This is a work of fiction. Any relation to persons or events is purely coincidental.
Some of the themes depicted in the story are not suited for some audiences and may hurt certain sensibilities. The opinions herein expressed do not represent the author's nor the original source material's author.
When the content warrants it, a warning will be given at the start of the chapter. Do NOT take them lightly.
Reader discretion is advised.
For example, this chapter contains depictions of violence. Take this as the mildest thing to ever appear in a battle during the fic.
As for those who don't know the lore of either series, it will all be slowly revealed as the story progresses so there is no need to look up stuff. Anything that's relevant will be shown, sooner or later.
As one last note, this by definition will be an AU so some compromises on both lores is to be expected.
Without further delays, be welcome to my ride. Sit tight, grab some cookies, some tissues, a flamethrower, and don't get too attached to anyone.
Here's hoping your stay is a pleasant one
Zuoriel
Prelude:
The Days After
Two Years and a Half after Operation Babylon.
(Out in Open Sea)
[Recommended Music: Chi wo Hossoru Senjo, Muv-Luv.]
Vortexes and spirals rose to caress the clouds, contaminate them to a darkest shade. To enshroud it all in eternal dusk, and drop the final curtain on the stalemate.
When everything settles back to stillness, a singular voice shouts through cracked lips. "Zero-One to all, does anyone copy?" Enterprise hails through the smoke, raising her wounded comrade on her arm. "Zero-One to all, does anyone receive me?!"
Static, an indifferent silence falls over her communication line. With a sigh and spawning more cracks in her bottom lips via her own teeth, she holds the still motionless shape of Takao tight, jumping back onto her vessel.
Simply laying her on the runway was enough to once again thrust a dart through the carrier's heart. An amorphous black stain was expanding were her right eye would never again be, crude gray had her once gallant attire become, and slow and delayed the breaths were. A hand clasps around the wrists, finding a faint pulse. For a moment, only a second, Enterprise tipped her cap and sent a silent prayer to the skies that had long ago ripped their own ears off.
As a tattered bandage was halfway through its intended position on the Sakura's wounded arms, a dome of glistening hexagons flared to life around the carrier, compulsing a shriek to leave Enterprise's lips in perfect imitation of her eternal companion.
A thread of fire sends her breath the way it came, one of the cyclopean tentacles that slashed at her ship having sliced yet another wound into her legs by the overuse of the shielding. Gritting her teeth as she stares at the unchanging Takao, further does she bite onto her lips.
"…Please wait just a little while longer. I'll deal with them swiftly," she swears, small blue jolts coursing from her feet through all of the vessel.
A shrouded mist swirls in, gaining color as it slowly drips out from the fog into a concrete shape. Along the first flight of planes, Enterprise herself rushes and jumps off the runway, bow already firing off an arrow rain.
Dodging whips and slashes of metallic liquid in the ever tested patterns, she continues the barrages, both literal and verbal, at her sworn enemies. Almost falling face first into the rampage in seas of late, the violent whirlwind of water that the oceans had become since the Day of Babylon which has known nor end nor pause to its tempest, zigzags and crosses are drawn over the chaotic waves as she grazes and avoids the rush, burying arrows deep into their flesh under the cover of her aircraft.
It burns, the small droplets that cascade of her every limb, the numbness spreading beneath the mounds of strong pink and red over the skin.
It burns a lot, the lack of replies over her frequency, the unending assault of enemies, the shackling shiver through her arms upon every shell fired.
It burns so much, being the only one still sailing forward through the fire and the flames, to see firsthand as everything simply fades.
"Why is there no end to your assault? What could compel you to such an ending?" she asks, standing still over the blackened, adusted sea. Only the rumble of incoming waves answers the pointless query, thus she once again bites onto her lower lip. "Answer me… What is the meaning of this madness?! Answer me!"
Slicing the heat waves in twain, her aircraft reclaims the skies for a moment. A pain rain showers upon the rampaging beasts that on Enterprise desire to prey. Be it the slightly coiled and slim shark shapes with multiple fins of mucous origin of the Aqua Destroyer-Class, the overgrown tortoise shells with small eyes every little while that revealed spiked limbs and a tilted human face with nothing on its eye sockets of the Cruiser-Class, or the angular and almost seeming to be bound by barbed wires bodies of large whales, multiple rows of iron fangs protruding from a broken jaw as do the twisted horn-like cannons of the Battleship-Class.
The uncanny beasts of the deep rise through the tide, deafened to all as they continue to rush towards their sole objective. Almost trampling one another yet in an odd, maniacal pace of swimming that has them covering each other from the endless assault from the planes.
More of that strong purple liquid that courses through them soaks the sea. More of that sulfuric scent surrounds the air, causing the explosions to grow once more. More and more does everything spin and grow hazy, a curtain of heatwaves clouding Enterprise's sight as the smell lunges into her senses.
A clasping hand does not prevent the burning that raises from within, clogging her throat. And quickly do those dried nails break to the coiling hand, as more and more planes are sent to the skies to the pace of the mind's wand despite the ant march that pikes at the shipgirl's back.
"…How much more must you take from us all? Tell me, BETA. How many more lives do you hunger for?" she asks to the dirtied runway while resting her pulsing forehead onto a hand, trying not to fall to her knees.
A brief gaze to her bow reveals cracks widening, the string losing its ever present alertness. Amidst the ashes and the sparks, those same silhouettes stumble through the dark. Holes opened in their 'hulls', taking in water, bleeding a waterfall or with little fingers dangling barely above the surface, their advance does not stop. It will never stop, she is well aware of the fact. Of how letting any of them close to the shore equals a complete and absolute loss of everything they've been fighting for if the ground strains are allowed to make landfall.
"Have you been eating properly, Enty? We could go over some lessons together, if you're free?" a gentle whisper echoes along the gale, the long gone gaze flashing through Enterprise's mind.
Clutching her wounded bow, a gun parade marches forth at the relentless waves upon waves as she continues to fire off in tandem with her summoned planes from atop the runway of her namesake vessel.
"And one day, you, too, will finally understand the weight of wishes entrusted by many upon your name, Enterprise. That's why, don't think of it as only a battlefield. After all, isn't the sea such a beautiful thing?" the scent of lilies, the long hair swaying on the wind, the slow headpats as they used to watch the sea, return for a moment, a moment where the carrier swallowed the breath and aggravations she was about to shout at her nemesis.
Even as the acids graze her coat, as the spots and smoke keeps raising from both her uniform and hull, even as the hexagons begin to also quiver and crack, not even a second does she gives them of respite. Arrow after arrow, dive after dive, drop by drop.
For whenever everything around her became again shrouded in a venomous heatwave that assailed her every sense, as the hard impact onto the aliens reverberated with squelching echoes of burnt carcasses and wails of old campaigns, Enterprise always looked up.
Up to the small patch of sky that was still visible through the concoction of toxic clouds caused by heavy metal clouds and magnetic storms. Up to the few stars that still dared to glimmer above.
"War never changes, that much is true. However, we as a species can and will certainly change, Enterprise. Whether that evolution brings about hope or despair, that's up to what we make of our time alive. And while time may indeed be cruel and unforgiving, in the same manner it can be merciful, healing even. But whether it is cruel or kind…"
"…It's up to what you do with it, right Commander?" she whisper, wiping her face off the burning purple remnant that now coated her uniform. "You will not triumph over mankind, BETA. Because I am here… Because I am still here!"
No matter how many distorted Destroyers attempted to ram their fins and jaws upon the tattered leggings, all their efforts were met with the point-blank glare of the bow. Even amidst the reiterated bombardment of the Cruisers, the carrier simply shifted herself and her ship starboard, very much willingly enduring the downpour to allow planes to bombard the aliens as meteors. For a moment, she smiled back at the runway of her ship, at the tactic she once loathed and now had been saving her and her comrades' lives.
Before another squadron of phantasm jet fighters could take off, a cry flew straight towards the carrier. Raising her arm to welcome her partner, soon afterwards pillars of fire and water rose through the ranks of the mindless beasts.
"Sigh… Thanks for finding them, Grim," she said, taking a second to ruffle the feathers of her oldest companion.
Jumping back to her vessel and diverting all energy to her shields, what resembled heartbeats clanging against her ribs and through every open wound, she looked at the distance, at the hulls approaching to grant cover.
"Apologies for the tardiness, Grey Ghost," a sharp voice told when their gazes met, Captain Tsukuyomi Mana giving a salute while Zuikaku greeted her with a nod. "Our own sector was quite busy as well."
"Allow us to deal the finishing blow to these dastards," Zuikaku asserted with a smile towards Enterprise, and without wait began to fire freely upon the almost endless swarm.
"That'll be appreciated. Could you contact your HQ, inform them of Takao's condition? I… did not manage to finish applying first aid…"
"My, selfless to the very end," Shoukaku said, allowing herself a smile while she idled a wooden spinning top on her fingers, her own ship covering the opposite side of the Grey Ghost.
Enterprise could only muster a small smile and a salute back to the other pair, as did Shoukaku's own partner, while the shipgirl herself sighed and spun the toy once before stepping towards the edge of her vessel.
With a small and slow glide, the eldest crane descended onto the runway, jogging to meet Enterprise and the still motionless Takao. "Hmm… At least there are no external injuries we cannot treat. Going by her complexion, I doubt her cubes were damaged. Was her ship-"
"Sunk, yes," Enterprise barely wrings out, tipping her cap. "My apologies, I couldn't- Atago's hull began taking in water after the Destroyers rammed themselves onto her shields and-"
"It is alright," placing a hand over her shoulder, Shoukaku simply shakes her head as the orchestra of gunfire continued to parade in the background. "There is nothing we can do… more than to pray for their souls. Thank you kindly for watching over them, Enterprise. I shall take over from here," she said, nodding as she picked up her comrade before offering a small bow and gliding back to her ship.
With nothing to do other than check herself for damage, Enterprise simply watched the demolition of the scattered remains of the aliens as the crane sisters sent hell itself at them. Despite Grim's egging, she couldn't take her eyes off that small sliver of cerulean, that faint thread uniting both crane sisters to both Tsukuyomi cousins, the visual effect of the link between shipgirl and officer.
Hugging both elbows and pressing them onto her stomach, onto where said link once swirled shocks and vigor, Enterprise again looks up, up at that distant star on the evening sky.
"I wonder if we could prove your theory was correct, Commander," she asks to the wind, recalling all the exercises to naturally increase a shipgirl's output her superior had devised, before the curtain fell on their base.
With a slow sigh, she changed course back to port as the melody of a flute began to glide through the battlefield. Knowing the elite of the Imperial Royal Guard would see to the absolute destruction of the BETA remnants in the area, there was no need for her to linger. And, by the aching of her every pore, she was about to hit her limit.
Some hours later.
(Seattle Base Grounds. Docks.)
[Recommended Music: Home Port, Azur Lane.]
"-and thankfully, it seems her vitals are stabilizing," Zuikaku said with a slow nod, proceeding to finish the synth natto roll she had ordered from the bulin crew that loitered around the docks.
"Is that so? That's a relief, truly," Enterprise sighed, looking out to the sea. "Did your side suffer any further losses?"
"…Taihou, Kawakaze," she admitted with a shared sigh, folding her arms. "Adding to the human losses on the crewed vessels or the rigging supporters, and it's clearly the most damaging loss in recent memory."
"I heard from Major Walken that we also lost Strategist?" Enterprises dares the query, the sunken gaze causes her own to imitate in almost perfect sync.
"…Yes, not even the newest Sirens are making a dent in those numbers. Without them, though, we wouldn't stand a chance. Sigh… After fighting for so long a time, to still be found wanting in such manner," she gazes up, a hand resting on her blade's hilt.
No further words are shared, both shipgirls simply gaze at the already brightening skyline of the coming dawn. With a layer of oil lingering in the air and the shouts and footsteps of bulins around, they simply limit themselves to enjoy their earned privilege. To see the sun rise once more.
Yet, Enterprise sighs once again, nodding a thanks to the younger crane sister before departing for her own quarters. While hugging a wall in her slow walk, she remains watching the rising sun.
"I mean, if all you want is to see the sun rise and fall time and again, then yeah, tomorrow will come! But- Hic! You see, Entyyy! Just watching the sun come and go can't be called life, can it? That's why… Sniff… Hic… I was so close… but without Alt IV, there is no future for us anymore!"
Stalling the next steps, once more she bites her lips. "I wonder, did you already knew everything would turn out like this, Commander?" raising her arm to stare at her unit patch, at the useless marking of Azur Lane, that organization that barely was kept alive, at the small lines of 'Alternative IV' underneath it, what but hollow a sigh could she do.
And brooding on the docks she remained while being caressed by the sea breeze.
Simply watching the muffled clouds come and go, enjoying the clear sky.
Hands and knees shaking as the scenes replayed in slow motion, stalling her breaths.
Until a hurried pair of footsteps caught her attention.
Looking to her left, a small shape was speeding towards her location with a hand raised in salutation. "Enty! Oh, you're back! Thank God you're safe…. Why did you not return to the dormitory sooner? We were all so worried about you!"
Tipping her cap, she slowly returns a salute and a wry smile. "Sorry, Bonnie. I had some matters to discuss with the Sakura."
"Oh… D-Did the IRG again force an argument on the field?" she asks, shoulders compacting.
Quick to wave away the fear, Enterprise takes a step forward to pat the small girl in the head. "No, no, nothing of the sort. It was just the usual protocol. Don't worry, everything is fine."
"Sigh… I see," quick to smile, she nods. "Are you already done with your duties?"
"Indeed, my after-action has already been filed. Did anything happen while I was away?" she asks, starting to walk.
"Not much, no. Miss Ark defended the docks with me and Laffey, though she hasn't left the medbay since the battle ended…"
"…Well, it's understandable. Until Ayanami and Zed regain consciousness, she will surely want to stay besides them all day long."
"I still think we could do something for her. We can't let her live off oxycola alone, Enty," she scolds, raising both coiled fists as her cheeks puff.
"Haha, I suppose you're correct. So, any injuries from the defense of the docks?"
"Thankfully no, though it was more thanks to the cruisers from the Empire. I wonder just what are they building on that lone island," Bonnie whispers, stealing a glance at the distant tower of machinery the Sakura had been working on since their relocation to Seattle.
"So long as they're willing to share the spoils, it is also our duty to defend it. Not to mention, we cannot allow any further harm to befall Union soil," she remarks, eyes fixated on the sky.
"R-Right… Oh! But, you know, not all is bad news, Enty!" she gives a small jump, practically reflecting what threads of sunlight peeked over the horizon. "Thanks to my performance, the CO told me I'm gonna take point in the next combat exercise!"
"Oh, truly? Are you… certain you wish to accept? I can represent the Union in-"
"Come on, Enty," she again pouts, pulling at her senior's arm. "I haven't been of much use since… the Disaster happened. Everyone is relying on us, and I want to finally be able to stand besides you, as my sisters were meant to do. So, please, will you let me be the flagship for the coming mock battles against the Sirens? Please?" she begs, staring right into her senior's eyes.
Enterprise herself could do little than to groan, shaking her head while petting the small girl's. "Fine, if you so wish. Just promise me you'll be careful, Bonnie. Professor Aoste has been rather… sensitive to the war efforts of late." And I do not like at all that off-hand comment about Inquisitors or whatever it was he mentioned after my report today.
"Oh, thank you, Enty!" throwing herself into a tackle, Bonnie embraces her idol with all her might. Leaving Enterprise without air for a second as a consequence.
Despite the small coughs, she can only sigh and again pet the girl's head. "Just be careful out there, Bonnie."
"Come on now, Enty. It isn't as if I were going to lose my head over a simply training exercise," she says with a puff of her chest. "But anyways, everyone is waiting for you to return. Especially Miss Belfast! So we better hurry, Enty," she smiles, grabbing the carrier's hand and dashing off towards their barracks.
"B-Bonnie, please, do not run! And anyways, what has Belfast to do with our own crew?"
"Sigh… You really are dense, Enty," she purses her lips, decelerating just a bit. "But everyone needs to see you, you know? You're our star, Enty. To see you're still breathing will surely make everyone cheer up after the late night sortie!" she asserts with a nod.
Allowing herself to be dragged by the drive of her fellow carrier, Enterprise simply shrugs and smiles. "Yes, I suppose you're right… I suppose we should treasure these fleeting moments of peace, however long they may last."
"There you go again, getting all dark…"
"It's only the truth. And," taking a sharp breath in of both incoming sunshine and fresh air, her steps meet the concrete, equaling the speed of the small dasher, "you're right, I should greet everyone at the very least. Thanks for keeping watch over the house, Bonnie," she says, nodding.
Bonnie makes their linked hands sway, giggling a bit. "Anything for you, Enty!"
"Hehe… Now, let us hurry or we may miss roll call."
"Ah! Yeah, Major Walken won't let us hear the end of it if we do that again…" her laughter cracks, gaze veering away.
"The last time was because you jumped the fence to go swim, and I had to drag you from the sea. There will be no next time, Bonnie."
"C-Come on, Enty! Don't be like that. I-I'll file the reports for you from now on, yes?" she begs, wavering in place as if made of jelly, causing Enterprise to chuckle at the dry contortion in her face.
And with a moderate sprint, the last duo of carriers of the Eagle Union quickly reached the fenced gate of their barracks, sparing one last gaze at the open skies of the docks before entering and being tackled by a deafening orchestra of worried queries, happy hugs, relieved nods, and a certain maid's admonishing for reckless behavior on the waves.
Simply smiling through it all, Enterprise nods at her comrades and all together set foot back in their base, the small home they have left after the Disaster took what little else they held dear.