Zuikaku LN Volume 1 Part 3 - The Meaning of Luck (Part I)

>鶴翼之絆 第三章 幸運的意義（上）
>The Bond's of the Crane's Wings, Part 3 - The Meaning of Luck (Part 1)
From http://www.wenku8.cn/novel/1/1819/63217.htm
Inserts - http://www.wenku8.cn/novel/1/1819/63221.htm

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>1.
    鎮守府內的數個溫泉裏，最受歡迎的是露天溫泉「竹林湯」。
>The Naval District hosts several hot springs, but the most popular is the open-air hot spring "Bamboo Forest Soup (I'm sure this sounds better in Japanese)."
    竹林湯位在鎮守府深處，泉如其名，裝潢是以「竹林中湧出的秘密溫泉」爲主題，受到許多艦娘喜愛。規模相當大，即使鎮守府半數以上的艦娘入浴也還有空間。
>Bamboo Forest Soup lies deep in the Naval District, surrounding the spring from which it derives it name; decorated according to the theme of "The Secret Hot Spring Gushing from the Bamboo Forest," it was well-loved by many shipgirls.  It was quite expansive, readily taking in over half the naval district's shipgirls with room to spare.
    「……哈～溫泉果然很棒呢……」
>"...whew~hot springs really are the best."
    瑞鶴泡在池子裏，同時發出無比贊歎的聲音。她坐在岩石上伸展雙腿，姿勢相當放松。
>Zuikaku marinated in the pool, her legs on the rocks in a pose of relaxation as she let out her praise.
    或許是因爲天色已黑使得氣溫降低，瑞鶴泡的池子附近彌漫著白色的水汽，醞釀出獨特的風情。多虧了不知來自何方的海風，生長在露天溫泉周圍的竹葉也跟著摩擦出聲。
>Due perhaps to the temperature that followed nightfall, the pool in which Zuikaku soaked was shrouded in a cloud of white steam.  From who knows where came a seabreeze that clattered the bamboo that surrounded the hot springs against each other.
    「可以溫暖身體消除疲勞，又能藉由溫泉的功效滋潤肌膚，最重要的是很舒服，實在是太棒了……！沒錯吧，翔鶴姊？」
>"To be able to warm up the body, remove your aches, treat your skin with spring water and (most importantly) just to relax...this is just the best...!  Right, Shoukaku-nee?"
    「呵呵，瑞鶴也愈來愈有艦娘的風格了呢。」
>"Ohoh, Zuikaku is sounded more and more like a shipgirl by the day."
    翔鶴開心地微笑。
>Shoukaku smiled happily.
    這天是瑞鶴第一次出擊後的第四天。瑞鶴結束與其他艦娘的聯合訓練後，便邀翔鶴一起來這個「竹林湯」。她最近悄悄地迷上了「泡澡」，只要時間能配合，就會找翔鶴一起去鎮守府內或附近小鎮的溫泉，消除白天累積的疲勞。
>This was the fourth day since Zuikaku's first sortie.  After joint exercises with the other shipgirls, she had invited Shoukaku along to Bamboo Forest Soup.  Recently she had found herself enamored to these baths, visiting the various hot springs in the Naval District or in the outlying towns whenever she had the free time to wash away the day's fatigue.
    翔鶴對于妹妹的任性沒有表現出半點排斥。不僅如此，她看上去反倒像因爲瑞鶴很享受日常生活而感到充實。
>Shoukaku had yet to display an ounce of reservation to her sister's whims.  Indeed, she seemed quite pleased with the fact that Zuikaku was enjoying daily life.
    此時的翔鶴似乎也是這樣。她一臉幸福地看著脖子以下都泡在熱水裏的瑞鶴。
>Shoukaku seemed the same right now, indulgently watching Zuikaku, submerged in hot water up to her neck.
    這四天，瑞鶴跟翔鶴就像之前那樣，過著在鎮守府近海訓練的生活。
>During these four days, Zuikaku and Shoukaku had spent their days as before, training in the waters around the naval district.
    其他艦娘們也一樣，只有部分負責護衛任務的艦娘會出擊。
>The rest of the shipgirls were no different, with sorties limited to those on patrol duty.
    悠閑的表象背後是攻擊沖之島的作戰計畫，鎮守府內的艦娘們也都知情。
>The current attitude of relaxation belied the planned Assault on Okinoshima, a plan known by all the shipgirls of the Naval District.
    作戰預定後天開始。瑞鶴與翔鶴雖然不在出擊成員名單之內，但必要時得支援前往沖之島的主力，或是應付前往其他區域的深海棲艦，因此得盡可能地利用這段期間鍛煉。
>The Operation would begin the day after tomorrow.  Although Shoukaku and Zuikaku were not listed among the participants, they would likely either advance on Okinoshima as support for the Main Fleet or serve to suppress the Abyssals in other districts.  As such, it was important that they train as best as they could for now.
    當沖之島近海的作戰順利結束時，如果瑞鶴沒有改變心意，提督就會正式承認瑞鶴是這座鎮守府的艦娘。
>Once Operations in the Okinoshima Waters had successfully concluded and if Zuikaku had no change of heart, the admiral would officially recognize Zuikaku as a shipgirl of the Naval District.
    翔鶴以感覺不出訓練疲勞的聲音接著說下去：
>Shoukaku continued with a voice now devoid of post-training fatigue.
    「每一名艦娘啊，來到這座鎮守府後都會迷上溫泉。就像你說的，泡溫泉非常舒服……另一方面，也是因爲軍艦時代沒辦法體驗這種感覺，得成爲艦娘才能享受。」
>"Every Shipgirl has become addicted to hot springs after coming to this naval district.  As said, the hot springs are extremely comfy...on the other hands, perhaps it's because we could not experience this kind of thing as warships that we need to enjoy it so much as shipgirls."
    「畢竟身爲軍艦的時候總是待在海上嘛，而且船上的衛浴設備都是用海水。」
>"Not to mention we were always on the seas as Warships (no shit?), and all the showers used seawater."
    淡水對軍艦而言十分珍貴，因此艦上的一般軍士官兵想泡澡只能用海水。關于這一點，即使是在新型艦中相對舒適的翔鶴型標准航母也不例外。
>Freshwater was incredibly valuable for a warship, and as such the average seaman could only shower with seawater.  This was the case even for the new-model Shoukaku-class Standard Carriers and their improvements in comfort.
    （雖然我並不討厭待在海上，但還是想跟普通人一樣享受泡澡的樂趣呢……）
>(Although I don't hate life on the seas, it's still nice to be able to enjoy a bath like normal people...)
    在舒服地伸展雙手的同時，翔鶴繼續說道：
>As she stretched out her arms, Shoukaku spoke on:
    「所以，我也非常喜歡溫泉。能像這樣跟瑞鶴你一起泡溫泉，實在是太好了。而且這樣悠哉地泡澡還可以消除疲勞……」
>"That's why I also enjoy hot springs.  To be able to bathe with you, Zuikaku, is wonderful.  Plus leisurely baths like these are great for removing all the aches and pains..."
    「啊哈哈。最近我們常一起中彈呢……」
>"Ahahha.  We've gotten hit together quite a bit recently."
    最近的演習隨著瑞鶴技術有所精進而變得更難，讓她們經常得在嚴苛的狀況下戰鬥，中彈率也跟著提高。
>As Zuikaku's expertise advanced, so too did the difficulty of their exercises.  As the two were exposed to increasingly harsh conditions, the hits sustained had steadily increased.
    雖然兩人中彈率幾乎相等，不過瑞鶴認爲單純想成自己的幸運還在持續比較好。
>Although they were both hit with virtually the same number of shells, Zuikaku reckoned that she had still been a little better off thanks to her luck.
    盡管會意識到自己在「那場戰爭」中的別名「幸運航母」，不過這裏的戰鬥又是另外一回事，不能掉以輕心。
>While aware of the name of the "Lucky Carrier" given to her in "That War," this war and that were two different things.  It would be dangerous to let down one's guard.
    翔鶴微微苦笑。
>Shoukaku smiled wistfully.
    「是啊。不過，你適應這個世界的速度出乎意料地快，讓我放心了。而且這邊跟『那場戰爭』之間的巨大落差，似乎沒怎麽嚇到你呢。」
>"Yes.  However, you've gotten used to the rules of this world faster than I had ever projected, and you've allowed me to relax. The great difference between 'That War' and the one here doesn't appear to have taken you by surprise."
    「嘻嘻，因爲這個鎮守府待起來很惬意嘛。」
>"Hehe, it's 'cuz this Naval District's really comfy."
    瑞鶴一臉滿足。
>Zuikaku grinned contentedly.
    「鎮守府裏有一百位以上的艦娘，就像在家裏一樣熱鬧，而且這裏的飯很好吃、街坊鄰居又很親切，何況還能像這樣享受溫泉……跟這些比起來，兩邊的差異根本不重要。變成艦娘真的很棒呢。」
>"The Naval District has over a hundred shipgirls--it's like a busy family.  Plus the food's good, the neighbors are friendly, and there are great hot springs everywhere...with all that in mind, the difference between worlds isn't even that important.  Being a shipgirl's fucking great."
    「可是要注意自己的身體喔。瑞鶴，你跟剛到任時相比，肚子上多了點肉喔。」
>"It's important to watch your  body, though.  Zuikaku, since you've come, you've put on a few folds on your stomach."
    「果、果然變胖了……？」
>"D-did I g-gain weight...?"
    嚇出一身冷汗的瑞鶴面露苦笑。她很在意這件事。
>Suddenly feeling a burst of cold sweat, Zuikaku smiled crookedly.  She paid great attention to these kind of things.
    「呃，可是每天都有那麽好吃的飯，讓人覺得不大吃一頓不行啊。而且那些幾乎都是在『那場戰爭』時沒見過的菜色……」
>"Ugh, but every day the food is so good that you feel like you gotta have them all.  Plus most of the dishes never existed during 'That War'..."
    一旁傳來口氣不善的聲音。
>From the side came some rather cutting words.
    「那就是缺乏鍛煉的證據。你身爲艦娘的自覺還不夠。」
>"That is a sign that you are neglecting your training.  You lack enough self-control as a shipgirl."
    說話的是飛鷹。她跟瑞鶴一樣抱著大腿泡在熱水裏，盤成丸子狀的秀發就像在說明她教養良好一樣。
>The speaker was Hiyou.  She, like Zuikaku, was soaking her legs in the hot water, her hair tied in a neat bun as if proclaiming her good upbringing.
    打從瑞鶴的第一次出擊過後，飛鷹與隼鷹這對搭檔常與瑞鶴、翔鶴共同行動，今天也是結束訓練後大家一起來泡溫泉。
>After Zuikaku's first deployment, Hiyou and Junyou often worked with Zuikaku and Shoukaku.  They had gone together to the hot springs after concluding training.
    飛鷹在那場戰鬥中受的傷已經完全恢複，身體可以像沒出過事一樣地自由活動。
>The wounds Hiyou had sustained in battle had been completely healed, and her body now moved as if they had not even happened.
    從後天起，飛鷹與隼鷹就要跟瑞鶴她們一樣，擔任主力的後備隊。
>From the day after tomorrow, Hiyou and Junyou would be serving as reserve second-line troops like Zuikaku and company.
    飛鷹彷佛要品味溫泉的暖意般閉上眼睛，同時以略帶嚴肅的聲音接著說下去：
>Hiyou closed her eyes as if savoring the warmth of the hot spring, all the while speaking with her usual seriousness.
    「雖然說俗世充滿魅力，但沈浸得太深也是個問題。畢竟我們是艦娘，隨時都受到衆人矚目……」
>"Though they do have their appeal, being too carried away is a problem as well.  We are shipgirls, after all, forever under the eyes of the world..."
    「又講這種一板一眼的話……飛鷹你自己還不是常常再來一碗。」
>"There you go with all those rules and crap again...Hiyou, I always see you getting seconds."
    「沒關系啦，反正我比其他航母來得經濟。聽好，飛鷹型本來只是豪華遊輪……」
>"It's fine, after all I run a little thriftier than most carriers.  Listen up, teh Hiyou-class used to be luxury liners--"
    「呀哈──！」
>"Ahyahya--!"
    隨著一聲亢奮的叫喊響起，飛鷹眼前出現有如遭到炮擊一般的巨大水柱。理所當然地，大量水花灑在飛鷹身上。
>With an excited shout and the impact of a shell, a huge pillar of water burst in front of Hiyou's eyes.  As would be expected, countless little droplets found their ways onto Hiyou as well.
    「哎呀，溫泉果然很棒呢！身心都暖和起來了！你也這麽認爲吧，飛鷹！」
>"Sheeeeiit, hot springs are the best!  I feel all warmed up already!  Don't'ya think so too, Hiyou?"
    「在那之前，你是不是應該先對我說什麽？」
>"Before that, don't you have something you need to say to me?"
    滿臉都是水的飛鷹忿忿地質問。
>Hiyou asked with a hint of irritation, her face dripping with water.
    「該說什麽？這個嘛～飛鷹之前在別的澡堂量體重結果臉色發青的事嗎～」
>"Something I oughta say?  Uhh~ya mean that time Hiyou weighed herself at another bathhouse and her face changed color~?"
    「……！隼鷹！你居然看到了？那時你不是說要去別的澡堂嗎！」
>"....!  Junyou!  You saw it?!  Didn't you say you were going to another bathhouse?"
    「因爲你鬼鬼祟祟的樣子讓人很在意嘛。所以呢，我就蹑手蹑腳地跟過去，一看之下果然沒錯！」
>"You were lookin' around all sneaky like.  That's why I had to follow you and take a peek.  Only needed one to figure out what was goin' on!"
    「我、我可不是因爲在意體重！那只是健康管理的一環……」
>"I,I'm not worried about my weight!  That's just a part of taking care of your body..."
    「飛鷹跟我本來都是豪華遊輪，所以超喜歡西餐！飛鷹她啊，不但去過鎮守府附近的每一間西餐廳，還吃遍了所有菜色呢。」
>"Hiyou and I used to be luxury liners, so we looove western meals!  Not only has Hiyou been to every western restaurant in the vicinity, but she's eaten every dish on the menu!"
    「隼、隼鷹！」
>"J-junyou!"
    「爲了研究陰陽道而巡回寺廟和神社時，飛鷹也會帶頭猛吃和式點心……世俗味太重的應該是飛鷹吧～？」
>"While researching onmyodo at the shrines and monasteries, Hiyou's always munchin' on Japanese snacks too...ain't the one all caught up in worldly desires hiyou~?"
    「隼鷹，你這個妹妹實在是……！」
>"Junyou, sisters like you...!"
    怒火中燒的飛鷹氣得從浴池裏站起身轉向隼鷹，甚至忘了要用毛巾遮住身體。隼鷹也發覺自己有危險，連忙跟飛鷹保持距離。
>An enraged Hiyou stood up from her bath, seemingly having forgotten to cover herself with her towel as she and rounded on Junyou.  Suddenly sensing danger, Junyou hurriedly distanced herself.
    「如果要說世俗味太重，隼鷹還不是一樣！你晚上沒事就找我喝酒！我會在意體重也跟你脫不了關系！」
>"If we're talking about worldly desires, isn't Junyou the same?  As soon as you have time you're asking me to drink with you!  Even if I'm worrying about my weight, you're part of the problem!"
    「不想喝的話就別去啊～！」
>"If you don't want to drink then don't drink~!"
    「因爲鳳翔姊那間居酒屋的菜實在太好吃了嘛！有人邀當然會跟著去啊！」
>"Well, it's because Houshou-nee's bar food is too good!  If someone invites me it'd be rude to refuse!"
    「這沒什麽好丟臉的吧！」
>"That's nothin' to be ashamed about!"
    「但話還是有分能不能說啊！」
>"There are still some things you shouldn't talk about!"
    「雖然會長出小腹，但你的胸部搞不好也會變得和正常人一樣大啊！」
>"Well I mean you might grow a bit of a beer belly, but yo boobs will grow to normal size too, you know!"
    「慢著，你這話是什麽意思！」
>"Hold on, what are you implying?!"
    飛鷹在溫泉裏追著隼鷹跑，隼鷹則是不斷靈活地躲避──已經沒有任何風情之類的東西可言了。
>Hiyou ran after the fleeing Junyou, who nimbly dodged--there was little mood left in the surroundings at this point.
    對于溫泉內的騷動，翔鶴從頭到尾保持事不關己的態度。瑞鶴則是苦笑著讓視線在自己的胸口和翔鶴的胸口之間來回，然後在心裏歎息。
>Shoukaku maintained an unconcerned air in regards to the ruckus around her.  Zuikaku, meanwhile, looked to Shoukaku's chest and then her own before sighing with a bitter smile.
    （爲什麽明明是姊妹，卻有這麽大的差距呢……話說回來，艦娘的胸部大小到底是怎麽決定的？）
>(Why is it that sisters have such a big difference...speaking of which, how are shipgirl chest sizes decided?)
    用保守點的說法，自己跟翔鶴在身材方面的分數有相當大的差距。明明艦型跟成長過程幾乎相同，爲什麽會變成這樣呢？
>To put it more subtly, the difference in measurements between she and Shoukaku was rather large.  Given that their model and upbringing were virtually identical, why did this happen?
    瑞鶴不但想問翔鶴，也想問鎮守府身材最好的高雄、愛宕姊妹，但她實在沒這個勇氣。
>Zuikaku wanted to ask not only Shoukaku, but also the Naval District's most well-endowed Takao and Atago.  That required a certain amount of bravery, however, that she had not yet found.
    「不過，雖然這跟剛才聊的可能有些矛盾，但隼鷹說得確實沒錯，太在意也不好呢。」
>"Then again, though, Junyou has a point--though it's a little contradictory, one shouldn't be over-concerned about this kind of thing as well."
    翔鶴將熱水潑到手臂上，自言自語起來。
>Shoukaku spoke as if to herself, all the while splashing hot water on her arms.
    「難得能成爲艦娘，如果不好好享受就太浪費了……」
>"We became shipgirls, after all, so it'd be a waste not to enjoy the perks..."
    （不但要拯救這個世界，更要拯救自己嗎……）
>(Not just to save the world, but to save ourselves, huh..."
    由于變成艦娘，使得自己能度過軍艦時代無法想像的日常生活。
>Because of their transformation into shipgirls, they had become capable of going through the daily life they could not even have imagined as warships.
    從鎮守府的氣氛看來，似乎沒有艦娘對這點感到不滿。真要說起來，恐怕絕大多數艦娘的意見都剛好相反。
>From the overall mood in the naval district, there didn't appear to be any shipgirls dissatisfied with the current arrangements.  More likely most of the shipgirls were of the opposite sentiment.
    這或許也是一種救贖。在跟深海棲艦戰鬥的空檔中，與同伴們度過和平的日常生活──這是艦娘們過去求也求不得的東西。
>Maybe this was a salvation of its own.  To enjoy the time between battles with the abyssals enjoying everyday life with comrades--this was something the shipgirls would not have dared to ask for in the past.
    （……這麽說來，翔鶴姊曾經提過我們戰鬥的目的之一是「拯救自己與同伴的心」，不過……）
>(...in that sense, Shoukaku-nee once told me that our objective is to 'save the Hearts of our comrades', but...)
    之前第一次出擊時，翔鶴確實曾這麽告訴自己。
>Last time they had sortied, Shoukaku had indeed told her that.
    （我也有需要治療的心靈創傷嗎？還有，翔鶴姊也……）
>(Do I have some festering wounds in my heart?  And Shoukaku-nee, too...)
    瑞鶴偷偷打量翔鶴的表情──她大概相當放松吧，臉上露出了滿足的表情，完全找不到半點陰霾。
>Zuikaku sneakily glanced at Shoukaku's expression--she seemed quite relaxed, contentment written across her face with expression unclouded.
    （或許就是因爲度過了這個關卡，才有現在的翔鶴姊吧……）
>(Perhaps the current Shoukaku-nee has already gone through this...)
    入口拉門開啓的「嘎啦啦」聲想起。瑞鶴看向門口。
>The entrance opened With a clatter, and Zuikaku turned to the doorway.
    「赤城學姊、加賀學姊……！」
>"Akagi-senpai, Kaga-senpai...!"
    赤城與加賀拿著毛巾走進澡堂。
>Akagi and Kaga entered the bathhouse, clutching their own towels.
    「哎呀，你們也在啊。辛苦啦。」
>"Ah, you all are here as well.  Thank you for your work."
    往身上潑完熱水後，赤城帶著微笑在瑞鶴附近坐下，加賀也無言地跟著這麽做。翔鶴則向兩人點頭致意。
>After dousing herself in hot water, Akagi sat down near Zuikaku with a soft smile.  Kaga did the same without a word, while Shoukaku nodded to them respectfully.
    瑞鶴相當緊張。赤城暫且不論，自己和加賀之間還有剛到任時發生的事。盡管瑞鶴對加賀沒什麽不滿，卻不曉得該怎麽面對這位學姊。另一方面，也是因爲初次上陣讓她更明白加賀那番話的份量。
>Zuikaku felt her heart race.  Akagi aside, neither Zuikaku nor Kaga would have forgotten what had happened when she had first joined.  While Zuikaku held no grudge towards Kaga, she had no idea how to approach this Senpai.  On another note, it was also because of her first sortie that she had finally understood the meaning of Kaga's words.
    不過，赤城和加賀並未把注意力放在瑞鶴和翔鶴身上，而是面色凝重地泡在水中，彷佛要堅定自己的決心一般──
>It seemed, however, that Akagi and Kaga had yet to focus on Zuikaku and Shoukaku, staring with graim expressions into teh water, as if hardening their resolve--
    （果然會緊張嗎……）
>(It's worrying, as expected.)
    赤城與加賀都是前往沖之島的成員。兩天後就要出擊，她們的心思大概都放在這上面吧。
>Akagi and Kaga were also part of the Okinoshima strike team.  Their thoughts were probably also focused there.
    關于沖之島近海的敵人，瑞鶴曾在鎮守府裏聽過一些傳聞。
>Zuikaku had heard a few rumors about the enemies in the Okinoshima waters.
    據說上次出擊時，赤城、加賀等主力成員在遭遇敵軍主力之前，就因爲跟警戒部隊的戰鬥消耗太大而被迫撤退。另外，警戒部隊的數量也非比尋常，預料要抵達敵軍主力所在的泊地會相當困難──
>According to the rumors, Akagi, Kaga and the rest of the main force had been worn out and forced to retreat by the picket fleets before even meeting the main force.  Moreover, the number of patrols was unusually large--it would likely be quite difficult to reach the anchorage where the main force resided.
    （赤城學姊和加賀學姊之後就要前往那樣的地方，還得消滅很可能比之前敵人更強大的敵軍主力……）
>(Akagi-senpai and Kaga-senpai are going to have to head towards that place and destroy an enemy possibly even stronger than the ones before...)
    盡管赤城與加賀在想什麽只是出于揣測，但瑞鶴依然曉得不該隨便談起這個話題。對于赤城和加賀來說，下次的出擊不僅是複仇戰，更是絕對不能輸的一戰。
>What Akagi and Kaga were thinking about was all conjecture, but Zuikaku knew it would be unwise to bring up this topic.  For Akagi and Kaga, the next battle was a battle for revenge--and one that could not be lost at that.
    氣氛凝重的沈默長達數十秒──不過，打破寂靜的人意外地竟是加賀。
>The grim aura lasted nearly a minute--surprisingly, however, the one who broke the silence was Kaga.
    「瑞鶴。」
>"Zuikaku."
    「細、細低！」
>"Y-yeargh!"
    瑞鶴嚇了一大跳，因此聲音變得很奇怪。該不會學姊聽到剛才的對話，所以要罵人──恐懼閃過她的腦海。
>Zuikaku's words came out oddly due to shock.  Maybe her senpai had heard her previous words and was about to give her a sound lecture--fear flashed across Zuikaku's mind.
    「我跟赤城不在的期間，鎮守府就拜托了。」
>"While Akagi and Kaga are out, the Naval District will be in your care."
    「是、是的！非常抱歉……咦？」
>"Y-yes!  I'm really sorry...eh?"
    瑞鶴搞不清楚狀況地回問。加賀並未介意她的樣子，緩緩地說下去。
>Kaga seemed unconcerned with Zuikaku's muddled response, continuing slowly.
    「我們不曉得深海棲艦出現的時間、地點。在最壞的情況下，鎮守府甚至有可能遭到奇襲──所以，到時候就要由你們保護鎮守府與其他艦娘。」
>"We have yet to figure out when and where the abyssals appear.  In the worst case scenario, the naval district itself may come under attack.  If that time comes it will be your job to protect the naval district and the other shipgirls."
    「可是我……」
>"But I..."
    「參加這次作戰的不止我們，共有三十多名訓練精良的主力艦娘。你們翔鶴型是剩余成員中唯二標准航母，『技巧還很生疏』這種藉口，在深海棲艦實際來襲時完全沒用。」
>"This battle will involve not just us, but some 30-or so of our best-trained, front-line shipgirls.  You, the Shoukaku-class, will be the only standard carriers left behind.  'Our skills are still rusty' will not work as an excuse if the Abyssals attack."
    「…………」
>"…………"
    「所以，鎮守府就拜托了。處女戰順利歸來的你們，應該能拿出跟『未來主力』相稱的表現才對。」
>"Therefore, we leave the naval district to you.  You two, who have returned from your first battle (note: Kaga says "you two, who have returned from your virgin battle," but that seems a little unlike her) should be able to exhibit the might of the 'future Main Fleet.'"
    加賀看著瑞鶴。她眼中沒有到任當天的輕蔑，只看得見信賴。
>Kaga eyed Zuikaku--there was no disdain in her eyes now, only trust.
    既然如此，自己也得回應對方才行──瑞鶴很有精神地點頭。
>In that case, one would have to respond in kind--Zuikaku nodded with vigor.
    「是。我會加油！」
>"Yes.  I will do my best!"
    「那我就姑且期待一下。」
>"Then we look forwards to it."
    加賀的視線轉回原處。
>Kaga's gaze returned to the water.
    她這句話似乎讓現場的氣氛緩和了下來。赤城苦笑著加入對話。
>Her words appeared to have softened the mood somewhat.  With a wry smile, Akagi joined in.
    「加賀真是的……抱歉啰，瑞鶴。加賀她啊，只會用這種方式誇獎別人。」
>"Akagi, really...sorry, Zuikaku.  This is the only way Kaga knows how to praise other people."
    「誇獎……？」
>"Praise...?"
    「你初次上陣的時候，她一直坐立不安……聽到你們負傷歸來的時候，她還丟下訓練去找你們呢。不過她偷偷地躲在旁邊看，所以你大概沒發現就是了……」
>"When you first joined the battle, she was very uneasy...hearing that you had returned bearing wounds she had abandoned training to look for you.  But she watched from a distance, so you may not have noticed..."
    「是、是這樣嗎……？」
>"I,is that so...?"
    「赤城。你這些話讓人聽了不太舒服。」
>"Akagi.  Your words are making me uncomfortable."
    加賀紅著臉別過頭去──看來是真的。
>Kaga looked away, her face red--it was true, then.
    赤城輕碰加賀的肩膀，同時笑著對瑞鶴說：
>Kaga gently nudged Kaga's shoulder as she spoke to Zuikaku with a laugh.
    「所以，瑞鶴你也要努力回應加賀的期待。我也很期待你喔。」
>"That's why, Zuikaku, you should also work hard and reciprocate Kaga's expectations.  I, too, have expectations for you as well."
    「好、好的！謝謝學姊！」
>"Y,yes!  Thank you, senpai!"
    赤城點點頭，然後轉向翔鶴。
>Akagi nodded and looked towards Shoukaku.
    「翔鶴也拜托了。或許，你們會成爲鎮守府最後的希望也說不定。」
>"We'll be relying on Shoukaku as well.  Perhaps it may be that you two will become the naval district's last hope."
    「好的，我明白了。」
>"Yes, I understand."
    翔鶴用力點頭。
>Shoukaku inclined her head forcefully.
    「祝學姊們平安。還有，請務必將沖之島近海的敵軍泊地……」
>"I will pray for the safety of you Senpai.  Additionally, regarding the enemy anchorage in Okinoshima..."
    「交給我們。我賭上一航戰的榮耀，這回一定會好好修理敵人。」
>"Leave it to me.  We will put the 1stCarDiv's pride and put an end to the enemy threat."
    赤城與翔鶴靜靜地對望。新舊一航戰旗艦之間的約定──令瑞鶴胸口一熱。
>Akagi and Shoukaku quietly exchanged glances.  The agreement between the new and old 1stCarDiv flagships lighted a fire in Zuikaku's heart.
    這時，赤城突然靠近瑞鶴跟翔鶴，接著在兩人耳邊低語。
>At this time, Akagi suddenly darted towards Zuikaku and Shoukaku as she whispered to each of them.
    「還有，如果飛鷹和隼鷹找你們去哪間西餐廳，一定要把感想告訴我喔！」「赤、赤城學姊，剛才的話你都聽到了嗎！」
>"Also, if Hiyou and Junyou ask you guys to go to that Western Restaurant, make sure to tell me too!"  "A-akagi senpai, you heard everything earlier?"
    瑞鶴大吃一驚。赤城則得意地盤起手臂。
>Akagi bared her arm with an amused expression as Zuikaku expressed her shock.
    「我好歹也是鎮守府的元老，後輩的對話當然逃不過我的耳朵。」
>"I am one of the elders of this Naval District, after all.  The words of my Kouhai can't escape my ears."
    「不，我不是這個意思……」
>"No, what I meant..."
    「赤城非常喜歡吃，因此對外食也有所堅持。」
>"Akagi loves eating, and as such she is quite adamant about eating out."
    加賀從旁插嘴。
>Kaga cut in from the side.
    「所以，她總是在打聽鎮守府周邊有哪些美味的店。拿有關節食的事去問赤城，她應該也能教你們不少。」
>"That's why she always keeps her ears out for rumors about delicious restaurants.  If you have questions about dieting, you can also ask Akagi--she knows quite a bit, you know."
    「慢、慢著加賀！」
>"H-hold on, Kaga!"
    「哼哼……禮尚往來。」
>"Hmhm...an eye for an eye."
    加賀嘴角勾起一絲微笑。
>A bare trace of a smile fought its way onto Kaga's face.
    瑞鶴、翔鶴也跟著笑了出來。盡管衆所周知赤城是鎮守府榜上有名的大胃王，但好友加賀拿這點開玩笑則別有一番樂趣。
>Zuikaku and Shoukaku also burst into laughter.  It was a well-known fact that Akagi was the naval district's well-known gourmet, but her good friend Kaga joking about it added a new dimension to the joke.
    （不止飛鷹和隼鷹，赤城學姊與加賀學姊也信賴彼此……）
>(Not only Hiyou and Junyou, but Kaga-senpai and Akag-senpai also trust each other...)
    瑞鶴看向露出優雅笑容的翔鶴。
>Zuikaku looked to Shoukaku as she smiled elegantly.
    （我也得盡快讓翔鶴姊信賴自己才行……）
>"I need to quickly earn Shoukaku-nee's trust as well...)
    ──澡堂一角，飛鷹和隼鷹的纏鬥與鬥嘴還在繼續，但瑞鶴決定當作沒聽到。
>In another corner of the bathhouse, Hiyou and Junyou's verbal and physical riposte continued, but Zuikaku decided to act as if she had not noticed.

    2
>2.
    六名艦娘彷佛要劈開沖之島近海一般，在水面上滑行。
>Six shipgirls skated on the seas around Okinoshima, cutting through the waves as if they were trying to split the seas.
    這天是下達出擊命令後的第三天，鎮守府的主力艦娘們開始對沖之島發動攻勢。
>Today was the third day since the assault had commenced, and the shipgirls of the main fleet were now forming into attack formation.
    目前奔馳在海上的六人就是其中的第一隊──訓練最爲精良的艦娘們。
>This group of six crossing the seas was the first fleet--the fleet's best-trained elite.
    其他主力艦娘，則跟指揮艦隊的提督一起留在船上待機。
>The other main force shipgirls waited onboard the command vessel with the Admiral, awaiting the breakthrough.
    「目前都還算順利呢──」
>"things have been going pretty well--"
    打頭陣的高速戰艦金剛，以既安心又自信的聲音說道。
>Fast Battleship Kongou spoke up, relaxed and confident from her position as vanguard.
    「目前已經擊破三支敵方艦隊，而且我方很幸運地沒什麽損傷……跟上次比起來順利多了呢──！」
>"We've broken through three fleets, and we're lucky to have escaped any damage...things are going way better than last time--!"
    「畢竟上次在離主力還很遠時，就被敵方的水面打擊艦隊檔下來了……」
>"After all, we were beaten to submission by their surface fleets long before reaching the main force."
    金剛背後的霧島輕聲回應，彷佛在喚醒先前的記憶。
>Kirishima's voice spoke from behind Kongou, reawakening memories of the past.
    「不過，我想這次的順利是因爲記取上次的教訓，編組了更充足的戰力。」
>"But I think this time's success comes from us learning our lesson and bringing up some real firepower."
    「一點也不錯。第一戰隊Sisters很可靠呢──！」
>"That's right.  The 1stBatDiv (note: 1st Battle Ship Division)'s 姐妹 are so reliable--!"
    金剛看向霧島後方。那裏有兩名金剛稱爲第一戰隊Sisters的艦娘──裝備了數座巨大炮塔的長門型戰艦1號艦長門，以及2號艦陸奧。
>Kongou glanced behind Kirishima.  There stood the two shipgirls Kongou had called the 1stBatDiv 姐妹, armed to the teeth with multiple turrets--the 1st ship of the Nagato-class Battleships, Nagato, and the 2nd Ship Mutsu.
    配有八門36cm炮的金剛型是最快可達三十三節的巡洋戰艦，相對地，配有八門41cm炮的長門型則是最高速二十七節的戰艦。長門型剛完工時是全世界最強的戰艦，某段時間更在全球七大戰艦（Big 7）中占了兩個名額，國內民衆都以她們爲傲。在「那場戰爭」裏，她們也因爲規格優秀而被當成主力。
>Armed with eight 36cm, the Kongou-class Battlecruisers could go as fast as 33 knots; juxtaposed to them, the Nagato-class Battleships mounted eight 41cm and had a maximum speed of 27 knots.  At the time of their completion, the Nagato-class were world's strongest battleships, taking two places among the World's Big 7 Battleships.  They were their nation's pride; in "That War," their specifications had led to them serving as the Main Force.
    長門型的價值，即使到了艦娘們集結的鎮守府也沒變；她們不但是緊要關頭時的王牌，也被當成艦娘們的領袖。
>The Nagato-class' value had not changed, even among this Naval District's assorted shipgirls; they were the trump cards when things got tight, and the shipgirl's leaders.
    聽到金剛這句話，五官帶有軍人氣息的長門堅定地颔首。
>In response to Kongou's words, Nagato responded with the stolid air of a career soldier.
    「我知道。這次的戰鬥是久候多時的艦隊決戰，要跟敵方戰艦硬碰硬就交給我。我一定會回應大家的期待。」
>"I understand.  This engagement will be the long-awaited Fleet Decisive Battle.  Leave brawling with their Battleships to me--I will make sure to meet your expectations."
    「能出場的感覺還不壞。如果在炮擊戰受傷，也算得上是如願以償。」
>"Being able deploy's not too bad. It'll be worth it, even if we get a little hurt."
    陸奧接過話頭。她跟長門正好相反，給人容易親近的印象。
>Mutsu picked up where Nagato trailed off.  She seemed the polar opposite of Nagato, friendly and approachable.
    跟金剛型不同，不管是長門或陸奧，在過去生涯中皆從未參加過戰艦對轟的炮擊戰，都是以不符合軍艦期望的形式迎接末日。特別是陸奧，她最後居然是因爲炮彈誘爆而炸沈在軍港，實在非常地不幸。也因此，她們倆的話語顯得十分沈重。
>Unlike the Kongou, both Nagato and Mutsu had never been able to take part in the Brawl of the Battlewagons, greeting their end as disappointments and misfits.  This applied especially to Mutsu, whose end came through an ammunition explosion that sank her in port--a true misfortune.  It was exactly because of this that their words bore such weight.
    「話雖如此，但我們必須有航空隊的支援才能維持炮擊力。如果制空權落到敵人手中，觀測著彈用的水上偵察機就沒辦法飛了。」
>"Even so, we'll need air support in order to keep up our firepower.  If the enemy takes the skies, we won't be able to spot with our seaplanes."
    「今天也拜托啰，赤城、加賀。」
>"We'll be counting on you today as well, Akagi, Kaga."
    「了解。」
>"Understood."
    這次也以旗艦身分待在後方的赤城，與身旁的加賀互相點點頭後回答。
>Taking the field once more as flagship and taking the rear, Akagi nodded to Kaga besides her before responding.
    「這一次，所有主力成員已經在重新挑戰之前，盡可能地讓自己的戰技精進。我賭上一航戰……不，賭上艦娘的榮譽─絕對不能輸。」
>"This time around, we in the main fleet have pushed our skills to the limits in preparation for this battle.  I shall bet the 1stCarD...no, the shipgirl's pride on this battle.  We cannot fail."
    「我可不想去思考輸掉會怎樣呢──」
>"I'd prefer not to dwell on what happens if we fail--"
    金剛臉上難得地浮現苦笑。
>Kongou's grimaced.
    正如提督先前對艦娘們說的，爲了攻略西方海域，非得先擊潰沖之島近海的敵軍泊地不可。西方海域是産量名列前茅的資源産區，想要贏得這場戰爭，就必須確保通往該區域的航道。面對從海底無止盡湧出的深海棲艦，不可能在短期內分出勝負。
>As the Admiral had explained beforehand, the Okinoshima Anchorage would have to be neutralized before the Western Seas Sector could be attacked.  The Western Seas Sector was an incredibly bountiful resource area--if this war had to be won, a transport route would have to be established to the region.  The Abyssals, endlessly streaming from the bottom of the sea, would not be beaten with a short campaign.
    可是，一旦在沖之島敗北，這些計畫就全成了紙上談兵。
>Should the Okinoshima campaign fail, however, this whole plan would just be cart without a horse.
    「攻略西方海域以備長期戰，再解放它後方的海域讓敵軍遠離西方海域，同時跟遭到海上封鎖的其他國家取得聯系，進而傾全人類之力與深海棲艦對決──這是當前的目標。」
>"Taking the Western Seas to secure supplies for a long war, securing the rear and driving the enemy from the Western Sea Sector, making contact with the other isolated nations and then uniting all of humanity's power for the decisive battle--these are our current objectives."
    霧島說起未來的展望，眼神愈發犀利。
>Kirishima's gaze sharpened as her words turned towards the future.
    「不過一旦在此戰敗，使得戰力和儲備資源在攻略西方海域前枯竭，我們的攻勢就會停擺，戰爭主導權將落入遲早會展開反擊的深海棲艦手中，導致最後的敗北──」
>"But should we fail here and exhaust our strength and resources on the Western Seas' doorstep, our assault will grind to a halt.  The initiative will fall upon the abyssals and their eventual counteroffensive, all of which will culminate in final defeat--"
    「敵軍在沖之島近海這個能扼殺本土連接西方海域航道的位置建立泊地，從這點來看，他們很可能千方百計地阻撓我們進攻。」
>"The enemy set up the anchorage in Okinoshima to strangle both the homeland and the western seas--from just that we can tell that they will most likely do everything they can to halt our offensive."
    赤城以嚴肅的聲音回答。
>Akagi responded solemnly.
    「目前，敵軍忙于應付我方的攻勢，並未集中戰力反擊。然而，一旦我們停止攻擊讓他們解開束縛，就換我們得應付敵方的攻勢了……」
>"Up till now, the enemy's hurriedly thrown themselves at our assault piecemeal without stopping to concentrate their force.  If we let up the attack and give them time to consolidate, it'll be us facing the danger..."
    「這發展會讓人想起一些不願回憶的事呢──」
>"That development reminds me of some things I'd like to forget--"
    金剛聳了聳肩。
Kongou shrugged.
    她的口氣雖然像在開玩笑，但這些話其實含意很深。盡管早期攻勢順利，卻在後面的決戰敗北而失去主導權，之後兵敗如山倒──就跟「那場戰爭」如出一轍。
>Though her words were full of levity, their meaning were far deeper.  Even if the early battles are successes, defeat at the decisive battle means conceding the initiative, followed by collapse--just like what had happened in "That War."
    「──不，一定沒問題。」
>"--No, there won't be any problem"
    長門就像要斬斷愈來愈沈重的對話一般，沈穩地開了口。
>Nagato's calm dulcet tones acted as if to cut down the increasingly-grim conversation at its root.
    「我們爲了不重蹈覆轍，已經將所保有的一切記憶都告訴提督。盡管變成這樣的艦娘身軀，因此無法保證記憶完全正確……但這件事應該具有重大意義才對。」
>"In order to avoid the same mistakes, we've entrusted the entirety of our memories to the Admiral.  Given, we've turned into these shipgirls and so cannot verify the veracity of our memories--nevertheless, this all must have some greater meaning."
    「何況到目前爲止，艦娘護衛船隊的成效似乎相當不錯。」
>"Plus until now the shipgirl escort fleets have been pretty successful."
    陸奧突然想到似地補充。
>Mutsu joined in as if just recently enlightened.
    主要由輕巡和驅逐艦艦娘負責的護衛船隊任務，目的不只是從大陸輸入資源，同時也是爲了將來能確立西方海域航道而預演。
>The light cruiser and destroyer shipgirls in charge of fleet escort duty had been toiling not only to maintain the flow of materiel from the Mainland, but also to establish shipping routes to the Western Seas.
    就算人類奪回資源産區，確立船隊護衛方式依舊需要時間，如果不能在需要的時期將需要的資源運回本土就沒意義了。「那場戰爭」時，她們的祖國耗費了大量時間研究如何活用資源産區，這些作法都是記取當時教訓所得。
>Even if humanity retook the resource areas, determining escort tactics and routes would require time--there would be no point if the resources could not be brought back to the homeland in a timely fashion.  During "That War", their homeland had spent a large amount of time trying to figure out how to make use of their resource dumps--memories of those tactics came from those valuable lessons.
    輕巡、驅逐艦爲了回應人們的期待，鎮日忙于這些任務。當然，在前線活躍的輕巡與驅逐艦也不少，但後勤與戰鬥同樣重要。
>In order to meet the humans' expectations, the light cruisers and destroyers toiled everyday on these tasks.  Of course, quite a few light cruisers and destroyers fought on the front lines, but the second line was as important as the first.
    「即使到了『那場戰爭』的終盤，當理應擔任主力的我們因爲燃料不足而無法行動時，她們依舊盡力地護衛船隊直到最後。」
>"Even in the last days of'That War', when we the main force were immobilized through lack of fuel, they still fought to protect the convoys until the very end."
    長門感慨萬千地說道。
>Nagato continued, full of emotion.
    「這一次，我實在不想再讓她們扛這麽重的負擔啊……」
>"This time around, I do not wish to make them bear so heavy a weight..."
    「爲了回避這種命運，我們一定要贏。」
>"In order to avoid this fate, we must succeed."
    赤城再度颔首。或許，光是參加過成爲「那場戰爭」轉捩點的中途島海戰，就讓長門的話語在赤城心中更顯沈重也說不定。
>Akagi took over once more.  Having participated only in the turning point at Midway of "That War," Akagi may have been the one who felt the weight of Nagato's words the most.
    「今後戰況將愈來愈激烈，會需要更多的艦娘，而鎮守府也在培育未來的主力。爲了替她們准備能好好戰鬥的舞台……」
>"From here on out, the battles will get tougher and tougher.  Perhaps we will need more shipgirls--the future of the Main Force is training at the Naval District daily.  In order that they will have battles to fight..."
    「我聽說了。」
>"I've heard."
    長門已聽出了赤城的言外之意。
>Nagato had already figured out Akagi's implication.
    「如果能將她培育成我們的王牌，那就再好不過了呢……」
>"It'd be great if we could train her to be our trump card..."
    赤城看著加賀。加賀注意到她的目光，不好意思地別過頭去。
>Akagi looked to Kaga, who looked away awkwardly.
    接著，陸奧的表情瞬間緊繃起來。
>At that moment, Mutsu's expression tightened.
    「偵察機回報，已發現敵艦隊！他們正朝我方接近！」
>"Scout Seaplanes reporting, enemy detected!  Closing in on our position!"
    「規模呢？」
>"What's their strength?" Akagi inquired immediately.
    赤城立即詢問。目前離敵方主力所在的泊地還有段距離──發現的敵方艦隊，應該跟先前交手過的那些一樣屬于前衛或中衛才對，主力應該會是巡洋艦與驅逐艦。現在的自軍應該能確實地排除──
>They were still some way from the main force and their anchorage--the enemy fleet ought to be like those they had met before--picket forces or mid-level patrols.  The main force ought to be cruisers and destroyers.  With this current force, it probably wouldn't be hard to remove them--
    陸奧跟水上偵察機通訊後，吃驚地告訴赤城：
>Having finished communicating with the scout plane, Mutsu spoke to Akagi with an expression of shock.
    「敵艦隊的規模──航母三、戰艦一、驅逐艦二。其中一艘航母雖然酷似航母WO級與她的精銳型，卻會放出金色的光芒，可能是尚未確認的新種！」
>"Enemy fleet composition--three carriers, one battleship, two destroyers.  One of the ships seems like an elite ヲ model--but it's glowing with a golden aura.  I don't think we've ever seen anything like this before!"
    「怎麽會這樣！居然在碰到主力前就遭遇未確認的深海棲艦，誤差也該有個限……」
>"How can that be?!  To run into hitherto-unknown abyssals--isn't this taking a mistake too far....?!"
    霧島鐵青著臉說道。
>Kirishima spoke, face drawn white.
    航母WO級已確認到有通常型與強化型之分，其中後者艦娘們暫時稱爲精銳型。如果是這兩種以外的WO級，則可認定成未知的艦種。
>It had already been confirmed that the ヲ-classed aircraft carrier had a stronger form, referred by shipgirls as the Elite model.  But if there existed a ヲ even stronger than these two classes, it had not been recorded yet.
    此外，根據先前深海棲艦的艦隊編組法則，像這樣的未知艦種，通常屬于待在泊地的主力部隊。
>Moreover, from previous reports on abyssal fleets, mystery or new abyssal ships normally awaited at the anchorage.
    然而這一次，主力前方的警戒部隊中出現了新型艦──這點足以讓身經百戰的艦娘們大爲震驚。
>And yet this time, patrol forces preceding the Main Fleet were already showing newtype vessels--just this alone was enough to unnerve the veteran shipgirls.
    更何況，敵方戰力是航母三、戰艦一、驅逐艦二，與一般的主力部隊同等。這麽一來，完全無法估量會有怎樣的主力部隊在泊地嚴陣以待。
>Adding to that, the enemy fleet consisted of three carriers, two battleships, and two destroyers--the same strength as a standard Main Force fleet.  With this, there was no way to tell what was lying in wait at the anchorage.
    「……讓人想起第一次遭遇WO級的西南群島防線戰役呢──！」
>"...reminds me of the first time we ran into the ヲ-class back when we were holding the Line at the Nansei/Southwest Islands--!"
    盡管額前冒出汗水，金剛臉上卻浮現無所畏懼的微笑。
>In spite of the sweat that beaded her forehead, Kongou grinned fearlessly.
    西南群島防線戰役發生在約三個月前，是艦娘跟深海棲艦之間的第一次航母對戰.，對于當時掃蕩完鎮守府近海准備進攻西南群島的艦娘們而言，算是第一道關卡。
>The Nansei/Southwest Island Line Campaign had happened occured some three months ago--it had been the first carrier battle between the shipgirls and the abyssals.  Having cleaned up the seas around the Naval District, it had been the Shipgirl's first major barrier in preparation for the assault on the Southwest/Nansei Islands.
    對上敵軍主力前，得先與未知的深海棲艦交戰──盡管這發展讓人覺得危機重重，金剛卻顯得很亢奮。
>To meet an unknown enemy among the abyssals before reaching the main force--in spite of all the tension, Kongou glowed with excitement.
    「麻煩像當時那樣來個漂亮的一擊！快讓攻擊隊起飛──！」
>"Oy ye fuggin cunts, let's go glass some argies! Git those fookin' spitfires in the air--!"
    「這次的旗艦一樣是我！不需要你啰唆──加賀！」
>"The flagship is me!  Don't order us around--Kaga!"
    「了解。第一波攻擊隊，准備起飛！」
>"Understood.  First wave, prepare to launch!"
    臉上表情依舊冷靜的加賀，以充滿氣勢的喊聲發射艦載機。看樣子，加賀似乎同樣地感到亢奮。
>Though Kaga's face was as serene as always, she roared with a vigor that showed she, too, was itching for a fight, letting fly with her carrier planes.
    赤城也一樣。敵方有三艘航母，其中一艘還是尚未確認過的WO級，剛好適合當標准航母艦娘的對手。
>Akagi, too, was the same.  The enemy had three carriers, one of which was an as-of-yet unknown ヲ-class--the perfect enemy for a standard carrier.
    能讓未確認WO級負責開路的主力，究竟是怎樣的對手呢──不安閃過腦中，但現在只能全力對付眼前的敵人。
>To deploy a new ヲ-class as a gate guard--what kind of enemy would the main fleet be?  Unease flickered through their minds, but only mmoentarily--there was an enemy to deal with, right here, right now.
    「按照教範，我們放出第一波攻擊隊後，金剛以下各艦請開始炮雷擊戰！爲了確保制空權，盡量優先攻擊航母！」
>"Stick to the plan--as soon as we launch our first wave, Kongou and company are to begin surface engagement!  Focus on gaining air superiority and prioritize the carriers!"
    「交給我吧──！各位，麻煩跟我來──！」
>"Right on--!  You 'erd her ya fookin' wankers, follow me--!"
    「了解，姊姊大人！」
>"Understood, Onee-sama!"
    「陸奧，走啰！」
>"Mutsu, let's go!"
    「了解！先從三艘航母裏隨便選一艘對吧！」
>"Understood!  Let's pick out one of them carriers!"
    赤城、加賀的第一波攻擊隊集合完畢並出動時，四艘戰艦已朝敵艦隊突擊而去。
>As Akagi and Kaga's first wave assembled and launched, the four battleships, too, launched into their attack.

   3
>3.
    「哦……就是這裏啊……」
>"Ohhh....so this is it..."
    瑞鶴吃驚地看著眼前的光景，贊歎地說道。
>An awestruck Zuikaku took in the sight around her as she spoke with a voice of praise.
    許多間磚造的作業區整齊排列在廣闊的用地裏。其中幾間的屋頂朝天空伸出煙囪，黑煙直往上飄。此外用地內還有許多軍士官兵忙進忙出。
>The work area consisted of multiple brick buildings, ordered over an expansive clearing.  From several of their roofs issued tendrils of black smoke reaching into the sky.  On the ground, personnel (note: the Chinese term literally means soldiers, but I'm not sure whether fairies and shipgirls fit the bill of soldiers) scurried to and fro.
    這裏的鋼鐵味濃烈撲鼻，某處還飄來微微的硝煙味。雖然跟鎮守府一樣面海，卻幾乎聞不到海的氣味。
>The smell of metal assailed the nostrils, reinforced with a persistent undertone of smoke that came from who knows where.  Though it faced the sea like the Naval District, not a whiff of the smell of the sea penetrated.
    「沒錯。這裏就是鎮守府工廠，相當于我們的第二鎮守府。」
>"That's right.  This is the Naval District's factories--a second Naval District for us."
    走在瑞鶴前面的翔鶴轉過頭來解釋。
>Walking alongside Zuikaku, Shoukaku turned to explain.
    一般來說，艦娘們會將靈魂封進自己的裝備裏面──雖然沒觀察到這種現象，本人也沒有自覺，但除此之外無法解釋──並在需要時解放以用來戰鬥。
>Generally speaking, shipgirls sealed their souls into their equipment--nobody observed or quantified this, nor did the shipgirls feel it, but there seemed no other reasonable explanation--and then released it in battle.
    不過，由于她們無法自己保養，維修、開發，所以這些事會委托鎮守府工廠處理。盡管瑞鶴不明白詳情，但航母的艦載機──例如瑞鶴所用的弓箭、飛鷹用的式神等等，似乎跟炮彈、魚雷一樣，是在這裏生産、補充。
>However, as they could not perform maintenance, repairs or development on their own, all these things were left up to the Naval District Factory.  Zuikaku didn't know the details, but the shipgirls' carrier planes--including Zuikaku's arrows, Hiyou's shikigami and the like--were, like shells and torpedos, manufactured and resupplied here.
    「本來我們應該也是住在附近軍港的司令部喔。不過，就像提督告訴你的，他是爲了讓艦娘能像人類一樣生活，才將生活據點轉到現在的鎮守府。」
>"Originally we were supposed to live on base in a nearby Navy Port's command headquarters.  But you heard the commander--in order to allow shipgirls to live like humans, our daily lives were moved to the current naval district."
    「的確，待在這裏可能挺無聊的呢。而且買東西好像也不太方便……」
>"Of course, staying here would be fairly boring.  Shopping would be difficult from here..."
    大概是爲了保護機密或防備深海棲艦襲擊吧，鎮守府工廠位于港灣深處，距離鎮守府及重點火車站相當遠，就連瑞鶴翔鶴也得靠巴士與步行才能抵達這裏。
>Most likely in order to preserve secrecy or to provide some measure of protection from Abyssal attack, the Naval District was ensconced deep in the harbor, quite far away from either the Naval District or the Train Station.  Even Zuikaku and Shoukaku could only reach the factories on bus and foot.
    這一天，翔鶴帶著瑞鶴來到鎮守府工廠參觀，當成理解這個世界的課程之一。
>Today, Shoukaku had brought Zuikaku to the naval district factories for a tour as a part of understanding this world.
    她們在軍港棧橋上目送赤城、加賀等艦娘前往沖之島，不過是昨天早上的事。
>They had seen off Akagi, Kaga and the other shipgirls to Okinoshima from the Naval base yesterday morning.
    老實說，瑞鶴有種「前輩們在戰鬥，自己卻跑來這種地方真的好嗎」的愧疚念頭。不過翔鶴卻以「這種時候才更該走一趟」爲理由，將瑞鶴帶來這裏。
>To be honest, Zuikaku had wondered, "is it alright to run off to this kind of place while the Senpai were fighting?"  However, Shoukaku had brought Zuikaku over with the explanation that "now, more than ever, we should look over these places."
    「之後跟深海棲艦的戰鬥會愈來愈激烈。爲了對抗他們，我們不僅要磨練自己的戰技，也得充實艦載機之類的裝備才行。我認爲，就是因爲前輩們正在前線戰鬥，才更該將這些事放在心上，盡可能地學習。」
>"From here on out, the battles with the abyssals will become increasingly vicious.  If we are to resist them, we will not only have to hone our skills, but also maintain and update our equipment.  I believe that it is precisely because our senpai are on the front lines that we ought to learn with their efforts in mind."
    昨天，翔鶴就是用這套說辭勸服本來不想參觀鎮守府工廠的瑞鶴。而瑞鶴在親眼看見這些東西後，總算有了實感。
>Yesterday, Shoukaku had used this argument to convince the previously reluctant Zuikaku to tour the naval district factories.  Having seen them with her own eyes, Zuikaku also felt she had gained a better grasp of them.
    （這裏就是一直支援我們戰鬥的地方嗎……）
>(This is the place that has been supporting us in our battles, huh...)
    回想起來，「那場戰爭」也曾因爲裝備的有無而決定海戰的勝負。用同樣的觀點看待這場戰爭，應該比較保險吧。
>Thinking back, victory in "That War" had depended heavily on having the right equipment in the right amounts, in the right place.  Seeing that war under the same lens, things seemed somewhat safer.
    「我記得約定碰面的地方是這裏……」
>"I recall that this would be the meeting place..."
    抵達廠內聯絡處以後，翔鶴輕聲嘀咕。
>Having reached the factory meeting room, Shoukaku fretted softly.
    「碰面？有人要來？」
>"Meeting?  Is someone coming?"
    「對呀。其實我之前也只來過工廠一次，還有很多事不清楚，所以麻煩了熟悉這裏的艦娘當向導。」
>Yes.  To be honest, I've only been at the factory once as well, so I'm not very clear on things either--that's why I asked a shipgirl familiar with this place to be our guide."
    「熟悉這裏的艦娘？」
>"A shipgirl familiar with this place?"
    「久、久等了────！」
>"S,Sorry I'm late--!"
    遠處傳來聲音──瑞鶴一轉過頭去，就看見一名身材纖細卻背著沈重裝備的艦娘，滿身大汗地將雙手撐在膝蓋上。
>From the distance came a voice--Zuikaku turned to see a shipgirl wearing equipment that seemed far too heavy for her slender frame.  Dripping with sweat, she leaned with her hands on her knees, gasping for breath.
    「夕張！你就是向導……？話說回來，你沒事吧……？」
>"Yuubari!  You're the guide...?  Speaking of which, are you alright?"
    瑞鶴驚訝地向她搭話。
>Zuikaku spoke with shock.
    夕張是輕巡洋艦艦娘之一。她是爲了實現「將球磨型那種五千噸級輕巡洋艦的武裝放在三千噸船體上」這個荒謬構想而建造的實驗艦，因此沒有同型艦。
>Yuubari was one of the light cruiser shipgirls.  Having been designed with the absurd goal of "fitting the armaments of the 5000-ton Kuma-class Light Cruisers onto a 3000-ton ship," she had no sisters.
    盡管這個構想在巧妙的設計下實現，並引起當時的軍艦相關人士注目，但船艦本身卻産生了續航距離與舒適性低落、無法搭載飛機等缺點。
>Borne of designing ingenuity, the ship design met the fulfilled requirements and caught the eye of the Naval Community.  However, the warship also struggled with range and reliability issues, as well as the inability to mount seaplanes, among other flaws.
    「呼、呼……不過這點程度、沒問題……」
>"Whew, whoo...this level isn't a problem..."
    少女豎起拇指，勉強在滿是汗水的臉上擠出笑容。不管怎麽看都很有問題。
>The young girl forced out a sweaty grin with a thumbs-up.  No matter how you looked at it, this was very much a problem.
    「總、總而言之，先找個地方休息吧，要喝點東西嗎？」
>"A,anyway, let's find somewhere to rest.  Do you want something to drink?"
    「不要緊！而且參觀時間有限，我們快點……呀啊──！」
>"Don't worry about it!  Visiting hours are limited, so let's hurry up.....woaaahhhh--!
    夕張才剛起跑，整個人就往前跌了出去。她背後的巨大裝備整個撞上地面，沙塵隨著巨響飛舞。相當于注冊商標的黑色水手服與綠短裙也沾滿了灰。
Yuubari broke into a run--and then promptly collapsed.  The giant equipment set on her back slammed into the ground with a rumble that summoned a cloud of dust.  Her trademark sailor's uniform and green skirt were also soiled with dust.
    瑞鶴當場愣住。翔鶴則體貼地開口：
>Zuikaku stood and gaped.  Shoukaku, meanwhile, spoke tactfully.
    「……總而言之，一邊介紹一邊慢慢地走吧。」
>"...Anyhow, let's take it easy, you can introduce us on the way."
    「非、非常抱歉～」
>"S,sorry about that~"
    被裝備壓住的夕張含著淚回答。
>Yuubari responded tearfully from where she lay, pinned down by her equipment.
    「換句話說，這間工廠所開發的裝備，夕張全都要檢查並留下資料？」
>"Moving on, this factory develops equipment, and Yuubari records the data?"
    走在工廠用地內的瑞鶴詢問道。
>Zuikaku spoke up as they walked through the factory grounds.
    夕張以食指抵在自己臉上，害羞地回答：
>With a finger on her face, Yuubari responded with a hint of embarrassment.
    「倒也不是全部，不過我會檢查所有我能用的裝備。」
>"Not all of them, but I inspect all the equipment I can use."
    輕巡畢竟裝不了41cm主炮和航母的艦載機。
>Of course, light cruisers cannot mount 41cm or a carrier's plane complement.
    「你想想，我是背著這種巨大裝備的實驗艦嘛。所以，比方說檢查平衡性，還有確認艦娘用起來的手感……我很擅長這種工作。」
>"Think about it--I'm an experimental warship, armed with this heavy outfit.  Giving an objective evaluation and giving a second opinion on how it feels in a shipgirl's hands...I specialize in this kind of thing."
    夕張得意地拍拍自己的裝備。
>Yuubari patted her equipment proudly.
    仔細打量她的裝備，會發現腰的兩側有形似操縱杆的物體。舣裝具有這種外觀的艦娘，目前鎮守府裏只有夕張一個。那或許是爲了讓她能以穩定姿勢使用重裝備──這點也使得夕張比其他艦娘更善于操縱裝備。
>On closer inspection, what looked like two joysticks lay on either side of the outfit. Shipgirls with this type of outfit were limited to Yuubari on this Naval District.  Perhaps it gave her extra stability when using her heavy equipment--it certainly gave Yuubari a familiarity with manipulating equipment that other shipgirls lacked.
    「也因爲這樣，所以燃料消耗得很激烈……盡管平常的速度也不怎麽快。當然實戰中不會這樣就是了。」
>"It's also because of this that fuel consumption is so high....even if average speed isn't very high, it's not like that once the battle starts."
    「不過，你居然會在這種地方工作，真不愧是實驗艦呢。像我就絕對做不來。」
>"But for you to work here in this kind of place...as expected of a prototype ship.  Someone like me wouldn't be able to pull it off."
    「啊哈哈，能聽到你這麽說，實驗艦就當得有價值了。我很擅長操縱裝備，就算是實戰也會努力不輸給其他輕巡！」
>"Ahaha, hearing you say things like that makes it worth it for us experimental ships.  My specialty is equipment control--I won't lose to any other light cruiser, even in a real battle!"
    夕張伸出右拳。看來對現在的她而言，「負責進出鎮守府工廠的實驗艦」這項職務，已經成了她的驕傲。
>Yuubari raised her right fist.  It seemed that her role as "the experimental ship in the factory" had become her pride.
    （這對夕張來說會不會是種救贖呢……）
>(For Yuubari, is this a kind of redemption....?)
    瑞鶴望著開心地談起自己的夕張，腦中突然閃過這個念頭。
>The thought flashed across her mind as she watched Yuubari speak happily.
    （不過，記得夕張應該也跟我和翔鶴姊一樣，是被敵艦擊沈的才對……她會不會像飛鷹一樣煩惱那方面的事呢……）
>(But remember that Yuubari should be like Shoukaku and I, sank by the enemy...does she dwell on that kind of thing like Hiyou...?)
    「夕張，你在『那場戰爭』裏也相當活躍對吧？當過水雷戰隊的旗艦、負責過護衛船隊的任務、參加過第一次索羅門海戰……」
>"Yuubari, you were pretty active in 'That War', right?  You were a torpedo squadron flagship, escort fleet member, a participant in the 1st Battle of the Solomon Seas..."
    翔鶴就像要回答瑞鶴的疑問般，提起了夕張的經曆。
As if to answer Zuikaku's question, Shoukaku brought up Yuubari's past.
    「提督也是贊譽有加，說你的活躍程度一點也不像實驗艦喔。而且跟深海棲艦戰鬥時，表現似乎更加亮眼……」
>"The Admiral's also full of praises for you as well--says your activity was nothing like that of an Experimental Ship.  Plus your performance against the abyssals was even more exemplary..."
    「啊哈哈，關于這點我想是因爲運氣好啦。」
>"Ahaha....well, about that, I guess I was just lucky."
    「你被擊沈時，乘員也有九成五以上活下來對吧？當時收容離艦船員的五月雨，在關于『那場戰爭』的報告中有這樣的紀錄。」
"Even when you sank, didn't over 95% of your crew survive?  Samidare, who rescued your crew, made a report of that sort during 'That War.'"
    「嗯，這個嘛，是這樣沒錯……」
>"Ah, yeah, that's true."
    夕張吞吞吐吐地點頭。一旁的瑞鶴也有些緊張。
>Yuubari nodded awkwardly.  At the side, Zuikaku also felt a bit of tension.
    因爲「當時搭乘自己的人們怎麽樣了」一類的話題，在鎮守府就跟禁忌差不多。畢竟在「那場戰爭」中，來到鎮守府的艦娘幾乎都被擊沈，衆多乘員因此犧牲。談起這個話題──對于擁有臨終記憶的艦娘們而言，未免太心酸了。
>Questions on the line of "What happened to the people aboard me" were banned in all but name in the Naval District.  After all, nearly every shipgirl who had come to the naval district had sunk in "That War", usually with a significant part of the crew.  For the shipgirls who retained memories of their deaths, this topic hit far too close to home.
    即使是像隼鷹那樣沒被擊沈而能迎接終戰的艦娘，也不會談這方面的事。只要一提起，就等于拿「讓乘員順利存活的自己」跟「無法讓乘員存活的大多數艦娘」相比較。
>Even shipgirls such as Junyou who had survived the war did not discuss these things.  Bringing it up equated to drawing a comparison between "I, who allowed my crew to successfully survive" with "The rest of the shipgirls , who could not preserve their crew."
    瑞鶴也因爲保有這部分的記憶，因此沒想過要主動談這些話題。
>Zuikaku had also avoided this topic in order to protect these kinds of memories.
    更何況，搭檔翔鶴──
>So why did Shoukaku--
    （聽說翔鶴姊在馬裏亞納沈沒時，失去了四分之三的乘員。當時我的乘員大約兩千名，換句話說……）
>(If I recall correctly, Shoukaku-nee lost 75% of her crew when she sank in the Marianas.  At the time I ended up wit ha crew of about two thousand.  In other words....)
    這段記憶實在太過殘酷──然而，翔鶴卻自己碰觸了這道禁忌，以此稱贊夕張。
>This memory was too cruel--and yet, Shoukaku had voluntarily broken that taboo in order to praise Yuubari.
    或許是發現夕張在想什麽吧，翔鶴微笑著回答：
>As if prescient of Yuubari's thoughts, Shoukaku laughed and responded,
    「放心，當時的事我也記得很清楚。但就算是這樣，一直把事情埋在心裏也不好。」
>"Don't worry, I remember what happened perfectly.  But even so, it's not good to keep one's feelings buried up."
    「翔鶴姊……」
>"Shoukaku-nee...."
    「就像我對瑞鶴說過的那樣，我也不明白『那場戰爭』是對是錯。所以，自己救不了的那些人命究竟犧牲得有沒有意義，我無法下斷語……話雖如此，如果持續把心酸的記憶埋在心底，它們或許有一天會害死自己。盡管我們的身體強壯得足以和深海棲艦戰鬥，我們的心卻跟人類一樣脆弱……」
>"It's like what I told Zuikaku earlier--I know not whether we were in the right or in the wrong during 'That War'. Therefore, it is pointless for us to ruminate on whether those who we failed to save died for a good cause...however, burying these bitter memories at the bottom of our hearts only serves to raise the possibility that they will one day crawl out and kill us.  Though our bodies are strong enough to fight the abyssals, our hearts are still very, very human..."
    「…………」
>"........"
    「所以，我想在接受這一切的情況下，向前邁進……當然，這些話只能在你們兩個面前說就是了。」
>"Therefore, I want to accept everything that has happened and moved on....please keep these words between the two of you, of course."
    「……我明白。畢竟艦娘中也有失去所有乘員的人嘛……」
>"....I understand.  After all, there are shipgirls who went down with all hands..."
    「抱歉，變成令人難過的話題了。」
>"Sorry, the topic has become rather mrobid."
    翔鶴苦笑著打圓場。
>Shoukaku smiled sadly as if to try to diffuse the situation.
    「這點暫且不論，你應該在心中爲乘員存活率高這件事感到驕傲。大家都會支持你的，要加油喔。」
>"That said, you should be proud of your high survival rate.  We're all standing behind you, so give it your best."
    「好的！能聽到老資格的翔鶴姊這麽說，讓我很開心！」
>"Sounds good!  Hearing an old guard like Shoukaku-nee saying that really cheers me up!"
    夕張以跟方才完全一樣的笑臉回答。
>Yuubari replied with a smile like before.
    瑞鶴彷佛也受到這張笑臉影響般笑了出來，同時她的信心也更加堅定。
>Zuikaku began laughing as well, infected by Yuubari's smile.  At the same time, she felt that her faith now lay on even firmer foundations.
    （翔鶴姊果然很厲害……！能在完全克服過去記憶的狀況下跟深海棲艦戰鬥……）
>(Shoukaku-nee is amazing, as expected...!  To be able to subjugate her memories and fight the abyssals...)
    瑞鶴並不知道有多少艦娘達到跟翔鶴一樣的心境。說不定，老資格的艦娘們絕大多數都是這樣──然而即使真是如此，翔鶴在瑞鶴心中依舊無比耀眼。
>Zuikaku did not know how many others shared Shoukaku's mentality.  Maybe most of the shipgirls in the old guard were the same--even if that were so, however, Shoukaku's luster in Zuikaku's eyes did not wane.
    ◇◇◇

    鎮守府工廠內的作業區塊警備森嚴，一般人禁止進出。
>The Naval District Factory's Development Zone was under heavy security--no ordinary individual would be able to go in or out.
    「畢竟沒人曉得深海棲艦對我們知道多少或者想知道多少嘛。爲了保護機密，這麽做也無可奈何。」
>"Well, nobody is quite sure how much the Abyssals know about us and how much they may want to know.  In order to protect our important secrets, this kind of thing is a necessity."
    夕張豎起食指。
>Yuubari raised her finger.
    方才瑞鶴與翔鶴在夕張的帶領下，從開發、量産魚雷與艦炮的區域前通過，但都無緣一窺究竟。保護機密的相關規定似乎也適用于艦娘身上。
>Just now Zuikaku and Shoukaku had passed through the cannon and torpedo development and manufacturing areas under Yuubari's guidance, all without even a glimpse of the interior.  It seemed like the security measures applied to the shipgirls as well.
    （確實從保護機密的觀點來看，有些艦娘不太可靠呢……）
>(Well, it's true that some of the shipgirls aren't too reliable in terms of keeping secrets).
    想起外表跟小孩差不多的驅逐艦們，瑞鶴便心情複雜地點點頭。
>With the childlike destroyers in mind, Zuikaku nodded, feelings conflicted.
    「工廠內的區塊我並不是每個都很熟，也有些高性能裝備還不能透露給大家知道。這間工廠裏似乎還有些沒名字的地點，就連對我們都完全保密。」
>"I'm not familiar with every Zone in the factory, and there are still some advanced armaments that must remain secret for now.  There are a few unnamed areas in the factory that even I know nothing about."
    「比方說活捉深海棲艦拿來研究嗎？」
>"Experimentation and vivisection on captured Abyssals, maybe?"
    瑞鶴開玩笑地問，夕張回以苦笑。
>Zuikaku's joking inquiry was met with a wry smile Yuubari.
    「我也想過『會不會有這種不可思議的事啊～』，不過很遺憾，僅止于謠言而已。」
>"I, too, have wondered stuff like 'whether these crazy things are happening in there~'.  Sorry to say, though, it's all just rumors."
    「什麽嘛，真無聊。」
>"Ehh, how boring."
    「盡管不曉得深海棲艦知不知道這座工廠的位置和職責，但要是像深夜動畫常有的發展那樣，把他們關在這裏後不小心被他們逃出去跟同伴會合，事情可能就糟糕了呢。」
>"Even though we don't know whether the abyssals know about this factory's location or significance, the crap would flow up shit creek real fast if we shut them up in there like in some late-night anime and they escaped to their comrades."
    「啊，這倒是沒錯……等等，深夜動畫？」
>"Ah, that's true...hold on a second, late-night anime?"
    「……！啊哈哈，你在說什麽啊……」
>".....!  Ahaha, I have no clue what you're talking about."
    夕張吹著口哨別過目光。看來她似乎也有「這樣」的一面。
>Yuubari looked the other way, whistling loudly.  It appeared she, too, had "another" side to her.
    「不過保密措施這麽嚴格，我們來這裏參觀不就沒什麽意義了嗎？」
>"But if security measures are so tight, isn't this tour completely pointless?"
    「這點就不用擔心了，你看！」
>"Oh don't be worried about that, look!"
    夕張指向空中。
>Yuubari pointed at the sky.
    「那是……！」
>"THat's....!"
    瑞鶴不禁瞪大了眼。
>Zuikaku's eyes widened.
    數十架零戰正在編隊飛行。這些機體跟瑞鶴用的零戰二一型不同，機身塗裝是深綠色。
>Several Zero fighters were flying in formation.  These fuselages were different from those of Zuikaku's Type 21 Zeroes, instead bearing a dark green.
    （新機零戰五二型……？可是，好像還混了些不太一樣的零戰……）
>(The new Type 52 Zeroes...?  But it seems like there are some different ones in there...)
    空中飛行的零戰有兩種。一種是零戰五二型，另一種輪廓與零戰五二型幾乎相同，但機腹裝有類似炸彈的東西。
>There were two types of Zeroes in there--one was the Type 52--the other type bore the same general outline as the Type 52, but bore what seemed like bombs on its belly.
    「那是……」
>"That's..."
    「零戰六二型。零戰五二型的戰鬥轟炸機版本──也就素所謂戰轟的啦！」
>"Type 62 Zero.  A bomber version of the Type 52 Zero--what we call fighter-bombers!"
    零戰隊下方的小型跑道傳來說話聲──瑞鶴在那看見一名跟飛鷹、隼鷹一樣，裝扮讓人聯想到陰陽師的艦娘。
>Another voice emanated from the mini flight deck that lay below the Zero Formation--Zuikaku spotted a shipgirl, dressed like an onmyodo in the fashion of Hiyou and Junyou.
    這人是輕型航母龍骥，那頂等同于注冊商標的遮陽帽，在陽光下閃閃發亮。她大概是在操縱艦載機吧，左手指尖有發出水藍色光芒的敕令文字。
>This person was the light carrier Ryuujou, her distinctive visor glinting in the sun.  She was most likely piloting the carrier planes via the "decree" Kanji written in blue light on her right fingertip.
    龍釀雖然一開始就設計成航母，但大概是建造中一再變更設計的緣故，外型十分獨特。不過，眼前的龍骥只是名少女體型的普通艦娘。
>Though Ryuujou had been designed as a carrier from the outset, her appearance had been incredibly unique, most likely due to the constant revisions made during her construction.  The Ryuujou right here, however, was a normal shipgirl with a normal girl's body, no different from the others.
    「龍骥！你也跟夕張一樣待在這座工廠……？」
>"Ryuujou," Zuikaku remarked, "you work here like Yuubari?"
    瑞鶴出聲詢問。確實，龍釀是輕型航母，跟夕張一樣適合在後方活動。但雖說是輕型航母，在「那場戰爭」裏龍骥依舊是于第一線戰鬥的艦隊型航母。這景象讓人覺得不太協調。
>To be sure, Ryuujou was a light carrier, suited (like Yuubari) to actions in the second line.  But though a light carrier, Ryuujou had served as a front-line combat carrier in "That War".  Seeing her like this seemed kind of odd.
    「沒像夕張那麽常來就素啦。只素偶爾會像這樣跑一趟，確認新造艦載機的成果。」
>"Naw, ah don't come 'round these parts nearly as much as Yuubari here.  Ah jes visit once in a blue moon to check on the new aeroplanes."
    龍骥左手操縱艦載機、右手得意地扠著腰，同時以大阪腔回答。
>RJ responded proudly in her Kansai dialect, steering the carrier planes with her left hand with right arm akimbo.
    生于橫須賀的龍骥爲什麽會用大阪腔說話，已成了鎮守府的七大不可思議之一。
>How and why Yokosuka-born RJ spoke with a Kansai dialect was one of the Naval District's seven great mysteries.
    「本來這種工作素鳳翔姊負責對吧？可素鳳翔姊素鎮守府的大尉嘛，所以就由偶跟祥鳳、瑞鳳輪流跑工廠啦。」
>"Y'all know about how Houshou-nee's in charge'a'this kinda thing, right?  Well, Houshou-nee's also a captain in the Naval District, so ah take turns runnin' the coop here at the factory with Shouhou an' Zuihou."
    這下瑞鶴就明白了。如果是跟其他輕型航母輪流來這裏工作，對前線出擊任務的影響也會比較少。
>Now Zuikaku understood.  If she was rotating with the other light carriers, the effect on overall frontline efficiency would be minimized.
    「再說，偶在『那場戰爭』因爲飛行甲板太短沒機會用新型機，現在的偶操作起來就沒問題啰！能比其他標准航母早一步用新機，可以說賺到了呢……去吧！」
>"Plus, ah never got a chance to use the new aeroplanes durin' 'That War' on account of my flight deck bein' too short--no problems now, though!  Bein' able ta use these new aeroplanes ahead of all y'all standard carriers--well, ah'd say ah right earned it....go!"
    龍骥在叫喊同時攤開右手的握住的甲板卷軸，上頭搭載了新型式神。式神很快就變成了艦載機──零戰六二型，先後從甲板上起飛。
>A she shouted, RJ unfurled the flight deck scroll clasped in her right hand, revealing the new Shikigami mounted on top.  Instantly, the Shikigami transmuted into the Type 62 Fighter-Bombers, lifting off from the flight deck one after the other.
    「嘿嘿，要素偶也活到馬裏亞納海戰，大概也會像這樣搭載戰轟吧，一想到這裏就節得很愉快呢～」
>"Hmhm, ah reckon ah'd have used these kinda fighter-bomber aeroplanes if ah'd made it to the Marianas...it kinda makes me all giddy inside~"
    龍骥得意地揉揉鼻子。正如本人所言，龍骥沈沒于馬裏亞納海戰之前──瓜島攻防戰序盤發生的第二次索羅門海戰，沒機會搭載性能比開戰時那三種艦載機更優秀的新型機。
>RJ rubbed her nose happily.  As she had said, RJ had sank before the battle of the Marianas Sea, having fallen during the Guadalcanal campaign in the 2nd Battle of the Solomon Seas.  She had never had the chance to mount or use anything more advanced than the three early-war planes.
    「我沒辦法使用艦載機，所以需要檢查艦載機時，就會請龍骥她們幫忙。」
>"I can't use carrier planes, so when it comes to inspecting planes I call over RJ or the others."
    夕張接在龍釀後面補充。
>Yuubari picked up from where RJ left off.
    「目前，五二型的開發即將完成，很快就能讓一航戰、二航戰配備；六二型也實驗性地生産了一些。我想五航戰的兩位應該也很快就能配備，敬請期待！其他的新型機也正在開發中！」
>"Recently, development of the Type 52s are nearly complete--the 1stCarDiv and the 2ndCarDiv will be able to equip them soon; we'll also manufacture a few of the Type 62s on a trial basis. It probably won't be long before you two in the 5thCarDiv get upgrades as well, so look forwards to it.  The other new model planes are currently in development!"
    「這樣啊，真是太好了！謝謝你，夕張！」
>"Ah, that's great!  Thanks, Yuubari!"
    瑞鶴老實地表現出自己的喜悅。艦載機是航母的重點，特別是零戰這種艦上戰鬥機的性能更與爭奪制空權息息相關。如果短期內能配備新型機，那就再好不過了。
>Zuikaku allowed her sincere joy to show.  Carrier planes are the crux of a carrier--especially the Zero Fighters, vital for claiming air superiority.  It would be great if new model planes were prepared quickly.
    此時，瑞鶴內心有了一個疑問。
>At the same time, a question popped into Zuikaku's mind.
    對于艦隊來說，重要的裝備應該不止航母的艦載機。這點她們在「那場戰爭」時已經深切體會過了才對──
>For the fleet, carrier planes were not the only important piece of equipment.  This lesson had been hammered in through experience during "That War"--
    「這麽說來，我有個問題想問……」
>"Speaking of which, I have a question..."
    瑞鶴靠近夕張，小聲地問道。
>Zuikaku leaned towards Yuubari and whispered:
    「雷達的開發情形怎樣了？我記得從大戰中期開始就裝備過好幾個……」
>"How is the Radar development?  I remember we started equipping several during the middle of 'that war.'"
    所謂的雷達，基本上是指朝目標發射電波，再藉由測量反射波來探測目標距離與方位的裝置。
>Essentially, radars launch a radio wave towards the target, using its reflection and diffraction to determine the target's distance and heading.
    在「那場戰爭」中，瑞鶴她們的航母機動部隊並未充分發揮雷達的功能。先是開發延宕導致趕不上中途島海戰，之後也因爲跟敵軍的技術落差而經常處于劣勢。
>In "That War", Zuikaku's carrier task force had not been able to use the radar to their full potential.  Originally, development had not been complete in time for midway; afterwards, the enemy military's technological superiority led to increasingly dire situations.
    夕張嚴肅地點了點頭。
>Yuubari nodded seriously.
    「那方面也在開發當中。你看，這就是二一號對空雷達的樣品喔。」
>"We're working on development.  Look, this is a Type 21 AA radar sample."
    她轉過身子，露出裝備上形似花魁發簪的機件。
>Yuubari turned her body to reveal a machine that vaguely resembled a hair ornament.
    「二一號應該很快就能用于實戰，後續的防空、水面雷達研究也在進行中。對于我所屬的水雷戰隊來說，雷達的有無在夜戰同樣也會造成關鍵的影響。」
>"The Type 21 should be ready for battle soon; other AA and surface radars are being researched.  For torpedo squadrons such as mine, radars in night battle are a decisive factor."
    在無法目視索敵的夜戰裏，能夠發現遠處敵蹤的雷達會嚴重影響海戰的勝負。
>In low-visibility night battles, being able to determine the enemy's position at a distance via radar could well spell the difference between victory and defeat.
    爲了保險起見，瑞鶴追問道：
>Just to be safe, Zuikaku pressed on:
    「深海棲艦有逆探之類的東西嗎？，」
>"Do the Abyssals have anything on the lines of Electronic Support Measures?"
    逆探就是指雷達波探測裝置（ESM）。它能探測到雷達發出的電波，藉此測出裝備雷達者的位置及方位。
>Electronic Support Measures (ESM) allowed the user to detect radar waves and use it to determine their source's position and heading.
    「那場戰爭」時瑞鶴她們之所以在雷達技術落于下風，就是因爲高層認爲有讓敵軍以逆探偵測到己方電波而暴露位置的危險。然而，實際上雷達進化得非常迅速，因此相較于敵方不發出電波就毫無作用的逆探，平常就能索敵的雷達要有用多了。
>During "That War," Zuikaku and company's limited experience with radar usage came from high command's fear that the enemy would be able to detect their position with ESM.  In reality, radar technology advanced incredibly quickly, the potential dangers of ESM (which needed to send out radio waves of their own) were easily outstripped by the advantages of everyday use of radar.
    話雖如此，卻也不能斷定這次面對的深海棲艦沒有這種能力。
>Even so, that didn't rule out the possibility that the abyssals this time around did not have this ability.
    夕張用力搖頭。
>Yuubari vigorously shook her head.
    「目前似乎是這樣──這是工廠的深海棲艦研究班告訴我的。所以，跟不夠方便的逆探相比，我也覺得應該朝開發雷達的方向邁進。」
>"Thus far it doesn't seem that way--at least that's what I've been told from the factory's Abyssal Research Class.  As such, compared to something of limited utility such as ESM, I figure we may as well just go straight ahead with radar development."
    「畢竟機動部隊交戰時，對空雷達的性能比逆探重要多了。」
>"Plus when Carrier Task Forces fight it out, the radar's ruther important compared t'ESM."
    龍骥以不怎麽高興的表情嘀咕。
>RJ joined in, her expression none too pleased.
    如何迎擊敵方攻擊隊會影響航母對戰的生死。能夠從遠方確認敵機距離的對空雷達，可以說是機動部隊的關鍵。
>How to meet the enemy attack determined a carrier's life and death.  The ability to determine enemy plane distance with air radar was vital for the Carrier Task Force.
    「搞不好哪天深海棲艦也會像『那場戰爭』的敵人一樣，用類似強力雷達的能力將偶們的空襲無效化。得在那之前……對吧？」
>"Who knows, the Abyssals might develop something like radar, rendering our airstrikes ineffective just like the enemy in 'That War'.  Before that happens...right?"
    以現況來說，人類方要發現深海棲艦，基本上不是靠目視或聲音捕捉到對方蹤迹，就是以艦娘發射的電波進行索敵。不曉得爲什麽，沒辦法用其他手段找出深海棲艦。
>Currently, humanity's ability to detect the abyssals was not based on sound or visual identification, but via shipgirl radar detection.  For reasons unknown, the Abyssals were undetectable by any other means.
    就這個層面來說，雷達的存在可能會決定這場戰爭的趨勢。
>From this alone, it was clear that the presence of radars would affect the tide of this war.
    「我會盡力完成這裏的任務。所以，瑞鶴姊你們如果在戰鬥中有什麽新發現，請務必告訴我們喔。」
>"I will do all I can over here.  Zuikaku-nee, if you make some new discovery in battle, make sure you notify me."
    夕張以真摯的眼神看著瑞鶴。龍骥也神情嚴肅。
>Yuubari looked to Zuikaku with sincere eyes.  RJ's expression was also stern.
    「爲了不讓我們在『那場戰爭』的悲慘命運重演，彼此全力以赴吧。」
>"In order to avoid repeatin' the tragedy of 'That War', let's give it all we got."
    瑞鶴與翔鶴離開鎮守府工廠時已過了中午。
>It was well past noon by the time Zuikaku and Shoukaku left the Naval District Factory.
    因爲夕張邀龍釀和她們一同吃午飯。地點是在工廠內大受好評的荞麥面店──夕張似乎很喜歡荞麥面。
>They had been invited with RJ by Yuubari to lunch at a Soba shop well-liked by the Factory--it appeared the Yuubari really liked Soba Udon.
    「今天真是謝謝你，翔鶴姊！」
>"Thanks a lot today, Shoukaku-nee!"
    走向工廠附近公車站牌的途中，瑞鶴對翔鶴這麽說道。
>Zuikaku spoke en route to the nearby bus station.
    「我等于上了一課呢。事到如今我才想起來，光靠我們沒辦法跟深海棲艦戰鬥。不但在『那場戰爭』時是這樣，加賀學姊也教訓過我這點。果然我還太不成熟了……」
>"That was pretty much a class.  It wasn't until now that I realized we wouldn't be enough to fight the Abyssals.  I'd been taught that not only in 'That War', but also by Kaga-senpai...I guess I'm still not ready yet..."
    「人不是一開始就這麽聰明，艦娘也一樣。所以不必在意。」
>"Man is not born wise, and the same applies to shipgirls.  Don't take it to heart."
    翔鶴帶著一如往常的微笑說道。
>Shoukaku smiled gently as always as she spoke.
    「只要一件事一件事地好好學習，不要停止前進的腳步，總有一天這些都會對自己有所幫助。你只要別忘記現在的心情，繼續努力就好。」
>"There is only one thing--one thing that you must learn, and that is to never stop going forwards.  One day all this will be of help to you.  As long as you remember your current feelings, it'll be fine if you continue to do your best."
    「嗯！我能跟翔鶴姊當姊妹實在是太好了！都是因爲有翔鶴姊在，我才能走到這裏……真的太感謝你了！」
>"Mm!  It's great that I'm sisters with Shoukaku-nee.  It's because Shoukaku-nee is here that I could come this far...thank you very much!"
    「你捧我也沒好處喔。」
>"Flattery won't get me anywhere, you know."
    「那也沒關系！」
>"That has nothing to do with it!"
    瑞鶴露出純真的笑臉，翔鶴則是微笑以對。
>Zuikaku grinned innocently, and Shoukaku smiled softly in return
    然而沒過多久，微笑便從翔鶴臉上消失，換成了僵硬的表情。
>And yet moments later, the small smile faded from Shoukaku's face--replaced with a new stiffness.
    瑞鶴也注意到這點，于是戰戰兢兢地問道：
>Noticing this, Zuikaku inquired cautiously,
    「翔鶴姊……？」
>"Shoukaku-nee...?"
    「……提督傳來無線電，要我們立刻前往軍港……」
>"...The Admiral has sent out a transmission requiring that we immediately head to the naval port."
    「難道是新的深海棲艦？從哪來的……？」
>"Could it be a new abyssal?  From where....?"
    前些日子在露天澡堂跟赤城與加賀的對話，從腦海中浮現。
>The words exchanged with Akagi and Kaga in the bathhouse a few days ago surfaced in Zuikaku's mind.
    「不，你誤會了。」
>"No, you're mistaken."
    翔鶴以前所未見的嚴峻表情否定。
>Shoukaku's expression showed a hitherto-unknown grimness as she responded.
(note: Thank fucking god, I'm fucking sick and tired of how many times I have to reword how Shoukaku just smiles softly/gently.  Yamato Nadeshiko a shit.)
    「我們要去沖之島外海。」
>"We're going to Okinoshima."

    4
>4.
    瑞鶴她們前往的地方──在沖之島近海巡邏的艦娘待命用船艘，目前甲板上一片寂靜。
>It was silent on deck onboard Zuikaku and company's destination, a ship used by shipgirls in between patrols around Okinoshima as a rest stop.
    一般來說，甲板上應該會有數名等待出擊的艦娘，但目前看不見這樣的身影。船內也一樣，到處都看不見數天前從軍港出擊的主力艦娘們。
>There would normally be several shipgirls waiting to be deployed on deck, but currently not a single one could be seen.  The interior of the ship was the same--not a single one of the main fleet shipgirls that had deployed days ago from the naval port could be found.
    相對地，地板上留下了許多血痕，以及遭到各式破壞的裝備。其中雖然也有看似41cm炮塔的東西，炮塔最堅硬的防盾部分（炮塔的正面部分）卻已整個裂開。忙著作業的妖精們也是個個臉色沈痛。
>Equipment in various states of damage and bloodstained littered the floorboards.  Among them were what looked like 41cm turrets, their tough turret faces cracked.  Even the fairies looked bitter as they scurried about with their labors.
    「發生……什麽事了……？」
>"What...happened...?"
    搭乘高速船艘抵達的瑞鶴，鐵青著臉盯著眼前的景象。
>Zuikaku regarded the scene before her, face pale.  She had just arrived via a speedboat.
    「赤城學姊跟加賀學姊呢？還有其他艦娘……」
>"Where are Akagi-senpai and Kaga-senpai?  Plus the other shipgirls..."
    跟在瑞鶴與翔鶴後面登船的四名艦娘──航空戰艦伊勢、日向，重巡摩耶、鳥海也大爲震驚。她們四人也是主力成員，但先前因爲擔綱保衛本土而留在鎮守府。
>Zuikaku and Shoukaku's four fellow passengers--Aviation Battleships Hyuuga and Ise, as well as Heavy Cruisers Maya and Choukai-- were equally shocked.  These four had also been Main Fleet members, but had until now remained at the Naval District as part of the home guard.
    「……放心。既然有裝備的殘骸，就代表大家已經回來了。」
>"....relax.  If the equipment remains are here, it means that everybody returned."
    翔鶴一臉待不下去的表情，踩著急促的步伐走向通道。
>Shoukaku strode through the ship aisle, her expression suggesting she, too, had seen enough.
    「快走吧，提督在辦公室等我們。」
>"Let's go, the Admiral should be waiting for us in the office.
    「在此命令各位攻擊沖之島近海的敵方泊地。」
>"I hereby order you all to attack the enemy anchorage located in the Okinoshima waters."
    將六人找來辦公室的提督，劈頭第一句話就是這個。
>The Admiral's first words hit them the moment they entered the office.
    「狀況就如你們所想的。一小時後出擊，裝備以反艦武裝優先，將夜戰追擊的可能性也考慮進去。有問題嗎？」
>"The situation is as you have likely surmised.  You all sortie in an hour--prioritize anti-ship equipment, but keep in mind the possibility of night battle pursuit.  Any questions?"
    提督的聲音前所未見地冷酷，跟平常的印象判若兩人。
>There was a (never-before-heard) grimness in the Admiral's voice that made him seem like a different individual altogether.
    「請等一下……！」
>"Please wait a moment...!"
    瑞鶴不禁叫了出來。
>Zuikaku could not stop herself from speaking.
    「出擊是什麽意思……還說『狀況就如我們所想的』，我完全不明白！麻煩您好好說明一下！」
>"Please explain, what do you mean by sortie...and what did you mean when you said 'the situation is as we have likely surmised'?  I don't understand at all!"
    「真的不明白嗎？」
>"Do you really not understand?"
    「不明白！」
>"I don't understand!"
    瑞鶴瞪著提督。真的不明白嗎──實際上，答案是否定的。她心裏隱約有底，但自己沒辦法說出口，如果不由提督解釋，她無法接受──
>Zuikaku stared at the Admiral.  "Do you really not understand"--that had obviously been a blunt refusal. She felt her heart sink, but she could not voice her feelings--if the Admiral did not explain, she wouldn't be able to accept it--
    對于瑞鶴的逼問，其他艦娘也保持沈默。
>The other shipgirls maintained their silence in response to Zuikaku's inquiry.
    只有一個人──只有翔鶴以懇求的眼神看著提督。
>Only one person--just Shoukaku--eyed the Admiral in a silent plea.
    「……是我不好。看樣子你似乎已經急得靜不下心思考……我這就解釋。」
>"...Pardon, I am in the wrong.  It seems that the urgent nature of this situation has prevented you from calming down...I will explain, then."
    提督老實地道歉，接著歎口氣站起身。
>The Admiral apologized honestly, and then stood up with a breath.
    「對沖之島近海的深海棲艦泊地發動攻擊，使得我方主力遭到了毀滅性的打擊。目前，受損傷的艦娘們已由後方的工程艦收容。」
>"The abyssal ships launched an attack from their Anchorage in the Okinoshima waters and devastated our main fleet.  Currently, the wounded shipgirls have retreated to the rear for rest and reorganization."
    盡管大致上想像得到，瑞鶴還是受到很大的沖擊。
>Though she had largely figured this was the case, Zuikaku still felt as if she had been struck with a mental two-by-four.
    （怎麽會這樣，赤城學姊跟加賀學姊居然……？）
>(How did this happen, that Akagi-senpai and Kaga-senpai...)
    赤城與加賀應該都是鎮守府的頂級戰力才對。而其他的出擊成員裏，還有長門、陸奧、金剛、霧島等主力戰艦在。即使投入她們，依舊無法擊破沖之島近海的敵軍主力──令人戰栗不安。
Akagi and Kaga should have been two of the most powerful ships in the Naval District, and they had been escorted by Nagato, Mutsu, Kongou, Kirishima and the other Main Fleet ships.  The fact that the attack on the Okinoshima Garrison Fleet had failed even after these elites were committed was incredibly unsettling.
    （可是，爲什麽要派我們去面對這種敵人……）
>(But why send us to meet this kind of enemy?)
    「可是，作戰無法中止。就剩余的資源來看，目前我們鎮守府能全力出擊的機會只剩這次。所以，我決定投入你們這批後備部隊，賭最後一把。」
>"Nevertheless, this operation cannot be aborted now.  Our resource stockpile will only allow us to sortie one more time--this time.  As such, I have decided to commit you all from the reserve fleet and roll the dice one last time."
    提督豁出去了。
>The Admiral was going all-in.
    「沖之島近海有許多警戒部隊保護泊地的主力，其中似乎還包括了先前從未見過的航母WO級新型，我希望你們能突破這些難關與主力交戰。關于敵人的情報大致如上，有什麽問題──」
>"There will be many patrols in the Okinoshima waters, among them being a new, previously-unseen ヲ-class--I hope that you will be able to break through these forces and take on their Main Fleet.  The report on the enemy disposition is as above; are there any questions--"
    「請等一下！」
>"Please hold on!"
    瑞鶴再度高聲質疑。
>Zuikaku raised her voice one more in inquiry.
    「敵情的說明居然只有這樣，沒有主力的情報嗎？學姊她們連主力……」
>"Is that all the intel on the enemy we have?  What about the Main Fleet's report?  The Senpai and the main fleet..."
    「正確說來，幾乎每次出擊，我方都有遇上敵軍主力。」
>"To be quite honest, we have met the enemy main fleet nearly every time we deployed,"
    提督忿忿地說道。
>the Admiral explained irritably.
    「但是，每一次都慘敗收場，全員都是在瀕臨沈沒的狀態下撤退。每一名成員都在抵達這艘船之後就失去意識，因此沒得到任何有關主力的情報。」
>"However, we have had to retreat every time with all our ships on the verge of sinking.  Every fleet member appears to have lost their memories by the time they reached this ship (note: are you fucking serious)--as a result, we have received no intel regarding the enemy Main Fleet."
    「……！」
>"....!"
    「我們所知道的，就只有『敵方主力部隊裏有複數艘強力戰艦』，畢竟對方火力強大得足以貫穿長門與陸奧那種戰艦的裝甲。」
>"All we know is that 'the enemy main fleet has multiple powerful battleships'--power to be able pierce Nagato and Mutsu's armor, at any rate."
    「可是，就算跟那樣的對手戰鬥也……」
>"But even if we fought an enemy of that caliber...."
    「所以才要用這個編組。即使用強力的戰艦跟戰艦對轟，也只會敗給對方的火力。因此我想將跟敵方主力的戰鬥，賭在摩耶和鳥海的魚雷上，其他四名專注于支援。」
>"And that is why I am using this fleet.  Even if we sent our own Battleships in a direct confrontation, we would still be beaten to a pulp by the enemy's firepower.  As such, I want to bet the battle with the enemy Main Fleet on Maya and Choukai's torpedos, with you four serving as support."
    重巡艦娘們雖然炮擊力與裝甲不如戰艦，卻具備了不輸驅逐艦的速度與戰艦缺乏的魚雷武裝。只要成功接近對方，就有可能一擊收拾戰艦。
>Though Heavy Cruiser shipgirls lacked the firepower and armor of battleships, they possessed the speed rivaling destroyers and torpedoes, which battleships lacked.  As long as they could get close, it was more than possible to take down a battleship.
    考慮到這點，這回的編組或許沒錯。但是──
>In that respect, this fleet composition might work.  And yet--
    （可是，這麽一來就更……！）
>(But, this is even more....!)
    「旗艦由翔鶴擔任。無論如何都要殺出一條通往敵方主力的血路。如果你們失敗，我們也就不得不撤退了。」
>"Shoukaku will serve as flagship.  You are to carve a bloody trail to the enemy fleet, no matter what happens--should you fail, we will have to retreat."
    提督盯著翔鶴看。翔鶴也回看提督。
>The Admiral and Shoukaku exchanged gazes.
    （翔鶴姊……）
>(Shoukaku-nee...)
    瑞鶴帶著不安偷偷打量翔鶴的表情。既然翔鶴被選爲旗艦，那麽遵不遵從提督的命令全部由她決定。
>Hiding her unease, Zuikaku tried to read Shoukaku's expression.  Since Shoukaku was the flagship on the ground, she had the option of countermanding the Admiral's orders.
    經過數十秒的沈默後，翔鶴靜靜地點頭。
>Nearly a minute of silence later, Shoukaku nodded quietly.
    「了解。」
>"Understood."
    在瑞鶴呆愣的目光下，翔鶴立刻又補了一句。
>Shoukaku spoke one more phrase as Zuikaku gaped.
    「我們一定會交出漂亮的戰果。」
>"We will definitely bring about a beautiful result."

    5
>5.
    萬裏無雲的天空下，由翔鶴擔任旗艦的六名艦娘在沖之島近海的水面上前進。
>Led by Shoukaku, the six-shipgirl fleet sailed through the waters around Okinoshima under cloudless skies.
    敵方泊地近在眼前。很幸運地，艦隊只與敵軍交戰三次便成功抵達這裏。
>The enemy anchorage was within sight.  Fortunately, the fleet had broken through after only three engagements.
    她們並未遭遇原先擔心的新型WO級。途中最強的部隊，也只是以單戰艦爲核心的水面部隊，而且在瑞鶴、翔鶴的先發空襲與伊勢、日向的炮擊下，沒受多少損傷就順利擊破。
>They had not encountered the feared newtype ヲ.  The strongest force they had met thus far was a surface fleet led by a single Battleship.  It had not lasted long under the Cranes' airstrikes and the Ise-class's shells, inflicting little more than scratch damage in return.
    正因爲如此，瑞鶴內心的不安與疑問愈發高漲。
>It was for that exact reason that Zuikaku's suspicion and unease swelled higher than ever.
    （我們多半是運氣好……可是再這樣下去，真的會碰上主力……）
>(Well, we've been pretty lucky so far....but sooner or later we're going to run into the main force...)
    在沖之島近海泊地的深海棲艦主力，可是連出動鎮守府精銳都無法擊破的對手。瑞鶴根本不曉得己方有沒有辦法戰勝。
>The Main Fleet garrisoning the Okinoshima anchorage was an enemy not even the naval district's elites could overcome.  Zuikaku didn't know if a chance for victory even existed.
    （說起來，爲什麽要派我這種菜鳥……我的戰技又不像翔鶴姊那麽優秀……）
>(Speaking of which, I wonder why they even bothered to send a rookie like me....I'm not skilled like Shoukaku-nee...)
    她知道，沖之島近海的敵方泊地會影響這場戰爭的趨勢；她也知道，這場戰爭絕對不能輸。可是──
>She knew, of course, that Okinoshima Anchorage could well decide the tide of the war; she also knew that this war could not be lost.  However--
    （既然如此，爲什麽是我？翔鶴姊應該知道我還不成熟才對……）
>(In that case, why me?  Shoukaku-nee should know I'm not experienced enough...)
    這樣下去，自己可能會成爲導致戰鬥敗北的罪魁禍首。自己根本不可能對抗有辦法打敗赤城與加賀的對手……
>At this rate, she might very well be the reason this sortie would come to fail.  She couldn't take on an enemy that could defeat Akagi and Kaga...
    「我、我說啊，翔鶴姊……」
>"U-uh, Shoukaku-nee......"
    瑞鶴以充滿疑惑的聲音詢問：
>Zuikaku's misgivings were obvious in her inquiry:
    「爲什麽你會認同這樣的出擊編組？跟我比起來，飛鷹和隼鷹她們要來得更……」
>"Why did you agree to sortie with this fleet?  Compared to me, Hiyou or Junyou are more...."
    「你可是標准航母喔。即使經驗不足，依舊在各個方面都比輕型航母來得強。」
>"You are a standard carrier.  Lack of experience does not alter the fact that you are stronger in every regard than a light carrier."
    「就算這樣，這種決定還是很奇怪！翔鶴姊你也知道，卻還是出擊了對吧！」
>"Even so, this kind of decision is too strange!  You knew that, Shoukaku-nee, but agreed to sortie anyway, right?"
    翔鶴沒有回答，只是緊閉雙唇看著一片空曠的遠方海洋。
>Shoukaku gazed at the distant seas in silence in lieu of response.
    「這樣子就跟去送死差不多啊！就算因爲運氣夠好而來到這裏……翔鶴姊！」
>"This is no different than a suicide mission then!  Even if our luck has brought us this far....SHoukaku-nee!"
    翔鶴微微駿眉，接著平靜地開口。
>Shoukaku's brow furrowed as she opened her mouth calmly.
    「仔細聽好，瑞鶴。你可能具備了其他艦娘沒有的特殊力量。」
>"Listen carefully, Zuikaku.  You may have an ability the other shipgirls do not have."
    「啊？翔鶴姊你莫名其妙地在說什麽……」
>"Eh?  Shoukaku-nee, what are you saying out of nowhere...."
    「我們艦娘以軍艦身分參戰的『那場戰爭』，不但困住了我們的心，也以因果的形式困住了我們的命運。」
>"We shipgirls and our participation as warships in 'That War' doesn't just fetter our hearts--it constrains our fate as well."
    翔鶴以強烈的口氣下斷語。對于這意料之外的說法，瑞鶴什麽也說不出口。
>There was a ferocity in Shoukaku's voice as she spoke that kept Zuikaku silent.
    「雖然還無法完全肯定，但這個推測已經逐漸成立。在『那場戰爭』裏愈是幸運的艦娘中彈率就愈低，經曆愈是悲慘中彈率就愈高──關于這點你心裏也有數吧？」
>"We have yet to prove this empirically--but this has long since gone from conjecture to theory.  Those who were fortunate in 'That War' are consistently hit less, while those whose endings were more tragic are hit more--you have noticed this trend, have you not?"
    「怎麽可能！那只是巧合……」
>"How could that be?  That's just coincidence..."
    瑞鶴滿懷疑惑地回答，同時卻也感受到翔鶴這番話的正確性。
>Even as Zuikaku responded doubtfully, she was struck by the truth in Shoukaku's words.
    剛到任時與加賀的戰鬥、至今碰過的多次演習、一周前的初次上陣──每一次的戰鬥，若考慮到跟翔鶴之間的實力差距，自己展現出來的閃避率實在高得異常。盡管這還在偶然的範圍內，而瑞鶴也自認爲是實力所致，但她依然不敢說自己從未覺得這與幸運無關。
>That first battle with Kaga; all the fleet exercises in which she had participated until now; that first deployment last week--every single time, her evasion was significantly higher than Shoukaku's, especially given the difference in skill between them.  Given, this could still plausibly be attributed to coincidence and Zuikaku's own exertions--in spite of that, she could not honestly say that she had never wondered whether luck had played any role.
    仔細一想，現在也是這樣。她們避開了包括新型WO級在內的敵方機動部隊，逐漸逼近主力屯駐的泊地。
>Thinking carefully, the situation was similar here.  They had successfully evaded the Carrier Task Force with its New Type ヲ and was now closing in on the enemy's main fleet garrison.
    瑞鶴腦中閃過人們給自己的別名──「幸運航母」。
>The name given to Zuikaku flashed through Zuikaku's mind--"the Lucky Carrier."
    翔鶴仔細地向她說明：
>Shoukaku continued her explanation carefully.
    「換言之，『那場戰爭』的因果，與我們的命運息息相關。而你是人稱『幸運航母』的武勳艦，所以擁有靠這種因緣掌握最佳命運的力量──這是有可能的。」
>"To put it another way, the actions and events of 'that war' are directly related to our own fortunes.  And you, the one who bears the title of 'the lucky carrier,' may well possess the power to grasp the most fortunate result."
    瑞鶴臉色鐵青。她並非沒有身爲「幸運航母」的自覺。但是，她從來沒有將這名號當成「掌握最佳命運的力量」這種與現實契合的詞。
>Zuikaku's face was drawn--she had of course been aware of her status as 'the lucky carrier.'  But she she had never connected her name to something like 'the power to grasp the most fortunate result.'"
    「當鎮守府集合了數十名艦娘，與深海棲艦的戰鬥白熱化後，大家漸漸注意到了這點。當然，因爲跟我們相遇才知道『那場戰爭』的提督、以及希望拯救這個國家而將我們交給提督的人們，全都知道。那麽，會考慮將這些艦娘當成王牌，不就是理所當然的結論嗎？」
>"Once the naval district had assembled several dozen shipgirls and the conflict with the abyssals had intensified, everyone gradually started to notice this fact.  Of course, the Admiral (whose only knowledge of 'That War' is through us) and those who brought us to the Admiral in the hopes of saving this nation know this.  Therefore, isn't considering these shipgirls as trump cards the natural conclusion?"
    「怎麽會──」
"How can this--"
    連「因果」這種捉摸不定的東西都想當成戰爭手段──這種思維實在無比冷酷。
>To try to grasp something as intangible and unquantifiable as "karma" and use it as a weapon--there was a certain grimness in this train of tought.
    伊勢、日向、摩耶、鳥海也無言地聽著翔鶴說明，沒有半句反駁的話──這也就表示，她們早已跟翔鶴同樣意識到了這點。
>Hyuuga, Ise, Maya and Choukai listened to Shoukaku's explanation wordlessly without a word of objection--that is, they, too, agreed with Shoukaku.
    「這次的出擊，多半也跟這點有關吧。如果有人稱『幸運航母』的你在，或許就能打倒強大的敵軍主力。因爲你說不定擁有掌握最佳命運的力量，以希望渺茫的任務來說，這理由已經夠充分了。雖然不曉得這是提督的意願還是別人的意見……」
>"More likely than not, this sortie is most likely related to this.  If you, the one known as 'The Lucky Carrier' is here, perhaps we may be able to defeat the enemy's formidable main fleet.  The possibility that you may grasp the power to reach the most fortunate result is more than enough justification in this uncertain war.  Though I don't know whether this is the Admiral's thoughts or just ours...."
    「怎麽會這樣，實在太亂來了……！」
>"How can you do this so recklessly.....?!"
    瑞鶴含著淚大吼：
>Zuikaku shouted, holding back tears.
    「突然跟我說這些也沒用啊……！或許我確實是『幸運航母』，但那也只是因爲我盡了自己最大的努力……！」
>"Even if you tell me this, it's useless...!  Maybe I am the 'Lucky Carrier', but that's only because I gave it my all....!"
    「我明白你的心情。沒人希望自己的努力被區區『幸運』兩個字打發掉。實際上，你也是一路努力過來的……可是，就算把那份努力考慮進來，仍舊跟幸運脫不了關系。」
>"I understand your feelings.  Nobody would ever wish to have his or her achievements dismissed as nothing more than 'luck.'  In truth, you have been working hard this whole time....however, even if you factor in your hard work, there is an unavoidable and self-evident connection to luck."
    瑞鶴的表情因悲痛而扭曲，翔鶴則露出溫柔的微笑安慰她。
>In response to Zuikaku's expression, contorted with sorrow, Shoukaku comforted her with a kind smile.
    「放心，我會保護你，不管發生什麽事都一樣……畢竟我會得到這條命，大概就是爲了讓你活下去。」
>"Don't worry, I will protect you.  No matter what happens, that will always be true...after all, I probably received this life in order to ensure that yours continues."
    「翔鶴姊……？」
>"Shoukaku-nee...?"
    瑞鶴呆滯地輕呼姊姊的名字──接著突然明白了很多事。
>As Zuikaku slowly uttered her elder sister's name, understanding hit her, understanding of a great many things.
    如果自己的記憶沒錯，相對于在「那場戰爭」裏人稱「幸運航母」的自己，姊姊則被人揶揄爲「不幸艦」。
>Compared to herself, the one known in "That War as "The Lucky Carrier," her sister had been teased as the "Unlucky Ship," if memory served.
    那是因爲每當機動部隊交戰時，往往只有自己全身而退，受創的總是翔鶴。據說也有人認爲，其實是瑞鶴奪走了翔鶴的運氣。
>Through multiple carrier force engagements, Zuikaku was usually the only one to escape successfully, while Shoukaku was always the one who limped back home wounded.  Allegedly some believed that Zuikaku had stolen Shoukaku's fortune.
    如今翔鶴身爲艦娘的經曆，大概跟她的命運也脫不了關系。反過來說，或許就是因爲有這種自覺，她才會想保護身爲「幸運航母」的自己。她可能利用了符合「不幸艦」稱號的高中彈率，積極地替自己擋下攻擊──
>Shoukaku's experiences a shipgirl until now probably could not be divorced from her fate.  Perhaps it was because of this that she desired to protect Zuikaku, the "Lucky Carrier."  Perhaps she had used her status as the frequently-hit "Unlucky Ship" to divert the enemy's attacks--
    （怎麽會……翔鶴姊！）
>(How can it be...Shoukaku-nee!"
    「索敵機來電，發現敵艦隊──距離很近！再過數十秒就會遇敵！」
>"Scout Plane transmission--enemy fleet detected, close proximity!  Contact in less than a minute!"
    前方的伊勢出聲報告。伊勢型航空戰艦擁有水上機用的機庫與飛行甲板，因此不僅能應付炮擊戰，連航空戰也能參加。
>Ise reported from the front.  The Ise-class Aviation Battleships carried seaplane hangars and a flight deck, allowing them to participate both in surface shelling and air combat.
    就在思緒混亂的瑞鶴什麽也回答不了時，翔鶴下達了命令。
>Before the confused Zuikaku could even come up with a response, Shoukaku laid down the law.
    「各艦，准備水面炮雷擊戰！瑞鶴，要讓第一波攻擊隊起飛啰！」
>"All ships, prepare for surface combat!  Zuikaku, let's get our first wave up there!"
    「……！」
>"...sheeit."
    「回答呢？」
>"Well?"
    「了、了解！」
>"U-understood!"
    不知所措的瑞鶴大聲回應。她反射性地舉起短弓對著上空，然後讓艦載機起飛、集合。
>Disoriented and at her wits end, Zuikaku responded loudly.  She raised her shortbow to the skies and left fly mechanically, waiting for her carrier planes to form up.
    接著伊勢又以驚訝的聲音說：
>Ise spoke again with a tone of shock.
    「索敵機續報──敵方艦隊的戰力爲戰艦四、驅逐艦二！其中一艘是尚未確認的RU級戰艦！」
>"Scout plane, second report--enemy fleet consists of four Battleships, two destroyers!  One of which is a yet-unidentified ル-class Battleship!"
    伊勢的報告已足夠帶給艦娘們沖擊。
>Ise's report was enough to send a tremor of shock through the shipgirls.
    先前的戰鬥中，深海棲艦從未出現過「六艘編隊裏四艘是戰艦」這種重型編組，而且其中一艘還是尚未確認過的戰艦──對方擁有壓倒性的火力，如果要讓戰況對己方有利，只能靠空襲解決敵人。
>In the previous battles, the abyssals had never deployed a fleet in which four of the six ships had been Battleships.  Add to that a hitherto-unidentified battleship--the enemy clearly had the overwhelming advantage in firepower.  If they were to swing the battle in their direction, they'd need to rely on air power to dispatch the opponent.
    （這種事真的辦得到嗎……？）
>(Can we really do something like this...?)
    恐怕就是那支艦隊擊敗了赤城和加賀。自己能跨越這道高牆嗎──
>Most likely it was this fleet that had devastated Akagi and Kaga.  Could she surmount this obstacle--
    （可是，也只能……！）
>(Even so, all we can do...!)
    「要上啰──全機突擊！」
>"Here we go--all planes, lock your S-foils in attack position!"
    在翔鶴的號令下，集合完畢的艦載機群朝敵艦隊突進而去。敵影已出現在水平線上──艦載機群開始俯沖。
>Under Shoukaku's orders, the assembled carrier formation flew at the enemy fleet, visible on the horizon as the carrier planes began their attack runs.
    「中啊────！」
>"Hit----!"
    在瑞鶴大喊的同時，衆多水柱出現在敵艦隊處。瑞鶴盯著敵艦隊，試圖看清戰果如何。
>As if in response to Zuikaku's roar, multiple geysers erupted around the enemy fleet.  Zuikaku focused on the enemy fleet to assess the situation.
    在水柱塌陷的瞬間，瑞鶴震驚得說不出話。
>As the pillars of water subsided, Zuikaku could barely voice her shock.
    「怎麽會……！」
>"How....!"
    敵艦隊幾乎沒有損傷。踏上歸途的艦載機群，也在敵軍的防空炮火下折損許多。對方沒有護衛機，因此零戰隊等于是去湊數的。
>The enemy fleet was virtually unharmed.  The carrier planes, now returning, had also been heavily damaged by enemy AA fire.  As the enemy had no fighters, the Zero fighters may as well have been nonexistent.
    翔鶴鐵青著臉，出聲訓斥瑞鶴。
>Shoukaku rebuked Zuikaku quickly, face drawn white.
    「瑞鶴，快點收容艦載機！還能靠第二波攻擊隊給對方打擊！所以──」
>"Zuikaku, hurry up and reform the carrier planes!  We can still get off our second wave and hit them some more!  So--"
    遠方傳來多聲炮響──敵艦隊開始炮擊了。每艘戰艦都稍微錯開攻擊時間，讓炮火連續不斷。而且他們是在伊勢與日向的主炮戰距離外──也就是實際的射程範圍之外開火。
>The low rumble of gunfire in the distance--the enemy fleet had began shelling.  Each battleship fired in series, forming an unending rumble of cannonfire.  Moreover, they were firing outside of the range of Ise and Hyuuga's main guns, outside of effective range.
    「全艦連續炮擊？在這種距離？」
>"Firing in series?  At this kind of range?" (unrelated note: Interwar USN surface combat doctrine involved engagement well outside of what was then considered standard engagement range.  By doing this, the USN, which at the time lacked the battlecruisers and fast battleships Japan, the UK and Germany had, could avoid having their battleline turned and increase the odds of penetration through plunging fire, at the cost of somewhat reduced hit rate.)
    伊勢吃驚地叫出聲來。一切都跟之前深海棲艦的攻擊模式完全不同。一般來說，深海棲艦應該會等己方更靠近後才分別開火。
>Ise shouted in surprise.  Nothing followed previous abyssal procedure.  Normally, the abyssals would close to short range before letting a volley loose.
    「他們到底在想什麽……！」
>"What are they thinking....!"
    在伊勢喊叫的期間，穿甲彈仍然急速接近。從開炮聲的次數看來，炮彈總數應該有三十以上──不，因爲是連續炮擊，實際上應該更多。
>The AP shells closed in, unaware and uninterested in Ise's wails.  From the first shot, the shells had already taken well over thirty seconds--no, even longer given that they were firing in series.
    「……！伊勢、日向！立刻回避！」
>"....!  Ise, Hyuuga!  Evasive action!"
    翔鶴似乎發現了什麽似地放聲大喊。
>As if struck by some new discovery, Shoukaku shouted.
    「敵人想靠著大量炮彈連續著彈，一邊攻擊一邊妨礙我方瞄准！這樣下去會……！」
>"The enemy's trying to prevent us from responding effectively by hitting us with a steady barrage while closing in!  At this rate...!"
    霎時間，就如同翔鶴所說，伊勢和日向遭到許多水柱包圍──水柱的量實在太多，連瑞鶴都看不見她們倆。這麽一來，想靠目視瞄准也沒辦法了。這是種利用四艘戰艦炮門數量的戰術，十分合乎邏輯──
>And suddenly, it was as Shoukaku had predicted, an increasingly dense net of water pillars surrounded Hyuuga and Ise, so dense that Zuikaku could not even see the two.  At this rate, aiming by eye would be impossible.  This was a tactic that made use of the sheer number of guns four battleships could bring to bear, quite rational really--
    「伊勢、日向！」
>"Ise, Hyuuga!"
    翔鶴悲痛地喊叫。同一時間，瑞鶴突然感覺到右方有股殺氣，于是轉過頭去──並且放聲大喊。
>Shoukaku called in despair.  At the same time, Zuikaku turned her head to the right in response to a wave of murderous intent--and immediately shouted a belated warning.
    「翔鶴姊！右邊有兩艘驅逐艦──還有許多道魚雷軌迹！躲不掉了！」
>"Shoukaku-nee!  Two destroyers, starboard--and torpedo wakes!  Lots of them!  It's too late!"
    「……！」
>".....!"
    或許是爲了捕捉只有人類尺寸卻具備高機動力的艦娘吧，大量魚雷正以驚人速度逼近，畫出了不管兩姊妹怎麽回避都難以躲開的軌迹。它們的位置已近在眼前。
>Perhaps built specifically to counter the human-sized but highly mobile shipgirls, a host of torpedos closed in at astonishing speed in a spread that the two sisters could not possibly evade in its entirety.  They were already closing in.
    （不行，就算是我也躲不掉……！）
>(Even if it's me, I can't do it....!)
    瑞鶴心裏滿是絕望──然而，下一刻她卻看見沒進行回避的翔鶴原地舉起右手。在翔鶴頭上，則是區區十來架集合到一半的第二波攻擊隊──
>Hopelessnessness weighed down Zuikaku's heart--yet, a moment later she spotted Shoukaku, right hand raised and seemingly uninterested in evasion.  Above Shoukaku's head were only about ten planes--the half-assembled second attack wave--
    「第二波攻擊隊，開始朝魚雷投彈──優先保護瑞鶴！」
>"Second wave, aim for the torpedos--prioritize Zuikaku's safety!"
    「翔鶴姊──！」
>"Shoukaku-nee!"
    在瑞鶴的叫聲中，翔鶴突然轉頭面向瑞鶴，並對她露出溫柔的微笑。
>Turning to Zuikaku's cries, Shoukaku smiled a gently.