"Admiral!" Nimitz yelled from the Norfolk as Isaac relished in watching Baltimore leave the dry docks.
"Admiral Nimitz?" Isaac asked as he turned towards the Norfolk, seeing the look on Nimitz's face.
Isaac ran towards the Norfolk as Bremerton stepped onto the Matrix pad. The Bulins maintained the rapidly built matrix as it was used.
"What is the issue, Admiral?" Isaac asked.
"I had asked Norfolk to tap into the port's radar system to aid our surface detection, and the enemy fleet is closing to within One hundred miles, they're moving faster than we could anticipate." Nimitz said.
"How long do we have? U-556 isn't even in the water yet." Isaac said hastily, showing his growing concern.
"We have maybe four hours at the most. We need to work faster. I'm going to get the fleet in formation outside the port. Are there any final changes I need to make?" Nimitz asked as he showed Isaac the battle plan.
"The Norfolk and Odin will be up front with Bismarck and Elizabeth. Friedrich will be pushed to the left flank. I am fine with the heavy cruisers protecting the carriers. My real concern is our lack of destroyers. Nimi and Laffey are amazing in their own respect, but against the fleet described by Perkins, we are looking at a long drawn out fight." Isaac said.
"Are you sure that is wise, Admiral? Norfolk is a light cruiser, Siren tech or not, that is a lot of punishment to try to endure." Nimitz said.
"I have to. Elizabeth and Bismarck both have personal connections with Hood. If someone isn't there to keep them hemmed in, they'll get themselves sunk." Isaac said as Nimitz looked at him.
"You're fleet has told me you have a tendency to play the hero... let us hope that this battle doesn't become your last." Nimitz said.
"Have some faith, Admiral Nimitz. You'll see why I do what I do." Isaac said.
"Alright... you best keep moving. Enemy fleet 98 miles and closing." Nimitz said as he got onto the radio to begin issuing orders.
Isaac ran off the deck of the Norfolk and back towards the Matrix.
"Girls, we need to push as fast as we can. The enemy fleet is closing faster than we thought. They are 98 miles out and closing. Nimitz believes we have four hours at most to prepare. Orders are already being issued to the fleet to begin moving into formation." Isaac said as the port's drydock alarm sounded, heralding the release of the Bremerton, the other Baltimore class cruiser.
"Excellent, things are moving along smoothly." Isaac spoke as a small wisp of smoke began to rise from the matrix.
"Bulins, the machine is smoking." Isaac deadpanned.
"We followed the blueprints exactly. This must have been the prototype version of the Matrix, Commander." The Head bulin said.
"Alright. See if we can fix it before it causes another fire. I don't need our only lifeline bursting into flames before we have what we need." Isaac said as he turned to U-556.
"You're next. I need you in the water just in case we can't fix the machine. U-47 and U-110 will be dealing with Sonar detection so I cannot spare them for this mission, so you're my only option." Isaac said as U-556 nodded and stepped onto the pad.
"Make sure she gets her boat in the water. We can't afford to not have her ready. Atago, Laffey, you two go help the others prepare. If the matrix is still online after U-556 hits the water, Laffey will be next." Isaac said.
"What about me, Shikikan?" Atago asked, her ears drooping a bit.
"I'm hoping that the matrix will last long enough to get you in the water too. Your guns will definitely be a wonderful asset. But Nimi is my only destroyer, and U-556 is the only one I can spare to save the Hood. So, unfortunately, I have to put your ship on the back burner." Isaac said apologetically.
"It's okay, Shikikan. If it isn't to be, it isn't to be." Atago said as Isaac put a hand on her shoulder.
"I will do everything I can to make sure you can sail again. After all, I overheard that we know the area where your sister is. I want you to be able to see her from the bow of your own ship, not from the bow of mine." Isaac said as Atago looked at him with a smile.
"I'd really like that, Shikikan." Atago said with a smile on her face.
"Then have faith." Isaac whispered as he watched the construction of a new U-boat in the dry dock.
"Admiral!" Allen yelled from the port office above the dry dock.
Isaac looked up to see the Port master pointing out to the open water.
"Looks like the RAN was only able to spare one boat. They don't seem to be taking this threat seriously." Allen said.
"It's fine. Any extra hands we can get will be useful." Isaac yelled back as he ran towards the port opening.
Into port sailed an older looking vessel. At first glance, it looked like a normal steamer, but upon closer inspection, it appeared to be a repair ship.
"They really aren't taking this threat seriously." Isaac said to himself as a girl with dirty blonde hair and a mile wide smile appeared on the deck of the incoming ship.
"It's a Kansened ship?" Isaac asked as he moved closer to the dock space that the ship was pulling into.
"Heya! Are you the Commander of this merry band?" The girl asked as she skipped along the deck of her vessel.
"I am. Admiral Isaac Garner of Azur Lane. Who do I have the pleasure of talking to?" Isaac asked as the girl jumped down to the dock.
"Heya, Admiral. I'm Platypus. But you can call me Patty. I much prefer that name anyway." Patty said as Isaac looked her up and down.
Patty was around Isaac's chest in height. She had a moderate build with slightly more meat on her arms than most of the girls in the fleet already. Her sapphire blue eyes cut through her messy hair, piercing Isaac with a coolness akin to a morning breeze. A pair of short blue denim shorts and a t-shirt tied off at the side rounded out her outfit. On the T-shirt, true to her namesake, was a cartoon drawing of a platypus.
"Huh. And what are you exactly? We were expecting a bit more... firepower from the RAN." Isaac said, causing Patty to pout a bit.
"Hey... that isn't very nice. The RAN sent me here to help keep your fleet in order. They didn't really make any indication that I had to come back..." Patty said softly, tears forming in her eyes.
Isaac felt a pang of guilt spear his heart.
"Ah... what I meant to say was... Welcome to the fleet. We are very happy to have you here with us. We can use all the help we can get." Isaac said as Patty smiled happily.
"Really? YAY!" Patty said happily as she presented Isaac a box.
"What is this?" Isaac asked, opening the box and feeling his heart sink further.
"I have been saving them aboard my vessel since the Washington Naval Treaty was signed. I ventured out after the Royal Navy left and went to where... they sunk her." Patty said with a sad smile.
"The Australian navy hasn't been seen as much of a fighting force in quite some time... who was she?" Isaac asked.
"The namesake of our great nation. Australia." Patty said as a rolling tear marred her smiling face.
"Is...she the only one left? What happened to the other Kansens?" Isaac asked.
"Only me, Australia... and poor K-9." Patty said sadly.
"K-9?" Isaac asked.
"A very friendly submarine. She has been upset lately since the RAN are using all the resources at their disposal to fix their manned ships, instead of repairing her vessel." Patty said.
"You seem to care deeply for her." Isaac said as he closed the box with the cubes in it."
"I'm a repair ship, but my main purpose is to tend to those adorable little submarines. I specialize in submarine repair." Patty said.
"Specialize in submarines, huh? Well, I have four in this fleet, three that currently have vessels." Isaac said.
"Really?!" Patty asked excitedly.
"I do. U-47, U-110, U-556, and I-13." Isaac said, finding a small amount of enjoyment in seeing the submarine tender so happy.
"With your permission, I shall go and tend to them then!" Patty said happily.
"Well, since you said the RAN isn't looking for your immediate return, how about I offer you a place here?" Isaac asked, extending his arm towards his fleet.
"You... you'd take an old boat like me?" Patty asked.
"Patty, listen. I have several ships from the great war, and several from literally the day before the end of the world. That and everything in between. I have a massive team of Bulins that keep the fleet running, no matter the age of the vessel. You'll fit in just fine." Isaac said softly.
"Then... I won't let you down!" Patty said excitedly.
"Excellent." Isaac said as he turned to leave.
"Just... one question, Admiral..." Patty asked.
"Anything." Isaac said as he turned back to her.
"The RAN doesn't believe your claim of a coming battle, but I do. After this battle... if we win... can we take K-9 with us? She's a good friend of mine and I'd hate for them to decide to scrap her since she is just sitting in drydock." Patty said.
"When we win this battle, I will send a detachment to fetch her. After all, if she is as reliable as you make her seem to be, then I would love to have her." Isaac said as the Port's alarm went off again, signaling the release of U-556 into the water of the port.
"You really weren't kidding!" Patty said as she saw U-556 sliding down the ramp into the bay.
"Of course I'm not. Well, then as your first order, I'll have you go over to U-556 and ensure she is combat ready." Isaac said as Patty ran back aboard her vessel. Several seconds later, she reappeared holding a toolbox and wearing a denim apron around her neck.
Isaac couldn't help but chuckle as the Submarine tender passed him, and made a beeline for the U-556.
Isaac looked over to the matrix and saw the Bulins working hard to keep it functioning. Isaac made his way over to the Matrix carrying the box with the cubes in it.
"I see the Matrix is still in one piece." Isaac said.
"If we keep working like this, we can do three more ships." The Head bulin said.
"Excellent. Because I have one last ship to round out those three." Isaac said as he presented the box to the Bulin.
"Hmm. Someone lost a while ago, no?" The bulin asked.
"HMAS Australia. Supposedly, the one that was scuttled in accord with the Washington Naval treaty." Isaac said.
"So it's a battlecruiser?" The Head bulin asked.
"Apparently." Isaac said as the bulin nodded.
"We will do this one right away. Laffey and Atago need less time in the matrix to form their ships, so it would be smart to bring out Australia, who needs the most time." The head bulin said.
"I trust your judgement." Isaac said as a radio cackled to life.
"Attention everyone. Enemy fleet has closed within ninety miles. I repeat the enemy fleet is within ninety miles of port." Nimitz's voice boomed over the port.
"Let's hope we can get you guys taken care of. This is looking to be a long fight." Isaac said as he turned to the port, watching the first of his fleet beginning to pull away from their port slots and move towards open water.