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

The room was silent... The meeting room of the Langston Palace. 

Queen Elizabeth hasn't made a response on Caster's remark of her un-'royal' like demeanor. 

Every girl in the room was all surprised at Caster's bluntness on the royal Queen. Everyone knew that she was... More or less loud. And he's literally the only person ever that has questioned her behavior. 

Warspite was also shocked like Queen Elizabeth was... 

Some took his statement as a display of arrogance, but on the latter part, Caster's girls were also shocked but they have seen this before from him. 

The blunt honesty, the aura of authority, and most scary of all, 

Unyielding control. 

The survey... That survey that the 4 starter destroyers did when Caster was in his 1st week of being the Commander of Azur Lane... The results from the said survey were right after all. Caster just didn't notice it at all. 

'What does even mean?!' My ass...

His aura made all the girls in the room just shudder as they never felt a presence so ominous like his or any other girls in all the 4 factions.

Even the Queen wasn't safe. She wildly underestimated Caster as a person. And as a leader. 

"Are we done here?" Caster asked Queen Elizabeth. Who was now stumbling for a response...

But then, a speaker in the dining hall, that Caster noticed all over the base but he never saw it used, was now making a ringtone... 

"Everybody in the Langston Palace," A voice spoke through. And all of the girl's attentions are towards the speaker.

"We have received an emergency call from the base of Azur Lane. It requests immediate backup." The voice on the speaker broke the news. Much to the disbelief of Caster and almost everyone else. 

"Royal Navy HQ, thank you for listening, have a good day." The speaker turned off. And Caster wasted no time standing up from his chair. 

"Belfast, get your ship ready now. We're leaving." He walked out the door... And all of Caster's girls followed.

"Hmph, who does he think he is?" The Queen shook her head. But she still could not recover from Caster's outburst on her.   

"Your Majesty, it is my fault... I didn't have time to correct him on what he said. But." Warspite bowed down before Queen Elizabeth turned to Warspite. 

"We should join him. It is better if we see his ability. Rather than just judging him." Warspite suggested. 

"Grr..." The Queen grunted and she's getting indecisive... 

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

"Well, thank you for joining us... Your presence will definitely help the girls." Caster nods at Queen Elizabeth.

Everyone is onboard the HMS Queen Elizabeth. Along with her are King George V's ship and Wales's ship behind her. 

Well, that's the only notable one. The others, like Javelin and Unicorn in the back row serving as 'backup'. 

A-kun: Again, just like the Belfast thing,

Queen Elizabeth: the old- I-I mean, young Queen.
HMS Queen Elizabeth: The ship. 

"You... It is fine, as royalty, I should be there when conflict shows itself." Queen Elizabeth had a smug look as she sat down and took a sip of her 'precious' tea. 

'Tch, smug as always.' Caster thought. 

"Oh, yeah... By the way, where did Nagato go? Did we saw her when we left?" Caster looked around the ships. 

"I'm right here." 

And Caster looked down to see Nagato just below him. And she scared the hell out of him.

"Holy god... Where the hell did you come from?" Caster took a few steps back in surprise. 

"You're irritating me." Nagato bluntly stated. In which he smiled apologetically. 

But they were already 30 minutes out from the Langston Palace. Everybody and I mean EVERYBODY came along to join in the fight. 

Caster was already imagining what might happen on the base and with the girls without his guidance. He gritted his teeth. 'Those scum, I'll do what I did to them last time... I swear.' 

"Commander, you're wearing such a worrisome expression. Can I help you with putting that emotion away?" Belfast suggested getting close to Caster's face. In response, he took a step back.

"Woah, I'm just planning for the counter-attack. Nothing else than that." He waved his hands' side to side in denial. 

And then someone pulled him by the back of his uniform. He thought that he's going to fall to the deck but he landed on a chair. Next to someone. 

"Commander," Hood stated. As she let go of her hand from Caster. "You should stay calm in front of the adversary." 

'Damn it, I know that, Hood. But most of my fleet is fighting without you and me.' He was rubbing his head. Trying to make sense of his thoughts. 

"Your Majesty... I think we have detected the Siren ships..." Sheffield told Queen Elizabeth.

He also finally detected the Sirens ships that were attacking his base. The clouds above them were dark. But on their position, it was going to be sunset.  

The Queen nodded. "Everyone! Fire!-" 

"NO!" He stood up. Raising his left hand. 

"What do you mean, 'No?'" Queen Elizabeth demanded to know his reasoning. "Explain to me, at once!" 

A smile on his face. Confidence. 

"I have a better idea..." 

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

"My name is Warspite. The personal assistant of her Majesty's Queen Elizabeth. Current record-holder of the longest range hit on a moving object with guns." Warspite said before standing up loud and proud.

"Current record-holder of the longest range hit on a moving object with guns."

"Current record-holder..."

"Longest distance hit..." 

"With guns."

"With guns..."

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

"M-me?" Warspite asked confused.

Caster just nodded. "Yes, you. You were flaunting your world-record right?" 

"I-I did not flaunt my record at all! I only said it." Warspite tried to defend herself. 

"That does not matter. We see the Sirens now and they will probably be going to also point their guns and aircraft at us. You have to do this." Caster pleaded.

"And let's be honest, they're no match for the 'Divine Marksman' right?" With a cheeky smirk on his face shortly after. He has heard this nickname thrown around the palace when he was walking all over the palace.

"I-I guess..." Warspite said. But she was slightly empowered by Caster's soul-lifting words. 

Again, the Royal Navy as a whole has not been on the 'winner's boat' for a while now. And if they won, they would suffer bad wounds on their ships and even some casualties. 

And somehow, Queen Elizabeth had the leadership skills for the girls to not lose morale in that period. Gotta give it to her. She is good at what she does. And including being a brat... 

Caster pats Warspite's head and says: "Go get them. We're going to ambush the ambushers." 

Warspite had slight red on her cheeks and she jumped off the HMS Queen Elizabeth to turn the HMS Warspite into Wisdom Cubes and her crazy-looking weapons formed on her sides.

"Dang, she has big guns, alright." 

What he meant were her 15-inch guns. Of course, the number of girls on the HMS Q. Elizabeth hearing that statement, it more or less heard it and took in a 'different' way.

And guess what happens after that... 

Caster turned his eyes to the Sirens but immediately he felt the glares were stacking upon him. And his head was slowly turned to the girls who were again, giving him death stares.

He immediately knew what this meant and he just shook his head. His gesture is basically saying: "I know what y'all thinking. Please don't stare at me like that, and please get off my back you might kill me." 

The girls were hardly convinced. Especially with the lack of words from him just now.

As he turned his attention once again to Warspite, her guns started glowing and so was she. 

"Belli dura despicio!!!"

A-kun: If you didn't know already, this is Warspite's skill activation transcription. And her ability was... "Divine Marksman". You all probably know this already so back to the story.

2 large beads of light were moving towards two of the Siren Aircraft Carriers. 

BOOM!

PLOW!

Both shots were registered as a hit. And the blast was so powerful, one powerful salvo was enough to punch through the armor of each of the 2 carriers and they were starting to sink. 

"Everyone, get ready for combat." Caster stated. 

Hood, Illustrious, Nagato, her escort fleet, and many others leaped off the HMS Queen Elizabeth and formed their weapons." 

He desperately wanted to get into the fight. But he didn't know how to do so. So he looked around for a suitable place to land. 

His eyes widen. 

He got on the communicator and only talks on all of the Royal Navy girls. "Girls, I have an idea."

He felt that his idea would be denied at some point but he just kept going. 

"I have to get to the island in a hurry... So..." Caster stopped talking and checking if the girls would react negatively about it as he expected...

"Commander..." Prince of Wales first was the 1st to disagree. Then, no one after that.

'Okay, no one of importance.' He thought... RUDELY. Ouch. 

A-kun: That's kinda rude, Caster...

"I saw an island that's basically in conjunction with the base island. So..."

"What are you getting at, Master?" Belfast spoke. 

"I need someone to throw me to that island since we can't get too near to the Siren ships!" Caster exclaimed. Thinking that it would help his case just a little bit.

Spoiler: It didn't. And a resounding "NO!" from almost all of the girls. 

'Damn it...' He thought. He was close to slamming his head on the railing of the ship. 

"But I need to get there now!" 

"Commander, give me a reason to agree with your outlandish plan?" Hood asked Caster with a bit of sarcasm on her end. 

"Okay, I'll adjust the 'stupid' plan you say... I'll not go there on my own. I'll take someone with me." Caster suggested a solution.

The girls were hesitant about the solution. But after a few seconds, they made their response.

"Okay... Who will you pick then?" Wales asked. 

he looked around the HMS Elizabeth and saw 3 girls there... Sheffield, Queen Elizabeth herself, and this one, 'huge' maid named Dido.

His attention particularly went straight for the maid and his stare made Dido slightly shy and look at the ground. 

"Um, can I have your name, please?" Caster asked. 

"U-um, D-Dido... What can I be of use?" Dido asked Caster.

"I'm asking you a favor to join me. You seem dependable." Caster explained his shallow-ass reason for asking Dido to join him in a stupid mission. 

"Hey! You can't take her away from me! She's my escort ship!" Queen Elizabeth stood up from her seat.

Then Caster just stared at the Queen with a really annoyed look on his face. 

"Just... Just help me take back my base, please? The girls are getting their asses kicked over there." He said in a surprisingly calm tone but the Queen knew that he is really irritated. 

"Fine... Make it quick then." Queen Elizabeth looked away.

"Your Majesty. I hope you won't mind." Dido bowed at Queen Elizabeth. "I am severely sorry." 

Caster smiled. Thanking Dido that he wouldn't get into an argument with a child. He looked at the Sirens ships and they were finally slowly pointing their guns at them.

"Okay, I need to be at the island ASAP before they can track me!" Caster shouted making Dido move with urgency.

He looked once more and he gave some precious time to finally round out his plan of taking the base from the inside. 

And a realization was made on his part. He took out his communicator. 

"Everybody, keep the Siren's attention. I'll be going to the island now." Caster commanded the girls and he saw Hood, Illustrious, Javelin, and Wales went into offensive mode. As the 4 went to take down a Siren Carrier. Definitely more than enough. 

He looked at Dido... She was still being shy around him.

"It's a tall order than I'm asking you, but can you carry me to that island over there?" Caster asks Dido as he pointed at the island that he was suggesting earlier. 

"I-Is it okay?" Dido asked hesitantly once more... And Caster is having none of it now. Urgency is demanded.

Caster just nodded. 

"We got the element of surprise. Don't waste that chance."

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

Blood... 

Blood on her hands.

Sitting there helpless with a child bleeding out on her hands. Dying. 

'Come legs, MOVE!' Enterprise shouted in her head. Her feet are not responding... She is exhausted. 

"M-Ms... Enterprise... H-help me..." The dying Spence spoke up... She was losing consciousness fast. 

But Enterprise could only sit there and watch a kid die in her face. Vestal is nowhere to be found, she's absolutely exhausted, and another disaster came to just make things worse.

Behind her, there is a lot of flopping noises. It's like soft, wet things are touching the ground and making those said sounds.

A-kun: That sounded weird... I couldn't word it any better than that.

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

"Alright... This is actually working." Caster smiled. While getting literally carried above the water.

"C-Can I ask you a question?" Dido looked down on Caster while she was carrying him.

"Uh-huh? What is it? My name?" Caster tried to guess her intention.

Dido was surprised. And in response, she stiffened. "Y-yes." 

"I actually guessed right for once. Yay!" Caster happily said being a dumb dork for a moment. Not until he snapped back to the 'Commander' persona he always carries himself. 

"My name is Edrich Caster. Your name is Dido, right? Glad to meet you." He smiled and Dido's cheeks reddened. 

"Y-yes..." She was diverting her eyes away from Caster ever so slightly. 

I guess she's already in if you know what I mean... Tsk tsk.

"Let's keep the chatting for later. As I have a plan that I'll set in motion." Caster turned his head at the island he pointed to earlier as Dido was closing in. "Are you in?" He looks up to her face again.

She nodded.

The 2 finally got the island and made their way to the base without problems with the Sirens. Seems that the sneaky tactic worked out. Great, but that's only part one. The harder part is only ahead of him.

Caster, for a lack of a better term, was horrified on what has become of the Azur Lane base. Buildings and trees burning. 

And something inside him was screaming... And his light within him was getting dimmer. 

Dido could only feel the same. She's horrified also. 

"Dido... When I say: 'Pass', you pass that sword you wield to me. Okay?" Caster looked down. And his tone drastically changed. 

"Y-yes, Commander." She felt Caster's aura... And she nodded as well to solidify her slight agreement to the plan. Not knowing what is Caster's intention of using her sword. 

He said it on a whim... He deviated from his former plan. And it seemed that another person was possessing Caster... His aura was more threatening than before. 

The 2 were running past the girls who were guarding the shore and they were going a decent job. And all of them somehow did not see a guy and a girl just run into the base. That's how much attention that the Sirens demanded. 

The first place that he wanted to see first is school. Since that was literally the other thought that he had on the HMS Queen Elizabeth. He wasn't just getting scared for the girls, but for the kids also. And the prospect of one girl dying is something he could never forget ever again.

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

"S-sister! Behind you!" Yorktown shouted with her last bit of strength. Warning Enterprise that someone is behind her. Someone sinister...

Enterprise, who seemed who was 'untouchable', was down for the count. And she's so scared that she doesn't wanna even turn around. With still a dying Spence and her blood on her hands...

Horrified, and was on her breaking point. 

But... She prayed. She prayed that someone would come to her aid...

Where could that aid be...?

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

Caster hid behind some tall rocks on the left side of the school. He saw Enterprise. And the school is shattered. And a threat behind her. 

"I don't have a weapon but this won't stop me..." He said in a tone that is progressively getting angrier. "Dido. When I go in there, get ready to fight the threat..."

"NOW!"

He stood up and ran towards the Siren who was about to kill Enterprise. Dido also did what Caster did but slightly late.

Caster wanted to get Enterprise away from the Siren first but with Dido being slightly off with her timing, a split-second decision must be made. 

Save Enterprise first or get the Siren's attention before Dido can come in?

No time. He dove towards the Siren's legs and the Siren fell down in surprise. 

But this ended up a quick little victory because the Siren is on the ground now, Dido had a one of a kind opening here. 

So in one quick slice, the head of the Siren is now off its shoulders. A metaphorical weight is off of Caster, and Dido's shoulders, and a literal one of the Siren's.

"Enterprise!!! Are you alright?!" Caster immediately exclaimed. 

Then a young voice starts to overhear. 

Spence.

"Please, Commander. Get her to an emergency room immediately. Don't worry about me..." She slowly raised up Spence while she is still conscious. 

In no words, he took Spence he rushed out. And in severe need of a medic. 

And good news for the school, Suffolk, Norfolk, and Unicorn came to the school to help the kids and Yorktown. While Dido helped up the unconscious Edinburgh. And Juneau finally got back to the island and also helped Yorktown and the kids. 

Caster took out his communicator and shouted into his communicator for all of the fleets to hear...

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

Cleveland, Hornet, Laffey, Z23, and all the girls protecting the island (including the Royal Navy girls.) all heard this one line...

"I AM BACK!!!" 

The girls all shouted with a jolt of joy. And he wasn't done yet.

 "I brought almost everybody from the Royal Navy. Keep fighting in your earnest!" 

And this further pushed the girls and boosted their morale to the maximum capacity. The presence of their leader is back and they know that they will turn around the fight sooner than later. To be honest, the battle was already turning around for the better when the Royal Navy girls started to ambush the Sirens. 

Caster got Spence to Vestal finding her in the hospital with Akashi. The place wasn't tattered like the others surprisingly... Also, apparently the green Neko cat also knew how to patch up girls. But not as good as Vestal. Queen of heals title for Vestal. 

But the 2 were expectedly horrified on Spence's body and all focus was on her. For now, the little girl is in good hands. So Caster left the hospital. 

He looked around him once again. And then his communicator started ringing... 

"C-Commander," A cough afterward. "C-come here..." 

'That sounded like Enterprise... Oh, NO!' Caster as soon as he realized it, he ran right back to the school with blood still on his hands from Spence. 

He got back to school and... Dido's sword has been drawn out again because not one Siren just came along, but TWO! 2v2... Or 3... If you count the downed Enterprise somehow still conscious. 

"Commander, shall I eliminate them?" Dido asks Caster. Not quite her 'Master' yet it seems. 

"Can you take 2? I'm not risking it if you can't." Caster said as he observed the 2 Sirens. 

The 2 Sirens wasn't that menacing looking but they are still Sirens and still can pack a punch. So, he's playing it safe.

"I can, Commander. Let me show my skills to you." Dido said as she did a 'stance' by lowering her body and her sword ready to cut up fools that are stupid enough to cross her sword.

And, of to the fighting. As Dido takes on a 2v1 and she was holding up her own. 

As Caster was there frozen, watching the fight from a distance, his leg was getting tugged upon. By who? Enterprise, of course.

"Commander..." Enterprise looked up at Caster and Caster knelt down.

"Do you need help?" Caster stroked her hair. Trying to calm her down. And it was helping of course. 

"N-no... But..." As Enterprise reaches in her coat... Jacket. Whatever. And brings out the item that was the most important for Caster in this situation.

"T-thank you so much, Enterprise." He took the item off Enterprise's hands. And he hugged her. "Are you hurt? Can you still fight?" 

Enterprise could not respond with the sudden hug and her emotions were showing even on the battlefield. 

And what was the item you ask, oh, you know...

The white Wisdom Cube.

As soon it got to Caster's hand, the white blinding strikes back. As it blinded everyone in the vicinity. Including the 2 Sirens. And Enterprise. 

'Oh, god... Where am I now?' He looked around in the white room. The places look like an 'infinity room'. 

With the white nothingness in front and behind him, he was extremely disoriented with his movement. 

Then a voice. 

"The tools are all given to you..."

This voice... He has heard this voice before... The girly-ish voice that he heard before the 'plan'. 

"Huh?" He was getting dizzy with the infinity room.

Then another unfamiliar voice started to speak.

"Listen, kid. A good leader must be always there. Even if it is not commendable to other officers. So, if you wanna kick some ass while having a victory at the same time?"

His eyes widen.

"Be there." 

"That's... That's my old man..." He mumbled in shock. Almost speechless even. His teacher...

But the confusion and dizziness were getting too much for Caster's mind to handle. But somehow he didn't faint yet. 

Then back to the girl's voice...

"Your presence is more than enough to turn things around.  Go forth."

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

His eyes open in surprise. He looked at his hands again. And he was right, the M4A1 is back on his hands once again. But this time, a bit of an upgrade. That he didn't see coming. 

"Wait a second..." He looks under the barrel of the gun. 

An M203 Grenade Launcher somehow materializes under his barrel. Caster had no idea how did this grenade launcher got there but he will take what advantage he will get. 

Then one last realization. 

'Unlimited. Ammo.' He smiled like a little child. 

But a fight was ensuing and Caster needs to help. So he pointed his Red Dot sight on one of the Sirens and just sprayed the alien with bullets. 

His target was down immediately with all of the shots hitting vital signs. The head, and the chest area. Easy pickings for the marksman. 

"Dido! Help Enterprise! I'll take care of this." He now pointed his barrel to the last Siren. And the Siren didn't waste any time and he leaped at him. 

He rolled to the side, but the gun hit his rib and it hurt him. But the Siren was too close for comfort so melee it is...

...The Siren's tentacles were closing in on his neck and he was almost screwed. But Dido was in close proximity. 

"PASS!" Caster screamed on top of his lungs before he started getting choked by the Siren's tentacles. 

Dido heard this and she passed her 'heavy' sword to Caster who caught it with some trouble, but he sliced sideways and it cut the Siren in half. The lower part was vulnerable so he swung that way. Impressive quick-time thinking there.

But then as he was let go of the tentacle's clutches, the sword immediately slammed to the ground because of how heavy it is. 

"Damn. Dido can carry this, but I can't?! God, I'm so pathetic." Caster shooked his head as he looked at Dido to signal her to: 'Please take this sword out and how can you carry this like nothing but I can't do the same?' 

Dido knew what this meant and she took out the sword from the ground.

"That was a good swing, Master..." Dido nodded at Caster. Impressed by his action but didn't show any emotion.

'Master...?' Caster froze. 

She may or may not officially join his fleet... Up to you, I guess.

With Dido helping Enterprise to get to the hospital, Caster is now left alone...

...Or so he thought.

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

"That's our Commander?" A light-blue woman said. "He looks pretty strong." 

"He will be your Commander, nya." 

"I feel he is our fated Commander. I look forward to it." A girl with a sword that makes Dido's sword look like a stick spoke up. 

"That Commander... I already see something in him." 

"R-right, nya..." 

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

"Commander, nya," Akashi spoke up. "Behind you." 

He turned around and he got immediately horrified. 

"W-w-what!? Who is these people?!" 

"My name is Neptune. HMS Neptune. My trident and my powers is yours to command." The fancy light-blue haired girl bowed. 

"U-uh, yeah..." Caster said hesitating. Almost speechless. And she was beautiful too.

"My name is Saint Louis. By god's decree, I shall follow whatever you command, Commander. You shall be my guide. And I shall clear the way." The girl bowed with her ginormous sword. 

And the last one... Caster may not know this for now, but...

A-kun: Dun, dun, dun... Caster had a good run, guys. Can I have an F? (Dis boi dead tho)

"Ironblood Cruiser, Roon. Shall we pwn the Sirens back to their places?" Roon smiled almost in a psychotic manner that creeped Caster out to his core.

"Y-yeah..." Caster looked away slightly to not feel the death stare. 

"The PR ships... Some of them are awakened. Make use of them, Commander nya." Akashi rubbed her head. 

And at this point, Caster knows...

This battle is theirs now.

Word Count: 4378 Words. 

3:27 AM
5/20/20