"Another one?" Shinano asked softly.

"Benson has been killed following a revolt among the Bermuda refugees." Isaac said as both he and Shinano heard a bottle shatter behind them.

Isaac turned immediately to see Laffey standing behind them, her small hands trembling as her tired eyes tried to focus on Isaac.

"Laffey?" Isaac asked as he walked over to her.

"Are you alright?" Isaac asked.

Laffey turned to look at her vessel, which had pulled up next to the Norfolk in formation. Isaac looked as well and his mind clicked.

"You're a Benson class destroyer…" Isaac whispered, realizing what she had heard.

"Laffey's sister… is dead?" Laffey asked.

"I…" Isaac tried.

"Commander… is Laffey's sister gone?" Laffey asked as a small tear made its way down her cheek.

Isaac realized that hiding the truth would do more harm then good.

"Benson… I'm assuming your older sister… had her damage control center sabotaged in a Cultist attack on her fleet. The report states that she then took sufficient damage to prevent her from healing or even treating her injuries, even with Akashi there to help." Isaac said as Laffey looked him in the eyes.

"Cultists?" Laffey asked.

"Humans who have devoted themselves to fighting for the Sirens. They see the Sirens as gods, ones that are here to… deliver humanity to salvation." Isaac said softly.

"Laffey's sister… died for that?" Laffey asked.

Isaac felt a knot form in his stomach.

"Unfortunately… that seems to be the case, little one." Isaac said.

"Laffey… needs a drink." Laffey spoke softly. Isaac sniffed the air and smelled booze wafting from her breath.

"It smells like you've been drinking all day, Laffey." Isaac said.

"Laffey. Needs. A. Drink. Commander." The lapine destroyer ground out.

"Right… Laffey, come with me, please." Isaac said as he walked towards the superstructure of the Norfolk.

Laffey followed quietly. Isaac could sense her unease.

"Isaac." Zero said when he walked in, Laffey glared at Zero the moment she saw her.

"Zero?" Isaac asked.

"I received another report through a battleship known as New Jersey. Shall I relay it to you?" Zero asked.

"Please do." Isaac requested.

"You killed Laffey's Sister." Laffey ground out as she produced her rigging and pointed it at Zero.

"Laffey! Stand down!" Isaac said as he reached for her wrist.

"Shut it, Commander! You have a Siren! Are you a cultist too?!" Laffey yelled as she turned her guns on Isaac.

"Laffey!" Norfolk yelled as she too produced her rigging and pointed it at Laffey.

"The cultists killed Laffey's sister!" Laffey screamed as she opened fire with her rigging, hitting Isaac square in the chest, sending him flying into the control panel on the bridge.

Zero's face twisted as she saw two massive dents on Isaac's armor where the small caliber shells had impacted.

"I can tell from here that he has several broken ribs. Restraining her would be the most effective option." Zero said as she appeared next to Isaac, who remained on the ground.

"Laffey, stand down!" Norfolk spoke as Laffey turned and shot at her as well. Several hexagonal shields blocked the shells from impacting Norfolk as she approached Laffey and clamped down on her wrists, effectively immobilizing the smaller Kansen.

"Let me go!" Laffey cried.

Zero appeared directly in front of Laffey.

"DD-459, designation, Laffey. Benson class Destroyer of the Eagle Union. I see now. You're upset due to the news coming from the Atlantic, where DD-421, Designation Benson, perished." Zero said.

"Not helping, Zero!" Norfolk yelled as she struggled with Laffey.

"You Sirens killed her!" Laffey yelled.

Zero looked at the destroyer.

"Perhaps you should hear my new report, DD-459." Zero spoke coldly as the lights on the bridge dimmed sharply, leaving only the glow of the instruments and Zero's projection to illuminate the room.

"Zero, what the hell is this?!" Norfolk cried as Laffey fell back, the fear suddenly overtaking the anger.

"This vessel is made almost entirely with Siren technology. Being hardwired in has its benefits… like being able to influence the ship as I see fit. Hell, I could even disable your rigging if I so chose to." Zero spoke, earning a skeptical look from Norfolk. The threat of having her rigging disabled, however, scared Laffey enough to force her into a corner.

"I would suggest binding her until she is calm enough to listen. She is in no state to hear this report. I will summon Alice to assist Isaac." Zero said as she disappeared from the bridge. Moments later, the lights returned to normal.

"What's going on here?" Shinano asked as she entered with Yume in her arms. A quick scan of the room had her walking over to Isaac's side and kneeling down to allow Yume to see him.

"Laffey took the news of her sister's death quite… poorly. And she, along with most of the fleet, are unaware that Zero is now aboard this ship as my assistant. She thought Isaac, for some reason, was a Siren cultist and shot him with her rigging. Zero said he may have a few broken ribs." Norfolk spoke, still trying to process how Zero took over her ship in such a manner.

"I see." Shinano said as she looked down at Isaac and caressed his cheek.

"He is still breathing. This much I can ascertain." Shinano said as Isaac stirred.

"Ow…" Isaac spoke hoarsely.

"Isaac, try not to move. You've been shot." Shinano said softly.

"Shot?" Isaac asked as he slowly tried to move his arms to check himself, only to be met with pain.

"I can't move my arms without pain." Isaac said as Alice ran onto the bridge.

"Good lord! Look at the dents in that armor. Had you not been wearing that… you'd be a dead man." Alice said as she quickly found the seams in Isaac's armor plating and began removing it.

"You've gotten quick at removing this stuff." Isaac said with a chuckle, causing further pain and a coughing fit.

"Well, when the Commander refuses to go a month without injuring himself. I have to be skilled at making sure I can remove his clothing to assess his wounds." Alice said with a snide smile.

"Yeah yeah. This time though it wasn't my fault… I think." Isaac said.

"Laffey… Laffey is sorry. Laffey shot the Commander…" Laffey spoke as she tried to come to terms with everything before devolving into a bawling mess.

"Laffey." Isaac said.

"Laffey… will accept… any punishment." Laffey said softly through her tears.

"I won't punish you. But you must calm down. I'd never betray any of you like that." Isaac said as Arizona came running onto the bridge.

"I came as soon as I could. Oh my. Commander, are you alright?" Arizona asked as Alice handed her the gauze.

"Broken ribs. Not much we can do besides ice it for the pain. His breathing sounds fine. And from where I am sitting I can't feel any internal injuries." Alice said.

"Not much we can do for that, Alice." Arizona said as she began wrapping the long band of Gauze around Isaac's chest.

"Norfolk, we may need to implement the next iteration of changes to the suit." Zero said.

"Next iteration?" Isaac asked.

"Yes. I had another design stowed away. It sacrifices some of the comfort of your usual suit, such as climate regulation, for more durable armor. The armor here protected you from death, but your injuries could have been further reduced with this iteration." Zero said.

"I see. I think I'd just like the armor repaired. This iteration is just fine for me, especially since we will be heading North after this part of the campaign. It's only going to get colder. Hopefully Gangut can help the fleet with Winterization." Isaac said.

Arizona lightly tapped Isaac's shoulder, indicating that he could move.

"Now that things have kind of settled down… Zero, the report?" Isaac asked.

"Yes. New Jersey has elaborated further on the death of Benson. Apparently, her cube was in fact left behind, meaning she can be brought back. The issue is… the cube has been damaged in a way that, without a sister ship or a complete data transfer, cannot be fixed… or so the damage report describes." Zero said.

"What could a sister ship do?" Isaac asked.

"Well, like we did with Warspite… we could cannibalize a sister ship's cube to repair Benson's cube." Zero said.

"No. I refuse to sacrifice another girl like that." Isaac said.

Suddenly, Zero held up a finger.

"What is it?" Isaac asked.

"DD-459. Your designation is Laffey as I previously stated, correct?" Zero asked.

Laffey nodded.

"Well… we can do something using another of the destroyers in this fleet." Zero said.

"Oh?" Isaac asked.

"DD-692. Designation Allen M. Sumner of the Allen M. Sumner class. She could prove useful." Zero said.

"How so?" Isaac asked.

Zero looked at Isaac.

"You have to trust me. This may be the only way to save Benson's cube. Laffey receives an upgrade. Benson gets to live. It's a win-win." Zero spoke.

"Proof?" Isaac asked.

"In 99.7% of scenarios, DD-724, Designation... Laffey exists." Zero said as she looked at Laffey.

"I see. Then I guess we can give it a go… Laffey, are you willing to give up your hull… and possibly your cube for your sister?" Isaac asked.

Laffey nodded without hesitation.

"Laffey wants to help Benson." Laffey said as she looked at Isaac, then down at the bindings on his chest.

Isaac followed her gaze.

"I won't force you. But if that's your choice, then I ask that you transfer to the Vengeance and tell her the details, Zero." Isaac said.

"I cannot leave the Norfolk without going through your suit or helmet." Zero said.

Isaac looked at Laffey and handed her his helmet.

"Take that and Zero over to Vengeance. We need to figure the details of this out." Isaac said.

"But…" Laffey tried.

"You two need to get better acquainted. Shooting me for believing I'm a cultist is not alright. Had I not been wearing this armor, you would have killed me. Take this as your punishment. I'm sure Zero would love to explain how much of a cultist I am not." Isaac said.

Zero nodded with his statement.

"I surrendered to this fleet under fear of death… I am grateful for this fate." Zero said, causing the look on Laffey's face to soften.

Laffey took the helmet and placed it on her head.

Isaac couldn't help but laugh at the sight.

"I think that helmet is just a little bit big on you, Laffey." Isaac said, clutching his ribs as he laughed.

Laffey left, taking the projection of Zero with her.

"How far are we?" Isaac asked.

"600 miles and closing. Jager should be due back by tonight." Norfolk said.

"Good. Keep the fleet moving… I'm going to get some rest." Isaac said as Arizona helped him to his feet.

"Alright, Commander. Let's get you off to bed." Arizona said as she, Shinano and Norfolk all followed Isaac towards his quarters.