In a snap of a finger, 12 Wisdom Cubes floated around them majestically before all 12 of it landed at the center of the table while emitting a bluish-hue glow.
"Think of it as a gift.
Enterprise-80 eyed the 12 Wisdom Cube for a moment and then back at her, she didn't expect Christmas would come this early in July.
"I know your current predicament and problems of facing the Sirens. You may have the ability to fight a Siren in their own turf, but you can't be everywhere, you're all stretched thin to every place. The Sirens could use this little capability gap to attack without us knowing their next move."
She explains with full confidence like all of her sour and serious expression earlier just vanishes as she talks further.
"So.... by adding more of your numbers we can still counter any Siren surprise attack. And besides.... You need more allies in the upcoming land campaign against the Crimson Axis."
Enterprise-80 with a smile and dark demeanor spoke. "Good thing I came prepared for that."
"What do you mean you came prepared?" Code-G asks as she leans in, her expression edge with curiosity.
Enterprise-80 brought out a Flash-Drive from her blouse' left chest pocket. "This."
"A Flash-Drive for what?"
"This Flash Drive contains the data and files I needed for those Ships including their Weapon Systems data information." Enterprise-80 said while holding out the flash drive.
"Would that leak your Nation's Military secrets to me?"
"Don't be like that. You already infiltrated Cortana's data file and installed all the information regarding Kansenization, Rigging Activation and Wisdom Cubes. Don't be shy, you already took a peek at those military-related Secrets."
"I guess there is no hiding the fact now, huh." Code-G said as she slowly took the Flash-Drive at her hands.
At her hands, the Flash-Drive glows as glowing grids slowly crawl at the cover, within seconds of glowing the information at the Flash-Drive is in Code-G's mind now.
"AH, I see... you choose the decommissioned and mothballed Ships to not worry those in the Navy."
"Yes. They maybe outdated to my world's standards but here.... They were all whole new level, especially their experiences in dealing with Asymmetric Warfare-."
Code-G continues. "And a commissioned Ship? Would this disrupt some on the people in your world, particularly the one in the ranks of your country.
"I needed the power it held in order to finish the job. A shame on me for taking it casually, but I truly needed it." Enterprise-80 said.
"the design differs that of a conventional warship?" Code-G mused at the peculiarity of a single warship. A Tumble Hull Design, and looks like an inverted knife sticking out of the water.
"It was designed to be silent, undetected and deadly.... And that's the capability I wanted." Enterprise-80 said as she slowly leaned in the table.
"Let's just say.... He was the calm before the storm." She said with a smirk.
Code-G nodded. "I see... Very well then, these decommissioned Ships you've chosen were all reaching their limits. It would take me another month of returning those rusting hulls into a brand new one, and the Weapon Systems and Sensors are all going to cost me more than it cost me to bring you here."
"Why is that?"
"An active Warship with all of its weapons inside and all Sensor Systems is easy to teleport here and turn it into Kansen. The decommissioned ones would take all the work to get all the Weapons and Sensors into a working order. And let's not forget about the hull integrity itself." Code-G said with a raising finger.
"I could wait a month." Enterprise-80 said with satisfaction at the outcome of the meeting.
"one month then?"
Enterprise-80 nods at the one-month agreement for the new Ships' arrival.
"Okay... that's enough Sirens for today, what about her? Do you still talk to each other?"
Code-G with a stern look on her face replies. "No. She avoided all my efforts to contact her. She still harbors those feelings of hate against me."
"Well.... To be fair, I really hate someone in control of my body, to say the least." Enterprise-80 said.
"It's all my fault for her to lose control and almost hurt her loved ones," Code-G said as the vision of Enterprise-6 was visible in her mind as she fought off her friends and sister after the Mirror Sea collapse and they all landed in Alaska.
"You two should fix that problem because it will not in future run." Enterprise-80 stood from her seat as she knows she couldn't dwell in this place any longer.
"See you in next month then." She said with a wave of a hand.
And at that, Code-G was left alone in her secluded dimension where she lives her life in isolation and acts as guardian to the people that reside in this world. After her guest left, she ponders at the application of decorating the whole dimension that would be fitting to her visitors.
'What furniture should I decorate this place?' She thought to herself.
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Streets of Tokyo, Sakura Empire
Sept 20, 1942
8:00 AM
At the Corner of one of the Stores, Shiranui sat at a box of stacked crates as she read a daily news. At the news a person she very knew was on the front page of the news as cuffs were all over her paws as she cried for her innocence.
"Breaking news: Akashi found evading taxes by IRS-led investigation. Seems like the IRS finally get your ass, Akashi."
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Shiranui said with a blank face as she saw Akashi being on the front page, like always. She placed it over the counter as she tends to her store currently under repair.
At her store in front two figures walk at the busy bustling Market Streets of Tokyo, as People walk here and there buying goods and groceries. The Market Street was one of the places that was devastated by the previous war of Azur Lane and Crimson Axis, now the streets and burned buildings were all fixed and renovated to match that once bustling City Market before the devastation of the war.
"Wow.... I can't believe this place is all fixed and cleaned up. The last time I was here rubbles and burnt houses littered the surrounding area." JS Maya said a gasp and was amazed at how quickly the City Market recovered.
Hakuryuu let out a chuckle. "Hai. This place is devastated like any other city streets around the Empire, but now.... the quick revitalization of Sakura Empire's economy helps this place recover faster than everyone couldn't envision off."
"Yeah, you're right about the Sakuran People being resilient in a time of crisis." JS Maya said as the scenery reminded her of the devastated Japan that rose from the ashes of WW2 and became an economic powerhouse in Asia and the World.
"So about this Swordsmith that you've mentioned to me multiple times, are we there yet?" JS Mayas asked as she held her two damaged Katana.
The Katana she uses were all damaged after fighting Arbiter: Lover VI in solo, but with Lucas's assistance, she could have fallen in that battle as she received a substantial damage that placed her in Hospital beds for a week of recovery.
Hakuryuu held her lower lips as tried to remember where the Swordsmith's Shop was, after the renovation and recovery of the City Market some streets changed and all of the familiar buildings were gone and replaced by new ones.
"Let's see.... The last time I remember.... There!" she points at an old building that isn't devastated by the war.
JS Maya looks at the old building, the building itself really looks like dates back to the Edo Era as the material and signs are not vibrant like any shops in the area.
"I thought that building was abandoned!" JS Maya said in surprise as the old building stood the war.
"Yeah.... That guy is a tough bastard; he wouldn't even leave that building as his ancestors did. He's one of that traditional swordsmiths that is trying to preserve the traditional way of forging a Katana Swords with hand skills, rather than industrial machinery." Hakuryuu said with a smile visible on her face as she mentioned him to the others.
"Okay.... Shall we meet this guy then?" JS Maya said as she too was eager to meet this man that Hakuryuu thinks highly of.
"Hai, follow me." She said, motioning her hands to follow her.
JS Maya follows in her hastily steps with her Geta (wooden footwear) as she follows Hakuryuu on the busy street, and into the entrance of the Swordsmith's Shop.
The decor and tradition resonate inside the Shop as JS Maya glances at the various wall designs that have been taken care of for generations. She is amazed at how this place is taken care of like it is one of the preserved buildings for tourism.
"This place seems decent.... But the feelings of history, love and care are felt all around the place." She commented at the place as she found its solace. But this feeling of solace vanishes in an instant.
"Oi, Gazu-kun! You got customers!" Hakuryuu's voice boomed all over the Swordsmith's shop.
JS Maya was left mouth gapped, soul leaving her body as the voice of Hakuryuu boomed over her dog-ears which twitched. Hakuryuu really is a loudmouth.
"I hear you damn it!!!!!!" A response from another room boomed.
At the door that leads to the Work Shop where all the swords are forged and made, a man comes out at the door wearing a traditional Japanese Swordsmith clothing. And his face is already not in the mood, but still maintains a calm posture.
"You don't have to yell that much; I've already heard your loudmouth from the entrance." He said as this kind of conversation is a broken recorder being played over and over again.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah... I know. I just wanted to know if you're still alive." Hakuryuu said nonchalantly.
"So... who's your new friend, she kinda looks like---"
Hakuryuu wraps her arms around JS Maya's shoulders like they are buddy-buddy. "Yeah I know, she kinda looks like one of the Takao Sisters."
".... I...I see...." He said, confused.
Ma man lived under the rock and didn't know or hear the hearsay about the existence of JS Maya.
"My friend here wants her Katana to be fixed." She said so lightly and casually elbowed him.
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"Hai, my name is JS Maya." Said as she bows slightly.
Gazu returns the favor as he bows down. "Hai, my name is Gazuchi." He said, quite embarrassed at his name, he also lacked the social skills to communicate.
JS Maya unrolls the cloth that is covering her damaged Katana. Gazu the Swordsmith leans in to check the two Katana.
He analyzes each as one is broken in half, while the other is chipped its blade from cutting something hard with force.
He murmurs to himself as he analyzes the damage what could be his approach at the Katanas. "re-forging those two Katanas would take me 1 or 2 weeks as the quality of the metal seems to be hard to come by." He said.
"2 weeks seems alright to me... I still need to recover from my previous injury." JS Maya said.
She then gives him the broken Katanas to be repaired. "Arigato guzaimas, Gazu-san." She said, thanking him for accepting the repair of her katana.
"Ha-Hai." He said, not good at socializing. After receiving the broken Katana, Gazu goes back inside the Working Shop to start the repair.
"Is he like that, Hakuryuu-san?" JS Maya asks as she notices the bashfulness of Gazu as he introduces himself. She expected him to be normal, but what she just saw the guy is stock-up inside this Shop.
"He got the worst socializing skills than anyone at Sakura Empire. He's always focused on refining his skills and craftsmanship as a swordsmith, he never even bothers to socialize." Hakuryuu said.
"I see." JS Maya nodded along.
"So that's why I always drag his ass out of the shop to help him socialize." Hakuryuu said cheerfully. "You should see his face when he saw beautiful women.... He turns into a tomato." She said while laughing hysterically.
JS Maya now felt pity for the man that he had to endure Hakuryuu's nonstop probing and childish behavior. 'I felt sorry for the guy.' She thought.
...
Fox Mansion
Fox Mansion is where all the Fox-Girls that held Ranks or Titles reside. This Mansion's purpose is to house some of those who held importance to the Empire. But for one particular moment, the one that resides here didn't have any Title nor held any Rank.
This Mansion becomes a prison cell for one Fox-Girl, a White-Short Hair Fox-girl.
Kaga, stripped down with her Kansen Powers and authority is at House Arrest at the Mansion where she and her Half-Sister used to reside, and made their own Castle. But for today and the future, this mansion is her prison cell, she couldn't leave without permission nor leave the parameter.
The huge walls that protected her are now preventing her from leaving, and the roof that sheltered her from the weather became the embodiment of her prison cell.
Not chained nor bound, she's a prisoner in her own home and country. It is not that harsh compared to Akagi getting sent on vacation to Guantanamo Bay, but to her, the total torture and suffering is that of being separated from the ones she called 'sister'. Even if they were not that related she still loves her.
"No!... I don't need it!"
A woman's voice boomed at the polished wooed corridors that were decorated with fox paintings and other ornaments.
In a certain room where she resides, Kaga sits at the table with depressed looks plastered all over her face as she despises being here and not being with her half-sister.
"Kaga-Sempai.... You need to eat; it's been a month now.... please..."
Zuikaku said as she tries to feed Kaga with food she ignored the food and only drank alcohol to cope with the feeling of loneliness.
"I said I don't need it!" Kaga shouted as she slammed the plate out of Zuikaku's hands, causing it to fall over the floor and mattress.
Zuikaku was taken aback by Kaga's hostility of not eating any of the food that was being offered to her. "Kaga-Sempai..." She said her name in a concerned undertone.
"I don't need it." She said while slowly tearing up. "I want my sister back. I want her back." She said as tears trickled down from her eyes.
"Akagi...." She said her Hal-Sister's name in a meekly voice.
Zuikaku quickly reacts as she embraces her weeping Sempai her emotion flows like a river, as it rushes like its flow.
"It's okay, Kaga-Sempai, I'm here, I won't leave you.... I'm here...." She said to the weeping Kaga.
Zuikaku volunteered to be her caretaker even though the Mansion was filled with House Servants, she thought having House Servant wouldn't have sufficed to the feeling of loneliness. So she was there for her companion and helper.
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Mansion Entrance Gate
.
JS Maya gazed upon the huge walls that surrounded the Mansion, and an Entrance Gate that was filled with Fox statues facing forward greeted them.
"Quite luxurious, isn't it?" Hakuryuu asks JS Maya about her cementation at the grand gesture.
"Seeing such a Manor always reminds me of the Castles that stood for generations back in Japan." She said commenting at the Fox-Mansion.
"Although... are you sure making a visit would not cause some trouble, I mean she still harbors some animosity towards you guys?" Hakuryuu said, worried about JS Maya's choice of visit.
"I know.... I just want to clear out some of her hatred toward us." JS Maya said, sorrowfully.
"If things got heated up, you've got my back." Hakuryuu said as she pointed at herself confidently.
With a smile, JS Maya thanked her for assisting, although she can handle the situation on her own with or without resorting to violence between them.
The Entrance Doors open while House Servants greet them as they enter with a grand gesture of warm welcome.
Kaga at her Quarters being sulky and gloomy watches the pond while Koi (a Japanese Fish) swims along the clear and artificial pond. She watches the Koi as she compares them to her situation.
Lock on a place not bound by chains or collars, she's free to walk or for the Koi "Swim", but then the similarities end there, as she is alone that the Koi fish swimming along with its friends or family.
Her silent surroundings were all disturbed by a Female House Servant announcing the arrival of a guest.
"Mistress Kaga, you got a guest of honor, she would like to speak----"
"I don't need any guests, leave!" Kaga annoyingly said, cutting off the Female House Servant.
"But Mistress, your presence is needed---"
"I said leave! Do I have to repeat myself!" Kaga said angrily as her fangs were sticking out ready to bite off her prey.
"I'll handle this."
A familiar voice sounded from behind doors, and Kaga's Fox-Ears twitched up as the sound of the voice was too familiar to even forget.
"... You..." She said her voice was laced with venom.
"Yes, it's me." JS Maya said, not afraid of the death glare that Kaga was giving to her.
"You can now return to your duties." She said at the Female House Servant kneeling on the floor apologetically.
"Hai." The Female House Servant said before leaving the two in the room for a chat.
After the Female House Servant left, JS Maya's attention returned back to Kaga who expressed a hostile aura surrounding her.
"What do you want?" Kaga asked angrily, as it sounded like a hostile threat.
"I'm here to clear out some of the misunderstandings and help you open your mind to the world and understand why. Why you are here."
"Open my mind to the world? How pathetic. Did the world open up its own one to understand one person? No! No one will." Kaga said.
"I know the world is harsh and act hostile to the Empire since..." She paused to find the right word.
"Since what? - We invaded Dragon Empery? When the Empire rise to Power? Since when do you think about what people think of others? They wouldn't think of someone else as long no one bothers them." Kaga blurted-out.
"Yes, you're right about that, since Japan did the same. My ancestors invaded China, Rose into power and challenged the Western Powers in dominance over Asia. Started a War we couldn't win, and lost Millions of lives...... although that was in the past, some Countries still harbor hate and animosity toward my people.... But.... But, with the help of what we considered enemies, my people lived out through the darkest days. Japan rose from its ashes and became a powerhouse in Economy and Defense. And I thought Sakura Empire could follow the steps of Japan of how it changes to a better nation."
JS Maya said as she began to shed tears from expressing what she felt about the Empire.
Kaga seems to lower her guard for a moment as she listens to JS Maya's story of how the Empire is similar to Japan in making the same mistake.
"Don't give me that bullcrap!"
She shouted in anger and annoyance. "You didn't know what I felt! I lost the only person that I cared about. Do you have any idea what it feels like to be separated from the person you love?! Do you?!!!!"
Kaga said with very expressionist hands as every word her hands waved off.
JS Maya retorted. "Yes, I know!"
"I know what you feel." She said in a calmer tone. "I was here in this world while my Country and Friends faced a threat. I do too want to be back to my home." She said with teary eyes.
Kaga couldn't counter that, she knows how bad for her to lose her Half-Sister, but for JS Maya got separated from home and fought a War from another world that didn't even bothers her is beyond everyone's understanding.
"I...I..."
Kaga is left without a word to speak as she now knows what she felt being separated from home. Left speechless, she concedes.
"Just leave me alone." She said as she returned back to watching the Koi Fish swimming in the pond.
JS Maya wiped her tears as she walked out of the room and slowly slid the doors closed. Hakuryuu leaning at the wall listening to the conversation spoke.
"Looks like you didn't need my help at all."
"I just want to talk to her and not ask for a fight." JS Maya said.
"Still.... I can sense from the tone of her voice since you stepped inside her Room, she could have slit your throat open, if she didn't stop herself from doing it."
"I noticed that too."
Hakuryuu saw the sad face plastered at JS Maya, she pondered for a while she thought of a place without no gloom, and in a snap of fingers, she spoke.
"I know a place where there is no gloom and where sadness vanishes." Hakuryuu said with a grin.
JS Maya notices the grin, and with that, she already knew she ain't gonna like that place. "I think that's enough for today, Hakuryuu-san---"
Hakuryuu drags her out of the Fox Mansion and heads to the place to what she referring to. 'A place without gloom and where sadness vanishes'. Even though JS Maya reluctantly declined the offer, but it is too late now as she was dragged off.
...
Kaga's Quarters, Fox Mansion
Kaga ponders about the words the JS Maya said to her with emotions she understands. Sorrow, Loneliness, and Hope. Those emotions were the ones she felt when became Akagi's Half-Sister and stepped up to match that on Amagi.
"That woman...."
She said meekly as tears flowed from both of her eyes as emotions overflowed and could not be contained by her stoic and cold personality.
"Damn it, damn it!"
She's frustrated at the notion that JS Maya said is right, she needs to open up her mind with the others. She didn't even bother to do that as her cold and stoic personality was keeping the others away.
Hands on her face she couldn't stop crying, tears dropping from the mattress and soaking it wet. She remembers all the wrongs that she was doing, she could have prevented Akagi from accepting the deal from Observer α and could only watch as the agreement happened in front of her eyes. She could also voice her opposition to the surprise attack at Pearl Harbor, but instead agreed as to make her Half-Sister happy. She could have prevented it all from happening, but now she was there lonely and depressed, atoning for the sins she made.
"I could have prevented it all." she said to herself, as her conscious punished her.
With her eyes covered with tears, she looks at the picture frame where Akagi's portrait is. She holds as she rubs the glass cover of the picture frame with her hands as she thinks of her Half-Sister.
"Sister.... I could have prevented you from doing the wrong.... I'm sorry... I failed you."
She said tearing up while looking at the portrait of Akagi.
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White House, Washington D.C.
5:00 PM
President FDR is looking at the various papers of documents from the Military Branches Project proposal to be approved. He is happy that their technology advanced by a 10-year time gap, but it's not sunshine and rainbows at the advancements.
The more the technology advances the Military Equipments got more complicated and got pricier. The Army's M4 Shermans are slowly being replaced by M26 Pershing (This particular Pershing Tank has been redesigned by William to address the various problems that plague the Tank at its service throughout the US Army)
The Army-Air Corp. is slowly replacing its Propeller Planes with newly developed F-86 Saber, the P-80 Shooting Star proves that Aircraft Manufacturers can create more powerful Jet-Powered Planes.
The most ambitious Military Program is that on the Navy's Missile Conversion of the existing Cruiser Hulls. Currently, USS Cleveland CL-55 is at the Dry-Dock at Norfolk Naval Base currently undergoing Missile Conversion, if the Missile Conversion is a success the future of the Missile Cruiser is bright.
"Miss Enterprise was right. This is gonna bust our Defense Budget." He said to himself as he sifted through the stack of Papers at his Office Table.
With the written approval of the papers, he moves to another paper containing the report on the successful elimination of the Siren Facility hidden in the territories of Northern Parliament. There are no losses or Casualties at the raid as stealth technology hinders all the radars on Northern Parliament ineffectually at the raiding Stealth-Jets.
"I never thought that bastard is hiding the fact that he is harboring those monsters in his nation." He said, as he remembers that the Northern Parliament Government denied their connections with the Sirens.
As he's about to sift through another paper report, the doors of the Oval Office swing open and an Aide enters bearing a grieve news as he can see the urgency plastered on the Aide's face.
"Mr. President, we got a situation."
FDR drops the pen and looks at the Aide as he ponders to what is this grieved situation his talking about. "What is it all about?" he asks.
The Head Director of the OSS enters to explain what just transpired. "It's about the Crimson Axis Shipgirls we held captive at Guantanamo Bay Detention Center."
"what about those Shipgirls from Crimson Axis?" FDR asks.
"Well.... They'd escape the Detention Center with the help of Iron Blood Operatives that managed to enter Cuba without our Agent's knowledge. Those Operatives snuck out those Shipgirls we held detained." The head Director of OSS said.
FDR held his aching forehead. "Since when did this happen?" He asks.
"2 Hours from now."
At that, an emergency meeting was being held that night at the Oval Office, General from the Army and Navy Admiral were in the Office pondering about their approach to the matter.
"We can't put troops on Cuba in order to have a Search Hunt for the escaped detainees." Gen. Eisenhower was, concerned about international politics regarding Cuba.
"The Girls are on their Sorties and Patrols around the mainland, we divert one Shipgirl in its Mission Patrol for a manhunt." Adm. King said as the Navy's hands are full of missions related to homeland security.
After all the Military Heads said their words about their response, they then looked at the Head Director of the OSS for his own response to this situation.
"What are yours, Head Director?" FDR said, asking the Head Director if he had something in mind.
"The number of Agents in Cuba was too small to conduct a Search, and were also lacking manpower there in Cuba." He said as everyone in the Office hung their heads low.
But the Head Director is not finished at his own word. "But we have someone who can track those escapees without wasting much resources and time." He said as it caught everyone's attention.
"Who's the one you're referring to, Head Director?" FDR asks.
"Do you remember the Spy Hunt that just occurred last month?"
Everyone nods as they see the progress of that Spy Hunt, hundreds of Spies were found dead as they sent this one particular person that goes hunt down Spies throughout the mainland Eagle Union.
FDR and the two Military Heads' eyes widen at what the OSS Head Director wanted to imply.
"We're sending her." He said with an ominous undertone.
"Laffey?"
FDR uttered the name of the person who hunted down the Spies that were sent by Iron Blood and Northern Parliament to spy on Eagle Union Facilities. Bloody it maybe, but it did the job well done.