27 February 1942,
Location: Soerabaja Port, Java
Time: 2200
The night air was calm as Mo, Memphis, and Newcastle strolled through the quiet port of Soerabaja. The gentle lap of the waves against the pier provided a soothing rhythm, yet Mo's mind buzzed with lingering thoughts from the dinner. She sighed softly, looking up at the stars.
"Stop thinking about it," Memphis said, nudging her. "I can see it all over your face."
Mo's lips twitched in a half-smile, but her eyes were distant. "I know, but it's hard not to."
Newcastle chimed in, her tone soft yet reassuring. "It's only natural, Lady Monsoor. You have to understand, they've never seen someone like you on the battlefield. A kansen like you... they're not used to that kind of power."
Mo's mind flashed back to the dinner earlier in the evening. The grand hall of the Lowland colonial building had been warmly lit, the wooden beams overhead creating an air of rustic elegance. The representatives from the LEI had greeted them with formality, their gratitude evident. But as the conversation shifted to the battle, the atmosphere changed. Mo could see it, the hesitation, the way they stiffened when her actions were brought up.
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"Let me begin by expressing our profound thanks," one of the Lowlander officials had said, his voice steady but his eyes betraying his unease. "Your efforts today saved our city and the lives of many of our people."
De Ruyter, seated across from Mo, had added her own words of gratitude. "Without your intervention, I doubt we would be here having this conversation."
Mo had nodded, accepting their thanks, but the memory of the battlefield still lingered. The way her railgun had fired, tearing through the enemy ships with ease, the sheer force of her shots sinking destroyers in a single hit. It had been overwhelming, even for the battle hardened De Ruyter.
The conversation at the dinner had shifted to the flow of battle, the first shots, the retreat of the enemy, the eventual victory. But as they recounted the events, Mo had noticed the glances exchanged around the table, particularly when her involvement was mentioned.
"They're scared," she had thought then, "scared of what I am."
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"They're trying to understand you, Mo," Memphis said as they continued their walk. "It's not every day they see a kansen like you in action. Hell, even I'm still getting used to it."
Mo smiled slightly. "I know. I just didn't expect them to look at me like... that."
"Like you're a monster?" Newcastle's voice was gentle but direct. "You're not. And if they can't see that, they will soon. Just give them time. They've only known you for a few hours, but we know the real you, the sweet girl you are, the girl who is uptight and always hard on herself."
Mo gave a quiet nod, appreciating Newcastle's words. But there was no escaping the truth that had revealed itself during that dinner. She had seen it even in De Ruyter's eyes, respect, yes, but also fear. They respected her power, but they feared what it meant. And honestly, Mo didn't blame them.
The three walked in silence for a moment, letting the cool night air wash over them. The port was quiet now, only the soft sounds of the sea and the distant hum of ships preparing for the next day.
"Indomitable already tucked in," Memphis said, changing the topic. "Probably either lazing around or asleep. Very like her."
"Jervis is still with Java, right?" Mo asked.
Newcastle nodded. "She's been at her side since we arrived. Java's stable for now, but Jervis isn't leaving until Java's condition makes it possible for other shipgirls to nurse her."
"And Amazon?" Mo was curious about her.
"With the other destroyers, no doubt catching up with old friends," Newcastle said with a fond smile. "She's always been the social one."
Mo chuckled softly, the image of Amazon's boisterous laughter filling her mind. "That sounds about right."
As they reached the edge of the pier, they paused, staring out over the sea. The reflection of the moon shimmered on the water, creating a peaceful, almost surreal contrast to the chaos of the battle that had raged not so long ago.
"They'll be back, you know," Memphis said suddenly, her tone more serious. "The Sakura Empire. This battle may have been a setback for them, but Java is the last major stronghold. They won't stop until they have it."
Mo nodded, still gazing out at the sea. "I know. They'll come back with a bigger force next time."
Newcastle, sensing the gravity of the conversation, added, "We need to be prepared. We've bought some time, but it won't be long before they regroup."
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Location: Port of Manila, Phillip Islands
Time: 2300
Meanwhile, in a dimly lit command room, Kongo stood before her sisters, Haruna, Kirishima, and Hiei. Reports were strewn across the table, detailing the aftermath of their failed invasion of Java. Kongo's brow furrowed as she scanned the papers, her mind racing with the implications.
"This failure," she began, her voice calm but steely, "is a major blow to our plans. Java was supposed to be our foothold, the key to safely control southeast asia." Her fists clenched as she pushed one of the reports toward Haruna.
Haruna, seated nearby, looked up with a slightly pouty expression, her hands clutching a cup of tea. "Sis... We were so close. Why did it have to be that Silver Demon?" She tried to keep her tone dismissive, but a hint of admiration for Kongo slipped through.
Kongo smiled softly, patting Haruna on the head. "We mustn't lose heart, dear. The enemy may have won this battle, but they're far from victory." She turned toward Hiei, known for her graceful composure. "Hiei, what of the report?"
Hiei, every bit the epitome of the calm, idealized Sakuran woman, looked up from her papers. "The Silver Demon... Her real name is unknown, but most likely to be a research kansen with unparalleled power." She glanced toward Kongo. "We're not just facing an ordinary opponent. There's something unnatural about her."
Hiei continued, flipping through the pages of the report. "Haguro's state confirms it. She's still recovering from the shock of witnessing the slaughter. She described it in such detail, the Silver Demon's gun glowed and crackled with blue electricity before each shot, it's also not helping that she can fire her gun every ten seconds. Even worse, her targets were accurately and ruthlessly obliterated in moments, at night, no less."
"I don't care how strong she is," Kirishima cut in, her ninja-like figure leaning against the wall, arms crossed. "We'll find her weakness. No one's invincible." Her tone was sharp, as was her determination.
Kongo nodded. "I'm confident in your abilities, Kirishima. If anyone can unearth valuable intel, it's you."
Haruna shifted in her seat, looking at her sisters with a blend of frustration and affection. "So... what's the plan now? I don't want to just sit around waiting!"
With a deep breath, Kongo leaned forward. "We will not be idle. We will pressure Java with air raids. Every city reachable by our land-based bombers, Batavia, Semarang, Soerabaja, none will escape our attention."
The younger sisters nodded. Hiei's serene voice cut through the silence again. "Additionally, I've received confirmation from Purifier. She will meet with us tomorrow."
"Purifier, huh?" Kirishima's brow furrowed, the wheels in her mind turning. "It's a risky partnership, but we don't have many options."
Kongo's smile widened ever so slightly. "Risky, yes. But I'm confident it will pay off. We must maintain our grip, no matter the cost."
Haruna sipped her tea with a bit of a huff. "I don't like her, but if it helps us win, I'll tolerate it."
Kongo stood, her regal bearing never faltering. "Then it's settled. Prepare yourselves for the meeting tomorrow. Java will not be given time to breathe."
Her sisters rose from their seats, each feeling the weight of what was to come. Despite the battle's toll, Kongo remained composed, ever the dependable leader they looked up to.
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In the dimly lit room of a huge battleship anchored in the Port of Manila, Kirishima sat in front of the communication device, her fingers tapping rhythmically on the table as she awaited a secure connection. The task ahead was delicate, fortunately, she was one of the higher ups in the Sakuran Intelligence Bureau, so she could make an attempt to gather crucial intelligence from an agent deep within Azur Lane territory, specifically Pearl Harbor. After a brief pause, a soft crackle filled the air, signaling that the connection had been established.
[Split Island,] a voice came through the speaker, low and cautious. [Citrus here.]
"Split Island speaking," she replied curtly. "I need information. Specifically about any new or dangerous kansen that have recently arrived at Pearl Harbor. Anything unusual you've picked up?"
The agent hesitated for a moment before responding. [Well, the usual suspects are still there. Enterprise, a few Royal Navy battleships, and some newer arrivals. But nothing that stands out beyond what we've already documented.]
Kirishima's eyes narrowed. "No, I'm not asking about them. I need information about a white ship, a heavy cruiser class. Have you seen anything like that?"
There was a pause on the other end, as if the agent was processing the request. [Now that you mention it... yes. There was one. Came in with a group from the Royal Navy, but she's not Royal Navy herself. An Eagle Union ship, actually. She's a Research Ship.]
Kirishima leaned forward, her interest piqued. "Go on."
[The ship doesn't participate in battle drills, doesn't use her armaments, if she even has any. The only thing she seems to train in is swordsmanship, alongside Warspite from the Royal Navy,] the agent said thoughtfully. [From what I've heard through some contacts, she's got a strong radar system. She mostly goes on recon missions.]
Kirishima frowned, confusion growing in her mind. "And you're sure she's just doing recon?"
[That's all anyone seems to know,] the agent confirmed. [There's nothing particularly alarming about her. The ship itself is odd, though. White hull, almost silver in some lights. Kind of trapezoid in shape, which is unusual. But no visible radar or antennas. Just two bumps near the bow that don't seem to serve any purpose. Oh, and no visible armament.]
Kirishima's mind raced as she absorbed the details. The description somewhat matched the kansen they had encountered, what her sister called the 'White Ghost' and Nachi had dubbed the 'Silver Demon.' But this information made no sense. A ship with no visible weapons, no radar, and yet responsible for wreaking havoc on their forces?
"That's all you've got?" Kirishima pressed, her tone sharp with frustration.
[That's all I've been able to gather,] the agent replied, sensing Kirishima's dissatisfaction. [From everything I've seen, she's just a recon ship with some strange quirks.]
Kirishima sighed deeply, rubbing her temples as she processed the conflicting information. The Silver Demon, the kansen responsible for the devastation in the Java Sea, couldn't possibly be the same ship the agent was describing. And yet, the evidence was there. It didn't add up.
"Very well," Kirishima said, cutting the conversation short. "Keep an eye on her. Let me know if anything changes."
Hearing that, the agent quickly informed Kirishima, [She actually left recently and hasn't returned to Pearl Harbour yet. It's been a while.]
Kirishima's breath caught. "Hasn't come back? How long has she been gone?"
[Long enough that people are starting to wonder. But again, nothing too unusual has been said officially.] The agent said.
Shortly after, the line went dead. Kirishima sat back in her chair, staring blankly at the wall. She had expected to uncover more about this mysterious kansen, but instead, she was left with more questions than answers.
"It doesn't make sense," she muttered to herself, feeling a rising sense of unease.
Her thoughts were interrupted as Hiei entered the room, sensing the frustration in Kirishima's posture. "Did the agent have anything useful?"
Kirishima shook her head, her brows furrowed. "Nothing that explains what we knew. This kansen, the Silver Demon... she doesn't fit the profile of a regular warship. But the agent's report shows her as nothing more than a recon ship."
Hiei frowned, intrigued by the mystery. "Perhaps there's more to her than meets the eye. Some secrets even the agent can't uncover."
"Perhaps," Kirishima mused, her mind still racing. "I need to know more. If this kansen is what I think she is, then she poses a greater threat than any of us could have imagined."
Hiei, sensing her sister's frustration, placed a hand on Kirishima's shoulder. "We'll find out the truth. In the meantime, you should rest. It's late already."
Kirishima nodded and the two sisters left the command room, Kirishima's thoughts lingered on the mysterious kansen. The pieces weren't fitting together, but she knew one thing for certain, the Silver Demon was far more than a simple recon ship. And sooner or later, they would uncover the truth.