A/N: I'm sorry guys, I read through my last chapter and noticed it had a number of grammatical errors. In my defense, I was extremely tired from a swamped week of work, but I hate submitting something when it's in a condition like that, so I'll be putting more effort to proofreading in the future. I apologize to anyone that had a tough time reading or was disappointed in the quality.
Side-note, my laptop seems to finally be slowing down from four years of heavy use, and the internet here in East Texas is pretty unreliable sometimes, so writing may be harder until I get back to my desktop after summer.
Anyway, back to the story.
As always, I appreciate any feedback you leave, whether it's to say the story is good or bad.
June 12th, 1942
Okinawa
The previous night passed like a blur after I returned to the barracks. My teammates would ask me questions regarding our plan for the task force and I would answer them, but all I could think about was Haruna.
The way she tilted her head when she smiled, the endearingly cute way she referred to herself in the third-person, and of course her beautiful face. It seemed as if all the parts of my brain that were capable of rubbing two neurons together were completely enraptured with her.
The morning was worse, because now my brain could only think of Haruna and the fact that I was going to see her again in a few hours.
I led a light workout before sending everyone off to find something to do.
The fact that I was a military officer and I just told a bunch of highly specialized and effective fighters to find a way to waste time was not lost on me. This meeting had better put us to work immediately, because the team was very obviously bored. I mean, the cruisers were actually talking to the destroyers. Not making fun of them, but actually socializing.
It did make me a little proud, but I knew that their conversations were born from a lack of entertainment rather than wanting to reconcile.
Another small vehicle obviously sent to retrieve me pulled up to the barracks just as Brent and I were going to grab a quick bite before the meeting. We tried to tell the driver that the Admiral could wait twenty minutes, but this was met by a blank stare and silence. Any attempt to bypass the car was responded to by the driver following us from the road as we walked on the sidewalk.
We didn't want him to follow us with that stare and creepy demeanor for duration of our outing, so with no other choice, we begrudgingly got into the car and left for the admin office.
Please, for the love of God, let there be food at this meeting.
The two of us walked into the office again in what was beginning to feel like a routine.
I was elated to discover that the Admiral's office was re-purposed into a dining room, all of our places marked around a large table with our nationality and name.
They even marked a place for Brent, I noticed.
Nobody besides Nagato and the Admiral were in the room yet, both sitting what I would consider uncomfortably close together, but they didn't seem to mind the distance.
'Yes! Not the last one's here! Can't give me shit this time, Bismarck!' I allowed myself a small mental victory.
Elated as I was, though, I still found this a bit unusual. I checked my watch to discover that it was still only seven forty-five, so Brent and I were definitely early. I paid no mind to it though, and simply took my seat, listed next to Italia.
So far, I hadn't gotten to know her at all really, so this would be a good opportunity to build some bridges.
Nagato and the Admiral were conversing in Japanese, so I couldn't follow what they were saying. It was obviously an animated conversation though.
Brent's table setting was next to mine, so he took a seat. He looked around for a little, I guess for the food. It wasn't there, unfortunately, but I assumed it was because we were waiting on the other commander before starting the meal. Brent and I chatted while we waited.
Italia and her assistant, I didn't know her name, were the next to arrive. Both of them gave a respectful bow of the head to the Admiral, who waved them in.
She nodded to me as she took the seat to my right, and I give her a small smile and wave in response. Her assistant took the seat on the unoccupied side of Italia.
"Good morning!" I said cheerfully. As I said, I hardly knew anything about Italia so I was eager to learn.
"To you as well, Montana. I admit, I was a little surprised to see you here first." Italia replied.
"Yeah, they brought us in pretty early. Any idea why?" I asked.
"Well... yes, they said we'd be having breakfast at the briefing today. Do you not remember?"
Ah, so that was at least one of the things Nagato was talking about when I was thinking of Haruna.
"Oh right, of course. It surprised me a little, the fact that we'd be having a meeting over food, but I'm not against a little informality during these sorts of things. Guess the Admiral isn't the same kind of commander I would get back in the States" I shrug my shoulders.
"Yes, I agree. The higher-ups from my nation are very traditional, and couldn't ever do anything without ceremony." She took a sip from a small espresso one of the small ship-girls brought her. The girl looked at me as if to ask if I wanted anything, but I waved her off. I found it odd that other Arks would be waiting on us rather than some humans, but I didn't mind.
Brent got up from his seat and sat next to Italia's assistant, and began chatting with her. The assistant could speak English, but it was fairly accented, so their conversation progressed slowly.
"Montana, I'd like to ask you a question, if you'd find it acceptable." She placed her hands on her lap and turned towards me.
"Of course." I clasped my hands together and shift my body in my seat to face her.
"Why did you feel the need to bring up Tirpitz?" She kept a straight face, not a single crease of emotion as she asked me this.
I sighed.
KMS Tirpitz, along with a few other German Arks, was killed at the Frisian islands during the earlier stages of Ark-Abyssal combat. The Germans were convinced that their creations would easily overpower and overwhelm any opposition they faced, and in the few battles they had already fought, that had seemed to be the case. The problem, though, was the fact that German Arks had up to that point only fought small to medium numbers of lighter class ships. Bismarck and Tirpitz could have faced those ships alone and still won. But at the Frisians, they no longer faced a few destroyers and cruisers. They ran into multiple battleship-class and carrier-class Abyssals, enough that it would be a problem for even an experienced and balanced fleet of strong Arks.
The Germans, however, saw differently.
They sent in two mixed divisions of heavy cruisers and destroyers, led by Bismarck and Tirpitz. No carriers were sent to support them, which was the admiralty's biggest mistake.
Upon realizing their mistake, which came at the lives of three destroyers and a cruiser, German commanders ordered the Arks to retreat. It was during this retreat that Tirpitz's already weakened division was encircled and destroyed.
Bismarck and her division were close enough to assist, but were ordered to continue retreating.
The admiralty could tolerate losing one of their flagships, but not both.
"Italia, as you get to know me, you'll realize that I'm not a good person. I played that card to anger Bismarck enough to fight me. I wanted to show her that I wouldn't take that attitude from her." I had been looking in her eyes up to that point, but I now looked towards the ground.
She let out a very small and quiet laugh, and I looked up to see that her normally stoic and unreadable face had a closed smile on it.
"You are like my sister, Roma. She suffers from the same mentality that you do." She leaned closer to me from her seat.
"If I am honest, I do not care much for Bismarck. She is too hot-headed for my tastes, and lets her opinions and beliefs affect her work. Seeing her brought down a peg was amusing, but I realize that it was wrong. From what you say, it is easy to tell that you regret what you did, but I struggle to see if you are serious. I look forward to finding this out as we work together, Montana. You intrigue me." She leaned back in her chair.
Wow, that was much more than I expected to get from her.
The remainder of the time we spent waiting was made easier by sharing stories about the places we'd been. Hers were surprisingly humorous.
Bismarck arrived next with a girl that looked similar to herself, but was shorter and her hair was done into two pigtails that rested on her shoulders. Prinz Eugen, if I remembered the name on her file. The two of them took their seats near the admiral on the other side of Italia, a conscious decision to keep us separated I guessed.
Eugen gave a slight smile to Italia and I upon sitting down, but Bismarck did not acknowledge our presence.
Nelson was the last to arrive, entering the room with a woman that was barely shorter than him and white hair that covered one of her eyes. She wore a headpiece with a single antenna angled slightly forwards.
"Sorry chaps, had to gather the missus before we left." He said it with a smile as he gave the woman a pat on the back.
She did not visibly respond.
The two took their seats to Brent's left, Nelson pulling out the woman's seat and letting her sit before taking his own place.
I checked my watch again to see that Nelson was, indeed, a few minutes late. Not very prim and proper, but fashionably late I suppose.
Nagato stood up bowed before speaking.
"The Admiral and I thank you for coming. As we discussed yesterday, today's meeting will be had after a meal. We hope you don't mind food from your respective nations."
Quite the contrary, actually, I welcomed the reminder of home.
Nagato said something in Japanese, and a woman walked through the office door in response.
'There she is...' The woman that walked through the door was known by everyone, whether they be military, civilian, Ark or human.
She was possibly the greatest of us made for a while.
It was Yamato.
She stood just a bit taller than me, with her long brown ponytail reaching far below her head. The outfit she was wearing was gorgeous. In general, she was amazingly beautiful.
But while this much was true, I did not view her beauty in the same way I saw Haruna's. This beauty likely came from my respect from her.
Yamato and her sister, Musashi, were created to be Japan's ultimate answer to the Abyssals. The strongest and most powerful Arks ever created.
Well, until the United States built me and my siblings. The US couldn't stand for the Japanese to have this awesome power and not get a slice. While we aren't more powerful than Yamato and Musashi, individually we are nearly identical in terms of power.
Yamato bowed her head to the room and said, "Welcome to Okinawa. I am Yamato. I look forward to working with all of you. For now I wish you would accept the food I made for all of you." Her English was basic, and said slowly.
She stepped to the side, where a couple of destroyers rolled in a few carts loaded with what I assumed were covered plates of food.
A young girl with black bangs and a ponytail rolled a cart up to Brent and me, and placed a covered tray in front of each of us. She took each cover off.
In front of me was a juicy steak, over-easy eggs and homestyle potatoes with cherry tomatoes. Brent got biscuits and gravy with a side of hashbrowns, sausage and toast.
I looked around the table and every occupant had a breakfast in front of them that either originated from their home country or was popular there. Nelson had a full English with beans, pudding, bacon, the works, and Italia had a simple fruit salad with yogurt and rolls.
Now, I'd like to say that in this professional setting, I handled myself with proper manners and dignity.
But I'd be lying.
I scarfed down the rare steak and scrambled eggs like I was a recruit just getting back from PT in boot camp.
Do I regret it? Hell no. It was too delicious for me to care about manners. The other leaders didn't fare much better than me anyway, I noticed.
Yamato and her staff of destroyers stood silently at the entrance to the office as they waited for us to finish. Well, Yamato stood quietly, I noticed the destroyers try to gossip silently to each other.
"I must say Yamato, you cook a better English than most English!" Nelson was wiping his mouth as he said that.
She bowed, and motioned for the younger girls to get to work clearing the table.
The table cleared, and the server girls left with their carts filled with empty dishes. Yamato bowed once more and left the room.
Nagato stood once again and the Admiral shared a look with her. He began speaking with her translating.
"We've received all of your rosters and provision requirements. You will all be approached at a later date about how provisions will be fulfilled, but for now we will discuss the breaking up into divisional fleets and your first assignment. Now, from the UK, we've received fifteen ships. The Kingdom of Italy has offered ten, Germany brought twenty, and the US has brought fourteen. All nations have promised more units if Kamikaze shows results. France has also promised all of it's naval assets if we can assist in the defense of France against the Abyssal invasion currently happening there. Therefore, that will be our first mission."
I was a bit confused at first. Kamikaze was Japanese led, so one would assume that our first missions would be taking place near the home islands. Then again, this Admiral has proven to be an odd one. I wasn't against the idea, as more personnel makes our job easier. There was just one rather large question.
"Ma'am, will the defense be on land or sea?" I slightly raised my hand and asked my question at the same time.
"Both, Montana."
Hmm, this would be interesting.
"The first phase of the plan is to destroy any opposition on the sea that is providing support to the invasion force. While this is going on, we will simultaneously drop a small amount of KanMusu into human held territory to assist in ground defense. The second phase is to drive out the remaining Abyssal ground forces from France. From there, we'll then have enough personnel and supplies to conduct operations on a global scale." She looked at me.
"Montana, we have been told that you conducted ground operations in the Philippines?"
I nodded. "Yes ma'am. I was part of MacArthur's assault force in the retaking of the Luzon and Panay." One of my first assignments. At first the operation was regarded as perhaps a turning point in the war, but that was before the casualty reports were publicly known.
A costly mission with little payoff.
"Good. In that case, you will be team leader for the ground force in phase one. Here is your briefing packet. Please read it thoroughly." She slid a manila folder across the table to me.
I reached onto the table and grabbed it.
"As Montana and his forces will be in France, the rest of Kamikaze including command staff will be in England at Cornwall. A small team will be left here, but it won't be more than ten ships."
Nelson spoke. "Miss Nagato, you spoke about team division? I'd like to know so I can train them and prepare for the operation."
Nagato nodded. "Certainly." She handed everyone a folder except for me, which I already had.
"Inside you'll find the members of your new division, which each of you will be leading. There is also a list of your current subordinates' new team leaders. You will also find your roles for the coming operation."
Nelson and Bismarck both looked in their folders and intently started reading. Bismarck made an annoyed face as she scrolled over some of the names, but she didn't say anything.
"Any questions?"
No one said anything.
"The operation will take place in one week, sooner if it's obvious France will fall before then. Get to work." Nagato clapped her hands together and the team leaders and their assistants got up from their seats to file outside.
"Montana, a word?" Nagato was still standing by the Admiral.
I looked at Brent.
"Go on, I'll be out in a bit." He nodded in response, but looked at Nagato warily as he walked out.
I stood before the Admiral at attention.
"The Admiral wishes to apologize for Kongo yesterday."
Huh. I mean, it's not like I didn't appreciate it, but I've just never had a CO that would apologize for one of his subordinates.
Then again, Kongo did say that they were lovers, so convention kind of goes out the window.
"Just so you know, the Admiral and Kongo are not in relations, contrary to what she may believe."
"Ma'am, it's no big deal. I do have a question though." I stood stock-still as I say this.
"Please." She says in response.
"Haruna was assigned to teach me, but if I'm honest I did not catch what about." I was admitting my error.
"All team leaders have been assigned an IJN KanMusu to tutor them in the Japanese language. Bismarck and Italia will not need one, but both you and Nelson don't know the language and did not reject the idea. Your sessions will be three hours everyday at 1200, and meet in the base's records building." She didn't even blink when I told her I wasn't listening.
I check my watch, it's 1025. Good, that gives me just enough time to get back to the American barracks to read my briefing as well as spread the news of our operation.
I give a quick salute to the two of them before walking out of the office building with Brent to find our car.
We saw it sitting in the parking lot with the driver reading a book so we started towards it.
"Hey Moe, they talked about you guys and all but, uh, what about me?"
Shit, hadn't thought about that.
"You're part of the command staff, plus you're human. You'll probably be going to Cornwall with the rest of them." I wasn't sure of my words, but I made it sound like I was.
"Shit, man. I wanted to be on the ground with you." He says this in a way that makes me doubt him.
"Then why did you join the Navy and not the Army or Marines?"
He rolls his eyes. "Yeah, yeah, sail the seven seas, all that bullshit. Look Moe, I joined the Navy to fight, but I haven't done shit. Come on man, will you take me?"
I stopped walking.
"Brent, have you seen an Abyssal ground troop?" I looked at him with purpose.
"Well yeah, they show 'em on the news films back at base. Why?" He cocked his head and squinted his eyes.
"No, no, they only show the dead ones that are so pulped up you can't recognize them. I mean a live and fighting Abyssal soldier. Have you seen one?"
"Well... no I guess not." Brent brings his hand to his chin, "Where are you going with this, Montana?"
"I have seen them alive Brent. And I've seen what they can do. You don't want to be there." I was almost pleading.
"Y-yeah. Okay, man. Whatever you say."
I started walking again and got in the back of our car as the driver put his book down. Brent entered a few seconds after.
The driver put the car into gear and we were off.
Back at our barracks I sat on my bunk and read through the briefing. I was to take eight other Arks into the front-lines near Paris where we would meet up with the French army and their commanders. We'd be attached to the army and under command of the French until Phase One was complete. I didn't approve of this, but I made note of the fact that I was given permission by the Admiral to use my own discretion on what orders to follow and which to not.
All the Arks to be under my command had at least some ground training and equipment, so my job was a bit easier. I would still have to brief them and drill them a bit though.
Speaking of the Arks under my command, I had:
IJN Jintsuu, Light Cruiser
IJN Takao, Heavy Cruiser
Roma, Battleship
KMS Scharnhorst, Battleship
KMS Graf Spree, Heavy Cruiser
HMS Unicorn, Carrier
USS Phoenix, Light Cruiser
USS Lexington, Carrier
Takao, Unicorn, Graf and Lex were trained as normal infantry, so they'd be using kits similar to an infantryman from their respective nations. The difference was the fact that while our weapons were similar in appearance to a human's, the caliber was improved so we could fight just about anything. We couldn't use our naval guns, so this would have to do. Roma was also an infantryman, but could also operate the long-range backpack radio. Jintsuu was a qualified sniper, so she'd improve our long range capabilities. Scarnhorst and I were both machine-gunners, so we'd bring an up-caliber MG42 and BAR respectfully.
Phoenix was different.
She was a sapper, therefore our demolitions expert. But an explosion fetishist wasn't enough, oh no, she had to be even crazier.
Her main weapon was a flamethrower. I tried to get her to reconsider, but to no avail. The psycho's weapon just had to be connected to her name.
After reading through my briefing, I decided to see where the rest of my team would be heading.
Louisiana was being sent to Italia, which was good. I could trust him to keep a cool head there. Italia was also getting Quincy, Cotten and Bell.
California was picked up by Bismarck. Not so good, even if I did know she could weather the storm of abuse she'd likely receive. On top of that, Bismarck would also take Baltimore, Izard, Young and Rooks. She was getting a lot of Americans, which would explain the sour look on her face after reading the list this morning.
Bataan and Montpelier were going to Nelson. Just two of my guys, so he's probably getting a bunch of other nations' Arks.
I got the team together to tell them their new assignments as well as the upcoming operation. Louie just shrugged as he learned where he'd be heading, but I could tell that Cali was more than a little apprehensive about working with Bismarck. Lex looked content with working with me, and Bataan was relieved when he learned they wouldn't be in the same division. The cruisers were pissed that they had been completely split up, but got over it once I told them that they'd be able to mess with even more people now.
Irresponsible, I know.
The destroyers were sad that they were also breaking up, but at least they still had one of the other destroyers to be with in their new division.
I sent everyone off to do whatever it was they were doing before I interrupted them, but Cali stayed behind.
She approached me.
"Cali, look, there really isn't anything I can do about this. I just need you to bear it and look out for the other guys while you're there." I answer before she can say anything.
She gets a confused look. "What? Oh, yeah, sure, I know. But there is something else."
She looks around to see if anyone is watching, which a couple are. She instead grabs my hand and pulls me outside.
"What's all this about Cali?" I was genuinely confused.
"Did I hear you right about going to France?" She asks.
I still had no idea where she was going with this conversation so I just answered her.
"Yeah, about thirty miles West of Paris. Why?"
Her eyes beamed.
"Moe! You have to get me something!" She just about started hopping up and down.
"Alright, alright! Jeez, calm down, you're acting like one of the destroyers."
She put her hands on her hips and pouted.
"What's wrong with the way I act, eh?" She leaned forward and cocked her hips to the side in a manner most sensual.
I gulped.
"O-oh, n-nothing. It's perfect the way it is." It was the only sane thing I could say.
She gave me an amazing smile, perfectly aware of why she just won.
"Make sure it's nice, okay? But not too expensive." She turned on her heel and went back into the barracks.
I sighed as I rubbed the back of my head, the blush on my face starting to go away.
I liked Cali a lot, she was one of my best friends, a sister almost.
But did I like her in a romantic way? I don't really know. I would never get tired of looking at her, and we knew each other well enough that conversation was easy and comfortable, but romance? I just didn't know.
Plus, I was already infatuated with Haruna.
Speaking of Haruna, it was time to go.
I walked to where I recalled the records building was and entered. The clerk was there, and upon seeing me he simply pointed his thumb over his shoulder in a motion I assumed meant to head to the back.
I did so and found that the inside of the building was not unlike libraries I had been in. There were tables in the center of the room with bookshelves and filing cabinets lining the walls. I searched around for a while before looking at my watch.
'12:16, I'm late. Or she is...' I thought.
I searched around for a bit longer, still not finding Haruna.
There were small rooms at the far end of the library area, so I went there. The first room had a couple of sailors writing letters, so I moved to the next.
Before I opened, the door, I heard a faint breathing noise coming from inside.
'Someone asleep?'
I gently opened the door and stuck my head inside.
She was there.
Haruna sat in a chair next to the window looking out at the green fields, a small journal and pen in her hand, but she was sound asleep.
I must've stood in the doorway for a couple minutes before snapping out of it and gently closing the door behind me.
There was a table in the middle of the room with a few chairs at it, so I sat in one facing her.
Now what I'm about to tell you will sound creepy, because, I admit, it is.
I watched her sleep.
For ten whole minutes I watched this beauty doze away, all the while I just sat and watched her gently breathe and occasionally murmur to herself.
Her journal fell out of her hand, waking her up.
She blearily notice me and jumped from her chair, fully awake and aware.
She clutched her chest.
"M-M-Montana-san! When did you get here?! Oh no, did Haruna fall asleep?! I'm sorry!" She bows deeply.
"N-No! It's nothing like that Haruna! You're okay. In fact, I should be apologizing to you, since I scared you heh-heh." I knew I was blushing hard, but she was too.
She remained in her bowing position, but raised her head.
"Y-,you should?"
"Yeah! Not only did you fall asleep because I was late, I scared you when you woke up..." I nervously rubbed the back of my head and looked out the window.
I heard the ruffling of her outfit, and I turned back to look at her only to see her face mere inches from mine, eyes closed with a big smile gracing her features.
I flinched back out of surprise.
"That's okay Montana-san. But don't do it again!" She gives me a playful wiggle of her finger as if lecturing me.
Opportunity!
"But it was nice watching you sleep." This was a risky move. She could see it either in the sense that I enjoyed creepily stalking her, or that I thought she looked cute when she was asleep.
"Really? Why?" Or she could be clueless as to both reasons. I guess that was the third option.
Whatever, I'll roll with it.
"Because you're really pretty, Haruna." I gently smiled.
She blushed again and brought a hand to her chest again. "Montana-san, you mustn't say those things when you don't mean them..."
The butterflies that were already fluttering about inside me doubled their efforts.
Not only was she beautiful, kind, genuine and helpful, she was humble. My heart can only take so much.
"I do mean it!" I say that with a bit more force than I meant to as I lean forward in my chair, placing my hands on the table.
There was a moment of silence between us as we make brief eye-contact before averting our gazes.
I lean back to a normal sitting position in the chair.
Haruna broke the silence first.
"Well, let's get to work!" She clenched a fist a brought it up.
I sighed. "Yea, let's do it."
I was never keen on learning, but with a teacher like Haruna, I'm sure I wouldn't mind.
The three hours went by quickly it seemed, as if it were just three minutes.
Haruna and I were making our way out of the building.
"You've already made great progress, Montana-kun!" She changed my honorific, but I hadn't learned what any of them meant yet.
"I'm glad I have such a great teacher. I would've been done with a lot of my training in half the time if you were there." She had a way of inspiring me to work hard.
"Montana-kun, you must always try your hardest, in battle or in the classroom." She brought her hand up in a fist again.
"I will, Haruna, I will. But I'm going to, you have to promise me that you'll always do your best too."
"Haruna promises!" She brings her hand up and extends her pinky.
I can't help but laugh and smile, and intertwine my own pinky with hers.
We continue to walk side-by-side outside of the building, idly chatting before reaching my barracks.
"Haruna, I've been meaning to ask you, what division are you in?" I turn my head to look at her.
"Oh, Haruna was placed in Bismarck-san's division. People say she is mean, so Haruna hopes to change that!" She seems to do the clenched fist thing whenever she is determined, since she's doing it again.
This worried me.
Haruna was the sweetest thing I'd ever met, and Bismarck was the most sour. I'd hoped their personalities wouldn't clash, but with someone like Bismarck it seemed inevitable.
"I want you to be nice to her, okay? But if she gives you any gruff, I want you to tell me about it and I'll sort her out." Haruna looked a bit disappointed in my response.
"Haruna doesn't want anyone to get hurt because of her..." She said it in a voice so tiny that the busy street nearly made it inaudible.
"Montana-kun, make Haruna another promise!" She stopped walking and turned to face me.
"What is it?" I ask.
"Promise you'll never hurt anyone unless you absolutely have to!" She places her hands together at her chest.
That was a loaded promise. I want to do anything I can for Haruna, surely. But committing to something like that would be hard for me, considering my sometimes short fuse and the current situation we live in.
But like I said, I want to do anything I can for Haruna.
I don't say anything, I just raise my hand with my pinky extended.
She returns the gesture, and we share a moment looking in each other's eyes as we held that pose for a second.
We break away.
"Well, this is me." I gesture to the barracks. "See you tomorrow?"
"Yes! Haruna looks forward to it!" She waves goodbye and takes off running towards the Japanese barracks of the base.
I watch her make her way down the street for a few seconds before she is lost in the bustle of people going about their business.
I walk into the barracks.
About an hour later at four the barracks empties as the Arks head out for orientation at their new divisions. I stay because my new team is coming to me. Lex and Phoenix stay as well.
They arrive in groups by the nationality, British, Japanese, Italian, German in that order.
Unicorn is the girl from the meeting earlier, the one that was with Nelson. I give her a nod in acknowledgement and point her towards the small lounge where the two other Americans are already.
Jintsuu and Takao arrived a few minutes later. I recognize Takao from yesterday, but I'd only seen Jintsuu in passing. She looked like a young woman, probably high school age, and wore her hair up behind a bandanna.
'Sniper training?' The bandanna would keep the hair out of her eyes, so I agreed with the thought. I sent them to the lounge as well.
Roma, our sole Italian, came in about ten minutes later. She looked similar to Italia as they were sister-ships, but had dark hair and wore spectacles. I offered her the lounge, but she decided to wait with me.
Graf Spree and Scharnhorst were the last, clocking in around four-thirty.
Graf was a woman, similar to Takao in height and bust but more conservatively dressed in her grey and black infantry uniform. She had dark hair instead of the characteristically blonde or white I'd seen on most German Arks.
Scharnhorst, on the other hand, embodied this nature to the fullest.
He was very tall, probably six-seven, and had the bluest eyes and buzzed blonde hair. He was also very muscular, though muscles on an Ark weren't really an indication of anything since we all had immense strength.
He didn't talk much.
I sat everyone down in the lounge and gave a run-down of the mission. I got about halfway before Graf had a question.
"Herr Montana, apologies for interrupting, but I must say that this mission already seems lost."
She was not the only one with that opinion, believe me.
"Graf, you may be right. In fact I lean more towards your side of this. But we've been given this mission and we're going to see it through."
She shrugged.
I continued the run-down.
"Estimations of Phase One length are not concrete, but the shortest possible amount of time we'll be there without relief is likely two weeks." Grumbles were heard throughout the room.
"I know, I know. That's why we just have to get in there and get our job done while we wait for the others to do their part. Now, I've read all your files, and I know that you're all capable for this mission. However, we'll still have a few days of team building and drills before I say we're good to go. We green?" I looked at all of their faces as they also looked at one another and nodded.
"Alright then. Get your asses out of here and get something to eat. We have drills tomorrow at 1100, be here at 1045. Full gear." My new team stood from their couches and left the room.
'Been awhile since the last ground Op. I'm ready for it. It's time to get back to fucking work.'
I pumped myself up a bit before heading to my rack and started making preparations for tomorrow and the days after before we jumped into France.