Isaac laid in his quarters, tended to by Arizona as Shinano and Yume laid sleeping next to him.
"How are you feeling, Commander?" Arizona asked as she removed his bandages to check the bruising on his chest.
"I don't feel as much pain. Between your gift and the armor, the low caliber of Laffey's rigging wasn't able to do much more than break a couple ribs." Isaac responded with a small chuckle, causing a stabbing pain in his chest.
Arizona glared at him.
"Only you could laugh after getting shot, Commander. You're lucky that the caliber of her rigging wasn't too big or that high explosive shell would have done more damage." Arizona said.
"Wait what…?" Isaac asked.
"I just received the report from Norfolk, who has been going over your armor. She said that the damage and scoring matches Laffey's High Explosive shells on a much smaller scale. Meaning she was not firing Armor Piercing. If she had, Norfolk said there was a decent chance that there would have been penetration, and that would have killed you." Arizona said as she flicked Isaac's forehead.
Isaac's laughter went silent as he realized how close he could have been to death.
"I see… uh… let's get a report. What's going on out there?" Isaac asked.
Baltimore poked in.
"Sir." Baltimore started.
"Ah, Baltimore. Come in." Isaac said.
"Thank you sir. I have a report from Atago and the recon team." Baltimore spoke.
"Oh? How did you come across this?" Isaac asked.
"Shinano… did a thing and I was put in a dream with Atago. She sent me the report." Baltimore explained.
"Quite the unorthodox way of reporting… but I'll accept it. What do they have?" Isaac asked.
"A massive fleet has blockaded the channel leading into the main heart of the Philippine islands. Also, there is a massive cultist presence in the island nation, and landing there will prove to be quite the endeavor." Baltimore reported.
"I see. So Michael is well and truly trapped there… I was hoping that wasn't the case. Alright. If you can get back in contact with them, tell them to hide and stay out of sight." Isaac said as Baltimore nodded and turned to leave.
"One more thing. Can you send for Odin? I'd like to get a report from her in regards to the fleet." Isaac said.
"Yes sir." Baltimore said as she called for Odin using her rigging.
Several minutes later, Odin poked her head in.
"Can't leave you unattended, can I?" Odin asked with a sigh.
"Odin. What's going on out there?" Isaac asked.
"The fleet is moving in formation. We have closed to within 550 miles of the Philippines… We can launch aircraft to begin the invasion." Odin said.
Isaac thought about it.
"Are our carriers ready? Did Jager return? I'd like for him to assist if able." Isaac said.
"Jager has been picked up on radar. He is within 50 miles of the fleet. I would recommend allowing him to rest. He has flown now for over 1000 miles." Odin spoke.
"I see. Then place Richthofen in charge of the assault. Enterprise I will need to speak with." Isaac said.
"I can put her on the line now while we talk." Odin said.
"Please do. I need her to clarify something." Isaac said.
"Understood." Odin replied as Isaac could hear Enterprise's voice.
"Vice Commander? What can I do for you?" Enterprise asked.
"I am here with the Commander. He has a few questions for you." Odin replied.
"I see. Can he hear me?" Enterprise asked.
"He can." Odin said as she sat next to Isaac on his bed.
"Enterprise?" Isaac asked.
"Commander." Enterprise spoke with steel in her tone, as if she snapped to attention at his voice.
Isaac laughed a bit.
"At ease. I just wish to know about your AA defenses." Isaac said.
"I see. What did you wish to know?" Enterprise asked.
"How does it work?" Isaac asked.
"It relies on my radar suite." Enterprise spoke shortly.
"Alright, so are you able to discern friend from foe when you are not with your vessel?" Isaac asked.
"Easily." Enterprise spoke.
"I see. And if an enemy comes within range of those guns, they'll fire?" Isaac asked.
"Yes. Any target within range deemed as a threat will be fired upon and destroyed." Enterprise explained.
"I see. Thank you Enterprise." Isaac said as Odn cut the line.
"Well?" Odin asked.
"I would like Enterprise to lead the assault now. However, she shall defer to Richthofen should things require it. Eagle, Illustrious, Vengeance, Zeppelin, and Shinano will follow them with their own air forces." Isaac said.
"So we're sending Enterprise and Richthofen out with their aircraft?" Odin asked.
"I'd prefer to keep them here, but they seem to perform better when they are with their planes." Isaac said.
"I see. Well, they'll have plenty of backup. So I can see how you'd be so confident." Odin weighed the options.
"Either way, I'd like to attempt to soften their defenses. And it would give us better intel when we use that in conjunction with what Baltimore reported." Isaac said.
"A fleet being used to block our entrance to the Island chain. I guess a surprise assault from the air would be the best course of action." Odin said as she nodded.
"Alright. I'll give the order." Odin said as she laid a gentle kiss on Isaac's cheek before standing up.
"What're our odds?" Isaac asked.
"Well… remembering Baltimore's report… this fleet is on par with the fleet used to escort Hood. Which stands to reason that there may be some of those shielded ships in play. We have… created the munitions that you were mumbling about on my vessel in the aftermath of the Hood's detonation. So we may be able to punch through." Odin said.
Isaac's heart dropped.
"You what?" Isaac asked.
"Vengeance saw one of your schematics when she was over here last time. She saw your plans for weapons utilizing the Wisdom Dust. And she developed them… and produced a small armory of them." Odin said.
"And you didn't stop her?!" Isaac yelled as he tried to sit up, only to cause another wave of sharp pain. Arizona guided him gently back to the bed sheets.
"I apologize… but in my defense… we cannot hope to win this war by remaining cautious. War is hell, a perfect machine of death and destruction. The best we can do is try to minimize casualties for us, and for the civilian population. And if it takes sacrificing a couple of people for the greater good… then I say we make use of these weapons, especially since the bombers we used in Australia are no longer available to us." Odin said, a sick expression crossing her face as she realized what she was saying.
"Odin… we swore… Those weapons were to be a last resort." Isaac said.
"I understand… but what course of action would you have us take in the face of those shielded ships? If they soak up our attack, our efforts to take the Philippines will be wasted. As I see it, we need to stand ready to strike hard and with ruthless efficiency. Should our forces encounter those ships and not be armed to the 9s… we may very well taste defeat before we even set foot on the beaches." Odin countered.
Isaac thought. His thoughts now consumed with the possibility of using untested weapons on a populated area.
Odin walked over to the empty side of the bed where she could get in contact with Isaac.
"Isaac, my love. As your vice commander… I see no other choice. But as your lover… I swear on my life… I will carry this burden with you. The lives this will end… you will not carry that torment alone. I find myself recoiling at the thought of using these weapons, but this is the same port that sent those shielded ships before. We cannot be hopeful that they don't have more." Odin said as she held his hand.
"It makes it worse that we can't help them without the use of this weapon. Whose son or daughter will I kill to liberate the Philippines? Who will be left without a mother or father? A brother or sister obliterated in a column of fire. A child dying slowly as the fallout rains down." Isaac looked up at the ceiling as he poured his thoughts into the room.
"Why don't we draw them out?" Arizona asked.
Odin and Isaac snapped their necks to look at her.
"Explain." Odin said.
"Well… we use our planes to goad the fleet away from the shore. At least the shielded ones. If they are our only problem… then if we can pull them out, we can use the Wisdom dust weapons to greater effect without risking the population to such a devastating degree." Arizona said.
Isaac scratched his head.
"Can we do that?" Isaac asked.
"I can relay the order. We can see what becomes of it." Odin said.
"Restrict the use of Wisdom dust weaponry until we can draw the targets out. Keep them on Vengeance's aircraft. She has the maneuverability to keep those planes safe. If so much as a single wisdom dust bomb is released, we need to be sure that it affects the population as little as possible." Isaac demanded.
"I understand, My love." Odin said as she kissed Isaac again before leaving.
Planes appeared on every flight deck in the fleet, save Yume's vessel.
"Alright everyone, can you hear me?" Enterprise asked as she stood on the flight deck of her vessel as Skyraiders flooded the flight deck.
Every carrier in the fleet, save Shinano and Yume, responded, but the Zero's on Shinano's flight deck told Enterprise that she was listening.
"Alright. Vengeance you have special orders from the Commander. Your fighters are to carry… Wisdom Dust bombs?" Enterprise asked as Richthofen and the others froze.
"What is the commander thinking?!" Eagle cried.
"I don't know. But those are his orders. He said that we are not to use the wisdom dust unless we manage to draw out the enemy fleet with this attack. According to the Commander, using those weapons near the human population will result in mass civilian casualties. So our mission is to soften the defenses with conventional weaponry. If we draw the enemy fleet into open water, we can lay into them with the Wisdom dust weaponry." Enterprise said.
The carriers looked among each other before looking towards the Norfolk.
"This just got even more serious." Richthofen said as she remembered the explosion of the Hood.
"Enough chit-chat. It's time to head out." Enterprise said as the sound of aircraft engines filled the fleet.