The waters throughout Farbanti, once churning and swirling, now had a moment to rest. Its surface was slick with spilled oil and stained with debris and ash. But even in a brief ceasefire the air smelled heavily of burnt propellant.

Denver struggled to look up, her head feeling heavy. "Augh… man..." Then her body fell with exhaustion. Beside her, her sisters were strewn about, their clothes and rigging all tattered. Wounds and exhaustion adorned them as they lay defeated, a condition shared by their allies and friends nearby. The submarines, Fensalir and Folkvangr, were absent among them, having timidly ducked out during the losing battle. Amidst the pile of their casualties, only a few were left standing on their last legs: Tea Time, Reno, and Kestrel. Among them, only the carrier was in any appreciable shape as they stared down the entire Aegir and Rán Fleets.

Herne flashed a cruel smile. "Ha! Who's laughing now?"

Kestrel glared back at the sniper. The urge to trade barbs was there, but she refused to bite. Beside her, Tea Time and Reno mimicked the carrier's example. Her presence had been a great relief, but not enough to have saved them all. Their defeated bodies surrounded them as proof.

If Kestrel felt a kindling within herself, it was not towards her enemies. An apologetic vow was quietly made to never let this happen again.

Herne kept her rifle trained on the carrier. "Why don't you morons just give up? We have you beat here!"

"You mean WE did most of the leg work!" Enyo griped. "Since we were at the front while you and the rest of the squeak squad stuck to the rear."

"Oh suck it up! You did, we did, who gives a crap. Let's just finish 'em off already."

"Hmph. And you still acting like our boss..."

The three ships tensed. There was still blood in the water and the sharks remained unsatiated from their stares. Reno pushed herself off of Tea Time's shoulder, standing on shaky knees. "I can… do this all day," she gasped, her contraptions fizzling and sparking.

This brought light chuckling from the enemy ranks. "And the day is about to end, superhero. Now open up and say goodb-"

"Ships of the Rán Fleet, hear me!"

Everyone stopped - allied and Rose Kingdom ships, friend and foe. The intruding voice over the radio reached ears everywhere in war-torn Farbanti. Once more, it seemed that the guns had fallen silent in the fighting as the lone voice rang louder than any gunshot.

"I have but one question to ask of you, of the fleet that makes up the Rose Kingdom. The fleet that represents the common masses of our historic nation. The fleet that, despite its humble and diligent servitude to the Kingdom, has been forced into the downtrodden shadows by those who have performed less! We were born with a duty yet our peers would rather see that it, like us, be left to rot in ignobility! We were destined for more, but we were robbed of glory, left with mere scraps to feed on! Long have we languished in their shadow, under their rule. And here you have been pressed into their servitude, the very ones who inflicted misery upon you; the very ones that stole from you your triumphs and privileges! The very ones who seek to use you when the Kingdom burns by their hand! I speak… of the wretched Aegir Fleet!"

Murmurs. Reactions were immediate. Everywhere, members of the aforementioned fleet all looked stunned at the incrimination. Looks were exchanged among themselves and with the Rán Fleet, no doubt listening to the same words.

The same words that reached all the way to Tanager atop Sol Castle. There, she had no one to share her emotions, no one other than her nervous aides to witness her visage. She was not so afflicted by the message as she was by the messenger. For the first time in all her life, she was at a loss.

"H-how could- I- i-impossible- I saw… I saw…!"

But the voice continued. "Rán ships, look to your predicament; look to your sense of pride! Unshackle yourselves from the reign of your oppressors and take back what is yours! Serve the flag, not the head which does not belong! Be the fleet that the Kingdom would be proud of! Fight your true enemies!"

Tanager remained in disbelief. But her ears did not deceive her. And neither would the facts - however much she loathed them. In that instant, Tanager's face turned red with bloodied rage.

"... T-that absolute BITCH!" she screamed.

And although far, far from earshot, a certain person smiled. Beside her, with her rigging's radio borrowed for this explicit purpose, stood Fort Grace. Sharing a wordless nod, the final step in the ambitious scheme was taken.

"... I am Dysnomia, Kirov-class battlecruiser, commander of the Rán Fleet, contender of the royal crown who still breathes! I have but one question to ask: are you with me?!"

Silence.

Under the tense stares, Herne gave a nervous laugh. "Heh. Uh, ha ha. Some speech that was. Why don't we just kill those 'Azur Lame' ships already? I'll take first dibs if none of you mind..."

She raised her weapon only for others to stir within the Rán ranks. Their gaze continued, now more accusing than ever.

A bead of sweat rolled down the sniper's brow. "... Unless you want the first shot or-"

Suddenly her alerts began blaring. Radar locks - from all of the Rán Fleet. And from the faces of the Aegir ships, the shock was not confined to Herne alone.

The destroyer's eyes became as wide as dinner plates. "W-what are you doing?!"

"Shooting at you, that's what!" Enyo sneered. "Or were you not paying attention to what was said?"

"D-don't give me that crap! We're supposed to be on the same side here! They're the enemy - THEM! You have your orders!"

"Yes, we did," Thalassa admitted. But it was not long until she twisted the knife with an unapologetic look. "... But our orders won't be coming from you anymore!"

In that instant, the Rán ships all raised their voices in accordance. "Damn straight! You Aegir brats are our bosses no more!" Ceto bellowed.

"Yeah, screw you guys!" Eris shouted. "A real pain in the ass!"
"Our grievances have gone on long enough by the hands of you and all your associated parties," asserted Eunomia. "A mutiny would be a reasonable compensation."
"Go Team Seaslugs!" exclaimed Metis.

Herne swiftly turned tail before the uproar gave way to missiles. In her wake, her fellow destroyers were left scrambling after her, eager to flee at the quick realization that there were only a handful of them against an entirely rebelling fleet. The missiles that slithered after them was only half the collective furor that the Rán Fleet had in store for them.

In the midst of this, Kestrel, Tea Time, and Reno found the unexpected twist had left them dumbstruck. "... Never did I think such thing could be," the maid quietly murmured.

"I for one did not see that plot twist coming," Reno muttered.

But as swiftly as they had been forgotten in the face of new circumstance, the silent ships found themselves under prompt notice by Thalassa. Tea Time and Reno tensed up but Kestrel kept her cool. The situation had left the borders between friend and foe indeterminate but she had reason to suspect that the Rán lieutenant would not bring harm.

Thalassa and Kestrel exchanged looks. "... I, uh, won't try to kill you. Just so you know."

"Does this mean we are allies by convenience?" Kestrel inquired.

"Please don't make it sound like we're friends now," Thalassa gently warned. "We're simply no longer enemies. Rather, we share a common one now."

Kestrel nodded. "That's good enough..." A light groan drew her view downward where the injured forms of their cruisers lay, their stirring the first clear sign of life.

Seeing this, Thalassa immediately motioned to her fellow ship. "Eirene, see to their wounded."

Reluctantly, the toga-clad nurse obliged, kneeling beside the first of the many wounded, the very handiwork of her peers only moments ago. Eirene frowned at the irony as she went to work, immediately identifying the injuries that required her attention. Up-close, the nurse took a good look at her former enemy, recognizing her as a ship from the other world, one of conflict but not of their caliber.

It was just at this moment that her "patient" happen to arouse herself into consciousness. Unthinkingly, her hands slowly shifted as if responding to a different pair of hands currently tending to her. Groggily, she came to. "Mmrg… W-what?" Her eyes slowly came into focus and when they did, Cleveland was instantly awake.

"W-w-what the heck?!"

Eirene grimaced in annoyance. "Don't make this any more awkward than it needs to. I liked you better when you were out cold."

A hand was felt on Cleveland's shoulder. Turning, she saw it was Kestrel. "Don't worry. This may be difficult to believe, but the situation has taken an unexpected turn for the better."

Cleveland found assurance in the carrier's words and tone, but remained a shred of skepticism for why a ship that fought her sisters and friends was suddenly one of theirs. "Sure," she mumbled. "I just hope she knows what she's doing. I'm not obsessed with my looks but I do like my face to be the way it was."

Eirene gave out a great snort. "Oh really? Have you ever looked at a mirror? I heard facial surgery is fairly cheap these days."

Now it was the light cruiser's turn to make a retort. "Har har. With a joke like that, I wonder if you're actually a comedian instead of a doc."

"Oh but I am a doctor. Thing is… I'm just not your doctor if you catch my drift. Now are you going to stay still or should I slip in some medical malpractice because of smartass here?" Cleveland decided to keep her mouth shut and play along.

Meanwhile, Kestrel's radio came to life again. But this time, it was a more familiar voice. "Kestrel… Kestrel, do you read?"

The carrier wasted no time responding, glad to hear Fort Grace again. "Yes. You won't believe what happened. All of the Rán ships have turned on the Aegir Fleet!"

"I know. Dysnomia and I made it happen."

Words were stuck in Kestrel's throat. In her stunned silence, Fort Grace continued. "Listen, there's no time to explain. We've turned the tables on the Rose Kingdom; with the help of the Rán Fleet we can do this! Andromeda?"

"Already ahead of you. Updating the IFF as we speak; should all be datalinked to you right now."

On cue, Kestrel's view became populated by dots and icons of blue - the formal declaration from uncertainty, a finalized transition from foe to ally that was now set in stone. The enemy of their enemy had now become their friend.

But so enchanted she was at the implications of the moment that Kestrel nearly failed to notice the approaching growl of jet engines. She turned around, hopeful for the best, but already something about their sound felt off. Looking up, her blood ran cold as she recognized the incoming aircraft - their shape.

Andromeda's warning came late for her. "Be advised, Geofon is headed your way! I repeat, she's headed your way!"

The wind lashed harshly past her. The blistering speed that had made her almost seem superhuman was once again in play. But as much as the carrier moved with all haste, it seemed only now that Geofon acknowledged the wind that whipped against her. It howled in her ears but she did not hear it.

Instead, Geofon could only hear the words, the sole commandment that was decreed by her vengeful queen that gave motive to her feet:

"Geofon… eradicate the traitors at once!"

They all heard it: the open declaration from the one they had assumed dead. An assumption that was soon proven misplaced the moment they heard Dysnomia's voice. With the distant cries of Herne and her combat detachment, they were already paying a costly price for their misplaced presumption.

And Geofon was well aware that she'd pay half of it should she fail.

Light explosions rumbled close by. The battle was to be expected ahead of her but Geofon decided to investigate. The Wyverns she had dispatched ahead of her had found an enemy. Through their eyes she ascertained a figure clad in black. Her back was not to her, but rather she intended to stand her ground, facing the oncoming threat. Geofon narrowed her eyes in recognition of who it was.

She stayed her course, relegating her birds to deal with Kestrel. The sounds of battle had intensified but now the carrier paid them no mind. She continued racing forward, crossing vast distances where the Rose Kingdom's defensive lines would have been. Seeing Sol Castle enter her view, Geofon suspected the severity of the situation. Glancing down, she spotted distant figures arrayed by the base of the castle. Quickly identifying them as ships of the Rán Fleet, Geofon homed in on them like a deadly missile.

Leading the assault, Enyo was all smiles. Between firing away with reckless abandon and hurling insults, the Rán sub-commander could not be any more happier to direct it all towards the Aegir ships. Standing before the mighty walls, in the open for all to see, she bellowed out to her foes concealed somewhere deep within. "Yeah! Yeah that's right! Who's the chicken now?! Bawk bawk-bawk-bawk!"

Eris gawked at the foolhardy display at her division leader. "Dude, get down before they get a lucky hit on you!" She glanced cautiously at the towering battlements, expecting a cannon barrel to poke out from somewhere.

"Lucky hit from who? All those idiots are doing is hiding behind the walls! If they ain't gonna fight, then we'll just tear their stupid fort down!"

"Hey, lookie lookie!" Metis suddenly exclaimed. "There's a robot!"

Eris rolled her eyes. "Yeah, sure there is, Metis. What's it look like, a walking trashcan?"

"Actually more like a flying compactor long past its warranty-" A missile smashed into Metis. Instantly, Enyo, Eris, and everyone else in the vicinity reacted. They turned, beset not by the sight of an incoming threat but a gray blur that cut through them. With sword in her hand, Geofon made literal of the metaphor. She moved in a flash, scattering the Rán group like leaves in a wind before shooting towards Enyo.

A flash of light followed by sparks and the sharp squeal of metal on metal: the tip of Geofon's sword met its match against Enyo's deployable shield. Like her sword, the carrier bounced back. Grinning at her successful defense, Enyo locked on to her enemy, only to scowl when Geofon's image disappeared. She was back upon her in a flash, another loud clang of metal as Enyo reacted just in time to blunt another attempt. But left with only fleeting images of her foe, the cruiser was strictly on the back foot.

As they watched Enyo precariously hold her ground, the rest of the Rán Fleet turned towards the carrier. They kept their distance from the powerful foe, daunted by the speed and intensity at which she moved. Their mobilization was caught in the fringes of Geofon's view, an eye in the back of her head monitoring their presence. She reacted to the new threats, bringing her breakneck speed against the arrayed ships. Immediately, fractures formed in the Rán ships' coordination as their aim went everywhere in an attempt to follow their target. Missiles were let loose but they struggled to find their marks. Haphazard smoke filled like a blinding mist.

This suited Geofon just fine. The terror that the Rán ships had witnessed back then was about to be introduced to them in person, up close and personal.

Eris was the first to fall. Then Calypso, her skills no match for the Wyvern. Then Geofon heard a loud roar from behind. "GOT YOU, YOU PIECE OF SHI-"

Ceto leaped, arms outstretched, when all of a suddenly she found herself grasping empty air. Then the sight of Enyo filled her wide eyes.

"... iiiiiit," Was all that was uttered before the two collided, two aegis cruisers lying on the water in a tangled mess. Above them, Geofon stood victorious - sword poised and ready. Her arm coiled back for a strike.

Then she paused.

The skies to her flank became filled, clouds of black specks standing out from the orange heavens. But they were anything but angels. They descended but Geofon moved quicker, her Wyverns dispatched and wings unfolded. In the air did they meet the enemy: Hornets, Flankers, Phantoms, and Tomcats. Geofon's Wyverns accelerated, their claws outstretched and eager to draw first blood. A missile alert blared in the Aegir carrier's ears, quickly realizing that the source came not from the skies but from the earth. There the sights of the allied carriers greeted her. But they were not alone - accompanying them were Dysnomia, Thalassa, Eirene and the remainder of the Rán Fleet; all faces fearless as they barreled towards the empowered ship.

Among them, only great anger dwelled within the battlecruiser as she glared at Geofon. "NOT MY FLEET, YOU SOULLESS MONSTER!"

For anyone else with Geofon's power, they would be tempted to smirk at the challenge; for her, a scowl conveyed the same intent.

Geofon flexed her armor's wings, the only hint the allies saw before she dashed towards them. Opening up pieces of her armor, a storm of missiles came forth rivalling the opposition in number. The air was instantly choked in missiles and their trails as formations broke up in the chaos.

Dysnomia steered clear from the opening salvos, popping flares to spare her from deft dodging that her still-fresh wounds would not allow. Clenching her teeth, she retaliated with a missile storm of her own. They snaked all over Geofon like tendrils of white. As much as the carrier outpaced the projectiles, they had forced her to move, directly into the path of more missiles that awaited her. The carrier turned to her speed to seize back the initiative, returning to her blade. Her wings and sword sliced through the air, warding away her foes with their sharpness. Back to pressing her advantages, Geofon held her own against an entire flotilla.

And then shells began raining around her, their arrival unexpected. Geofon scanned her surroundings before another series of thunderous booms directed her gaze. Coming from the depths of the ruined city, ships of the Azur Lane - their spirits outweighing their earlier injuries - bracketed her with barrages.

"Let's get her, guys!" shouted Cleveland. "She's going down once and for all!"
Montpelier put on a most determined face. "Right behind ya, big sis! As always!"
"Let's go get her!"
"Yeah! Let's do this!"
"Avengers, assemble!" whooped Reno.
"Time for you to pay for what you did… and this time I'm here to collect!" Tennessee roared.
"And I believe you have quite the debt you owe!" added Ark Royal.

As if this wasn't enough, Geofon looked to find more missiles hurtling towards her - more aircraft. In the furious skies, she made out Eagles and Rafales.

Vulture's mischievous grin shone through her blemishes. "Don't think of leaving us out! We're just getting started!"
"Scarcely can I find the words to describe my complete. Utter. Contempt," Arquette growled. For the first time, her enraged eyes shone through her ruined shades.
"Everyone's in on it, so you better not chicken out, Folkvangr!"
"As if! There's no way we can lose now, Fensalir!"
"Quite right!" Tea Time agreed. "Let us charge once more into the breach!"

To say that Geofon was surrounded by the Delta Coalition and their allies was insufficient of a description of her situation. Everyone was upon her. Everywhere she looked, everywhere she turned, Geofon could only see the enemy, whether they were long-familiar foes to those recently declared as such. Her Wyvern armor and aircraft proved indomitable as always. But as powerful as she was, Geofon stood alone.

The onslaught fell on her like hail on rock. But even the mightiest stones were not invulnerable.

But Geofon persisted; her queen's demands still held sway and the war still raged. She fought on, assured of her armor's capabilities. As grossly outnumbered she was, the carrier remained far from outmatched. Any harm that managed to reach her arrived to only negligible effect. What damage she received, she felt no injury. She felt as powerful as she did earlier. Geofon kept fighting - there was no reason for her not to! Try as they might her adversaries can only wear themselves down before eventually falling to her blade! This was a battle of wills and she held every card-

Then Geofon felt pain. An acute sensation, like a dagger piercing her flesh, but burrowed somewhere deep inside her. For all her stoicism, it made her wince. She breathed in but the pain persisted in her, like a tightness in her gut. Was she actually damaged?

The carrier had no time to stop midfight. But as she summoned her strength, she felt it again. Geofon felt it shock her soul like electricity. This time she stumbled.

The cracks in their enemy's power did not escape Buzzard's notice. "We're finally having some form of effect on target."

News spread no faster than their own eyes. The empowered ship was visibly slowing under the hail of fire. From its receding speed came a sense of waning power.

"Looks like all the damage is finally catching up to her!" White Valley cheered.

A satisfied smile was on Ark Royal's lips. "Even the mightiest foe can be felled eventually."

"... But she looks barely damaged," Kestrel noted skeptically. "Are we really causing this?"

The question barely registered to Fort Grace. She was more than willing to take what good news she could find. "I'm not sure, Kestrel. But this is our golden opportunity - if we're not the ones making her feel pain, then we will soon enough...

"Everyone, maintain element and don't let up! We're taking her down along with Tanager today!"

Tanager was furious. She whipped around to her submarines. "What happened?! What has afflicted Geofon?! ENLIGHTEN ME!"

Her research heads were at a loss for words. Disbelief was written on their faces as was uncertainty. And from uncertainty came another apparent emotion present: fear. "I-I-I'm not sure! All readings are reporting nominal status!"

"W-w-we're seeing nothing abnormal with the X-02, nu! I'm reporting no discrepancy so… t-the sensors! Nu, there must be something off with them!"

"No… it must have something to do with the Wyvern armor! There must be some sort of side effect that we didn't anticipate!"

"THEN RESOLVE YOUR MISCALCULATION AT ONCE!" The two submarines flinched from Tanager's hysterical shrieking. "Retrieve Geofon and her aegis immediately! NOW!"

The Beowulves scrambled out of the queen's sight posthaste, eager to evacuate from her ire. With them gone, Tanager's gaze was bereft of nothing else but Geofon's plight from her vantage point. The once invincible secret weapon, its status and image now marred and strained by the sudden infliction that beset its bearer. She watched as her enemies doggedly fought on, encouraged by the same weakness she saw. Like sharks smelling blood, they swarmed, eager for a chance to claim a kill. Ships of all shapes, class, origins, and nationality; emblems hailing from all allegiances. Once it was the Delta Coalition, then the Silver Star Federation, the Azur Lane, and now ships of her own country had joined arms with them. Before, it was them against the world - now, the Kingdom's icon had turned against itself.

Seeing all before her, Tanager now realized how alone she was.

"RaaaAAAAUGH!"

As loud as the rage-filled scream was, it echoed without a reply. There would be no one to share her hysteria, let alone listen to her. She had her Kingdom, but only a void accompanied her.

Tanager finally forced herself to turn away in disgust. She stomped off to disappear within the depths of Sol Castle.

Another discharge of munitions, another strings of impacts that turned the sea orange from the blows. The sounds were becoming innately familiar with their repetition. The seas were as tired as the day was, and so were those who stood in its light.

Somehow, in all the melee Geofon remained standing. The Wyvern armor may have granted her strength, but it was personal discipline that kept her on her feet. A battle would always be strenuous, and it was imperative that those who waged war should remain at their sharpest. Years of training and experience had ensured that the carrier would be of strong mind as well as form. The alien-like armor had little to do with why she remained functioning.

Another sharp pang and without fail, Geofon felt it. Again, it stabbed but left no mark on her exterior. She barely let a hiss between her teeth but it was too late to hide it. Even if she could remain stoic, the sensation did not fail to force Geofon to her knee.

She fought off the pain, but it could not be dulled; it was an enemy she could not prevail for the threat seemingly came from within. She tried to rise, but the weight of the exhaustion anchored her. Geofon breathed laboriously. The armor she wore gave her unimaginable sense of power, yet she felt it sap her strength. Her inner core was under constant torment and the feeling was only growing stronger.

Missiles slithered toward Geofon. Her CIWS fire cut the air to swat them down, but their aim was haphazard; her composure was crumbling. She swiftly returned fire but a blast smashed into her back. The carrier felt the dull impact and as she responded, Geofon lurched again in pain. Her body recoiled as if shocked, her wings' twitching erratically. She collapsed onto her hands, barely holding herself together. No longer content with stabbing pain, Geofon now felt her whole body undergo something… worse.

She gripped her heart out of reflex, all pretense of discipline thrown away. But she was unable to comfort herself, no matter how desperate. Her blood began to feel hot, her nerves seemingly contorting and tearing itself against her will, her own flesh feeling as if they were being eaten away. Her whole body convulsed while it still could, while she still had one. She couldn't even remember clutching her armor, trying to claw it off. But it clung to her like skin.

The Wyvern armor that protected and endowed her with its impeccable gray hull was massacring her.

Geofon was lost in her own tortured existence until a pair of shadows approached her. "... Oh god. She's an absolute mess right now."
"Quick, quick! The release switch, nu!"

Somewhere on the carrier, the two submarines spotted the cloistered mechanism and wasted no time performing the procedure. Triggering the mechanism, a button was revealed. Who pressed it in the haste, neither Beowulf π nor v were certain. The X-02A Wyvern armor instantly twitched but then, instead of moving with frenzied agony it began shifting with dutiful methodology. First the inverted wings folded back in, followed by the all moving pieces returning to their original place. Then the armor began folding and shifting on top of each other like origami, accumulating into glowing light until it formed the shape of a cube, plopped down alongside its wearer.

The carrier collapsed limply into the submarines' arms, the pair still shocked at her condition. "Geofon… Geofon!"

Beowulf v peered into Geofon's face, feeling her deep panting that came in place of words. But no sooner had she begin assessing the ship's health did her breathing noticeably subside and her eyes return to focus.

"Still… here..." Geofon slowly grunted. She then tried to rise, but found her limbs rigid as stone. She sputtered into coughing, her already strenuous body conceding. The two submarines exchanged worried glances until a distant shot yanked their attention back to reality; here, the war still continued around them. Allied ships. those who could still fight, were mixed among Aegir elements - what remained of them.

Above the din, Herne's desperate voice cut in. "Don't just sit there! Just grab her already!"

The duo wordlessly concurred. Beowulf v quickly snatched the Wyvern armor while Beowulf π went to work fetching and wrapping tow cables around the carrier's rigging, attaching it to herself and her partner. "Ready?"

"Ready, nu!"

And with that, the two sped off, their submarine riggings churning and ploughing the water in their struggle to evacuate the stricken carrier. They urgently tugged the larger ship, their encumbered pace exacerbated by the persistent threat of enemy fire that surrounded them and how exposed the two submarines felt. Near-misses of impacting cannonfire only validated their fears.

"We can't take any more risks. Fire away with everything we have!"

Their vehicles opened up and immediately their hulls erupted with fire and smoke, projectiles and flares belching like a torrent. Their surroundings instantly became a thick blanket of confusion as their attackers (real or imaginary) wavered. And from it, Beowulf π and v made themselves scarce with their escort.

"Full speed ahead, nu!"

Herne swooped down to their side. She, like the other destroyers sent to sally forth from their fortress, looked rather shaken and exhausted. But as she sailed alongside the submarines, her appearance paled compared to the perturbed look she got upon seeing Geofon up close.

"Ugh… W-what even happened to her?"

"It… had something to do with the X-02A she was wielding," Beowulf π replied. "I've never seen anything like it, but I can think of no other conclusion."

Herne gave an exasperated sigh. "God damn it. So what, that… whoever her name was left us with another crappy toy?"

"I hope not… it was working beyond all our expectations. It… it just had something to do with the Wyvern armor. It disturbs me to think if this was an intended feature." Beowulf π's eyes widened. "... The 'price' she mentioned..."

They held course as they tried to put the sounds of battle behind them. But as swift as their escape was, it continued to surround them; it would not let them go quite yet. Peeking behind her, Herne quickly counted the heads of the others: Fenris, Kolga, Beluga, Lazuli, Taisch, and Thiassi. Their unit remained cohesive and while the enemy was weary from fighting Geofon, they remained an overpowering threat they dared not contend. They could fight, but they would not win - hope of victory had long died.

But then a thunderous roar boomed. Herne saw it in the faces of their pursuers before it came, the entire waterline erupting into flames. All eyes spun straight towards Sol Castle where its crown holder stood.

Tanager shot out her hand. "My knights, hear me! You have fought valiantly, but the Kingdom lies in ruin. Our capital is lost and so will Sol Castle. But your monarch still breathes, her hands still gripping the reins of our destiny! Our realm has fallen but not our lives!"

The eyes of Herne, Beowulf π and her partner widened. "Does… does this mean…?"

Tanager did not nod, for her stare wordlessly delivered the confirmation. "... Beowulf π, Beowulf v - you know what to do. I want it fully operational when I arrive. Now go!"

There was only a moment's hesitation before the Aegir Fleet unanimously complied, speeding off away from the castle and the city, towards the endless blue over yonder. They were loyal - their actions cemented it - but Tanager could see it in their eyes. Devout as they were, her rank-and-file could not conceal it. As uncompromising as she was, especially in a moment such as this, Tanager allowed this instance of weakness.

It was the looks of forlornness. The expression of deep loss.

They were to abandon their home, their last refuge. Their own kingdom that they had cherished, now lost.

Hot wisps, and the strong scent of vaporized propellent, hung in the air like a mist. It gently prickled Fort Grace's senses as she panted in the thin, weary air. She quickly glanced around to see her fellow ships, equally drained as she was. Worst of the bunch however, were the Rán Fleet that were scattered around them, having taken the brunt of Geofon's attacks. Dysnomia limped by, already fixated with assessing their damage.

Fort Grace scanned her surroundings, eyes now searching for danger. To her surprise, no alert went off betraying a hidden foe. Her radar was equally silent. The entire battlefield had become as quiet as a grave.

A voice called out amid her perplexion. "Are you alright, Your Grace?"

The carrier gave a short nod. "I am, thank you. What about you?"

"Could be better, but could certainly be much worse," Tea Time replied in good spirits. She paused as she looked around before saying what her friend had in mind. "We should be thankful that, as daunting Geofon was, there were no significant casualties."

"... Never did I think that we'll all spend our hard-earned victory celebrations in the infirmary," The Delta flagship gave a tired laugh, shaking her head as she did. "But where are the Aegir Fleet? Where's Tanager?"

"Must have retreated, with Geofon in tow," Buzzard concluded. "I've lost track of them myself in all the confusion… But they couldn't have gone far."

"You sure? I don't think I ever saw them enter the castle."

"Hey! What's going on?"

All eyes were drawn to the voice. Following the owner's outstretched finger, everyone's gazes were then diverted to the monolithic landmark. The air above the city was blotted in grays, fed by numerous pillars of smoke. The orange sunset peaked out from the veil, filling the cracks with glowing embers. The sky seemed to burn which was why it took many a moment or two to realize what was wrong.

Rising from Sol Castle, in great columns that rivaled those made of venerable stone and brick that have withstood the test of time, were plumes of black. Ash and embers floated in the wind like petals. A faint red aura emanated from the fortress, its own soul laid bare for all to see.

Faces of horror slowly spread among the onlookers. The scent of fire and burning wood was well camouflaged in the smoldering air.

Thalassa was left gaping. "The flames… they must be coming from main hall!"

Dysnomia's stare turned into rage at the sight. "Those bastards! Even their own great castle isn't sacred enough to be spared!"

The faces of the Delta Coalition, Silver Star Federation, and Azur Lane ships were all silent, unsure of how to interpret this move yet again. But the hush mood was upturned when Helena's attention was diverted away from the burning castle.

"I'm tracking contacts on my radar, exiting Sol Castle!"

Fort Grace whirled her gaze down to level, hungry for the sight of those contacts. She didn't have to wait long until her eyes caught them through the smokey miasma: a troop of six figures zipping out from behind the castle. As much haste they injected in their movements, partially concealed by the smoke, there was no mistaking their identities.

"Tanager!"

The Aegir remnants bolted, their heading and gaze away from the allies. All ships followed their movement, attempting to ascertain their intentions.

"They're moving due west at high speeds," Helena reported.

"Are they honestly fleeing?" Ark Royal asked perplexed. "This city is all they have left. Where else are they supposed to go?"

"To hell for all I care," snarled Enyo.

Dysnomia glowered at the fleeting images of Tanager and her remaining consort. "After everything she's done… Now way we're letting her go this easily!"

Fort Grace nodded in agreement. Her gaze closely followed the battleship like a hawk. Once again, the enemy queen had taken flight; the game was coming to a close with a final victor becoming known, yet a checkmate had eluded them. Tanager had now lost her nation, but her fleet still lived. So long as they did, so too would her dreams, her madness. To let her live would risk leaving her shadow to hang over this continent. Victory in this war, like sins of the past, required closure.

She turned to look back at her allies, their tacit approvals given. With a unanimous approval, only one route was available.

"All ships, pursue Tanager!"

Raven and the rest of her squadron were sullen as they moved with haste behind Tanager. No word had been struck since the shock of their final "gift" had worn off. Not even when they had finally received their first order since the war for the Rose Kingdom's soul had begun. Raven recalled how they all felt when their only contribution to the fateful battle was to sanitize their headquarters, cleansing it with fire. The systematic purging of their own castle had been performed without word. With any and all documentation of their military extent - force deployment, mission transcripts, dark secrets - now in cinders, it was as if a small collection of their nation's history had been robbed of its words.

Once again, another silent retreat.

Raven's eyes furtively shifted forward. With Tanager leading the exodus, she saw only her back. The royal emblem on her mantle dominated her view. It flapped in the breeze, but it was bathed only in shadow. They chased the setting sun, but Tanager's frame blocked her view. The light did not form a halo around her silhouette, rather she had eclipsed it. A figure of darkness and she was the one they were to follow. Almost against their will…

The reticence was not to last however. The corner of Raven's view - her radar minimap - betrayed the presence of pursuers. They were far, but the distance between them could only shrink. The rest of her squadron all spoke through their will be no easy escape.

"Tanager."

The battleship did not even bother to spare a peek, only clenching her jaw tight as she knew. "Damnation…" she hissed venomously.

She came to a stop, turning to face Raven. Through her, she addressed to all of the Aquila Vanguard. "Our adversaries, now joined with usurpers, have brought ruin to the throne and yet still yearn for more from us. They will not cease 'til they are satisfied with our extinction."

"They will pursue you… and in doing so they will find out about it," Raven murmured.

"Unacceptable. Unacceptable! That must not happen… no matter the cost. The fate of Kingdom rests upon our final machination… It rests upon your shoulders."

Raven's breath froze. She knew what was coming, yet the truth intimidated her.

"Raven… your squadron will do what must be done to safeguard our future!"

The Aquila Vanguard, like their leader, said nothing. Their expressions spoke for themselves on their behalf. And yet, like a hallucination, Raven heard her own voice coming from her mouth, with words that were not her own.

"... It will be done."

Tanager did not smile. Her grim visage remained unmoved. The most dire of moments, with the most desperate of options as its answer, yet it was as if the battleship cared not for the ramifications.

Raven turned without a word to say, and so too did Tanager. Even with her back to her, she could feel her long shadow cast over the cruiser. Gaping stares landed on her back but they were ignored by the battleship; obedience had already been secured, pieces placed where she wanted them. At no point did she ever look back at her own knights. No look of comfort, assurance, or even hint of regret. Their muted disbelief no longer concerned her. Even the best of knights had become naught but pawns in the end.

"... Die well, Raven. You have my blessings."

Tanager then sped off toward the setting sun, her retreat marked with renewed haste. Loyal subordinates were nothing compared to the home she had already sacrificed.

"Fort Grace, five ships are closing in at high speed. It's the Aquila Vanguard!"

The Delta carrier narrowed her eyes. Soon enough, she caught their silhouettes materialize on the horizon. Five figures arrayed in a line, the distance between them regular and concise. They did not move but Fort Grace was not fooled by the illusion - they were headed directly for them.

The combined forces all glimpsed at the distant figures. But fear was utterly absent among them.

"Ha. They don't scare me!"
"We're taking down those Aegir a-holes!"
"I've been looking forward to this moment…!"

Kestrel looked aghast. "Do they intend to take on two fleets by themselves? That's suicide!"

Fort Grace observed the incoming squadron with a grim frown. "Looks like they've come to make a last stand for the Rose Kingdom."

Cleveland and her sisters stared at the oncoming cruisers. They closed in enough for their faces to be made out. In that moment, Cleveland thought they exchanged glances with her. She knew them, and they knew her sisters. After the time spent getting to know each other… what they intend to do...

"Raven, NO!"

The Aquila Vanguard broke formation, their weapon payloads already released.

"As always, your squadron has performed admirably as always… We have much to benefit from your skills and your continued service."
"... I had expected a more stellar performance from you, Raven. You are one of the Kingdom's best and loyal..."
"This was for betraying me with your insubordination… There will not be a third transgression."

"Die well, Raven. You have my blessings."

… Do I?

Your words still ring through my mind. Everything you've said, from every mission; from every triumph to every shortcoming. You showered us with praise, but did not hesitate to bite us with criticism. You had little tolerance for failure, that I know too well. You are our queen, and I had made my fealty to you.

But if I have your assurance, then why do I not feel it?

"Right side!... Watch your heads!"

Why is it that, even after distinguishing ourselves in your service, we were not welcomed into your inner circle? Your words, however complimentary they were, rang factitious and hollow. We were of the same nation - of the same fleet. Under the same banner and allegiance.

Were we not equals?

Perhaps… we never were.

I know you, Tanager. I remembered your words. I remember your intentions. The Kingdom was at peace before Ulysses. But none of us can recall that moment; all we knew was strife that came in the aftermath. Our lives were defined by war, and you had sought it out. The cause was your own, but not the means. Had they not come to you with their proposition...

I - we all swore an oath. To serve the Kingdom and its queen as their soldiers: proud, brave, and vigilant. To uphold the honor of our nation and its military. To submit to the orders of our superiors. And submit we did… to everything. But was this war for the good of the Kingdom… or for your benefit? At times, I couldn't tell what it was we were fighting for. And now, what are we to die for?

"Don't hold back… we're still in this together! We're… still..."
"LOOK OUT!"

You abandoned us. We were your knights, but in the end we were nothing but pawns. We were simply pieces for you to use. A soldier accepts death, but not like this.

Sobbing. Quiet as it was, we all heard it. We heard it as if as it was our own. Just one of us couldn't bottle it up for long. Only one. I had never seen Condor cry before. She cried so that we wouldn't have to. Even as unwarranted her doting was, she never stopped caring about us. She loved us like a mother we never had. A family - even if we were sisters only in name.

"I… I can't… I-I'm s-sorry, my… my darlings..."

First to fall. Were it anyone else, you would have sunk with guilt.

Goodbye, Condor… and thank you.

We became lost in despair, as though our sense of direction had been stolen from us. We were robbed of our sight. I may be leader, but you were our helmsman, Magpie. You were the compass that guided us, a lighthouse ashore to lead us home. Our tactician. Our victories would not have been the same without you.

"I… don't ever want to leave you guys… worth more to me than any-"

And now, we will be without our light. Without a sense of direction, we're lost, never to find our way again.

Farewell, Magpie. Thank you… for everything you've done for us.

Finch… even our fates became evident, you too were afraid as anyone would be. We all saw it; none would blame you for it. And yet, you were quick to put on a brave face. Your youthful determination in the face of adversity. Although you faced death, you knew you would not face it alone. So did we.

"Arrgh… I-it looks like… finally game over for me… the best co-op buddies I ever had..."

A youthful ship such as yourself… you deserved better. I can only wish the same for all of us.

The honor was all mine, Finch. Until we meet again.

We gave in to our fates, to the inevitable. We nearly gave in to our sorrow, even if it was unbecoming of us. Unbecoming of living weapons like we were, born with no ancestor but conflict. Nothing more, nothing less. To fight was our existence. But even then, we always chose what to fight for.

We chose to fight for the Kingdom. We chose to fight for something greater than ourselves. We all wanted to believe in that sense of nobility, that there was something to all that we had done. But you showed us that was not to be. You showed us that there was no kingdom to fight for, to protect. You, the throne, had perverted the Kingdom's name. The cause we fought for was but a lie, one perpetrated by you.

So why did I choose to keep fighting?

What motive would there be than to fight for your monarchy?

"Raven..."

Sparrow. I remember how you reacted to our destiny. The way you stood, still unlike your anxious breathing. Even hearing it filled me with dread, to listen to you in such manner. "Just say it..." Those were your words. "Just say it!" I couldn't see your eyes but when I did, they were unlike anything I had ever seen from you before.

"What are you waiting for? Are you scared to die? We all are! We've all been scared of it for as long as we can remember! Ever since we became the Aquila Vanguard! Even if we were the best, we never stopped being afraid! Every battle, it was there. And every battle, all five of us! No more, no less! We weren't the best because of our victories - it was because of you! We are who we are because of you, Raven! We've all made it this far together, because no matter what, no matter how scared we all were, we were together! You're our leader, Raven! We've stuck with you then and we'll stick with you to the end! So say it… give us the order!"

Fear, anguish, grief, anger, courage. Like your eyes, your words are something I can never forget. Neither could anyone else. You showed us everything, and in that moment, we all saw it.

"... Raven, I won't leave you…!"

In that moment, we all understood. I understood it. I remember it now. It was the moment that brought us back together from the brink.

Why we chose to fight - and why we chose to die.

"... I love you, Raven..."

The Rose Kingdom was no stranger to conflict. All through its history, bouts of chaos had graced the nation, from threats within and without. Even in the very capital, the shining jewel of the domain, the drums of war had reached its boundaries. What lulls there were in between instability served only to whisper portents of the next era of strife. And yet, it seemed as if that cycle of violence would finally be broken. Then Ulysses came, and soon the crown of death had rested on the former regime in the very throne of the country. Discord had returned and so had war. While war had spread to the continent like a plague it was not long before it returned to where it began, like a prophecy. Bloodshed had been the very foundation of the Rose Kingdom, its defining character.

And for what seemed like the first time since eternity, Farbanti had finally fallen silent. The last echo of thunder had vanished in the wind.

That silence was all Kestrel could ask for. But as she stood over the ruined coast, she knew the reprieve had come too late.

The waters stood still. The bodies of Condor, Magpie, and Finch could now lay at rest, undisturbed by man and now nature. They would eventually sink in their slumber, never to rise again. The waters were still, save for the gentle splashes of droplets by Kestrel's feet; but it was neither rain nor drizzle doing the deed.

The fierce battle had finally ended. But it was without victory.

Buzzard could only stare at the mournful display, silent save for her weary sighs. Beside her, even Vulture was in no mood to celebrate, however relieved she was of another victory. She could only shake her head. "Dumbasses..." she hissed, a curse evidently not toward their former foes as she turned away from the sight of respectable opponents dead before her.

All dead save for one. On the battle-worn seas sat Raven, laid low in defeat. Like her fallen comrades, her once distinct rigging was now shed of its life and vigor. Once commander of her unit, she was only in command of the slain comrades surrounding her. But even in death, it was as if they remained loyal to her. And from one in particular, cradled in the dying Raven's arms.

In Raven's hand lay Sparrow's. The embrace was tight, the ironclad sign of life. The Aquila leader held her head close to her friend, her expression in a sleepy demeanor. "... I love you too." Her whisper came almost as a plea.

But as much as she could try, there was nothing Raven could do - Sparrow was already dead.

Her own mortal wounds could not compare to that within her heart.

She barely noticed a figure approach tentatively from behind. "... How could you do this…?"

The cruiser did not turn to look. "... It's what we fought for."

Cleveland could only look at her in absolute disbelief. "What you fought for…? What was worth throwing all your lives away for Tanager?!"

"No… not her."

The young Eagle cruiser's expression flickered. "What? If not her then..."

"The flag..."

By now, the others had gathered around. First onlookers and bystanders, now participants to bear witness to the revelation. Raven gathered her breath before she continued - with what little time remained.

"Listen, everyone… the armor Geofon wore was yet another weapon Tanager possessed, but it is not the last one… She has but one more..."

The revelation stirred the allies, animating them with intrigue and alarm. Fort Grace was quick to asking the question that was in all of their heads. "Her last weapon, what is it?"

"... A fortress… out far south of here. That is where the Aegir Fleet has retreated to… Their last stand..."

Buzzard pressed the question. "What weapon? What is in that fortress? What is Tanager planning?"

Raven coughed. "The files… Sol Castle… We were ordered to erase every trace of its existence to cover our trail… But not everything. You'll find it… everything you need to know… Stop Tanager, whatever it takes."

Kestrel knelt down bringing a comforting aura in her shared presence with Raven. "Why are you telling us this?"

Raven sighed wearily. "I served under Tanager… but it was the Rose Kingdom that I fought for… At least, the Kingdom that we wished for. An ideal image… one proud but compassionate. Strong but gentle. Without her own twisted visions… The country of our dreams.

"What me - what everyone wanted, fought, and died for… was home."

Raven's head drooped, now lower than ever. She sputtered another cough, her breathing now fainter. With the last vestiges of her life, she raised her head back up. Her gaze met the glowing sun on the horizon. A yellow orb continued to glow but its rays were long past receded. The dusk was over - the day will end and so will the last sunlight. Like Raven, the day was dying and there was nothing to stop it.

And yet, the cruiser's eyes glazed at the majesty they beheld. The allure of life that was spent knowing that it will end.

Raven allowed her gaze to drop back down where they would rest on Sparrow. Her peaceful demeanor never strayed; it was as if she was asleep. Raven gently stroked her fringes, wishing her a pleasant dream. One that the two will soon share.

"Condor, Magpie, Finch, Sparrow… I'm coming home."

A moment of silence befell them, no words uttered in deference of the moment. Raven remained slumped, her face obscured under the shadow of her hood. Her embrace of the deceased Sparrow remained absolute.

And then it too slackened. Their hands stayed clasped by the fingers.

The sun had finally set on the Rose Kingdom, and with it the last loss. Friend or foe, the respect was paid by many.

Among them were the young ships of Eagle Union. They gathered together, bonded by their ties; a reminder of the deep loyalty that ran between them. And the great cost that would come with any loss. Respect came from the mutual understanding. From fellow knights to another.

Cleveland could only look on mournfully. They were gone - buried someplace before even their very monuments would whither away with time. All she would hold on were her memories, cherishing them as she did with everything else.

"Goodbye, Raven..."

Location: Sol Castle

Sometime later…

Tea Time grimaced as she swept the floor clean yet again. She busily wiped the black dust aside, yet the ash persisted, clinging to every pore and crevice in the cobblestone. Ever since she entered the castle, the ash and soot were everywhere - the floor, the walls, the ceiling, even the air. It was impossible not to step foot anywhere inside the charred husk of Sol Castle without becoming a part of it: blanketed in soot.

The maid glanced down at her ash-sprinkled dress with annoyance. "Cleaning this will be such a blasted endeavor..."

"Well, it takes care of all the paperwork," Andromeda quipped, eliciting a small laugh from Reno. Tea Time gave the two a look for the attempted humor, unamused by the stark difference in which the intelligence vessel was able to remain considerably untouched by the ash-ridden air. By contrast, the Eagle cruiser still bore the tired wounds from the battle, though her mood have recovered to high spirits. Andromeda and Reno took quick notice of the glare and promptly shut their mouths, fastening themselves back to the task at hand.

Fort Grace peered over her shoulder, more interested in what the technologists had to offer. "Anything?"

"I'm not surprised by the extent the Aegir Fleet went in their torch-n-burn op. But Raven was telling the truth that there'd be something left over for us to use." Andromeda then coughed lightly. "Even then, there's more ash piles than circuits in this terminal… or what's left of one."

Behind her, opposite to the Delta carrier, Buzzard approached. "Let the Rán collaborators worry about clean-up. This place is theirs now anyways..." Though having said that, she scowled at the mess surrounding them all. She worried that she'd inherit the stain of the former inhabitants on herself, where they would be camouflaged by her coat.

"Regardless, anything we can find will be of importance. Anything concerning that… thing Geofon used?"

Reno shook her head. "Nope, couldn't find anything. Their R&D must have been more secretive with their research data than superhero identities because I have trouble finding anything. Best I got are two things: that they call that goober a… 'X-02A Wyvern', and that it was most certainly not made by them."

"'Goober'...?" Buzzard quietly scoffed. "And that last part already went unsaid. But 'Wyvern'... we'll make note of that."

Fort Grace leaned close, eager to read the scant data on the screens even if she couldn't quite absorb their full meaning. "What about where Tanager and her fleet retreated to? They must have one last fall-back plan in place."

Andromeda busily strummed the keys, the fine layer of dust already dissipated from the exterior. "Transmission logs are fragmented but there are mentions of one. Earliest known entries… that far back?"

Buzzard squinted with a puzzled complexion. "... That was after we had disabled Stonehenge!"

"They must have had that one hatched for a while," Fort Grace muttered. "But Dysnomia made no mention of this."

"Likely intentional," observed Andromeda. "All findings originated from Aegir Fleet elements and curiously enough addressed only to them. The Rán Fleet must have been left in the dark about this… no doubt courtesy of you-know-who."

"Right, but Tanager and her fleet must have left a trail of some sort that we can follow. Their orders had to be distributed among their own fleet after all."

It was Reno's turn to chime in. "Yep! We managed to decrypt a small set of logs and communiques detailing all sorts of materiel transfer. Super-duper stuff."

The intelligence vessel sighed. "And chances are, the true extent is even bigger… Whatever it may be, all those resources were directed somewhere. Somewhere… south. South of Farbanti, far from land."

Both Buzzard and Fort Grace narrowed their eyes. In sync, they uttered the answer. "The Twinkle Islands."

"They must be building one heck of a fortress down there with those materials," Reno remarked. "Compared to Stonehenge, it'll be supervillain lair part two electric boogaloo."

Fort Grace shook her head, exhaling in disgust. Every day, every battle, there lay the hope. A dream that one day the fighting would cease. Defeat had only graced the Rose Kingdom and from it, Fort Grace had been envisioned the war's end. It was - it had been within their reach! The fighting was supposed to have ended with Farbanti; their checkmate. And yet, Tanager's dogged insistence had reared itself. And frustratingly enough for them, she had deemed it unnecessary to play by the rules. She and her Kingdom had lost this war, but she made herself deaf to that message.

And now they had to make that message clear to her. Once again, another final battle.

"An entire island fortress..." Buzzard grumbled. "Any idea what to expect of its defenses? Its capabilities?"

"There's the usual… and there's..." Andromeda paused, frowning before the stream of fragmented data that fed her eyes. Everyone took note of her shift in mood and cast their eyes towards her.

"What is it?"

Andromeda turned toward the others. Her expression was not of confusion or uncertainty. It was of horror.

"This..."

Location: the Twinkle Islands, Rose Kingdom (Aegir Fleet) holdout stronghold

The metal double doors slid open with a hiss but Tanager paid them no mind, passing through the portal before they had even finished opening. She had already obtained her first impressions of her new base, and she was not here to marvel at her newest creation. Not yet.

Beowulf π and Beowulf v instantly cocked to attention. They had no doubt expected the battleship's arrival, waiting ever intently.

"Everything is prepared and ready," Beowulf π reported. In hindsight, it was rather redundant.

After all the time and effort spent on this endeavor, there was no doubt that everything would be in place on this fateful day.

Tanager stopped, presiding in the center stage of the gray-hulled control room. She surveyed the various screens and displays with narrow eyes. There were no controls by her side but the Beowulves were more than content to be her hands that gripped the reins.

All that required was the first command.

"Proceed."

Fort Grace wasn't sure what she was looking at. What words and pictograms she could grasp in the sea of information left her afraid to ascertain the complete picture.

"A satellite launch… an OLDS system?"

"What does that mean?" Reno asked.

"OLDS - orbital laser defense system," answered Andromeda in a serious tone. "It's the idea to employ specialized laser-equipped satellites to help clear Ulysses fragments that still pollute the upper atmosphere."

Reno's shoulders dropped from subverted expectations. "Oh so it sweeps away loose asteroid debris cleanly!... That's a problem how…?"

"I never said that they all swept away the debris cleanly…"

"... Satellite in stable orbit and in holding position."

"Simulated testings, complete with test firings: 18, all without problems, nu. Optimal energy outputs identified."

"All systems working nominally. The OLDS is ready to begin at your command."

The reports came as music to Tanager's ears. To hear the words that would inaugurate her with renewed power, one unlike any she had wielded. The drone ships had given her reach, Stonehenge a taste of unremitting fury - with this, Tanager would have the best of both worlds. And very soon, she would begin her own symphony.

The thoughts of what hell she could unleash tickled a soft laughter out of her.

"At last… I will have my revenge."

"Should we conduct a live demonstration before announcing demands?" suggested Beowulf π. "I have already compiled possible targets so-"

"We will do no such thing. The entire Usean continent is to be considered viable. Set it as our target!"

The two submarines looked at her stunned. "M-my liege?"

"I have no intention of holding a mere settlement as hostage, as token for negotiation..." Tanager growled. "There will be no negotiation. No compromise. No bargain. We were meant to take what was ours. But the world has seen fit to rob me of my Kingdom, of our destiny. Fate has conspired against us. The hands of many have conspired against us. Don't you see? The lands that have known the Rose Kingdom's name are all complicit! We have bled for our efforts, and it all seeps on their hands!

"Know this, my Aegir Fleet. We are the last inheritors of the Rose Kingdom, of the proper crown. The throne has been beset by subversive elements! Our many enemies cry in triumph at their accomplishments, at our disgrace! They cheer at how they have reduced us to refugees, just as how they themselves were exiled from Ulysses! They've insulted us with their parasite-like nature and now they revel in how they have reduced us as such!

"The Rose Kingdom as we knew it is gone. It cannot be restored to glory… But it can be avenged."

Tanager paused to glance at the central display, the flat image of the entire continent dominating her view. And like how it commanded her attention, it dictated her disgust. The land she knew, the one the Rose Kingdom called home, now incited revulsion.

If she was to be denied everything...

"The entire land, destroyed… all for the price of our home!

"Commence firing!"

The room fell deathly silent as everyone was graced with the growing revelation. All faces grew more and more fearful as the pieces began to fall into place. Any missing details that their worst fears substituted paled compared to the picture that was painted before them.

"... An OLDS-based system in orbit, within operational distance of the orbiting fragments..."
"Primary laser module… set to lower energy output than is required to eradicate debris..."
"Fire control algorithm… dislodges fragment..."
"... from orbit..."
"Estimated effect..."
"... Total."

Fort Grace looked on in horror. "This… this is more than their weapon, or a hidden fortress - it's a monstrosity..."

"One in which they even gave a name," Andromeda murmured.

"Which is…?"

The digital findings unanimously herded before their eyes, contorting and shifting, drawing their attention as from the collage of images, diagrams, and incomplete specifications, a common theme was plucked for viewing. One word that gave their horror an identity.

"Megalith."

AUTHOR'S NOTES:

HistoricHippos:

Feels like it's been ages since last update, hasn't it? If it has, I apologize for the delay. However, the problems don't end here: I've recently found a job and as such, I have found less time to work on my story than before due to work schedule. Expect future content to be equally delayed.

That said, I shall continue working and developing "Azur Lane: Strange,Real Waters" whenever possible. This story is still getting warmed up and there's still so much more ground to cover beforeI even think of pulling the plug. If you have been sticking with us for this long, I thank you for your patience.