Chapter 67: Armageddon (Part 1)

"Have you not received word from Azur Lane or any other fleets?!"

[Nothing thus far, Empress! Everywhere is under attack as best we can tell!]

Gritting her teeth and forcing herself to remain calm despite what was quickly turning into a desperate and bewildering struggle where no one seemed to be certain of anything Nagato cooly explained, "Keep trying and launch every scout and interception craft we possess, if more conventional weapons than the ones we currently face arrive it will fall upon you to defend our homeland."

[Understood, Empress! Over and out!]

The radio clicked off, the battleship immediately giving her full attention to the ongoing aerial defense as another ground shaking BOOM heralded the arrival of yet more Old Siren weapons, Kawakaze immediately firing off a barrage of missiles that flew into the expanding cloud of radiation and smoke, illuminating the sickly formations before their engine contrails were swallowed up by sheer thickness as Nagato grimly kept her cannons prepped, Akashi having jury rigged in record time a truly astonishing array of CIWS and point-defense weapons atop her hull so that it resembled a metal cactus more than it did a vessel of war.

Neither of them had given voice to the grim fact that should another Shinsei-style weapon get within range of her ad hoc collection of guns it would essentially be too late to stop it, the sheer power of such a warhead meaning its subsequent destruction would annihilate them as well. They had been fortunate that Kawakaze's missile arrays had been able to blunt the first strike but her ever faithful attendant had expended her store of the munitions, leaving only much shorter range warheads at their disposal. Her three sub companions also had little to offer and she had ordered them to stay a safe distance away, despite their vehement protests.

"Lady Nagato, another one has broken through!"

"R-radiation sensors are going crazy, nya! That's another Shinsei!"

Steeling herself the battleship immediately sighted her guns on two descending missile contrails - one higher up already flashing into blinding incandescence as Kawakaze hit her mark - as she paused only long enough to get a proper target lock and recite a short prayer, knowing full well she was about die.

"A pity, I suppose I can only hope that Alexander won't be heartbroken about our passing…"

She silenced the melancholy thoughts with a roar of cannonfire, her vessel exploding with the fury of an erupting volcano as the two warheads were disabled in short order, engines destroyed and spiralling out of control as the Shipgirl closed her eyes, awaiting the light and fire that would consume her body-

…

And was left waiting, eyelids briefly reddening as she blinked in quick succession, the pair of nuclear explosions that should have killed her instead occurring several kilometers away, the distinctive mushroom clouds ballooning upwards as if they had simply been pushed aside.

"How…"

"Lady Nagato, was that…you?"

Kawakaze's rare bewilderment matched the battleship's own, tone uncertain as she replied, "If it was I know not how I did so, did anyone-"

Sakura petals brushed across the Shipgirl's face, Nagato blinking as a gentle wind and creak of bark emanated from the Sacred Sakura, the venerable tree still swaying despite the destruction that had been suddenly visited upon it for the past hour, all the Empress able to do was bow her head and slowly murmur, "Arigato," before wondering just how the lifeform had managed to warp two nuclear blasts so far away in the blink of an eye.

That was a power she would have attributed only to the most powerful and esoteric of Siren technology and quite frankly there was nothing else in the immediate vicinity that could have done so.

"W-we're alive, nya! I used up all nine of my liiiiiiives!"

"Strangeness aside…Lady Nagato, the Old Siren assault seems to have run its course, no further missiles are inbound and the Basilica is reported to have been destroyed."

"Does that mean it's safe to come out now?"

Breathing a sigh of relief as they had somehow lived through the day and had a miracle performed right in front of them - one they were going to have to explore as soon as possible - Nagato nodded, stating, "Everyone resume normal operations, see to the aid of those who need it and ensure that no further assaults are incoming. And make certain that those who remain in this area know the dangers of radiation fallout, they should evacuate as soon as possible."

She received a wave of acknowledgements, her sisters resuming their duties despite the calamitous attack that had just hit them as Nagato looked on in pride, her five fellow Sakurans doing the name proud.

It also gave her the privacy needed to slump against one of her turrets, letting loose a shaky sigh as the adrenaline and rush of the battle and what she had assumed would be her death hit hard and hit suddenly.

"I think this war cannot end quickly enough. Hopefully our hair cannot turn gray due to stress."

Fully prepared to allow herself a few uninterrupted minutes of calm and relative relaxation that hope was quickly dashed to pieces as her shipboard radio - the one connected to the Human base nearby - began to incessantly chime, the Shipgirl regretfully sighing before picking up the line, stating, "You have news?"

[Prime Minister Sakomoto is requesting audience with you, Empress. He awaits your leisure.]

Frowning at an interruption she did not want to deal with at the best of times Nagato sharply retorted, "My leisure will not accommodate him at this time, relay that message if you would be so kind."

[He…said it has to do with the destruction of Azur Lane, Empress.]

Those words took a moment to process, the woman hearing but not comprehending them-

-and immediately rose to her feet, casting her mind towards the rest of her kin since they had muted the connection during the assault so as not to be distracted…and violently flinched, the outpouring of grief and aimless fury causing her stomach to drop.

"What…what happened?"

"Check it again."

[Master, there's nothing to check. And you need to withdraw from the connection. Purifier, Zero and myself will be able to handle the evacuation and recycling of what's left of Azur Lane. You risk cerebral hemorrhaging with repeated usage of the Bakunawa's systems from such a distance away-]

"Check again. If there's even the slightest-"

[The Commander was in his office at the time of the strike, coordinating the island defenses. The horizontal force of the explosion destroyed all but the most distant coastline installations and the vertical force reached to the island's bedrock. He is gone, Master.]

Before he could insist otherwise he felt TB forcefully shut down the link he shared with the Bakunawa, shoved back into his body and the raging migraine that came with it, blood freely trickling from his eyes in a crude facsimile of tears…or maybe that wasn't the mental strain and just the emotional cocktail he was subjected to upon return.

Grief. Hopelessness. Uncertainty. Aimless rage. Everything a child might feel when their parents or guardians are ripped away from them, left to take on the world with only their limited experience and skills.

He would know, he'd experienced the same.

"Alexander, is there…"

Meeting Ying Swei's worried expression - even Chao Ho looking more than a little terrified by his state - the Aloadae could only shake his head, jaw clenched as both Shipgirls once more returned to a sort of subdued uncertainty, gazes distant and postures shrunken.

…They were some of the more composed members of their little fleet, along with the rest of their comrades that had been rescued from the North. Everyone else?

He imagined it was a bit like what he'd been feeling during the siege of Azur Lane, already despondent mood plummeting even further at that thought.

"Have we received any word from…anyone?"

"Not yet. Lady Nagato and the rest are still alive but it seems as if she is engaged in conversation with the other Sakura leadership. The same is true for Admirals Harrison, Elias and Kirill. I don't know why they're so busy talking to everyone else but us, it's like no one even cares…"

The uncharacteristically frightened and anxious words from Chao Ho had Alexander sightlessly staring off into nothing, at a complete and total loss of what to say or do…and forced himself to roll to his feet, fighting through the wave of dizziness and nausea that accompanied the action as the Empery sisters yelped, Ying Swei protesting, "Alexander, you just suffered-"

"If I'm right about what's happening then we don't have any time to waste, I can rest once this is all said and done. Where's Belfast? My head is sort of killing me right now and I can't focus well enough to track her down."

"I, I believe she's with Enterprise on the command deck, why do you-"

Without further explanation Alexander marched off, gritting his teeth as tears not filled with blood leaked from his eyes due to the sheer agony that felt like someone had decided to excavate his skull with a rusty chainsaw…but it could wait. Last time he'd been the one that had been picked up by the Shipgirls, put back together when he was flying to pieces.

It was about time he repaid the favor, no matter how much it hurt.

A quick and agony-filled jog to the command bridge had him arriving upon a scene that quickly took the wind out his sails, both Enterprise and Belfast standing hand in hand as they stared out in the direction of where Azur Lane would be out on the horizon, the rest of the fleet aimlessly drifting about as a few roiling smoke clouds courtesy of the half-hearted missile barrage they'd weathered moved onward. Their reflections in the window weren't of any comfort either, both Shipgirls sporting raw and bloody gazes filled with loss as he forced himself to be the voice of cold and brutal necessity, even if it rankled like sandpaper against his soul.

"Belfast, do you have a way to contact Alice no matter where she is?"

There was no immediate response, the cruiser listlessly gazing into nothing.

"Belfast!"

That got her attention, the maid blinking away tears that hadn't even had a chance to dry as she seemed to finally recognize his features, worriedly asking, "Alexander, you-"

"It can wait, it looks worse than it is. Do you have a way to contact Alice?"

"Y-yes, do you need her for something?"

"I do."

A few uncharacteristic moments of silence and indecision, Belfast eventually nodding as she reached into uniform, withdrawing one of his newly created communicators before fiddling with it for a few seconds, soft chimes filling the room before a tense voice answered with, [You called, Head Maid? My apologies, but this communication will have to be short, things are…confused, at the moment.]

Stepping forward Alexander requested, "Alice, this is Alexander. Is President Forbin talking to Admiral Harrison right now?"

[Yes, I was unable to hear the specifics of their conversation but in the wake of the missile strikes it seems they are discussing the topic of future leadership and the course of the war.]

There was a tender pause.

[Loudly discussing.]

"Okay, here's what I need you to do. Get Forbin to end the call so we can talk with Harrison and then get out of there as fast as you can. I don't care what or how you accomplish those, just do it."

[...Head Maid?]

"...Yes, do as he says. Thank you, Alice."

The line clicked shut without further ado, Belfast and Enterprise staring at him warily as he released a deep sigh, ordering, "TB? Prep four missiles on the Bakunawa, bunker busters. And see if you can get Admirals Harrison, Elias and Kirill on conference call."

[Of course, master.]

"Alexander? What are you doing?"

Enterprise's dazed words had the Aloadae steeling himself for the future events, evenly replying, "What the Commander would have wanted. Belfast, try and get Elizabeth to show up on the call we'll be having with the Admirals. Enterprise? Move everyone else into one location, they'll want to be a part of this. I'll try and reach Nagato."

Both Shipgirls stared sightlessly at him, the male feeling a swell of regret at how obviously shattered they were by this disaster and how they didn't have the luxury of processing it.

"Understood."

They too departed without a backwards glance, still clinging to each other's hands as he ran a hand through his hair, ignoring how crusted it was with sweat or how the action felt like he was adding another drumbeat to his pounding head.

"Guess today is the day I kill another Human."

[And you're sure he's dead?"

"Yeah. He's gone."

[...Always kind of figured he'd outlive us all, simply from sheer stubbornness.]

Elias' gruff and exhausted words matched the mood of the room, their little fleet having gathered in a larger meeting room on Enterprise's vessel, the three Admirals managing to join the conversation along with Nagato, one hour after the last missile had fallen.

…His worry about the mental state of the Shipgirls had only gotten worse, though. Aimless despondency was the order of the day and even Elizabeth - headstrong and domineering as she was - seemed defeated, pressed into his side and only half paying attention to what was happening.

[So what's the point of this call, Curtis? Believe it or not we're busy at the moment.]

The Aloadae figured Kirill knew exactly what he was calling about but wanted to properly get the attention of the Shipgirls, Alexander stating, "I take it you were all contacted by your respective governments? About who was going to be in charge?"

[Essentially. The President was quite insistent that we more 'amicably and completely' join forces and strategy with the Sakura, Royals and Ironbloods, because obviously we weren't doing that beforehand. It's pretty clear that they want to direct all strategy and allocation of resources going forward.]

[I was informed similarly by Prime Minister Johnson of this directive, conveniently sidestepping Her Majesty entirely.]

Said Battleship stiffened from where she leant against the Aloadae, Nagato coldly adding, [Prime Minister Sakamoto spoke of the same topic. I assume this is the time we take matters into our own hands?]

The Empress' anger and frustration with the current situation was more than evident in how she seemed eager for them to pull the trigger, Kirill gravely stating, [Then we are in agreement, then? We are to begin our coup?]

More than a few gazes were directed Belfast's way, the maid drawing herself out of her funk as Elizabeth in particular looked on with great interest, her words the proverbial nail in the coffin as she stated, "The Maid Corps have assured me that all the necessary infrastructure is in place and that they have already crafted lines of communication between our staff and more local leadership. All that remains…"

Even through her own grief she gave Alexander a regretful gaze.

"Is for the current governments to be removed."

He merely nodded, instead directing the screens they were sharing to display the real issue facing them down.

"While that's settled we have to tackle the next problem and the more dire one."

An enormously uncomfortable and worrying image showed itself, the destroyed Basilica a mere pinprick of smoke and ash compared to the enormous metallic ring that now surrounded it, water flowing in through several inlets and swirling downwards into what could only be best described as a portal of some kind, space warped into a strange and alien landscape almost sixteen kilometers in diameter.

There was a brief surge of grief and concern from the Shipgirls at the sight of the Basilica but no one was under the impression that its destruction hadn't been for the better, Richelieu and Algérie's fates having to be put on hold for the sake of their survival.

"While we're still figuring out just what this thing is capable of or what it's function will ultimately be the current theory is that it's a portal or highway to an Old Siren base where they're going to begin a full scale invasion of this reality. The missile strike was something they've been working towards for a while now and while we're still alive it ultimately did its job."

Harrison grunted, growling, [Seems like a fair assessment. If what those Neo Sirens are saying is accurate and our initial damage assessments are correct then we basically lost every bit of infrastructure that would facilitate large-scale reinforcement of these modern technologies. What we have on hand is what we're going to have to use to destroy this thing.]

"Which is bad news. Take a look at its armament."

A more close up image revealed at least sixty railcanons of similar - if not greater - tonnage than the coastal guns that had been at Azur Lane, evenly placed around the perimeter of the structure while countless shield emitters, missile silos and CIWS systems complimented them.

"While the Neo Sirens are prepared to have Orario fire on it once it's recharged it seems doubtful that they would show their hand if it couldn't handle being hit by the thing, the same goes for our remaining Shinsei. The only real option we have is to gather all our forces and hit it from one side, taking what losses we suffer."

No one looked particularly enthused by that option, the Aloadae continuing with, "On the good news, however…preliminary scans reveal the energy signatures of 357 Wisdom Cubes and counting, up to 400 if the current pattern and placement continues."

For the first time the Shipgirls seemed to perk, life and drive returning to their demeanors as he stated, "We might not even necessarily need to destroy the thing if we can get inside and take out its power source, also allowing us to replenish our numbers."

[But there remains the problem of actually getting inside that behemoth. And do we have any sort of timetable for when the invasion will begin?]

Grimacing the Aloadae could only shake his head, responding, "We don't. Logic suggests that they would have already begun bringing ships or other vessels through that monstrosity the moment they brought it up but seeing as they haven't we're operating under the assumption that they could begin at any second. And as for getting inside?"

He shook his head.

"No idea."

[There…may be a way in. One that need not bleed us dry.]

All eyes turned to Nagato, the Sakura Empress tiredly relaying, [During the strikes we were unable to intercept one before it got close enough to annihilate us, except instead of perishing as we should have the Sacred Sakura did…something. As strange as it sounds it moved the explosions several kilometers distant, we have the recordings to prove it.]

While Harrison and Elias looked ready to throw in the towel at that reveal Kirill just took it in stride, asking, [You believe we may be able to use your idol to bypass this monstrosity's defenses?]

[Potentially.]

Nagato's gaze landed upon Shinano, the petite Empress asking, [Would you be able to obtain a proper dialogue with the Sacred Sakura, Shinano?]

The carrier hesitated, slowly responding, "I…am unsure if I will be able to do so, Nagato-sama."

"I know you'll be able to."

Alexander's abrupt statement had the fox staring at him with wide eyes, the Aloadae confidently explaining, "That was what the Old Sirens believed, that you had an intrinsic ability to communicate and view various timelines and possibilities…I say we turn that around and bite them in the ass with it."

"If you believe in me, Dragon-sama…then I shall answer that belief."

Elias rubbed his forehead, quietly grumbling, [Using a sentient tree to warp directly into the enemy's base…really seen it all now.]

Kirill turned to Alexander, asking, "How soon can you launch the missiles?"

Ignoring the dark feeling curdling in his gut the male merely offered the Admiral a cold smile.

"As soon as we say yes."

"I'm sorry, Alexander."

Surprised at the sudden comment from Elizabeth the male glanced down at her as the Queen despondently walked at his side, a silent and subdued Warspite tailing them.

"What for?"

"For pushing you into becoming a killer of your fellow man and woman. Had we been able to better control and direct our nations then there would have never been need for you to-"

"Elizabeth, what's really bothering you?"

Knowing the royalty well enough by this point to get that she wasn't this upset merely by him having to kill other Human beings - even if she wouldn't have been happy about it under any circumstances - she merely averted her gaze, dismissively replying, "There is nothing that-"

"Look at me. Please."

Warspite appeared at a loss of what to say or do as the Aloadae gently grabbed the queen by her arm, kneeling down so that he didn't tower over her as usual, the battleship miserably meeting his gaze…and Alexander had to resist the urge to wince.

The raw hurt and grief in the Shipgirl's expression was enough to cause him second hand pain, Elizabeth trembling and shaking as he slowly gathered her in a hug, the lithe woman fiercely returning the embrace as she miserably whispered, "How u-unsightly, that I need cry and embarrass myself during such a trying time…"

"You think me of all people are in any such position to judge? Just…talk to me about it, okay? The rest of your sisters are just as distraught, Warspite included."

So saying he gently included the faithful guardian into the impromptu embrace, things bad enough that Warspite didn't protest, merely leaning onto his shoulder with an exhausted countenance as she took over for Elizabeth, distantly stating, "The Commander…he was the first to champion both us and the Azur Lane project, to somehow argue, coerce and unify our disparate nations into the force it is now. We were initially scattered and faced with an uncertain fate, lost as to whether we would be nothing more than weapons or a unique and thinking military group. And everything was due only to his efforts, the world not falling to ruin only because he forced everyone to work together."

A trembling sigh left the blonde.

"...It's hard to accept that he's gone, that Azur Lane itself - a place that even we of the Royal Navy called home - is just…gone."

The Aloadae understood where they were coming from, their emotions transferring across the bond in perfectly visceral detail as he could only tighten the embrace, trying not to let the 'undignified' sniffles from the queen get to him too much. There just wasn't anything he could do about the fact that Azur Lane was now an irradiated and blasted wasteland, another pang hitting hard as he remembered that Aurora's rose garden was almost certainly a total loss with this latest disaster, an important reminder of the Shipgirl blasted and gone along with who knew how many memories that had been preserved in their dorms.

"I know…but can I ask you to be strong for the coming days, like you all were for me?"

A shaky breath escaped Elizabeth, the queen hugging him fiercely one final time before pulling away, angrily wiping away her tears and shakily replying, "O-of course, who do you think we are?!"

She proudly drew herself upright, the image a sharp contrast to the bloodshot eyes and fresh tear tracks as she emotionally added, "And do not breathe a word of this to anyone! The queen does not cry like a little girl, that much is certain now and forever!"

He smiled and gave her a quick kiss on the lips, offering Warspite a final squeeze before replying, "I wouldn't dream of it. Everyone knows that Queen Elizabeth is the most haughty and demanding of monarchs and Warspite her unflagging knight."

"That does not sound very flattering!"

Relieved at the feisty tinge to the woman's words he felt Warspite's fingers briefly curl around his own, the battleship quietly asking, "What of yourself, are you…well, that is to say…"

"Honestly? Not entirely sure how to feel about it. Either way it's done and done."

Both Shipgirls blinked, Alexander offering a humorless smile as he said, "The missiles hit two minutes ago. They're dead."

It was honestly a pretty underwhelming event given the gravity of what he had just done, assassinating four highly placed heads of state in a military coup that was going to drastically change the balance of world power…but in reality he wasn't sure it was meant to be anything dramatic in the first place.

The Admirals, Belfast and her maid corps had already put in place a hasty chain of command that would last until they could take on the true threat that was the Old Siren gateway, putting an end to things at least long enough to catch their breath. Hopefully.

At this point in the game he simply couldn't be asked to contemplate and think about the things he'd done, just keep fighting and hope they came out the other side intact enough to reflect.

"Are you not worried that this will be traced back to you, my liege?"

Snapping out of his rumination at Warspite's inquiry the male merely shrugged, posing, "After the strikes that hit all across the globe, the general confusion and scattered clouds of radiation as well as a healthy dose of panic I don't think anyone is going to go pointing towards the Bakunawa as the source of yet another high profile killing."

He grimly chuckled.

"Of all the sources of public wariness I'll be facing I don't think this will be counted among them."

He lost the humor as quickly as it came, running a hand through his hair before sighing out, "Come on, let's find Shinano and figure out how we might be able to use the Sacred Sakura to somehow bend space and time. At this point I'll take whatever breaks I can get, surreal or not."

If any of you have seen the Azur Lane April Fool's video that just came out I would like to congratulate myself for predicting the usage of power armor that would allow a dude (or Shikikan, whatever) to fight alongside the shipgirls. I was bound to get SOMETHING correct about Azur Lane lore!