1998.
Spring Sea, south of Usea.
"This is so cool!" Herne exclaims excitedly as her new addition generates a spherical energy shield around her vessel that allows only air and water through it.
Torres replies, "Yes, it is quite impressive, but remember how we had to fight it, and what that means for you."
"Yeah, yeah, I know. I have to turn it off to fire my weapons. Luckily, though, I think I can supply it with enough power to last longer than it did on that weird ship we got it from." The Destroyer says.
"Good, just don't strain yourself. The last thing we need is for you to be too exhausted to fight. Leave the shield off for now. If you detect any unknowns on radar or sonar, switch it on again." The Captain orders.
"Aww…" Herne says, disappointed. "Aye, sir…" she turns off the shield.
2024.
Azur Lane HQ, Secure Bunker.
"Cleveland?"
The newly-revived Eagle Union Cruiser looks at her hands and looks up at her sisters. "Sisters?"
They all continue to stare at her.
"Uh… what's going on?" Cleveland asks.
The Fleet Admiral leaves the room, "I have some serious work to do…"
The Compiler mutters, "It seems I have some glitches present in my program. Commencing scan."
Cleveland looks at her and gets up quickly, "SIREN!" She stumbles back on her legs that are now far shorter than she's used to, falling backwards.
Then she realises what's happened.
She looks like a child.
"What the—!?"
Denver picks her up and coos, "Oh my God, Cleve, you're so small now! You're adorable! You're like a cuddly plushie!"
"Sis… put me down…" Cleveland murmurs, embarrassed. "I'm not that small…"
The flagships all relax their stances, despite the confusion they feel. Enterprise once again followed the Fleet Admiral out, leaving Bismarck to ask, "What the hell happened? What kind of glitch would turn fully mature Schiffsmädchen into children?"
"The process of rebuilding her body had encountered an anomaly. It was likely caused by the same explosion that sent my comrades away. The radiation from the Trinity warhead must have damaged my rigging's programs as well as its structural integrity. I am currently working on restoring all non-offensive systems. A factory reset may be needed." The Complier explains.
"Does this mean I'm the biggest sister now?" Columbia asks.
Monty elbows her, "She's still older than you…"
Cleveland waves her arms and legs around while still suspended, yelling, "DENNY, WILL YOU PUT ME DOWN, PLEASE!?" Trying to escape Denver's grasp.
Birmingham teases, "Maybe because she's so small now, we should call her 'Clevelad' instead?"
"Not funny…" 'Clevelad' pouts.
Biloxi takes her from Denver and sets her down, "Cleve, do you… remember anything? From OpSi?"
Clevelad thinks for a bit and shakes her head, "It gets really fuzzy before we set off… then I don't really remember anything from the first couple of battles onwards… did we win? Also, why am I so small?"
Not fully understanding empathy, the Complier bluntly informs her, "You were killed and sunk protecting your sisters. Azur Lane secured victory and I have joined you as I have no other orders. You are small because of an unforeseen glitch in my revival program."
"Oh… um… so what happened to the other Sirens?" Clevelad asks.
Outside the bunker, Enterprise walks with a silent Fleet Admiral, but not towards the Command Centre, like he had implied.
"Uh… sir? Didn't you say that…"
"That I have a lot of work to do? You came with me to take some of the workload, didn't you?" The man interrupts.
"Well… yes, sir. I assumed we'd be going to your office."
"Not all my work is at a desk, Enty. Come on." He gets his radio and announces on the Azur Lane open channel. "All Kansen with fallen sisters, report to the gathering hall immediately."
"Are there even enough chairs in there…?" Enterprise mutters.
1998.
Meriton Highlands, Usea.
A squad of E-767s retreat out of Allied territory using the cover of night. Their equipment jams the radar of any enemy that gets close, along with interfering with their missile lock-on capabilities while providing the opposite to their escorts.
They've been under constant attacks from the Allied Forces and have lost a good chunk of their power, but they can't be allowed to escape. The Empress has ordered them to get as many electronic support aircraft as they can to safety immediately to give Phoenix a real challenge later on.
"Yes, yes… they're passing over those highlands in the north… they'll be out soon. Finally, something is going to plan… soon, Phoenix will either be dead, or he will be joining the De—"
"Scarface Squadron is attacking them." The Observer interrupts.
"…"
"…"
"WHAT!?" The Empress rushes over to the screen her comrade is watching. "He's there already!?"
The Observer coos, "Ooh… even though his HUD and radar are failing him, he's still shooting them all down so gracefully~" speaking in a way she knows pisses off the Empress.
"I swear, if I didn't need you here, I would've turned your head into a decorative vase by now…"
They watch as the escaping squad is completely shot down. Just when the Empress is about to switch it off, they get an alert.
[WARNING: UNKNOWN AIRCRAFT HAS ENTERED THE AIRSPACE]
Both surprised, they watch in silence.
Keynote radios in, "All electronic warfare aircraft destroyed. Jamming signal has ceased."
Phoenix is about to turn for home, but gets a green blip on his heads-up-display as well as a red blip on his radar.
Right in front of him.
He stares ahead and his IFF identifies it.
F-14D
ZOE
"We've got Rebel reinforcements." Keynote updates. "A red aircraft? I've never seen a paintjob like that before…"
Edge asks, "Does that red aircraft… belong to the Allied Forces?"
Despite being an old Tomcat, the exact second Phoenix locks onto it, it instantly darts away to the right, making him jam his flight stick in the same direction to keep up with it. The F-14D loops around flies right at him, jousting. Phoenix throws his flight stick the other way to evade and it just narrowly misses him, as if trying to scare him.
He looks back over his shoulder and sees the Tomcat moving far faster than it should be able to. It's already got Scarface 1 in its sights, but has to break off when Nagase threatens it.
Keynote comments, "That aircraft's flight patterns are something else…"
Losing it again as it just seems to be untouchable, Edge warns, "I've never seen anything like it… Careful!"
By now, any enemy ace would've opened communications with Phoenix and Edge, but this one is completely silent.
"I don't see any nationality markings… could it be rogue?" Nagase asks.
The F-14D Tomcat was already a tough aircraft to begin with, but this one seems to be so well-armoured that both Scarface 1 and 2 use all their remaining missiles on it. They all hit, but non seem to do anything.
The plane outmanoeuvres Phoenix and gets fully behind him, proving to be impossible to shake off. Scarface 1's plane plays the lock-on sound with no break for a full hour as he tries to get away, with Nagase using her gun on the red plane while at the same time trying not to hit her flight lead.
Phoenix felt thrills fighting Beast 1. Against this… thing? He feels something drastically different.
Luckily, the strange aircraft suddenly breaks off, as if the pilot got bored. It flies away out of the airspace faster than their planes.
"What? He's retreating?" Keynote asks, dumbfounded. "He's pulling away… why didn't he take the shot?"
Phoenix lets out the breath he didn't know he was holding in. He looks down at his hands as he gently lets go of his flight stick. They're shaking.
Was he… scared?
"Just what the hell was that…?" The Empress whispers, impressed. "Who was that pilot?"
"Unknown… it had no markings… and it's IFF signature 'ZOE'… that doesn't appear in any of the records found by Temperance and I…" the Observer answers.
"Whatever that was, we need to keep an eye out for that plane. This 'ZOE' needs investigating." The taller Siren orders.
"I must admit, my curiosity is piqued…" The smaller one confesses as she watches back the footage of the legendary Phoenix, of all pilots, looking like a deer in headlights.
2024.
Azur Lane HQ, gathering hall.
All Kansen that had lost their sisters, apart from the Cleveland Crew, file into the building and take seats.
The Fleet Admiral stands with Enterprise, the Compiler and Graf Spee on the stage with the podium.
The same stage that had been previously used for events, date nights, comedy shows and briefings now serves a far more somber purpose.
The man takes the podium and turns on the microphone, testing it by tapping it lightly, also silencing the chattering Kansen. He begins, "Good evening, girls. You may be wondering why I have gathered you here today, and why the Siren we captured is up on stage with full rigging. Don't worry. If she tries anything, she won't be leaving this building alive. However, she is here to help us, or at least her words an actions so far have suggested so."
He looks at the Siren and he nods.
The Compiler nods back and projects her voice around the room through her rigging, "I am the Siren Elite designation Compiler. I have an emergency program that I have changed into a core program that allows me to resurrect sunk Kansen."
After a solid 5 seconds of awkward silence, the thunderous uproar of shouts and chairs getting kicked over fills the room.
"How fucking DARE you!"
"You killed our sisters, AND NOW YOU MOCK US!?"
"YOU TOOK MY DEAR INDY AWAY!"
"MEINE SCHWESTER IS DEAD! BECAUSE OF YOU! I'LL WRING YOUR NECK!"
"YOU EXPECT ME TO TRUST YOU SIRENS IN BRINGING BACK MY AMAGI AGAIN!? AFTER OROCHI!?"
Despite showing no emotion, Compiler gently grabs Spee's hand for comfort, squeezing it.
Spee looks back at her deadpan face, but sees her eyes start looking at all the Kansen jeering at her. She squeezes her hand back and says, "Don't worry, you'll be okay."
The Fleet Admiral orders, "THAT'S ENOUGH!" His amplified voice drowning out their outcries, silencing them all again. He takes a deep breath to calm himself, and he continues with a level head, "I understand that you all lost your family members during and especially towards the end of Operation Siren, but Compiler here was left with no guidance, no orders and no friends. The rest of the Sirens were not killed by the Trinity warhead. They were sent to another world. Another world where they could potentially be building their forces back up, destroying an alternate humanity that doesn't have Kansen or any other defenders helping them. They will find a way back, I know it."
He looks at the Siren on stage and continues, "Compiler could've fought against us ever since her capture, or at least refused to help us. Instead, she leaped on the opportunity to assist, just to have orders to carry out. She has already proven herself worthy of our trust. Enterprise, if you could?"
The Carrier nods, "Aye, sir." She leaves the room and enters back in with the Clevelands, led by Clevelad herself, leading to dead silence again. Enterprise announces, "Cleveland was sunk in the final stage of Operation Siren. I saw her go under myself. And now, here she is after her Cube was given life again. By Compiler…. Even if… she came back a little… well, little."
"I'm not little!" Clevelad yells back.
Murmurs start among the assembled Kansen. One speaks up, "If she brings Indy back, will she be even more cute!?"
"How is THAT the first thing you think of!?" Another asks.
The Fleet Admiral gets the room back under control again, "Alright, settle down! I'm sure you all have questions, but we have been given a away to bring our fallen back to us, and we're gonna need them when the Sirens return, potentially more powerful than we've ever seen them, so we're here to work out who wants their sisters brought back and who wants to let them rest, and then the order in which they'll be revived."
Discussions, as well as small arguments, are made for the rest of the day in the hall while the Compiler works on removing the glitches in the program. She works out that using the program more times will help cleanse the damages, then it should start restoring Kansen bodies properly.
1998.
Amber Mountains, Usea.
Scarface Squadron once again find themselves having to defend their base from bomber attack, but this time, the bombers are at the very limits of the altitudes their fighters can handle, meaning one wrong move could cause them to stall. They scan their radars and are ready for anything.
"I must be honest, Empress. You know, because I'm literally programmed to be, but I'm willing to admit that you may have actually had an ingenious idea, for once." The Observer announces.
"Was that a compliment or an insult!?" The Empress asks.
"I mean, putting guided bomb payloads on spy planes? I have to say, it's quite outside the box. Phoenix and the other one will struggle at that altitude, as well as the speeds of the U-2 and the SR-71." The smaller Siren continues, ignoring the question.
"Yes, well… if Phoenix doesn't pass this test, then we move onto testing this ZOE aircraft, wherever it went. Even if it's unmanned, it could prove useful to our own drones." The taller one agrees.
"Phoenix, your targets are straight ahead at high altitude. You'll be fighting at the limits of your altitude range. Watch out for hostiles." Keynote informs.
An escorting F-16 gets shot down before the pilot even gets the chance to realise they're under attack. Phoenix and Edge look up to see the two U-2s and the two SR-71s on course for the Allied base.
Already near their altitude limit, and starting to strain their engines, Scarface Squadron carefully pull up to gain even more height to be on the same level. With limited air entering their intakes, they aren't going as fast as they need to be.
Edge suggests, "Phoenix, lower altitude to gain speed, and then attempt to intercept!"
He does so and starts gaining in them from below, like a shark. Climbing through the storm clouds into the bright blue sky, Scarface pounces on the first U-2 at the rear of the formation and fire missiles at it, damaging it but not downing it.
"Hostiles! It's the Allied Forces!" The pilot alerts.
Another reassures him, "Don't worry. We've got the advantage at this altitude."
Diving back down to deal with the other fighter escorts, Scarface both gain speed again and climb up again for another go, shooting out of of the clouds, unleashing attacks and diving back down just like dolphins.
If the dolphins had missile launchers.
"HOW THE HELL IS HE KEEPING UP!?" The Empress yells.
"It seems he has upgraded to another plane."
"What is he flying now!?"
"His old F-22A Raptor from years ago. It is quite fast, indeed." The Observer smiles. "It seems he felt the need to switch back to it in case he encounters that ZOE plane again."
"Damn it… I didn't plan this with the most advanced air-dominance fighter humanity has ever made in our own world in mind!" The Empress complains.
"Perhaps you should've…" the Observer facepalms "…considering what the Demon Lord fought against at Avalon Dam…"
"How the hell is he able to move like that all the way up here!?" The last pilot asks as Phoenix pushes the limits of his old fighter to keep up. Taking a couple of missiles, his SR-71 starts falling from the sky. "Damn it all!"
Keynote reports, "All targets destroyed. You keep your head, even under rough conditions. I just hope that legendary plane of yours hasn't been damaged from over-exertion."
The Empress taps her fingers on her chin, "Hmm… well-played, Phoenix… Observer!"
"Yes, Your Impatience-ness?"
"Send another another bomber squadron out to Anchorhead! I need it back for another plan!"
"And you just assume that Phoenix won't just prevent that, too?" The Observer counters.
"Don't question me! Just do it!"
2024.
Compiler's Atlantic Stronghold, Operation Siren, just before the Azur Lane victory.
The Iron Blood Task Force scouts ahead of the Azur Lane Combined Fleet charging towards the stronghold, steamrolling Sirens all the way there.
Bismarck contacts the ace pilot who has been instrumental in their progress thus far, providing excellent air support and teaching the Carriers how to fly their planes like he can, except they can control entire squadrons at once with his teachings.
"Kriegswolf Eins, we're approaching the stronghold. Multiple Siren fighters and Pawn-class Destroyers are on intercept course with us. Requesting air support."
Warwolf 1 responds, "Roger, Commander. Closing in. Be advised, I only have one Trinity warhead, so you'll have to find me the right opportunity."
"Understood." She switches her attention, "Flottenadmiral, we have engaged the Sirens. They were expecting us as you predicted."
The Fleet Admiral acknowledges, "Damn… I didn't think we'd actually have surprise on our side. Plan B it is, then. Clear the area and we'll back you up when we arrive. No heroics."
"Jawohl!" Bismarck complies, aiming her turrets at the approaching Siren fleet.
Graf Spee and Deutschland pair up and start racking up kills. "HAHAHAHA! JA, COWER BEFORE ME, WEAKLINGS!" The latter yells as she puts holes in the hulls of Pawns.
"Calm yourself, Schwester. We must hold out until reinforcements arrive." Spee reels her in.
Z23 and her sisters surround the bigger Knight-class Light Cruisers in Compiler's Vanguard and pound them from all sides, dodging and weaving around enemy shells and aerial bombs dropped by the Queen-class Carriers in the Siren Main force. "Good work, Schwesters! Let's keep going!"
Bismarck sees suicide boats racing towards her and her fellow Battleships. She yells, "Tirpitz, Scharnhorst, Gneisenau! Busters!"
They acknowledge and focus their AA guns on the explosive boats before they get close, leaving their air defences lacking.
Bismarck looks up an sees torpedo bombers closing in but she has Busters racing at her. "Scheisse…"
Luckily, the bombers are all shot down by none other than Warwolf. Bishop radios, "Sorry to keep you waiting, ladies. Warwolf Squadron, claim back the sky."
The Carriers of Azur Lane all say their own versions of, "Yes, sir!" In unison as their planes fan out and start keeping all the Siren drones busy.
Together between the Siren drones and the countless planes of the Carriers, the sun is almost blocked out.
Not having to worry about air forces, the Kansen focus on the enemy fleet now that the rest of Azur Lane has caught up.
Deutschland smiles wickedly as she sees humanoid Sirens emerge from the armada. She cracks her knuckles and charges forth before Spee can stop her.
"Schwester! Wait!" Spee begs as she gives chase.
"NEIN! I've waited too long for this! HAHAHAHA!" The psychotic Cruiser laughs as she shoots a Peace Breaker in the face with her hand cannon, obliterating her and moving closer to the Compiler, who's already seen her coming.
The Siren says, "Purifer, a Kansen is rapidly approaching me. Please deal with her."
The other Siren Elite nods, "Ooh, this'll be fun!" And moves to intercept.
Bismarck sees Cleveland under heavy fire. She contacts the Kansen who should be watching her back, "Deutschland! What are you doing!? You should be defending the Eagle Union Cruiser!"
"I see the Compiler! I can end this now, Lord Bismarck!" The Iron Blood Cruiser yells.
"NEIN! Get back here now!" The flagship orders. She looks over at Cleveland on her last legs surrounded by Bishop-class Heavy Cruisers. "Scheisse!" She tries to aim at them to help Cleveland, but then they all unleash volleys on her, destroying Cleveland's rigging and plunging her below the waves.
Almost the entirety of the Eagle Union fleet yells, "CLEVELAND! NO!"
Enterprise sees the Cruiser sinking and she races over, just barely missing the chance to pull her back up, and instead fishes her Cube out of the water. "No…"
The Compiler reports, "Observer Zero, The Kansen draw nearer than before. Operation Siren in this timeline has almost become successful. Preparing to open portals to the next timeline. Preparing current timeline for the archives."
Bismarck looks back forward and sees her own Cruiser approaching the Stronghold, and the Sirens start opening portals to escape. "Nein… Kriegswolf Eins! Do it now! All Kansen, get away from the blast zone!"
Lt. Colonel Bishop responds, "Roger that! Commencing Trinity Strike!" He pulls his F-22A away from a drone he was pursuing and switches to his singular cruise missile.
Just when Spee is about to catch her sister, the Purifer kicks her in the face and sends her flying off to the side. She then aims her laser and fires a warning shot at her sister's feet.
"Was…?" Deutschland says as she spins around to find herself staring down the Purifier and her ridiculously powerful laser.
The laser fires and Deutschland dodges it, then fires back, hitting the Siren in the arm, damaging her precise targeting program. "Ow! Fuck you!"
"Screw this! I don't have time for you!" The Iron Blood says as she darts away.
"What! No! You're not allowed to do that! Quit messing with me or you're gonna retreat it!" The Purifer yells as she fires again, just missing the Cruiser. "Dammit!" She reroutes power from her laser to her engines so she can start catching her.
The Compiler notices both Warwolf 1 and Deutschland closing in and she activates an emergency backup program.
When the Iron Blood jumps at her, the Purifier jumps too, grabbing onto her and getting blinded by the Compiler's emergency portal, which disappears in a flash of light, along with the Kansen and the Siren.
The Compiler emotionlessly says, "Heavy Cruiser Deutschland and program Purifer lost."
1998.
Top-Secret Gründer Industries research lab.
The captive Kansen wakes up with a jolt, causing a wave of pain to rush through her body.
She looks around again and instead of being alone like always, she sees the startled Purity sat in the corner watching her. The Siren stands and walks over to her. She gently puts her hand on the Kansen's forehead. "I know you… but… I just… can't remember… are you able to speak?"
The Kansen painfully, slowly shakes her head. She can't even breathe without a machine, let alone speak. She feels like her body is comatose while her mind is still conscious.
"Damn… I'm sorry you have to go through this… I'm trying to talk to Morgan… but I'm not sure what to say to get him to treat you nicer… I… I suppose… I could be here for you. We could be friends if you want.
Friends?
The Kansen stares at Purity. She could use a friend in this place, perhaps it would make being here less painful, but a Siren? There was a t8me she'd die before even speaking in good terms with one, but in some strange twist of fate, the one Siren in this hell seems to be her salvation. As much as it pains her, both physically and mentally, she slowly nods. She even manages a small smile.
Purity smiles back. "I'm gonna help you. I can't get your Cube back into your chest, but I'm gonna see if I can get your strength back up, okay?"
The Kansen nods again. Purity goes to sit at the desk in the room, still within the Kansen's field of view. She looks at the Siren typing away through the research notes to see if she can help. A single tear rolls down her cheek. She had thought herself incapable of shedding any more, but she'd forgotten about tears of happiness.
And the feeling of hope.