"Tirpitz, are you alright?" Illustrious asked as Tirpitz sat up in the bed in her quarters. The grey sheets covering her bare chest and concealing Illustrious's ample bosom.
"What do you mean?" Tirpitz asked.
"Your back... there is a massive bruise from the last battle. I remember seeing the dent on your bow. That wasn't made by your back, was it?" Illustrious asked as she too sat up, allowing the sheets to fall away, revealing her alluring form.
"I... It was a hard fight. I won't say I made the best showing." Tirpitz said as Illustrious traced her finger around the massive bruise.
"Impossible. You fought alongside your comrades and fought off the enemy. If anything, it was my support that was lacking." Illustrious spoke softly as she pressed herself against her Ironblood lover.
"You know I can't blame you. I ordered you to take care of the Missouri." Tirpitz reasoned.
Illustrious pouted before kissing the back of Tirpitz's neck.
"You need to stop being so hard on yourself." Illustrious said as Tirpitz sighed.
"I am one of the leaders of the Ironblood. Protecting my subordinates and ensuring victory come first. Self care comes later." Tirpitz reasoned as she turned to face Illustrious, planting a kiss on her lips before getting up and dressing in her usual uniform.
Illustrious pouted again.
"You're so stubborn, Tirpy." Illustrious said as she also rolled out of bed and got dressed.
"I know. But it's this stubbornness that kept me alive, Lusty." Tirpitz spoke softly as she cupped Illustrious's chin, turning Illustrious into a blushing mess, causing her to drop her dress before she could slip into it.
"T-Tirpitz..." Illustrious spoke softly as she pushed forward, desiring another kiss from the Ironblood battleship.
Tirpitz obliged her with a deep kiss before leaning down to pick up Illustrious's dress.
"Come. Get dressed so we can get above deck. Eugen is hailing me." Tirpitz said as she helped her lover into her dress.
Tirpitz and Illustrious emerged onto the deck of the battle worn Tirpitz, only to find Prinz Eugen flanked by a Sakura destroyer and a Union Cruiser.
"Eugen?" Tirpitz asked.
"Lady Tirpitz. These two come to us from the Kommandant's fleet." Eugen explained.
"I see. Why?" Tirpitz asked.
"Your sister seemed to have forced the Kommandant's hand. She forced him to send these two to meet us half way." Eugen said.
Tirpitz planted her face in her hand.
"Guter Gott. Warum ist meine ältere Schwester so verdammt stur?" Tirpitz muttered.
"Your older sister is a carbon copy of you, Tirpy. It would only make sense that she is so stubborn." Illustrious said softly.
"I know, but to force the Kommandant's hand? She never spoke out against the Kriegsmarine high command." Tirpitz reasoned.
"Well, maybe the Commander is open to such discourse. I mean, he still ordered these tow to seek us out." Illustrious said.
Helena walked over to Tirpitz as Kitakaze tended to Prinz Eugen.
"The Commander is on the line. He wishes to speak with you." Helena said as she pointed to her vessel.
"I shall answer him here. Can you patch him through?" Tirpitz asked.
"Of course." Helena said as she patched Isaac in to Tirpitz's radio receiver.
"Kommandant?" Tirpitz asked.
"Ah good. They found you. Where are you?" Isaac asked.
"We're still a good three to four days out from New Guinea, Kommandant." Tirpitz spoke.
"I see... Then there is going to be a change of plans. You, Illustrious, Eugen, Helena and Kitakaze will head directly for the outer Islands of the Philippines. By the time you arrive there, we should be able to meet up with you there. We cannot wait any longer to depart." Isaac spoke.
"I see. We shall adjust course immediately. Are there any other orders, Kommandant?" Tirpitz asked.
"Not at current. We are preparing to move out now, so communication will be spotty until we reach the mainland Philippines." Isaac said.
"I understand." Tirpitz spoke as she cut the line.
"I guess we're with you now." Helena said with a small smile.
"So it would seem. Well, fall into formation and we can continue on our way." Tirpitz said as she looked out to see, standing tall as the hull beneath her shifted course for their new target.
"Understood." Helena said as she returned to her vessel.
Isaac stood before the gathered fleet in port. Nimi stood at his side as he addressed everyone.
"Today... we embark on the most dangerous mission we have undertaken since the start of this war. This fleet... will take the Philippines. We will take it, hold it, and defend it as a hub in the Pacific. With the Philippines under our control, we have access to the Indian Ocean and a straight shot to the mainland of the Sakura Empire. And with Zero no longer in control of Japan, our victory here will be amplified by the easy takeover of Japan. Once we take Japan, we will have a nation to back us in this fight. More Men. More Material. More Ships. More Armor. More Weapons. And with that objective taken... we can set our sights for our next ally. One who has entreated us for aid for over a month. We will move north and assist the Northern Parliament in driving away Purifier and her forces. Once we have done so, we will have the backing of a superpower. Then... we shall be unstoppable. We will be able to take out Observer Alpha in Germany. Compiler in the UK. Free the Mediterranean. And move on to the Americas. But in order to do any of that... we must succeed here. Godspeed and may the seas be fair to us all." Isaac spoke, gripping Nimi's hand, knowing deep down that this fight was not going to be easy. Around them, a thunderous applause was accompanied by the cheers of sailors, soldiers and Kansen alike. Nobody there had a doubt in their mind. But Isaac knew that many of the faces he saw here would not be making it home alive.
"Liebling?" Nimi asked.
"I'm worried, Nimi. The Philippines weren't easy when Japan had them in their clutches. I doubt this will be any easier." Isaac said.
"But now you have us. And we are far more maneuverable than the armor that the Union used. We can turn the tide much easier." Nimi said.
"I know. But the toll will still be rather high." Isaac said as he stepped down from his podium, only to be met by Ben, Jager and Michael.
"What can I do for you three?" Isaac asked.
"A speech?" Ben asked.
"The fleet has grown used to them. It raises their spirits and lets them know our objectives. Was there something you found unsatisfactory?" Isaac asked.
"I was just wondering why all the pomp and circumstance. You're the commander. You don't need to rally support. You just give the orders and they do it. At least... that's how it used to work." Ben said.
"I view this fleet as one big happy family. If they are happy, the fight harder to stay happy. If they are disgruntled... things happen and when they do, it always ends poorly. I assume you remember my story." Isaac said.
"How does that have any connection here?" Michael asked, his curiosity deemed genuine by Isaac.
"The whole ordeal began due to a disagreement between MacArthur and myself on the treatment of Kansens. I stormed off angry... and it got one of the women I love killed." Isaac said as he looked at Nimi who smiled at him with a softness in her eyes.
"I see. None of us found it unsatisfactory, we were just curious. We are also ready to take the fight to the Philippines." Michael said.
"Good. Now for you three. Ben, you will be with the troops in the transport. They have the weapons, and you'll need them when we land. Michael and Jager, I want you two on the Enterprise. She will do her own thing, but she has the Catalina stored in her hanger. From what the Bulins are telling me... you two can launch from her catapult with the Catalina." Isaac said.
"Catapult?" Wilhelm asked.
"Apparently this upgraded hull that Enterprise has is capable of mounting a powerful catapult, which it has. This catapult has been tested briefly by the Bulins in typical Bulin fashion... namely using it to catapult themselves off the flight deck and into the ocean while we've been anchored here." Isaac said with a sigh.
"Isn't that... dangerous?" Michael asked.
"They can tear apart a Siren battleship like a can opener ripping into a can of soup. If they want to do something, and they don't get hurt... I'm not going to risk injury trying to stop them." Isaac said.
"Is there anything I should know about this catapult, Kommandant?" Wilhelm asked coldly. Isaac noted his stern desire to stay on task.
"From what the Bulins said... Parking brakes must be used to spin up the propellers of the Catalina to full speed beforehand. If the Catalina is not up to full speed, you'll land back in the ocean and will have to launch from there. But if you do everything right, the catapult will give you the speed needed to get the Catalina in the air and under way faster than trying to take off from the water." Isaac said.
"Understood." Wilhelm said as he turned to leave.
"Jager. I won't pry. But if you need to talk to somebody... Bremerton is the best person in the fleet for it. She helped me with Nimi and the aftermath of the Oceana Incident. I'm sure she can help you too, if you need it." Isaac said, earning a nod from Wilhelm as he walked towards the docks where Enterprise was moored.
Isaac looked to the sky. The sun was high and it was pleasantly warm for Mid November. He looked at Nimi before placing his helmet on his head and tapping the side.
"Alright everyone. Assume your stations, double time. We will form up 5 miles out to give everyone the space they need. Our target awaits." Isaac's voice flooded the docks as sailors, soldiers and Kansen all scrambled to their ships. The sounds of horns soon followed as the fleet made ready to depart.