Madrid, Present Time

Alfonso XIII had never been surer in her life.

But she was still full of doubts.

Here stood Espana. Her sister stood between her dreams of an empire and herself. Espana's ideals seemed to hold her upright amongst the hell of shells coming her way. Reduce to an immobile bunker, Espana's guns were torn. Her secondaries 102mm guns fired continuously in anger and not at anyone. They were silenced one by one. Alfonso stood there frustrated.

Espana never fired at her.

The last gun of Espana was silenced. Blanco ordered a ceasefire. Alfonso, both concerned and with a smirk of victory, closed in to capture her sister. At less than a meter, Espana tried to throw a last punch but Reina Victoria Eugenia was faster and blocked her attempt. Alfonso had pity for her sister's pitiful resistance. She had bought time for Buiza. That was about it. Her career was coming to an end. What had she contributed to?

"Espana. When will you stop being stubborn?"

"I am not stubborn. I am just fighting for what is right."

Espana smiled in defiance with blood dripping down her face. Alfonso, outraged, punched the smile out of Espana's face. She was stopped by Deutschland and Admiral Scheer.

"Keep your sister's squabble to yourself," said Deutschland. "This battle is done!"

"Alfonso. You will end up shining the shoes of the Ironblood… or you will die before that moment. Remember this," whispered Espana to Alfonso.

Canarias and Baleares took Espana by the arms and escorted her toward their temporary headquarter in a building still standing. Admiral Blanco followed the two heavy cruisers. Alfonso stood there biting her thumb's fingernail out of spite toward her own sister. Beside her, the emotionless Victoria tried to understand what was making Alfonso fuming. By her understanding, she had betrayed her sisters and declared war on the entire world. At what end?

The sun was replaced by a glossy moon of a red tint. The fires in the city ceased slowly. Darkness slowly descended on the ruins of Madrid. Alfonso was completely lost in her thoughts unaware of everything around her.

Victoria Eugenia waited.

Lisbon

The admiral from the Free Latin Union (FLU), Boris Markenson, had come on his personal frigate alongside the Smoking Snakes. After disembarking, he immediately apologized to Buiza in a kind matter.

"I am sorry that the Great War veteran, José Merino, couldn't make it. We had to leave at least one commander in the defense of our distant homeland. I think you can understand that after Ironblood dared sending a cruiser to raid in our own water!"

"You came with more than enough with the entirety of your surface battlefleet. Are you sure it's not leaving your water vulnerable to submarine attacks?" asked Buiza.

"I left enough anti-submarine vessels behind. What you have now is our surface fleet! Behold our most prize possessions."

Like a broken record, or a cleaver speaker, he presented the old, but modernized, ship of the FLU to the young Iberian commander. He started with the unit he was most familiar with. The three battleships of the Smoking Snake, Minas Geraes, São Paulo and Riachuelo. They wore tightened tank top of a charcoal color. Their green coat was on top of their shoulder. The heat of their homeland made it unbearable to wear these official coats. Their baggy commando shorts had black and green patterns. On the riggings and the left arm of Minas Geraes, a snake, with a monocle and a pipe in the mouth, rested. Buiza found them quite relaxed for what was about to unfold.

Buiza's gaze crossed Geraes' eyes. Like an automated robot, the snake jumped on Buiza, trying to scare him. The commander jumped backward.

Boris Markenson apologized, "Minas! We talked about this! Stop scarring people with Jararaca."

"I couldn't resist!" answered Geraes with an innocent smile.

São Paulo took her black military beret in her hands, "Excuse my sister commander. She's such a tease sometime."

"Don't say that or I'll let Jararaca bite you for real!"

"You are such a tease!" they repeated innocently in unison.

A chase started. The battleships ran for their lives. Markenson smiled at Buiza.

"Weren't they supposed to be veteran of the Great War?" Buiza asked.

"Well you see…"

Markenson tried to explain their careless attitude but a voice came on the radio.

"Almirante Latorre speaking."

The Andean Condors took an additional hour to come. After all, they departed from their Pacific base, crossed the Canal Stronghold and across the Atlantic to reach Lisbon. The Andean Condor numbered in the three: the battleship Almirante Latorre and the light cruisers Almirante Grau and Coronel Bolognesi. The trio appeared on the horizon. The three silhouette rapidly reached port. Buiza had his gaze fixed on Almirante Latorre, he guessed by the big armaments and anti-aircraft guns. She wore a splendid dress reminding him of Royal Navy's Illustrious or Formidable. On the side of her head, beside her right twintail, a tuque of a red color rested. Now that she was closing in, her attire of a crimson shade made her shine like a red sun. This contrast with the violet palette of her hair made her one unique pearl amongst her sisters in arm.

Rivadavia and Moreno greeted their old comrades they had not seen in a long time.

"How's the sun in the Pacific?" asked joyfully Rivadavia.

"So boring without company. Not even the Eagle Union visit us. At least, it is peaceful on the other side of the Canal. More importantly," she stared at Cairo, "Will my sister come?"

"Eagle is on her way to Gibraltar from the Indies."

"Thank you. By the way, Markenson, I have received a signal from Exeter and Ajax, do you need their help?"

Markenson looked at Buiza.

"Every help is needed," answered the commander.

"Oh, you are the commander for this front?"

Buiza looked at Markenson in disbelief.

"I am going back now that you have all that you need!" answered Markenson who stepped on his frigate.

The Smoking Snake, the Andean Condor and the Patagonian Sun, units of the FLU, were ready for their first showdown against Ironblood, the Vichya Dominion and the Red Confederation of Iberia. Markenson warned gently his shipgirls to obey Buiza, who was now the commander of them. They had to obey him as commander and admiral of the Popular Iberian Front. They saluted Markenson for a last time before he disappeared toward the sunset.

Buiza glanced at his newborn fleet. He couldn't take his eyes of the unique shipgirl battleship amongst his fleet. Latorre talked with Jaime, Rivadavia and Moreno. Geraes was still playing with her sisters.

Latorre noticed his intense gaze.

"Do I look funny to you!?"

"Sorry. I thought for a second you were from the Royal Navy."

"It is because I was in the Royal Navy before, but I was sent to this hellhole in the south seas after a contract. My sister Cochrane got a better treatment! Not only did she receive planes, but now I am basically just an anti-aircraft platform. The only remarkable thing coming out of this trip was the tan I got along the way."

"Cochrane? Anti-air? I see you have more than your sister but be clearer for me. I wasn't around in the Great War."

"Almirante Cochrane is my sister. Or she can be called Santiago or Constitución. I was originally named Valparaíso, then Libertad. The death of our first admiral, Juan José Latorre, before the Great War, resulted in me getting his glorious name. I am kind of happy because I won't have to rival with your Libertad."

"How do you know about me?" asked the light cruiser Libertad, who was always by Buiza's side.

"When you are lost in the sun, there is not a lot of thing to do. So, I just memorize the entirety of different navies. Your navy wasn't a long one," she joked mockingly.

"I still have no idea who Cochrane is," admitted commander Buiza.

"HMS Eagle is Almirante Cochrane," declared Cairo, "She was requisitioned by the Royal Navy during the Great War and transformed into an aircraft carrier against the Sirens impressive air fleet."

"She wasn't needed as an aircraft carrier!" argued Latorre, "I was left alone as the queen of the south."

"Common Latorre. You still have the cruisers Grau and Bolognesi."

"They are not… as big as me. And they are always in their own corner. Anyway, I will be happy when I see Cochrane!"

Buiza took note. With the possible arrival of the carrier Eagle and the cruisers Exeter and Ajax, he will have enough to hold Gibraltar or Lisbon against the Red Axis onslaught that was coming. For the moment, he founded three cruiser divisions. He decided to leave the names of the foreign division to simplify things.

The Smocking Snake cruiser division of Bahia, Rio Grande do Sul and Miguel de Cervantes. The Patagonian Sun cruiser division of Afonso de Albuquerque, Bartolomeu Dias and Blaz de Lezo. The Andean Condor of his Libertad, Mendez Nunez, Almirante Grau and Coronel Bolognesi. They would be his main cruiser squadron. For the battleships, he left them unscathed by the reorganization excepted for Jaime I and Almirante Latorre. He put them together with him. Exeter and Ajax would be assigned later.

"Will I be able to fight alongside my sister?" asked Latorre.

"Of course, darling. You will be under my direct supervision and my main force."

Latorre blushed. She refused to believe she was so gently treated in foreign territory. Maybe this trip would be more than just visiting Almirante Cochrane after all. What the commander didn't tell her was that, after all these airplane attacks that Libertad repelled in Madrid, he encountered firsthand that air power is of primary importance. So was anti-air capability. Her anti-air armament would come in handy when he will get attacked.

He assembled the fleet and they made their way to Gibraltar. He had to meet a final actor in the defense of The Rock

Ironblood Headquarter, Berlin

Gneisenau assisted at numerous meeting between the different admirals of the Ironblood fleet. They seated around a giant map of the New Europa. Tokens marked the map, especially around Greenland. Eugen was gone in the Atlantic and they only had the last position of Bismarck. In the present Iberian campaign, only Deutschland and Admiral Scheer were marked amongst the different ports.

Their reputation gave them carte blanche on the course of action in the current war. They were veterans of the Great War and had acquired a reputation of international proportion. Their names were listed as Admiral and Commander who had contributed to the final victory against the Siren threat.

Submarine commander and expert, current admiral of the entire submarine force, Karl Donitz. Commanded a squadron of submarine that contributed to the final victory during the Great War.

Battleship proponent and successor to the famous admiral Tirpitz, Erich Raeder. Helped Tirpitz with the coordination of the surface battlefleet during major engagement with the Sirens.

Battleship proponent and commander of the Atlantic fleet, Otto Ernst Lindemann. He personally participated in the last battle against the Siren at the Battle of Queen Maud Land.

Manager of foreign ports and battlefleet expert, the predecessor admiral of entire submarine force, Hans-Georg Friedeburg. Inflicted huge losses on the Sirens as admiral of the submarine force.

Supplier and expert economist of fleet maintenance, Gerhard Wagner. He participated in the defense of Ironblood's port when they came under attack by their new enemies, the Sirens.

Their disdain for one another appeared greatly, but they still worked with one another with the hope of Azur Lane's wake up call. Their gamble rested with either the adaptation of new war protocols and technology by Azur Lane's conservative admiral or their victory would prove their methods for them.

For now, admiral Luis Carrero Blanco of Iberia, admiral Inigo Campioni of Sardegna and admiral François Darlan of the Vichya Dominion sided with them. The confirmation from Miklós Horthy of the Österreich and Sofoklis Dousmanis from the Hellenic Navy was still pending. Their attention was turned toward admiral Blanco who helped ignite the civil war. The Iberian Peninsula was full of important war materials for a healthy navy. Gibraltar became a decisive point in their strategy for the war in the Atlantic. Without this naval base, Malta would soon follow and Alexandria. This early victory would greatly shake their enemies' moral. Donitz held his fist high.

Bad news had reached them.

From the south, the news of the sinking of Admiral Graf Spee to the hand of a Royal Navy cruiser squadron shook them. Additionally, they received a formal declaration of war from the Free Latin Union. Erich Raeder thought that the giant of the south had waken much earlier than expected, and earlier than the behemoth Eagle.

"U-513 spotted at least three battleships departing from the Amazon and two battleships from the Plateau. If we include Almirante Latorre in the equation, we are considerably outgunned if we want to take the Rock," said Otto Ernst Lindemann.

"Like I said in earlier meeting, we should have mobilized U-boats in the region to attack the forces in transfer," argued Donitz.

"No," said abruptly Friedeburg. "We have to abide by the law of the treaty at the least. We can't go around killing everybody. That would be counterproductive to our goals."

Donitz's scratched the itch on his hands. They had learned their lessons from the Battle of Jutland, the battle of the Horn and the battle of Queen Maud Land. What needed to be suspected was the unexpected. Their quick intervention would have signified that they were ready for anything.

Instead, they seated around letting the course of the war continuing.

"For now, we should secure the supplies from the Iberian Peninsula," declared Gerhard Wagner. "If you don't mind, I will personally lead our presence in the area."

"Our resources are spread thin," Raeder commented, "but I can give you Deutschland, Admiral Scheer, Koln and some torpedo boats of the coast of France."

"Our war in the Atlantic is our help," Donitz said.

"With Sardegians and Vichya's help, it should be enough," he declared with an assured smile.

Gneisenau finally left her corner of the room and intervene, "Why not use our old friends from the High Seas Fleet. They might be outdated, but Iberians port are close, and their range is not a problem."

Gerhard Wagner still held his old comrades in his heart. Some were scrapped following the Treaty and the Ironblood received an additional fine for waging war in the first place. Because of that, he didn't want to lose them. He looked at Gneisenau. She was needed against the modern Royal Navy. He would gamble on the fact that the Free Latin Union wouldn't have the resources to modernize their battleships.

"You are right Gneisenau. Mobilize Schleswig-Holstein, Schlesien and Sachsen and Württemberg. Tell them to reunite with Deutschland. She is going to be the flagship of the operation."

"It leaves us with no battleship in reserve," Raeder argued to himself. "Let's hope Operation Felix doesn't take more than a week."

Admiral Wagner sighed. He had more time to prepare leaving him with less time to execute the operation. Gneienau acknowledged and disappeared from the meeting.

Outside of the Ironblood Headquarter in Berlin, in coastal bunkers, the riggings of battleships Schleswig-Holstein, Schlesien, Sachsen and Württemberg were kept from bomber's view. In a little underground bunker, the decommissioned shipgirl were playing a game of cards when they were surprised by Gneisenau's strict attitude.

"Wow," Schlesien said with a surprise look, "It's rare that we get a visit from another person than Admiral Wagner."

Gneisenau commented, "Enjoy your new career! You all depart this afternoon to the Iberian Peninsula."

Città Eterna

"Littorio, what are you looking at?"

Vittorio Veneto was at her desk beside Littorio who looked through the window toward the Österreich lands. She had to quench her desire to invade what was theirs. The Österreich coastline would help secure the Adriatic Sea from the pesky Royal Navy. Unternehmen 25, the coercion of the Österreich was due next month. She wouldn't wait. She almost wanted them to decline the offer to justify their takeover.

"I was thinking about Operation Felix."

"What will be our answer?" asked Vittorio Veneto.

Littorio knew they couldn't refuse to help. At the same time, the Rock was on the bottom of her priority list. If they were only a simple help, they would be remembered as such. However, Littorio wanted to be the head of the operation which was impossible for now. They had to wait. Littorio decided to give the minimum necessary to count as a participation, but not enough that their contribution would be game changer.

"Let's send… San Giorgio and San Marco as part of a cruiser squadron alongside Alberto Di Guissano and Alberico Da Barbiano and a couple of destroyers."

"But San Giorgio and San Marco are completely outdated!"

"It doesn't matter in this future battle, sister," Littorio argued. "With what are they going to oppose us? Some outdated battleship and puny cruisers?"

"We should wait for the Supermarina to access the situation."

"Waiting for these slow incompetents! Never trust the higher ups. Trust your instinct. Trust me and only me. Our help won't be needed."

In both case scenario, she thought herself right. Vittorio Veneto lowered her head. She had to go with the flow. Littorio's mind was obsessed with Operation 25.

Madrid, Three Days after the Rebellion

Espana was tied to a chair in an empty room. In front of her, Alfonso XIII was trying relentlessly to convince her to join her side. Her stubborn sister refused over and over. Beaten, whipped or lashed, she didn't give up. Blanco and Victoria Eugenia observed the scene with a detached attitude. Deutschland, as the new appointed flagship of the Iberian theater, had to observe this scene that made her want to vomit, or in the least strangle Alfonso who had a complete deranged mind in her eyes

Deutschland argued, "We can always let her rot in prison."

"She will join us or she will be executed," Blanco declared on a harsh tone.

A puddle of blood had form under Espana's chair. Alfonso let go of the broken stick she had mercilessly used on Espana's head. Alfonso wanted desperately to have her join her side.

"Espana. I am the new Iberian flagship. You can always be my right-hand in our new empire."

"Your new empire is built on the blood of the innocent. I can't accept such an outcome."

Alfonso was tired of hearing the same broken record over and over. She was even more tired than the girl who took a beating. She shed tears of anger. She was chewing on her hat with a total disregard for her teeth.

"Why are you so stubborn! I hate you!"

"Sister, I never knew this was your true color. What transformed you in such a monster?"

"Shut up! Miss. Responsibility. You are going to get me killed!"

"Your cube is sure going to stop if you stay angry this long."

Alfonso concluded, "I am done with you! I'll try myself with Jaime I. I'll have you be the target ship for my new Ironblood friends."

She looked at the unsure Deutschland. Blanco acknowledged her decision.

Espana would be executed by firing squad.

Somewhere

"It seems Alfonso's option are running thin," commented Observer α.

"You are too cruel," said the Tester with a sarcastic grin.

"The Swordman did her job wonderfully."

"Operation Felix…" said the Tester, "A decisive showdown by… outdated technology. I don't know if any side take it seriously."

The situation unfolded faster than expected leaving all side short on shipgirls to send to the battle. At least, The Red Axis and Azur Lane would learn who is the new master of the battlefield. The Observer α notified to Tester β.

"Make sure the Luftwaffe, the Regia Aeronautica and the Vichya Air Force are ready to intervene."

Gibraltar, Four Days after the Rebellion

The defense of the island of Gibraltar, or simply the Rock since the shift in the tectonic plates made by the Sirens during the Great War, would be fiercely defended by one carrier, seven battleships, twelve cruisers now that Exeter and Ajax had come, around thirty destroyers and fifteen Iberian submarines under the supervision of Upright, Ultimatum, Unbroken, Urge and Upholder.

If the fleet didn't impress the Royal Navy admiral in charge of the island, he could still rely on the "most defended area in the entire world". Series of tunnels were built underground and complicated arrangement of firing arc made invading the island from a weak spot impossible for any attacking force. Additionally, batteries on batteries of anti-air guns were spread around the ten kilometers square island. Around ten thousand men were ready for the battle in all sort of position from the medic to the spotter for artillery pieces.

The admiral in charge welcomed the new commander of the Popular Iberian Front and his fleet.

"For this battle, my submarines and my surface fleet are under your command. Understood? You can call in the Gibraltar command for aerial or artillery support."

"Understood admiral Somerville."

James Somerville had other matters at hand. He was still awaiting the result of the interception of the Bismarck. He basically left himself vulnerable, but with the reinforcement, he regained hope that Gibraltar would be defended for the next two weeks, or at least, would offer such a glorious resistance that it would leave the enemy scared for the rest of the war. Now that the entirety of Europa was coming at his doorstep, he had to rely on a foreign commander of all thing.

"I hope you won't deceive me, commander Miguel Buiza."

"We will be victorious. I promise."

He went back outside the bunker and traveled a kilometer in a jeep before reaching the port of Gibraltar were his allies had anchored. On the premise of the shops, he could see the valiant girl go about their business as usual. The soldiers observed them like alien. Everyone feared the snake on Minas Geraes' arm. Buiza saluted them.

"Don't let your snake run rampant."

"Don't worry, commander. He is docile."

She took the pipe out of his mouth and threw it in the air. She ignited her lighter. The snake caught the pipe and passed it on the lighter in a span of a second. The snake was back to rest on her arm.

"You see. He can do tricks!"

"I hope he won't disrupt you during the battle," the commander said, "Girls, prepare yourself because, from midnight, you will be on the ocean 24/7."

Madrid, Seven Days after the Rebellion

Firmly attached to a buoy, Espana faced Reina Victoria Eugenia, Schleswig-Holstein, Schlesien, Sachsen, Württemberg, Dunkerque and the newly arrived battleships Strasbourg and Provence. Deutschland and Admiral Scheer refused to participate in what was a simple execution. Blanco was beside Alfonso who had the pistol in her hands.

"When you are ready, Alfonso, press the trigger and they will fire."

The executioners in front of Espana were not please by what was unfolding.

"We were promised practice targets, but we were not informed that it was an old colleague," Schleswig-Holstein pointed out.

"She allied herself with the criminal of Azur Lane," Provence, who was now stuck with an eye-patch, said. "They will have to answer for Mers-el-Kébir! I will personally make them."

"Repaired and already this pumped?" said Sachsen, "I don't understand what happened, but it was big for sure!"

"Is it worth shooting an old ally though?" Württemberg declared.

"She is an enemy of our cause, am I right," Dunkerque said while looking at Alfonso to get her approval.

Alfonso answered with uncertainty in her voice, "Traitors deserve to die."

"Quite ironic," laughed Espana. "You that abandoned Azur Lane's cause."

"Shut up!" repeated Alfonso.

She raised the pistol toward the sky. The executioners readied themselves. The signal had yet to come. From the executioner's rank, Reina Victoria Eugenia examined the fretful flagship. Even if she tried to remain calm, the tremor in her arms appeared obvious. Her finger on the trigger was going back and forth unsure of what was the right decision. Sweat dripped down her chin. Her eyes gained a dreadful expression. Victoria Eugenia tried to understand her but failed. If she didn't want to see her sister executed, she could keep her incarcerated for the remainder of the war. With her rigging sealed, it would have been impossible for her to scuttle herself.

Blanco declared, "Fire."