Cassin's half dreams were hazy nightmares. Visions of being sunk and forced to room with Akagi and Downes in hell. The noise was maddening.

The crackle of the radio that brought her to consciousness was almost welcome. "Enemy formation spotted. Three heavy cruisers with a destroyer escort." Victorious sounded calm, despite how much was riding on this. "Attempting radio direction finding."

"Set formation," Tirpitz said. Cassin moved to point with Z46 at her side. Tirpitz followed with her other friends and Akagi behind. It was an unorthodox formation, but the best choice for this mission.

"RDF successful." Victorious called out. "Command ship is currently 15 degrees port."

Tirpitz raised her battle standard. "Understood. Begin the operation."

"Affirmative," Kaga said as the carriers began setting up patrols.

Cassin started forwards. The carriers had used all their scout planes to get the initial sighting. She'd have to handle recon for the fleet itself. She turned her radar to max power, waiting for the inevitable attack.

Time slowly dripped by. There would be battle soon, but given the distances they were working with, soon was going to be 'sometime today'. Carrier fights always sucked. Really battles in general sucked, but Cassin wasn't going to let that stop her.

Two painful hours later blips appeared on her radar. "First wave. Looks like a combined strike." She grimaced at the messy mass of blurs. "At least five carriers worth of dive bombers and torpedo boats."

"Split the forces here. Spread to allow for evasive maneuvers." Tirpitz slowed, while the carriers backed off even further. Mni and Indy moved to the sides, while Cassin and Z46 prepared their guns. The anti air fire Cassin could provide wasn't much, but she didn't need to worry about being targeted. Not while the Bismark's sister ship and four of the most powerful carriers in the world were around.

The first wave appeared. "Mixed Kates and Destroyers," Cassin said. The newer models.

"At least there's no Swordfish," Tirpitz said mildly.

"You're far too worried about those jokes," Kaga said.

"They are a bit outdated," Victorious added.

Cassin ignored the carriers' banter and reved up her AA guns. The torpedo bombers were the best targets right now. She targeted the lead formation and held down the trigger. Tracers tore into the sky as she and Z46 did their best to make the drones miserable.

It wasn't very effective. They managed to tear up all of four planes in the massive wave before the Zero fighters intercepted. The air turned into a mass of battling planes and all Cassin could do was snipe at enemies that were trying to run.

However the air defense had worked. Bombs and torpedoes flew down, but there was no coordination to the strike. The attack lasted five minutes and Cassin didn't see a single hit. The enemies retreated, with over two dozen planes in the sea.

"Looks like the plan's working," Cassin said.

"For now," Tirpitz agreed. "This is where we split. Good fortune to all of you."

Kaga watched as Tirpitz sailed ahead. She wished she could have accompanied the battleship to the end, but her place was here. At least this time victory was within their grasp. A single strike could win this war.

Still they had a ways to go. Because she knew who had commanded that last attack. "The other Akagi should be here soon."

Victorious moved to her side. "I'm sorry to hear that. It would be better if we didn't face her."

"So sentimental." Her wounded sister sniffed. "Are you sure I can't kill that other Akagi? It seems like it would be no real loss."

"Self loathing doesn't suit you sister," Kaga replied. Akagi grimaced and Kaga hid a grin. She knew her sister didn't mean it like that, but it would silence any bloodthirsty objections.

"I think this whole strategy is stupid," Graf Zeppelin muttered. "What battle is designed to spare your enemies? But if Tirpitz thinks it will work, I suppose there's nothing for it."

Akagi laughed and leaned on the Ironblood woman's shoulder. "I knew one of you was sane. Still you put a lot of faith in that battleship. Shouldn't a carrier lead?"

"That's not the way we do things," Victorious said. "Though the Atlantic is very different then the Pacific."

A dark shape on the horizon cut off their banter. Kaga turned towards the figure. She already knew who it was. She switched to an open channel. "Hello Akagi. I didn't expect you to sail so close."

"It's not like you can shoot me." The fleet's Akagi spoke over the radio. "Besides now I can use my fighters to guard those fifth fleet girl's planes."

Her undead sister spoke up. "So that's the main fleet version of me? How sad, worrying so much about defense when she needs to kill."

The hatred in the two Akagi's voices burned through the radio. "Is that the rag doll you put together to replace me? How sickening. I knew you were a fake Kaga, but this is pathetic even for you. What's next, a fake Amagi?"

"I'm afraid my sister here is as real as you," Kaga replied. "In fact she's our senpai, so you should show some respect."

Graf Zeppelin interrupted. "While you fools were chattering another wave got launched. Five minutes. For all you Sakura Empire girls love surprise attacks you fall for them a lot."

Kaga saw fighters scrambling, and prepared her own defenders. "It's not like the battle is a surprise now."

"Now now." Victorious spoke up. "Let's handle the planes before fighting amongst ourselves more."

As the sky darkened, Kaga nodded and prepared to evade. This was going to be a long battle.

Indy pressed forwards towards the distant horizon. The place where that murderous admiral waited. She'd never reach it, but it was their duty to strive. To sail through the gunfire and get the entire fleet's attention on them.

"Intercept fleet ahead." Cassin said quietly. "Two battleships, ten support ships."

Z46 piped up as well. "No submarines on sonar."

"Understood." Tirpitz said. "We'll begin phase two then."

They pressed on in formation. Indy's own radar soon showed the fleet before them. Judging from their movements, they'd already moved into position. The opposition had worked to cross the T on Indy and her fellows. They'd be facing fire from every single gun as they pressed on.

Sure enough a series of bright flashes came from ahead. Great eruptions of water filled the sea around them. "Rodney and King George the Fifth," Tirpitz mused. "Well well. Someone wants to repeat history."

"Mistake," Indy said. Those two had sunk Bismark, but only after the great ship had been wounded. And it had taken some time.

"Perhaps. Her guns are still dangerous though. Be careful," Tirpitz said.

Mni laughed. "Don't worry about it." Indy could almost see her friend's grin. "They've stopped moving. Our plan's working just fine."

"I suppose so," Tirpitz said. There was pain in her voice. Indy wondered why. They'd all agreed to the plan. But perhaps now that the battleship was a commander, she felt responsible for them. It was heartening, if sad.

The water exploded around them again. Tirpitz didn't bother to return fire. That would be a waste right now.

"Indy!" Hamman's voice over the open channel made her flinch. Of all the bad luck. "What the hell are you doing? Don't you care about Portland's feelings? How the hell am I going to tell her that I had to sink you? Just... stop!"

Tirpitz gave her a nod, and Indy opened up the comms to reply. "I'm sorry Hamman, but Admiral Nagumo needs to die." She took a deep breath. "Please get out of our way."

"You... you idiot!" Hamman screamed before the line went dead.

"Torpedoes inbound," Cassin said.

White lines tore through the water from two different angles, trapping them. There was no way she'd be able to thread the attack. Cassin and Z46 perhaps, but Indy was too slow. So she turned into the barrage and hoped her torpedo bugle could handle the impact.

She shivered as the blast washed over her. She hated torpedoes. But this one hurt less then the one that had killed her so long ago. Dents and scratches covered her iron arms, but she was alive. "Minor damage."

"Same," Mni replied. "Tirpitz?"

"Some flooding. Otherwise fine," she replied.

"We're good," Z46 said.

The radio crackled to life again. "This is Atago. You have one last chance to surrender. You can't defeat us with those numbers."

"This is Admiral Tirpitz." Indy perked up at the proclamation. "I will not give up my duty, but my battle is not with you. Move or be pushed aside."

"Have you gone mad?" Atago snapped. "Working with Sirens? Threatening your commanding officer? Claiming to be an admiral? What's wrong with you all?!"

"We've seen the truth," Tirpitz said. "And now we must act on it."

And with that the ships before them opened up.

Indy's eye burned and she called out her forbidden power. Shields of energy defended her from the first shots, but soon the bullets chewed through. She dodged some, but cuts and bruises appeared as her light armor was torn away.

With a grimace she was forced to line up her first shot. Ajax was at the front, so she'd have to be stopped. Her guns opened up, slamming shells right into the other ship's rigging. Ajax yelped as her turret broke.

Across the way Mni was faring better. Her quick shots and steady aim were tearing away guns. Z46 and Cassin had fired torpedoes that forced evasive maneuvers on the flanks of the enemy formation. And Tirpitz was targeting the two battleship's guns with her own fire.

An AP shell slashed Indy's leg, and she cursed. She still needed some speed. Her destination was only a little ways away. She forced herself to keep moving, knowing the damage would cripple her later.

Hamman was right in front of them, and the destroyer girl's sorrow turned into shock as she realized they weren't stopping. She scrambled out of the way as they cut through the center of the fleet.

Indy relaxed her sore leg and was rewarded with a face full of machine gun fire. The stinging shells blinded her and she reluctantly fired off a barrage in the general direction of her attacker. She heard San Diego yelping, and hoped the light cruiser hadn't been too badly hurt.

She smiled as Tirptz pressed on. Cassin and Z46 unleashed another spread of torpedoes to cover their leader's tracks, while Mni moved to her side. Her friend had taken some hits, but nothing more than a few useless AA guns were gone.

The plan had succeeded. Now it was all up to her friends.

Tirpitz pressed on at flank speed. The battleships she'd left behind couldn't catch her. The carriers would be caught up in their little duel. So long as she moved forwards at max speed they couldn't stop her.

Which meant they'd have to commit their final forces.

A spread of torpedoes was her first warning. She swerved hard to thread the shots. A submarine. Dace she thought. Clever. She looked down at the dangerous little girl. "Not bad. But I hope you brought friends."

The submarine shivered and popped down under the sea again.

"It's over."

Tirpitz spun to see a carrier emerging from the mist. She spun up her anti air guns. But it was too late. Bombs rained down, shattering one of her guns and sending burning metal into her leg. She cursed but forced herself to regain her footing.

An eagle landed on the carrier's hand as she stepped forwards. Enterprise nodded her head. "Lonely Queen of the North."

Tirpitz returned the other ship's nod of respect. "Grey Ghost."

"You realize a battleship is no match for a prepared carrier," Enterprise said calmly. "Even one as powerful as you."

"Those are bold words for someone in main gun range," Tirpitz replied before firing.

Enterprise barely seemed to move, but the shells all splashed around her harmlessly. Tirpitz had heard of the woman's power from Victorious, but it was still amazing in action.

The eagle took flight and Enterprise raised her bow. "Still going to fight?"

"To the last shell," Tirpitz replied. "That is the Ironblood way."

"So be it," Enterprise said.

Tirpitz braced herself. The next few minutes would decide things.

Kaga's arm was broken. She was sure of that much. She might have some broken ribs as well, and her rigging was on fire. But she still stood. They all stood. All of them were beaten up, with Akagi taking the brunt of the damage. But between her undead sister's strength of will and the other preparations none of them had sunk.

"How are you still alive?" the enemy Akagi spat. "Especially you two fakes! Those hits killed us before! What's different now?"

"We had a better plan sister," Kaga replied as she prepped the few planes she had remaining. Hours of battling had whittled away both sides' forces.

"Was I always this dumb sister?" her own Akagi asked.

Kaga looked back. "Yes." Both her sisters glared at her, but it was true.

Victorious put a weak hand on her shoulder. "It's over Akagi. You're out of planes. You should retreat now."

"Retreat?!" Akagi glared at them. "I'm here to watch you die. I don't need planes for that." Akagi looked Kaga right in the eyes. "You betrayed me. You betrayed her!"

"I thought I wasn't your sister," Kaga replied. "And I haven't betrayed Amagi. This time, we will actually save her."

"I was afraid you'd say that sister."

Kaga spun as an explosion went off behind her. She saw her sister Akagi wrapped in flames. Two more familiar faces had snuck up behind them. "Amagi!"

It was her sister and her old battleship self. Amagi looked mournful. "It was clever," Amagi said. "You filled your stores with fighters instead of bombers, so that you could fight off our carrier attacks indefinitely. Unfortunately that means once our Siren sister here is dead, you have nothing to fight with."

Her younger self fired, and Kaga reached out, as if she could catch the shots. "Akagi!"

And then Graf Zeppelin sailed in front of the other carrier.

Explosions tore into the Ironblood woman, spraying blood across the sea. Victorious gasped, while Kaga just stared.

It was her broken sister who recovered fastest catching Graf Zeppelin as she slowly sank. "Why? You were alive. I'm just a dead memory."

"I was never alive," Graf Zeppelin muttered. "Besides. You need to live to see your revenge."

Amagi aimed another salvo. "I'm sorry, but there will be no vengeance for you."

"Stop!" Victorious yelled. "They aren't the ones you want!"

Amagi looked at her and shook her head. "Sakura Empire and Royal Navy ships can't attack their commander."

"Tirpitz is my commander," Victorious said striding forwards. "And I will follow her commands to the last."

Kaga wanted to speak up. To protect her friend, or just to thank her. But she couldn't. She had to remain silent. They were so close.

Amagi looked over them all then turned to Kaga. "You've gotten better at planning sister."

Kaga's heart sank. "I still can't beat you."

As her sister's guns swiveled, she closed her eyes. It all came down to this.

Mni hissed in pain as more shrapnel tore into her side. Indy had been shielding them whenever possible, but the weight of numbers was starting to tell. Especially since she was trying to aim for guns instead of killing shots.

At least Cassin and Z46 were doing fine. The two had fired off torpedo after torpedo to break up formations and keep people guessing. They'd run out soon, but for now it was keeping everyone alive.

Mni saw a clean shot at a turret and fired from the hip. The rigging burst nicely, and she grinned. Some more time bought.

Indy slammed into her back as explosions resounded. Mni spun and caught her friend as Indy fell. The other cruiser's legs were shattered. Mni looked up to see Hamman staring in shock and guilt. "You idiot!" Mni screamed.

Pain exploded across her back as light shells slammed in. She fired a burst just to force people away, then tried to help Indy to her feet. "Come on. Hold it together."

"Sorry," Indy muttered, her eye glowing as another shield popped up. "Last one I think."

"Like hell," Mni snapped. She fired at Maya's gun when she saw it, and unleashed a spray of anti aircraft fire to blind everyone else. "We're holding on to the end!"

The end was probably coming fast though Mni had to admit. They'd relied on surprise and the destroyers' fierce resistance. But surprise was running out, and so was ammo.

That didn't seem to be slowing down Z46 though. The little destroyer was firing her main gun now. The 5 inch AP shells couldn't possibly take out a heavy cruiser, but damned if they weren't distracting.

Then a series of splashes appeared around the Ironblood girl and Mni knew she was screwed. "Get out of there!"

Z46 turned, but an AP round slammed into her arm tearing it in half. Mni fired blindly to try to change their focus.

A streak of blue and an explosion made her heart sink, but then she saw Cassin standing in the flames. "Not yet." Mni sighed in relief. Their friends were alive.

But for how long? She readied her gun, looking for a way to draw attention.

Indy grabbed her arm. "Send them away," her friend whispered. "Last chance."

It was a strange idea, but Mni quickly realized what Indy was saying. "Get out of here Z46!" She grunted as Indy's shield fell and the impacts returned.

"But-" The destroyer looked conflicted.

"You've got a name to earn!" Mni yelled. "And only you can do it! Get moving, we'll hold the fort!"

Z46 looked surprised, but nodded before turning to rush after Tirpitz. Just as Indy predicted, Atago pointed after the girl. "Stop her! Quickly!"

Mni spun and fired at Hamman, forcing the destroyer to evade, while Indy spread high explosive between the fleet and the destroyer's path. Another AP shell flew out, but Cassin blocked it with her arm, screaming as she lost the limb.

It was a victory. One they'd pay for as the remaining guns turned towards Mni and Indy. Fire rang out and she staggered. She couldn't tell where she'd been hit anymore. Blood filled her vision, and she felt her last reserves kick in to try to heal.

She'd done her part though. She held Indy close, and prayed that it'd be over soon.

Tirpitz wiped the blood from her eyes with her tattered cap. Enterprise had been everything Victorious said, and more. For a carrier to fight a battleship face to face was near inconceivable. Even with the handicap Tirpitz had given herself.

Enterprise hadn't just fought her, the Union ship was winning. The grey ghost seemed to fade out every time her main guns opened up, while releasing devastating air strikes. Tirpitz's rigging was tattered and burning, her foot was broken, and she was bleeding from a million cuts. Meanwhile all she'd managed to do was tear the carrier's cloak and scratch her flight deck.

"You're trying not to hit me directly," Enterprise said. "A little foolish."

"I wasn't at the start," Tirpitz admitted. "Past the first five minutes I realized it didn't matter and went for killing shots."

A smile flitted across Enterprise's face. "I see why Victorious found you so interesting." The frown that replaced it lasted much longer. "It's unfortunate that obsession led to this."

"I just gave her hope of victory again," Tirpitz said. "Your commander started this."

"I find it hard to believe," Enterprise replied. "But it doesn't matter. Orders are orders. We can't follow the same path as the Iron Blood." Enterprise raised her bow to deliver the final airstrike.

And that was when Tirpitz struck. She fired everything she had, not at the ship, but at the planes rising up. Anti air, secondary guns, and even her main guns loaded with explosives. The barrage tore into the dive bombers rising up shattering the small drones.

Enterprise looked in surprise as her planes crashed into the sea. "Clever."

Tirpitz limped forwards. "So, now what? Going to ram me? Or put your hope in the U boats?"

The carrier folded her arms. "I was actually hoping you'd surrender." She tapped her radio. "Enterprise here. Tirpitz damaged, but not killed. Requiring backup." She blinked. "Destroyer? There's no Ironblood destroyers here."

"Ah, clever." Tirpitz smiled. Her friends had added an extra step to the plan. A very good one. Now to capitalize on it. "Z46 is well equipped to finish the matter."

Enterprise looked at her then nodded as orders came through. "Understood." The carrier sighed. "So, does your plan account for our commander retreating while his escort force moves to kill you?"

Tirpitz looked to the horizon. The answer would soon be clear.

Kaga's drone registered the movement below, and all the tension in her body faded away. She nudged the unfamiliar plane a little bit, then released the payload. "Tora tora tora," she muttered. Her greatest failure, and now her greatest success.

"It's done?!" Victorious asked.

Amagi shook her head. "Well, I suppose there's no use shooting you now sister. But what have you done?"

Indy's core had cracked.

She knew that was the case, without even seeing the wound. This pain, the pain that tore through her very soul, was unlike anything else. Was this how Portland had felt that night? She was surprised her sister managed to hang on, feeling this pain while watching her friends die. Then again her sister had always been strong.

The agony tore through her with every wave. As if the sea was rejecting her existence. She'd lost that which gave her rule over the water, and now it was going to claim her.

And then for a split second the pain was gone. Replaced with heat. Her eye burned and her vision snapped to the sea ahead.

The flash was unmistakable, and just like that Pandora's Box had been reopened.

She closed her eyes. Mission complete.

Tirpitz felt smug as she watched the horrific smoke ring from the air burst. It probably wasn't right to enjoy someone's death this much. But given what he'd done, and the fact that she'd probably lost friends to his disgusting antics, she couldn't help it.

A phrase came to mind, from the one of the creators of the weapon. "Now we are all sons of bitches," she said.

Enterprise just stared at the cloud as it rose.

The undead Akagi smiled with bloody teeth. "You're right. Vengeance is glorious."

"To battle against the world, and win," Graf Zeppelin muttered as she slumped down.

Her living sisters were less amused. "What have you done?" Akagi said dully.

"That horror," Amagi whispered. "All my strategies... meaningless."

Kaga shrugged. "It was the only way to make sure."

"An ugly victory," Victorious said shaking her head. "But perhaps Tirpitz was right. Perhaps those that follow can find a true victory from it." She tossed her few remaining planes into the sea. "We surrender now."

"After this?!" The living Akagi whirled on them. "You kill our commander and offer terms now?!"

"Unconditional surrender, sister," Kaga replied, moving to see what she could do to help Graf Zeppelin and her Akagi. The two had fallen unconscious, and she saw Graf Zeppelin's core was cracked, but maybe...

Amagi held Akagi back. "I'm calling Vestal. But I expect you to explain sister."

"Of course."