"Unknown Contact Inbound." A message in Morse code played from Tennessee's rigging.
"Iowa?" Tennessee asked.
"Correct. Unknown Contact Inbound." The Morse code spelled out.
"Unknown contact. Can you give us a little more before I try to rally a force?" Tennessee asked.
"Without Norfolk, Only Tool Is Radar. Sorry." The Morse code message played.
"I guess we'll have to talk more about that later. Alright, I'm on it." Tennessee said as she switched on her radio.
"Cali, offload the troops quickly. There is a contact heading directly to this port. Iowa, have you tried hailing them?" Tennessee asked.
"No Radio Operator Present. Unknown Frequency. Commander Perkins Forbids Use Of Emergency Channel." Iowa's message read.
"Ah. So let us assume it is not Union and is not currently cycling radio Frequencies." Tennessee said.
"I Help." Iowa's message read.
"Are you able to move on your own?" Tennessee asked, now confused as to the capabilities of the Iowa class Battleship sitting next to her in port.
"Unable."
"Can you track the target with your guns?" Tennessee asked.
"Unable."
"What can you do?" Tennessee asked, doing her best to hide her growing annoyance.
"Provide Radar Intelligence and Position Data. Radar Gets Better As Contact Gets Closer. Contact Now Designated As Large Warship Of Human Origin." Iowa's message read.
"Well... that's actually useful. I can at least hail it if we know it isn't Siren." Tennessee said as she switched through her radio channels.
"Unknown Contact. This is Tennessee, Battleship of the Eagle Union and currently stationed at Port Moresby. Identify yourself at once or I will be forced to move to engage."
"Unknown Contact. This is Tennessee, Battleship of the Eagle Union and currently stationed at Port Moresby. Identify yourself at once or I will be forced to move to engage."
"Tenn?" Ben asked as Amagi shushed him.
"Ben, do you know this person?" Amagi asked as Wilhelm and Michael stood next to Ben on the bridge, the island nation of New Guinea looming before them.
"Do I know her... She's one of if not the most ill tempered battleship in the Union Navy! If you don't wish to eat some 14 inch shells, I would answer her. God Help you if California is with her..." Ben said with a slight urgency in his tone.
"I see. Then I shall answer her right away." Amagi said as she switched on her receiver.
"Union Battleship Tennessee, this is Sakura Battleship Amagi. I was hoping to make port." Amagi said.
"Amagi? Never heard of you." Tennessee said as Amagi and the three men watched as two Tennessee class battleships loomed into view from behind the island.
"Dear god..." Ben said.
"What is is?" Michael asked.
"California is with her... if Tennessee finds me here, I'm a dead man." Ben replied as he contemplated jumping overboard.
"What difference does it make if she was here or not?" Wilhelm asked from behind his mask.
"California and I hooked up for a few months before I was sent off to fight in the Atlantic. She understood that it wouldn't be permanent, but Tennessee thought I was just leading her on, and with California being her sister..." Ben rambled.
"Ah. So you led the girl on then dumped her for the war?" Michael asked.
"NO!" Ben said as the two Union boats drew closer, aiming their guns at the bridge.
"Amagi, if that is your true name, shut down your engines and drop anchor. My Sister and I will be boarding your vessel. If you make any wrong moves, or we find anything suspect onboard, you will be taken into custody and held until Admiral Garner Returns to this post." Tennessee said before cutting the line, not bothering to wait for a response.
"She seems like a reasonable lady." Wilhelm said with a shrug.
"Reasonable?! She's like two steps away from blowing this hull to Davy Jones's locker!" Ben retorted as Amagi did as she was instructed, reopening the line to Tennessee.
"Engines have been shut down, anchors are dropping now. I offer a surrender if that is required to place you at ease. I do not wish to harm those who would fight the Sirens." Amagi said.
"Yeah Yeah. After Pearl Harbor, you guys are lucky those two cats didn't drown the moment I saw them in port." Tennessee spat.
"Cats? Oh you mean Yamashiro and Fusou, no?" Amagi asked.
"Yeah... you knew they were here?" Tennessee asked as the USS Tennessee dropped anchor off the Amagi's port bow. USS California followed suit on the opposite side, leaving Amagi nowhere to run.
"No. But those two are very prominent figures within the Sakura Empire, so I figured I'd start with the most well known of our Bakaneko and make our way down from there." Amagi said as the tanned battleships jumped onto her deck from the waves below.
"Yeah yeah. Shut it. I haven't forgotten the damage you all did. The men you killed. You Bastards killed Okie." Tennessee growled as she stormed her way towards the bridge.
"Okie?" Amagi asked as she turned to Ben, whose eyes were cast to the floor of the bridge.
"Oklahoma didn't survive the attack on Pearl. The damage she sustained was too much." Ben explained as the door to the bridge was kicked in by Tennessee.
"And you brought him?!" Tennessee growled the moment she laid eyes on Ben.
"H-hey." Ben said sheepishly with a wave.
"Tenn, did you find her?" California asked as she stepped onto the bridge.
"Ben? Ben!" California squealed happily as she nearly knocked over Tennessee as she ran over to him.
"Cali. It's good to see you again." Ben said as he scratched his neck.
"I had heard from all the others who came back that you had died." California said as she gave Ben a chaste hug.
"Well... as you can see, that is clearly not the case. But I was captured by the Nazi's, which is why it took so long for me to come back." Ben said as he pointed subtly towards Wilhelm and Michael.
"Did they?" California asked.
"Not them specifically... but they are Nazis... well... the masked one is." Ben said.
"Former. Nazi." Wilhelm spoke sternly.
"Uh huh." California shook her head and smiled.
"Well, you look great for someone who was held prisoner, hell, you look better than the day you left." California said before Tennessee piped up.
"Yeah, the day you left my sister crying on the docks watching your ship sail off towards Europe, you ungrateful bastard." Tennessee said angrily.
"Tenn. I told you, we agreed on it being a temporary thing. I knew he was shipping off, I... just didn't want to admit to myself that he had grown on me a bit." California said with a small blush.
"Exactly, and he should have known that!" Tennessee yelled as she produced her rigging and pointed it at Ben.
California stepped between her sister and Ben.
"I won't let you. Let's just get this ship in and detain them, Tenn. I just received word from Iowa that she has picked up a massive fleet approaching on the very edge of her radar." California said as she pushed the barrels of Tennessee's guns off to the side.
"Fine. But I will have words with you, Benjamin. And you had better hope I like your explanation, or you won't have a second chance with anyone, much less my sister." Tennessee snarled as Michael and Wilhelm chuckled at Ben's expense.
"Tenn. Enough already. I've explained it hundreds of times. But now that he's back... maybe we can catch up." California said as she looked at Ben.
"Sure. It'll be interesting to hear about your adventures." Ben said with a smile, causing California to smile as well.
"See? No hard feelings, right Tenn?" California asked.
Tennessee growled a bit but decided it wasn't worth any more hassle to get into. She huffed and turned back to Amagi, Michael, and Wilhelm who hadn't moved an inch.
"We'll tow you in. Don't want you getting any ideas. Admiral Garner will deal with you three." Tennessee said.
"And Ben?" Amagi asked, clearly concerned for his safety.
"As much as it pisses me off... the most I can do to him is threaten injury. He's still a member of the Union Army and a POW from what I've just heard. So he will most likely be accepted immediately by the Admiral." Tennessee said with a sigh.
"I see. It's no wonder you're so aggressive towards him." Amagi said.
"Don't get all philosophical on me. I hate his guts and would kill him if it wouldn't mean immediate scuttling." Tennessee said angrily.
"Tenn. You're beginning to upset me. Stop talking bad about him like that." California said as she placed a heavy hand on Tennessee's shoulder.
"Cali?" Tenn said, clearly shocked.
"Because if you hurt him... you know how hard my High Explosive Shells hit." California said sweetly with a smile on her face.
"Oh Gott. Sie ist noch gruseliger als Herr Otto." Wilhelm said quickly under his breath to Michael.
"Ja. Ich möchte nicht auf ihre schlechte Seite kommen." Michael replied.
"Hey, knock it off!" Tennessee yelled as he rigging pointed at the two German men behind Amagi.
"Dear. It may not be best to speak your native tongue in the presence of our current captors." Amagi said as she looked at Michael.
"What did he say?!" Tennessee yelled as California sat in the captain's desk with Ben sitting in the chair.
"They said your sister is scarier than a 'Mr. Otto.' And that they would not like to get on her bad side." Amagi said as Michael nodded.
"I see. Well, you three aren't safe yet. As far as I'm concerned. Japan never surrendered So you, foxy, are still my enemy." Tennessee said sternly.
"Then please keep your remarks to me and me alone. My husband and our pilot have done nothing wrong." Amagi said.
"Whatever, let's go. I'd like to be a bit more presentable if this approaching fleet is led by my new Commander."
Tennessee stormed off the bridge, leaving California to watch over the prisoners as she towed the Amagi back towards the port.
"We're making our final approach, Isaac." Norfolk said as Isaac smiled, watching 13 cradling Yume in her arms with the other girls watching.
"Understood. Alright ladies. I know Yume is adorable, but she needs her rest. So let's leave her with Shinano while we make port in New Guinea." Isaac said as the girls all groaned.
"But I haven't gotten to hold the little angel yet." Eagle said sadly.
"I'm sure there will be plenty of time once we land." Isaac said.
Eagle pouted as the rest of the girls filed out after 13 set Yume on the bed next to Shinano.
"Why don't you kiss her goodnight. She looks tired." Isaac said as he went and kissed Shinano on the cheek.
Eagle took the opportunity to lay a chaste kiss on Yume's cheek as she smiled, happy to have been in contact with her step daughter.
"Feel better?" Isaac asked.
"Yes. I feel plenty better now, Darling. You said we were in New Guinea?" Eagle asked.
"Yes. We are going to offload some of the troop transports so that New Guinea can be protected by the Australians. Then we will have to stage here and ensure that we are ready to take on the Philippines." Isaac said as a call from Vengeance interrupted them.
"Isaac. Grab the cycl... cruiser named Bremerton, and come over to my vessel. I believe I finally have dialed in the procedure to repair her eye." Vengeance said.
"What were you about to say?" Isaac asked.
"It is of no importance, Isaac. Now bring me the cruiser so I can fit her for her new eye." Vengeance said.
"Alright. I'll grab her. I believe she is on her vessel currently." Isaac said as he turned to Eagle.
"Oh, alright, Darling. I'll carry you over." Eagle said.
"I'd hate to stretch the Bulins further. Thank you." Isaac said as Eagle helped him onto her rigging.
"It is no problem, darling. In fact, it's times like these that I look forward to being useful to you." Eagle said.
"Eagle. No matter what you think, you are all useful to me. Every minute of every day." Isaac said as he kissed her cheek.
"D-darling... not so loud." Eagle said with a blush as she quickly made her way towards the Bremerton.