On his command, Nimi broke formation to lead the first fleet in their approach to the port.
"First fleet, radio check, can you hear me?" Isaac asked as he spoke into the radio receiver that was attached to the radio on Taka's back.
"Hear you loud and clear commander." Eagle said as the fleet confirmed as well.
"Alright. Start the countdown once Nimi and I make landfall. If you should hear any explosions, approach with caution." Isaac warned.
"Understood." The fleet affirmed.
"And you, Nimi. You stay right behind me. You are only to engage if we run into a Kansen, and even then, I don't want you in the front." Isaac said.
"Kommandant... You're not being objective. Your safety is my first priority, be it human or Kansen threat. I'm tougher than you anyway, so don't worry about me. I'm stronger than I look." Nimi said coldly, dropping his usual nickname.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to offend. I'll try to keep that in mind." Isaac said.
Nimi gave him a small peck on the lips before returning to the helm of her ship.
"Alright you four, Check your weapons and ammunition. I know they aren't exactly what you four would be used to using, but it is what we have at the moment." Isaac said as he chambered a round in his own rifle. a small wave of clicks confirmed that the others were doing the same.
"What's with the vests, commander?" Taka asked.
"Flak jackets. I know it won't help much against bullets or shells from a Kansen... but it's something." Isaac said.
"I see. I'm surprised at how you have such things and how willing you are to share them." Fu said.
"Well, to be fair, the Union does not like the idea of death before dishonor. No suicide missions in the Union." Isaac said.
"So what happens if you fail, then?" Hashirama asked.
"We honor those who died in our failure, and then we strike while the iron's still hot. We either attack with a new plan, or with such an overwhelming amount of force, that it wouldn't matter anyway. When we get flustered, we take on a Soviet approach." Isaac said.
"Soviet approach?" Kido asked.
"Moscow is still counting losses but they have hit well over a million men lost in this pointless war. A soviet approach is to have more men and equipment than the enemy has bullets to kill. Overwhelm them with numbers and figure logistics later." Isaac said, his darker view of humanity slowly being brought to light.
"That's a... dark point of view, my friend." Taka said as he put a hand on Isaac's shoulder.
"I have not lived a good life. My life has been filled with pain, suffering, and hatred. I only live by what I see. I don't have time or the energy to persuade myself that the world is better outside my little bubble. We've been at war for the past 7 years, for what? Just because your government sided with Hitler, and Hitler wanted to take over the world? That is no noble cause. No greater good. This war had absolutely no point!" Isaac said as his fist slammed on the railing.
"Believe it or not, not everyone in Japan felt the same as the Emperor." Kido said.
"What do you mean?" Isaac asked.
"A lot of people have been imprisoned... they did not want to go to war. They thought we were dragged into this war. And I am one who agrees with them. But the way we think about that is mute now. We lost completely to the Union. Your Union didn't even have to use its full force to subdue our war effort. Some of my friends in Germany said that the scariest thing he saw was your Atlantic fleets attacking the shores of Normandy. The endless waves of men that stormed the beaches. He said then and there that he would surrender if given the chance, because fighting such a war machine... was suicide. I wish the emperor would have heard my opposition." Kido said.
"I'm sorry to cut your chat short, men. But we have broken away from the fleet and are on the final approach to the port." Nimi said as she came out from the bridge.
"I see. Alright. You four ready for this?" Isaac asked.
"The Sirens are our true enemy. And an enemy of my enemy is my friend." Taka said as the other three nodded in turn.
"Hopefully, as we ascend the Island chain, we can find soldiers and men willing to help take the Sakura. If we can find enough men, you four will have to lead them. I do not wish to be fully engaged in both land and sea warfare. I already have my hands full with the sirens and their drone ships at sea." Isaac said.
"Once we take back our home, and force an audience with the Emperor, you will have a friendly port in the Sakura empire. So as long as our ground forces can advance with your fleet, we can take the islands with your firepower and our knowledge from the mid-war period." Hashirama said.
"Well, then let's take this island so we can start building this army." Isaac said as Nimi finally pulled alongside the piers in Suva.
"Cut the chatter. We're here." Isaac said.
"Taka to First Fleet. Come in." Taka spoke into the radio.
"We hear you." Eagle spoke.
"We have just made landfall. We're beginning our approach into the city now." Taka said.
"Understood. Any orders from the commander?" Eagle asked.
"Commander?" Taka asked.
"Have Fuso and Richelieu take aim at the city. If we get overrun, shell the city into oblivion." Isaac said coldly, earning him a horrified look from Nimi and the other men.
"Don't you dare, Kommandant!" Nimi said angrily.
"Nimi... look." Isaac said as he pointed to the streets leading into the city.
Shell holes tore the street to a near unrecognizable state. The walls were splattered red. No building within view was untouched.
"Whatever has taken this city... has ensured that there were no survivors. These buildings are empty. We can spot check. But I don't think we will have any luck finding anything besides the monster that took this city." Isaac said.
"I...I didn't see that before... I'm sorry, liebling." Nimi said, disappointed in herself.
"Don't be upset, Nimi. I'm happy you value life like that. Don't ever feel bad for valuing life like you do. The monster that did this... they clearly have no qualms killing innocent people." Isaac said as he ran his hand through her hair.
"Is that the order, sir?" Taka asked.
"Yes. Relay that order." Isaac said.
"Eagle. This is Taka. Have Fuso and Richelieu take aim at the city and be ready for the order to demolish it. The city looks like a killing field, so we are assuming mass loss of life." Taka spoke.
"Understood." Eagle said as the radio cut the connection.
"Alright. Let's move in." Isaac said. The small group entered the war torn city with their weapons drawn.
"Fan out. Taka, go with Kido and Fu. Hashirama, Nimi and I will take this street. You have a smaller handheld radio that is connected to Nimi's radio on her ship. she can recieve those transmissions here. Use that to coordinate our movements." Isaac said.
"Understood. See you in the town center." Taka said.
"Let us hope, godspeed." Isaac said as the group split.
"I am receiving him 5 by 5." Nimi said.
"Good. Let's go." Isaac said as he took the lead.
Several radio calls, cadavers, and blocked off side streets late, Isaac and Taka's groups met up just outside city center.
"This place is a ghost town, commander. We didn't se a single living soul here." Fu said as they hung their heads.
"Same on our end. Not even the children were spared. The person or Kansen responsible... is a monster that needs to be dealt with." Isaac said.
"Monster? Is that what you see me as?" A mysterious voice asked as Isaac and the others aimed their rifles. Nimi had her rigging pointed at the voice the moment she spoke.
"Who the hell are you?" Isaac demanded.
"Sakura Pre-Dreadnaught Battleship, Mikasa. And the one who will destroy you and your little rebellion." Mikasa spoke slowly, as if her words were not her own.
"Stand down, Mikasa. I don't want to hurt you." Isaac said as he subtly motioned for the others to begin putting distance between them and Mikasa.
"But I want to hurt you. I want to kill you. You have been causing my masters quite a lot of trouble. So I am under orders to kill you the moment I see you." Mikasa said as her guns slowly turned to face Isaac.
"Kommandant!" Nimi yelled as she opened fire with her rigging, giving Isaac the second he needed to duck behind a building as Mikasa fired her main batteries at where he had been standing.
"An Ironblood destroyer? Under human command?" Mikasa stood silent for a second, her armor simply shattering Nimi's shells upon impact. She swung her sword at Nimi, who barely managed to dodge it, ripping her skirt in the process.
"Open fire! Subdue her!" Isaac yelled from the second floor of the building he had taken cover behind. At his order, five lanes of small arms fire opened from different points around Mikasa.
"Nimi! Get out of there, You're outclassed!" Isaac yelled as Nimi threw a small canister on the ground, producing a smokescreen to aid her escape.
"Think your small guns can hurt me? Maybe the sirens are weak to small arms, but I'm still a battleship. Your guns have no effect on me." Mikasa said as she allowed the bullets to simply shatter on her armor.
"Shit. We are outgunned and out-armored. Taka! Radio the fleet!" Isaac yelled over the small arms fire.
"On it!" Taka yelled.
"No you don't." Mikasa said from directly behind Taka, who had just enough time to turn his back before Mikasa's sword struck him. The radio fell to the ground in pieces.
"Thank god for Lady Yukikaze." Taka thought to himself as he took the small gift he had ben given and used it to escape the building he was hiding in.
"No good, Commander. She destroyed the radio." Taka said.
"Are you okay?" Isaac asked worriedly.
"Yeah. The radio took all the force of her sword. Without that radio, I'd be dead." Taka said.
"Well, I'm glad you made it." Isaac said as he patted Taka on his back.
"Make a run for the ship, see if we can get through to the fleet." Isaac said, noticing that Taka's gun had been made inoperable.
"Are you sure, sir?" Taka asked.
"Yeah. We'll draw her fire so you can escape. Go!" Isaac said as he peeked out the window and fired his rifle in a long burst.
"Why did you do it, Mikasa!? These were innocent people." Isaac yelled as he saw Mikasa walk into view.
"Because I was ordered to. Nothing more, nothing less. There are plenty more like me. We were taken by the sirens the day their weapon went off. Since then, we've just been following orders. And now our orders involve killing you." Mikasa said as her guns aimed at Isaac's building. He noticed this and had put just enough space between him and the window to avoid being torn apart by the shrapnel of four separate explosions.
Isaac ran through the smoke and met up with Nimi and Fu.
"Where's Hashirama and Kido?" Isaac asked.
"They managed to find a place she hasn't found yet. I told them to lay low until she is away from them." Fu said.
"What about Taka?" Nimi asked.
"His radio is gone and his weapon was destroyed by Mikasa. I've sent him to the ship to radio for support." Isaac said.
"It's no use. I've been trying. She is blocking our radio transmissions." Nimi said.
"Damn it. so we're at her mercy for another ten minutes?" Isaac asked as another set of shells shook the building next to them.
"So it seems. How are you on ammunition?" Fu asked.
"I have two more magazines. You?" Isaac asked.
"Half a magazine. I lost two to her sword." Fu said.
"She's toying with us. She could have killed us but she is just fucking up our equipment before she does." Isaac said as he punched the ground.
"If I could find a weak spot, my guns can penetrate. But she is a master of sword and shield combat. Her hull on her rigging acts like a shield and despite being thin, she knows how to angle it. My guns are just too small." Nimi said.
"No, Nimi. She has secondary guns on her rigging. If she detects you, you'll be torn to shreds. I cannot allow you to fight her. You are outclassed as it stands." Isaac said as the building across the street from their location fell to the ground.
"My masters told me you were bold and cunning. But here you are, hiding. Don't tell me you're scared of a girl." Mikasa taunted.
"Don't fall for it, commander." Fu said.
"Take these and wait for my signal." Isaac said as he handed Fu his last two magazines.
"Sir?" Fu asked.
"Take care of Nimi." Isaac said as he burst out of the building, despite the sudden cries of Nimi.
"Hey, Mikasa. You wanted me, here I am. Fight me. No guns. No weapons. Just fists." Isaac said.
"Oh? And Why would I do that?" Mikasa asked as she found Isaac through the dissipating smoke.
"Because you have at least some honor. So why not prove it, battleship? Don't tell me a lowly commander scares a big strong battleship like you." Isaac taunted, hoping she'd take the bait.
"Oh ho? Big talk for such a small man." Mikasa said as her rigging faded away and she threw her sword to the side.
"Well, at least I can say that you have the honor I expected from a lady of Sakura." Isaac said as he took up a fighting stance.
"Oh? That's an Empery fighting pose. You might actually be a threat in hand to hand." Mikasa said as she took her own fighting stance.
"Empery? I guess it could be interpreted as such. Come and find out how effective it is." Isaac taunted again, knowing she was easily taunted.
As expected, she ran towards him, bringing her forearm down at his head. Isaac barely managed to bring his arm up fast enough to deflect her strike away from his head. He attempted to bring a fist up into her stomach but her movement was too fast for him to anticipate. She dodged it and was back out of reach before he could finish his failed strike.
"You're slow. You seem like a strong man, truly. But if you can't hit anything, what is the point of strength?" Mikasa asked as they stared each other down.
"And despite your design, you are quite fast for a battleship." Isaac said.
"But of course. Sakura always makes up for our shortcomings. So I have trained in a movement style that allows me to outmaneuver my opponents." Mikasa boasted as Isaac began motioning behind his back, sending a signal to the other four fighters that Mikasa had apparently forgot about. Like before, four lanes of fire opened up, but Isaac's hopes were dashed as a shimmering blue shield blocked every round that hit her.
"You thought that without my rigging I'd be defenseless? You may have gotten a normal girl, or maybe even a cocky siren like Purifier. But you thought you could take down a Kansen using that tactic?" Mikasa asked.
Isaac was about to give up hope when we saw three women walking down the street behind Mikasa.
"Yeah, I admit. It was a really stupid idea to try and ambush you... but not so much a bad idea to keep you talking long enough for reinforcements to arrive." Isaac said with a smirk.
"What?!" Mikasa said as she spun around, straight into the fist of a woman clad in white.
"Keep your mitts off our Kommandant, Siren empathizer." Another woman said in a commanding tone.
"Friedrich, Ascertain the safety of the Kommandant. Mainz... engage the enemy." The last woman said.
The woman in white drew her sabre and slashed at
Mikasa, who just barely managed to grab her katana to block the strike. Mikasa was forced down on her knee under the force of the white woman's sword.
"Surrender or die." The woman in white said.
Mikasa went silent as her eyes rolled back. her rigging formed but it was a few seconds after that a black ooze fell from her rigging and began to move under it's own power.
"What the hell?" Isaac asked as a taller woman had taken him into her arms, setting him on a massive mechanical serpent. The officer looking girl noticed the ooze.
"Friedrich, eliminate that foreign object." The woman said. A single blast from Friedrich's main battery turned the ooze creature into a black smear on the pavement.
Mikasa fell to the ground, her rigging simmering away.
"Where... where am I?" Mikasa asked as Isaac realized immediately what was going on.
"Stop! Don't hurt her!" Isaac yelled as The white clad lady halted her sword just before Mikasa's neck.
"What is going on?" The lady in white asked.
"I think whatever Friedrich just shot was controlling this poor Kansen. She has no idea what she has done." The officer spoke as she walked up to help Mikasa to her feet.
"For your safety and ours, You are going to be imprisoned until you formally surrender to the Kommandant." The officer spoke.
"Who are you three?" Isaac asked as Fu, Kido, Hashirama and Nimi all came out of hiding.
"We are your new ships, Kommandant." The officer spoke.
"Mainz." The lady in white spoke.
"Odin." The officer spoke.
"Friedrich der Große. Please call me Friedrich, my child." The lady, who was apparently the owner of the two massive serpents, said.
"Ironblood ships?!" Isaac said as he looked at Nimi.
She just shrugged.
"That small submarine and green cat send their regards." Odin spoke.
"I see..." Isaac said as his adrenaline high came crashing down, causing him to fall back on the iron serpent.
"Tend to the Kommandant, Friedrich. We need to return to the port." Odin spoke.
"Understood." Friedrich spoke as she ran her soft hands over Isaacs face, causing Nimi to flinch a bit.
"Today was a victory. Thank Taka for our arrival." Odin spoke as Mainz and Friedrich led everyone back to the port.