Chapter 55: Renewed Hope (Part 14)

"Le Malin model 394, Tashkent model 433, prepare for battle!"

With simultaneous moans of pent up bliss both destroyers rose from where they had kneeled on the deck, faces flush and chests heaving as they nonetheless gazed at nothing with wide eyes, feeling the ever expanding roster of minds in the strange community they had going on welcome them with open arms.

"Kinda getting a little crowded in here."

With that idle thought Alexander grimaced as he felt a lingering bit of queasiness from yesterday's manifestation of Aegir and August, not at all helped by the constant influx of mental gymnastics and emotions brought on by the quick succession of retrofits he'd been carrying out.

…Also a minor bit of surgery on his spine to remove enough Wisdom Cube shards to properly carry everything out that wasn't helping.

"Perhaps you will reconsider my offer to have a pint or two? Nothing you're suffering can't be fixed with a strong beer."

"And speaking of the devil herself…"

"While Satan may have been associated with Dragons in the past I would prefer that you not refer to me as any kind of demon. Dragoness has a nice ring to it, does it not?"

"I advise you to merely listen and accept what my sister tells you, Familiar. She will not let it go otherwise."

Glancing at the pair of Ironblood shipgirls that seemed to enjoy hanging around in his orbit ever since he'd manifested them - Aegir resting on one the Bakunawa's railings while August primly sat upon her Rigging - Alexander snarked, "And as the summoner I get no say, right?"

"It's good that you understand these things~!"

"Alexander-sama is under no obligation to refer to you as anything he does not wish to. While his generosity is his own to give I would advise you to not push too far."

"Aaaaand now things are getting worrisome."

Shinano and Amagi had also been sticking close once he was up and running, the foxes offering the Ironblood duo looks that were equal parts steel and equal parts haughty confidence, the Aloadae wondering if they were about to get into a fight he was stuck in the middle of.

While the shipgirls may have been united for the most part once the war against the Sirens had really gotten underway it was no secret that the early days had been full of tension and rivalry…tension and rivalry that was apparently centered around him now.

What a world.

"Easy does it there, why don't we all take a page from Émile's book and forget about inter-faction rivalries and such?"

He pointed to where the cruiser had scooped up both Le Malin and Tashkent into a large and affectionate hug, rubbing her cheek against theirs as both destroyers looked equal parts embarrassed and annoyed at the movements.

"Hmm…like this?"

Experiencing a major sense of trepidation as Aegir walked towards the pair of Sakura with a sway to her hips his worries were proven true a moment later as the Ironblood slipped behind the foxes, one hand each cupping a rather sizable bust before juggling them up and down, Shinano blinking rapidly as a cute blush adorned her pale skin while Amagi just narrowed her eyes, promptly slapping away Aegir's hand while her tails did the same to the smirking woman's face.

"...I can see how you're related to Prinz Eugen."

"A compliment I will most graciously receive."

Pretending he hadn't just seen a wondrous and truly blessed sight Alexander turned his gaze away from the incoming quarrel to where the rest of the shipgirls were amicably chatting and comparing notes on their retrofits…only to find Jean Bart staring at him with a baleful gaze, obviously unimpressed with his little showing as she radiated displeasure into their little mind meld thing.

"Oops."

Setting aside the feisty battleship for the moment he instead looked to the others, inwardly relieved that so far everything had been going off without a hitch. Émile, Tashkent, Sovetskaya, Chao Hao, Ying Swei, Le Malin, Jean Bart and the two subs had undergone the process with no adverse effects beyond the usual confusion that came with the deluge of mental voices and sensations that accompanied it. All that was left was Jeanne d'Arc and they would be finished, ready to begin whatever new plan of battle the Commander was cooking up.

"Although there remain a bunch of questions that need answering…"

First and foremost being how Aegir and August's mental connection worked exactly. A brief check of the link suggested it was much the same as the rest of the shipgirls - they could even reach out to the rest of their sisters like any other - but testing such a weird and barely understood practice was…difficult.

Hell, it was still a bit of an open ended question whether they could communicate as they could because of electronic implants, a strange resonance between the Wisdom Cubes or some other unknown trick.

On the less confusing side was the matter of Amagi and Shinano's vessels. A quick survey by cleanup crews after the fact had found a series of lifts and other devices that - with careful use - could transport the wounded vessels to open waters before being escorted back to Azur Lane or a suitably equipped naval base for repairs.

"It's nice that I don't have to have the Bakunawa spend more time upgrading various vessels, there's a shopping list miles long of other things we need to do."

[On a somewhat related note, master, I believe I have discovered a solution to Amagi's sickness.]

"...What?"

"Did you say something, Alexander-sama?"

"Er, no, sorry."

Quickly marching away to make it look like he was busy reading one of the ship's nearby computer screens he hurriedly asked, "Already? I thought it would take more time than that."

[That was my initial approximation as well, master. But the recent influx of mental connections of every variety has provided a few key insights into how a solution may be reached.]

"Well go on then."

Openly intrigued with TB's sudden words he waited with bated breath, the AI explaining, [The dissonance between Amagi's manifestation and the process in which her Wisdom Cube carried out said summoning was previously an unsolvable problem, as there existed no way to alter or correct such a poorly understood process. But with your repeated usage of Wisdom Cube fragments to forge connections and unprecedented pathways between yourself and the shipgirls I may have a solution.]

"Which is?"

[Implant your shards into her body and establish a deep rapport through the mental link you have already established with several other shipgirls, although it will likely have to be a tier or so higher in intensity. Once accomplished, I can use the knowledge inherently stored in the Wisdom Cubes to repair Amagi's body to its healthier and complete baseline.]

Alexander grinned, feeling a welcome surge of triumph…and paused, warily asking, "Couple questions. Is this 'healthier baseline' going to affect her mind or something? Perform a factory reset?"

[Afforde me some credit, master.]

Sheepishly smiling at TB's exasperated response the Aloadae continued with, "Okay, then what about this 'deep connection'? To be totally honest I have no idea what that means or how it can be done."

[You have already experienced it once, master. When Shinano communicated through what you would call a 'dream state' that was an example of a deep connection. With her Wisdom Cube's unique ability to resonate and reach out to other Cubes spread out across reality she will be able to facilitate a link between the two of you.]

"Neat."

[...]

"...How is that going to happen?"

[Obviously she will have to rest alongside both you and Amagi, master. Sleeping with shipgirls should be an easy enough task for you, will it not?]

Alexander blinked several times in quick succession.

"TB, did you just sass me?"

An awkward cough left the AI as she hurriedly replied, [T-that is your imagination, master. And nothing else.]

"Look, I really don't like the idea of someone I'm heavily relying on who's also jacked into my spine having issues with something I've done. Is this about the sex? Because that was-"

Something that sounded like a squeak left the AI before she hurriedly replied, [I-it was nothing of that sort, master! Regardless you should bring this to the attention of Amagi and Shinano as soon as possible, I will now return to my other duties!]

And just like that the AI was gone, Alexander blinking and wondering if this was something he should be worried about.

"Then again, why did I think being the meat of a shipgirl sandwich several slices deep was going to be simple? I guess the harem life has its dues to pay."

"The screen is blank."

"Yeah, I know. I wasn't-holy shit!"

Almost jumping as Tashkent suddenly appeared at his side - small smirk decorating her lips at his surprise - he felt an equally small body leap up and hang off his shoulders, Vampire teasing, "Oh? Pretending to fantasize about thy wives by pretending to work? Thou deception need work, eh heh heh~!"

"When did you get here?"

Glancing over his shoulder he found ruby eyes facing him with a fake pout adorning a doll-like face, Vampire protesting, "Since the beginning, you lout! How cruel, to ignore thy mistresses in favor of technological pursuits."

"Considering I was talking to TB, not too far off the mark."

To his relief most of the other shipgirls hadn't joined in on his humiliation, instead chatting with Enterprise and Essex as the pair had arrived to see how the retrofits were going, Jeanne's vessel already waiting to enter the Bakunawa's repair bays as the pair of destroyers carefully exited. Only Le Malin was nearby, hanging by Tashkent's side as she didn't bother trying to hide a yawn, clearly past the initial excitement of the whole process.

"On the subject of technological pursuits-"

"Nice change of subject."

"-how are you two holding up? Anything strange you can sense or feel?"

"Other than the fact you almost made us cum during the process? What's up with that?"

Giving Tashkent a dull look while Le Malin blushed and Vampire giggled he dryly replied, "If I knew I would fix it. Less accusations like this one that way."

"I don't know…I think you might just enjoy seeing stuff like that."

"Ha! You've fallen into my trap!"

"Why settle for simply watching when I can do this with an already lovely girl?"

Briefly shifting his weight he swung Vampire around his neck while looping an arm around her trim waist, pressing it against his body as he drew the destroyer into a heated kiss which she was predictably happy to return, moaning pleasantly as she wrapped her legs around his waist.

…Well, tried to. She was on the smaller side and Zero had apparently juiced him up with lots and lots of those new protein shakes that had just started circulating the settlements. Not that he was complaining, since Vampire's legs and the body part they lead to was very nice to feel on his body.

Pulling away from the eager destroyer he gave Tashkent a pointed look, the parliament destroyer briefly averting her eyes with an annoyed expression while Le Malin just stared with a dumbfounded gaze.

"Point taken, show off."

"Tis not rather cruel to take advantage of a maiden's affections like so, Alexander~? To merely treat her heart as a trophy to display?"

Vampire's imminent demanding for compensation was put on hold as Belfast magically appeared from nowhere, Alexander noting that the other shipgirls already had freshly made sandwiches in their hands courtesy of the maid's efforts.

"While she may not be present at the moment, Vampire, I doubt her majesty would appreciate such open displays of affection."

"Pah, her majesty hath experienced pleasure just as debased as mine own. Little ground to stand on when thy pussy hath been split by such a wonderous cock~!"

"Vampire? I'm still technically at work, can you not get me worked up like that?"

"What happened to this place?"

Le Malin's disbelieving mutter almost made the man laugh but Belfast was quick to intervene, deftly balancing her tray of snacks on one hand while the other pinched Vampire's ear, the destroyer yelping in protest.

"Manners, Vampire. Now please enjoy a refreshing meal. I made extra for you, master Alexander. After your conversation I believed you would have need of additional energy for later in the day."

"Thanks, I can-"

His hand stopped halfway to what looked like a turkey sandwich, cosmic horror seeping into his veins as the cruiser's words sank in.

"My…my conversation?"

Seeming to relish in his unease Belfast blissfully replied, "Oh yes, I was quite surprised to hear you speak so…candidly about such sensitive topics."

"No, it's impossible. Unmöglich. Nevozmozhno. Muridayo. HOW DID SHE KNOW WHAT I WAS TALKING TO TB ABOUT?!"

"Oh, umm…yeah, that's nice. What was I, uhh…talking about?"

A cold sweat broke out on his brow, Belfast taking an inordinate amount of pleasure in his lack of composure.

"Why, your exploits in the bedroom, of course. A maid hears all, master Alexander. And while I hold no ill will to your inclinations and actions I do advise you to be more mindful of who may be listening in."

The Aloadae stared at the maid, processing what she had just said…and smiled the smile of salvation.

Turns out she wasn't god after all.

"I agree with that, Belfast. And you're absolutely right."

Taking a sandwich and taking a satisfied bite - handing one off to Vampire as the destroyer slipped off his body - he took no small amount of satisfaction in the way Belfast seemed to lose some of her smugness, instead blinking rapidly.

"Oh? May I ask if there are any corrections to my assumption, master Alexander? It seems there is more to this story."

"What's there to discuss? You summarized it fully and completely with no flaw to be found anywhere."

"I insist. A maid's duty is to be of utmost use to their master and not understanding the entire picture is a grave crime."

"Oh don't worry, you're just overreacting. As always you did your job without fail and to the best of your abilities."

It was taking a great deal of effort not to laugh at the cruiser's growing agitation, even going so far as to narrow her eyes and lose some of the elegant posture she'd sported previously, leaning forward like a sports enthusiast about to break out into a charge.

"Far be it from a mere maid to accuse their employer of any grievances but I cannot help notice that you seem oddly attached to the concept of withholding information at such a crucial juncture."

"A most heinous accusation, Belfast. Since when have I ever been able to hide anything from you?"

One pretty eye twitched with almost miniscule signs of irritation, an utterly false smile adorning her lips as she bowed low, responding, "An excellent point, master Alexander. Naturally, I will endeavor to ascertain if that is the case. Good day."

With that she snatched the half-eaten sandwich from his hands and strode off like a retreating tempest, skirt billowing in the slight breeze from the open repair bay as the Alodae blinked in surprise.

"Is she gone?"

Vampire peeked out from behind his legs, the normally playful and flirty attitude she wore replaced with wary caution.

"Yeah. Why?"

Ruby eyes gazed into his own with something approaching pity and existential horror.

"Thou has woke the Kraken."

"Sorry, what?"

The destroyer departed without another word, truly weirding the man out as he turned to Tashkent and Le Malin, the duo having watched the proceedings with keen interest.

"Was it something I said?"

The Vichya destroyer quietly replied, "There is a rumor that, during the initial years of the shipgirl's summonings there was significant strife in the Royal Navy, what with Elizabeth attempting to exert her influence while significant pushback came from human leaders. Most accounts recall that when Belfast tried to bridge the gap she was constantly rebuffed by the SOE until she took matters into her own hands."

Trying to ignore the general sensation of a rattlesnake eying his sack as a target of opportunity Alexander said, "Okay…and?"

"She made the Maid Corps."

"...So the last time someone knowingly kept Belfast out of the loop she founded the premiere intelligence agency in the world?"

"Yup."

"...Shit."

Tashkent seemed to be having entirely too much fun at his expense, the Parliament shipgirl all smiles while even Le Malin seemed to be trying to hide her amusement, the Aloadae releasing a heavy sigh in the process.

"Well, I decided to poke the bear. Now if you'll excuse me I need to talk to Amagi and Shinano before they get into a fight with Aegir and August that will cause property damage up the ass."

"Yeah, you do that."

He didn't grace the tiny girl's gleeful words with a response. Mostly because he was trying to salvage whatever pride he had left.

"After so long…we have finally returned to bear witness to your magnificence."

Overcome with a hundred different emotions all Nagato could do was lightly brush her hand against the Sacred Sakura, the warm and weathered bark feeling familiar and reassuring beneath her fingers as she allowed the perpetual breeze that had always surrounded the magnificent lifeform to suffuse her senses, ancient scents and comforting aromas invigorating her soul as she gazed upwards, trying to retain her composure.

Time and occupation had taken its toll on the enormous tree. One of the Sakura navy's fiercest points of resistance had been around the Sacred Sakura, many of her sisters and their human comrades falling in battle to ensure its sanctity remained untouched. And while the Sirens hadn't bothered directly firing on the Sakura it was inevitable that munitions and other weapons had scored and scarred its trunk. Add in the years they had been forced to abandon their patron and it was undeniable that the trees' eternally blossoming petals were a bit more barren than they used to be, fluttering downwards in limp and confused arcs rather than the elegant dances they once performed. The wind sporadic and unpredictable even if it was familiar. The unwelcome tinge of gunsmoke and metal to the more natural aromas that pervaded the area.

"How many sisters now decorate the bottom of these waters? How many brave Sakura soldiers?"

She knew Kasumi and Mutsu had fought and been sunk here - the memory of her dearest sister a painful one even all these years later - but many others had also rushed to reinforce them, the last few weeks of battle confusing and chaotic in the extreme.

"Lady Nagato?"

Snapping out of her ruminations she found Kawakaze standing nearby, affixing her with a worried expression as the battleship quickly shook her head, reassuring her companion with, "It's alright…just thinking, is all. Something I imagine we're all doing at the moment."

"Mmm."

The non-committal hum was confirmation enough that the destroyer was once again at ease, her attention drawn as the waters next to them briefly shivered before I-25 and 26 burst through the surface, dripping wet but expressions triumphant as the tan-skinned sub cheered, "Great news, Empress~! Guess who managed to somehow survive everything?"

As if summoned by the shipgirl's words a stream of Koi fish began circling the pair, both of them giggling as the fish gently nibbled on their skin.

"A pitched battle and complete abandonment but they're still surviving just fine! Colors got a little more muted, though."

Kawakaze nodded, promptly explaining, "When in the wild Koi will quickly regain more natural colors so as not to stand out to predators."

"Heh heh, of course the resident fishing guru knows her stuff~!"

"You're always so knowledgeable about these sorts of things, Kawakaze."

The destroyer awkwardly looked away from the sub pair, unused to the praise as I-13 popped up a moment later, mood a bit more subdued as she shook her head clear of water.

"Yeah, that's Ryuujou down there, Empress. She must have come running at the last moment."

Nagato sighed, nodding in weary acceptance of the news. While most of their sisters had been accounted for when they fell some had merely been assumed to have fallen at certain points in the conflict, their demise or survival unconfirmed. Ryuujou had been thought to have perished in defense of the Sacred Sakura but this was merely grim confirmation of the fact.

"Umm, Lady Nagato? We've got an unwelcome visitor, nya."

Blinking at Akashi's trepidatious tone as the inventor pulled herself away from taking samples of the Sacred Sakura's bark she followed her comrade's gaze, instantly fighting back the urge to openly scowl at what she saw.

While hundreds of soldiers, sailors and pilgrims alike from the first wave of both rescued denizens and the returning crowds had flooded the Sacred Sakura after it had been officially reclaimed - their vessels floating in formation while people filled the wooden walkways to capacity - an entirely new and unmarred ship of civilian design escorted by two of the new fleet elements pulled into the Sakura's bay, deploying walkways as Nagato had an all too certain idea of who it might be.

She just hadn't expected him to actually enter a potential combat zone, even with most resistance assumedly stamped out.

"Ooh, hey, isn't that prime minister Sakamoto? Cool, we have the whole group together again!"

I-26 began to raise her arms for an enthusiastic wave as the man descended, flanked by four honor guards-

-and halted, noticing the stony expressions on Nagato, Kawakaze, I-13 and Akashi's faces.

"Did, uhh…something happen while we were gone?"

The battleship heaved a tired sigh, allowing herself to freely express emotions while she still could, a safe distance from any prying eyes.

"He was…changed, by the war. Or perhaps it would be more accurate to say he did not change."

"Oh."

Both subs grimaced, I-26 sadly murmuring, "He always seemed like a polite man."

And wasn't that the truth? When Nagato had become Empress Sakamoto had been the perfect candidate to run the Empire alongside her, a conservative and administrative focused man who had been more focused on bettering the Sakura Empire than any other nation. An excellent balance to her more global interests.

It was only once the Sirens had begun to earn overwhelming victories that Sakamoto's deficiencies in the role that had once seemed like blessings became apparent. The Sakura could not stand alone yet he acted as if they could. Nor could they afford conservative strategies when refusing to take action and sticking to what they knew would only leave them dead in short order.

…By the time Nagato had begun to truly realize the man's faults she had been forced into the war full time, unable to remove him when he had made himself appear an indispensable part of the war effort.

By hiding inland within a sheltered bunker, safe from what was assumed to be even the most dedicated of Siren assaults.

"Do you want us to leave then? It might be easier for you to talk to him alone…"

I-26's hesitant words caused the battleship to smile, grateful more than words could ever describe that her companion's didn't question her recounting of events, holding utmost faith in her judgment.

She would have to return that in kind.

"Yes, there's no need for you to be held captive with this boring talk. Go and speak with our fellows who have finally returned home, no doubt they wish to shower you with praise."

While they were clearly a bit hesitant in leaving her behind the group eventually did as she requested, only Kawakaze staying behind and clearly daring Nagato to say otherwise.

Not that she did. The white fox was dutiful and attentive to a fault.

Instead she merely waited for Sakamoto to arrive, projecting serene grace as the man's quartet of guards peeled off as they drew near, all of them meeting Kawakaze's neutral gaze with obvious challenge as she returned the favor.

"Remnants of humans that still object to our presence? I don't know why I expected better of him than that."

There were no customary greetings shared between them, no bows or rituals exchanged as an implicit understanding that they would be wasted became apparent. While some traditions would be observed others had no place in this meeting.

"After all this time the Sacred Sakura remains strong and hale. Battered and bent on the outside - some former majesty lost - but possessing still the capacity to return to its former heights."

An enigmatic smile graced the man's features.

"I'm reminded of the old conundrum if the Sakura takes after its people or we take after it."

"Who's to say we did not arrive at a consensus together?"

"Ah. Always quick to share the glory and rewards, Empress Nagato. That is one of your defining characteristics, after all."

"One that won us many allies. I consider it a boon, all things considered."

The smile adorning the man's lips thinned.

"You would downplay your part in this momentous occasion?"

"Downplay? Never. Humility is a fine virtue until it ignores reality. Yet the reality is that it was the Sakura's many allies that allowed us to retake our ancestral lands, their arms and soldiers fighting alongside our own."

"One can't help but wonder if the Sakura would have fallen had we not bound ourselves to Azur Lane and the world at large."

This time it was Nagato's turn to display a brittle smile.

"Not as quickly. Although I say with complete certainty we would have died alone."

"I was under the impression that viewing the future was the providence of only one of our own, Empress."

Nagato made sure her hands were hidden within the depths of her sleeves, in case they needed to clench.

"One who is conspicuously absent, despite her rescue. The Oracle is one of the Sakura's most important treasures, her return would be invaluable in allowing our people to return to a semblance of comfort and familiarity, what with the absence of foretellings over the past years."

"And here we arrive at the crux of the matter once again. Always a yearning for a return to the past, to familiar and comfortable circumstances no matter how far gone and unattainable they may be. And no matter what the expense is to those that stand in the way of it."

"Lady Shinano is still recovering from her time under the thrall of a Siren. She both wishes and will return to her previous duties…but not as they once were. And not if the strain causes her to break."

A terse silence fell between them, the previous statement no double speak or idle passing along of the subject…it was plain and simply stated, no possibility of misunderstandings or misinterpretations.

"You would put the needs of the individual above the needs of the many?"

"A rather baseless accusation, seeing as of the two of us I have both fought and led. Fought and reclaimed our ancestral homeland, who's patron deity we now stand before in equal judgment."

She turned to face the man, appearing every bit his equal if not greater despite her stature.

"I wonder which it finds lacking?"

As if in response to that challenge a fresh breeze brought a swirl of petals between them, a collection of the flowers randomly bouncing off of the human while they all but embraced Nagato with hypnotic elegance, falling gently at her feet.

It promptly brought a displeased curl to Sakamoto's lip.

"It seems, as always, you rely on the strength of others."

"It seems, as always, you rely on the delusion of your own."

"Any more of a delusion than wagging your tail at a Siren made manifest like Curtis? What possessed you to think being so close with one such as that will bring about any good for our people-"

"You overstep your bounds, Ichigo!"

A cold expression colored Sakamoto's features, the man stiffly bowing with the absolute minimum of respect allowed at Nagato's sharp retort as he drolly stated, "By your leave, Empress," before departing without actually waiting for permission.

"...It seems the Commander was more accurate than we anticipated. Events and the world order are rapidly shifting and those that live within will have to pick a side."

Releasing a pent up breath and her anger with it the battleship barely noticed Kawakaze silently take up residence at her side, electing to once more gaze up at the calmly blowing petals of the Sacred Sakura.

"Perhaps this war will last us for many generations to come."