Friedrich collected the injured Wilhelm and placed him on the head of the serpent that had coiled itself tightly around the hull of the Shimakaze. She then turned a stern gaze towards the Lapine destroyer.
"You will be held without your vessel. Despite the removal of this black cube, you are still an unknown quantity." Friedrich spoke as her serpents tightened their grip, slowly beginning to bend the steel railings around the midships. This process, however, was interrupted by the arrival of Amagi and a very disturbed Gangut.
"Lady Friedrich. I would ask that you allow me to keep her vessel under guard, as opposed to destroying it. We don't want to take supplies away from the Admiral when we return to Kure. Destroying her vessel means we might not be able to complete his project for the Iowa sisters due to lack of resources." Amagi spoke sagely.
Friedrich grumbled softly but ultimately relented, allowing her serpents to loosen their grip as she prepared to disembark and get Wilhelm back to the Amagi so he could be looked at.
Gangut stood quietly, mulling over the reality of the events that had transpired. She had lost her temper and had opened fire on a comrade in arms while also openly declaring her disdain for Michael and Wilhelm alike, despite them being allies to her cause. She was likely to be severely punished by either Michael or Isaac whenever punishment was deemed prudent.
"I shall excuse myself." Gangut spoke quietly.
"You shall remain in my company. You are not to be left unattended by order of my commander." Amagi spoke, cementing Gangut to her spot onboard the Japanese destroyer.
Moments later, Eugen's voice broke the tense silence.
"We have incoming. Two vessels, it's Patty and U-110." Eugen reported.
"Shimakaze, my old friend. Please make your way to my vessel and lash your hull to mine until such time that you can be fully trusted. For now, we should return to the flotilla and prepare to greet Patty and 110." Amagi said as everyone, Shimakaze included, vacated the deck of the Japanese destroyer.
Back onboard the Amagi, Michael sat on the bridge and pondered what he should do. Gangut had openly defied his orders and had even threatened his death should he intervene in her revenge. There was not a single doubt in his mind that she would have to face disciplinary action, but from who, he was unsure. His pondering was interrupted when Friedrich came in carrying Wilhelm in her arms.
"We need the team medic." Friedrich informed Michael.
"What happened?" Michael asked as he called on the intercom for the Black Death's medic to report to the bridge.
"Shimakaze opened fire on him with her rigging. He took two shells to the chest." Amagi spoke.
"And he survived?!" Michael asked in a surprised tone.
"He did… but as soon as I lifted him off the deck of the Shimakaze, he passed out and has not come to. He is, however, still breathing." Friedrich reported.
"That armor really is something else… To think that he could survive being shot by a Kansen at such a range. Not like the Admiral hasn't survived the same… quite the remarkable piece of technology. Hopefully the rest of the troops will be given the same form of protection" Michael said.
"All in due time, my dear. Until then, we must get Wilhelm medical attention and then we must greet Patty. We still have a raid on the imperial palace to conduct." Amagi spoke.
"I'm not sure we'll be able to. Jager's in no shape to go on such a mission." Michael said.
The medic came onboard the bridge and immediately set to work removing the plating on Wilhelm's chest.
"Four broken ribs. His chest is not expanding equally. He needs advanced medical attention as soon as possible." The medic spoke as he reached into his bag and pulled out a rolled bandage that he used to tightly wrap the section of chest that was expanding paradoxically in relation to the rest of Wilhelm's chest. After the bandage was administered, Wilhelm's chest seemed to stabilize, but nobody onboard the bridge was foolish enough to believe that the damage had been corrected.
"We'll have to send him back to the main fleet with Patty." Gangut muttered.
"That may be our only course of action. But who will take over the mission to secure the emperor?" Michael asked.
"Take it up with the Admiral." Gangut replied bluntly.
Michael shot her a look of agitation but realized that she was right. Isaac would want to know that his plan to rescue the Emperor had been affected by the sudden appearance of Shimakaze.
"So be it." Michael said as Patty integrated herself into the flotilla.
"Hi hi!" Patty exclaimed happily as she hopped aboard the Amagi.
"She has arrived." Amagi informed Michael moments before the eager submarine tender appeared on the bridge.
"Howdy there, Michael! The Admiral sent me to check on U-47 before returning to Kure." Patty explained.
"Where's U-110?" Michael asked.
"I sent her on her own mission. She is to collect Nurnberg in Alaska. The has a small team of bulins with her and en route to here, I upgraded her dive batteries to enable her to dive the moment she enters the Bering Sea. She has to sneak past the radar cruisers after all." Patty said with a smile.
"I see. Well, U-47 hasn't reported any issues as a result of the battle here. But we do need your assistance." Michael said.
"I'm happy to help, Michael." Patty said with a playful salute.
"I need you to take Jager and steam back to Kure at flank speed. He was severely injured in our attempt to save Shimakaze, which ended up being successful. But he needs Alice and Arizona and the help of the nursing corps." Michael said.
"Oh, that isn't good at all. Get him loaded on board my vessel, I have a small medical bay where he can be sheltered towards the center of the vessel. I'll just give my adorable U-47 a quick once over and we shall head out. Will you be providing me with an escort?" Patty asked.
Michael thought about it for a moment.
"Gangut. You are to return to the main fleet to face Isaac for the events that transpired here. I will not be the one to punish you on account of you and Friedrich doing such a good job at clearing Tokyo Bay. But Isaac will be informed of your egregious misconduct displayed in Shimakaze's rescue." Michael spoke firmly.
"I understand. It may not mean much… but I am ashamed of my conduct during Shimakaze's revival. And the time taken after the fact to calm down has shown me that I was wholly in the wrong for not only opening fire, but lashing out as well. You are not to blame for the loss of Avrora… I offer my apologies to you, Jager and Shimakaze." Gangut spoke as she left the bridge to prepare her vessel for her return to Kure.
Friedrich, meanwhile, made sure to deliver Wilhelm to the medical bay onboard the Platypus.
Michael then activated the Amagi's telegraph.
"Isaac. Platypus and Gangut will be returning to the main fleet. Jager has been severely wounded and will require immediate medical attention upon arrival. We have come upon and rescued a Japanese destroyer by the name of Shimakaze. She will be remaining here until someone from the main fleet can properly escort her to the main fleet. In light of Jager's injury, we need backup orders in order to proceed with the plan to rescue the Emperor. Please advise at your earliest convenience." The message read.