Siren Base, Southern Pacific
July 20, 1942
11:00 AM
The 'excessive force' displayed by the Modern Kansen in eliminating Arbiter: Strength VIII left Queen Elizabeth, Warspite, and the less Experienced Commanders aboard the USS Enterprise CVN-80 utterly dumbfounded.
High above the ravaged Siren Base, an MQ-28A Ghost Bat Drone silently loitered, its advanced sensors broadcasting a live feed of the ground battle directly to the flagship.
Queen Elizabeth's scepter clattered to the metal deck. "Wha-what just happened?" she stammered, her eyes wide with disbelief.
"Wa-wa-one hit! One single hit!" Warspite echoed, equally astonished by the sheer destructive power unleashed.
"See... there's absolutely nothing to be concerned about, Your Majesty. One of the primary threats has been... neutralized," Enterprise-80 stated matter-of-factly, though even she seemed slightly taken aback
by the weapon's effectiveness.
Another monitor screen displayed the opposing side of the battlefield, where Mass-Produced Siren Ships clashed fiercely with the Azur Lane surface fleet.
Leading the Azur Lane Surface Force was the Frigate Belfast, her modern systems coordinating the defense. The Japanese Destroyer JS Maya provided crucial air defense for all the Azur Lane Surface Combatants.
Frigate Belfast raised her Polearm, the blade sliced the Siren plane in half. Simultaneously, the Close-In Weapon Systems (CIWS) – both the rapid-firing Phalanx cannons and the cutting-edge Close-in laser Weapon System (ClaWS) – shredded the diving Siren aircraft.
The rest of the Royal Navy's Maid Corps engaged the Mass-Produced Siren Ships in a determined surface battle. Town-Class Cruisers unleashed volleys from their BL 6-inch Gun MK XXIII at the Bishop Mk-III (Siren Heavy Cruiser) units.
Meanwhile, Enterprise-6 weaved through the air on her F4F Wildcats, firing glowing energy arrows at the attacking Siren planes. The Eagle Union Aircraft engaged the Queen (Siren Carrier) dive-bombers in a chaotic aerial ballet of attack and evasion.
F4F Wildcats and Royal Navy Spitfires worked in concert to shoot down any Siren Planes attempting to intercept Azur Lane's own dive-bombers.
Frigate Belfast's advanced towed array sonar, the Sonar 2150, registered a distinct underwater contact. "Siren Submarine. Four kilometers away, bearing northeast," she reported over the fleet comms.
The Fletcher-Class Destroyers swiftly sped towards the indicated location, beginning a pattern of depth charge drops. Plumes of water erupted where the charges detonated, followed by the telltale signs of a destroyed submarine: floating debris and slicks of oil spreading across the surface.
"Enemy Submarine is terminated," Fletcher reported concisely.
"That's the sixth Siren submarine we've dealt with today," Foote noted, a hint of weariness in her voice.
"Well... at least this time we knew precisely where to drop our depth charges," Thatcher added with a sigh of relief.
"Yeah. This is a significant improvement over our last encounter with Siren submarines," Spence agreed, his voice still slightly shaky from the intensity of the battle.
"Yeah..." the other Fletcher sisters murmured in agreement.
Frigate Belfast's voice came over the comms again. "Excellent work, little one. I'll see you all are properly rewarded back at base."
"Yey!" The Fletcher sisters cheered in unison, their earlier tension momentarily forgotten.
~Back with the Maids~
Cruiser Belfast and Edinburgh found themselves encircled by a pack of Rooks (Siren Light Cruisers).
"We're being surrounded!" Edinburgh cried out, her voice filled with alarm. "What should we do, Bell?"
Cruiser Belfast's mind raced. My carelessness led to this. I should have maintained better situational awareness instead of focusing solely on the aerial threats."
"Watch out!"
Both Cruiser Belfast and Edinburgh narrowly evaded a powerful blast from a Plasma Cannon fired by an unseen attacker. Columns of water and vaporized steam shot upwards from the impact.
"That attack—" Edinburgh began, her voice trembling with panic.
"An Elite-Siren," Cruiser Belfast stated calmly, her outward composure masking the sudden spike of danger.
She immediately broadcast a warning to the entire fleet. "Attention all units, there is an Elite-Siren lurking beneath the surface."
"Copy that, Belfast. I read you loud and clear," Enterprise-80 responded instantly. She then pressed another button on her command console. "Arizona. Do you read me?"
Beneath the tumultuous battle raging above, the USS Arizona SSN-803 lay in wait, silently engaging the unseen phantoms of the deep. In the Submarine's CIC, Arizona acknowledged the call. "Yes, Ma'am."
"I have a priority mission for you, Arizona. Hunt down this Elite-Siren operating underwater."
"Copy that."
Having received his direct orders, Arizona activated his unique rigging and set a course towards the Elite-Siren's last known location.
Arizona's rigging manifested as a sleek, enlarged Diver Propulsion Vehicle (DPV), complete with advanced breathing apparatus and a specialized underwater rifle, all integrated with his US Navy SEAL diving gear.
Arriving at the designated coordinates, he was immediately confronted by five Lurker Mk-II Underwater Attack Submarines. The situation was undeniably tense, facing such a concentrated underwater threat. Yet, Arizona's stern expression betrayed no hint of awkwardness, only a calm and ominous resolve.
Breaking the silent standoff, one of the Lurker Mk-IIs launched a spread of homing torpedoes towards him. The torpedoes, fired from the Siren Submarines' rigging that resembled the bows of World War II-era U-boats, streaked through the water, leaving trails of cavitation in their wake.
Arizona anticipated the attack, recognizing the telltale signs. His rigorous training in underwater warfare at US Navy Submarine School was about to be put to the ultimate test. Shoot your load, and leave. Skeet and Retreat. Ejaculate, and evacuate... for now, just 'shoot your load, and evade'.
He deployed a series of advanced decoy countermeasures, hoping to lure the incoming homing torpedoes away. The torpedoes, their sensors fixated on the artificial targets, circled harmlessly around the deployed decoys.
"Shit. My usual approach is silent attack and swift evasion before detection. Now I'm stuck dancing with these nuisances." Arizona cursed under his breath. Engaging Lurkers directly was not part of his initial plan; his primary target remained the Elite-Siren.
"He evaded my torpedoes! " one of the Lurker Mk-IIs that had fired exclaimed in utter surprise, its mechanical voice tinged with disbelief.
"Perhaps we should launch another volley of torpedoes at him?" another Lurker Mk-II proposed, its tone suggesting a more aggressive approach.
"Alright, let's do it," a third Lurker Mk-II confirmed.
Simultaneously, all five Lurker Mk-IIs unleashed their remaining homing torpedoes at Arizona. His sonar systems registered the entire deadly barrage heading directly towards him.
"God fucking damn it," he muttered in frustration, the sheer number of incoming threats overwhelming.
Reacting instantly, Arizona executed a sharp, deep dive, utilizing his diving planes to descend rapidly without creating any detectable cavitation trails. He plunged to a depth that no Siren Submarine, not even the advanced Lurkers, could safely reach.
With meticulous care, Arizona maneuvered towards the seafloor, positioning himself next to a large, sunken shipwreck. His movements stirred up a cloud of sediment, effectively obscuring his presence. The Homing Torpedoes, still tracking his last known position, passed through the murky cloud and slammed into the shipwreck, detonating in a powerful underwater explosion.
-If you've seen 'Hunter Killer', you know the drill-
The seafloor erupted in a chaotic cloud of dust and mud, the force of the explosion and the resulting sediment cloud creating the illusion that the target had been destroyed.
The five Lurker Mk-IIs cheered their apparent victory, their sonar systems registering the massive explosion and the dissipating cloud of debris.
"See? Told you that was easy."
"Yeah, you were right. That was surprisingly easy."
As the dust cloud settled and the underwater environment momentarily stilled, four Mk48 Heavyweight Torpedoes emerged from the murky depths, ascending rapidly towards the unsuspecting Siren Submarines.
One of the Lurker Mk-IIs detected the incoming torpedoes just moments before impact. "Torpedo!" she shrieked, her mechanical voice filled with sudden alarm.
But her warning came too late. The four Mk48 Torpedoes struck the remaining Lurker Mk-IIs precisely in their vulnerable underbellies, their powerful warheads detonating simultaneously. The ensuing explosions engulfed the four Submarines, the immense pressure causing their hulls to buckle and crack.
The sole surviving Lurker Mk-II was left terrified and trembling, witnessing the instantaneous destruction of her comrades. All four had been eliminated without a single wasted torpedo.
Arizona looked up at the panicked Siren, his gaze a cold, predatory stare locked onto the last remaining threat. The very existence of submarines like him was the reason why most surface navies held a healthy fear of the open ocean.
"Reload Number One torpedo tube," he commanded, his voice a low, menacing growl.
The onboard AI responded in a monotone, mechanical voice, a faint humming sound accompanying its reply. "Torpedo Tube Number One is now loaded."
A single Mk48 Heavyweight Torpedo slid silently from the newly loaded tube, racing towards the last remaining Lurker Mk-II.
The Siren submarine, frozen in a state of sheer panic, couldn't react. Her processing power seemed overwhelmed by the sudden, catastrophic loss of her entire squadron.
She could only accept her fate. The Mk48 Torpedo slammed into her rigging and detonated. Above the surface, a massive plume of water erupted from the underwater explosion.
Cruiser Belfast and Edinburgh, monitoring their hull-mounted sonar, were startled by the sudden, violent disturbance in the water. They exchanged bewildered glances as the geyser of water shot upwards.
"Lurkers are terminated," Cruiser Belfast reported over the comms, having listened to the fading echoes of the underwater battle.
"Wow... he single-handedly defeated five Lurkers in a single engagement," Edinburgh commented, her voice filled with awe. Underwater combat was rare enough, but such decisive and devastating efficiency was almost unheard of.
~Ten kilometers away underwater~
Compiler clicked her tongue in annoyance as the radio transmissions from her five Lurker Mk-II units abruptly ceased.
"You managed to defeat five of my Lurkers... impressive! I suppose Tester α was correct about your capabilities. Now I understand why Zero harbors such... apprehension towards your existence..."
Suddenly, Compiler's sensors detected two high-speed torpedoes heading directly towards her. "Engaging me at long range while submerged... interesting," she mused, a hint of intrigue in her mechanical voice.
She activated her personal energy shield, a formidable barrier capable of withstanding the force of a 10,000-pound explosive. Two massive underwater explosions rocked the area as the two Mk48 Torpedoes struck her shield.
Compiler survived the initial attack and swiftly changed her location. Then, she returned the favor, launching two Siren homing torpedoes towards Arizona's last known position.
Arizona's advanced sonar systems detected the incoming torpedoes and pinpointed the Elite-Siren's new location, noting her evasive maneuvers after firing.
He immediately fired another Mk48 Torpedo, intercepting the two Siren homing torpedoes. The Mk48 and the Siren torpedoes collided and detonated, the shockwave from the initial explosion causing the remaining Siren torpedo to detonate prematurely.
Compiler was visibly shocked by this audacious counter. "You shot down my two torpedoes with your own torpedo... I am... impressed."
Arizona considered his options. 'Two Mk48s weren't enough against her shield, and even four might not suffice... that leaves me with only one option...'
He quickly keyed his comms to the flagship, the urgency in his voice unmistakable. "Ma'am. Permission to use 'Nuke'."
Enterprise-80 weighed the potential consequences of deploying such a weapon. The entire area was teeming with Azur Lane Shipgirls and Mass-Produced Siren ships.
She immediately broadcast an urgent warning to all shipgirls within the estimated blast radius of the Nuclear Torpedo. "Attention all shipgirls in the area, evacuate immediately. I repeat, all shipgirls in the area, evacuate."
Confusion rippled through the Azur Lane fleet at the sudden and unexpected order to retreat.
"What? We just got here!" a clearly irate Hammann exclaimed over the comms.
Frigate Belfast relayed the dire warning. "Everyone. Evacuate now! This entire area will be ground zero for a massive explosion."
"Wait, what?!"
Every Shipgirl in the vicinity immediately began to withdraw after hearing Belfast's urgent message.
Cruiser Belfast, as she and Edinburgh were being hoisted into an MV-22 Osprey dispatched by Enterprise-80 for their evacuation, turned to the frigate. "What do you mean, 'massive explosion'?"
"You'll see," Frigate Belfast replied calmly, her expression grim.
"Permission granted, Arizona. You also need to evacuate the area immediately."
"Copy that, Ma'am." Arizona then reloaded the specially modified Mk48 Heavyweight Torpedo into his launch tube.
This particular Mk48 had its standard 650-pound high-explosive warhead replaced with a significantly more potent B61-12 tactical nuclear warhead. Enterprise-80 had authorized this extreme modification under her "Nuking Alien in a Last-Ditch Resort" contingency, with (Redneck) William being the only individual capable of safely swapping the warheads without causing a catastrophic premature detonation.
Arizona set the modified Mk48 to its homing parameters and fired it directly at the unsuspecting Elite-Siren. He also launched two conventional Mk48 torpedoes as a faint and momentary distraction.
Without wasting a precious second in the rapidly approaching irradiated waters, he simultaneously blew both his forward and aft ballast tanks, initiating an emergency ascent to the surface. Remaining submerged would guarantee his and his submarine's destruction under the immense pressure of the nuclear detonation.
Arizona breached the surface in a violent spray of water. He quickly glanced upwards, spotting an MV-22 Osprey hovering above with its rear door open and a rope dangling down. Manjuus inside frantically waved him aboard.
Understanding the urgency without needing further explanation, Arizona grabbed the rope and deactivated his submarine rigging. The complex machinery instantly dissolved into small, glowing wisdom cubes that reintegrated into his body.
The rope hauled him out of the water, and Frigate Belfast extended a hand to help him onto the Osprey's rear ramp. The Royal Maids stared at him in his diver suit and Navy SEAL gear, his goggles still obscuring his face.
"Sup," he said nonchalantly, ignoring their curious gazes. Some of the Maids recognized him, others did not. "Are they still playing the 'guess who' game with my face'?"
Frigate Belfast replied dryly, "Apparently, yes."
"Yeah, figures." He then sat on the edge of the Osprey's ramp, watching as the inevitable explosion was about to commence.
~Underwater~
Compiler easily evaded the two conventional Mk48 torpedoes. "Leaving so soon, what a coward," she scoffed, watching Arizona's rapid ascent towards the surface.
Then, her sensors registered another incoming torpedo. "Really? Another one of these?" she commented, her annoyance growing at the persistent explosions.
Unbeknownst to her, this particular Mk48 was anything but ordinary. Compiler braced herself, assuming it was just another conventional warhead.
"Wait... this torpedo... there's something... peculiar about it—"
The Mk48, armed with the B-61 nuclear warhead, detonated. The underwater ground zero shook violently. On the surface, a colossal plume of water erupted, reaching meters higher than any building in Manhattan, New York.
Shipgirls miles away watched in stunned awe as the gigantic column of water rose and the ocean's surface shuddered. The Royal Maids in the Osprey caught a terrifying glimpse of the cataclysmic event through the rear door.
"That was a huge underwater explosion!" Edinburgh exclaimed, her voice filled with shock.
"I'm now absolutely certain that bitch is dead down there," Arizona stated flatly, his expression utterly unfazed.
"I can't believe we had to resort to using that weapon," Frigate Belfast said, a hint of sadness in her voice.
"Is that why we were ordered to evacuate?" Cruiser Belfast asked, her eyes still wide with the lingering image of the explosion.
"Yes. That underwater detonation is powerful enough to rupture your hulls even if you managed to avoid the epicenter," Arizona explained grimly.
"Is that the reason why you're here?" Sheffield asked, her tone as cold and direct as ever.
He sighed deeply, accustomed to her bluntness. "Yes. Even I wouldn't survive that kind of blast. That type of weapon is actually banned under a treaty that American politicians signed."
"Why was it banned?" Sirius inquired. "That weapon could be incredibly useful for dealing with threats like this."
Arizona sighed again. "Have you seen the devastation? That single shot could decimate an entire fleet. Even the shooter isn't safe from the underwater shockwave. And that massive explosion can cause irreparable damage to the marine environment and all the life within it."
The Maids fell silent, contemplating the sheer destructive potential they had just witnessed. The thought of such a weapon falling into the wrong hands sent shivers down their spines.
Cruiser Belfast murmured, "Now I understand why you carry so many electronic countermeasures."
Down below, on the surface, Mass-Produced Siren Ships were breaking apart, their hulls ruptured by the immense underwater pressure wave. Executor-Class units watched in horror as their entire Siren fleet succumbed to the devastating force.
"This is bad... we need to report this to Tester α."
"She's going to lose her mind again..."
"Yeah... we know, but we still have to report it."
Bunker, Siren Base
Tester α was bombarded with a constant stream of reports detailing defeat after defeat, both at sea and on the base. Chaotic radio chatter filled the underground bunker where she sat, her index finger tapping impatiently on the metal table, desperately hoping for any semblance of good news.
One of the Explorer Mk-II units cautiously approached her table. "Umm... Ma'am."
Tester α abruptly stopped her tapping and looked up
"Compiler is dead. We haven't detected any of her signals since the massive underwater explosion."
A low murmur escaped Tester α's lips. "Finally. You're finally dead, you meddlesome bitch." She then rose abruptly from her seat. "Prepare yourselves to face our foes within this building. It's time for us to end this charade," she declared, her voice hardening with grim resolve.
The Executor-Class sirens in the room exchanged knowing glances. This desperate counter-attack was their version of a Hail Mary, a final, reckless gamble against a superior force waiting outside.
Tester α understood that this last stand was futile in stopping the incoming Modern Kansen, but it might buy Omitter and Observer α precious time to escape.
"Listen closely. I know every one of us in this bunker is afraid. I am too. But I need you all to be prepared to fight our way out."
With that stark pronouncement, every Siren inside the bunker activated their rigging, the hum of energy filling the confined space. There was no other option left but to fight.
Tester α turned to another Explorer Mk-II unit. "You. I want you to destroy and burn all data and files about us. Understood?"
The Explorer Mk-II nodded solemnly and immediately began gathering the data storage devices and physical files, piling them in the center of the bunker to be incinerated.
Essex Group
Essex-12 and the remaining Azur Lane troops had successfully breached the main Siren building, their objective the underground bunker believed to house critical files, communication systems, and potentially other Elite-Siren.
Breaching charges were meticulously placed on the heavy, reinforced door leading to the underground bunker.
Essex-12 counted down with her fingers, signaling the imminent detonation. "Three... two... one..."
As her count reached one, the door didn't explode outwards as planned. Instead, a powerful beam from a Plasma Cannon, fired from behind the thick metal, melted through the door. Molten metal sprayed outwards, directly towards the Azur Lane troops taking cover behind their own breach charges.
Half of the assault team suffered horrific second and third-degree burns from the superheated metal. Agonized screams filled the hallway as their skin blistered and, in some cases, melted away.
"Shit! Medic! We need medics here, now!" Essex-12 yelled, her voice filled with shock and fury.
Corpsmen rushed forward to administer first aid and evacuate the most severely wounded. Just then, Lucas and his small support group reached the entrance to the bunker, joining Essex-12's battered team.
"What in the hell happened?!" Lucas demanded, his eyes scanning the gruesome scene of burned and wounded soldiers.
"We were caught completely off guard," Essex-12 replied, her voice tight with regret and anger. "One of the Sirens blew through the heavy door with a plasma cannon just as we detonated our breach charges."
Lucas cautiously peered into the melted hallway leading to the bunker. "Did you contact Enterprise about this setback?"
"Yes. She simply said... she's 'up to something'."
CVN-80 USS Enterprise
Having received Essex-12's report, Enterprise-80 wasted no time. A newly landed F/A-18 Super Hornet was swiftly armed with a massive GBU-28 B/C Bunker Buster bomb.
The weapons elevator delivered the bunker-penetrating ordnance, and Manjuu ground crew swarmed the fully fueled aircraft, expertly securing the bomb to its undercarriage within minutes.
The F/A-18 then taxied to EMALS catapult number three, receiving the launch signal from the Shooter/Manjuu in their distinctive yellow jersey. With a powerful surge of electromagnetic force, the aircraft rocketed off the deck and sped towards the warzone.
Back at the bunker entrance, Lucas surreptitiously tossed a small device inside, an action unnoticed by the Executor-Class Sirens within. The metallic clang as the box hit the concrete floor echoed through the bunker.
One of the Explorer Mk-II units picked up the unknown object, scanning it with her internal sensors. "What is this? Some sort of metallic box that humans use for communication?"
"Give it to me," another Explorer Mk-II said, examining the device intently. "Why is this thing emitting radio wave signals?"
As the Explorer Mk-IIs debated the strange device, the ceiling directly above them suddenly fractured and collapsed. A long, olive-green rod with stabilizing fins punched through the weakened concrete.
"What the—"
The GBU-28 B/C Bunker Buster bomb detonated with a deafening roar, the powerful explosion instantly killing and severely injuring the Explorer Mk-II units caught in the blast radius.
Lucas and Essex-12's group didn't hesitate. The moment the initial shockwave subsided, they surged into the bunker. The surviving Explorer Mk-IIs were either too injured or disoriented to mount any effective resistance, and they were swiftly gunned down by Lucas and the Azur Lane troops.
Lucas activated his infrared vision, scanning the devastated bunker for any remaining Siren activity. "All clear," he announced, holstering his weapon after confirming the elimination of the immediate threats.
One of the Royal Army and one of the Union Army troopers – the same pair who had earlier complained about Essex'12 abrasive language – cautiously poked one of the fallen Siren corpses with the barrel of their issued rifles.
"I still can't believe we're fighting... 'women'," the Union soldier muttered, a strange mix of disbelief and unease in his voice.
"Yeah..." the Royal soldier echoed, his expression thoughtful.
"Do you think they have the same... you know... like what women have?" the Union soldier then asked, a lewd grin spreading across his face.
The two exchanged a knowing look, their shared brain-cells overriding any sense of decorum, and a pair of stupid grins bloomed on their faces.
*Toby Maguire face here*
Lucas, however, noticed their inappropriate intentions. "Hey!" he barked, his voice sharp. "If either one of you lays a hand on any of these dead bitches' pants, I swear I will personally circumcise you with my rifle... do you understand?"
The two Soldiers snapped to attention, their faces paling. "Sir! Yes, Sir!" they stammered in unison.
"What's your names, Private?" Lucas asked, stepping closer to the Royal Army trooper.
"Pvt. Mark Carlson, Sir," the Royal soldier replied, his voice trembling slightly.
"Pvt. Carl Rodriguez, Sir," the Union soldier added quickly.
"Good. I want both of you, hands on your rifles only. Do you understand?!"
"Sir! Yes, Sir!"
"Good. Now, look for any surviving Siren that might be capable of interrogation," Lucas ordered, and the two soldiers scrambled to obey, cautiously searching through the piles of dead sirens.
"Lucas," Essex-12 called out, her voice indicating she had found something. "I have something here."
Lucas walked over to where Essex was standing, his gaze following hers. "Another door, huh?"
"Yes... We need to breach it, but we also need to be absolutely sure there isn't another cheap trick waiting for us on the other side," she said, her earlier frustration still evident.
"To be safe, we should use one of the UGVs to breach that metal door remotely, without risking any more casualties."
"One UGV is currently en route to our location," a nearby Soldier reported.
"Good then."
Lucas and Essex-12's group waited for the unmanned ground vehicle to arrive and methodically place a breaching charge on the hinges of the second metal door.
Predictably, the same tactic was employed. As the UGV armed the charge, a powerful Plasma Cannon blast melted through the metal door, destroying the UGV in the process. Everyone instinctively ducked behind cover as the searing plasma beam swept through the hallway.
Once the plasma attack ceased, Lucas swiftly tossed a bag of C4 explosives into the bunker beyond the destroyed door. Everyone immediately covered their ears, bracing for the powerful detonation.
Tester α was thrown violently against the metal command table, while the remaining Explorer Mk-II units were slammed against the bunker walls by the force of the explosion.
Lucas and Essex-12 simultaneously activated their rigging and charged into the bunker, unleashing a devastating barrage of bullets and explosive shells.
One of the Explorer Mk-II units was instantly vaporized by a high-explosive round fired from an M4 Carl Gustav Recoilless Rifle wielded by one of the Union Army soldiers.
Tester α, regaining her footing despite the chaos, readied the six plasma cannons mounted on her rigging, aiming them directly at the advancing Azur Lane troops. Lucas reacted instantly, firing four ESSM (Evolved Sea Sparrow Missiles) in rapid succession to divert her attention.
Tester α expertly dodged the incoming missiles, which instead slammed into the ceiling above, creating a large hole that revealed the bright blue sky.
Lucas, Essex-12, and the remaining Azur Lane ground troops scrambled out of the way as chunks of concrete and metal rained down.
Tester α seized the opportunity, flying rapidly towards the massive hole in the ceiling as the entire bunker structure began to groan and slowly collapse.
"Fall back!" Essex-12 and Lucas yelled in unison, ordering a general retreat.
The Union and Royal Army troops surged towards the entrance as the main building above them buckled and gave way. They all managed to escape just as the entire foundation of the building imploded.
Essex-12 and Lucas followed Tester α as she made her escape. Noticing their pursuit, Tester α unleashed a barrage from her six plasma cannons. Essex-12 and Lucas broke formation, dodging the incoming energy blasts.
"Stop following me!" she shrieked, her voice laced with desperation and rage.
The two pursuers, however, remained relentless, their focus solely on their fleeing target.
Tester α made a critical error, exposing herself in the open sky where Modern Aircraft could easily track her. This miscalculation, coupled with her delayed decision-making in her panicked state, made her an easy target for Essex's F-35B fighters circling above.
AIM-260 JATM air-to-air missiles rained down upon her. Her energy-based Force-Field, already weakened, finally collapsed under the sheer volume of the attack. Dozens of AIM-260 missiles slammed into her unprotected form.
Tester α's clothing was shredded (Latex), bruises and burns covered her body, and her Rigging was heavily damaged. Yet, with a terrifying display of resilience, she remained standing amidst the wreckage of her defenses.
"Is that it? Is that all you've got?!" Tester α's grip on reality seemed to be slipping. Her voice rose in a manic shriek, punctuated by bursts of hysterical laughter as she teetered on the brink of a complete psychotic break.
Lucas keyed his radio. "Target is in the open."
~Thirty miles away~
Enterprise-80 stood on the cleared flight deck of her Namesake Carrier, the usual bustle of aircraft operations temporarily suspended.
Queen Elizabeth and Warspite followed her movements with a mixture of curiosity and apprehension as she gazed intently towards the distant horizon, as if locked onto a specific target.
"What is she doing? The battle isn't over yet!" Queen Elizabeth exclaimed, her confusion evident as she trailed after the Modern Carrier.
"Your Majesty," Warspite interjected, her ancient senses detecting a concentrated surge of energy forming around Enterprise-80.
"What is it, Warspite?"
"Look. She's about to begin."
"Begin what?!"
"Just watch, Your Majesty."
Queen Elizabeth followed Warspite's gaze, her eyes widening in anticipation.
Enterprise-80 began to summon her unique Bow-rigging. The island superstructure of a Ford-class carrier materialized at the bow in her hand, complete with two prominent magnetic rails that hummed with contained energy, designed to accelerate projectiles to incredible velocities.
A metallic rod, shaped like an arrow and tipped with a glowing blue energy point, appeared in her hand. She carefully placed it between the magnetic rails, slowly drawing back an invisible string of pure energy. With meticulous precision, she aligned her shot, subconsciously calculating the wind speed and the subtle effects of the Earth's rotation.
Once her calculations were complete, she released the energy arrow. It glowed intensely with a bluish-white light as it shot forward, instantly breaking the sound barrier with a deafening sonic boom that could shatter eardrums and windows miles away.
"Ahhh!" Queen Elizabeth's skirts billowed violently in the shockwave unleashed by Enterprise-80's Kinetic-bow.
Warspite, unfazed by the raw power displayed, calmly watched as the glowing projectile streaked towards the distant Siren Base.
The Escorting Warships were stunned into silence as the Kinetic-arrow passed overhead, a streak of pure light. Shipgirls instinctively covered their ears, while others simply stared in awe at the projectile's trajectory towards the enemy.
Enterprise-6, riding her F4F Wildcat high above, witnessed the streak of light pass beneath her, its brilliance rivaling that of a shooting star.
"That attack..." she murmured to herself, a sense of understanding dawning.
She knew instantly where that devastating projectile had originated, her gaze now fixed on its destination: the Siren Base.
Siren Base
Everyone on the ground watched as Tester α descended further into madness, her nonsensical babbling and manic laughter echoing across the ravaged base. Lucas and Essex-12 remained focused, their weapons trained on her erratic movements.
Within a fraction of a second, Tester α was struck by the unseen projectile moving at near-light speed. Her world seemed to freeze as a significant chunk of her abdomen simply vanished. A strange numbness washed over her as her vision blurred and faded, the expected pain failing to register.
'I hope you made it in time, Observer α...'
Then, in a final, spectacular display that would have made Michael Bay proud, Tester α exploded in a massive conflagration, a fiery spectacle witnessed by everyone below in the harsh light of day.
The Union Army and Royal Army troops erupted in cheers, their relief palpable as they witnessed the demise of the last significant Siren presence on the base. Lucas immediately radioed back to the fleet.
"Target is destroyed. The base is ours."
A wave of jubilation swept through the Azur Lane fleet. San Diego and the other shipgirl idols spontaneously broke into celebratory songs.
However, Lucas and Essex-12's task was not yet complete. They began meticulously scanning the collapsed building for any surviving files or documents that could provide valuable intelligence against the Sirens.
"Anything there?" Lucas asked, his voice weary.
"Nothing so far. It feels like the Sirens destroyed all of their files and data as soon as they realized resistance was futile," Essex-12 replied, pushing aside a large piece of rubble that had partially buried a bulky Siren computer.
"This thing is useless. All the files have been deleted."
"Shit. Looks like the Sirens knew they were going to lose this fight and ordered a complete data wipe," Essex-12 cursed, frustrated by the lack of salvageable intelligence.
As the two conversed, a sudden, unsettling crumbling sound and movement from a nearby pile of debris caught their attention. They exchanged wary glances, realizing they had potentially found something – or someone – still hidden beneath the rubble.