Isaac and Odin emerged from the lower decks of the Iowa into the harsh sun of the Pacific.
"Don't you think that was a bit much, Kommandant?" Odin asked as she looked at Isaac.
"Maybe. Maybe not. If we want this war to go in our favor, all of us need to work together without causing problems for each other." Isaac said as he stopped fast. Odin stopped and looked at him before following his gaze.
"Well... that's unexpected." Odin said.
"You think?" Isaac asked.
"I didn't peg her as the kind for personal relationships." Odin said.
"Hey, maybe her revival as a battleship changed things. After all, as a carrier, she didn't seem to care about much more than her sister over there." Isaac said.
"I guess... but I'm even more surprised at who she chose to go after. I didn't think someone like Perkins would be her type." Odin said.
"Why not? He's tall, handsome, high ranking, and cares for Kansens more than most." Isaac said.
"Maybe we're overthinking it. I mean, she's just talking to him." Odin said.
"Odin, I practically lived in a bar back in Chicago. Her body stance is not one of formality. She tries to act all prim and proper, but her body betrays her." Isaac said.
"Do you always psychoanalyze us?" Odin asked with a hand on her hip.
"Maybe. I mean, I love you all to bits, but you all could still kill me at a moment's notice. So knowing when not to approach is often helpful in the not dying department." Isaac said as they continued their walk.
"Maybe we should sent them a gift." Odin said.
"Like what? We don't exactly have a Sears catalog to pick out something for them." Isaac said.
"Sears catalog?" Odin asked.
"It's a store chain in the Union. They sell appliances and other useful things for the home." Isaac said.
"Hmm. Interesting." Odin said as they both watched Kaga chatting up Perkins on the docks.
"Well, let's get moving before we ruin the moment." Isaac said as he began walking again, Odin following closely behind.
"So we're heading for that Steamer then?" Odin asked.
"Yes. Lizzie had mentioned an Ace. If we have a ace, maybe we can improve our fighter capabilities of the carriers we choose to take with us." Isaac said.
"I know it must be done, but cutting down our forces still stings a bit, Kommandant." Odin said.
"We have to leave a decent force behind to defend the island chain. The sirens will use every possible thing to stop our advance, including the innocent people on those islands." Isaac said as they made their way down the gangway.
"I'm not arguing. Just a bit sad we'll have to leave some good friends behind." Odin said as Isaac looked at her.
"We will see them all again. The harder we hit, the less they have to deal with which means the more likely we are to keep them safe." Isaac spoke as they approached the steamer.
"Oi! About time you showed up, Commander! I was about to pour me another pint!" A voice said as Isaac looked up and saw a man in an aviator's jacket hanging on the rail.
"Is he the ace?" Isaac asked aloud.
"He is." Elizabeth said as she walked over to him.
"Hey there, Lizzie." Isaac said, earning him a pout from the prim battleship.
"I'll allow it since it's just you and Odin." Elizabeth said as Isaac smiled.
"It's a cute name. I don't see why you don't like it." Isaac said.
"Because, Commoner, I am still the leader of the Royal Navy. A bit of respect is still warranted." Elizabeth said.
"But of course, Queen Elizabeth." Isaac teased.
Elizabeth pouted more.
"Fine! Lizzie will work. But don't use it in front of my subordinates. I still have an image to maintain." Elizabeth said softly as she looked at her feet.
"Don't get upset. Come, let's meet this ace of yours." Isaac said as Elizabeth nodded and joined him and Odin as they walked up the gangway to the HMS Athene.
"Commoner, this fine gentleman is Adolph Malan, Ace of the RAF and previous head of Squadron 74." Elizabeth said.
"Adolph Malan, huh? Flying ace of the Royal Air Force." Isaac said as he looked the man up and down.
"Retired ace. My flying days were over in 1941. But by her majesties decree, I am here to pick up my wings and fly again." Malan said as he stood at attention.
"Well, then allow me to welcome you back into the corps. What's that in your briefcase?" Isaac asked.
"A blueprint for an experimental super fighter. Her Majesty told me that she would like you to attempt to use it to bolster your forces." Malan said.
"Excellent. I'll get it to the bulins to see if we can create it for you. Until then, get to know Eagle. I'll let her know you're coming. Take the day, sober up and prepare for a test flight. The bulins should hopefully have your new fighter ready within a day or so." Isaac said.
"Understood, sir." Malan said as he saluted.
"Oh, and before you get any ideas, Eagle is one of the girls I have given myself to. Don't try anything funny." Isaac said.
"I understand completely. I actually have a wife and two kids back home. So you don't have to worry about that, sir." Malan said as he handed Isaac his flask.
"Good man. I will do everything I can to ensure you see them again." Isaac said.
"That's all we can hope for, Sir." Malan said as he saluted and left.
"This vessel also has about 100 men chosen by her majesty to join your cause. By my count, 50 are soldiers, the rest are of the scientific persuasion." Elizabeth said.
"We can always use more guns." Isaac said as the deck slowly filled with the inhabitants of the boat.
"Kommandant!" A voice with a heavy German accent was heard.
"Hmm?" Isaac asked as he turned to look at where the voice came from.
"Danke Gott. I finally found you." The German said.
"Do I know you?" Isaac asked.
"No. But I knew your father. He was a good friend of mine before I had to return to Germany." The man said.
"I see. And who are you exactly?" Isaac asked.
"Otto Vermackt, ex-Nazi scientist." Otto said.
"Ex-Nazi? I didn't know the Nazi's had full science divisions." Isaac said
"The soldiers took most of the infamy. We scientists sat back in the fatherland creating." Otto said.
"I see. And how did you manage to get on this boat? I thought this boat was filled to the brim with Her Majesty's personal picks." Isaac said.
"I was picked after proving my worth. I fled to the UK after Hitler invaded the Soviet Union." Otto said.
"Ah. So what do you have that I need?" Isaac asked.
Otto produced a sealed tube and a labeled folder.
"I can already see one of my hulls gracing your fleet." Otto said.
"What?" Isaac asked.
"Friedrich der Große. One of the hulls of my design." Otto said.
"WHAT?!" Isaac reiterated.
"I worked under the command of Admiral Fuchs. He chose my design to take to Hitler." Otto said.
"Wow... to think I'd meet the designer of one of my most powerful ships." Isaac said.
"Well, this blueprint and folder, contain the information needed for her sister." Otto said.
"Her... sister?" Isaac asked as Elizabeth and Odin looked on in horror.
"Manfred von Richthofen. An aircraft carrier built on the hull of the H-class battleship." Otto said.
"The Red Baron..." Isaac spoke softly.
"That would be correct." Otto said as he handed the material to Isaac.
"Get this to Norfolk, immediately." Isaac said as he handed the items to Odin.
"Right away, sir." Odin said as she ran off.
"You, Otto Vermackt, need to get acquainted with the bulins." Isaac said before tapping his helmet.
"Friedrich. Please report to the HMS Athene." Isaac said as Otto looked at him.
"Kommandant..." Otto said as Friedrich slowly made her way up the gangway.
"Dear Husband, you managed to catch me as I was passing by. What did you need?" Friedrich asked, seemingly oblivious to Otto's presence.
"I... I found the one who designed your hull." Isaac said.
"Really?" Friedrich asked.
"Mein Gott..." Otto said as he looked at Friedrich.
"Dear Husband... you found him." Friedrich said in a tone of disbelief.
"My dear child. To think I would get to see you like this." Otto said as Friedrich walked over to him.
"I... I don't know how to address you." Friedrich said as she stood before Otto.
"Wouldn't he be like your father? His hand created your blueprints, after all." Isaac said.
"That wouldn't be too far off in my opinion." Elizabeth said.
"So... I guess, Friedrich, meet your father." Isaac said as Friedrich looked at the German man in front of her.
"Vater..." Friedrich said as she approached him.
"Mein Kind..." Otto spoke as they hugged on the deck of the Athene.
"Aww. Isn't that adorable?" Elizabeth asked as Isaac nodded.
"It is. I wonder how she'll react to getting a sister." Isaac whispered.
Friedrich released the man and returned to Isaac.
"Will he be staying with us, dear husband?" Friedrich asked.
"He will. He will be one of the heads of our R+D with the bulins." Isaac said.
"So he will be on the Norfolk, with you?" Friedrich asked.
"He will." Isaac replied.
"Then that ship shall never sink. I will see to it personally." Friedrich said as she kissed Isaac before walking down the gangway towards the Norfolk.
"You married her?" Otto asked.
"I did. More her decision than mine, but not one I regret agreeing to." Isaac said.
"I'm glad she was able to find a home here." Otto said.
"You seem familiar with the concept of marrying Kansens." Isaac said.
"But of course. I managed to snag one myself." Otto said.
"Oh? Which ship caught your fancy?" Elizabeth asked.
"She never really took to the seas, so it gave me the time to get to know her... but my lovely wife happens to be Graf Zeppelin." Otto said.
"YOU MARRIED HER?!" Elizabeth cried.
"Ja? Why not?" Otto asked.
"She's obsessed with destruction! She wants to destroy the world!" Elizabeth said, remembering things that she had heard from her men in the Baltics.
"She is passionate. Once you get to know her, her talk of destruction is a coping mechanism for not being allowed to fulfill her purpose. She is actually quite the lovely lady." Otto said.
"Why did you leave her?" Isaac asked.
"I didn't. I sent her, under the cover of night, to assist the Northern Parliament, since they are without air power." Otto said.
"Then we will meet her on the high seas once we liberate Japan." Isaac said.
"I will do what I can to help you achieve that goal." Otto said as he extended a hand.
"Welcome aboard, Otto Vermackt." Isaac said as he shook hands with Otto.
"Come now, Elizabeth. Let's return to the Norfolk to show Otto his new quarters." Isaac said as the three of them left the Athene.