Azur Lane The Siren War

Right at the gates

It was a week since Captain Marks' pub was shot up during the gunfight that occurred between Captain Tanner and Marks against Tench and his henchmen, luckily Captain Marks had insurance and video proof that he was a victim and did his best to protect himself and his property. That however did not stop Vice Admiral Percival from chewing out both captain even though they were both the victims, he didn't say a word to Enterprise even though she was present at the gunfight towards the end and was even standing behind both men. She tried her best to convince Vice Admiral Percival to quit chewing out the captains. 

After the long lecture, the trio walked out of the office mildly annoyed by the vice admiral. "Throw that man into our position and he'd probably be turned into swiss cheese by Tench and his lackeys," Captain Marks whispered to which Enterprise and Captain Tanner laughed. Captain Tanner and Enterprise parted ways with Captain Marks who met up with Essex. "I used to dislike that man's attitude, but he's a good man," Captain Tanner said as he walked along the corridor with Enterprise. "Yeah I noticed he was quite the douche when he first met you a month ago, but in the end, captains will always get along as long as there is a bigger threat to fight," Enterprise replied. 

Captain Tanner and Enterprise decided it would do them good to go to the cafeteria to grab an early lunch before carrying on with their day... or so they thought. The interior of the building was suddenly bathed in a red tinge, the red lights had turned on and alarms began to wail. "A portal is attempting to breach our world in the Atlantic Ocean! Red Alert! Red Alert! Red Alert! All officers and ship girls head towards the emergency briefing atrium!" The public address system wailed. Multiple officers rushed down the corridors with their ship girls. Captain Tanner spotted Captain Butcher with Yorktown in the group and grabbed his arm to ask him about what on Earth was going on. "What in heaven's name is going on?" Captain Tanner asked holding onto Captain Butcher's arm. "The Sirens are trying to breach into our world with a portal, not sure if they're successful!" Captain Butcher shouted and shrugged off Captain Tanner's grip to continue his run to the emergency briefing atrium. "Enterprise follow us, we're needed!" Yorktown yelled at her sister and beckoned her to follow. Captain Tanner and Enterprise joined the group which was now gaining in size from the multiple ship girls and officers who were joining via smaller corridors which led to the main corridor. There it was, three double doors which led into the emergency briefing atrium.

Captain Tanner had never seen such a massive atrium, loaded with multiple seats as if it were a theater with a stage up front, complimented with an oval table and seats for the admirals of the Eagle Union. He also saw multiple ship girls and officer who he had never seen before. He took his seat in the middle of the atrium beside Enterprise and Captain Butcher who was also seated beside Yorktown. "Where's Hornet?" Enterprise asked with worry with her eyes darting around the atrium. A hand closer to the front raised up into the air and waved behind, with a black and yellow cowboy hat, that was unmistakably Hornet. Speaking of Hornet, Captain Tanner has never actually seen her commanding officer. "Hey Enterprise, who is Hornet's commanding officer? I've never actually seen her walking around with one," Captain Tanner asked. "She doesn't have one, Nolan. They haven't found a commanding officer for her yet as she is one of the youngest carriers who have barely gone past the age of consent, there's not many young officers in the field who are capable of commanding ship girls," Enterprise answered and calmed down after spotting her sister closer to the front of the stage. Somebody tapped the microphone up front which created a booming effect through the speakers which surrounded the atrium.

Up front stepped a rear admiral upper half from out of the shadows, he looked like he was in his late 30s and had black lamb chop side burns. "You all know me, well most of you anyways, there are a few new faces I haven't seen yet, so allow me to introduce myself. I am Rear Admiral Upper Half Morris Dennard, I am second in command of this sub branch of the US Navy. Let's get straight to the point, as you all are informed that the Sirens have attempted to breach into our world using their famous portalling technology for the first time since we have driven them back to their world two years ago," the rear admiral voiced out and looked around the atrium at the dozens of eyes staring back at him before continuing. "Now our British, French, German, Italian, Russian friends and our own forces at the Atlantic are more than ready and battle hardened to take on the invaders, but that is if their technology was the same as the last time they invaded us. We do not know for a fact that it has remained the same, therefore our chief of staff, Fleet Admiral Edgar Warring has ordered some of our own warships and ship girls of the Pacific Fleet to bolster the Atlantic Fleet as best as possible, this is for the one little fact we know that Sirens are most likely going to try to open another portal relatively in the same spot as it requires less work and energy. If you receive an email stating you are to depart in 3 days by tomorrow, pack your bags as soon as possible and be ready to depart via air lift. That is all, you are all dismissed."

Most of the ship girls and officers went straight to lunch, others went to check their phones and devices for an email. "The enemy is right at the gates, now that's freaking dangerous," Captain Marks said as he chewed through his hot dog. Captain Tanner felt uneasy, he felt not ready for combat yet. "Don't worry Nolan, I don't think they will send us to bolster the Atlantic Fleet," Enterprise said once again reading his mind. "That's right, we belong here in the Pacific," Essex said and placed both her arms around Hornet and Yorktown who were eating together. Captain Tanner and Butcher were relatively silent as they ate through their food. "My dad is in the Atlantic right now," Captain Tanner whispered and put down his hot dog. The group turned and stared at him waiting for him to continue talking. "He commands the USS Stout DDG-55, he saw action during the great push back of the Sirens and his ship was hit multiple times by Siren fire, but he refused to go down and the word 'retreat' doesn't exist in his dictionary, I'm just afraid he'll do the same thing if the Sirens manage to breach into Earth," Captain Tanner said shaking his head. It will be fine, hopefully.

Night fell and soon everyone tucked themselves into bed, Captain Tanner on the other hand was simply laying on his bed and looking at his great grandfather's watch. He stared for a very long time and tried to picture what it was like to experience combat for the very first time, before putting the watch beside him on the bedside table. "Sheesh 1:39 AM, I better sleep," he whispered to himself before switching off the lamp and pulling the sheets over himself. After just a few minutes of day dreaming, there was a soft knock on his door. Captain Tanner got up, put on his pajama top and walked over to the door to see who it was. Once he opened it, he saw Enterprise in her nightgown with a slightly sad and worried look on her face. "Come in, come in, what happened?" He asked curiously as she walked in. Enterprise took a seat on his bed and began to sob softly. "I had a nightmare, my sisters were both dead and I couldn't do anything. I failed my duty as a protector, what I swore to do," she sniffed. 

After telling Captain Tanner about her nightmare, Enterprise sighed and looked around his room. "Usually I'd go to my sisters room to tell them about my nightmares, but they're asleep. Now that you're here, I guess I could have come here, it does sound very silly to you does it not, Nolan?" Enterprise asked and placed her hands together. "Not at all, as your commanding officer, it is my duty to ensure that you are not feeling upset, so please continue if you have anything else to talk to me about," Captain Tanner replied. Enterprise sighed and shook her head indicating she had nothing else to say. "I know this is a lot to ask for, but whenever I have nightmares like these, I'd share a bed with either one of my sisters. I find it better to sleep knowing I have someone I know beside me during these ordeals, may I share your bed with you? It's alright if it's not okay with you," Enterprise asked. "No it's alright, you can have my other pillow," Captain Tanner said and waited patiently for her to adjust herself on his single person bed, not to mention there was barely and space for a second person. Once tucked in, Captain Tanner made his move and got into the right side of his bed barely 2 inches away from Enterprise's back. 

Multiple minutes have past, Captain Tanner looked over at Enterprise before realizing she was huge compared to him, probably standing at 175 cm compared to his shorter stature of 170 cm. He then turned and stared at the ceiling embarrassed as this was the first time a girl was sleeping on the same bed as him. However that embarrassment was turned into worry as he saw Enterprise shivering even though she was covered by his bed sheets, that wasn't a cold feeling, that was fear, Enterprise was frightened. Thinking twice, before his actions, Captain Tanner put his arm over Enterprise and she stopped shivering from fear immediately. Her skin was cold, but became very warm in a minute after he place his arm around her. "Thank you," she whispered softly before turning her body to the right to face her commanding officer. They looked into each other's eyes for a full minute, Captain Tanner managed to see the beautiful purple irises staring right back at him. Neither of them cold hold back anymore, both of them locked onto each other kissing each other warmly. Enterprise couldn't believe what she was doing, yet she knew damn well she was waiting for this day to happen. After rolling around on the bed for a few more minutes, they stopped making out and finally fell asleep in each others arms.