"Norfolk." Isaac spoke as he stood on the bow of her ship.
"Yes, Commander?" Norfolk asked as she appeared behind him.
"Have we been able to get in contact with General MacArthur yet?" Isaac asked.
"I haven't attempted yet. I shall do so." Norfolk said.
"Please do. We need to ensure our ground forces." Isaac said as he watched the sun dip towards the horizon.
"Understood, Commander." Norfolk said as she disappeared. Isaac turned to return to his quarters and ran right into Friedrich, who had been coming to speak to him.
"Good evening, Friedrich. What can I do for you?" Isaac asked.
"Herr Isaac. I need your expertise. The bulin and I looked over my entire ship and we cannot figure out why she is lagging behind." Friedrich said.
"Alright. Let's head over there now. I'll probably have to stay on your ship tonight since it is beginning to get late." Isaac said.
"My quarters are open, Herr Isaac." Friedrich said as she brought forth her rigging to transport Isaac. I-13 walked out of the superstructure with Arizona right behind her.
"Hey ladies, where you off to?" Isaac asked.
"Ari asked me to meet her sister. She said Pennsylvania wants to meet me." I-13 said.
"Alright. Have fun and be careful." Isaac said with a smile.
I-13 went up to him and hugged him, pulling him down so she could whisper to him.
"Ai Shiteru, Shikikan." I-13 whispered softly before placing a kiss on his cheek.
"I love you too, 13. I'll see you later, alright?" Isaac spoke, returning her kiss. I-13 skipped away, beaming ear to ear.
"You certainly made her evening, Herr Isaac." Friedrich said with a smile.
"Feeling jealous, my love?" Isaac asked as he placed a kiss on her cheek as well. She smiled softly, her face turning a healthy red.
"Let us depart. As it stands, my ship is drifting further and further back in the fleet. If we don't hurry, I'll be unable to provide support during the assault." Friedrich said as Isaac stood on top of one of her serpents.
"Well, let's go. I will need all hands on deck for this assault." Isaac said as they departed.
Perkins saluted from the bridge of the Iowa as Friedrich and Isaac passed alongside his ship, Isaac returned it before continuing alone with Friedrich.
"Friedrich, do you have any idea what the issue could be?" Isaac asked.
"The bulin suggested there was something wrong with the boiler piping, but we looked and there was nothing wrong. But we are sure that somewhere I am losing steam pressure." Friedrich said.
"Hmm. Did your battle with the Explorers result in any damage?" Isaac asked.
"They were so weak that I didn't even need to block, Herr Isaac I doubt they could have damaged me even if they both attacked with their full power." Friedrich said.
"While I admire your confidence and Bravado, nobody is infallible. There are things that can do you in, Friedrich. Every battle needs 100% of your effort. I don't care if it's a human with a grenade or Arbiter herself. You are to attack and defend as if your life is on the line." Isaac said, lightly chastising her by tapping her on the head.
"I will remember that, Herr Isaac." Friedrich said as they arrived at her ship.
"That applies to everyone, but you especially. I know you tend to be a bit relaxed in your defense, so just keep it up, and we'll make it to the end." Isaac said as he stepped onto the deck.
Isaac immediately knew something was wrong when he felt the ship moving with no steam coming from the stacks in her superstructure.
"Well, it is clear as day that you've lost steam pressure. Your funnels aren't producing any steam at all." Isaac said as he opened the door to the superstructure, only to be met by a wall of steam.
"How long has it been since your battle?" Isaac asked.
"A little over a day, Herr Isaac." Friedrich said.
"You definitely have a busted pipe somewhere on this deck" Isaac said as he put his helmet on to protect his face from the hot steam.
"Are you okay, Herr Isaac?" Friedrich asked as she followed him inside.
"Yeah. The suit seems to be rated for heat like this. Norfolk probably added fireproofing and heat regulation in direct response to the incident in Fiji." Isaac said as he began following the steam pipes throughout the top deck.
"That child is becoming more useful with each passing day." Friedrich said with a smile.
"Glad to see that you're coming around. How do you feel about the rest of the fleet?" Isaac asked.
"All of my children are working well together. I only have to step in between Kaga and Akagi every now and then. The pint sized Carrier seems to have some serious anger issues towards her sister." Friedrich said.
"I'll leave that to them to deal with. Formal matters I can deal with. But dealing with something as whimsical as emotions and deep rooted issues is pretty touch and go." Isaac said.
"I would check in with Eagle as well. She seems to be a bit distracted as of late." Friedrich said.
"I guess I can take care of that in the morning." Isaac said as he continued running his hand over the pipes until he found what he was looking for.
"Here we are. Theres a massive hole in this pipe that is releasing all of the steam in your boilers." Isaac said.
"That would explain why I didn't find it. This part of the ship is never used." Friedrich said.
"Why not?" Isaac asked.
"Well, I never have to cook enough to fill the galley. And since I have no need for the various luxuries that were built into my design, I never come back here." Friedrich said.
"You should always remain diligent when it comes to the health of your ship, Friedrich." Isaac said as he looked around before getting on the radio.
"Head bulin. Please report to the aft galley onboard Friedrich's ship. Bring a replacement 80mm pipe and fittings." Isaac said before cutting the line.
"Friedrich, cut the boilers so we can stop more steam production. I need to be able to work without being burned." Isaac said.
"Of course." Friedrich said as Isaac felt the ship slow immediately.
Several minutes later, the head Bulin walked down the corridor carrying tools and a set of pipes and fittings.
"German grade steel, Commander. I managed to find this when I was here earlier." The bulin said as she gave the pipe and fittings to Isaac.
"Vent the door, please. It's hard to see still." Isaac said as the bulin ran down the hall to open the door, releasing the remaining steam.
"Kommandant, if Friedrich alright? I am seeing a massive plume of steam coming from her superstructure." Odin's voice came over the radio.
"She's fine. She burst a pipe during her fight with the Explorers early on yesterday. How goes the rest of the fleet?" Isaac asked.
"Nimi is chomping at the bit. She said she sees a cube out on the water. It isn't unlikely since we are close to the Solomon Islands." Odin said.
"Give her permission to collect it. We can't ignore any cubes that we find. Ask her who it might be." Isaac said.
Several minutes of silence passed as Isaac repaired the broken pipe. Odin came in again.
"I asked her but she ran off the moment she got permission. She just now returned. She looks very happy, Kommandant." Odin said.
"Ask her who is is." Isaac said.
"She claims that the cube in her possession is one of her good friend. And that we should revive her as soon a humanly possible." Odin said.
"Well, we'll have to see if we can find a device to make that happen." Isaac said.
"Why wait, Isaac? After all, we sirens did create the ships that make up your fleet." Vengeance's voice was heard in the background.
"So good to see that you're awake. But please enlighten me on how you're going to make a ship pop out of nowhere." Isaac said.
"Not the ship. I don't have the power or resources. But i can draw on the cube to bring the girl herself back. You'll just need a blank cube to build her ship in the future. Consider it a gesture of good faith." Vengeance said as she earned a scoff from Odin.
"If you believe that you can do it, having another kansen can't hurt us. You have my permission." Isaac said.
"I can only do this once. Bringing anything to life from the cubes without tech is very draining. So after this, I will not be able to perform such a feat again. I took out my cube before I came to you, that black cube contained my abilities as a Siren. Thankfully it left me with just enough to get here. But with the addition of this arm that you so generously made out of the tech that Arbiter and I created, I can use the imbued power just this once." Vengeance said.
"I understand. I still give you my full permission to bring that girl back." Isaac said.
"Then I shall do just that. This is my sign of good faith. To prove that I am not a spy, once and for all." Vengeance said as Odin's radio cut off.
Vengeance held out her new prosthetic hand, waiting for Nimi to place the cube into it. Nimi did so hesitantly.
"Please stand back. The cubes are very dangerous it they are not contained by tech that is used for compiling the data." Vengeance said as she closed her eyes and focused. Sure enough, the cube began to slowly rise and glow brightly, floating effortlessly within Vengeance's palm.
Several seconds later, the cube began to grow a body with the cube at it's core. Muscle, bone, fat and tissue all formed around the glowing blue cube, slowly but surely taking on the form of a petite young girl with long white hair. A few minutes after, Vengeance fell to her knees, breathing heavily as the last bit of her abilities faded. Before everyone stood a young girl with white hair, held in twin tails by a pair of bunny ear clips. The girl opened her eyes to reveal a deep crimson laid beneath her pale skin eyelids.
"Mein Gott!" Nimi cried as she ran forward and hugged the young girl.
"Mmmm... Nimi?" The girl asked.
"Yes... it's me. Welcome back... Laffey." Nimi cried tears of joy, finally being reunited with one of her long lost friends.
Odin got a hold of Isaac again.
"I think I just witnessed a miracle, Kommandant. Laffey is standing right before me." Odin said as Nimi could be heard crying in the background.
"I can see that Laffey won't be needing my attention for the evening. I'll meet with her tomorrow and talk with her about her station. Odin, I will be predisposed tonight. So the fleet will fall to you. I have to stay onboard Friedrich's ship to make sure she maintains steam pressure." Isaac said.
"I know that isn't the reason... but who am I to judge. You keep winning these victories, you can lay around all you wish." Odin said.
"Jealous much?" Isaac asked.
"Maybe. But that's neither here nor there. Have your fun, Kommandant. The fleet will be in top shape by the morning." Odin said as she cut the line.
"What did she say, Herr Isaac?" Friedrich asked.
"We brought back an Eagle Union Destroyer thanks to Vengeance. Nimi is probably going to take care of her for the evening, so I'm going to stay here tonight." Isaac said.
"Oh... well you should have told me that. Now I have to go and pull the good meat I got from Fiji." Friedrich said.
"You can cook?" Isaac asked.
"Just because I am a woman of war does not mean that I am incompetent when it comes to the chores of a housewife." Friedrich said as she turned towards the galley.
"Then I guess I will join you." Isaac said before Friedrich held out her hand to stop him.
"Nein. My husband has had a hard day at work. He is all sweaty and tired from doing such hard work for the sake of others. It is my turn to serve my husband. Go grab a shower and wait for me in my quarters. I will even break out a good vintage wine that I... borrowed from Herr Alexander before his horrible demise." Friedrich said.
"Well... alright then. I'll be waiting for you." Isaac said as he made his way towards Friedrich's quarters.
"So this is the little submarine that saved my sister?" Pennsylvania asked as she looked down at I-13.
"Yes, dear sister. This little submarine not only brought me back, but fought against a Siren elite carrier by herself to make sure we got out. Her vessel sunk as a result." Arizona said as I-13 blushed at the praise.
"I see. Well, little one. We will avenge your sunken vessel by bringing that bitch to her knees." Pennsylvania said confidently.
"Thank you, miss Pennsylvania." I-13 said.
"Call me Penny. Ari and the Commander call me that, so I feel that you can too." Pennsylvania said.
"Thank you, Penny." I-13 said.
"Let's head below deck. I'm sure I can find something for us to eat." Pennsylvania said as the three girls headed below deck.
Isaac stepped out of the shower and saw a black robe on the bed.
"Huh." Isaac remarked as he went and put it on. The moment he tied it, the door to the room opened. Isaac turned to see Friedrich wearing a silken robe, carrying a platter in one hand with a bucket of ice and wine in the other.
"Ah. Such a good looking man." Friedrich said as she eyed him hungrily.
"It smells delicious. And you look... amazing." Isaac said as Friedrich walked over to him, putting an extra sway in her hips, enticing him further.
"Your eyes betray you, my love. Dinner first. No exceptions." Friedrich said as she set the tray on the small table next to the bed. She took the bottle of wine out of the bucket and popped the cork.
"It says it's a sparkling red, my love. Personally, I wish I could have grabbed more, but Odin is not one to... pilfer from wrongdoers." Friedrich said.
"I won't begrudge it. If that is what leads to this... I don't dare complain." Isaac said as Friedrich chuckled behind her bare hand. Her nails had been freshly painted a bright red.
"Well, shall we eat?" Isaac asked as Friedrich took the top off a steaming plate of meat and roasted vegetables.
"Braised beef tenderloin, basted with tallow, rosemary and red wine. The vegetables tonight are caramelized beets and parsnips finished with tallow and citrus." Friedrich said as she filled two wine glasses before sitting across from Isaac at the table.
"Wow... I can't say I've had anything even close to this. My family couldn't afford beef, and much less tenderloin. Beets and parsnips are foreign to me as well. The more... accepted members of the Union would always take the best things from the stands." Isaac said.
"Well, my love, your work has warranted a great reward. So please. Eat. Drink. Indulge~~~. I know I will be." Friedrich said as she looked over his body.
"Now whose eyes are betraying them?" Isaac asked as he took a sip of his wine.
"It bothers me none, My Love. Looking at you gives me a feeling I can only get in the heat of battle. If I feel like this just from the sight of you... feeling you might put me over the edge." Friedrich spoke softly, but with a hunger that Isaac had not heard from any of his previous partners thus far.
"Well... let us indulge then. It seems like you put a lot of effort into this, so it would be a shame to let it go to waste." Isaac said as he took a bite, making a sound he had only made during the latest nights as the meat melted on his tongue, filling his tongue with the savory juices of the meat, mixed with the sweetness from the reduced wine and rosemary.
"Oh my. Such a noise, my love. I take that as a compliment." Friedrich said as she sipped her wine, allowing her golden eyes to walk up and down his body.
"This is absolutely the most amazing dinner I have ever had in my life!" Isaac exclaimed, the juices from the meat spilling a tad past his lips.
"Where are your manners, hmm?" Friedrich asked as she leaned forward and wiped his mouth as he looked at her.
"Sorry. It's just so good." Isaac said as he took a bite of one of the parsnips.
"It looks like a carrot... but it is so much sweeter. It's like a piece of candy." Isaac said as he smiled, savoring every bite of his meal.
"I made most of the meal sweeter. You're going to need the energy." Friedrich said as she purposely allowed the upper lapels of her robe to slip lower and lower on her shoulders until they were practically falling off.
"I feel like I kind of deserve whatever happens. I kept you waiting long enough, huh?" Isaac said as he put the last bit of beef in his mouth, savoring the last bite before washing it back with the wine that had been filled again without his noticing.
"If I didn't know better, I'd say you were trying to get me drunk." Isaac said.
"If a hangover keeps you in bed, gives me more time to spend with my husband before I have to share him with the fleet again." Friedrich said with a shrug as she tipped the remaining wine in the bottle into Isaac's glass, prompting him to throw it back.
"Dinner was amazing. A man could get used to something like this." Isaac said as he watched Friedrich slowly undo the knot in her robe, standing and allowing it to fall to the floor. ISaac's eyes were instantly captivated by the gorgeous woman in front of him.
"Like what you see, my love?" Friedrich asked.
"I do. It's like opening a present on Christmas day." Isaac said as he allowed her to run her hands down to the knot in his robe. She had it undone and across the room before Isaac could comprehend it.
"Don't make me wait any longer. I have waited for this since that night back in Fiji." Friedrich said as she pushed Isaac to the bed.
"Well, then come and get it." Isaac said as he sat up and pulled Friedrich to the silken sheets, pinning her beneath him as they shared a tender kiss before shutting off the lights.
"Odin? Are you okay?" Norfolk asked.
"I am. Thank you." Odin said.
"You know, Ironblood, I can say with certainty that you are not okay. Your emotions are raging under that calm façade." Vengeance said as she sat on the steel chair, under watch by Norfolk, who had threatened to call the bulins if she was given any trouble.
"Maybe so. I don't want to sleep with him, yet... but I want to be more than his second in command. I would love to find a bottle of cherry Schnapps and sit with him to drink. Maybe i could come to love him eventually. But for now... I would just like his attention as well." Odin said as she looked towards the slowly approaching coast of New Guinea.
"Well... I don't exactly know what any of those feelings are like. So I am of no help." Vengeance said.
"I can't input either. I'm an AI." Norfolk said as she looked at the bulin that was standing in the doorway.
"Be kind, and do your best. Commander likes that. Beauty won't win him over. Commander talks to us a lot. He is surrounded by beauty to the point where nobody beats anyone in appearance. Focus on character." The bulin said as everyone looked at her.
"Is that so?" Odin asked.
"Well, buli... if it's between us girls... I think the commander has a thing for strength. Z23 is a very strong torpedo destroyer. Eagle was the first aircraft carrier. She carried the entirety of the first task force after they were defeated. And Friedrich... she is scary strong. She killed three Explorers by herself, two of them without rigging. She is also a motherly figure to us younger girls. I think the duality of Friedrich makes her attractive to the Commander." The bulin spoke.
"That settles that then..." Odin said as she turned to face the horizon.
"We'll just have to see what tomorrow brings." Odin said softly as the fleet steamed ahead.
"Heinrich... that was so unlike you." Spee said as the two heavy cruisers swept the dorms in preparation for Akashi's arrival.
"I know... but after what happened to Scharnhorst... and losing Z1... Eugen being sold to Eagle Union... and those Royal whores building morale over sinking my beloved Lord Bismarck and lady Tirpitz. Just thinking about it makes me angry. Every single time I see that damn Union Jack, I want to rip and tear their hulls to shreds. They have hurt so many of my friends. I... I lost my joy some time ago. And being constantly reminded of how this went down every single time that damn bitch talks... I can't even try to maintain my cheerful mood." Heinrich said.
"Scharnhorst was a terrible loss. I still find myself saddened from time to time. All the friends we lost... It is a terrible series of events. But we can't keep looking to the past." Spee said.
"Pot calling the kettle black. You still shy away from those royals." Heinrich said as she sat on one of the beds.
"So be it. But it doesn't change a thing. We have to keep moving forward. If we quit now, we disgrace those that we have lost along the way." Spee said softly.
Heinrich sat quietly for a few minutes before breaking down and crying.
"Let it out. Don't hold that in. No need to take the brunt of everything. You are on the same level, if not more than Roon. Your strength alone is what has allowed us this freedom. Those royals know not to piss you off. But that does not mean you are meant to burden yourself with everything." Spee said.
"Without Lord Bismarck or Lady Tirpitz... I am the only one strong enough to keep my sisters safe... those that are still here to be protected." Heinrich said as she dried her tears.
"Exactly. So hold your head up. I want to see the goofy Heinrich I know and love. Don't hold it all in. Allow yourself to be yourself. No matter what, we will make it." Spee said as she hugged Heinrich, keeping her hands clear to keep from scratching her.
"Let's finish up. We should welcome the newcomers with a clean dorm." Heinrich said as she stood and continued sweeping the floors as Spee took to cleaning the windows.
"Damn... I guess I overdid it a bit." Gangut said as she looked around the destroyed port, still smoldering as a result of her generous use of high explosive shells and high impact violence.
"Hello? Hello? Can anyone hear me?" Akagi's voice was heard over the radio.
"да. I hear you... who are you and where are you speaking from?" Gangut asked.
"Parliament? What are you doing so far south?" Akagi asked.
"Sakura... I would know that voice anywhere. Here to fight, Akagi?" Gangut asked.
"I won't pretend to know who you are, but I am not here to fight you. I am part of the Azur Lane fleet, commanded by Isaac Garner." Akagi said as her Zero came into view.
"Ah. There you are. So the lone wolf is among you. Good. I will await you here." Gangut said as she began to walk back to her ship.
"What happened to the port?" Akagi asked.
"I was attacked. So I defended myself." Gangut said with a shrug.
"Shikikan won't be too pleased..." Akagi said as she cut the line, leaving Gangut to wait for the arrival of the fleet that was peeking over the Horizon.