On Azur Lane's main base, Sicilia sits in her office. She's on the phone with someone as her holds a look of panic.

  Baxterbro

  "O-Only half of the convoy made it back t-t-to us, Sir." Sicilia says into the phone. "Only a few a-a-arrived back a Sakura Empire, so we're still tr-tr-trying to f-f-f-figure out who's m-m-m-missing."

  A sigh is heard from the other end. "The Sirens are making a move again, huh?" President Roosevelt is heard through the phone. "This isn't good, Commander Sicilia. The World is burning and there's nothing we can do to stop it, it seems."

  "S-S-Sir?"

  "London was attacked st night, hundreds dead. Berlin was air raided, they're still counting the casualties. And Northern Parliament is in shambles. We know the Sirens are behind this, but they seem to be backing a group called Cordis Die."

  "The Heart Day?" Sicilia mutters.

  "And this group is lead by one Raul Menendez."

  Sicilia slightly gasps. "No way..."

  "Commander, do you know of this Menendez."

  "You're a dead man unless you do exactly as I say." A memory pys in Sicilia's head. "Tune the radio to..."

  The sounds of electronic shocks are heard as something is smashed.

  "You are going to kill me, si?"

  Sicilia runs a hand through her hair, as sweat falls down her brow. "I-I thought he was dead, Sir..."

  "I swear to God, I'll kill this bastard!"

  "Well, we got her, Sicilia." Stait's voice is heard.

  A couple gunshots echo.

  "You can't kill me... You can't kill me..." Major Freya's voice echoes.

  "Well, he's not Commander. And he wants the Eagle Union gone. Check your Emails."

  Sicilia slides on her chair to the other side of her desk and accesses her computer. She types a few times and on several things. Then a video pops up of an Old man with a gss right eye, speaking in Spanish to the camera.

  "S-Sir, what am I watching?" Sicilia asks.

  "A deceleration of war, Commander." President Roosevelt informs. "Commander, we are now at war with Cordis Die... And so is the rest of the whole world."

  "W-What do you want me to do, S-Sir?"

  "I want you to extend our patrolling area, and increase the number of patrols. I want you to get Alicorn to gather the other three Commanders and bring them back to Azur Lane."

  "S-Sir, that may be a problem." Sicilia starts to sweat more.

  "And why is that, Commander?"

  Sicilia gulps. "Alicorn le-left the base without permission and w-w-went hunting t-t-t-to avenge her injured Sister and Aunt. She left yesterday a-a-and still w-w-we haven't heard from h-h-her."

  The other line is silent for a few moments. "Commander, you need to get Alicorn in line. Or I will get someone to do it for you. I need a competent Commander right now, Sicilia. So show me it, or you will be repced."

  The President hands up and Sicilia sets her phone down. Then she sets her hands on her head and grips her hair.

  On the other side of the base Yorktown sits in her room, next to a window. Enterprise is drinking some tea on a chair across from her.

  Yorktown is writing in a book, which she slowly comes to a stop. Then she looks out the window with a look of worry.

  Enterprise notices Yorktown's look. "Sister, what's wrong."

  Yorktown stares out the window for a few seconds, before looking at her younger sister. "It's Alicorn... She's out there, fighting alone... Again. She shouldn't be out there by herself. I know she's strong, but still... I worry for my little girl."

  Enterprise sets her cup down and reaches over and puts a hand on top of Yorktown's. "I'm worried for her too, but we have to trust her as well. She knows her own strength, she'll flee if she knows she can't win. So we just have to have faith, she'll make it back safely."

  Yorktown nods. "Okay..." She takes a deep breath. "Okay..." She grips the hem of her dress. "Just have faith."

  Baxterbro

  Far out into the ocean Alicorn comes to a stop, her three shark heads look around as her glowing yellow eyes gnce around the area, they widen in shock.

  "What... Happened?" Alicorn's robotic voice questions.

  Blood, oil, fire, scrap metal cover the top of the ocean. A couple ships are barely seen floating on the top of the water. An explosion rings out on one of the destroyers and it slowly sinks below the water.

  Alicorn's cube beats in her chest as she sees several severed arms and legs floating in the water. Alicorn skates around as her rigging keeps an eye out for her.

  As Alicorn moves she comes across more metal, blood, but finds a rge oil spill leading away from the carnage. Alicorn's glowing yellow eyes follow the trail of oil and sees it lead to a Isnd in the distance. Pilrs of smoke rise from the isnd.

  Alicorn takes off skating towards the isnd at full speed.

  "Please, someone be alive..." Alicorn says in worry as soon reaches the isnd.

  Alicorn hops onto the isnd and looks around. Zeros, Ki-84, Type 88 pnes litter the ground, all smoking and burning. Alicorn moves along the side of the isnd and finds several washed up pieces of metal and rge scrap. A few siren jet corpses litter the water, then she comes across someone ying on the beach.

  Alicorn swiftly runs over to the person and slides down onto her knees. She finds the person on their side. "Please be alive."

  Alicorn rolls the person onto their back and its reveal to be Tosa. Alicorn shakes Tosa a few times, but she doesn't move. Alicorn then brings her ear down to her chest and listens.

  Alicorn then grows sad and lets out a sighs as she stares down at Tosa. "I'm sorry Miss Tosa."

  Alicorn brings her hands together and gives a small prayer. Then she stands up and bows to the still Tosa, before moving on.

  Alicorn slowly moves on, keeping an eye out as the hairs on her neck stand up. She looks off to the ocean and sees a rge fog slowly rolling in.

  BeatBeat

  BeatBeat

  Alicorn's cube beats a couple times as she stares out at the fog. Her rigging lets out a few low growls. She then shakes her head and moves on. Alicorn then rounds a corner of the isnd and spots a massive beach battle ship, its guns on fire or destroyed.

  "Is that... Yamato's?" Alicorn questions and she takes off in full sprint towards the massive beach battleship.

  Alicorn reaches the battleship and notices burn marks all over the hull of the ship. She slowly moves around the ship and finds a rge hole on the side of her, making her eyes widen.

  "No shell caused this..." Alicorn mutters and she touches the edges of the hole, which are warped, and it's warm to the touch. "What caused a hole to melt into the side of her ship?"

  Alicorn keeps moving along the side of the ship and she steps on something. Alicorn looks down and finds one of Yamato's heels, and drag marks on the ground. Dried blood soaks in the ground and follows the trail.

  Alicorn follows the drag marks with her eyes and sees it lead into the forest, towards the middle of the Isnd. Alicorn heads innd, following the trail.

  Alicorn follows the trail to the entrance of a rge cave and sees a rge spot of blood on the ground. Alicorn knees down and stares at the dark blood.

  "Someone's really hurt..." Alicorn looks onto the cave, her yellow eyes glowing.

  Alicorn stands up and enters the cave. Her riggling's red eyes shine the way as the darkness of the cave engulfs her. Kevin grumbles a few times and shakes some water off that dripped onto his head.

  Midly snaps at Kevin and he roars back at Midly. Righty just sighs as he watches the two argue.

  Alicorn comes to a stop, making her riggings go quiet. Alicorn swiftly takes the sword out from Midly's head and blocks an incoming attack.

  Alicorn pushes her attack back, and ducks as they charge at her again. Alicorn then brings up her sword and parries another attack, before grabbing her attack's weapon. Her rigging's eyes shine onto her attack and it's Ayanami.

  Ayanami has dried blood covering the left side of her head. Her right eye is swollen, she has deep cuts littering her arms.

  Ayanami gres at Alicorn and continues to try and attack her.

  "Ayanami, calm down..." Alicorn orders. "It's me, Alicorn."

  Ayanami freezes up and lets go of her sword, letting it fall to the ground. "Miss Alicorn?" She stumbles back a little and leans against a wall. "I'm... I'm so sorry!" She looks Alicorn up and down, her rigging lighting up the area. "You feel, different... And sound different."

  "You could say... I'm a little angry. Are you alone?"

  Ayanami shakes her as she picks up her sword. "No, there's a few of us that survived."

  "Take me to them, we're getting out of here."

  "Yes, ma'am."

  Ayanami leads Alicorn deeper into the cave and they come to a small alcove with a small fire going. Kaga and Akagi are sitting in front of the fire, wounds covering their bodies.

  Nearby is Osami, who's covered in blood, putting pressure on the side of Yamato, who is very pale. Deep bags are under Osami's tired eyes.

  "Come on, Yamato, stay with me." Osami mutters.

  "Girls!" Ayanami calls out, and they look to her. "We got help!" She motions to Alicorn.

  Osami sighs in relief, while Kaga and Akagi both smile in happiness. Yamato weakly look over.

  "Let's get moving." Alicorn orders. "More Siren's might show up, and I don't think you all can fight them."

  "I think you came just in time." Osami states. "Come on, girls. Let's get moving." She grabs Yamato and struggles to stand up.

  Kaga swiftly stands up and moves over to her Commander. "Commander, let's me carry her."

  "No, I got it!" Osami lifts up the very injured Yamato. "You all need your strength."

  Blood drips onto the ground from a rge hole in the side of Yamato's stomach.

  "Come on, Yamato, just hang in there." Osami mutters in worry. "Don't worry, you'll see Musashi again"

  Yamato weakly whispers something to Osami.

  "Yes, don't worry." Osami smiles to Yamato, which Yamato weakly gives on back.

  "Come on, we're wasting time." Alicorn calls out.

  "Right."

  Everyone follows Alicorn out of the cave and into the sunlight of the afternoon sun.

  Akagi sighs in relief. "The sun, I never thought I'd see it again."

  "Now we just need to get home." Kaga grabs her sister's hand.

  Ayanami keeps a hand on her sword. "We must stay vigint."

  Osami stumbles a little with Yamato, blood drips from her left hip.

  "Commander, are you sure you can carry her?" Akagi asks.

  Osami nods with determination. "She's done so much for me, so I'm doing this for her."

  "Come, let's move." Alicorn orders.

  The group moves through the forest and onto the beach. The Sakura Empire ground grows scared as they stare out into the ocean and move past Alicorn.

  "No..." Osami mutters.

  Far into the distance a massive fleet of Siren ships sail towards them. Nearly a hundred Siren ships sail out from the fog in the distance.

  "Fuck, fuck, FUCK!" Osami shouts in anger. "Can't we catch a break!"

  "We can't deal with that many." Akagi mutters as her eyes narrow out to the massive Siren fleet.

  Ayanami readies her sword. "We're not going down without a fight."

  Baxterbro

  Alicorn suddenly moves past everyone, with a bnk face. Everyone watches as Alicorn steps onto the water and walks towards the Siren fleet.

  "Alicorn!" Kaga calls out. "What are you doing?!"

  Alicorn stares out to the approaching Siren fleet.

  "Kings have honor..."

  Alicorn's rigging turns into thousands of cubes as she stops. Her submarine forms next to her.

  "Soldiers have bravery..."

  A robotic eagle screeches far in the distance as Alicorn's eyes shine blue.

  "And Poets have heart..."

  Alicorn's rail cannon starts to move up.

  "But all I have is..."

  A shell is loaded into the rail cannon as it starts to charge up. The shell spins around, revealing a radioactive symbol on it.

  "Rage."

  In the distance the Siren ships move their turrets and aim them towards Alicorn. In one of the POV of the turrets reticle locked onto Alicorn's head.

  Target Locked

  WARNING! WARNING!Target Unstable

  DANGER! DANGER!Nuclear Threat Detected

  Fall Back! Fall Back!

  Alicorn starts to smile as her eyes shine as she stares into the turrets camera. Her smile slowly turns sadistic as she aims a finger gun at the camera.

  Alicorn's eyes turn back to their glowing yellow as she fires her finger gun.

  "Bang."

  Alicorn's rail cannon fires, shaking the submarine back.

  Everything is silent as the shell flies into the distance. Until a bright white light shines, making everyone cover their eyes. Then they're nearly thrown to the ground by a rge force of wind. Akagi helps Osami stand up as the wind blows onto them.

  After a few seconds everything dies down and they all look into the distance. They're eyes widen as a mushroom cloud rises into the sky.

  "Is this..." Kaga mutters.

  "...Her true power?" Akagi finishes.

  "This is what Eric created?" Osami questions.

  Ayanami stares in awe. "This is Alicorn at her strongest."

  Alicorn looks back at her friends. The sadistic smile is still on her face. "Get in, we must leave fast."

  The others just nods.

  .

  .

  Alicorn stares at the computer screens in her control room. Her glowing eyes calcuting the information on the screens.

  Ayanami enters the room, all cleaned up and covered in bandages. "Yamato's condition is stable, but she still isn't looking good."

  "Hopefully she'll survive another day, it's about another 20 hours until we're Sakura Empire." Alicorn informs. "So go get some rest, you need it."

  "What about you?"

  "I'll be fine, I've got days without sleep, I can do it again."

  Ayanami looks at Alicorn with worry. "But-"

  "Ayanami, I am ordering you to go get some rest."

  Ayanami is silent for a few moments before she bows and leaves the room. Alicorn stands in silence as she continues to monitor the screens.

  .

  .

  .

  The evening sun shines on Sakura Empire as Alicorn and her group dock at the port. Ship-girls and soldiers crowed around their ship as they all hop off the ship. Medics push through the crowd and start attending to their Commander and Injured ships.

  Zuikaku walks up to Alicorn and bows to her. "Thank you for finding them. We all were so scared that she died."

  Alicorn just nods. "It's nothing." Her voice is back to normal.

  "No, it's everything to us! Without Osami, we'd be lost."

  Alicorn just hums. "I believe you may rely on her too much."

  "We ships may be nothing without a human to guide us."

  Alicorn doesn't respond as she stares at Zuikaku.

  .

  .

  .

  Alicorn skates on the top of the ocean as the morning sun hits her back. Her rigging gnces around and turns towards an approaching fog, they start to growl towards the fog.

  Alicorn stops and gnces at her rigging. "What is it, boys?"

  Her rigging continues to growl towards the fog that rolls in just a few feet from her. Suddenly Midly's head opens up and the handle of Alicorn's sword appears.

  "If you're sure." Alicorn grabs the handle and pulls out her weapon, the panel on Midly's head closes.

  Alicorn readies her weapon as she stares into the fog. A deep rumbling growl echoes from within it, and suddenly something flies out of it.

  Alicorn swings her weapon and parries a glowing red spear, it falls into the ocean and the water around it bubbles.

  "A spear made from Molten metal?" Alicorn questions, only to parry another Spear. "COME OUT NOW!" She orders.

  Several booms echo from the fog and Alicorn slides to the side and several massive shells nd in the water where she was standing. Alicorn turns to the fog, only to gasp in shock.

  BOOM!

  -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  01-22-2024

  2567 words