The months passed by and one morning Bismarck had to face an anniversary what should have made her happy but instead of this it brought only sorrow for her. It was exactly two years ago when she first met Heinrich after that tragic battle on the North Sea.
And it was now half a year since she lost him not knowing if he is still alive. She felt that it was a miracle that she didn't go crazy by now.
Contrary to her sadness, the sea was sparkling beautifully and bright shone the Sun. After searching hundreds of thousands of square kilometers in the Pacific now Bismarck was not far away from Japan and she was closing to this little island called Iwo Jima. Suddenly the sensors told her that a submarine was lurking under the waves at a distance of 20.000 meters.
"Who on earth are you? Are you looking for trouble too? Alright, come at me if you want." But the sub did nothing. They got closer and closer to each other and not a single torpedo was fired. "What are you waiting for?" Suddenly Bismarck felt that the submarine was calling her. A screen started to glow before her and after a second she saw the person who contacted her. Wait a minute. It's a human. It's a male, Japanese human. And he was not alone. He was accompanied by a mental model and three other humans in the control room. Although it was surprising for Bismarck, her stoic face didn't change.
"Greetings!" said the human who was visibly the captain. "My name is Chihaya Gunzo, admiral of the…"
Present, end of Bismarck's flashback (it was a pretty long one, wasn't it?)
Bismarck opened her eyes sitting in the armchair. She looked around in the saloon letting out a sigh. Here she is now at a small Japanese island together with other renegade Fog ships and a handful of humans and she can only hope that they can help him.
"Looks like that Kongo named told the truth about this strange group." thought Bismarck as she stood up. She walked up to her deck. It was dawning and she had to admit that the Pacific Ocean looked very beautiful. She leaned on her railing watching the rising Sun and listening to the song of the seagulls.
"Bismarck." she heard a childish, neutral voice.
"What do you want?" asked Bismarck from Iona.
"My captain would like to have a talk with you. He asks if he could meet you in your ship."
"He may come." replied Bismarck in a listless tone. She went over to the port side of her ship and saw Gunzo walking down the sandy shore. She created platforms so he could climb up to her deck.
"Ohaio Bismarck." said Gunzo when he arrived. "Did you sleep well?"
"I didn't sleep. Did you get any information about Hiei?"
"Is there a place here where we can sit down a talk?" asked Gunzo. He saw on Bismarck's face that she'd prefer to throw him overboard right in that moment but the battleship managed to keep calm.
"Of course. Befolge mich. (Follow me.)" Bismarck led him down the stairs and into the saloon.
"Oh wow. It's very impressive." nodded Gunzo.
"Setzt dich bitte." said Bismarck gesturing to the armchairs.
"Pardon?"
"Take a seat!" said Bismarck annoyed. "Would you like something to drink?"
"Yes please." Bismarck opened the cabinet and Gunzo saw the literally dozens of bottles of wine, whiskey, rum and other stuff.
"What?" asked Bismarck when he noticed Gunzo's look while pouring out two glasses of whiskey.
"Nothing." Gunzo waved it off. "Thank you." he said taking his glass.
"So? Did you find any trace?" asked Bismarck as she sat down too.
"We didn't find any signs of Hiei in this area or in the Central Pacific. We can give it a chance and search after her around Oceania and the Equator but personally I think that it has little chance. At least I never heard about her being there."
"Worth a try."
"We wanted to go on a patrol to the south anyway. Still we'll keep an eye on the Northern Hemisphere. Even if she's currently around Indonesia or Australia she can always return here."
"True." replied Bismarck shortly.
"I'm really sorry that I'm asking this again and again but could you tell me why do you want to find her?"
"It's a personal matter if you don't mind."
"How did you meet at all? Were you in the Pacific before?"
"Yes I were."
"What brought you to this side of the word? You are a member of the Fog's Atlantic Fleet, don't you?"
"I'm their flagship. Because of certain reasons I've lost the title and had to leave the Atlantic for a bit of time but now I'm their de jure flagship again. I've made the Battlecruiser Derfflinger their temporary leader. What brought me here? I'd like to keep it as my own business."
"Alright." sighed Gunzo. "But can I ask what made you to stop attacking humans instantly on the sight?"
"Actually it is because of a human."
"Really? How did you meet him?"
"It happened under kind of dramatic circumstances in the North Sea. Long story short: he changed my mind very much. And therefore I'll be grateful to him forever."
"Is this friend of yours related somehow to your problem with Hiei?" asked Gunzo who was now very interested. But before Bismarck could answer the base of the Blue Fleet started calling her.
"I think your crew wants to talk to you." said Bismarck and a screen appeared.
"Captain! We got news about some… strangeness." reported Shizuka.
"What is it?" asked Gunzo.
"Apparently some Fog ships from the 1st Oriental Fleet intercepted the cruisers Sydney and Perth when they wanted to enter the Philippine Sea. When they didn't stop they turned them back with gunfire."
"Hm. That's unusual indeed."
"1st Oriental Fleet you say? That's commanded by Hiei." said Bismarck. "Shouldn't we inspect this case?"
"You have a point Bismarck. We'll set sail at noon. You can join us if you'd like to. Could we continue this conversation at another time?"
"I guess so. Signal me when you leave and I'll follow you."
"Of course." nodded Gunzo and left.
Bismarck leaned back and sighed. "I know I should be friendlier. After all they are helping me and I'm here with them now for weeks. Alright, at some point I'll tell this Gunzo guy what happened."
Months earlier, Hiei's POV
"Please take a seat." said Hiei as they stood in the living room.
"What do you want to know?" asked h as he slowly sat down.
"I'd like to know who you are." said Hiei and she also placed herself on the armchair.
"I'm Heinrich Wenzel."
"Alright Heinrich-san. Where are you from?"
"Europe."
"More specifically?"
"Germany."
"And?"
"Bremerhaven."
"Arigato. And what people should know about you?"
"Just ask whatever you want." he rolled his eyes.
"Do you have any relatives?"
"My parents have died. By the hands of the Fog."
"Oh… I'm… I'm sorry to hear that."
"Sure you are…"
"And… what could you tell me about your life?"
"I went to the Naval Academy as soon as I turned eighteen and became a sailor of the Deutsche Marine. I've served in Hamburg. One day we had to attack two battleships. Even if the coastal army managed to destroy one of them all of my comrades died. That was where I met Bismarck. I think you know how the story continues, I already told it on Isla Watson."
"Thank you for sharing this with me." Hiei bowed her head.
"So you want me to join the Fog?"
"Why not?"
"I have hundreds of reasons to reject this offer."
"And what if I can give you reasons to side with me?"
"That would be surprising for me."
"Good because I have some. I'll tell them to you later. But tell me about yourself now please. What would have you done instead of the military if there wouldn't be a war?"
"I wanted to go to university and study archeology."
"Archeology? What is that?"
"It's the study of human activity through the recovery and analysis of material finds. It helps us to know how people lived hundreds or even thousands years ago."
"What is the point in that? What do you benefit from these informations?"
"They say that we can't have a future if we don't know our past. Furthermore I think it is part of the human nature that we want to know where we came from."
"I see. And… Do you have any favorite part in this so called "archeology"?"
"The Roman Empire."
"Isn't Rome a city?" asked Hiei surprised.
"Yes it is."
"How big was this empire?"
"It ruled most of Europe, North Africa and a piece of Asia from Britain to Egypt and from today's Portugal to today's Iraq."
"A single city has managed to do this?"
"Of course the romans had help from the lands they already conquered but technically yes."
Hiei was staring with an interested look. "Could… Could you tell more about this?"
"S-Sure. But why?"
"It sounds very interesting."
Heinrich spent nearly three hours telling Hiei about the ancient Rome, the legions, Caesar, Augustus, Traianus, Vespasianus and the other emperors, the structure of the Empire and other stuff.
"More or less that's what I can tell you."
"You are a well-educated human, aren't you?" asked the battleship.
"I just always loved to learn about history."
"Thank you. It was useful."
"Useful for what?"
"Ehm… Nothing." said Hiei with a strange smile.
"Sorry but I'm still a bit suspicious." said the young man then he grabbed his shoulder with a grin.
"Is something wrong?" asked Hiei.
"My back and my neck still hurt sometimes because of the "little surprise" of your super-gravity cannon."
Hiei was thinking for a few seconds. Then she stood up, walked behind him and gently grabbed both of his shoulders.
"What are you doing now?"
"I'm just trying to help on this problem. So just relax." said the battleship as she gave a massage to his muscles. Though he was very surprised he just let her do it. He had to admit that actually it felt good and soon the pain disappeared. "Feeling better?"
"Y-Yeah. Better. Thank you… I guess."
"Your very welcome. Did someone tell you before that you have pretty stout muscles?"
"No. I think not."
"Then I'm pleased to be the first one. Forgive me now, I have to go. But I'll return again."
"You know, I still don't really get why you left me alive and brought here."
"Patience dear Wenzel-san! Curiosity is not necessarily good. I'll inform you about everything what I've planned. Bye bye!" waved Hiei her hand again with that seducer smile and returned to her ship.
When was alone again Heinrich walked out of the house. "Stuart!" he shouted. "Are you here somewhere?" He had to wait only five seconds before the Australian shepherd jumped out of the bushes and ran to him. "Don't worry, she's not here. Even if she was you could stay by my side. I'll never let anyone hurt you okay?" he said petting Stuart's head. "What have you planned you freak mental model?"
Somewhere else
"Myoko! Could you stay for a few minutes?" Hiei asked after another dismissed meeting.
"Of course President." said the heavy cruiser sitting back.
"Not fair Hieeeeii!" complained Ashigara. "Why can't we be involved too? Is it something important?"
"Do you have any problems with my orders?" asked Hiei sinisterly with blazing eyes.
"N-No… No of course not."
"That's what I thought. Now go!" Ashigara literally sprinted out of the student council room after Nachi and Haguro.
"What is it President?"
"Can I still count on you Myoko?"
"As always."
"Good. Glad to know that I have someone like you."
"I'm just following you."
"Still, you are one of the greatest Fog ships I've ever known. That's why I'd like to share my thoughts with you."
"Your thoughts?"
"Myoko, what are we fighting for?"
"For the Admiralty Code and the Fog's dominance over the world's oceans."
"Correct. But is that what we are doing now?"
"What do you mean?"
"The Fog shall prevail; I think we agree on this. But then? Do we really have to wipe out mankind?"
"According to Musashi, yes."
"And what if she is wrong?"
"Are you questioning her?"
"In my eyes her intentions and strategy bring only chaos. There are no signs that the humans want to surrender. Even if we destroy all of their warships afloat, I'm sure they'll not kneel."
"And what do you think we should do?" asked Myoko.
"Make the Fog glorious and make the humans side with us. It will be much easier to control them if they think that they benefit from our rule. That would also mean less fighting which means lower chance of losing so good ships like you."
"You are overrating me President…"
"I don't think so. Well? What do you think?"
"Actually I agree. You have a point. However… the Fog's supreme leader is Musashi. How do you want to deny her instructions?"
"She doesn't have to know everything. We can start to get organized in secret and when the time is right, take over."
"That's… pretty radical. And surprising to hear something like this from you."
"I was thinking about many things during the past months. And I thought that this would be the best for us. Also: could you keep another secret?"
"Sure." nodded Myoko.
"I have a human."
"What?"
"By name, he is Heinrich Wenzel, that human who was with Bismarck at the Galapagos Island."
"What... How did you get him?" This was something, Myoko absolutely didn't expect.
"Remember when I went on a patrol alone east from Hawai'i? Actually I sailed around South America, knocked Bismarck out when she was unaware and brought him to a small island between Australia and the Solomon Islands."
"What do you want from him?"
"To join our cause. He is a very talented sailor and fighter. He would be useful for us."
"You shocked me very much Hiei, do you know that?"
"I didn't expect anything else. There is more. You probably thought about what would happen after we broke down all resistance in the world. This Heinrich told me about a great empire that once existed, the Roman Empire or the "Imperium Romanum". Sounds cool doesn't it?"
"Y-Yeah. It sounds cool. I want to create something like that but that would include the whole planet with all the power in the hand of one person."
"And who that person would be?"
"What is your guess Myoko?"
"You?"
"What do you think about how I lead the fleet?"
"You are a great flagship Hiei."
"And do you think I could do it in a bigger version?"
"After all… yes."
"Of course it would be me who will have the wheel."
"Then what would you be?"
"Hm. I don't know. Maybe a governor? A supreme leader? Or maybe… a queen? Or something even better! How does it sound: an empress?"
"Sounds very imperious."
"And you could be my minister or something like that. The romans called this role as "consul". You could have power all over the world. Only I would have greater power." said Hiei standing up. "What do you think, Consul Myoko?"
Silence lapsed between them.
"I… c… could you give me a few minutes President?"
"I'm not in a hurry."
Myoko closed her eyes. As she was thinking Hiei walked to the window looking out. "Empress? Not bad." she thought with a satisfied look.
After five minutes Myoko spoke up. "Okay Hiei. I will stand by your side as I always did before. My calculations also say that your plan has a chance."
"I knew you'll not disappoint me." smiled Hiei offering her hand. Myoko took and shook it. "Now listen. We have to gather those ships who are willing to support us. What about your sisters?"
"Nachi is like me, she will stand with you, no matter what. I think Ashigara and Haguro are the same even if they might need a little motivation. In short: the Myoko-class is with you."
"Great. Then please try to speak with them. I'll have talks with other ships. And try to keep the other fleets out of our zone; we don't want any unwanted looks."
"Understood. Anything else?"
"Yes. Do not fire on any human ships unless you get attacked. We shall start to show kindliness now to gain their acceptance."
"Yokai."
"You may leave Myoko. And thank you."
"With pleasure." bowed Myoko and left.
Hiei was once again left alone and returned to her ship. She looked around letting her eyes roaming the ocean.
"How great it will be when all of this will be mine. Together with all the lands!" Oh, yes this is going to be very good. She can be far more than just a flagship of one of the fleets, and she swore that she will be. "Maybe I should start thinking about my crown jewels. Or better said: OUR crown jewels."