"Who—who are you?" Enterprise-6 asked, her voice a fragile whisper, as she deliberately tried to prevent a tremor from giving away her profound exhaustion.
"I came, as I heard your prayers," the woman responded softly, her tone carrying an almost ethereal quality as she extended her right hand towards Enterprise-6.
Enterprise-6 found herself utterly unable to utter another single word. The mysterious being in front of her had spoken, and her words, specifically that she had come in response to Enterprise-6's prayers, held a captivating and bewildering significance.
Code-G continued, her voice maintaining its calm, resonant quality. "I know you have a great many questions swirling in your head right now, and before I answer them, I have a proposition to make."
"A—a proposition?" Enterprise-6 stammered, her confusion palpable.
"Yes. I'll give you half of my powers. In exchange..." Code-G trailed off, allowing the profound weight of her statement to fully settle upon Enterprise-6, letting the implications sink in.
Enterprise-6 was in a state of utter confusion, reeling from what she had just heard. The notion of someone willingly lending their power to another was entirely alien to her, but it was the final, unspoken part of the offer that truly caught her off guard.
"In—in exchange for what???" Enterprise-6 pressed, a nascent doubt about the "in exchange" aspect of the offer already forming in her mind.
Code-G offered a gentle, knowing smile. "In exchange, you will become the very face of victory, and you will valiantly lead Azur Lane and all of Humanity through these dark and perilous times. I want you to be the radiant light that shines to those who find themselves lingering alone in the encroaching darkness, to guide humanity towards its rightful path...."
She then extended her right hand once more, her gesture imbued with a profound invitation. "Would you agree?" she asked, her voice sweet and inviting, her smile shining brightly along with the majestic golden hue that enveloped her.
Enterprise-6 hesitated, a flicker of uncertainty crossing her features at the extraordinary offer from a being she had only just met for the first time. The fact that the being in front of her possessed ethereal angel wings only added to the surreal nature of the encounter.
She experienced intense second thoughts even as her right hand slowly, almost involuntarily, reached towards the extended hand. She paused, a moment of profound introspection, and decided to ask one more clarifying question.
"A—are you the Guardian???" she asked, looking directly into Code-G's eyes, seeking confirmation.
Like a sweet angel, Code-G smiled once again, offering a warm and profoundly assuring reply. "Yes. That's precisely what the Humans have come to describe me as: 'Guardian'."
Enterprise-6, now filled with a newfound determination, recognizing the immense opportunity to receive half of the Guardian's power and be bestowed with such a vital task.
"I accept your proposition."
The two clasped hands, and as they did, the promised Power began to rapidly transfer to Enterprise-6. Code-G offered a final, serene smile as her form began to gracefully vanish in a soft, golden glow.
Just then, bright sunlight pierced through the thick, obscuring clouds that had prevented any visual reconnaissance until that moment. A single SBD, which had been diligently conducting its recon mission, burst out of the clouds and began to fly in slow, careful circles around Enterprise-6.
Both the Recon Plane and the Shipgirl that was conducting the said recon was utterly gasped at the extraordinary scene surrounding Enterprise-6. The previously violent and turbulent ocean had miraculously transformed into a calm expanse, now eerily littered with the shattered wreckage of countless Siren Ships that were in the agonizing process of sinking beneath the tranquil waves.
"Found her, she seems to be fine," the Shipgirl who had conducted the reconnaissance immediately radioed back to the Flagship, her voice tinged with surprise and relief.
Code-G's Dimension
Deep within Code-G's Dimension, Code-G herself collapsed to her knees. Her pristine white dress and ethereal wings began to subtly transform, twisting and shifting. She let out a sharp cry, not of physical pain from the transformation itself, but from the overwhelming and visceral feeling of the profound hate and animosity that Enterprise-6 harbored against the Sirens, which was now consuming her.
The solemn deal she and Enterprise-6 had struck was a precise 50-50 exchange. Enterprise-6 had received precisely half of the immense power that Code-G chose to lend. Code-G, on the other hand, had consumed all the deep-seated hatred that Enterprise-6 harbored within her. Because of this profound absorption, Code-G began to transform into what would eventually become known as Enterprise-Alter ego or Alter-Prise.
She had deliberately consumed the vast majority of the hatred residing in Enterprise-6's heart. This selfless act was performed so as to prevent that overwhelming anger and the inherent darkness within Enterprise-6's own heart from consuming her entirely. Code-G was acutely afraid that such hatred and darkness would ultimately consume Enterprise-6, twisting her newly lent powers into a mere weapon of revenge, fueled solely by destructive anger.
"A price... a price to pay to give this world a fighting chance," she muttered softly to herself, desperately seeking to rationalize her actions and reinforce her belief that her sacrifice was for the greater good.
Dark, ominous feathers now littered the ground around her. She tightly gripped one of these transformed feathers as small droplets of tears fell, landing precisely close to it. Her once pristine white angelic wings had now turned entirely black, black as the deepest crow's feather.
In this profound act, she knowingly gave up her very divinity, her celestial essence, all to help Enterprise-6 and the rest of humanity achieve a fighting chance against the relentless onslaught of the Sirens.
Now, left with no other option of bickering with the affairs of humanity, as she could only watch from the corner of her own dimension, she was compelled to go to the extreme. This extreme measure involved the summoning of 11 vessels from another dimension, her desperate hope being that their arrival would finally bring an end, an absolute end, to all the suffering.
...
Azur Lane Base, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
A resounding yell and a continuous stream of berating could be distinctly heard emanating from the Admiral's Office located within the Main Base of Azur Lane. At the very center of the office, Enterprise-6 stood rigidly in front of her superiors. The Commander who had been directly commanding her barked non-stop, his voice harsh and unrelenting, much like a stern father scolding his wayward daughter.
The Admiral before Nimitz, sat stoically at the office table, patiently listening to the Commander's incessant barking. The Admiral, meanwhile, silently tried to formulate a viable plan to effectively handle this rapidly worsening situation within the alliance.
The Azur Lane Alliance was, in fact, dangerously shattering from the inside. Its constituent Factions or Nations were on the verge of splitting off entirely from the Alliance. Punishing Enterprise-6 at this critical juncture could potentially crumble the already fragile morale of the Eagle Union Shipgirls, leading to complete disarray.
Cmdr. Thomas stood quietly at the side, observing Enterprise-6 being relentlessly berated by her Commanding Officer. He could no longer handle the injustice and stepped forward, rushing to her rescue.
"That's enough, Commander. That's quite enough."
The Commander abruptly turned his attention to him, his face contorted in anger. "Stay away from this, Thomas; this is not your problem!"
Cmdr. Thomas retorted firmly. "It is my problem. I'm the Commander of this Base, and all Shipgirls also fall under my command. Their responsibilities, therefore, are also mine."
The Commander had clearly had enough of Cmdr. Thomas's "nice guy" bravado. "Don't give me that Mr. Nice-Guy thing, Thomas!"
"Don't call me Mr. Nice-Guy! I'm merely helping the Girls as we Commanders rightfully should," Cmdr. Thomas responded quickly, his voice sharp with conviction.
"Why, you!"
Enterprise's Commander was about to physically punch Cmdr. Thomas in the face, but the Admiral, who had been sitting at the office table experiencing a mental breakdown over his own strategic plans, suddenly snapped at the two of them, slamming his palm forcefully on the table.
"That's enough! Both of you! The fucking Alliance is facing a problem at its very pillars, and now the two of you are squabbling over some stupid shit!" he roared, his face flushed with anger.
He then sat down, visibly attempting to cool off. After settling back in his seat, he looked directly at Enterprise-6, who stood still, unmoving like a statue.
"You."
He pointed a accusatory finger at her. Enterprise-6 slowly raised her head, her gaze meeting the Admiral's, whose face was now flushed red from a throbbing headache.
"I will let your insubordination slide, especially after you single-handedly wiped out an entire Siren Force, but... you are strictly not allowed to sortie. Your Ship's Infrastructure and Hull are extensively damaged and are currently in a state of disrepair at the dock. You are now dismissed." The Admiral stated, his voice now regaining a measured, authoritative tone.
"Orders received, Sir."
Enterprise-6 replied, her face still bearing a dark, somber expression, as she slowly turned and quietly left the Admiral's Office.
At the closed doors of the Admiral's Office, she finally allowed a few small tears to escape. She couldn't hold them back any longer, and eventually, she let them all out, openly weeping.
Cmdr. Thomas was deeply worried about her increasingly odd and confusing behavior. When they had first met, she had been full of smiles and joy. But all of that cheerful demeanor had vanished after what had tragically happened to her Sister, Yorktown. And now, she was acting even stranger, showing very little emotion.
"Thomas," the Admiral called, uttering the Commander's name, which abruptly brought him back to reality.
"Y—Yes, Sir," Cmdr. Thomas responded, snapping to attention.
The Admiral sank deeper into his seat, holding his temples as if trying to massage away a persistent ache. "How do you think we can benefit from this situation?"
The two Commanders both shared the same confused expression. "Umm... benefited from what, Admiral?" Cmdr. Thomas asked, utterly bewildered.
"This is the first time we've had such a decisive victory against the Siren Forces rampaging across the high seas, and Enterprise took on that force alone," the Admiral explained.
"I don't quite get where you're heading with that, Admiral?" the Commander asked, still struggling to grasp his meaning.
"We will spread the word and the news about her incredible victory. We will use her as an image of the Eagle Union Navy to significantly increase the morale of our Shipgirls," the Admiral clarified, his voice now firm.
Cmdr. Thomas immediately interjected. "No! I won't allow it. We will not use her as a form of propaganda."
The Admiral let out a heavy sigh. "Listen here, Thomas," he said, his voice taking on a fatherly undertone. "I'm reaching the end of my time here at the office, and the people in Washington are scrutinizing my every move. If they replace me, I don't know if my replacement will fare any better, or perhaps even worse. What I'm saying is, we need her to significantly raise the morale of our Shipgirls when it comes to combat, and Enterprise is the critical key to giving them the hope—the hope of fighting back against the Sirens."
Cmdr. Thomas felt a profound unease settle within him regarding the Admiral's decision to use her as a form of propaganda to promote optimism among the girls and elevate their morale.
However, the perceived benefit of the Admiral's proposal significantly outweighed the potential backlash. With the eventual approval of Cmdr. Thomas, the news of Enterprise's heroism and audacious boldness in facing the Sirens alone rapidly spread. She was quickly recognized by other factions of Shipgirls as the strongest warrior and became a figure many dreamed of dueling.
Meanwhile, Enterprise-6 inevitably caught up with the rapid spread of this propaganda, even as she continued to fight alone, sinking multiple Siren Ships in her devastating wake.
She may have been incredibly powerful with the borrowed strength she now possessed, but the physical body and ship that harbored that immense power began to show visible cracks and alarming weaknesses. Every time she fought Siren Ships and particularly the more formidable Humanoid Sirens, her Ship was badly damaged, requiring nothing short of miraculous intervention to repair it.
...
At the Dock
An visibly angry Vestal relentlessly berated Enterprise-6, holding up the broken Bow, now split into two pieces. Her veins were visibly protruding on her petite body, and her forehead seemed to grow larger with exasperation.
"How many times do I have to tell you to stop running into danger alone!" she yelled, her voice its usual booming self, directed squarely at Enterprise-6.
"Look!" she exclaimed, raising the two-pieced Bow for emphasis. "How do you think I'm supposed to fix this in time?! And you're injured and need some serious rest!"
"Damage and injuries are common in combat; you should have expected that, Vestal," Enterprise-6 replied, her voice cold yet tinged with a deep sadness.
After she uttered those words, she slowly walked towards the gangway that had been erected by the diligent dock-yard workers. Vestal, on the other hand, continued to fume with barely contained rage.
"You need to take care of yourself, and get some rest!" she reminded her once again, her loud voice easily audible to anyone inside the base.
At the Azur Lane Main Base Building
The newly appointed Adm. Nimitz, standing by the open window of the Main Building, distinctly heard the echoing words of Vestal from the Dock Yard below.
"Is she always like that?" Adm. Nimitz asked, his gaze fixed on the distant scene.
Cmdr. Thomas, standing in the middle of the Admiral's office, responded immediately. "Yes, Sir."
"Did you and the others talk to her about slowing down and taking the whole operation easy?" Nimitz inquired.
"We've talked to her about it extensively, but she never listens and still charges at the enemy front alone, arrows blazing," Cmdr. Thomas explained, a hint of resignation in his voice.
"She's the only capable Shipgirl we have right now. We need to keep her out of undue danger. If unprecedented things happen to her, the morale of all the Girls will drop instantly," Nimitz stated gravely.
He turned away from the open window of the office and faced Cmdr. Thomas. "You're going to call for assistance from the Royal Navy to help her."
"Yes, Sir," Cmdr. Thomas said, straightening up and snapping a crisp salute.
"You're dismissed," Adm. Nimitz concluded.
After the orders were given by Adm. Nimitz, Cmdr. Thomas immediately headed to the Royal Navy Headquarters located within the Azur Lane Base. Adm. Philips had already heard word from Adm. Nimitz and readily offered his assistance, sending one of the very best Maids they had at the Base to help Enterprise from falling into loneliness and from charging alone into battle.
The Maid that was sent in assistance was none other than 'our busty' Maid, Belfast. Belfast immediately commenced her signature 'Belfast thing,' which involved beginning to gently mingle with Enterprise's unhealthy lifestyle and rigorously cleaning up the messy room that was filled with countless MREs.
Thick curtains had been drawn, effectively blocking all sunlight from entering the room. Then, quite suddenly, someone decisively drew the curtains open, and the intense rays of sunlight immediately illuminated the room, washing over Enterprise's face as she lay in bed.
Her two eyes quickly snapped open, and she sat up from her bed in a state of full alertness. The bright, luminescent sunlight temporarily blurred her vision. It took only a second before she could discern the shadowy silhouette of the person standing directly in front of the window.
"Wh—Who are you?"
Cruiser Belfast smiled serenely and offered a graceful, small bow, lifting her skirt slightly in courtesy. "Good Morning, Miss Enterprise. The name is Belfast, at your service. I, the Queen's Head-Maid, was given a specific request by Adm. Nimitz to accompany you in your daily activities."
~Back to present~
Cruiser Belfast gazed intently at the bright golden light that now shone brighter than any light she had ever seen, emanating from the edge of Enterprise's Bow. She held both of her hands together, a silent gesture of anticipation for Enterprise's unyielding resolve.
Everyone on deck could distinctly sense the overwhelming surge of power that Enterprise was exerting. The incredibly compressed energy was forming an arrow of power with several magnitudes of force, clearly intended to defeat such overwhelming opposition to their victory.
Both Enterprise-80 and Bunker Hill-76 remained outwardly calm, showing no overt reaction, but those standing beside them were forced to cover their eyes from the blinding, overwhelming power.
"Ahh... My eye!" the Queen exclaimed, her voice filled with discomfort as she quickly covered her eyes from the blinding golden rays of light.
"Your Majesty!" both of her subordinates cried out, genuinely worried by the Queen's scream of agony.
Vestal, on the other hand, did not break her intense gaze, even as she used her right hand to block the blinding rays.
"Wh-what are you doing, Enterprise?" she muttered to herself, as she watched her intently gathering an enormous amount of power, precisely what was needed to break their imprisonment.
The Flight Deck Crew (Manjuu) did not cease their crucial work of refueling and rearming the Aircraft on the Deck of the Carrier. Their specially designed Safety-Goggles proved invaluable, helping them block the blinding golden lights radiating from Enterprise-6.
Enterprise-80 then summoned her own Bow and pointed it purposefully upward. She carefully placed a distinctive blue-tipped rod onto the string and pulled the string of her Bow taut. The Magnetic-Rails that protruded from the Bow began to emit crackling electricity as the rod was steadily pulled back.
The Aegis Combat System simultaneously activated, diligently scanning for any airborne targets. The air inside the dome was perfectly clear, devoid of any flying objects or birds.
"Wh—What are you doing?!" Vestal asked in profound surprise, turning to Enterprise-80.
Bunker Hill-76 motioned with her right hand for Vestal to stop, urging her not to disrupt Enterprise-80's absolute concentration.
Enterprise-6 then released the massive surge of energy she had gathered into her Arrow. This energy Arrow, now brimming with power, was capable of breaking through any defense that the Siren could possibly summon.
"Wings of Victory!"
She shouted the name of her Borrowed Skill as the arrow soared majestically upward towards the very center of the Energy Dome. Everyone on deck watched the awe-inspiring, majestic Arrow that carried their collective hopes of breaking free from the imprisonment the Siren had imposed upon them.
The Energy Arrow slammed into the ceiling with a colossal force, generating a powerful wind gale that formed from the sheer resistance of the Energy Dome.
The two different energies clashed, like two opposite forces furiously attempting to defeat one another. The Energy Dome was the first to show undeniable weakness as a prominent crack formed precisely at the center where the tip of the Arrow had impacted.
The crack rapidly run along the entire ceiling of the Dome. With the overwhelming power and resolute determination that fueled the arrow of victory, the imprisonment that the Siren had erected shattered completely.
A magnificent pillar of blinding golden light rose upward, resembling an unstable rocket launch, as it violently broke through the ceiling of the dome and soared into the sky.
Enterprise-6 witnessed the rising pillar of light once again, but this time, she was fully in control of the power she had just released – not Code-G.
A small, genuine smile formed on her face as she watched the profound success of her resolve and her plan of action. 'Thank God... it works.'
Those were the only words she could utter before losing consciousness and gracefully falling into the ocean below. Cruiser Belfast and Vestal both immediately jumped off the deck, plunging into the waters to quickly retrieve Enterprise-6 from the cold embrace of the ocean.
"Enterprise, Enterprise!" Cruiser Belfast called her name multiple times, desperately trying to regain her consciousness.
Vestal, on the other hand, quickly checked her vitals to ensure there were no critical injuries. To her profound relief and prayers, everything seemed to be alright.
"She's just exhausted from releasing that massive of an Energy-Based Attack," she said, her voice soothing and designed to ease the panicking Belfast.
...
Meanwhile, Arbiter Tower XVI watched in stunned disbelief as the Energy-Dome she had summoned for imprisonment broke apart like brittle glass, large chunks shattering and falling away.
"Ha—How??? It—it can't be!" she exclaimed in utter surprise and disbelief.
In her slight loss of attention, momentarily distracted by the shattering Energy Dome, she entirely forgot that Enterprise-80 was now pointing her bow directly at her.
Her eyes widened in horror as she saw the electricity sparking at the protruding magnetic rails of Enterprise-80's bow, and the rod that she held in her left arm glowed with a brilliant blue as it was pulled back on the string.
Arbiter Tower XVI quickly regained her composure and immediately erected another Energy-Shield. However, this particular Energy-Shield was meant purely to safeguard her own personal safety, as she instinctively sensed imminent danger.
A multi-layer of Energy-Shields was rapidly erected in the path of her impending doom. The defense she put up was like a safety net layered within a larger defense system.
"No way your arrow will pass through my defenses!" she declared with unwavering confidence in her own resolve, but was she truly confident?
Her confidence, much like her defenses, shattered like fragile glass as the American Pipe-Bomb, traveling at the absurd speed of "Mack-Fuck" and costing a staggering Billion of Dollars, struck with devastating precision.
The HALO (Hypersonic Air-Launch Offensive Anti-Surface) Missile, a formidable weapon that the US Navy specifically used to attack any hardened target and deep within enemy lines, cut through Arbiter Tower XVI's defenses as put in place.
The Halo Hypersonic Missile cut through effortlessly to her defenses as a 'Hot Knife on a Butter.' Arbiter Tower XVI could not believe what she had just witnessed: all of her multi-layer defenses were utterly useless against the other Enterprise's direct attack.
From Arbiter Tower XVI's point of view, it felt like a mere blink of an eye. She didn't actually see the attack; she only perceived a brief, blinding light, and then... Boom.
The Multi-Defense Layer she had meticulously placed was completely shattered like glass. Even the last-ditch defense she had deployed (which was similar to a STAR-GATE) now had a gaping hole. Before she could fully react, her lower half detached violently from her upper half.
"No... no!!!!!"
Her mind raced in absolute panic as she had never witnessed her own body severed in half before. The last thing she ever saw was her body violently turned into two pieces before the extensively damaged rigging behind her, which stored even more Energy-Power, exploded after taking a direct hit from Enterprise-80's attack.
*BOOM*
A massive blue explosion engulfed the air, and the clouds forcefully parted as a powerful shockwave violently shook everyone on the surface of the ocean. The shockwave tragically shattered all Aircraft that flew within the wake of the said shockwave.
Enterprise-80 wasted not a single second of time and quickly activated her Super-Carrier Rigging. The four Flight-Decks dramatically raised up, and planes from the EMALS (Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System) were launched simultaneously into the now open sky.
All Shipgirls who had been outside the Energy-Dome were utterly shocked, their mouths agape, and completely dumfounded at the rising pillar of golden light that had broken the Energy-Dome. As the pillar of light subsided, it was then immediately followed by a massive blue explosion high above them.
From the rapidly collapsing Energy-Dome, advanced 4++ and 6th Gen Jets, including F/A-18 Super Hornet Block IIIs and F/A-25 Hellcats, flew out in a coordinated sortie. They immediately began shooting down the remaining Siren Planes from the sky with their highly effective Laser-Pods.
Bunker Hill-76 and her advanced Aegis Combat System didn't let herself be left out of the action and immediately started launching SM-6 Missiles with precision.
The remaining Executor-Class: Strategist MK-IIs were thrown into a state of sheer panic, as the one who provided their crucial Cover or Defense was now eliminated with a single, devastating shot.
Their fears, however, did not stop there. They looked down below and saw, hurtling from beneath the waves, 10 SM-6 Missiles soaring directly in their direction, intent on hitting them with even greater velocity.
They desperately tried their utmost to survive the incoming attack, deploying their Force-Fields. But to their dismay and growing terror, the defense they had put up was utterly useless.
The SM-6 Missile is typically an Anti-Air Missile and Anti-Ballistic Missile, but with its new version upgraded to Anti-Ship capabilities, America utilized this missile as a powerful Supersonic-Bullet.
The Supersonic-Bullet effortlessly punched through their Force-Fields and annihilated the remaining Strategist MK-III. Pieces of the Humanoid Siren's remains and broken Riggings rained down onto the surface of the ocean.
The Azur Lane Main Force erupted in cheers as they witnessed the destruction of the Energy-Dome and the complete elimination of the Sirens loitering above them. Some of them even fell into tears, unable to contain their overwhelming emotion of delight and relief.
Amidst their celebration, a static connection from their comms crackled to life, drawing everyone's attention. The AWACS Plane had successfully resumed communication with the Main Fleet and the Amphibious Forces.
"All Azur Lane Forces, focus your attacks on the remaining Sirens in the area! It's time for our offensive!" Enterprise-80 ordered all the Shipgirls, urging them to shift to a full offensive posture.
The tides had decisively turned against the Siren, even though Enterprise-80 hadn't even had to personally join the direct fight. Now, the situation for the remaining Siren Forces had worsened by a tenfold.
Modern Planes, meticulously equipped with advanced Laser-Pods, melted the Siren Planes miles away, the Laser-Pods emitting a distinctive buzzing sound as they fired.
The Laser-Pods were one of the innovative Laser Projects developed by William, created specifically at the orders of Enterprise to conserve traditional bullets during intense slug-fests with Siren Planes. This Laser-Pod design was directly based on William's previous design of the CLaWS (Close-in Laser Weapons System) and the US Air-Force's long-standing dream of equipping all of the USAF's aircraft with powerful lasers.
F/A-18 Super Hornets were equipped on their underbelly with a single Laser-Pod, while the more advanced F/A-25 Hellcats, on the other hand, carried two Laser-Pods equipped neatly under their wings.
At the vanishing Energy-Wall, Queen Elizabeth along with Warspite and Hood rushed out, their guns raised and ready for a relentless fight.
"Everyone! Follow me! I'm going to make those Siren pests pay for imprisoning me inside that horrid dome! AHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!" She charged fiercely at the remaining Siren Force, her eyes blazing with intense anger and fury.
"You heard Her Majesty, attack!!!!!!!!!!!!!" one of the Royal Navy Shipgirls shouted, rallying her comrades.
Essex-12 and Lafayette shared a rather bland reaction to the charging Royal Navy Shipgirls engaging the remaining Sirens.
"I—I'll never get used to the shouting of that 'brat'," Essex-12 exclaimed, a hint of exasperation in her voice.
"Well.... Get used to it then," Lafayette responded dryly.
"Is everyone alright?" Enterprise-80's voice rang out clearly over the comms.
Essex-12 responded immediately. "Yes. Everything's alright here, Ma'am, but... we received one casualty. JS Maya is out of action."
"I see. Is there any other report?"
"Yes, Ma'am. Lucas and his team successfully neutralized the remaining Orochi. Laffey, on the other hand, had successfully stormed the Siren Research Facility along with the Ground Troops. William is already on site and was there to examine what the Ground Troops discovered."
"Good.... Now, order the remaining Azur Lane Forces to head to the designated Beach Landing, to help suppress any Siren resistance hidden within the Base Infrastructure."
Code-G Dimension
Enterprise-6 found herself once again back in that familiar, oppressive dark place that she had grown to profoundly despise. She had never truly believed she would be back in this desolate void again, yet knowing the exact nature of the skill she had just employed, her return to this dimension felt almost inevitable and entirely predicted.
A distinct, rhythmic clapping sound echoed from somewhere behind her, the sole noise she could perceive in this profoundly dark and utterly lonely place. She slowly turned around, her gaze settling upon her enigmatic Alter-Ego, or as she was more commonly known, Code-G.
Code-G continued to applaud, her hands coming together in a slow, deliberate congratulatory gesture at the remarkable success of Enterprise-6's recent feat. It was clear that Code-G had never engaged in such an overt display of appreciation before; the act of applauding felt unmistakably awkward, even for an Extrovert's standard.
"What was that all for?" Enterprise-6 inquired, a hint of confusion in her voice, as she had certainly never witnessed Code-G offer a congratulatory applause before.
Code-G ceased her clapping, letting her hands fall to her sides, and immediately shifted into her usual straightforward conversational manner, as if this sudden interruption were perfectly natural. "I congratulate you on such a significant achievement."
"Achievement??? You mean breaking out of that Imprisonment with those borrowed powers?" Enterprise-6 responded, a palpable note of regret and weariness resonating in her voice. The ease with which she had wielded such immense power weighed heavily on her.
"Yes, it is. Breaking your way out of that imprisonment is indeed a monumental achievement," Code-G affirmed, her voice calm and steady.
"Is that all there is to it?" Enterprise-6 pressed, sensing there was more to Code-G's unusual behavior.
Code-G continued, a subtle shift in her expression. "That's not the only reason I applauded, however."
Enterprise-6 found herself once again lost in Code-G's enigmatic words, unsure of the deeper meaning.
"You single-handedly summoned and controlled my power without any intervention from me this time. The second time I intervened with you using that power, back in the Mirror Sea, I had to step in specifically to stop you from throwing arrows everywhere like some raving megalomaniac."
"At least you could have told me about that first... I had to distance myself from the others because I genuinely thought I had lost control of myself," Enterprise-6 stated, her voice laced with regret—the profound regret of not having known this crucial detail sooner.
"Sorry... I've had rather bad interactions with people in the past," Code-G admitted, a rare hint of vulnerability in her tone. "I did try to warn you in your dreams not to use my powers too often, but you consistently dismissed them as merely one of your recurring nightmares."
"If you always showed up in my dreams with all the gloom and dramatic flair you had, I will always consider it a nightmare," Enterprise-6 retorted, her statement delivered with a deadpan seriousness that left no room for it to be mistaken as a joke.
Code-G let out a surprisingly soft, almost melodic small laugh, a sound that caught Enterprise-6 completely by surprise. She had always perceived Code-G as a gloomy, perhaps even somber, individual. This unexpected display of humor suggested that her initial, dramatic entrance had perhaps been nothing more than a carefully constructed facade.
"I never thought you were so full of humor, just like hers." Code-G commented, her voice now transitioning back into its usual serious tone.
"Wait? You said 'her,' right? Did you come into her dreams too?" Enterprise-6 asked, a surge of surprise and curiosity passing through her. She had never considered that Code-G would involve another individual in the private matters between the two of them.
"Yes, I sometimes paid her a visit in her mind, but sometimes we ended up having some rather lengthy talks and even shared some small laughs," Code-G confirmed, a faint, almost nostalgic smile touching her lips.
Enterprise-6 winced in surprise once more. The idea that these two disparate beings had forged a kind of bonding and shared moments of fun within this dark and gloomy place was almost unimaginable to her.
After a moment to recuperate and process that intriguing piece of information, Enterprise-6 asked again, "So, what now?"
Code-G looked upwards, gently tapping her chin in thought. "For now... make sure to gain complete control over that power, and more importantly, open your heart with the others. The power I have let you borrow will not manifest if your heart is full of darkness and consumed by thoughts of revenge."
She then pointed her finger directly at Enterprise-6's heart, her gaze piercing. "Your heart's purity is the very reason why you can control such immense powers, powers that I never thought would be so easily wielded. Never use my powers in pursuit of vengeance. Instead, use it to give hope to those who believe and have unwavering faith in your name."
Before Enterprise-6 could even open her mouth to speak, Code-G, with a knowing smile, snapped her fingers. Instantly, the lights in the dimension extinguished, plunging the space back into profound darkness.
Enterprise-6 once again found herself compelled to open her eyes, now greeted by a new environment. This new setting was all too familiar: the stark fluorescent light, the sterile white ceiling and walls, and the strange yet now accustomed beeping sounds of medical devices diligently tracking her heart rate.
She slowly turned her head to the side, seeking a better understanding of her surroundings. As she turned, she was immediately greeted by a familiar face.
"If you continue to exhaust yourself like that, I will have no choice but to send you to the Veterans Association and have you officially struck off from active duty," Enterprise-80 remarked, her tone light and teasing, clearly attempting to lighten the mood of the infirmary.
Enterprise-6, being her typically cranky self, did not receive the joke too well. "Don't treat me like an old woman! I'm still young, damn it!" she retorted, her voice tinged with exasperation.
"Well, you're still kicking like a horse – you'd better find a groom to handle you then," Enterprise-80 countered, a playful smirk on her face.
Enterprise-6 snapped at that, her patience reaching its limit. She quickly grabbed the soft pillow from her medical bed and swung it, whacking Enterprise-80 with a surprising burst of energy.
Enterprise-80 skillfully blocked the pillow that Enterprise-6 was using to whack her, observing her playful tantrum. In that moment, Enterprise-6 almost resembled a grandmother throwing a spirited fit.
Their respective eagles sat perched on the opposite medical bed frame, observing the two Shipgirls as if they were merely a couple of children trapped in adult bodies.
Enterprise-6's Eagle remained unfazed by the commotion. Instead, it appeared genuinely happy to see her being so open with someone and finally having fun once again. Meanwhile, Spock the Eagle wore a distinct expression that seemed to convey, 'This shit again,' as he watched his companion act childishly.
The duality of Bald Eagles... I guess?
Cruiser Belfast gracefully entered the Super-Carrier's Infirmary room as soon as she heard the commotion. "Oh, pardon my intrusion at your leisure," she said, her voice soft and apologetic.
Both Enterprises immediately stopped their playful skirmish, pausing like scolded children, and looked at her.
"I came to bring you some of the latest updates. We are currently reaching the Beach Landing within approximately 10 minutes."
"I guess I'm needed on the bridge then," Enterprise-80 commented, already moving towards the Carrier's Bridge. With that, she left the two to have their own private conversation, stepping out to resume her command duties.
Siren Dimension
Zero watched, her anger steadily developing into a furious rage, as the remaining Siren Force was utterly wiped out by the combined force of the Modern Planes from the summoned kansens and the Azur Lane Shipgirls who systematically eliminated the last Humanoid Siren.
Zero could no longer contain her anger developing rage. She abruptly stopped the video feed and immediately contacted the remaining Siren Ships and Humanoid Sirens, ordering them to retreat from that area and fortify their remaining bases that were out of Azur Lane's sight.
As she was left alone in the room, she let out a piercing scream of pure rage. "Damn it! Damn it, Empress, you always put things in my fucking hands, and now! And now you're fucking gone, all the problems you've made fall into my hands once again. Fucking Damn it!"
While Zero was busy unleashing her tantrum, in the background, mostly dim due to the dark expanse of the dimension, a brown-haired woman could be vaguely seen. She possessed distinctive Fox-ears and Nine Tails, and wore traditional Japanese style clothing along with a fox mask. She stood there, silently watching Zero's outburst. Her eyes were obscured by the fox mask, but deep beneath it, one could almost perceive her acknowledging the significant achievements of Azur Lane.