Elbe and Lucia stood waiting by her vessel after crossing the port from their location to the east. Lucia looked like she was lost somewhere between defiant and nervous. Elbe stood fidgeting as she watched a verifiable invasion fleet close the last remaining distance between themselves and her. The sound of horns blaring perforated the port's silence as the vessels broke formation to find applicable berths to land.
"No turning back… heh." Elbe said nervously as she looked to Lucia, who stared at the German carrier with slight annoyance.
"We wouldn't have to be standing here worrying if you would have just explained things from the beginning…" Lucia spoke, leaving Elbe flat footed.
"Lucia, that's not fair! I launched my planes because I thought we were under attack…" Elbe whined.
Lucia pointed to Z2's vessel, where the spotlight was still flashing the morse code message requesting peaceful passage.
"I may not know military like you, Elbe, but it's pretty easy to spot a blindingly bright light popping out a message. If you would have paid any attention, you would have noticed that they were trying to get your attention." Lucia deadpanned.
Elbe's shoulders dropped with a sigh.
"I guess you're right. Still… I was thinking about you. You came to me, remember?" Elbe spoke.
Lucia thought back to her journey thus far. Her escape from Germany, meeting with the American tank company, train-hopping her way to France, meeting with Elbe, and now this.
"True… Thanks for the effort, Elbe… just work on not getting us killed in the future." Lucia jabbed.
Elbe pouted. Her pout very quickly devolved when she heard arguing coming their direction.
"I told you she was annoying. We shouldn't have come here, Admiral." Gneisenau spat as a man wearing a white Admiral's uniform, both of them walking behind a man in a green Army uniform with a girl quite literally hanging from his arm.
"Gneisenau, enough. We already said that we cannot place the entire weight of this operation on Yorktown's shoulders. We need more air support." The Army man spoke, sparing the Admiral from reprimanding the battleship.
"Don't you preach to me about Air support, American." Gneisenau spat.
"Keep pushing your luck Gneisenau, and I will ignite every single deck board on your vessel." The woman hanging from the Army man's arm said.
"Both of you, enough!" The Army man barked angrily.
Silence fell over the group as they made their way up to where Elbe and Lucia were standing. The group stopped several meters in front of Elbe.
Elbe felt a chill run up her spine as she looked at Gneisenau who was glaring angrily in her direction. The silence presided for a minute as the Army man and the Admiral sized up Elbe.
"What do you think, Admiral?" The army man asked.
"Her vessel is impressive. Quite big for a light carrier, but perhaps that will help us in the long run." The Admiral spoke as he looked up at the Elbe sitting behind the woman of the same name.
"I-I'm right here you know…" Elbe spoke up.
The Admiral looked at Elbe.
"Of course. My apologies, Elbe. My name is Admiral Nimitz of the Union Navy. This is Sergeant Cole Spirits of the Union Army." Nimitz said as he gestured over to Cole who nodded.
"I see… Well… My name is Elbe. I am a Jade Class Aircraft Carrier, formerly of the Kriegsmarine. My friend here is Lucia. She is a German citizen who had been caught up in all of this Siren crap." Elbe said as she gestured to Lucia, who stood behind her to her left.
"It is a pleasure to meet you both. Let's get down to business, shall we?" Nimitz asked.
"S-sure." Elbe said as Gneisenau's glare had not left her eyes.
"I am here for one purpose, to recruit you to join us in capturing assets for the Admiral of Azur Lane, Admiral Isaac Garner." Nimitz spoke.
"Admiral who? Never heard of him." Elbe spoke.
"It makes sense. I would assume any who know of him are either in Siren Captivity or have been executed. He is currently the sole major force in the world, fighting to rid the world of the Sirens once and for all. That said, we have been tasked with asset retrieval. Our target is within the German border. I cannot disclose more unless you plan to join us." Nimitz spoke.
Elbe looked at Lucia.
"What's in it for us?" Elbe asked.
"Us?" Nimitz asked.
"I'm not leaving Lucia, not after everything she went through to get here. If I go, she comes with." Elbe demanded.
"Ugh… this is why you're so annoying. Can we just leave, Admiral?" Gneisenau asked.
Lucia stared at Gneisenau.
"What do you have against Elbe?" Lucia asked bluntly, causing Elbe to look at Lucia with horror in her eyes.
"What was that?" Gneisenau asked as she stepped forward.
"I asked what you had against Elbe. She did not attack, but yet your cannons blew her planes from the sky. I was with her, she had no intention of attacking unless she deemed you a threat, yet, right when she would have been able to make the distinction, your guns opened fire on her air group. And ever since, I have heard you refer to her in the worst possible manner. So what did she do to make you hate on her like this?" Lucia spat, getting right in Gneisenau's face.
"She's annoying and never gets to the point. Her questioning of orders and roundabout way of doing things is an affront to the Kriegsmarine." Gneisenau spat as she met Lucia's gaze.
"The Kriegsmarine is gone, Gneisenau. Get used to it." Lucia spat as a hand came to her shoulder.
"Lucia… it isn't wise to upset Gneisenau…" Elbe spoke quietly as she made an effort of pulling Lucia away.
"The single smartest thing you've said to date." Gneisenau commented, only to earn a fist to her jaw.
"Lucia!" Elbe cried as Brooklyn looked on in was taking a small amount of pleasure seeing Gneisenau get served a bit of humble pie.
"You little…" Gneisenau spoke as she recovered. She made ready to summon her rigging when Nimitz spoke up.
"Enough, Gneisenau, if you cannot keep your comments to yourself, I will not hesitate to confine you to your vessel until we reach Germany. Go take a walk, get me Z2." Nimitz spoke coldly.
Gneisenau growled angrily but complied, nonetheless.
"I am sorry for her explosive expressions. I was warned that she was rather… temperamental. It seems I must heed that warning more than I was willing to." Nimitz admitted.
Cole walked forward and looked at Elbe.
"Elbe… I won't sugarcoat this. Yorktown is our only carrier for this mission. Z2 informed us that you were here. We came here hoping for your help. We need another carrier." Cole said.
Elbe looked at Gneisenau's retreating form.
Cole noticed this.
"Gneisenau will not be a problem. She knows that this mission is important. She just seems to have a chip on her shoulder. But rest assured, your safety will be ensured." Cole explained.
Elbe looked at Lucia.
Lucia shrugged.
"It's your call, Elbe. Personally, I wouldn't want to be the subject of ridicule by a battleship as grouchy as that." Lucia spoke as she rubbed her knuckles.
"What will we be required to do?" Elbe asked.
"I cannot explain further until you agree to join us." Nimitz spoke.
Elbe sighed.
"I guess it's better than being cooped up here, surrounded by these wine drinkers. I'll do it." Elbe said.
Nimitz nodded to Cole.
"Come with us. Ensure your vessel is ready for immediate departure. I'll brief you while we are under why." Nimitz said as Elbe and Lucia followed the small group towards the invasion fleet, with the Elbe moving under its own power towards the fleet.