"So that's the plan. Any questions?" Nimitz explained as he, Cole, Elbe and Lucia stood on the bridge of the Yorktown.
"So let me get this straight… We are invading Germany, my home, for a pair of blueprints that some random man told you to get, for the off chance that those blueprints will spawn powerful ships to help secure the Mediterranean. And not only are we smashing our way into Observer Alpha's lair, but we are doing it while Purifier is there as well?" Lucia asked skeptically.
"Leaving out the fact that we will be reinforced by the 101st Airborne and 3rd Armored Battalion… yes. Admiral Garner has expressed a heightened sense of importance towards these blueprints. And the fact that Alpha keeps them under lock and key, means she doesn't want anyone getting them. That's enough evidence for me." Cole said as he recalled the information disclosed at the meeting in Gibraltar.
"You all have lost your minds." Lucia spoke icily.
"Perhaps we have. But even so, the world isn't going to get any better if we sit and do nothing." Nimitz replied as Yorktown walked onto the bridge.
"The girls are getting restless, Admiral. We should really get under way. We don't know who's watching." Yorktown warned.
"Agreed." Nimitz said as he turned to look at Elbe.
"Last chance. If you saddle up now, you're locked in with us. No turning back." Nimitz said as
Elbe nodded.
"I'll go. France is nice and all, but I would rather see my homeland again, even if it is on the attacking side." Elbe admitted.
"Very well. Return to your ship and let us get under way. Miss… Ma'am, Please return to the Elbe. You seem to be more comfortable in her presence than you do here on the Yorktown. Elbe, I will have Yorktown transmit you the frequency for the closed radio channel so you can communicate there without broadcasting your messages on an open frequency." Nimitz spoke as Elbe nodded. Elbe turned and walked for the door with Lucia hot on her heels.
Lucia stopped and turned to face Nimitz.
"It's Lucia. Please try to remember my name in the future, Union Admiral." Lucia spoke as she and Elbe disappeared from the bridge.
"Thoughts, Sergeant?" Nimitz asked.
"Quite the odd pair, Admiral. An over-the-top carrier, and an overly suspicious German woman. She doesn't seem to have a military background, so it makes me wonder what she is doing with a German Carrier in France." Cole boiled down the experience thus far.
"I have to agree with you. Quite odd for a civilian to be in such a predicament. I hope this will not cause problems down the road." Nimitz said
"I don't think she will. If anything, she's holding back something she isn't comfortable sharing. If we protect her, she will prove to be helpful." Yorktown spoke passively.
"You think?" Nimitz asked.
"No offense, Admiral… I have fifty-two years of experience on you when it comes to reading civilians. She's remaining guarded. That is plain to see. She's been through quite a bit before our arrival. We provide her a sense of security, that shell will open, and she will provide something we may not already know." Yorktown spoke.
Nimitz and Cole looked at each other.
"I guess that's that. We'll place Elbe in the center next to you as we advance. We'll place Lucia with Cole and his personal squad when the raid begins to ensure her utmost safety. It will also allow any intel she has to be delivered directly to Cole." Nimitz summarized.
"Works for me, Admiral. That said… shall we get under way?" Cole asked as Nimitz nodded.
"Send the order to move out, Yorktown." Nimitz spoke.
"As ordered, Sir."
XXXXXVVVVVXXXXX
Perkins growled, his tone somewhere between sleeplessness and anger as the battle to defend the Philippines was dragged into its second day.
"We can't sustain this. Even with us playing defensively, we're still getting worn down… Texas is about ready to keel over if she has to refresh the fleet's shields again. I have to admit, she's stronger than I think anyone has given her credit for." Perkins spoke to himself as he watched Friedrich skate back within the shell of battleships. She carried several bulins in her arms as she skated towards the Tug-O-War.
"Friedrich, report." Perkins spoke.
"Some of the girls are hurt. I'm bringing them back to rest. I will return to the front to ensure no Explorers or Oceanas break into the fleet." Friedrich said, her voice holding back the sadness that a mother would hold when her child had been injured.
"Take a break, Friedrich. Isaac will kill me if anything happens to any of you girls. I'll order the men to the few remaining shore batteries to bolster our forces if just a little. We need to find a way to end this… we won't last another three days." Perkins lamented as Norfolk came over to him.
"Norfolk, how are you holding up?" Perkins asked as the near constant explosions outside continued to pummel his ears.
"I am okay… Tired… but I will live. Jager has radioed me with a suggestion he has to attempt to break this assault." Norfolk spoke softly.
"I'll hear it. At this point, I'll take any ideas we can get. Patch him through." Perkins spoke as Norfolk handed him the receiver.
"Jager, It's Perkins. Do you have an idea on how to break this assault?" Perkins demanded.
"I do. Isaac is very much against the use of Wisdom dust as munitions… but I have spoken with Vengeance. She has enough munitions built to arm my plane to the teeth. My thinking has led me to think that a significant enough explosion on the enemy side of the Mirror Sea might be enough to close the gates on this hellscape." Wilhelm explained.
"Explain." Perkins spoke.
"Well, Vengeance said that a significant amount of concentration is needed to control the Mirror Sea. If the bombs do their job, we could break concentration on the enemy side, causing the collapse of the Mirror Sea." Wilhelm surmised.
Perkins thought for a moment.
"Norfolk… can you give me the approximate location of Empress and her Enforcer?" Perkins asked.
"I can. Empress and her Enforcer are currently in Puget Sound Naval Yards in Bremerton Washington. Population of 35,000." Norfolk spoke.
Perkins's veins ran cold.
"Thirty-five thousand people… do we risk their lives with the equivalent of an Atom Bomb?" Perkins asked.
Norfolk looked away, preferring to look at the shimmering shields of the battleships that were taking a beating on their behalf.
"Commander. Orders." Wilhelm demanded over the radio.
After a full minute of silence, Perkins crossed his chest.
"A single bomb. Nothing bigger than five hundred pounds. There are thirty five thousand lives at stake. If the wind blows the wrong way, if the bomb tumbles the wrong way…I don't want to imagine the effect." Perkins spoke.
"So be it… Let us hope five hundred is enough." Wilhelm spoke as Perkins watched Jager's plane bank hard and make to land on the Vengeance's flight deck.
Perkins began to sweat. He couldn't contact Isaac and risk having his location be discovered by the Siren Elites. He felt truly alone, and that very feeling was intensified as he felt the weight of potentially signing the death warrants of thirty-five thousand people.
Perkins thought more, trying to branch away from the Wisdom dust weaponry. Unfortunately for him, every idea he tried was easily countered in his mind's eye. He was beginning to doubt himself.
"Armed and ready to Launch, Commander." Wilhelm spoke coldly. Perkins looked over to see the shields of the Vengeance flaring under the constant hail of shells.
Perkins steeled himself. He decided in that moment that he would bear the burden of this act.
"Launch. May God have mercy on our souls." Perkins spoke coldly as he cut the line and hung his head.
"If it makes you feel better, Commander… I would have made the same decision." Norfolk whispered as she sat tiredly against the back of the chair on her bridge.
Out on the battlefield, Jager's ME-155-A took to the sky, carrying a single munition held below the cockpit. It was at that moment that Perkins saw the weapon in question.
A sleek black cylinder, tapered off on one end leading to a set of large stabilizing fins. It reminded Perkins of the bomb that had been carried to Hiroshima months before.
"May God have mercy on our souls." Perkins whispered his repeated plea, hoping that something was listening.