*This is ported by Wattpad, feel free to come by as I've focused on making stories there rather here*
100 views, in one chapter?
It seems that this rework might be the best decision right now... So far, liking how it's better written than the previous rewrites, this time, no more delays, I have them along with other XZJQ series fully planned.
Chapter 1 down, 11 to go...
Xavier continues to look more on his files, notably the blueprints. He had those on the making last time he was in the navy before. A gauntlet blaster, a railgun rifle, any improvements for the baseline soldiers onto the battlefield.
A knock suddenly interrupted his reading, he looks annoyed, but is curious who knocked on the door. "Come in." He spoke aloud.
The door opened, revealing an excited Reno, much to his surprise, "Commander! I've heard that you have such amazing creations from the blueprints!" She gleamed.
"They told you that, didn't they?..." Xavier monotone in response, just as he is getting peace and quiet...
"I... Overheard them talking over it?" Reno suggested that they didn't do this on purpose. "..." She remains silent as Xavier stares at her, which she nervously laughs at. "But maybe I can help you make them!"
"I know you." Xavier replied, "You're Reno, the gauntlets are an obvious trademark." He stated.
"That's right!" Reno nodded, as she walked closer to him. Right at the desk, she kneels closer to his blueprints. "I just wanted to take a peek, if you don't mind." She assured him.
"Right..." Xavier muttered, as Reno is not knowing that the fact her chest is going super close to him when she examines closer. His face slightly blush, but he is mostly irritated rather than embarrassed.
"Wow!" Reno gleamed seeing the 'power suit' blueprint. "Did you start any progress on that?" She asked, turning to Xavier as they stared face to face.
Xavier glanced at the blueprint, "No, this suit requires a powerful energy source to even use properly, closest to that would be a nuclear reactor." He said, with a neutral tone and blank expression.
"But have you found any alternatives?" Reno wondered.
"No." A simple reply was all Reno heard as she frowned.
"Maybe I can help you with that!" Reno smiled.
"I would rather not." Xavier sighed deeply.
"Huh, is something wrong?" Reno asked, slightly worried by his sigh.
"Nothing, I was expecting some alone time." Xavier stated. Which Reno slightly downcast, feeling a bit disappointed. Noticing her sadness, he shifted his expression. To which he takes out a blueprint of the 'gauntlet blaster', "But maybe, I may need your help on this." He spoke up, showing the blueprint.
Reno looks at it, and her mood swings to excitement. "Of course Commander! We'd need the materials for this!" She stated.
"I'll notify the maids." Xavier replied, as he pressed a button on the desk, signaling the maids.
Somewhere upon the island, at the forest a red portal opens, someone steps out, a kitsune, then upon more others step out.
"We are in. Akagi sister." A white kitsune spoke to the brown one.
"Indeed we are Kaga, my dear sister." Revealing to be Akagi, as her smile knows no bounds. "Jean Bart, send your squad to attack the front dock. We will attack the inside. We shall show the power of the Red Axis..." She said as the squad moved forward...
"My my, Master, I don't expect you to start working." Belfast smiled, seeing how Reno is helping Xavier work on the gauntlet. Reno is mostly doing the work while Xavier shows the framework.
The maids are here. From Edinburgh, Sheffield, Dido, Sirius, Hermione, Scylla, Manchester, Curoa, Curlew, Suffolk, Newcastle and Kent, they have brought him the materials while the yellow chicks are watching, to which Belfast explained they are the Manjuus that help on maintenance around most of the base.
"Not my suggestion." Xavier explained the situation occurred because of Reno's interest.
"Well, at least you are letting this happen." Belfast replied.
Xavier stares, then turns to Reno. "Reno, stay here at the office, complete the work." He spoke as she nodded firmly while continuing to work on the gauntlet. He soon goes with the maids while reaching for the door, "We'll be starting to make commissions, if we want to get full analysis on the enemy, just to be safe." He stated.
"Yes, Master." Belfast nodded as she and the other maids followed him. He and the maids are walking through the hallway, just to go to the Command Center.
One of the maids, Sheffield glanced by something, slightly widening her eyes. "Master, move!" She spoke up. She manages to grab onto Xavier, sending him away...
A massive explosion occurred, bursting the wall of the hallway. Everyone but the Commander remains slightly unscathed due to their impressive durability. Belfast and the rest of the maids watch, smoke clears out, revealing a group of people... Much to their surprise, they are...
"Eugen... Zuikaku and Shoukaku?" Edinburgh exclaimed, upon seeing them.
"Did they do this?" Manchester covered her mouth with her hands, fretted upon seeing this.
Outside, Prinz Eugen herself stands, rigging cannons are aimed, now lowered. Red cubes materialized summon two jagged skinny skeleton robots with biped legs, along having dark colors and red glowing aspects. "Scare them." Her simple command is all they needed as they ran on all fours to the building.
"Sheffield, take Master, we'll hold them off." Belfast stated, as the other maid nodded and took the slightly dazzled Commander. "Kent, warn the others!"
Now Eugen continues firing, all the maids jump out of the busted wall. Dido and Sirius have their swords ready to encounter Zuikaku and Shokaku. Just then, more of them arrived!
Kinu, Kirishima, Hiei, Deutschland, Admiral Graf Spee, and Seydiltz joined in the fight. Both sides of once from the same alliance clashed, as the courtyard became a battlefield. Belfast faces Prinz Eugen as they avoid cannon fire whilst continuing to fire.
"Why are you doing this?" Belfast demanded to Eugen.
"...To give a message." She stated.
A sudden explosion blast is heard from over ahead of the island. Kent arrived slightly damaged, "There are others attacking the island at the docks!" She exclaimed.
Thus, Belfast realized they were also attacked from the other side...
The explosions blasted on the waters, Cleveland swerving around the ocean, avoiding the incoming fire. Seeing the planes flying down she shoots them down, but a few survive... Only to get shot down by another incoming fire.
She turned to see it was San Diego who shot them down, "Thanks San Diego!" She gives a thumbs up.
"No worries, I am number one- Ah!" San Diego responded until she got interrupted by a bombardment of planes on the other side.
"San Diego!" Helena came to her support, covered by Eagle on her side. She helped San Diego get back up her feet. Eagle aimed her rifle, seeing who summoned the planes, being none other as Zeppelin.
Eagle glares, she aims and fires her rifle. The energy bullets, once blocked by planes blown up upon impact. Hiryuu and Souryuu come in, being the ones providing defenses. More planes from Zeppelin are summoned, shooting down the ocean floor. Eagle takes evasive action, along with everyone else.
"Hold the line!" Sovetskaya Rossiya announced firing a volley supported by Sovetskaya Belorussiya and Gangut. Water bursts out by the rounds' impact, then suddenly, the robot skeletons come out running on fours, like rabid humanoid animals.
"What are these things?!" Gangut perked up by seeing them coming.
"Doesn't matter, they are coming!" Washington yelled.
At the building, Sheffield is guiding Xavier afar from the battle, as muffles of that battlefield are heard from the distance.
"Sheffield, why are the Sakura Empire and Iron Blood attacking us?" Xavier asked.
"Quiet Master." Sheffield responded with a neutral tone and expression. She leads him to the door, which sign shows being the 'library' room. "Get in." She demanded.
Suddenly noises occurred, both turned to hear scuffles, metal clanking. The maid shoves Xavier into the room as she joins in. The two skeletons crawl all around, one of them staring at the door.
The door is ripped open by one of them, the lights are off. The second robot crawls all around the wall and onto the roof while the first scowls and looks around for their prey.
Meanwhile, Sheffield and Xavier remain hiding behind the large shelves of books. She signs Xavier which he nodded, he moves off while the maid has two custom made pistols ready and aimed for those intruders.
She looks around, walking very carefully and quietly. Her serious eyes continue to gaze not a single trace of her blinking. She hides at the side, then turns aiming her weapon, at nothing. Odd, it should be here... But nonetheless she continues to find them...
But, right above, is one of them staring at her. It crawls quietly down, then at its back panels silently opened upm revealing two more arms grown out. Like a spider, it carefully goes further down using its front arms, the clawed hands are about to reach for her head...
Bang. It was shot by Sheffield, who instantly turned around and already fired her gun. A bullet impacted at its head, then it collapsed, its grip falling down by a clank on the floor. Sheffield aims her second gun to fire at the body...
Out of nowhere, she turns around again, to see a second one coming. Aiming, but her leg was snagged by the one who was shot, pulling her, this leads the second to maniacally swing a punch right at her face. The sheer punch knocked afar but she landed on her feet, as she gazed up revealing her cheek slightly bruised. She now realized that the whole segment was an ambush.
The two charged as Sheffield fired back, the bullets hit them, staggering the second one. But the second is providing cover, as the first one jumps... Something smacks him, causing to change direction and fall down, crashing into the shelves.
Sheffield turns to see Xavier holding a lamp pole from the library desk. She nodded, confirming this was also planned, the hunter became the hunted.
He drops the pole, Sheffield gets a vocal message from someone whose voice's tone shows panic, "The dock is also attacked." She explained after listening to the message.
"We need to go there." Xavier replied.
"Are you suicidal Master?" Sheffield neutrally questioned his action.
"We need answers." Xavier stated, then they heard the robot creatures begin to get up. "We have to go!" He yelled as he ran, Sheffield followed.
They run through the library, as the two robots are onto the shelves, jumping one by one, like animals hunting the two. Their sheer size and weight made the shelves tip over. They reached the other door, opening up revealing to be Reno.
"Commander! I heard a commotion!" She was worried. "They told me that-"
"Hold the door." Sheffield interrupted with a command, as Reno is confused but seeing the two robot skeletons coming!
"Ah!" She yelped as Reno closed the door, holding the handle as the two are attempting to barge in. "I got it! Go!" She exclaimed as the enemy continued to breach. With that, Xavier and Sheffield are going to the dock...
At the docks, it is in chaos. Explosions rapidly occurred, Sheffield is right beside Xavier as they attempt to avoid it. They soon meet up with Wales with King Geroge V and Ark Royal guiding the Manjuus away.
"Commander!" Wales spoke of the Commander's arrival. "Why are you here?!" She questioned.
"I am here to put an end to this." Xavier stated.
"He's stubborn." Sheffield remarked.
"Explain." Xavier demanded, ignoring Sheffield's comment. Just then debris from an explosion is coming right at them, right until Ark Royal raised her rifle and blasted the debris, destroying it.
Wales turned around to the Commander, "It was a sudden hit." She explained. "Sakura Empire, Iron Blood, Vichya Dominion and Sardegna Empire, they've attacked the base."
"No reason?" Xavier assumed as he glanced to see Ark Royal and King George defending the area.
Wales nodded, "So far, we've been on defense. But their attacks are aggressive." She remarked.
Just then, a simple yell notified their attention as it was Reno returning, but she is being faced against the two skeleton robots. "I may need some help!" She exclaimed. Then comes Javelin and Laffey, with their speed, they manage to destroy those drones. Sliced and blown into pieces by their efforts, a head tumbles near Xavier's feet as the red glow fades away. "Thanks!" Reno gives a thumbs up.
"So what must we do?" King Geroge speaks up about the situation. They look at their Commander...
He remains silent, witnessing the event, but time is running short. "They may be your allies." Xavier replied. "But they are attacking the base, we defend back, whilst finding out the culprit leader of this action."
"...Very well." Wales accepted. Hopefully there are answers for this. "Right now, we must take you to safety Commander-"
"I'm going as well." Xavier's words surprised her. "If they know who I am. They'd at least considered hesitation. Don't be concerned with my wellbeing, I choose this."
Wales slightly shook her head, "It's not just that... Our previous Commander did the same thing." She stated, which Xavier's eyes widened a bit before looking away a bit.
"Don't push it. I was just doing my job." Xavier scoffed. "Let's get this over with!" He spoke with a loud tone, trying to change the conversation, he looked at Javelin and Laffey, "You two, come with Sheffield and I, we must move to the battlefield."
"Yes Commander!" Javelin replied.
"Yes, Commander..." Laffey mumbled.
"Very well, Master." Sheffield monotone replied. "Javelin, Laffey, clear a path so I can bring Master a small maneuverable vessel." She requested.
"Yes!" Javelin nodded as she headed off while Laffey followed.
How is she still tired of this? Xavier mentally wanders towards Laffey, until a tug from the sheer strength of Sheffield interrupts him.
"We must go now." Sheffield stated, though he can't tell if she is irritated by this. He starts to move and follows her. At last, they are at the lower dock, where he sees a boat, filled with a gray color scheme with some kind engine at the back.
"This is..." Xavier stared at the boat. This does not look like an actual boat.
"Master made it." Sheffield reminded Xavier, he didn't want to speak further, so he went down on the floating vehicle. She joined in, then her riggings appeared. The boat is on the move to the battlefield.
Javelin and Laffey are on the sea. Here they see their once allies are going against others, and with more of those drones. The two shoot down more of those incoming drones. Just as more are coming, more shootings took them down. She and Laffey turned to see Houston and Brooklyn had supported them.
"Javelin, Laffey, what brings you here?" Brooklyn questioned.
"We are here to provide cover for the Commander." Javelin explained.
"Commander? Coming here?" Houston exclaimed.
Javelin nodded, "Yeah, he's-" She turns to see the boat of where Xavier and Sheffield are on, coming. "Commander!" She waved at them. The boat stops near them, "Commander we are clearing the path with support!" She explained.
"Keep providing support." Xavier commanded, "We need to hold the line, but push forward so our defense isn't small." The girls nodded, Houston and Brooklyn joined the charge once started with Xavier in command.
Sheffield sees incoming volley, she controls the boat steering. Xavier holds on, as the boat quickly swerves around. Javelin, Laffey, Houston, and Brooklyn are nearby, avoiding as well. There... Xavier saw the enemy fleet, and... Red portals?
Whatever they are, it's summoning those skeleton drones. Like ants coming out the anthill. There are other Kansens... He knows them very well: Atago, Takao, Clemenceau, Genisenau, and Scharnhost. They are at the backlines, keeping on guard.
"What... What are those things?" Houston fretted seeing these metallic mutated skeletons. "Sirens...?" She asked.
"No." Xavier replied as she looked at him, whose expression is both serious and slightly concerned. "Something different." He said, with that, he grabbed on the boat, a megaphone speaker. "LISTEN UP! AZUR LANE! THIS IS THE SECOND COMMANDER!"
His speaker gained the attention of the opposing side, there was slight hesitation.
The drones cease moving, the defenders are perplexed, only to be more surprised upon seeing their second Commander right there on the battle line. Hood being part of the field, witnessing this, concerned.
"Commander..." Hood muttered as she went to him.
Xavier continues to speak, "MAY I ASK, WHO'S RESPONSIBLE OF THIS?" He asked, then lowered the speakerphone.
"..." Silence occurred, but stares at him continued. He is waiting for a response...
"Perhaps you require Akagi's words?" A voice spoke as Akagi stepped in, with Kaga beside her.
"...Akagi." Xavier responded. "You are the leader of this?" He asked.
"Hm... Yes, and no." Akagi hummed, to his confusion, she spoke more, "Akagi is merely the idealist of this whole operation. The Red Axis' demonstration of power." She announced.
"The Red Axis...?" Xavier repeated her words, as Wales and Hood came closer beside him.
"Your... Power?" Wales added in.
"Yes. Since, Commander's... Disappearance, we have all lost almost everything." Akagi recalled. "But what the war has fought, has salvaged into this..." She gestured to the drone army. "A new way to win the war against our enemy."
"Face the Sirens, with those?" Hood gazed at those drones, "They are not humane. And if so trying to prove to fight the Sirens, why fight us?" She questioned her.
"It's because... Of him." Akagi mentioned to Xavier as Hood and Wales turned to him. "A man who spits on his memory. It is truly disgusting how you would do that." She grunted.
"The council has just stated that it was not-" Wales tries to explain.
"The words of the council can be faded from Akagi's heart. They tried to replace him. No one is replaceable." Akagi glared at Wales.
"...I am not." Xavier spoke out.
"Hm...?" Akagi looked at Xavier who was annoyed by her words.
"I am not trying to replace him." Xavier stated. "Like you, I want to end this war as much as you do. Stopping this revenge quest is as important as stopping the enemy."
Akagi stares at him before seethed, "...Look at yourself." She scoffed. "Your heart is dark, and to think you are taking the role where Shikikian is standing..." Xavier shifted upon hearing her reaction. "You're truly disgusting, begone." Akagi summoned red petals, revealed to be paper planes, then in a second, launched at a speed of sound.
Wales noticed this as she used her riggings to block the incoming projectiles. Multiple explosions damaged her, which Hood fired back. Akagi uses the planes to block the shots, unfazed by the explosions' blast near her.
"Willing to go this far, Akagi..." Hood muttered with anger. She slightly checked upon Wales who was supported by Houston and Brooklyn. "Betraying the alliance... You, yourself, should be ashamed."
Akagi spoke nothing, until a sudden projectile came beside her... The same one, coming to Hood...
An explosion impacted Hood, upon Wales' reaction. "Hood!" She screamed in worry. The blast expanded stronger, knocking the Azur Lane backwards by the powerful shockwave. She looks to see who fired the shot... None other being... "...Bismarck?!"
Bismarck came, stopped next to Akagi. Hood, being heavily injured, nearly all of her riggings are ripped apart. Her clothes are burned and nearly ripped, her body is also heavily wounded. She kneels on the ocean floor.
"Bismarck..." Hood muttered.
"I am sorry, my friend." Bismarck responded with an emotionless tone. "Only with great power can we truly save humanity. We've... We've just chosen a different path. ...I don't expect you all to understand. Only those looking back on these moments will be able to decide who is right and who is wrong."
"You've... Also... Part of..." Hood closed her eyes, falling on the ocean floor. Motionless floating, surprising everyone on the Azur Lane. Did Bismarck...
"...My old friend... May we meet in Valhalla..." Bismarck spoke back, walking away.
As the fire caused by Bismarck's attack floats and lurks around the waters, Akagi remains silent by this event. "..." But her expression hasn't changed, as the smile retains. "Let this be the first warning created by the Red Axis. You shall not stop our vengeance against the Sirens for what they've taken from us..."
She leaves, along with everyone else. The now confirmed Red Axis are gone within the summoned red portals.
Just then Javelin and Laffey soon noticed... Ayanami is there, which shocked them both.
"Ayanami...?" Javelin whispered out, as Ayanami noticed them before quickly looking away, disappearing upon entering the portal.
All that is left for the Azur Lane is destruction and devastation... Wales witnessed this, shocked as she winced by her injury. Xavier is also here, they and all the Azur Lane witness, their long-time ally, Hood being their first loss...
"This... Can't... Be..." Wales muttered as small tears occurred.
Xavier stares and despite his neutral and silent expression. He is in disbelief...
Word Count - 3485
First death? Yeah expected those coming in this Arc 1 out of 3.
2 Chapters down, 10 to go.
Anyways, OVA chapters are considered to be planned, any one in favor for those?
This story has elements from other media that inspired to make this idea confirmed. Thank the movies and shows for giving my an opportunity to make this. Such as: "Transformers ROTB", "Azur Lane: The Anime", "Azur Lane (Game itself)", and "Azur Lane: Land to Sea" by TheQuoteMan2.
