob and the last being shot dead after giving battle to a pair of constables, but badly wounding one of them in the process.

XxXxX

Portsmouth

August 3rd, 1914

XxXxX

"Move it and get those lines tied off!" the Marine Sergeant yells at his men as they work with the Navy crew to attach and tie off the tow lines to their ship, "We haven't much time! Hurry!"

Above them, in the mostly completed bridge, the Captain of the ship looks out upon the ranks of Royal Marines gathering to seize the ship he now commands. The support they had in Congress for the ship is very thin and likely not to arose much protest. But he would be damned if he allowed another US Navy ship to be seized, even if the ship was incomplete and not commissioned.

For their part, the Royal Marines are not too eager to seize the ship.

For one thing, the ship is guarded by two companies of their opposites from America and has a crew of US Navy sailors already aboard ship.

There is a fine difference between a ship not yet manned by her intended owners and one that is not only manned by the intended owners, but also the men in question are armed and ready to use force if need be.

More to the point, the Royal Marines and the US Marines had guarded the ship together for nearly two years. Why spoil a friendship in such a way? Not like the ship would be of danger to Britain anyways.

These were the Americans!

Not those bloody Ottoman buffoons!

Suddenly though, with a great cough, smoke began to appear from the ship's funnels.

The sound they gave, was like a great giant having a coughing fit. The smoke coming out in almost comical puffs, like that of a child's drawing. Not quite black nor grey. The puffs came at irregular intervals making that odd sound.

But then, with a great blow of continuous smoke, the ship suddenly came to life.

Soon, the American ship was pulling herself away from port. A belated cry of 'Cast off' and 'Weigh Anchor' following.

With a hobbling unsureness, the ship began to pull away from the pier. Only then did the Royal Marines surge forward, waving hats and cheering as the Americans began to pull away. Her unsteady movement was apparent, but as she got into deeper water and her anchors were pulled up and secured, her cast lines wrapped securely, the ship began stabilize.

"Look at that lads!" an officer shouts, "Just look at it! You'll never see a sight like that one again!"

The towlines become taunt as they are finally fastened. The tow vessels building up their own smoke as they help pull the incomplete warship into open water. Despite her own power, the ship is not quite ready, but it was either that or risk the ship's seizure. So the tugs and tow ships are a welcome aide as the ship finally begins her journey to sweet Americaid.

XxXxX

London

Later that night

XxXxX

"So the Americans were able to get their ship underway and escape with her," the man states as he eats his dinner in thought.

"Yes sir," the Royal Navy messenger responds, "The vessel was successfully driven by a combination of tows, tugs, and her own engines into the Atlantic, which by that time, while the tow ships had a firm hold on her, they were now merely there to be little more than supporting vessels due to her incomplete construction."

First Lord of the Admiralty, Winston Churchill merely nods.

It was quite the show. Given how they had to at least appear intent on taking the ship. Though, if they had to, he would have had her seized.

"Very good then," the man responds, dismissing the messenger, though not before allowing the man to have a good stiff drink and a little something to eat, as he was beginning to look this side of being dead from exhaustion.

Not very good, if men collapse from lack of eating and being overworked.

He can very well recall his times being worked very hard in the Army with little to eat.

XxXxX

New York City, New York

November 12th, 1914

XxXxX

Great crowds had gathered to watch as the US Navy formally commissioned their newest warship into service. New Yorkers, both young and old alike, both native and immigrant, arrived to see the ship that is to be commissioned in the shadow of her namesake.

Anchored next to her, is the brand new Battleship USS New York (Battleship No.34). The two ships sitting together as the new warship is soon to be commissioned as the first of her type and class into the US Navy. The USS New York also has crew members of the under construction USS Pennsylvania (Battleship No.38) to welcome the new ship and ring the Liberty Bell, specially brought to New York from Philadelphia for the occasion.

Also in attendance and anchored are the USS Saratoga (Armored Cruiser No.2) and USS Pittsburgh (Armored Cruiser No.4).

Both Armored Cruisers are anchored to the fore and aft of where USS Pennsylvania should be. In a small way, making the ship feel as though it is there as well. Also, aboard both Armored Cruisers, are workers and crew of the newly laid down USS Arizona (Battleship No.39). The men overseeing the special commissioning event of the new ship.

And soon, the very much reported and covered event began at midday. The commissioning ceremony of the newest warship into the US Navy. The brand new USS Liberty (Battle Cruiser No.1), with special attendance and speech to be given by the man who had the leading force for her acquisition, former 26th President of the United States of America and previously, the former 5th Assistant Secretary of the Navy, Theodore Roosevelt, who stood up before the crowd in fine and brilliant form.

Seen only by the dockworkers and her longest serving sailors, a young woman with brownish-blonde hair and wearing a dress quite similar to that of the Statue of Liberty, smiles with tears in her eyes as she is formally accepted and her first captain appointed ceremoniously to take command and issue the first commands.

USS Liberty (Battle Cruiser No.1) is now a part of the US Navy.

'Welcome aboard Liberty,' New York smiles from next to her.

'Welcome Liberty!' Saratoga gushes happily at the new ship.

'Show'em what we Cruisers can really do, Liberty!" Pittsburgh beams to her newest friend.

'Thank you, all of you,' the newly commissioned Liberty can barely keep her feet beneath her as the call for her to set sail is made.

XxXxX

Scapa Flow, Scotland

July 24th, 1917

XxXxX

USS Liberty lead her sisters of the Cavalry Division into Scapa Flow to the cheers of the Royal Navy ships and crews. While they were Battle Cruisers, they were close in design to the Royal Navy's own Impulsive-class Battlecruisers, one of which, the HMS Indestructible, had taken no less than four hits on three of her four turrets and survived at the Battle of Jutland.

Though, Indestructible lay in a repair dock, having her damage still undergoing repair, the confidence that the Liberty-class, being the vessels by which the Impulsive-class had been designed from, could take hits and give it back.

It also meant, that several ships of the Royal Navy could finally enter dock for some much needed work. Then, there is the fact, that they are additional ships and therefore, more targets to be shot at. It just so happens, that they are targets that can also shoot back as well.

The procession of American warships of the Cavalry Division soon arrive at their appointed places in the anchorage and docks.

For Liberty and her two sisters, this war is everything to them.

It is time to prove their value to the world and, more importantly, to those back at home who doubt them.

'We will win, right sisters!'

'Right!' USS Freedom (Battle Cruiser No. 2) and USS Justice (Battle Cruiser No.3) respond to their sister's declaration.

They are the first. The vanguard. Already they have proven some value by simply being ready to make their way to Europe first.

Now they have to prove they can fight as well.

Only time will tell if they will.

XxXxX

Heligoland Bight

October 4th, 1917

XxXxX

The 8th Battle Cruiser Squadron carefully made its way to the fortified naval base of Heligoland Bight. The Battle Cruisers doing their best to not be noticed until they started firing. Moving with their British guides, through the cleared paths of the minefields, the ships and crews were taunting fate.

Nevertheless, the American Battle Cruisers are intent to carry out their mission.

They are now four Battle Cruisers. Joined by the freshly finished and rushed into service USS Vesta (Battle Cruiser No.4), the four sisters composed the 8th Battle Cruiser Squadron of the Grand Fleet. Though, for this operation, Vesta had been left behind to continue drill and training.

As the 8th BCS continued its approach, a sharp eyed lookout spotted the German ships laying in wait. The young man spotting the tops of their masts, thanks to the use of signal flags, which has several that manage to briefly stick out long enough to be seen.

Immediately, clearing the mines, the 8th BCS begins the process to turn about and retreat. They are not in a good position and may even be outnumbered by a considerable margin.

The High Seas Fleet spots the 8th BCS turning about to escape. Immediately its ships surge forward to attack the Anglo-American force.

Liberty, Freedom, and Justice though swing their guns around. And begin training for the first German ships to enter their range.

Due to a successful deciphering of an intercepted British transmission, the High Seas Fleet was able to plan an ambush for the 8th BCS. They were to raid the naval base in the Heligoland Bight. As such, the decision was made to lay an ambush for the American Battle Cruisers.

Careful planning had been, though, undone by the decision to use signal flags which placed the ambush force into close proximity to one another and gave the tip off for the Americans to see and turn to escape.

Though, their escape ends up blocked.

High above, a pair of Zeppelins patrol. If the Allied ships were to try to return the way they came, they would be bombed from the air and potentially ambushed by U-Boats on the other side.

Which is the plan.

So, sending an in the clear alarm that they had fallen into a trap, the American ships and their British consorts work to escape somehow.

The Germans begin their pursuit, their own Battle Cruisers and Cruisers surging forth in pursuit, but with limited maneuvering room and potentially the entire High Sea Fleet before them, there is chance that the following Dreadnoughts would not be able to quickly join the battle.

Despite that, Liberty changes her course, calling for the formation of a Battle Line. The ships with her acknowledge and begin forming up for the inevitable battle, as the ships work their way along the edges of the minefield, in hopes of potentially finding a means to escape.

The formation of the Battle Line quickly favors the 8th BCS. They have the bigger, farther reaching guns than the German vanguard. More to the point, a message from the Grand Fleet acknowledges the upcoming battle and elements are already going to assist the trapped squadron.

As both sides wait for the inevitable exchange, Captain Gilford R. Reynolds, commanding USS Liberty, takes a moment to remove his cover and give a prayer before battle is joined.

The moment he finishes and places his cover back upon his head, he feels a feminine hand on his arm, giving a reassuring squeeze.

Then he's informed the Germans have entered range.

"You may fire when ready, XO," Captain Reynolds orders.

"Aye sir!" his XO response before the order is relayed.

Then the battle begins.

XxXxX

Royal Naval Dockyard Rosyth

December 27th, 1917

XxXxX

'Hello Liberty, how are you today?' Indestructible speaks from her drydock.

'Much better Indestructible,' Liberty responds, 'Very much better. Those Huns have some good gunners!'

'I know,' Indestructible responds, 'Oh how I know! If not for the fact we Impulsives are based on you, I know I would have been the fourth Battle Cruiser lost at Jutland!'

'Please do not remind me of that place,' Derfflinger speaks up from her drydock, the Stars and Stripes in place of her Imperial Tricolor, 'I lost my sister because of that battle and despite our achievements, we ended up once more in port because High Command lost its nerve!'

'Mein Gott im Himmel,' Kronprinz groans from her own place tied up at a dock, 'Will you put an end to it already Derfflinger! We all agreed that High Command is held in its place by the Kaiser himself. Can you please stop complaining already?'

'I will Kronprinz,' Derfflinger rounds on her, 'If you will fly your Tricolor right now!'

'Oi!' an annoyed Impulsive cuts in, 'Stop bickering already! It's all you two ever do since your arrival!'

'Can't say I blame them,' Texas cuts in as she sits tied up, with her newly repaired Secondary Battery repainted, 'If not for that submarine finding a hole in the minefield, the Cavalry Division might not have made it out.'

'I won't argue that Texas,' that had been far too close for Liberty's liking, 'That raid went as splendidly planned as any nigh military disaster I can think of.'

'For both sides,' Texas sighs as gently bobs in the water.

'For both sides,' Derfflinger begrudgingly agrees.

XxXxX

Brooklyn Naval Yard

September 21st, 1919

XxXxX

Liberty and her sisters of the Cavalry Division finally return home to America. Already, they can see the beautiful skyline of New York as they approach. Already, vessels that could, could be seen racing out to meet them, waving American flags at their approach.

Also, there to greet them, is their new sister, USS Minerva (Battle Cruiser No.5).

'Welcome home sisters!' Minerva cries out in joy at seeing the sisters she had yet to meet.

Now she does and she couldn't be happier, nor could her sisters be.

Though the eldest siblings are tempered by Derfflinger's own disastrous loss.

Both of her sisters are now gone. One as a result of battle and the other by some fool's vain pride!

Who the fool is doesn't matter. The fact that she is now alone in the world does. She and Kronprinz.

Both having been forced to watch as their sisters had been scuttled before their eyes. Sent to the bottom in such an ignoble end. There were few ships that had been successfully saved. Others meet just as miserable ends too.

Which, in its own sad way, made the first meeting between all five sisters of the Liberty-class that much more important to the elders.

The war is over. Good riddance!

XxXxX

Philadelphia Naval Yard

February 9th, 1922

XxXxX

'What do you mean they are going to scrap them?!' Liberty is jolted from her slumber by her youngest sister, Minerva, suddenly yelling.

'Huh, wha?' Liberty brought her attention to her sisters and the other ships in the yard, 'What's going on?' she asks sleepily.

Not even five minutes later, after being filled in.

'They aren't even born yet!' Liberty declares after hearing the fate of the ships yet to be finished.

XxXxX

Off the Coast of the Philippines

December 14th, 1941

XxXxX

"Any word on reinforcements?" Admiral Reynolds asks his flagship's captain.

The man shakes his head, "There will be none from what I've been told," the man sighs, "The Arizona was apparently destroyed, almost complete loss of the entire crew too, and the only Capital Ships to avoid being hit, were Constellation, she had Gunnery Practice that day and had departed early so the crew would be all awake, and Ranger, who appears to have not even been noticed because she was not berthed in her normal spot."

"Fine luck for the both of them," Reynolds states with his own sigh, "But the First Fast Division is no match for the entire Imperial Japanese Navy," the man turns to observe the seas around his ship, "We may have to retire sooner than we like."

"That would leave the Philippines defenseless, sir," the captain states.

"Yes," the Admiral turns to the younger senior officer, "But we are also already potentially cut off from resupply with the siege of Wake Island."

The other man winces. The siege of Wake Island is a thorny issue for the top brass. Admiral Reynolds believes firmly he can either land reinforcements or get the remaining men out of there. Not that the captain disagrees.

If division in the Pacific can do it, it's the First Fast Division.

"With the Second Division tied down to defend Alaska all the way to the Mexican border, we're on our own out here," Reynolds explains, "No means to ensure our supply lines stay intact. Which also means, we cannot stay out here for long."

"Especially as our base was wrecked," a seaman below them could be heard adding his opinion.

"I heard that sailor," Reynolds rebukes the man who yelps and goes to find something else to do, well removed from the Admiral and Captain.

"Man's got a point though," the captain doesn't want to agree.

"That he does Ca-" Reynolds is interrupted.

"ENEMY SHIPS SIGHTED!" a lookout shouts as the man focuses his powerful optics on the ships, "AMAGI-CLASS FAST BATTLESHIPS WITH ESCORTS!"

"That's Williams," the Captain states.

"Great," Reynolds looks in the reported, and he knows how accurate Williams can be, direction along the fast coming bearing and range as alarms ring out across the ship and the rest of the Division, "What I needed today. Another fight with Battlecruisers."

Liberty couldn't agree more.

The First War had been uncomfortably close. This time, both had better rangefinders and optics to see one another.

XxXxX

Off the Coast of Russell Islands

January 10th, 1943

XxXxX

The radar sweeps from the radar-equipped ships reported much the same. Nothing in the area. Dawn is also only a couple of hours out.

But after so many close calls and hectic battles, Task Force 14 is not counting on there being sunlight to chase the Japanese away.

Not this time. Something is up. Something big. And they have to stop whatever it is that comes their way.

"Still nothing," the radar operator didn't even look causing the Watch Officer to frown, but to ignore it.

Instead, he went to refill his coffee and think about how sleep will feel so-

"RADAR CONTACT!"

Figures.

"Multiple Radar Contacts confirm," the operator began listing off course, bearing, and numbers.

Within minutes the ships began to arouse their sleeping crews with alarms. Men jumped or dropped from their racks and began to don their uniforms and protective gear. The men then hurry to their stations and posts as soon as they are ready and grab the rest of their gear as they prepare for combat.

Up on the bridge, deciding enough is enough, Admiral Reynolds orders TF14 to make several course changes, in order to avoid the usual encounter with Japanese Torpedoes.

His decision is both well founded and correct. None of the Japanese Torpedoes launched from many miles away in a stagger form come within 10 miles of TF14.

A pair of passing Auxiliary Ships get the scare of their lives when the Torpedoes pass within feet of them though another six miles away.

The US ships quickly begin to find the range and the combined strength of the ex-First Fast Division begins to be brought to bear. The five Liberty-class Battlecruisers, for the first time in their lives, will be entering battle together.

Receiving the signal that TF15, the Constellation-class Battlecruisers and their escorts, have received word of the Japanese and are taking the appropriate measures indicates the entire fleet will be on alert and before the sun is up, all available planes will be getting launched into the air.

"What are we up against?" one man asks another as they look for the Japanese ships.

"No idea," the second man replies, before his eyes fall, unbelievably, on another Liberty off their flank instead of behind them.

That is what he thinks, until he recognizes the distinctive Pagoda-Style Mast.

"Sonovabitch!" he shouts before grabbing the voice-powered phone, "Hiei-class Battlecruiser off our starboard!"

Not long after, the remaining Hiei-class came into view. All five of them. Just like the Liberty Sisters, the Hiei Sisters are now to fight their first battle together. They are here to replace the Amagi-class Fast Battleships sunk or severely damaged by the Americans.

This war of attrition is taking its toll on both sides.

US Naval losses are so steep, that there is perhaps only a little more than two dozen Heavy and Light Cruisers left in the entire Pacific. Current Carrier strength stands at only one active Flattop in the Pacific. Of the Battleships… Nearly all are in the Atlantic or now transitioning to the Pacific.

That leaves only the Battlecruisers of the Liberty- and Constellation-classes left to fight the Big Gun Battles. Something their design and doctrines went against. They weren't heavy hitters, hell, one Connie is still in Bremerton after a clash in the company of the Fast Battleships Washington and South Dakota with an Amagi and a Nagato.

That said, the Imperial Japanese Navy is feeling it as well. The loss of eight Carriers, one Seaplane Tender, several Battleships, four Heavy Cruisers, six Light Cruisers, and so many Destroyers, Submarines, and other ships, that the losses are quite acute. Which will make this battle far more important than the Americans think it is.

As the ranges are found and the rounds and propellants loaded, Admiral Reynolds knows that once more, battle will be interest and vicious.

The former First Fast Division had safely evacuated what they could of the Wake Island Garrison and the civilians there before the Japanese could overrun the island. Their safe return, was the greatest military triumph for America in the war at the time.

The dangers the the First Fast Division had posed, had also delayed the Japanese on the Philippines, allowing more American and even Filipino troops to escape by ship to safety. The evacuation likened to that of Dunkirk, allowing significant numbers of troops to escape. Though the reality was that many were wounded and had to be carried out if they were to live. Still, over 35,700 men were rescued before Bataan fell and another 13,200 had been transferred elsewhere before disappearing into the jungles of the Philippines to continue to fight.

Part of the First Fast Division's success, was that during the Inter-War Years, the Navy had replaced the old 14in/45 caliber guns replaced with 16in/45 caliber guns. That had been possible, because during construction, the Bureau of Construction and Repair had redesigned the turrets after noting room for improvement. The ships had been finished with their older 14in/45 cals only because there were no 16in/45 caliber guns available, which was well and good for the sake of secrecy.

During one of their reconstructions, each of the five ships were secretly re-equipped with the larger gun.

The Japanese, not knowing this, had been surprised when their Battleship Mutsu was straddled and damaged by Freedom and Vesta.

It's one thing to have a Battleship to fight a Battlecruiser. It's an entirely different thing, when that Battleship is caught unawares by two Battlecruisers with bigger guns than expected.

Now, the Japanese Hiei-class and the American Liberty-class are meeting for the first time.

Guns finish their rotation and elevation. The Japanese relying on their superior night fighting skills, since their torpedoes had been evaded. The Americans, trusting to their new radars and the fact that the Japanese are going to try and light them up with star shell and searchlights.

The commands are given.

"FIRE/UDEI!"

XxXxX

Sasebo Naval District

Kujuku Island Base

March 29th, 2047

XxXxX

Vice Admiral Jonas G. Reynolds slams his latest paperwork down on his desk in anger at the latest intrusion into his work.

He can hear his Secretary Ship, Yahagi, getting into some kind of scuffle outside his office. He can also hear his two Command Ships, Fusou and Yamashiro caught up in the mess as well. Reynolds also frowns when he hears both Bismarck and Roma struggling with someone.

Turning to look at Saratoga, the woman can only shrug helplessly. Iowa is frowning as she heads over to the door. Prinz Eugen takes up a protective measure near Admiral Reynolds as Iowa opens the door and sticks her head out...

Only to recoil as someone kicks her in the face.

Which, as he has personally witness, is a good way to piss the Fast Battleship off.

"Okay! ENOUGH!" Iowa roars angrily before reaching into the mess of what the other occupants assume to be a fight and pulls Bismarck who has a firm hold on someone who comes along with a nearly tripping Roma, "What is going on here?!"

"And what's with the sack on her head?" Reynolds inquires himself, noting a masked, clearly Ship Girl, before him.

"A problem," Bismarck states and with a firm hold, manages to pull off the mask of the new Ship Girl who, by the appearance of her battered clothing and ash covered skin, was one of those cases that had to be hauled in physically because of some reason or another.

But as soon as the young woman's face is unmasked, Reynolds immediately realizes who it is and so does Saratoga.

"Liberty!?"

And the striking appearance to the Hiei Sisters is a good indicator of why she was masked in the first place.

Long brunette hair streaked with blonde strands and the tips are blond as well bunched into two braided buns with radar like tiara, round light brown eyes, dust colored skin, and wearing what can only be described as a Otaku's dream for an anime version of a priestess' toga.

But her face…

If not her Western features, one could honestly say they were looking at Hiei herself or any of her sisters!

Which causes Reynolds to lean forward and begin to rub right temple.

"I just got done with one headache and the universe just drops the biggest one in my lap," he moans before sighing and sitting back up, and with a smile, "Still, good to see you Liberty," the woman glares briefly before calming down at the sight of his Dress Greys, "The world is very different from when you were last with us."

"No kidding, aye," blinking at the verbal tick that left her mouth.

Wanting to bust up laughing at the confusion on her face, Reynolds shakes his head instead.

"Liberty, I'll be frank," he leans back in his chair, "You appearing as human should tell you that it isn't 1943 anymore."

"Then what year is it?" Liberty tilts her head, noting the Heavy Cruiser providing protection to the Admiral and… is that Striped Sara?!

"So you noticed Prinz Eugen and Saratoga," leaning back forward, "It's 2047 now and the world has an enemy that makes even the most vicious of enemies come together for simply trying to survive."

His tone at the end is serious. As serious as her Captain turned Admiral had always been. She would listen.

For now.

After all… Even if what he says is a load of crock, she's still in a human form.

XxXxX

A/N:

Okay, here is the replacement chapter for Lady Liberty. Mind you, this was not easy. I'm also still not totally sure I got this chapter down right. But it is meant to introduce to changes and make a quick and brief cover of events.

Not be a damn factual historical non-fiction history text!

So you damn fools who got on my case for the last one, shut up and don't even try me!

I'll have your names before Admin so fast, you'll figure out a month later you were banned!

Damn couch generals. What the hell does a Singapore Naval Enlisted Man know about the operations of the United States Army Infantry! Take that fact and stuff it!

Like the good old Chieftain says, "Just because you are a Tanker and know one end of a Tank from another, doesn't mean you know Tank History."

Now that out of the way. I hope new readers don't mind that tidbit. It is, unfortunately, a necessity because some people like to think themselves the Admiral's Mate.

I have names, but unless they cross me again, I won't name them. I'm a respectable kind of guy after all. I don't tarnish for the sake of it. Something they could learn.

Anyways… Please read and review and let me know what you think, okay? I do enjoy engagement of feedback and will happily answer questions I feel won't get you a free spoiler, though the way I say I won't answer is often, I'm told, quite humorous.

This idea began based on the story of another author. An author, who does good work. I decided to go for the American Kongo.

Now, the first attempt had been badly rushed and had one of the most crippling flaws a writer could do… Mix up the construction dates of the ship your intending to make your centerpiece. As such, that story died because of that.

A simple accident, really, it was. I was so excited to write the story, I got my dates all messed up by 10 years. So I had to go back to the ye ole drawing board. Which is where this story has been and has come from.

Hopefully this correction will be much better.

Which on the side note, I am in the process of considering a couple more stories based on Kantai Collection and even one with Kongo… Uh… Let's say, she was reclassed after a higher deity sneezed while playing Final Fantasy Tactics.