"What exactly is this machine, miss?" Franz and the captain ask as they enter the lab.
"This is our WC Decoder. It unpacks the data found in wisdom cubes that contain a Kansen. Apparently, we have souls... or our ships do and we are the manifestation of that soul. So i placed the two cubes your Navy has gifted us on that pad and the machine is currently unpacking the densely packed information." Omaha said as I-13 was controlling the docks outside.
"I see. This is news to me." The captain said.
"Of course. Most navies kept that fact quiet... the end of the free world showed how much that mattered. Anyway, do you have any clue who this could be? After all, not every Kansen was part of the last commander's fleet." Omaha asked.
"I do not know. I was just given orders." The captain said.
"I see. Well, it's a battleship for sure. I can already see the keel coming together in drydock." Omaha said as she pointed to the drydock outside the lab.
"Wow. Seeing it firsthand... makes me wonder why we ever built them by hand in the first place." The captain says.
"Many kansen believe that our souls come from the blood, sweat, tears, and wills of those who originally built our hulls." Omaha stated as she sat in the chair next to the computer.
"So without a hull, it's impossible to get a Kansen?" The captain asked.
"Not necessarily. If you have a blueprint of a ship completed, that can count for a 'soul' although it may be less expressive than most." Omaha said.
"But I'm only spitballing. I dont really know.
Thats how I assume it works. Us Kansen dont really concern ourselves with existential questions and concerns... except Enterprise... but she bore the entire Union's will towards the end of the war. So she might be the exception." Omaha began rambling.
"Miss Omaha. Can you tell us what to do or release us to rest? These past few weeks have been harrowing at best." The captain asked.
"There should be an unused dorm higher on the hill. Have your men settle in there. May need a good clean so go and take care of it." Omaha said as the captain nodded and left.
"Now... I hope you arent too much of a headache. You Iris and Vichya Kansen have that 'holier than thou' feel whenever youre around." Omaha muttered to herself.
"Not all of us do." A whispering voice came from behind Omaha.
"What the hell?!" Omaha jumped to her feet and snapped two shots from her rigging, barely missing the figure hidden by the shadows.
"Arrêtez! Je viens en paix!" The figure cried out.
"Who are you and how did you get here without being detected by my radar?!" Omaha yelled, keeping her guns trained on the figure as they stepped from the shadows.
"My name is Surcouf! French cruiser Submarine. I was tailing the cargo ship from italy, hoping they'd lead me somewhere safe. I have very powerful electric generators that run really quiet so its hard to hear me on passive sonar. And I stay underwater since those drone ships cannot detect me without a submarine in their formation." Surcouf stated, holding her hands up to keep Omaha from shooting her.
"Don't sneak up on me! I almost blasted you into oblivion." Omaha said as she breathed a sigh of relief, lowering her guns and dissolving her rigging.
"Thank you. Where is the commander, i must make him aware of my presence, after all Azur Lane always has a commander." Surcouf said, earning a worried look from Omaha.
"He's currently heading for the Philippines... he was the only one who wasnt enslaved by the sirens... and has made it his mission to save the world." Omaha said.
"My word! Sounds like an awful big task." Surcouf said as Omaha walked up to her and pushed her to the wall.
"Yes. It is a big task. But at least he has the balls to fight back. So if youre done mocking him, find a way to make yourself useful." Omaha growled as she went back to the computer.
"Oh my... you have a deep respect for the
commander, don't you?" Surcouf asked.
"Yeah?! And what of it?! He is willing to put his life on the line for a world who sees him as subhuman, nothing more than trash to be cast aside to die! So I have more respect for that man that I do any human on this planet!" Omaha yelled, finally relieving some of her stress and alleviating some of her fear.
"I am sorry for offending. Shall I try to catch up to him to give support?" Surcouf asked.
"No. Eldridge will blow you out of the water before you get close. And he more than likely has Eagle's Spitfires doing long range recon. So you'd be better off assisting here." Omaha said as she looked at the time left on the construction.
"An hour left huh? Let's get you set with I-13. Maybe you can help us keep this island safe." Omaha stated.
Aboard the Eagle, Isaac was mulling over a map. They had just hit the a third of the way between Tonga and Fiji.
"Eagle, please report to the bridge." Isaac spoke into a radio reciever. A few minutes pass before the door opens.
"Yes, commander?" Eagle asked.
"I'm worried about Omaha and I-13. Is there any way we can get eyes on the base?" Isaac asked.
"No sir... unfortunately my range doesn't extend past 75 miles. Any further and I'd have to drop anchor and divert all my energy to controlling a single squadron." Eagle said sadly.
"I see. That's okay. I just hope they're okay." Isaac said.
"You really are a good commander. I think i like you a bit more now." Eagle said as she sat next to his hand on the table.
"I appreciate it, Eagle." Isaac said as he looked at her.
Back at Azur Lane, Surcouf and I-13 set out to set up anti-submarine cables around the island.
Omaha sat at the computer and watched the timer tick down until it reached zero. Omaha looked out at drydock and saw the ship of the Kansen she had revived.
"Oh lord. It's her..." Omaha said as she slapped the 'complete' button, releasing the Kansen from the chamber.
The new kansen opened her eyes.
"Where am I?" The woman asked.
"Hello... Richelieu." Omaha said with a forced smile.
"Hello, Omaha. Tell me, where am I?" Richelieu asked.
"Azur Lane facility in the South Pacific." Omaha said coldly.
"I see. So this is my home now. Definately far from my homeland." Richelieu said as her outfit faded into existance.
"Yes. And the commander is away. He is with a small fleet on a mission to liberate the Philippines from the sirens." Omaha said.
"Ah. A man of strong will. My faith is what carries my vows and my hopes, but from the sounds of it, the good commander may be someone I would enjoy fighting for." Richelieu said as she walked towards the Iris flag that laid upon a maple wood box.
"There is a cube within this box. One of the Templar knights... Triomphant. Poor soul. Left on her own. Let us bring you home." Richelieu spoke solemnly as she placed the cube on the pad. Omaha pressed the button.
"It will take time, Richelieu. Please, take the bulins and look over your ship. Repair anything that needs it. Leaky joints, weak armor, anything." Omaha said as Richelieu stood in the light streaming through the door, praying.
"May God protect his noble warriors and his humble servants. May your grace descend upon this base and grant us protection. May you bless the Commander with fair seas and friendly skies. I pray this in the name of the father, the son, and the holy spirit. Amen." Richelieu spoke before she turned to Omaha.
"I will take my leave. Please alert me once Triomphant is once again among us." Richelieu said before she took a few of the bulins and headed for her ship.
"I will." Omaha said as she breathed a sigh of relief.
"Such a pain to deal with." She said to herself.
"Commander. I am picking up something on the very edge of our air screen." Eagle said as she perked up, almost spilling her tea.
Isaac grabbed the reciever.
"All ships, general quarters. Prepare for combat." Isaac barked as a wave of confirmations flooded the radio channel.
"Looks like a small cluster of Drone ships. Heading this way." Eagle said.
"Keep our long range scouts out there. Call back our short range and launch a squadron of Albacores." Isaac commanded.
"Sir!" Eagle confirmed.
"Eldridge, activate stealth field. Let's get the counterintelligence warfare going. Move ahead of Nimi. That way your field is what their radar sees first." Isaac spoke through the reciever. He watched as bright blue bolts of electricity sparked along Eldridge's hull.
"Feels funny. I'm okay." Eldridge said as she slipped forward past the Z23.
"Eagle, give me range." Isaac said.
"Looks like 32 miles." Eagles.
"Shit. Too far for effective fire." Isaac said.
"Maybe if you'd make use of those spiffy Iowa class ships from Union, we'd have the range." Eagle said.
"Save your jokes, Eagle. You know the Union Navy is practically helpless now. I couldnt get my hands on an Iowa class even if i sold my soul for it." Isaac retorted.
"My apologies, commander." Eagle said.
"Alright girls. First fight towards the Philippines. Buckle up, we wont be getting much rest from here on in." Isaac said as the radio came alive once more with confirmations.
"Somehow I feel confident we can achieve this." Isaac thought to himself.