Fifty miles from Bermuda was enough for the fleet to hear the explosion that took out the evacuation Siren. Ranger watched from her patrol aircraft as the base was swarmed by Explorers and a siren she had never seen before. She took a mental picture of the siren before calling over to Akashi.
"Akashi? Come in please." Ranger asked.
"Ranger-san? What can Akashi do for nyaa?" Akashi asked in her typical cat-like tone.
"I have spotted a new siren. I've never seen it before, and it isn't in the information I received from Norfolk." Ranger spoke.
"Hai. Can Ranger-san elaborate, nyaa?" Akashi asked.
"Yeah. I can try. It's a bit of a distance away, but it looks like the Siren is about the size of the Explorers. But it has an eel-like rigging with two very odd looking protrusions that look almost like gun barrels." Ranger said.
"Hmm. Okay. Akashi has the details written down." Akashi said as Ranger watched a grey skinned Siren begin rampaging through her old home, destroying the dorms first in an attempt to raise casualties that just weren't there.
"I'm glad we managed to get out when we did." Ranger whispered as she turned to see plenty of the civilians she herself was carrying.
"Miss Kansen?" A little boy asked.
Ranger looked down to see a boy, not a day older than five, standing at her feet. She knelt down to get eye level with him.
"What's you're name, little one?" Ranger asked.
"Max." The boy said with a small smile.
"Hello Max. My name is Ranger. What can I do for you?" Ranger asked as she sat on her flight deck to give her legs a break.
"Miss Ranger, Why were you just standing back here? Everyone else was below deck until just a few minutes ago." Max asked.
"Well, Max. You see, I am a kansen, as you have deduced." Ranger said.
"My mama once told me that you were a Kansen... but I don't know what that is." Max said.
"Ah. I see. Well, would you like me to explain it?" Ranger asked.
Max's eyes lit up in excitement.
"Would you?!" Max asked excitedly.
Ranger smiled happily.
"Of course. Well, as you know, I am a Kansen. But that word doesn't have much meaning aside from giving me a title. Do you know what the name of this ship is?" Ranger asked.
Max shook his head.
"Uh-uh. But it's big and pretty." Max said.
Ranger blushed a bit but smiled anyway.
"This vessel is the Aircraft Carrier CV-4 otherwise known as Ranger." Ranger spoke as Max's mind raced.
"That's your name!" Max exclaimed.
"Correct. That is because this is my vessel. This ship is me. And I am this ship." Ranger spoke.
"So... you are this ship?" Max asked, scratching his head.
Ranger nodded.
"The person you see me as, is merely the physical embodiment of the will and memories of this ship. All the things I wanted to do before, all the memories my crew had. Everything this vessel has seen. That is who I am." Ranger said as she held out her hand towards the empty portion of the flight deck, spawning an SBD Dauntless on the flight deck for Max to see.
Max looked as the dive bomber willed it's way into existence at the wave of Ranger's hand.
"Woah..." Max said, his eyes shimmering with unbridled excitement.
"It's quite the amazing ability. According to Union battle doctrine, my ability to do that was taught to me after it was translated from the Sakura Language. Apparently teachings from both HMS Hermes and IJN Houshou were used to allow us to do this kind of thing." Ranger said.
"So... everybody was friends before the war?" Max asked.
Ranger smiled at the innocence of the child before her.
"I can't say for certain. But maybe if we find Miss Langley or Saratoga or Lexington, maybe we can ask them." Ranger said with a smile.
"You know them?" Max asked.
"Of course. They were the first three Aircraft Carriers that the Union had. I was number four." Ranger explained.
"Aircraft carriers are really big." Max said, noting the length of the flight deck.
"Well, we have to be. We launch aircraft to defend our fleets and to attack the enemy. Aircraft need a big runway." Ranger said.
"Wow... so you not only have to know how to sail, but you have to know how to fly?" Max asked.
"Yup. Us carriers have a lot on our plates." Ranger said as she felt a presence behind her.
"Who're you?" Max asked as Ranger turned to see Washington behind her.
"This is my friend. She is Washington." Ranger said as Washington knelt down to see the kid.
"Is she a Kansen too?" Max asked.
"Very good, Max. You're correct. Washington here is a Battleship. She has really big guns and is the muscle of an assault fleet." Ranger explained as Washington exposed her rigging, showing Max her true strength.
"Woah!" Max said as he saw the tall silver haired lady smile as she playfully flexed her arms.
"Max. I'll find you again in a bit if you'd like to continue talking, but I must speak with Washington. Can you return to your family?" Ranger asked.
Max went quiet.
"Max?" Ranger asked.
Max's eyes began to tear up as Ranger scrambled to figure out what to do.
"Ranger." Washington spoke sternly as she went to Max and picked him up, holding him like a child.
"You don't think..." Ranger started.
"My mama and papa..." Max spoke before burying his face in Washington's jacket.
"Did you come alone?" Washington asked softly, using a tone that Ranger had never heard her used before.
Max nodded.
"Mama and Papa..." Max tried again but couldn't find the words.
"Ranger and the rest of us will take care of you, kid." Washington spoke, earning her a look of shock from Ranger.
"Washington, we can't just take him, what if he has family left?" Ranger asked.
"If he did, he wouldn't have come alone. His family might have... fallen in the escape." Washington spoke, trying her hardest to sugar coat her words to keep Max calm.
Ranger contemplated the decision and eventually let out a soft sigh and a smile.
"Well, Max? Would you like for Washington, the rest of the fleet, and myself to take care of you from now on?" Ranger asked.
Max nodded softly, trying to dry his eyes, but failing to contain the painful memories of his escape from the Union.
"Well... then come on. I kept the Captain's quarters off limits so I could have a place to sleep, but I would rather you take it. Let's get you set up in your new room, Max." Ranger said with a soft smile as she playfully ruffled his hair.
"Ranger. We just got radar contact from the Graf Spee. She is forty degrees to starboard about twenty miles out." Washington spoke quickly.
"Alright. Turn the fleet to thirty degrees starboard and continue full steam ahead. We'll meet up with her. We're going to have to have you tow the Missouri... or what's left of it." Ranger said, using her planes to observe Spee towing the wreck of the Missouri.
"How bad's the damage?" Washington asked.
"The superstructure and two out of three turrets are just... gone. Blown away. All I can see is twisted metal and a heavily damaged number two turret." Ranger said.
"Damn..." Washington spat as she noticed that Max had fallen asleep in her arms.
"I think he likes you." Ranger jabbed.
"I think he's just really tired. Today was a very crazy day for him. I'm sure he just wants to rest." Washington spoke as the fleet continued forward, escaping Bermuda and it's destruction at the hands of Strength and her forces.
"Nng." Yat Sen stirred as she slowly awoke in the medical bay of the Vestal.
"Where..." Yat Sen asked before she took in her surroundings.
"You're onboard the Vestal. You're lucky we came across you when we did." Isaac spoke as Yat Sen turned her head to see him.
"Who are you?" Yat Sen asked.
"Admiral Garner or Azur Lane." Isaac spoke.
"Admiral... of Azur Lane? I haven't heard Azur Lane in quite some time..." Yat Sen explained.
"Well... we're here now. We are taking you, your survivors and the other two cruisers to Palau. You three took quite a beating back there." Isaac said.
"Did they make it?!" Yat Sen asked frantically.
"They did. You're wondering if your ability protected them?" Isaac asked.
"Ability? No. I prayed for my sisters safety. I am merely a light cruiser. I have no abilities." Yat Sen explained.
"You... prayed?" Isaac asked, taking a mental note.
"We were ambushed during the escape from the Dragon Empery. Tester's Forces are pushing to invade the Dragon Empery. We... don't have enough power to stop them. So we ran, taking as many civilians as we could. But we were corralled and ended up getting caught here. When the fighting started... I first prayed for help. Someone, anyone to help us. But when no help seemed apparent... I prayed for the safety of my sisters from the Empery... even if it cost me my own life." Yat Sen said.
"Interesting. Well... both of your prayers have been answered, Yat Sen. Ping Hai and Ning Hai are safe with minimal damage. The enemy has been eradicated. And you didn't have to give up your life to achieve it." Isaac spoke in a jovial tone.
"So it seems. I guess I have you to thank for our rescue, Admiral." Yat Sen spoke.
"I'm not looking for anything special. I'm just helping those in need. Where were you headed?" Isaac asked.
"New Guinea. We had heard that the main city had been liberated." Yat Sen said.
"It has. And I just refreshed the troops there. Once we get to Palau, I'll send a detachment back to escort you there since I pulled all of the Naval forces from that area." Isaac said.
Yat Sen relaxed and laid her head back on the pillow.
"I... would like that." Yat Sen said as she fell back to sleep. The fleet steamed forward towards Palau as fast as they could, putting distance between the battlefield and themselves.