Tokyo, Sakura Empire
June 21, 1942
12:00 AM
Hiyou, Junyou, and Taihou were on the shores of Tokyo Bay, tasked with guarding the Capital. Hiyou and Junyou launched their Aircraft to intercept the incoming Hornets.
"Shit. Our Aircrafts could not reach the altitude of the incoming Enemy Aircraft!" Junyou contacted the nearby Base, as they relayed the transmission to the Underground Bunker.
"What should we do, Junyou nee-san? We can't even reach them," Hiyou said as she waited for further orders.
"Damn it!!! Shikikan-sama will hate me if I don't shoot down any of those planes!" Taihou exclaimed, on the verge of losing her sanity for not shooting down any Hornets in the air. She then summoned a fire ball and threw it into the air, as the fire ball turned into a Burning Zero.
"Come on, reach up in the skies like a Phoenix!" Taihou screamed at the top of her lungs as her Burning Zero climbed to heights that no other Axis or Azur Lane Planes could achieve.
Junyou and Hiyou cheered as they saw Taihou's Planes break the 20,000-ft ceiling limit of the A6M Zero.
"Sugoi, Taihou-sempai," Hiyou and Junyou said.
But the Burning Zeros were deprived of oxygen as they tried to reach the height of 25,000ft. The Zeros lost their flames and control, and were now falling from the sky. One of the Zeros fell in the Residential Area, causing fires.
"Damn it!" Taihou fell to her knees, looking defeated. Defeated because she hadn't been able to shoot down a single plane in the past 2 hours straight. She could only watch falling bombs hitting important targets such as Government Buildings and Military Bases.
"Shikikan-sama will hate me...." Taihou then started to tear up, thinking she was a failure.
Hiyou sailed next to her and comforted her sempai. "It's alright, Sempai. If Shikikan was here, he would have been proud if he saw you do that..."
"Shikikan is not that kind of man. He's my childhood friend, so I know him better," Junyou said.
"Yeah. You're righ—" A sudden five massive explosions caught their attention, in the direction of Nagato's Mansion.
"Junyou! Are there any enemy planes in the sky as those explosions happened?" Taihou asked with seriousness in her voice.
"No. I don't see any Enemy Aircraft in the sky, according to my Scout Planes' reports," Junyou said.
Then their onboard radio crackled with static noise. They all listened to the incoming radio transmission.
Underground Bunker
Cmdr. Shin was looking at the various Sakura Empire Maps on the table, thinking of a counterattack against Azur Lane Forces, but all his plans were now jeopardized because of the jamming of communication radios in the fleet.
Then someone opened the heavily armored door. The other High-Ranking Officers shifted their attention to the door. A Low-Rank Officer came in, holding a report paper.
"Sir. According to the report, the palace was raided by Azur Lane Operatives."
Cmdr. Shin stopped what he was doing and looked at the Low-Rank Officer with a serious look on his face.
The Low-Rank Officer continued, "All the Imperial Guards and Kempeitai Agents assigned to protect the Emperor are found dead in the dungeon."
"And where is my Father and the Emperor?!"
The Low-Rank Officer quickly answered, "The Imperial Advisor is not found yet. And the Emperor and the Imperial Family are missing."
"I see...." Cmdr. Shin said as he calmed down.
Then another Low-Rank Officer barged in, holding another report. "Gomen'nasai," and bowed down. "I have urgent news."
"What is it?" one of the High-Rank Officers asked.
"There was a sudden massive explosion outside the walls of Nagato's Mansion."
One of the High-Ranks spoke, "It's just another random strike in the Capital."
"Impossible. They are not going to bomb someone who wanted a diplomatic talk?" PM Tojo murmured.
"What about it, then?" Cmdr. Shin asked. 'Where are you hiding, Father?' He thought as his gut was telling him something bad had just happened.
The Low-Rank Officer continued, "The Emperor and his Imperial Family, and the Imperial Advisor, are hiding at Nagato's Mansion. Right now."
"Nani?!!!" Cmdr. Shin, PM Tojo, and the other High-Ranks shouted.
"We also tried to contact the Imperial Guards and Kempeitai Agents that were in the Mansion, but there was no response yet, Sir. We believe they were taken out by that explosion."
"What do you think, Cmdr. Shin?" one of the High-Rank Officers to his left asked him.
"If they wanted to bomb the mansion, they could have done that hours ago, but why now?" It clicked in his mind.
"They want the Emperor and the Imperial Family to be captured and turned into hostages so that they can make us surrender."
"If they capture the Emperor and use him as a puppet, they could control the people of the Empire. This is the end for the Sakura Empire if they get their hands on the Emperor," PM Tojo said. "Contact the nearest forces that we have in the area that is located near Nagato's Mansion."
Cmdr. Shin then gave an order to the two Low-Rank Officers. "Contact Hiyou, Junyou, and Taihou about the situation. I want them ready; we might face an 'Elite Unit' that was inserted inside the Empire."
"Hai," the two Low-Rank Officers saluted and quickly left the room.
"Where are you going, Cmdr. Shin?" PM Tojo asked as he saw him reload his Type 14 Nambu Pistol.
"My father was there. I need to know if he's okay," Cmdr. Shin said.
"I'm coming with you. I could not let a talented Commander of the Sakura Empire go alone...." PM Tojo said.
"Arigato, Tojo-san."
Nagato's Mansion
"This is Taihou. I've reached the Mansion. There is evidence that looks like a fierce battle happened here in the Garden," Taihou reported as she saw the whole place littered with bullet holes, spent ammo casings, and dead bodies.
Hiyou covered her mouth in total shock at the scene in front of her. "Whoever did this is more terrifying than you, Taihou-sempai," she said as she walked past the dead bodies of Imperial Guards and Kempeitai Agents.
"Taihou! Hiyou! You've got to see this!" Junyou shouted their names from inside the mansion.
As soon as the two heard Junyou shouting their names, they both sprinted inside the mansion. Inside, Junyou's grim face welcomed them. They both then asked what the problem was. Junyou, with a grim and dark expression, pointed at the one headless corpse inside the mansion.
"Those are clothes belonging to an Imperial Advisor. That headless corpse is the Commander's Father. Imperial Advisor Shendo."
Taihou and Hiyou covered their mouths in total shock and disgust. Who could do this? Only a heartless person would decapitate an old man.
America spends Billions of Dollars to stab a Motherfucker with a Missile with 6 katanas on its side. And killing an old man who turned a blind eye to all the crimes that the Sakuran troops committed against Dragon Empery citizens by blowing his brain matter with a .50 cal. I think not.
"W-We need t-to report this. Now!" Taihou said, her voice shaking in fear. How would her 'Shikikan' react if he found out his father was killed and decapitated?
"How?" Junyou interjected. "I know him. He's the kind of person who always resorts to violence every time he gets angry or mad."
Hiyou took a deep breath and released a big sigh. "Let's just tell him the truth." Taihou and Junyou nodded in agreement.
Sakura Empire Underground Military Base Location: Unknown
Unzen, on her Guard duty, was called upon by Cmdr. Shin to escort him as a reinforcing force heading to Nagato's Mansion. She and other Guards on standby loaded the Trucks and other Armored Vehicles with supplies to be ready.
As Cmdr. Shin was about to hop inside the Military Truck, one of the Officers ran toward him to give a report.
"Sir. We have received a report from Taihou and Junyou about Nagato's Mansion. According to them, the Imperial Advisor is dead and—" before the poor Officer could finish his report, Cmdr. Shin grabbed him by the collar of his shirt and shouted.
"What the fuck did you say?!"
The Officer stuttered in fear. "S-Sir, Taihou and Junyou reported that the Imperial Advisor is dead. They found his headless body on the floor of one of the mansion's rooms, surrounded by Kempeitai Agent dead bodies."
Cmdr. Shin slowly let go of the Officer's shirt as he fell to his knees. Tears slowly fell from both of his teary eyes. All the Military members stopped what they were doing as they saw the Commander cry.
The Officer continued, "The Emperor and Imperial Family are nowhere to be found; most likely, they were taken away."
Unzen came to his side for comfort. The Commander cried after receiving such news. "Commander... It's alright, Commander, we will have our revenge... we need to stick to the plan and capture them," she said reassuringly, patting him on the back.
PM Tojo came to his aid, tapping his shoulders. "We still have hope. Did you hear that the Emperor and the Imperial Family are still alive? They couldn't have just left so soon. So, we have to find the Emperor and his Family and take revenge on the person who killed your father."
Cmdr. Shin was full of anger and a desire for revenge, which clouded his judgment. "I swear on my Father's dead body... I will find that person who did it, and kill him!"
"That's the spirit, Commander, let's go... we need to catch up to them," Unzen said to cheer him up. Then suddenly, her expression darkened as she remembered a person/kansen who would do such a thing. 'Could it be him? No! If so, I will get my revenge,' she silently vowed.
After hearing the words of the enraged Commander, every Imperial Soldier hopped into the Truck to catch up with the fleeing Operatives that had been sent by Azur Lane.
As soon as the truck left the compound and hit the road with the convoy of Military Trucks and Armored Vehicles, a thunderous roar was heard above them. They all looked up and saw the Angular Planes that had terrorized the Imperial Forces.
"What the! How did they find our Hidden Base at the Mountain?!" PM Tojo exclaimed as his eyes darted at the planes above.
"That Operative must be the one that located the location of our Hidden Base," Cmdr. Shin said.
"Do you think the Underground Base would survive the attack?" PM Tojo asked.
'How can two Planes accomplish such a task?' Unzen observed as the two Planes were not Bombers capable of handling such an Underground Bunker Mountain Complex.
One of the Imperial Officers spoke with a hint of pride and defiance in his voice. "It will... The Underground Base is made to counter Siren Aerial attacks. No bombs can destroy it."
As soon as he said those words, the Hornets above dropped BLU-118/b Thermobaric Bombs or Vacuum Bombs.
BLU-118/b was developed by the US in the 2000s to counter the underground cave tunnels of the Taliban and Al-Qaeda in the mountains of Afghanistan. It was made to penetrate and explode inside the cave tunnel and kill the occupants inside the cave system.
The Base alarm blared, and Anti-Air Crews ran to their Anti-Air Positions to shoot down the incoming threat. The Air was covered with Anti-Air Flak in the hope of shooting down one of the dreaded planes. Two F/A-18 Hornets dropped 4 BLU-118/b each aircraft. 8 Thermobaric Bombs were dropped on the Underground Military Base; all Bombs hit the target with great precision.
The mountain and the Underground Military Base that was dug under the mountain shook as the 8 Thermobaric Bombs exploded deep inside. Everyone inside the underground cave system died from the overpressure released by the 8 Vacuum bombs. Smoke rose up from the cave ventilation and openings. The remaining Soldiers who were outside or lucky rushed inside the Underground Base to help with the rescue operation.
Those in the truck were left with mouths agape at the result of the bombing run conducted by the two Aircraft. Their attention shifted to the smoking Underground Base as smoke rose up from the ventilation and openings of the Base.
Unzen and Cmdr. Shin's eyes both widened at the reality they were witnessing. The underground bunker mountain complex would shelter no one from the precise decapitating attack of the Modern Kansens.
One of the Imperial Officers spoke, "Are we that lucky, or... is it just a coincidence...."
"I think it's just coincidence," PM Tojo said.
"We have no time to grieve for our dead comrades; we need to save the Imperial Highness and the Imperial Family," Cmdr. Shin strengthened his resolve as he gripped the railing of the truck tightly.
Forest
Arizona, AZ-1 Team alongside Mikasa, Nagato, Mutsu, and Kawakaze. The Emperor and The Imperial Family, along with the Imperial Maids, were traversing through the thick forest to avoid being spotted by scout aircraft.
"This sucks! Why do we have to walk in the forest!" the Imperial Prince complained as they walked through a thick forest.
The Empress tried to shut her son's loud mouth, afraid that Arizona might take her son's life.
"First time roaming the Forest, eh, Highness? But you have to endure it for now, just a few Kilometers away before we reach the extraction zone," Arizona said calmly, even though the Imperial Family and their entourage were slightly afraid of his demeanor.
Skipper looked at him with a bland face of apprehension. "Sir, not to be rude – it sounded calm, but your face and demeanor betrayed every word you said. Leave the Imperial Family in my care. You're making them look like they're marching to their execution," he said truthfully.
Arizona sighed. "Even if I soften my expression." He murmured to himself. "Right, I'll leave it to you then. I'd rather focus on the mission at hand and giving them a clear extraction," he said, motioning to him.
"Sheffield, how's the perimeter?" He radioed.
"Everything is clear; no one is tailing us from behind," She radioed back.
"Move your pace; we're reaching the designated area, over."
"Copy, we're moving, over."
After talking on his radio, Nagato started a conversation. "So, about your plan, did bringing the Imperial Family not make the list?"
Arizona sighed; the complexity of his mission had become even more intricate. What started as a simple (Meticulous) reconnaissance and espionage had turned into a hostage extraction mission and a subsequent Bin Laden Raid at the Imperial Palace.
"It all changed as I listened to the Imperial Palace conversations. Many of the Militarist Faction at the palace were plotting behind His Imperial Majesty's backs. So, Miss Enterprise asked for assistance from the Royal Navy to help me secure the Emperor. And her last order is to Eliminate all that threatens the Imperial throne. So, I have to kill every Militarist Faction in the palace. We also found out a plan to frame Lady Nagato for killing the Emperor and the Imperial Family, so we were ordered to kill them first before they could execute their plan."
"H-How? I knew they were planning something behind my back. But to kill me and my Family, only to wage war with Azur Lane," Emperor Hirohito said with disbelief and confusion in his voice.
"No. I think your Imperial Advisor is the one who's planning it," Arizona said.
"Shendo? Shendo and his Family would never betray the Imperial Family and the Imperial Throne; this is his Family's oath," Emperor Hirohito exclaimed.
"Yes, his Family might honor the oath. But are you sure he would?" Arizona responded.
Emperor Hirohito was still hesitant to believe what Arizona had just said to him and also couldn't believe how his Empire was crumbling from within.
The comms in Arizona's ears crackled with static. "This is AZ-2 Lead. The coast is clear, and I can see our ride coming in ETA 5mins."
Arizona answered the comms, "Copy that, AZ-2 Lead. We're on our way."
"Finally, we can finally get out of this forest," Mutsu said as she ran off to the sandy beach of the coast.
"Alright, Your Imperial Majesty, let's get moving. Our ride will be here shortly," Arizona remarked.
Sheffield and Edinburgh walked in, carrying the M82 Barrett. "I think I need it back; it's only slowing you two down," He said, motioning for it to be returned.
"I can still carry it," Sheffield retorted.
"No. I'm serious... I want it back," He said, motioning with his hands. She conceded and gave it to him; to be frank, she was quite getting the hang of it.
Edinburgh, on the other hand, not so much. After seeing those chunks of flesh cleaved with each shot, it had traumatized her, and she wasn't even trying to get close to that weapon. "Thank god... I'm not worrying about that weapon," She exasperatedly said.
Both ignored her concerns as they had different conversations going on inside their heads, with only silence, they only just gave glances before walking towards the objective.
At the sight of the open sandy beach, they all came out from the cover of the thick forest as they walked toward the strip of sandy beach. They waited for their ride at their designated extraction point. In their anticipation, a single oddly looking aircraft showed itself on the horizon.
A single MV-22 Osprey slowly approached the coast and hovered over the sand, blowing sand debris all over the place. As it landed, the rear hatch door opened, and Manjuus armed with M4s slowly came out and formed a circular defense around the Aircraft.
"This is the second time I see that aircraft. It still amazes me every time," Nagato commented as she eyed the Osprey.
"Me too, Nagato-san," Mikasa added.
"S-So, this is how advanced the Modern Kansens really are?" Emperor Hirohito asked himself as he held his Family's hand firmly.
The Imperial Maids covered their eyes as sand debris flew. The two spinning rotor blades of the Osprey created a whirlwind, a small hurricane of sand.
Then a sudden explosion reverberated in the sky above, taking them all by surprise. They all looked in the direction where they saw two falling, burning wrecks of A6M Zeros. Then a sonic boom followed suit as the Hornets flew above them to provide Air-Cover.
"Shit! We've been found!" Arizona then looked at them and shouted, "Get in the Osprey. Now! Go! Go!"
"Fuck, we're compromised!" Skipper shouted.
Mikasa lent a hand. "Come on, Your Imperial Majesty, let's get moving. It's not safe to stay here anymore."
At the strip of sandy beach, a convoy of Military Trucks and Armored Vehicles burst from the foliage and sped towards them, filled with Imperial Soldiers armed with Arisaka Rifles.
Cmdr. Shin in the following Truck gave orders, a hint of anger in his voice. "Taihou and Junyou. Thank you for finding them. Now don't let them get away, use any means necessary!"
"Hai/Hai Shikikan-sama~" Both Junyou and Taihou replied.
Arizona readied his M82 Barrett as he aimed for the heads of each driver. He shot every truck driver with pin-point accuracy, the bullets penetrating and hitting the passengers in the back of the truck.
Rico pulled out a Carl G Recoilless Rifle and blew up one of the leading Trucks ahead of the convoy. Kowalski reloaded another HE Round.
He tapped his shoulder and backed away from the blast radius. "Back blast clear!"
Rico targeted another Truck. At the pull of the trigger, the HE Round spewed out with smoke and flew towards the Truck.
Everyone on the Truck quickly scrambled to disembark, some jumping off the sides of the back of the Truck, some unlucky souls perishing along with the Truck as it exploded.
Skipper and Private, along with Arizona, provided suppressive fire as the Imperial Family, along with their entourage escorted by EZ-2 Team, boarded the waiting Osprey.
Above them, Hornets flew by and engaged the Zeros and Vals in the sky. A dogfight between Modern Fighters and WW2 Fighters ensued as the battle on the ground escalated. Two Hornets strafed the Military Trucks with their nose-mounted M61 Vulcan Cannons. The Imperial Soldiers became a red mist as they were showered by 20mm depleted uranium rounds.
Taihou, Junyou, and Hiyou saw the Commander's dire situation; they all focused their fighters to protect the Commander.
"Shikikan-sama!" Taihou diverted all of her Fighter Squadron to provide Air-Cover for the pinned-down Imperial Troops.
Arizona provided suppressive fire as he started blowing off the heads of every Imperial Soldier with his M82 Barrett. The Imperial Soldiers ducked or hid behind the trucks as they were afraid of losing their heads to the dematerializing broomstick.
Unzen, seeing him again, ran out of cover and dashed towards him at high speed. Arizona seemed to remember her. "Shit, it's her."
"You're mine!" Unzen declared, katana raised and ready to slash.
"I'm disengaging," He said, coming out of his cover and facing her in a stance. He raised his M4 Rifle and shot a burst of rounds at her. She dodged and closed the distance.
"That won't work on me! HAHHHH!!!!!!!" She let out a battle cry as she aimed for his head.
"Let's tango," He said, dodging the swinging blade aimed at his head. He engaged her in Q-C-Q, pistol in his right hand and KA-BAR Knife in his left, both interlocked in a defensive position.
As he was engaged in C-Q-C, he gave an order. "Sheffield, Edinburgh. Get the Emperor and the Imperial Family and the rest on the Aircraft, now."
"Copy that!" Sheffield provided cover as the Emperor and Imperial Family got into the Osprey. Edinburgh helped the others put on their seatbelts.
"Everyone's onboard!" Edinburgh radioed.
AZ-1 Team broke from their sand cover and ran towards the hovering Osprey. During their retreat, Private had the unluckiest draw; a stray bullet hit him in his chicken butt cheeks.
"My ass, my ass was hit!" he wailed, his face buried in the sand.
"God damn it, Private!" Skipper bellowed. "Rico, cover me." He ordered as he carried the injured Private. The cacophony of explosions and gunshots sounded as "I Need a Hero" blasted through the background.
Inside the passenger-carrying compartment of the Osprey, Private lay on the floor, wailing about his injured ass. A Medic onboard tended to the injured area.
"It hurts, man.... It goddamn hurts!"
The Imperial Family, Nagato, and Mikasa, along with the Imperial Entourage, watched the wailing Manjuu who was currently being tended to.
The Pilot, seeing that everyone was onboard, increased the power lift of the rotors as the Osprey lifted off the sandy ground, a gust of dust blowing and covering them.
"Wait," Nagato noticed. "He is still not on board!"
Everyone shifted their attention to the rear ramp door. In the opening, Arizona was engaging not one opponent, but three at the same time.
"No. We can't leave him," Edinburgh said, concerned about him being left behind.
Everyone watched him dodge Unzen, Hiyou, and Junyou's slashes. Alone, he faced the three in C-Q-C with a pistol and Knife.
"Leave, now. I'll hold them off," He radioed to the ascending Osprey. Sheffield couldn't hold back and jumped off the ramp, heading straight to save him.
The Pilot and the rest noticed her jump off the Aircraft. The Pilot quickly made a squeaking noise on the comms. "What are you doing?! We're about to take off!"
Sheffield held the mic of her radio. "I am not leaving without that Bastard! You can fly away with the Emperor or stay."
The Pilot begrudgingly grumbled. "God fucking damn it, we can't sustain this flight for too long."
As Arizona was preoccupied with the three, he didn't notice the incoming unintended support. Sheffield, with her Rigging Activated, fired an artillery barrage at his position, blowing the three out of the sand. The three retreated as the Cruiser's Guns were dangerous enough to inflict damage to their unarmored Flight Decks and Unzen without her Rigging.
"What the! Reinforcements?!" Unzen exclaimed at the sudden artillery fire. Unable to risk being hit by artillery, she retreated. "This is not over between you and me," She declared, which left him puzzled for a moment.
"The fuck you doing?!" Arizona angrily shouted.
"Isn't it obvious, I'm here to help you!" she shouted back.
Arizona scratched his head as Sheffield's help proved to be problematic. "I have my own escape plan, let's get out of here. Now!"
Arizona quickly grabbed her hand as he pulled her out of what would become a Strike Zone later or sooner. Sheffield was taken aback by his grip on her hand, rough yet gentle.
"Why did you even try to help me? I was expecting you to be off at the Osprey along with the rest," He said, his voice frantic as he ran.
"Why are you angry? I'm just helping... I can't just leave you behind," She said, flustered by her own words.
"I'm not worried about those Imperials firing at me; I am worried about the upcoming Tomahawk Strike on the enemy's position. You being here added to the layer of complexity!"
Sheffield looked at the horizon where she saw a glimpse of dots hovering over the surface of the ocean, rapidly approaching the strip of sandy beach.
"Shit! We're not making it in time," He cursed. Out of ideas, he carried her in his hands. Sheffield's cheeks slowly turned pinkish as she never knew someone like him would carry her in such a compromising position.
At the Osprey, everyone watched as the two dashed inside the passenger cabin in a 'Princess Carry Style', while everything behind was engulfed in chaotic gunfire and explosions.
"Well.... That's a nice entry," Skipper commented at the two.
After everyone was counted onboard, the Rear Door Gunner (Manjuu) opened suppressive fire on the Imperial Soldiers with the door-mounted GAU-21. This Fuckin' Chicken just released bullets that were equivalent to a fuckin' mortgage payment. He single-handedly adjusted the auras and realigned the chakras of these Imperial Troops as they got sprayed by freedom units.
The MV-22 Osprey took off as everyone was onboard and accounted for. Emperor Hirohito glanced at the rear door, watching his Imperial Troops being gunned down by a superior foe. He could only watch the screaming Troops and the shrieking bullets raining down on them.
12 Tomahawk Cruise Missiles skimmed above the ocean as they raced towards the shore where all the Imperial Soldiers were ducked down on the sandy beach. Following the terrain and guided by the Hornets above, the whole beach line was engulfed in fiery explosions, leaving everyone charred and burned.
The Imperial Soldiers cried out in pain as they were blown from their hiding spots. Military Trucks and Armored Vehicles flew several meters high as everything in the vicinity of the Tomahawk Strike was vaporized in the extreme explosion.
"SHIKIKAN-SAMA!!!'" Taihou dove over him, covering him from the explosion. Cmdr. Shin was covered by a cushion over the sand.
Cmdr. Shin watched the horror of what had become of his revenge as he saw his Imperial Army, the Sons, Fathers, and Husbands. "Gomen'nasai," was the word he could mutter.
"Damn it! We need to save the Emperor!" Cmdr. Shin screamed after getting himself out from under Taihou.
Taihou, Hiyou, Junyou, and Unzen didn't receive any damage, only small char marks all over their faces, and their clothes were also charred and burned.
"Enough! We lost this battle. They took away the Emperor and the Imperial Family right before our eyes," PM Tojo said as he held his abdomen; he had been hit by shrapnel. "It's over. We lost."
Right beside him was Unzen, tending to his bleeding wounds. "You shouldn't be moving, Tojo-san, you're bleeding," She said, concerned about the bleeding.
"No, you can't say that! Medic! Medic! I need a medic here!" Cmdr. Shin called for a medic. Then an Army Medic tended to the Prime Minister's wounds after tending to the other wounded Imperial Soldiers.
Cmdr. Shin was sitting on the sand, looking at the aircraft retreating away amidst the devastation while carrying the Emperor, his face expressing defeat. Onboard that Aircraft was the Future of the Empire. He had failed as a Commander; he had let an enemy escape with the Emperor and his Family in hand. Now the future of the Empire was in Azur Lane's hands.
"This is my fault for underestimating them."
Taihou hugged him from behind as he cried from his failure to save the Emperor and the Imperial Family, and also to avenge the death of his father.
Taihou let him cry as she comforted him. "It's alright, Shikikan-sama. It's alright."
Junyou gripped her fist as she saw Taihou take the moment of opportunity to get close to the Commander. "Damn... you... Bitch! Taking advantage of the Commander... grrrrrr."
Hiyou held her shoulder. "Let her be... Commander needs someone right at this moment in his life."
Unzen stared at the horizon where the Osprey flew. Their fight had once again been disrupted for the second time. Maybe a third encounter would be their last. If so... she would give her all until one of them fell.
MV-22 Osprey
Inside the passenger cabin, everyone was seated with occasional jerking from turbulence or bullet damage sustained by the aircraft's airframe.
Arizona stood still, still carrying Sheffield in his hands. With all the adrenaline rush, he had forgotten that a minute had passed.
Sheffield, feeling uncomfortable with all eyes on her, spoke. "Ahem... you can put me down... now."
Arizona suddenly noticed, hastily complied, and lowered her to the floor. "Sorry, my bad. My mind is kinda preoccupied with something else," He said as eyes were on him.
"Sure, it's not wedding bells," Skipper jokingly said.
Kowalski cut in. "I'm pretty sure not, sir. Some people tend to blank their minds with all the adrenaline rushing through their brain," He said meticulously.
"I'm just making a light-hearted joke after what we have been through," Skipper said as the humor of the joke was ruined.
"I think we got the joke," Arizona said in his stern demeanor.
"Yeah, sure you do," Mikasa said with a curved-up lip.
Private broke the awkward tension. "My butt still hurts though," He said while lying down on the stretcher.
Laughter soon followed his remark. Amidst the floods of laughter, Edinburgh sat on her seat, white as a sheet, her body quivering with each turbulence.
"Is something wrong with her?" Nagato inquired about the pale maid's situation.
Arizona quickly remembered. "Oh yeah... about that. This aircraft often used to crash land prematurely in its early service in the military. I guess Lucas made an imprint of that on her."
"Nani?!" the Sakurans' wails echoed through the cabin.
After that long hour of flight, the Osprey reached the Safe Zone, where the USNS William McLean and other ships that needed repair were stationed at some atoll.
The Osprey slowly hovered over the Helipad of the Cargo Ship. As the Osprey landed, they all came out of the rear door one by one.
They were greeted by a man in a Lab Coat and Ship Cpt. Uniform. "Welcome aboard the USNS William McLean T-AKE 12."
"Coming through! We got injured! It was severe!" Skipper's voice boomed as Medical Staff rushed over to bring the patient who needed medication.
On the stretcher, Private wailed about his butt cheeks being the recipient of a single bullet. William looked puzzled as he had never expected that kind of reaction.
Nagato walked down the ramp and greeted him properly. "It's nice to meet you again, Doctor. And thank you for curing me," She said and bowed in gratitude.
"No need to thank me, Lady Nagato. It's a pleasure to help someone in need. Umm, could you please stop calling me Doctor? I'm not a Doctor."
"Then what are you?" the Prince suddenly spoke. The Empress scolded her son. "Do not speak, or they will punish us."
"No need to worry, Your Highness. I don't punish anyone. And for you, young man, I'm not a Doctor because I'm a Physician, okay...." William clarified.
"You can use the Officer's Quarters for your Family, Your Highness."
"Thank you for your hospitality. Even though I ordered you to be eliminated," Emperor Hirohito apologized.
William sighed. "You thought I was wooing Lady Musashi to join our side. I understand if someone lied to me in both ears," He said with a hint of sarcasm.
Then a Manjuu with a nurse cap came to them. "Please follow this Manjuu as they guide you to your Quarters," William said, motioning at them.
The Manjuu then guided the Emperor and Imperial Family alongside the Imperial Maids. Nagato, Mikasa, Mutsu, and Kawakaze followed them.
William then told the two Royal Maids to take a rest, but Sheffield insisted and stood watch as a guard. Edinburgh, on the other hand, went straight inside, found a room, and started sleeping comfortably.
"Belfast and the others are already guarding the surrounding area of the Safe Zone. So, you don't have to worry about it. Besides, you need some rest."
"I'm tellin you she's a hard-to-get type of Woman. You're wasting your time convincing her," Arizona said. Sheffield turned her gaze toward him.
William looked at the two, sensing some tension he couldn't explain by science, and quickly shifted the conversation. "By the way. Where's your Submarine, Arizona?"
"It's heading this way as of now, ETA 30mins," Arizona said.
"I see... you need to be rearmed before heading back to the field. Take a rest for now...."
"I think I'm gonna need a shower first. I haven't taken a shower in days," Arizona said.