Norfolk fell to the floor with a gasp, causing Odin to run over to her side.
"Norfolk, are you alright?" Odin inquired as she quickly looked over the cruiser, seeing naught for injuries.
"Something big is coming... from the Union. Empress has just expelled a massive pulse of energy, indicative of a fight." Norfolk explained as she rubbed her head.
"Do you know where at in the Union?" Odin asked.
"Her signature puts her in the northwest quadrant of the Union, around Washington state." Norfolk elaborated for the Vice commander.
"I wonder what caused Empress to expel such a large amount of energy." Odin pondered as she looked at Norfolk.
"There is nothing more that I can extrapolate from this information. All I can assume is that someone or something is... or was fighting the Empress and has left the Union from the west coast... their target, most likely us." Norfolk said harrowingly.
"So you think that whatever attacked Empress will attack us as well?" Odin volunteered an explanation.
"Attacking us might not be on the to do list, but whatever it is, it has power, we either need to be ready to fight it, join it, or run from it." Norfolk said as a scared look crossed the cruiser's face.
"Unsinn. We are the biggest fighting force on the planet besides the sirens at this point... in terms of firepower at least. We can't run. We will stand and face whatever comes our way." Odin deadpanned as she put a hand on the cruiser's shoulder.
"Isaac should be having dinner right about now. You should inform him afterwards of this." Odin said as she turned towards the door of the bridge.
"I shall wait until tomorrow to relay the news. But this is of the utmost importance. I recommend putting the fleet on alert and sending the subs to watch the area around port." Norfolk spoke as Odin stopped.
"Understood. You have my permission to relay the order." Odin said as she yawned, heading to her own ship for a small rest before continuing watch in lieu of Isaac's temporary absence.
Odin stopped by the Zara on her way to her own vessel.
The Italian woman stood on the tip of her bow, leaning against the railing.
"Zara." Odin called up to her.
"Sì, vice comandante?" Zara spoke in her native tongue.
"You are to prepare to depart immediately. You're being sent to Fiji to reinforce Intrepid's forces in Lieu of Omaha's transfer." Odin said.
"Did I do something wrong, vice comandante?" Zara inquired lazily.
"Nein. It is simply a logistical move. We get a cruiser, we give a cruiser. And I feel like you would be much better off serving with a smaller group where your potential can be realized, instead of the main fleet, where the battleships and carriers tend to take all the glory." Odin said as she produced the cubes from New Guinea.
"Well, in that case, I see I have no choice." Zara said as she stood straight and saluted Odin with a fist over her heart. Odin returned it.
"You are to deliver these cubes and a bulin to Fiji as well. Something odd is going on there, and I want your eyes on it." Odin added.
"So it's more than just logistics then?" Zara asked in a tone not too far from seduction.
"We need a trusted set of eyes. If Bismarck sought to bring you over with her, Elizabeth, and Heinrich... I'd say that speaks well enough to your loyalty to the cause." Odin spoke as she walked up the gangway onto the Italian vessel, finally looking around to admire the craftsmanship of the vessel as a whole.
"You like something you see?" Zara asked as she walked over to Odin, who was admiring the secondary batteries with subtle scrutiny.
"I am simply admiring the craft of the Italian shipbuilders. Nothing more." Odin admitted as she turned to face the buxom Italian.
"These cubes belonged to the Cruisers Indianapolis and Houston, as well as the battleship Prince of Wales and Battlecruiser Repulse. See them delivered safely." Odin said as one of the normal Bulins scampered aboard, being hailed earlier by Norfolk.
"Take good care of them." Odin said as she laid her hand on the cruiser's shoulder.
"No harm shall come to them. I shall see to it, Vice Comandante." Zara spoke proudly.
"Good. You are to depart immediately. You'll have submarine cover for the first 50 miles. After that, you're on your own. Should only take a few days to reach Fiji, so be careful." Odin warned, earning her a wave from Zara.
"I guess I'll see you around." Zara said as Odin felt the ship come to life beneath her.
"Godspeed Zara. Radio the moment you get there." Odin ordered as she left the deck of the Zara and watched as she pulled out of her berth.
"U-47, U-110, U-556. You three are to escort Zara from port out to a distance of 50 miles before fanning out and beginning patrols. We may be getting company. So you'll be our silent alert system." Odin spoke into the air with her rigging active, using her radio to relay the message.
Three whispered affirmations returned to grace her ears as she watched the three subs slip below the waves on the other side of the port.
"Alright Norfolk, Wake me if anything more happens to occur, other than that, have a good evening." Odin said as she deactivated her rigging and walked towards her own vessel after watching the Zara silently slip out of port.
"Understood, goodnight Odin." Norfolk said as she turned back to the piles of paper that had built up on the desk, most of which being aggressively written letters from the head of the RAN as to the disappearance of K-9.
"Isaac... you really should reply to these one way or another. We can't just ignore it." Norfolk sighed as she pulled out a sheet of paper and formulated a reply.
"What are we having tonight, Kommandant?" Mainz asked as she, Nimi and Isaac sat at one of the tables in Shinano's galley.
"I haven't the slightest clue, Mainz. But we do have business to discuss." Isaac replied.
"Oh? What business?" Mainz asked.
"Commissions. You three, Nimi, Mainz, and Friedrich are going to spearhead three small fleets to do commissions while we wait for certain things to fall into place, namely, construction and planning." Isaac said.
"Planning?" Nimi asked.
"Planning our next step. We can't just barrel north and hope for the best." Isaac spoke, resting his head in his hands.
"We don't have a plan?" Mainz poised, a hint of accusation in her voice.
"I am one man. We have next to no intel. I don't even know what we're fighting in the Philippines aside from the fact that it's a siren elite named Tester Beta. Once Zeppelin gets here, I can at least grill Observer for intel before deciding her fate." Isaac said as Nimi looked at him worriedly.
"I won't let you torture her, Liebling. I can't watch you tear yourself apart any more than I already do." Nimi spoke softly as she caressed his hand.
"I don't want to torture her unless I need to." Isaac spoke solemnly.
"We have girls more than willing to do the deed. To speak nothing of that Siren that we adopted." Mainz said as she pointed a thumb over her shoulder, pointing out to the port.
"Oh yeah, I might have to try to convince her to show mercy if Observer somehow becomes useful to us." Isaac deadpanned as the doors to the kitchen opened, revealing Friedrich wearing a white apron.
"Dinner is ready, everyone." Friedrich spoke in a sing-song voice, one that Isaac hadn't heard since their first night together.
"What's on the menu tonight, my love?" Isaac inquired, earning him a smile from the battleship turned housewife.
"Coffee crusted pork roast with glazed carrots and spiced potatoes, dear husband. I also have your choice of red wine of espresso from Mainz's stash." Friedrich said, earning her a surprised look from Mainz.
"You found my stash?!" Mainz asked angrily.
"Of course I did. It wasn't hard to find, mein child. Especially since you store your coffee pot near your rear magazine." Friedrich stated with a shrug as she set four plates at the table.
"I shall partake in some red wine, my love." Isaac spoke, trying to break up the tense situation.
"Espresso for me." Mainz grumbled as Friedrich took the tops off the dishes.
"Wine for me, Friedrich." Nimi said as Friedrich nodded and retreated to the kitchen to procure the beverages.
"So, commissions, Kommandant?" Mainz asked as she looked down at the food before her, smiling softly, silently forgiving Friedrich for raiding her stores of coffee.
"Three categories mainly." Isaac said as Friedrich walked out with the drinks, setting them on the table before removing her apron and sitting to the right of Isaac.
"So three categories of Commissions, Kommandant?" Mainz reiterated.
"Yes. Supply runs, Distress calls, and scouting. Obviously, you three will be the commanding voices on these commissions." Isaac stated as he took a mouthful of pork, shuddering a bit as a wave of flavor assaulted his taste buds.
"Who will be in charge of what, Liebling?" Nimi asked as she drank a sip of wine.
"Friedrich will be in charge of our supply run commissions. Meaning she will need Kashino to assist her on every commission. But I would also like to have her fitted with a stronger radio to keep her in contact with Norfolk, for logistical reasons." Isaac laid out.
"Hmm. So I would be the security force for the cute little cargo ship?" Friedrich asked as she bit into the potatoes, savoring the slight burn from the spices.
"You and two ships of your choosing, bringing your force to four ships. Mind you, we don't have very many screening ships, and Mainz will need them more." Isaac replied.
"Why will I need more? I'm a cruiser, I need a capitol ship, Kommandant." Mainz said, sneaking a carrot from her plate, taking subtle delight in how the sweetness mingled with the espresso in her cup.
"Because, you will be our distress call fleet. I doubt that the sirens will be passive for much longer, and we need to be ready to rescue any ships on the seas, or to provide support to any place that could be under attack." Isaac retorted.
"But isn't that the job of the main fleet, Kommandant?" Mainz asked.
"It is, but a small detachment can react much quicker than our entire fighting force. You and five other ships will be our quick response force. You six can move faster, and hold out with fire support long enough for me to get the fleet moving to respond if necessary." Isaac explained, sipping his wine, nodding his approval to Friedrich over her skills in the kitchen.
"So that leaves me to deal with scouting then, Liebling?" Nimi deduced.
"That is correct. But you will be with K-9 and U-47. Keeping a low profile is what is needed, and since you are slightly smaller than Laffey and have good connections with U-47, you two should be perfect for this task. I will send K-9 however because I promised her a place to do work in the fleet, so she will be a major asset both here and around Germany when we reach the European theater." Isaac explained, polishing off his wine, prompting Friedrich to refill it with the bottle she had placed on the table.
"So I'll be the only surface ship?" Nimi inquired.
"That is correct. But You're fast and the two subs are very stealthy, so I know you'll be able to escape whatever danger should befall you. But just in case, You and Friedrich will have top priority in distress calls, should something happen." Isaac spoke.
"Hmm?" Mainz asked.
"If either of these two put out distress signals, you either tend to them, or drop what your doing and tend to them, we take care of our own first and foremost. Nobody in this fleet will be left to die. Not after Rosie." Isaac said solemnly, looking down into the deep red of his wine glass, searching for anything he could have done better. Friedrich noticed and put a hand on his shoulder.
"She is in a better place now, my dear husband. She defied orders, which in the end... led to her sacrifice." Friedrich said as Mainz and Nimi looked at one another.
"Happy note! I hear our resident fox has a plus one now, care to explain, Liebling?" Nimi asked.
Mainz looked on in confusion.
"Friedrich... you told her?!" Isaac cried.
"Ja. Why wouldn't I? All of us should know that it's possible, especially since we have all slept with you." Friedrich stated as she sipped her wine, a devious look in her eyes.
"Liebling... I thought you said we couldn't get pregnant..." Nimi said as she glared at him.
"I didn't think it was possible! I was running of of zero intel. Commander Forrest didn't say anything about this in his journal." Isaac defended himself.
"Well... I have to get it checked now. I would rather wait until we save the world to have a child, Liebling. I can't run your destroyer group, and care for a child at the same time." Nimi said as she drained her glass.
"Well, talk with Alice. She should be able to determine if you are carrying a child." Isaac said as he rested his head in his hands.
After the talk of children, the rest of dinner was eaten in silence. Once finished, Friedrich cleared the table and was immediately off to warm Shinano's bedside.
"So... you finally screwed up enough with them to have a kid, huh, Kommandant?" Mainz asked as she made both of them a cup of coffee to drink as they walked towards the port. Nimi took up the rear, watching the two of them talk while petting Isa.
"I don't think I screwed up. Becoming a father has always been a dream... I just didn't expect the chance of this child coming with 9 tails and the ability to command a ship..." Isaac spoke honestly, causing both Ironbloods to stop in their tracks.
"What?" Nimi asked, more confused than anything.
"So... I was thinking about it, and since Shinano is a fox... there is a chance that the tails and ears could be coming when the child is born. And since you all are Kansen, it would stand to reason that the children would be able to be synced with ships and become Kansen themselves." Isaac spoke as he turned to face them.
"So you possibly just added another carrier to the battlegroup?!" Mainz shouted.
"Probably in the coming years, should this war take that long." Isaac said, scratching his neck.
"It very well could, Kommandant. We haven't even taken the Philippines yet, and we've been active for over three months. We have literally not gone more than 3000 miles from our starting point. At this rate, it could take quite a long time for us to fight our way through the rest of the world." Mainz deduced, running the numbers in her head.
"Schiesse..." Isaac muttered, much to Nimi's surprise.
"Liebling? Where did you learn that?" Nimi pondered.
"Odin." Isaac said simply, refusing to elaborate further.
"Either way, you need to get your group together Mainz. You all need to be ready to go at a moment's notice." Isaac spoke.
"I have full discretion?" Mainz asked.
"Yes. You have the choice of everyone in the fleet. Just make sure to come to me before you finalize it so I can reassign if needed." Isaac said as he sent Mainz on her way.
"You're acting more and more like a commander with each passing day, Liebling." Nimi said as she looked up at Isaac.
Isaac smiled and knelt down next to her, giving her a kiss on the lips, sending a blush racing across her cheeks.
"L-liebling!" Nimi cried softly.
Isaac smiled.
"Run along now. Alice should still be awake helping Vestal. You might be able to catch her for a quick exam." Isaac said, tapping Nimi's rear before giving her a cheeky smile.
"I was only partially kidding earlier, Liebling..." Nimi spoke softly.
"Oh? I wasn't aware there was a joke." Isaac said, causing Nimi to sigh.
"I don't mind having a child. But I would really like for us to be relatively safe before I help you bring life into the world." Nimi said quietly, leaving a kiss on his lips before departing.
"When this war is won... I'll give you whatever you want." Isaac spoke to the now seemingly empty gangway.
"Oh? Well then I should get my request in early, Dear Husband." Friedrich spoke softly in his ear.
"Friedrich! I thought you were with Shinano." Isaac muttered.
"She asked for a peaceful slumber tonight, as she wishes to contemplate a name for the little one. She seems to be convinced that it will be a girl." Friedrich said with a smile.
"I see. So now what?" Isaac asked.
"Shall we sleep together tonight?" Friedrich suggested with a shrug.
Isaac chuckled a bit.
"I'll never deny you that." Isaac said as the two of them made their way towards the Norfolk.
"Belfast! What are you doing in here?" Isaac asked as he and Friedrich entered his quarters.
"Please pardon my intrusion. You sure leave quite the mess, Master. But, as a maid, it is my duty to see this mess cleaned." Belfast said as she bowed slightly to him.
"I see... but I usually keep this place relatively clean. Did something happen?" Isaac inquired.
"Not to my knowledge, but the rails and pictures haven't been dusted, and the floors had many scuff marks on them, I wonder why." Belfast pondered, metaphorically poking Isaac's ribs.
"I sense there is another reason to you being here." Isaac deadpanned.
"There is, but it seems you have business to attend to with the missus." Belfast said as she turned to leave.
"Friedrich, could you step out for a moment?" Isaac asked.
"Of course. Just knock when I can come in." Friedrich said as she went out and closed the door.
"What's on your mind, Belfast?" Isaac asked.
"That, first and foremost. You needn't be so formal, Master. I am a maid. But even I have my personal preference. Call me Bel." Belfast stated bluntly.
"Alright... Bel. What else is on your mind?" Isaac continued to push the question as he sat on the bed. To his surprise, Belfast sat as well.
"I would like to come under your service entirely." Belfast stated.
Isaac scratched his head.
"That is to say that I would like to serve your fleet, not as a member of the Royal Navy, but as your ship and your personal maid, Master." Belfast said as she looked at him.
"But what of Elizabeth? Are you not her best and brightest?" Isaac asked.
"She and I have talked at length behind closed doors since she arrived to this fleet. She, in light of all of this, agrees that the world will change and cease to be what it once was. That said, she has allowed me freedom to choose where to go once we inevitably win this war with the sirens." Belfast stated.
"So she knows of your choice to pledge yourself to my fleet, and to cast off your duties as her maid?" Isaac asked, knowing how bad this could go with Elizabeth's temper.
"She does. She has taken quite the liking to you, Master. And I think she only gave me the choice, because no matter what I choose, I will always be with her." Belfast explained.
"She plans to marry me too?" Isaac asked.
Belfast nodded.
"She wants to wait until we reach the Isles of Britain to declare it formally. But I believe that she will one day ask for your hand in marriage, as you have with several members of this fleet already." Belfast said.
"She realizes that she will have to share..." Isaac declared.
"She does, which is why her majesty is taking her time as of right now to reflect inward. She wishes to become more open to the idea before committing, but her end goal remains taking you as her first Human Commander." Belfast elaborated.
"Ah. And what of you?" Isaac asked, looking the maid up and down.
"I can see your eyes, Master. Maybe once this is all over, I shall avail myself to your love. But for now, I wish to remain at your side as your loyal maid, which means you may be seeing more of me around here as I tend to my duties outside of combat." Belfast said as she stood and knelt on one knee in front of him.
"What are you..." Isaac said as she took his hand in hers and kissed his hand where a ring would sit.
"I pledge myself to you and only you, Master Garner. I shall serve you until the end." Belfast said as she stood, waiting for Isaac to speak.
"Bel... alright. I accept your proclamation." Isaac said, still scratching his head as thoughts spun in his head.
"Thank you, Master. With that, I shall be off. Your room has been cleaned to the highest of standards. I look forward to continuing to serve you." Belfast said as she left the room, knocking beforehand to alert Friedrich.
"What was that about, dear husband?" Friedrich asked.
"I have somehow acquired a maid... I'll ask for her reasons tomorrow." Isaac said as Friedrich began undoing her dress.
"Hmm. That maid certainly does leave you all stressed out." Friedrich spoke seductively.
"Not always, but I wasn't expecting that." Isaac said as Friedrich sat herself in his lap, undoing his jacket and tossing it aside to lay against his bare chest.
"Come, dear husband, allow me to undo some of that stress." Friedrich said as they descended into the covers for a sleepless, but otherwise fulfilling night.
"Warspite!" Roon cried as she ran over to the fallen Battleship.
"I'm alright..." Warspite said as she coughed, keeping her hand covering a shallow wound on her arm.
"Oh god... I'm sorry!" Roon said as she ran to find the first aid.
Kitakaze ran onto the deck of the Warspite.
"What happened?" Kitakaze asked, keeping her rigging active.
"She is a fast learner. Using that power with the skills she picked up on this voyage, she's become better at CQB than I could have imagined. Had she not been holding back as much as she was, she would have taken my arm." Warspite said as Roon returned with Gauze and alcohol to disinfect.
"Oh god..." Roon said as she eased Warspite's hand off the wound, seeing several layers of muscle that had been exposed to the air.
"I'm so sorry." Roon exclaimed as she looked at Warspite.
"I told you to come at me with everything you had. I'm glad you decided to disobey." Warspite said as she bit into her finger as Roon poured alcohol into the wound.
"I know my strength better than anyone... I had to hold back." Roon said softly as she wrapped Warspite's wound.
"Oh well. It just proves that you have learned quickly over this voyage. That said, we're only three days away now." Warspite said as she laid her head against her forward turret, seeing the slashes and impact marks on her deck from her fight with Roon.
"I think the Commoner will have repair facilities." Warspite said as Roon looked at her, slightly worried about her.
"I think we should hold off on more training, you're in no condition to fight me anymore." Roon said softly as she sat and comforted the older battleship.
"Aye... I think that would be wise." Warspite said as she relaxed into Roon's hug.