"I-13? I-13. This is Lieutenant Commander Perkins, acting captain of the Iowa. We spoke several hours ago, please come in." Perkins spoke in a hushed tone over the radio.
"Lieutenant, I-13 here, what's going on?" I-13 asked.
"I have the crew loaded, the sirens are too focused on the Ruski that broke through the Bering Sea to notice the crew being loaded. If you have a move to make, this is it. We will have to start the engine under the cover of your distraction. So make it soon so we build pressure in the boilers." Perkins said as he cut the line.
"Kaga... I have no right to order you around, considering your position as former Carrier Group 1... but could you activate your ship and begin attacking the drone ships in the area?" I-13 asked.
"It shall be done. Do not worry about me, my strength will see us through this day." Kaga said as she kicked open the door to the warehouse, making a beeline for the docks.
"Lieutenant Perkins, Begin your start-up sequence. I have unleashed Kaga on the drone fleets. Arizona will follow." I-13 said.
"You're raising the Arizona?!" Perkins asked, dumbfounded.
"Yes. We will need her strength. Plus, her sister is waiting for her with Shikikan." I-13 said. She looked at the timer left.
"I have five minutes. Lieutenant, If you can engage any siren ground forces, now is the time." I-13 said.
"You are asking me to fire on the men of Pearl Harbor?!" Perkins shouted angrily.
"If they serve the sirens, they are the enemy. They have throw their lots in with their captors. They are no longer with you." I-13 said.
"I will not kill my fellow Americans!" Perkins said.
"Lieutenant! You have no choice in the matter! If they are ordered to kill you, they will! They do not have the same inhibitions. I will take responsibility when this is all over. I promise." I-13 said as she heard boots outside the warehouse.
"They're here!" I-13 yelled as small arms fire filled the warehouse.
"Shit." Perkins thought as he watched his fellow Americans fire into the warehouse. Behind them, a Destroyer class Siren ordering them about. Perkins looked at his radio then back to the warehouse. His choice had been made.
"This is Lieutenant Perkins. All hands, man your battle-stations. This is not a drill. I repeat. This is NOT a drill. Port side gunners, take aim at the docks below the front of the Warehouse and fire when ready." Perkins said as his crew flew into action, the sound of boots and gun actions filled the air around the bridge as high caliber AA guns opened up on the concrete beneath their fellow soldiers.
"Lay it on thick! Scatter them so I-13 and Arizona can escape!" Perkins said as the Siren turned to face the Iowa. She was about to fire her torpedoes into the water when she was grabbed by a very angry Kaga.
"You sirens murdered Amagi, you tore our homeland apart! You threw us into war with the Union! I SANK BECAUSE OF YOU!" Kaga roared as she fired every gun on her rigging into the stomach of the siren struggling in her grasp.
Perkins and another crew member looked on with binoculars, watching the results of Kaga's fury.
"Remind me how we managed to beat them again?" The crewmate asked.
"I do not know, seaman. I do not know." Perkins said as the Siren fell into the sea, permanently out of the fight. The soldiers under the Siren's command has scattered after the Iowa opened up her AA batteries. Those who had been unlucky now laid upon the ground as two figures ran from the warehouse.
"Lieutenant, let's go, we are leaving!" I-13 yelled over the radio as Perkins turned to the other men on the bridge.
"Engines reverse full! We need to leave before they surround us!" Perkins ordered as the ship lurched backwards.
"Arizona, get to your ship, now. We need to get out of here!" I-13 yelled as she dove into the water to return to her submarine.
Arizona and Kaga boarded their ships under heavy shore battery and small arms fire. The Iowa joined up with them as they steamed ahead towards the exit of the harbor.
"Gunners, fire on the shore batteries! We cannot continue to take such heavy fire." Perkins yelled as the five inch gun turrets that littered the superstructure turned to engage. They opened fire, peppering the fields with 5 inch shells and AA fire. I-13 maneuvered her sub to catch up with the three retreating Battleships.
"Shit, we have incoming." I-13 said as Strategist made her presence known.
"Azur lane? It has been a while since we went head to head. You will not escape me this time." Strategist said on an open channel as hundreds of Siren aircraft took to the skies from the multiple airfields on the island.
I-13 looked to the sky and saw the aircraft coming in. She saw Strategist moving in such a way that suggested that she was calling the shots.
"Shit. You three, run! I'll do what I can to hold her off. Your AA should be able to hold off the aircraft." I-13 said as she surfaced her sub and turned towards Strategist.
"I-13! No!" Perkins yelled over the radio, but to no avail as I-13 refused to hear any arguement.
"Turrets two and three, turn to face 115 degrees off the starboard bow, now!" Perkins ordered as the massive turrets began to turn.
"Target is 750 meters away. Adjust the guns and fire everything at that Siren!" Perkins ordered as I-13 Fired torpedoes and launched her only fighter at Strategist. The sounds of six massive guns along with a melody of AA fire and secondary fire came from the Iowa, covering the lone submarine.
"Only a pitiful submarine?" Strategist asked as I-13 stood on the bow of her submarine.
"You'd be wise not to underestimate me, siren whore." I-13 said as her torpedoes struck the docks beneath Strategist, throwing her into the water with I-13.
"You little tramp!" Strategist growled as she launched even more aircraft from her own rigging.
Strategist easily dodged the 2700 pound shells fired by the Iowa as she closed the distance between her and I-13. I-13 braced herself, relaxing her shoulders and taking up a defensive stance.
"Please let all those years training with Atago and Takao give them time to escape." I-13 whispered as she stood off against the Siren barreling towards her, throwing her hands out and grabbing Strategist, throwing her using her own body weight to easily divert her charge harmlessly past I-13.
Kaga watched in amusement as she slowly fell behind the Iowa and the Arizona.
"You two keep going, I'll catch up." Kaga ordered.
"But.." Perkins protested.
"I'll bring her home. I promise." Kaga said, clearly amused by I-13's show of strength as she continued to fight off Strategist while dodging bombs and plasma bolts.
"You're just a stupid submarine. What could you hope to do to an aircraft carrier?" Strategist asked as she finally managed to land a hard kick to I-13's abdomen, sending her flying back into the water. I-13 coughed lightly but managed to stand.
"Lady Shinano... was sunk... by a submarine." I-13 said as the tube on her back opened and launched several smaller versions of her floatplanes. They fired as soon as they were aimed up, struggling to dodge incoming fighter support from Strategist. They were shredded before they could even get close, forcing I-13 to take the brunt of the attack.
"Be that as it may... you will not have such luck." Strategist said as she launched another massive wave of aircraft loaded, visibly, with bombs.
"So be it... at least I was of use to my Shikikan." I-13 said as she fell to her knee.
"...Impact!" Perkins voice came over the radio as several massive columns of water shot up around Strategist and I-13. More shells came raining in at an alarming rate as I-13 looked out to sea, horrified to see both the Arizona and Iowa had turned broadside and were firing at Strategist from well outside of shore battery range.
"But... I told you.." I-13 said as she began to fall, the close quarters engagement finally taking it's toll on her. Strategist smiles as she closed in, dodging the shells from the two battleships easily.
I-13 stopped falling as she was caught by the arm.
"You fought well, young one. But I will not let this Siren whore soil your honor on this day." Kaga said as her rigging turned and fired on Strategist as she jumped, with I-13 onto the deck of the Kaga, leaving the sinking wreckage of the I-13 behind.
Strategist was left clutching her stomach, struggling to maintain control of her aircraft. Any land based aircraft that tried to follow the battlegroup were summarily shot down by the massive array of AA firepower.
"As I-13 has been incapacitated, I will take command. I hope you girls don't mind." Perkins said as he breathed a sigh of relief as the last of the enemy aircraft were shot from the sky.
"It is of no import to me, Union Commander. But we must hurry. The little one is not out of danger just yet. She needs a medic." Kaga said.
"Bring her to me, Miss Kaga. I have a proper medical bay onboard. And I remember some things from my time with Vestal. I should be able to help her." Arizona said softly.
"I am forever grateful, my old adversary." Kaga said as she took to the water, carrying the weakened Submarine in her arms.
"Commander!" Norfolk yelled as she appeared in his quarters.
"Speak." Isaac said.
"After your transmission to I-13, I decided to place a marker on her energy output. For the majority of the time, she kept it at a minimum, suggesting she was not on the vessel and was keeping it submerged." Norfolk said.
"Okay? But that doesn't explain why you sound so frightful." Isaac said as he looked back down at his journal, scribbling in notes about what he wanted to implement into the battle plan for New Guinea.
"I just lost her energy signature completely. She is no longer outputting anything." Norfolk's words caused Isaac to freeze.
"You... lost her?" Isaac asked.
"Abruptly, sir. Suggesting that she... has been sunk." Norfolk said as Isaac sat in his chair, frozen in place.
"Leave me." Isaac demanded.
"Sir?" Norfolk asked.
"LEAVE!" Isaac roared as he slammed his hands on his desk. Norfolk nodded and her display disappeared.
"This too... is the burden of Command, huh?" Isaac whispered as he felt a tear run down his face.