Isaac turned to make his way back to the Norfolk after talking to Ben, when a shine in the sand caught his eye. The shine was coming from the area where he found Taihou's cubes.
"What's this?" Isaac asked as he knelt down and picked up a silver band from the shattered remains of the box.
"A ring?" Isaac asked as he inspected the band.
"Taihou, a promise maintained." The inside of the band read.
"A wedding band?" Isaac asked as he remembered back to something Nimi had told him almost three months before.
"I didn't care much about our last Kommandant. He focused too much on battles and his relations with the world leaders to care about our wants and needs. Sure he wedded some of the girls, but it wasn't out of love. There were two girls he truly loved. The rest he married to make them happy enough to leave him alone. Akagi and Taihou are two prime examples."
"So… Forrest married Taihou to get her off his back? That's… kinda messed up. Sure she's intense, but that's not a reason to toy with her feelings like that. But it's strange that she didn't mention it to us when she woke up. If she felt anything for him, surely she would have asked about him… and if I recall… didn't Forrest come from the Union? So what was all that talk of the Union being her sworn enemy? Wouldn't Forrest have fixed that?" Isaac found himself asking all kinds of questions upon the discovery of such a simple object.
"This just got even more tedious… I'll have to ask Hood or Helena about it. Akagi is back in Niue continuing to grieve… but that only makes me wonder why. If she too was married to keep her intensity to a minimum… why would she be affected so greatly?" Isaac wondered aloud.
"I can answer that, Commander." Omaha spoke, her voice pulling Isaac from his thoughts.
"Omaha, you doing alright?" Isaac asked.
"Never better." Omaha spoke bluntly, Something was clearly drawing her mind elsewhere.
"Alright… you made your point. Look. I'll mull it over and give you just a bit more time to think about how you feel. I know you told me that you like me, and you're not too hard to look at or talk to either. I feel like we can just relax and talk about anything. But I also get the feeling that you're searching for something more." Isaac spoke.
"If that's what you say. But just know, Commander. I really do like you. You're smart, strong, and loyal to this fleet. You make the best moves possible, but you also don't do it alone. You accept council from anyone and everyone who has more experience than you, a sign of a strong leader. I am in love with you, Isaac Garner. But if you need time to make it work… then I can wait just a little while longer." Omaha spoke as Isaac looked her in the eyes.
"Omaha…" Isaac exclaimed with a sigh.
Isaac pocketed Taihou's ring and revealed a ring with a lime green gemstone.
"Isaac…" Omaha spoke as a healthy blush crossed her face.
Isaac held the ring, waiting for Omaha to react.
Omaha held out her hand, allowing Isaac to slip the ring onto her finger. She let out a gasp as the cool metal graced her delicate finger.
Behind a nearby rock, Pennsylvania smiled. She had put Omaha up to going and speaking with Isaac again after Hood had returned with Taihou.
"Now I won't feel guilty about going after him too, Omaha." Penny whispered softly as she made her way back to the fleet.
Omaha was consumed by emotion and quickly latched herself to Isaac, locking her lips with his on the battle-scorched beach of Palau.
"I've waited… since Tonga… for this very moment. I watched you fight and grow. You have no idea how it feels to watch you put our powers to use… and to look so powerful in doing so. To think that I would finally be here… it makes me so happy." Omaha whispered as she allowed her lips to part from Isaac's.
"We will not be able to consummate this right away… But maybe after we free the Philippines. That will be a night of much celebration, wouldn't you agree?" Isaac asked as he looked into Omaha's eyes.
"This ring is all the proof I need, Commander." Omaha spoke before Isaac lightly grabbed her wrist.
"I am not like Commander Forrest. These rings mean more to me than any of you realize. They are not toys to play with, I hope you understand." Isaac spoke, knowing that Omaha had seen Forrest in his prime.
"You never have been like Commander Forrest, Commander. You're softer, but stronger. You don't throw us into combat without cause. You don't use us as pawns. You don't toy with our emotions… as he did with Taihou and Akagi. I may have suffered in the short term… but it was worth it." Omaha said with a soft smile.
"I hope to live up to your expectations of me then, Omaha." Isaac said as he looked over the beach.
Isaac put on his helmet. Omaha took that moment to place her newly wedded hand in his.
"Squads report, anything more to see?" Isaac asked.
"Nothing on the north end, Sir." Taka spoke.
"Nothing to the south and southeast." Ben reported.
"Nothing to the East but a couple of burned out houses." A sailor spoke.
"We cannot remain here further. We are now on the clock. Michael and his crew are depending on our backup." Isaac reported to the fleet.
"Understood." A fleet full of confirmations flooded the radio.
"Amagi, Azuma, Friedrich, Omaha. Return to your vessels and prepare to depart. Perkins. Take Iowa, Kaga, Kitakaze, and the rest of your task force back to New Guinea." Isaac said as he and Omaha turned to make their way back to the landing craft.
Out of view, hidden by bushes, bodies and shrubs, lay a hidden threat.
"I have Apollyon in my sights. Should I take the shot?" A female voice asked.
"Take him out quickly. I would rather this end before his forces reach us." Tester Beta's voice was heard.
"Understood, lining up the…" The female's voice was cut off.
"Did you really think I wouldn't know that someone was trying to hurt my Kommandant?" Roon's voice was heard behind the woman.
"But… how?" The woman asked.
"You're a siren. A newer model Infiltrator. I saw your kind when I was under Alpha's control. Put simply… I can smell your kind from a mile away." Roon spoke as Shrimpy slowly took form behind her, causing the Siren to slowly reach for her weapon.
"Infiltrator 973, what is your status, did you take the shot?" Tester's voice was heard.
"She's terribly busy at the moment, Tester. But don't worry. We're coming to visit you next, see you soon, 'kay?" Roon asked in a terrifyingly innocent voice.
"Who is this?!" Tester asked as Shrimpy's jaw clamped down on the Infiltrator's arm, causing the siren to scream at the top of her lungs
"My name is unimportant… but my Kommandant sends his regards. He looks very much forward to meeting you on the field of battle… where I can tear you limb from limb for his sake. I hope you can entertain us longer than that bitch XIV." Roon spoke as she closed her hand around the infiltrator's throat, effortlessly crushing it, ceasing her screaming with a meaty crack.
"What's going on here?" Isaac asked as he and Omaha ran towards them, Omaha had her rigging deployed and was ready to fight and protect Isaac.
"This insect was trying to hurt you, Kommandant. I sniffed her out and dealt with her. The very fact that you heard her screams means I failed to do a good job… I apologize for my ineptitude." Roon spoke in her usual tone, one that caused Isaac's spine to tremble after seeing Roon drenched in blood.
"Roon. You did a great job. Come along now. Let's… let's get you cleaned up." Isaac said, his tone causing Roon to look at him.
"Are you scared, Kommandant?" Roon asked.
"I'd be lying if I said this scene isn't intimidating." Isaac said as Shrimpy marched over to Isaac, still covered in blood. Shrimpy gently rested it's head on Isaac's shoulder, making a sound akin to light purring.
"We would never hurt you, Kommandant. And if we did… after all you've done for us… I can't tell you how horrible I would feel." Roon said as she smiled.
Isaac breathed a sigh.
"Roon. Let's get going. You and Shrimpy both need a bath. You're covered in blood." Isaac said, Roon's reassurance sinking deep, boosting his confidence.
"Okay!" Roon said with a cheerful tone as she dropped the corpse of the siren she had brutally killed.
"Roon." Isaac spoke as Omaha escorted him back down to the beach, Roon following close behind.
"Kommandant?" Roon asked.
"Thank you for saving our lives." Isaac said as he turned back to where they had just come from.
"Think nothing of it, Mein Kommandant. I am just doing my job." Roon spoke, her humility causing Isaac to remove his helmet to meet her bloodthirsty gaze.
"Roon. I mean it. If you hadn't done that… I'd be dead. Omaha would be dead. This fleet would have been destroyed without leadership. And without Nimitz here as a secondary Admiral, I do not believe that Perkins could organize you all. So… thank you, Roon." Isaac spoke, remembering a late night talk with Warspite.
"I… You're welcome, Kommandant. I will work hard to continue to meet and exceed your expectations." Roon said in a much softer tone.
Isaac smiled and placed his hand on Roon's head, causing her to jump a bit before he ruffled her hair.
"Alright. The Chinese girls are on their way south. And Enterprise just informed Norfolk that her fighters have re-engaged Jager and the Catalina on his return trip. Let's keep good on your promise, Roon." Isaac said as Roon looked at him.
"Kommandant?" Roon asked.
"Let's go visit Tester." Isaac said with a smile.
"Michael?" Eugen asked as they set up a green tent in the woods on the small island of Camiguin.
"Hmm?" Michael asked as he laid his rifle on the ground before pulling out a pair of Binoculars.
"What happened to you?" Eugen asked softly, keeping her voice down as Atago kept watch on their location nearly 100 yards away.
"My Father and I were transferred to Japan. Japan was an ally of the Fatherland, so we were expected to assist them in their fight against the Americans. That's when we left." Michael spoke quietly as they watched a small fleet of Drones on patrol.
Eugen pouted.
"They never told me… That makes up kind of upset." Eugen said as she scooted closer to Michael. Out of Instinct, Michael wrapped his free arm around Eugen's waist as he continued watching.
Eugen looked down at his arm and blushed a bit.
"M-michael?" Eugen asked as Michael kept watch.
"Hmm?" Michael asked.
Eugen thought for a moment. She had always teased Michael as a young teen, and although his memories didn't allow him to remember it, she could feel the nostalgia coming back.
"Hold me closer… please." Eugen requested.
Michael turned to look at her and blushed almost immediately. His hand had weaseled its way under her shirt and was resting on her midriff while holding her firmly to his side.
"You have to take responsibility for making a woman feel like this, you know." Eugen whispered as she invited herself to scoot into Michael's lap.
Michael stammered a bit as his face grew redder.
Eugen laid back, resting the back of her head on his shoulder.
"Ich Liebe Dich." Eugen whispered before gently nibbling on Michael's ear.
"E-Eugen?!" Michael whispered.
"What will you do?" Eugen whispered as she sent a small message to Atago.
"Keep watch, 'kay?"
Eugen closed the flaps of the tent when Atago replied with a single word.
"Understood."