Chapter 70: Armageddon (Part 4)
"Hey, is this really going to work?"
"Hell if I know, you ever been warped across space before?"
"Hey, uh, not to make anybody worried or anything but what if we don't get put where we're supposed to be? Like what if we end up in a-"
"Stow the bellyaching already, you think anyone wants to hear a couple of gradeschool dropouts offer their input on theoretical physics?"
"Is it really theoretical if we're about to experience it firsthand, LT?"
"Ain't nothing theoretical about me telling you to zip it and quit wasting oxygen, that's a resource nowhere near enough abundant enough to waste on you jokers!"
Alexander felt his lips quirk in amusement as Mathers was quick to shut down any mumblings of anxiety or discontent, the main hold of the Bakunawa packed to the brim with drones and soldiers as they all crowded along every available space there was. Maintenance bays, emptied storage holds, overhead gantries…if boots could be placed on it then there were boots.
Shit, even the ceiling was standing room only, hundreds of Bunker class drones firmly affixed to the Bakunawa's upper rafters and simply awaiting the command to go.
And even further in thousands of non-exo equipped troops waited for their turn to shine, the various transports having transferred over their compliments to the massive vessel in order to properly carry out the arguably dumbest part of their plan…although if it worked it was going to be fucking brilliant so hey, feast or famine.
Snapping out his thoughts as Aegir began to hum a tune the Aloadae turned his helmet the Shipgirl's way, the Ironblood merely smiling as she continued the surprisingly jaunty tune, a few other countrymen joining in as before long the engineering bay had a nice bit of impromptu music echoing throughout, the Cruiser nodding in proud satisfaction as he quietly asked, "So it's a classic, I take it? That's almost a century of difference unless my math is off."
"That it is. In all honesty I was uncertain if it would be remembered but it seems some things never change."
Émile tilted her head, innocently inquiring, "May I ask what manner of hymn this is? If it possess such significance then I may just compose a number in honor of it~!"
"Ooh, now there's something I wouldn't mind seeing. If memory serves then-"
The recounting was cut short as Shinano's mind brushed against theirs, grim acceptance dominating the bond as the silver fox guided their thoughts towards a single purpose, images and sensations of the Old Siren base drifting across their senses as they were singularity focused on a single point-
-and Alexander couldn't help but shiver at the alien and massive consciousness that felt as if it was looking over his shoulder, judging and weighing their desire against some incomprehensible formula.
"No offense meant, Kawakaze, but your sacred tree is kinda goddamn terrifying."
"I will refrain from saying anything lest I add fuel to the fire."
The Destroyer's blunt words accompanied some unknowable sort of deal being signed, the Sacred Sakura retreating from their perception as firm resolve gathered in Shinano's mind, the closest thing to a thumbs up they were going to receive.
"Go time."
A quick glance at the shared data from the Neo Siren fleet confirmed that they were knee deep in the battle, their siege commencing with essentially no fanfare whatsoever as hundreds of vessels charged into the teeth of the Old Siren base with zero regard for their wellbeing, a situation that reminded Curtis more than a bit of the defense of Azur Lane viewed from the outside, right down to the horrific losses the Neo Sirens were suffering as they relentlessly fired and advanced.
The Old Siren base had come equipped with just as much 'modern' tech as they'd feared, the defensive cannons, shields and aircraft tearing into the Neo Siren fleet but just like at Azur Lane quantity had a quality of its own, the flotilla absorbing the losses and pushing forward regardless, the construct's shields blazing an almost solid blue as a lethal fireworks display danced across its surface.
Satisfied that the distraction tactic was bearing fruit Alexander keyed a general alarm through the Bakunawa, sirens wailing as everyone prepped themselves for their big moment.
"Go, Shinano."
"Understood, Alexander-sama."
Through the Bakunawa's sensors he saw dozens of aircraft take off from carriers across the fleet, most laden with oversized Engulfer torpedoes and banking into carefully timed and planned turns that would hopefully place them directly above the fleet the moment they were whisked away.
Anticipation built, Alexander licking his dry lips as the seconds ticked on, their air formation causing the outside of the Bakunawa to lightly rumble as it passed overhead, the Sacred Sakura not so much as swaying as Curtis began to wonder if they'd made a mistake somewhere along the line-
-and in the span of a literal eyeblink they were somewhere else, his brain faltering for a moment as it tried to process the abrupt change in scenery that hadn't even accompanied minor nausea.
Although there was plenty of brain ruining to go around, if he was being perfectly honest. The fleet had thankfully made the 'jump' in the formation they'd set themselves up in, not so much as single centimeter out of place…which meant he could stare directly upwards and spot a fair portion of their forces seemingly attached to the 'ceiling' of the swirling vortex that was the interior of the Old Siren highway.
"Yeah, I'm never going to get used to weird shit like this."
Thankfully comprehension wasn't required as the aircraft that had already been launched continued on their attack vectors, seeming to curve outwards as they reached the end of the tunnel and released their Engulfers, massive bursts of what looked like heat haze filling the air and causing the Old Siren base to slow in its reaction by an appreciable margin, the aerial drones shotgunned into the air already providing a clear and uninterrupted view of the area around them as final adjustments were made…and what was basically every ship with anything that happened to start with 'g' and end with 'un' opened fire, a solid wall of flame and munitions seeming to fly into open air-
-and just like with the aircraft the projectiles curved into the Old Siren base at carefully selected points, shattering gun mounts or missile batteries, sometimes even wrecking aircraft launch pads as Alexander once again had the Bakunawa sound a general alarm, hitting the metaphorical gas as his vessel surged ahead, traversing upwards into the tunnel as through the external cameras it looked like they were about to launch themselves into empty space…except the world around them seamlessly curved to allow smooth and uninterrupted passage, the Old Siren base drifting into view as if it had been directly in front of them the whole time.
Which it technically had, it only looked like a hole leading to another dimension but seeing and believing were two entirely different things.
And speaking of the Old Siren base…
With a roar of distressed metal the prow of the Bakunawa tore into a weakened section of the construct a few dozen meters away from one of the gates where a ship would normally try to pass through, the god-awful wail as countless tons of armor and machinery met and did battle for supremacy ending the only way it could as the Aloadae's ship lodged itself deep inside the bowels of the Old Siren fortress, Alexander glad that he'd had the foresight to have everyone wear earplugs before pulling off this retarded maneuver.
"Except it worked. So who's the idiot now, huh?"
"MARINES! WE ARE MEAN AND WE ARE GREEN, ADVANCE TO DESIGNATED POINTS!"
"OORAH!"
Hundreds of voices echoed throughout the vessel as the Bunker class drones that had been stuck to the ceiling began to descend like horrific metal spiders, cutting and pulling apart sections of the ship's structure that was in the way of their disembarking maneuver as Alexander took a moment to examine what was happening elsewhere across the battlefield.
Thankfully it had gone about as smoothly as possible, their sudden appearance in the middle of base apparently catching the defenders off guard and practically no return fire had hit them, the Shipgirls swiftly annihilating what few weapons remained before moving on to one of the massive gates, a volley of missiles causing it to collapse in a flaming ruin and affording them an exit route or allowing the possibility of their Siren allies to make it inside…if any of them survived, that was.
While the inner defenses had been removed the outside armaments were still alive and kicking, the Aloadae nonetheless breathing a sigh of relief as the tunnel didn't seem to have any sign of approaching reinforcements, which meant they were looking at at least ten minutes of uninterrupted action.
Long enough to get things underway, at any rate.
"Ready, My Liege?"
"Everything looks okay outside, maybe lady luck is finally looking out for us. Let's go!"
Jogging forward as his armor heavily thudded across the Bakunawa's deck Alexander took point alongside a collection of Tower-class drones, the hulking constructs standing deathly still as a few dozen Bunkers finished peeling apart the last bits of the Bakunawa's outer armor, the Aloadae hunkering behind his shield as the Shipgirls flanked his position, the rest of their forces also lining up in preparation to exit the ship, grips tight around their weapons and postures tense.
[Breach occuring in ten seconds.]
One of the Bunker's synthesized voices echoed throughout the ship, Alexander letting loose a slow breath as the clock ticked down, his allies sharing their minds with his own as their eagerness to fight and desire for retribution provided a welcome counterpoint to his more nervous and wary outlook.
"Three. Two. One-"
No sooner had a meters long hunk of metal fallen away did Curtis find himself rocked back on his heels, a laser directly impacting his shield while another caught one of the Towers in the leg, collapsing the machine as he forced himself forward, leaping out of the breach and entering a two second freefall before he landed on a solid surface with a deafening thud, several more weaker but still deadly lasers as well as kinetic munitions pounding against shield and armor as he gritted his teeth, sensors rapidly painting a collection of targets through the smoking and tangled environment thanks to their improvised battering ram strategy, the Aloadae not questioning his suit and instead returning fire even as fiery barrages turned the area around him into a molten and pockmarked moonscape, accepting the deluge as a necessary course of action since the alternative had been to bunch up in a narrow exit for ease of murdering.
But his seemingly suicidal manuver had bought time aplenty for the Sipgirls - seeing through his eyes and senses - to pick out his attackers, a roar that put even the steady pounding of Old Siren defenders to shame as almost half of his highlighted enemy contacts blinked out of existence alongside a fair portion of the local terrain thanks to Warspite and Aegir, Curtis spotting Le Malin, Kawakaze and Émile performing a series of seemingly impossible physical feats as they sprinted across hanging rafters and collapsed gantries towards the remaining cluster of Old Siren contacts, concealing chaff and smoke courtesy of Belfast covering their approach as a volley of torpedoes from the trio's Riggings did away with another quarter, the ensuing melee eviscerating the final few in short order.
…Well, calling it a melee seemed a bit disingenuous, more like a slaughter. The male was well acquainted with Kawakaze and Émile's particular brand of close quarters lethality but the Vichya Destroyer had a unique showing that was beautiful all unto its own. Instead of the graceful acrobatics of Émile or efficient savagery of Kawakaze she reminded him more a fair bit of a striking cobra, rapier stabbing through metal and circuitry in precise jabs that was always followed by a flick of a wrist that collapsed Old Siren drones with little fanfare, her small frame affording a level of mobility and evasion that even Kawakaze struggled to match.
Shaking himself free of his stupor Alexander jogged forward as the last of the defenders fell to a downward slash courtesy of Kawakaze, the Bakunawa quickly beginning to resemble a kicked anthill as drones and exo-equipped soldiers poured of the initial breach, more being opened up as the Shipgirls returned to Alexander's side, the Aloadae already comparing the map provided by Empress to what was staring them in the face.
It was kind of a mess, in all honesty. According to schematics of similar constructs given to the Neo Sirens by their creator they should have been adjacent to a large highway of sorts that ran around the length of the base, instead they were standing in the middle of a series of what might have been a series of parallel 'roads' that had been crushed beyond recognition by their boarding plan.
"Well, there's always a fix for that."
"Warspite?"
"Of course, My Liege."
The battleship's Rigging took aim and promptly annihilated a bit of collapsed machinery, the cascade of destruction eventually leaving a sizable hole that was more than likely attached to where they had hoped to land. A quick sprint up the sharp and uneven slope confirmed it, as well as the presence of a few aimless Old Siren drones that he dispatched with a quick shot from his shoulder mounted cannon, the Aloadae forwarding the information to the bulk of their forces as he charged through, Shipgirls in hot pursuit as a collection of drones followed, shouted orders from their Human allies echoing as hundreds of boots pounded against corrugated metal in hot pursuit as the operation began in earnest.
It wasn't the cleanest or prettiest start and their forces were fairly spread out in a long and modestly disorganized line…but they were on the clock and every second counted, the more conventionally armed ground complement pouring out of the Bakunawa and setting up defenses as Alexander inquired, "How's the outside looking? Any portents of doom and gloom?"
"We've cleaned up the last of the interior defenses and are selectively destroying the exterior placements, the Neo Sirens should be able to enter in twenty minutes time if our current schedule holds, still no sign of incoming reinforcements."
Enterprise's calm and efficient words had the Aloadae breathing out an internal sigh of relief, responding, "Good. Keep an eye out, we'll probably be too busy to answer the phone so engage at your own discretion."
"Watch over Belfast, will you? She doesn't know how to turn off her mother hen tendencies in or out of combat."
"Careful, I might just be able to steal her away from you in the heat of battle."
He could sense Enterprise's amusement just fine through the bond, even as the connection became more tenuous the further into the Old Siren base they ran.
"I doubt that, she scares you too much."
Briefly smirking at that comment the Aloadae was all business just a moment later, the dimly lit and echoing corridors of the main access tunnel throughout the base oppressive in both appearance and size, like they were running through the bowels of some mechanical monstrosity.
"All right, Alex. You can wax poetic all you want later, business first."
A quick glance at his suit's sensors had him nodding in satisfaction, the first Wisdom Cube in what was looking to be a long chain of them only two minutes sprint distance as he prepped himself for a long, arduous task.
[Still no sign?]
"Nothing yet, Admirals. While it's presumptuous to state that we have caught our enemy off guard the current circumstances certainly seem to agree with that conclusion."
[Continue as you were, then. If backup does arrive then it'll be for the better if the Neo Sirens are there to take the worst of the hits.]
Agreeing with such practical logic Enterprise wasted no time in relaying those instructions to the rest of her sisters, Essex and August linking up their fighters and bombers with the Union Carrier's own as they went in for a final attack run on the outside of the base, the pale-haired woman feeling her lips purse as she yet again witnessed the carnage that both sides had inflicted upon each other. The Neo Siren fleet had started out with a few hundred vessels along with a number of enhanced ships when the battle started and was now down to just over sixty, the enhanced ships and supercarrier still afloat but with only a few dozen Destroyers and Cruisers leftover, a thick and winding trail of shattered hulks marking the path they'd taken as fire continued to be traded between the combatants, a fuzzball permanently located above the flotilla and providing their own smaller but no less lethal amount of carnage to the battle.
"Tis time to reap our own tally, yes?"
"Fair point, engage!"
Driving their aircraft into a hard banking turn the trio directed the frames to stay low to the base, munitions and guns prepped as a few CIWS systems opened fire, a dozen planes being downed in quick succession-
-and then they were in optimal range to really do damage, missiles and dumb warheads released in an unbroken wave as the remaining railcannons were turned to scrap and missile silos either fell silent or went up in towering gouts of fire as their remaining payloads were destroyed.
[Aww, we were in the middle of something!]
[Oh, perhaps we should allow you to continue as you were-]
"Enough, both of you! The main gate is open, regroup and take up defensive positions with the rest of the fleet, we'll provide additional air support."
[Understood, we will begin our final approach.]
Shaking her head in exasperation as a Purifier and August seemed to enjoy being at each other's throats Enterprise was at least thankful for the fact that Empress seemed intent on keeping things professional, the Union Carrier able to perfectly feel August's mild annoyance at being denied the chance to properly argue with the Neo Siren as she nonetheless directed her Interceptors to rejoin the battle, the remaining Old Siren aerial garrison falling in short order and finally bringing the first phase of their operation to an end, the Carrier bringing most of her aircraft in for a repair and refueling session while she gazed towards where the Bakunawa had embedded itself deep within the superstructure of the Old Siren base, able to spot muzzle flashes and constant explosions even from a distance as the Human soldiers held off the incessant assaults from the defenders, her connection to the rest of the assault group fuzzy but still present.
"…You often accused me of not taking proper care of myself, Belfast. As much as I would one day like the chance to turn the tables this is NOT the ideal time to do so."
Quickly pushing away those distracting thoughts the pale-haired woman instead watched as the Neo Siren fleet joined up with the rest of their forces, tension clear to see across most of the fleet as Human and Shipgirl alike stared at their only recently turned allies, more than a decade of unceasing and brutal warfare creating no shortage of distrust and wariness.
"Hopefully the guns stay pointed outwards…"
As if some kind of cosmic reaction to the Shipgirl's muttered response Sovetskaya abruptly announced over the general frequency, [Old Siren vessels on approach, 180 nautical miles distant. Tonnage is…]
While she didn't openly curse the Parliament Shipgirl didn't have to, the implication clear as Enterprise saw the approaching ships courtesy of the Bakunawa's drones that had shot themselves further into the 'hole'.
And they were massive, only slightly smaller than the Neo Siren Supercarrier and bristling with weaponry, the one saving grace being that there didn't seem to be any sign of significant air power accompanying them.
The flipside to that was that they were going to be engaging in a heavily restricted airspace and their own aircraft only had so many avenues of attack they could pursue, Enterprise grimly realizing that this was going to be a brawl and they were once again on the wrong end of a technological and tonnage gap.
Something Admiral Harrison realized, the man gruffly ordering, [Let the Neo Siren ships take up position in front of us, they'll soak up the hits while we sink those monsters.]
Thankfully Empress or her ilk didn't have any objections to that plan, directing their thralls forward as a massive concave of guns pointed further into the tunnel, Shipgirl, Human and Siren alike waiting for the approaching bloodshed with bated breath.
"On three. One, two, three-"
Kawakaze made a precise cut with her blade a moment before Alexander body checked the heavy blast door leading to where the first Cube should have been located, his suit hissing with exertion as he shoved past the barrier and immediately hunkered behind his shield as a firestorm of defensive munitions impacted the slab of metal, his Rigging also throwing up panes of azure energy that blunted the assault just long enough for Aegir, Kawakaze and Le Malin to rush into the room, decimating the collection of Bunker class as Aegir's Rigging released a voltaic howl, tacking the one Tower to the ground before ripping into it while its wielder did the same to a smaller drone, savage grin upon her lips the entire time.
"Damn. Glad she's on my side…"
"Why thank you, Herr Alexander~!"
Sighing as he realized he'd thought that one aloud the Aloadae dropped his shields and marched to the fortified and secure Cube housing, a construct similar to the one he'd encountered back in the Arctic but upscaled by quite a bit, grunting in exertion as he peeled back the protective covering and tossed it aside, instinctively licking his lips as he laid eyes on the slowly spinning energy source, such a small and innocuous thing holding so much promise within.
Shaking himself free of the brief lapse in concentration he had one of his Rigging's tentacles reach out and pluck the Cube from its housing, depositing it in a drone that trotted up beside him as he gave it a light flick on the chassis, the machine briefly chirping before turning around and sprinting back to the Bakunawa's location, escorted by a collection of other Bunker and Tower classes as he released a sigh of satisfaction.
"One down, hundreds more to go, ja?"
Aegir's cheerful comment coincided with her tossing the desiccated drone aside with a dull clang, the Aloadae nodding from within his helmet as he marched towards the exit, commenting, "From the moment we left the Bakunawa to grabbing that cube took about seven minutes. We should be able to move faster now that we've got a rough layout of the land but that's just shy of two days active combat."
Le Malin groaned, the Destroyer mumbling, "I want twenty days worth of naps afterwards…" as Émile merely chirped, "Then let us waste not a moment more, off to our next potential sister~!"
Agreeing with that statement wholeheartedly he pushed out of the room and found a few dozen of Mather's group already taking what cover could be found in the cavernous highway, the Aloadae not liking the lack of decent protection that was available.
He could facetank a Tower and walk away relatively unharmed, the Shipgirls able to replicate the feat with their Riggings if push came to shove…the same couldn't be said about the rest of the Humans with them, and he didn't know how eager they were going to be if he asked them to take cover behind his various drones. Not to mention he didn't have an infinite number of the things, the situation was-
"Master Alexander? Focus, they are well aware of the risks and are here regardless."
Gritting his teeth the man forced himself to keep his mind on the here and now as Belfast suggested, instead jogging over to Mathers as the Marine gave a brief nod, asking, "Change of plans?"
"No, just wanted to make it clear that we're going to be running like mad for the next day and change, this isn't going to be over anytime soon. I don't know what you're going to need to remain combat effective but we'll leave that to your discretion, we'll keep you updated on our position and take any assistance as it's available."
"Contact!"
A distant shout coincided with a series of sharp CRACKS echoing throughout the base, a couple of drones collapsing to the floor as the Marines downed them before they could return fire, Mathers musing, "And here I thought things were kind of quiet. You and the ladies focus on what you need to do, we'll advance alongside when we can and hold the line when we can't."
Nodding in gratitude Alexander returned to the front of the pack, all of them resuming their charge as he heard several shouts from behind, the familiar pounding of boots and metal following after them as he made a mental note to hype up Mathers and the rest of the assault complement if there was some kind of after action report. He wasn't up to date on all military doctrine and shit like that but he was fairly certain nobody liked being in unknown enemy terrain with no concrete plan and the VIPs you were supposed to support running headfirst into the meat grinder.
"Our luck ran out, Siren reinforcements are inbound. Nothing we can't handle but that means more might be on the way."
Focusing on Enterprise's words through the disruptive walls of the base Alexander resisted the urge to curse, knowing they'd already caught a break when the Old Sirens hadn't immediately began streaming out of the portal and that all good things had to come to an end eventually.
"We're likely going to need just shy of two days to grab every last Wisdom Cube, maybe more if additional defenses come online."
"We'll hold as long as we can."
The Carrier signed off as the interference grew in power, Alexander pursing his lips as it seemed like the first real hurdle had just fallen in their way.
"Trouble?"
"Nothing we weren't expecting, even if we'd been hoping against it."
Kawakaze merely nodded, able to infer what was happening outside just fine as Curtis' helmet sensors picked up approaching hostiles, the Aloadae swinging his rotary cannon forward while figuring that there were always plenty of different ways to work off stress.
Such as tearing into soulless, mechanical nightmares.