~Back to Laffey and two dumbass Sirens~
"Do you fear God?... I guess God sometimes doesn't have any mercy on those who harmed His children," Laffey-200 said, her voice laced with a menacing and chilling undertone.
The remaining Sirens were now gripped by panic upon hearing those words. They hung in the air like a death sentence.
Their complexions, already unnaturally pale, seemed to drain further. The two Sirens sweated profusely as 'The Goddess of Death' loomed over them, radiating an intent to deliver divine retribution.
"So... who wants to get started first..."
At that moment, both Enforcer III: Harvest and Enforcer IX: Exploration fully grasped the gravity of their error in underestimating a single foe.
Enforcer III: Harvest attempted a swift getaway, but a sudden hail of lead pinned her in place. Fortunately for her, she reacted quickly, activating her Force Field just in time to deflect the incoming fire.
Enforcer IX: Exploration seized the opportunity, making her move while the bunny girl's attention was momentarily fixed on Enforcer III: Harvest. Little did she know, Laffey-200's onboard Aegis Combat System tracked every subtle movement in her vicinity.
An SM-6 Missile launched from one of Laffey's Vertical Launch System cells, streaking towards Enforcer IX: Exploration. The ensuing explosion and kinetic energy ripped through the air, sending the Siren crashing violently against the bridge of one of the nearby Siren ships.
Enforcer III: Harvest witnessed Enforcer IX: Exploration being hurled through the air. Her concentration momentarily shattered, she received a brutal kick directly to the face.
The force of the kick was so immense that it sent her hurtling backwards, slamming against the armored hull of a Siren ship. She coughed up blood at that kick.
"Damn that demon..." she cursed, having never before experienced such agonizing and overwhelming pain.
Enforcers were meant to instill dread and fear in their enemies; defeat was an alien concept. But now, the tables had turned so fast that they failed to noticed that shifting tides.
Humanoid Sirens rushed to her aid, carefully extracting her from her embedded position. The kick had been so powerful that her impact with the Siren ship's hull had lodged her entire body within the metal.
"Ma'am... we should retreat," one of the Executor Class urged, her voice trembling.
Enforcer III: Harvest glared at the speaker, her eyes clouded with rage and hatred. She grabbed the Siren by the hair, her grip tight.
"Don't tell me to cower before a mere human... you hold no rank to utter such cowardly words to me! Do you understand?" she snarled.
The poor Executer Siren cried out in pain as her hair was yanked. "Ye-Yes, Ma'am, I-I understand."
"Good." Enforcer III: Harvest released her grip, her gaze returning to the ongoing destruction.
Laffey-200 looked down at one of the Enforcers who was slowly pulling herself up amidst the wreckage of the Siren ship's bridge. Enforcer IX: Exploration looked up and saw the 'Emissary of Death' looming above, her very presence radiating lethal intent.
Her eyes widened in terror as she saw the six barrels of the minigun begin to rotate, aiming directly at her. She scrambled to move out of the way just as the Siren ship was instantly shredded into a mangled mess of Swiss cheese.
She didn't cease her frantic flight as a stream of high-velocity rounds whizzed past her rigging, missing by mere inches. The unfortunate Siren ships that lay in the path of this raining freedom were democratized beyond recognition.
Laffey's Aegis Radar detected incoming Plasma Cannon fire. She swiftly activated her Force Field, her attention snapping towards the source of the attack.
Laffey-200's unimpressed expression settled on the utterly enraged Enforcer III: Harvest, who radiated pure fury.
"You're mine," the Enforcer declared menacingly.
Laffey-200 remained unfazed, her tone dismissive. "I didn't ask."
"Why you----!"
Laffey-200 fired her MK-45 Naval Gun to silence her foe. Enforcer III: Harvest managed to block the shot with her Force Field.
Enforcer IX: Exploration seized the opportunity once more, taking advantage of Laffey-200's momentary engagement with the blubbering Enforcer III: Harvest.
She truly never learned. As she launched her attack, she was met with another brutal kick to the face, a blow so forceful that it made onlookers instinctively clench their jaws.
'How is she able to detect me?' she thought, the pain from her shattered jaw searing through her consciousness.
I mean... if you consider yourself to be what the Chinese call a 'Hypersonic Missile', you're nothing more than a subsonic pest in comparison.
Lost in her dazed flight, she failed to notice another kick aimed directly at her chest. With a sickening thud, Enforcer IX: Exploration plummeted, crashing onto the deck of the Siren ship below.
The entire Siren ship shuddered violently as plumes of water erupted around it. Enforcer IX: Exploration slammed onto the deck, her rigging mangled upon impact.
As she desperately tried to rise, a foot planted firmly on her chest pinned her down. She looked up and saw the bunny girl staring down at her.
Her eyes widened in sheer terror as she saw the six barrels of the M-134 Minigun inches from her face. Her heart pounded furiously as the barrels began to spin.
"NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Her desperate scream for mercy was abruptly cut short by the deafening, high-pitched roar of the M-134 Minigun, ending her misery in a brutal instant.
Other Humanoid Sirens like Executor Class and Enforcer III: Harvest were left in stunned silence, a primal terror gripping them. They had never imagined experiencing such utter dread.
Laffey-200 slowly turned her attention towards them, completely ignoring Enforcer IX: Exploration's lifeless corpse. An eerie silence descended.
"My apologies if our conversation was interrupted by a pest, but now you can speak freely. Because I have dealt with said pest."
Her voice was a low, menacing purr that sent shivers down the spines of the remaining Sirens. "What's wrong?... Did you bite your tongue?"
Enforcer III: Harvest felt utterly insulted and humiliated by the taunt. "Damn you... How dare you insult me!"
In her blind rage, she unleashed a barrage of Plasma Cannon fire in every direction. Laffey-200 didn't bother activating a full Force Field; a small, glass-shield-shaped barrier was sufficient to deflect the wild shots.
Laffey-200 returned fire as soon as Enforcer III: Harvest paused her frantic assault.
Enforcer III: Harvest instinctively activated her Force Field. The other Humanoid Sirens who didn't react in time were instantly shredded by the hail of freedom seeds erupting at thousands of rounds per minute. The unfortunate Sirens dissolved into a yellow mist cloud.
'How many bullets does this bitch carry? It's like she never runs out!'
Enforcer III: Harvest's mind screamed in panic as she witnessed the horrifying yellow mist where the Humanoid Sirens had once stood.
Witnessing the carnage, she hurriedly issued a panicked order. "All Siren ships, FIRE!"
The remaining Siren fleet that had survived the initial Nuclear Strike turned their guns towards Laffey-200. Their targeting systems locked on, the Plasma Cannons began to charge.
Laffey-200 remained unconcerned. She simply stood on the deck of one of the derelict Siren ships like a boss. Her ECM and Force Field systems were fully active.
All the enemy shots missed their mark, and the few that came close were effortlessly blocked by her Force Field. Siren shells bounced off her defenses like rubber balls against a wall.
The Siren ship she was standing on was particularly unlucky, absorbing multiple friendly fire hits.
The Siren hadn't bothered to check for friendly fire was on.
"Don't stop firing! .... Keep firing!"
Enforcer III: Harvest desperately ordered the remaining Siren fleet to continue their barrage on Laffey-200. The Siren ships' Plasma Cannons continued to fire relentlessly, as if there were no tomorrow.
The Siren ships unleashed their full firepower with reckless abandon, but their accuracy rivaled that of our humble and lovable... the Russian Baltic Fleet.
As Blue Jay once said: "The Siren Battleship captured the spirit of a Tik-Tok pick-up artist, before reportedly shooting 500 shots without scoring a single hit."
Smoke from the shots billowed around Laffey, obscuring visibility like a makeshift smokescreen. A brief moment later, a large explosion ripped through the smoke. The Sirens ceased firing, assuming she had been taken out along with the unfortunate Siren ship she was standing on.
The poor Siren ship that had absorbed the brunt of the friendly fire was rapidly taking on water through the numerous holes in its hull. Its superstructure was engulfed in flames, punctuated by small, secondary explosions inside.
Enforcer III: Harvest laughed in satisfaction, believing the bunny girl had been eliminated by their relentless artillery barrage.
Laffey-200 utilized her ECM to jam the Sirens' rangefinders and radars, creating the illusion that she had vanished.
As Enforcer III: Harvest celebrated her perceived victory, her premature elation was shattered the moment Laffey-200 leaped out of the dissipating smoke, completely unharmed.
"No.... no!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Enforcer III: Harvest screamed in horror, witnessing Laffey's unscathed state despite the full force of her Siren fleet's attack.
"Shoot her! Shoot her!!!!!!" she shrieked.
Laffey-200 floated above the Siren fleet like a harbinger of death, looking down at the vessels that were about to become victims of another... another... another... Nuclear Attack!
1
"Orders confirmed... Nuclear-armed Tomahawk, Status: Ready."
"Launch."
.
The nuclear-armed Tomahawk missile shot out of the VLC cells and ascended into the sky like a divine judgment about to befall those below.
The Siren ships' main guns swiveled upwards, targeting Laffey-200's position. Plasma Cannons flared, attempting to intercept her before she could unleash her devastating attack. But their efforts to prevent the inevitable were futile.
Enforcer III: Harvest watched in horrified fascination as the lone nuclear-armed Tomahawk slammed down into the center of the remaining Siren fleet.
She instinctively activated her Force Field the instant the missile impacted. A searing fireball engulfed the middle of the Siren fleet, followed by the rapid ascent of a colossal mushroom cloud that reached the heavens. A massive tidal wave radiated outwards, and a powerful shockwave threw everything nearby. The immense tidal wave swallowed the distant Siren ships, while those closer to the epicenter were instantly vaporized and twisted into grotesque shapes by the sheer force of the explosion.
Enforcer III: Harvest slowly opened her eyes as the terrifying aftermath of the attack subsided. She saw the remnants of the Siren fleet slowly sinking beneath the waves.
"No.... no! ..... It can't be."
She whispered in terror, now utterly alone except for the few remaining Executor Class who had somehow survived the nuclear blast.
Enforcer III: Harvest was about to order the remaining Executor to retreat, but the words caught in her throat as she watched one of them dissolve into a yellow mist cloud.
Witnessing the horrifying transformation, she frantically turned her attention towards the bunny girl, who now wielded a weapon similar to the one she had used before.
The weapon in question was a GAU-19, a Ma Deuce that eloquently conveyed the message to "shut the fuck up" at a rate of one to two thousand freedom fractions per democracy.
"Scatter!"
Every surviving Humanoid Siren scattered in blind instinct, driven by primal fear rather than conscious obedience.
Laffey-200 picked them off one by one, like shooting fish in a barrel. But the weapon she wielded was not merely a gun; it was an anti-building weapon with three rapidly rotating barrels.
Screams of the Executor Class mingled with the deafening bursts of .50 caliber rounds as they were mercilessly shredded. Laffey-200's white clothing billowed around her as the recoil from the rotating barrels buffeted her form.
She floated in the air like a deity, a deity of death unleashing the very essence of Uncle Sam's manifestation of Freedom and Democracy.
"You Monster!!!!!!!!!!!"
Enforcer III: Harvest screamed at the top of her lungs, witnessing the horrifying massacre unfold before her eyes.
The Sirens was merely observing the American Trillion-Dollar Defense Budget in action, in its purest manifestation of both peace and war.
Laffey-200 ceased firing and looked at her with undisguised mockery. "Oh.... You called me a monster? Really now?"
"You claimed yourselves as superior beings, trampling those you considered low-lives at your whim. Now... I see a spoiled brat who can only whine. Now you're alone, just like those low-lives you considered beneath you, begging for dear life."
Enforcer III: Harvest couldn't bear the mockery hurled at her. "Damn you!!!!!!!!!!"
"Just shut up already," Laffey-200 said dismissively, completely ignoring the enraged outburst.
To silence the persistent nuisance, Laffey-200 selected a 127mm HVP (Hypervelocity Projectile) for her MK-45 Naval Gun.
(The 127mm Hypervelocity Projectile is a Next-Generation Weapon System developed by BAE Systems. Common to all 5-inch guns of Western navies, the HVP is a projectile designed to supplement the firepower of the US Navy. Think of it as an APFSDS round for the Navy's 5-inch gun.)
The MK-45 Naval Gun swung its 127mm barrel towards Enforcer III: Harvest. With the aid of the ship's onboard System Stabilizer and Aegis Combat System, the shot was guaranteed to hit.
Enforcer III: Harvest's furious yelling was abruptly cut short as she was struck by a projectile that flew with such incredible velocity that her radar couldn't even register its approach.
She slowly looked down at her chest, a massive, gaping hole piercing through her body. Through the wound, she could see her core, her very heart. Sweat beaded on her forehead, her breathing becoming ragged and erratic as disbelief warred with the horrifying reality.
"No... no.... no! I'm not dead—"
Her denial was cut short as Laffey-200 fired another round of 127mm HVP, this time targeting the Siren's head. Laffey-200 watched as her lifeless body slowly fell into the ocean.
Enforcer III: Harvest, taking her last ragged breath, glanced up at the face of the demon who had ended her life. She never imagined that humanity from another world could create such devastating weaponry, its destructive capability far beyond the Sirens' comprehension.
After watching the last Siren fall, Laffey-200 displayed no hint of sympathy for the beings she had just annihilated. Only a small, almost imperceptible smile flickered across her lips.
She then slowly turned her gaze towards the Siren ships, now mangled wrecks, burning and sinking. The surface of the ocean was littered with the lifeless bodies of Humanoid Sirens, the once clear water now stained with oil and the sickly yellow of Siren blood.
Confirming the complete destruction of the Siren fleet, she erased the faint smile from her face and radioed back her report.
"This is Laffey, Siren Fleet eliminated. I repeat, the elimination of Siren Fleet 100% confirmed," she stated, her voice flat and devoid of emotion.
After delivering her report, she scanned her Aegis Combat System for any remaining hostiles. But a wave of profound boredom washed over her, and she began to pout in disappointment.
She was utterly disappointed because there were no more Siren targets in the vicinity after wiping out the entire fleet. She had eliminated them all. She was completely bored.
Laffey-200 had achieved victory against a Siren Fleet and won... boredom. A total, utter boredom. Laffey was suffering from success.
"I won.... At what cost...? Boredom," Laffey-200 murmured to herself in mock agony.
~Few Hours of time Skip of Laffey find someone would try to FAFO~
Laffey-200 aimlessly roamed the skies, searching for any unfortunate Siren that needed extermination, teetering on the brink of a complete mental drift.
But answering her silent prayer for an end to her crushing boredom, her Aegis Combat System detected a larger contact, a potential source of much-needed entertainment.
With renewed focus, she dashed towards the target like a predator zeroing in on its prey. However, her anticipation quickly soured as she detected an Iowa-Class Battleship rapidly approaching her targeted prey.
"Prepare ten LRASMs."
"Orders confirmed: ten LRASM Status: Ready," an A.I. voice responded.
"Fire."
10 Long Range Anti-Ship Missiles (LRASMs) launched from her VLS cells, streaking towards the massive Siren ship. The missiles' wings unfolded for extended flight as they skimmed low over the ocean's surface.
Seconds ticked by. Her Aegis Combat System displayed the massive Siren ship listing heavily to its port side, mirroring the Iowa-Class Battleship sailing parallel on its port flank.
As her brows furrowed in annoyance, the Aegis Combat System identified more friendly units on the deck of the battleship, including an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer.
"Don't you dare..." she muttered under her breath, her anticipation building, hoping Lucas hadn't sunk it completely before she could deliver the final blow.
Just as the massive Siren ship was sinking further onto its port side, the ten LRASMs she had launched slammed into its starboard-side amidships.
Dashing in at near-supersonic speed, she reached the location where the massive Siren ship was rapidly sinking like the Titanic. She surveyed the scene with undisguised disappointment and displeasure.
Her hopes of destroying the third Orochi with her own hands sank along with the Siren ship. She slowly turned her attention towards the sweating, visibly terrified Lucas.
He looked at her with wide, fearful eyes, fully aware of his transgression. He shook and sweated profusely as their gazes met.
"La-Laffey, I can explain," Lucas stammered, his voice trembling, beads of sweat trickling down his temples.
"You took my prey," she said, her voice a low, menacing growl as she looked down at him.
~Time Skip~
On the deck of the Battleship New Jersey, the Cleveland Sisters, along with the other shipgirls slowly opened their eyes, groaning in unison from the aches and pains of their recent ordeal. They all clutched at various parts of their bodies, the impact against the battleship's metal railings having left its mark.
As their vision cleared and the ringing in their ears subsided, Denver was the first to speak, her voice thick with lingering pain. "Wha-what happened?" she asked, gingerly cradling her throbbing head.
Birmingham slowly opened her eyes open, only to find her vision obscured. It took a moment for her blurry sight to resolve itself.
"Biloxi... get your chest out of my face," she grumbled, a hint of annoyance in her tone as she realized the source of her obstructed view.
Baltimore rolled over with a pained groan, her back protesting loudly. "OUGH! My back... my back," she moaned, her words laced with discomfort.
Bremerton, however, had a different kind of distress. Instead of aching muscles, she was fixated on a far more delicate injury. "Awwhhh.... My nails.... My nails," she lamented, her voice filled with genuine sorrow as she examined a chipped manicure.
"With all the body pain we received here, you're complaining about your nail!" Montpelier exclaimed, her exasperation evident.
"I just manicured it...." Bremerton replied in a tone of utter agony.
"Oh bother," Columbia sighed, shaking her head at the contrasting priorities.
Wales, Repulse, and Renown also slowly stirred, their eyes fluttering open. Like the others, they were greeted by the dull ache of bruised muscles and lingering dizziness.
"Wha-What happened?" Wales asked weakly, her voice still raspy.
Denver piped up, "I already asked that."
"What???" Wales asked, her brow furrowed in confusion.
"Never mind," Denver shrugged, dismissing the momentary lapse in communication.
The Quincy sisters began to regain consciousness, their initial groans quickly escalating into full-blown cries of pain. They were, as a class, particularly vocal about muscle pain.
Their complaints centered mainly on their chests, apparently even the protective Kevlar vests hadn't fully cushioned the impact to their "melons."
Once the chorus of complaints and girly dramatics subsided, a new sound cut through the air – the unmistakable sounds of a man pleading and screaming in obvious agony.
"Lucas!" several of the girls exclaimed in unison, recognizing the distressed voice.
Despite their own aches and pains, the Girls scrambled to their feet, rushing towards the source of Lucas's cries, their minds picturing him being tortured by lingering Humanoid Sirens. However, the scene that greeted them left them utterly dumbfounded.
They had expected to find him at the mercy of the enemy, but instead, he was being subjected to a different kind of torment, inflicted by someone they knew better not to anger.
They simply stared, their mouths agape, as Lucas writhed in what was, from his perspective, pure agony. He was being crushed by Laffey-200.
Laffey-200 were compressing Lucas's skull with the same brutal efficiency as any YouTube video showcasing the hydraulic press destruction of a watermelon (don't' ask me about further details).
"Laffey!!!!!!! My head is going to explode!" Lucas choked out, his voice a strangled cry.
Laffey-200 remained impassive, her expression unwavering. "That's mine.... You took it."
Lucas feebly tapped the deck, his face rapidly turning an alarming shade of purple as he was effectively being choked to death by Laffey-200's relentless thighs. A few agonizing seconds later, his soul depart his body at the gapping mouth, his eyes rolling back until only the whites were visible.
[Referee slides-in, quickly taping the floor. "1... 2... 3... - He's out!"]
Both New Jersey and Cmdr. Elena stood frozen in a nearby corner, their expressions mirroring the same dumbfounded shock.
Wales finally broke the stunned silence, her mouth still slightly open. "Wha-What happened? Why is Miss Laffey doing that to Sir Lucas?"
New Jersey and Cmdr. Elena simply shrugged in unison. "We don't know. We only saw it start a few moments ago," they replied, equally bewildered.
The Cleveland Sisters, Baltimore Sisters, Quincy Sisters, Brooklyn Sisters, and South Dakota Sisters stood by, watching the bizarre scene unfold, a mixture of embarrassment and morbid fascination on their faces.
They all simply waited for her to cease her cranial compression, their patience finally rewarded when Laffey-200 released the gasping, white-faced Lucas.
The Cleveland Sisters immediately rushed to the aid of the oxygen deprive Lucas. Biloxi, ever the medic, instructed the others to give him space to breathe, quickly removing his helmet to allow the heat to vent from his steaming head.
Wales cautiously inquired, "Umm, Miss Laffey, is there any particular reason why you did that? I mean, you do have a tendency to do things... unconventionally, but why would you do such a thing to Sir Lucas?"
Laffey-200 responded in her typical laconic manner. "He took my prey."
"Prey?" Wales was utterly confused by the cryptic answer.
Baltimore, however, seemed to grasp her superior's meaning. "Umm, Miss Wales, I think I know what she's talking about."
Wales turned her attention to Baltimore. "What is it, then?"
Baltimore pointed towards the floating wreckage of Orochi in the distance. "She's talking about Orochi. She's referring to that Siren ship as her 'prey'."
Wales thoughtfully held her chin. 'Prey? Really now? Calling Orochi prey.' She then glanced at Laffey-200, a flicker of understanding in her eyes. 'I guess she was on a hunt.' She sighed inwardly.
Wales then clapped her hands together, drawing everyone's attention. "Alright. Since everyone is here.... It's time for us to regroup with the rest."
Beach Landing
On the bridge of HMS Howe, Cmdr. Aldrin was succumbing to utter boredom. He and his battleship fleet were stuck guarding the beach landing, a tedious task of waiting for any potential Siren surprise attacks.
"This is boring.... How many more times will I have to sit here waiting?" he mumbled to himself, the monotony weighing heavily on him.
Howe, standing directly behind him, overheard her Commander's lament. "You should consider yourself fortunate, Commander, that all you have to do is sit on your buttocks."
Cmdr. Aldrin slumped further against the metal railing of the battleship's bridge. "I'm just bored," he repeated plaintively.
Howe was about to offer a retort when her comms crackled to life. "Yes? This is Howe.... I see... you're returning... she nodded to herself I see, I'll be waiting then."
Turning to her Commander, Howe said, "Commander, I will be at the makeshift harbor to await Wales's arrival. Would you care to join me?" she offered, excusing herself from her post.
Cmdr. Aldrin, desperate for any distraction from his overwhelming boredom, readily accepted Howe's invitation. "Alright... let's go meet her then."
Makeshift Harbor
Howe and Cmdr. Aldrin stood at the makeshift harbor, patiently waiting for the returning fleet that had intercepted Orochi.
"So, they managed to take on Orochi all by themselves," Cmdr. Timothy (or 'Timmy' as Lucas often called him) remarked, a hint of admiration in his voice.
"Cmdr. Tim, is the offloading of supplies finished already?" Cmdr. Aldrin inquired.
"Nah... I let my Secretary Ship handle that," Cmdr. Tim replied casually.
Cmdr. Tim's Secretary Ship was Oklahoma. While not particularly adept at paperwork, she was a remarkably hard worker and was currently managing the crucial supply distribution for the ground forces.
"Is she... a bit...?" Cmdr. Aldrin began hesitantly.
"Nah, I trust her. She'll get the job done right," Cmdr. Tim said with unwavering faith in his secretary.
Howe and Cmdr. Aldrin exchanged a brief glance before looking back at him. "Alright then... if you trust her, we trust her too," Howe affirmed.
As Cmdr. Tim smiled at their compliment, he caught a glimpse of silhouettes on the horizon – the unmistakable shapes of battleships and angular destroyers.
"Looks like they've arrived," he announced.
USS New Jersey
On the deck of New Jersey, particularly around the damaged aft turret, Manjuus scurried about in coordinated chaos. Firehoses sprayed streams of water at the still-smoldering Aft-Turret.
These were Laffey's dedicated Manjuu Damage Control Team, assigned by her to extinguish the fires on the severely damaged third aft turret.
New Jersey could only watch with a frustrated frown as a bunch of seemingly frantic chickens with firehoses and extinguishers diligently worked to douse the flames on her beloved aft turret.
A deep scowl marred her face. "AWWW.... I won't be able to use my third turret for months," she lamented melancholically.
Cmdr. Elena, standing beside her, offered a comforting pat on the shoulder. "It's alright... as long as you're alright, you can still fire the remaining first and second turrets."
DDG-200 USS Laffey
On the deck of her namesake destroyer, Laffey-200 was leisurely sunbathing in the late afternoon sun (around 4:00 PM). As rich as heck, she was flanked by two companions – Manjuus dressed in sleek black suits and sunglasses, acting as her bodyguards.
She reclined in a foldable chair, her legs crossed with an air of utter relaxation. One of the Manjuu butlers standing beside her expertly opened a bottle of champagne.
With a satisfying pop of the cork, he poured the bubbly liquid into the wine glass she held Laffey-200 took a delicate sip of the champagne. Lucas, leaning back against the railing with his arms crossed, watched her with a mixture of exasperation and amusement.
"So, you're telling me that you nuked two Orochi at once and wiped out an entire Siren fleet along with a Humanoid Siren that classified itself as an Enforcer. You nuked one to oblivion and you shredded the remaining two," Lucas summarized, his tone a blend of disbelief and grudging admiration.
"Yes," Laffey-200 replied simply. "I used three of my four nuclear-armed Tomahawks, so I only have one left."
Lucas also reported his own nuclear expenditures. "I used all my remaining nukes. I nuked one Orochi along with a Siren fleet and an Executor-Class." Lucas paused, a shadow crossing his face as he remembered JS Maya.
Laffey-200 noticed the sudden shift in Lucas's demeanor. "Don't be so dramatic... it's not in your character," she said, then motioned to one of the Manjuu beside her to offer Lucas a drink.
The Manjuu approached him and presented a wine glass filled with champagne. Lucas accepted the offer and took a sip.
He then continued his report. "I used my second nuke to help the Sakurans deal with the second Orochi."
The two exchanged a knowing smirk, raising their glasses in a silent toast. "God Bless America," they both said after their unspoken acknowledgment.
Vincennes, along with her sister, watched the two from the upper structure of the destroyer, their expressions suggesting they had momentarily forgotten the intense battle that had just transpired.
"Are they always like that?" Vincennes asked, leaning against the ship's railing.
Bremerton, standing beside her, responded with a shrug. "Yup... they're usually like that. Not just them, every Modern Kansen acts like siblings."
"Do siblings do that?" Vincennes questioned, a hint of skepticism in her voice.
Bremerton found herself struggling to articulate an answer. "Well..., I don't know... in their world... maybe?" she said, sounding unsure of her own words.
After a few more minutes of sailing, the returning fleet docked and moored at the makeshift harbor. Howe and the two Commanders were there waiting for them.
Laffey-200 gracefully descended the gangway that her crew (Manjuu) had lowered. She walked down the steps with an almost paparazzi-worthy air, the gentle breeze catching her skirt.
Lucas followed her down the gangway, with the rest of the girls trailing behind him.
Cmdr. Tim greeted her with a smile. "It's good to see you again, Miss Laffey---"
Laffey-200 cut him off mid-sentence, handing him her empty wine glass. Cmdr. Tim took the glass in utter confusion, visible question marks seemingly popping above his head.
"Huh?" he said, completely bewildered by the unexpected gesture.
Laffey-200, uninterested in pleasantries, went straight to the point, inquiring about the ongoing ground offensive.
"How's the Ground Offensive progressing?" she asked directly.
Cmdr. Tim snapped out of his daze, his gaze shifting from the empty wine glass to Laffey. He lowered the glass, instinctively hiding it behind his back.
"The Ground Offensive is gaining significant momentum after the elimination of Orochi. We are currently securing Siren buildings one after another."
Laffey-200 simply nodded in acknowledgment of his report.
Commander Tim continued, "The Manjuu Marines are currently storming a Siren Research Facility. Colonel Madjuu Mattis reported that he and his Marines successfully eliminated the Humanoid Siren guarding the facility."
"Status of the operation?" Laffey-200 pressed.
"The Marine Manjuus were initially bogged down inside the Siren Research Facility, but they are slowly gaining the upper hand."
Laffey-200 let out a deep sigh, a sound that surprised everyone who hadn't witnessed such a display of emotion from her before. Ignoring the gasps and murmurs, she fixed Lucas with an intense stare, a silent communication passing between them.
Lucas seemed to understand the unspoken message and nodded. "Alright, I'll get the girls ready," he said.
Laffey-200 then turned her attention towards the distant explosions that punctuated the landscape of the Siren Base.
Lucas informed the girls of their impending mission. They looked at him with weary resignation, as if anticipating his next words. They were all far too exhausted to even start an argument. The girls desperately needed some rest and recuperation.
"Get your gears ready, we're moving in," he announced.
...
Siren Research Facility
~1 hour earlier~
After successfully eliminating the Siren minions and the Executor-Class that guarded the exterior of the facility, Madjuu Mattis dispatched a small elite team of Manjuu operatives inside the Siren Research Facility.
Our 'Angry Manjuu' was acutely aware of the potential for Siren ambushes, deeming a full-scale entry too risky if the casualties were to reach double digits.
Madjuu Mattis monitored the live footage from the elite team's helmet cameras from his Command ACV.
The comms crackled to life as the leader of the elite team radioed in. "This is Skipper, the hallways are clear, but there's significant activity behind the doors.... Sir, we are awaiting orders."
Madjuu Mattis pressed the transmit button on his radio. "Do not storm the main entrance... conduct a reconnaissance of the interior, confirm the number of Sirens inside each room, and report any significant findings."
"Roger that, sir, we're moving in."
The Union Army Captain sitting beside Madjuu Mattis spoke, his voice laced with concern. "Are you sure a small team will be sufficient for the job?"
"We cannot enter the Siren Research Facility haphazardly. The Sirens are cunning when it comes to booby-traps and ambushes," Madjuu Mattis stated firmly.