Prologue: Samar

October 25, 1944, at 0645 hours

A powerful gale blew through the horizon of the seas near the island of Samar in the Philippines. The dark nimbus cloud filled the sky and the wind swirls violently around the waters; a terrible weather is approaching. There was an ominous feeling coming from these waters, it is like death lurks from every corners of it. In the middle of the gloomy sea, there was a small American Task Force composed of six escort carriers, three destroyers and four destroyer escorts. The task force was ordered to assist ground troops for the invasion of Leyte Island. The task force was away from the actual actions in the land so it seems to be a carefree task but they didn't have the slightest idea what is going to happen for the next few minutes.

Meanwhile several nautical miles away from the small task force, a huge Japanese Fleet was already approaching, the Fleet was composed of four battleships, including the biggest battleship the world could ever witnessed, six heavy cruisers, two light cruisers, and eleven destroyers. With their heavy calibers, tough armors, and devastating torpedoes, they are ready to obliterate anything that will hinder their path towards their main goal. And their objective is the destruction of the landing force of the island.

The escort carriers carried aircraft which were only effective against ground troops and submarine while the destroyers and the destroyer escorts only had their automatic cannons, torpedoes, depth charges, and their five inch guns that wouldn't even scratched the armor of the huge battleship. The small task force wasn't made for this kind of engagement. Several minutes the powerful Japanese Fleet began their rain of shells. Colorful geysers splashed whenever a shell hits the waters. Their attacks were uncoordinated but the impact was still devastating.

The small American task force was totally outgunned and outnumbered. Their ships tried to maneuver themselves away from the gunfire, but despite of the overwhelming odds, the commander of the task force decided to make resistance, he ordered every planes available from the escort carriers to be launched in the air, armed with only machine guns, depth charges, anti-personnel bombs, and a few rockets and torpedoes while some of them has nothing to bare, the planes swarmed the incoming enemy fleet and tried their hardest to obstruct the bigger opponents. Meanwhile the destroyer and the destroyer escorts used smokes screen from their funnels to cover the retreating carriers against the heavy bombardment. The small task force withdraws toward east into the squalls.

Between the powerful Japanese Fleet and the tiny American Task Force, a little destroyer tries to maneuver herself away from incoming shells while producing heavy smokes screens from her funnels. Powerful splashes of water washed her deck as she zigzagged her way to avoid the incoming shells. The captain stands from the main bridge and watches the battle heats up, despite of their current situation, the captain remained calm and resilient.

"Captain, the enemy is gaining on us, what are we going to do?" one the officer asks while he looks through his binoculars.

"I see…" the captain lowers his head then he looks at the young officer, "very well then, order the men to proceed to their quarters… we're going to fight." the captain answered with a calm tone.

"Wait captain, a mere tin can won't stand a chance against a battleship!" the officer argued. The captain glares at the young officer his eyes look disappointed, the officer slightly staggers.

"Tell me son, what do you expect that moment you were assigned in this ship?" the captain asks but the sailor didn't answered the question.

"I already told you that she will be a fighting ship, I intended to let her go in harm's way; I cannot just run away with my tail tucked between my legs while knowing the fact that if we don't do something, more people will die and this goddamn war will just last longer."

The officer remained silent.

"If this will be our last moment, let's do a lot of damage that the enemy will regret for underestimating us; let's fire everything until the very last torpedo she got!"

The sailor lowers her head, "I see, very well… I'll follow you till the very end, it's been an honor to serve you, captain." the officer saluted at his captain with sparks of courage within his eyes, the captain smiles proudly.

Behind them, there was a girl; everybody inside the captain's bridge seems to be ignoring her like she was some kind of ghost but she didn't mind it. The girl seems to be listening to their conversation, though she looks a bit worried about their impending demise but she smiles knowing that the captain is willing to make a stand despite of the hopeless situation.

The captain gives his orders to his crewmen.

"On to your stations; tell everybody to prepare to engage the enemy fleet!"

"Stand-by for a torpedo attack!"

"Sail at flank speed, full left rudder!"

The captain roared at his crew, his men immediately followed his orders. Then the destroyer, with her little guns and torpedoes, turned around toward the superior Japanese Fleet and sailed through the heavy rain of shells till she reached her maximum speed. The rest of the ships in the small force witnessed the brave charge of the lone destroyer.

The little tin can shall be known in history as the ship that leaded an attack against the overwhelming odds.

Author's Notes:

Did you enjoy the Prologue?

I made a short reenactment of the Battle off Samar. I did some research about the battle (read the wiki, watch some documentaries, etc-etc), I hope I get it right. I would like to pay respect for the brave men who fought from both sides during the battle. I also make the Ship Girl's human forms as spirits during their previous life (something like in the "Things Which the Girl Saw" by Ataru and it was a great story, one of the reason that made me love KanColle). Chapter 1 will be coming soon. Please review, also please notify me if I made some mistakes about my writings, thank you in advance.