Azur Lane Base Pearl Harbor
June 12, 1945
6:30 AM
Lafayette, our Sheldon, was searching for the Destroyer of the Sakura Empire amidst the bustling Harbor activities related to the upcoming Naval Operations. He peered into the corner of the base and towards the Girls' Dormitory, which he disliked.
Currently, Lafayette was tasked by Enterprise-80 to find Ayanami, as she wanted Ayanami and her ship repatriated to her country as part of diplomatic talks with the Sakura Empire. She wanted to present a front to the Sakurans that she wasn't as cruel as their propaganda suggested, but in truth, she was far more formidable than they could have imagined if pushed to extremes.
Back to Lafayette's search, he was looking for her everywhere, asking passing Shipgirls about her whereabouts, though he often stuttered when asking them. Snippets of information led him to where the girls had previously been.
After minutes of searching, he came across the trio and the horned girl he was looking for at the newly opened Shopping Area of the base in the Azur Lane residential area, where some Shipgirls had set up stalls selling various items and food. Food was the most popular business, as some Shipgirls indulged their wallets and appetites.
Confirming his objective, he dashed towards them, navigating through the crowded walkways of the shopping area. His AEGIS Radar helped him avoid collisions as he weaved through the crowd.
At the Shopping Area, under a summer umbrella and at a table, Javelin, Unicorn, Laffey-459, and Ayanami sat with their ordered food. The sounds of crashing waves and screeching seagulls filled the serene tropic summer air.
At the table, Ayanami was lost in contemplation, not eating her food. She had been staring at it for a minute, her mind adrift.
The trio noticed her silence and distracted thoughts, watching her, clueless as to what bothered her.
"Ayanami? Is everything alright?" Javelin asked, her voice filled with concern about Ayanami's odd behavior and silence.
Ayanami blinked, reconnecting to the real world. She had been avoiding the trio's questions about her problem, remaining silent.
Laffey-459 finished her dessert in one bite and spoke, "Laffey thinks you're thinking about that kid."
Unicorn nodded. "Unicorn thinks so too."
Ayanami couldn't deny it; she had been thinking about her battle with him the previous night. She saw in his eyes that he didn't want to hurt anyone, but his weakness had blinded her to his true capabilities. She had been knocked unconscious by his missile attack, as she later learned.
She was about to speak her mind when a sudden call caught their attention. Their heads turn to that direction.
"There you are."
Lafayette's voice sounded, and they all turned to see him running towards them. He had sprinted across the shopping area to their location, bypassing the crowded walkways.
Barely sweating, he reached them, despite the distance. He didn't need an introduction, as they already knew who he was.
"You?" Ayanami's voice boomed, her finger pointing at him like a knife blade. Her gaze was fixed on him as if she were a demon, which then he returned the same gaze.
"Yes?"
"What brought you here?" Laffey-459 asked directly, breaking the tension between these two.
Lafayette recomposed himself, trying not to look foolish in front of them. "I was ordered by Miss Enterprise to find you, Ayanami."
This baffled Ayanami, as she never expected to be summoned for such matters, other than for her offenses.
"Why? What does she want from me?" she asked, confused by the turn of events.
"I was tasked to accompany you to her ship for matters she wishes to discuss in private."
Ayanami interrupted, "What? Are you going to squeeze me for information—?"
"You will be repatriated back to the Sakura Empire as part of diplomatic talks," Lafayette said, finishing his address.
Ayanami's eyes widened, and she dropped her spoon in total surprise. She had not expected to be repatriated so suddenly. She thought she would be held prisoner and interrogated until the war with the Empire was over. Shocked, she couldn't utter a word.
Javelin cheered at the news of Ayanami's return home. Unicorn made her typical noise, and Laffey-459 gave a thumbs-up.
Ayanami, still in shock, stammered, "I-I'm going back home?"
Lafayette continued, "Yes. We will leave in five days, and I want you to prepare your ship for departure."
This news lightened Ayanami's spirits. "I-I'm going home..." she mumbled to herself, happiness visible on her face.
Laffey-459 noticed Lafayette staring at one of the desserts. She grabbed her dessert ice cream and raised it to his face, saying, "Want some? Laffey can give you one."
Lafayette backed away in surprise at Laffey-459's sudden offer, raising his hands and saying, "Whoa! Don't surprise me like that."
Laffey-459 said, "Sorry."
"Besides, you already licked it. So... no, thanks..." Lafayette commented.
Laffey-459 responded, still offering the ice cream, "No, Laffey did not."
Lafayette, with a face of resignation, said, "Nope." He declined her offer, even if he looked silly saying it.
"Alright, it seems everyone has finished eating. I think we should head to the harbor now; Miss Enterprise's schedules are tight," he said, gesturing towards the harbor.
Everyone, having finished their food, followed Lafayette to the harbor. All the way there, Lafayette was bombarded with questions.
"How far was your radar detection?" Laffey-459 asked, as was typical of her.
Lafayette grunted, repeating his capabilities and specifications. The topic of conversation was his AEGIS AN/SPY-6 V3 Enterprise Air-Surveillance Radar and its extraordinary range and coverage, which dwarfed any existing Ground Base Radars and their towering antennas.
"Wow, that far?" Javelin said enthusiastically.
"You can detect that far? That's amazing," Unicorn said appreciatively.
Laffey-459, with a bland face, unfazed by Lafayette's impressive detection, asked, "So, what's with the slow speed?"
Lafayette was taken aback, as she not only resembled their Death Bunny but also shared the same facial expression and nonchalant criticism of his existence.
-Signature looking superior by Laffey-
Lafayette grunted, hands in his pockets. "Listen. Speed isn't always the key factor in ASW or ASuW. Modern Frigates rely on modern equipment to combat submarines. My reduced speed is meant for our survivability, not chasing submarines. That's the job of my Helicopter, Drones, and Torpedoes. Reduced speed means reduced propeller cavitation and avoiding being targeted."
This information stunned the trio and Ayanami. They were baffled by the fundamental design and purpose of Modern Frigates, ships built for high speed and maneuver.
Laffey-459's expression briefly changed before returning to its usual blandness. "Still slow."
"Even with that, you're still not impressed," Lafayette begrudgingly murmured.
Ayanami, however, had her own perspective on what Lafayette had said. "It's not just speed for avoiding torpedoes and chasing submarines; your detection gave you early warning, and your quick reaction prevented you from being in that position."
"Yes. The game between sub hunter and submarine hasn't changed, but the distance is greater than the bare eye can see," he responded.
Unicorn perked up. "You mean, back in your world, you engage submarines from much farther away than we used to?" she asked.
"Yes. Battles in my world are fought thousands of kilometers away, and we only see them as dots on a monitor screen."
Javelin shivered. "EHHH! That's terrifying," she said, concerned.
Ayanami's eyes widened at the information. She compared it to what was currently known to Shipgirls. Destroyers were the weakest, and Lafayette, a Frigate, was even smaller. It dawned on her that larger Ships were far more powerful and Fearsome than she could have imagined; Lafayette was only a fraction of that power. He was often seen as the weakest of the Strike Group, but his capabilities rivaled a Light Cruiser.
Her trance was interrupted as Lafayette announced their arrival. In front of her, at the port, was moored the most powerful warship an Admiral could command. The sheer size and length of the Ford-class Carrier left her mouth agape, its aura palpable.
"Everyone, here we are," Lafayette announced, gesturing forward.
At the harbor, where the Supercarrier was moored, heavily armed Manjuu patrolled the perimeter along with UGVs. They halted them and asked for permission, which was confirmed, and Ayanami was then guided inside the Carrier by the Manjuu.
It looked rather silly as Ayanami was surrounded by Chickens equipped with taxpayer dollars. As a safety precaution, she was handcuffed while being escorted.
"Will she be fine?" the concerned Javelin asked.
"Why would they put cuffs on her hands? I thought Ayanami wasn't an enemy?" Unicorn said, saddened by the Manjuu's actions.
Laffey-459 waved a hand, but her eyes conveyed concern.
"The Manjuu are just taking precautions. Remember, she's a Shipgirl, and they're Manjuu. It's also Miss Enterprise's order to be vigilant at all times," Lafayette explained.
"Wasn't it a bit excessive? I mean, Ayanami was unarmed?" Javelin interjected.
"In any case, this is better than a gun pointed at her."
To change the mood, Lafayette brought out the informational dossier of his appointed Division. He took a breath after the trio calmed their concerns about Ayanami, then began.
"In this dossier, you three will be part of my ASW Division. Inside is information about the other members. Help me gather them, and I will teach you and the other Division members how to conduct Modern Anti-Submarine Warfare and maintain communication during missions," he addressed them.
The trio flipped through the pages and found the other members: Hamman, Sims, Eldridge, Laffey-459, and Javelin for ASW Ships. Unicorn was their Air-Cover and Repair. The Beaver Squad would be their surface combatants, their escort against surface threats.
"Don't look at me like that. I didn't handpick this; it's Adm. Nimitz's best selection and Miss Enterprise's arrangement," he explained, responding to their gazes.
"Don't worry, Big-Brother, Unicorn will do her best," Unicorn confidently said.
"Yes, you can count on us," Javelin cheerfully said.
"Laffey will do the same," Laffey-459 said in her usual manner.
Lafayette hadn't expected them to be so agreeable. He had anticipated protests about the sudden Division setup. Luckily, they were cooperative.
Main Building, Admiral's Office
"We will be stretched thin with this arrangement," Hood commented on the divided fleet shown in the battle plan.
"Yes, but it's designed for swift maneuvers and mobility, leveraging the smaller Fleet size," Adm. Nimitz said, seeing the advantage of a small, nimble fleet.
"A maneuver warfare," Adm. Philips uttered.
Essex-12 responded, "Modern Warfare relies on maneuver and small numbers in spread-out positions. The key players are the planes and their bombs, used in coordinated attacks."
The two Admirals nodded, agreeing with the significant advantages of Carrier Aviation.
Lucas chimed in, his PT Belt slung over his torso. "We can't face the Sakurans in a one-to-one numerical battle, even with a third of their fleet in disrepair due to material shortages. I agree we should engage them with air power."
Adm. Nimitz rubbed his chin, leaning in. "Yes, we can't engage them head-on while the Siren threat lingers."
As the conversation delved into fleet maneuvers and planning, Illustrious noticed the reflection of the "Protective Belt" on Lucas's torso and asked,
"May I inquire, Sir Lucas?" she began, interrupting respectfully.
"Yes, Miss Illustrious, is something the matter?" he replied.
"I noticed the reflection from your belt," she motioned to the PT Belt. "Is there something you'd like to explain? You weren't wearing it during our first meeting, but it seems to have some importance."
Lucas looked at his PT Belt. Essex-12 looked at him, not confused like everyone else in the room. Lucas was just being cautious, and Essex-12 found it amusing.
"Can you tell us the significance of it?" Wales inquired, also noticing the "Protective Belt."
Lucas was embarrassed to explain. "Well... let's just say it's for protection," he said, scratching the back of his head.
Essex-12 chuckled. "You're wearing the 'Reflective Contraceptive' the entire time, since this morning."
"Reflective Contraceptive?" everyone exclaimed in unison.
"Why would you wear a contraceptive?" Hood asked, nearly losing her composure.
Illustrious and Wales felt uneasy after hearing the "Contraceptive" part of the belt.
Lucas explained the PT Belt humorously, yet understandably.
"This is known as the PT Belt or Protective Belt, but some call it 'Reflective Contraceptive.' It's meant to prevent military members from being unseen and to avoid accidents. The reflection is helpful at night. But it's often used as a joke. Wearing this thing protects me from everything: enemy fire, friendly fire, and 'bitches.' I'm untouchable and unapproachable, meaning everyone should stay away for their safety and mine," He remarked.
"He's basically saying it's a chastity belt that 'protects' his chastity and dignity," Essex-12 explained, leaving everyone dumbfounded.
"It's better to wear this piece of elastic than bump into Battleships, Carriers, Cruisers, and Destroyers at night or inside the building. I don't want to get an Article 15," He retorted.
The Shipgirls were stunned by his remarks, especially the word "bumping."
"It's morning?" Wales said, not getting the humor.
"Even in the morning," Lucas said. Silence followed.
"Well, I guess you're better off wearing that than bumping into any Shipgirls," Adm. Nimitz said, breaking the silence, also afraid of such an incident.
Essex-12 explained the origin of the Glow Belt and its follow-on jokes.
"So, basically a waste of taxpayer money?" Wales exclaimed. Lucas, Essex-12, and Lafayette nodded.
"Wow, I can't believe you guys made a joke about not getting laid by wearing that belt," Cleveland commented, trying to hold back laughter.
"Okay... back to our discussion on the upcoming operation," Adm. Philips said, breaking the nonsense. Everyone paid attention to the battle plan.
Everyone nodded, dismissing the silly conversation. Shipgirls were arranged in their fleet compositions, calculating potential outcomes.
"Well... good luck, guys. I'm heading out," Cleveland said, opening the door. Before she could leave, Lucas grabbed her shoulder.
"Where are you going? We have boot camp to attend," Lucas said, grinning.
Cleveland shrieked, feeling uneasy.
Lucas was going to teach the Cleveland Sisters about violence, with the help of the United States Marine Corps. It was going to be F.U.N.
Cleveland and her sisters stood in line, the tension thick. The sound of boots echoed in the room, filled with beds, lockers, windows, and one door.
They knew they were in boot camp, but this one was tenser than the Navy Boot Camp. Stories about Marine Corps Boot Camp were filled with exaggerated tales of chaos.
The door swung open, and Gunnery Sergeant Lucas, along with Manjuu Drill Sergeants, entered, ready to discipline any recruit.
Lucas's voice boomed. "I am Gunnery Sergeant Lucas, your Senior Drill Instructor... from now on, you only speak when spoken to. And the last and first words out of your mouths will be 'Sir.' Do you maggots understand?!"
The Cleveland Sisters responded, "Sir, yes Sir!"
CVN-80 USS Enterprise
Ayanami sat in the Carrier's office, facing Enterprise-80. Bunker Hill-76 stood behind her, and Denver-856 leaned against the hatch door.
She was shaking, scared by their presence, which was stronger than the Sakura Empire's strongest Shipgirls.
Ayanami was surrounded by Nuclear-Powered Ships, their stares making her tremble.
"Are you alright, Ayanami?" Enterprise-80 asked, noticing her fears.
"H-Hai," Ayanami responded shakily.
"Don't worry, we won't eat you," Denver-856 joked, slightly scaring Ayanami.
Bunker Hill-76 spoke authoritatively. "Denver, don't say that. We don't want to scare her."
"Yeah, yeah, right..." Denver-856 said dismissively.
"Sorry about that, Ayanami. You will be key to diplomatic talks between the Sakura Empire and Azur Lane," Enterprise-80 reassured her.
"I thought you were going to use me as a hostage?" Ayanami asked, still shaking.
Denver-856 chuckled. "She thought we were going to use her as a hostage." She laughed.
"Denver," Bunker Hill-76 silenced her, exerting her authority.
"Quiet down, you two," Enterprise-80 said. "Sorry about that, about your question. No. We're not that stupid."
"If we did anything to you, the diplomatic talks would fail immediately," Bunker Hill-76 remarked, holding a clipboard.
"No, we're not going to use you as a hostage. We have rules of war... and we won't violate them," Enterprise-80 said.
"But we attacked you first?" Ayanami responded.
"Yes, you attacked us first. That doesn't mean we can't resolve this peacefully. You should convince them to stop hostilities and save your friends."
Enterprise-80 leaned closer to Ayanami, saying, "5 days from now, you'll be free to tell everyone we're not the bad guys. You're free to go. Your friends in the Empire are worried about you." She looked at Denver-856 and nodded.
"Time to go, buddy," Denver-856 said cheekily, escorting Ayanami out of the office.
Ayanami looked at her. "H-Hai."
"No need to be scared. I won't hurt you," she smiled.
The two left the office. Denver-856 opened and closed the door, guiding her through the cramped corridor.
Ayanami stopped in the hangar deck, kneeling and tearing up. Denver-856 turned and saw her kneeling, tears forming in her eyes.
"How? How can you treat me with kindness? We are enemies. We are at war. WHY?!" Ayanami asked, breaking into tears.
Ayanami was conflicted, not expecting such kindness from the enemy. She had expected torture and exploitation, but instead, they were friendly, especially these Modern Kansens.
Denver-856 scratched her head, trying to find an answer. "In our world, one mistake can cost an entire fleet. Our weapons can sink a ship in a second. You're lucky to be alive... so go home, kid. This war isn't for you."
Infirmary
Vestal slowly opened her eyes, awakened by an electronic hum. She sat up and looked around, seeing sophisticated electronics and wires attached to her wrist. She removed the device monitoring her heart rate.
Essex-9 and her sisters woke up from the constant beeping, like alarm. They saw the confused Vestal looking at the device.
Essex-9 ran towards Vestal and hugged her. "Vestal, you're alright!"
She cried, hugging Vestal tightly.
Intrepid sighed in relief.
"Thank God you're awake," Intrepid also hugged her, crying.
"Umm... what is this???" Vestal asked, pointing at the device making the beeping sound.
Bunker Hill-17 responded, "It's a device William uses to calculate your heart rate."
"William???" Vestal didn't remember any name William is working in the base infirmary.
Bunker Hill-17 clarified, "He was the Cargo Ship/Repair Ship of the Modern Kansens. He's the one who treated your injuries."
"Injuries???" Vestal touched her head, which ached and was covered in bandages. "Ouch!"
Vestal had received a chop to the head with a 260,000 Horsepower from a Nuclear-Powered Supercarrier.
"Vestal!"
"I'm alright... I'm alright... just in trance... Now, where is he?" Vestal asked.
Dry Dock
William and the Manjuu were installing the new Close-in Laser Weapon Systems (CLaWS) on the Modern Vessels.
The sponson where the current HILIOS Laser Weapon System sat on CVN-80 USS Enterprise was being replaced with the new CLaWS for more efficient countermeasures against swarming propeller planes or Siren Planes.
DDG-200 USS Laffey's front and stern Laser Systems were also being replaced by CLaWS. DDG-125 USS Jack H Lucas's front, where the Dazzler currently sat, was replaced by a CLaWS.
CGN-76 USS Bunker Hill got the same emplacement as DDG-200, front and aft, where the current Laser System sat, and was replaced by a CLaWS.
William welded a sponson for the CLaWS on FFG-65 USS Lafayette, similar to the Burke-Class Destroyer's bridge.
William had to reconfigure the weapon emplacement on FF-90 HMS Belfast, as the two CLaWS interfered with the CIWS firing arc.
The two CLaWS were mounted on the back of DDG-179 JS Maya's large bridge superstructure.
After it was done, he sat on a crate, smoking. The upgrades were going smoothly, with the Manjuu working for hours to install the systems in time.
"Damn... these Manjuu are better than any defense contractor. They managed to place all the Weapon Systems in time without any delays..." he muttered.
Vestal walked towards him, still feeling the pain in her forehead. She slowly walked behind him and spoke to get his attention.
"Are you the one who treated me?" she asked, her voice calm and lace with shyfulness..
William turned around. "Damn, you survived that! I thought your skull was split open after that karate chop," he said sarcastically along with a motioning Karate Chop.
Vestal suppressed her irritation. "I'm just here to thank you," she said.
William waved his hands. "Don't sweat it. And don't do that in front of her; her defense systems are sensitive to threats. Especially that thing you did."
Vestal held her forehead. "Is that so... It's my fault I didn't recognize her."
"Don't worry about it... it was an accident. She wouldn't do it again if you don't plan on doing that too," William said.
"Do you know anything about her?" Vestal asked, wanting to know more about the other Enterprise.
"Well... I've only recently been deployed in her Strike Group, most of my operations are in the Atlantic Fleet." He paused and looked at her. "How about your Enterprise?"
William moved aside, giving her space to sit on the crate. Vestal sat down, and the two conversed about their experiences as Fleet Auxiliaries.
Sakura Empire
At a typical Japanese restaurant, a group of Shipgirls and customers watched three Shipgirls with dog ears making a ruckus.
Yukikaze drank a cup of milk, then slammed it on the table, yelling, "Ayanami! WAH!"
"She's just got captured, not dead," Shigure said, finishing her cup of milk.
"Besides, Azur Lane won't violate the Geneva rules of war, right?" Yuudachi said, reassuring Yukikaze.
Yukikaze yelled again. "Ayanami!!"
"In the name of the Shinto gods, please make her stop!" a customer complained.
"Totemo zan'nendeshita," Yuudachi and Shigure apologized, bowing their heads to the customer.
"Here's your Dango," a woman with large breasts and cow horns placed a plate of Dango that the two had ordered.
"Arigato, Kashino-san," Yuudachi and Shigure thanked the waitress.
The Cow-woman was Kashino.
Yuudachi and Shigure ordered more Dango to keep Yukikaze from shouting.
"We might need a little more Dango to keep her from shouting again?" Shigure said, annoyed.
"Yeah," Yuudachi replied tiredly.
Yuudachi and Shigure were tasked to calm Yukikaze, a direct order from Lady Musashi herself. They chose this restaurant for the Dangos, which Yukikaze loved.
Harbor
Eugen, Z-23, and Z-1 were waiting at the harbor. The setting sun cast an orange ambient glow painting the sky across the ocean.
"They're late," Z-23 exclaimed, bored of waiting.
Eugen giggled. "My-My. You're in such a hurry. Are you meeting someone secretly?"
"W-What!" Z-23 stammered, flustered.
Z-1 nudged her and said in a tomboyish voice, "There are plenty of girls... and I can help you with that."
"Dummkopf!"
Eugen and Z-1 laughed at Z-23's flustered reaction. They stopped when their radar detected incoming Shipgirls.
The silhouettes on the horizon revealed three Shipgirls with Shark Riggings. The three Iron Blood Shipgirls slowly entered the bay and headed towards the harbor where Eugen, Z-23, and Z-1 were waiting.
"Ah, Graf. I'm thankful you made it in time," Eugen greeted her.
"Entschuldigung, Eugen, for the delay. Someone caused trouble by picking a fight with New Jersey's fleet!" Graf Zeppelin said, her resentment directed at Roon.
"What! I was bored sailing from Iron Blood all the way to the Sakura Empire. So, I had to amuse myself~" Roon responded, indulging her typical masochistic tendencies.
"And because of that, we burned half our fuel and used half our ammunition!" Graf Zeppelin yelled.
The two stared at each other, their floatation bumper bumping at one another like cushions. Static electricity crackled between them, strong enough to electrocute any nearby insect.
*insert lightning strike in the background*
"Could you two stop, for once?" Odin said, maintaining her stoic expression.
Eugen held her temple, knowing the two would fight like cats and dogs every time they were together.
"Could you two get along, for this mission?" she muttered to herself.
"Nein."
Cliff
Arizona and the AZ-1 Team crouched on the steep hill, scopes and listening devices pointed towards the Iron Blood Shipgirls quarreling below. They wore blank expressions, like men enduring a typical women's squabble, Third Reich Edition.
The listening devices in their hands were filled with German marble garbles, their ears twitched at the following shrieks.
AZ-1a spoke. "Women... still annoying as ever."
"I don't know if they're speaking normal German or angry German?" AZ-1b said.
"Focus, you two. We need to gather information, even if it's just a German squabble," Arizona said, focusing his attention on the Shipgirls below.
A resounding "Roger that" came from the Manjuus.
Arizona focused on the faces of the Iron Blood Shipgirls, meticulously observing and familiarizing himself with each one.
His scope was focused on Graf Zeppelin as he assessed her character. "She's a serious one."
"A dominating one, for sure," AZ-1a chimed in.
"Couldn't agree more," AZ-1b added.
Arizona shook his head at the two Manjuu beside him. His attention then shifted to the psychotic one of the Iron Blood.
He lowered his spotting scope, reminded of someone. "Why is she giving me DDG-200 vibes...? She's smiling like a psycho... I guess the intel about Iron Blood Shipgirls was filled with psychopaths." He shook off the thought.
He then shifted his spotting scope to someone next to Roon, but this one caught him off-guard.
With a sly grin, he muttered, "Looks like I found your long-lost German cousin... Sheffield."
After observing them, he appraised the situation. "So, that's Graf Zeppelin, Roon, and Odin... huh..."
He beckoned his team to start taking pictures of the three. After taking the photos, the Manjuus quickly sent the information to the submerged Virginia Submarine off the shores of the Sakura Empire.
The Manjuu inside the Nuclear Submarine sent the data to the Strike Group in Hawaii.
"AZ Team, information received... information is now being sent to Pearl."
The sound of tapping keyboards filled the air as the file was sent back to the Enterprise Carrier Strike Group moored at Pearl Harbor.