Book One: Schwarzer Wolf

Chapter 27: Make it Bleed, As Have We

The guns clicked into place seconds before they fired, sending 8 800mm Armor Piercing shells directly at the battleship that stood in the distance. The smell of gunpowder and smoke filled the air. The shells gracefully travelled with killer intent to the target. 6 missed, the other two falling short.

Tch "Another miss opportunity." Levi said with annoyance in his voice. They'd been out here for 40 minutes already and he was growing tired of the constant misses. While not being the most accurate, he was one of the deadliest. His broadside easily could split any ship in half with even an HE shell. But, he'd have to hit them first.

Forge's aircraft hadn't done much better. Even though she was one of few Essex class to penetrate through the siren air defense without needing upgraded aircraft, it was more of a test now than any other time. The bombs from her Helldivers failed to hit their marks as the battleship dodged with swiftness. It was to be expected. After all, they were hunting the daughter of the legendary Wisconsin herself.

"C'mon kid, we don't have to do this."

"You're blinded by lies and deceit. How can you not see that the sirens are the only way forward? How?"

"Kayl, you're being brainwashed. Your mother is very worried about you. You need to come home."

"I have a new mother. One who listens to what I want and say. She doesn't forget. She always remembers."

"Listen to yourself! They're making you turn against those who actually care about you! They've made you into a tool of war!"

"Isn't that the purpose of the kansen? To wage war on the water? All my life I've been stuck in the same place, with the same liars, with the same fools. I see the truth now. I offer you a choice Forge."

"That is?"

"Join me. We'll rule the waters together, inseparable, undefeatable, always on top. We can even do what you've always wanted. See the stars high above."

"..."

Forge said nothing, her thoughts racing at incomprehensible speed. She thought about joining her. Hell, she'd give her soul to spend another a minute with the one she'd grown to love and care about. But she wouldn't. No, she couldn't. Everyone around her was depending on her to go home. To see those they loved. If there was one thing Forge had always put before herself, it was those around her.

The Helldivers roared back down at Kayl, a new power in them as they did. Kayl seemed to scoff as she shot down nearly all of them...except for two. 6,000 pounds of explosive mass rocked her ship to its core. Thick black smoke started to rise from her ship as the bomb damage became apparent. There was a short whimper from Kayl as the bombs exploded.

"So it does feel pain." Trathen spoke with venom. She had once been one of Kayl's closest friends. That all changed when Kayl turned multiple of her sisters to corpses. She had grown bitter. Anger boiled inside of her like a tnt barrel with a lit fuze. It was only a matter of time before she snapped.

"Cool your tongue Trathen, we're not done."

"That's rich coming from you Levi."

"You don't keep a cool head and we're all done for."

"Fools."

Kayl's ship started to glow brightly in a perfect red. The paint that the sirens applied started to burn off from her ship. Even from the distance the Allied fleet was at, the water was suddenly warming up greatly. Thunder started to roll in as clouds seemed to form out of nowhere. The sky darkened and the sun was hidden. The waters grew torrent, shifting the destroyers and light cruisers about with odd force. Levi was unaffected, as was Forge and Ohio.