The Takao sisters and the three Royal Navy maids soon arrived at the park.
The moment they descended, everyone stopped.
Something enormous stood at the center of the park.
The Raptures had completed the Obelisk.
It towered over the surrounding area like a massive, dark Egyptian obelisk, rising nearly as high as a tall building. Its black surface was covered in strange mechanical structures, while a massive red crystal sat at the very top.
Energy was flowing through the tower.
From four separate edges around the Obelisk, streams of crimson energy traveled upward, converging directly into the red crystal.
On both the left and right sides of the structure, enormous dark towers stood alongside it, feeding additional red energy toward the crystal.
The entire structure hummed with power.
Takao stared at it.
"How did they complete it?"
Babushka, who had spoke through the comms.
"Droids."
She pointed toward the towering structure.
"The humans were meant to lure the resistance to save them so the droids could kill them. But since you girls rescued the villagers forced to build the tower, the Raptures lost the opportunity."
Her expression hardened.
"So they simply finished the Obelisk themselves. Now they're protecting the SSM launchers."
Takao's eyes narrowed.
"So that was their plan."
Before anyone could say more—
BEEP!
The Echo Suits of the Shipgirls suddenly began issuing warnings.
Takao's eyes widened.
"Missile lock!"
The maids immediately raised their weapons.
Everyone looked around.
Nothing.
No missile launcher.
No vehicle.
No artillery position.
Nothing that could explain where the targeting signal was coming from.
Then another warning sounded.
BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!
More targeting signals appeared.
Liverpool looked around nervously.
"Where are they coming from?"
Manchester scanned the rooftops.
"I don't see anything!"
Gloucester raised her rifle, searching the surrounding buildings.
"Neither do I."
Takao's expression became serious.
The missile targeting system had clearly locked onto them.
But the launchers were nowhere in sight.
And that was the problem.
The Raptures were aiming at them from somewhere—
completely unseen.
"Oh, come on! Unseen missile launchers and the Obelisk?!" Manchester exclaimed.
Before anyone could respond, Babushka's voice came through their comms.
"Ladies, bad news."
Everyone listened.
"The Raptures have captured several resistance members from the village. They're currently holding them in a makeshift facility in the Triangle Gardens."
Takao's expression hardened.
"They're using them as bait."
"Yes," Babushka confirmed. "They want to lure us into rescuing them. More importantly, their Surface-to-Surface Missile Launchers have fuel stockpiles and napalm rounds stored nearby."
She continued quickly.
"Proceed to the Triangle Gardens and destroy all the fuel barrels in the area. That will hamper their bombardment. They were planning to move those supplies to the park later."
Takao immediately understood.
"So if we destroy their fuel stocks, we can slow down their SSM attack."
"Exactly."
Liverpool raised her hand slightly.
"Where is the Triangle Gardens?"
"Straight ahead," Babushka replied. "Follow the road toward the blockade leading to the cathedral. The Triangle Gardens are along that route."
Liverpool's expression brightened.
"We know where it is."
She glanced toward her fellow maids.
"Can we handle it?"
Takao looked at the three maids.
"You girls?"
"Yes!" Manchester answered immediately.
She pointed toward the Iron Legions.
"Lend us ya Legions. We can handle the rescue and the missiles!"
Gloucester nodded firmly.
"We'll destroy their fuel supplies and rescue the captured resistance members."
Liverpool grinned.
"And we'll be back before you know it!"
Takao considered it for a moment before nodding.
"Okay. Take three Legions."
She gestured toward the mechanical units.
"Use them to fly there. Leave the park to us."
The three maids smiled.
"Understood!"
Liverpool gave her two sisters an encouraging smile.
"Ufuu... Then show them the power of the Royal Navy Maids!"
The three maids raised their Ramjet Rifles.
"With pleasure!"
=============
Inside the cathedral, the battle outside had become a distant concern.
Yuu was still working.
The last patients were finally being treated, and the medical teams had reached the end of the seemingly endless stream of wounded villagers, resistance fighters, elderly people, women, and children.
At last, Yuu let out a long breath.
She had finished.
She turned toward the three exhausted doctors beside her.
Vestal, Mary, and Pepper looked completely drained.
Yuu generated three cups of tea and handed them to her apprentices.
"Here. Drink this."
Pepper accepted the cup with both hands.
"Tired... Please let me rest."
Mary looked even worse.
Her eyes were barely open, and she looked like she could fall asleep standing up.
Vestal took a sip before looking toward the two younger girls.
"A little more, girls."
Pepper groaned softly.
Even Shipgirls and Nikkes weren't exempt from exhaustion despite gaining a level for saving a lot people.
Even completed their own system missions of doctor works.
They might possess bodies far beyond ordinary humans, but hours of nonstop medical treatment had pushed even them to their limits.
Babushka approached them.
She bowed deeply.
"Thank you for helping our village."
Her voice carried genuine gratitude.
"To save hundreds of lives in only a few hours... We couldn't thank you enough."
Yuu shook her head.
"I didn't do it by myself."
She gestured toward the three doctors.
"My apprentices here did the hard part."
Babushka looked at them.
Yuu continued.
"I could only bring three with me this time. One is currently helping the recently rescued Shipgirls, and I've received reports that two more Shipgirls will soon join the ranks of doctors."
She paused.
"Two others are currently stationed at Autumn Isle."
Babushka smiled warmly.
"You seem to have wonderful apprentices."
Yuu turned toward them.
Then she stopped.
Mary and Pepper were already leaning against Vestal.
Both had fallen asleep.
Yuu couldn't help but smile.
She could have allowed her medical drones to perform most of the healing.
The technology was more than capable.
But doing so would have felt like an insult to her apprentices.
These girls hadn't rested since returning from Exia Island. They had continued working alongside her from the moment they arrived, determined to learn and gain experience.
Seeing them finally asleep made Yuu genuinely happy.
She was tired too.
Extremely tired.
But Yuu had already treated thousands of patients throughout her career, sometimes handling entire groups by herself. Exhaustion was something she had learned to endure.
Still, she deliberately allowed her apprentices to do the work whenever they wanted the experience.
That was how they would become better doctors.
That was how they would eventually become capable of standing on their own.
Yuu had taught many doctors within the GDI back in Earth 2.0.
But she regarded those doctors as students.
Shipgirls and Nikkes were different.
For them, she had chosen the word apprentices.
Even Kyon and Momo back in Autumn Isle were among them.
Yuu looked down at the sleeping Mary and Pepper, then at Vestal quietly sipping her tea while trying not to disturb them.
A small smile remained on her face.
Being a doctor wasn't simply about possessing the technology to save lives.
Sometimes, it was about teaching others how to save them too.
Babushka eventually left the cathedral to check on her resistance members and help coordinate the village's defenses.
Once the blockade was removed, they would likely have another wave of survivors arriving from the northern villages.
Which meant more patients.
More people who would need medical attention.
Yuu watched Babushka leave before turning back toward her exhausted apprentices.
She quietly raised one hand.
A faint magical aura spread through the room.
Recovery magic.
Yuu had mastered the art after modifying her own body with nanites capable of harnessing and manipulating magic. She normally kept this ability to herself, preferring not to rely on magic when her technology was already more than sufficient.
But this was different.
Her apprentices needed rest.
The gentle aura surrounded Vestal, Mary, and Pepper.
Their exhaustion slowly faded.
Their bodies began recovering at an accelerated rate, allowing them to regain their strength and shortening the amount of rest they would need.
Vestal noticed the change almost immediately.
She looked at Yuu.
"Lady Yuu... you can use magic?"
Yuu paused.
"Yes."
She sighed.
"I didn't plan on telling anyone, but I forgot that Kaguya and the Elven Shipgirls can sense magic. They already asked me about it."
She took another sip of tea.
"Like the Chief, I tend not to rely on it too much."
"I see."
Vestal smiled faintly.
"Commander really is a person who can do everything."
Yuu chuckled.
"Maybe that's why he prefers being a caveman."
Vestal blinked.
"Well, he did mention it like a badge of honor."
"Letting his girls do everything while he simply directs them."
Vestal laughed.
"I don't think the Royal Navy would accept that method."
Yuu smiled.
"I suppose I'm glad I got Arisa as the easy part."
She shook her head.
"The Chief got Belfast. She won't let him do as he pleases."
Vestal laughed again.
"Still... you really can use magic."
"Maybe you will too."
Yuu looked toward her apprentices.
"Once I complete my research into building a magical core with the little fairies within Shipgirls and Nikkes. You girls can finally become mages."
Vestal's eyes widened.
"Mages?"
"Most people refer to magic users as witches or wizards."
Yuu raised a finger.
"But we call ourselves Magicians."
"Magicians?"
"Only a handful of people hold that rank. Magic can't simply be given to someone recklessly."
Yuu explained calmly.
"We have plenty of other magic users within the GDI, but most of them are mages at best."
She counted the ranks on her fingers.
"Apprentice. Mage. Great Mage. High Mage. Archmage. Sky Mage."
She paused.
"Kaguya can be considered a Sky Mage. Those are people capable of manipulating their surrounding environment through magic."
Vestal listened carefully.
"And the ranks above Sky Mage?"
"Those are called Magicians."
Yuu's expression became more serious.
"Only a few people within the GDI have reached that level. Normally, someone must surpass Level 3000 before they can attain the rank."
Vestal stared at her.
"Including Commander, Vice Commander, and you?"
"Yes."
"Then Arisa is...?"
"A High Mage."
Yuu smiled.
"But she's extremely strong for a Pleiades Maid."
Vestal looked around the cathedral.
"So many strong GDI members..."
Yuu smiled at her.
"Take your time, Vestal. You're only Level 34."
She gave her apprentice an approving look.
"And that's impressive considering you've only been levelling up with us for a few days."
Vestal smiled.
"One day, I can enter Mage rank?"
"Of course."
Vestal's expression brightened.
"I look forward to it, Teacher."
Yuu sighed.
"You really like calling me that, huh?"
Vestal grinned.
"We're your apprentices, after all."
She glanced toward the sleeping Mary and Pepper.
"Besides, Nayuta seems to stick with you a lot."
Yuu smiled.
"Well, we were good friends with her previous clone. So she naturally followed me."
She looked toward Vestal.
"Nayuta seems to want to learn whatever she can from me."
Yuu's expression softened.
"Just like you. We're friends, after all."
"Yes, we are... Teacher."
"Yuu is fine, you know!"
"I prefer Teacher."
Vestal grinned.
Yuu could only sigh.
Then she noticed Mary and Pepper had shifted even closer, both sleeping peacefully against Vestal's shoulders.
The sight made Yuu smile.
At least they were finally resting.
"Still... having everyone here feels strange."
Yuu looked around the cathedral.
"Back then, it was just me and Akashi treating hundreds of Shipgirls. There were times when both of us were so exhausted that we could barely continue working."
Her expression softened.
"Then Mary and Pepper joined us. Then you."
She glanced toward Vestal.
"And later, we heard that KanColle Akashi and KanColle Asahi had joined in too."
Yuu gave a small smile.
"Then we had Med Bays and medical drones."
She paused.
"I couldn't help but realize that I finally had a lot of comrades."
Her voice became quieter.
"I don't have to do everything by myself anymore."
Yuu glanced toward Mary.
"Mary once told me that she used to think of herself as a failed doctor."
She smiled.
"Yet she managed to save hundreds of lives back at Autumn Isle and here."
Yuu chuckled.
"If you could have seen how many times she nearly teared up while treating those patients, it was actually quite amusing."
Vestal smiled.
"Pepper used to be the nurse who cheered everyone up."
She looked down at the sleeping Pepper.
"Now she's become the nurse who saves lives."
Vestal turned back toward Yuu.
"Thank you for giving us the chance to become part of something greater."
She smiled warmly.
"And for allowing us to become part of the Commander's life."
Yuu smiled.
"We're friends, after all. I'll help you whenever I can."
She gestured around the cathedral.
"Besides, don't forget that we have Nikkes now. You're a proud doctor of the GDI."
Yuu's eyes narrowed playfully.
"Though we might eventually become rivals over who gets to be his personal doctor."
Vestal's expression immediately became determined.
"I won't lose to you, Teacher Yuu."
A sleepy voice came from beside her.
"Don't forget us. We won't lose either."
Yuu blinked.
She looked toward Mary.
"I thought you were asleep?"
Mary slowly lifted her head from Vestal's shoulder.
"A short rest will do."
Yuu laughed softly.
Pepper stirred as well.
"I can't be his private doctor..."
She yawned.
"But I can be his personal nurse!"
Yuu folded her arms with a smug smile.
"Ufuu... I am the GDI Head Doctor, after all."
Vestal laughed.
"That doesn't mean we'll let you win!"
Yuu smiled.
The three apprentices looked at her with renewed determination.
For the first time in a long while, Yuu didn't feel like she was carrying the burden of saving lives alone.
She had comrades.
She had students.
She had apprentices who were slowly becoming doctors in their own right.
And perhaps, someday, they would stand beside her not as apprentices anymore—
but as fellow doctors.
For now, though, they could enjoy the quiet.
Especially since Mary and Pepper were already beginning to fall asleep again.
==============
Triangle Gardens was a small park located along the main route between the cathedral and the central park. Before the Rapture assault, it had been where Babushka lived and coordinated the village resistance.
Now it had become an enemy supply depot.
Rows of fuel barrels were stacked beneath camouflage nets, supplying the Surface-to-Surface Missile launchers positioned throughout the village. Wooden crates filled with napalm warheads and missile components surrounded the park, while captured resistance fighters and villagers were imprisoned inside a reinforced two-story building overlooking the gardens.
The Raptures had turned the entire area into a trap.
If anyone came to rescue the prisoners, the droids would eliminate them before continuing the bombardment on the cathedral.
High above the gardens, three Iron Legions landed silently on the rooftop of a ruined apartment overlooking the compound.
Behind them crouched Gloucester, Manchester, and Liverpool.
The three Royal Navy maids surveyed the battlefield through the scopes of their Ramjet Rifles. They have taken a long way flight route to arrive at Triangle Garden.
"Found them," Gloucester whispered.
She pointed toward the largest building.
Behind reinforced windows, several villagers were tied together under the watch of Rapture droids.
Manchester frowned.
"So that's where they're keeping everyone."
Liverpool scanned the courtyard.
"There are fuel barrels everywhere. If one goes up... the whole place will."
The Iron Legions projected a tactical map across the rooftop.
Red markers identified every droid in the compound.
Ordinary infantry.
Rocket droids.
Chemical droids.
Chain-gunner droids patrolling the entrances.
More than thirty hostiles.
Gloucester lowered her rifle.
"Legions."
The three machines turned toward her.
"Help us storm the building."
She expected them to breach the doors.
The Legions interpreted storm the building far more literally.
The lead Legion stepped off the rooftop.
Its thrusters ignited.
BOOM!
It crashed straight through the second floor.
Concrete exploded outward.
Windows shattered across the compound.
The other two Legions followed immediately.
CRASH!
BOOM!
The entire side of the building collapsed inward as the Legions punched through walls instead of using the entrance.
Manchester's eyes went wide.
"…I meant through the front door!"
Liverpool stared.
"They really stormed it…"
Inside the building, alarms erupted.
Rapture droids barely had time to react before Iron Legions tore through hallways, smashing metal bodies into walls and ceilings.
Gunfire echoed from inside.
The three maids exchanged one look.
"Well..." Manchester sighed.
"No point staying hidden now."
"Go!"
The three jumped from the rooftop together.
Landing in perfect formation, they immediately opened fire.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The Ramjet Rifles roared.
The 90-caliber hypervelocity rounds were nothing like ordinary sniper ammunition.
A Chain-Gunner Droid lost its entire torso in one shot.
A Rocket Droid exploded as its launcher detonated.
Two infantry droids standing behind it were pierced by the same round before collapsing.
Manchester blinked.
"These rifles are insane!"
Liverpool laughed as she cycled another round.
"They punch through everything!"
Another droid tried using a chemical tank as cover.
Gloucester calmly squeezed the trigger.
BOOM!
The round pierced the droid's chest and ruptured the chemical tank behind it.
Green vapor burst into the air before igniting, consuming nearby machines.
"Watch the tanks," Gloucester warned.
Liverpool immediately shifted targets.
A Flamethrower Droid emerged from behind stacked fuel drums.
"Fuel tank spotted."
She fired.
BOOM!
The round punctured the tank on its back.
A massive fireball erupted, engulfing nearby droids and sending burning fuel across the courtyard.
Manchester whistled.
"One shot really is enough."
The courtyard descended into chaos.
Iron Legions cleared the interior room by room while the three maids covered every exit.
Droids attempting to flee the building were immediately dropped by Ramjet rounds.
Those trying to reach the prisoners were intercepted before taking two steps.
Manchester vaulted over a collapsed wall and landed beside the prison entrance.
"Gloucester! Liverpool! Cover me!"
"Already on it."
Three droids appeared behind Manchester.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Three precise shots.
Three machines collapsed instantly.
Manchester kicked open the reinforced door.
Inside, terrified villagers shielded one another as dust filled the room.
"We're from the resistance!" Manchester shouted. "GDI sent us!"
An elderly man looked up in disbelief.
"The... the Royal Maids?"
Liverpool smiled warmly.
"We're here to bring you home."
Outside, another Legion ripped open the building's remaining wall, creating a safe escape route.
The prisoners were quickly escorted out while Gloucester continued eliminating any surviving droids attempting to regroup.
Within minutes, the building was secure.
Manchester looked toward the massive stockpile of fuel and napalm rounds filling Triangle Gardens.
"Well... that's a lot of explosives."
Liverpool grinned.
"I've always wanted to blow up an enemy supply depot."
Gloucester rested her rifle against her shoulder.
"Let's make sure none of this reaches the SSM launchers."
"Go to the blockade!" Gloucester instructed the rescued villagers. "The resistance will open a way for you. Follow them straight to the cathedral."
The villagers nodded quickly.
"Thank you!"
They hurried away from Triangle Gardens, following the route toward the blockade where Babushka had already stationed several resistance members. The fighters guided the rescued villagers around the defensive line and toward the safety of the cathedral.
Meanwhile, the three maids turned their attention back to the Rapture supplies.
The missiles were stacked inside long transport crates, each one large enough to hold a single SSM warhead.
Liverpool stared at them uneasily.
"If these are the missiles they planned to use against the village..."
Gloucester nodded.
"A single missile could cover a quarter of the village in napalm."
Manchester's expression changed.
"Then we definitely can't let them blow up here."
She looked around Triangle Gardens.
"Now, how are we going to destroy these missiles and fuel tanks?"
Liverpool glanced at the surrounding buildings.
"If we blow them up here, the entire Triangle Gardens could catch fire."
Gloucester considered the problem.
"Let's gather everything into one spot first."
Liverpool blinked.
"Then what?"
Gloucester paused.
"I don't know."
Manchester stared at her.
"You don't know?"
"Not yet."
Gloucester pointed toward the open center of the gardens.
"Let's just gather them away from the buildings. Otherwise, we risk blowing Triangle Gardens off the map."
The three maids and the Iron Legions got to work.
The Legions did most of the heavy lifting, carrying entire stacks of missile crates and fuel barrels at once while the maids directed where everything should go.
One by one, the dangerous supplies were moved away from the buildings.
Fuel barrels.
Napalm containers.
Missile crates.
More fuel.
More ammunition.
Eventually, the entire stockpile had been gathered into a single massive pile in the center of Triangle Gardens.
The three maids stepped back.
Manchester stared at the pile.
"One mistake..."
Liverpool swallowed.
"And the entire garden goes up."
Gloucester nodded.
"Exactly."
Silence followed.
Manchester scratched her head.
"So... what now?"
A familiar voice suddenly came from above.
"You girls needed some help?"
The three maids looked up.
Veronica hovered overhead.
Manchester's eyes lit up.
"Veronica!"
Liverpool pointed toward the massive pile.
"We need to get rid of all of this, but we can't exactly shoot it!"
"Or blow it up."
Manchester sighs.
Gloucester nodded.
"It would destroy the entire garden."
Veronica silently adjusted position.
A weapon system unfolded from beneath the platform.
A bright beam began charging.
The three maids stared.
Manchester slowly realized what was about to happen.
"Wait..."
VZZZHHH!
The Chronobeam fired.
The brilliant beam swept across the entire pile of fuel tanks, missiles, and napalm supplies.
For a brief moment, everything was frozen in place.
Then—
FWOOM.
The entire stockpile vanished.
No explosion.
No fire.
No secondary detonation.
Nothing remained.
Triangle Gardens was completely intact.
Liverpool stared at the empty space.
"...That's cheating."
Manchester laughed.
"That's GDI technology for ya!"
Gloucester simply lowered her rifle.
"I think I'm starting to understand why the Raptures are having such a difficult time."
Veronica turned around and calmly flew back toward the cathedral.
The three maids watched her disappear into the sky.
Liverpool smiled.
"Well... problem solved."
Gloucester sighed.
"Sometimes I wonder if we're just being tested to see how quickly we can stop being surprised before they take us to the main base."
Manchester shrugged.
"No idea."
She pointed toward the three Iron Legions.
"See those Legions there? They're a cheat too. They just busted straight through the second floor. No covert operation... no subtlety... nothing!"
Liverpool laughed.
"They certainly have their own definition of 'storming a building.'"
Gloucester shook her head.
"Well, at least we can help the Takao sisters now."
She glanced toward the route leading back toward the park.
"Actually... I think they're almost done."
Manchester looked in the same direction.
"Then let's sneak back through the main route and give them a hand."
"Agreed."
The three maids gathered their weapons and climbed onto the Iron Legions.
The mechanical units lifted off almost immediately.
The maids flew low over the rooftops before dropping down onto the main route leading back toward the park.
With the Triangle Gardens secured, the prisoners rescued, and the Rapture fuel and missile stockpile erased, they had accomplished their mission.
Now it was time to rejoin the others.
The three Royal Navy maids and their Iron Legion escorts hurried through the main route toward the park, eager to see how the battle was progressing.
And, perhaps, to finally show the Takao sisters that the Royal Navy Maids could keep up with them.
====================
Meanwhile......
BOOM!
Another missile slammed into the ground.
BOOM!
The explosion sent debris flying across the park.
The Takao sisters remained behind the Iron Brutes, using their massive armored forms as cover.
Takao looked around.
"Where are the launchers?"
Maya activated her sensors and scanned the surrounding area.
"I'm detecting a stealth unit presence."
She paused.
"Possibly stealth tanks."
"Stealth?"
Choukai looked around.
"Droids have stealth now?"
She frowned.
"Stealth droids?"
Maya shook her head.
"I'm not sure. But something is definitely here."
Another targeting warning sounded.
Takao's eyes narrowed.
"Then let's let the Brutes tank the damage."
The Iron Brutes immediately moved forward.
Their massive armored bodies stood between the Shipgirls and the incoming fire.
Then—
VZZZHHH!
Energy barriers unfolded from their arms, expanding into enormous shields.
They looked almost like futuristic knights preparing to hold a defensive line.
BOOM!
A missile struck one of the shields.
The barrier rippled violently.
The Brute barely moved.
BOOM!
Another missile hit.
The shield absorbed the impact.
Takao smirked.
"Perfect."
The four sisters advanced behind their mechanical escorts.
Maya continued scanning the battlefield.
"There!"
She pointed toward an empty section of the park.
Takao immediately pulled an EMP grenade from her equipment.
"Let's flush them out."
She threw it.
KZZZRAK!
The EMP grenade detonated.
A wave of electromagnetic energy swept across the area.
For a moment, nothing happened.
Then—
FZZT!
Five enormous silhouettes suddenly flickered into existence.
Five stealth tanks appeared around the park.
Their camouflage systems failed simultaneously, revealing their dark armored hulls.
Choukai's eyes widened.
"Five of them!"
Maya smiled.
"Found you."
The tanks attempted to fire.
They couldn't.
The EMP had disabled their systems.
The Takao sisters immediately moved in.
Takao raised her hand.
"Don't destroy them."
The sisters understood.
They approached the disabled stealth tanks and initiated their hacking systems.
Data streams flooded across their Echo Suit interfaces.
The Rapture systems fought back.
But the Shipgirls were already inside.
One by one, the tanks' control systems were overridden.
CONNECTED.
ACCESS GRANTED.
HOSTILE CONTROL SYSTEM DISABLED.
Within moments, the entire stealth tank company was under GDI control.
Maya looked at the captured machines.
"That's all five."
Takao nodded.
"Good."
The battlefield fell quiet again.
The missile bombardment had stopped.
The stealth tanks were disabled.
But one enormous threat remained.
The Obelisk.
The sisters turned toward the towering structure at the center of the park.
Its massive form still stood against the sky, crimson energy continuing to surge toward the red crystal at its peak.
Choukai tightened her grip on her weapon.
"So... now we deal with that."
Maya looked up.
"There's just one problem."
Takao already knew what she meant.
"We have to get close."
The four sisters stared at the enormous Obelisk.
And getting close to it was going to be the difficult part.
The Iron Brutes began advancing toward the Obelisk.
They had barely taken a few steps when the massive structure reacted.
The red crystal at its peak suddenly intensified.
A low mechanical hum filled the park.
VZZZZZZ...
Choukai's ears perked up.
"What's that?"
The energy concentrated around the crystal.
Then—
FWOOM!
A brilliant red laser shot down from the Obelisk.
It struck one of the Iron Brutes directly.
"Lasers?!" Choukai exclaimed.
Maya stared at the Brute.
"That's quite strong!"
The massive machine staggered slightly.
Everyone expected the shield to collapse.
It didn't.
The energy barrier flickered from the impact, but remained completely intact.
The Brute didn't even slow down.
Choukai blinked.
"...It tanked that?"
Maya smiled.
"Apparently."
The other Iron Brutes immediately moved together.
Their shields expanded and synchronized.
One by one, the machines positioned themselves around the Shipgirls.
VZZZHHH!
The energy barriers connected.
A massive dome-shaped shield formed around the entire group.
Takao looked up at the protective barrier.
"Keep moving."
The Iron Brutes advanced.
The Rapture droids surrounding the Obelisk immediately opened fire.
RATATATATAT!
Bullets and rockets slammed into the massive shield dome.
BOOM! BOOM!
The barrier rippled repeatedly.
The Brutes held their formation.
Their weapons answered.
VZZZRAK!
Repulsor blasts tore through the droids surrounding the Obelisk.
Rocket droids were knocked from rooftops.
Chain-Gunner Droids were crushed beneath the Brutes' return fire.
Chemical and Flamethrower Droids were eliminated before they could approach.
The Iron Legions moved above them, providing additional covering fire.
The entire formation continued advancing.
Slowly.
Steadily.
Nothing could stop them.
It took several solid minutes of fighting through the Rapture defenses, but eventually the massive formation reached the base of the Obelisk.
Takao looked toward the towering structure.
"We're here."
The Iron Legions and Iron Brutes immediately repositioned.
The Brutes formed a defensive perimeter around the entrance while the Legions took to the air, engaging the remaining droids surrounding the structure.
"Legions, Brutes," Takao ordered.
"We'll leave the outside to you."
The machines acknowledged the command.
Takao turned toward her sisters.
"We need to shut this thing down before we approach the SSM launchers."
Maya nodded.
"If we don't, the Obelisk could fire on the launchers."
"And if those missiles are destroyed while they're still loaded with napalm..." Choukai muttered.
Takao finished the thought.
"The entire park could be engulfed."
They couldn't risk it.
The four sisters entered the Obelisk.
The interior was completely different from the exterior.
Dark metallic walls surrounded them, illuminated by crimson energy flowing through enormous conduits.
The deeper they went, the louder the humming became.
Eventually, they reached an enormous internal chamber.
The sisters stopped.
Below them was the Obelisk's main power system.
Massive streams of red energy were converging from multiple directions, flowing upward toward the enormous crystal mounted at the peak of the structure.
The energy pulsed through the chamber like the beating heart of some enormous machine.
Choukai stared upward.
"So that's what's powering the laser."
Maya studied the conduits.
"And it's drawing power from everywhere."
Takao looked around the chamber.
"Then we need to find its control system."
Atago raised her weapon.
"Let's shut this thing down."
"How did the Raptures even come up with this?" Choukai asked, staring at the enormous energy conduits running through the walls. "I thought Shikikan-sama's laser rifle and laser chaingun were already awesome."
Maya glanced toward the massive power system below them.
"Ready for a firefight. We're going to overload the power system with enough force to cripple the entire tower." She raised her weapon. "Then we turn the SSM launchers against themselves and destroy both the launchers and the tower."
Choukai blinked.
"Napalm the whole park?"
"Maybe we can remove the napalm core and keep the explosive part," Takao suggested.
Atago smiled.
"I think how you think, Takao-chan."
The four sisters descended deeper into the Obelisk.
What they had initially assumed was simply a massive weapon emplacement quickly revealed itself to be something far larger.
The elevator carried them beneath the surface, descending into a vast underground complex the Raptures had constructed specifically to house the Obelisk's power system.
The deeper they went, the stronger the humming became.
VRRRRRRMMMMM—
Crimson light pulsed through enormous conduits embedded within the walls, while thick cables and energy channels stretched into the darkness below. The entire underground structure seemed to be feeding power upward toward the Obelisk.
The sisters exchanged glances.
"Those Raptures really went all out building this thing," Maya muttered.
The elevator doors opened.
A large group of Rapture droids immediately turned toward them.
Their weapons came up.
The four sisters activated their armor modes.
CLANK!
Armored plating locked into place around their bodies as their weapons came online.
"Let's go!" Takao shouted.
The sisters charged.
Gunfire erupted throughout the underground complex.
BRRRRRT!
BOOM!
Droids were torn apart almost instantly as the sisters stormed through the facility. Laser fire and bullets struck their armor, but the four Shipgirls barely slowed down.
The Rapture machines simply could not withstand them.
They descended even farther.
Then the sisters reached another massive chamber.
Their eyes widened.
The entire room was filled with enormous streams of crimson energy.
They flowed through gigantic conduits, converging toward a central power system before being directed upward toward the Obelisk above.
"So that's where all the power is coming from..." Choukai whispered.
Maya stared at the immense energy flow.
"And it's even bigger than we thought."
Takao looked upward.
"If the Iron Brutes weren't tanking those lasers outside, we could have been seriously hurt."
Atago looked around the chamber.
"Then let's make sure they don't have to tank anything else."
A final group of droids stood guard around a massive control terminal.
The four sisters raised their weapons.
"Clear them out," Takao ordered.
The firefight lasted only seconds.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
The Rapture droids collapsed one after another until the chamber fell silent.
Takao approached the terminal.
"Friday."
The AI responded immediately through her armor's communications system.
"Ready."
"Hack the Obelisk's main control system."
"Understood."
Data began streaming across Takao's visor.
The terminal flickered.
ACCESSING RUPTURE NETWORK...
BYPASSING SECURITY...
CONTROL AUTHORITY ACQUIRED.
Takao smiled.
"Now let's see how they like their own weapon."
Friday completed the intrusion.
The Obelisk's targeting network suddenly shifted.
Instead of targeting the resistance forces around the park, its weapons began tracking the approaching Rapture droids.
The massive crystal above pulsed crimson.
A moment later—
KRAAA-BOOOOM!
A devastating beam erupted from the Obelisk.
It struck directly into a formation of Rapture droids approaching the park.
The machines were instantly obliterated.
Choukai stared at the destruction.
"...We just turned their superweapon against them."
Atago grinned.
"Ufuu... Isn't that much more satisfying?"
Maya raised her weapon.
"Now we just need to deal with the SSM launchers."
Takao nodded.
"Let's finish this before they realize their own Obelisk is shooting them."
Suddenly, alarms blared throughout the underground complex.
WARNING!
SSM LAUNCH SEQUENCE INITIATED.
Takao's eyes widened as the targeting system appeared on her visor.
The destination was clear.
The cathedral.
A countdown appeared.
00:59
"Those SSM launchers are firing!" Takao shouted.
The sisters immediately realized what was happening.
Atago looked at the terminal. "They can't be stopped!"
"Then we'll redirect them!" Takao replied.
She immediately accessed the Obelisk's power system.
"Friday, overload the power core. We've disabled the Obelisk, so there's no reason to keep it running."
"Understood."
The power system began screaming as Friday forced more and more energy through the already destabilized core.
VRRRRRRRMMMMMMMM—!
Crimson energy surged violently through the conduits.
The underground complex began shaking.
BOOM!
The sisters immediately turned toward the elevator.
"Move!"
They rushed inside as explosions began erupting throughout the complex.
BOOM!
BOOM!
KRAK-BOOM!
The elevator shot upward as the underground facility began tearing itself apart.
When the doors finally opened, the four sisters emerged onto the surface amid smoke, debris, and raging explosions.
"Legions! Brutes! Get clear!" Atago ordered.
The Iron Legions and Iron Brutes immediately took off, rising into the sky and pulling away from the Obelisk.
Takao and Atago rushed toward the two SSM launchers.
"Friday, connect to both launchers!"
"Connected."
"Redirect their targeting."
The targeting coordinates changed.
One missile was redirected toward the other SSM launcher.
The second was redirected toward the Obelisk.
But the launch sequence continued.
00:15
Takao's eyes widened.
"We can't stop the launch!"
"Then we'll make sure they hit exactly where we want them!" Atago shouted.
The two SSM launchers began rotating.
Their massive missiles shifted until they were pointed vertically toward the sky.
Takao and Atago jumped onto the launchers.
"Let's get the napalm cores out first!"
Their armor's laser cutters activated.
VZZZZT!
They sliced through the missile casings, cutting open the sections containing the napalm payloads.
Takao reached inside and pulled the dangerous core free.
Atago did the same with the second missile.
"Got it!"
"Then jump!"
LAUNCH!
The two missiles erupted from their launchers.
The tremendous thrust blasted Takao and Atago away from the platforms.
"Whoa!"
They dropped toward the ground—
Only for Maya and Choukai to rush forward and catch them.
"Got you!" Maya shouted.
Atago landed safely.
"Thanks, Maya!"
Before anyone could say anything else, the three Royal Navy maids arrived with the Iron Legions.
"Takao!" Gloucester called.
"We saw the launch!" Manchester added.
Liverpool looked toward the sky.
"That's not exactly something ya see every day!"
Takao immediately pointed toward the sky.
"Get clear of the area!"
The Iron Legions reacted instantly.
Several mechanical arms grabbed the Shipgirls and maids while the remaining Legions and Iron Brutes accelerated upward.
They climbed as high as they could.
Below them, the two missiles continued their ascent.
From the cathedral, they were clearly visible against the sky.
For one terrifying moment, the villagers watching from afar probably thought the missiles were still heading straight for them.
But the missiles suddenly changed course.
Their guidance systems redirected.
They turned away from the cathedral.
Their new destination was the park.
Takao watched from above.
"They're locked on."
The first missile descended toward the Obelisk.
The second followed, its targeting system locked directly onto the SSM launcher.
Then—
KRAAAAAA-BOOOOOOM!
The first missile slammed into the Obelisk.
A second explosion followed almost immediately.
BOOOOOOM!
The other missile struck the SSM launchers.
The combined detonations engulfed the park in fire, smoke, and debris.
But the napalm cores had been removed.
Instead of a catastrophic napalm blast consuming the surrounding area, the explosions were concentrated around the launchers and Obelisk.
Then the unstable power system finally gave way.
Crimson energy erupted from the Obelisk's internal conduits.
VRRRRRRRRMMMM—KRAK!
The enormous structure began to crack.
Massive pieces of dark metal and stone-like armor broke away from its towering frame.
The red crystal at its peak flickered violently.
Cracks spread across the tower.
Then the entire Obelisk began collapsing.
KRRRRAAAAAAAAK!
The towering weapon folded in on itself, crashing into the park beneath it.
Dust and smoke surged outward, swallowing the ruins.
From high above, Takao and the others watched the destruction.
Liverpool stared in disbelief.
"...We actually did it."
Gloucester slowly lowered her weapon.
"The Obelisk is down."
Manchester looked toward the cathedral.
"And the cathedral is still standing."
Takao released a relieved breath.
"That was way too close."
Far away, the impact finally reached the cathedral.
The ground trembled.
BOOOOM...
Windows rattled.
Dust fell from damaged buildings.
The villagers looked toward the distant park as a massive plume of smoke rose into the sky.
For a moment, everyone simply stared.
The battle for the village had just taken another decisive turn.
The park was completely devastated.
Smoke drifted across the ruined streets as debris from the Obelisk lay scattered across the ground. What had once been the towering weapon was now little more than a collapsed heap of twisted metal and shattered components.
The SSM launchers were gone.
The Obelisk was practically destroyed.
Most importantly, the cathedral was still standing.
Liverpool looked over the ruined park and sighed.
"This will be a hassle to clean up."
Gloucester inspected the area.
"No contamination. The napalm cores were removed before the missiles launched. We can ask Veronica to destroy the remaining debris later."
Manchester looked around.
"So, I guess the mission's accomplished?"
"Yes," Atago replied.
She paused for a moment.
"I am really hungry."
Choukai immediately nodded.
"Me too, Atago-nee."
Maya sighed.
"Is food all you think about?"
Atago simply smiled.
Takao couldn't help but smile at her sisters.
"Shall we go back?"
"Yes!!"
The response came from all three maids and the other sisters almost simultaneously.
Takao raised her communicator.
"Legions? Take us back to the cathedral. Mission accomplished."
The Iron Legions immediately moved into position.
One by one, they gathered the Shipgirls and maids before taking to the sky.
Below them, the resistance fighters began moving through the newly cleared route.
With the park secured and the Rapture blockade broken, there was finally a safe path toward the ruined area. Resistance members advanced carefully, preparing to reclaim the park and inspect what remained of the enemy positions.
Above them, the Iron Legions and Iron Brutes flew back toward the cathedral.
For the first time since the battle began, the skies were quiet.
No missile warnings.
No artillery fire.
No Rapture reinforcements.
Only the sound of the mechanical escorts carrying the victorious Shipgirls and Royal Navy maids home.
The mission was over.
And for now, the village was safe.
=================
Deep within a hidden Rapture facility, a dimly lit control room was filled with the cold glow of monitors and tactical displays.
Behemoth stared at the latest battlefield reports.
The Obelisk had been destroyed.
The park had fallen.
The southern village remained out of Rapture control.
Her expression twisted with anger.
"Oh, so they destroyed the Obelisk?" Behemoth growled. "Is Gideon doing a bad job? He failed to take over the southern village, and now he lost control of one simple park?!"
Leviathan stood nearby, her arms crossed as she looked over the reports.
"Those damned GDI..." she muttered. "We lost a lot of Nikkes and Shipgirls this week alone."
Her expression darkened.
"We even lost a Shipgirl who bears my fucking name!"
The room fell silent.
Behemoth slowly turned toward the central command terminal.
"That's it."
She began entering a series of authorization codes.
"Authorize the nuclear strike."
One of the Rapture officers hesitated.
"What about General Ravenshaw?"
Behemoth didn't even look back.
"He has outlived his usefulness."
She continued entering the authorization sequence.
"If he survived, capture him and force him into Project Regenesis."
Her eyes narrowed.
"I'm sure Patrova can push her project further."
Leviathan gave a quiet, disdainful hum.
"Hmph... The human samples were lost when our sea headquarters ship was blown apart by those damned maids."
She glanced toward another monitor displaying the science division's latest research.
"But our science center can push the project further. We can always use another human sample."
Behemoth finished entering the final command.
AUTHORIZATION ACCEPTED.
A warning appeared across the main screen.
STRATEGIC NUCLEAR WEAPON — ARMED
Behemoth stared at the display for several seconds before punching in one final code.
The room's atmosphere changed immediately.
Warning lights illuminated the control center.
A launch sequence began.
Behemoth smiled coldly.
"Let's see how those GDI pests deal with a nuclear strike."
===================
Soon, Takao, Atago, Maya, Choukai, Liverpool, Manchester, and Gloucester landed alongside the Iron Legions and Iron Brutes.
The moment their feet touched the ground, the resistance moved in.
With the park secured and the Rapture forces driven out, resistance fighters began dismantling the remaining blockade. The Iron Legions and Brutes assisted them, clearing debris and moving obstacles that would have taken ordinary people hours to remove.
The park itself was a completely different sight.
It had been devastated by the destruction of the Obelisk and the SSM launchers. Ruined structures, broken machinery, and debris covered the grounds.
It would normally have taken days to clean up.
But Veronica was already on her way.
With her advanced drones, erasing beam and equipment, what would have been a days-long cleanup would probably be finished within a few hours.
More importantly, the park was theirs again.
The resistance had reclaimed Triangle Gardens.
They had retaken the park.
And the Raptures had been driven completely out of the village.
The people surrounding them erupted into cheers.
Louder than ever before.
Villagers poured out from the cathedral and the surrounding shelters, cheering as they realized the Raptures were truly gone. Children clung to their parents. Resistance fighters raised their weapons into the air. Others simply stood there in disbelief, finally allowing themselves to smile after days of fear.
They had survived.
And they had done so without losing a single villager.
Babushka approached the group, her old face filled with gratitude.
"Thank you," she said, her voice trembling with emotion. "Thank you... all of you."
She bowed deeply.
"You retook our village. You protected our people. You even reclaimed the park without a single villager being lost."
She straightened and looked at the Shipgirls, the Royal Navy maids, the Iron Legions, and the Iron Brutes.
"Our village can never repay this debt."
Takao smiled gently.
"You don't have to."
Atago nodded.
"We're just glad everyone is safe."
The cheers continued around them.
For the first time since the Raptures had descended upon the village, the people could look toward the streets without expecting another attack.
The southern village was battered.
Its buildings were damaged.
Its park was in ruins.
There was still a tremendous amount of work ahead.
But it was theirs again.
And for the people who had spent days fighting simply to survive, that was more than enough reason to celebrate.
By the time the Takao sisters and the Royal Navy maids returned to the cathedral, another set of notifications appeared across their interfaces.
SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT UNLOCKED
OBELISK OF OPPRESSION
The four Takao sisters stared at the newly acquired achievement badge.
Choukai blinked.
"Another achievement?"
Maya looked at hers.
"Looks like destroying that Obelisk counted."
Atago grinned.
"Ufuu... We're collecting these pretty quickly."
Takao smiled.
"Let's head inside."
The four sisters, accompanied by Liverpool, Manchester, and Gloucester, entered the cathedral.
They immediately stopped.
Several tanned men with blonde hair were sitting—or rather, kneeling—near the medical area.
Their faces were bruised and beaten.
One of them clasped his hands together desperately.
"I promise we won't do it ever again... Please don't hurt us."
Manchester stared at them.
"...What happened here?"
Before anyone could answer, another notification appeared.
SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT UNLOCKED
OBELISK OF OPPRESSION
The Takao sisters weren't the only ones who had received it.
Yuu, Vestal, Pepper, and Mary had also earned the same special achievement badge.
Yuu stood nearby with her arms crossed, watching the battered men with an utterly unimpressed expression.
Her Mark 49 armor stood behind her in standby mode.
Unlike during the battle, she was no longer wearing her armor.
She had changed into her usual doctor lab coat—the standard attire she wore while treating patients, making her look less like a heavily armed GDI officer and more like an ordinary physician.
Nearby, Vestal, Mary, and Pepper had also returned to their everyday uniforms.
Vestal wore her familiar nurse outfit.
Pepper wore her sailor-style nurse uniform, her headphones resting around her head. The star on her sailor tie holder had been replaced by the GDI insignia.
Mary wore her usual purple Nikke doctor outfit, though her skirt had been heavily altered to a more practical length for medical work. Her emergency arm band replace with GDI Insignia emblem.
Yuu looked toward the returning Shipgirls and maids.
"Oh, you girls are back."
She folded her arms.
"I take it the mission was a success?"
Takao nodded.
"Yes. The Obelisk and SSM launchers have been destroyed. The park has been reclaimed."
"Good."
Yuu glanced back toward the battered men.
Then she sighed.
"Oh, these men?"
She gestured toward them.
"They thought they could come in here and demand treatment."
The men immediately lowered their heads.
"Please..."
"On top of that," Yuu continued, "they tried flirting with my apprentices."
Vestal adjusted her glasses.
Yuu's expression remained completely flat.
"It took my entire willpower not to euthanize them."
Manchester's eyes widened.
"Euthanize?!"
Yuu ignored her.
"One of them even tried flirting with me."
She pointed toward one particularly battered man.
"That ended with a giant needle being stuck up his little brother."
"OOOHHH..."
Manchester immediately gritted her teeth and winced.
Liverpool covered her mouth, trying not to laugh.
Gloucester simply stared at the man in silence.
The poor man looked like he wanted the ground to swallow him.
Yuu continued as though she were discussing routine medical procedures.
"Most of them were too scared of Mary, so they tried their luck with Pepper."
Pepper gave the men a cheerful smile that somehow made the situation even more intimidating.
"I guess they found out the hard way."
Mary sighed.
"I told them to behave."
"And Vestal?" Choukai asked.
Yuu pointed toward the nurse.
"Vestal ended up beating them up and denying them treatment."
Vestal smiled sweetly.
"They were being disruptive."
Manchester stared at the group.
Then at the bruised men.
Then back at Yuu.
"...Remind me never to annoy any of ya."
Atago covered her mouth, barely holding back a laugh.
Yuu simply adjusted her lab coat.
"Good. Now, if everyone is finished causing trouble, we still have patients to treat."
She glanced toward the cathedral entrance.
"By tomorrow, the northern village will come here with their wounded. Let's rest while we still can."
A small smile appeared on her face.
"I hope Chief comes back soon."
Her eyes then shifted toward the battered men.
"My Chief is a hundred times better than you dark skinned alpha-wannabe men."
The men immediately looked even more frightened.
Vestal stepped forward, adjusting her nurse uniform.
"He's also our commander."
Mary crossed her arms.
"So, if you value your lives..."
Pepper smiled brightly.
"We suggest you don't try your luck."
The three doctors stared at the men.
The men swallowed nervously.
Manchester slowly leaned toward the other maids.
"These doctors are scary."
Takao and Atago could only sigh.
They understood exactly what was happening.
Women who were already bound to Yuuki—whether through marriage, partnership, friendship, or the deeper bond shared between Shipgirls, Nikkes, and their Commander—were fiercely protective of that relationship.
And Yuu, Vestal, Mary, and Pepper were no exception.
If anything, the four doctors had made their position painfully clear.
Yuuki was their Chief.
Their Commander.
And someone they deeply cared about.
Takao glanced toward Atago.
Atago glanced back.
They both understood the unspoken implication.
Anyone already bound to Yuuki was effectively off-limits.
And that included the Shipgirls and Nikkes who had formed that bond with him.
Manchester quietly looked at the men again.
"Right... they definitely not gonna test that."
Liverpool nodded solemnly.
"Probably the wisest decision they've made all day."
Gloucester gave a small sigh.
"Indeed."
Yuu turned back toward the medical area.
"Now, enough talking. We still have patients."
The three apprentices immediately followed.
The cathedral slowly returned to its rhythm of healing and recovery.
For the first time in days, however, there was something else filling the air besides fear and desperation.
Peace.
However, peace didn't last even for a moment.
Yuu suddenly widened her eyes.
Something had caught her attention.
She immediately turned and ran outside the cathedral.
The Shipgirls and Nikkes nearby followed her, confused by the sudden movement.
Maya hurried after her.
"Yuu-sama! What is the matter?"
Yuu stepped into the open and looked up toward the sky.
Her expression hardened.
"Those bastards!"
The others looked upward as well.
For a moment, there was nothing but the quiet sky above them.
Then—
A notification appeared across the interfaces of everyone carrying the Levelling System.
NUCLEAR LAUNCH DETECTED.
T-MINUS 3 MINUTES.
Everyone froze.
Maya's eyes widened.
"A... nuclear launch?"
Takao immediately looked toward Yuu.
"Yuu..."
Yuu clenched her fists.
"They launched a nuclear weapon."
The peaceful atmosphere that had settled over the village vanished instantly.
The cathedral behind them was still filled with wounded villagers.
Families were still recovering.
Children were still being treated.
The people had only just begun celebrating their survival.
And now a nuclear weapon was coming straight toward them.
Yuu looked toward the sky again.
Her eyes narrowed.
"They're trying to kill everyone."
The countdown continued.
02:59
02:58
Yuu's expression became cold.