Isaac was awoken by the sirens of the port. Friedrich sat on the bed next to him, holding his uniform.
"It looks like Odin wasn't kidding. Texas and Shinano both are saying that a podium has been set up with chairs for over 50 members of the fleet to stand as jury." Friedrich said as she handed Isaac his uniform. The scar on his back was evidence that what had occurred was real and was continuing to be realized as he dressed himself as best he could.
"It looks like Arizona did some good work with you. That burn doesn't look anywhere near as bad as it did a few days ago." Friedrich said.
"It doesn't hurt. My hand is stiff but I'll be sure to visit Alice to have the cast removed after the tribunal." Isaac said.
"Don't worry, Isaac. You have ships that will follow you to hell and back. Even if they strip you of your command, you will still have your revenge." Friedrich said.
"Thank you, Friedrich. No matter what happens. Know that I love you." Isaac said as he walked out of the Captain's Quarters.
Texas formed her rigging as she escorted Isaac to the podium. Odin, Perkins and MacArthur sat on a hastily built stage in front of him. Isaac looked to the side and saw many men from the Iowa as well as Baltimore, Bremerton, and Alice sitting as his jury.
"Let's not stand on ceremony here. We all know why we're here. Isaac Garner of Chicago. You have been stripped of Command over the fleet of Azur lane due to circumstances that can only be described as extremist actions in opposition to the cause, in addition to medical and mental incompetency." Odin spoke loudly, her voice carrying over the makeshift courtroom.
Isaac stood silently as Odin looked at him and then at Perkins and MacArthur.
"The charges that we found that could be brought against you are the use of aircraft with the intent of destroying life and property of innocent civilians, and gross misuse of military equipment for personal gain." MacArthur said as Odin jumped in.
"That second charge is rejected on the grounds of jurisdiction. You are a General in the Army of the Eagle Union. You are in no position to decide what misuse of us, Kansen's, is defined as." Odin spat. She looked at Isaac.
"The only charge brought against you is the use of aircraft with the intent of destroying life and property of innocent civilians. How do you plead?" Odin asked.
"Not guilty on grounds of mental instability at the time of the order." Isaac said.
"Explain yourself to the jury." Odin said.
"Due to the simple fact that I do not remember giving such an order, I must plead not guilty to the charge. The last thing I remember from the Incident is watching Oceana kill Z-23 before giving the order to fire on her and I. The next thing I know, I'm waking up on the Norfolk hooked up to a morphine drip being told that I was ordering the bombing of the city beyond this port." Isaac said.
"So this order was not given knowingly?" Perkins asked.
"That is correct, sir." Isaac said.
"So you do not feel like that was the correct course of action?" MacArthur asked.
"I do not. I would have never knowingly given the order without confirming the presence of civilians." Isaac said.
"But you would have ordered it if there were no civilians present?" MacArthur asked. The jury looked among themselves, whispering as they waited for Isaac's response.
"The lives of Civilians are more important to me than buildings. Buildings can be rebuilt. People cannot be brought back to life." Isaac said.
"Please answer the question clearly, Isaac Garner." MacArthur said.
"If civilians were not in play, yes. I would have given the order to raze the city. The extreme population of Explorers as well as the Oceana would warrant the destruction if it meant that those enemies would meet death." Isaac said.
"Isaac. You had a profound connection with Z-23, did you not?" Odin asked.
"I did. She was as much a lover to me as she was a fighter. I held her in high regards as both a capable warfighter, and as a lover." Isaac said.
"Do you think the order for destruction would have come if you had not been emotionally engaged with Z-23?" Odin asked.
"Objection." Texas said as she stepped up to Isaac's side.
"On what grounds?" Odin asked.
"Relevance." Texas said sternly.
"I'll hear it." Odin said.
"With the fleet dynamic as it is, and from what I have heard. It is not only unfair to ask such a demeaning question, but it laughs in the face of law. Emotional attachment is natural to humans and Kansens alike. You can't expect someone to not form relations if the other side has already done so. Asking if he had not been emotionally attached only draws away from the relevance of the charge." Texas said.
"So you're saying that emotions had nothing to do with the orders given?" Odin asked.
"I won't say they weren't, but you seem to be dodging the fact that this man was assaulted by the Sirens and was pushed through the wall of a seventh story building, according to the report from Friedrich and Eagle." Texas said as she slammed her fist on the podium.
"So emotions should be ruled medically irrelevant due to the injuries sustained?" Perkins asked.
"Absolutely! Did you not read the report of the doctors who worked on him? I've been here a total of 16 hours and even I have read it! He stated his memory ends the moment his head hit the ground. That covers the time between the incident proper, and the time of his awakening onboard the Norfolk, after his command had already been stripped from him." Texas stated angrily.
"On that fact, I do have to agree. The report stated as such. This whole trial is based on an order unknowingly given. But the purpose of this trial is to decide if he is mentally capable of commanding this fleet going forward." MacArthur said.
Texas stood seething for a moment as Isaac took a step forward.
"Had I not been involved with Nimi... I think that if that had been the only change in this whole ordeal... the order may still have been given. I hold everyone in my fleet dearly to my heart. Losing one of my girls means I am losing family. My whole reason to do this started with a want for revenge for the murder of my mother and father. I have come this far not only to achieve this goal, but to give humanity and the Kansens a future that they all can be happy with. I want nothing more than to see the sirens driven to extinction on the back of their mass takeover of earth." Isaac said.
"So you mean to say that if something like this happens again, you would knowingly make the same choice?" Odin asked.
"That I cannot say. I do not have the ability to see the future." Isaac said.
"Answer the question!" Odin yelled.
"I would not give the order!" Isaac spoke loudly.
"But you said that these girls are like family. Would losing them not stoke your anger?" MacArthur asked. The sounds of gunfire rang out as men began running throughout the port. The jury sat still as well as the judges on their stage.
"Losing anyone will make me angry. But the loss of life caused by such an abhorant order would anger me worse. Death is an absolute in war. It will happen. Whether you want it to or not." Isaac said.
"So you are saying that you are mentally capable of losing members of your fleet while retaining the values of a proper commander?" Odin asked. Isaac grimaced at the sounds of screams and shouts from beyond the harbor.
"Capable of losing them, no. But I am capable of coping with loss in such a way as to not endanger the lives of innocent people." Isaac said. A radio close by came through with requests for support. Isaac could feel a chill go up his spine as the radioman's voice was cut out suddenly, indicating that he had been killed.
"Alright. Jury, after hearing this testimony, and reading the reports, we shall now vote on the ruling." Odin said.
"All in favor of Isaac Garner being reinstated?" Odin asked as a unanimous raising of hands sealed the tribunal's vote.
"Isaac Garner. The tribunal has seen you fit to return to command. With the power vested in me, I relinquish command of the Forces of Azur Lane and return it to you." Odin said with a stern look on her face. Isaac nodded and straightened his uniform before turning to Texas.
"Radio the fleet. Get up there and support those men. Tell the carriers to get planes in the air, now." Isaac said as he looked at the crew of the Iowa sitting on the jury.
"All of you, get back to your ship and prepare to lend fire support to the troops." Isaac said as he began walking towards the Norfolk. The men nodded and ran towards the Iowa.
"Is that all?" MacArthur asked.
"After what was said before all of this, you and I will speak through liaison until we retrieve the cubes of the girls you left behind, General." Isaac said.
"Odin, Friedrich, with me now." Isaac said as he walked past the girls who saluted him as he passed.
"Yes sir, Kommandant." Odin said as she finally breathed a sigh of relief, allowing a smile to shine through. Friedrich followed him up the gangway to the Norfolk.
"You two are to apologize right here and right now. The way I found you two yesterday is deplorable, and I will not stand for it. For the two supposedly most mature ships in my fleet, you two act like children." Isaac said as Norfolk appeared next to him.
"I heard the news. Welcome back, Commander." Norfolk said with a smile.
"Thank you Norfolk. I am sorry that I worried you all. How is everything going on logistics." Isaac asked.
"Vengeance is seeing measurable success with her experiment. We are at full capacity in the med bay but Arizona's ability is turning beds faster than we can fill them, so if we don't sustain these injuries, we can clear the med bay." Norfolk said.
"I need my suit." Isaac said as Odin and Norfolk looked at him.
"With all due respect, it may be wise for you to not spend all your time on the front lines." Norfolk said.
"I can't give orders without a proper visual of the battle." Isaac said.
"Sir." Norfolk said.
"Norfolk, I will go without if I have to. Me being here is a formality at best." Isaac said.
Norfolk sighed with a smile.
"Glad to see you haven't changed a bit, Commander." Norfolk said as she pointed to the changing room on the bridge.
"Thank you." Isaac said as he went to suit up.
Odin looked at Friedrich.
"I...I'm sorry. I was out of turn with what I said earlier." Odin said.
"I was not in the right either. Let's put this behind us and act as we should for the Kommandant." Friedrich said. Odin nodded and the shook hands.
"Let's go." Isaac said as he appeared back on deck, wearing an exact copy of his last suit of armor.
"As you command, Kommandant." Odin said as they ran through the port towards the active front.