Tony, 47 and the Black Death moved steadily across the courtyard. They made sure to avoid loose debris and other noise-making obstacles as they made their way to the Emperor's Residence inside Tokyo Palace. Michael oversaw the operation, his rifle pointed down range ready to put down any threat that could befall the operators.

"I take it you made it inside?" Michael asked via his field radio.

"Yes. We're inside, Herr Michael. The entrance is empty, as we had hoped. But I am hearing something approaching from outside. Can you confirm?" 47 asked.

Michael looked out over the complex.

"Looks like an Oceana returning to post." Michael said.

"Okay… please eliminate it." 47 said softly.

"Why? The less noise we make, the better. That's why you're sneaking around." Michael queried.

"The Kommandant has had Zero brief the members of The Black Death on mass produced siren models. Oceana's are very intelligent. If she feels anything off, she will raise the alarm. I would suggest having Friedrich fire another salvo and take her out before she catches on." 47 spoke.

Michael thought.

"You're right. I remember Isaac mentioning something like that when telling us about how he nearly died. You got it. Hang tight." Michael said as he switched channels.

"Friedrich. On my count, give me a single turret's worth of fire, same trajectory." Michael said.

"Understood, my child. The guns are ready to fire on your order." Friedrich replied.

Michael aimed his rifle, his eyes focusing intently down the iron sights at the single Oceana in his view.

"Fire at will." Michael whispered.

Miles away, Friedrich fired her guns.

The moment Michael heard the report, he pulled the trigger on his rifle, sending a 20mm anti-tank high explosive round nearly 600 meters into the chest of the problematic Oceana, cracking the armor and exploding within, dropping the target without alerting anyone else. A few seconds later, the twin shells impacted the courtyard, sending the Sirens that had emerged back into hiding.

"Target eliminated." Michael reported on 47's channel.

"Thank you. We're not seeing very many Peace Breakers on patrol here. They're likely outside looking for whoever is bombing the complex." 47 whispered.

"Yeah. The only opposition you'll likely encounter is inside the throne room. It'll be towards the middle rear of the second floor." Michael spoke as he glanced over a hastily drawn map of the Emperor's residence.

"Where are you?" Michael asked.

"Heading towards the second floor staircase." 47 replied as Michael moved a small rock onto the map to track their progress.

"If you give me an update every minute or so, I can keep track of your location." Michael said.

"Got it." 47 said as they continued the mission.

Yamato boarded the Shimakaze to see the lapine destroyer hunched over on top of one of her three quintuple torpedo launchers.

"Shimakaze?" Yamato asked softly.

"I killed him… didn't I? I… I didn't want too. But it hurt so much…" Shimakaze whispered.

Yamato sighed.

"I… cannot say. I do not know who you are talking about." Yamato lied.

"The German… the one in the mask. He had a sword and guns. I… shot him in the chest with my rigging. I heard what sounded like metal… but… I still shot a human with my rigging. He's dead…" Shimakaze said, her tone indicating a mental spiral. It was clear she never wanted to hurt anyone.

"I understand your pain, little one. I had to fight them too. It wasn't my choice. They held my sister hostage. I can sympathize with your pain." Yamato said as she climbed onto the torpedo mount with Shimakaze.

Shimakaze was clearly crying.

"I feel like a monster. I tried so hard to fight the pain. But… it felt so good to fight him. It felt good to try and kill the others. I hate that it felt good… and it caused my strength to waiver." Shimakaze said, her sadness mixing with self-hatred.

"Shimakaze. I will not try to tell you how to feel. But keep your head up. The man I am taking you to is not one who punishes carelessly. I suspect your sentence will be light… Musashi and I will be sure to do what we can as well." Yamato said softly.

"What you can?" Shimakaze asked.

"We carry a lot of weight for him. And Musashi has… claimed him. So I feel like we can work this out should the man you attacked live." Yamato said as she turned her head in embarrassment.

Shimakaze looked down again.

"I don't think he did. He was slow… he is human. Humans can't withstand our power." Shimakaze said.

Yamato looked at the destroyer.

"Either way… I have been ordered to escort you to him. Please come willingly. I do not wish to hurt you." Yamato said softly.

"I will accept my fate. Please lead me to him…" Shimakaze said as she turned to see Taihou connecting a towing line to the husk of the Chicago.

"Taihou is here too?" Shimakaze asked.

"She is. Shikikan awakened her before meeting us. He even rebuilt her hull. She came on his order as well." Yamato explained.

Shimakaze sighed.

"She seems happy." Shimakaze said.

"She is. Everyone under Shikikan is." Yamato said as she stood.

"Let us depart for Kure, Shimakaze. Please do not force me to sink you." Yamato spoke.

Shimakaze nodded.

"Yes, Lady Yamato." Shimakaze replied.

Elizabeth returned with Nürnberg, immediately passing her off to Vestal in the rear before heading to the Tug.

The bulins on board met her right away.

"We have the parts you requested, Lady Elizabeth. But… they seem too small for a ship. What are they?" One of the bulins asked.

"They are brackets meant to stabilize a human ribcage. You made them to my exact specifications, right?" Elizabeth asked.

The bulin nodded.

"Yes ma'am. Rounded C-shaped titanium construction no more than 1 millimeter thick. The arms of the 'C' are rounded to a curve with space between material being no more than one-quarter inch as well as having two holes drilled on each arm all the way through the work. We have produced six of these as well as machining twenty-four three-eights inch titanium screws to fit. This fits your specifications, no?" The Bulin asked.

"Yes. Have they been sterilized?" Elizabeth asked.

"Yes. We have subjected the parts to heat and low dosage radiation, there should be nothing alive on these brackets." The Bulin assured Elizabeth.

"Good. I shall transport them to the Platypus. Thank you again." Elizabeth said as she collected the steel tray that the brackets were set on.

Wilhelm was still out when Elizabeth returned to the Platypus.

"How is he?" Elizabeth asked as she set the tray of brackets down on a nearby operating tray.

"He's alive… somehow. Six of his ribs are completely broken from his rib cage. How he hasn't punctured a lung or his heart is beyond astounding. In my seven years of nursing, three of which was during wartime… I've never seen anything this bad." Alice said bluntly.

Bismarck and Tirpitz looked at Wilhelm with a look of sadness.

"Will he make it?" Bismarck asked.

"Yes. Yes he will. But if he is to do so… I need you to listen to me very closely." Elizabeth said.

"What do we need?" Alice asked.

"Blood, Eldridge, and a very steady set of hands. A drill also is required… do we have one on board?" Elizabeth asked.

"You bet. I have one in my repair kit." Patty said.

"Sterilize it with alcohol. If it has any form of bacteria, it could lead to an infection. And unless we have an excess of antibiotics, we need to avoid infection if he is to survive surgery." Elizabeth spoke flatly.

"On it. I'll ask Gangut for some of her vodka. That should do the trick… stuff is more flammable than aviation gas…" Patty said with a smile as she bounded out of the room.

"So… explain this procedure." Arizona said softly.

"Do we know what ribs have been affected?" Elizabeth asked as she sat down next to Wilhelm.

Arizona pointed to the middle six ribs on Wilhelm's right side.

"Those six right there." Arizona said as Elizabeth thought for a moment.

"Alright. The basic premise of this is to reattach the ribs and anchor them with the titanium brackets I had the bulins make. As such, we need to cut a flap of skin just big enough to pull the ribs back together but also leave enough space to drill in the screws that are used to hold everything together. Does that make sense?" Elizabeth asked.

"Yes. Basically, we just need to make space without damaging anything important. Am I getting that right?" Alice asked.

"Yes. And because the brackets are made of titanium, they will be a permanent addition. We will not be removing them. Bones can heal, but we cannot risk infection by opening him back up after the fact. There is a very small chance of lingering pain, but that is a price you all need to be willing to pay. This is the only viable solution to keep him in the fight." Elizabeth said.

Bismarck stood.

"Do it. I will personally see to his recovery. No pain shall befall him." Bismarck said as she looked at Wilhelm.

"Good. Arizona, you are going to have to make sure that you are not clamping any muscles when you place these brackets. Are you confident you can do this?" Elizabeth asked.

"Yes. Alice has taught me everything she knows. So I can do this. We'll bring him back." Arizona said as Patty returned with her drill and a clear bottle of vodka.

"She had to grab this from the magazine of her ship. I'd say it's weapons grade." Patty said with a smile.

Soon after, Eldridge came in with another nurse who was carrying a few bags of blood.

"Good all the parts are here. Eldridge, honey. I need you to do me a favor." Elizabeth said softly.

"Hmm?" Eldridge asked.

"I need you to really keep the voltage down. Can you control the voltage you output?" Elizabeth asked.

Eldridge nodded.

"Can you go down to 200 volts?" Elizabeth asked.

Eldridge nodded.

"Good. Keep it down there until we're done. Patty, make sure to sterilize her hands." Elizabeth said as everyone looked at her with looks of horror.

"What do you mean by that?" Tirpitz asked.

"If his heart arrests during surgery, she will be his lifeline. She can push electricity through his heart and force the muscle to pump blood again while we work to get him closed up. I have no doubt that Arizona's ability will keep him going, but it is unwise to not have a backup plan. Think of this as nothing more than precaution." Elizabeth said as Eldridge allowed her hands to be doused in high proof alcohol.

"Now, keep them away from everything, Eldridge. You are sterile." Elizabeth said as the blood bags were rigged up and hung, ready for transfusion should the need arise. Arizona grabbed a scalpel with Alice acting as advisor. Elizabeth sat with the Bismarck sisters as the tools and area on Wilhelm's body were doused in alcohol.

"Lock the door. We cannot have any interruptions." Elizabeth said as Bismarck barricaded the door.

"You may begin." Elizabeth said as Alice and Arizona nodded, injecting a dose of morphine into Wilhelm's arm before waiting a few minutes for the medicine to kick in. Arizona approached Wilhelm with the scalpel and made her first incision.