Chapter 6 Pearl Harbor
Within Pearl Harbor, the Kansen stood at key defensive positions on high alert, many patrol the base or the perimeter around it, their riggings already deployed, leaving the many harbors empty and devoid of ships. Air formations constantly flew around, commanded by the aircraft carriers.
They were not entirely sure why Wales had ordered a full alert status on the base, but they didn't question it. They knew she must have had her reason.
In one part of the base, a small girl wearing a cloak that covered body, hid in the shadows, monitoring the situation before slipping away to a more secluded location of the base, outside of the patrols.
Sitting in a tree with thick covering, she held out a blue talisman and spoke to it.
"Ayanami reporting"
"We're on a mission. Use your code name." A voice responded back from the talisman.
"Oh… Sorry. This is Citrus. I have a general understanding of the structure of the base."
"Good. We're ready to take action as well. Rendezvous when appropriate."
However Ayanami hesitated for a second before speaking again. "Umm… There is a problem here at the base."
"Hm? What type of problem and will it affect the mission?"
"The base is currently on high alert. Prince of Wales had taken around thirty Kansen with her on a rescue sortie, so the number of Kansen in the base currently are very low, but with the base at high alert, there is a very high chance we will be discovered before we can carry out the attack."
The talisman was quiet for a few minutes. Over on a distant rock, two Kansen sat in thought. Akagi and her sister Kaga.
"We push on with the attack." Akagi declared.
"But the base is on high alert. Our attack will fail." Kaga responded.
"That is not a problem. The goal of the mission was to send a message to Azur Lane and declare war. Our attack might fail, or it could succeed, Ayanami said that the number of Kansen in the base is low, and will probably be the lowest anytime soon. We must strike now before the main force returns."
"The risk is too high, returning reinforcements could cut off our escape route."
"It is a risk we must take. We can't delay the attack, we are already in enemy territory, our position will be discovered, it's already a miracle we are able to hide the siren fleet we brought with us for this long, we can't afford to delay" Akagi then spoke into the talisman once more. "Citrus, the mission continues, rendezvous when you can."
"Understood." Ayanami responded.
Akagi put the talisman away, and looked off into the distance toward the base, lost in thought.
"Having second thoughts, sister?" Kaga asked curiously, though she hid her concern.
"No, I'm just curious what happened to cause Prince of Wales to react the way she did. Why sortie with thirty Kansen? That number is beyond overkill, unless… What they went to rescue is valuable enough to create such an extreme response."
She then brought out the talisman again. "Citrus, change of plans, continue your reconnaissance but make sure you have an escape route. If you can, try and find out what the rescue team went to rescue. Continue radio silence."
"Understood, Citrus out."
…
The rest of the trip to Pearl Harbor was smooth, with a fleet this size, there was nothing that would be dumb enough to challenge it. At this moment, Olivia was probably one of the safest people on the planet. Could the president receive such an escort if he asked?
Wales and Belfast had stopped their arguing, though it looked more like they put it on hold as Wales was clearly upset and Belfast just continued to smile. Olivia had no complaints, the tea Belfast made was very delicious.
After a few hours, the fleet began pulling into Pearl Harbor, and it was much grander than she had expected it to be. Actually, way grander than all the Eagle Union bases she had visited!
'Isn't this absurd! How much funding do these guys get?!'
"We will give you a proper base tour at a later date. I'm sure right now you must be tired, but we want to ensure you have suffered no injuries so I'll escort you to the hospital we have on base for a check up." Belfast informed Olivia.
"Yeah, that'd be nice. Will the examination take long?"
"At most it will be an hour since the doctor on board the previous ship had already done a quick examination on you."
The clack of Belfast's heeled shoes echoed softly through the polished corridors of the Pearl Harbor command building. Olivia followed just behind, trying to act like the sudden grandeur of the base didn't overwhelm her, making her think of how much everything cost.
"Most of the Kansen are still on high alert," Belfast explained, her voice calm but quick. "But once things settle, you'll be introduced to the primary fleet divisions. Then Wales will discuss with you the logistics, command hierarchy, and—"
~WAAAAAOOOOHHHH!~
The air was suddenly split by the thunderous wail of a base-wide alarm. Harsh red lights flared across the walls
"Wh-What? What's going on?" Olivia instinctively stepped closer to Belfast.
The PA system crackled to life.
"Siren fleet detected! Multiple signatures approaching from the southeast quadrant! All Kansen prepare for battle!"
The floor trembled slightly underfoot as defense cannons whirred to life. Planes shrieked overhead like startled birds, scattering into formation.
'Are you fucking joking! It's my first day and I can't catch a fucking break!' Olivia stood serious, yet she was having a mental breakdown in her mind.
Belfast didn't hesitate. She pivoted, ready to shepherd Olivia back toward a protective internal corridor. "Commander, keep close to me. We'll move to the shelter—do not panic."
A shadow moved faster than any of them expected. The cloaked figure darted down a side passage with predatory speed.
Belfast stepped between Olivia and the corridor and reached instinctively—not for weapons, but to place her own body as a shield. She couldn't risk firing rigging main guns with Olivia in the hallway; the destructive force would be catastrophic so close.
"Identify yourself!" Belfast barked as the figure closed, Belfast prepared for close quarters combat.
The cloaked intruder didn't stop. In one smooth motion, she maneuvered around Belfast and behind Olivia. She struck Olivia at the base of the neck with a darting blow so precise it stole the air from the young commander's lungs. Olivia's vision dimmed before her body collapsed.
"Commander!" Belfast lunged forward, arms out.
Ayanami didn't dare challenge Belfast in a strength contest, as a destroyer, her physical strength couldn't match a cruiser. So when Belfast was about to strike, Ayanami used Olivia as a shield.
Belfast's eyes widened and she quickly redirected her attack. Using this opening, Ayanami used her sword and lunged at Belfast, who summoned her rigging to block the attack. However, the attack pierced a part of her rigging causing a small detonation in her rigging, knocking Belfast back and filling the hallway with smoke.
Quickly recovering and clearing the smoke with a strong gust of wind from her arm, she saw Ayanami retreating rapidly with Olivia over her shoulder.
…
Kansen raced into position across the base as sirens howled and turrets rotated toward the southeast. Explosions could already be heard in the distance—rumbles of heavy gunfire and crashing waves. In the sky, siren planes and a combination of Eagle Union and Royal Navy planes clashed in an intense dogfight for air dominance.
Prince of Wales stood at the central command terminal, her hands clenched as reports came in.
~BOOM~
A nearby hangar exploded in a pillar of flame.
Then another report came in.
"The Commander has been taken!" Belfast had quickly informed Wales through the radio.
Wales turned pale. "What?! Who—how?!"
"An unknown Kansen breached the interior and extracted her during the opening attack!"
"Mobilize pursuit units! We need to secure the commander now!"