The morning sun shone onto the Manifest Destiny as gangways were withdrawn. The flag of the United States was hoisted and raised to fly on the battleship as the dry dock began to submerge.

As the waterline rises, the Manifest Destiny already begins to visibly displace the water. The dry dock had to sink quite a distance to allow the battleship to freely float.

Other warships raised their anchors as Expedition-class support ships finish replenishing them. They began to move to point in the Manifest Destiny's direction.

Jackson: "All ahead, slow!"
Helmsman: "Making turns for 10 knots."

The Helmsman received a new engine telegraph, replacing the older old-school one. He pushed the lever to the 10 knots notch. Almost immediately, the battleship responded with movement and began to move out of the dry dock. Eight propellers churned the Azur Lane Pacific waters and moved into the open sea.

The Manifest Destiny begins a slow walk into the open ocean, then that walk begins to turn into a jog.

The CNO was back on the Gerald R Ford when he called for arms.

CNO (coms): "After polling, I have decided to let you finish what you started. Your ship has been upgraded to the Flight II version."
Jackson: "We'll make it count."

He turns to the helmsman.

Jackson: "Helmsman, full cruising speed!"
Helmsman: "Full ahead aye sir!"

The helmsman pushed the telegraph to full ahead - 34 knots notch. The ship began to accelerate from a slow jog to a run. The wake of the ship grew larger as the propellers rotated faster.

As the Manifest Destiny pulled away from the floating dry dock, the warships followed the battleship's lead. They turned onto a heading back to Azur Lane.

Jackson: "What was our last bearing before the engagement?"
James: "2 degrees northbound. We're moving 182 degrees south."
Jackson: "Maintain general course back to Azur Lane."

The ocean was calm and the skies were an endless clear blue. The Pacific breeze steadily blew against the ship, making the United States flag and jack wave furiously and proudly. Mists of water sprayed from the wash of the bow wake, some of it flowing onto the deck.

While the Hessen, Hamburg, Moskva, and Marshal Ustinov paced with the Gerald R Ford, which was trailing the Manifest Destiny's wake, the USS Dewey, USS Kidd, HMS Diamond, and HMS Daring were running with the Manifest Destiny, huffing and puffing to keep up with the powerful stride of the battleship. Their wakes were easily dwarfed and overpowered by the Manifest Destiny's oversized bow wake.

Hancock: "Reactors have increased capacity. Power grid average and shaft output has been significantly increased."
Jackson: "War emergency power. Let's see how fast this battleship can go now."
Helmsman: "War emergency power aye sir!"

He pushed the telegraph into war emergency power. As he did, the ship lurched forward with one big stride. The battleship's run becomes a full and powerful sprint as the ship accelerates further.

Crewmen and women onboard the British and American destroyers watched as the Manifest Destiny pulled away. The ship's apparent speed and acceleration caught their attention and curiosity, observing the growing oversized wake and increasing amount of propeller backwash.

148,000 tons of battleship powered through the water and tops out at...

James: "New top speed of 46 knots."
Helmsman: "She's gotten faster with the upgrade. She accelerates beautifully."
Amy: "The coolant circulation system was enhanced and overhauled. They're able to operate at slightly higher temperatures now."
Jackson: "Tell the crew to set up weapon stations. We're gonna expect the worse has happened."
Amy: "You mean..."
Samuel: "It's most likely the Oorochi is on the loose. Whatever raided Azur Lane base most likely stole the cube and used it to launch the ship."
Alisa: "We don't know what it's capable of... they don't know we just got an upgrade."
Jackson: "I think we should surprise them, eh?"

Crewmen and women came out on deck and began placing sandbag walls and ammo crates. M134 and M2 Machine guns were brought back out and mounted onto their respective stands and tripods.

At the same time, E/A-18G Growlers and E-2 Hawkeyes flew overhead as they begin to scour the path ahead of the battleship for possible targets. The Growlers screamed over as they broke the sound barrier. The Hawkeyes made the typical turboprop noise as they lumbered through the air.

The Manifest Destiny slowed back down to cruising speed as the USS Dewey and USS Kidd overtake and assume the Vanguard. Sonars go active as medium-pitched pinging began to echo through the water. Expedition-class support ships were quick to catch up and overtake the Manifest Destiny too.

As the afternoon sun rose into its early noon position, the Manifest Destiny was sharpening its knives as M134 Miniguns and M2 Browning machine guns were armed with ammunition. M249, M240, and other smaller arms were laid out across the deck as they sorted ammunition and distributed the guns

The Gerald R. Ford and the rest of the fleet followed the Manifest Destiny, the battleship's wake leaving its mark on the ocean for miles, even if the ship had left the area long ago, indicating its powerful backwash.

Dr. ██████: "Whatever kind of magic you infused that battleship with, it's an amazing sight."
CNO: "It's all American ingenuity, embracing tradition rather than modernity."
GRF Captain: "So... what do they mean by 'job to finish'?"

The CNO shook his head.

CNO: "All they said is that they must finish a job and slay the monster before all hell breaks loose."

Dr. ██████ pushes his glasses up his nose.

Dr. ██████: "All hell breaks loose? That battleship is the definition of that by itself."
CNO: "I trust McCain, as he and his crew were here for quite some time now. We're following his lead."
GRF XO: "Why are we spending more time here to help people who we don't know?"
CNO: "As he said..."

His eyes gazed and studied the Manifest Destiny from the distance.

CNO: "There is a job that must be finished."
Dr. ██████: "Based on what SCP-9683 had said, the problem might be bigger than we think. We shouldn't ignore such."
GRF XO: "And what kind of problem would that be?"
Dr. ██████: "A problem that impractical solutions would be the answer to."

He eyed the Manifest Destiny.

Dr. ██████: "An impractically huge solution, that is."

The entire fleet powered through the ocean as they attempted to make a fast transit back to Azur Lane. As the Pacific sun beated down onto the weather decks of the ships, the crew of the Manifest Destiny finished setting up weapon emplacements and sandbag barricades. Coolers of water and soda were then carted out as they relaxed, for now, enjoying the breeze of air and the mists of water flowing up onto the deck.

Noon turns into afternoon. The USS Dewey and USS Kidd were far ahead of the Manifest Destiny as they assumed picket duties.

In the combat and situational suite, one crewman raised his hand.

Kidd Situation Specialist: "What is it, sir?"

She went over to the operator's screen.

Kidd Radar Operator: "Fast-moving missile contact detected on SPY-1, moving at 666 knots. Ballistic trajectory indicated."
Kidd Situation Specialist: "Contact the bridge."

The Kidd's captain was scanning the horizon. He lowered his binoculars and noticed the railgun turret locking onto something and following an apparent unseen target.

Kidd Captain: "What's going on? Did the combat room detect something?"
Kidd Combat Officer: "Sir, they detected a ballistic-traveling missile traveling at Mach speed."
Kidd Situational Officer: "It is not on an attack vector, but it's giving off an unusual signal."

The Situational Officer glanced at the radar panel. The missile track soon disappeared and the railgun stopped leading the target, the barrel drooping down as if it followed the target below the horizon at the last moment.

Kidd Situational Officer: "It's gone..."
Kidd XO: "Are we synced with the CEC?"
Kidd Combat Officer: "The USG-2 firmware is corrupted. We still cannot use peer radars."

Then, the USS Dewey squawked over the communications.

Dewey Combat Officer (coms): "Everyone, nuclear event detected from E-2 Hawkeye aircraft!"
Kidd Captain: "What...?!"

Everyone turns to the horizon. As they did, the sky darkened and a purple glow ominously emanated. Moments after the initial glow, the nuclear dome of energy peeked over and revealed itself as the intense light bathed the destroyers and the following USS Manifest Destiny and British destroyers in a purple hue.

Kidd XO: "S███..."
Kidd Situational Officer: "A nuclear weapon...?"

Then there was the shockwave. It slammed the ships in its path with a deafening low-pitched rumble of the nuclear explosion. The bullet-proof windows shook in their frames and communications were forced offline as the EMP fried antennas and unprotected equipment.

A distance up ahead, an Eagle Union submarine was tumbling through the water from the apparent underwater shockwave. Because it was underwater, it was much quicker and had already deafened the sonar room with the loud boom, rendering the sonar blind for a bit. The bow sonars slowly recovered, still pinging active sonar.

Kidd Sonarman (coms): "New contact bearing 0-1-7, designated as Sierra 1."

It was Dace who was tumbling through the water. As she settled, the medium-pitched pinging from the USS Kidd and USS Dewey echoed through the water.

She turned in confusion as she listened to the unusually-pitched active sonar. Royal Navy and American Eagle Union ships had high-pitched sonar, but the much more medium-pitched pings were very unusual, unsure if she was detected or not.

Then, there was a monstrously low-pitched echo of another sonar ping. It was much louder and it was loud enough to be heard bouncing back to its source. The louder pinging was getting closer and whatever it was, it was big.

Confused and fogged up by the underwater shockwave, she surfaced. When she did, the sky slowly began to turn back to bright blue as the intense light subsided. She took a gasp of air and looked around. Immediately, there was a cruiser-sized vessel with an unusual front-mounted gun making a fast stride through the water. A similar-shaped vessel was at a distance going in the same direction.

One had the number 100 while the other had the number 105. They didn't take notice of Dace's surfacing outwardly, but crewmen inside the bridges clearly saw her.

Dace: "Woah..."

The EMP shockwave temporarily disabled every warship's communications and unprotected equipment and radars, sending many into confusion.

Jackson: "What the hell happened?"
Alisa: "Nuclear event was detected just over the horizon. Measuring 15 kilotons by ESM readings before the SLQ-32 was knocked out."
Samuel: "It must be the Oorochi..."
Jackson: "Bingo. Was the missile launch detected?"
Alisa: "Negative. However, the missile's initial detection bearing was 3-4-7 relative to us before a track was begun."
Jackson: "3-4-7... Any fallout?"
James: "Radiation levels are still at safe levels. Even if we arrive at ground zero, the waters should be safe to transit."
Amy: "Communications and several systems are restarting right now."

Flight deck operations aboard the USS Gerald R Ford were resuming after the EMP blast killed off equipment and electronics.

Dr. ██████: "This was what SCP-9683 was talking about... her information is accurate."
CNO: "What? What information?"
Dr. ██████: "We've interrogated her several times, and she gave us plentiful information regarding the enemy... and I forgot what they were called."
GRF Captain: "About nuclear capability?"
Dr. ██████: "From recent interrogation sessions, she was mentioning how the main belligerents were aiming for nuclear technology."

A flashback occurs as Dr. ██████ goes into depth.

Dr. ██████: "She was a project intended to create an all-round multi-mission cruiser vessel. She escaped them and pledged oath to the United States and its allies."
Dr. ██████: "It's revealed that they were able to replicate post-WWII-similar nuclear devices. Her TLAM-N missiles are capable of a flat 30 kiloton blast; this was the only instance they were nuclear-capable... until now."
GRF Situational Officer: "Communication and datalinks are back up. Incoming transmission from the USS Manifest Destiny."
CNO: "Put it through."

As communication systems and data transfer links were restarted and reconnected, the Manifest Destiny was the first to speak up.

Jackson (coms): "Admiral, order change course to 2-5-1 west southwest. I want scout and strike aircraft in that direction."
CNO: "Now?"
Jackson (coms): "Now. We're ready to finish this job."

And that was the call to arms.

CNO: "Call everyone to general quarters."

The Manifest Destiny changed course and began to make full speed ahead. The HMS Diamond, HMS Daring, USS Kidd, and USS Dewey reformed into a v-shaped formation with the Manifest Destiny at the leading tip.

A clash was now imminent as two giants now set onto a collision course with each other.

...

E-2 Hawkeyes were scouting far ahead when they begin sighting the Manifest Destiny's ultimate target.

It was the Oorochi, surrounded by a dense pocket of Siren warships and humanoids.

Hawkeye Pilot: "Contact the carrier and Manifest Destiny. That thing is huge!"

The Hawkeye turns as it pierces through clouds, partially obscuring vision. The Pilot tilts the plane for a better look.

Hawkeye Co-Pilot: "Yeah, that thing is just as huge as that battleship."
Hawkeye Radar Officer: "We got two groups of naval forces indicated. They're closing in on both sides of the sighted battleship."
GRF XO (coms): "The Calvary has been called."

Then, the Manifest Destiny calls through. It begins to make its first opening moves as it moves head-in.

Alisa (coms): "Requesting TLAM attack profile."
Hawkeye Radar Officer: "10-4. Creating TLAM attack scene now!"

At sea level, it was Azur Lane and the formed sub-faction of the Red Axis. They closed in on both sides as opening barrages of shells rained down. The air was filled with initiating exchanges of gunfire.

San Diego: "What's going on?!"
Cleveland: "It's the Red Axis. They're starting the fight without us."
Hornet: "Right... let's do this!"

Siren aircraft scattered and bolted across the sky as Azur Lane enters the fighting ring. The Red Axis approached from the other side. Yuudachi, Yukikaze, and Shigure led a Vanguard as they went head-in towards the fight.

Yukikaze: "Leave it to me!"
Yuudachi: "Let's do this!"
Shigure: "Wait! Don't go far ahead!"

Yukikaze and Yuudachi sped ahead. As they did, shells splashed all around. One knocks down Yukikaze.

Yukikaze: "Huh?!"

The trio looks up. It was Executor-class Sirens: Oceana sub-class Sirens and Tester floating in the air.

Tester: "Oh... what cute guests! Let's see what kind of data we can get..."

They rip open a can of overflowing firepower as lasers sweep the battlefield. Explosions and splashes of water occurred as the Red Axis faltered.

Shokaku and Zuikaku were transiting through the mess of Sirens as they attempted to approach the Oorochi.

Shokaku: "We can't even get close to it!"
Zuikaku: "We have to do it! If the path is blocked..."

She made a stance to begin an attack.

Zuikaku: "...force your way through!"

Her flight deck launched fireballs as they projected upwards in anti-air warfare.

Suddenly, they were intercepted by blue fireballs, rendering Zuikaku's attack completely ineffective.

The two stop. Standing in their way... was Kaga. She stared down ominously.

Kaga: "You will not harm the Oorochi..."

Kaga's flight deck appeared beside, initiating the 2 versus 1.

Zuikaku: "?!-"

Zuikaku made a fireball attack. Kaga was quick to counteract as the duel heated up.

Zuikaku: "Why are you working with the Sirens?!"
Kaga: "My only wishes are to make my sister Akagi's dreams become reality!"

Kaga launches another attack with vicious force. Shokaku was quick to block the attack, saving Zuikaku.

Shokaku: "Where is the usual cool face?!"

Both parties began to exchange attacks in furious counterattacks and re-attacks of explosions.

Executor-class Sirens and Tester continued to orchestrate the chaos and destruction as lasers sweep the oceans. Intense laser barrages throw off the Red Axis attack as Sakura Empire falters. Iron Blood was also faltering tactically, unsure of where to punch next.

Tester: "So many guests!"

Admiral Hipper: "Even our joint forces are still not enough to match them."
Prinz Eugen: "...draw a card."

Then there was a devastating artillery attack. It rained across the Siren fleet, hitting the Siren warships. Ensuing explosions occurred as many of the Sirens were pulverized into ashes.

Z23: "Reinforcements?!"
Prinz Eugen: "Oh my... Is the enemy of my enemy a friend?"

It was Azur Lane entering the stage as they made their approach. It was a mix of combined carrier and gunfire naval support, closing the distance to begin their own joint attack.

Observer: "Azur Lane... we've been waiting-"

Then, something twinkled in the sky. Suddenly, there was a single orange tracer. It screamed across the sky and slammed into the water next to a Siren warship. The force was so powerful, it made it violently roll and pitch.

[Azur Lane Battle Theme 1 stops]

It made a distinct slamming sound. A signature explosion. Everyone noticed the reeling waters.

Observer: "So... you have returned..."

Observer gazes at the horizon. 17 more orange lights came barreling over the horizon, arcing high and far and then coming down like a hammer. They hit Siren ships like a freight train, crippling and pulverizing them into scraps.

[Master of Puppets - Metallica/Pendulum starts playing instead]

Tomahawk missiles then thundered overhead, the turbo-fan engines drowning everyone's ears as the missiles slammed targets left and right, making a devastating combined attack.

Then there was the screaming RGM-210 HSAMs. They evaded anti-air gunfire and bypass the defenses, landing the first decisive hits on the Oorochi, knocking out portions of its anti-air guns.

Everyone turns their heads as they track the missile trails to a specific point on the horizon.

The signature foremast peeks over. The SPS-49 rotates in short-ranged mode as the USS Manifest Destiny takes the spotlight of the fight.

Smaller warships were following beside the battleship in a sloping V formation. They broke away as the Manifest Destiny's guns eyed the Oorochi.

The real deal now begins:

Oorochi vs USS Manifest Destiny. Two giants meet...

Only one can come on top.

Jackson: "HIT IT!"
Helmsman: "War emergency power!"

The Manifest Destiny charges in as it accelerated into war emergency power. Guns turn in different directions as they opened fire with full fury.

It was the Manifest Destiny's turn at orchestrating the destruction.

POW POW POW POW! POW POW POW POW!

The 5" guns spat out armor-piercing at a blistering speed as they peppered Siren warships with the shells.

The 25mm Mark 38 cannons fired away, popping shells against Siren aircraft and close surface targets. Crewmen with M107 sniper rifles and M4A1s focused with the Bushmasters.

The main battery trained in different directions as range-finding lasers designated targets galore. Guns elevated.

BOOOOM! BOOOOM! BOOOOM!

High explosive and superheavy armor-piercing shells flew across the water and slammed the Sirens.

Missile cells opened up as hoards of SM-2 and SM-6 missiles thundered out in anti-surface and anti-air warfare. Shortly after, Tomahawk anti-ship missiles screamed out of their cells. They rotated and their boosters blazed into exhaustion, falling off and allowing the turbo-fan engines to take over.

However, these were no ordinary TASMs. They accelerated and accelerated; they suddenly break the sound barrier as they hit their targets with the force of a train. It was the birth of a new missile: the Tomahawk II.

The Manifest Destiny punched left, right, up, and down as it forced its way towards the Oorochi.

F/A-18E and F Super Hornets fly over as they break the sound barrier, ringing the sound of freedom into shipgirl ears. 500 lbs and 1000 lbs bombs whistle and explode while AGM-84 Harpoons penetrate and pounded Siren warships. Other Hornets dogfighted with Siren aircraft, overtaking and dancing around the slower subsonic planes of both Azur Lane and the Sirens. Some of them began racking up kills with their 20mm Vulcan cannons.

The Oorochi fights back with its own firepower. Its guns trained...

20-inch single cannons.

KABOOOOOOM!

The shells left the barrel and screamed towards the Manifest Destiny.

Crewmate 22: "GET DOWN!"

Everyone hits the deck as the 20-inch shells slapped the Manifest Destiny. The first shell ricocheted off the armored Atlantic bow, making a loud screeching noise as it did, splashing into the water with torrents of water spraying. The second shell slams turret C, failing to penetrate the combined titanium and kevlar armor. It bounces, digging into the armor and leaving partially molten metal as the shell tumbled upwards and then falls into the sea.

The C turret returns fire.

BOOOOM! BOOOOM! BOOOOM!

The superheavy armor-piercing screamed towards the Oorochi, then suddenly the shells shattered in seemingly mid-air.

Alisa: "You guys saw that?"
Samuel: "That thing has a damn forcefield!"
Jackson: "Keep going!"

There was a forcefield around the Oorochi, preventing any shells from damaging the ship.

Jackson: "We're gonna bypass the shield!"
Alisa: "Point blank with the Oorochi?!"
Jackson: "Every ounce of firepower is needed, and that needs us to get to 5000 meters!"

Amagi and Akagi looked down the vengeful Manifest Destiny, approaching into the 15000 meters radius.

Amagi: "I had enough, don't you think?"

The Oorochi suddenly glows a mad red, with light concentrating into a single point. The ship's energy was directed into a hatch, making it open.

Amagi: "They really think they can stop us, don't they, Akagi?"

Akagi, spaced out, was slow to respond. Her mind was flooded with fantasy and conflicting thoughts. One sentence comes out of her mouth...

Akagi: "Yesss... Let's start a real war. A war across worlds..."

A large missile locks into position. It glowed ominously red as it began to charge up.

Kidd Situational Officer (coms): "Manifest Destiny, radiation levels just spiked in the vicinity of the main objective!"
Alisa: "Oh god... is that what I think it is...?"
Samuel: "That thing..."

Prinz Eugen took notice of the missile.

Prinz Eugen: "Somewhat like the Fritz X..."
Yuudachi: "A what? Is it those things the Titan 1 launches?"
Tester: "Not a bad guess, Eugen. But what you are witnessing is technology from the future..."

Her head turns to the missile, then the angry Manifest Destiny.

Tester: "The Titan 1 harnesses this power to go anywhere and do whatever it wants. This missile uses it a bit differently..."

She smiled, nightmarishly.

Tester: "The very thing that powers the Steel Titan, will destroy you all."

Jackson: "That's a nuclear cruise missile!"
James: "All units! FOCUS FIRE!"

The missile groans and garbles, and then launches into the sky. The booster blazes and the missile thunders upwards.

Diamond Captain (coms): "Systems are being jammed!"
Daring XO (coms): "Targeting systems cannot fire on missile. We can't get a track!"

The USS Kidd had its railgun locked onto the missile. It waited for it to travel a safe distance before firing.

The Oorochi's 20-inch gun turns and reloads. It then fires.

KAPOOOOW!

Kidd Situational Officer: "IT FIRED ON US!"
Kidd XO: "What-"

An EMP slams and cripples the Kidd as the shell impacts and explodes, disabling the Kidd's entire power system and rendering it completely disabled.

Kidd Captain: "NO!"
Kidd XO: "Damage control parties! Lay to the main power board room!"

The missile then suddenly tilts like the P-800 Oniks, then the booster launches it away as it began screaming away.

Alisa: "That's heading towards the main fleet!"
Amy: "If they burn in a nuclear fire, we're gonna be stuck here FOREVER!"
Jackson: "All hands, focus fire on the missile!"

Secondary turrets redirected their attention and reloaded to multi-purpose high explosive. The CIWS systems also turned and spun up their barrels.

Artillery Officer 2: "OPEN FIRE!"
Artillery Operator 8: "I got no lock."
Artillery Operator 9: "Fire control systems are unresponsive!"
Sensors Operator 4: "Mark 92 GFCS is being jammed! Eyeball it!"

POW POW POW POW!

The 5"/62 guns fired blindly at the missile, the shells bursting much too early or late.

BRRRRRRRRRT!!!!

The Phalanx Shredders fired away, but the missile already left the effective range of the Phalanx CIWS, rendering the attack largely ineffective other than screaming into everyone's ears.

F/A-18E Super Hornets directed their attention to the missile, then noticed Hellcats going after it.

Hornet Pilot 1 (coms): "Holy cow!"
Hornet Pilot 2 (coms): "After it!"

Many of the Super Hornet jets dropped whatever targets they had and went after the missile with Enterprise's Hellcats.

Enterprise was riding on top of one, attempting to catch up. Some of the shells from the Manifest Destiny explode in between her and the missile, with the Hellcats riding through the smoke.

Jackson: "The fleet doesn't know, they're gonna get nuked into oblivion!"
Alisa: "Turn this ship, the missile is gonna exit the firing arcs of our secondaries!"
Samuel: "I want every gun pointed at that missile. NOW!"

The Manifest Destiny makes hard starboard turn to expose an over-the-shoulder broadside. Main guns, secondary guns, and sniper rifles all eyed the missile.

BOOOOM! BOOOOM! BOOOOM!
POW POW POW POW! POW POW POW POW!

Orange tracers flew into the sky in an effort to stop the missile.

Amagi: "Beating the USS Manifest Destiny at its own game. Weapon evolution at its finest."
Amagi: "This beast's reign of terror is to come to an end this instant. To annihilate an enemy from an ocean away is an achievement that only the Manifest Destiny's allies could have done better."
Akagi: "Yes... The power to kill all enemies that intrude my love..."

The missile furiously rockets through the sky, leaving a unified trail of smoke. Enterprise's Hellcats struggled to catch up.

Enterprise: "Almost there... ALMOST THERE!"

Her rage began to boil her mind as her Code G activates. The Hellcats break the sound barrier with the F/A-18E Super Hornets, who were quickly catching up.

Enterprise draws her bow and aims in.

Then someone rudely interrupts. Purifier turns up and blocks Enterprise's line of sight of the missile. She giggled in a brooding tone.

Purifier: "Let's play, Enterprise!"
Enterprise: "OUT OF MY WAY!"

Purifier makes laser attacks, tearing apart Enterprise's Hellcats. She jumped and dodged the laser attacks as her Hellcats accelerated in an attempt to outrun Purifier.

The sound of flying 16-inch shells whispered and grew louder. They then shrieked past both Purifier and Enterprise; all of them miss, with one 16-inch shell barely grazing the skin of the missile's body.

But as she closed in and tried to make a new interception, the missile discards its 1st stage, and the 2nd stage flared to life, making the missile blaze away.

Purifier sends her laser pods in different directions, surrounding Enterprise.

More laser attacks further distracted Enterprise as her last pair of Hellcats dodged and ducked.

Suddenly, an AMRAAM missile shrieked past  Enterprise and intercepts one of Purifier's gun pods, engulfing it in a fireball and disintegrating it.

Purifier: "Behind you!~"

Enterprise snapped behind at Purifier's call, seeing the rapidly approaching F/A-18E Super Hornets and the other gun pod.

Purifier made laser attacks while Enterprise was distracted, destroying the other Hellcat.

It goes down in a ball of flame, breaking into two. But as it did, the front half rotates and lines up.

TATATATATATA!

The downed Hellcat makes its final kill, taking down the gun pod before plummeting into the sea.

Purifier moves directly in front and blocks Enterprise.

Enterprise: "ENOUGH!"
Purifier: "Bring it ooooon!~"

Purifier fires a laser attack and surrounds the final Hellcat. As the Hellcat tried to squeeze itself from the lasers, the wings cut off and the Hellcat plunges.

Then Enterprise makes her attack against Purifier. She fired her bow and the arrow splits into a shotgun pattern, downing Purifier with a fireball knocking her down.

Both of them plummeted towards the sea. Purifier giggles defiantly in victory.

Purifier: "I win!"

But she was the one who miscalculated. Enterprise gets the last laugh.

From the corner of Purifier's eye, the Super Hornets dive past her and under Enterprise. As they did, the sonic boom roared into her ears, leaving her deaf and drowned out with heavy ringing.

Enterprise at the last moment grabs the wing of one of the Hornets and stands. The jets pull up and closed the distance at Mach 1.8 for Enterprise.

Purifier: "WHAT?! That is no fair!"

They leveled and formed into a V formation. The Hornet pilot held steady for Enterprise.

Hornet Pilot 2 (coms): "Holy crap... she's beautiful..."
Hornet Pilot 1 (coms): "Go get her Tiger!"

Enterprise draws her bow and holds firm at the missile.

Enterprise: "I will shoot it down."

She launches the arrow and it flew furiously. It seemingly merged with the missile...

Suddenly, it explodes in an intense fireball of purple energy.

The shockwave blasts Enterprise off the Hornet and sends her downwards into the ocean. The Super Hornet flight tumbled through the air as they struggled to regain control.

Hornet Pilot 3 (coms): I'M OUT!"

He pulls the ejection trigger and the canopy goes flying. The seat ejects out and the parachute deploys as his jet fell into the sea with one big splash. The other Hornets regain control, with one pulling up just in time, the external fuel tank barely touching the ocean's surface.

The Gerald R. Ford and its escorts had a front-row seat of the spectacular explosion. The intense light bathed the ship and those on deck with extravagant energy. It occurred just short of the fleet; less than 30 kilometers meters away.

CNO: "Mother of all bombs..."
Dr. ██████: "Well my friends, there's your problem."

The explosion subsided as everyone fell into shock and awe.

Then a new missile reloaded. Azur Lane and Red Axis forces focused fire in an attempt to stop the launch of the new missile. Artillery barrages and machine gun fire pelleted the Oorochi.

However, despite the combined firepower, the shield protected the Oorochi from the hail of shells and bullets.

But the Manifest Destiny was about to dwarf all of that firepower as it closed in for the duel.

[Rorke's Drift - Sabaton starts playing]

James: "Come hard left, helmsman!"
Helmsman: "Aye sir!"

The Manifest Destiny makes a hard left turn and resumes closing the distance.

The battleship begins to enter under the 20-inch gun minimum range. Then suddenly:

CRACK!

The Manifest Destiny rams into the Oorochi's shield, shattering it with sheer weight like a hammer. The sound of the shield cracking sharply rang into everyone's ears.

The Manifest Destiny now was within 6000 meters of the Oorochi. Crewmen opened fire with guns of all kinds; M134, M2 Brownings, M249s, M240, M4A1s, M107s... every ounce of firepower they had at hand.

Jackson: "Hard port rudder!"
Helmsman: "Hard port rudder aye sir!"

The helmsman spun the wheel hard left. The entire ship groans and jerks left to expose a broadside. Secondary guns fire away as they pounded the Oorochi.

Smaller 15-inch guns rotated and eyed the Manifest Destiny.

POW POW POW!

Six 15-inch shells flew out of the barrels and hit the Manifest Destiny. Many of the shells penetrate the main torpedo belt and then got stuck trying to penetrate the thick main belt. Other shells passed through the superstructure with little effect.

Siren aircraft from the Oorochi then swarmed the Manifest Destiny. Phalanx Shredders and RIM-162 missiles attempted to clear the skies, but the combat suite could only manage so much.

Samuel: "We got incoming aircraft, there's too many to handle!"
Alisa: "Too close! They're all targeting us!"
Jackson: "Dammit..."

It seemed that the Manifest Destiny walked right into a death trap. But then, Jackson had an idea...

Jackson: "Wait..."

He had a flashback to when the Manifest Destiny dragged its anchor to slow down.

"Drop port anchor."

SNAP!

He snapped out of flashback and then blurted:

Jackson: "Drop port anchor!"
James: "What?!"

Everyone looked at each other in confusion.

Jackson: "Drop it now!!"

Crewmen manning the anchor controls immediately pulled the release switch. The port anchor fell into the water and descended at a rapid rate. The chain furiously rattled on deck.

Alisa watched the approaching Siren torpedo bombers, the Phalanx Shredders distracted from the dive bombers.

Alisa: "We're gonna die..."

...

Jackson: "Yeah, we're gonna die."
Alisa: "CAPTAIN?!"
James: "Oh my lord- Have you gone nuts?!"

The anchor continued to sink at a feverish rate, the chain clattering and groaning. The Manifest Destiny continued on its port side turn as it cuts through the water at 45 knots.

Jackson: "You're gonna die... I'm gonna die..."

The looming Sirens dropped their payloads. Torpedoes dove into the water and bombs were released, whistling through the air. The 15-inch guns on the Oorochi followed the Manifest Destiny, the autoloaders working to reload the guns for a second salvo.

Crewmen huddled and curled into bracing positions in absolute fear and fright.

Jackson: "We're all gonna die."

Everyone except for Samuel and Jackson assumed the brace position for shock. Torpedoes and bombs were about to slam and saturate the battleship with irreparable and unrecoverable damage.

Jackson: "...Just not today."

SNAP!!!

The chain suddenly snaps taut and the bow of the battleship digs hard into the water. The stern jerked up and the contra-rotating propellers were exposed, still turning at a head-spinning rate.

The Oorochi fired its 15-inch guns at that exact moment. The shells missed the nose of the battleship and they harmlessly splashed into the water, rendering the salvo a complete waste.

The entire ship drifts to expose the broadside, a cascade of water forming as the mass of the battleship's broadside plowed through the ocean.

Amagi: "Nani... Anchor drift...?! What kind of cheese move is that?!"

Then the Manifest Destiny settled. Crewmen got up from bracing position and aimed their guns. All eighteen 16-inch guns and the twelve broadside 5-inch guns pointed and locked.

Now the Manifest Destiny was less than 2000 meters away, ready to slug it out.

Alisa: "...?"
Amy: "Whaaa...-"

It was now the Manifest Destiny's turn to punch.

Jackson: "Let's drop some lead on those mother-"
Samuel: "FIRE!"

BOOOOM! BOOOOM! BOOOOM!
POW POW POW POW! POW POW POW POW! POW POW POW POW!

The Manifest Destiny's punch was a devastating one. The shells rip open the Oorochi's internals like an angry can opener, the 16-inch shells and 5-inch shells penetrating and exploding with ease.

The nuclear missile loses its charge as the Oorochi receives the ravaging damage.

Artillery Officer 1: "Reload! High capacity shells!"

The autoloaders inside the Mark 8 16-inch turrets went to work as propellant and the shells were hastily hoisted upwards into the turrets themselves. Breeches open and the loading trays connect; rammers push the shell and propellant into the guns. Then the rammer retracts, the tray folds, and the hoists return into the barbettes. The breech closes and the guns re-elevate.

Jackson: "Release port anchor. Make speed for 15 knots, move reactors 4 and 5 to the power grid."
Helmsman: "Aye sir!"

The port anchor was released and the chain slides out, whipping into the water. The giant propellers churn and turn as the ship moves forward.

BOOOOM! BOOOOM! BOOOOM!

The 16-inch guns fire another blow at the Oorochi with high explosive shells. The shells penetrate the weakened armor and explode inside, tearing and burning the Oorochi from the inside. The red indicators on the sides of the turret began to glow mad red as more power was diverted into the turrets, speeding up the autoloaders.

Then the Mark 213 launchers turned and pointed.

FWOOSH! FWOOSH! FWOOSH!

The launchers fired their rockets at the Oorochi in anti-ship warfare. They impacted and lit up fires as the warheads pierced the armor and disable anti-air turrets.

Amagi: "Dirty fools!"

The Oorochi punches back with its 15-inch guns.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

The first turret fired its shells at the superstructure of the Manifest Destiny. Two shells passed through the thin superstructure. The other shell shattered upon impacting the thick bridge armor, chunks of the shell falling into the water and tumbling across the deck.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

The second turret fired. This time, it targeted the X turret. One shell ricocheted off the titanium turret face with a loud clank, and one bounced off the turret roof and ended up tumbling away harmlessly.

And one traveled through the barrel of the left gun, the breech just now opening to allow reloading.

It was one second of silence...

Then the entire turret EXPLODES.

It was violent and devastating. The roof rips open from the exploding shell and burning propellant, secondary explosions following and tearing apart the rest of the turret. The 16-inch guns slammed onto the deck and slid into the sea.

The X turret ceased to exist, the shell hoist doors slammed shut and resisted the raging fires.

Everyone was thrown off their zone as the entire ship groaned and moaned as it rocked from the explosions.

Artillery Operator 4: "That goddamn son of a █████!"
Defense Officer 2: "Are you alright?!"
Artillery Officer 1: "They ain't gonna sink this floating fortress no way!"

The Manifest Destiny stopped firing in stun and confusion. Smoke billowed from the remaining husk of the X turret.

Akagi: "Ahahahaha...~"
Amagi: "Oh, how's that for an uppercut?" *Giggles*

Then... the ocean begins shaking.

The chaos on the battlefield seemingly paused.

The ocean bulges.

And then a carrier comes blasting out from the depths. It was Enterprise, back from the iron bottom of the Pacific. The bow falls and slams into the sea in a mighty torrent of water.

Everyone turns their head in awe as Enterprise eyes the Oorochi.

Enterprise: "It's over, Amagi! You're outgunned!"

[Azur Lane Theme Song (But excessively more metal) plays]

A new wave of F/A-18E Super Hornets roared over as they made a pass to observe the new condition of the battlefield.

The Manifest Destiny recovered from its daze. The guns angrily corrected their aim.

Samuel: "HIT IT!"

The Manifest Destiny furiously fired back with all guns firing at will.

BOOOOM! BOOOOM! BOOOOM!
POW POW POW POW!
BRRRRRRRRRRRRT!!!

The Manifest Destiny was more enraged than ever. It began disassembling the Oorochi in the most destructively and chaotically method possible.

Azur Lane and Red Axis combined as they began to turn the tide of the battle. Shipgirls fired artillery and harmonized with the Manifest Destiny's starboard secondaries, which were firing at every possible Siren they could find. Surface-attacking SM-6 missiles launched in swarms while RIM-162 Sparrows swept the skies of Siren aircraft.

Zeros and Fairy Swordfish planes flew side-by-side. Thundering Hornets made cinematic flybys as they dropped bombs and missiles.

Zuikaku: "Yes! No more rivalry!"

She then stops.

Standing before her was Enterprise, the Manifest Destiny firing away from behind her. They stared at each other at first.

Zuikaku: "Please, I want to be part of the effort too."

Enterprise smiled, for the first time for Zuikaku.

Enterprise: "Of course."

Enterprise then turned to Belfast, who bowed in respect and honor.

Belfast: "We've awaited your return. The Manifest Destiny was getting uncomfortable for a moment."
Enterprise: "I apologize for the wait."

Amagi watched all of the chaos turning against her. The Manifest Destiny shredded the Oorochi's insides with its booming cannons and guns, turning the components and armor into molten steel.

Amagi: "These variables... are unaccounted for. I will not accept this outcome."

Suddenly, more portals opens and mass-produced Sirens splashed down. The playing field balances for a moment.

Prinz Eugen: "Enemy reinforcements?"
Yuudachi: "I'll take them on!"

Laffey yawned.

Laffey: "Maybe we let Manifest Destiny's friends join..."
Shigure: "Huh?! Manifest what??"

Belfast opened her pocket watch.

Belfast: "If everything goes the schedule..."

BOOM!

A screaming railgun projectile sliced through the air and penetrated multiple Sirens, the projectile trucking through everything it met.

Yukikaze: "Woah! What was that??"

It was the USS Kidd, finally recovered from its EMP seizure. Not only that, combined Sakuran and Royal Navy firepower joined in with the American airpower.

Then there was the Gerald R. Ford and its escorts. The escorts broke off and charged towards the fight with guns blazing.

The HMS Diamond and HMS Daring sailed beside Royal Navy shipgirls, 114mm Mark 8 guns firing at full capacity. The USS Dewey closely followed behind with its Mark 45 127mm gun also firing.

Cleveland: "That's...!"

Queen Elizabeth: "Sorry for the wait! The Knights of the round table are here with special guests from the future!"

A line of shipgirls and towering future destroyers in their glory.

Nagato: "As Nagato of the Sakura Empire, from this point on... have entered into an alliance to finish this fight!"
Queen Elizabeth: "We aren't forgetting... the United States Navy and her allies too!"
Hood: "We may come from different worlds and live by different ideals, but our will is a united cause."

The roaring sound of freedom of new batches of jets rang clear into everyone's ears.

Enterprise: "Warriors! Ignite your souls!"

The Manifest Destiny roared loud and proud as it crippled the Oorochi.

BOOOOM! BOOOOM! BOOOOM!

Shells of fury hollowed out the Oorochi's insides, melting the citadel.

M2 Brownings and M134 Miniguns pierced the armor and suppressed the remaining guns from firing on the Manifest Destiny.

Jackson: "Give it everything you got!-"

BOOOOM! BOOOOM! BOOOOM!

The back guns fire and finally destroy the 15-inch guns at the bow of the Oorochi. Smoke and fire poured from the trashed gun turrets.

Artillery Officer 2: "WOOOOOOOO!"

BOOOOM! BOOOOM! BOOOOM!

The front guns fire and demolish the runways. They crumbled into the sea like junk and scrap metal.

The Oorochi was now a floating wreck, the Manifest Destiny finally pausing its unrelenting gunfire. Barrels glowed orange and smoking casings filled the deck.

Akagi, still drowned out in her fantasy vision, stared down the Manifest Destiny's guns in vengeance and hate.

In her mind, it was just a flaming ocean of endless chaos.

Akagi: "This is wrong..."

Despite her fantasy, she was all aware of how much damage and chaos the Manifest Destiny caused by itself. It was something that nerve-racked her mind from the start but seeing it firing with full anger and resentment, it was a terrible sight to see as the receiving end.

Amagi: "You must have witnessed what I saw. The true rage and fury of the ultimate warrior of the seas..."

Akagi stood before Enterprise. Both of them stared down at each other's souls. Neither of them blinked.

Amagi: "A war... a war that went the wrong direction..."

Pain and regret were in Amagi's eyes, the sorrows and thought of if the USS Manifest Destiny never was what it was now.

Amagi: "A world intertwined with another... If we had another 100 years or even 50, we would've been able to make it..."
Amagi: "But the USS Manifest Destiny arrived instead, and changed the course of history forever. This was unintended... yet we couldn't see this coming at all..."

Akagi made her final stand, mentally as she held on to her fantasy vision of an infinitely burning world.

Akagi: "My love... it surpasses time, overwhelms the gods... the Sakura Empire, my dear sister Kaga..."

Her carrier deck manifested beside her in an act of defiance.

Akagi: "I will save all of them!"

Instead of a duel, however, Enterprise began to walk forth, approaching Akagi fearlessly and without hesitation.

Akagi: "?!-"
Amagi: "!-"

Akagi made a defensive stance in an intimidation attempt.

As Enterprise approached, the silhouette of the Steel Titan began to form. She reacted in fright as her fear of its firepower overpowered her confidence.

Akagi: "No...! Disgusting! STAY AWAY!-"

Suddenly, she fell backward. Naturally, she let out her hand for a saving grace.

Enterprise reaches out.

Then Akagi's vision floods with bright white... and back into reality.

Holding her from the fall was Enterprise.

Nearly still and staring down was the USS Manifest Destiny, but instead of fury and hate, it was displaying a sign of mercy.

Enterprise: "I got you."

Akagi's eyes widened in shock, and then she began to fall into tears. Enterprise pulls her back up, and Akagi collapses into tears.

Enterprise: "Now..."

She turns to Amagi, and then the Manifest Destiny. Sailors cheered and shouted as the battle began to draw to a close.

She then makes out Jackson inside the bridge, who was seen giving a thumbs up in approval.

Enterprise nodded and pulled Akagi off and away from the Oorochi.

Jackson: "Finish the job."
Samuel: "Salvo ready?"

Artillery Officer 1: "Ready!"
Artillery Officer 2: "Always ready!"

Finish him!

Samuel: "FIRE!"

BOOOOOOOOM!!!!

An epic instant and grandiose broadside ripped through the Oorochi, destroying it and demolishing it for good. The ship crumbled and collapsed onto itself as smoke billowed from gaping holes and large cracks.

The sound of the salvo echoed across the battlefield, a sound reminder of what the USS Manifest Destiny was here for.

An unyielding warrior of the ocean, a gentle giant, and a helping hand.