In Norfolk harbor, alongside a fitting out pier, a New York-class Dreadnought was anchored in the
morning mist. A gangplank was deployed, leading from the dock up to the foredeck. The ship was silent,
unmoving, like some Egyptian Pharaoh’s tomb. A group of men stood on the dock, looking up to the
giant vessel. Among them was the Secretary of the Navy, members of the Naval staff and a number of
senior captains and Admirals.
“It’s definitely a New York, Mr. Secretary,” said a Captain, “I was the captain of Texas until she sank off
the Baleares. It’s the spitting image of her.” “But It can’t be her,” protested the Secretary, “She sank
months ago!” “I know, Sir, I know,” sighed the Captain, “It’s just that I miss her.” “We all do Captain
Hood, We all do.”
The group of men walked up the gangplank taking in the view. Captain John Hood was the most
observant of the bunch, taking in the state of the guns, the deck and all the rest of it. Coming up the
gangplank, nobody noticed the number 35 painted on her bow. “She seems quiet, too quiet, like she
has no spirit, no personality. It’s a dead ship,” said the Secretary. Hearing this, Captain Hood turned his
head to respond but his eye caught sight of the flag hoist. He saw the easily recognizable 48 state
American Flag. Well its 50 states now, he thought.
The greatest shock in his life hit him when he saw the flag flying below it. It had a pair of stripes, one
white and one red as well as a single white star on a blue field filling the third on the left of the flag. His
jaw dropped, and then snapped closed with an audible click. “It can’t be,” he whispered softly, “It’s
impossible.” His eyes went around the deck once more and puzzle pieces began to fit into place. Rushing
halfway down the gang plank took a look at the bow. There was the 35 in white paint. Then he hurried
to where the ship’s dedication plaque hung. It read, USS Texas, BB-35. “It can’t be,” He whispered, “but
it is.”
Coming back out onto the foredeck he explained the situation to everyone gathered there. His jaw set
the Secretary said, “But how can this be? She…” “Yes I know! She’s supposed to on the bottom of the
Med. But here she is in Norfolk, brand new, like she just finished fitting out.” “Well what are we going
to do about it?” “I don’t know Sir, but…” Suddenly a foghorn cut through the mist and interrupted them.
A great specter sailed out of the mist. It was a mirage yet it was not a mirage. It was corporeal but not
corporeal. It was the spitting image of the ship whose deck they stood upon. “No wonder this ship is
lifeless. Her spirit was missing,” another officer commented quietly, “She must have felt this happen and
returned from Brazil to get her body back.”
The great shimmering vessel drew closer, intent on one thing only. She was on a direct crash course for
the broadside of the hull. “Brace for impact!” yelled the Secretary. Everyone hit the deck, save Captain
Hood. He stood on the port deck watching the incoming spirit. Then, it impacted. The deck shook as the
spirit collided and poured its essence into its body. Then the shimmering vessel‘s stern disappeared into
the hull.
Everything was silent now for a moment. Then suddenly, the deck seemed to vibrate with energy as the
ship came to life. The engines seemed to start of their own accord, the noise cutting through the mist
and making her presence known. The anchor chain began clattering into its hold and lights snapped on
in the superstructure.
Then the turrets began to move out to port, the guns elevating 15 degrees. The stunned group of
officers could hear 14” rounds being automatically chambered into the guns. Then the great guns
bellowed, blasting 10 14” HE shells into the sea at her maximum range. The shots exploded in the water
caused great columns of it to be displaced.
All was quiet again, but everyone could feel the energy flowing through the now seemingly vibrant deck.
USS Texas was no longer dead for both her body and spirit were together again. Suddenly a form began
shimmer into being on the foredeck. At first it looked very spirit-like but as it coalesced it gained solidity.
A few moments later the form of a girl stood in front of Captain Hood and the others. She looked to be
17 or 18, was 5 feet, 5 inches tall, green-eyed and had red hair falling 4 inches past her shoulder. She
sported a cowboy hat, and wore the stereotypical cowboy garments, a red and white plaid shirt, blue
jeans and brown leather boots. She wore a blue bandana with 48 white stars around her neck and a
patch featuring the Texas state flag was sewn onto her shirt’s right shoulder.
She ignored the stares of the men, acting as if they weren’t there. She looked herself up and down. A
broad smile formed on her bright face as she did and the very deck seemed to vibrate with her
happiness. Still ignoring the men she looked up and down the ship and examined everything around her.
The turrets all rotated back into position as her eyes passed over them and finally she looked at Captain
Hood.
Her smile grew broader and she charged him. Captain Hood was enveloped in the girls’ embrace without
warning and she broke into a sob. “Captain! Captain Hood! I thought I’d never see you again!” she cried
in a Texan accent. Slightly embarrassed but happy nonetheless, Hood returned the hug. “After the Battle
of the Baleares I thought I was doomed to my new existence, a ghost of a dead warship sailing the seas
forever, making my presence known at various events. I didn’t want to be forgotten.”
“Nobody who ever served with you could ever forget you Texas,” He said looking down into her tearfilled eyes, “The salute that was performed off Minorca should be proof enough for that.” “I know that. I
was so happy that day that my image was much clearer than it normally was.” “So I’ve heard,” Hood
said, “But you’re back now and better than ever. How did this happen? How did you gain a human
body?”
“I’m not sure. As I was sinking, the spirit was ripped from my hull. I found myself still fighting the French
and Russians but I was, immaterial, unable to wreak any havoc on them. They could see me though and I
used that to help drive them away. Afterward, I returned to the scene of the sinking. All my surviving
crew, including you, had been rescued but nobody seemed to notice me. I cruised around for a while
until all of a sudden I was yanked from the Med and found myself amongst the fleet retaking Oahu. I
tried to make myself noticed but only a few saw me. I reckon they were called crazy but people I told.
Then there was the salute at Minorca. I couldn’t have been more honored in my existence! A
Presidential Unit Citation, a place on the List of Honor and a new battleship named for me? I cried all
day after the ships left there. “
“Finally I was present in the French West Indies and off the coast of Brazil.” Her tears were dry now but
her sorrow was still great, Hood could see it in her eyes. “So many men died trying to force a beachhead
and I couldn’t do anything save scare some Frenchies. I was in the process of returning to Minorca but
all of a sudden I could tell my wreck was no longer there. I could feel it had been moved. I was wrenched
to the mouth of Norfolk harbor and there, I could see my body, from keel to masthead completely intact
and good as new. The next thing I knew I was merging and then starting up the ship!”
“Well however you got back to us, we’re just happy you’re here again. We will need you and your guns
in the near future. Will you do me the honor of being my ship again?” Her eyes bright, she nodded
fiercely and said, “I would be happy to! Now I can mix it up with them Frenchies some more.”
Shortly after the Final Battle against the Fog, on the seaside outskirts of Houston, was an enclosed
drydock. Its doors were closed tight and the water lapped at them as if wanting inside the great building.
Shoreside, on the opposite end of the drydock, a government car pulled up next a large set of steel
double doors leading into the building. Doors opened and a pair of men stepped out of the back seat.
One had the 3 star insignia of a Vice Admiral, the other was a Commander. The pair looked up at a sign
on the doors that read, ‘USS Texas BB-35 museum’.
“I wonder how the old girl is doing. It’s been a while since I’ve been to see her,” said the Admiral,
looking fondly at the sign. “Same for me too sir. My Great-Great-Grandfather served aboard her. He was
the Captain for a time before he was re-assigned. My family has kept in touch with her as best as
possible since then. Last time I was here was when I visited on my senior year as an Annapolis cadet. Do
you know what her condition is like?”
“I’ve heard that she’s mostly dormant nowadays,” said the Admiral, “but from time to time people see
her on the Bridge or standing atop a gun turret. You can still feel her life in the deck too.” “That’s good.”
Pausing for a second, Lieutenant Commander John Hood the III pondered something then asked, “Do
you think she’ll answer the call?”
The Admiral snorted with laughter, “It’s inevitable Commander. You don’t know how many times she’s
petitioned to be re-commissioned. We still have a number of them still on record. Thing is we never
really needed a battleship for anything, until now.”
The two men were silent for a moment, remembering the losses that the Navy had taken recently. Then
the Admiral spoke up, “Well shall we see if the darling of Texas is at home?” Hood only nodded and the
Admiral took out a set of keys then unlocked the door. He swung them upon and the pair strode into the
great darkened room. Only a few lights were on but they could see the outline of Texas clearly.
Hood snapped the many banks of overhead lights on so they could see better. The flood of lighting
illuminated the cavernous room quite nicely. The breath of both officers caught in their throats as they
beheld all her glory. She looked to be in good condition. The drydock was empty of water and she sat on
the wooden blocks that customarily held up ships in drydock. There was little rust or corrosion on her
hull and superstructure, thanks to completely enclosed dock that shielded her from the elements.
Still speechless the men stared at her for a few minutes, taking in everything. Finally though the Admiral
said, “I never get tired of seeing her, whether it been in her element or not.” “Aye Sir. She has that
intoxicating ability that never lets you stop loving her,” Hood said, his expression guarded but obviously
struggling to keep back his emotions. The pair moved along her starboard side to the boarding ramp
that led up to her deck.
As their feet hit the deck both could immediately feel the energy flowing through it. It was calm but still
flowing, as if the great ship was only sleeping. As they continued to walk toward her amidships turrets,
the energy flow seemed to hesitate, then increase rapidly. “She’s waking up Admiral. I can…” “Yes Hood,
I can feel it too. I think she’ll make an appearance. With you here she’d be odd not too.”
They stopped alongside the amidships turret, and looked up at the great gun. “It’s been ages since these
were last fired in anger,” remarked the Admiral, “I’m sure she’d be happy to use them again.” That last
comment seemed to do the trick. The energy flow through the deck seemed to vibrate the whole vessel
now. Suddenly sparkles of white energy began to appear atop the turret. As the energy flowed, the
sparkles increased in number and began to coalesce. It took a few moments but the figure filled out and
finally gained solidity.
A young girl stood atop the turret. She looked to be of high school age and was fairly average in height
at 5’5”. She had blazing red hair and green eyes that glowed if in total darkness. Her regular cowboy’s
outfit was there from her plaid shirt, to the blue jeans and leather boots. Her Stetson still sat on her
head and her bandanna was still tied around her neck. A Texas state flag in patch form was stitched to
her shirt’s right shoulder. Everything was the same as when Hood had last seen her.
Her eyes were curious as she looked first at the Admiral and then at Hood. Then a broad grin split her
face. “Well if it isn’t Cadet Hood! It’s been awhile. It’s good to see you! What brings you to my neck of
the woods?” Hood was grinning now too, “It’s good to see you too Texas. And for your information, I’m
a Lt. Commander now.” “Is that so? Well congratulations!” “Thank you. In any case, The Admiral and I
came to ask you something.” “Oh? And what would that be Admiral?” she asked as she turned to gaze at
him.
The Admiral’s face immediate grew formal, “USS Texas BB-35. I have come from the Pentagon to ask you
one thing. Will accept re-commissioning in the United States Navy? We have need of you.” A look of
concern crossed Texas’ face and she said, “I thought you guys didn’t have anything for me to do. Is the
situation so bad that you need me now?” “Yes it is. I won’t explain everything but suffice it to say that
the sea is no longer under the command of humankind. A force of great ships with futuristic weaponry
has trashed the USN as well as most other navies around the world. We have no idea where they came
from, but we must do everything we can to reverse this. That means re-commissioning and refitting all
the old ships we possibly can. You were first on the list.”
Texas seemed to be lost in thought for a moment then straightened and jumped off the turret to the
deck in front of them. She seemed to float or glide down to a landing. She landed softly before them
then looked them both in the eye and said, “If that is the case then I would be glad to accept Admiral.
When does my refit start?” “Immediately. Commander Hood here will be in charge of your refit. If he
does a good job he will mostly be your Captain for a time.
The ship’s deck vibrated happiness as she smiled, “Very good, Sir. I look forward to getting my hull into
the water again.”
Two Decades later…
It was a bright sunny day in Houston when Texas slipped from her drydock into the water she hadn’t felt
in so long. She had almost forgotten what it was like to sail under her own power. But here she was,
awake again and back in action. Well she would be once the doors to her dock opened and she was free
to leave. But right now she was still moored inside the dock. At least they had flooded the dock so she
could float free off the wooden blocks she had sat on for so many years.
In the two decades that her refit had taken, she had undergone many upgrades, including getting
modern engines, fire control, radar, comms and computers as well as a copy of the Fog wave armor to
complement her old armor. All of her guns had been replaced with railguns of like size and caliber. So
now she had 10 14” railguns, 6 5” railguns and 10 3” railguns. She had also received a number of CIWS
gun systems to replace the numerous 40 mm and 20 mm machine guns she used to have.
Essentially she had gotten an almost complete rebuild. A lot of the time had been spent idle, waiting for
certain upgrades to be perfected and built. One piece of equipment was technically still a prototype but
the Navy was rushing it out with her to give her extra protection against Fog attacks. Actually she had a
pair of this piece of equipment.
Thanks to the copying of Fog tech from the 4 captured Fog Iowas she had a pair of prototype Klein Field
generators. One was for a backup in case she had a lot of fire coming here way or the main one failed.
The engines she had gotten installed were a copy of Fog engines as well.
Her reminiscing was interrupted by a great *KLANG*. She recognized the noise. It was the locking
mechanism for the drydock doors. It’s time. It’s finally time to leave here and go back out into the world,
she thought. Her excitement was running high. The entire crew could tell. Her emotions ran through the
ship and the very deck was a barometer for them.
Beside her on the Bridge, Captain John Hood smiled as he felt her emotions, “Let’s not get carried away
Texas. We’re all excited but don’t let it get the way of your duty.” She smiled back and said, “Don’t
worry Captain. I won’t let it. I reckon it would be hazardous to my health if I did.” The great doors began
to slide open and water began to pour in to equalize the levels.
In a minute the doors were fully open and Texas was now on an equal level with the outside water.
Hood nodded to himself and activated the deck PA system, “All hands prepare to set sail! Release the
mooring lines!” The lines were promptly released and Hood faced Texas, “Ahead slow Texas. It’s time to
get out of here.” “Aye, Aye Captain. Go ahead slow!” Of its own accord the engine room telegraph
moved to the ahead slow marker and a moment later the few men in the engine room answered it on
their end. Texas had full control of the engines, the telegraph mainly served as a notice to the crew
attending them.
The engines had been idling for a while but now they began to roar as Texas slowly moved out of the
drydock and into open waters.
As Texas settled into her drydock and her companions followed her down, her avatar dissipated into
its spirit energy form and seemed to almost flow through the air to the starboard foredeck of her ship,
where a gangplank was being moved to so people could come aboard. Her avatar re-coalesced next
to the standing form of Captain Hood, who was already waiting with a side party to greet any guests
who came aboard.