Isaac awoke the next morning in bed with Nimi and Eagle. The two of them were pressed against him to the point where he couldn't move his arms. He managed to crane his neck up enough to see the door hanging open and a box on the table with a note. Afew a few moments of slow maneuvering, Isaac managed to wrestle his arms free of the two beauties warming his bed. He made his way over to the table with the box and sat in the chair.
"Mein Reizender Kommandant, The green cat gave me these to give you, but with everything that has happened, I lost track of it until now. I believe it is a jewelry box, but I can not be certain. I have not allowed myself the liberty of peeking inside. Anyway. This is for you. And I know I am being a bit forward, I would like to request your presence onboard my bridge when you awake. Friedrich." The note read.
"I see. I might have to scold her for sneaking in here." Isaac said as he grabbed his clothes and began dressing himself. He opened the box, which was no bigger than a tea box. Sure enough, inside were several rows of identical rings that matched the one that Nimi was wearing.
"Well. I guess Eagle won't have to wait for hers any longer." Isaac said as he plucked a ring from the box and walked over to Eagle's naked form.
"With this ring, I promise to cherish and adore you for the rest of our lives." Isaac whispered as he slid the ring on Eagle's finger.
"Alright. I had better take this box with me. I'd hate to lose such a valuable box." Isaac said as he gingerly placed it in his bag. He slowly walked out of the room and closed the door before heading above deck on the Z23.
Across the port sat the steel behemoth belonging to Friedrich. Sure enough, Isaac could just barely make out the sound of classical music to the tune of Gustav Mahler and Mozart as he saw the dark haired beauty leaning over the rail, facing the sea. As he approached, the terrifying sight of the battleship faded to the warmth of a tender yet exciting home. Friedrich noticed the moment he stepped on board but did not come running.
Isaac made his way up to the bridge where the music seemingly had not changed in pitch. He heard it a bit louder, but not as loud as he had expected it to be.
"Mein Kommandant. Please, have a seat. I already have breakfast for you." Friedrich said as she presented him with some baked Bratwurst, eggs, and a strong coffee, seemingly from Mainz.
"Thank you, Friedrich." Isaac said as he sat down and waited.
"Is everything alright, Kommandant?" Friedrich asked.
"I'm waiting for you to grab a plate and join me." Isaac said.
"I have already eaten, Kommandant. So please, dig in." Friedrich insisted.
"Then may I have a second cup of coffee?" Isaac asked. Friedrich saw what he was doing and took the hint.
"Such an insistent Kommandant. I shall join you for breakfast, if that is your wish." Friedrich said.
"If it is not too much to ask." Isaac said, fully inviting the feeling of being in the presence of someone so terrifying, yet loving when not in battle.
"Not at all, I just assumed you enjoyed eating alone." Friedrich said.
"Not in the slightest, Friedrich. Please. Have a seat with me. I found the note you left me." Isaac said as Friedrich sat next to him with a cup of coffee for herself.
"Ah. My apologies. I had meant to give you that box earlier but with the fire and the Sakura battleship, I have not found the time. I wanted to express my apologies in person." Friedrich said.
"Are you okay?" Isaac asked.
"Yes, of course. Why do you ask?" Friedrich asked.
"You're not teasing me like you usually do. And you aren't trying to keep me to yourself." Isaac said.
"Yes, well, try as I have, I realized that my conduct has been a bit... forward as of late. And I don't want that to be the only thing you see when you look at me. I'm not like Roon, or how the green cat described her. I am not some fiend who preys on my children, including you, Kommandant." Friedrich explained.
"Who is Roon? I've heard the name." Isaac said.
"The green cat was saying that an Ironblood Heavy Cruiser fell madly in love with her Kommandant. Thing was, he was the commander of Azur Lane, Kommandant Forrest. Roon took to kidnapping him in his sleep and forcing him to marry her, then would lash out at any other girl that wanted his attention. The green cat said that she had to repair multiple ships regularly after fights with Roon." Friedrich said.
"From what I heard, Roon sounds a bit intense, yeah?" Isaac asked.
"Yes. But aside from all that. I just figured... I'd take a more human approach to getting what I desire." Friedrich said.
"And what do you desire, Friedrich der Große?" Isaac said, surprising her by using her full name.
"Well... I could tell what you and my two lovely children were doing... such an energetic young man you are, Kommandant." Friedrich said.
"If you could 'sense' it. Who else could?" Isaac asked.
"The entire fleet knew. Our radios emit a slight static when we aren't using them. Eagle and Nimi must have done it with you before, because they shut their radios off completely. Dear Rodney was explaining how on your way to Tonga..." Friedrich said as Isaac spat out his coffee and put a hand on her mouth.
"We don't need to get into that!" Isaac exclaimed, his face beet red from embarrassment. "But seriously... what do you desire?" Isaac asked.
"I desire one of those rings you gave dear Nimi, and the promise that goes along with it. I haven't known you long, Kommandant. But I can't shake the feeling that I get when I see you lead this fleet. I can't help but see your strength and care for this fleet. Tales of you throwing yourself into harm's way to protect those not strong enough to fight the good fight. It intrigues me. Watching you perform is like sitting first class in the music halls of Mozart. It brings me an unparalleled level of joy to see you perform and yet, on the other side of the coin, care for your fleet like they were family." Friedrich said, pouring her soul onto the table for Isaac to see.
"I... I had no idea. I'm shocked actually." Isaac said, stammering over his words.
"Whatever do you mean?" Friedrich asked, silently preparing for rejection.
"I haven't had the time to truly get to know anyone from this fleet. Nimi and Eagle are the ones I am closest to. And they came right out and told me that they wanted me. And you have too, But for the time you've been here, I never expected you to be someone to want someone like me." Isaac said as he offered her some of his food.
"We don't care what you look like... while we are women... we just want the love and affection that human women receive. I want you to show me what it is that Nimi and Eagle, my dear children, love about you." Friedrich said as she took a bite of the sausage on Isaac's plate.
"I see. How about you join me for my rounds today? Give me a chance to mull it over. We can give Odin the day off, if you're willing to join me for the day." Isaac suggested.
"That sounds like a fantastic idea." Friedrich said with a small but genuine smile. The very sight warmed Isaac's heart.
"To think such a powerhouse like you had such an adorable soft side." Isaac said as he sipped his coffee.
"Kommandant... stop it. You're flattering me now." Friedrich said as she drank her coffee. The sun graced the port with it's warmth and light while Isaac and Friedrich laughed away on the bridge.
"Well, let's go. Keep your radio tuned for anything that could come in. If possible, tune it to the old Azur Lane Frequency. All ships with Kansen will know the frequency, I think." Isaac said.
"Already done, Mein Kind." Friedrich said with a smile.
"Mein Kind?" Isaac asked.
"My Child." Friedrich said as she graced his cheek with a small kiss.
"You'd make a wonderful mother, Friedrich." Isaac said as they made their way down to the main deck.
"Vestal, I got something on the old Azur Lane Frequency. It isn't very clear, but I can dial in on it." Phoenix said.
"How?! We are four days out at best!" Vestal cried.
"Hell if I know! All I know is I'm picking it up!" Phoenix cried in return.
"Well, what does it say?" St. Louis asked.
"It... it sounds like a shipyard. Hold on. I can hear a voice over the sounds of the hammers." Phoenix said.
"...Kommandant... more gentle...Nimi... can't walk...Eagle"
Phoenix blushed.
"Uh... Hello?" Phoenix asked over her radio.
"Friedrich? Did this thing just... talk?" A man's voice was heard.
"Mein Kind... Are you sure you're alright? Staying up with those two all night might not be the best thing if you don't have someone to take over while you rest." A woman's voice came through.
"Hey! Can anyone hear me?!" Phoenix yelled on the radio.
"There it is again, Friedrich. You hear that too?" The man spoke.
"Yes, actually. It came from that piece of siren tech. It might be a radio of some sort. The bulins must have been tinkering with it to receive transmissions from the Azur Lane frequency." The woman said.
"Hello?" The man's voice spoke.
"Hello, who am I speaking to?" Phoenix spoke as Vestal and St. Louis both came over and huddled around the radio.
"This is Commander Isaac Garner of Azur Lane's Naval Forces, currently with Fleet one. Who are you and how did you get this frequency?" Isaac replied.
"My name is Phoenix, Brooklyn class Cruiser. I am traveling with my sister St. Louis and the repair ship Vestal. We escaped Pearl Harbor and are heading for you, you are on the island of Fiji, correct?" Phoenix asked.
"Yes. That is correct. Wait.. Friedrich!" Isaac was cut off as a woman's voice came over the radio.
"Phoenix, I am Friedrich der Große. Where are you and how are you transmitting?" Friedrich asked.
"Ironblood?" Phoenix looked at Vestal, who shrugged.
"We are about four days out from the island of Fiji. I am transmitting via my normal radio, but I am confused as to how I am picking up your transmission." Phoenix said.
"We have a massive stockpile of Siren Tech. This radio device seems to have a much wider area of effect. Kommandant, I believe we should say what we need to and cut transmission. Four days is easily two hundred miles if not more. If they can hear us, the Sirens can too. And with that leak the other day, we cannot afford to lose any more intel." Friedrich said.
"Agreed. Phoenix. Head directly for Suva. We will greet you. Maintain radio silence until you are within regular radio range." Isaac said as the line cut out.
"Are we still going?" Phoenix asked.
"We will have him explain himself when we arrive. Siren tech is risky business." Vestal said as she looked to the sea.