Chapter 12

Saying the situation was tense…sounded like an understatement. Looking at it from the perspective of everyone else in New York Harbour, it probably was for them. Three warships had just appeared out of nowhere in thin air, with guns, not battleship guns like hers, but they made anyone look at them with wariness. Bismarck had to shout through her radio to the intercepting SHIELD and NY police patrol boats to not engage, and after some back and forth with their local commander, they did so.

They were definitely still watching her though, and the group of three Kansen that have just boarded Bismarck's hull, their own vessels moored directly in front of her. Perseus came aboard with her two other companions, and all three of them looked at her with caution. It was to be expected, they probably last knew of her actions as a traitor to Azur Lane.

The Eagle Union heavy cruiser nudged Perseus forward. Seeing as how no one else was going to come forward first, Bismarck decided to break the ice, lest a battle break out so close to a civilian center.

"Greetings. I believe we have many questions for each other." Letting out perhaps a little too much of her 'Ironblood' persona, she saw Perseus visibly gulp, as her other two companions took a step back, leaving her to face Bismarck herself.

"R-Right. Ahem." Gripping her staff tighter, she introduced herself and her companions. "I am Perseus, to my right is Hanazuki, and to my left is Minneapolis. We are…requesting your assistance, Lady Bismarck."

They clearly needed to sit down and talk, but Minneapolis kept looking behind Bismarck, at the direction of Ambassador Kirchbach who was still on her vessel. He and several members of his team were peeking out from behind a turret. She sighed, before letting her hand out and pointed towards a door into her superstructure. "This is no place to talk, and I feel like there is a long conversation to be had."

Agreeing with a nod, the group of four Kansen went below decks, into the same officer meeting room that they were just in. At least they weren't shooting each other right now, so that was one thing she had going for her.

"Reincarnation…to think we Kansen can also be subject to that…"

Perseus mused in deep thought. Bismarck just finished telling her 'life story' so far, leaving out some bits that were inconvenient or irrelevant to their question; 'How did you get here?'

Based on what they have told her so far, a bright flash of light while fighting in 1945 was not the same way she got to this world. But there had to be a link, otherwise, the three of them would not be here right now.

"It is what happened to me, whether or not you believe is your own concern."

"So we're still stuck here huh…" Minneapolis groaned from the sides, having decided to sit further away.

"I'm afraid so, I did not travel here in the same way you did. However, how did you three manage to know where I was?"

"Oh, that's simple. We saw you on television in London. Belfast actually recommended we come find you. Since, well, you're the only one active as a Kansen, so we thought…" Hanazuki chimed in next to Perseus, it was her first time meeting a Sakura destroyer, and it appeared that their animal appendages were truly real.

"I see. In any case, I cannot help you to get back home." She almost didn't want to ask her next question, but curiosity triumphed over her fear. "What happened to…Ironblood after my defeat?"

Again, her last memory was sinking into the cold Atlantic ocean, so she had no real way of knowing what happened after her last stand. Perseus snapped out of her musing to fill her in, her tone in some surprise as she did so. "The last thing you remember…was the battle. Well, I suppose we should tell you what happened afterwards. Azur Lane and Crimson Axis signed a ceasefire, and Friedrich took over your duties as leader of the Ironblood."

Friedrich took over her duties? That was…not unexpected, but certainly surprising. The Battleship was a viable candidate to do so, but her eccentricities made Bismarck somewhat wary of her leadership. But the ceasefire made some sense to her, if the war was still going on, Perseus and her group may never have approached her in the first place.

"I see. That must be why you decided to approach me, yes?"

"We talked about it, a lot. But in the end, you were quite literally the only other Kansen we knew that was able to form themselves. It was rough sailing across the Atlantic, but we hoped that you could get us home to our world. Now though…it appears that we came for nothing."

Perseus had a dejected look on her face as she leaned back on the sofa more. Their plan of Bismarck knowing a way to send her home was shot. If she really knew how to get back home, she herself will have gone already instead of sticking around in this world. It was only an acceptance of her current situation that made her decide to abandon her duties as leader of the Ironblood, but now…

"You have no way to get home, and now your existence is revealed to the world. Just like I am."

Minneapolis sighed. "You got it… So, what are your plans?"

Bismarck paused. Her plans?

"What Minneapolis meant was what are you going to do now?"

That was exactly what she tried to decide before those three came in and threw a wrench into those plans. She was honestly considering just waving Kirchbach off completely and going back to her regular life, any potential hostile groups be damned. But now with more Kansen, it changed things. Could she? Could Bismarck once more take up the mantle of a leader?

This world was peaceful, much more than hers and the three Kansen that just arrived. Was there any need for them? They were created for war, and they were good at waging a defensive war for humanity's sake. With no war, however, what was their purpose?

"Oh yeah, what are the Avengers? We saw them on television before crossing the Atlantic, but who actually are they? You part of em' as well?" Another casual remark from Minneapolis, but this time Bismarck thought back to what she said to Fury.

"To protect humanity…"

"Hmm? Pardon me?" Perseus looked at Bismarck, her voice was barely above a whisper when she said that. If the Avengers were meant to 'Avenge' humanity from threats, then who protected them in the first place? As Steve himself said, the Avengers were not a group that was permanent. Its members came together for threats and went their separate ways afterwards, so fundamentally, it was already a different organization to what…Azur Lane was…

Azur Lane…

"

Azur Lane."

"What?"

"We form an Azur Lane of this world."

Simultaneously, all three of the new Kansen looked at Bismarck as if she grew another head. "HUH?!"

Fair winds and following seas, for humanity's future

Azur Lane's original motto. It was in Latin of course, but Bismarck thought that it was fitting nonetheless. There may not have been sirens in this world, but if the future was any indication, threats still lurked around every corner, waiting for their chance to strike. If the Avengers were for responding to threats after they have started, then Azur Lane will be the first line of defence for this world.

Fair winds and following seas indeed, for a bright new tomorrow.

"Hey, Cap? You think your niece is going to shoot me this time?"

"I dunno, are you going to make her part of your new advertising campaign without telling her this time?"

"Psssh. It's still in the planning phase."

Steve turned away from Tony. The two were on a SHIELD tender heading out to where Bismarck was moored. Getting the call from Fury about three new warships appearing right next to his niece was a cause for alarm. The issue was that she didn't answer back any of their radio hails. Tony was in his armour as usual, and he did grumble about having to take the boat, but the threat of Bismarck's anti-aircraft guns opening up at him was enough to make him quickly back down after his last attempt.

"Captain Rogers. You may board my vessel." Bianka's voice came in smooth and clear, he wanted to ask about the three ships that were moored close to her but decided not to.

According to information he received on the tender, all three ships were from the Second World War. A Colossus class carrier, a New Orleans heavy cruiser, and an Akizuki class destroyer. Judging by them suddenly coming out of thin air, however, he made an educated guess that they were similar to Bismarck. They were 'Kansen', just like she was.

Fury asked them to find out who those three new ships were and to make friendly first contact. But from a SHIELD drone up in the sky, Bianka had already been meeting with them for quite a while. There was also the concern about a German diplomatic team on board Bismarck, but nothing indicated that they were in any form of danger right now.

As the tender parked on Bismarck's portside, Steve climbed up, before Tony just blasted off from the tender. "Right, he can do that."

Hearing a thud above him, Tony must have landed first, and was now waiting for him to reach the deck-

"Woah." Tony near whispered out, Steve barely heard him but he could see why he said that once his gaze turned towards the others on the deck.

Standing next to Bismarck was a pink-haired girl in a white frilly dress. And what appeared ot be a pair of white feathered wings behind her back…

"You two are 'Iron Man' and 'Captain America' I presume?" Her voice had an English accent to it, and he immediately remembered that one of the ships was from the Royal Navy.

"Yes ma'am. You are…Miss Colossus?"

Silence.

Steve screwed that one up, didn't he? After a couple more seconds of awkwardness, she coughed into her hands before responding in barely repressed annoyance. "It's Perseus. Colossus is my sister."

Before the situation could deteriorate any further, Bismarck decided to take charge of further introductions. "Ahem. If you will follow me, the other two members are further below decks."

Perseus was the first to turn around, her face didn't repress her scowl whatsoever. Tony leaned in close to him before he followed her as well. "Smooth, Cap, real smooth."

He wanted to say something, but at that point, it was too late, they were too far ahead. Sighing, he dejectedly began walking forwards as well, maybe there was a chance to make up-

"Hey! Are those two here yet? Kirchbach asking waiting for you-"

As Steve looked up, he immediately looked away as well. "Gah! What are you wearing?!"

Or rather, what wasn't she wearing? The…Native American girl that opened the door in Bismarck's superstructure made Steve recoil. Who gave her that clothing?! It barely covered anything!

"Oh? You're that Captain America guy…"

Still looking away, Steve quickly waved an affirmative, before calling out to her. "Yeah, sure! But we can wait until you wear something decent!"

One of the things that definitely changed from the 1940s to the 2010s was how fashion changed as well. Things that were once seen as unacceptable to wear on the streets were now completely fine, it took some getting used to, but in the end, he appreciated how new clothes were much more comfortable. Even if it showed more skin, and the girl before him definitely showed way too much skin.

Deciding to look back again for a second, he looked away for the second time. Her outfit wasn't his imagination, it was really there, but he could scarcely call that clothing.

"That is Minneapolis's usual outfit, Captain Rogers."

"Wha-but-"

"C'mon Cap, times have changed and whatever, let's keep moving in." Tony seemed unbothered by her appearance, or anyone else's appearance. He wanted to say something about Bianka's outfit when they first met in costume, but he never did get the chance to. Looking at other 'Kansen' now though, it appeared that their outfits were as varied as their personalities…

"That's not the problem, it's her clothes-"

Everyone seemed to ignore his pleas, and soon after he was the only one remaining on Bismarck's deck. Was this really what the modern era was like? That was what fashion consisted of nowadays apparently. Grumbling to himself, he followed in soon after, and the door closed on its own.

AN:

Poor Cap, just like his insistence on no foul language, clothing will now be something he will be pointing out in the future.

Be civil in the comments below.