1998.

Estovakian Police Station, interrogation room.

Corporal Voychek grunts as he picks himself up, nursing his concussed head. He stumbles trying to balance himself. The soldier looks around and sees a blood trail leading out of the room. All his comrades are dead and the Siren and the Colonel are no longer present. He stands up muttering, "Maybe I should just join the Air Force… then I can get away from shit like this…"

He grabs a rifle from one of his fallen comrades and follows the blood to the motor pool, only to find nobody else there, but a vehicle missing.

"Damn it! Where did they go!?"

Estovakian Research Facilities.

Having driven to their destination, the Tester walks with Colonel Gustav, both pretending to be together or she will kill him. Using his clearance, he's let in and he's forced to show her the Chandelier project.

"You're building a massive railgun that launches projectiles the size of freight trains faster than the speed of sound?" The Siren asks.

Reluctant to explain, the Colonel answers, "…Yes."

"What for?" The Tester asks casually as she digs the barrel of the pistol further under his ribcage.

Wincing, he continues, "It is purpose-built to shoot down an incoming meteor, Ulysses 1994XF04. If it isn't destroyed, it could doom us all. Osea have developed their own weapon to counter it but they're unable to help us with ours so we're behind schedule."

"How… does it turn?" The Tester questions, not seeing any pivot points for the colossal cannon. Unlike Stonehenge, Chandelier seems unable to point in any other direction than straight forward.

"It is being built upon an iceberg in the Razgriz Strait up here, just off our northern coast." The man points at the location on a map of the world. The landmasses are all different, but some coastlines and islands seem similar to landmasses in the world the Tester came from, as if somebody cut them out and put them in different places and drew new lines to connect them. Gustav continues, "The iceberg carries the weapon, tugboats tow and turn the ice, and that is used to adjust the trajectory. Its location close to the North Pole ensures the iceberg will not melt or drift out of the Strait."

"Hmm… at least some of you humans aren't as stupid as you act." The Tester responds, impressed. Not having to worry about turning the cannon means a bigger, more powerful gun can be built. Much more powerful than Stonehenge, but it won't be able to defend itself with even a fraction of the ability the Osean weapon can. Even with the borderline-excessive amounts of AA and SAM sites, Chandelier is very vulnerable.

The Tester's attention, however, is drawn to another plan code-named "Moby Dick." She points to it, "What's that?"

Gustav grunts and explains, "That is the weapon we are planning to use to protect Chandelier. The Aigion-class Heavy Command Cruiser, itself guarded by two heavily-armed smaller ships and another two support ships providing it and the squadrons based on its runway with electronic aid. It is a Belkan design. We partnered with them."

"Is that being built right now, too?"

"…yes, it is." The man replies.

"Take me to see it."

"You have to be joking…" the man looks at her.

"Do I look like a fucking joke to you?" The Siren demans and presses the gun barrel painfully even further under his ribs.

"Okay, okay… I'll… I'll get us a visit…" Gustav relents.

"That's a good, obedient human..." The Tester sadistically whispers in his ear. "I'm actually starting to consider keeping you."

Top-Secret Gründer Industries research lab.

Morgan and Schroeder take a break and talk while walking the base. They casual conversation is interrupted by an explosion. They look at where it came from and it's the Kansen research lab.

"Oh no…" Morgan grunts, "Purity, what did you do?"

Schroeder says, "We need to get to the bunker. Come."

The base alarms ring out and armed units go to try and secure the two women who walk out of the smoke cloud.

Morgan stops as his attention is caught by the smoking barrels of Deutschland's rigging. An oblivious Schroeder manages to get to safety while Morgan is frozen.

The angry Kansen looks around and sees the man who violated and butchered her. "YOU! I'M GOING TO GUT YOU!" She aims her turrets at him.

Not wanting to see how well his body takes the firepower of an old Pocket Battleship, Morgan finds the feeling in his legs and takes off running…

…and bumps right into Purity.

"Where do you think you're going, 'honey'?" The Siren asks in a dark tone.

"Puri! Please, help me!" He begs.

"Nah." She shrugs. "You used me. Took my memories. And then you told me to kill that poor girl."

"Puri! Please! I… I'll give you them back! They're all on this!" He pleads and holds up the flash drive while Deutschland approaches.

"They… they are?" Purity asks as she takes the storage device.

"He's lying, Purifier! Don't trust him!" The Kansen yells, letting loose a fatal Freudian slip.

The Siren looks at her and repeats, "…'Purifier'?"

"Was?"

"You called me 'Purifier'…"

Morgan looks between them and starts slinking away.

Deutschland tries to recover, "Uh… I mean…"

"You know what I really am, don't you?" Purity asks her with a look of betrayal in her eyes.

The Kansen takes a step back, "Purity, bitte… don't download what's on that… you're better person without it…"

Her voice shaky, Purity retorts, "…you lied to me… how can I trust anything you say now…?" She shoves the flash drive into to scar on her head, cutting through it and transferring everything back into her mind, making her golden eyes start glowing yellow and summoning her rigging.

"NEIN!"

2024.

Azur Lane HQ, Eagle Union section.

Enterprise had asked to be alone for a while, despite Yorktown and Hornet's most desperate attempts to comfort her. She sits alone against a tree overlooking the gigantic harbour of the HQ, holding warships from all over the world, all controlled by Kansen. She looks at her own, CV-6, flanked on both sides by her former sisters, now Essex-classes with angled flight decks. She flicks her hand and her ship starts leaving to go be on its own like herself.

"I'm the only one of my class…" she mutters. "Why am I always the only one to make it…?"

"Because you're the strongest of us."

Enterpise looks up and to the side to see her wife looking down at her with compassion. She says, "Not anymore. What are you doing here?"

"Am I ever in need of a reason to check on one I love so dearly?" The Head Maid smiles. "May I sit with you?"

"…yeah, of course you can…" the Carrier nods. "We're oathed now, Bel. You don't have to keep up the maid act with me."

"Ah, and here I thought you were quite into my little act, Enty." Belfast teases as she sits next to her. "At least when we're alone and in bed~"

Blushing and looking back down at the ships, Enterprise sees a modern Type-26 Frigate docking itself next to her Carrier. She smiles and says, "You can be worse than Prinz Eugen, you know that?"

Chuckling, Belfast asks, "Whatever do you mean, Enterprise?"

"You know what I mean. You're always several steps ahead. You always have been, I can't help but wonder how you do it." The Carrier answers.

"Yes, I do pride myself on always being prepared as Her Majesty's Head Maid." The Cruiser replies.

"Then how did you get sunk during Operation Siren?" Enterprise looks at her again. "I've done so much, and you always have a backup for everything, but I still couldn't prevent you dying. I watched you go under. I've never seen you look so scared. So… lifeless. I stared into your eyes and all I could feel was guilt, and you blaming me. The same exact thing I felt when I saw my sisters die. And now they're back and not even my sisters anymore… and…"

"…yes?" Belfast softly asks, gently pulling her into a hug.

"If they're no longer who I know them as… then… what about you?"

"What do you mean?"

"Just look at your ship down there. It's not the Town-class anymore. Are you even the same Kansen I love so much?" Enterprise asks, her voice barely above a whisper.

Gently caressing her lover's arm, Belfast replies, "Of course I am, Enterprise. Your sisters are, too. Just because we have new ships doesn't make us different people. Miss Yorktown and Miss Hornet are only Miss Essex's sisters in ship class. They still see you as their real sister. I do remember when I sunk. I wasn't blaming you. I was saving you."

"You…" she looks up at her, "You… saved me?"

"Yes. It was the only way. I had to make sure you got to the end, considering you had Lt. Colonel Bishop on board. You hadn't noticed a full volley of torpedoes targeted at your ship and you wouldn't have been able to move in time. I did what had to be done. I summoned my ship, took the hit and put up that smokescreen for you. I was terrified because I thought I would never know if my sacrifice worked… and because I feared what would happen to you if I wasn't around. It doesn't make it your fault, and you didn't fail to protect me, I merely succeeded in protecting you, just like I swore to do so to both you and Her Majesty." Belfast explains.

After a few seconds of silence, Enterprise finally returns the embrace. "You… won't leave me now that I'm alone again?"

"Don't be silly, Enterprise. That's no reason to leave you, and you are not alone. You never have been, and you never will be."

"That's right, sis."

"We'll always be here for you, dear sister."

Enterprise looks the other way and sees her sisters, still fully accepting her. They approach and join in on the hug.

After a while, the Compiler appears with Graf Spee. The Siren states, "Enterprise."

Slowly, the Carrier stands up and looks at her. "What?" She asks, with more hostility than she intended.

Her tone makes the normally emotionless Siren hesitate, but Spee encourages her like a supportive big sister. She looks at Enterprise and offers, "I have been able to fabricate an update for your rigging based off Warwolf's description of your modern ship in his world. Would you like me to update it for you?"

The Carrier gets a hopeful look. "I… I have a new ship, too!?"

The Siren nods, "Affirmative. Gerald R. Ford-class USS Enterprise. Designation CVN-80."

After a round of confusion among the assembled Kansen, Belfast asks. "If I may, what does the 'N' stand for in that designation?"

The Compiler simply answers, "Nuclear."

1998.

Seals Bridge Ravine.

Fensalir sits in her bridge, scanning the skies with her radar. The Lurker ordered her back to the base she and her sister were built at for a refuelling while her older sister is with the Siren on a different mission.

She already misses Folkvanger deeply and this is the first time she's been separated from her, but she knows she'll see her again soon. Right now she only has the company of several ballistic missiles ready to fire.

Suddenly she gets a ping on her radar.

"Hm?" The young Supersub hums.

She sees it's an Allied Forces patrol helicopter, scouting out the area.

"Um… should I do something? It's just a small helicopter…" Fensalir asks nobody. "Maybe we can be friends…?"

When it flies away, she sits back down and sighs, "I guess not…"

"Fen, you okay?" Folkvangr manages to contact her.

"Folky! Are you coming home too?"

"I'm afraid not, sister. I'm contacting to warn you that you may be in trouble soon. You need to get back to base as fast as you can, okay?" The elder instructs.

"Okay! Don't worry, big sister! Nothing can bring us down!" Fensalir naively chirps. "There was an enemy helicopter in the area just now but I scared it off!"

"Yeah…" Folkvangr sighs. "… wait, WHAT!?"

The Lurker looks at her, "You okay?"

Folkvangr yells, "We need to go back! Now!" the two Submarines start heading back, just hoping they can get there in time…

Allied Forces Airbase, Usea.

Keynote briefing Phoenix in his plane as he is taxiing as this mission is urgent. They can't afford to wait for Edge or Slash to join him so he wastes no time with the briefing. The hologram appears in his cockpit and Keynote begins, "We have reports of Allied ships being attacked by an unknown enemy in the waters near Seals Bridge Ravine. Patrol helicopters were able to get a visual on the threat in the vicinity."

Phoenix's hologram shows the right ravine with a massive ship highlighted deep within it.

"It turns out to be the advanced Submarine that the Allied Forces HQ has been desperately searching for since the rebellion first began. A nuclear-powered Dragonet-class Sub, Fensalir. It has advanced ballistic missile firing capabilities as well as a Kansen, and so must be destroyed at all costs. It is believed the Submarine will dock at a secret refuelling station deep in the Seals Bridge Ravine. You must destroy the Fensalir before she reaches the dock."

As Phoenix gets up in the air, Keynote concludes the briefing, "The enemy air radar network has been set up outside of the ravine, so you must stay within it. You're a legendary ace, Phoenix, but not even you will last long

against that many SAMs. It's quite a miracle the scout helicopter made it back. The ravine will also get narrow at parts, so it'll require precise handling. Good luck, Scarface 1." His voice cuts out and the hologram switches off. Phoenix cracks his knuckles and neck and pushes his throttle forward.

Some time later, Scarface 1 enters the ravine and gets another reminder to not gain altitude from Keynote. Winding around the tight canyon, Phoenix pushes his airframe to the limit to reach the target as fast as he can.

Fensalir has been alerted to the Phoenix himself hunting her down. Terrified to the point of crying, she rushes to her base. The ravine walls either side of her may prevent torpedo attacks, but not missiles. The shallow water prevents her submerging, too.

"Gotta get away! Gotta get away!"

Having his plane rolled 90°, Scarface 1 moves around the rock walls like a snake chasing a mouse around a maze. His instincts serve him well as he chooses the correct paths to take towards the Submarine.

"Sister! Sister! Please help me!" Fensalir begs on the radio as the enemy blip on her radar gets closer.

"Just hang on, Fen! I'm coming!" Folkvangr tries to comfort her, knowing she's unable to do anything. She looks at the Lurker and yells "Can't you make a portal there!?"

The Siren counters, "I can't make one big enough for the whole thing in that enclosed space!"

"Then make a small one just for her Kansen!"

"I'm trying! It's difficult!"

Phoenix finally has the Supersub in his sights. He releases his anti-ship payload…

"Folky! Help—" Fensalir's radio transmission is reduced to static right after an explosion.

"Fen!? Fensalir!? SISTER!?" Folkvangr yells. "No…" she looks at the Siren again, but there's only a small portal where she was. Before Folkvanger can follow her through it, she comes back with the Cubes of her younger sister.

"I'm sorry. I was too late." The Lurker solemnly says, actually feeling sad herself, even if she can't fully understand why. She hands the Cubes over to Folkvangr, who takes them gently.

"Fen…"

"Enemy Dragonet-class Submarine has been destroyed. Good work, Phoenix. Return to base." Keynote orders. Phoenix performs a manoeuvre to turn around without crashing and escapes the ravine the same way he came in.

The Empress is contacted by the Lurker. "Speak."

The Siren Sub reports, "Fensalir has been destroyed, Your Highness."

"WHAT!? By whom!?"

"Guess."

"Rrrghh… THAT DAMN PHOENIX!" The Empress shrieks, shaking her fists in the air.

The Observer stares at her with a deadpan expression. She asks, "Really?"

The Lurker then asks, "Uh… what should I do with Folkvangr?"

"… put her on standby for now." The Empress orders after thinking. "If the Allied Forces manage to take Saint Ark, then she'll be our backup plan—" she interrupted by an alert.

The Observer looks at it, "Ooh, one of our squadrons has been alerted to an Allied squadron over Schofields Plataeu."

"Is it Scarface!?" The Empress demands.

"No, this looks like a rookie squad on a training mission."

"Well, then. I could use some cheering up." The Empress smiles as she starts watching from one of their drones.

2024.

Azur Lane HQ.

Enterprise prepares for her rigging upgrade. The Compiler gently attaches one of her tendrils to the Carrier's chest to interject with her Cube.

"Initiating upgraded hull data upload. This will feel very strange as you will be skipping CVN-65 in favour of the more powerful CVN-80 hull."

"Just do it quick, then." Enterprise responds. Yorktown and Hornet hold her hands while Belfast hugs her from behind, while Spee and the Essex sisters all prepare in case the Siren tries anything.

The Compiler warns, "It will also hurt. Do not worry. It will not last long." She begins and Enterprise tenses up and grunts as if she's just been tased. Yorktown and Hornet actually struggle to keep her still. Her ship starts to glow in the harbour, attracting the attention of pretty much everyone on base, including the Fleet Admiral.

After the process is finished, the Siren releases her and says "Process complete."

Essex looks back at the CVN-80, and although it's taken on a new shape, it starts to disintegrate. "Oh crap…"

"Well… that was more painful than I…" Enterprise trails off as she collapses, unconscious.

"ENTERPRISE!?"