Despite what Isaac's word's had said, they were not leaving quite yet. Isaac gave the order to hold until the other departing fleets had left the port. Hours passed slowly as Isaac watched warships of all size leave the port. There were hiccups, however.
"Isaac! Isaac! I do something wrong?" Eldridge asked with tears in her eyes as she ran onto the bridge of the Norfolk.
"Not at all. Why would you think that?" Isaac asked as he knelt down to get face to face with the pint sized destroyer.
"Isaac sending me away. I do something bad?" Eldridge asked as she began to cry.
"Not at all, sweetie. Come here." Isaac said as she ran into his arms.
Isaac hugged the destroyer, seemingly calming her.
"You are an excellent asset for this fleet. And I will definitely be calling for you again. You have done nothing wrong, Eldridge. This is just to make sure that Isaac's friends stay safe too." Isaac said.
"Isaac sure?" Eldridge asked as her tears slowed and finally stopped.
"I am 100% sure." Isaac said as Akagi made herself known.
"Eldridge-chan, We need to go. I can't very well leave without my escort." Akagi said.
"Ah, good, I've been meaning to catch you before you left. Do you still have Commander Forrest's journal?" Isaac asked.
"I do, why?" Akagi asked.
"The pages meant for Hood. I have a sinking feeling that I may run into her at some point, and if I do, she deserves to hear the words of her beloved as well." Isaac said.
"I agree, Shikikan." Akagi said as she reached into the folds of her cloak and produced the old leather bound book. Flipping through the pages, she reached the bit for Hood, and expertly divested them from the book using one of her nails.
"I think that should do. Could I ask you two to hurry up so I can head out? Rodney and Mikasa are already a mile out and they aren't slowing down." Akagi said.
"Eldridge, just know, that you will always have a place in my heart as the daughter I never had. Good luck and fair seas, missy." Isaac said as Eldridge blushed and kissed him on the cheek.
"Then... Love you too, papa." Eldridge said as Akagi and Norfolk had to physically hold themselves back from laughing.
"Run along now. Keep the fleet safe, and say hello to Eli when you see him." Isaac said as Eldridge nodded and ran out of the bridge and down to her ship.
"Here you go, Shikikan. Be sure to call upon us in the future. You know the red flame of the 1st carrier division is always down for a fight." Akagi said as Isaac nodded.
"I will make sure to call upon all of you again. Every single one of you are powerful assets." Isaac said.
"Shikikan...?" Akagi asked.
"What is it?" Isaac asked.
"Do you think it would be alright if I take my fleet to visit Niue at some point? I... would like to visit him." Akagi said.
"If you feel Tonga would be safe in your absence, I give you my full permission." Isaac said.
"Thank you... Shikikan." Akagi said as she bowed her head closer, seemingly inviting him. He took the opportunity and petted her between her ears, earning him a troubled but satisfied purr.
"Get going, you don't want Eldridge getting too far ahead of you." Isaac said.
"I agree. With that, I must be off." Akagi said as she handed Isaac the pages and left the bridge.
"Commander." Norfolk spoke.
"What is it, Norfolk?" Isaac asked.
"The Tonga fleet has left the port. The Fiji fleet is preparing to head out." Norfolk said.
"Ah, so they are." Isaac said as a knock came to the door of the bridge.
"Come in." Isaac said. The door swung open, revealing a green haired cruiser.
"Omaha. Come in, is something the matter?" Isaac asked.
"Nothing major, Commander. just coming by to say farewell for now." Omaha said as she walked onto the bridge.
"I haven't given you much to do these past few weeks. You must be among those that are dissatisfied with my command, no?" Isaac asked.
"Not at all. I was used very heavily by Commander Forrest, so this kind of life, isn't so bad now. I feel like you saw it somehow and decided to let the others take care of the grunt work. So... thank you." Omaha said as she looked at him.
"I see. Well, then I guess it's time for you guys to head for Fiji." Isaac said.
"It is. But not without doing this." Omaha said as she came over and hugged Isaac.
"What's this for?" Isaac asked.
"While my feelings haven't budded into love just yet... I still see you as a good friend. Maybe the next time we meet, things will blossom a bit further." Omaha said.
Isaac stood in shock as Omaha left the bridge.
"Quite the impression you make, Commander." Norfolk teased.
"Shut it." Isaac said as Intrepid made herself known.
"We are departing for Fiji now, Commander." Intrepid said.
"Use your planes and your fleet well. I won't tolerate anything less than the best." Isaac said.
"I will sir. And thank you." Intrepid said.
"Why are you thanking me?" Isaac asked.
"Because... you were the first to see that I was not useless. That my nickname didn't hold up." Intrepid said.
"You never were. We ship mechanics talked, you know. And some of the guys who worked with your hull, they said you were among the most upbeat girls they had been in contact with. I want you to get back to that feeling. Understood?" Isaac asked.
"I will do my best, Commander." Intrepid said with a small but professional salute.
"Get going. Your fleet looks like it's ready to break away." Isaac said.
"Understood." Intrepid said as she left the bridge.
Several minutes of watching later and the port had gotten relatively empty. Almost all acitvity had halted aside from the stray sailor from the Iowa patroling the port.
"Commander, Intrepid's fleet has left port." Norfolk said.
"Understood. Let us take one final round. Say farewell ourselves." Isaac said.
"We can do that. Plus, you have yet to give us our orders as to where we will be sailing." Norfolk said.
"That, and we need to be 100% sure we are ready to depart." Isaac said.
"Agreed. Shall we?" Norfolk asked.
"I hope you aren't planning on leaving without me." Odin said as she came onto the bridge from the main corridor.
"You did your hair different. I like it." Isaac said.
"Don't expect it too often. I just had extra time to mess with it." Odin said as she looked at Norfolk and gave a small wink.
Norfolk blushed a bright red as Isaac turned to avoid Odin's gaze.
"Let's go check in with Perkins and let him know we are departing." Isaac said, breaking the tension in the room.
"Please." Norfolk said as she was the first out of the room.
"Really?" Isaac asked.
"What? You know she wants you too, right?" Odin asked.
"It isn't hard to see, but I want her to make that choice on her own. Don't go teasing her like that." Isaac said.
"Aww... is someone still upset that he got put out of action too?" Odin teased him a bit more.
"Thing is, I'm ready to go again. And now that I know how you tick, it won't be like that next time." Isaac said, sending a shiver up Odin's spine.
"Got it... done teasing now." Odin said as she smiled and walked over to him, holding his arm as they left the bridge.