Cutting down the Abyssal flagships was only one piece of Gorou's plan. Indiana—Gorou's marriage ship—had long since departed under his orders to contact the various marshals and friendly shipgirl forces positioned around the theater.
The "ambush on ten sides" wasn't meant for Ryuujou at all, but for the Abyssal host massed in the Seas off the Home Islands.
That four to five million–strong Abyssal army had lost its commanders and fallen into disarray—and the Home Islands sea is gourd-shaped, with poor exits.
Gorou moved our forces to plug both ends. Those five million Abyssals became turtles in a jar.
He wasn't literally strong enough to punch away millions of Abyssals in one blow, but that sea-spirit lion he raised truly did smash their command structure—most of their flagships were killed.
Reports say the Abyssals tried multiple breakout assaults and were beaten back—largely because, without flagships, they couldn't concentrate their strength and kept fighting piecemeal.
At that point, Gorou's intent was obvious: he meant to pen the Abyssal army in and even use them as live-fire training.
We've said it before: Abyssal shipgirls at sea either draw supply from Abyssal tenders or drink from the Black Sea itself. As with old wars, logistics sets the troop ceiling. Five million crammed together vastly exceeds what that sea can feed; they'd already been lurking there for quite a while. Drag this out, and the host will hit a hard resource wall.
"Truly formidable, Gorou," Hikaru said with genuine admiration.
Yamato slid him a look. "Didn't you already know how formidable he is? What's with the sudden praise?"
Hikaru shook his head. What he admired wasn't Gorou's raw power. It was the man's iron heart—his stone-cold nerve.
Headquarters' dispatches record the battle minute by minute, order by order. They don't spell it out, but between the lines Warspite's meaning is clear: she believes Gorou knew from the start that the young adjutant was an Abyssal mole, and from the start laid a trap to let him step into.
And naturally, tens of thousands of shipgirls and their commanders died, sunk into cold water, because of the adjutant's reporting—and because of Gorou's grand design. That was the "price" he paid.
Hikaru knew he did not have that kind of ruthless hand.
Kindness doesn't command armies. The old saying holds true.
"Looks like the Abyssals took a real beating this time," Hikaru said. "Good. Maybe you all can stop hovering over me for a bit."
He passed the dispatches to Lexington after finishing. "Five million Abyssals penned in the Home Islands sea. Gorou is marching on the First Island Chain and squaring off with the flagships there—"
Lexington traced a line with her finger, frowning. "Commander, could there still be a twist coming?"
"He punched apart four or five million carrier planes in one go. What twist is left?" Hikaru stretched. "Maybe he just doesn't want to wreck the chain too badly and is looking for a gentler way to take the islands."
"I'm starving. Someone save me."
Yat Sen had appeared behind him without a sound. At his words, she lifted a spoonful of congee. "Careful, it's hot."
Hikaru swallowed it in one bite, moved. "Only Yat Sen remembers to feed me. You really are the one who loves me most."
Yat Sen flushed; the others shot sidelong looks.
Lexington set down the dispatches, smiling, and lifted Hikaru's bowl. "Let me serve the Commander. It's awkward for Yat Sen from that angle."
As for Gorou's battlefield—well, they let it go for the moment.
That day, the bombing raids on the base were heavier than ever. If Alaska hadn't been remodeled and massively boosted in anti-air, Lexington's group might've had to burn quick-repairs just to keep fighting.
"The Abyssal concentration keeps growing—already past three and a half million, and still climbing," Lexington reported soberly.
"I don't think we're far from the endgame, then." Hikaru looked to Yat Sen. "Yat Sen, I may need to rotate you home for now."
She was stacking plate after plate of special dishes on the table. At his words, she dabbed her brow and smiled. "I'm not unreasonable. But, Commander, remember to summon me back."
"Of course. Go make your preparations."
He turned back to Lexington. "Any new Abyssal flagships sighted?"
"None. The same familiar faces."
[End of Chapter]
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