"Wow. Akashi has not seen that much ore before. Where did you find this, nyaa?" Akashi asked.
"We found it when we almost ran aground in the Suez Canal. It was shining bright in the sand that we pushed aside with the bow, so the Captain told us to pick it up." Franz said as Akashi inspected the massive chunk of ore compared to her small frame.
"How many can you make out of this?" Franz asked as Akashi got her tools ready.
"Hmm." Akashi mused, mewing softly as she seemingly spaced out.
"Akashi?" Franz asked.
"Nyaa?" Akashi wondered.
"How many cubes do you think you'll get?" Franz asked.
"Akashi is only using a quarter for cubes, nyaa. Akashi needs ore for research. Akashi is slowly unlocking the secrets, nyaa." Akashi said as she quickly chiseled away a quarter of the chunk, reserving it for cubes.
"What kind of research?" Franz asked.
"Hmm." Akashi said as she began looking closer at Franz.
"Remove your hat, nyaa." Akashi demanded.
"What?! Why?!" Franz asked as he took a step back.
"Do it, nyaa" Akashi demanded. She slowly began whittling away at the cubes, knocking them out quickly as Franz stood in silence, refusing to budge.
"Why are you asking me to remove my hat?" Franz asked.
"Because, nyaa. You are making Akashi uncomfortable, nyaa." Akashi said as she began rummaging through filing cabinets that had been moved to the lab. She rested her hand on two files, complete with blueprints and combat logs.
"How so?" Franz asked, clearly trying to make amends.
"Akashi never spaces out, nyaa. And you keep asking about Akashi's research, nyaa. Akashi may not be the brightest, nyaa, but Akashi is not stupid." Akashi said as she began walking with a file and a pile of cubes. Franz caught sight of the file name.
"Azuma"
"Where are those files from?" Franz asked.
"Forrest Shikikan found them before the Sirens took over, nyaa." Akashi said as she side eyed Franz, making sure to watch him as she descended into the drydock. She placed the files and cubes on the table, secretly adding one of the last two remaining quick build devices as she hit the button.
"I see. Looks like that's all I'll get out of you and your little base here, then." A voice other than Franz's spoke from Franz's body.
"Akashi knew it, nyaa!" Akashi yelled as Franz removed his hat, revealing long white hair. As the hair fell, 'Franz' changed, taking on the form of a Siren Akashi had never seen before.
"Definitely destroyer class, nyaa." Akashi said as she stole a glance at the timer. "30 seconds remain."
"Yup." The siren spoke, her blue eyes glowing bright as she aimed her rigging at Akashi.
"Can you at least give Akashi your name, nyaa?" Akashi asked as she summoned her rigging in a feeble attempt to shield herself.
"Sure. You're going to die before that ship is finished anyway, and I'll be long gone. I am Explorer. One of many experimental models designed for infiltration. My sisters and I have already gained the favor of many humans, creating the Cult of the Siren. With our cult... we will stop your idiotic Commander once and for all. Besides, I believe we were able to get one of my sisters inside his defense, thanks to Alexander." Explorer said as her torpedo tubes glowed.
"Shikikan..." Akashi said dejectedly. Explorer fired her torpedoes at the defenseless green kitty.
"Goodbye, useless feline." Explorer spat as her torpedoes exploded around Akashi.
"Good, now to make my escape." Explorer said as a large caliber round destroyed the right side of her rigging.
"What?!" Explorer screamed as she wheeled around to look at the fog that was rapidly clearing inside the drydock.
"My, my. Are you okay, little one?" A mysterious voice arose.
"Nyaa?" Akashi asked softly, her usual white uniform now covered in soot.
"Good. It would just break my heart if you would have been hurt, you precious little kitten." The voice spoke, angering Explorer further.
"Who the fuck are you?!" Explorer roared as she fired more torpedoes from her remaining rigging mounts, only to watch a flash of light slice them to pieces before exploding harmlessly away from their target.
"Large Cruiser Azuma. Prepare yourself, Siren." Azuma said, her eyes glowing blue, as she ran from the fog, moving faster than her body would suggest she could.
"Wait.. what... how the hell... no! No! NO! Sto..." Explorer's voice was cut short as she fired every weapon she had to no avail. Azuma dodged and sliced her attacks before bringing her sword to bear on Explorer's neck, making contact and sealing Explorer's fate.
"Ah. That... felt good actually." Azuma said as the blue shimmer died in her eyes and she sheathed her sword.
"Thank you, Azuma-san, nyaa." Akashi said as she pulled herself to her feet.
"Oh you poor thing!" Azuma cried out as she jumped down into the drydock and helped Akashi to her feet, hugging her close.
"Are you hurt? Is anything broken? Do I need to bandage anything?" Azuma asked rapid fire questions, leading Akashi to smile softly.
"No, Azuma-san. Akashi is fine. Akashi is thankful you came when you did, nyaa." Akashi said as she embraced Azuma, who carried the small kitten out of the drydock.
"How are things looking out there, Nimi?" Isaac asked as Friedrich and Odin listened in on the bridge.
"Nothing so far, Liebling. We are making sure to check every available sonar frequency as you ordered. The only thing we have on sonar is a whale, Liebling." Nimi said as a whale breached in front of the fleet.
"Duly noted. Carriers?" Isaac inquired.
"All clear short range, Commander." Eagle said.
"Nothing at mid range." Intrepid reported.
"No ships found at long range, but I am picking up several squadrons of Siren aircraft. Luckily, my planes haven't been spotted." Akagi said, her words changing the tone of Isaac's voice.
"Understood." Isaac said as he switched channels to talk to his captains.
"Attention. Give the order to go to red alert. Siren craft located 75 miles out. We have been undetected thus far, so we have the element of surprise." Isaac said as a wave of affirmation filled the comms.
"Norfolk." Isaac spoke, leading her to appear next to Friedrich.
"Yes, Commander?" Norfolk asked.
"Is it Lurker?" Isaac asked.
"Yes, sir. But I just received worrying readings from Niue." Norfolk said. Isaac snapped his head to look at her.
"What happened?!" Isaac roared.
"There was a mass of Siren energy detected there. An unknown type of Siren. It has been destroyed, but now I am beginning to pick up similar readings, although on a much lesser scale. Sir..." Norfolk said as she rechecked a screen in front of her.
"What is it?" Isaac asked.
"I'm getting several readings on our transport ship. Our fleet has been infiltrated by these unknown sirens." Norfolk said as Isaac's eyes filled with fear and anger.
"Alright... Odin, Friedrich. With me." Isaac said as he grabbed his rifle from his desk on the bridge.
"Check the nurses as well." Isaac said.
"I already did, Commander. They're clean." Norfolk said.
"Good..." Isaac said as he turned to Odin.
"Lock down the fleet. We must assume our element of surprise has been lost. I want that Transport ship flagged by every big gun that is surrounding it. If we fail to eliminate all the sirens, we need to sink it." Isaac said.
"Understood Kommandant." Odin said as she relayed the message to everyone in the fleet.
"Taka. Come in." Isaac said.
"Want to explain why these guns are pointed at this vessel, Commander?" Taka asked.
"We have picked up an infestation of Siren spies, Taka. Get yourself, Hashirama, Fu and Kido locked in on the bridge. I'm doing a sweep of the crew." Isaac said.
"Understood. Should we confine everyone to quarters?" Taka asked.
"No. Keep the course. We may have to engage during the sweep, but that will help keep the ruse going as long as possible." Isaac said.
"Understood." Taka said as he cut the line.
"Friedrich, Odin. It's time to purge our fleet of these Siren whores. You ready to play bad cop?" Isaac asked.
Friedrich and Odin released their rigging in response.
"Let's get to that transport ship." Isaac said as the three of them left the bridge of the Norfolk.
"Looks like we managed, somehow. I'm scrambling repair crews now." Perkins said as the fire control team managed to extinguish the last fire onboard the Iowa.
"Kaga, damage report?" Perkins asked.
"They hit me pretty hard, several Kamikaze craft managed to get through my AA, but I'll live. I'm already beginning to work on assessing the damage." Kaga replied.
"I will send a crew over immediately." Perkins assured her.
"Thank you, Lieutenant." Kaga said.
"Arizona, how are you and I-13 holding up.
"We managed to escape with only some scratched paint, Lieutenant. I-13 is a surprisingly good AA gunner. She took down well over 20 aircraft." Arizona responded.
"That's phenomenal. I am ecstatic to hear it." Perkins said as he returned to the radar screen.
"It looks like we are not being pursued any further." Perkins said.
"Looks like they failed to kill us this time, eh, Arizona?" Kaga asked over the radio.
"I would have to agree, Kaga." Arizona responded as they continued full steam towards New Guinea.