Slow Coming Dark

by Dresner1817

Commander Karl Dael is assigned to Azur Lane as an "Active Rest" from his combat tours on Tiberius. While the Order assures him its for his best interest, he worries that there is more going on. His past catches up to him as new META ships begin to hunt him. Through all this, he fights his inner demons from the wars and manages the ever-changing dynamics of the Port.

18. Chapter 18: The Ride

Big plot moments happening. Enjoy and please review.

With Love ~Dresner

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Karl threw on his boots quickly as the firing of cannons echoed through the aircraft. Takao fell out of bed and, to her shock, saw her sister in nothing but underwear.

"What were you two doing?!" Takao shouts embarrassed

"Action stations!" Karl shouts, throwing Atago her uniform. "Both of you prepare for combat! I'm going to get with the pilot!"

Atago throws on her clothes and sees black jet fighters screaming outside. Akagi and Taihou's planes fight the jets off as the cannons from Sue's turrets fire at them. The two Takao class sisters soon run out of the officers' quarters towards the flight deck.

Karl reached the cockpit as three black Kikka jets zoomed by their 12 o'clock firing R4M airburst rockets. The small missiles exploded just short of the aircraft, making the six pilots of the monstrous flying boat push forward on its controls to dive into the clouds vainly to escape the onslaught. Karl and the crew grasped whatever they could to maintain balance as they dived. Like a massive whale escaping a feeding frenzy of sharks, Sue's massive fuselage was engulfed by clouds. The 20mm and 30mm cannons fired at the radar signatures of the pursuing Kikka, sending large orange orbs of high explosive fragmentation shells toward the black shark-like silhouettes in the clouds.

Darkness began to envelop the aircraft as the sunlight above the clouds turned to darkness and rain. "Those were Typhoon's planes!" Karl shouted as the aircraft shuttered. "Get Taihou and Akagi on the net!"

"Sue, Taihou, Akagi, and I are engaging Typhoon's aircraft, but we do not see her!" Taihou says calmly over the radio.

Karl runs over to the communications officer and takes his headset, "Taihou, Akagi, this is Commander Karl. Regroup with Sue and continue to provide security. We will drop close to deploy Takao and Atago for AA support. Maintain communication and continue the mission!"

"Yes, my commander!" the two replied, then cut short shortly after. Karl thought to himself, there would be some reckoning for that.

"Takao and Atago," Karl calls out on the net. "Commander Karl. SITREP?"

"My darling, we are in the flight bay!" Atago replies promptly. I am awaiting your orders!"

"Navigator! How close are we to target!?" Karl shouts to the Navigator.

"We are closing on their max engagement range for the Anti-Ship missiles!" The Navigator calls.

"Any sign of the Sakura Fleet?!" Karl asks. "And ours?!"

"The fleet is staged beyond the range of the Rock!" the Navigator replies. Our fleet is at the RP!"

Karl retakes the radio and turns to frequency to communicate with the Sakura fleet, the Mobile fleet. "Mobile fleet Commander, Commander Karl, Radio check. How copy?"

"Commander Karl, IJN Musashi. "The seductive voice of a mature Japanese woman replies. "I read you loud and clear. My fleet is at the ready."

"Stand by for further orders! Prepare for any breakouts of the enemy! They aren't leaving Attu unless I let them. Do you have data link capability?" Karl says quickly.

"Yes," Musashi replies. "Send when ready."

"Hey, commo! Get the data link and send it to Mobile Fleet CO, IJN Musashi! Double time!" Karl orders the team manning the force tracker in the corner of the cockpit. The two men give a thumbs up and send the info.

"Received," Musashi says happily. "We will support your assault. Good luck, Commander Karl. My sister sends her prayers to you."

"Likewise, Musashi, Karl out," Karl says quickly, changing the net to that of his fleet.

"Kaga, Commander," Karl calls to his fleet.

"Commander, Kaga," Kaga responds monotonely. We are staged for an aerial assault on Attu. The 2nd and 5th Carrier divisions have joined us."

"Be advised," Karl warns her, "Typhoon just launched an attack on our aircraft! We must have appeared on the radar! You are out of range of their ASMs, but she is on the hunt!"

"I enjoy a challenge." Kaga giggles, her voice smooth as she savors the idea of battling Typhoon.

"Weapon control status HOLD." Karl firmly responds, "Engage when you are engaged. How copy?"

Kaga growls, "Acknowledged."

"Roger, Commander out," Karl says, putting the headset down and turning to the pilots. "Bring the bird down close to sea level, at least 200m, to let my cruisers jump out."

"Yes, sir!" the flight lead says. Karl's sigh of relief gave some of the crew some reprieve, but his experience told him otherwise as he looked up through the skylight at the sky above.

From the clouds, Typhoon watches as her prey drops to sea level. Her jets kept the two carriers busy above the clouds, but they soon found them again as they regrouped with Sue.

"Raiden, Typhoon." Typhoon calls to base.

"Go ahead," Raiden replies coolly. "I have the interlopers on my radar. Are they out of the clouds?"

"Yes," Typhoon confirms. "He has our counterparts here as escorts. Am I clear to finish them?"

"No." Raiden denies her. "Let them land. We need him alive."

"What about the others?" Typhoon growls.

"They'll need to clean up the mess we made here," Raiden giggles. Our enemies will secure this place for us."

"I could have secured it for us without issue if you had let me get my revenge first," the Typhoon snarls.

"I know you wish to taste his blood," Raiden replies, her tone motherly yet demeaning. "But there are times for vengeance and times for progress. We are here for progress."

Typhoon snarls, gnashing her teeth, "This is the moment I've waited for decades! I can end this all right now and bring you a piece of him to win us our victory! I won't let you rob me of this!"

She throws the earpiece to the earth below. Typhoons would not be robbed once again at this moment. From the sleeves of her armored coat, HIS COAT, a swarm of black Kikka fighters dive out of the clouds towards Sue. The giant aircraft was just above the sea as it opened its cargo bay to release Takao and Atago. As the two began sailing at high speed in support of Sue, Taihou, and Akagi appeared in the sky above them. Typhoon could see it in her imagination of CommanderCommander, solid and proud, standing at the helm of the aircraft, leading them in spirit towards an uncertain battle. In her heart and soul, Taihou META, Typhoon, knew, without a doubt, that her Commander wasn't afraid of death or uncertainty, for he knew the undeniable truth: "We come from dirt, and we will return to it one day. Never be afraid."

She remembered many things about him, but his words stirred her into a frenzy.

Like an eagle dropping on its prey, Typhoon dives with her Kikka's onto Sue and the shipgirls below. 30mm cannons sound like trumpets as they open up on the enemy below. Taihou and Akagi dodge the fire at the last moment and attack, while Atago and Takao challenge the incoming aircraft with all their batteries. Bombs and rockets pelt the shipgirls like rain, but they fight on. With their swords, Takao and Atago cut the bombs to pieces, but the missiles hit their mark on Sue's engines as the supporting turbo jets on the ends of the wings burst into flames.

"Jettison the jet pods!" The lead pilot orders frantically.

"Activating jettison explosives!" The number 2 replies, hitting a button on his side of the cockpit.

"Shit! The explosives are duds! We have to hit the manual override!" The 3rd pilot exclaims.

"The cargo door motor is kaput! We have to close it manually," another yells as he smashes the pilot override on the cargo door.

"I'll close it!" Karl shouts. "Where is the manual override for the jet motors?!"

"Take the jets off first!" the lead pilot shouts. "If you don't, they will ignite the fuel lines, and we'll go up in flames!"

Karl puts on the radio headset. "Taihou! Stick to Sue and take the jet pods off! Akagi, Take on Typhoon's planes!"

"Yes, my love!" Taihou responds, pulling off from the fight to return to Sue.

Akagi gleefully smiles, a sadistic smile, as she spots Typhoon in the flesh diving with the next flight of Kikka's. "I'll make sure the Commander has a show to remember…"

The Red Castle throws several flaming stars from her sleeves, turning into A7M fighters to break Typhoon's formation. A clash ensues as cannon shells and machine gun fire rip past the girls, but Typhoon continues, nearly smashing into Akagi. She dodges the black-clad META and, with a scowl, chases after her.

Taihou, meanwhile, landed on Sue's wings. The massive plane's actual size finally sinks into the Phoenix as she steadily jogs on its wings while the remote-controlled turrets fire on enemy planes. She throws her aircraft into the fight to handle the Kikkas, but they need to be faster to catch them. Taihou curses under her breath as she digs her heels into the metal rivets of the wings.

"For my Commander!" She shouts, motivating herself to press onto the jet pods. Reaching the first pod, Taihou uses her elemental fire trait to cut through the metal and detach the pod, sending it back to the water below. A Kikka buzzes her with 30mm cannon shells ripping holes into the wings of the mighty Sue. She throws her Zeros in vain to attack the jets or chase them off. She was running away from the smoking hole in the wings to the other side of the e defensive cannons on Sue fire at the marauding jets. Reaching the final pod, she noticed the pod's explosives did activate but didn't have enough power to blow it off completely. With a mighty kick, she frees it from the mount.

"My Commander, I've freed the motors!" Taihou calls on the radio. "Hey Old Fox! Do you need help!?"

"After I kick your META's bimbo ass, Im COMING AFTER YOU!" Akagi responds as she attempts to grab Typhoon's feet and dives toward Sue. Throwing herself forward, she catches Typhoon by the feet and throws her off course, causing her to buckle and throw her back towards Akagi!

Karl closes the cargo door with the manual cranks. The burning in his arms from the furious manipulation and the cold fill him with fire. He refused to let these META girls destroy his plans. After hearing Akagi on the radio, he runs upward towards the tail gun. From the optics in the remote turret, he sees two figures battling each other as they approach Sue at high speed! Karl grabs the control handles and puts the red reticle on the lead figure: Typhoon.

"Move now, Akagi!" Karl shouts over the radio before a burst of 30mm cannon fire heads towards them. A shell grazes Typhoon's hair and Akagi's tails, but quick reflexes save them.

Typhoon glances at the tail gun only to have a devilish smile on her face, "THERE YOU ARE!"

She releases herself from Akagi and throws out more Kikka's to harass Akagi. The red castle is enough and launches an attack with planes and fireballs. Karl mans the cannons by hand at the tail, firing volleys of high explosive shells at Typhoon. Typhoon dodges the large orange orbs from Karl's cannon and Akagi's fire. Akagi's animalistic nature takes hold as her pupils turn into tiny black dots surrounded by fire, and she launches herself forward to catch Typhoon.

A guttural feeling rips through Karl as the cannons go silent. He quickly grabs the manual override and hears a faint electronic click.

"Shit!" Karl shouts, kicking the controls of the tail gun. The cannons jammed!

Typhoon throws another flight of Kikka's, the black sharks screaming towards the fox. Akagi rips them into burning hulks with her throwing star planes. Nothing was going to stop Akagi from getting her hands on Typhoon.

But she was too late…

Karl looks around for a way to force the cannons to work but soon finds himself face-to-face with Typhoon. The shopgirl's black trench coat fluttered in the turbulence as she held on to the plane's external services. With a mighty kick, Typhoon shattered the ballistic glass of the tail gun. Crawling through the hole, she smiled sadistically at Karl. Karl breaks contact and runs into the depths of the plane. Typhoon throws another flight of Kikkas out the rear to entertain Akagi. But Typhoon forgot about Taihou…

Typhoon only giggles evilly as she calmly walks through the aircraft. The clicking of her heels against the plane's metal echoed around them as she pursued the Commander; Typhoon could feel her adrenaline spiking, making her shake happily as the excitement became more challenging to hide. Her smile grows wide, showing all her teeth in their pearly white glory. Another burst of cannon fire from the Kikka's rock the aircraft, making the lights flicker in the helicopter. The piercing red eyes, shiny white teeth, flowing black coat, and long hair made Typhoon look more like a demon than a shipgirl.

Karl pushes out of a room to close on her with an AK-105 in hand. Pieing the corner at the wrong time, Typhoon grabs the weapons and pins him against the wall.

"Long time no see…" Typhoon utters, her voice seething with excitement and malice as she presses the carbine closer to Karl's neck. She pushes him up against the wall and prevents him from running or getting enough leverage to attack. "I'm glad you decided to come to us… I'm happy to see you, my beloved Commander… More so knowing that Falcon didn't take her chances with you. What a coward."

She presses the carbine against his neck, its cold sheet metal dust cover kissing his skin. Torquing the weapon, he feels the Picatinny rail and rear sight dig into him. "I don't know why she didn't kill you… Or at least take a piece of you… We could have made this whole job on Attu so much easier if we just took your hand or a finger… But I would have at least had fun with you before doing so."

Typhoon moves her face closer to Karl's as he presses hard against the carbine to free himself. The shipgirls nonchalantly press back with little effort. She never broke eye contact either…

"Enjoying yourself?" Karl snorts as he tries to push back.

"I am, can't you see?" Typhoon responds unabashed. "Why wouldn't I? You broke my heart."

"I had no choice!" Karl shouts, pissing Typhoon off further. She presses the carbine effortlessly against his neck, choking him.

"You always have a fucking choice!" Typhoon shouts, rage filling her eyes. "You chose to abandon us, ABANDON ME!"

"I-DID-NOT! I'M-SORRY!" Karl gasps as Typhoon's rage takes over.

A figure tackled Typhoon to the ground, allowing Karl to breathe. Grabbing his throat and gasping for air, he dropped to the floor. Looking over, he saw Lucy come to his aid! The redhead pins Typhoon to the ground and beats her with her pale fists. "RUN, KARL! RUN!" Lucy shouts.

The shipgirl vaults Lucy over her and smashes the human into a door. A violent lud is heard as Lucy drops to the floor motionless. Typhoon waltzs over to the lifeless Lucy and raises her heel over her neck. Instincts take over, and within a moment, Karl grabs the Kalashnikov and empties the magazine into Typhoon. The burst throws the shipgirl to the ground but does nothing to the mighty Typhoon. Brass shell casings tapped against the metal walls and floors like rain. Through the smoke of gunfire, Karl snatches up Lucy and throws her over his shoulder to retreat further into the aircraft.

Typhoon's armored coat saved her again, but the barrage of bullets threw her off balance. She growled and pushed onward into the aircraft. The bullets only hurt her pride, but her obsession with capturing the Commander-Commander fueled the fire inside her. "I know you won't go without a fight!" Typhoon screamed, the elemental power of fire flickering on her fingertips. "I'll burn you out like a rat!"

A powerful scream shatters the nearby windows as fire blows the sides of the troop compartments apart. Smoke billowing from the holes in its sides, The wounded Sue continues. Takao and Atago see in horror as the explosions take place. Shocked and running on instinct, Atago breaks formation to rush for the aircraft while under heavy fire from the marauding Kikka!

The explosions nearly throw off Taihou, but he grabs onto a destroyed 30mm turret and recovers. "Commander! Commander!" she calls frantically over the radio.

"Typhoon is in the aircraft!" Karl responds, gunfire filling the transmission.

The Phoenix doesn't stop to think and runs forward toward the cockpit. Meanwhile, Atago and Takao rush forward to pass Sue, taking the aircraft's flanks, and Akagi joins in from above.

"That pest is in the plane!" Akagi growls with rage. "I'll turn this whole ocean into ash if she even touches the Commander!"

The crew struggles to keep the beast in the air as the cockpit fills with sirens, warnings, and caution lights. Fog covers their view, but the radar shows multiple contacts closing in fast. "We are closing on to heavy radar contacts up front! They appear to be ships! Six hundred meters and closing!" the engineer shouts to the plane's Captain.

"Pull up! Pull up!" he shouts, pulling back his stick. The rest of the crew violently pulls back on the sticks to pull the wounded beast into the sky. But Sue isn't having it as she fights the six pilots for control.

"20 KM and closing on the rock!" The Navigator shouts.

Atago and Takao watch in horror as they see the silhouette appearing out of the fog… Burning hulks of mass-produced ships!

"Sue, Atago!" Atago frantically shouts. "Pull up! Pull up! You are heading directly for destroyed ships!"

The pilots look in horror as the superstructure of ships begins to appear. They pull back harder and harder as the jagged remains grow closer with every second. Atago thinks quickly and fires her main battery at the remains to destroy what she can. Akagi notices and dives to get under Sue's right wing.

"Taihou! Get on the other side!" she shouts on coms to Taihou. The Phoenix hesitates as she reaches the skylight to see the black-clad figure of her META corning the Commander.

"TAIHOU!" Akagi screams over the radio as she presses up on the wing, tilting the plane towards the upper left, away from the burning hulk.

Taihou rips the glass with her bladed fan and snatches her META self by the hair. Karl drops Lucy and charges towards Typhoon. The shipgirl delivers a mighty kick to Karl, throwing him back to the ground. Typhoon fires a mighty fireball toward Taihou, throwing her off the aircraft and approaching the sea. Atago sees this and falls back to save her friend immediately. Takao surges forward and charges up her power into her sword. The samurai unsheathes her sword as it surges with power and cuts the superstructure of the hulk in front of them, saving Sue from death. Behind that ship was a literal graveyard of vessels, and Takao could only thank the gods of the Sakura Empire that they missed them… But the battle continued as silver objects raced across the ocean, barely above sea level. Takao dodges the incoming fire by a hair as they crash into the hulks. She is ducking and weaving between the field of hulks as more of the silver darts appear.

Akagi frees herself from the aircraft and looks below to see Takao weaving through the graveyard below, "Takao, Akagi! Those are Anti Ship Missiles!"

"I'm aware!" Takao shouts, cutting one of the missiles with her primary batteries. She breaks off as missiles scream towards her like silver piranhas. Using the stricken hulks as cover, Takao evades them as best she can. Akagi deploys planes to aid her loyal followers; A7M's charge towards the missiles, firing their cannons and 13mm Machine guns.

Karl attacks Typhoon with swift punches in a furious assault, but the shipgirl is quick. Dodging his blows without trouble. The old man was fast and fought dirty, grabbing a chair to throw at her. As if she was swatting a fly, Typhoon swats it away lazily.

"Enough of this!" Typhoon shouts, firing at him with fireballs, missing him and killing the pilots. Lucy isn't hit and struggles to regain her footing as Karl attacks Typhoon. The shipgirl throws him like a rag doll, not even attempting to kill him.

"Playing with your food, bitch?!" Lucy growls as she stumbles upward to her feet. Using the remains of the pilot's chairs to get up, she's thrown to the side as Sue lurches over. Lucy latches on to what she can as the plane throws them off balance, trying to reach the blood and ash-covered controls. All the while, Karl is battling Typhoon. The shipgirl throws another fireball, hitting Lucy directly, making her scream in agony till she falls on the control panels, hitting the autopilot and emergency blow-off for the cockpit doors. Sue straightens out, even with the air being sucked out of her by the loss of doors and windows. The plane wasn't going to last with this shipgirl on it, and Karl knew this; everything was going to shit, and the dead and dying around him proved that. Lucy attempts to stand again but falls to the floor face down. The fire burned through her uniform and sent her into shock. The plane rocks again as air bursts of surface-to-air missiles explode over Sue's wings. Engines were dying, fire alerts blared around them, and it was only a matter of time before it would brew. The pilots, crew, and anyone else were dead, but the girls escaped… Radio chatter confirmed this. But it wasn't over as Typhoon faced him.

"How does it feel to lose, Commander?" she asks, relishing the damage she did to him.

Karl says nothing, but the tides change as flak bursts shake the aircraft. The typhoon growls and slowly approaches him, one step at a time.

"I haven't lost yet," Karl shouts.

"Are you sure?" Typhoon teases him. "I'll tell you what; I'll play your game. But first, you must do something for me."

"Get fucked." Karl snarls.

"So crude," Typhoon chuckles. But I love it when you fight… When you struggle… You deserve to struggle. It's all you know."

Lucy groans back to life. Her guttural grunts make Karl's stomach turn as the smell of burning flesh mixes with oil and burning electronics. Boiling blood, cooking flesh, and burning petroleum…

Adrenaline fills Karl's body as his breathing becomes violent. He wanted to lock up and freeze in place, but his senses were still in control. Typhoon relishes the display, crossing her arms and licking her lips as beads of sweat drip down his face. "Nowhere to run, Black Hunter." Typhoon taunts him. "If you do one simple thing for me, I'll let you save her."

Karl jumps for the controls and hits the manual fire suppression override to save parts of the plane. Flak continues to edge ever closer to Sue, but Karl wastes no time and gets the nearby medical kit to treat Lucy. "It's OK! It's OK!" Karl reassures the moaning Lucy. The old man tries to remain calm, but Typhoon knows it's an act. He shivers and shakes as he takes the medical kit off the wall. Quickly, he opens the medical kit and tries to find anything to treat Lucy or ease the pain.

"Green stuff… Green stuff…" Karl whispers to himself as he removes bandages and ointment and pulls a canteen from the body of a dead pilot. "I know you have to have it somewhere!"

Typhoon's pale face gleamed in the light of the remaining fires. The bright crimson eyes of the girls amongst the flames made her look like a demon. She crossed her arms and smiled at him as Karl treated Lucy's burns. He couldn't find the mysterious green stuff, but he wouldn't let his friend die here.

"Green stuff?" Typhoon asks aloud. Inquisitively placing her hand on her chin, she looks up mockingly before snapping her fingers—a feign epiphany! Reaching into her armored trench coat, she pulls a small syringe of the 'Greenstuff.' "You mean this? It's a wonderful invention for you humans… Do you need it?"

Karl applies the ointment and bandages to Lucy. He tries to be calm and careful not to pop the blisters on her burns. Lucy screams, but Karl continues to treat her. Taking painkillers from the medical kit, he puts them in Lucy's mouth. She tries to spit them out, but Karl cups her mouth as she cries in pain. Tears stream down her cheeks as the pain becomes unbearable. Lucy's eyes screamed, 'KILL ME! KILL ME!'.

He felt himself zoning out as memories of the liquidation of the Sarkis began to play in his mind again as Lucy's seared flesh filled his nostrils. In his mind, he could hear Lucy and a chorus of voices screaming, "STOP! STOP IT ALL! GOD HELP US!"

Lucy relents and swallows the pills as she bangs her fists on the ground. Tears streamed on Karl's hand as the pills began to take effect. But he knew just by the amount of blisters on Lucy's back she would need to be hospitalized… Unless he had the 'Green stuff'. He looks at Typhoon as she plays with the vile of Green Stuff between her fingers.

"I need that," Karl says to Typhoon bluntly.

"How about you ask nicely, and you do what I say?" Typhoon replies, relishing in the suffering with an evil expression.

"That's as nice as I'm asking," Karl growls.

"That's not the Commander I remember." Typhoon taught him. "Ask nicely and do what I say, then you can save your little war buddy. This is my final offer before I send this out the window and drag you to Raiden, albeit in worse shape than she expects."

Typhoon held the life of his friend in her hands… All she asked for Lucy's life was a kind word and his obedience. It was obvious what she wanted: To humiliate him and take him to the rest of the META girls. Surrender and save his friend…

He looked into Lucy's eyes, wide and screaming out to him to end it all. The war already tormented Lucy and what they did after it. The burned-away uniform showed scars all over her arms—self-inflicted, judging by the marks… Their reunion replayed in his mind, and the sadness and regret in her voice haunted Karl…

Surrender, Save his friend, and prolong her suffering… Or let her die and be taken in regardless…

Atago could hear Karl and Typhoon's conversation over the radio—they all could. Akagi used every bit of her strength not to charge right into the fire and save the Commander-Commander herself. However, Typhoon had taken most of her planes, and Taihou was critically short of aircraft as well. Even Takao was short on shells…

But Atago was not.

Breaking away to treat Taihou saved her an abundance of munitions…

"I'm going to get him," Atago says, handing Taihou to Takao.

"You think you can handle a META ship alone, Atago?" Akagi snarls, flames flicking off her hands and tails. "As if you could handle that META version of that sl-"

"You couldn't handle her either, Fox," Atago snaps. I'm the only one with enough ammunition to return him to us. Onee-San must protect her Commander."

"Atago is right, Akagi," Takao replies, backing up her sister. "We have to pull back to refit and rearm. If Atago can do it, then I believe in her."

The feral expression in Akagi's eyes screamed pain and hatred. The red castle could almost taste that corrupted version of that whore bird, Taihou, in her mouth. Akagi threw a fury of fireballs toward the aircraft, but it was too far for her…

"GO! GET HIM!" Akagi shouts at Atago.

Taihou coughs and tries to follow, but Takao stops her. Taihou cries in sorrow as Atago races forward. The cold waters of the northern Pacific burned her face as IJN Atago charged forward to the wounded Sue. She looks up to see the engines smoking and fire coming out of the sides of the aircraft. Atago's heart sank at the sight, but she pressed on as the plane dropped slowly. Cruisers couldn't fly, and she cursed the fact. But the sight of more destroyed mass-produced ships gave her ideas. Increasing speed, she races towards the overturned hulk of a light carrier. Its flight deck was angled upward, a perfect ramp! Sue was closing into the stricken carrier, and Atago saw her chance. Full steam ahead, she squeezed out more power to hit the ramp. Her rigging ripped the light carrier's armored deck, sending sparks around her heels as she shot into the air. Sue's cargo ramp drops as Atago reaches the peak of her jump, and she lets out her hands to grab on.

"You fucking sadist," Karl shouts, slamming his fist against the metal floor. "Fucking take me, not her, not them," He points in the general direction of where he thought the shipgirls were.

"Fucking take me! NOT LUCY, NOT ATAGO, NOT TAIHOU, OR AKAGI! TAKE ME!" Karl protests as the guilt fills his mind. "I know what you want, what Raiden wants, what they all want! They want me dead! Just fucking do it already!"

Typhoon closes her eyes and licks her lips, savoring the suffering before returning her gaze to him. "I don't want to kill you; that would be too easy. No, I want you to know what it's like to be me… Now be a gentleman and be polite to me."

Lucy forcefully takes his hand, shakes it, looks at Typhoon, and then returns to him. Karl cups Lucy's hand and looks her in the eyes. Typhoon smirks at the sentimental display as Karl looks back at her. "Please, I have to save my friend. Please help me, Taihou… Please, I need you… I need your help…" Karl calmly begs Typhoon.

"It's Typhoon," she corrects herself. "The Taihou you knew and loved died a long time ago."

The cold response shook Karl, blunting his feelings, but he persisted. "Typhoon… Please…"

"You are my prisoner," Typhoon interrupts him. "Go against me, and I'll end you. Understand?"

"Yes… Please…. I must save her." Karl relents in defeat.

The carrier smiles, licking her lips to savor the submission. "Good boy."

Typhoon throws the vile to him and gets on the radio, "Cease the defenses; the Commander is captured. Falcon, do you read me?"

"Copy. Lord Raiden is turning off the defenses. I have good news for you." Falcon replies.

"Go ahead," Typhoon asks calmly.

Footsteps catch her attention as Falcon leads Atago into the cockpit. "Look who came to save him," Falcon says flatly.

"Ah, the untainted lord," Typhoon sarcastically announces with a false bow. Did you take her prisoner? Are you that loyal to her that you'd save another timeline's version of her?"

Falcon rolls her eyes, "No, she tried to come aboard. I took her prisoner."

"Aww," Typhoon mocks as she approaches Atago. The dog comes after her Master. She is a loyal pet, even in this timeline. Where did my counterpart and the fox go, Hm?"

The META girl closes in on Atago at arm's length. Behind her, Atago saw her darling CommanderCommander treating Lucy with bandages and a syringe before Typhoon took up her whole view. Typhoon's large bust, a hallmark of Taihou, was covered with a black sleeveless crop top that contrasted with the pale white skin of her face and midsection. She was much taller and more imposing than Atago, but that was due to her heeled boots and armored coat. Typhoon wasn't much different than the Taihou she knew and cared for, but the burning red eyes of the META were different.

"We had to fall back," Atago says seriously. "But I wasn't going to let a few scratches from your attack keep me from my darling."

Typhoon was taken aback and looked behind her to see Karl helping Lucy up to one of the chairs. The agent was worse for wear, as that bitch should be, and the fact she could barely sit up straight made Typhoon smile. Karl looks back towards them, "Atago?" He says, surprised as he gets to his feet.

"Aww, she calls you darling, too?" Typhoon mocks. "How sweet…"

"The rest fell back?" Karl asks Atago, ignoring Typhoon. "How bad are they hurt?"

Karl tries to get closer to Atago, but Typhoon stops him. The red-eyed girl was stronger than she looked, and she stopped the large man. "Easy. I don't like my prisoners getting closer than needed, especially if she's a shipgirl."

He tried to move, but no matter how much he wanted to move forward, it was like he was welded in place.

"You saved that fucking spook," Typhoon reminded him, "You already had your chance to get intimate. Now, sit down in the hot seat and take the wheel. You've got a plane to land. What was your target again, Massacre Bay?"

The playful tone shifted to gruff as Typhoon looked Karl in the eyes. Atago sneered, thinking of how she was trying to scare the Commander-in-Chief. But then she looked over to her Commander-in-Chief and noted the blank expression on his face…

"Who told you?" Karl asks directly.

Typhoon raises her forearm and points to Falcon with her thumb, "Secret admirer."

A short mocking laugh escapes Karl as he gazes at Falcon with a firm expression: "Ah, huh? She's my handler for you girls?"

"Sit down and do what you're told," Typhoon replies firmly. Her tone made clear she wasn't dealing with his nonsense. "Prisoner."

"Emulating me, are we?" Karl asks boldly, looking down at the Order of St. Abaddon patch on her shoulder.

Typhoon gut punches him, sending Karl stumbling back only to catch himself with one of the pilot's chairs. Catching his breath, Karl looked back at Typhoon with a scowl as he taught her. "Guess you are…"

Atago steps forward to attack Typhoon, but Falcon stops her. "No... not now," she whispers.

"Fly the plane," Typhoon says coldly.

"Lucy isn't with us," Karl remarks, pointing to the limp Lucy slumped over the controls. The redhead pants as the green stuff takes its effect. "I can't fly this thing alone; Autopilot only lets us stabilize in flight."

He coughs as he recovers from the blow, and Typhoon enjoys his struggle. The coughs were heavy, she notes as he stands back up. Lucy twitches quickly and violently as the medicine takes its effect. Typhoon rolls her eyes, puts her hand on her hip, annoyed, and points to the copilot seat. "Falcon, assist the prisoner. I'll take Atago."

Falcon nods, "Stay strong, Atago…" She whispers.

The sad carrier passes by and assists Karl, moving Lucy to another chair. Typhoon approaches her again and pushes her around to go into the depths of the aircraft. "Hey! Don't shove me!" Atago protests.

"I can do whatever I want, Prisoner!" Typhoon shouts, pushing her again down the hallway towards the officers' quarters. "You think you're special because you're the hero here? Huh?"

"And you think you can bully me because you're heartbroken?!" Atago snaps, turning around to face Typhoon.

The raven-haired META turns ghostly, and rage fills her eyes. Typhoon closes the gap, throws Atago into the quarters, and shuts the door behind them. The carrier's eyes glare at Atago with the ferocity of a thousand suns. Atago stammers to her feet and stands firm at whatever fury the warped Taihou could throw.

"Brokenhearted?" Typhoon hisses. "What do YOU KNOW about MY HEART?!"

Atago holds her tongue, watching Typhoon's movements for any incoming attack.

"What do you know about losing the LOVE OF YOUR LIFE!" Typhoon screams, breathing heavily as the rage fills her body. "What do you know about having your life, THE CENTER OF YOUR WORLD, ripped from you?!"

The angry Kansen hugs herself, wrapping the coat around her as she grits her teeth. With a deep breath, she tries to regain her composure. Releasing herself, she takes a power stance to face Atago: "Why did you come for him? Did you come because he's your Master, Hm?"

"He's my beloved and my Commander," Atago says shortly.

She chuckles arrogantly, "What a good pet… She always refers to her Master in one way or another and always returns."

Atago rolls her eyes, "Pft! How rude!"

"Says the dog girl coming after her Master." Typhoon replies snarkily. "Loyal to a fault and head over heels in love... just like Raiden…"

"Why do you work with her?" Atago interjects. "You attack my Darling for what? What do the Sirens want with Attu?"

Typhoon responds with a hearty laugh, "Sirens? What makes you think those tin cans are involved in this?"

Atago draws back, caught off guard by her response. She tries to see herself and regain her confidence as she responds, "The Ashes ALWAYS have something to do with Sirens! Ember is here, and she's attacked Azur Lane with the Sirens multiple times!"

Typhoon laughs again arrogantly, "By the million dead gods of the empire… Is that what you believe? Do you think we serve those things? Those damn toys of a humanity?"

"Why are you laughing?" Atago stomps. "Ember knows where she stands with the war against the sirens. Where do you stand, Taihou?!"

That name… That old name…

Typhoon charges Atago, and the latter catches the carrier as they lock hands. The carrier wanted to harm Atago, and that was clear from the furious gaze in her red eyes. Fire dances off her eyebrows as she presses her arms forward to overpower Atago.

"My name is Typhoon!" Typhoon snarls, "No one will ever call me anything else! Taihou died in a blaze, never to return! Just like you fell in battle and changed, Raiden!"

Typhoon's anger gave her strength as she overpowered Atago, pinning her against the aircraft's wall. "Never forget the name of Typhoon! The perfect carrier of the once-great Sakura Empire! The last of the light of the rising sun!"

Atago struggles to keep Typhoon off her as she fights against the carrier, but Typhoon is too strong. "What's the matter, mutt? Too weak to fight back?! As expected of a WEAK DOG LIKE YOU!" Typhoon taunts Atago as she goes to strike her.

But Atago sees a chance and flips Typhoon with her legs sideswiping her to get the power position. Lands on top of her, Atago pins her arms and legs with her body.

"I don't know what happened to you," Atago begins sympathizing with Typhoon. "And I'm sorry for it, but naughty children deserve to get punished! Now, who the hell are you serving? If it's not the sirens, then who?"

Typhoon spits in Atago's face with a sneer, "Look in a fucking mirror!"

Atago gags and wipes the spit off her face. Anger fills her heart as her face turns red. She grabs Typhoon by the hair and slams the back of her head onto the floor. The carrier laughs, grabbing Atago by her face by the bottom of the jaw, harshly pressing on the jaw muscles. "That all you got, Raiden? You piece of shit… You love sick skank…"

"What did you say to me?!" Atago snaps, her expression serious with narrowed eyes.

"Fuck you, Raiden." Typhoon shouts. "Fuck you! Let me fucking kill that fucking agent bitch and all those Order scum who took him away from me!"

Atago feels Typhoon's legs shoot under her. Within a second, Typhoon presses her legs against Atago's chest and launches her right over her! Atago tries to catch herself but crashes through the door as a shock shakes the whole aircraft. Typhoon appears before her and snatches her by the arm, "On your feet!" She hisses. Atago could see the dark waters of the northern Pacific contrast against grey skis and a rocky island. "You move just as fucking slow as Raiden." Typhoon snarls, shoving Atago.

"If you hate her so much, why stay with her?" Atago interjects as they walk.

"I have my reasons," Typhoon says vaguely. "Just like you share that old man in the cockpit with that stupid girl and that ratty old fox."

"Are you always this crude?" Atago remarks annoyed.

"You'd be if you lived long enough to see your friends cross over…" Typhoon remarks callously.

She wanted to respond, but Atago stayed quiet as she took in what Typhoon said. There was a sadness in it that she could feel under the phrase. With a sigh, she continued at the hast of Typhoon until they reached the cockpit. Karl leaned against a wall while Falcon sat across from him. It seemed so casual against the backdrop of being taken prisoner aboard a stricken aircraft. Lucy was dry-heaving from her seat, but at least she was alive. The poor woman looked like hell…

"Smooth landing, Falcon," Typhoon remarked harshly.

"We could have crashed if you preferred that." Falcon calmly states.

"I'd prefer if you shut the hell up and get the prisoner ready to see that bitch Raiden." Typhoon snaps.

"Lord Raiden is not a bitch." Falcon says coldly.

"Enough," Karl interjects. He gets off the wall and faces Typhoon. "What now?"

Falcon sighs as she gets up. The carrier picks up Lucy and throws the redhead over her shoulder as she moves to the door. "We meet our Lord," she says calmly.

Falcon opens the door and leaps out to the beach below. Typhoon stays behind them to watch them, her red eyes looking like fiery coals as she stares them down. Karl motions for Atago to exit first but stays behind with Typhoon. The cruiser leaps off and lands without issue, the perks of being a shipgirl. But the human Karl takes the ladder down. Cold metal greets him as he descends the massive aircraft, along with gusts of arctic wind mixed with sea salt. The closer he gets to the ground, the colder it gets as sea spray dampens him. Karl leaps from the last two steps of the ladder with a squish as the wet sand buckles under him. The gritty, dark sand of Massacre Bay contrasted against the faded green of the vegetation inland and the deep brown of the mountains capped with snow. White clouds sat close to earth, drizzling light rain that felt like bullets as the water froze. A chill goes down his spine as a cold gust hits his face. Memories of a land like this returned, far, far away.

Typhoon lands behind him and shoves him forward. "Keep it moving. We have to walk to Naval town."

Falcon turns to lead the way across a path worn into the grasslands. Atago waits for him to catch up with Typhoon close behind him. The cruiser looks to him, concerned about what will happen to them, as Karl comes to her side. He takes her by the hand and interlaces their fingers together. "It will be OK, baby girl…" Karl whispers as another cold breeze burns his face.

The carrier behind them snarls, her face contorting at the simple display, but says nothing. She had her chance to take her frustrations out on both of them, at least as much as she could bring herself to…

She wanted to do more…

To both of them…

But she had to hold back…

They were useful…

Typhoon eyes the Commander, Her Commander…

He hadn't changed since they last saw each other at the Hub. Of course, he was slightly more closed off due to whatever those bastards in the Order had done to him. That redhead on Falcon's shoulder was living on borrowed time…

"Just wait till we get to the facility, Bitch." Typhoon thinks to herself maliciously.

Falcon crosses over onto the dirt airstrip. She adjusts Lucy, who passed out again, on her shoulder and casts her gaze over to hangers in the distance. The Order built an airstrip here to keep supplies flowing to the island from the mainland and the far east of the Northern Parliament. Two airstrips with hangers for heavy-lift aircraft and helicopters, All the support and buildings needed to bring supplies and troops in and out quickly, were also here. It was large enough to support a whole garrison and more in this isolated place. She shakes her head, thinking how built up they made this place.

The melancholy carrier wasn't the only one noting the build-up here. Karl and Atago noticed large transport aircraft sitting untouched under the cover of hangers—all intact…

"Odd…" Karl whispers.

"This place seems so…" Atago whispers, Bringing herself closer to him as a solid gust of wind makes her shiver. "Untouched…"

Atago looks at the airstrips, fuel tanks, and buildings around the airfield to see if everything works. Wasn't this place under siege before its takeover?

"They destroyed many ships just short of here," Atago recollects. "Did you see them?"

"No, I was busy on the plane," Karl remarks. "That must have been the first fleet sent to deal with this place."

"They had a lot of ships, including a carrier. How isn't there any damage here?" Atago asks him.

"The defenses must have taken them all out," Karl replies confidently.

"That can't be if they had ships with larger batteries," Atago interjects. "Even with these two shipgirls, or even all of them, I don't think they could get a whole fleet of bombardments worth of shells from hitting the island. If so, what does META KANSEN want to do with an airfield?"

Karl pauses and contemplates Atago's observation. He looked to the side to see that the aircraft under the hangers was intact. A400M Atlas transports painted in woodland camouflage sat undisturbed, odd considering Attu's importance to the Order's operations here. Wouldn't the Order fleet try to eliminate the defenses if the facility was taken with airstrikes or bombardment? With the technology here, he would have expected collateral damage of this world… But nothing? Even if the Order attack failed initially, why did the META girls destroy this place to keep anyone from escaping?

He gulps as he begins to think of what happened to the men and women who served here…

"Why keep any of this intact?" Atago asks him.

"Shut the fuck up." Typhoon snarls.

"She's got a point, Typhoon," Karl remarks. "Why keep this intact? You girls hit my boys before we even got to the show?"

"It's not wise to ask awkward questions," Typhoon chuckles overbearingly. "Isn't that what you used to say to some people back in the day?"

"There are easier ways to tell me to go fuck myself." Karl jabs.

"Enough," Falcon said. We're going to take one of the trams underground. The weather is supposed to get worse as this storm moves in."

"Underground trams?" Atago asks, looking at Karl.

He says nothing and pulls Atago closer to him as the wind picks up. Falcon looks behind her momentarily to see the two lovers holding each other in the cold. Sadness overtook the already melancholy carrier; She longed to have some form of affection like that from him again. Stealing kisses from him and the awkward conversation was the best Falcon could get when she would let her feelings control her judgment. Looking over to Typhoon with her constant resting bitch face betrayed the wounded carrier. The scowl on her friend's face towards the couple was palpable… Though was some of it jealousy?

It wasn't the time to think about such things… But it didn't stop Falcon from seeing the envy in Typhoon's eyes hidden under the anger. As they approached a building with a garage door, Typhoon radios for it to open, revealing a downward slope to a miniature underground railroad large enough to carry military trucks on carriages. An automated tram groaned to life as metal ground against itself, and the bright white of LED lights overwhelmed Karl's eyes. The orange opened train appeared, an essential bench set on a rail car that was enough to move maybe twelve men at max and had to be for a maintenance team. The tunnels were too large to have a small thing like this. A cold draft made him shiver as they took a seat on the metal benches of the tram. Atago wraps herself around him as he shivers to much of Typhoon's annoyance and dismay.

The tram lurches forward, and the group moves into the Rock proper…

Lucy is laid down on the bench by Falcon, who takes a seat across from Karl and Atago while Typhoon leans against the railing of the car. The redhead throws up between the railings and groans gutturally, "Green stuff… Why did the Order make this shit?..." Lucy says sickly as she throws up again.

"Order?" Atago thinks to herself.

Karl gazes over to Lucy with a grimace, "Bad batch?" Karl asks.

Cleaning the puke from her mouth with the sleeve of her uniform, she scowls, "Yeah… Fuck… I never got this sick before on it…"

Red Lucy looked dehydrated, delirious, and pitiful. The Commander shakes his head slowly, his face sour. He hates seeing Lucy like this and looks around the tram for something to drink for her. When he was a civilian, long before the Order, he used to do odd jobs doing manual labor. Usually, work crews keep cases of water or something in the vehicles or at work for emergencies or convenience.

"There isn't any water here," the typhoon growls. Sit down. They took everything."

He says nothing and takes a seat, but Atago doesn't. "Who? The people here, did they take it?"

"Yeah," Typhoon replies nonchalantly. "It's More than likely the staff here or those Kommandos. They need it more than we do." A dark chuckle escapes Typhoon, unnerving Karl.

"You'll be needed more than Karl's coat to protect you when those madmen find you…" Lucy says, spitting at Typhoon's boots.

Typhoon lunges for Lucy, but Karl stops Typhoon from striking the lackadaisical Lucy. Atago wanted to get up, and as she leaned forward, Falcon stretched out her arm to stop her. "Stop," Falcon whispers to Atago. Taihou is just trying to get a rise out of him. Let her be, please."

"I hope you're right…" Atago replies, appalled at Typhoon's bully-like behavior. The two figures towered over Lucy as their shadows engulfed her. Each held a brutal expression of resolve as they tried to overpower each other, yet none would yield an inch.

"Now that he's here…" Lucy gasps, breathless as another wave of nausea rips the words out of her mouth, forcing her to dry heave over the railing. They won't rest… That Helena or the Kommando's… You forget who gave you that jacket! Haha!"

"Shut your spook up, Karl," Typhoon growls. "Or I'll send her to hell where she belongs."

The Commander says nothing and holds his ground against Typhoon as she keeps the tension against his arm. "I could break you like a twig. A twig made of meat and bone, nothing more and nothing less."

"Do it." Karl challenges her.

"I could… How easy it would be…" Typhoon presses, a wild look takes her eye, and evil smiles comes across her face. "I'd break your legs and arms… Maybe take what's mine… Or take what's mine, then break your limbs. You couldn't stop me either way…"

"As if you could do any of that, Taihou," Falcon interjects, breaking them up. "Stay on guard. Those drones are hostile to everyone."

"The fuck do you think you are, huh?" Typhoon explodes, shoving Falcon. "If fucking Raiden didn't need her boy toy to make sense of the shit she's looking at, I would have wasted this- This fucking abandoning shitbag!"

The anger in Typhoon boiled over once again as her voice tightened, "He's right here! It's just you and me, Junyou! We can end all the pain and hurt that he put us through right here, right now! All we have to do is rip him into little, tiny pieces, and he can NEVER HURT US AGAIN!"

"You sounded just like Akagi when she wasn't well," Junyou says flatly. "You're being irrational."

"Irrational?!" Typhoon shouts, getting in Falcon's face. Her movements get more animated, and her expression grows more angry as she speaks. "Says the shipgirl who had him DEAD TO RIGHTS with a blade to his sweet, beautiful neck. And what do you do?! You fucking kiss him."

"I had to be sure it was him," Falcon says frankly, the embarrassment in her eyes palpable to Atago and Karl. "You know my orders. It was to confirm."

"I think you did more…" Typhoon snarls. You saw him again…, and you led him on to come here… How did you do that, Junyou? Hmm."

"What are you insinuating now, Taihou?" Junyou pushes, squaring off at Typhoon.

"Don't be stupid!" Typhoon shouts. "That fucking asshole couldn't keep his hands off us! He's either fighting or- "

Junyou smacks Typhoon and grabs her by the coat, "Get it together." Junyou shouts.

Typhoon's face contorted into a twisted smirk, "I'll rip you to pieces if you wrinkle his coat…"

The tram comes to a stretching halt within a large distribution area. Atago looks around to see a collection of tunnel exits with signs in English marking different portions of the base. Each tunnel had rail lines running through it, and at the center, she saw a few locomotives and rail cars loaded with containers marked with white circles painted on them. A loading dock showed more boxes and crates with the same circle. To her surprise, even trucks lined up uniformly in a parking lot near a loading wrap near more rail cars.

"Darling," Atago says, confused. "What is all this?"

Karl says nothing, looking around to observe everything around him. Taking it in, he sees the trucks as KM250s, South Korean modernizations of the US M53A2 6x6 truck, the standard military truck of the military forces. Just like the A400s, they are untouched. However, he notices something under the LED lights above…

Strange pools near them of some yellow liquid…

A smell of burning wires mixed with an oddly sweet aroma fills his nose. "Wires… And… It's sweet?"

He takes another deep breath to take in the smell. The acrid smell of spent gunpowder, the rotten egg smell of high explosives, and that sweet smell again. Looking back over to the pools of odd liquid next to the trucks, he thinks back to his day on campaign dealing with the trucks. They were always reliable, along with the KM450, the South Korean modernized Jeep Kaiser M715 4x4 version. Though, like all vehicles, they would break down eventually. Sometimes, cooling systems were an issue, and they would have to use regular water when coolant wasn't available. The only vehicles they did have problems with, always with the cooling systems, were the American Humvee, which they would occasionally have to deal with if the NDF military police were attached to them. Constantly blowing gaskets while going up hills in the up-armored versions, filling the air with white smoke that smelled….

Sweet…

Taking another smell, he recognizes it as coolant!

"Coolant… But the trucks are untouched." Karl remarks as the two META girls stare each other down.

"Don't worry about that," Typhoon dismisses. "They'll keep their distance with us around."

"Men don't bleed coolant," Karl interjects coldly.

"Who said I was talking about men?" Typhoon replies, her tone empty of emotion as she steps off the tram.

Falcon motions with her head for them to get off the tram. "Trust us, Karl," Falcon says, almost pleading with him in the bleak monotone.

He looks to Lucy, who looks pale and sickly, "Can you walk, Lucy?"

Red Lucy runs her hand over her face and takes a deep breath. The vomit on her sleeves and the paleness of her hands make her shiver, but the stubborn redhead throws herself forward to her feet. Stumbling a little, Karl and Atago catch her and let her get her balance.

Atago looks at him with concern as they watch Typhoon and Lucy walk far from them. "This place is… Massive…" Atago says to him. "What did Typhoon mean by that?"

"I don't know," Karl tells her, trying to remain stoic. I don't like this."

"You shouldn't," Falcon says cryptically. "And neither do they."

"What do you mean?" Karl demands.

Falcon says nothing and motions for them to get off the tram. Reluctantly, they follow the commands of their captains. He helps Atago off the tram, and the two stick close to each other with Falcon behind them. Concrete, as far as the eye could see under the crystal white of LED lights, dominated their sights as they walked on the concrete walkways toward the inner portions of the facility. Something didn't sit right with Atago or Karl as they looked around the tunnel. Atago was still trying to figure out why these men would need such a place with an underground railway system. While Karl was wondering something else entirely…

The concrete walls and steel struts holding the tunnels together implied that this was an extensive complex. He thought about what Lucy told him about the purpose of 'The Rock.'

Fan units come to life, circulating the air and taking out the musty feel of the claustrophobic tunnel complex. Karl sighs as he scans around periodically. Atago holds on to his left arm closely. The lights above flickered momentarily and drew his attention to the walls as small holes appeared like flecks of pepper. Though more could be seen on the fringes of the light… Blacken walls and torn fabric…

A pair of boots lay near a small pile of red… Then more of that sweet smell filled the air…

Atago stumbles and is caught by Karl, who notices shell cases and machine gun links around the rail line.

A fight happened here… A last stand is hidden under the darkness around them.

"Junyou," Karl says, but he stops himself as he spots a hand sticking out of the shadows. The lifeless hand is charred, with hints of white bone shining in the light. He pulls Atago close to him, shielding her from the sights, but he looks on as they move forward.

"Yes?" Junyou replies, but to no response, as they take a corridor away from the rail line.

Karl motions towards the gunshots on the walls, "You do that?"

"No." She says bluntly.

"Who did?" Karl demands.

Junyou sighs and looks at him with an empty expression. " It's not wise to ask awkward questions. Is that what you used to say?"

Through the corridor, down a set of stairs, and through another hallway marked by barracks and open areas for soldiers to go about their lives. Signs on the wall directed them, but Atago couldn't read these signs as they were in a strange, runic language. She wanted to ask Karl, but he seemed to be in his world as he looked around them slowly. Every open doorway on their journey, the Commander's head would slowly follow the nearest corner and dart between the farthest corners as if on instinct. The heavy cruiser looked at this humorously until his arm darted out to stop her in place, the intensity in his face and the firmness of his arm alarming her. Karl was firmly on guard and was protecting her… But from what?

Some of these rooms were barracks where soldiers and staff would sleep. The number of beds and the prominent 'A' character painted on the wall denote this as one of many. But whoever was here left in a hurry as Atago caught glimpses of tossed beds, articles of clothing on the floor, and spilled food and drink on the concrete floor. The smell of burning wires catches her attention as she looks up to see a destroyed speaker and smashed light, an alarm. Judging by the posters on the wall of lewd women, bands, pictures of people, and odd flags, the people who lived here were young soldiers. Empty weapons racks appeared in the corner of her eye as they passed by and entered a gally or chow hall, as the Eagle Union ships would call it, to see meals half eaten.

"Big sister doesn't like this…" Atago winces, holding on to Karl tightly. It's like everyone left in a hurry, like in a horror movie…"

"Whatever is here…" Karl begins in a low monotone. "It makes me want a weapon… I don't like this."

Junyou sighs, "You haven't changed."

"Do you blame me?" Karl snaps. "You girls, then and now, have never seen me without a weapon."

"Paranoid," Junyou begins accusingly, "Or do you not trust your shipgirl?"

"I trust Atago!" Karl growls. "But I'm not let fight alone!"

A crash puts Karl on edge; He puts himself in front of Atago and Junyou as he faces towards the sound. Typhoon and Lucy stop, backing up to the other three.

"I don't think it's them," Typhoon remarks. It sounds like those other guys."

"Other guys? You mean my men?" Karl smirks.

"No dumbass!" Typhoon snaps, prepping a fireball in her hands. Junyou draws her sword and turns her back to Atago and Karl.

"Take the maintainer tunnel on the left." Typhoon insists, "It's a long way around, but we'll avoid any lurking patrols."

"Patrols? Are we fighting men?" Karl interjects.

Typhoon ignores him and addresses Atago, "Hey, dog girl, how about you get your rigging ready? You're staying with me."

Atago wanted to resist and looked to Karl for guidance. But Karl interjects again and grabs Typhoon, pulling her into the maintenance tunnel with them and shutting the door. They pause and wait for the sounds of footsteps. A collection of disorganized footsteps and rattling of metal echoed through the door. The scraping of steel against concrete sent shivers down his spine as the thoughts of what was behind that door filled his mind. But the old warrior held his ground, bracing against the door with all his weight. It felt like hours passed when, in reality, it was moments until the sounds of rattling metal passed. He looked at Atago, who was ghostly white with her rigging at the ready and breathed a sigh of relief. Karl didn't speak and motioned for them to go on.

So they did…

Pressing deeper into the facility's bowls, they entered another large open area with catwalks and other walkways. Soon, they saw a map of the facility and got a picture of its true scale.

"By the gods of the sacred Sakura," Atago gasps as she looks at the map. "This is only one of six parts of the place!"

Karl looks at Lucy with annoyance and venom, "You mean to tell me this place is built into every damn mountain here?!"

"It's not called 'The Rock' for no reason, ' Lucy shrugs flatly. I simply omitted that part in the briefing."

"And some kind of golem or steel beast lurks in the hallways…" Karl laments, his tone full of seething anger as he looks at Typhoon and Junyou. "Or is it some creature you girls brought from hell itself?! Tell me, what the FUCK was on the other side of that door?"

"I wouldn't be concerned about it." Junyou nonchalantly replies. "We are here to protect you."

Karl grits his teeth, "You think I'm stupid?"

Junyou says nothing and looks at Typhoon. The arrogant Typhoon smirks and leads the way deeper into the maintenance corridor. Karl motions for Atago to go in front of him. She reluctantly does so, albeit keeping in Karl's reach the whole time. The tunnel only grew colder, but Karl seemed to be getting hotter. Anger filled her mind, and the heat of his rage seemed to radiate out of his uniform.

What the hell was going on here?

He spits at the wall, cursing this place, and reluctantly carries on as his anxiety tightens his chest. Karl could almost count his heartbeats as they drew closer to the center of the complex. He tries to recall the layout of the map they saw before. It almost reminds him of a massive metro map or the layout of a nervous system with everything coming to a center. In this case, it was near the center of the island.

Lucy, on the other hand, was shaking in her boots. The green stuff must have been bad, she thinks to herself, as a cold sweat takes her. The trauma of what she saw during the Tiberian War already made her a chain smoker, but these shivers felt like withdrawal. Red Lucy was never a drug addict, but she's seen some poor souls strung out on painkillers and opium at port cities like Evercrest and Magister. Their corpse-like appearance as the withdraws kicked in made them shiver and shake. She felt like she should have died back there on the plane… Maybe this was death giving her a thrashing for getting away one more time? Lucy smirks to herself briefly before a sick gurgle from her stomach stops her in place.

She lets out an exasperated sigh and gags as the feeling of stomach acid burning her throat makes her sick. Lucy catches herself on the wall, grabbing a freezing water pipe to stabilize herself. The cold pipe burns her hand, and Atago quickly holds her up.

"I don't like how Lucy looks, Darling, " Atago tells Karl.

"I'm OK… I'm OK… Peachy…" Lucy protests as they go forward. "Just a… It's just a negative reaction to the green stuff… It must have been not good… Had to be…"

"There has to be a medical wing here to give you some pills or something to deal with it… Maybe there is a doctor here?" Karl replies, looking at Junyou and Typhoon. But they give him nothing in return. His ears ring as tinnitus returns to him, reminding him he is truly alone here. Between the ringing in his ears, he swore he could hear men and women screaming in agony as he goes grab Lucy from Atago. Typhoon turns to him and smirks. But they keep going forward until finally reaching a rail corridor.

"Karl… You fucking actor you…" Lucy whispers. "Always pretending to care…"

"Fuck you." Karl groans as he carries her over some tracks. "I always cared about you, the men, and fucking everyone else. I never stopped!"

"If you cared, then let me die out." Lucy chuckles sardonically. "The green stuff makes me feel like death itself is trying to fuck my brains out."

"Please, can we not say things like that…" Atago says fearfully, poking at Karl to get his attention. "Darling, I don't like this. We keep going deeper and deeper… We aren't even alone here either… What about the other people Lucy mentioned? What about the people here?"

"I wouldn't worry about such things," Junyou says robotically, Pointing to a large amount of something towards the far portion of the tunnel. "We're nearing the last leg of this journey to the command center."

To the horror of Karl, there were positions here…

A flatcar with a ZU-23 and a sandbag wall greeted them at the other end. As they grew closer, they began to see signs of a battle, a last stand. Cases of 23mm autocannon shells and their links were tossed from the violent ejection of the twin cannon and rolled downhill. But as they grew closer, they saw more cases. Approaching the positions, they find that they were hit by something… Big. Bags were burned, rail lines cut, and the stain of blood on the bags not touched by fire. They pass through a destroyed section of the defensive sandbag wall. It amazed Atago that this was reinforced by large bags called 'Hesco' and more sandbags. A destroyed skid steer was behind the wall, along with more scattered shell casings of various calibers. Karl then saw the railcar with the Zu-Zu, the nickname his men gave for the ZU-23, which was attached by a small diesel switcher locomotive and had three box cars with it and another Zu-Zu at the end. Metal ammo cans and magazines were lying strewn across the ground, some empty and others still loaded. Karl looks behind at the layered wall and sees the remains of a Browning M2 lying in pieces, cut in two at the receiver… But no bodies…

They see it still intact at the opposite end, with a Browning mounting an untouched searchlight. More ammunition was at the ready, and boxes marked with an O were in the stages of being loaded onto the train.

"Someone was getting ready to leave…" Lucy remarks, looking at the boxes.

"More like a last stand..." Karl remarks, noting more blood and gunshots on the box cars and the walls. A large doorway marked 'Command Bunker' in Gaulish dominates the right side. Another skid steer with a busted O-marked crate sat in the middle of the hall leading to the Commander's bunker. Atago looks around at the site of it all. It was brutal, the amount of blood and ammunition cases lying around that she'd seen since those two girls led them in here. It shook her soul to think what it would have looked like when humans were here firing those guns that made those cases. What in the world would warrant all that firepower, especially for humans?

Then Atago noted something terrible as she turned to see the skid steer… There were computer chips, mechanical pieces, and…

"Is that a… Siren?" The grave and horrified voice of Atago echoed around them. No one said anything as she looked at the body of a siren, a Breaker Mk3. The humanoid body was filled with bullet holes and leaking yellow fluid. "The sirens are here?..."

Karl sighed and looked around more at the concrete hell they were in. But to hear about a siren? He tried to look surprised, hiding what was going on here, but the faux surprise changed into genuine shock when he saw the body of the white-haired siren covered in gunshots.

"There's blood on her hands…" Lucy points out, her voice shaking.

They look around and see gunshots in the walls towards the far end of the hallway. Karl pieces together what might have happened and looks at Lucy… Lucy gulps as a cold feeling comes down her spine. "That thing we ran into… Did… Did they do that?" Lucy moves her eyes towards the META girls but doesn't move her head.

Atago's heart sank at what she was seeing. The siren here made him wonder what these META girls had planned. With Ember at their lead, she could only imagine. Ember was the one who led the attack on NY City two years ago, which was long before the Unified Azur Lane. The stories of her brutality were legendary, but with all the fighting that happened here and the brutal tactics of these new META girls, it made her feel scared. Once she saw the blood, it only enforced her worst fears.

"Almost there." Typhoon sings, pushing them onward down the hall past the fight. "She'll be so happy to see you."

Karl grunts and continues carrying Lucy. Atago and Junyou follow, the former unable to take her eyes off the checkpoint and the dead siren.

"Something wrong?" Junyou asks as they walk.

"I've never seen something like this…" Atago replies innocently.

"Like what?" Junyou asks her, bewildered.

"That… whatever they call it... where they fought…" Atago shutters, hugging herself. I didn't think it was like that for humans on land… How… How did my Darling do it? Or Lucy?"

"Humans are brutal creatures," Junyou says matter of fact. "Never forget that."

"And your sirens are not?" Atago accuses. "You send them to rip them to pieces? Is that what that sound was on the other side of the door, A siren sent to cut humans up?"

"No." Junyou continues, monotoned and detached. "We didn't send them here. They did it themselves."

"What?" Atago shouts, confused at the response. "The humans?"

"The sirens," Junyou said before going quiet as they all round a corner to the Command bunker. Typhoon slides a key card into a reader, and a large steel door opens, revealing a large planning room with a holographic display at its center. Around the display were a few computers, terminals, and other machines and doorways leading to offices and quarters for the command group. Typhoon takes Karl by the hand and leads him to an office towards the back end of the Command bunker. Moving at a brisk, Lucy is peeled off of Karl and takes to her own feet. The woozy Lucy is held upright by Atago with Junyou behind her. With a pull stronger than the storm of her namesake, Typhoon jerks him into the command suit and, with her momentum, throws him to the ground. A gleeful expression takes over her face as Karl crashes to the ground.

"Will you not throw my darling around like a ragdoll, Taihou?" Raiden says in a smooth velvet tone from behind a large oak desk.

"I get worked up around pretty boys… You know this." Typhoon giggles shortly before a dark expression takes over her face. "Don't call me that in front of him."

Karl looks up and sees Raiden at the desk with a computer in front of her. The smell of green tea and honey swirled with the odor of gunpowder. Junyou brings Atago and Lucy into the room, closes the door behind them, and leans against it quietly. The two Atago lock eyes, causing the normal Atago to try and show strength in front of her alternate version. Raiden smiles warmly and motions to a line of chairs near the wall.

"Sit, please," Raiden says politely with a genuine smile. I've been waiting for this reunion of ours for some time."

"Reunion?" Lucy snorts rudely. "There are easier ways to do that, mutt."

"Captain!" Karl scolds her. "Not now…"

Raiden lets the spat go, maintaining her smile and warm expression as she watches Karl help Lucy to a chair. Once Lucy sits down, he puts his hand out to Atago, "Please, sit by me, babygirl. I need you…" he whispers.

Atago's ears perk up, and a fire enters her chest to give her strength. The heavy cruiser takes his hand, and they sit together, their hands locked together. Typhoon looks on with disgust at the display, but Raiden knows better. She, on the other hand, maintains her smile and sighs, "So young… I remember when you weren't as grey. Back when I still wore white…"

The tone of voice threw Karl and Lucy for a loop; it felt natural and full of nostalgia. A dreamy look took over Raiden's face as she looked at the couple sitting just arms away. "So young… So innocent… So…"

A bitter sigh leaves her as Raiden feels her heartstrings pull. She tries to stop herself before she falls into despair, but Raiden does what she long dreamed of doing: Seeing her former glory.

"I'm glad I, rather Atago, decided to come with you," Raiden admits, taking a sip of tea to wash down her emotions. "I'm not sure what I missed the most, you or the image of us together."

"I won't leave my Commander in peril; my big sister must protect him," Atago says proudly. Typhoon scoffs at the response and shakes her head, but she is swiftly met by a harsh glare from Raiden.

"Akagi and Taihou believe the same thing. Don't scoff at the commitment that you yourself stated all those years ago, Typhoon." Raiden hisses. Then, as if a switch was flipped, she returns to her dreamy expression. "Onee-San will protect you, Commander Commander… She always will… Onee-San loves you, she does."

Atago's hands grip his own, and she moves closer to Karl as if to shield him. But Karl is confused about who Raiden is talking about—her or Atago. He keeps his expression firmly on Raiden as she speaks. Raiden sighs again, tapping at the desk to get her train of thought. Karl surmises she's conflicted by the way she looks over to Typhoon and Junyou.

"We used to go into a town, a port town on the Agarthen Sea a few miles from the naval base that took us to the Hub," Raiden recalls. I think it was a fishing town, a small place called Kuhn, I believe. Do you remember it, Darling?"

Karl appears uncomfortable in the chair as he adjusts himself, anxiety building in his muscles as they pulse through to Atago. "Kuhn… I do…" He says quietly, his voice becoming strained.

Raiden smiles, "I do fondly… I remember when you took me there… When we found a nice German place, you introduced me to the cuisine of what I knew as Iron Blood. Is it still there, that restaurant?"

He rolls his lips and thinks back to that time… "Kuhn… Kuhn…" He hums with thought, thinking of the town. It was a faint memory, but something tripped it in his mind. "Otto's… That was the place…" Karl palms his face, two fingers massaging his forehead as he recalls it. "It's still around… So is Kuhn… I had a couple of soldiers from there… They said they wouldn't go back unless the world ended because there was nothing there." He chuckled.

"But it was so nice!" Raiden protests, her voice high-pitched. "Otto's was a cozy place. Candle-lite dinner, delicious home-cooked food, and you… Mhmm…"

Karl chuckles as the intimidating Raiden changes from severe and stern to an almost innocent schoolgirl. She cups her face in her hands. "It was… Wonderful… We spent a lot of time together, hm?"

He nods, Atago moving closer to him and hugging his arm protectively.

"We did," Raiden says, melancholy. "We were inseparable, all of us. Weren't we?"

"I do recall some of it… My mind is still hazy after… Fredrich and Shinano freed my mind," Karl admits, squinting as if the dim light of the office was blinding him. I recall a lot… A lot I shouldn't…"

Raiden smirked bitterly, "They did a number on you, Darling? They took everything from you." She looks over at Lucy with an expression of a murderer.

"Tell me, spookhouse," Raiden begins with a smooth tone, but you could feel the anger in her eyes. "When did you people brainwash my darling, or whatever you cowards call it?"

Lucy grips her seat and looks between Karl and Raiden. "Major?" She asks anxiously.

"He's the Commander…" Atago whispers.

"Formerly a Colonel demoted to Major. But I won't spoil it all…" Raiden smirks, her tone soft and sharp. "Speak your words, Captain, yes? That is your rank?"

Lucy nods, shuddering as the green stuff's aftereffects make her sweat. "Major?" Lucy asks again.

"Hub protocol is to wipe the memories of those who visit to protect its secrets from physical and non-physical methods of intel gathering," Karl admits. "The hub is known of, but the details are not unless you are higher…"

"Hmmm…" Raiden mulls, caressing her chin as she thinks. She takes a file out of the desk and opens it. "At least you tell the truth about protocol. You have an interesting protection scheme; I assume it's due to the undesirables you deal with. Though it is interesting that this document from Spookhouse chronicles the events of Operation Unthinkable… But I must ask Captain Lucy, Why did you wipe my Darling's mind AFTER the destruction of the Hub?"

"We did not wipe his memory…" Lucy hesitates.

Raiden sighs with a predatory gaze, "From the document: Department K of Spookhouse administered amnestics to over twenty-five members of the Kommandos Special Forces Brigade. Members of note are many names that our darling Karl may know… Faustus Gaul, August Voll, Henry Max II, and Karl Erich Dael… Major Karl Erich Dael."

The META woman looks at Lucy disgusted, her yellow eyes burning like the sun amidst her calm composure. "Twenty-five men. Why those men?" Raiden asks calmly.

"I don't know," Lucy admits, attempting to breathe easily while fighting the sickness inside her. "Department K isn't what I'm affiliated with; they are Counterintelligence. I'm with the Intelligence department for this realm…"

"Ah, so you know this place and its purpose then." Raiden chuckled light-heartedly before cutting suddenly to a cold expression and a stern voice. "Perfect. Then you will be useful after all, isn't that right, Typhoon?"

Typhoon rolls her eyes, "Rub it in… I don't care. I thought she knew why his mind of wiped…"

Raiden turns her attention back to Karl and Atago, "Now since you are back to your normal self, I assume someone helped you. If it wasn't Lucy here, then who?"

"Amagi, Shinano, and Fredrich." Karl lists.

Her brows raised, surprised. "Ah, the strategist, the Dreamweaver, and the conductor… The Terror herself…." Raiden's nostrils flared as she took a deep breath. That's why the scent of other foxes is on you… I knew my own scent. My counterpart of this world definitely makes sure to let everyone know who marks you. But Akagi and Taihou? The odor of sulfur and cinnamon gives them away… Though I detected more… I just didn't know who."

Raiden gets up and waltzs seductively to Karl. Lending over to his neck, she sniffs him, taking in everything: "Gunpowder, Lead, propellent, and aviation fuel… But beyond that?"

Karl doesn't mind letting Raiden get closer. Atago grits her teeth and slowly moves to make drawing her sword easier. "No… Let her… She means no harm…" Karl says outright to Atago. Onee-San is taken aback by much of Raiden's pleasure. "Easy now, Atago… He's our man, remember? I am you, and you are me…"

"Corrupted…" Atago growls.

Raiden only smiles as she gets closer to Karl. She speaks from behind his neck to look dead into Atago's eyes, "Improved… Enhances… Mature… But I'm still you…"

Atago feels Karl messing with her hand. She looks down quickly to see him hold her hand gently. Her darling Commander'sCommander's face was like a stone as Raiden moved her head around his shoulders and head to take in his scent. "Akagi and Taihou are strong on you… You've been enjoying them, hm?" She says jealously.

Typhoon adjusts herself at the comment, and Junyou gazes at her knowingly. The silent interaction between the two makes Karl chuckle lightly, "You know how they are."

"And of course I smell you…" Raiden says, ending her inspection and gazing into his eyes. "As well as the maid, Belfast, yes? She tends to you the same way as me?"

Atago gasps jealously, but Karl contains himself. "She's hugged me, yes, but nothing more. I also can't help that she insists on doing my laundry, either. Though I don't blame her, or else the scent of Taihou and Akagi would be overwhelming."

The heavy cruiser smiles, her K9 gleaming at him as she licks her lips. "My my, you arrogant old man… You haven't changed." She hisses, pulling back and leaning against the desk in front of him. Now… Where were we? Ah yes… Your memories…" She turns back to the file and grasps it gently. Flipping through it, she finds a note written by someone that made Raiden smile wider…

"Addendum 4.62: Zauberkorps…. Hmm…" Raiden looked puzzled and turned the document over to show him a series of cryptic letters. "Seems I can't read this part. My translation software in my HUD can only translate so many languages, including dead languages like Gaulish, that your people use. Do you know what these letters are?"

Karl looks at them and squints, recognizing them as a Runic language used by the witches. "No… But I know who does… If it's from the ZK's… Then Madam Marlin would know."

ZK…

Zauberkorps… The Sorcery Corps…

"Darling… What is she talking about? What is all that?" Atago takes the document and begins to read it. The markings on the pages show a strange double-armed cross going through an infinity symbol at the top left corner. Everything was neatly typed and formatted digitally, so she wasn't sure if a human or machine did this. Then she found pictures from the event… Including images of Taihou, Akagi, Junyou, and her… The ones she knew, not META…With Karl.

"When did- When did we? I didn't know you till…." Atago's expression begins to hyperventilate as panic sets in. "You… Who are- Who are you?"

Karl says nothing, staring at Raiden with a dead glare.

"He is the Commander we know and loves," Raiden reassures her, taking the file from Atago. "He just… What was it called when you leave out key information?"

"You were… Lying to… To Onee-San?" Atago accuses him in a whisper, despair washing over her.

"No…" Typhoon says to her. 'I omitted information. It wasn't important. Is that what you used to say?'

"There are such things as 'Need to know the business.'" Lucy snarky remarks.

"Do not be so harsh to him," Raiden sneers at Atago. "I'm just informing you of WHO the Commander is. The man before you hasn't told you much, for what reason, I'm not sure."

"I'd rather you not know what my past was…" Karl says regretfully as he comes clean. I never lied… I am a Major in the Kommandos, the same special forces that fight the sirens. I have fought in many places, and I have never told a single lie… But I was never asked who exactly I was prior…"

"He's telling the truth," Junyou interjects. I've watched him for some time. Take that for what it is."

"Stalker." Typhoon teases.

"Then what is that picture?!" Atago demands, taking a stand in front of him. "Who was that with? Them?!"

Karl nods. The other girls nod as well.

"We took that before the operation…" Junyou informs her.

"Before it went to shit…" Typhoon says regretfully. "Before we were sent away…"

"Sent away?" Atago asks, confused and distracted by the expression on Karl's face.

"You told her nothing of this, Darling?" Raiden asks, scolding him sarcastically.

"Shut up! He's not YOUR DARLING!" Atago stomps her feet.

"He is OUR DARLING." Raiden corrects her.

"No, I didn't know about any of this until recently. I recently got my memory back. I knew I didn't leave willingly after the Hub was destroyed. I did want to remove memories of a time I'd rather forget… A part of me as well… But not of you girls…" Karl said as coolly as he could. Lucy could see the conflict brewing in his eyes as he looked at the two Atagos. "But I can only assume…"

Taking to his feet, Karl approaches the Atago's. Typhoon and Junyou close the distance, ready for combat, but they are surprised when Karl raises his hand to stop them. "I assume… There is someone who knows better about this…" He points to the desk phone. "Lucy… Dial the Wicker Witch… She owes…. She owes an explanation."