Jean Bart's fleet is cruising towards Menorca with their rigging deployed as they expect heavy presence of Siren fleets in the Balearic Sea.
Commander Louise had ordered the fleet to come in from the east of Menorca instead of its north as this will make sure the areas the Sirens may appear from will be from near the islands, and the south.
As Jean Bart's fleet got closer to the island of Menorca, they detect signatures on their radar, one coming from the south, and one coming from the island's vicinity.
"We got company" Jean Bart said.
As the Siren fleets got closer, the girls were able to make out the types of ships the enemy has and it was clear that they are outnumbered as the Sirens had more battleships, and cruisers.
The fleet in front had three battleships, four cruisers, and five destroyers while the one to the south has two battleships, three cruisers, and five destroyers.
The Siren battleships then started firing from the distance. The girls immediately moved to avoid the incoming shells.
Columns of water then erupted all around the fleet. Jean Bart then returned fire on the fleet in front of them. Dunkerque on the other hand returned fire on the fleet to the south.
"Everyone head north-west! We'll deal with the ones in front of us first" Algerie ordered.
Once the fleet's course changed Jean Bart and Dunkerque materialized their ships and started firing full broadside on the on the Siren Fleet to the west, prioritizing the battleships.
St. Louis then looked at Forbin, L'Opiniâtre, and Le Téméraire who all nodded, confirming that they are ready. They then charged towards the Siren fleet.
The rest of the cruisers, Algierie , Emile Bertin, and La Galissonnière formed behind, and on both sides of the battleships, while Vauquelin took the front.
The Siren fleet they're targeting turned northward to run parallel to the Iris fleet.
Seeing the Iris fleet turned a few degrees to the west to slowly move closer to the Siren fleet and have the cruisers get within firing range.
------------
St. Louis' attack group aggressively dodged enemy shells while they try to close in on the Sirens. St. Louis started firing on the cruisers and destroyers to cover for the others targeting the battleships.
Two of the three battleships have been moderately damaged due to Jean Bart's attack, and Dunkerque's barrage. In addition, they have also sunk two cruisers, and two destroyers as the Iris battleships targeted two ships at a time.
The Iris destroyers then launched their torpedoes as they got close. Their attacks successfully hit all three battleships making the two damaged ones slightly list, throwing off their aim.
A girl with yellow eyes, and short white hair tied on one side jumped down from one of the battleships and charged towards St. Louis, attacking with a downward slash.
"What!?" St. Louis blocked it with her spear. She then kicked the Siren and slashed horizontally. The Siren jumped back to evade then fired towards L'Opiniâtre and scored a direct hit.
"Ahhhhhh!" The attack sent L'Opiniâtre a couple meters away and knocked her down
"L'Opiniâtre!" Le Téméraire rushed to her side and helped her up.
"Uughh"
"Tch" St. Louis clicked her tongue and rushed towards the Siren then sliced downwards, which the Siren blocked. "You girls retreat back to the fleet"
She then pushed the Siren back and did a powerful side kick to the Siren's abdomen sending her backwards. St. Louis then trained her guns on the Siren and fired hitting the Siren as she regained her footing.
At this time, the fleet is now close enough that the Iris cruisers are now in firing range and have materialized their ships, and helping in destroying the the rest of the Siren cruisers, and destroyers and also covering the retreat of their destroyers.
Unfortunately, they have suffered damages as well with Jean Bart, and Dunkerque's ships taking the brunt of the damage, while the Algierie , Emile Bertin, and La Galissonnière took a few damage as well, Vauquelin on the other hand is unhurt as she was covered by the larger ships.
St. Louis then made her retreat, doing aggressive maneuvers to evade incoming shells while being covered by her fleets own attacks.
------------
Meanwhile, immediately north of Menorca, the main fleet of the Royal Carnation Navy is sailing towards the planned coordinates in order to link up with the Iris Orthodoxy fleet. They are currently under the command of Jeanne of the Iris Orthodoxy who's leading them from their temporary HQ in Barcelona.
Leading the fleet is a woman wearing a navy blue double-breasted pea-coat with gold colored outlines with a matching skirt, and a rapier attached to her belt.
The woman then activated something in her ear. "Yes?"
"España! Where are you?"
"Jean Bart? We're nearing the coordinates you pointed to? What's going on?"
"We're being pursued by two Siren fleets. Everyone's damaged but not too serious, well, except for L'Opiniâtre"
"Keep moving, we're almost at the rendezvous point"
"Let's turn up the pace. Our allies are in trouble"
España then once again got a transmission.
"España"
"Commander. It seems the Iris fleet is in trouble. What should we do?"
"According to Dedalo, Jean Bart's group is being pursued by five battleships, three cruisers, and five destroyers; they don't have any carrier, luckily"
Jeanne continued "It also seems like they took a quite some damage as well"
"How far are they from us?"
Dedalo cut in "You are approximately 100 kilometres apart, although you are closer to the rendezvous point than them.
"Thanks. Make sure your seaplanes aren't in harms way"
"Thank you for your concern"
Jeanne then ordered "Set up an ambush at the rendezvous point and defeat the two Siren fleets with Jean Bart's group"
The transmission ended and España turned to the girls in her fleet.
"Alright ladies, once we get to the area, we'll set up an ambush. Jaime, Alfonso and I will wait there along with Canarias, Beleares, and Republica." España started.
Galicia, Cervera, and Miguel you circle around and try to attack them from the North. Alsedo, Velasco, Lazaga, and Sanchez go with them" She added.
""Understood!"" All of them replied.
After a couple of minutes, the Royal Carnation girls moved according to España's orders then waited for the Iris Fleet, and the Sirens to come into view.
The three dreadnoughts materialized their ships and had their main guns trained at their maximum possible elevation.
After a couple of minutes, a couple of humanoid figures appeared on the horizon zigzagging through the water, evading the occasional water columns rising around them. The sound of battleship turrets firing is heard, then the sound of the projectiles impacting the sea.
A few moments in, the ships pursuing these figures came into their view, and in their range.
"They're here. Be careful not to hit the Iris ladies"
The three dreadnoughts adjusted their guns and started firing. Due to the relatively slow reload times, even with the new auto re-loader equipment, of their ships, they fired at a pace of one battery per twenty-five seconds allowing them to simultaneously make the targets move and target them accordingly while the other turrets reload.
As shells rained down around them, the Sirens changed their targets from the Iris Orthodoxy fleet to the waiting Royal Carnation fleet. The three dreadnoughts fired one salvo before materializing their riggings to avoid their ships being damaged.
The España sisters moved in different directions each escorted by the cruisers with them aiming to get near the Siren fleet.
They continuously fired at the enemy to draw their attention.
The relatively less wounded members of the Iris Orthodoxy fleet, namely Jean Bart, Dunkerque, and the cruisers turned around and started firing as well while their destroyers retreated from the battlefield.
------------
The tide of the battle has now turned to the allies' favor as they now have more ships, and equalized the firepower.
The five allied battleships then started their attack on the five Siren battleships quickly placing themselves in front of the siren ships to prevent the Sirens from attacking with all of their guns.
They first prioritized sinking two of the already damaged ships by having the Iris Orthodoxy battleships concentrate on them while the Royal Carnation battleships keep the rest focused on them.
Meanwhile, the allied cruisers did their jobs by taking out the destroyers to prevent them from firing any torpedoes on their battleships while keeping the siren cruisers at bay.
At this moment, the Royal Carnation girls who went around successfully sneaked up from behind the Siren fleet. The destroyers Alsedo, Velasco, Lazaga, and Sanchez fired their torpedoes towards the battleships while the cruisers Galicia, Cervera, and Miguel targeted the Siren destroyers.
The torpedoes hit their marks sealing the fate of the two already damaged Siren battleships and also further damaging the other three.
The allied cruisers are picking off the Siren cruisers, and destroyers one-by-one as the enemy immediately got overwhelmed as the Royal Carnation destroyers joined the fray.
------------
After a few long minutes, the battle was over. All the Siren ships are now sinking with none of the girls getting hit. The second battle of Menorca became a one-sided allied victory.
"It's nice very nice to see you España, Jaime, Alfonso" Jean Bart greeted the Royal Carnation capital ships. "Thanks for the help"
"We're allies after all" España smiled. "Good to see you're all in one shape"
A long sigh then came from the transmission "We did expect the mass produced ones to intercept and one or two of their bosses, but it's still nerve-wracking"
"We're still not done, Jeanne" Another voice came in.
"I know I know. You sure are very serious Louise. Anyway, I had Dedalo scout the area around Menorca, it seems those were the Sirens patrolling it" Jeanne said referring to the Sirens they defeated earlier.
"You girls should rest there for now, especially L'Opiniâtre"
"I'll update you guys later on the situation near Mallorca. Dedalo is currently doing recon flights over the area."
The two commanders of the Iris Orthodoxy gave orders with a tone that's akin to a friendly chat.
"Understood""Yes Ma'am" España, and Jean Bart replied.
The combined fleet of the Royal Carnation, and Iris Orthodoxy navies then headed for Mahon Port.
The plan for having the Iris Orthodoxy fleet split up and also defend the Citadel Port was suspended until the fleet recovers. The Royal Carnation girls will also stay with the Iris girls in case the Sirens decide to attack while their allies are recovering.