"Your majesty. We have picked up a massive energy signature coming from the south pacific." A battle hardened battleship spoke.
"You've been watching that commoner, haven't you?" A pint sized Battleship spoke in a royal tone.
"Forgive me, your majesty. I have been keeping tabs on his fleet using the siren tech we found here. I have not been lax in my duty however. Bismarck and Tirpitz's cubes are still under watch." The battle hardened battleship said.
"You know he will be coming here eventually." The pint sized battleship said.
"I fully expect it. But I also think he has sent a small segment of his fleet in this direction. We should be ready to lend aid." The battle hardened battleship spoke.
"And why would we do that?" The pint sized battleship spoke.
"Because you need support if we are to take back our home. You said it yourself, your majesty." The battle hardened battleship spoke.
"You are right. I did say that. Then we shall be ready to accept whoever the commoner has sent us." The pint sized battleship spoke.
"Shall I alert the others?" The battle hardened battleship asked.
"Yes. Let those Sardenia and Iron blood girls know that we will be expecting guests here." The pint sized battleship spoke.
"Right away, your majesty." The battle hardened battleship said as she left the room.
"Bismarck... Tirpitz... Looks like we can finally bring you back. Your exile is over." The pint sized battleship said as she looked out of the barred windows.
"Zara. Heinrich. Spee. There is a small fleet coming from the pacific. We need to prepare for their arrival. They have a human crew tagging along, so I want this base in top shape." The British battleship spoke.
"Come on, Spee. We can go and make sure the dorms are good to go!" Heinrich said as she nudged the shy battlecruiser.
"Anything to be away from the royals..." Spee said softly as she stuck close to the Ironblood Heavy Cruiser.
"If not for us, you two would have been sunk by that drone fleet off the coast of Curacao. I'd say you two are mighty lucky that her majesty doesn't hold grudges." The British battleship spat angrily.
"Watch it, Warspite." Heinrich growled as she glared at the battleship.
"And what will you do?" Warspite asked, summoning her rigging.
"You battleships think you're all that. Top of the world. But that isn't the case, pup. You were outclassed the moment the Sakura fielded Hosho. That nail was driven home when the Union fielded the Yorktown class carriers. The era of battleships is long over, you prude British bitch. Talk to my friend like that again, I will not rest until your hull is torn to shreds in Eisen's jaw." Heinrich said angrily.
"We're better armed and armored." Warspite retorted.
"Most of them are. You are not. My guns are more numerous. I am faster." Heinrich said, listing their differences. "Time truly is a killer. Too bad you've already used so much of it. According to lord Bismarck, you should have sunk at Jutland, it's such a shame to see talent like yours wither in your old age." Heinrich spat, remembering the struggles of her own friends.
"You want to settle this now? I'm sure the Commoner wouldn't miss a single heavy cruiser as unruly as you." Warspite said as she aimed her rigging at Heinrich, who did so in turn.
"Heinrich... let's just go. She's right. We would have been sunk had we stayed near Curacao. Queen Elizabeth and Warspite took us in." Spee said as she tugged at Heinrich's arm.
"Warspite. As a friend, please don't do this. Everyone has taken the end of the world differently. Just try to treat them with a bit of respect. They are not the enemy anymore..." Zara said as she stood in front of Warspite's guns.
"Fine!" Both Warspite and Heinrich said at the same time, turning and going their own separate directions.
"I'll keep an eye on Heinrich," Spee said softly as Zara nodded.
"Warspite should be able to calm herself once she speaks with Elizabeth. Times like these makes me wish Vittorio was here.
"I wish my sister was here, she would know what to do about all of this." Spee said as she sauntered off. The grey skies of the Atlantic offered no warmth for the bitter cold attitudes of everyone on the island.
"How's the arm coming?" Isaac asked as he entered the medical bay onboard the Norfolk.
"We had to put her to sleep. Apparently, no matter how many times the Bulins tell her that they aren't going to hurt her, she refuses to believe that they won't... and I quote 'peel her open like a tin can'." Vestal said as she sat under a surgical light.
"I see. Looks like the bulins are an excellent form of psychological warfare. Their tiny frames are capable of so much carnage. So maybe if we catch another siren, we can use the Bulins to... extract information." Isaac said.
"Commander, as a repair ship, I wholeheartedly dislike your use of the Bulins in such a manner. But, as a ship that has survived the end of the world, I find it utterly hilarious that these little bulins can cause a battle hardened Siren to cower in fear." Vestal said as she put the final touches on Vengeance's arm.
"I see you found a use for some of the excess armor plating. Did it work well?" Isaac asked as he took a seat next to Vestal.
"It was the idea of the head Bulin. She said that since Sirens control the drone ships, they would have an affinity for controlling such material. So I took apart a few surplus devices and used some extra armor plates to construct her new arm. I managed to find a chunk of wisdom ore onboard. I was able to get a usable cube from it to bind this arm to Vengeance." Vestal said as she took off hr mask and laid down her tools.
"Wake her up and send for me when she is fully awake. I need to talk with her about the experiment she will be a part of." Isaac said.
"Would you mind filling me in? As the resident repair ship, I should be in the know about any experiments that involve the bodies of any Kansen in the fleet." Vestal said.
"She is going to be bound to my next project ship. Once we take Japan, I am going to get Kido to leverage me free usage of Japanese ports, the Imperial Army, and a shipyard to build a Hybrid Battleship." Isaac said.
"Quite a big ask, Commander. Do you think you'll get it?" Vestal asked.
"I think freeing their homeland will give me quite a bit of leeway. Plus I am the only man in the world with a unified fleet. I could always use a different method." Isaac said.
"Sometimes you scare me, Commander." Vestal said with an exasperated smile.
"Sometimes, the best hero you can find is the boogieman under your bed." Isaac said with a smirk.
"Hero, huh? Well, let's take New Guinea first before you call yourself that." Vestal said with a smile.
Isaac opened his mouth to say something when Norfolk appeared in the room.
"Commander. I am getting a transmission from Bermuda on the Royal Navy Channel." Norfolk said.
"Put it through." Isaac said.
"It is a message. I shall read it." Norfolk said as she quickly translated it from Morse code.
"It is a message from Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth. She is hoping this message is reaching you. She has requested confirmation that your fleet is headed for Bermuda." Norfolk said.
"A bit much to call Akashi a fleet... but yes. Akashi is heading for Bermuda. Wait, did you say Queen Elizabeth? I haven't seen that little girl since '43. Ask her if she remembers Isaac Garner." Isaac said.
Norfolk sent his message and waited patiently. Several minutes passed before Elizabeth responded.
"She says that she does in fact remember you. She was hoping to meet with you soon." Norfolk said.
"Tell her I am currently unable to fulfill her request. The world isn't the easiest to travel right now." Isaac said.
Another few minutes pass.
"She says she understands. She will receive Akashi just outside the fog surrounding Bermuda when she arrives. It looks like the only reason they are holding the fort is because Bismarck and Tirpitz are still held there." Norfolk said.
"Those two are powerhouses in their own right. And if Lizzie is there, it is a fair guess to assume that Warspite is by her side. Those two are very powerful as well. Akashi will be well protected." Isaac said as he felt a sense of relief for the first time in the last month.
"She will wait for the day that she can see you again. And she really wishes that you wouldn't call her Lizzie." Norfolk said.
"Well, then she shouldn't have told me that I could call her that." Isaac said as he laughed.
"She said she'll make you pay." Norfolk said.
"Bring it, Lizzie." Isaac said as he turned to Vestal.
"Get her up and moving. I would like to speak with her at some point." Isaac said as Norfolk followed him out.
"Also, Nimi is reporting a land sighting. We should be there within the next 24 hours." Norfolk said.
"Good. Get the fleet into our assault formation. Hold the fleet at 5 miles when we get within range. Keep an eye on the skies and our flanks. I don't want to be caught out." Isaac said.
"Understood sir." Norfolk said as Isaac made his way above deck, looking forward to his first land battle that loomed on the horizon.