Peace is precious and desirable. Our generation, bloodied in wars, certainly deserves peace. But peace, like almost all things in this world, has its price, a high but measurable price. We in Rzeczpospolita do not know the concept of peace at any price. There is only one thing in the life of people, nations and states that is thing is honour. - The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Rzeczpospolita Józef Beck in his speech to the Sejm rejecting a German ultimatum, May 5th, 1939, about 7 years before the outbreak of the Second Sirens War and only a few months before the German attack on the Rzeczpospolita and the beginning of the Second World War

16 September 1948
Yokosuka Nihon Empire

The roar of cannons roused Nagato from her dream. Unfortunately it turned out to be just her dream, or a nightmare. Nagato was extremely unhappy about it. The war had been going on for a year, and the Sirens were still attacking humanity, exhausted from World War II. They attacked suddenly, breaking the defenses of the seas and drowning many ships along with the KANSEN. In the style in which they did it I would say it was very different than before. Earlier there were only small flotillas that attacked all human territories as part of the Dark Raids.

Now, whole fleets supported by whole air squadrons would strike, rather than single keys as in the First War. Fortunately for now the Sirens did not fight on land. But everyone knew that the Sirens surely had such forces but for unknown reasons did not use them. Just as in the first war the Sirens were technologically superior to the humans and easily smashed all their defenses. Though now they do it with losses and sometimes even considerable ones.

Nagato, on the other hand, had more reason than others to be unhappy. As the designated leader of the Nihon KANSEN, she and Mikasa led the defense of the islands with what was left of the Empire's former fleet and KANSEN. Unlike other countries, she often had to personally take part in battles due to simply the lack of any KANSEN and only the goodwill of America gave even a shadow of a chance for a desperate defense.

The Regular Fleet was in no better condition, the heavy losses suffered along with the KANSEN during the war and the loss of most of their command officers making Nagato and Mikasa the de facto supreme naval commanders and having to command the Regular Fleet on an equal footing with the KANSEN. Needless to say, no one including these two likes it. Unfortunately, if you have to, you have to, and there is no mercy.

Seeing that she would not fall asleep, she left her admiral's cabin on her flagship, where she had been throughout the war and had participated in battles with the Americans. And now, after a brief separation from the fleet, she has returned to it. Nagato serving on Nagato's ship where she makes crew, really funny you might say. But well no one has yet figured out if KANSENs can do anything with a ship other than steer it and act as crew. Not that the ship doesn't have a crew because it does. A KANSEN simply streamlines the entire combat process and allows for more efficient operation beyond what the ship could do without it.

Making a ship go faster and maneuver better? No problem, KANSEN will add a lot of power to your ship. Need a stronger and more accurate cannon strike? Leave it to KANSEN to help the ship's gunners do what should not be possible. Want your Aircraft Planes to fly faster and be able to do crazy numbers with overloads that will kill the pilot? Give KANSEN a moment and I guarantee you, the pilots will fly even on a damn barn door! And they will make turns as if they were flying a Swordfish biplane but at the speed of a Mustang monoplane.

For many, this is magic. To the scientists who study it all the time, it's not so much a sign of breaking the laws of physics, because strangely KANSEN don't do that, as it is of simply evading them. Physics works all the time, but depending on what KANSEN wants, they can manipulate the laws of physics so that, for example, the overloads occurring on KANSEN-supported aircraft from carriers are simply weaker and act with less force on the aircraft and pilot. In fact, what the KANSENY do is not magic but, as noted, an example of highly advanced technology, much like what their enemies the Sirens do.

In short, just pure Science Fiction. While scientists are surprisingly at ease understanding how it works unfortunately understanding is not the same as doing. With what they have gleaned from the Wisdom Cubes and the wreckage of the Sirens humanity has been able to discover many new technologies and increase their understanding of the world. Unfortunately as sadly noted much of this is simply out of their reach due to the lack of an industrial/technological base to allow such things.

For example, they know how the Sirens' main weapon works and have developed perhaps primitive but quite effective means of defense against it. Unfortunately, creating their own equivalent to use a similar one is beyond their capabilities. There simply isn't a suitable energy source to power it. Fortunately, the discovery of atomic energy gave a shadow of a chance that a similar weapon could be developed. Apparently a secret project of the Americans is based on this.

Shaking her head she snapped out of her reverie of the world and Nagato's war to realize she was standing at the bow of her ship. How she got here she doesn't know but it's not the first time she's reached the bow when she can't sleep without muddling her way through. -All right Nagato-sama?- a male voice asked. The little kitsune turned around and saw the captain of her flagship. They had been through a lot together during the war, making them close. Closer than anyone would have liked but well to her it didn't matter much. Unlike the others he didn't treat her like a weapon or worship her as the kami they are considered to be in Nihon.

He only saw her as a person, a young woman looking like a small child but surprisingly to those who don't know how KANSEN work an adult. If she was really a silly little girl she would not have guessed that her feelings for her captain were love as quickly as she did. Nor would she have made the captain reciprocate her feelings. As a reward for what the captain did he got two things, an eternal ban on further career development and the discovery of a sweet secret why KASENS in terms of appearance can be so different from what the ship represents. Needless to say, the latter pleased the Captain greatly.

When the war was over they both, after being released from captivity, took advantage of the fact that the Imperial Navy had been disbanded and got married in secret, well not too secret but secret nonetheless. Of course both of them later returned to service when the Navy was reactivated because of the Sirens. Of course they kept the fact that they were married a secret from most of the public and the Navy but what was left of the Admiralty knew about it. So did the Captain's family, Nagato's sister and Mikasa.

To hide this fact both on duty always address each other formally, any more confidential term is kept only behind the door of her cabin or their home. Or during times when they both have what little free time they have. Needless to say, in order to hide it when they go somewhere together on vacation Nagato uses a certain trick used by KANSENS which is known to very few people. It really helps KANSENS hide in society. Another thing is that she looks like a kitsune and decides to keep the tradition associated with their activities.

Nagato looked at the Captain, her Captain, and smiled sadly without trying to lie. She knew too well that it was impossible to lie to her husband, least of all her.

-I had a nightmare. Her husband looked at her. -Such as always?- he added very quietly, just in case no one heard them. -Honey?- Nagato only lowered her fox ears sadly and nodded. The captain just looked around to make sure no one was around. Then he walked over to her and hugged her, stroking her head.

-It's alright Honey, I'm here for you and you know I won't leave you, do you think why I turned down the opportunity to be promoted recently?- Nagato looked up -But Kato-chan, if you had accepted it you would have gotten what you've long deserved and because of me you don't.- Kato shook his head -And I'm supposed to leave you here alone? You can barely handle the burden and you know how few people will treat you well, especially the possible future captain of your flagship. After all, there aren't many decent officers left, especially ones who will see you as another human being and not a weapon or a kami.-

Kitsune's eyes began to well up with tears. -But you know, they have ri...- She paused when her captain, her husband kissed her. Then later he put his finger on her lips to keep her from speaking. -Not another word, darling. You know damn well they're wrong. They're just phantoms from those nightmares. No one really blames you. Now, although you should get some sleep, I can't let my wife look like the last wreck. Who will protect us, and who will lead us home if not you? You're a really good Admiral and the support that Azur Lane gives you is perfectly used to defend Nihon, all of us in the fleet, and of course you and I.-He smiled at her.

The happy and romantic moment was interrupted by laughter. A strange laughter, more disturbing than encouraging. They turned around to see a figure standing in front of the barrels. This figure was dressed in a short jacket-like blouse with a yellow tie but revealing a belly. She also wore very short shorts and what could be called armoured kneesocks. Her hair was white and grey and her eyes were a disturbing yellow that glowed in the dark.

-It's funny what you are doing- she said in a woman's voice, but it was not pleasant but rather shivering. -Such lovebirds as hide their sweet love as if it were forbidden. -She stopped and raised her finger to her lips. -Or is it? -She laughed unpleasantly.

-Who are you and what do you want? -The Captain asked irritably. The figure made a stupid face -Who am I and what do I want? -She started to think about it in a really stupid way and if it wasn't for the situation they were in it would have been extremely funny. Suddenly she tapped her head and made a silly face with her tongue sticking out -I am what you call a Siren and my name is Purifier.- And then she changed her face to a sadist's smile -And what I want is to awaken the sleeping princess-

Before it reached the two what Purifer said to them. Like a whip she shot forward catching the captain by the face, and grabbed Nagato and sent her towards the bow turret. - And to do that. You have to shake her off very hard- She said Purifier to Nagato paralyzing her in place. After which she easily twisted the captain's arms to then bone by bone tear them away from his body. She then did the same with his legs but before that she pierced the bones with the picks in his legs. Then she began to play with the rest of his body all the while keeping him alive and forcing him to look at his own heart before ripping out his eyes.

All the while she laughed maniacally as she tortured the poor captain further. No! She watched paralyzed by the horror happening before her eyes Nagato. This isn't really happening! She began to tremble all over. She looked at her wobbly hands and then when she saw what Purifer was doing to her beloved's brain with a loud howl she said -NO!-

16 September 1978
Atsugi Nihon Empire
Tomosaburo Mansion
3:07

With a loud howl -NO!- a woman in her prime suddenly got out of bed. Then, feeling vomited, she ran to the bathroom. There she returned her dinner, or more precisely the leftovers, to the toilet.

After vomiting for a few minutes, she took a deep breath, then went to the sink and washed her mouth with cold water to rinse out the remains and then washed her face with water without wiping it.

She took another deep breath and looked at herself in the mirror, which showed a woman whose face was marked by the passage of time. Not that she complained about it too much, in a way she was even glad about it, because it reminded her of her limitations. She stood like that for a few minutes looking at the mirror and admiring her face without any mask of eternal youth.

She paused when her husband entered the bathroom carrying a cup. -Here you go darling, your favorite herbal tea to calm you down.- Kitsune turned to her husband and took the mug with a smile -Thank you Kato-chan, you always know what's best for me.- Then she took a sip of the calming drink and once again took a deep breath this time with relief.

Her husband nodded in understanding -Let me guess, it's because of today's anniversary? -The woman looked up in amazement after taking another sip. -Is it already today?-She nodded.

Kato nodded. -It's been twenty years since that cursed battle. We lost so many then, too many.-He said it all in an angry tone.

Then he shook his head -Never mind, let's not tear up old wounds. Today Natsumi and Daisuke will be dropping by with their children.- He smiled and added -We'll be able to spoil our little grandchildren- He giggled while his wife chuckled and blushed -Kato!-

Her husband giggled even louder knowing how much his wife loved her grandchildren and their children. What did not seem possible for her 20 years ago is now normal. One of the effects of the Second Siren War is of course the lowered age of marriage from 18 years old dropped worldwide to 16 years old due to the massive amount of deaths resulting from the two wars one after the other each lasting a few years. Fortunately the second war in turn lasted only 3 years and ended with the Sirens disappearing again like the first only this time the Sirens fled to the Dark Zones on each ocean.

Their children born during the Second Siren War had to grow up to be adults faster for obvious reasons. Being born in the shadow of the Second War and maturing during the Third didn't allow for much to being a foolish and rebellious teenager. The fact that at just under 20 and 19 they each have two children of which the oldest is 4 years old and the youngest 9 months old is unfortunately a sign of their bleak times.

Many similar couples around the world have even more at this time. The wars have taken their grim toll on the reaper with no mercy whatsoever for mankind tormented by the Sirens. One could argue this is the price of the incredible progress their world has made. The result of this is the government in many countries mandates to have at least 2 children and in case of a couple's infertility to take in two or more orphans as the world is filled with them.

Kitsune smiled at her husband -Well my captain, it is rumored that Daisuke has a third child on the way.- The former captain looked at her in amazement and then smiled slyly -It is apparent that he takes after his mother, Nagato's power from the Big Seven and one of the last original KANSEN.- Nagato nodded proudly before stopping and saying accusingly -KATO!- Causing her husband to laugh.