"Grandma Warspite!" Mutsuki cried happily as she ran up the steps towards Warspite's desk.
"Oh hello there, little Mutsuki. How are you?" Warspite said as she knelt don to pick up the energetic Destroyer.
"I'm good. Azumama is sleeping so I wanted to come play with you!" Mutsuki said with a bright smile.
"Oh you precious little kitten. I can't play, but I can allow you to sit with me while I work, will that work?" Warspite asked.
Mutsuki thought about it for a second before vigorously nodding.
"Alright. Sit in Granny Warspite's lap. I've gotta go over equipment reports today." Warspite said.
"Okay~~~!" Mutsuki said excitedly as she made herself comfortable.
"I wonder how Her Majesty is doing." Warspite wondered aloud.
"Wonder no more, nyaa!" Akashi said as she scampered in with a box and a headset.
"What do you mean?" Warspite asked.
"Akashi made a device that is synced to Shikikan's Command ship." Akashi said.
"So with that small device, we can contact the Commander?" Warspite asked.
"Hai! It costs a wisdom cube to power though. But once we use the cube, it will work for a long time." Akashi said.
"Well... alright then. I will permit the use of one singular Wisdom cube from the storehouse." Warspite said as Akashi placed the box on the desk.
"Akashi will return!" Akashi said as she ran off.
"Grandma Warspite?" Mutsuki asked.
"What is it, little one?" Warspite asked.
"Do you think Mutsuki's sisters are out there?" Mutsuki asked.
Warspite looked at the little destroyer with a well hidden look of sadness.
"I am sure they are out there. It's just up to us and the Commander to find them." Warspite said as she began to pet the sniffling destroyer between her ears.
"Do you think Shikikan will let Mutsuki see her sisters again?" Mutsuki asked.
"If he is half the man Her majesty thinks he is, I would be inclined to believe he would." Warspite said as Mutsuki gave a sad smile.
"Everyone is so nice to Mutsuki... but it gets lonely still." Mutsuki said.
"Tada! Akashi has returned with a friend, nyaa." Akashi said as she and Spee walked into the room.
"Akashi, you didn't say we were coming up here." Spee said quietly.
"Auntie Spee! Mutsuki said happily.
Spee smiled and gave a small wave to Mutsuki.
"Mutsuki, dear. How about you spend some time with Auntie Spee? She seems like she wants to play." Warspite said as Mutsuki looked at Spee, who nodded softly.
"Okay~~ Bye for now, Grandma Warspite!" Mutsuki said happily as she hopped off the battleship's lap and ran into the mechanical hands of Graf Spee.
"Let's go play by the water." Spee said, hiding the real reason she wanted to leave.
"Yay!" Mutsuki said as she and Spee made their way down the steps towards the courtyard.
"I wonder why Spee doesn't feel comfortable with us yet..." Warspite said.
"Your forces did blockade the port she was in, and then she was scuttled by the troops accompanying her." Tirpitz said as she made her way into the room.
"Ah, Tirpitz. You're a bit more lively as of late." Warspite said.
"Well, when a certain carrier expects you for tea, you can't really refuse." Tirpitz said with a sigh.
"Illustrious can be very convincing, can't she?" Warspite said as Tirpitz blushed and looked off to the side.
"Y-yeah." Tirpitz said.
"So this is what we need to use to communicate with the Commander?" Warspite asked as she turned to Akashi. Akashi was putting the box back together after installing the cube.
"Hai. We can communicate with the Norfolk, nyaa. But if any of the other Kansen are on board the Norfolk, then we can talk to them too, nyaa." Akashi said.
"That would be nice. I'd like to speak with my sister." Tirpitz said.
"We must remember that while it may be day time over here, it's more than likely the middle of the night over there. So we might not catch who we want." Warspite said.
"I guess you have a point. I'd still like to try." Tirpitz said as Warspite shrugged.
"Is it ready to use, Akashi?" Warspite asked.
"Hai. May be a bit fuzzy, so adjust as needed, nyaa." Akashi said as she handed the headset to Warspite.
"Thank you, Akashi." Warspite said as she flipped the switch on the box.
"I don't know if this will work, but Norfolk, come in. This is Warspite."
Norfolk burst into the Crew Quarters at half past midnight.
"Commander. Commander." Norfolk spoke as she gently shook Isaac and Nimi from their sleep. Bismarck, who had been placed in a bed nearby awoke to the sound of Norfolk's whispers.
"Hmm?" Isaac asked as Nimi and Bismarck both stood from their beds and waited for him to wake up.
"I have a radio call from Warspite. I don't know how she is reaching us, but with no Sirens within general radio range, I am inclined to believe it is her." Norfolk said.
"What time is it?" Isaac asked as he tried to banish the sleep from his eyes.
"0030 hours. We just passed 50 miles out of port from New Guinea." Norfolk said.
"Kommandant, I would be more than happy to receive the call if you wish to sleep." Bismarck said, her tone much softer than normal as to not offend Isaac's ears.
"Could you keep her company until I can get up?" Isaac asked as Nimi knelt down next to him and pulled his arm so he could sit.
"As you command." Bismarck said as she quickly followed Norfolk to the bridge.
"Norfolk, come in, I repeat, this is Warspite." The radio spoke.
"Warspite, this is Bismarck. We read you loud and clear." Bismarck said.
The sound of shuffling came from the other end.
"Schwester?" Tirpitz's voice came through.
"Jüngere Schwester!" Bismarck said happily. Norfolk smiled softly as she saw Bismarck's face light up.
"I see you made it to the Kommandant." Tirpitz said.
"I did. Made it too late to be useful during the insertion into New Guinea, but we are now sailing towards Australia." Bismarck said.
"Australia? Why there?" Tirpitz asked.
"We are heading to Brisbane on the Kommandant's orders. Supposedly we are going to be conducting a bit of shipbuilding and recruiting." Bismarck said.
"There is no supposedly about it, Bismarck." Isaac said as he stepped onto the bridge.
"Kommandant on deck." Bismarck said as she stood straight.
"Relax, im messing around. Yeah, we're going to build Vengeance her ship and bring forth another carrier. Well, technically Vengeance will be a carrier as well, she'll just be armed with Battleship guns as well." Isaac said.
"Is that the Kommandant?" Tirpitz asked.
"It is. Kommandant Isaac Garner." Bismarck said.
"Could you put him on?" Tirpitz asked.
"Ja." Bismarck said as she handed the radio to Isaac.
"Commander Garner speaking, who may I have the pleasure of talking to?" Isaac asked.
"You had better be taking care of my sister in my absence, Kommandant. 'Else you will be eating a 15 inch shell when we finally meet." Tirpitz said.
"Ah. Tirpitz, I presume." Isaac said.
"You presume correctly. Keep my sister safe, you hear?" Tirpitz said.
"I will do what I can to make sure she sees you again. How exactly did you contact us? You're in Bermuda are you not?" Isaac asked.
"Akashi, the little green cat from Sakura, made a device powered by a wisdom cube that is synced to your ship from our end. So now we can call in if something should occur." Tirpitz said.
"I see. Well, since you guys also fall under my command, this could be a good tool to use if I need to issue orders to your fleet as well." Isaac spoke as Norfolk nodded at his assessment.
"Actually... we can't leave her en masse. We have a... situation involving a very volatile Heavy Cruiser." Tirpitz said.
Isaac thought for a few moments before realizing something Akashi said when she had first met him.
"Roon?" Isaac asked.
"Ah... yes. I won't ask how you know, but yes. Apparently she and the Heavy Cruiser Prinz Eugen were swayed by a Siren to attack my sister and I while she was still here. We have her in the brig here, so we cannot move in any capacity." Tirpitz said.
"Understood. Then hold the fort. If things improve, contact me immediately." Isaac said.
"We will. Ah, Warspite would like to speak with you." Tirpitz said as the sound of shuffling came over again.
"Commander." Warspite said sternly.
"Yes, Warspite?" Isaac asked.
"Is Her Majesty available?" Warspite asked.
"Not currently. She is resting aboard her vessel. I believe Belfast is tending to her currently when she isn't here with me." Isaac said.
"Why is Belfast tending to you? If Her Majesty is present, the Royal Maids tend to her." Warspite said.
"I don't know. Supposedly, Lizzie told Belfast to keep her eye on me since the incident in New Guinea." Isaac said.
"You! You should not refer to her in such a manner!" Warspite said angrily.
Isaac shrugged.
"She doesn't seem to mind." Isaac said.
Isaac had to cover his mouth and laugh because he could her Warspite growling angrily on the other end.
"I honestly don't know what she sees in you. To think she'd pick you as her first human commander." Warspite snapped.
"Who knows, honestly. All I know is that she doesn't mind me calling her that. So I'll take my victories where I can get them." Isaac said.
"You had best hope she is safe in your care. You and I will have words when you arrive." Warspite said as she cut the line.
"Well... that happened." Isaac said.
"It looks like everyone is worried about the fleet that came from Bermuda." Norfolk said.
"It is what it is. Let's get some shut eye. We have things to do in the morning." Isaac said.
"Understood." Bismarck said as she turned and left the bridge.
"No need to rush, Bismarck. I know you Ironblood girls are a bit uptight, but that isn't how I roll. I keep a tight ship, but not tight enough to make it stuffy. relax a bit. The only enemy we face are the sirens." Isaac said.
"I... I guess you're right. I'm not used to relaxing as the leader of Ironblood." Bismarck said as she waited for Isaac and Nimi to follow.
"Are you coming, Norfolk?" Isaac asked.
"Why would I?" Norfolk asked.
"Because you have a human body that needs sleep. So, set your course, and get some sleep. Thats an order." Isaac said with a soft smile and a yawn.
Norfolk smiled and followed them.
"Aye aye, sir." Norfolk said as the four of them headed back to the crew quarters.