"What the Hell is this." Portland kicked the door open. A framed picture of the Yorktown Class carriers shattered as it fell to the ground of the penthouse office.
"Portland?" Saratoga yelped as her tea set wobbled from the shock. "You scared me!"
"Portland." Enterprise got up. "Why might-"
Her greeting was interrupted by several rounds of armor piercing shells.
"Square the fuck up Curiosity." Portland slid her hands into a pair of brass knuckles.
"Hold up." Saratoga stood up. "What are you doing?"
"Move out of the way." Portland glared. The rug beneath her feet began to sink.
"But Enterprise-"
"That's not Enterprise." Portland jolted forwards before a chain of torpedo bombers circled around her hair.
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"Portland, You have to stand down." Saratoga stepped between the belligerents. "I don't know what's going on here, but perhaps we can settle a peaceful-"
Unwilling to wait any longer, Portland's eyes turned a shade of hazy yellow as she blitzed past the Carrier. Enterprise brought up her deck to absorb the punch. The agonizing screech of metal scraping against metal echoed in the room, her deck slowly deforming from the pressure. Portland's hair spread out into fuzzy white strands as her kinetic energy discharged into electrifying power.
Finally, a brittle snap cut the cacophony silent and Portland held up Enterprise by the collar. The Carrier was thrown through the suite with the flick of a wrist, slamming a circular shockwave of crevices against the back wall of a reinforced glass window. Before Enterprise could get up, Portland was already flying across the room with a fist of iron pulled behind her head. Rings of living ores quickly assembled as a final shield as Portland's hand dug into the abyss of Siren metal. The ground began to flood with the obsidian goo as Enterprise wiped yellow blood from the corner of her lips. Portland tried tugged her legs free to no avail.
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Without a single word, The Siren slammed her heel against the window pressed against her back and fell backwards out of the office.
Disclaimer: Indy best girl
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Hooo boy. It hasn't even been a month since I last uploaded behind schedule. And this was a cliffhanger as well! Oops...
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Reviews:
The One: Yeah, It's not murder, it's advancing the field of weapons research~
War Corgi: *Cue Portland going super saiyan*
Severak: Watch the ultimate plot twist be that Enterprise was never killed and working with the Sirens the entire time.
Guest: Bring the Chainsaw!
Rick Astley: Yes. With Shianao's counter attack, we can hold Berli- I mean Okinawa! Totally...
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Earlier this week, Enterprise was found out to have been a Siren Agent. It was recently revealed that after being assassinated several months prior, an Imposter had taken her identity and lead the Eagle Union towards Siren Assimilation. Upon arrest, Enterprise fled the scene into the Ocean.
If encountered, she and all Sirens are to be captured or killed. In the meanwhile, Portland shall serve as Interim Secretary.
All Eagle Union Fleets are to return to Guam until further orders.
Portland's POV:
"Are the munitions flowing in?" I asked as Gridley began to dress me up in a suit.
"The factories on the west coast are still planning supplying us." Montpelier confirmed as she entered the room. "They have expelled the Sirens from the premises, but there still lies massive infrastructural damages from the ensuing fight that need to be fixed now."
"And our Convoys?" I asked.
"They're still coming." Montpelier answered as I took a sigh of relief. "They recognize us as the legitimate Government."
"That's good." I brushed some dust as Gridley brought out a hairdryer. "Any luck Louisville?"
"The Atlantic Garrisons have sworn neutrality and are operating under the Queen for the time being." Louisville held down the receiver on her telephone. "Brooklyn is on her way to renegotiate with Nevada."
"I'll take it." I took a quick bite of a muffin. "How's our Internal Relations going?"
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"Baltimore surprisingly has an incredible talent to feign … credibility." Montpelier noted. "We've got a lot less backlash than I thought we would, to be honest."
"So we have support from the Homefront and the field." Gridley commented. "I'd say this coup was successful."
"It's not a coup," I reminded the destroyer. "It's a reclamation of our rights."
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"Same difference." Gridley rolled her eyes. "Anyways, we've won right? Can't we celebrate? Maybe with some alcohol?"
"You're not old enough to drink." Louisville warned. (1)
"Our fight is not yet over though." I pulled out a radio and began to tune the frequency. "We need solidify our popular support."
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"Don't we practically have that?" Gridley asked.
"Well, in order to earn loyalty, we need to make sure that all major ships and factions will lend their support to us." Louisville sat down next to us, her call with Brooklyn apparently over. "There are several groups that still have questionable allegiance."
"Which is why we need to assure their support." Chatter around the radio began to fade out as I honed in to the designated frequency.
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"So who are you lobbying then?" Gridley plopped down next to me.
"The most powerful ship in the Eagle Union now." I rubbed my hands as the radio channel opened. "Essex."
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"Portland." Essex's tone remained neutral. "I've heard the news."
"Have you made your decision?" I asked her.
"I was under the impression that you would give me proof that Enterprise is a Siren before you launched the coup." Essex dryly remarked. "And if the Sirens were even our enemies in the first place."
"If Enterprise wasn't harming our interests, why wouldn't she submit to an arrest?" I countered. "She would have been cleared of all doubt."
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"Perhaps she was afraid of being murdered." Essex reasoned.
"Then why hasn't she come back yet?" I pointed out. "She could easily come back and overthrow us."
"She could do that regardless if she was a Siren or Not." Essex defended.
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"If she was one of us and truly has done nothing bad, she would come back." I agreed. "But she hasn't. That's because she thinks that we've got evidence of her acting against our interests."
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"I'm sorry, I'm not following." Essex responded.
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"Basically, the Siren is afraid that we have evidence that she has done something bad." I re-explained. "Thus, that means that she has done something bad."
"But do you have proof?" Essex inquired.
"We have eye witness testimony." I presented.
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"So what do you plan to do now?" Essex eventually asked.
"The Sirens need for there to be war in order to return to the surface." I responded. "Thus I am going to end our war with the Sakura Empire."
"Are you seriously planning to make a truce with the Sakura Empire?" Essex's voice dropped.
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"No." I immediately denied.
"Then what are you doing?" Essex gave me one chance to explain myself.
"If we can end the war now, then the Sirens will have no more puppets to play against each other." I told her. "The only way that they can return to the surface is if we let them to."
"What is stopping the Sakura Empire from employing Siren Help?" Essex mentioned. "If they did it once, they could do it again."
"The Sakura Empire are honorbound warriors." I judged. "They would never stoop so low to try and woo the Sirens, especially after the countless massacres they have suffered from the hands of the Sirens themselves."
"Well the Sirens are going to do everything in their power to keep the war going on then." Essex said. "How are they going to react to this? I surely hope you've come up with a response."
"The Sirens will try everything in their power to avoid our scenario." I admitted. "That's why it is so imperative that we muster our forces and deal a knockout blow to the Sakura Empire as soon as possible."
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"And I'm assuming that you want my support in that." Essex read inbetween the lines.
"Humbly, yes." I gave her my platitudes.
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"I'll think about it." The radio cut out.
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"It doesn't seem likely that Essex is going to help us, huh." Montpelier analyzed the Carrier's tone.
"...You're probably right." I leaned back in my chair.
"It's too early to give up." Gridley patted my back. "Even if Essex won't support you, I'm sure others will."
"That's not the problem." Louisville told the destroyer. "Essex is the head of the Officer Corp. At the snap of a finger, she could rally the entire Eagle Union against us. She was the heir apparent, after all. Without her approval, there is no way to keep control."
"But certainly there must be a way to counter the Officer corp." Gridley brainstormed.
"There is no group that even nears the membership of the Officer corp." Louisville shook her head.
"Louisville is right." I added on. "Without Essex, our plan to defeat the Sirens will be doomed.
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"Maybe we could raise an army to fight them?" Gridley proposed.
"Really?" Louisville's cynical side broke through. "What group of ships has strong enrollment, strong dedication, and strong training? None!"
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"What group of ships has strong enrollment, strong dedication, and strong training..." I thought out loud.
The gears in Gridley's head began to turn in sync.
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"Saratoga!" We shouted.
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"Hello?" I knocked with trepidation as I walked into the dance studio. "Is this a bad time?"
"There is never a bad time." I couldn't help but to notice Saratoga shift closer to her armoured flight deck. "How may I help you?"
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"I would like to talk about the... Situation we're in." I closed the door behind me.
"What a coincidence." Saratoga turned off her original number. "So did I."
"Take a seat." Saratoga offered just as I opened my mouth to speak, before turning around for a caffeine filled Red-Bouge. (2)
"Thank you." I left the cushioned chairs and opted for a humble metal bench.
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"Why is this sticky?" I heard an uncomfortable squelch as I sat down.
"Ignore that." Saratoga silently kicked an elongated pink object beneath a table before plopping down a wooden tripod stool. "So what do you want to talk about? Or perhaps you want to tell me what is going on?"
"Sure." I began to relay my journey. Saratoga stared at me, unfazed with the revelations of the Siren plot. Her cloudy eyes glared intensely. It was beyond unsettling to me that the normally carefree idol currently laid frozen with scrutiny.
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"So how would you have wanted me to respond?" Saratoga crossed her legs, a full minute after my story had ended.
"I couldn't have asked for more than your understanding." I buttered her up.
"I'm an Idol." Saratoga smiled. "I can tell when someone is lying. Would you like to try again?"
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"I kinda don't want you to kill me." I admitted, matching her with a sheepish smile.
"Try again." Saratoga still wasn't satisfied.
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"I would like for your support." I gulped.
"There we go!" Saratoga got up from the chair and patted my back. "That wasn't so hard, was it?"
"I guess..?" I was blindsided by her complete 180 in tone.
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"Come on, loose up." Saratoga nudged me. "Why are you so afraid?"
"Well, I'm quite honestly afraid of you." I got up from the sticky bench.
"Don't be." Saratoga opened her arms. "What part of me is scary?"
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"Well, your power probably." I scratched my neck nervously.
"You shouldn't be afraid of that." Saratoga spun around. "The power of an Idol is one that is only yielded for positivity! Remember: Idols don't cry. Thus Idols won't make others cry. Our job is to make others happy, not sad. That's our code, after all!"
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"Oh." I let out a sigh of relief. "Thanks so much. I guess."
"No problem." Saratoga rubbed my back. "That's what friends do, right?"
"Yeah." I enthusiastically agreed. "Good friends!"
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"I'm not supporting you though." Saratoga dropped out of the blue.
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"What?"
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"Idols are here to make the world better." Saratoga explained. "We won't partake in any unnecessary violence. That's what the officer corps is for."
"But can't you make any exceptions?" I attempted to change her mind.
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"Do you believe in Idols?" Saratoga asked. (3)
"Yes." I nodded.
"Then put some faith in us." Saratoga concluded.
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"That's the best deal I'm going to get, right?" I sulked.
"Cheer up." Saratoga cupped my cheeks. "You've grown so much since your old Indy phase. I think you can handle this without my help. Good luck with that!"
"Okay." I smiled. "Thank you again Saratoga!"
"You're welcome!" The carrier went back and turned the music back on again.
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"Did you hear the news, Yorktown?" Hamman pointed at her radar.
"What news?" I looked at the message.
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"...They kicked the Sirens out of the Base?!" I covered my mouth.
"Yeah." Hamman affirmed vigorously. "What should we do? We have to take advantage of this opportunity!"
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"Well, I guess there's only one thing to do." I shrugged, letting a smile tug at my lips. "Let's meet up with Portland once more."
Footnotes:
(1): That hasn't stopped Gridley... Kinda like the rest of the United States Constitution... And the Geneva Conventions... And, well you get the point.
(2): Product placement!
(3): Portland believes in Idols?! What is this Sacrilege against the Holy Church of Indy!? Smh Smh.
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"Portland doesn't trust me." Saratoga clicked her tongue. "How come I was never informed of this decision? And why didn't Portland ever tell me about the Sirens? Wasn't I supposed to be her friend?"
The carrier slipped on the floor nearly falling down before steadying herself against a support pole.
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"She should have at least pushed harder to get my support." Saratoga sighed as she continued to practice her performance. "'That's the best deal I'm going to get?' Really? You should have tried a lot more Portland. I was willing to step on your side. I dropped so many hints! Wasn't that clear?"
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"After all I've done for her..." Saratoga's shoulders drooped. Several knocks rattled the door. "Huh. Perhaps she she's going to word it better this time."
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"Portland, Come on in. Are you here t-" Saratoga turned before stopping in her tracks.
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"Enterprise?"