Chapter 16: New Kit

Kanmusu are complicated individuals. Despite this, or maybe because of this, Saratoga found them relatively easy to deal with. Conversely, faeries tend to be very simple, very straightforward, and VERY stubborn. This made them a massive headache at times.

Take Sara's efforts to school her teammates in the art of USN style Damage Control:

The girls had quickly come to understand how efficient DC had saved many American ships during the war. Unfortunately, teaching their faeries was proving a bit harder. Case in point, the tiny bosun banging his head on Saratoga's desk after the latest training session.

"That bad huh?"

The fairy looked at her and sighed.

"Better than yesterday?"

The fairy reluctantly nodded.

"Keep at it Chief. You just might save their lives."

The Chief saluted and headed on his way.

Saratoga chuckled. Meantime Sakawa was pounding on the door. Unryu answered.

"Sakawa?" She asked as the cruiser awkwardly struggled with the rather large parcel in her arms.

"This came for Sara chan! Can you give me a hand? It's HEAVY!"

Unryu helped Sakawa carry it into the room.

"Sara chan! Package!"

Saratoga and the other girls gathered around curious.

"Oh! There's a letter on it!" Amagi noted.

"Let's open it up!" Unryu urged.

Sara took the envelope as Unryu tore the brown paper off the package leaving a metal lock box. The key was in the envelope.

Dear Sara:

Thought you might find this useful. I included some special gear for you to try out.

Enjoy...

Sara opened the lock and lifted the lid. On one side was a towering stack of manuals. On the other, a new composite bow with her personal insignia of a rooster engraved on it. And the rest...

Saratoga was well acquainted with the Hellcats and Avengers and she noted with satisfaction, the SBD -6s. The F4U Corsairs were very distinctive and then... That's an F8F! And is that... Those are TBUs! She stared at one last aircraft she wasn't familiar with. Under it was a note card: AD-1 Skyraider. Enjoy!

"Girls... Sara's got her toy box and she only has the BEST toys!"