No sun shone upon the island today, its light locked behind a layer of gray clouds. Clouds that were nothing compared to the thick miasma of paranoia that went through its every nook and cranny.
It was a fear of how events could be repeated, a fear that they could lose him yet again. A fear that fueled their fury, burning like boiling magma. How could it have happened? Taken from them, their most precious, right beneath their noses. Unacceptable.
Patrols were out, scouting planes filled the sky, flying high above as submarines searched the depths far below. They had been too lenient until now, and they would not make the same mistake again. It all gave an oppressive aura, one the Commander thought he felt in full force…
"Vestal, I'm feeling fine, really. I just want to get back to my duties at this point."
He was situated in a white room, laying on a medical bed. Though its backrest was up, making it seem like he was actually sitting. He was talking to the Eagle union ship, Vestal, who was none too pleased about his constant and pointless bickering.
"No can do, Commander. You're still far off from recovering completely. I'm going to need you to stay a couple of more days at this rate."
Vestal looked over several papers on a clipbook as she spoke, unimpressed at the Commander's incessant begging to once again be let go.
"Have you at least taken the pills I gave you?"
Vestal took her eyes off it for a few moments as she asked her question, getting the Commander's flabbergasted expression as an answer in turn.
"... Never mind the pills, Vestal! I can't stay here for that long! I have a complete invasion of the Atlantic to prepare for and I can't do that strapped to a bed!"
The end of his rant got met with his head getting lightly tapped by the clipboard held in Vestal's hands. An irritated glare accompanying it, her cheeks slightly puffed in anger as she stared down at the Commander.
"Commander, you know I have other patients, you don't have to yell like that. And you didn't answer my question for that matter as well."
He rubbed the spot she hit, the fact that it happened enough to take him aback. And in turn, making him say what she wanted, acting like a child whose mother had just scolded them.
"... Of course I took them, why wouldn't I?"
Her happy mood returned at his words, thankful how he at least didn't fight her on that.
"Great! Then how about a game to prove that you're ready to be discharged early since you're so adamant about it?"
The Commander analyzed her for a few seconds, conflicting emotions brewing within him. Hope that he had a chance, and the reality that clobbered it.
"Are you really that certain I'm gonna lose?"
Vestal nodded, oozing with confidence.
"Very much so."
Sighing, the Commander put his head in his unhurt left hand, curiosity making him at least ask what the challenge was.
"What is it that I need to do?"
The shipgirl put her clipboard on the bed before the Commander, showing him its papers whilst she explained the situation.
"Because of your heavy blood loss, you should find it hard to stay energetic and active. So it's simple, prove to me that you can spend a whole day without severe energy loss and I'll let you go."
The Commander paused for a few seconds as if his ears deceived him, looking up to Vestal to see if she was speaking the truth. His eyes filled with disbelief finding hers of purity.
"Wait… is that all?"
Vestal nodded once again, smiling at his skepticism against her.
"Yes, that is all. Now if you don't mind, I also need to look over the other patients. I'll be back in an hour to see how you have fared."
With that she made her way to the door, leaving him with a final message right before she closed it. One that once again made him question if he really had any chance to win this bet after all. One that was delivered with a sweetness that rivaled maple syrup.
"Good luck~"
Deep beneath the Island laid a room in complete silence. Its occupants sat around a single table, a world map on its surface. The room was of pure concrete, only each of the nation's flags used as decoration cutting through its otherwise gray nature.
Its stillness was broken with the opening and closing of a door. As Kaga, the sistership of Akagi and veteran carrier from the IJN, entered and placed herself behind Nagato. Though not before whispering something in her ear.
"There exists a saying about one being fashionably late… I believe you overstepped that by just a moment, Lady Kaga."
Hood was quick to punctuate her displeasure for the excessive time she had waited, as everyone else had done at the table. A mood that was met with a frown, Kaga being far from happy as well.
"Thanks to a certain incident because of your servant's incompetence was my sister in need of new reassurances that the Commander would be safe by any means from now on. An incident you still haven't properly answered for I might add."
There was no good blood left between the table's occupants after the siren's infiltration of the base. The small amount that had existed before withered away as blame began to be thrown at all parties, ill will replacing everything and all.
"...You can ease your mind in that it will go answered, Kaga. Appropriate punishment must be dealt if the others shall learn."
Elizabeth wore a blank expression as she stared down into the table before her, not meeting any of the shipgirls' eyes as she spoke. Her tone was razor-sharp, almost monotone compared to her usual energetic voice.
Beside her was Warspite, with thoughts mimicking her queens. And though she hid it well, could the fury bubbling underneath still be noticed. A fury that everyone at the table shared and masked to different degrees.
"I will believe it when I see it, Princess. You have proved that your means are lackluster and your resolve weak."
A distorted voice came from a single military-grade radio placed upon the table, the Iron Blood insignia hanging proudly behind it. How it insulted her, turning her fury from one shipgirl to another. A masterful feat, considering the circumstances.
"You will address me as queen, Tirpitz. I will not be insulted by someone that has not even sailed the Atlantic, let alone left her port."
The radio was silent for a few seconds, light crackling coming from its lone speaker as the message made its way across the ocean, and back.
"My fate is one I have both lamented and relished, but one I ultimately hadn't been able to change until now. But you were different, you were given a choice. And the choice you made was to let others carry your burden of duty. Let me make this as clear as the northern ice, Princess. I am called the Lone Queen for a reason, I do not see you as an equal."
Elizabeth exploded, standing up as she smashed her palms into the table before her. Anger overwhelmed her, making it hard for her to even find the right words. There had been much on her mind lately, mostly stemming from desperation. And this conversation only served as the trigger for her chalice to fill over, creating the situation that was now upon them.
"The nerve! Whose empire is it that spans this world again?! We're not equals, I'll agree to that much! The Queen of jealousy, that's what you are. An ocean away, afraid how I'll make the Commander m-!"
She froze at her own words, silence again engulfing the table before her completely. It happened instantly, like a candle that had been blown out. Their gazes burrowed into her, from former enemies and allies alike.
Enterprise and Yorktown, Nagato and Kaga, Hood and Warspite. All watched the shipgirl's next move. But none came, making Yorktown be the one to break the silence.
"Make the Commander what, Elizabeth? I believe you missed the last word of your outburst."
Elizabeth could only bite her lips in frustration, arms shaking in exertion as she drove her own nails into her palms. None could see her eyes, hidden behind her blonde bangs shadow.
They knew very well what she was about to say, what she truly believed at the bottom of her heart. They challenged her to say it, be it a whisper or a scream. The end result would be the same either way. She would've broken the status quo that had been created between all shipgirls. And sooner rather than later, would she have been mercilessly killed because of it.
A status quo that was held by power and fear, one that eliminated any rogue element. All to ensure that everyone could live happily beside the Commander. A thing created from desperation, to prevent an otherwise unavoidable mutual destruction.
She slowly sat down, refusing to say anything else. Warspite and Hood beside her brought no comfort in the situation. She knew that they wouldn't act to save her, no one would. Not even her most loyal servants would fail to hesitate in killing her if it meant that the Commander would be theirs. She had lost everything, barely holding on to the farce that remained. A farce only made possible by the status quo she so hated.
"Are you sure? Well then… Shall we start the meeting? Without any nasty bickering this time?"
Yorktown looked across the table to see if any opposed, but no one did.
"Wonderful, then let us get started."
At the groups' silent unanimous agreement gave Enterprise, her younger sister ship beside her, a thin paper bundle. Its white papers protected by thick black leather.
She opened it, carefully spreading the papers above the table. Pointing to the once of interest as she began explaining.
"As you all can see were the plans saved from yesterday's troublesome happenings. There are some points like fleet deployment that haven't been completed yet. Something that has also disrupted a more robust planning of our supply lines, even though we have the hypothetical strength to support this kind of operation for months."
Nagato looked over the papers spread out before her, taking the one closest and examining it more closely.
"Because of the changing conditions?"
Kaga nodded, seeing exactly what document Nagato was holding.
"Precisely, the Siren's positions are changing rapidly. At most they cover one-fifth of the North Atlantic at any given time, but that area moves nearly hundreds of square miles every day. Back and forth, up and down. The Commander has tried to study it, to search for a pattern. Seeking guidance from us shipgirls and the higher command. But we can't find a reason for it, anything to solve this riddle set before us. It's infuriating."
They all knew Kaga's frustration, feeling it as well. Azur lane, at least the one that existed today, was an extremely new organization. One that also was in the process of deploying the biggest naval incursion the world has ever seen, perhaps ever will. They had a gigantic task set before them, one the Commander carried mostly on his own.
"Speaking of the high command, didn't Brooklyn receive their answer concerning our participation in the planning of Operation Siren and the operations of the base?"
Enterprise spoke for the first time since the meeting had begun, finally seeing a need for it. She let Yorktown for the most part do the talking, the older sister being much more of a talker compared to herself. Especially when she got a drink in her hand. Her soft voice usually fooled people into thinking this wasn't the case. That she was shy, unable to participate in longer conversations. Happier to accompany her own thoughts in her head than to speak them aloud. However, those who knew her argued the complete opposite, knowing that those thoughts were avoided at all costs.
"Ah! Yes, thanks for reminding me, Enterprise. My eagle delivered her letter earlier today this morning."
Searching an inner pocket in her jacket, she soon produced a simple letter from it.
"I took the liberty of reading it before coming, sorry for that. But I can already say that it wasn't what we were hoping for."
She opened it carefully, beginning to read it aloud for the meeting participants.
"The Azur Lane high command deems that any and all actions pertaining to the creation and execution of the upcoming operation in the Atlantic should be limited to the Commander. This is the only option we consider viable in the face of the current limitations set before us by the Sakura and Iron Blood empires. We will shoulder the weight of responsibilities that can be handled abroad. However, all tasks that can only reasonably be completed on the island will still fall on the acting Commander."
She put the letter down, done reading. And what met her when she did was neither anger nor frustration, but apathy.
"Should've saved the paper, nothing but waste and predictability."
Kaga responded. It was nothing new, nor anything interesting. She wondered how long they could go by merely rewriting what they had already told. If one had nothing to say it's better to not make any sound at all, sparing the silence for one more worthy of using it.
"Now, this isn't any reason to be rude, Kaga. They needed to respond. It's not their fault that our limitations placed upon this island can't force them to be creative."
Yorktown ripped the letter in two, turning it to its side and ripping it again. Leaving the former paper in four perfect cuts, letting them simply rest on the table beside her, in front of Enterprise.
"Now, shall we get back on topic..? I believe we all have a duty to help the Commander, even though he does not want it himself. That's something we all can agree on hopefully, even if the high command might not. Therefore, I suggest that we all take on several areas of responsibility, ones that would not draw the Commander's anger after he finds out. A military base needs to still be operational without its acting commander after all. He will most likely be understanding when we explain our reasoning, or naive like always to not see our lies. And hopefully, when the time comes, we'll all still get our wishes fulfilled when he chooses the fleet he will personally command."
The last thing Yorktown had mentioned was a sore spot for them all, even her. But it was necessary to mention, leading into something else she wanted to say. Though that soreness manifested itself immediately into harsh questioning before she could.
"We will? Even when everyone has the same wish?"
Nagato spoke up, her shrine charms on her rigging dangling softly in a wind that did not exist. She did not want to invite conflict into the meeting, but simply being hopeful in the face of difficult problems should never come to pass. Especially one that had this much tension stored within it.
"Yes, mostly. Even though the Commander hasn't explicitly said which one he will take direct command over, he has commented that the one he wishes to personally direct be a joint Sakura and Eagle Union effort. He believes that the symbolism of two former enemies uniting against a common foe will be great for propaganda purposes. This limits the choices he has to effectively one. And besides, I think it's a great punishment by how the Royal Navy has recently performed."
Yorktown's explanation was met with a single short laugh from Hood, the shipgirl already offended enough by that comment to fight back. She leaned forward, supporting herself on a single arm. Her poise was similar to that of Yorktown's, a graceful and kind outwards appearance, hiding just a bit of darkness underneath, one that wasn't normally revealed.
"Surely you jest. The Commander is a man of the commonwealth, and that is where his heart will always be. The times he hasn't had a royal navy ship as headquarters could be counted on a single hand, much less for an operation this size."
One could almost see sparks flying between them, the air static with bad blood. However, in the place of Yorktown answered someone else, more specifically her sistership, Enterprise, speaking only a single word.
"Midway."
The sudden change in speaker caused Hood to lose a bit of her posture as she registered the word, looking between the two sisters as if they had become crazy.
"Midway? He was merely an attache on that mission, nothing else. Don't get lost in your delusions thinking it would win this argument."
But Yorktown was quick to respond, her soft voice conflicting completely with the tone of her suggestion.
"Well… someone had to keep him company whilst you were getting your retrofit. It's not my fault that he looks back and wants more."
Hood's eyes widened, shock soon turning into rage as she stood up, mimicking what her queen had done just minutes prior. She stared down at Yorktown, who only smiled back in response, eyes once again urging her opponent to take the last step. A step Hood took without hesitation, throwing one of her white gloves before her.
"I demand satisfaction."
The only response she got however was Kaga rising on her own, her fierce tone going further than even Hoods.
"You will demand nothing! Sit down or be banished from this meeting! And as for you, Yorktown. I'm getting sick of hearing your poisonous tongue. I do not want weak-willed nuisances destroying this council, bickering away like little girls."
Even though Hood was the one that had stood up, stopping the meeting in its tracks completely, became Yorktown the one most earned of Kaga's distaste. She quickly got support around the table, Nagato agreeing whilst both Warspite and Elizabeth to a lesser degree tried to calm Hood. Even Enterprise after a little while put a hand on her sister's shoulders, signaling that she had gone too far. The radio simply remained quiet, however. Tirpitz only listening to it all, judging.
"Now then, because this seems like too much of a challenge between the parties. I must suggest that this matter will be postponed and left to the Commander, without any complaints no matter the decision he takes. Let us instead go back and discuss our dealings on how to make this operation a success, as well as the new secretaries that will be chosen to guard him from now on."
Kaga sat done once again, not waiting for Hood. Though she soon followed after, reading the room. Nagato followed where Kaga left off, disregarding the papers on the table before her and in her hand, the new topic containing a much more robust base of being fortuitous.
"Yes, let's keep to topics where our opinions align from now on. There's no point in wasting all this time away by fighting when the enemy only grows stronger. Let's at least choose the new secretaries that will accompany him from now on in the meantime..."
There was no harmony left on the small island in the pacific. To some degree had both friendship and loyalty disappeared, gone the moment each and everyone had met the Commander. But there were larger forces at play that needed to be dealt with before they could turn on each other in the name of love, doing so now would only show an abundance of short-sightedness. No, first the Sirens needed to be defeated. And for others, humanity subdued…
The Commander slept soundly, letting out deep long breaths as he laid at peace. The hospital room was dark, the sun's ray that made it past the thick cloud coverage locked away by the window's curtains. On him laid Vestal, with the most adoring eyes looking up at him. She was listening to his heartbeat, her ear pressed tightly against his chest.
She loved every second of it, humming quietly to its sweet rhythm. But she could always get more, she desired more, and so grasped for more. Grabbing his wrist, his throat. Anything to get more of that intoxicating pulse. Feeling his warmth, hearing his breath. He was alive, healthy too. That's all she wanted, it was all she needed.
He was still here, safe and sound in her care. But as her hands traveled across his body soured her happy mood by just a touch. Her hands had reached his ribcage, feeling everything.
"You're not eating properly, are you Commander?"
Her voice was quiet, monotone. Matching the feelings tugging away at her heartstrings.
"You need to take care of yourself properly or I'll get angry, Commander. Seeing you this hurt nearly broke me, I can't allow you to mistreat yourself even further… I want to be your guardian angel, not the captor keeping you chained to this bed. But if this is the hill you're willing to die on then I shall personally rip you off it."
She slowly crawled her way up the bed, placing her head beside his, removing a small syringe from an inner pocket of her dress as she did, letting its cold metal surface rest against his warm cheek.
"Say, what do you want me to be, Commander? Your guardian angel, or devil~?"
Author's notes
Here it is, sorry for the wait!
Sadly it's a bit on the shorter side, but the next one will be the longest to date so look forward to that. I also want to thank everyone for reading once again, as well as for over 90 followers. It makes me extremely happy how much interest this story has gathered and I'll make it my damnedest challenge to see it all the way through... Even if I sometimes have problems being consistent schedule-wise.
If anything like this ever happens again though, just check my profile. I always keep it updated on the progress being made. And if there's anything more specific is my DM always open. I try to reply as quickly as possible so you won't be waiting for your answer!
With that, I'll wish you all another great day. - Ben