"Kirov, Gangut! On your 4 o'clock!" Greynar's sharp voice cut through the tension as the Siren bombers descended upon them.

  ""Right!"" the two shipgirls responded in unison.

  The battleship Gangut and light cruiser Kirov quickly swiveled their anti-air weapons towards the incoming threat. Their synchronized response to Greynar's command dispyed their expertise as they fired at the enemy bombers, taking down several with precision.

  Meanwhile, Greynar had strategically lured the Sirens into a trap. Using Kirov and Gangut as decoys, they baited the hidden Siren forces, drawing them out of their concealed positions. As the Sirens revealed themselves, the rest of Greynar's fleet, lying in wait, unched a devastating counteroffensive. The other ships unleashed their firepower, bombarding the Siren facility, reducing it to ruins as they swept across the Arctic sea.

  "That's another down..." Rossiya remarked, her voice was steady as she observed the smoldering wreckage left in their wake. "We should destroy as much as possible before calling it a day, Comrade Commander."

  Greynar nodded, his gaze still focused on the battlefield. "Right. These Sirens will just keep coming back unless we destroy their main facility. We need to find that dungeon and take it out for good."

  "Commander, I have visual contact with something," Volga's voice came through the communicator. "My recon pne has located our main target. It appears to be something that the elite Siren, Omitter, constructed before the entire Siren Stronghold charade began."

  "Got it, thanks for the update." Greynar acknowledged before turning to Rossiya and her fleet. "Looks like this is our final marked target."

  "Good, this is the st bit of cleanup before we head back," Gangut said excitedly, pumping her fist with a grin spreading from ear to ear.

  "Don't be too hasty," Kirov cautioned, gncing at the eager battleship. "This might just be a bait for us, Gangut. We should remain cautious."

  The command ship then led the fleet toward the location Volga had reported. Along the way, they encountered several Siren patrols. Grozny and Tashkent swiftly swept through the Siren fleet, reducing them to scrap. These Sirens were low-tier, mass-produced units, far less dangerous than the "Mark II" blue Siren models they had previously encountered at the Siren stronghold.

  As the fleets made their way through the Sirens' defenses, they silently concealed themselves using a camoufge device. The scattered blocks of ice provided excellent cover, allowing the ships to take strategic positions from a distance. From there, they carefully monitored any movement, ready to strike when the opportunity presented itself.

  "Hmm... That's the Executor-css Siren, Intruder, a humanoid model, isn't it?" Pamiat observed as she watched the Siren pacing back and forth in front of the facility's gate.

  "Yes, that's its designation according to the Azur Lane Command. We received intel on it about three days ago," Greynar confirmed.

  "Interesting... I guess that's the same thing that almost got us back then, Commander." She snickered, recalling the near miss.

  "As long as we're not in its line of sight, we can take it down in one swift move," Greynar said, gncing back at Grozny. "Grozny, are you ready to unch your rabbit?"

  The destroyer nodded firmly. "Anytime, Comrade Commander."

  "Good," he replied with a smirk, "then let's begin our pn to eliminate it."

  As the bunny-eared destroyer got into position, Grozny initiated the first move, firing a bait shot toward the humanoid Siren in the distance. Leaping from the ice, she quickly deployed a series of smoke bombs, creating a cloud of concealment. Meanwhile, Chapayev and Tashkent maneuvered around the facility, swiftly disabling the Siren carrier stationed nearby. Before the Intruder could aim its ser at Grozny, Volga's dive bombers descended from the sky, unching their payload directly at the target.

  Greynar commanded the nearby mass-produced ships to direct their firepower at the sky, focusing on bombarding the remaining Siren fleets surrounding the facility. The loud bring of the facility's arms echoed through the area, signaling the final phase of their operation. Everyone knew this was the moment to cripple the Siren forces, with their leader now missing, leaving them vulnerable and in disarray. It was time to put a temporary halt to the Siren's movements, at least until they could regroup.

  "Fire!" Greynar commanded, his voice cutting through the chaos. At his order, the mass-produced ships opened fire, their shells pounding the facility with increasing intensity.

  Rossiya and Gangut, not to be outdone, joined in the bombardment, their guns thundering as they targeted the facility. Explosions echoed across the sky, but the facility's protective barrier held firm, shielding the interior from the relentless attack.

  Sensing an opportunity, Chapayev took swift action. With a flick of her wrist, she summoned her icy chains, wrapping them around the barrier and freezing it solid. With a decisive pull, the barrier shattered, giving way to the increased bombardment from Greynar’s fleet.

  As the firepower mounted and the Sirens’ defenses began to crumble, Greynar allowed himself a satisfied nod. The situation was under control, and the mission was nearing its conclusion.

  Greynar silently nodded to himself, contempting the future. 'The next move will be the Winter's Crown Operation,' he thought. His fleet had gained valuable experience under his command, and now, with renewed confidence, they were ready for the next step. 'Next mission will be crucial to secure the area around Winter's Crown. Soyuz also has said about Omitter was seen roaming around the area with a new rigging.'

  As the facility y in ruins, reduced to ash and dust, Grozny made her way back to the command ship. She fshed a peace sign, her eyes gleaming with pride.

  "How was it, Comrade Commander? Did I do well?" the bunny destroyer eagerly asked, looking for his approval.

  The Commander smiled warmly at her and gave a gentle pat on her head. "Yeah, you did great. Let's head back to the base first. We'll pick up the operation again in four days."

  For Greynar, this mission was just the beginning of a much rger and personal pn. While his strategy might have gaps, it was the only way to seek answers about this strange world. Test Site-β—the pce he was living on right now. A pce full of mystery due to the unique nature of it. An Observer who is a bit different from the others, a unique entity called Commander, and the gathering of the META ships.

  'Speaking of that, I never get to ask Observer about the promised fragment of S.A.V.I.O.R did I?' he silently mused. 'I'll spare her from more trouble, maybe I can find something in Arcana Sanctum. That girl is still handling matters of Arbiters and Ashes, I can't trouble her enough dealing with two big problem on this test site.'

  With a faint smile, he murmured, "I should just continue with my pn for now."

  "Hmm? What's that, Commander?" Volga, walking ahead, gnced back at him.

  He quickly shifted gears. "Oh, nothing. Just thinking about what dish I'll see tonight," he said, smiling casually at her. "By the way, how are you faring? Sorry if I couldn't help you in any way, but we haven't got any clue about the uncomfortable feeling you've sense during these past day." Greynar looked at her in a worried gaze.

  The auburn-carrier could only wryly smiled and shook her head. "It's just a slight discomfort... I'm suppose to be the reliable big sister here, so it will be just fine~" she winked at him, assuring the Commander.

  The Commander nodded, and silently pressed his lips on her. "Just tell me if there's something I can do, I will help you."

  "Okay~" Volga answered.

  As she jumped from the Command ship to take fleet formation, the Commander went back to the control room. Greynar sighed. "Something is wrong. This has been going on for a while and I still can't find the source of problem."

  On their way back to base, Greynar remained silent, his mind occupied with the rger implications of the mission. The dim light of the cabin cast soft shadows as he rested in the corner, saving his energy for the mission ahead. The rhythmic hum of the ship's engine and the gentle sway of the vessel against the icy waters seemed to lull him into a meditative state, though his thoughts were anything but calm.

  A sudden knock echoed through the cabin door, breaking the quiet atmosphere. "Commander, it's time for dinner," a female voice called softly from the other side.

  Greynar stirred from his reflective thoughts, blinking as if the voice had pulled him back into the present. He gnced at the small clock in the corner of the room, realizing how much time had passed since they had departed from the Siren facility. He took a deep breath, pushing his thoughts about Test Site-β and S.A.V.I.O.R aside for now.

  "Dinner already?" he muttered to himself, standing up and stretching. He moved toward the door, ready to join the girls.

  ※ ※ ※

  Several days passed without issue as the fleet advanced swiftly toward the Winter's Crown Singurity. Rossiya and Soyuz communicated via comms regarding a supply escort fleet to aid Northern Parliament, it was the Royal Navy fleet that Queen Elizabeth sent to help him and the fleets. However, the true objective of the Royal Navy fleet was to assist the Commander and bring him back to the Pacific. Only Greynar was aware of this, thanks to a certain knowledge he got.

  "Commander, we'll be entering Winter's Crown in 30 minutes," Rossiya informed him over the comms.

  "Got it. Thanks for the heads-up," Greynar responded before switching his comms to Volga. "Volga, any enemy fleets spotted?"

  Volga's voice came through with a more urgent tone. "Yes! There are thousands of them scattered across the area!"

  Greynar's eyes narrowed at the sudden change in the situation. "Stay sharp, everyone. Prepare for immediate combat."

  ""Да!!!"" They said in unison.

  The battle erupted as Northern Parliament's mass-produced ships engaged in a fierce exchange of fire with the Siren fleets. Explosions and barrages lit up the icy expanse as both sides fought for dominance. However, amidst the chaos, Rossiya's sharp eyes caught sight of something unusual in the distance.

  "Commander, there’s something different about the enemy," she reported urgently. "There’s a massive number of 'Mark II' ships out there—too many to count, and they’re far too rge to handle with standard firepower." Her voice grew more serious as she continued, "These fleets are here to stall us, Commander. No sign of Omitter, but these fleets are hers."

  "Push through the blockade! Omitter may have another pn, but we’ll just brute force our way through!" Greynar ordered with determination in his voice.

  Gangut, always ready for battle, grinned widely, her eyes shining with excitement. "That’s the Commander I like to hear! No holding back—just push through the resistance. That's the true way of the Northern Parliament!"

  The fleets moved forward relentlessly, closing in on the massive Siren forces while making their way to the heart of the Winter's Crown location. Volga provided crucial air defense, skillfully managing the airspace and intercepting the Siren bombers to protect the fleet below. As they neared the blockade, both sides exchanged powerful fire, with the Northern Parliament's mass-produced ships going head-to-head against the Siren armada.

  Meanwhile, Chapayev and Grozny took the lead in handling the dangerous Intruder-css Sirens, which posed a significant threat. These humanoid Sirens had the ability to temporarily disable battleship systems, a tactic that could easily tilt the battle in favor of the Sirens if not handled swiftly. With calcuted precision, the duo worked together, neutralizing the Intruder-types and ensuring that the fleet's heavier ships remained functional and combat-ready.

  "We might have to inform Soyuz about the Sirens that will slip past us. Hopefully, the Royal Navy's escort fleet passing through the Barents Sea will deal with them," he said with a wry smile.

  One by one, the mass-produced fleet fell, but the Siren fleet had already been reduced to dust. Explosions erupted as Siren pnes dropped from the sky. Greynar, with swift precision, commanded the remaining ships to target the carrier in the rear while ordering the destroyers to unch torpedoes at the cruisers.

  Tashkent, Chapayev, and Kirov handled the enemies on their side, disabling their main weapons and creating enough space for the fleet to advance. Their coordinated efforts ensured that despite losses, the path toward the Winter's Crown remained open. Thankfully, it didn't take long for them to reach Winter's Crown. But there was another issue.

  "Omitter... no, that's just her vessel..." Rossiya observed, her voice steady but filled with caution.

  Hovering in the distance was a humanoid Siren, acting as the guardian of the Singurity. Its eerie, motionless form floated with its eyes closed, seemingly inactive but exuding a threatening aura.

  "It looks like the vessel will activate if we trigger any of their systems," Kirov added thoughtfully, her eyes trained on the dormant figure.

  "So where is she? Don't tell me we're getting this far just to be greet by that thing..." Gangut pointed the vessel in disappointment.

  "We don't have much information regarding that unfortunately," Chapayev replied with a sincere smile.

  "Be careful, everyone," Greynar warned, scanning the frozen ndscape. "Our mass-produced fleets are still holding off the Sirens behind us. If we want to fight now and risk alerting the system, this is the moment."

  Before them y a vast, icy fortress—a colossal crown of ice rising from the ocean, as though an unseen hand had lifted the spears from the sea and aimed them at the sky. This was the Crown of the Northern Parliament, the first singurity once opened by Code G, which has become the outer outpost of Siren in Por Arctic. Dormant Sirens rested all around, an unsettling sight, along with unidentified humanoid Siren vessels and 'Mark II' models scattered across the base.

  "This pce gives me the creeps, but... we've finally made it here," Avrora said with a nod, her voice tinged with nostalgia. Though brief, the sight of the pce brought memories rushing back. "I remember confronting one of the Sirens here. It gave me a tough time."

  "Speaking of that, haven't we kept Commander for long enough? His stay on Northern Parliament should be expired in some times now..." Chapayev questioned.

  Tashkent grumbled in response, clearly not ready for their time with the Commander to end. "Is it...? But Tashkent hasn't had a chance to tell the Commander all the stories yet," she said, crossing her arms in mild frustration.

  Suddenly, Greynar's comms crackled to life. "Comrade Commander, apologies for the dey, but our reinforcements have arrived. We are prepared to unch an all-out assault on Winter's Crown now." It was Soyuz, her voice carrying the authority of her position as she took direct command of the incoming reinforcement.

  "Good, now with all of major power of Northern Parliament, we have the power to subdue the Crown." The Commander nodded and began to order his fleet."Rossiya, Kirov, you two will take command of the mass-produced fleet. Make sure to cover all possible entry points." He turned to the others. "Grozny, Chapayev, your task is to subdue the Intruder fleet. Keep them at bay and distort their line of sight. We can't allow them to get near our ships." Looking at Volga, he continued, "Volga, you'll handle airspace defense with Avrora and Pamiat. Make sure nothing gets through." Finally, he gnced at the destroyer beside him. "Tashkent, stay close. You're the quickest to react if anything happens around me. Be ready to move at a moment's notice."

  Soyuz murmured to herself, impressed with Greynar's quick thinking. "As expected of the Commander's quick-witted nature," she said under her breath. Then, in a louder voice, she addressed the fleet. "Northern Parliament! It's time to show the Sirens the true power of the hibernating bear! Let's remind them what it means to provoke us!"

  Finally, the Operation Winter's Crown has began.