So where we left off: Trigger and Enterprise managed to protect the port from the Red Axis after they launched a surprise attack. This shows the power of both the Eagle Union's Grey Ghost and Osea's Three Strikes. Trigger even damaged Zuikaku to make their retreat more urgent.

But now, Trigger's job as Commander of Azur Lane begins as he assesses the damage and to keep his promise to Yorktown.

And now, on to the chapter.

As the dust settled, the port and the ships needed repairs as manju in small boats and the two modern destroyers along with USS Anzio helped kansen out of the water while refloating and towing sunk ships into the dry dock. As for Trigger, who watched the salvage operation unfold from the docks, it was pretty much chaotic, it reminded him of seeing the OFS Albatross sunk at the harbor of Fort Grays Island after the bombing and the Erusean Reserve Fleet nothing more than burning wrecks at Anchorhead Bay after Operation Domino, memories of those times during the Lighthouse War. As for Wales and Illustrious, who were watching him had their thoughts as the battleship spoke,

"So he's the Commander? Not what I was expecting, but that three-lined marking confirms Cleveland's suspicions that he was the pilot who saved Point Mugu from those bombers." She looked out at the port, "But I didn't expect that they would attack us first."

Illustrious stated, "I'm not surprised that they joined the Iron Blood, it was to be expected."

The various siren aircraft as well as sunk siren ships vanished as if there were no evidence that they were there. Wales figured,

"Perhaps they moved too soon, they don't know the sirens power. How dangerous it is."

Illustrious stated, "We need to focus on rebuilding, the main Royal Navy forces will be arriving soon. We mustn't be caught off guard ever again."

They soon focused back on Trigger walking along the docks as well as Enterprise pulling her ship in. Wales was relieved,

"Thank goodness for Eagle Union's Enterprise and the Commander, they really saved us this time."

Illustrious agreed until she said, "But at a great risk to her own existence. They seemed to be the same, but they are different."

Wales pointed out what they saw Trigger do, "He fights with the will to survive, to protect others, he flies like a hero. He was also able to sense Zuikaku's presence and made their retreat more urgent when he damaged her. He's been through war, he knows how to be a leader, he's…"

Illustrious guessed, "Different."

"Indeed, while Enterprise's strength is limitless, fighting without hesitation like an arrow loosed from its bow, the commander is more coordinated, more selective and able to protect his charges. And yet, there's a certain aura about him. I feel like I would survive a sortie if I stuck with him."

Illustrious chuckled, "You noticed? If a bow is too strained it will surely snap. But with support from the commander, the bow will maintain and fire away."

She finished as she reached her hand up to the sky with her thumb and pinkie separated from the three mid-fingers, "Go Trigger's way and you will make it. He leads the way."

Trigger was still assessing the situation until he noticed two destroyers jump to shore. It was Javelin and Laffey as the Royal Navy destroyer sighed,

"Seems we all made it out safe at least." Until she noticed her friend face down on the ground, "OI LAFFEY ARE YOU OKAY!?"

She simply said, "I'm sleepy, nap time."

Javelin helped her up as she said, "Not a good place to take a snooze."

Javelin carried the sleepy destroyer as she noticed the pilot as he asked,

"Is your friend okay?"

"Oh, she's just tired." She looked at the pilot, mainly his flight suit as she noticed a yellow wolf emblem, similar to the emblem on the tail besides the three strikes and grew curious, "Aren't you the pilot of that Raptor?"

The pilot nodded as he said, "I am. My TAC Name is Trigger and I'm your commander." That's when she realized who she was talking to.

"Oh, Commander, I want to thank you for saving us out there. I have never seen flying like that, let alone a Raptor taking off from a carrier."

Trigger stated, "I just do what I do and coordinate with Enterprise in order to get the job done."

Soon enough, another voice spoke, "Hi Javelin, Hi Laffey!"

They soon saw Unicorn along with Illustrious and Wales as the light carrier ran to them, although got a little shy when she saw Trigger. Javelin spoke, "Hey there Unicorn, are you alright? Are you hurt?"

The girl stated, "No, thanks for asking." She turned to Trigger, "I also want to thank you for saving me today. You are such a great pilot!"

Trigger smiled, "It's what I do and you were actually in danger from Kaga. I didn't want anyone to get hurt, not even you."

Unicorn hugged him as she cried out, "Thank you, Big Brother! Thank you!"

Trigger thought, 'Big Brother? Never thought someone would call me that.'

Wales approached, "Trigger is not one to take all the credit, both of you have done great work for keeping us safe."

Javelin thought back to all of the events which led up to the attack, meeting Ayanami who was really a spy, probing the defense and leading the Sakura Fleet to the base as she yelled,

"Hold on!" But all of a sudden, a stray hand from Laffey grips Javelin's shirt as the button pops off and her shirt comes undone, revealing her breasts to everyone.

Trigger's eyes widened as he put his hand in front of his eyes until Javelin shrieked and covered her breasts as the pilot uncovered his eyes. She cried out as she crouched,

"Laffey, why did you do that?!" The sleepy bunny girl turned over as her left breast was exposed as well as a crab sitting on it as she said,

"Sleepy and so hungry, too. Night night."

Javelin quickly removed the crab and covered Laffey's chest. Trigger figured with the awkwardness aside,

"I think you've had enough excitement for today. It's best that you get some food and go get some rest."

Soon enough, Wales and Illustrious turned around as Javelin, who managed to restore her modesty said,

"Wait…" Wales turned her head, "I believe the Commander has ordered you to rest. We also need to show him around the base since he was given a welcome wagon with an unexpected battle."

Unicorn and Trigger only gave a look at the two before joining the others as the pilot requested to see the dry docks where the Anzio and the two destroyers were towing the damaged ships.

Meanwhile at the dry dock, Cleveland was overlooking the maintenance to the damaged ships as she noticed how much work is needed to get done and would wish that there was a repair ship. That wasn't until she noticed Enterprise standing on the dock. The light cruiser got off the ship and ran towards the carrier,

"Hey, Enterprise, you shouldn't be here. You should be resting after how hard you pushed yourself in that last battle!"

The Pride of the Eagle Union stated, "I'm fine, thanks."

Cleveland was confused, "How is that possible?"

Enterprise looked at her ship which was filled with dents, scratches, scorch marks and hull damage, "All emergency repairs are complete, I've still got some fight left in me."

She began to walk away until she suddenly dropped a bit which made Cleveland say, "See what I mean? You need to rest."

"The enemy hasn't gone very far, I'm not going to lower my guard just yet."

"Not with that damage, you're not."

That was Trigger's voice as he approached the two. Cleveland was surprised,

"I can't believe it, you were the pilot with the three lines! I heard about you from the Mugu Bombing Raid, but that was amazing flying!"

Trigger shrugged, "I had help." He looked at Enterprise, "And now she intends to set off again on a damaged ship."

Enterprise stated, "I am fine, Commander. I don't need to rest."

"Enterprise, your ship is damaged and I need the fleet up to 100% readiness. Now is not the time to be stubborn, get some rest. That's an order."

She wanted to fight, but deep down she knows that he's right as she reluctantly said,

"Yes sir." She soon walked towards the Eagle Union Barracks.

Cleveland was surprised by how the pilot handled her, "I can't believe you managed to convince her. But I think she might disobey that order when something comes up."

Trigger sighed, "Yorktown always says that she's stubborn when I met her back at Point Mugu."

Cleveland knew that name, "I heard that she was stationed at that base to train rookie pilots."

"She was actually the first kansen that I met. Yorktown wants me to break Enterprise out of her shell, not to act like she's a drone, but a human being."

Soon enough, Grim appeared and landed on Trigger's shoulder as the pilot looked at the bird which startled the cruiser. Until she noticed,

"Enterprise's Eagle likes you." Trigger nodded, "Grim was intrigued and we practically became friends."

They soon watched as the Ticonderoga Class cruiser towed a damaged Atlanta-Class Cruiser into port. Cleveland recognized it,

"That's the USS Anzio and she still has the scars from when those Suk and Siren Jets suicide bombed her."

Trigger asked, "Are you interested in modern ships?"

She slightly chuckled, "Well, part of being a cruiser is to identify other cruisers, light, heavy and modern. Anzio made an impressive stand during the Battle of DC and despite being sunk, she was raised from the Potomac, repaired and pressed back into service, she's one tough boat."

They did hear a crying shipgirl crouched down at a nearby dock and crying out, "NOT MY SHIP!"

The Osean asked, "The ship that's being towed is hers?"

Cleveland nodded, "That's San Diego, she's an Atlanta-Class cruiser, but she's also an idol. She likes to sing in her downtime, her popular song is 'I Am No. 1' and it's already been popular in several languages and she was hoping for a concert."

Trigger chuckled. "I bet she's not the only idol on the base."

The cruiser stated, "There's plenty of idols from the many different factions, just giving you a heads up, sir."

It was nice for her to talk with the man who not only saved Point Mugu prior to this battle, but is also her new superior. But there was something Cleveland noticed during the battle and soon asked, "During the battle, I noticed that Kaga was enraged by you. It seems as though she will be out for blood."

Trigger felt another blast from the past, "This isn't the first time that someone was out to get me."

"What do you mean?"

"There was once a brother and sister team called Mimic Squadron…"

First Carrier Division

50 miles west of Azur Lane HQ and outbound

December 8, 2019

To say Kaga was angry would be an understatement, she was furious about what happened in that battle. Even as she's sitting in a chair underneath an umbrella on the flight deck, being patched up by Akagi, she can't fathom how a single F-22 had beaten her and figured out their escape plan. Zuikaku of the 5th Carrier Division even felt the sting of embarrassment as those two missiles struck her ship. Luckily, this pilot only looked to damage them, not destroy them. But it doesn't overlook the fact that the attack took a 180 from being a successful mission to an outright disaster for the First Carrier Division. Kaga expressed this,

"I won't let this go, sister! I will not let this humiliation slide! I swear to you, that pilot…that Three Strikes will die!"

Akagi stated as she tended to her sister's wounds, "Calm yourself, dear sister. We anticipated the Eagle Union's best carrier to show up, but we never anticipated this Three Strikes. Although the Siren Mass Produced ships performed well, they never stood a chance against that pilot."

Kaga glared, "This seems like a victory, but at the same time it feels like a defeat! We were supposed to be a legendary carrier division only to be humiliated by one human pilot!" She glares at Ayanami who stood at the edge of the deck, being debriefed,

"And You! You never informed us about Three Strikes!"

The destroyer stated, "I didn't know he existed, he was only a rumor, a pilot that appeared at the Point Mugu Bombing."

Akagi was amused, "I see, the bombing is where Three Strikes made his appearance and there is also when Siren aircraft targeted that training group near LA. There was only one instructor and twelve Goshawks."

Ayanami guessed, "The instructor was flying an F-22 with three lines on the tail?"

The dark haired foxgirl nodded, "It's obvious that we encountered an enemy with experience and could have the ability to turn the tide of wars."

Kaga knew an opportunity, "Sister, I will go after him myself and kill him before he disrupts our operations!"

Akagi had a different idea, "No, I don't want him dead, but alive since the damage he did to me has turned me on." Soon enough, faint hearts started forming in her eyes at the very thought of that pilot.

The white fox couldn't believe what she was hearing, not only has Akagi refused to kill the pilot who humiliated them, but she wants the pilot alive because of her poetry on how when two combatants battle - they share their love.

"Is Akagi really serious? Just because Three Strikes damaged her that means they shared their love?! Her poetry is going to get her killed by that man!"

Ayanami reached behind her and pulled out a set of photos, most of which were of the port. But one was the freighter that the Royal Navy captured - mostly its unique cargo. She showed it to the two foxes,

"The Royal Navy also ambushed a Siren Fleet and captured this freighter that was trying to smuggle aircraft from an unknown faction. This plane was part of the cargo."

The two looked at the photo as the unknown plane was shown on the transport truck. It looked smooth, no visible cockpit, canards and forward swept wings.

"Ah, that is a plane we have never seen before."

A voice said as Kaga jolted and leapt away from the shade and looked up at the island and saw a woman with waist-length silver hair tied in twintails with red ship-like hairclips with a single red strand and has brownish-orange eyes. She wears a black detached collar with yellow linings and an iron cross motif, red & gray shoulder sleeves with buttons and iron cross motif, and she wears black gloves. She wears a gray double-breasted dress top with buttons and red garter straps with an iron cross motif over a red & black leotard, black stockings with metal protectors wrapped around her lower thighs and the back of her shins and red pointed iron boots with a gray plates and an iron cross motif. This is the Iron Blood's Heavy Cruiser, Prinz Eugen as she asked,

"Oh? Bad time?"

Kaga glared, "What do you want?"

The Iron Blood Cruiser stated, "But first I want you to stop glaring at me. We're allies, you are part of Sakura Empire and I am from Iron Blood."

She leaned back and used the antenna on the Island to swing herself down to the flight deck as she walked up to them while crossing her arms, "Right?"

Akagi agreed, "Right, we are all very fortunate to have the same goals and ideals…"

Kaga stated with a venomous tone, "Which are now in jeopardy because of our new enemy."

Prinz Eugen knew this, "The newcomer, this Three Strikes. The Ace that humiliated the mighty First Carrier Division and now Commander of Azur Lane."

The white fox's fists clenched when his name was mentioned, "My sister and I have different ideas regarding that man."

Eugen knew this, "You want to see him dead while Akagi wants to bring him back to her quarters alive to do with as she pleases."

Kaga shouted, "His appearance changed the entire course of that battle! He could cost Red Axis its goals!"

Akagi stated as she held a dark cube, "Sister, he is an ace pilot, but he is only one man against the might of Red Axis."

Eugen stated as she sat down, "Stranger things have happened and it's not just your battle with Three Strikes, but also Eagle Union's Enterprise, also known as Grey Ghost, stubborn, but a great fighter.."

Akagi stated, "But the way they fought side by side is like watching an elegant dance between warriors of the sea and skies." She swooned, "I was a victim of this dance, but I wish to dance with Three Strikes in person - to see the man behind the cockpit and make sure no one else has him!"

She let out a creepy laugh before composing herself, "The ships at the base seem to believe that when Three Strikes is there, they will survive."

Ayanami thought about this concept of one man against an army. But when she saw him fight, the Azur Lane ships were performing even better than before…like there was a beacon of light guiding them and all of a sudden, she softly spoke a phrase that she never heard before which for some reason, she figured out the pilot's name,

"Stick with Trigger And You'll Make It."

It wasn't until a red paper appeared as Zuikaku's voice spoke,

"My seniors, we found them, a detached force."

Akagi was amused, "Well then, I guess we have a chance to toy with them and who knows, maybe he will grace us with his presence again."

She spoke through the paper plane, "All right, 5th Division, they're yours, I know you've recently recovered from an attack by Three Strikes, but this is hardly a difficult errand."

Zuikaku asked with a hint of worry, "What should we do if Three Strikes shows up?"

Akagi stated, "Do what you must, but if you do take him down, bring him to me alive."

"U…understood." The paper plane burns up as Eugen gets up, "Hmm, a confrontation with Three Strikes? This will be interesting."

'It will also be a chance to see why Kaga is enraged and bloodthirsty while Akagi is all obsessive and thinking of copulation with this Ace.'

Ayanami knew that she would be going back into battle when Akagi requested Iron Blood support, but she will also be paired with an Iron Blood destroyer for this next battle. But she still thought about the impact that Three Strikes had on Azur Lane…if they felt safe around him, then why should she feel safe around him when he's supposed to be her enemy?

It was at that moment that Ayanami began to silently question her loyalty to the Sakura Empire.

Azur Lane Airfield, Southwestern Oahu.

The Commander's Office was definitely a nice place to be for Trigger since it's going to be his office for now on. But something came up for him as Illustrious needed him at the airfield immediately.

And now, here he is with Illustrious and Unicorn in front of one of the hangars as he asked,

"I read the report that you captured a ship trying to smuggle aircraft as it was being escorted by a small fleet of siren ships?"

The carrier nodded and said, "There were many planes on that freighter, but the real reason is this particular craft. Follow me."

The pilot followed the kansen into the hangar as the lights came on and his eyes widen when he saw the distinct shape of a plane that he hasn't seen in years,

"No…that can't be?"

Illustrious asked, "Familiar with this?" Trigger nodded as he stated,

"Illustrious, what you have just obtained is one of the major advanced planes. This one in particular is called, 'ADF-01 FALKEN' . It was an experimental airplane with advanced weapon systems, it's lack of a cockpit is because it relies on a connection for flight interface system. It essentially allows the pilot to fly through thoughts and body movement. The only time I saw this was in an air show, but there's only one company capable enough to build it…" He had a thought, "Was there any identification of the freighter?"

She gave him the picture of the symbol, "This symbol was on one of the storage crates."

He took one look at the symbol and figured, "North Osea Gründer Industries, no doubt that they noticed a missing freighter."

Illustrious noticed, "You are familiar with that as well?"

Trigger stated, "All too well, this plane came from a weapons manufacturer called 'Gründer Industries.' They specialize in weapons and experimental technology and the Falken utilizes the most extensive technology built by man. But that Gründer Freighter docked right next to your ship is evidence that the sirens are intending to obtain technology from them and would take any freighters carrying that symbol."

Illustrious asked, "Should we keep our eyes open for any more freighters carrying that symbol?"

"Definitely, the Sirens and Red Axis may be a threat, but those freighters are a priority."

Unicorn asked, "Could there be any more like this?"

Trigger answered, "Gründer has extensive experimental aircraft, the Falken along with the ADFX-01 Morgan and X-02 Wyvern were used in an air show that I went to, a long time ago. All were built by Gründer."

Unicorn looked at the plane and wondered how advanced it looked and the Commander's description of pilots flying it with their mind was baffling. She asked,

"Big Brother, how can pilots fly it with their minds when there are no windows?"

He stated, "The ADF-01 has a camera array that flashes up in the cockpit. That lens on the plane's nose is actually one of the camera arrays for the cockpit."

She was amazed, "That's amazing, Big Brother!"

Illustrious chuckled at how Unicorn and Trigger got along, she started calling him Big Brother yesterday after the battle. Until she saw Trigger push the loading ladder to the plane, "Sir, do you intend to take that plane up?"

Trigger climbed the ladder as he felt around for the cockpit, "I'm just going to inspect it and to check something." Soon enough, he felt a sensor as the cockpit opened and he climbed inside.

After Trigger got settled, the seat lowered as the cockpit closed. A voice spoke,

"Osean Pilot identified,

TAC Name: Trigger

Rank: Commander

Status: Active.

Location: Azur Lane Naval Air Base, Southwestern Oahu.

Connection For Flight Interface Helmet: Active.

FALKEN Systems: Powering up."

Outside, Illustrious and Unicorn heard the faint engines of the ADF-01 power up as 16 bright lights on the cockpit activated. U-Chan was also struggling in her grip as the Falken's engines frightened the living plushy. But the plane itself didn't move and remained stationary because of the brakes. But soon enough, the nose begins to rise as a notable feature in the nose emerges - a large silver lens of what appears to be a weapon with two capacitors on the side.

Inside the craft, Trigger was surprised as he grinned, "I knew it."

He soon deactivated the aircraft as the nose returned to its original position. Once the Falken was off, he stepped out of the plane and back onto the hangar floor.

He stated, "We better task some manju into giving this bird a little update with the tail."

Soon enough, a squad of the little yellow birds moved in on the Falken, cans of white paint and all as they worked on the black plane. Illustrious asked,

"That plane's nose opened and closed which concealed something. I must ask, what was that plane carrying?"

Trigger simply said, "Something that I figured that it would have."

30 Miles West of HQ, Pacific Ocean

In the seas adjacent to the base, the detachment fleet of six ships was patrolling the area all in their rigging as one of the ships, a small cat girl was frantic about what happened. This cat girl was Eagle Union's Hammann, a destroyer who was very frantic about her base being threatened and questioned Northampton, an Eagle Union Cruiser on how she could remain calm when this happened.

There was another kansen on her left, she has long, smooth blue hair with purple tints and an ahoge on top, and she has pink eyes. She wears a black collared sleeveless, blue & white buttoned short-dress with side slits over a white crop top and black bikini bottom, dark-blue thigh-high boots with garters, metal cuffs and heels, she wears dark-blue arm sleeves underneath a black elbow gloves with white linings and gloves, and a black bulky hair ornament. This was the Eagle Union's Light Cruiser, Helena as she pointed out,

"Because the base reported that the enemy fleet had already been repelled."

Hammann cried, "We have to hurry!"

Northampton was curious about how her fellow kansen can act so spastic. Long Island, an Eagle Union Light Carrier was exhausted and wanted to rest. But the Battleship in their group, Arizona was relieved that the enemy was pushed back,

"But most of it was thanks to both Enterprise and Strider 1."

That name soon resonated with Northampton because of the heavy carrier in their group,

"Enterprise? Wait…Hornet, isn't that?"

Hornet is a young woman with a slender frame. Unlike her two sisters, instead of silvery white hair, she has long blonde hair tied in twintails and has green eyes. She wears a black bulky collared cape with yellow linings wrapped on her shoulders, she wears a black bikini top, black denim shorts with yellow belt, black arm-sleeves with yellow linings, white thigh-high socks underneath a black thigh-highs, silver metal-boots with red bottoms and a black cowboy hat with yellow bands. She said as she smiled,

"My sister, yes it's a bit annoying to be related to a Champion."

She soon grew curious, "But I'm also curious about our new Commander since he swooped in on a Raptor yesterday. I actually caught a glimpse of him before we set out - he's pretty cute for a human."

Hammann grew annoyed, "Hey! Quit fawning over that Three Strikes guy! The enemy can show up here at any moment!"

The carrier agreed as Hammann had her own personal thoughts, "That man…I can sense Big Sister Yorktown on him! But he is my Commander which is tough for me to say since he's a pilot. But focus on the mission and worry about Three Strikes later. It's not like he will show up again."

But soon enough, the enemy did show up, Zuikaku was there along with another kansen, this one had waist-length silver hair with one side tied in a small sidetail by a hair ornament, and blue eyes with orange eyeliner. She wears a long-sleeved hooded kimono with flower motifs and red strings on each sides of her chest, yellow designs and linings, black designs at the end of the sleeves and a black sash wrapped around her waist, black hakama skirt, white thigh-high socks with red strings, red & silver slippers and black partly fingerless gloves. This was the Sakura Empire's Carrier Shokaku!

It turns out, they did detect their movements and went to ambush them. But as the crane sisters state their vow before entering battle-mode, Azur Lane HQ detected this.

Wales saw that Hornet's detatched force was in trouble and said to Trigger,

"We have to go help Hornet and the others!"

Trigger asked the kansen gathered in the meeting room, "Which ships are ready to move, we have to head out there and help them!" Until the door opened which revealed Illustrious and Unicorn, the heavy carrier was worried,

"Commander, something's wrong with Enterprise!"

Trigger sensed that she probably disobeyed his order and set off. He stated, "That girl…"

He stated, "Wales, inform the AWACS when the main Royal Navy forces arrive! Illustrious, is the plane ready?"

Illustrious nodded, "It is, sir." Trigger smiled, "Good."

He ran out of the door, determined to not only save Hornet's group, but to reel in a disobedient carrier.

Enterprise Fleet

As Enterprise and Cleveland sailed into battle, the cruiser was concerned about her decision to go out there while damaged. But her determination to save her sister, Hornet is what kept her going. Cleveland understood and was glad that the carrier had a human side albeit a brief one. Laffey and Javelin joined in as well for the battle and soon enough, a voice called out,

"AWACS Magic to Enterprise, you are aware that you are in violation of a direct order."

Enterprise stated, "Hornet's my sister, Magic. I don't want to lose her again."

Magic stated, "Understood, the consequences of your actions are yours. The kansen involved in the ambush are Sakura Empire's 5th Carrier Division - Shokaku and Zuikaku are going to be in this battle."

Cleveland stated, "Copy that, Magic."

"Strider 1 has already been notified and has scrambled not too long ago."

Enterprise felt a bit of relief knowing that he was up there. But at the same time, she felt guilty because she knows that she's in a load of trouble when the battle is over.

Soon enough, they arrived and were able to rescue Hornet and the others while Enterprise duels with her rival. As the duel rages, the battle itself wasn't over as the AWACS spoke,

"Magic to Javelin, Multiple Siren Ships have appeared along with two new kansen. Confirmed Iron Blood!"

Prinz Eugen gazes at the destroyers as she brings along Ayanami and a new kansen, a girl with a short stature. She has short platinum blonde hair with a black, red & yellow ribbon with an iron cross motif, and has sharp blue eyes. She wears a white double-breasted dress top with silver buttons and trimmings over a black turtleneck top with a dark-blue, yellow trimmed tailcoat, a black bike shorts, maroon ankle sock with garters and a red, iron cross motifed frilled cuffs, and red pumps. She also wears a blue beret with a ribbon lace, black detached sleeves, white gloves and a red & blue arm band on her left shoulder. This was the Iron Blood's Destroyer, Z23.

The heavy cruiser looked around and sighed, "Plenty of enemies, but no sign of the big one. Ah well. Z23, it's your turn. You good?"

She nodded as walked out in the middle of the battlefield as she declared,

"I am Z23 of the strong Iron Blood and you are standing in the place of your final defeat!"

While all of that's going on, Trigger was en-route when he heard Magic,

"Magic to Strider 1, HQ confirms that the main Royal Navy forces are here. Her Majesty has sent a vanguard ship to battle, patching you through."

Trigger opened a comm channel, "Royal Navy ship, this is Strider 1, Commander of Azur Lane HQ, who am I speaking to?"

Soon enough, a voice spoke with surprise, "So you are my Master, I am Her Majesty's Ship, Belfast. I am en route to the battle at this moment."

Soon enough, an allied sign pinged as he stated, "Belfast, I have you on radar."

"Affirmative Master." Trigger hit the throttle as the plane's engines continued on as he lowered his altitude close to the water as he was able to get a visual on his new ally.

She was a maid, she has waist-length white hair with a french braid tied behind her head and has purple eyes. She wears a blue sleeveless maid dress with frilly shoulders and bottoms, a white crop top, a blue buttoned waist-corset and a white frilled lace-trimmed apron wrapped around her waist with a long anchored themed-garter dangling on each sides, white frilled arm gloves underneath a metal gauntlet, white stockings, black ribboned pumps and a maid headdress on top of her head. This was the Light Cruiser Belfast.

"Strider 1 to Belfast, I have a visual."

She looked up and saw his plane, "You are a pilot?"

Trigger corrected, "An Ace Pilot, but right now our friends are in danger. Let's help out the fleet." He soon armed his weapons.

Back in the battle, the situation in the duel was getting critical as the unthinkable happened - Enterprise's bow had snapped which left her without an offensive weapon.

Zuikaku soon saw this as an opportunity to deal a hit on her as she leapt up, preparing to strike while the Grey Ghost used her flight deck attachment which sparked showing that it's inoperable. Zuikaku shouted,

"YOU'RE GOING DOWN!"

That wasn't until Shokaku sensed,

"Wait! Unknown Aircraft incoming!"

Before Zuikaku had time to react - a blue laser fired at her. She managed to evade, but that laser struck Shokaku's ship as the white crane screamed in shock while a new kansen hit Zuikaku as she said,

"Pardon the interruption."

And a voice familiar to Zuikaku stated, "But you are not striking her down anytime soon!"

The dark haired crane looked up and saw an advanced plane, the one from the photo, the ADF-01 circling overhead as its nose closed, concealing the laser weapon. Her eyes widened in fright when she saw the tail and the three claw scratches,

"No…It's Three Strikes!"

Her frightened shout caught the attention of the Iron Blood fleet as Eugen saw the ADF-01 Falken fly past her as she grinned,

"The Three Strikes of Azur Lane, at last!"

The Iron Blood Cruiser was waiting for a chance to fight the Ace who gave the First Carrier Division a black eye and now he has appeared, although he wasn't flying in the F-22 like in the report, those scratches tell that this plane was his. Prinz Eugen aimed her guns at the Falken, but before she could fire, the plane flew past her, nearly throwing up her skirt, but before she could re-aim her guns, she found herself face-to-face with the an upside down ADF-01 and its machine guns as Trigger pulled a Kulbit to get her in his sights. After that, she got hit by a couple dozen rounds and it's a good thing that kansen were more resilient to machine guns, but they would still hurt and her rigging was now damaged.

She winced with delight as she felt excited by the pain, "That was smart, ja. I can see why they are obsessed with you, Three Strikes."

Z23 could only watch in horror as her senior was damaged by that plane's machine gun. It wasn't until she saw something drop from the plane in the middle of the Siren Fleet and upon impact - a huge fireball erupted, destroying any siren ships caught in the blast. The destroyer knew from her observations of training that Three Strikes had deployed a Fuel Air Explosive Bomb. Shokaku attempted to launch her Zeros at Trigger, but the agile prop planes were no match for a highly advanced jet plane since the prop planes behave like drones. The result was that Trigger performed a Cobra as one Zero flew by him before firing a missile at the Zero, destroying it. The ADF-01's nose opened again as its laser fired, decimating many of their siren ships.

Z23 could only think, 'That power, that skill, not even my senior could stop him. But why do I not feel fear, but admiration for Three Strikes?'

Ayanami had that feeling when she first saw him, 'Three Strikes…Trigger is an amazing pilot, but he's also a natural leader, he leads Azur Lane and he's also very nice to others. I wonder? Could it be that Trigger is the one I should follow?'

Soon enough, Trigger looked in the distance and spotted a fleet of Royal Navy Battleships and Cruisers,

"Strider 1 to Magic, Allied reinforcements approaching, it's the Main Royal Navy Fleet."

"Magic Acknowledges! The hostile fleet should be feeling the pain at this moment. Strider 1, send a transmission to the enemy fleet and request their surrender."

Trigger soon opened a comm channel to the enemy fleet to send the surrender request, "Strider 1 to all Red Axis Ships, your fleet is now compromised and you have a choice. You would stay and either fight or surrender or you can withdraw: the choice is yours."

Eugen sighed at the fact that Trigger was right, "I guess it's best that we quit while we're ahead. But we will meet again, Three Strikes as I now know why the First Carrier Division is obsessed with you." She winked at the circling Falken as faint hearts formed in her eyes.

Z23 cried out, "Your forces don't take anything seriously, Three Strikes! Next time we fight, I will fight regardless, no surrender!"

As he circled around, he noticed Laffey call out to the Sakura destroyer, Ayanami as the bunny girl waved bye before Ayanami then looked up at him, slightly waving before she skimmed off. Prinz Eugen landed on her last Siren ship as she said,

"Auf wiedersehen, Three Strikes of Azur Lane."

As the Iron Blood Fleet pulled out, Zuikaku, who was being held up by her sister shouted, "This isn't over yet, Three Strikes! You hear me? I will get you and the Grey Ghost, too!"

As things began to calm down, Magic spoke, "Magic to all Azur Lane forces, picture clear. No hostile ships on radar."

As Trigger and his fleet joined up with the Royal Navy as he held position over the lead ship. he announced on the open comm for all allied ships,

"Azur Lane, Victory is Ours!" The whole fleet cheered as Belfast saw the skill and leadership of Trigger as she helped Enterprise aboard one of the battleships. As for Enterprise, she muttered one phrase as she saw the ADF-01 perform a Double Kulbit in celebration,

"Stick with Trigger And You'll Make It."

A/N: It has already been a day and Trigger was already being influential to his fleet. But also, it has garnered attention to the ships of the Sakura Empire and Iron Blood.

The ships of the Red Axis have their reactions to Three Strikes: Akagi wants him alive while Kaga wants him dead. Zuikaku sees him as another challenge to fight while at the same time being frightened by him when he shows up. Trigger had an impact on Ayanami as his aura got to her, the notion that if she stuck with him, she would make it which made her begin to question her loyalty to the Sakura Empire.

Z23 didn't feel fear, but admiration for Trigger even as her senior was hit by dozens of machine gun shells and a single FAEB destroyed most of the Siren Ships while a laser mopped up a few more. Z23 or Nimi felt no fear, instead she felt admiration for the ace pilot. Prinz Eugen was curious as to why Trigger caused Kaga to act all bloodthirsty while Akagi was amorous and now she saw why.

Many have pointed out the Assault Horizon reference in the previous chapter as Bishop, Guts and the events of the final missions of Assault Horizon appeared in the story. I always found Assault Horizon to be an enjoyable game, the story was good and don't make me get started on the music.

I suppose you also notice the faint hearts that appear in the eyes of certain kansen. That's going to be an occurrence when Trigger sparked something in them.

I'll do the count at the end of the next chapter.

Nighthawk out!