Fleet of Fog-A New Tide

An Arpeggio of Blue Steel Fanfic by CelticDragon0 (The Celtic Dragon on Fanfic)

(Co-written with zulukai111 [The Death Runner on Fanfic])

(This is set about 25 years after the events of AoBS and the movies-NOTE: story is quite AU)

Chapter One

The Fog had returned-many of those freed of the Code deciding they wanted to go back. There were still allies that were Ex-Fog, and Admiral Gunzou Chihaya knew them well: Haruna, Kongou and a couple others. Then there was his wife, Takao, who had helped to stop the fighting. Right now, however, Gunzou was pacing, staring at the letter his daughter had given him. "You've been stationed on a ship?" he asked, turning to her. Selena Iona Chihaya did not back down, her stance straight and her black hair pulled back in a bun, long dark bangs fading to blue tips framing her face and offsetting her light skin and clear blue eyes. "Father," she said, being a little more formal than usual. "They've returned. I know I can do some good out there-plus, I've always wanted to follow in your footsteps."

"You do know he is worried for your safety and that is why we don't want you out on a ship," Takao said after coming into the room and listening, walking over and touching her daughter's shoulder. "And you will be in so much danger be if you are not careful."

"I can help them Mom," was the reply. "You know I've always been able to tell when a Fog ship was coming into the port-it's time for me to put that to use. I can keep people alive."

"Selena..." Gunzou said, hugging her gently before looking into her eyes, making sure this was what she truly wanted. "Let us give you a proper send-off at the very least; you know the others will want to say goodbye, right?"

She nodded before going to pack, Takao shaking her head after she was gone. "You worry love," she said softly. "She will protect whomever she comes into contact with."

"They're going to find out about her Takao-I was hoping I could protect her for a few more years..."

~*Timeskip*~

A few hours later, the guests began arriving at the manor-her dad's old crewmates and their Ex-Fog friends. Kongou was the last, sweeping in wearing her gown and smiling. "So the daughter follows the father-how quaint." She said. "Gunzou, you know you can't keep her from the sea-it is in her blood, like it is in yours."

"Auntie Kongou!" a voice cried, Selena running out and hugging the Mental Model, who smirked, watching her look at her. "I was wondering if you'd show."

Kongou smiled, looking at her before holding out a small package. "This is for you Selena," she said calmly, watching her open it and lift out a rose quartz pendant with a moonstone on the metal surrounding it and a pair of purple stones on either side on a silver chain. "Keep it close to you and we'll always be able to find you-it's tied to us." She took it from the box and fastened it around her 'niece's' neck, watching her touch it as tears formed. "I'm going to miss you all."

"Selena," came the reply. "You know we're always with you,"

"Yes," Haruna added, reaching up and setting her sleeved hand over her heart. "We are here-where we have been there since you were born."

Kongou moved off, noticing Gunzou leaning against his desk in the other room and entering. "Thank you," he said. "At least we'll be able to track her."

"Selena's destiny is unfolding Gunzou," the Mental Model said. "We've always been able to pick up where she was, remember? I just fear they may be able to do the same." She blinked, watching him pour a cup of tea for her before sipping on his tumbler of whiskey. "She's my little girl-I..."

"You will always fear for her," she finished, taking the cup and sipping her drink. "But you need to let her be herself-find her own place. Selena needs to be seen for who she is, not just as Admiral Gunzou Chihaya's daughter. You know nothing will keep her from returning to you-she's strong. Her talents will be useful out there-and she's eager to use them."

"She's not even using her real last name Kongou-to them, she's Selena Thompson."

"She doesn't want to use your influence or be coddled Gunzou, but she will always be your daughter." She smiled. "I worry for her myself to be honest," she said after a moment. "But this is what she needs-to take the fight to them like you did-she's a lot like you were back then."

"Too much Kongou, too much." They sipped their drinks in silence, Selena peeking in. "Dad, is everything all right in here?"

The admiral set his glass down, walking over and enfolding his daughter in an embrace. "Selena, I am proud of you, but if the Fog finds out who you are, you will be targeted-you know that right?" he moved back, watching her nod before continuing. "Promise me one thing, ok honey? Can you promise you will come back, no matter what?"

"Dad, I promise. I wouldn't let anyone or anything stop me."

"Also, if you make it to Yokosuka and have some time, stop at your grandparents' grave for me. I haven't been back in so long."

She nodded before heading back to the others, Makie chatting with her, Haruna and Kirishima, the teen asking about the ship she was going to be on. Selena didn't know too much about the fleet flagship Iliad-only that she was the largest ship in the fleet (at least for the time being) and she was going to be the Technical Officer. "Hopefully they'll put me on gunnery duty," she said. "My scores on the trials were highest in that category-higher than anyone else's. Plus I've done pretty extensive studies on the different ships..."

"Yeah, when you went over mine top to bottom," Takao shot back, coming over with a cup of soda. "I remember that day well-it was like the ship recognized you somehow."

The girl blushed. "Maybe because you're my mom?" she offered, shrugging.

(A.N.: Keep in mind that this is most likely going to be the only chapter where there is a timeskip in the actual story-most of the chapters after this will be skips in time)