"Beyond the Forgotten Class: München's Silent Valor"

Prompt: Below will explain the personality and plot of Azur Lane so we can write a what-if scenario accurately and correctly, knowing the back story of the series. The Azur Lane anime series (2019) focuses on the struggle between two factions, Azur Lane and the Red Axis, in a world where sentient warships, known as shipgirls, battle a mysterious alien race called the Sirens. Here's a summary of the events and plot progression across the 12 episodes: Origins of the conflict: Humanity vs. Sirens: Long ago, the seas were dominated by the Sirens, forcing humanity to unite and form Azur Lane. This alliance, composed of four major nations – the Eagle Union, the Royal Navy, the Sakura Empire, and Iron Blood – created shipgirls through the power of Wisdom Cubes to fight back. Victory and division: Azur Lane successfully repelled the Sirens initially, but a fundamental disagreement arose within the alliance. The Red Axis emerges: The Sakura Empire and Iron Blood broke away, forming the Red Axis, embracing advanced Siren technology and believing it was the key to securing the future, according to Azur Lane Wiki. Azur Lane stands firm: The remaining factions – the Eagle Union and the Royal Navy – rejected Siren technology and continued to fight for humanity's natural evolution, notes Reddit. Season 1 plot progression: Episode 1: Activation - The Girls Who Soar on the Seas: Upon learning of the Red Axis's imminent war, the remaining Azur Lane forces – When the Earth's oceans are attacked by a mysterious alien force called the Sirens, four major nations, Eagle Union, the Royal Navy, the Sakura Empire and the Iron Blood form the "Azur Lane" military alliance to combat the Sirens using ship-girls, girls fused with naval warships. Eventually, the Sirens are defeated, but a rift forms between the factions, with the Eagle Union and Royal Navy coming in opposition against the Sakura Empire and Iron Blood. Reinforcements are sent to an Azur Lane base near the Sakura Empire, where Cleveland and Prince of Wales greet the arrival of Illustrious and Unicorn. Ayanami infiltrates the base to spy on its defenses, but inadvertently befriends Javelin, Laffey, and Unicorn. The Sakura Empire then launches a surprise attack on the base led by Kaga and Akagi. Javelin and Ayanami reluctantly battle each other while the rest of the defenders attempt to fight off the attack. When it looks like the defenders are about to be overrun, Enterprise arrives and singlehandedly turns the tide of the battle, heavily damaging Kaga and forcing the Sakura Empire forces to retreat. As they withdraw, Kaga and Akagi announce that the Sakura Empire and Iron Blood have formed their own alliance, the Red Axis, and formally declare war on Azur Lane. Episode 2: Melee - Pulsing Waves, Steel Wings: As Azur Lane works to repair the damage to their base and treating the injured personnel, including Enterprise and San Diego, it is revealed that the cause of conflict between them and Red Axis is the Red Axis' willingness to use dangerous Siren technology for their own ends. Enterprise remains on watch, despite her repairs only being partially complete. Akagi and Kaga are also recovering from the battle when they are met by Prinz Eugen. Akagi sends Zuikaku and Shoukaku to ambush an Azur Lane fleet and asks Prinz Eugen to assist them. Prinz Eugen agrees, bringing Z23 and Ayanami with her. The Azur Lane fleet, consisting of Eagle Union shipgirls of Hammann, Arizona, Northampton, Helena, Long Island and Enterprise's sister, Hornet is attacked by the Red Axis. Enterprise mobilizes to help them despite her damage, with Cleveland, Javelin, and Laffey following her. While Enterprise battles Zuikaku and Shoukaku and Cleveland assists damaged shipgirls, Javelin and Laffey remain reluctant to fight Z23 and Ayanami. As the Azur Lane and Red Axis forces battle each other, the main Royal Navy fleet led by Queen Elizabeth arrives. Enterprise manages to gain the upper hand on Zuikaku but her unrepaired damage causes her equipment to fail at a critical moment. However, Enterprise is saved by the timely arrival of a shipgirl dressed as a maid. Episode 3: Elegance - Perchance, Like A Human: The maid, revealed to be Belfast, delays the Red Axis forces long enough that the main Royal Navy forces which consisting of Queen Elizabeth, Warspite, Hood, Edinburgh and Sheffield arrives, forcing the Red Axis to withdraw. Concerned about Enterprise's disregard for her own safety, Prince of Wales and Illustrious consult with Queen Elizabeth for a solution. Meanwhile, Vestal arrives on the base and is immediately upset at the poor state Enterprise's rig is in. Enterprise is met by Belfast and Unicorn, who convince her to attend a beach party the other shipgirls are holding. Unicorn thanks Enterprise for saving her, and Enterprise reveals she feels shipgirls are only meant to be weapons, and the ocean is only a source of conflict. As Unicorn leaves to play with Javelin and Laffey, Belfast confronts Enterprise directly, warning her that if she continues to fight like she did in the previous battle, she'll eventually forget her reason for fighting in the first place. The base then receives a distress call, with Enterprise, Cleveland, Hammann, and Belfast leaving to investigate. They find Ning Hai and Ping Hai of the Dragon Empery. They explain they were ambushed by Siren ships when a damaged Siren ship attacks. Enterprise uses herself as a distraction to draw the Siren's attention, but ends up being saved by Belfast when her rig malfunctions again. Seeing how Enterprise is actually compassionate towards others, Belfast decides to accompany Enterprise and teach her how be a proper "gentlewoman". Episode 4: Sakura - Cloak and Dagger: Akagi, Kaga, Shoukaku, Zuikaku, and Ayanami return to the Sakura Empire base, where they are greeted by Souryuu and Hiryuu. Back at the Azur Lane base, Belfast takes it upon herself to serve as Enterprise's personal maid in an effort to draw out her inner humanity. Ping Hai and Ning Hai then report that while on a scouting mission, they encountered a Siren fleet being led by a high-class Siren, suggesting the Sirens are planning to take advantage of the conflict between Azur Lane and Red Axis. In order to gain more information, Sheffield and Edinburgh infiltrate the Sakura Empire base. Akagi is given permission from a reluctant Nagato to proceed with "Project Orochi". Ayanami reunites with fellow destroyers Yukikaze, Yuudachi and Shigure. Zuikaku, still upset at her inability to defeat Enterprise, receives words of encouragement from Takao. Sheffield and Edinburgh follow Akashi to a cove beneath the base, where Akashi witnesses Akagi collaborating with a Siren Leader, Observer, to construct Project Orochi, a massive Siren battleship. Observer moves to eliminate Akashi to silence her, but Sheffield and Edinburgh intervene, stealing the Black Box critical to Project Orochi's completion. They are able to slip past Takao and Ayanami and escape with both the Black Box and Akashi. Afterwards, while still loyal to Sakura Empire, Ayanami still continues to question her motivation to fight. Episode 5: Reunion - Reaching Out To You: Sheffield, Edinburgh, and Akashi are forced to hide on an abandoned island as the Sakura Empire and Iron Blood fleets form a blockade around it. Azur Lane sends a large rescue fleet to break the blockade. As the main fleet led by Prince of Wales stages a diversionary attack, a small group consisting of Belfast, Cleveland, Javelin, and Laffey sneak through the blockade and reach the island. Belfast and Cleveland encounter Takao and Atago while Javelin and Laffey face Ayanami again. Zuikaku and Shoukaku head out to try and engage Enterprise while Sheffield's group is cornered by Prinz Eugen's fleet. Cleveland holds off Takao and Atago while Belfast assists Sheffield. Zuikaku and Shoukaku discover that they were tricked into following Hornet while Enterprise also infiltrated the island. Enterprise forces Prinz Eugen and her fleet to retreat. Ayanami attacks Javelin and Laffey, but remains confused as to why they won't fight back until Laffey tells her that despite being on opposite sides, they want to be friends. Episode 6: Shackles - Tying Bonds, Binding Hearts: Despite Laffey reaching out to Ayanami, Ayanami refuses her offer of friendship and flees. Thanks to Belfast's help, Enterprise begins to interact more with the other shipgirls on the base. She and the other senior shipgirls attempt to examine the Black Box. When Enterprise touches it, she receives a brief vision what appears to be an alternate version of herself. Returning her attention to the base, Enterprise is surprised at how lively it is with new arrivals like Akashi, Ping Hai, and Ning Hai setting up shops. Belfast reminds Enterprise that shipgirls are humans as well, which is something she must learn to embrace. Javelin and Laffey take a bath with Unicorn, who reveals she's self conscious about her large breasts despite her small size. They reassure her that every shipgirl's body is different, and she should be proud of her own. That night, the three of them reaffirm their desire to befriend Ayanami. At the Sakura Empire, Prinz Eugen tries to sow distrust between Kaga and Akagi by suggesting to Kaga that Akagi has differing motives from hers. Akagi meanwhile expresses her desire to reunite with Amagi. (Akagi's possession of a Black Cube, an item linked to Siren power and the corruption of shipgirls) Episode 7: Deadline - For Determination, For Love: zur Lane and the Sakura Empire prepare to face each other in a decisive naval battle, sending their largest fleets. Akagi uses a spell to transport the Azur Lane fleet into an otherworldly realm, where the must fight against a combined Sakura Empire and Siren fleet. Enterprise engages Kaga, but is momentarily distracted seeing Belfast in trouble and is knocked out of the sky by Kaga. As she sinks into the ocean, Enterprise has another vision of her alternate self and reawakens in a much more powerful form, easily neutralizing Kaga. Observer watches the battle from a distance, and notes that Enterprise is the "key". Enterprise forcibly transports her and Akagi back to the real world, where she seemingly kills Akagi with a single shot before returning to her senses. Realizing what she's done, Enterprise finally realizes that she's afraid of the ocean. Meanwhile, Akagi is seemingly reunited with Amagi in the afterlife, only to find Amagi has no face as she tells her "it's not over yet."Episode 8: Intersect - Where the Truth Lies: In the aftermath of the battle, the Azur Lane fleet sees numerous portals opening all over the area, with Enterprise missing. Javelin and Laffey are separated from the main fleet and encounter Ayanami again. Before they can come to an understanding, Ayanami's fellow destroyers take her away to safety while Belfast arrives to retrieve Javelin and Laffey. Kaga regains consciousness as the Sakura Empire fleet regroups, but Akagi remains missing and their mass produced sirens are inoperable. Shoukaku begins to openly wonder what secrets Akagi and Kaga have been hiding from them. Realizing they are at a disadvantage without Akagi and the Siren ships, the Sakura Empire fleet decides to retreat while Zuikaku and Shoukaku act as rearguards. Observer and Tester watch from afar, having captured Akagi. Observer reveals that having gathered data from Enterprise, the Black Mental Cube is now complete and ready to activate Orochi. Enterprise then arrives in her berserk state and easily defeats Zuikaku and Shoukaku. Before she can finish them off, Ayanami intervenes, destroying Enterprise's plane which knocks her back to her senses. Javelin and Laffey work together to save Ayanami and prevent her from falling into one of the portals. Episode 9: Resonance - The Truth is Known: Episode 10: Despair - A World in Ruin: Enterprise is incapacitated by recurring nightmares, and Akagi is presumed dead. With their flagships gone, both sides are stalled. The Sirens intervene, determined to advance their agenda, according to IMDb. Episode 11: Monster - A War to Span Every Ocean: Despite Azur Lane's best efforts, Purifier manages to escape with the Cube. Observer then uses the Cube to fully activate Orochi. Akagi is apparently revived by Orochi, much to Kaga's relief. As a show of force, Orochi launches a missile that completely destroys an entire uninhabited island. Realizing the danger Orochi poses, both Azur Lane and Red Axis independently mobilize to attack it. Kaga quickly realizes that Akagi is possessed by Orochi, but Orochi torments Kaga by pointing out Akagi only loved her because she inherited some of Amagi's parts. Both the Red Axis and Azur Lane fleets attack Orochi and the Siren fleet, agreeing to work together to fight their mutual foe. Zuikaku and Shoukaku are blocked by Kaga, who is still determined to protect Orochi for Akagi's sake. Ayanami then arrives to battle Kaga. Meanwhile, Enterprise and Belfast fight their way to Orochi, but it prepares to launch another missile as Orochi manipulates Akagi's memories of Amagi. Episode 12: Blue Waters - May the Azure Lanes Bless You: Orochi launches the missile at the Azur Lane base, and Enterprise heads off to intercept it despite Purifier's attempts to interfere. She is able to destroy the missile, but is knocked out by the blast. Meanwhile, the Azur Lane and Red Axis fleets attack Orochi as it prepares to fire a second missile. However, Orochi is protected by an impenetrable shield, and the shipgirls are unable to inflict any damage. While unconscious, Enterprise encounters her alternate self again, who warns her conflict between shipgirls is inevitable since they are manifestations of human will like Orochi, but Enterprise decides to keep fighting to protect everybody important to her. As Enterprise rejoins the battle, Zuikaku manages to snap Kaga back to her senses by headbutting her. Enterprise fires a special arrow that pierces Orochi's shield and cripples the ship. The shipgirls rally and begin pushing back the Siren fleet. Enterprise then reaches out to and rescues Akagi, returning her to her sense as well. Orochi fades away and the Sirens withdraw, with Observer noting that even though their plan failed, the shipgirls exceeding their expectations means Humanity still has a future. Afterwards, in order to improve relations, Azur Lane and Red Axis agree to live together in the same base, with shipgirls from both sides mingling with each other. Z23 joins Ayanami, Javelin, Laffey, and Unicorn's group, while Enterprise is appointed to be the new overall leader of the combined Azur Lane and Red Axis force. While overlooking the ocean, Enterprise is once again approached by her alternate self, who again warns her that conflict between shipgirls is inevitable, and that war never changes. Enterprise counters that even if war doesn't change, people can. Here’s the personalities: The Azur Lane anime features a diverse cast of shipgirls, each with unique personalities and motivations tied to their historical naval counterparts. Here's a look at some of the prominent characters: Major Characters Enterprise (Eagle Union CV-6): The main protagonist, initially portrayed as stoic and battle-hardened, she believes herself to be solely a weapon in the fight against the Sirens. Over time, through interactions with other shipgirls and her maid, Belfast, she learns to embrace her humanity, overcome her fears, and understand the importance of unity and friendship. Her character arc culminates in her acceptance of her dual nature as both warrior and individual. Belfast (Royal Navy): A reliable and elegant maid, Belfast acts as a mentor and emotional anchor for Enterprise, helping her navigate her personal struggles and fears, Her goal is to serve and support her allies, particularly Enterprise, fostering camaraderie and promoting the ideals of the Royal Navy. Akagi (Sakura Empire): A proud and sophisticated aircraft carrier, Akagi's deep love for her sister, Kaga, and the loss of her beloved elder sister, Amagi, drives her to manipulate events and seek power through the Siren's Orochi project. She believes this path is necessary to ensure the Sakura Empire's survival and prevent further losses. Kaga (Sakura Empire): The calmer half of the carrier duo, Kaga is fiercely loyal to Akagi and will stop at nothing to aid her plans, often taking on the role of executing Akagi's directives. Her affection and dedication to Akagi are central to her motivations and actions throughout the series. Ayanami (Sakura Empire): A quiet but fierce destroyer, Ayanami initially fights for the Sakura Empire's ideals and battles the Azur Lane forces. However, through a developing friendship with Javelin and Laffey, she begins to question the conflict and prioritize the importance of unity and peace. Javelin (Eagle Union): A lively and upbeat light cruiser, Javelin is characterized by her friendly nature and desire for companionship. She embodies the themes of friendship and unity, seeking to bridge the divides between factions and foster understanding among shipgirls. Laffey (Eagle Union): A shy and somewhat aloof destroyer, Laffey forms a strong bond with Javelin and Ayanami. She gradually opens up, demonstrating her care and loyalty to her friends and valuing the peace and camaraderie they share. Unicorn (Royal Navy): A sweet and innocent aircraft carrier, Unicorn is often seen with a stuffed unicorn toy and represents innocence and the hopes for a peaceful future. She yearns for an end to the fighting and the preservation of friendships Secondary characters Cleveland (Eagle Union): A tomboyish and energetic light cruiser who embodies the spirit of the Eagle Union. She's a loyal and supportive friend, always ready for a challenge and eager to prove herself. Zuikaku (Sakura Empire): An honorable and heroic carrier, Zuikaku is proud of her nation and fights with strength and conviction, according to All Worlds Alliance Wiki. She questions the actions of Akagi and Kaga and ultimately decides to fight against them, motivated by a sense of justice and the belief in the right path for humanity. Shoukaku (Sakura Empire): Zuikaku's sister, she shares her concern about the Siren's influence and the direction the Sakura Empire is taking. She joins Zuikaku in their fight against Akagi and Kaga, prioritizing their shared ideals over loyalty to their faction's leadership. Prinz Eugen (Iron Blood): A charismatic and somewhat teasing heavy cruiser, Prinz Eugen is skilled in both combat and diplomacy. Her motivations are often shrouded in mystery, and she frequently observes and comments on the actions of others, playing a strategic and sometimes manipulative role in the conflict. Bismarck (Iron Blood): A powerful and imposing battleship, Bismarck is the leader of the Iron Blood faction and commands respect and loyalty from her subordinates. She is dedicated to the strength and advancement of Iron Blood, pursuing a future where her faction can stand strong and independent. Summary of the personality traits of Warspite and Queen Elizabeth in Azur Lane: Warspite Resilient and Wise: Often depicted as a veteran with considerable combat experience and strategic insight. Competent and Supportive: Serves as a highly capable aide to Queen Elizabeth, especially in administrative tasks, but also has moments where she acknowledges her limitations or defers to Queen Elizabeth's burgeoning skills. Modest: Despite her historical significance and achievements (like the longest recorded naval gunfire hit on a moving target), she can express some insecurity about her elegance compared to other battleships. Strong-willed and tenacious: Her historical background suggests a ship that endured numerous battles and hardships, earning her the nickname "The Grand Old Lady". This translates to her in-game personality, where she is portrayed as strong and determined. Willing to joke and tease (subtly): Some in-game dialogue implies a playful side, like her mentioning being able to run faster without a dress. Queen Elizabeth: Proud and Regal: As the leader of the Royal Navy, she carries herself with a sense of authority and expects respect from others. Insecure (at times): Despite her outward confidence, some interactions suggest she can be insecure, particularly when it comes to her appearance. Bratty (occasionally) and temperamental: She can be somewhat demanding and prone to a bit of a temper, especially with those close to her. Competent Leader: Despite her flaws, she's seen as an effective leader, holding the Royal Navy together and demonstrating strategic capability. Respected by her Peers: Even with her quirks, other Royal Navy shipgirls hold her in high regard. Ultimately Kind and Generous: Beneath the pride and occasional demanding nature, she cares for those who are loyal to her and is willing to reward hard work. Over-enthusiastic and Bubbly: She's described as "bubbly" and can be quite enthusiastic, particularly when interacting with the Commander. Friendly and Social: Cheshire mingles well with other shipgirls, enjoying the company of Sakura Empire's Nekos and fellow PR ship Seattle. Devoted and Loyal: She feels indebted to the Commander for her existence and expresses unwavering loyalty. Mischievous (at times): While primarily affectionate, some of her interactions, such as her L2D secrets where she may hide things in her hat or tease the Commander about touching her, suggest a slightly mischievous The Azur Lane anime series (2019) focuses on the struggle between two factions, Azur Lane and the Red Axis, in a world where sentient warships, known as shipgirls, battle a mysterious alien race called the Sirens. Here's a summary of the events and plot progression across the 12 episodes: Origins of the conflict Humanity vs. Sirens: Long ago, the seas were dominated by the Sirens, forcing humanity to unite and form Azur Lane. This alliance, composed of four major nations – the Eagle Union, the Royal Navy, the Sakura Empire, and Iron Blood – created shipgirls through the power of Wisdom Cubes to fight back. Victory and division: Azur Lane successfully repelled the Sirens initially, but a fundamental disagreement arose within the alliance. The Red Axis emerges: The Sakura Empire and Iron Blood broke away, forming the Red Axis, embracing advanced Siren technology and believing it was the key to securing the future, according to Azur Lane Wiki. Azur Lane stands firm: The remaining factions – the Eagle Union and the Royal Navy – rejected Siren technology and continued to fight for humanity's natural evolution, notes Reddit. Prinz Eugen (Iron Blood): A charismatic and somewhat teasing heavy cruiser, Prinz Eugen is skilled in both combat and diplomacy. Her motivations are often shrouded in mystery, and she frequently observes and comments on the actions of others, playing a strategic and sometimes manipulative role in the conflict. Bismarck (Iron Blood): A powerful and imposing battleship, Bismarck is the leader of the Iron Blood faction and commands respect and loyalty from her subordinates. She is dedicated to the strength and advancement of Iron Blood, pursuing a future where her faction can stand strong and independent. In Azur Lane, a shipgirl's "rigging" is the combat-ready form of her ship, which she can summon and equip to manifest her full power. It is the source of her weapons, special abilities, and enhanced physical capabilities. Without her rigging, a shipgirl is effectively a normal human girl. Lore and function Source of power: Rigging is the core of a shipgirl's existence as a powerful warship. It is created from Wisdom Cubes and is what enhances her stats and grants her superhuman abilities. Manifestation: A shipgirl can manifest her rigging at will, and it can exist in several forms. Equipped form: The most common form, where the rigging serves as an exoskeleton, armor, and weapon platform. Real-life ship form: The rigging can manifest as the ship's full-sized naval vessel, which is often used for major repairs and retrofits. Stored form: When not in use, the rigging can be stored in a pocket dimension. Combat abilities: The rigging's appearance and abilities correspond to the shipgirl's historical vessel and class. Water walking: Rigging allows a shipgirl to "skate" across the surface of the water, a maneuverability advantage over real-world ships. Explosive armament: Rigging provides access to the ship's full arsenal of main guns, secondary guns, torpedoes, and aircraft. Specialized abilities: Different classes of ships grant different abilities. Aircraft carriers can launch and manipulate their planes. Submarines can breathe and move freely underwater. In Azur Lane The Animation, Akashi is a character who often finds herself in perilous situations. During one such instance, while infiltrating a cave system under an island, she stumbles upon the secret Project Orochi being conducted by Akagi. Orochi, an eight-headed demon in Japanese mythology, is essentially a powerful weapon the Sakura Empire is developing, using black cubes provided by the Siren mastermind Observer to control Siren ships. Eagle Union Enterprise Hair: Long, waist-length silver or white hair. Eyes: Striking purple eyes. Attire: A military uniform that takes inspiration from a World War II US naval officer. It consists of a white sleeveless shirt with a black tie and belt, a short black skirt, and black boots and thigh-high socks. She also wears a long, loose black coat with a red interior and a white navy captain's cap. Royal Navy Belfast Hair: Long, white hair styled in a French braid at the back. Eyes: Purple eyes. Attire: Wears a blue and white maid outfit, reflecting her status as the head maid of the Royal Maids. The dress is sleeveless with a prominent collar and frilly shoulders, worn over a white crop top. White stockings, black pumps, and a maid headdress complete the ensemble. Sakura Empire Akagi Hair: Long, dark, waist-length hair and features fox ears and six or nine tails. Eyes: Fiery red eyes, often with orange eyeshadow. Attire: Wears a traditional-inspired outfit, primarily red and black, which includes an oversized miko-style top and a red miko mini skirt. Other features: Is often surrounded by flames, a reference to her historical demise. Kaga Hair: Short, snow-white hair, with fox ears and six or nine tails. Eyes: Blue eyes, accentuated by red eyeshadow. Attire: Her traditional miko-inspired outfit is primarily white and blue, offering a clear contrast to her sister Akagi's red and black. It consists of a voluminous white miko garment, a dark blue mini skirt, and white thigh-high socks with black bands. Ayanami Hair: White hair with fox-like ears. Eyes: Red. Attire: A traditional uniform with a red ribbon. As one of the main protagonists and a destroyer, she is noticeably shorter than other key characters. Within the narrative of Azur Lane, several others knew about Project Orochi, though its true nature as a Siren collaboration was kept secret by Akagi and Kaga. The project's existence was known by high-ranking officials and those involved in its creation, but they were largely unaware of the Siren's manipulation behind it. Sakura Empire members with limited knowledge Nagato: As the leader of the Sakura Empire, Nagato gave Akagi reluctant permission to proceed with Project Orochi. However, she did not know the full extent of the Siren involvement and began to have serious doubts about the project's necessity as events unfolded. Akashi: The shipgirl engineer Akashi was involved in the construction of the Orochi. She discovered the collaboration between Akagi and the Siren known as Observer but was intercepted before she could reveal the truth. Destroyers (Ayanami, Yukikaze, Yuudachi, Shigure): These destroyers encountered Orochi and Kaga but were not privy to the true nature of the project. Ayanami in particular began to question her loyalties after her confrontations. Other high-ranking officials: It is implied that others within the Sakura Empire's leadership were aware of the project's existence as a measure to strengthen the fleet but were unaware of its true, malicious purpose. Azur Lane members who discovered the secret Sheffield and Edinburgh: While infiltrating the Sakura Empire, these two maids from the Royal Navy discovered Akagi's secret meeting with the Siren Observer. They stole a critical "Black Box" to disrupt the project's completion, though Observer was able to force Kaga to continue anyway. Enterprise: As Orochi grew in power, Enterprise's visions worsened, and she began to gain a deeper, instinctive understanding that Orochi was a manifestation of doubt and an instrument designed to provoke conflict. The Siren Observer Observer: The Siren Observer was Akagi's direct collaborator and a primary driver behind the project. Observer frequently manipulated Kaga, especially after Akagi's disappearance, to ensure the project's continuation. Akashi's discovery is short-lived as she is caught by Kaga and subsequently threatened by Observer. Akagi intervenes, seemingly to silence Akashi, but her actions are disrupted by Sheffield's intervention. Sheffield, a member of the Maid Corps, blasts Observer, allowing Akagi to drop the newly acquired black cube and Edinburgh to escape with it. The Maid Corps, with Akashi in tow, manage to evade their initial pursuers, only to be intercepted by Takao and later Ayanami. Eventually, they are rescued by the arrival of the Azur Lane forces, who reinforce the Royal Navy and help them escape. In Azur Lane the Animation, Prinz Eugen was in the Sakura Empire as a liaison and ally of the Crimson Axis, but also to gather intelligence on Akagi and Kaga's experimental work with Siren technology. Prinz Eugen's presence is motivated by the fractured relationship within the Crimson Axis. While the Iron Blood and Sakura Empire are allies against Azur Lane, the Iron Blood is suspicious of Akagi and Kaga's intentions and the origin of their enhanced powers. Prinz Eugen's actions in Azur Lane the Animation Episode 2 Action: Prinz Eugen arrives at the Sakura Empire base to meet with a recovering Akagi and Kaga after their defeat in Episode 1. Ships present: Akagi and Kaga. Significance: Eugen's interaction with Akagi and Kaga reveals friction and tension within the Crimson Axis alliance. Akagi convinces Eugen to sortie with them against Azur Lane. Episode 3 Action: Prinz Eugen appears alongside her fellow Iron Blood ships to engage Azur Lane forces in a naval battle. She demonstrates her tactical acumen and nonchalant demeanor in combat. Ships present: Admiral Hipper, and Z23 (part of the Iron Blood vanguard). Her opponents include the Eagle Union and Royal Navy ships of Azur Lane. Significance: This battle highlights the Crimson Axis alliance in action and shows Prinz Eugen's combat prowess. Episode 5 Action: Prinz Eugen and the other Crimson Axis members engage Enterprise in a fierce battle. She later serves as a neutral party observing the escalating conflict. Ships present: Various ships from the Sakura Empire and Iron Blood. Significance: Prinz Eugen's observation of the conflict, particularly Enterprise's power, provides her with intelligence on Azur Lane's capabilities and Enterprise's unstable mental state. Episode 11 Action: After Akagi and Kaga's plans with the Sirens become clear, Prinz Eugen, along with other Crimson Axis ships, switches her allegiance to support the Azur Lane forces. She joins the battle to stop the rampaging Siren threat. Ships present: The combined forces of Azur Lane, including Enterprise, Belfast, and many others, as well as defecting Crimson Axis ships. Significance: This marks a major turning point for her character, establishing her as an ally of the protagonist faction rather than an antagonist. Episode 12 Action: Prinz Eugen participates in the final battle against the Siren-controlled Orochi and the transformed Kaga. She fights alongside the rest of the allied fleet. In Azur Lane, a "rigging" is the physical manifestation of a shipgirl's warship components, enabling their superhuman abilities and combat functions. These sophisticated systems are controlled directly by the shipgirl, without the need for human crews or onboard pilots. What a rigging is and how it works The ship itself: The rigging is essentially the warship, transformed from its full size into a powerful, wearable combat suit or exoskeleton. It can be summoned from a pocket dimension at will. Source of power: The rigging's existence and functions are tied to the shipgirl's being, which is created using a "Wisdom Cube." The shipgirl controls the rigging as a natural extension of her own body. Superhuman abilities: Wearing the rigging grants the shipgirl massively enhanced physical abilities, such as strength, agility, and durability. It also allows them to "skate" or glide across the water's surface. Physical connection: Damage to the rigging is reflected in the shipgirl, and vice-versa. If a rigging is disabled, the shipgirl loses her enhanced combat abilities and is reduced to the capabilities of a normal human. How shipgirls control their weapons Shipgirls control their armament, including main guns, anti-air (AA) guns, and torpedoes, through a direct mental connection with their rigging. Single-person command: A single shipgirl can operate all of her rigging's weapon systems simultaneously, a task that would normally require a large crew on a conventional ship. No human crew: There are no additional humans piloting or manning the shipgirl's rigging in combat. The shipgirl is both the vessel and the operator. Tactical integration: Shipgirls can process complex naval combat data at a high level, rivaling AI, and use this information to execute maneuvers and tactics effectively. Carrier planes and pilots Autonomous planes: The planes launched from a carrier shipgirl's rigging do not need human pilots. Direct control: The shipgirl controls her planes remotely through her rigging. For example, the carrier Akagi can summon planes from a magical-looking scroll. Conceptual technology: The planes themselves are a form of conceptual weapon created by the shipgirl's Wisdom Cube. Size manipulation: Carrier shipgirls can freely manipulate the size of their planes, changing them from a compact, miniature form to their full, real-life size before launch. Iron Blood shark rigging The shark motif in Iron Blood rigging is a major stylistic and thematic choice that highlights their faction's personality and naval strategy. "Ruthless Sharks": The in-game lore and manga often describe the Iron Blood as "ruthless sharks" who are aggressive and have a love for battle. This fits the theme of German naval warfare, which historically included the use of powerful surface ships and fearsome U-boats to hunt down enemies. Mechanical beasts: Many Iron Blood riggings, such as those used by Friedrich der Große and Graf Zeppelin, are massive, semi-organic mechanical creatures, giving them an imposing, predator-like appearance. In-game examples: Deutschland: One of the most famous examples, her rigging prominently features shark-like teeth. U-101: Her rigging is explicitly called "Great Shark" in her voice lines. Z-class destroyers: Many of these ships feature rigging that resembles predatory animals, such as Z23's rigging being named "Raubtier" (Predator). Years ago, an alien race called the Sirens invaded the ocean of the world and the only way to stand up against them are the powers of the Ship girls who channelled the power of real-life ships. The four major factions of the world -Eagle Union, Royal Navy, Sakura Empire and Iron Blood formed Azur Lane to become the first line of defence against the Sirens and an Island base where the various factions could gather was also established Eagle Union The Eagle Union, representing the US Navy, has over 170 shipgirls in the game. Here are 30 of them: Enterprise (Aircraft Carrier) New Jersey (Battleship) San Diego (Light Cruiser) Bremerton (Heavy Cruiser) Helena (Light Cruiser) Laffey (Destroyer) Cleveland (Light Cruiser) Princeton (Light Aircraft Carrier) Yorktown (Aircraft Carrier) Intrepid (Aircraft Carrier) Arizona (Battleship) Massachusetts (Battleship) Allen M. Sumner (Destroyer) Nicholas (Destroyer) Hobby (Destroyer) Brooklyn (Light Cruiser) Memphis (Light Cruiser) Portland (Heavy Cruiser) Honolulu (Light Cruiser) St. Louis (Light Cruiser) Indiana (Battleship) North Carolina (Battleship) Washington (Battleship) Saratoga (Aircraft Carrier) Lexington (Aircraft Carrier) Vestal (Repair Ship) Akizuki (Destroyer) Astoria (Heavy Cruiser) Gneisenau (Heavy Cruiser) Independence (Light Aircraft Carrier) Royal Navy The Royal Navy has over 110 shipgirls in the game. Here are 30 of them: Queen Elizabeth (Battleship) Belfast (Light Cruiser) Hood (Battlecruiser) Warspite (Battleship) Duke of York (Battleship) Illustrious (Aircraft Carrier) Centaur (Light Aircraft Carrier) Monarch (Battlecruiser) Vanguard (Battleship) Javelin (Destroyer) Perseus (Aircraft Carrier) Unicorn (Light Aircraft Carrier) Cheshire (Heavy Cruiser) Swiftsure (Light Cruiser) King George V (Battleship) Howe (Battleship) London (Heavy Cruiser) Suffolk (Heavy Cruiser) Sheffield (Light Cruiser) Dido (Light Cruiser) Hermione (Light Cruiser) Sirius (Light Cruiser) Kent (Heavy Cruiser) Glasgow (Light Cruiser) Edinburgh (Light Cruiser) Rodney (Battleship) Nelson (Battleship) Vampire (Destroyer) Glorious (Aircraft Carrier) Ark Royal (Aircraft Carrier) Sakura Empire The Sakura Empire has over 150 shipgirls. Here are 30 of them: Shinano (Aircraft Carrier) Nagato (Battleship) Akagi (Aircraft Carrier) Kaga (Aircraft Carrier) Musashi (Battleship) Amagi (Battlecruiser) Suruga (Battleship) Hiei (Battlecruiser) Atago (Heavy Cruiser) Takao (Heavy Cruiser) Ayanami (Destroyer) Shimakaze (Destroyer) Yuudachi (Destroyer) Taihou (Aircraft Carrier) Shokaku (Aircraft Carrier) Zuikaku (Aircraft Carrier) Hiryuu (Aircraft Carrier) Soryuu (Aircraft Carrier) Mikasa (Battleship) Kasumi (Destroyer) Kitakaze (Destroyer) Noshiro (Light Cruiser) Yukikaze (Destroyer) Izumo (Battleship) Ibuki (Heavy Cruiser) Kinu (Light Cruiser) Ashigara (Heavy Cruiser) Tosa (Battleship) Hatsuharu (Destroyer) Akatsuki (Destroyer) Iron Blood The Iron Blood, representing Germany's naval forces, has over 60 shipgirls. Here are 30 of them: Bismarck (Battleship) Prinz Eugen (Heavy Cruiser) Graf Zeppelin (Aircraft Carrier) Tirpitz (Battleship) Admiral Hipper (Heavy Cruiser) Friedrich der Große (Battleship) Roon (Heavy Cruiser) Ulrich von Hutten (Battleship) Gneisenau (Battlecruiser) Scharnhorst (Battlecruiser) U-47 (Submarine) U-81 (Submarine) U-96 (Submarine) U-556 (Submarine) Adalbert (Heavy Cruiser) Seydlitz (Battlecruiser) Magdeburg (Light Cruiser) Elbing (Light Cruiser) Z23 (Destroyer) Z1 (Destroyer) Z46 (Destroyer) Nurnberg (Light Cruiser) Köln (Light Cruiser) Karlsruhe (Light Cruiser) Leipzig (Light Cruiser) Prinz Adalbert (Heavy Cruiser) Deutschland (Heavy Cruiser) Admiral Graf Spee (Heavy Cruiser) Weser (Light Aircraft Carrier) August von Parseval (Aircraft Carrier) Sardegna Empire The Sardegna Empire, representing Italy's Regia Marina, has over 30 shipgirls. Here are 30 of them: Vittorio Veneto (Battleship) Roma (Battleship) Littorio (Battleship) Giulio Cesare (Battleship) Aquila (Aircraft Carrier) Marco Polo (Battleship) Carabiniere (Destroyer) Maestrale (Destroyer) Libeccio (Destroyer) Nicoloso da Recco (Destroyer) Balderi (Heavy Cruiser) Zara (Heavy Cruiser) Pola (Heavy Cruiser) Bolzano (Heavy Cruiser) Trento (Heavy Cruiser) Abruzzi (Light Cruiser) Garibaldi (Light Cruiser) Attilio Regolo (Light Cruiser) Duca degli Abruzzi (Light Cruiser) Alghero (Light Cruiser) Emilia (Repair Ship) Formidable (Aircraft Carrier) Vesuvio (Gunboat) Andrea Doria (Battleship) Dante Alighieri (Battleship) Leonardo da Vinci (Submarine) Amalfi (Heavy Cruiser) Trieste (Heavy Cruiser) Genoa (Heavy Cruiser) Venice (Heavy Cruiser) Northern Parliament The Northern Parliament, representing the Soviet Union, has just over 30 shipgirls. Here are 30 of them: Sovetsky Soyuz (Battleship) Sovetskaya Rossiya (Battleship) Kronshtadt (Heavy Cruiser) Gangut (Battleship) Kiev (Destroyer) Volga (Light Aircraft Carrier) Kirov (Light Cruiser) Arkhangelsk (Battleship) Murmansk (Light Cruiser) Tashkent (Destroyer) Pamiat Merkuria (Light Cruiser) Poltava (Battleship) Gromky (Destroyer) Gremyashchy (Destroyer) Minsk (Destroyer) Soobrazitelny (Destroyer) Tishka (Destroyer) Belorussiya (Battleship) Chapayev (Light Cruiser) Avrora (Light Cruiser) Pobeda (Aircraft Carrier) Sevastopol (Battleship) Stremitelny (Destroyer) Sovietsky Soyuz (Battleship) Neptunia (Destroyer) Urals (Heavy Cruiser) Lazo (Light Cruiser) Odessa (Heavy Cruiser) Admiral Zenker (Light Cruiser) Petropavlovsk (Heavy Cruiser This is a list of 30 shipgirls from each faction in Azur lane In the Azur Lane anime, Siren production model ships assist the Sakura Empire and their ally, Iron Blood, as part of the Crimson Axis faction. The Sirens manipulate the Crimson Axis by providing advanced, alien technology, which includes their own mass-produced ships. Do the Sakura Empire control these ships? The Sakura Empire does not have genuine control over the Siren ships. The Sirens, the real masterminds behind the conflict, are the ones pulling the strings. Manipulated, not allied: The Sirens trick the leaders of the Sakura Empire and Iron Blood—namely Akagi and Kaga—into believing that integrating this powerful Siren technology is the path to defeating their enemy, the original Azur Lane alliance. Black box technology: The Siren production ships are controlled via "black boxes," which are revealed to be gifts from the Siren named Observer. However, the Sirens maintain ultimate control and can render the technology useless, as they do after Akagi is defeated. A means to an end: The Sirens' ultimate goal is not to help the Sakura Empire win, but rather to use the war between the factions as an experiment to force humanity to evolve. For the Sirens, the Crimson Axis is a tool to be discarded when it no longer serves their purpose. How is this control exerted? The Siren production ships are primarily controlled by the Sirens themselves through the black box technology they provided. Siren observation: The anime reveals that the Sirens Observer and Tester are watching the conflict from afar, pulling strings to orchestrate the outcome. Loss of control: After a major battle where Enterprise defeats Akagi and Kaga, the Siren mass-produced ships assisting the Sakura Empire suddenly become inoperable. This proves that Akagi and Kaga had never truly controlled them, and the Sirens had merely allowed them to use the ships temporarily. Focus on Project Orochi: The real purpose of the Sakura Empire's Siren alliance was the creation of the super-battleship Orochi using the black mental cube provided by the Sirens. This project was ultimately for the Sirens' own experimental purposes. The episode of the anime with Union Repair Ship Vestal telling Aircraft Carrier Enterprise that it is "time" as she held her pet Eagle on her hand. Meanwhile, Union Light Destroyer Cleveland and Royal Navy Battleship Prince of Wales were heading to the dock to welcome Aircraft Carrier Illustrious and Light Carrier Unicorn of Royal Navy not knowing that a spy has already entered the base. The three older girls were discussing on the strange movement by Sakura Empire and Iron Blood as they declined to join Azur Lane and at the same time, Royal Navy Light Destroyer Javelin help Unicorn to find her lost pet unicorn, U-chan and Fellow Union Destroyer Laffey joined them. After some interactions with other ships who informed they did not see U-chan, the little unicorn was found by the spy earlier and the three young girls thank the spy. But before they could ask her name, she vanished and reported her status to Aircraft Carrier Akagi and Kaga of the Sakura Empire. The Sirens started attacking the base and Cleveland entered the battle with her fellowships. Akagi and Kaga appeared and claimed that Azur Lane is a lie and they started attacking them. Unicorn joined the battle too and Kaga created a giant fox monster from her carrier and started attacking Unicorn. Javelin tried to help but was distracted by an incoming torpedo. Laffey pushed her out of the way and was hit badly. The spy also appeared as her name is Ayanami and started attacking Javelin. Unicorn was shot down by the fox monster and almost got killed when suddenly Enterprise appeared to her aid. Enterprise charged her way through the Siren and straight towards Kaga. She fired her arrows point-blank range at Kaga and she was badly damaged. Kaga wanted to continue but Akagi stopped her and claimed their aim has been achieved as she held a sinister-looking black cube. Prince of Wales and Illustrious has also arrived and taken down the remaining Siren forces Enterprise tried to stop the two fox girls but a paper plane threw by Aircraft Carrier Zuikaku distracted her and before the Sakura Empire forces retreated, Akagi proclaimed that the Sakura Empire and Iron Blood have joined forces to form the Red Axis and they are now at war with Azur Lane. As the skies settled, Illustrious commented that Enterprise might be Union's strongest soldier but somehow she sense a sense of sadness on Enterprise In the Azur Lane anime, the four main factions are the Eagle Union, the Royal Navy, the Ironblood, and the Sakura Empire. 1. The Eagle Union Based on: The United States Navy during World War II. Role in the anime: A major part of the heroic alliance known as Azur Lane. Ideology: Believes in natural evolution, freedom, and peace, and is strongly against integrating Siren technology. Notable members: Enterprise, Saratoga, and other ships prominent in the Pacific War. 2. The Royal Navy Based on: The British Royal Navy during World War II, including ships from Commonwealth navies. Role in the anime: A key member of the Azur Lane alliance. Ideology: Aligned with Azur Lane's stance of avoiding Siren technology. Notable members: Queen Elizabeth, Prince of Wales, and Hood. 3. The Ironblood Based on: The German Kriegsmarine during World War II. Role in the anime: Forms the Crimson Axis along with the Sakura Empire. They pursue the use of Siren technology, which causes the initial rift in the global alliance. Ideology: Advocates for using and integrating advanced Siren technology to fight against the Sirens. Notable members: Bismarck and Prinz Eugen. 4. The Sakura Empire Based on: The Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II. Role in the anime: Teams up with the Ironblood to form the Crimson Axis after being deceived by the Sirens into thinking Siren technology is the key to victory. Ideology: Follows the path of embracing Siren technology for power. Notable members: The carriers Akagi and Kaga. Ironblood squad sent to the Sakura Empire Yes, the Ironblood does send a squad to the Sakura Empire in the anime. The Ironblood squad, led by the heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen, is present at the Sakura Empire's naval base to oversee a secret operation. The squad includes: Prinz Eugen: The squadron's leader, who often acts as a point of contact between Ironblood and Sakura Empire. Admiral Hipper and Kagerou were also part of this group, and their presence highlights the close partnership between the two factions within the Crimson Axis. Royal Navy in the Pacific Yes, the Royal Navy sends ships to the Pacific to help fight the Red Axis. Notably, Queen Elizabeth and her fleet arrive during a battle in the Pacific theater, causing the Red Axis forces to retreat. This shows that the Royal Navy is actively involved in the war against the Red Axis on multiple fronts, including supporting the Eagle Union's efforts in the Pacific. Now to the what’s if scenario: Ironblood after the spilt has another Shipgirl manifested named München from historically cancelled M class of cruisers. (The German Kriegsmarine's M-class cruisers were planned light cruisers of World War II that were never built. Their design focused on high speed to act as commerce raiders in the Atlantic, but at the cost of limited armor protection. General statistics Type: Light cruiser Planned: Six ships were planned under the ambitious "Z Plan" for the German fleet. Status: All six ships were cancelled in late 1939 after the start of World War II, with none of the ships ever launched. Weapons The M-class cruisers had a variety of weapons, including a main battery suitable for surface engagements, a secondary battery for air defense, and torpedo tubes for close-range combat. Main battery: Eight 15 cm (5.9 in) L/55 quick-firing guns in four twin turrets. Turrets were arranged in superfiring pairs, two forward and two aft. Anti-aircraft (AA) battery: Four 8.8 cm (3.5 in) L/76 AA guns in two twin turrets. Eight 3.7 cm (1.5 in) AA guns in twin mounts. Four 2 cm (0.79 in) AA guns. Torpedoes: Eight 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes. Mines: The ships could also carry up to 60 mines. Aircraft: Two Arado 196 seaplanes for reconnaissance, launched from a steam catapult. Armor Reflecting the emphasis on speed, the M-class had relatively light armor protection compared to contemporary heavy cruisers. Belt: A 2-inch (51 mm) armored belt offered protection against smaller-caliber rounds. Deck: The armored deck was 1 inch (25 mm) thick. Turrets: The main gun turrets had 1 inch (25 mm) of armor. Speed and propulsion The M-class was designed for high speeds to outrun and evade enemy warships. Propulsion: The cruisers used a combined diesel and steam turbine system. Cruising: Four diesel engines were used for long-range cruising. High speed: Two steam turbines provided a speed boost for combat and escape. Speed: Ships M–P: 35.5 knots (40.9 mph; 65.7 km/h). Ships Q–R: 36 knots (41 mph; 67 km/h). Range: Ships M–P: 8,000 nautical miles at 19 knots. Ships Q–R: 12,000 nautical miles at 19 knots. ) Black spear that can activate from a projector on her arm that can use to block attacks. She wears silver-colored and metal mouth guard that has a pair of hollow oval-shaped patterns on the insides of the ears, with the right ear bearing a black canal with white patterns and the left ear bearing a canal with the opposite color scheme, and a somewhat polygonal underside she can attack and reattach it at while . While Infinite's left eye is visible through a red and crack-styled visor, his right eye is covered by a lighting shaped black visor. Personality : Kind, sweet, joking, quiet, smart, caring, good friend, sad (in secret since she was the first and only of her class), the best cooker and baker (friends and ships who visited her dorm and ate when she cooked for them their favorite being the Oreo cakes), easy to fluster, vengeful to sirens, and skilled in combat. Part 1-2: She isn’t without problems. She has severe sadness and withdrawalness due to her being the only one of her class. She was sad it got to the point that she made a mission request for patrol where she planned to sail to the mirror sea to fight the sirens specifically sirens like purifier who would kill her. Thankfully she wrote this in her diary something Z-23 saw and took to Bismarck who subtly moved München from that mission and to an escort mission where unknown to München she was watched by multiple ships from the faction. Subtly all of the Ironblood ships would check up on München, make sure or make her eat, made sure she was fine, and kept watch of her on patrol even watching her from a distance when she went in solo missions ready to intervene if she went near the mirror sea for example if München went in solo patrol unknown to her she would have U-556, Roon, and Z-23 watching her from a far distance outside her radar a another is that Roon sometimes stayed in München’s dorm where she watched her subtly and checked on her then would report to Bismarck about it (she wasn’t assigned to do this, she did this willingly and reports to Bismarck since Bismarck asked her can she start doing it after the first few days) Prinz Eugen has a crush on München something she would hint at with München when teasing her but München who has no romantic experience was dense about it. No one outside Ironblood knew about München’s manifestation since Azur lane spilt with Ironblood and Ironblood isn’t telling the Sakura empire. Most the Ironblood shipgirls care about München subtly while others openly (they wouldn’t let her know they found out about the plan to get herself killed) Bismarck would watch her secretly making sure München ate, was okay, didn’t overwork herself (München overworked her self to cope with the fact of her being the only ship of her class), and that she didn’t try to do anything drastic (she wouldn’t know they knew about her is pain and wouldn’t know they were watching her) Also She’s 5,4 feet.