Nimi walked over.
"Liebling, I'm here if you would like to return before Friedrich. Hood is awake and is wanting answers." Nimi said.
"Hood can wait. She is not a member of this fleet yet, she is... a prisoner. So I have no primary obligation to see her. I'm here to support my fleet, and at this moment, Friedrich is in need of my support the most." Isaac said as he recoiled slightly at the use of 'prisoner' to describe Hood.
Nimi smiled
"Of course, Liebling. I shall remain here and lend what support I can." Nimi said as she walked over to Friedrich and gave her a small hug.
Friedrich looked slightly surprised, but quickly recovered, embracing the destroyer with a soft smile on her face.
"Thank you, Nimi. It means a lot that someone like you can have so much love to give." Friedrich said as she looked at Isaac.
"I would like to take the advice of my Fraktionschef, my dear husband." Friedrich said softly.
"Fraktionschef?" Isaac said as he began mulling it over.
"All this time with you German ladies and it takes me this long to decipher what you're saying." Isaac muttered as he shrugged.
"Our faction leader, Frau Bismarck." Friedrich said with a soft sigh.
"Ah... that makes sense actually." Isaac said as Nimi looked at him.
"And since Bismarck said that Friedrich needed to spend time with you, maybe we can help you catch up on your German, Liebling." Nimi said.
"You girls find any excuse, huh?" Isaac said with a smile as Friedrich looked at him.
"I would love to have a relaxing night with my husband. That's not too much to ask, is it?" Friedrich asked as Isaac noticed improvement in her stance.
"Of course not. How about I cook dinner?" Isaac asked.
"Nein. I shall cook, my dear husband. You and Nimi can relax until the food is ready." Friedrich said as Nimi looked at Isaac.
"Are we ready?" Nimi asked.
"Friedrich?" Isaac asked.
Friedrich nodded.
"I came here feeling pain and sorrow. But... even after everything that has happened today, I can clearly hear her voice on the wind. My dear child will be with me, no matter where I go." Friedrich said softly.
Isaac smiled.
"I'm glad to hear it." Isaac said as the sound of planes flying overhead drew their attention. The three of them watched as fighters from Eagle and Richthofen dropped wreaths over the spot where the Hood had detonated, made apparent by a faint blue glow on the ocean's surface.
Friedrich smiled before wiping a happy tear from her eye.
"Rest well, my child. You've earned it." Friedrich said softly as she took control of her vessel, turning the ship towards port and steaming ahead with Z23 close behind.
"Are you going to be alright, my tochter?" Otto asked.
"Ja. While it still aches my heart to not see her in port anymore. I must look to the future and see that she is free from the pain that is to come. She will not have to bear witness to the ugly atrocities of this war." Friedrich said as she looked out over the waves towards the floating wreaths.
"Quite insightful of you, Friedrich." Isaac noted.
"Thank you, dear husband." Friedrich said as she walked over to Isaac and drew him into a hug from behind.
Isaac could feel her shuddering, as if she were still crying deep inside.
"I miss her too, Friedrich." Isaac whispered as he brought his arm back to caress her cheek.
"I'll be okay." Friedrich said as they approached port.
"So, tell me again why you surrendered so willingly." Graf Zeppelin asked as she sat in front of Observer Zero in the brig on Graf's vessel.
"I told you multiple times, the footage of that... monster. What he did. How badly he tortured her. It terrified me. I exist to observe the results of our experiments, not to die in battle against that demon. And if he has me in his sights... I'd like to surrender before I taste his blade." Zero said as she looked Zeppelin in the eye.
"I am not aware of what the footage contained. But I imagine that it must be pretty grim." Zeppelin said.
"I saved it. If I could produce my rigging, I could enlighten you." Zero said.
Zeppelin thought about it for a few seconds.
"Fine. If only to satisfy my morbid curiosity." Zeppelin said as she got up and walked to the bulkhead, closing the door and locking it from the inside.
"If you make a single wrong move, I will disregard my orders from Kommandant Garner, and kill you here." Zeppelin said sternly.
"I have no intentions of attacking you. But in order for you to understand the magnitude of what occurred, you have to see it." Zero said as she summoned her rigging, taking up the majority of her cell.
A screen appeared in front of Zeppelin and began to play from the beginning of what Isaac had sent to the Sirens.
Six hours of screams, cuts, burns, and various other forms of torture later, Zeppelin sat back into her chair.
"Wow. That was... intense." Zeppelin said as she watched the screen fade away. Looking towards Zero, she noticed that the Siren had pushed herself as far from the screen as possible.
"So, it really was the fear of death. I had thought you all were above such base fears." Zeppelin said coldly.
"Only Protocol elites, like our Explorers and other mass produced copies. Sirens like myself... we're it. There's only one me, if I die, I don't get reborn. Navigator... the one we lost at Apollyon's base in Niue... her data was recovered and her mind was transferred to... that Oceana. Hence the reason she was so persistent in going after Apollyon personally." Zero said softly.
"So that siren died, twice?" Zeppelin asked.
"Yes... and both of them were my fault. I sent Smasher and Navigator to Niue to deal with whatever forces had been stationed there, only for them to be lured into an ambush. Navigator's last recorded memory was of her seeing barrels of fuel stacked up and rigged to blow alongside bombs, shells, and depth charges. She died in the resulting explosion. Smasher... went AWOL and defected to Apollyon's side, where... she has been aiding him since her arrival, probably under the promise of revenge against myself." Zero said.
"I see. And the second time?" Zeppelin asked.
"It was I who took command over that Oceana once Observer Alpha sent it to New Guinea. I ordered her to attack Apollyon in a way that could slow him down and give us time to prepare for his eventual breakthrough." Zero said.
"You sound as if you knew he wouldn't be stopped." Zeppelin said.
"He's gathered too much momentum to be stopped easily. If we kill him, his fleet erupts and begins killing indiscriminately, and with that Norfolk girl, they'd be able to track all of us down and use their numbers to overwhelm us. If we tear into his fleet, he can, apparently, raise the dead. Oceana killed that Ironblood destroyer, yet, in the video, you can hear her voice. Nothing we can do immediately will stop him, and our forces are clearly not capable of keeping up with his outlandish ways of thinking. He has built himself one hell of a war machine... even by our standards." Zero said in a defeated tone.
"Well... you guys did manage to find the biggest hornet's nest, then decided to kick it. If I know anything after watching that video... that man is just like myself as of late." Zeppelin said.
"Oh?" Zero asked.
"He's soft on the outside, but if you take something he loves, and puts it in danger, he'll become a completely different animal." Zeppelin said.
"But if that's the case, that little girl you cared for should have been enough for you to refuse my surrender, and kill me." Zero said.
"That little girl that kept me from killing you... that's my daughter." Zeppelin said sternly
"Wait... a Kansen having children?" Zero asked.
"Yeah... I don't know how... but I was there. I felt the pain. I heard her cry the moment she came out. She's my daughter 100%" Zeppelin said.
"No... that can't be right." Zero said.
"Why?" Zeppelin asked.
"Wisdom cubes... they shouldn't allow for the beings they create to have such functions, like giving birth." Zero said.
"Well, tell that to the 9 months I spent with my stomach growing. I don't know what it was, but I was pregnant, and I had a child. Simple as that." Zeppelin said.
"Do you know when she was conceived?" Zero asked.
"December 8th. My husband and I... tried for a child on the anniversary of my launch date." Zeppelin said.
"That might be it..." Zero said.
"What?" Zeppelin asked.
"The cubes react to strong wills. But they also have a sort of sentimentality to them. My theory, though untested, is that maybe when something of import for you girls comes up, like your launch date, things like this may become possible." Zero said.
"That would make sense. We had tried for months before and got nothing, he was under the assumption that we were like normal girls so he figured we could at least get pregnant. But it was only on that day that I felt something different occur. Like something was put in motion." Zeppelin said.
"So... using that evidence, the closer you are to a day of importance, the more likely you are to conceive through intercourse with a human male... interesting. This is... amazing actually..." Zero said.
"Why?" Zeppelin asked.
"Because... we just learned something new about the cubes. Something neither side knew, until now." Zero said.
"Oh good god..." Zeppelin said.
"What?" Zero asked.
"If we're the only ones that know... what about the Kommandant?" Zeppelin asked.
"If he has been doing things like this... it's possible he may become a father too." Zero said.
"I need to inform him of this at once." Zeppelin said as she unlocked the cell.
"On your feet. We need to contact him, now." Zeppelin said.
"Kommandant. Come in." Zeppelin's voice came in over the radio.
"My dear husband is unavailable at the moment. Is there something I can pass on?" Friedrich asked.
"Who are you?" Zeppelin asked.
"Ironblood Battleship Friedrich der Große." Friedrich replied.
"And you called him your husband?" Zeppelin asked.
"Yes? What is the nature of this conversation?" Friedrich asked.
"It is something I must tell the Kommandant. Very time sensitive and it needs to be relayed accurately. Could you bring him to the radio?" Zeppelin asked.
Friedrich sighed.
"One moment." Friedrich said as she hung up the receiver.
"Dear husband, it's Graf Zeppelin again. She requests your urgent presence." Friedrich said as she poked her head out of the door to the radio room.
Isaac turned to face her and nodded.
"We're approaching port. Make ready for landing. Once I finish my rounds, the three of us can spend some time discussing commissions over dinner. I want you, Nimi, and Mainz to oversee the three potential levels of these commissions." Isaac said as he walked past Friedrich into the radio room.
"Understood. I shall await good news." Friedrich said as Isaac smiled.
"Graf. This is Isaac. What news do you have for me?" Isaac asked.
"I hate being this blunt... but have you... slept with any of your charges recently?" Zeppelin asked.
"I have... why?" Isaac asked.
"I was speaking with Observer to pass the time, and we feel that we have stumbled upon something involving Kansens and our ability to reproduce with humans." Zeppelin said.
"Oh?!" Isaac remarked.
"Out of your charges, do you know any important dates that they could hold dear?" Zeppelin asked.
"Let's see... there's only 6. They would all probably hold dear the day we married. Launch dates. Dates of victorious battles. too many to count. Why?" Isaac asked.
"Aside from you being a massive playboy... keep an eye on all of them if you have slept with them near any potential important dates. We believe that these dates can influence the cubes to the point where us Kansen can reproduce naturally if sexual intercourse is performed close enough to them." Zeppelin said.
"Understood... Let's not spread this around too much. Consider it top secret. If you want to tell anyone, come to me first." Isaac said.
"I can do that, Kommandant. I hope to arrive some time in the next 6 days. We can discuss this in more detail then." Zeppelin said.
"Understood. Remain vigilant." Isaac said as he cut the line.
"What was that about, dear husband?" Friedrich asked.
"Zeppelin managed to extract information regarding the cubes from Observer. It may help me understand you girls just a little bit more." Isaac said.
"Hmm?" Friedrich asked as she stepped closer and stared at Isaac, who remained steadfast and stone-faced.
"Alright. We've reached port, my dear husband. Should we collect Mainz before doing our rounds?" Friedrich asked.
"That would be smart. We can invite her to dinner if you and Nimi wouldn't mind a little company." Isaac said.
"I shall incorporate coffee into the meal tonight." Friedrich said with a smile.
"Excellent. Then let us be off." Isaac said, still internally screaming from the news he had received.
"We're about 5 days out from Australia." Warspite said as she sat down next to Roon, who had taken up her usual spot on the anchor hoist.
"Ja. I'm bored. There's no fight. No battles. Nothing to do." Roon complained.
"I see. Well, you have been working on restraint as of the past few days... if we were to focus on technique, instead of power, I might be able to teach you things that may help you in combat. That way you can broaden your visual prowess and be of more use to the Commander." Warspite said.
"What do you mean? You're a battleship, I'm a heavy cruiser." Roon said as she looked at Warspite, confused.
"Yes. But in combat, you have a tendency to fight from more than your ship, no? Whilst your guns were firing on Bismarck's hull, were you not on her deck, engaging in CQB?" Warspite asked.
"Yeah... that is something I enjoy. Being able to feel the heat of battle warms my soul." Roon said.
"Excellent. Now, these are mainly adapted for sword combat, but your gauntlets have the same slashing ability, you would just need to get closer." Warspite said.
"But how will it help me?" Roon asked.
"Because, you utilize too much energy by being inefficient. Should you inject a bit of finesse into your hand-to-hand, you can fight longer, and use that energy and force in longer engagements." Warspite said as she looked at Roon, who easily towered over her by nearly a foot.
"Really?" Roon asked.
"Yes. I watched your battle back in Bermuda. Your rigging took on Heinrich, dividing your attention between three main threats. Bismarck had you beat the moment she threw Heinrich into the ring with you. Heinrich is high energy, just like you. But she can take a beating as well. So soaking up your energy before even stepping onto the battlefield was how Bismarck had you beat. Your raw aggression and energy won't always be your saving grace." Warspite said as Roon mulled it over.
"Hmm... I never really thought of it that way." Roon said.
"Notice how little Bismarck had to do to beat you? Your body failed you. These next 5 days, I would like to try and teach you how to manage your energy consumption. That way, you might be able to enact your revenge in a much more satisfying way." Warspite said as she sat her sword off to the side.
"Do you have training targets?" Roon asked.
"Yeah." Warspite said.
"Should we get them?" Roon asked.
"Why? You're fighting me." Warspite said as she stood off against a shocked Roon.
"I could easily hurt you. Why are you risking yourself?" Roon asked as she squared off with Warspite.
"Because I know your moves. I know your attack patterns. I know exactly what you will do in the order you will do it. As that is how I have learned and survived so long. Now come. Your training awaits." Warspite said as they continued steaming ahead towards Australia.
"You two go find Mainz and we'll meet aboard Mainz's vessel, that way we have access to her coffee." Isaac said.
"Understood. Will you be conducting your rounds?" Nimi asked.
"Yes. I will be stopping by to see Hood first, then I will be doing my sweep of the port until dinner." Isaac said.
"Perhaps bringing Bismarck and Elizabeth would be beneficial. Hood will probably be a very broken woman." Nimi said.
"I agree. Radio them for me, would you?" Isaac asked as he kissed Friedrich and Nimi on their cheeks before walking towards the Norfolk.
"Sure thing, Liebling." Nimi said with a smile.
"Nimi, my child, is our dear husband acting a bit strange?" Friedrich asked.
"I don't think so... he's always lovey dovey with us, no?" Nimi asked.
"I suppose... but the urgent tone from Zeppelin facing off against his calm demeanor? I'm not sure he is being 100% honest." Friedrich said.
"Well, what did he say?" Nimi asked.
"He said that Zeppelin and Observer discovered something about the cubes that make up Kansens. Something that may be huge." Friedrich said.
"You think maybe it might be something good? A surprise, maybe?" Nimi said.
"Maybe, but if it's good, why would he hide it?" Friedrich asked.
"Because it's a surprise. Why would he want to spoil the surprise?" Nimi asked.
"I suppose you have a point. I still dislike the secrecy." Friedrich said.
"Then when you and him have alone time, why don't you push the issue? Let him know that it bothers you. He's dense, so you have to be blunt with him." Nimi said.
"I think I will do that. Alright, let us find Mainz. We may need to convince her to join us." Friedrich said as she scanned the port, finding the white haired heavy cruiser right away.
Nimi nodded as the two of them headed into the port.
Isaac walked into the med bay, only to be met with a pouting Norfolk.
"You left me here unable to move, Commander. I oughta kick your ass..." Norfolk said as she puffed out her chest.
"Maybe later. Friedrich needed to spend some time taking care of herself. So, I am sorry for the inconvenience." Isaac jabbed back, poking her midriff, causing her to giggle.
"It's alright. I can't be too mad. Helping the fleet is what you do. Besides, I made a new friend." Norfolk said as she waved her arm over to Hood, who was looking at the door wide eyed.
"Hood?" Isaac asked as he moved towards the bed, causing her to recoil.
"It's... you..." Hood said, her voice trembling.
"Vestal, what's wrong?" Isaac asked.
"She never mentioned your name before you entered, even when several people have brought your name up. It seems, based on her reaction, she's been indoctrinated by the sirens to believe that you are the true enemy, and since she is under guard, she feels fear." Vestal said as she looked over at the stricken battlecruiser.
"So she thinks I'm the enemy?" Isaac asked.
Vestal nodded.
Isaac turned back to face Hood.
"Hood?" Isaac asked.
"Stay away!" Hood cried.
"Hood, it's okay. I'm not going to hurt you. I'm unarmed." Isaac said as he lifted his coat, turning slowly to show that he had no holster or weapon tucked away.
"I don't trust you! You're a monster..." Hood said as she looked away, hiding her head under the thin covers.
"I'll send in Bismarck and Elizabeth. But before I go, did you at least get the letter from your husband?" Isaac asked.
"My... husband?" Hood asked as Isaac looked around, seeing the paper hanging from Vestal's clipboard.
"Give it to her." Isaac said, causing Vestal to look at him.
"I only took it so she wouldn't destroy it, just in case she loses control. She seems to react... poorly when anyone mentions her late husband." Vestal said as Isaac turned to see a sulking Hood.
"My husband is dead..." Hood spoke softly.
"Hood, I am sorry for your loss. But I promise, your husband has been laid to rest properly and in the most respectful manner I could manage." Isaac said as he looked at Hood.
"Why do you care?" Hood spat, keeping the blanket between herself and Isaac.
"Because, all of you girls are important. To your nations, and to me." Isaac said.
Bismarck and Elizabeth walked in and flanked Isaac on both sides.
"Bismarck? Your Majesty... but..." Hood stammered as Elizabeth held up her hand.
"Enough. You've been through a lot, Hood. Just know that you are safe here." Elizabeth said as Isaac looked at her.
"I have you slated to have your vessel rebuilt after I-13 clears drydock. I hope that works for you, Elizabeth." Isaac said.
"That is Her Majesty! How dare you address her so casually!" Hood cried, finding any reason to snap at Isaac.
"Hood. please try to relax. I have allowed him to address me as such." Elizabeth said as she turned back to Isaac. "That works for me. I am glad to help in any way you need me to until then." Elizabeth said with a small smile. Isaac could tell she wanted to be with Hood at that moment.
"Bismarck, Elizabeth. You two are to try and get Hood up to speed. When she is better, if she gets better, I would like to send her to join Akagi in Tonga. She does not need to remain on the front anymore. She deserves her rest." Isaac said as Hood looked at him normally for the first time since he had walked in.
"No... don't. I'm not useless." Hood said softly.
"Hood. I will not put you on the front anymore. You deserve a break from fighting." Isaac said in a calm and collected tone.
"I'm not useless... I can still fight." Hood argued.
"I'm not saying you can't. But you have been through hell. You deserve to not have to fight forever... you all deserve that." Isaac said as he looked around the room.
"I have vengeance to obtain. Strength will pay for harming my Parzival." Bismarck said coldly as 556 poked her head in.
"A queen needs no reason to fight. Sirens have been made my enemy, and as such, we shall fight until the fight is won." Elizabeth said sternly as Belfast looked in from the same door as 556.
"They hurt my sister. I need no more reason to sink my foes." Baltimore said as she stood from the corner where Bremerton was still bedridden.
"If my sister fights, I shall as well. There will always be those in need. And I want to be there to help." Bremerton's hoarse voice came from the bed Baltimore had been sitting by.
"Enterprise has gone AWOL. My country is in shambles. And being a repair ship means nothing when our enemies don't abide by the rules of war. So I will take up my rifle, and I will kill any Siren I can, come hell or high water. You don't need to worry about me, Commander." Vestal said sternly.
"Master, I apologize for listening in, but I too am not content to sit around. We may deserve our rest, as you say, but I prefer to serve, either in battle, or in the household." Belfast said as Isaac smiled and looked back at Hood.
"See? They all have reasons, just like me." Hood said as she slowly lowered the blanket, opening up her guard.
"If it is your wish to remain... I will not object any further. I will have Vestal test you for combat competency, then see about getting you on the roster to have your vessel rebuilt." Isaac said with a sigh.
Isaac turned to leave.
"Did... did he say anything?" Hood asked.
"I was too late. By the time I had reached the island, he had already been gone nearly two weeks. But, I took the liberty of reading his messages to you, Helena, and Akagi... He loved you all very much. And it was the thought of your deaths that pushed him over the edge. He didn't want to live in a world where you three were not, or so he assumed." Isaac said as he stared straight ahead.
"He left a message?" Hood asked as Vestal handed her the page that Isaac had read earlier the previous day.
"I left a memorial on the Island. His uniform, cap, gun and saber are on his desk." Isaac said.
"Did... did you bury him somewhere?" Hood asked.
"I couldn't. I'll spare the details... but he belongs to the sea now." Isaac said softly.
"He jumped... didn't he..." Hood asked, her voice confirming what she had already suspected.
"Aye. I found his gear under the tree on the hill outside his office." Isaac said.
"Then at least I can take solace in the fact that he went quickly..." Hood said as she held the paper close, feeling the support of so many familiar faces, despite her fear of Isaac.
"Akagi's fleet is to be stationed right by the island. Are you sure you wouldn't want to transfer?" Isaac asked.
"No. The sirens caused my beloved to take his own life. And as sad as it is, he won't be coming back. So I must fight. And I must continue to fight until I can be reunited with him once more." Hood said sternly as she tried to stand, only to have Bismarck and Elizabeth ease her back into bed.
"You're in no condition to move. But I will honor your request. I won't hold back. You are a battlecruiser, so you will be right behind the battleships with my heavy cruisers. If you wish to fight, give it your all." Isaac said as he looked over his shoulder.
"Aye... commander." Hood said, the close proximity of Bismarck and Elizabeth finally putting some steel into her voice.
"Good. Vestal, alert me when she's ready for her vessel." Isaac said as he walked out of the med bay.
"Aye aye, Commander."