Scene #811: It Came From Below!

Owner	Pose
Wo	Tales of sea monsters in this area aren't uncommon, being the residence of sailors, fishermen and others that make their livings - for better or worse - off the sea. Recently, such stories are proving frustratingly harder to dismiss, and in the worst cases can disrupt the flow of sea traffic until the piece of drift wood or other flotsam can be retrieved and proven not to be some overgrown wavekin, or even aquatic scalekin, hence restoring order. At least, until the next time. With all that has happened to Eorzea, and this world that plays host to it, one can hardly blame them for being on edge, especially with the very real monsters also staring them down. It is under that atmosphere that today, as the sun sets on another day of work and play, yet another mysterious sighting is fated to take place. Under the cover of darkness, and further using the waves lapping around the bases of the city's spires as a natural, optical camoflage, some abyssal ships have managed to stow into the bay. Their darkened, streamlined shapes would be easily missed, were it not for the supernatural glow of their eyes and certain other features, should one get close enough. Nonetheless, for the first part of their sortie, they remain undetected. A Wo-class carrier hovers in place just below the surface, watching stoically as a group of five roughly bullet-shaped I-class destroyers scatter around the area. They are freshly awakened sisters...not even able to form a humanoid body, such is their confusion in torment. It was difficult to keep young ones such as this in check. And yet..the purpose of this visit was not to ransack, but one of gathering information. Having seen one of the Admiral's personal vessels a few evenings prior, it is important to better ascertain how much of a threat they might prove to be, whether in individual strength or in numbers. The destroyers are equipped with what basically equates to data recorders, for this purpose, rather than torpedoes. That, at least, partially curbs their enthusiasm for violence, even if the voices passing into her head from them suggest they'd gnaw on the hulls with those jaws if they thought it could do enough damage. It was all going so well, that is..until a fisher outside her guild casts a line that hooks on to one of the destroyer's jaw, purely by chance. The flabbergasted ghost ship begins pulling furiously against the fisher, that surely had thought she had landed a huge catch, judging by her own enthusiastic pulling! A few moments later, a scream bellows out from the docks, leading to onlookers and Yellow Jacket alike to run to the lower docks. The straw hatted hyur woman, having long since lost her battle, points to where her former rod is now being towed by - something - through the water, "Ye can't explain this one away! I saw it w' me own eyes! THEY GLOWED!" Whatever it was, it seems to have freed itself, since the rod finally stops moving and bobs to the surface. While some help the poor woman up, most of the crowd seems to be dismissive of the story..except maybe a conspiracy theorist or superstitious person or two. "Lots o' fish have glowy bits, ma'm. Don't let it worry ya none!" "That weren't no FISH, I SAY!"
Elasaid Hood	Elasaid is, purly by coincidence, in the area, talking 'shop' with some local blacksmiths, offering produced wears, what she could carry, at least. Greaves, bracers, a few blades, all forged from good quality steel. The cream of her recent 'crop' as it were. The scream draws her along as well, though she leaps up onto a crate or other place to get a better view, eyes narrowing slightly. "She be right lads... I c'n see black shapes movin' in th'shallows." she announces, pointing further to the mouth of the bay. "See there too, sommin' big out there." How can se see Wo at that distance? Hard to say.
Mikase Yamato	Normally, the girl named Mikase would not pay much mind to a land like Eorzea. Not that she considers the world of magic and monsters beneath her, but rather she prefers to leave places as delicate as this to those who are better suited for it. She's heard all too clearly how battered this land is and how it is still recovering from a great calamity not even a few years old. The sort of place that can probably do without the thunder of Yamato's guns. However, stories that suggest activity from the Abyssal Navy have prompted the girl to investigate the seaside city of Limsa Lominsa. While Elasaid can find common ground with the Blacksmithing Guild, the girl whose height is only matched by Rogadyn and some Elezan feels ridiculously out of place. "Sea monster?" one sailer scoffs, "Which /one/? Th' snakes 'r th' fishmen 'r their screwy Primal 'r th' ghosts 'r th' giant squids 'r th'..." This tirade is one Mikase listen to with a bored, half-attentive expression that is only interrupted by a shriek in the distance. Glancing back at the sailer, she bows briefly, "I'm sorry but I have to go." A few moments later, an abnormally tall Japanese girl slows from a jog to a halt on the pier near the distraught fisherman, "You said it glowed? Did you see where it went?"
Wo	The still clearly spooked fisher points a still quivering finger out towards where her rod is bobbing around now, when finally taken seriously by these newcomers, "That weren't the only thing -- it had teeth! PEOPLE teeth! Ain't seen nothin' like it!" Most of the people scratch their heads, too. Even if they could see the same shapes that Elasaid can clearly, it's not like they're equipped to reel things in that are that big. "Well, whatever is skulking around out there, I think I'll give a pass on figuring it out. These seas just ain't safe anymore," explains one relatively well spoken man, still in his youth. He's clearly still got a lot left to live for, you see. That seems to be the general concensus from crowd mumbling. As for those smaller, slender shapes, they are..clearly not fish, to anyone that can see them. They don't even seem to have proper fish-like swimming equipment, and instead almost move as though by water jet or propellor. That would also help explain how something that large - easily the size of a jetski if those were submersible - can move so silently even from this closeby. At about that time, the unnerving standoff, with these smaller shapes seeming to be gathering back around the larger one, finally breaks, as one of the 'fish' turns directly toward Elasaid, eyes piercing through the water, an eerie gold. Well, that gets the docks to clear, at least. Moreover than that, perhaps sensing something akin to its natural enemy in an animalistic sort of way, it breaks formation, practically rocketing towards her! By this time, it has breached the surface, and its maw gapes in a silent - to all but her sisters - scream. It's also probably quite obvious what it is by now, as its mouth hinges even further to fire forth a shell straight at her. Well, they couldn't forgo all of the armaments, after all. Whether this was intentional, or the other figures seem to take this as a good time to leave with their cover blown, the larger shadow seems to..vaguely gesture, beginning to direct the remaining, still controllable force back out towards the safety of the bay. ..a sortie interrupted by a fisherman, how unlucky could Wo get?
Mikase Yamato	The description causes Mikase to frown and she looks out over the water, "Please stay calm. My friend and I will take care of this." Glancing back towards the nearest Yellowjacket who looks important, she adds, "Please watch the docks low to the water, though. In case anything tries to come out." With that, she plants a foot on one of the dock's pilings, hauls herself up, and then leaps out over the water. In mid-flight, Mikase is surrounded in white light, changing her clothes into the hakama and haori, forming her armor and shoulder mantlet, and then finally the gunhouses and long cannon barrels of her signature main battery. With a clanging sound of metal on metal, she hits the water as if it were solid ground, then advances forward, accellerating towards the mouth of the bay. "That they'd come right into the city..." the girl mutters, inclining her head, "...The Abyssal Navy is getting bold."
Elasaid Hood	"Wh-- VENTIS SECUNDIS!" Elasaid reacts fairly quickly to the sudden launch of a golden eyed monster in her direction. A quick flash of bluewhite light forms her equipment, which then coalesces into her Barrier Armour, blocking the shot without even a scratch. "Hostile Destroyer engaging. Enemy formation attempting retreat. Allied Dreadnaught in area. Yamato, come in, this is Hood." Her radio bit said, she leaps off the dock, causing a plume of water to burst upwards. She then starts wading out to meet the oncoming mouth with eyes, staring it down as her own guns level on it. "You do not belong here." is all she says, before the scaled down 15inch guns on her left shoulder bellow in response. Two reports, and two AP shells slam out at the oncoming Destroyer. "Too bold, lets show them they cannot get away with this."
Wo	They might be abyssal ships, but they are still but fledgelings. Themselves the pedestrian workhorses of the past. The destroyer that has focused its attention on Elasaid is dogged, though, and seems not in the least bit dissuaded by how little its shelling did against her armor. Without torpedoes, it's severely overmatched here, even with superior maneuverability. That is, if it were even trying to maneuver. It's..not quite right: Without its flagship's oversight, it's a berserk rogue, now. It all but leaps out of the air, skipping out with its turbine churning hollowly against nothing but the sky, and were it not for Elasaid's reflexes and quickly bringing her own arms to bear..well, it looks like it would have been perfectly fine trying to bite onto an arm. It's that possessed! As it is, though, barreling right for her, one of the shells strikes solidly against its own outer frame - the sound a sickening tangle of pulverizing flesh and metal being torn apart. Perhaps, most disturbingly, it is still making desperate biting motions, before the damage rips into whatever equates to an abyssal's magazine, causing it to suddenly splash what looks for all the world like congealed motor oil, before it sails harmlessly by, finally settling into the water.. Well, that's one small fry down. Out ahead, the pursuit would be headed towards the narrow gated inlet; adequate enough in keeping ships and larger sea monsters away, but for human-sized and less threats, they simply pass through. Sensing that their get away might yet prove troublesome, it seems that it can't be avoided. At the least, they'll be able to face them down where less of the city can get a good view of what's happening, the Wo-class figures. As first Yamato catches up, she'll see a bubbling and rippling, as the aircraft carrier rises from the shallows, hands propped on her roughly fashioned staff, and being circled by the remaining destroyers almost as though they were her pet sharks. Her eyes are impassive at first - the same amber hue as the destroyers, in fact. But after a moment, a look of realization seems to cover over her, and then - on her normally icy face - the slightest hint of a frown. "...Yamato. Why -" Why were you here!? "..stay back."
Mikase Yamato	Something monstrous rises from the sea, prompting Yamato to plant her feet and decelerate, bleeding off speed until she comes to a complete halt on the water's surface. Her forward-facing turret is already swinging up, even before she's identified the figure that has emerged before her. With her elbows tucked close to her waist, arms held out and fingers clenched, her eyes narrow. "You're that Abyssal ship from Iwo Jima," the identification is easy enough. That hat is awfully hard to forget. "We're not bound by any peace agreements here, I have nothing keeping me from opening fire, and your pet attacked my friend." The loss of contact on her radar tells her all she needs to know about who won out in that Destroyer/Battleship engagement. Evidently that little guy wasn't named Samuel B. Roberts. "I'm here because rumors are that the Abyssal Navy has been causing problems for these people." Those big 46s elevate, then lock with a noisy clacking sound. They don't fire. "What are you /doing/ here?"
Elasaid Hood	It's a minorly disgusted gesture... but Elasaid brings up one arm, and SMASHES it into the passing I-Class, before she continues on her way. Sloshing through the bay water, her A turret cla-CLUNKs as it reloads, and her eyes focus on the new target. Some radio chatter passes back and forth, and so, as Elasaid comes to rest beside the Lady of the Line, her own turrets traverse, elevate and lock with resonant clanks of their own, but don't fire just yet. Let the girls talk it out, maybe this can end without further oilshed.
Wo	Alas, the ways of the abyssals aren't quite as speedy as radar. It takes a few moments before the voices of the vanquished destroyer finally are quelled, that final screech still resonating, as Wo visibly trembles, even if her overall stature remains the same. "..pet - no.. Sister.." She doesn't know the circumstances of these fleet-daughter like entities, but couldn't they understand at least that much!? With her stilted speech it's hard to relate that she was just like these young ones, once. Maddened, angry at everything. Oh, she's still angry, but now it's focused..controllable, and she can extend that control to those that would lack it. Her own defensive batteries swing into place, reflecting the general anxiety of the atmosphere at the time, even if she makes no further aggressive action just yet. "These children... Fight, for their peaceful sea. You can't - hear them?" Maybe she's more nuts than Yamato had given her credit for. Her own expression just gets keeps slipping into one that's even more disappointed by the moment, as she starts to doubt whether talking to surface dwellers was a wise decision, to begin with. She glances to Elasaid next, trying to gauge her own expression, eyebrows furrowing in a muted display of frustration, "..you sank her..again.. You felt - nothing? She was - crying out." The destroyers' circling of the wagons seems to slow down, almost as though they were giving glances of their own towards the two readied maidens. Whether it is one trying to gauge their reactions, or awaiting their next rounds of attacks, is hard to gauge. Their 'voices' as the Wo-class calls them, are apparently silent to the surface dwellers.
Wo	To Yamato's other question, her reply is rather matter of fact, for one that had been on a sortie of subterfuge. She has no real reason to conceal her actions, at this point, "Gathering..information. Fleet strength." What she might want with this particular fleet is anyone's guess.
Elasaid Hood	Elasaid shakes her head. "I can't hear anything. But that doesn't mean I don't care." she replies. "Your, fleet, never stays sunk, correct? Perhaps next time around... she will choose her battles more prudently. A Destroyer facing down a Battlecruiser will almost always end poorly for the Destroyer." are her words. Whether Hood Herself can hear the Voices is unclear, and she doesn't seem to be sharing that knowledge with her Vassal, just yet.
Mikase Yamato	After a tense moment, Yamato lowers her hands. A few moments later, the maiden's main battery elevates and swings aside, pulling the bead off of the sorrowful Abyssal carrier. "I don't hear them as voices," she states, "Only that scream. I couldn't tell if it was anger or sadness or fear. I don't know what you are," she points out, "That insult wasn't intended." She figures out quickly enough what the Wo class means, though. Reconaissance. At that thought, there's a buzzing sound behind her. One of the launcher rails swings out and, hurtling down it and then into the air, is a girl soaring on the blue-marked wings and engines of an A6M Zero. A single plane is hardly a threat, especially when the flying doll keeps a wide berth and simple circles the entire gathering at a steady speed. "So you're here to learn about your enemy," Yamato inclines her head, "I suppose that explains why you're running." A glance towards Elasaid, "Did it seem more lightly armed than usual?"
Elasaid Hood	Elasaid looks to Yamato, her own guns sweeping away and returning to 'rest' position. "It only fired a cannon. Destroyers come armed with torpedoes for their big punch. THis one, even seemingly maddened, did not seem to possess torpedoes. So short answer, Yes."
Wo	It's not quite a bead of sweat - if she can even do that. The Wo-class manages a light backpedal in the water, with the Zero's emergence. ..even if that is one cute Zero, reflexes die hard. The Destroyers also seem a bit more excitable for a moment, before a wave of Wo's hand steadies them. She doesn't confirm or deny Elasaid's own suspicions, though that much would be pretty obvious - if it were really trying to open up on her, as it seemed to be. Wo watches the two surface dwellers with eyes that aren't quite nervous, but still obviously wary. Though she has little reason to explain her Destroyer charge's actions, she still quietly adds, "..it attacked, because.. ..it stopped - listening." Unspoken is that, perhaps, in that strange tangle of muddled memories and fractured history, something about Elasaid simply overrode her normally 'calming' presence. It will have to remain a mystery for now. "..I've got - what I need, wo," she announces, with eyes re-hardened in seriousness. "Leaving, wo." With this, she begins gliding backward, flanked by the destroyers in a similar fashion, two to a side; a defensive formation that makes the best of the meager firepower they were packing. As she calmly, but tensely, attempts to slip away, her eyes for a moment flash that same sadness. It seems that the surface people really can't understand them, after all... "..may this - be our last.. Meeting.." Yeah that's right, don't show yer faces here again if ya know what's good for ya! Well, more like..something still is nagging at her about this, and it's an uncomfortable feeling. If she indeed manages to put enough separation, she'll submerge, with the Destroyers following suit close behind. They really are pets!?
Elasaid Hood	"Wait..." she calls out, turning to collect the ruined corpse of the downed Destroyer. She brings it back, and offers it out with a sense of revenence. "At least take her back with you." she offers.
Mikase Yamato	Stopped listening... Yamato inclines her head in thought, though doesn't take her eyes off the Wo-class. The carrier's sudden decision to retreat catches her by surprise, "--Ah? You're going?" She starts to reach, then pauses when Elasaid does something surprisingly noble. The heavier of the two warships actually steps aside and back to give her comrade room to maneuver, eyes following Hood's motions and then traveling to the retreating Wo, "Hood's right. She deserves to go home." Yamato's guns lower, the turrets rotating slowly back to their downward-pointing at rest position, "And... I hope this isn't the last time we meet. There's so much about you and your kind that we don't know. I'd like the opportunity to learn. And perhaps, somehow, we can find a way to help you find peace." Reaching out, though it's Elasaid who's doing the real gesture here, she offers, "My name is Yamato Mikase. You can call me Mikase if you want, but I'd like to know what I can call you."
Wo	The Wo-class, despite her better judgement, stops just short of full submergence. But if it's like this...since she's now in the open sea, she can easily make a run for it, if these two have less than noble intentions. Her hat breaches the surface of the water, her eyes staring somewhat confusedly after Elasaid, before she returns with what remains of the Destroyer. ...did she really? The carrier emerges again with her return, with her sister being carried - which would certainly not be easy, were Elasaid not a fleet maiden! "Wo..." She looks somewhat confused, since it's certainly not something that had happened before, but after a few moments, glides back inward to scoop up the Destroyer's shell in her own arms, notably carefully, while she closes her eyes. "..this one is - strong. She will.. Return." The voice that had gone silent has returned, weakly for now. Opening her eyes again, she glances between the two, straining to think of the proper surface way to express herself, before barely grating out, "...th-anks.." As for Yamato...well, she 'knew' her before, but not her full, proper human name. Something that is still new to her with her arrival in the multiverse. When asked for what to be called, that question seems to be oddly troubling, judging from how her eyebrows wrinkle and her mouth subtly downturns. "..had..a name, once.. Head gets..fuzzy.. Now -- Wo-class aircraft carrier." She mumbles further, "..Wo. That - will do." Whether she shares Yamato's optimism or not is left a mystery for the time being, as she had better get this careless child back to the Iron Bottom Sound daycare for destroyers. "..goodbye." With that, she unceremoniously drops into the water again, her cape billowing behind before vanishing into the depths of the bay.
Elasaid Hood	Elasaid sighs softly. "Wo, huh? It does fit... she seems so sad." The Battlecruiser then turns to the Dreadnaught. "Lets head back... there's a wee place that does good food further inland." she says, trying to lighten the mood. She does spare a glance over her shoulder, as if she might catch a glimpse of golden eyes shining from the dark water, before she starts wading back to shore.
Mikase Yamato	"...Yeah," Yamato says quietly, eyes still on the water where Wo disappeared. After a long moment, she turns away and makes her way back to the dock she had jumped from, "If we're going to learn anything about the Abyssal Navy, it's going to be through her. Barring any clues to the world they come from and their enemy, anyway." "Thus," She looks towards Elasaid as she hauls herself up onto the dock proper. The wood complains instantly from the weight, "I'd rather try to be diplomatic with her whenever it's possible." The creaking of the wood stops when Mikase is surrounded by light, banishing her heavy equipment and returning her regular clothes, "The Princesses are just too violent and angry to be open to regular conversation."
Elasaid Hood	Elasaid hauls herself back as well, wood creaking before she too is bathed in bluewhite light, her gear vanishing into motes that drift away on the night breeze. "Aye, I fought that... Anchorage lass a while back... nothin' but rage. Cold, unrestrained rage." she heaves a sigh. "I jes' hope we're not wastin' our time." Hands get shoved into her wind breaker, as she leads the way for the much taller japanese girl. An odd couple, short, copper-haired scotswoman, tall raven haired Japanese shrine girl.