"Ah, what a sight for sore eyes! Didn't realize how much I'd miss it until I left," Downes declared, stretching her hands over her head to ward off the remnants of sleep as she walked to the bow of the Pennsylvania. Her ship's autopilot functions had improved significantly since her retrofit, leaving her free to interact with the rest of the fleet without worry. On that early morning she opted for what she hoped would not be her last conversation with Naka.
"Good morning," the Sakura replied politely, looking out at what she knew would be her new prison. Downes nodded her way, coming to stand next to her. Minus the ears she was practically as tall as the light cruiser.
"Nice to see that some things never change," she continued, looking out across the still waters to where Thorson's island base slowly grew closer, silhouetted by the rising sun as they approached it from the west. "Well, mostly never change," Downes admitted, squinting and just barely making out a structure atop the slopes that rose up behind the base that she knew had not been there on their departure.
"Can I ask you something?" Naka interrupted politely.
"Huh? Yeah, of course!" Downes replied. It was the first time the Sakura had ever asked her anything beyond the basics of who she was and where they were heading.
"Why have you been so kind to me? You defeated me in combat. We are enemies."
"Ah come off it, you sound like your sister!" Downes adopted a posture as though she had a pole up her bum. "The might of Kaga and Akagi will never be-" She couldn't even finish the awful imitation before bursting into laughter, clutching at her stomach and the railing of the deck. "No no, look Naka, we're not enemies."
"I…excuse me?" The fox-morph blinked; still not feeling as though she understood the Union destroyer any better than when they had first traded shells. Downes finally recovered enough to explain, leaning over to rest her elbows on the rails and take in an early morning sea breeze. The wind ruffled her ashen hair, exposing her off-color eyes. They were unsettling to the Sakura.
"I mean, if or when Kaga and Akagi are defeated Andrew's gonna have a hell of a time keeping us from ripping them limb from limb," Downes admitted, flexing her own new limbs. "But being a part of his fleet means something more than just fighting human wars. I mean, the men of the Union and Empire were doing a pretty good job of killing each other before we showed up, don't you think?"
"I suppose that's fair," Naka admitted, taken aback.
"Right, so maybe that's not our job in the end? Commander Thorson wants to fight the sirens, starting with your beloved generals. I'm down with that. You should be too."
"I still don't understand how that makes us not enemies."
"Look at me," Downes said quietly, turning to remove her jacket and show Naka much of her body. "Fighting you made me strong. Don't you want to get stronger too?"
"Of course I want to be more like my sisters," Naka said passionately.
"Then don't you think it would be better if we bury the hatchet and start sparring?!" Downes asked excitedly.
"I would be betraying my nation, my sisters!"
"Well yeah, sort of," Downes agreed with a shrug. "But I doubt Thorson's going to ask you to go shell Kyoto or Tokyo. And as for your sisters, what about the rest of them that have already joined us?"
Naka didn't have an answer for that question, instead looking out at the darkened island that continued to loom closer with each passing second. She could just barely make out the red painted wood of the shrine atop it. It reminded her of Nagato's shrine in Kyoto. Downes seemed to have noticed something amiss as well.
"Huh, wonder what that bamboo wall is all about over there by your dorms. Anyway, Naka, if you don't make a decision soon this might be the last time we get to talk like this. I'm not gonna go on about how much I know you love my company, but still. I'd rather you join us than be a prisoner."
"I wish everything were so simple," Naka admitted, managing the thinnest of smiles.
"Why isn't it simple?"
"Would you fight for the Sakura against your home?" She asked in turn.
"Hell no!" Downes exclaimed immediately. "But if Commander Thorson was Japanese and he was taking on the sirens, and the only beef he had was with demon Enterprise or…I don't know, whoever went rogue, yeah. I'd consider that. Besides, Fusou and the others are so nice! It's been cool serving with them."
"I suppose I cannot refute how easily some of them seem to have integrated," Naka admitted, thinking of Yuudachi and Yukikaze, as well as the Asashio-class sisters. All of them had found fast friends among Thorson's ships, much to Jintsuu's chagrin. "But I know…she would never forgive me."
"That's a tough spot then, I guess," Downes agreed, throwing an arm casually around her shoulder. "Well, I'll be sure to visit no matter what happens, alright."
"That's kind of you to offer."
Downes sighed at her reserved tone. "You change your mind you come find me, red foxy. I'll make sure Commander Thorson puts you guys somewhere nice."
Naka's ears twitched. "I do not deserve your concern."
"Andrew looks at me like a woman because I fought you. And I can almost go toe to toe with Belle now. Don't care what you think, foxy. I do things my way. See you when we get to the docks." With her parting words, Downes vaulted herself over the side of the ship, activating her rigging on the long drop to the ocean below and skating back to her own hull. She had not quenched the fire of dread in Naka's heart, but at least there was now something there beside it.
"Such an interesting ship," she murmured.
"Tha' she is," Ooshio agreed, appearing as if out of nowhere. Naka almost jumped out of her dress.
"Where were you all this time?!"
"Jus…watchin'," the young destroyer said, shifting her weight from foot to foot. Naka raised her brows curiously.
"Be careful, Ooshio. You have chosen a path I yet fear to tread," Naka advised, still seeing the destroyer as something of a pupil. She did not know her or her sisters well, but she was still their elder.
"I thank ye for yer advice, Naka. But tha die's been cast I'm afraid. I think that Shikikan's a good man, and it shows in his fleet. If I'm wrong…well I'll have ta cross that bridge when I come ta it."
"That moment may come sooner than you think," Naka supposed, now able to make out a small fleet of merchant marine ships docked at the base. They were but minutes away from whatever new life awaited them with Azur Lane.
"SHIKIKAAAAAAAAAN!" Commander Thorson was more than ready on that particular homecoming to intercept the mint green kitty missile that was Akashi, taking her up into a spinning hug that had her cheering and laughing gleefully while Pennsylvania and the rest of the shipgirls aboard made their way to the docks. The rest of his fleet was in anchor out in the bay, more than capable of crossing the final stretch of water on the power of their own rigging. The Langley and the Phoenix took two of the other berths so that their crew could also take a moment of shore leave. "Akashi missed you, Shikikan! Nyaa~" She snuggled into his uniform.
"I missed you too," he assured her, placing a brief kiss on her cheek that had her ears twitching with delight and giggles spilling from her lips.
"You brought home so many boats and kittens, Shikikan! But Akashi is ready for this eventuality, nyaa! So much to show you, so much to do! Shrine is done, spa is done, dorms are done-"
"Woah woah, slow down there Akashi!" Thorson insisted, setting her back down on the dock and ruffling her hair. "Let me catch up with everyone first and then you can give me the tour, alright?"
"Hai, Shikikan! Did you bring Akashi any presents, nyaa?" She requested eagerly. He glanced down at her with a sarcastic smile.
"Two Sakura destroyers, a Union carrier, and a Union cruiser aren't enough?"
"Akashi wants gems, not boats, nyaa!"
"Juu?"
"Nyaa?"
Thorson watched with a mixture of humor and horror as the remaining manjuus piled off of the Langley and Portland's rigging as the busty heavy cruiser finally got herself back onto dock. Those that had not yet attached themselves to a shipgirl were all sticking close together, looking around at their new surroundings and taking in the sights. Akashi's eyes were sparkling. "What is this, Shikikan?"
"Those are manjuus," he replied, doing his best to summarize what he knew about them as the group of birds stared down Akashi and looked nervously at the group of individuals walking down the docks towards them. "They're pretty darn smart from what I can tell and they seem to enjoy shipgirls quite a bit."
Akashi activated her rigging and sat cross-legged on the dock. "Do the manjuus need a new home, nyaa?" She called out to them.
"Juu!"
"Up the stairs and to the right! Akashi will install a birdbath later!"
With a chorus of 'juu's', the fluffy, rotund birds hopped and chirped past her, flapping their tiny wings to propel them faster. One stayed behind and hopped up on Akashi's shoulder, making itself comfortable. Thorson couldn't help but smile, though his attention was soon demanded by a different ship.
"Tono-sama!"
"Yamashiro!" Thorson strode forward a couple paces to eagerly take the shrine maiden into his arms. Perhaps it was simply absence, but she seemed even more plush and soft than when he'd left. Fusou was not far behind him, and after a brief moment of snuggling against her fluffy ears and prodigious bosom, Thorson stood aside to allow the sisters their reunion.
The tender sibling moment was soon interrupted by a gagging sound from somewhere behind Yamashiro's kimono. It was almost drowned out by the sounds of Captain Steven's crew and the bulin teams in their jeeps preparing for maintenance duties, but he heard it nevertheless. He was quite certain it did not come from either of the shrine maidens.
"Oh that's right, Tono-sama! Look what Yamashiro found!" She exclaimed proudly as she turned, bent over, and grabbed something up in her arms. The resulting squeals of annoyance were soon given a face as Yamashiro presented him with what had to be another Sakura shipgirl. She had dark hair and was wearing almost nothing, her skimpy 'schoolgirl uniform' just enough to cover her breasts and waist. Between the state of dress, armored ears, and dog's tail, Thorson had a pretty good idea of who he was looking at. The girl was growling at him.
"Let me go, Yamashiro! This is no fun at all!"
"Shigure?!" Shiratsuyu gasped from somewhere behind him.
"Shiratsuyu? You're alive?!"
"Nee-chan? Wan~!" Yuudachi barked.
"Yuudachi?!"
"Nanoda!"
"Yukikaze?!" Shigure exclaimed louder and louder in turn, going limp in Yamashiro's arms and looking around at the nonsensical picture before her. Her sisters and one of her best friends were standing shoulder to shoulder with the Union. A tall, raven-haired battleship was scratching Yuudachi between the ears. Another was looking affectionately at Yukikaze. Yamashiro had thrown herself at the foreign Shikikan. "Yamashiro-san, who is this stupid Shikikan?!"
"He is my tono-sama and you will treat him with respect!" Yamashiro insisted cutely. "See, he even found your other sisters!"
"Besides, only I can call him idiot Shikikan," a calm, disinterested voice joined them. "But…the idiot Shikikan seems to have found…many interesting things on his voyage."
"N-nee-san?" Yukikaze gasped in disbelief. "Is that really you, nanoda?"
"Go on, Yukikaze," Arizona encouraged with a light push, sending the snow white neko barreling forward as tears streamed from her eyes.
"I thought you were gone nee-san!" She cried, throwing her arms around a suddenly solid enough Shiranui. "But the goddess of luck has brought us together again, nanoda!"
"Perhaps she truly has blessed you and Shigure," Shiranui agreed, petting her younger sister's head as Yukikaze cried into her kimono. The ghost ship's will-o-the-wisps glowed brightly even in the daytime as Shiranui looked past Yukikaze to Thorson. "Thank you…idiot Shikikan," she whispered. He nodded in silent reply as Shigure seemed content to sniff him, shrug at his scent, and carry on to reunite with her own sisters.
"Shikikan, Shikikan! Oh, uh, Pennsylvania-san. Uh...wawawaaaan," Yuudachi suddenly interjected a request, unsure of who's authority she should appeal to. "Can we all have the same room?!"
"That sounds like a great idea," he agreed, knowing that the logistics of lodging would have to be resolved at some point anyway. "Shiratsuyu, you were bedding with Yuugure and Hatsuharu before, right?"
"Oh, yes Shikikan."
"I presume you'd like to live with your sisters now?"
"And Yukikaze!" Shigure piped up.
"Fine by me," Shiranui agreed. "I do not need sleep."
"Akashi, can you handle it? Maybe set those two up in their own room?" Thorson asked. She nodded happily.
"Of course, Shikikan! Plenty of rooms for four and two available, nyaa! We have futons and a handful of rooms with bunk beds."
"Bunk beds! Yukikaze the Great claims the top, nanoda!"
"You'd better get their first then. Right Yuudachi? Don't you want the top bunk?" Pennsylvania goaded, earning her a playful swat on the shoulder from Arizona as the three Sakura destroyers tore off for the dormitories despite not having any real idea of where to go. Shiratsuyu tugged on Thorson's sleeve.
"I'll go make sure they don't burn the place down," she said with a smile.
"Thank you. And good job on this voyage, Shiratsuyu," Thorson replied, earnest praise in his voice and a hand on her shoulder.
"A-arigato, Shikikan," she stuttered, almost tripping over herself as she scurried off to join her sisters.
"Is it too much to hope that this base somehow becomes self-regulating?" Thorson asked, causing Shiranui to turn away from him.
"And there's the idiot Shikikan we all know and love. Tell your battleships to keep them on tight leashes."
"Was it really too much?" He asked Penny with a smile.
"Maybe, Commander. But I'm happy to help maintain order with these cuties."
"Thanks. And consider yourself officially recognized for your performance as flagship," Thorson continued more seriously. Pennsylvania saluted him.
"With your permission, sir?"
"Radio the girls and let them know we'll have a debriefing in the mess hall starting in one hour. Attendance is…encouraged," Thorson stated. "Otherwise, you're dismissed. Akashi?"
"Hai, Shikikan! I will give the Union girls the full tour and see you after the meeting!"
"At the meeting, Akashi," he ordered. "You're important," he added, knowing the minty kitty likely did not consider such an event to be a good time. Her ears perked up nevertheless.
"Then Akashi will be there, nyaa! Come Pennsylvania-san, Cleveland's design has been realized!"
"I guess we're off to our new home then. Maybe I can keep my futon? Sleeping in that manner was rather pleasant," Arizona chuckled, leaving a quick kiss on Thorson's cheek before following after her sister, Akashi, and Zed. The Ironblood promptly joined up with Javelin and Laffey on the way and soon a large group of his ships were all headed on up to the dormitories, including Ark who was somehow carrying all three of the young, flavored kittens. That left him with a handful of confused and hesitant Sakura additions, as well as a patient chief bulin.
"Orders, buli?" She requested, looking around at all the new ships that had suddenly appeared in the bay.
"Hey there, good to see you again chief." Thorson knelt and ruffled her hair briefly. She laughed and closed her eyes happily, leaning on her gigantic wrench for support. "We all made it back in one piece but most of the ships have battle damage in some state of repair. Take your time and be thorough. I don't anticipate heading out on sortie for a while."
"It will be done, Buli!"
"Oh, and be careful on the Downes and Laffey," he called after her, watching as she returned to the nearest Jeep and relayed orders to the remainder of her crew. In a few moments they were off, retrieving tools and supplies from the base's warehouses. "Speaking of Downes…" Thorson muttered, finally seeing her on the next dock over. Unsurprisingly, Cassin had shaken off her lethargy and come out to greet her sister. The Commander could only imagine what was being exchanged between the two of them. He waited patiently for a few moments, watching as Downes took her sister into a bear hug accentuated by her new height.
"Hey, Ooshio?"
"Ya have need of me, Shikikan?" The cute Sakura maiden requested, having remained near him in the face of so many Union sailors.
"Please radio Downes and ask her to report to this dock. There is still the issue of Naka and Jintsuu that needs to be addressed," Thorson related, looking behind him and nodding silently to Tennessee who had seemed to read his mind, remaining behind and watching over the prisoners cautiously instead of heading up with her fleet mates to check out the renovated dormitories.
"Of course, Shikikan. Just give me a quick moment," Ooshio agreed, summoning her rigging. When her task was done, he addressed all five of the Asashio class destroyers.
"The five of you are a part of this fleet too now. Stick together and take care of each other. Report to Akashi in the dormitories, up those stairs and take a right when you get to the top of the slope. She should be able to find you all a room together if that's what you'd like. Michishio, just find Shiratsuyu if you wish to keep serving in the kitchens. I'll miss you cooking otherwise! Asashio?"
"I'll take the lead, Shikikan. Good day to you," the blue neko agreed, gathering her sisters and leading them off. He could hear Kasumi talking to Foo as she passed.
"No don't worry, Foo. We won't be staying with Shiranui. And you shouldn't be afraid of her will-o'-the-wisps, they don't seem harmful. Hmmm? No, how would I know what's for breakfast. Ask Yuugure? Why would I do that? No I don't think Shikikan wants to take a bath with you."
"And life goes on," Thorson chuckled to himself before greeting Downes and Cassin as they arrived. The dark haired sister was clearly already overwhelmed by Downes' energy.
"All you have to do is work out a bit!"
"A bit?" She asked sarcastically. "Commander, requesting permission to get breakfast and sleep."
"Good to see you too, Cassin. Everything's squared away?"
"Brooklyn had me do a couple of courier missions but," she paused to bring her palm up to her lips as she stifled a yawn. "Nothing else."
"Then you're free to go."
"Thank you Commander, and welcome back. It was a bit crazy with all these sailors…but sometimes they bring me a cola."
Downes was left at her commander's side as Cassin departed, already having taken in a day's worth of excitement by breakfast time. She glanced over at Naka who had remained politely silent along with her sister. Surrounded by enemy guns they didn't have much choice, especially with Tennessee breathing down their necks. "You know, red foxy, I'm more likely to get you in the gym with me than my own sister. Hell, maybe even blue foxy too!"
"Downes," Thorson spoke firmly and seriously. "Take them to the dormitory and establish a watch rotation with Tennessee. They'll take their meals with us and observe curfews. Any other movement must be approved directly by me. Enlist the aid of Penny and the others so you're not always on duty, and I'll make sure to debrief the two of you myself at a later time. Acceptable?"
"Yes sir," both Tennessee and Downes saluted properly, their guns out and at the ready. He nodded to both of them.
"I know it's been a long mission and you all need rest. Thank you."
"This is nothing sir. We'll be fine," Tennessee insisted.
"As you say. Naka, Jintsuu…you both know how this ends, one way or another. Don't make me execute you," he requested bitterly. "Take them."
"You got it, Commander. See you in the mess."
"Sure, Downes. See you at lunch."
"Alright you two, move," Tennessee ordered, marching the two prisoners away. Naka seemed to have confusion and uncertainty in her eyes more than anything else, while Jintsuu seemed defiantly reserved.
"Sorry," he whispered, watching the four of them go as he was finally left alone on the pier where the Pennsylvania had docked. Langley and her crew seemed content just to be back at a friendly port, so he headed down the dock to his base's main strip, taking a left and walking down along the various mooring points until he came to one he was looking for. There was one final reunion he wanted to see.
"Brooke, what the hell are you doing here?! Digging the glasses by the way," Phoenix shouted happily, practically leaping off her ship and onto the docks below as an unmistakable mane of strawberry blonde hair approached her ship. "And who's this?" The fiery redhead demanded, taking in the bear of a man who somehow was gently holding her sister's hand.
"I'm glad to see you too, Phoenix," Brooklyn replied before taking her sister into an embrace. "This is Captain Matthew Stevens of the Union merchant marine. He's my…boyfriend," she squeaked, going through mild shock at saying the word out loud but enjoying the way Stevens seemed to rumble with laughter beside her.
"Don't bother asking cause I don't know how it happened either," the Captain chuckled, extending a hand. "Captain Stevens at your service. Pleasure to meet you."
"Likewise," Phoenix accepted. "So how did you end up here, sis? And with him?"
"I'm here because I believe in Commander Thorson's mission, sister," Brooklyn stated primly before her face softened and she reached up on tiptoe to plant a kiss on Stevens' bearded cheek. "And I'm with him because he is a faithful, compelling man who doesn't feel the need to court half of his fleet…unlike a certain Commander who nevertheless made me realize that indulging in my feminine half is delightful at times."
"So Thorson's a man whore?" Phoenix summarized with a smirk.
"Forgive my sister, Captain. She's always had the mouth of a sailor," Brooklyn implored.
"Sweetheart, I'm a sailor!" Stevens laughed, nodding Phoenix's way. "So how did you and that carrier end up with the Commander?" He wondered.
"His fleet pulled us out of the fire."
"Oh that's a good one, coming from you," Brooklyn interrupted.
"Yeah yeah, I know," Phoenix assured her proudly. "Anyway, far as I can tell Commander Thorson smashed his way through the East Indies, snatched all the ships he could, and got out before the whole barrier fell to the Sakura.
"What did you say?" Brooklyn demanded seriously, feeling a chill run up her mostly exposed legs.
"She means we lost," a familiar voice called from behind her. Brooklyn spun on her heel and greeted him warmly with a chaste hug.
"Commander Thorson, you look well for a defeated officer. In addition to the Shigure I see you've managed to collect a handful of other ships."
"Yeah well…we still lost," he muttered. "Stevens."
"Thorson."
"Good to see you again. Care to give me a rundown of the last month before I debrief my own fleet?"
"It would be our pleasure, sir," Brooklyn affirmed. "And thank you for delivering my sister to me. I shall have to send word to Union command that she and Langley made it back. I did not want to believe the scattered reports…"
"Thank you for keeping morale up," Thorson took over, understanding well enough the uncertainty and sadness in Brooklyn's expression. "Phoenix, you good?"
"Yes sir, we'll just resupply and get ready to ship out. I'm sure they'll want us back with Enterprise or something."
"On the off chance they don't, you're always welcome," Thorson affirmed. "Brooklyn?"
"Of course, sir. Sister, let us speak later. The beaches past the dock make for a delightful stroll."
"Sounds good, sis. Talk to you later." Phoenix waved in parting as the two officers and her sister departed for the mess.
"Now that…is not what I expected," Thorson murmured. He had just entered the mess hall to find the usual hubbub of morning activity thanks to Stevens' crew. What he did not expect was to see Yuugure chatting up a table of sailors, clad in a French maid outfit no less. She was clearly taking a page out of Shiratsuyu's book, the black and white fabric matching her hair and the creamy, exposed skin just beneath her neck. Even her tail was adorned with a small lace band. It was easy enough to see the men around her were eating out of her palm, her nationality be damned.
Equally strange was Hatsuharu, who could be seen in the kitchens with a very peculiar sailor. "I didn't know any negroes served in your fleet, Captain."
"He's just a steward's mate, Commander," the Captain replied sternly. "Can't say it's been easy but the boy knows his stuff. Always been quiet and shut in a bit, likely on account of being the only one of his kind in my convoy. Guess that Sakura girl doesn't see color."
"I see," was all Thorson would say. He didn't honestly know how he felt about the situation, but he could see the easy smile on Hatsuharu's face as she spoke with the young sailor. By Thorson's estimation he couldn't have been older than twenty. "There haven't been any problems?"
"With those two? Are you kidding? A mouse makes more of a ruckus," Stevens replied. "That other kitten's the one you want to watch out for, to say nothing of Akashi."
"Yuugure?"
"Got half my men wrapped around her little finger. Far as I know she just likes teasing them. Tried to tell them she ain't serious, but boys will be boys."
"And girls will be girls," Thorson smiled, sitting with Brooklyn and Stevens at a corner table. Hatsuharu was soon there with coffee.
"W-welcome back, Shikikan," she whispered.
"Thank you. Who's your friend in the kitchens?" He replied softly.
"His name is Fredrick Miles. And he's been teaching me how to cook better," the destroyer replied with a bashful smile. Thorson glanced over at Stevens as she headed back.
"You said the rest of your crew give him trouble?"
"Do you really have to ask?" Stevens grunted. It wasn't difficult to guess how a black man would be treated by an all white crew.
"Then leave him here," Thorson shrugged. "Looks like he's doing Hatsuharu more good than you."
"I'll be happy to be rid of him, if only for the sake of peace and quiet," Stevens lowered his voice. "Boy's had it tough."
"He volunteered?"
"You think we'd draft his kind?"
"Let's hope it doesn't come to that," Thorson murmured. "But we're getting off track and I could always use more help in the kitchens. What else do you have to report?"
"Yes sir, allow me," Brooklyn stepped in, having watched the racially charged exchange between the two men with fascination. "We've established ongoing contact with Union high command via courier and radio when battlegroups pass close enough to the base."
"I see. And your evaluation of Union high command?" Thorson demanded as he took a sip of coffee, wondering if Brooklyn would echo Pennsylvania's sentiments.
Brooklyn gave him an obscure smile. "They have kindly chosen to provide us with every spare battleship in the Pacific theater, such as they are. I'm still waiting on an answer regarding wisdom cubes. It's been difficult maintaining regular contact with anyone possessing an appropriate security clearance."
"Wait, we're getting how many ships?" Thorson demanded eagerly.
"Well California, obviously," Brooklyn began with a genuine smile. "Maybe that will thaw Tennessee's frozen heart, hmm? Let's see, who else did they mention? There was Maryland, West Virginia got herself out of dry dock early, Colorado who's another ice queen, and South Dakota," Brooklyn finished.
"What, nothing to say about Dakota?" Thorson prompted.
"You'll see for yourself, sir. We received word that California will be escorting a handful of cubes as well but…"
"But?"
Brooklyn fixed Thorson with a stern look. "How much do you want to bet that the moment we inform Pacific command that Phoenix and Langley have been retrieved from Southeast Asia, they will demand they be shipped away from here to other fronts?"
"And Houston?"
"Her ship is gone from what I could tell? I only just caught a glimpse of her hair on the docks. You can recognize her anywhere. In any case, that gives us the ability to let her rest here. But do you see the pattern I'm trying to paint, sir?"
"We're a dumping ground," Thorson eventually murmured, looking down into his coffee. "You mentioned cubes?"
"I would be willing to wager my best pair of lace panties that the cubes we've been promised…" Brooklyn took a deep breath. "They're likely Nevada and Oklahoma's." Thorson felt like he'd been punched in the gut, not even able to make a quip about how he didn't have enough pairs of underwear to risk losing one. "It appears someone intends this to be the final resting place for many of them, the dreadnaughts of a bygone age."
"Kaga and Akagi would likely agree with you," Thorson replied, thinking back to his great defeat. "But I don't need superior airpower to win a battle."
"Sir, I don't mean to speak out of place, but the military production and actions of every major power on the planet are in concurrence. The era of the battleship has ended."
Thorson lowered his head, running a finger along the brim of his cap. "I won't give up on Penny, Arizona, Tennessee, and the rest. The era of battleships may be over, Brooklyn, but I know what I saw at Java Sea. And I think I can beat it. I intend to forge a new era of naval combined arms with battleships as the core…one that can break carrier groups."