Chapter 69: The Other Side of Distress

A Zero Fighter and Saiun flew past another horde of Siren ships. Despite being so obvious, the ships did not react.

"No. We can't go through here either. There is too many." (RA Zuikaku)

"This is outrageous. How many do they need to protect one installation?" (Shiratsuyu)

"That just shows how important it is. Admiral, what should we do?" (Ooyodo)

After dealing with a robotic Akatsuki, the fleet advanced closer to the Siren construct. At this point, the girls are low on ammunition, save for the carriers, after repeated battles with mass-produced Siren ships. I don't want them to go in blazing with barely any ammunition. We have to find another route.

"Zuihou, can you find another route?"

"I can try." (Zuihou) 

"That will take too long. If I ram through the blockade with my ship form, we should be able to instantly punch through them." (RA Zuikaku)

"Vetoed."

"Vetoed." (Zuihou)

"Vetoed." (Shigure)

"Vetoed." (Prinz Eugen)

"Why the hell are you three in sync?!" (RA Zuikaku)

"I know you are in a hurry but that is way too much of a risk to take." 

"Kamikaze attacks may have worked on St. Lo, but that was it's not going to work every time." (Ooyodo)

"Moreover, we don't do that here."

"Who is St. Lo? And what do you mean by kamikaze attacks?" (RA Zuikaku)

"Right. I keep forgetting that you Kansen are still in the midst of it."

"Midst of what? The war? Speaking of which, if you are technically the same as us, what hap-" (RA Zuikaku)

"Sorry to interrupt, we got company." (Ooyodo)

As Ooyodo detected, more red blips appeared on the radar on my console. With every flash, the number of red blips increased.

"Another horde... Damn, it's just a bunch of fakes after another... If only I hadn't lost so much planes earlier..." (RA Zuikaku)

"Let me handle this." (Zuihou)

"I got this." (Prinz Eugen)

"Wait! Huh? Is that a distress signal...?" (RA Zuikaku)

"A distress signal? Here? And at this timing?" (Shiratsuyu)

"There might be someone else here. It's coming from behind that horde." (RA Zuikaku)

"So we are going through in the end?" (Ooyodo)

"Zuikaku, what else can you do with your katana?"

"What do you mean?" (RA Zuikaku)

"Can you shoot out a fire blade or something? Something that can wipe out of them."

"It's a katana, not some kind of magical weapon. I can buff it with fire but that's it." (RA Zuikaku)

That's mildly disappointing. Oh well,

"Can I leave the escorts to you?"

"Yeah. I have a few fighters left. You don't want me to use my bombers?" (RA Zuikaku)

"You'll need them for later. Zuihou, Prinz Eugen, you are up. Cut a path through and The rest of you, perform evasive manoeuvres and conserve your ammo."

"Roger!" (All)

"Everyone, you still have a job to do~" (Zuihou)

"Looks like it's time to use my signature move!" (Prinz Eugen)

Zuihou launched a wave of Tenzens and Type 99 bombers while Prinz Eugen's four turrets angled and locked themselves in place. Zuikaku threw out 9 paper shikigamis which transmute into Zero Fighters and followed Zuihou's bombers.

"Commence shelling!... Fire!" (Prinz Eugen)

Prinz Eugen begin shelling the hordes of advancing Sirens as Zuihou's planes begin their bombing run. The Siren ships scattered in meagre attempt to evade, creating a opening between their ranks. Which was what I was hoping for.

"Full battle speed! Go through that opening!"

"Follow behind me!" (RA Zuikaku)

With a burst of speed, Zuikaku charged forward, splashing water onto my girls.

"Wha- hey!" (Agano)

"Wah!" (Zuihou)

The six girls increased the speed and followed Zuikaku as she parried and sliced her way through the Sirens that were starting to regroup. She deflected the projectiles launched by the Sirens and made them regret getting too close.

Not like they have any emotions... I think.

"How is she so fast?" (Agano)

"Must be another special ability of hers." (Ooyodo)

Thanks to Zuikaku 'cutting' a path, the six girls managed to catch up to her unimpeded. She finally stopped and was looking at something.

Or someone...

"Ise-senpai... Hyuuga-senpai..." (RA Zuikaku)

Standing in front of them are two tall women in miko outfits. One seems to be a wolfgirl with red tail while the other is a tiger girl with white tail

The wolfgirl has red hair tied in a messy high ponytail. Her outfit is a white cropped-miko uniform with black-red highlights, red hakama pants, a gray shoulder samurai-esque armor on her left arm and black wooden gauntlets tied to both arms tied with a red string. She wields a naginata in her hand.

The tiger girl seems to taken inspiration from our Shouhou for her type of fashion. The white kimono with a white tiger motif she is wearing dangles on the left side of her hip. Her medium-size chest wrapped with bandages and a black obi wrapped around her mid-section. She wears a black pleated skirt with black and red armoured cuffs over white socks and black slippers. Just like the wolf girl, she also has a red and black arm gauntlets. Just like the other one, she too holds a naginata.

So that's the otherworld's Ise and Hyuuga. They look... young, compared to our more mature-looking Aviation Battleships.

"Good thing Fusou and Yamashiro aren't here." (Shiratsuyu)

"Yeah." (Shigure)

"So you two were the source of the signal, huh... Don't tell me..." (RA Zuikaku)

"..." (RA Ise?)

"..." (RA Hyuuga)

"I don't think they are safe either." (Agano)

"That expressionless face..." (Ooyodo)

"Yep. They already gone."

"I figured as much..." (RA Zuikaku)

Zuikaku clutched her katana with both hands and got into a stance,

"If it's a battle you want, then a battle you'll get!" (RA Zuikaku)

The two battleships snapped their cannons into place, aiming at the strike fleet.

"Zuikaku, stay in-"

"I will handle Ise-senpai! Take care of Hyuuga-senpai for me!" (RA Zuikakau)

Before I could even finish my sentence, Zuikaku's robe flew upwards, mimicking the wings of a crane, and the Carrier charged forward.

"Thought so. Line Ahead formation. Agano, Ooyodo, make sure your shots land. Can't have you wasting ammo. Shigure and Shiratsuyu, both you will provide machinegun fire support. I need you two to really conserve what a little ammo you have left. Zuihou and Prinz Eugen will do the usual."

"Roger!" (All)

Since Zuikaku is rushing to the wolf-girl, I can assume that's Ise. So Hyuuga is the tiger one.

"It's finally my time to shine. Ehehe, I was waiting for this. I'll show you my true abilities!" (Agano)

Agano ssqueezed the trigger on her joysticks, firing all three turrets on her swing arms at the rogue battleship. The enemy Hyuuga spun her naginata, blocking all of her shell.

"Woah. I mean, hey! That's so unfair! Waah!" (Agano) 

Agano quickly ducked as Hyuuga fired a shell over her head. 

"All guns. Ready, aim, fiiireee~!" (Ooyodo) 

"Feuer!" (Prinz Eugen)

Ooyodo and Prinz Eugen shot at Hyuuga. Ooyodo's shells hit the Battleships, turrets while Prinz Eugen's managed hit the battleship square in the head. It seem to pissed her off as she turned to focus on the bubbly German. Oh, she is definately pissed. Hyuuga's cannons are aiming at the Heavy Cruiser. 

"Ah. Scheiße. Kyaah!" (Prinz Eugen)

Hyuuga fired a salvo of shells at Prinz Eugen, isolating her within towers of water and away from the formation. Her vitals turned to orange, indicating that she is now moderately damage.

"Prinz! You alright?!"

"Ugh... Bismarck-neesama will laugh at me if I'm like this...!" (Prinz Eugen)

Her rigging and cannons are in shambles. Three of her turrets of been destroyed and dislodged from her back. The bottom left one is burnt but seems to be in working condition. Her pleated mini-skirt is torn, exposing her white panties and cute butt.

Wait, that's not the point.

"Even if they are few, they are the elite." 9Zuihou)

Zuihou's bomber flew overhead. Two of Hyuuga's cannons angled to aim at the planes while she maintained eye contact with the rest of the fleet. Shells whizzed passed the girls as their attacks seem to bounce off the battleships' naginata.

"This is tough..." (Shiratsuyu)

"..." (Shigure)

All of the planes Zuihou had launched were destroyed by Hyuuga, forcing the Light Carrier to launch another two squadron.

"Zuihou, how much more?"

"Including the ones in the air, four more. If she takes them out, I won't have enough for later. Tch!!" (Zuihou)

A shell skimmed passed Zuihou's arm, cutting her. The blood soaked into her dark green sleeves, turning it into a dark shade of yellow.

"We need to take out those cannons..."

What can we do? I didn't expect this version of Hyuuga to be so tough. Even the Princesses were slightly easier. At least they don't actively parry our attacks.

"It's going to take out the planes again!" (Ooyodo)

"There's no such thing as rain that won't end." (Shigure)

What?

"Shigure?" (Shiratsuyu)

Shigure broke formation and moved towards Hyuuga.

"Shigure, what are you doing?!"

Noticing the approaching Destroyer, Hyuuga set her sights on Shigure.

Oh no!

"Oh no you don't!" (Zuihou)

Zuihou's Reppu fired their machine guns at the battleship, slightly blinding her forcing her to refocus on the planes. Her cannons glowed, preparing to fire.

"Too bad." (Shigure)

Once she was close enough, Shigure launched her last torpedo and retreated. Right before Hyuuga fired her guns, the torpedo struck and exploded on her right heel, causing the battleship to stagger and fall to her side. Her shots missed the planes entirely, giving them the opportunity to drop their bombs. Water and fire engulfed Hyuuga as the bombs hit their target.

"Do you get her?"

There was a loud shriek. Suddenly, a charred and severely damaged Hyuuga charged towards Zuihou.

Oh shit! She is going to kill her!

"Zuihou, get away from her!"

Zuihou brought her bow to the front and braced herself. No. That won't work.

Shigure rushed and stood between the two. She brought both of her arm cannons in front just as the naginata is being swung down.

Both arm cannons got destroyed and blood gushed out of her body.

"Shigure!!!"