Isaac and Lizzy entered the bathing room onboard the Shinano, only to find it still occupied by what they thought was a single occupant.
"Omaha?" Isaac asked.
The lime haired light cruiser looked over and smiled.
"You look like you had a fun night, Commander." Omaha said with a soft tone.
"Most of it was against my will… but the others have needs too." Isaac said.
"I saw them drag you off. That's why I kept my distance… Nimi though… She's definitely braver than most… standing alongside those Battleships and Carriers." Omaha said.
"I'm sorry… despite my current state, I neglected you and 13… I'll have to find her once I can walk on my own." Isaac said as Lizzy helped him to the bath.
A sudden splash of water alerted Isaac to another presence in the bath.
"No need to go looking, dear. I'm here as well." 13 spoke.
Isaac gave a defeated smile.
"Another ambush?" Isaac joked.
"Nah. I just wanted a warm bath. Dealing with those suicide boats during the invasion was very tiring." Omaha spoke.
"Yeah. Tell me about it. Keeping the other subs in order along with Patty was next to impossible. Those boats kept dipping randomly on their approach and some of the explosives would splash into the water and detonate. Keeping the U-boats safe was more than a match for me…" 13 said as she rubbed her shoulder with a warm hand.
"I see. I guess those tidbits were left out of Odin's report. I shall have to grill her on the accuracy of the report." Isaac pondered.
"No need, dear. I'm just happy to be able to relax. And as for feeling bad, or thinking you have neglected us, don't. Omaha and I agree. You were practically dragged here by that swarm of heavy hitters. We knew what was going to happen. We also agree that if we want it, we will come to you. You shouldn't have to assume with us. Gotta make your life easier any way we can, or you won't live past thirty." 13 said with a chuckle.
"I'm 24…" Isaac said, defeated.
"And you've done more in the past 4 months than any Admiral past 30 has done, Be they Union, Ironblood, Royal, or Sakura." Omaha interjected.
Isaac clammed up, acknowledging Omaha's statement.
"I see the newbie is here." Omaha joked.
"Hello Omaha." Lizzy said with a smile as she aided Isaac in lowering himself into the large pool-like tub.
Yume squealed in a frantic tone the moment her fur touched the water.
Isaac assumed a much more tender tone as he wrapped one of her tiny hands around his fingers.
"Yume. Daddy isn't going to let the water hurt you. Is it too hot?" Isaac asked as he took a second to feel the temperature of the water around him.
"It could be too hot." Isaac thought aloud as he looked around for something to help him.
"Lizzy, there is a large wooden basin over by the showers. Could you grab it and fill it with lukewarm water?" "Isaac asked as he lifted Yume completely from the water, calming her frantic cries.
"Of course, My King." Lizzy said as she walked over and grabbed the basin, filling it as requested and bringing it to the bath.
"Are you going to put her in?" Lizzy asked.
"I want to try something." Isaac said as he had Lizzy help him lower the basin into the bath. Surprisingly, the basin floated high in the water despite being half filled with water.
"A well-made bucket. I approve." Isaac joked, eliciting a laugh from Omaha, 13, and Lizzy alike.
Isaac then lowered Yume's tail into the bucket of lukewarm water, using his knees to support it from sinking lower into the tub. When she let out a purr of satisfaction, Isaac was content to lower Yume completely into the bucket, where the water only came up to her belly.
Omaha and 13 both cooed at the sight.
"God… watching you do that with her makes me want a kid now too…" Omaha whispered. Her whispers went unheard by all except 13.
"Me too. Just imagine it. We end this war… we can have children too." 13 said as she and Omaha made their way over to where Isaac and Yume were relaxing in their own rights. Yume splashed around in her bucket as Isaac laid motionless against the tub wall, allowing his sore muscles to relax. Both Omaha and 13 stopped when they saw Lizzy begin stripping down, folding her clothes on the side of the tub before lowering herself into the tub next to Isaac, leaning into his chest.
"What is this?!" Omaha asked.
Her answer was quickly found when Lizzy lifted her hand to show off the diamond ring on her finger.
"You married Queen Elizabeth?!" Omaha asked.
"Actually… she proposed to me… I said yes." Isaac said as he looked at the cruiser.
"Turncoat! Traitor!" Omaha yelled jokingly, causing Yume to squeal with delight. Omaha then sat on the other side of Isaac and leaned against him.
"Whatever do you mean? Am I not an ally?" Lizzy asked.
"It was a joke. Just forget about it." Omaha said as 13 sat in front of Isaac and lifted one of his feet into her lap before rubbing it with her thumbs.
The groan from Isaac was enough to tell the girls what Isaac needed.
Each of them moved to a different part, with Omaha taking his other foot and Lizzy getting behind him to tend to his back.
"Such a broad back, my king." Lizzy coaxed.
"You know the story. Repairing warships tends to throw a bit of meat on the bones." Isaac said as he tended to Yume, using four of his fingers to massage the kitsune's back, leading to her purring happily, allowing Omaha and 13 to coo at her relaxed facial expressions.
"She is just the cutest little thing!" 13 squealed as she gently pinched Yume's cheeks. Yume, in response, unleashed a small swarm of green dragonflies to buzz around the bath.
"So, she's got dragonflies?" 13 asked.
"You know something about it?" Isaac asked, suddenly perking up.
"Yeah. Lady Shinano has butterfly pins and uses butterflies when she attacks. Maybe this is Yume's preferred avatar. So, when Yume grows up, maybe she will incorporate dragonflies into her attacks." 13 said as Lizzy looked at the dragonflies.
"It's meant to display her aircraft type." Lizzy said.
"How so?" Omaha asked as one of the dragonflies landed on the water, it's legs not breaking the surface.
"She will utilize helicopters. A form of aircraft with the ability to hover like a dragonfly. But she will also be capable of using fast aircraft. The speed and ability to hover are what defines a dragonfly. I think that is why she is constantly projecting them." Lizzy explained.
"That would make sense actually. But why would Shinano use butterflies?" Isaac asked.
13 shrugged.
"She is a mystery to all. Even to us in the Sakura empire, she remains a mystery. I have a feeling the other girls of the Sakura will join you just to learn more about her." 13 said.
Isaac sighed.
"Either way… I like it. It allows her to express herself." Isaac said as several dragonflies made themselves at home on his shoulders, causing the girls to laugh.
"Definitely a Daddy's girl." They all agreed.
Ben stood up a few hours later. After spending even more of the evening with the girls he had taken to bed, they were finally tired enough to sleep. Looking over all of them, Ben felt something tug at his mind. They deserved something more than his word that he'd be there for them. Ben quietly left the room and went to the nearest radio.
"The Admiral seems to always have those rings on or around him. I wonder if he could spare some. Who was he with again?" Ben asked himself as he switched the radio frequency to call the Shinano.
"Admiral, you there?" Ben asked.
"Hmm? Ben. What a curious call." Shinano's voice answered.
"Shinano. Is the Admiral with you?" Ben asked.
"No. I fear I may have put him out of action for a while. Is there something I can do for you?" Shinano asked.
"Do you happen to know where the Admiral keeps those rings he hands to you girls?" Ben asked.
Shinano tittered.
"Who's the lucky lady?" Shinano asked.
"Three… Kashino, California, and Gangut… I promised them all I wouldn't leave them… but I don't feel like my word is enough." Ben said.
"How curious. Jager said the same thing… when he called me earlier. He requested two. One for Bismarck and one for Tirpitz. So much love going around this fleet… it feels… warm." Shinano said.
"So… you have them?" Ben asked.
"I am on my way with the three you have requested. Do you have a plan to propose?" Shinano asked.
"No… I'm going to give it to them while they are sleeping. I'll explain to them when they wake up." Ben replied.
"I see. Well, I am waiting for you above deck. Please come and collect your rings. It is a bit chilly out today and I'd like to return to the warmth of the Norfolk." Shinano said sleepily.
"Right away, I'll be right up." Ben said as he ran down the corridor.
"Sergeant. Are you ready?" Nimitz asked as he adjusted his cap.
Cole took a deep breath.
"I am ready Admiral. The troops are loaded, and the girls are ready to go." Cole replied.
"Alright… then we're off." Nimitz said as he activated the radio.
"Alright ladies. Form up outside port and set engines to half speed. We'll cruise up to Brest and pick up our reinforcements before moving through the English Channel into the waters outside Germany. Reports claim Purifier is watching over the area, but she and Alpha are only two Sirens. There's plenty of ocean to cover our tracks. Let's keep it tight." Nimitz ordered as the blaring of horns sounded throughout the port. Within an hour, the Gibraltar Heist fleet was under way, heading for what was most certainly going to be one hell of a fight.
"Freedom!" New Jersey yelled as her hull hit the Red Sea. The slightly warmer water of the southern sea sent a tingle up her spine. She was followed closely by Akashi, Massachusetts, and Jean Bart.
"Enemy fleet detected." Massachusetts's voice filled New Jersey's ears.
"What?!" New Jersey cried as she focused on her radar.
"Aye. Drone fleet fifty nautical miles to the south, heading our way. We may have been detected." Jean Bart surmised.
New Jersey looked at her instruments, all of which were quiet.
"What are you two on about?!" New Jersey cried.
"Nyaa. Akashi sees them too. Akashi doesn't like this." Akashi spoke, causing New Jersey to slam her fist into one of her instrument panels. The sudden impact caused the screens to light up like a Christmas tree, finally showing what the others were seeing.
"Understood! Enemy fleet spotted. Massachusetts, Jean… load HE and prepare to engage. Akashi remain behind us. Look for an opening and make a break for the Arabian sea. If those enforcers are here, we can make this passage safe for the rest of our journey." New Jersey ordered as all three battleships unlocked their turrets and raised the alarm for battle.
Back on the deck of the Jean Bart, Jean slammed her foot onto the rail on her bow and proudly displayed the flag of the Vichiya Dominion.
"Come and get some, you Siren motherfuckers!" Jean yelled as she kicked her engines up into gear and pulled from the formation, passing Massachusetts on her right side and pulling ahead of New Jersey to become the head of the formation. New Jersey yielded and flanked left as Massachusetts flanked right, creating a wall of hardened steel and hatred to meet the incoming Siren threat.