"Come on! Let's move it, people!" Washington yelled as she watched Kansens and humans alike packing what they could carry for the evacuation.
"Come on... we just got here." A father of two complained.
Washington glared at the man but looked and saw his two kids standing behind him.
Washington grabbed the man by his tie and dragged him away from the kids as Akashi distracted them with one of the sparkling red gems she had found scrounging the island.
"Listen here, you little shit. I have been given the order to evacuate this base and the island at large. So you're coming, whether you like it or not." Washington tried.
"What are you gonna do? Hurt me? We've already been displaced from our homes in the Union, so there's not much left." The man spat.
"Do you want to die? Is that what you want? Because I can do that here and now. And it would probably be better than what's coming. I'll take your two little gremlins with us and give them to a much more sensible family once we reach Gibraltar. Is that what you want?" Washington hissed, keeping her voice low as to not scare the nearby children.
The man stood, shocked at the sudden outburst.
"Well? Are you an idiot or something? Answer me." Washington growled as she activated her rigging.
The man shook his head vigorously.
"Then get you and your kids packed up. If we don't get out of here in time, we're all dead." Washington spoke as the man ran back to his kids to help them get ready to leave.
"A bit harsh, nyaa?" Akashi asked as she slipped her gem back into a small pouch that contained several more gems.
"I ain't got time for the sentimental bullshit that these humans cling to. We're warships, we do what we have to do. We follow orders. It's simple like that. But these...people they would rather face death just because they don't want to go anywhere? That's utterly idiotic. I should just left him and his brats here." Washington spat, her rage not subsiding in the least.
"Nyaa, but would you be okay with that, Washington-san?" Akashi asked, causing Washington to stop and think.
After a few moments of watching people scramble about, helped by the National guard that had helped them on the escape from the Union, Washington found an answer.
"No... I guess I wouldn't. I would feel kinda bad knowing that there were more ways to force people to leave and that I decided they weren't worth my time or care. I am a ship of the Union Navy... I fight to serve these people, as stupid as some of them may be. And if I had left him and those kids, only for them to die... I don't think I could live with myself, let alone continue fighting for them." Washington said.
"Washington-san... It's okay to be upset, nyaa. Akashi feels bad too. Akashi's experiment killed a lot of people. And the results... will likely kill a lot more, nyaa." Akashi said.
"But you didn't intend to hurt them. I was willing to leave people here just to avoid the hassle of them not wanting to go..." Washington reflected.
"But Washington-san did good. She scared the man into coming with, nyaa." Akashi said with a soft smile.
Washington thought again before smiling.
"Yeah... I guess I did. Thanks kitty." Washington said as she ruffled Akashi's hair before walking off to continue barking evacuation orders.
Akashi sighed.
"Matrix has been loaded, nyaa." Akashi spoke to herself. She activated her rigging and put on a small headset.
"Tirpitz-san?" Akashi asked.
"Hmm?" Tirpitz replied absentmindedly on the other end.
"Are you okay, nyaa?" Akashi asked.
"Yeah. Just a few dings and scratches. How about you?" Tirpitz asked.
"Washington-san has been ordered to initiate an evacuation, nyaa. Apparently Shikikan thinks Strength will attack here, nyaa." Akashi said.
"Evacuate? Shit. I sent Graf Spee back towards Bermuda since she had to take the Missouri under tow." Tirpitz said.
"Akashi can attempt to contact Spee-san." Akashi said.
"Please do. I was unaware that my report would cause a full scale evacuation of Bermuda. It didn't even cross my mind." Tirpitz said.
"Akashi will contact Spee-san. Shikikan has ordered everyone to evacuate to Gibraltar, nyaa." Akashi said.
"Damn... Can you have someone from the Union fleet help Graf Spee? She is towing the hull of an Iowa class battleship by herself. And while I have the utmost faith in my subordinate... she can't survive the Atlantic crossing while towing something like that." Tirpitz said.
"Akashi understands, nyaa. Fair seas, Tirpitz-san." Akashi said, forcing a cheerful tone.
"Fair seas to you as well, Sakura kitten. Stay safe. I feel the Kommandant will be calling for your aid sooner rather than later." Tirpitz said before she cut the line.
"Akashi doesn't think that's the case..." Akashi said dejectedly.
As if by some twist of fate, the headset on Akashi's head beeped, indicating an incoming transmission.
"Hello, nyaa?" Akashi asked as she accepted the transmission.
"Akashi! Just the person I wanted to talk to." Isaac said.
"Really, nyaa?!" Akashi asked.
"Of course. I have need of your expertise." Isaac said.
"Hai!" Akashi spoke happily, her tone no longer forced, but one of genuine happiness.
"First off, how is the evacuation going? Nobody is on the radio so I'm blind as to what's going on there." Isaac said.
"Evacuation is proceeding smoothly, Shikikan. Washington-san is using her natural charm to... entice people to come with, nyaa." Akashi explained.
"That's... good. Just make sure to get whoever you can. I'd like to minimize casualties if possible." Isaac said.
"Understood, Shikikan." Akashi said as she waited for more.
"Secondly... I have been wondering something. I'd ask Shinano, but she's been sleeping and caring for Yume almost constantly, and I have been busy making sure we don't die. So I figured I'd ask you while checking on the evacuation." Isaac explained.
"Nyaa? What can Akashi help you with, Shikikan?" Akashi asked.
"Sakura had a decent intelligence network during the war, even some ties with the Ironblood. I have a lot of powerful ships at my disposal, but to liberate the world... I'm going to need more. A lot more. This fleet is just barely enough to hold off an invasion fleet. Is there anything you have that can help?" Isaac asked.
"Akashi has a few, Nyaa. And a lot of them can be found in Sakura Territory. But they have to be built, nyaa. Sakura Empire needed materials, but the Union cut us off, nyaa." Akashi said.
"Building isn't an issue. Once we take the Philippines, we have a straight shot to Japan. If I can get some more allies... I'll take them." Isaac said.
"Hai. Sakura Building Yards should have the blueprints, nyaa. Izumo, Ibuki, and Hakuryu will all have blueprints, nyaa. Akashi has a couple rumors as well, nyaa." Akashi said.
"I'll hear them." Isaac replied.
"Akashi has heard from Eugen-san that several blueprint ships are being held under lock and key by Observer Alpha. They haven't been built, but she keeps the blueprints on or around her at all times." Akashi said.
"Hmm... Do they have names?" Isaac asked.
"Hai. Eugen mentioned Agir and August Parseval." Akashi said.
"August Parseval? The Airship designer?" Isaac asked.
"Akashi is unsure, nyaa. But Eugen-san said that those two would be very powerful." Akashi said.
"Alright. I only have one more thing." Isaac asked.
"Hai! Akashi is happy to be of service!" Akashi said. Isaac took a mental note.
"Akashi, how do we make more Bulins? You created them, and they have no idea how they were built. My fleet is growing, I need more hands." Isaac said.
"Akashi used simple tools and wisdom cubes in a Matrix, nyaa. Akashi could help more if she was with you, Shikikan." Akashi said.
"I was thinking the same thing. I have decided to give you special orders, Akashi." Isaac said.
"Nyaa?!" Akashi asked.
"Accompany the fleet to Gibraltar and see to it that they arrive safely. Then I want you to traverse the Mediterranean and break out through the Suez Canal. Make your way from there around India and across the Indian Ocean and reach us on the Island of Cebu. I wish to set up a forward operating base here once we liberate the islands. And I will need your expertise when it comes to building these ships you described once we reach Japan." Isaac said.
"Hai! Akashi will execute her orders flawlessly." Akashi promised.
"I hope so. I will see you in the Philippines." Isaac said.
"Hai. Fair seas, Shikikan." Akashi said.
"May the seas be fair for you as well, Akashi." Isaac said as he cut the line.
"Akashi feels so happy!" Akashi squealed as she jumped around a bit.
"Everything alright, Akashi?" Ranger asked as she walked over after seeing Akashi jumping around.
"Hai, Ranger-san. How are we doing?" Akashi asked.
"The base has been gutted and all essential personnel have been loaded. We are beginning the evacuation of as many civilians as we can fit onboard the vessels." Ranger said.
"Hai. Akashi needs to contact Spee-san. But Tirpitz-san has asked either you or Washington-san to help tow the Missouri, nyaa." Akashi said.
"Tow the Missouri? What happened?" Ranger asked.
"Heavy damage from a fight with Strength, nyaa." Akashi spoke in a somber tone.
"And Spee is towing it?!" Ranger asked.
"Hai. Apparently the Missouri is too heavily damaged to move under it's own power, nyaa." Akashi said.
"I'm surprised she can move it." Ranger said.
"Tirpitz-san has requested it due to the fact the Spee is struggling with it. She can't cross the Atlantic while towing. But we can apparently use the hull to carry more people if we can meet up with her." Akashi said.
"We can do that. We should be ready in a few hours. Contact her and let her know our course so she can meet up with us." Ranger said.
"Hai." Akashi said as she proceeded to do just that.
"Norfolk, call Michael and Otto back in here." Isaac asked.
"Understood. Any specific reason?" Norfolk asked.
"I just received an interesting tidbit of intel from Akashi." Isaac said.
"And you wish to verify it with them?" Norfolk asked.
"Precisely." Isaac said as Norfolk made the call.
Several minutes later Otto and Michael appeared on the bridge of the Norfolk.
"You called?" Otto asked.
"I did. I received some interesting intelligence from Akashi in Bermuda. And I wanted to run it by you before I begin thinking of a way to execute the plan in my mind." Isaac said.
"Shoot." Michael said.
"Akashi mentioned something Prinz Eugen said about Blueprint ships hidden away, and now under constant guard by Observer Alpha. The Blueprints are labeled Agir and August von Parseval. Do these blueprints exist to your knowledge?" Isaac asked.
"Last time I was in Berlin, I was working on the blueprint for Richthofen. But I did hear some other designers talking with the Chief of Naval Operations about two potentially favorable designs for another Aircraft Carrier based off of Graf Zeppelin, and a Heavy Cruiser." Otto said.
"Jager would know more than me, as he was part of the Luftwaffe until right before the end of the war. But even as a Captain of the Imperial Navy, I heard rumors from the U-boat crews that dropped by to exchange technology." Michael said.
"I see. Well... then we will have to liberate those Blueprints once we take Germany. Unless I can command my fleet that is heading for Gibraltar to assault Germany and make an attempt to steal the blueprints from Alpha." Isaac said.
"Commander." Vestal called from the hall.
"Vestal?" Isaac asked.
"Zero is with me. She has something to say." Vestal said.
"Come in." Isaac said.
"Who's Zero?" Michael asked.
Vestal opened the door, and Michael realized it immediately.
"You." Michael said as his hand shot to his hip.
"Stand down, Michael. She is a prisoner. And she has surrendered. I cannot let you shoot her." Isaac said as he walked over to Zero.
"You have something for me?" Isaac asked in a softer tone he had just had with Michael.
"I... I overheard your conversation. Empress placed me in charge of the Sakura Blueprints as she did with Alpha for the Ironblood. Alpha does have the blueprints. She tends to remain within a shipbuilding warehouse near the water. My best guess is that they would be there. As for Sakura blueprints, if you are interested, I kept them separated in two vaults beneath two shipyards. Yokosuka and Kure Naval Arsenals. Hakuryu is in Yokosuka. Ibuki and Izumo are in Kure." Zero spoke sheepishly.
Isaac put a hand on her shoulder.
"Your help is appreciated, Zero. Thank you." Isaac said softly, his tone visibly calming the skittish Siren.
Isaac turned to Vestal.
"Is she prepped?" Isaac asked.
"Yes. I accompany her on these little walks due to the high amount of Morphine in her system. But she has reported no pain, and has made peace with the physical world. I believe she is ready to be transferred." Vestal said as Isaac looked back at Zero.
"Are you okay?" Isaac asked.
"I am. I realize that in this form, I am of less help than the plan you have proposed. And in my time thinking... I have realized that this might be the first time... where you beat us." Zero said enigmatically.
"I will have to discuss that with you at a later date. But you are dismissed. Go and rest. Vengeance radioed a bit ago and said she was on her way over. So when you wake up, you might already be through the procedure." Isaac said.
Zero nodded before looking at Isaac one more time.
"Can I... touch you again?" Zero asked.
Isaac nodded.
Zero took a step forward and wrapped her arms around Isaac in a weak hug.
Isaac was taken aback to be hugged by someone who had recently surrendered to him.
"Thank you... for sparing me the pain and torture that Oceana went through." Zero said as she backed off and left with Vestal.
"What was that, Sir?" Michael growled out.
Isaac sighed.
"Norfolk, call Ben and Jager here. Otto, you're free to go." Isaac said as Otto tipped his hat.
"Thank you, Kommandant." Otto said as he left.
"You haven't answered me." Michael demanded as Amagi, Ben and Jager walked in.
"Norfolk... play the video." Isaac spoke.
"I-Isaac?!" Norfolk cried.
"They have to know. They won't trust me otherwise. Show them the video... of Oceana." Isaac said as he closed the blinds over the windows of the bridge.
"Y-yes... sir." Norfolk said as a holographic projection began to play in the center of the room.