"Report?"

Andromeda slid her glasses back onto her face, their lenses freshly wiped and clear. But the same could not be said for her tired eyes as she reviewed the data with a sigh. "I've finished analyzing the results compiled from all of our excursions, everything since Operation: Bunker Shot. Based on what was reported thus far, there is an unmistakable consistency. The projectiles are definitely air-burst devices whose trajectory strongly suggests that they're originating from a single source hundreds, if not over a thousand kilometers away."

A puzzled expression curled on Fort Grace. "From that far? And you believe they are all coming from the same source?"

Promptly attending to her station, Andromeda quickly brought a map on display, where her thoughts, analyses, and conclusions formed visually before their eyes. Locations of the attacks which coincided with the locations of their operations, the speed in which the attacks came, time of arrival versus time of detection, all led to…

Andromeda turned back to the carrier whose perplexion persisted. "Are you certain of this?"

"Absolutely," the intelligence vessel answered seriously. "There's no doubt about it. I don't know how they got it working or if they had planned it from the beginning, but…

"I'm certain of it."

A hushed silence filled the briefing room as everyone packed in. At the front, Andromeda stood as she performed a quick head-count; no one was amiss but in a time like this she had no time to spare for the slightest uncertainty.

"Everyone's here, so let's start." All eyes stared with intrigue at the intelligence vessel as she conducted the briefing in Fort Grace's stead as the very carrier stood behind her as part of the audience. All questions were respectfully refrained in light of the unusual - and indicative - arrangement.

As usual, the map of the continent was presented. "As you are all aware, the Rose Kingdom has employed some sort of weapon, a weapon that so far has blunted any sort of meaningful offensive. Any and all attempts to advance the frontline has been met with mid-air detonations that rival any conventional thermobaric projectile. However… I have finally ascertained both the source and the identity of this weapon!"

With a pause, Andromeda let the lines and data play out on the map display. While it caught the attention of the ships attending, Fort Grace immediately recognized it. She held her breath, already aware of the answer.

The animations ended, narrowed to a singular location. All heads leaned forward, but its name was presented clear without doubt.

"... Stonehenge?"
"What's that?"
"I thought it was some kind of monument in the Royal Navy home islands. Heard it was a tourist trap too..."
"That can't be it… So what even is Stonehenge?"

The map briefly disappeared as a series of schematics and vague specifications filled up the display. Taking a breath, Andromeda explained. "Stonehenge is the name of the installation where a series of eight colossal cannons are arranged in a circle, situated atop reinforced offshore pedestals. Combined with 360-degree field of rotation per cannon, Stonehenge can fire from any angle on the horizontal plane while elevation systems grant each cannon an elevation angle as high as 90-degrees. Each of Stonehenge's cannons can launch 120cm projectiles over a dozen times the speed of sound thanks to their dual system of propellant charge and magnetic rails that accelerate them. Fire-control for the guns are handled by an extensive network of supercomputers held within the control facility in the center of the circle, capable of performing billions of computations per second to consider every variable in order to make an accurate shot. Everything, all powered by an equally impressive power plant that would've called for an energy output rivalling an entire city."

Looks of horror spread among the attendees. "And this is what they're using against us?"

"Unfortunately, yes," Andromeda answered with a sigh. "Reverse triangulation of the attack vectors made it clear that the strikes were all coming from a singular location and field observations coincide with its specifications... As much as it's hard to believe, these kind of attacks are not at all impossible for Stonehenge, even if it wasn't designed for such purpose..."

Tennessee looked towards her with suspicious eyes. "What do you mean? And why do you know so much about it? I thought it was a Siren weapon."

"... Because it was created by the hands of man." Tennessee turned to see Kestrel as she continued. "Stonehenge was something that we had tried to build in this continent years ago. But it was left unfinished, only partially constructed."

"At least, until recently," Andromeda remarked. "I have a hard time believing that the Rose Kingdom could have finished its construction all by themselves. But if they had someone helping them..."

"The Sirens..." Murmurs filled the air in light of the revelation. But the Eagle battleship remained unmoved.

"I don't care what that thing's history is. We know where it is now, so how soon can we neutralize it?"

"Well… that's where a major problem comes in." With the stroke of some keys, Andromeda produced a circular overlay over the map, with Stonehenge at its center. The outline enveloped almost all of the continent, leaving very little beneath its shadow.

"As you can see, Stonehenge has an effective attack range greater than 1200 kilometers - maybe more if the they've made improvements. Practically all of the whole continent falls within that range. This should go without saying, but I don't think anyone is keen on sailing through that kind of gauntlet. They'd be wiped out before they even get anywhere."

"Surely there's a way to avoid its notice?" asked Ark Royal. "A blind spot of sorts we can exploit?"

"All recorded encounters have had one thing in common: contact with hostile elements have all resulted in an immediate barrage from Stonehenge; everything 2000 feet up is guaranteed annihilated. It should be assumed from this observation that they've set up an intercept system in such a way that Stonehenge automatically launches attacks at our last reported position, even using their mass-produced ships to serve as terminal guidance. Avoiding detection would therefore be a feasible method to avoid those cannons but with this much ground to cross, it would only be a matter of time before any strike group gets spotted before they even get close enough to put any meaningful damage on Stonehenge."

"And if our foes are at least half-sensible, they would use this system to its fullest potential by surrounding Stonehenge with frequent patrols and defenses," Buzzard added. "And then it all leads back to the first problem of us being wiped out upon being detected. A rather sound defense if I ever saw one."

The Cleveland sisters all had a foreboding look on their faces. "Well, crud. There's no way we can get anywhere with that superweapon around."
"It's almost cheating!" exclaimed Denver.
"But we can't just throw in the towel right now."
Cleveland stood up. "Columbia's right. Even with that Stonehenge around, there's got to be something we can do!"

"There is." All turned to Fort Grace, who finally spoke up. Taking the center stage from Andromeda, she continued. "We've faced down difficult odds and obstacles before. So long as we play our hand wisely and utilize our strengths, there's still something we can do. It will be risky but it is something that must be done. Tea Time? The phone if you will."

An ornate telephone was immediately presented in the maid-ship's hands and Fort Grace quickly began dialing. It took no more than a second for the other end to pick up.

"Mobius to Royal. Standby for new mission..."

Location: somewhere in the Hatties Sea, Spaceguard Turret Network facility "Stonehenge"

A shot finally rang out, echoing across the blue waves that twinkled like diamonds beneath the blazing sun. As if disturbed, a gale was provoked, gently flowing over waves and sands.

Herne lifted her head from her scope, ecstatic by what she saw. "That's another bulls-eye for me!"

"Hm. Again at 30 kilometers." Herne looked to see Tanager approach from behind, her prim hair flowing elegantly in the wind as she bore a placated demeanor. "Consider this your fourth consecutive display of excellent marksmanship. Your skills have refused to wane at all."

Herne tried to mask the embarrassment at the compliment. "Heh. I-it's thanks to all the time I spent practicing as well as all the time spent in maintaining my rifle."

Tanager beamed. "As expected. Ever diligent and dutiful to your duties. Talent and commitment are marks of excellence and you have exceeded both. Now then..."

As Herne stepped aside for her queen, Tanager stepped forth, producing her rigging. Her turrets followed her gaze but with this task the battleship required only one gun. Spying a speck in the distance, she took aim. She took only the bare amount of time needed for her to make a confident shot. A loud report rang out, and a bright orb was sent sailing in an arc. The two, Herne especially, kept a careful eye on its trajectory.

It struck home. The destroyer looked from her scope with astonishment. "Direct hit at 30 kilometers! I saw it nail the bulls-eye!"

Tanager brushed her hair with smile. "'Tis but a humble accomplishment for a ship such as I. What many deem a feat of impossibility, I see it yet a test that separates those destined for greatness from those who are not. Challenge weeds the strong from the common like wheat from chaff. You and I possess talent and skill that many lack. It behooves us to ensure they are honed so as to ensure our hold on our place among the privileged."

Withdrawing her rigging, the battleship surveyed the finished range with satisfaction. The dummy target she had nailed had become smouldering remains like the rest. "If that is another full mark on my turn, then it appears we tie yet again with near-perfect scores. However, as reward for your continued diligence, I shall consider this your victory."

Herne straightened herself in a salute. "T-thank you very much, Tanager! I'll continue to do my best! Until next time!"

"I look forward to it."

A deep drone-like roar suddenly grumbled, the earth they stood on quivering along ever so slightly with it. Turning towards the source, the battleship and the destroyer watched as Stonehenge moved in the distance. Its eight mighty cannons, large as mountains and equally monstrous, groaned and pivoted into position. The sound of grinding gears, their mechanical skeleton all scraping, creaking, and screeching, echoed. In unison, the guns all turned, titanic columns that could pierce the heavens now pointing their gaze towards the stretching horizon. A second later, the entire sky flashed with the burst of multiple suns. The whole world became swallowed by an ear-splitting thunder that shook and rattled Herne's head as she watched. The entire sea, once tranquil and peaceful, violently erupted from their slumber, crashing and dashing against the hulking concrete and metal thrones where each of the cannons lay. Fleets of black-clad warships, indescribable in number and rendered like ants beside the gigantic constructs, were left to ride the waves at the mercy of the mechanical gods. And when her vision recovered, Herne saw the sky split apart by rigid trails of white light, the physical testaments of Stonehenge's judgement upon a litigant that dared to exist off into the incalculable distance.

Herne whistled. "Those cannons are working overtime, aren't they? That's the third time this week!"

"So it is," Tanager replied. "So it is..." She watched the faraway guns, taking in every detail. Her eyes feasted on the sight of the monolithic structures, basking in not just what she saw, but more than what she saw.

"Hm."

Herne glanced up. "What's wrong?"

"Wrong? My dear Herne, you could never be more mistaken with using that word to describe what we are witnessing. Stonehenge… there can be no ideal avatar more befitting of our kind's gifts. Every man can dream, but only the ambitious can turn those dreams into reality. And behold, an icon of power, a product of our enemy's fears… and a prophecy for what we are to become."

Another salvo from Stonehenge, tearing the air with its cacophonous roar. The destroyer flinched as despite not being their victim, she could feel the blasts in her gut. Yet she looked to see nary a reaction from Tanager. If anything, her smirk only grew wider.

"What do you mean?" Herne asked, privately hoping that her queen did not notice her confusion.

"Don't you see? Our benefactors have promised power, some beyond our imagination. To wield those powers was, I concede, the expectation that awaited us. But now I know better. Cast your gaze upon this grand monument. Stonehenge's mighty lances have opened my eyes. Mountains of steel sculpted into weapons. Although they brought life to this relic, never forget that its foundations were laid by human hands, envisioned by human minds and desires… All they have done is put together the final piece of the grand puzzle, to present us an image of truth."

The destroyer tried to keep up. Fortunately the battleship still had her back to her. "And what truth are we looking at exactly?"

"The truth, my dear Herne, is that the power we seek… is more corporeal than one may think. Until now, we had been lured by the mere prospect of glory, sent to chase after an imaginary concept - promises - expectations. But Stonehenge is anything but imaginary. It is real, and it is everything more than I had anticipated. We have within our hands the answer to our desires!

"No more would we have to contend with power merely promised to us. No more will we quest in circles for it, for I now see the end. Power need not be figurative - it can simply be built and wielded by human hands! Imagine! Technology has always being our world's great talent ever since the sky smote us down more than 15 years ago. And now, we have the very means to answer back to the gods! And this… Stonehenge is merely just the beginning.

"Make no mistake. The weapon before us is a monster, but we can be its master. To allow other hands, other agendas, to fall upon it is to not only surrender a luxury, but power as well. We must secure it with our drive, and with our drive…"

She paused as her view shifted down, where the vast fleets of the Siren's mass-produced warships lay. By itself, an impressive armada, a carpet of black steel on the azure sea. But even the vast alien fleet fell under the shadow of the cannons. From above, Tanager seemingly gazed upon the ships in disdain; from below, she looked at the cannons with awe.

"... We can create our own gods."

Then the cannons thundered again, her sinister smile captured in the flash.

The ear-splitting roar proved much for Edinburgh. "EEK!"

Sheffield paused, laying low until the ringing in her ears faded and she could hear herself think again. She glanced at her fellow maid cowering with her hands clasped around her ears, but she would be lying if she claimed that the crack didn't made her wince as well.

"Good thing they're loud, or else you would've given us away. Now let's keep moving." Peering from behind cover, the maid's suspicions were confirmed - as were her fears.

"As expected, I knew the cannons would be heavily guarded. But this is ridiculous. The sheer number of mass-produced ships here is simply unbelievable. They could have crushed us with just those ships alone if they had been dispatched."

Intrigued, Edinburgh took a peek herself and gasped. "A-all this just to protect their weapon?"

"Evidently so. Eight guns in total, just as the intel said. With the overwhelming defenses surrounding them, I can't see a way inside. But we will not return empty-handed." Quickly, Sheffield withdrew, motioning for the other maid to follow. "There's no time to waste. Come on." Taking the lead, she darted from cover to cover, shadow to shadow, remaining vigilant of her surroundings but keeping her eye on the objective at hand.

Ahead of them, fashioned onto the shores along the border of the sea, lay a shipyard. Industrial cranes and docks festooned the harbor, along with the orange flag of the Rose Kingdom. The pair arrived, hastily ducking behind the nearest wall as Sheffield surveyed the area. "Let's head inside. Find out anything we can about any weakness Stonehenge may have… or a way to disable it."

Edinburgh gazed at the daunting complex that sprawled ahead of them, as grand and labyrinthine as their mission . "But where should we even begin? Should we split up?"

Sheffield didn't answer immediately, instead turning to look at her with a unamused glare. "... You of all ships suggesting that we split up?"

Edinburgh winced from her gaze. "I-it was merely a suggestion! There's no need to look at me like that! It's so- Huh?"

"What is it?"

"Look!" Following Edinburgh's pointing finger, Sheffield's attention was brought to the sight of a tractor like those seen at airport tarmacs tugging carts of stacked cargo, the contents hidden beneath a tarp veil and with a manjuu at the helm. It approached their direction but the yellow driver took no notice, too caught up in their laborious tasks to take notice. The tractor and its train of carts soon passed by, obscuring the maids' view of the harbor base.

An idea struck Sheffield. "Hurry!" The duo bolted towards the tug, diving swiftly beneath the tarps. Climbing aboard, Edinburgh found herself face-to-face with the cart's contents: stacks and piles of ivory-skinned missiles, their tusks threatening to poke into her dress. She nearly fell off in surprise but even as she clung onto the munitions, she found that the lack of space left their choice of concealment much to be desired.

"Stop whining, Edinburgh." Carefully parting away the tarp, Sheffield spied the world outside. Rows of unmarked buildings and columns of crates passed by. Lurching with the tractor, she watched as it took a turn, noting its heading. It was delivering its cargo to the heart of the base.

"Here's the plan: this will deliver us someplace close to their base of operations, where we will slip inside and proceed with our mission objective. They may not suspect intruders from within. On my word, be ready to run."

The tractor trundled along, and Sheffield found a wide shadow envelop her view outside with the sun waning in lieu of the glow of interior lights. The world outside now became a jungle of shaded concrete, steel platforms, and stacked supplies. Wherever they were now, this was it.

"Now!" Springing like a coil, Sheffield slid out from beneath the tarps and before she knew it, she was already out of sight. She was then reunited with Edinburgh as she tripped. A glint of gold under her skirt caught Sheffield's eye and instantly she reacted, finding a block of ore in her hand.

"Whew! T-thank goodness the bullion was saved!"

Sheffield shoved the gold bar back to its owner. "Take better care of it. Now let us return to the task at hand." Poking her head out, she estimated that they had snuck inside a garage which their enemy had made into a storehouse. She made out the motion of other cargo haulers and personnel walking to and fro, the latter of which numbered rarely. Fewer chances of being spotted; that did Sheffield just fine. But just as she concluded that she had seen all that was needed, her eyes caught something.

Passing by, oblivious to their presence, Sheffield spotted two figures in white, their apparel seemingly jumping out from among the industrial colors that made up the room (the cyan hair of one of them also helped). She watched as they walked, their strides unlike those of the laborers. Her ears caught snippets of their conversation as they passed.

"I must say, touring the site was quite the enlightening experience. Never have I thought that we'd have the chance to see its inner workings, let alone see it fully operational."
"Indeed, nu. Did you catch the fire-control system at work? The guns managed to achieve a consistent dispersal at their maximum range with no more than a 0.0765% margin of error! And we're talking about a system that had never been tested before!"
"Oh yes! The controls, the hardware… Even for a proponent of the sciences such as myself, it's a miracle that the entire system could operate without any hiccups."
"Its engineers and designers must have spared no expense, nu. In the meantime..."

As the cyan-haired turned, the eyes of Sheffield and Edinburgh widened.

"... where should we turn this in, nu? I've been wondering why we carry this with us everywhere."
"The lab should do it. The Key should be secure there. Drop it someplace safe and we'll be off for lunch."

They turned, disappearing behind a doorway. Sheffield jumped into action, urging her fellow maid with a tug. "After them!"

"Y-yes! Right behind you!"

The spy pair made their way to the door, methodically leaping from cover to cover like ghosts. As they made their way, the door opened. The same two scientists strolled out, now empty-handed. Their white lab coats gently billowed behind them as they departed, providing the perfect cover for white shadows to slip through the door before it closed.

Sheffield jumped in, pistol drawn as it and her gaze scanned all around. Satisfied with their sole presence, it was only now that Sheffield took a gander at the room they were in. Like an colosseum, rows of shelves and whiteboards circumscribed the interior in layers, their decks and surfaces overflowing with innumerable details and indescribable displays. At the center, caught within the spotlight of the open space, lay a lone workstation. It too was filled with various items cluttering its surface. But even among the disorganized mess, her eyes instantly gravitated towards a sole item. Twinkling like dancing moonlight, it shone brighter than the lights overhead.

A wisdom cube, but shining like a black pearl of Siren origins. It sat there, seemingly beckoning Sheffield and Edinburgh. The laboratory, if it could called that, was truly arranged like an arena - the Key was indeed the main attraction.

Sheffield tentatively approached the object. As much as she was familiar with the Siren's machinations, she found it difficult to believe that she would see such a thing - especially in another world.

But here it was, no doubt about it. It's real, it's here, and it is very likely a key component of the enemy's stratagem.

But if so, where did it fit into all of this?

Sheffield glanced around the lab. The various boards were decorated the same as usual but now she went in for a serious look. The first she approached was a maze of words and formulas, her eyes having no idea where to begin. She found nothing of familiarity and thus turned away.

"Nothing on this one. Edinburgh, look through your side of the laboratory and see if you can-"

"Eeeep!"

Sheffield whirled around, her gun in hand and at the ready. But her tense nerves found disappointment when she realized it was only Edinburgh who had jumped in surprise. With a heavy sigh, Sheffield glared at her partner. "Edinburgh..."

"N-no, it's - it's..." Bending down, Edinburgh patted down the skirt of her dress as if to feel out something. Finding not what she sought, her face became flushed in deep red. "...I-I-I t-think my k-knickers are… Ah! The Key!"

As Sheffield turned, it was now her moment to jump. True to her word, the workbench became devoid of the alien object, the absence of its glow proof of what was once there.

A gentle but mischievous giggle filled the air. The Royal maids swung their gaze towards the source. Perched atop a shelf there sat a raccoon-like girl, her beady eyes shining through the black mask she wore. In her hands they saw the Siren device, dangling as if they could reach it.

"Tee-hee-hee! Came here to nick the Key from the Beowulves and watch them lose their minds trying to find it, but now I come across my next of kin after the same thing!... Though for prankster thieves, you sure don't dress the part."

Sheffield narrowed her eyes at the interloper. "A prankster thief… you must be their destroyer Thiassi."

The shoulders of the ship in question sank. "Aww, must be losing my touch if everyone is starting to know my name..."

Edinburgh looked in shock as she pointed. "W-wait, y-you-!"

"Hm? Oh this?" Raising her other hand, a thin stringed cloth of white unfurled from her fingers. It flowed like a flag but proved a symbol of embarrassment for Edinburgh who recognized it. Speechless, she could only gasp incomprehensible whimpers.

"Got to say, nice pair you got!" Thiassi then laughed as she whipped it around her head. "Really nice material. I always find it hard to believe anyone would use good quality cloth to make these. This'll look real nice in my collecti-"

A pistol was whipped up and a shot rang out. Thiassi barely had time to dodge but reacted reflexively enough to save herself from a bullet to the head. But in her reaction, the cube slipped from her hand. The Key was flung into the air, soaring above all heads.

"Edinburgh!"
"Y-yes I- Ow!"

The Siren device secured in their hands (more specifically on Edinburgh's face), Sheffield turned to the enemy destroyer as she now stood her ground with her own rigging on her back. The mischievous grin on her face now became a daring one.

"Oh now you've done it. Nobody pranks people like I do, especially not from you two." Declaration made, Thiassi slipped the undergarment on her head. It was no bandanna but it sufficed symbolically. Now hands-free, she was taking this seriously. "The Key will be mine, Beowulf π will spend hours looking for it, Herne will be mad, and it will be hilarious!"

Sheffield attempted a retort with her pistol. Thiassi dashed to the side, the maid mirroring the motion. They chased among rows of shelves and whiteboards, catching only fleeting glimpses of their respective foes. Shots peppered out from Sheffield as she tried to catch her opponent, her bullets catching only the collateral scenery. Science equipment, notes, furniture, and test tubes all popped like balloons. Thiassi cackled as she dodged, finally popping out into the open at a low angle to let loose a missile.

Now it was Sheffield's turn to be on the defense, ducking down behind cover in recognition of the threat. The missile, in its thoughtless action, dashed itself against the shelf she hid behind. Splinters and fragments sprayed everywhere. Having barely escaped the blast, Sheffield swiftly rolled back onto her feet and bounded back into the chase. She quickly reacquired Thiassi as she loosened more missiles, the projectiles rapidly spiraling upon her. Acting quickly, Sheffield whipped out her second pistol and bringing all guns to bear, blasted away at the missile swarm. The reckless cloud of gunfire met the missiles before they could hit home, ending their travels in blinding smoke. Though robbed of sight, Sheffield ran forward, guns raised and-

Where Thiassi was last seen, emptiness greeted her instead.

Sheffield whipped around but she was a hair's breadth too slow. Thiassi was upon her in a flash.

"Gotcha! Now to add yours into my… Huh?" Lifting up Sheffield's dress, Thiassi stared inside with a blank expression. The longer she stared, the emptier her eyes became.

Her inner train of logic had come to a trainwreck as she stared in disbelief. "... What."

*Clunk!*

The maid's gray boot found itself forcefully embedded in the would-be panty thief's face, sending her flying back to collide against a wall where she fell limp. A look of dreamy stupor decorated her face. Breathing in relief, Sheffield dusted herself off.

"That's that. Now to formally end this pest..." She raised her gun, but stopped short when she heard muffled knocks at the door.

"Hey! What's going on in there?"
"What happened?"
"Heard a ruckus inside. Lots of loud noises, sounded like explosions."
"Maybe it's just one of Beowulf π's experiments..."
"Hm? Did someone mention me?"
"What the…? If you're not in there, then who is…?"

Sheffield turned to Edinburgh, her expression urgent. "We need to move. Now!" Whirling around, she quickly looked for a way out. Doors? Only one and it led to the voices. Windows? None whatsoever.

Air vent?

Looking up, she saw a network of shafts crisscrossing the ceiling. Nested among the overhead lights, she found what she was looking for. Jumping up, Sheffield wrenched the vent cover free; time was of the essence.

"Edinburgh!"

"W-wait! I-I just need to get my… There!" Dignity recovered, Edinburgh wasted no time shoving the Siren cube into Sheffield's hands before she tossed it up into the open chute. Climbing in, Edinburgh followed right after. Now clambered within the confines of the air vent with the Key in hand, Sheffield led the way. But to where exactly, neither could tell.

As she crawled in tow of her companion, Edinburgh had to ask. "Um, do you perchance know where to go?"

"Anywhere not here," Sheffield curtly replied. "The further away, the better. Our priority right now is to return to base. Headquarters will want to know about this." She paused to glance down at the black-pearled cube, its purpose and role still unknown.

Edinburgh nodded in silent satisfaction (and did her best to not look straight ahead). The duo continued their slow and silent journey through the dim tunnels, occasionally passing by filtered lights that gave glimpses of the world outside, but none proved to be auspicious.

"They're looking for us…!"

"I know." The two continued to make their way, navigating the twists and turns that the vent led them, the catacombs of the building feeding them from one direction to another until finally Sheffield came to a stop.

"Dead end. This will have to be our exit point. Get ready." Putting her eyes close to the grate, Sheffield scanned the surroundings, catching a glimpse of someone or something dashing by in haste. She waited, her eyes and ears attentive. Nothing moved, and nothing was heard save for a faint klaxon.

With the swift application of her heel, the vent cover popped off. Sheffield dropped down, weapon ready. Coast clear, she turned to Edinburgh who emerged, Key in hand. Looking around, she found herself in an unremarkable corridor.

"Which way?"

Sheffield looked around. "This way. If my bearings are correct this should take us outside the base." The pair ran down the hall, Sheffield once again taking point with gun in hand while Edinburgh followed-up. Coming to a corner, they stopped. Carefully peeking around, Sheffield saw lively activity: personnel running to and fro but no longer were they performing deliveries or managing the base. She was watching a hornet's nest come awake.

A ship, likely a destroyer, came into view, her rigging bearing the Rose Kingdom emblem. "I want everyone split into pairs and spread out. Our intruders might not have gotten far, but it's important that they be found!"

Sheffield withdrew from the corner and as she did, she spotted another corridor. "That way. Hurry!"

The pair dashed off as stealthily as they could. Back behind cover, Edinburgh sighed in relief as she heard no shouts or footsteps. The glowing cube was rather bulky yet she was relieved that none had seen them yet.

At Sheffield's urging they continued, the new corridor looking no different from another. But as much as her judgement was blind by the dearth of clues, Edinburgh had a good feeling in her gut.

Turning a corner, the pair saw a closed metal hatch, their progress barred shut behind sealed iron gates with their reward promised by a mere faded paint sign that indicated a source of egress. Beckoned by the sign, Sheffield made haste towards the panel she identified as door controls. Guided by experience and intuition, Sheffield got the doors to open with a creaking lurch with the press of her finger.

"We should be getting close. You focus on retreating from the area while I-"

Edinburgh barely managed to gasp when Sheffield turned and found herself greeted by the tip of a sword aimed right between her eyes. The door opened all the way to reveal the surprise that had been waiting on the other side.

"At last..." the figure purred. "At last we catch the rats lurking behind the veil." As she stepped forward, the Royal maids saw who it was, standing tall with the Rose Kingdom flag waving triumphantly over them. As the doorway widened, she was joined by a destroyer who held them at gunpoint.

"I should've known that the Delta Coalition would make use of spies and saboteurs, especially now that they are aware of our weapon," Tanager continued, leering at the two maids.

At the rear, Edinburgh's instincts yearned to run, but the sound of tramping footsteps met her ears. Turning around, an armed troupe came barreling down the hallway.

Among the crowds, the maids spotted a familiar face. "There! It's those two!" exclaimed Thiassi who now sported a band-aid on her scalp. "I knew they'd try the air vents!"

"Ooh, ooh! Let me at 'em, let me at 'em!" barked a scruffy-haired destroyer. "I should've known that they were there back at Comberth! The whole thing had their scent all over it!"

"One's got nice frilly panties while the other does-"

Forceful yanks from behind tempered the Thiassi and Fenris, their burning enthusiasm extinguished by Geofon. Looking around, the two maids could see that they were surrounded by the Rose Kingdom's rank-and-file, two among them being the same labcoat-clad submarines who had been the Key's owners, now glaring at the maids who dared to make off with their possession.

Sheffield tightened her grip on her pistols, but she was met with the gaze from Herne and her rifle. "Drop your weapons. Don't even think about doing anything stupid!"

Reluctantly, Sheffield complied, gently lowering her two pistols before kicking them away at the demands of Herne's gun. Tanager smiled. "Now then, the Key if you will. It is impolite to make away with one's prized asset without permission."

Edinburgh nervously fidgeted but a glare from her companion kept her in place. Seeing this, Tanager signaled Herne forward. She approached Edinburgh, the muzzle of her gun now threatening the maid. Edinburgh clutched the cube tighter but with nowhere to run…

"No."

All eyes became drawn to Sheffield. Turning to her, Tanager saw that the maid stared back, her gaze unblinking and undeterred. Her smile flickered. "No what? Do you not realize the inescapable predicament you face? To find yourself in our clutches, within the heart of our operations? Are you so foolish to not even see it?... Or are you pleading? Pleading for the sanctity of your well-being knowing who we are and what is to become of spies such as yourself? This may be war but know that even codes of conduct will not guarantee you safe passage. But comply to my demands and your prospects may improve."

As much as the battleship's shadow fell over her, Sheffield did not budge. "To feel fear is not in a maid's curriculum. But if anything, I suppose I should commend you."

Tanager looked at the destroyer with an odd look. "Commend?"

"We are as you said: surrounded and in your clutches with little to no prospect of escape. As a member of the Royal Maid Corps' Special Services I have never failed in my missions. Until today. If you are demanding our surrender, then I would ask that it be an honest one."

Geofon scrutinized the maid. "What are you playing at?"

"Why, to formally declare my intention to cooperate of course."

Series of gasps and skepticism rang out. Though speechless, Edinburgh's surprise rang louder than the others as she stared at her companion in shock. "Sheffield, what are you-?"

"To elaborate, as we are now your captives it will only be a matter of time before you have coerced what information you have from us," she continued, ignoring Edinburgh. "Resist as we may, it is inevitable. But even if you are our enemy, I find myself having a reason to implicitly trust you on your claims that our safety may be assured."

From this, Tanager's visage cracked into a small smile. Her inner circle glanced at it with alarm.

"My liege, she must be lying."
"You're… not going to believe what Miss Room Service is saying, right?"

Tanager's hand raised, silencing dissent. She returned her attention back to Sheffield. "Color me intrigued. If you are indeed in a… cooperative mood, then perhaps there is use for you. Very well. Geofon, make preparations for questioning."

"My liege, she is lying," the carrier insisted. "Her claims of defection are illogical. You are dancing to our enemy's words."

"Just. Question. Them," the battleship growled.

As the ships were motioned to approach the Royal maids, Sheffield began again. "This may be presumptuous of me to ask but… may I ask who has been handling with this… Key? There is something of importance that I must consult them with."

Tanager raised a wary eyebrow. "Why do you ask?"

Sheffield pointed to the object. "... If I'm not wrong, it's been rigged. You should look into it."

Surprised looks were exchanged. The Beowulf submarines stepped forward. "Rigged? What? You mean to tell us that there's actually a trap hidden inside of it?"

"A trigger for a suitably large potassium chlorate-based chemical phenomenon perhaps? Inside of that thing made of unearthly materials, nu? I'd be surprised if that was even possible!"

"The Sirens- er, the ones who gave you this are not above such petty trickery," Sheffield explained. "I should know because we have dealt with them before in our world. If there's a trap inside, you'll need to closely examine the signal transmitters and triggers."

Beowulf π leaned for a closer look. "B-but that would require disassembly of a delicate and valuable asset! I wouldn't even know where to begin with taking it apart without their assistance!"

Sheffield looked at her perplexed. "You mean to imply you don't know everything about this thing? What have you even been doing with it?"

"Why, all we've ever done with it was use it to send command signals to those drone fleets," Beowulf π explained. "The controls were rather troublesome but with help it eventually came to us naturally."

"Yes, nu. She (whatever her name was) made it clear that it was simply a control device for those ships," Beowulf v added. "She helped us get to know how it worked so if it weren't for her we wouldn't know a thing or two about the Key!"

Sheffield narrowed her eyes. "Was that all you've been told?"

The submarines nodded. "Yes. Since the Key performed as per their claims, we had no reason to believe there was more to it. D-do you think they might have intentionally kept us in the dark?"

"Likely. "And then suddenly, Sheffield smiled. "... But you've told me all that I needed to hear."

The maid bolted into action and before anyone could react, a flash followed by choking smoke filled the air alongside cries of confusion.

"What the-?! Smoke?!"

"Get them, get them!"

"Ack! Missiles won't lock! Smoke's too thick!"

Out of the cloud, Sheffield came running out, dragging Edinburgh behind her as they ran. She brushed shoulders past someone, but who it was she had no time to determine. Her attention was spent between the escape that lay before her and the cube that remained in Edinburgh's grip. They were getting out of here and that was final.

The maids ran outside, finding themselves in the dockyards under the blazing sun. The sight of bright daylight seemed to beckon them onwards, the promise of freedom from the enemy's oppression. But the trouble was far from over.

A figure tumbled from the smoke, falling and coughing. But upon seeing the two intruders run, her head perked up. "I see them! They're making a break for it!"

Edinburgh ran for her life, the Key heavy in her hands. Risking a peek behind, she became startled to see their pursuers catch up, the closest one flying after her like a vengeful phoenix with her red hooded jacket flowing against the wind. Like a shot she made a beeline straight for Edinburgh. Her rigging slowly assembled, the missiles coming into being.

Edinburgh yelped. She continued to run, her breaths running ragged as she accelerated her pace. Suddenly, she felt something slide down her leg, bumping into her swinging feet.

"W-wha…?" She peeked down and instantly a powerful glint almost blinded her. The bright light shone like a star and she was not the only one to notice. Her pursuer in the red jacket, once determined to catch her quarry, suddenly switched expression like a switch.

She leapt ahead, but rather than diving upon Edinburgh, she fell short, falling upon the glowing object. The ship embraced it in her hands, the chase forgotten as she laughed. "GOOOOOOOLD! I'M RICH!"

"Magpie, the Key! They're getting away with the Key!"

Leaping off the docks, Sheffield and Edinburgh reached the sea, their swiftness now granted by propellers. But as fast as they now sailed, the dangers did not relent. Sensing a chill down her spine, Sheffield turned and her eyes widened. Whipping out her cannons and secondaries (after remembering that she dropped her pistols earlier), she blasted away, her shots whizzing right past Edinburgh and into a flying missile. Off into the distance, she spotted more puffs of smoke - more missiles.

"Edinburgh, evade!" The pair split off in a zig-zag pattern, the attacks mimicking their motions as they snaked after them. Streams of shots continued to flow from Sheffield, doing their best to catch the projectiles mid-air. Her aim whipped from one point to another, the air behind them disappearing in quick flashes and puffs of smoke. A missile gave them pause as it whistled past them.

A hand shoved Edinburgh forward. "Keep going! Return to our rendezvous as quickly as you-"

"Look out!"

Shots rang out and before either of the two could react the world turned into a storm of churning sea and violent winds as impacts rained around them. Coughing and panting, Sheffield wasted no time gathering her bearings. Off to the side lay Edinburgh, still wincing from the barrage. And within arm's reach, bobbing along the rough waves, sat the Key.

A furious cry echoed in the distance. Turning, the maids saw a ship, faster and more enraged than any they had seen before, her speed fueled by the bonfire raging within her. Smoke wisped from her twelve guns as if even they could barely contain it. But worst of all were her eyes - they gleamed with a terrible glow, reflecting the ship's hate as it stared right at the maids.

Tanager was after them and she was not going to grant them mercy a second time.

Sheffield scrambled to her feet, snatching the Key up. "Just run! I'll keep her busy!"

Edinburgh wanted to object, but the rapidly approaching Tanager made her protests mere stammers before she complied, obeying her orders to abandon her friend to her fate. Sheffield dashed off in a different direction. From the corner of her eye, her gambit was working: Tanager was steaming her way. It was the Key she was after.

Her guns twitched, and so did Sheffield. Even with the timely evasion the barrage thundered too close for comfort. As steady as her legs could be, she zipped from side-to-side, making sure to never be in one place or direction for even a second. And more importantly making sure she never dared slow down. As much as she claimed that fear was unbecoming of a maid, Sheffield couldn't help but feel disturbed to see Tanager's face twisted in rage as she hounded her.

Another shot. The maid ducked in the opposite direction, but as she did so, fell into Tanager's trap as a second shot rang out, slamming into her side. Sheffield buckled under the blow, down on her knee but thankful she was still conscious. But now she was wounded, black smoke and bleeding oil marking her trail. She looked at the sight with a grimace. Tanager remained in full view, now taking delight at her affliction as she closed in. Her rigging remained functional, albeit at crippled performance.

That was when an idea occurred to Sheffield. If she could not escape her by running, then…

Sheffield pushed herself back up, ignoring the pain stabbing into her side. She kicked off, but with a damaged rigging her motions were slower and more predictable. Tanager looked on, maintaining her devilish glee as she watched her target continue to flee. "What's wrong, hm? You have scuttled in the shadows behind our backs before, yet gaze upon yourself: limping away to a futile sense of safety! First you lie, now you run! Your little deceits will not save you this time!"

Sheffield turned and for a brief moment Tanager found her stare all-too familiar. "... I beg to differ. Your inability to see through deceptions will be your undoing."

Tanager spat. "What nonsense do you spout-" Then she felt something tap her foot. Something small, yet solid in what was supposed to be the open seas. She glanced down, finding only oil-slick water beneath her feet. But looking closer, she saw it: a lone canister. Like an oil drum, but as small as a can. So what-
Then Tanager heard a faint click from the canister.

A flash. A bang. The seas exploded, providing the catalyst for the murky waves to transform, enveloping the seas in swift fire. The waters kindled like a sunset.

Sheffield breathed a heavy sigh of relief as she slowly clambered back onto her feet. Behind her rigging, its depth charge launcher receded back into disuse. 'Depth charge well spent, even if it wasn't meant for this scenario. Good thing I was able to get the oil leak taken care of, or else I would've perished with her.' Looking down, she saw the Key still firmly in her hands. All this trouble, just to return with an unexpected surprise.

She looked at the flames, and without a word, decided now would be the best time to make herself scarce.

As she turned her back, the inferno continued to rage.

The licking flames scorched her exterior like stinging wounds that came without end. But the fire around her was nothing compared to the one within her.

Through the lens of Hell, she could see her - already sailing far away with arrogant thoughts of victory. It would be one not just for her, but for a greater one. One whose key to unlocking it rested in her hands.

The Key.

It was meant to be her promise of glory and triumph. A tool for supremacy. So great was its power that it had helped bring the continent to its knees. And now, like a fool, that power would fall into her enemies' hands. Her foes would reap the luxuries that were hers, turn their ambitions against them. An ironic - perhaps appropriate - turn of events, one that remained outrageous.

She had told herself: to let power fall into other hands was to lose not just it, but to give others power over herself. Like a damn hypocrite, she was about to lose what she once enjoyed. They would benefit what she once had; they would torment her what she had inflicted.

If she was going to be denied such power, then...

She took aim.

"Edinburgh, come in."

"Sheffield?! Good gracious, are you alright?"

"For now. I managed to throw Tanager off my trail and the cube is still in my possession."

"Oh thank goodness! I've reached the rendezvous. Shall I get a teapot ready for your return?"

Sheffield rolled her eyes. "That won't be necessary. Send word that we've captured a device of Siren origins they call the-"

Sheffield barely had time to finish before she felt a sharp gust whizz past her. It hit her like a hammer despite not being meant for her.

The Key was flung from her hands, its exterior cracked open. Broken shards spiraled into the air from the impact, splattering the oceans in its symbolic blood as the cube lay there. The pearl-like alien lights that had calmly danced inside it now turned unstable and violent, as if in agony. Then as quickly as it happened, the lights dimmed dead. The husk evaporated into nothingness, before all trace of it vanished. The Key was now gone.

Sheffield whirled around. On the faint horizon, she saw who had done the deed. The fire had not died off, and as it seemed, neither did Tanager's.

Cursing her misfortune, Sheffield quickly threw down smoke. By the time it cleared up, she was nowhere to be seen.

The black fleet surrounded Stonehenge as it always had. Numbering in vast incalculable numbers they sat, moored only by their mindless obedience and automation. A formidable sight, with the strength it offered unrivaled with the exception of the cannons they guarded.

Strength that now meant nothing to the Aegir Fleet.

The base continued to be in motion, buzzing about with activity. Even though the threat of spies had already gone to pass, alert still spread throughout the facility. And this time, it was their queen that was the danger.

Tanager said not a word as she made her way. No one dared to linger in her path, and if the base itself could feel fear it too would have done the same. Like an inferno, everyone was wise enough to give her a wide berth as she marched, fuming, to her destination - and her intended victim.

But upon arriving, she could not find them. She marched elsewhere, and only their absence greeted her. It toyed with her. And all this while, her temper continued to simmer. It needed an outlet, and so she turned to her advisor. "Where are they?!"

"Unknown," Geofon calmly answered, maintaining her rigid posture. "They have not been seen since Stonehenge's activation and we are unable to contact them."

Hearing this, Tanager lashed out, not caring what she discarded in her emotional storm. She vented a deep sigh, stewing the settling situation between her grinding molars. Only then did her head begin to clear enough to realize that the rest of her fleet had been with her in fearful silence.

"... Report."

Tentatively, the submarines stepped forward. "Err… the outcome is exactly as we feared: the drone ships have gone utterly inert now that the Key's gone."
"I-indeed, nu. Without the controls I'm afraid there's no way to input command orders to them. And without the Key we have no way of receiving their inputs-"

"Which means we're effectively blind for a good swath of the entire continent," Geofon curtly finished. "We are left not only without an army, but our eyes and ears."

"B-big deal!" Herne tried to boast. "Those ships were only good as missile-magnets that tried to steal our spotlight. N-no way we can't turn this around ourselves-"

"Herne, you miss the point," the carrier interrupted as she glared at her. "The loss of the Key and the unmanned ships is more than just material. As they were connected to our combat network those ships not only kept guard of our territories, but acted as part of our entire early-warning detection system. Since Stonehenge's activation, that system has evolved in a more active role."

"Yes..." Tanager added. Although her anger had receded, its embers continued to burn. "Much have we rejoiced when we could smite our foes across unfathomable distances. Without its agents its vast range would have been but a mere stretch of water. Stonehenge would not have played a valuable part in this play without them."

Geofon frowned. "And now, without its eyes..."

From the nearest window, Tanager cast her eyes to the horizon where the mighty cannons rested, poised but ominously silent. Her eyes narrowed as if in disapproval. "Make no mistake: our prize is now vulnerable. Our enemies will know of our predicament and come smelling blood in the water. Heed my words: an attack is imminent! The Delta Coalition will leap at this chance like jackals. Knights of the Rose Kingdom's Aegir Fleet, see to our defenses!"

With that, Tanager marched off, with Geofon in tow. The others began to filter out, but not before Thiassi felt a slap on the back of her head.

"Nice going, you bimbo," Herne muttered before quickly joining the rest.

The destroyer looked at her with confusion. "W-what did I do?"