Akagi could feel the sword being pressed into her back. Her plan had backfired, and now the kitsune knew that when the truth reached the commander she was done for. "So what do you plan to do with Akagi? Are you going to kill me?" The kitsune asked the META what she planned to do. Zuikaku META wanted nothing more than to destroy the aircraft carrier here and now for what she had done, but she knew that she would be the one to suffer the consequences if she destroyed Akagi. "No...I'm not. Believe me, Akagi, I would love nothing more than to do that right now. But I can't, I'm looking for someone very important to me. If I destroy you, then I will end up paying the price, I'll never be able to find them and keep the promise I made. I'm taking you to John, he will be the one who will deal with you." The META told the kitsune that the commander would be the one who decided her fate. Akagi wondered who was it that the META was looking for, the KANSEN realised they must be very important to the META if she wasn't going to destroy her and take her to the commander instead.

Zuikaku META, with her sword still pressed into the back of the kitsune, ordered Akagi to begin moving. The META felt guilty that she would have to wake up John this late in the evening but she had to let him know that Akagi was the reason both Shoukaku and Taihou were in the medical bay right now, it was all because of her manipulation of the phoenix. Akagi and Zuikaku META left the room Taihou was in and then left the medical bay altogether. It was very dark outside. The only other KANSEN who would be awake were the one's on night duty for each faction. Zuikaku META hoped they wouldn't cross paths with any of them. If they saw the situation now, they would surely come to the wrong conclusion that she was the enemy. Many KANSEN at the Azur Lane had crossed paths with other META's before and didn't like the fact that one was currently here. The pair began walking with Akagi in front, and Zuikaku META close behind the kitsune. Her sword was still being pointed at Akagi's back. She was also looking around for signs of any other KANSEN.

Akagi knew she had to find a way out of this situation. She wasn't looking forward to the consequences she would receive once the commander found out the truth of what happened. The aircraft carrier was certain the commander would show her no mercy because of her manipulation. Shoukaku had nearly been sunk. He would certainly disassemble Akagi for what she had done. Akagi looked around for any signs of other KANSEN. She also peeked behind her and could see Zuikaku META was also looking around, "Akagi can get out of this. I just need to wait for the right moment, and then Akagi can strike." The Kitsune thought of a plan of escape. She just needed to wait for the right moment. The pair carried on walking, both were also looking around for any signs of other KANSEN, as they were on their way to John's home a noise from the darkness caused Zuikaku META to take her eye off Akagi and she pointed her sword in the direction of where the noise came from, she believed another KANSEN has caught sight of the pair.

Akagi quickly peeked behind her and saw Zuikaku META looking in another direction with her sword facing away from her, "Now's Akagi's chance!" With a smirk on her face, the kitsune began to form her fox fire in her hands, Akagi then turned around and threw it at the distracted META. Zuikaku META felt the heat next to her. When she turned around, she could see fire heading straight for her. The META couldn't react in time and was hit full force by the fire. The force of the attack sent the META flying a good distance away. She landed on her back, and some of her clothing had been burned. Seeing her enemy on the ground Akagi decided to launch more fire at Zuikaku META, the META quickly got back to her feet, she could see more fire coming towards her and barely managed to dodge it time. The kitsune decided to go for a different attack when her adversary avoided her fox fire. She summoned her fighters and ordered them to attack the META.

Zuikaku META saw the fighters coming and summoned her own. The META's advanced fighters shot down the fighters of the kitsune with relative ease. Zuikaku META then ordered her fighters to attack the kitsune. Seeing her own fighters taken down and the META's heading right for her, Akagi summoned more fox fire. This time, however, she used it to form a wall of fire. The fighters that passed through it were burned to ash, and the kitsune decided it was best to put some distance between herself and the META while the wall of fire was still alive. Akagi knew she needed a plan if she was going to win this fight. Putting some distance between them would give Akagi the time she needed to think of one. Zuikaku META could see Akagi retreating through the flames and wanted to pursue the kitsune. The wall of flames stopped her however, the META knew what the kitsune was capable of, Akagi was powerful and cunning. Any delay in stopping whatever plan Akagi was thinking of would be disastrous for herself.

It took a short amount of time, but the fire soon died down enough that it was safe for the META to jump over it. Zuikaku META did so and jumped high enough to avoid being burned by the fire. Once the META was over the fire, she began searching for Akagi, Zuikaku META headed in the direction that she saw the kitsune run off to through the fire. As the META headed in the direction that Akagi went, she began to hear several voices speaking in the distance.

"What's happening? Are we under attack?"

"Has anyone seen anything suspicious?"

"Look! Over there! A fire!"

"We will go and put it out! Someone go and get the commander!"

"Dammit! Not now!" Zuikaku META thought as she heard the voices. The fight between herself and Akagi had woken up several KANSEN around the base. No doubt, in the META's mind, more shipgirls would be arriving soon, and John himself. This would be the last thing he wanted to see, Zuikaku META knew she had to find the kitsune fast. It wouldn't look good for her if she was seen fighting Akagi. The other KANSEN would shoot her on sight without question. The META kept going in the same direction that Akagi went. She carried on until she was attacked by fighters. The planes began shooting at her once she was in their range. The META took what cover she could then summoned her own advanced fighters again. Her own planes shot down all of Akagi's fighters. She then ordered them to take to the sky to look for the kitsune from above.

It didn't take long for Zuikaku META's advanced planes to locate the kitsune. Once they located her, they immediately began firing on Akagi's position. The META could hear Akagi cursing at her planes. She had a rough idea of where she was hiding. Zuikaku META then summoned her bombers and ordered them to drop their payload on her. The bombers took to the sky to join the fighters and began circling the position. Her bombers then dropped their payload on Akagi, and a loud explosion was heard. If any KANSEN were still asleep before, they certainly wouldn't be now. The explosion would be heard by the whole base.

Once she was certain it was safe and Akagi was no longer a threat, Zuikaku META left her cover and headed over to the area where the bombs had been dropped. When she arrived, the META could see Akagi, the kitsune had been badly hurt by the attack. Akagi was crawling on the ground, Zuikaku META was glad the kitsune was still alive. She would have paid the price if she had killed Akagi. The META walked on over to the badly injured kitsune and put her foot on her back to stop her from going anywhere and had her sword ready in case Akagi tried a similar trick like she did before, "That's enough Akagi...it's over. You have lost, John will know everything that you have done." She told the injured Akagi. Akagi began cursing at the META, calling her every vile term under the sun, but she paid it no mind and kept her cool, Akagi had been thoroughly beaten. It wasn't worth losing her temper and finishing her off no matter how tempting it was.

Other KANSEN soon arrived and saw the situation, "Put down your sword right now and step away from Akagi!" one of the KANSEN told Zuikaku META. Looking at who spoke to her, the META could see it was the grey ghost herself, Enterprise. Enterprise had her bow ready and was pointing it at her, Zuikaku META did as she was told and put her sword down on the ground. She then stepped away from the kitsune. Enterprise then told other KANSEN to begin checking Akagi and treat her wounds until Vestal was here. Enterprise then began walking over to the META. She wanted to ask her what had happened here and why the kitsune was as badly injured as she was.

"Zuikaku, I want to know what happened here. Why is Akagi hurt like this? Did you do this? If so, then why? You're lucky it was me who found you first. Others would have shot you on sight. Tell me why you did this, and I'll try to help you. The commander will want to know why as well. If you don't tell me then I can't help you." Enterprise questioned the META regarding the situation. The leader of the Eagle Union didn't care much for Akagi. If anything, she believed the kitsune deserved to be taken down a peg or two. The situation didn't look good for Zuikaku META. However, if she was behind this and didn't have a good reason for it, then the consequences would be severe when John showed up. Enterprise didn't want the META to suffer any punishment, especially since what she had been through before coming to this timeline. In Enterprises mind, the META had been through enough.

Zuikaku META was more than happy to tell Enterprise everything, "Yes, I did do this. But I had my reason. She was going to kill Taihou. I promised John that I would watch over my sister before he left the medical bay earlier today. I also had a feeling someone or something wouldn't want Taihou to talk about why she attacked my sister. And I was right, I found her in Taihou's room. Akagi was going to kill her, but I stopped her from doing so. I was going to bring her to John to get her to confess what she did, but I got distracted, and she sneak attacked me. We had a fight, and this is the result. That's the truth, Enterprise. I have too much to lose if I killed her." Zuikaku META explained her story to the leader of the Eagle Union.

Enterprise wasn't sure if the META in front of her was telling the truth. She needed the commander to confirm that she did say she would watch over Shoukaku before he left the medical bay. If she was on her own, then she would have had the perfect opportunity to destroy Taihou if she wanted. But it didn't explain why Akagi was out here this late at night. Did she really want Taihou dead so she wouldn't talk? If it was true, then both of them had perfect reasons for wanting the phoenix gone. Zuikaku META would want to destroy Taihou for revenge, Akagi would want her destroyed so she wouldn't be incriminated by her. The KANSEN realised her only course of action right now was to wait for John to arrive.

Several minutes later, John had arrived at the incident alongside Vestal. the META crane could see that when he arrived, John looked absolutely terrible. He was clearly exhausted, "This is the last thing he needs right now. John looks ready to collapse any minute." Zuikaku META felt guilty looking at him. She didn't want to add to his troubles, but she had to let him know the truth to what happened to Shoukaku. Zuikaku META wasn't going to let Akagi get away with her scheming to get rid of her sister. Enterprise could also see John and walked up to him. The META couldn't hear what was being said between them, but she guessed Enterprise was telling him what she told her. While this was going on, Vestal was treating the badly damaged kitsune. Once Enterprise had finished speaking to John, the META could see him walking towards her. "Enterprise told me what you told her. Is this true Zuikaku?" he asked when he was within talking distance. The META simply nodded, and John then sighed, "Okay, you get yourself to the medical bay. Vestal will be along soon to treat your injuries once she has finished with Akagi. Akagi will also be heading to the medical bay, but I'm going to make sure she is watched twenty-four seven. If Akagi is truly behind all this, then she is going to pay the price. However, we need to wait until Taihou wakes up, and then we will all know the truth." John explained to the META what he wanted her to do and what was going to happen to Akagi. The META didn't feel comfortable that the kitsune would be in the same building as Shoukaku and Taihou. She would be in the perfect position to get rid of them. John could see this and assured her that if Akagi tried anything, she would be destroyed on the spot.

This gave the META crane some relief. At least Akagi would suffer the consequences if she tried to destroy either her sister or the phoenix. Satisfied with this Zuikaku META, then began to head would the medical bay to wait for Vestal to arrive to treat her injuries from her fight with Akagi. Once Zuikaku META was gone, John began to survey the damage caused by the battle. He knew that in the morning, he would need to assign several KANSEN to begin repairs. This was going to be a headache for him. He already had enough to deal with right now. John then turned to look at the injured Akagi. If she was responsible for everything that had happened, then she was going to pay the price. Shoukaku had nearly been sunk. He nearly lost his wife, Tsubaki nearly lost her mother. The kitsune couldn't be allowed to walk away from this. However, until Taihou woke up, he couldn't punish her. She knew the truth. If what Zuikaku META said was true, then Akagi's fate was sealed, but he had to wait until then. For now, all he could do was wait...