"Roon. We aren't going to get there any quicker if you keep pacing the deck. Relax, because when we get there, I will be making sure that the Commander puts you to work right away." Warspite said sharply as Roon smiled at her.
"I truly hope so... that cell was no fun... neither were the four years of being held hostage. Do you know how it feels? To be held by the enemy for four long years?" Roon asked with a blank smile.
"I... I can't say I do. But... if you're willing to behave... I can lend an ear if you think it would help." Warspite said as she kept her rigging active.
Roon looked at Warspite, sending a chill up her spine.
"Ja. That would be nice... everyone in Ironblood was scared of me too. Not even Bismarck could look me in the eye after a successful mission." Roon said as Warspite sat on her forward turret, her hair being pushed back by the heavy wind coming from in front of her vessel.
"Well... to be fair... you have quite the juxtiposition of looks and temperment." Warspite said.
"What is that supposed to mean?" Roon asked calmly.
"Well... I know how your... sisters look. And I know that you are definately going to hit it off well with the Commander based off looks. But... and pardon my bluntness, you have the temperment of a hungry bear that was poked with a stick." Warspite said.
Roon crossed her arms and puffed her cheeks a bit.
"I may be a bit passionate about certian things, but that doesn't make me a bad person does it?" Roon asked as she turned and looked out in front of the Warspite, seeing the Kitakaze sailing several hundred yards ahead of them.
"Your passion almost killed everyone in Bermuda..." Warspite said sternly.
"Well, when it's the first battle you've seen after four long grueling years of mind melting torture... how would you have me react to being given a bit of length on my chain?" Roon asked, taking in the sounds of the ocean.
"You keep mentioning torture... is that what made you so twisted?" Warspite asked.
"You tell me, Royal. Would you be able to watch your beloved majesty die thousands of times over? How about feeling your limbs be torn off and reattached, just to have the process repeated, when in reality it isn't even really happening? But the pain is still there. The memories are still there! WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO TAKE IT?!" Roon roared as she slammed her fist down on the railing of the bow, nearly tearing the segment in half with a single blow.
Warspite shot to her feet and aimed her rigging at Roon.
"Watch it! I will not hesitate to put you down here and now!" Warpsite cried out, a hint of fear could be heard in her voice.
"THEN ANSWER ME! WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO TAKE IT?!" Roon roared as her rigging shimmered into view, the legs of which crossed over her body, covering her from any potential fire.
"NO! No... I don't think I would be able to... I can handle war. Battles are nothing for me. But that kind of torture... the kind you're describing... I don't think anyone from Royal... aside from maybe her, could take it." Warspite said.
"Her?" Roon asked as her rigging faded, leaving her panting a bit.
"Monarch. She's a... precursor to the King George the Fifth class. She's tougher, and much more headstrong than even her Majesty. She would probably be the only one of us capable of dealing with that level of torture." Warspite said as she slowly sat back down.
"Monarch? Never heard of her. Not like The KGV class." Roon said.
"She's like you..." Warspite said softly.
Roon nodded in understanding.
"What happened to her?" Roon asked.
"We... the Royal Navy, sent her North before we ventured to Bermuda. She was one of the few to survive what we like to call The Cube Incident." Warspite said.
"So she's with the Ruskies... She better hope that iron will of hers holds." Roon said as she stared out past Kitakaze as they sailed parallel to the coast of Venezuela.
"Aye... on that we can agree." Warspite said as she remained perched on her forward turret.
"Mommy!" A small child ran through the halls of a Soviet Naval base.
"My child, please. You know I can't always keep up with you." A White haired woman said as she chased the small child through the compound.
"Mommy! Mommy! Look! I found Auntie Belorussiya!" The child said as the Blue haired battleship scooped her off her feet.
"Aren't you precious?" Belorussiya asked as the Older woman finally caught up.
"Zeppelin... don't tell me after these last few months that you have grown slow and weary." Belorussiya said as she handed the child back to Zeppelin.
"Not at all... but this little one... doesn't give me much time to sleep or rest, so it's become quite the challenge now that she can walk." Zeppelin said as she pinched the girl's cheek.
"Ouch mommy... that hurts." The child said as she grabbed Zeppelin's wrist.
"Then you need to apologize to Aunt Belorussiya right now, and then it is off to bed. We're lucky to have a break from battle at the moment." Zeppelin said.
"Mommy?" The child asked.
"Yes, Laura?" Zeppelin asked.
"Where is daddy?" Laura asked softly.
"Daddy... is helping make the world better for everyone." Zeppelin said.
"That didn't answer my question, mommy." Laura said softly.
"I don't know, sweetie. All I know is that he sent me a letter saying he was headed to meet with a Kommandant in the Pacific." Zeppelin said.
"You wouldn't be referring to the Lone Wolf, would you?" Rossiya asked as she and a tall red haired woman stepped out of the door next to them.
"I wouldn't know. Otto never mentioned any names." Zeppelin said.
"We sent Gangut down to New Guinea to intercept him. Shortly after, the Siren's assaults really toned down, giving us this time to rest and regroup." Rossiya said.
"I agree. So maybe this Kommandant and The Lone Wolf are one in the same." Zeppelin said.
"Possibly. I can only hope that Her Majesty is safe. She sent me here before leaving for Bermuda." The red haired woman said.
"I'm sure she's fine, Monarch." Rossiya said.
"After what I just saw in there, excuse me for being worried." Monarch said.
"I thought you hated the Royal Navy for abandoning your design, what's the care for them now?" Zeppelin asked skeptically.
"In the end... My design was deemed insufficient. Why would I continue to hold a grudge over that? I live now, proof that I, Monarch, am still relevant in a world where my would be sisters have all perished." Monarch said.
"Quite the pride you have there." Belorussiya said.
"Oh come off it. I've earned this much. 57 dead Sirens is enough to warrant my pride." Monarch said.
"Monarch, please refrain from speaking of death in front of Laura. The last time she saw it, we were up all week with her nightmares." Zeppelin said.
"Ah... my apologies, Zeppelin." Monarch said as she knelt down to see Laura.
"You look just like a little version of your mom. Like a little Zeppelin. Zeppy." Monarch said with a laugh.
Laura looked confused for a bit but laughed along with Monarch, who ruffled her hair.
"Товарищ... Comrade Belorussiya. We have picked up a transmission... from Gangut of all people." A blue haired cruiser said excitedly.
"Alright everyone, to the comm room. This very well could be important." Belorussiya said as she herded everyone down the corridor after the cruiser.
"Товарищ Belorussiya." Gangut said, her face visible on a screen in the Comm room.
"Товарищ Gangut." Belorussiya replied.
"Things are taking quite a bit longer than anticipated. I may not be home for another month or two." Gangut said.
"It's alright. For some reason, the Sirens have toned down their constant assault for now. So we have room to breathe." Belorussiya said.
"How are you transmitting this?" Rossiya asked.
"Товарищ Rossiya." Gangut said.
"Товарищ Gangut." Rossiya replied.
"The Lone Wolf has a special ship. One made purely of Siren Technology that he has as his personal command ship. She is making this possible." Gangut said as she knocked back a sip of Vodka.
"I see. We shall have to study this once you arrive." Belorussiya said.
Gangut turned off screen.
"Oi! Comrade Garner, Comrade Vermackt. I'm on comms with Northern Command. Come say hello." Gangut yelled as Isaac and Otto stepped into frame.
"Daddy!" Laura said excitedly.
"Mein Tochter!" Otto replied happily.
"Hello darling." Zeppelin said softly.
"Zeppelin, my love. How is the north?" Otto asked.
"Cold and annoying when the Sirens drag me outside. But the vodka warms you right up." Zeppelin said with a smile warm enough to melt the entire Siberian tundra.
Otto turned to Belorussiya
"Danke vielmals." Otto said.
"He said 'Many thanks.'." Zeppelin translated.
"What for, Comrade?" Belorussiya asked.
"For looking after my wife and daughter. You have my gratitude." Otto said as he saluted.
"It is no problem. We welcome the powerful company." Belorussiya said as everyone turned to look at Isaac.
"So that is the lone wolf, huh?" Rossiya asked.
"I am Admiral Isaac Garner. Head of the Azur Lane forces now spread throughout the globe." Isaac said.
"Well, I see you have made quite the name for yourself, Apollyon." Monarch said as the others turned to her.
"Apollyon?" Belorussiya asked.
"It's what the sirens have been calling him. Every single one that has met their end by my hand has said that at least they died by my hand, and not by his." Monarch said.
"Is that what you were talking about earlier?" Zeppelin asked.
"We saw the footage... Comrade Garner could give even Chapayev a run for her money." Rossiya said as Isaac looked at them with a cold expression.
"Comrade Garner?" Belorussiya asked.
"Hmm?" Isaac asked as he seemed to snap back to reality.
"Are you alright?" Zeppelin asked.
"Yeah. Those memories... are not fun to relive." Isaac said as he snatched Gangut's bottle from her and took a long drink from it, much to the surprise of everyone watching.
"Gangut! Are you trying to kill him?!" Rossiya snapped.
"What? No. I only let him drink it every now and then. When he gets like this... it's the only thing we can do to keep him from going mad." Gangut said as she looked offscreen and nodded.
"Alright, Liebling. Let's go lie down for a while. Odin can handle things in the meanwhile. Besides, you and I need to talk." Nimi said as Zeppelin looked at the screen.
"Z23?" Zeppelin asked.
"Graf?" Nimi asked as she looked back at the screen.
"It's really you..." Zeppelin said.
"Yeah, it's me. It's nice to see you." Nimi said softly.
"Where are you? I would very much like to come to you." Zeppelin said.
"We're in Australia. After a massive fight, we've gotten holed up for repairs. Vengeance and 13 still need their vessels built, and we adopted a new submarine, bringing the total up to five. So we're going to be here for a bit. I wouldn't recommend coming down though... The only safe waters are below New Guinea." Nimi said.
"I shall leave at once." Zeppelin said as she looked at Belorussiya.
"As long as it is alright, of course." Zeppelin said.
"Scans don't show many more pockets of resistance. I believe we can deal with your absence for a bit. It would be unfair of us to keep Zeppy from her father." Belorussiya said as everyone nodded in agreement.
"I shall inform Liebling when I get him to his quarters. Safe travels." Nimi said as the screen cut off.
"Are you all sure? You have next to no naval air power." Zeppelin said.
"We didn't during the war either. We'll be fine. Just ensure that the lone wolf is with you upon your return." Belorussiya said.
"He will be. Even if I have to drag him here." Zeppelin said as she scooped up Laura "Zeppy" Vermackt and headed out towards the docks to begin her long trek south.