Episode 15: And So We Go.
Elbe and Lucia stood waiting by her vessel after crossing the port from their location to the east. Lucia looked like she was lost somewhere between defiant and nervous. Elbe stood fidgeting as she watched a verifiable invasion fleet close the last remaining distance between themselves and her. The sound of horns blaring perforated the port's silence as the vessels broke formation to find applicable berths to land.
"No turning back… heh." Elbe said nervously as she looked to Lucia, who stared at the German carrier with slight annoyance.
"We wouldn't have to be standing here worrying if you would have just explained things from the beginning…" Lucia spoke, leaving Elbe flat-footed.
"Lucia, that's not fair! I launched my planes because I thought we were under attack…" Elbe whined.
Lucia pointed to Z2's vessel, where the spotlight was still flashing the morse code message requesting peaceful passage.
"I may not know military like you, Elbe, but it's pretty easy to spot a blindingly bright light popping out a message. If you would have paid any attention, you would have noticed that they were trying to get your attention." Lucia deadpanned.
Elbe's shoulders dropped with a sigh.
"I guess you're right. Still… I was thinking about you. You came to me, remember?" Elbe spoke.
Lucia thought back to her journey thus far. Her escape from Germany, meeting with the American tank company, train-hopping her way to France, meeting with Elbe, and now this.
'If only Elbe would stop and think for one second, I wouldn't have to keep her on a leash as much' Lucia thought, before responding to Elbe.
"True… Thanks for the effort, Elbe… just work on not getting us killed in the future." Lucia jabbed.
Elbe pouted. Her pout very quickly devolved when she heard arguing coming in their direction.
"I told you she was annoying. We shouldn't have come here, Admiral." A tall Iron Blood women spat at an older man wearing a white, navy-looking uniform, both of them walking behind a man in a green Army uniform with a girl quite literally hanging from his arm.
Lucia stared at the Iron Blood women, hatred burning in her soul.
'That must be Gneisenau. She looks much different then what she sounded like. Hell, she sounded more menacing on radio.' Lucia thought as the girl hanging off of the army man's arm spat at Gneisenau.
"Both of you, enough!" The Army man barked angrily, making the entire group fall silent.
As the two men sized up Elbe, Lucia did the same to the group. The older man seemed to have made himself an entire life in the navy, based off the lines on his face. The army man, he was more of a
"I see… Well… My name is Elbe. I am a Jade Class Aircraft Carrier, formerly of the Kriegsmarine. My friend here is Lucia. She is a German citizen who had been caught up in all of this Siren crap." Elbe said as she gestured to Lucia, who stood behind her to her left.
"It is a pleasure to meet you both. Let's get down to business, shall we?" Nimitz asked.
"S-sure." Elbe said as Gneisenau's glare had not left her eyes.
"I am here for one purpose, to recruit you to join us in capturing assets for the Admiral of Azur Lane, Admiral Isaac Garner." Nimitz spoke.
"Admiral who? Never heard of him." Elbe spoke.
"It makes sense. I would assume any who know of him are either in Siren Captivity or have been executed. He is currently the sole major force in the world, fighting to rid the world of the Sirens once and for all. That said, we have been tasked with asset retrieval. Our target is within the German border. I cannot disclose more unless you plan to join us." Nimitz spoke.
Elbe looked at Lucia.
"What's in it for us?" Elbe asked.
"Us?" The Admiral asked.
"I'm not leaving Lucia, not after everything she went through to get here. If I go, she comes with." Elbe demanded.
"Ugh… this is why you're so annoying. Can we just leave, Admiral?" Gneisenau asked.
Lucia stared at Gneisenau.
"What do you have against Elbe?" Lucia asked bluntly, causing Elbe to look at Lucia with horror in her eyes.
"What was that?" Gneisenau asked as she stepped forward.
"I asked what you had against Elbe. She did not attack, but yet your cannons blew her planes from the sky. I was with her, she had no intention of attacking unless she deemed you a threat, yet, right when she would have been able to make the distinction, your guns opened fire on her air group. And ever since, I have heard you refer to her in the worst possible manner. So what did she do to make you hate on her like this?" Lucia spat, getting right in Gneisenau's face.
"She's annoying and never gets to the point. Her questioning of orders and roundabout way of doing things is an affront to the Kriegsmarine." Gneisenau spat as she met Lucia's gaze.
"The Kriegsmarine is gone, Gneisenau. Get used to it." Lucia spat as a hand came to her shoulder.
"Lucia… it isn't wise to upset Gneisenau…" Elbe spoke quietly as she made an effort of pulling Lucia away.
Lucia shrugged off Elbe's hand and began to turn away, but Gneisenau had to make one last comment.
"The single smartest thing you've said to date." Gneisenau said, only to earn a fist to her jaw.
"Lucia!" Elbe cried as the girl next to the army man looked on in amusement.
"You little…" Gneisenau spoke as she recovered. She made ready to summon her rigging when the Admiral spoke up.
"Enough, Gneisenau, if you cannot keep your comments to yourself, I will not hesitate to confine you to your vessel until we reach Germany. Go take a walk, get me Z2." The Admiral spoke coldly.
Gneisenau growled angrily but complied nonetheless.
"I am sorry for her explosive expressions. I was warned that she was rather… temperamental. It seems I must heed that warning more than I was willing to." The Admiral admitted.
The army man walked forward and looked at Elbe.
"Elbe… I won't sugarcoat this. Yorktown is our only carrier for this mission. Z2 informed us that you were here. We came here hoping for your help. We need another carrier." the army man said.
Elbe looked at Gneisenau's retreating form.
The army man noticed this.
"Gneisenau will not be a problem. She knows that this mission is important. She just seems to have a chip on her shoulder. But rest assured, your safety will be ensured." The army man explained.
Elbe looked at Lucia.
Lucia shrugged.
"It's your call, Elbe. Personally, I wouldn't want to be the subject of ridicule by a battleship as grouchy as that." Lucia spoke as she rubbed her knuckles.
'Although, I wouldn't mind giving her another punch to the jaw. Knock her down a few pegs again.' Lucia thought
"What will we be required to do?" Elbe asked.
"I cannot explain further until you agree to join us." The Admiral spoke.
Elbe sighed.
"I guess it's better than being cooped up here, surrounded by these wine drinkers. I'll do it." Elbe said.
The Admiral nodded to the army man.
"Come with us. Ensure your vessel is ready for immediate departure. I'll brief you while we are under why." The Admiral said as Elbe and Lucia followed the small group towards the invasion fleet, with the Elbe moving under its own power towards the fleet.
A/N: And here is the much anticipated season finale with Lucia meeting (well, not really) the raid fleet. We will be seeing more of this group and giving Carina more time in the spotlight in S2. See you then!