After 2 days of planning, we were finally ready to launch an attack on the Siren ship. With Zuikaku's intel, we were ready to storm the place. We put together a Carrier Task Force, a Strike fleet with Zuikaku its centre, and a submarine fleet to wreck havoc among the enemy ranks stealthily. It's might be a little overkill but that's the way I like it.
In order to minimise fuel and ammo, Zuikaku agreed to ferry everyone using her ship to the mission area.
We would have started the operation right now, but the storm engulfing the area is making it impossible. The girls are taking shelter inside Zuikaku's ship
"Oh well, let's go through the plan again. The Carrier Task Force will take out as much enemy ships as they can. After that, feign a retreat and lure them away from that giant ship. The vanguard fleet is made up of Hiryuu, Souryuu, Victorious, Shouhou, Fusou and Yamashiro. The escort fleet will be Yahagi, Ryuuhou, Kumano, Suzuya, Tokitsukaze and Amatsukaze. We will be using standard bombardment tactics and holdout tactics to clear and lure as much Sirens as we can. The Submarine Fleet will assist in the attack operation and do the same thing."
"I will lead the Strike Fleet close to the giant boat and start destroying it. From the plans I found in the shared database, the inside is pretty much flooded. Our main goal will be the generator room, where I believe Shoukaku-nee-san's... body is being held." (RA Zuikaku)
"That's dumb. A waterlogged ship? How is that thing even floating right now?" (Yamashiro)
"Siren technology. Even I don't understand it. Whatever the case, we will storm in and make a beeline to the Generator room. Since it's practically indoors, Zuihou-san, Agano-san, and Ooyodo-san will stay outside to fend off the Sirens while Prinz Eugen-san, Shigure-san and Shiratsuyu-san will follow me inside." (RA Zuikaku)
"Shouldn't you stay outside as well? You are an aircraft carrier too. Being indoors will prevent you from launching your planes." (Hiryuu)
"This katana is not for show. I'm perfectly capable of close-quarters combat. If need be, I can even use my planes to increase the sharpness and damage output of my katana." (RA Zuikaku)
"Again, how does that even work?" (Yamashiro)
"I'm leaving them in your care. So please, make sure they come back to me alive."
"Don't worry. I can protect them with my shikigami. In the first place, I already told you it's better if I went in alone." (RA Zuikaku)
"You think the others would let me agree to you going for a suicide charge? Look, even Zuihou is making a disapproving face."
"Why are you singling me out?" (Zuihou)
"Alright alright. Save your argument for later. We have a job to do." (Hiryuu)
The rain has finally stopped and the dark clouds are slowly dissipating. The girls made their way up onto the flight deck.
"Do we climb down like before?" (Ryuuhou)
"Can't you just jump?" (RA Zuikaku)
"Let's go! Yahoo!" (Shioi)
"Cannonball!" (Goya)
"Weeee!" (Iku)
Aside from the submarine girls who happily jumped and dived into the water, the other eighteen shipgirls just stared at her. If I was there, I would be doing the same thing.
"I-I was just kidding. I'll drop the ladders." (RA Zuikaku)
The girls climbed down the ladders and moved to their respective fleets. After everyone is on the water, Zuikaku jumped down and her ship split into blue cubes before reconverging onto her body.
"Everyone, ready?"
"Yep." (Hiryuu)
"Of course we ready." (Suzuya)
"Ro-chan is ready to blow them up." (Ro)
"Then, let's do this. Start the operation!"
"Let's carefully, and also boldly, fight on through! Fleet sortie! Let's completely beat them! Recon properly!" (Hiryuu)
The carriers drew their bows and prepared their planes.
"2nd CarDiv! Attack corps, take off!" (Hiryuu)
"Right, let's go for the big ones!" (Souryuu)
", begin take-off! Now, let's get started!" (Victorious)
"This feels good... 1st Attack Corps, take off!" (Ryuuhou)
"Attack corps, please begin take off!" (Shouhou)
The planes took to air and made their way towards the horde of Sirens in the distance. Moments later, explosions, fireballs and thick black smoke can be seen as the planes finish the first phase of bombardment.
"Ohoh. They are angry." (Souryuu)
"Fleet, battle formation! Forward!" (Hiryuu)
"Yamashiro. Don't fall behind." (Fusou)
"Yes, Nee-sama!" (Yamashiro)
The combined fleet moved into Cruising Formation 4 and advanced towards the Sirens. Another wave of bombers and fighters took flight as the first wave circled back to their owners.
The horde of angry Sirens can be seen getting closer.
"Alright~! The I-400-class' magnificent battle is beginning!" (Shioi)
"I don't really like to fight but... I have no choice...!" (Hachi)
"Load tubes 1 through 4. Now, let's go increase our accomplishments!" (Imuya)
The submarines dived and advanced into the battlefield. With the submarines in play, the number of explosions increased even further.
"Are we going in now?" (Zuihou)
"Let me check." (RA Zuikaku)
An orange flame appeared on Zuikaku's flight deck and morphed into a plane. It's kind of like how Ryuujou launches her planes from her scroll. The plane took off and flew over the battlefield.
"Hiryuu, Shioi, status?"
"There is a lot of them, but we can manage." (Hiryuu)
"As long as we are lucky enough. I already know I would be the first one to take a heavy hit." (Yamashiro)
"Yamashiro, don't say such things. You are just going to jinx it." (Suzuya)
"That's right, Yamashiro. We will be fine." (Fusou)
"It's going pretty well~" (Shioi)
"I noticed a severe lack of AS attacks from them. Maybe they did not expect an submarine attack?" (Hachi)
"This will be a cinch dechi." (Goya)
"Don't get cocky now."
At least everything is going smoothly for now. The Siren's are thinning out so this could be a good chance to punch through.
"Zuikakau?"
"I know. It's now or never." (RA Zuikaku)
"Carrier Task Force, begin retreating and pull them along with you. Submarines, continue sinking them from the shadows."
"Roger!" (All)
"Fleet, retreat! Let's get out of here." (Hiryuu)
"Thank you, everyone. Let's move in!" (RA Zuikaku)
"Finally! I was starting to get bored." (Shiratsuyu)
The Strike Fleet start up their engines and begin moving towards the large Siren ship. Black and burnt metal debris were scattered all over the water. There are even lifeless bodies of the Executor-class ships. Their creepy, expressionless faces stared at the girls as they passed. Charred limbs were also scattered amongst the metallic debris.
"Ugh. Creepy." (Agano)
"Eek! Is that one still alive? I could've sworn it's eyes are following me." (Prinz Eugen)
"Just don't look at them. It will be so much better." (Ooyodo)
'What a sight to behold... Had I tried to charge in on my own, this would have been my final resting place..." (RA Zuikaku)
"Incoming torpedos! Port side!" (Shigure)
"Evasive maneuverers!"
The girls split up to let the torpedoes pass through their formation. They turned to see numerous mass-produced Sirens ships approaching them.
"Looks like not all went to chase after the others. I would feel bad if that happens." (RA Zuikaku)
"Vanguard Formation! Prepare for battle!
"Vanguard Formation? What is that?" (RA Zuikakau)
"You don't have such a formtion?"
"Zuikaku-san, just remain in your position." (Ooyodo)
The fleet moved into formation, with Zuikaku in the center.
"Huh. Interesting. It looks like an arrow." (RA Zuikaku)
"I'll now show you the true power of the Ozawa Fleet." (Zuihou)
"A never-ending swarm of enemies... I'm used to it!" (RA Zuikaku)
The two carriers launched their planes while the rest primed their guns.
"Alright, Shigure, just watch what your older sister can do." (Shiratsuyu)
"I'm counting on you, Shiratsuyu." (Shigure)
"Battleships? Leave them to me!" (Prinz Eugen)
The planes made short work of the first wave of Siren ships, only for another horde to appear and make a beeline towards the strike fleet. The fleet dealt with wave after wave of mass-produced Sirens. Christ! How do they keep spawning?!
"These damn mass-produced piles of junk just keep coming... Bring it on! I'll take you all down if I have to!" (RA Zuikaku)
"I'm picking up an unidentified entity on my radar. It's coming closer!" (Ooyodo)
A girl sporting long black hair tied in a ponytail, and orange eyes came into view. Her outfit consists of a white serafuku top which only covers the upper portion of her body , a black scarf, a red obi, dark-blue baggy ninja pants with an open crotch to leg area, a chest-less leotard, knee boots with a rudder accessory, and fingerless black elbow gloves. I guess she is going for a kunoichi motif. The main attraction of this weird girl has got to be the skull mask that covers her right eye.
Attached to her hip is a single hull piece that contains a 12.7cm twin mount Type B gun and a 61 cm triple torpedo launcher. She is carrying a second 12.7cm twin gun mount on her right hand like a handgun while holding a torpedo like a kunai on her left. Yuudachi would definitely be good friends with her. She also has a searchlight attached to an armband on her left arm.
"Is that you, Akatsuki?! Good timing!" (RA Zuikaku)
That's their version of Akatsuki?
"A friendly?" (Ooyodo)
"Yeah. Akatsuki, I was worried about you ever since we got separated in the storm, but I'm glad to see you're okay! Help me finish off these mindless drones so we can talk!" (RA Zuikaku)
"..." (RA Akatsuki)
"Akatsuki?" (RA Zuikaku)
"MISSION... DESTROY..." (RA Akatsuki)
Shit. She isn't a friendly!
"Guys, evade!"
Staring at the fleet with a lifeless expression, the kunoichi Akatsuki aimed her guns at the fleet and started firing. Her shots mostly missed, save for a few balls of energy that skimmed past our bubbly heavy cruiser and her cannons.
"Hyaah!" (Prinz Eugen)
"Prinz, you alright?"
Her vitals are still green. In fact all of their vitals are still in the green.
"Yep. I'm fine. Woah. The top of my number 1 gun is red." (Prinz Eugen)
"What the hell?! Watch where you're shooting!" (RA Zuikaku)
The enemy Akatsuki continued unleashing balls of energy at the fleet. Fortunately, none of them hit or did any real damage to my girls.
"Hey, friendly fire! We not enemies! ...Don't tell me you're..." (RA Akatsuki)
"MISSION... EXTERMINATE..." (RA Akatsuki)
"How is she talking like that? Is she a robot?" (Shiratsuyu)
"Son of a... They've made a Pawn out of Akatsuki... It seems I was too late... Don't worry! I'll free you from this curse!" (RA Zuikaku)
Zuikaku slammed the tip of her flight deck with the kashira of her sword. Three red phantasmal aircraft appeared on top of it, before solidifying into Tenzen bombers.
"All carrier-based aircraft, take off!" (RA Zuikaku)
The Tenzen bombers take flight and flew towards the enemy Akatsuki
"All guns. Ready, aim, fii-!" (Ooyodo)
"Don't! Leave her to me! It's the least I could do." (RA Zuikaku)
"Zuikaku-san! Kh! Hot!" (Zuihou)
Zuikaku broke formation and propelled herself towards Akatsuki. As if trying to prevent us from interfering, the Siren ships fired at the fleet as soon as she left the formation. Zuihou shielded herself with her sleeves just as balls of energy hit the water in front of her, creating a pillar of steaming hot water.
I will let Zuikaku handle her traitorous comrade. In the meantime,
"Everyone, switch to Line Ahead formation and increase battle speed. We are going to keep the Sirens from interfering with their battle as much as we can. Zuihou, retrieve your planes, you are going to need them for later. Ooyodo, Agano, Prinz Eugen, focus fire on the heavy hitters and take out as many as you can. Shiratsuyu and Shigure will take out the small ones and finish off the heavies that survived."
"Understood!" (All)
"Zuikaku, I know it's painful but put her down quickly. My girls will try to keep the other sirens off you."
"Thank you. I will be right back." (RA Zuikaku)
As shells flew all over the place, Zuikaku charged towards and swung her sword down onto Akatsuki, who parried it with her torpedo kunai and retreated backwards with a backflip. Not missing a beat, Zuikaku immediately closed the distance, swinging her sword in an effort to cut her comrade down. The smaller ninja parried and block every swing with her kunai torpedo while sneaking in a few shots with her handgun. Torpedoes from the Tenzens she launched earlier made a beeline towards the enemy Akatsuki, only to be blown prematurely as the enemy Destroyer shot them with pinpoint accuracy with the 12.7cm gun on her hip.
For Pete's sake, Zukaiku, you are an aircraft carrier. Why are you engaging in close-quarter battles with the enemy?
Black smoke and fireballs filled the surface as my girls turned the mass-produced Sirens that were approaching them into piles of scrap that will make a scrap metal drool with envy.
"Hiryuu, Shioi, report."
"This is Hiryuu. Tired and low on ammo. I think we managed to destroy all of the Sirens that chased us. Sorry, but we won't be able to rendezvous with the Strike Fleet with our current condition.." (Hiryuu)
"Shioi here. We are out of torpedoes and we are no longer able to refuel and rearm our seaplanes." (Shioi)
I checked their vitals. Save for Yamashiro and Fusou, who only suffered light damages for the first time in a while, the rest are in the green. In fact, every one of them are barely hurt in this battle.
"Roger that. Carrier Task Force and Submarine fleet, head back to base. You have done enough already. The Strike Fleet will manage from here."
Yep. Submarine fleet, RTB." (Shioi)
"Carrier Task Force, heading back to base." (Hiryuu)
I was worried that the horde of Sirens were going to overwhelm them. Looks like it was all for naught.
Zuikaku deflected Akatsuki's shots. More planes took flight as she dodged more of her energy bullets. The enemy Akatsuki turned on her Searchlight and shone it at Zuikaku's face, blinding her for a moment.
"Gah! Crap!" (RA Zuikaku)
Akatsuki threw her torpedoe into the water and it propelled itself to its target. There was a loud boom as Zuikaku was engulfed in thick black smoke.
"Zuikaku-san!" (Zuihou)
"This is bad!" (Ooyodo)
Ooyodo and Prinz Eugen aimed their guns at Akatsuki, ready to fire. Suddenly, an explosion behind the Destroyer sent her flying towards the thick black smoke. Zuikaku leapt out of the smoke with her katana covered in fire.
"This is the end. Goodbye, Akatsuki." (RA Zuikaku)
Zuikaku did an overhead swing with her flaming katana, slashing her opponent diagonally from the shoulder down. Akatsuki fell onto the water surface, blue sparks spurt out of the wound created by Zuikaku. Still wearing a blank expression, Akatsuki twitched and convulsed, before she finally laid on the surface, motionless.
"The hell?" (Zuikaku)
"A robot?" (Shiratsuyu)
"This... How... Huh?!" (RA Zuikaku)
"So this whole time, you were fighting against a robot?" (Agano)
What? So the Sirens can make robotic clones of their comrades now?
"Damn it. It was an imposter..." (RA Zuikaku)
"Isn't that great? You didn't kill your friend." (Zuihou)
"Heh. You're right. Maybe this might be for the best." (RA Zuikaku)
She ruffled Zuihou's hair and sheathed her katana.
"Guys, status check."
"I only lost some fighters. I'm still good on bombers." (Zuihou)
"All green." (Ooyodo)
"I lost my seaplanes but I'm still okay on ammo." (Agano)
"I only have three torpedoes left. But my guns are still loaded." (Shiratsuyu)
"I'm still good on shells but I'm down to one torpedo." (Shigure)
"I'm halfway through my ammo but I can still fight!" (Prinz Eugen)
Shigure's and Shiratsuyu's lack of torpedoes is a little concerning, but Zuihou still has her torpedo bombers. It should be more than enough to compensate for the firepower. Everyone can still participate in the battle.
"Zuikaku."
"I know. Let's move." (RA Zuikaku)
The aircraft carrier re-joined the formation and made a beeline towards the hulking beast in the distance.