"Ben!" Amagi spoke as she ran over as quick as her legs would carry her.

"What? Is everything okay?" Ben asked.

"Is everything okay?! Your side is split wide open! What happened?!" Amagi cried as the sounds of two exploding AP bombs filled the fog.

"Really? It doesn't feel too bad. But one of the pirates did have a knife." Ben said as he looked down at his side.

"Ben, this is serious." Amagi said as she looked up at her bridge.

"Michael, get the aid kit!" Amagi yelled.

"Right away." Michael said as he ran to get the first aid kit.

"Man... I'm starting to get really tired." Ben said as he leaned back against the side of the rail.

"You have a massive gash that is pouring blood everywhere, no wonder you're feeling so bad!" Amagi said as Michael came with clean towels and a first aid kit.

"How is he not dead?" Michael asked.

"He's been subconsciously applying pressure with his arm, but the gash is too big to let go, we need to sew him together." Amagi said

"I'm wondering how they got him. I know he's a medic, but aren't all soldiers of the Union Army trained to fight as well?" Michael asked.

"Most of us... That Desmond Doss character didn't fight though... they said he saved 75 men at Hacksaw ridge without so much as a handgun." Ben said as Amagi quickly and expertly began sewing Ben's wound closed.

"Doesn't that... hurt?" Michael asked.

"Does what hurt?" Ben asked.

"She's sewing your side together while you're awake..." Michael said.

"Is she?" Ben asked as he lifted his arm and saw Amagi working quickly to keep him from bleeding out.

"Ah, so she is. No I can't say that it hurts too much. I'm still coming down from that dust shit." Ben said.

"That stuff seems dangerous..." Michael suggested.

"Oh it is. It one hundred percent is. I've seen this stuff used on other prisoners and they just flat out melted from the inside. Gruesome shit. Apparently this shit is super radioactive if it isn't processed properly... Or so Observer Alpha says." Ben said as Amagi put the final stitch in.

"So how are you able to survive putting that shit in your body?" Michael asked.

"I don't know. But I know that it doesn't affect me the same as it did the others... I was the only survivor." Ben said as he moved his arm a bit, testing the stitches.

"It feels like it's holding... I can't feel much of anything though." Ben said as Michael rushed ahead to catch him before he fell overboard.

Amagi stepped forward and helped lower Ben to the deck.

"Looks like that stuff is just like the Amphetamines they gave the troops back in Germany." Michael said.

"Yeah... we should move him inside. He'll need a lot of rest to recoup that much blood." Amagi said looking around at the massive puddle of blood that soiled her deck.

"He's still breathing after losing that much... just what did the fatherland do?" Michael asked as Talisman's plane splashed down on Amagi's port side.

"I'll take him in, you tend to making sure Wilhelm comes back onboard. We're heading south." Amagi said.

"Why are we heading south?" Michael asked.

"Because. I have made the decision based on the increasing number of run-ins with the Sirens, and their use of humans in our last engagement, that I would rather not be forced into a situation that could endanger any of you further. I mean, look at Ben. He's nearly been gutted. We are outnumbered, and with the inclusion of human shields, someone is going to break and talk. Our secret will be spilled, and without the backup of this mysterious Apollyon, we will die." Amagi said.

"Hmm... Normally I'd argue, but your intuition has always been really strong. And despite Ben being a huge pain in the ass... we no longer have a fighter capable of going onboard the enemy vessel to engage. Let's head south then." Michael said as he used the crane's controls to fish Wilhelm and his plane from the drink.

"Amagi, I'm fine, please put me down. I don't want you straining yourself." Ben said as he finally opened his eyes.

"Ben. I'm alright. We are going to head south now. That way you can rest and recover. Maybe this Apollyon will have help for you, and use for all of us." Amagi said as she cut all the lights on her vessel and made a sharp turn to port and began heading south, away from Dumaguete, towards the Sulu sea.

Isaac stifled any further negative thoughts as he walked onto the bridge of the Norfolk with Eldridge clinging to him like a spider monkey. Omaha took his flank with Belfast, Bremerton and Nimi filling in around him.

"What all do we have yet to do?" Isaac asked as Norfolk turned to look at him. Penny stood next to her.

"We're loading up everything we got. Materials have been salvaged by the subs and Kashino Patty is taking care of K-9 and making sure she is seaworthy. Australia entered and left drydock in the few hours that you were locked away. She has been retrofitted with a fighter catapult. We don't have any plans or parts to do any further right now, but the rest of the fleet has been repaired from battle. We will need to leave immediately if we are to rendezvous with the Australian Army transport ships in New Guinea." Norfolk said.

"In New Guinea? Who gave that order?" Isaac asked.

"Odin has demanded it on the grounds of reinforcing the ground troops in New Guinea and leaving behind a fresh batch of troops to finalize the takeover of the capitol and surrounding area." Norfolk explained.

"Ah. I see. Well if she has decided that it's the best course of action, then who am I to question her intuition. Are we ready?" Isaac asked.

"Yes. The fleet is loaded and awaiting your order." Norfolk said as she handed him the radio.

Isaac switched the radio to the dock frequency.

"Leaving us so soon, Admiral?" Allan asked.

"Yeah. I don't think that the sirens will have the steam to attack again after losing such a large force. You should be alright." Isaac said.

"You know, it's going to be rather quiet with this rowdy bunch of yours gone." Allan said.

"Well, it had to come to an end at some point, right?" Isaac asked as he chuckled.

"I guess. Well, did you want an escort out? I think two or three tugs survived the last battle." Allan said.

"Save your fuel. I may recommend this port for any citizens we evacuate in the Philippines." Isaac said.

"I'll get in touch with the Prime Minister and see what we can work out." Allan spoke.

"I'll keep a liaison here. If you get something figured out, tell her to contact me." Isaac said.

"Who shall be our protector, great Admiral?" Allan asked in a sarcastic tone before chuckling.

"The luckiest ship in the fleet. Yukikaze will be here to help out and defend this port." Isaac said.

"Wow. That's quite a risk, Admiral. You've gotten lucky twice here, are you sure leaving her behind is such a good idea?" Allan asked.

"I'm not leaving her behind, because when this world is finally free, she can choose to come back and join me. But I can tell from the look on her face, she'd rather not be on the front anymore." Isaac said, looking across the port to the Neko destroyer who was standing on the bow of the Helena with the Union cruiser of the same name. She looked nervous, as if she had been certain that her time fighting had finished.

"I see. We shall care for her here then. She will be well taken care of, I assure you." Allan said.

"Thank you. I want to help her forget the bad memories, so show her around if you can. Sydney sounds nice." Isaac said.

"Will do. Now get going. The RAN has already sent the orders for all ports to be locked down. After the second attack, they seem to be taking this seriously." Allan said.

"Alright. Thanks for everything." Isaac said as he changed the radio channel.

"Alright girls, it's go time. Yukikaze, I would like you to remain here to radio me if the Prime Minister allows refugees from the Philippines. We're going to be assaulting the entire region, se we may end up displacing a lot of people." Isaac said.

"Me, nanoda?" Yukikaze asked.

"Yes. Yukikaze the Great seems to be up to the task, aren't you?" Isaac asked.

Silence for a few seconds as Isaac watched the Neko talk with Helena, who was no doubt explaining her thoughts.

"I shall not disappoint you, Shikikan." Yukikaze said as she disembarked the Helena.

"I know you won't. Enjoy your rest, little one." Isaac said softly, his finger clearly off the button on the receiver.

"That's very kind of you, Isaac." Norfolk said.

"She was tortured by Zero. Her being here with the one who inflicted those scars... nobody should have to face that fear. This is for the best..." Isaac said as his mind began to slip backwards. His self destruction was halted by a firm hand on his shoulder.

"Master. Stand strong. There are more orders to give." Belfast said as Isaac turned to face her, just barely catching a tear falling from her eye.

"Aye. So there are." Isaac said, steeling himself before pressing the button on the receiver.

"The rest of you, form up outside of port and make haste for New Guinea. We're on one of the last legs to the Philippines, once we clear New Guinea, we'll be thrust back into the fires of battle, and we will fight for every inch. But at the end of it all, we will be faced with our biggest fight to date... Tester Beta. The last bastion of Siren influence in the Japanese pacific, or so intelligence suggests. We take her down, we can waltz right into Japan with our flags flying high. After that... we shall see where the seas take us." Isaac spoke, earning himself a chorus of horns from his fleet.

"Are we ready, Kommandant?" Odin's voice came over the radio.

"We are. Weigh anchor." Isaac said as he switched off the radio.

Isaac immediately turned to Belfast, who had expertly hidden any trace of tears.

"I want to see you later." Isaac said as she looked at him.

"I understand." Belfast said as the girls vacated the bridge of the Norfolk, save Nimi, Eldridge and Omaha.

"Isaac okay?" Eldridge asked.

"Isaac lost a good friend, Eldridge... Isaac... might be down for a bit." Isaac responded.

A small zap from Eldridge brought Isaac to his knees, eye level with his adopted daughter of a destroyer.

"Isaac has everyone. I'm sure Isaac will find comfort in the rest of the fleet." Eldridge said as she gave him a hug around the neck and a soft kiss on the cheek.

"Hey! Knock that off, you lewd destroyer!" Omaha said as he face turned red.

"Hmm? Miss Omaha mad that she hasn't kissed Isaac yet?" Eldridge asked.

"Eldridge, let's not antagonize everyone on your first day back. Let's try to get along with everyone." Isaac said as he looked at Omaha.

"Still... it's nice to have some old faces back in the fleet. It feels nice having some of the original six here with me." Isaac said.

"Hmph... you sure aren't showing it. Allowing that destroyer to cling to you like that." Omaha said as she held her arms open.

"So you are jealous then?" Norfolk asked.

"What?!" Omaha cried.

"You are so jealous." Nimi said excitedly.

"Girls, enough." Isaac tried.

"I'm not jealous! Not one bit! I'm definitely not jealous that Penny has managed to get my Commander's heart before me!" Omaha said as Isaac sighed.

"Omaha... you're not making it hard for them." Isaac said.

"Not you too..." Omaha said with an even more embarrassed look on her face.

"Come here. I've missed you too." Isaac said as he held out an arm to receive the green haired Union cruiser.

The feeling didn't last long as Norfolk got a radio message as soon as the fleet had made it to the outer limits of the port.

"Isaac. I hate to interrupt the reunion, but Tirpitz needs to speak to you, urgently." Norfolk said.

"Put her through. If she's calling, it must be important." Isaac said as she held the receiver to his ear.

"Hello?"

"Kommandant, thank god. I've been calling for hours, is everything alright?" Tirpitz asked.

"Yes, somehow. What is the matter, is something wrong?" Isaac asked.

"Azuma and Mutsuki have been sucked into a mirror sea. We have no idea where they have gone." Tirpitz said, a hint of fear in her voice.

"It is of no concern. Azuma and Mutsuki are here with me. The Mirror sea was an experiment by one of our... prisoners." Isaac said.

"What?" Tirpitz queried.

"We have captured Observer Zero. She found a mirror sea generator among the junk onboard the Norfolk and used it to drag ships from different fleets to help us in battle." Isaac said.

"So... you have a mirror sea at your disposal?" Tirpitz asked.

"I do..." Isaac said.

"Very interesting, Kommandant. And you said those two are with you?" Tirpitz asked.

"They are. Hey, how did Ranger's group fare?" Isaac asked.

"They all arrived here safely. A few plasma burns but everyone has settled in and the refugees have been relocated off base and into the surrounding towns. Ranger herself has one family being kept here on base." Tirpitz said.

"Is it the Nimitz family?" Isaac asked.

"It is... they have made themselves at home on the base and are slowly getting acquainted to the girls here." Tirpitz said.

"Keep them safe. I want them to be considered VIP. Nimitz will be thrilled to have his family back." Isaac said.

"Why don't you send him here? You have a mirror sea generator, no?" Tirpitz asked.

"I don't know if it works like that. And I don't know if it can be traced by the other Sirens. So I'd like to use it only if in dire straits." Isaac responded.

"Ah. I see. So... you using that device to reunite me and my sister would not be in the cards then?" Tirpitz asked.

"No. But, if you're willing to sail... I can possibly delay our departure from New Guinea long enough for you to arrive." Isaac said.

"I'll take the place of Nimitz and his ship. If anyone understands wanting family... it's me." Tirpitz said.

"Alright. I'll let him know." Isaac said.

"Glad to hear you haven't perished, Kommandant." Tirpitz said as she cut the line.

"Yeah... me too." Isaac said as he looked at the ceiling.