Matchless walked with I-25, Brooklyn and Cole as they surveyed the area around Gibraltar.
"I wonder how things are going with the Commander." Brooklyn spoke as she looked to the sky.
"I'm sure things are going well. We haven't heard anything new from the intelligence boys regarding the pacific." Cole said as he looked at Brooklyn.
"I guess you have a point." Brooklyn said as she looked over to the port around the other side of the docks.
"Hey… Did Vittorio mention any Ironblood being here?" Brooklyn asked as I-25 chimed in.
"Actually, there are a few. Vittorio didn't say anything, but I know that three of them are here." I-25 spoke.
"Ja. There are three of us." A sultry tone spoke, causing Brooklyn to snap her head to the direction of the voice.
"Well, you certainly look the part…" Brooklyn muttered.
Before her stood three distinctly Ironblood ships. One stood tall, wearing a black and red sailor's uniform. Her soft features buried beneath the sharp lines and menacing colors of her outfit. To her left stood a small woman, Brooklyn could only assume she was a destroyer. She wore a blue and red uniform with a matching Beret. Her soft red eyes and pale skin made it seem like she enjoyed staying on her ship more often than not. Finally, to the right stood a girl who stood just a bit taller than the destroyer. She had long white hair and wore clothes that matched in color, save for the saber that almost matched her body length.
"My name is Gneisenau, one of the two battleships made famous during this last war… until the fatherland decided to remove me from the fleet in 1943. They used my vessel to block incoming invaders in March… but it did little either way. Filthy bastards. If that man hadn't killed himself, I would have done the deed happily." Gneisenau fumed, seemingly angry at her country for her treatment.
Brooklyn, Cole, and I-25 all looked on as Gneisenau approached Matchless, kneeling down to get to her level.
"I know you might have something against me, considering what Scharnhorst and I did to Glorious and Ardent. But I will have you know, I no longer intend to harm you." Gneisenau spoke as Matchless nodded nervously.
"These two…" Gneisenau pointed to the two girls who were with her. "... are Z2 and Viersechs… Z46."
The two destroyers nodded as their names were called.
Cole took the lead, seeing how none of the other Kansen were willing to speak.
"My name is Cole Spirits, Sergeant in the Union Army and a member of the 82nd Airborne division that landed in Normandy." Cole said as Gneisenau glared at him.
"So, you're part of the merry band that heralded my country's destruction." Gneisenau spoke as Brooklyn engaged her rigging and stood in front of Cole.
"You won't lay a finger on him, Kraut." Brooklyn spoke, the accent bearing her name beginning to come through.
Gneisenau looked stunned at the development.
"You're a cruiser? And you stick up for this man?" Gneisenau spoke as Brooklyn glared at her.
"So, what if I do? It's common knowledge in the states that you Krauts ain't exactly the friendly type when your nation comes into play." Brooklyn spat.
Gneisenau smiled a bit and began chuckling.
"Right, you are… if I actually cared about it anymore. They used me and then left me to rot. So as far as I'm concerned, they can stick it. Still though… We were a powerful nation, and it's not too far off to say that the man you are protecting led to its downfall. So, I guess it's a matter of pride for someone like me." Gneisenau said as she extended a hand.
"No hard feelings, right Sarge?" Gneisenau asked.
"Brook. Come now, put the guns down. We're in friendly waters. I'm sure if the Ironblood were causing trouble, Vittorio would have told us about it." Cole said as he placed a soothing hand on Brooklyn's shoulder.
With a forced sigh, Brooklyn relented and allowed her rigging to fade.
"I'll be keeping an eye on you." Brooklyn muttered.
"Hello Cole. I am Z2 but you can call me Georg." Z2 spoke as she extended a hand to Cole, who shook it readily, hoping to establish peaceful relations.
Z46 walked over and extended her hand but said nothing.
"You must be Z46." Cole said. The destroyer nodded. Cole smiled and shook her hand as well.
"Not much of a talker, are you?" Cole asked.
"She usually only speaks freely when she is with Tirpitz. Something about feeling more at ease." Gneisenau explained.
"I see. Well. Hopefully we shall see her again one day." Cole said.
"Yeah. She was with us for a short time in Bermuda before she left with Spee and the others. She went to join the Admiral in the Pacific." Brooklyn spoke, hints of her defensive tone still lingering.
Z46's face brightened at the mention of Tirpitz.
"I'm sure they'll get here eventually." Cole said as another voice joined them.
"Sergeant Cole. I have some intelligence you may wish to hear." A woman spoke.
Cole turned to see a woman in a knee length dress that matched that of a Victorian maid. Black stockings, a blue beret and red glasses rounded out the look as Matchless immediately identified the newcomer.
"London?!" Matchless asked excitedly.
"Hello Matchless, old friend. How have you been?" London asked as Matchless ran to her and hugged her in a display of genuine happiness.
"It's been real hard, London… the world is a big mess right now." Matchless spoke.
London smiled.
"Apparently we aren't the only ones trying to fight. Some of our sources in Europe have picked up some interesting chatter. Sergeant, if you would come with me, I could brief you privately." London spoke.
"I'd rather you brief me here. I'd hate to leave Brook unattended." Cole spoke, earning him a pinch to his elbow from the aforementioned light cruiser.
"I'll be fine, jerk…" Brooklyn muttered.
"Well… it's not like it's classified intelligence or anything. But some of our sources have discovered a pocket of resistance in Germany that has put a kink in our plans. Apparently, there is a group of Americans poking into Observer Alpha's territory with help from a German woman. They were reported to have attempted the theft of a special communications device in Paderborn. This has raised Observer Alpha's security level to maximum. This is already bad, but as if things couldn't get any worse, Purifier has been reported as sighted in the region. Sources have confirmed that this comes on the heels of her decimating the Russian fleet to the north. So, we need a new plan." London spoke.
"What American forces are left there?!" Cole asked.
"Sources state that Able company of the American 506th infantry 101st airborne and Easy company of the American Third Armored division are active in the region, performing guerilla warfare on Siren convoys and slave escorts." London explained.
"Slave escorts?" Brooklyn asked.
"Germany has a massive slave populace since the Sirens discovered massive deposits of wisdom ore. Thus, those who didn't submit to their rule were broken and turned into slaves to mine the ore for the sirens." London elaborated.
Cole balled his fists at the news.
"What's the plan then?" Cole asked.
"Cole… you're not thinking of going back in, are you?" Brooklyn asked.
"I am. I was unaware that Able and Easy company were still stuck. I will never leave a brother behind." Cole spoke.
London nodded.
"All of you come with me. Vittorio has requested that you all attend tonight's briefing. We will be discussing the new plan to infiltrate Germany and steal the Blueprints that the Admiral has requested." London spoke.
Everyone nodded and followed as London led them back towards town.
"Kinda quiet around here." Washington spoke as she looked out towards Italy from her seat in the seaside cafe.
"I'd have to agree. No Drone fleets. No Explorers. No cultists. Nothing. No wonder why Massachusetts and Jean Bart were so laid back when we found them." Ranger said as she watched Max run around playing with some of the other children from the surrounding town.
"I still have a bad feeling… What happens if they attack? What do we do with Max?" Washington asked.
"We'll have to fight with everything we got. We can't allow him to lose this family too." Ranger said as they both watched Max enjoying life in the Sicilian sun.