My fellow Ironblood,

Good morning. I am pleased to inform you that this week has been a fruitful one in our endeavors to hold the Aberdeen–Stavanger line. While there has been a significant increase in Siren activity over the past six months, we have responded in kind, and it is thanks to your effort that we remain in an advantageous position to win this war. Sadly, our allies have not been so fortunate, but ultimately we must prioritize the safety of ourselves and the fatherland before we can consider additional international aid. In this address, I will go over the developments of the past week, break down some changes you will be seeing going forward, and answer questions that have been brought up since last week's broadcast.

My loyal soldiers, do not fear that which towers over us—stand strong, and know that you are not alone.

…

It had been a week since U-3003 had been commissioned, but to her it had felt like an eternity.

So much to think about... U-3003 thought, gazing up at the sparkling water above. I get that this is protocol, but that does not make it any less overwhelming.

U-3003 sighed. What am I saying? I asked for it, and now I have to deal with it. At least the job has its perks…

When U-3003 had woken up the morning after her confrontation with Graf Zeppelin, she had made a decision: Since she didn't know much about the world she had been brought into, the best thing she could do was to incorporate herself into it first before rushing to conclusions. She didn't like it, and every time she heard a plane swoop by she could feel a sickening twist in her gut, but she refused to make the same mistake again.

Besides... U-3003 smiled, and she laid back on the ocean floor. The view is definitely beautiful.

…

(2 days ago)

"Alright!" U-2511 grinned, pumping her fist. "Are you ready, U-3003?"

U-3003, U-2511, and U-2501 were on the eastern beach of Heligoland, looking out into the deep sea beyond. Today, U-3003 was going on her first sortie, and both U-2501 and U-2511 had volunteered to accompany her to ensure that everything went well.

"Yes." U-3003 replied, her shoulders stiff. "487 confirmed that I am fully operational, and I have stocked extra provisions as a further precaution."

U-2501 rubbed her neck. "We're just going on a small patrol 3003, you don't need to be so worked up about it."

"Nonsense!" U-2511 shouted. "Sorties are a chance to hone your skills and kick some ass; you can never be too excited for that."

U-2501 facepalmed. "Not everyone shares your bloodlust, 25-"

U-3003 nodded at U-2511. "Yes, I agree."

U-2501 spun around towards U-3003. "Eh? You agree with her!?"

U-2511 laughed. "See? She's got guts." U-2511 stretched, then clapped her hands. "Okay! Let's get this show on the road!"

U-2511 sprinted into the open ocean, and her sisters followed suit as the water gradually began to rise up to their waists.

"So, if I remember correctly…" U-3003 said, looking at U-2501. "We do not need to...breathe, right?"

"Mhm." U-2501 replied. "Most submarines can only submerge for a few hours before having to resurface for more air, but since we're Type XXI we can stay underwater for days on end. It's a nice perk, but personally I like some fresh air every now and then; air from a snorkel is kind of metallic."

"I see…" U-3003 turned to look over at U-2511, who had already mounted her rigging and was howling as she made donuts in the water. "She really seems to enjoy this."

"She does." U-2501 sighed, placing her hands on her hips. "I've tried to tell her off before for being too enthusiastic, but that's just how she is. Combat is one big thrill ride to her, chasing down Sirens like a shark hunts its prey. 2511 is fierce, but she gets the job done."

"Is that so…" U-3003 watched U-2511 for a little longer, then summoned her own rigging with a wave of her hand. She opened her mouth to call for U-2511, but stopped when she saw U-2501 staring at her. "What?"

U-2501 hesitated, then turned away. "Nothing, I'm just dozing off. Let's go."

U-3003 frowned, but she turned and rode over on her rigging to U-2511. Out of the corner of her eye, U-2501 watched her go.

I'm so proud! U-2501 thought, blushing profusely while trying to hide her joy. They grow up so fast!

It took U-2501 a moment, but she regained her composure and joined up with her little sisters as U-2511 went over the plan with U-3003.

"Take it nice and easy, just like we practiced." U-2511 said, revving her rigging. "I'm going to be scouting ahead, but 2501 will match your pace. If you have any problems, let her know and she'll signal to me."

"Got it." U-3003 latched onto her rigging's handlebars with an iron grip, taking a deep breath. I can do this. I will not hurt them, I refuse to hurt them.

U-2501 mounted her rigging, and she smiled at U-3003. U-3003 smiled back, trying to mask the concern in her eyes.

"On my count." U-2501 said, activating her rigging. "One...two...three...dive!"

The three girls cruised forward, rapidly gaining momentum as they sank beneath the surface. U-2511 cheered as she went under, and U-2501 rolled her eyes before she and U-3003 followed suit in a swift swish. The moment she submerged U-3003 felt salt water sting at her eyes, and she blinked profusely as she tried to clear her line of sight.

When U-3003's vision cleared, the scene that laid before her was nothing short of breathtaking.

Before U-3003 sat a grand underwater desert layered in a deep sea blue, stretching far beyond the horizon. Bubbles rushed past U-3003 as she sailed at a comfortable speed, and quickly she became aware of the various crevices and formations on the ocean floor, from bright rocky slopes to deep, dark chasms. However, none of this would have been nearly as spectacular if it wasn't for the color.

So colorful... U-3003 thought, her eyes wide as they fixed on the plentiful activity below. Life of all shapes and sizes occupied the endless terrain, from microscopic rainbow fish to majestic gray dolphins. Multicolored patches of coral spread out like grass across the landscape, and U-3003 watched as several sea creatures went about their daily lives inside of them, tiny pockets of organisms coming together to form one giant community. It was beautiful, and U-3003 could only look on in awe.

So this...is a seabed.

U-3003 felt a tap on her shoulder, and she looked over to see U-2501 waving at her. Talking was impossible since water messed with sound, but-

"How are you doing?" U-2501 asked, tilting her head.

It sounds completely normal!? U-3003 thought.

"How are you talking underwater?" U-3003 managed, and she clasped her neck as she said it without issue. "Humans have issues hearing in water, do they not?"

U-2501 shrugged. "We aren't human."

For the third time since she had been commissioned, U-3003 felt like an idiot. U-2501 saw her embarrassment, and she giggled.

"Don't worry, it's always weird at first." U-2501 assured her. "I don't really understand it myself, but it has to do with the way our ears and lungs are structured compared to other KANSEN. We're sort of like fish!"

U-3003 blinked, and she felt her ears. Dear lord...

"This is incredible." U-3003 said, shaking her head. "I never thought it would feel like...like this."

"Neither did I," U-2501 admitted, pointing ahead. "But 2511 did. Come on, if we don't speed up she'll get lost...again."

The pair continued to swim through the sea at a solid pace, but U-3003 was so mesmerized by the wondrous environment around her that she failed to notice as the light around her began to dim, and a faint pressure began to exert itself on her body.

"Careful now!" U-2501 called, shaking U-3003 out of her stupor. "We can't dive much further. We're at ~275 meters right now, and our maximum depth lies somewhere around 320. Beneath that, you'd get crushed to death."

U-3003 shivered, and she nosed her rigging up. "Sorry."

"Don't worry about it." U-2501 said, and they rode on in silence for the next few minutes as U-3003 looked down at the bottomless depths below, lost in thought.

"I...I never got a chance to dive this low." U-3003 confessed. "I was stuck at port, and eventually…" U-3003 trailed off, staring into the inky blackness beneath her feet. "I never got a chance to see just how lovely this world can be."

U-2501 stayed silent for a second, and then rode her rigging over to U-3003 so she could put a hand on U-3003's shoulder. "It's okay." U-2501 said, and U-3003 saw empathy in her eyes. "I never got the chance either, but that doesn't matter now. All that matters is that we do this, we do it well, and we come home in one piece. Okay?"

U-3003 nodded, but even as U-2501 squeezed her shoulder and floated off she still felt uneasy.

What if I hurt you? What happens then?

U-3003 bit her lip and focused her gaze upward at the dazzling lights above, attempting to distract herself as they ventured deeper into the North Sea.

…

"I found one!"

U-2511 rode circles around U-2501 & U-3003 like an excited puppy, a mischievous grin on her face. "Small reconnaissance fleet of Dullards, fourteen kilometers northwest. No radar signatures except for them, should be easy pickings."

U-2501 pulled up her radar to confirm while U-3003 raised an eyebrow. "Dullards?"

"Yeah, Dullards!" U-2511 said, her voice fading in and out as she zoomed by. "You know, those big clunky models that the Sirens dish out by the thousands but are super easy to blow up? I love those things, great target practice."

U-3003 looked at U-2501.

"Automated ships." U-2501 explained. "Advanced Siren models don't like to show themselves unless something big is going on, so usually they let their drones do the dirty work. Dangerous up close, harmless from a distance; our main problem are the minefields they lay."

U-2511 snorted. "As if a bunch of spiky balls can stop us. Hurry up, I'm getting restless."

The trio spent the next hour and a half closing in on their target, slowing down occasionally to avoid mines. When they began to close in on their effective firing range, U-2501 signaled for them to slow to a crawl while she climbed to periscope depth to look ahead.

"Three destroyers and a cruiser; destroyers are in a triangle formation around the cruiser." U-2501 said, floating back down. "I'll lead with four torps on the leftmost destroyer so that 3003 can have full access to the cruiser. 2511, have fun."

"Gladly." U-2511 cracked her knuckles, splitting off from the pair to go after the other destroyers.

"OK." U-2501 said, retracting her periscope. "Let's do this."

U-3003 watched U-2501 settle into position, closing one eye shut as she steadily took aim. She is surprisingly calm about this. U-3003 thought, watching U-2501's shoulders relax as she disengaged the safety on the trigger. U-2501 nudged her rigging forward a bit, turned slightly to the left, and fired. Four G7es flew out of her rigging's maw like it was breathing fire, and the torpedoes tore through the sea as they disappeared from view.

"Climb to periscope depth and monitor the situation." U-2501 said, reloading. "If you see a clear shot on the cruiser, take it; you'll need at least one torpedo on the lower end of the hull to cause major damage. We're in no hurry, so don't feel bad if you miss the first time around."

"What about the other destroyers?" U-3003 asked.

"Knowing 2511, they'll be gone before you know it." U-2501 replied. "Head up, I'll take watch."

U-3003 hesitated, then began her ascent. She had practiced this over a dozen times by now, but she had never thought the real deal would feel so nerve wracking.

Relax. U-3003 thought to herself. Trust your instincts, and focus on the target. Focus.

U-3003 reached periscope depth and rolled out her periscope, peering through it at the surface above. At first the Siren fleet was completely calm cutting through the waves, but as U-3003 watched huge jets of water burst up around the leftmost destroyer as U-2501's torpedoes hit their mark, causing it to heavily list to port before its midsection erupted in a bright orange plume of fire. The destroyer split in two and began to sink, revealing a large cruiser behind it. The cruiser quickly began to accelerate, but slid to a halt as the destroyer directly in front of it exploded as well, shrapnel soaring into the sky as the frontmost destroyer disappeared in a cloud of smoke and flame. From her perspective U-3003 couldn't see the rightmost destroyer, but she assumed that it had met a similar fate as more smoke billowed into the air.

U-3003 gradually coasted forward, keeping a close eye on the cruiser. The cruiser had initially stayed put since the frontmost destroyer had been hit, but now it had begun to turn left straight towards U-3003. Even though they still had several kilometers between them, U-3003 watched as the cruiser began to release depth charges to no avail. So much for automation… U-3003 thought, drifting to her left to try and gain an angle on the cruiser's starboard. It took a few minutes of repositioning, but eventually she had her shot. U-3003's hand moved to release the safety, but froze.

What if I miss? U-3003 thought. 2511 could be anywhere, what happens if I hit her? What happens if I hurt her? I...

U-3003 trembled, backing away from the safety.

I am so afraid. Why am I so afraid of something so unlikely?

Because you are a coward.

No. U-3003 thought, pursing her lips. I can do it.

Then go ahead, who cares if you hit that hothead? She is irrelevant. They both are.

U-3003 looked down at the darkness beneath her, and she clenched her fists.

Not to me.

U-3003 disarmed the safety, locked onto the cruiser, and fired. A barrage of five G7es rocketed out of her rigging, plowing through the water and into the distance.

Cute, five misses. Congrats, you have terrible aim.

Shut up.

U-3003 waited, watching anxiously as the cruiser moved forward unabated. One minute passed, then three, then five...U-3003 was about to call it and try again, but to her surprise one plume rose up from the water, clipping the cruiser near its rudder. She smirked.

How is that for you?

Wow, one out of five. Impressive.

Zero is greater than one.

Yet it did no worthwhile damage whatsoever.

U-3003 reloaded, her confidence restored. It did enough.

It took two more volleys, but U-3003 finally scored a fatal hit on the cruiser with her 13th torpedo. With the bottom of its hull ripped apart the cruiser entered a sharp list, and U-3003 moved to finish it off before a series of jets erupted on the other side of the cruiser, reversing the cruiser's list and causing it to capsize away from U-3003.

"Good work." a voice called, and U-3003 turned to see U-2501 swimming towards her, smiling. "Sorry about 2511, she loves finishing Sirens off."

"It is fine." U-3003 said, relieved to see that U-2501 looked unhurt. "Mission accomplished."

U-2501 nodded, this time letting her pride in U-3003 show. "Mission accomplished."

The two travelled over to their rendezvous point, and U-2511 waved at them energetically as they approached.

"Way to go, newbie!" U-2511 shouted. "Couldn't have done it with you! Good news, too: I've just picked up two more patrols on my radar!"

"We're going home, 2511." U-2501 said, pointing up at the surface. "You know the rules: No night hunting without permission from High Command."

"Booo." U-2511 groaned, slumping back on her rigging. "Lame."

"Come on, let's go home."

"But I just got warmed up! You guys go ahead, I'll sneak in later."

"Not happening."

"No fair!"

U-3003 laughed, watching her sisters argue back and forth.

Yeah. They do mean something to me after all.

…

As the trio pulled into port, they caught U-47's attention.

"Welcome back." U-47 said, dangling her legs over the dock.

"Thank you!" U-2501 beamed, towing a brooding U-2511 behind her. "It was a good trip."

U-3003 tilted her head, noticing the strange apparatus U-47 was holding. "What is that?"

U-47 followed her gaze. "Oh, this is a Vampir scope. Subs use it for night hunting."

U-2511 spun towards U-47, crying out in misery. "You're heading out tonight?! Aw, man..."

"This is what you get." U-2501 said, tugging U-2511 onto the dock. "No paperwork, no permission." She turned to U-3003, rubbing her neck. "Sorry, I think I have to take 2511 back to her room. Can you get back on your own?"

"Yeah." U-3003 climbed onto the dock, recalling her rigging. "Thank you, for today. I really appreciate it."

U-2501 smiled. "No problem."

U-3003 and U-47 watched the pair trudge off with U-2511 complaining the whole way, and soon the dock was quiet save for the crashing of gentle ocean waves. U-3003 closed her eyes, letting the sound envelop her. Beautiful.

"How are you feeling?"

U-3003 glanced at U-47. She was looking out at the sea, watching the sun slowly disappear beneath the horizon. "Fine." U-3003 replied. "Why do you ask?"

U-47 shrugged. "No reason."

There was a pause as both girls stayed silent, the stars slowly twinkling into view overhead.

"Do you like it so far? Living, I mean."

U-3003 frowned. "That is an odd question. Why do you ask that?"

"Well," U-47 stood up, brushing herself off. "Coming into a world like this, it must feel odd. One minute you're a giant metal boat filled with dozens of humans controlling your every action, and the next you're suddenly a human yourself, complete with free will. It's unusual."

U-3003 crossed her arms. "It is certainly unusual," she admitted, "but I would not call it unpleasant."

"Oh? Why is that?"

U-3003 uncrossed her arms, and swung them around. "It feels...liberating. Like I can finally do whatever I want. Free will...sometimes, it truly feels wonderful."

U-47 turned to U-3003. "And when it doesn't?"

U-3003 scowled, avoiding her gaze. "Does it matter? At the end of the day, we are still weapons fighting an endless war; how I feel about it is irrelevant."

"If it's so irrelevant, then why are you getting defensive over it?"

U-3003 raised her voice to scold U-47, but nothing came out. She looked at U-47, and saw that she had turned away, attaching the Vampir to her rigging's periscope.

"I'm not your sister," U-47 continued, screwing on the sight, "and I can't tell you how to feel, but bottling up your emotions won't get you anywhere." She finished the job, and kicked her rigging into the water. "You have to let go. If you don't, you'll never feel satisfied."

U-47 leapt onto her rigging, and donned her mask. "I agree, by the way." She said, revving the engine. "The ocean really is beautiful."

U-47 sped off into the night, leaving U-3003 alone with her thoughts.

…

(Present day)

U-3003 sighed, rolling over on the seabed. How long had she been here? Six hours? It didn't matter. She watched the fish swim by, practicing their afternoon routine, and she closed her eyes.

I will not let go. I never will. But at least here, I can forget.

With that, U-3003 closed her eyes, and fell asleep.

…

Chapter 3, just in time for 100k subs on /r/AzureLane! Sorry this one is late, I wanted to make sure it was done well, and I didn't get any progress done the week I posted Chapter 2 because procrastination (my bad). Enjoy, and thanks again for all of your support!

- Shinoda