7 December 1941
Location: Pearl Harbour Multinational Naval Base
Time: 1500
"So, a world where there's no Siren invasion, but experienced two World Wars and is on the brink of its third?" The Commander's voice was calm, but the weight of the situation was evident.
Mo's explanation was similar to the one she had told in the tea party table earlier today, but with more information about her homeworld's history, particularly the events of World War II.
"Not only that, but you're also from the future?" Wales asked, her tone more curious than shocked.
"Yes, if my hypothesis about this world's timeline being somewhat similar to my world's past is correct, then you could say that, Miss Wales," Mo responded.
"There are differences in the dates, but the actions of the nations resemble what Miss Monsoor described. For example, along with the Sakuran attack against us this morning, I was informed that the Allemani Reich also declared war against their neighbors. They're currently advancing east towards Danzig and the Polanian Republic, while Francia just stands at their border with no intention of attacking the Allemani," the Commander explained, contemplating the parallels between Mo's history and the current events.
"That is true, the Albions are also moving to the continent. I think I should advise the Bulldog to prepare for this 'Blitzkrieg' or at least be ready for a Dunkirk-esque evacuation," said Queen Elizabeth, remembering the Bulldog in the parliament.
"But with the industrial might of the Union of States joining us early in the conflict, isn't it too risky for the Crimson Axis? Except…" the Commander trailed off grimly.
"The Sirens are supporting them," Enterprise interjected, her voice heavy with suspicion.
"Yes, the Siren ships that appeared on the front lines this morning were hella suspicious," stated Cleveland.
"We don't have any concrete evidence yet, but we must assume the worst," Warspite cautioned.
"That's right, Warspite," the Commander agreed, turning his attention back to Mo. "But truly, I can't express my gratitude enough, Miss Monsoor. You helped us defend our base, strike back at the enemy, and provided invaluable information. If there's anything you need, as the Commander of Azur Lane, I'll do my best to make it happen."
"Commander, I'm alone in this world, far from anyone I hold dear. Everything is so strange. I've had to stay on guard constantly, and I'm scared. I don't know how to survive in this unknown world, let alone find a way back to my own. This world is vast, and even if I were to run and hide, I don't believe I could survive for long. My missiles will eventually run out, my fuel will deplete, and the Sirens could ambush me at any moment. Commander, Your Majesty, Ladies, what I need is a place to live, food to eat, and allies I can rely on. Please, if you don't mind, help me!" Mo's voice trembled as she bowed deeply, tears brimming in her eyes.
The room fell silent after Mo's heartfelt plea. She kept her head bowed, unsure if they would accept her, who was a stranger and an anomaly. Fear gripped her heart as she imagined they deemed she was too dangerous to keep around. Just as her anxiety threatened to overwhelm her, she felt someone standing in front of her.
"Monsoor, please raise your head," Hood's soft, motherly voice broke through the silence.
Mo slowly lifted her head, only to be enveloped in a warm, tight hug by Hood. The embrace was comforting, making it hard for Mo to hold back her tears any longer.
"Monsoor, you're not alone anymore, my dear. We're here with you. You can sleep with us, eat at the same table, and share all your worries. Every girl in Azur Lane will be happy to be your friend. You've done so well surviving in the Pacific alone, but from now on, we'll face everything together, right, dear?" Hood's soothing words and gentle back rub brought a flood of emotion to Mo, who finally let herself cry, releasing all her fears and anxieties.
As Mo cried in Hood's arms, everyone in the room softened their expressions. They realized that, despite her might, Mo was still a girl at heart and a pitiful one at that, she was separated from those she loved by a cruel twist of fate.
The room was filled with Mo's sobs for quite a while until she felt she could cry no more. Her heart felt lighter, her mind clearer, and her mood brighter. For the first time since her transference, Mo felt truly relaxed.
"Lady Hood, thank you. I feel much better now," Mo said, still in Hood's comforting embrace.
"Are you sure? We can stay like this for a bit longer if you need," Hood offered gently.
"Yes, thank you," Mo replied as she timidly let go of the hug.
Seeing the soft smiles from everyone in the room, Mo looked down shyly and said, "I apologize for showing such a scene."
"It's fine. You're part of us now, so rest assured," the Commander reassured her.
"Yes, Monsoor, I've even started preparing your transfer to the Royal Navy," Queen Elizabeth added with a smirk.
"Queen Elizabeth, what do you mean by that? She's a USS, so she's part of the Eagle Union," Enterprise responded sternly.
"Oh my, it's just a joke, Enterprise," said Queen Elizabeth playfully.
"Look at that, Monsoor! You're already welcomed by everyone, so you don't need to worry about being alone anymore!" Cleveland chimed in excitedly.
"Thank you, everyone," Mo said, a genuine smile finally spreading across her face.
"Glad to see you smiling, Monsoor. Now, regarding your identity and capabilities, I believe we should keep everything we've heard about you to stay in this room," the Commander suggested.
"I agree. We don't want you to be targeted by the enemy if your information leaks. What's your plan, Commander?" Hood asked, concerned for Mo's safety.
"First, I'd like you to consider changing how you introduce your class, from Guided Missile Destroyer to something more common in this era like Super Destroyer, Heavy Cruiser or Modern Ironclad, if you don't mind. You're free to move around the base, attend the academy, and use the training grounds, but please refrain from showing off your full power too much. Your Majesty, could you ask the Royal Navy Kansens who witnessed Monsoor's power to keep it a secret? Also, I need your help tightening counterintelligence efforts around the base since we don't know if Siren agents might be lurking among us. That's all for now. What do you think, Monsoor?"
"I don't mind, Commander. I appreciate your concern for my safety," Mo replied gratefully.
"Consider it done, Commander," Queen Elizabeth affirmed.
"Alright, I believe everyone must be tired. We'll continue our discussion tomorrow. Thank you all for coming, and let's support each other from now on. I hope the Lord blesses our endeavors," the Commander concluded.
"Oh, by the way, since the Eagle Union's dormitories were destroyed and haven't been rebuilt yet, it looks like we'll be bothering you, Royal Navy," Cleveland said awkwardly.
"Your Majesty, we're thinking of combining the dorms for Eagle Union and Royal Navy Kansens, with three Kansens per room until there are enough dormitories rebuilt. What do you think?" Wales proposed.
"It's fine. It'll help them get to know each other better, so I see no issue," Queen Elizabeth acknowledged.
"Yes, Your Majesty" said Wales, bowing slightly with respect.
"Alright, farewell, Commander," Queen Elizabeth said as she led the others out of the room, leaving the Commander alone.
"Truly a godsend…" the Commander sighed deeply, sinking into his chair.
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7 December 1941
Location: the Pacific Ocean.
Time: 1500
A fleet centered around three carriers was sailing eastward at a fast speed. This fleet was none other than the Kido Butai. They were trying to reach their homeport as soon as possible.
Inside the leading carrier, Akagi sat beside her sister, who lay motionless on the bed in the ship's medical bay. Akagi's expression was a mix of fury and fear. Each time her eyes fell on the wounds marring Kaga's body, memories of their humiliating retreat surged back, along with the terrifying image of those streaks of light that had decimated their fleet and struck her sister down.
A knock on the door snapped Akagi out of her thoughts.
"Who is it? I already told you not to disturb us," Akagi's voice trembled slightly, betraying her exhaustion.
"Oh my, oh my, sorry to interrupt your little family moment," came a familiar voice from the other side of the door.
"It's you, Prinz Eugen. My apologies, but Kaga's condition doesn't allow for visitors right now," Akagi replied, annoyance clear in her tone.
"Come on, I bring something that might help your dear sister," Eugen's tone was teasing, but there was a note of seriousness beneath it.
Akagi hesitated for a moment before sighing. "Alright, you may come in."
Eugen entered, her eyes quickly assessing Kaga's state. "Good afternoon, Akagi… and Kaga," she greeted with a slight nod.
"Good afternoon, Eugen. Let's make it short, what are you doing here?" Akagi's voice was sharper than before, her patience wearing thin.
"We're allies, aren't we? I came to help. My sister and I, along with some destroyers and U-Boats, are stationed in the east. We're here to assist the Sakura Empire in containing Azur Lane in the Pacific while our army pushes through Europa," Eugen explained matter-of-factly.
"Yes, and we appreciate the reinforcement," Akagi's tone softened slightly, though the tension remained.
"Yeah, yeah, by the way, I heard from Zuikaku that you were attacked by flying torpedoes?" Eugen's curiosity was evident.
Akagi shivered, the memory still fresh. "Yes, they flew over the horizon faster than any aircraft and hit our vanguards with terrifying precision. Do you, the Allemani, know anything about this weapon?"
"We kinda know but at the same time don't," Eugen admitted.
"What do you mean?" asked Akagi confusedly.
"They are called missiles by the nerds back home, we are developing them as of righ–" Eugen's words were cut short as Akagi suddenly lunged at her, pinning her to the ground with a kunai pressed against Eugen's right eye.
"So you are the culprit!" Akagi's voice was filled with rage.
Eugen stared up at her, unimpressed. "Lower your voice, your unconscious sister is in the room. And no, we're not the culprit. Now, could you please get off me?"
After a tense moment, Akagi stepped back, her eyes still burning with anger.
"How nice of you, thanks," Eugen remarked sarcastically as she stood up.
"Explain," Akagi demanded, her grip tightening on the kunai.
"Right, right, I came here to check on your sister and see if I could help, but look at what I got?" said Eugen with fake tears.
"Explain," said Akagi, this time with a deeper tone.
"Tch, you're not fun. Well, we 'are' developing it, but they're not ready for deployment in large numbers yet. Do you understand?" said Eugen with an annoyed tone.
That was right. The Allemani Reich had started to develop early cruise missiles under the name of 'Vengeance Weapon 1' since 1939 but they had not successfully launched them, let alone guided them to hit the target.
"Is there any way to deal with these 'missiles'?" Akagi asked, desperation creeping into her voice.
"Just shoot them, I guess? If you're lucky, they'll detonate in the air," Eugen shrugged, though even she knew it was a flimsy answer.
"Is this some kind of joke to you!? They're small, fast! Faster than our Zeros! How do you expect us to shoot them down!?" Akagi's frustration boiled over.
"I know you've lost two carriers and your sister is seriously injured, but calm down. I've already sent reports back home. Let's hope our scientists can come up with countermeasures," Eugen replied calmly, meeting Akagi's glare.
"Hope so," Akagi muttered, her voice flat.
"So, no thanks?" asked Eugen teasingly.
"Get out," said Akagi sternly.
"Fine. Here's the vial. Also don't worry, it's safe for us, I've consumed it quite sometimes and it works," said Eugen as she put the vial on a desk and walked out of the room.
Akagi took the vial, her eyes narrowing as she studied it. She poured the liquid inside of the vial to Kaga's mouth. Slowly, Kaga's condition began to improve, if only slightly.
"Maybe I should thank her later," said Akagi as she gently patted Kaga's hair.
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