Commander's Rounds

Entry 34: The Limits of Logic

Ajax didn't understand.

In most tactical situations she had always been able to keep control- she had always been able to read the Sirens and their intentions in combat, but this time things just somehow got away from her. The Sirens reliably followed a tactical doctrine that separated vanguard forces from forces designated to escort larger vessels, but things changed.

She had found their vanguard force and formulated a plan to overwhelm them at night with the superior forces under her command, but the ships escorting the Sirens' battleships had detached from their duty and cut her off, leaving her and her squadrons to fight desperately while they waited for their own support.

And to make matters worse, Ajax was cut off and alone. She managed to fight her way free of a few of the automated vessels, but even over the din of gunfire, she heard a very distinct, murderous, playful voice call out to her.

"Hey Ajax! Where's Teucer!?"

There was a bright flash, and Ajax knew it would be impossible for her to get out of the way of what was coming. The beam sliced through part of her rigging, taking two of her turrets and one of her torpedo racks with it- and the explosion of those loaded weapons left her insensible. When she finally came back to her feet, she saw the grinning face of one of their persistent enemies.

Purifier.

The humanoid Siren picked Ajax up by her neck with one hand. "Hel-lo~ Hel-lo~ Hel-lo~ Hel-lo~! So, you just thought you were going to come in here and destroy me with facts and logic?" Purifier looked around. "No, wait, this isn't right." She gestured to one of the cruisers, which motored its way over, and Purifier pushed Ajax up against the hull. "There, that's better! I wanna talk to you."

Ajax was not in the mood to speak. "I don't want to have anything to do with you... Besides, our support is on the way, so you won't have time to get anything out of me."

Purifier giggled. "Oh, don't worry, I'm here for a good time, not for a long time!" Her grip tightened. "So, you're just gonna stay a while and listen!"

Ajax couldn't really respond that much, seeing as that hand was quite tight around her throat. "Why... Should I listen to anything you have to say..." She tried her best to wiggle free from that grip, but Purifier wouldn't give even the smallest amount.

"Why are you struggling?! From what I heard about you, I thought you'd enjoy something like this. Or do you only like it when you're on the giving end?" Purifier smiled. "Aaaanyway, I'm bored, Ajax. Those other girls who seem to think they're on my side? We keep on losing battles, but those other girls keep on telling me "faith and patience" or "It's all according to plan." But they don't tell me what we're waiting for, or even what the plan is!"

Ajax then tried a different solution- she still had guns left on the other part of her rigging, and she began to aim them at Purifier, but the Siren noticed this happening almost immediately- or at least too soon for Ajax's comfort. Purifier used a free hand to smash those barely-armored guns before turning her attention back to their Royal owner. "What was that about? Trying to get away before I'm done talking to you, miss teacup? Isn't running away in the middle of a conversation just BAD MANNERS?!"

Ajax felt that grip around her neck tighten, and then Purifier relaxed it just enough so that Ajax could concentrate on the words her assailant was saying rather than the pain she was giving.

It was only then that Purifier continued. "Soooo... The long and the short of it is that today, you get to live, so you can go back and tell the anomaly that I'm going to fight him my way from now on. No cryptic-ass nonsense, no weird stuff, It's gonna be the Navalmania Royal Rumble and everyone who wants to come can get into the ring! Nod if you understand. 'Cause if you don't, I'm going to find someone else to explain it to, get what I mean, crumpet?"