Isaac awoke a short time later to a small weight on his chest. He opened his eyes to find the small arm of I-13 clutching at his shirt. Her soft face was a slight shade of red, as if she subconsciously knew what she was doing while her body slept. Isaac smiled softly before taking her hand off his chest and standing from the bed. Finally getting a chance to admire the room, Isaac saw that the bed was much larger than any onboard the other ships. It also held a door to a closet and a bathroom. The red and black motif was ever present, casting a reddish glow throughout the room.
"Huh..." Isaac found himself saying as he headed for the bathroom. Much to his surprise, the bathroom was the polar opposite of his room. A white and gold motif slapped him in the face, forcing him to squint to be able to see properly.
"Who designed the color layout?" Isaac muttered. He walked inside the bathroom and closed the door behind him.
"Hmm?" I-13 woke slowly, feeling the lack of warmth from her Shikikan. She opened her eyes and looked around the room before locking her eyes on the door.
Isaac stepped into the shower and turned on the water, allowing the heated water to run over his chest and back.
"I-13 sat on the bed, waiting for Isaac to return. She rubbed her eyes and stretched, allowing her dress to fall idly from her shoulder before fixing it shortly after.
"I-13, where is the Commander?" Norfolk asked as she appeared in the room.
"Shikikan is in the shower. I wouldn't interrupt him, I quite like his singing." I-13 said as Norfolk could faintly hear Isaac humming within the bathroom.
"I see... well, There is a bit of an emergency and Odin has requested his assistance on the matter." Norfolk said.
"Well, I can see if I can get him to hurry it up." I-13 said softly as she slowly stood and walked to the door. She turned back at Norfolk as she raised her hand to knock, bringing her fist down on a soft yet firm surface.
"Hmm?" I-13 asked as she turned around, seeing her fist resting against Isaac's abs, causing her face to take on a bright red color.
"I guess I missed a few things." Isaac said as he tightened the towel around his waist.
"S-s-shikikan..." I-13 said as she turned away and ran to the bed, burying her face in a pillow and screaming in embarrassment.
"13... It's all good. At least you didn't do what Norfolk did and bust in on me changing." Isaac said as he walked over to the closet, closing the door after stepping inside so he could dress in private.
"Commander. There has been a bit of an incident." Norfolk said.
"What kind of incident?" Isaac asked.
"We picked up a single Drone ship approaching the fleet at an alarming speed. Akagi is following it in, but Odin has requested your presence on the bridge." Norfolk said as Isaac emerged from the closet, clothed and walking to his jumpsuit, slipping it on and attaching the plates again.
"13, I don't have any orders to give you right now. Go ahead and take the day. I'll be around to check up on you." Isaac said as she lifted her head and looked at him.
"Okay, Shikikan..." I-13 said as her face turned bright red once more.
"Oh, I almost forgot... I remember something i heard you say in a dream of mine..." Isaac said.
I-13 went white as she turned to face him.
"Y-you do?" I-13 asked.
"Ai Shiteru." Isaac said as I-13 teared up.
"Commander... you don't know what that means?" Norfolk asked.
"Do you?" Isaac asked.
"Yes. Would you like to know?" Norfolk asked.
"Very much so." Isaac said as I-13 held a pillow to her face, clearly embarrassed.
"It is from the Sakura language. It means 'I love you deeply'." Norfolk said as Isaac turned to face I-13.
He walked over to the bashful submarine and sat next to her, pulling the pillow from her face.
"Is that true, 13?" Isaac asked, looking softly at the teary eyed submarine. She nodded slowly.
"You saved my life... And then you go and be a hero to so many. How could I not come to love you?" I-13 asked as she began to cry.
"I... I don't know what to say?" Isaac said as he looked at her, seeing a look of sadness cross her face.
"It's okay, Shikikan. I don't have the power anymore to be useful. I wasn't expecting you to love me in return." I-13 said softly as Norfolk disappeared.
"That's not what I meant, 13." Isaac said as he clasped his hands around hers.
"I just wanted to tell you... just in case I didn't make it back..." I-13 said.
"I'm beginning to understand this fleet a little bit more. My feelings towards all of you are... positive at the very least. So you proclaiming your love... opens that door for both of us." Isaac said as he dried her tears.
"So..." I-13 looked up hopefully.
"I accept your feelings as well. My lovely 13." Isaac said as he kissed her cheek and ruffled her hair.
"Let's go and see what this incident is." Isaac said as he slipped his helmet on, finding that I-13 suddenly preferred to hang on his back as opposed to walking. Her giggling made him smile below the mask.
XXXXXVVVVVXXXXX
"What is the situation?" Isaac asked as he and I-13 stepped onto the bridge.
"We have been unable to verify, but there appears to be somebody aboard the incoming drone ship. We were going to sink it, but the color is not normal and Akagi spotted a body onboard." Odin said.
"Alright. Akagi, keep an eye on it. I'm sending Eldridge to investigate." Isaac said as Eldridge broke formation, heading towards the incoming drone ship.
"The body is beginning to move, Shikikan. I can't get closer to see, but she looks like she is injured." Akagi said.
"Eldridge, double time it." Isaac ordered.
"Commander, this is interesting. Please take a look." Norfolk said as she showed him one of her screens.
"What am I looking at?" Isaac asked.
"That ship... there are remnants of the energy exuded by Sirens. The closer that ship gets, the more it seems that those remnants are clustered around the girl onboard." Norfolk said.
"Lets just assume that you didn't just tell me that a potential Siren elite has come charging at my fleet. What else could it be?" Isaac asked.
"If there is a better explanation, it is eluding me." Norfolk said.
"Eldridge, use extreme caution. There is a potential threat aboard that vessel." Isaac said as he looked out over the fleet.
"White flag, Isaac." Eldridge said hesitantly.
"White flag?" Isaac asked, not quite believing what he was hearing.
"You fly a white flag to signal surrender. Is my assumption correct, human?" The mystery woman said.
"You would be correct... more importantly, who are you?" Isaac asked.
"Former Siren Battleship, Smasher class. I don't have a name." Smasher said.
"Former?" Isaac asked. He watched as the drone ship, escorted by Eldridge, made it's way towards the fleet.
"It would be advised to sink this ship... I no longer have it under control. I gave it one last order before destroying my cube..." Smasher said as she pushed herself to her feet. Eldridge waited for Isaac's orders.
"Friedrich, assist Eldredge in taking this siren into custody. Deliver her to the bridge of the Norfolk immediately. Eagle, bomb that ship once Friedrich and Eldridge are clear." Isaac ordered as his fleet jumped into action.
"You're bringing a Siren on board?! Have you lost your fucking mind, Kommandant?!" Odin asked.
"Former Siren. And she hasn't tried to kill me thus far. She even admitted that the ship she was using is no longer under her control, simply following her last orders. I may be naive... but if I can get a Siren to join our forces, we'll be nearly invincible. With a Siren and Norfolk feeding us information, we'll have the upper hand in any engagement we can face." Isaac said.
"Did you gamble your life away in the Union, Kommandant? Because the risk you're taking is too stiff for even my blood." Odin spat.
"I will disregard your borderline insubordinate tone, and say that I intend to give her the same respect that I have been given by this fleet. She may not be human, but you and her are made from the same thing. Give her the benefit... if I'm wrong, you can be the one to dispatch her." Isaac said.
"Let us hope that you are correct, Kommandant. I would hate to have to bury you at sea for your recklessness." Odin said.
"Herr Isaac. I have brought her." Friedrich said as she pushed Smasher onto the bridge. The sound of explosions erupted as Eagle dropped 2 half ton bombs on the drone ship, sinking it in quick order.
"Take her to the workshop. I will conduct interrogations by myself." Isaac said as he followed Friedrich and Smasher. Friedrich sat Smasher down on one of the stools and quietly left the room.
"Call me if you need assistance." Friedrich said.
"I will not hesitate." Isaac said as he removed his helmet and kissed her cheek before sending her off.
Isaac turned to face Smasher, pulling up a stool for himself.
"Why have you come here?" Isaac demanded, not risking his safety by raising his voice.
"I have come to surrender, human." Smasher said plainly.
"I see. May I ask what motive you have for this?" Isaac asked, noticing her lack of an arm and dried black liquid on her exposed skin.
"I was betrayed by my own kind. MY friend was killed by my superior's negligence. And I have been oppressed by my superiors, and taken the fall far too many times for my liking." Smasher said.
"That is about as good a reason as I could muster for defecting. What are your intentions?" Isaac asked.
"I have a choice?" Smasher asked, seemingly taken aback.
"You can remain a prisoner... or be a subject in a test I want to conduct once I liberate Japan, from then, you would fight your former allies." Isaac said.
"A test subject? Sounds interesting. And I will not turn down the chance to vent my hatred on those that wronged me." Smasher said.
"That's good. I just have a couple questions." Isaac said.
"I will answer them." Smasher said, glaring at Isaac.
"Your arm... what happened?" Isaac asked.
"You mean you don't know?" Smasher asked, genuinely surprised.
"Uh... I literally just met you. How could I know?" Isaac asked.
"Your base at Niue was rigged to blow. When Navigator activated the computer, so we could track your forces... the entire base went up like a ... is it a Roman Candle?" Smasher asked.
"Good lord. I'm surprised you managed to survive it." Isaac said, remembering the ordinance he had left behind.
"I was far enough away. Whoever rigged the bomb also planted a trap to congest our information network. I was forced to my knees, unable to move as the base went up. Navigator... she was at the epicenter. She suffered minimally... but that is not a way I would wish to go." Smasher said.
"I see. Well, as weird as it feels for me to say this... I'm sorry for your loss." Isaac said.
"I need no pity... but the sentiment is not lost. Lucky for her... she will be recreated with new memories and enhanced protection. But she will not remember me. And that was it for me. The neglect of my leader, the bullshit with the higher ups. The loss of my only friend... I want to destroy all of them. I want to feel their bodies break beneath my fists. You understand that hatred, don't you, human?" Smasher asked.
"The Siren known as Empress murdered my family... as a warning. As an example." Isaac said.
"And look how far you have gotten. You have a fleet of ships capable of smashing drone fleets led by the best that we could throw at you. A small ragtag group on that base rigged it to completely decimate a fleet and two powerful Sirens. You have done well, as much as it pains me to say." Smasher said.
"Well. I think now we should look to the future. I will send someone to look at your wound and see if we can craft something to remedy your situation. Second... I refuse to call you Smasher. You are more than the class of your rigging... or lack there of now." Isaac said.
"A name? Why would I need that?" Smasher asked.
"Because... I am going to tell you of my experiment. The experiment I want you to be the subject for." Isaac said.
"I see. Then If it is necessary, then do so, human." Smasher said.
"From hence forth, you will be known as AL Vigilance, Battleship of Azur Lane." Isaac said, pitching the idea.
"Vengeance fits me better, human." Smasher said.
"AL Vengeance it is then. Now... The experiment is to link a Wisdom Cube based lifeform to a hull after it has been constructed." Isaac said.
"You... what?" Smasher asked.
"I am going to design and build a ship, and attempt to link you to it, making you the Kansen of that ship." Isaac said.
"I see. You humans really are slow in terms of wisdom cube research." Vengeance said as she shot a glance at the blank blueprint.
"Well, considering it was only gifted to us in 1908..." Isaac deadpanned
"I remember the experiment. It was one we did on one of the Sakura ships." Vengeance said.
"What was the result?" Isaac asked.
"Success was unconditional. But the cube cost is immense. We had to dig deep to produce enough to make any progress." Vengeance said.
"I see. Who was the subject?" Isaac asked.
"Battlecruiser Amagi. She was spawned from a damaged hull that never took to sea. We replicated the ship in optimal condition and made her seaworthy before linking her to it. The ill effects from her accident, however, remained." Vengeance said.
"I see. So I guess now all that I need is the cubes to link you to the ship." Isaac said.
"What type of ship?" Vengeance asked.
"Hybrid Battleship, using data received from my fight with Lurker." Isaac said.
"That sounds interesting. What is it?" Vengeance asked.
"It is a full sized Super-Battleship mixed with an Aircraft Carrier. Firepower of a Battleship, with the air power of a carrier." Isaac said.
"I see. Class?" Vengeance asked.
"United States of America class Hybrid Battleship." Isaac said.
"It will do. I need to rest. I will remain here and await your repair crew." Vengeance said.
"Alright. Friedrich will be keeping watch until we reach New Guinea. I have faith that you are being genuine, but I am sure you understand my caution." Isaac said.
"I would call you a foolish worm if you didn't at least have that level of caution." Vengeance said.
"My name is Isaac, or Commander. Call me whichever disgusts you the least." Isaac joked.
"Thank you, Isaac." Vengeance said as Isaac left the room.
Isaac did a small jump for joy as he made his way down the corridor.
"Norfolk." Isaac said to the air.
"Yes, Commander?" Norfolk asked.
"Send the Bulins and Vestal to tend to our new ally." Isaac said.
"You converted a Siren, Commander?!" Norfolk asked, clearly shocked.
"She wants Vengeance, and I need another heavy hitter. The fleet being one, you being the second. She'll be the third." Isaac said.
"I see. Your orders will be given." Norfolk said as she disappeared.
XXXXXVVVVVXXXXX
"Nyaa!" Akashi cried out as a small burst of steam burnt her hand.
"Are you okay over there, little one?" Azuma asked.
"Hai... just a burn, nyaa." Akashi said.
"You really should be more careful." Azuma said softly as Akashi could hear Mutsuki entertaining herself in the background.
"Akashi thinks she just made a discovery, nyaa." Akashi said.
"Then I will be over." Azuma said as she cut the line.