The destroyers swept the harbor as the battleships advanced on the ruined port. Norfolk and the cruisers, under the watch of Mainz, made the first move in docking as the battleships provided an armored shell around the docks. The Carriers lined up a fair distance apart to allow their air wings to launch. The submarines surfaced and moved slowly to the hidden corners of the berths. Taka maneuvered the transport ship into the port before lining up the crane with the dry part of the docks. Gangut slowly turned to become part of the armored shell, slipping in right next to Fusou.
"Occupy the port and lock it down now!" Isaac spoke sternly, his helmet connecting to the PA system aboard the Norfolk. As the order was being given, 397 men and women under his charge emerged from the armored assault craft with rifles in hand. They quickly looked around before Hashirama took charge, dividing the group and sending them out to clear the massive complex that Norfolk identified as Port Moresby Airfield Complex.
"Carriers, I need recon. Keep in direct contact with me so I can direct our big guns to shell any AA in the area. We need to begin searching for allies while we occupy this port." Isaac said as Akagi send up several squadrons of Zeros, sending them out in different directions. Eagle responded in kind by launching half of her compliment of Spitfires and sending them in directions that Akagi had not. Intrepid sat in port. Isaac could see that she looked uncomfortable.
"Intrepid. What's wrong?" Isaac asked.
"My elevators are malfunctioning. I cannot bring forth my aircraft." Intrepid said.
"Understood. Disembark. You can use your AA?" Isaac asked.
"Yes sir." Intrepid said as she jumped from her flight deck and skated to the Norfolk.
"I expect you to remain here and use your AA to keep the skies clear. We are in enemy territory. I want no surprises." Isaac said as he looked at the Head Bulin.
"Take a team and get her elevators back online. If this is an American base, there will be be tons of aircraft that we can use to expand our air wing. If there is a B-25 anywhere, I want Intrepid and Eagle to learn them." Isaac said.
"Yes sir. It will be done." The head bulin said as she took a couple of bulins and headed out.
"What about me, Isaac?" Vengeance asked.
"Who would be pulling the strings in New Guinea?" Isaac asked.
"We had a puppet leader her. Since there is no Kansen faction held here, we had no reason to keep an elite presence. However, I have recently become aware of the existence of the Explorer class mass production units. The Pack will definitely be aware of your arrival and will be mobilizing within the next 24 hours." Vengeance said.
"The Pack?" Isaac asked.
"Observer Zero often spoke of a group of humans that worship all Sirens as gods. A cult if you will. They make the honor obsessed Sakura warriors look like weekend warriors by comparison. We should expect heavy resistance with no chance of surrender." Vengeance said.
"Good lord. I need to relay that information. Vengeance, I'll have you work with Norfolk to coordinate our intelligence unit for this occupation. I hope that is acceptable." Isaac said.
"It will do. Fighting the pack does not interest me for right now." Vengeance said as Isaac could hear the bulins squeal outside on the deck.
Isaac began to chuckle before Friedrich even walked in, but burst into full blown laughter as she walked in, swarmed by the bulins who were clamoring at her knee length dress. It looked so unlike Friedrich to be wearing such a thing, But Isaac had made a bet with her during their intimate exchange. If he fully satisfied her, and left her weak by the morning, she would have to wear something embarrassing of his choice for a single day. If she won... Isaac would have to cook for her for a week. Isaac won.
"Quack." Isaac teased as he looked at Friedrich's dress. It was a light yellow with rubber ducks printed on it. The scene was only made better by her beet red face, blushing due to sheer embarrassment.
The bulins began to quack too, eventually calming her down, seeming to settle into the positive attitude on the bridge.
"So, Mama Duck. Since you have the full attention of the bulins, could you head to the Intrepid to assist with repairs?" Isaac asked, trying his best to keep from laughing. Odin looked shocked at Friedrich's attire, completely unable to utter a single word as she looked at Isaac.
"Yes, Isaac. Come on my children. Why don't we waddle over to the Intrepid?" Friedrich took to accepting her fate. Isaac doubled over laughing as the bulins quacked incessantly until they all sat on Friedrich's rigging to take them to their work.
"Kommandant... what was that?" Odin asked, still awestruck.
"We made a bet last night, and I won. So she has to wear that cutesy little dress for the entire day." Isaac said.
"She will find a way to get you back, Kommandant." Odin warned.
"Oh, of that I'm sure. But it's funny as hell. I only told her to wear a cutesy dress. She chose the print." Isaac said as he took his helmet off and wiped the tears from his eyes.
"Okay... but why?" Odin asked.
"Because aside from her practically dripping in sex appeal... she is utterly terrifying. I've wanted to see her in something cute since we met back in fiji, but her constant solid black dress oozes a more... mature and dangerous aura." Isaac defended his choice.
"You had better hope she doesn't issue a stacked bet. Because I guarantee you will regret it." Odin said.
"If She would have won, I'd have to spend a week aboard her ship to cook for her... and to keep her happy." Isaac said.
"You got lucky... She would have made sure you couldn't get out of bed." Odin confirmed.
"Somehow I don't doubt that." Isaac said as he put his helmet back on.
"Norfolk, you and Perkins are in control of our Naval forces. I'm going to take some of the Kansens and head out with our ground forces." Isaac said.
"You're what?!" Norfolk asked.
"A good leader doesn't treat his men like pawns. He fights alongside them." Isaac said as he turned to Odin.
"Odin, Give me Mainz, Belfast, North Carolina, Fusou, and Yukikaze. You and those Kansen will be joining me and our ground forces." Isaac said.
"Do we have a heading?" Odin asked.
"We head north. The more ground we can secure, the faster we can clear this Island." Isaac said.
"Do we have a ground map?" Odin asked.
"No. But I have planes surveying the area as we try to contact the General." Isaac said as he headed for the door.
"Alright. I would suggest us meeting with the ship that was here before we leave." Odin said.
"Agreed. This destruction is evidence of a fight. She should be debriefed." Norfolk said.
"Alright. Let's do that then." Isaac said as they made their war down to the docks.
"Keep it up! We can't give them a single inch!" General MacArthur yelled to the men around him. They were vastly outnumbered and were running low on ammunition. The sudden influx of combatants made for a devastating surprise attack on an already dispirited fighting force.
"Sir. We can't keep the guns fed. We have two more belts for the .50 cals and we are down to our last dozen shells for the Shermans. We need to retreat." One of the soldiers said as bullets whizzed by their heads.
"We cannot give up. They will murder all of us. Keep firing if you want to live!" MacArthur said as the field radio crackled to life.
"Hello? Hello? This is IJN Akagi, member of Azur Lane's 1st and 2nd fleet, under the command of Commander Isaac Garner. General MacArthur, if you're down there, please respond." Akagi's voice was heard.
"IJN?!" MacArthur yelled as he ran to the radio.
"IJN Akagi. This is General MacArthur of the Eagle Union forces here in New Guinea. Please state again on whose orders are you here?" MacArthur spoke.
"Ah good. I have found you. Shikikan will be most pleased. You look like you're in a bit of a tough spot. Don't worry, I'll help you out." Akagi spoke as her Zeroes pulled a massive turn and came bearing down on MacArthur's position. The entire wing of aircraft opened up with their machine guns, mowing down foliage and combatants as they flew overhead, much to the excitement of the ground forces.
"THANK GOD!" One of the soldiers yelled as the other men seemingly put more effort into the fight, their morale being massively improved.
"IJN Akagi, please state on whose orders?" MacArthur asked.
"Commander Isaac Garner of Eagle Union. Fleet commander of Azur lane, and the ships therein." Akagi spoke as her Zeros made another pass, gunning down more enemy combatants, giving the armored columns time to back up and begin a fighting retreat.
"I don't know who he is or how you got here... but you just saved our asses. Would it be too much to ask for air support to cover our retreat?" MacArthur asked.
"Let me direct bombers to your location. Intrepid has just gotten her elevators fixed and I can have Eagle recall her fighters. Hang tight, you're about 30 miles from our location. Please continue your retreat." Akagi said as the radio cut out.
"Looks like God is on our side, men. Pick it up and fire in controlled bursts. MAKE EVERY SHOT COUNT! WE ARE LEAVING!" MacArthur ordered as his radio operator relayed the message to the troops in the nearby areas.
"Shikikan." Akagi spoke, interrupting his conversation with Gangut.
"What is it, Akagi?" Isaac asked.
"I found him. He is engaged in a firefight in the mountains. I believe the area is known as Kokoda. He is facing away from our port so the attackers may be coming from Popondetta. I have not seen many signs of civilization, but it appears that we are in one of the major cities in the closest 100 miles." Akagi said.
"Understood. How far would that be?" Isaac asked.
"Thirty miles in a straight line. I am diverting all carriers to send bombers to aid in their retreat." Akagi said.
"Understood. Radio him and tell him to fall back here. We will be here to receive him and his forces." Isaac said.
"As you command." Akagi said as the three carriers launched their respective bombers, filling the sky with bomb laden planes, bound for combat.
"Gangut, you'll follow us then. We will never turn away a capable fighter." Isaac said.
"Да. I will do just that. Let our partnership lead to many glorious victories, Comrade." Gangut said as she presented Isaac with a bottle of Vodka, which he promptly uncorked and took a swig of.
"To victory." Isaac said as he corked the bottle and tossed it to Odin, who placed it within her coat.
"Let's go and meet the General. If we're lucky, Akagi will save some for us." Isaac said as he put on his helmet.
"Kommandant... you might need this." Odin said as she handed him an STG from the reserves.
"Ah yes. German workhorse." Gangut said as she brought forth her rigging. Everyone else that Isaac had brought with did the same as they began making their way towards the entrance of the port.
"Alright. Hashirama, gather the men. The crew of the Iowa will continue to lock down the port. We found General MacArthur." Isaac said.
"Understood. Let's go then." Hashirama said as he issued orders to the men and women of Isaac's militia forces.
"Damn it, where is she?" MacArthur said as the bullets continued to fly past the convoy. Their progress was slowed due to the weight of the weapons from their forward positions.
"Sir, I hear engines coming from the east!" One of the machine gunners spoke as everyone looked to the skies. Albacores, Aichis, and Dauntless dive bombers appeared overhead, barely skimming the tops of the trees as they released their payload behind the end of the convoy, caving in a massive chunk of the forest floor, preventing any forces from following easily.
"Akagi?" MacArthur asked.
"Yup. Be thankful that we found you when we did. Please head directly to Port Moresby. Shikikan will be in that area waiting." Akagi spoke.
"Moresby?! That place is crawling with enemy combatants, why would we go there?!" MacArthur asked.
"The port was destroyed when we arrived. A Parliament battleship leveled the place with HE from the looks of it." Akagi said.
"Alright. If it's safe, then we'll head there." MacArthur said as he continued conversation with Akagi, who was relaying the information to Norfolk.
"Commander?" Norfolk asked as her tiny display appeared in the palm of his hand.
"What's up?" Isaac asked as he slung his rifle over his shoulder.
"Akagi is reporting that Port Moresby was not in allied hands before we arrived. She is reporting that they are actually stationed out of Hisiu. He is saying that the remainder of his fighting force is residing there due to lack of supplies." Norfolk said.
"Alright. Send Penny and Ari with Taka and the transport ship. I want those men brought to Port Moresby and any equipment that they might have there." Isaac said.
"Understood. They will set out immediately." Norfolk said as Isaac looked around the town that he found himself in.
"This place is like a ghost town." Isaac said.
"That doesn't line up, Isaac." Vengeance said as her head popped into view.
"Well, I can't see a single soul here." Isaac said.
"Keep your wits about you. Those Explorers are in the area. You should expect heavy resistance." Norfolk said as her image began to flicker.
"Norfolk?" Isaac asked before her image cut out entirely.
"Get ready girls. Looks like trouble has come knocking." Isaac said as he witnessed several Explorer class sirens rush into the street.
"It's the insect!" One of them yelled as a horde of people came flooding into the street behind them.
"Oh shit... Taka! Get your men to covered positions!" Isaac yelled as several plasma bolts flew past his head, prompting the Kansens to scatter and Odin to push him to the ground.
"Kommandant... draw your weapon. Today we fight!" Odin said, a gleam that Isaac had never seen now occupied her eyes as she drew her saber and stood, shedding her coat, revealing her black armor that was normally unseen.
"Odin, get down!" Isaac yelled as he pulled the trigger, unleashing a hail of bullets in the general direction of the approaching Explorers and their cult followers.
"Nein. I live for this moment. I exist to kill the Sirens in front of me." Odin said.
"Then we shall do it together." Isaac said as he stood.
"Fighting for once... finally." Odin said as she watched a plasma bolt fly past her and hit Isaac square in the chest. Her fear was immediate.
"Kommandant?!" Odin cried out as she watched him brush off the plate that had been hit.
"They're gonna have to try harder than that." Isaac said, grinning under his helmet.
"Danke Gott." Odin said as she turned her fear into anger, turning the guns of her rigging and firing directly at the crowd, causing explosions within their ranks as the other Kansens opened up with their rigging, following Isaac and Odin's example.
After the first few salvoes, and the loss of 25% of their initial forces, the cult scattered into the buildings and began shooting from the windows as the Explorers dodged shells from rigging, returning fire with plasma bolts, striking nothing but glancing blows on Isaac and the kansen in the open.
"Kommandant, Your armor might be good, but it isn't invincible. Please seek cover." Mainz said as she jumped in front of him, producing shields in front of her and Isaac to facilitate his run to cover.
"Shit. I didn't even notice that the shoulder plate was damaged. Good save, Mainz." Isaac said as he peeked around the corner and put more fire on the advancing Sirens.
"I'm honestly surprised your armor held up so well, Kommandant." Mainz said as her shields finally dissipated, allowing her to return fire.
"That's because Yukikaze the Great is a lucky ship, nanoda. Shikikan is blessed with good luck as long as Yukikaze is with him." Yukikaze said as she ducked behind cover after firing a barrage of shells from her rigging.
"Luck, or fortune, whatever it is, it is really pulling through right now." Mainz said as one of her salvos struck one of the Explorers and threw her into the wall of an alley behind her, where she was taken from view by her cult followers.
"Shit... They are taking the wounded. If they get away, they'll be trouble later." Mainz said.
"Call for fire support. Bring down one of these buildings." Isaac said.
"Understood, Master." Belfast said as her rigging produced a bright white smoke, pillaring skyward as a beacon.
"We see your signal, what is wrong?" Perkin's asked from the bridge of the Iowa.
"Perkins, it's Isaac. We need fire support. These buildings are filled with hostiles and they are hiding the wounded Sirens. We need to flush them out." Isaac said.
"Understood. Standby." Perkins said as he changed the channel to the weapons room.
"Turrets 1 and 2, give me 255 degrees at a 2 degree elevation. Set fuses to impact only. High explosive is requested. This is a danger close operation." Perkins ordered as he watched the guns turn and elevate to their target trajectory.
"Half powder load." Perkins ordered as he looked down at the panel in front of him, watched as the lights indicated that all 6 barrels were loaded.
"Commander, danger close. I recommend finding solid cover now." Perkins said.
"Understood, Lieutenant. Girls! Get back!" Isaac yelled as the barrels of the Iowa erupted, sending 5.5 tons of HE flying from the barrels.
"3...2...1.. Impact!" Perkins yelled as one of the buildings less than 50 yards from Isaac was engulfed in dust and fire as the building was hit directly by every shell fired from the Iowa.
"Good hit! They're backing off for the moment. We need to take this end of the street. Hashirama, get your men into the buildings on the corners!" Isaac yelled.
"Commander?!" Norfolk asked as her display sputtered back to life.
"Norfolk, what happened?" Isaac asked.
"We were being jammed by those Explorers. Are you okay? Sensors are showing damage to your armor." Norfolk said.
"I'm fine. The armor held up wonderfully. Only a couple of bruises to look forward to from taking incoming rifle fire." Isaac said.
"I would suggest returning to the Norfolk for armor repair." Norfolk spoke.
"Of course you do. Could you instead make a thicker plate for my shoulders, chest and back? They were aiming high and those plates took the most damage." Isaac said.
"Understood. Please stay safe." Norfolk said as her display disappeared.
"Girls, we need to set up a barricade here. MacArthur is bringing his troops here. We need to hold this crossroad until then." Isaac said as his Kansens surrounded him.
"Understood." The girls said in unison as the last members of Hashirama's force made it into the vacated buildings.
"We have pushed them back. Use the rubble from the building to make a physical barrier." Isaac ordered as the girls began executing his orders.
"Ooo! The Insect has landed in New Guinea!" Observer Alpha squealed in delight.
"Good. We will stop his advance there." Observer Zero spoke.
"For the Empress's sake, you should hope so." Alpha said.
"And what of your operation?" Zero asked.
"Subjects R and E have been sent to get Bismarck. Soon we will have the Ironblood remnants back under our authority." Alpha said.
"Good. We still have the advantage, but having Ironblood back under our thumb will crumble that Insect's forces." Zero said.
"Here's to our continued control." Alpha said as she cut the line.