"Guten morgen, Kommandant," the soft voice called out to him. Thorson felt his body rising from sleep, wincing as he flexed the broken skin of his left knuckles. He sat up and found Z23 staring at him from the corner of his room next to the doorway. It was a Saturday and so his ships had some leeway regarding their schedule without a definite wakeup call. She'd apparently snuck in, though he didn't know how long she'd been there. "Your chest is pleasing to look at. You could have removed your shirt in the bath. It got wet," she continued softly.
"Zed...what are you doing here?" He asked, rising from his futon to dress himself. She watched, but without a shred of lust in her eyes. It was as though if she turned away from him for a moment he would disappear and leave her alone.
"I am a weak and pathetic excuse for an Ironblood," she insisted meekly, evaluating her mental state with unsettling clarity. "I need you to keep myself from screaming, and I'm not ready to follow my friends to the mess alone."
"Last night?" He demanded as he buttoned his uniform.
"I slept well, but had it not been for the removal of my shard I would have awoken with guns drawn. Laffey and Javelin were so kind and so warm. They never judged me, only held me closer," she whispered as Thorson approached her.
"You aren't Ironblood anymore, Zed. You're one of us," he insisted. She raised her head slightly and met his eyes.
"Mein Kommandant, I will always be a proud daughter of Ironblood," she claimed with as much steel as she could muster. "Will you walk with me? I wish to be at your side until...and I call myself proud?"
"Zed…you don't need to bear it all on your own. I know what they did to you," Thorson whispered, watching as her face contorted in horror. He hugged her to his chest as she made to flee, wanting to believe her body was a bit more robust than the day before.
"Kommandant, no!" She shrieked and struggled. "Don't touch me! Don't look at weak filth like me!"
"Zed!" Thorson silenced her with a stern, raised voice. "I look at you and I see strength. I look at a woman betrayed by her own countrymen, who defied the sirens. How should I see weakness in that?"
"I can't bear to be alone! I thought I would go insane out on the open water. You know, you said? How could you know?! No water, no food, no light, no touch, no sense of time, no sound. It was like being dead, like I was frozen in the ninth ring of hell!" She wept. He couldn't help the compulsion to kiss the top of her head gently.
"You know of Dante?" He whispered with unveiled surprise.
"He was one of the greats of your people," she insisted.
"Then you know that he traveled through the ninth circle and escaped, just like you. I know what happened to you and Gneisenau, Scharnhorst, Graf Spee, the others. Did Zeppelin...did she survive what they did to her?" He couldn't help but ask, knowing he was breaking many barriers of trust and confidentiality. "I'm sorry, I just-"
"Perhaps I was wrong. Maybe you do have the smallest of ideas about us, Kommandant," Zed declared with unabashed happiness in her voice. "That someone like you exists...I just wish you had found her. She's long given up hope."
"What happened, Zed?" Thorson asked as ice seemed to freeze over his chest and deny him breath. She took his hand and opened the door hesitantly, beginning their journey to breakfast.
"Bismarck and Tirpitz were our leaders, but she was always our mother...that wonderful and warm-hearted woman, they killed her that day, left her an empty husk," Zed whispered as she began to cry before suddenly snarling with a fury he'd not known she possessed. She slammed open the outer door of the dormitory, the wooden panel shaking under duress. "And so we killed them in turn! Slaughtered them to the last man like the pigs they were! The pride of the Kriegsmarine...it drove us to the arms of the sirens, Kommandant."
Thorson felt lightheaded as his worst fears were confirmed. Her tale at least explained why he'd seen nothing more from Ironblood research facilities. "Zed, you don't have to anymore. It's-"
"If it's for you, Kommandant, I will be brave." She tried to smile for him. He nodded and bade her to continue.
"Ok then, Zed. I was only a boy when the treaty of Versailles was signed. You are still a proud daughter of Ironblood?"
"Ja, Kommandant. Though I do not deserve to be called such," she insisted.
"I am your Commander and I'll call you as I like," he replied confidently. She squeezed his hand tight in reply. "I have never known a Germany at peace and I know far too little of Germany at war. Tell me of the country you wish to save from the sirens...and itself." Zed's eyes turned wistful and unfocused as a beautiful day in the Pacific greeted them with sun and surf.
"I have only known the seas but I hear she is a beautiful country, Kommandant, home to a proud and long suffering people driven to madness."
By the time Thorson and Zed arrived at the mess, breakfast was in full swing. The Sakura sat at their usual table, the younger ships chatting happily under the watchful and caring eyes of Fusou, Yamashiro, and Shiranui. Ark Royal had joined them, happily assisting the youngest of the Sakura as they ate rice and eggs. Thorson noticed Yuugure and Hatsuharu seemed content in her presence as well, a welcome change for the shy Hatsuharu especially.
A long, straight table hosted the combined Royal and Union fleet, with Leander sitting between Indy and Portland and Javelin of course sitting with Laffey. Most interesting to Thorson were Warspite and Vampire. The former was sitting alone a couple seats from everyone else while Vampire was engaged in hushed conversation with Pennsylvania and Arizona of all people. Shiratsuyu had outdone herself, preparing cured meat, eggs, beans, and toast for the western girls. Pots of tea and coffee could also be seen as Akashi took stock of their supplies. Her minty ears could be seen bobbing happily behind the serving counter.
"Shikikan Thorson, good morning," Shiratsuyu called, approaching him and Zed. The young Ironblood clutched his uniform tightly but remained quiet. He looked over at her with pride and a smile.
"Good morning, Shiratsuyu. Thanks as always for the hard work," he praised her, earning a wide smile as her dog's tail wagged behind her.
"I just wasn't sure what to make for um, her," the young Sakura explained as Thorson wrapped an arm around Zed's shoulder.
"I understand. Shiratsuyu, this is Z23 of the Ironblood. Z23, this is our resident chef Shiratsuyu. She and her sisters joined us a couple weeks ago," Thorson explained, surprised to see her looking down at her feet.
"I'm happy to be with Hatsuharu and Yuugure, Shikikan, but my sisters...my real sisters, they still serve Akagi and Kaga. I worry for them every day," she admitted. That admission of worry seemed to embolden Zed, who stepped forward a small pace and waved.
"I know what it's like to worry for your friends and sisters, but I think this is still our best hope, this place. I'm Zed," she whispered. Thorson's heart soared as Shiratsuyu nodded.
"I hope so too. What do...what would you like for breakfast?" Shiratsuyu asked. Zed peered around the room.
"Ah, is it possible to have some sausage on toast with butter? And coffee?" She asked quietly. Shiratsuyu nodded with a lively bob of her ears.
"Of course! I'll bring it right out. Shikikan?"
"Sounds good to me. I'll have what she's having. You're a lifesaver Shiratsuyu, and we'll talk about your sisters soon, alright?"
"I...thank you Shikikan. Please be seated!" The young dog morph insisted before scampering off to the kitchen. Zed took in the whole scene, seeing her friends waving at her along with generally friendly looks from the Union table. Warspite was the notable exception.
"What a nice room, Kommandant. It's a lot nicer than Narvik. That's the last time I saw that woman," Zed nodded at Warspite.
"I think I need to have a long chat with her, Zed. Can you be brave for me today? Really brave?" Thorson asked, very unsure if what he was considering was appropriate. What he did know was that the environment of the mess hall was much more conducive to chats not ending with rigging drawn.
Tennessee is a notable exception, he considered, seeing the blonde battleship looking rather calm as she sipped her coffee and listened to Vampire. Zed spoke up.
"My friends are here too. I can try…"
"All I'll ever ask of you. Let's go say hello to your arch enemy," he said jokingly, hoping to make light of what he saw as a justified but most inconvenient rivalry on his base. He marched straight up to Warspite and sat across from her while Zed sat next to him and took his hand in a death grip under the table. "Nice of you to save us a seat, my lady." Warspite glared at them both.
"I never thought I'd see you again under such circumstances," Warspite stared Zed down. The destroyer wouldn't meet her eyes. "I guess it's not even worth playing with you like this."
"Be strong, daughter of Ironblood," Thorson whispered.
"The hell do you want, Commander?"
"I want you and the other Royals off my base by the end of the day," Thorson said loudly, bringing all activity in the dining hall to a complete and utter halt. Shiratsuyu silently padded over to them and deposited their plates with a nervous look in her eyes, but she received kind thanks regardless. Thorson took a bite and continued. "I've reconsidered our alliance in light of yesterday's operation. That bullshit would have gotten you, your ships, or mine killed in a real battle. I'm sorry."
"You would trade us for her?" Warspite leered at him, making Zed wish she could disappear. Only Thorson's warm hand kept her seated.
"The sausage is pretty good for military food, try some," he encouraged her, knowing it would rile Warspite up. The other four Royals were looking at him with varied expressions. Javelin looked like she was about to cry. "Warspite, I would take her over the entire Royal Navy. She has sworn to follow me and my command, which is more than some of you can say."
"Some of us?" Warspite repeated warily, glancing at her ships out of the corner of her eye. "No matter, I will root it out later. If that is your decision, Commander, I will not contest it. But the Queen will be most disappointed. You have no idea what you're doing."
"Then why don't you try educating me, Warspite?" Thorson roared. "You think I've never seen that look in your eyes before? You think Union high command was any different in the hour I knew them before they were slaughtered by sirens? You think my commanding officers trusted the green ensign that was poking around their submarines trying to learn everything I could? You think ships like Pennsylvania and Tennessee trusted me the moment they saw me?" He continued, throwing a look at his battleships which they returned with nods and a tip of Tennessee's cap. "I may not have your experience, Warspite, but you won't even give me a chance. So yeah, I'll take one loyal Ironblood destroyer over you and your fleet. In the last half hour I've learned more about their nation, conflicts, and perspective than I have from you in two days. You think I'm an ignorant boy who knows nothing of war?" Warspite met his challenge with narrow eyes and the fury of the Royal Navy.
"I know that you are."
"Then why don't you educate me instead of insisting things be done your way? You may not like me, but your Queen seems to have a decent head on her shoulders based on her orders," Thorson reasoned with a dash of forced bravado.
"Don't you dare attempt to use her against me!" Warspite raged.
"I'm doing no such thing. But what was the last time your fleet scored a great victory against the sirens? What was the last time you discovered a breakthrough in cube tech?" Thorson demanded as Zed leaned against his side. He sought to shelter her with his arm as every ship in the place watched with anticipation and dread. Akashi even found herself a stool for better viewing.
"I killed more than my share of little ships like her in Narvik," Warspite whispered gravely. "And they did their damnedest to kill us in return. I watched them ground themselves just to take one final shot at me before I blew them to kingdom come. They would rather die than surrender. And they will not hesitate to kill you on the field of battle," the seasoned battleship related.
"And were that the beginning and end of it I might agree with you, Warspite. Conventional warfare is one thing, but how in God's name do you intend to defeat the sirens alone? They are the source of the cubes and you by extension! You're victory condition is slaying the very hands that gave you life! This stopped being about the Ironblood versus the Royal Navy the moment the Kriegsmarine defected!" Thorson insisted.
"What did you just say, Commander?" Ark called from the table over, standing to join the three of them once she bade the flavored kittens goodbye with a pat on the head. "What in the name of her Majesty is this about the Kriegsmarine defecting?"
"Zed, it's true what you told me? The data I have is accurate?" Thorson asked kindly. She nodded, allowing him to continue.
"Ironblood naval high command was running brutal experiments on their own ships. My guess is their goal was to somehow reverse engineer cube tech or harness it independent of the sirens. They drove their ships to the brink. The Kriegsmarine murdered them before joining the sirens. It doesn't sound like a much better arrangement but you said it yourself, Ark. Their suffering has bought their scant numbers power overwhelming, and they serve a new master even if they still fly the Ironblood banner." Thorson paused and sighed as he prepared his final gambit. Ark Royal and Warspite were looking at one another with dark expressions. "Do either of you really think my ships blindly serve me?"
The two royals looked around them, trying to read the faces of the Union ships sitting down the table. They were all glaring at the them.
"Yes please, let's hear your thoughts on the subject. I know you lot think highly of yourselves compared to us," Tennessee growled, cracking her knuckles.
"I'm down for a little scrap with these tea swilling ingrates," Cleveland agreed before waving at the boat across the table. "Not you Leander. You're really kind and I'd love to rig up some of my own depth charges with your help. Just saying I serve Commander Thorson cause he's earned it. Right Indy?"
"My cubes were happy when the Commander allowed me to build the Pandora reactor," the slim cruiser agreed. "He made me strong."
"And if Indy is happy, I'm happy!" Portland added, reaching to hug her sister and ending up sandwiching Leander in the process. "I think he'll make you stronger too!"
"I don't...ok," Leander replied, unwilling to get in between Thorson and Warspite. Pennsylvania was not of a similar disposition, however, and she stood from her seat and approached Warspite. The royal stood to meet her, resting the tip of her sword against the floor. Their rigging filled the air between them as Thorson rested a hand on his sidearm, just in case.
"Did you want to kill that girl yesterday?" Penny demanded, waving her right hand at Zed and Thorson.
"You act as though I take pleasure in it. I'm only doing what needs to be done to ensure the safety of my homeland," Warspite insisted.
"How very noble of you," Pennsylvania replied evenly before pointing at Mutsuki and her sisters. The little ones ducked for cover behind Fusou and Yamashiro. "I just wanted to slaughter Sakura, kill them for fun. I had these daydreams where I destroyed ever carrier and sailor that serves under that banner before sinking myself. Probably would have killed those three if I'd met them right after losing Arizona." Ark looked ready to fight her right then and there but Penny shook her head at the Royal carrier. "I know, Ark. Pretty awful shit, right? But when you lose your sister…I didn't believe for a second she could be brought back. I was alone and I'd never had the chance to say goodbye. I just wanted to kill. You know what changed my mind?"
"Let me guess," Warspite replied sarcastically. "The Commander gave you some noble speech about working together to defeat the sirens that has no basis in reality?"
To her surprise Penny laughed loudly, the woman's perky chest moving slightly under her open shirt. "Oh he did, for sure. And I didn't like it one bit. But that came after he spared my friend's life and gave her a chance to redeem herself." Pennsylvania threw a glance at Tennessee who acknowledged her past with furrowed brows and silence. "She didn't trust him a lick and gave him every reason to shoot her in the head and cast her body into the sea. He chose not to, and now we fight side by side. The elder shrine maiden of the Sakura, Fusou, she called Thorson a Knight. One who collects and marshalls his pawns on a chessboard. The sirens apparently refer to him that way. I'd say the metaphor is apt."
A long moment of quiet reigned as Warspite processed the things she'd heard. The Kriegsmarine were not just allied with the sirens. They were their thralls. The young man before her was competent enough to be known by name and reputation to her mortal enemy. Strong and powerful Union ships referred to themselves as his pawns. He had taken an Ironblood captive and converted her to his side seemingly within a day. And most distressingly, she knew darn well that the war was a stalemate at best. For all their strength, the Royal Navy were not winning on their own. Pennsylvania interrupted her thoughts anew.
"We serve him because he is a competent Knight, Warspite. And a competent Knight knows he is nothing without his pawns."
"Javey, what's a pawn? Can Laffey drink it?" The bunny girl asked her friend. Javelin had been watching the proceedings with great distress on her face throughout, but her friend's question brought a smile to her visage.
"It's a chess piece, Laffey. We'll ask for your flask back later alright...if I can stay here," she finished with a pleading look at Warspite. The battleship in turn looked at Ark Royal.
"What do you think about all this?" She demanded.
"They can speak for themselves but the Commander is right. We are all born from siren tech. He isn't. I listened to that little one on the beach yesterday. Hello Zed, don't worry. I'm not going to harm you so long as you're with Thorson," she assured her in the motherly voice she seemed to reserve for destroyers alone. The Ironblood had been silent and picking at her breakfast throughout the conversation but hadn't eaten much. "Warspite, the sirens respect him...maybe even fear him. She says they were trying to simulate him, whatever that means. His ships claim his influence has strengthened them. The way I see it we have two choices, surrender to the sirens for power or attempt to acquire it the same way they have, either via Thorson or commanders of the Royal Navy. Pennsylvania, what made you give him a chance?"
The raven haired battleship looked Thorson dead in the eyes, realizing she could fire the first volley in a 'war' long coming. She met her sister's gaze and knew Arizona was likely reading her thoughts. She gave her a most mischievous smile. "I gave him a chance because I had no other options, Ark Royal. But I love him because he was strong when I wanted to give up, and because he trusts me to fight on my own."
Yamashiro's chopsticks clattered to the floor. Fusou gasped and fanned her chest with her hand. Tennessee's mouth dropped open while Laffey hummed thoughtfully. Vampire looked like Christmas had come early. Portland and Indy were grinning like demons and Cleveland and Downes were giving Thorson broad smiles and thumbs up. Arizona had clasped her hands over her breast and looked at her sister lovingly as Zed squeaked and gazed up at her new Kommandant who, for his part, looked ready to fall backward off the bench. Pennsylvania laughed to cover up the absolute riot of emotions swirling around her cubes and her heart. They wanted it, wanted him. "And I'll admit...he's a bit of a cute dork when he's not leading us in battle."
"So, the power of love will carry this fleet to victory?" Ark asked with a tad of levity in her voice as Warspite seemed to have completely lost hers. Pennsylvania shook her head.
"No, it won't. but when the man you love is watching...you reload your main batteries a hell of a lot faster. And 14" shells will win this war," the battleship insisted.
"Pennsylvania-san, you do not get tono-sama all to yourself!" Yamashiro called from the other table.
"Oh? You're going to stop me?" Pennsylvania issued a playful challenge.
"My sister will not attack you, Pennsylvania. Nor will I. But do not think we will sit idly by if tono-sama Thorson decides that carnal relations with his fleet are acceptable. The gods of the Sakura smile upon their servants finding love...and bearing children," Fusou declared thickly and with unconcealed longing for the Commander who had saved her life.
"Fusou-sama loves Shikikan?!" Kisaragi squeaked.
"I don't think it would be hard for me at all to love him," Fusou answered.
"Same with me!" Yamashiro agreed. "I won't lose to you perky Union girls!"
"Uh, I think Commander Thorson would be upset if we fought though," Arizona added tentatively as Tennessee looked at Thorson as if daring him to say anything. The Commander only now noticed that Ari had a teardrop shaped hairpin in her long, flowing hair, a token of friendship from Yamashiro. "Maybe we could...uh…"
"Yamashiro would share if it's Arizona!"
"Yamashiro! How bold!" Fusou declared approvingly. Thorson finally stood as his ships overtly made plans to 'split him'.
"Don't I get a say in all this?!" He yelled desperately.
"NO!" Four battleships, three cruisers, and two destroyers all yelled back. The Commander found himself quite pale.
"Zed, will you be alright with Laffey and Javelin for a bit?" He asked in a shaky voice.
"Ja, Kommandant," she replied in a shocked whisper.
"Good." Without another word Thorson turned and strode from the mess as quickly as he could, the raucous and nerve-laden laughter of his fleet haunting him as he left. I'm so fucked.
When the doors finally slammed shut Tennessee strode up to Pennsylvania. "I don't know what the hell the four of your are playing at, but you go make this right. Right now, all of you."
Penny didn't bother hiding her surprise. "Tenn, what are you-"
"You toy with him like a piece of meat and you're no better than those trash Union shirts who treated us like disposable weapons! And that goes double for you, you tart little cats! He threw himself into the Pacific for you!" Tennessee insisted as she turned to face the Sakura table.
"Tennessee, if you love Commander Thorson too, it's not-"
"I HATE HIM!" Tennessee roared over Arizona as the Royal fleet wished for popcorn. "But I would rather die than fight under another human's command," she swore. "You disgust me, all four of you and anyone else who wants to fuck Thorson without regard for the fact that he has to deal with the fallout!"
And so Tennessee marched off for her punching bag, leaving a shell-shocked fleet in her wake and three young destroyers who wanted to know the meaning of 'fuck'.
Without anywhere else to go, Thorson soon find himself atop the island. He wiped the sweat and exertion from his brow, gazing down as he so often did at his fleet. "Or my harem, right Tennessee?" He said in disgust, kicking at a stray rock. He felt dirty. "When did I...she's been right all along, hasn't she? How do I stop this? How do I prevent my fleet from tearing itself apart over something so silly?"
Looking around, Thorson envisioned a shrine at his location, with a solemn pagoda atop the mountain to host the graveyard along with a staircase down the hill and the main shrine situated just below. Of course that led him right back to Yamashiro and Fusou, both of whom seemed ready not only to love him, but to share in that love. He let out a frustrated growl as the sound of small boots on the rock reached his ears. He turned to find that a most unexpected ship had followed him.
"Warspite," he acknowledged her presence and she nodded to him.
"Commander Thorson...have you ever tried to deny something to a sorrowful destroyer?" She requested. He gazed curiously at her slim form.
"Does keeping Laffey from drinking herself into a stupor count?" He asked, chuckling with a shake of his head. "At least you don't want to sleep with me too. Why are you here, Warspite?"
"I'm here because my country may not win this war, Commander. I'm here because Javelin looked ready to break into a million pieces. And I'm here...because Vampire openly declared her intent to commit treason and that she'd formed a 'blood pact' with you," Warspite spat, clearly furious with herself and Vampire as she looked at the ground.
"They were the Queen's orders, weren't they?" Thorson guessed sympathetically.
"Directly from her lips to my ear. And yet here I am contemplating my own betrayal. Commander, I could have killed Tennessee or Pennsylvania yesterday. No doubt I would have died in return but they showed my guns their broadside in your name. And both of them spoke of you today with passion unmatched in my own fleet."
"Wait, Tennessee?" Thorson interjected with shock.
"She claims to hate your very being, but I think she loves you most of all," Warspite told him with ill-concealed schadenfreude. "I have never seen a battleship command a room the way she did. That is not to say her Majesty could not, but Tennessee had no crown with which to demand obedience. She would die for you, Commander Thorson, and that most of all has made me wonder if perhaps I allowed decades of warfare to close my mind to new ideas…"
"You were obeying orders, Warspite. I can hardly blame you for that, everything else about the situation aside."
The two of them finally met eyes as Warspite activated her rigging. "Commander Thorson, do you honestly believe you can defeat the sirens?"
He turned to face her head on. "No. But I think I'm the best shot we've got."
"Such bold words, Yankee." The Royal teased with fire in her eyes.
"My pawns are strong," he replied with confidence. She held her sword to her chest and pointed its tip to the sky.
"How many Knights are there on a side, Commander?"
Thorson knew immediately who Warspite considered to be the second knight: herself. "Two."
"Kneel before me, Commander Thorson."
He crossed his arms across his chest. "I will never bow to you or anyone else, not here."
"Good. Maybe we will even sink together as a final show of defiance to those alien whores. But kneel now, Commander Thorson. I cannot follow one not anointed by the Queen."
Thorson's diaphragm stalled out as he realized Warspite's meaning. She intended to give him a chance. With a faint nod he removed his cap and genuflected before her. She smiled ruefully.
"If only her Majesty could see me now," Warspite whispered, moving her sword deftly to point out from her body and rest just above his head. "Commander Andrew Thorson! I Warspite, battleship of the Royal Navy, right hand of her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, and the one who spites war and death itself, confer unto you the title of Knight Commander of The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George." She touched his right shoulder with her blade and transitioned it over his bowed head to his left. "Now arise, Sir Andrew Thorson, Knight of the Royal Navy, and lead us to most glorious victory! Hmm, look at you. You seem to stand even taller," she said approvingly.
"You will obey my orders, Warspite," Thorson insisted. The fox-like battleship frowned but eventually lowered her head in understanding. He placed a firm hand on her shoulder. "And you will continue to command your troops in battle."
"Knight Commander?" Warspite addressed him formally.
"My fleet grows by the day. I need talented officers who know the way of war. Fight with me," he implored.
"You already know the answer to that," Warspite replied with a wan smile, turning to find the Pennsylvania and Fusou class sisters ascending the summit behind them. "But this is a battle I cannot fight for you. I will inform my troops of your ascension to knighthood, Commander. We will follow," Warspite said as though she had had nothing to do with it. "And should you wish to hear stories of battles fought when you were but a child, find me."
"I will," Thorson promised, watching as the short, powerful battleship walked with pride past his other ships. Her spirit was utterly indomitable, and he felt only immense relief at having her on his side. The present called to him, however, with a challenge of a most different nature.
"Commander, we'd like to talk with you," Pennsylvania said quietly.