2 March 1942
Location: South China Sea
Time: 1000
The waters in the middle of South China Sea shimmered under the late morning sun, but the Sakuran kansens aboard Kongo's ship felt none of its warmth. In the command room, Kongo and her sisters, Hiei, Haruna, and Kirishima, were already deep in discussion regarding their next move. The invasion of Java was imminent, numerous transports for the marines and army were ready to sail at a moment's notice, and they needed to strike a decisive blow.
Kongo stood near the map table, her arms crossed, frowning as she surveyed the situation. "Where is Purifier? She should have reported in by now."
Hiei shook her head, glancing at the communication panel. "No word yet. I've tried contacting her several times, but nothing. It's unlike we don't expect her to just disappear."
Kongo furrowed her brow. "Even Observer doesn't know her whereabouts?"
"No," Hiei replied, her voice was soft with a tinge of frustration. "Not even Observer has a clue. Purifier's gone off the grid."
Kongo's eyes narrowed. Purifier was a wildcard, a powerful ally but difficult to control. This made her disappearance especially concerning given the impending invasion.
Kirishima stepped forward, sensing the tension in her sister. "Should we proceed without her?"
Kongo sighed, then turned her attention to Kirishima and Haruna. "We'll have to. We can't delay the invasion any longer." She moved a piece on the map, indicating Batavia, the heart of the island's command. "Our target is Batavia. If we can seize control of the central command, we'll cripple their defenses in one strike."
Haruna gave a solemn nod. "I'll lead the shore bombardment and soften up their fortifications. If Purifier shows up, I'll rein her in."
Kirishima adjusted her black mask, her gaze focused. "My mission will be to gather intel on the Silver Demon. We need to understand her capabilities, weaknesses, and any secrets we can exploit."
"The Silver Demon," Kongo muttered, her voice tinged with irritation. The recent battle had shown how formidable this enemy could be, particularly with the devastating cannon and night battle mastery at their disposal. "We've prepared countermeasures against her. Mass-produced heavily armored ships will absorb her fire, and we're not afraid to sacrifice some of the Siren fleet if necessary."
"Thankfully, Observer gave me this black cube as a compensation in case Purifier doesn't show up. With this, we can pump out many mass-produced siren ships as our disposable pawns." Hiei showed a black mental cube floating on her right palm. She then continued. "What about their fleet carrier? There are reports from the previous battle that one arrived together with the Silver Demon."
Kongo clenched her fists. "I've already asked Nagato to send us at least one fleet carrier, but we lost three early in the war. She declined my request. We'll have to make do with our light carrier escort for now."
The frustration in her voice was palpable. Losing those carriers had been a blow to the Sakuran Navy, and the repercussions were still being felt. Nevertheless, the plan had to move forward.
Kongo tapped the map, indicating their approach. "We'll strike at dawn. Haruna's artillery will hit the shore while Kirishima handles the intelligence side. If all goes well, we'll force a surrender before they can recover."
Kirishima nodded. "I'll also focus on observing the Silver Demon's movements. If we can find a way to neutralize her, it will turn the tide in our favor."
Kongo took a deep breath, turning away from the map to address her sisters directly. "This invasion has to succeed. We've already seen breakthroughs on the army front in Burma. The combined Bharat and Albion forces have been routed, and it's crucial we maintain that momentum. I may dislike the army's top brass, but their victory is essential."
Hiei gave a grim smile. "Their success might buy us some time. But we can't rely on them forever."
Kongo nodded in agreement. "Which is why we must win here. Batavia is the last key to control the entirety of this island chain. We must take it. Once we do, we can support our troops on the Burma front and land them on Terra Austral."
The sisters exchanged determined glances. Despite their frustrations with Purifier's absence and the lack of carrier support, they knew they had the means to make this invasion a success. Each of them had their role to play, and there was no room for failure.
With their plan solidified, Kongo took one last look at the map. The invasion was set, the forces aligned, and the pieces moving into place. Soon, the second battle for Java would begin in earnest.
______________________________________________________________________
2 March 1942
Location: Pearl Harbour Multinational Naval Base
Time: 0930
A kansen in a hospital ward opened her eyes slowly, her body still heavy, the smell of antiseptic thick in the air. The unfamiliar surroundings of a hospital room greeted her, a pristine and quiet space, a sharp contrast to the chaos she had last remembered.
The last image burned into her mind was the sight of streaking lights in the sky, the 'shooting stars' that had delivered their payloads of destruction. An unknown weapon, fired from an unknown location, struck with a precision and lethality she hadn't imagined possible. The impact was swift and brutal, robbing her of consciousness in an instant.
She glanced to her right, her heart pounding slightly as she saw the familiar figure on the adjacent bed. Soryuu. Her sister, her only comfort in this strange situation, lay unconscious but alive. Relief washed over Hiryuu. They had survived.
But how? Why were they here?
Hiryuu tried to move. She could feel her legs, a good sign for her condition, but they were still too weak to carry her weight. Her arms, although functioning, were marred with scars and stitches from the battle. She looked down at the medical gown she wore, noting how some of her injuries were still visible beneath the fabric.
For the first time since waking, she allowed herself to think about their current state. Why were they being treated with such care? The Azur Lane had captured her and Soryuu, two high-profile enemies, and yet they were being handled as if they were guests, not prisoners of war.
"Where... where are we?" Hiryuu muttered, her voice still weak.
The door opened quietly, and Vestal, the repair ship, stepped into the room. She smiled kindly, holding a clipboard and walking toward them with her usual air of professionalism.
"Good morning, Hiryuu. How are you feeling today?" Vestal asked, her tone gentle.
Hiryuu eyed her cautiously. Unknown to her, Vestal had been visiting her and Soryuu every day since they'd arrived here, checking on their injuries, making sure their recovery went smoothly. It was strange to Hiryuu, she'd expected to be instantly interrogated, isolated, and treated like a common prisoner once she opened her eyes. But instead, they were in a clean hospital, receiving medical attention that far exceeded any minimal requirement set by the Geneva Convention.
"I'm fine... I guess," Hiryuu muttered, her guard still up. She glanced over at her sister, then back at Vestal. "What do you want from us?"
Vestal tilted her head, her smile never faltering. "Want from you? We want you to recover, of course. Both you and Soryuu. Your mental and physical health are important for the healing process."
Hiryuu narrowed her eyes. "I don't believe you. If we're prisoners, why are you treating us so well?"
Vestal's expression softened. She placed a hand on Hiryuu's arm, an almost motherly gesture. "Everyone deserves proper care, Hiryuu. Whether they're Azur Lane or not. If there's anything you need, just let me know."
Hiryuu scoffed, leaning back against the pillows. "Anything, huh? What if I asked for... ramen?"
Vestal chuckled softly. "If that's what you want, I can have some brought up to you."
Hiryuu blinked in surprise. She had been testing Vestal's sincerity, expecting to be brushed off or ignored. But not long after, the door opened again, and a tray was brought in, ramen, steaming and ready.
For a moment, Hiryuu was speechless. She stared at the bowl in front of her, the simple but comforting food reminding her of home. She hadn't expected this, not at all.
"I'll leave you to it," Vestal said, smiling again as she turned to leave. "If you or Soryuu need anything else, just call."
As the door clicked shut, Hiryuu sat in silence, the confusion settling in. What was Azur Lane's true intention? Why were they being treated like this? It didn't make sense. She expected the enemy to extract information from them, to probe their minds for strategies, but instead, they were being cared for with such... consideration.
"Hiryuu...?" Soryuu's soft voice broke her thoughts.
Hiryuu turned to her sister, seeing her awake and blinking groggily. Soryuu had always been the more methodical one, the voice of reason between them. Her bunny ears twitched slightly as she loosened her blanket a little bit, trying to sit up.
"Soryuu, you're awake..." Hiryuu whispered, relief flooding her voice.
Soryuu looked at her sister, noting the ramen bowl and the quiet hospital room. "What's going on? Why are we... here?"
"I don't know," Hiryuu admitted, her voice low. "But it doesn't feel right. They're treating us too well."
Soryuu picked up her glasses on the table beside her bed, thinking. "Maybe they want something from us. Or maybe it's part of their strategy to gain our trust."
Hiryuu clenched her fists. "I thought the same. But... they haven't asked us anything. No interrogation, no questions. Just... care."
Soryuu frowned, her eyes distant. "Perhaps later or they're waiting for us to make the first move. We need to stay cautious."
"Yeah," Hiryuu agreed, though her mind wandered back to the "shooting stars" that had brought them here, the dread still lingering. "But whatever they're planning, I won't let them fool us. We need to stay sharp."
Soryuu nodded slowly, her ears twitching as she leaned back onto the pillows. "Yeah.. We'll figure it out."
As the sisters settled into the quiet of the room, the uncertainty of their fate weighed heavily on both of them. They had survived a devastating blow, but the real battle, the one for their freedom and their future, was just beginning.