"Come. I'm well enough to move, I believe… I may need a bit of help though." Wilhelm said as he sat up with aid from Tirpitz.
"Where are we going?" Bismarck asked.
"To see the Kommandant. He has sent for us, has he not?" Wilhelm asked.
"He did, but are you sure you want to leave so soon?" Tirpitz asked.
"What do you mean?" Wilhelm asked.
Bismarck and Tirpitz blushed in tandem.
"Well… My time with Illustrious aside… I haven't taken a husband. I'm sure my sister is the same." Tirpitz said.
Wilhelm put the pieces together immediately.
"As much as the thought intrigues me, we have too little time at the moment to enjoy it to the fullest. Find me once this battle is won. I'll make up for having to lie to you both for so long." Wilhelm said as he looked around the medical bay, finding a German made gas mask canister hanging on the wall. Taking the mask from it's canister, he placed the mask on his head, tightening it to fit.
"Until I get my usual mask fixed, this will have to do." Wilhelm said as Bismarck approached him.
"Wilhelm? Why do you cover your face?" Bismarck asked.
"You saw my eye. It's an unsightly thing. That, and the final order I received from Wehrmacht was to allow none to see my face. And while I no longer serve the Fuhrer or his military, it is a rule I have taken to heart. I'd rather nobody I don't trust see this face." Wilhelm said as Bismarck offered her shoulder for him to lean on.
"I see. A smart move if I do say so myself." Tirpitz said as the three of them departed the medical bay.
"Range to target?" Isaac ordered.
"Thirty miles. Word from the carriers is that Richthofen's plane was shot down, however, she and her rigging are wreaking havoc on the other ships blocking our way. Enterprise has managed to remain in the air and is still reporting the fleet composition. Only three AA cruisers remain. All fifteen super battleships are in play, however, they are being drawn out slowly due to the lack of aircraft in the area. The remaining forces are as follows: Seven Battleships, Twelve Carriers, and Twenty Destroyers remain in the channel mouth. As well as coastal artillery guns and land based AA complexes. We have decided against sending more carrier born fighters in to allow the super battleships to move without hunkering down behind their shields." Odin reported.
"I see. This is working well within parameters. What of Heinrich?" Isaac asked.
"We have just entered radio range, however, it is fuzzy since we have islands in the way. But it seems like Michael has assumed command of all three heavy cruisers and is working his way around some of the inner islands, clearing out gun emplacements and AA nests." Odin spoke, keeping a hand to her ear to listen in on the radio chatter.
"And Vengeance? What of both of her duties?" Isaac asked.
"Her aircraft are maintaining position in a mass of clouds over the enemy fleet. She had been told to remain there until we can clear most of the island from the fallout zone. As for her work with Laffey… it has gotten under way. She sent a report that both Allen Sumner and Laffey have been put under for the procedure." Odin said.
"Zero, you there?" Isaac asked.
Zero's voice came through the Norfolk's radio
"Isaac?" Zero asked.
"Run the procedure that Vengeance is doing by me again." Isaac requested.
"Understood. Well, as it stands. Allen Sumner is the basis for Laffey's new hull. So we have to produce a cube that matches hers and then infuse Laffey into the new cube. Both of them have been put under to ease this process." Zero explained.
"So you are copying the Kansen form of Laffey onto a cube made to reflect the hull of the Allen M. Sumner class?" Isaac queried in an attempt to understand completely.
"Yes. So when this procedure succeeds, Laffey's hull will undergo a change to match her new cube and her old cube will be stored safely until we can send it over to Gibraltar." Zero said.
"I understand now. Please proceed. I will have Belfast pick up the duties of our destroyers for the moment since she can keep pace with Nimi." Isaac said as Odin tapped his shoulder.
"We have entered within twenty-five miles of the enemy fleet. Friedrich and our other front line battleships will commence fire on your orders, Kommandant." Odin said.
"Twenty-five miles, huh?" Isaac asked as he tapped a button on his deck, connecting his radio receiver to the entire fleet.
"Alrighty, girls. The enemy looms before us. Carriers, I want two squadrons from every carrier in the air to provide advancing cover for this fleet. Not a single aircraft gets through. Enterprise reports twelve enemy carriers, but we also must be wary of captured airstrips on the islands. Bombers, and land-based fighters could make an appearance here. We will shut them down either way. Radar has picked up the enemy forces directly in front of us. Everyone should see them. With that said… Commence the attack, all ships within firing range of the enemy, GIVE THEM HELL!" Isaac ordered as the thundering of battleship cannons sounded off within the fleet.
A knock came to the door a few seconds after the first salvo.
"Come in." Isaac said, muting his end of the radio.
"Jager reporting for duty." Wilhelm said as Bismarck and Tirpitz stood at his side.
"I see white behind one of those lenses, Jager. Did you get hit in the eye?" Isaac asked.
"I did sir, but it is no big deal. I can still fight." Wilhelm said.
"I understand. However, I will not risk one of my best pilots by sending you out with only one functioning eye." Isaac said.
"I see. So why am I here, Kommandant?" Wilhelm asked.
"You are not going to be flying, is what I meant to say." Isaac said.
"You have something else in mind, Kommandant?" Wilhelm asked.
"Yes. How is your aim?" Isaac asked.
"Precise and accurate. I hit what I aim for." Wilhelm said coldly.
"Excellent. I am aware of the concept of Shock troopers and how it was used within Germany. I have had Taka and his men specially train an elite group of soldiers from the men we conscripted from Australia. And while a few of these men may have sorted pasts… I believe you can keep them in line. I want you to take U-47 along with these men and infiltrate Cebu ahead of the landing force. I will give you all orders on when to make your move, as I do not wish to leave you and your forces alone on that island. But when the order is given, I want the cultists, any gun emplacements, AA nests, and bunkers cleared out. Keep civilian casualties to a minimum, but leave no cultists alive. If you suspect anyone, terminate them with extreme prejudice." Isaac said coldly, earning him a grave look from Odin.
"Kommandant. Are you sure?" Odin asked.
"War isn't pretty. And this is Tester we're up against. The same one who sent Hood to kill us after loading her broken hull to the brim with Wisdom dust. If anyone here is going to play dirty, it's her. I will not be made a fool of by remaining civil in a war that is anything but." Isaac said.
"Kommandant. I have a request." Bismarck said.
"I'll hear it." Isaac said.
"I would like to accompany Jager on this mission." Bismarck said.
"Are you going to be able to maintain fire coverage?" Isaac asked.
"A simple task." Bismarck spoke proudly.
"There it is. That's the pride I've been looking for." Isaac whispered.
"I'll allow it. But Tirpitz, you must remain here. If something should go wrong with Bismarck's hull. I would like your input on how to best repair it, so you'll need to be here to guide the bulins." Isaac said.
"I understand, Kommandant." Tirptiz said as Isaac looked back at Wilhelm.
"You think you can do it, Jager?" Isaac asked.
"I was chosen to fly after mastering the art of ground combat. I am more than ready to receive this task." Wilhelm said.
"Excellent. Norfolk, bring them out." Isaac said as Norfolk appeared at the front of a group of twenty or so men, clad in black clothes and an odd vest covering the majority of their chests.
"I just finished fitting them out, Isaac." Norfolk said as she produced a black suit, vest and special helmet for Wilhelm.
"What is this?" Wilhelm asked as he picked up the bodysuit.
"Norfolk describes it as a knife resistant bodysuit. Supposedly it is made to withstand slashing attacks from knives." Isaac explained.
"And the vest?" Wilhelm asked.
"A scaled down version of my battle armor. It is meant to protect your vital organs from anything up to and including the plasma fire emitted by Oceana Class sirens. That includes large caliber rifle and handgun fire." Isaac explained, much to Bismarck and Wilhelm's surprise.
"And the Helmet?" Wilhelm asked.
"It was made special for you." Norfolk spoke up.
"How so?" Wilhelm asked.
"It consists of an armored shell, capable of withstanding several pistol caliber rounds to the face shield. It also incorporates a gas mask through these filters on the side. I figured that since you wear a gas mask all the time, that toxins are an abnormal fear of yours, so I made sure to test it against everything I could concoct. It is also capable of sorting out wisdom dust from the air. And since this bodysuit is made of durable material enhanced with siren plating, it should be enough to keep your skin from being compromised by any errant clouds of wisdom dust as well." Norfolk explained.
"Not even Germany had this level of engineering… how did you…" Wilhelm asked as he looked at Isaac.
"I merely adopted the role of Admiral once I met these girls. They taught me how to lead a fleet. I was a mechanic and an engineer." Isaac said.
"To think… we played an enemy to such a terrifying adversary." Wilhelm said as he looked around.
Isaac pushed a button on his desk, opening the closet for Wilhelm to change.
"Go get changed. You and your men are due on U-47 in a few minutes." Isaac said as Wilhelm nodded.
Several minutes later, Wilhelm appeared, wearing his new suit.
"It looks good. How is the fit?" Isaac asked.
"It fits, Kommandant." Wilhelm spoke, his voice distorted by the voice modifier in the mask.
"Why do I sound like this?" Wilhelm asked.
"So nobody will be able to identify you. Plain and simple. This is a potentially ugly operation. So keeping everyone from knowing that you carried it out would maintain your good standing in the eyes of those who know you." Isaac explained.
"You truly have thought of everything, haven't you?" Wilhelm asked as Isaac smiled before producing a wooden box, garnished with golden edges and steel locks.
"Something I received from Bismarck after we saved U-556. I am sure you can put it to good use." Isaac said as Wilhelm opened the case, revealing a pristine STG-44 with black wood furniture.
Wilhelm picked it up and tested it. The bolt moved easily, as if the action itself was crafted perfectly.
"I have never held such a well maintained weapon." Wilhelm said as he slung the rifle over his shoulder.
"I made sure to maintain it properly. It should not fail you." Isaac said.
"And these are my men?" Wilhelm asked.
"They are. They have been told to follow your every order. Do with them as the mission dictates." Isaac said as U-47's voice came over the radio.
"I have surfaced, Kommandant. Ready to receive the strike team." U-47 whispered.
"You heard her. Get moving." Isaac said as Wilhelm gave him a solid salute with a fist over his heart.
"Wir werden nicht scheitern!" Wilhelm spoke as the other troops snapped to attention. The black masks and Wilhelm's helmet sending chills down Isaac's spine.
"Commence the operation!" Isaac spoke, standing and returning the salute.