In the short amount of time that Isaac had been away, the Bulins had managed to get the framework for the matrix constructed with help from the Baltimore class sisters and Atago. U-556 was almost at the build site when Isaac caught up to her.
"U-556." Isaac said, causing her to stop and turn to face him.
"J-ja, Kommandant?" U-556 said, seemingly startled.
"I have a special mission for you once the battle starts." Isaac said.
"Oh. Okay. I thought I had done something wrong again." U-556 said softly.
"Look. What happened the other day was an unfortunate misunderstanding. But I firmly believe you have found a new purpose in life if Bismarck has seen fit to release you from Vestal's care. So long as nothing like that happens again, we'll be alright." Isaac said.
U-556 nodded before looking up at him with solemn determination.
"You said you have a mission for me, Kommandant?" U-556 asked.
"Yes. HMS Hood is the lead element of the enemy fleet. From personal accounts, I refuse to believe she is doing this willingly. I want you, once the battle begins, to take a group of bulins and get to the Hood. Have some of them extract Hood to your hull, and have the others survey her ship for the extent of damage." Isaac said.
"So this is a rescue mission, Kommandant?" U-556 asked.
"Yes it is. Is that going to be an issue?" Isaac asked.
"No, Kommandant. Just wondering if I should have anything else loaded beforehand." U-556 said.
"Your usual compliment will work, but avoid launching torpedoes and giving yourself away too early. If you surface close enough to the Hood, they shouldn't open fire since she is their lead element." Isaac said.
"That makes a bit of sense. If that's how you want it done, then I shall do it that way." U-556 said as Bismarck came over to Isaac and U-556.
"Kommandant. I would like to take point in this operation." Bismarck said as she looked at Isaac. He could see how red her eyes were.
"Bismarck... you and I both know I can't allow that." Isaac said.
"Kommandant, please. Let me make up for what happened back then. Let me save her." Bismarck said softly as U-556 walked over and hugged Bismarck around the waist.
"I can't allow you to take point. That is final, Bismarck. Let Friedrich and Odin take point. Once the bulins deem it safe for us to approach, I can let you in. But until we clear her vessel, I can't allow you to take point and go rushing into a potential trap." Isaac explained.
"Does Elizabeth know yet?" Bismarck said coldly.
"I was going to inform her." Isaac said.
"Put me in front, or I tell her the cold hard truth with none of your sugarcoating." Bismarck said, her stern gaze boring into Isaac.
"Bismarck! This is outrageous!" Isaac said angrily.
"Put me up front, or your British girlfriend finds out you've been hiding this from her. That would be such a terrible way to lose her trust." Bismarck said, leveraging further.
Isaac glared at Bismarck.
"Fine. Call her down here." Isaac said as Bismarck lost the color in her face.
"You'd tell her, just like that?!" Bismarck exclaimed.
"She'd see it when we go to battle anyway. But I will not allow one of my prized battleships to blackmail me into letting her get herself killed." Isaac spat.
"And If I have to lose a friend in the process, then so be it." Isaac added as he turned to U-556.
"You have your orders, go wait with the others to receive your vessel." Isaac said as U-556 looked up at Bismarck, who nodded.
U-556 moseyed away towards the Matrix, which the bulins were putting the finishing touches on.
"To think you'd stoop that low, Bismarck. Where is your pride?" Isaac asked, his tone one of disappointment.
"My pride means nothing if I can't fix my mistakes. That day was the biggest mistake I have made in my entire time on the ocean." Bismarck said as Elizabeth was seen making her way over with Belfast and Eagle.
Isaac stood at attention as he looked at a now concerned Queen Elizabeth.
"Commoner, I am suddenly not liking the way you are presenting yourself... what is this about?" Elizabeth asked.
"Is this everyone from the Royal Navy in the fleet?" Isaac asked as Bismarck walked over to him.
"Kommandant, please, I only wanted to help. Don't ruin what you have with her." Bismarck pleaded.
"Commoner, what is she talking about?" Elizabeth asked.
"Elizabeth... Hood is the one leading the enemy forces for this assault. We received word earlier today from Lieutenant Perkins that he had spotted a heavily damaged Hood limping her way towards this port." Isaac said, much to the shock and dismay of Bismarck.
"What?" Elizabeth asked, seemingly unable to comprehend his words.
"The HMS Hood, and the Kansen of the same name, is currently spearheading the assault force that is making it's way here." Isaac reiterated.
"Why was I not informed sooner?" Elizabeth asked, a small tinge of anger beginning to taint her usual cheerful tone.
"I was going to come and inform you as soon as I delivered orders to U-556, as I only learned of this half an hour ago." Isaac said.
"But Bismarck seems to know this and looks as if she has been affected for the whole half hour. Why am I only finding out now? One of my charges is currently in league with our enemy, and it was not deemed important to alert me right away?" Elizabeth asked, her anger becoming more apparent.
"I fully intended to..."
"Intentions or not, Commoner. I was not informed until just now that one of my trusted charges was going to be at the forefront of this assault. What do you have to say for yourself?" Elizabeth asked as the tears she was fighting back finally came through.
"I have no excuse. I was blindsided with the information as well. I did not know that I was going to be briefed on such a thing when I went to the Norfolk earlier." Isaac said.
"And you think that makes up for this?!" Elizabeth cried as Belfast tended to her.
"I do not. And I know nothing I can say will help. But I figured now would be as good a time as any. I'd rather you hate me now then to be blindsided by her guns on the battlefield." Isaac said as Elizabeth looked at him, the tears in her eyes tore at Isaac worse than the news he was delivering.
"I thought... you'd be the first... but even I can be wrong sometimes." Elizabeth said as Bismarck stepped in.
"It wasn't his fault!" Bismarck cried.
"Bismarck... this isn't..."
"Shut up, Kommandant! I'm tired of hearing you play the hero. I won't let you cover for me like this!" Bismarck lied.
"What is she talking about?" Elizabeth asked.
"I... I told the Kommandant not to tell you. I told him that you wouldn't be able to take the news and that he shouldn't say anything about it." Bismarck lied again.
"So... you hid the information about this then?" Elizabeth asked.
"I did. I found out from Norfolk the same time as the Kommandant. I told him not to tell you as it would hinder our fighting force to not have such a powerful battleship in the game." Bismarck said, trying to smooth the situation.
"Hmm... fine. Then I apologize for going off on you Commoner. And Bismarck... I will excuse this in favor of our alliance under the banner of Azur Lane. But please... don't hide anything regarding my charges from me. As their queen, I have a right to know." Elizabeth said as she walked to Isaac and gave him a chaste hug.
"Please accept my apology, Commoner." Elizabeth said as she and Belfast walked off.
Isaac found himself feeling hollow after the whole ordeal. Eagle walked over and looked at him.
"You were telling the truth, weren't you?" Eagle said in a sympathetic tone.
Isaac nodded. Eagle turned to Bismarck.
"And you lied to protect his relations with her Majesty, didn't you?" Eagle asked.
Bismarck nodded.
"I had threatened to tell her if the Kommandant didn't put me in the front of the formation. He was willing to derail the good thing he had with her, to tell her the truth, knowing that she would flip her lid." Bismarck said.
"So... looks like you have two more ladies looking at you, dear." Eagle said as she gave him a small kiss.
"What do you mean?" Isaac asked.
"Even I can see that Bismarck isn't the kind to lie for others. The fact that she was so bad at it just now proves that theory." Eagle said.
"I am surprised..." Isaac said.
"Why is that?" Eagle asked as Bismarck looked at him too, wiping away the tears in her eyes.
"Lizzie wouldn't give in to that so easily." Isaac said.
"Dear... you know she likes you. So she was looking for any reason to direct her anger away from you, while still holding someone accountable. Deep down... I think she knows that Bismarck lied to save your skin." Eagle said.
"Really?" Isaac asked.
"Apparently, she has been planning on making you her first human Commander, as in... marrying you like I did." Eagle said.
Isaac and everyone stopped talking as Elizabeth came back by herself.
"Commoner, as this is an issue that is relating to my charges. I am demanding to be put in front with Bismarck. I will not take no as an answer." Elizabeth said, stomping her foot down right in front of Isaac.
Isaac breathed a sigh.
"Bismarck, Elizabeth... you two are hereby being moved to the front of the formation for this assault." Isaac said as Bismarck and Elizabeth smiled at each other.
"But to ensure that you two don't go and get yourselves sunk, you will be backed up by the Norfolk and the Odin." Isaac added, turning their smiles into looks of fear.
"Commoner, that I cannot allow. You are the priority target of the Sirens, putting yourself up front with us is suicide." Elizabeth said as she grabbed his jacket.
"Kommandant, I have to agree. I cannot allow you to come up front with us." Bismarck said.
"Too bad, girls. If you two can bully your way to the front, I can as well." Isaac said as Eagle smiled.
"Don't worry, Dear. You'll be well protected by these two lovely ladies. Keeping their focus on protecting you should keep them too occupied to do anything rash." Eagle said earning her a glare from Elizabeth and Bismarck.
"I would agree. Girls, I hope you two will keep me safe. Norfolk may be state of the art, but she is still a light cruiser, so I will be relying on your battleship shields to help out." Isaac said, bowing slightly.
Elizabeth and Bismarck looked at Isaac awkwardly before giving in.
"You got us, Commoner. We will protect you. But I hope you have a plan for dealing with Hood." Elizabeth said.
"I do, which was why I was adamant on keeping you two safely in the middle. U-556 has agreed to get a group of our more battle hardened bulins on board the Hood. Once on board, they will assess her, and her vessel. My main priority is ridding Hood of the potential mind control and getting her to safety within the Fleet. If we can save her ship, we will. If not, I will have Otto make the cubes necessary to bring her vessel back good as new." Isaac said.
"So... you already had a plan, huh?" Elizabeth asked as she looked at her feet.
"I did. As soon as I found out, I went to work trying to find out how to save her." Isaac said.
"Thank you..." Elizabeth said softly.
"I don't want anyone to feel the pain of losing anyone, so long as I can help it." Isaac said as Elizabeth came over and hugged him again. Surprisingly enough, Bismarck also joined in, allowing Isaac to comfort them both.
The moment was cut short by the dry dock alarms going off, indicating a new ship leaving the dry dock. Everyone turned to see the unmistakable hull of a Baltimore Class cruiser leaving the now flooded drydocks. Isaac looked on the bow to see a very happy Baltimore waving down to him, causing a smile to cross his face.
"Alright, let's get this going. We should be ready by tonight. Let's move." Isaac said, sending the two battleships on their way.
Isaac smiled as he watched the port begin to move quicker, the air of the incoming battle bringing a level of excitement that hadn't been seen in quite some time.