Three Battleships in Azur Lane

Chapter 7

Location: Sakura Empire base
Time: 8:00 am

It was a peaceful day on the base. At the harbor, the ships on mission were just pulling in to rest. The first few to greet the incoming ships were the other First Carrier Division ships Hiryuu and Souryuu. Akagi and Kaga were just walking through the gate as Hiryuu and Souryuu met up with them. 

Hiryuu: My superiors, I see you are well.

Akagi: No need for formalities, but you are right. Our mission was a success.

Hiryuu: Understood, ma'am.

Souryuu looks over at Zuikaku and Shoukaku holding their books they got from Wisconsin.

Souryuu: Hey, Zuikaku, are you okay? You seem to have kind of a long face.

Zuikaku: Oh, no ma'am, nothing wrong at all.

Souryuu: Okay.

Ayanami walks past them and is pulled away by a few other destroyers. Prinz Eugen and Z23 walked up to Akagi and Kaga just as they were about to leave to talk to Nagato, the Sakura Empire leader.

Prinz Eugen: May we come as well to Lady Nagato, we may have some important info to share with only her.

Akagi looks at the white burn bandages on Z23's arm.

Akagi: Of course, you two seem to have very important-

???: AKAGI!!!

The group turns to see who they thought had the audacity to scream at a superior, and they see it was Mikasa, one of the oldest fighting ships there. Who was now approaching Akagi in a fit of rage.

Mikasa: I leave for a sortie, and I come back only to learn that you started a war!? Who in the hell gave you the right to attack a well-known-

Before she said another word, an annoyed Akagi backhand slapped her to the ground and stood over her in an intimidating manner.

Akagi: I don't think you have the right to talk about Lady Nagato's orders like that.

Mikasa: Lady Nagato accepted this!? I-impossible!

Akagi: She did alright, and the way you were headed, I could have you punished for threatening a superior!

Mikasa shuddered at the thought, but fortunately, a fellow friend came to help her.

Zuikaku: Miss Akagi, please, can we please not be so harsh on her? She is just used to fighting against only sirens for so long. It will take her a few days, maybe to adjust.

Akagi: Fine, but if she steps out of line again. turns to Mikasa She will not like what I have planned for her.

Both Zuikaku and Mikasa shudder a bit at the thought of it. Then, the groups all leave them alone on the harbor.

Mikasa: Hey, thanks for sticking up for me, Zuikaku.

Zuikaku: No worries, friend. Just make sure you keep your temper in check, ok?

Mikasa: Heh, ok.

Later, at Nagato's palace.

Akagi, Kaga, Prinz Eugen, and Z23 all sit around a cherry blossom tree of sort who at the middle sat the leader of the Sakura Empire, IJN Nagato.

Nagato: I understand you all have something to tell me.

Akagi: We do, first and foremost, we succeeded in our mission. Azur Lane won't be much of a problem while we create Project Oorochi.

Nagato: I see, may I ask what info you two have to share.

Prinz Eugen: It's about one of the new ships, one of the males.

Nagato: *Pov* Males!? Go on, Eugen.

Prinz Eugen: We his name is USS Texas from what I could hear, and he appears to have a companion with him. Specifically, a robot dog who from what I heard, goes by the name "Bladewolf." We only met him after Z23 here tried to attack Texas, but was stabbed in her arm by weird burning knives of the sort.

Nagato: *Pov* A robot dog with burning knives!? I have a feeling this will greatly affect our chances at success for the empire. You are all dismissed.

Everyone: Hai, Lady Nagato.

After everyone left, Akagi and Kaga are seen walking below the trees.

Kaga: Nagato is lacking the determination needed to win this.

Akagi: Do not talk too ill about our leader, she is driven by a deep love.

Kaga: Dear sister.

Akagi: But it's not enough, my love is strong, strong enough to torch the world, and still blaze on. To tell you the truth, if you want to badmouth someone, badmouth that Mikasa girl from earlier. The way she talks to a superior like that. *Tch*

Kaga: You're right, dear sister.

Meanwhile, Mikasa stood against a rail, alone, looking out into the distance. She takes out a book with a picture of a New-York class battleship with the word Texas spelled next to it. She brushes her hand next to the picture, as she says to herself.

Mikasa: I'll find you, USS Texas, if you're really here.