Isaac and Mutsuki disembarked the Norfolk as soon as she stopped moving.
"Commander, remember, we have things to do. We can't wallow all day." Norfolk said as she and Kitakaze handled the transfer of Zero off the Norfolk.
"I know... I know." Isaac said as he walked into the port towards MacArthur.
"Admiral." MacArthur spoke.
"General." Isaac replied.
"I have the General of the Australian Ground forces, and the Admiral of the RAN on the radio in the tent. They wish to speak with you." MacArthur reported.
"I see. Well, I guess that's number one on the to do list. Go talk with Nimitz once the Missouri docks. If I'm held up in these discussions, I want you and Nimitz to take count of the undamaged or lightly damaged ships in the fleet and ready them for a potential sortie. I doubt Brisbane is the only port that the Sirens decided to attack." Isaac said as MacArthur nodded and looked around port, finding the Missouri after a few seconds.
"The RAN' is still kinda pissed that K-9 has gone missing. Don't be surprised if they ask about it." MacArthur said before departing.
Isaac took a preliminary look around the port, seeing the destruction that was wrought by the bombers that made it through his defense. Isaac saw several tanks burned black by plasma blasts. The smell of burning hair, however, was unmistakable as several soldiers walked past with a body under a sheet.
"Who is it?" Isaac asked solemnly.
"The sailor that got left here by the Missouri. Seaman Witmer, I believe. The reports from the boys in the tanks say that he was one of the only ones to stay above the hatch during the entire assault. He burned ammo like no tomorrow but he had the highest kill count of any of the tankers here at 7. The second man closest to him killed 2 aircraft." The medic said as the two soldiers continued to carry Witmer's body away.
"Shit... anyone else?" Isaac asked.
"We lost a truck and our tanks have seen better days... but Witmer was the only casualty in port. It's not too much to say he singlehandedly kept a lot of people here from kicking the bucket." The Medic spoke.
"Do you have his records?" Isaac asked.
"Yes. He has a mother, a wife, and a child back in the Union... if that's what you were asking about." The medic said.
Isaac sighed as he covered his eyes with his cap and looked to the sky.
"That's two we've lost today." Isaac deduced as a single tear rolled down his cheek.
"It's a terrible day for rain, Admiral." The medic spoke as he too looked to the sky.
"Aye. That it is." Isaac said as he looked at the radio tent and went inside, hiding himself from the bright evening sun.
"What do you mean they just stopped?" Isaac demanded.
"We were taking heavy losses in Sydney and Mackay, but out of nowhere, reports began indicating that all 'drone ships' in the area have stopped working and are no longer firing." The General spoke.
"So further deepens the mystery of the Sirens." Isaac said as he rubbed his head.
"Have you sustained any losses?" The RAN Admiral asked.
"Yes. One vessel... one sailor. I have yet to get the reports from the Missouri and the Shinano." Isaac said as Shinano and Nimitz both walked in, as if on cue. Isaac turned to face them with an arm over the back of his chair.
"Isaac, I am happy to report no casualties." Shinano spoke between yawns.
"That's good to hear." Isaac said as he turned to Nimitz.
"Admiral?" Isaac asked.
"12 men fatally wounded by shrapnel. It is unlikely they will survive the night. 47 wounded by burns. Zero dead as of five minutes ago." Nimitz said.
"Get those 12 to the Arizona. She can help them. as for your casualty list... Seaman Witmer did not survive the battle." Isaac said.
"What?" Nimitz asked, seeming surprised.
"You left Witmer in port, so he joined up with the tankers on the .50 cals." Isaac reported.
"That can't be, I saw him not more than 10 minutes ago." Nimitz said.
Isaac's hear sank.
"Did you see his eyes?" Isaac asked.
"No, he had his cover too low for me to see, but I assumed it was due to looking at the guns flashing for the past 12 hours." Nimitz said.
"We need to get to him, now." Isaac said as he threw down the radio receiver.
"Why?" Nimitz asked.
"Explorer class sirens have the ability to blend in and change their appearance to help them infiltrate. I saw the tags on the body, Admiral, Witmer is certainly dead, but his likeness is being used and that Siren can be doing anything right now." Isaac said as he and Nimitz ran out of the tent towards the Missouri.
"How could this have happened?" Nimitz asked.
"They ambushed us using cloaking technology. So it's impossible to deny the possibility of infiltration among the human crews." Isaac said.
"But what about the Kansen?" Nimitz asked.
"If an Explorer managed to defeat any of my girls, we would know. These girls are tough." Isaac spoke as he and Nimitz ran up the gangway onto the deck of the Missouri where the sailors all stood, acting like they were waiting for orders.
"Where is Witmer?" Isaac asked.
"Uh... that crazy German lady saw him on deck and immediately set off after him... she's chased him below deck." One of the Sailor spoke.
"Well... that's good, right?" Nimitz asked.
"Roon destroyed three battleships without her ship and with her bare hands. Now we face the safety of your entire vessel as opposed to a handful of crew. We need to find them and dispatch the explorer." Isaac said as he ran towards the superstructure with Nimitz on his heels.
"How the hell did you come into possession of such unstable characters?!" Nimitz demanded.
"I don't know! These girls have just been coming to me. I haven't taken a pick, I just take what I get." Isaac admitted.
"And you took in that?!" Nimitz asked as he pointed down the hall where scratch marks and fist holes filled the corridor.
"Yup." Isaac said as they ran down the hall, reaching the boilers where Roon stood over the mangled corpse of the Explorer she had been hunting.
"Roon?" Isaac asked.
"Ah, Kommandant. It is nice to see you." Roon spoke, awfully cheerful for someone who had just gotten done doing what she did.
"Roon? Are you alright?" Isaac asked as he slowly descended the stairs into the boiler room, stepping around the pools of dark liquid that had pooled at her feet.
"Better than ever, Kommandant. I'm ready to kill more Sirens." Roon said cheerfully.
"How about you go and talk with Warspite?" Isaac asked softly, dodging a wrench that Roon immediately whipped his way.
"Kommandant... why must you lie to me?" Roon asked, her mood no longer cheerful, instead looking at him with the same bloodlust that she had used against the sirens.
"I'm not lying... Yes, Warspite sunk... but Elizabeth sacrificed herself to bring her back. Her new Vessel is sitting in port." Isaac said as he brought his armored gauntlets up in time to not be completely torn apart by Roon's fist.
"I don't believe you." Roon spoke slowly as Warspite came up behind Nimitz.
"Commande... ROON! WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DONG!?" Warspite yelled from the top of the stairs, scaring Nimitz.
Roon turned slowly, as if she had realized her mistake.
"But... I watched you sink." Roon said softly as her fist continued to press firmly against Isaac's crossed forearms, leaving Isaac unable to move.
"I know... and I thought today would have been my last day. But... Her Majesty saw fit to give up her life... and her future with him to bring me back. I'm back. So please, release the commander." Warspite spoke as she looked at Roon.
Roon immediately backed off and looked at Isaac, seeing the damage she caused to his arm.
"Oh no..." Roon said softly as she realized that although she had not torn off Isaac's arm, she had definitely broken the bones in Isaac's left forearm.
"Kommandant... I..." Roon stammered as Isaac brought up his good arm to stop her.
"Go talk with Warspite. You need to unwind and calm down. We can discuss this later." Isaac said as Nimitz hit a button on the wall, sounding the alarm across the Missouri.
"Admiral, sit down, please." Nimitz said as he rushed down the stairs and helped Isaac to the floor as the pain began to set in. Several seconds later, sailors rushed into the boiler room and secured the area to get Isaac up to the main deck.
"Take me to Arizona. Please ensure that Warspite escorts Roon to the Warspite." Isaac said as he cradled his dangling left arm.
"You got it." The Medics said as they took Isaac into the port towards the Arizona.