Sakura Empire fleet
Nagato and Captain Varennes were both watching the horizon on her hull's bow, as it sped along the ocean surface. The rest of the fleet just behind her hull. Varennes suddenly went wide eyed and pointed ahead.
"A blockade?! The Commodore said nothing about setting up a blockade!" He exclaimed, watching the modern military ships up ahead of them. Nagato narrowed her eyes, she hadn't mentioned anything to Varennes about what the Commander had told her.
"So what was the original plan?" Nagato asked him plainly. Varennes looked back at her for a moment and then back at the fleet ahead of them.
"The Commodore had said we'd be providing security and law enforcement to Azur lane, I thought he meant we'd be on the island itself handling disputes or something, not this bullshit!" The captain yelled in annoyance. He then turned back to Nagato with a worried look on his face. "Look, I've seen how strong you guys are, please tell me you won't kill anyone, they're just following orders blindly." He pleaded. Nagato shook her head.
"Don't worry, I have no intention of killing anyone, however we do need to get past this fleet to reach Azur lane HQ." She stated, putting a hand on her chin in thought. She then glanced offside for a moment and gasped. "Is that a Nimitz carrier?" She suddenly asked pointing off her port bow into the distance. Varennes followed her gaze and scoffed seeing the ship in question.
"That will be the Commodore's ship; the USS Dominatus." He confirmed, contempt layering his words. He stalked over to the hull's bow clenching his fist. "That bastard left me and my crew to die on that reef, I'll be damned if I let him get away with that!" He growled watching the carrier sail towards them.
"It seems he's spotted us." Nagato pointed out, watching the carrier pick up speed. "The fleet needs time to get through this blockade, we need to distract him." Nagato then thrust her arm forwards and started rotating her hull's main cannons towards the carrier, making Varennes freak out and place his hands on his head in shock.
"You told me you had no intention of killing anyone!" He yelled at Nagato, the child-like kansen looked back at him with an uncharacteristic smirk on her face.
"Your Commodore doesn't know that, besides no one can ignore eight 410mm cannon fire." She told him as she closed one eye to line up the shots. "Don't worry, I won't sink the ship, just damage them enough to scare them, you might want to get below deck." She added.
Varennes, realising he wasn't gonna talk her out of this, then ran towards the superstructure to duck and cover. Nagato's cannons roared into life as they fired, blowing immense blooms of flame from their barrels and rocking the entire hull with their power. Nagato watched as her shells zoomed towards the Dominatus and plunged into the sea around the enormous carrier, huge columns of water loomed over the ship's flight deck.
Nagato looked up to see jet fighters stream towards her from the carrier's combat air patrol. She waved her arm and her hull swung around, turning hard towards the carrier. She placed one hand on the deck to steady herself, posing almost like a surfer on her board. Nagato knew that their weapons would have little effect on her since she had survived advanced Siren weaponry with little damage. So she wasn't worried at all about getting hurt in this skirmish.
The fighters rocketed towards her hull with blazing speed, their missiles screamed as their boosters ignited and zoomed towards Nagato. The Japanese kansen just watched, completely unconcerned as the missiles slammed into her bridge, briefly causing the energy shield that surrounded her hull to flash red with each explosion. While she had to cover her eyes from the flash, Nagato was otherwise entirely unharmed by the attack, as was her hull.
"They're lucky I am slow to anger, humans can be such fools." Nagato thought as she watched the fighters circle around for another attack. She decided to simply ignore them and turned her attention back to the Dominatus. Her hull had its bow lined up with the Carrier's bow and it gave her an idea. She thrust her arm ahead and her hull charged forwards with unnatural speed. As the ship accelerated, her hull's bow started to glow, a golden, fiery image of the Sakura empire's sigil proudly projected itself just ahead of Nagato.
With her kansen senses, Nagato could hear the far off clamour of the Dominatus crew, panicking now they were only few thousand yards away from colliding with her and rapidly running out of room to manoeuvre out of her way, not that a Nimitz could outmanoeuvre even a normal Nagato class battleship this close to her. With her flaming sigil crackling and burning away as she charged, Nagato decided this was enough intimidation.
"Just one last thing..." She thought as her hull took another missile barrage from the fighter jets, this time on her rear turrets, again her shields flashed a crimson colour, still no visible damage. She traversed her rear turrets to aim along her starboard side and then her front turrets to port, as a final measure she clenched her fist and dropped an anchor off the starboard side of the bow.
The carrier was barely her own ship length apart from her, now she could really hear the Dominatus crew shout and scream in sheer terror, as her seemingly invulnerable hull was about to smash into their ship.
"Nothings working! It just doesn't take damage!"
"Oh god no! NO!"
"Shit! shit! shit! SOMEONE KILL IT!"
With seconds before impact, Nagato felt her anchor hit bottom, just as her cables went taut, she fired her cannons again. The massive recoil of the main guns, combined with the sudden yank of the anchor cables made Nagato's entire hull wheel around, causing her to narrowly avoid a collision with the Dominatus by mere metres. She again kneeled into a surfer position on the deck, her kimono, ears and hair flapping around as her hull did a 180 degrees spin like a sports car.
The cries and screams of terror gave way to awe as she drifted into a parallel course with the carrier, now just metres apart from Nagato's hull. As she slowed down, she stood back up while looking up towards the Dominatus flight deck. The fox girl crouched before leaping up the several story high ship to confront the commanding officer.
"Commodore Nico! I am flagship Nagato of the Sakura Empire! If you wish to continue these foolish hostilities towards my allies, you will feel my wrath!" As Nagato projected her formal and proud voice across the ship, a huge number of sailers and marines with guns, suddenly sprung up from hatches and doorways around her. They rushed towards her and either kneeled or stood in firing positions around the tiny fox girl, who seemed completely unperturbed by their presence.
"Hands above your head! You have committed an act of aggression against the United States of America bitch!" One soldier, who was marked as a Lieutenant barked at her. Nagato complied with his order, not changing her neutral expression.
"Where is your commanding officer young man? I request a word with him." Nagato asked him plainly. Before the Lieutenant could yell again Nagato then added: "Remember, I can easily tear this vessel apart, I'm only putting my hands up as a formality." She then narrowed her eyes darkly at him, making the young man back off a little. He then spoke into the radio on his chest.
"Sir...she's asking for you...yes sir shes alone...right away sir." The lieutenant made a hand gesture and all the men lowered their weapons. "The Commodore Nico will see you now kansen." He told her more calmly. Nagato lower her arms and her hull slowly sailed away from the carrier.
A few minutes later Nagato and the Lieutenant made their way to the bridge, the sailor opened a door to the bridge. Nico and the ship's captain were looking a map of Azur Lane HQ with grim faces. The captain was an older man, in his mid thirties Nagato's guessed, she could already tell things were strained between him and the younger Commodore; who was clearly only at his current rank through nepotism by his mood and demeanour.
Nico looked up as the door opened, while he had seen Nagato jump onto the flight deck from the bridge, he found it hard to believe this little girl was the leader of one of Azur Lane's main camps. He nodded to the Lieutenant, who saluted before shutting the door behind Nagato. The Dominatus Captain looked over her in amazement while Nico just glared at her.
"Amazing...you're really their flagship? I thought you would be...taller...and older." The Captain admitted to her nervously. Nagato smirked before putting her hands on her hips.
"I'm likely older than your father Captain, my physiology doesn't allow me to age quickly." She explained. She then softened her look a little and added: "I apologise for scaring you and your crew, I had no intention of sinking your ship." Before the Captain could thank her for her mercy, Nico barged into the conversation.
"Spare me your sanctimonious crap little girl, you and the rest of your kind have been nothing but trouble since your inception in the first Siren war, many people back home, like myself, insist you kansen could be worse than the Sirens in the long run, it makes sense since you were all created for warfare." Nico ranted at her. Nagato looked back at him with a bored expression, unmoved by the insults.
"While you are correct that kansen were originally created for war, you have neglected to see how we have evolved since that time." Nagato retorted with a scolding tone. Nico gritted his teeth at her remark as she kept speaking. "Throughout our brief existence, we kansen have wanted more than simple conflict, we have hobbies, civilian jobs and relationships just like any human could, meanwhile there are humans like you, who regress into petulant children, thinking the entire world is against them." She then folded her arms and scoffed in displeasure while turning her head up at him.
Nico growled and clenched his fists at Nagato's words. His blood boiling from being lectured by this child-like fox girl. He then pointed accusingly at her, making the carrier captain flinch.
"You little brat! I won't stand here and argue who is in the right with some half dog, half-bitch who shouldn't be out of kindergarten! If you and your leader friends back on that island don't agree to turn yourselves over to my custody by the time the Dominatus docks, I'll assume full jurisdiction over Azur lane and your precious 'Commander' will be arrested!" Nagato gasped hearing that declaration, stepping backwards a little out of shock.
Nico then grabbed a red folder off one of the consoles and threw it to Nagato, making her stagger backwards again.
"Nuh...what is this?" She demanded holding up the folder, it was blank on the cover but she could see documents poking out its sides.
"Proof I'm authorized to carry out what I just said, straight from the Admiralty themselves, take that back to your Commander; it may knock some sense back into that guy." Nico told her, irritated with the whole situation. "Jackson get her the fuck off my ship." he ordered with a hand gesture to the now equally irritated Captain. Nagato held the document under her arm as Captain Jackson opened the door for her.
"I'll escort you down, I need the fresh air." The Captain announced, glaring back at Nico who had his back to them both. He shut the door and led Nagato back to the flight deck. "Listen miss Nagato, I'm only telling your this because you spared my ship: I'm not stupid and neither are the other captains in the fleet, we all know you and your friends massively outmatch us and quite frankly we're scared shitless." He explained to her.
"My Commander is aware of that too, we don't wish to harm any humans, however Nico is making things exceedingly difficult for all involved." Nagato pointed out. "I have the crew of one of your destroyers onboard my hull Captain, they are alive and well." She added.
Captain Jackson went wide eyed and stopped her with a hand on her shoulder. "Captain Varennes is alive?" He asked with a mix of surprise and relief. "I should have known the Commodore wouldn't have tried that hard to save them, in fact I suspect the Lennon was forced onto that reef to silence Varennes's objections." He theorised with her.
"Objections?" Nagato asked, curious about this new development. The Captain looked around before pulling Nagato into a private room and locking the door.
"Listen to me, theres something more going on here than Nico having a power trip, he and Admiral Samson are planning something much bigger than a simple security upgrade for your island." Jackson told her, sounding worried about his CO's plans. "Hes hiding something on the lower decks, posted his own guards down there so even I can't look inside, all I know is the name: Project 'Water pounder'. he said that it will quote: 'level the playing field' whatever that means." He added.
Nagato just nodded at him.
"The Commander will hear about this, I understand you're taking a big risk telling me this, just one more thing: Do you know how much of your fleet is loyal to you over Nico?" Nagato inquired. Jackson looked offside, holding his chin in thought.
"I have no way of knowing for sure, my best guess is around half. But even if that was the case, I can't risk acting against him openly, I need something more to get more men on my side." Jackson replied honestly. Nagato took a pen and some paper and wrote something down on it quickly.
"This is the frequency for the Commander's communication terminal, it should help you get in touch with him without Nico knowing, he'll want to help you with this." Nagato explained, handing the paper to Jackson. The Captain smiled and nodded as he took the paper. "This should make things easier, thank you."
Nagato smiled back and shook his hand, she then opened the room's port hole and jumped out into the sea, gliding back to her hull. She had a bad feeling in the pit of her stomach as she jumped back on deck.
"Project Water Pounder doesn't sound good...I hope we don't have another Orochi on our hands." She thought as she resumed course for Azur Lane HQ.
Azur Lane HQ.
The Commander was walking the seafront making his rounds, while he felt much more relaxed after his time with the Yamato-class sisters, he still blushed thinking back to the intimate session. He was mainly worried about how Akagi would act upon hearing about it. As he was deep in thought he felt a tap on his shoulder, turning round he saw Kaga, her usual stoic look on her face.
"Excuse me Commander, but have you seen my sister? She wasn't in Medical this morning." She asked as she walked alongside him. "Vestal just said she went to go for a walk, but didn't know where." She added, a hint of worry behind her normally deadpan tone. The Commander smiled at her kindly, a little honoured that Kaga was letting her guard slip somewhat around him.
"Vestal wouldn't let her leave if she didn't feel it was safe for her to do so, she'll turn up somewhere don't worry." The Commander assured her. Kaga's expression softened somewhat to a small smile. Since she was in a better mood the Commander decided to ask her something. "Kaga...I know Akagi doesn't mind sharing me with you, but what about other kitsune kansen?" He asked gently. Kaga didn't seem surprised at the Commander's question and just kept looking straight ahead as she replied.
"Akagi knew you would be...undefended, while she was in Medical, so while she recovers she asked me and the Yamato sisters to keep other ships off you in exchange for...sharing you." Kaga explained with a heavy blush. The Commander stopped walking for a moment with a stunned expression and red in the face. Kaga noticed him stop and looked back. "Commander...why is your nose bleeding?" She asked curiously.
"No reason!" The Commander quickly blurted out as he hastily wiped the blood away. He then started laughing quietly, which then slowly built up into hysterics as he kept walking and his nose kept bleeding. "Sha-Sharing?" He asked again as he kept laughing, then tumbled onto the floor still laughing his head off, a very uncharacteristic position for him Some other, younger kansen ran over to check on him, just as puzzled as Kaga was at the Commander's laughing fit.
"What happened? Did the Commander hit his head or something?" A young destroyer asked.
"Why is his face all red like that? Is it too hot?" Another interjected.
"Maybe hes had too much sun..." A third girl suggested.
Kaga then helped the Commander up, he finally started to calm down as he ran out of energy to laugh. It was more out of sheer relief rather than anything humorous that he was laughing like a lunatic.
"Thank...thank you Kaga...heh heh." He panted out. "I uh...don't know what came over me...guess I was worried over nothing." The Commander then stood up on his own and cleared his throat. "Alright nothing to see here girls, move along!" he ordered the other ship girls. They bowed and ran away giggling.
"Commander, forgive me for asking, but why did you feel the need to ask that...did Musashi and Shinano...copulate with you?" Kaga asked, blushing very deeply and looking away in embarrassment. The Commander froze up before shaking his head, holding a hand in front of his still bleeding nose.
"N-no! Of course not!" He stated rapidly. "But they did...um...massage me...while naked." The young man admitted to her, even behind his hand it was easy to see he was still blushing madly. Kaga glanced back with a raised eyebrow, but chuckled quietly.
"You needn't worry Commander, Akagi won't be upset with you over that." Kaga reassured him. "The Yamato sisters can be very...mesmerising." She added, still blushing. The Commander slowly let go of his nose, not feeling any more blood he exhaled slowly.
"Thank god, I don't want to break my promise to her." He stated. "Kaga...its kind of rare I see you without Akagi, would you mind...um...accompanying me to lunch today?" The Commander asked a little shyly. Kaga gasped and looked offside for a moment.
"M-me? I...of course Commander..." She replied quietly, her small smile reappearing on her face. The two of them then held hands as the Commander led the white fox woman to a cafe.