Welcome back everyone! New chapter once again and hopefully haven't kept you all waiting too long. Been trying to be better about writing more in this as well so doing my best to get these updates out more regularly when I'm not on the road. Thanks once again to everyone who has supported this and enjoy as always!
InfantryGrunt94
Day of Rescue Op, 0530 hrs, Azur Lane Airbase
It was just before sunrise as David and Zuikaku accompanied by the other pilots assigned to the mission made their way to the waiting F/A-18s that would carry them into the heart of the Sakura Empire.
The plan seemed simple: They would launch the rescue just as the sun was rising to catch as many of the Sakura Empire forces off guard.
David was to drop Zuikaku in the pod just as the other Hornets jettisoned their external fuel tanks, and then the Hornets would create as much chaos as possible to distract the Sakura forces whilst Zuikaku rescued Shoukaku.
Then, with Shoukaku in tow, the pilots would cover Zuikaku as she egressed from the Empire with additional cover fire provided by an Azur Lane strike package that would be sortied after the Hornets departure.
Simple…..right?
David thought this to himself, but still looked concerned at Zuikaku.
His feelings, though unconfessed, still remained for the Crane girl and he knew all too well how quickly things could change.
However, he recalled the proud and accomplished fighter she was, and knew that she could handle herself.
Upon reaching the F-18 that would carry David and Zuikaku, David spoke quickly to one of the nearby crew chiefs who presented David with a long case.
Zuikaku cocked her head in curiosity as David walked over to her with a smile.
"You all set Z?" David asked.
"Hai, my sister is out there waiting for me, and I'll bring her back no matter what!" she said with a determined smile.
David returned the smile before turning to the case.
"I know you'll be able to summon your rigging again now that they took the blocker off you, but I talked to the brass and was able to get this back for you as well. Figured you'd probably need it today." David said as he opened the case.
Zuikaku's eyes went wide as she smiled brightly.
Inside the case was the katana which she thought had been lost during her previous battle with Enterprise.
"They found it on the beach after they pulled us off the island. Been in the armory ever since, but I was able to convince the admiral you'd need every edge you could get today." David explained.
Zuikaku removed the blade and inspected it carefully.
A small tear welled up in her right eye as she sheathed it and placed on her belt.
"Arigatou Dave-san, this means more than you could ever imagine…..but I will take up my blade and free my sister today. Our senpais better watch their backs!" she said proudly.
David smiled back and nodded.
"Well let's show them what we're made of!" he said as the two took each other's hands and gave a silent affirmation of the coming success.
David then made his way into the cockpit and Zuikaku tucked herself into the pod.
Both then latched on their oxygen masks before David made a check of the intercom with Zuikaku.
"Z, comm check. How you hearing down there?" David asked.
"Have you loud and clear Dave-san. All systems green on the pod!" she replied.
With that David performed his engine start procedures and taxied out of the aircraft shelter.
Caveman, and Gooney had followed suit, and soon all were lined up near the runway ready for takeoff.
"Tower, Outlaw 25 flight of three, ready for departure." David radioed the tower.
"Outlaw 25, cleared for takeoff 36L unrestricted up to Flight Level 200. Good luck boys!" the tower responded.
David then lined up on the runway giving the signal for 5 second separation between himself and his wingmen.
"All set for takeoff Z?" David asked Zuikaku over the intercom.
"Hai! Let's go!" Zuikaku responded from the pod.
With that David pushed his engines into afterburner and rocketed down the runway and began his climb to 20,000ft.
Caveman and Gooney were close behind, and they were soon enroute towards the Sakura Empire.
The majority of the flight was spent in radio silence and in a fingertip formation.
All monitored their radar screens closely for any sign of detection or activity, but luck was on their side.
"Courtesy of the Lucky Crane I guess." David smirked as he thought this to himself.
He noted on his map that they were close to the initial point at which they were to drop to wavetop level to avoid any radar.
Once at the attack point, the Hornets would "pop up," release their drop tanks and attack specified targets while Zuikaku freed her sister.
"Were about 15 miles from the initial point Z, still doing alright down there?" David asked over the intercom.
"Hai. Little bit cramped down here but I'm ready to fight!" Zuikaku said.
"Good to hear. We'll have you out of there in no time, and then you and your sister can come drink at our pilots club tonight!" David said smiling.
"I look forward to it!" Zuikaku responded.
Soon after the initial point was reached and David gave the hand signal to drop down to wave top level.
David banked hard left before descending sharply toward the ocean below and leveled off at 100 feet as did the other pilots.
Looking once more ahead he noted the coast of the Sakura Empire coming into view.
He furrowed his brow before thinking to himself, "Time to do or die….."
Sakura Empire, Carrier Dorms, 0630 hrs
As Kaga opened her eyes from her previous night's rest, she scanned the shared room that belonged to her and her sister Akagi.
The white haired Kitsune squinted her blue eyes against the rising sun that was streaming through her window to see her sister standing there taking in the sunrise.
"Ohayo-Gozaimus, Kaga. Today is sure to be a red-letter day." Akagi said before walking over to her now roused sister and embracing her.
"Akagi-nee sama…" Kaga said still drowsy.
"Today, the whole world will know of the true power of the Sakura Empire, and we will finally end this pointless war. I only hope our dear Shoukaku will see it that way as well…" she giggled evilly…
Sakura Empire, Beach, 0630 hrs
The heavy cruiser Takao sat seiza on the sand meditating as the sun was just beginning to rise.
Her thoughts clear and pure, she rose swiftly and drew her blade before executing a perfect slash towards an unseen enemy.
Satisfied with her swordsmanship, she sheathed her blade before gazing out towards the sea.
She allowed her thoughts to travel to her dear friend Zuikaku who had been lost in battle not long ago, and how all too easily, her sister Shoukaku had come up missing only a day ago even though she had returned from the same mission that had claimed her sister's life.
These thoughts swirled rapidly in the dark-haired woman's mind as she gathered her things and prepared to head back to her and her sister Atago's shared dorm.
"Zuikaku, I sincerely hope I shall see you again one day…"she thought as she left the beach.
Sakura Empire, Sanctuary holding cell, 0630hrs
Shoukaku sat hugging her knees to her chest, sleep evading her for the past night, and still reeling from all of the events that had recently transpired.
She could tell how weak she was becoming, and she also knew it would only be a matter of time before her elders would be along to sacrifice her to the Siren for whatever malicious project they had conjured.
She felt a tear of frustration roll down her cheek before she felt something move inside her.
Immediately she jerked her head up.
"Zuikaku?" she asked to no one.
It was an unmistakable feeling that her seemingly dead sibling was close by, and she knew without a doubt that if she was, she would come for her.
Shoukaku held on to this feeling and sent up another message using the mental connection the Crane Sisters shared, "Zuikaku, I'm here! Please, help me!"
Several miles from the Sanctuary, 0635 hrs.
As David watched the miles tick down on his map display from the attack point, he checked with Zuikaku one last time.
"Hey Z?" David asked.
"Hai, Dave-san?" Zuikaku replied.
"Were about 10 miles from the attack point now, standby for drop. Be careful down there you hear?" he said.
"I will be Dave! I still have my debt to repay remember?" she responded although her feelings for David being her unspoken reason for returning.
She then summoned the same mental connection that existed between her and her sister, "Shoukaku-nee, just hold on a bit longer, I'm coming!" she reassured her sister.
In the cockpit, David then broke radio silence.
"Outlaws, attack point in five miles, start your music." David said calling for the Hornets to start their electronic jamming.
"Standby for drop Z." David said through the intercom.
Zuikaku furrowed her brow and braced herself for the pods release.
"5…4….3….2…1…Mark!" David said before pulling up hard and jettisoning the pod as the other Hornets jettisoned their external fuel tanks.
Seconds before the pod would have hit the water, Zuikaku burst from the pod her rigging materializing around her and her sword drawn.
She then hit the surface of the water and sped towards the large cave where she had felt her sister's presence emanating from.
"Good luck Z…" David said before focusing on his targets.
As Zuikaku entered the cave she began calling out to her sister.
"Shoukaku-nee! Where are you?"
The white-haired woman in question bolted upright in her cell, tears streaming down her face.
"Zuikaku! I'm here! I'm over here!" she said reaching her hands through the cell bars.
Zuikaku raced to where she was before taking her sister's hand and felt tears of her own stream down her face.
"Shoukaku-nee! I found you!" she cried.
"Hold on, I'll get you out of there! Back away from the door!" she said as she focused her energy to her sword.
As it glowed red hot from her energy, she slashed downward and sliced the bars in half.
Shoukaku then emerged from the cell and tackle glomped her sister sobbing as she did so.
"Zuikaku, I thought I lost you!" she said mid embrace.
"I know Shoukaku-nee, I thought I was going to loose you too!" she said through tears of her own.
Shoukaku then pointed towards the huge ship called Orochi and told Zuikaku of what she'd experienced at the hands of the 1st Carrier Division.
"Our senpai's have finally gone too far Zuikaku, they need to be stopped." Shoukaku said worried.
Zuikaku nodded.
"I think I have some friends who can help, but first we need to escape!" Zuikaku said.
"Wait, how did you get back here Zuikaku?" Shoukaku asked.
"It's a long story Onee-chan, but I had some help from the Azur Lane." She replied.
"The Azur Lane!?" Shoukaku replied in surprise.
"Like I said, long story, but I'll explain once we're out of here!" Zuikaku said taking her sister by the hand.
"Ara, Ara, what do we have here? Seems our Kouhais haven't learned to respect their elders wishes…."said a voice from behind the Crane sisters.
Both turned to see Akagi and Kaga, rigging materialized standing atop the Orochi.
"There will be no leaving here I'm afraid, and now we have not one but two sacrifices for the Orochi!" Akagi said evilly placing her hand against her cheek.
As the two Crane sisters faced down their First Division seniors, they couldn't help but feel a sense of dread washing over them.
"My Zuikaku, you are quite a bit tougher than I thought you'd be. Just when I thought the Grey Ghost had bested you, you show back up!" Kaga taunted from atop the Orochi.
Zuikaku gritted her teeth in response to her elder's insult.
"Senpai, stop this madness! You've gone too far! Do you honestly believe you can trust the Sirens to keep their word!? And how could you be so willing to sacrifice one of our own!?" Zuikaku yelled back at the Kitsunes.
"It is simple Zuikaku," Akagi replied,
"the strong will survive and the weak will fall. The Azur Lane can't comprehend this, and apparently neither can you or your sister." She finished her sentence conjuring balls of fire in her hands.
Zuikaku and Shoukaku readied their swords in response.
"Do take a good last look around, for it will be your last!" Kaga said before she and her sister leapt upwards and attacked the Crane sisters.
Zuikaku and Shoukaku defended themselves, with Zuikaku attacking Kaga, and Akagi taking Shoukaku.
The carriers clashed for several minutes before explosions were heard around the Sakura base.
Zuikaku then realized this was the Outlaws creating the distraction she needed.
She then launched a wave of her dive bombers at her seniors before pulling Shoukaku out of the cave and towards open water.
She only hoped that the Azur Lane had made good on the promise of the strike package for their extraction…
Several minutes earlier…
Just as David watched Zuikaku burst from the pod, he focused his attention back on his upcoming targets: several fuel stores for the Sakura Empire's own conventional fighters.
His wingmen were also carrying cluster bombs for the runway, and anti-radiation missiles for the surface to air missiles sites surrounding the base.
As David pulled up and then rolled over inverted for his attack dive, he carefully lined up his pipper onto the tanks.
Then, he released the load of Mark 82 unguided bombs he was carrying and pulled away.
The bombs made good contact and caused a rather large explosion and resulting fireball.
Caveman had also managed to crater the center of the runway with his cluster bombs, and Gooney had knocked out a SAM site.
"Hornet's nest stirred." David said on the open channel.
This was also the signal for the strike package to move in and provide cover fire for Zuikaku to extract her sister.
"Looks like we definitely got their attention now!" Caveman said as he saw anti-air guns beginning to come to life and several blue shimmers of light as Kansen leapt onto the water deploying their rigging in the process.
David knew they had a very finite amount of time before they had to withdraw, but he wasn't about to leave Zuikaku without air support.
"Outlaws, press the attack! We need to give Z more time!" David said as he lined up for a strafing run on a row of parked F-2 fighters.
BRRRRTTTT!
His nose mounted 20mm cannon chewed through and blew up several creating more chaos in the process.
"Cmon Z…" David thought.
Just off the Sakura Empire coast, the Azur Lane strike package consisting of Enterprise, Hornet, Nevada, Oklahoma, Javelin, Laffey, Belfast, and Sheffield all waited silently for the code to move in.
Hornet, for her part, had been rather anxious the entire time knowing that David was in harm's way once again.
She adjusted her hat before looking over at her sister who was absent-mindedly gazing towards the Sakura coast.
She sometimes wished she knew what her older sister was thinking at times like this, but these thoughts vanished as their radios came to life.
"Hornet's nest is stirred." David's voice came through.
"Let's move out!" Enterprise ordered.
With that, all Kansen began speeding towards the Sakura coast.
"Please just stay safe Dave…." Hornet thought once more to herself.
Near the beach still was Takao who had heard the explosions from the Outlaw's assault and was now racing to the water's edge with her sister Atago.
Together they leapt from a pier activating their rigging and began searching for the American F-18's that had attacked their homeland.
Atago, having the better eyesight, spotted them first, and then called out the contacts.
"Ara, ara, Onee-san doesn't appreciate being taken by surprise this early in the morning. I'll have to teach you naughty Americans a lesson, hehe!" she giggled as she opened up with her AA guns.
Takao sighed at her sister's antics but joined in with her AA guns and her sword drawn.
She was lining up a shot on one of the Hornet's when she spied something out of the corner of her eye.
Two Kansen speeding out of a large cave near the Sanctuary with the 1st Division in hot pursuit.
Takao eyed the two Kansen and then her eyes went wide upon realizing the identity of the two being pursued.
A red dress and white overcoat were dead giveaways as to the identity of one of the Kansesn: her previously thought dead friend Zuikaku!
"Onee-san, look!" Takao pointed to her sister Atago.
As the dog-eared girl looked to where her sister had pointed her eyes became wide.
"Ara!? Is that Zuikaku-chan and Shoukaku-chan!? And why are Akagi and Kaga-san attacking them?!" Atago said confused.
"I don't know, but we should help them!" Takao said.
Atago nodded in response and they both skimmed the water rapidly towards them.
As Zuikaku tried to evade her 1st Division pursuers, she spoke into her comm set to request aid.
"Outlaw 25, package retrieved, hot extract! Need air cover!" she said hastily.
"Zuikaku, Outlaw 25, hang tight! Strike package is inbound and so am I!" David replied.
Zuikaku looked to her left and grimaced as she saw two more Kansen speeding her way.
"I knew this wouldn't be easy…" she thought to herself, but she wasn't going to give up without a fight.
She kept speeding away from her seniors, but Shoukaku was having a hard time keeping up.
Zuikaku sensed this, and realized they would have to turn and fight eventually.
As the other two Kansen started coming into view she realized it was none other than her dear friend Takao and her sister Atago!
Akagi, knowing this as an opportunity, shouted to the two heavy cruisers, "Atago! Takao! Intercept and apprehend those two traitors! They're attempting to defect to the Azur Lane!"
Takao couldn't believe what she was hearing.
She had previously thought Zuikaku dead at the hands of the Grey Ghost, but now she was being accused of betrayal?
Some things certainly didn't add up.
Zuikaku was quick with a response however, "Don't believe her Takao! Our Senpais were going to kill Shoukaku-nee!" she shouted in response.
"It's true! They were going to use me as a sacrifice to awaken a ship called Orochi! A Siren ship!" Shoukaku added.
Both Takao and Atago were both flabbergasted but became more concerned with what they now saw in front of the Crane sisters.
"Zuikaku, look out!" Takao yelled as she pointed to the front of the Crane girl.
When she looked forward again, her eyes went wide with shock.
In front of her was the Grey Ghost herself with a golden arrow of light drawn back in her bow.
Zuikaku's mind flashed back to her previous engagement with Enterprise, and she steeled herself for another blow from the Eagle Union Carrier.
"Fall back, we'll cover you!" Enterprise said as she fired her arrow which flew above the Crane sister's heads and materialized into several Dauntless dive bombers.
Said dive bombers began swarming the First Division and gave Zuikaku enough time to get her sister out of the hot zone.
The other Kansen in the strike package had also begun firing their weapons at the multiple Sakura Kansen who had sortied as well.
In response to this, Akagi and Kaga both launched a massive wave of Zeros into the air.
Enterprise and Hornet had both their Dauntless and Wildcats try to intercept, but one Zero managed to get through and headed straight for Zuikaku!
"You'll yet pay for your treachery Zuikaku!" Akagi said menacingly.
Zuikaku didn't have time to react as she watched the Zero dive towards her, intent on slamming into her in a fatal Kamikaze attack.
She closed her eyes waiting for the impact.
BOOOMMM!
Miraculously, an AIM-9 Sidewinder missile had found the Zero seconds before it would have impacted the Crane sisters, and it was vaporized in the explosion.
Zuikaku opened her eyes and saw David's F-18 streak overhead.
He had saved her skin once again.
After David had heard Zuikaku call for aid he had immediately broken off his attack and recalled the Outlaws.
"Outlaws, we've worn out our welcome. RTB!" he commanded over the radio.
As he started to bank out over the ocean, he saw the strike package covering Zuikaku and her sister's retreat from the same pair of Kitsune girls Zuikaku had identified as the First Carrier Division.
He then saw the two Kitsunes launch a massive wave of Zeros towards Zuikaku and her sister.
Enty and Hornet used their Wildcats and Dauntless dive bombers to intercept, but David saw to his horror one Zero getting through the furball.
He instinctively firewalled his throttle and dove towards the offending Zero.
He called up his Sidewinder missiles and impatiently waited for a lock.
When it finally came, he called "FOX 2!" as he squeezed the trigger.
The missile then shot off his left pylon and obliterated the Zero in a huge fireball.
"Like hell I'd let you hurt her!" he heard himself say out loud, much to his surprise.
He saw the Kitsune twins likely weren't going to give up pursuit, so he rolled back around to initiate another pass on the 1st Division.
Calling up his cannon, he planned to fire at the Kitsune's at least to scare them off.
As he rolled in for the pass, he centered his gunsight, and then pressed the trigger once more.
Down below, Akagi and Kaga's eyes went wide as they saw their plans had been foiled and now had an Eagle Union F-18 bearing down on them.
It then fired its nose mounted cannon straight at them giving them little time to react.
"Akagi-nee sama!" Kaga yelled before pushing Akagi and herself out of the bullets path.
A large geyser of water shot upwards from where the two had previously been, and both skipped along the water's surface before finally coming to rest beaten and bruised.
Akagi slowly got up, growling as she did so. "Insolent fools! You'll pay for this mockery!" she said furious as she watched the F-18 streak towards the ocean.
"Nearby Zuikaku had witnessed the near demise of the First Division and thanked her lucky stars once again for David.
"Zuikaku, Outlaw 25. You ok?" he radioed her.
"Zuikaku smiled before replying.
"Hai! Thanks once again to you Dave-san!" she said beaming upward at the Hornet.
Shoukaku noticed and queried her sister.
"Zuikaku, is there something I should know about?" she asked mischievously.
Zuikaku's face went bright red, but she knew there would be no getting out of sharing all the details about David with her sister.
The two were shortly joined by Takao and Atago who had been caught in the melee but chose to help the Crane Sisters instead of the First Carrier Division.
Zuikaku and Shoukaku promised to fill them in on all the details on the cruise back to the Azur Lane base, and to bring them up to speed on what had led to this great escapade.
Zuikaku once again looked upward as David and the Outlaws streaked overhead making a beeline for a tanker.
"I can finally tell you how I feel Dave -san…." Zuikaku thought to herself.
Hornet however, noticed Zuikaku's gaze as she looked towards David's plane.
She scowled, knowing of her recent confession, and that David might have feelings for the Crane girl.
"Dave, you promised me an answer…..well I want it when we get back!" she thought longingly.
Whatever happened, it was sure to be a wild night following that operation...