"Two incoming fleets, Isaac." Norfolk reported as Isaac sat at his desk.
"Where are they coming from?" Isaac asked.
"One from the North, consisting of a solo aircraft carrier and a massive Siren energy signature. And the other from the East, consisting of a destroyer and a battleship. Our subs have confirmed that the eastern fleet is Kitakaze and Warspite transporting Roon.
"How long until they arrive?" Isaac queried.
"18 hours until they make it to port. We only know because the port's long range radio picked them up." Norfolk said as she looked at him.
"Let's get Otto up here with the cubes we requested. Vengeance and 13 should be ready for launch." Isaac said.
"I can activate the controls from here. Do you wish to launch 13 and Vengeance from drydock?" Norfolk asked.
"Yes. Notify Texas and Elizabeth. They're up next." Isaac said as the port's sirens sounded off, signaling the launch of both ships from dry dock.
Several minutes after Vengeance and 13 got settled into the harbor, Texas and Elizabeth emerged from the depths of the Norfolk.
"You called for me, Commander?" Texas asked.
"Yes. I seem to remember you requesting power. Am I remembering that correctly?" Isaac asked.
"I can't clearly recall a conversation with you on the matter... but having more power at my disposal would be rather nice, especially with the results of the last battle." Texas admitted.
"I have several fresh cubes, along with everything you need to completely overhaul your vessel. New radar. New Boilers. 16 inch guns, albeit, shorter. 45 caliber instead of 50 caliber. Fire control system, modified from the Iowa and Missouri, and motors to fit the turrets that the guns are mounted in." Isaac listed off everything he had laying in the docks next to the dry docks.
"Holy shit... that's... almost a whole new class of ship, Commander." Texas stated, clearly thrown off guard by the sudden list of upgrades.
"Well... we can't spare any expense or material in this fight. It's all or nothing." Isaac stated.
"I will get on it right away!" Texas exclaimed as she ran off the bridge.
"She didn't strike me as the excitable type." Elizabeth said with a hand on her hip.
"You're going to have your vessel rebuilt. Simple as that." Isaac said.
"I appreciate it, Commoner. Being without my vessel... it doesn't feel right." Elizabeth admitted.
"I can't say I understand how that feels, but I am glad you're ready to get back out there." Isaac said as Elizabeth nodded.
"Commoner, I would like some tea later this evening, could you and Bel come visit me on my vessel so she can prepare it for me?" Elizabeth asked.
"Of course. Are you sure you don't want me to make it, 'your majesty?'" Isaac joked.
"Hmmm. It has been a while since you've made tea for me. I'm dying for a bit on nostalgia. I'll allow it. Just... make sure Bel doesn't see you. She'll beat you senseless if she sees you mess up the tea." Elizabeth said with a smirk.
"Point made." Isaac said as he hung his head while laughing.
"I shall see you later then?" Elizabeth asked.
"I wouldn't miss it, Lizzie." Isaac goaded, earning him a blush from the pint sized, absolutely flat battleship.
"You know, nobody else is allowed to call me that... I only allow you to, Commoner." Elizabeth said, a hint of embarrassment in her voice.
"Really? Nobody else?" Isaac asked.
"You're the only one with the stones to call me such a name. I award your bravery by allowing you to call me it when we're alone." Elizabeth said as she nodded definitively before walking off the bridge.
"I know that... and I know what you're feeling. Thank you Bel for letting me know ahead of time..." Isaac whispered to himself as he looked over the port.
"16 hours until they all arrive, and Omaha should be about half way from Fiji by now." Isaac murmured.
"Preparations are complete, Empress." XIV stated blankly.
"Excellent. Double time it to Australia. We failed initially, but we won't this time. Take the Majority of the fleet to Brisbane... steamroll Apollyon's fleet by getting in close before he can detect you, take him by surprise. Use the lesser fleets to invade via the other ports. If you have ships to spare, Blockade New Guinea and the Philippines, that way he can't escape." Empress ordered.
"I understand, Empress." XIV said as she turned to the sea. As far as the eye could see, Drone ships of every class awaited orders.
"Don't bother coming back if you fail." Empress spat, remembering Zero's betrayal.
"I won't disappoint you. Even if I am to die, I will take him or some of his fleet with me." XIV promised.
"See that you do. Because if he maintains this level of power, he'll be able to take us on on even footing, especially since Subject E has now vowed to join him." Empress growled.
"I shall not fail." XIV swore as she activated her rigging and took to the waves.
"Isaac, we're receiving a transmission from... Eli?" Norfolk asked.
"Ah! Eli, that magnificent bastard. That means Akagi must have set up the beacon. What's he saying?" Isaac asked.
"He said he was told that he could communicate with you over the beacon's receiver. He wishes to speak with you." Norfolk said as she handed the headset to Isaac.
"Commander Garner?" Eli asked.
"Eli! How are the girls treating you down there?" Isaac asked.
"The carrier stayed long enough to help set up the beacon, but she's heading back towards Niue now. Everyone else has spread out to provide protection for the island. Eldridge decided to stay here so she could talk to you whenever she wished." Eli explained.
"Well, I did tell Akagi she could visit Niue to memorialize her lost husband." Isaac said as he scratched his chin.
"She did say she'd return... Okay okay, ouch... no need to shock me, he's still on the line." Eli said as a soft scuffle was heard on the other line.
"Isaac!" Eldridge cried.
"Hello Eldridge, how are you?" Isaac asked in his fatherly tone.
"Sad! I Want Isaac Back!" Eldridge complained.
"I don't have anyone to replace you down in Tonga. Having you come back to the fleet right now would leave Tonga and the fleet there vulnerable to submarine attack." Isaac reasoned.
"Then Isaac come to me!" Eldridge demanded.
"I can't. We are preparing for a second defensive here in Australia. I am needed here." Isaac said, receiving the peeved cry of his arguably most loyal destroyer.
"When we find another destroyer, I'll transfer them there to replace you so you can come back to the main fleet, I promise." Isaac said as he rubbed the back of his neck.
"But you have Nimi and Laffey! Send Laffey!" Eldridge complained, not wishing to be denied.
Nimi walked in and walked over to Isaac.
"Liebling, Texas has been placed in dry dock and is beginning the retrofit process." Nimi said.
"Excellent... Nimi, would Laffey like it better where it's laid back?" Isaac asked.
"Laffey likes to sleep a lot, Liebling. But you would have to ask her." Nimi said.
"I see. Because I have a troublesome destroyer in Tonga shocking everyone because I'm not there." Isaac said.
"So you wish to send Laffey to replace her?" Nimi deadpanned.
"If only to keep her from sending someone into cardiac arrest..." Isaac said, disregarding the colorful commentary coming from Eldridge as she argued with Rodney on the other end.
"I would feel good knowing that Laffey is safer." Nimi said as she looked at him.
"Then prep her for transit. She'll replace Eldridge in Tonga." Isaac said.
"Okay, Liebling." Nimi said as she ran off.
"Eldridge?" Isaac asked.
"Eldridge has been detained, Commander." Rodney spoke.
"Tell her to prep her vessel for transit to Brisbane. I am sending the Union Destroyer Laffey to replace her, if only to keep her from killing someone." Isaac said.
"I understand, Commander. We'll be in touch." Rodney said as she cut the line.
"Good lord... not Eldridge too." Isaac said as he looked out to the suddenly busy port.
"Looks like it's time to prep for our new arrivals." Isaac said as he and Norfolk walked off her bridge into the port.