Fan fiction for Taylor Andersons destroyermen

Indian Ocean July 22nd 1942

Captain Robert Douglas Drake sighed as he watched the Japanese scout aircraft hovering just outside of anti aircraft range, it had been five days since the Australian parts of the convey had sacrificed themselves in order to give the rest a chance for the rest of the convey to escape the net. He shook his head and looked at his battered but still whole command, HMS Ark Royal the only example of raider/aircraft and dragon transport vessel, she had already proven her worth countless times before her present mission. Being particularly effective at killing enemy raiders even without launching her dragons and aircraft. Drake smiled at his battered command, whilst she definitely needed a refit when she got back, he thought, she was still tough enough to serve as protection as part of a critical convey to Avalons allies. She wasn't alone of course, her consorts consisted of two more carriers similar in design to her, the Graf Zeppelin and Taiho, the three heavy dragon transport ships of which none had before the convey seen any combat except for Leviathan though considering being constantly attacked by enemy cruisers even before she reached her first assignment hadn't hurt her crew that much. He snorted all it did was make Furious and Alexandra, her two sister ships more eager for a fight, he shook his head at dismay at what he previously thought of that, previous experience, he scolded himself, should have taught him not to underestimate that sort of thing. And then there was HMS Warlock, commanded by his wife as a reward for her saving her previous command under determined air attack, she carried a pair of experimental turrets at the mid ships which looked like some of arks anti aircraft defence guns except with heavy cruiser calibre. Those guns had proven their range and deadlines countless times but it would not matter if they could not escape. With those thoughts he turned his attention to the horizon not really expecting to see anything when he noticed an unusual looking squall coming in, perhaps, he mused, there was a way after all...."Yeoman!" He shouted "Yessir?" She replied, "send to the following signal to the flagship" he waited whilst she got a pad out "Up coming squall repeat squall, shows signs of being capable of allowing us time to make a clear break away from our pursuers, I suggest we use it as a means of ensuring dropping of pursuit due to its apparent depth and size. Got it?" "Yessir!" "Good get it to communications and have them send it on the double." The yeoman saluted then rushed off to get it sent off. Now, Drake thought, let's hope the admiral agrees with my suggestion...

A few hours later the distant sound of gun fire from the pursuing enemy heavy cruisers could be heard as they attempted to try and slow them down so their slower consorts could get into range. "Not bloody likely!" Drake muttered under his breath, the admiral had agreed with his plan, she did make a few additions that he hadn't thought of when he first sent his idea off. Namely that the destroyer escorts go ahead of the rest and keep the armed merchantmen covered whilst the bigger ships keep their rear covered but otherwise they did what he had suggested. That didn't stop the enemy fire being slightly unnerving as they made the mad dash for the cover the oddly coloured squall promised, he hoped he wasn't wrong...

The crew of the USS Walker were busy cleaning up their ship after its most recent foray with the Grik and where loading on fresh supplies and fuel and putting on a new lick of paint in the hot afternoon sun, whilst it was hard work it kept them busy and useful which helped morale considerably alongside their recent victories. Something that was very useful when they knew they could never go back to their original homes due to whatever they originally passed through to get to this new and yet old world. One of the observers up in the crows nest on Walkers single mast spotted something in the distance, he picked up his telescope and looked closer and couldn't believe his eyes, it can't be , he thought, "Ship off the channel entrance!" He called down to the deck.

Reddy was in his office doing some paper work when heard the call to battle stations, he rushed up to Bridge and when he got there he asked "Report", "unidentified ship just outside the channel entrance sir" the officer of the watch replied. He passed a pair of binoculars to him, he nods his thanks and looks at the ship "What the.." Was all he said before a new report came, "It's signalling sir! Demanding we identify ourselves." "What codes are they using?" "Same as the Brits where using the last time we were in contact with them, but I don't recognise that flag sir." "Well gentlemen I think we should try and find out who they are and where they are from."