*This is ported by Wattpad, feel free to come by as I've focused on making stories there rather here*
Nothing to say here, but glad this story is getting a lot more reception.
If you have any problems, I'll mention them at below about the main criticism I have with this story, for now, enjoy!
The harbor has been repaired, all the Manjuus are feeling success upon the longtime duty they performed. Just then, San Diego appears by their side, which is spectating the view of the vast ocean.
Surprised! She gasped upon what she was witnessing from her very eyes, "They're here!" Shouting her lungs, she runs back to the base.
Bursting through the door, screaming the same phrase again, which others inside perked up by her words. Cleveland spoke out who is with her sisters, "They are back?" She asked.
"Yeah! With Red Axis Baddies!" San Diego added, which gained a reaction out of them.
"Hah?! Wait, you're not making this clear!" Cleveland fretted.
"Come on!" San Diego then practically drags her, with her sisters in shock quickly following them. The rest of the Azur Lane quickly follow up to reach the docks.
Out there, they stood, and what they were witnessing in front, was a fleet of recognizable Kansens, nearly half of them in a similar fate to the likes of Hornet and Hood... Seeing a lot of them, surprises them and seeing none other as their Commander Xavier being carried by Rossiya.
Slowly reaching the dock, they step out, Queen Elizabeth, Rossiya, and Richelieu step onto the ground, which Xavier is settled down as he stands on. Then Yat Sen goes up to them, "Commander... You're okay... What is going on?" She wondered, seeing the Red Axis joins the rest with the remaining Azur Lane squadron.
"There's been a problem. But right now, the Red Axis lost half of their fleet, and we need to treat them now." Xavier firmly stated.
Yat Sen sees more of them landing, Wales was carrying Akashi who's still hurt. Then Ark Royal came into the Sakura Empire Destroyers, however she looked more somber after noticing they were in fear and tears from their faces. Quickly the mood has changed for the Aircraft Carrier.
Seeing this situation is more dire than realized... She nodded, "Very well, we'll need to extend the clinic." Yat Sen turns to see Vestal who is shocked upon the witness. The repair ship comes up to none other than to unconscious Bismarck who is carried by Tirpitz.
Meanwhile Javelin and Laffey are along with Z23 and Ayanami who have been quiet this whole time since the trip and arrival. The latter two won't even glance at their so-called friends, while Javelin and Laffey gazes at them with worry.
The ocean breezes loud, until a massive ship pierces the calm sea. Oswald remained standing on the top deck with a proud smile as his purple glowing eyes scoped the entire vast view of the massive body of seawater.
From his perspective, it's more than that... His eyes see further, seeing none other as one of the massive harbor itself, "There it is... One of the main walls between the ocean and humanity..." Oswald remarked while Orochi was right behind him standing like a statue. Then he laughs in admiration, "Soon as we destroy the mainline, those who fail the eyes of the powerful, shall be perished." He stops his laugh. "Commence the assault." He commanded.
Orochi's visor glows red, as the massive vessel glows more red lines, engines boost, the ship moves faster towards the harbor...
At the Azur Lane main land, nearly everyone is outside the clinic, the entire area was changed with many hospital beds, most of them are make-shift. Rossiya, Richelieu, Queen Elizabeth, Yat Sen, and Cleveland are with Tirpitz, Jean Bart, Nagato, and Vittirio.
They learned everything that has happened at the base; much is discovered just as a result of their exclamations.
"How did he...?" Cleveland muttered, almost in denial.
"We do not know, all we know is that this bastard is back and regaining Orochi." Jean Bart scoffed. "And Akagi is taken by him." She glanced at Kaga who was still silent.
Washington then comes and intervenes in the discussion, "I still can't believe he is alive, and if it weren't you all just left us behind and made Orochi it would not happen!" She exasperated, glaring at the Red Axis leaders.
Jean Bart grunted, "Oi, just you-" Until Nagato raised her hand in front of her to stop her talking.
"We... Understand." Nagato admitted their actions. "We've all come to agree to proceed with this project... All due to Akagi's action." She explained.
"You think that's an excuse?" Washington rebuked. "We are all lost and in grief... We can't just stray ourselves because of this!"
"Enough." Richelieu calmly speaks out to Washington, who grumbles and crosses her arms. "We understand your grievance. And we all forgive you, at least until later all of us have to accept." She glanced at Washington who walked off the group.
Rossiya then speaks to the lurking threat, "And Orochi and Oswald? Where are they going?" She asked.
"North West." Tirpitz said, "He's heading to the US mainland defense." She stated.
Queen Elizabeth's eyes widened in panic, "If he's coming there, and manages to destroy it, the line will be breached!" She exclaimed.
"And it will destroy the remaining forces of humanity..." Vittirio speaks with shame and sorrow.
"Well, we can't go down moody, we got to fight back!" Elizabeth grunted.
Jean Bart scoffed, "We lost half of our faction, some if not most of them are our strongest, and sorry to balk down your side, but neither are showing much advantages." She listed the negatives. "We... Are lost." She affirmed.
"..." The leaders remain silent by her words.
Meanwhile, Javelin and Laffey are with Z23 and Ayanami, who still haven't spoken. Javelin however, doesn't want the silent treatment, "Nimi, Ayanami, can you both please talk to us?" She requested.
"...What's there to say?" Nimi asked while Ayanami glanced at them.
"Anything, just, we can't just forget our moments together right now." Javelin begged.
"Javelin..." Ayanami spoke up, "Why try to be so... Yourself?" She asked, this confused her which she had to explain further, "You are still the same, after many times, when we first met, when we fought against each other, and now you're doing it again." She said,
"It's because... This time, we know what you're going through..." Javelin replied.
Laffey joins as she yawns, "We are all looking for something... Before we seek love... And now... We are just searching for another... And we can keep looking together... With Commander..." Hearing her words surprises the two, not just that, but she's getting less tired and those are just pauses and not breaks... "Just please... We can still be together..."
Ayanami and Z23 look at each other, "She's right..." A voice spoke out, the second Commander came in. "I know you two are going through..." He comes to the two, he places his hands on their shoulders as Z23 and Ayanami looks at him. "Right now, you both need comfort, so come to them..." He walks off, letting their shoulders go, as the two look at him go to none other than Kaga...
Kaga remains standing far more than the others... Until Xavier came beside her, now glancing for a moment before quickly looking away. She still doesn't want to speak, but knowing he's not going to walk away... "What do you want?" She demanded.
"...I want to speak to you closely." He said with genuine calmness in his voice.
Kaga notices the tone, but retains her stern look... "If you're going to speak to me like you did to those two, forget it." She scoffed.
"I know. You won't listen..." Xavier replied, "But you can't ignore..." He added.
"..." Kaga remains silent.
"I have a sister..." Kaga's eyes tensed upon the reveal of this information, "Surely your bond with Akagi, you can relate." He continues on, "While they don't face the same journey, it is really up to us. We are the other side as their siblings... When she was lost in the battle of war, I drew so much to her, when losing her I felt something detached inside of me. And that's caring. I lost the will to care for anyone because of someone close to me. In the brink of war, you can relate, when losing someone close, something you need to attach in the cold, harsh, and dark place. And you're lucky to have a lot." He said.
"..." Kaga continues to be in silence, then she turns her head, gazing her eyes at his face.
"And since then, I realized that this stray away from others, doing something dark, it's not going to heal the scar, it gets worse." He goes close to her, holding her hand with his own. "You have your sister, taken, but alive. And we need all we can to get her back before she and the world is gone."
Kaga looks at the hand holding, there flashes memories... Of the Commander from before... Red eyes and his usual grin, holding her hand. Small blushes on her cheeks occur, before lowered to look at the current Commander's silver eyes that gaze brighter than before...
"...You have changed." Kaga simply spoke out. Then Xavier remains unfazed by her words, "It seems that you do have something deep inside, less heartless..." She muttered.
"You and Akagi are right, before then, I have no heart for those willing to care about others." Then he takes out the glowing Wisdom Cube he had this entire time, "This shows me something more, that despite war, there is something out there worth living, than surviving." He stated as he let go of the hand grip.
Now Kaga stares at the very same Wisdom Cube, then at him, "Agreed." She nodded, "Till the very end, and now, you seek the reason to fight, as I do. Today, we will fight the enemy together." She affirmed.
Xavier hears this and smiles, "Then we better not wait..." He said, heading to the group as Kaga followed. Upon arriving, Javelin, Laffey, Z23, and Ayanami, along with the leaders of the factions and everyone else. They all turned to see them coming in, "Alright everyone, those who are well and ready to fight, stand up." He announced.
Those who got up, confused, Javelin spoke up in front of everyone, "Commander? Do you have a plan?" She asked.
"I do, but it's not the best." He admitted, this caused some concern for others, "However, I am willing to take the chance to take the shot." He turns to Belfast who is near, and whispers to her ear, leading a reaction of a bit of surprise. He nodded in confirmation as she sighed and complied, heading to somewhere. Then he returns the gaze on the others, "And those who are willing to fight, come with me." He walks off.
"..." Silence for the Azur Lane and Red Axis, but hearing his words, they slowly follow him. Meanwhile those still not wanting to fight or those in recovery watch in wonder and concern upon today's circumstances...
At the massive cafeteria hall, those with fighting capabilities, they are there standing. While Xavier is standing there, until Belfast arrives with a certain someone, Kawakaze, her eyes widen upon seeing her allies then the Commander... But not only just those moments that surprise her... It's his demeanor and the presence is different.
And just that, her bonds are removed by Belfast, rubbing her wrists upon the release. Kawakaze gazes back at him, who doesn't flinch at the situation she could possibly take. Then she glances at Shigure, Yuudachi, and Yukikaze, and back to Xavier... "I accept this, truce..." She affirmed before joining the Red Axis side.
With that, Xavier turns to the rest, "Now, everyone, now we should understand that Orochi is on loose and plans to destroy the mainland defense. We need to find a way to sabotage the vessel before it can destroy the entire land." He stated.
"How will that happen?" Jean Bart assumed this plan. "We witnessed its power, it simply made the island vanish with nothing at trace. How can you deal with such technology?"
"Because he has dealt with similar tech before..." Belfast mentioned, gaining a glance, "He has a thing with technology that is supposed to be surpassing human tech." She explained.
"And with that, I can override the weapon and easily dismantle it with ease." Xavier replied.
"Even if you can get there, what makes you sure you can pass the others?" Jean Bart questioned the Commander.
"That's where we all need to fight... All of us, together. A final charge to distract Oswald, long before a small squadron can get inside." Xavier affirmed the plan. "And with hope, we can stop the threat before the Sirens come and finish the job. After all, we are their last chance to truly stop them."
"So a slim chance..." Jean Bart scoffed, as Richelieu somberly gazed at her.
"Commander... You face such confidence, yet you are sure this will work within a slim chance?" Vittirio wondered with respect, letting out a silence from him as the rest waited for his response...
"...I am not sure." He admits, much to their reactions of slight shock mixed with disappointment. "But a slim chance is better than nothing. As long as we move in quickly, we have a small window of opportunity, before the weapon can be relaunched once more. I've discovered a pathway to send the communication to you, and if I can find the panel to shut it down, Orochi will be shut down and Oswald will be by himself." He stated.
"While we hold him and forces off, knowing the madman's ego, the scales can be tipped easily..." Kawakaze remarked.
"But those drones?" Cleveland recalled, "Orochi itself can produce hundreds of them. How exactly can we prevent being overwhelmed?"
"Well, we know the anatomy of these creations." Prinz Eugen added. "Should be a piece of cake, if you lead us, do the frontlines and watch and learn." She gives a small smile.
"Is that gonna help us from getting swarmed?" Washington asked, which Prinz Eugen admittedly shrugged, grunting by this response, "Well, no matter what we do, we are gonna die, right?" She sighed.
"If we are to die, then we will die, fighting, all as one. Together." Xavier stated as he gazed at many faces, Musashi, Shinano, Ulrich, Tirpitz, Kaga, Prince of Wales, Belfast, Sheffield, and many more.
"Together." They all speak in unison, as Javelin, Laffey, Ayanami, and Nimi, gaze at each other, nodded with determination.
With the plan announced to all, the remaining Azur Lane and Red Axis who are still unable to fight or stand by watch about a few hundreds of Kansens heading out. Vestal and Akashi watch with hope and concern for their duty. With farewells to the incapacitated, Ark Royal waves to the Sakura Empire Destroyers before joining the others.
At the clinic, Yorktown gazes at the window joined with Hammann and Sims is by her side. Enterprise, who is also there, watches closer and sees Xavier with them. Her expression shifted as well as her fist clenched while her eyes focused on the leaving fleet... If only she couldn't stay there feeling helpless...
And she's not the only one... They'll need a miracle to stop this...
At the harbor, already chaos erupted. The attack has commenced and has continued on. The mainland wall was broken, turret cannons were destroyed leaving smoke and fire.
Many men and women in rank are running to form up as more drones fly above and shoot them down. A few took cover, but the rest got hit. Retaliation occurs, but is unsuccessful. The red and black drones continue to fly above, whilst shot down by anti air, there are too many in numbers. They form up to perform attacks as more reinforcements from the defense arrive with tanks and transports.
From afar, Orochi's vessel is quite far from the ocean and the mainline defense. Oswald continues to watch the smoke and flames witnessed on the very main sanctuary of the human land.
"Rejoice! For your pain to be finally put to an end!" He laughs, raising his arms up above his chest area. However Orochi notices something from the left. He notices, "What is it?" He asked as he turned to see what's far...
Eyes widen upon what he sees... He sees Musashi, Shinano, Kronstadt, Vanguard, New Jersey, at the front, the powerful ones... But that's not just them that are here...
He gazes closer and sees a large line formation of Azur Lane and Red Axis together. Many if not reaching to hundreds...
"So... They decided to form up." Oswald scoffed, but admittedly was impressed. He turns to Orochi, "Take care of them, summon the army." He commanded as the giant robot walked forward after the command.
Orochi lands on the ocean with a heavy splash and slowly stomps forward. Then more drone skeletons emerge out of the hull as they crawl before going bipedal, slowly they are marching following Orochi from behind.
Then it raises its fist, halting the now already summoned army swarm of drones who snarl while twirling their daggers and small arm cannons. They are waiting for the charge...
On the other side, Musashi summons her rigging big mecha hands wielding a giant sword. Ulrich, New Jersey and many others ready their cannons. And so does the rest...
Tirpitz, Kaga, and Wales come up to the front with Nagato, Queen Elizabeth,Warspite, Vittirio, Jean Bart, Yat Sen, and Richelieu joining together... Silence upon seeing in front of them, a massive black wall, from a distance it is, but look closer as many drone skeletons snarl like feral animals, waiting to make their move.
The first three looked at each other, Wales, Kaga, and Tirpitz nodded in unison. A second past, they charged forward with speed, ripping the water surface as they moved like fast boats on the sea.
The rest of the Azur Lane and Red Axis, now for a moment, become the fully united force joining the charge, catching up with the first three as they unleashed their battle cries, with cannons charged, expanding, and planes flying forward with blitzing speed!
Orochi roars, opening its mask showing its mouth and call, as it runs with the drones following up. Then the giant robot's arm transforms into a minigun and aims at the opposing forces whilst firing. The drones follow up and firing with their cannons, shooting lasers.
Tirpitz blocks the shots as well as Wales, Kaga dodges them, same occurs for everyone. Two forces go closer...
The Kansens readied their blades and weapons... Same for Orochi's forces... Then their glasses harden on their soulless enemies... Until finally, the first clash sparked!
Tirpitz blocks a downward slash by Orochi who later kicks her before proceeding further... Wales and Kaga join Tirpitz with Orochi as many other clashes with the drones. Kawakaze goes further, slashing the drones mid-section into half-size corpses, while Prinz Eugen fires them down while the riggings devour them, Warspite slashes them, and many others join in, easily taking down the drones.
From the right side, Xavier is on a small boat with none other than Javelin, Laffey, Ayanami and Z23. "How is it?" He asked.
"Orochi and its forces taking the bait, but Oswald is still there." Z23 stated.
"...Well, you four can take him right?" He assumed.
"Leave it to us, Commander, we will take him, all you need to sneak up and shut it down!" Javelin spoke with determination.
"We believe in you Commander..." Laffey nodded, with Ayanami joining as well.
"You can do it." Ayanami stated.
With that heard from them, Xavier nodded, "Alright... Let's go." After the command, they head to the vessel...
Word Count - 3275
Two more chapters left, then Arc 1 is complete! Overall, liking the story I have it written?
Rest assure, the Arc 2 will be more better developed for the girls themselves, after all, this is a Commander's story. Which is the main criticism I feel when writing this story.
Not enough Kansens, I wish I can portray them more in the story more often. Such as other iconic or less iconic girls. But rest assure, maybe I can redeem it by planning a spin-off anthology of the story that'll take place between Arc1 and Arc 2! Something like Slow Ahead, whatever it goes, I am thinking of going with this.
Thoughts?
With that said, stay tune until the finale!