ChaosGodLizea: Well, they kinda did it to themselves, but don't worry. They're sisters belonging to the same fleet so Akagi and the others shouldn't be 'too' hard on them.
6.6: I mean, that's a viable option, but that's something they already do, sssooo...
GameNinja03: Yes! I am a huge Eldridge fan, and I like her dynamic with Akashi here as best frenemies.
xxx xxx xxx
Chapter 10
- On the bridge of the Liberty -
September 7th, 2023 - Early afternoon
Just a few moments after Archerfish and Nautilus' fleets first surprise assault against a still very much distracted Tester.
"...I can't believe they did that..," remarked a surprised and wide-eyed Enterprise before readjusting her glasses, still processing what her impulsive little sisters just did.
"And of course, no doubt the root cause of their little stunt is related to our dear idiot Master," Sheffield mused with a sigh and a shake of her head.
"...Hey! I didn't do anything!" Liam protested.
"Not directly, no," conceded the ever expressionless and sharp tongued maid. "But that doesn't change the fact that everything they've done is because they expect to get a reward out of you when this is all over."
"...But, I mean... What else was I supposed to do?" Liam asked defensively, shoulders slumped in defeat. "It's kind of my job to take care of you girls, right?"
"True. And honestly? I don't think there was anything you could have done differently, really. I just like seeing that pathetic and troubled look on your face, that's all," Sheffield admitted with a very self-satisfied smirk.
"What the hell is wrong with you!?"
Sheffield, in a very rare display of emotion, lightly giggled in amusement while Sirius, who was sitting next to her and still combat area around the Liberty, could only shake her head and sigh at her sister's way of showing affection.
"Sheffy dear, must you tease our honorable Master so mercilessly like that?"
"Yes. I absolutely must. You and Belfast spoil him enough as it is; all I'm doing is keeping things nice and balanced. Consider it part of my duties as one of his loyal and loving maids," Sheffield matter-of-factly replied. "After all, his flustered and defeated expressions are cute. How could I not tease him if it lets me see more of them?"
"...Ah, well... I suppose, I can understand that a little... mumble, mumble... *ahem!* Bu, but even so! D, do try not to go overboard with it, alright? Especially around Belfast."
Sheffield nodded. "Yes, yes. Of course."
Liam could only resign himself to being at the mercy of the stoic, sharp tongued maid's 'unique' brand of showing her affections. 'I mean, I'm happy she cares so much about me but, does she really have to be so mean about it...? Ah, whatever!'
"Commander?" Metis asked, seeing the slight frown on Liam's face. "Is everything alright?"
"Huh? Ah, um no," Liam shook his head. "No, nothing's wrong. Just got a little distracted is all. Anyway. Nautilus and Archerfish's fleets aside, how are things on Surcouf's end?"
"No new enemy reinforcements as of their last report. But, they are having a rather lively discussion about what Archerfish and the others did though... while praying for their immortal souls that Miss Akagi, Miss Taihou and the others won't be too hard on them about it later, or have to suffer through it too."
"Oh, I'll bet," Liam chuckled a bit. "Right, since it looks like the coast is clear for the time being, we should go ahead and start moving in to support the others. I mean, there's probably not a whole lot we can really do on our end besides keep up our heavy jamming, but maybe we can at least help scare her off now that' ti's just the Siren Elite left."
Metis raised a slender eyebrow before asking. "Is that really necessary at this point though?"
Liam sighed, running a hand through his messy, dark grey hair. "Honestly? Probably not, but I mean, she straight up tanked a shot from our bow mounted ether cannon and even managed to counter and damage us too... No, driving her off is the best option over trying to beat an enemy we know is stronger than us. Besides, what really matters is that this battle gave us a lot of valuable field experience and live combat data to analyze and go over later. Plus, we still have those islands to investigate along with seeing how bad the damage to the Liberty actually is too. Frankly, as dangerous as that Siren Elite is, she just isn't our highest priority right now."
"Very true, and good to know you kept your eyes on the mission and ensuring damages are kept as minimal as possible. Excellent judgment, Commander," Metis replied with no small amount of pride in her voice, satisfied with Liam's performance with his first real battle so far.
"It's the very least I can do really, all things considered," Liam said. "Anyway, girls?"
"Hmm?"
"Honorable Master?"
"Master?"
'...Man, I really need to get used to being called that...' "How are preparations going? Are we ready to move out? How are our shields and weapons holding up? What about the damage to the ship?"
Sheffield was the first to respond. "Damage was, on the whole, minimal thanks to the reactive shields absorbing most of the damage. There shouldn't be any real issue so long as we aren't blindsided by a surprise attack to our rear. Surcouf's fleet should be handling that though."
"Shield strength isn't back to a hundred percent yet, but we should still be able to take at least a few good hits if they aren't too strong," Sirius added.
"The combat zone's still clear so if we are going to move, now would likely be our best and last chance, my honorable Master," Enterprise immediately followed up.
Liam nodded. "Alright then. Sucks that Akashi isn't around to help fix things up but oh well. Right, since we're probably as ready as we're going to be, let's move out! Oh, don't forget to fill Surcouf and the others in on the situation."
"Of course, my honorable Master!"
"...About time we dealt with that little Siren trollop."
"Yes, Master."
...
A moment later, the Liberty's hybrid ether engines quickly began to fire up as the aerial combat support carrier started moving towards the crowded battle zone.
- With Surcouf's fleet -
"Hm? Ah, oui, oui. Understood. I'll let everyone know."
"Was that the Kommandant?" asked the petite, pink haired U-81.
Surcouf shook her head. "Enterprise actually. Anyway, we are to cease our perimeter patrols and support the Liberty by protecting the rear while they move in to support Dame Eugen and the others."
"Hopefully we won't have to deal with any other surprises then," U-410 added. "Y'know, considering the stunt Archerfish and the others pulled a little earlier and all..."
U-1206 just shrugged. "Not like we had anything to do with it, right?" '...But, if I'm being honest, I think I might have done the same thing too but yeah, better keep that thought to myself.'
"Best to stay away from Akagi and Taihou for a while then, especially you 1206!" U-81 warned while looking straight at the perpetual prankster. "I mean it, don't do anything stupid that'll drag us down with you."
"Hey, you don't have to tell me twice. Am I a prankster that likes teasing people? Yes, absolutely. Am I suicidal? Fuck. No."
"Ah, look the Liberty's started moving!" U-410 interrupted, pointing to the moving aerial carrier in the distance.
- With Eugen and the others -
Some distance away from where Tester and the others were caught up in the submarines' surprise attack.
"...Scheiße...!"
Yes. That was all the normally carefree Prinz Eugen could say while looking at the sight before her eyes. At first glance everything seemed calm enough but, add in the overwhelming amount of killing intent flooding the area and the very, very heavy pressure from who it was coming from though...
"...Is it me, or do Akagi and Taihou actually look scarier than the very obviously pissed off Siren Elite over there?" Saratoga quietly asked no one in particular and actually trembling a little.
"Not just them, but Kii and Jean Bart too. Look," Strasser added, pointing over to the two shipgirls in question. "You can actually see their rage fueled battle auras too..."
"So, any bright ideas, ladies?" Eugen asked, for once actually unsure what to do next.
"Nothing, that's what. I'm not getting anywhere near that mess," Strasser bluntly replied.
"Yeah, agreed," Saratoga agreed.
"Hmm? Oh, it seems our dear Kommandant decided to make his move and join us," Strasser noted with a slight frown. "Talk about bad timing..."
"Um, but isn't that, like really bad though?" Saratoga wondered with a clear note of concern in her voice.
"...I think he's hoping that it'll serve as an incentive for the Siren to just leave peacefully. You know, most likely a bluff," Strasser replied.
"Agreed," Eugen said, nodding. "Even if she is ridiculously strong, the Kommandant proved that the Liberty is capable of standing on equal footing with her, even if only for a little bit so I think he wants to use that image to his advantage along with our numbers. If you need proof, look."
The Iron Blood silverette then pointed over to an even more irritated looking Tester as she silently leveled a cautious gaze at the approaching Liberty's direction.
"Right then, that changes things doesn't it?"
Saratoga, albeit reluctantly, nodded. "I guess it does, yeah."
Strasser, on the other hand, just sighed with resignation at her Kommandant's reckless actions. "Let's just hope she falls for it and chooses to leave peacefully then..."
- With Tester -
'...Submarines now too, huh? Great. Ugh, I really am cutting things a little too close, aren't I?' Tester mentally groaned as she took stock of her current situation. Naturally, it didn't take her long to come to a decision. 'Yeah, time to go.'
[Combat limiter release: 50% - CP limit achieved]
'Oh? Perfect timing. With these many shipgirls and submarines though, I'm till going to need some luck to get away but hey, nothing ventured, nothing gained and all that.'
- With the other four shipgirls caught up in Archerfish's little stunt -
"...Hoh? And what, pray tell, are you smiling for, Siren-san...?" asked a sweetly smiling but very, VERY irate Akagi.
"Hmm? Oh, just realizing how much of a bind I'm really in, that's all," nonchalantly replied the Siren Elite light bluenette. 'Just what is this wretch scheming...?'
"Oh? But you don't sound, much less look, all that worried though?" Taihou, arching a slender eyebrow ever so slightly, observed. '...I don't like this.'
"Maybe, but that's just how things go sometimes, right?"
"...You are taking this situation far too calmly for my liking, Siren," spat out a less than happy Jean Bart as she tightened the grip on her rapier pointed menacingly at the Siren Elite's still smugly smiling face.
Tester just shrugged. "I've got a lot to deal with as is, so point getting emotional just because things get a little rough."
"Yeah, well. Not like we don't have better things to deal with either, y'know," Kii commented. "Certainly more important than fighting with you anyway."
"...Oh?" Now that little slip of the tongue caught Tester's attention.
"I mean, we wouldn't be here if we didn't. Same as you, right?"
"True, true."
Just then, Tester felt a thick spike of killing intent aimed her way and let her instincts take over as she leaned back and watched as a flame covered blade sail a mere few centimeters above her head, only managing to cut away a few strands of hair instead.
"...Kuso!"
"Hey! I know we're enemies but sti-"
"-Shut up!" Akagi interrupted as she brought her flame covered katana down in a blindingly fast horizontal, overhead slash. "More importantly, you had the gall to threaten our dear Shikikan! On top of that, but then my dear but reckless imouto decided to attack while we were right here too! Apologies, but I need to vent on and you're just too good a target to use and slice into tiny pieces!"
"..." Without another word, Tester quickly weaved in and out of Akagi's relentless assault before being joined by Taihou, Kii and Jean Bart. "...Overkill much!?"
"Just shut up and die already!" Taihou shot back, swiping her tessen and letting loose a torrent of crimson red flames Tester's way.
"Against a Siren Elite, there's no such thing as 'overkill'," Kii added as she slashed at said Siren Elite with her katana. "If anything, this isn't nearly overkill enough!"
"...You Sakura Empire lot are seriously just a bunch of vicious little savages!"
"Oh fuck off!" Kii spat out while still relentlessly attacking the irritating Siren Elite in front of her. "Not like you warmongering monsters have any room to talk either!"
"She's kind of got a point though," Jean Bart teased, mockingly agreeing with Tester as she moved in to support the others.
"...Oh whatever. Let's just... focus on dealing with her, okay!?" hissed out the internally flustered Sakura Empire ponytail'd ravenette.
But, before either she or any of the other shipgirls present could continue their assault, another sudden barrage of torpedo fire came bursting out of the water around them. Fortunately, Eugen and the others had the sense to move out of the way this time.
*BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!*
"...Well damn. Didn't think those cheeky little brats had the stones to try that again," Saratoga said with a little whistle. "And they even managed to mostly target just the Siren Elite this time too! Good job girls~!✩"
- With Archerfish and Nautilus' fleets -
"Oh hell yeah! We did it girls! Direct hit!" cheered the tanned blonde while doing a little victory dance. "And we didn't hit any of our big sisters this time too! 'V' for victory bitches!"
"Wow. That, actually felt really good," I-19 said with a little smile on her face. "Like, seriously cathartic even, y'know?"
"Yeah, but now we're all out of ammo..," U-37 pointed out as she floated about dejectedly.
"Now what?" asked I-25 as she looked up at the spot they'd all just emptied everything they had left. "It'll take, like a whole two or three minutes for us to fully reload, and by then..."
"...Um, actually, I don't think we'll need to do anything," Nautilus quietly said.
"Oh? Why's that?" I-26 asked.
"Miss Enterprise just told me and Archerfish that the Liberty's on the move and should be entering the battle zone soon," Nautilus answered. "In the meantime, we're to rendezvous with them, so yeah... we need to get aboard the ship asap... or, y'know, stay here and potentially have to deal with our probably still very unhappy big sisters..."
...
"Alright ladies, you heard her, GRAB YOUR ASSES AND RUN!"
- With Liam and the Liberty, mere moments after the submarines' second surprise attack -
"Only less than 200 seconds before we reach the battle zone," Sirius reported.
"Now displaying the latest data feed updates from our combat surveillance drones," Enterprise followed up.
Displayed on the large monitor in front of them was the image of a golden eyed, light blue haired Siren Elite beauty dressed in skintight dark clothing equipped with a large, manta themed rigging currently surrounded by seven of Liam's shipgirls, each with their weapons drawn and waiting for any excuse to go on the offensive. The tension was so palpable that even through the screen everyone present could feel how heavy it was. Liam, having never felt anything like it before, couldn't help but audibly gulp at the sight.
'Yeah, this is totally different from movies and shit. Man, the 'real thing' is seriously something else...'
He wasn't the only one who seemed to feel that way either.
"I know I'm just an AI, but would you believe me if I said that I can't help but feel a shiver go down my nonexistent, digital spine?" Metis quietly asked.
"I would actually, yeah," Liam replied with a chuckle. "Kinda hard to tell though, what with how expressionless you look and all."
"... That's part of my 'personality layer's' base coding, so it's not something I can do anything about. The project's lead programmers were apparently really big kuudere fans, whatever those are..."
"...Ah, I get it," Liam replied with an understanding nod and a light chuckle. "Man, those SNRI guys were real folks of culture, huh?"
"...What?"
"Don't worry about it. I'll explain it some other time. Right now though, any thoughts about what might happen next?"
"Well, based on the current data we have so far, I can foresee one of three likely scenarios playing out in the next several moments. Either the Siren Elite or we break the stalemate and act first and continue fighting, the submarines decide to launch another surprise attack, or the Siren Elite simply decides to cut her losses and retreat as soon as she can either see or make an opening."
After a moment of thought, Liam slowly nodded. "Makes sense. Then, which do you think would be the most likely option?"
"Hmm. Given how the situation stands right now? I would pick retreat. But, that's just my read on the situation."
"Still, we should get our CIWS ready. Y'know, just in case. It probably won't do jack shit against her if she does decide to keep fighting us, but still better than nothing and might help keep the pressure off Eugen and the others too, maybe," Liam suggested, albeit not very sure if it'd actually help or not.
But, just before Metis could comment any further.
*BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!*
"My honorable Master! It looks like Archerfish and Nautilus' fleet have broken the stalemate and attacked the Siren Elite again!" Sirius reported while bringing up what was happening onscreen.
Metis just shook her head, lightly rubbing her temple. "I should've guessed they'd be the ones to make the first move..."
Sheffield smirked, Enterprise giggled, and Sirius just sighted while also lightly shaking her head.
"...Heh."
"...Snrk! Wow."
"Oh, those silly little dears."
"Huh. They managed to hit just her this time though...," Liam commented, somewhat impressed by their bold actions. "Still, do you think the Siren would actually take any damage from all that, even at point blank range? I mean, they lost the element of surprise when they failed the first time, right?"
Metis sighed. "Sadly no, she didn't. Look."
Projected and enhanced on the large bridge monitor showed that the Siren wasn't just unharmed, but completely protected by a spherical energy shield composed of transparent, light blue hexagons. And, while zooming in on her face, Liam and the others saw the absolutely smug expression on her pale, beautiful face.
Liam took a closer look at the quickly vanishing pillar of water, steam and smoke. "...Well, damn."
"And here I was rooting for the little scamps too," Sheffield quietly remarked.
"Well, I can't say that I'm all that surprised really...," Enterprise added, admittedly somewhat dejected.
...
"Hmm? What is that?" Liam wondered aloud as he just barely noticed an odd, transparent energy field quickly covering the Siren that seemed to subtly warp the space around her.
"...No, it can't be," Metis whispered to herself while looking where Liam was pointing at before teleporting over to the crew of royal maids. "Miss Enterprise. I need you to run a scan on the area arond the Siren Elite. Now."
"Un, Understood."
Then, some time after sifting through countless images, diagrams, and readouts flashing rapidly across the large bridge monitor and individual terminal displays accompanied by the furious typing on the maids' consoles.
"It's subtle, but that's definitely a localized spacetime distortion buildup reaction... in other words-"
"-a 'Mirror Sea'," Metis finished in a very serious tone.
"...Wait, 'Mirror Sea'? I know I've heard that phrase somewhere before... Er, now where was it again...?" Liam muttered as he furrowed his brow and tried to remember. Luckily, Metis was there to help him out.
"In simplest terms, a 'Mirror Sea' is a sort of pocket dimension that Sirens ranked Elite and above are able to manifest. However, even after decades of thoroughly studying them, Azur Lane's scientists were never quite able to figure out the mechanics behind them. What we do know is that they are used, among other things, as the primary 'staging grounds' and forward bases for their various operations. According to some of the Azur Lane Alliance's old war records, a lot of the latter stages of the First Siren War were actually fought in and/or around 'Mirror Seas', which SNRI researchers would later refer to as 'Simulated Spacetime Sequences'. However, the most annoying feature about them is the recent discovery that all 'Mirror Seas' can also be connected to one another, finally explaining how they were able to move across vast distances and appear and disappear as quickly and suddenly as they do.
"Wow, what the hell. And here I thought magical quantum based alchemy, shipgirls, hyper advanced AI, and flying battleships were bullshit enough... but now you're telling me that these weird ass invaders from who the fuck knows where can not only create stable pocket dimensions at will, but use them to move around and even run away whenever they want if they need to? ...Seriously, how in the hell did we manage to beat them the first time around!?"
Metis faintly smirked. "Desperation and the seemingly innate human trait of creatively using whatever they can to keep surviving? Regardless, doesn't this little development work out for us though?"
Liam sighed. "...Right. Okay, let's get in touch with the others and tell them to just stay on the defensive for now and attack only if the Siren does first. Otherwise, let her go and regroup back here so we can get back to our own primary mission."
- Back with the seven shipgirls currently surrounding Tester -
"...What, is that?" Jean Bart wondered aloud, brows furrowed and eyes narrowed trying to figure out just what it was that she was looking at.
"Don't know, but whatever it is probably isn't good news for us," Kii said while never taking her eyes off of the Siren Elite. "Anyway, what now?"
Jean Bart sighed and shook her head. "No clue, but I think that's what Eugen and the others are talking to the Commander about now."
"Huh? Oh, right. Yeah, I keep forgetting to keep my main comm lines open..."
"Don't worry too much about it, our comm lines are designed to automatically connect if it's an important message," reassured the ponytail'd brunette... just before their com lines connected. "Like now, apparently."
[Metis to all shipgirls currently in the field and/or engaged with the remaining Siren Elite unit. Our surveillance drones and subsequent scans have confirmed that she is about to deploy a small scale, localized 'Mirror Sea', likely in an attempt to try and retreat. The Commander has determined that any further combat or pursuit would ultimately be counterproductive to completing our own mission objectives and has therefore ordered that, so long as no hostile actions are initiated by the other side first, you are all to remain on the defensive while slowly pulling back to regroup with the Liberty.]
"...Seriously? Shikikan wants us to just let her go? After all the grief she's given us til now!?" Kii protested a bit too loudly, not at all happy with their latest orders.
"The orders make sense though. Fodder aside, that Elite was much stronger than we expected and, given that she was very likely going easy on us this whole time, I don't know how much longer we could have actually kept up with her before she either wore us out as is or decided to go all out and wipe us out right then and there. Look, I don't really like it any more than you do, but it's objectively the right call right to make," Jean Bart reasonably countered.
"...Tch! Hai, hai... Doesn't mean I have to like it though."
"I know, but I think we still did more than well enough for our first real battle though, all things considered," Jean Bart said while patting her raven haired fleet sister's shoulder. "Now come on, we need to get going."
Kii exhaled and slowly nodded. "You're right."
- With Archerfish and Nautilus' submarine fleets -
Not even a whole two seconds after the Liberty's latest transmission-
"You heard 'em! Get you tight, cute asses in gear and swim faster bitches! Swim like today was the last day left on Earth! We need to make sure we get to Liam before those scary ass big sisters do! We're totally screwed if we don't!" shouted the tanned blonde as she urged her fellow submarines to flee for their lives even a millisecond faster.
- With Tester -
'Just going to take a wait and see approach, are we? Smart move, all things considered,' thought the light blue haired, golden eyed Siren Elite who couldn't help but chuckle as she watched the seven kansen keeping a wary eye on her even as they slowly began to pull back. 'I bet more than a few of them are absolutely furious about having to leave things unfinished like this though. Still, now isn't the time for either of us to go all out or show all of our cards yet.'
And with those thoughts and her 'Mirror Sea' now fully formed and ready to deploy, Tester simply closed her eyes and let herself get swallowed up and be taken away.
- Liberty, bridge -
"Spacetime distortion reactions have completely subsided and faded away; no signs of the Siren Elite unit or the 'Mirror Sea' remain, Master," Sirius reported.
"Likewise, the aircraft carriers and Surcouf's submarine fleet have confirmed that there are no more enemy units within several hundred meters of our current position," Enterprise followed up.
"So, we can finally relax now?" Liam asked, heart nervously pounding away, only asking to make sure that their answer really would be 'yes'.
"For now at least, yes," Sheffield replied. "Oh, and the submarines are asking permission to enter the bridge, something about wanting to give you their reports in person," the sharp tongued, stoic royal maid added while rolling her eyes at her little sisters' transparent last ditch bid to try and save themselves while Enterprise and Sirius could barely stop themselves from giggling.
"Huh? Oh, sure. That's fine," Liam replied with a nod, seemingly unaware of the submarines' true motives.
And just like that, eight very loud, wet, scantily clad and energetic nubile beauties came rushing in at mach speed towards a very surprised Liam like a tidal wave.
"Commander! Save us!" (x2)
"Shikikan! Tasuketekudasai!" (x3)
"Kommandant! HILFE!" (x3)
...
"...Wha, What the-Oof!"
Luckily for him, Liam was still in his chair when the submarines plowed into him.
"...Um, girls...? Are you-"
"-Don't let the scary big sisters 'discipline' us!" Archerfish interrupted/pleaded with tears in her eyes.
"...Wait, what? Scary big sisters? 'Discipline'? What are you talking about?"
"She's talking about how Akagi, Taihou, and the others will likely react to the little stunt they pulled earlier," Metis answered.
"But wait, do you think that Akagi and Taihou would really be that mad? I mean, they seem friendly enough to me. Maybe a little super clingy sometimes but I mean, I've never even seen them actually get angry before...," Liam said, wondering if the submarines were maybe overreacting just a little.
Sheffield scoffed. "Friendly? Those two bloodthirsty maniacs? Hardly. Oh, they might 'seem' that way at a glance and around you, but underneath their sweet smiles and polite behavior though..."
And, right at that moment (and much to the submarines' horror), a certain nine tailed and crimson eyed vixen finally decided to join in.
"Ara~? And what, pray tell, lies beneath our beautiful smiles and polite behavior, Sheffield-san~?"
"Hmm? Oh, a charmingly innocent fox eared maiden in love with nine very fluffy tails who happens to be an absolute joy to be around and serve, that's all."
"Ara, ara, maa, maa~! Such praise! My but you flatter me though~ " Akagi sweetly replied, her tails happily swishing to and fro from the blonde maid's words. But then, with the same sweet smile that didn't quite reach her eyes, Akagi turned to regard her now trembling younger fleet sisters. "...Oh? Why ever would you all look so scared and frightened of your big sister, hmm~?"
"...U, Um... Er... Yo, you aren't mad about earlier, are you?" Archerfish timidly asked while clinging to Liam for dear life.
"Oh, that? No, of course not my dear little imouto-chantachi~! I understand that it was an accident and that you didn't mean to hit us," Akagi replied in that characteristically sweet yet somehow still very, VERY terrifying voice of hers that only those with pure, child-like innocence and/or small animals would be able to see through. Sadly, Liam was neither of these things while Archerfish, Nautilus, and the other submarines were both of these at once in the face of their big sisters.
"See? Nothing to worry about, right?" said their well meaning but oblivious Commander. "Anyway, you girls can work all that out between yourselves later. You still have reports to give, right?" Liam asked while gently patting a trembling Archerfish's head.
"...Yeah, okay. But, um... can you hang out with us later, Commander? ...Y'know, cuz we did a good job and all?" Archerfish asked while looking up at Liam with those damned, impossible to resist (and maybe even unconsciously magically enhanced) 'puppy dog eyes'. "...Please~?"
"...Um, yeah. Sure, but later, okay?" 'Damn that's not fair! That 'puppy eyes' bullshit has got to be some kind of glamour or something!'
"...Yay!"
"..R, right... Now, about those reports?" Liam said while still patting the little blonde's head. "We've got a lot to go over, plus we still need to check in with Akashi and the others too."
"Oh, right! So, where should we start..."
xxx xxx xxx
On one of the islands currently under Siren occupation - Mid afternoon in one of the unnamed settlement's lookout towers.
"...Hey, what is that?" asked a young man in his twenties wearing the standard makeshift blue uniforms of the town watch to his slightly older partner.
"What's what?"
"That, look," the younger man said, pointing to the strange object floating in the sky in the distance.
"Hmm, okay. Just give me a sec and I'll see if I can zoom in a little more..," said his older partner as he fiddled with his own scope's magnification settings. "Alright, alright... Hmm!?"
"...What's wrong?"
Instead of answering, the older man just passed his scope over to his younger partner. "Take a look for yourself."
"...Okay...?"
Slowly taking the scope and looking in the direction of the mysterious, seemingly flying object. "Right, let's see what we're, looking... at...!? Holy shit! Is that, is that a flying ship!?"
"...Yeah. Seems like."
"Is it some new Siren maybe? Oh god I sure as fuck hope not!"
"Dunno, but whatever it is, it's headed straight for us..."
"...Shit! We gotta let the Mayor and the others know!"
"Right. You get going and I'll stay here and keep an eye on it. Just be sure to have your radio on you, alright?"
"Huh, oh yeah! Anyway, don't do anything crazy, got it old man?"
"Yeah, yeah. Just get going you little punk." '...Old man my ass. You're only a few years younger than me...'
"...R, right!"
xxx xxx xxx
A/N:
And That concludes Liam and the girls' first battle!
It... ended in a draw. Frankly, I don't see how Liam, who is just sort of fumbling and faking his way through all this commanding stuff with no training outside of maybe videogames and the newly awakened for barely even a month shipgirls could realistically win their very first battle against the Sirens, especially given that they have decades more experience. To be fair, had Tester decided to go all in, then Liam and the girls would have either outright lost then and there, or barely get away after taking some SERIOUSLY heavy losses in the processes.
Sadly, Akashi isn't here so no easy repairs. Ah, but don't worry, she's not alone. It was EXTREMELY last minute, but Liam was able to pump out at least one more submarine and standard fleet's worth of shipgirls to serve as a security force for their island home. She's also been busy working on that little project she and Metis talked about in the 1st intermission.
Anyway, I hoped you enjoyed it and see you next update!
Next time, the shipgirls meet other humans and we'll see how they react.