A/N: For reference, since this'll be mentioned in future chapters as well and a lot in this chapter; the term 'Siren Warlord' refers to a leader of the Sirens. Think Observer Alpha, Purifier - the 'boss' enemies.

This also includes the slew of other Sirens that came before Alpha and the others, and who may or may not be mentioned in future chapters. Just saying that in case anyone gets confused about the term.

Enjoy~


Whispers of Saturn

Chapter 17: Preluding Thunder

Forty-eight hours had passed.

It was time.

Queen Elizabeth breathed in a deep, long breath. The crisp evening air flowed through her open window, her half-lidded eyes gazing out across the Naval Base she called her home for many years now. Her eyes wandered over the carrier groups assembling themselves and recommending flight formations, over the Destroyers hyping themselves up, over the Gift-wielders who chatted amongst themselves in quiet, tense tones.

Even through the thick walls of her bedroom she could easily hear the clamour going on outside; in the halls and down the stairs. Her personal attendants and royal guard, waiting for her arrival; for her to step onto the battlefield once more. A sharp smile graced her features at the thought, a familiar anticipation bubbling within her.

Perhaps it was time to remind the world of how she earned the title, 'Iron Queen'.

She spun away from the window, her feet tapping elegantly against the smooth carpets – before she swung the double doors of her bedroom open with a flourish. Instantly she could hear chatter settle, making a haughty smile curve at her lips. She took her time, the anticipation within her only growing as she walked down the long red-carpeted hall, evening sunlight peering behind half-closed curtains and washing over her fair skin pleasantly.

Her slow footfalls drew her to the top of the stairs, her gaze languidly wandering over the assembled Ship-Girls. Belfast waited by the base of the stairs with a patient smile, Edinburgh a step behind her sister-ship and Newcastle obediently behind her. Off to the right of the stairs stood Sirius and Sheffield, both armed and ready. Kent was shoulder-to-shoulder with Javelin, the two waiting near the main doors. And waiting halfway up the stairs, sword in one hand and a long rectangular grey box in the other, was her sister and royal guard; Warspite.

''Your Majesty...'' Javelin was the first to voice her thoughts; awe thick in her voice. ''You...''

Queen Elizabeth smirked, running her hand down the long scarlet cape that hung from her shoulders; held in place by two ornate gold shoulder-plates. ''Indeed. A relic from an age long gone by, but one I find fitting.''

It was rare for her to change her appearance outside of official or political events, and everyone in the room knew that. Her outfit change spoke of great significance – and would hopefully convey to them to treat this with the utmost seriousness. That, however, was not the sole reason for her added clothing. This cape once belonged to her admiral, way back when she was just a metal ship; before she was granted a full sentience of her own. To march it into battle and risk its destruction spoke of how serious she was taking this, regardless of the blasé attitude she exuded.

''Warspite.'' Queen Elizabeth inclined her head at her sister-ship.

Warspite smiled confidently and nodded, resting the long grey box onto the stairs and unlatching the several locks holding it tightly sealed. With a hiss it cracked open, stale air mixing with the soothing evening air; and revealing the contents of the box. An ornate sabre, arm-length and with a pristine silver blade, attached to a scarlet handle with a dainty gold tassel hanging off the edge.

''That's...'' Belfast's voice was one of surprise; mimicking the faces of those around her.

Queen Elizabeth smirked, striding down the stairs and curling her fingers around the handle. An old gift from the Sakura Empire to the Royal Navy over nine years ago, back when the Siren War was raging. Or more specifically, from Nagato to herself. A sword forged deep in the Empire by the sole remaining descendant of Muramasa, the Sakura's Empire's finest swordsmith. Enchanted and blessed by the High Emperor himself, and sharpened for four days straight with the finest grindstone. A sword so sharp it had to stay in a specially-reinforced container, lest it cut the very air around it.

A sword that had not seen the light of day in six years. There had never been a need to.

''The Blade of Rebuke...'' Someone whispered in awe, but Elizabeth paid their reverence no mind.

Even as she lifted the blade out the old casing she could feel a gentle wind lapping against her legs; the blade generating a faint gust as it cut the air it passed through. Even after not being touched for six years it remained as sharp as ever.

''Taihou has been spotted several miles north of the base, near the abandoned church east of Saffrona.'' Warspite helpfully informed.

With a haughty grin of acknowledgement Queen Elizabeth gripped the Blade of Rebuke tight in her left hand, her sceptre in her right. With her head held high she walked the rest of the way down the stairs, the sparse crowd of attendants parting for her – a warm evening breeze brushing against her face as she stepped outside.

''How serious things must've gotten for you to pull that old thing out.'' Warspite was a step behind her, a calm smile on her lips.

Queen Elizabeth huffed a prideful laugh. ''Of course, after all...''

She swung her arms out, her sabre cracking the path beneath her feet and her sceptre thumping against the grass to her right, ironclad confidence burning deep in her blue eyes.

''It's time to show these children how to wage a real war.''

X-x-X

''Are you sure about this, nee-sama...?''

''Of course~'' Akagi crooned, a wide smile stretching across her lips as she gazed out at the evening sun, anticipation burning deep in her eyes. ''This, is our chance. Our chance to finally put that upstart carrier in her place, once and for all.''

Kaga frowned softly, dipping her head so Akagi didn't see it. Upstart carrier; Enterprise. The silver-haired woman who was summoned one stormy afternoon three odd years ago, and helped turn the tide during a close battle. Back then, she wasn't much. She was new; she was inexperienced. But even though she was a metaphorical infant, she stood unfalteringly against the Sirens that bombed the base, fighting with every ounce of her willpower.

Despite their differences, Kaga did not hate Enterprise. She wasn't fond of her, especially with her reckless and frankly childish desire to protect everyone at the cost of herself, but she had grown to respect Enterprise – if not for her power, then for her raw determination. Not many could attest to staring down a Siren Warlord without fear, fighting until they had no planes left and even then charging in for a melee, unheeding of their wounds.

In some ways, she and Akagi were more alike than either realised.

However, Akagi was her sister – and if her sister wished to fight Enterprise, then Kaga would stand by her side. ''Understood. When do we leave?''

''Hm... let's say fifteen minutes.'' Akagi drummed her fingers along the old red wooden torii gate, her gaze not leaving the sunset-lit forest. ''Meet me back here by then.''

Kaga bowed her head. ''Hai.''

Spinning on her heel Kaga departed back into the shrine that had become their home for the last few days. While it hadn't been the most looked-after shrine in the world, it was at least stable – mostly, anyway. Dimly her gaze drifted up to the rafters above, noting the irritating amount of cobwebs she had yet to sweep up. Not helped by the fact she was mostly doing the clean-up duty alone; Akagi was too busy, Bismarck was honing her newfound Gift alongside Graf Zeppelin, Prinz Eugen was too lazy, and Jean Bart just flat-out denied to. That left only Graf Spee and Z46 to help her; both rather short girls, which didn't help matters.

Kaga shook her head, dismissing the cobwebs from her mind – her feet carrying her towards her destination almost subconsciously. Mikasa had awoken nearly a full day after the battle, partially healed in the Crystal Spring – but not enough that she would be strong enough to fight them off. Oddly she didn't even try to resist, accepting her newfound prisoner status with a rueful smile and an amused glint in her eyes, no matter how dangerously Akagi threatened her.

'Nee-sama...' Kaga's brows dipped, something akin to hesitance fluttering through her heart before she crushed it. Now wasn't the time.

Her gaze flickered up as a familiar door came in sight, the mockish laughter of Prinz Eugen echoing from further down the hall. Kaga glanced briefly down the wooden hall before discreetly cracking the old shoji door open, the rasp of wood-on-wood soothing to the ears. The room inside was dimly lit, only the waning sunset light peering through the half-open paper window. Bismarck stood in the far corner, giving her a light nod before closing her eyes, an orb of metal liquid flowing smoothly in her palm; her uniform still ripped from her battle with Queen Elizabeth.

Kaga's gaze wandered off the blonde Battleship and onto Mikasa, the brunette sitting in the centre of the room with her hands handcuffed in front of her and clothed in a plain white yukata, replacing her ruined uniform. She peered out the half-open window with a distant gaze, barely acknowledging her entry.

''Akagi-neesama and I will be departing in fifteen minutes.'' Kaga intoned, slowly stepping into the room and shutting the door behind her.

Mikasa didn't take her eyes off the sunset. ''Fifteen minutes until the war truly starts, huh...''

''Officially.'' Kaga noted, kneeling down opposite the veteran Battleship. ''Technically, it started the moment Roon betrayed.''

''Nay.'' Mikasa slowly shook her head. ''They are traitors; nothing more. They did not declare war. Informally, perhaps. But not formally. They did not state their intentions, their stance. For all I know Roon solely desires to be with the Commander by any means necessary, and in fact I believe she might. But I was the one to deliver a true war declaration, and Akagi – by declining to surrender – agreed to it.''

''Needless formalities.'' Kaga retorted calmly.

Mikasa huffed a short laugh, tinged with idle wistfulness. ''Needless formalities... you remind me so much of Avrora when you talk like that...''

Kaga hummed softly, her gaze dropping to the low wood table, her eyes trailing over the countless dents and worn cracks. Avrora. A name she hadn't heard in a very long time. One of the scarce few Northern Union ships to ever be summoned, she had been an annoyingly cheery woman – always dragging people out for drinks and to relax. Whether by luck or fate Kaga found herself in the company of the drunkard more than a few times, usually ending in a half-drunk spar out in the ocean. And despite the fact Avrora was nearly black-out drunk, she never lost once, even when her opponent was fully sober.

Despite her irritation at the woman, she had an infectious charisma to her, and Kaga often found herself enjoying her company. Their relationship was little more than companions; kouhai and senpai if you were to push it. The same could not be said for Mikasa. She and Avrora had been close – very close. Dating, lovers, close friends; Kaga didn't know nor was one to pry. But what she did know was the two were a couple, always side-by-side. Rumour once had it that they were even considering oaths to one another. That rumour stopped a week later, when Avrora perished on the battlefield.

''...do you miss her?'' Kaga felt compelled to ask, whether out of politeness or genuine curiosity, she honestly didn't know.

Mikasa smiled softly. ''Every day... another reminder that we will not know peace, until the Siren War finally ends.''

Kaga breathed a slow hum, her eyes drifting shut as her mind rolled over all the names in her head. Of all that had been lost; but there was too many to name. Hundreds had lost their lives, maybe even a thousand. But none had it harder than the First Generation – the titular designation given to Ship-Girls born in the first year of the war, and when the Sirens were arguably at their strongest. Kaga hadn't been born then; she had been summoned only a few days after Akagi about five years ago, but she had heard second-hand tales of those days. Of how the sea turned red with blood and the heavens were torn asunder by deafening cannon blasts, how Siren Warlords almost casually cut swathes through entire fleets.

But this violent battlefield also bred the strongest of warriors. Queen Elizabeth, Avrora, Mikasa, Nagato, Amagi, Gangut, Shinano, and many others. Their individual power was leagues above the current generations, and even though it wounded her pride Kaga had to admit even she was practically a weakling in comparison. All of her generation was; it took Akagi, with the backing of a literal god, to overcome Mikasa; and even that was after she and Jean Bart helped occupy the Dragon.

Their power spoke for themselves, even in death. Avrora; perishing four and half years ago after holding off two Siren Warlords at once to give time for her allies to retreat, even after fighting and taking down a third Warlord during an earlier skirmish. Nagato; sunk eight years ago after fighting and single-handedly taking down three Siren Warlords, only to fall victim to the Siren fleet behind them, bombed into utter submission. Gangut; sunk nine years ago after holding a defensive line for three hours straight to give time for the island behind her to be evacuated, duelling against a Siren Warlord and an entire fleet the whole time. Shinano, practically the devil herself, falling only after dragging five Siren Warlords down to hell with her, their battle so legendary that to this day the sea remained known as 'Shinano's Pentagram'; vicious whirlpools and ferocious storms plaguing the area even eight years later.

And of course, none was fresher in her mind than Amagi.

The fox-woman had always been something of a mentor to her, someone to come to for wisdom. But her relationship with Akagi was far deeper; it was almost like that of a mother and child, no matter how silly it sounded. Akagi always chased her praise, showing off her new skills and tricks, letting her ears get petted – a distinct honour, considering how sensitive they were, and a sign of how much trust she had in Amagi. Perhaps then it wasn't a surprise that Akagi was devastated – nay, heartbroken – when Amagi fell three years ago after duelling a merciless Siren by the name of Arbiter: The Empress III, leading to both their deaths, and successfully crippling the Siren fleet Empress had been leading.

''Perhaps... one day, we will know peace.'' Mikasa quietly mused, prompting Kaga to glance up at her. ''Though enough of such wistful remembrance... what brings you here, Kaga? I imagine you aren't here to simply announce your departure.''

The carrier closed her eyes. ''...some privacy please, Bismarck-dono.''

Raising a brow Bismarck obliged, her heavy footfalls echoing in the silence until the sound of sliding wood punctuated the air, followed by two footfalls, then the door sliding shut once more.

Kaga slowly opened her eyes. ''...ever since Amagi's death, you are the one who I have come to when I seek wisdom. So I ask... how can I help Akagi-neesama, when she keeps acting so recklessly?''

Mikasa hummed softly. ''That... I cannot say. What I can, is that Akagi is going down a dangerous path, Kaga. You do not need to follow it.''

'You do not need to follow it.' The words rung in Kaga's head, contrasting the traitorous echo in her heart. An echo tainted in crimson blood, one rasped to her in Amagi's dying breath.

''Protect her.''

''...I will follow my sister to the ends of the earth, if that is what she desires.'' Kaga said with a tone of finality, slowly rising to her feet. ''She is my duty. And I will never abandon my duty.''

Mikasa levelled her with a firm look. ''You call her your duty. But is Akagi still the same person you once knew, before this whole mess started?''

''Are you sure it's duty that's propelling you... and not naïve hope?''

To that, Kaga had no answer. Not when she met Mikasa's eyes, nor when she departed the room in total silence, the door left ajar in her wake. Bismarck slowly stepped back into the room, one brow still raised as she leaned against the wooden door-frame.

''You're lucky Akagi is still outside. The walls are thin enough to eavesdrop.''

''I didn't take you to be the type.'' Mikasa replied with a grin.

Bismarck huffed, one hand dipping into her pocket before tossing an object towards Mikasa – a rusty gold key bouncing twice across the floor before coming to a stop at her knees. ''I'll bang thrice on the wall when they leave. I'll make sure nobody is looking out the north side. Can you make it back to base with those injuries?''

''Of course. A few wounds like these can't keep me down.'' Mikasa chuckled with well-deserved confidence.

''Hmph. I wish you luck then.''

The door clicked shut, and Mikasa's grin faded – a frown marring her features.

''...I hope you find the answers you need, Kaga... before it's too late...''

X-x-X

''Keep vigilant, but don't break formation! While they may have superior strength, numbers will lead to our victory if we play off our strengths!''

Maya was only half-listening to the confident bark of Takao's voice, quietly drumming her fingers along her katana impatiently. Their squad consisted of Yamashiro, a rather new girl who had been summoned only a month or two ago, herself and Takao, and three Destroyers – Yuudachi, Shigure and Yukikaze. The three girls chatted eagerly amongst themselves, hardly bothered by the prospect of running into one of the most dangerous fighters currently on the planet, disregarding the Sirens.

She wasn't sure whether to envy or critique such thoughtless naïvety.

''Maya.''

The aforementioned cruiser glanced up, finding Takao looking pointedly at her. ''What?''

''In the event we run into Taihou, we'll have to close the distance as best we can.'' Takao relayed her plan, gesturing to their katanas. ''The Destroyers will stay behind and protect Yamashiro and look for openings. Given her inexperience, in the event we do run into Taihou, they will cover her retreat while we stall Taihou.''

Maya raised a brow, glancing over at the others. All too busy to listen to their conversation, but Maya whispered anyway. ''I thought the plan was to 'play off our strengths'?''

Takao gave her a tight smile. ''I would hope. But I am not so foolish to believe us capable of defeating Taihou. All we can do it stall her, and hope back-up will come swiftly.''

''Not like you to be so grim...'' Maya mused aloud, swivelling her gaze ahead and walking ahead.

''Times like these make it hard to hope.'' Takao replied, matching her pace.

Maya hummed slowly, her gaze briefly drifting to Yuudachi as she walked past the dog-girl. Yuudachi looked up at her, red eyes sparkling with cheery glee, as if she wasn't about to walk into what could be her final battle. And in her crimson eyes, glowed confidence – confidence in not her own strengths, but in her comrades. In Maya's.

''...I'd disagree...'' Maya murmured softly, gazing ahead once more. ''Hope... always finds a way.''

''How poetic of you.''

''Shut-''

BOOM!

The cannon blast echoed a half-second before the golden shell ripped through the treeline, erupting into pillowing plumes of dirt and shrapnel mere feet behind Maya. The swordswoman gasped, stumbling forwards for a brief second before steadying her footing, raising her own rigging and unloading her cannons – a cacophony of explosions ringing in her ears as she lobbed half a dozen shells back into the treeline, blind-firing in the hope of eliminating whatever shot first.

Her shells lit up the partially-illuminated forest, and Maya's eyes widened as a familiar figure rushed at her through the trees. Their katana glistened in the fading evening light, whistling as it left their sheath in a traditional Iaido slash-

-only to meet Takao's blade, an explosive clang echoing as a miniature shockwave was cast throughout the area.

''Atago!'' Takao barked in outrage.

''Takao-chan~'' Atago smiled widely in response, amused.

Maya didn't wait to listen any longer, darting two steps to the left before lunging forth with her katana speared forwards, fully intent on impaling Atago through the kidney. She never got the chance to; her elder sister easily leaping back and landing a dozen feet away, lazy smile not waning even as the three Destroyers behind them took up defensive positions, yelling at the traitorous cruiser with a mix of insults and empty threats born more from fear than substance.

''Why are you here?'' Takao cut to the core of it, blade raised warningly.

Atago giggled lightly, her voice lilted with a distinct deepness; betraying the utter arrogance that hid behind her lazy smile. ''Why else?''

''To make sure you can't forget.''

Any response was drowned out by the deafening boom of Atago's cannons, forcing Maya to duck low to avoid them. Takao had no such problem, scowling deeply and cutting three shells cleanly in half, letting them erupt into golden plumes behind her. With a bend of her knees Takao launched off the dirt, racing in low towards Atago with lethal intent. She swung wide, her katana meeting Atago's with a resounding clang, sparks flying as their swords ground together in a wordless clash for dominance.

Maya rushed in, her nerves practically alight with foreign eagerness and pushing her on with ravenous intensity. Atago's eyes twitched briefly towards her, distracted for a microsecond – but it was enough for Takao. With a masterful twist she tilted her body a sharp right, pushing her weight onto her sword and forcibly tilting Atago with her lest Takao's blade cut into her shoulder; and leaving her right side unprotected.

That was until her ship-shaped rigging tilted towards Maya, cannons booming.

'Shit!' Maya spat a curse and threw herself into a roll, branches crunching underneath her tumbling frame before she skidded into a low crouch – ending up behind Atago.

With a fierce snarl Maya lunged, gripping her katana with both hands and aiming for Atago's lower back – but Takao's katana had left Atago's, leaving it free. Metal clanged together as Atago masterfully tilted her blade over her shoulder, blocking the sneak attack with frightening ease – her eyes crinkling in amusement.

''Weak.'' Atago's single worded response reignited a thunderous fury inside Maya.

''Silence!'' The white-haired cruiser barked, skipping back two steps before firing her cannons.

Atago effortlessly leaped over the shells and landed in a low crouch – only for a loud boom to fill the forest, before several large shells exploded around Atago, engulfing her in dirt. In the background Yamashiro let out a cheerful cry, followed by a few supportive cheers from Yuudachi and Shigure.

The cloud of dirt and debris lingered for a second – then steel glinted in the waning evening light.

Maya's eyes widened and she lunged, crossing the distance as fast as physically possible – and slashing the katana that came flying out of the smoke. Metal rung against metal and Atago's katana went sailing through the air, spinning like a razor-blade – before impaling the tree two feet behind Yamashiro.

A thin dribble of blood trickled down the suddenly-frozen Yamashiro's neck. ''A-Ah...?''

''MOVE!'' Maya bellowed, whirling to face the dirt cloud.

Too slow. Atago's fist buried itself deep in her gut, the sheer strength behind it knocking the breath from her lungs and lifting her feet off the ground, eyes bulging as her organs were briefly shoved up into her chest. Atago's fist left her stomach and grabbed the front of her shirt, harshly yanking Maya along with her explosive momentum – before throwing her, sending her crashing into a tree.

With a cold smile Atago rushed past Shigure, her elbow striking the dog-girl on the cheek and making her stumble back, leaving nothing between her and Yamashiro. The petrified Battleship barely had time to scream before Atago grabbed her by the face – and slammed her into the ground with such great force the very earth beneath them splintered, chunks of earth uprooting nearby trees and dirt flying through the air as Yamashiro was buried a foot into the earth.

For a frightening moment, all was still. Then Atago slowly stood back up again, the distant sound of thunder booming.

Yamashiro did not get back up.

''Y-Y-Yama...'' Yuudachi's trembling voice filled the forest.

Atago glanced over her shoulder, smiling with ominous casualness as she walked over to the partially-uprooted tree, and yanked her sword free. ''I always hated Battleships.''

''Bastard!'' Yukikaze's yell was the first to pierce the shocked silence. ''Eat this!''

A wave of torpedoes left Yukikaze's rigging. They never reached their target before Atago crossed the distance, her katana spearing up through her chest and out her back, lifting Yukikaze off the forest floor and spraying blood out in a thin spurt.

''Slow.''

Shigure fired her torpedoes even from such close range, a cacophony of explosions briefly engulfing her frame and hiding her from view. Steel flashed and she came flying out of the after-smoke, her upper-body soaring half a dozen feet away while her legs laid a foot away; bisected cleanly through the stomach.

''Weak.''

Maya couldn't do anything but watch, petrified in horrified silence as half of their squad was cut down in a matter of seconds. As Shigure let out an agonising scream however she was snapped out of her shock, her eyes darting over to the left when she saw movement – and her heart dropped. Yuudachi.

''F-F-Face the Mad Dog of Solomon!'' The Destroyer's trembling voice gave away her fear, raising her cannons towards the dissipating smoke cloud.

Maya was moving before she even consciously realised it, blood dribbling between her fingers and making her hold slick. She didn't care, she didn't stop – frantic panic filling her as she covered the impossibly long distance in what felt like minutes. Light glinted in the fading smoke and Atago was moving, her blade cutting through the air and poised to pierce through Yuudachi's heart. It never reached its target.

SCHLICK!

Hot agony lanced through Maya and she bit back a cry, biting her tongue so hard it bled. Copper simmered on her tongue and the acidic smell bit at her nose, her right arm going completely limp and her katana falling from her hand as the tendons were severed.

''M-Maya-senpai...'' A tiny voice whispered to her left.

Maya's golden eyes flickered to the side, relief filling her when she found Yuudachi unharmed; gazing up at her with petrified awe. The cruiser smiled tightly that, stifling a gasp when Atago yanked her katana out of her right shoulder, blood profusely running down her now-lifeless arm. She didn't need to be a doctor to know the tendons and muscles had been cut completely; it was little more than a hunk of flesh and bone now.

Atago eyed her emotionlessly. ''...why?''

''Why?'' Maya bared her teeth in a vicious snarl. ''Why?! Shouldn't you be asking yourself that, ATAGO?!''

Her black-haired sister never got the chance to respond, suddenly leaping back – just in time to avoid Takao, her katana blade striking the dirt and kicking up a thin cloud into the air. With a furious battle cry Takao launched herself at Atago, metal clanging fiercely throughout the sunset forest as the two sisters clashed with great force.

Maya forcibly tore her gaze away from the battle, taking solace in the fact that Takao could last long enough against Atago to give her a minute to breathe. She cast her gaze onto Yuudachi, the dog-girl staring in horror at Shigure's screaming frame, her voice rich in agony yet completely ignored by everyone on the battlefield; drowned out by the violent clashes of steel.

''Yuudachi...'' Maya swallowed her pain, pushing the Destroyer away. ''Radio for backup and air support, and get out of here.''

''E-Eh...? B-But-!''

''You're no match for Takao.'' Maya cut her off harshly, bending down with a grunt and picking her katana back up with her left hand. She had trained to be ambidextrous; she could manage. Probably. ''Get out of here and bring back-up. Take Yukikaze if you can; Shigure won't last if you run with her, and Yamashiro might not be alive.''

Yuudachi hesitated. Maya didn't linger, striding swiftly forth. ''Go! Now is not the time to hesitate!''

''R-Right...!'' Yuudachi nodded shakily, hastily running over and scooping up Yukikaze. ''Y-You better come back, okay?!''

Maya smiled thinly, bending her knees. ''Of course. Have some faith in your senpai.''

She didn't wait to hear whatever response Yuudachi spoke, kicking off the ruined dirt and launching across the sparse clearing. Her explosive momentum carried her a dozen feet before her feet touched the ground for a split-second, only to launch again; each quickstep building more momentum as she raced towards Atago's location. Torn shrubs and uprooted trees carved a path of destruction, sparks of light reflecting from between the thin trees as Takao and Atago duelled deeper in the forest, the world itself darkening as grey overcast clouds began to creep overhead.

Maya quickly burst out the sparse treeline and into a clearing, her eyes immediately honing in on her sisters – locked in a deadly dance of steel. Her mind hungrily searched for openings and she found one, lunging with feral ferocity at Atago's unguarded side. With both hands on her katana she swung, her blade whistling through the air only to clang against Atago's – her older sister using the impact's momentum to push herself back half a dozen feet, keeping her front to both sisters.

''You take left, I'll take right.'' Takao ordered firmly, not taking her eyes off Atago.

''Got it.'' Maya muttered back, bending her knees.

Both sisters lunged in unison, their feet pattering against the grass. Thunder boomed overhead just as Atago fired her cannons, a barrage of golden shells blanketed the area in front of her – forcing Maya to leap over it. She twisted mid-flight just in time to avoid one shell that strayed farther than the others, landing two feet from Atago's unguarded side – and swung.

Steel clashed against steel as Atago blocked her attempt, smiling tightly as she blocked Takao's blade with her wooden scabbard. For a single second they were locked into a battle of strength, but Atago's physical prowess had seemingly doubled since she last appeared; holding both of them back even though the duo were both using two hands. Then suddenly Atago took a step back, the sudden lack of resistance making Maya stumble forwards a step – and forcing her to throw her weight to the right as a katana aimed for her eye.

''Nn!'' Maya grit her teeth as the sharp blade cut her cheek, blood coating the silver steel as it passed.

Takao was quick to take advantage of Atago's distraction, releasing a bellowing war-cry and swinging in a wide arc – but Atago merely swung her scabbard upwards, knocking Takao's blade high and narrowly avoiding cutting Atago's animal ear. With a dexterous twist of her fingers Atago spun her wooden scabbard around and belted Takao in the face with it, briefly disorienting her eldest sister.

Maya snarled and swung her katana, meeting Atago's own. With wild ferocity she kept up the attack, metal ringing against metal as she traded blows relentlessly with her traitorous sister. The duel lasted only a scant few seconds yet it felt infinitely longer, their clashing punctuated only by the rumbling skies overhead. Amber sunlight waned, reflecting off her sword for the briefest of moment and blinding her – for only a split-second, but it was long enough.

''Gah!'' Maya gasped as a foot impacted her right side, sending her tumbling back.

Atago smiled amusedly, swiftly shifting her weight onto her right foot and blocking Takao's katana, a mild shockwave blooming around them. Steel rattled as they fought for dominance – Takao's angry eyes glaring into Atago's amused ones. Her eyes crinkled at the corners and Takao immediately reacted, leaping back just in time to avoid the scabbard that was poised to strike her stomach.

''Tch...'' Maya hissed as she rose back to her feet, raising her blade again.

Thunder boomed overhead and something cold hit her face, making Maya cringe. Great, now it was raining.

''This isn't working...'' Takao muttered from her left, expression tight.

''Tell me about it...'' Maya shot back, grimacing as she shifted her grip on her katana. Blood had stuck to the handle, making it slippery. ''Any chance you got a Gift you haven't told me about...?''

''I'm afraid not.'' Takao denied quietly, her eyes flickering around for any opportunity. ''Back-up should arrive soon, hopefull-''

All chatter ceased as Atago took a step forwards, smiling amusedly even as rain slowly poured down on them all, growing heavier by the second. As if the heavens were weeping for all those Atago had slain.

''You know...'' Atago spoke softly, smile turning a touch fond. ''It's times like these, that remind me...''

Atago took another step forwards.

''...that for all your intelligence, Takao...''

Takao grit her teeth, raising her blade warningly.

Atago smiled kindly.

''You're just as much a fool as Maya-chan.''

In an instant half a dozen deep cuts exploded across Takao's tensed body, blood spewing out from the visceral wounds. Takao didn't have the time to cry out, something between an inhale and an exhale passing her lips – before her eyes rolled back and she blacked out, mind-shattering pain flooding her mind and overwhelming her.

Maya could only watch in horror as her sister, one of the greatest swordswomen in the Sakura Empire alive, fell in an instant. She hit the ground with a frighteningly heavy thud, blood quickly dying the grass around her scarlet and her katana leaving her now-loose grip. The falling rain spread the crimson ichor out further, progressively staining more and more of the area around them red, Takao's life-fluid painting the grass a macabre scarlet.

''Don't worry.'' Atago's smooth voice was deceptively gentle. ''I made sure not to hit anything vital. She'll live. If she doesn't die from blood loss, that is.''

Maya's hand trembled, her teeth audibly grinding together.

''Don't be like that~'' Atago smiled, taking another step closer. ''I'm a good little onee-san, I wouldn't kill my own sister.''

''Not like you.''

Thunder boomed overhead, the rain making Maya's hair stick to her forehead. ''Shut up...''

''You never liked Choukai, did you?'' Atago enunciated slowly, moving a step closer. ''You wanted rid of her.''

''Shut up...'' Maya's breathing grew heavy, her throat thickening with a myriad of buried emotions. Why bring it up now? Was that why Atago betrayed, because she hated her so much? Was it all her fault?

''Choukai was always better than you. Kinder, smarter, more liked...'' Atago's smile widened when Maya ground her teeth together. ''You couldn't take it, could you? So you let her die.''

Maya glared between her wet hair, refusing to admit how much she was shaking. ''I didn't kill her...''

Atago raised her sword. ''Liar.''

The first blow came with lightning quickness, clashing against Maya's sword with explosive power. It took all her strength not to let her sword go, yet even then her sword-arm was knocked skyward, leaving herself open for the second blow – a deep gash brutally cutting her from shoulder to waist, cleaving through cloth, flesh and muscle with ease.

''You knew the Sirens were aiming at her.''

A third slash, cleaving along the front of her thighs and sending her stumbling, her blade batted aside with ease.

''You hated her. You didn't warn her.''

A fourth swing carved a diagonal gash from waist to shoulder, forming an 'X' on her torso.

''You were too weak to protect her.'' Atago whispered, her smile gone – replaced by a chillingly empty look. ''You used her as a shield.''

Maya tried to speak, to deny the lies that Atago whispered – but hot agony closed her throat up and made it impossible to do anything but gasp, mind reeling.

A fifth and final strike came with brutal swiftness, the katana piercing cleanly through her chest and out her upper back – and with frightening ease Atago lifted her up, still staring at her with those empty eyes full of cold nothingness. Never before had she seen such frighteningly empty eyes. It transcended apathy, becoming something devoid of any emotion yet tinted with a foreign darkness, as if her disdain was hidden by a veil of emptiness.

''You killed Choukai.'' Atago stated with a tone of finality, her whispering voice nearly lost amidst the rainfall. ''She, who raised you from the day you were summoned, the day since Takao and I were summoned... you took her away from us.''

Four cannons boomed, shells erupting across Maya's bloodied frame and knocking her back – numb agony lancing through her chest as she was blown off Atago's sword. She flew through the air for a solid two seconds before hitting the ground hard, landing neck-first and tumbling over herself thrice before coming to a stop, one hand gripping the slick grass to halt herself.

''...shut up...'' Maya rasped out, her left arm trembling as she forcibly pushed herself upright – glaring brightly at her traitorous sister.

''Why should I?'' Atago slowly walked towards her, katana held out to the side as if her executioner.

Maya hissed as she rose up to her feet, swaying dangerously before steadying herself. Her katana was still held tight in her hand, rain mixing with blood and running along the blade, dripping off the tip. So much blood, and not a single speck of it from Atago. She was untouchable. Impossibly so. Even two-on-one she came away with barely a hair lost from her head.

Something wild rumbled in her heart. ''You... lie...!''

Atago tilted her head slowly, eyes shadowed by her wet fringe. ''Are you calling me a liar, Maya-chan?''

Wild electricity thundered through her veins, a divine rush weaselling into every crevice of her body, her pain dissipating from the sheer force. ''Choukai... protected me! She did it intentionally! I refuse... I refuse to take the blame for your damn grief!''

Atago's eyes narrowed, a frigid darkness emanating within. ''I see... then die.''

Steel flashed. Thunder boomed overhead. Maya swung, a bellowing cry leaving her lips; pouring all her fury, all her regret, all her self-loathing into a single swing-

-and from her blade came a shrieking gold thunderbolt, screeching so loud the heavens themselves trembled and the forest was illuminated by a great flash, engulfing the two swordswomen in its etheric splendour.

BOOM!

Maya stood still even as heat singed her bloodied skin, the lightning crackling around her for a single second before fizzling out. Stretching out for nearly fifty metres was a deep gouge in the earth, dirt burnt black and an unlucky tree split in half, the inner wood glowing a soft red from the heat.

And stood in front of her, with her hair frazzled and half her outfit burnt away, was Atago.

For a long moment they just stared, their swords still touching yet neither moving. No thoughts raced through Maya's head; only the pounding of her heartbeat and the rain pattering around her registering.

''...powerful.'' Atago's single word echoed around them.

Then Atago suddenly blurred, and her katana cleaved a vertical line from stomach to neck.

''Grk-!'' Maya stumbled back with a choked gasp, faltering one step back, then two – and fell on her back, wheezing.

Darkness quickly began to creep in at the edges of her vision, the acidic scent of blood thick in her nostrils. She tried to breath but her lung refused, a heavy weight filling them and making her cough, yet she only spat up blood; the thickening crimson ichor dribbling down her cheek. She couldn't roll onto her side if she tried, her body refusing to move despite her instinctual desperation. All she could do was stared up into the falling rain, feeling it hitting her paling skin as blood pooled around her.

''...if you live past this day, then maybe you aren't as weak as I thought...'' Atago's voice reached her ears, but she remained out of view.

Quiet footfalls padded away from her until they faded away entirely, leaving only the ceaseless patter of rain to fill Maya's ears. Slowly the sound became muted, the world itself seeming to slowly spin, her thumping heartbeat slowing down by the second – growing to the point she could mentally count each beat, the next slower than the last.

Thump.

Thump.

Thump...

''Maya-senpai!''

The distant voice made Maya crack her eyes open, a dark haze over her vision. She didn't remember closing her eyes. She couldn't twist her neck even if she wanted to, able to only stare dimly at the grey sky – until a familiar face showed up in her vision, blocking out the weeping sky.

''Yuu... dachi...?'' Maya rasped out, voice slurred.

Wet droplets hit her face, even though Yuudachi's head was blocking the rain. ''D-D-Don't worry! We'll... we'll get home soon! J-Just don't die, you hear?!''

Maya coughed, blood bubbling past her cold lips. ''Mm...''

''H-Hey! Don't fall asleep! Mikasa-senpai says you'll die if you do!''

'Mikasa...?'

Maya could think no more, and even amidst Yuudachi's increasingly-frantic cries, she blacked out.

X-x-X

''A storm's rolling in...''

Dorsetshire grunted in wordless acknowledgement, her dull gaze flickering up to the slowly-overcast skies. ''I thought it was supposed to be clear skies tonight...''

''Me too...'' Arizona murmured worriedly.

Dorsetshire frowned, gazing at the rumbling clouds before tearing her eyes away, focusing on the forest ahead of them. Part of her wanted to dismiss it as nothing more than the weather. A larger part of her couldn't help but feel on guard, the mere presence of the building storm making her flinch whenever it boomed too loudly. It sounded so much like a cannon shot it would be impossible to differentiate the two.

''...probably should've brought a coat...'' Dorsetshire murmured absentmindedly, tugging her dress closer to her body.

Arizona hummed a quiet agreement, matching her firm pace as the two trekked through the forest. Their formation differed from other recon groups, in that instead of having three Destroyers, a couple cruisers and a Battleship, they instead had six cruisers and one Battleship – largely due to manpower shortages. Everyone wanted to stay with their sister-ships, and such a decision was tactically wise due to synergy and intimate knowledge of each other's abilities; but that only made assigning groups all the more difficult. Hence, they got stuck with six cruisers.

Namely the Cleveland-class and Juneau. Perhaps it wasn't a surprise when Dorsetshire, someone who only recently lost her own sister, had no intentions of staying within earshot of them. Not willing to let her go alone Arizona followed, trusting the five cruisers to survive without them. Especially since Cleveland boasted about having a Gift of her own, so they could at least hold their own against Taihou for a short while.

Quietly Arizona glanced over at Dorsetshire, unconsciously shifting just a little closer. The tall woman noticed the movement and briefly looked at her, holding her gaze for all of two seconds before quickly looking ahead; the faintest dusting of pink on her cheeks. Arizona smiled faintly at that and averted her eyes lest she stare, oddly liking the strange fluttering in her chest.

Suddenly a blinding flash erupted far over to the east, eliciting a startled squeak from Arizona – wincing as the golden light stabbed into her eyes. It lasted only a second before fading, the loud thunderclap echoing past them as the sound wave finally hit.

''What was that...?'' Dorsetshire narrowed her eyes, shifting her body towards the distant light.

''I don't know... lightning, maybe?'' Arizona hesitantly offered, lowering her raised arm. ''Should we check it out?''

''...no, it's probably is just lightning.'' The taller woman decided, tilting away. ''Nothing to be-''

Dorsetshire cut herself off, abruptly going silent – and in an instant a sharp killing intent filled the air. Arizona flinched back on reflex, her eyes darting forwards to see what Dorsetshire was looking at. And as her eyes laid themselves upon the shrub-hidden figure, she uttered a rare curse.

''Ajax...!'' Dorsetshire snarled viciously.

The sadistic woman glared back at them, flipping them the middle finger before curiously rushing off into the forest – using her impressive speed to dart between trees and bushes. Arizona didn't get the chance to speak before Dorsetshire was moving, cold fury marring her features as she charged headlong after her sister's killer. A blast of destructive energy shot forth with a swing of her arm, obliterating the tree in front of her and carving a deep gash through the landscape, yet missing Ajax by a wide berth.

Dorsetshire wasn't dissuaded, scowling and chasing after Ajax. Twigs snapped underfoot and shrubs rustled as she ran past them, having the sense of her mind to dodge around large roots and leap over small ditches – cold determination filling her being, sharpening her senses and dedicating her full focus to closing the distance. And it showed when she slowly gained ground on her opponent, a fleeting curse fluttering past Ajax's lips when she glanced back.

''Tch!'' Ajax suddenly shifted course, twisting and planting her foot against a tree – kicking off it and transitioning into an airborne flip, landing in a low crouch to bleed off her momentum.

The tall brunette closed the distance in all of five seconds, a snarl leaving her lips as she pumped her left fist out – unleashing a cannonball of destructive energy. It screeched through the air and struck earth, rupturing the ground and utterly obliterating all that it touched; a shockwave blowing out and throwing dirt into the air.

Ajax barely flinched as the dirt hit her face, expression cold. ''I'm not in the mood to deal with you, gutter-trash.''

''Too bad.'' Dorsetshire spat back, summoning her rigging.

Her cannons boomed, unleashing a hail of golden shells. They never reached Ajax.

''Not so fast~!''

Dorsetshire's eyes widened as a cherry-haired figure leapt out of the bushes, panting from exertion but with a wild grin on her face. She skidded to a stop in front of Ajax, the air around her positively vibrating – and to Dorsetshire's displeasure, her shells disintegrated moments within entering her [Annihilation Zone].

''Ajax-chama isn't in the mood to play today~'' San Diego chirped, rising back to her full height and resting a hand on her hip.

The brunette cruiser narrowed her eyes. ''...I have no interest in you, traitor. Get out of the way.''

''No can do~'' San Diego winked, tilting her head slightly to the right and glancing behind her. ''You go do your lovey-dovey stuffy-stuff with Spee-kan, Ajax-chama. I'll protect ya~!''

''...yeah, thanks.'' Ajax thanked tersely, swiftly spinning on her heel and kicking off the ground.

Dorsetshire's lips swiftly curved into a snarl. ''You're not going anywhere!''

Her [Obliteration] manifested in her hands seamlessly, gashes appearing across her lithe hands as her own power cut her skin. With nothing more than a thought they compressed into orbs and she lobbed them with a flick of her wrist, the screeching black-red energy soaring through the air with a slight curve – before San Diego reached up, and grabbed them.

In an instant, they were destroyed.

''Hehe~!'' San Diego's pleased giggle drew Dorsetshire's undivided attention, glaring in disbelief at the cherry-haired girl. ''Score one for me~!''

''You...'' Dorsetshire forced herself to take a breath, her hateful rage cooling to a simmering anger.

Ajax was gone now; taking off as fast as her feet would carry her. The chances of catching up now were growing slimmer by the second, doubly so with San Diego in her path. That meant the next course of action was simple; eliminate San Diego as fast as possible. Arizona would likely catch up with her within the minute. She was a smart woman; she'd stay back and fire from a distance, like a Battleship normally does.

Taking a deep breath, Dorsetshire summoned her [Obliteration] to hand, the energy crackling and screeching around her fingers. ''One last chance, San Diego. Get out of my way.''

''Heeeh~? Get out of your way~?'' San Diego looked positively gleeful as she tilted her head back, her eyes dilating and making her bloodshot sclera seem all the more haunting. ''But that's no fun, after all...''

The space around San Diego crackled once more, the very air disintegrating from the weight of her Gift. ''Dont'cha wanna find out what's stronger... my Annihilation, or your Obliteration~?''

'She knows what my Gift is called...?' Dorsetshire narrowed her eyes dangerously. 'Impossible. I didn't tell anyone but Arizona... even if she saw it, she wouldn't know what I named it... unless-!'

Unless someone was spying on them.

There was no time to ponder the chilling possibility. San Diego's mad cackle lit up the forest and she kicked off the ground, lunging towards her with frenzied delight; arms outstretched as if to hug her. Dorsetshire snapped back to awareness and growled, swinging her arm out and unleashing a thick wave of black-red energy; utterly decimating the dirt and rock in front of her. For a brief moment she wondered if San Diego was suicidal enough to run into it – when a shadow darted above the wave.

Spitting a curse Dorsetshire leapt back – narrowly avoiding the grasping hand that shot for her face. San Diego crashed down right where she had been standing, the dirt beneath her imploding into nothingness; leaving a perfect spherical hole in the ground. Acting fast Dorsetshire raised her hands and blasted her [Obliteration] out in thick beams towards the cherry-haired cruiser, but San Diego was faster than she appeared; dexterously rolling away and leaping back; her cannons taking aim.

'Shit!' Dorsetshire threw herself to the ground; letting the golden shells whiz overhead and explode into the forest behind her; chunks of bark and shrapnel pelting her back.

Her brief distraction cost her however. In the time it took her to get a knee under herself San Diego had landed and kicked off the ground, charging her with clear intent – to grab her. Dorsetshire twitched, a spike of feral ferocity shooting through her as she jolted up to her feet, and lunged towards the approaching cruiser.

San Diego clearly didn't expect her sudden counter-attack, dilated eyes widening and hastily throwing her weight to the right – avoiding the fist that swung for her collarbone, coated in seething destructive energy. Swiftly she planted her foot down and twisted, reaching out for Dorsetshire's extended arm – but Dorsetshire reacted first, throwing her other fist coated in her [Obliteration].

Her obliterating fist met San Diego's annihilating palm; a powerful, bone-deep agony lancing through Dorsetshire's arm for a single second – before an invisible force blew their hands apart with such force they mutually stumbled away, stunned.

San Diego was the first to snap out of it, a resounding cackle rising from her lips. ''Hehehe~! Guess we're even~!''

Dorsetshire scowled, putting her weight on her heel and leaping back half a dozen paces, putting some distance between them. She didn't utter a word; merely raising her cannons and unloading a thick barrage of shells at the psychotic cruiser. A twinge in her arm made her reflexively glance down, grimacing as painful aftershocks travelled along the bone, not unlike she had been shocked.

Movement ahead made her eyes dart up, a curse flying free from her lips as she found San Diego closing in. The edges of her clothes began to hiss as the invisible weight of San Diego's [Annihilation Zone] ate away at her, forcing her to twist away and hastily put some distance between them. She needn't have bothered.

BOOM!

The deafening cannon shot was loud enough that even San Diego paused – right before four golden shells blanketed her surroundings, engulfing her in rupturing golden light that lasted all of two seconds; fizzling out into plumes of smoke the moment the energy subsided. Dorsetshire didn't wait around to see how it ended; quickly backtracking and shooting a glance over at Arizona, her guns still smoking from the barrels. The Battleship said nothing, but the look of steely determination spoke more than any affirmation could.

''Hey, hey...'' San Diego's voice rung out from the smoke. ''Three-on-one's no fair, you know?''

'Three...?' Dorsetshire dared to glance around, but nobody else stood alongside them. 'Ajax...? Are they not really allies?'

Unfortunately San Diego wasn't in the mood for clarifying, the lingering smoke swiftly blown aside as her cannons fired – eliciting a sharp scowl from Dorsetshire as she returned fire, gritting her teeth as she took one shell to the shoulder; searing away her dress and burning her skin, but mercifully little else. Her shells dissolved before they hit San Diego but they succeeded in gaining her attention, the cruiser lunging towards her with an insane cackle.

Dorsetshire's lips thinned and she coated not just her hands, but her whole arms in her [Obliteration] – and lunged in turn, meeting San Diego halfway. Their hands met in a series of mad blows, neither skilled enough in hand-to-hand to truly fight, yet their berserker-like style naturally traded skill for power. Each time their hands met an invisible force blew them apart again, their Gifts rejecting each other only for them to clash not a second later, a cacophony of booms echoing throughout the sparse forest.

'Twelve... eleven... ten...' Dorsetshire counted down in her head, feeling a bead of sweat begin to drip down her brow as she waited for Arizona to reload. 'Nine... eight... seven...!'

San Diego suddenly leaned right, pausing for only a split-second before jerking her leg out in a roundhouse kick. Dorsetshire caught the offending foot with only mild difficultly, but to her disbelief San Diego deliberately dropped – yanking her closer. With surprising dexterity the mad cruiser twisted, rolling mid-fall and sitting up, her clawing hand darting towards the brunette's face.

'Six...!'

Suddenly a new cannon boomed, the deafening boom making San Diego abort her plan – elbowing Dorsetshire in the face instead and hastily throwing herself past the falling brunette, dodging the twin golden shells racing for her back. They exploded into plumes of gold light that narrowly avoided engulfing Dorsetshire too, the spewing shrapnel eliciting a deafened curse from the destructive woman.

San Diego hopped away, smile plastered on her face as she gazed at the newcomers-

-and her smile dropped as she laid eyes on Cleveland, the barrels of her cannons still smoking.

''Eh...?'' San Diego's voice was quiet. ''C... Cleveland...?''

The blonde cruiser grinned, raising her left arm with distinct pride; showing off the metal prosthetic arm and clenching a fist. ''Yo. Bet I'm a sight for sore eyes, eh?''

San Diego said nothing. Her face remained frozen, until her shoulders twitched. Then they buckled – a soft, wispy giggle leaving her lips. Her chest rumbled with a rising laugh, high-pitched and far too scratchy to be sane; the sound sapping the grin from Cleveland's lips. Montpelier cautiously walked up to her sister's side, finger-gun raised and eyes sharp, guarded. Denver and Montpelier followed suit, forming a loose line with Juneau waiting in the background, petrified.

''Aha... haha...'' San Diego's laugh trailed off into a pitched giggle. ''C... Clevie... you're here...''

''...yeah, I am?'' The blonde said uncertainly, pointedly ignoring how the hairs on her neck stood up.

San Diego tilted her gaze onto her; eyes wild and almost adoring – not entirely dissimilar to how Taihou looked at the Commander. With heavy breaths San Diego took a single step closer-

-only to jerk her head back instantly, one hand flying to her head. ''NO!''

Her sudden shout echoed throughout the area, so abrupt Dorsetshire stopped channelling her [Obliteration] – gazing in disbelief as the twin-tailed cruiser grabbed her head and thrashed about like she was fighting herself. The air around her fizzled and crackled, her [Annihilation Zone] growing even stronger to the point that air was breaking down on an atomic level; distortions appearing in the space around her.

''H-Hey...!'' Cleveland hesitantly called out, daring to take a step closer; unheeding of Montpelier's warning glare. ''Let's just... calm down, alright? We don't have to fight, we can... talk, yeah? That sounds good?''

San Diego went distinctly still for a moment, her Gift deactivating and dispelling the dim hissing it made. Then she shifted her hand, peering between her fingers – bloodshot eyes twitching erratically in her bloodshot sclera. Standing with shoulders curled inwards, shivers twitching through her frame as she gazed between her fingers, she almost looked like a terrified child.

Then her pupils expanded, her eyes stopped twitching, and a breathy grin stretched across her lips.

''...yeah... we can talk.'' San Diego breathed and lowering her hand; blood dripping down her forehead from where her nails dug in. ''We can talk.''

''But not now.''

In a heartbeat San Diego slid a hand under her skirt, gripped tight – and threw a ball out. Time seemed to slow, the black metal orb spinning throughout the air, the multitude of small pipes along it beginning to hiss; before a shining glow emanated from its core. The middle split open, a shrieking sound erupting from it – before it exploded.

BANG!

''Ah?!'' Cleveland cried out in shock, stumbling back as an ungodly ringing stabbed into her ears; her vision going completely white.

She bumped into someone and stumbled, both of them sent to the ground. Hands pattered around her collarbone blindly and she grabbed them, immediately recognising them as Montpelier – squeezing them tightly. The blinding whiteness was quick to leave the centre of her vision, leaving her blurry eyes staring down at Montpelier.

''H-Hey...?'' Cleveland spoke slowly – her voice sounding distant to herself, her ringing ears still blocking out her perception.

Montpelier said something but no words reached Cleveland's ears – forced to endure the maddening ringing in her ears for nearly a full thirty seconds before it dimmed enough that she could hear again, the concerned questions from Montpelier earning a weak smile from the eldest blonde.

''I'm alright.'' Cleveland smiled tightly, releasing Montpelier's hands and daring to look around.

Nausea assaulted her skull but she pushed past it, casting her gaze around the forest. San Diego was nowhere to be seen, Dorsetshire was laid flat on her stomach uttering curses muffled by the dirt, Columbia was leaning against a tree for support with Denver clinging to her legs, and Juneau was peeking out from behind a tree, frightened and concerned.

Arizona was quick to approach, checking on Columbia first until she was waved off – swiftly approaching Cleveland with a muffled query. Cleveland grimaced and tapped her ear for emphasis, earning an understanding nod from Arizona; the Battleship quickly laying her hands on the cruiser's ears. For a moment, nothing. Then the uncomfortable sensation of living water filled her ears, eliciting a quivering groan from Cleveland as she felt it weasel around inside her head.

Mercifully it lasted only a scant few seconds, and when Arizona removed her hands she could hear fine again. ''Ugh... thanks.''

''You're welcome.'' Arizona smiled slightly, putting her hands on Montpelier's ears. ''What was that?''

Cleveland frowned and scratched her head. ''I don't know... some kinda device... almost like-''

The blonde stopped dead, eyes widening as the realisation hit her.

''Like those flashbang thingies Akashi was testing...''

Arizona froze. ''Huh...? But that means...''

The Battleship trailed off but everyone, even the deafened Dorsetshire, heard the unspoken words that weighed heavily in the air. How San Diego could obtain the experimental device, one locked safe away in Akashi's now-guarded warehouse. How nobody noticed anyone sneaking in even though all doors were watched intently.

They had a new traitor in their midst.

[END]


A/N: The First Generation are the real OG's, y'know~? Too bad most of them are dead, aside from Mikasa and Elizabeth. Roon wouldn't stand a chance if Shinano or Nagato were still around~

And as for the traitor... it's not a new character, I'll tell you that. Not entirely, at least...

See you all next time in Chapter 18: Hunter Killer~

And a little preview to tease you with:

''Perhaps.'' Taihou drawled, the sky overhead rumbling as grey clouds slowly crept closer. ''But you'll soon regret being so overconfident, Elizabeth-san. After all... I'm much more powerful than when we last met.''

In response, the blonde spat a laugh. ''Power? You imbecile...''

Her sceptre stabbed into the unstable earth, splintering it further – and her face contorted into an offended snarl.

''You know nothing of power, whelp!''