Majority of this chapter takes place in The Commander's mind. So please excuse the sudden jumps.

Fredrich and Amagi moved the three girls away from Karl and positioned him flat on the floor. The H-Class battleship moved to her knees and removed the red gloves revealing her pale, beautiful hands. "Please place his head on my lap, Amagi," Fredrich says to Amagi.

Amagi nods, trusting Fredrich but slightly confused about the H-Class battleship's intent with the sleeping Commander. "Do I need to do anything? I only know a little about rituals."

"Not much is needed in this case," Fredrich replies as she makes the Commander comfortable. "Unlike you, I'm not dealing with a wisdom cube. But the human mind. Maybe burn some incense to ease his mind further."

"If you are entering his dreams," Amagi begins, standing up to retrieve some incense from another room. "I could have contacted Shinano."

"It is not his dreams I wish to see," Fredrich replies, gently placing her hands on Karl's face. "But his very being, or at least what he will allow me to see."

"You're scaring me, Fredrich-san," Amagi admits worryingly, setting up the incense and lighting them.

"Don't be," Fredrich assure her. "Take his hand, and you may join me. If not, then please relax."

Amagi's opinion of Fredrich was biased towards being optimistic, but the H-Class Battleship still retained a questionable reputation. Fredrich unnerved some of her peers and Amagi herself in some regards. Seeing the confident and motherly expression of 'The terror,' Amagi hesitantly decided to trust her. Taking the Commander's hand, she takes a deep breath.

"What do you plan on doing to him?" Amagi asks her.

"We are going to probe his mind," Fredrich says calmly, placing her hands on his temple. "Be prepared, Lady Amagi."

Fredrich massaged his temples until Karl's eyes suddenly opened, revealing his eyes were replaced with two pure green orbs of energy. "Close your eyes, my dear friend," Fredrich warns her.

The battle cruiser does as Fredrich commands, and the eyes of the battleship begin to glow bright yellow. The world faded into complete darkness, with the only light radiating from Fredrich's eyes. Karl's body changed into a green orb of pure energy and hovered ominously in front of the two shipgirls. Amagi looked around confused, while Fredrich appeared calm and collected.

Amagi kept her observations to herself; she couldn't believe they had entered what she assumed to be the dream world or even the Commander's mind. The orb soon began to drift away, and the two girls followed. To Amagi's surprise, the sphere moved slowly to let her keep up, though the light was rather dim, and she worried she might trip over something.

"Don't worry, Ma'am!" A young boy's voice says as the light of a flashlight brightens the path in front of Amagi, revealing a dirt trail. "I brought my flashlight!"

The orb stops and disappears. The moon reveals itself, and the trio finds themselves in a forest. From the light on the moon, Amagi could see a small boy in a camouflage jacket three sizes too big with its hood up. Fredrich returns to Amagi's side with a yellow orb floating above her illuminating their way.

"Ms. Fredrich!" The boy exclaims, rushing to hug her. "I'm glad to see you again!"

"Who is that, Fredrich?" Amagi asks innocently.

"The young Commander," Fredrich replies, hugging the boy tenderly. "He greeted me here when I first met him, unofficially. This is his inner child."

The boy was small, maybe only five or six years old, and no taller than Amagi's thighs. He removed his gloves and stuck out his tiny hand, "My name is Karl Erich Dael! But my Dad calls me K.D. It's nice to meet you, Ma!" He says to her in a thick country accent.

Amagi smiles and returns the handshake, followed by a bow, "Hello, K.D., I'm Lady Amagi. It is a pleasure to meet you."

"My dear child is always exploring the corners of the Commander's mind," Fredrich explains. "He has led me to many interesting places here. But, there are some places I could not go without extra help."

"Mama Fredrich! Mama Fredrich!" K.D. says excitedly, pointing at Amagi's broach and the Sakura flower. "That's the flower! I found someone who had someone like that in the valley!"

"The valley?" Fredrich asks him.

"Yeah!" K.D. says. "It's just past that dark stuff you told me to stay away from… I'm sorry, I couldn't help but go past it!"

"Naughty, Naughty," Fredrich replies with a disappointed tone. "I told you not to go there."

"I know! But I couldn't help it! A nice lady with the flower needed water, though!" K.D. tells her. "I had to get it from the army man too! You know I want to be an army man!"

"Akagi, maybe?" Amagi surmises. "If K.D. is speaking about the chrysanthemum broach I gave to Akagi, then it has to be her."

Amagi kneels to look at K.D., "Can you take us to her?" She asks the boy.

"Yes, Ma'am! But it will be dangerous! I had to hide from the balls of light!" K.D. exclaims. "They'll take you to the witch if they find you!"

Fredrich raises her brow, "Witch?"

K.D. ran forward suddenly, and the two shipgirls ran behind him, attempting to catch up to him. The dim amber light of the flashlight began to fade into the all-consuming darkness of the forest, but the girls persevered until the smell of sea salt filled the air. A flash of green light then appeared, transporting them to the deep blue waters of the Pacific Ocean. Sea salt mixed with gunpowder and aviation fuel showed where the shipgirls had turned up: A battle on the high seas.

K.D. waved to them, standing on top of the water. "Over here! She was here last!"

"We need to deploy our rigging!" Amagi insists. "I feel as if there are enemies here!"

Fredrich summons her colossal rigging, and so does Amagi. The two race over towards K.D., only to be met by the sounds of aircraft engines overhead. Black planes appear above from the clouds diving on toward the boy. Fredrich pushes forward at breakneck speed to save the child, but a green George fighting soon intercepts the black aircraft.

"That's a Sakura Empire plane!" Amagi shouts to Fredrich.

The fighter shot the black planes to pieces and flew towards the horizon, where the sounds of naval cannons echoed. "Get 'em, big brother!" K.D. shouts, throwing his fist in the air.

"This is when Karl saves Nagato and Misaka," Fredrich notes. "But where is Akagi?"

"NEVER AGAIN!" The voice of the Commander shouts as the plane dives from the sky toward the ground. In the distance, the green orb appeared again, and an odd sound grasped their attention.

"The flower lady is over there!" K.D. shouts, trying to leave Fredrich's arms. But the battleship held firm refusing to let go of the child.

"No running off," Fredrich tells him. "We'll go together."

It was an odd sight to the witch as she watched the trio cross the water that was Karl's memory of the battle. But seeing his inner child in the hands of the motherly Fredrich was touching. The witch stayed behind them and watched as they soon entered another memory of a time long gone.

A Kamov 29 T.B. helicopter sat on the deck of a Mistral amphibious assault ship somewhere off the shore of an island surrounded by the destroyed hulks of large metal dragon-like creatures. The blood-red sky clashed with the blackness of the oil-slicked ocean. But the large grey amphibious assault ship, as did its series of large escort vessels, stuck out like a sore thumb.

"See those two big ships?!" K.D. says ecstatically, pointing at them as they fire a barrage of missiles. "That's so cool!"

Amagi marveled at the power of the large turretless ships as their missiles entered the skies. The Sakura battlecruiser looked around in awe at the control before her until she noticed the sea of people moving around in camouflage, mounting up on more strange double-rotor helicopters. Amagi knew of helicopters from the Iron Blood but never saw these odd double-rotor examples brisling with weapons. The ship appeared to be an aircraft carrier but for these bizarre weapons? Where were there? The camouflaged men and women were moving with utmost haste as they loaded missiles, rockets, and ammo on the racks of large double-rotor helicopters with shark mouths painted on their fronts. Troops loaded onto the small ones carrying weapons of all kinds. In her tactical mindset, Amagi deduced this was preparation for an assault. But against the sirens or something of the like by men alone? Where are the shipgirls?

Standing by a railing, they saw the Commander standing with Atago and Taihou at his sides. Even under the black trench coat, Fredrich and Amagi instantly noted his silhouette.

"My Commander," Taihou says to him as they watch another five missiles heading for a distant target. "Will those things be able to stop the Levithan?"

"For the moment," Karl says solemnly. "But that gives us enough time to get to the portal."

"What shall we do in the meantime?" Atago asks him. "Do you wish to have a little fun before the mission?"

Taihou looks at Atago angrily, but Karl waves her off. "I know your joking. We're about 10 miles out before we have to roll out."

"Then what is our role in this?" Taihou asks. "The order can't be the only one to kick the sirens out of here."

"Agreed." Atago replies, "We didn't come here to spectate. What do you have planned after we destroy the portal?"

The memory froze, and soon the world began to shake until the trio was moved to the helicopter. Darkness appeared over the rest of the world until it isolated the three.

"I can't afford to lose you two; you have to leave out now." Karl pleads to them.

"My love, I can't leave you, and you know this!" Atago begs with tears in her eyes.

"I'm stronger than Akagi! I can help you! My Commander, please don't abandon me!" Taihou begs, grabbing him by the collar.

Takao appears, pulling Taihou off of him with a great scowl on her face, but says nothing. Karl removes his coat and gives it to Taihou. "You are strong, but I need you to be strong for everyone else. The rabbit sisters are out of the fight, and I need you to be the fleet carrier. I'll always be with you."

Taihou breaks from Takao's grip and hugs him tightly as she sobs, "I love you, Commander!"

"I love you too; I love all three of you," Karl reassures her before letting her go and pushing her back into the helicopter.

Atago looked at him pitifully, but Karl pulled her towards him and kissed her deeply. "I love you, Atago. I always will, but I have to do this. Take care of everyone!"

"Why just you?! Why not me?! I'm your blade, your love, your Onee-San! My beloved, why!?" Atago pleads.

Atago sobs and kisses him uncontrollably until Takao interrupts to pull her in. Karl shuts the door, and the chopper flies off, leaving him with Akagi, who stands by with a stoic expression.

"Will we be coming back from this, My Commander?" She asks him.

"I'm not sure," Karl tells her bluntly.

"As long as I am with you," Akagi tells him, taking Karl's hand. "I am ready to leave this world at any moment."

Another orb appeared, and K.D. motioned for them to go forward. Passing through the orb, they found themselves in another fragmented memory.

Gunshots from a Kalashnikov overloaded the sensors of several sirens, both in its thunderous roar and from its .30 caliber hailstorm. Karl's movements were sharp, and his thorough sweep of the facility was drilled hard into him and his men for months. Today is that day as they pied each corner and delivered death to each siren. Unlike the shipgirls, The team said nothing as they did their dirty work. Darkly, Karl could only be thankful that none of them were here to see the brutal gunning down of these abominations. Moving onward with rapier-like speed, Karl and his men gun-downed four more siren drones until reaching a hub where he could gather data from a terminal.

The soldiers took up positions and threw down large terminals or crates for temporary defensive positions. Two men lugging PKP machine guns with Front Tactical Systems Scorpion ammunition backpacks.

"Wolf 2, Hunter 6," Karl calls on the net. "We are at the Hub. Set the charges and get ready for the demo of this place."

"Copy." Wolf 2 responds. "Planting charges on the struts."

Taking out a laptop, he began hooking up a special adapter from the kit given to him by the intelligence team.

"Major," His executive officer, alias' Mac,' gets his attention after finishing a transmission on the team radio. "Bravo and Charlie's squads have planted charges on the facility's struts. We should be able to bring this place down quickly before that thing can recover."

"It fucking shouldn't have recovered from the bombing." Karl spits, hooking up the computer to the Hub's servers. "I thought the only thing that could survive a MOAB or the FOAB was this place. The portal docks are the only places here rated for everything, even EMPs."

"What was that thing?" Mac asks him, adjusting his AK-104 carbine to reach a pack of cigarettes.

"Those shipgirls called it the 'Leviathan,'" Karl tells him as he motions for two of his tech-savvy Kommandos to boot up the Hub main computer. "But command calls it 'The darkness," But I like Leviathan better."

Mac chuckles mockingly, "I hope to never be as sarcastic as you, sir."

"Shit happens in old age, young buck," Karl replies, remembering Mac was in his mid-thirties. Turning his attention to his team, he looks them over. All were in the same uniform of ATACS FG, body armor, FAST Helmets with integrated communications, and heavy caliber 7.62 Kalashnikov carbines and PKP machine guns for close combat with both Sirens and Eldritch beasts summoned by them.

"Wicker Witch wants all the Data of that Hub!" Karl barks to his tech guys. "Sirens aren't taking our shit! Burn it all on the laptop, then torch the rest."

"Major," Mac begins, putting the radio away. "Alpha and Charlie teams set charges on the supports!"

"Roger that, Move quickly!" Karl responds.

Fredrich cocks her head at the strange display in front of her. The memory seemed to pause with an immense black abyss between it and another memory. Amagi looked on at the memory version of the Commander and the desperation in his eyes. Walking through the moment frozen in time, Amagi noted that the age of the camouflage men lugging futuristic weapons gave their faces the same desperate yet determined looks. None of their uniforms were clean, all were covered in strains from human and siren blood, ripped or torn, and some of the armored vests showed signs of being shot or cut by claws.

"They must be raiding into a siren base," Amagi noted. "This level of technology is to advance to be from our timeline."

"These are his men," Fredrich replies, noting their uniforms. "Not replacements or other units."

"Are you sure?" Amagi asks her. "How can you tell?"

"I feel their auras," Fredrich explains, "While they are haggard, these men trust our Commander totally. I can hear his voice recalling their names and codenames."

"That orb should have taken us to the valley!" K.D. complains. "I don't like coming here. It's too sad!"

She unfroze the memory and watched as Karl checked on the men. His XO, Mac, observes the tech guys as they begin ripping the data off of the Hub. A sergeant, Callsign Flint, began setting up Semtex explosives on the Hub. Karl then sat and pulled out his radio to report to friendly forces.

"Red Castle, Hunter 6," Karl says to their surprise. "SITREP."

"My Commander," The sultry voice of Akagi replies. "Situation is contained. The Levithan has halted its advance."

"Don't get cocky foxy," Karl replies. "Keep it suppressed. O-5's promised us support from Hadrian if things get bad."

"There is no need for such toys…" The communications cut suddenly, followed by static.

"Akagi?" Karl franticly shouts. "AKAGI?!"

"Sir, the Levithan just sunk the Baku and the Oppenheimer!" Mac shouts. "Those shipgirls report it's bringing up some kind of structures from the sea!"

"Take the reins, Mac!" Karl shouts, checking his mags. "Exfiltrate out the drainage and link up with the Marines!"

"What about you!?" Mac shouts back.

Karl says nothing and leaves the hallway at speed. The moment then went black, and another green orb appeared. The group reached out for it, but then the ground shook, and soon, a loud roar could be heard around them. "We have to go!" K.D. shouts. "It's the witch! We have to go!"

The child thrashed out of Fredrich's arms and took both shipgirls hands leading them through a hallway past the soldiers. Adrenaline fueled the child and the girls until a bright flash took them from the cold and restrictive bunker, returning them to the forest. K.D. led them through the woods until the orange flicker of fire began to take shape. A figure sat at the fire, throwing leaves into it, watching them crackle and burn. K.D. took them into the light and sat them down on a log catty-corner from the figure.

"K.D.," The figure gently asks the child, "Who are your friends?"

"Khan!" K.D. respond, hugging the man. "I found them in the woods. They wanted to see the flower woman, but the omen must have found us."

"Don't be going towards her," Khan warns him. "The witch is only getting more irritated and causes us more trouble."

Amagi noted Khans' appearance as that of the Commander but much older with completely grey hair and a more weathered face. He wore an all-white suit with matching white shoes that were pristine in appearance.

"My apologizes," Khan says to the shipgirls. "The inner child is rather adventurous. I'm conscious, but please call me Khan."

"Amagi." The fox girl replies to him.

"Fredrich Der Grosse." Fredrich introduces herself.

"Ah," Khan responds with a warm fatherly smile. "The shipgirls. I've had pleasant feelings about you and your kind. What brings you to mind?"

The two looked at each other and then back to Khan, but the old man smiled again. "No need to say the name. I believe I know why you are here." He tells them.

"Then what can you tell us?" Fredrich probes.

"Nothing," Khan replies nonchalantly, picking up a stick to poke at the fire. "Things in here aren't exactly… Alright, after seeing the other girls again."

"I've assumed trauma," Fredrich says. "As well as more… Magical reasons."

"I will neither confirm nor deny such things," Khan says vaguely. "Only that I must warn you not to dig much further."

"Mr. Khan," Amagi addresses him. "We are apprehensive about Commander. Some people wish to harm him, and I strongly believe that whatever is causing him pain originates here."

"I am worried about us as well," Khan replies. "But there is not much you or us can do. Only Suomi can change that."

"Suomi… Alias for someone?" Fredrich asks him.

"Uncle Suomi hasn't been seen for a while," K.D. tells them. "Not since the witch came."

"Alias for the Sub-conscious, my brother," Khan explains. "He knows more, I'm sure of it. But, as K.D. has stated, He hasn't been seen since the witch came."

Fredrich eyes grew wide as she recalled a day when the spiritual energy of the port increased to enormous proportions that nearly overwhelmed her.

"Penny, for your thought, hot stuff?" The old man asked wryly as he pulled a pipe from his jacket.

"Who is this witch you speak of, my dear child," Fredrich asks K.D. innocently.

"You should know her," Khan replies frankly as he lit the pipe. "You saw her when you came to visit. Between the blood and guts of the war, the regret of youth, and the rose-colored memories, I'm sure you saw her. Maybe you saw her in one of these memories you visited? Or maybe she visited your port?"

Taking a deep pull off the pipe, Khan began to hum the melody to 'When we were at War,' a melancholy war song from Russia.

"I don't recall a witch…." Fredrich replies.

Another set of footsteps startled the group as a black and grey-haired woman in a brown leather coat clutching a LeMat revolver approached them. "But I recall you, Cherr." She says before firing into the fire.

A massive beam of light appeared from the fire, shaking the world around them. Fredrich and Amagi awoke with Karl jolting up in a sweat, his heart pounding in terror.

Fredrich shushes him and gently sets him back down on her lap. "What the hell?!" Karl growls, looking around quickly to get his bearings. "Did I pass out?... Nightmares… Hell…"

The warm touch of Fredrich's hands graced his chest, and Amagi's soft hands surprised him. After realizing where he was, he pulled Amagi's hand in and tried to relax in Fredrich's lap. "This is dangerous with those carriers… What happened to me?"

Fredrich gives him a knowing smile, "They were getting rather intense, and I wanted to comfort you. Amagi is privileged and wishes to watch over you."

She was surprised the Commander didn't notice the tears running down his cheeks. But Fredrich and Amagi did, along with how red his eyes were.

Karl looked at the other girls and saw them all frozen in place. Seeing them leaning over one another at nothing was an uncanny image. He could only think of what Fredrich did to pry him from the arms of Taihou. Taking a deep breath, he sunk back into Fredrich's lap to let the softness of her thighs consume him.

"Why do I feel so scared?" He whispers, clutching Amagi's hand.

Fredrich pulls him towards her chest to envelope him more, "My child, There is no need to be afraid."

"I'm sorry… I.." There was much hesitation as the Commander tried to speak. His voice was shaky and weak, only for the Commander to withdraw his comments. "I only… I only wanted to protect them…"

"Who was that woman, Commander?" Amagi asks him.

"Who?" Karl responds.

"The witch," Fredrich says.

"My Commander…" He replies before passing out again.

Hours later…

Taihou gazed over the port from a small dock far from the Sakura Empire side. When Taihou felt herself diving into despair, she would withdraw from the world. The phoenix, unlike the fox, was more sensitive and introspective. Taihou was harder on herself than she let on. Learning new skills to impress her beloved Commander shared the same importance as maintaining her stunning beauty. But today, Taihou wanted to be alone with her Commander as he lay on her thighs.

Fredrich had specifically handed the Commander over to her, mainly because the H-Class Battleship believed it was only fair for her to get him after the display of true devotion for him. But Taihou figured there was more behind Fredrich's decision as she shared glances with Amagi. Against Akagi's protests, Amagi agreed with Fredrich and allowed her to take him away. Atago assisted her in loading him into the jeep and dropped them off at Taihou's favorite spot.

"You've spent much time with my Commander," Taihou told her. "I just want to be with him. He needs me, Atago."

She remembers the heavy cruiser being reluctant to leave; it was obvious to Taihou there was more between her and the Commander than Atago let on. But Taihou didn't care; the Commander was hers right now, and he used her thighs as his pillow. Karl had awoken just as Atago had left, but Taihou insisted that he relax. The crazy look in Taihou's eyes made Karl second guess himself, but guilt filled his mind forcing him to do as the carrier insisted.

His head faced upward, looking at Taihou's significant assets and her flawless face. Karl didn't mind the view or complain about Taihou's soft hands playing with his hair. A heavy sigh escaped him as he took one of Taihou's hands and kissed it.

"Thank you," Karl says suddenly as he cradles her hand.

"There is no need to thank me, my Commander," Taihou says humbly.

He kisses her hand again, catching Taihou off guard. "Just because there isn't a need for it doesn't me I don't want to thank you," Karl says, regret thick in his voice.

"Is something wrong?" Taihou asks him, studying his facial expression and eyes. Purposely avoiding the awkward conversation at Amagi's. But Taihou still had her questions, and she would get her answers.

Karl groans and turns over to look at the sea. "I don't know how to explain it." He tells her. "I remember something… Something I didn't recall beforehand."

Taihou turns him over and looks back at him again. "Did I do something wrong?" Taihou asks anxiously, her dark side starting to creep up on her. "Or are you having a moment again?"

Karl pulls her hand over him, allowing Taihou to hug him, "I feel like I'm losing my mind."

His voice was weak, and the green eyes full of determination and fire seemed to fade as he spoke. "Thank you for being there for me," Karl tells her, his voice choking up.

"Taihou will always be here for you!" Taihou reassures him, pulling him into her soft breasts. "Taihou loves you, always and forever!"

As he dives into Taihou's breasts, he hears the voice of anger from Typhoon Taihou META. It made Karl think about what Typhoon said.

"You told me you loved us! You loved Me, Atago, and Akagi! THEN YOU LEFT US!"

Between the hate in her words, there was that same undying love displayed by Taihou. He didn't know what happened between them and him, whether it was him exactly or another version of him. But then he recalled the picture and the coat…

Karl's love for his trio of lovers was true, even if he said it in hast. It felt familiar and right to look into the burning red eyes of either Taihou or Akagi or the golden eyes of Atago. A warm feeling overtook him, and he rose from Taihou's lap to gaze into her eyes.

"I love you too," Karl says to her with a smile as the sun turns the blue ocean into a sea of diamonds.

Taihou smiles and hugs him tightly as her heart is filled with joy. The sweetest expression overtook her face, and a cute sigh escaped her as Taihou melted into his arms. The phoenix's aroma of cinnamon filled his nose, making him smile. The exchange motivated him to kiss her neck and rub his hand the length of her back. Taihou returned this but moved up to whisper in his ear.

"How do I taste? Do you like how I taste, My Commander?" She asks, the lust in her voice overpowering.

"Like cinnamon and love," Karl tells her sweetly.

"Do you wish to taste me more in private? Or do you want to do filthy and depraved things to me on this dock?" Taihou says boldly, kissing his cheek towards his lips.

"I guess I earned my time with you, eh?" Karl asks her with a giggle.

Taihou wraps her arms behind his neck and tightens her thighs around Karl's side, "You love me, and I love you. You've earned everything Taihou has to give you, My Commander. I love you, think about you every day, and worry about you every day. You're my world."

The words of the phoenix hit Karl's exterior like a torpedo into the side of the ship's hull. He hugged her tightly as he began to tear up. The tears dripped on Taihou's shoulder, and her mood shifted from lusty and hungry for his body to that of a dearly beloved embracing him.

She breaks the embrace momentarily to see Karl's eyes red from crying. Tears raced across his face, and Taihou wiped them away gently, "Thank you…. I just got… Overwhelmed by your words. I haven't felt like that in a long time… It feels…"

An awkward pause overtook the Commander, briefly causing Taihou's heart to drop before he spoke again. "Good… To be… Loved… It's something I haven't felt till today."

Wiping the rest of his tears, Taihou moves in for a gentle kiss. Her soft lips felt like Aphrodite herself was gracing him, and Karl let his emotions take him. Gentle lips turned to soft tongue play, and their hands began to wander.

A tugging caught his attention until they were forcibly pulled from the dock and fell into the water. The ocean was calm and welcoming, but the saltwater in his mouth made him spit and cough. Taihou held on as they bobbed to the top of the water together. They looked around for each other for a moment until they were still together. But they weren't alone as two blonde submarine girls giggled triumphantly on top of their rigging. Too much of Taihou's dismay, It was none other than Albacore and Archerfish of the Eagle Union.

Albacore gave her hand to the two swimmers, "That was rich! You should have seen your faces! Get on, and I'll take you back to land!"

Taihou splashes water at the blondes, "I had a wonderful date with my Commander, and you two had to ruin it!"

"Awww, we didn't see you!" Archerfish rebuttals. "We just saw the Commander and figured he needed to cool off!"

Grabbing his hat from the water, Archerfish waves it around to dry it as Karl and Taihou tread water. The three look at him to see his response, only to be dumbfounded as Karl smiles wide and laughs. He takes his hat from Archerfish and helps Taihou on to Albacores rigging. Given her history with the mischievous submarine, she was reluctant, but she relented as soon as the Commander held on to her on the Sub.

Meanwhile at the Iron Blood residence….

Fredrich sat at the secret bar enjoying a glass of fine wine while she contemplated the Commander's memories. To the wise battleship, the broken events aboard the strange ship and the raid on a supposed siren base connected the dots to his suicidal exploit.

"I know there is more to you than meets the eye," Fredrich says as she swirls the wine in her glass. "I only need to go deeper."

The clicking of boots against the wooden floor alerted her to another presence in the room, but the energy didn't match anyone of any of the factions. Through the reflection in the glass, she briefly saw the woman from Karl's mind. But as Fredrich turned to meet the woman, there was nothing.

The audible click of an American Zippo lighter drew her attention to the chair next to her, where the woman with black and grey hair sat, flicking the top of the lighter.

"Fredrich Der Grosse," The woman says, "It's a pleasure to meet you in person."

"You must be Claudia, ja?" Fredrich asks calmly, their energies evenly matched in both power and calm.

"Yes," Claudia confirms. "Claudia Marlin of the Order of Saint Abbadon, to be exact."

"I remember your aura from your recent visit to our Karl." Fredrich begins, taking a sip of wine. "How intriguing how he referred to you as his Commander after I decided to look into him."

"He isn't wrong," Claudia relents. "But I used to be known as his wife at one point. Though that is rather hard in our profession."

"Frankly, I do not see Karl as a man who can only be with one woman." Fredrich theorizes.

"I will assure you it isn't due to promiscuity that we decided to divorce," Claudia reassures her. "Though it's hard for only a mire man to be wed to a being who does not know death."

"Ah, so you are not human then," Fredrich says, awing at the epiphany she was coming to. "Though you are neither human nor shipgirl. May you be like my friend August Von Parseval? An Unhulde?"

Claudia smiles at Fredrich, and to the former's surprise, another wine glass and bottle of fine red wine floated gently through the air to them. Filling Fredrich's drink and then hers, Claudia chuckles darkly. "I've been called many things. But I prefer just being called by my Christian name. I like it better than the Pagan slander or anything Hollywood could come up with."

"I see." Fredrich remarks, studying the odd attire of Claudia and the large revolver on her hip in a dark brown holster. "Then we are one in the same, beings lucky to have the privilege of true power then."

"I believe so, yes," Claudia surmises, sipping her wine. "After all, you did sense me, as did I sense you. But that means nothing because we saw each other on the astral plain of my Karl's mind. Tell me, Ms. Fredrich, What were you looking for this time? I thought K.D. showed you exactly what you wanted to know about him?"

"Do you mean what you want me to know?" Fredrich replies, swirling her wine. "It's obvious to anyone with even a sliver of knowledge of the unknown that there is some form of manipulation of his mind. The bleeding nose following the mention or reference of an event, The headaches, and the manic episodes. Post-traumatic stress doesn't cause nose bleeds, and neither does it cause another being of immense power to eject another from their mind."

"Care if I smoke here?" Claudia asks; Fredrich counters, appearing to have fallen on deaf ears.

"You may," Fredrich responds.

The witch removed a silver cigarette case and put a hand-rolled cigarette on her lips. With the snap of her fingers, the cigarette lit, and she took a long drag before speaking again.

"That may be the case," Claudia begins, slowly releasing the blue smoke of Turkish tobacco from her nose. "But not entirely."

"Out of all the minds and wisdom cubes I have explored," Fredrich begins, setting her glass down. "I have only been confronted by an equal such as you once. What is your gain from removing memories from the Commander's mind?"

"I have my reasons," Claudia tells her, setting her glass and crossing her legs. "I care for him just as deeply as you do."

"Then we have something to agree with; Our love for the Commander." Fredrich surmised.

"That is true," Claudia agrees with a smirk. "But you have to understand that I also have other reasons to do what I've been doing to him. It's for his own good I keep his memories in check."

"In check?" Fredrich asks, her emotions beginning to boil under her calm expression.

"I'm sure if you knew how long it took for buzzards to strip a man's corpse clean of flesh, you'd want to forget too."

Claudia's voice reminded Fredrich of the Eagle Union girls. It had a country, 'twang,' combined with French. Taking a drag off her cigarette, Claudia continued. Her voice became dark, as did the expression on her face.

"You already know we aren't from these parts; Cher can," Claudia says sharply. "And we've done many things we'd rather live to forget. But my Karl refuses to forget such things and has been rather self-destructive. That's why we kept him busy with trivial matters like war. But two matters kept my colleague's wishes from reaching floriation: Peace and the Leviathan."

Karl and Taihou returned to the Commander's building, where the sight Manjuu work parties left with all their equipment. Belfast greets the couple with a welcoming smile as she dusts the staircase railings.

"Good afternoon, Master; Good Afternoon, Ms. Taihou," Belfast says politely. The head maid looks at the expression on Karl's face noting it was calm and relatively upbeat. This expression was on Taihou's face, calming Belfast's worries about the Commander's condition from earlier today.

"Afternoon Belfast," Karl says happily. "How's your day been? Any anything new for me?"

"The Manjuu's have fixed your office at express orders of Fredrich Der Grosse and Lady Amagi," Belfast informs them. "Akashi also wanted to thank you for the donations as well. I didn't think you were that charitable."

"Donation?" Karl asks her, cocking his eyebrow. "I don't remember doing that."

"Akashi informed me that a grey-haired woman dropped off a sizeable amount of money in your name," Belfast tells him as she finishes cleaning the banisters. "I assumed it was your ex-wife acting on your behalf."

Claudia donating money and Fredrich fixing my office? Karl thinks to himself. The idea of those two doing something like that seemed strange. But maybe it was for a reason?

"Ah, alright then," Karl replies, taking Taihou's hand. "Care to check out the handy work then, you two?"

Belfast shook her head, "I must finish cleaning. Dido and Sirus make a mess cleaning the kitchen, and Sheffy is with the Queen. Formidable said she would be here an hour ago, but I think she might have fallen asleep doing chores."

"Do you need help?" Karl asks, "I can help you after I take Taihou home. I'm just dropping by to change; the Eagle Union submarines pulled us into the water today."

"No, No," Belfast replies. "No, Master, that is not needed."

Karl gave a concerned look and, reluctantly, continued upstairs with Taihou. "Alright then, I'll be back then."

Taking the carrier to his office, they were greeted by a freshly rebuilt and cleaned appearance. It amazed him how quickly the little creatures worked and the quality of the repairs at that. Could he send some of these back to Tiberius as workers? Karl shook his head; the consul wouldn't approve it to much red tape. A collection of letters sat on his desk, catching his attention. That was until Taihou began wrapping herself around his arm.

"My Commander," Taihou says, pulling herself onto his arm. "May I stay with you tonight instead? I want to be with you more."

He relents, "Yes. I'd rather not walk much more anymore today."

The two chuckles and Taihou kisses him, "I'm going to take a bath and clean up then. Maybe we can try again and not be disturbed by any pests?"

An evil smile takes over their faces, "I think we will be fine." Karl reassures her.

"I'll ensure Belfast knows, so no one will bother us then." Karl continues, "I need to check this mail, and I'll be there soon to clean up."

"Of course, my Commander," Taihou replies sweetly. "But don't keep me waiting for long."

"I won't," Karl tells her, kissing her on the lips lovingly. "I'll be there soon, beautiful."

The carrier leaves with a dreamy look on her face, and Karl finds himself alone in the office. Walking back into the office again felt like a bad dream as the images of the Raiden drone trying to kill him flashed through his mind. But he pushes on and looks at the stack of letters. Taking them in his hand, Karl notes the postage is from Niflheim by the Ansuz rune used by the postal service. They were all in various degrees of wear, with coffee stains, cigarette ash, or slight water damage. Still, all were marked with the return of address of the 13th Grenadier Regiment Headquarters in the capital city of Juno, Niflheim.

Karl had to sit down at this point and leaned back into his seat as he carefully opened a letter. Taking out the note from inside, a picture surprised him of a forty-year-old man holding a newborn with his wife.

"Dear Major," Karl reads it quietly. "Maggie finally popped, and our baby girl, Heidi, has come into this world. Thank you again for giving me paternity leave. My wife and I wish you the best wherever you may go. Hope to see you again soon, Sincerely First Sgt Z. Rudy."

Der Spieß, Nickname for the Company's First Sgt in the Order's military ranks, Rudy Zeiss, was one of his First Sgts. Karl remembered him being a real hard ass, but Rudy meant well. A former Bundeswehr NCO who served in Afghanistan and Ukraine made him that way before joining the Order.

"Short and to the point," Karl remarks, folding it back up with a smile. "Good for you, Rudy."

Another letter, this time it was from an officer. He could tell by the impeccable handwriting it was from a female officer friend of his.

"To the stubborn jackass," Karl reads, chuckling. "When are you coming back to Niflheim? I nearly shot that fat bastard Constantine two days ago for hitting me again. I'd rather be on the frontier with you than spend one more moment in this office! I even took survival classes and attended the mountain infantry course to prepare for a transfer. Please take me with you! Let me be your aid even if I can't fight as well as you. I miss you. With Love, Captain Vivian Martinez, Sustainment OIC, 228th Sustainment Brigade."

The paper was marked with purple lipstick and a picture of a fit Hispanic woman in a black stripped telnyashka, ATACS FG pants, and aviator sunglasses, with a Daewoo K1 cradled in her hand. On the back of the picture was the date and location. "06/14/2077 Route Oregon. Must have been a hot day running convoys."

Vivian was an old flame for him, but they lived in different worlds mentally. Karl recalled their time together physically with fondness, but the difference between a support job and a combat job was so much that they were nothing more than friends with benefits. But that didn't stop them from saying they loved each other after every moment of passion. The Mexican girl was his regiments sustainment unit commander after their headquarters was killed in a Grad rocket strike.

Another letter caught his attention as it was marked with the logo of the Arditi, Italian stormtroopers of the first great war, a skull clutching a dagger in its teeth. The Arditi logo became his unit's own as the assaults against human and monstrous enemies grew a sense of certain and carless fatalism.

"We either win, Or we all die," Karl said the unit's motto, opening the letter. Shuttering as the motto made him recall the angry, defiant rattle of Kalashnikovs and the surge of adrenaline as they rushed into the fight.

Inside was a simple picture of his 150-strong company before he left for this assignment. There he sat on top of an M113 affectionately called 'Lunch Box' by his men, who were just as ragged, tired, and ready to get some rest and relaxation as Karl was.

"Damn…" Karl says, holding back his feelings.

Sitting the picture on the table, he collects his thoughts with a heavy sigh. "Guess Raiden knows some people… I might need to call Claudia about this…."

Collecting the pictures together on his desk, he looks at them again. "We went through a lot together, the bunch of us. We spent the best days and worst of our lives together. I'll… I'll never be able to repay any of you… Thank you…"

His heart became heavy. The memories began to pull at his heartstrings. But he couldn't shed tears for them now. Putting the photos neatly together, Karl placed them in a drawer for tomorrow. A big yawn escaped him, and then he remembered that Taihou was waiting for him in the bedroom. The prospect of spending a fantastic night with the beautiful carrier would surely take his mind off everything.

Karl soon left the office and shut the door behind him. Walking down the hallway, he was surprised to not see Belfast anymore. "I guess she finished and went on her way?" Karl thinks to himself as he walks to his room. Reaching the door, he opens it slowly, and to much of his surprise, Taihou is passed out on the bed in nothing more than a black Bikini. The bathroom was used judging by the condensation on the mirror. Karl smiled, "Seems today was too long even for you then."

He took off his clothes and stepped into the shower. After a short hot shower, Karl returned to see Taihou still asleep. Doing anything abhorrent to a sleeping girl was out of the question, and being respectful, she slid into bed and cuddled Taihou. The carrier wrapped herself around him and laid her head on Karl's chest. All while snoozing peacefully. Karl kisses her on the forehead and holds her closely.

"Maybe you can tell me about this bikini in the morning."

Once Karl fell asleep, the figure of Claudia began creeping down the hallway to his office. Unlocking the door quietly, she placed another envelope on his desk with a Sakura Empire seal.

A shiver races down her back, "I don't know if this is right or not… But I can't stand doing Z's dirty work anymore."