New Jersey and company walked out of the command room and walked, with purpose, towards port. When New Jersey arrived with Admiral Nimitz, Gneisenau was waiting with Natalie and Pavel standing close by.

"I heard I'm going to sortie again, Admiral." Gneisenau said.

"Yes. But before we discuss that, how is Scharnhorst doing?" Nimitz asked.

Gneisenau smiled softly.

"She's safe. She's made quick friends with Corporal Barnes. Yorktown has returned to his side as well to keep an eye on his recovery. The medical staff here have been working around the clock to keep that ticker in his chest going." Gneisenau said.

Nimitz nodded.

"Corporal Barnes is the one that Yorktown brought here, correct?" Nimitz asked.

"Correct. He is being treated for egregious burn wounds to his chest. We promised to keep him here if Yorktown accompanied you on your raid of Wilhelmshaven." New Jersey said.

"I see. Well, she did very well, she deserves some time with someone she holds dear. That said, Gneisenau. I need you to prepare for combat. Contact San Diego and Wichita as well and relay that message. We're going to be the forward spear to head this assault. We have to break the blockade around Sicily to get to Washington and Ranger." Nimitz spoke.

Gneisenau smiled.

"Also, you will be housing Natalie and Pavel on this mission. She insists on being able to fight, so you will be tasked with looking after them." Nimitz added. Gneisenau rolled her eyes but nonetheless nodded.

"I will not fail you." Gneisenau said as she retreated back towards the docks.

Nimitz watched as San Diego and Wichita scrambled aboard their own vessels and began preparing for the fight to come.

"Let's only hope we can get there in time." Nimitz said as he and New Jersey walked up the gangway to the mighty Iowa class battleship.

Washington, Max, Minneapolis and Ranger ran along the coast as fast as their legs could carry them. Being unable to secure a vehicle to Marsala was proving to be a bigger problem than anticipated. Everywhere they looked, more and more people began to look suspicious. Their eyes followed the four as they tried to stick to alleys and side roads instead of the main stretches of road that led up the coast.

"This is getting worse by the minute." Washington snapped quietly as she held Max's hand, ensuring that he was keeping up.

"There seems to be a lot more going on here than anticipated. I wonder how long it took them to infect the island to this degree." Minnie replied as she kept her eyes peeled. The three Kansen didn't have their rigging active but had it primed and ready just in case things deteriorated.

Ranger had kept a single fighter active and was using it to scout their way ahead. So far she had managed to scrap three ambush attempts by what she could only assume were more Siren Cultists.

"It wouldn't have taken long, Minnie. These cultists were once desperate and hopeless people. They truly believe that the Sirens are our saviors and are here to pull humanity from the clutches of all-encompassing war. A cause that Benson died for." Ranger said softly.

"They killed Benson?" Minnie asked.

Ranger nodded.

"I think the Admiral managed to find a way to revive her. I don't know how, but I can only hope that is the case." Ranger said.

"How did they kill her? That's the real question." Minnie spoke as Ranger spotted a vehicle.

"Vehicle up ahead. Looks like it hasn't been tampered with. Minnie, go see if it's salvageable." Ranger spoke.

Minnie nodded.

"You'll have to tell me the full story later, Ranger. I'll hold you to it." Minnie said as she sprinted ahead and gave the car a quick but thorough look over to ensure that there were, in fact, no booby traps placed on the vehicle.

With a thumbs up, Washington and Ranger made a break for the vehicle, placing Ranger and Max in the back as Washington and Minnie took the passenger and driver's seat respectively.

"Why the hell do you get to drive?" Washington snapped.

"Because I put myself in danger to make sure that this car wasn't rigged to bow when I do this." Minnie said as she kicked out the panel under the steering wheel of the car before hotwiring the car. The car started flawlessly and with a distinct lack of devastating explosions.

Washington kept quiet as Minnie threw the car into gear and made a quick 180 before gunning the throttle towards Marsala.

The battle had been going smoothly. The battleships and heavy cruisers were steadily breaking through the drone ship blockade as the carriers and light cruisers fought valiantly to keep wave after wave of fighters and bombers from devastating the fleet. Isaac stood on the bridge of the Norfolk watching all of this. Watching as wave after wave of American planes fell to the ocean, burning in oily wrecks before disappearing entirely.

"Zero… how did you manage to capture her?" Isaac asked.

"It was easy. When Empress forced Enterprise to undergo her forced retrofit, there was a pulse that covered the world and forced a vast majority of Kansen to revert into the wisdom cubes used to create them. When I took over Japan, Shangri-la's cubes were floating in the bay. It was as simple as reviving her and subjecting her to experimentation… but seeing's how I now serve you, I feel something akin to shame and remorse. The process to get her to this state was not pleasant." Zero explained.

Isaac sighed.

"And you said that she was activated by the cultists left behind?" Isaac asked.

"That would be the most likely cause. The Wolfpack worship us Sirens. I haven't a clue as to why, but it made our jobs easier. We faced little resistance in our subjugation of this planet thanks to them." Zero elaborated.

"They were desperate for an end to the war. We had just unleashed the atomic bombs. And at the time, Japan wasn't backing down. Most people feared that atomic weapons would become the norm. So, it makes sense that they would seek comfort anywhere they could… even if it meant forsaking Humanity in the process." Isaac said as a blue flare drew his attention towards the left side of the fleet. Omaha had taken a hit.

"Omaha, are you alright?" Isaac asked over the radio.

"We need to keep those planes away from the fleet. It managed to pierce my shields and explode on deck. I'll live, but those bombs are dangerous." Omaha spoke as the Tug-o-War motored quickly over to provide emergency repair and fire suppression.

"Understood. Pull into the center of the formation and get under the cover of the carriers. Another hit like that and you won't be able to make it." Isaac said as the Omaha began moving slowly, with help from the tug, towards the center of the fleet.

"How are things looking, Richthofen?" Isaac asked via radio.

"She's slowing down on her launches. Perhaps the strain of losing so many fighters is beginning to set in. That said, I can see Jager's group pushing through the cloud cover. I'll divert my attack to guide them in. I can already see the AA guns on this carrier turning to engage." Richthofen spoke.

"Understood. I trust your judgment." Isaac said as he switched channels to Lizzy.

"Lizzy, Jager is being targeted by Shangri-la's AA. Prepare evasive maneuvers." Isaac ordered.

"Understood, my king. Deploying evasive maneuvers now." Lizzy said.

"Please hold on to something." Lizzy's voice warned in the cargo hold of the Chinook.

"You heard the woman! Brace!" Jager ordered as the Chinook suddenly began to fall as if the engines had cut out completely.

Jager eyed the altimeter.

"5,000"

"4,500"

"4,000"

"3,500"

"3,000"

The Chinook fell to a height of 500 feet in a matter of seconds before kicking the engines back on, slowing their descent to just above 100 feet above the water.

"We should be low enough to evade Shangri-la's AA defenses. Please prepare to offload as I will need to do a hot landing." Lizzy instructed.

"Understood. I appreciate the concern for safety." Jager spoke flatly.

"Where I come from, Germany and the United Kingdom are friendly. Think nothing of this and prepare to land. I do not know how she will react once we touch the deck." Lizzy said as her voice cut out.

"Alright! The moment this bird lands, we book it to the Island! Get off the flight deck or you will risk being run down. Our mission is to suppress the carrier long enough for the Admiral to get in range to have more hands on this. Shoot to disable rigging. We cannot kill her, understand?" Jager barked.

"Understood!" The men yelled as they felt the Chinook rise hard to avoid the lip of Shangri-la's flight deck. As soon as the rear wheels touched the deck, the door dropped.

"Go! Go! Go!" Jager yelled as they quickly vacated the helicopter moments before the chinook was engulfed in flames, having landed directly in front of a departing SBD. Jager and his men booked it towards the island, taking cover behind the five-inch turret posted in front of the island.

"Where is she?" Jager asked.

"She's not on deck. We need to find her." One of the men spoke.

"Agreed. Fan out and search this ship from bow to stern. If you find her, do not engage. Radio for the rest of us so we can figure out how to tackle this." Jager said as the men all split up to infiltrate the carrier.