"Commander… what is all this?" Yorktown asked, her eyes still fixed on the massive machines settling into position.
Yuuki glanced at her, then casually gestured toward the largest structure.
"That's an MCV—Mobile Construction Vehicle," he explained. "Think of it as the core of everything we're about to build. It's not just a vehicle anymore—it's a fully functional base once deployed."
He shifted his hand slightly, pointing toward the other units behind it.
"And those are Crawlers. Variants of the same concept, but specialized."
His finger tilted upward toward the hovering unit.
"The flying one is a Support Class Crawler. It handles battlefield control—buffing allies, disrupting enemies… and yes, it can produce more aerial units like the ones you saw earlier."
Yorktown blinked.
"…It builds flying units too?"
"Among other things," Yuuki replied casually.
He then pointed toward the heavy, tank-like construct.
"That one's the Defense Class Crawler. It's responsible for building base defenses—turrets, barriers, fortified positions. I'll be using it to lock this island down."
Finally, he nodded toward the massive walking machine.
"And that's the Offense Class Crawler. It produces combat units—tanks, drones, assault platforms. If something comes knocking, that's what answers the door."
Laffey stared at it for a moment.
"…Big…"
Yuuki smirked faintly.
"Yeah. And useful."
He crossed his arms as he looked out across the island.
"I'm positioning all three Crawlers across key points—covering the island like a perimeter grid. Each one controls its own zone."
Then he gestured back to the deployed structure behind them.
"That thing in the center—the MCV—that's what builds everything else."
Yorktown followed his gaze, still trying to process it all.
"You're… building a base already?"
"Not just a base," Yuuki replied. "A foothold."
He paused briefly, then added—
"I'll need to deploy an airfield soon. Those battleships and support units can't just hover forever."
His tone shifted slightly—more serious now.
"Once the MCV finishes deploying, we start building defenses."
"And a gap generator."
Yorktown tilted her head.
"…Gap generator?"
"A cloaking system," Yuuki said simply. "It distorts visibility and sensor detection. Makes everything inside its field… harder to find."
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"What we did earlier?"
A brief pause.
"Didn't go unnoticed."
Yorktown's expression tightened.
"They lost… everything…"
"Almost 400 ships," Yuuki corrected calmly. "Multiple Sirens. And one high-ranking unit."
He glanced at the unconscious Purifier in the distance.
"They will investigate."
His tone dropped slightly.
"And I don't feel like fighting an entire planet on day one."
The ground shifted again.
Behind them, the MCV completed its transformation.
With a deep mechanical resonance, the structure locked into place—panels sealing, systems activating, energy lines pulsing through its frame. What stood there now was no longer a vehicle—
It was a base.
Yorktown and Laffey both froze for a moment.
"…It changed…" Laffey murmured.
Yuuki didn't react.
He simply raised his hand.
A holographic interface appeared instantly in front of him.
Without hesitation, he began inputting commands—fast, precise, practiced.
"Power first," he muttered.
He selected the power plant.
Across the island, the Crawlers began moving, each heading toward their assigned positions. Their heavy frames reshaped the battlefield simply by existing—claiming territory, defining control.
Meanwhile, the drones continued their work—clearing, flattening, restoring. The land was being rewritten beneath their feet.
But Yuuki's focus remained sharp.
Defenses first.
Then concealment.
Because everything he planned next—
Required energy.
A lot of it.
And once the gap generator came online—
This island would disappear from the world.
"It'll take some time for the defenses to come online," Yuuki said as he finalized a few commands on the holographic interface. "Layering them properly isn't instant."
He turned slightly, glancing at the two girls.
"So… while that's happening, we might as well get acquainted."
Yorktown tilted her head. "Acquainted?"
"I need information," Yuuki replied plainly. "A lot of it. Shipgirls, Sirens, your ammunition systems, how you're created… how you're revived."
A brief pause.
"And how to find the rest of your sisters."
Both Yorktown and Laffey went still.
"…You're already thinking that far ahead?" Yorktown asked softly.
Yuuki gave a small shrug.
"Of course."
Then, with a faint smile—
"Shall we?"
He led them inside.
The interior of the MCV base was nothing like what they expected.
It wasn't cramped.
It wasn't temporary.
It was vast.
Clean metallic corridors stretched outward, illuminated by soft, ambient lighting. Systems hummed quietly in the background, everything organized with precision. He guided them toward the barracks section, opening into a dormitory space that felt more like a high-end facility than a battlefield installation.
Beds.
Living quarters.
Storage.
Even lounge areas.
It was… comfortable.
Too comfortable for something that had just dropped from the sky minutes ago.
Yorktown glanced around, visibly surprised.
"…This is a temporary base?"
Yuuki smirked slightly. "You should see the permanent ones."
Before they could continue—
JARVIS' voice cut in.
"Sir. We have multiple unknown contacts approaching."
Yuuki stopped mid-step.
"…Sirens already?"
"No, sir."
A brief pause.
"…Small entities. Visual profile suggests—"
Another pause.
"…Chickens."
Yuuki blinked.
"…I'm sorry, what?"
"Shall I engage?" JARVIS asked.
"No," Yuuki said immediately. "Stand down."
He turned.
"Let's see this."
Outside the massive entrance, Yorktown suddenly stopped.
Her eyes widened.
"…Oh."
Yuuki stepped beside her—
And saw them.
Hundreds.
No—
Thousands.
Small, round, yellow creatures gathered outside the base, chirping softly as they clustered together in an oddly organized formation.
They looked like…
"…Chickens?" Yuuki said flatly.
"Commander," Yorktown said calmly, "those are Manjuus."
Yuuki stared.
"…Those are what?"
"Manjuus," she repeated. "They're… workers."
Yuuki turned slightly.
"JARVIS, are you seeing this?"
"Recording in progress, sir."
From orbit—
"Are those… chickens?" Eva's voice came through, clearly confused.
Vergil followed immediately.
"…No way."
Yorktown continued, as if this was completely normal.
"They can build, repair, cook… manage logistics. They handle most of the base operations."
Yuuki slowly turned back to her.
"…You're telling me these… chickens…"
He gestured vaguely at the swarm.
"…are your engineers?"
"They can do almost everything," Yorktown confirmed.
Laffey nodded slightly.
"…Very hardworking…"
Yuuki narrowed his eyes.
"They look like baby chickens."
"They do," Yorktown admitted.
"But they understand commands. Human language too."
Silence.
A long one.
Then—
"…How?" Yuuki muttered.
Up above, Vergil let out a low whistle.
"Yeah… we're just as lost as you are."
A beat.
"…Hey, mind sending a few up here?"
Yuuki shot back immediately.
"You're not dissecting them."
"Hey, relax," Vergil replied. "We just want to observe them up close."
A small pause.
"These little guys doing human-level work? That's worth studying."
Yuuki looked back at the swarm of Manjuus.
They chirped.
Waited.
As if expecting orders.
Yuuki let out a quiet sigh, rubbing the back of his neck as he stared at the sea of yellow fluff in front of him.
"…This world just keeps getting weirder."
His eyes scanned the hundreds—no, thousands—of Manjuus gathered outside his newly established base.
"…Where am I even supposed to keep all of you?"
"You don't have to worry, Commander," Yorktown replied gently. "They don't stay here all the time. They have… their own space."
"…Their own space?" Yuuki echoed.
"When the base is under attack, they retreat there," she explained. "And when it's safe again… they come back."
Yuuki blinked.
"…A separate world."
A pause.
"…Of course they do."
He exhaled slowly.
"Right. I'm not even going to question that right now."
He stepped forward slightly, addressing the crowd of Manjuus.
"Well then…"
He raised a hand casually.
"Nice to meet you all. I'm Yukihira Yuuki, High Commander of the Global Defense Initiative."
A brief pause.
"I don't have any specific orders for you yet. So… feel free to stay in your world for now until I call on you."
The response was immediate.
"Chirp! Chirp!"
Yuuki stared.
"…Yeah. This is weird."
Yorktown tilted her head slightly. "You don't have any tasks for them?"
"Not yet," Yuuki replied. "My drones already handle most operations. But…"
He glanced at them again, thinking.
"…I'll find something. No point wasting a workforce like this."
A faint smirk.
"I might even send a few up to the Little Doctor. The crew would lose their minds over these guys."
From orbit, Vergil's voice came through instantly.
"Oh, absolutely. Send them."
Yuuki ignored him—for now.
Then, his attention shifted.
Back to the girls.
"…Also."
A simple question.
"Are you two hungry?"
Silence.
Yorktown and Laffey froze.
Then—
"…We haven't eaten… in months," Yorktown admitted quietly.
Yuuki's expression softened immediately.
"…Right."
"Yeah. That tracks."
He turned without another word.
"Come on."
The cafeteria inside the MCV was just as advanced as the rest of the base.
Clean.
Spacious.
Fully automated.
Yuuki issued a few quick commands through his interface, and the drones immediately began preparing food. Mechanical precision replaced traditional cooking, yet the result was anything but artificial.
Within ten minutes—
A full meal was laid out.
Not ration packs.
Not survival food.
A feast.
Warm dishes, perfectly arranged, steam rising gently from freshly prepared meals.
Yuuki leaned casually against the counter.
"They're based on my own recipes," he said. "The drones replicate them at about 99.99% accuracy."
A faint smirk crossed his face.
"Perks of having overkill technology."
Yorktown and Laffey stood there—
Frozen.
Not because of fear.
But because they couldn't believe what they were seeing.
Food.
Real food.
After months of barely surviving.
Their hands trembled slightly as they approached the table.
"…You can eat," Yuuki said softly. "As much as you want."
That was all it took.
They didn't hold back.
Not anymore.
They ate.
Quickly at first—
Then desperately.
And then—
Emotionally.
Tears streamed down their faces as they continued eating, unable to stop. Every bite reminded them of what they had lost… and what they had been denied for so long.
Warmth.
Comfort.
Normalcy.
Yuuki watched quietly from the side.
"Slowly… there's plenty to go around," Yuuki said gently, watching them from the side.
But the two girls didn't slow down.
They couldn't.
Yorktown's hands trembled slightly as she held her utensils, her voice breaking between bites.
"…Commander… we're afraid this is a dream…"
Her eyes glistened.
"…That we've already died… and this is heaven."
Yuuki shook his head softly.
"No… it's real."
His tone wasn't forceful.
Just certain.
"And it's not going anywhere."
He let that settle before continuing.
"After this, you two should get some rest. You've been through more than enough."
He gestured lightly toward the inner sections of the base.
"I'll put you in the same room. If you need anything, I'll be outside. I still have to oversee the transfer of Siren wreckage to orbit."
They nodded faintly, still eating—but slower now.
More… human.
Yuuki allowed himself a small smile.
Yeah… this is better.
Once they finished, he personally escorted them deeper into the MCV.
One of the Iron Legions followed silently behind, acting as both escort and security. The corridors shifted subtly as they passed—lighting adjusting, doors opening automatically, systems recognizing his presence.
When they reached the dormitory—
The door slid open.
Yorktown and Laffey stopped at the entrance.
"…This is… a room?" Yorktown whispered.
It didn't look like military housing.
It looked like something far more refined.
Spacious beds.
Clean, modern design.
A private bathroom.
Even a holographic entertainment panel embedded into the wall.
Comfort.
Privacy.
Luxury.
Even by their old standards—
This was something else.
Yuuki stepped in casually.
"Go ahead," he said. "It's yours."
They entered slowly, still trying to process it.
Then—
He walked over to a panel on the wall and activated it.
A soft glow appeared.
"This is a clothing generator," he explained. "Pick whatever you want. The system will fabricate it instantly using nanomachines. Custom fit, based on your measurements."
Yorktown blinked.
"…Anything?"
"Anything," Yuuki confirmed.
He glanced at the interface.
"Most of the designs were made by the girls back on the ship. So… expect variety."
Laffey stared at the options silently.
"…So many…"
Yuuki stepped back toward the door.
"Just rest, alright?"
He reached into his pocket and handed them a small device—a pin bearing the GDI crest.
"Communicator. Press it if you need me."
Yorktown accepted it carefully.
Then—
She hesitated.
"…Commander."
Yuuki paused.
"…Why do you trust us so much?"
The question lingered.
He didn't answer immediately.
Then—
He turned slightly.
"…Because I see myself in you."
Their eyes widened slightly.
"I know what it looks like when someone's been pushed to the edge and still chooses to stand."
A brief pause.
"And I know who I can trust."
He gave a faint, almost tired smile.
"I may look like I'm in my twenties…"
"…but I've lived long enough to recognize sincerity when I see it."
His gaze softened.
"You two are genuine."
"And that's enough for me."
Another pause.
"I'll find the others. As many as I can."
Before he could say anything else—
They moved.
Fast.
Wrapping their arms around him again.
"Commander… thank you…"
Yorktown's voice trembled.
"…for giving us a second chance."
Laffey held onto him quietly, but tightly.
Yuuki exhaled softly.
Then gently placed his hands on their heads again.
"Yeah…"
A small smile.
"I tend to do that."
He lightly tapped their shoulders.
"Now go."
"Rest."
"And take a long bath."
He glanced at them briefly.
"You've probably been waiting months for that too."
Yorktown flushed slightly.
"…We might be… a little…"
"Don't worry about it," Yuuki cut in casually. "Nothing in this place can't handle that."
That finally earned a small, embarrassed smile from her.
Satisfied, Yuuki stepped out.
The door slid shut behind him with a soft hiss.
And just like that—
For the first time in a long while—
Yorktown and Laffey were safe.
Warm.
Fed.
And no longer alone.
==============
Steam lingered softly in the air, curling along the edges of the bath as the water gently rippled around them.
For the first time in what felt like forever—
There was no sound of gunfire.
No distant explosions.
No alarms.
Just… quiet.
Yorktown sat with her back against the smooth edge of the bath, her arms loosely wrapped around Laffey, who rested comfortably against her chest. The warmth seeped into their skin, easing tension they didn't even realize they were still holding.
Neither of them spoke at first.
They were afraid to.
As if saying the wrong thing might break the moment.
"…Big sister Yorktown…" Laffey's voice came softly, almost drowsy.
Yorktown tightened her hold slightly, resting her chin gently atop Laffey's head.
"I'm here."
Laffey didn't respond immediately.
She just leaned into her.
Safe.
Finally safe.
The thought lingered between them, fragile and unfamiliar.
For months, survival had been all they knew—cold nights, empty stomachs, broken bodies, and fading hope. Every day had been a question of whether they would make it to the next.
And now—
Warm water.
Clean air.
A place to rest.
It almost felt wrong.
"…Is it okay… to rest like this?" Laffey murmured.
Yorktown's eyes lowered slightly.
That question…
It hurt more than anything else.
"…It feels unfair," she admitted quietly. "While the others are still out there…"
Her voice softened.
"…fighting… hiding… or…"
She didn't finish.
She didn't need to.
Both of them knew.
The lost ones.
The fallen.
The ones reduced to cubes—
Or worse.
The ones never found.
The ones who might still be waiting.
Yorktown's grip tightened just slightly.
"…We'll find them," she said, more to herself than anyone else.
"Commander Yuuki… he meant what he said."
A pause.
"And if there's even a chance…"
"…we'll take it."
Laffey nodded faintly, her eyes already half-closed.
"…Laffey believes him…"
That was enough.
Silence returned.
But this time—
It was peaceful.
Later, wrapped in fresh clothes and finally free from the weight of grime and exhaustion, they lay together on the soft bed provided to them.
The room was quiet.
Dim.
Comfortable.
Laffey had already fallen asleep, her breathing slow and steady as she curled slightly toward Yorktown.
Yorktown, however—
Was still awake.
Her hand rested gently over something she held close.
A single Wisdom Cube.
It pulsed faintly with a soft glow.
Familiar.
Precious.
Irreplaceable.
Her fingers brushed over its surface carefully, almost reverently.
"…We'll bring you back," she whispered.
Her voice barely audible.
Not a promise made lightly.
But one she intended to keep.
She brought it closer to her chest, holding it the way she once held her sister.
Her eyes softened.
And finally—
She let herself close them.
"…Good night, Hornet."
==============
"Home Island!!!" Yuuki declared with a satisfied grin, arms crossed as he looked over the freshly established base from a holographic display.
There was a pause.
Then—
"…That is a terrible name," Vergil said flatly.
Yuuki frowned. "Oh, come on. I'm the sole commander here. I get naming rights."
"You're the only commander there," Vergil corrected. "And the only man, apparently."
Yuuki exhaled through his nose. "Fine. Criticize all you want. I'm still keeping the name."
"Of course you are," Vergil muttered. "Where's your motivation, man…"
Yuuki ignored that.
"Hows our new staff members?" Vergil leaned back slightly on his end, waiting.
Yuuki sighed. "They're alive. Stable. Physically recovered."
A short pause. "…Mentally? Not so much."
His gaze drifted slightly.
"They've been alone here for a year. Watching everything fall apart."
Another pause.
"…That kind of damage doesn't go away overnight."
Vergil nodded faintly. "Yeah… figures."
Then Yuuki straightened slightly.
"So. What did you find?"
Vergil's expression shifted as multiple data windows opened on his side.
"…You're not going to like this."
Yuuki raised a brow.
"Try me."
Vergil didn't sugarcoat it.
"This world is completely messed up."
Yuuki's expression flattened.
"…Explain."
"Population imbalance," Vergil said. "Extreme one. We're talking roughly a 100-to-1 ratio."
A pause.
"Women to men."
Yuuki blinked once.
"…You're serious?"
"Dead serious. Men are borderline extinct."
He tapped a screen.
"Most major cities? Female-dominated. Entire infrastructures built around that imbalance." Another pause. "And men?"
Yuuki's eyes narrowed slightly. "…What about them?"
Vergil didn't hesitate. "Treated like rare commodities."
A beat. "Breeders. Assets. Status symbols."
Silence.
Yuuki leaned back slightly.
"…Hah."
A dry, humorless sound. "Sounds like heaven for some idiots."
His expression hardened. "I don't call that heaven."
Vergil nodded. "Gets worse."
Yuuki didn't react.
"Most of the major factions still exist—Eagle Union, Royal Navy, Sakura Empire…"
Another pause. "They're all under Siren control."
That made Yuuki's eyes sharpen.
"…So humanity didn't just lose."
"They folded," Vergil said bluntly. "Resources, infrastructure, command structures… all under Siren influence."
Yuuki exhaled slowly.
"…This world really is screwed."
"No argument here."
There was a moment of silence between them.
Then Yuuki spoke again—calm, but colder now.
"I'm not here to save this world."
Vergil glanced at him.
"Figured."
Yuuki's eyes shifted slightly toward the direction of the dormitories.
"I'm here for the shipgirls."
A pause.
"To find them. Gather them."
Another pause.
"And give them a place where they won't be used and discarded."
His tone didn't rise.
But it carried weight.
"And if the Sirens get in the way…"
His eyes hardened completely.
"I'll remove them."
A brief silence.
Then—
"…Humans included?" Vergil asked carefully.
Yuuki didn't hesitate.
"If they become a threat—yes."
No anger.
No hesitation.
Just a statement.
Vergil studied him for a moment.
Then exhaled lightly.
"…Yeah."
"That sounds like you."
The line stayed open.
But neither of them spoke for a few seconds.
Because they both understood— anything that stood in the way—
Would be dealt with.
Humans or Sirens.
========
"Big sister Yorktown…"
Yorktown stirred slightly, her eyes half-opening as she turned her head toward the small voice beside her.
"Laffey?"
Laffey shifted closer under the blanket, her fingers lightly clutching Yorktown's sleeve.
"…Can I sleep with you?"
Yorktown didn't hesitate.
"…Of course."
She gently pulled her closer, letting Laffey rest against her as she adjusted the blanket over both of them. The warmth they had just rediscovered in the bath lingered, but this—this closeness—was something deeper.
Something they had both nearly forgotten.
Laffey curled slightly.
"…Laffey misses Javelin… Nimi… and Ayanami…"
Her voice was soft.
Distant.
Like she was speaking from somewhere far away.
Yorktown's expression softened, though a faint ache passed through her chest.
"…I miss Enterprise… and Hornet too…"
A pause.
Her gaze drifted upward, unfocused.
"…Where are you, Enterprise…?"
No answer came.
Only silence.
The kind that lingered.
The kind that hurt.
Slowly, Yorktown lowered her gaze.
Back to her hands.
To the faint, gentle glow resting between her fingers.
The Wisdom Cube.
It pulsed quietly, as if alive… or perhaps waiting.
Waiting for something.
Waiting for someone.
Her grip tightened just slightly.
"…Hornet…"
For a moment, she simply watched it.
Memories flickered in her mind—laughter, arguments, missions, quiet conversations… the warmth of having someone always by your side.
And then—
Nothing.
Reduced to this single, fragile form.
Her eyes dimmed slightly.
Then—
A thought surfaced. "…If Commander Yuuki really has that kind of technology…"
Her fingers trembled faintly. "…If I give him this cube…"
She hesitated.
Because the question wasn't simple.
It wasn't just about power.
Or capability.
It was about trust.
"…What would he do…?"
Would he study it?
Experiment on it?
Use it?
Or…
Would he actually—
Bring her back?
Yorktown's eyes closed slowly.
Not in sleep.
But in uncertainty.
Because for the first time in a long while—
There was hope.
And that made it far more terrifying than despair.
===============
Yorktown's eyes snapped open.
The first thing she saw was the clock.
And the moment it registered—
She shot upright.
"…Noon?!"
Panic hit instantly.
"This is bad—this is really bad!"
She turned and shook the still half-asleep destroyer beside her.
"Laffey! Wake up!"
"…Mmm… five more minutes…" Laffey mumbled, curling slightly under the blanket.
"No, not five minutes!" Yorktown insisted, already scrambling out of bed. "It's almost noon! It's our first day!"
That did it.
Laffey slowly sat up, rubbing her eyes.
"…First day…"
A pause.
"…Oh."
That was the extent of her panic.
They rushed.
Quick bath.
Uniforms restored.
Hair barely managed.
But they made it out.
Running through the corridors, they finally reached the cafeteria—
And stopped.
Yuuki was already there.
Calm.
Relaxed.
Sitting beside his Mark 47 armor as if he had all the time in the world.
He glanced up as they entered. "…Morning?"
Yorktown immediately bowed her head.
"Commander, we're sorry!"
Yuuki blinked. "…For what?"
"We're late on our first day!"
Beside her, Laffey walked forward without urgency at all—
Then simply leaned against Yuuki, resting her head against his lap.
"Good afternoon, Commander…"
A small yawn.
"…still sleepy…"
Yuuki looked down at her.
Then back at Yorktown.
"…You two woke up like ten seconds ago, didn't you?"
"I am really sorry!" Yorktown insisted again, clearly distressed.
Yuuki sighed lightly. "Hey… relax."
He gestured casually. "You don't even have official duties yet."
Yorktown paused. "…We don't?"
"I was planning to let you rest today anyway," he said. "Until I figure out what suits you two best."
Yorktown hesitated. "…But that feels… highly unethical…"
Yuuki raised a brow. "…Unethical?"
"You're our commander," she said. "We shouldn't be—"
"It's fine," Yuuki cut in calmly.
"You're not even in the system yet. No assignments, no roles."
He leaned back slightly. "Consider today your day off."
Yorktown blinked.
"…Muu…"
Yuuki smirked faintly. "I made lunch."
He nodded toward the table. "Why don't you eat first."
Then he glanced down at the girl still comfortably leaning on him. "Laffey, you might want to wake up."
A pause.
"Or Yorktown's going to eat everything."
Laffey's eyes opened halfway.
"…She would…"
"Commander!" Yorktown protested immediately. They just met yesterday and felt like being friends for a while.
Yuuki chuckled. "I'm kidding."
Laffey slowly sat up, though she didn't move far.
"…Laffey will eat too…"
Yuuki nodded, a small, satisfied smile forming on his face.
"Good. That's the spirit."
He leaned back slightly, casual as ever.
"Oh—and don't worry. The sea's almost completely cleared. Most of the wreckage and Siren bodies have already been sent to space for processing. Power plants are online, base defenses are up…"
A brief pause.
"And the Gap Generators are active."
Yorktown blinked.
"I've been meaning to ask… what exactly are Gap Generators? You explained yesterday but, I was too injured to process."
Yuuki tilted his head slightly, then answered without hesitation.
"Old tech by my standards—but still useful. Originally developed by Albert Einstein in my world during the Second World War."
He tapped lightly on the table as he explained.
"They disrupt radar and surveillance systems. Create what we call 'dark sectors'—areas where detection just… fails."
Yorktown listened closely.
"So enemies can't see what's inside?"
"Exactly," Yuuki nodded. "Bases, movements, deployments—all hidden. Back then, it helped the Allies stay one step ahead."
He paused briefly.
"By the time of the Third World War, the design barely changed. Just refined. It constantly emits interference, so anything trying to scan this island?"
A faint smirk.
"They'll see nothing useful. And we even improved them even more once integrated in the GDI."
Yorktown nodded slowly.
"I see…"
Then she looked at him again.
"…You really are from another world."
Yuuki raised a brow.
"You're not surprised?"
Yorktown shook her head.
"Not really. We've… seen things."
Her expression grew more serious.
"The concept of other worlds wasn't introduced by humans."
Yuuki's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…The Sirens."
Yorktown nodded.
"They were the first to show us."
Yuuki leaned forward slightly.
"Then tell me properly."
His tone sharpened—not aggressive, but focused.
"What exactly are the Sirens?"
Yorktown took a small breath before answering.
"They are invaders."
Her voice carried weight now.
"The enemies of humanity… and of Azur Lane."
She continued, steady but somber.
"We've fought them for years. Sometimes alongside the Crimson Axis… sometimes against them. But against the Sirens, we were united."
Laffey, now more awake, added quietly—
"…They're everywhere…"
Yorktown nodded.
"They appear in many forms. Mass-produced units… fleets… and higher-ranking humanoids like the one you captured."
Yuuki's gaze flickered briefly—Purifier.
Still alive.
Still valuable.
"They're not just one group either," Yorktown continued. "There are different classifications. We don't know if they share the same goal… or if they're competing among themselves."
A pause.
"But to us…"
Her eyes hardened slightly.
"They're all enemies."
Yuuki remained silent, letting her continue.
"Their design is… unnatural," she said. "Advanced. Far beyond anything humanity could create."
"Black mechanical structures… integrated into their bodies. Weapons, constructs… extensions."
Laffey murmured softly—
"…Like they're part machine…"
Yorktown nodded.
"And their designs often resemble sea creatures… but distorted. Enhanced."
She looked at Yuuki again.
"They don't fight like humans."
"They don't think like humans."
Another pause.
"And worst of all…"
Her voice lowered.
"They learn."
Silence settled between them.
Yuuki leaned back slowly, processing everything.
Then—
A faint, almost amused exhale.
"…Good."
Yorktown blinked.
"…Good?"
Yuuki's eyes sharpened slightly, a familiar glint returning.
"Means they're worth studying."
A small pause.
"And worth fighting."
He tapped the table lightly.
"We'll break them down. Figure out how they work."
His tone turned colder.
"And then we improve on it."
Yorktown and Laffey exchanged a glance.
For the first time—
They realized something clearly.
The Sirens weren't just enemies to Yuuki.
They were—
A problem to solve.
Yuuki leaned back slightly, watching her with quiet interest.
"Tell me about yourself, Yorktown. I've read about you… but I'm sure this world has its own version."
Yorktown nodded slowly, gathering her thoughts.
"I was revived by Azur Lane… before I was sunk in the Battle of Midway."
Her gaze lowered slightly.
"I lost… to Hiryuu of the Sakura Empire."
There was no bitterness in her tone.
Just memory.
"…But I didn't disappear," she continued softly. "My sisters found me… and brought me back before I sank completely."
Yuuki tilted his head.
"Sisters… Enterprise and Hornet?"
A small, genuine warmth appeared in her expression.
"Yes."
A pause.
"They're the ones I'm closest to."
Then, almost casually—
"I have at least forty-seven sisters."
Yuuki blinked.
"…Forty-seven?"
Laffey let out a quiet, almost amused sound.
"…Laffey only has five…"
Then her expression dimmed slightly.
"…Laffey misses them…"
Yorktown's eyes softened.
"…I miss mine too."
Yuuki tapped his fingers lightly against the table.
"Don't worry."
Both of them looked at him.
"We'll find a way."
His tone was calm.
Certain.
"I'll locate the former Azur Lane headquarters. If there are answers… they'll be there."
Yorktown's expression shifted immediately.
"…Commander… that place…"
She hesitated.
"…It's ground zero."
Yuuki didn't react.
"When I said bombing run… I meant it."
Her voice lowered.
"The Sirens dropped a nuclear weapon there."
A brief silence.
"It's highly radioactive."
Yuuki shrugged lightly.
"Not a problem."
Yorktown frowned slightly.
"But—"
"Yorktown," he interrupted gently.
"We operate at a level where radiation isn't a concern."
His tone wasn't arrogant.
Just factual.
"…Type 6 civilization. Radiation is ancient history. Plus, we have the ECO drones, they could clear the air and prevent contamination."
That alone ended the argument.
Yorktown slowly nodded.
"…I see."
There was a pause.
Then—
"…Commander."
Yuuki looked at her.
"…Can you answer something for me?"
"Go ahead."
Yorktown hesitated.
For the first time since they met—
She looked uncertain.
Not as a soldier.
But as someone who had lost too much.
"…Can I really place my trust in you?"
Her hands tightened slightly.
"Will you… not abandon me?"
Her voice softened.
"…Like everyone else did."
She shook her head faintly.
"It wasn't their fault… I know that."
"But…"
Her eyes met his.
"I don't have the strength to reach for the light again… if it disappears."
A pause.
"…Will you leave me, Commander?"
"…Or will you guide me… if I take your hand?"
Silence followed.
Yuuki didn't hesitate.
"Do you even need to ask?"
His answer was immediate.
Steady.
"You two are my first shipgirls."
A faint smile formed.
"My first allies in this world."
Another pause.
"And my first friends here."
Yorktown's breath caught slightly.
"…Commander…"
She looked away quickly, a faint flush rising to her face.
"You really won't let me dislike you…"
She muttered under her breath.
"…You're strange…"
A small pause.
"Even when I don't want to feel this way again…"
Her voice softened further.
"You keep stepping closer…"
Yuuki raised a brow.
"…You say something?"
Yorktown straightened instantly.
"Nothing."
Too fast.
Too clean.
Then, clearing her throat—
"I am Yorktown. Lead ship of the Yorktown-class aircraft carriers."
She lifted her chin slightly, regaining composure.
"My name comes from the Siege of Yorktown."
Yuuki smirked faintly.
"Eagle Union Revolutionary War, right?"
Then he added casually—
"Wasn't that… neutrality breaking?"
Yorktown glanced at him.
"…Neutrality?"
A faint, knowing smile appeared.
"That's just something people say before war begins."
Yuuki let out a short chuckle.
"…Fair enough."
Yorktown said nothing at first.
Slowly… carefully… she reached into her uniform and placed something on the table between them.
A faint glow pulsed softly.
"This is… what you called a Wisdom Cube."
Yuuki's gaze immediately sharpened.
It wasn't just curiosity.
It was recognition.
"…It belongs to my second sister…" Yorktown continued, her voice quieter now.
"…Hornet."
Silence settled over the table.
Even Laffey didn't speak.
Yorktown's fingers lingered near the cube, as if reluctant to let go.
"I decided to show it to you…"
She looked up at him.
But this time—
There was vulnerability.
"Please promise me…"
A small pause.
"…you won't experiment on her."
Yuuki didn't hesitate.
"No."
His answer was immediate.
Firm.
"I have no reason to."
He gestured slightly.
"I've got plenty of Siren corpses for that."
Then, more thoughtfully—
"But I am interested in what you said earlier."
His eyes returned to the cube.
"…That this is what remains when a shipgirl 'dies'."
Yorktown nodded faintly.
"Yes…"
JARVIS' voice suddenly cut in.
"Sir, the object is emitting a unique energy signature."
Yuuki didn't look away.
"Go on."
"If we can triangulate this signal," JARVIS continued, "we may be able to use the Ion Cannon satellite network to detect similar signatures globally."
A brief pause.
"We could locate all Wisdom Cubes across the planet."
Yorktown's breath caught.
"…All of them?"
"The lost ones," JARVIS confirmed. "Those sunk at sea… or otherwise unrecovered."
Yuuki leaned back slightly.
"…That's actually brilliant."
He tapped the table once.
"But we'd need full satellite deployment."
"How long?" he asked.
"Approximately five days."
Yuuki nodded.
"We can wait."
His tone turned decisive.
"In that time, we stabilize the base, finish defenses, and prepare recovery operations."
He looked at the cube again.
"Once we find them…"
A pause.
"We bring them back."
Yorktown's hands trembled slightly.
Hope.
Real hope.
After years.
Yuuki leaned forward again, studying the cube more closely.
"…What even powers something like this…"
And then—
He reached out.
His fingers made contact.
The moment his skin touched the cube—
Everything changed.
A violent surge shot through his body.
Like being struck by lightning—
But from the inside.
His entire frame tensed instantly.
"—!"
No sound escaped him.
Then—
He collapsed.
"Commander!!" Yorktown screamed, rushing forward.
Laffey jumped up immediately.
"Sir!!" JARVIS' voice spiked.
Yuuki slump on the table side.
Unconscious.
The cube rolled slightly across the table, still glowing faintly—
As if nothing had happened.
Yorktown froze for a split second.
Then panic overtook her.
"No… no… no…"
Her hands trembled as she dropped beside him.
"…It's my fault…"
Her voice broke.
"I shouldn't have—"
She clenched her fists.
"I shouldn't have shown him—"
Laffey knelt beside her, eyes wide but focused.
"…He's breathing…"
JARVIS responded immediately.
"Vital signs are unstable but present. Initiating emergency diagnostics."
Yorktown's vision blurred.
"…Please…"
She looked at Yuuki—
The man who had just given them everything.
"…Don't die…"
Her voice cracked completely.
"…Not because of me…"