Yuuki led his Shipgirls and the rescued Shipgirls toward the elevator.
The moment the doors opened, they moved inside.
But before they could descend very far—
BANG! BANG! BANG!
Gunfire erupted somewhere below.
The sound echoed through the shaft.
The Raptures were already on high alert.
Behemoth's voice rang across the facility's communications system.
"Alert all defenses!"
Yuuki immediately looked toward the tactical display.
"Jarvis."
"Yes, sir?"
"Take control of the sentry guns and cause some trouble."
"Will do, sir."
The elevator continued descending.
Then—
Across the training zone beneath the pyramid, dormant weapons suddenly came online.
WHIRRRR—
Sentry guns rotated.
Targeting systems activated.
Turrets traversed toward approaching Rapture droids.
Then they opened fire.
BRRRRRRT!
BOOM!
BOOM!
The automated defenses tore into the Rapture forces.
The sudden attack immediately diverted their attention away from Yuuki and his group.
The rescued Shipgirls remained on high alert.
They had only just regained the ability to walk.
They knew they weren't in any condition to fight properly.
But that didn't mean they wanted to be useless.
Bismarck tightened her grip on her weapon.
Tirpitz watched the surrounding corridors carefully.
Pallada and Diana stayed close together.
Georgina, York, Howe, and Anson remained ready to respond if anything broke through.
The elevator finally reached the lower level.
The doors opened.
DING!
Yuuki stepped out first.
"Move."
The group quickly followed.
They soon reached the edge of the massive underground training zone.
And there, Jarvis's work became obvious.
The Rapture droids were no longer simply fighting GDI forces.
They were fighting their own security systems.
Sentry guns had turned against their former masters.
Automated gun emplacements rotated and fired into the droid formations.
Heavy cannon turrets pounded the battlefield.
The Raptures desperately attempted to destroy the defenses, only to be attacked by another automated position.
The entire fake city beneath the pyramid had become a battlefield.
Eugen stared at the chaos.
"Well…"
She watched another Rapture droid get shredded by a sentry gun.
"How are we going to get past that?"
Yuuki looked toward the battlefield.
"We don't."
Eugen blinked.
"What?"
Yuuki pointed toward another section of the city.
"We go around."
He brought up Jarvis's route.
"The defenses are keeping the Raptures occupied. We just need to use the opening."
The others nodded.
But the rescued Shipgirls remained distracted by something else.
They had never seen this place before.
Bismarck slowly looked over the enormous underground city.
"A city…"
Tirpitz stared in disbelief.
"Under the pyramid?"
Georgina looked toward the distant buildings.
"This entire place was beneath us?"
Howe's eyes widened.
"We were imprisoned directly above this?"
Anson looked around at the streets, buildings, towers, and training structures.
"How could we never have known?"
The scale of the underground facility was difficult to comprehend.
For fifteen years, they had believed they were trapped inside a single isolated prison.
They had never imagined that an entire artificial city existed directly beneath it.
Yuuki glanced back at them.
"Welcome to the rapture training zone."
He pointed toward the chaotic battlefield.
"Unfortunately, you're seeing it during one of its less peaceful moments."
Another salvo erupted in the distance.
BOOM! BOOM!
Eugen watched a group of Rapture droids desperately trying to destroy a gun emplacement.
She smiled.
"Well…"
She raised her weapon.
"At least they're keeping each other busy."
Yuuki nodded.
"Exactly."
He turned toward the route Jarvis had marked.
"Let's take advantage of it."
The group began moving again.
Behind them, the automated defenses continued their relentless assault.
The Raptures had turned the facility into a fortress.
Jarvis had simply convinced the fortress to turn against them.
The large door behind them suddenly opened.
HSSSSSS—
Everyone turned toward the sound.
Yuu stepped through first, followed by Rapi, Anis, Neon, Pepper, Mary, and Nayuta.
Behind them came the newly rescued Nikkes—Ludmilla, Alice, Neve, and Tove—alongside the two KanColle Shipgirls, Kashima and Katori.
"Commander!" Neon called out.
"Chief!" Yuu greeted.
Yuuki turned around, visibly surprised to see them already there.
"Ah, you girls made it. I thought you were still far behind."
The Nikkes and KanColle Shipgirls looked toward him.
His Mark 86 armor covered him completely, its advanced plating and glowing systems making him look almost as imposing as Yuu in her Mark 49 armor.
For a moment, several of them simply stared.
This was the Commander they had heard so much about.
The one who position higher than the head doctor, Yuu.
The Counter Squad respected him.
The Seraphim Squad trusted him.
Even the Pilgrim, Nayuta, clearly held him in high regard.
Yet they had never actually seen what he looked like beneath that armor.
Alice tilted her head curiously.
Kashima and Katori exchanged a glance.
Yuu had already told them that Yuuki had rescued Mamiya and Irako as well.
That alone had earned him considerable respect from the two KanColle Shipgirls.
Yuu stepped forward.
"We followed a hidden route underneath the facility. It led directly here."
She gestured behind them.
"There was much less security since Jarvis had already disabled the cameras and sentries along the route. Friday guided us here."
Yuuki nodded.
"Good. That saves us some trouble."
Then—
"Kashima! Katori!"
Bismarck's voice rang out.
The two KanColle Shipgirls froze.
Bismarck's helmet retracted, revealing her face.
Kashima's eyes widened.
"Kashima-san!"
Katori stared in disbelief.
"Bismarck…?"
Tirpitz was equally stunned.
"So they're here too…"
Diana and Pallada immediately looked toward the pair.
Howe, Georgina, Anson, and York all recognized them as well.
They had known Kashima and Katori during their time together in the KanColle world, and seeing their old allied instructors standing there after everything they had endured brought a wave of relief.
Kashima slowly stepped forward.
"Bismarck…"
Katori's expression softened.
"You're alive…"
Bismarck smiled faintly.
"So are you."
For a moment, the chaos of the battlefield around them seemed to disappear.
They had spent fifteen years believing they might never see familiar faces again.
Now, one more piece of their old world had suddenly appeared before them.
Years of imprisonment.
A seemingly impossible rescue.
And now, somehow, they were surrounded by familiar faces they had believed were lost forever.
Ludmilla suddenly looked across them.
Her eyes widened.
"Ludmilla? Tove? Neve… Alice?"
Avrora's voice came from the opposite side.
"Comrade Ludmilla?"
Ludmilla froze.
She turned.
There stood Avrora.
Beside her were Diana and Pallada.
For a moment, Ludmilla couldn't speak.
Her eyes immediately began to fill with tears.
"Comrade Avrora…"
Avrora stepped closer.
"Ludmilla…"
That was all it took.
Ludmilla crossed the compartment and pulled Avrora into a tight embrace despite in their Assault Armor.
"Comrade…"
Her voice trembled.
"I thought we had lost you."
Avrora returned the embrace just as tightly.
"We thought the same of you."
Diana and Pallada joined them moments later.
The reunion quickly became an embrace between old comrades.
Tove, Neve, and Alice watched quietly, their expressions softening.
These weren't simply acquaintances.
They had once survived together.
When the Sirens destroyed the Northern Parliament's remaining strongholds, many of them had been scattered across the frozen wilderness. The survivors had been forced to abandon everything they had left and form resistance cells wherever they could.
Ludmilla and the Unlimited squad had become part of that resistance.
They searched for other survivors.
They crossed frozen wastelands.
They rescued Nikkes who had been separated from their units.
They survived attacks from both Raptures and Siren forces.
And through all of it, they had wondered whether the comrades they had lost were still alive somewhere.
Now, after all those years, they were finally standing together again.
Ludmilla wiped the tears from her face.
"We spent so long looking for you."
She looked directly at Avrora.
"We got captured while trying to find you."
Avrora's expression immediately became sorrowful.
"I am sorry, comrades."
She lowered her gaze.
"Rapi and I were captured as well. We were brought to Magellan in Aqua."
She shook her head.
"We didn't know you had been captured too. We thought you were still somewhere out there."
Ludmilla shook her head.
"Don't apologize."
She placed a hand on Avrora's shoulder.
"You couldn't have known."
Her eyes moved between Avrora, Diana, and Pallada.
"And it doesn't matter anymore."
A tired but genuine smile appeared on her face.
"As long as we found each other once more."
Diana smiled.
"Da."
Pallada nodded.
"We are together again. We might be the last Northern Parliament left on this world."
Avrora smiled through the tears still lingering in her eyes.
"Together."
Around them, the others quietly watched.
After a while, Ludmilla turned towards Rapi.
"That's the Commander?" Ludmilla whispered.
Rapi, Anis, and Neon simply nodded.
Ludmilla stepped forward and gave Yuuki a respectful bow before the helmet disengage the helmet.
"Greetings, Commander. I am Ludmilla, leader of the Unlimited Nikke Squad. We specialize in operations across the northern tundra, helping Nikkes who become lost in the extreme regions and bringing them safely back to the Ark."
Her expression became slightly bitter.
"Well… that was our job until the Ark abandoned us."
Yuuki tilted his head.
"You act a tad differently from what Rapi told me."
Ludmilla raised an eyebrow.
"What did she say?"
"A rather pompous attitude."
Yuuki looked her over.
"You remind me of Queen Elizabeth from the Royal Navy. I wasn't exactly hoping to deal with a Nikke version of her. Even she and her sister Valiant are quite enough."
Ludmilla gave a small, embarrassed sigh.
"Don't worry. I admit I was rather pompous compared to how I am now."
She glanced toward the others.
"I spent years in that prison. These girls were all I had for company."
Then she looked toward Rapi, Anis, and Neon.
"Besides, Rapi, Anis, and Neon told me quite a lot about you while we were walking through the tunnels to get here."
Yuuki immediately turned toward his three Counter girls.
"Oh?"
His tone became suspicious.
"What did they badmouth me about this time?"
Rapi, Anis, and Neon immediately looked away.
Ludmilla shook her head.
"Not exactly badmouth."
She looked back at Yuuki.
"I honestly had a bad impression of you at first. But now, I'm not going to offend you, especially after learning how highly Rapi spoke of you."
She glanced toward Yuu.
"Plus, your scary doctor actually listens to you. You even managed to get Mary to listen to you. I thought Mary was the scary one."
"Hey, that's rude," Mary protested.
Yuu smiled quietly from the side.
"We certainly don't want to do anything that might get us dissected by her."
Yuuki slowly looked back at the three Counter girls.
"You three badmouth me a lot, huh?"
All three looked even further away.
"We're surprised Milla changed this much," Anis admitted.
"We expected her to order us around like some wannabe queen."
Ludmilla sighed.
"That was a long time ago."
Yuuki chuckled.
"Rapi told me you're the leader of the Global Defense Initiative."
Ludmilla's expression grew more serious.
Even the rescued Shipgirls listened closely, as did the KanColle Shipgirls. They had already heard about the GDI from Yuu—the Global Defense Initiative, a powerful faction whose strength far surpassed that of any nation, yet still welcomed Shipgirls and Nikkes as members of its forces.
The man standing before them was the leader of that organization.
The High Commander.
A position that stood above even the president or queen of a nation.
The one who chose to remain in the field rather than sit in a command center alongside other commanders.
"A powerful faction that gives its soldiers levels and armor far beyond what the Ark can provide."
She looked at Yuuki carefully.
"A faction that operates globally and even beyond this planet."
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"You're the High Commander. The one standing at the very top."
She paused.
"The one who could probably do almost anything by himself, yet chooses to let his girls do the work."
Yuuki remained silent, allowing her to continue.
"I admit, I wouldn't survive fighting you."
Ludmilla glanced toward the Shipgirls.
"Or your Shipgirls."
She then looked around at the mixed group of Nikkes and Shipgirls.
"Yet you still chose to recruit Shipgirls and Nikkes as allies."
Her expression softened.
"For that, I sincerely think my previous attitude would have given you a very bad impression of me."
Yuuki raised an eyebrow.
"Oh…"
He sounded genuinely amused.
"You're quite the analyzer."
Ludmilla nodded.
"I admit my original image of you was that of a first-time wannabe commander."
She spoke bluntly.
"Someone who simply controlled Nikkes and Shipgirls, desperate for promotion and determined to play the hero in every situation."
Her gaze shifted toward the battlefield around them.
"But seeing you now…"
She smiled faintly.
"I admit my impression has changed."
Yuuki folded his arms.
"Go on."
"Someone who holds all the cards but deliberately lets his girls do the work so they can gain experience."
Ludmilla's smile grew.
"Someone who would rather be a lazy caveman than a hero."
Yuu chuckled from behind them.
"She got you there, Chief."
Yuuki slowly turned toward his three Counter girls again.
"You really did talk about me behind my back a lot, didn't you?"
Rapi, Anis, and Neon remained silent, whistling innocently as they tried to blend into the air, while finding the floor suddenly very interesting.
Ludmilla then stepped forward and bowed deeply.
"Thank you for coming for us."
Her voice became sincere.
"We might be insignificant compared to the forces you command, but you still came for us."
She raised her head.
"You might prefer Shipgirls over us, but we are still grateful."
Yuuki shook his head.
"Not exactly."
He gestured toward the Shipgirls.
"Like I said to every Nikke, Shipgirls are superior in their own environment, but they can't excel on land the way Nikkes can."
He then looked toward the Nikkes.
"And Nikkes can't excel on the sea the way Shipgirls can."
His voice carried quiet confidence.
"That's why I value both."
Yuuki looked across the mixed group.
"Besides, I've already seen what happens when they work together as one."
He smiled.
"Trust me. Shipgirls and Nikkes working together are a sight that can shock even me."
Ludmilla nodded thoughtfully.
"I see."
She looked toward Alice, Neve, Tove, and the others.
"Then I hope you can accept the former Unlimited Squad into your faction."
She placed a hand against her chest.
"We hope to be useful to you, just like the Counter Squad, the Seraphims, the Pioneers, the Maids, and even the recently reclaimed Absolute Nikkes."
Yuuki extended his hand toward her.
"Then let's work together in the future, Ludmilla."
Ludmilla smiled and firmly shook his hand.
"I look forward to it, Commander."
Alice, however, wasted no time.
She walked straight toward Yuuki and looked up at his armored form with curiosity.
"Are you the one who rescued us?"
"That's right."
Yuuki looked down at her.
"You must be Alice."
Alice's eyes widened.
"Ah! Your voice is just like I dreamed!"
Yuuki tilted his head.
"Dreamed?"
"The Mr. Rabbit and his bunnies came to us!"
Alice smiled brightly.
"I didn't see how he looked, but Rabbity came and told me not to worry."
Yuuki blinked.
"Rabbity?"
Alice nodded enthusiastically.
"Rabbity! Please take me to a world where everyone lives in happiness!"
Yuuki stared at her for a moment before chuckling.
"I don't know what you're going on about, but I'm sure I can do that."
His voice softened.
"A place where Shipgirls and Nikkes can live together peacefully. A true home for all of you."
Alice's smile grew wider.
"Yes!"
She suddenly straightened herself.
"Sorry…"
She gave a small bow.
"I am Alice. Tetra Line. I'm a member of Squad 'Unlimited,' which protects the extreme areas and rescues lost Nikkes."
Yuuki nodded.
"I see."
He smiled.
"Nice to meet you, Alice."
Neve stepped forward next and gave Yuuki a polite bow.
"Greetings, Commander. I am Neve from Tetra Line. I'm also a member of the Unlimited Squad."
She looked up at him.
"Doctor Yuu said I can find polar bears by asking you."
Yuuki paused.
"Are you really that fascinated by polar bears?"
"Yes!"
Neve nodded enthusiastically.
"I scour the Northern regions looking for one, but I never found any."
Yuuki shrugged.
"We have a lot, actually."
Neve froze.
"A lot?"
Her eyes widened.
"A LOT?!"
"Yeah."
Yuuki explained casually.
"Bears are trained as scouts for the GDI. Similar to how we trained dolphins as sea attackers."
He paused.
"And bears as land attackers, courtesy of the Soviets back in our world."
Neve stared at him.
"You haven't even seen the Ursa Major bears yet."
"Ursa… what?"
"The Ursa Major Project."
Yuuki continued.
"It was a project back on Earth 1.0. Genetically modified bears that could grow to around ten times the size of a normal bear."
Neve's mouth fell open.
"That's possible?!"
"Yeah."
Yuuki nodded.
"They had them. The project was lost for years before the GDI recovered it from an abandoned secret facility in Russia in 2072."
Neve looked increasingly excited.
"So…"
Yuuki continued.
"We trained polar bears as scouts for the northern and southern snowy regions on Earth 2.0."
He smiled.
"So, yes. We have quite a lot."
Neve practically sparkled.
"Polar bears…"
She clenched her fists.
"I can finally see polar bears!"
Yuuki chuckled.
"Survive first."
He pointed toward the direction they were heading.
"Once you've recovered properly, I'll let you see them."
Neve immediately nodded.
"Deal!"
"Heh, you just won Neve over with polar bears," Anis teased.
Neve immediately looked away, though the excitement in her eyes made it obvious that Anis was right.
"He won you over with an interest in your idol days," Neon added.
Anis turned toward her.
"And he won you over with nuclear grenade launchers."
"Hey! It's firepower!" Neon protested.
She grinned and nudged Rapi with her elbow.
"What about you? What did he win you over with? A promise of hugs and kisses?"
Rapi's face immediately turned red.
She looked away, her expression becoming unusually stiff.
"Preposterous."
Anis raised an eyebrow.
"Your face says otherwise."
"It does not."
Rapi folded her arms and tried to maintain her usual composure.
"I simply acknowledge the Commander's capabilities and leadership."
Neon leaned closer with a mischievous smile.
"So, that means you do like hugs and kisses?"
Rapi's blush deepened.
"That is not what I said."
Anis snickered.
"Sure it isn't."
Rapi glanced toward Yuuki, who was still speaking with Tove.
For a moment, her expression softened.
Then she quickly looked away again.
"Regardless, the Commander has earned my respect through his actions."
Neon hummed.
"Respect, huh?"
She nudged Rapi again.
"Is that what we're calling it?"
Rapi's eyes narrowed.
"Neon."
"I'm just asking!"
Anis laughed.
"Leave her alone, Neon. If you keep teasing her, she might actually hug you."
Rapi immediately turned toward Anis.
"I would do no such thing."
Anis grinned.
"See? You didn't deny the kiss."
Rapi froze.
Her face turned even redder.
"Anis!"
The teasing laughter that followed briefly eased the tension surrounding them.
Even some of the rescued Shipgirls smiled at the exchange.
Yuuki glanced back at the group.
"What are you all talking about?"
"Nothing!" Neon, Anis, and Rapi answered at the same time.
Yuuki stared at them suspiciously.
"Right…"
He shook his head and returned his attention to the route ahead.
Behind him, Anis leaned toward Neon and whispered.
"Definitely the hug and kiss."
Rapi heard her.
"Anis!"
Neon burst out laughing.
Yuuki then turned toward the next person.
"You must be Tove."
Tove straightened.
"Rapi told me you're quite the survivalist."
"Ah, not at all."
Tove scratched her cheek.
"I'm still learning."
She gave a small bow.
"I am Tove from Missilis, the newest member of Unlimited. I serve as the squad's mechanic."
She sighed.
"The squad's technological difficulties tend to plague their daily operations, so I help them out."
Ludmilla crossed her arms.
"Though Tove is well-studied in the art of survival…"
She glanced toward Tove.
"She has some trouble putting it into practice."
Tove's expression stiffened.
"Hey…"
Ludmilla continued.
"Like trying to swallow bugs and other nonstandard food sources."
Yuuki looked at Tove.
"Oh…"
Tove immediately raised her hands.
"It's not that bad!"
Ludmilla sighed.
"We'd rather take our chances."
Yuuki thought for a moment.
"Hmm…"
Then he smiled.
"I think I can train you."
Tove blinked.
"Train?"
"Back then, we had an extremely smart survivalist named Angus MacGyver."
Yuuki explained.
"He retired back on Earth 1.0, but he was quite the clever guy."
"He wrote books and guides on surviving in the wilderness or anything. Basically, if you have a paperclip, you can basically do anything."
Yuuki shrugged.
"So, you could say I've got a few things I can teach you."
Tove's eyes lit up.
"Really?"
She stepped closer.
"Please train me how to survive!"
Yuuki laughed.
"Since you're going to be living with us, I don't think it'll hurt."
He looked toward the others.
"But that doesn't mean you can't learn something useful along the way."
Tove nodded enthusiastically.
"I'll do my best!"
Yuuki smiled.
"Good. We'll start once you're fully recovered."
"Commander, we heard about Mamiya and Irako's rescue."
Kashima and Katori approached Yuuki and bowed respectfully.
"Thank you for considering having us. Compared to the Azur Lane Japanese Shipgirls, we're quite lacking."
Yuuki shook his head.
"Don't sell yourself short."
Katori smiled faintly.
"By the way, I am Katori, and this is my little sister, Kashima."
She gestured toward her sister.
"We came from the same world as Mamiya and Irako. We would be happy to tell you more once we're somewhere safe."
"Please do."
Yuuki glanced toward the surrounding battlefield.
"We'll have plenty of time to talk once Jarvis finally clears everything up."
He paused.
"And Mamiya and Irako aren't the only ones we've found."
Kashima's eyes widened slightly.
"Not the only ones?"
"Right now, my personal maid and attendant, Belfast, is leading the Maid Nikke Squad to rescue her sisters, alongside three newly discovered KanColle Shipgirls."
Kashima stared at him.
"There are more of us?"
"Yes."
Yuuki smiled reassuringly.
"But we'll meet them soon enough. I trust my maids to bring them back safely."
He looked between the sisters.
"So let's survive this first. Then we can meet them again."
Katori placed a hand over her chest.
"Thank goodness…"
Her expression softened.
"We aren't the only ones in this world."
Yuuki nodded.
"I heard from my Shipgirls that you two are their trainers?"
"Yes."
Katori nodded.
"We are training cruisers. Teachers, essentially."
She glanced toward Kashima.
"But we've always longed to participate in missions ourselves."
Kashima continued.
"We're special cruisers built with exceptional and powerful armor. That allows us to survive longer than ordinary training ships."
She sighed.
"Unfortunately, our bodies can't support enough firepower to match proper combat Shipgirls."
Yuuki thought about it for a moment.
"I think we can alter that a bit."
Both sisters looked at him.
"Allow Yuu to scan you once you're safely back home."
He glanced toward Yuu.
"She can figure out ways to modify and upgrade you KanColle Shipgirls."
Yuuki smiled.
"Maybe we can add some firepower bonuses while preserving your existing armor advantages."
He gestured toward their bodies.
"You'd keep the durability that makes you special, while gaining enough offensive power to actually participate in combat."
Kashima's eyes widened.
"You mean… we could keep our armor advantage and still fight alongside everyone?"
"That's the idea."
Katori looked toward her sister.
For the first time since being rescued, a genuine spark of hope appeared in her eyes.
"Then…"
She looked back at Yuuki.
"Perhaps we won't have to remain teachers forever."
Yuuki nodded.
"Exactly. But first, let's get everyone home alive."
"The whole gang is here!" Neon exclaimed.
"Quiet!" Nimi immediately snapped.
Neon looked around at the chaos.
"Hey, with guns blazing around us, no one would notice us."
Nimi sighed.
"You had to say it, didn't you?"
Suddenly—
KZZZZT!
Every light in the facility went out.
The entire underground training zone plunged into darkness.
The gunfire stopped.
The automated defenses fell silent.
For several seconds, there was nothing but the sound of the group's breathing.
Yuuki looked toward his HUD.
"Jarvis?"
"Sir, it appears they have rebooted the entire security system."
Jarvis's voice remained calm.
"It will take some time before I can regain control of the defenses."
"What?"
Yuuki's HUD immediately began filling with hostile contacts.
Hundreds of Rapture signatures were moving through the darkness.
They were converging on their position.
Nimi slowly turned toward Neon.
"You had to say it, didn't you?"
Neon gave an awkward smile.
"Ohhh…"
She raised her weapon.
"Well, we did come here for a shootout."
Anis looked around at the group.
"We have fourteen people we need to protect, you know."
Rapi sighed.
"This just became more complicated."
The rescued Shipgirls immediately became alert.
Bismarck tightened her grip on her weapon.
Tirpitz looked toward the surrounding darkness.
Kashima and Katori moved closer together.
Ludmilla and the other rescued Nikkes raised their weapons, despite knowing they were still far from fully recovered.
Then Behemoth's voice echoed through the facility.
"You really thought you could shut down my entire security system and get away with it?"
Yuuki looked up.
"You really think I can't flush out your annoying AI and regain control of my security system?"
Behemoth laughed.
"Now…"
Her voice became threatening.
"Get out with your hands up."
A moment later, the Rapture droids emerged from the darkness.
They surrounded the elevator.
Dozens became hundreds.
Their weapons locked onto the group from every direction.
"You have five seconds to comply, Yukihira Yuuki."
Behemoth's voice echoed through the underground city.
"Five…"
The Shipgirls, Nikkes, and Yuu all looked toward Yuuki.
He remained completely still.
"Four…"
Eugen glanced toward him.
"Teddy…"
She raised her weapon.
"There's a lot of them out there."
Yuuki's HUD continued filling with red markers.
"Three…"
Bismarck looked toward the surrounding forces.
The rescued Shipgirls were clearly nervous, but none of them stepped back.
"Two…"
Ludmilla tightened her grip.
Anis raised her rifle.
Rapi took a defensive position.
Neon grinned.
Nayuta calmly prepared her weapon.
"One…"
The entire group waited for Yuuki's response.
Yuuki slowly looked across his allies.
Shipgirls.
Nikkes.
Yuu.
Fourteen people who had only just escaped fifteen years of imprisonment.
He couldn't afford to let them be captured again.
Then Yuuki's helmet shifted slightly as he looked toward the countless Rapture droids surrounding them.
The silence was broken only by the mechanical hum of their weapons charging.
Behemoth waited for his surrender.
"Shame…"
Yuuki casually began tossing small objects toward the surrounding Raptures.
They looked like nothing more than harmless golden marbles.
Several of the Nikkes stared at him in confusion.
"Commander, what are you doing?" Anis asked.
Yuuki said nothing.
Instead, he reached behind himself and pulled out a massive cannon-shaped weapon from his inventory.
The rescued Shipgirls and Nikkes widened their eyes in disbelief as Yuuki pulled a weapon out of nowhere. However, they had already seen the Shipgirls and Nikkes rescued before them use armor equipped with dimensional storage, allowing them to store loot, items, and weapons.
It was roughly the same size as the Personal Ion Cannon, but its design was completely different.
Even Yuu reached behind her armor and produced an identical weapon.
The only difference was its color.
Yuuki's was metallic and light green. It was thick, cylindrical, and stubby, resembling a short handheld cannon or heavy industrial tube rather than a traditional firearm. Its body was covered in circular vents and metallic plating, while Russian warning inscriptions had been stamped across the stainless-steel casing. Near the front muzzle, several red indicator lights glowed brightly, displaying the weapon's remaining ammunition. It had no iron sights or scope mounted on top, forcing the user to fire strictly from the hip.
Yuu's was blue.
Neon stared at the weapons.
"What in the world is that?! Some kind of new firepower?!"
All of them stared at his new weapon, a cannon none of them had ever seen before. Its unfamiliar design and immense size immediately drew their attention, leaving the Shipgirls and Nikkes wondering what kind of destructive power it concealed.
Yuuki glanced toward Yuu.
"Yuu."
He gave her a knowing look.
"Go to Plan B."
Yuu smiled.
"Ufuu…"
She opened her interface.
Her fingers moved across the holographic controls before pressing a single command.
DETONATION AUTHORIZED.
Suddenly—
BOOOOOOM!
Explosions erupted throughout the facility.
Then another.
And another.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Outside the underground training zone, the missile sites and SAM batteries that had been rigged earlier suddenly detonated.
Massive fireballs erupted across the Rapture forward base.
KABOOOOOM!
The shockwaves rolled through the facility.
Buildings shook.
Secondary explosions tore through ammunition stores.
The entire base descended into absolute chaos.
High above the facility, Grimm witnessed the explosions spreading across the battlefield.
The eagle let out a sharp cry and circled above the burning base.
His movements and cries were relayed through the communications channel.
Yorktown relayed the message for the others.
"Commander, Grimm reports that the entire base is erupting in explosions. Multiple missile and SAM sites have been destroyed."
Yuuki smiled beneath his helmet.
"Perfect."
The Rapture droids surrounding them were momentarily stunned.
Even Behemoth went silent.
Then—
"What?!"
Her voice erupted through the communications system.
"What did you do?!"
Yuuki didn't answer.
Yuu simply raised her blue cannon.
She pointed it directly at the mass of Rapture droids surrounding them.
The weapon began to hum.
VVVVVVVVMMMM—
Then she pulled the trigger.
FWOOSH!
A massive burst of compressed freezing air erupted from the cannon.
The temperature around them dropped instantly.
A violent artificial snowstorm swept across the battlefield.
Rapture droids were engulfed in the freezing blast.
Their mechanical bodies rapidly became coated in ice.
KRRRRRKKK—
One after another, they froze solid.
Neon stared.
"Whoa…"
The entire front line of Rapture forces had been transformed into frozen statues.
Yuu lowered her weapon.
"Chief."
Yuuki raised his own cannon.
"Got it."
He pulled the trigger.
FWOOOOOOOSH!
A tremendous burst of compressed air exploded outward.
The frozen Raptures shattered instantly.
KRA-KA-KA-KA-KOOOOOM!
Fragments of frozen metal flew in every direction.
The shockwave slammed into the remaining Rapture forces, sending them tumbling backward.
Droids were thrown through the air.
Others crashed into walls and buildings.
The once-impenetrable formation surrounding the elevator was completely broken apart.
Silence followed.
The Shipgirls and Nikkes simply stared.
Kashima's mouth hung open.
Katori looked from the shattered Rapture formation to Yuuki's cannon.
Alice's eyes sparkled.
"That's amazing!"
Neve stared in disbelief.
"What kind of weapon was that?"
Tove was already studying the weapon's mechanisms.
"That wasn't conventional plasma technology…"
Ludmilla narrowed her eyes.
"Commander…"
She looked toward the destruction.
"You really did have another card hidden up your sleeve."
Eugen smiled.
"Of course he did."
Nimi sighed.
"I suppose we should have expected that by now."
Neon, meanwhile, looked absolutely thrilled.
"Commander…"
She slowly raised her weapon.
"Can I have one?"
Yuuki paused.
"No."
"Aww…"
Yuu laughed softly.
"Keep moving, girls. The path is open."
Yuuki nodded.
"Everyone, move!"
The group immediately began advancing through the shattered Rapture formation.
Plan B had worked.
And the Raptures had just learned that surrounding Yukihira Yuuki was probably the worst possible idea.
As they ran through the newly opened path, Yuu raised her blue cannon again.
FWOOSH!
Another blast of compressed freezing air swept across the advancing Raptures.
The machines froze almost instantly.
Yuuki followed immediately.
FWOOOOOSH!
His Thundergun unleashed another tremendous burst of compressed air.
The frozen Raptures shattered apart, while the remaining machines were blown backward by the force of the blast.
The group continued running.
Neon, however, could barely contain her excitement.
"What is that gun?! Commander?! Tell me!"
The other girls were equally curious, their eyes repeatedly shifting between Yuuki and the strange cannon in his hands.
Yuuki finally answered.
"This thing is called the Thundergun. It's one of the Wonder Weapons."
He gestured toward Yuu's blue cannon.
"Yuu is using the same basic concept, but hers is called the Thundragun. Instead of ordinary compressed air, it fires incredibly powerful compressed freezing air. Anything caught directly in its path can be frozen almost instantly."
He raised his own weapon.
"Then I use the Thundergun to blow the frozen targets apart."
Yuuki glanced toward the destruction behind them.
"Even without the Thundragun, though, the Thundergun can still clear a path for us. The compressed air is strong enough to send enemies flying."
Neon's eyes practically sparkled.
"That's so cool!"
She pointed excitedly at the weapon.
"Please let me shoot it!"
"No. Without proper training, the blast could send you flying backward and injure you. I can train you to use it later, but I can't entrust the Thundergun to anyone who lacks basic training."
"Come on!"
"No."
"A single shot?"
"Still no."
Neon pouted as they continued moving.
Rapi looked at Yuuki's weapon with a more analytical expression.
"You called it a Wonder Weapon. What exactly is a Wonder Weapon?"
Yuuki answered while continuing to run.
"Wonder Weapons are fictional weapons that were made real. Each one has a unique, often fantastical function that separates it from the normal arsenal of guns and equipment."
He glanced toward the others.
"Their abilities vary depending on the weapon, but they're generally extremely powerful. They were originally designed to deal with increasingly dangerous enemies like zombies during the later stages of a battle, greatly increasing the our chances of survival."
Anis blinked.
"Wait."
She looked at him.
"Our survival?"
Yuuki nodded.
"Yeah."
Anis's expression slowly changed.
"You said they were made to fight increasingly dangerous enemies."
"Correct."
"And you said the enemies were…"
She hesitated.
"Zombies?"
Yuuki nodded casually.
"Yeah. Zombies."
Anis nearly stopped running.
"ZOMBIES?! Zombies are real?!"
Yuuki looked at her.
"Of course they're real. On Earth 1.0, Yuri occasionally unleashed hordes of zombies to overwhelm Allied and Soviet forces, allowing his armies to advance. The Brotherhood of Nod also used zombies, forcing the GDI to develop Wonder Weapons to deal with them."
Anis stared at him in disbelief.
"You fought zombies before?!"
"Several times."
Yuuki shrugged.
"Some types of zombies couldn't be killed effectively with conventional bullets, so we developed Wonder Weapons to deal with them."
He lifted the Thundergun slightly.
"This cannon is one of them."
Anis stared at the weapon.
Then at Yuuki.
Then back at the weapon.
"…Your world really is insane."
Neon immediately perked up again.
"Do the zombies have Wonder Weapons too?!"
Yuuki sighed.
"Let's survive the Raptures first, Neon."
"Aww."
The group continued forward as another distant explosion rocked the facility.
Yuuki tightened his grip on the Thundergun.
"Keep moving. We still have fourteen people to get out of here."
And with the Thundergun and Thundragun clearing their path, the group pushed deeper into the burning Rapture facility.
The group pushed deeper into the fake city.
By now, the Raptures had begun deploying everything they could throw at them.
Droid trucks rolled through the streets.
Armored rapture tanks emerged from the surrounding buildings.
More combat machines poured into the artificial city from multiple directions, converging on the rescue force.
The rescued Shipgirls and Nikkes immediately took up positions behind cover.
Bismarck and Tirpitz obediently followed Yuuki's orders, firing from safer positions rather than charging into the front lines. Wales stayed close to her sisters, doing everything she could to protect them while returning fire whenever an opening presented itself.
The rest of the rescue force, however, had already moved toward the front.
The upgraded Shipgirls and Nikkes charged straight into the advancing Rapture forces.
Their weapons thundered across the artificial city.
Yuuki watched the battlefield for a moment before glancing toward Yuu.
"Yuu."
"Yes, Chief?"
"If I entrust them with a simple Wonder Weapon, can these girls be expected to behave?"
Yuu looked toward the others.
She paused.
"I can trust Nayuta."
She glanced at Neon, Anis, and the others.
"But the rest?"
Yuu smiled.
"Expect them to become children."
Yuuki sighed.
"That's what I was afraid of."
He reached into his dimensional storage and pulled out a large box.
He opened it.
Inside were twelve unfamiliar weapons.
They were nothing like the Thundergun or Thundragun.
Their bodies were predominantly bright crimson red with white accents. Small gauges and meters were built into their casings, while the words BLAST-O-MATIC were clearly stamped across the side.
At the front of each weapon was a thick barrel that glowed with an eerie cyan-green light.
The ammunition system was even stranger.
A battery assembly resembling two batteries taped together with electrical tape was inserted directly into the rear of the weapon.
At the back was a peculiar cog-like circular mechanism with three small rectangular bars mounted above it.
Neon immediately stared.
Yuuki waved the others over.
"Girls, over here!"
Everyone turned toward him.
"Take one each, including the batteries."
Neon hurried over and picked one up.
She examined the crimson weapon from every angle.
"What is this thing? It looks like a toy ray gun."
Yuuki looked at her.
"It's not a toy."
He lifted his own Ray Gun.
"This is another Wonder Weapon."
He pointed it toward a nearby Rapture droid.
"It's called the Ray Gun."
Neon's eyes widened.
Yuuki pulled the trigger.
PZZZZT!
A glowing green energy projectile shot from the barrel.
It struck the droid.
BOOOOM!
The Rapture exploded instantly.
Everyone froze.
Anis stared at the smoking remains.
"Wow."
Neon's eyes sparkled.
"So cool!"
Rapi nodded.
"Indeed."
Pepper's eyes widened.
"Waa… waa…"
Mary simply stared at the destroyed droid.
Nayuta was completely speechless.
Nimi's eyes widened.
Wales looked genuinely shocked.
Eugen, meanwhile, wore a delighted smile.
Hipper stared at the Ray Gun as though she couldn't quite believe what she had just witnessed.
Avrora grinned behind her helmet.
Vestal did the same.
Yuuki raised the Ray Gun slightly.
"I could lend these to you."
That immediately caught everyone's attention.
"But listen carefully. This is a powerful Wonder Weapon."
He demonstrated the rear ammunition mechanism.
"You reload it by snapping out the barrel to expose the empty battery, tossing it aside, and inserting a new one."
He held up one of the strange battery packs.
"Each battery provides twenty shots. So make them count."
Neon immediately looked at the ammunition.
"Twenty shots?!"
"Yes."
Yuuki continued.
"It also causes significant splash radiation damage. So don't point it at your allies or friends."
He pointed toward the Rapture forces gathering ahead.
"But against groups of enemies?"
Yuuki smiled.
"It becomes extremely effective. The energy can also cause burning and radiation effects when it strikes a target."
Everyone looked toward the twelve Ray Guns.
Yuuki's expression became more serious.
"Rescued Shipgirls and Nikkes stay behind the front line. Fire only when necessary. Your priority is protecting yourselves and getting out of here alive."
The rescued Shipgirls and Nikkes nodded.
"Yes, Commander."
The rescue team began taking the Ray Guns and their battery ammunition.
Wales carefully inspected hers.
Avrora checked the unfamiliar ammunition system.
Hipper and Eugen examined their weapons with equal curiosity.
Nimi immediately began studying the weapon's construction.
Rapi, meanwhile, looked as though she had just been handed a new toy.
Neon was already testing hers.
She pointed the Ray Gun toward a damaged building.
"Hey, Commander! Can I—"
"No."
She fired anyway.
PZZZZT!
The green energy projectile struck the building.
BOOOOM!
A section of the wall violently exploded outward.
Neon's jaw dropped.
She stared at the hole she had just created.
Then she slowly turned toward Yuuki.
"If it can do that to a building…"
Her grin grew wider.
"…and it can shatter a Rapture…"
Neon raised the Ray Gun triumphantly.
"THIS IS ALIEN FIREPOWER!"
Anis sighed.
"Here we go…"
Rapi immediately grabbed Neon by the shoulder.
"Don't get carried away."
"But Rapi! Look at this thing!"
"I can see it."
Neon pointed toward the destroyed wall.
"This is awesome!"
Yuuki shook his head.
"Just remember what I said. Twenty shots per battery. Don't waste them."
Neon hugged the Ray Gun protectively.
"No promises!"
Yuuki sighed.
Yuu smiled beside him.
"I told you."
Yuuki looked toward her.
"They're already becoming children."
Yuu's smile widened.
"Exactly."
The Rapture forces continued pouring into the fake city.
Droid trucks rumbled through the streets while tanks pushed forward between the artificial buildings.
The rescued Shipgirls and Nikkes remained behind the front line as instructed, taking up defensive positions and firing their Ray Guns whenever a Rapture came within range.
But the six upgraded Shipgirls and six Nikkes had already taken the fight directly to the enemy.
Wales led the charge alongside Avrora, Hipper, Eugen, Vestal, and Nimi.
Anis, Rapi, Neon, Pepper, Mary, and Nayuta followed them into the chaos.
The moment the first wave of Raptures came within range—
PZZZZT!
A green energy blast struck a Rapture tank.
BOOOOM!
The tank vanished beneath the explosion.
Wales stared at her Ray Gun.
"…Good heavens."
She immediately aimed at another target.
PZZZZT!
Another Rapture exploded.
Wales's expression changed.
A faint grin appeared beneath her helmet.
"Oh…"
She raised the weapon again.
"I rather like this."
Avrora fired next.
PZZZZT!
A Rapture droid exploded in a burst of green energy.
Avrora stared at the result.
Then she grinned.
"Da! This is magnificent!"
Hipper was equally surprised.
"There's no way something this small should have that much power!"
She fired again.
BOOM!
Another target disappeared.
Hipper's eyes widened.
"…I want more."
Eugen laughed.
"Finally, a weapon worthy of our little rescue operation."
She fired into a cluster of droids.
PZZZZT—BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The splash damage caught several machines at once.
Eugen's smile widened.
"Oh, this is fun."
Nimi had initially been more cautious.
She carefully aimed at a Rapture vehicle approaching from the side.
PZZZZT!
The vehicle erupted.
Nimi stared at the smoking wreckage.
"…That's absurd."
She looked down at the Ray Gun.
Then back toward the battlefield.
A small smile appeared.
"I like it."
Vestal fired next.
PZZZZT!
A Rapture droid was blasted apart.
Vestal blinked.
"…That was one shot."
She glanced toward Yuuki.
"Commander, what exactly have you been keeping in storage?"
Yuuki simply continued firing his own weapon.
"You don't want to know."
Meanwhile, the Nikkes were becoming just as enthusiastic.
Anis fired at a group of advancing Raptures.
PZZZZT!
BOOOOM!
Three machines disappeared in the resulting blast.
Anis stared.
"Okay…"
She slowly grinned.
"I REALLY like this gun."
Rapi fired with considerably more discipline.
One shot.
One target.
BOOM!
She immediately shifted to another.
BOOM!
Another target fell.
Rapi's eyes widened slightly.
"…The accuracy is good, too."
Neon, however, had completely abandoned any semblance of restraint.
"COME HERE, YOU STUPID RAPTURES!"
PZZZZT!
BOOM!
"ANOTHER!"
PZZZZT!
BOOM!
"AND ANOTHER!"
She started running after the retreating Raptures, firing as fast as she could.
Anis shouted after her.
"Neon! Don't waste the ammunition!"
"I'M HUNTING!"
"You're not hunting!"
"I AM NOW!"
Pepper fired toward another cluster.
PZZZZT!
The blast threw several droids into the air.
Pepper's eyes widened.
"Waa…"
She smiled.
"That's actually really powerful."
Mary fired next.
PZZZZT!
A tank exploded.
Mary stared at the result.
"…Perhaps I understand why the Commander was reluctant to hand these out."
Nayuta calmly raised her Ray Gun.
PZZZZT!
A Rapture approaching from the flank exploded.
Nayuta lowered the weapon.
"A most impressive weapon indeed."
She glanced toward Neon, who was chasing another group of Raptures.
"Though some among us seem to have forgotten the meaning of restraint."
"HEY!"
Neon shouted from across the street.
"I HEARD THAT!"
Nayuta smiled.
"Good."
The battlefield had become absolute chaos.
Raptures that approached the rescue force were immediately targeted.
PZZZZT!
BOOM!
PZZZZT!
BOOM!
Green energy streaked through the streets from every direction.
The six upgraded Shipgirls and six Nikkes had effectively become hunters.
Instead of simply defending themselves, they were actively searching for Raptures to shoot.
Wales fired at an approaching truck.
Avrora destroyed a tank.
Hipper blasted a droid formation.
Eugen vaporized another armored vehicle.
Vestal picked off a machine threatening the rescued group.
Nimi fired into a cluster attempting to flank them.
Anis, Rapi, Neon, Pepper, Mary, and Nayuta did the same.
Every successful shot produced another explosion.
And with every explosion, their expressions became more impressed.
Even the rescued Shipgirls and Nikkes watching from behind cover couldn't help staring.
Bismarck watched Wales destroy another tank with a single shot.
"…That weapon is extraordinarily powerful."
Tirpitz nodded.
"Far more powerful than it looks."
Kashima stared at the battlefield.
"They're enjoying this…"
Katori watched Eugen fire another Ray Gun blast.
"…Quite a lot."
Yuuki looked over the battlefield.
Twelve Ray Guns were tearing through the Rapture advance.
Yuu stood beside him, watching the girls enthusiastically hunt down every hostile machine that came within range.
Yuuki sighed.
"I think I understand what you meant now."
Yuu smiled.
"I told you."
Neon suddenly shouted from the distance.
"COMMANDER! THIS THING IS AWESOME!"
Yuuki raised a hand.
"I can hear you!"
"CAN I KEEP IT?!"
"No!"
"AWW!"
She immediately turned around and fired another shot.
PZZZZT!
BOOOOM!
Neon grinned.
"Worth asking!"
Yuuki shook his head.
Yuu simply laughed.
The Ray Guns had been meant to give the rescue force additional firepower.
Instead, Yuuki had accidentally turned twelve rescued Shipgirls and Nikkes into the most enthusiastic Rapture hunters on the battlefield.
The rescued Shipgirls and Nikkes watched from behind their positions as the twelve Ray Guns continued tearing through the Rapture forces.
They couldn't deny it.
They were envious.
Every time Wales, Avrora, Hipper, Eugen, Vestal, Nimi, Anis, Rapi, Neon, Pepper, Mary, or Nayuta fired a Ray Gun, another Rapture exploded beneath the weapon's overwhelming power.
The rescued girls looked down at their own Ion weapons.
Their weapons were powerful enough to fight ordinary Rapture forces, but compared to the Wonder Weapons being wielded by the more experienced members of the rescue force, the difference was obvious.
Bismarck watched Wales fire another shot.
PZZZZT!
BOOM!
The Rapture disappeared.
Bismarck smiled faintly.
"It certainly is an impressive weapon."
Tirpitz nodded.
"Very much so."
Kashima looked at the Ray Guns being wielded by the others.
"I wouldn't mind trying one."
Katori smiled.
"Neither would I."
Ludmilla folded her arms.
"Patience. We have only just awakened."
She glanced at the battlefield.
"Trying to wield something that powerful without possessing the strength or experience to properly handle it would be foolish."
Alice looked at her own Ion weapon.
"So we have to become stronger first?"
"Precisely," Ludmilla replied.
Neve nodded.
"I suppose that's fair."
Tove looked toward Yuuki.
"Then we'll just have to earn the right to use them."
The rescued Shipgirls and Nikkes exchanged glances.
They all understood.
The Wonder Weapons weren't simply ordinary firearms.
They demanded a certain level of strength, control, and combat experience.
They had only just been rescued after fifteen years of imprisonment. Their bodies were still recovering, and even the Assault Armor was compensating for their physical weakness.
For now, their Ion weapons were more than enough.
Still…
That didn't mean they weren't interested.
Kashima looked toward Katori.
"Maybe someday."
Katori smiled.
"Someday."
Bismarck watched Wales fight alongside the others.
"When we have recovered…"
She looked down at her weapon.
"I would like to ask the Commander for the opportunity."
Tirpitz nodded.
"So would I."
The others quietly agreed.
They might not be ready today.
But they would become ready.
One day, they would stand alongside the others and wield those extraordinary weapons themselves.
For now, however, they stayed behind the front line and continued firing their Ion weapons whenever a Rapture approached.
PZZT!
A droid fell.
PZZT!
Another exploded.
The rescued Shipgirls and Nikkes might not have Wonder Weapons yet.
But they were already determined to earn their chance.
And judging by the expressions on their faces, Yuuki was going to receive quite a few requests once they finally returned home.
==========
The Ray Guns looked almost ridiculous in the hands of the rescue force.
They resembled oversized toy guns, complete with their bright crimson casings and strange battery magazines.
But everyone who had fired one now understood the truth.
They were anything but toys.
The girls followed Yuuki's instructions carefully.
When a battery was depleted, they snapped the barrel open, removed the empty battery pack, inserted a fresh one, and snapped the barrel back into place.
CLICK!
Ready.
Then—
PZZZZT!
The Ray Gun emitted its distinctive, almost childish-sounding laser.
BOOOOM!
A Rapture disappeared.
The contrast was almost comical.
The weapon sounded like something from a children's toy.
Its destructive power belonged on a battlefield.
The rescue force quickly learned to alternate between their Ray Guns and Volt Auto Rifles, switching weapons depending on the situation.
The Volt Auto Rifles shredded individual targets with sustained fire.
The Ray Guns obliterated clusters with their explosive splash damage.
The Raptures simply couldn't keep up.
PZZZZT!
BOOM!
BRRRRRRT!
PZZZZT!
KABOOM!
The fake city became a storm of green energy, automatic fire, explosions, and collapsing Rapture machines.
The entire Rapture forward base had descended into chaos.
Explosions erupted throughout the facility as ammunition stores, vehicles, and defensive positions were destroyed.
Rapture units scrambled in every direction, desperately attempting to reorganize their forces.
But their anti-aircraft defenses were already gone.
Their aircraft were disabled.
The skies belonged to the rescue force.
The fourteen rescued Shipgirls and Nikkes remained disciplined.
Whenever a Rapture managed to approach their defensive positions, they fired from behind cover with their Ion weapons.
PZZT!
Another droid fell.
They weren't yet strong enough to join the others at the front, but they were contributing.
More importantly, they were surviving.
Eventually, the rescue force reached the middle of the fake city.
The area ahead was unusually open.
A wide artificial plaza surrounded by damaged buildings provided enough space for the entire group to regroup.
Yuuki checked his HUD.
"Sir, the Alpha Charlie is almost here."
Yuuki looked toward the sky.
"We need to get out fast."
He immediately reached into his dimensional storage.
Two capsules appeared on the ground.
The others stared at them.
KSHHHH!
The first capsule opened.
Mechanical components rapidly unfolded from within.
Hydraulic systems extended.
Armor plates locked into place.
Wheels and suspension assemblies deployed.
A massive armored vehicle assembled itself piece by piece.
CLANK!
THUNK!
KRRRRR-CHUNK!
Within minutes, the machine stood fully assembled before them.
A second capsule opened.
Another identical vehicle emerged.
The fourteen rescued Shipgirls and Nikkes stared in disbelief.
Kashima blinked.
"Another vehicle…"
Katori stared at the enormous armored machine.
"It assembled itself."
Alice's eyes sparkled.
"It's a transforming machine!"
Tove immediately began studying its construction.
"What kind of assembly system is this?"
Yuuki walked toward the two vehicles.
"These are Goliath APCs."
The GDI's newly designed armored personnel carrier had undergone several modifications before entering official battlefield service.
Its most notable upgrade was the return of serious offensive capability.
Mounted on top was a 20mm quad cannon battery, capable of firing armor-piercing rounds against both ground and air targets alongside unguided rockets and SAM batteries on it.
The Goliath was not designed for water operations, however. Its engine configuration prevented it from traversing bodies of water.
Instead, the designers compensated with significantly heavier armor.
That armor protected the passengers while allowing them to fire outward through dedicated firing ports.
Yuuki opened the rear compartment.
"Girls, inside!"
He pointed toward the first APC.
"Help your sisters and friends get in."
He then looked toward Yuu.
"Yuu, you and the Nikkes take one APC."
He pointed toward the second.
"We'll take the other."
Yuuki looked at Wales and Anis.
"Wales, Anis. You two drive."
Wales nodded.
"Understood."
Anis immediately climbed into the driver's compartment.
"Roger that!"
The Shipgirls and Nikkes began helping their rescued comrades into the APCs.
Bismarck helped Tirpitz.
Katori helped Kashima.
Ludmilla assisted Alice.
Mary and Pepper made sure everyone was properly seated.
Yuuki and Yuu climbed into their respective vehicles and began powering up the systems.
VRRRRRRRRMMMM—
The Goliath's engine roared to life.
Inside the passenger compartment, Yuuki helped secure the rescued Shipgirls and Nikkes into their seats.
"Make sure everyone is strapped in."
The armored doors began closing.
Yuuki looked toward the others.
"The Goliath has heavy frontal and side armor. It's built to protect everyone inside."
He paused.
"And if something gets in our way…"
He grinned.
"Ram it."
Anis's eyes lit up.
"Roger!"
She gripped the steering controls.
"Ram anything!"
Wales looked toward her sisters.
"Hold on, sisters!"
The engines roared louder.
Both Goliath APCs surged forward.
VRRROOOOOOM!
The rescue force was heading for extraction.