"How much longer do you think it will take?" Isaac asked impatiently. He looked around and saw most of the warships in his fleet had already begun forming up in open water to meet the enemy fleet.
"We can speed it up if you'd like, but it will be the last time we can do so. We left the blueprints for the device on Niue for Miss Akashi. So they have more than likely been destroyed." The Bulin said.
"Fuck it. If it was man made, we can find another way to recreate it. I need everyone ready and all hands on deck, because you also have a part to play in this battle." Isaac said as the Bulin nodded, slipping a small metallic object onto the pad. Isaac turned to the drydock to see a massive battlecruiser that, mere moments ago, had not been there.
Isaac was about to breathe a sigh of relief when he heard the sound of crying coming from the deck of the ship. Not a cry of pain, but a cry of fear, as if reliving the memories of ones past.
"Get her out of drydock, now!" Isaac yelled as he took of running towards the gangway that was affixed to the end of the docks. As the battlecruiser slid down the ramp, Isaac finally laid eyes upon the one whose cries he had heard.
Isaac was on top of the fixed gangway by the time the HMAS Australia came to a halt below him. Judging the distance, Isaac took the jump and landed squarely on his feet on the deck of the Australia. Looking towards the bow, he saw what looked like an old stain on the wooden planks that made up her deck. In the center of the massive stain sat a girl wearing a long brown leather duster. Her shaggy dirty blonde hair sat disheveled beneath a brown rangers hat, matching the leather duster that adorned her body. Beneath the duster, Isaac could see what would have been a beautiful cactus green tank top, had it not been marred by what Isaac could only assume was an old stain that matched the origin of the one on the deck. Isaac kneeled down next to the woman, noting a Webley revolver that had been left on the deck, as if it had been dropped by her own hand in some sort of terrible accident. Looking closer, Isaac could see the same stain coming from the woman's left temple. It was only then that Isaac realized what he was witnessing and why the woman before him was crying like she was.
Isaac, unable to bear her tears any longer, gave in and wrapped the woman in a hug, unwilling to let her go at that moment. Clearly, the sensation of touch surprised the woman, as she fell into a coughing fit due to gasping so suddenly.
Isaac let her go, kicking the gun away and sitting on the deck in front of her.
"Australia. Please, calm down." Isaac said softly, like a father calming his troubled daughter.
"What? How? Where... am I? Did... I finally pass on, after all these years?" Australia asked.
"That answers that..." Isaac said as he looked sadly at the stains all around Australia.
"Who are you? Where am I? Answer me... please." The battle cruiser asked, the sheer weight of her sadness nearly crushing Isaac where he sat.
"I am Admiral Isaac Garner. I am the Commander of Azur Lane. You have just been relaunched from a port in Brisbane, Australia." Isaac explained.
"What... year is it?" Australia asked, her tears showing no sign of stopping.
"It is October 1st, 1945." Isaac said as she looked at the red stained deck beneath her.
"21 years... and I haven't moved on. What purpose have I been returned for? Parts?" Australia asked, causing Isaac's heart to sink.
"No. You have been brought back under my command, to sail the seas once more as a member of my fleet, until the day we both cross over to the other side." Isaac said, earning him a hopeful look from the ice blue eyes held by the Australian battlecruiser.
"But... the Washington Naval treaty..." Australia said before Isaac stopped her.
"That treaty means nothing to a Navy outside of traditional jurisdiction. Not to mention that it expired in 1936." Isaac said as the woman before him looked at her hands.
"Twelve years. I..." Australia was able to stammer out before devolving into a crying mess once more.
"Australia... what happened to you?" Isaac asked.
"I... was forced to be scuttled, back in 1924. As a... member of the Royal Navy's Australian detachment... we were also affected by the treaty." Australia said softly.
"And that gun?" Isaac asked, causing the woman to freeze up.
"To mask the pain... of being sunk." Australia forced out before she allowed more tears to flow.
"Australia... I need you to stand up." Isaac said softly.
"It is my hope... that I can serve you well." Australia said.
"I know you will. Because if I know anything about Australians, you're as tough as an old pair of boots." Isaac said, giving Australia a light punch on the arm, causing a small smile to form on her red stained face.
"Was anyone there... on that day?" Isaac asked.
"Hood. She was sent by the crown to ensure... my sinking." Australia said, still clinging to Isaac's compliment to keep herself from crying further.
"Well..." Isaac said, trying to lift both of their spirits. "... Let's show her a fight that proves she was wrong to carry out those orders." Isaac continued as a look of shock crossed the Aussie's face.
"What do you mean?" Australia asked.
"Hood has been turned into a weapon against us. The Sirens have taken her... and broken her." Isaac said softly.
"If it had been merely a day after I was sunk, I'd probably be saying good riddance... but all I feel for her now is an immense sadness, and a will to fight with everything my guns can bring to the table, small as they may be." Australia said as she looked back at her twelve inch main guns with a look of sadness.
"Australia, fight with me. And I will see to it that you are not only modernized... but you become something that the Australian Navy will be proud to have represent them in Azur Lane." Isaac said as he pointed down to the line of Bulins who had begun climbing the Gangway to check on the newest member of the fleet.
"What... are they?" Australia asked.
"The Bulins. The one member of this fleet that works overtime to keep us running." Isaac said as the Bulins came over to check on Australia.
"Miss Australia, are you hurt anywhere?" The Head bulin asked.
"No... just... dwelling a bit much on the past." Australia said.
"While your hull is older than most in the fleet, you will be feeling just as good as the newest ships we have. These girls will see to it." Isaac said.
"What you said earlier... about modernizing... how would you do such a thing?" Australia asked.
"I'm building a few ships in this port, and I will have access to bigger guns and plenty of material. I also have a wisdom cube specialist, and a literal Siren helping our cause. We will make you greater than you were, and make them regret sending you off like that." Isaac said leading to a smile from Australia.
"I don't know what all that is supposed to mean but let's do it. I think I'm ready to face the front again, sir." Australia said as she steadied herself against Isaac before standing firm on her own two feet.
"Good woman. Let's get you out of this port and into formation. Atago and Laffey should be joining us momentarily." Isaac said as Australia nodded. Isaac felt the ship lurch as screws that hadn't spun since the 20's finally roared back to life.
"She still kicks like a Roo during dingo season." Australia said, causing Isaac to crack a smile of his own.
"Aye. That she does. I'm going to have you with Friedrich, if you don't mind keeping a German giant company." Isaac said.
"That shan't be a problem. I have no quarrels with the Gerries." Australia said.
"Also, you'll find that my fleet is a bit more... informal than you would expect, so keep an open mind, and know that I have my fleet's best interest in mind." Isaac said as they approached Friedrich's vessel in formation.
Australia watched as Friedrich jumped from her vessel and skated over, locking eyes with Isaac.
"Dear husband." Friedrich said as she jumped onto the deck of the Australia, causing Australia to look at Isaac in wild bewilderment. She did a double take at Friedrich's hand, confirming that the name was not just for show.
"Who is this young child?" Friedrich asked softly.
"Oi... I'm nearly forty years of age..." Australia said with a small pout.
"Ah. Still." Friedrich said, earning another pout from Australia.
"This, Friedrich, is the newest member of our fleet aside from Platypus. This is the Battlecruiser Australia, built back before my time in 1911." Isaac said as Friedrich looked at Australia.
"A battlecruiser, huh? Yes... Mein Kind Bismarck was saying that someone named Graf Spee could be classed as a Battlecruiser, as is the target of our rescue operation for this battle." Friedrich said.
"Rescue operation?" Australia asked.
"Yes. It has come to the surprise of nobody, that I want to save Hood, if we can." Isaac said.
"You had mentioned something along those lines earlier." Australia said, captivated by the ring on Friedrich's hand.
Friedrich, noticing this, walked closer and held out her hand to allow Australia to examine the ring closer.
"How did you get this pretty thing?" Australia asked.
"Well... I got it from my dear husband, the night that he promised himself to me." Friedrich said.
"Promised himself to you? Like marry?" Australia asked.
"Yes, in a way. He has promised himself to more than a few members of the fleet, but that makes the love we share that much stronger." Friedrich said as Australia looked at Isaac.
"Bit of a womanizer, huh?" Australia asked with a hand on her hip.
"I asked for an open mind... but yes, if that is what you'll call me. In fact, I have another ring for a certain someone the next time she visits." Isaac said as he looked over at his section of aircraft carriers.
"Woah... what... are those?" Australia asked.
"You've never seen an aircraft carrier?" Isaac asked.
"No... I've never once seen such a ship before. I thought that what I had was the peak of technology." Australia said as they looked back towards her quarterdeck, seeing a small wooden bridge that looked to have been used for aircraft.
"That one should be an easy fix." Isaac said as he turned to the Bulins.
"We are going to give this young lady the ability to launch aircraft again. When we return from this battle, I want her slated for immediate retrofit. New guns, new aircraft catapult, more AA, and... lets give her a nice new coat of paint." Isaac said as he looked at the suddenly very teary eyed battlecruiser.
"You... no wonder why you have so many girls on your hip. You are by far the kindest commander I have ever met." Australia said as she closed in.
"Don't think this is me liking you or anything... but I don't know what else to do right now." Australia said as she hugged Isaac for all she was worth.
Isaac lifted her hat and ruffled her hair gently.
"Anyway, after the Great War, aircraft carriers became much more prominent. Eagle, Shinano, and a recent addition, Manfred von Richthofen." Isaac said as he pointed to each carrier in the formation.
"Wow. And tell me... do all your carriers fly with their aircraft?" Australia asked as Isaac looked over at the planes leaving the Richthofen.
"Oh good god..." Isaac said as he pulled out a pair of binoculars and looked at the lead element for the BF-109 squadron that had just left the deck, seeing a flash of red hair beneath an aviators cap.
"Friedrich... why didn't you tell me that your sister prefers to fly with her aircraft?" Isaac asked calmly.
"I was on my way to do so, dear husband." Friedrich said with a slight bow.
"Can you radio her and ask why?" Isaac asked.
"She said... and I quote... 'Success flourishes in perseverance - ceaseless, restless perseverance. I shall take to the skies and make our enemy know the feeling of fear which they have surely forgotten. For the glory of the Kommandant!' end quote." Friedrich said as Isaac sighed.
"When she says something like that... you can't really stop her." Isaac said as he picked up the older radio receiver on the deck of the Australia.
"What do you see up there, Richthofen?" Isaac asked.
"Enemy fleet is seventy miles and closing. I'm going to go give them a little welcoming gift." Richthofen said as Isaac watched two separate squadrons of Ju-87's launch from Richthofens deck. He then watched a squadron of Albacore torpedo bombers and three squadrons of Zeroes launch from Eagle and Shinano respectively.
Australia looked on in paralyzing awe as she watched nearly sixty aircraft launch into the bright blue sky over Brisbane.
"Wow..." Australia managed to sound out as the planes disappeared into the clouds.
"Looks like we're landing the first blow." Isaac said as he dialed in the fleet frequency.
"Everyone, this is your Admiral speaking. Today, begins another battle in our war for freedom against the sirens. And with Richthofen leading the charge, we are now engaged in this battle. I expect everyone to perform their duty admirably. I do not want any heroics, and keep in mind that this is a danger close mission. DO NOT HIT THE HOOD." Isaac said before horns sounded throughout the fleet, signaling their acknowledgement.
"Friedrich, catch Australia up to speed, and keep her covered. She is still a bit under the weather from being brought back." Isaac said as Friedrich nodded.
"No harm shall come to any of the children in this fleet, my dear husband. I will see to it." Friedrich said with a fist over her heart.
"Excellent. Australia, general quarters on the double. We have work to do." Isaac said as the fleet moved forward towards their battlefield.
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A special thanks to u/Heavyassaultsenpai and u/skyzweihander for the art and the backstory to the wonderful girl known as HMAS Australia. You two did a fantastic job, and I hope I did her justice.