"How is she doing?" Rodney asked.
"Not well, unfortunately. I've been keeping an eye on her this past month… she's pacing the island like a little lost puppy." Mikasa spoke.
"The Admiral knows about it already… but still. The fact that she hasn't improved in the slightest is concerning." Rodney said as she and Mikasa sat with Eli on the docks.
"Are you two ladies referring to the little fox carrier again?" Eli asked.
"Yes. Akagi hasn't quite been herself lately, especially since she returned to Niue to mourn her late husband." Rodney clarified.
Eli looked at the British battleship.
"Have you considered having her do something away from the area? Or maybe retiring her from duty?" Eli asked.
"We need her air power… but I guess if she isn't willing to launch fighters to do routine patrols, it doesn't really matter." Rodney said.
"Have her return here, we can look after her… or have some of us go there. I'm sure we can rebuild the island into something livable." Eli said.
"Maybe having people on Niue would help give her some perspective." Mikasa interjected.
"Right. Because what we need is to put more people in harm's way just to get Akagi out of her own head…" Rodney spat.
"I've spent time with Akagi. She may be obsessive, but she will not shy away from a task in front of her. Maybe if she had a group of people to actively protect, and to remind her of her purpose, she could begin down the road to recovery." Mikasa suggested.
Rodney shrugged.
"If you have people who want to push out, I can have Triomphant take your people and some supplies to Niue to begin settling. Since Niue was an Azur Lane facility, it has a bunch of military structures on the island along with the possibility of things being left behind by the Admiral. Shouldn't be too difficult to settle in." Rodney said.
"I will ask around. Many of us feel indebted to Admiral Garner for keeping the south Pacific safe. So, the least we can do is help one of his girls." Eli said as Rodney nodded.
"I will inform Triomphant of this development. Please be ready to go in twenty-four hours." Rodney said.
"We will. Thank you." Eli said as he stood up to go and inform the members of his village.
"No wonder why they were so relaxed. There hasn't been a sound for the past week." Ranger spoke softly as she laid in a bed in one of the hotels on the island. Max was sound asleep on Washington's side of the bed as she and the battleship talked.
"I do have to say, there is an overwhelming sense of foreboding… being this close to one of the big Siren overlords." Washington spoke, allowing a small sliver of concern to show.
"What do we know about Hermit?" Ranger asked.
"Not much aside from the fact that she remains holed up in Rome, according to Massachusetts." Washington said.
"Maybe we should contact the Admiral. He might know something." Ranger suggested.
"Wish we could… We'd have to contact Gibraltar to contact him." Washington said.
"So be it, I'll send a request now." Ranger said as she got up and headed out to the balcony of their room.
Ranger getting up and walking away was enough to rile Max from his sleep.
"Miss Washington?" Max asked.
Washington turned a loving eye towards Max.
"What's up, kid?" Washington asked.
"Are you okay?" Max asked.
Washington was slightly taken aback.
"Of course I am, what makes you ask?" Washington asked as she turned to face the child.
"You look worried. Like something bad could happen… is something bad going to happen?" Max asked.
Washington picked up Max and put him in her lap.
"Do you trust me, Max?" Washington asked.
Max nodded almost immediately.
"Then believe me when I say, any who would dare to attempt to hurt you will be met with the full force of my sixteen-inch cannons. They would have to kill me before they could harm you. And that's not even talking about Ranger." Washington said.
Max looked at Washington and began to tear up.
"But… I don't want Miss Washington to die. I… I Like Miss Washington." Max said as he hugged the battleship tightly.
Washington felt her cheeks turn red as her heart melted just a bit more.
"Hey Max." Washington asked.
Max refused to let go but looked up to acknowledge Washington.
"When this is over… and we don't have to fight. When the Admiral comes, and we finally get to live in peace… did you want to stay with me?" Washington asked.
Max looked down and thought for a long moment before returning his gaze to Washington. With a slow nod, he opened his mouth to speak.
"I don't want to go back… Mommy and Daddy… they're gone. I want to stay with Miss Washington." Max said.
Washington smiled softly.
"Then why don't you give me a name that only you call me. No more of this Miss Washington stuff." Washington said.
Max thought for a moment. Taking a few seconds to burn Washington's words into his memory.
"Can… Can i call you Mommy?" Max asked.
Washington caved.
"Sure. Why not. From here on… I guess I'm mommy." Washington said as Max held her tighter.
"I love you, mommy." Max whispered.
Washington's cheeks burned brighter.
"I… I love you too, Max." Washington replied awkwardly, if only to comfort Max.
"Well, isn't that sweet?" Ranger asked from the balcony.
"Shut it, flattop. Any word from Gibraltar?" Washington asked.
"Yeah. They're patching us through right now." Ranger said as a voice came from the radio on the balcony.
"This is Admiral Garner. Can you hear me?" Isaac's voice played on the radio.
"Come Max, let's talk to the Admiral." Washington said as she picked the child up and walked out to the balcony where the radio was.
"Admiral, this is Ranger, we copy." Ranger replied.
"I got a request from Gibraltar to speak with you. What's up?" Isaac asked.
"We were wondering if you had some information regarding the Siren known as Hermit." Washington said as she felt Max fall asleep on her shoulder.
"I'd have to ask Norfolk. She would know better than I." Isaac said.
"Well… we don't wish to keep you distracted. Could you have Norfolk send the information to Gibraltar? They can send it to us then." Ranger said.
"Hold on, we're getting a transmission from Akashi. Hold the line." Isaac said.
"Of course, sir." Ranger said as the radio went quiet.
"So. Mama Washington, huh?" Ranger asked with a small giggle.
"Shut it, before I sink you." Washington said as she felt her cheeks burn.
"No need to be so embarrassed. The kid loves you." Ranger said with a hand on her hip.
"You're in this with me too, flattop. Don't think you're off the hook." Washington scowled.
"I already figured that to be the case, Washington. Don't worry. He's practically our child anyway now." Ranger said as she gently ruffled Max's hair.
"Akashi, what's up?" Isaac asked.
"Nyaa, We ran into trouble, nyaa." Akashi said.
"Well, speak up. What's going on?" Isaac asked.
"New Jersey-san's equipment is not working, yet all of her systems are in perfect condition, nyaa." Akashi stated.
"Are there Sirens in the area?" Isaac asked, moments before the sound of cannon fire filled the background.
"Nevermind. I guess there are. Do you have any leads?" Isaac asked as he adjusted his towel.
"Akashi believes there is a Siren working to hinder New Jersey-san." Akashi said.
"Have you been able to identify the Siren?" Isaac asked.
"No. Akashi believes it is underwater, nyaa." Akashi replied.
"Alright. I'm getting Norfolk over here. Give me a few minutes." Isaac said as he turned to the girls enjoying themselves in the bath.
"One of you hail Norfolk and get her over here. It's urgent." Isaac said as Lizzy stood and held a hand to her ear.
"Done. She is on the way." Lizzy said before easing herself onto the side of the tub.
"Thank you, Lizzy." Isaac said as he turned his attention back to the radio.
"Akashi, explain in detail what's going on with New Jersey." Isaac spoke.
"Nyaa. New Jersey-san's radar couldn't pick up the enemy drone fleet. Then New Jersey-san hit her equipment panel and she was able to glimpse the enemy, nyaa. Akashi had to connect New Jersey-san's vessel to Jean Bart-san's Radar so she could see, nyaa." Akashi said.
"So, is New Jersey the only one affected?" Isaac asked.
"Hai. But Akashi has a sense that if New Jersey-san goes down… Then Massachusetts-san and Jean Bart-san are next. Then Akashi, nyaa." Akashi said.
"Hmm. Something odd is going on there. The Iowa class is relatively new. There should be no reason that her radar is malfunctioning. I'll check Iowa after this to see if there are any discrepancies." Isaac said.
"Nyaa. Akashi found nothing wrong. Akashi believes a Siren is manipulating the radar to conceal itself." Akashi said.
"That sounds about right." Norfolk said as Isaac turned to her.
"Explain." Isaac spoke.
"Concealment. It is the Designation given to one of Hermit's enforcers." Norfolk said.
"So, it's like XIV?" Isaac asked.
"Very much so. She directly serves Hermit. She is a cruiser class Siren with rigging that looks like a crab. Despite her classification of cruiser, she uses her rigging to travel along the seafloor. Her file isn't very extensive, however. The only other thing we know is that she will attack the highest priority target by hampering their ability to see her, until it's too late. She will command a decent size force of drones to keep any adversary busy long enough to get close. Depth charges and other underwater munitions would be best used to get her to surface, where big guns can deal damage." Norfolk said.
"Did you catch all that, Akashi?" Isaac asked.
"Hai. Akashi will have I-19-chan go hunting, nyaa." Akashi said.
"I-19 is with you?" Isaac asked.
"Hai. Thankfully she followed us, nyaa." Akashi spoke.
"I'd say. We can't send aid. The entire main fleet is here in the Philippines. We wouldn't be able to reach you should you need immediate aid." Isaac said.
"Akashi understands. With three battleships, we should be victorious, nyaa." Akashi said.
"Godspeed." Isaac spoke, all of his hopes hanging on New Jersey's ability to fight off the enemy.
"Well?" New Jersey asked.
"Concealment, nyaa. I-19 needs to force her to surface before we can hit her, nyaa." Akashi explained.
"I see. So, it is a Siren." New Jersey said as she cracked her neck.
"I-19. Force that bitch to the surface, if her only trick is hiding, then we can beat her no problem." New Jersey said as she turned her guns to focus the enemy fleet.
"Understood." I-19 spoke as New Jersey watched the sub slip below the waves.
"Alright. Let's deal with this fleet so we can get the hell out of here." New Jersey said as her vessel shuddered as her sixteen-inch guns opened fire, sending balls of fire flying out the end of the barrels as massive shells arced towards the drone fleet.
"Alright girls. Target the carriers first. We take away their aircraft, they'll have no way to distract us." New Jersey spoke, focusing all of her guns using the targeting data she was receiving from Jean Bart's radar array.
Just as she said those words, her first salvo struck true, sending a pair of 2700 pound shells crashing through the flight deck of the middlemost carrier in the enemy formation, detonating the core and ammunition stored within.
"Bullseye." New Jersey smirked.
The Battle of the Red Sea had begun.