Prologue
"I'm BOREAD!" Albacore rolled around on her rigging. "We're sitting here around for two days and do nothing. Nevada, please let me go diving please, please, please." The older Battleship floated over to Albacore and patted her head, "Sorry Albacore but we have to stay here for two more days. Enterprise and Washington believe that the Sakura plans something and it's our task to keep an eye on this sector." Albacore sulked and made small waves with her hands. In the background, Indianapolis and Portland sat on the water surface and ate theirs rations. As usual, Portland tried to feed her sister with more or less success.
The four of them sailed around the Pacific Ocean with the order to patrol the border between the Sakura Empire and Eagle Union. Both were partner in the Azur Lane alliance, but they are still rivalling outside the war against the sirens. Two days ago, they got order to hold their position because the fleet command of the Eagle Union got wind of a secret Sakura operation near their patrol-rout. A special task group would be sent to support them but until they arrive, they had to hold their ground. Two days of doing nothing. The others did not seem to be bored by it, but Nevada was definitely not. It was just a feeling, but she knew that something is about to happen. Soon, she could feel it in her guts. With strained nerves, she kept on checking her rigging and an eye, at every moment, at the horizon.
"Plane incoming." It was Indianapolis who spotted the plane first. The others investigated the horizon, their breathes kept. At first, they could not find anything, and they were about to call it a falls alarm as they spot a single plane on the horizon.
Finally, they are here. I couldn't endure any longer. Nevada readied her guns, "On your feet. Albacore dive. Stay silent. You are our joker."
"Aye, aye! Finally, some action out here." With a happy laughter the small girl started diving and took position a bit aside of the rest of the girls. The plane vanished as fast as it appeared and all of them were waiting for the swarm of flyers from the infamous Sakura Empire Carrier Divisions. But there were no swarm of planes ready to sink them. No Carrier Division on the horizon. Just two figures approaching the border. The battleships Ise and Hyuuga.
As they closed the distance they started to slow down. Ise came a few meters far from Nevada to hold while Hyuuga kept sailing around behind her sister, the Portland-sister in sight with the eyes of a hunter.
"Hey Ise. Long-time not seen." Ise rested her Naginata relaxed on her shoulder as she began to speak, "You too. When was it? Galapagos? No! Now I know it Iles Marquises. We dragged you and your fleet out of this Siren ambush. That were funny times back then. Don't you agree?"
"Yeah. You were a great help back then. I can't thank you enough for saving us. Without you my sister and the others would have died. As I can see you got a new rigging?"
"Oh yes. Akashi made some cool improvements. I can now launch planes on my own and don't need those annoying carriers anymore for air support. I'm still missing my two turrets though." She wipes with her hand over her flight deck as she spoke. "Nevertheless, that was enough of fraternisation. Back to business. We can't allow you to stick around here any longer."
"Oh, if this is all we will leave." Nevada started to turn around but Ise interrupted here. "I'm sorry but orders are orders. It was an honour to fight alongside you and it will be an honour to fight against you." Ise readied her weapon. Nevada sighed, "So will it be." Nevada turned around to take aim at Ise, but Ise would not give her the time. With a wide curve, she brandished her Naginata and forced Nevada to fall back.
In the meantime, Hyuuga started her attack on Portland and Indianapolis. Both girls immediately started to fall back with blazing guns aimed at Hyuuga. The surprisingly agile battleship managed to evade most of the shells and the few that hit were shrugged off by her. Annoyed by her prey, Hyuuga started to fire her own guns. Most of the shells miss but one explodes right at the feet of Indianapolis. The girls got thrown into the air and fell onto her back. Hyuuga immediately changed direction to finish the wounded shipgirl off. With fiery furry, Portland rushed over to protect her sister, "Indy! How dare you to hurt my Indy? You will pay for this." She fired a barrage at Hyuuga and managed to stop her for a brief moment. Just enough for Portland to bring her own rigging between Indianapolis and the down brandishing weapon. With a loud scream, the blade stopped as a wide crack opened in one of Portland turrets.
Hyuuga showed her teeth as the trial of strength continued between Portland and her. Albacore, not willing to let her friends die, fired a set of torpedoes at Hyuuga. Hyuuga, forced to fall back, cursed as she had to give up her prey for now. "Portland, are you ok?" Albacore surfaced behind her. Instead of answering, Portland sank down to care the wounded Indianapolis up, "Are you ok Indy? Are you hurt? Where did she hit you?" As she cared for her little sister she did not noticed, that Hyuuga prepared her next attack.
On the other side of the battlefield, Nevada and Ise were engaged in a fiery fight of guns and melee prowess. The older Nevada quickly realized that she was no match for the improved Ise and that she would lose if the fight kept going on. But she could not bail. She had to fight. If she would bail, she would doom her friends and it was not for sure that she could escape. So, instead of falling back she stood her ground and endured some of Ise's attacks. In her eye corner she saw how Hyuuga got forced back by Albacore's torpedoes. She also saw that Portland would not be able to block the next attack of her enemy. Ignoring her own defence, she flicks her guns around to fire a full barrage at Hyuuga to buy time for the others.
"Albacore, Portland! Take Indy and bring her back to Port. I keep them at bay as long as I can!" As she said this, Ise landed a hit with her Naginata on Nevada's side, which send her to her knees. Blood ran down her side where Ise's weapon had hit her.
"Nevada…" Albacore was unable to speak.
Nevada's face was twisted in pain, "I said flee. I can endure one hit or another." She forced herself back on her feet, aimed again and forced both Sakura battleships with blazing guns back. Portland grabbed Indianapolis and helped her to get up. As she supports Indianapolis, Portland looks back to Nevada. A single tear appeared in her eyes, but she knew that she could not help her. With full steam they set sail back to port.
As the three Eagle Union girls leave the battlefield, Nevada allowed herself a little rest. "You refitted battleships have steam. That's for sure. I'd never imagine getting in such a fight on my old days. Hehehe." She shrugged her head. "Well, should we continue now?"
"Sadly yes, my old friend. It was an honour to fight you." Ise started to rush forward to finish Nevada of. Before she could reach her, she screamed, "Noooo!", as a torpedo hit Nevada.
A gigantic water fountain reached upwards as the explosive device detonated beneath Nevada.
In the distant, Albacore turned around and saw the fountain. Tears ran down her because she knew what this fountain had to mean. Knowing that Nevada's sacrifice would be in vain if the three of them would die the same, she turned around and dived again to follow Portland and Indianapolis. Even under the surface of the ocean, she still cried tears of deep grief and sorrow.
Near Hyuuga I-56 surfaced. "Hit … confirmed. Target … destroyed."
"Good hit 56. Sis, should we pursue them?" Hyuuga looked over to her sister. Her sister crouched at the place Nevada stood just a minute ago. She whispered, "Goodbye, old friend." A single tear dropped on the water and send single wave over the calm sea. She stood up and looked at the direction the others fled. "No. We have done our work. Let's return and report back." She turned around and set straight course back home.
Nevada's consciousness was about to fade away as the cold waves engulfed her body. "This is my end. I feel cold. The water feels cold." At the end of her sight, a figure sat on top of the water surface. She reached her hand out to her, but she was too far away. "Goodbye, Ise." Her consciousness faded as she felt it, a last time, warmth.
On the other side of the globe a tall woman with black hair looked up from some papers. "So, it begins anew." She walked over to a small table with a chessboard on it. She pulled a golden Queen out of her sleeve and put it in the middle of the board, between the black and white figures. "But what is your goal in this game, huh?"