The automated submarine traveled beneath the waves for several minutes.
Belfast sat quietly inside the cramped command compartment, watching the navigation display.
The marker representing the Rapture cargo vessel was getting closer.
Then Friday spoke.
"Target ahead."
Belfast immediately looked toward the forward display.
The submarine's sensors began returning a massive contact.
"That's not a cargo ship..."
Ade leaned forward.
"That's enormous."
The vessel appeared on the tactical display.
It was easily three times the size of a conventional cargo ship.
At first glance, it resembled a massive civilian transport vessel.
But the closer the submarine came, the more obvious the deception became.
The ship wasn't really a cargo ship.
It was a mobile carrier disguised as one.
Its upper deck contained concealed launch facilities.
Its internal hull was large enough to transport troops, equipment and prisoners.
Its lower sections appeared to have docking facilities for submarines.
And surrounding the vessel were numerous smaller ships.
Siren vessels.
Rapture patrol boats.
And then Belfast noticed something particularly strange.
Four attack helicopters were circling the ship.
Belfast narrowed her eyes.
"Why would a cargo ship require four attack helicopters?"
Cocoa checked the sensor feed.
"Those aren't civilian escorts."
Arisa studied the vessel.
"It appears to be heavily armed."
Ade frowned.
"More like a submarine and helicopter carrier pretending to be a cargo ship."
Belfast nodded.
"An ideal transport vessel for prisoners."
She looked toward the projected route.
"They could move everyone inside the ship and escort them directly to Exia Base."
Soda crossed her arms.
"So Edinburgh is somewhere in there."
"Yes."
Belfast's eyes hardened.
"She's in there."
The submarine continued forward.
Its automated systems calculated the approach.
The enormous vessel remained completely unaware of the approaching craft.
Then the submarine descended.
The automated vessel slipped beneath the cargo ship.
Belfast watched the sonar display.
The ship's enormous hull passed overhead.
The submarine moved toward a concealed underwater docking port.
"Friday?"
"Docking port located."
The submarine adjusted its position.
CLUNK.
The docking clamps engaged.
A moment later, the submarine began rising.
It emerged inside a massive internal naval port hidden beneath the ship's hull.
The chamber was enormous.
Multiple submarines could have docked inside.
Crates were stacked along the walls.
Loading equipment moved automatically.
Rapture droids patrolled the area.
Belfast immediately raised her weapon.
"Droids."
Ade checked the surroundings.
"How many?"
"Enough."
Soda grinned.
"Then let's make sure they don't call for friends."
The submarine completed its docking procedure.
The hatch opened.
Belfast and Arisa moved first.
The Rapture droids approached the submarine expecting a routine transfer.
Instead, two armored figures emerged.
Belfast drew her pistol.
Arisa did the same.
POP!
Belfast's shot struck a droid directly in the head.
POP!
Arisa eliminated another.
The remaining droids barely had time to react.
Belfast stepped forward.
"Royal Maids."
The rest of the team emerged from the submarine.
Ade.
Soda.
Cocoa.
All armed.
All wearing their Echo Suit Mark IIs.
Soda raised her weapon.
"Let's go get our sisters."
The last nearby droid turned toward them.
ZZZRAK!
Ade dropped it.
Silence returned to the docking bay.
Belfast looked around.
Sentry guns guarded each corner. However, Friday had already infiltrated the ship and disabled all of them, including the security cameras, which were now playing recorded footage on a loop.
The scale of the ship was even greater from inside.
Multiple corridors branched away from the port.
Cargo elevators descended into the lower decks.
A heavily reinforced passage led toward the vessel's central section.
And somewhere inside this enormous mobile carrier...
Edinburgh, Glasgow and Newcastle were being held.
Belfast opened the tactical map.
"Friday."
"Yes, Belfast?"
"Locate the prisoner compartments."
"Searching."
A holographic map began forming in front of her.
"Multiple internal security zones detected."
"Any prisoner signatures?"
A pause.
"Unable to confirm."
Belfast frowned.
"Then we'll search manually."
Ade stepped beside her.
"We're inside their ship."
Soda grinned.
"And they don't know we're here."
Cocoa checked her ammunition.
"Yet."
Arisa looked toward the corridors.
"Then we should take advantage of that."
Belfast nodded.
"Exactly."
She looked toward the others.
"Stay together."
"Move quietly."
The Royal Maids moved away from the submarine docking bay.
They followed the corridor toward the nearest access elevator, hoping to reach the upper decks where the prisoner compartments were most likely located.
Belfast reached the security terminal and connected Friday.
A holographic interface appeared.
DECK ACCESS
CURRENT DECK — ACCESS GRANTED
UPPER DECK — SECURITY LEVEL 3 REQUIRED
LOWER DECK — SECURITY LEVEL 2 REQUIRED
Belfast frowned.
"Level three for the upper deck..."
Ade checked the terminal.
"And level two for the lower deck."
Soda looked at Belfast.
"Do we have either?"
Belfast shook her head.
"No."
Arisa examined the interface.
"We don't even possess a Level One security key."
Cocoa sighed.
"So we're stuck on this floor."
Friday confirmed it.
"Correct."
Belfast considered their options.
They couldn't force their way through the security doors without triggering an alarm.
And with the entire vessel surrounded by Rapture and Siren escorts, raising the alarm this early would be foolish.
Then Friday spoke.
"Primary mission remains unchanged."
The words appeared across Belfast's visor.
LOCATE AND RESCUE SHIPGIRL PRISONERS.
Belfast nodded.
"Of course."
She looked down the corridor.
"Then we search this deck."
The Royal Maids continued forward.
They eventually reached a massive storage facility.
The doors were partially open.
Inside, rows upon rows of crates were stacked almost to the ceiling.
Belfast scanned the markings.
Her eyes widened.
"These aren't ordinary supplies."
Ade approached one of the crates.
She opened it.
Inside was a weapon.
Not a conventional firearm.
A Rapture-designed weapon.
Ade lifted it carefully.
"More weapons found here."
Soda opened another crate.
"More here..."
Cocoa examined another container.
"Explosives."
Arisa found a rack containing unfamiliar ammunition.
"This entire room is an armory."
Belfast looked around.
The discovery immediately changed their priorities.
"Take samples."
The others looked at her.
"Samples?"
"Yes."
Belfast opened her dimensional storage interface.
"We need these transferred to GDS Philadelphia."
Ade immediately understood.
"Vice Commander Vergil."
"Exactly. He would scold us if we return empty handed for not obtaining any weapon sample."
The Vice Commander had specifically requested samples of Rapture technology.
Not the entire armory.
Just enough to study.
Vergil had warned them that the first captured weapon could be damaged during examination or destroyed during reverse engineering.
So they needed backups.
Two or three examples of each important system.
Ade picked up another weapon.
"This should be useful."
Soda examined a compact Rapture firearm, launchers and even melee based weapon.
"How about this?"
"Take it."
Cocoa found a box of specialized explosives.
"And these?"
"One or two."
Arisa nodded.
"We should avoid taking too much."
Belfast agreed.
"We're here to rescue our sisters, not empty the entire armory."
Soda paused.
She looked around at the mountains of weapons.
"...Shame."
Ade laughed.
"You sound like Neon."
Soda shook her head.
"No, Neon would have taken the entire room."
Cocoa smiled.
"She probably would."
Belfast imagined the scene.
Neon standing in the middle of the armory, surrounded by crates.
Commander! Look at all these weapons!
She almost smiled.
"If Neon were here, we'd never get her out."
The Royal Maids continued collecting samples.
Rapture rifles.
Energy weapons.
Launchers.
Melee weapons.
Explosives.
Ammunition.
Weapon components.
Even several damaged prototypes were collected in case they contained useful technology.
Each item was transferred into the dimensional cube.
The cube's storage system compressed the equipment without affecting its physical integrity.
Friday catalogued each sample automatically.
RAPTURE WEAPON — SAMPLE 01
RAPTURE WEAPON — SAMPLE 02
EXPLOSIVE DEVICE — SAMPLE 01
ENERGY AMMUNITION — SAMPLE 01
UNKNOWN WEAPON COMPONENT — SAMPLE 01
Belfast watched the list grow.
"Vice Commander Vergil is going to be very happy."
Ade chuckled.
"Especially when he realizes we found an entire rapture armory."
"Just remember his request."
Belfast looked toward the crates.
"Two or three samples."
Soda nodded.
"Right."
She glanced at the remaining weapons.
"...Only two or three."
The others stared at her.
Soda sighed.
"Fine."
She reluctantly closed the crate.
"Two or three."
Belfast smiled.
"Good."
After several minutes, they had gathered enough samples to make the trip worthwhile without overloading their storage.
Belfast closed the dimensional cube.
"Done."
Friday confirmed.
"Samples secured."
Belfast looked toward the sealed security doors at the far end of the storage facility.
The upper decks remained inaccessible.
The lower decks remained inaccessible.
And somewhere beyond those locked doors...
Edinburgh, Glasgow and Newcastle were still waiting.
Belfast tightened her grip on her pistol.
"Now we find a way forward."
The Royal Maids left the armory behind.
They had come aboard looking for three sisters.
They had gained something else along the way.
A treasure trove of Rapture technology.
Vergil would certainly be pleased.
But Belfast had no intention of letting the weapons distract her.
============
Deep within the carrier, far away from the Royal Maids, the prison deck remained eerily quiet.
Six Shipgirls were confined together.
For the first time since their capture, Edinburgh was no longer separated from the Kancolle allies who had shared the island with them.
She wrapped her arms around Kancolle Prinz Eugen.
"Eugen..."
The young blonde Shipgirl hugged her back tightly.
"Edinburgh..."
Edinburgh closed her eyes.
For years, they had survived together.
They had fought together.
They had hidden together.
And when the Raptures finally overwhelmed their island, they had been taken together.
Now, even though they were prisoners once again...
At least they weren't alone.
Nearby, Kancolle Akashi and Asahi watched the reunion.
Akashi smiled softly.
"It's good to see everyone together again."
Asahi nodded.
"Indeed."
Glasgow and Newcastle stood nearby, exchanging relieved looks.
For years, the six of them had been scattered across different parts of the island and the Rapture facility.
Now they were finally together again.
Edinburgh looked toward Prinz Eugen.
The difference between this Eugen and the Prinz Eugen she remembered from Azur Lane was almost amusing.
The young Kancolle Shipgirl had long blonde twin-tails secured with anchor-shaped hair ornaments.
Her blue-green eyes were youthful and expressive.
She wore a dark German naval uniform inspired by her world's Bismarck's design, complete with shoulder pads and an Iron Cross patch.
Unlike the more provocative design of her Azur Lane counterpart, this Eugen looked almost like a proper naval cadet.
She was soft-spoken.
Polite.
Well-mannered.
And, much to Edinburgh's amusement, considerably more innocent.
Yet despite her youthful appearance, she still possessed a surprisingly mature figure.
Prinz Eugen noticed Edinburgh staring.
"Is something wrong?"
Edinburgh smiled.
"No, no."
She adjusted her glasses.
"I was just thinking about your counterpart."
The Kancolle Eugen blinked.
"My counterpart?"
"Yes."
Edinburgh chuckled.
"You would be very different from her."
Eugen looked curious.
"How so?"
Edinburgh thought for a moment.
"Well..."
She smiled mischievously.
"She's considerably more... generous in certain parts."
Eugen's cheeks turned pink.
"Generous?"
Glasgow covered her mouth, trying not to laugh.
Newcastle smiled.
Kancolle Akashi immediately understood.
"Oh."
Asahi looked toward Edinburgh.
"You mean the Azur Lane Prinz Eugen."
"Exactly."
Edinburgh nodded.
"Very teasing. Very confident. Very flirty and quite a teaser. And..."
She glanced at Eugen's figure.
"...rather proud of her alluring appearance."
Eugen's cheeks became even redder.
"I-I see."
Edinburgh smiled.
"Don't worry. I prefer your personality."
Eugen relaxed slightly.
"Thank you."
Glasgow suddenly spoke.
"You know, Hipper would probably prefer this Eugen."
Edinburgh laughed.
"Definitely."
Newcastle raised an eyebrow.
"Why?"
"Because Hipper constantly complains about her own Eugen being a tease."
Edinburgh shook her head.
"She would probably take one look at this Eugen and think she'd finally been given the polite little sister she always wanted."
Kancolle Eugen giggled.
"That sounds rather amusing."
Kancolle Akashi laughed.
"I would like to see that."
Asahi smiled.
"So would I."
The brief laughter inside the prison was precious.
For a moment, they weren't prisoners.
They were simply Shipgirls together again.
"Edinburgh."
Kancolle Prinz Eugen's voice broke the brief silence.
"We thought you escaped."
Edinburgh shook her head.
"We couldn't, Prinz."
She glanced toward the other Royal Maids.
"Sheffield, Gloucester, Liverpool and Manchester managed to escape."
Her expression softened.
"We weren't so fortunate."
Glasgow lowered her gaze.
"They gave us a chance to run."
Newcastle nodded.
"But the Raptures caught us before we could get far enough."
Eugen looked down sadly.
"I see..."
A moment of silence followed.
Then another voice spoke.
"If only I had my tools."
Everyone turned.
Kancolle Akashi was staring at the Rapture equipment surrounding them.
Unlike the green-haired, profit-obsessed Akashi from this world, this Akashi was almost completely different.
She had long pink hair tied with red ribbons and bright green eyes. Her sailor-style uniform was accompanied by mechanical equipment and repair tools, perfectly suited to her role as a repair ship.
She wasn't thinking about credits.
She wasn't thinking about merchandise.
She was thinking about machines.
And right now, she was looking at the Rapture technology surrounding them with a mixture of frustration and fascination.
Akashi sighed.
"This Rapture technology is fascinating."
She pointed toward one of the devices attached to the wall.
"But I can't even figure out how half of this works."
Edinburgh blinked.
"You can't?"
"I thought I was a genius back home!"
Akashi puffed out her cheeks.
"But this world..."
She looked around.
"I think I'm considerably less of a genius here."
Prinz Eugen smiled.
"Don't be so hard on yourself, Akashi-san."
"It's completely different technology."
"That's the problem."
Akashi sighed.
"I can't repair something if I don't understand its principles."
She looked toward the machinery again.
"Though I'd love to get my hands on some of their tools."
Edinburgh smiled.
"Given enough time, you'd probably reverse-engineer the entire ship."
Akashi's eyes lit up.
"Exactly!"
She suddenly looked excited.
"Give me a workshop, some spare parts and enough time, and I'll figure this place out!"
Glasgow laughed.
"There she is."
Akashi then glanced toward Edinburgh.
"Still, I can't believe the Akashi of this world is gone."
Edinburgh's expression became complicated.
"Yes."
Akashi tilted her head.
"I really wanted to meet her."
Edinburgh immediately shook her head.
"I recommend you don't."
Akashi blinked.
"Why?"
Edinburgh sighed.
"Last time, she tried to scam me out of my gold."
Akashi's eyes widened.
"She did what?"
"Imagine being offered equipment with a price tag equivalent to an entire gold bar."
Akashi stared.
"That's quite a scam."
Edinburgh nodded.
"She's... very good at it."
Kancolle Akashi became thoughtful.
"Now I'm curious what kind of genius she is."
Glasgow laughed.
"You might regret asking."
Akashi grinned.
"Maybe."
A quiet voice suddenly spoke from beside her.
"I wish I had a counterpart."
Everyone turned toward Asahi.
The Kancolle Repair and Training Cruiser sat quietly, her expression unusually thoughtful.
Her appearance and demeanor were prim and proper, carrying the dignified bearing of an older naval vessel.
Akashi immediately smiled.
"Don't worry, Asahi-chan!"
She reached over and gently patted Asahi's head.
"You definitely have a counterpart somewhere."
Asahi smiled faintly.
"You think so?"
"Of course."
Akashi continued patting her head.
"Every Shipgirl deserves a counterpart."
Asahi sighed.
"I suppose."
She looked toward the prison walls.
"I thought we came to this world because something wonderful had happened."
Her voice became quieter.
"Being transported to another world..."
She looked at her companions.
"Meeting new people."
"Seeing another version of history."
"Perhaps finding a new home."
She smiled sadly.
"But being stranded..."
Her eyes moved toward the locked door.
"And eventually captured."
She shook her head.
"That wasn't what I had in mind."
"At least someone is positive."
Edinburgh sighed, though there was a faint smile on her face.
"Indeed," Glasgow agreed.
"Yes..." Newcastle looked down for a moment. "I missed Bel and the others."
Edinburgh looked toward the sealed prison door.
"Wherever Bel is... I hope she's safe."
Kancolle Prinz Eugen tilted her head.
"This Belfast... can you tell us about her?"
"Bel?"
Edinburgh's expression immediately softened.
"She's my little sister."
She adjusted her glasses.
"Prim and proper. The Head Maid of the Royal Navy and Her Majesty's attendant."
Kancolle Akashi smiled.
"She sounds rather impressive."
"You would be a good attendant if you weren't so clumsy and obsessed with gold bars."
Edinburgh immediately protested.
"Hey! Gold is gold!"
Glasgow snickered.
Newcastle joined in.
"Plus, Bel once threw a gold bar into the trash bin."
The Kancolle Shipgirls stared.
Eugen blinked.
"She threw a gold bar... into a trash bin?"
"Yes."
Newcastle nodded.
"She can be remarkably disconnected from worldly desires."
Glasgow glanced at Edinburgh.
"Unlike her sister."
"Hey!"
Edinburgh crossed her arms.
"Gold is valuable!"
Akashi looked amused.
"I think I'd like to meet this Belfast."
"You don't."
Edinburgh's answer was immediate.
"She's scary when she's angry."
She shuddered theatrically.
"Imagine being responsible for twenty Royal Maids."
"Even a Priority Maid Ship respects her."
Kancolle Eugen smiled.
"She sounds formidable."
Akashi nodded enthusiastically.
"I definitely want to meet her."
"Someone's jealous."
Edinburgh looked away.
"I am not."
Glasgow smiled.
"Maybe if you learn to throw a gold bar into a trash bin, you might finally become a good attendant."
Edinburgh's eyes widened.
"No!"
She hugged her imaginary gold protectively.
"Gold is gold!"
Glasgow and Newcastle exchanged a look.
Both sighed simultaneously.
"Honestly..."
The Kancolle Shipgirls watched the sisters tease each other.
Despite being prisoners.
Despite being trapped aboard an enemy vessel.
Despite not knowing whether rescue would ever come.
The Royal Maids were still acting like sisters.
Eugen couldn't help but smile.
"I hope I can meet Belfast someday."
Edinburgh looked at her.
"Gold or not..."
Her expression became softer.
"I'd trade all of it for Bel."
Newcastle immediately caught the contradiction.
"Oh?"
Edinburgh froze.
"Isn't all that gold supposed to be for the Belfast Foundation?"
"Eep..."
Glasgow's eyes lit up.
"Oh, so that's what this is."
Edinburgh became increasingly embarrassed.
"The older sister loves her little sister so much that she saves gold for her future."
"Of course!"
Edinburgh defended herself.
"She threw a gold bar in a trash bin, so somebody has to save for her future!"
Newcastle grinned.
"Or your own."
Edinburgh's face turned red.
"That's not the point!"
Akashi quietly leaned toward Eugen.
"They're quite lively for prisoners."
Eugen nodded.
"Yes."
Asahi looked around their surroundings.
The warmth of the room was almost oppressive.
The six Shipgirls were being held in a section of the carrier positioned above one of its massive boiler and power systems.
The heat rising through the deck was relentless.
Their clothing had been improvised for captivity, and none of them had expected to spend years enduring conditions like this.
Even now, sweat formed along their faces despite the metal walls around them.
Glasgow wiped her forehead.
"It's getting hotter."
Newcastle sighed.
"Being imprisoned above a boiler isn't exactly comfortable."
Akashi looked toward one of the vents.
"At least the machinery is keeping us warm."
Edinburgh gave her a look.
"Akashi."
"Yes?"
"We're already sweating."
Akashi paused.
"...Fair point."
Kancolle Prinz Eugen giggled softly.
For a brief moment, the prison felt almost like a normal room.
Six Shipgirls talking.
Teasing one another.
Remembering family.
Remembering home.
But Edinburgh eventually looked toward the locked door again.
Her smile faded.
"Still..."
She placed a hand over her heart.
"I really do hope Bel is safe."
========================
The Royal Maids continued deeper into the carrier.
The corridor eventually opened into a massive weapons storage section.
Belfast stopped.
Friday immediately began scanning the room.
Rows of enormous missile racks stretched across the compartment, each one connected to thick ammunition feeds that disappeared into the walls and upper decks.
Belfast looked upward.
"Friday?"
"These appear to be the primary ammunition reserves for the vessel's surface-to-air missile systems."
Ade looked toward the racks.
"So the SAM batteries on the upper deck are being fed from here?"
"Correct."
Soda whistled.
"That's a lot of missiles."
Cocoa examined the markings.
"Some of these have already been used."
Friday projected a list of recorded engagements.
Belfast's expression hardened as she read through it.
Aircraft.
Military transports.
Reconnaissance craft.
Then one entry caught her attention.
CIVILIAN AIRLINER — DESTROYED
Belfast went silent.
"These missiles..."
She looked at the enormous racks.
"They've been used against civilian aircraft."
Arisa's expression became cold.
"Then we can't leave them operational."
Belfast nodded.
"Is there any way we can disable this system?"
Friday answered immediately.
"You can sabotage the missile racks."
Belfast looked at him.
"How?"
"Rewiring the feed and guidance components should cause the loading systems to jam."
A schematic appeared across Belfast's visor.
"Once enough of the components are compromised, the racks should become inoperable."
Belfast studied the diagram.
"And the missiles?"
"You can place controlled charges on the racks."
Friday paused.
"Detonating the ammunition simultaneously would cause catastrophic damage to the vessel."
Belfast understood.
"Enough to cripple the ship?"
"Potentially more."
A second projection showed the missile storage network.
"The racks are distributed across several sections of the vessel."
Belfast looked at the others.
"Then we sabotage every rack."
Ade immediately nodded.
"You heard the Head Maid."
Soda pulled out her tools.
"Let's get to work."
Cocoa moved toward the nearest rack.
"Which components?"
Friday highlighted several points.
"Those."
Arisa began opening an access panel.
"Understood."
The Royal Maids spread throughout the weapons compartment.
They didn't destroy anything immediately.
Instead, they carefully sabotaged the systems.
Wiring was disconnected.
Control circuits were altered.
Feed mechanisms were deliberately jammed.
Guidance interfaces were corrupted.
One by one, the missile racks became compromised.
Friday monitored the process.
MISSILE RACK 01 — SABOTAGED
MISSILE RACK 02 — SABOTAGED
MISSILE RACK 03 — SABOTAGED
Belfast moved between the teams.
"Status?"
"First section complete," Ade reported.
"Second section almost done," Soda answered.
"Circuit disruption complete here," Cocoa added.
Arisa checked her interface.
"Charges are ready."
Belfast nodded.
"Good."
They continued.
Rack after rack.
Section after section.
The carrier's own weapons were slowly being turned against it.
Finally, Friday spoke.
"All identified missile racks have been sabotaged."
Belfast looked at the explosives planted throughout the storage area.
"Charges?"
"Armed but not activated."
Belfast nodded.
"Keep them dormant."
The Royal Maids stepped back.
The sheer amount of explosives was enough to make even Soda stare.
"If those go off..."
Ade finished the thought.
"They won't have a ship anymore."
Belfast looked toward the corridor.
"That's the intention."
She opened the tactical map.
The carrier was still moving.
The prisoners were somewhere ahead.
Edinburgh.
Glasgow.
Newcastle.
Belfast clenched her fist.
"We have our insurance."
Belfast looked toward the others.
"And once we succeed, we blow up this ship."
The Royal Maids left the missile storage section.
Behind them, rows of sabotaged missiles remained silently waiting.
The carrier continued sailing through the open ocean, completely unaware that its own ammunition reserves had been turned into a massive time bomb.
Belfast wasn't going to detonate them yet.
Not while her sisters were still aboard.
They continued through the corridors, eliminating isolated droids silently. None of them wanted to start a firefight anywhere near the missile storage they had just sabotaged.
Eventually, they reached another enormous chamber.
Belfast stopped.
A massive engine dominated the room.
The machinery stretched across multiple decks, with enormous turbines, pipes and mechanical assemblies disappearing into the walls.
Friday scanned the entire chamber.
"Belfast."
"Yes?"
"Engine critical system. Locate and destroy."
Belfast looked toward the machinery.
"Engine critical system?"
"Main engine control terminal."
A schematic appeared on her visor.
"If we stop the engine, we stop the ship."
Belfast understood immediately.
"And its fleet."
"Correct."
The other maids nodded.
Belfast examined the tactical map.
"How many critical points?"
"Four primary control nodes and one main control terminal."
"That should be enough."
She looked toward her team.
"We'll split up."
The maids activated their stealth systems.
They disappeared into different sections of the engine room.
Belfast moved toward the main control room.
Ade headed for one of the control nodes.
Soda moved toward another.
Cocoa and Arisa took the remaining positions.
The engine room was surprisingly active.
Droids constantly moved between platforms.
Two descended from an elevator.
Moments later, another two took their place.
Cocoa watched them carefully.
"Why are so many droids coming from above?"
Belfast checked the map.
"Unknown."
She looked toward the elevator.
"Whatever is up there, we'll investigate after we finish."
Each critical node was protected by a technician droid.
Cocoa reached hers first.
She silently approached from behind.
THUD!
The droid collapsed.
Cocoa immediately accessed the control system.
She tore the critical components from their housing and smashed the terminal.
Friday immediately responded.
ENGINE CRITICAL SYSTEM DESTROYED.
At the same time, Soda reached her assigned node.
She eliminated the technician droid with a suppressed shot.
Then she destroyed the control system.
For several seconds, nothing happened.
Then—
WARNING.
The ship's announcement system suddenly came alive.
INTRUDER ALERT.
ALL PERSONNEL, PLEASE RESPOND.
Soda froze.
"...So much for stealth."
Ade's voice came through the communications channel.
"Looks like they noticed."
Ade eliminated the Rapture droid guarding her node.
She immediately destroyed the critical system.
Another alarm sounded.
WARNING.
ENGINE MALFUNCTION IMMINENT.
ENGINEERING PERSONNEL, RESPOND IMMEDIATELY.
Arisa reached her position.
She silently eliminated the final technician droid.
Then she drove her weapon into the control terminal.
Sparks erupted.
The system went dark.
Friday confirmed it.
ENGINE CRITICAL SYSTEM DESTROYED.
Now only the main control remained.
Belfast reached the engine control room.
Several droids turned toward her.
She raised her pistol.
POP!
The first dropped.
POP! POP!
Two more fell.
The remaining droids rushed toward her.
Belfast activated her Echo Suit Overdrive Mode.
Hydraulic systems amplified her movement.
She accelerated forward and struck one droid aside before firing into another.
The room became a storm of sparks and gunfire.
Belfast reached the main terminal.
Friday appeared across her visor.
"Main engine control located."
"Begin overload."
"Confirmed."
Belfast connected her interface.
The engine's systems began screaming.
CRITICAL ERROR.
CONTROL SYSTEM FAILURE.
CORE TEMPERATURE RISING.
Belfast stepped away.
"How long?"
"Twenty seconds."
She looked toward the corridor.
"Everyone, fall back!"
The other maids began retreating.
Behind them, the engine room descended into chaos.
WARNING.
ENGINE FAILURE IMMINENT.
EVACUATE ENGINEERING SECTION.
The announcement echoed throughout the carrier.
Belfast sprinted after the others.
Then—
BOOOOOOOOOOM!
The engine block erupted.
A shockwave tore through the chamber.
Metal ruptured.
Pipes burst.
Fire and smoke filled the engine compartment.
The carrier violently shook.
Above the ocean, its enormous propellers suddenly slowed.
Then stopped.
The massive vessel lost momentum.
Its escorts immediately reacted.
Siren ships altered course.
Rapture patrol boats slowed.
The four attack helicopters hovering around the carrier broke formation.
They had no idea what had happened.
The carrier's systems continued broadcasting emergency warnings.
ATTENTION.
MAIN ENGINES OFFLINE.
PROPULSION FAILURE.
ALL ENGINEERING CREWS RESPOND.
The Rapture captain finally understood that this was not an ordinary malfunction.
Inside the command center, the corrupted human officer stared at the warning displays.
"What's happening?"
A droid approached.
"Multiple engine systems have failed."
"Why?"
"Unknown."
The captain slammed a fist against the console.
"Send droids to the engine block!"
"Yes."
The order spread throughout the vessel.
Hundreds of droids began moving toward the rear of the carrier.
Exactly as Belfast had intended.
The engine had stopped.
The carrier was stranded.
Its escorts were confused.
And now a massive portion of the ship's security force was being drawn toward the engine room.
Soon, Rapture droids began flooding the engine block.
Belfast immediately looked toward the ceiling.
"Up."
The Royal Maids pulled out their grappling hooks.
THWIP!
The hooks latched onto the upper platforms.
The hydraulic systems of their Echo Suits pulled them upward before the droids could surround them.
"Waaah! I'm still not used to this!" Soda yelped as she swung upward.
"Quiet, Soda."
Ade landed beside her.
"You're lucky the alert masked your scream."
Soda quickly covered her mouth.
"Right."
Belfast glanced toward the elevator they had noticed earlier.
Two droids had descended from it before the engine sabotage.
Now the elevator stood unattended.
"The elevator."
The others looked toward it.
"That must be where all those droids were coming from."
Belfast pointed toward the platform.
"Ladies, over there."
They moved quickly.
The elevator doors opened.
The Royal Maids slipped inside and immediately hid behind several large cargo crates.
The doors closed.
A moment later, the elevator began ascending.
Throughout the carrier, the alarm continued to echo.
WARNING.
INTRUDER ALERT.
ALL PERSONNEL, PLEASE RESPOND.
The elevator finally stopped.
The doors opened.
Belfast peeked around the crates.
Two droids stood guard outside the main door.
But something immediately caught her attention.
The temperature was considerably higher than the deck below.
Steam drifted through the corridor.
Belfast checked her visor.
"What's above us?"
Friday responded.
"Thermal readings indicate a large combustion chamber directly beneath this deck."
Belfast frowned.
"Combustion chamber?"
The Royal Maids moved carefully through the doorway.
They soon discovered the source.
A massive boiler system occupied the center of the upper chamber.
The machinery was enormous.
Rapture droids were continuously shoveling coal-like fuel into the blazing core.
The heat was intense.
Soda was grateful that the suit had a built-in cooling system to keep her skin from overheating. Even so, the temperature outside was intense enough that she had no intention of removing her helmet.
"Now I understand why it was so hot."
Ade looked around.
"Why would they put the anyone here?"
Belfast's attention suddenly shifted.
Her visor detected several life signatures.
She turned.
And froze.
Behind a reinforced prison barrier stood several figures.
Three Royal Navy Shipgirls.
And three unfamiliar Shipgirls.
Belfast's breath caught.
"Edinburgh..."
Glasgow.
Newcastle.
They were alive.
Alongside them were the three Kancolle Shipgirls.
Prinz Eugen.
Akashi.
Asahi.
Belfast didn't hesitate.
Her silent pistol came up.
POP!
The first guard droid dropped.
POP! POP!
Two more fell.
Ade and Soda immediately followed.
Cocoa and Arisa eliminated the remaining guards.
Belfast turned her pistol toward the ceiling.
POP!
The security camera shattered.
Friday confirmed the system was blind.
Belfast finally disengaged her stealth.
The golden hexagonal armor shimmered around her.
The prisoners immediately noticed.
Edinburgh stepped backward.
"Wah! Who are you?!"
She instinctively pulled her fellow maids, Prinz Eugen, Akashi and Asahi behind her.
"What do you want with us?!"
Belfast's heart broke.
She slowly lowered her weapon.
Then she reached for her helmet.
The helmet disengaged.
Locks of white-silver hair flowed behind her.
Her face was revealed.
Her eyes immediately filled with tears.
"Edin..."
Edinburgh froze.
That voice.
That familiar voice.
The one she had spent years wishing to hear again.
Her eyes widened.
"That voice..."
Belfast stepped closer to the prison barrier.
"Edin."
Edinburgh stared at her.
Her lips trembled.
"Bel?"
Belfast smiled through her tears.
"Yes."
She placed her hand against the barrier.
"It's me, Edin."
Edinburgh's eyes immediately filled with tears.
"Impossible..."
She shook her head.
"You're not real."
"I'm real."
Belfast's voice cracked.
"I'm here."
Edinburgh slowly approached the bars.
"Bel..."
She reached through the gap.
Her trembling fingers touched Belfast's cheek.
Warm.
Real.
Alive.
Edinburgh's expression completely broke.
"Bel!"
She began crying.
"You're alive..."
Her hand remained against Belfast's cheek.
"You're alive..."
Belfast reached through the bars and held her sister's hand.
"I'm sorry it took so long."
Edinburgh shook her head.
"No..."
Tears streamed down her face.
"I thought I'd never see you again."
Belfast pressed her forehead against the bars.
"I promised myself I'd find you."
Edinburgh sobbed.
"Bel..."
"I'm here now."
The two sisters held each other's hands through the prison bars.
Years of separation.
Years of uncertainty.
Years of wondering whether the other was still alive.
All of it collapsed into that single moment.
Behind Edinburgh, Glasgow and Newcastle stared in stunned silence.
Glasgow's eyes began watering.
"She really came..."
Newcastle smiled through her tears.
"She came for us."
The Kancolle Shipgirls watched quietly.
Prinz Eugen placed a hand over her heart.
Akashi wiped her eyes.
Even Asahi looked visibly moved.
Edinburgh squeezed Belfast's hand.
"You really came for us."
"I am sorry..." Belfast whispered.
Her voice trembled.
"I am sorry. I should have come for you sooner."
Edinburgh shook her head immediately.
"No."
She smiled through her tears.
"You're here now."
She squeezed Belfast's hand through the bars.
"That's what matters."
Belfast's eyes remained wet.
"But you're my sister. I should have—"
"No."
Edinburgh gently silenced her.
"You had your circumstances."
She gave Belfast a reassuring smile.
"We may have fared better than you did."
Glasgow and Newcastle stepped closer.
"Head Maid!"
Their voices were filled with happiness.
Belfast turned toward them.
"You two..."
Her expression softened.
"I'm sorry."
Glasgow shook her head.
"No."
Newcastle nodded.
"You came."
"We were separated," Glasgow added. "We understand."
"But we're sisters..."
Belfast's voice broke again.
Edinburgh gently placed a finger against her lips through the bars.
"Shh."
Belfast fell silent.
"You came for us, Bel."
Edinburgh smiled.
"That's enough."
Belfast nodded slowly.
Then Edinburgh glanced toward the three Kancolle Shipgirls standing behind her.
"It seems you've made friends, sister."
Belfast looked toward them.
"Yes."
She wiped her tears and composed herself.
"This is Kancolle Akashi."
Akashi gave a polite wave.
"Hello."
"Belfast continued.
"This is Kancolle Prinz Eugen from German? Their version of Iron Blood."
Prinz Eugen gave a small bow.
"Just Prinz will do. My counterpart is already being called Eugen."
Belfast smiled.
"And this is Asahi. Both she and Akashi are from Japan. Their version of Sakura Empire."
Asahi nodded politely.
"I am pleased to meet you, Belfast-san."
"Likewise."
Belfast looked at the three unfamiliar Shipgirls.
"More Kancolle allies."
Akashi smiled.
"Edinburgh told us about the other Akashi."
Belfast nodded.
"Ah."
Akashi's expression became curious.
"Shame she isn't here anymore."
Belfast blinked.
"The green cat Akashi?"
"Yes."
"She's alive."
Akashi's eyes widened.
"Alive?"
"Safely back aboard our command carrier."
Newcastle looked surprised.
"I thought..."
Belfast shook her head.
"Long story."
Akashi smiled.
"Then I'll have to hear it later."
Prinz stepped forward.
"I am Prinz Eugen."
She glanced toward Belfast.
"Edinburgh has told us so much about you—and about my other counterpart."
Belfast nodded.
"I hope they were good stories."
Prinz smiled softly.
"They were."
Belfast studied her for a moment.
"You do feel a little different from the Eugen we knew."
Prinz looked slightly embarrassed.
"I've heard that before."
Asahi stepped forward.
"I am Asahi."
She gestured toward Akashi.
"Akashi and I are both repair ships from our world."
Belfast's eyes brightened.
"Then the commander will be thrilled."
Akashi blinked.
"The commander?"
"He's always happy to welcome people with medical, engineering and repair expertise."
Akashi's eyes shifted toward the Royal Maids' armor.
"Then perhaps we can repay him for rescuing us."
She examined the golden hexagonal plating with open fascination.
"And this armor..."
She leaned closer, studying its intricate systems.
"It's the most advanced technology I've ever seen. Imagine the secrets hidden inside it."
Asahi nodded.
"I would like that."
She smiled politely.
"I hope we can be of use to him."
Edinburgh looked at Belfast curiously.
"Global what?"
Belfast paused.
"The Global Defense Initiative."
"The what?"
"It's a long story."
Belfast glanced toward her Echo Suit.
"I joined a new organization under a new commander. This is all his technology."
Edinburgh's expression became curious.
"The one who calls upon us?"
Belfast nodded.
"Yes."
Glasgow suddenly stepped forward.
"The voice..."
Her eyes widened.
"The voice is real?"
Belfast smiled.
"Yes."
She looked at her sisters.
"The voice you've been hearing..."
"That was our commander."
The realization hit all three Royal Maids at once.
Edinburgh stared at Belfast.
"So two weeks ago..."
Belfast nodded.
"He heard me. He called upon all of us."
Glasgow's eyes filled with tears again.
"He really called upon us..."
Newcastle covered her mouth.
"We weren't forgotten."
"Yes..."
Belfast's expression softened.
"Through him, I met others."
She glanced over her shoulder at the women standing behind her.
"Countless others."
Her gaze settled on the three Nikkes.
"And..."
She smiled.
"Fellow Shipgirls and Nikkes."
Edinburgh looked curious.
"Nikkes?"
Belfast turned toward them.
"The tall one is Ade."
Ade immediately stepped forward and gave a respectful bow.
"Pleasure to meet you."
"Then there's Soda."
Soda raised a hand.
"Hello."
She briefly disengaged her helmet, revealing her face before letting it close again.
"And the small one is Cocoa."
Cocoa gave a polite bow alongside Ade.
"Hello."
Edinburgh blinked.
"They're... Nikkes?"
"Yes."
Belfast nodded.
"I'll explain what Nikkes are later. It's a rather long story."
She then turned toward the final member of the team.
"And this is Arisa."
Arisa stepped forward.
"A pleasure to meet you."
Belfast continued proudly.
"She's a GDI Combat Pleiades Maid."
Edinburgh tilted her head.
"Pleiades?"
Belfast smiled.
"That is another story."
Soda chuckled.
"We've got a lot of stories."
Belfast nodded.
"Very long ones."
She turned back toward the prisoners.
"Soda, Arisa, Ade and Cocoa..."
She gestured toward the three Royal Maids behind the barrier.
"This is my sister, Edinburgh."
Edinburgh gave a small wave.
"And my other sisters, Glasgow and Newcastle."
Glasgow smiled.
"A pleasure."
Newcastle nodded.
"Glad to meet you."
Soda looked at the three of them.
"So these are the sisters you've been searching for."
Belfast's expression immediately became warm.
"Yes."
Edinburgh looked at the Royal Maids.
"It's good to meet all of you."
Then Belfast's expression changed.
She looked around.
Her visor's environmental sensors were still reporting extreme temperatures.
She could feel sweat forming beneath her armor despite the Echo Suit's cooling system.
"This place is hot."
She glanced toward the massive boiler.
"We have to get you out of here."
Edinburgh looked toward the reinforced prison barrier.
"Can you break the bars?"
Belfast examined them.
"No."
She shook her head.
"These are reinforced containment bars."
She looked at Arisa.
"We can't even break them in our ship modes."
Arisa immediately moved toward the main door.
She examined the security panel.
"Friday?"
The AI responded.
"This door requires Level Two security clearance."
Arisa looked back.
"Any way through, Friday?"
"Investigating."
Edinburgh blinked.
"Friday?"
Belfast smiled.
"Our suit's AI core."
She tapped the side of her helmet.
"He was built by our commander."
Edinburgh stared.
"Commander?"
"I know you have questions, sis."
Belfast looked toward the others.
"We'll answer everything once you're free."
Edinburgh nodded.
"Yes."
Friday suddenly spoke again.
"I have successfully accessed the local security network."
A holographic map appeared.
"The key holder is located one floor above, inside the medical facility."
A camera feed appeared.
A Rapture droid walked through a corridor.
A green security card was attached to its waist.
"That key provides Level One access."
Belfast studied the feed.
"Enough to open the prison?"
"From the opposite side."
Edinburgh looked toward the upper level.
"Then how do we get there?"
Friday immediately began mapping the structure.
"Mapping."
A three-dimensional layout appeared.
"Route identified."
The hologram highlighted a section below them.
"Go one floor below."
Belfast frowned.
"Below?"
"There is a door on the left."
Friday paused.
"According to the ship's records, the room beyond contains..."
The AI's voice became colder.
"...corrupted human lifeforms."
Edinburgh's expression changed.
"Corrupted... lifeforms?"
Friday answered without hesitation.
"Termination is required."
The prison fell silent.
Belfast looked at the others.
Whatever was inside that room...
It was connected to the Raptures' operations.
And if the key they needed was one floor above, they first had to find a way through the level below.
"You need to go through the storage room. Use the maintenance elevator access to get to the top side. Cut across crew quarters to get to the medical facility directly above the prison. Use the stairs to get to the prison." Friday
"understood." Belfast. "Then we go below."
She looked at Edinburgh through the bars.
"Stay here."
"I'll be back."
Edinburgh nodded.
"I trust you, Bel."
Belfast smiled.
"I'll get you out."
The Royal Maids turned toward the elevator.
Belfast reengaged her helmet.
The armor sealed around her head, and her flowing silver-white hair disappeared beneath the sleek helmet once more.
Akashi stared at the Echo Suit.
"Those suits are really cool."
Her eyes practically sparkled.
The more she thought about it, the more appealing this mysterious organization became.
If joining the Global Defense Initiative meant access to technology this advanced—and possibly meeting the genius commander responsible for creating it—then she certainly wouldn't mind joining.
As long as there was a place she could call home.
As long as there were allies she could trust.
And perhaps...
As long as there were advanced technologies for her to study.
Akashi smiled.
"I think I'd like to meet this commander."
Asahi quietly nodded.
"I wouldn't mind joining either."
Akashi looked at her.
"You would?"
"Yes."
Asahi gave a small smile.
"As long as I can have somewhere safe to live."
She looked around the prison.
"I've had enough of running."
Prinz Eugen was thinking about something else entirely.
She looked toward Belfast.
"I have one request."
Belfast turned toward her.
"What is it?"
"I want to meet my counterpart."
Belfast smiled.
"You'll get the chance."
Prinz's eyes brightened.
"And perhaps her elder sister as well."
"Admiral Hipper?"
"Yes."
Prinz smiled.
"I've heard so much about her from Edin."
She paused.
"And Blücher and Lützow."
Her expression became genuinely excited.
"I would very much like to meet all three of them."
Belfast chuckled.
"You'll probably have plenty to talk about."
Prinz nodded.
"I look forward to it."
Behind her, Edinburgh quietly watched Belfast.
Her sister was alive.
All this time.
While Edinburgh had spent years trapped aboard this ship, Belfast had survived, found a new home, joined a new organization and somehow managed to find her.
It was almost unbelievable.
Yet Belfast was standing right there.
Real.
Alive.
And waiting to take them home.
Edinburgh smiled.
"I suppose I can wait a little longer."
Glasgow looked toward her.
"For what?"
Edinburgh glanced at Belfast.
"Freedom."
She smiled.
"I've waited this long."
Newcastle nodded.
"So have I."
Glasgow's expression softened.
"Then waiting a little longer shouldn't hurt."
Edinburgh looked toward the other prisoners.
"Besides..."
She smiled.
"The Maid Corps will soon be together again."
==============
Belfast and her maids descended back into the engine section.
The moment the elevator doors opened, they were greeted by chaos.
Dozens of Rapture droids were swarming across the engine deck, searching for the intruders responsible for the destruction of the propulsion system.
Which, unfortunately for them, was exactly the group they were looking for.
Engineer droids were desperately attempting to restart and repair the engines.
It was pointless.
The damage was far too extensive.
Several critical systems had been completely destroyed, and the main engine would require replacement components before it could function again.
Belfast motioned for the others to stay low.
"Keep moving."
The Royal Maids activated their stealth systems and quietly slipped through the machinery.
Droids passed within meters of them without noticing.
Eventually, they reached the door Friday had identified.
Belfast checked the surrounding area.
"Clear?"
"Clear," Friday confirmed.
She opened the door.
The Royal Maids entered.
The atmosphere immediately changed.
The chamber beyond was colder.
Much darker.
Rows of large containment cylinders lined the walls.
Inside them were humanoid figures.
But they were no longer truly human.
Their bodies had been horribly mutated.
Some possessed distorted limbs.
Others had grotesque biological growths covering their bodies.
Several appeared barely conscious, floating motionless within the liquid-filled cylinders.
Soda stopped.
"What in the world is this?"
Ade's expression hardened.
"They're horrible..."
Cocoa looked away.
"They used humans."
Belfast remained silent for several seconds.
She had seen many terrible things during her service.
But this was different.
These people had been turned into experiments.
Friday scanned the cylinders.
"Human biological signatures detected."
Belfast looked at the control panel attached to the nearest cylinder.
"What happened to them?"
"Rapture experimentation."
Friday paused.
"Most are classified as failed experiments."
Arisa looked at the prisoners.
"Unfortunate."
She raised her weapon.
"Let's terminate them."
Belfast nodded slowly.
There was no rescue possible.
Whatever had been done to these people had left them beyond recovery.
The control panels were surprisingly simple.
Each cylinder contained a single termination command.
Belfast approached the first.
She hesitated.
Then pressed it.
The life-sign indicator disappeared.
She moved to the next.
Ade did the same.
Then Soda.
Then Cocoa and Arisa.
One by one, the suffering ended.
No one celebrated.
No one spoke.
They simply gave the experiments the mercy the Raptures had denied them.
Then—
WARNING.
A LIFEFORM HAS ATTEMPTED TO ESCAPE.
Everyone froze.
One of the cylinders began shaking violently.
The liquid inside churned.
The containment glass cracked.
Soda stepped backward.
"What?"
CRACK!
The cylinder shattered.
A humanoid creature burst through the broken glass.
Its body was grotesquely distorted, its movements completely unnatural.
Soda's eyes widened.
She opened her mouth.
She was about to scream.
Arisa moved first.
Her sword flashed from her inventory.
SLASH!
The creature's head was severed cleanly.
Its body collapsed heavily onto the floor.
Silence returned.
Soda stared at the corpse.
Arisa calmly lowered her sword.
"Problem solved."
Soda swallowed.
"...Thanks."
Ade looked at the remains.
"That thing was still alive."
"Not anymore," Arisa replied.
Belfast looked toward Friday.
"Any more?"
"Several remaining biological signatures."
Belfast's expression hardened.
"Then finish the room."
The Royal Maids continued through the chamber, eliminating the remaining failed experiments as quickly and mercifully as possible.
Behind them, the containment facility slowly became silent.
No more screams.
No more struggling.
No more suffering.
Friday suddenly highlighted something on Belfast's visor.
"Route updated."
Belfast looked at the map.
"The medical facility?"
"Correct."
She looked toward the exit above.
"Then that's where we're going."
The Royal Maids left the horrific chamber behind and entered the freight elevator.
The doors closed.
For several tense seconds, only the sound of the damaged carrier echoed through the shaft.
Then the elevator stopped.
The doors opened.
Heavy rain greeted them.
Sheets of water lashed across the carrier's flight deck as thunder rolled over the open sea. Belfast immediately noticed the difference.
The ship wasn't moving anymore.
Its propellers had stopped.
Around the stranded carrier, the escorting Siren ships and Rapture patrol boats had formed a defensive perimeter. The four attack helicopters that had escorted the vessel earlier were nowhere to be seen.
"Looks like the engine sabotage worked," Cocoa observed.
Belfast nodded.
"It bought us time."
They stepped onto the rain-soaked deck.
Then a shadow swept overhead.
A surviving Rapture helicopter emerged from the clouds, passing almost directly above them.
Its searchlight suddenly snapped downward.
Target acquired.
"Down!" Ade shouted.
Before the helicopter could fire, Friday reacted.
Remote intrusion initiated.
The helicopter's flight controls froze.
Its rotors violently overcorrected.
"What—?" the pilot transmitted.
The aircraft rolled sideways before spiraling uncontrollably.
BOOM!
It slammed into the sea beside the carrier, disappearing beneath a column of water.
Soda blinked.
"...Friday is terrifying."
"Agreed," Arisa replied.
The crash had one unfortunate consequence.
Every alarm aboard the carrier intensified.
Red lights flooded the deck.
WARNING. HOSTILE CONTACT ON UPPER DECK.
Dozens of droids poured from nearby hatches.
Belfast raised her Volt Auto Rifle.
"Go loud, ladies!"
The Royal Maids opened fire.
Blue energy bolts cut through the rain.
The first wave of droids collapsed almost instantly.
Ade's precision fire eliminated the heavier units before they could deploy.
Soda charged directly into the center of the formation, laughing as her laser rifle vaporized one droid after another.
"Now this is more like it!"
Cocoa quietly picked off targets trying to flank them.
Arisa moved like a phantom, her blade flashing whenever a droid managed to get too close.
Within moments, the deck was littered with smoking mechanical wreckage.
Then the ocean answered.
The escorting Siren ships rotated their main batteries toward the carrier.
Belfast's visor flashed crimson.
Incoming naval artillery.
"Inside!" Belfast ordered.
The first shells struck the flight deck seconds later.
Explosions erupted behind the Royal Maids as they dove through the nearest bulkhead.
The corridor shook violently.
Soda leaned against the wall and exhaled.
"That was close."
Belfast reloaded her Volt Auto Rifle.
"We're fighting indoors now."
Wave after wave of droids rushed through the crew quarters.
It hardly slowed them.
The Royal Maids had grown tremendously stronger during the campaign.
At Level 33, these maintenance and security droids were little more than cannon fodder.
Each laser round reduced one to molten scrap.
Ade checked the hallway.
"They just keep coming."
"They're buying time," Belfast replied.
Before anyone could say more, a furious voice echoed throughout the carrier.
"You damn GDI!"
Every speaker aboard the ship activated simultaneously.
"You couldn't keep your noses out of my business, could you?!"
Leviathan.
Her voice carried enough rage to shake the walls.
She had already lost her remote gunship.
She had lost the volcanic island.
Exia Island had been devastated by the Global Defense Initiative.
All fourteen prisoners had escaped her grasp.
Now her flagship had been infiltrated, its engines destroyed, and its escorts thrown into confusion.
She finally understood.
The same people responsible for all of it were aboard her ship.
Leviathan slammed something on her command console.
"ALL PERSONNEL!"
Her voice thundered through the corridors.
"FIND THEM!"
"KILL THEM!"
Bulkhead doors burst open across the crew quarters.
Another tide of droids surged toward the Royal Maids.
Soda groaned dramatically.
"Seriously? More?"
Belfast calmly raised her rifle.
"More experience."
Soda immediately smiled.
"Now that's motivation."
The Royal Maids fought their way through the medical facility.
Droids poured through the corridors, attempting to stop them from reaching the security office.
It didn't matter.
At Level 33, the ordinary Rapture security units were barely a threat.
Ade eliminated one with a precise shot.
Soda swept another group aside with her laser rifle.
Cocoa quietly handled the stragglers while Arisa guarded the rear.
Belfast kept moving.
"Friday, where is the key holder?"
"Thirty meters ahead."
A droid emerged from the next corridor.
Friday immediately highlighted the green security card hanging from its waist.
"There."
Belfast raised her pistol.
POP!
The droid dropped instantly.
She walked over and retrieved the card.
Friday confirmed it immediately.
PRIMARY OBJECTIVE COMPLETE.
Belfast examined the Level One security card.
"Good."
She looked toward the others.
"Let's get our sisters."
Friday projected the route.
The medical facility was directly above the prison section.
Fortunately, there was no need to fight their way through another heavily defended deck.
A staircase connected the two sections.
The Royal Maids descended.
The farther they went, the quieter the ship became.
Then Belfast saw the prison entrance.
She inserted the security card.
ACCESS GRANTED — LEVEL ONE
The reinforced door unlocked.
Belfast pushed it open.
The prison beyond was dimly lit.
The moment the prisoners saw who had entered, Edinburgh's eyes widened.
"Bel!"
This time, she didn't hesitate.
Edinburgh rushed forward as far as the open passage allowed.
Belfast immediately crossed the remaining distance.
They embraced.
Edinburgh wrapped both arms around her sister.
Belfast held her tightly.
For several seconds, neither of them said anything.
They simply held each other.
After years of separation...
They were finally together again.
Edinburgh buried her face against Belfast's shoulder.
"You're really here."
Belfast closed her eyes.
"I told you I'd come back."
Glasgow and Newcastle approached them, both smiling through tears.
"We're free..."
Belfast looked at all three sisters.
"Yes."
She smiled.
"You're coming home."
Behind them, Prinz Eugen, Akashi and Asahi watched quietly.
Akashi smiled.
"Looks like the rescue really worked."
Prinz nodded.
"Indeed."
Asahi placed a hand over her heart.
"For the first time in years..."
She smiled.
"I think we're going home too."
Belfast finally released Edinburgh but kept one hand on her sister's shoulder.
"Everyone, stay close."
She looked toward Friday's tactical display.
"We still have to get off this ship."
The AI immediately responded.
"Additional routes available."
Belfast nodded.
"Then let's move."
She looked over the newly rescued Shipgirls.
"I really hope all of you know how to shoot."
Edinburgh immediately raised an eyebrow.
"We spent years on that island."
She gave a determined smile.
"Of course we know how!"
Glasgow nodded.
"We weren't exactly sitting around doing nothing."
Newcastle added, "We learned to defend ourselves without ship modes."
Belfast smiled beneath her helmet.
"Good."
She opened her inventory and pulled out a weapon crate.
The crate unfolded with a mechanical hiss.
Inside were six heavy chain guns.
Edinburgh blinked.
"Those are for us?"
"Yes."
Belfast distributed them among the three Royal Maids and the three Kancolle Shipgirls.
"Enough firepower to tear through the droids we'll encounter."
Akashi examined hers with fascination.
"Interesting..."
Prinz Eugen carefully checked the weapon.
"I suppose this is another example of GDI technology. A light minigun."
Asahi nodded.
"I've never handled anything quite like this."
Belfast led them toward the rear exit.
They had barely taken a few steps when Friday interrupted.
"Warning. Access restriction detected."
The group stopped.
Ahead of them was another reinforced security door.
"This door requires Level Two security clearance."
Soda stared at it.
"Waaa... what are we going to do?!"
Friday immediately provided the answer.
"New Primary Mission Objective."
A tactical display appeared.
"Level Two security card is carried by Gilligan. The ship's first mate."
Belfast frowned.
"Gilligan?"
"Human personnel affiliated with the Rapture command structure."
Friday paused.
"His location is currently two floors above."
A new image appeared.
The figure shown was unmistakably human—but only partially.
Mechanical components were integrated into his body.
Dark Rapture technology covered portions of his torso and limbs.
"Classification: Human-Rapture hybrid."
The room became silent.
Edinburgh stared at the image.
"He's human?"
"Technically," Friday answered.
"His biological and mechanical systems are heavily integrated."
Belfast looked at the others.
"We need that key."
Arisa stepped forward.
"You girls wait here."
Belfast turned toward her.
"Arisa?"
"I'll deal with him."
Arisa looked toward the staircase.
"Protect the others, Head Maid Belfast."
Belfast hesitated.
"Be careful."
Arisa smiled.
"Get us that key."
She fired her grappling hook.
THWIP!
The hook caught onto the upper structure.
The motor engaged.
WHIRRRR!
Arisa was pulled upward through the shaft.
She landed on the upper floor.
Her visor immediately displayed multiple hostile signatures.
A common room stretched before her.
Droids were already moving toward her position.
Arisa drew her whip sword.
The weapon unfolded with a metallic snap.
She stepped forward.
WHOOSH!
One sweeping strike tore through the first group.
Another slash caught the next wave.
The droids collapsed almost simultaneously.
Arisa continued through the room, her blade moving in precise arcs.
Within seconds, the common room was silent.
She reached the staircase.