Isaac walked throughout the Vestal, eventually coming to pace back and forth in front of the door leading to Vestal's Med bay. After a few more minutes of waiting, Vestal emerged and discarded a pair of gloves.
"Yat Sen is recovering well. There were no real injuries aside from some burns from taking that hit we saw on the way in." Vestal explained.
"And the other two?" Isaac asked.
"They were treated fairly quickly and have since returned to quell the unease on the Dragon Empery vessels." Vestal said.
"Did we lose any civilians?" Isaac asked.
"Three or four were crushed on the Yat Sen according to Texas. That HE shell she took knocked some of her heavy machinery loose and it toppled onto a few of the survivors." Vestal reported, recalling what Texas had shown her.
"Damn... I know the saying goes 'You can't make an omelet without cracking a few eggs' ... but every civilian we lose is a golden egg I wish we didn't have to crack. Hell, every life we lose is another golden egg wasted." Isaac lamented.
"Commander. This keeps coming up when you hear of our losses. So... let me set you straight. We are at war. Death, pain, suffering... these all come with the territory. And if you overwork yourself worrying about every life we lose, not only will you lose the battle, but you will lose the war as well. Those who follow you know they have their life in their hands. That fact alone forces them... nay... pushes them to fight with everything they got to make sure they can come home. And if you spend every minute thinking about those we lost, the enemy will use it against you. It is not wrong to mourn the dead, but to place the lives of the dead on the same level of importance as those still alive is a disservice. Mourn the lost, fight for the living." Vestal spoke sternly.
"That's... quite the stance on it, Vestal." Isaac said as he looked at the repair ship, who stood only just below his chest in height.
"I have seen war, Commander. I have seen men grind themselves to dust when they burden themselves with the losses. And with this kind of momentum that you have built ,you have no time to stumble. Death will always be the toll that War takes. No matter how good you are, expecting no losses is no better than playing God. And I will not apologize for saying, Commander... you're not God." Vestal said as her finger poked lightly at his chest.
"I never claimed to be... but you have a point, Vestal." Isaac said as he rubbed the back of his head.
"I know I do, Commander. But for now, take time to check on the others. Check on your daughter. We are approaching Palau. We will be advancing further into enemy territory by tomorrow, enjoy your free time while you can." Vestal said as she walked off, down the corridor and towards the main deck.
"I see her!" San Diego's voice permeated the radios of the fleet as she laid eyes on the silhouette of a large cruiser and a massive floating island.
"Graf Spee?" Ranger asked as she looked out from her bridge to see Graf Spee towing what remained of the Missouri against the backdrop of the moon.
"It is. I'll try to contact her." San Diego said.
"Spee?" San Diego asked.
"Sandy?" Spee asked, her tone one of exhaustion and pain.
"Are you alright?" San Diego asked.
"This... is heavy. I... don't think I can pull it much more." Spee said as Ranger looked out to see a much higher volume of putrid black smoke pouring from Spee's smokestack.
"Spee, this is Ranger. Is everything alright?" Ranger asked.
"It hurts... so bad." Spee said as she strained to continue pulling the Missouri.
"Spee, hold position. We will come to you." Ranger said as she switched channels.
"Atlanta, Juneau. You two go and meet Spee. Unhook the tow cable and get the survivors off her vessel. We need to get that weight off her before her engines tear themselves apart." Ranger said as she too kicked her engine ahead full to reach Spee.
"Washington, keep pace and heading, we will form back up with you. We don't have any pursuers, so we can afford to take our time for the moment." Ranger explained.
"On it." Washington said.
Ranger could hear a soft snoring in the background of Washington's line.
"Where are you?" Ranger asked.
"Max's room. I decided to get some rest and he just came right over and made himself comfortable." Washington said.
"You know... I think he really does like you." Ranger said.
"He did say I look like his mother. So... I guess that is a fair assessment." Washington said.
"You know we'll have to let him go once we reach Gibraltar, right?" Ranger asked.
"Try to make me, and I will poke so many holes in your hull, you'll make a sponge look watertight." Washington spoke in a low tone.
Ranger froze upon hearing her tone.
"A-alright... I guess we can talk to the Commander." Ranger stammered as she cut the line.
Ranger watched Atlanta and Juneau drop anchor next to Spee, jumping aboard her vessel as she collapsed onto the deck.
"Atlanta, give me something." Ranger ordered.
"She's out cold. Finally being able to relax has knocked her body out. She isn't looking too good. There's massive amounts of bruising on her body and it looks like there's dried blood on her lips.
"Shit. Akashi, come in." Ranger spoke.
"Nyaa?" Akashi asked.
"Spee's condition is critical. I think her towing the Missouri was too much for her to handle alone. Her body isn't faring well." Ranger said.
"Akashi will get on it right away, nyaa. Bulins will fix her vessel." Akashi spoke as she cut the line. Ranger watched as the mint green cat and a pair of Bulins jumped to the ocean's surface and skated quickly towards Spee.
Ranger looked at the Graf Spee.
More battle damage than had been reported was present on the vessel. Shell holes and plasma burns littered Spee's vessel. Several plates of armor were bulging, nearing the point of popping their rivets.
"Akashi, check for the most recent battle damage. Tirpitz didn't report this kind of damage in her AAR." Ranger spoke.
"I... had to... fight more... of them." Spee said, earning a gasp from Atlanta, who had been checking for a pulse.
"Fight? While towing the Missouri?" Ranger asked.
"Ja... There weren't many... but with only one turret... it's hard." Spee said as Ranger watched Akashi run to her side.
"Is that why your engines are damaged?" Ranger asked.
"Torpedo... took out my port side shaft and prop." Spee reported.
"Good god... and you kept towing that massive thing?!" Ranger cried.
"We told her we'd be fine..." Another voice spoke.
"Admiral...Nimitz?" Ranger asked.
"This is he. Finally up and about." Nimitz spoke.
"What do you mean, sir?" Ranger asked.
"I had requested Spee to detach the Missouri when we were reengaged by the Siren forces, but she refused on account of the 300 or so men that are still repairing the Missouri below the waterline. It got so bad that after she took out the drone ships, she jumped to the waves to take on the Elites that had followed us. I ordered my men to provide help where able, so we managed to keep the elites confined using rifle and AA gun fire. But it's as Spee says, it's not easy for a single cruiser to fight off even a meager force like that by herself." Nimitz spoke.
"Is everyone still alright?" Ranger asked.
"We managed everything just fine, but Spee needs to be looked at. She's taken quite the pounding to keep us all alive." Nimitz reported.
"Akashi will be taking her under tow for repairs. I will take over towing the Missouri, sir." Ranger said.
"Well spoken... I didn't catch your name." Nimitz said.
"CV-4. Aircraft carrier Ranger, at your service, Admiral." Ranger said as she snapped to attention on instinct.
"Well spoken, Ranger. I know it's selfish of me to ask... but Admiral Garner sent me here to see my family... are they..." Nimitz spoke before being cut off.
"We have your family safe and sound, Admiral. They are onboard my vessel at the moment. They weathered the escape fairly well." Ranger said.
"Thank God." Nimitz said in a sigh of relief.
"Admiral, we have been ordered to head for Gibraltar after the loss of Bermuda. I assume you will be accompanying us?" Ranger asked.
"Yes. And as a sign of good faith... and out of a desire to take a break from the role of command. You shall remain in charge until we hit Gibraltar." Nimitz spoke.
"Thank you, sir. I won't let you down." Ranger said as she maneuvered to begin towing the Missouri.
With Spee being rushed to the Akashi, and her vessel being taken under tow, the fleet began moving once more towards their destination.
The night sky blanketed the Mediterranean as the winds from the sea blew the blueish hair of a woman standing in the surf.
"Signora, there have been no signs of the Sirens in a few days. Will you not rest?" A woman with beautiful white hair asked as she walked up behind the blue haired woman.
"V. Do you think that this is our fate?" The blue haired woman asked.
"New Jersey, my dear. It is not healthy to focus on the negatives. We are here. We are alive. Our pasts have been cast aside and our lots thrown together in a twist of fate. No matter what happens, we will face tomorrow together. But if you do not rest, there may not be a tomorrow." The woman in white spoke.
"Vittorio..." New Jersey said as she turned to face the Italian battleship, surprised to see her holding a bottle of red wine and two glasses.
"Come, signora, have a drink. The others are already well ahead." Vittorio spoke as New Jersey smiled.
"If only the world's problems could be solved with a nice stiff drink... don 'cha think that'd be nice?" New Jersey asked as she grasped the neck of the wine glass as Vittorio poured her a drink.
"You know... it my intel is correct, we may be expecting visitors." Vittorio said.
"Oh?" New Jersey asked.
"Apparently other cells of resistance have been talking. Apollyon is a name I have heard many times at this point. They say he is slowly moving up the Pacific island chain towards the Sakura. I wonder what's he's like." Vittorio said as she poured her own drink and stood next to New Jersey, sipping her wine in the soft light of a full moon.
"Hmm. I wonder as well." New Jersey said as she joined Vittorio in a spot of midnight drinking.