"FUCK!"

  Iron Blood Commander Amei Ardnt sms her fist into the wall of Commander Sicilia's office.

  "Arndt, p-p-please calm down." Sicilia calls out as she sits at her desk.

  "What's got your panties in a twist, Iron Blood?" Commander Stait asks in a mocking tone, as she sits on a couch near Sicilia's desk.

  Osami sits in the corner of the room, with a cup of tea in her hand.

  Arndt gres at Stait with her one eye. "Those damn Cordis Die people! How dare they barge into my country and take my stuff!"

  "W-What happened now?" Sicilia asks.

  Arndt huffs and crosses her arms and mumbles something.

  "What was that?" Stait asks with a raised brow.

  "They captured a missile unching site!" Arndt says in anger. "They've even taken several strategic locations on the boarder of Northern Parliament."

  "You Iron Blood are really bad at doing your jobs." Stait mocks.

  Arndt stomps over to Stait. "Keep your tongue quiet, girl."

  Stait stands up with a smug smile. "You Iron Blood happen to lose a lot of things, don't you?" She leans into Arndt.

  "You better watch your tongue, girl!" Arndt growls.

  "How does one lose several important military locations?"

  Arndt pulls a fist back. "I said shut up!"

  Sicilia sms her fist onto her desk. "Stop this instant!" The Stait and Arndt go quiet. "Now sit the fuck down!"

  The two Commanders quietly sit down as Sicilia sighs and rubs her forehead.

  "The world is on fire." Sicilia sighs. "And we're the only ones that can put it out, okay. So let's stop fighting, and get to work."

  "Then why is she here?" Arndt points her thumb at Osami.

  "I've lost several ships, I'm a part of this whether you like it or not." Osami states as she takes a sip of her tea.

  "Now what's s-so important about this missile unch site?" Sicilia asks.

  Baxterbro

  Arndt crosses her arms. "They hold several ICBMs and they're being held in the Zugspitze mountain range."

  "ICBMs?" Osami questions.

  "Inter Continental Ballistic Missile. These ones are a better variation of our V2 rockets, more range and more destructive power."

  "So what's the big deal with these ICBMs?" Stait asks. "Can't be that bad."

  "They can reach just about anywhere in the world, and they can be equipped with Nuclear warheads."

  The room goes quiet.

  "A-And the enemy has several of th-these missiles?" Sicilia asks.

  Arndt nods with a closed eye. "We effectively have a disadvantage now. They can strike anywhere, at any time."

  Sicilia whimpers as she rests her head in her hands.

  "Why did you make these?!" Stait shouts.

  "We needed a better weapon than the V2,something that could strike fear into anyone, including Sirens." Arndt states.

  "And you made them so they can be unched with nuclear weaponry?!"

  Arndt grumbles. "Like I said, it was to strike fear into anyone."

  "If they unch these missiles, it could mean the end of the war." Osami states.

  "Which is why, we need to unch an attack immediately!" Arndt points out. "I already know the location of the silos... for the most part."

  "The most part?" Stait shouts.

  "Be grateful I know anything about that pce at all!"

  Sicilia sighs and looks at a phone on her desk. "You get that Mr. North?"

  "Yup." The voice of David North is heard from the phone. "The President has already authorized an attack in two days. I'm already working on sending more reports in as we speak, but Commander, there is something you need to see."

  The TV on a nearby wall turns on.

  "Northern Parliament sent us this, this morning." David informs as a picture appears on the screen.

  All four Commander's eyes widen in horror.

  "Don't tell me..." Stait mutters.

  "It's worse then we thought." David states.

  "How?!" Arndt shouts. "I thought we destroyed it!"

  "The Sirens clearly built another." Osami mutters.

  "The Arsenal Bird has terrorizing Norther Parliament for the past couple months, that's why we haven't been able to get in contact with them." David informs. "We only recently got in contact with Commander Perminov Semyon Vasilievich."

  "He's still alive?" Arndt questions.

  "Yes. And the information he gave us, only makes us more worried."

  "Why?" Stait asks.

  "Most of Norther Parliaments HO ships have been captured, most of their ports have been captured or Destroyed. And they have lost many military bases and locations. They're teetering on destruction right now." David informs.

  "N-N-Not good." Sicilia mutters.

  "And to make matters worse, he believes that the Arsenal Bird is now moving innd. Towards Iron Blood and the Royal Navy."

  Arndt sms her hands on the armrest. "Scheisse!"

  Stait runs a hand through her hair. "Fuck me..."

  "So what do we do?" Osami calls out.

  "For now, we take out these missiles, then move on from there." David states. "Is Alicorn awake yet, Commander Sicilia?"

  "Y-Yes, she woke up a f-f-few hours ago." Sicilia informs.

  "Good, we'll need her. For now, everyone should just get some rest, and be ready for the next few weeks being really busy."

  The call hangs up and everyone sighs. The TV turns off. Stait stands up and fixes her purple hair slightly.

  "You heard the man..." Stait stretches a little. "Let's get some rest."

  "Really, you think we can rest after all that?" Osami asks.

  "G-Girls, let's get some rest, a-a-and tomorrow we'll pn out th-th-the attack." Sicilia states. "Besides, I-I-I have a meeting in a few minutes."

  Arndt gets up with a grunt. "Well, I'm going to hit the bar, see you girls ter." She walks out in a swift matter.

  "Drunken bitch..." Stait mutters as she leaves.

  Osami stands up and bows to Sicilia before leaving.

  Sicilia sms her head down onto her desk and lets out a long sigh. "I-I won't be able to sleep for the next f-f-few weeks..."

  On the other side of the base Alicorn is looking at herself in a mirror in her hospital room. She looks at the rge scar on her left cheek in disgust. She rubs it as her eyes hold disdain.

  Sheffield walks up behind Alicorn and starts to tie up her long Ashen-hair. "I think you still look beautiful."

  "This scar looks ugly though." Alicorn rubs the scar on her cheek, then rubs the scar that goes through her left eyebrow.

  Sheffield finishes braiding Alicorn's hair and kisses her on the cheek. "I and Edinburgh don't care, you look beautiful no matter what."

  Alicorn grows a small blush. "Thank you." Alicorn moves some of her hair and looks at her new hairstyle in the mirror.

  Sheffield pats Alicorn on the shoulder. "You better not keep the Commander waiting."

  Alicorn nods and stands up, then she pats down her desk and fixes her coat. Then she turns around and brings Sheffield into a hug. "Thank you for everything."

  Sheffield brings her arms around Alicorn and returns the hug. "Anytime."

  After a few seconds Alicorn steps back and gives a small bow before leaving the room. Alicorn heads down the halls of the hospital as she fixes the yellow rose on her colr, then she steps outside.

  Baxterbro

  The once bright and happy atmosphere of the Azur Lane base is nothing but dark and dreary now.

  Tanks move about with squads of soldiers following them. AA pcements scan the skies and dozens of ships patrol the waters. Everyone has a tense look about them, no smiles, no ughs... Just dark looks.

  Alicorn looks around in worry as a few pnes fly above her. Several heading to the airport on the other side of the isnd.

  'Where are all the younger ships?' Alicorn questions in thought as she only notices older ships moving about the base.

  "Alicorn?"

  Alicorn looks to her side and spots Clevend, only to slightly gasp. "Clevend?"

  Clevend has some bandages around her neck and some wrapped around her head, which covers her right eye. Her arms and hands are covered in bandages. "You're finally up." A smile appears on her face as she walks up to Alicorn.

  "Wh... What happened?" Alicorn asks in worry.

  Clevend looks to the side, then back to Alicorn. "War Alicorn, war... We've all been real busy since you fell into a coma. The Sirens and the Cordis Die have been hitting everyone real hard..." She grunts in pain and puts a hand over her right side.

  "Where are the kids... I haven't seen Team Destroyers, and they're usually the first to greet me."

  Clevend motions up towards the Academy. "They're all in css, being taught on how to fight... humans and Sirens. In case we need them. I know they're built to be fighting, but many of us older ships just don't want to ruin their childhood, but if push comes to shove-"

  "They'll have to fight."

  Clevend nods. "War is hell, Alicorn. I know you've seen it first hand, but this is just something else. I've been fighting Sirens and stuff for a long time, but not like this..." She sighs. "I just hope your ready."

  Alicorn looks over to the ocean, then back to Clevend. "I hope so too."

  A small smile forms a Clevend's face. "I'm heading to the cafeteria to meet up with my sisters, do you want to join us?"

  "I wish I could Miss Clevend-" Alicorn starts, Clevend frowns at the Miss part. "-but the Commander needs to see me."

  Clevend nods. "I understand, but hey, when you're done come and join us. We'll get you caught up on the events of the past two weeks."

  Alicorn nods and smiles. "I like the sound of that."

  Clevend waves as she walks off, Alicorn lets out a heavy sigh as she heads for the Commander center. She enters, seeing many humans walking about with papers and folders in their hands. They all ignore Alicorn as she heads for the Commander's office and enters.

  Sicilia has her head down on her desk as he pulls on her hair.

  "Uh, Commander?" Alicorn calls out.

  Sicilia shoots up and fixes her hair. "Alicorn, c-come on in." Alicorn walks in and shuts the door behind her. "How are you fe-feeling?"

  "I'm fine, but things have obviously changed since I've been asleep."

  Sicilia sighs and slides down in her chair. "I-It's been hell, A-Alicorn... I don't e-even know how to expin it."

  "Well, I need an expnation."

  Sicilia sits up on her chair and types away at her computer. "First, y-you need to see this." She turns her monitor to the side so Alicorn can watch.

  On the screen a video pops up and shows a view of a city somewhere in the Middle East.

  Alicorn raises an eyebrow. "What am I looking at. "A city in Iraq, Eagle Union had an operation there st week."

  Alicorn spots helicopters and cars leaving the city. "So why am I-" A bright fsh goes off on screen and Alicorn's eyes widen.

  A massive mushroom cloud rises in the distance as a rge shock-wave destroys the camera after a few seconds.

  "W-What?" Alicorn mutters.

  "30,000 people died..." Sicilia says in sadness. She types a few keys on her keyboard. "A-And this was released a few h-hours after."

  A new video pops up and it shows an old man.

  "Those who resist the influence of Cordis Die will face the same consequences." The old man states. "We will not show mercy to those who defy us... Once the East falls, the West will soon join. Anyone who stands in our way, will join the rest in the dirt."

  The video ends and Alicorn just stares at the screen.

  Sicilia turns her monitor back to her. "The Sirens also built another A-Arsenal Bird."

  Alicorn starts to sweat as she puts her hands on the desk in front of her. She goes to say something, but her nothing comes out of her throat.

  "Northern Parliment is in sh-shambles..." Sicilia mutters. "I-I-Iron Blood is surrounded... F-F-France is has been captured, the rest of Europe is so-so-so-soon to follow."

  "I...I... I have to go back out there." Alicorn states as she look up to her Commander. "I need to get back out there."

  "A-Alicorn, I can't do that."

  Alicorn grips the edge of the desk. "I have to! Our enemy is hiding out there and I need to find her."

  "O-Our enemy is in Europe." Sicilia points out.

  "Not our real enemy. I'm going back out there-"

  "Alicorn, you're not going back out there. I need you-"

  "I'm am, I have to-"

  Sicilia stands up and throws everything on her desk to the side. "GOD DAMMIT, ALICORN, LISTEN!"

  Alicorn takes a few steps back.

  "I need you to listen to me, I can't have you go chasing ghosts right now. We already have missions pnned and you need to be a part of them!" Sicilia gres at the sub-girl. "If we lose Iron Blood and the Royal Navy, we're next and we can't stop them by ourselves. We've already taken many heavy blows! We're wounded, and it won't stop bleeding."

  "Commander, I met out enemy, I know who she is."

  Sicilia sighs and sits back down. "Who?"

  "She's a new Siren called, Equus. She's working with Purifier, and they're giving weaponry and technology to this Cordis Die. But she's only doing this because of me, Commander. I have to go back out there and find her, I need to kill her before this situation gets worse."

  Sicilia rubs her face, then after a minute of silence she speaks up. "I can't just have you go out there, looking with no clues. So for now we need your help. We have a mission that could deal a good blow to Cordis Die. This mission is top priority Alicorn. But once we get some clues on where this Equus is, I might be able to form a team and send you out there, but for now, my hands are tied. So all I ask, is that you work with me here."

  Alicorn nods. "Okay, Commander."

  Sicilia smiles. "Thank you. Tomorrow is a big day, so get some food, talk to your friends, then get some rest. The world is riding on these next few weeks. Our of the frying pan-"

  "-And into the fire."

  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  02-04-2024

  2408 words