"Is it just me, or is Vengeance acting oddly friendly after that little incident?" Isaac asked as he looked at Norfolk.
"It's just you. Trust me." Norfolk said as she hid the rapidly forming blush on her cheeks.
"Huh. Is that it?" Isaac asked, pointing to a rather large submarine.
"Yup. That is the upgraded I-400 aviation submarine. A design made by the Sakura Navy near the end of the war. While it serves the same function as 13's old hull, this design is completely different than the I-13." Norfolk said as she looked up at Isaac.
"You seem to know a lot about it." Isaac said.
"I just spent time reading over the blueprint and comparing it to what I knew about 13's old vessel. It's nothing special, Isaac." Norfolk admitted.
"Nonsense. I love it when you girls show off more than just your body. Friedrich's an amazing cook. Nimi is a good teacher. Shinano is carrying our child... my first born child. You girls are more than warships with sexy bodies. I enjoy your minds just as much." Isaac said, the sentiment bringing a tear to Norfolk's eye.
"It's hard to imagine a fine man like yourself not having a human woman back in the union." Norfolk said as they walked up the gangway to the I-400 hull.
"There was a woman I liked back in the union... but it would have never worked." Isaac spoke, remembering what he admitted to Nimi.
"Really? Why do you think that? With your charm, you should have had women falling at your feet." Norfolk spoke, causing a small smile to cross Isaac's face.
"It's sweet that you think that... but she was a white woman. I think her family came from Ironblood before the war... during the years after the great war. She had distinct German features." Isaac reminisced.
"Is that why you have such a hard-on for the Ironblood girls?" Norfolk jabbed his side playfully.
"Ha Ha. Very funny, little cruiser. But if I remember correctly, I gave you just as good a showing." Isaac spat back, shutting down her laughter with a healthy blush.
"Isaac! You can't just say that out here!" Norfolk cried softly as she passively pounded her fists on his chest.
"But seriously... I don't know what draws me to the Ironblood women. You all have bodies akin to the girls painted on Union bombers. Picture perfect bodies that any man would kill for, and many men have. And yet, I am attracted to the girls who represented my enemy since 1939. Shinano of the Sakura. Nimi... who looked like the girl I crushed on back home. Odin, my own vice commander. And Friedrich, she is by far the most tender... while also being the most terrifying. And then there's you." Isaac said before Norfolk snapped her head to him.
"Me? I am the enemy?" Norfolk asked.
"Well... no. But you were originally a Siren AI. So you represent the Sirens in my fleet, which is why I gave Vengeance a new lease on life." Isaac said as he looked over at the slowly rising sun.
"Really?" Norfolk asked.
"I'll admit, I was originally going to use her for information. But somehow, when I looked at her, I saw you. I found myself unable to dispatch her without seeing you in her place. So I decided she was worth the risk to keep around. And I'm glad I did." Isaac spoke as he spotted the distinct blue hair of I-13 running across the harbor towards the dry dock.
"She has a ship now. She's going to help us fight." Norfolk stated.
"And I know where her allegiance lies. So long as we want the same thing, she's our ally. She's a friend. And she's a fellow scientist." Isaac said as 13 ran up the gangway into Isaac's waiting arms.
"Shikikan!" 13 cried happily, any signs of sleepiness were nowhere to be found.
"13. Are you ready?" Isaac asked.
"Yes, Shikikan." 13 said as she stood on the forward bow of her soon-to-be new vessel.
"I can see Australia." Roon spoke as she supported Warspite on her shoulder.
"You don't have to keep doing this, this wound is healing normally." Warspite said as she nodded to the bandage covering her arm.
"I know I don't. I want to. I injured you while you were trying to help me. So it is only fair that I assist you." Roon spoke firmly, unwilling to be denied by the pride of Elizabeth's lapdog.
"Roon, I decided myself to train you, knowing full well that if you learned my techniques, your strength would make you far more dangerous. I knew what I was doing." Warspite argued.
"And had I not held back, against your orders, I would have ripped off your arm with the same slash that left that nasty looking gash. So don't tell me you would have been okay with losing an arm, especially since we are within 24 hours of you reuniting with your precious queen." Roon snapped, being sure to breathe to calm herself after saying what she wanted.
Warspite stood silently, acknowledging the accuracy of Roon's statement.
"I guess you have a point. But I shall inform the queen that it was merely a training incident. A small slip of my sword. She will not accost you for this." Warspite said as she looked at Roon, someone she was beginning to see as her genuine friend.
"Warspite..?" Roon asked.
"Hmm?" Warspite asked.
"Why am I getting the feeling we're being watched?" Roon asked as she quickly scanned the horizon around the battleship.
"Now that you mention it, I too am getting the feeling. Kitakaze, come in." Warspite called.
"Warspite? What is the issue?" Kitakaze asked.
"Do you have anything on Sonar? Something's got Roon spooked." Warspite said.
"Yes. They're friendly. It's the three Ironblood subs from the Shikikan's fleet. 110, 556, and 47 are out here shadowing us." Kitakaze replied as the three subs surfaced around the Warspite and the Kitakaze.
"Any reason?" Warspite asked.
"They said they're on orders to be an early warning system for the Shikikan. Apparently something big is coming from Pearl." Kitakaze reported.
"From Pearl? I thought that place was a siren stronghold." Warspite spoke, thoroughly puzzled by the development.
"Norfolk recorded a mass casualty event among the Sirens at Pearl Harbor. Not a single trace of Siren left, and it only came a day after Empress fought something in Washington, one of the states in the Union." 47 spoke as she walked up next to Warspite.
"Ah! Creepy how you can sneak up on people like that..." Warspite said as she gripped Roon's jacket for support, not expecting the sub to be behind her.
"47." Roon deadpanned.
"Roon." 47 spoke in monotone.
"How's the onion?" Roon spat.
"110 is a Shark! NOT AN ONION! RAWR!" 110 cried from her sub, which she parked right in front of Warspite.
"You have no right to query anything, Roon. You attacked Lord Bismarck and Lady Tirpitz. You will find no sympathy from Ironblood here." 47 spoke darkly.
"I am not here for friends or old allies. I am here to be of use to my Kommandant. I have no need of validation from you." Roon retorted as Warspite jabbed her side.
"Roon, we still have to get along with the fleet. I want you to apologize to Bismarck when we arrive. Hopefully she can make things right." Warspite said as she looked between the Ironblood Heavy cruiser and the Ironblood Submarine.
"She deserved to sink in battle. And her being here after what she did is an affront to everything Ironblood stands for. As far as I'm concerned, you're no longer my sister in arms. You're just a psychotic Heavy Cruiser with her only defining feature being her merciless bloodlust and craving of violence." 47 spoke, causing a scowl to cross Warspite's face.
"Now that is well beyond enough. Roon might crave violence, and she may have certain tendencies that make her dangerous, but she is working on it. You on the other hand, have crossed a line that should never be crossed. At least Roon was able to admit she was wrong, and had reasons behind doing what she did. But what of your precious Ironblood?! You left her to the Sirens for four long years! She was tortured for 4 years by Alpha in Germany! And yet, you didn't bother to even look for her? For what reason? Because she was doing what she was ordered when we cornered her? You abandoned her. So don't you dare go belittling her over the psyche problems, when you and the rest of Ironblood directly contributed to it!" Warspite yelled angrily, her forward turrets slowly turning to point directly at 47's vessel.
"Warspite... it's okay. They're right. I have always been... different from the other Ironblood girls. My creator was a violent man. So I hold no grudge if they wish to claim I am violent." Roon said.
"While that is very mature, Roon... there are some things you should not allow. And since I don't want to get you off on the wrong foot here, I shall deal with it." Warspite spoke as she glared at the sub.
"You claim that Roon has no right to be of Ironblood, but what of your own cowardly actions and betrayal in the very battle that we sunk Roon?" Warspite spoke as 47's face twisted into one of anxiety.
"What do you mean?" Roon queried.
"The torpedo that made it through your shields in that battle, it wasn't ours." Warspite spoke as she glared more at 47.
"That makes no sense." Roon deduced.
"We detected a submarine quickly leaving the area after that torpedo detonated. The reason we stopped firing, was we were trying to figure out who got through. Your shields were nearly unbreakable, but this lone torpedo got through and sunk you. We just couldn't understand it. So we let it go. But judging by the reaction of this sub in front of me, either she knows who sunk you... or she's the one who did the deed." Warspite said as Roon looked at 47, sending a chill down the sub's spine.
"I... I was under orders from Tirpitz! She demanded that Roon not be captured despite her disobedience. Her tech was too powerful to let fall to the Royal Navy during the war." 47 admitted.
"So... you sunk me? On orders from Tirpitz?" Roon asked slowly.
"I was only following orders!" 47 cried as she slowly backed to the edge of Warspite's guard rail.
"As was I... and I was sunk for it. Why are you different?" Roon asked as Warspite turned around, seemingly ready to ignore the violence about to unfold.
"Because I followed orders and didn't backtalk my superiors, Roon!" 47 yelled as Roon cornered her against the rail.
Roon took a deep breath and sighed.
"Did Bismarck know of this?" Roon asked as she folded her arms.
"Tirpitz only told her right before leaving for Operation Rheinübung. Bismarck scolded Tirpitz for a solid three hours... in turn I was put on probation for borderline treasonous actions against the Ironblood." 47 said as she tried to calm herself, feeling the wrath coming off Roon in waves
"Which is why Bismarck permitted me to live after I attacked Bermuda." Roon deduced as she brought her hand up towards 47's head, causing the sub to flinch.
The pain never came as Roon's hand gently patted the sub's head, much to 47's and Warspite's surprise.
"Wait... what?" 47 pondered as she fell to the deck, her legs giving out beneath her.
"Orders come first in Ironblood. We hold no sentiment when duty calls. Sentiment is reserved for life off the battlefield. You did what you were ordered, and you paid for it for the rest of the war. I did what I was ordered to do, and I was deemed too important to be captured, so I was sunk. It's as simple as that. I may be violent... but I think my friend has helped me build a tolerance to what makes me mad." Roon said as she looked back at Warspite, who was smiling softly at seeing the softer side of Roon.
"So... you're not going to kill me?" 47 asked.
"I doubt my Kommandant will order me to do so, so no." Roon said as she turned and walked away, allowing 47 to see two foot shaped indents in the deck where Roon had been standing.
47 shuddered, realizing that Roon's miniscule self control was the only thing that kept her from being ground to dust.
"So how far are we really?" Warspite asked, trying to lighten the mood.
"We're only about 100 miles out. If you head straight into Brisbane, the port should welcome you." 556 said, finally drawing attention to herself.
"556... I heard about what happened to you from Observer Alpha... how are you holding up?" Roon asked as she leaned on the rail closest to 556's vessel.
"The Kommandant saved my life... and I get to serve Lord Bismarck once more. I couldn't be happier." 556 said.
"I'm glad to hear it." Roon said as she returned to Warspite.
"Shall we continue in?" Roon asked.
"I should be asking you..." Warspite asked.
Roon nodded.
"I would like to meet my new Kommandant."
"Is everyone loaded up, 2nd Lt. Good?" Enterprise asked as her fighters kept watch on the surrounding seas.
"Yes. Everyone is ready to go. All ammo, weapons, and personnel have been loaded this base has been gutted." 2nd Lt. Good spoke.
"Then let us be off. If I know Empress, she is currently formulating a plot to cripple what little resistance we have. And with what I know... she could be sending a massive invasion fleet towards the Commander of Azur Lane." Enterprise admitted.
"Understood." 2nd Lt. Good spoke as several ships called in.
"Woah... is that you, Enterprise?" California asked.
"Yes, California. I'm still me." Enterprise assured the hulking Tennessee class battleship.
"You got so... big." California spoke.
"Cali! That was out of line." Tennessee snapped angrily.
"Sorry sis..." California said dejectedly.
"It's alright California. I'm still getting used to it. Are we ready to move?" Enterprise asked.
"Aye. Let's go!" California shouted excitedly.
A massive burst of white blinded Isaac as 13 bonded to her new hull.
Isaac scrambled to his feet after hearing the screams from I-13.
"13!" Isaac yelled as Norfolk held him back.
"Isaac, if you touch her, we don't know what could happen." Norfolk yelled.
"She's changing." Vengeance said as she walked behind them.
"What?" Isaac asked.
"I heard the screams and came over to try to assist, but I can see that she's not having trouble... she's experiencing growing pains." Vengeance said.
"Growing pains?" Isaac asked.
"Well, she definitely doesn't look like a kid anymore, that's for sure." Vengeance said with a shrug.
"Why is she growing?" Isaac asked.
"You are giving her a bigger hull. The cubes need to reflect the change in the Kansen. So she is getting taller, and her figure is becoming more defined. She'll be sore... but ultimately, she's fine." Vengeance said as the white light ceased to exist, leaving behind a woman laying unconscious on the hull of the new I-class submarine. The woman was certainly taller than I-13, her chest and rear had swelled in size, filling out the new taller body. The new form giving the submarine the appearance of a young woman as opposed to that of a child. The light blue hair that Isaac had come to recognize had darkened in color.
"Nnng... Shikikan?" The woman asked as she opened her eyes, seeing Isaac kneeling next to her.
"13?" Isaac asked.
13 nodded softly.
"I feel different, Shikikan." 13 spoke, noticing her voice had matured from childish and high pitched to sultry and bordering on seductive.
"Uh... you look different, 13." Isaac said as he pulled his watch out of his pocket and opened it, revealing a small mirror inside before handing the watch to 13.
Looking in the mirror, 13 gasped upon seeing the only thing about her face that had stayed the same were the two blue horns on her head.
Her bright blue and purple eyes had deepened to a dull glowing purple. Her face had taken on a slightly older toned look. It was then that she felt the cool wind coming off the ocean.
"Shikikan...?" 13 asked.
"Yes?" Isaac asked as he felt like he knew what was coming.
"Where are my clothes?" 13 asked.
"Uh... well... you grew quite rapidly upon acquiring this vessel... they were shredded." Isaac said. Not even half a second later, 13 looked down and screamed, slapping Isaac before curling up to hide herself. Isaac recovered from being slapped and removed his jacket to drape over 13's new body.
"I didn't mean to stare..." Isaac admitted as she buttoned his jacket over her chest.
"So... this is the new me now?" 13 asked as she looked back at the conning tower, seeing the I400 on the side.
"Can I make a change, Shikikan?" 13 asked.
"It's your boat, 13. You do what you think will serve you the best." Isaac said as 13 stood up and walked to the white numbers and letters painted on her vessel.
"I am not I-400." 13 said as a massive red 'X' appeared over the 400. Next to the crossed out number, the new number appeared. A hastily drawn '13' to christen the new 'I-13'.
"I am still I-13... just a bit bigger now." The Aviation submarine said with a soft smile as she stretched her new body.
"More than a bit. You could easily give St. Louis a run for her money." Norfolk said as 13 turned to face her.
"Really?" 13 asked as she looked at Isaac, who quickly blushed and turned his head.
13 smiled.
"Shikikan? Do I look good?" 13 asked.
Isaac looked up at 13 from down on the deck.
"You look... more mature." Isaac said as he tried to sidestep the trap laid for him.
"But does it look good?" 13 pushed.
Isaac averted his eyes as Norfolk smiled.
"He likes it, he just won't admit it." Norfolk said as Isaac shot a betrayed look her way.
13 smiled wider.
"That makes me happy, Shikikan." 13 said as she hugged herself, feeling his jacket against her bare skin.
Isaac sighed.
"Take some time to get familiar with your new vessel, 13. You'll be appointed as our Submarine Flotilla leader once you get used to the bigger hull. I hope you're ready to lead the others." Isaac said.
"Always ready to serve, Shikikan. I won't let you down." 13 said happily as she saluted him.
Isaac returned it before turning and heading back to the docks with Vengeance and Norfolk in tow.
"Thinking of getting freaky with a submarine, Commander?" Norfolk asked, barely able to contain her laughter.
"Shut it!" Isaac spoke sternly.
"You're quite the promiscuous man, Isaac." Vengeance said.
"Well... those in my fleet, that have come to offer themselves to me, obviously have needs. And a good Commander sates the needs of his charges." Isaac reasoned.
"Well, I can't complain. After all, I'm part of this fleet as well. And sooner or later, I might have needs of my own." Vengeance said as she veered off towards her own vessel, leaving Isaac reeling while walking towards the drydock controls.
"You started this trend, Isaac. You can't refuse them now." Norfolk said as she looked at him.
"I know..." Isaac said with a soft sigh.
"We've entered Australian waters. Somehow we not only avoided that fleet in Japan, but we sidestepped the Philippines entirely. Your navigation skills leave nothing to be desired." Zeppelin admitted begrudgingly as she looked at the Siren that was sitting under guard on her flight deck.
"I want nothing more than to be spared the wrath of Apollyon. If that requires granting you the data I have, then what's mine is yours." Zero said.
"I can see another fleet." Zeppelin said as she squinted out towards the horizon.
"Oh?" Zero asked.
"We need to move, I'm sending Aircraft." Zeppelin said as she pulled Zero out of the way of the Me-155A fighter that was barreling down the flight deck.
Several minutes passed before the aircraft made it over to the other fleet.
"What do you see?" Zero asked.
"It's... the Warspite... and a destroyer." Zeppelin said as she focused further.
"That's it?" Zero queried.
"Roon is there too." Zeppelin said, causing Zero to freeze.
"I am suddenly a lot less sure about this." Zero said as Zeppelin turned to face her.
"Why?" Zeppelin asked.
"I heard stories from Alphy...Observer Alpha. Roon got mad immediately after being revived and punched a hole through a foot of rebar strengthened concrete. I don't want to be anywhere near that..." Zero said.
"Well, you ain't got much of a choice. She's probably on her way to the same place we are." Zeppelin said.
Zero began to sweat profusely.
"I could always kill you..." Zeppelin suggested.
"I... think I'll just try to stay away. I'd rather live." Zero said as they began to close the last 24 hours to Australia.