Isaac saw Eli standing among the others. It brought a smile to his face. After a few minutes of maneuvering, all four ships were docked in the relatively large fishing port. Isaac and the girls disembarked into the waiting crowd.
"What happened?" Eli asked.
"We... underestimated the strength of the enemy. My lack of insight led to us being forced to retreat." Isaac said, a look of defeat crossed his face.
"He's too embarassed to say that even though we won our battle, he ended up getting caught in an explosion that knocked him out, rendering our leadership useless." Rodney said as she looked at Isaac.
"Yeah yeah. At least Akashi made it out. I'd gladly throw myself into harms way for any of you, and you know that." Isaac said.
The girls all sighed and nodded, ackowledging his statement.
"Are you all okay? That sounds like quite an ordeal." Eli asked.
"Yeah. I had to send one back to base. She isn't a combat ship to begin with, so having her out here after that battle was a risk I am no longer willing to take." Isaac said.
"All we need is a bit of your land and some supplies to build. We would like to use part of your island as a fuel depot, so we dont have to return to Niue as often." Isaac spoke. Eli looked at him, and then at the other villagers.
"I see. Well, we do have another port on the south side of the island. It doesn't see much use anymore. And it has room for maybe one or two ships. But other than that, we simply have no room for a complex like that." Eli said.
"Hmm. Well that's a bummer. I guess we'll take the other port then. Maybe be able to use the buildings there." Isaac said.
"If I may, it would be easier for Nimi or Eldridge to help you with the oil. Rodney and I have a hard enough time maneuvering in the shallow water." Eagle said.
"That makes sense." Isaac said as he looked out to sea.
"Eagle?" Isaac asked.
"Yes, Isaac?" Eagle asked as she turned to him.
"I think i might have hit my head earlier." Isaac said.
"Why do you say that?" Eagle asked as Nimi looked at Isaac.
"Because I see five ships heading this way. And last time I checked, we only had two at base." Isaac said.
"Should I hail them?" Rodney asked.
"Please do." Isaac said as he pulled up his binoculars.
"Unidentified incoming ships, Identify yourselves." Rodney said as her guns turned out to face the ships closing in.
"Rodney? It's me. Omaha. I brought some friends." Omaha said.
"Okay... the commander would like to know why there are so many more kansen with you than when we left." Rodney said.
"Long story. But we have some real heavy firepower now, courtesy of Iris Libre." Omaha said.
"Commander. Iris Libre has accompanied Omaha." Rodney reported to Isaac.
"I see. But someone tell me about the ship with the pagoda. That is unlike any ships I have seen." Isaac said.
A few seconds pass.
"Apparently Akashi kept the cubes we took from the pirates. When she returned to Niue, they were able to manifest into a Sakura Battleship. She claims to be Fusou." Rodney says.
"I see. Well, Let them know that we have space in port. And that we have work to do." Isaac said.
"It's done. They should be here within the hour. You have a good eye to spot them that far out." Rodney said.
Isaac shrugged.
"You look like you want to say something." Nimi said.
"I heard that woman's voice again." Isaac said.
"While you were asleep?" Nimi asked as everyone present turned to face him.
"No... it was when I was with Eagle... or rather after she had wandered off." Isaac said.
"The same voice Rodney told me about?" Eagle asked.
"Yes. It seems she is very insistant on me being the one to find her." Isaac said.
"I... wait... Richilieu just hailed us with a weird report." Rodney said.
"What's weird?" Isaac asked.
"They said that they picked up the voice on a hydrophone, but even after dialing it in, it never specified the location like your dream did." Rodney replied.
"Hmm. We really should have a sit down and talk. Maybe I-13 would know." Isaac spoke.
"They say I-13 is currently taking care of Akashi and running the base. But we have an Iris submarine to make up for her absence." Rodney said.
"Ah. Well, let's get to work. We have things to do. Nimi, let us go and check out this secondary port." Isaac said.
"Then we shall head there immediately. I'm sure someone will radio for us when the new girls arrive." Nimi said as she took Isaac's hand.
"I can spare a few men to help move the oil drums. And i think we have a cart to make it easier." Eli said as several large burly men came forward.
"I'd appreciate the help. We have a lot of oil to offload." Isaac said as he and the four men board the Z23.
"Just don't touch anything important looking, Nimi has a very strict rule about that." Isaac said as he looked down at his Kansen companion, who was still wearing the widest smile he'd seen on her since the day they met.
It didn't take long for them to circle around the back of the island and find a relatively big port for only having 2 berths.
"I think that warehouse there should have decent enough space for us to store our supplies." Isaac said as Nimi pulled in and morred her vessel to rhe dock.
The men began unloading the oil drums with relative ease. Isaac went and found a cart to make it easier to wheel into the warehouse. After about an hour, they had managed to fill half the warehouse with oil drums.
"That should do for now. Once we manage to clear the area further, I'm sure I can set up some form of transport system to begin exchanging our supplies from Niue." Isaac said as Z23's radio came to life.
"Nimi. Commander? The Reinforcements have arrived and are awaiting your presence." Eagle said.
"I guess that's our cue to head back to the main port. After all, we need to get going again. This was a setback to be sure, but now we have a bigger fleet at our call." Isaac said as Nimi nodded. The men had already gone, deciding to walk back to their village instead of sailing such a short distance.
Nimi and Isaac boarded her vessel, undoing the mooring lines and reversing out of the port. Isaac had been ready to cast away but something caught his eye.
"Nimi. Hold up for a minute." Isaac said as he grabbed his binoculars. He scanned the water beneath the port for a few seconds before seeing what had caught his eye.
"What is it, Mein Liebling?" Nimi asked.
"Those are wisdom cubes, no?" Isaac asked as Nimi snatched away the binoculars.
"Nein. But it is what they are made of. I don't know the material, but it seems you have found a chunk of raw wisdom cube material.
"I remember the sirens saying something about mining wisdom cubes from here. I didn't know what they meant. I'm gueesing this is it, huh?" Isaac asked.
Nimi produced her rigging and aimed the smaller torpedo launchers that graced her hips.
"I can collect it for you. If that is what you wish." Nimi said.
"Please do. I wish to study it on our way towards Fiji. You will help, won't you?" Isaac asked.
"Of course. My husband is learning, and I would like to learn as well." Nimi daid as she fired a torpedo from her waist. A small explosion under the waves was enough to coax the surrounding rocks to release their treasure.
"Hang tight. I shall return." Nimi said before Isaac grabbed her.
"No. I'll get it. We dont know what it'll do in an unrefined state. Especially to a kansen. Just drop me a lifeboat so I can grab it." Isaac said.
"As you wish." Nimi said as Isaac hopped into one of her lifeboats and dropped into the water. After some rowing, he found himself sitting mere inches away from a rock that easily could produce 20 cubes at worst. 30 at best.
"I wonder what purpose these have. They don't have any data... or shouldnt. So these are just blank slates?" Isaac asked himself as he rowed back to the Z23.
"Did anything happen?" Nimi asked as she pulled him aboard.
"No. It is alive with energy... but nothing to indicate that a ship has been imprinted on them. And if that is the case, what can be imprinted? Do you have a blanket? I feel like we should avoid allowing this to touch anything that can be considered for imprinting." Isaac said as Nimi handed him a thick wool blanket from her emergency medical box.
"Thank you." Isaac said as he wrapped the rock in the blanket and set in on the deck.