Texas adjusted her hat as the wind hit her face. The bow of her ship bobbed up and down in the choppy morning waters outside the port.
"Looks like they're quite busy this morning." Shinano said as the sounds of rifle fire and rigging filled the air on their approach.
"Well, you have the reach, Partner. Why don't we send them a welcome gift, courtesy of that massive flight deck." Texas said as she produced her rigging and took up her long gun.
"It would be nice to stretch my legs a little after so much time asleep. We are well within range of your guns, so I can tell you where the targets are." Shinano said as a squad of 12 Zeroes readied on her flight deck.
"That works for me, foxy." Texas said as the Zeroes took to the skies.
"Mein Gott. They just don't stop coming." Odin said as she and the other battleships stood firm at the barricade, the barrels of their rigging steaming due to the heat evaporating the water in the air.
The battleships out in the harbor peppered the buildings closest to the fighting, after Hashirama personally confirmed they were empty. The rain of shells kept the cult at bay until the rubble from the buildings became the perfect armored avenue to cover their advance, requiring the Kansens to open fire with their rigging to support MacArthur's men.
"There are just too many! Every time we knock one down, it's like two more take their place!" One of the Corporals said as he looked over at Odin. She looked at him just in time to see the Corporal take a bullet to the neck, sending him to the ground with a hand over his throat.
"Shit. Is this what the Kommandant had to deal with while I was on the back line?" Odin thought to herself as Zeroes flew overhead.
"Akagi? I thought you were taking a minute to recover. You lost quite a few aircraft on your last pass." Odin said over the radio, but received no response.
"Akagi, answer me." Odin said.
"WHAT?!" Akagi' growled angrily, sounding as if she had been shaken awake.
"Why are your fighters flying overhead? I thought you needed time to recover." Odin said.
"What do you think I'm doing? I'm trying to recover so I can return to the fight. Flying planes is a bit harder then aiming and firing guns." Akagi snapped.
"Then why are there Zeroes strafing the battlefield?" Odin asked.
"They aren't mine." Akagi said.
"I don't fly those." Intrepid said.
"And They certainly aren't mine." Eagle said as the three carriers turned out towards the sea.
"They're mine." Shinano's voice permeated the radio as the Zeroes released bombs on the rubble surrounding the advancing cult, reducing the steel and concrete bulwarks to dust after her first pass.
"Lady Shinano!" Akagi yelled.
"Odin. It's Shinano. Those are her fighters." Akagi said excitedly.
"Well, I won't complain about the help." Odin said.
"Y'all best be taking cover. You got at least three salvos inbound." A new voice graced Odin's ears.
"And you are?" Odin asked as the first of the three previously mentioned Salvos slammed right into the pavement ahead of the cult forces, detonating right in front of the barrier, digging a trench and causing the cult to halt their advance.
"Name's Texas. Pleasure to meet ya, Kraut." Texas said as her second salvo slammed into the concrete behind the cult, opening another trench behind them, cutting off their escape.
"You haven't hit anything..." Odin said.
"Hit? I've hit exactly what I was aiming at. Now my targets can't run." Texas said as he third salvo exploded above the cult, sending red hot shrapnel directly downwards into their ranks.
"It's... absurd how effective that was..." Odin said to herself, cursing her inability to form such a plan on her own.
"Their numbers have thinned! Get the wounded out of here!" Odin yelled as she knelt down next to the Corporal.
"You're going to be okay." Odin said as she saw the poor soul still clinging to life. His expression softened as he kept a tight hold on his neck.
"MEDIC! I NEED A FUCKING MEDIC, NOW!" Odin yelled as one of the men from the Iowa ran over to her.
"Get him to the Norfolk, immediately. push him to the front." Odin ordered.
"As you wish, Commander." The sailor said with a salute as he whistled over to another medic with a stretcher, lifting the corporal onto it and running through the mass of men and kansen towards the port.
"All men, Advance and claim the rest of the street. We'll begin sweeping the next street over after the next wave." Odin said as close to 100 men jumped the barrier to begin moving rubble and debris to create a physical barrier that covered every possible entrance from the city.
"Friedrich, I expect you to hold the line here as I go and see our new guests." Odin said.
"Understood... Kommandant." Friedrich said, her voice filled with distain for the number of forces they had lost during the last wave.
"I heard Arizona is treating him. He'll be alright. He is awake, and seems to understand what is going on. Once he is up and about... we'll hold a tribunal to gauge his level of competence to return to command. I think that'll bring forth a sense of responsibility." Odin said.
"A tribunal?! You expect them to let him back with a fair trial?!" Friedrich roared angrily, the assumptive nature of Odin had finally flipped a switch.
"I will ensure that it is a fair trial. After all, I want nothing more to reinstate his command. I took over as a temporary measure, but there has to be a process to this." Odin said as Friedrich stepped over and grabbed her by the collar, lifting her off the ground.
"If you screw him over... I will not hesitate to end you, Vizekommandant." Friedrich said as she tossed Odin back to the ground.
"Friedrich, that was out of line, even for you." Odin scowled.
"Yeah? It was out of line for you to strip him of command the way you did. You heard him when he woke up. He didn't remember any of it. He remembered being thrown from a building clutching Nimi's corpse. The screams, the orders, the anger, he remembers none of it. If you had any sense, you'd reinstate him now and accept the flak from those who disagree. You're a battleship, Odin. Start acting like it." Friedrich said angrily as she hopped the barrier to assist in securing the street.
"I did what I had to." Odin yelled after her.
"And look! LOOK! LOOK AT THE BODIES! THEY WERE ALL HERE!" Friedrich yelled, drawing the attention of everyone working.
"We couldn't take that risk! We need support!" Odin yelled.
"Fuck you, Odin. If these people were true civilians, they would have fled at the first sign of battle. They waited until called upon to come and die, just so someone as straight laced as you would take the bait and keep Isaac from ending our opposition when he could have. And look, now there are men who will no longer be going home to wives, children or parents. We lost men that could have been saved if we would have just bombed this whole damn place." Friedrich said as she turned around and walked away.
"And if you hadn't fired on that building the way you did, we wouldn't be without him at the helm, BECAUSE NIMI WOULD STILL BE HERE!" Odin roared as Friedrich froze and turned to glare at Odin.
"You expect to shift the blame on me? Were it not for me, Isaac would have had lost more men, and possibly his own life. I didn't think I'd need to tell you to pick your battles, Odin." Friedrich growled.
"Girls... that's enough." Isaac's voice spoke from behind Odin, breathing heavily.
"Isaac!" Friedrich said as she ran back to the barrier and vaulted it, arriving at Isaac's side to lend a shoulder, relieving Alice from the task.
"Friedrich, please watch him carefully. I had to release him since he is recovering quickly and his injuries are less than those who are being admitted." Alice said as she looked at Friedrich.
"He will be well cared for. I assure you." Friedrich said as she looked at Odin.
"Find someone else to hold the line, Vizekommandant." Friedrich said as she led Isaac back to the port.
Odin stared in disbelief as they walked away.
XXXXXVVVVVXXXXX
"Friedrich... What was all that?" Isaac asked, sweat falling from his forehead.
"Odin plans to hold a tribunal to determine if you're worthy to take command. My argument was that nobody that was here would be fair in your trial. I know Eagle and I wouldn't be allowed on the jury. Eldridge would be out too. Almost every Kansen in the fleet that came with us would be off the jury. That leaves that detestable MacArthur, and his kansens. Along with the new bloods that have arrived." Friedrich said.
"New bloods?" Isaac asked as Friedrich pointed.
"Texas?" Isaac asked as Friedrich looked at him.
"You know her, Isaac?" Friedrich asked.
"She's got a bit of a following among my buddy's men. She covered them on D-day as they stormed the beach." Isaac said.
"It seems like she is just as eager to meet you as well." Friedrich said.
"It would be an honor to meet her... but I fear I am not up to her standard." Isaac said.
Isaac was about to continue speaking as the two new Kansens jumped from their vessels and skated to shore. Texas was the first to reach Isaac.
XXXXXVVVVVXXXXX
"Commander Garner, I presume?" Texas asked.
"Just Isaac. I'm not the commander anymore." Isaac said with a weak smile.
"Bullshit. I refuse to believe that." Texas said as she put her hand on her hip.
"I... had an incident here among the fleet and was forcibly removed from command." Isaac said.
"And who is this fine lady you got on your hip, shooter?" Texas asked, driving home the point that she did not care whether he was the commander current or not.
"Battleship Friedrich der Große, an Ironblood powerhouse." Isaac said.
"Friedrich, would you assist me in moving the Commander to somewhere more comfortable? I can see that he's not doing too well." Texas said as Friedrich smiled and nodded.
The two Kansen moved Isaac over to one of the many tents that had been erected in the port. The sat him down gently in one of the chairs before pulling two chairs over to him.
"It is an honor to meet you, Commander. I have heard all about your work with the Eldridge and several other ships throughout the world." Texas said as she sat down next to Isaac.
"The pleasure is all mine. My buddy owes you his and his men's life. I should be thanking you." Isaac said.
"So Commander, tell me what is going on here?" Texas asked.
"One of my girls was killed in the line of duty. I gave the enemy the benefit of the doubt and they used it to cripple me and kill one of my destroyers." Isaac said.
"Isaac, it is just as much my fault. I was concerned for your safety and dispatched the enemy without thinking properly." Friedrich said as Isaac held up his hand.
"And your blame has been cleared. There were no civilians in that building. Your judgement was correct... and I, as your commander and lover, refused to trust in your judgement." Isaac said with a soft smile.
"That took a lot of balls to admit. Consider my respect earned, Commander." Texas said.
"I appreciate it, Texas. It feels good knowing I have such a legend in my presence." Isaac said.
"Isaac?" Shinano asked as she poked her head in.
"Shinano... it's nice to finally meet you in person." Isaac said.
"Likewise. What is this that I hear you've been relieved of command?" Shinano asked as she stepped inside.
"I was forcibly removed from command due to what happened with Nimi. Apparently I gave some pretty deplorable orders before Odin took over." Isaac said.
"I'm not condoning those orders, but what is the system to reinstate you?" Texas asked.
"According to Friedrich, Odin is moving to hold a tribunal to see whether I am competent to lead the fleet." Isaac said.
Texas and Shinano looked at Friedrich and then each other.
"Let her run the trial. I'm sure the jury will see that you are fit to continue serving as Commander." Shinano said softly as Texas nodded.
Isaac was led to Friedrich's ship for the night. Texas and Shinano stood watch from their ships, ensuring nobody approached him. The rest of the night was calm, allowing Isaac to rest while his burns and broken fingers healed. The next morning, true to Odin's word, the base alarm went off, signaling for a tribunal for Isaac.