Kind of went on a roll with this one since the new patch came out for Azur Lane. Amagi CV and the story really made me want to write something that made my heart feel. So hopefully you enjoy the moments with Taihou META and Atago META in this one.

With Love ~Dresner


"Musashi, Karl Dael. Radio check."

"Commander, I knew you were still with us," Musashi responds with relief. Akagi, Taihou, and Takao listen intently from behind her. "Is Atago still with us?"

"Onee-San wouldn't let me die even if I tried." Karl chuckles, the joke landing flat. "We are alright. Raiden's plan is kaput. The last we have to do is destroy a portal, but it's over for you all. FRAGO: Siren fleet is inbound; radio all available ships nearby. Prepare for combat."

"We are aware," Musashi interjects. "My radar has picked up a large enemy formation north of Attu. We will fight on till your return."

"How large are we talking?" Karl asks.

"Immeasurable," Musashi replies gravely.

"We will fight for your glory, my beloved Commander," Taihou shouts, to much of Akagi's annoyance.

"Damn it…" Karl remarks. "After the PortalPortal is destroyed, I'll see what I must do to aid us. Commander Helena Maxis' fleet is unresponsive; aid her immediately! Atago and I will see what we can do here… Maybe the Anti Ship batteries are working…"

"Commander! Let us help you! You and Atago can not do this alone!" Akagi protests. "Let your fleet carrier assist you!"

"Akagi, my dear, you are needed to aid your comrades… Don't worry about me… I have Atago and my comrades." Karl responds calmly.

"Taihou doesn't need help!" Taihou protests. "I'm the most modern carrier, and I don't need some old fox to hold me back. In your name, my Commander, I will send them to the bottom of the sea!"

Akagi rears her teeth and turns her full attention to Taihou. The two carriers stare at each other with eyes of pure fire. Takao tries to get between them, but the two have been on a collision course since the beginning.

"As if a petty pest like you could even stand against a META on an even fight!" Akagi snarls.

"I beat my META!" Taihou protests, knowing it is only a half-truth.

"If you beat her, IF," Akagi continues, "That's not much of a contest!"

Taihou grew angry and depressed. A fire within her made her want to smack Akagi to the floor.

Akagi turns back to the radio and composes herself before speaking.

"Akagi is strong enough to deal with those META pests; I insist that you-"

"Akagi, my darling fox," Karl pleads, "Taihou, my beloved phoenix, I need you two to stop these people. I don't know who's out there, Typhoon or Raiden, but I need you two to stop arguing. I know you both are, but damn it, girls, I need you two to work together!"

The two wanted to protest and argue more, but they listened and unwillingly submitted.

"Fine." They both respond.

"Any order given by Musashi is to be treated as if it was given directly by me," Karl tells them. "Cease attacks on the island and focus on any Siren or META ships unless told otherwise."

"Yes, my Commander." The two say, bowing reluctantly.

Takao and Musashi could feel the tension between the two. But now wasn't the time for rivalry.

The shipgirls acted quickly and began changing their focus. Musashi worked to reach the Eagle Union fleet, but nothing was happening.

"Commander," Musashi calls to him once more. "My contacts have something for you, and I do as well. Sending now. Good luck."

Meanwhile, Karl and Atago backed away from the communications station on the island and returned to the train. Their internal communications picked up, and Mac spoke on the other side.

"K.D.," Mac begins. "We're at the PortalPortal. Lucy is about to fire this motherfucker up, and we are outta here like a bad habit. What's your 20?"

"Communication station," Karl responds as they get on the train. "I got an engine, five cars full of shit, and some firepower. Enroute time now, slow pace."

"Roger that," Mac replies. "We got the rest of the regulars on the train. The rest of the Kommandos are staying back with you. Parties not over yet, and we hadn't even broken out the good party liquor yet."

"Negative," Karl declines. "Your orders are to leave via the portal and exfiltrate the area."

"Get fucked, sir," Mac responds bluntly. "We aren't leaving you."

"By the time I get there, you all better be fucking gone. Do you understand?!" Karl shouts into the radio.

"Say again last: Get Fucked. We are staying." Mac reaffirms.

"I'm destroying the Portal, and you will be stuck here! Do you not understand that?!"

"I. Say. Again. Last. We are staying, Sir. Out."

"Mac! Mac!" Karl shouts into the radio, nothing returning. "Fucking hell!"

"They are loyal… They don't want to leave you here alone." Atago says to him. The two brothers, Hugin and Munin, approach them as the train lurches forward.

"We know you want us to get the hell out of dodge, sir," Hugin says to him.

"But that's not how that works," Munin adds.

"You fools will die here, and your bodies may not return home," Karl says to them with a heavy heart.

"We know," Hugin says coldly. "But it doesn't matter. No one lives forever, and we all go in the ground the same way."

"Worms got to eat too, boss," Munin replies, equally cold and frankly indifferent.

Karl shakes his head and spits, "Take security positions."

The two march off and retake their spots. Karl seethed in anger, but Atago could only look on in awe. As the train moves on, Karl and Atago watch for attacks. But nothing came. The train finally reaches a bend, where the end of the last train's final cars blocks their path.

"Mac, Karl," He calls on the radio. "We made it. SITREP?"

"Last of the wounded and support guys are on the train. Lucy has this bitch fired up. We'll meet you by the PortalPortal." Mac responds.

Karl calls for Hugin and Munin. The brothers join him and Atago in regrouping.

"Good luck, sir!" LT Cox calls to them as they hook up the last train.

"You as well!" Karl wishes them as they march up to regroup.

After a long walk, they finally see fifty well-armed Kommandos pulling security and getting ready to move out. The train lurches forward into the Portal Portal, filling their ears with clacking wheels and stretching metal. They'd manage to get the regulars out and more, but the battle wasn't over. He looked over to see Lucy hunched over the terminal, motionless.

He ran.

He ran to his friend.

The men around them looked at him in shock as Karl charged at Lucy. Once he reached her, he tried to shake her awake. "Lucy! Lucy! Please! Please wake up!" He begged.

But it was nothing. Checking her pulse, there was nothing. She was…

"No…"

Karl turns her over to see her face but only sees closed eyes. She must have fallen asleep and died peacefully…

"My friend…." Karl whispers, "My dear troubled friend…. I'm sorry… But we stopped them… We stopped them all…"

The roar of a large diesel engine and the sound of a train horn signaled the last bit of the train was passing through.

"I'm sorry… I'm… I'm so sorry…" Karl says, gripping Lucy's cold hands. "I tried to save you… You tried to save me… You… You saved those men… But I was too late… I killed you…"

Karl looked again at the slow-moving train to see LT Cox Engine. He picked up Lucy's body and rushed to the last flat car. Carrying her lifeless body in his hands, bridal carry style, he places her corpse on it as it passes by.

"I…" Karl tried to say something, but nothing came out of his mouth. The train crosses through the Portal and finally shuts off. He stands there motionless, staring at the empty gate.

I Promise… I promised… I promised….

"I promised I'd bring you home all those years ago…" Karl says quietly, buckling to his knees. "Goodbye my friend…"

"Commander?" Atago's voice perks up behind him.

"K.D?" Mac's voice follows.

"I promised everyone under me that I would get them home," Karl replies, almost in tears. But he swallows his tears… "I didn't want you all to be forgotten here…"

"Lucy knew what was at stake, sir," Hugin tells him.

"She knew she didn't have much time, But she did what she could, just as any of us would," Mac adds. "She'll never be forgotten."

Atago bends down to comfort him. Mac puts his hand on Karl's shoulder, "She hit the Portal with that Virus house shit too. It's kaput. We won this day…"

"We aren't out of the woods yet," Karl says, holding Atago's hands. He looks behind him to see his men, some he knew and others he didn't. But they all wore the skull and dagger of the Kommandos. Karl feels their gaze on him. They know who he is, what he is about, and what he can do with them. His men give him confidence, and a fire is lit inside him.

"My brothers and sister…" Karl says, the sentence warming him as he takes to his feet. "We are not out of the woods yet… No, We just got into this forest."

Turning to his men, he put his hands on his rifle. "Gents, We might not make it. The difficulty is immense, But we will make these bastards remember us. We got three META girls to deal with and a whole fleet or more of sirens to finish… And comrades to save. The next objective is to get the defenses back online, take the fight to them all, and get the hell out of here."

There wasn't much said, but they didn't need bitch or moan or agree. Some nodded while others checked their magazines in their weapons.

"Anyone here has an issue with that?" Karl asks the crowd.

There wasn't a single word. The consensus was no. Not a single man or woman turned their back. All of them, including Karl, knew this was an immense task. A speech wasn't needed; only orders were required.

Atago gazes on at these men and women, the battered and bloody remains of this garrison's relief. They all looked as weathered as her beloved CommanderCommander, every last of them. Weapons were worn and beaten up, their uniforms were faded, and some looked like they had been fighting for as long as the CommanderCommander himself had. But in their eyes, she could see a fire with them all.

They didn't care. All that mattered was that their CommanderCommander was here to lead them.

Just like the shipgirls…

The old man smiles.

"Prepare to move."

Akagi and Taihou move swiftly with the rest of the fleet to aid the Eagle Union. The crane sisters noted the two were almost racing each other as they pushed themselves to the brink. Zuikaku notes this as Shoukaku prepares to launch a wave of planes to attack the black planes of Falcon.

"It's like they're feeding off each other!" Zuikaku says to her sister.

The girls launched their attacks with their planes climbing high over the clouds. With the moon to their backs, they jumped on the black planes, ripping them to pieces with fire that burned with the sun's power.

Takao and other ships moved in to stall the Siren fleet as they fought. Linking up with other shipgirls from the Eagle Union, they began holding as best they could against this fleet.

But someone was watching from afar…

"Typhoon, Raiden." Her headset barks to life.

"Go ahead." She says coldly as she watches the battle unfold.

"Ember is about to join the fight," Raiden informs her. "I've located our CommanderCommander… He's heading to the… What?!"

"Raiden?" Typhoon gasps, "Raiden! Raiden!"

"Return to base now. Let those two handle Azur Lane!" Raiden demands.

"And miss the fight?!" Typhoon exclaims.

"The Commander is en route to the defenses! Get to me now, and we can hunt him down!" Raiden shouts. Typhoon looks back at the fight and back to Attu. Cursing madly, she pulls back to the island.

Falcon continues to battle against Eagle Union aircraft. Her planes fought hard against them in an almost pointless battle, but this wasn't new to her. The shikigami planes soon changed into demons, beasts from beyond, to rip into the aircraft and stall them just a bit longer.

"Falcon, Hunter 6." Karl's voice echoes on her net.

"How the hell did you get our comms?" Falcon demands, slicing a corsair in two with her sword.

"I just have yours." Karl replies, "Thank your other META counterparts for that."

Junyou growls as she launches more spirits to battle against the next wave.

"I'm not here to idly chat." Karl continues. "We already spoke back at port, and you know everything now… The plan of your Master is kaput; even with these sirens you have coming in, it's not going to do a damn thing besides get our friends hurt or worse…"

"Get to the point." Junyou demands.

"Help me end this for good or die here," Karl says coldly. Akagi, Taihou, and others are en route, and I don't think the former two wish to show you mercy."

Junyou only focuses on the fight, ripping more of the Eagle Union planes. Oil coats her sword like blood, and the cold air makes her shiver.

"The schoolgirl won't listen to me, but I hope you will." Karl continues, a hopeful, pleading voice touching the sad girl. "I don't want to fight you. I don't want to fight any of you. But I have a duty to my men, girls, country, and Azur Lane."

"That may be the case, but that doesn't mean Taihou or Atago will join you," Junyou replies. Besides, why defend the people who betray you and those who want you dead or worse?"

"I told my men and country if we are discussing the Order." Karl corrects her.

Junyou smirks, "I remember you saying something like that long ago… You haven't changed, Old man."

Gunfire could be heard over the net, and explosions scream in her ear until finally Karl responds. "Join or die, Junyou. I know you don't want this to end like this. Neither of us do."

"Are you injured?" Junyou asks, worried as the combat makes her fear the worst.

"No," Karl tells her. "We are dealing with more of these drones of your Master's creation. How the hell did you girls even get these things moving?"

"We used a siren radio signal... a special one given to us by Ember," Junyou informs him, calling back her demons and diving into the clouds. Our allies placed the signal on the other side of the island. I can send the grid to you!"

"Destroy it; consider it a test of loyalty," Karl growls as more gunfire fills the comms. "Junyou!"

"I've always been loyal!" Junyou says defensively.

"Not that," Karl interjects, "Are you on our side or what?"

"Yes… Yes…" Junyou responds quickly.

"It's Good to have you back… Jump on the net with the rest. I'm sending it now," Karl says, surprised.

"Surprised?" Junyou responds.

"A bit," Karl says honestly. "But I guess we were waiting for the right moment, eh?"

"You idiot…" Junyou remarks rudely, "So blind to my hints."

"I didn't know putting a blade to my throat, kissing me, and stalking me were hints!" Karl teases.

Junyou rolls her eyes. "Enroute. Where are you?"

"Don't worry about that. Meet at the airfield after you complete it," Karl instructs her. Call up to my girls and let them know I'm putting planes, choppers, or something in the air in a bit."

"Roger that… My Commander…" Junyou replies, closing the channel and moving on towards the siren beacon.

Typhoon spots her flying away from the combat area. With keen vision, she sees Taihou and Akagi's planes heading towards the Siren fleet. Getting on the net, Typhoon unleashes a barrage of nasty insults.

"What the fuck are you doing? Are you turning chicken shit on me?!" Typhoon berates Falcon.

"I'm not going to deny the orders of my Commander," Junyou says matter of fact.

"YOU'RE LISTENING TO HIM?! HE CALLED YOU FIRST?! HE CHOSE YOU?!" Typhoon explodes, turning into a massive fireball that draws the attention of everyone around her. The night sky illuminates with the power of the sun, nearly blinding the shipgirls in the distance. From the bunkers built into the mountains, The Kommandos could see the silhouette of Siren ships in the distance.

"Fuck me, boss…." Hugin remarks in awe. "Those ASMs better be working."

"We need to restart the system." Karl tells them, "I think we can get some help if we talk to the right people…"

He gulps and gets on the net again: "META girl, Hunter 6. Are you on the net? I don't know who you are, but if you have eyes on us, then you see what I see, yeah?"

"I do." The voice of a deceptively sweet girl responds.

"Look, if you're smart enough to get in our systems here, how about you help us help you?" Karl begins as his men move. There is more traffic on the net of men securing the ASM sights. Even more traffic from his fleet tells him that Typhoon is breaking contact for some reason, allowing his forces and the Eagle Union to take air superiority.

"And what would we gain from assisting you? I'm aware of who you are, Mr. Dael." The voice replies.

"Then you must be aware of what happened here as well. The Order's operations here are kaput; the Portal is destroyed, and all information anyone could use is destroyed. Don't believe me, then try to access any kind of data storage." Karl says aggressively.

"If your data storage is corrupt," She begins, "Then what makes you think I can access your defense system? The virus your people used is rather malicious."

"Because if I was a tech dork with common sense, I'd make a separate server for the defense system," Karl says, annoyed. "I wouldn't let any nerd with a bone to pick and something like virus house to cripple the whole operation here. Get what I mean?"

"Logical." She says shortly. "But what makes you think I should trust you?"

"I made one of the META's change sides and pulled off one of the heavy hitters. Not to mention, my two carriers are fighting to help you right now." Karl lists out. "I would be surprised if you haven't intercepted my comms prior… So tell me, must I go on?"

As they approach more Siren drones, the net goes silent for a few moments. The team takes positions on another platform as the drones scan around. It was clear they were hunting them. With a swift motion, he draws the GM-94 and dumps four 40mm grenades, destroying them all. Atago cheers, and they keep going on. They close in on one of the command stations for the defenses. Moving swiftly, they seize the objective, and Karl orders the rest of the men to press on to verify the status of the nearby batteries of anti-ship missiles.

"Plug the communicator into the computer via the USB port. I will take over from here." The sweet girl responds.

"You're an angel," Karl remarks, finding a USB port and pulling the communicator into it.

"K.D! That KAN-SAN you called did it! The Siren drones are nothing but scrap!" Mac calls on the radio, the joy in his voice making Karl's spirits rise. "But she's pretty hurt. That one chick in your coat shot her down over the water. I don't think we got boats for that."

"Send a grid," Karl says quickly before turning to Atago. Atago, I need you to save our friend."

"I can't leave you!" Atago protests.

"And I won't leave Junyou to die," Karl says firmly. "Take one of the bunkers to the outside and hit the water. Join the fight…"

"My darling, I can't just-"

Karl hugs her and kisses her on the lips. The Onee-San wants to resist, but the heat in her belly makes her melt into him. The kiss is firm, and he pulls her into him, their bodies almost becoming a single unit. It feels like a farewell kiss—the last kiss you would get if you knew you weren't going to return. Atago wraps her arms around Karl and returns with the same fever and passion.

Breaking the kiss, Atago gently grasps his chin and looks into his eyes. "Don't be a hero, Darling. I, I mean we, need you in one peace."

"I won't be," Karl smirks, his eyes reassuring. "Save our friend."

"I love you," Atago says to him.

"I love you too, Babydoll."

Reluctantly, Atago slowly let go of Karl and left the room. She looked back one last time to see Karl smiling at her. "I love you!" Karl yells to her one last time.

"I love you too!" She responds, running out to aid their fallen ally.

Karl gets on the communicator, "All units: SITREP."

"Musashi, Commander," Musashi responds. "We're engaged with the Siren fleet. Our Eagle Union allies and we are working together to fight them off, but the odds are slowly moving in the enemy's favor. The recommendation is to pull back."

"Stand fast," Karl responds. I've contacted Eagle Union's specialists. I'm currently getting the ASMs online to give you some reprieve. Atago is en route to saving Falcon; she's turned over to our side."

"K.D, Mac," Mac calls. "I got guys at Batteries 4, 5, 6, and 9. They are green to green! The others are beyond fucked. I think we got enough to cripple a carrier group if these automated loading robots still work. Any idea of how we are getting these things to work?"

"I've got a friend on it now," Karl says nonchalantly. Get moving to the airfield and get us a ride. I spotted some transports but don't know if they are useable."

"None of us can use fixed wings." Mac replies, "But I know some clowns are helicopter-certified. We'll look for something."

"Good deal…" Karl responds, "Keep me posted. Hunter 6 out."

On the desk nearby is a pack of Russian menthol cigarettes. Karl smirks as he walks towards the pack to take it and ease his nerves. Taking one out of the soft blue packaging, he puts one in his mouth. To his annoyance, he doesn't see a lighter.

"Fuck." He growls.

A stiff left hook knocks Karl to the ground, throwing the cigarette out of his mouth. A high heel smashes the cigarette in front of him. Rolling on his back, he brings up the G3K and opens fire on the attacker. The attacker blocks the hail of gunfire with her armored trench coat. Karl takes to his feet and tries to fire another burst, but the weapon is empty. Taking cover, he reloads quickly, but the attacker closes the distance and grabs his gun. Pressing it against his neck, the light of the computers reveals the attacker's identity.

"Miss me?" Typhoon shouts, pressing the rifle against his neck with ease.

Karl uses all his strength and a dirty trick; kicking her in the knees, making her buckle and hit the floor. Finishing the reload with a sharp pull of the charging handle to the rear, he shoulders the rifle.

He pulls the trigger on instinct, but the round is a dud. Typhoon uses his leg to sweep him to the ground. Landing on his back, the GM-94 goes off, sending a grenade into the door to the room, filling the air around them with dust and gun smoke. Typhoon crawls towards him to beat him into submission, but Karl puts up his guard. The carrier punches rattle his bones, but Karl keeps fighting. Flipping her weight against herself, Karl pins her and holds her arms above her. Though she was fast. Throwing his two-hundred-and-thirty-pound frame over her and into a table.

The Typhoon closes on him like a predator. Moving on to him, she rips the GM-94 off of him and tosses it away. "No more toys!" She shouts.

Karl turns on his back with a knife in hand, slashing her with malicious intent. Typhoon backs up as he leaps back to his feet.

"Do you ever GIVE THE FUCK UP?!" Typhoon shouts in frustration.

Karl lunges at her, but that damned carrier was quicker than he could imagine. Typhoon grabs his hand mid-slash and disarms him, breaking the blade with her bare hands.

"That's enough play time." Typhoon snarls, spitting as she speaks. She steps on the G3, crushing it like a beer can under her boots. "You're out fucking matched BLACK HUNTER!"

"Firing sequence engaged." The sweet voice says in his ear. "All units clear the launchers. Firing in 3, 2, 1. MARK."

"HELENA?!" Typhoon explodes. "THAT SNAKE!"

"At least we got a bone to pick with the same person," Karl remarks.

"THE SHIPGIRL! NOT THE FUCKING BIMBO!" Typhoon shouts, grabbing and throwing him out of the room and into the hallway.

Karl crashes against the wall but catches himself as he hits the ground. Typhoon charges out of the room, "You ruined EVERYTHING!" She shouts and swings her leg back to kick him. Karl catches her leg and throws it back to her.

"I'm not letting you or Raiden destroy us!" Karl lunges at her, throwing punches. "We crushed all of it!"

"I'm still breathing!" Typhoon snarls, catching his fist and twisting his arm. "You may have turned Falcon against us, but that slut only wants your approval! She just wants to get with you! She'll turn on you as soon as another opportunity comes along!"

She twists his arm more, then kicks his feet from out under him to force Karl to the ground. "I could kill you right now… I could make it last a long time, long enough to make you repent for leaving me… How dare you… How FUCKING DARE YOU KARL DAEL!"

"You heard that witch!" Karl shouts in agony. "I wasn't given a choice!"

"I don't care! I don't care! Our love was stronger than anything else, and you left me alone!" Typhoon screams, trying to hold back tears. "Then you come out of the blue and start wreaking all our plans! You turn my friend against us… Why didn't you ask me?..."

"Because you tried killing me… You told me several times!" Karl shouts as Typhoon torques his arms.

Typhoon slams his head against the concrete. The cold floor slowly grows warmer as a cut opens on his head, dripping blood on the ground. "I LOVE YOU, I'VE ALWAYS LOVED YOU, AND I WANTED YOU TO FEEL THE PAIN I FELT FOR YEARS! YOU IDIOT! YOU GODDAMN FOOL! YOU STUPID, STUPID, STUPID MAN!"

She throws him onto his back and pins him down. Typhoon's face is red, and their eyes are almost solid red as she fights back tears. "Do you know how long I waited for you? How long have I suffered in silence for you? How deep did I go into depression for you? A hundred years? A thousand years? A MILLION?! I lost fucking count… I lost count, and the only thing I wanted was you…"

"Out of all the people you asked to stop this stupid shit… You go to Junyou…" Typhoon's hair covers her face completely. The long black hair blended perfectly with the long black coat, making her appear like an eldritch demon. She looks back to him with her burning red eyes streaming with tears. "Am I not good enough for you? Am I not your carrier? I'm not that weak little girl anymore you dotted on and protected, but I'm still Taihou…"

The blood gets in his eyes, burning them. Typhoon takes a handkerchief out of the coat and cleans the blood from his face. "I'm still Taihou… I'm still Taihou… Under all this, I'm still your Taihou…"

"I never meant to hurt you like this…" Karl responds, his voice cracking as he feels his throat contort with emotion. "I never meant to drive you to such despair. I never wanted to hurt any of you like this…"

"Why?" Typhoon asks, her voice is scratchy.

"Why what?" Karl asks as she cleans the blood from his forehead.

"Why did you give me this coat?" She asks him innocently.

"Because I wanted you to have something if I didn't come back that day, " Karl regrettably tells her. I didn't know what was going to happen, and I wanted this to go to you."

"You idiot… You fool… You dunce…" She weeps, weakly smacking her fists against his chest in a fit. "I didn't want your coat… I wanted you… I wanted you to come to me… To come home to me… To love me…"

Typhoon collapsed on him, weeping on his chest like a baby. "I know you still care…. You called me your carrier… I saw how you looked at me… You stupid… Stupid… Stupid lug!"

Her tears stream down her face and onto his clothes; Karl's heartaches, and he slowly puts his arms around Typhoon to comfort her. As soon as she feels this, Typhoon wraps her arms around him and begs unintelligibly. She switches between cursing him and begging for forgiveness.

"Shh… Shhh…" Karl tries to comfort her, but the act puzzles Typhoon as she tries to reclaim her tough act. But she didn't want to fight him anymore. The fire within her went away the moment she started crying.

"I want to forgive you… I know I can forgive you… But I don't want you to leave me and make me this way again!" Typhoon sobs.

"Shhh…." Karl hugs her tighter. Typhoon struggles, beating her fists against him in mock rage. But it only makes her cry more. Tears continue to stream out like her namesake. He wanted to join her… To let it out. To let it all out…

But Karl was afraid.

Someone had to stay strong.

He didn't want to let go just yet…

"I'm sorry."

Was all he could muster. All that he allowed himself to say.

Typhoon grips him tighter and continues to cry. She didn't want to lose him again. "I didn't mean to hurt you… I didn't mean to hurt your friends… I just…"

"I'm sorry…" Karl says again.

Typhoon looks at him, and Karl looks at her. Her eyes were red all around, and tears covered her face, but beyond that, he could see Typhoon was broken on the inside. He felt a kinship with the carrier as she held onto him for dear life. She was still beautiful as she was all those years ago. The pale white skin clashed with the dark colors of her clothing and her bright red eyes. Those eyes, full of strength, held a great sadness within her that was drowning her. The black coat around her was torn, ripped, and full of holes. Some were patched up, while others remained. It was clear to him she tried to fix it herself multiple times to carry his spirit with her into battle. There were blood stains on the collar where Karl had taken fire, but some he didn't recall.

Typhoon had been to war more than once…

It burdened her greatly, but not as much as the pain he bestowed on her.

Karl lets go of her for a moment, frightening Typhoon greatly to the point she wraps her arms around his neck and buries her face next to him. "Don't go… Don't go… Please…"

But he returns his arms to her. He moves under the heavy coat and to her slender figure to feel her again. The warmth of Karl's arms soothes the sobbing Typhoon, and a cute sigh escapes her. Nuzzling her head against the crook of his neck, Typhoon whispers to him.

"I'm sorry… I'm sorry… I'm sorry…"

"I forgive you," Karl says, holding her closely and rubbing her back.

"Why…" Typhoon cries. "I don't deserve forgiveness…"

Somewhere in you… Is me…

"After all I've done… I don't deserve it…"

After all, I've done… I don't deserve forgiveness…

I want to do something that matters…

I want my life to matter…

I want to atone for what I've done…

All I want is to sleep and never wake up…

I just want to die…

He said these… Many of them, in the depths of their souls, in the darkest corners of their minds, they have contemplated ending it all through service.

Karl caresses her head and pulls Typhoon closer to him. "You do… You deserve all the love in the world and by the gods you will get it… Everything will be alright…"

Typhoon holds him closer and tighter till the point she grows fatigued. Relief and love filled her body until she finally calmed down enough to speak. But her voice was scratchy and her nose stuffy from crying as looks at her CommanderCommander, "I will do anything for you… Anything… Don't you understand? I was so alone… The only thing I had to remember you was this coat… I wanted to be tough and strong like you and show everyone how powerful I could be if I stopped being that pathetic girl."

"You were never pathetic!" Karl says to her, his voice low but firm. "You were never pathetic ever!"

"I couldn't go a day without you and never had anyone but you! I was obsessed with you!" Typhoon laments, damning herself with every word. "I became cold… I became hateful… I wanted to be feared like you were…"

"There is nothing good about what I was…" Karl tells her, pulling back to look her in the eyes. "I was a blight on the earth; I killed hundreds of thousands, and all I brought was death and destruction. That was… That was me being what I had to. You aren't cruel… You aren't a monster… You aren't cold…"

"But I had to be!" Typhoon protests. "I had to be to fight those X things, the Sirens, and everything else!"

"I had to be as well," Karl agrees, "But that doesn't define you… You were always the sweetest, considerate, and loving girl anyone could dream of. You were creative and always did the most to make yourself stand out."

"But I only did all that for you!" Typhoon protests. "I'm just a love sick twat…"

"Bullshit," Karl retorts. "You did it because you enjoyed it. Your version here had all those interests before I even came here. You're talented, and I love you dearly."

"No, you don't!" Typhoon dismisses. "You just say that!"

Karl pulls her to him and kisses her deeply. Typhoon melts into him, and Karl's needy side locks him into her. Her tongue enters his mouth and possessively marks him. For what seemed like hours, the short and fiery kiss finally ends as they beg for breath.

"I love you… I love you so much it hurts, My Commander…" Typhoon tells him with dreamy eyes.

"I love you too… Taihou…" Karl whispers, hoping she will accept her old name again.

Typhoon smiles and hugs him close, "Never leave me…"

"I won't, I promise." He tells her.

They hug for what seems to be an eternity, but Typhoon finally breaks the hug and looks at him. "We… We have to leave here… Raiden wanted me to find you."

"And here I thought you were looking for me because you missed me," Karl replies with a smirk.

Typhoon blushes and scowls, "You idiot… You sweet idiot…"

"I guess we better get moving… Change your net… Let the girls know you're with us now…" Karl says to her, deep in thought, as he devises a plan.

Typhoon kisses his lips passionately and reluctantly backs off to change her frequency. She nods to him, "I'm with you, my beloved…"

"Glad to have you back…" Karl says to her sweetly. A warm smile takes his face, soothing Typhoon's soul.

"I'm glad to have you back too…"

Outside in the dark of night, the battle rages as the shipgirls of both fleets fight against the Sirens with feverous aggression. The barrage of missiles from the island hit their mark on the Siren's main ships and some of their humanoid drones. Ember joins the fight to attempt to save the situation, and her appearance stonewalls the battle for the combined efforts of Azur Lane. While her siren fleet suffered staggering losses by the barrage, the combined Sakura and Eagle Union fleet was now a META ship. It was still delivering heavy blows to the mass-produced fleets of both forces. Radio chatter between the forces made Karl curse, but he already had a feeling that Ember wouldn't just sit by and watch. Typhoon and Karl leave the facility and finally reach a long stretch of underground road with signs directing them to the airfield. They took control of a KM450 pickup and headed off at speed.

"What the plan, My Commander?" Typhoon asked, her voice soft and soothing as she watched him drive the truck.

"Get control of the sea and get the hell out of here," Karl replies, shifting gears. My men have got to exfiltrate, and I'm not letting these two sisters run a muck up here."

"Raiden still hasn't appeared." Typhoon informs him, "She might be waiting for you to appear. Commander, allow me to be your bodyguard. It would be my honor to defend you."

"I need you in the fight, Typhoon," Karl responds. "I love you to death, girl, but you're a heavy hitter with those jet fighters of yours."

"My Commander," Typhoon protests, sitting in the seat and facing him ultimately. "I can't leave you unprotected! Raiden will target you!"

He rolls his jaw and ponders for a moment, "Good. I'll be the perfect bait then."

"You can't be serious!" Typhoon shouts in anger. "You damn idiot! She'll rip you to pieces if she decides to dispose of you!"

"Then you better be quick to defeat Ember then…" Karl remarks as they round a corner.

"Commander… That's suicidal…" Typhon continues. "Raiden isn't stable. She's losing her grip on everything the longer this goes, I know she is. But I can't let you go out and…"

I can't let you give what life you have for me… I'm damned anyways… Let me…

Typhoon puts her hand over her eyes as she begins to feel Deja vu. She could almost feel the desperation in the air as the tunnel grew colder. Pulling the coat closer to her face, Typhoon tried to hide from the cold wind. The roar of the truck engine and the echo of its exhaust almost sounded like the rotors on a helicopter. The memory of Karl putting her on that helicopter, struggling and fighting at every turn, and saying the same sentence to her all the years brought back all the pain.

"I can't let you go out and get yourself killed. I can't let you give what life you have for me, I'm damned either way…. Let me give you this…" He said to her as he handed Typhoon his coat. "Stay strong my girls… Keep fighting, if not for the world, then for me… I'll see you one day again…"

Typhoon grabs his hand from the shifter, and Karl stops the truck in the middle of the tunnel. "Not again…" Typhoon says gravely severe. "I'm not losing you again."

"Taihou, there isn't another way." Karl tries to say, but Typhoon interjects by touching his mouth.

"There is another way."

Mac and the rest of the Kommandos arrived on the airfield. Using commandeered KM250 trucks, they move the company-sized element to the remaining hangers. To much of his dismay, the A400's were destroyed by either shelling or bombers. Scouring the airfield and the surrounding area, they finally find some helicopters, Modernized Mi-8MTV5. The three hips were stored within a hanger built into the mountains around the airport. To much of their good luck, the pilots were still here and were protecting their precious mounts. He recalled hearing a callsign "Buzzard" during the initial arrival on the island, but that was hours ago. Entering the hangar, he was greeted by the muzzle of a Sig Sauer Rattler and a Colt Python, and two pilots held him up.

After clearing up the mistake, the six pilots of the Buzzard Squadron explained they were locked in by the security system and had to hold up here. All of them were women led by Major Faust, a raven-haired woman.

"K.D., Mac," Mac calls to Karl over the net. "We got some flyboys and some wings!"

"Those A400's are still good?" Karl asks him, somewhat surprised.

"Nah, brother," Mac dismisses. "We got some Hips. We can get somewhere safe if we find some drop tanks."

"Then we'd have to leave men behind, and I'm not doing that." Karl declines. "Take positions and get those Hips running. We'll land on my carriers to take you all back to St. Elizabeth."

"Beers on you, right?" Mac asks sarcastically.

"You bet," Karl smirks, closing the communication.

Typhoon and Karl drive out of the tunnel and take a turn to go up the mountain. The KM250 tackles the train with little issue once Karl puts it into four-wheel drive. They race up a trail until finally reaching a peak on a high elevation point facing the battle to the north. From what they could see, the Siren ships fired their batteries of guns and were assaulted by various means, and the explosions and muzzle flashes painted a picture for them. Karl checked the time, and it was 0600 in the morning, "One hour till sunset… Christ…" Karl remarks.

A ball of light caught their attention as multiple batteries of 16-inch guns fired into the darkness. Their might then answered with a barrage of missiles and cannons from a siren ship. From the silhouette, he saw a large boat. Karl wasn't sure who it was, but whoever it belonged to gave the siren fleet something to consider. Karl cheered too much of Typhoon Joy. Seeing Karl smile so brightly made her heart sing.

But the good times passed rather quickly as more ships around the massive vessel took hits from Ember.

"They are still coming…" Karl said gravely.

Typhoon looks on at the destruction and turns back to him. "Then it's time for me to make my presence known, " she says with a confident smile and a twinkle in her eye.

"Ember's going to be tough," Karl remarks.

"She is," Typhoon agrees. "But she's not that scary when you stand up to her… You saw it yourself When you defended me." She smiles and takes his hand, wrapping her fingers tightly against his. "You poor fool… You beautiful moron…"

"I wouldn't let her harm you…" Karl tells her, taking her other hand in his.

"You sweet jackass…" Typhoon giggles, a tear coming from her eye. "You don't care about your own well-being… I know you don't. But please, for all of us, and especially me, care about your life."

"Someone has to give it all," Karl says, kissing her hands. "And if I have to lay it all down for someone who deserves it, I will. No question."

"You proud idiot…" Typhoon smiles, the pride she felt making her face glow. "You give me so much strength… So much confidence that I could take on the world… It's why when I have this on, this coat of yours, it makes me feel like all the weakness within me is gone. I'll never lose if I have a piece of you with me. My love, my Darling, my CommanderCommander… I never want to lose you ever again."

Typhoon hugs him tightly, pressing herself against him until Karl almost can't breathe. They kiss once more, and reluctantly, they let go of each other.

"Good luck, Taihou," Karl says to her.

"When my Commander is with me, I have all the necessary luck." Typhoon giggles before leaping into the air with her rigging at the ready.

"All units: Typhoon is now on our side. Check your fire and put Ember to the bottom of the fucking Bering Sea." Karl calls on the radio. He looks up to see Typhoon Sore above him. He smirks, "Give them hell…"

Commander Helena battles on from USS Montana as the mighty super battleship fires its massive shells into the enemy. The barrage of missiles from Attu and the sight of Sakura Empire units relieved her, and the Siren fleet seemed infinite as more ships appeared from nowhere. Her shipgirls fought relentlessly, as did the crews of her mass-produced ships. The young CommanderCommander felt a sense of pride for all the actions here. Over the radio, Helena caught snippets of the loathsome Karl Dael, thanks to her META. She hated that man, but god damn it, did he save their ass by launching those missiles.

The last radio traffic about the Typhoon made her do a double take. "Helena, Who's Typhoon?"

"Taihou META." Helena META responds as a bright light over the island nearly blinds them.

As her eyes adjusted, Commander Helena saw a massive phoenix appear, illuminating the world around them. Burning Kikka jet fighters attacked the Siren fleet, and the massive phoenix swooped down to destroy the Sirens.

"Admiring the show?" The voice sweet voice of Raiden echoes behind him.

"I was wondering when you would appear," Karl remarks, keeping his back to her.

"If you think I wasn't watching you," Raiden says, her voice dripping with malevolent anger. "You are a fool."

"Did you improve your optical camo?" Karl asks her. "I didn't feel you around me."

"I did actually," She chuckles darkly. "If you think I'd trust Typhoon to come after you alone, you are sorely mistaken."

He attempts to turn around, but the sharp tip of a blade pokes his back. "I wouldn't try anything rash, darling," Raiden says sweetly.

"I say the same thing to you, too, Darling." Karl replies calmly. "It's over, Raiden."

"Do you really think this will end my struggle against the Sirens?" Raiden asks him flatly.

"No," Karl replies frankly.

"Then it's not over," Raiden corrects him. The war will never end for people like us, my Darling Karl Dael."

"For me, No, for you, though, there isn't much here that you can do." Karl begins listing what was done here. "The Portal is destroyed, Devil destroyed, your Siren radio freq is kaput, and now your sister's friends are getting their shit pushed in. Hopefully, Virus House didn't corrupt any of your attempts to save anything on Hadrian."

"Funny you mention that." Raiden chuckled, her rage bubbling through her laughter. "Reports I read stated that Hadrian was destroyed by passing asteroids around your planet. The plans were corrupted beyond anything I could use when I did manage to fight past Virus House."

"Then you killed all those men for no reason then…" Karl seethes, sighing with anger.

"I may not have gotten my weapon, But I did get you away from the Order." Raiden chuckles evilly. "How does it feel to know they betrayed you? They turned on you, and now, here, you are an enemy of the state. You'll be hunted, Darling. If they don't get you, you'll be rotting in an Eagle Union prison for being an agent."

"Our missiles saved their lives, and your comrades turned to my side to aid them," Karl replies. "I might have some rope to pull on to save my skin."

"They'll hang you with it," Raiden interjects. "That schoolgirl, as you call her, will instantly turn on you. You took her ego and shattered it when you took command from her."

"I'll figure it out," Karl said dismissively.

"Do you ever think that one day, death will finally catch you?" Raiden asks him, her voice becoming harsh. "That witch will turn on you; they all will! But I won't!"

"Says the woman with the blade to my back," Karl interjects.

"Why must you be so FUCKING difficult?!" Raiden shouts, her voice echoing through the mountains.

There was a notable silence between the two as Raiden's voice returned to them. Everything seemed to go silent as the question screamed in his ear. Gunfire, Explosions, Aircraft engines, and the sea's anger all went quiet at once.

"Why must you be so FUCKING difficult?!"

"Turn around, darling." Raiden growls. "Slowly and put your hands up."

Karl sighs and slowly turns around to face Raiden. The long silver blade of her sword is nearly an inch away from his face. With a flick of her wrist, she cuts the belt kit off of him, letting it hit the ground with a thud.

"At least you put up a fight with Typhoon." Raiden scowls. "You fucking mad man. You dared fight a META at close range? I thought your suicidal tendencies were over-exaggerated in your files, but seeing it up close made me think otherwise."

"I have nothing to lose," Karl replies, monotone.

Raiden rolls her eyes, "Yes, you do. You have them, those barbarians of yours and those stupid girls. I could cut you away from the Order as much as I want, but that doesn't work. You're not loyal to them. I saw you destroy their grand operation here without a second thought. But you'll stay loyal to everyone who'll suffer with you."

"And?" Karl snorts sarcastically. "I still have my honor, after all."

"Spare me your honor," Raiden sneers. "Spare me anything you believe to be honorable. What is honor to you, Black Hunter?"

Karl says nothing.

"Nothing," Raiden answers for him. "You have no honor; you're a pragmatist. You're only loyal to whoever keeps you fighting. Is that why you turned on the Order? Hm?"

Karl stays quiet.

"What happens when the war ends, Karl?" Raiden asks him.

"What happens when it ends, Atago?" Karl turns it back on her.

"I'm ASKING THE QUESTIONS," Raiden shouts.

"Then we put down our guns," Karl says coldly.

"Oh, don't say it so calmly, so detached," Raiden replies, her voice dripping with venom. "You're afraid of the end of war. Is that why you took the exile so easily? Something to keep you busy?"

"I didn't have a choice…" Karl says reluctantly. "But the end of the war?"

A wry chuckle escapes him. A bitter taste fills his mouth as he tries to put it all into words. "There will never be an end to war. I'll always have something to do. The Order has many enemies, and they need men like me. But I had no choice but to be exiled… These damned political elites, nobles, and other soft-handed fools needed a scapegoat. They will get their day… I assure you."

An evil smile takes Karl's face that unnerved Raiden. "You mad man… You'd kill them if you had a chance, wouldn't you?"

"Asks the woman who wishes to destroy the Sirens yet wants to work with them as a means to an end," Karl remarks, casting a jaundiced eye toward Raiden. "Somewhere inside you is me…"

"Such a pragmatist." Raiden snarls with venom. Her face contorted further with disgust as she eyed him. "We all must be pragmatic, but do you even have principles? Do you know why I considered this small collaboration with these loathsome creatures?"

"Indulge me," Karl demands.

"I wanted to bring that bastard Tester into the Agarthan Sea and hit her with Hadrian till she was nothing but ash," Raiden tells him with hate seething through every word. "I wouldn't let Ember or the Sirens harm those people of your world. But I needed them to get this plan moving. Then, you destroy the gateway directly to Nifelheim. Do you even fathom what they would have done to Tiberius and all the races on it? Do you?"

Karl says nothing.

Raiden sheaths her sword and breathes to calm herself, "Of course you don't. You could care less who you're sent against. But I care, I care who I draw my sword against."

"How sure are you of this, Raiden?" Karl counters.

"Because I didn't commit genocide." Raiden growls, her words stopping him in his tracks. "The files on the cleansing and what you admitted to told me why. But explain to me why it was so easy for you? Are you not human?"

"Pathetic." Karl scowls, disgusted. "Am I human? What a joke of a question? A piss poor attempt at reaching my soul. What nerve you have."

"Then how does a man sleep at night with the blood of 350,000 cultists on his hands?" Raiden demands.

"You answered your own question," Karl says flatly.

"Because they were cultists? Because they believed in some odd human idea?" Raiden replies, shocked.

"Sarkics are not a cult," Karl scowls, their name rolling off his tongue with a nasty expression. "They are something beyond understanding, and I finished them. Those bastards of demonic flesh destroyed my world, my earth, and made us escape to a backwater planet. But I avenged them after they fomented war on both Tiberius and Earth long ago. I have blood on my hands, but I won my war. I became the monster to kill the worst monster. Do I regret it? Yes. Do I have trouble sleeping at night? Yes, but not to kill those beasts. I'm not a good man, but I know who and what to kill, Thank you."

"Then why do you fight me?" Raiden exasperated. "I am fighting an enemy that is countless times more loathsome than these 'Sarkics'. Do you not understand them, these Sirens?"

"I just know they are sentient trash cans in the guise of children and women," Karl says hatefully. "Innocent faces can only protect so much."

"They are more than that!" Raiden shouts. "They make what you did to those cultists look like a picnic compared to what they did to countless timelines. Billions, Karl, Billions. Untold billions were put to death, and their worlds turned into strip mines! Even the water was purified of its minerals to build their war machines."

The silence rose between them as Raiden hyperventilated, the trauma setting in as she recalls the horror she saw countless times over. "You saw a destroyed world, a world where the stupid and pettiness of weak men and their degeneracy set the world ablaze… The Kali Yuga… But have you ever seen a world where roaches do not exist? Where was all life in the sea exterminated? Where the planet was ripped to pieces by beings believing they were gods? All for what… Nothing, Karl, Nothing…"

A haunting expression takes Karl's face as he begins to recall the end of earth… He shuts his eyes, trying to fight back the horror in his mind.

"Sirens, Shipgirls, Arbiters, Gravity engines, Mirror seas, Nuclear weapons, and other machinations you could BARELY comprehend, and ALL OF IT FAILED," Raiden shouts, angry and traumatized by it all. "Yet your people used a man-made weapon to destroy one of these beasts… Of course, I'd do whatever it took to get it. Fade out and die, or become a monster to destroy greater monsters… Whatever it takes, I would avenge my friends and my world if it meant using those genocidal monsters."

"Then Claudia appeared with powers beyond your understanding and offered you a taste, hm?" Karl asks her. "She found you on one of those destroyed worlds to tempt you…"

"Who wouldn't take a sip from a challis so powerful?" Raiden asks, matter of fact. I saw her open the ocean and swallow a fleet of sirens, Karl. She ripped the sea in two and dragged it down to crush it under its power like it was nothing. An arbiter, a man-made god, was crushed in the palm of her hands as if it were a fly…"

"And you told your closest allies and friends…" Karl surmises. "Then Claudia enlists you all; you tell her of the Sirens, and here we are…"

Raiden grits her teeth, "She used us, she used me, she used you… She used us to get here, didn't she? I always knew in my heart she was using us to get here… We told her what the Sirens did to us, what X did, and everything… Then your men came and set up shop, scavenging their remains like vultures… Abandoning us and stealing whatever they could… Just like the Sirens."

"Then she exiles me here…" Karl adds, "Just to have me turn it all off instantly and destroy her operation. Then reconnect with you and the girls…"

Raiden grits her teeth again. Anger fills her body, making all her hair stand on every point of her body as the realization hits her. She was a pawn, just like Karl was in this great game. Maybe this was Mr. Z's plan after all?

"Z knew this was her baby… Her creation, This Operation Vulture…" Karl says, coming to the realization.

"And they used both of us as proxies…" Raiden gasps. "If I ever meet that Witch, I will rip her to pieces…"

"Not if I get to her first," Karl remarks, clenching his fists.

The realization hit them like a ton of bricks. The more they thought about it, the more it made sense. The sun began to rise over the ocean. The big orange ball of fire revealed all the death and destruction that cluttered the sea. They stood on the mountaintop, watching everything, not talking or doing anything special.

Just watching…

Raiden was almost catatonic as she watched Typhoon, Falcon, The Eagle Union, and the Sakura Empire shipgirls fight off the Siren battlefleet. Chatter over the radio on her end had Ember throwing in the towel and abandoning the operation. Tester was ripped to pieces by the combined efforts of the girls and sent to the bottom of the ocean, but everyone knew they would see her again. The cheers from Karl's radio confirm this as they all celebrate their victory. His men called him on the radio to report that there were secondary explosions within the facility itself. Mac speculated it was a defense mechanism or Virus house overloaded generators inside. But whatever it was, it didn't matter to them.

A mechanical clanking sound makes Raiden jump out of her catatonic state. It was just Karl unlocking the tailgate to the KM450 and locking it open. He sits and looks at the battle before him as a portal opens and closes suddenly. The chatter was correct…

With a heavy sigh, Karl lays back in the truck bed as they break through the clouds. The truck lurches and cheeks for a moment as Raiden sits on the edge of the tailgate. Karl sits up and runs his hands through his hair as he calms down. It was over now…

Raiden looked at him emotionless, her face drained of all emotion and energy. Karl's face had heavy bags around his eyes and sunken cheeks, and he slowly began to hunch over. A loud grumbling echoed between them. He soon realized he hadn't eaten in a day as the adrenaline finally wore off.

"You look like hell, Darling…" Raiden remarks concerned.

"So do you…" Karl shoots back at her.

Karl falls back onto the truck's bed. To Raiden's surprise and her enjoyment, he passes out cold. She takes the communicator from his pocket and clicks the transmitter.

"All stations on this net: Consolidate your forces and prepare to exit the combat area. It's over; I surrender to you, Karl Dael… Raiden out."