Chapter 5: Azur Lane
"Thank the winds...they're all safe and sound."
"Indeed. Replacements would have been hard to come by."
Kawakaze's dull and disinterested tone caused Zuikaku to frown, the Sakura carrier sharply retorting, "Try the word 'impossible'. And displaying happiness at our sister's return is no shameful thing, Kawakaze."
"What's the point? We'll just perish at the end of the next battle, or the one after that. That's the fate of a weapon, like I keep telling you."
The brown-haired shipgirl scowled at her companion's words, torn between irritation and worry.
Kawakaze had never been the most vocal or open with her emotions, true enough...but ever since the final evacuations of their ancient homeland two years ago what had been an austere and fatalistic young lady had become outright jaded and cold.
Releasing a tired sigh Zuikaku instead smiled at the prospect of seeing Shoukaku back safe and sound, jumping off the deck of her vessel while Kawakaze wordlessly followed suit, another pair of figures joining them as Aurora and Hipper swung into formation.
"Eager to greet our returning sisters, are we?"
Hipper scowled, the Ironblood heavy cruiser sharply retorting, "And what about you two? You're doing the same thing!"
Ever the calm and sociable one the Royal Navy light cruiser quickly stepped in with, "Now now, we're all happy to see our sisters returning safe and sound on such a wondrous dawn, let's not let any petty squabbles ruin that, shall we?"
Huffing out a breath Hipper turned her attention forward much like Kawakaze was, Zuikaku sending the Royal Navy blonde a grateful look as she was given a smile in return, the four skating in silence for a few seconds as the sun crested the horizon, illuminating Azur Lane in golden light as the base once more began to show signs of life.
"Well? Do we think they succeeded? It's our sisters we're talking about so they better not have messed up!"
Hipper's sudden question prompted frowns of thought from the group - aside from Kawakaze - as Zuikaku mused, "The Commander received word from our sisters, they are all mostly unharmed and reported the mission being a partial success...but there was a bit of a caveat to that transmission."
Hipper and Aurora altered their skimming of the water so they could affix the Sakura carrier with their full attention as she continued, "They said that they had recovered a bit of Siren technology that they are towing to the island and not to open fire should they spot it. Other than that no details were provided, that damnable Prinz Eugen coyly stating that it was a 'surprise'. Because that's what we need at this stage of the war. Surprises."
Hipper grumbled, complaining, "That does sound like the irresponsible sort of thing Eugen would say. Well at least they did not fail the mission…"
Aurora seemed visibly excited by the news, more positive in her response as she clapped her hands, stating, "Oh, how wonderful~! Her Majesty will be most pleased to hear news of a success."
Zuikaku puffed her chest with pride, boldly stating, "But of course any operation involving my sister would be a resounding success~!"
"Except for all the ones that weren't."
Three sighs sounded out at Kawakaze's predictable words of blunt logic, the conversation put on hold as they approached the side of the base their sisters were returning on, much of the island's staff watching the horizon with eager gazes as the four leapt atop a repair vessel belonging to none other than Akashi and her crew of mechanics and Bulins, the tiny shipgirl eagerly throwing herself into Zuikaku's grasp as she squealed, "They're coming back, nya~! You happy you get to see your precious sissy again, nya?"
Affectionately patting the shipgirl's ears and setting her on her shoulders the Sakura carrier replied, "Of course. Now settle down, we should be seeing them soon."
The gathered crowd of almost a thousand personnel from every faction quietly murmured amongst themselves, some carrying out tasks while others merely loitered, military discipline and efficiency momentarily set aside in a bid to see what might just be the first ray of hope they'd received in almost a decade.
And, within a few minutes, they got their wish.
"Ooh, ooh! That's Eugen's ship over there, nya~!"
Akashi's eager words sparked a flurry of activity among the crowd, binoculars and other implements being brought out as whispered conversation quickly rose in volume, a few scattered cheers sounding out as the Ironblood heavy cruiser lead the fleet comprising of the task force and patrolling destroyers, all in formation and not missing a single soul...even if a number of them were sporting heavy damage, a few stubborn bits of morning fog clinging to the center of their group.
"Hmm...I fail to see where this Siren technology they acquired is, perhaps it's on the smaller side?"
Zuikaku's words didn't seem to have any effect on her companions, the Sakura carrier glancing to the side to ascertain why her comment had been met with only silence...and blinked, finding Aurora, Hipper and even the typically stoic Kawakaze all staring wide-eyed into the distance, something about the oncoming fleet apparently spooking them...and it wasn't just the shipgirls having that reaction either, most of the human groups had comments of their own.
"Holy shit, how did they get ahold of that thing?"
"Heiliger Strohsack…"
"Bloody hell, damn thing could fill the English channel…"
"Nanja korya…"
Zuikaku quickly turned her attention back to the approaching fleet, recognizing that she had missed something...and felt her jaw visibly drop.
What she had thought was a passing bit of fog? It was a ship.
A massive, overbearing Siren ship of unbelievable size and weight bristling with shield emitters, guns and what even looked like a flight deck, not being towed but advancing on them under its own power.
"N-nya...it's bigger than even those supercarriers, nya…"
Understanding Ayakashi's sudden apprehension Zuikaku swallowed nervously, staring right alongside the human population as the gargantuan vessel cast all at its side into shadow.
"Well, sister...I certainly hope you know what you're doing."
"This is all that remains of the last worthwhile bastion of humanity? Perhaps our estimates of their survival chances were grossly exaggerated."
Electing not to comment on Observer Zero's words as she stood at his side - tiny stature meaning she barely came up to his waist - Alexander allowed his enhanced eyes to sweep over the fabled Azur Lane chain of islands, drinking in the details of the famous origin of shipgirls and humanity's most effective weapon against the Sirens.
He'd seen photos before, certainly. And there was no shortage of papers and journals on the subject but it was a whole different ballgame, being able to look upon the docks, harbors and construction/repair bays with his own ocular organs.
…
Even if the base had likely seen better days, some vessels berthed within its docks more scrap metal than they were weapons of war while the shore was pockmarked with what definitely looked like impact or artillery craters.
But overall it stood strong, a beacon of light and hope amidst troubling times as the powerful vessels belonging to the shipgirls rested peacefully, repair crew and Bulins swarming over their hulls and doing their utmost to maintain the constructs of metal in as high a state of readiness as possible.
"A base I'll likely never be able to step foot on. Can't imagine the locals would react positively to my presence."
"Why would they not? You now represent the apex of what humanity can be. By all means they should bow and cater to your every order and whim."
Alexander shook his head at Zero's genuinely bewildered tone, slowly coming to realize that for all of the Siren's proclaimed intelligence certain facets of her comprehension simply weren't very...flexible.
Perhaps it was something he could exploit? Because quite frankly he rather liked the idea of having her muzzled.
[Alexander, are you there?]
Huffing out a tired sigh at Enterprise's sudden call being routed through the ever faithful Rigging he responded, "Yeah, I'm here. Can't say that very many of the locals seem all that happy to see me."
[...They're just on edge. Most of us don't have the fondest memories of Siren vessels.]
"Fair point. So what's the next step of the plan?"
[We're going to have the Commander visit this vessel to speak with you under the guise of touring the captured technology within. I imagine the two of you will have a great deal of things to discuss.]
The male heavily sat in his command chair, grimacing as he replied, "Yeah, sounds about right. I'll be on the bridge."
[Understood. He shouldn't be long.]
The connection cut off as Alexander allowed the gargantuan viewscreens to show images of his 'escorts' heading towards repair bays, reunions and greetings being passed around with great familiarity and warmth amongst the shipgirls and humans.
Enterprise sharply returned a salute to a collection of marines and repair crew, Shoukaku embraced who he assumed was Zuikaku while an austere Sakura Empire shipgirl who he didn't immediately recognize stood close by, Belfast curtsied to a Royal Navy lady who hugged the maid with an uncomplicated smile while Tirpitz and Prinz Eugen immediately began to tease Hipper, the blonde ironblood blushing at their words but nonetheless accepting their company while everybody else reunited with a green-haired shipgirl sporting cat ears and tail, all laughing and swapping stories mere seconds after seeing each other.
All except for one.
"You don't want to greet your fellow sisters?"
"Not as I am now, no. Not after what you did."
Alexander's expression soured at Warspite's dour response as she strode onto the bridge, his words heavy with irony as he responded, "Imagine that, being set apart from your fellows by an alien process you barely even understand. Can't imagine what that would feel like."
A heavy moment of silence passed between the two before Warspite sagged, fingertips brushing the shard of Wisdom Cube implanted into her neck.
"My apologies. I'm still...adjusting to this new paradigm."
Alexander relented as well, sighing as he willed the Rigging to form a chair for the shipgirl which she pointedly ignored.
"Yeah, I'm sorry too. In that sense I should know perfectly well what it's like to be 'altered'. Any other reason you decided to stop by and not greet your sisters?"
The fox-eared battleship narrowed her eyes, crossing her arms over her slight chest as she plainly stated, "To keep an eye on you, naturally. As one who carries a great deal of power over our future it's only fitting that I ensure you pose no threat to her majesty."
Alexander affixed her with a neutral look.
"You don't trust me, basically."
There was a moment of brief hesitation before the battleship steeled herself.
"I am confidant that I can trust you, the human. But through the shard upon my body I can sense the influence of a Siren lingering like a bad smell, Alexander Curtis. Them I do not trust."
The male merely raised an eyebrow at that comment, Observer Zero seeming pleased as she remarked, "Merely a few days after the conversion process and the fledgling can already sense my presence. Impressive, perhaps I should reveal myself to her, if only to cement her faith that you are the rightful commander of them?"
Alexander hesitated for a moment, eventually deciding to table that option for later. He had enough on his plate at the moment with the imminent arrival of the Commander, the man and a few shipgirls already making their way through the bowels of his ship.
"He must have already been on his way, to be here so quickly…"
Warspite raised an eyebrow at his muttered comment, Alexander shaking his head as he more audibly explained, "The Commander is a few minutes out, we'll have to talk about this later."
"Agreed."
The duo fell silent, neither particularly feeling like carrying out a conversation as the minutes passed, the male lost in thought as he tried to get his thoughts in order and not focus on the saddening reality that he had, however inadvertently, caused quite the rift between him and the Royal Navy battlecruiser.
"The Commander...this should be quite the experience."
The Commander, as he was known the world over - likely as a result of his real name being covered in reams of black ink - was an almost mythological figure second only to the shipgirls he lead, the single human among all of the many occupying the planet who could command the loyalty of shipgirl and sailor alike with zero distinction found between them.
...Also the man who, more than any other aside from the Sirens themselves - who were still technically enemies at this point - could command the resources needed to avert the coming crisis.
The days leading up to their arrival at Azur Lane had been filled with the young man studying the colossal amounts of information he could find on the Sirens with as much detail as he could manage, the conclusions he'd been left with more than slightly terrifying.
"...of the metals, from what Vampire says she saw of the battle it stood up to Siren weaponry far more effectively than our own."
"I see. If we could find a way to produce even a single one of these technologies our war would become immeasurably more winnable. All of them at once a boon almost too good to be true."
"It's as you say, sir."
Hearing the professional words of Enterprise and gruff words of who Alexander felt assured was the Commander he took a deep breath, Warspite standing off to the side in a gesture that made it clear she wasn't a part of his faction...assuming he even had a faction to begin with.
The cadence of approaching footsteps grew louder and louder-
-until a group consisting of Enterprise, Belfast, Tirpitz, Shoukaku and Zuikaku in the company of a crisply uniformed military man strode onto the bridge, the male's eyes instantly latching onto the profile he wasn't familiar with.
The Commander was an austere man, navy uniform laundered and free of wrinkles as a middle-aged face carved from granite stared out from under the brim of an admiral's hat, Alexander feeling the cowing weight of that gaze despite the fact that with his new body he towered overhead and could probably kill the older man with a flick of his finger.
"So. Alexander Curtis, I presume?"
Snapping out of his meandering thoughts the younger man nodded from where he sat, replying, "That's me. It's an honor to meet the Commander himself in person."
Trying for a bit of humor in an otherwise tense and terrifying situation Alexander stated, "I already got to meet my idols, now you? I guess this package had some perks to it."
Resounding silence filled the bridge, the Siren male wincing as he muttered, "Right, I'll try to be serious from now on…"
The two Sakura carriers seemed more amused by his closing comment than the rest, lips quirking slightly before they noticed no one else was amused very much, returning to their prior stoicism.
"That would be appreciated. And allow me to clarify just a few things here...you can control this vessel much like the shipgirls do, yes?"
Alexander nodded, about to clarify that it wasn't a perfect method yet before being cut off by the following question.
"And you were human as of a few days ago, one of the dockworkers helping to offload the Wisdom Cubes, right?"
"Yeah, some Sirens came calling and-"
"You also affected some kind of change to Warspite, turning her into something not entirely shipgirl, human or Siren, correct?"
The girl in question downturned her head and averted her eyes almost imperceptibly, her shame and embarrassment clear to see for the entire room.
"...Yes. Although I would like to point out it was to save her life-"
"Perhaps most importantly, you've expressed a desire to aid us with both technology and information, things we've wished to obtain for many years now. Is this true."
"It is."
The Commander's eyes narrowed, steel tone grumbling out, "Then I suppose I just have to ask why? Why aid us, humanity? You're no longer a part of it. The Sirens aboard this ship and one hovering over your shoulder clearly follow your orders, why not join the winning side?"
"Join the side that killed my family, friends and razed my home to the ground? Let me flip the script, Commander...why do you keep fighting? Even some random nobody like me knows how badly the war has been going, how close to defeat we really are. Why even keep trying?"
The man didn't budge an inch at Alexander's irritated tone even as the shipgirls bristled at the disrespect and accusatory tone, calmly responding, "Because if I don't, who else will?"
A twisted smile appeared on the towering male's lips.
"Funny...my reasons are something along those lines. Whether it was through divine providence or blind fucking luck I'm now the one with this information and knowledge. And all that besides…"
Alexander's eyes flicked in the shipgirl's direction.
"My life was saved by Laffey during the Virginia coastline evacuations eight years ago. If nothing else, I want to repay that debt. And I can't repay it except by ensuring she survives this war."
For a time neither party seemed likely to break the staredown, both men gazing stonily into the other's eyes...and eventually the Commander tilted his head to the side, stating, "Walk with me."
Shrugging to himself Alexander made to follow-
"Alone, girls. If you would."
The group stiffened, Warspite immediately protesting, "Commander, his loyalty his ultimately still in question-"
"I can make it an order."
Dour expressions colored the expressions of the gathered young women, Belfast and Tirpitz being the first to recover as they sighed in unison, the Ironblood quietly commenting, "We're only concerned over your safety, Commander."
"And that's appreciated, but I wish to speak with this young man where only the two of us are present. If we're not back or you don't hear from me in twenty minutes, feel free to come in guns blazing."
They snapped off a round of salutes or bows, obedient but clearly reticent as Alexander privately marveled at how easily the older man commanded their loyalty as he rose from his seat, moving to walk alongside the military officer as he motioned for the Rigging to stay put.
"Lead the way, son. It's your boat, not mine."
Shrugging to himself Curtis lead the Commander to where the ship's aircraft bay was located, trying not to squirm as he felt a collection of baleful glares directed at his back.
It was only a few seconds once they were out of earshot of the shipgirls that the Commander chuckled.
"My condolences, son. I've seen good, strong men buckle under the attentions of a shipgirl before with all of their 'unique' quirks that come with the package. I don't envy you being the target of all of their interests."
Sighing quietly to himself Alexander wryly replied, "It's been a trying few days, sir. I'll say that much. Now why did you want to speak to me alone?"
They boarded one of the elevators trailing up and down the ship's length, affording the pair a clear look over Azur Lane in all of its glory as the sun began to embark on its trek towards midday.
"You said you knew the war was going badly, that it was almost certainly a losing venture. How much of that is just parroting what's been popularized and how much is factual detail?"
"Mostly just rumors and hearsay...but some of the records I've gleaned from the Sirens corroborate the theme that we're kinda fucked."
The Commander nodded, distantly replying, "Ten years ago, when Azur Lane was at the height of its strength and we had dozens upon dozens of shipgirls from every faction joining us, before the Sirens began their campaign...there were 303 shipgirls total across the globe."
The aged man clasped his hands behind his back.
"Now there are only 25, maybe a few more that are still on the run from the Iris Libre, Vichya Dominion, Northern Parliament, Sardegna Empire and Dragon Empery."
Alexander blinked. Then blinked again.
"Sorry...you did say 25, right?"
A sharp nod.
"Yes. The ones you traveled here with the addition of the four destroyers. Zuikaku, Aurora, Kawakaze, Admiral Hipper and Akashi are also on station. And the last group is on their way back from evacuating the Cape Verde, consisting of Queen Elizabeth, Essex, Nagato, I-13, U-81 and U-522."
A tender pause.
"That's it."
"That's...that's all?"
"Yes. To date the shipgirls have suffered a ninety-two percent casualty rate."
Alexander felt a wave of vertigo pass through him, having to place a hand on the elevator wall to steady himself.
"I...I didn't know it was this bad."
"It is that bad."
The young man shook his head, running a hand through his hair as he shakily asked, "How...how are they all still fighting? I never served, sure, but losing so many friends and comrades...isn't that crippling for any fighting force?"
The barest hints of a grim smile appeared on the Commander's features, tone contemplative as he asked, "Son, how much do you know about the shipgirls? And I'm not talking egghead jargon, I mean as people."
"Well...I'm learning. But I feel like there's so much more to them than I originally thought. I mean, the most exposure I ever had was Saratoga and Lexington's concerts and those are designed to be something else entirely."
"True. Let me tell you a little something about myself, an old man imparting a bit of wisdom that might help you understand where you stand in all of this."
The elevator smoothly came to a stop, the pair striding towards where a collection of maintenance drones were overseeing the repair of the ship's complement of fighter craft.
"I'm not a married man, son. And my family never approved of me joining the navy, we weren't on the best of terms even before a Siren blew them to hell. The military is the only family I've ever known."
The Commander gazed at a sleek and lethal-looking interceptor, free of propellers and stubby body design, armed with guided missiles and short range autocannons.
"So imagine my surprise and dismay when the secret military base I was given command of suddenly gives birth to young girls and ladies who's breadth of personality - and near uniform lack of proper military discipline - is matched only by their unnatural skill at combat."
His dark brown eyes took on a faraway tinge.
"Imagine getting to know those many different lasses in order to effectively mold them into a fighting force, grow attached to all of their various quirks and habits, come to consider them - despite long experience stating that this is a terrible idea - as the daughters and grandaughters you never had."
Alexander grimaced, having an idea where this was going.
"Now put yourself in my shoes, having to send nine out of ten of those wonderful ladies to watery graves and fiery demises because there's no other choice, no other way to - paradoxically - give them a future where they don't have to fight."
The Commander's hands tightened from where they were clasped behind his back.
"Think on how it must feel to watch almost every single one of them slip further and further into the depths of battle fatigue and shellshock. Oh, they're hardy girls, make no mistake...but as you said these are casualties on a whole different scale."
The taller male found himself nailed in place by the force of the Commander's gaze.
"I tell you this now so that you may better understand how dire of a situation we find ourselves in and expect you to hold it in confidence, is that clear?"
"Umm...yes, sir. But if you're referring to how they all seem out of it I've seen hints here and there."
A gnarled eyebrow rose in mock understanding.
"Oh? Hints, have you? Maybe you've seen Aurora spend as much of free time in her rose garden as she can, speaking to the flowers as if they were her sisters? And subsequently shutting down for a few hours if one of them wilts and dies?"
Uncomfortably shifting on his feet Alexander responded, "Well nothing that specific-"
"How about Hipper? She's always had a sharp tongue except now it's all the sharper, every hurtful comment unable to be stopped before she goes off to sob alone in some corner, regretting each and every caustic syllable because she barely has anyone left. What about Kawakaze? She was always reserved and fatalistic but had moments where she broke out of her shell, at least until most of the Sakura Empire mainland went up in flames and all she could do was watch hundreds of thousands die right alongside her sisters fighting to defend it. Now you're lucky if you can so much as get her to shift her tone's cadence. You said you were saved by Laffey years earlier, right? I suppose you didn't hear about the time she wanted to get drunk and forget it all so badly the Azur Lane staff found her trembling on the floor in a pile of her own-"
"Okay, okay! I...I fucking get it, alright?"
Alexander released a shaky breath, pinching the bridge of his nose before replying, "Shit's fucked, I get it. But I'm not a therapist, okay? I'm just some low-education guy that got picked at random to carry all this fucking knowledge and technology around like Christ's own cross. Why are you telling me this?"
The Commander shrugged, stating, "To provide context, so that you can understand this next statement in its entirety and accept the truth and honesty held within. I imagine you haven't received much in the way of a straight answer from anyone to date, have you?"
The taller male scowled, grumbling, "That's one way of putting it…"
"Well allow me to fix that. Alexander Curtis, what you are now and how you became it, the circumstances and trials you've undergone to arrive here at this very moment…"
The Commander tilted his head slightly.
"I couldn't give less of a shit."
That got a blank look from the former human.
"I don't care about you as a person or think much of your trials and tribulations. Your story of loss and tragedy is by no means unique or unusual and were it not for that twist of fate that gave you this ship and all it contains I wouldn't even know your name or particularly wish to."
The older man didn't so much as blink as he continued to meet Alexander's wide eyes.
"What I care about is what you are. And what you are is an opportunity. And opportunity for me to maybe, just maybe, turn the tables and give those poor girls some semblance of a future. Prove yourself to be that very thing, son, and you'll have every scrap and iota of support Azur Lane can muster."
For almost a minute the pair stared the other down...and eventually Curtis snorted in amusement, rubbing his eyes as he stated, "Call me crazy...but that's actually kinda reassuring, sir."
Grinning ruefully himself the Commander replied, "Humans are strange that way. We'll be far more comfortable with a certain tragedy than we will an uncertain joy."
Straightening himself Alexander replied, "In that case I'll start by making myself useful right away. How would you like to know about the Siren's ultimate goal in starting this war?"
The Commander blinked before a hungry desire for knowledge lit a fire in his eyes, mouth parting to reply in a no doubt affirmative tone-
[Commander, we're receiving a distress call from the separate task force! Patching it through!]
-and both men paused, the older of the two swiftly pulling out a portable radio - obviously of Siren origin, given its small size and portability - and listening intently, Alexander's enhanced hearing giving him an edge in that regard.
[Commander, this is HMS Queen Elizabeth reporting that Task Force 2 is under Siren assault. We are 1000 nautical miles from Azur Lane and humbly request assistance, enemy composition is six battleships, two carriers and seven cruisers, no other variants yet spotted, over.]
"Understood, Queen Elizabeth. Hold tight, we'll get you backup ASAP. Stay in the fight, over."
[Little else we can do at the moment, Commander.]
The regal and stately tone hesitated briefly, quickly adding, [Do make good speed...I doubt we shall last long at this rate and we are still quite some distance away.]
The Commander's face tightened at what was all too familiar parting words of the soon to be deceased, making to stride from the bridge...and noticed that Alexander was already gone.
"...Here's hoping you've got a plan, son."