The fleet began coming into view nearly an hour later as the hull of the Odin and the Musashi sliced through the thick fog surrounding the bay. Wilhelm watched as Vestal took to the waves from her ship and headed straight for the incapacitated Essex Class carrier. Upon reaching the flight deck, she went to Wilhelm.

"Any casualties among your men?" Vestal asked bluntly.

"Those two." Wilhelm spoke as he pointed to the two men who had been shot center mass by Shangri-la's rigging based aircraft.

"They were shot in the plate that covers their chest. I do not know how much the plating protects, but if it is anywhere close to the Admiral's level of protection, then they should only be looking at bruising. Maybe a fractured rib since one of them fell while taking the blow." Wilhelm explained.

"I'll tend to them as well. It sounds like the Admiral's plan is working. With this armor being rated for rigging based firepower, we can easily mass produce the basic armor plating that your troops have been given." Vestal spoke.

"So we were the guinea pigs?" Wilhelm asked.

"No… that would be our idiot of an Admiral who took a bullet to the head in New Guinea. For all intents and purposes, you and your men would have survived anything up to an M2 Browning. We have yet to extensively test the plating against rigging of sufficient caliber. However, the Admiral did tank a round from Laffey's rigging. So it is ill-advised for you to attempt to stand off with a Kansen that has anything larger than a 5-inch gun on her boat." Vestal spoke.

"Duly noted." Wilhelm spoke moments before a scream was heard throughout the fleet.

"WISCONSIN!"

On the Iowa, The kansen of the same name had fallen to her knees the moment she saw the tip of a hull marked with the number 64.

Iowa, unable to contain her emotions, let out an ear-splitting scream that shook the waters around her hull.

"Wisky… not you too." Iowa whimpered as her screams subsided. A terrible pain ripped through her chest as she felt something akin to her heart breaking. She had seen the state of the Missouri and took it in stride for the safety and wellbeing of Isaac, but the knowledge of losing two of her beloved sisters was beginning to take its toll on her relatively new body.

Arizona, Musashi and Isaac came over to the Iowa shortly after, following a flurry of radio calls demanding intelligence on the situation. Isaac ordered the fleet to standby before he made the trek to the battleship.

"Iowa?" Isaac asked softly as he knelt down to her level. Arizona had taken to checking the battleship just in case, as Musashi stood by as moral support.

"Is… this why you pushed me back, Admiral?" Iowa asked through tears.

Isaac hesitated.

"Yes. I had knowledge of this… and I know it was wrong to keep this information from you. I meant no ill-will, it was for your safety and the safety of this fleet." Isaac spoke diplomatically.

"I… understand. She never took to a cube… just like Mo. But that doesn't make her any less my sister." Iowa spoke as she held her face in her hands.

"I know, Iowa. And I'm sorry. I know it isn't much consolation, but I have a plan for the two hulls that made up Missouri and Wisconsin. What I'm hoping for is nothing short of a miracle." Isaac said.

"And what is that, Admiral? Do you plan to scrap them and use their plates to fix whatever damage befalls myself and New Jersey? Because if so, I hope you burn in hell!" Iowa spat lividly.

"What? No! Why the hell would you think so low of me?" Isaac spat back, clearly upset by Iowa's harsh demeanor.

"There's nothing more they could be used for! Mo has been all but decimated! Wisky is in the bottom of the bay with her entire crew killed onboard! They are dead hulls! What more could you do with them!?" Iowa yelled as her stance told Isaac that he was in danger of being slugged by the angry battleship.

"I'm going to combine them and see if through some kind of miracle, I can find a way to have that hull take cubes. The running theory is that if enough cubes are present, the personalities of both ships will manifest, giving us another first in this fleet. A vessel with two Kansen." Isaac explained.

Iowa slumped back, seemingly shocked that she herself hadn't thought of such a feat.

"You can use my cubes! My hull took them!" Iowa tried.

"Nope. We're gonna muscle our way through this one. You have Perkins to worry about. Don't worry, we'll manage." Isaac spoke.

Iowa took a moment to reflect. She had nearly forgotten the man most important to her. The one who commanded her since before her awakening. The one she nearly offended the Admiral for.

"I… understand. Please… don't let their hulls waste away. They're my sisters… living or not." Iowa spoke softly.

"I would never dream of it, Iowa. Now come on, we have a city to secure." Isaac said as he stood, turning back when he didn't hear Iowa rise to her feet.

"I… don't think this is where I need to be, Admiral." Iowa said.

"Iowa?" Isaac asked.

"I took Missouri's destruction in stride to keep you safe. But… even with the promise of you attempting to bring my sisters to life, I find myself unwilling to continue the fight at the moment. A great pain has set upon my heart… and despite me trying to push it away, it lingers heavily. I'm sorry, Admiral. May I request a transfer back to the Philippines?" Iowa asked.

Isaac sighed softly, being sure to keep it unheard by anyone present.

"Will you be able to make it without an escort?" Isaac asked.

"I am a battleship of the Iowa class. I am fast. I am strong." Iowa spoke, treating those words as a mantra as Isaac noticed her repeating the lip movements despite no longer speaking.

"I will permit it. I cannot afford you an escort, as Japan is littered with Cultists and mass produced Siren elites. But I will dedicate a carrier to provide you air coverage. Will you be comfortable with that arrangement?" Isaac asked.

"Can I request Enterprise, Sir?" Iowa asked.

"Understood. Enterprise, come in." Isaac spoke.

"I'm here, Admiral. What are your orders?" Enterprise asked.

"I want you to send your Skyraiders to escort Iowa to the Philippines. We cannot afford to send a destroyer or cruiser for escort." Isaac said.

"I understand." Enterprise spoke as Isaac could see Skyraiders form on her flight deck.

"I'm sorry, Admiral… I guess I really am useless after all." Iowa spoke as she was suddenly enveloped in a hug.

"It may be improper for me to hug a married woman… but you are far from useless, Iowa. You have bore more pain than anyone should have to. I refuse to find fault in wishing to grieve. Do you hear me?" Isaac spoke firmly.

"I…" Iowa tried.

"I don't care. You are an Iowa class Battleship. You are Fast. You are Strong. But even the strongest of us need time to bear the pain." Isaac whispered.

Iowa nodded softly.

"Go ahead and prepare for your transit to the Philippines. I will send a message ahead for Perkins. Perhaps he and Kaga will meet you halfway." Isaac said.

"Thank you, Admiral. Please take care of my younger sisters, please." Iowa begged.

"They will be treated with the utmost respect. I swear it." Isaac said as Iowa stood.

"Then I shall be off. I am sorry for the inconvenience." Iowa spoke.

"Don't apologize. Go and take time to process this. Hopefully the next time I call for you, I will have two girls who are excited to meet their big sister." Isaac said with a smile.

Iowa smiled a sad smile before Isaac, Arizona and Musashi vacated her deck. With a sound of her horn, she turned away from the fleet and began the long trek back to the Philippines.

"Godspeed Iowa." Isaac whispered as he watched the beast of Union steel disappear into the fog.

New Jersey stood on the bridge with Nimitz as they sailed closer to Sicily.

Suddenly, New Jersey felt a sharp pain in the back of her head, as a massive headache took hold. She immediately brought a hand to her head and braced against her steering gear.

"Jersey?" Nimitz asked.

One word rang out in New Jersey's head.

"Wisconsin."