"Friedrich, Mein Tochter, all in due time. Please release the Kommandant. If you hurt him, what will the others think?" Otto asked.
"Am I hurting him?" Friedrich asked as she quickly removed her hand.
"Just a bit, Friedrich. And to answer you... this wasn't planned in the first place. A happy yet unexpected turn of events. I would like any further children to be born when we finally take back this world." Isaac said.
"Is that a promise then?" Friedrich asked.
"Should you wish to have a child when this is all over, I will not begrudge you." Isaac said as Friedrich nodded, seemingly satisfied with his answer. She took her leave almost immediately to plant herself at Shinano's side.
"Who is this little one?" Friedrich asked softly as Shinano showed Yume's face to Friedrich.
"She has your eyes." Fredrich said softly as she extended a hand towards Yume's cheek, stroking it softly as Yume fed.
"She looks... like her father." Shinano said softly as she looked directly at Isaac.
"She's a kitsune, like her mother." Isaac said in reply as Yume unlatched herself from Shinano and looked towards Friedrich, reaching her arms out.
"May I?" Friedrich asked.
Shinano nodded softly as she fell back to sleep. Friedrich scooped Yume into her arms.
"Careful, Friedrich. She may be a Kansen, but she's still fragile." Isaac said as he walked over to the battleship.
"I know this, Dear Husband. I am being very careful. After all, I am the Mother of the Ironblood. It wouldn't do if a mother couldn't handle such an adorable little carrier." Friedrich said as Yume sat giggling in her arms.
"She's not a carrier yet. She's just a child, whom needs plenty of tender love and care." Isaac said as he stroked Yume's tails, feeling the soft black fur beneath his hand.
Yume squirmed a bit but did not try to stop him.
"Remember, Isaac... Kitsune have sensitive tails. I found this out when treating Shinano during the last two battles." Vestal said.
"Ah..." Isaac said as he pulled his hand away.
"Shikikan." A voice spoke from directly behind Isaac.
"13!" Isaac said as he quickly turned around.
"Yes. It's me." 13 said with a irritated look on her face.
"Is... something the matter?" Isaac asked.
"Oh... you know, I was just sailing along, monitoring the depths of the ocean ahead of the fleet... when all of a sudden, I almost get hit by an Aircraft Carrier falling from the sky..." 13 said with a hint of agitation bleeding further into her voice.
"Ah... I failed to think about that. I am very sorry for my daughter's inopportune entrance." Isaac said sincerely.
"Your... what?!" 13 asked as she pushed her way past Isaac and saw the bundle of fur in Friedrich's arms.
"13... this is Yume. My daughter." Isaac said as he took Yume from the arms of an unwilling Friedrich.
"Don't worry, I'll give her back..." Isaac said as Yume put her hands on his face.
"This is your daughter? Who's the mom?" 13 asked.
"Really?" Isaac asked sarcastically as he showed her the 9 black tails on Yume's body.
"SHINANO?!" 13 exclaimed.
"Yes. This is mine and Shinano's daughter. And the vessel that almost crushed you is hers." Isaac explained.
"Oh... well... now I can't really be mad, can I?" 13 asked as she smiled at the wiggling infant.
Anchors splashed into the water as California, Tennessee and Alwyn came to a slow halt inside the port of Moresby
"Alright sailors! Off!" Tennessee spoke sternly into her radio. She watched as the sailors and civilians that had fled Pearl harbor filed off the deck and into the port, only for her to be boarded by two women with cat ears and tails.
"Look sis, a union battleship." Yamashiro said.
"I know. I know these two personally." Fusou said as Tennessee came out from her bridge with her rigging drawn.
"Round 2, you feline bathtub of a battleship?" Tennessee yelled.
"Tennessee... so nice to see you again." Fusou said with a hint of distain in her voice.
"Sis, no need to be so mean." Yamashiro said.
"Well... how do you expect me to act? These two attacked me in Surigao." Fusou said as she glared at Tennessee.
"Sis! Is everything alright?" California asked as she looked at Fusou from the docks.
"Hi Fusou!" California said cheerfully, shocking Fusou.
"H-hi." Fusou replied.
"Tenn, Iowa said that they are friendly, so let's just drop this." California said.
Tennessee scoffed and shrugged away her rigging.
"Fine... but only because it's you asking, Cali." Tennessee said as she walked down to the main deck.
"Look! I found friends." California said as she pointed her arm over towards a couple of ships.
"Some of them are ones I've never seen." Tennessee said.
"Yeah, but you know Archerfish and Allen Sumner, right?" California asked as a blonde submarine and a black haired destroyer from the union made themselves known.
"That I do." Tennessee said as she nodded to the two union vessels, who waved happily before continuing about the port.
"And who are the others?" Tennessee asked.
"Well, apparently this cute little thing is Kisaragi, a Sakura destroyer. And that green haired one in the swim suit is To-tor-tortellini?" California said.
"Torricelli." The green haired submarine corrected her.
"Ah... Well, Torricelli here is an Italian Submarine." California said with a small blush at the mispronunciation.
"Huh... what's an Italian doing out in the Pacific?" Tennessee asked.
"I was here... on my own... terms... hehe" Torricelli said as Tennessee shrugged.
"Oh well, my quarrel isn't with you. Just stay out of my way." Tennessee said as she looked over the port.
"Can someone fill me in? Why does it look like this port is still an active war zone?" Tennessee asked.
"It is. We have all but taken the main city, but the remaining cultists and explorers on the Island keep trying to siege the capitol. We've been playing defense ever since Isaac left." Fusou said.
"Isaac?" Tennessee asked.
"The Commander... of Azur Lane."
"We've entered the Banda Sea." Amagi said as Michael entered the bridge.
"Good. Say, do you think there's any chance that this Apollyon could have left Australia already?" Michael asked.
"There is a decent chance. From the sounds of what the Explorers were saying before we left, apparently the higher ups sent an assault force to invade Australia and were wiped out. He may have left to try and evade their knowledge of his location. Either that, or he may be continuing his liberation efforts." Amagi said.
"Is there a chance he may be going to New Guinea? We are passing right by there and we can wait if there's a decent chance of him landing there." Michael said.
"There is an above average chance, especially if he has human troops, they would more than likely request a stop." Amagi said.
"Then how about we head there? Moresby is our best bet." Michael said.
"Agreed." Amagi said.
"What do we do?" Michael asked.
"What do you mean, dear?" Amagi asked.
"Well... we aren't exactly on friendly terms with the Union, as no formal surrender was ever reached." Michael said.
"If it comes to that, we will surrender and offer to join him. That would be the fastest and most efficient way to earn his favor." Amagi said as she twirled her umbrella.
"I guess we'll have to wait and see." Michael said as Amagi turned hard to Port and made for mainland New Guinea.