The three cruisers closely eyed the enemy destroyer ahead. The speck of their assailant was beyond their reach yet her danger was tangible: a frustrating affair.
Another flash.
"Watch out!"
But try as she may, the bright orb streaked through the air and smashed into Tea Time.
"Tea Time!"
"Don't… worry about me," the cruiser replied, her voice assuring but strained. "Attend to that destroyer… I shall be with you shortly..."
Reluctantly, Cleveland and Helena turned away and resumed their charge towards the destroyer. Now, her appearance came into clarity, showing the approaching cruisers a small-framed girl with a massive rifle in her hands.
They locked eyes and in that moment the spirit of confrontation reached its boiling point.
"You're in gun range!" Andromeda announced.
"Alright!" Cleveland proclaimed. "Let's see how you like being shot at instead -"
"Cleveland, look out!"
A missile screamed past Cleveland's face, cutting her thoughts short as it grazed her. "What the -?!" Reeling in surprise, she frantically looked to where it came from.
"Arrr, a near miss," the approaching figure said, her milk-white attire catching Cleveland's eyes. The stranger's short white hair tolerated only minor black fringes. Dressed in a white jacket with a matching skirt, this combatant left her topside unbuttoned, brazenly revealing to the world a black two-piece she wore underneath and (upon a daring close inspection) an anchor etched onto her breast in dark ink. Her rigging was typical destroyer armament of this world - single gun turret and missile pod by her sides - but this one broke tradition with the addition of a fishing rod, hooked crane, and net.
Taunting Cleveland was this ship's single daring eye - the other hid behind a black patch adorned with skull and crossbones, stereotypical pirate embroidery.
Rose Kingdom Destroyer
BELUGA
"You can thank yer lucky stars the missile missed," Beluga cracked with a wide grin. "'Cause this be where the real fun begins, blondie."
Cleveland shot a glare at her, but before she could react, she turned to see another figure approach from the other side. This one dressed more evocative of a placid temperament: a marine-blue outfit akin to a sailor's, a white skirt, and a sky-blue ribbon around her neck. Short curly hair of deep-blue, decorated with a large cyan ribbon, its ends fashioned into rabbit-like ears atop her scalp. Like Beluga beside her, this one shared the same rigging design, but without the conspicuous personal trimmings.
"W-we won't let you go any further!" Though meek, her tone carried the heart of a Rose Kingdom soldier.
Rose Kingdom Destroyer
LAZULI
Cleveland and Helena wasted no words for introductions of their own. The pair charged ahead, no words spared for their own introduction.
"Eat this!" shouted Cleveland, her cannons punctuating her declaration as she pounced on Beluga.
The seas erupted with fury, only for the white-clad pirate to leap above the spewing water. "Can't say I like the taste, but you'll have to do more than that to get the best of me, ye scallywag!"
Cleveland paid no heed to her taunts, ducking and rolling as the water she stood upon erupting from a missile blast.
Looking up, she was confronted by the blue-haired destroyer. "You shall not pass!... Um, or something like that..."
Lazuli's position became racketed by shellfire, courtesy of the other blue-haired ship. Swiftly, shots were exchanged: cannonfire for missiles, missile fire for shells, barbs with barbs.
Cleveland tried to line up for another salvo, only to be met with her foe dashing aside, fluttering about just in the vestiges of her aim. Missed shots peppered the oceans as Beluga cackled.
"Yah, that be the spirit! Now come chase me!"
"Why you…!" Cleveland was about to give chase until a flash of smoke and fire cut off her path. Whirling around, she saw formations of black shapes slowly converging upon them on all sides.
"Cleveland!"
"I see 'em!" A loud pop: another missile. Another close dodge.
Beluga skirted in and out among the drone formation, Lazuli in close tow. Undaunted, Cleveland and Helena pursued, navigating the maze of tracer fire.
The ships played cat-and-mouse, darting in and out in among the Siren warships. At such melee range, their lumbering bulk played key role in their impotence, though their guns kept a close eye on the light cruisers' movements.
"A-are they still chasing us?" Lazuli asked, struggling to raise her voice above even the simplest din of battle.
Turning her head, Beluga spotted the gold mane of their assailant. "Aye! We still got her baited, hook, line, and sinker!"
The pirate-ship swerved to a hard stop, a move which her companion imitated. Out in the open, they waited for their foe to arrive.
Whoever she was, she kept high spirits as though it was a competitive game. "Got you now!"
"So ye did, blondie," Beluga teased. "But here ye caught the wrong fish!"
"... Wait. W-where did the other one go?"
Beluga looked up at Lazuli's confusion. "Eh?"
A wide smirk spread across Cleveland's face. "Helena, now!"
Emerging from behind the ebon mass of nameless vessel, the blue cruiser appeared, unveiled from the fog of war behind the Kingdom destroyers.
"Take this!"
*Boom!*
An explosion. A ship fell.
"HELENA!"
Cleveland could only stare wide-eyed in horror as the blue bird of Eagle Union collapsed, smoke and embers spewing from the side of her rigging.
The rhythmic clank of a mechanical action echoed off from the side. "Nice try, but there was no way a simple sneak attack could escape my sight!"
Beluga gave Herne a teasing look. "... Couldn't ye have done that sooner?"
"Shut up," Herne bit back. "Make yourself useful for once and splash the other ship."
Cleveland grunted in exertion as she dashed aside. But it wasn't because she was hit.
The two destroyers harried her, chasing after her among the tangle of unmanned ships. The mass of black steel, some mangled from the fires of battle, made for a seemingly indecipherable background.
A bang. She felt the hot missile exhaust brush against her skin as she dodged yet another attack.
"Come on!" She whirled around, her turrets pointed and ready, yet all she saw of her opponents were fleeting images as they disappeared behind cover.
Cleveland decided to do the same. She couldn't stay in one place for too long.
Not when she was being hunted.
She dashed as fast as she could, ignoring the surrounding gun turrets as best she could. Though devoid of any faces, the controlled Siren ships never took their eyes off of her.
Senses tensed, Cleveland kept her own eyes wide open. She sailed as fast as her rigging could take her, hoping to outrun her pursuers. The ambush she and Helena had planned before had turned on its head; it was now up to her alone to turn it back around.
As high-spirited she was, Cleveland could not find herself smiling at this challenge.
A popping sound - behind her!
As if by precognition, Cleveland ducked and rolled, feeling the projectile sweep the wind above her. But before she could recover, a separate explosion knocked her aside.
"Yarr! Stick it to her so we can claim our booty!"
"U-um, yes! I'm right with you!"
It was them. Cleveland rushed to her feet and began retreating. She zipped in and between the gaps of the enemy armada, blasting away at her pursuers who were doggedly hot on her trail. With both of her foes now in sight, the game of hide-and-seek was over.
'Enough with running. Time to go guns blazing!'
With a sweeping U-turn, Cleveland redirected all her momentum in the opposite direction: towards them.
With a shout, her cannons roared along with her as if to vent her own fiery passion into battle. "Get a load of 'ol Eagle Union firepower!"
All guns fully brandished and loaded, Cleveland let loose her fury upon the enemy destroyers. A cacophony of thunder and flashes of lightning drowned the waters in front of her, forcing her foes behind the hulls of mass-produced drone ships as they absorbed the brunt of her all-out assault. For the briefest of moments, Cleveland felt like an immovable battleship.
She fired until her fervor ran dry by which there remained little but smoke and wreckage. In the lull, Cleveland took a second to breathe as she felt heat radiate from her cannon barrels.
"... Okay. Gotta keep moving or else -"
"Watch out!"
"Huh?!" Before Cleveland could react, a burst of missiles hissed through the embers, streaking straight towards her.
"Oh sh-"
A low droning sound. Then the missiles combusted harmlessly midair one by one.
Lowering her arms, Cleveland whirled behind and was greeted with a familiar sight. Preoccupied by the turbulence of battle, she felt as though she had not seen the approaching figure for a long time, yet the cruiser's spirits soared from her appearance.
"Tea Time!"
"And not a moment too soon," the Coalition cruiser quipped. Her dress was in the same state as she remembered, but as grievous the wounds were the maid did not waver.
But now was not the time for pleasantries. Guns of all nearby Siren ships slowly turned towards them with grinding progress, and as they did the smoke scattered to reveal their foes before them. The two sides faced off against each other.
"Let us proceed. I am right beside you!"
"Right! Let's finish this!"
The two cruisers swiftly sprung into action, dashing while popping off their shots. The Kingdom destroyers mimicked the notion, their speed in full display.
Cleveland assumed what space she could call hers within the confines of their arena, her cannons belching fire once more. But as much as she pitched in, she couldn't help but watch the fight unfold with curious intrigue.
Missile fire was traded, as was expected. Yet between the Rose Kingdom and Delta Coalition ships, the fight was more a dance of dynamics. Everything was in motion: missiles darted through the air with their characteristic trails, chasing their intended targets in a mutual frantic race shared by their opponents as they retaliated. Sometimes, the low rumbling of CIWS interjected to bypass the missile chases; sometimes, blinding flares expelled from rigging, dazzling and confusing the projectiles just as much as it did to Cleveland.
Nevertheless, the inertia of the waltz did not cease. Not yet…
Another missile blast. Another close dodge.
"Cleveland, let us end this! Synchronized attack!"
"Gotcha!" Popping an audacious grin, the blonde cruiser rushed forward alongside Tea Time. Braving what resistance was thrown up to bar their path, the pair charged in.
In front of her was the destroyer Beluga, her details clean and crisp as she closed in. Empty smoke trailed from her spent missile tubes, her last volley having missed Cleveland a moment ago.
Her own guns were loaded and aimed. It was her moment.
Then she saw her.
Off to her side, waiting within the narrow gap of nothingness in between the smog and refuse of a war-torn battleground.
Her gun was already pointed at her; the barrel's gaping maw staring right into her core.
The next thing Tea Time felt was the unexpected collision from Cleveland as she was hurled against her, body and rigging now battered and bruised.
"Cleveland!"
Herne discharged another round from her scoped rifle. "... Another score on my tally! Damn I'm good!"
Tea Time glowered at Herne. "Why you-!"
An explosion cut off Tea Time as she tumbled across the water unconscious. At last, the scene fell into hushed lull as the three Rose Kingdom destroyers gathered around their victims.
An unimpressed look was strewn across Herne's face. "About time you actually did something useful."
Beluga tried to put on the most impressed face she could. "Well blow me, that be a might celebratory omen! Ain't that right, Lazuli?"
Lazuli jumped at her sudden inclusion into the conversation. "U-um!... Y-yes?"
Hands on her hips, Herne sighed. "Whatever. I still take credit for taking down all but one of them, even though I already hit that dumb maid once before..."
A shadow shot over the three. The destroyers flinched at the whining roar of jet engines before pitched beeps trilled in warning.
"Missile lock! From where?!"
"L-look out!"
The three scattered before the wave of projectiles, churning the sea they stood on into a storm. Siren ships nearby, deprived of initiative, were reduced to scrap metal. The sound of more jet engines droned overhead.
Herne looked to afar. Black smoke choked the skies and fire bespattered the waters, rendering the naked eye helpless. But where natural eyes failed, her mechanical sensors did not. Her radar and IFF betrayed the arrival of enemy ships.
It was their carriers.
Fort Grace rushed forward, her planes trailing by her side like a sweeping gust. "Missiles away!"
"Aircraft launch! Protect our allies!" Kestrel announced. "Ark Royal, we have you covered. Make sure that our cruisers are recovered -"
She turned to the side. "... Ark Royal?"
Reassuringly, the Royal carrier remained by her side. But what perplexed Kestrel was the unusual visage strewn across Ark Royal's face. All pretense she held of being a charming lady had been seemingly twisted into something… else. A subtle shade of crimson spilled across her cheeks. Her eyes now twinkled like a star now brighter than it ever had.
Her aura was of something Kestrel had never seen before.
"Yes!... Yes!"
"... Um, Ark Royal…?"
The carrier snapped out of her trance. "Y-yes?!... Yes? I am still here. I was… er, distracted. My apologies..."
Kestrel felt there was something else between the lines. "Is… there something you'd -"
The uncertain aura returned as Ark Royal continued. "... But I had never expected that I would be graced with such girls! A work of higher power finally granting me mercy! And to have it be from those of this world…!" Her face reddened as she giggled, stifled but mirthful. "... Oh how can I help myself -"
Kestrel jumped as a shell suddenly punched into Ark Royal's face, bringing her daydreaming to an abrupt end. From such a shot, Ark Royal collapsed like a sack of potatoes. Startled, Kestrel quickly looked her over but was greeted to the sight of the carrier's face in playful slumber. Though singed, her childish grin was at peace.
"... Ohhhhh… right there… yessss..." Ark Royal murmured.
Suspicious, yet relieved, Kestrel let the carrier lay, making note of where she slept.
While the sounds of war echoed ahead, Kestrel's ears picked another but from an unusual direction. She glanced up just in time to see sharp outlines flash by, the roar of afterburners trailing them as they hurled towards the fight.
Kestrel did not recognize them. But she knew they were on their side.
From afar, Herne worked the bolt action yet again. Disturbed eyes left the scope as she shuddered.
'... Who… who the hell was that freaky lady?! For some reason looking at her gave me really bad vibes...!'
The sound of screaming engines thankfully ripped her back to reality. Above, her IFF glittered the sky with contacts both blue and black, Phantoms and Tomcats.
And now, they were joined by planes in white and purple livery.
With the sky teeming with fighters, they dove viciously on their quarry below, transforming the mass of steel into burning wrecks before their eyes.
With weapon raised, Herne grit her teeth. But she was the only one whose fire continued to burn.
"Herne, matey! We should make scarce and sail for the home shores! There be too few of them black ships to cover for us to take on 'em three."
"Um, I-I think I agree with Beluga! I-I don't think we'll stand against -"
Angrily, the barrel of Herne's gun snapped towards the two as if to threaten them. "... Fine! I can bag them another day; scored plenty of hits today."
With haste, Beluga and Lazuli turned heel and sped away in retreat. Herne stepped to follow close, but stopped. For one last time, she turned to see the ravaged sea.
And standing out in the open, stood a carrier in black.
For a brief second, their eyes locked. Herne saw the carrier's eyes alight with condemnation. Yet her gaze did not burn with hatred or hostility.
Only pain.
With a scoff, Herne turned away and sped back home.
Among the tempered flames of a now-ended battle, Fort Grace placed a hand on Kestrel's shoulder.
"Is everything alright?"
Kestrel turned her gaze away from the horizon, shaking her head. "... I'm fine. What about you?"
Her flight deck still bore cracks and blemishes from the engagement, the most prominent ones scored by the Herne. Yet Fort Grace waved them off with a gentle smile. "I'll be right as rain after we return to base. But it's the others I'm more worried about."
Jet engines howled above. It was the same aircraft from before, their purple-spotted paint job a curious sight. Eyes followed their path as they led to a lone figure who stood above the blaze of war, seemingly shielded by the sheer confidence she exuded.
The figure waved. "See you started the party without me, Fort Grace. Shame I missed all the fun."
Fort Grace chuckled. "... So it was you out there all along."
Her eyes narrowed as she listened, her gaze sharper than it had before.
"... The Delta Coalition have received outside assistance?" Tanager asked.
"Yep! Saw them myself out there. Didn't see much of her during that battle but I definitely saw the Silver Star's dumb idol. There were also others too, but I nailed them real good!"
A sudden chuckle was elicited from Tanager. "Oh did you now? I expected nothing less from my protege."
"Yeah! They thought they could take us on until I shot 'em down, one shot each!" Herne bragged. "Could you believe they thought they stood a chance with such trash weapons?"
A curt cough from Geofon deflated the mood. "The appearance of an SSF ship confirms their presence, and therefore involvement, as we expected. But these 'other' ships - who were they?"
Herne shrugged. "Beats me. Never saw anything like them but they were definitely not from the Delta Coalition. Didn't even had the basic stuff everyone uses!"
Looks were exchanged between Geofon and Tanager. "If they are not from the Federation or the Coalition then -"
"It must be them..." Tanager mused, her expression now shrouded in darkness. "The rumors were not falsehoods after all. There truly are visitors from another world. And now these visitors are but mere puppets for the Silver Star Federation, come to our enemy's beck and call like the sycophants they are, this Azur Lane..."
Geofon considered options - the Kingdom's and Tanager's. "The enemy seeks to gather their strength… and so should we."
A smirk spread across the battleship's lips. "Great minds do think alike. Yes, we should spur on and snatch victory while it is within our grasp. Even with foreign assistance they are on the back foot..."
Tanager rose from her seat with a resolute smile. "The time has come. Time for us to finally reach out and seize destiny for ourselves. By our own hand, let fates be determined. Let our spirits be indefatigable. Let our wrath be unrivaled. And let our fortitude be forever invulnerable as it always has, for we are the champions of the Rose Kingdom!
"Geofon! Recall our ships and summon them to me. Our glorious day has arrived!"
"As you command, my liege."
Then, with a sweep of her hand, Tanager made her momentous declaration.
"Assemble our invincible armada: the Aegir Fleet!"