Isaac stopped by the munitions tent on his way to the front. Most of the rifles had either been taken or were out of action and needed to be repaired. Isaac looked around quickly before setting his eyes on an old relic of the great war.
"Texas should be happy to see this." Isaac said as he slung a pump action shotgun over his back and strapped a bandolier full of shotgun shells to his armored chest. "Let's take the city then." Isaac said as he ran out of the tent and into the waiting arms of Odin and Friedrich.
"Did you get what you needed, Kommandant?" Odin asked.
"Yes I did. The Model 1897 made by Winchester arms back in the Union. Tore through trenches during the great war better than a hot knife through butter." Isaac said.
"But we're not in the trenches, Isaac." Friedrich said.
"We aren't. I know that. But this gun don't give two shits where you are. As long as you got ammo to feed it and two working hands, she'll treat you well." Isaac said.
"You treat your guns like we do our rigging... maybe I should ask Vengeance to see if we can give you rigging." Odin joked.
"I know you're joking, but even still, I'd be crushed. Human bodies can't support that kind of weight." Isaac said with a chuckle.
"You're right, Kommandant." Odin said as they turned towards the exit of the port. They took off running at the sound of yells echoing around in the city streets.
Isaac turned the corner to see several Explorers on their side of the barricade, tearing into the troops with their rigging and strength. Isaac felt his blood begin to boil once again. He saw almost every girl in the fleet fighting in hand to hand combat with the explorers while using their rigging to keep the cultists at bay. Isaac smiled a devilish smile under his helmet as he slowly pulled the shotgun off his shoulder and loaded it while scanning the battlefield from left to right.
"Odin, draw your sword. We're gonna repel the attack." Isaac said as Odin did as she was ordered.
"Friedrich, I want you to help tend the lightly wounded. We can't use heavy bombardment. We'll kill our own. So take a defensive position and only fire at targets caught out away from the group." Isaac said.
"Understood, Isaac." Friedrich said.
"Commander. You look like you could use one of these." One of the injured men said as they took their knife from it's sheath and handed it to Odin. Odin turned and gave it to Isaac, who saw a hole on the handguard and immediately smiled further.
"Thank you, marine. I'll make good use of it." Isaac said as he slammed the pump forward, chambering a shell before affixing the knife to the bayonet lug.
Isaac slowly advanced with Odin at his side as Friedrich began looking over the wounded and dying, using her rigging to lay the men on top so she could transport them to the Norfolk.
"All ships, can you hear me?" Isaac asked, his radio connected to every ship in the fleet.
"It's so good to hear your voice again, Commander." Was the most common of the responses received from the girls in the fleet.
"Alright, ladies. Start pushing them back. I want to end this farce today. Use of low caliber rigging is approved. Get them back over the barricade!" Isaac yelled as an Explorer took a vested interest in him and lunged at him, impaling herself on the bayonet on his shotgun.
"Oceana will avenge us." The explorer said as she tried to grab Isaac.
"Oceana will die just like the rest of you." Isaac said as he pulled the trigger, sending a 12 gauge slug down the barrel and into the Explorer's gut, blowing the armor plating from her back. Black liquid dripped from her eyes and mouth as her body went limp, a bloodied hand from those she had killed slid down his helmet, leaving a bloody streak over his visor.
"Mein Gott that was brutal... no wonder the Kaiser thought shotguns were immoral." Odin said as Isaac pointed the gun down and stepped on the dead explorer's leg, tearing her off the serrated bayonet.
"The Union would like to disagree." Isaac said as he racked another shell and ran forward with Odin as they began exterminating Explorers left and right, the sounds of shotgun blasts filled the air as the horde was slowly thinned out and eventually pushed back over the barricade.
"MacArthur! Get those tanks up here to defend the perimeter. We're taking this god damned city." Isaac said.
"Understood Isaac." MacArthur said.
XXXXXVVVVVXXXXX
"Armored corps! Get those tanks up and running! I want a Sherman loaded for bear on every street!" MacArthur yelled as the mechanics saluted and immediately got to work.
"We also managed to get a few jeeps." One of the Privates said.
"Excellent. We'll gift one to the Commander so he doesn't have to walk everywhere." MacArthur said.
"Understood sir." The Private said as he ran off to continue offloading the rest of the Transport ship.
"Norfolk, come in." Isaac said.
"I'm here Commander." Norfolk said as her image appeared on his wrist.
"I need odds here." Isaac said.
"Give me what you need." Norfolk said as a mass of screens appeared on the bridge of the Norfolk.
"Is Oceana still in the city?" Isaac asked.
"Scans show that a powerful signature that was recorded as Oceana is not within city limits. That signature is coming from up in the mountains to the north." Norfolk said.
"Excellent." Isaac said.
"Anything else?" Norfolk asked.
"What are the odds we can take the entire city?" Isaac asked.
"Based on the numbers of enemy units defeated, I have come to the conclusion that the troops you are facing now are not from this city. The buildings are empty. Akagi and Shinano have identified a small group of civilians escaping to the east." Norfolk said.
"And the odds of success?" Isaac asked.
"If you were to keep the structures intact, your odds of a successful capture and retention are 72%" Norfolk said.
"What can we do to bump those numbers up?" Isaac asked.
"Eliminate Oceana, and bolster our forces with the girls left behind by MacArthur. That brings our odds up to 81%" Norfolk said.
"What is preventing a perfect takeover?" Isaac asked.
"The Prime Minister has forced his military forces to accept the Cult of the Siren. One of the dead that was brought back for study was wearing combat fatigues and carrying a Sakura made rifle." Norfolk said.
"So they have armed forces as well..." Isaac thought to himself for a second as the heavier armed girls opened up their riggings and continued to pour fire into the hostile owned streets.
"Your orders, Kommandant?" Odin asked.
"Have Hashirama and MacArthur head our human forces. We need to devise a way to take the city without sustaining a mass loss of life. We have to plan for the attempted resistance by the Guniea armed forces." Isaac said as he looked at the battle going on in front of him.
"Have Akagi and the other carriers fly their fighters overhead. Scare them and drive them out." Isaac said.
"What will you do?" Odin asked.
"I'm going to go and check on Vengeance. She has been quiet the past few days." Isaac said.
Odin frowned at the mention.
"Are you sure that is wise?" Odin asked.
"I want to see how things are going." Isaac said.
"Don't do anything I wouldn't do, Kommandant." Odin said as she split with him to head for the carriers.
Isaac made his way to the darkened hull of Z-23.
"We are here to honor the life of Nimi. A valiant warrior of Ironblood, and an example of what we all must strive to be. While the cubes remain a mystery, and the possibility of rebirth is ever present, we must honor the sacrifice given by our fallen sister of Ironblood. And as we set about our orders, here and afar, keep the fires burning. The anger towards our enemy must not be allowed to die in darkness. We will fight for honor, and for vengeance. This is the way of Ironblood. ZUM SEIG!" Bismarck said as her rigging fired a 21 gun salute.
"ZUM SEIG!" The rest of the Ironblood girls yelled with their fists over their hearts.
Elizabeth came forward with a small bundle of flowers she had found.
"The Royal Navy would like to offer its condolences." Elizabeth said.
"Thank you, Queen Elizabeth." Bismarck said as she took the flowers and laid it at a small stone tower overlooking the sea.
"Now, let's get down to business." Bismarck said as the sound of fog horns filled the air.
"Looks like we have more ships to choose from." Bismarck said.
"What are your orders, Lord Bismarck?" Heinrich asked.
"We need to prepare to depart." Bismarck said.
"Depart? Well then I, Queen Elizabeth, will accompany your forces." Elizabeth said.
"Your majesty!" Warspite said.
"Relax, Warspite. The Commoner has ways of remaining in contact with this outpost." Elizabeth said.
"I assume you have no objections, Bismarck?" Elizabeth asked.
"I already know I cannot pass through Panama. So having a larger force would be preferable." Bismarck said as she stood and thought for a minute as the Niue fleet docked.
"Akashi has arrived!" Akashi said happily before the smile faded upon seeing Bismarck and Tirpitz.
"Akashi is no longer as happy, nyaa." She whispered in a slightly scared tone.
"Let's meet the incoming fleet before we decide to set out." Bismarck said as she turned to head for the docks.
"Alright everyone, remain on the port side of the ship! Starboard side has not been cleaned." Howard said as his remaining men stepped off the boat on the left side.
"Akashi is sorry." Akashi said as she walked over to Howard for the first time since the incident.
"Look. Nobody knew what would happen. Blaming yourself for something like that, just aint right. If you need something to help you move on, I would suggest making something from the research you conducted and using it to help end this wretched occupation." Howard said.
"Akashi will not fail!" Akashi said as Azuma came over carrying Mutsuki.
"Good job, little one. And thank you, Howard. She has been blaming herself for everything that happened and she hasn't slept at all since the incident." Azuma said.
"All I ask is that the research is used to end the occupation by the sirens." Howard said.
The other girls disembarked their ships as Bismarck and Tirpitz walked down with Elizabeth.
"Ironblood and Royal Union together?" St. Louis asked softly.
"Welcome to Bermuda. One of the other Azur lane Facilities." Elizabeth said.
"Thank you for accepting us." Azuma said as she stepped forward.
"No, Thank you for coming." Elizabeth said.
"Oh? I didn't think we did anything yet." Azuma said as the other girls escorted Howard's men up to the dorms.
"Bismarck, Myself and one or two others will be heading to the Pacific to lend aid to the Commoner." Elizabeth said.
"Understood. Then we shall guard this base with our lives." Azuma said as she held Mutsuki tighter.
"Please see to it that you do. This base holds an advanced wisdom cube matrix. We cannot let it fall." Elizabeth said as Bismarck turned to her.
"Pick one person of your choice to bring with us." Bismarck said.
"I choose to bring Zara. Warspite needs to remain so she can enact my will." Elizabeth said.
"Alright. Prepare to leave. We are headed for New Guinea." Bismarck said.
"Akashi hears you. Akashi has something to deliver to Shikikan. Please be very careful!" Akashi said.
"What is it?" Bismarck asked.
"Akashi has made a huge barrel of Wisdom dust. Very explosive, very dangerous. Akashi knows Shikikan will find a use for it." Akashi said.
"And the little yellow creature that seems to be accompanying the barrel?" Bismarck asked.
"Upgraded bulin, Purin. Purin is going with to help stabilize the Wisdom dust, Nyaa." Akashi said.
"Alright. Then I will load it in the cold storage." Bismarck said.
"Akashi thinks that is wise. Heat and pressure sets off Wisdom Dust, Nyaa." Akashi said. Azuma scratched Akashi's head as they turned to leave. Akashi stopped and turned.
"If you see Shikikan, let him know that only Kansen are to touch it. It is deadly to Shikikan and humans." Akashi said.
"I will pass the message along." Bismarck said as she gently lifted the barrel and carried it aboard her ship.
About an hour later, Warspite and the girls being left at Bermuda waved as the four warships left the port, heading down a path designated by bueys to escort them through the anomaly.
"Godspeed, You Majesty." Warspite said over the radio.
"Viel Glück, sister. May the seas be merciful." Tirptiz said as the fog horns of the departing ships pierced the air, signaling their release to the open sea.