Yuuki let out a long breath.
A third sigh.
"…They're a handful," he muttered to himself.
Still—
There was a faint smile.
At least he escaped.
For now.
"Ah… you must be the one who called to us… and rescued us."
Yuuki turned.
"…You are?"
The girl stepped forward with composed posture.
"Forgive my intrusion," she said. "I am Köln of the Iron Blood. Third ship of the Königsberg-class light cruisers."
Yuuki observed her carefully.
Köln had semi-long brownish-gray hair tied into low twintails, giving her a refined but practical appearance. Her purple eyes were sharp behind a pair of glasses, adding to her disciplined demeanor.
She wore a maroon cropped long-sleeved military jacket with yellow-lined black cuffs and gold trimmings, along with a golden aiguillette draped over her right shoulder. Beneath it was a black thigh-length dress with a white center panel, secured by a metal plate below her chest with six yellow buttons.
Her legs were clad in black thigh-high socks reinforced with metal plating, paired with red pumps, while her hands were covered in black gloves. A black navy round hat completed her uniform.
Yuuki nodded slightly.
"…Köln."
Before he could say more—
Another voice cut in.
"Oh? So you're the commander who called to us?"
Yuuki turned—
And immediately felt something was… off.
"You have quite a cute face," she said with a teasing smile. "Hehe… let big sister take good care of you from now on~"
Yuuki blinked.
"…I'm already concerned."
She stepped forward with confidence.
She had long white hair flowing down her back and striking green eyes, her expression playful—too playful. Her outfit was a form-fitting black and red military-style uniform, made of sleek, leather-like materials that emphasized both elegance and intimidation. Her high-thigh stockings and fitted design gave her a commanding presence.
"I am Königsberg," she said. "First ship of the Königsberg-class."
She tilted her head slightly.
"I have served for quite some time… though I've seen more training and transport missions than actual combat."
A faint smirk formed.
"So feel free to think of me as your… teacher."
Yuuki took a small step back.
"…Why am I not comfortable with this one?"
Köln adjusted her glasses slightly.
"Please forgive my sister," she said calmly. "She has a tendency to tease excessively."
A brief pause.
"…And can be somewhat sadistic."
Yuuki immediately shifted another step away.
"…That explains it."
Königsberg's smile sharpened just slightly.
"Well, Herr Kommandant…" she said. "Are you uncomfortable around me?"
Yuuki didn't hesitate.
"Yes."
A beat.
"I am not comfortable around sadistic individuals."
Köln nodded, unfazed.
"Understandable," she said. "Rest assured, she will restrain herself if it causes you discomfort."
Another figure stepped forward.
"I am Karlsruhe," she said brightly. "Second ship of the Königsberg-class!"
Karlsruhe had a completely different energy.
She had white hair and bright blue eyes, her expression cheerful and lively. Her outfit followed the Iron Blood aesthetic but with a lighter tone—a stylized military-inspired uniform blending white, black, and red, fitted yet less severe than her sisters'.
Her demeanor was energetic—almost playful.
"We are the Königsberg-class cruisers of the Iron Blood," she said with a small bow.
Köln followed.
"The ones you rescued from the headquarters."
Königsberg crossed her arms, still smiling faintly.
Karlsruhe beamed.
"…We are grateful," they said.
Yuuki looked at all three of them.
Different personalities.
Clear contrast.
"…You're welcome," he replied simply.
But internally—
"…Yeah," he muttered.
"I'm definitely not letting my guard down around that one."
Yuuki studied the three of them for a moment, arms loosely crossed.
"Iron Blood… is that basically Germany?" he asked.
Köln adjusted her glasses slightly.
"…We do not understand what this 'Germany' is," she replied.
Yuuki tilted his head.
"…Alright."
Then—
He switched languages.
"Vielleicht so besser?" (Maybe this is better?)
All three froze.
Köln's eyes sharpened immediately.
"Herr Kommandant… Sie sprechen unsere Sprache?" (You speak our language?)
Yuuki nodded, replying just as smoothly.
"Ein wenig. Wir haben deutsche Mitglieder in meiner Organisation." (A little. We have German members in my organization.)
Königsberg's smile deepened, intrigued.
"My… Herr Kommandant," she said, now also speaking in German. "Sie sind wirklich interessant. Sie sprechen unsere Sprache so fließend." (You are quite interesting. You speak our language so fluently.)
Karlsruhe lit up.
"Eh?! That's amazing!" she said, switching back to a mix of both, clearly impressed. "You really sound like one of us!"
Köln gave a small nod.
"…I must admit, I am impressed," she said. "Your 'Iron Blood' speech is precise."
She paused.
"…Are you not from our fatherland?"
Yuuki shook his head.
"Nope," he replied. "Mixed blood."
He gestured lightly.
"But I've learned multiple languages. Perfected them."
He glanced at them again.
"Where I come from, Iron Blood is known as Germany," he explained. "A nation. Strong military, advanced engineering."
A faint smirk.
"Hell, even our science division is mostly German."
Königsberg raised a brow, amused.
"My… how fascinating."
Köln's expression turned thoughtful.
"…Then why refer to us as 'German'?"
Yuuki exhaled slightly.
"Because I'm not from this world," he said plainly. "I got here about two weeks ago. Some… accident involving my fleet."
He looked around briefly.
"This world's different. Shipgirls, Sirens… even people with animal traits."
A brief silence followed.
Köln spoke quietly.
"…Another world."
Karlsruhe blinked.
"…That's kinda cool."
Königsberg smiled faintly, eyes narrowing just slightly in interest.
"…Or dangerous."
Yuuki shrugged.
"…Both."
Because from his perspective—
This world wasn't just unfamiliar.
It was—
A whole different system.
Yuuki straightened slightly, his tone shifting from casual to something far more grounded.
"I am Yukihira Yuuki," he said. "High Commander of the Global Defense Initiative."
The three exchanged glances.
"Global Defense Initiative…" they repeated quietly.
Yuuki nodded.
"A global defense force," he explained, "not bound to this world. No factions, no national allegiance, no political chains."
He gestured lightly.
"We're made up of top-tier technologists, soldiers, and specialists—working together for a single purpose."
A brief pause.
"The greater good."
Köln adjusted her glasses, her expression sharpening.
"You said you are the High Commander…" she began.
"…Which means?" Königsberg added, eyes narrowing slightly with interest.
Yuuki met their gaze directly.
"I lead it," he said. "At the highest level."
Karlsruhe's eyes lit up.
"Uooohhh…"
Yuuki continued.
"Right now, we operate in two divisions," he said. "Earth… and Space."
Karlsruhe practically bounced.
"Space?!"
Königsberg's smile deepened.
"My… that escalated quickly."
"You have spaceships and all?" Karlsruhe asked eagerly.
Yuuki nodded.
"Yeah."
There was a brief silence.
Then—
He got to the point.
"I want to invite you," he said. "All of you."
Köln didn't answer immediately.
"But… we have our Fatherland," she said carefully.
Yuuki's expression shifted slightly.
"…Do you?" he asked.
That made them pause.
"It's been ten years," he continued. "From what I've gathered, the Sirens won."
He looked at each of them.
"Nations collapsed. Shipgirls were disavowed. Abandoned."
Königsberg's smile faded slightly.
"Not just you," Yuuki added. "Almost all of them."
His tone lowered.
"Some died. Some went missing. Some are still out there… surviving on their own."
He gestured toward them.
"And some… were left behind. Like you."
Silence settled.
He didn't rush it.
"…I have data," he continued. "Locations. Records of Wisdom Cubes. Survivors."
His voice firmed.
"I'm going to recover them."
Karlsruhe looked at him, her earlier excitement quieted into something more serious.
"…All of them?"
Yuuki nodded.
"As many as I can."
He took a step forward.
"And when I do," he said, "I'll give them a place to belong."
Köln's gaze hardened slightly.
"…A new allegiance."
Yuuki shook his head.
"No," he said.
"Not allegiance."
A pause.
"A choice."
Königsberg watched him carefully now, no longer just teasing.
"…And if they choose not to follow you?"
Yuuki shrugged.
"Then they don't," he said. "I'm not here to force anyone."
Another pause.
"But I will give them an option they didn't have before."
Köln lowered her gaze slightly, thinking.
Karlsruhe looked between them, uncertain but hopeful.
Königsberg's smile returned—subtle, but different now.
"…A commander who doesn't bind," she said quietly.
Yuuki exhaled.
"…Something like that."
Because in a world where they were abandoned—
He wasn't offering control.
He was offering—
A way forward.
Yuuki didn't soften this time.
He spoke plainly.
"Right now, I've secured enough materials to rebuild the reconstruction system," he said. "That means shipgirls who've fallen… can come back."
The three of them stilled.
"But understand this clearly," he continued. "I'm not forcing anyone."
He looked directly at them.
"If someone doesn't want to follow me, I won't drag them in."
A pause.
"If they choose to remain as they are… even if that means staying gone… I'll respect it."
Karlsruhe's expression flickered.
Yuuki's tone remained steady.
"But if they do come back with us," he said, "they won't be the same as before."
Königsberg's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…Meaning?"
"We upgrade," Yuuki answered. "Technology, systems, combat capability."
He gestured lightly.
"You'll be able to stand toe-to-toe with high-level Sirens. Not survive—fight back."
Köln listened without interrupting.
"But that comes with a condition," Yuuki added.
The air tightened.
"If your former nations come looking for you," he said, "they go through us."
Silence.
"And if you choose to leave," he continued, "everything we gave you gets stripped."
He met their eyes again.
"You go back to baseline."
Karlsruhe swallowed slightly.
"…Back to… struggling against a single Siren…"
Yuuki nodded once.
Köln spoke this time, her tone measured.
"…You are asking for commitment."
"I'm asking for clarity," Yuuki corrected.
He took a slow breath.
"I know what loyalty means to you," he said. "You'd rather die than betray your Fatherland."
That word lingered.
"But answer me this," he continued.
His voice didn't rise.
It didn't need to.
"Would you still fight for it… as it is now?"
No one answered immediately.
"The Fatherland you remember is gone," Yuuki said. "The Sirens have control."
He didn't sugarcoat it.
"Leadership replaced. Systems compromised. Direction twisted."
Königsberg's smile had completely faded now.
"And you," Yuuki added quietly, "were left behind."
Köln's fingers tightened slightly at her side.
"In a facility," he continued, "waiting to be brought back."
Karlsruhe looked down.
"But no one came."
Silence.
Heavy.
Yuuki didn't push further.
"If you still want to fight for them," he said finally, "I won't stop you."
A pause.
"That choice is yours."
The room stayed quiet.
Because this wasn't about persuasion anymore.
It was about—
What they believed still existed.
Köln was the first to speak again, her voice quieter now, stripped of its earlier formality.
"…If that day comes," she said, "and our Fatherland tries to take us back… against our will…"
She lifted her eyes to him.
"…Will you come for us?"
Yuuki did not hesitate.
"Yes," he said.
No pause. No calculation.
"If it comes to that," he continued, his tone steady but absolute, "I'll tear it down if I have to."
The air shifted.
"I won't abandon you," he added. "You heard the call, didn't you?"
Köln's breath caught slightly.
"My voice reached you," Yuuki said. "Across whatever this place is."
His gaze hardened just a fraction.
"I didn't call you here to leave you behind."
Silence followed—
Then movement.
Köln lowered herself to one knee.
Königsberg followed.
Karlsruhe, a heartbeat later.
"Then," Köln said, bowing her head, "our lives are in your hands."
Königsberg's voice carried next, composed but resolute.
"We, the Königsberg-class… remnants of the Iron Blood…"
She lowered her head.
"Swear our allegiance to you, Herr Kommandant."
Karlsruhe's voice was softer.
"…Please protect us."
Yuuki looked at them for a moment.
Not rushed.
Not dismissive.
Then he stepped forward.
"…Alright," he said.
"Stand up."
They did.
"I'm not here to erase who you are," Yuuki continued. "You don't lose your identity."
He gestured lightly.
"You can remain Iron Blood."
A brief pause.
"But you'll fight under GDI."
Königsberg's eyes narrowed slightly, then softened.
"…A dual banner."
"Exactly," Yuuki said.
Köln straightened fully now, her posture returning—but something had changed.
"…Then we will carry both," she said.
Karlsruhe smiled faintly, relief clear.
Yuuki gave a small nod.
"Same as the others I've brought in," he added.
Because this wasn't about replacing what they were—
It was about giving them—
A place where they weren't abandoned again.
Yuuki crossed his arms loosely, glancing between the three of them.
"Well… technically, you three are the first Iron Blood I've actually spoken to," he said. "The only one I recovered that's currently 'alive' is Z23."
Köln's eyes widened slightly.
"…Nimi? She's alive?"
Yuuki nodded.
"She's one of the successfully reconstructed ones," he said. "But she hasn't been activated yet."
He exhaled quietly.
"She's been waiting… like the others. Ten years."
Karlsruhe's expression softened.
"…Then there really are more of us out there…"
Yuuki nodded again.
"There are," he said. "Once we finish triangulating the coordinates we recovered from headquarters, we'll start pulling them out one by one."
Köln bowed her head slightly.
"…Thank you, Herr Kommandant."
Yuuki waved it off.
"You'll get your comrades back," he said. "That's the plan."
A brief pause.
"Also," he added, "I don't know much about Iron Blood history or structure."
He looked at them directly.
"So I'm going to need help with that."
Köln adjusted her glasses.
"…Then I will take that role," she said. "I served as an instructor within Azur Lane."
Königsberg smirked faintly.
"And I can assist," she added.
Yuuki raised a brow.
"I thought you said you mostly handled teaching assignments?"
Köln nodded.
"Yes," she said. "High Command preferred to place me in educational roles rather than frontline combat."
Yuuki shrugged.
"…Then I'll put you in combat."
Karlsruhe blinked.
Köln paused.
Then—
Königsberg let out a soft laugh.
"Pff… how straightforward."
She stepped slightly closer, her tone shifting back to that teasing edge.
"Then, Herr Kommandant… you will simply have to trust us."
Yuuki immediately took a step back.
"…I'm good."
A beat.
"I've already got enough shipgirls offering to 'take care' of me,'" he added flatly.
Karlsruhe giggled.
"He's cautious."
Köln nodded slightly.
"…Reasonably so."
Königsberg only smiled.
"…For now."
Yuuki narrowed his eyes slightly.
"…I heard that."
But despite it—
There was no tension.
Just a strange, growing rhythm.
Because even here—
Among entirely different personalities—
Things were starting to settle into place.
Yuuki glanced at the three of them, then toward the empty expanse behind.
"Well… no point leaving you here," he said. "I'll take you to your waiting home. You've been stuck in this place long enough."
Köln nodded faintly.
"…Yes. It has only been the three of us."
Yuuki raised his hand.
"Alright. Hold on."
They stepped closer.
Köln took his arm again, composed as ever. Karlsruhe held onto his sleeve with a small, trusting smile.
Königsberg—
Did not hold back.
She wrapped her arms around him from behind, leaning in just enough to make it very intentional.
Yuuki stiffened.
"…You're doing that on purpose."
Königsberg's voice came close to his ear.
"Of course, Herr Kommandant."
A visible shiver ran through him.
"…Yeah, I figured."
Karlsruhe giggled softly.
"You really don't like that, huh?"
"Not when it feels like I'm being evaluated by a predator," Yuuki replied flatly.
Königsberg chuckled.
"…For now."
Yuuki sighed.
"…That doesn't help."
He activated the interface.
"Alright. Moving."
The space folded again—
And in the next instant—
They stood on the paved road leading toward the tower.
The three of them looked around, taking it in.
"…There's land here…" Karlsruhe whispered.
"…After ten years…" Köln added quietly.
Yuuki shrugged.
"I just added it today."
Königsberg tilted her head.
"…And you did that how?"
Yuuki glanced at his hand.
"…Not entirely sure," he admitted. "You can think of me as… the administrator of this place."
Königsberg's smile returned, amused.
"…Heh."
Yuuki shifted slightly.
"…Anyway," he said, "mind letting go now?"
Königsberg tightened her hold—just a little.
"Oh?" she teased. "You don't want me to hold you a bit longer?"
Yuuki didn't hesitate.
"The way you're hugging me is unsettling."
A brief pause.
"…Noted," she said.
Then she let go.
"Temporarily."
Yuuki exhaled.
"…I'm surrounded by dangerous people."
Karlsruhe laughed.
He led them forward, across the paved path toward the tower's central square.
Two familiar figures were already waiting.
Hood.
Amagi.
Both watching.
Both aware.
Yuuki slowed slightly.
"…And here we go again," he muttered under his breath.
"Well, my ladies… I'm back," Yuuki said as he stepped into the square with the Iron Blood trio behind him.
Hood's gaze shifted smoothly to the newcomers.
"Ah… our Iron Blood allies," she greeted with composed warmth.
Köln stepped forward slightly.
"Lady Hood… how were you recovered?" she asked, clearly curious.
Karlsruhe's eyes sparkled as she looked past her.
"Uoohh… even the legendary Amagi…"
Amagi inclined her head gracefully.
"You flatter me," she said.
Hood gave a small, calm smile.
"It was the Commander," she replied. "He is the one who brought me back."
At that exact moment—
Königsberg casually slipped back into place behind Yuuki and wrapped her arms around him again.
The effect was immediate.
Hood's smile didn't disappear.
It sharpened.
Amagi's expression remained gentle—
But her eyes narrowed just slightly.
Yuuki froze.
"…I can explain this one."
Hood folded her hands neatly.
"There is no need," she said. "We can discuss everything… during tea."
Yuuki blinked.
"…Why do I feel like that 'tea session' isn't what I think it is?"
Amagi tilted her head sweetly.
"We do not know what you mean, Shikikan-sama."
Yuuki sighed.
"…Yeah. That's exactly what worries me."
He quickly moved on.
"Come on," he said, leading the Iron Blood girls toward another empty room. "Let's get you settled."
The room was bare.
He raised his hand.
The interface appeared.
Iron Blood HQ
The transformation began.
The floor darkened into solid Ironblood Flooring, followed by sharp, industrial Ironblood Wallpaper lining the walls. A bold Ironblood Carpet spread across the center, marked with precise geometric patterns.
A heavy Ironblood Desk anchored the space, paired with reinforced Office Chairs. A fully equipped Repair Station formed along one wall, while a central War Table projected a tactical presence.
An Ironblood Sofa sat opposite, accompanied by a Blueprint Holder filled with schematics. A raised Podium stood near the front, with additional seating arranged around a rugged Brick Table.
A tall Filing Cabinet, an active Telegraph unit, and scattered Maintenance Tools reinforced the military feel. A blazing Ironblood Fireplace cast a warm but controlled glow.
Then—
The identity.
An Ironblood Flag unfurled along the wall.
A Bismarck Portrait stood prominently.
A detailed Ironblood World Map stretched across another section, alongside intricate Ship Design schematics.
Barrels of Beer Casks and bottles of Red Wine completed the atmosphere.
A Hazy Window filtered dim light into the room, and the entrance sealed into a heavy Ironblood Gate.
Finally, rooms with Ironblood beds.
The space felt—
Commanding.
Königsberg looked around slowly, clearly pleased.
"…Hoo… you even prepared a home for us," she said.
Her smile turned teasing again as she leaned slightly toward Yuuki.
"You must really love us."
Köln adjusted her glasses.
"Königsberg," she said calmly, "please refrain from making Herr Kommandant uncomfortable."
Königsberg only laughed softly.
"He's quite adorable when flustered."
Yuuki exhaled.
"…I'm surrounded."
But he wasn't looking at them.
He was looking past them.
At Hood.
At Amagi.
Both still watching him.
Smiling.
Calm.
And far more dangerous than before.
"…Yeah," Yuuki muttered under his breath.
"I'm definitely not surviving that tea session."
"So, from now on," Yuuki said, gesturing lightly around the space, "any shipgirls I recover—especially those still dormant or waiting—will be brought here."
Köln glanced around, taking in the environment again.
"…Others?" she asked.
"Handsome!"
Before Yuuki could answer—
Hornet launched herself onto his back again.
"Hornet—!"
"I'm not letting go this time!" she declared, tightening her grip with zero hesitation.
Yuuki exhaled.
"…Of course you aren't."
More footsteps followed.
Nevada and Oklahoma entered first, both looking amused.
"Oh, our Iron Blood allies," Nevada said with a grin.
Ranger spotted Köln immediately.
"Köln!"
She stepped forward and pulled her into a brief, genuine embrace.
"Another instructor," she said. "It's good to see you."
Köln nodded slightly.
"…Likewise."
Then—
"Servant, you finally show yourself."
Elizabeth arrived with her usual authority, Valiant and Warspite flanking her.
Yuuki didn't even turn.
"…I was gone for five minutes."
"Tono!"
Yamashiro rushed in, ears twitching.
"You owe us ear rubs!"
Fusou followed more gracefully.
"If you would, Shikikan-sama…"
"Hornet-san, please get off Yuuki-chan!"
Junyou was already trying to pry Hornet loose—
And failing.
"No! This is my man!" Hornet insisted, tightening even more.
Hiyou leaned against the wall, laughing.
"Yeah… he's not getting out of that one."
Yuuki sighed.
A long, practiced sigh.
"…I give up."
Not long after—
The scene had shifted again.
Back in the Sakura-style room.
Yuuki was seated properly this time—
With Yamashiro and Fusou on either side.
His hands moved gently, giving ear rubs as promised.
"Ahh… nyaaa…" Yamashiro leaned into it, completely content.
Fusou closed her eyes softly.
"…Thank you, Shikikan-sama."
Behind him—
Hornet still hadn't moved.
She remained wrapped around him from behind, chin resting casually on his shoulder.
"Heh… best seat," she murmured.
Yuuki didn't even react anymore.
To his right—
Amagi sat calmly, sipping tea.
To his left—
Hood mirrored her, equally composed.
Both watching.
Quietly.
The rest of the shipgirls had settled around the room.
Nevada and Oklahoma leaned nearby, chatting casually.
Ranger and Köln were already deep into discussion—likely academic.
Karlsruhe moved around curiously, taking everything in.
Königsberg observed from a distance, amused.
Kent and Suffolk assisted with tea service.
Repulse lounged comfortably, clearly entertained.
Even Elizabeth had taken a seat, maintaining her regal posture while enjoying the atmosphere.
The room—
Was alive.
No longer empty.
No longer waiting.
Yuuki glanced around briefly.
"…This turned into a full house fast," he muttered.
Hornet smirked.
"Welcome to your life, handsome."
Yuuki sighed again—
But this time—
There was no resistance in it.
Just acceptance.
Because somehow—
This chaos—
Felt like something worth holding onto.
Yuuki glanced sideways, still absentmindedly rubbing Yamashiro's ears while Fusou leaned gently into his touch.
"…Am I not in trouble this time, my ladies?"
Hood lifted her teacup, taking a calm sip before answering.
"For now… your reasoning is acceptable," she said.
Her eyes shifted toward him, composed but firm.
"However, do remember what we discussed regarding… closeness."
Amagi nodded beside her, her tail swaying lightly.
"Yes, Shikikan-sama. Boundaries must still be observed."
Yuuki gave a small, resigned nod.
"Yes, ma'ams."
A brief pause—
Then Hood added, almost casually:
"It seems we may need to remain near you more often… to prevent unnecessary advances."
Yuuki blinked.
"…That sounds like surveillance."
Amagi smiled sweetly.
"It depends."
Yuuki leaned back slightly.
"…Can I at least have personal time?"
Hood set her cup down gently.
"That," she said, "depends on your behavior."
Yuuki exhaled slowly.
"…So that's a no."
Behind him, Hornet snickered.
"Told you. No escape."
Yuuki ignored her and looked around instead.
The room.
The people.
Royal Navy.
Sakura Empire.
Eagle Union.
Iron Blood.
All gathered.
Talking.
Laughing.
Existing together.
For a moment—
He just watched.
"…Still," he said quietly, "seeing everyone here…"
He glanced at Yamashiro and Fusou, then at the others across the room.
"…makes all that rescuing worth it."
The room softened.
Fusou smiled gently.
Yamashiro purred happily under his hand.
Amagi's gaze warmed.
Hood gave a small, approving nod.
Even the others—
Paused, just slightly.
Because for once—
It wasn't about factions.
Or war.
Or survival.
It was—
Something closer to home.
Yuuki's body began to glow again, brighter this time—steady, stable.
He exhaled, already recognizing it.
"…Yeah," he said. "This one feels like the real deal."
"Well, probably going back to the real world this time. Properly."
"Awww… can't you stay longer?" Hornet groaned, still clinging to him from behind.
Yuuki gave a small, apologetic smile.
"Sorry, Hornet. Next time for sure."
"Eh, Tono… I want ear rubs, nyaa!" Yamashiro protested, ears twitching.
Fusou lowered her gaze slightly.
"…It is a shame, Shikikan-sama."
Amagi stepped closer, her voice gentle but meaningful.
"Shikikan-sama… please watch over those two sisters of mine."
Hood followed, composed as always.
"Kind sir, do remember what we discussed," she said. "We will continue your ethics lessons later."
Yuuki raised a hand.
"…No promises."
He gestured vaguely.
"Belfast, Yorktown, Enterprise, Illustrious, Belfast, Laffey, Unicorn, Vestal… plus Atago and Takao are already invading my space."
Hornet perked up instantly.
"Oh? Hana and Enty already made moves?"
A grin spread across her face.
"I'm not losing to them."
Nevada chuckled, giving a casual wave.
"See you, young'un."
Oklahoma smiled warmly beside her.
"Take care, yeah?"
"Yuuki-chan! Come back soon!" Junyou called out, clearly reluctant to let him go.
Hiyou waved lazily.
"See you, Shiki."
"Servant! Do not take too long!" Elizabeth demanded.
"He's my attendant!" Valiant shot back immediately.
Warspite sighed softly.
"…Next time you return, my lord, I will challenge you to a sword duel."
Köln stepped forward slightly, bowing her head.
"Thank you for rescuing us, Herr Kommandant."
Ranger adjusted her posture.
"We will continue your lessons another time."
Karlsruhe beamed.
"Let's play again, Herr Kommandant!"
Königsberg tilted her head, smiling faintly.
"If you ever wish for me to take care of you…"
Yuuki cut in immediately.
"…A normal version of that would be appreciated."
A faint glow overtook him completely now.
He looked at all of them one last time.
"…Take care, everyone."
Then—
He vanished.
The Void World stilled.
And for the first time since arriving—
Yuuki was finally—
Back in the real world.
===============
Yuuki let out a slow breath as his eyes adjusted to the dim light of early morning.
"Hnn… finally," he murmured quietly. "I thought I'd never escape that place…"
The room was still.
Soft.
Peaceful in a way he hadn't felt in a long time.
It was five in the morning.
He glanced down.
Yorktown and Enterprise were resting against him, their heads using his lap as a pillow. Their breathing was slow and steady, completely at ease.
On the carpet nearby—
Belfast sat beside Illustrious, while Atago and Takao rested close together. A little further off, Unicorn slept curled beside Laffey.
Blankets had been carefully draped over everyone.
Yuuki smiled faintly.
"…These girls…"
He lowered his voice.
"They look peaceful."
"Good morning, Master."
Belfast was already awake, as expected.
Yuuki looked over at her.
"Morning, Bel," he said quietly. "More like I just escaped from the void world shipgirls."
Belfast tilted her head slightly.
"…Escaping?"
Yuuki gave a small, tired chuckle.
"Yeah. Long story."
Before he could elaborate—
"Hnn… Commander…"
Yorktown stirred.
Her eyes opened slowly, and the moment she realized her position—
Her face flushed.
"…Ah…"
Yuuki smiled gently.
"Morning, Hana. Sleep well?"
Yorktown looked away slightly, trying to hide her embarrassment.
"Yes… I did," she admitted softly. "Though… I wouldn't mind sleeping a little longer…"
Yuuki glanced down at the other side.
Enterprise was still completely out, her expression relaxed in a way that was rare for her.
"Enty looks like she still needs more rest," he said.
Yorktown nodded.
"This is the first time she's properly rested since we rescued her."
Yuuki shifted his gaze toward the others.
"Unicorn and Vestal too," he added. "They look peaceful."
Yorktown gave a small, thoughtful nod.
"Then let them rest for today."
Yuuki exhaled.
"Knowing Enty… she won't," he said. "She gets restless easily."
Yorktown allowed herself a faint smile.
"…That's true."
"Vestal's probably going to check on the ones we recovered yesterday," Yuuki continued.
"And Unicorn…" Yorktown glanced toward her younger sister.
"…She'll follow Illustrious."
The room remained quiet.
Morning light slowly crept in.
For once—
No alarms.
No battles.
No chaos.
Just—
A rare moment of stillness.
Yuuki leaned back slightly, careful not to disturb the two resting on him.
"…Maybe," he muttered under his breath, "I should stay here a bit longer."
Because after everything—
This kind of peace—
Wasn't something he got often.
"In the end… they didn't want to rest," Yuuki said with a small, knowing sigh.
Belfast gave a soft, understanding nod.
"Master," she asked gently, "what are your plans for today?"
Yuuki stretched slightly, careful not to disturb anyone still half-asleep.
"First priority—build an ore refinery and an ore purifier," he said. "According to JARVIS, this island is rich in raw materials."
He glanced out toward the horizon.
"If that checks out, we can start a full assembly line. Ammunition production, infrastructure… and eventually the shipgirl reconstruction machine."
Belfast's expression softened.
"Ahh… I see," she said. "Then today is quite important."
Yuuki nodded.
"Yeah. It's the foundation for everything moving forward."
He then looked back at the room.
"Which is why I want all of you to rest today," he added. "No deployments. No operations."
Belfast tilted her head slightly.
"…Even Master will remain on the island?"
Yuuki nodded.
"Until Philadelphia finishes triangulating those coordinates, we're staying put."
He shrugged lightly.
"So take the time. Rest, explore… do whatever you want."
Yorktown smiled.
"…Can we stay here and watch a movie?"
Yuuki glanced back, faintly amused.
"…You really don't want to rest, do you?"
Belfast covered a small smile.
Yuuki shook his head.
"Your rooms," he said simply. "Get proper rest."
Then he pointed lightly.
"That includes you too, Bel."
Belfast blinked once.
"…Master?"
"You've been running nonstop since we got back," Yuuki added. "After breakfast, you're off duty until dinner."
There was a brief pause.
"…Understood," Belfast replied, though there was a hint of reluctance in her voice.
Yuuki smirked faintly as he pats her head.
"I know you wanted to serve me but, this is the only way for you to properly rest. I don't want my personal maid overwork herself."
Belfast only nodded as she knew he was thinking of her sake.
He stood up carefully, making sure not to disturb Enterprise too abruptly after he placed her head on a pillow.
"Alright," he said. "Let's get breakfast started while we wait for everyone to wake up."
Belfast rose gracefully near him.
"Very well, Master," she said. Yorktown nodded as she too woke up and assist.
The quiet of the morning shifted—
Not into chaos—
But into something calmer.
A routine.
And for once—
That was enough.
============
After breakfast, the energy of the room slowly faded into a quieter rhythm. One by one, the girls reluctantly returned to their rooms, giving in to the exhaustion they had been ignoring. Even the more stubborn ones eventually chose rest over activity, deciding to take the entire day off.
Vestal, however, couldn't fully detach from her responsibilities. She settled into the Health Center instead, keeping a close watch over the six shipgirls still under recovery. Even in rest, her role as a caretaker never truly stopped—but at least now, she allowed herself to sit, breathe, and observe rather than constantly move.
Yuuki, on the other hand, had no such luxury.
He stood alone in the command space, overseeing construction through a large holographic interface projected in front of him. The scale of the operation was already significant—and growing.
The ore refineries was taking shape, its design clearly inspired by the Third Tiberium War old Tiberium systems, but heavily modified. Instead of traditional harvesters, sleek Chrono Miners blinked in and out of existence across the mountainside and processes ores instead of Tiberium. They carved into mineral-rich veins with mechanical precision, then vanished in flashes of spatial distortion—reappearing directly at the refinery's intake ports to unload.
It was efficient.
Almost unnervingly so.
From there, raw materials were transferred into the ore purifier, a system derived from Allied-era technology of his original world. Unlike the refinery, which focused on extraction logistics, the purifier handled refinement—separating, stabilizing, and enhancing usable materials into high-grade resources.
Yuuki watched as streams of ore flowed through the system, transformed into clean, refined output.
"JARVIS wasn't exaggerating…" he muttered.
The island wasn't just resource-rich.
It was a goldmine.
With enough processed material, they could begin the next phase:
Ammunition assembly lines
Structural fabrication systems
And most importantly—the shipgirl reconstruction machine
Yuuki zoomed the hologram out slightly, observing the full chain.
Chrono Miners → Refinery → Purifier → Storage
A complete loop.
A foundation.
"The headquarters really handed us everything… except the materials," he said quietly.
That had been the bottleneck.
Not knowledge.
Not design.
Just raw resources.
And now—
That problem was being solved.
Vergil's team was still working through the finer complexities of the reconstruction system. Even with the recovered schematics from the former Azur Lane headquarters, it wasn't something that could be rushed carelessly.
This wasn't just machinery.
It was revival.
Yuuki folded his arms, watching another Chrono Miner blink out of existence and reappear seconds later with a full payload.
"…Once this is up and running," he murmured, "everything changes."
Because with resources secured—
They weren't just surviving anymore.
They were rebuilding.
And this time—
They weren't limited by the world they were in.
=========
Yuuki shifted his focus across the holographic display, zooming out from the refinery chain to a much larger structure—one that defined the island's survival.
The Defense Grid.
Four towering nodes stood at the island's perimeter, each linked into a unified network. Energy pulsed between them in controlled streams, feeding directly into the Crystal Shield MkII that encased the entire Home Island in a faint, shimmering dome.
It wasn't just a shield.
It was a system.
"Power levels stable," Yuuki muttered, watching the readouts.
The grid had been derived from old GDI defensive architecture back in Earth 1.0, but what stood now was far beyond that. Each node was integrated with an Advanced New Element Ark Reactor, acting as both a power plant and a defensive anchor.
If one went down, the others compensated.
If all four held—
The island was untouchable.
"…For now," Yuuki added quietly.
Then—
A signal cut through.
"Sup?"
Vergil.
Yuuki didn't turn.
"Got something?"
"Yeah," Vergil replied. "The girls finished triangulating one of the coordinates."
A pause.
"You're not gonna like how close it is."
Yuuki frowned slightly.
"How close?"
"About 500 kilometers."
Yuuki exhaled.
"…Yeah. That's basically next door."
Vergil continued.
"And there's more."
Yuuki's eyes narrowed.
"Go on."
"This one's… dense," Vergil said. "We're picking up around forty cubes."
Yuuki froze.
"…Forty?"
"Yeah," Vergil confirmed. "All signals converging at the exact same coordinates."
Yuuki's expression shifted.
"That's not random."
"No, it's not."
Yuuki's mind immediately connected the pieces.
"…Yorktown."
"What about her?"
"She mentioned something," Yuuki said. "Their old commander used to collect fallen shipgirls' cubes."
He zoomed in on the coordinates.
"A hidden location. Only he knew it."
Vergil went quiet for a second.
"…A stash."
"Yeah," Yuuki confirmed. "That's why she never gave up Hornet's cube. Why Belfast and Illustrious secured the Royal ones."
He zoomed further.
The display sharpened.
"…There's nothing here," Vergil said.
Yuuki leaned in.
"…No."
The terrain overlay shifted.
"…There's nothing visible," Yuuki corrected.
Water.
Deep water.
"Dude…" Vergil muttered.
"That's deep."
Yuuki stared at the depth readings.
"…Yeah."
Not surface.
Not shallow.
Buried.
"…You're gonna need a submarine," Vergil added.
Yuuki didn't respond immediately.
His eyes were already moving—calculating.
"…Not just any submarine," he said.
Because if forty cubes were down there—
That wasn't just a recovery mission.
That was—
A graveyard waiting to be opened.
Yuuki didn't hesitate.
"I think I already have something that can handle this," he said, bringing up another layer of the interface.
Vergil raised a brow on the other end.
"…You do?"
"A compact solution," Yuuki replied.
The hologram shifted—
And then, from dimensional storage, something massive began to materialize on the western side of the island near the GDI Naval Shipyards.
The modified GDS A-90 Orlyonok.
Not the old Soviet ekranoplane anymore—
This version was something else entirely.
Its frame had been rebuilt and reinforced, turning it into a hover-capable assault craft, skimming just above the water's surface with stabilized lift systems. Its hull gleamed with layered armor plating, reinforced further by an integrated crystal shield system.
Weapon systems lined its structure—subtle, hidden, but unmistakable. Armed with concealed wing-mounted railguns, and heavy GAU-8 explosive frontal rotary cannons for frontal defenses. Integrated Tungsten AmmoCIWS systems and anti-air missile pods for anti air.
High-explosive torpedo launchers for underwater defenses and a primary heavy railgun mounted above that can turn 360 degrees including above and below.
It wasn't just transport.
It was a mobile fortress.
Vergil let out a low whistle.
"…You're seriously going to use that?"
Yuuki crossed his arms slightly.
"Yeah," he said. "Fast enough to outrun anything on water, stable enough to punch through waves, and shielded enough to ignore most threats."
He zoomed into its deployment bay.
"And more importantly—it can carry what I actually need."
A compact submarine module.
Vergil nodded slowly.
"…So the plan is—"
"Get there fast," Yuuki cut in. "Deploy the sub, retrieve the cubes, get out."
Vergil leaned back slightly.
"You're assuming no one notices."
Yuuki smirked faintly.
"I won't give them a reason to."
The hologram shifted again, showing a projected route—low-profile, fast, skimming the ocean surface.
"The girls are sharp," Vergil warned. "Especially Enterprise and Yorktown."
Yuuki shrugged.
"Which is why I'm not telling them yet," he said. "No reason to complicate things until I confirm what's down there."
A pause.
"I'll deploy before lunch," Yuuki continued. "Be back before dinner."
Vergil stared at him through the feed.
"…You're treating a deep-sea recovery of forty unknown cubes like a grocery run."
Yuuki didn't flinch.
"…Because right now," he said, "it is."
A beat.
Then his tone lowered slightly.
"If that really is their old commander's stash…"
His eyes hardened.
"…then I'm not leaving it sitting there."
Because forty cubes—
Wasn't just a mission.
It was—
Forty lives waiting.
Yuuki's expression shifted the moment the update came through.
"…Also," Vergil added, "we're picking up four active signatures down there."
Yuuki frowned.
"…Four?"
"Yeah," Vergil confirmed. "Not just dormant cubes. These ones are… different."
Yuuki's mind immediately started connecting the dots.
"…Then the old commander did the same thing I did."
Vergil stayed quiet, letting him continue.
"He must've recovered them," Yuuki said. "Brought them back—but didn't activate them."
His gaze hardened slightly.
"…Stored them."
"To protect them?" Vergil asked.
"Yeah," Yuuki replied. "If they woke up, they'd be vulnerable. If the Sirens found them again…"
He shook his head.
"…This way, they stayed hidden. Along with the rest of the cubes."
Vergil exhaled.
"…Damn."
Yuuki leaned back slightly, eyes still on the hologram.
"…Yeah."
A short pause.
"Looks like I've got a recovery mission," he said.
Vergil chuckled lightly.
"Good luck, man. I'll keep digging on my end. If anything new comes up, you'll know."
"Appreciate it."
"Oh—and one more thing," Vergil added. "If you find anything unusual down there—samples, tech, anything—secure it for me."
Yuuki smirked faintly.
"Already planned to."
The connection cut.
Silence returned.
Yuuki stood there for a moment, staring at the projected coordinates.
Forty cubes.
Four live ones.
"…Yeah," he muttered.
"This isn't optional."
He turned slightly—
Unaware—
That just beyond the door—
Someone or more had heard everything.
==============
The cafeteria felt… different.
Yuuki noticed it the moment he stepped in.
The girls weren't in their usual relaxed attire.
They were dressed properly.
Formal.
Composed.
It wasn't just a meal anymore.
It felt like a briefing.
"…Why do I feel like I walked into a trap?" he muttered under his breath as he took his seat.
Lunch began normally enough.
Food passed around.
Small conversations.
Calm.
Yuuki played along.
Acting like nothing had changed.
Until—
"Commander…"
Yorktown's voice cut through the table.
Yuuki looked up.
"…Yeah?"
She held his gaze.
"…Are you going somewhere after this?"
The entire room stilled.
Eyes turned toward him.
Yuuki answered immediately.
"No."
A beat.
"Commander," Yorktown said softly, but firmly. "Please don't conceal the truth."
Enterprise looked at him now too.
Sharp.
Awake.
"…We heard everything," Yorktown continued.
"Belfast and I."
Belfast lowered her gaze slightly, but didn't deny it.
"We came to bring you something," Yorktown added quietly. "But we overheard your conversation with Vice Commander Vergil."
Silence.
Yuuki didn't respond.
"You're planning to go," Yorktown said.
"To that location."
Her voice didn't waver.
"The one with forty cubes… and four active ones."
The air tightened.
"…You wanted us to rest," she continued.
"But we can't accept that."
Enterprise leaned forward slightly.
"You brought us into your fleet," Yorktown said.
Her eyes softened—
But her resolve didn't.
"…So don't expect us to stay behind while you walk into something like that alone."
A pause.
"…We would stake our lives beside you."
Yuuki's hand tightened slightly on the table.
"Hana…" he said quietly.
But he didn't have an immediate answer.
Because this—
Was exactly what he tried to avoid.
Not their strength.
But their willingness—
To follow him into danger—
Without hesitation.
Yorktown's words lingered in the air, heavier than anything said before.
"Before you say anything…" she continued softly, her voice carrying something deeper than resolve. "Our late commander… John Smith…"
She paused, as if recalling something distant.
"…He taught me a song."
Yuuki's gaze sharpened.
"He said… someday, that song would open a door," Yorktown said. "A door I couldn't reach back then."
Her eyes lifted to meet his.
"If that door… is what he meant…"
A breath.
"…Then what you're looking for beneath the sea…"
She placed a hand lightly over her chest.
"…I'm the key."
Silence.
Yuuki leaned back slightly, exhaling.
"…You drive a hard bargain, Hana."
A pause.
Then—
He nodded.
"…Alright."
The atmosphere shifted instantly.
"Laffey," he said, turning to her.
She looked up sleepily.
"…Mm?"
"Stay here," Yuuki said. "Z23 will likely be one of the first to awaken."
His tone softened slightly.
"I want you to be the first person she sees."
Laffey blinked slowly.
Then nodded.
"…Laffey will stay."
Yuuki turned next.
"Unicorn."
She straightened slightly.
"Yes… big brother?"
"Stay with Vestal," he said gently. "Help her watch over everyone here."
Unicorn hesitated.
"…Big brother will come back?"
Yuuki smiled faintly.
"Yeah."
A brief pause.
"We'll be back before dinner."
Unicorn nodded firmly this time.
"…Okay."
"Vestal," Yuuki continued.
She met his gaze with quiet confidence.
"I'll take care of everything here."
Yuuki gave a small nod.
"Counting on you."
Then—
He looked at the rest.
Yorktown.
Enterprise.
Belfast.
Illustrious.
Atago.
Takao.
His voice shifted.
Clear.
Commanding.
"The rest of you—"
A pause.
"We move in thirty minutes."
No hesitation.
"Get ready."
A unified response followed.
"Yes!"
Yorktown's question settled over the room with quiet weight.
"Commander… are you against us going with you?"
Yuuki looked at her.
Then at all of them.
"…No," he said honestly.
A small breath left him.
"Actually… I'm glad," he continued. "More than I expected."
He leaned back slightly, expression softer now.
"Maybe I'm like Enterprise," he admitted. "I don't want any of you getting hurt."
His eyes moved across them.
"But your stubbornness… it proves something."
A pause.
"You're not just weapons," he said. "You're people."
Yorktown's gaze steadied.
"You won't let me go alone," Yuuki added quietly. "Even knowing what I'm capable of."
Another pause.
"…So," he said.
"Thank you."
The words were simple—
But carried weight.
Belfast stepped forward slightly.
"A maid follows her master," she said calmly, "even into the fires of battle."
Enterprise spoke next, her voice steady but warmer than before.
"Commander… you taught me to rely on others," she said. "I won't let you fall back into what I used to be."
She met his eyes.
"You told me to trust."
A small pause.
"…So you have to trust us too."
Yuuki didn't interrupt.
Atago smiled softly, stepping closer.
"Onee-san won't let her Shikikan go alone," she said.
Takao nodded beside her.
"I feel the same, Shikikan-sama."
Illustrious stepped forward last, her voice gentle—but unwavering.
"Commander… you are my light," she said.
Her eyes softened.
"I will not allow that light… to disappear."
Silence followed.
Yuuki looked at them—
One by one.
No hesitation.
No doubt.
"…Yeah," he said quietly.
This time—
He didn't argue.
"Then we go together."
Because at some point—
It stopped being about protecting them—
And became about—
Trusting them to stand beside him.
"Shame we couldn't bring Vestal with us," Yuuki said as they prepared to depart.
Vestal shook her head gently.
"It's alright, Commander. I have six shipgirls under my care. They need me here."
Laffey gave a small nod from where she stood.
"Laffey will wait for Nimi to wake up…"
Unicorn held onto her staff, looking determined despite her soft voice.
"Unicorn will wait for big sister Wales…"
Vestal smiled faintly at that.
"At least Wales won't wake up alone," she said. Then her tone turned firm as she looked at Yuuki.
"Please be careful, Commander. Bring everyone back… and bring those four to me."
A pause.
"I'll make sure they're restored properly."
Yuuki nodded.
"Count on it."
Soon, the group arrived at the western edge of the island—
The GDI Naval Shipyards.
The scale alone made several of them stop in their tracks.
Massive dry docks stretched across the coastline. Towering gantries, energy cranes, and dimensional assembly platforms loomed overhead. This wasn't just a shipyard—it was an industrial fortress capable of constructing, repairing, and summoning entire fleets.
"…This is…" Yorktown murmured.
"Big," Enterprise finished quietly.
Atago smiled.
"My… this is far beyond anything we've seen."
Yuuki didn't slow down.
"Yeah," he said. "This is where we maintain and deploy everything."
Then—
They saw it.
Docked and ready.
The GDS A-90 Orlyonok.
A massive, armored ekranoplane resting on the water like a beast waiting to move. Its reinforced hull, weapon mounts, and imposing forward railgun made it clear—
This was not a transport.
This was a war machine.
Yuuki gestured toward it.
"Girls, this is a Russian Orlyonok," he said. "An ekranoplane—a ground-effect vehicle. Basically a plane that flies just above water."
The girls stared.
"But this one's heavily modified," he continued. "We call it GDS-25. Faster, tougher, and armed enough to survive anything we run into."
Illustrious tilted her head slightly.
"…Russian?"
Yuuki blinked.
"Oh—right. What do you call Soviets here?"
Yorktown answered.
"The Northern Parliament," she said. "They refer to themselves as Soviets."
Yuuki nodded.
"Got it. Same roots, different name."
He turned back to the craft.
"Alright. Let's move."
They boarded through the side hatch.
Inside—
The reaction was immediate.
"…It's huge…" Atago whispered.
Despite the heavy armor and weapon systems, the interior felt like a hybrid between a command aircraft and a mobile operations center.
Screens lined the walls.
Interfaced systems hummed quietly.
There was space—far more than expected.
Yuuki led them forward.
"To the control deck."
At the front—
A central pilot seat dominated the space.
Surrounding it were six specialized stations:
Navigator console
Weapons control
Anti-air systems
Torpedo management
Ship overwatch systems
Sonar and detection
Each station was fully integrated, designed for coordinated operation.
Yuuki stepped toward the main seat.
"This isn't just a vehicle," he said. "It's a team-operated platform."
He glanced back at them.
"Everyone here has a role."
The mission had officially begun.
Yuuki settled into the pilot seat, fingers gliding across the control interface with practiced ease.
"Since this is just transit," he said over his shoulder, "you can relax. I've got full control from here."
He tapped a few commands into the system.
"Autopilot can handle most of it. Lounge is open, or you can stay here if you're curious."
The girls exchanged glances before gradually moving toward the lounge area, curiosity mixing with anticipation.
A soft chime echoed through the cabin.
Yuuki leaned slightly toward the comm system, voice steady.
"Ladies, this is your captain speaking."
A faint smirk formed.
"Estimated travel time: thirty minutes."
A brief pause.
"Sit back, relax… and enjoy your first hover flight."
The interior screens activated, projecting a seamless panoramic view of the outside. Since the craft had no traditional windows, the high-resolution camera feeds made it feel even more immersive—like the hull itself had turned transparent.
The engines roared to life.
Massive turbine blades began spinning, low at first—then faster.
The hum deepened into a powerful vibration that resonated through the frame of the craft.
Thrusters ignited.
The GDS-25 surged forward, slowly pulling away from the shipyard before gaining speed across the water's surface.
Then—
It lifted.
Not fully airborne—
But gliding.
Just above the ocean.
The ekranoplane accelerated rapidly, skimming the waves as if the sea itself was propelling it forward.
In the lounge—
"…It's fast…" Yorktown murmured, eyes fixed on the display.
Enterprise leaned slightly forward.
"…And stable."
Atago smiled, clearly impressed.
"My… it cuts through the waves effortlessly."
Takao nodded.
"The control is remarkable."
A large swell rose ahead—
The GDS-25 didn't slow.
It pierced straight through.
Spray erupted across the hull—
But inside, there was barely a tremor.
"…We didn't even feel that," Illustrious noted softly.
The speed continued to climb.
The ocean blurred beneath them.
Even at high velocity, the craft maintained perfect balance—its hover systems compensating in real time, keeping it steady despite the violent terrain below.
Back in the cockpit—
Yuuki leaned back slightly, watching the systems stabilize.
"Autopilot engaged," he said.
Everything locked in.
Course set.
Thirty minutes—
To something buried for ten years.