Chapter 65: Investigation (Part 2)

Both fleets are present in the briefing hall. Right on schedule.

"Alright. Let's start."

Shioi, with the help of a step ladder, pinned the map of the Southern waters on the blackboard. I transferred the information we had on the larger map to it.

"I'm sure most of you are aware of the recent surge in Abyssal-Siren skirmishes. Earlier, we theorized that there could be a Siren base somewhere in this area, near the Sav Islands. The approximate coordinate around 8°58'43.3"S 159°36'42.0"E. So right now, we are going to test that theory. Shioi."

"Yup. An investigation fleet will recon the area and take pictures of any potential threats or Sites of Interest. Speed is of utmost importance for this operation. The fleet will comprise of Flagship Light Cruiser Ooyodo, Light Aircraft Carriers Shouhou ,Zuihou, Ryuujou and Ryuuhou, and Armoured Carrier Victorious. As this is essentially a recon operation, recon aircraft will take precedence over attack aircraft. The investigation fleet will be escorted by a fast Destroyer Squadron to assist and cover their escape in the event of a naval battle." (Shioi)

"Which is the last thing we want to happen."

"My first official assignment. This is exciting~" (Victorious)

"The Destroyer Squadron, comprising of Destroyers Yuudachi, Shiratsuyu, Shigure, Fubuki, Amatsukaze, and Shimakaze will ensure the safe return of both the Investigation fleet and yourselves. Yuudachi will be the flagship for this squadron." (Shioi)

"Ah. We are screwed then." (Amatsukaze)

"Hey! That's mean!" (Yuudachi)

"Do your best as our flagship~" (Shiratsuyu)

"I will do my best!" (Fubuki)

Shimakaze has long lost focus and is playing with Rensouhou-chan...

"In the event the Investigation fleet is spotted, your main priority is to scramble their ranks and create an opening for a speedy retreat." (Shioi)

"If it's speed you need, I'm the fastest!" (Shimakaze)

That got her attention.

"That's all from me. Admiral, would you like to add anything?"

"The usual. Come back alive."

"Roger!" (All)

"That's all. We will sortie in 30. Dismissed."

Both fleets left the briefing room and Shioi and I got to tidying up the place.

"Say, Admiral?" (Shioi)

"Yeah?"

"For this operation, why aren't you using us submarines? I'm sure we can achieve the same results without the need for an escort fleet." (Shioi)

Submarines are good but...

"That's true. With the stealthiness of a submarine, you might be able to avoid detection and confirm this theroy. Plus, you can use your Seirans to scout as well. If everything goes well, we would be able to find the answers we are looking for."

"Then..." (Shioi)

"The keywords here are 'If' and 'might'. We barely know the full capabilities of the Sirens. How is their AA defense? Are they good submarine hunters? We know the Mass-produced ones are akin to normal warships and can mostly be considered scrap metal, but what about the Executor class? Like you mentioned, speed is of utmost importance. Submarines are fast underwater but if you girls get detected, there is a risk that they can easily force you to surface or worst, take you guys out instantly."

I lifted Shioi's chin to look at her face.

"And you know I can't let it happen, right?"

"Ye-yes..." (Shioi)

Why is her face so red?

"You alright? Your face is so red."

"Ye-yeah. I'm fine." (Shioi)

Shioi turned around and ran to the door,

"Let's go. They are about to start anytime soon." (Shioi)

"They still have time though."

"I need to set up and calibrate the radio frequency. Come on. I'm leaving you behind." (Shioi)

"Yeah yeah. I'm coming."

30 minutes is not a long time and very soon, both fleets are already at the launch bay.

"Flagship Ooyodo. Sortieing at full power. Let's go!" (Ooyodo)

Ooyodo's fleet was the first to launch. Once they had passed the turrets, Yuudachi's fleet stepped onto the launch pad.

"Now, let's have a wonderful party!" (Yuudachi)

Like their In mere seconds, all six Destroyers had their rigging and equipment attached to them before being catapulted out into the open waters.

"This is flagship Ooyodo. Admiral, do you read me?" (Ooyodo)

"This is Shioi. We read you five-by-five." (Shioi)

"This is Yuudachi. How is the signal?" (Yuudachi)

"We can hear you clearly, Yuudachi." (Shioi)

"This is Admiral Keita. Keep advancing to the Southern Area. Once there, switch to the encrypted channel. But you already know that by now."

"Of course. We are veterans at this point." (Ryuujou)

"Erm... Will I be able to do this right?" (Ryuuhou)

"Don't worry. You have practiced a lot. You will do all right." (Shouhou)

"Besides, a recon mission is easy. The fairies we loaned you will know what to do. Just leave it to them. Yours will follow their example." (Zuihou)

All of us spoke and joked about as they made their way to the mission area. Despite their behaviour, they were vigilant the entire time. There were a few small Abyssal fleets along the way but with a bit of navigation magic, the fleet managed to skirt around them. We do not want to waste any ammunition or planes unnecessarily.

"Report. We will be reaching the mission area in 10 minutes." (Ooyodo)

"Roger. Switch to the encrypted channel. Ooyodo, the timing and distance is up to you. Yuudachi, maintain a short distance away from Ooyodo's fleet. Only move in once they raise the alarm."

"Roger." (Ooyodo)

"Understood poi." (Yuudachi)

The fleet stopped in the Indispensable Strait, near Buena Vista Island. I watched the monitor as Ooyodo gave the signal for the Carriers to launch their recon aircrafts.

"<Victorious Squadron>, begin take-off! Now, let's get started!" (Victorious)

"All you planes, it's time for work!" (Ryuujou)

"Right, time to get to work~" (Zuihou)

Five Squadrons of Type 2s and Saiuns and a lone Shiun took to the air and spread out in a fan-shaped formation.

"Ready the squadron. Cover as much as we can." (Ooyodo)

"Let's go. 2nd Recon Corps, take off." (Ryuuhou)

"2nd Recon corps, please begin takeoff! Please don't overextend." (Shouhou)

The 2nd wave of Recon aircraft fanned out in a different direction from the first. A third took flight and moved in another direction. The three waves of Recon aircraft cover a 165 degree radian in the direction of coordinates 8°58'43.3"S 159°36'42.0"E.

"Admiral, report. Victorious's 2nd Recon Squadron has spotted something. Sending visual." (Shioi)

"Put it up on the screen.."

The monitor switched to what Victorious's planes were seeing. The skies are dark and ominous. A pillar of purple lights extends down from a swirling cloud onto what can only be described as a large black vessel.

"What the hell is that?"

As the plane got closer, multiple black spots slowly came into view.

"Victorious, this is Admiral Keita. Do you read me?"

"<HMS Victorious reads you five-by-five, Admiral.> What are your orders?" (Ooyodo)

"Can you get closer while avoiding detection? We need visual on those black spots."

"<Understood.>" (Victorious)

"All planes, convene on Victorious's 2nd Recon Squadron. I want eyes and pictures on that black sphere."

"Roger!" (All)

One of Victorious's plane managed to get close enough, but not too close to get detected, to see those black dots.

It was a floatilla of Siren vessels, both mass-produced and Executor classes. All of them were in formation. A line of Mass-produced variants faced away from the vessel, followed by two lines of Executor class facing the same direction, and another line of Mass-produced variants forming the vanguard. The other recon planes gathered and we could get a better view on what we are looking at.

The black vessel was long, estimated 650m in length. From what I can see, I'm counting 31 large guns and many more smaller guns lining its deck. On the back, there are two large flight decks, extending towards the obnoxiously large vessel's bridge, or at least that's what I think is the bridge, in a V-shape. The flight decks seem to be still in construction, as they are not connected to the vessel.

Why do they need such a large vessel? Are the Sirens compensating for something?

It's weird that there isn't any Siren aircraft scouting and defending the skies. More importantly, how did nobody discover such a large Siren vessel and such a large Siren Fleet near Sav Island? The island belongs to the Solomon Islands. As far as I know, the Solomon Islands were not touched by the Abyssal threat, since the IJN had already liberated the area and regularly sortie and run expeditions to this area. Even if we did not discover such a a large Siren operation here, the government of the Solomon Islands should have informed the Japanese Diet. As far as I know, the Sav Islands belong to the central Province of the Solomon Islands and their government has a direct line to the Japanese Diet. Unless something happened to them, they should have contacted us about this and not wait till we discover it ourselves or that that damn thing is nearly completed.

"Shouhou, launch a squadron of Recon planes to the Solomon Islands. See if they are still alive. Ryuujou, you launch a sqaudron of recon planes as well. Send them to the Sav Islands and check if the inhabitants are still there."

"Understood." (Shouhou)

"I hear ye." (Ryuujou)

The two carriers followed my orders and launch their recon planes to their designated locations.

"The rest of you, maintain surveillance for- Oh shit!"

I saw the one of the larger guns lining the huge vessel turned towards the camera plane. There was a flash of light before the screen turned to static.

We have been spotted?! And from that distance?!

"One of my planes have been shot down!" (Victorious)

The monitor switched back to it's usual mode of focusing on the girls.

"Fairy actual, I need visual on that large ship."

One of the side monitors showed all the turrets on the Siren ship turned in various directions and angles and started firing. Lasers shot and balls of light shot out from the turrets and the sky was filled with balls of fire and smoke.

"S-squadrons 1 and 2 has been wiped out!" (Ryuuhou)

"Squadron 3 is gone!" (Shouhou)

"I have lost contact with all three Squadrons!" (Zuihou)

"Damn! 1 and 3 is gone!" (Ryuujou)

"Contact lost with Squadron 2!" (Victorious)

"The Siren fleet is moving in our direction!" (Ooyodo)

"All units, call back your planes immediately and start retreating!" Destroyer Squadron, move in to secure an escape route and cover them!"

"Let's have an amazing and wonderful party!" (Yuudachi)

The Destroyer Squadron, who were anchored just behind the investigation fleet, moved in to intercept the approaching Sirens. The first ones to show up were the mass-produced variants.

"Who should I shoot first?" (Yuudachi)

"Shimakaze, entering combat!" (Shimakaze)

The Destroyers weaved around the larger Mass-produced ships, dodging their laser attacks while blasting them with their main guns and torpedoes. Soon, the Executor classes joined the fray but it was already too late.

"All remaining planes have returned!" (Zuihou)

"Retreat! Everyone, let's go!" (Ooyodo)

"Roger!" (Fubuki)

"Come on, let get out of here!" (Amatsukaze)

"I will race you home!" (Shimakaze)

"Oi!" (Amatsukaze)

The two fleets moved at max battle speed and in an erratic zig-zag motion with the Sirens hot on their tail. The Sirens continued to take pot shots at them, with some near-misses.

"How long are they gonna chase us?!" (Ryuujou)

"Ah. It's raining..." (Shigure)

The skies became dark and rain started pouring on my girls. A squall? What bad timing!

The girls continued to retreat and evade the Siren attacks. I watched helplessly as their vitals changed colour right before my eyes.

"It hurts. Yuudachi, are you alright?" (Shigure)

"I'll keep fighting even with the hammocks raised!" (Yuudachi)

"Ouch! Flood the ballast!" (Ooyodo)

"Can you shake them off?"

"Easier said than done! Woah!" (Shiratsuyu)

Shiratsuyu side stepped a plasma ball that was fired at her.

"It's hot! What kind of attack is that?!" (Shirastsuyu)

"They are getting closer!" (Fubuki)

Shit! I expected them to give chase but not till this extent. They have already passed Micronesia and the Sirens showed no signs of giving up the chase.

I'm going to send another fleet to assist!

"Keep retreating and avoiding their attacks. I'm sortieing another fleet to get them off your backs."

"Please be quick about it, Admiral. We are running low on ammo." (Ooyodo)

"My machine gun is empty!" (Zuihou)

"Me too!" (Ryuuhou)

"I'm down to one torpedo." (Shiratsuyu)

"One of my guns is empty, but I can still fight." (Shigure)

"Contact! Unidentified aircrafts! They are coming in close!" (Shouhou)

"What now?!" (Ryuujou)

Multiple squadrons of Type 99 Dive Bombers and Suiseis appeared out of nowhere and bombarded the Sirens with firebombs. The unknown squadron of planes laid waste to the pursuing Sirens, both mass-produced variants and the Executor classes.

The sky slowly began to clear and a silhouette can be seen approaching my girls.

"Seriously. I spent months staking out that place and memorizing their formations and patrol patterns, only for you people to come in and screw everything up." (???)

"Who are you? Identify yourself!" (Ooyodo)

As the dark clouds disappeared and allowed the sun to shine once again, a tall woman with a slender frame and a large bust appeared. She has long brown hair with orange highlights tied in a high ponytail and yellow eyes with orange eyeliner. She wore a long-sleeved hooded kimono with flower motifs and red strings on each sides of her chest, She has a black sash wrapped around her waist, a red hakama skirt, black straps on each thigh, black socks with red linings and red & silver slippers. A katana hung from her hip and some long red thing is attached to her back.

"Is that how you thank your saviour? Whatever. I suppose it's only natural to be wary of me in this situation. I am Zuikaku, Second ship of the Shoukaku-class aircraft carriers and the last elite of the Sakura Empire's Carrier Divisions." (Zuikaku?)

Zuikaku? She must be the other worlds version of the luckiest Japanese Aircraft carrier we know today.

And she is a Red Axis Aircraft Carrier... Which makes her our enemy. In their current state, the girls won't be able to fight her like this.

Out of the frying pan, and into the fire...

"You imposter!" (Zuihou & Ryuujou)

"Eh?" (Zuikaku?)

Huh?