"We're only three miles out from the main Island. Flood the well deck and get the men loaded." Taka ordered as sirens began to blare on the Japanese transport ship, aptly renamed the Hatarakisha, which Taka explained to Isaac as meaning 'Hardworking'
"Taka, hold that! Enemy planes inbound." Baltimore spoke as her AA compliment lit up the skies over their approach. Bremerton joined the fight as her AA focused down several Siren Aircraft that were leading in several land based bombers.
"Commander. Bombers have launched, we need Carrier support." Baltimore reported.
"I understand." Isaac's voice came over her radio.
"Richthofen. Man your planes. We need to get in there to support the landing. Shinano, please assist in that endeavor." Isaac ordered as BF-109's shimmered to life on the Richthofen's flight deck. Zeros quickly launched from the Shinano and flew towards the designated landing zone to aid in repelling the bombers.
"U-47, this is Isaac, do you copy?" Isaac asked.
"I hear you loud and clear, Kommandant." U-47 whispered.
"Drop your team. There's an airfield that we need to bring down before we can safely land. Brief Jager and get them landed." Isaac ordered.
"Understood, Kommandant." U-47 said as she cut the line.
"Admiral, What are we trying to do here? We've split the fleet." Michael asked.
"The Battleships are tending to the land emplacements around the inside of the bay here. We eliminate those, we can move unabated should Tester get squirrely. I have concentrated our firepower around the carriers that have begun moving towards the center of the bay to provide cover for this entire operation. And the cruisers will put down these suicide boats while the Baltimore class escorts the Hatarakisha. We hit them everywhere at once so they can't organize effectively." Isaac explained.
"What should I do then?" Michael asked.
"Take Eugen, Atago, and Azuma and join up with Baltimore. They're about to get peppered over there, so while we have air advantage, get over there and support the landing. I'll come with the rest of the fleet to join once I take out the suicide boat docks. Just make sure our men make it ashore. Then we can discuss setting up a forward operating camp." Isaac said as Michael nodded and ran from the bridge of the Norfolk.
"We're going up. Prepare to disembark." U-47 said softly as she walked over to Wilhelm.
"What do you have for us?" Wilhelm asked as he knelt down to U-47's eye level.
"Kommandant has ordered your team to insert and find an airfield inland. Once you find it, you are to either capture it, or destroy it." U-47 said.
"I'm assuming you have something to help us accomplish this task?" Wilhelm asked.
"I don't, But I do have shells for my deck gun. Maybe if you find a fuel depot, you can use them to detonate the fuel supply." U-47 suggested.
"I like the way you think, little one. We'll take whatever you can spare." Wilhelm said as U-47 nodded and ran into the depths of her vessel.
"Sir. This may sound like cowardice… but how the hell are we supposed to take an airfield when there's only twenty of us?" One of the men asked as he walked over to Wilhelm.
"Very carefully. That's how. We don't take any unneeded risk. And nobody plays the hero. We work as a team, and keep it tight. Someone goes down, we get them to cover and eliminate the enemy." Wilhelm said as he reloaded his STG-44 before slinging it over his back.
U-47 returned several minutes later carrying three canvas bags, each one carrying a bundle of seven Eighty-eight millimeter shells, tied together in such a way that the center shell could act as a detonator, thus causing the outer six to explode.
"It's crude… but since I was unaware that we were doing demolition, I didn't bother to ask for explosives. It will work, right?" Wilhelm asked.
"Yes. I led a fuse into the center shell. If you have a lighter, you can light the fuse and the entire bundle should produce enough explosive power to destroy a fuel tank." U-47 explained.
"Thank the powers that be for clear skies today." Wilhelm said as he passed the three bags to some of his men.
"Alright. Briefing time. While U-47 surfaces for us, I'll explain the game plan. We have been tasked with disrupting the enemy bomber support by capturing or destroying the airfield from which they are launching. These makeshift bombs will assist in the destruction of fuel depots or bomb storage. We kill anyone defending these airfields. And unfortunately… even if they surrender, the Kommandant has given me strict orders to execute them. These cultists do not have any shame, and will try to kill us even after issuing their own surrender. They are not to be taken alive. Anyone caught trying to take prisoners during this operation, will be subject to discipline pending my report to the Kommandant." Wilhelm said seriously, something acknowledged by everyone present despite the voice changing mask.
"If anyone has any reservations about killing people who surrender… remove your helmet and remain on the submarine. I will not take those who are unwilling to perform their duty." Wilhelm said as he looked at the masks of all twenty men present. When nobody responded, Wilhelm spoke again.
"Then I expect you all to act the moment an order is given. Take no prisoners. Act without mercy. We are Der Schwarzer Tod. Our legacy will be written today." Wilhelm said as several cheers came from the group in front of him.
"We have surfaced, Jager. I managed to find some rocks on the beach in front of us. If you move quickly, you can avoid detection." U-47 said as she opened the hatch.
"Thanks, little one." Wilhelm said as he ruffled U-47's hair.
"Just doing my duty, Sir." U-47 said softly as she blushed lightly.
"And you did it well. Return to the Kommandant to see if he has another task for you." Wilhelm said as Bismarck walked up to her.
"Lord Bismarck?! How did I not notice you coming aboard?!" U-47 cried.
"Rest easy, 47. I wanted you to be at ease, so I remained hidden within your captain's quarters. I already understand the mission. However… After seeing the Kommandant's reaction to some of the horrors of war, I shall have to look after you, specifically, Wilhelm." Bismarck said as she stood next to Wilhelm.
"I am a soldier, Frau Bismarck. I am not sensitive to the horrors of war. I will do my duty." Wilhelm said, causing a worried sigh to exit Bismarck's lips.
"I will still watch over you, my lost pilot." Bismarck said as she exited the submarine once the last man from Wilhelm's group left.
"You are very special to Lord Bismarck. Please be careful. I would hate to see her… or Lady Tirpitz become saddened once more." U-47 said softly before looking at Wilhelm.
"I shall keep that in mind." Wilhelm said as he exited the sub onto the beach.
"I can see them." Cole said as he looked through a pair of binoculars on the bridge of the Brooklyn.
"I agree. That looks to be a US task fleet." T said.
"That's Ranger. Which means we're back on track for Gibraltar." Brooklyn said as she activated her radio.
"Ranger. This is Brooklyn." Brooklyn said.
"This is Ranger. I hear you loud and clear Brooklyn. What's up?" Ranger asked.
"Requesting permission to rejoin the formation." Brooklyn said.
"Granted. Join up behind Washington and Wichita. Vittorio Veneto has decided to meet us at the mouth of the Mediterranean. So we should be meeting up with her in a few hours." Ranger said.
"Understood. What about Matchless?" Brooklyn asked.
"She can join in beside Graf Spee." Ranger said as she cut the line.
"She seems upset." Cole said.
"Spee has been out of commission since she joined up with us. She used too much of her available energy to tow the decimated hull of the Missouri. On top of that… the incident with Benson put everyone down." Brooklyn explained.
"Ah. I see." Cole said as Brooklyn joined Ranger's fleet, only to be boarded by Wichita immediately after falling in.
"Who is that?" Cole asked.
"Heavy Cruiser Wichita. One of the more abrasive girls in this little fleet… beaten only by Washington." Brooklyn said as Wichita opened the door to the bridge and ran to Brooklyn.
"Brook!" Wichita said as she embraced the light cruiser.
"Yes. It's me, Wichita." Brooklyn said softly.
"Hey. I heard from Ranger… don't put yourself down so much, Brook. There was nothing any one of us could have done." Wichita said.
"I know… but still. Benson was my friend. It hurts knowing that I couldn't save her." Brooklyn said.
Wichita looked at Cole.
"And who's your new stud muffin?" Wichita asked shamelessly.
Brooklyn blushed heavily.
"I'm not…" Cole started but was interrupted by Brooklyn.
"His name is Cole. He's a Sergeant in the 82nd Airborne unit. I… saved him and his men from a sunken Submarine named I-25" Brooklyn said as she squirmed in place for a moment.
Cole turned to see this and realized how she felt even more than he did before.
"The name is Cole. Pleasure to meet you, Miss Wichita."