So, with how crazy the world has been these past weeks, I'm surprise I even managed to finish this.
Real talk though, hope you all stay safe out there.
Chapter 21: The Eagle Union's finest
Sakura Empire Naval Base, Dockyard 2. Early dawn.
"Everything is good to go, nya." After double checking on every single bolt on the Zuikaku's Rigs, Akashi then gave it a few pats saying that they're in tip-top condition as Zuikaku thanked her with a thumb up.
It was two days later since Zuikaku's talk with Akagi at the training ground, and two weeks it has been since Commander Kasai was gone. Today is the day that Zuikaku and Shoukaku will be raiding an Eagle Union's supply convoy and scouting out a strange signal as per the mission entrusted by Akagi.
Speaking of Akagi, the day after the talk with Zuikaku, she along with Kaga, Ise and Hyuuga had also departed on a commission trip although she did not explain anything else on the specific details.
"Akagi-senpai and Kaga-senpai, even when drowned in paperwork they still think about the wellbeing of the collective. I must also work hard to alleviate some of their burden!" making such promise in her mind, Zuikaku clenched her fist tightly as a display of her determination. On the other hand, Shoukaku wasn't sharing the same sentiment.
Compared to her sister, Shoukaku's relationship with Akagi is already at the point of opened animosity. Even more than the kind of rivalry stemming from overt obsession found in Akagi and Takao, Shoukaku's animosity comes from something much worse
As part of the Fifth Carrier Division, she and Zuikaku is always the subject of comparison to their more talented seniors. Unfortunately, unlike Zuikaku who used training as an outlet to vent her frustration, Shoukaku has no such luxury and as the older one she did not dare to worry her little sister so she just kept it all to herself, and before she realized something twisted and hideous had taken root deep in her heart.
"We'll be going then!"
"Have a safe trip, nya!"
"We'll be counting you to be our escort for today, Akatsuki, Nowaki."
"Yes, just leave it to me, this Akatsuki! I shan't let even a single fish get near you!"
"I just hope my misfortune doesn't mess up the entire mission…"
Waving goodbye to those at the dock, the crane sisters along with two Destroyer girls then departed on their mission. By then the sun had fully risen above the horizon as the four then disappeared into the first radiance of day.
Sometimes later, Sector 13, territory under Eagle Union's jurisdiction.
Intruding upon the enemy's territory, the four of them proceeded with extra caution. Zuikaku and Shoukaku took turn sending out scouting planes at different interval, keeping an eye out from the sky with Akatsuki and Nowaki maintaining constant surveillance on their immediate surrounding.
"Visual confirmation from scouting planes, it's the Eagle Union's convoy!" and after a while, their target was finally within sight. From what was caught by the scouting planes, the convoy was a sizeable one, with at the very least five cargo ships. As mentioned by Akagi, this convoy departed from one of the Union's major outpost transporting supplies to their naval base, so whatever it is they're transporting it must be very important.
And as expected of a convoy transporting important supplies, their radar was able to detect the scouting planes even when they were flying at a much higher than normal altitude. Smokescreen was immediately deployed so while they know that the convoy is there, they still have no idea as to the escort. Whoever it might be, it must be one of the bigshot considering the implied importance of this convoy.
Quickly assessed the situation, Shoukaku then commanded the other three.
"Akatsuki-san and Nowaki, please cut off their escape route, pressure them with torpedoes. Until we can identify who their escort is, maintain your distance!"
"Roger!"
"Let's us go too, Zuikaku! We will use the smokescreen against them and hammer them from their flank!"
"Yes, sis!"
Following Shoukaku's command, Akatsuki and Nowaki then split up from them and quickly made their way toward the front of the convoy. The duo then fired their first torpedo salvo, only for them to be immediately countered by anti-torpedo decoys launched by the cargo ships.
"This range is no good, we must get closer, Nowaki-dono!" Akatsuki suggested as Nowaki replied with a nod albeit reluctantly.
"I have a bad feeling about this…" altering their course slightly, the duo then charged closer to the convoy and fired the second salvo. Within this range, even the decoy would have trouble reacting in time. About half of the torpedoes managed to get through and scored a hit on two of the cargo ships. The first one got hit in the rudder system as it came to a complete stop, whereas the second one was luckier as the anti-torpedo armor had taken the full brunt of the attack.
And before the two could fire another salvo, came charging at them out of the left field was a twintail redhead, the one and only twintail redhead whose boisterous and prankster nature often made others forget that she's one of Eagle Union's finest fighters.
"Hi hi, your Number One Idol, San Diego has arrived! Now before my next performance which will surely blow your mind away, San Diego will have to ask everyone to simmer down!"
After that longwinded introduction which also doubled as her self-promotion, San Diego changed to moving sideway and fired two torpedo salvos at Akatsuki and Nowaki. The torpedoes fanned out forming a sort of barrier which not only stopped the duo from getting any closer but also forcing them to dodge out of the way.
"Ugh, it's just got to be San Diego of all people. I knew my misfortune would jeopardize this entire mission!" Nowaki cried out, gripping the lucky charm in her hand tightly.
"It's no use crying now! We need to take her out or else the convoy will escape!" thankfully Akatsuki's shout managed to snap her out of it as the two split up and attacked San Diego from both flanks.
"Sis, Akatsuki and Nowaki has engaged in combat, it's San Diego!"
"So just as we've assumed, this convoy must be of utmost importance to the Union for them to be dispatching their top dogs as escort."
"But no way they would be sending out only one…" Shoukaku thought to herself as she and Zuikaku then sent out their first fighter squadron.
The torpedo fighters sent out by Shoukaku made a beeline for the two vessels in the back, occasionally doing a barrel roll to avoid the anti-air net. Getting within range, they deployed the payload then immediately rose to higher altitude to escape, some managed to while others were shot down by the anti-air on the way out.
At the same time, Zuikaku's bomber fighters that had flown up to and concealed themselves within the cloud then dove down almost vertically, achieving a speed faster than the anti-air net could effectively intercept them thanks to the G-force.
However, once they got past the anti-air net, they were then confronted and immediately got taken out by another fighter squadron that was flying at low altitude to avoid radar detection. A fighter squadron bearing the symbol of the Grim Reaper.
"Taking out both squadrons right when they are grouped together, such finesse and overwhelming strength, that means…" unconsciously praising the might of her enemy, Shoukaku and Zuikaku then looked toward the direction where the Grim Reaper squadron had just come from. And there she stood, Eagle Union's and perhaps even the world strongest Aircraft Carrier, "Lucky E" Enterprise.
"The 'Grey Ghost'…" Zuikaku muttered while tightening her grip on the blade handle in her hand.
Throughout the years and after countless times of butting head with each other, the Sakura Empire as a whole has come to acknowledged and feared the entity known as 'Enterprise'. But for Zuikaku personally, she sees Enterprise as a trial of sort, a proving rite that she must overcome.
None of her seniors were able to, then if she was able to then she can finally put an end to this stigma of being inferior, and also get rid of the twisted hatred that plagued her sister's heart.
But even with a sound and righteous cause behind her action, the one carrying it out, in the end, is still only Zuikaku herself. Hot-headed, more reliant on skill and instinct in battle than actual tactics, that is her nature. As such, the moment she saw Enterprise, she instantly lost her cool and charged at her opponent without a second thought.
"Zuikaku, wait!" Shoukaku called after her but she did not respond. Biting on her lips, she then bolted after her sister while promising to herself to give her a good scolding once they get back.
"Grey Ghost!" Zuikaku let out a war cry while continued charging straight at Enterprise. Seeing her opponent approaching, Enterprise quickly recalled her Grim Reaper squadron then sent another one at Zuikaku.
"If both the Grey Ghost and San Diego are here, then more than just utmost importance, whatever this convoy is transporting is of extreme essential to the Union."
"If I can either take her out or buy enough time for Akatsuki and Nowaki, then I can prove that we're in no way inferior to the First Carrier Division! Then Shoukaku too can finally be freed!" with such motive as her resolve and driving force, Zuikaku continued to charge with abandon at Enterprise.
Zuikaku knows that in a dogfight between hers and the indomitable Grim Reaper squadron, only one result will come out of it and it is one that isn't in her favor. Thus, she then sent out her own fighter squadrons which served only as a distraction for the Grim Reaper squadron while she herself opted for close-combat.
"Guh!" Enterprise was slightly taken aback after witnessing Zuikaku's unorthodox method of fighting considering they're both Carrier which are supposed to provide support from afar. As Zuikaku swung her blade down on her, Enterprise then brought up her bow to block the strike.
Compare to such a massive weapon that is meant for long-range, Zuikaku's sword was much nimbler as she was able to execute ten consecutive strikes in the span of only a few seconds. That is not to say Enterprise was at a complete disadvantage. With the size of her bow alone, she was able to block most of the attack without much issue.
However, as Zuikaku's onslaught grew in intensity, Enterprise also started to sustain more damage to her Rigs. It will only be a matter of time until she can no longer hold back these sword strikes and got the initiative taken from her. Quickly, Enterprise recalled her second fighter squadron to attack Zuikaku whose back was wide open.
"Shi-" was all Zuikaku could think of as she hasn't the mean nor the time to defend herself. As the recalled squadron rapidly closed in on her, she held back Enterprise while also bracing herself for the attack, but instead of the fighter squadron was quickly dispersed and intercepted.
"No one shall cause harm to my sister, not even you the Grey Ghost!"
"Sis!" looking back over her shoulder, Zuikaku saw that Enterprise's squadron was intercepted by Shoukaku's own who was coming to aid her sister. But at this moment, Enterprise also saw a lapse in Zuikaku, so with a large swing of her bow she quickly broke away from the deadlock and recalled her Grim Reaper squadron.
"Thanks for the help, sis-"
"And I told you to always discuss with me first before anything else, even when you're about to waltz into the thick of it, didn't I?!" not letting Zuikaku finishing her sentence, Shoukaku immediately pinched her ear and gave her an earful despite being in the midst of combat, but even then Enterprise was still polite enough to let them have their little sibling squabble.
"Ow ow ow, I'm sorry sis, I really am! Please stop, it's about to fall off!" Zuikaku plead with teary eyes until her sister felt like the punishment was enough, for the moment that is. Letting go of Zuikaku's ear which has turned bright red, Shoukaku's gaze and attention then returned to their opponent, the Grey Ghost.
"For an enemy, you're quite the polite one." Shoukaku opened up first, which made Enterprise raise an eyebrow but she then also replied back.
"Enemy we may be, I am not some unruly brute who'd rudely step in on a conversation."
That was her respond and reasoning. On the surface it displays a strong sense of chivalry in her, but it could also be interpreted as she has complete confidence in her own skill and she strongly believes that she can take both of them out even without resorting to a surprise attack.
And hearing those words with such an honest and resounding voice that has nary a sliver of ill intent, Shoukaku felt like she had lost even before the battle even began. She bit on her lower lip then signaled for Zuikaku to prepare to resume combat.
"Then I thank you for waiting for us, and sorry for making you wait. Now, how about we pick up from where we left?"
At that moment, the sky which was still clear moment ago was darkened with thunderclouds as a storm began brewing overhead.
Both sides stared down on each other, waiting for the other to make their first rash move. The thunderclouds grew heavier and heavier as raindrop began to fall. In no time, it had turned into a total downpour. Then, the moment the first lightning flashed down from heaven and tear through the darkness, both sides once again threw themselves into the fray.
Zuikaku continued to employ the same tactic of getting up close and personal which has proven itself to be quite effective, and this time she also has Shoukaku to cover her back leading to her rushing straight into with even more vigor than before, much to her sister dismay.
On the other, Enterprise, even after being forced into a defensive state once, showed no sign of backing away to keep her distance. After sending out four fighter squadrons to keep the crane sisters at bay, had decided to stand her ground as she poised her bow. Seeing that stance, a bad premonition immediately overwhelmed the two crane sisters. They quickly increased the intensity of their attack trying to plow through this line of defense.
But it was already too late.
"Yes, the bond between siblings is a wonderful thing. I too have sisters, so I know just how precious it is." When Enterprise spoke up, she then pulled the bowstring as an arrow of blinding radiance began to form.
"You fight for those you hold dear, I too fight for the bonds that I cherished. The only regretful thing is that we stand on two opposing fronts. So in order to protect those bonds, I will eliminate all who stand in my way!" That arrow of radiance continued to grow in intensity, illuminating an entire area around Enterprise even amidst this heavy storm.
"It's over!" as the arrow of radiance was let loose from the bow, it then transformed into the Grim Reaper squadron in all of their true glory. No matter how many fighters both Zuikaku and Shoukaku sent out to intercept, every single one of them was instantly reduced to smoking wreck under the relentless assault of the true Grim Reaper squadron.
In a blink of an eye, the two crane sisters and their entire fighter reserve were completely annihilated by the Grey Ghost's unrivaled might. After making sure that all hostile signals have been neutralized, Enterprise then recalled the Grim Reaper squadron and contacted San Diego.
"Enterprise reporting, the crane sisters of Sakura Empire, Shoukaku and Zuikaku have been neutralized."
"Ooh! As expected of Enty, you sure work fast! I've also taken care of the business over here, although one of them managed to escape, with the amount of damage they suffered, pursuing us any further is out of the question."
"Then let's get a move on with the convoy. We have wasted enough time here." Ending the call, Enterprise took one last glance at Zuikaku who was still conscious and pulled her cap down.
"IJN Zuikaku of the Sakura Empire, I commend you on your prowess. While I offer you no sympathy as that would sully your honor as a warrior, from the bottom of my heart I truly had wished that we could have met in a different scenario." Bidding those words of farewell, she then turned on her heels and left.
"Hold it…Don't you dare…run awa…y now, G…rey…Ghost…!" just barely holding onto her consciousness, Zuikaku reached out her hand toward Enterprise before she finally succumbed to the pain and blacked out.
The two crane sisters remained afloat on the raging sea until a giant tsunami appeared out of nowhere and swallowed them both.
Sector ?, time ?.
"Sister, their signals have been confirmed. It seems the portal has successfully retrieved them."
"Just as we anticipated, they too have been chosen. Then I guess a warm reception is in order. Then let's go and welcome them, to the Sanctuary."
"Owari da!" intensifies.
