The Predator of the Depths

ECHOES - Crimson Memories, Bleached

Alicorn finds herself in a burning battlefield with Meta Alicorn standing a ways away, in front of several burning siren ships. Fire licks the air around her. A hammer head shark rigging floats above Meta Alicorn as she summons her three headed shark rigging as well.

"Why do we keep meeting?" Alicorn asks. "What are you trying to accomplish?"

"...Pain..." Meta Alicorn turns and looks into Alicorn's eyes. "It seems no matter the timeline, we experience pain over and over again." Her eyes shine yellow. "An endless war of pain. This ocean engulfed in flame... is my true, crimson lane. You will end up like me soon..."

...

Sheffield pulls the curtains aside and lights shine into Alicorn's room. Alicorn's siren yellow eyes snap open as sweat falls down her brow.

Edinburgh walks over as Sheffield turns on Alicorn's radio. "Good morning Miss Alicorn. Did y-you sleep well?"

Alicorn looks around the room, before looking back at one of her maids. "Edinburgh..."

-----

.....

Sheffield and Edinburgh led Alicorn towards the Cafeteria, passing several soldiers and a few Majuus on their way. Alicorn though is lost in thought.

Sheffield looks back to her mistress. "Miss Alicorn, are you okay?"

"Huh?" Alicorn looks up to her maid. "Yes... Just thinking about the rather strange dream I had."

Edinburgh tilts her head. "Strange dream?"

Alicorn just shakes her head. "Please don't worry about it... It's nothing."

Edinburgh and Sheffield glance at each other, before looking back at their Mistress.

"As you wish." Sheffield says.

Over in the Commander's office.

Commander Sicilia is sitting at her desk, looking over paperwork. Command Stait is sitting in a nearby chair, drinking tea.

"This battle should force them to take time and recover." Stait says.

"Y-Yes, but we're n-not ready to ac-ac-act on any opportunities either." Sicilia informs.

"The black Mental Cube." Stait sips her tea. "Enterprise and Alicorn, too."

Sicilia sets the paper she's reading down and face-plants her desk. "A mountain of i-i-issues to deal with." She then looks at her friend. "Sakura Empire i-is licking their wounds, b-but Iron Blood still worries me. Even with 90% of their HO ships d-d-down or ei-either in repair, they can still heavily rely on Kansen. T-They scare me."

"Well, you know what they say, Iron Blood as superior engineering."

Sicilia groans as face-plants her desk again.

.

.

.

In Sakura Empire, Osami is walking with Mutsu and Nagato at either side of her. Kaga had ran up to her a minute prior.

"You want to seal Orochi away?!" Kaga questions.

"It is just a temporary hold on the project." Osami states. "With Akagi gone, we cannot move if forward."