Azur Lane Main Force
Essex's F-35Bs and Azur Lane Carriers clashed for dominance in the skies above, where Siren Planes appeared in numbers far exceeding their initial expectations.
The emergence of Orochi, or rather, a newer variant, was a significant development. This particular Orochi lacked battleship cannons, instead sporting a flight deck. It was essentially the CVNX-100 concept, amplified with three flight decks.
This formidable Orochi was not alone. The Dreamworld Avatar Strategist accompanied the massive Siren ship, their combined objective the elimination of the Azur Lane Main Force.
"How... how many damn Siren Planes do I have left to shoot down?!" Essex-12 yelled in frustration.
Essex's F-35Bs were in Beast Mode, armed with AIM-260 JATMs and AIM-9X Sidewinders. Stealth gun pods were also equipped for some "pew-pew Madafaka" action.
The AIM-260s sniped hostile planes beyond visual range, while the AIM-9Xs, with their advanced seekers, guaranteed a swift end to any heat-emitting or cold target.
F4U Corsairs added their firepower, their guns spitting tracer and AP rounds to pierce the Siren planes' metal hulls. A burst of .50 caliber rounds from a Corsair's wings tore through a Siren plane engaged in aerial combat, sending it spiraling downwards.
"What kind of Sirens are we fighting here?! The whole sky is filled with them, thousands upon thousands!" Essex-9 echoed the frustration of her counterpart.
No matter how generation and dimension divided them, they were still the same family of potatoes.
"Stop wasting your breath and focus your attention on the hostiles above," Shangri-La commanded, maintaining order amidst the chaos.
"Easier said than done—I mean, we are outnumbered by these Sirens," Intrepid stated, unfazed by the surrounding commotion.
"You said it well," both Essexes agreed.
Bunker Hill-17 remained silent as she launched her fighter planes. Though outwardly calm, her inner self was consumed with worry for her counterpart inside the energy dome.
"I hope you're alright," she mumbled to herself.
Illustrious and the other Royal Navy Carriers within the Task Force launched their Spitfires from their flight deck riggings.
With thousands of Siren planes blanketing the sky, the Carriers found themselves unable to launch a counterattack. They were forced into a defensive posture, prioritizing the protection of William and Kashino.
William and Kashino were the fleet's only Auxiliary Ships. If either were hit, the fleet would be left without a supply vessel to replenish their ammunition.
William was slowly transforming into a hospital ship, filled with patients, most of whom were toddlers.
William's mounted CWIS and CLaWS blazed, targeting Siren planes that broke through the anti-air screen. Kashino, with her not so shyly non-accurate Japanese anti-air guns, joined the fray.
Kashino's AA gun shot down a Siren plane, adding it to her scoreboard of 101, with 100 assists credited to William's AA fire.
"Yey, I shot one of them! Yey, yey!" she exclaimed, jumping for joy.
She wasn't the only one experiencing a jolt of excitement, as William, from his ship's bridge right wing, couldn't help but notice the two "buoyance" breaking the law of physics.
From his vantage point, William pondered, "How in God's name is your back not in pain with that?" A question for the ages, posed by a man of wisdom.
He then turned his attention to his side and noticed a cluster of Manjuus and Meowfficers with binoculars, their gazes fixed on the aforementioned 'buoyance,'
"The hell..." his thought trailed off as he witnessed the Manjuus and Meowfficers completely lose focus.
A sudden realization struck him. He swiftly looked back at the bridge. The Helmsman (Manjuu) was going full Initial D with the steering wheel and control lever of the cargo ship.
Indeed, the entire cargo ship, with its remarkable speed of 20 knots, was executing a drift. The unfortunate Siren planes earned the title of 'Death by Drifting Cargo Ship.' It wasn't as glamorous, but hey, if it kills, it kills.
William then recalled the kid at his helm, the Manjuu reminding him of that youngster who loved to drift his secondhand Honda Prius, constantly boasting about his talent and boldly proclaiming his ability to drift this very ship.
A smile touched his lips at the memory. "I guess you have a right to brag about that," he muttered.
His gaze then fell upon a slender, feminine figure in a maid outfit, moving like a ballet dancer across the ocean's surface.
His eyes lingered for a moment before he closed them and groaned. "Good thing you didn't lose your mind there, Bel. It would be problematic for us if you did."
Frigate Belfast danced on the waves, unleashing a flurry of anti-air and close-in defense guns. ESSMs shot out from the former Sea Scepter's VLS cells.
ESSMs had replaced the Sea Scepter to simplify logistics and ensure commonality across weapon systems amongst the Carrier Strike Group.
Frigate Belfast's CIWS and CLaWS shredded every Siren plane that dared to approach William's ship. She was clearly venting her frustration on these flying pests.
She lifts her polearm and swung down the blade, slicing through a Siren plane that had gotten too close to William's ship. With graceful leaps and jumps, she continued to slash through the aerial attackers.
Frigate Belfast was young, five to seven years younger than Cruiser Belfast in human terms. This youth came with its own peculiarities, including a darker side to her personality.
William was thankful she hadn't completely lost it after the communication blackout with Enterprise-80. The thought of a teenage, Berserk Belfast was unsettling.
Amidst the cacophony of gunfire and whizzing propeller planes, the rhythmic chopping of a helicopter drew his attention. He looked towards the aft of his ship and saw a Seahawk attempting to land on his helideck.
At the Helideck
Manjuus in medical attire awaited the Seahawk's arrival on the moving ship. As soon as it touched down, they rushed towards it.
The helicopter's sliding doors opened. Takao, Atago, Choukai, and Cruiser Maya disembarked.
The helicopter crew carefully moved the stretcher bearing the injured JS Maya.
The medical staff took charge of the injured JS Maya, hurrying her inside the ship's superstructure and navigating the hallways towards the Medical Bay.
Takao and her sisters followed, but they were not permitted inside the Medical Bay. They settled into the chairs beside its doors to wait.
Another Seahawk approached and landed. From it, the Maids disembarked, pushing a stroller containing the injured Sheffield. The hard impact on the water's surface had fractured some of her bones. More medical staff rushed in to assist the injured Maid.
Inside the Cargo Ship's Infrastructure
In the hallway outside the Medical Bay, where the others waited anxiously for news of the treatment...
William emerged from the Medical Bay, clipboard in hand. The Takao Sisters and the Maids rose from their seats, their eyes fixed on the 'Doctor' for the results.
"Is everything alright, Doctor?" their worried voices echoed down the corridor.
William sighed, the title name 'Doctor' still grating on him. "All the injuries JS Maya sustained will heal in less than a week, but the wound on her right torso will likely keep her out of service for the next couple of months. All in all, she'll be alright."
A collective sigh of relief swept through the Takao Sisters.
"Thank God," Takao murmured.
"Well, you should thank Lucas for his immediate action. Without him, she might have died from blood loss and exhaustion," William said, then turned to the Maids.
"Sheffield is fine, just a few fractured bones, nothing serious. In a week, she'll probably be back to her usual butt-kicking self."
"We thank you for your efforts, Dr. William," the Maids said with a bow.
William's brow twitched again at the unwanted title, but he refrained from commenting. The girls were already tense, and adding his own frustration wouldn't help the situation.
Having addressed their immediate concerns, he headed to the other room to check on his usual, more annoying patients waiting in the infirmary.
Ongoing Battle Outside
Spitfires, F4U Corsairs, and a small squadron of F-35Bs were engaged in a desperate scramble to intercept the numerically superior Siren planes.
A few Siren planes managed to break through the tight aerial defense and were now facing a storm of steel and lead unleashed by the escorting Shipgirls have thrown in the air.
"Siren planes broke through our air defenses!" one of the escorting Cruisers radioed.
"What?!"
"I got this," Essex-12 declared, as all her Close-in Defense Systems sprang to life.
CIWS, CLaWS, RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missiles, SeaRAM, Sea-Sparrow Missiles, and MK-38 25mm Machinegun Systems rained down on any Siren plane foolish enough to fly close to this literal air-defense fortress.
She then yelled after witnessing the explosive display, "Get smoked, BITCHES!"
Everyone who witnessed that show of force was left speechless, even the usually composed Shangri-La couldn't hide her astonishment at her sister's counterpart's successor.
"How the hell!" Essex-9 exclaimed.
Essex-12 smirked. "This is the future, old hag."
Essex-9 clenched her fist. "Who... do you... called... old hag, huh?!"
"Enough, you two!... We're in the middle of a battle. If you want to show off yourselves... do it after we're done with this mess," Shangri-La interjected, as she placed herself in between the two.
Amidst the Eagle Union and American ships' commotion, one heavily damaged Siren plane went unnoticed.
That Siren plane loitered for a while until it identified its target: one of the Carriers, standing out like a light bulb with its bright, luminous glow.
Illustrious was unaware of the sneaky Siren plane employing the Japanese technique of... going ballistic on a goddamn flattop.
Illustrious was caught off guard by the diving Siren plane heading straight for her. She couldn't recall her Spitfires in time to intercept. She could only brace herself and pray it wouldn't hit.
But divine intervention came in the form of an Evolved Sea-Sparrow Missile (ESSM) that obliterated the die-hard Kamikaze fan of a Siren plane.
Our Protagonist Shota arrived with Cheat Skills, Rizz, and Plot Armor just in time to save the ladies in danger. Lafayette was currently standing at the front bow of JS Maya's ship. And Friends around him with possess of entry.
"The fuck with the entrance! Go start shooting the damn Siren planes!" Essex-12 shouted in annoyance at his dramatic arrival.
"Dude! I just got in here!" Lafayette retorted.
Unicorn sailed towards Illustrious after witnessing her near-kamikaze encounter with a Siren plane. "Big-Sis Illustrious," she said, embracing her. "I'm glad you're alright."
"Me too, Unicorn, me too. I'm also glad that you were unharmed," Illustrious replied during their tearful reunion.
"Say, where's Lucas?" Essex-12 asked.
"We need his Anti-Air Capability here," Shangri-La added.
"Well... after we met up, he ordered me and my division to escort JS Maya's ship and..." He gestured towards the Aegis Destroyer.
"After that, he changed course along with his division and Laffey's Division—the Baltimore-Class, Quincy-Class, and Brooklyn-Class Cruisers—to assist the Battleships that were in chaos."
"He's here or not, doesn't matter, 'cause you're here," Essex-12 said, an ominous smile forming on her face.
"I have a target, specifically for you," she continued.
Shangri-La, sensing her intention, asked, "What do you mean by that?"
Essex-12's ominous smile vanished as she explained her plan. "One of my F-35Bs in stealth mode detected a Massive Siren Ship, comparable to or a straight-up 1-to-1 scale copy of Orochi. But this Orochi differs in that it lacks battleship guns and instead has a flattop with parked Siren Planes... I believe this is the one who sent those thousands of Siren Planes."
Lafayette studied the aerial photo taken by the F-35B. "So..." he looked up at her. "What do you want me to do?"
"I want you to nuke it," she stated simply and clearly.
"Why me?"
"I know you're the only one here who will hesitate to use that weapon in front of the Girls. You're afraid of showing that firepower, that they might fear you if you used that weapon."
Lafayette hesitated at the given orders, unwilling to comply. "No... I can't," he said.
"Listen, the enemy is hundreds of miles away. If you don't make up your mind, we will be overwhelmed and wiped out.... Do it, that's an order," she said with a more authoritative tone.
Lafayette glanced at his surroundings and saw his friends looking at him, awaiting his decision. Laffey-459 was also watching him, waiting.
"Laffey will support your decision," she said, giving a thumbs-up.
Charles Ausburne spoke up. "We also support your decision, boss." Everyone nodded in agreement.
"Sir Lafayette, your decision... everyone here believes in you." Saint Louis said, adding confidence at the struggling mind of his.
With the support of his friends, Lafayette made up his mind. With renewed confidence and vigor, he complied. "Send me the coordinates."
"Good," Essex-12 said and began transmitting the coordinates.
"Prepare Nuclear-armed Tomahawk."
"Nuclear-armed Tomahawk Status: Ready. Nuclear Launch Codes need to be verified," an A.I. voice announced.
"Nuclear Launch Code ***********."
"Nuclear Launch Code: Verified. Selecting target:"
"Target Orochi."
"Target: Confirmed. Target data is currently uploading to the Nuclear-armed Tomahawk... Nuclear-armed Tomahawk ready to fire."
Lafayette, with a confident and determined voice, gave the order. "Launch."
The nuclear-armed Tomahawk shot out of its cell and soared upwards, its rocket booster propelling it to an altitude where its own rocket motors could take over.
Carrier Orochi
"Hmm. It seems Azur Lane survived those thousands of planes we sent," Dreamworld Avatar Strategist mused.
"Maybe we should launch another wave of a thousand planes, but this time we send our own planes to complement Orochi's planes," the other Dreamworld Avatar Strategist suggested.
"Alright, let's go with that plan," she said before turning her attention to the ocean surface, intending to issue the order to Orochi. The other Dreamworld Avatar Strategist noticed something skimming the surface.
Dreamworld Avatar Strategist paid it no mind, assuming it was just another missile. In her understanding, it was a missile, but one of a different kind. Inside that million-dollar pipe bomb with wings was a portable sun.
"Order the Escorting Ships to take care of it."
"Right."
Siren ships, from Destroyers to Cruisers, aimed their anti-air guns at the lone missile. Before the two Siren ships could open fire, it exploded in a fiery inferno.
Before Dreamworld Avatar Strategist could fully comprehend the situation, another Siren ship exploded in the same manner as the first two.
Following that, numerous escorting Siren ships exploded simultaneously, as if attempting to intercept the lone Tomahawk cruise missile.
"What's going on?!"
~10 minutes earlier~
After Lafayette launched the nuclear-armed Tomahawk, Essex-12 raised her Flight-Deck Rigging, preparing for launch.
F-35Bs armed with AGM-135C LRASMs were readied to deal with the escorting Siren ships. LRASMs, with their smooth surface and radar-evading design, were ideal for sneaky anti-ship operations.
Escorting Siren ships fired in every direction, detecting or tracking the skimming phantoms.
"Stop shooting everywhere, and focus your fire on that lone Miss---"
Dreamworld Avatar Strategist couldn't finish her orders as a blinding bright light and heat, rivaling the sun, engulfed the starboard side of Orochi.
There was no booming explosion, only a deafening silence. Orochi's hull, even its several inches of armor, couldn't withstand the intense heat produced by a "Portable Sun".
The escorting Siren ships in the immediate vicinity of the explosion melted and sank. Those farther away were twisted and warped as the shockwave slammed into their vulnerable hulls.
The EMP blast fried the Siren plane avionics. Those caught within the explosion's radius were torn to pieces by the dispersing pressure wave.
~100 miles away, Azur Lane Main Fleet~
Everyone watched the blinding bright light that resembled a rising sun if viewed from sea level. A rising mushroom cloud followed as the intense light subsided.
One of Essex's F-35Bs loitered at a distance to confirm the destruction of Orochi and the Siren Fleet. Radar returns showed no floating debris after the big-bang that the Americans had brought at the table.
"Dear God..." was the only phrase Illustrious could utter in response to that display of destruction.
She had witnessed light that illuminated life, bringing hope and tranquility. But this... this light of devastation terrified her. The existence of a power capable of wiping out an entire fleet sent chills down her spine.
Unicorn, sensing Illustrious's terror, spoke softly. "Big-Sis Illustrious." Illustrious snapped out of her daze, her shocked expression fading as she looked at her. "Are you alright?"
"Ye-Yes, Unicorn. I'm alright," she replied, not wanting to betray any fear. Unicorn, in her innocence, believed her.
Illustrious then glanced at the Americans. She saw Essex-12 grinning at the explosion. Lafayette, on the other hand, wore a face burdened by the weight of his actions.
The Americans had shown her a whole new meaning of Blinding Lights.
...
Lucas and the Bro's
Lucas, accompanied by his small contingent of what he called 'Marines' and a few stragglers with massive 'assets,' sailed at cruising speed towards the Battleships' location.
"Helena, any report from the Battleships?" Lucas asked.
"Ye-Yes, Sir They reported that they were currently engaging a wave of Siren Ships and a few Executor-Class. Currently, the engagement is at a stalemate."
"I see... looks like we're about to make it there in no time," Lucas said, a wave of relief washing over everyone, only to be dashed as Helena continued.
"They also reported that... a-a massive ship like O-Orochi has been sighted by Wales' Scout Planes."
"Oh, come on!"
A chorus of groans and frowns followed, as the full weight of the bad news settled in.
"How many damn Orochi has this Siren built?!" Honolulu exclaimed.
"Location of the sighting?" Lucas asked, his mind already racing, calculating his approach.
"Miss Wales said it was kilometers close to the Siren Base. According to her, Orochi just popped out there along with the Siren Ships attacking them. The General commanding the Ground Offensive was recalled after Orochi appeared, fearing it would bombard the entire Siren Base along with the Ground Troops."
Lucas pondered. 'Shit! Nuking that thing is out of the question. That bastard is too close to the Ground Troops. Nuclear fallout will rain down on them if I order a nuclear strike.'
Helena's comms suddenly crackled with static, and a frantic voice called out, "Sir! The stalemate is broken; Siren Ships are advancing on the beach landing!"
"Shit!" he cursed. "Alright, listen up." Everyone ceased their chatter and focused on him.
"Get your gear ready. We're engaging at full speed ahead, 30 knots."
"Roger that!"
A synchronized symphony of rifle cocking and the mechanical hum of the Girls' rigging turrets turning filled the air.
Lucas' Aegis Combat System tracked the suspected Executor-Class. After a few seconds of matching the humanoid signature in his database, he ordered a Tomahawk Strike.
Wales and the other Battleships, along with their escorts, were forced into a tactical retreat as the overwhelming numbers of Siren Ships flooded their defenses.
Their retreat inadvertently exposed the beach landing to Siren bombardment. To make matters worse, Orochi seemed to be heading in that direction.
So, Wales halted their retreat, along with the other Battleships tasked with naval bombardment and providing heavy artillery support to the Ground Troops.
"They shall not pass," Wales declared, holding the line with her Main-Guns and Rapier Sword.
"Are you sure they would arrive in time?" Renown asked her superior, questioning the decision.
"Yes, I'm sure. They knew the gravity of the situation if the beach landing, where our Ground Troops are being supplied, comes under attack," Wales affirmed.
"I don't know how long we will last this, because my scout planes saw a growing number of Siren Ships heading this way," Chaser reported.
"We will stand our ground," Wales stated firmly, aligning her turret riggings and Main-Guns for full naval bombardment.
The other Battleships mirrored her actions, forming a single line like a fortified steel wall.
At the rear, Light Carriers and Escort Carriers prepared to provide air support in their final stand against the overwhelming Siren forces.
Wales pointed her Rapier Sword at the Siren Ships' silhouettes on the horizon, squinting as she adjusted her aim. "Fire."
The Battleships' guns roared in unison, unleashing a hailstorm of steel upon the advancing Siren Ships. The Royal Navy ships' linear formation resembled the firing line of muskets formation.
"That linear formation again, these Royalties never learn," Dreamworld Avatar Breaker scoffed, observing the heavy toll the old tactic was taking on their advancing ships.
"Old tactics maybe, but the damage it inflicts on our forces shouldn't be ignored," Dreamworld Avatar Strategist countered.
"Whatever. We still need to advance and cut off their Ground Forces' supplies," Dreamworld Avatar Breaker said, preparing to dash towards the Royal Navy defense.
Too bad for her and her buddies, the American million-dollar pipe bomb with wings had obliterated the surrounding Siren Ships and other humanoid Sirens.
"What the!"
She uttered in disbelief, witnessing the devastation. Beside her, the Dreamworld Avatar Strategist, who had predicted this outcome, had also survived.
"I predicted this would happen."
"What???"
"These otherworldly Kansens are more capable and devastating than any of the Azur Lane. Our clustered formation is like a sore thumb to their sophisticated radar."
"Wow...." Dreamworld Avatar Breaker said sarcastically. "You knew about them."
Dreamworld Avatar Strategist smirked, a strange glint in her eyes. Her cheeks flushed slightly as she held them with both hands.
"I'm quite interested in them, especially the male ones."
Dreamworld Avatar Breaker wasn't having any of her nonsense. "I don't care if you wet yourself there, but the real battle is about to start."
Dreamworld Avatar Strategist then let out a Yandere-esque laugh, eyes glistening at her ominous eyes.
Lucas and the Bro's, along with some other Bro's from the B+ (Baltimore Class) and a few tag-along buoys (Quincy Class and Brooklyn Class), rolled in with American spirit and freedom. M27 IARs, SCAR-17s, and M249 SAWs filled the sky with freedom bullets.
Basically, the American spirit of guns-blazing.
Honolulu let out a battle cry as she laid waste to the Siren Planes with her SCAR-17, ignoring the recoil as she went full auto; her chest absorbed the recoil with a noticeable jiggle physics.
The same went for those with B and C (World Cups). Men who love guns often appreciate two things: recoil and jiggle physics.
Lucas, fueled by Crayon, Hate, and Animosity, unleashed a fury that could only be described as: Your Fuck.
JS Maya was hurt, and someone needed to pay. With their blood.
Devil Dog was unleashed from his leash, as Enterprise-80 went dark. He was there, laying down a torrent of hate with his M249 SAW. The name said it all; he was going to see anyone at the end of its barrel.
"Why do they always like to show up late? Is this one of their characteristics?" Renown mused.
"Looks like a pattern to them," Chaser observed.
"Well, according to their history of warfare, they always roll into the battlefield late and still kick ass," Wales stated.
Renown noticed her choice of words. "I never thought you would have said such vulgar words."
"If you're stuck with one of them, you'll just get the hang of it," Wales replied.
"Eat some, bitches!" Lucas yelled out.
Then a flurry of "Get some! Get some! Get some!" followed.
"See."
Amidst the chaotic flurry of raining lead, Dreamworld Avatar Breaker dramatically jumped into the middle, as if she were the main event.
To her expectation, she was the main event, as the muzzles of guns, cannons, and some aluminum green tubes all pointed directly at her. This bitch rolled in like a paparazzi seeking attention, and now she had it—all of it.
Without wasting a breath, simultaneous fire erupted from the barrels, cannons, and aluminum green tubes.
The Clevelands, Baltimores, Brooklyns, and Quincys had been instructed by the best retards in the world, who passed on the grunt's mantra: less talking, more shooting.
The bitch was shredded instantly. Spawn-killed the moment she entered the battlefield. The moral of the story: do not pick a fight with a bunch of 'Americans' with guns; you're not going to win.
After being penetrated by a fuck-ton of freedom bullets, Dreamworld Avatar Breaker's body fell into the ocean, riddled with mind-breaking multiple bullet penetrations.
"Is it dead?" Helena asked.
"Wait, lemme check," Columbia said, pointing an AT-4 at the Siren corpse and firing. Brain matter splattered everywhere like a watermelon.
"Yup, it's dead."
Lucas was currently face to face with his 'stalker' or just your crazy bitch. His inner conscious screamed danger, reminding him of a thirsty predator.
"That face you're giving is something else; it really gives an ecstasy," Dreamworld Avatar Strategist purred.
Lucas just gave her a look of utter disgust. His mind was focused on his duty, not some alien... or worse.
So, this is how Lafayette felt, huh?
Lucas had enough of these horny bitches and fired a burst shot from his M249 SAW at her face. Dreamworld Avatar Strategist, as horny as she might be, was still a strategist. She had anticipated him firing a burst to gauge her reaction.
"My~My~ excited... aren't we?" she said in a seductive and neuron-activating tone.
"Let's tango."
At that, the two exchanged fire. The Dreamworld Avatar Strategist launched her planes, armed with bombs.
Lucas' RIM-116 Rolling Air-Frame Missiles and CLaWS targeted all the planes she threw at him. Lucas' Aegis Combat System calculated their movements and began formulating a counter-attack.
The M249 SAW continued its relentless burst of fire, keeping the Dreamworld Avatar Strategist pinned behind her protected Force Field.
"Hahaha, that's right. Come to me!" she taunted, launching another squadron of Siren Planes.
Lucas, unfazed and utterly annoyed, went full gung-ho, driven by his lost screws on his head. He was at his limit, and in that moment, he unleashed a barrage of Tomahawk Missiles.
The Dreamworld Avatar Strategist licked her lips, having anticipated this attack. She swiftly deactivated her Force Field and moved out of the way.
Explosions followed, and as the smoke settled, the Dreamworld Avatar Strategist stood there, looking like a deranged girlfriend.
"As I expected, you men were predictable---" She couldn't finish her sentence as Lucas made a mad dash towards her.
Out of ammo for his M249 SAW and completely out of patience, Lucas charged at her, intent on a beating. He grabbed the barrel and grip of the Light Machinegun.
The Dreamworld Avatar Strategist was bitch-slapped across the face with the M249 SAW. Lucas, fueled by Hate and Animosity, ignored the heat from the barrel and proceeded to deliver a homerun... to her face!
The force of the blow broke the SAW, and the Dreamworld Avatar Strategist fell to her knees, blood gushing from her broken nose.
"Why you!" she yelled, attempting a counter-attack, but stopped short. A barrel was pointed directly at her forehead.
Lucas' MK-45 Naval Gun fired at point-blank range, destroying the Siren's head.
Lucas felt no satisfaction in that kill, only shame and cowardice for not reaching JS Maya in time. He had thought killing all the Sirens would make him forget, but it didn't.
He felt nothing at all, just like any other weapon of war that Uncle Sam could unleash upon his enemies.
Cleveland, noticing the depressed look on his face, sailed towards him, concerned. "You alright?"
Lucas looked at her with that same expression and offered a sad smile. "Yes, I'm alright."
Cleveland knew he was lying but played along. "...okay... Wales wanted to talk to you."
Lucas nodded. "Alright, I'll leave the search in your capable hands," he said, tapping her shoulder before heading towards Wales's location.
Birmingham spoke, having also noticed his somber demeanor. "He seems to be sad."
"Let him be, Birmingham, he's not in the mood," Cleveland replied.
"What happened then?" Birmingham asked, eager to know what had transpired.
Cleveland recalled what had actually happened. At their rendezvous, Cleveland had navigated the maze-like corridors of the modern Destroyer. She traversed bulkhead after bulkhead until she found his quarters. There, she found Lucas deeply affected by JS Maya's condition.
He blamed himself for not arriving in time to prevent her injury. Now, she lay unconscious and under treatment.
"He blamed himself for not getting there in time to save Maya," Cleveland explained.
"Poor guy, he really loves her," St. Louis commented.
"May-Maybe we can cheer him up. I mean... he did his best. It's not his fault why she was hurt; he saved her in time," Helena suggested.
"That's a good idea, Helena," Baltimore agreed, giving a thumbs-up.
"Alright, let's go tell him that," Columbia said.
"Yeah!" Everyone cheered, now having a plan to lift his spirits.
Everyone left after searching for any remaining signs of Siren life, all heading towards Lucas and the rest of the Battleships.
Helena and Cleveland were left alone at the same location.
"Umm, are you not going to follow them?" Cleveland asked her.
Helena, ever the cinnamon roll, struggled to speak, feeling flustered being alone with Cleveland. "Umm... well... umm," she stammered, her face slowly turning red.
"Don't be shy; I'm willing to listen," Cleveland said reassuringly.
"Well, you... well, you'd be saddened if I were hurt," she finally managed, her face now completely flushed with embarrassment.
"Don't be silly. Of course, I would... because you're my friend," Cleveland said with a warm smile.
Helena, who had been hoping for a different response, simply sighed and accepted it.
"Thanks... Cleveland."
"Come on. Everyone is—." as the two converse in a short moment of tranquil atmosphere, it didn't take long for it to vanished.
"watch out!"
Cleveland shoved Helena out of the path of an incoming projectile. Helena froze in fear, unable to react, and could only watch as Cleveland took the hit for her.
"Cleveland!!!!!!!!!!!!!"