Isaac refused to let go until he was certain she would not disappear the moment he did so.
"Isaac… I have already tried returning to my world. It hasn't worked thus far. And upon hearing stories from the people of Australia, that you were alive here… I decided then and there that I did not want to leave." Elizabeth spoke softly, giving Isaac the needed courage to release her from his hold.
Stepping back, Isaac managed to finally wipe his eyes and get a good look at his newest Carrier.
Elizabeth stood at just below his height, somewhere around five foot eleven. Her long golden hair still held the twin drills in the front as Isaac had grown accustomed to. The hair ended just above her lower back and was held in place by the crown that sat properly on her head. The biggest change was the size of her bust, which had grown considerably, allowing her twin drills to rest lightly upon it. Her clothing reminded Isaac of what his own Elizabeth used to wear, her outfit consisting of a tight-fitting strapless dress with a pair of stockings adorning her legs. The biggest addition to her outfit came in the form of a Union Jack that was attached to a small mantle that crossed her shoulders.
Isaac chuckled a bit as he looked to the ceiling.
"What's so funny?" Elizabeth asked.
"It's nothing… I just never thought I'd see the day where Lizzy finally grew up. It's… reassuring." Isaac said as he allowed himself to fall back into his chair.
"Isaac, are you going to be okay?" Norfolk asked softly.
"I am… Call for the Royal Navy ships we have here. Especially Warspite." Isaac said as he turned to the windows.
"What about Odin? She has requested your presence at the front. She wishes to make the final push into the town center." Norfolk asked.
"What are our losses?" Isaac asked.
"We are maintaining ground for the moment, but as I said before, there have been several Mirror Sea's opened within the town. We must assume that there are enemy reinforcements. We can't waste too much more time. Having you away from the battlefield has halted our Advance and given the enemy a chance to dig in further." Norfolk said.
"I guess a reunion will have to wait." Isaac said as another voice made itself known.
"The others already know, Master." Belfast spoke as she turned her attention to Elizabeth and went to kneel.
"Please do not kneel to me, Belfast. I am not your Queen, not anymore." Elizabeth spoke softly.
"I am sure Lady Warspite will forgive me, your Majesty." Belfast spoke as she knelt on one knee and bowed her head.
"It is good to see you alive and well… even if you are not the Queen Elizabeth I know." Belfast spoke as a single tear hit the floor.
"Bel…" Elizabeth spoke softly as she went over to the cruiser and knelt down on both knees to get down to her level.
"It is very nice to see you. I am happy to see you in action once more, instead of visiting you on your vessel, stuck in London Harbor." Elizabeth spoke as she hugged the light cruiser.
Belfast looked up at Elizabeth with a look of confusion.
"Ah… I guess you really wouldn't know. It is of no importance at this time. I'll tell you later." Elizabeth said as she stood.
Isaac smiled seeing Belfast shake off the confusion and smile genuinely.
"Alright. I'm sure we will have plenty to talk about once this battle is over. Norfolk, call all available hands. We're going to push up and support Odin." Isaac said as he turned to Elizabeth.
"I want you to…"
"I'm not going to stay behind, Isaac. The last time I took my eyes off you, you perished. I will not make the same mistake again." Elizabeth said as she drew her sword.
Isaac smiled.
"Belfast. I am assigning you to protect Elizabeth. Warspite should be back on the front already. Eagle is providing cover. So that leaves you. If she insists on coming along, I will not leave her undefended." Isaac said.
"I will protect her with my life, Master." Belfast said as she stood, helped to her feet by Elizabeth.
Isaac nodded.
"Roon, you're on me." Isaac said as Musashi walked onto the bridge.
"Yamato is finally stable and out of danger. Thanks to that American medic, Ben, I think it was." Musashi said as she looked around the room.
"Are you willing to fight as well, Musashi?" Isaac asked.
"I will fight, if it is for your sake, Shikikan. You gave me the courage to free myself. You saved me and my sisters from a fate worse than death. I am yours to command." Musashi said as she walked over to Isaac and Roon.
"Then let us be off. We should think about finishing this farce before the group from Gibraltar shows up." Isaac said as he, Roon, Musashi, Elizabeth and Belfast all left the bridge of the Norfolk and headed for the beach.
"What the hell?" Odin asked as her barricades began taking a beating from the town center.
"Vice Commander! Enemy reinforcement-" One of the soldiers yelled moments before a burst of plasma flew by, removing the man's head and killing him instantly.
"Get the fuck down!" Odin yelled as she looked ahead towards the enemy lines. Coming over the barricades were figures that looked a lot like Vengeance, armed to the teeth with vicious looking rigging, sporting large caliber cannons and plenty of armor.
"Smasher class?" Odin asked as she radioed the Norfolk.
"Norfolk." Odin called.
"Odin?" Norfolk replied.
"We're in a bit of a pinch here. There are smasher class sirens bearing down on my position." Odin spoke.
"That's impossible." Vengeance spoke.
"What is?" Odin asked.
"I am the only Smasher class siren. What you're more than likely facing now are the peace breakers. If you have cover, make liberal use of it. They are violent… almost animals. They take pleasure in dealing damage and causing pain." Vengeance said.
"I know that much… Sgt. Johnson just lost his fucking head… We can't even get up to him to pull his body back." Odin spat, her tone filling with abject hatred.
"If it helps, Isaac is on his way with several heavy hitters. You'll have reinforcements." Vengeance said as Odin heard an explosion on the other end.
"What was that?!" Odin asked.
"Siren aircraft. They must also be fielding the Strategist class. They're attacking the fleet at large. That can only mean one thing." Vengeance said.
"And that is?" Odin asked.
"That means that these sirens came directly from the Empress. The Union is the only region under Siren control to enact the protocols to produce Peace Breakers and Strategists. That means that these are akin to her own personally trained battalions." Vengeance said.
"A dramatic final act for this campaign…" Odin grumbled.
"We can beat them. Peace Breakers are weak to heavy ordinance. Strategists are weak to superior air power. Both of which we have. We just have to push." Vengeance said as Odin nodded to herself.
"Got it. Thanks, Vengeance. You said the Kommandant is en route?" Odin asked.
"I'm already here." Isaac said as he entered the room with Roon, Musashi, Elizabeth and Belfast.
"Kommandant!" Odin cried as she ran over to him and gave him a chaste hug before regaining control of herself.
"I'm sorry…" Odin said softly.
"I missed you too, Odin. Thankfully the operation to rescue Yamato was a success. So now we can focus all of our energy here." Isaac said.
"That's good… things have taken a turn and our position just ahead of here is taking a beating. They have sent Peace Breakers and Strategist class sirens to face us." Odin said.
"So, we're faced with the best and brightest of the enemy, huh?" Isaac asked.
"Aye. That we are." Odin said as Isaac held a hand to his helmet.
"What is it, Michael?" Isaac asked.
"I have managed to sneak around the enemy and with help from one of the locals, have found the building where Tester is thought to be hiding." Michael reported.
"When did you…" Isaac asked.
"I managed to help Ben get Yamato to the Norfolk and then decided to take off to try and find the ringleader. Norfolk and Vengeance know about it." Michael said.
"Well… as long as the information is reputable. Can we level the building?" Isaac asked.
"Sadly no. It is considered a place of importance for the people here. If we demolish it and Tester isn't here, they will not be very happy." Michael reported.
Isaac sighed.
"Keep watch from your position. Odin and I are going to make the push towards the town center. If you see Tester, aim for the legs. We cannot allow her to escape." Isaac ordered.
"Understood. I have brought Eugen with me to help keep eyes on. That and if we are discovered, this rifle won't do much in terms of self-defense." Michael explained.
Isaac shook his head softly.
"Next time I would appreciate being told in advance. I'd hate to send a patrol out only to find you and one of our shared associates KIA. Imagine what I'd have to tell Amagi." Isaac said.
Silence permeated the channel for a few seconds.
"I understand. I apologize for my oversight, Admiral." Michael said.
"Make sure it doesn't happen again, or I'll have you scrubbing the flight deck of every carrier in this fleet." Isaac said.
"Will do. Michael out." Michael said as he cut the line.
"What was that?" Odin asked.
"Michael has found a location where Tester is thought to be hiding. So now we have a target." Isaac said.
Odin nodded as the sound of footsteps forced everyone to turn around.
"Chief?!" Isaac asked as he knelt down to see the chief Bulin at eye level.
Chief wordlessly ran to Isaac and hugged him.
"It's good to have you back, Admiral." Chief spoke.
"What's wrong? Where are the others?" Isaac asked.
"They took the boat back to the fleet… but we got ambushed and I got separated. They all got away safely. But I… I lost your gun." Chief spoke sadly.
"Boat?" Isaac asked.
"We found a tugboat. An Abnaki class tugboat that had been abandoned on the beach to the west of here. I told them we'd get it fixed up and brought back to the fleet but then we'd have to ask you to keep it…" Chief said.
Isaac sighed.
"Yes. If you feel it necessary to have a boat, I won't begrudge you that." Isaac said as he hugged the Bulin and ruffled her hair.
"And we'll get you a new gun. Did you at least get to use it?" Isaac asked, curious about what she was doing in his absence.
"I shot an Explorer… but then we got ambushed by the wolfpack and I dropped the gun in the escape…" Chief said.
Isaac sighed.
"Well. At least you all are safe. We can always find more guns. Can't replace my Chief." Isaac said, causing Chief to smile.
"So, what now?" Chief asked.
"We are going to push up. Friedrich should be around here somewhere. Go find her and join with her group. I'm sure she could use a little bit of a pick me up." Isaac said as Chief nodded.
"She's two streets over. She's similarly bogged down by the Peace Breakers." Odin informed the eager Bulin.
"Got it! Good luck, Admiral!" Chief said as her wrench materialized in her hands as she ran out the door.
"They are utterly adorable." Elizabeth spoke off handedly.
"They are, aren't they?" Isaac asked as he stood up and looked at Odin.
"What do you say, Odin? Ready to finish this?" Isaac asked.
"Never been more ready, Admiral. Let's kick ass." Odin said as she deployed her rigging, prompting the others in the room to follow suit.
"Then let's get moving." Isaac said as he cocked his rifle and headed for the door.