Azur Heroes
Chapter 5
Okay I've got the idea for the next ships to add to Izuku's fleet. But I'm going to move outside of Japan. After all, they aren't the only ones dealing with this invasion by the Sirens. But we will have a bit of a meet up for Izuku, Himori and their new fleet mates. Now then, on with the show.
(No POV)
With the first battle for Japan finished, and the celebrations past, Izuku looked over the three cubes his fleet had managed to acquire. He was in the command room and was in a video call with Himori. "So it was similar for your group. We only recovered two cubes from the battle." Himori said with the cubes in front of her.
Izuku nodded with a sigh. "I'm hoping with the next set of summons I can get someone to replace Nagara for a time. But I don't know how to summon a specific ship." "Maybe we're not supposed to. Maybe… we just have to trust luck or fate." Himori said with an unsettled look on her face.
"That is fairly accurate commander Hirano. While the cubes have to be used to call to us, you just have to trust the fates. And hope for who will answer the call." Izuku hears behind him. Kii had slipped in while Izuku and Himori were discussing the battle. Behind Himori though, Taihou decided to sneak up on her commander. And then quickly hug the woman's head into her cleavage.
Izuku decided to focus on his ship and asks, "is there really no other suggestion for getting a specific ship?" Kii just shrugs, but Taihou has a suggestion. "If it helps young commander, normally the trend in some worlds was to use one cube for a smaller ship. And two would be used for heavy and specialized ships. Such as myself and Kii-dono there." The fact she is saying this while still having her commander's face pressed into her cleavage is a bit distracting for the boy. But he shakes his head to refocus. Mentioning that he only used one cube to bring out Kii and Atago.
"So what's up with that?" Izuku asks with a puzzled expression. Himori finally pulls herself out of Taihou's breasts with a gasp, and says, "Ha… Ha. Couldn't breathe! Maybe it was just luck or something else? I only needed one to summon Taihou here. Maybe whatever connects us to the realm where the ships come from decided we needed some real muscle." Izuku nods before chuckling. Saying, "it sounds like they just wanted to watch an interesting story unfold. And they put us at risk to make it."
All of the women in the room look at him with a side eyed glance before moving on. Himori says that they need to bolster their forces as well as try to establish some trade of some kind. "You're right. With shipping cut off, most island nations could run into the issue of dwindling supplies. Too bad we can't use the girls' original ship forms." Izuku says while resolving to test out Taihou's suggestion.
"Oh we actually can commander." Kii mentions nonchalantly. Izuku and Himori then look at the battleship girl with a raised eyebrow. Taihou confirms the same, that they can turn their rigging into the entire ship. "Then why didn't you use the full ships in the battle yesterday?" Himori asks with a flat look. Both girls just shrug before saying it feels better to fight with their rigging compared to just directing or controlling their ships.
Izuku facepalms with a sigh before asking to meet with Himori later to discuss future options. The Fodo commander agrees and signs off. Izuku leans back before picking up one of the cubes. "It's all up to luck or fate huh? Guess I'll try it." Izuku says before gripping the cube tightly. He focuses more on trying to get a smaller ship. 'Someone to take over for Nagara. While she's recovering,' the boy commander thinks.
The cube starts to light up in his hand, and then begins to form into his new ship. What appears before him is a young girl with very pale skin, almost akin to the Siren's themselves. Right down to the white hair. Though unlike the enemy of humanity, she has bright blue eyes. And atop her head are black and white fox ears, and behind her is a white fox tail. She is also wearing a sailor uniform esque garb, with sleaves that seemed more akin to a kimono or priestess garb.
At her side for her rigging, she has two pieces of what appear to be a ships (or rather her ship's) hull. With a double-barreled gun on both, and a quad torpedo launcher behind that. But that is not all. On both sides of her hips are two full katana in their saya. While under the guns and torpedoes are another set of blades. Though much shorter.
It is then that the girl speaks to Izuku. "I am Kawakaze, Shiratsuyu-class's Kawakaze. I am not interested in getting along, so you can save your greetings," the now named Kawakaze says with a slightly deeper and deadpan voice. Izuku is a little unsettled at how cold this new girl he summoned appeared to be. Kii though is a bit annoyed at the new girl's dismissive attitude and tells her off with, "I'd watch that tone if I were you. He is your commander now."
While Kawakaze's initial reaction to that statement is to scoff, she jumps a bit when Kii slams her nodachi in it's saya onto the ground. Then feels a bit intimidated by the look the battleship girl is giving her. Kawakaze coughs a bit before subtly apologizing to Izuku. Izuku just gives a light admission of her apology, slightly intimidated by Kii as well. "Ahem. I know you are new to this world Kawakaze, but we need your help. The Sirens are here as you most likely guessed, and there aren't that many of you shipgirls here as well." Izuku says to the newest addition. He goes on to tell her that there has already been an injury among his fleet and he needs someone to step up into the role.
Kawakaze just sighs slightly before saying, "while I'm slightly annoyed that I was summoned to be a replacement, I know enough to understand you didn't summon me without good reason. I'll fight alongside the rest." Izuku just nods before thanking the girl. He then picks up the remaining two cubes to summon another heavy or special ship. Or he would if he knew what the special ships were.
"Hey what did she mean by a special ship?" Izuku asked Kii. Kawakaze though decided to answer. "Special ships fall into a few unusual categories. Carriers are the most common ones in the special group. Subs and repair ships also fall into that category of special ships." "Accurate. Heavy ships meanwhile are generally battleships, battlecrusiers, and even some heavy or large cruisers fall into that category." Kii continues while giving Kawakaze a glare.
Izuku nods and then hums. "I think I'll focus on a heavy ship for now. Seems like a better option for now." Izuku says before focusing on the cubes again. He thinks about battleships and hopes to connect to those of his homeland. 'I wonder if I'll be stuck with another girl akin to Kawakaze. Or maybe I'll have one like Kii. Though those cracks from some of the soldiers made it sound like I was trying to get more older sister characters. I'm too young for that! And… I don't think I'm into that….. Maybe?'
While this and other thoughts are swimming through Izuku's mind, the cubes light up and start to form into his next new ship. What appears before him is another young-looking girl with fox ears. Though with black hair this time, and clothing akin to a miko's. She was quite short, shorter than Kawakaze. However, her rigging was a monster in comparison. Behind her was a massive conning tower, and out to the sides were four double barreled cannons with impressive calibers.
While Izuku's head was tilting to the side at the sight of the visual contrast, the fox girl introduced herself. "I am called Nagato, flagship of the Sakura Empire's Combined Fleet. Are you the one known as the Commander? I shall bear witness to whether or not you have the ability to unite this world." Nagato says with a young lilt to her voice. Though Izuku had a different thought. 'She sounds like a little kid, but she talks really old person.'
Nagato then looks over Izuku a bit more before saying, "you are quite young for a commander, sir….?" Izuku shakes his head before acknowledging her. "That….. is accurate. And its Izuku. Midoriya Izuku." Nagato nods before noting her companions in the room. She had known Kawakaze in a sense from their shared pasts. "But I don't know you….. you are quite the imposing battleship yourself." "Thank you, Nagato-sama. I am Kii. One of a few planned set of battleships to defend Japan."
Nagato nodded, acknowledging one of the last battleship types to be made in Japan. Izuku then brought his newest charge up to speed, including where he would need her. "It's probably better if Akashi stayed behind and focused on repairs. That and retrofitting the other ships that don't have shipgirl spirits." "I agree commander. I will gladly command the rest of the fleet in battle." Nagato says while patting her chest and bowing to Izuku.
Izuku coughs before explaining that Kii is the flagship for his fleet. Kii herself is surprised by this and asks Izuku what he meant. "You were my first ship, and you are one of the best fighters in the fleet. There's no one else to be the flagship." Izuku says with a small smile. Kii blushes at this and thanks her commander. Off to the side Nagato nods her head and agrees with his decision.
Izuku then decides to introduce the two new girls to Admiral Sugita first. "While I'm glad we have new reinforcements for the fleet, please at least run it by me when you are going to do things like summoning more ships commander." Izuku rubs the back of his head before apologizing. Then taking the new girls to meet the rest of the fleet. Inko practically melts at the appearance of both girls. Finding Nagato especially adorable, and quickly hugging the girl while patting her head.
And she is a bit confused when many of the other girls in Izuku's fleet bow to the girl. "Uhm am I missing something?" Inko asks after seeing Atago go down to one knee to address Nagato. Said small fox puffs out her chest (as best she can) before saying, "I am the manifestation of the soul of the Sakura Empire, the pride and glory of her warrior spirit. As a Big Seven, I am also the symbol of an era. Open your eyes and bask in my radiance..."
At hearing that, Izuku and Inko's eyes bug out. With most of the older or known historic members confirming what she said. But the mysticism is lost when Nagato says, "You may stop basking now, I'm getting a bit sleepy..." This makes Izuku laugh a bit before rolling his eyes. Inko smiles as well, and then tries to address Kawakaze. But the girl is just as standoffish as when she first arrived.
"Don't mind her Kaa-san. She's just a bit….. well she's just kind of prickly. She'll warm up to everyone eventually." Nagara says from the kitchen table. She had been cutting some vegetables to help Inko with dinner. While Akashi had restored her arm easily enough, she needed a bit more time to restore the light cruiser's leg. Before dinner could really start, Izuku decided to go through what he had in mind for later operations and sorties. "I want the fleet to patrol the area around here for now. Kii you're flagship with Nagato and Shinano as the main fleet. Kawakaze, Atago and Ayanami, you'll be the vanguards. Nagara, you're on reserve for now. And Akashi I want you to stay back at the base. Not just to repair the others, but to help the other regular ships be brought up to the level they can fight even."
While Nagara is a bit saddened at being 'benched' as it were, she does understand what Izuku had in mind. Akashi as well, who was happy to stay behind to tinker with all the new gear on the base. "Akashi can make other devices to help everyone nya! I have lots of ideas of what to do to boost up firepower and recovery nya!" the minty kitty says with a happy jump from her chair.
But Inko then claps her hands to tell the rest to holster work conversations for later. "I'll take those veggies Nagara-chan. Its time for curry." Inko says while picking up the cutting board. After hearing what was being made for dinner, all of the ship girls celebrate. Even Kawakaze's eyes light up at hearing that curry was what was for dinner. All of the girls happily eat when the curry was done. With Izuku liking the cutlet that his mother put on the top of his. Once dinner was done, Kii once again stayed with the Midoriya's. While Nagato and Kawakaze were shown to two empty rooms in the barracks for the night.
With the new day, Izuku contacted Himori again. Alongside her was her newest summon. The girl had black hair with wolf like ears and was wearing a blue sailor uniform. At her side was rigging set up with four large double-barreled turrets. And in her left hand was a katana. "This is Ashigara. I had to use both cubes, but she should be able to help with covering my heavier ships." Himori said. Izuku nodded before introducing Nagato. "I also summoned another destroyer but… she's a bit difficult." Izuku says with an uneasy look on his face.
Himori just laughs before saying, "so you can handle meeting a Siren face to face, but can't deal with one troublesome destroyer?" Izuku is about to retort when a new contact appears on the screen. It is mostly static at first, but Izuku ordered the comms techs to descramble the signal. It took a minute or two but they were eventually able to get a visual.
"Hello! Is anyone there?" A woman said on the screen. She appeared to be quite tall and had long blonde hair in a few points upward. Izuku's eyes bug out and he shouts, "you're Star and Stripes! The number one hero from the US!" Upon hearing that, Nagato's eyes widen as well. She hums before saying, "I guess it has been quite a while since the war. No reason we might not be allies. It is good to meet you ma'am. Though I do wonder what this call could be about?" "Um who's the little kid who is talking like she's 80?" Star asks. Nagato then puffs her cheeks before Izuku placates the girl. He goes on to explain who Nagato is, as well as explaining he was the commander for the base.
Star is wide eyed at the fact that the little girl was not only a ship, but a battleship. Let alone the fact that Izuku was a commander for his nation's shipgirl forces. "Wish we had that luck here on the west coast. Most everyone in the major cities was killed off in the first wave of attacks. Los Angeles, San Francisco, Portland, Seattle, all gone. And basically, everyone who lived there too." Star explained while looking down. Himori then asks what she was calling about. One of the comms techs on Star's side, explained that they were trying to contact Pearl Harbor.
"Guess we overshot. A lot." The tech says. Izuku snorts before asking if they had found any cubes during the fights with the Sirens. Star raises an eyebrow before bringing out one from one of the Sirens she had killed. "This thing?" "Yeah. It's what you'll need to try and summon a shipgirl. That's how we managed it." Himori explains. Star looks down at the item before trying to summon a ship herself.
But she has no luck. Izuku looks down before saying, "I guess that means you aren't meant to be the commander of the shipgirls. You'll have to find someone who can though. Maybe the cubes will direct you." Star sighs before agreeing with the boy. She thanks the two for more information. "There's been little communication the last few days here. Whatever those Sirens are, they've made it ridiculously hard to contact anyone. We can barely make calls to any part of the US. Hopefully we'll find something." Star says before signing off.
The techs again try to reach Pearl Harbor, while Star leaves for the time being. "So the cubes decide who gets to call to the ships. Wonder how they could tell me?" Star thinks out loud while walking through the damaged military base. While the fighters and other military had managed to help fight off the Sirens, most of the heroes had been relegated to evac work and rescue. With herself as an exception.
While she is walking by a refugee area on base, she feels the cube get warmer in her hand. She then holds it up and moves it back and forth from the tents nearby. She hums before heading over to the camp. She walks between a few of the tents and giving some autographs to some of the surviving kids and adults. As well as trying to reassure them that they would be safe.
She then arrives at a hospital tent and the cube lights up even brighter. She sighs before going in herself. When she sees the injuries that some of the people have, her heart feels even heavier. 'It was our job to protect these people. The heroes and even the military. But we failed because of the enemy we were up against. Hopefully whoever this cube is guiding me to can change that.' Star thinks to herself.
She meets with a few of the ones who were awake and apologizes for what happened. Though some try to reassure her it wasn't her fault. One of the last people she passes though, the cube lights up more before fading. She passes the thing back and forth a few times to make sure she isn't imagining it. Once she's sure, she doesn't talk to who is there right away. She instead meets with a few others in the hospital and signs some more autographs.
When she comes back though, she decides to test to see if what Izuku had said was true. He is an average looking man with black hair and what looked like a farmers tan, given he wasn't wearing a shirt. Though the injured person has it a bit rough at this time. He's currently missing a leg and is just sleeping. So with a sigh, Star clears her throat to get the young man's attention. "Hey! Anybody awake?" "Not exactly. I was having a good dream." The young man says with a grunt.
He opens his silver eyes, then sits up and swings his remaining leg over the side of the bed. "So, what can I do for the number 1 hero of the US?" the man says sarcastically. Star looks down a bit, knowing why he's a bit disgruntled, and asks for the man's name. He introduces himself as John Kotov. When Star asks what happened to him, he just looks up at the hero in annoyance. "Look I'm… I don't really know the best way to explain this but I think… you could turn the tide for us here. But I'd like to at least know who you are."
John just sighs before leaning back a bit. He explained that he and his family had come out to visit his older brother in Los Angeles. "We're a bunch of farmers and oilfield workers. So, when we get a chance, we jump on getting to see something new. We didn't expect this. And now…. Now I'm alone." John says while looking down. Star looks down as well, shedding a small tear for what he lost. She apologizes, saying, "if we could I….. I wish I could have stopped them sooner. I'm sorry for what you lost." "Everyone's sorry when they hear that. Doesn't change that they're gone." John says dismissively.
Star agrees but then brings up why she was there. "I have something. It was dropped when I defeated one of the beings who attacked us. We recently got in contact with some from Japan who've managed to fight back. They said these things can call….. well they can call to those who can fight back against others." John just looks up at her with skepticism before looking at the cube in her hand.
"And you think I can summon them? What good would it do?" "It can give us a way to fight back. Protect everyone else. And maybe get some vengeance for those who were lost." Star says with a slightly pensive look. John looks back and forth between Star, the cube, and his missing leg. He seems to be thinking it over a bit before sighing.
He reaches up and says, "what the Hell? What have I got to lose?" Star smiles a bit before handing him the cube. It does nothing at first, even when John focuses on the cube. Star then mentions he may have to calm himself to properly summon something. He just raises an eyebrow at her suggestion but tries it anyway.
He starts to feel something while calming himself. He isn't too sure on what it is, but he can feel someone reaching out. Crying about some kind of darkness. "I don't know who you are, but I'm right here. You aren't alone. Let me help you." The man says with his eyes closed in concentration. Star hums a bit at his words, before covering her eyes as the cube lights up. Inside the cube, John feels as if he's reaching into the darkness to pull someone out and grabs onto a hand of the person that seemed to be crying.
When the light fades, a woman stands in front of John and Star. She has silver hair and kind blue gray eyes. Her dress is white and black with an officer's coat over it, that seems to accentuate her breasts. With a blue rose on her chest. On her legs are black panty hose with blue shoes. And for rigging she has a solid runway on her right side attached to her back with mechanical parts. On her left is a piece that seems similar to a command tower.
"Hello. I am Yorktown. Lead ship of the Yorktown class of carriers. Are you….. oh dear. What happened to you?" Yorktown says while looking over John. John meanwhile is a bit enamored by the woman he had managed to summon. Star on the other hand is wide eyed at what just happened. But then a huge smile breaks out on her face. She laughs a bit before congratulating John. "You just gave the west coast a better chance of fighting against the Sirens."
Upon hearing that, Yorktown puts together what happened to John. "You've lost quite a bit, haven't you?" "Yeah. I think I could hear some of….. maybe it was a similar pain to mine when I was calling out to you." John says while looking at his hands. Yorktown smiles before taking his hands in her own. She then smiles at him before saying, "and I thank you for calling to me. Now I have the chance to help you and many others commander."
At hearing himself being referred to as that, John tries to deny it. Suddenly though, Star returns with a wheelchair and a few other soldiers from the base. "If you don't mind commander, we could really use your help. We've got a way to bring in a bit more reinforcements and save more people." The number 1 hero says before saluting the man.
He gives her a look like she's crazy, but Yorktown's presence is enough to convince him to go along with what she has in mind. He stands with a bit of help from Yorktown to sit in the chair. Star and the soldiers then bring him to the command office, while the other refugees look on in confusion. Both at John and at Yorktown.
"So he's the one who managed to summon this girl eh?" Commander Agpar says while looking over both John and Yorktown. John just sighs before saying, "yeah pretty sure the embodiment of the USS Yorktown from WWII standing here confirms that. Oh no offense Yorktown." Yorktown just gives him a look akin to a mother scolding her son for being a smartass.
Agpar just chuckles at the two's interactions before going back to his desk. "Its not much, but we did manage to defeat at least a few of the…. Sirens was it? And these were all that was left." The long-headed man then pulls out three cubes to show those gathered. Yorktown then nods before saying, "those are about the only way you'll be able to call to we ship spirits. And if I'm going to fight… well I would like a bit more help to do it." John chuckles a bit before reaching to grab one of the cubes.
But he's not close enough. So instead, Star hands him the cube. He just looks down a bit sheepish, but he tries to focus on the cube to call to a new ally. It takes a minute, but he eventually summons a new shipgirl. She's quite a bit smaller than Yorktown, appearing to look like a young girl. She is wearing a red skirt with a white spaghetti strapped shirt. With one strap down, and a pink jacket over that. He legs have white stockings and white shoes. And for rigging, she has a single turret on her right side and a quintuple torpedo mount on the left side. In her hands is a small spotlight.
She has sleepy red eyes and white hair in two wild pigtails. Held in place by two clips with bunny ear protrusions coming out of them. When she speaks, her voice is a bit monotone and sleepy as well. "Benson-class destroyer, Laffey, awaiting your orders... Commander, these ears aren't real... you don't need to stare at them..." Laffey says with a look to both commanders. John meanwhile is tilting his head to the side in confusion but does apologize for staring at Laffey funny.
"So, we've got a destroyer now. Well, that's a start. Guess I'll try the next one." John says before wheeling a bit closer to grab the next cube. When he does, he feels a bit more accomplishment due to moving for himself. When he calls to the cube, it lights up quickly and a slightly taller girl appears. While she also has red eyes, her hair is strawberry blonde. She has a confident smirk and a sportier look about her. From her star-spangled socks with tennis shoes, a black skirt on her waist, with a zip up blue long sleaved shirt, and a cape over her shoulders, she seems to embody American patriotism.
For rigging, she has two sections of hull along her sides. With the right side having two twin barreled gun mounts, and the left having two triple barreled guns of a larger caliber. And the first thing she says to her summoner is: "Pleasure meeting you, Commander! I'm Cleveland, a knight of the sea! Come on, time is money! We can't afford to take a break!" John just looks at her with a laugh at how excitable she is compared to his previous summon. "Not sure you should be saying something like that to someone in my condition." John says with a smirk. That is when Cleveland notices that John is in a wheelchair and missing a leg. And she starts apologizing rapidly.
John just asks her to stop after the twentieth sorry and grabs the last cube. With this one he calls out to get some more solid firepower to strike back at the Sirens as best they can. What he summons is a tanner young woman with blue black hair, and green eyes. Though one is covered by her hair. She is wearing the most revealing attire of the summons so far, being short white shorts and a tight white top with a star on it. On her mostly exposed legs, she has a US navy tattoo on the left and a black stocking with black straps on her right.
For rigging, she has two triple barreled guns attached to her back mechanically. And is holding a third in her right hand. Both hands of which are covered by red gloves that reach up to her elbows. When she speaks, the girl seems a bit more contemplative than the previous two. "It is good to meet you commander. I'm Northampton, heavy cruiser of the US navy. Or at least I'm supposed to be a heavy cruiser."
John just smiles before holding out a hand to shake with Northampton. And then Cleveland. Laffey though just yawns before laying on John's lap. And then promptly goes to sleep. Star, John, and Apgar just look at the situation with confusion, while Yorktown is tittering off to the side. "She's always been a bit sleepy. But don't worry, she's plenty capable." Cleveland says with a smile and a bit of a laugh.
The humans in the room just shrug their shoulders and move on with matters. Namely, trying to fight back against the suspected next attack of the Sirens. "They let us off yesterday, but they'll be back. And they'll probably hit this place to cripple the military even more." Apgar says while bringing up a map of the area. Star agrees and asks that the girls help to intercept the Sirens before they get that close.
"Hmmm. I wonder." John says with a scratch of his chin. He then asks the commander to show how the Sirens attacked previously. While the other two military members are confused, the ships back him up on wanting to see where they attacked. Star just shrugs and agrees. When the map and path is shown, as well as some video from the attacks, John notices a pattern.
"It's like they're hunting. They stir up the regular folks who can't fight back the same way, and then wait for their main target to appear. The heroes." John analyzes. Star concurs with that thought. Noting, "it did seem like they were more interested in causing damage and attacking heroes more than anything. Too bad there aren't many left here." "But you are still here. And they may know that you are the number one. And a good way to trick or defeat a hero is to put civilians in harms way. My guess, they won't be focusing on the arsenal here. They'll go for the refugees." John says while noting some of the places where the Sirens attacked earlier.
Apgar sees what the younger man is saying and the two put together some ideas to ambush the Sirens with the ships gathered and Star's power. "Tomorrow, the US comes fighting back hard." Star says with a slam of one fist into her palm.
So this one I wanted to build up a few others that would be involved. As well as introducing a hero I wish Horikoshi hadn't killed off. And the main ships here….. well I've got a long standing love for Yorktown even before I started playing Azur Lane. Laffey is just adorable and was my first ship. Cleveland, well aside from being someone to bring up this new OC, is another ship I quite like. And Northampton seemed like a good heavy cruiser for this early US fleet. Especially since I already put Minneapolis at Pearl Harbor. Please review!
