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Midway Curry Sea, North-Northwest of Casagadama Island.

    -- Shipping lanes update: Be advised, unidentified Abyssal battleship and escorts sighted at following location (---,---), North-Northeast of Casagadama, heading 3-2-2, West-Northwest at 15 knots. All vessels in the area be advised to avoid this route until verified clear. Repeating...--

    Nestled in the area where the African continent and Arabian peninsula intersect, that clear corner of the Curry Sea that forms Africa's eastern coastline. The coast is nowhere in sight this far out, although there are plenty of cities that could act as source points for those who might be interested in investigating the reported Abyssal sighting.

    What lurks out here is a small white-skinned girl in a black hoodie, sitting cross-legged on the surface of the sea. As waves push her up and down, she simply looks...bored, elbows propped on her knees, chin resting on both hands. A disinterested sigh escapes as a wisp of black smoke, pink eyes fixated on a formation of four bloated Wa-class transports and their cetacean-like escort destroyers that have gathered in front of her. The destroyers circle slowly, jumping from the waves occasionally like corrupted dolphins, while the first of the four transports sinks underwater and disappears.

    This is the face that says: What a draaaaag.
Shigure     Shigure and Yuudachi were out on patrol about two hundred miles south of the reported sighting, though the pair still change direction to approach. Radioing out to the others responding to meet them outside of visual range so a plan can be formulated and observation made before engaging. The pair exchange looks, then bank hard and push their engines to the redlines, teasing as much speed from them aas possible.

    The pair arrive at the rendezvous, and cut engines, idling in the water so they don't give away any further information on sonar... and then they wait for others to arrive.
Kalia     There's a splash, next to Re-class.
    Kalia's head pops out of the water, the scarf stubbornly holding onto their lower face despite being as soaked as the rest of their outfit. There's a moment of confusion, and then a monotone: "Oh. Right. Water."

    They hadn't come by sea, or by air or even land. Kalia had just appeared, as they had last time, evidently misjudging the location slightly. Finally having freedom from Gared's screeching voice, it had nonetheless left the demon somewhat disoriented. Evidently, to the point of messing up their ability to arrive smoothly.

    Or maybe it was the fact there were enough Abyssals present that getting an exact lock was problematic in Kalia's current condition.

    The equally pale-skinned being hovers out of the water, their clothes dripping wet and showing just how skeletal their frame is underneath, like a starved teenager. Their one arm adjusts their scarf, to ensure it sticks.

    "Are you about to play, Mama's Little Monster? Do you mind if we watch? Or do you want a hand to strike at those you detest the most? We don't mind either way. It's just polite to ask."
Reina Kinney Neo Osprey is locked and loaded, and it's cruising out to sea as fast as it can go. All the weapons are on standby and the systems are fully online. Sitting on the bridge in her commander's chair is Reina Kinney herself with a slight scowl on her face as she leans forwards while watching out the front view window of the ship. All of the crew members are various members of GUARDIANS who are getting extra credit by serving aboard Reina's ship.

"We're getting closer to the general area, ma'am," The navigator calls out to Reina, who looks to the navigator and gives a slight nod.

"How much longer until we actually arrive?" Reina asks as she looks forwards again.

"About three minutes," The navigator replies.

"Keep her steady, and be on alert," Reina says with her scowl deepening a little. "They're going to regret choosing to mess with us!" She mutters as her eyes narrow a little. "These ruthless pirates picking on innocent people..." She clenches her fists. "I'll teach them a lesson they'll never forget!"

Finally, the Neo Osprey arrives at the rendezvous point, and Reina calls out to cut the engines, which is acknowledged immediately. Reina looks to the others and says, "We're in hostile waters now, so everyone be on extra high alert!"

"Aye, aye, ma'am," The crew replies.
Evangeline      Evangeline has naturally responded to the call about Abyssals on the prowl. She groups up with Shigure at the specified co-ordinates, then upon finding Leyanne she floats up to the big mouse and reaches out to place a hand on Leyanne's chest. There is a flash of red light and a sound like a hammer hitting an anvil, and Leyanne would find that her clothing and possibly her weapons have taken on the black and red patterns of a Neuroi. Then...she would find she can fly!

     She looks out over the water after that. "...one of the Abyssals seems to be surrounded by others...I am not certain...but it looks like they might be aggressive towards each other..." she reports to her fleet-mates.
Avenger Out on the water, a strange sight is there...simply a man with a hat and a dark outfit. He looks more at home in lets say, a city that is cold than out on the ocean. His hair is messy under the hat, but his face seems to be in a scary looking scowl or smile depending on your point of view. And he simply walks on the water as if he were walking on land. Infact, he comes to the Abyssal, reguarding her for a moment. Then looks at Kalia, he looks up towards the growing number of people, and then back towards both of them.

    "Looks like things are going to get...interesting," he says, with a motion towards the sea around them. "Oh what I wonder will happen, what violent means will happen. What sins will you all bathe yourself in this fine evening?"
Leyanne Leyanne had been, until Eva showed up, riding a jetski. After a few moments, the mouse chews at her tongue a moment to deal with the odd sensation "...I taste red." she decides after a moment, looking down at herself. Her black-and-red armour is now all black, marked with a grid of red hexes, and her left forearm terminates, instead of in a hand, in a massive gleaming lens. After a moment, the mouse rockets skywards, leaving a faint red trail behind her.

"Fucking YES!" she says, pulling into formation with Evangeline.
Kotone Yamakawa It had caught them off guard thankfully Kotone had been at the base with Evangeline. She had known about her ability to share her abilities for a period of time when she'd helped Admiral Nagato in a fighter and later healed Kotone herself. It had taken a moment for Kotone to get used to the changes Evangeline had made, but it had been worth it.

It was also a sign she trusted Evangeline as well to make alterations to her even if temporary to her. she'd taken to the sky after her friend as they made for the formation of the trouble and she would fall in with Leyanne. It was also a sign of that Kotone trusted Evangeline. For Kotone visually liked like a Neuroi rendition of herself down to the glowing panels and red lings it had. The weapons she had been carrying had also been intergeate into her limbs and on her hips.

She too falls into formation with Eva and Leyanne.
Midway     "Mm?" Re-Class glances back over her shoulder when Kalia appears out of the aether behind her, "About to play? Well--" Her eyes roll upward as if in thought, her gaze shifting miles away to view through distant scout planes, "It might be time to do that, sure." Eyes glancing back towards the second of four Wa-Class that sinks beneath the surface, Re hesitates, then leans forward and stands up. Her tail remains submerged, just a mass of pale flesh feeding into the water behind her legs. "If you wanna watch, that's fine, but don't let me stop you if you wanna play too."

    An approaching stranger draws the battleship girl's attention next, and she appraises Avenger. After a moment, her mouth splits into a wide, shark-toothed grin, "Bathed in sins? Does it even matter when you're a monster to the core, mister?"

    It seems like monsters can tolerate the presence of other monsters.

    Re reaches back, diving a hand into a side pocket on her backpack. What she removes rapidly expands, and she flicks the Abyssal scout planes out like stones when they reach full cat-size. Jet engines whine as the ghastly aircraft ascend in a spiral, then break off towards the distant contacts reported by her other scouts.

    "Whether it's a fight or a chat-- And I do prefer a good fight, I'm a battleship after all! -- is kinda hard to guess. Some of these hikari girls prefer to talk when they know they can't win. They fight if they think they can win. Kinda smart, I guess?"

    The thick white tail hanging behind her shifts slightly, disturbing the waves but doing little else, "So let's see what they're interested in doin'. 'cuz Midway'd be real mad if I lost these transports."
Shigure     Shigure looks at those arriving, blue eyes scanning each in turn. People she knows, and trusts. Good. "Alright, we'll have to be careful, I can't see far enough to know who we're up against, but it's a battleship-class signature at the very least." she says. "Evangeline... take the fliers and sweep away any scout planes. Yuudachi and I will approach directly. Neo Osprey, hang back and hold fire until my signal... we could perhaps end this amicably for the time being. We don't have the force or firepower to take out an Abyssal taskforce led by a battleship."
Kalia     "Smart? We suppose so. The word we would have used is conflicted," Kalia responds to Re-class, not bored so much as entirely too monotone. "They don't alter their methods because of intelligence or strategy. Their convictions seem to ebb up and down, never able to decide if you're victims, people, or monsters."

    That's the impression the demon got, at any rate.

    They watch with interest as the planes take off, eyes eventually falling back onto the gathering fleets, curious about their response in the same manner Re-class is.

    "Maybe one of them will fly off the handle again. That seemed to inconvenience them all for a long while."
Reina Kinney Once everyone is there, Reina stands by idly waiting for further instructions. When Shigure instructs her to stay back and hold her fire, Reina is not one to argue or disobey. "Understood," She says to Shigure before looking to her crew. "All crew stand by for further orders. Do not move or attack unless on my command!"

"Aye aye," The crew responds. Reina simply sighs and takes a seat in her commander's chair again. "Seems it's more than just pirates here, but if we can end this peacefully, then that's all the better for me in my opinion."
Avenger     Avenger just simply grins with that wild grin he can have sometimes towards the Abyssal.

    "Ah, but what has created a monster out of you, hmm? These stories are always the important ones. Hate...greed...love...or vengence?" He asks, perhaps rhetorically. Still, he watches the group gather...

    "Ah yes, they do have a hard time making up their mind. Allowing their convictions to ebb and flow, to rise into creshendos and crash against everything. I wonder if they even have a point, or real goals besides causinge problems and unnecissary emotional trauma."

    Towards Kalia he looks towards for a long time, as if trying to figure her out.
Evangeline      Suddenly finding herself leading her own wing of Neuroi airpower, Evangeline is somewhat hesitant at first. But, when the order from Shigure comes through she nods lightly before looking to Leyanne and Kotone. "...form up..." she says, after watching them getting used to the Neuroi flight power for a few moments. Then, she leads them on a counter-recon mission.

     Evangeline flies quite fast, and while she has shared her speed and maneuverability they may not have the knowledge of her flight or flight in general to keep up. But, Evangeline only slows down a bit to keep them close. They have a job to do, and getting rid of any Abyssal recon aircraft is something that should be done quickly to ensure they report as little as possible. Soon, narrow, vectoring Neuroi beams are lancing out from Evangeline, aiming to bring down any enemy aircraft she encounters.
Kotone Yamakawa Kotone knows the Abyssals are bad news but has no idea yet Kali is involved just yet, she gets the order they are hunting scout planes this was going to be fun, she had never really flown on her own before. With ht order to form up and she does so. She seems to clearly enjoying flying, though she's keeping that under control she will be ready to engage any scout plates from the enemy and will be firing a mix of rapid-fire Neuro beams and more traditional ballistic rounds from the mounts on her limbs as she follows Evangeline's and Leyanne's leads.
Leyanne Leyanne hears Shigure's orders and nods, joining the wing of Neuroi. "I have your wing." she reports, following Eva, leaving two little red trails behind her. Her own Neuroi-type beam, projected from the lens covering/replacing her left hand, takes a few seconds to charge up - but when it does, it's a bright, scouring beam of red, shading to white in its core, that lasts for several seconds before fading away.

A panel on Leyanne's arm opens to vent steam, a low chuckle escaping the mouse.
Midway     "Hmm..." Re-Class lets out a thoughtful noise, her eyes closed and her head bobbing from side to side, "What if it's all four of those, mister? In varying amounts, isn't that the reason anyone makes anything?" She speaks calmly as red beams slice about in the distance, as the scout planes she launched disappear one by one, "Mmmm, they brought air power this time."

    The tail behind her tenses, then hauls itself free of the water. A length of muscle and sinew as big around as the girl's own torso, decorated with black, corroded metal plates themselves marked with white lines like an airstrip. When at last the tip emerges, it resembles more the head of a dragon than anything else. All misshapen, interlocking metal plates, gun turrets, and fangs. Even as the shapes of Abyssal fighters begin swarning down the flight deck and launching themselves off its head, the tail-maw gapes in a screeching metallic roar.

    The entire time this takes place, Re-Class has her hands tucked into the pockets of her hoodie-dress, "Conflicted, yeah, you could say that. I don't really agree with it, but I can see where you get it!" Her lips curl into a grin again, a subtle blue flame licking out from the corners of her now-glowing pink eyes, "Honestly I've seen 'em at their best already. When they really get united, that's when the real game begins."

    However, the fighters she's launching do not dive immediately into the attack. They simply climb, gathering into groups of four and avoiding other squadrons. Is it a show of force, preparation for attack, or simply self defense?

    Another surface contact disappears from radar, as the third Wa-Class transport sinks beneath the water's surface. The trio of destroyers now circle around the remaining transport, making menacing noises in the direction of the laserfire but not abandoning their charge.
Shigure     Shigure and Yuudachi, true to word, set off and begin to approach the biggest signature, though the blonde is looking over to the diminishing contacts further beyond. The brunette keeps her eyes trained on the familiar form of Re-class. "We meet again, Re-class." she says calmly, glancing toward Kalia and Avenger before returning her gaze to the Abyssal. Her rig is locked in parade array, no weapons pointing anywhere specific or aggressive. "You're disrupting local shipping lanes, why?" she asks next.
Kalia     "We defer to your judgment," Kalia responds to Re-class. "You've been fighting them way longer than we've been watching. We're missing points of view, still. We can only comment on what we've seen so far."

    A single, glowing white eye turns towards Avenger, though it seems the demon doesn't especially want to address the man who set a part of her on Awful Fire. Even if, in the long term, it was probably for the best that the upset spirit wasn't in a position to take the wheel, however momentary and indirect it was.

    But then, Kalia hadn't gotten to see just how much the separation hurt them yet. It might be worse than they think.

    Kalia's hand raises, and they reach out towards the transports. They attempt to feel out what drives them - what emotions they're stuck in, what they want. However much of their mind is there.

    And if there's enough of it to comprehend the concept of a contract for power, the demon offers the usual. Pursue what drives you, and their power is yours. Armor, self-healing, massively increased speed. The best traits to see to it that Re-class doesn't just lose the Wa-class transports to a stray volley.

    At the cost of locking them even harder into their current emotional state, at least until the power fades.
Reina Kinney While Shigure, Yuudachi, and Kalia all take care of things up front, Reina is looking ahead with a stern look. She occasionally glances from side to side looking at her crew to make sure nobody does anything rash or takes action without her order. After a few moments of doing this, Reina sighs and sits back down.

"I don't like this," Reina says as she takes out a small canteen and takes a sip of what is most likely a soda (or facsimile thereof) since she's not one to tie one on, especially in the field. "Not one bit. Be ready, everyone."
Avenger     "Hmm...perhaps. The reason people do things are varied as there are stars in the sky. They use all sorts of reasons to justify it to themselves, but very few have the will to see it through, or see their desires for what they are," he comments. Slowly, he walks, not being part of the group, but taking a 'observer' position. "But continue on...I shall watch, or not. I have not quite decided." he comments, reguarding the group that starts to address the Abyssal.
Evangeline      With the scout planes dealt with, Evangeline heads to meet up with Shigure and Yuudachi again. "...you have released many aircraft...and there are transports and destroyers around..." Evangeline says to the Re-Class, then looks over at Shigure. "...if they are targetting shipping lanes...there is little we can do other than remove them...but if they haven't attacked anything yet..."
Leyanne Leyanne flies with Evangeline, flicking her hand-cannon to fully automatic mode. She stays quiet, just floating alongside the Neuroi.
Midway     When Kalia reaches out to the remaining transport, she finds a mind that is not much more than an animal's. A singleminded desire to take on cargo, transport it to a desired location, and offload it. A mantra that repeats itself slowly and endlessly through what passes for the Abyssal ship's mind. This might not be the soul of a sunken warship at all, but a simplistic creation designed for this singular purpose.

    The destroyers moving around it are a lot more mentally lively, it's kind of like listening to four children talking at once. Simple desires to do a good job, to beat the 'bad guy', to become an Elite, one wants to be remodeled, one thinks remodeling is scary, one idolizes the nearby battleship. Afraid of the planes. Angry at the planes. Big Sister, Big Sister, look what I can do.

    Just, an endless stream of unfiltered consciousness in the voices of ten year olds.

    And each and every one of them is afraid of a certain white-haired, red-eyed silhouette in a flowing dress.

    "I'd think you'd be happy to see someone embracing how monstrous they really are," Re-Class teases towards Avenger, "That seems to be your thing, right? The seething monster of hate that hides within everyone?" She grins again, "It's not hiding in me, I wear it on the outside! --Oh, hang on." Those two destroyers approach, and Re turns to face them directly. Hands still in her pockets, her tail angles down to hover beside her, emitting a rumbling growl with its teeth exposed.

    "If you wanna know why I'm here, the answer's kinda simple-- She told me to be here, and I ~usually~ do what She asks." Eyes closing, it does nothing to diminish the battle-ready blue flames licking out from her eyelashes, "But I'll give you somethin' else, since you put up a good fight at Black Sky Atoll." Eyes opening, she adds, "Did you know that the Red Fleet has its own Princess now, up north? The Canal Demon ascended to a Princess recently. And She's interested in how that happened."
Shigure     Shigure lifts a hand to the fliers as they return, a closed fist. 'Hold'. "Transports diving down in the middle of a trade lane... I assume Midway is looking to set up a 'resource gathering' operation in the area? You know we can't let that happen." replies Shigure calmly, though the blue eyes flicker with internal light as the Red Fleet is mentioned. "Suez? That's troubling news. She was difficult to deal with as a Demon." the destroyer muses, a frown furrowing her brow, though she doesn't lose her focus on the intense threat that is the Abyssal Aviation Battleship Re-class.

    Yuudachi begins to skirt around, trying to get closer to the remaining transport and its escort destroyers, red eyes glowing as she glances back and forth between Re-class and the remaining Wa-class.
Reina Kinney Meanwhile, Reina is staring ahead with anxiety. She's tapping her left hand on her chin, biting her lip a few times here and there. Glancing around here and there, Reina shakes her head after a moment. "Everyone be ready for anything, but do not act unless I give the order." She sighs as she runs a hand through her hair. "I've had far too many FUBARs in one lifetime."
Kalia     Transports, destroyers, it doesn't matter to Kalia. If any of them are willing to take the power - to do a good job, to beat a bad guy, to become more than they are, to cease fearing or act on anger - then Kalia offers it gladly.

    They're just happy to help. Find accomplishment in other people reaching their goals.

    An idle glance back, towards Re-class. "We don't think there's ever a point to wearing a mask. It's better to be honest. People who aren't succumb to their own vices sooner or later, anyway. No one can keep those things inside forever. You're refreshing, Mama's Little Monster."

    Shigure is present, now - talking to Re-class and all. With Kalia just hovering by the Abyssal, it's hard to miss them, and they make a point to say hello too.

    "Oh. Are you still trying to decide what to do? We don't think Haguro has decided yet, either. We gave her some ideas. It sounded to me like you were both angry at your admiral for a while. You're more similar than you think. It might surprise you to sit down and talk with her. You might find common ground about some issues."
Kotone Yamakawa The Abyssal's airpower is forming up she's making ready to engage but the order comes out clearly to not do so she powers down her weapons for now and will move to fall in with the rest of the flyers and she's more than willing to wait. She will hover there with the other airborne forces of the fleet and will. The talk over the comm of an Apotheosis Event. She watches now frowning a bit and does not act unless shes' given the order to and thing are very damn tense right now.
Avenger     Avenger's smile only deepens, as if he was in on a joke nobody else was...or at least, in this case, in on the joke that the Abyssal did not seem to get. As if her very answer was in some way very funny to him. But it cuts into a frown, a moment later. He knows what he wants to do...but he must also think of his conspiritor. Taking a breath, he simply watches this unfold. The information drop seems odd...unless the Princesses are at odds with each other.
Midway     When Yuudachi starts circling around the formation to get around Re-Class, the destroyers take note. One hisses at her, the other barks, and then all four of them circle around to present their guns and torpedoes in a threat display. The I-class is even fanning its fins out to try and look bigger. Re's attention remains fixed on Shigure, though her tail does wheel around with a rumbling growl to fixate on the red-eyed Yuudachi as well.

    In that instant, all of their individual thoughts fall into synchronization: Bad thing, protect transport from bad thing. They don't seem to notice the demon's offering of power to do Protect Transport From Bad Thing Better. Or maybe they don't quite understand it.

    The Wa-Class seems spooked by this, though, and descends into the water as its compatriots had done.

    "Resource-gathering? Not this time," Re-Class takes a hand out of her pocket, gesturing, "She wants to know how the Canal Demon ascended." This time when her eyes close, the flames extinguish by the time they open again, "Aren't you curious, too?" As planes begin diving down to land on the runway running down Re-Class' tail, her lips split into a slightly-too-wide shark-toothed grin, "I bet that fight is gonna be loads of fun."
Shigure     Shigure barks a simple word, causing Yuudachi to stop as the Abyssals react. "Yuudachi!" She then looks over to Kalia. "I've been wanting to do that for some time. However events have always conspired to prevent us... like the last time I encountered her being attacked by those humans." she replies to the demon, then turns her attention back to Re-class.

    "So, tell me, why are those transports diving down here. We aren't exactly in Red Fleet territory here. Not quite anyway."

    She then presses a finger to one ear, and speaks plainly. "All units, disengage from area... We're done here."

    Yuudachi speaks up to Re-class then. "WWe still have some unfinished business from Dark Sky." she says, but doesn't many any aggressive moves.
Kotone Yamakawa She is trusting Shigure, her experianc judgement and better understanding of the Abyssals for this. She hovers ther waiting watching she not moving to attack. Still she's keeping an eye out for further attacks, or anything else that might be moving to blind side them. Then that is proven to not be dneeded.

"Understood."

Well no fight isn't a bad thing is it or maybe it is she will turn about to fall in with Leysanne and Eve to head off.
Evangeline      "...understood..." Evangeline replies to Shigure. "...but we should leave a recon unit in the area...and I have a much longer flying time than any of the other aircraft..." She turns to Kotone and Leyanne, then tilts her head slightly. "...if you would like...I can lend you my powers whenever we go into a dangerous situation like this..."
Leyanne Leyanne nod thoughtfully as she flie with Eva and Ko. "Yah that's a good idea." Tiny says. "Leeroy... well, we've had to strip him down to his frame to fix the keel, it's looking at early April before we can even think about floating him, early May before he'll be combat ready. I'll need a means to fight over water, thanks Eva!" She grins, holding out her free hand for a fistbump
Midway     "Mm?" Re-Class glances over her shoulder at Yuudachi, then back to Shigure. She tunes out the incessant activity of her fighters landing and disappearing into her backpack. She's keenly aware of Evangeline, Kotone, and Leyanne floating about in the sky, but clearly doesn't feel threatened anymore. Hands tuck back into her hoodie's pockets, while the quartet of destroyers hiss at Yuudachi once more before diving themselves.

    "It's a resupply break. If you think we're making a base this far outside our territory-- that's not a good idea." Eyes closing, she tilts her head back, "I can't speak for the weird guy or the floaty monster here, but my group'll be outta here by tomorrow."
Avenger     "Oh don't mind me, I am just observing," Avenger says, with a tip of his hat. He does not seem to be particularly motivated to do anything specifically.
Kalia     How odd that they can't understand the demon.
    Kalia makes a mental note, be more forceful next time. See what sticks and what doesn't. It's always a fun, figuring out how different minds process the offers. But even a rabid animal can be made to understand 'me power, you accept' if you push in the right way. Or hard enough. Even an animal can get desperate enough to comply.

    But it's hardly the time.

    Kalia looks at Shigure, nodding once. "We remember. We're the ones who offered those humans the power they wanted, after all. That's good, though. We're not kidding when we say you two have more in common than you think. If you're willing to look past the fact she's a monster, or willing to see the monster in the mirror, anyway."

    The matter of a Princess sounds pretty interesting. Kalia makes a note to keep tabs on the sea, see what that's all about. If the Destroyers didn't want any help, maybe a Princess will when a dozen angry heroes converge on her.

    Or maybe, even, someone will want to kill the Princess badly enough to accept help. Never lock yourself out of opportunities to assist!