The docks came to life immediately after the squadron left the flight deck. All available hands began scouring warehouses for the steel to build the new command ship. The midday sun made it especially easy to see through the burned out remains of the warehouses.
"Odin. We have a problem." Eagle said nervously.
"What seems to be the issue?" Odin asked.
"The available bulins have created a list of needed parts to build this ship, but we don't have nearly enough of anything to build. We don't have the steel, we don't have the wires, we don't have anything needed." Eagle said as a bulin nodded nearby.
"I see. We need to find the resources. Maybe we can requisition some from the new Governor." Odin said as she sat down on a nearby crate.
"I don't know, but if we want to build this, we need to source some sort of material." Eagle said.
"Odin. Odin, come in." Omaha's voice came in over the radio.
"Omaha, what did you find?" Odin asked.
"It looks like a lot of raw material. Sure some of this stuff is definitely siren technology, but the majority is the same material that the Commander tested onboard the Eagle." Omaha said.
"The siren armor plating?" Odin asked.
"Yeah, that's the stuff. What do you want to do with it?" Omaha asked.
"Have those men load all of it onboard your vessel and bring it here. We are beginning a construction project while the Kommandant recovers. Do you have an idea of how much is there?" Odin asked.
"More than what will fit on my vessel. But, The boys just finished refurbishing the transport, that should be able to carry it." Omaha said.
"I see. Load it up and bring it here. Get those boys back here to aid the bulins in construction. We await the arrival of the supplies." Odin said.
"We shall be there by tomorrow afternoon. Check in on the commander for me." Omaha requested.
"Friedrich is there now. I will get her report." Odin said.
"Thank you. Give him my regards." Omaha said as she cut the connection.
"Friedrich, update me on the Kommandant." Odin said over the radio.
"Kommandant is doing very...very well. The nurse said he will be ready for a stress test by tomorrow." Friedrich said.
"Stress test?" Odin asked.
"Apparently, they will make him run laps to see if he is able to maintain lung function." Friedrich said.
"I want you to keep an extra careful eye on him. We don't have any idea who else is in league with the sirens. They may try to poison him. They may try to incapacitate him further. Any attempts on his wellbeing are to be met with extreme prejudice." Odin said sternly.
"Of course, my child. It will be done. Is there anything else you needed from me?" Friedrich said as Odin could hear Isaac struggling in the background.
"What are you doing, Friedrich?" Odin asked.
"I'm just making sure the Kommandant is moving around enough so his muscles don't go stiff during his stress test." Friedrich said as a loud snap was heard, followed by a sigh of relief from Isaac.
"I'm also cracking his back." Friedrich added.
"Why?" Odin asked.
"Kommandant made mention of his back being sore and I took it upon myself to help him. He seems to take great pleasure in me cracking his back. Maybe he's a masochist?" Friedrich said offhandedly.
"I am not a masochist!" Isaac yelled in the background.
"Quiet, Kommandant. You'll hurt yourself if you struggle too much." Friedrich said.
"I am on my way there. It appears you cannot be left alone with him." Odin said.
"So be it." Friedrich said as she dropped the channel.
"That woman. I do not understand the way she thinks." Odin said as she stood from her crate.
"Looks like a third wheel is on the way to interrupt me." Friedrich said as she put Isaac's shirt down. His mask was long gone as the nurse's physical showed that his lungs had cleared out and he was breathing normally.
"I know I asked you to crack my back, but could you avoid turning my spine into jelly next time?" Isaac asked as he stood and stretched.
"Please be careful, Kommandant. You still are not 100%. You need to take it slow." Friedrich said as she stood and walked to him.
"I'm fine. I probably just need to take some medication to deal with any infections that the burns may have caused. Other than that, I can breathe just fine." Isaac said confidently.
"Kommandant, I will not say it again. Until you are cleared, you will take it easy and continue resting." Friedrich said as she pushed Isaac back into the hospital bed.
"Ugh. I'm fine though." Isaac complained.
"Shall I break something so you are forced to stay in bed?" Friedrich asked in a non-threatening tone.
Isaac flinched at her question before quickly settling back into the bed.
"Good Kommandant. Now, Let me take care of you." Friedrich said as she handed him a glass of cold water after tasting it herself.
"What was that for?" Isaac asked.
"Odin has asked me to ensure that anything you are given does not inhibit your ability to function. I am supposed to watch you until the time that you are released from the hospital. We are to assume everyone is out to get you." Friedrich said as she took a bit of his sandwich that the nurse had left him.
"I see. I did not realize I was this important." Isaac said.
"You are, Kommandant." Odin said as she entered the room, glaring at Friedrich.
"I see. How is the little one?" Isaac asked.
"Since we have no indication that she has a ship, I ordered Intrepid to fly her back to Niue. She should arrive in a few hours. The green cat will definitely be able to take care of the little one." Odin said.
"I see. And what of the ship you wanted to build?" Isaac asked.
"Once you are released, we need to acquire support from the remaining governor to help us outfit the ship. Omaha has secured enough Siren based armor material to build the framework, keel, hull, and the decks. We will need steel or a drone ship to scrap to gain the required material needed to complete the superstructure. We will also need the boilers and engines and other operational components to make this a functional vessel." Odin said.
"What about wisdom cubes? The cubes can build ships from the ground up, why not use the cubes to feed the build?" Isaac asked.
"I'm not too sure about the specifics, but I guess it couldn't hurt. We would need to acquire cubes and material regardless." Odin said as she sat in the seat next to Isaac's bed.
"I'm sure this island has enough in terms of production to help build a ship. the Union wouldn't have fought for this region otherwise." Isaac said.
"Alright. I will have the girls scour through the blueprints to find boilers and engines. We'll play the rest of it by ear." Odin said as she looked at Isaac.
"Alright. Instruct Intrepid to keep her plane active so she can talk to Akashi back at base. Bring her here so I can speak via her radio." Isaac said.
"Understood." Odin said as she looked at Friedrich.
"Behave yourself. Don't you take advantage of the Kommandant." Odin said as she glared menacingly.
"It's not taking advantage if the Kommandant consents first, my child." Friedrich said.
"Do I get a say here?" Isaac asked.
"No." Friedrich and Odin say simultaneously.
"I'm the commander, damn it!" Isaac said as they both looked at him.
"Kommandant." Friedrich said as she drew closer.
"Fine... but I'm not happy about it." Isaac said as Friedrich smiled happily.
"So happy you came to a reasonable conclusion, Kommandant." Friedrich said as her metal tipped gloves graced his cheek.
"Friedrich." Odin growled.
"Fine~~ But I will get what I want, one way or another." Friedrich said.
"And that is?" Odin asked.
"To be a mother." Friedrich said as she looked at Isaac.
"With the Kommandant?!" Odin cried.
"Ja, why not? He is strong, caring, and fatherly. I mean, look at little Eldridge. The girls mentioned that he took care of her during her construction during the war. She is just a treat!" Friedrich said as she imagined a child of her own.
"Well... when put that way... there isn't much room to complain." Odin said.
"Odin!?" Isaac cried.
"What? I'm not giving her permission, I'm just saying it isn't a bad idea. But it should wait until we have the numbers to allow Friedrich to care for her child. If she has a child, she will be out of action for who knows how long." Odin said.
"Um, I don't know if you know this, but we don't even know if you girls can GET pregnant!" Isaac said.
"He has a point, Friedrich." Odin said.
"Well, if I can't be a mother... then I'll be a loving wife~~~" Friedrich said.
"I'm so dead." Isaac thought to himself as Odin and Friedrich bickered about simple little things.
"Hey, cutie. How are you hanging in there?" Intrepid asked via the aircraft's radio.
"Mutsuki wants candy. Do you have any in here?" Mutsuki asked in an adorable little tone.
"I did pack a small bit in the bag I gave you. Odin gave me some to give you." Intrepid said.
"Miss Intrepid, Sonar-san is pinging." Mutsuki said.
"Sonar? How? We don't have your ship." Intrepid said.
"Not ship. Mutsuki's rigging has Sonar-san. Mutsuki's ship was sunk when she was given to the nice man. Mutsuki would be locked in her room when she cried from the pain of having her ship sunk." Mutsuki said quietly.
"You poor little kitten!" Intrepid said as a tear rolled down her cheek.
"Sonar-san says that there are submarines coming for Miss Intrepid and her friends." Mutsuki said.
"Shit." Intrepid said as she cut the radio.
"Eagle! Sound the port alarm! We have submarines inbound!" Intrepid yelled. Eagle ran to the siren tower and slammed the red button, sounding the alarm.
"All hands, prepare for Anti-submarine combat. Intrepid says Submarines are inbound on this location." Eagle yelled at the top of her lungs as Albacores shimmered to life on her flight deck, loaded with depth charges.
"Understood! Eldridge, let's go!" Nimi yelled as the two ran for their ships.
Sure enough, Surcouf surfaced and gave a report.
"Four hostile submarines inbound. 25 miles out on Sonar and closing at moderate speed. They do not seem to be aware of our presence." Surcouf said.
"Got it. Surprise attack it is then." Eagle and Nimi said in unison. The albacores launched as Nimi and Eldridge boarded their ships.
"Hopefully we can destroy them before they can report back to the sirens." Eagle said as she looked out at the open ocean.
"Why is the port alarm going off again?!" Isaac cried as he tried to sit up, only to be held down by Friedrich.
"Your stitches, Kommandant." Friedrich said softly.
"Help me up. I need to get back to the port." Isaac said.
"No. I will go. You must rest." Friedrich said as she left Odin and Isaac in the room as she made her way out into the city.
"Why are you Ironblood girls so bullheaded?" Isaac asked as he held his head in his hands.
"Because, it is forged into our veins. Our stubbornness is what makes us so difficult to keep down. Us Ironblood would have won the Atlantic if it weren't for Eagle Union. But once the Union joined, we were doomed. Union might is leagues above what the fatherland can hope to produce." Odin said.
"Still have that patriotic streak, huh?" Isaac asked.
"Is it wrong? I am proud of the fight my fatherland brought. The determination of the fatherland is something to behold." Odin said.
"Well, I would have to agree on that. Germany spearheaded science during the war. Without their research, the Union would still be fighting the Sakura here in the Pacific." Isaac said.
"I do not hold any heart for that lunatic, Kommandant. Hitler was not saint by any account. But the courage of the fatherland is what keeps us Ironblood girls going." Odin said.
"I see. Well, if that is indeed the case, then I guess I can't complain as long as you follow orders. I try to give you girls free reign, so hopefully I can mesh this fleet together if I let you girls have freedom." Isaac said.
"We are weapons, Kommandant. Freedom will never be in the cards for us." Odin said.
"Odin. You girls are under my command. But once this war is over, staying or going will be your choice. I will not order anyone to stay or go. Your freedom is something I hope to attain after the freedom of the human race." Isaac said.
"I see. Maybe I misjudged you, Kommandant." Odin said with a small smile.
"Is...is that a good thing?" Isaac asked nervously.
"Yes, Kommandant. It makes me proud to be serving this fleet as opposed to feeling obligated to do so." Odin said as she extended a hand.
Isaac took her hand and shook it.
"Thank you, Kommandant." Odin said as she relaxed in her seat.
"What seems to be the issue here?" Friedrich asked as she stepped into the port.
"Submarines. My Albacores as well as Nimi and Eldridge are engaging the enemy." Eagle said as she concentrated on her planes.
The albacores lined up their bombing run before diving low over the surface of the water and dropping their payload. As the planes broke off, several columns of water shot up.
"One submarine down. Marking the wreckage for salvage." Surcouf said
"Shit, only one?" Eagle asked.
"To be fair, they are deep down. You're lucky to have hit the first one." Surcouf said as she fired off a spread of torpedoes towards the incoming submarines.
"Where are they? I'm not getting a clean sonar picture." Nimi said as she arrived to the location where Surcouf had told them they'd be.
"They should be directly beneath you. you'll have to use longer timers on the charges, they seem to be going deeper by the second." Surcouf said as she watched her torpedoes miss entirely.
"We can't miss them! If we miss them, the entire fleet is in danger." Nimi said as the sound of rapid fire explosions came from the deck of the Eldridge. Looking over, Nimi was able to see 24 ASW warheads enter the water in front of Eldridge, sinking quickly into the depths before detonating around the enemy submarines.
"Whatever Eldridge just did, took out the remaining three submarines in one blow. As there has been no radio interference, I'm assuming they were unable to send a distress call or even communicate with the Sirens." Surcouf said as she surfaced next to Nimi.
"How are we going to salvage those boats?" Nimi asked.
"Well, my child, we could always attach the wrecks to my anchors. MY hoists are strong enough to at least bring them to the surface. From there they just need to be towed back to shore so we can fish them out with the cranes." Friedrich said as she dumped both anchors over the site where the submarines were sunk.
"More importantly, I think every capable destroyer needs to mount whatever Eldridge is using. That weapon seems to be very effective when it comes to submarine warfare." Eagle said over the radio. "I watched from one of the Albacores as they were making their return run." She added.
"We can discuss such things later. Let's get these back to the port and get them scrapped. Then the bulins can begin construction by the time Omaha and the transport ship get here." Friedrich said as Surcouf sank down into the depths to attach the wrecks to Friedrich's anchors.
"Odin, get me a report on that siren." Isaac said.
"Friedrich, What was with the siren?" Odin spoke into her radio.
"Submarine contacts. Mutsuki managed to detect them before her plane left radio range." Friedrich said.
"Okay. Get those ships salvaged so we can start construction." Odin said.
"Already on it, my child. Please inform the Kommandant." Friedrich said as she cut the line.
"Well?" Isaac asked.
"Submarines. Thankfully they have all been neutralized." Odin said.
"Set the base to high alert. Sirens may be inbound." Isaac said.