Isaac heard a knock at the door.
"Come it." Isaac spoke as I-13 poked her head in.
"You asked to see me, Shikikan?" I-13 asked.
"Yes I did. Please have a seat." Isaac said as he swung his legs off the bed and went to stand. He narrowly avoided hitting his head on the desk as he fell to the floor.
"Shikikan!?" I-13 cried as she went to his side.
"I'm okay, my legs are a bit numb still. I'll be okay." Isaac said.
"From what Rodney told me, you threw yourself into the freezing Pacific Ocean to come save me. You're a special kind of dummy, aren't you?" I-13 said as she gently smacked his head.
"I guess so, but we saved you. Thats all that matters." Isaac said.
"But ending up like this is not good either. Let me get Rodney or Eagle. You need to get back under the covers. Your skin is still very cold." I-13 said.
"No. No. It's fine. I dont want to inconvenience them." Isaac said.
"Inconvenience us? What is that supposed to mean, Commander?" Rodney asked as she and Eagle both poked their heads in from outside the doorframe. The rest of the girls came out of hiding as well.
"How long have you all been here?!" Isaac asked, suddenly feeling very embarrassed.
"The girls met me on the docks when we got back. Those who didnt take I-13 to drydock... well they came aboard and found you on the floor in here, passed out and near frozen." Rodney spoke.
"I..." Isaac tried to speak but was cut off.
"They, along with me, have had a rotation going, making sure you don't have a fever and that you were resting properly. We don't know much in the way of human illness, but we all know how bad it can get for sailors who fall overboard. But you... you didn't fall. Oh no. You jumped. Dove feet first into the Pacific, while under enemy fire no less! Do you realize how stupid that was?!
"I was only..." Isaac was cut off again.
"And me? Sure, I was the only ship you had brought, and boy I enjoyed it, but you left me at the drop of a hat to go on what could have been a suicide mission! Need I remind you that your brain and leadership is needed to fight the sirens? I faced down seven drone ships, alone."
"I'm sorry..." Isaac said as he turned his head down.
"The first 3 were easy because they were spaced out. The last four came right before I-13 told me you were aboard her hull. I am still thankful that those drones are stupid enough to travel so close together. I managed to detonate one of their magazines, destroying a second one without hitting it." Rodney spoke, breathing heavily as her lighthearted rant came to an end.
"All that said... everyone here thinks you're some super cool hero that jumped into the ocean to save our friend... and I may or may not be among them." Rodney said as a healthy blush crossed her cheeks.
"Here. Let us get you back in bed, Commander." Eagle said with extra emphasis on the commander. She and Rodney picked Isaac up and put him back on the bed.
"I... thank you." Isaac muttered as his face was bright red.
"So, what happened while I was with I-13?" Isaac asked as he looked at Rodney.
"Well, it's all fuzzy. I cant really remember much past what I have already said. My mind goes elsewhere when I get into the heat of battle... or so I'm told. I think it's normal." Rodney said.
"I see. So i was correct in my assumption of how the drone ships and their communications work. It seems they send ships to confirm the destruction of a single unit before commiting force. This can help us." Isaac said as Eldridge wiggled her way past everyone and jumped on Isaac.
"Isaac okay!?" Eldridge asked with tears in her eyes.
"Yes. Yes. I'm okay. Since everyone is here, i guess we can talk about our modified sortie." Isaac spoke.
"Kommandant, if I may. I'd like to get the details and I will inform everyone. You're still clearly are not well enough to resume command." Nimi said.
"Hey. I'm just fine!" Isaac spoke as he tried to stand again. Rodney caught him before he could fall.
"You were saying, mister action hero?" Omaha stated, garnering laughter from everyone.
"Yeah. Yeah. You guys won't let me live this down, will you?" Isaac asked, defeated.
"With you, its only a matter of time before you do something even more stupid and over the top heroic to make us forget about this. Well, not all of us. I-13 is going to be thankful for your heroics for quite some time." Eagle said as she shuffled everyone but Nimi and I-13 from the room.
"You girls sure do like to talk... i was just doing what i thought was right. Not trying to be a big hero." Isaac said as he wrapped a
blanket around himself.
"So, what has changed for our sortie?" Nimi asked.
"I-13 will not be joining us... and neither will Omaha. A smaller force will be more dangerous. But if we leave the base undefended, we lose this war before it begins. My choices are because I-13 can launch recon planes, and Omaha has her 152 mm guns and plenty of other firepower at her disposal. They can keep the island safe, especially since it doesnt seem like the drone ships are looking here." Isaac said as Nimi took notes.
"Understood. Formation?" Nimi asked.
"Hmm. I hadn't thought of that. Eagle will be the flagship. So i guess that means she takes center. With it being you, Eagle, Rodney, Eldridge, and Akashi... I think a diamond shape might work. Eagle surrounded by Eldridge, You, Rodney, and Akashi at the rear." Isaac said.
"While that may be a viable strategy, may I speak my mind?" Nimi asked.
"Of course." Isaac replied.
"Why don't we adopt a Destroyer centered fleet formation? Eldridge can cover the fleet with her cloaking device. I can screen for torpedos up front. Eagle has a battleship hull, so her and Rodney can tank a bit if need be. Plus Eagle has dual purpose cruiser caliber guns and AA. It balances out with Rodney. Akashi can take up the rear. I'd be more likely to leave Akashi here as she isnt a combat ship, but if we have a support ship, it can help keep everyone safe." Nimi said as she drew Isaac a diagram.
"You have good art skills, Nimi." Isaac said nonchalantly as she had made almost perfect top down views of each ship.
Nimi blushed.
"Stop it. Focus on work, idiot Kommandant." Nimi said as she hit him with her notebook.
"Any other things, Nimi?" Isaac asked.
"No. I will relay the information to the fleet. Please rest, Kommandant." Nimi said as she left the room.
"Sorry I-13. I kept you waiting." Isaac spoke as he looked her way.
"No, Shikikan. It's okay. I'm a submarine. Waiting is part of the job description." I-13 said.
"I guess so." Isaac chuckled.
"What did you want to speak with me about?" I-13 asked.
"August 10th." Isaac spoke.
"The weapon. I figured. I was underwater at the time, as I had been ordered to depart that morning. It is my belief that the ocean kept me safe from falling victim to that weapon. As for the other submarines... I don't know. I've been wandering since then and haven't heard radios or seen anyone on sonar. So i don't know if anyone else made it unscathed." I-13 said.
"I see. Thank you I-13. You're dismissed. Get the bulins to do any repairs you need." Isaac said as he stood up for a third time, finally finding enough strength to stand.
"Are you okay, Shikikan?" I-13 asked.
"Yeah. I'll be on the docks in a bit." Isaac said. I-13 left the room as Isaac heard her skip down the corridor.
"Okay. Man up. A simple dip in the ocean puts you out for half a day? Pathetic." Isaac said as he stood in front of the mirror.
"You have to be better, for these girls. For the world." Isaac muttered to himself, pinching his side. He slowly made his way onto the main deck, the sun warming his skin.