Two days had passed since Second fleet left Niue to rendezvous with Isaac and First fleet. In that time, Phoenix awoke from her comatose state and was slowly getting back on her feet after her incident. St. Louis spent more time talking with Isaac about the things she had been through, seeking his support, which he willingly gave. I-13 had made it to midway under her own power, picking up a pair of cubes that were beginning to show the signs of being spent. Isaac now stood on the bow of his new ship, with the bulins putting the final touches on the superstructure. The fleet gathered in the docks below along with the mass assortment of human crew that he had amassed. He held a receiver in his hand that was connected to the port's PSA system.
"Alright everyone, settle down and listen up. Today... is a day of reflection. We are about to embark on a trek that could lead us to our deaths, or to a glory only known by the indwellers of Valhalla. We are to begin preparation for an assault on New Guinea. As of last week, a siren escaped our grasp with intel that has compromised the obscurity of this fleet..." Isaac looked around and waited for the abject whispers to die down.
"... But with that said, we cannot just sit idly by. This world cannot live under the tyranny of the Siren's forever. We must break their hold, and that starts with New Guinea. I expect great things from all of you, even those that will not be on the front lines. There will be casualties... that I cannot lie about. Hashirama is the resident expert on our ground forces, so he will be the one shouldering troop movements and tactics. We must be victorious, my friends. The fate of your homes and the world we live in rides on our ability to bring this fight to the Sirens..." Isaac said before his feed cut out and was interrupted by a squadron of Zeros flying overhead.
"Looks like we finally made it within radio range. Hello, Garner Shikikan and the... much bigger first fleet. Akagi, leader of the second fleet and those in said fleet have come to render our aid to you." Akagi said over the radio, her massive vessel could be seen, flanked by two cruisers and two massive battleships.
Isaac picked up the radio once more.
"Rejoice, my friends, and my fleet. The gods of war have sought fit to provide us with aid. Akagi, we eagerly await your arrival in port." Isaac said as even more Zeros flooded the sky.
"We will be there soon." Akagi said before the line cut out.
"You heard her! Move people! I want everything strapped down and ready to go! Girls, make any last arrangements you need to get your ships in order, I will not tolerate failure due to poor maintenance!" Isaac yelled as the docks below turned into a frenzy of activity.
Isaac turned to find the bulins looking up at him.
"All fire controls have been linked and your ship is ready to go, Buli." The head bulin said as Isaac gave all of them a pat on the head.
"Fine job, all of you. I hope you made the beds comfy though." Isaac said as the Bulins looked at him.
"Why is that, sir?" The head bulin asked.
"Because you aren't staying with Fusou anymore. This ship is your new home while at sea." Isaac said as the bulins cheered.
"Then we shall maintain this boat to the best of our ability, Commander." The head bulin said as the others saluted.
"Dismissed. I'm heading to check out the bridge to check out the controls and familiarize myself with this ship." Isaac said, noting several nodes along the deck that weren't in the blueprints. He decided to say nothing as he headed for the superstructure.
"Ah. It seems my Commander has seen fit to come see me." A voice spoke from inside the bridge as Isaac entered.
"Who the hell said that?" Isaac asked as he drew a knife from his pocket. He had left his rifle onboard the Friedrich der Große.
"Me, Commander." The voice said as a woman materialized inside the bridge.
"What the hell?!" Isaac yelled out.
"Don't be alarmed, Commander. My name, is Norfolk. I am the soul of this ship, born of the wisdom cubes used in my construction. I am happy to link myself to your service." Norfolk said as a massive pulse of energy flowed through the ship, almost knocking Isaac off his feet.
"And that was?" Isaac asked.
"I have modified this ship to follow me. You can command this ship like you do the rest of your fleet, Commander. I just do not have a physical body for you to... take pleasure in, I suppose." Norfolk said as Isaac's face turned red.
"So you can now control this vessel?" Isaac asked.
"Of course. That is an easy task." Norfolk said as Isaac looked out the windows of the bridge. every mounted AA piece and the turrets were being calibrated and their arcs tested.
Isaac took the moment to look at the woman that now shared his bridge. Her short pink hair reminded him of a ship by the name of Reno. Her hands were graced by black gauntlets that seemed Siren in origin. As Isaac looked more, he realized most of the non body features of Norfolk were of Siren aesthetic. Her proportions matched those of St. Louis, if not a bit bigger in the chest. He looked at her clothes only to find that the material all had the same hexagon pattern as the Siren plating that made up the Ship's hull.
"What... are you?" Isaac asked.
"I am Norfolk, Union AA cruiser designated for Command Service." Norfolk said as she gave Isaac a smile.
"You look like a Siren." Isaac said nervously.
"Well, your decision to make my hull out of Siren armor plating and the use of Siren technology has made my appearance to reflect that. I can attempt to change it if you would like." Norfolk said.
"No. It's fine. I just hope you're on our side." Isaac said.
"My allegiance is to you and you alone, Commander. While this blueprint for my hull was not yours, you are my creator. So I will remain loyal to you come hell or high water." Norfolk said with a salute and a smile.
"Got it. Well? How do you feel?" Isaac asked, pulling out his journal to take notes.
"Stiff. My hull has yet to grace the water and the only exercise I have is my weapon's test." Norfolk said as Isaac wrote down what she was saying.
"I see. What all can you tell me about yourself?" Isaac asked.
"Well, since you and your fleet seem to have a severe hatred for Sirens, I guess the best way I can describe myself, other than your own personal warship, is a Siren Encyclopedia, Commander." Norfolk said as she spread her arms wide, bringing forth hundreds of see through screens with lines of code and pictures on them.
"What on God's green earth is that?!" Isaac exclaimed.
"It is a database, incorporated into my hull with the resto of the logistical equipment." Norfolk said.
"And that means?" Isaac asked, sketching her and the screens in his notebook.
"I have the strengths, weaknesses, types, statistics, strategies, and locations of every Sentient Siren on this earth. Barring the one known as Empress, I am able to assist you in formulating the perfect strategies for defeating your Siren Adversaries." Norfolk said as Isaac's jaw hit the floor.
"So you mean to tell me, that you can tell me where every siren on the planet is, right now?" Isaac asked excitedly.
"Yes sir. I overheard your speech earlier and remember you saying that your fleet will be assaulting New Guinea. If that is the case, Lurker is currently stationed 50 nm to the north of the optimal path for our approach and holding her position, likely waiting to ambush us from behind. I would advise against normal Union protocol and instead allow the Transport and support ships to take the lead with one or two escorts ahead of the main fleet." Norfolk said as Isaac scrambled to write down everything.
"I feel like the scales have just been tipped heavily in our favor." Isaac said as he looked at Norfolk.
"I hope that is the case. Now if you would, please step over to that doorway. I want to further integrate myself into your command structure." Norfolk said as Isaac looked at her.
"Explain." Isaac asked.
"Revolutionary tech for the Commander of a Revolutionary ship." Norfolk said as she phased through the door.
"That'll take some getting used to." Isaac said as he opened the door to find a pitch black suit hanging from the ceiling. From Isaac's perspective, it looked like alien tech.
"What is this?" Isaac asked.
"It is a combat suit, Commander. Seeing you in those clothes makes me worry for your safety. Thankfully, since this ship is under my control, I am able to produce such a thing." Norfolk said.
"What does it do?" Isaac asked as he took the suit down, almost dropping it from the unexpected weight.
"It offers protection to you in the form of heavy plates on your chest, back, and extremities. The bodysuit itself allows for protection from shrapnel and heat. The plates, made up of excess hull material, are situated over your vital organs and extremities to give you protection from plasma based weapons and resistance against kinetic force, namely bullets." Norfolk said.
"This looks like some futuristic kind of flak jacket." Isaac said as he slipped into the bodysuit before seeing the plates that Norfolk had spoken of.
"There is also a helmet to go with it. I would suggest only using it if you are planning to join your soldiers on the ground. And there is a pair of gauntlets. one of them has a small projector, much like the ones you have seen sprawled across this vessel. I can remain in contact with you this way." Norfolk said as Isaac picked up the plates and put them where the points on the suit were.
"Is this how it goes?" Isaac asked as the suit hugged his body, snapping the pieces into place.
"Yes sir." Norfolk said as a miniature version of herself came through the gauntlet on his left arm.
"Woah!" Isaac yelled as he fell backwards.
"Are you okay, Sir?" Norfolk asked.
"Yeah... just a bit surprised is all. This whole thing feel alien." Isaac said.
"I don't blame you for feeling that way, Commander. But with the tech you gave me, it was made possible." Norfolk said as Isaac grabbed the helmet. It had a t-shaped port with black glass fitted inside. He slipped it on and he felt the inside move to fit his head.
"Can you hear me, Commander?" Norfolk asked.
"Loud and clear actually." Isaac said
"Good, the communication device is working." Norfolk said with a smile.
"You really are something else." Isaac said as he looked around.
"The helmet mainly acts as a communication device while providing the best protection it can. It has the same protection as the plates on your chest. So if you get your head thrown back after a loud crack, you probably just survived being shot." Norfolk said as Isaac looked at the miniature woman on his wrist.
"I see. Is it possible to mass produce this form of protection?" Isaac asked.
"Not this type specifically. But steel plates can be made to outfit your army. I can sent the blueprints for a vest and plates to the bulins below deck." Norfolk said.
"Please do." Isaac said as he walked back out onto the bridge as Norfolk appeared next to him.
"Flood the drydock. I want to see this thing float." Isaac ordered.
Authors note: This is the furthest I am going into future tech. Hologram displays and body armor are well within the abilities of the Siren technology considering their apt display of finesse over Plasma based weaponry. That said, I hope you enjoyed. I hope you all had a blessed holiday.