Arisa walked up the stairs.
At the top, she found a dark-skinned man wearing a battered sailor's uniform.
Several droids surrounded him.
Each one carried a flamethrower.
The man looked toward Arisa's helmet and gave a crooked grin.
"So, you're the intruder the boss kept talking about."
"Sort of."
Arisa calmly stepped onto the landing.
Gilligan looked her up and down.
"Shame I can't see what's underneath that helmet."
His grin widened.
"Haven't had a woman around here in years."
Arisa's expression remained hidden behind her helmet.
Gilligan pointed toward her.
"Deal with her."
The flamethrower droids immediately raised their weapons.
Arisa didn't even draw her sword.
Her arm shifted.
Nanomachines flowed across her forearm, rapidly assembling themselves into the shape of a compact blaster.
VZZZT!
A beam tore through the first droid.
Arisa pivoted.
VZZZT! VZZZT! VZZZT!
The remaining flamethrower units were destroyed almost instantly.
Their weapons clattered onto the floor.
Gilligan stared.
"A fellow machine..."
Arisa lowered the blaster.
"Not quite."
The nanomachines flowed back into her arm.
"I am merely a humble maid."
Gilligan's expression twisted.
The mechanical components embedded in his body suddenly shifted.
Metal plates expanded across his shoulders.
His arms transformed.
His legs reinforced themselves with mechanical actuators.
His body became a grotesque fusion of man and machine.
"Then I'll show you what a real machine can do!"
He charged.
The floor shook beneath his weight.
"Shame I have to kill you..."
His mechanical fist swung toward Arisa.
"Boss's orders!"
Arisa disappeared.
Gilligan's fist struck nothing but air.
"What—?"
He turned.
Too late.
Arisa was already behind him.
Her whip sword was extended.
The blade glowed with concentrated energy.
Gilligan's mechanical eye widened.
Arisa whispered:
"Too slow."
SLASH!
The energy blade tore through him.
For a moment, Gilligan remained standing.
Then his mechanical components began separating from his body.
The machines that had been fused into him were severed cleanly.
Blood sprayed across the floor.
The force of Arisa's strike did not stop with Gilligan.
The energy blade continued through the landing, carving a deep line across the entire floor. Metal plating split apart with a deafening shriek, and the surrounding structure groaned under the impact.
A section of the deck collapsed.
Chunks of metal and broken machinery tore free and plunged through the opening toward the ocean below.
"Waah!"
Soda stumbled backward, staring in shock as debris rained into the sea.
"She cut through the floor!"
The others gathered near the edge, careful not to step too close.
Edinburgh, Newcastle and Glasgow were equally stunned. Even Akashi, Asahi and Prinz Eugen stared at Arisa with open surprise.
They had witnessed powerful weapons before.
They had seen battleships level fortifications and Siren technology destroy entire areas.
But Arisa had done it with a single swing of her sword.
Newcastle looked toward Belfast.
"What kind of organization did you join to have someone like that serving as a maid?"
Akashi's eyes twitched.
"That was not normal. No one is even that strong back in Japan."
Prinz Eugen narrowed her eyes at Arisa from below.
"Overwhelming strength, advanced technology and perfect control. How interesting."
Asahi quietly watched the last pieces of debris disappear into the waves.
"She is far beyond an ordinary human. Not even an Abyssal can do such thing."
Belfast, however, was not surprised.
She had already known how powerful Arisa was.
A Level 100 maid was not merely an experienced combatant.
She was a force capable of overwhelming entire squads and tearing through heavily armored enemies without effort.
Gilligan collapsed.
Arisa stood behind him, completely unharmed.
For a brief moment, she considered prolonging the fight.
It might have been entertaining to test Gilligan's limits, but they were already on a tight schedule. More importantly, the difference between their levels was overwhelming. Gilligan had never stood a chance against her.
There was no challenge in playing with him.
Arisa lowered her weapon and looked down at the fallen man.
"You are an embarrassment to humanity."
She reached down and pulled the yellow security card from around his neck.
Friday immediately confirmed it.
LEVEL TWO SECURITY CARD ACQUIRED.
PRIMARY OBJECTIVE COMPLETED.
Arisa turned toward the staircase.
"Mission accomplished."
She fired her grappling hook toward the lower floor.
THWIP!
The cable caught.
Arisa descended toward Belfast and the others.
The Level Two security card was finally in GDI hands.
"Arisa, perhaps a little less force next time."
Arisa looked down at the damage.
"I apologize, Head Maid Belfast."
She paused.
"The target was eliminated."
"That is not the issue."
Ade continued staring at Arisa.
"If we reached Level 100, could we become that strong too?"
Cocoa folded her arms, clearly considering the possibility.
"I was wondering the same thing."
Soda raised her hand.
"Does that mean I could cut through a ship someday?"
Belfast sighed softly.
"Strength comes from more than levels alone."
Arisa looked toward them.
"Training, equipment, experience and discipline are all important."
Ade clenched her fist.
"Then I'll work harder."
Cocoa nodded.
"Me too."
Belfast smiled faintly.
"That is the proper attitude."
Friday's voice interrupted them.
"Warning. Structural integrity is deteriorating."
The damaged deck groaned again.
Belfast immediately turned toward the staircase.
"Everyone, move. We have the Level Two security card, but this ship will not remain stable for long."
Arisa secured the yellow card and rejoined the group.
Behind them, the ruined landing continued to collapse into the ocean.
The Royal Maids and their rescued allies hurried toward the locked security door, leaving Gilligan and the wreckage behind.
They couldn't stay long.
Outside, Siren gunboats had begun bombarding the section where Arisa had fought Gilligan. Explosions shook the carrier as shells struck the upper decks.
As they reached the corridor, Kancolle Akashi couldn't help but look at Arisa.
"Arisa..."
She pointed toward her.
"Ade called you Level 100?"
Arisa nodded.
"Yes."
She continued walking while explaining.
"We GDI members possess a leveling system. As our level increases, our capabilities increase explosively."
She raised one hand.
"Strength."
Then another.
"Defense."
She continued.
"Agility. Endurance. Reaction speed. Our combat capabilities improve alongside our level. We can develop skills and abilities."
Akashi's eyes widened.
"So that's how you became that powerful. That's quite cool!"
"Precisely."
Arisa glanced toward Belfast.
"Although our Head Maid is quite observant."
Belfast looked toward her.
"What did you notice?"
Arisa smiled.
"You noticed that if our master's level has surpassed even Vice Commander Vergil and Yuu, then the Combat Pleiades Maids shouldn't logically be capped at Level 100."
Belfast nodded.
"That thought did cross my mind. Master said the Pleiades Maids serve as a powerful line of defense, so they shouldn't be limited to that level."
Arisa gave a small laugh.
"Then you were correct."
She turned toward the Kancolle Shipgirls and the other maids.
"When we first arrived on this planet, Level 100 was the highest level available to us—or rather, it was the maximum level we were permitted to have while assigned here."
Soda blinked.
"Was?"
Arisa nodded.
"Our true level cap is much higher."
She paused.
"Level 1,000."
Silence.
Soda stopped walking.
"Level..."
Her voice rose.
"1,000?!"
The others stared at Arisa.
Even Edinburgh, Glasgow and Newcastle looked stunned.
Akashi's mouth fell open.
"One thousand?"
Prinz Eugen stared.
"That's..."
Asahi calmly readied herself.
"An absurd difference."
Soda looked at Arisa.
"You're Level 1,000?!"
Arisa smiled.
"Indeed, dear Soda."
The revelation left everyone new speechless.
What kind of organization had Belfast joined?
What kind of commander could command people capable of reaching such levels?
Arisa continued explaining.
"Combat Pleiades Maids are a specialized branch of the GDI Combat Maids."
She gestured toward herself.
"We aren't capped at Level 100."
"All Combat Maids are Level 1,000 minimum."
Akashi's eyes practically sparkled.
"Minimum?"
"Correct."
Akashi immediately looked fascinated.
"That means the GDI's technology and training system must be extraordinary."
"Very."
Arisa continued.
"There are also Special Maids."
"Special Maids?"
"They are assigned to high-ranking GDI members as personal attendants."
Arisa pointed toward herself.
"I am assigned to Doctor Yuu."
Yuu's name immediately caught the attention of the Shipgirls.
"Doctor Yuu..."
Arisa nodded.
"She is one of the organization's most important personnel. Head of GDI Health Division."
Soda looked at Belfast.
"Then what about the commander?"
Arisa paused.
"The commander is an unusual case."
Ade immediately smirked.
"Because Arisa wanted to be his personal maid."
Arisa glanced at her.
"Indeed."
Ade laughed.
"She was secretly jealous when Belfast became Master's personal maid."
Arisa didn't deny it.
"I was."
Belfast and the other Royal Maids exchanged amused looks.
Arisa continued.
"But I understand the circumstances."
She looked toward Belfast.
"Lieutenant Eva assigned Belfast to him because our master has a tendency to behave like an uncivilized barbaric caveman at times."
There was a brief silence.
Then Belfast laughed.
"That is true."
Ade nodded.
"Absolutely."
Soda snickered.
"I can believe that."
Even Edinburgh smiled.
Akashi looked amused.
"So the commander is powerful enough to have Level 1,000 maids fighting over the position of personal attendant?"
Arisa nodded.
"That is one way of describing it."
She sighed.
"We once held an inter-Pleiades tournament to determine who would become his personal maid."
Akashi's eyes widened.
"You held an entire tournament?"
"Yes."
"And the winner?"
"You're looking at her."
Arisa's expression became slightly annoyed.
"He rejected the offer."
Everyone stared.
"He rejected it?"
"Completely."
Soda burst out laughing.
"After all that?"
Arisa nodded solemnly.
"Indeed."
Belfast couldn't help smiling.
"He can be difficult."
Ade laughed.
"Very difficult."
Arisa crossed her arms.
"Nevertheless, Belfast's appointment is legitimate. Now that I am Miss Yuu's attendant, I can look after Master whenever the Head Maid is unavailable. Two birds with one stone."
She glanced toward the Head Maid.
"And I respect the decision."
Belfast smiled beneath her helmet.
"Thank you, Arisa."
Edinburgh, Glasgow and Newcastle exchanged glances.
Even Level 1,000 Combat Maids had competed for the privilege of becoming their commander's personal maid.
What kind of person was their new master?
What kind of commander could inspire that kind of loyalty?
Edinburgh finally looked at Belfast.
"Bel..."
"Yes?"
"What is your level?"
Belfast paused.
"I thought we couldn't get any stronger."
Belfast smiled.
"Master and Doctor Yuu have developed ways for us to continue leveling."
She checked her interface.
"Currently, most of us are Level 33."
Edinburgh blinked.
"Level 33?"
"The highest among the Shipgirls currently is Level 35."
Belfast continued.
"Lady Yorktown and Lady Kaguya."
"Kaguya?"
Newcastle tilted her head.
"Who is Kaguya?"
Belfast glanced toward them.
"The Arcane Shipgirl of the East."
She paused.
"Her codename is The Fox."
Edinburgh looked even more confused.
"Arcane Shipgirl?"
"The Fox?"
Belfast laughed softly.
"There's a lot to cover, sisters."
She gestured toward the corridor.
"We should get home first."
Edinburgh's expression changed at the word.
"Home..."
She looked down.
"Is there really a home for us?"
Belfast stopped.
She turned toward her sister.
"This time..."
Her voice was gentle but certain.
"It's permanent."
Edinburgh stared at her.
Then she smiled.
"I see."
Kancolle Akashi suddenly squealed.
"Wow!"
Everyone looked toward her.
"Being able to level up..."
She looked at the chain gun in her hands.
"Having a permanent home..."
Her eyes practically sparkled.
"Growing stronger..."
She looked toward Belfast.
"Joining this organization might be the best thing ever!"
Then she remembered something.
"What kind of man is this Teitoku?"
Belfast blinked.
"Teitoku?"
Akashi nodded.
"We called our commanding officer that. Teitoku, or Admiral."
Belfast smiled.
"Ah."
She shook her head.
"Our commander actually refuses those titles."
Akashi blinked.
"He does?"
"Mamiya and Irako once called him Teitoku."
Belfast smiled.
"He told them that Commander would suffice."
Then Belfast mentioned two names.
"Mamiya and Irako."
Akashi suddenly froze.
"Wait."
Her eyes widened.
"Mamiya and Irako?!"
Belfast nodded.
"We rescued them as well."
Akashi stepped closer.
"You saved them?"
"Yes."
"They're alive?"
"They are."
Akashi looked stunned.
"When we last saw them..."
Her expression became distant.
"They were gone."
She lowered her voice.
"That was five years ago."
Belfast nodded.
"They had been living in this world for more than fifteen years."
Akashi stared at her.
"Fifteen..."
She looked toward Asahi.
"We thought they were gone."
Asahi remained quiet.
Mamiya and Irako had never been combatants.
They were support vessels.
Supply ships.
People who had no business being caught in the middle of a war.
And yet they had survived.
Belfast's voice softened.
"Master was the one who rescued them."
Akashi looked genuinely relieved.
"They're safe?"
"Yes."
A small smile appeared on Akashi's face.
"Then I'm glad."
Belfast looked toward the others.
"Just remember..."
She paused.
"Time flows differently between your world and ours."
The Kancolle Shipgirls fell silent.
For years, they had measured their lives by the passage of time.
Five years since Mamiya and Irako disappeared.
Fifteen years stranded in this world.
Years spent running.
Years spent hiding.
But now they were finally learning that the passage of time itself could not be trusted.
What mattered was that the people they had thought lost...
Were still alive.
And waiting for them somewhere beyond this ship.
Edinburgh looked toward Belfast.
"Then..."
She tightened her grip on her weapon.
"Let's go home."
Belfast smiled.
"Yes, sister."
"Let's go home."
Another explosion sounded somewhere above them.
Friday immediately interrupted.
"Warning. Structural damage detected."
Belfast's expression became serious.
"Enough conversation."
She raised her weapon.
"We have our sisters."
She looked toward the security door.
"And now we need to get them off this ship."
Edinburgh tightened her grip on her chain gun.
"Lead the way, Bel."
Glasgow checked her ammunition.
"Let's go."
Newcastle nodded.
"We're ready."
Akashi lifted her weapon with newfound enthusiasm.
"Then let's see what these GDI weapons can really do."
Prinz Eugen smiled.
"I suppose our first battle together is about to begin."
Asahi calmly readied herself.
"Let's survive this."
Belfast looked at the group.
"Everyone stay together."
She inserted Gilligan's Level Two security card.
The reinforced door unlocked.
ACCESS GRANTED — LEVEL TWO.
Beyond it waited the route toward the upper decks.
The Royal Maids and their rescued allies continued through the carrier.
Eventually, they reached another section of the ship.
A massive storage facility stretched before them.
Rows upon rows of SAM missile racks filled the lower level, with additional cruise missiles stored nearby, ready to be loaded into launch systems.
Friday scanned the area.
"Surface-to-air missile storage facility detected."
Belfast looked around.
"So this is where they keep the ammunition for those SAM sites."
Before anyone could respond—
BEEP.
A nearby SAM turret suddenly rotated.
"Civilian airliner entering the area. Blackout protocol engaged."
The targeting system began locking onto an aircraft in the distance.
Edinburgh's expression immediately changed.
"They're going to shoot down a civilian airliner?!"
Glasgow raised her weapon.
"We can't let them!"
Belfast was about to give the order when—
CLUNK.
The missile-loading mechanism stopped.
The sabotaged ammunition rack beneath them had finally caused the system to malfunction.
The loader attempted to cycle again.
CLUNK.
Nothing.
Again.
CLUNK.
The mechanism remained stuck in an endless loading loop.
The SAM turret couldn't receive its missile.
Belfast stared for a moment.
Then sighed in relief.
"Oh."
She lowered her weapon.
"That solves our problem."
Soda blinked.
"Our sabotage worked at exactly the right moment."
Friday confirmed it.
"The missile system is currently unable to load ammunition."
The SAM turret continued attempting to cycle.
CLUNK.
CLUNK.
CLUNK.
Then the carrier's alarm system activated.
"INTRUDER DETECTED IN SAM AREA. ALL PERSONNEL, PLEASE RESPOND."
Belfast raised her rifle.
"So much for avoiding a fight."
Droids began flooding into the missile storage facility.
The rescued Shipgirls immediately took defensive positions.
Unlike Belfast and the other GDI personnel, they didn't have the same level of armor protection.
Without their ship modes, even ordinary droid weapons could injure them.
Arisa quickly opened her inventory.
"Stand still."
She distributed protective combat suits to the six rescued Shipgirls.
The suits locked into place around their bodies.
Friday immediately confirmed the protection.
"Anti Booby armor systems active. Small-arms fire will not penetrate."
Edinburgh looked at her new bubble like armor.
"Now that's useful."
Akashi raised her chain gun.
"Finally!"
She opened fire.
BRRRRRRRRRT!
Droids were torn apart.
Glasgow and Newcastle followed.
Prinz Eugen, Asahi and Edinburgh joined the fight, their confidence immediately increasing now that they knew small-arms fire could no longer easily hurt them.
Then—
BOOM!
The entire storage facility shook.
A Siren gunboat had opened fire on the carrier.
Another explosion followed.
Belfast looked toward Friday.
"Status?"
"Multiple hostile aircraft approaching."
Two Rapture helicopters appeared outside the carrier.
Their weapons opened fire.
The Royal Maids immediately returned fire while moving deeper into the facility.
"There's the storage elevator!" Belfast shouted.
She pointed toward a reinforced elevator shaft.
"It leads back to the missile storage section. Everyone get over there!"
The others began moving.
Then Friday suddenly interrupted.
"Wait."
Belfast stopped.
"Friday?"
"I am rerouting two rocket emplacements."
Arisa looked toward the tactical display.
"How long?"
"A moment."
The first rocket emplacement rotated.
Its targeting system locked onto one of the approaching helicopters.
TARGET LOCK.
The helicopter attempted to evade.
FIRING.
A salvo of rockets streaked upward.
BOOM!
The helicopter exploded in midair.
Akashi stared.
"Nice!"
The second emplacement immediately acquired the other helicopter.
TARGET LOCK.
FIRING.
Another salvo tore across the sky.
BOOM!
The second helicopter disintegrated.
But the Siren gunboats reacted immediately.
Their naval guns turned toward the exposed rocket emplacements.
BOOM! BOOM!
The first emplacement was obliterated.
Another barrage followed.
The second emplacement disappeared beneath an explosion.
Friday calmly reported:
"Rocket emplacements destroyed."
Belfast nodded.
"They did their job."
She looked toward the elevator.
"Everyone, move!"
The group rushed toward the storage elevator as the carrier continued shaking beneath the bombardment.
Behind them, the ruined SAM racks continued their endless mechanical failure.
And somewhere deeper inside the vessel, the explosives Belfast had planted were still waiting.
They had their sisters.
They had their allies.
Now they only needed to survive long enough to get everyone off the ship.
"Ade."
Friday's voice came through the comms.
"There is a missile control system not far from your current position. Please stand near it."
Ade nodded and moved toward the terminal.
"Here?"
"Confirmed."
A holographic interface appeared before her.
"I have gained partial control of the missile launchers," Friday explained. "I can redirect them to lock onto all Siren gunboats surrounding the carrier."
Belfast's eyes widened.
"That would solve our problem."
"Unfortunately, the system requires two-way authentication."
Friday highlighted another location on the map.
"One authentication is now with you. The Level Two security card."
Belfast frowned.
"And the other?"
"The captain possesses the required Level Three security authorization."
Friday brought up another objective.
"Additionally, the captain's security card provides access to the submarine systems. It can override the upper-level restrictions and unlock the route leading back to the submarine bay from the bridge area."
A new objective appeared on their interfaces.
NEW PRIMARY MISSION OBJECTIVE
LOCATE THE SHIP CAPTAIN AND OBTAIN THE LEVEL THREE SUBMARINE SECURITY CARD.
Friday continued.
"Reach the bridge."
"The Level Three security card, combined with the Level Two card currently in your possession, will allow the missile control system to authenticate. Missile control is located on the bridge."
Belfast looked at the tactical map.
"And then?"
"Activate the missile control system on the bridge."
Friday highlighted the Siren fleet surrounding the carrier.
"Destroy the hostile gunboats."
Belfast nodded.
"Understood."
Friday continued mapping the route.
"The shortest route is through the service elevator."
The route appeared on everyone's visors.
"It leads back toward the missile storage chambers, through the storage facility and ultimately toward the submarine bay."
Belfast studied it.
"The rescued Shipgirls should remain at the submarine bay."
"Correct."
"Then we'll leave them there."
Friday continued.
"From the submarine bay, take the route through the helipad. Proceed upward using the staircase, pass through the command room and continue directly toward the bridge."
"Understood."
Belfast turned toward the others.
"All right, ladies."
She raised her weapon.
"We need to reach the bridge and obtain the Level Three security card from the captain."
She glanced toward the shipgirls.
"Then we use the missile control system to destroy the Siren fleet."
Her expression hardened.
"Otherwise, they'll sink this carrier before we can escape."
Everyone nodded.
They moved toward the service elevator.
The doors opened.
The group entered.
The elevator descended toward the missile storage chambers.
When the doors opened again, the rescued Shipgirls immediately became nervous.
Rows of missiles surrounded them.
Cruise missiles.
SAM missiles.
Enough explosives to turn the entire carrier into a floating fireball.
Akashi stared at the storage racks.
"Wow..."
She slowly looked around.
"That's a lot of missiles."
Prinz Eugen took one glance at the ammunition stores.
"Yes."
She tightened her grip on her weapon.
"I don't particularly want to be here when those explode."
Asahi nodded.
"Neither do I."
Glasglow and Newcastle nodded as well.
The carrier suddenly shook.
Everyone froze.
Edinburgh immediately grabbed Belfast's arm.
"Bel..."
Another tremor ran through the deck.
"Get us out of here."
Belfast nodded.
"We're moving."
They hurried through the missile storage area.
Akashi, however, couldn't help staring at the surrounding weapons.
Her eyes followed every rack they passed.
So many unfamiliar technologies.
So many things she wanted to examine.
Her engineer's instincts were screaming at her to take everything.
Akashi slowed down.
"Can we take some of these?"
Belfast immediately shook her head.
"No."
"But—"
"Akashi."
Belfast sighed.
"We don't have the carrying capacity. We already taken samples needed for the vice commander."
Akashi reluctantly continued walking.
"That's unfortunate."
Belfast couldn't help thinking of the other Akashi.
The green cat Akashi would probably have attempted to loot the entire facility and sell every missile for an absurd number of credits.
This Akashi was completely different.
She wasn't interested in selling anything.
She simply wanted to understand it.
Belfast smiled beneath her helmet.
"You're really different from the green nyaa cat Akashi I know."
Akashi looked over.
"Is that a compliment?"
"Very much so."
Akashi smiled.
"Then I'll take it."
The group finally reached the storage exit.
Belfast looked ahead.
"Come on."
She checked the route displayed on her visor.
"The submarine bay is waiting."
Behind them, the rows of explosives remained untouched.
But Belfast knew exactly what they were capable of.
And before this night was over, she intended to make sure none of those weapons ever reached another target.
Soon, they arrived back at the submarine bay from the lower level.
The submarine was already on display, suspended behind reinforced glass like a massive fish in an aquarium. It was the same submarine that had carried the Shipgirls to this vessel, its dark hull and familiar silhouette standing out beneath the harsh lights of the bay.
The upper ramp led directly back toward the submarine.
To their right was the route leading toward the helipad.
This was where they had to split up.
Belfast stopped and turned toward the rescued Shipgirls and Cocoa.
"Edin, you take the maids and the Kancolle Shipgirls back to the submarine."
She pointed toward the upper ramp.
"Get inside and hide somewhere nearby. Use the containers around the bay for cover while we find the captain."
Edinburgh frowned.
Newcastle raised her hand.
"Head Maid, can't we help?"
Belfast shook her head.
"Please, let us handle this."
She looked toward the surrounding corridors.
"Droids are being redirected all over the ship looking for us. I don't want you caught in the middle of another firefight."
She gestured toward the submarine.
"Stay here. Defend the submarine if necessary, but don't leave this area."
Arisa stepped forward.
"The Bobby Suit should remain effective for approximately one hour."
She looked toward the rescued Shipgirls.
"If droids reach this area, you can fight them. Small-arms fire shouldn't penetrate the armor."
Edinburgh nodded.
"Understood."
Cocoa stepped forward.
"I'll stay with them."
Belfast looked at her.
"Cocoa?"
"Head Maid, Ade, Soda and Arisa..."
She looked toward the others.
"Finish the mission."
Belfast nodded.
"We leave them to you, Cocoa."
Cocoa smiled.
"Leave it to me!"
Edinburgh approached Belfast.
"Careful, Bel."
She gently touched her sister's arm.
"Come back to me."
Belfast nodded.
"I will."
Glasgow stepped closer.
"Head Maid..."
She smiled.
"Please be careful."
Newcastle nodded.
"We'll defend the area."
Belfast gave them a reassuring nod.
"Good."
Meanwhile, Akashi had already noticed a security terminal inside the submarine bay's control room.
She walked toward it.
"I might be able to do something useful."
Belfast looked over.
"What are you thinking?"
Akashi examined the terminal.
"I may be able to tweak the security system."
She smiled.
"If I can access the local network, I might be able to make the ship's sentry guns retarget the Rapture droids."
Prinz Eugen and Asahi immediately moved beside her.
"We'll protect you," Prinz said.
Asahi nodded.
"Go ahead."
Cocoa led Edinburgh, Glasgow and Newcastle toward a nearby group of cargo containers where they could remain concealed while keeping the submarine within sight.
Belfast watched them for a moment.
Her sisters were finally free.
Now she just had to make sure they stayed that way.
She turned toward Ade, Soda and Arisa.
"Ladies."
The three raised their weapons.
Belfast checked the Level Two security card.
"Our next objective is the bridge."
She looked toward the route leading to the helipad.
"We find the captain."
Ade nodded.
"Then take the Level Three card."
Soda grinned.
"And use their own missiles against their fleet."
Arisa calmly readied her whip sword.
"Efficient."
Belfast nodded.
"Exactly."
She looked toward the dark corridor.
"Lets deal with the captain."
The four women activated their stealth systems.
Then they disappeared into the carrier.
Behind them, Edinburgh watched her sister vanish into the darkness.
She clasped her hands together.
"Come back safely, Bel..."
And for the first time in years, she wasn't praying for someone to rescue her.
She was waiting for her sister to return.
=========
Belfast led the other three through the automatic doors.
The moment they stepped outside, all four women stopped.
Their visors immediately filled with hostile markers.
Droids.
Dozens of them.
They were gathering across the helipad and the surrounding deck, weapons already being raised.
Three of the four helipads were empty.
The helicopters that had occupied them had already been destroyed during the earlier fighting.
Only one remained.
It hovered above the final helipad, rotors screaming against the rain as its weapons tracked across the deck.
Soda stared at the sheer number of enemies.
"Wow..."
She raised her weapon.
"It's a convention out here."
Ade looked across the deck.
"Yes."
She checked the tactical display.
"This might take a while."
Arisa pointed toward the upper structure.
"We can see the bridge."
She then indicated a lower access door.
"And the lower access route is there."
Belfast looked between the bridge and the mass of droids.
They had already lost their advantage.
The ship knew they were here.
There was no reason to remain subtle.
Belfast raised her Volt Auto Rifle.
"Ladies..."
She stepped forward.
"Let's stop being subtle."
The droids began advancing.
"They know we're here."
Her weapon powered up.
"So we might as well go all out."
Friday suddenly spoke.
"New Secondary Objective."
A targeting marker appeared over the final helicopter.
"Destroy the last hostile helicopter."
Soda immediately grinned.
"Righto!"
She slung her rifle behind her and pulled out an N72 missile launcher.
Ade looked toward her.
"Soda..."
Soda shouldered the launcher.
"What?"
"Try not to destroy the entire deck."
"No promises."
Arisa calmly drew her whip sword.
Belfast raised her rifle.
"Let's start the cleaning party."
Soda aimed upward.
The helicopter's gunner spotted them.
Its weapons began rotating toward the four women.
LOCK-ON.
Soda squeezed the trigger.
WHOOSH!
The missile streaked upward through the rain.
The helicopter attempted to evade.
Too late.
BOOM!
The missile slammed directly into its fuselage.
The helicopter erupted into flames.
Fragments of metal rained across the helipad as the burning wreckage spiraled into the sea.
Friday immediately confirmed:
"Hostile helicopter destroyed."
The explosion drew every droid's attention.
Hundreds of mechanical heads turned simultaneously toward the four women.
Soda lowered the launcher.
"...Oops."
Ade sighed.
"You certainly got their attention."
Belfast raised her weapon.
"Good."
She stepped forward.
"Everyone—"
Her visor filled with red hostile markers.
"Open fire."
BRRRRRRRRRRT!
The cleaning party had officially begun.
"Lets start cleaning, ladies!" Belfast shouted.
She raised her Volt Auto Rifle and opened fire.
The first droid dropped.
Then another.
Ade and Arisa immediately joined her.
Soda laughed as she charged forward.
"Now this is a maid's cleaning party!"
Their weapons tore through the droids gathering around the helipad.
Arisa had already disappeared into the chaos.
Her stealth system flickered as she moved across the battlefield, appearing only for brief moments before vanishing again.
One instant, she was beside Belfast, deflecting a burst of gunfire with her whip sword.
The next, she was behind a group of droids.
Her blade snapped outward.
SHRAK!
The whip sword sliced through several mechanical bodies in a single sweeping arc.
Before the remaining droids could react, Arisa had already moved again.
She shifted seamlessly between offense and defense.
One moment, she was cutting through droids on the left side of the helipad.
The next, she was on the right, intercepting a volley aimed at Ade and redirecting it with a precise strike.
Her movements were almost impossible to follow.
She appeared.
She struck.
She disappeared.
Droids fell apart wherever she went, their severed limbs and shattered armor scattering across the deck.
Even when surrounded, Arisa never remained in one place for more than a second.
Her whip sword coiled around a droid's weapon, tore it from its hands and immediately lashed across its torso.
Another droid rushed her from behind.
Arisa twisted aside, allowing its attack to pass harmlessly, then drove the blade through its exposed joints.
The machine collapsed at her feet.
She vanished again before the next wave could reach her.
Belfast caught a glimpse of her moving through the smoke.
"Arisa is certainly making herself useful."
Ade fired into a cluster of droids.
"She is everywhere."
Soda glanced toward the empty space where Arisa had disappeared.
"Just don't stand too close to her."
A flash of steel appeared behind Soda.
Arisa's blade cut down a droid that had been about to attack her.
Soda turned.
"Thanks!"
Arisa gave a brief nod before disappearing once more.
The battlefield had become a storm of gunfire, explosions and flashing steel.
And moving through it like a ghost, Arisa continued cutting down anything that came too close.
Meanwhile, the submarine bay was under attack as well.
Cocoa led Edinburgh, Glasgow and Newcastle into position while Prinz Eugen and Asahi protected Akashi.
"Akashi! You done yet?!" Asahi shouted.
"Almost there!" Akashi replied.
She was hunched over the security terminal, rapidly working through the Rapture security system.
"I just need a little more time! Keep them off me!"
Droids poured into the submarine bay.
Cocoa raised her rifle.
"Stay together!"
Edinburgh, Glasgow and Newcastle opened fire alongside her.
Prinz Eugen planted her feet and held down the trigger of her chain gun.
"There are a lot of them!"
BRRRRRRRRRRT!
The chain gun shredded an entire group.
Another wave rushed through the opposite entrance.
Cocoa immediately turned and fired.
"Keep them away from Akashi!"
Akashi's fingers moved rapidly across the terminal.
"Come on..."
The security interface resisted her intrusion.
She gritted her teeth.
"I require more time!"
Asahi fired over her shoulder.
"Then we'll buy it!"
The three Royal Maids continued holding the line.
Droids were everywhere.
But none could reach Akashi.
Finally—
Akashi's interface flashed.
Her eyes widened.
"Got it!"
She slammed her hand against the terminal.
"Retarget confirmed!"
The security system suddenly changed.
FRIENDLY IDENTIFICATION PARAMETERS UPDATED.
SENTRY GUNS: REACTIVATING.
Akashi grinned.
"Reactivate sentry guns!"
Across the carrier, the dormant sentry guns suddenly came alive.
Their barrels rotated.
Targeting systems activated.
Then—
BRRRRT! BRRRRT! BRRRRT!
The sentry guns opened fire.
Droids throughout the carrier were caught completely off guard.
The automated weapons tore through them from the submarine bay to the upper decks.
Outside, Belfast and the Royal Maids suddenly noticed the change.
A nearby sentry gun rotated above them.
For a split second, Belfast raised her weapon.
Then the turret ignored them.
Instead, it locked onto a cluster of droids.
BRRRRRRT!
The entire group was annihilated.
Soda lowered her weapon.
"Oh."
Another sentry gun opened fire behind her.
"That shortens our work."
Ade looked across the deck.
"Akashi must have succeeded."
Belfast smiled.
"Excellent."
Another wave of droids emerged.
The sentry guns immediately opened fire.
The helipad became a slaughterhouse of mechanical wreckage.
Soda lowered her missile launcher.
"I officially like that Akashi."
Belfast laughed softly.
"Careful."
She raised her rifle again.
"She might hear you."
Back at the submarine bay, Akashi leaned back from the terminal.
She looked exhausted but extremely pleased with herself.
"Done."
Prinz Eugen smiled.
"Well done, Akashi."
Asahi nodded.
"You certainly know how to turn a battlefield around."
Akashi proudly adjusted her equipment.
"I told you I could be useful."
Cocoa looked toward the ruined droids surrounding them.
"You certainly were."
Edinburgh looked at the active sentry guns.
"So our new ally just turned the enemy's defenses against them."
Glasgow smiled.
"I think we're going to like this GDI."
Newcastle nodded.
"Very much."
Akashi looked toward the direction Belfast had gone.
"Now let's make sure they don't need rescuing from us."
Cocoa raised her weapon.
"They're probably doing just fine."
Another distant explosion shook the carrier.
Cocoa smiled.
"Judging by that..."
"They are."
==============
Belfast arrived alongside Arisa, Ade and Soda.
The sentry guns were still active.
They continued sweeping the surrounding deck, shredding every droid that attempted to approach.
Belfast watched another group get cut down by automated fire.
Soda lowered her weapon.
"Why didn't we ask Friday to help us with the sentry guns earlier?"
Ade looked at her.
"Yeah. That would have made things a lot easier."
Friday answered through their comms.
"Doing so earlier would have compromised the mission."
Belfast tilted her head.
"How?"
"The sentry guns were part of the ship's security network. Taking control of them before the appropriate moment would have generated irregularities in the system."
Friday paused.
"However, the primary reason was simpler."
Soda blinked.
"What?"
"You did not ask me to."
Silence.
Belfast stared at her visor.
"...Oh."
Ade slowly looked toward Soda.
Soda looked toward Belfast.
Arisa remained completely silent.
Belfast sighed.
"I didn't realize we could simply ask."
Friday replied calmly.
"Your available systems and capabilities can be requested at any time, provided they do not compromise the mission."
Soda grinned.
"That's good to know!"
Belfast shook her head.
"We'll remember that."
The group continued deeper into the carrier.
Eventually, they reached another storage chamber.
Belfast's visor identified the contents immediately.
Torpedoes.
Rows of them filled the room, stored inside reinforced racks and loading mechanisms.
Friday spoke.
"Sabotage the torpedo tubes."
Belfast looked around.
"That will assist with the ship's destruction?"
"Correct."
Ade immediately stepped forward.
"Head Maid, leave this to me and Soda."
Belfast looked toward her.
"Ade..."
Ade smiled.
"You and Arisa should get the captain."
Soda raised her weapon.
"Leave this to us, Head Maid!"
Belfast hesitated.
"Soda..."
"We've got it!"
Arisa calmly stepped beside Belfast.
"Come, Bel."
She gestured toward the staircase.
"Leave this to them."
Belfast looked at the two maids standing among the torpedoes.
Then she nodded.
"Good luck."
She pointed toward the route ahead.
"Lets meet back at the submarine."
Ade gave a thumbs-up.
"Count on us."
Soda raised her hand enthusiastically.
"Lets go!"
Belfast and Arisa began climbing the stairs.
Behind them, Ade looked across the massive torpedo storage facility.
She pulled out several explosive charges.
Soda stared at the rows of torpedoes.
"Wow."
She grinned.
"We have a lot of explosive to plant."
Ade looked toward her.
"Then let's get started."
Soda raised her hand.
"Lets get cleaning!"
The two Royal Maids split up and began sabotaging the torpedo systems.
One more section of the carrier was about to become a death trap.
==================
The bridge was in chaos.
Captain Stuving stood before the massive command console, his hand still wrapped around the Level Three security card.
A hologram of Leviathan hovered before him.
"GDI?" Stuving asked, his voice strained.
"Yes."
Leviathan's expression remained cold.
"The Mother Whale was destroyed when they attacked it to rescue the captured Shipgirls."
She brought up another tactical display.
"Then the transport vessels that were supposed to rendezvous with the Mother Whale were destroyed by Behemoth."
Stuving stared at the display.
"And they rescued those prisoners too?"
"Yes."
Leviathan's expression darkened.
"Just now, Exia Island was attacked. We lost all fourteen prisoners."
She leaned closer to the holographic projection.
"And now they've come for the six aboard your ship."
Stuving's jaw tightened.
"What would you have me do?"
Leviathan answered without hesitation.
"Scuttle the ship."
Stuving froze.
"Don't let them leave."
His eyes narrowed.
"What about me?"
"And Gilligan?"
"Gilligan is dead."
Leviathan's voice remained disturbingly casual.
"He fought one of them."
She displayed the recovered combat footage.
"He was cleaved apart before he could even resist."
Stuving stared at the image.
"They killed Gilligan..."
"Now they've come for you."
Leviathan pointed toward him.
"More specifically, they've come for the card you're carrying, Stuving."
"The Level Three security card."
"They need it to escape through the submarine."
Stuving slowly looked down at the card in his hand.
His expression became bitter.
He hadn't always been like this.
Captain Stuving had joined the Raptures after his own ship crashed on a desolate island during what was supposed to be a simple three-hour trip.
He had been captured.
Then modified.
Then forced into service.
Eventually, he had been placed in command of this enormous Rapture freighter—a mobile base of operations disguised as a cargo carrier.
His second-in-command had been First Mate Gilligan.
Now Gilligan was dead.
And Stuving was being ordered to destroy his own ship.
"I gave my life to the Raptures."
His voice trembled with anger.
"And even with this thing attached to my body..."
He touched the mechanical apparatus connected to his neck.
"Do you not care about us?"
Leviathan stared at him.
"Hm?"
She almost sounded confused.
"Since when do we care about the lives of foot soldiers?"
Stuving's expression hardened.
"There's always someone else to replace you."
Leviathan continued.
"Do us a favor."
She leaned toward the hologram.
"Scuttle the ship."
"Make sure all of them are dead."
Stuving slowly shook his head.
"Damn you."
His hand tightened around the security card.
"You Raptures really don't care about the humans working under you, do you?"
Leviathan's eyes narrowed.
"Do it."
"Or I can terminate you right now."
Her voice became colder.
"Or simply hijack your brain."
Stuving stared at her.
"One way or another..."
"You'll obey."
Stuving slowly reached toward the cable attached to the machinery embedded in his body.
Leviathan watched.
"What are you doing?"
Stuving pulled the cable free.
His body immediately convulsed.
"I've been controlled by this thing for years."
He looked toward the bridge windows.
"I've suffered enough."
His voice became firm.
"If I'm going down..."
He threw the cable aside.
"I'm going down with my ship."
Stuving raised his head.
"I'll die as a captain defending my ship."
His eyes hardened.
"Not because you ordered me to."
"Not for the Raptures."
Leviathan stared at him.
Stuving clenched his fists.
"For myself."
Leviathan's expression went cold.
"So be it."
She activated a command.
CORRUPTION PROTOCOL INITIATED.
Stuving screamed.
Mechanical components erupted across his body.
His skin began merging with machinery.
His arms transformed.
Metal plates spread across his torso.
His eyes glowed with an unnatural light.
His body became a grotesque fusion of human and machine.
Leviathan watched without emotion.
"All Siren ships."
She turned toward the tactical display.
"Open fire on the tower bridge."
The Siren fleet immediately responded.
BOOM!
The carrier's bridge tower shook violently.
Another shell struck.
BOOM!
The explosion tore through the upper structure.
One of the stairways leading toward the bridge collapsed completely.
Belfast and Arisa reached the destroyed section moments later.
They stared across the enormous chasm.
The direct route was gone.
Arisa looked upward.
"The stairs are destroyed."
Belfast checked her visor.
"Then we'll take the fast route."
She fired her grappling hook.
THWIP!
The cable caught the upper structure.
Belfast ascended.
Arisa followed.
They landed on the upper platform.
The moment they arrived, several droids armed with chemical weapons opened fire.
Belfast raised her rifle.
"Contact!"
Arisa moved first.
Her whip sword flashed.
The chemical weapons were knocked aside before the droids could fire again.
Belfast followed with controlled bursts.
The droids collapsed one after another.
They continued toward the bridge.
Then they heard something heavy approaching.
CLANK.
CLANK.
CLANK.
A figure emerged through the smoke.
Belfast raised her rifle.
Her visor identified the target.
HUMAN BIOLOGICAL SIGNATURE DETECTED.
Then the scan updated.
MACHINE INTEGRATION: EXTREME.
Arisa narrowed her eyes.
Captain Stuving stepped forward.
Or what remained of him.
His human features were barely recognizable beneath the machinery.
His breathing was ragged.
His mechanical limbs moved with unnatural strength.
"So you finally got here."
The voice came through the bridge speakers.
Leviathan's holographic image appeared once more, watching Belfast and Arisa from the command display.
"Meet Captain Stuving."
The corrupted captain stood before them, his body almost completely consumed by Rapture machinery.
"The stubborn old bastard has one of those human-corrupting nanite systems inside him."
Leviathan smiled coldly.
"Perfect for dealing with two GDI pests."
Belfast raised her Volt Auto Rifle.
Arisa drew her whip sword.
Leviathan's expression became almost amused.
"Do have fun with him."
She glanced toward the bridge's tactical display.
"I have other matters to deal with."
The hologram flickered.
"Enough for me to finally deal with you."
The transmission ended.
Silence filled the bridge.
Captain Stuving slowly raised his head.
His remaining human eye focused on Belfast.
Then his mechanical arm moved.
CLANK.
CLANK.
The corrupted machinery screamed as his body prepared to attack.
Belfast didn't hesitate.
"Arisa."
"Yes."
"Together."
Stuving charged.
BOOM!
His mechanical fist smashed into the floor where Belfast had been standing.
She had already activated her ship mode.
Her rigging unfolded behind her in a burst of machinery.
"Smokescreen!"
A thick cloud immediately spread across the bridge.
Stuving swung blindly through the smoke.
"Where are you?!"
Belfast moved through the concealment.
Her cannons locked onto his position.
TARGET ACQUIRED.
She emerged from the smoke at point-blank range.
"Found you."
BOOM! BOOM!
Her cannons fired directly into Stuving's torso.
The impact threw him backward.
Chunks of Rapture machinery were blasted from his body.
Stuving crashed into the bridge console.
His mechanical systems attempted to compensate.
"Kill..."
His voice was barely human anymore.
"Kill you..."
He forced himself upright.
Arisa appeared behind him.
Her whip sword flashed.
SHRAK!
One of Stuving's mechanical arms was severed at the shoulder.
The corrupted captain staggered.
Arisa immediately vanished back into the smoke.
Stuving spun around.
"Where?!"
Belfast appeared on his opposite side.
She fired another burst.
The remaining machinery around his torso began breaking apart.
Stuving stumbled forward.
His systems were failing.
But the corruption nanites continued trying to repair him.
Belfast reached into her equipment storage.
"Arisa."
"Yes?"
"EMP."
Arisa understood immediately.
She threw a smart EMP grenade.
THUNK.
It landed against Stuving's chest.
EMP ACTIVATED.
A pulse erupted across the bridge.
VMMMMMMMM!
Every Rapture machine attached to Stuving flickered.
Then stopped.
His mechanical eye went dark.
The machinery around his body froze.
Stuving collapsed to one knee.
The corruption nanites attempted to reactivate.
Nothing happened.
Arisa moved.
Too fast for him to react.
Her whip sword extended.
SHRAK!
The blade cut through his remaining mechanical arm.
It fell to the floor with a heavy metallic crash.
Stuving's body finally became still.
The Rapture machinery attached to him began disintegrating.
The nanites lost their control.
One by one, the mechanical components detached from his body and fell away.
What remained was a bloodied human being.
Belfast lowered her weapon.
Belfast kept her ship mode active, her rigging still unfolding behind her.
"Captain?"
Stuving slowly opened his eyes.
For the first time, there was no mechanical glow in them.
"Finally..."
His voice was weak.
"The voices stopped."
He looked toward Belfast and Arisa.
"Thank you..."
He struggled to breathe.
"Whoever you two are."
Belfast lowered her weapon.
Then she noticed something strange.
Stuving was changing.
His hair was turning gray.
His skin was rapidly wrinkling.
His muscles weakened before their eyes.
Arisa's visor immediately scanned him.
BIOLOGICAL DECAY: RAPID
NANITE SUPPRESSION: COMPLETE
Belfast's expression softened.
"The nanites..."
Stuving gave a faint smile.
"With the nanites gone, my cells are rapidly dying."
He looked at his hands.
"I suppose I was meant to die years ago."
His fingers trembled.
"But those things kept me alive."
He slowly looked toward the ruined bridge.
"Now..."
He smiled peacefully.
"Death has finally come for me."
Belfast lowered her weapon completely.
Stuving struggled to remain standing.
"Thank you..."
He took another breath.
"For giving me the chance to defend my ship."
Belfast bowed her head.
"It was an honor, Captain."
Stuving smiled.
Then he reached beneath his ruined coat.
He pulled out the red security card.
The final piece of the puzzle.
He held it toward Belfast.
"All this time..."
His voice was barely above a whisper.
"Being kept alive by the Raptures..."
He looked at the card.
"Forced to serve them."
He closed his eyes.
"Finally..."
"It comes to an end."
He opened his eyes again.
"Can I at least know..."
He looked between the two armored figures.
"...the names of the ones who defeated me?"
A faint smile appeared.
"Even if I cannot see your faces behind those helmets."
Belfast looked at him.
For a moment, she hesitated.
Then she answered.
"Formerly, I was a Royal Navy Her Majesty's Ship."
She placed a hand against her chest.
"Now, I am a Global Defense Initiative Shipgirl."
She paused.
"Belfast."
Stuving nodded.
"Belfast..."
He looked toward Arisa.
Arisa stored her whip sword.
"Global Defense Initiative."
She gave him a respectful nod.
"Pleiades Combat Maid Division."
"Arisa."
Stuving smiled.
"Belfast..."
"Arisa..."
"Such beautiful names."
He looked toward the shattered bridge around him.
"Thank you."
He slowly fell backward.
"For giving this old captain..."
"A great death."
His body hit the floor.
"I want no quarter."
His breathing became weaker.
"Just..."
His eyes closed.
"...let me sink with my ship."
His skin continued withering as the last remnants of the Rapture nanites died.
Then—
Nothing.
Belfast stood silently.
Arisa bowed her head.
The captain was dead.
Not as a Rapture servant.
Not as a corrupted machine.
But as a captain who had chosen his own final stand.
Then Leviathan's voice came through the remaining speakers.
"Ah."
A hologram flickered back into existence.
"He's dead."
Belfast's hand tightened around the red security card.
"Insolent..."
Her voice was unusually cold.
An expression rarely seen from the normally composed Head Maid.
She hid it behind her helmet.
"Are human lives really that cheap to you?"
Leviathan smiled.
"Humans?"
She tilted her head.
"Quite interesting subjects."
"But they're no different from any other experimental material."
Belfast's eyes narrowed.
Leviathan continued.
"Look at them."
"Humans hiding behind the Ark. Behind factions."
"Creating Nikkes and Shipgirls to fight their battles for them."
"So why are you here?"
"To suffer for the rest of humanity?"
Belfast remained silent for several seconds.
Then she answered.
"No."
Her voice was firm.
"If humanity needs us, we'll protect them."
"But we're done fighting for humanity."
Leviathan's expression changed slightly.
Belfast continued.
"I am with the Global Defense Initiative now."
"My objective is to reunite the fleet once more."
She raised her rifle.
"Should humanity stand in our way..."
"We won't be kind."
"But if they need our help..."
"We'll offer our assistance."
Leviathan stared at her.
"For no reward?"
She laughed softly.
"You're Shipgirls."
"You were created to defeat the Sirens."
"We are."
Belfast looked toward the dead captain.
"But we're no longer fighting simply because humanity commands us to."
She looked back toward Leviathan.
"We are GDI Shipgirls."
"Our role is determined by our commander."
"Our loyalty belongs to the GDI."
She paused.
"Even if that means turning against the very humanity that abandoned us."
Leviathan smiled.
"All for your commander..."
"What an amusing human."
Belfast's eyes narrowed.
"Human?"
She glanced toward Arisa.
"We're not entirely sure what he is anymore."
Arisa nodded.
"But talk ill of him..."
Belfast's voice became dangerously calm.
"And you'll answer to us."
Leviathan laughed.
"I believe we will meet again."
Her hologram began fading.
"GDI Belfast."
"Pleiades Maid Arisa."
"This time..."
"Be sure to face the Raptures and Sirens."
Belfast stared at her.
"We know."
The hologram vanished.
For half a second, there was silence.
Then—
WARNING. HOSTILE FLEET APPROACHING.
Friday immediately displayed multiple contacts.
Belfast looked toward the windows.
The Siren fleet had begun maneuvering.
Leviathan's final command echoed through the bridge.
"Consider this my response."
"ALL SIREN SHIPS."
"ATTACK THE BRIDGE."
Belfast, however, didn't panic.
She and Arisa walked toward the missile control system and inserted the Level Three and Level Two security cards simultaneously.
The terminal immediately came alive.
LEVEL TWO AUTHENTICATION: ACCEPTED.
LEVEL THREE AUTHENTICATION: ACCEPTED.
MISSILE CONTROL SYSTEM: UNLOCKED.
Belfast looked toward the tactical display.
"Friday..."
She smiled beneath her helmet.
"Do your worst."
"Missile launching."
Friday accessed the carrier's missile system.
Across the ship's sides, massive missile-bay doors opened.
KLANG!
KLANG!
KLANG!
Then—
WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH!
Missile after missile launched into the stormy sky.
The carrier unleashed at least two dozen missiles, climbing high before their guidance systems suddenly shifted.
TARGET ACQUIRED.
The missiles turned sharply.
Their new targets were the dozen Siren vessels surrounding the carrier.
"Missiles incoming!"
The Siren ships desperately attempted evasive maneuvers.
Point-defense weapons opened fire.
Several missiles were intercepted.
But there were simply too many.
BOOM!
One missile slammed into a Siren gunboat.
BOOM! BOOM!
Two more struck another vessel.
A third Siren ship disappeared beneath a massive explosion.
The surrounding fleet was being decimated by the very carrier they had been ordered to destroy.
Belfast pulled both security cards from the terminal.
"That's enough."
Arisa looked toward the bridge entrance.
"The route to the submarine bay?"
Belfast checked the tactical map.
The staircase leading toward the Level Three access route had been destroyed by the Siren bombardment.
She immediately changed the plan.
"Scrap the Level Three route."
Arisa nodded.
"Understood."
Belfast and Arisa ran toward the edge of the bridge.
Below them was the vast gap created by the bombardment.
Belfast pulled out her grappling launcher.
THWIP!
The cable shot across the gap and firmly attached itself to the main door of the submarine bay.
Belfast looked back one last time.
Captain Stuving's old, withering body remained on the bridge.
She lowered her head.
"Rest in peace, Captain."
Arisa gave him a respectful nod.
"May you finally rest."
Belfast grabbed the cable.
"Let's go."
Both women stepped over the edge.
WHOOSH!
They zipped down the cable toward the submarine bay.
Below, Ade and Soda were already moving toward the door on foot.
The sound of explosions continued all around them.
Siren gunboats were being torn apart by the carrier's own missile batteries.
Belfast and Arisa landed near the submarine bay entrance.
"Head Maid!"
Ade and Soda turned toward them.
Belfast quickly approached.
"Did you get it?"
Ade held up the red security card.
"Yes."
"We got the submarine security card."
Belfast nodded.
"Good."
She showed them the card she had taken from Captain Stuving.
"Then we're ready."
She looked toward the torpedo storage area.
"Did you plant all the explosives?"
Soda proudly raised her thumb.
"Yes!"
She grinned.
"Enough to blow the bow sky-high."
Belfast looked toward the submarine bay.
"Excellent."
She turned toward the others.
"Now we get our people off this ship."
Behind them, another massive explosion shook the carrier.
The ship was already dying.
And the Royal Maids were ready to make sure everyone aboard escaped before it went down with the rest of the Rapture fleet.
Suddenly, Cocoa's voice came through the comms.
"Head Maid! The sentry guns are offline!"
Belfast immediately stopped.
"Droids are converging on the submarine bay. Please hurry!"
Friday's voice followed.
"Rendezvous with the rescued Shipgirls at the submarine portal for evacuation."
Belfast nodded.
"You heard her."
She raised her weapon.
"Lets end this, ladies."
The four Royal Maids sprinted back toward the submarine bay.
As they rounded the final corridor, they saw Cocoa, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Newcastle, Kancolle Akashi, Kancolle Prinz Eugen and Asahi fighting desperately against waves of Rapture droids.
"Bel!"
Edinburgh spotted her sister.
"Hurry up!"
Belfast immediately opened fire.
Arisa, Ade and Soda followed.
The four GDI Maids tore through the approaching droids, creating a path toward the submarine.
But more droids continued pouring into the bay from every direction.
Belfast realized they couldn't keep fighting forever.
"Everyone!"
She pointed toward the submarine.
"Get inside!"
The Shipgirls immediately began retreating.
"Ade!"
Belfast tossed her the security cards.
"Use all the keycards to power it up!"
Ade caught them.
"Got it!"
"Friday will handle the submarine."
Friday responded immediately.
"Confirmed."
Akashi practically jumped into the submarine.
"Finally!"
Asahi followed.
Prinz Eugen climbed in after her.
Edinburgh, Glasgow and Newcastle quickly followed.
Cocoa covered their retreat.
"Come on! Move!"
The droids opened fire.
Belfast stepped forward.
"Smoke!"
She deployed a massive smokescreen across the submarine bay.
White smoke rapidly filled the area, obscuring the droids' vision.
"Everyone inside!"
The remaining Shipgirls disappeared into the submarine.
Belfast remained outside.
She was the last one.
Gunfire ripped through the smoke.
Belfast raised her weapon and returned fire while moving backward.
She reached the submarine.
The hatch opened.
Belfast grabbed the edge and pulled herself inside.
Bullets struck the metal around her.
She slammed the hatch shut.
"Friday!"
Her helmet display immediately connected to the submarine's controls.
"We're all aboard."
A brief pause.
Then Friday answered.
"Roger."
The submarine's engines came alive.
WHUMMMMM!
The vessel began diving.
Droids continued firing into the water as the submarine disappeared beneath the surface.
"Go deeper," Belfast ordered.
"Already doing so."
The submarine descended rapidly.
The gunfire faded.
The explosions became distant.
Finally, they broke away from the carrier.
Through the submarine's observation systems, they could see the Siren gunboats around the carrier.
Or rather—
What remained of them.
Several were already sinking.
The missiles launched earlier had devastated the fleet.
Belfast looked toward the others.
"We're clear."
Edinburgh released a breath she hadn't realized she was holding.
"We actually made it..."
Belfast reached into her equipment storage.
She pulled out the detonator.
Then she turned toward Edinburgh.
"Edin."
Edinburgh looked at her.
Belfast extended the detonator.
"Do it."
Edinburgh stared at the device.
Her hands trembled slightly.
She looked toward Glasgow.
Then Newcastle.
Then Kancolle Akashi.
Prinz Eugen.
Asahi.
They had spent years running.
Years hiding.
Years wondering whether anyone would ever hear their voices.
Despite a few hours on that ship, now they were finally leaving that prison behind.
Edinburgh looked back at Belfast.
"Bel..."
Belfast smiled.
"It's time."
Edinburgh took the detonator.
She looked down at it one last time.
Then—
CLICK.
The explosives were armed.
For a moment, nothing happened.
Then the carrier's missile storage exploded.
BOOOOOOM!
The massive blast tore through the vessel.
A second explosion erupted from the torpedo storage.
BOOM!
Then another.
And another.
The carrier began breaking apart section by section.
The explosions raced through the ammunition reserves Belfast, Ade and Soda had sabotaged.
The entire ship was consumed by fire.
The droids aboard were annihilated.
The remaining Rapture systems collapsed.
And high above the bridge—
The withered body of Captain Stuving disappeared beneath the flames.
His ship was finally sinking.
Just as he had wished.
The carrier erupted into a tremendous fireball that illuminated the night sky.
Edinburgh watched silently.
"So long..."
She lowered the detonator.
Belfast stood beside her.
"Rest peacefully, Captain."
The submarine continued away from the burning wreck.
Soon, the carrier was nothing more than a massive burning ruin sinking into the ocean.
Friday announced:
"Threat eliminated."
The submarine continued through the dark waters.
Eventually, it surfaced.
Fresh air rushed across the deck.
The rescued Shipgirls emerged one by one.
Edinburgh stepped onto the surface and looked toward the horizon.
For the first time in years, there was no prison around her.
No Rapture guards.
No containment tubes.
No endless running.
Just the open sea.
She looked toward Belfast.
"Bel..."
"Yes?"
Edinburgh smiled through her tears.
"We're going home."
Belfast smiled.
"Yes, Edin."
She looked toward her sisters and their new allies.
"You're going home."
Belfast, Ade, Soda, Cocoa and Arisa disengage their helmets revealing their faces once more.
The moment the submarine surfaced and the rescued Shipgirls were confirmed safe, a familiar system notification appeared across the GDI interfaces.
==================
MISSION ACCOMPLISHED
All Shipgirls accounted for.
XP Received.
Level 35 Achieved:
Belfast
Cocoa
Ade
Soda
+2 Upgrade / Talent Points
+1 Super Upgrade Point
==================
🏅 SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT BADGE UNLOCKED
THE PLOT ERUPT MEDAL
A special system achievement medal shaped like a volcano erupting violently, with streams of molten lava flowing around its base.
Awarded to participants of the Volcano Island Operation.
Recipients:
Belfast
Cocoa
Ade
Soda
Arisa
Yorktown
Illustrious
Houshou
Achievement Description:
"When the mission says extraction, but someone decides to wake the volcano."
=======================
The medal appeared inside each recipient's special achievement interface.
Belfast stared at hers.
"...The Plot Erupt Medal?"
Cocoa looked at her own.
"That's actually pretty accurate."
Soda immediately laughed.
"WE BLEW UP AN ENTIRE VOLCANO!"
Ade sighed.
"We didn't exactly plan for the volcano to erupt."
Arisa looked at the medal.
"The achievement system appears to disagree."
=========================
🏅 SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT BADGE UNLOCKED
STOWAWAY MEDAL
A special system achievement medal shaped like a cargo ship caught in a massive explosion, with pieces of the vessel flying outward.
Awarded to the Royal Maid team that infiltrated the Rapture carrier and escaped aboard its submarine.
Recipients:
Belfast
Ade
Soda
Cocoa
Arisa
Achievement Description:
"Entered as intruders. Left with the prisoners, intelligence, weapons samples, and their submarine."
======================
Soda stared at the description.
"...We stole their submarine?"
Friday answered immediately.
"Technically, yes."
Ade looked toward Belfast.
"We did."
Belfast paused.
"We commandeered it."
Soda grinned.
"That's just a fancy way of saying we stole it."
Cocoa quietly nodded.
"She's not wrong."
Arisa examined her medal.
"An interesting achievement."
Belfast sighed.
"At least the system recognizes our efforts."
==========================
SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT MEDALS
Unlike ordinary medals, Special Achievement Medals are limited-time event rewards.
They can only be awarded to personnel who directly participated in the operation while the event conditions were active.
They cannot be earned afterward through ordinary missions.
==========================
The system notification remained on their interfaces for several seconds.
Then another line appeared.
==================
Reward:
6000 CREDITS
(3000 for each Special Achievement Medal gained. Awarded to all participating)
==================
Belfast looked at the final line.
For once, she allowed herself a genuine smile.
"Mission accomplished."
Behind her, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Newcastle stood together with their new allies.
After years of captivity...
They were finally going home.
The system's pop-up display remained visible for several seconds.
The rescued Shipgirls stared at it.
Akashi was the first to react.
"That's the leveling system?"
Belfast nodded.
"Yes."
Akashi's eyes practically sparkled.
"I can't wait to get it!"
Asahi and Prinz Eugen exchanged glances before nodding.
"Being able to grow stronger..." Asahi murmured.
"And we even get paid?" Prinz Eugen added.
Belfast smiled.
"You'll have plenty of time to learn about the GDI once we return."
Akashi immediately looked excited.
"This organization gets more interesting by the minute!"
Behind them, Edinburgh suddenly stepped forward.
"Bel!"
She wrapped her arms around Belfast.
"Edin..."
Belfast hugged her sister tightly.
Edinburgh buried her face against Belfast's shoulder.
"I won't be jealous anymore."
Her voice trembled.
"Just don't go away again."
She tightened her embrace.
"I'll be a good older sister from now on."
Belfast gently placed a hand against her head.
"Shh..."
"It's okay."
She smiled softly.
"You're here."
Edinburgh continued crying quietly.
After years of believing her sister was lost, she finally had Belfast in her arms again.
She wasn't letting go anytime soon.
Nearby, Glasgow released a long sigh.
"Finally free..."
She slipped back into her old dialect without even realizing it.
"Ye don't know how long I've been trapped in that place."
Newcastle smiled.
"At least we're free now."
She looked toward the open sea.
"No more running."
"No more hiding."
"No more prisons."
Belfast looked around at everyone.
Her sisters.
Her new allies.
The Royal Maids who had followed her into the heart of the enemy vessel.
She bowed her head slightly.
"Thank you, everyone."
Everyone looked toward her.
"Thank you for helping me rescue my sisters."
Soda immediately waved her hand.
"Don't worry about it!"
She grinned.
"We're Royal Maids!"
She pointed toward the distant horizon.
"We go where you and our master go!"
Ade nodded.
"Soda is right. We also gained three new maids, and another four will be joining us soon. On top of that, we have three new Kancolle allies."
Soda stepped forward with a bright smile and gave Edinburgh, Glasgow and Newcastle a small, formal bow.
"Ehee... I'm Soda, a Nikke and a member of the Royal Maids."
Since they would soon be serving in the same corps, she wanted to introduce herself properly.
Ade followed her example.
"I'm Ade. I'm also a member of the Royal Maids under Belfast."
Cocoa raised a hand in greeting.
"And I'm Cocoa. We were formerly part of the Nikke Maid Squad, but we've now joined the Royal Maids as well."
She glanced toward Belfast before continuing.
"We also have two other Nikke maids waiting to meet you."
Edinburgh looked between the three of them, her expression warming.
"So these are the maids who helped Bel rescue us..."
Soda nodded enthusiastically.
"That's right! And we'll be working together from now on!"
Glasgow smiled as she greeted the three new maids.
"Our maid group is getting bigger."
"Indeed," Newcastle agreed.
She looked over the growing group with quiet approval.
"It seems our household will be quite lively from now on."
Cocoa chuckled.
"You have no idea."
Belfast watched the exchange with a gentle smile.
After everything they had endured, seeing her sisters welcomed so naturally into the group made the long and dangerous operation feel worthwhile.
Arisa stepped forward.
"I may be a Pleiades Combat Maid..."
She looked toward Edinburgh and the other rescued Shipgirls.
"But I am still a maid. While on Earth, it will be my honor to join the Royal Maids."
She gave Belfast a respectful bow.
"If you need me, I will assist you anytime, Head Maid."
Edinburgh looked at the three GDI Maids who had fought alongside Belfast.
Then she looked toward Akashi, Asahi and Prinz Eugen.
Her expression softened.
For the first time in years, she wasn't looking at strangers trapped alongside her.
She was looking at people who had become her family.
Belfast looked toward the submarine.
"Everyone."
She smiled.
"Lets go home."
For Edinburgh, Glasgow and Newcastle, those words carried a meaning they had almost forgotten.
Home.
Not another hiding place.
Not another temporary shelter.
Not another island where they would spend years waiting for someone to find them.
A real home.
And this time...
They were going there together.
=================
"Hey, nice work... Bel."
The voice came through the comms.
Belfast stopped.
Her eyes widened beneath her helmet.
"Master!"
Edinburgh, Glasgow and Newcastle froze.
They knew that voice.
The voice that had called to them weeks ago.
The voice they had heard in their dreams.
The voice that had reached across whatever strange prison separated them from the outside world.
It was real.
Edinburgh couldn't speak.
Glasgow's mouth opened slightly, but no words came out.
Newcastle simply stared at Belfast's interface.
The voice had found them.
Akashi, Asahi and Prinz Eugen were unusually quiet as well.
They knew exactly who was speaking.
The High Commander.
The highest authority within the GDI.
The man the Royal Maids spoke of with absolute respect.
The commander whose name carried enough weight that even Level 1000 Combat Maids had once competed for the honor of serving as his personal maid.
And now...
They were finally hearing his voice themselves.
"All of you..."
Yuuki's voice continued.
"Ade, Soda, Cocoa."
He paused.
"And you as well, Arisa."
"I've been watching and proud of all of you for completing your mission."
Soda's face immediately brightened.
"Ehee..."
Ade smiled.
Cocoa gave a small nod.
Arisa, despite having participated in countless missions, couldn't hide her smile.
Being personally praised by their Master was still an honor.
Belfast smiled beneath her helmet.
"Thank you, Master."
"Bring your sisters and our new allies back to the carrier."
Yuuki continued.
"I'll see you once I'm done."
Belfast looked toward the others.
"Master? You're not back yet?"
"Not yet, Bel."
His voice became more businesslike.
"The others are already on their way back."
"I'm assisting Takao, Atago, Maya and Choukai with recovering Sheffield, Gloucester, Liverpool and Manchester in a nearby town on an island not far from the volcanic island. The info you sent to Yorktown was solid."
He paused.
"They're your sisters too, right?"
Belfast's expression softened.
"Yes."
"Members of the Royal Maids as well."
"Then we'll bring them home too."
Belfast nodded.
"Understood. Only on your own?"
"I am with Yuu. We'll be there in about twenty minutes."
"Just return to the carrier."
"Yorktown is sending an Orca Ex to pick you up."
Then Yuuki added casually:
"Akashi is already on the way."
Kancolle Akashi immediately looked up.
"Akashi?"
Yuuki continued.
"Somehow, Blücher and Lützow are tagging along."
Prinz Eugen froze.
"They are?"
"They want to meet their counterpart sister."
Kancolle Prinz Eugen's eyes widened.
The thought of meeting the other Eugen's elder sisters suddenly made her nervous.
Kancolle Akashi, meanwhile, looked almost stunned.
"The Akashi of this world is coming to meet us..."
Asahi smiled.
"This is going to be quite an introduction."
Belfast gave them an encouraging look.
"Don't worry. They'll be happy to meet you."
She turned back toward the communicator.
"Thank you, Master."
"Good luck."
Yuuki's voice softened.
"And Bel?"
"Yes, Master?"
"Introduce me to your sister once we're home."
Belfast's eyes widened slightly.
"And the Kancolle Shipgirls too."
He continued.
"Mamiya, Irako, Kashima and Katori would be thrilled to hear they have allies from their world here as well."
Edinburgh's expression brightened.
"Master knows about them..."
Belfast nodded.
"He does."
"Then we'll introduce ourselves properly."
"Good."
The transmission began fading.
"See you soon."
"Yes, Master."
The radio went silent.
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
The others simply stood there.
Edinburgh slowly looked toward Belfast.
"That was him..."
Belfast nodded.
"Yes."
"The one who called to us."
Glasgow looked toward the sky.
"All those years..."
Her voice trembled.
"That voice was real."
Newcastle smiled softly.
"He really did hear us."
Kancolle Akashi looked toward the communicator, her expression filled with curiosity.
"So that's our new commander's voice..."
Asahi nodded.
"He sounds kind."
Prinz Eugen smiled.
"I wonder what kind of person he is."
Edinburgh looked at Belfast.
"Bel..."
"Yes?"
She smiled through the tears still lingering in her eyes.
"We really are going home."
Belfast gently nodded.
"Yes, Edin."
Around them, the others began preparing for extraction.
And for the first time, the voice that had once seemed impossibly distant was no longer calling from beyond the horizon.
It was coming to meet them.