15 years ago, the stars fell from the skies.

The very heavens became shattered, and so did the world below.

Light fell on all corners of the globe, leaving none untouched or unaffected.

Many perished from the Ulysses calamity, and those spared were left with a world that remained to be their home - but no longer their sanctuary. No matter where, the wounds the disaster afflicted could be seen, to forever haunt us for decades to come.

Yet as the fires ravaged the world, they had granted unforeseen gifts. Strange, unusual artifacts that lay beyond our comprehension.

How they were the first to decipher them, we will never know.

But what we do know is the sin they committed, to wage a destructive war with these gifts, introducing to the world unseen fears and terrors with their newfound powers. It was only when the world unlocked those same secrets did fear give way to hope.

The same secret which brought me to this world. A world in which ships given life in the shape of man to fight. And fight we did, until peace was won. A great price was paid for the world to be granted rest.

Peace - an idea so treasured and sought for, yet so fragile and delicate.

The world today sits on such fragility…

...

And today, it will no longer be just our world.

"... It's over!" a voice declared. Though eroded by many battles as well as one just before, it sang with seeming victory.

Eagle Union Aircraft Carrier
ENTERPRISE

A bright gold bolt sat taut in her bow as Enterprise made her proclamation. Surrounding her in what used to be tranquil blue ocean was now a heated wreckage. Burning hulks of what remained of unthinking sharp ebon-clad shadows in the shape of ships sat lifeless where they expired. The sea sat polluted with debris and refuse of a battle that had just raged. Smoke tainted the sky, obscuring its open beauty that mirrored the waters.

Yet, all of it had been worth it for a chance to back the Sirens in a corner.

Ever since she and the other ships had been brought to this world, Enterprise had known only one life: to wage war on the enigmatic Sirens on humanity's behalf. For as long as she could remember, the vibrant and magnificent oceans had been endless battlegrounds in the contest of earth and humanity's fate.

But now, here was finally a chance of a lifetime.

Squared in her vision were three of the invaders in the flesh: both wielding massive contraptions and rigging clad in dark colors, their dark aesthetic accompanied by unnatural glow of yellow lights. The white hair and pale skin of the Sirens added to a ghastly and inhuman appearance.

It was difficult to believe that their mortal enemy could ever look human, much like themselves.

The three Sirens turned to face Enterprise, their gold orbs staring back with their usual bemusement, as though this was just a mere game to them.

"I suppose this is the part where you try to destroy us?" smirked one, giving Enterprise that damn perpetual smile of hers.

Enough of this. Without sparing a retort, Enterprise let loose her arrow. Her aim was true, but the Siren was quicker. In a flash, her bolt exploded mid-air, blanketing line of sight with flash and smoke.

Grimacing a silent curse to herself, Enterprise immediately tucked and rolled to the side. Her instinct paid off when a salvo zipped past where she was a second ago, but when she glanced up, Enterprise was greeted to the sudden arrival of the second Siren before her.

"Game over!" she taunted, her wide grin and glowing eyes filling Enterprise's vision as the one identified as "Purifier" raised one of her rigging's armature to strike.

*Clang!*

The sharp grinding of metal rang out, but as both parties realized, it was not coming from Enterprise, but instead from a maid clad in white that suddenly appeared between them.

"Today marks the second time I have protected you in such a timely fashion, Miss Enterprise," said the maid, seemingly unconcerned with the present danger now staring at her face. "I must remind you to exercise more caution."

Royal Navy Light Cruiser
BELFAST

With a grunt, Belfast pushed the Siren off. The expression their enemy bore was a mix between disappointment and new enthusiasm. "Hah! You got your very own maid now? Lame~~! Now I have to decide which one of you to pick apart first!"

A rhythm of thunder echoed off to the side. Plumes of water erupted around Purifier with occasional explosions from the rounds that hit their mark. From a distance, amid the smoke and ruin was another ship. Her gold hair and flowing white cape paled in comparison to the innate confidence her grin exuded.

"Maybe you'd like a piece of me instead!"

Eagle Union Light Cruiser
CLEVELAND

"Hahaha~! Wait your turn, Cleve-brat! Can't a little ship have a bit of fun first?"

"Purifier, this will be enough." A Siren, characterized by her cat-like ears and octopus-like tendrils, rose from where she - "Observer Alpha" - rested. Her kin, who had rigging in the jagged rough silhouette of a mechanical manta ray and whom they only knew as "Tester Beta", did the same. "The time has arrived for us to proceed to the second stage."

"Initializing Quantum Transfer. Meet us at the designated rendezvous."

Then, without another word, all three Sirens turned and began speeding away. A flabbergasted look spread on Enterprise's face - it wasn't like for Sirens to just up and leave all of a sudden. But simultaneously, they were living enigmas; who knew what went on in their heads.

Pushing herself forward, Enterprise gave chase.

"Hey wait up!"

"Miss Enterprise!"

"We're not letting them get away! Not like this!" Enterprise pushed herself harder, to pursue the shrinking figures that seemingly kept outpacing her. Enterprise had never been so frustrated knowing that she was already at her top speed.

"Enterprise! Come on! We can't take them all by ourselves!"

"Miss Cleveland is right. We should regroup to assess our damage. Our fleet is in terrible shape from the last battle!"

"Then turn back!" snapped Enterprise. Right as she said it, she bit her lip. "You can head back to help the fleet," Enterprise reiterated with more care. "If I can't take them down, I can at least figure out where they're headed."

Cleveland's eyes widened. "Hey, what's going on ahead?"

All eyes turned forward. True to her words, a peculiar sight beheld them before their very eyes. Ahead, what was clear blue skies suddenly transformed into glooming overcast clouds. The sun, once struggling with the smoke and embers of the previous battleground, had now yielded in a sea now drowned in foggy white. The Sirens they were chasing threatened to vanish in the spontaneous mist that formed.

"What the…?" Like magic, their quarry vanished amid the fog. The trio stopped in their tracks. Looking around, the same fog was everywhere, having already consumed them. Already they had lost their sense of direction amid the invariable white.

It was no use. Enterprise gave out a sigh as she reassessed the situation. "... We need to head back. No use tracking them like this."

"Uhh, which way did we come from?" asked Cleveland. A decent question, but another lingered in Enterprise's head: just where did this mist come from?

Just what were the Sirens planning?

"Standing around in contemplation would get us nowhere," advised Belfast. "This mist surely can't extend forever. If we maintain heading in a certain direction, I'm certain we will break through and regain our bearings."

"Then that is what we'll do." Like before, Enterprise took off and the rest followed behind. Their heading was uncertain and the mist continued to be thick as they went, but she would appreciate the simplest form of progress.

Progress...

Enterprise glanced an arbitrary look behind her, as if to perceive the Sirens through the fog. This operation should have been the a day of victory against their enemies. The Sirens may have slipped past them yet again, but until the day comes that they are defeated she will continue to fight. And she will continue to be victorious.

"... Did they arrive as planned?"

"They always do. There was little doubt that Quantum Transfer phase type Bermuda would fail."

"Quite so. The bridge has materialized quite expeditiously. It is currently holding stable and will do so for as long as we bid it so."

"Close observations have yielded no further change. They have developed according to our hypothesis and are holding status quo."

Their smiles grew wider.

"... Then the stage is set. I look forward to the wealth of data to accumulate."

A tranquil sea.

The sun shone high and bright up above, casting the world below in its holy grandeur. In return, the water casted dancing lights. The sky wasn't completely spotless as precipitation lingered. Yet, the clouds and the sun worked in seeming harmony to add an angelic touch to an already picturesque scene.

Peace.

She couldn't help but sing to it.

A timeless song whose lyrics had passed from one hand lost in time to another yet immortalized by voices. It carried within its own particular feelings, stirred emotions from others, and convey many intents. A thing that, despite existing without a physical body, truly had a life of its own. An object that existed both within and outside of one's reach. An eternal vessel - an embodiment of man's own soul, to continue life by residing in the hearts of others.

As she stood on the green meadow bluff overlooking the sea, why she sang mattered not. For the world, for herself, there was no ulterior motive than to give the particular song life.

To live. To cherish the tranquility.

By now the song had winded down its final lyrics. The singer had known this; she was familiar with it. Nevertheless, she gave the final note the send-off it deserved: one not of finality, but of a hopeful new beginning.

Silver Star Federation Aircraft Carrier
KESTREL

"There you are. Should've known you'd be out here."

Kestrel turned to the familiar voice. Like her, the visitor wore a black thick coat of a maritime ship captain along with a dark-colored skirt. But where Kestrel wore a white peaked cap, the other was bareheaded where her trimmed and neat brown hair went down to her shoulders. A pair of black thigh-high stockings and white gloves completed her refined look: a studious warrior.

The guest was her sister - an older sister, the most responsible one. But she was a ship like she was.

Silver Star Federation Aircraft Carrier
BUZZARD

"Been practicing, Kestrel?" inquired Buzzard, adjusting her spectacles. It was a habitual ritual, but she had perfected the exercise with precise movements. No more, no less. Just as expected of her.

"Well, you know how they go," Kestrel replied, stroking her white hair which was of similar length as her older sister's. She turned once again to the alluring scenery, the coast of the many seas that bordered their nation, the Silver Star Federation. "Doesn't this view look beautiful? The sun, the sea, the sky. I couldn't help but marvel at it."

Buzzard settled with a wordless nod. But it was not long until another, more energetic, voice chimed in.

"That's our 'Silver Star Idol' for ya! Little sister's auditioning for the center stage!" Upon hearing the remark, Kestrel blushed.

"Wha-? Um, it-it's not like, sis…!"

Buzzard, who had not even bothered to turn to look, sighed. She did not spare a look, for she knew exactly who she was dealing with. "Must you tease her like this, Vulture?"

Silver Star Federation Aircraft Carrier
VULTURE

If Buzzard exuded professionalism, then Vulture was the polar opposite. The two could never be any more different for siblings. Where her sisters had feminine hair, Vulture had settled with a shorter cut of brown. Where Buzzard was ladylike, Vulture was more coarse: the black coat was instead draped over her shoulders; her flannel undershirt, though buttoned was deprived of any formalities; and while her sisters wore polished uniform boots, their more rambunctious sibling had settled with more casual sneakers.

A real troublemaker if she saw one, an opinion that wasn't exclusively hers.

Undeterred by the disapproving look Buzzard gave, Vulture merely shrugged. "It's not just me you know. The brass gave it to her to begin with!"

'Of course…' Buzzard frowned at the statement. There was indeed a kernel of truth to Vulture's words: their youngest sister Kestrel had been entrusted with such honor. As ships born from a time of crisis so long ago, they had little choice in the matter.

Their duty in life was to be in service and protection of the SSF and the world.

Speaking of which…

Buzzard gave a quick cough, to capture her sisters' attention. "Regardless, we didn't just come here for simple pleasantry. Command has issued us orders, effective immediately."

Vulture gave Kestrel a slap on the back, almost knocking her cap off. "Alright! Some real piece of action!"

"Owww, my hat..."

"Don't get too ahead of yourself, Vulture," Buzzard continued. "This is to be a reconnaissance mission - an investigation. Don't start treating this like the second Temptation War."

"An investigation?" Kestrel inquired, her interest piqued. "Of what nature?"

"We'll be briefed en route," answered Buzzard. "Now let's move!"

As Kestrel diligently followed her two sisters, she paused to give the horizon one last look. The scene had changed little, yet it now held a new meaning to her. What she had taken for granted to be a serene moment now suddenly held an air of mystery. The distant horizon where the sky met the sea now beckoned a new journey through its new secret.

Kestrel forced herself to turn away from the scene. As she followed her sisters back to the Federation naval port, a realization occurred to Kestrel.

She was a ship, first and foremost. She and the others had been born for the express purpose of war. Though the wars had ended, their duties have not.

And a reason their duties have not ceased is because a storm was now brewing on the horizon.