Isaac and Eagle stepped off the gangway and onto the rudimentary docks that had been constructed. Isaac was surprised that despite the less than quality material used, the result was on par with the docks at Azur Lane. Several people stood at the edge of the docks waiting for them.
"Who are they?" Isaac asked.
"The captain and his 'first mates' i think their called. Definately some older seafaring terms. But for pirates and smugglers, it fits the bill." Eagle said, almost in a distasteful tone.
"Ah. Royals have a sorted history with pirates. Your detestation is historically justified, but considering we pillaged their haul, the least we can do is be respectful." Isaac said.
"Understood." Eagle said, her clear disgust made it hard for Isaac not to chuckle.
"What the hell are you laughing about, commander?" Eagle asked, suddenly on the defensive.
"You get flustered so easily. And the clear difference in attitude versus your words just makes it funny." Isaac said.
"Make fun of me again and you'll be doing PT to the sound of machine gun fire and spitfire engines, commander." Eagle said in a cold, harsh tone.
"Okay, okay. Pump the brakes. Just messing around. Its fine to enjoy some down time like this." Isaac said as he began walking down towards the end of the docks where the smugglers were waiting. Eagle huffed a bit before straightening her uniform and following, lagging behind a bit before seeing that Isaac was arguing with the captain.
"Yes, I understand this cargo was to go to Australia, but considering I have intel stating they're under blockade from the Sirens, you guys wouldnt have been able to get it where you needed anyway. Besides, I gave orders to leave all but 1 rifle, because I am unarmed. So you still have 39 mint condition rifles to supply the militias in Australia." Isaac spoke. It was clear the captain was angry.
"You stole our goods, how can we let that slide?!" The captain yelled, brandishing a knife.
"Fine, I'll give you the rifle. But the blueprints you had belong to me and my fleet." Isaac tried to negotiate.
"No, you give us our cargo, and we don't destroy these ships of yours. After all, what can a girl do? I dont even know how those ships work, but if its just the girls, they can be subdued." The captain said. Eagle overheard and relayed it to everyone in the fleet.
Eagle was about to get involved when Isaac smacked the captain across the face with the butt of his rifle, breaking his nose in the process.
"You can threaten me all you want, you son of a bitch, but don't you dare threaten my fleet. I dont need their strength to put someone like you in their place. And right now, your place looks to be about six feet under." Isaac spoke coldly. Any hint of compassion was long gone. One of the First mates tended to the captain as the other attacked. Isaac allowed the punch to hit his face, turning his head so it wouldnt do too much.
"Commander!" Eagle yelled as she ran up to him.
"You stay out of this, Eagle! Thats a direct order." Isaac spoke sternly.
The first mate made another attempt to punch him, but his arm was caught in a sloppy yet effective hold as he was pulled into Isaac's knee.
"Nobody disrespects my fleet." Isaac spoke as the first mate he had been fighting laid on the ground, clutching his stomach.
"Get out of here before I shoot each and every one of you. We saved you, and you're getting nothing back now. Be thankful you get to live." Isaac growled as the Captain tried one last attempt to attack, slashing at Isaac with every ounce of fury he had.
"Fuck you, you Union bastard. You injure me and my men, then insult me by stealing our cargo?! I'll make you pay in blood." The captain growled angrily.
Isaac decided enough was enough. A swing of the rifle was enough to knock the knife away. Isaac tossed his rifle back, barely being caught by Eagle as she then placed it gently on the planks making up the dock.
"Let's go, old man. Growing up in Chicago definately has it's perks." Isaac said as he threw a punch. With a terrifying sound, Isaac's muscle-laden punch ended up cracking one of the captain's ribs, leaving him gasping for breath.
"I was supposed to be on shore leave today, enjoy it with the girls in my fleet. But here you are, spitting in the face of the man who gave the order to save your ass." Isaac said as he advanced, landing punch after solid punch on the captain's undefended stomach. It didnt take long for the captain to be on his back, barely breathing on the docks, red stains dirtied his shirt as well as Isaac's.
"You leave my fleet in peace. Make arrangements to get home. I dont care. Everything we saved, is ours. You lost. Rodney can remember a face. If she sees any of you around my fleet again, I wont be so forgiving." Isaac said as he spat on the captain's face.
The captian looked like he wanted to protest, but a death glare from Eagle was enough to kill that notion.
"Fine... we'll leave." The captain said, defeated.
"You ain't got much a choice. Now leave my sight. I have more important things to deal with than some ungrateful pirates." Isaac said as he turned to face Eagle.
"I'm sorry you had to witness that. Let me go change and we can be on our way. Are the other girls on shore already?" Isaac asked, trying to clear any air of awkwardness that could have arisen.
"The girls... were watching from the shops." Eagle said quietly. Isaac quickly scanned the shore, sure enough every girl in the fleet was in plain view.
"How much did they see..." Isaac spoke in a sullen tone.
"I radioed them about the possibility of a pirate attack on our vessels... so they came just in time to see you beat down those two pirates." Eagle said.
"I see. That is a side of me that I wished you girls would never have had to see. I'll be in my quarters. Go spend some time with the others. Get some rest and enjoy the day, we leave at sunrise tomorrow." Isaac said as he brushed past Eagle, who was trying to find words to say to him. The other girls ran over to her, rushing past the injured pirates.
"What's wrong with the Kommandant?" Nimi asked.
"I... I don't know." Eagle stated.
"We all heard it, Shikikan was protecting us from those pirates, nyaa." Akashi said.
"Yes he was. And for that I am thankful. I just don't know how to process this. Rodney, you know the saying 'looks can be decieving' correct?" Eagle asked.
"Of course. Why do you ask?" Rodney asked.
"Thats what I had in mind when i thought about the Commander. He looked strong and tough but acted so nice and chivalrous. But this... he is every bit as strong as he looks! I heard that older captain's rib crack from a single punch. And the way he advanced... landing blow after blow. It was like the Blitzkrieg given human form." Eagle said, unable to contain her now very clear excitement.
"Wait. You enjoyed watching that?" Nimi asked.
"Yes! I seek power. I like powerful things. It may be treasonous, but i felt joy when i heard how successful the blitz was. And I felt elated the moment the Union landed with us in Normandy. The raw power and emotion... just makes me happy." Eagle said.
"That explains you... but what about the Commander?" Rodney asked, looking around and finding nobody.
"He's in his quarters. I could see it in his eyes when we spoke. He thinks we hate him... or are scared of him or something. I don't know. All he said was that he is sorry for 'showing us that side of him'." Eagle said as she remembered what he had said.
"Isaac strong. I feel safe." Eldridge spoke.
"Nyaa. While Shikikan isn't the best at expressing himself, he made his care for us rather clear." Akashi added.
"I have to agree. He put himself in harms way, and even ordered you to stand down, just to keep us from having that blood on our hands." Nimi said with a hand on her hip.
"I too have to agree. The commander may be a Union brute. But to deny him his chivalry would be a travesty on par with disrespecting the queen. He is a man of exceptional quality that I will follow to hell and back." Rodney spoke.
"So you all feel the same as me then, huh?" Eagle said.
"Well, im sure those of us who arent in love with him, still aren't. But i feel like he has earned my respect." Rodney said, earning nods from Akashi and Nimi.
"Eagle mean. Steal commander from me." Eldridge said as sparks shot from her live wires.
"Hey. If you want him too, go get him. Im just doing what my heart desires. I'm not one to hog such a wonderful man." Eagle said.
"Although... now might not be the best time to argue who gets to have him. I think he just needs to see that we accept him, more now than ever." Rodney spoke as she headed for the Eagle.
"I agree." Nimi said as the rest followed suit.
"The girls are probably terrified. I know they're warships but still. They're women too." Isaac reprimanded himself in front of the mirror as he bandaged his wrist. One of his punches hit bone and twisted his wrist.
"At least the pirates are gone." Isaac said as he sat on the bed and took off his shirt. It was stained red around the collar and upper chest.
"Damn. And this was a nice shirt too." Isaac said as he balled it up and threw it in the can next to his bed. He looked in the mirror. Scars riddled his upper arms and chest. Stitch marks, stab wounds and even burn scars from his childhood in Chicago. It was during his recollection of his past that the door swung open. Gasps from all 5 girls broight him back to reality.
"Commander!?" Eagle yelled from the back as the others looked over his scars.
"I'm okay girls." Isaac said.
"Where is your shirt, commander?" Rodney asked.
"It was ruined during the scuffle on the docks. So I dont have one." Isaac said.
"Well, lucky for you, we had things worth trading." Nimi said as Eldridge produced a bag. Inside was a full change of clothes and a razor.
"We aren't afraid of you. And with your sentiment, and your reason for fighting, we all agree that you have only solidified your standing with us. We like strength. We are attracted to it. Some among us... even love it. Like Eagle." Rodney said.
"RODNEY!" Eagle cried.
Isaac chuckled at her remark.
"I see. Well, as you can tell by these..." Isaac motioned to the scars on his body. "... I didnt live an easy life. I worked myself from a nobody in Chicago, where knife fights and fires were a daily event, to my job as a mechanic, based on the east coast. Every day was a fight. I even moved my parents out of Chicago to live in the area with me. Then... the sirens. My parents died fighting for me to escape. I came to you, scared and confused. Your will to face such unholy things has given me a window back to my roots. You all remind me of myself in a way." Isaac said.
"Commander. We will serve you with everything we have, and more. We exist to help you, so one day we can liberate this world." Rodney said, earning a nod from everyone else.
"Thank you all. And I will do my best to give you girls the best lives I can." Isaac said with a salute. The girls copied his salute.
"Let me get changed, then we can see about
island time." Isaac said.
"Of course. Girls, let's go make sure none of those pirates are starting trouble." Nimi said.
The girls filed out as the door to his quarters shut.
Isaac smiled. He quickly put on his shirt and followed everyone off the ship.