Another one, Enjoy


Sue, The gigantic KX-03, is guided towards the port by tug boats. Its camouflage-painted exterior classes with the red swirls of the Sakura Empire against the blue sea. Akagi looked on with pride at the achievement of her empire while Taihou looked on lazily at it, unimpressed with the beast, as she took the chance to wrap herself around the Commander while Akagi wasn't paying attention. The sun rose over the sea, and Sue's actual size soon drew the shipgirls' attention and the local port security.

"My word! It's the size of a cruiser!" Belfast and Atago gasp.

Due to its size, she was moored in the middle of the harbor, pointing toward the open sea. A small PT boat sat at the ready to transport Karl and his four staff shipgirls. Akagi receives a call from Amagi and is recalled, along with Taihou, reluctantly, for a meeting. They were leaving Belfast and Atago to stay with Karl. But there was one more: Takao. The samurai watches the trio on the dock from her position at the mouth of the harbor. The mood was different; I was more tense and unsure than before. Commander Karl always had a case of RBF, a disrespectful acronym meaning resting bitch face, but the girls picked up rather quickly he wasn't a man made of stone. His eyes and how he stood spoke volumes to everyone around him: Focus on the Mission.

The flying boat's size dwarfed everything around its hull, but Karl wasn't impressed even while its power and a tugboat turned it around. His movements were hasty and quick, guiding Atago and Belfast onto the PT boat. Shortly, the American PT boat lumbered over to the sea monster of a plane.

"Commander is en route to the plane," Takao reports. "Stay on your guard."

Everyone acknowledges Takao's report. But Takao felt as if something was wrong. Between the Commander's recklessness, the repeated META attacks, and the welfare of her beloved sister. Takao couldn't precisely say with confidence that she trusted the Commander. But Atago did; she needed to find out whether or not it was unfounded. The company he kept was odd, Akagi and Taihou. But Belfast as well? The two carriers always begged for some attention or a chance to be at the center of attention, even during Commander Helena's time at port. Akagi needed to be better regarded after attempting to take the Sakura Empire to extremes not seen since the empire's founding. After being pardoned by Yamato herself, many still distrusted her, but they were already Akagi's enemies. The Red Castle was always a hothead, arrogant without remorse, and willing to use any trick to achieve victory. But after Amagi returned, Akagi tempered herself. However, it didn't mean she became passive. Her rash nature and brutal mentality remained. She was, after all, the flagship in Kido Butai's rampage across the Pacific. Maybe she sees something like that in the Commander and respects that.

Taihou was different yet similar to Akagi in so many ways. Taihou is intelligent and is known for her ability to pick up new hobbies and talents easily. The girl knew how to sew elaborate dresses and outfits by hand, cook bountiful meals of high quality, play instruments, and even perform as an idol and race queen at least two or three times! She was launched much later than Akagi, making her the junior, but in terms of improvements, Taihou was better. However, her combat experience was less vast than Akagi's. Taihou participated in some operations during Siren I and later in Siren II, but not as much as Akagi. Even with her inexperience compared to seniors, Takao saw Taihou lead operations independently. However, she needed more time as a flagship before being considered for a higher leadership position. The phoenix was headstrong, calculating, and meticulous, Just like Akagi.

That may be why they didn't like each other. A generational difference on top of competition for the attention of the Commander?

Their bickering had civilized under their new positions on Commander Karl's staff.

It's unlikely, but Belfast and her sister are there. May the gods of the Sakura Empire bless them! Atago can be naive and guided only by her heart. She cares for everyone too much for Takao's liking. While Takao will fight and die for the people of the Sakura Empire, she understands when to show strength and compassion. Atago only showed compassion, rarely showing true strength and professionalism when needed. Atago's sensuality was something that made Takao cringe. Some of her Eagle Union and Royal Navy allies call this 'Being a free spirit.' Then Belfast, the head maid, was always loyal and proper. Belfast is well respected and revered for her battlefield reputation and abilities. She was a kind and gentle woman who cared deeply about those around her. Atago and Belfast shared that same sweetness to them.

Takao sighs deeply, worrying about these girls. Even the hardened samurai was soft inside. As much as she hated it, she sometimes worried about everyone and wanted to protect them no matter the cost.

That is why she had to know: Is the Commander genuinely committed to them? To the alliance of Azur Lane? To them?

She sails over to the massive aircraft, wanting to ask him where he stood.

The small boat looked like a toy compared to Sue's massive fuselage. Karl noted the large turbo propeller engines with twin propellers dominating above them. As they pass under them, Atago wraps herself around his arm. The cargo door opens and stops at the water to act as a small dock as the PT boat comes to a stop. Clad in light blue uniforms, Sue's crew saluted him crisply as Karl stepped onto the craft. Returning the salutes, Red Lucy greets him from behind the crew.

"I didn't think I'd see you again so soon," Karl remarks to Lucy coldly.

"Fate is fluid," Lucy replies cryptically.

"Where is my shipgirl?" Karl asks coldly.

Lucy makes an about-face on the heels of her combat boots and leads the trio into the aircraft's belly. "I had Heidelberg twins look over her. The girl appeared worse for wear, but after a nap, she seemed fine," she remarks.

"You managed to pull them off Ingrid's team?" Karl asks, impressed.

"Arkbird was getting boring," Lucy says frankly.

Karl rolls his eyes and sardonically chuckles, "Boring indeed."

Belfast and Atago noted the look in Lucy's eyes. The redhead knew the Commander more than they realized. There was a shared understanding in their eyes, an unspoken bond unknown by the two shipgirls.

"I'll take you to that girl," Lucy tells him as bitterness can be heard. "Get her off this fucking plane, please."

"What did she do?" Karl asked, sounding like a disappointed father.

"She's just playing with my head." Lucy reluctantly replies in Gaulish.

"Psychological? How so?" He returns in the same tongue.

"The war," Lucy says quietly. "She wants to know about it, about the Black Hunter."

Karl grew quiet and tense. "Some things are better unsaid," Karl replies in English.

"How we wish for such things!" Lucy remarks, leading them up the stairs through a bulkhead to the medical station and then to the officer quarters, where Roon slept.

The Commander sighs and looks at the sleeping Roon sadly. "I'm sorry for her actions," Karl says regretfully.

Lucy brushes it off with a nonchalant wave, "No worries."

Roon awakens and rubs her eyes. Sitting up, she sees the Commander standing in the doorway. The heavy cruiser says nothing and looks away. "Roon," Karl calls to her in a polite tone.

Roon looks up to him. She expected the Commander to look at her with a disappointed look or something of the like. But, to her surprise, the look of indifference was on his face. Karl points down the hall. "To Vestal, you go."

"Jawohl, Herr Kommendant." Roon says quietly, marching off towards the back of the aircraft.

Karl watches her like a hawk till she goes down the stairs and out of sight. He then turns to Lucy.

"My worries are on your SITREP," Karl says coldly, focusing on Lucy. "What's with all this, This plane?"

"We must speak in private," Lucy interjects.

"Only with my staff." Karl bites back.

"Major," Lucy tries in vain to resist. "This is not-"

"Brief me with my staff, or I will have you evicted from the port by force," Karl growls in Gaulish.

Lucy looks at him pale-faced, her expression catching both shipgirls off guard. With her head hung low, Lucy motioned them deeper into the aircraft. Belfast and Atago noted the shift in the mood of the Commander as it became apparent to them that there was more going on than they realized. But neither spoke, only watching the two figures walk before them. The two noted how Lucy carried herself; it was like their Commander. As they passed by more cabins, they saw more soldiers in camouflage uniforms like that of their Commander as well. But they didn't carry themselves as hard as Karl or Lucy. Belfast noted a group of four fresh-faced and young, no younger than twenty-three or so.

"My word… Those are boys…" Belfast whispers.

"We were all young once," Karl replies calmly. "We were once…"

Rounding a corner, Lucy led them to a decently sized room dominated by a wooden table at its center. At least ten or twelve people were discussing and working on various things.

"Attention in the TOC!" Lucy shouts, and everyone stands at attention.

"Carry on," Karl says, stepping into the tactical operations center.

Three officers stood around the table in ATACS-FG combat uniforms like Karl's while speaking in the same odd language as he spoke to Lucy. Men and women of lesser rank worked on computers and put up graphics of some kind on wall maps. The three saluted him and then returned to work. A coffee pot sat in the corner next to six bags of coffee and filters; a table next to it had a series of rations and snacks; around the room were tables, computers, internet lines, and a weapons rack with Chinese and Romanian carbine AKs.

"These are my officers," Lucy introduces her three lieutenants to Karl. "XO 1LT Zoller, S2 OIC lLT Meyer, and my Battle Captain 1LT Klein."

"No der Spiess?" Karl asked, looking over the collection of lieutenants and staff troops around him for the Company Sgt Major/First Sgt.

"Company Sgt Major Brant was 200 during the siren attacks this morning," Lucy informs him regrettably. "We collected what was left of him, just his ID disk."

Karl sighs bitterly, "Any more KIA? What about Cargo 300?"

"A couple of wounded," Lucy informs him. "They are in the medical bay getting worked on, and the other was lightly wounded. The girls saved our asses."

"Good." Karl acknowledges. The Commander looks at the maps on the table. A series of islands in the Bering Sea took his attention, and he quickly looked back at Lucy and her staff officers. With heavy gulps and fearful gazes, the battle captain attempts to speak. But Lucy cuts him off.

"Rear Admiral Makarov informed me that Attu is under siege…"

Lucy studders, taking a deep breath before reaching for her cigarettes. Lighting one quickly, she continues: "We were supposed to rendezvous with a task force to break the siege… And I was to link in with you to make that happen… But I didn't, and the storm caught us in its eye… Then we were attacked…"

Karl leans over the table calmly to take a deep breath. Slowly releasing it, he returns his attention to the world around them. The staff of thirteen people was deathly quiet and convinced around the four officers in front of him. Their faces are pale and fearful. The old man puts his hat on the table and looks at his ship girls. Atago sees rage in his eyes that masks sadness. Belfast sees a knowing glint in his eyes as he takes another breath to calm himself down.

"You understand that Higher explicitly stated to keep me away from such things, yes?" Karl asked Lucy. "Were you following orders, Captain?"

"Yes, the Orders of the Wicker Witch herself," Lucy replies honestly. "I wasn't going to risk the lives of our men in Juno. Makarov told me to ask Madam Marlin, and she cleared me to include you in this operation. I would never put the lives of our brothers and sisters in such parrel. Death before Dishonor, O la vittoria, o tutti accoppati!"

"O la vittoria, o tutti accoppati!" The staff thunder, scaring the two shipgirls with the spirited response.

A deafening silence filled the room. The blue smoke of cigarettes and the white light of LED lamps hurt Atago and Belfast's eyes.

"I want a full brief ready in ten minutes," Karl says calmly. "Lucy, you will deliver it to my office at port. I have preparations to make. Our enemies are KANSEN, META KANSEN. Brief Rear Admiral Makarov on this and request heavy support."

"There is more…" Lucy reluctantly speaks up.

"Go ahead," Karl replies harshly.

"An Eagle Union fleet is reported to leave port in California in the next couple of hours. Our spies have reported that their orders are to reach Attu… Under the Command of Commander Helena…"

"You have five minutes to get me that brief," Karl shouts before exiting the plane.

Takao listened from one of the aircraft's cabin windows. The interaction gave her more questions than answers, but she pressed on. The trio exited for the PT boat, and Takao followed closely behind them as they headed to the docks. Sitting near the cabin of the PT boat, Karl looked on at Sue in deep thought.

"Master?" Belfast asks him, with Atago coming over to his side.

Karl puts his arm around Atago's side and motions Belfast over to him. The head maid comes to him without hesitation and feels his arm envelop her side. Karl held the girls closely as the gigantic aircraft became smaller. "When we get back to the HQ," Karl begins, "I want Akagi, Taihou, Kaga, the Crane sisters, and any other available shipgirl to be ready for deployment within the next two hours."

"Yes, Master." Belfast agrees. "Will you need Atago and my self's assistance?"

"All hands on deck," Karl replies with conviction. "Fredrich and Amagi will head operations at the port. I want them brought to the HQ, all of them, for this brief and this operation. Everyone within reason will need to be at this fight."

"I will be sure to contact Commander Helena-"Belfast says before Karl interjects.

"No," Karl says coldly. "This is a private fight Between us and them. Between me and Raiden. Raiden won't entertain her the same way she will entertain me."

"Commander," Atago interjects, appalled. "We are allies! We must inform her about this if she's also going there!"

"Raiden and her comrades won't allow Helena's fleet to reach even thirty miles from Attu," Karl says, his voice full of conviction. "If we do not reach Attu first, their blood will be in our hands. Informing her will only spur that arrogant shit to move faster and get herself killed. You saw what Taihou META was able to do with restraints. Imagine what she can do when she doesn't have to hold back."

"What makes you so certain of this?" Belfast asks, horrified as she tries to understand what the Commander told her.

"Because Raiden knows me," Karl replies hesitantly. "We have to act now before people get killed."

"Commander, I do not advise this!" Belfast protests. "Our Eagle Union allies must be informed of this!"

Karl grits his teeth and tries to rationalize it to her. He knew much was at stake for the Order; from what Lucy told him, Attu is a gateway home and a lifeline for high technology to continue the fight. He thought that losing this would considerably blow their progress at home. Karl recalled the Siren drone he destroyed a month ago. It was life-like! What would a real one be like? Then he remembered the Skinwalker drone. How human it was and how real it was. Anything like that would bring them an edge against anything eldritch or human. But why would he want to help the people that sent him here in exile? The ruling elite at home were more worried about consolidating their gains, making trade deals, and planning the next war against the other powers.

Was it worth it to stick his head into something he should avoid? The orders were clear from Mr. Z, the literal head of the Order of St. Abaddon, to stay put or put his men at risk of being enslaved people in the mines on the border. Could he condemn over 200 of his men to slavery?

But could he stand as a critical artery is being cut, either? Would this be turned on him and himself turned into a scapegoat?

It would be easy to justify it in the papers… Kommando, senior officer, the leader in charge of powerful new weapons, stands idly by as invaders decimate the garrison and allow his allies to die in the process…

Karl felt the hangman's noose around his neck regardless of how he tried to justify it to himself. He looked back at Sue and the collection of Spookhouse agents she held inside her. This world bogeyman had attacked them, and they knew him; they seized an Order instillation. The head of the Consul and one of its members are giving him conflicting orders, and now a leading member of the head faction of the Azur Lane alliance is leading a fleet to blow the lid on all of this. Then, an agent directly admits to a plot to undermine the orders of a superior and insubordinate against the head of the Consul by another member of the Consul. And here he was, right in the middle of it…

Karl sighs, "Fuck!" He shouts.

The old man turns to Belfast as the PT boat reaches the dock. "Please get me in touch with Commander Helena."

Stepping off the boat with the two girls, Takao watched Karl rapidly take the lead to the HQ. She paused to contemplate her next move, but the samurai pressed forward onto the dock and caught up with the trio as they entered the HQ.

"Commander!" Takao shouts to him.

Karl ignored her and kept moving towards his office. Takao chased after him, but Atago intercepted her. Takao pushed Atago off and followed Karl into his office. Entering, Karl cleared his desk and removed his cap and top.

"Commander!" Takao shouts again to him, her hand resting on the hilt of her sword.

Behind Atago and Takao came Lucy and her staff. They quickly began setting up documents on Karl's desk and a map on the wall closest to them as Takao and Karl stared each other down.

"No fighting in the war room," Karl says casually to her.

Takao appeared confused as the officers in green prepared the meeting. Belfast shouts from downstairs that many important shipgirls and his staff have come at hast. Atago looks behind her to see Fredrich Der Grosse, Amagi, Akagi, Kaga, Bismarck, and Taihou entering the room with Belfast at the rear. The officers in green took positions behind Commander Karl as he read a series of files. Red Lucy set up pictures and made markings on the Aleutian Islands map. Next to the large map was a smaller one of Attu Island and Kiska Island.

"My Commander!" Akagi and Taihou say together in unison, "What may we do for you?!"

"Stand by, ladies," Karl says, looking up at them with a stressed look.

Amagi, Bismarck, and Fredrich Der Grosse focused on the maps on the wall. The three strategically minded shipgirls noticed the symbology: standard Azur Lane battle staff markings, air defense artillery, Anti-ship missiles, Electronic warfare, and troop concentrations with engagement ranges for the former two.

"My word," Fredrich gasps, "Those islands are fortresses."

"What on earth is there to need such defenses?" Bismarck asks, holding pictures of defensive positions tacked to the wall.

"Everything," Lucy remarks as she puts up three pictures of META shipgirls. Each photo was taken on grainy digital cameras from drones. However, each shipgirl in the room recognized them regardless of whether they were Raiden, Ember, or Typhoon. The two Iron Blood girls look at the photos intensely, noting their faded edges and coffee stains.

"It seems you have had these for a long time, no?" Fredrich asks Lucy as she finishes pinning up a series of rings of different color strings on the map.

"We've known of these girls since the Major was attacked at this base," Lucy admits. "We've been watching him for some time."

"If your mission is security, you do a poor job of it." Bismarck snorts.

"Luckily, they aren't," Karl interjects. "Captain Lucy, continue setting up."

"Major?" Atago asks a loud, looking at Belfast. "Did she mean to say, Commander?"

Lucy catches herself and quickly corrects herself, "He's a Major in the special forces. We use a different ranking system to confuse the enemy."

Takao raises her eyebrow and begins looking over pictures. Lifting the picture of Ember, she sees odd writing organized as a brief bio. Judging by the writing, it seems archaic.

Fredrich looks at Karl knowingly, but he shrugs it off as he reads more of the documents.

"Everyone here?" Karl asks Lucy as she finishes putting the final touches on the map.

"Yes, sir," Lucy replies.

"Are all my girls here?" Karl asks for the shipgirl's room. He glances around to see everyone, and soon, his staff assembles around him. Atago, Akagi, and Taihou vie for his eyes as he reads another document.

"Go ahead," Karl says to Lucy. The redhead coughs and begins by pointing at the map of the Aleutian islands.

"The Aleutian Islands are the final stretches of North America. It's said that these were once pieces of the land bridge to Asia. Today, they are isolated islands on the fringes of the Eagle Union's territory. Due to the location and isolation, the Command selected the islands of Attu and Kiska as our two bases of operation. Logistical concerns and lack of support regarding Kiska lead to us mainly centering our operations on Attu, AKA: The Rock." Lucy explains, circling Attu before moving to the map of the island itself.

"If the goal of the, what is it called, Kommandos, is it?" Akagi begins, gazing over the odd red-headed woman. Lucy felt the fox sizing her up, but she stood firm. "To engage the sirens in support of Azur Lane, why pick such a place as Attu? I would think you would be at our bases."

"Special operation command wanted us to be undisturbed by Naval HQ," Lucy says bluntly.

"Save the question for the portions that matter, please," Karl says politely yet firmly.

"As you were," Lucy says sarcastically as she continues the brief. The comment angers the fox to much of the enjoyment of the Phoenix, Taihou. "Attu is our base of operations for the Pacific and North Pole. To protect this institution, we have installed an integrated defense system to defend this area against any siren threats. But also to deny access to the Pacific or Bering Sea if needed."

"Such as?" Karl asks her directly.

Lucy and her XO move to the map. The XO, 1LT Zoller, points his finger to the first ring of string marked in pink. Zoller, a stout man with blonde hair, begins his piece of the brief.

"This ring marks the effective range of basic anti-aircraft batteries, mainly cannon-based. We use automated batteries of Oerlikon 35mm, S60A 57mm, and 100mm guns guided by a radar control vehicle, and each battery has its integrated fire control system with a ballistic computer. Each is put on the island's highest points to allow for maximum integration of fires. An advanced fire control system called a 'Box Cannon' allows for the control of up to 3 caliber batteries to engage the target and track up to 100 targets at a maximum range of 75km. Combined with Pantsir-SA SAMs, we can defend the Rock in the Arctic and engage targets at 40km and as close as 1100m." Zoller breaks to take a sip of coffee. Then, it points to the second orange ring on the map. "This ring marks the range of our Anti-Ship capabilities at 300km. Baston-P dug into mountain bunkers, allowing us to deny access to the straits around the islands or contest it. These are supplemented by Harpoon Block II's mounted on special launch platforms. The final red line marks our detection range at 1000km and our electronic warfare coverage."

"Impressive." Fredrich remarks. "Though I don't see any true area denial capabilities when your best weapon has a maximum range of 300km."

"Yes, ma'am," Lucy interjects. "This is why we are integrated with the Northern Parliament, Eagle Union, and the Sakura Empire's Northern Combined fleets to control the rest of the island chains."

"Then how is it that META shipgirls took this fortress?" Karl asks pointedly.

"That we are not sure," 1LT Meyer responds—the tall female with long black hair hands Karl a report from her messenger bag. "Information is scarce, but we found that the META girls placed a series of devices around the island. We believe these to be the same devices that made the storms just north of us. Rear Admiral Makarov sent a fleet of Northern Parliament mass-produced ships and a Battalion of special forces from the 67th Special Forces Brigade."

"Then why send you and your Spookhouse detachment?" Karl narrows his eyes at Lucy.

"We lost contact with them once they reported they reached within the 1000km ring," Meyer says, defeated. "We assume 200."

"What do you mean '200'?" Kaga asks Meyer.

"It's code for KIA, Killed in action," Karl answers with a heavy sigh. "300 is for wounded. 200 is the weight of a dead man in a coffin."

Gasps from the room echoed around him from the shipgirls, but the soldiers were uncomfortably quiet. Karl looked around the room momentarily before centering on the Attu map. He took over the map and looked at the pictures of the META girls and the defenses.

"Breaking the siege will be tough," Karl remarks, looking at the pictures. "Taihou and Junyou are the main air arm. If you were jumped by siren ships, I wouldn't be surprised if Ember brought some to add to the island's defenses. Raiden and Ember will more than likely fight together as well."

"Our complex entrance is located in Navy Town," Klein says, pointing at Navy Town with a laser pointer. The ginger man then shows him a file Meyer gave to him gave him. "Our airfields at Alexai Point and Peaceful River, at the flanks of Massacre Bay. Initially, we would insert it from Alexai's point of view, but that was before we received Sue. Our only option is to use Casco Cove and insert it from there. There will likely be only their carriers sitting in the area for us to worry about. The storms are picking up and reducing the mass-produced ships' effectiveness.

"Sue is an all-weather plane, hm?" Karl perks up. "Do we think we can use that to our advantage? Sneak in under the storms to land?"

"That's if the defenses are shut down." Klein counters. "If not, we must ensure the Friend or Foe transponder works. It was damaged when we took fire. But if a carrier patrol finds us, we are in trouble."

"Do we have any way to jam the radars?" Amagi asks Klein. I may not be an expert in how these systems work, but if we are able to mask our physical side with the storm, then we need to mask our nonphysical side as well."

"Box cannon can pick up on counter jamming," Meyer reports. "Though, if the enemy hasn't moved the radars, we can attack the radars directly with the shipgirls. Their radar cross section is that of a regular human unless they fly extremely low and fast."

"We would use the 5th Carrier Division for this." Kaga volunteers for the Crane sisters. "Sister Akagi and I will also attack the guns and the missiles."

"Depends on the waters; we can use the rain and waves to make our way to the town," Belfast adds. "Then we will take it back for you, Master!"

"Securing Navy town is only a quarter of the battle." Lucy interrupts. "We have to enter the facility itself to secure it. They wouldn't attack the Rock for no reason."

"Facility?" Bismarck asks, intrigued.

Karl notices Lucy shift her body language and takes a breath, "The facility is a former Sirens base. We took it from them and turned it into our own. It's all built deep into the island's mountains, almost an underground city."

"I see…" Bismarck notes, looking over to Fredrich.

"We will have to draw them out of the facility. It's a strong point that we can't allow them to hold. We aren't sure what they want with it, but whatever it is, it will cause a lot of hell for everyone." Lucy says confidently, changing the tone quickly.

Karl looks around the room at the shipgirls. The sharper of the girls looked at each other with a curious expression. The rest of the girls took the bait of it, but his staff girls looked at him, wanting an explanation. Lucy gulped as she felt Fredrich's knowing gaze over her. Bismarck didn't look to sell on the story, and neither did Amagi or Akagi.

"Prepare your men, Red Lucy, and call me when you are ready to move," Karl calmly replies as he returns to the map. "Leave the map and take the files. You will be our Command and Control for this operation."

Lucy glared at him and then looked at her staff. "Yes, Major."

The four green uniformed officers leave the room quickly, leaving Karl with the shipgirls. He turns his back to the girls for a moment before stepping back to look at the map completely.

"We will have a tough fight," Karl says solemnly. He looks intensely at the picture of Raiden and then at Typhoon. "They will make sure of it."

Bismarck and Amagi look at each other and nod. "We will work on our preparations for the fight," Bismarck tells him.

"Go ahead," Karl replies, his back still to them. Please inform any Eagle Union and Royal Navy ships as well. I will call when I finalize a timeline."

"We shall Come, my sisters." Amagi agrees. "We have plans to make."

"Taihou and Atago stay." Karl requests his two girls.

"I will stay as well," Fredrich replies to much of Karl's displeasure.

Amagi collects each of the girls and moves them out of the room. As they walk out, Takao makes sure to be the last one. She places her ear against the door to listen in as the door closes.

The girls left, and only the four remained in the office. Karl turned to them and wiped his hand across his face. "These girls have taken a powerful position…" Karl remarks.

"Or a cell." Fredrich calmly interjects.

"Maybe." Karl acknowledges darkly.

Atago feels her heartstrings pull as she listens intensely to his tone. Taihou picks up on this, and the two girls approach him. "Commander," Taihou asks first. Are you alright?"

"You aren't well," Atago says bluntly as she touches his face.

"I'm not," Karl admits.

The phone on the desk rings. Its ring echoed around the room like thunder.

"Answer it," Fredrich says to him. Karl's expression was blank, but his eyes cried out to Atago Taihou, who laid her head on his shoulder and embraced him. "My child? Do you hear me?"

The phone continues to ring, much to Fredrich's annoyance. Karl ignores it as Taihou and then Atago cling to him. He holds Atago and Taihou gently while swaying slowly.

"My child?" Fredrich asks again, her tone firmer. "I wouldn't keep the person on the other end waiting."

The Commander kisses the foreheads of Atago and Taihou before slowly pealing them off of him. The two put up a fight, albeit in vain, but they relented as he took to the phone. Picking up the black rotary phone, he speaks.

"Commander Karl Dael speaking." He says coldly.

"Commander Helena Maxis." The arrogant voice of Commander Helena speaks.

"I see you got calls from Belfast." Karl chuckles hollowly.

"I don't exactly wish to speak to a hillbilly like you." She sneers. "Where did you grow up? Smokey mountains making moonshine? Or were you fucking cows in Texas or something? Your accent is faint, but I hear some remains of that awful southern drawl."

"Fuck you," Karl growls.

"No matter, I'll find out once I get what I want on Attu." Commander Helena says happily.

"And what does that mean?" He challenges her.

"My sources say that you are more than what you seem." Commander Helena hints. "Seems you might be nothing more than a wolf in sheep's clothing."

"Watch your tongue, girl!" Karl shouts into the phone.

"Your threats are hollow," She taunts him. "Just like your loyalty to Azur Lane."

"You question my loyalty when I call to inform you of an ambush?" Karl interjects.

"I don't think you understand the true power of the Eagle Union." Commander Helena counters. "New Jersey, Enterprise, Essex and Yorktown II? Do these names ring any bells with you? The most powerful ships in the whole of the Eagle Union Navy. The ones who won the war? The undefeated power? Hmmm? Those META ships are no match for the power of democracy."

"If you go in with idealism, then you will get yourself killed!" Karl shouts again.

"You doubt my power." Commander Helena shouts back. "I will expose you once I finish these ashes!"

"What the hell are you talking about?" Karl demands, feigning ignorance.

"Do you think you can hide from me, you pathetic hillbilly?" She replies triumphantly. "Do you believe you are the only one who also knows a META? I saw what was there in Attu. Yes, IN ATTU."

"Hatred does odd things to men and women, eh?" Karl remarks sarcastically.

"I will be sure to show Naval HQ… Then you will pay. You will pay by hanging from the gallows, Traitor!"

The phone call ends with a dead tone. Karl keeps the phone to his ear before hanging up promptly.

He grips the table in rage, his anger filling his body. How dare that bitch to question his loyalty?

But then he begins to question himself: Is she wrong to? Karl turns to the girls to reclaim his composure, only to see that it's just him and Fredrich in the room.

"Where are my girls?" He asks Fredrich.

"I sent them to prepare their rigging." Fredrich calmly responds. "Though I decided to stay behind to tend to you. Helena Maxis is a rather troublesome person, hm?"

"She's infuriating." Karl seethes. Looking around the room for anyone else momentarily, he takes a deep breath before speaking. "Overzealous bitches like her would get killed on their first mission in my world."

"Not everyone is as experienced," Fredrich comments, "Nor as jaded. Though this 'Red Lucy' seems to be getting close. Is she your protégé?"

"Use to be my intel officer in my unit," Karl says reluctantly, not wanting to talk about the past. But the aura of Fredrich Der Grosse wouldn't allow him to wave it off. "We fought together, not at the Hub, but don't you know that?"

The Mona Lisa smile appears on Fredrich's face, "Then you were aware."

"Shinano told me about your little adventure into my head," Karl confronts her. "Granted, it was cryptically. If you two knew about the Hub and… That, I assume, then, you know more."

Fredrich neither confirms nor denies Karl's suspicion. The only thing the H-Class battleship does is approach the map with wonder in her golden eyes. "Logically, attacking this 'Rock,' as your comrades call Attu, is suicidal. More so if Taihou META is tasked with protecting the island, wouldn't you agree?"

"It would be," Karl concurs. "Though we aren't exactly sure if she would want to engage with us. Raiden wants me more than she does, I'm sure of it."

"I would reconsider this," Fredrich interjects, tracing her fingers over the map. "Think about their goals and her reaction. Do you recall how she spoke to Akagi when they tried to kidnap you?"

He pauses for a moment and replays the event in his mind. Typhoon's attacks were mainly directed against the first carrier division. The way the girl spoke to Akagi was just like the version on his staff, but more forwardly aggressive and defiant. A hot head is hell-bent on showing her up to her elders in combat. Fredrich has a point…

"And they both want you," Fredrich corrects him. "She wouldn't declare her love for you for no reason; this is still the Taihou you know and love."

"She's META now." Karl dismisses. "How do I know these two aren't trying to manipulate me?"

"META or not," Fredrich begins, and Karl prepares for motherly nagging. They are still the identical girls you learned to love, both here and then. They are not far gone, believe it or not, my dear child. Remember this. It might save your life."

"If that is the case," Karl says, coming around to the scenario put by Fredrich. "Then Typhoon would be there regardless. But what of Raiden, do you think?"

"What do you think, My dear child?" Fredrich redirects as she takes a seat on a couch.

The old veteran rolls his lips inward and rolls his jaw in thought. Falcon's confirmation of their objective and Lucy's prior information on the Attu facility made its importance evident to him. But what does Fredrich know prior?

"She would be inside the facility with her sister, more than likely," Karl replies confidently. "To not only get to her goal but also make it easier to trap me."

"That could be what her plan is." Fredrich thinks, entertaining the idea. "You have been her target for some time. But for what?"

He sighs and tries to change the subject, "We won't know till we get there."

Fredrich chuckles, "Keep your secrets then. You have many, but we don't have to share those aloud, do we?"

"There are eyes and ears everywhere," Karl says pointedly. "Don't you agree?"

"Everyone listens to you when you speak," Fredrich says admiringly. "Even when you don't realize it."

"I'm aware you're always watching me, like my guardian angel or something." Karl chuckles. "But some things are better left unsaid in public or omitted from the record."

"Like your memories?" Fredrich interjects sharply, her tone still calm but her words sharp. "How they were omitted from you by higher powers."

"Higher powers are accurate, yes," Karl explains. "But for what reason, I'm not sure. The Hub required it, but what about the rest? I recall it all now, thanks to you and Shinano, but why?"

Fredrich smirks and looks him up and down, "I have my secrets too."

"Odd secrets at that," Karl responds, annoyed.

"Was Lucy there too?" Fredrich inquires as Karl makes them coffee from the coffee machine in the corner. "The villages and the Hub?"

"She was at the villages but not the Hub," Karl reluctantly admits, a sour expression forming on his face. "She was my intelligence officer back then, but she spent more time fighting as our numbers grew smaller throughout the Tiberian War."

Karl shivers as he mentions it—the 10-year war was across the continent. Fredrich notes the way he spoke when he mentioned the war. A hint of nostalgia in the name 'Tiberian' and the slight smirk gave off the feeling he missed it.

"Did you enjoy the war?" Fredrich, as the Commander, hands her a cup of coffee. "Both you and Lucy are members of this Order of St. Abaddon?"

"Some parts yes, some parts no, and the other is a hell no," Karl says flatly as he sits beside her, facing the map. "Yes, we are both members."

"What did you miss about it?" Fredrich asks, taking a sip of coffee.

"I miss the people and the purpose it gave me," Karl admits honestly. "I miss how focused we were, how strong we could get, and how simple it was."

"At least you miss something logical." Fredrich surmises. "You miss how clear your life was."

"It still is, to an extent, but things are changing." Karl sourly tells her. "We went from fighting our enemies head to hunting them and beast in the mountains, and finally to ending their lives once and for all. It wasn't pretty, and I'm not proud, but It had to be done."

"Do you miss the Order?" She asks, going deeper into his background.

"To a point," Karl replies frankly. "I don't miss the politics and dirty jobs… I'd rather fight a clear enemy who shoots at me than worry about my leaders trying to undermine or set me up; It's how I ended up here. They exiled me because of the changing political climate at home… That's why I'm stuck here in the first place. But we all pick our devils and poisons…"

He sighs with a disgusted look. Fredrich knew he wasn't a political man, which confirmed it for her.

"They exiled you for that?" Fredrich feigns surprise; she knows it all already. "You save their lively hoods twice, and they send you here. Why remain loyal to an organization that sends you away after the times change in their favor?"

"I'm a threat, it seems," Karl replies harshly, obviously frustrated. "My unit, the 13th, has been put on Capital City security detail as the peace process continues. After that fucking debacle at the Hub, they must have used that against me to push my exile forward… That and scrabbling my mind must have helped them with it, eh? Bastards… If I don't play along now, they will turn all my men into slaves in the northern coal mines…"

"Holding your men as a bargaining chip to assure compliance isn't worth your loyalty," Fredrich observes. "Then why go forward with this plan of yours? To save them?"

"If I do this," Karl explains, "I can save them. But if I don't, they will use this against me and send them and me to the mines regardless. I'd rather them know I was loyal to the end regardless… Even if I die in the process, I at least want it to be known I didn't sit on my hands."

She asks, "What do you think of Azur Lane then?"

"The more things change, the more they stay the same," Karl answers. "I don't like dealing with higher-ups, nor do I like the little war I now have with Commander Helena. But internal politics is a constant evil. I serve my subordinates, and they have my care. I'll always be at war with those above me, sadly."

"Shinano was correct then." Fredrich smiles. They got quiet for a moment, and the news made Takao feel relieved. Maybe he was loyal, after all?

"The villages then," Fredrich begins boldly, knowing she was touching on a tender subject. "When did those happen?"

Karl becomes quiet as he sips his coffee. The bitter taste filled his mouth and he savored it as he finally gulped it down. "After we chased them out of the mountains and towns."

He leans back into the seat and tries to get comfortable, but the feeling of knots in his stomach makes him twitch. Anxiety built up in his body like a spring under tension, getting ready to shoot out of him. With a heavy, deep breath, Karl eases it out and takes another drink of coffee. Fredrich notes the redness on his face, his pupils constrain, and the veins on his forehead pop.

"And after they sent those many villages to a fate worse than hell."

"Did you enjoy it?" Fredrich asked calmly.

"I felt nothing but rage." Karl hisses. "We felt nothing but rage, all of us. What we did there was no better than a death squad. We, my unit, became beasts ourselves."

The sardonic chuckle of a dead man, a damned man, leaves him. Karl stares into the blackness of the coffee at his reflection. For a moment, he saw his younger self. But it quickly faded as he recalled the feelings of that day when the 13th began cleansing the villages.

"I made a promise to myself that day… After it all ended, we crucified that priest." Karl pauses, thinking about the hell he went through. "I promised to put that part of me away for good."

"What part of you?" Fredrich asks inquisitively. "I saw a lot of you; both I and Shinano saw a great portion of you. Amagi saw some of you, I must admit."

"The Black Hunter," Karl says hesitantly. "My guided name, The man that is responsible for that atrocity. Maybe you ran into him, in my mind, hm?"

Fredrich shudders slightly as she recalls the image of a dark figure in black walking through a village of fire, "Yes, but Claudia called him Suomi. Why?"

"Not sure." Karl shrugs. "Subconscious mind, the evil darkness of mine, and the hate in my heart must have needed a name. So she called him Suomi."

Fredrich takes Karl's free hand and holds it tightly as rage fills her as she recalls fighting Claudia. "I crushed her into dust, that woman, that awful woman who turned you into that man." Fredrich hisses, her eyes glowing with rage. "That witch that made you that way… That drove you to want to end your own life…"

"I only followed orders," Karl replies, gripping her hand firmly. "But I wasn't reluctant."

"You willingly did that massacre?" Fredrich asks, stunted.

"When you see what I saw… What they did to men, women, and children… You would have done a lot more than I did. You only saw what I chose to carry with me." Karl says darkly, his face turning stone as he speaks in a low tone. "I only did what I had to do. When Madam Marlin gave me the Order to liquidate those villages and those tribes who allied with that death cult, I agreed. It was either do it or allow them to infect more people with their viruses and blood magic to wipe out all of humanity again… Do I regret it? Do I regret any of it? No. But I do regret how easy it was for me to turn off… To become cruel and brutal."

He took another sip of coffee and let go of Fredrich hand. A heavy sigh escapes him as his voice strained, "But there was a moment when I realized I was evil. When we finished the cleansing, I was walking through a village we burned to the ground a day or two. We had to erase their existence and salt the earth; it was the only way to keep the cult from coming back completely. We were walking, my staff and I, towards our convoy. This was about a week or so after we finished the killing. We were taking… Inventory of the 'wood' we made."

"Wood?" Fredrich asks fearfully.

"When you burn people with incendiaries, they tend to share and become stiff. It wasn't hard enough to cremate them, but they were dead regardless. They were Sarkics, a cult known to use blood magic and diseases to control people. Their magic distorts people and turns them into monsters… So we burned them. Then we counted them before having their bodies dumped into dumped trucks and then burned in furnaces so they couldn't be resurrected. Three hundred fifty thousand corpses were counted."

"It broke you," Fredrich whispers.

"When you have to count the bodies, return to the places you killed them and saw your friend die, and then recount and inventory the remains… You realize how evil you are… What you can do… And what you will do… I put it all on paper… I couldn't deny it or hide from it… It was right there."

The fear in his voice haunted him, and the regret was more profound than Fredrich could have imagined.

"I wanted to die," Karl says frankly. "I wanted to kill myself, end it all so that I could bury what I did under dirt and tin. They tried to give me medals, but I either turned them down or threw them away. The Order can keep their fucking medals… I went on missions to try and die. It cost me my Colonel rank, but my opportunity came when you shipgirls came around."

"I fell in love… Once again, I fell for the calls of the heart…. Damn the things it makes you do…" Karl laments, angry at his emotions as his voice cracked. "I fell for three of them, and I had to send them away to avoid their deaths; you saw it! But one stayed, and she died in my arms, Fredrich; you saw that, too! I couldn't handle the grief, and I wanted it to leave me for good! The last straw was the betrayal, lies, and then losing Akagi! But Claudia wouldn't let me put a gun to my head and end it all!"

The rage in his voice, hatred for his existence, and regret were too much for Fredrich.

Fredrich takes to her feet and slaps Karl across his face harshly. Her look is one of absolute rage, and her eyes light up. "Don't you ever, EVER, say that again. I forbid you from even remotely thinking about such things!" she shouts.

Karl only rubs his face. The Battleship slap was like taking a hit from a tank shell. The powerful slap threw his hat off his head, tossing it across the room. Fredrich picks it off the floor and hands it back to him. "Don't ever think about doing such a thing! You did all of those horrible things to save people; there isn't an evil bone in your body! I know, I saw it all! Both me, Amagi, and Shinano!"

She forcefully grabs him from the couch and pushes him into her with a mighty hug. Karl tried to push himself off Fredrich, but the woman's physical power was surprising. Fredrich squeezes him until he finally gives in and lays his head on her bosom.

Takao moves back from the door in shock… Composing herself, she looks back to see him speaking. But it doesn't sound like the Commander she came to know. No, this man is vulnerable…

"I'm sorry." Karl's voice echoes from the door. "I'm an awful man…"

"No, you're not." Fredrich shuts him down, pressing him into her bosom.

"How can you say that with a straight face and mine in your bosom?" Karl asks her.

"I know you," Fredrich says bluntly. "We all know you. We wish you would forgive yourself for what you did."

Karl sighs heavily as the uncomfortable truth is revealed to Fredrich in full. He wraps his arms around her waist to return the embrace. A slight sway between the two can be seen through the door as Takao returns to spying on them. Karl turns his head to Fredrich, "Do you trust me? Even after this?"

"I do," Fredrich says without hesitation. "I know I can trust you."

"Do you think less of me?" Karl asks hesitantly.

"I will never think less of you, My dear child," Fredrich reassures him before kissing him on the forehead before letting him go.

Karl fixes his uniform and regains his composure. "It will… It will be a long time before that… But I will try…"

"I know you will," Fredrich assures him.

"You, Claudia and I know that's not the case," Fredrich says, caressing his face. Claudia put you into this, and I defeated her in your mind to free you. I just wish you would realize her role in this."

"Are you blaming my Commander for the position I'm in?" Karl snaps defensively.

"If I were you," Fredrich begins, walking towards the door. "I would confront her about her goals… You are a loyal and honorable soldier, but is she?"

As clicking heels against the wood floor grew louder, Takao left the door for the hallway's corner. Fredrich touches the door but pauses for a moment for one last comment.

"If you wish to put it behind you," Fredrich says firmly. "You must confront her."

She left. Karl moved to his seat behind the desk, quietly contemplating her words as he looked out the window.

Takao leans against the wall outside the Commander's office. Fredrich's shadow casts over her, but the Samurai stays strong, like her name, against Fredrich's towering figure.

"It seems my dear child was correct about eyes and ears being everywhere," Fredrich muses calmly, her trademark Mona Lisa smile on full display.

"I had my suspicions about the Commander." Takao begins, moving off the wall and taking a power stance. "To think he was in such a position is… Complex…"

"The world we live in is neither black nor white," Fredrich muses. "But shades of grey and layers of it. Do not fear, for he is on our side."

"And if he wasn't?" Takao inquires.

"Then he wouldn't be here, now would he? Shinano, Amagi and I know him thoroughly. Do you believe we would let a wolf lead our flock?" Fredrich counters.

Takao shakes her head, "Of course not, Fredrich-San."

"The man has been through hell and back; there is no question of his loyalty," Fredrich explains. But we must accept him and show it back to him. It's natural to show your loyalty to someone you love, no?"

Fredrich turns away and walks off into the shadows. The confrontation with Fredrich made Takao think extensively about her ideas of the Commander. But was she unfounded for having these ideas? She tries to digest the information, and as she tries to wrap her mind around it, Takao finds herself trying to put it on her terms.

The Commander was part of a secret organization that exiled him after some questionable events. It was all so confusing to her… Trying to make sense of it didn't compute with her. Takao decides to strive forward into the office. "Commander," Takao says softly.

At his chair, the Commander sat quietly, looking out the window towards the large aircraft in the harbor. "Yes, Takao?" He responds.

Takao approaches him from the side and sees him with a troubled expression. "Fredrich assures me you are on our side." She says seemly coldly.

"I've always been on this side…" He replies quietly as he gazes into the distance. "I just wish those above me knew this."

"The Kansen and I are on your side," Takao says confidently as she puts her hand on Karl's shoulder.

Karl looks up at Takao and touches her hand, saying, "Thank you, all of you."

The phone rang in his pocket. He answered it quickly and was met with Lucy's voice. The information was dispatched rapidly: "Redcon 1, We have a PT boat to take us to Sue. Ride with us again, Major."

After the short call, he quickly called the rest of the shipgirls to meet him at the docks for a briefing. Takao joined him on the way down until meeting Atago. With the two heavy cruisers at his side, they all rushed to the docks. There sat a PT boat with Lucy and two Spookhouse agents loading up equipment from a Dodge truck. Karl smiled at them, "Like old times, eh?"

"At least it's not cold!" Lucy chuckles, her spirits high. We are finally getting out of the shadows for a fight... a fight with you on our side."

"Just like old times, My friend, but I'd rather ride on a tank or side saddle on a BMP." Karl chuckles.

"Would you call me crazy if I agreed with you?" Lucy asks him, half-jokingly. "Maybe I answered my questions, to hell with it. Are you flying with us, or are you going with these two?" She points at the Takao class sisters in his flanks.

"It would be best if I have my staff with me as well above with you," Karl replies, looking at Sue from the distance. "The two carriers can fly, and if we make a water landing, we can have these two lovely sisters escort us in via boat."

"That covers the fighter escort problem." Lucy concurs.

A sea of clicking heels echoes in the distance as a handful of at least twenty shipgirls of various configurations walk onto the dock. They were of all factions led by Akagi, Taihou, and Belfast.

The first three flock to the Commander, especially Taihou and Akagi, while the others await his orders. From the distance, Falcon watches under the cover of optical camouflage. The old man in green camouflage tells the girls about the plan and makes them cheer. She can only imagine what in the world he is telling them, but Falcon doesn't care. What matters is that the rest of the plan is now in motion.

"Typhoon, Falcon," Falcon calls on the radio.

"Falcon, Typhoon," Typhoon replies annoyed. "This better be good."

"He is en route," Falcon informs her bluntly.

"Good," Typhoon replies anxiously as the excitement fills her voice. "He better hurry."

Hours later…

Karl enters the officer's cabin and removes his uniform to relax. Atago lies on his bed seductively. "I see you've finally come to see your big sister," she teases.

"We had to iron out some loose ends," Karl tells her as he removes his boots. "Akagi contacted Yamato for extra support from mass-produced ships to cordon off Attu around its anti-ship missile max range. That should at least give us some warning if Helena draws closer."

Atago leans over and wraps her arms around him from behind. "You've been working since we took off, and we aren't even close to the halfway point. Take a break with me; you need to sleep, my darling."

Karl looks to the bed across from him to see Takao sleeping soundly. Belfast assisted the crew with refreshments and made some meals for them. The two carriers swapped between the air guard and the rest. The rest of the shipgirls used the siren transport network to move faster and meet up closer to Attu. They used a form of it themselves to get from St. Elizabeth to at least three-quarters of the way. But he was tired, and the soft bosom of Atago was calling his name. The horny Atago removed his undershirt and laid down, spreading her legs to show off her lacy panties under her short uniform skirt.

"Does the bra match with those decorative panties?" Karl asks her as he lies down. Atago chuckles and removes the top of her uniform, revealing a lacy decorative bra to him. Removing her skirt and shoes, Atago invites him to lay on her. A loving smile appears as he lays on Atago's lap. The warmth of her midsection drew Karl closer, and the hint of her natural aroma from neither region made the tired old man want to go further. Atago hugs him and plays with his air to comfort her beloved further. Karl kisses her stomach cutely, making Atago giggle and blush.

"If you keep doing this, I won't be able to control myself, darling." Atago teases as she plays with his hair.

"Maybe I want you to lose a little control?" Karl says playfully.

Before Karl could move further southward on his beloved, the giant aircraft was shuttered. An alarm sounds across the craft, and the thunder of 30mm cannons shakes everyone awake. The speakers blare with the voice of the pilot:

"ALARM! ACTION STATIONS! CONTACT FRONT! ENEMY AIRCRAFT!"