Azur Lane: Return of Davis

Chapter 25: Breaking Chains

March 10, 1942

Enterprise/Me: "IT'S OVER!"

A combination of anti-tank missile and anti-ship bombs severely cripples the battleship, leaving it very open to death.

"Enterprise, clean hits. Flooding, confirmed. I need some HE on that battleship! NOW!"

A cruiser's main guns flare as the battleship finally succumbs, the irony of sinking in the ocean whilst on fire a dark joke I'm quietly laughing at.

Belfast: "Target eliminated."

"Afirm. Eyes in the skies, how's it looking out here?"

Zuikaku: "Scattered forces. Nothing serious."

Enterprise: "Nothing but headless chickens."

Shoukaku: "Same- eh?! Humanoid Siren! Young girl, likely should be in high school. White hair in a ponytail, yellow eyes, sailor uniform crop top, speedo bottom. What appears to be a hammerhead shark for rigging."

"It's not Alpha, then... Location?"

Shoukaku: "North of the island, bearing straight 0's. 2 kilometers out."

"Understood. I'll call in for an offensive, you all keep that recon up." I swap to the open frequency. "Listen up: clean up the rest of the forces and meet me at the east end of the island, where we arrived yesterday. We have what I assume to be the leader of this Siren fleet 2 kilometres to the north and is likely going to attack us soon. We need to get ready, ASAP."

Confirmation floods the channel as I start speeding over to base. I need more M6 rockets.

My comms flare up soon after, with messages of "Enemies down!"

--

"Enemies down! Your Majesty, what's your status?"

Elizabeth: "The last straggler has just been put down."

Ray: "Clean moves out there, ladies! Back to base, we need to regroup and recover in case of another wave."

"Roger."

Ray: "Sheffield, I need you to administer first aid on the injured. Head to the docks."

Sheffield: "Understood."

Ray: "And did anybody hear the name of that Doctor from the December attack? I feel we could use his assistance."

Yorktown: "Halford Cornwall, if I remember right."

Ray: "Thanks. Contact him and get some medics out here."

Yorktown: "On it."

???: "You think this is over?"

I spin around, blocking an attack that otherwise would have decapitated me. "Who-?"

???: "Does it matter?"

"I got a situation! I need backup, now!" Calling on my radio, I plead for assistance. All I get back, though, is static. Strong winds and equally turbulent waves tell me all I need to know. "A Mirror Sea?"

???: "Smart girl."

"It matters not! My blade shall not yield to a Siren such as you!"

???: "And yet, what about your acting leader?"

"What do you mean?"

???: "Rapist, child exploiter, manipulative, liar, psychotic, morally ambiguous. Are you sure that is the man you should be following?"

"That's because of you Sirens!"

???: "We did nothing. We just let him experience what it's like to live without restrictions."