=================

The memory was kind of blurry and almost pixelated... The 1st Siren War. Azur Lane is close to its creation. One or 2 representatives from each faction must show up to a grand meeting before the official creation of the Coalition. 

Names like Queen Elizabeth, Amagi,  Bismarck, Avrora, and the peculiar ship that we'll be focusing on today. Yorktown.

All the girls mentioned and some others all agreed on their plans and Azur Lane is formed. To take out the meddling Sirens off their world once and for all. The start of the organization was kind of rocky. It was expected since the girls don't know who is their leading voice and leader. 

With different flags and preferences, they couldn't agree on one true leader. And that was the flaw of the newly made Coalition. But even with this dispute within the organization, they all put their ego and differences aside on the battlefield. 

The books that Caster has read over the days has been telling that Azur Lane had an almost unstoppable record of winning. Brought with the 'Goddess of Winning' Amagi. And Bismarck. Even the newly summoned Hood scoring a few victories for herself. 

But the books are... Let's just say they exaggerate their achievements a tad bit... They didn't have a 'perfect' or 'improbable' record. They suffered their fair share of setbacks and flat-out defeats against the technologically-advanced Sirens. With their deflector shields and teleportation devices. And it seemed that every battle the Sirens would have a secret up in their sleeves. Or tentacles... You choose. 

Anyway, the location of this memory is the Eagle Union's docks. A small white-haired and purple-eyed girl was chasing a woman taller than her. And very similar to her as well. Almost like they were clones of each other. Yorktown. She is leaving the Eagle Union, for now, to serve her time in the newly built Azur Lane base built as she is the leading figure for the Eagle Union at the time. She wasn't as prominent as Amagi or Bismarck. (I mean, what do you expect?) 

But she is her own person and she's pretty good in battle. Always contributing and one of the 'clutch' performers when the battle for air dominance is not on their side... 

She fought a noble cause. And she didn't care for any type of rewards that she would get. She only told herself in her mind that she only wanted the war over she said... But as the war would last longer, the more costly it was getting. So, a final push for the Sirens to finally disappear on their world. 

Remembering the Amagi story and the 'best of the best' girls that came through the door behind Bismarck, there was a lack of an Eagle Union participant. And as you guessed it, it was Yorktown. 

And Yorktown is on the Eagle Union docks waiting for her escort fleet to well, escort her.

The young Yorktown look-a-like came up to her. 

"Sister. Are you going out now?" Said the purple-eyed girl. Looking up at her 'sister'. "Can I please join you?" 

"No. Stay here. You'll have your chance in the future." Yorktown bent down to her level. Stroking her hair. 

"But..." The girl mumbled.

"No 'buts'. I'm going to be back." Yorktown smiled and kissed the girl's forehead. "Just remember what I have always told you." 

"Live your life, and if we do not succeed, keep persevering, and keep going." 

"But that's doesn't mean anything right now!" The girl exclaimed. Reaching her hand to her sister's cheek.

"It does..."

"Huh?"

"You'll surely know when it is your time." Yorktown smiled at the girl for the last time before she left. "See you later, my beloved sister Enterprise." As her escort ships were gesturing her to go now. 

Tears were streaming down slowly on the young Enterprise's cheeks as she just watched her sister go on to join the last operation of Azur Lane.

Or so she thought.

=================

"You'll surely know when it is your time..." Enterprise mumbled. As she just froze looking at the sea with Siren ships all around them. And even worse, it was a rainstorm. It was a good cloudy day before suddenly turned into a rainstorm. 

Everyone was scrambling. Some going to the monitor room, the school has started its evacuation, and the girls were all preparing for relentless combat on a relentless enemy. Cannon fire was already being fired on the base.

Long story, short. Like Caster and the Royal Navy girls, they were also ambushed. But this time. A much larger force was thrown to decimate the Azur Lane base. 

But all of the girls were ill-prepared. And even worse of all, no Caster, no one to lead them. 

But then someone was tugging on Enterprise's coat and it snapped her out of her trance. It was California. 

"I and Oklahoma will try to contact the Royal Navy and Commander," California said in a real sense of urgency. "We'll do it as fast as we can." 

"Okay." Enterprise simply replied. 

"Akagi has already put up defensive positions on the shorelines. I think you should get out there also." As California left followed with a speeding Oklahoma 'wooshing' past Enterprise. 

Then Akagi was running towards Enterprise on her right. "What are you doing?! I'll lead my forces and you lead yours. We need to hold out for backup."

"If we don't get any backup, we need to mount an offensive to drive the Sirens away." Akagi continued. 

"Okay, let's do this." Enterprise nodded.

And before the 2 took off, the 2 stared at each other... Knowing that was a personal rivalry between the two. The two at first didn't like the idea of working together. Not even Caster can make them get along. But they share the same banner and all working under one person. So, any animosity has to be set aside for the battle. 

And they were mature enough to know that. So the 2 great aces of the Coalition have split up. Enterprise was leading and fighting on the north side as Akagi was taking care of the east side. 

But the Sirens were encircling the island and they made sure there was no opening for any escape routes. Their intentions are clear as day. 

The 'Trial of Perseverance' has begun. 

"Enterprise!" Cleveland shouted. "Pick your targets!" 

"Alright, everybody," As she winded up her bow. Then multiple golden arrows formed. "Take out the Battleships and Cruisers first!" 

"RIGHT!" The Union girls all shouted. 

=================

In the communications tower. Oklahoma with Brooklyn protecting her, Oklahoma tried to contact the Royal Navy HQ. In which she got some success in doing so. 

"Royal Navy Headquarters. What do you-" A voice spoke until Oklahoma gave the news. 

But then, some wires were falling almost touching Oklahoma and Brooklyn. The Sirens had targeted the communication lines. 

They couldn't move and also can't tip-toe out of the situation. Not before an 'electric' hero came in. 

"Eldridge!" Brooklyn called out. And the little, lazy girl turned to their direction. 

"...What...?" Eldridge tilted her head. 

"We need someone to absorb electricity. Can you help?" Brooklyn explained their situation. In which the little destroyer nodded and went over the cable wires that were spewing some electricity from it. 

She went over and sat at the cable wires. And the electricity sparks that were coming off the wires were slowly dissipating. 

"Good..." Eldridge said before her guns were glowing yellow. However, the girls didn't care as the 2 thanked Elridge for her timely help and they ran out. Brooklyn, to the defensive line on the north, and Oklahoma joining California to try to use the backup power to at least bring a message to the Royal Navy HQ.

=================

'Tch. I really wished Commander is here right now.' Akagi told herself as she wasn't confident that they would win this battle without Caster's guidance of the flow of the battle.

You may think that the girls are basically useless upon the lack of Caster's presence. 

But Akagi improving to be a brilliant strategist since joining the Coalition. She has studied and observed Caster's habits. (to the point of almost stalker status.) And she also studied strategy books that Caster would leave on his desk in his office. 

She strived to be that 'one' ship that Caster will give his attention to. And with her passion for everything she wants to do, now, her strategies now mirror Caster's decisiveness but with a bit of her own flair. 

She has commanded the Empire's girls to keep defending the beaches with ferocity. And the girls did what they always did in battles. Do it in a passionate way. Just like what Akagi taught them.

The east side and also the south side, where Akagi was also leading, and both sides were seeing great results in the defense. 

The north side and the west side... Not as good as anyone would expect. 

Enterprise is a 'one of a kind'. The 'X Factor'. That can deliver even in the most pressurized situations. But she lacked something that Enterprise herself wishes she had.

Leadership skills. 

Let's not get carried away, she did not lack the leadership skills entirely, more like... She wasn't good with words. 

Or as many people would call it: 'Social Awkwardness'. 

And the problem that made it worse, it is because she was a 'legend' amongst her peers. And you know what comes with that. 

Expectations.

And if they didn't satisfy the people's expectations, disappointment.

And that's the thing that Enterprise doesn't want. Especially in this dire situation. 

As the chaotic firefights were pending, and as the school evacuation is underway, all of the girls didn't notice some mysterious figures landing on the base. Behind friendly lines. 

Sirens. A few Sirens got to the island undetected. And even worse, no one is guarding the island. Everyone is doing something urgent. And that was the perfect time for the Sirens to sneak in. 

The Sirens were committed to destroying everything that they see on the base. 

Almost all of the buildings were damaged or straight up toppled over and destroyed. And the Sirens on the island were sure to damage infrastructure even more. 

And so they did just that. But the island base of the Coalition was hella big. And so they missed some key places. But the Sirens felt that their damage was enough. But one particular Siren, wants blood to be shed.

As the other Siren went on to ambush the girls from behind, the said Siren was walking towards a building that wasn't quite destroyed yet.

The school. 

=================

"Come on, kids! Let's go." Yorktown and Juneau hurried the kids to Caster's submarine. It's going to be used to flee to the Sakura Empire mainland until the chaos is over. 

But the kids were a bit slow and Yorktown felt a sinister presence dawning upon her. 

Edinburgh was almost the permanent maid for Yorktown, also felt the presence and tried her best to fight the Siren.

And even worse, the progress of evacuating the kids has gone slower. This is going to be a problem.

=================

"You dare step in my WAY?!" The Siren got her tentacles to go towards Edinburgh with a speed of a missile. Trying to impale her. 

Edinburgh dodged barely and she got time to fire her guns but to almost no effect. Her ammo type is probably not effective against the Siren. 

The Siren smiled in wicked fashion and leaped towards Edinburgh with an intention to kill her right here and there. 

Then out of nowhere, a blue flamed-wall flared up. Burning the Siren for a quite a bit before taking the fire of her tentacles and body. The Siren got damaged. But not enough to impact her effectiveness. 

"Kaga!" Edinburgh exclaimed. Surprised by her sudden appearance but a sigh of relief came after. Happy backup arrived. 

"Shall we eliminate this insect?" Kaga spoke in a similar sinister manner like the Siren. 

"U-uh, o-okay." Edinburgh weakly smiled in nervousness. 'S-she's feels like she could kill anyone right now!' 

Kaga and Edinburgh fought a good one, but Edinburgh was thrown into the trees and she's knocked out of action. Kaga though, as she was intense in her fighting, it was just not enough as the Siren was just also fighting with the same intensity and someone had to give. 

And unfortunately, Kaga was forced to leave with her injuries and to come back to the defensive line. 

This obviously became a dumb move as the Siren was basically given the chance to intercept the evacuation. 

 Yorktown was fearing for her life. But in everything, she kept her courage up but she couldn't fight back. Juneau tried her stop the Siren but she was thrown to the ocean. Making her look like a toy. 

And Yorktown and the kids were all alone with a blood-hungry Siren. 

"I'm going to have fun with this." The Siren's yellow-colored eyes glowed. And the alien bounded Yorktown on her tentacles. 

The Siren was bashing Yorktown's skull and body to the ground repeatedly. With no mercy given. 

"Teacher!!!" Spence screamed in horror. As she formed her weapons. Along with Fletcher, Aulick, and Foote.

The kids looked at each other. As the Sirens ignored the kids as she was slowly killing Yorktown. And she getting even more hurt on her already injured body.

The kids were hesitating... They want to fight back to protect their beloved teacher. 

"Aulick, and Spence, you will fight and I and Foote will distract her." Fletcher tried to plan a 'desperation' attack on the Siren. 

The kids agree on their plan. And the 4 did just that. And after the Aulick's and Foote's guns firing. And Spence's and Fletcher's tried to fire torpedoes to no avail, the Siren had enough of their 'silly little games'. And she took Aulick and started to punch her in the stomach repeatedly.

It was a horrific sight to everyone kid in the area. But most of the kids were already inside Caster's submarine. 

As Yorktown was coughing blood every few seconds, she looked upon her student who was getting punched to death. And this sight reminded Yorktown of something... Something gruesome in her past.

"PLEASE!" Yorktown shouted with a plea. "Don't hurt them! They're kids! They have nothing to do with this!" 

The Siren could only laugh maniacally in her helpless pleas. 

"We. Don't. Care." 

"The elimination of humanity is inevitable. And we shall stop at nothing to achieve this." As the Siren looks back at Aulick. Already fainted. "So, die." 

The Siren slammed Aulick once more to the ground and threw her down as she rolled down to the ocean. Probably dead...

The other 3 just scurried away. But they couldn't leave without Yorktown and a driver for the submarine. So the girls might come back to get Yorktown out of there.

Yorktown had no other hope now. Alone and helpless. With a merciless enemy. 

=================

"Battleship down!" North Carolina told the team. "Targeting another one."

Z23 was also destroying Siren Destroyers and kept the offensive in the long-range. In which they can't close in to the island and take it. 

Washington was doing her job. Putting Siren aircraft down with relative ease. 

Enterprise was doing her thing too. And she's doing the most damage at the Siren fleet. Expected of her.

Then voices in her head started playing.

"You'll surely know when it is your time."

...

"Live your life, and if we do not succeed, keep persevering, and keep going." 

Then screams of suffering. And then more screams. And more, and more, until Enterprise can't take it. The screams were just in her head, but even amongst the gunfire, the cannon shells impacting the nearby area, planes rotors filling the air with noise, she heard one thing and one thing only at this moment.

A scream. A scream that belonged to her beloved sister. 

Her memory replays in her head... Again. Again. And again...

She was trying her best to contain it within herself. Ignoring the words... But... That scream. 

Cleveland noticed that Enterprise's hands were shaking and it was affecting her accuracy. 

"Enterprise! Why are you shaking?!" Cleveland snapped her head right to Enterprise. And she's incredibly worried about the ace.

Then Enterprise stopped firing and turned around with the words: "Stay here. Give me time."

She leaped off the water and went to land. And ran as fast as she can in this storm to the place she felt the scream was coming from. The school.

Cleveland was now acting leader of the 2 sides. And she was ill-prepared. Another dumb move for the Coalition. This can't go on much longer.

She was seeing the school. And like the other buildings, it was battered to pieces. 

Enterprise looked around to hear where that scream came from once again. 

Nothing.

She was looking around her again and trying to listen.

Nothing again. 

Her fear and despair were growing deep in her heart.

Then a black tentacle gripped on her right arm and threw her into the pathways made of cement. 

She got up quickly and saw it was a Siren that was intruding on the island. Kaga tried her best to fight the alien, she failed to finish the alien off. How about Enterprise?

"One way to find out..." Enterprise murmured beneath her breath. 

As the rain slowly subsided, and the fires of the buildings are more apparent, She winded up her bow and she kept a safe distance for 'breathing room'. And she let the arrow(s) loose and one of the arrows hit the Siren's arms and the arm came off. 

The Siren also wasted no time and leaped towards the ace and tried to make the fight close-combat. 

Enterprise looked around and she wanted to use the environment to her advantage so she kicked the Siren towards a tree and took cover by the burning buildings. 

The Siren got up quickly and saw that Enterprise was gone. She thought that the 'absolute ace' was also scared of her and fled... But then, unknown to her, and golden arrow in flames tore right through the Siren's stomach. 

"Bullseye..." A voice said before more golden arrows were shot towards the enemy.  

The Siren leaped so high above the burning buildings. Trying to find Enterprise...

...Another arrow fired - and another one. 

Then the Siren got the position of Enterprise and leaped towards her...

...Enterprise blocked the slashes of the Siren's tentacles and she was getting pushed back by the relentlessness of the attack...

Enterprise did not saw a sneaky tentacle that was going to hit her in the hip so she jumped up...

...Only for her to get slapped so hard in the face by another sneaky tentacle that she flew to a wall. 

SNAP!

The impact made a couple of Enterprise's bones to make a gruesome sound...

Enterprise was getting beat. And she knew this. It was now or never. 

The Siren jumped at her with no foresight and this gave Enterprise a 'window'...

...She winded up her bow and rather than letting go, she ducked and she used her right leg to kick the Siren to a nearby wall in one of the buildings on fire. And as soon as she turned back around and gained balance, she let go...

...BULLSEYE!

Another direct hit. This time on the chest and the Siren is no more. 

And then a scream right after. Not from the burning Siren, it was another... The same scream that brought her here. 

With the remaining strength that she had, she painstakingly tried to run but she was getting dizzy with all the fighting and wounds she sustained. 

Limping towards the school once again, she saw a green glow... Another Siren?

=================

The kids still can't off the island. With no driver for the submarine, and no Yorktown, and the kids, they got impatient. But they knew they were in danger. So they went near where Yorktown was.

She was laying there... Using her remaining strength and her determination to stay conscious. 

Then another Siren came near towards the war veteran ship. She was slightly bigger and had fewer tentacles than the last one. 

Foote, who was one of the girls, went off the island in search of Aulick. She found her. But she didn't tell her fellow destroyers yet.

So Spence and Fletcher have one last chance to get Yorktown to Caster's submarine. But they didn't know how and when to do that. 

Then hope...

=================

Enterprise sat down in a stable stance and winded up her bow with her dwindling energy. She can't use more of her energy or she can't contribute on the defense after this fight is over. 

She let go...

...The arrow hit the Siren's shoulder and more came after that. As the Siren was stunned and can't find Enterprise.

Direct hit after direct hit. The Siren was getting destroyed. But then...

"GAH!" The Siren clutched a tree with its tentacles and threw it at Enterprise's direction...

She avoids it... Narrowly. 

Then disaster...

=================

"Spence! Look out!!!" Fletcher shouted. As Spence was getting gripped by the Siren's tentacles and was thrown to Enterprise's direction. 

"NOOOO!!!" Yorktown shouted as Spence was thrown in front of Enterprise's bow.

She thought that Enterprise would just lean away from her, but no.

Not at all.

=================

Enterprise tried to lean but Spence was getting to near and she will hit her. Destroying her concentration. 

She leaned slightly to the right, and let go. 

And the arrow hit Spence's right hip and it tore through the hip towards the Siren's head.

HIT!

It was down.

But blood was spewing out of her hips. Enterprise could only look in horror. She held Spence in her arms. She wanted to get up and get her to Vestal. 

But she doesn't know where she is and can't even stand up due to her shock and lack of energy.

Hope was dwindling... And it was dwindling fast. The girls from the north and west side were getting boxed in even with their best efforts and desperation. 

It has been 20 minutes of non-stop firefighting. Oklahoma and California got a message to the Royal Navy HQ with the backup power they stored for this situation. 

And they don't even know if it was received... As they didn't get a response. 

Akagi and Kaga can't hold up their own sides much longer as all the girls were wounded. 

Boxed in...

Boxed in...

Boxed in...

Then. A faint light. 

"Belli dura despicio!" 

A-kun: I apologize for how long I made this chapter... I had trouble with how to execute the fight scenes... And how I executed the chapter in general. So I am terribly sorry. 

Also, thank you so much for putting me above 100 followers, 10K reads, and 300+ votes on this book. And I plan to go even higher. 

Should I make a 'special' chapter after this is over? 

Anyway, I'm out of here and I'm finishing this chapter at 1 in the morning... Okay, see you all later! Bye!

Word Count: 3876 Words.

5/16/20
1:00 AM