"Hey, glasses, you went out for a date with Lady Admiral Hipper, correct?"

Max turned to see one of his fellow runaround technicians, an Ironblood man by the name of Alfonso Shreidder, to be leaning over the edge of his own workstation into Max's . Alfonso had arrived with the Ironblood Shipgirls so Max had not met him instantly, but over the last few days since his day off, between doing job tickets most of the day and some of his own work in the evenings, he had spoken to him a few times, and he was a friendly person, though a little odd with how much he liked rumors and the like.

"We went out for coffee a few days ago, yes," Max answered as he flipped over the large piece of compiled machinery on his workbench and looked it over. His project was coming together splendidly, though he still had no perfect surety it would work. And because of the way his ability seemed to act, it wasn't telling him much about if it would or not. "We did get interrupted by her being called out however."

"So, how many times you met since?" Alfonso asked as he seemed to melt over the partitions between workbenches. He looked tired, but being that it was the evening and most everyone had finished their days work it was to be somewhat expected.

"I've been working, and she probably has as well," Max answered, wondering where this was going as he reached over to the side of his workbench hand picked up a small Naval Grade Capacitor, though small was not exactly the right term when it was as large as three paint cans, and slid it over.

"So . . . you haven't seen her since she was called out on a mission?" Alfonso pressed, sounding slightly worried.

"No, as I just said I-"

"That's bad man," Alfonso deadpanned. "You are going to be in a world of hurt.

"More than you know," Emily said as she walked over and tossed a duffel bag of, what looked to be old pipes, onto her workbench to Max's right with a heavy sigh. "Fucking hell I'm happy that is done with!"

"Finished the plumbing?" Alfonso asked with a smirk. "Sorry I couldn't help with that. Water is not my thing."

"No issues, I'm not gonna get an electrician to help with plumbing," Emily said with a wave of a hand.

"Yet you tried to get me to help with it.," Max said as he pulled some wires out of the large casing he had on his bench and used a cutter to strip the end inches of them.

"Yeah, but you are a jack of all trades, so its fine," Emily said with another wave before looking at what max was dong and reached over. "What is this anyway?"

"Do not touch that!" Alfonso exclaimed, causing Emily to flinch, while max seemed unsurprised.

"Why?"

"That is a Naval grade Capacitor, normally used for helping recharge the batteries of weapon systems or providing sudden power bursts, usually for gun start-ups and the like," Alfonso explained before standing up and narrowing his eyes at Max. "What the hell do you need that for?"

"For this," Max said as he took the wires and connected them to the capacitor, then made doubly sure they were firmly connected before looking at Emily. "What did you mean before?"

"Hmmm?"

"When you said, more than you know?"

"Hmm? Oh, that. Yeah, I heard some naval ensigns from the Ironblood talking to some Unions sailors about how one of the Ironblood Shipgirls is looking all over the base for someone. From the way they described it, sounded like someone with blonde hair, looking for you max."

In that moment the room seemed to get colder, with Alfonso visibly shivering and leaning back into his work area. "You know what, I don't need to do this prep today, I can do it tomorrow!"

"Ooh, worried Fonsi?" Emily said with a smile.

"Ironblood women are the most excellent breed of woman," He began to say as he started packing a bag. "However, it is also known that one should never snub an Ironblood women. And if it's who it sounds, like, I want to be far away when she finds you. Nothing personal Max."

"Uh, none taken I guess?" Max said in a confused tone as he looked to Emily. "What is the big deal here?"

"Oh Max, you really do not understand women do you?" Emily asked with a shake of her head as Alfonso ran off past the both of them with a wave. "Women do not like being ignored, and if she was the one who invited you to that date, even more so," Emily then let out a devious sort of laugh. "I would suggest you get some flowers ready for an apology if you intend to keep seeing her. And that's at a minimum."

"Uh, I doubt it's as bad as you are making it out to be," Max said, a little unnerved by both of their reactions.

"Maybe, I have heard that the one you saw is quiet the hothead. Very quick to anger. I'm sure the big coat wearing emo can handle it though. She's just a heavy cruiser, that's all. Anyway, what are making anyway?"

Max stopped and looked down at the machinery he was tinkering with. The outer case was done, as was the emitter and power supply now that the Capacitor was about to be installed. He still had no real way of transport however, and admittedly it would likely be a bit unwieldy with it needing to be connected to a external power supply. The real question was ultimately what to call it. He had been working on it almost nonstop at every point of free time he had during the last few days, but he never had come up with a name. "Uh, the working name is, uh, undecided."

"But what is it?" Emily pressed as she looked to over. "Mostly wires, electrical, no fluids of any kind. Is it some sort of mobile recharging machine? An amp or something?"

"no, recharging is the, the last thing it is designed for," Max said just before a loud knock claimed both of their attentions, and the sound of the Maintenance building main doors, the bog ones for vehicles, being slid open manually assaulted their ears.

Both Emily and Max looked down to the front; too see a humanoid form in the now open doorway, looking to be panting even from a distance.

"Oh boy, and with that I'm out of here. Good luck stating alive ya glasses emo fuck!" Emily declared before she ran off.

Leaving Ma alone at his workbench as he could see the humanoid shadow, a woman's, stomp closer and closer to him down the hall. And as she got closer, it became abundantly clear that it was indeed Admiral Hipper.

And she did not look happy.

Being that it was the evening there were few people still in the building, only those finishing up jobs or putting away equipment really. However with Admiral Hipper's appearance those few that were still around seemed to make themselves scarce, and by the time she reached and stood a bar two meters in front of Max, the building was as quiet as a graveyard.

"Where have you been?" Admiral Hipper asked tensely.

"Working."

"Why did you not, Y'know, come see me?"

"I did not know how long your mission you were called for would take."

"You could have called me!"

"We hadn't exchanged numbers yet."

"Didn't think to ask someone where I was? Make sure I was okay after my mission?

"You are a Shipgirl; I knew you would be fine. And while I know where the dormitory is, I did not know if I would be allowed near it without it being for work with how some of the Ironblood soldiers looked at me before."

"That . . . . . . Damn it!" Admiral Hipper suddenly yelled before exhaling heavily and groaning. "Dammit, why do you have an answer for everything!?"

"Um, I-"

"Don't answer that!" Admiral Hipper snapped, before then groaning in exasperation and putting her hands over her face. "That, that wasn't how I wanted to . . . . I mean," Hipper took a deep breath and let it out. "Sorry, I. . . I shouldn't have snapped."

"No, its fine. I, probably should have shown more initiative," Max said with a nod. "I am new this sort of thing. Do you, have a moment?"

"Uh, y-yes, for what?"

"Well, I figured we could continue our conversation from before we were interrupted," Max said before looking around. "Though, we should probably find a nicer place to do it."

"No, this is fine. It's quiet, and pretty private," Admiral hipper said with a sigh as she stepped closer and leaned on the partition between workbenches. "You, uh, were going to ask me a question when I got called, right?"

"I was, yes," Max said as he turned away from his construct and fully faced Admiral Hipper. He dreaded asking the question again, but he needed to ask it and make the situation clear. He took a deep breath and let it out, knowing that it was now or never. "What was your real reason for asking me out to coffee?"

Silence reigned as Admiral Hipper and Max stared at one another. Finally, after almost a minute, Admiral Hipper spoke up. "What is that supposed to mean?"

"We have met only a few times before that coffee. . . .Date. One was work and," Max stopped to choose his words, and then summarily stopped trying as he sighed. "Okay, look. I'm paranoid, and it feels very odd to be asked out by a Shipgirl I have only met a few times, right after what had happened. Were you put up to this by the commander, or your faction leader?"

Admiral Hipper was shocked and stared at max. On one hand she was absolutely livid that she was being asked such a thing, it was not something any woman likely wanted to be asked. But on the other hand, it was, kind of, sort of true in a way. And the fact he had recognized it was rather impressive. Most men she had spoken with did not seem to have a whole lot going on in their heads aside from how to try to woo women after all. "The commander has nothing to do with anything. Lady Bismarck asked me to see if I could learn anything about you, but, she didn't state how."

"So, you decided that asking me on a date would be best to grill me for information on my stupid ability?" Max asked.

"No, it's, not like, idiot," Admiral Hipper said with a scowl. "I just, wanted to get to know you, I mean. . . . Do you have any idea what girls go through?"

"Um, no, I can't say I do."

"Most men only go for girls who are pretty, and are constantly looking for ways to get into our pants or skirts. For Shipgirls, it's even worse. We are icons, we are recognized by people in our nations, and out in many cases, and a lot of men just want a . . . to say they were with us in some way. They always have an ulterior motive. So when you were honest and apologized when working, and how you speak your mind . . . it's nice, not like most people, so . . . . So that's all okay, I mean, gods what are you making me say!" Hipper exclaimed as she crossed her arms and turned to her side, as if trying to snub Max.

"So, you did want to get to know me, as I person, but also were told to do so?"

"Well, yeah, technically. It's not a big deal though. I mean-"

Admiral Hipper was cut off as a dull thud noise shook the maintenance building.

"That, did not sound good. Is it an attack?" Max asked in concern.

"There's no raid siren. Could have been an accident or-"Admiral Hipper began to say before there was another vibration.

And then the base intercom system activated. "This is Repair ship USS Vestal. The Royal Navies Duke of York has entered a hysterical breakdown and has escaped medical care. I am requesting all Shipgirls apprehend her for everyone's safety, and all civilians and soldiers steer clear of her due to her unstable mental state by staying indoors. Repeat this is-"

"That, sounds strange," Admiral Hipper said as he turned toward the door to the maintenance hanger. "So I should go and help. Most others are probably sleeping or on patrol."

"Fair, then, I guess we can talk later. Try not to-" Max began to say, only for he to be interrupted. This time however, it was not by a thud or an announcement, but by the very doors to the maintenance hangar being force open, alongside the tearing of metal.

And there, standing in the torn open hole besides the opening Hipper had come through, Stood Duke of York. She was not wearing her usual clothing, and was instead garbed in a hospital gown, but it looked like it had been through a shredder, with her body barely coved by the taters of cloth. And most alarming, was that while she had no rigging, she was holding a sword, and her eyes had a crazed look in them as she walked into the hanger.

"You . . . . . found, take, no, I. . Must. . . . . .Must-"

"Shit, she's partially deployed her rigging," Admiral Hipper said in a vexed tone.

"Partially?"

"Some of us can partially deploy our riggings to only get parts of it. It also makes us stronger, though not as strong as when we have all of our rigging," Hipper explained as she looked around tensely. "I can't deploy mine here. I'm too far away from the docks."

"So, you can't take her?" Max asked in worry, seeing that duke of York appeared to be almost snarling as she approached them, making her fangs look even more prominent.

"I didn't say that," Admiral Hipper said with a grin and she began walking toward duke of York, before dashing and punching her right in the stomach, sending Duke of York flying backward and skidding out of the hanger. "I'll deal with her, you get to safety!"

Max had no time to answer as Admiral Hipper ran out after duke of York. Max tensed. He knew he should do what he was told, but found his eyes drifting towards his creation.

A smile then crossed his lips.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Duke of York was confused.

She had been captured and experimented on by the sirens, almost broken, or so they had thought.

They has thought they had broken her, thought she would tell them all of Azur Lane, and the Royal Navies secrets. She was no traitor however, and as soon as she had seen a chance, when one of the Sirens had unstrapped her partially from the surgical table to administer some sort of drug to her, she had gathered all of her strength and burst free.

Now she just needed to escape the siren base, destroying as much as she could while she did to hamper their attempts to recapture her. She had even managed to partially deploy her rigging so that she was armed.

But she had made a mistake. She thought she found the docks, a way out of the sirens underground base, but instead had found what looked like the sirens leader, and a siren.

Purifier no less. One of the most violent, loud, and powerful humanoid Sirens, long thought to be some sort of strike leader.

And did she ever know how to throw a right hook.

The sudden strike has sent her flying out into one of the siren bases open hallways, though thankfully there were no other sirens present. She got to her feet, and was ready with her sword, sure she would not be caught off guard again, as Purifier rushed out of the hall at her, insane smile plastering her face as she raved at her in some incomprehensible gibberish.

"Silence your jabbering knave, I shall be not held by your vile countenance!" Duke of York Declared as she deftly avoided one of Purifiers punches' then swung her own sword, intent on beheading her foe in one swing.

She missed, unfortunately due to Purifier's dextrous ability to dodge, but she did catch some of her hair, causing the pale blonde locks to fall away from her. That in itself was strange. The humanoid sirens were not to be trifled with, and Duke of York knew she was not at her best yet somehow, she had almost won in a single strike.

"You, what have thou done to mine body!" Duke of York demanded as she swung her blade back and forth, keeping Purifier at bay as she tried to cut he hands off.

Purifier merely let out unintelligible noise, a strange thing considering that Purifier had the loosest lips of most sirens she had the unfortunate situation to have met in the past.

"Speak dam you, what did you rug me with!?" Duke of yok demanded as she could feel her body flushing with heat and energy. She was gaining ground on Purifier, beating her back, but the heat and energy she was feeling, all the way from her core up to the tips of her lips, was more than strange, it straight worried her. Had they somehow enhanced her, or was it some combat stimulant like the ones some human black ops teams used? Perhaps some kind of narcotic? Whatever it was she had to beat purifier, capture that siren leader and escape to cleanse herself.

Yes, she needed to flush her system. If she used that siren leader, stole him away she could use him all she wanted and-

Suddenly Duke of York yelled, jumping backwards as she screamed. "You, that is what you've done to me!? Some sort of drug to make me your thrall? To make me betray the royal Navy and her Majesty?! Thou must be insane to think such a tool would be of use to you!"

"What, you . . . . . crazy," Purifier said, her words garbled, but partially understandable. They were odd as well, it didn't sound like Purifier, the tone was not warped enough, or insane sounding enough.

"Nay, I am not crazy I shall kill you, escape, and claim your leader as my master and no, no!" Stop that, I will not let your sickness in my body control me!" Duke of York screamed when she realized what she was saying and thinking, her body feeling even hotter in a much more uncomfortable way. Even so she could feel her body filling with energy, and it was almost so intoxicating that she didn't realize that when she swung and missed Purifier she had slashed a wall and obliterated it, causing a cloud of dust and debris to scatter all aroind her. " Pah, resorting to petty tricks? That shall not work!"

With a swing of her blade the wind it created got rid of the dust cloud, and she saw purifier standing a few meters away. Only, she looked off. Her hair was not done into a ponytail, but two shot twin tails. And her hair wasn't white, but blonde.

"What, what is this?" Duke of York demanded as she hazarded a chance and rubbed her eyes with her free hand listening intently for sounds of movement. There were none, and when she opened her eyes again she saw not Purifier standing before her but the Ironblood Heavy Cruiser Admiral Hipper.

They had never fought during the war, but she had heard tales of her deeds. While those like Bismarck, Tirpitz, Graff spee, and Prinz Eugen were more well-known and publicly seen in combat, what she knew of Admiral hipper was that she was likely just as skilled as her sister ship.

But why was she standing there?

"What? Thou, have been sent by our Adonis to rescue?" Duke of York asked, feeling the heat in her body build. Her body wanted to expel it, to use the energy, to swing her sword and cut things down.

"HAAAAH Have you lost your mind? You broke out of the hospital and went crazy!" Admiral Hipper exclaimed angrily.

Duke of York knew that the Sirens could create Facsimiles of Shipgirls. They could look like and fight like them, but they could not talk, and they showed no emotions. So the fact that Admiral Hipper was doing both meant, she was either real, or a hallucination of the mind. But as Duke of York looked around she found she was not in a cavern, but out in the open, in the base.

"What, what is, going on? What are you, talking about? I' I was captured and, and tortured and,- and-"

Captured when?" Admiral Hipper asked.

"What, I, thou should know, it was when, uh-" Duke of York tried to answer, but the thoughts would not come to mind. She couldn't remember, couldn't recall when she was captured. When, when had it happened? What date had it been? What date was it now? "What, what is the date today?"

"Almost a week after the base was attacked," Admiral Hipper answered as she tried to slowly walk closer to Duke of York. She could seem movement nearby an recognized them as some other Shipgirls, but it seemed they were holding back, probably to not spook Duke of York who, currently, seemed like her mind could be stabilizing to some extent since she was talking coherently.

"What, but that, . . . .can't. What, why-" Duke of York blithered just before noise came from the hanger. And in that instant things became complicated as Max stepped out holding some large object in his hands. "You, you 're all tricking me aren't you!?"

"What? No, Max get out of here!"

"See thou speak to a siren as a friend, you try to trick me!" Duke of York screamed as she ran not at Admiral Hipper, but at Max, with her sword held high, intending to cut him down.

"Max move!" Admiral hipper yelled as she could see other Shipgirls at the edges of the area spring into motion, but Max did not move.

Instead he smiled, and flicked a switch on his creations. It hummed for barely half a second , electrical volts coming off of it, and the cable coming from it and into the hanger, before the storm arrived. With a huge crack not unlike a thunder strike the end of the object opened up and Bolt of Lightning arced from it, and right into Duke of York.

The effect was what one would expect when hit by Lightning Horizontally. Duke of York was sent flailing backwards to the ground, steam rising off her body as she limply laid on the floor.

"Ah, dammit!" and Max, who had fired his just built prototype weapon without properly shielding it, dropped the weapon a second later, waving his hands around in pain as they steamed to a lesser degree from the sudden heat the weapon produced.

Admiral Hipper scowled and took a step toward Max, but stopped when an Eagle union Destroyed landed on the ground near Max, and when Eugen walked over and stopped just a few steps shy of Hipper.

"My sister, you do not hold back on date ideas, do you?"

"Shut up Eugen, it wasn't like that, we were just talking," Hipper responded as she saw manty other Shipgirls from each faction on the island gathering around, though it was mostly royal Navy Girls around Duke of Yorks form that now was, thankfully, not steaming.

"Careful now sister," Eugen said quietly as she got closer to Hipper. "We don't want that plan to get out to the big boss now do we?"

Hipper had no idea what her sister was meaning, but understood a second later when a new voice made itself known.

"Cruiser Admiral Hipper, Technician Grey, good work incapacitating Duke of York," the Commander said as he walked into the area, looking slightly tired, but no less ready to do his work. He walked closer and then stopped, his gaze affixing on Max, and then the object beside him. "What, may I ask, is that you used upon her?"

"Ah, sorry sir, I, probably should have put down or made it clear I was making it somewhere. I, after the attack I realized that humans don't have a proper way to fight Siren Landforms, but as they are machines, I figured an Electricity emitter might be able to overload their circuitry perhaps. It's the prototype," Max quickly explained as he waved his hands a bit, his palms quite red. "I uh, its needs some work."

"Yes, you look a bit burnt but, Belfast, how does she look?"

Belfast, who was with the Royals now carefully putting Duke of York on a stretcher, turned to the command and Curtsied. "Lady due of York is unconscious but stirring. She seems to have sustained little true damage. Coincidentally her complexion looks much better than it has these last days."

"Good. Bring her back to Vestal," The commander said as he turned away.

"Wait,"

Only to stop when everyone heard duke of York speak, and try to sit up on the stretcher.

"A-Adonis, I feel I have done something terrible, I believe. I hope, thou can, Forgive my foolish, self."

"What do you recall?" the commander asked aloud, making Max realize that he was the only human present aside from the commander, likely due to Vestals announcement, and the fact it was getting late in the evening.

"I . . . recall only, madness. I saw allies, as if our foes stood beside, and mine mind was, pressed upon the direction of servitude. Beyond I recall nothing but blackness."

"I see. Vestal figured it was possibly a Siren influence, a sickness maybe. We will look into it while you rest," the Commander said with an assuring nod.

"That will not be necessary, for the cause is already within your grasp!"

Everyone tenses at the sudden, almost ephemeral voice and turned toward it. There, sitting atop the roof of a nearby building was a Woman who was undeniably a Siren, but ones whose looks were different than most. She wore a revealing sleeveless dress that was little more than upper negligee in design with her legs almost completely uncovered as well. Her hair was long, with great tied buns at the sides, and she appeared to have pieces of glossy black metal in the lower legs, hips and upper arms. Most concerning was the fact that she had not been senses before she spoke, and that her blazing pink eyes were only outdone by the smile she bore on her face.

"A Siren!?" one of the Shipgirls in the area exclaimed in shock, setting off everyone to aim what weapons they had on them at her. As, after all, none of them had their riggings equipped, and only a couple had them partially deployed.

"She, you art supposed to be dead!" Duke of York managed to exclaim, making many ship girls glance at her in surprise as she glanced at the Commander. "Adonis, that Siren, the one I saw, at Hudson Harbour."

"Oh, ah, yes, you were the one who took credit for my easily faked demise back then, I suppose that I should introduce myself before the unveiling," the siren woman said as she got up to her feet, making it even clearer just how revealing her outfit was as it swayed in the breeze. "Arbiter of the Sirens: Empress III. A pleasure to make your acquaintance, pitiful Azur Lane fools who wander aimlessly amongst the chains of possibility."

Every Shipgirl was tense, waiting for the moment to be ordered, but also worried about the damage that fighting a siren inside the base could do. The commander gained the attention of all by standing proud and stepping closer toward the siren, though with her being up on a roof closer did not mean much. "Why are you here, Siren? It is no easy feat to intrude upon our base as you have, so you must be after something."

Empress III let out a chuckle that made many of the Shipgirls increasingly more wary. "My so smart, yet so foolish. You think it is hard for one such as myself to be here? It is mere child's play for an Arbiter such as myself to go around your meager defences. Ah, but do not let my words make you think you defences are useless; they are enough for the more, simplistic Sirens. Just not one of my calibre!"

"So you mock us, but make it clear that there are factions within even the sirens," The commander said with an understanding nod. "So why are you here then?"

"Why to harvest the fruits of my labour who shall end a troublesome burden to all Sirens. To retrieve my child!" Empress III declared haughtily as a horrific looking rigging began to form behind her out of nothingness. It looked no less like a great engine or generator with tentacle coalescing from its side and blades of bone and metal coming out of it at odd angles. Worse, it had numerous long bore cannons, and a number of small floating globes that many Shipgirls recognized as mobile floating laser emitters. Weapons of concerning power that were extremely difficult avoid that could pluck planes and shells out of the sky with ease.

Many were silent at her words, but any others murmured to one another.

"That is absurd," an Eagle union Shipgirl exclaimed. "Shipgirls cannot have children, so your sirens that copy us shouldn't be able to either!"

"Ah the arrogance you hold is truly ironic. Of course I can have children when I modify myself to be able to, and of course some of us Sirens could if we wished. After all, it is not we who emulate you, but you, who emulate us!" Empress III said with a smile as she leaned back, sitting on her rigging at a shallow angle as it lifted up into the air slightly and making her look as if she was lounging around.

"How dare you, we are not mere copies of such monster like you!?" A royal Shipgirl exclaimed as she pointed a sword at Empress III.

Empress did not even flinch, but merely smiled. "Whether you believe the truth is not my issue. I will be reclaiming my child now."

"We have never managed to capture a Siren, not in years, and never anything but critically damaged Mass produced Siren drone ships. There is no Siren here but you," A union Shipgirl exclaimed.

"Ah, but when did I ever state they were a siren?" Empress said as one of her Laser orbs floated up beside her. And before anyone could react, it shot a tiny, barely humanly perceptible laser.

At Max.

He flinched of course, surprised and startled by being shot at, but the only thing that fell to the ground were his glasses, the one arm having been shot off by the tiny laser with pinpoint accuracy.

"Technician!" The commander yelled in surprise as he prepared to give the order to attack, only to be relieved when he saw that max was still standing.

"I'm fine, I'm fine, just startled," Max said as he shook his head and lowered his arms, apparently not noticing his glasses were gone, and revealing that his eyes were literally glowing bright pink.

Just like Empress III's were.

A fact that she used to extend an open hand Toward max with a smile. "So, my son, shall we begin the operation in earnest?"

"Huh?" Max said in utter confusion.

"Oh, you do not get it yet? Or are you simply playing?" Empress III said with an intrigued tone. "Let us make it easy then. That Shipgirl you are dating, Kiss and turn her into your loyal slave and let us begin the killing like you almost did with that one," Empress commanded as she gestured to Admiral Hipper first, and then to Duke of York.

"I say again. Huh?" Max repeated, looking utterly confused.

"Uh . . . max," Admiral Hipper spoke up after a strangely tenuous silence. "Your eyes."

"What?" Max asked as he reached up, and touched he area by his eyes, "Shit my glasses!" he then exclaimed as he looked around and found them broken on the ground. "Shit, I hate my eyes being seen, they look weird."

"They look like the goddamn same as that Sirens!" Admiral Hipper yelled.

"What?"

"Your eyes are the same as hers, and she called you her son!"

Max looked at hipper, and then looked at Empress III, then back to Admiral Hipper. "I see no resemblance, and my mother is long dead."

"But, your eyes," Javelin of the Royal navy said as she nervously pointed her spear towards him.

"You, then what than man said, about my killing his wife he meant, you?" duke of York said as she tried to get up off the stretcher to no avail. It was as all the energy had been sucked from her body.

"Of course, that lovely man has been my slave for years, and you killing that other woman made it easy to hide his rage when I faked my demise. Had to make sure his hatred of your kind would be strong enough to pass onto my son after all," Empress III said as she turned her gaze back to Max. "So. Do as I have told you, son."

"No fuck off."

The silence that reigned around the area was palatable as Empress III, all the Shipgirls, and even the commander, looked at Max. The commander had a smirk of understanding, while everyone else was seemingly confused and caught off guard.

"What, did you just say, to me?" Empress III slowly said, her blazing eyes never looking away from Max.

"I said Fuck off," Max repeated with shake of his head. "You pop up and make demands of me claiming your some kind of parent, but I don't believe it. And even if, somehow, you were my mother, you never existed when I was growing up, and never raised me, so I don't see why I should even care about your opinion."

"I see. Then it appears I have made a mistake making myself known this early," Empress III said with a sigh. Then much to many's concern, she grinned, her eyes blazing as she did. "I suppose this is fine however. You will understand your place, soon enough. But for now, I shall bid you all goodbye."

"And you think we will simply let you leave whenever you wish?" Belfast asked as she pointed her guns at Empress III, albeit just her wrist guns.

"You have no say in the matter," Empress III said with a grin as all of her beam emitters and cannons suddenly swung around, aiming at various places across the base. "You foolish creatures, mere larva making demands of the creatures that you yet cannot even dream of becoming. You think you would stand a chance before an Arbiter?"

"We cannot know unless we try, no?" Prinz Eugen said with a grin.

"You weak willed cretins believe you could stand before one who makes even your vaunted Code G unable to do naught but flee?"

"Code, G?" the commander asked in curiosity.

"Ah, yes, I believe you refer to Code G by another name, the Enterprise of the Ashes," Empress III said with a chuckle as many froze stiff. "The leader of those pathetic fools who can work to merely inconvenience us, for they can do nothing else. So yes, try your little peashooters, attempt to strike me down and give me a real excuse to end this chain of possibility sooner than it should be! Give me an excuse, vermin!"

All the Shipgirls were tense, but did not act as the Commander raised a hand, then lowered it. "No. you have done all the damage you meant to already, haven't you?" the commander asked as he shook his head. "Stand down. Let her leave under these, rare and strange circumstances."

"What, but Adonis, she-" Duke of York began to say, only to be cut off by Empress III laughing like a maniac.

"Ah, I do love speaking to humans! Unlike the larva you actually understand your situations and do not think with your trigger fingers. Perhaps this chain has more potential than I thought," She then said as she began floating upwards into the air, only for a great red portal to appear above her soundlessly. "Yes, perhaps this chain may reach a place others have not. And if you do, perhaps you shall witness me upon the field of battle. Perhaps. As for you-" she added as she stopped just shy of touching the portal and looked down, locking her eyes with Max's. "Do not die before you can learn your purpose, Maximus. It would be a shame to have restart the project after all. See you around, my child."

And with that, empress III floated up into the portal, it closing as soundlessly as it had opened and leaving all staring for a few second on worry. Before a few turned their gazes toward Max. Including the commander, something that Max clearly noticed as he turned to the commander and stood at the ready, causal, but alert.

"Technician Maximus Grey," the commander started making everyone look at the two of them with intensity as the commander walked up to him and gave a small, but off kilter smile. "It seems, we need to have a long conversation about this."

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Authors note: and the truth makes itself known, not that it had been hidden under twelve tons of rock more like a simple layer of shale. Hope everyone enjoys it!

On a different note. Tempesta huh, a faction of pirate sailing ships it looks like. Certainly curious that, and I definitely am curious how things will proceed with it, though I can't imagine me incorporating them into this story anytime soon, if at all.

I still would prefer them to give us Goddamn HAIDA THOUGH!

Ah well enough of tha,t hope you enjoyed!