Isaac stepped onto the deck of the Norfolk just as the doors to the dry dock opened. As the sea rushed in, the ship soon began to float on its own. Isaac turned to the full sized projection next to him.
"Norfolk, status report." Isaac asked.
"Hull is holding nicely, Commander. Everything is structurally sound and stable. Energy stabilization and output are nominal. Steering gear is functional and smooth. You all did a magnificent job of constructing my hull." Norfolk said with a smile and a small bow.
"You're quite a nice girl. Is any of that due to me?" Isaac asked.
"I don't know, sir. But I know this is how I want to be." Norfolk said as she walked along her new hull.
"So your projection swaps from node to node as you walk. Are you able to touch things too?" Isaac asked as Norfolk came over to him and laid her hands on his cheeks. He felt the hairs of his beard stand on end with static electricity as he felt a light pressure on his face.
"I do not have a solid body, but my projection is able to influence the world around me, even if it is only this much." Norfolk said as she continued her inspection.
"How do the engines work? I was unsure of What the bulins meant when they said that Siren Tech was going to be used." Isaac said.
"Think of it as a much bigger version of their plasma weaponry, Commander. If you slow down the expulsion of energy into a constant stream, the laws of physics will dictate that you move forward in an equal but opposite measure. The act of using this form of propulsion eliminates the engine sounds from Sonar and Hydrophone, but the sound of boiling ocean might still give you away. Plasma burns at a really high temperature, but outputs a lot more force, propelling you much faster." Norfolk said as Isaac felt the ship rumble lightly as the engines were activated.
"Do you burn oil to keep it running?" Isaac asked.
"No. There are water intakes along my keel. The sea water is filtered and boiled. That steam is then collected and superheated into hydrogen based plasma to propel this vessel. The salt and contaminants are then burned before being released." Norfolk explained.
"I am glad to have you here to explain that. You'll have to run me through the maintenance and upkeep procedure so that if something happens, I can spearhead the repairs. The Bulins are great, but they need a break from being the main construction force on this project." Isaac said.
"Agreed. Those little ones are tuckered out and are asleep in the aptly named Bulin Quarters. They even made a little sign outside their door." Norfolk said as she looked at Isaac.
"I see. What else was added in here that I don't know about?" Isaac asked.
"Salvage room, a steam jacketed water system so you can take a hot shower, a workshop, a questionably large captain's room, and a map room." Norfolk said.
"Map room?" Isaac asked.
"Using the best maps that this database showed me, I managed to create a very accurate depiction of this world's oceans. Land based maps can be retrieved and the map will be updated." Norfolk said as Isaac saw Friedrich and Odin coming their way.
"Understood. We have visitors." Isaac said as he turned towards the gangway.
"Kommandant. Congratulations on the construction of your new vessel." Odin said as Friedrich got up close to inspect his new outfit.
"Herr Isaac, you look dangerous. I like." Friedrich said as Norfolk appeared next to Isaac.
"Hello. I am Norfolk. Command ship of Commander... I never caught your name, commander." Norfolk said as Odin and Friedrich looked on in awe.
"Isaac Garner." Isaac replied to Norfolk before turning to see the two German battleships aiming their rigging at her.
"Kommandant, please step away from her." Odin said.
"Odin, stop this at once." Isaac ordered.
"She is a Siren, Herr Isaac. Can you not see her design?" Friedrich asked.
"Hey! Just because she looks different from you and Odin does not make her the enemy. She only looks like that due to the material of her construction. She is still a loyal Kansen, through and through." Isaac said, feeling a strange sense of familiarity with the situation.
"Kommandant, I do not trust someone who looks like that." Odin said.
"Odin, enough!" Isaac yelled.
"Isaac?" Friedrich asked, now understanding that he was upset.
"You are treating her the same way I am treated in the union. I will not have that in my fleet! I refuse to allow the circumstances of one's creation to hinder them from fulfilling their duty. If you have a problem with her, then we have a problem as a fleet." Isaac stated firmly.
"I..." Odin started before Isaac held up a hand.
"First comes the distrust. Then she gets forced out of meetings. Then she gets placed in the back of the line for maintenance and repairs. after all that, she gets the scraps from ammunition depots and reserve materials. I know the way this shit works, Vice Commander. You have never lived in the Union. But I would go out on a limb and say due to your complexion, and the form you chose, they wouldn't have shit to say about you." Isaac said angrily before turning to Friedrich.
"And that goes for you too. I will not give racial animosity a home in my fleet. Fix yourselves or go back to Niue and wait for my return. But if half the fleet feels the same as you two do, then I might not be coming back." Isaac said as he stormed off below deck.
"The Commander does not seem pleased." Norfolk said as she turned to Friedrich and Odin.
"I do not wish to cause animosity among the fleet. My purpose is to serve the fleet and act as a pillar for the commander to led his forces... I can make my presence... less if that is what it takes." Norfolk said as she sat next to one of her main batteries. Odin couldnt tell, but she swore that Norfolk was crying.
"No. That will not be necessary. We were wrong to act in such a manner without allowing you or the Kommandant to explain." Odin said, feeling truly chastised again for the second time in just as many weeks.
"I exist only to aid the Commander. As a precaution for this, I constantly swap my encryption and coding. It is within my database that most of the upper level sirens have the ability to wrestle control from a being like me. I am entrusting you all to help keep me out of that sphere of influence." Norfolk said sadly as horns blared out over the port.
"Looks like second fleet is here." Odin said as she turned away from the uncomfortable scene.
"Shall I get Herr Isaac?" Friedrich asked.
"The Commander is currently tinkering in the workshop. He appears to be quite angry. As his assistant, I will relegate tasks in his absence. Vice Commander, please greet the Second fleet." Norfolk said as her projection shimmered out of view.
"I really messed up this time..." Odin said as she looked at Friedrich.
"It seems we have many things to learn about Herr Isaac. But that also worries me." Friedrich said.
"Why is that?" Odin asked.
"This General MacArthur. He too is from the union, no?" Friedrich asked.
"The Kommandant barely escaped the union. MacArthur has been stranded in New Guinea... if he has the animosity we held... he could lash out at the Kommandant." Odin said as she realized why Friedrich was nervous.
"I will protect my husband." Friedrich said coldly as a dark shadow covered her golden eyes.
"Whereas I did not get to see mine." Akagi spoke as she walked onto the Deck of the Norfolk.
"My apologies. We had meant to come and greet you." Odin said as she looked down at Akagi, her tiny frame making Odin seem tall by comparison.
"Where is the Union Shikikan?" Akagi asked pointedly.
"He is currently unavailable." Friedrich said as she turned to face the small carrier.
"I don't believe we have met." Akagi said as she looked up at the two German battleships.
"Friedrich der Große and Odin." The two said respectively.
"And whose ship is this?" Akagi asked, realizing that the ship she was on was no battleship.
Silence.
"This ship is the Norfolk. It was a custom creation from the Kommandant." Odin replied.
"So it has no Kansen?" Akagi asked.
"She does... but I feel as though Friedrich and I may have put her off to being seen by the fleet. Chances are, she has retreated to stay with the Kommandant." Odin said.
"What do you mean by put off?" Akagi demanded, growing rather impatient.
"Due to the materials of her construction, we mistook her for a Siren." Odin said.
"That is low..." Akagi said under her breath. She glared at Friedrich and Odin.
"Then take me below deck. I have business with the Shikikan." Akagi said as the rest of Second Fleet joined her.
VVVVVXXXXXVVVVV
"Commander... I'm fine. I promise." Norfolk said softly, her hands resting on the back plate of his suit.
"You might be, but I am not. It seems like my fleet has the same feelings towards you as the Union does towards me." Isaac said. He had stripped his gun and was cleaning it using the oil he found in the workshop.
"Commander. I am okay, please do not worry about me. I can change. My appearance is not something that is static. I can make the changes." Norfolk said.
"No. I prefer for you to remain comfortable." Isaac said as he turned to face her.
"Commander, you have guests waiting on the top deck." Norfolk said, giving up the argument knowing she couldn't win.
"They can speak with Odin. I want to be left alone for right now." Isaac said as he turned back to fixing his gun.
"Commander. I will alert you at 1500 hours for the mission briefing then." Norfolk said as her display faded. Isaac stood and walked to a bag that he had hung in the empty corner of the workshop. He hit it with everything he had, causing it to swing haphazardly from the pipe it was attached to.
"There will be a change in this fleet." Isaac growled under his breath as he returned to his gun.