Musashi and 13 followed Isaac down the rows of sheet-walled rooms, each filled with beds for the injured Kansen. Isaac eventually came to a stop outside a particular room.

"How is my Union flagship holding up?" Isaac asked as he poked his head in with a smile.

"A-admiral!" Penny cried as Arizona chuckled at her sister.

"Relax, Pennsylvania. I'm not here to give orders. I'm here to check up on two of my hardworking battleships. How are you feeling?" Isaac asked as Musashi walked in with 13.

"I've definitely been better… but I'm a far sight better than Odin was. I heard that she took the most damage out of all of us from that battle." Penny said as she laid back into the pillow.

"I see. And how are you doing otherwise?" Isaac asked.

"What do you mean?" Penny asked.

"I know I haven't called on you specifically in a while, but I still have faith in your ability to keep our Union girls in line." Isaac said.

Penny smiled.

"I see. Even after me doing next to nothing… you have faith in me." Penny said softly.

"Of course I do. I wouldn't have appointed you as my Union Flagship otherwise. What do you think? You still up for it?" Isaac asked.

"Absolutely. I will not let you down." Penny said proudly.

"Excellent. I look forward to your growth as flagship. I want you, when you're up and about again, to get with Bismarck, Yamato, Warspite and Gangut. Gangut will advise us on winterization options for your hulls and then when we have completed your retrofitting, I will have the four flagships disperse the information needed to their subordinates. We need to be ready for the Arctic, I have a feeling we will be there for quite some time." Isaac said as Musashi and 13 looked at him.

"And if we are, the fleet will be ready." Musashi assured him.

Penny smiled at Isaac.

"You really are a charmer… you know that, Admiral?" Penny asked.

"Ara? Another battleship gunning for the Admiral? 13, just how many wives does the Admiral have?" Musashi asked as Penny blushed heavily at her comment.

"There's a lot of us, Lady Musashi. Myself, Omaha, Friedrich, Odin, Nimi, Shinano, Eagle, and Norfolk are all wedded to the Shikikan." 13 said.

"You forgot Lizzy." Isaac chimed in.

"That's right. You and her came into the bath with Omaha and I." 13 recalled.

"Such a long list, and yet he is close to having another two." Musashi said as she eyed Isaac with a deeply concealed lust.

"If you say it like that… you make it sound like I'm collecting wives, Musashi." Isaac said with a sigh.

"I do not mind." Musashi said as she took a step closer, only to have 13 block her path.

"Not in front of the Union Flagship either, Lady Musashi." 13 said with a huff.

"13, I don't mind. I've been looking at him for a while as well… not that I've ever admitted it… I pushed Omaha to get her ring before I took my chance." Penny said.

Isaac sat dumbfounded.

"You too, Penny?" Isaac asked.

"You didn't think I showed you what I did back then for fun, did you?" Penny asked, referring to the time she flashed her lingerie after Roon had broken Isaac's arm.

"I guess not…" Isaac said with a chuckle.

'Come on sis… push harder.' Arizona thought as she watched them awkwardly looking at each other.

"Adm- Isaac. I… I have really been keeping an eye on you ever since Omaha took your ring. Watching you all… and with the result of this last battle… I don't want to die alone and unloved… can… can you fix that?" Penny asked as a massive blush crossed her cheeks.

"Penny. You are far from unloved. You have the fleet as a whole who would feel loss if something happened to you. You have a wonderful sister who would wallow in tears as your loss… but if you are seeking my love specifically… then you shall have it. That is what you're asking for… right?" Isaac asked.

Penny nodded before looking towards Arizona.

Arizona wore a smile a mile wide.

Penny turned back to see a blue box in Isaac's hand.

"Then my love is what you will have to share." Isaac said as he opened the box and placed the ring on her finger.

"Welcome to the family, Pennsylvania!" 13 spoke excitedly.

"I'm so happy for you, Penny!" Arizona squealed excitedly as she jumped over and hugged her sister.

"Ari! Your ribs!" Penny cried as Arizona let out a small yelp as she hugged Penny.

"It's fine! I'm too happy to let the pain keep me down. Now, make sure you keep him safe, Penny. I don't want to have to treat him every two weeks." Arizona joked.

"Hey, it ain't my fault!" Isaac barked.

Arizona stuck her tongue out at Isaac as Penny looked at him.

"Hey… Isaac." Penny said softly.

"Penny?" Isaac asked.

"Can… I hug you now?" Penny asked.

"Of course. I have never stopped anyone before." Isaac said as he took Penny into an embrace, only for her slender arms to wrap around him and pull him to her.

"I've waited for so long… I cannot even recall the first time I set foot in your fleet… because you have treated me the same then as you do now. I can not find any memory of feeling like a newbie or an outcast. And now… I wear the ring that symbolizes your love not only for me, but for the others who have won your heart. I do not recall my first days in this fleet… but I will never ever regret being here for them." Penny said softly as she allowed him to hug her.

Musashi cleared her throat.

"My sister seems to share my thoughts on this matter… with the man named Michael." Musashi spoke as everyone looked at her.

"Oh?" Isaac asked as he laid his hand on Penny's.

"Have a listen." Musashi said as she turned up her radio.

XXXXXVVVVVXXXXX

"Look, Yamato. I really appreciate the help you gave during the battle. I wanted to thank you for not only helping me, but being instrumental in defending the fleet I now call home." Michael spoke.

"It is of no concern. Do not trouble yourself thanking me for something I wanted to do. The Admiral has been kind to shelter me and my sisters." Yamato said softly.

"Nonsense. You deserve thanks for your actions. Especially after what happened… I would not have blamed you for sitting this battle out. You said it yourself, you are not ready for battle just yet." Michael said.

"I may not be ready for battle in the sense that I am currently unable to bring myself to take life… but I think… if I remain by your side… I can at least play a part in defending this sanctuary we call Azur Lane." Yamato said.

"Is that… you asking to marry me?" Michael asked.

"In a sense… I guess it could be construed as such. But like my middle sister… I desire a traditional marriage. I wish to be married in a Shinto Shrine on my home soil. I wish to wear a white Kimono and celebrate such an occasion…so… consider this a proposal… which, if you agree, makes you… oh what do the westerners call it… a Fiance? Is that the term?" Yamato pondered.

"Ara? Is my hubby picking up a new wife? And another Sakura Battleship to boot. Do we have a theme going, Herr Michael?" Eugen spoke, causing both Michael and Yamato to make a noise indicating surprise.

"Eugen! You can't just say that! Look at her, she's beet red now!" Michael spoke firmly.

"Sorry, Herr Michael, I can't help it. She looks so vulnerable… I can't help but tease her." Eugen said in a sarcastically sad tone.

Yamato shuffled a bit.

"Well… it would make sense that he would come for us… Prinz Eugen of Ironblood. We Kitsune of the Sakura are more elegant and alluring to the male psyche." Yamato tried.

"What?!" Eugen cried.

"Now Eugen, Lady Yamato… please do not fight in front of Michael. If we wish to settle this, may we do it when he is not present? I am sure that the uncalled for catfighting will result in torn garments and exposed assets, something I'm sure Lady Yamato would not like to have happen in front of her new Fiance." Amagi said as a tail went to Eugen and Yamato's lips respectively.

"But…" Eugen tried before several tails wrapped around her torso and held her tightly to the deck.

"No fighting before Michael." Amagi repeated as she opened her eyes, a feat she only performed when she was upset enough to warrant getting a message across.

"R-right." Eugen said as she looked at Yamato.

"It'll be fun having another fox, so much fur is liable to keep Michael in bed all day." Eugen teased again before Amagi dragged the cruiser off, leaving Michael and Yamato alone once more.

"Sorry about that…" Michael said softly.

"I found it to be entertaining… if not a bit embarrassing… I think this was a decision well made." Yamato said.

Musashi then cut off her radio.

"Way to go, Michael." Isaac said before looking at Musashi.

"I'm assuming you are going to request the same thing?" Isaac asked.

"I am… however, unlike my elder sister, I will avail myself to any bedroom antics you desire from this moment forward. All I ask is for our union to be held upon Sakura soil in the confines of a Shinto Shrine. Until that day… I desire to be regarded as your Fiance." Musashi said as she looked down at 13.

"Was that well enough for you, I-13?" Musashi asked.

13 nodded.

"It gives you time to get to know my husband. And you have promised yourself to him… so… I cannot stop you, Lady Musashi." 13 said as she stepped aside to allow Musashi to walk towards Isaac.

"Two in one day, gotta say, Isaac, you're one hell of a ship wrangler." Arizona said as Isaac was sandwiched between the firm body of an American Battleship, and the firm plushy body of a Sakura super ship.

"Yup… looks like tonight is going to be one for the ages." Isaac thought as he smiled at Arizona's comment.

Cole and Brooklyn sat on a log next to Dutchess and Lucia.

"So… explain this again?" Dutchess spoke.

"Basically we are on our way to Wilhelmshaven to procure a set of blueprints for Admiral Garner's fleet. We are here with an armada that we believe is capable of providing enough distraction to get the blueprints and get back out. Brooklyn is one of the Kansen we have, but there are a number of others sitting offshore waiting on my group to advance and give them the coordinates to begin the assault. If you are heading up that way, we could very much use the extra hands." Cole explained as Brooklyn sent a silent message back to the fleet.

"Gneisenau, come in." The message read.

"What do you want, half pint?" Gneisenau asked.

"We've hit a snag. Cole is negotiating for the moment, but the people we have run into have a Siren among their ranks. I do not feel safe having her here." Another message read.

"A siren? And is it helping them?" Gneisenau asked, now fully invested.

"Yes. The one they call Dutchess, a large Dutch woman, has claimed that this Siren is of no threat to us or the operation. But… it's an Oceana class Siren. I cannot trust this being not to turn on us like the cultists did Benson." A third message spoke.

"Gotcha. I'll be over soon, I have relayed this information to the Admiral and he has allowed me to come back you up. Anything else to add?" Gneisenau asked.

"Dutchess is freakishly strong. She has an arm made of Siren material and an eye that is not her own. This Siren has changed this woman… I do not trust them." Brooklyn's final message wrote.

"Gotcha. I'll be on guard the moment I get there. Even if we were enemies… we have to stick together now. That Siren won't be an issue, regardless of whether we can trust her." Gneisenau said as her communications stopped.

Brooklyn tapped Cole's shoulder.

"Hmm?" Cole asked as Brook went to his ear.

"Gneisenau is on her way… I am not strong enough to fight the Dutch woman… but Gneisenau is very strong, seeing's she is a battleship. She will level the playing field." Brooklyn whispered quietly.

"I see. The extra hands will help." Cole said as they turned to Dutchess and Lucia.

"So, will your group be joining us?" Cole asked.

"So long as your goals do not hinder ours… I do not see any reason that we cannot help each other here, in spite of the poor foot we started off on." Dutchess said as the groups continued to talk, discussing plans and furthering their partnerships, unknowingly following the march of time towards an unfavorable encounter.