Nanami and her fleet were finishing up preparations for the battle when suddenly Akashi flew around the corner.
"Akashi...Akashi almost forgot Commander's new radio nyaa," Akashi panted. Once she recovered a bit, she held out a headset to Nanami who took it. Before she placed it on her head, she noticed it was decorated with a pair of metal wolf ears.
"Akashi-" she began to ask what they were for, but the little repair ship had already run off again. With an exasperated sigh, she put the headset on, and unsurprisingly it fit and operated perfectly. Yuubari and Akashi were brilliant, but their quirkiness was strong.
As she put the headset on, the two girls closest to her froze. Enterprise and South Dakota were overwhelmed by the cuteness of the Commander with wolf ears. Unknown to Nanami, the ears moved, flitting about like actual wolf ears as they took in different signals. Enterprise, unable to help herself, even reached out to touch them, but Nanami lightly swatted her hand away.
"Please do not touch the ears En, for all I know they may be sensitive," Nanami chided before gathering the rest of the group.
"Okay ladies. It is nearly time. You know our base strategy, but keep an open mind. We do not know what Amagi will throw at us. It is likely she will lean heavily on 1st and 5th Carrier Divisions," Nanami explained.
"Leave that to us Commander! Minnie and I will knock them right out of the air," San Diego exclaimed confidently.
"I am counting on you Sandy. Any questions from the rest of you?" Nanami asked the group. When nobody said anything, Nanami nodded and a voice came over a PA system.
"Welcome to the first ever Mock Battle between the Sakura Empire forces led by the crafty Amagi and the Eagle Union forces led by our lovely Commander nyaa," Akashi's voice rang out across the waterfront. Nanami took a deep breath before motioning for her women to go. At the same time the Sakura forces took to the water and they lined up in their formations across from one another.
Amagi had chosen the four Takao sisters, Yukikaze, Akagi, Kaga, Shoukaku, Zuikaku, and Amagi herself.
As they lined up, the women of the Sakura fleet balked for a moment. This was the first time they had seen Nanami in a rigging. Akagi drifted away from her line then suddenly darted from her line. Amagi took chase.
Akashi continued, "The rules are simple nyaa! If either side loses their flagship, Enterprise or Amagi, they lose nyaa! If a ship is deemed disabled by out independent referee, they must leave the field nyaa! If a team loses all ships but the flagship, they also lose nyaa! Our referee for this match will be the Royal Navy's Illustrious nyaa!"
Nanami's eyes darted from the oncoming Akagi and Amagi to look over at Illustrious. The Royal carrier was in an extremely tight fitting referee's outfit, no doubt furnished and provided by Akashi.
"Team Commanders, please meet me in the middle," Illustrious announced, and Nanami headed toward Amagi and Akagi, Enterprise on her heels. Amagi had managed to catch Akagi and hold her in place in between the two fleets.
Akagi fawned over the Commander the moment she arrived, "My Nanami in a rigging! This is such a wonderful surprise!"
"It is definitely a surprise, and explains a lot," Amagi commented, glaring at Enterprise who began to stare at her feet.
"I will not be part of the battle, but this allows me to command easier. I am sure you understand Amagi, especially considering you are leading from the battle," Nanami assured the sisters she would be safe.
Amagi took a moment, then answered, "As long as you stay out of the battle Commander. I don't want to see you getting hurt, because even our training rounds can seriously injure a human. May I ask how you came to own a rigging? Even if it clearly isn't quite the same as ours?" Nanami shook her head.
"I refuse to give up my sources, as I have need of them," Nanami replied, but then Akashi spoke over the PA system again.
"If you are all wondering, yes that is the Commander in her own custom rigging made by Yuubari and Akashi nyaa," the neko announcer bragged. Amagi couldn't hold in her laughter.
"Um...Enterprise, Akagi, I only need the Commander and Amagi," Illustrious said quietly. Nodding, Nanami turned to Enterprise and sent her back to the formation. When she turned back around, Nanami fell into an Akagi ambush. She was hugged tightly into Akagi's chest, and after she was finally released, Akagi leaned in and planted a kiss on her cheek.
"I'll see you after the battle my dear Nanami, I'll be sure to make it quick," Akagi said happily before sailing back to her position. When Nanami shifted her attention back to Amagi, she noticed it was scrunched up in a slightly pained look.
"Amagi, are you alright? You are not sick are you?" Nanami asked with concern. Amagi shook her head, and closed what little distance there was between the two of them.
"Nanami, how about we make a bet? Winner of the battle gets one request, no restrictions," Amagi whispered in her ear. Nanami couldn't help but remember a similar bet that ended with her in a Royal Navy maid's outfit. Still, one unrestricted request of Amagi, and she still had her request of Enterprise.
"I will take that bet," Nanami agreed, much to Amagi's satisfaction.
"If you're done, please shake hands and return to your fleets," Illustrious cut in. The pair of Fleet Commanders obeyed their buxom ref, shook hands, and departed for their fleets.
As she passed Enterprise, Nanami leaned in and whispered, "Win this for me En." Then, without looking back, she continued on to a safe distance behind her formation. Illustrious sent up one of her own aircraft, and behind it dragged a flag.
Suddenly the flag detached and it fluttered gently to the water. The moment it touched the water, shells boomed from both sides. Planes took to the air, and the women began moving rapidly.
Enterprise targeted Akagi and Kaga first as, to her, they were the biggest threats. Yorktown, remembering her final battle targeted the Fifth Carrier Division. Meanwhile Hornet sent up fighters as escort and to patrol the airspace around the three sisters.
South Dakota and Pennsylvania boomed shells across the open water in an attempt to strike the Sakura vanguard. Laffey, Charles Ausburne, and Fletcher all sped up, narrowing the gap between themselves and the Takao sisters.
The first victim of the battle was Atago, though she went down in an unconventional manner. Laffey had closed with Choukai and launched a torpedo that would have sunk her, but Atago darted between the torpedo and her sister.
"Atago out," Illustrious called. Atago's gesture ultimately proved futile, as Fletcher and Charles Ausburne followed up the attack in rapid succession.
"Choukai out!" Takao did not take kindly to the sinking of two of her sisters, and she unleashed a withering barrage toward the trio of destroyers. Laffey managed to dodge every round, and get off a return shot that found its mark.
"Charles Ausburne, Fletcher, Takao out," Illustrious announced as Takao's barrage found its mark, eliminating the two destroyers. On the defense, San Diego and Minneapolis were doing their best to dodge countless attacks from Maya and Yukikaze while still taking out the incoming enemy aircraft.
Unfortunately it wasn't enough as Yukikaze showed off her toughness. She absorbed a direct shot from Minneapolis, but was able to continue and launched torpedoes at both Eagle Union cruisers before being hit a second time.
"Minneapolis, San Diego, Yukikaze out!"
"Enterprise, the vanguard is gone, Laffey is on offense. South Dakota, Pennsylvania, you are now our front line," Nanami shouted out orders with poise.
"Yes Commander," the women answered in unison.
Maya used the temporary opening provided by Yukikaze to make a beeline for Enterprise. In her attempt to end the battle early she missed the appearance of South Dakota. Maya launched a barrage at Enterprise, but South Dakota intercepted the rounds with the giant shields that were attached to her rigging.
"You'll have to do better than that to sink me little cruiser," South Dakota shouted, then without warning she veered to the side. Behind her was Pennsylvania. She opened fire with all guns. When the smoke cleared, Maya was disabled, but Pennsylvania couldn't see the danger that was fast approaching.
"Penn, get down," South Dakota shouted, retaking her position in front of her fellow battleship. The torpedoes that Maya had launched in a last ditch attack struck South Dakota dead on.
When the smoke from the impacts cleared, "Maya, South Dakota out!"
As the smoke cleared, Nanami noticed something in the skies above Pennsylvania.
"Penn above you," she shouted a warning, but it was too late. A flight of Sakura bombers made their final approach. Pennsylvania's advanced AA battery cut down plane after plane, but one slipped through. She could only brace for the impact.
"Pennsylvania out!"
On the other end of the battle, Laffey was speeding towards the Sakura back line. Instead of heading for Amagi, she darted as far away from the deadly guns of the battlecruiser as possible. She darted between the Crane sisters, who couldn't keep up with the speedy destroyer. As they attempted to dodge her attacks, both Shoukaku and Zuikaku were struck from above.
The blows were glancing, but they slowed them further, allowing Laffey to finish them off with torpedoes.
Illustrious announced the losses, "Shoukaku, Zuikaku out!"
"Laffey is...out of torpedoes," the sleepy voice of the destroyer came over the radio. Nanami began to issue orders to Laffey to retreat, but Amagi had already seized the opportunity. Her guns fixed on the little rabbit destroyer and fired.
"Laffey out!"
As Nanami began to wonder what she could do to turn this to her advantage, suddenly the panicked voice of Helena came over the radio.
"Mayday mayday, a large Siren fleet appeared out of nowhere, they took Cleveland and I by surprise," Helena called out.
"All ships, prepare for battle, Siren attack imminent! All ships currently engaged in the exercise, swap munitions! Akashi, Vestal, prepare for wounded," Nanami ordered swiftly, but before she could add any more, new planes appeared in the airspace, shooting down the planes already up. Several bombs were dropped along the docks, impacting and scattering the spectators.
Nanami was helpless as she watched her girls being wounded. Her blood ran cold as the fiery fury she had exhibited in the past was overridden and replaced with pure ice. The Siren would pay for this, and Nanami would extract every last drop of that payment.
"Hahaha They really didn't expect this! I can't wait to see the look on that human's face as I destroy everything," Purifier cackled with glee, stomping down on a struggling Cleveland. She ordered another wave of planes to launch, all according to Simulation Ai.
Nanami gathered a fleet to launch a rescue mission for Helena and Cleveland. She grabbed Enterprise, Hornet, Yorktown, Amagi and Hood. With them were Belfast, Sheffield, Émile Bertin, Zara, and Z23. Nanami left Akagi in command of the defense and took charge of the rescue fleet herself.
Akagi recognized the tactics being used right away, as she had come up with them herself, and used them to devastating effect during the war.
"How dare they use Operation Ai against me," Akagi growled. San Diego had already recovered and changed munitions. She began blasting Siren planes out of the air one by one. Several of the carriers who were in the audience had launched fighters and were taking on the second wave of bombers as they arrived. Still some slipped through, and casualties were mounting.
As Akagi was dealing with the attack, Nanami's rescue fleet rapidly made their way to the mayday call from Helena. When Nanami came upon the two girls, her heart sank. From a distance all she saw was a pair of destroyed riggings, their owners non-responsive.
"Com-man-der..." Helena called out weakly upon seeing them. Nanami knelt down and scooped the cruiser's head up into her lap.
"You are alright now girls. We are here," Nanami comforted Helena. She looked over to Belfast who was tending to Cleveland. The look on her face was enough to tell Nanami that Cleveland was probably in worse shape than Helena.
"Com-man-der. Did-did we pro-tect every-everyone?" Helena asked, her eyes barely staying open.
"You did. You did wonderful dear. We are going to take you back home now," Nanami assured her. That was when she saw the Siren fleet in the distance.
"Belfast, Sheffield, Hornet, return to base with these two. Get them there safely," Nanami spoke quietly, her throat constricting. Hornet gently took Helena from her, and Nanami sailed a short distance away, the rest of the fleet on her tail.
"Girls. Eliminate the enemy. Leave the humanoid one," she coldly ordered, much to the confusion of her fleet. Despite their confusion, they carried out her orders, ruthlessly eliminating the fleet of ships one by one.
While their focus was on the enemy, Nanami slowly made her way across the water towards Purifier. Seeing this brazen display, Purifier laughed and trained her guns on the approaching human. She opened fire, but much to her surprise, she missed. Purifier swiftly launched another volley, which was dodged again.
Frustrated that she could not hit this simple human, Purifier gritted her teeth and let loose an intense barrage. Sure there was no way that Nanami could have dodged that, Purifier looked upon her work, only to see the human still approaching.
Her clothes were shredded, there were clear shrapnel wounds in the woman's side, and half her armor was blown away, but still she approached. Purifier felt a sudden chill run down her back. It was something she had not felt since...since the last time she faced Her, so many lifetimes ago.
The memory took her attention away long enough that Nanami closed the remaining distance. She lashed out without a word, sinking her fist deep into Purifier's abdomen. Then, with a vicious shake of her arm, the blades of her gauntlet extended, piercing straight through the Siren.
Purifier began coughing up blood, but Nanami was not done. She grasped the woman firmly by the chin, wrenching her head up to look her in the eyes. What Purifier saw there made the fear sink in even further. There was no mercy in those eyes. There was no emotion at all. Only Her cold gaze.
Then, the fear turned to happiness, because Purifier was sure that she had found Her.
"You really are Her...cough...It has been so lo...cough...long since you've killed me! I...cough... I'm so happy," Purifier sputtered. Tears streamed down her face, confusing Nanami. She still wasn't dead, and Nanami decided to remedy that, for all those she hurt. She pulled the blades out of the siren's stomach, and swiftly beheaded her. As the body hit the ocean, it began to disintegrate.
Nanami turned to observe the results of the battle. All of her girls were operational, though a few had suffered injuries. She saw Enterprise and Amagi rapidly approaching and smiled. Then she saw their faces, the concern and horror on them made her look down at herself. The shrapnel that stuck out of her in multiple places shocked her.
"Oh..." she gasped in surprise. She collapsed into Enterprise's arms as soon as the carrier reached her. And as her consciousness faded, she looked over to where the Siren had died. There on the top of the water was an interesting sight. It was something that stirred strange memories.
It was a glowing black cube that was rapidly turning a brilliant blue. She reached out to touch it, but before she could, she slipped beneath the black waves of unconsciousness.
A/N: Well, that was hard to write. Welcome to war boys and girls, it is not pretty. Thanks for the views and reviews!
