As Amagi and Prinz Eugen made haste towards the east to circumnavigate the blockade, Isaac returned his eyes to the battle, where Odin and Musashi had managed to break a hole in the blockade just wide enough to slip one of Elizabeth's chinooks through.

"Lizzy, do you have your helicopters ready?" Isaac asked.

"Yes, my king. Jager and his men are loaded. A bit skittish, but I don't blame them. What's my launch window?" Lizzy asked.

"Get them going now. Norfolk just picked up fighters coming in from the west so we're about to taste some Union firepower." Isaac said as he watched a long black metallic tube rise from the deck of the Queen Elizabeth with a sound that mixed thunder and a machine gun. Isaac watched in amazement as the helicopter began flying forward over the fleet with comparable air speed to early prop planes. Isaac also spotted a pair of weapons that bore a similar look to the CIWS systems on Yume's vessel poking out of the sides of the helicopter. He only realized the helicopters were armed when one of Jager's men manned the gun facing west and opened fire on the wildcats that had broken through the fog.

"Get them out of here! I need that carrier neutralized." Isaac ordered as Lizzy pushed the helicopter into the fog, passing the blockade with ease.

"Good luck, Black Death." Isaac whispered as his sight returned to the bullet riddled wildcat formation that had weathered a withering barrage of 7.62mm rounds from the chinook.

"Alright girls, we've done it before, we'll do it again. All hands, blanket the sky in flak and draw these fighters into a kill zone for Enterprise, Lizzy and Yume. Richthofen, feel free to pad your statistics as well if you're back here." Isaac spoke over the fleet channel.

"Gladly. I'm on overwatch for that carrier. She just sent a wave of SBD's your way, Admiral. I would prepare for anti-bomber operations." Richthofen spoke.

"Great. She's employing Sakura tactics to try and confuse us. See what you can do to break up those bombers before they get here." Isaac said as the fleet opened up their flak guns and other Anti-air munitions, swiftly knocking the already worn-down Wildcats out of the sky.

Check-ins from around the fleet reported no damage as the fleet readied itself for the next wave.

"Let's break through this blockade and get into firing distance of the Shangri-la just in case Jager needs backup. All Battleships, open fire on the nearest enemy vessel and let's get a move on." Isaac spoke as the fleet complied readily with his orders.

Washington and Max sat at their table by the window with Ranger taking the seat next to Max as they sat in the restaurant that Washington had picked for the evening.

As they waited for the waitress, Washington listened closely to the conversations around them.

"Those Black ships still haven't moved."

"Weren't there more today than yesterday? Those are the Siren ships, right?"

"Are they going to make a move? Vittorio has been doing all she can to hold off an invasion… has the Eternal Flagship finally fallen?"

Washington was thankful she had picked up Italian as a language. It was easier to collect information if people didn't realize you understood their language.

"Ranger." Washington spoke.

"Hmm?" Ranger asked as she stopped fidgeting with Max's hair.

"We should finish here quickly and prepare. The locals are noting an increase in drone ship movement and activity. Vittorio did say that Hermit was preparing an invasion." Washington spoke.

"I know. My patrols aren't looking any better. More and more drones are being stationed just outside your range. They know we're here and are going to try and push all at once and overwhelm us." Ranger said.

"Can we radio New Jersey? We could use an Iowa class right now." Washington lamented.

"Sadly, no. The plane I sent to try and get a clear channel of communication was shot down via drone ship. They cut us off. Hermit wants Sicily." Ranger said.

Washington held her tongue on account of Max, but Ranger knew what she wanted to say.

"So now what? Wait for them to make their move?" Washington asked.

"We're going to have to. Hopefully we can get backup at some point, but they're going to have to break through this drone armada to even link up with us." Ranger explained as their waitress came over.

Washington eyed her closely as she explained the specials for the evening.

In perfect Italian, Washington posed a question.

"Where's Gloria? She said she'd be here this evening." Washington asked in Italian.

The waitress replied.

"Gloria called in sick. She said she wasn't feeling too well on account of stress." The waitress replied.

"Can I get you something to eat?" The waitress asked.

"Three bottles of carbonated tonic, unopened if you will. We're still deciding." Washington spoke, earning herself a look from Ranger.

"Of course. I'll have that out right away." The waitress said as she left their table.

"Washington… you know there's nobody on this island named Gloria." Ranger said.

"You know that. And I know that. But if that's the case… why'd the waitress respond like that?" Washington asked, showing Ranger that her pride wasn't for show.

"They've already begun their invasion…" Ranger said in a hollow tone.

"Max, sweetie. I think we'll have to come back another time. If Miss Gloria isn't here, the chef won't know how you like your pasta done up." Washington said. Max nodded.

"Okay mama. Can we come back next week? Maybe she'll be here then." Max asked.

"Sure thing, kiddo. Let's just drink our waters and head out. It was a hot day after all." Washington said, covering their proverbial tracks by producing an alibi for leaving.

Ranger, meanwhile, send a message to the same radio that had contacted her back in Boston. She had the frequency memorized. She sent a single message, hoping it would get through.

"Sicily has fallen."

Norfolk scrambled to get to Isaac on the bridge.

"Isaac, we need to contact Vittorio immediately." Norfolk said.

"What's going on?" Isaac asked as he watched a sizable gap open in the blockade thanks to the hard work done by his battleships.

"Ranger just sent a message from her station in Sicily. She says Sicily has fallen. I am also recording a change in Siren activity in the Mediterranean. Hermit is making her move." Norfolk deduced.

"Contact Vittorio and get her to send every available ship to meet Hermit head on. If Agir and August are ready, send them to battle." Isaac said as he turned his attention back to the fight on his hands.

"As you wish, Isaac." Norfolk said as she relayed his message to Vittorio.