Pearl harbor, Enterprises dock
Arizona saw the state of Enterprises ship, it was heavily damaged and in a state of much needed repair. However her concern was more towards the personal that now walked down the gangplanks to meet with there families. However as the crowd dispersed ambulances came with there siren's blaring.
The wounded were immediately rushed to them to the hospital. Yet there she waited with the few remaining families wondering the fates of there Marines or Sailors. It was only then did she see what she feared the most. Duran was on a stretcher with Naomi following with a arm in a sling and in a wheel chair as IVs where connected to there arms.
The tears fell from her eyes as she saw them loaded into Ambulances. With Ruth in tow they went to the hospital to find there rooms. However they couldn't get to Duran as he was in the ICU while Naomi was getting looked over as well. So they waited for an hour. Ruth gently hugging her trying to keep her spirits high. Phoenix eventually came in to the waiting room with a small smile.
"Emma how's everyone doing?"
Arizona sighs as she turns to her.
"I don't know...your father's in the ICU and your older sister is getting looked over right now..."
Phoniex seeing the long pause took a seat next to her and hugged her from the side. Knowing that no matter what she said. Nothing she could help elevate the fears going through Arizonas head.
Eventually a nurse walked up to them.
"Mrs.Tanin, Your eldest daughter is completely fine. She just needs rest. However if you want to visit her...she's...a little on edge. Iwo Jima was very rough for her." She said from the notes on her clipboard.
"What about my husband? Is Duran alright?" She asked
"Your Husband is still in surgery, his injuries were very severe. It will be a while prehaps till tomorrow afternoon for any results."
Arizona nodded as she got up to go see Naomi, Phoniex and Ruth right by her side. However as she neared Naomis door. She felt a overwhelming presence...it was weird. Like that day so long ago in December... She knocked on the door only to receive no answer, so her hand turned the knob and opened the door.
Naomi sat up, her hair while short her bangs covered her face. A little hunched over as her good arm was on her lap as the IV still attached to her. Hair splits where present on her head due to lacking good soap and shampoo from her time in service in the Pacific.
"Naomi? Sweetie?" Arizona said trying to get her attention.
Naomi didn't move her head. Phoenix stayed by her mother's side as Ruth walked up to Naomi with her toy Liger 0 in hand. Trying to see her big sister.
"Liger 0 missed you big sis." She opened up.
This got Naomi to turn her head to Ruth who looked at her toy. Then lifted her face slightly looking past the orange plastic painted eyes. She then started to cry and hug Ruth holding her tight but not to much that it would cause any pain from also having a plastic toy between them. Ruth just smiled and instinctively gave her pats on Naomis head as she cried. Arizona sighing in relief.
Taking chairs and pulling them to her bed Phoenix and Arizona sat down as Ruth basically was being Naomis Safty plushie. After she calmed down Ruth was sleeping peacefully on her big sis's lap.
"Sorry about that Iwo Jima was...not a good time..." Naomi lamented.
"From what you've talked about in your letters seems like nothing was a good time." Phoenix replied.
"Yea...I know... thought...I am worried about Enterprise and Abba...he barley survived that explosion and Enty needs a full refit after the the damage she took...I'm honestly worried about them."
"It's ok, the docs are working on dad and I'm sure Enterprise will be alright by the time your done healing up." Phoniex replied reassuringly.
Naomi nods as she strokes Ruth's hair.
"Thought...I'd rather get this out of the way...how...dad got hurt..."
"Naomi you don't have to, I'll end up reading the report anyway..." Ari was then cut off.
"NO!"
Her shout didn't seem to stur Ruth but she did snuggle up closer to her.
"You guys deserve to hear it...not from some stupid piece of paper..."
Arizona looks at Naomi with concern.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes I'm sure."
Iwo Jima, 24 hours after initial invasion
After a previous engagement fighters seriously damaged my back thrusters but was still fine. However, dad's Suit got heavily damaged when he intercepted PCS Kamikazes. The last replacement thrusters where going to his suit as well as the last of the replacement and repaired components.
However when the invasion of Iwo Jima started it turned into a bloodbath. We already lost 7 PCS ground operator platoons due to heavy artillery focus firing on them, yet despite them marking multiple areas that have gun implacements, pillboxes, and Foxholes. More and more started appearing on our tac maps...and the Sakura empire soldiers just...kept coming... especially on Mount Suribachi...so they made a bomb...a bomb so powerful it could level the tunnel net works in that place...but you had to enter through a hole at the top that's heavily fortified.
It was gonna take a while when we got there so Dad would fix his PCS as fast as he could and we'd both join the front to spear head both Suribachis capture and flanking the other half of the island to meet up with the army landings on the other side of the island...
"Dad couldn't fix his PCS rigging in time could he?" Phoniex said.
(Play "Deliver Hope" Halo Reach OST)
Yea...so I volunteered to carry the bomb with Dad as the backup if...if I was taken out...So when I was in the next landing ship when the loading ramp dropped...I sprinted as fast as my rigging could go up that god forsaken mountain. Yet despite orders against following me...the rest of the Eagle Union Marines that where all hold up on that beach after seeing John Basilone mortared...stormed the mountain behind me...we didn't have any other Ground type PCS platoons or Squads on the island so I'm not sure why they followed me...
All I had was a beam pistol to defend myself from the Sakura empire soldiers that ran down the mountain to meet me...that's when there mortar crews and what few Artillery batteries they had left Started to focus one me...yet despite that danger to themselves...the Eagle Union Marines that continued to storm that beach followed me and the other objectives. When I reached half way up the mountain I activated the bomb...and set the timer for five minutes...I continued to run... only for 4 mortors to throw me off course.
But I got up...and continued running...all I could see was the top of that mountain peak as soldiers continued to run down that hill to meet us...they ether ignored me ir failed to stabe a bayonet into my Armor and swated away...then...a Artillery shell landed a foot away from me when I got to the top. Throwing me further into the mountain...but my suit stop functioning... nothing was working. System error after system error flashed on my HUD and...last thing I remember before blacking out and waking up in Enterprises Med Bay was dad... flying down looking at the bomb and taking to the entrance...of the top of the mountain...
Pearl harbor, Navy hospital, present day.
"And when I woke up...Dad was burned badly...there was blood everywhere and...he was put in a medical coma and we where on our way back to Pearl..." Tears started to flow down her cheeks again. "I'm sorry...I'm sorry I couldn't protect anyone! I couldn't protect those Marines that followed me...I couldn't protect dad...I couldn't even protect Enterprise from those damn Kamikazes after I was brought on board!"
Naomi couldn't look at her mother, tears rolling down everyone's faces. Naomis landed in Ruth's black hair.
"From what Admiral Halsey said...as we made our way back...after the bomb went off...dad was found in the rubble...they planted a flag at the top of that mountain...after that...it took them three weeks to fully take that island... without any PCS support...we...we took a lot of casualties...I...I couldn't help any of them...and all I did...was just barley delivered a bomb...dad has to step in...and...it's all my fault hes in ICU... how could any of them thank me!?...how could any of them follow me into that hell hole!? All I did was deliver a bomb and I failed even that!"
Arizona couldn't hold back her tears as her hands covered her mouth. She then did what Naomi didn't expect. She expected Arizona to hate her for getting her father nearly killed. For coming back to them in the shape there in. Accidentally leading good men into a suicidal charge. Yet she received a hug, Arizona pulled her injured daughter close to her chest.
"I'm just glad you both are back and safe now!" Arizona said.
She pushed as much empathy, love, tenderness, and understanding a mother could give in a hug to Naomi.
"Your both home with me. You delivered what those Marines needed to continue on. Hope."
Naomi started to cry even harder at those words. As she hugged her mother back.
Many Weeks later
With the signing of the Unconditional Surrender from the Sakura empire, the Eagle Union rejoiced. And with that, Arizona smiles as she looked through the paperwork on her desk to hand to Admiral Nimmits. She was organizing the logistics for Operation Magic Carpet. Where Enterprise, her ship, went on its final voyage. Bringing every Eagle Union Marine and soldier home from Europa to the Pacific. And with that, a new peace, a peace that Arizona would live in with her family. A new Hope for humanity. She then looks down at her belly, she was three months along. Due to Durans injuries he was medically discharged from active service as a PCS operator and the Eagle Union Marine Corp as a whole. However that didn't stop him from being the head of RD for the Personal Combat Suit Weapons System program.
For Naomi, she stayed at Pearl harbor as a advisor to Admiral Nimmits and later SKK who would lead a new Multi national organization he dubbed, "Azur Lane". Where she was also a Instructor for the PCS operator schools for Kan-Son who rather then Connected there wisdom Cubes to Ship hulls to a PCS rigging.
As for Sylina, she happily married SKK. For Stolt, she later retired after serving the Eagle Union for many years and settled down with a Captain in the "Swords of Gideon" faction of Azur Lane. For Akai she left the military and opted to get a doctorate in nursing and now is one of the head nurses for Pearl harbor Naval hospital.
Phoniex would eventually serve in the Eagle Union Navy for a long time as well. Ruth simply stayed with her mother and father to help them out as Duran would have some difficulties trying to adjust to life due to his injuries. But Arizona...she lived Happily for many years. Until her Husband passed away in 1999. Arizona as well would pass away as hee Wisdom Cube was exhausted. Joining her Husband in heaven in 2000. There ashes were spread upon the Arizona memorial. As the tradition that began with USS Arizona survivors that continues to this day.
They were missed, but not forgotten. And Arizona left behind a loving family. One she made with her dearly beloved. Forever more.
...
Empress lll looked at the end of the simulation P-91. So many feelings stirred up inside of her.
"You doing alright Empress?" A soft voice spoke.
"Arbiter:TowerXVl...I wasn't expecting you." She replied with a dead tone.
Towers blue glow lit up Empress's observation room.
"Devil wasn't ether after I caught her snooping around Hermits Mainframe."
"To true...have you looked at Simulation P-91?"
"I have. What about it?"
"It's... peaceful...after the war...for the most part...save for small skirmishes in a particular area but that place will always be ravished..."
"Are you trying to find a way to Turn Arizona into a Meta?"
"Possibly...after all you wanted this simulation after finding those documents... thought the fact that we don't know much about this Doctor Tanin is concerning other then his name is stamped on them for creating the PCS...no other records exist save for the Marriage certificate to Arizona and Dr.Tanin. what was the purpose of 'opening there wombs'?"
"You already know."
"No I don't."
"If you payed attention you would know..."
"...do you ever tire of turning them into metas...can we even stand against Deus X? The Leviathans already breached Simulation 33."
"We won't know unless we continue to try..."
"Very well...commencing Simulation R-116."