A POETIC MASTERPIECE FROM KELLY LABOOMBOOM
COMMANDER (CMD) Part Two, December 2025
“Sailing the Sea of Fate/Karma!”
TASK FORCE 32.1
FLAGSHIP: USS ENTERPRISE, Cmdr KaBoom Commanding
LOCATION: ULITHI LAGOON
Our task force has been ordered to set out and rendezvous with a visiting task force from the other side of the ocean. They are coming as ambassadors from another clan, and we have been sent out as the welcome committee. I am sailing in the company of the USS Washington, USS Massachusetts, USS Baltimore, USS Helena, and a screen of 4 DDs. We are setting off to the west, as they are sailing in from the Philippines. This mission is filled with a lot of mystery, as I am not sure who I will be meeting or what ship I might be rendezvousing with, either. I have only been told that I should put my best foot forward and that I was specially chosen to “wave the banner,” as it were.
– Adm KaBoom
9 November 2025
TASK FORCE 32.1
FLAGSHIP: USS ENTERPRISE, Cmdr KaBoom Commanding
LOCATION: MID PACIFIC OCEAN
We had to skirt a late-season typhoon that passed through the area, which still created heavy seas, and we had to pause our journey due to losing a sailor overboard of the USS Fletcher. Luckily, however, he was found in short order and brought back to his ship a little worse for wear and soaking wet, but a lesson was learned about tying up while moving about the deck in heavy seas. Our radar has been beginning to pick up a blip on the far edges at about 220 miles out. We are steaming in that direction at a steady 28 knots, closing the gap. My hope is that by tomorrow morning, we will have made our initial contact and find out who we are meeting up with at last.
– Adm. Ka Boom
10 November 2025
TASK FORCE 32.1
FLAGSHIP: USS ENTERPRISE, Cmdr KaBoom Commanding
LOCATION: 300 km E. COAST LEYTE GULF, SAMAR IS.
My officer of the deck has sent down word that we are now in visual range, and I have to admit surprise. We are facing a strong task force of German vessels built around the KMS Graf Zeppelin. We now await the arrival of their ambassador, who will be flying over to meet with me on my flagship.
– Adm. KaBoom
Wrapping my jacket around me, I went down to the flight deck and stood against the broad bulk of the island, my eyes scanning the sky and trying to pick out the aircraft bringing over the mysterious visitor. We had sent over one of our TBF Avengers to ferry the ambassador over, and soon I was able to pick up the low whine of the Wright 2600 Twin Cyclone engine growing louder as it settled behind us in the landing pattern.
She slowly came in, steady, the LSO giving her minute signals for her to adjust her landing, before fluttering over the fan deck and catching the first arresting wire like a pro, before getting disengaged and moving forward along the deck to be chocked, and having her engine shut down. Turning to the officer beside me, “Please bring them up as soon as they have gotten out of their flight gear and bring them up to the wardroom. I will meet with them there.” Turning back, I re-entered the island and went to the wardroom, where the mess stewards had set out a feast fit for a fleet admiral. Taking off my heavy weather jacket and hanging it on the hook behind the door, I sat down to wait for the arrival of the special envoy. Before too long, there was a brisk rap on the door, and an ensign announced the entry of the envoy, and my jaw hit the deck as my sister, Teresa, A.K.A. LadyBlood, walked in the door with a broad grin on her face.
“You? You are the envoy I am supposed to entertain, Sis?” I gaped.
“Yup! Shockingly enough. Our paths do seem to cross quite a bit, don’t they?” She said with a bemused smile. “I see that you took my advice and looked into that Clan. So, what do you think? Was I right, or was I right?”
Giving her a wry smile, I nodded. “Yes, even you can be right once in a while, sis. I did indeed take your advice and join them. I have really enjoyed my time there. They are a good group of captains. We all have our little areas where we all excel. For example, our Fleet Admiral has a fetish for anything with strong secondaries, and we have a French sub driver who is both deadly and stealthy in how he handles his boats. And another admiral who has the golden touch with all things CV.
It’s been a while, and I have been learning and growing with these guys. And we are growing, steadily growing and adding other pirates to this group. Even merging a couple of other clans into ours, starting our own Federation.”
Grabbing another pastry, Teresa looked at it thoughtfully before taking a bite from it and licking some excess glazing from her lips. "Sounds a lot like what we are doing as well. And have you heard, there is a style of battle that you just need to play?"
Looking up from my juice, raising my eyebrows in surprise, "Oh, and what might that be, my dear sister?"
With a bemused smile on her face, she looked at me in mock surprise. "You seriously have not heard of Asymmetrics, Kel? I find them quite a bit of enjoyment, as we keep stumbling across enemy formations that are more numerically superior but not as strong as us. A lot of fun, actually; many kills are chalked up, and I have had more than a few myself."
"Oh? And here I thought maybe you were going to refer to Clan Battles." Something our Navy is beginning to venture into. I do enjoy the challenge of a good asymmetric battle, but still find myself slightly overwhelmed at times if you are stuck with random teammates. But I have great members in my Navy that are there to lend a hand or an AP shell or 200." Offering Teresa a smile. "As for Clan Battles, those are still a bit in our future, but we are slowly getting there. Before long, you may end up facing us in a match, my dear sister." I gave her a wolfish smile as I said that.
"You always were a fast learner, Kel, so I will expect great battles when our clans meet. Heck, even now, the Navies within my clan are undergoing massive reorganization. So it's anyone's guess where things will end up." She shrugged her shoulders as she said this: "But that's what makes everything more exciting, wouldn't you agree?"
"I would indeed, Sis. Life never remains static; like our warships, it just plows ahead through calm weather and raging seas." I let out a sigh and looked at the clock on the bulkhead. "Well, it's starting to get late, sis. Would you like to spend the rest of the evening, and we can catch up on everything that we have been doing? You're more than welcome to contact your flagship to make arrangements. We will be heading into Leyte to anchor before returning to our base once our "talks" are concluded. Here, I thought I would have to formally deal with another unknown, and instead it turns out to be my sister. You really have grown and prospered since we last saw each other; well done."
"We both have Kelly; we both have done quite well, I'd say. And yes, please inform the Zeppelin that I'll be staying for the evening. We have much to catch up on." She said with an impish grin.
12 November 2025
TASK FORCE 32.1
FLAGSHIP: USS ENTERPRISE, Cmdr KaBoom Commanding
LOCATION: LEYTE GULF – ANCHORED
After a long night of stories, laughter, and more than a few pastries, the talks between our two clans were concluded successfully. She and I agreed to conduct a series of joint maneuvers in the coming weeks—part training, part spectacle, and part friendly competition. Teresa, as always, had a knack for making even the most formal negotiations feel like a family reunion with cannons.
This morning, our ships lie quietly at anchor, the sea a perfect mirror under the rising sun. Her flagship, the Graf Zeppelin, rides the swell opposite us, her deck crew waving as our planes pass overhead. It’s strange how yesterday’s mystery fleet can so quickly become tomorrow’s ally.
As for my sister, she’s already back aboard her carrier, no doubt plotting how to best “educate” us in asymmetric and clan warfare. I suspect the next time our fleets meet, we won’t be sitting across a table with pastries—we’ll be aiming at each other across open water, all in good fun, of course.
For now, I’ll take a moment to enjoy the calm, knowing that in this game of steel and salt, today’s friends may be tomorrow’s opponents—but always part of the same grand ocean family.
I would also like to note in my log that Teresa, A.K.A. LadyBlood, conducted herself with distinction and efficiency, representing her Clan with honor. Negotiations concluded amicably, resulting in mutual agreement to pursue combined operations and tactical exercises under controlled conditions in the coming weeks. The intent is to foster improved coordination and goodwill between commands.
Both forces exchanged honors at 08:30 HRS, after which the Graf Zeppelin and her escorts prepared to sortie eastward to continue their patrol. USS Enterprise and accompanying vessels will remain in the area for 24 hours to refuel destroyers and conduct minor maintenance before resuming independent operations.
Morale across the task force remains high following the success of the engagement and the unexpected reunion between myself, representing MAZ6R CLAN, and LadyBlood of Battlestar CLAN. Crew conduct has been exemplary throughout.
This entry concludes the current operation. Task Force 32.1 stands ready for further orders.
– Adm. KaBoom, Commanding Officer
USS ENTERPRISE (CV-6)
Task Force 32.1
Postscript:
Strange how the sea never changes, yet somehow it always brings surprises. Yesterday, I expected a stranger. Instead, I found my sister, a fleet of new allies, and perhaps the beginning of something larger than any of us imagined.
For now, the decks are quiet, and the sun is climbing over the Gulf. The men are at ease, the ships rest easy, and—for once—I think even the ocean itself approves.
— K.
