Yuuki took point as they advanced up the stone steps, each footfall echoing faintly through the cavern. The air grew cooler the higher they climbed, the silence pressing in—not oppressive, but heavy with history.
"For a shipgirl cube storage…" Yuuki muttered, eyes scanning the architecture. "This place feels ancient."
Enterprise walked just behind him, her gaze steady as she studied the structure.
"Yes… it does. Which means one thing—" she said quietly. "Our old commander didn't build this."
A brief pause.
"He found it."
The implication settled in.
Not a hidden base.
Not a constructed vault.
Something older. Something discovered… and repurposed.
Yorktown's grip on her rifle tightened slightly as they reached the top of the stairs. Her voice, when it came, was softer.
"He brought nearly forty cubes here…" she said. "One by one… and just left them."
Her eyes lowered.
"It sounds cruel, doesn't it?"
She shook her head faintly.
"But it wasn't."
Belfast stepped beside her, expression composed, though her tone carried quiet weight.
"It was the only option available to him," she said. "If he lacked the means to restore them… then preservation was the next best choice."
Yorktown nodded slowly.
"He knew he couldn't revive them," she added. "Not back then. Not with what we had."
Yuuki said nothing for a moment, his eyes forward.
The corridor ahead stretched into dim light—lined with faintly glowing patterns, like veins of energy running through stone.
"Yeah…" he finally said. "So he chose to keep them safe instead of losing them completely."
A quiet exhale.
"Not a bad call."
Belfast lowered her gaze slightly.
"It is a sad truth, Master."
The group continued forward, their steps slower now—not from caution alone, but from understanding.
The corridor opened without warning.
Before them lay a vast subterranean lake—its surface unnaturally still, reflecting faint golden light from above. A hexagonal stone walkway stretched outward, each segment perfectly aligned, leading to a central platform suspended over the water.
And there—
Floating above it—
Dozens of golden orbs.
They drifted in slow, deliberate motion, like stars caught in orbit. Each one pulsed faintly, as if alive… or aware.
Yuuki let out a low breath.
"…Well. That's not ominous at all."
Belfast's eyes narrowed slightly. "Those orbs… they're not decorative."
Enterprise had already raised her rifle. "They're watching us."
Yorktown said nothing—but her stance shifted, ready.
Then—
CRACK.
The sound tore through the silence.
Gunfire erupted from unseen angles—sharp, precise, cutting through the air with lethal intent.
"Contact!"
In a single motion, all four reengaged their helmets. Seals locked. HUDs flared to life.
Yuuki stepped forward instantly.
Metal surged over his arm, unfolding into a wide, angular shield that snapped into place with a resonant clang. Bullets struck it moments later—sparks scattering across its surface as impacts rang out in rapid succession.
"Behind me!"
The others moved without hesitation, taking position as rounds ricocheted off the barrier.
Yorktown steadied her rifle, scanning for origin points. "Multiple vectors—automated?"
"Not random," Enterprise added, tracking trajectories. "They're adjusting. Targeting."
Belfast's voice remained composed, but sharp. "Defense system. Active."
Yuuki braced against another volley, the shield humming as it absorbed impact after impact. His eyes flicked toward the floating orbs.
"…Yeah. Figures."
A faint smirk tugged at his lips despite the situation.
"Of course this place is booby-trapped."
Another burst slammed into the shield—harder this time.
"I'll move us forward," Yuuki said, already adjusting his stance behind the shield. "Can you use the rifle's lightning discharge? Hit the sources—short them out."
Yorktown leaned out, sighting down her Volt Auto Rifle—but the targeting reticle flickered.
"No clean lock," she muttered. "They're buried… masked."
"Then we don't lock," Enterprise replied calmly. "We saturate."
Belfast nodded once. "Understood."
On cue, all three switched firing modes.
A sharp whine built—
Then—
THOOM.
Electric charges burst outward, arcing violently across the stone. Blue-white lightning crawled along the walkway and into the rock faces, forcing hidden emplacements to reveal themselves in flashes of sparks and distorted metal.
Gunfire stuttered.
Some turrets died instantly.
Others… didn't.
"Not enough," Yorktown said through clenched focus. "They're shielding internally!"
Yuuki clicked his tongue.
"Then we stack the field."
With his free hand, he pulled a compact device—no larger than a grenade—and dropped it at their feet.
It activated mid-air.
A spherical barrier snapped into existence around them, shimmering with layered energy.
Incoming rounds struck it and diffused, their force dispersing harmlessly across its surface.
"Mobile cover," Yuuki said simply. "You've got three seconds per cycle. Make it count."
The girls didn't hesitate.
Lightning bursts intensified—overlapping, chaining, compounding the electrical disruption across the hidden network.
Inside the sphere, Yuuki lowered his shield.
Then reached behind him.
Light folded—
And a new weapon formed in his grasp.
Larger.
Heavier.
Built for something far beyond suppression.
Belfast's eyes sharpened. "Commander… that is?"
Yuuki rolled his shoulder slightly as the weapon locked into place with a deep mechanical hum.
"Merlin Personal Ion Cannon—Mark II."
=============
The Merlin represents GDI's effort to miniaturize its most devastating asset—the Ion Cannon—into a mobile, battlefield-deployable platform. Though still bulky, it delivers extraordinary destructive capability.
The system operates by deploying a cylindrical, top-mounted collector that draws in highly excited ionized particles from the surrounding atmosphere. These particles are then superheated to approximately 6,000°F (≈3,315°C) and accelerated via electromagnetic confinement and propulsion through a reinforced, heavy-caliber barrel. The resulting discharge manifests as a concentrated azure beam, capable of catastrophic damage—especially when integrated with advanced combat systems such as powered exosuits.
Development Lineage
Mark I (MKI):The initial prototype featured a shoulder-mounted, heavy-barrel configuration with an external status computer. After each discharge, the barrel rotated 90 degrees upward to allow ion collection and energy recharge. The system relied on a single, manually inserted energy canister, limiting sustained fire capability and operational efficiency.
Mark II (MKII):The refined iteration significantly reduces size and improves handling while maintaining equivalent—if not greater—output. The external computer has been removed, streamlining the design.
Instead of a single canister, the MKII utilizes a four-canister magazine system, each unit storing pre-collected ion energy. These canisters are single-use and are automatically cycled upon firing, with spent units ejected and replaced in sequence. Once all four are expended, a full reload is required.
To recharge, the weapon deploys lateral intake panels that harvest ionized particles directly from the atmosphere, converting and storing the energy within the canisters. The MKII also incorporates a holographic targeting system, improving accuracy and response time in combat.
Despite its reduced size, the MKII achieves enhanced power output, marking a substantial evolution from its predecessor.
===============
Panels along the weapon's frame slid open with a precise, deliberate motion. A faint, rising resonance filled the air as the system began drawing in ionized particles from the surrounding atmosphere—even here, deep beneath the sea.
Four internal canisters aligned in sequence.
Charging.
Stabilizing.
The weapon's core glowed faintly—then brighter.
Yorktown glanced at it, eyes narrowing. "That's… not standard issue."
"No," Yuuki replied, adjusting his grip. "It's what happens when GDI decides 'overkill' is a baseline."
The holographic sight flickered to life.
Targeting lines snapped across the battlefield—highlighting embedded turrets, power nodes, and the drifting golden orbs now accelerating into defensive formation.
The chamber hummed in response.
As if recognizing the threat.
Yuuki exhaled once.
Steady.
"Clear me a lane."
"On it," Enterprise answered.
Another synchronized discharge—
Electric arcs surged outward again, stronger now, destabilizing multiple emplacements at once. Several turrets flickered, their firing patterns collapsing into erratic bursts.
"That's your window!" Yorktown called.
Yuuki planted his feet.
The cannon reached full charge.
A sharp, rising tone—
Then—
FIRE.
An azure beam erupted from the barrel—compressed, incandescent, tearing through the chamber with overwhelming force. The air itself seemed to split as the stream carved a straight path across the lake, striking the central platform.
Impact.
No explosion.
Just… disintegration.
Stone, metal, and hidden weapon systems vanished in a line of superheated annihilation. The beam lingered for a fraction longer—then cut off.
A spent canister ejected with a sharp hiss.
A new one slid into place.
The glow dimmed—
Then began building again.
Yuuki lowered the barrel slightly, smoke-like ion residue drifting from the muzzle.
"…One down."
The golden orbs above flickered—some destabilizing, others shifting formation rapidly.
Adapting.
Yorktown tightened her grip. "They're not done."
Yuuki's smirk returned—faint, but unmistakable.
"Good."
The cannon's panels opened again, drawing in energy for the next shot.
"Neither am I."
The last of the hidden turrets sputtered out under the combined electrical barrage. For a brief moment—
Silence.
Then the lake answered.
Panels along the hexagonal platform split open with mechanical precision. From beneath the waterline and embedded vaults, massive silhouettes rose—heavy, deliberate, unmistakably hostile.
Metal broke the surface.
One.
Then three.
Then a full formation.
Yorktown's breath caught. "Those aren't the same units we saw before…"
Enterprise's eyes narrowed instantly, already analyzing. "Heavier chassis. Reinforced plating… multiple weapon hardpoints."
Belfast's tone dropped, precise and clinical. "High-tier combat automata."
The machines fully emerged.
Towering sentry bots—rounded armored torsos housing internal fusion cores, triple-barrel miniguns already spinning up, missile pods locking into position. Their lower chassis shifted with eerie smoothness, Mecanum wheels allowing them to strafe without turning—never breaking line of sight.
Yuuki whistled under his breath.
"…Now that's overengineered."
A comm channel crackled to life.
"Holy—Verg, you seeing this?"
Another voice answered, amused. "Loud and clear. Sentry bots. Try to bring one back intact, yeah?"
Yuuki smirked faintly. "You always ask at the worst time."
The bots opened fire.
The chamber exploded into motion—minigun streams tearing across the walkway, missiles launching in staggered volleys.
"Spread!" Yuuki snapped.
The team moved.
Volt rifles switched modes again—
THOOM.
Electric discharge slammed into the nearest unit, arcs crawling across its armor before finding purchase—
The fusion core.
The machine convulsed violently.
Sparks erupted as internal systems shorted.
Yorktown followed up instantly. "Core exposed—hit it again!"
Another burst—
The bot collapsed, its systems dying in a cascade of electrical failure.
Yuuki raised the Merlin.
Fired.
The ion beam carved through a second sentry bot—
And erased it.
Completely.
Not disabled.
Gone.
He froze for half a second, staring at the empty space where it had stood.
"…Yeah. That's a problem."
Another canister ejected.
Yuuki lowered the cannon slightly, expression shifting.
"Bad idea."
Too much power.
No sample left.
Around him, the others adapted quickly—targeting joints, sensors, and most importantly, forcing overloads in the fusion cores using controlled electrical bursts.
Machines dropped one by one—but intact enough to study.
Yuuki moved.
Fast.
He closed distance on a damaged sentry bot, sliding under a burst of gunfire. The machine tried to track him—
Too slow.
He planted a compact device directly onto its chassis.
"Sleep."
A sharp EMP pulse detonated.
The sentry bot froze mid-motion.
Dead.
Systems offline.
The fusion core whined briefly—
Then stabilized into dormancy.
Yuuki stepped back, observing it with clear interest.
"…Fusion cores," he muttered. "Compact nuclear systems… that's bold."
He crouched slightly, scanning the structure.
"Not GDI design," he added. "We use miniaturized arc reactors—cleaner, more stable."
A glance at the disabled machine.
"This?" he tapped the casing lightly. "This world went all-in on nuclear. High output, high risk."
Another bot fell behind him under Enterprise's fire.
Belfast disabled a missile system with precise shots.
Yorktown forced another core overload.
Yuuki straightened, eyes narrowing slightly.
"…No wonder the Sirens adapted it."
There was a faint edge to his tone now.
"They didn't just fight this world."
"They learned from it."
Behind him, the disabled sentry bot sat silent—intact.
Valuable.
Ahead—
More units began to rise from the depths.
Yuuki exhaled slowly, rolling his shoulder as the Merlin began charging again.
"…Alright."
A faint grin returned.
"One sample secured."
The cannon hummed louder.
"Let's not vaporize the rest."
The last of the sentry bots collapsed in a cascade of sparks and fading mechanical whirs. The chamber fell quiet again—this time with the heavy aftermath of battle hanging in the air.
Yuuki stood over the disabled units, flexing his fingers once as light folded around the machines.
One.
Two.
Five.
Entire sentry bots—along with their weapon systems and intact fusion cores—vanished cleanly into storage.
"…Hooray for inventory systems."
Yorktown let out a tired sigh as she finished dismantling another unit, wiping a smear of residue from her armored hand.
"Sigh… we really wish we had that too, Commander. This system is way too convenient."
Belfast reloaded her Volt Auto Rifle with smooth precision, nodding slightly. "Indeed. The ability to store and retrieve equipment without spatial limitation… it is remarkably efficient."
Enterprise fired one last controlled electric discharge into a twitching chassis, ensuring it stayed down before lowering her weapon.
"A system capable of holding anything," she added. "Weapons, equipment… even entire machines. That changes logistics completely."
Yuuki smirked faintly, resting the Merlin against his shoulder as its panels closed.
"Yeah. Cuts supply chains down to almost nothing. Field adaptability goes through the roof."
He glanced at them, expression sharpening slightly—more serious now.
"I'll integrate it for you eventually."
Yorktown looked up. "Eventually?"
Yuuki nodded once. "GDI-standard inventory systems aren't just gear—they're tied into identity locks, neural interfacing, and command authorization layers."
He tapped the side of his helmet lightly.
"Right now, you're operating with me as your commander—not as GDI."
A brief pause.
"So I need time to map your signatures, stabilize compatibility, and make sure the system doesn't reject you—or worse."
Belfast inclined her head. "Understood, Master. A forced integration could be… problematic."
"Exactly."
Enterprise crossed her arms slightly, thoughtful. "So once we're integrated… we'd be able to deploy and store equipment the same way you do?"
Yuuki's smirk returned.
"Not just that."
He gestured lightly.
"You'll have access to modular loadouts and adaptive gear configs… everything. Imagine able to tune your riggings anytime you want. Carry as many ammo as you can without going back to base to reload."
Yorktown exhaled softly, half amused, half impressed. "You're basically turning us into walking arsenals."
Yuuki shrugged.
"You already are."
A faint hum echoed through the chamber again.
Not from the destroyed bots.
From deeper within.
The golden orbs above flickered once more—fewer now, dimmer… but still active.
Watching.
Waiting.
Yuuki lifted the Merlin again, its charging cycle beginning anew.
"…Alright. Break's over. Maybe I'll stick to my repulsors and micro missiles to avoid major damage."
His gaze shifted toward the center platform as he stored the Personal Ion Cannon away.
"If this was just the front door security…"
A slight pause.
"…then the real vault's still ahead."
The water below stirred faintly.
And the path forward—past the shattered defenses—remained open.
For now.
They reached the center platform.
Up close, the structure felt less like a waypoint… and more like a seal. The golden orbs drifted slowly overhead, their glow softer now—but not inactive.
Yorktown looked around, brows knitting slightly. "This is it?"
Enterprise scanned the perimeter. "No exits. No visible continuation."
Belfast's tone was quiet, but certain. "Our former commander would not go to such lengths… only to leave this as a dead end."
Yuuki didn't answer.
Instead, he engaged his repulsor thrusters—lifting smoothly off the ground. A faint hum followed as he drifted upward, circling the central cluster of orbs.
"Any luck, Commander?" Yorktown called.
Yuuki narrowed his eyes, studying the surface patterns.
"…Not yet."
He moved closer to one of the orbs, stopping just short of contact. Tiny arcs of electricity danced across its surface—subtle, controlled.
"…This isn't passive," he muttered. "It's reactive."
He turned slightly.
"Hana. Shoot one."
Yorktown raised her Volt Auto Rifle and fired.
A clean shot.
The orb didn't react.
"Nothing," she said.
Yuuki tilted his head slightly. "You're on high output. Red setting, right?"
"…Yeah."
"Dial it down. Try yellow."
She adjusted the rifle—firing again.
Still nothing.
Yorktown frowned. "No response."
Yuuki's gaze sharpened.
"…Lower."
"Green."
She hesitated for just a fraction—then adjusted again.
Fired.
This time—
The orb answered.
A soft pulse rippled across its surface. The electrical field shifted—harmonized—then split cleanly down the center.
The orb unfolded.
Segments extended downward, reshaping into a long, narrow stair-like panel that locked into the central platform with a precise click.
At the same time—
The cavern above them shifted.
Stone parted.
Hidden seams revealed themselves as massive panels slid open, exposing additional pathways that had been completely invisible before.
Enterprise's eyes widened slightly. "So it wasn't locked…"
"It was hidden," Belfast finished.
Yuuki descended slowly, landing back on the platform.
A faint smirk crossed his face.
"…Voltage-gated activation."
He gestured toward the opened structure.
"It only responds within a specific energy threshold. Too high, and it rejects it. Too low, and it ignores it."
Yorktown adjusted her grip, understanding dawning. "So the wrong setting makes it look like nothing's there…"
"Exactly."
Yuuki tapped the side of the unfolded panel lightly.
"A perfect concealment system. Anyone brute-forcing it would never find the path."
He glanced at the remaining orbs.
"Alright—same setting. Green output."
The three of them moved in sync.
One by one—
Shots rang out.
Each orb responded.
Each one unfolded.
Panels extended, locking together into a larger, coherent structure—a descending pathway spiraling downward into a space previously hidden from sight.
The "dead end" vanished.
Revealed for what it really was.
An entrance.
Yuuki looked down the newly formed path, eyes narrowing slightly.
"…Clever."
A brief pause.
"Your commander didn't just hide this place."
His voice lowered, more thoughtful now.
"He made sure only someone who understood restraint could find it."
The path awaited.
Quiet.
Open.
And far from finished.
The newly formed path descended in a slow spiral, each step echoing softly against stone that had not known footsteps in years.
The girls moved ahead.
But Yuuki lingered for just a moment.
His gaze returned to the orb.
Its surface had already begun to seal again—reforming into that smooth, golden sphere, electricity dancing faintly across it as if nothing had happened.
"…Programmable matter," he murmured under his breath.
Not mechanical.
Not purely energy-based.
Responsive.
Adaptive.
Controlled by something as simple—and as precise—as voltage.
A system like that…
Could reshape entire battlefields.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"…Yeah. I'm coming back for you."
Then he turned—and followed.
The passage opened.
And everything changed.
The chamber they entered was vast—far larger than anything before it. The ceiling arched high above, lined with faint golden veins of light that pulsed softly, like a heartbeat frozen in time.
And below—
Rows.
Perfectly aligned.
Stone platforms stretching across the chamber like a silent formation.
Each one marked.
Each one holding a single cube.
Yuuki stopped.
"…Holy…"
Even he didn't finish the sentence.
Yorktown stepped forward slowly.
Her breath hitched.
"This is…"
Her voice broke before she could complete it.
Forty.
Forty shipgirls.
Not bodies.
Not ruins.
Just—
Cubes.
Resting where they had been placed… like graves.
But not forgotten ones.
Each position bore a name.
Each one remembered.
Yuuki walked forward, slower now, his usual confidence subdued by the weight of the place. He stopped at one of the platforms, eyes scanning the inscription.
Behind him, Yorktown moved almost instinctively—drawn to a specific row.
Then she stopped.
Her hand trembled slightly.
"…Ten…"
Her voice was barely above a whisper.
Ten names.
Ten faces she knew.
Ten she had fought beside.
Pensacola. Raleigh. Richmond. Salt Lake City. Spence.
Downes. Foote. Langley. McCall. Omaha.
Each one placed with care.
Each one preserved.
Waiting.
Yorktown's eyes shimmered, tears finally breaking free despite her effort to hold them back.
"…He brought them all here…"
Not discarded.
Not abandoned.
Protected.
Even in loss.
Belfast lowered her gaze respectfully, saying nothing.
Enterprise stood still, her usual composure quiet—but heavier now, her silence carrying more than words ever could.
Yuuki reached out, stopping just short of touching one of the cubes.
"…He didn't give up on them," he said quietly.
"He just… ran out of time."
The chamber remained silent.
But it wasn't empty.
It was filled—
With memory.
With loss.
And with something else.
Belfast moved quietly to the second row.
Her steps slowed… then stopped.
The names etched into the stone were not unfamiliar. They were not distant records or forgotten entries.
They were hers.
Southampton. Sussex. Beagle. Bulldog. Comet.
Crescent. Cygnet. Foxhound. Hermes. Leander. Shropshire
For a brief moment, the ever-composed head maid of the Royal Navy did not move.
Her posture remained perfect.
But her eyes… softened.
"So," she said gently, voice carrying a quiet weight, "all of you have joined Her Majesty."
She stepped closer, one gloved hand hovering just above the nearest cube—careful, as if even the air between them should not be disturbed.
"I am… sorry."
The words were simple.
But not light.
Not empty.
An apology not for failure—
But for absence.
For not being there.
For surviving when they had not.
The chamber seemed to grow still around her, as if even time itself paused to listen.
Yorktown lowered her gaze, understanding without needing to speak.
Enterprise stood beside her, silent—but present.
Yuuki watched from a short distance, saying nothing.
There was nothing to add.
Because this wasn't a battlefield.
It was a place where the war had already taken its due.
Belfast straightened slowly after a moment, her composure returning—not as a mask, but as resolve.
"…You were not forgotten," she added quietly.
"And you will not remain here forever."
A promise.
Not spoken loudly.
But meant.
Yuuki and Yorktown moved in silence to the next row.
The names came into view—etched with the same care, the same finality.
Furutaka. Kako. Kinugasa. Kisaragi. Mikazuki.
Minazuki. Mutsuki. Nagara. Shiranui. Uzuki.
Yorktown's breath faltered.
"…How cruel…"
Her voice trembled—not with anger, but something deeper. Something harder to steady.
"These are just… kids."
Yuuki didn't answer immediately.
His gaze lingered on the smaller cubes—no different in form, yet somehow carrying a weight that felt heavier than the rest.
"Kids…" he echoed quietly.
Yorktown clenched her hand slightly.
"If Atago and Takao were here…" she whispered, "they'd be devastated."
Her eyes lingered on the names again.
"Uzuki… Minazuki… Mutsuki… Kisaragi… Mikazuki…"
Each one spoken like a memory being held together.
"They're… elementary-class ships…"
Not meant for this.
Not meant for war at that scale.
The chamber remained silent—but here, the silence felt sharper.
Yuuki exhaled slowly, his usual edge gone.
"…War doesn't check age," he said quietly. "Or readiness."
A pause.
"It just takes what's there."
Yorktown lowered her gaze, her voice barely audible now. He holds her shoulders.
"…That doesn't make it right."
"No," Yuuki replied.
"It doesn't."
For a moment, neither of them moved.
Then Yuuki stepped forward slightly—just enough to stand beside her, not ahead.
"…But they weren't left behind," he added.
Yorktown glanced at him.
"He brought them here," Yuuki continued. "All of them. Not as losses… but as something he refused to give up on."
His eyes rested on the row.
"…That matters."
Yorktown swallowed quietly, her grip loosening just a little.
"…Yeah…"
A fragile agreement.
Not comfort.
But something to hold onto.
Behind them, the chamber remained unchanged—
Rows of names.
Rows of memories.
And a future that had yet to decide whether it would stay that way.
Yorktown's gaze lingered on one of the names a little longer than the rest.
"Shiranui…" she said softly, a faint, bittersweet smile touching her lips. "She's our merchant. Most of the girls buy things from her… though she does tend to overcharge."
Yuuki let out a quiet breath, glancing at the cube.
"…I'd still like to meet her."
There was no humor in it—just a simple, grounded wish.
Footsteps approached behind them.
Belfast and Enterprise joined at their side, their attention drawn to the next row.
Yuuki's eyes shifted.
Fewer.
Much fewer.
"Leipzig… Z18… Z19… Z20… Z21…"
He frowned slightly.
"…Only five from Iron Blood?"
Silence answered him.
Not the empty kind.
The heavy kind.
Yorktown didn't respond immediately. Neither did Belfast. Even Enterprise—who always had something measured to say—remained still.
Yuuki glanced at them.
"…Hana?"
Yorktown's voice came out quieter this time.
"The Z-class…" she said, eyes fixed on the names, "…they're children too."
That was it.
No elaboration needed.
Yuuki's expression shifted—subtle, but real.
"I see…"
For a moment, he said nothing more.
Then—
He reached out.
Not toward the cubes.
Toward her.
His hand found Yorktown's, steady and warm against hers.
"…We'll bring them back."
Not loud.
Not dramatic.
Just certain.
Yorktown's fingers tightened slightly around his.
A fragile thing—but real.
Belfast lowered her gaze, a quiet resolve settling behind her composure.
Enterprise gave a small, almost imperceptible nod.
The chamber remained unchanged.
They moved on in silence, the weight of the chamber following them with every step.
The next section held only two.
Belfast was the first to speak, her tone soft but certain.
"Conte di Cavour… and Trento. Of the Sardegna Empire."
Yuuki's eyes traced the names, recognition immediate.
"Italians."
Enterprise glanced at him. "From your world's counterpart?"
"Yeah," he nodded. "I can speak Italian. Ground Zero was in Italy, remember?"
A brief pause—then understanding passed between them.
"Ah… yes," Belfast and Enterprise answered together.
They lingered only a moment.
Then moved on.
Two more cubes.
Two more names.
This time, Yuuki read them before anyone else could.
"Le Mars… of the Vichya Dominion."
He exhaled lightly.
"France."
His gaze shifted to the next.
"Forbin… of the Iris Libre."
Enterprise tilted her head slightly. "Also France?"
"Yeah," Yuuki replied. "But not the same France."
Belfast's eyes sharpened with interest. "Elaborate, if you would."
Yuuki folded his arms loosely, thinking as he spoke.
"France split during the war. One side aligned with the Axis powers—the Vichy regime. The other resisted—Free France."
He gestured lightly between the two cubes.
"So if I had to guess… Vichya Dominion represents the collaborationist side. Iris Libre is the resistance."
Yorktown frowned slightly. "So… even here, they were divided."
"Seems like it," Yuuki said.
Enterprise studied him briefly. "You don't seem to hold a poor opinion of them."
Yuuki shook his head.
"No. Not really."
A faint smirk tugged at his lips.
"They built the Grand Cannon… and Mirage Tanks. That alone earns some respect."
A small, quiet moment passed.
Then—
Yorktown looked around.
Back across the chamber.
Counting.
Confirming.
Her voice came out soft, but steady.
"…That's all forty of them. The forty that the old commander brought."
No more rows.
No more names.
Just forty silent cubes, resting in a place hidden from the world. If she given up Hornet's cube back then, she would be here.
Preserved.
Waiting.
Yuuki exhaled slowly, his gaze sweeping the chamber one last time.
"…Yeah."
Not forgotten.
Not gone.
Just…
Waiting for someone who could finally bring them back.
Yuuki stepped forward, planting himself at the center of the chamber as his voice carried across the rows of resting cubes.
"I am the one calling for you… all of you. Please wait a while. I will bring you somewhere safe… and one day, I will bring you back."
The words did not echo like ordinary sound. They settled, almost as if the room itself absorbed them.
For a moment, nothing happened.
Then the first cube stirred.
A soft glow bloomed from within—gentle, warm, unmistakably responsive. Another followed. Then another. In seconds, the entire chamber was illuminated by a quiet constellation of light, each cube pulsing in a slow, synchronized rhythm.
Yorktown inhaled sharply, her hand tightening slightly against her chest as she watched.
"They're… responding…"
Belfast lowered her gaze, her usual composure touched by something more tender.
"Your voice has reached them, Master. This is not a coincidence. They are acknowledging you."
Enterprise stepped closer, her eyes scanning the phenomenon, but even she did not reduce it to analysis alone.
"It's not electrical feedback," she said quietly. "There's pattern, coherence… intent. They understood."
The light did not flare wildly. It remained controlled, steady, almost calm—as if the cubes themselves were answering in the only way they could.
Yuuki stood there, taking it in without interruption. There was no smirk this time, no casual remark to cut through the moment. Just a quiet certainty settling into place.
"They're still there," he said, more to himself than anyone else. "Not gone… just waiting."
The glow softened gradually, but it did not disappear entirely. A faint luminance remained within each cube, like embers that refused to die out.
Yorktown wiped at her eyes quickly, steadying herself.
"…Then we won't leave them like this."
Belfast straightened slightly, her voice regaining its composed resolve.
"Indeed. If they have answered, then it is our duty to answer in return."
Enterprise gave a small nod, her tone firm.
"We move forward. And we come back for them."
Yuuki finally shifted, turning his gaze across the chamber one last time.
"Let's gather them."
They moved carefully through the chamber, no longer as intruders—but as those entrusted with something sacred. One by one, the cubes were lifted from their resting places and brought to the center.
Forty in total.
Arranged together.
Glowing.
The light was no longer faint or uncertain—it carried warmth now, a quiet, collective response that filled the room. It felt… aware.
Yorktown knelt slightly as she placed the last cube down, her fingers lingering just a moment longer than necessary.
"…They know," she whispered. "They know we're here."
Belfast stood beside her, posture straight but softened. "It would seem so. They are… at ease."
Enterprise watched the cluster of light, her voice low. "They're not just reacting. They're welcoming."
Yuuki stepped forward, folding his arms briefly before exhaling.
"Well… might as well get this over with."
A faint, tired smirk crossed his face.
"I've been introducing myself nonstop for the past two weeks."
He looked at the gathered cubes—not as objects, but as an audience.
A quiet, steadying breath.
"Greetings."
"My name is Yukihira Yuuki. High Commander of the Global Defense Initiative."
He paused just enough for the words to settle.
"I don't belong to any of your factions. No nation. No alliance. I lead something… different. From another world."
His gaze shifted briefly to the three beside him.
"And as of now, I am their commander."
A small pause.
Then, more gently—
"And soon… yours as well."
The cubes pulsed.
Brighter.
Stronger.
As if acknowledging him.
Yuuki huffed quietly, rubbing the back of his neck.
"I'd give a proper introduction face-to-face… but I'd rather not pass out in the middle of this place."
That earned the faintest reaction from the others—just enough to break the weight of the moment.
The cubes responded again.
Light swelling, almost lively now.
Yorktown smiled faintly through lingering emotion. "They like you."
Belfast inclined her head. "You have made a favorable first impression, Master."
Enterprise added simply, "They've accepted you."
Yuuki looked at them for a second—then back at the light.
"…Good."
He extended his hand.
The glow compressed slightly—
Then, one by one—
All forty cubes vanished into storage.
The chamber dimmed instantly.
Empty.
Silent.
What had once felt like a resting place now felt… complete.
Yuuki turned away.
"Alright," he said, tone shifting back to mission clarity. "We're done here."
Yorktown took one last look at the now-empty rows.
"…Not anymore," she said quietly.
Belfast followed, her expression composed but lighter than before.
Enterprise gave a final glance—brief, but deliberate.
They moved deeper.
Past the chamber of forty.
Past memory.
Toward the last signal.
The passage narrowed, then opened once more—but this room felt different. Not a resting place. Not a memorial.
A containment.
Yuuki slowed as they entered.
Then stopped.
"…Well…"
Suspended in midair—held within faint, shimmering fields—were four figures.
Three smaller.
One slightly older.
All unmoving.
All preserved.
Yorktown's breath caught. "These are…"
Belfast stepped forward slightly, recognition immediate.
"Specialized Bulin Custom MKIII… Prototype Bulin MKII… Universal Bulin…"
Enterprise finished quietly, "The triplets."
Yuuki tilted his head, studying them.
"…The Bulin sisters."
Yorktown nodded. "They're engineers. Exceptional ones. They may look like children, but their capabilities are… far beyond that."
"They all share the same name?" Yuuki asked.
Belfast gave a small nod. "Functionally, yes. Though we distinguish them as Bulin, Bulin Ni, and Bulin San."
Yuuki exhaled softly, arms crossing as he looked at them.
"…Yeah, I'm changing that later."
A faint shake of his head.
"Names matter."
There was no disagreement.
Enterprise glanced at the suspended figures again. "Their utility is significant. Repair, reinforcement, systems optimization…"
Yuuki smirked slightly. "They'd fit right in with GDI."
He gestured lightly.
"Imagine pairing them with Archangel-class systems. Autonomous repair cycles, real-time battlefield maintenance…"
Yorktown gave a small, surprised breath. "That would… change everything."
"Exactly."
Yuuki's tone was lighter now—but focused.
"These girls won't just fix things. They'll redefine how we sustain operations."
Belfast inclined her head. "A valuable addition, Master."
Then—
Their attention shifted.
To the last figure.
Suspended slightly apart.
Different.
Older.
Not by much—but enough.
"Commander…" Yorktown said quietly, "this is the one you were searching for."
Yuuki's gaze settled.
Recognition.
"…Yeah."
Belfast spoke her name with quiet certainty.
"The second repair ship of the fleet… former Sakura Empire's foremost support unit."
Enterprise finished.
"Akashi."
Silence followed.
Yuuki stepped closer, stopping just beneath where she hovered.
"…So you're the one."
His voice was quieter now.
Measured.
Not curiosity alone.
Intent.
"…Top-tier healer. Systems engineer. Resource optimizer."
A faint exhale.
"Exactly what I need."
He looked back briefly at the others.
"These four…"
His gaze returned to Akashi.
"…they're not just support."
A slight pause.
"They're force multipliers."
The chamber hummed faintly around them, as if waiting—just like the one before.
Yuuki lifted his hand.
"…Alright."
"Let's wake you up."
The fields shimmered—then collapsed.
Gravity returned.
Akashi dropped first.
Yuuki stepped in without hesitation, catching her cleanly before she could hit the ground. Around him, Yorktown, Belfast, and Enterprise moved just as quickly—each securing one of the Bulin sisters as their containment fields disengaged.
For a brief second—
Stillness.
Then—
A small movement.
Akashi stirred.
Her long green hair shifted softly as her eyes fluttered open, golden irises unfocused at first.
"Hnnn… areee…" she murmured, voice groggy. "…who are you nyaa?"
Her gaze sharpened.
Right into Yuuki's armored face.
There was a split second of silence—
Then—
"EHH!! Robot nya!! Robot has caught me nyaa!!!"
She jolted violently in his arms, ears flattening as she panicked.
"Woah—hey, hey, easy—calm down," Yuuki said quickly, adjusting his grip so she wouldn't fall.
With a soft hiss, his helmet disengaged, folding back to reveal his face.
"See? Not a robot."
Akashi blinked.
"…Aree… human nyaaa…?"
Her eyes darted past him—
And froze.
Yorktown had already removed her helmet, her hair falling free as she stepped forward.
"It's us, Akashi."
Enterprise followed.
Then Belfast.
Recognition hit instantly.
Akashi's ears perked—
Her expression cracked—
"Yorktown nyaaa!!"
She slipped free from Yuuki's hold and rushed forward, throwing herself into Yorktown with surprising force.
"It's Yorktown! Enterprise! Belfast-chan!"
Yorktown staggered half a step before catching her, arms wrapping around the smaller girl instinctively.
"…Yeah," she said softly. "We're here."
Akashi clung tightly, her voice trembling now—not from fear, but relief.
"You're alive nyaa… you're really alive…"
Enterprise stood close, her usually composed expression softened just enough.
"…So are you."
Belfast knelt slightly beside them, offering a gentle, reassuring smile.
"It is good to see you again, Akashi."
Behind them, the Bulin sisters began to stir as well—small movements, quiet sounds of waking life returning to the chamber.
Yuuki watched the reunion for a moment, silent.
Then folded his arms lightly, giving them space.
"…Good," he muttered under his breath.
Yorktown held her a little tighter before easing back, hands resting gently on Akashi's shoulders.
"It's good to see you again… it's been years."
Akashi blinked, ears twitching as confusion replaced the initial joy.
"Years? Akashi remembers being dead… then resurrected… then…" she tilted her head slightly, trying to piece it together. "…what happened, nyaa?"
Enterprise answered this time, her tone steady but not unkind.
"Our old commander brought you here. Placed you in suspension."
Belfast finished quietly, "It has been ten years, Akashi. During that time… the Sirens took control."
Akashi froze.
"…Ten years nyaa?! That's way too long!"
Her voice carried disbelief, her tail flicking in agitation.
Yorktown nodded faintly. "A lot has changed."
A brief pause.
"By the way… this is our new Commander."
Akashi turned, eyes landing on Yuuki again—this time without panic, but full of curiosity.
"New Shikikan nyaa? From Azur Lane?"
Yuuki shook his head lightly.
"No. I'm not from this world."
He stepped forward just enough to be clear, but not imposing.
"Yukihira Yuuki. High Commander of the Global Defense Initiative."
A small nod.
"Nice to meet you, Akashi."
Her ears perked straight up.
"Global Defense what nyaa? Another world nyaa?! How is that even possible?!"
Yuuki let out a quiet sigh, rubbing the back of his neck.
"…Long story."
Akashi stared at him a moment longer—then straightened quickly and bowed with surprising formality.
"I am Akashi, the only repair ship of the Sakura Empire, nyaa~! There is no injury I cannot fix, no system I cannot repair, nyaa!"
The confidence in her voice was immediate. Bright. Certain.
Yuuki studied her properly now.
The long green hair.
The feline features.
The gear motifs worked into her outfit.
The energy.
Not just a healer.
A specialist.
A cornerstone.
"…Yeah," he said quietly.
Then a faint, satisfied breath escaped him.
"Finally."
Akashi tilted her head. "Nyaa?"
Yuuki's expression shifted—not quite a smile, but close.
"With you… and Vestal…"
He glanced briefly at Yorktown and Enterprise.
"…we can rebuild things properly."
Not just repair.
Rebuild.
Stronger.
Smarter.
Faster.
His gaze returned to Akashi.
Akashi's ears shot straight up, eyes lighting with sudden urgency.
"Vestal's alive, nyaa?!"
Yorktown nodded. "She is. We brought her back. She's currently stationed at the GDI Health Center—your old home, now fully converted into an advanced base. She's been taking care of the others we recovered."
Akashi didn't wait for the rest.
"Then take me there, nyaa! Right now! I can wake them up!"
Yuuki raised a brow slightly. "Wake them up?"
Akashi nodded rapidly, practically bouncing in place.
"Yes, nyaa! Their cubes just need a proper jump-start—reactivation protocols, energy synchronization, a bit of calibration! I can do it, nyaa!"
Yuuki's expression sharpened.
"…How many can you handle?"
"How many did you recover, nyaa?"
"Four so far. Plus two more—Akagi and Kaga."
Akashi froze mid-motion.
"…Eeepp."
Her ears flattened.
"Those two, nyaa?! Those crazy foxes, nyaa?!"
Enterprise crossed her arms slightly. "They're stable. For now."
Akashi muttered under her breath. "That's what everyone says until something explodes, nyaa…"
Yuuki ignored that—for now.
"Oh, and one more thing," he added casually. "We recovered something else from your empire."
Akashi tilted her head. "Nyaa?"
"The Orochi."
Silence.
Then—
"The Orochi nyaa?!"
Her voice spiked instantly.
"That monster is still alive, nyaa?!"
Yorktown winced faintly. "Was."
Yuuki lifted a hand slightly, cutting in before panic escalated further.
"Relax. We've already dealt with it."
Akashi shook her head rapidly. "No, nyaaa… that thing is dangerous, nyaa! It's not something you just deal with, nyaa!"
Yuuki met her gaze evenly.
"We pulled the brain."
That stopped her.
"…Nyaa?"
"And replaced it," he continued. "Full system override. New control architecture. No autonomous hostility, no corrupted logic loops."
A small pause.
"It's under control."
Akashi blinked.
Once.
Twice.
Then slowly, cautiously—
"…You're serious, nyaa?"
Yuuki nodded.
"Completely."
Her ears lifted again—but this time, not fully relaxed. Just… processing.
"…You people are insane, nyaa…"
Belfast allowed herself the faintest smile. "That has been observed."
Enterprise added dryly, "Repeatedly."
Yorktown exhaled softly. "You'll get used to it."
Akashi looked between all of them—
Then back at Yuuki.
"…Fine," she said, still wary. "But I want to see it myself, nyaa."
Yuuki smirked faintly.
"Deal."
Then his tone shifted—focused again.
"First, we get you back to base."
Akashi nodded immediately.
"Yes, nyaa! We shouldn't waste time! The sooner we get there, the sooner I can start waking everyone up!"
Yuuki glanced at the others.
Forty cubes secured.
Engineers recovered.
Akashi online.
A small voice broke the tension.
"…Ehh… where are we, Bulin?"
Everyone turned.
The purple-haired Bulin stirred first, rubbing her eyes as she sat up, looking around in confusion—completely unaware of the weight of the place she had just awakened into.
"Bulin…?"
Another voice followed—brighter, softer.
The golden one.
She blinked once, then twice—eyes locking onto her sister.
"Bulin!"
Without hesitation, she ran forward.
"Purin!"
The two collided in a hug, spinning slightly from the momentum. Then—just like that—they laughed. Pure. Unfiltered. As if ten years had been nothing more than a nap.
They began to sway, then spin—hands linked, giggling like children who had simply found each other again.
Yuuki blinked.
"…Well. That's one way to process a decade."
Then—
A third voice.
"Bulin! Purin!"
The last of them—pink-haired, bright-eyed—rushed in.
"Kurin!"
She threw herself into them, and the three locked together in a tight embrace before breaking into a small, chaotic dance—circling, laughing, calling each other's names like nothing had ever been lost.
Belfast watched quietly, a faint softness in her expression.
"…Resilience," she murmured.
Enterprise crossed her arms, but there was no edge to it this time.
"They adapted instantly."
Yorktown let out a small breath—half relief, half disbelief.
"They don't even… remember the time they lost."
Akashi tilted her head, ears flicking as she observed them.
"That's just how Bulins are, nyaa… simple, but incredibly strong. Mentally too, nyaa."
Yuuki watched them for a moment longer—their laughter echoing faintly in the chamber that had held only silence before.
"…Good," he said quietly.
Then, louder—
"Alright, you three."
The Bulins stopped mid-spin, all three turning toward him in perfect sync.
"Bulin?"
"Purin?"
"Kurin?"
Yuuki folded his arms lightly, looking at them with a measured but not unkind expression.
"Name's Yuuki. I'm your commander now."
A pause.
They blinked.
Once.
Then—
They saluted.
Perfectly.
"Bulin!"
"Purin!"
"Kurin!"
Yorktown couldn't help it—she laughed softly.
"…I think they accepted that pretty quickly."
Yuuki smirked faintly.
"Yeah. Efficient."
The three Bulins immediately rushed over—circling him now, inspecting, poking lightly at his armor, clearly fascinated.
"Shiny!"
"Strong!"
"Commander!"
Yuuki exhaled through his nose.
"…Yep. Definitely engineers."
Behind them, the chamber no longer felt like a place of suspension.
It felt alive.
A flicker of energy rippled through the chamber.
Then—
Manifestation.
The three Bulins lit up with a familiar glow as their riggings formed almost instinctively.
Bulin hefted a giant wrench, nearly twice her size.
Purin spun a heavy drill, its tip humming with raw mechanical force.
Kurin raised a massive hammer, gripping it like it weighed nothing at all.
Yuuki blinked once.
"…Well. That's one way to introduce yourselves."
The trio posed—proud, energized, completely in sync.
"I guess I don't need to overcomplicate things with you three."
"Bulin!"
"Purin!"
"Kurin!"
Before he could say anything else—
They launched.
All three jumped him at once, clinging to his arms and shoulders like excited children who had already decided he belonged to them.
Yuuki staggered half a step.
"…Alright, easy—easy—"
They weren't attacking.
They were… claiming.
Clearly.
Openly.
Immediately.
Yuuki exhaled slowly, already feeling where this was going.
"…Yeah. This is going to be a handful."
For a brief second, he genuinely considered the implication.
Am I about to become their caretaker too?
Before that thought could settle—
They jumped off him just as quickly.
And rushed Yorktown.
"Bulin!"
"Yorky!"
"Warm!"
Yorktown barely had time to react before the three collided into her, clinging to her sides and arms, laughing and talking all at once.
She froze—
Then softened almost instantly.
"…Hey—easy, you three…"
But she didn't push them away.
Not even a little.
Belfast watched with a faint smile. "They've chosen their anchor."
Enterprise nodded slightly. "Emotional bonding… immediate and stable."
Akashi flicked her tail, amused. "They always do that, nyaa. Once they trust someone, they stick to them like glue."
Yuuki rolled his shoulder lightly, watching the scene.
"…Good."
A faint smirk returned.
"Less work for me."
But his eyes lingered on them just a moment longer.
Not annoyed.
Not distant.
Just… measuring.
Because even in their childlike energy—
Those three carried tools capable of rebuilding entire fleets.
And they had already decided who they would stand beside.
Yorktown laughed softly as she tried—unsuccessfully—to keep them from climbing all over her.
"…I think we're bringing more than just engineers home."
Yuuki nodded once.
"Yeah."
His tone was calm.
Certain.
"We're bringing the future with us."
The tremor rolled through the chamber—low, deep, unnatural.
The water in the distant cavern rippled.
Stone groaned.
And in an instant, the mood shattered.
The Bulins dropped their tools and ran straight to Yuuki, clinging to him again—this time not playful.
Scared.
"What happened, nyaa?!"
Before anyone could answer—
Yuuki's comms flared to life.
"Lord Commander, are you there?"
Yuuki snapped upright. "Illy?"
Static—then clearer.
"Sirens! A full fleet—they're attacking us!"
Akashi's ears shot up. "Illy?! Illustrious, nyaa?!"
Yorktown stepped forward. "What's your status?!"
"We're holding! The crystal shield is absorbing most of the fire!"
Yuuki's tone sharpened instantly.
"Any damages?"
"None yet! The shield is stable—but they're escalating! Shield Interity, 96%"
Enterprise stepped beside him. "Numbers."
Yuuki didn't need to ask twice.
"Enemy strength?"
"Approximately two dozen Siren vessels! Carriers, battleships… and confirmed submarine activity!"
The room went still.
Belfast stepped closer, urgency in her voice. "Master, we must return to the ekranoplane."
Yuuki shook his head immediately. "No time."
The comm line crackled, still open.
"Illy—are Atago and Takao with you?"
A brief pause—then—
"Yes. We're all here."
Akashi leaned in, relief flooding her expression. "Atago and Takao, nyaa!"
Yuuki didn't waste a second.
"Good. Listen carefully."
His tone snapped into command—precise, absolute.
"Atago—get to weapons control. Surface systems. Activate railguns, arm all defensive missile arrays. Bring the automated GAU-8 and CIWS online. Fire up the pulse cannons—full readiness. Aim at the fleet, take them out!"
A confident voice answered instantly.
"Yes, Shikikan-sama!"
"Takao," Yuuki continued, "you're on sonar and underwater defense. Activate torpedo launchers. Deploy buzzers for interception—use them to track and eliminate any Siren submarines. Do not let them close distance."
"Understood, Shikikan-sama."
Yuuki's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Illy."
A softer tone—but no less firm.
"You're piloting."
A breath of hesitation came through the line.
"…Me?"
"Central seat," Yuuki said. "There's a red ignition control—hit it. That starts the engine core of the GDS-25. You'll have helm control and thrusters. Push full speed—those Sirens won't keep up if you don't hesitate."
Silence.
Then—
"What about you?"
Behind Yuuki, the others were already preparing—Yorktown steadying the Bulins, Enterprise eyes him, Belfast moving with quiet efficiency, Akashi watching with concern.
Yuuki didn't look back.
"We'll be fine."
A beat.
"Your job is survival. Get out of there."
"…But—"
"Illy."
That single word stopped her.
"Focus on escaping," he said, calm but unyielding. "We'll rendezvous somewhere safe."
The line held.
Then—
"…Understood. I'll do it."
Yuuki gave a small nod, even though she couldn't see it.
"Good."
The comm dimmed slightly as external noise surged—distant weapons fire, alarms, the sound of battle already underway.
Yorktown stepped closer. "You're sending them out alone."
Yuuki finally turned, expression steady.
"I'm sending them out alive."
Enterprise's eyes sharpened. "And us?"
Yuuki turned sharply toward the exit, already moving.
"Back to the Phobocaster," he said. "We ride the underwater current out."
Yorktown fell in beside him, the Bulins keeping close as they hurried. "You're planning to use the chaos as cover."
"Exactly," Yuuki replied. "Right now, they need time—not firepower. The ekranoplane has superior weapons, but they lack operational knowledge."
"In other words," Yuuki continued. "They won't be able to bring its full capacity online. But they don't need to."
Belfast glanced at him. "The shield."
"The shield keeps them alive," Yuuki confirmed. "If Illy pushes full thrust and punches straight through the formation, they'll break out before the Sirens can properly respond. The Ekranoplane can push up to 600 km/h at full speed. Not to mention it can use rocket boosters."
Akashi added quickly, "And once they're at that kind of speed, Sirens can't catch them, nyaa!"
Yuuki smirked faintly. "Exactly."
They reached the descending path, moving fast now.
"So while the Sirens focus on them…" Yorktown said.
"We disappear," Yuuki finished.
Enterprise's eyes narrowed slightly. "Slip beneath detection."
"Phobocaster's built for it," Yuuki said. "We dive, ride the current, and reposition."
Belfast nodded once. "Then re-engage on our terms."
Akashi's ears perked again, determination replacing worry. "And when we regroup, I'll start repairs immediately, nyaa!"
The Bulins raised their tools instinctively.
"Bulin!"
"Purin!"
"Kurin!"
Yuuki didn't slow.
"Right now, priority is extraction."
The tremors above grew stronger—distant shockwaves bleeding through the structure as the battle intensified.
"…Illy just needs to hold her nerve."
Yorktown exhaled quietly. "She will."
Yuuki's voice dropped slightly, more focused than before.
"And we make sure she gets the chance."
Ahead, the path back to the Phobocaster opened. Turning towards the floating orbs, he pulled them all into his inventory before running towards the submarine.
The mission had shifted.
From recovery—
To survival.
=================
Above the ocean's surface, the battle had already erupted into full chaos.
The S-25 ekranoplane sat at the center of it—surrounded.
Siren vessels formed a tightening ring, their weapons flashing in synchronized volleys as wave after wave of energy slammed into the crystal shield enveloping the craft. Each impact rippled across its surface, the barrier holding—but visibly weakening.
Inside—
Alarms pulsed.
Readouts flickered.
"Shield integrity dropping!" a system voice echoed.
But then—
Something changed.
Panels along the ekranoplane's wings split open.
Mechanical assemblies unfolded with sharp precision.
Side-mounted pulse cannons locked into position.
Railgun turrets rose from within the structure—sleek, heavy, lethal.
Then—
They fired.
A blinding surge of energy tore outward. Pulse cannons discharged in rapid bursts, vaporizing incoming Siren craft in flashes of white-blue light. Railguns followed—kinetic strikes punching clean through armored hulls, sending fragments scattering across the sea.
"Direct hits confirmed!" Atago called out, hands moving rapidly across the weapons interface.
She wasn't smiling.
She was focused.
"Adjusting trajectory—multiple targets incoming!"
Above, the CIWS systems spun to life—rotary barrels screaming as they intercepted incoming missiles mid-flight, shredding them into clouds of debris.
The GAU-8 cannons roared next.
A thunderous, relentless stream of fire tore through smaller cruisers, ripping them apart before they could close distance.
"Targets eliminated!" Atago reported. "But more are coming!"
Below the surface—
Takao's domain.
Sonar pulsed outward.
Contacts—multiple.
"Submarine drones detected. Lock acquired."
Torpedo bays opened beneath the ekranoplane.
"Launching."
The water erupted as torpedoes cut through the depths, each one striking with precise lethality. Siren subs vanished in controlled detonations—clean kills.
"Underwater threats neutralized," Takao confirmed calmly. "Continuing scan."
Back inside—
The engine.
Illustrious stood at the central command seat.
Her hand hovered for only a moment—
Then pressed the red ignition control.
The response was immediate.
A deep, resonant hum filled the entire craft as the ekranoplane's core systems awakened. Power surged through its frame, lights stabilizing, systems syncing.
"Engine online…" she breathed.
Her hands moved to the controls—steady, determined.
"Thrusters responding."
Another impact rocked the ship.
The shield flickered.
"Integrity at sixty percent!" Atago warned.
Illustrious's expression hardened—not fear, but resolve.
Inside the roaring hull of the ekranoplane, the vibration of full thrust ran through every surface. The engines howled as the craft tore forward, carving a path through hostile fire.
Atago gripped the weapons console, glancing briefly toward the command seat.
"Illy-san… what about the Commander?"
There was a hesitation—small, but real.
Takao's voice followed, quieter but heavier.
"…We can't just leave him behind."
For a moment, the only answer was the thunder of the engines and the distant crack of railguns firing.
Then Illustrious spoke.
"He told us to escape."
Her hands never left the controls.
Steady.
Precise.
But her voice carried something deeper than obedience.
"Commander Yuuki does not give orders lightly."
Another impact struck the shield—it flared, then stabilized.
Atago clenched her jaw. "But still—"
Illustrious cut in, not sharply—but firmly.
"If we turn back now, we lose everything he is buying us."
Silence followed that.
Heavy.
Truthful.
Takao exhaled slowly, her focus returning to sonar. "Subsurface remains clear. We have an opening vector."
Illustrious nodded slightly, eyes fixed forward.
"He will meet us," she said, quieter now—but certain.
"He said so."
Another wave of Siren drones attempted to intercept—Atago responded instantly.
"Engaging targets—clearing forward arc!"
Explosions lit the horizon.
The ekranoplane surged ahead.
Illustrious tightened her grip on the controls.
"We just need to get out of the fleet."
Her voice softened—just for a moment.
"…And trust him."
Behind them, the Siren formation struggled to reorganize.
Ahead—
Open water.
The ekranoplane surged forward—then—
Stopped.
Illustrious cut the thrust hard.
The engines dropped from a roar to a strained hum as the massive craft hovered just above the surface, momentum bleeding away into nothing.
Because ahead—
There was no path.
Siren battleships slid into formation, their hulls towering like walls of steel and energy. Carriers repositioned behind them, aircraft already circling like vultures. From below, new contacts surfaced—submarines rising to complete the encirclement.
They weren't chasing anymore.
They were closing.
Atago's hands froze for half a second on the weapons console.
"…They're boxing us in."
Takao's voice came in, tighter than before. "Subsurface routes blocked. Multiple torpedo signatures… holding pattern."
The ekranoplane hovered in the center of it all.
Surrounded.
Illustrious stared forward, eyes steady—but the situation had changed.
"…They anticipated the breakout."
The crystal shield flickered again—another barrage slamming into it. This time, the glow dimmed noticeably.
"Shield integrity at forty percent!" Atago called out.
Another impact.
Thirty-eight.
The Siren fleet didn't rush.
They tightened.
Controlled.
Methodical.
Like predators that already knew the outcome.
"Oh no…" Atago whispered under her breath.
For a brief moment—
No one spoke.
Then Illustrious inhaled slowly.
============
The tremors intensified.
Stone cracked. Dust fell in sheets. The ancient structure that had stood for decades—maybe longer—was finally giving way under the violence above.
"Move!" Yuuki snapped.
They ran.
Akashi's eyes widened the moment the Phobocaster came into view—its massive frame resting like a leviathan waiting to awaken.
"What is this, nyaa?! It's huge, nyaa!!"
She almost bolted toward it, tail swishing wildly—
Yuuki caught her by the collar mid-step.
"Easy," he said, steady but firm. "Too much excitement and you'll pass out before we even start."
Behind them, the Bulins were already circling the submarine, eyes sparkling. Despite kids, they have impressive agility.
"Big!"
"Shiny!"
"Fast?!"
Yuuki exhaled. Yeah… this is going to be a problem later.
"No time. Inside—now."
He engaged his repulsor thrusters, lifting Yorktown, Enterprise, and Belfast in quick succession and guiding them toward the hatch. Akashi followed—this time under control—while the Bulins scrambled in behind her, still buzzing with energy.
The hatch sealed with a heavy clang.
Inside, everything snapped into motion.
Belfast moved to navigation.
Enterprise to rear guard.
Yorktown to frontal guard.
The Bulins—barely containing themselves—were strapped into passenger seats, restraints locking them in place just as Akashi tried (and failed) to lean forward toward the controls.
"Nyaa—so many buttons—!"
Click.
Seatbelt locked.
"…Nyaa."
Yuuki dropped into the pilot's seat.
"Starting engines."
The Phobocaster came alive.
A deep, resonant hum surged through the hull as systems ignited, lights stabilizing, pressure fields activating.
"Diving."
The vessel dropped.
Water closed over them instantly as the submarine plunged into the depths, turning sharply toward the exit corridor.
Behind them—
The chamber collapsed.
Stone gave way. Entire sections caved in, the ancient sanctuary finally succumbing to the strain. Debris crashed into the water as pressure surged violently through the collapsing structure.
Yuuki didn't slow.
"Hold on."
Thrusters flared.
The Phobocaster surged forward, forcing its way through narrowing passageways as the environment around them broke apart. Rock scraped against the hull—then gave way.
Light—
Then open water.
They burst free into the ocean.
For half a second—
Clear.
Then—
Enterprise's voice cut in. "Contact."
Multiple.
Dozens.
The display lit up instantly.
Small submarines—fast, agile—forming a perimeter.
And behind them—
A massive silhouette.
A mother sub.
Waiting.
Blocking.
Surrounding.
Yorktown's eyes narrowed. "We're boxed in…"
Belfast adjusted course projections rapidly. "No immediate escape vector."
Akashi pressed back into her seat slightly. "They were waiting for us, nyaa…"
The Bulins went quiet.
Even they understood.
Yuuki's grip tightened slightly on the controls.
Then—
Comms flared.
"Commander—!"
Illustrious.
Static. Weapons fire in the background.
Above, they were still trapped.
Below—
So were they.
Yorktown looked at him.
Same question.
Different battlefield.
"Commander…"
A beat.
"…What are we going to do?"
The ocean around them felt heavier.
Not from pressure.
From expectation.
Every eye in the submarine turned to Yuuki.
Waiting.