The next morning, the bombers were flown in. Since Azur Lane had no runways on the island, they had to make do with an open field near the town.
Dozens of shiny silver B-29s gleamed in the sun. They were huge, the biggest planes ever seen by the girls.
The Sakura Empire girls seemed uncomfortable around them.
"I don't know why, but when I get close, I get the creeps," Atago said.
"Yeah, me too," Takao replied.
Raven was gathered with a huge team of manjuu and meowfficers.
He walked up to one of the B-29s, reaching up to touch its wings.
"This beautiful baby is built to take off from a mile-long airfield. But we're gonna make them take off within 400-500 feet. Sail right up to the Siren's main base, take off from our carriers, and bomb them to the depths of hell. We win this, our war is over. Let's do this."
Raven then flew on top of the wing and sat down.
"In order for these babies to launch from the carriers, we need to strip them of anything non-essential. That means anything that doesn't have to do with carrying or dropping the bomb needs to go. Electrical gear. Hydraulics. Secondary and backup fuel tanks. Even the armor plating and the machine guns."
Immediately, they all got to work. The meowfficers guided and instructed the manjuu. Meanwhile, Raven began on the bomber he sat on.
The sun was blasting with full force by noon. Covered in grease and oil, Raven spotted a few figures walking towards them. Ping Hai, Ning hai, Northampton and Hammann carrying towels and platters of drinks.
"Here, something to beat the heat." Hammann gave Raven a bottle of water and cool towel. The others gave out to the meowfficers and manjuu.
Raven wiped his sweaty face with the towel and wrapped it around his neck. He twisted open the ice-cold water and took a big gulp.
"Whew. That hit the spot. Thanks."
"How's it coming?"
"Well, bit by bit, it's coming together. Also, I have a little trick of my own to get them off the deck."
Raven walked over to a crate nearby. Turning his arm into a blade, he pried the lid off. Inside was a rocket engine.
"What's this?" Northampton came over to join the two.
"This is a rocket booster engine. We'll attach these to the fuselages of the B-29s. When it's time for takeoff, they'll get that extra 'oomph' to get airborne."
"Impressive. Well, we'll leave you to it. Good luck."
The four headed back. Raven, wrench in hand, took another sip and went back to work.
Two days later, the bombers were ready to go. Now, they weighed only two-thirds of their original weight and capable of taking off on any of the carriers.
Carefully, they were lifted on top of each flight deck. The bombs were then placed in each bomb bay.
Every ship was preparing to depart. This would be the largest sortie in Azur Lane's history. Submarines, destroyers, light and heavy cruisers, battleships and carriers. And of course, aircraft.
Raven looked over the sea at sunset from his room. This would be it.
His TV was on.
"In other news, an island located in sector H19, seems to have vanished. According to geologists, a series of large earthquakes caused it to sink beneath the surface…"
"Oh, good," Raven exhaled in relief. "It seems that they don't know about the bombs. Better that way."
He heard a knock at the door.
The door revealed Bismarck, Prinz Eugen, Graf Spee and Z-23, along with Nagato, Akagi, Kaga, Atago and Takao.
"How can I help you?" he asked.
Prinz Eugen and Atago stepped forward. They were carrying wooden containers. They opened the lids, showing medals inside.
Raven took one and inspected it. Just touching it made him tense.
"These are medals the Sirens gave us during our time in the Red Axis," Nagato explained.
"They were meant to symbolize peace and prosperity, but we all know how that turned out," Graf Spee said.
"Do us a favor, and send these back, along with the bombs," Akagi said.
Raven took the containers. "You have my word."
It was time. Everyone set sail, heading west in the direction of the sunset. The four nations formed a cross. Eagle union in the front, Royal Navy at the back. Sakura Empire covered the right and Iron Blood held the left.
Raven placed a Siren medal on each bomb. Screw their alliances and peace. They were enemies that needed to be eviscerated.
He was stretching on Enterprise's deck when he felt something land on his wing. It was her bald eagle.
"She likes you," Enterprise said.
Raven said nothing but smiled.
"Are you ready?" Enterprise placed her hands on his shoulders from behind.
"For what? To face the enemy or myself? To be honest, I don't know which one is worse."
"In order to face the enemy, you must face yourself first. That's the key." Enterprise pressed her body closer to Raven.
Breathing deeply, Raven closed his eyes.
"I am ready."
Yorktown, who was sailing next to her sister, radioed that they were in range.
"Wing Commander, your orders?"
"We launch now."
Raven ordered the fighters of the Sky Reapers, Royal Angels, Ryukaze, and Lufttigers to fly combat air patrol. Like a swarm of bees guarding their hive, hundreds of fighters filled the air above the massive fleet.
The reconnaissance planes scouted a defensive blockade of mass-produced Sirens guarding the shoreline. The submarines and destroyers zoomed ahead, prying to take the defensive armada out.
After they cleared the way, the battleships and cruisers would bombard the land, weakening defenses.
Half an hour passed. The air and sea smelled of smoke, fire and gunpowder. The subs, destroyers, cruisers and battleships accomplished their goal. Wrecked Sirens littered the shore and coast.
Now, it was left to Raven and his bombers.
Raven gave the command. Rockets lit up each flight deck, and dozens of B-29s zoomed skyward. Raven transformed and took off from Enterprise's deck, following them.
In a few minutes, Raven saw his target: the interdimensional teleporter. It was a huge tower that rose thousands of meters into the sky.
"We're at the enemy's doorstep. Get ready."
Even though the battleships and cruisers decimated the front line, there were thousands of Siren defenses waiting. They suddenly opened fire, the thickest flak Raven ever flew in.
Despite Raven's best attempts, one by one, each B-29 was shot down before getting close enough.
The last bomber opened its bomb bay doors. Raven was hopeful that it would make it. That was before its left wing caught fire and tore off the fuselage.
Raven caught the bomb as it slid out of the bomb bay, its Siren medal still attached. He was determined to get it to its target one way or another.
A portal opened in front of him. It was Observer.
"Oh, my my. My little Raven has made quite a mess with his Azur Lane friends. With our own weapons, no less. Tsk tsk tsk."
"Out of my way!" Raven yelled, still clutching the bomb.
"I would think twice about dropping that stolen property of ours."
"All I have to think about is vaporizing you and your home."
Meanwhile, the girls watched from below.
"What is he doing?" Taihou asked.
"I don't know, but it looks serious," Suffolk replied.
"Trust me, you'll want to hear this," Observer said. "That portal…" she pointed behind her. "…Can take you back to Strangereal. Back to your home."
"Lies," Raven said. "Strangereal is destroyed, its people, dead. All life has gone extinct, because of you."
"Oh? Are you sure?"
Raven looked confused.
Observer sighed. "Still haven't figured it out, have you? Fine. Raven, you were built by us. You are a Siren."
Everyone gasped with shock, except Raven.
"More lies. I was built in Osea, after the Lighthouse War."
"No. That's what we made you believe. The truth is that we built you from ADF-11F blueprints that we stole from Erusea and their Belkan scientists. Combine that with our Siren technology, and suddenly you were our crowning jewel. Your memories of being at the base, running away and crashing onto the Azur Lane island? We made them. Us Sirens grow strong off negative emotions. Therefore, we instilled hatred and anger within you, along with your dreams and visions. Ironic. Your lust for our blood, in the end, enhanced our control over you. All this thanks to a little black mental cube inside your skull."
Observer glided right up to Raven's face.
"You are no bird of darkness as you profoundly claim yourself to be, Raven. Just a little experiment that we scrounged together."
"No, it's… it's impossible…" Raven said.
"But the real Strangereal is not destroyed, Raven. It exists, pristine and pure as ever. All those memories you had of it. Its impressive cities, aqua oceans, happy families, and of course, the dark blue of the sky. Everything that you thought was taken from you is still alive. All you have to do… is join us."
"Don't do it! Don't listen to her!" Enterprise called out.
"Silence, Gray Ghost. This is his choice, not yours," Observer snapped.
"Listen, Raven! They promised that Orochi would bring back my sister, Amagi. But it was a lie!" Kaga shouted.
"That's what Sirens do, they trick and deceive! Don't fall for it, Raven, stay strong!" Kaga yelled.
Raven began to shake and tremble.
"What is right? What is wrong? I don't know anymore. But what I do know is that even if there's a miniscule chance that she's correct, that my home is still intact, then I must go. So, everyone, from the bottom of my heart…"
Raven disarmed the bomb and tossed it aside.
"…I'm sorry."
Raven walked towards Observer and spread his arms and wings open.
"Take me. But promise you won't attack them, and you'll leave them in peace."
"Of course. With pleasure." With a malicious smile, Observer wrapped her tentacles wrapped around Raven and began pumping some kind of yellow energy into him. Raven closed his eyes, his final gaze upon the girls he cared for so much.
When he opened them, they were glowing yellow, along with his veins and jacket. Just like in his dream.
"What did I say, Raven? Oh, that's right. You're ours now."
The girls were horrified. Their friend and comrade was a Siren this whole time, and now, he's joined them.
Observer leaned forward and licked Raven's cheek. "I said I wouldn't attack them. But you will. Now, kill them," she said, whispering into his ear.
"As you wish, milady."
Raven turned towards Enterprise, who was on the verge of tears. He began charging the railguns on his shoulders.
"Please forgive me."