The medical bay doors slid open.
The room was quiet.
Medical drones floated silently between beds while soft monitors displayed stable vital signs.
The first person Yuuki saw...
Was Cinderella.
She was sitting upright on her bed, looking around with wide, uncertain eyes.
Everything seemed unfamiliar.
The room.
The people.
Even...
Her own body.
She slowly lifted one trembling hand.
"...I..."
Her fingers shook.
Not from pain.
But because...
For the first time in years...
She was moving them herself.
No corruption.
No voice.
No invisible force pulling her strings.
Just...
Her.
Then...
She saw him.
Her crimson eyes widened.
"...My..."
A smile slowly appeared.
"...My prince..."
She immediately tried to stand.
"I..."
"...I want..."
The moment both feet touched the floor...
Her knees buckled.
"Wah—"
Before she could fall—
Yuuki caught her.
"There we go."
He gently supported her shoulders.
"Easy."
"Your body's still adjusting."
Cinderella instinctively clung to him.
As though letting go would make everything disappear.
She buried her face against his chest.
"...You're real..."
Her voice trembled.
"...I'm..."
"...really free..."
Yuuki smiled softly.
"Yeah."
"You really are."
Behind them—
Anis folded her arms with a teasing grin.
"...Scoring Cinderella already?"
Yuuki sighed without looking back.
"...Not that I planned to."
The room chuckled quietly.
Cinderella barely noticed anyone else.
She held onto Yuuki a little tighter.
"...My prince..."
"...You're warm..."
"...Just like before."
Then...
Her eyes slowly wandered past his shoulder.
She froze.
There were so many people.
Shipgirls.
Nikkes.
Faces she had never met.
People watching her.
Her breathing became uneven.
"...N-No..."
She instinctively stepped backward.
"...Please..."
"...Stay away..."
Her hands trembled again.
"What if..."
"...What if I..."
Fragments of old memories surfaced.
Blood.
Screams.
Anachiro.
"...What if I hurt someone again...?"
The room became silent.
Yuuki immediately stepped closer.
He gently placed both hands on her shoulders.
"Cinderella."
She looked up.
"No."
"...You're free now."
Her lips trembled.
"...But..."
"What if..."
"...I lose control again?"
Yuuki slowly shook his head.
"You won't."
"...But..."
"If you can't trust yourself yet..."
He gently took one of her hands.
"...Then trust this."
A faint golden light spread between their joined hands.
The familiar bond.
The one formed deep within her heart, connecting directly to it.
"...Our connection."
He smiled.
"You felt it before."
"You can still feel it now."
Cinderella slowly closed her eyes.
She could.
The warmth.
The gentle light.
The peaceful feeling flowing through her soul.
There was no corruption.
No whisper.
No Queen.
No chains.
Only...
Warmth.
Yuuki gently squeezed her hand.
"And until you can trust yourself again..."
"...Trust me."
He placed her hand over her own heart.
"...Then."
"...Trust yourself."
Silence.
Tears quietly rolled down Cinderella's cheeks.
She reached toward her own chest.
She searched.
Again.
And again.
Nothing.
No darkness.
No foreign presence.
No Rapture control that had haunted her since the era of the Goddess Squad.
Only...
Her own heartbeat.
"...It's..."
She laughed weakly through her tears.
"...Quiet..."
"For the first time..."
"...It's quiet..."
She slowly looked around the room once more.
This time...
She no longer saw strangers.
She saw people smiling.
Waiting.
Giving her space.
Not fearing her.
Not calling her Heretic.
Not calling her Anachiro.
Just...
Waiting for Cinderella.
Kaguya watched the scene with a peaceful smile.
"...Welcome back, little one."
Cinderella looked around one last time.
Then...
She leaned gently against Yuuki again.
"...Thank you..."
"...My prince."
"...For giving me..."
"...myself back."
Still leaning against Yuuki...
Cinderella slowly lifted her head.
Her gaze wandered across the room.
Then...
It stopped.
On Kaguya.
The elegant purple fox woman with golden eyes.
A sharp pain flashed through Cinderella's mind.
Her breathing caught.
Then...
She looked beside her.
Rapi.
The same crimson eyes.
The same red hair.
Another phantom pain.
Fragments of battle flashed before her.
Ice shattering beneath her feet.
Mirror shields cracking one after another as bullets tore through them.
A crimson wolf darting through the battlefield, faster than her eyes could follow.
Red Hood laughing wildly, her voice echoing through the chaos as she charged straight at her.
Cinderella instinctively touched her temple.
"...Ah..."
Yuuki immediately noticed.
"Cinderella?"
She looked toward Kaguya.
"...You..."
Kaguya nodded gently.
"This one."
Cinderella lowered her eyes.
"...This one apologizes."
Kaguya tilted her head.
"...Apologize?"
Cinderella looked down.
"My memories..."
"They're returning."
"I remember fighting you."
"You..."
"...you were the one who defeated Anachiro."
Kaguya slowly shook her head.
"...Then it is this one who must apologize."
She lowered herself into a respectful bow.
"This one struck thee down without hesitation."
"It was necessary..."
"...but it does not erase the pain it caused thee."
Cinderella blinked in surprise.
"...You..."
Kaguya raised her head, her expression calm yet sincere.
"That battle..."
"...was not against thee."
"It was against Anachiro."
"But..."
"...this one knows thy body still bore the burden of it."
She gently placed a hand upon Cinderella's shoulder.
"For that..."
"...this one offers her apology."
Cinderella stared at her for a moment.
Then slowly...
She smiled.
"There is nothing to apologize for."
"It had to be done."
She placed her own hand over Kaguya's.
"You stopped Anachiro."
"You saved me."
Her voice softened.
"...Thank you."
Kaguya's eyes softened in return.
"...Then this one is relieved."
Cinderella nodded gently.
"...For stopping me."
Silence.
Then Cinderella slowly turned toward Rapi.
She studied her carefully.
The red hair.
The crimson eyes.
The familiar presence.
"...You..."
"...Why are you..."
"...so similar to Red Hood? It's like you have her presence."
Rapi nodded.
"I expected that question."
She stepped forward calmly.
"Red Hood transferred her Bastion Cube to me when she died."
Cinderella listened quietly.
"It allowed me to inherit her abilities."
She paused.
"...But."
"It also carried part of her will."
Her hand rested lightly over her own chest.
"There were times back then..."
"...her personality tried to take control."
Across the room...
Eunhwa quietly lowered her eyes.
Everything finally made sense.
The distance.
Rapi leaving Absolute.
The secrecy.
She had misunderstood everything.
Rapi continued.
"I left Absolute because I couldn't guarantee everyone's safety."
"If Red Hood completely awakened..."
"...I didn't know what might happen."
Eunhwa slowly clenched her fist.
"So..."
"...that's why."
She whispered more to herself than anyone else.
"I kept thinking..."
"...you abandoned us."
Rapi turned toward her old squad leader.
"I never wanted to endanger any of you."
Emma quietly looked away.
Vesti lowered her head.
Eunhwa slowly exhaled.
"...I understand now."
Rapi smiled gently.
"After meeting Commander..."
She glanced toward Yuuki.
"...everything changed."
"Our hearts became connected."
"The instability faded."
"The struggle disappeared."
She smiled.
"I can still become Red Hood."
"But..."
"...without losing myself."
"There are no side effects anymore."
"The two of us..."
"...finally coexist."
Cinderella quietly listened.
Then slowly nodded.
"...I see."
Her expression softened.
"So..."
"...I truly am not alone."
She looked down at the golden warmth still lingering within her chest.
"There are others..."
"...who understand what it feels like..."
"...to fear losing yourself."
Rapi gave a reassuring nod.
"Yes."
"And that's why..."
"...we'll help each other."
For the first time...
Cinderella looked at Rapi without seeing Red Hood.
She simply saw...
Another Nikke who had fought to reclaim herself.
Just as she had.
Yuuki smiled warmly.
"See?"
He gently brushed a strand of silver hair away from Cinderella's face.
"You're okay."
He looked around the room.
"You have Shipgirls."
"You have Nikkes."
"You have friends."
"...And."
He tapped lightly over the glowing bond in her chest.
"You have me."
"...All of us."
"We'll watch over you."
Cinderella quietly looked around.
Faces that no longer frightened her.
Instead...
They smiled.
Waiting patiently for her to take the first step.
Yuuki smiled again.
"So..."
"...rest for now."
He carefully helped her back onto the medical bed.
"You've earned it."
He turned slightly.
"...I should probably go check on Ayanami—"
The moment he tried to stand...
He stopped.
"...Hm?"
He looked down.
Cinderella's hands had firmly wrapped around his sleeve.
She looked away with a faint blush.
"...A..."
"...A little longer..."
"...My prince..."
Yuuki blinked.
"...Can I move?"
She slowly shook her head.
"...Not yet."
Silence.
Then—
Anis burst into laughter.
"...This one's clingy."
Neon nodded enthusiastically.
"Commander unlocked the secret Velcro attachment!"
Yuuki sighed dramatically.
"...I'm beginning to regret rescuing everyone."
The room laughed.
He looked down at Cinderella again.
She wasn't clinging because she was possessive.
She was clinging because...
For the first time in years...
She finally felt safe.
Yuuki smiled helplessly.
"...Alright."
"A little longer."
He sat back down on the edge of the bed.
Cinderella visibly relaxed.
Her grip loosened slightly.
Not because she wanted to let go.
But because she no longer feared he would disappear.
Yorktown quietly watched the scene.
Then smiled knowingly.
She stepped forward.
"...Commander."
Yuuki looked up.
"I'll take over."
He immediately understood.
"...You sure?"
Yorktown nodded.
"She's not looking for you because you're the only safe person."
"She's looking for someone safe."
"Let her learn..."
"...that she has more than one."
Yuuki smiled.
"...Thanks, Hana."
Very gently...
Yorktown sat beside Cinderella.
She didn't rush.
She simply opened her arms.
"...May I?"
Cinderella hesitated.
She looked toward Yuuki.
He smiled reassuringly.
"It's okay."
"You can trust her."
After a long moment...
Cinderella slowly released Yuuki's sleeve.
Then...
Almost shyly...
She leaned toward Yorktown instead.
Yorktown wrapped both arms around her.
A calm.
A gentle embrace.
Warm.
Reassuring.
Just like a mother.
"...Hello."
"My name is Yorktown."
Cinderella rested her head against Yorktown's shoulder.
"...Cinderella."
Yorktown smiled softly.
"It's nice to finally meet you."
"She's the Nikke mom!" Anis blurted out.
"Anis..." Yorktown sighed, though her tone held no real reprimand.
She simply smiled and held Cinderella a little closer.
"...Welcome home."
"You truly do suit being a mother," Houshou mused with a knowing smile.
Friedrich nodded in agreement.
"If Hood were here..."
"...she would certainly say the same."
For the first time...
Cinderella accepted comfort from someone other than Yuuki.
It was a small step.
But everyone in the room understood...
It was an important one.
Yuuki quietly stood.
Seeing Cinderella remain calm in Yorktown's embrace...
He smiled to himself.
"...Looks like you're going to be alright."
Cinderella nodded and continue to hug Yorktown like a daughter needed her mother.
Then, while Yorktown continued softly talking with Cinderella...
Yuuki turned toward the next medical bed.
"...Now."
He smiled faintly.
"Let's go see how Ayanami is doing."
===========
Yuuki made his way toward the next medical bed.
Waiting there...
Were three familiar destroyers.
Laffey.
Javelin.
And Nimi.
All three stood around the bed, barely able to contain themselves.
On the bed...
Ayanami's eyelashes fluttered.
"...Hnn..."
Slowly...
She opened her eyes.
Everything was blurry.
White lights.
An unfamiliar ceiling.
Then...
Three familiar faces came into focus.
"Laffey...?"
Laffey was already leaning over the bed.
"Ayanami..."
"...awake."
Her sleepy voice trembled with relief.
"Javelin...?"
Javelin's eyes immediately filled with tears.
"Ayanami!"
She threw her arms around her friend.
Nimi smiled warmly, though tears were already running down her cheeks.
"...Welcome back."
The three of them embraced Ayanami all at once.
Ayanami blinked in surprise.
"...Warm..."
"...Everyone..."
"...is here..."
Vestal couldn't help but smile.
"Now, now."
She gently folded her arms.
"Give the poor girl a chance to register reality first."
The three destroyers sheepishly loosened their embrace.
"...Sorry."
Javelin laughed through her tears.
Ayanami slowly looked around again.
"...Vestal...?"
"Yes."
Vestal smiled gently.
"I'm here."
Then...
Ayanami's expression suddenly changed.
The memories returned.
Corruption.
Darkness.
Losing control.
She instinctively shrank back.
"...No..."
"...Please..."
"...Stay away..."
Her voice shook.
"...I'll hurt everyone..."
The room immediately became quiet.
Yuuki stepped beside her bed.
He smiled calmly.
"You won't."
Ayanami looked up.
"...You are...? You defeated me."
Yuuki nodded.
"The corruption is gone."
"...But..."
She looked at her trembling hands.
"...What if..."
"...it's still inside me...?"
Vestal stepped closer and gently rested a hand on Ayanami's shoulder.
"It isn't."
"I personally examined your neural pathways."
"Your mind."
"Your Wisdom Cube synchronization."
She smiled reassuringly.
"Everything damaged by the corruption has been repaired."
Ayanami stared at her.
"...Really?"
Vestal nodded.
"It's quiet now."
"No whispers."
"No corruption."
"No foreign influence."
"You're simply..."
"...Ayanami."
Silence.
Ayanami slowly closed her eyes.
She searched within herself.
The darkness...
Was gone.
The constant pressure...
Gone.
Only silence remained.
Peaceful silence.
A single tear rolled down her cheek.
"...I..."
She laughed quietly.
"...I can think again..."
Yuuki smiled.
"And..."
He gestured toward the three destroyers beside her.
"You have your friends back."
Laffey nodded immediately.
"Laffey..."
"...never leaving again."
Javelin smiled brightly.
"We've got lots to catch up on!"
Nimi adjusted her glasses with a relieved smile.
"And this time..."
"...we'll do it together."
Ayanami looked at each of them.
Then back toward Yuuki.
"...Thank you..."
She bowed her head as much as her still-recovering body allowed.
"...Shikikan-sama."
Yuuki rubbed the back of his neck.
"It's Yuuki."
He smiled.
"...Your new commander."
"As for everything else..."
He glanced toward Laffey, Javelin, and Nimi.
"I'll let these three tell you all about me."
The three destroyers immediately nodded enthusiastically.
"We've got stories! I am going to tell you about the day I was almost married!"
Javelin declared.
"Laffey..."
"...many stories."
Nimi smiled.
"Probably more than Commander would like us to tell."
Yuuki sighed dramatically.
"...Somehow, I don't doubt that."
"Ayanami?"
"Unicorn!"
The soft, trembling voice broke through the quiet of the room as Unicorn rushed forward, Illustrious following closely behind her. The moment Unicorn saw Ayanami awake—truly awake—her eyes widened in disbelief before quickly filling with tears.
"Ayanami... you're really here..."
She didn't hesitate.
Unicorn threw herself into Ayanami's arms, clinging tightly as if afraid she might disappear again. Her small frame trembled as quiet sobs escaped her, years of worry and longing finally spilling over.
"I thought... I thought I'd never see you again..."
Her voice cracked, muffled against Ayanami's shoulder, but her grip never loosened.
Ayanami looked back toward her four closest friends.
Tears once again welled in her eyes.
"...I'm..."
Her voice barely rose above a whisper.
"...I'm home."
Without another word...
Laffey gently hugged her from one side.
Javelin from the other.
Nimi rested a comforting hand upon her shoulder.
This time...
Ayanami did not fear hurting them.
For the first time in a long time...
She simply accepted the warmth of being reunited with the friends who had never stopped waiting for her.
Ayanami slowly looked around the medical bay.
There were far more people than she remembered.
Some faces were familiar.
Others...
Entirely new.
She recognized the Shipgirls almost immediately.
The Sakura Empire.
The Royal Navy.
The Eagle Union.
Iron Blood.
But...
The women standing beside them...
Wearing unfamiliar equipment...
"...Who are they...?"
She asked quietly.
Laffey smiled.
"Oh."
"Laffey introduces."
She pointed toward a blonde girl excitedly waving.
"This is Neon."
Neon immediately saluted.
"Neon! Firepower enthusiast!"
Javelin couldn't help laughing.
"She won't stop talking about guns."
"They're amazing!"
Neon protested proudly.
Nimi adjusted her glasses.
"And every time she starts..."
"...I usually end up bonking her on the head."
"I only bonked you twice."
"Five."
"...Three."
"...Five."
The room chuckled.
Neon puffed out her cheeks.
"...Details."
Laffey then pointed toward another girl standing quietly.
"This is Vesti."
Vesti gave a timid wave.
"...H-Hello."
"I..."
"...I'm happy to meet you."
Ayanami smiled gently.
"...Nice to meet you."
She looked around again.
Then slowly introduced herself.
"...I..."
"...am Ayanami."
"An improved Fubuki-class destroyer."
"I have..."
She paused briefly.
"...Eight sisters."
Her expression softened.
"But..."
She looked toward Laffey.
Then Javelin.
Then Nimi.
"...The four of us..."
"...were always together."
Laffey nodded immediately.
"Always."
Javelin smiled brightly.
"The starter squad!"
Nimi sighed with an amused smile.
"A rather unofficial title..."
"...but yes."
Yuuki quietly watched the scene unfold.
A small smile appeared on his face.
It really was an unusual group now.
A Sakura Empire destroyer.
An Eagle Union destroyer.
A Royal Navy destroyer and a light carrier.
An Iron Blood destroyer.
Now...
A Nikke had joined them as well.
Neon was already happily chatting with Ayanami.
Vesti, though quieter, had gradually drifted closer, listening to the conversation.
Without anyone saying it aloud...
The group had naturally expanded.
Yuuki chuckled to himself.
"...Looks like the destroyer club just adopted two more members."
Neon immediately raised a hand.
"I approve!"
Vesti blinked.
"...I-I'm in a destroyer club now?"
Javelin laughed.
"You are now!"
Laffey gave a sleepy nod.
"...Welcome."
Ayanami smiled.
"...The more..."
"...the merrier."
Yuuki quietly turned to leave.
He already knew what tonight would probably look like.
One room.
A mountain of pillows.
Destroyers.
Nikkes.
Late-night conversations.
Probably snacks everywhere.
Neon talking far too loudly.
Laffey falling asleep halfway through.
Javelin keeping everyone awake.
Nimi trying—and failing—to keep order.
Ayanami quietly enjoying simply being there.
And Vesti...
Slowly realizing she had found another group of friends.
Yuuki smiled to himself.
"...They're definitely having a slumber party tonight."
He sighed with amused resignation.
"...Which means..."
"...they're probably all going to invade my room again afterward."
From behind him, Javelin immediately called out,
"Commander!"
Yuuki stopped.
"...Yeah?"
"Save us some hot chocolate!"
The room burst into laughter.
Yuuki simply shook his head with a smile.
"...I had a feeling you'd say that."
The atmosphere in the medical bay had finally begun to relax.
Ayanami was reunited with her friends.
Cinderella had found comfort in Yorktown's embrace.
The newly rescued Shipgirls and Nikkes were introducing themselves to one another.
Yuuki smiled.
"...Well."
"Why don't everyone get to know each—"
Before he could finish—
A sharp electronic chime echoed throughout the Daedalus.
"Establishing video uplink."
Jarvis' voice interrupted the room.
Everyone looked toward the nearest display.
Yuuki sighed.
"...What now?"
The holographic screen flickered to life.
Vergil appeared.
He looked surprisingly relaxed.
"...Yo."
He leaned against one of the bridge consoles.
"...Dude."
"You busy?"
Yuuki folded his arms.
"...Not exactly."
Vergil smirked.
"I figured."
"I think you'll want to see this."
The display switched from Vergil's face to an external camera feed.
High above the ocean...
A massive aircraft crossed the clouds.
Its silhouette was unlike anything in GDI's inventory.
Neon blinked.
"...Whoa."
"...That's one big..."
She squinted.
"...Rapture plane?"
Vergil nodded.
"Looks that way."
The camera zoomed closer.
Mechanical escort drones surrounded the aircraft.
Heavy restraints covered its cargo section.
Yuuki's expression became serious.
"...What's inside?"
Vergil brought up Jarvis' analysis.
"Recovered Mother Whale logistics data."
"Cross-referencing passenger manifests."
A few seconds passed.
Then—
"Confirmed."
"They were originally scheduled to rendezvous with the Mother Whale."
Vergil grinned.
"...Which..."
"...someone conveniently blew up."
Yuuki rubbed the back of his neck.
"...Right."
"So they're improvising."
Vergil nodded.
"They're rerouting."
Yuuki's eyes narrowed.
"...Who's onboard?"
The answer appeared across the screen.
Cargo Classification: Captured Shipgirls
Identity Confirmed
Sakura Empire
Mamiya
Irako
Atago immediately gasped.
"...Mamiya-chan?"
Kaga looked up sharply.
"...Irako?"
Even Akagi's ears twitched.
"The two of them..."
Several Sakura Shipgirls exchanged relieved smiles despite the situation.
Yuuki noticed immediately.
"...You know them?"
Atago nodded without hesitation.
"Of course."
"They're part of Sakura Empire."
Kaga continued.
"They're supply ships."
Zuikaku smiled.
"And wonderful cooks."
Shoukaku nodded enthusiastically.
"They always delivered food to us in a long operation."
"Fresh meals."
"Supplies."
"Even desserts."
Souryuu laughed softly.
"They kept the fleet running."
Hiryuu crossed her arms.
"They're not frontline combatants."
"But..."
"They're just as important."
Yuuki tilted his head.
"...Supply ships?"
Atago smiled warmly.
"Whenever we fought..."
"...they made sure no one went hungry."
"They sailed where we needed them."
Kaga nodded.
"They rarely fought."
"They preferred feeding others."
Shoukaku added,
"Though..."
"...if necessary..."
"...they can defend themselves."
"They're simply not built for prolonged combat."
Vergil zoomed further into the transport.
"...Well."
"They've definitely got an escort."
No additional signatures appeared around the aircraft.
No drones.
No fighters.
Just a single, massive plane cutting through the sky alone.
Enterprise immediately analyzed the formation.
"They're protecting something valuable."
Rapi nodded.
"If they diverted them after the Mother Whale's destruction..."
"...their destination has likely changed."
Yuuki looked at the transport for several long seconds.
Vergil continued scrolling through the recovered data.
"...Oh."
"There are more."
Everyone immediately looked back toward the screen.
Yuuki folded his arms.
"...Anyone else?"
Vergil nodded.
"Confirmed identities."
He expanded another section of the manifest.
Iron Blood
Admiral Hipper-class Heavy Cruiser
Blücher
Another name appeared beneath it.
Tallinn
The room immediately reacted.
"...Blücher?!"
Hipper's voice echoed through the medical bay.
Even Eugen's playful smile disappeared.
"...Tallinn..."
Yuuki looked toward the two sisters.
"You know them?"
Hipper nodded immediately.
"They're our sisters."
Yuuki blinked.
"...Tallinn?"
"That sounds..."
"...Northern Parliament."
Eugen let out a quiet sigh.
"It is."
She looked toward the holographic display.
"Her original name..."
"...was Lützow."
The room fell quiet.
"She was sold."
"Transferred to the Northern Parliament."
"There..."
"...she received the name Tallinn."
Yuuki frowned.
"...Sold?"
Eugen nodded slowly.
"I silently hated the Fatherland for that."
"They treated one of our sisters..."
"...like a bargaining chip behind closed doors. Not even Hitler knew about it."
Hipper quietly clenched her fists.
"But..."
"She's still our sister. She may have changed when we met her again back then."
"No matter what name she carries."
Nimi adjusted her glasses thoughtfully.
"So despite serving another nation..."
"...you still consider her family."
Hipper answered without hesitation.
"Of course."
"You don't stop being sisters..."
"...because politicians decide to redraw borders."
"On behalf of my nation, I am deeply sorry." Avrora said.
"Don't be, Frau Avrora. It was done without the Fatherland's knowledge. The Northern Parliament simply bought her. But she's still the same as when we met her back then. She just prefers winter clothes now, and her hair is whiter than ours. Still, she sees us as sisters."
Friedrich smiled gently.
"A family remains a family."
"Regardless of banners. look at where we are right now."
Yuuki nodded slowly.
"Then..."
He looked back toward the transport.
"We're rescuing all of them."
Hipper immediately looked toward him.
"...Commander."
Yuuki smiled.
"I don't care whether they're Sakura Empire."
"Iron Blood."
"Royal Navy."
"Eagle Union."
"Or Northern Parliament."
He folded his arms.
"If they're being transported like prisoners..."
"...they're coming home. Under GDI, all of you stand as one nation—the Global Defense Initiative. You carry the GDIS tag now once you accept the Levelling System. Wear it with pride."
Eugen smiled warmly.
"...That's exactly why we follow you. Teddy Bear."
Akagi's tails swayed happily.
"Looks like Sakura Empire gains two more sisters. Our beloved chef Mamiya and Irako."
Hipper crossed her arms.
"And Iron Blood regains two as well."
Vergil enlarged the transport once more.
"One aircraft."
"No visible escort."
"Which means..."
He looked toward Yuuki with a grin.
"...this rescue should be considerably easier than the last one."
Yuuki smiled.
Yuuki smiled.
"...Let's hope it stays that way."
Vergil continued scrolling through the recovered manifest.
"...Lastly."
Another section expanded across the holographic display.
Dragon Empery
Ning Hai
Ping Hai
Tai Yuan
Ting An
Ying Swei
The room grew quiet once more.
Yuuki's eyes widened slightly.
"...Yat Sen mentioned them."
Everyone looked toward him.
"Back in the Void World."
He smiled faintly.
"So they're really here."
Vergil nodded.
"Looks like it."
Atago glanced at the growing manifest.
"...That's everyone?"
Jarvis immediately answered.
"Current confirmed passengers."
He highlighted every name.
Sakura Empire
Mamiya
Irako
Iron Blood
Blücher
Tallinn
Dragon Empery
Ning Hai
Ping Hai
Tai Yuan
Ting An
Ying Swei
Silence filled the medical bay.
Neon slowly counted on her fingers.
"...Two..."
"...Four..."
"...Nine."
She looked up.
"...A total of nine Shipgirls on that plane."
Yuuki folded his arms thoughtfully.
"Nine lives."
"Nine future members of the GDI."
Akagi smiled.
"Mamiya and Irako..."
"Our fleet truly misses their cooking."
Hipper nodded.
"And Blücher and Tallinn deserve to come home."
Avrora smiled softly.
"Ning Hai and Ping Hai will be pleased to learn Yat Sen is safe."
Kaguya quietly observed the manifest.
"It seemeth this transport carrieth those whom the enemy considereth valuable."
Vergil zoomed the image further.
"The aircraft is maintaining high altitude."
"No escort."
"No fighter screen."
"No visible anti-air formation."
He looked toward Yuuki.
"...Almost too easy."
Yuuki narrowed his eyes.
"I was thinking the same thing."
He looked at the tactical display.
"A transport carrying nine important Shipgirls..."
"...without a single escort?"
Enterprise frowned.
"That doesn't fit Siren or Rapture doctrine."
Rapi nodded.
"They never move valuable assets unprotected."
Yuuki smiled faintly.
"Then we'll assume it's a trap."
He looked around at everyone.
"And prepare accordingly."
Vergil suddenly paused as another section of the recovered Azur Lane database appeared.
"...Hold on."
He enlarged two files.
"...These two are... interesting."
Yuuki looked up.
"...What?"
Vergil pointed at the names.
"Mamiya."
"Irako."
"They're classified as an unknown variation."
The room fell quiet.
Yuuki frowned.
"...Unknown variation?"
Vergil nodded.
"Think back to Ash and Ember."
"They're technically Shipgirls..."
"...but they're not born from Wisdom Cubes. They're not even from the same world as these girls."
"They possess Origin Cubes."
He switched to another page filled with Azur Lane research notes.
"These two are different again."
"Their cores aren't Wisdom Cubes."
"They aren't Origin Cubes either."
He enlarged a glowing sphere inside an anatomical diagram.
"They're assembled around something called a Core Sphere."
Yuuki blinked.
"...Wait."
"...What?"
Yuu immediately stepped closer to the display.
"Let me guess, alien origin?"
Vergil nodded.
"Azur Lane scientists studied them years ago."
"The Alien Core Sphere behaves similarly to a Wisdom Cube."
"But..."
"It's spherical instead of cubic."
Another schematic appeared.
Showing metallic fragments surrounding the glowing sphere.
"When damaged..."
"...their bodies absorb nearby metal."
"The sphere dismantles the material atom by atom..."
"...then reconstructs their bodies."
"Skin."
"Organs."
"Everything."
Neon stared.
"...They're rebuilding themselves out of metal?"
Vergil nodded.
"Essentially."
Yuuki rubbed his chin.
"So..."
"...they're another branch of Shipgirls."
Vergil smiled.
"That's my conclusion."
"They're similar to META Shipgirls."
"But..."
"They aren't from this world."
"And they aren't from the META timeline either."
He zoomed into another historical record.
"Their technology..."
"Their naval doctrine..."
"Their uniforms..."
"Everything suggests an earlier era."
He paused.
"...Roughly comparable to Earth's World War II."
"...Around the 1942 period."
Yuuki folded his arms.
"...Elaborate."
Vergil nodded.
"The reports state that they came from another world."
"They referred to their commander as..."
He checked the translation.
"...'Teitoku.'"
"...Or Admiral."
"They're still Shipgirls."
"But..."
"They're an older variation."
"They don't resemble the modern manifestations we're familiar with."
"They appear more like ordinary young women."
He switched to several archived photographs.
"They're generally no older than nineteen."
"Some barely into their twenties."
"The Sirens likely pulled them across dimensions."
"The same way they interfere with META timelines."
Atago quietly nodded.
"...Shikikan-sama."
Yuuki turned toward her.
"Mamiya and Irako..."
"...aren't actually from our world."
Several Sakura Empire Shipgirls nodded.
"We discovered them 20 years ago."
"They told us they had been running from the Sirens."
Takao continued.
"They spoke about another world."
"A different Sakura Empire called Japan, like the one you mentioned when we first met. When you spoke of Japan, I thought you came from the same world as Mamiya and Irako, but judging by your technology, that seems unlikely."
"Our former Commander Smith accepted them."
"They became our fleet chefs."
Choukai smiled nostalgically.
"They taught us recipes from their homeland."
"For the first time..."
"...our fleet had proper meals."
"Not just military rations from Headquarters."
Shoukaku smiled softly.
"...I still remember Mamiya's desserts."
Zuikaku immediately nodded.
"...And Irako's curry."
Hiryuu laughed.
"I'd fight an entire fleet for another serving. The GDI's food is delicious, but we've missed Mamiya and Irako's cooking—it carries flavors from another world, much like GDI itself."
The room chuckled.
Choukai's smile became gentler.
"...To think..."
"...they survived all these years."
"I really missed their cooking."
Yuu's scientific curiosity had already taken over.
"...Oh."
"This is fascinating."
She adjusted her glasses.
"So now we have..."
She began counting.
"Nikkes."
"Modern Shipgirls."
"META Shipgirls."
She pointed toward the Alien Core Sphere diagram.
"And finally..."
"...Sphere-based Shipgirls."
She looked toward Vergil.
"...What do they call themselves?"
Vergil smiled.
"The Azur Lane archive labels them..."
"...Kancolle."
"Short for..."
"...Kantai Collection."
Neon blinked.
"...So..."
"...they have counterparts too?"
Vergil nodded.
"Apparently."
"Just as this world has META variants..."
"...it also has Kancolle variants."
He enlarged another comparison chart.
"Some exist in both worlds."
"Others exist only in Azur Lane."
"And some..."
"...appear only in Kancolle."
He shrugged.
"It's been ten years."
"We don't know how many were brought here."
"Some may have been corrupted."
"Others..."
"...may still be hiding."
Yuuki looked back at the transport crossing the sky.
"So..."
"...we're not just rescuing nine Shipgirls."
He smiled faintly.
"We're rescuing two survivors..."
"...from another world."
Vergil continued scrolling through the recovered archive.
"...Actually."
He looked back toward Yuuki.
"You're either very lucky..."
"...or very unlucky."
Yuuki sighed.
"...Lay it on me."
Vergil expanded the tactical map.
The Daedalus' current course toward Lawless Island appeared.
Then...
Another marker blinked to life.
"This group is separate from the transport."
"They're approximately five hundred kilometers east of the transport's current position."
Yuuki narrowed his eyes.
"...Who's there?"
One by one...
Names appeared across the holographic display.
Iron Blood
Bismarck
Silence.
Nimi's eyes widened.
"...Frau Bismarck..."
"...She's alive?"
Eugen added quietly, her tone carrying both pride and relief.
"She is like Frau Enterprise—the one we told you about."
"Our leader."
"KM Bismarck."
"The pride and flagbearer of the Iron Blood."
Another name appeared.
Tirpitz
"Frau Tirpitz," Eugen continued. "Her sister."
"Commander Smith once led an expedition to the north with Bismarck to recover her."
Yuuki exhaled slowly, taking it all in.
"So I already have Bismarck and Enterprise..."
"And soon, Nagato."
"Once Elizabeth is revived..."
"...the roster of leaders will finally be complete."
Then—
Royal Navy
Howe
Duke of York
Anson
Before Vergil could continue—
Prince of Wales quietly finished the sentence.
"...King George V."
Vergil looked up.
"...You guessed it."
Prince of Wales smiled weakly.
"Howe, Anson and Duke of York are my sisters."
"It was only a guess..."
Vergil nodded.
"...A correct one."
Yuuki gently took Wales' hand.
She instinctively leaned closer.
He could feel the slight trembling.
"...We'll bring them back."
She smiled gratefully.
"...Thank you, Commander."
The list continued.
Northern Parliament
Palladin-class Cruiser
Diana
Avrora immediately stepped forward.
"...Diana?"
She looked at the screen in disbelief.
"...Commander..."
"...She's my sister."
Another name appeared.
Sakura Empire
Tsugaru
Vergil looked toward Avrora.
"I believe..."
"...you already know this story."
Avrora smiled sadly.
"...Yes."
She placed a hand over her heart.
"Tsugaru..."
"...was once my sister."
"...Pallada."
Everyone quietly listened.
"When she transferred to the Sakura Empire..."
"...she accepted a new name."
"A new home."
"A new culture."
She smiled gently through forming tears.
"But..."
"...she never forgot us."
"To Diana and me..."
"...she will always be Pallada."
Her gaze shifted toward Eugen and Hipper.
"I understand exactly how Comrade Eugen and Comrade Hipper felt."
"When Lützow became Tallinn."
Eugen nodded quietly.
"...Names change."
"...Uniforms change."
"But sisters..."
"...remain sisters."
Yuuki smiled softly.
"It's like moving to another country."
"Lützow became Tallinn."
"Pallada became Tsugaru."
"They changed flags."
"They changed clothes."
"...But inside..."
"...they're still the same people."
Avrora could no longer stop the tears.
"...Pallada..."
"...Diana..."
"They're both alive..."
Yuuki gently patted her head.
"...We'll bring them home too."
Before Avrora could answer...
Soda quietly embraced her.
"...You're not alone."
Avrora smiled gratefully.
"...Thank you."
Yuuki looked back toward Vergil.
"I doubt..."
"...Bismarck, Tirpitz, Blücher, Tallinn..."
"...Diana and Tsugaru..."
"...are the only ones."
Vergil grinned.
"...You'd be right."
He expanded the final section.
Two more names appeared.
Kancolle Shipgirls
Kashima
Katori
Maya immediately smiled.
"...Kashima-san..."
"...Katori-san..."
Yuuki looked toward her.
"You know them too?"
Maya nodded.
"They're like Mamiya and Irako."
"They're from the same world."
"We encountered them years ago."
"During a mission to liberate an island trapped inside a Mirror Sea."
"They chose to stay with us."
Choukai smiled.
"They're training cruisers."
"Our instructors."
"They taught us cruiser tactics from their world."
Takao nodded.
"Their naval doctrine differs from ours."
"But..."
"It made us stronger."
Hipper folded her arms.
"So..."
"...another world..."
"...another set of sisters."
Vergil leaned back against the console.
"It seems the Sirens didn't just steal Shipgirls from this world."
"They've been collecting them..."
"...from multiple realities."
Yuuki quietly stared at the growing list.
One rescue mission...
Had become two.
Then three.
Now...
Entire worlds were waiting to be saved.
He slowly folded his arms.
"...Please don't tell me..."
"...there's more."
Vergil scratched the back of his head.
"...You're in luck."
Yuuki gave him a flat look.
"...I don't see that as good news."
"...Fair."
Vergil enlarged another section of the tactical map.
A third marker appeared.
Not on the eastern convoy.
Not beneath Lawless City.
But farther west.
"...Along with the western rescue group..."
"...there are several Nikkes."
He began reading the names.
"Alice."
"Ludmilla."
"Neve."
"And Tove."
Avrora immediately recognized them.
"Ah."
"They are Northern Parliament Nikkes."
"They worked alongside Ark expeditions."
"Guiding lost Nikkes through the frozen northern regions."
Rapi quietly counted the names.
"...Another four."
Vergil nodded.
"Correct."
He summarized the tactical situation.
"Current operational picture."
He divided the holographic map into three sectors.
Eastern Air Transport
"Nine Shipgirls."
"Mamiya."
"Irako."
"Blücher."
"Tallinn."
"Ning Hai."
"Ping Hai."
"Tai Yuan."
"Ting An."
"Ying Swei."
The eastern marker glowed.
Then the western marker.
Western Holding Facility
"Ten Shipgirls."
"Bismarck."
"Tirpitz."
"Howe."
"Duke of York."
"King George V."
"Anson."
"Diana."
"Tsugaru."
"Kashima."
"Katori."
He paused.
"And..."
"Four Nikkes."
"Alice."
"Ludmilla."
"Neve."
"Tove."
Finally...
The northern marker expanded over Lawless Island.
Lawless City
"Four Sakura Empire high leaders."
"Nagato."
"Mutsu."
"Shinano."
"Musashi."
"And..."
"The Twelfth Arcane."
"Yukime."
Silence filled the medical bay.
Vergil folded his arms.
"...It's only been twelve hours since the Mother Whale operation."
He smiled helplessly.
"...And you've already got another two rescue missions and soon to be three."
No one complained.
Instead...
The room grew noticeably calmer.
Purpose replaced surprise.
Yorktown stepped forward.
She stood before Yuuki.
Every Shipgirl and every Nikke instinctively turned toward him.
Veterans.
New recruits.
The recently rescued.
Even Cinderella and Ayanami quietly listened from their beds.
Yorktown saluted.
"Orders..."
"...Commander?"
One by one...
The others followed.
His current shipgirls.
The newly rescued Shipgirls.
The Nikkes.
Even Kaguya quietly folded her hands within her sleeves, waiting for his decision.
The entire room fell silent.
Waiting.
Their commander slowly looked across the tactical map.
Three battlefields.
Three rescue operations.
Lives depending on them once again.
He smiled.
Not because the task would be easy.
But because...
For the first time in a long while...
He no longer carried those decisions alone.
He had a fleet.
And every one of them was ready to sail.
==============
Yuuki's eyes swept across the tactical display one final time.
Three objectives.
Three groups waiting to be rescued.
He made his decision.
"Jarvis."
The AI immediately responded.
"Standing by, sir."
"Keep the Daedalus Fleet on course to Lawless Island. We'll handle the arcane group later."
"Understood, sir."
The holographic route adjusted, the massive command carrier maintaining its heading toward the northern objective.
Yuuki turned toward the gathered Shipgirls and Nikkes.
"Wales."
"Avrora."
"Eugen."
"Hipper."
"Vestal."
"Nimi."
The six stepped forward.
He continued.
"Nayuta."
"Rapi."
"Anis."
"Neon."
"Mary."
"Pepper."
"And Yuu."
He nodded toward the selected members.
"You'll accompany me."
"We're taking the western objective."
He enlarged the western marker.
"This will be a covert operation."
"I can't risk sending the entire fleet."
"If the Sirens discover the Daedalus before we're ready..."
"...we lose our strategic advantage."
Everyone nodded in understanding.
Yuuki turned toward the newly rescued members.
"As for the rest of you..."
His expression softened.
"Stay here."
"Continue resting."
He looked at Shoukaku, Zuikaku, Hiryuu, Souryuu, Friedrich, Hindenburg, Mecklenburg, Pennsylvania, Arizona, Centaur, Albion, Emma, Vesti, Eunhwa, Velvet and Privaty.
Including Cinderella and Ayanami.
"You've only just been rescued."
"Your bodies are still stabilizing."
"We cannot install the Levelling System until your recovery is complete."
"Yuu's estimate remains unchanged."
"Twenty-four hours of total rest."
He looked toward the green cat engineer.
"Akashi."
"Nyaa!"
"They're under your supervision."
Akashi saluted enthusiastically.
"Leave it to Akashi, nyaa!"
Yuuki smiled knowingly.
"I know some of you already want to help."
"But right now..."
"The best thing you can do..."
"...is recover."
Shoukaku sighed dramatically.
"I wanted to help too..."
Yuuki gently patted both Shoukaku and Zuikaku on the head. The two sisters instinctively leaned into the gesture.
"I promise you'll be able to help once you're fully healed."
"We don't have a choice for now, Shoukaku-nee," Zuikaku said softly.
"Indeed." Souryuu nodded, her bunny ears twitching slightly.
"Yosh! Let's heal up and finally join the commander's skirmish!" Hiryuu declared.
Friedrich smiled gently.
"A wise commander knows when not to deploy his forces."
The newly rescued girls quietly nodded.
Yuuki turned back toward the tactical map.
"Enterprise."
The white-haired carrier stepped forward.
"Commander."
"Kaguya."
"This wife listens."
"Akagi."
"Hehe..."
"Kaga."
"Understood."
"You four will provide aerial overwatch."
He pointed toward the western sector.
"If we require immediate fire support..."
"...I authorize manually guided cruise missile and hailstorm strikes."
Enterprise nodded.
"I'll coordinate target designation."
Kaguya smiled.
"This wife shall ensure no foe escapeth."
Akagi's tails swayed.
"I shall guard Shikikan-sama from the skies."
Kaga simply nodded once.
"It will be done."
Finally...
Yuuki looked toward Yorktown.
"Hana."
Yorktown smiled.
"Yes, Commander?"
"I need Grimm."
Yorktown immediately understood.
"Grimm will patrol ahead of us."
She gently stroked the eagle perched upon her shoulder.
The great bird let out a proud cry.
Yuuki smiled.
"Remember."
"Grimm isn't an ordinary eagle."
Several of the newly rescued girls looked surprised.
Yorktown nodded proudly.
"He can transform."
"The moment reconnaissance becomes necessary..."
"...he'll assume his interceptor form."
Yuuki continued.
"Eagle-sized."
"Jet propulsion."
"Supersonic flight."
"He can become a supersonic fighter. A tad bit smaller than the GDI Sixth Generation Fighters."
"He'll scout the island ahead of us as a harmless eagle."
"If anything changes..."
"...Grimm becomes our eyes."
Yorktown gave a crisp salute.
"I'll relay his observations directly to Command."
Yuuki nodded.
"And if things go south..."
He looked toward Enterprise and Kaguya.
"Do support us."
Yorktown smiled confidently.
"I'll guide Enterprise, Kaguya, Akagi and Kaga onto every target."
Yuuki returned the smile.
"Exactly."
The room fell silent once more.
The briefing was complete.
Yuuki looked around the room one last time.
"Be ready in two hours."
"We rendezvous here before deployment."
Everyone nodded.
Prince of Wales, Rapi and the others immediately began mentally preparing for the operation.
Then Belfast raised a hand.
"...Commander?"
"What about the eastern convoy?"
"The transport carrying Mamiya, Irako and the others?"
Several Sakura Shipgirls immediately looked toward Yuuki.
He smiled.
"...They're still inside the aircraft."
"We can't exactly land an assault force on top of it."
"So..."
"...I'll go anyway."
Everyone blinked.
"You?"
Belfast tilted her head.
"...Only you, Master?"
"Not directly."
Yuuki smiled knowingly.
"I have a plan."
He turned toward Belfast.
"Bel."
"Ade."
"Soda."
"Cocoa."
The four maids stepped forward.
"Yes, Master."
"You'll remain aboard the Orca EX."
"You'll serve as temporary medical staff."
"The moment the rescue is complete..."
"...pick them up immediately."
Mary nodded approvingly.
"A mobile recovery team."
"Good thinking."
Pepper smiled.
"We'll prepare emergency treatment beforehand."
Belfast still looked curious.
"...But..."
"...how do you intend to rescue them alone?"
Yuuki simply grinned.
"...You'll see."
Anis immediately groaned.
"There he goes again."
"The mysterious commander routine."
Neon laughed.
"He does that a lot."
Yuu crossed her arms.
"...I've known Chief for years."
"He still refuses to explain his plans half the time."
Yuuki chuckled.
"It works, doesn't it?"
Nobody could really argue with that.
He then looked around the room.
"At the moment..."
"The only people capable of sustained independent flight are..."
"Myself."
"Yuu."
"And Kaguya."
Kaguya nodded gracefully.
"This wife hath little difficulty traversing the skies."
Yuuki rubbed his chin.
"Hmm..."
"Besides Houshou..."
"Centaur."
"Albion."
"Hindenburg."
"And Mecklenburg."
He looked toward the newly rescued group.
"...Are there any other Shipgirls capable of true flight?"
Before anyone else could answer—
Shoukaku raised her hand.
"We can."
Yuuki blinked.
"...Hm?"
Shoukaku smiled.
"The cranes naturally possess wings."
Behind her...
Elegant white wings unfolded from her rigging.
Soft feathers shimmered beneath the medical bay lights.
Zuikaku smiled proudly before unfurling her own wings as well.
"It is simply part of who we are."
The newer members looked on with surprise.
Yuuki's eyes widened.
"...You're actual cranes."
He looked between the sisters.
"...No wonder."
"You don't have animal ears or tails like everyone else."
Shoukaku nodded.
"We're crane carriers."
"Flight comes naturally to us."
She then turned toward Akagi with an innocent smile.
"...Right..."
"...Akagi-senpai?"
The fox immediately sensed trouble.
"...Hmm?"
Shoukaku's smile widened.
"...Can you fly?"
Silence.
Akagi's ears twitched.
Then—
"Kiii!"
She pointed dramatically at Shoukaku.
"Troublesome junior!"
Kaga calmly caught Akagi by the shoulder before she could pounce.
"...Control yourself."
"But she's provoking me!"
"...Deliberately."
Shoukaku innocently looked away.
"I merely asked a question."
Zuikaku quietly covered her mouth, trying not to laugh.
Even Hiryuu snorted.
Yuuki watched the entire exchange with an exhausted smile.
"...These two..."
He looked toward Kaga.
"I'm honestly not sure if they're rivals..."
"...or best friends pretending to be enemies."
Kaga sighed.
"...Neither are willing to admit it."
Akagi folded her arms with an exaggerated huff.
"Hmph."
Shoukaku smiled sweetly.
"See?"
"Still the same Akagi-senpai."
The room erupted into laughter once again.
Even the newly rescued Shipgirls found themselves smiling.
Yuuki looked once more at the tactical display before turning back to everyone.
"So..."
"...we can't send a strike team after the eastern transport."
"If we suddenly deploy aircraft or move the fleet..."
"...we'll only spook the plane."
"It'll either change course..."
"...or call for reinforcements."
He pointed toward the eastern marker.
"So..."
"...I'll go there myself."
Several people blinked.
"...Alone?" Belfast asked.
Yuuki nodded.
"I don't need to attack the aircraft."
"I just need to capture it."
A mischievous smile crossed his face.
"Once it's ours..."
"...the rescue is already over."
The room became quiet as everyone realized he already had a plan.
He looked around the room.
"So everyone else..."
"...continue preparing."
"The rescue team assigned to the western operation..."
"...be ready to depart in two hours."
"The rest of you..."
"...remain on standby."
"And recover."
He looked specifically toward the newest members.
"That includes all of you."
"No exceptions."
The newly rescued Shipgirls and Nikkes nodded obediently.
Yuuki finally turned toward Yuu.
"Yuu."
She looked up from her tablet.
"...Yes, Chief?"
"Command is yours until I get back."
Yuu smiled confidently.
"I'll keep everyone in line."
Anis immediately pointed at herself.
"...Does that include me?"
"Especially you."
Neon laughed.
"I knew she'd say that."
Yuuki looked back toward the holographic screen.
"...Thanks for the information, Verg."
Vergil casually waved from the other side of the transmission.
"Anytime."
He smirked.
"...And while you're out there..."
"...bring back any interesting samples."
Yuu immediately looked interested.
"Oh?"
Vergil continued with a grin.
"My team's heading back into the Mother Whale captured data server."
"We're going to see what else the Raptures have been hiding."
He began walking away from the camera.
"Oh..."
"And I'm planning to dissect those Rapture droids..."
"...the walkers..."
"...and the heavy tanks."
Yuu's eyes immediately sparkled with scientific curiosity.
"...Save me one."
Vergil laughed.
"I figured you'd ask."
Yuuki simply shook his head.
"...You two are terrifying."
"We prefer the term..."
Yuu adjusted her glasses.
"...Dedicated researchers."
Vergil nodded in complete agreement.
"Exactly."
He raised one hand in farewell.
"Good luck, mate."
"Try not to blow up too many things before I get back."
Yuuki smiled.
"...No promises."
The transmission ended.
The holographic screen faded to black.
For a brief moment...
The command room fell silent once more.
Yuu stepped to his side and asked, "How are you planning to rescue them again?"
"Well, I don't have to be there physically."
====================
Far above the ocean...
Far above the ocean...
A massive Rapture transport aircraft cut through the clouds, its hulking frame resembling a grotesque fusion of machine and living organism. Its exterior was plated with dark, chitin-like armor that shimmered faintly under the sunlight, layered in overlapping segments like the shell of some colossal insect. Jagged protrusions lined its wings, which stretched unnaturally wide, each edge serrated and uneven as if grown rather than engineered. Pulsing veins of dim crimson light ran beneath the surface of its hull, occasionally flickering like a heartbeat, hinting at the alien energy coursing through its structure.
Unlike the agile aerial combat units deployed by the Raptures...
This machine had only one purpose.
Transport.
Troops.
Supplies.
Or...
Hostages.
Deep within its armored cargo bay...
Nine Shipgirls remained secured inside reinforced containment pods.
All of them were conscious, their movements restricted but their awareness sharp.
The transport's original orders had been simple.
Rendezvous with the Mother Whale in twenty hours.
Twelve hours earlier...
Everything changed.
Inside the cockpit...
Two Rapture command droids monitored the flight.
One of them suddenly emitted a series of electronic tones.
"...Primary destination unreachable."
The second droid immediately responded.
"Attempting communication with Mother Whale."
A powerful transmission burst shot toward the designated frequency.
Silence.
Several seconds passed.
Nothing.
The first droid tried again.
"...Repeating transmission."
Another encoded signal.
Again...
No reply.
The cockpit fell silent except for the hum of engines.
Finally...
The second droid processed the result.
"Mother Whale command node... unresponsive."
The first droid turned its featureless mechanical head.
"...Communication failure confirmed."
A new instruction automatically appeared across their shared tactical display.
PRIMARY OBJECTIVE FAILED
EXECUTING CONTINGENCY ROUTE
The aircraft gradually altered its heading.
Without the Mother Whale...
There was nowhere left to deliver its prisoners.
The droids possessed no curiosity.
No frustration.
No fear.
Only programming.
Deep within the transport's armored cargo hold...
Behind layers of reinforced bulkheads and containment fields...
One of the prisoners quietly lowered her gaze to the restraints around her wrists.
Heavy alloy shackles.
Strong enough to hold ordinary Shipgirls.
But they had long since stopped her from trying to escape.
Her long brown hair rested over her shoulders.
Warm brown eyes stared silently at the metallic floor beneath her feet.
Mamiya quietly exhaled.
"...Fifteen years..."
She whispered to herself.
"...It's already been fifteen years..."
Across from her...
Irako sat in another restraint cradle.
The younger supply ship looked exhausted, but awake.
Mamiya offered her a reassuring smile.
Their memories drifted back...
To another ocean.
Another world.
They had once been ordinary supply ships.
Not warships.
Not heroes.
Simply two girls delivering food, supplies, and comfort to fleets fighting the Abyssals.
During one routine supply mission...
Everything changed.
The Sirens came.
Not from their world.
But from another.
Without warning...
Reality itself fractured.
The Sirens attempted to capture them.
Somehow...
The two of them escaped.
Only to find themselves in an entirely unfamiliar world.
A world where Shipgirls still existed.
Yet...
Everything was different.
The first people to rescue them...
Had been the Takao-class sisters.
Atago.
Takao.
Maya.
Choukai.
Mamiya smiled faintly.
"...They weren't..."
"...our Atago."
"...Or our Takao."
Different histories.
Different lives.
Different people.
Yet...
Just as kind.
They had taken the two frightened strangers back to the Sakura Empire.
It had taken time.
A long time.
Accepting that they would never return home.
That the fleets they once served...
Would likely never know what became of them.
They mourned.
They cried.
Eventually...
They accepted reality.
If they could no longer feed the fleets of their own world...
Then...
They would feed the fleets of this one instead.
After all...
They were still supply ships.
Wherever hungry Shipgirls gathered...
That was where Mamiya and Irako belonged.
She remembered her surprise upon meeting this world's Sakura Empire.
Nagato...
Was so much smaller.
Mutsu as well.
Both possessed animal traits unlike the girls she once knew.
The Sakura Empire itself was different compared to Japan.
Rather than endless conflict...
Azur Lane stood united against a common enemy.
The Sirens.
Much as her own world had united against the Abyssals.
Commander Smith...
Had welcomed them without hesitation.
Mamiya smiled gently at the memory.
"...You told us..."
"'A kitchen is as important as a battlefield.'"
She and Irako had stayed.
Cooking.
Healing morale.
Giving weary Shipgirls one warm meal after another.
Ten peaceful years.
Then...
Everything fell apart again.
The Sirens attacked the Azur Lane headquarters.
Mamiya shut her eyes.
She still remembered the fire.
The explosions.
The desperate retreat.
Far too many young Shipgirls...
Never escaped.
Commander Smith's final order still echoed in her ears.
"...Run."
"...Live."
"...Keep everyone alive."
So they ran.
Together with Blücher.
Together with Tallinn.
The four of them disappeared.
Living quietly on a small, forgotten island.
Trying to avoid both Sirens...
And later...
The Raptures.
For years...
They survived.
Until...
The Raptures eventually found them.
Captured.
Separated from freedom once more.
Now...
They were being transported toward an unknown destination.
Originally...
The Mother Whale.
Though judging from the strange course changes...
Even that plan appeared to have changed.
Mamiya quietly reached across the small gap separating the containment seats.
Though restrained...
Her fingertips managed to gently brush Irako's head.
She softly stroked her hair.
Irako slowly looked up.
"...Mamiya..."
The older supply ship smiled with the same comforting expression she had worn for countless frightened Shipgirls over the years.
"...Don't lose hope."
Irako managed a tiny smile.
"...Do you..."
"...still believe someone will come?"
Mamiya looked out the small armored viewport.
Beyond it...
Only endless clouds.
"...Yes."
She answered without hesitation.
"...Because..."
She smiled warmly.
"...Someone always gets hungry eventually."
"And when they do..."
"The supply ships..."
"...always find their way home."
Not far from Mamiya and Irako...
Another containment cell sat in silence.
Unlike the comforting atmosphere between the two supply ships...
This one carried quiet sorrow.
Blücher rested weakly against Tallinn's shoulder.
Her blonde hair had lost much of its usual shine after years of captivity.
Even so...
She forced herself to smile.
"...Tallinn..."
The heavy cruiser looked down at her companion.
"...Yes?"
Blücher's smile trembled.
"...I wonder..."
"...how Schwester Hipper is doing..."
Her voice became softer.
"...And little Eugen..."
She chuckled weakly.
"...She must've grown even more troublesome."
Tallinn couldn't help smiling.
"...Most likely."
Blücher looked toward the ceiling of the transport.
"...It's been..."
"...so long."
"I don't even know..."
"...if they're still alive."
Her fingers quietly tightened around the restraints.
"I miss them."
"I really..."
"...really miss my sisters."
Tallinn gently wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
"You'll see them again."
Blücher smiled sadly.
"...You always say that."
"...Because I believe it."
Tallinn answered without hesitation.
She understood that feeling all too well.
She herself had once been...
Lützow.
An Iron Blood cruiser.
Before politics.
Before treaties.
Before being transferred.
Before becoming...
Tallinn.
She quietly looked at the restraints around her wrists.
"...I understand."
Blücher turned toward her.
Tallinn smiled gently.
"I still remember Hipper."
"Eugen."
"They probably still complain about me becoming Northern Parliament."
She laughed softly.
"...Especially Hipper."
Blücher giggled.
"...She definitely would."
Tallinn nodded.
"But..."
"...I also know them."
"No matter what uniform I wear..."
"No matter what flag flies above me..."
"They'll still call me their sister."
Blücher slowly nodded.
Tallinn smiled.
"Names change."
"Countries change."
"But family..."
"...doesn't."
Blücher quietly closed her eyes.
"...I hope..."
"...they're happy."
"...Even if..."
"...they forgot about me."
Tallinn immediately shook her head.
"They didn't."
Her voice carried absolute certainty.
"I've seen how sisters reunite."
"They never forget."
"They simply keep waiting."
Silence settled between them.
Outside...
The engines of the Rapture transport continued their endless drone.
Blücher leaned her head against Tallinn once more.
"...If we ever get home..."
"...I'll make everyone tea."
Tallinn smiled warmly.
"And I'll listen to Hipper complain for several hours."
Blücher laughed quietly.
"...Somehow..."
"...that sounds wonderful."
Blücher quietly rested against Tallinn's shoulder.
The constant vibration of the transport almost lulled them into silence.
After a long while...
Blücher spoke again.
"...Do you think..."
"...we'll really see them again?"
Tallinn looked toward the armored ceiling.
For a moment...
She wanted to answer with certainty.
Instead...
She smiled gently.
"...We can only hope."
Blücher slowly nodded.
"...Hope..."
"...is all we have left."
Tallinn quietly squeezed her hand.
"...Sometimes..."
"...that's enough."
Further down the cargo bay...
Five more containment pods stood together.
Unlike the others...
These prisoners stayed close despite their restraints.
Ning Hai leaned toward the girl beside her.
"...Ping'er."
Her voice was soft.
"...Are you alright?"
Ping Hai shifted her wrists against the chains before smiling reassuringly.
"...I'm alright, Jie."
"They're just..."
She laughed awkwardly.
"...A little uncomfortable."
Ning Hai smiled with relief.
"I'm glad."
Nearby...
Tai Yuan sat curled against Ting An.
Although she tried to appear brave...
Her fingers still trembled.
Ting An gently wrapped both arms around the younger girl.
"...Yuan'er."
"...Don't be afraid."
"We're together."
Tai Yuan buried her face against her shoulder.
"...I know..."
"...I'm trying."
Ying Swei quietly moved closer as far as her restraints allowed.
She looked at the four of them.
Then smiled gently.
"We've survived this long."
"We'll survive a little longer."
Silence followed.
Not because they had nothing to say.
But because none of them wished to remember.
Yet...
The memories came anyway.
They hadn't been soldiers.
They hadn't been fighting.
After years of war...
The five Dragon Empery Shipgirls had simply wanted a peaceful life.
A quiet settlement.
Helping rebuild.
Protecting civilians.
Living alongside ordinary people.
Then...
The Raptures came.
Without warning.
The settlement fell within hours.
The humans...
Were taken aboard one transport.
The Shipgirls...
Another.
None of them possessed ammunition anymore.
Their rigging had long since been dismantled in pursuit of a peaceful life.
Against overwhelming Rapture forces...
They had stood little chance.
The scanners identified them immediately.
Shipgirl signatures detected.
Priority targets.
Captured alive.
Ping Hai lowered her head.
"...I hope..."
"...the people escaped."
Ning Hai nodded quietly.
"So do I."
Ting An gently stroked Tai Yuan's hair.
"We protected them until the very end."
"No one can take that away from us."
Ying Swei smiled faintly.
"And perhaps..."
"...someone survived."
"...Enough to remember us."
Tai Yuan slowly looked up.
"...Do you think..."
"...someone is looking for us?"
For a brief moment...
No one answered.
Then Ning Hai smiled.
"...I believe so."
"We're Dragon Empery."
"No matter how small our nation is..."
"...our family has never abandoned its own."
The five quietly leaned closer together.
Bound by chains.
Yet refusing to face captivity alone.