Some time later Australis, whales and Illustrious sat in the main room of HQ standing over a holographic table in the middle of the room. Illustrious had uploaded the information they currently had on Sakura empire and iron blood movements. Most of the information that she had was already known, the iron blood was holding their position in any territory they currently had while the Sakura empire was swiftly taking over islands making their way towards eagle union territory.

The current belief was that they were taking the islands to build unsinkable battleships that would secure a certain amount of area and act as forward outposts and scouts. "At this rate they'll reach their main target within a week" illustrious agreed with whales conclusion but Australis was silent. "Something seems off to me, their seems to be no pattern to their advances of movement, plus they're never seen until they're already attacking". The table then switched to show a new type of plane that the crimson axis called the zero, one of the most advanced planes that existed currently.

"The zero is a new advanced planes that is capable of advanced coordination, aim, and weaponry, to be blunt it's a plane of many talents". Australis looked at Illustrious after she finished before looking back down at the specs of the plane on the table. He commented that in order to pull off the moves that it was capable it had to be controlled by some computer as the g's it pulled of would exceed what any human could, whales confirmed that they had the capability to build such planes.

"This is going to be complicated to counteract as we don't have a plane capable of countering the zero currently". Illustrious and whales agreed that it would be difficult, but whales asked if the hybrid ship was up to the task, but before she could continue Australis cut her off as the ship was not capable for certain reasons. "Admiral, may I ask why this ship is not capable of doing so" Australis told them that the ship was in the experimental phase of testing, even if it could do the job it wasn't combat ready for battle.

Just then one of the staff walked in and handed Australis some documents before he was thanked. "Seems we have another issue, we have evidence that Sakura empire ships have been discovered at least two hundred miles from base". The two asked if that meant an attack was imminent, he responded that no declaration was made with them, but also said that they responded to no single nation so they wouldn't be considered a nation.

"Then that means the Sakura empire would legally be allowed to attack us without issuing a declaration of war". Whales was correct to this end, legally the Sakura Empire could consider Azur lane to be a mercenary base an launch an attack without warning. The other issue is that the empire knew that if they launched an attack and crippled the navel yards defense, then Azur land couldn't call for back up or help.

"Australis I hope you realize the issue me and Illustrious see in this realization?", indeed Australis understood the main issue. "We could put the base on high alert but the resources need to do so are so intense that if nothing were to happen then those resources would have been wasted, and right now we are not capable of wasting those resources". Whales after a moment of thinking came to the realization the Australis was indeed correct but came up with a solution.

"We might have an older generation plane kept in storage that should be discreet and fast enough to perform a reconnaissance mission". Australis connected to the storage overview and located the plane in question, indeed the plane was three possibly four generations old, but the specs indeed matched what Whales described. "Alright, send the plane on it's way and have it report what it discovered when It lands".

Away in a discreet location atop of a cliff that overlooked the whole bay a short slender figure with a black cloak spoke with someone unknown. "Red fox, sabotage has been a success, their system has been planted with the provided virus". The receiver of the call congratulated them on a mission well done "we shall begin our attack soon, prepare to engage the enemy resistance once we begin". Next to red fox another individual with similar features commented that something felt off with what they were about to begin.

"Sister kaga, do I hear anxiety in your voice, this will be nothing more then a simple invasion, a chance to defeat an enemy before they become a problem". Kaga responded to Akagi that it wasn't anxiety, rather something felt off with the mission, almost like this mission would not go according to the plan. "Sister that hybrid ship sits in their bay, we have no way of knowing what it is capable of". Akagi began to laugh saying the ship she spoke of was not even combat ready according to their spies behind enemy lines. "If you like you may take the ships life for yourself when we begin, I give you the honor".

Back at base some time later the alarms began going of a multiple enemy planes came within range of the base, but were practically already overhead when they were detected. The first and second bombing runs knocked out a good part of the important infrastructure such as the dry docks and fuel depots. The first torpedo squads managed to disable most of the battleships and heavy cruisers, one even detonated so violently that the surrounding water managed to put out the fire on one of the heavy cruisers.

Somehow when a torpedo squadron launched their attack on the hybrid ship the A.A system onboard managed to destroy the planes once they launched their torpedos, they barely put a dent in the ships hull. The bomber squad that also attacked had the same outcome but never managed to launch their ordinance. Australis orders that the hybrid ordered to combat mode and act as the mobile defense platform as the defense system was not operational.

"Admiral we have no idea what the main issue but if a squad managed to get to the command room in the defense building they may be able to issue a system reset to fix the issue". Cleveland along with a destroyer from the royal navy named javelin signed up with Australis who gave the order that he would join this battle even if he was human. "Admiral as your secretary I advise that you more to a secure location, this is no place for a human such as you".

Australis argued with Whales that even if he was human as she says that he was not going to sit around and do nothing. Cleveland and javelin told Whales that the two would take care of Australis on the way to the defense building. After a moment of thinking about it whales allowed it and told the trio to be careful as their may be mechanical troops already on land from the troop transport ships in bay.

Australis picked up a modified M1 grand rifle and made his way along with Cleveland and Javelin to the defense building on the opposite side of port. To get to the defense building they would need to make their way to the industrial sector afterwards the market would need to be navigated until they reached the command sector where the defense building sat in the center of the command sector.