A/N: Thank you for patiently waiting for this chapter. To keep things short I was laid off in January, and I've spent the last half a year finding new work, getting settled there, and finally re-familiarizing myself with this story so that I could continue writing. I'm sorry it took so long.
"Shikikan Thorson, this is Soryuu confirming completion of all objectives at the northern landing zone and returning to the main fleet. No casualties," came the radio broadcast that shook Thorson from his momentary, post-battle stupor. He could feel the tendons of his jaw aching as he finally unclenched his teeth and sucked down a long breath of sea air that carried salt and smoke alike.
"No sense sitting around feeling sorry for myself," he grumbled to himself before replying. "I got word from Rear Admiral Hewitt just a moment ago. You can meet me aboard the Akashi if you feel the need to debrief in person. Well done, Soryuu."
The man then turned to the young destroyer who still shared the bridge with him. "Forbin, I think it's safe to say your French is the best of anyone's in the fleet. Brooklyn will need your help if she is to negotiate a conclusion to this battle without further bloodshed. I'd like you to join her and ascertain Jean Bart's condition. Let's just say I'd be surprised if she's truly, actually dead."
"Tout de suite, Commandant!" Forbin agreed with an immediate salute. Thorson was afraid she might blow out one of the windows in her haste to comply, but the Iris destroyer used the door and was soon sailing off towards the docks while the Commander caught a lift to his support ship courtesy of Pennsylvania. He had less time than he'd have liked to mull over the concept of kansen as beings governed by willpower. Pennsylvania had questions.
"How did my pet perform today?" she asked curiously, looking none the worse for wear after the morning's scrum. Thorson allowed himself a moment of levity.
"If reports are to be believed, the story she spins for you at dinner tonight may be more truth than fiction," he informed her as the apparent wind threatened to dislodge his cap. Penny nodded.
"It'll go straight to that chubby little belly of hers, but I suppose seconds will be in order. Morale is more important than her midriff so long as Yuudachi keeps performing," she replied before frowning again as they returned to more serious matters. "I think Laffey is already aboard."
"Yeah."
"Shikikan, Akashi did nyaat expect you so soon! There was no time and there are only three cubes left now but the rabbit girls can be very scary when they want to be and Akashi did not want to be annihilated anymore than she wants to be flayed alive nyaaaaaa!"
Thorson felt the need to take a deep breath on Akashi's behalf as he walked over to her and placed a protective arm around her shoulder. Laffey looked up at him from the nearest bedside, her eyes red and watery. Jenkins was breathing, but that was about all that could be said for the young woman. "We'll ensure she makes it, Laffey. Best not to threaten the medical staff in the future, ok?"
"In fairness to Laffey, all she did was stare silently at the kitty and cry," Minneapolis defended her comrade from the next bed over. The cruiser, to Thorson's great relief, seemed in much better shape than Jenkins. She had her head cradled protectively in her lap, where she sipped on a bottle of coolant held between her legs. Bruises and lacerations marked her skin, but signs of healing were already present. "I don't think she was going to make it if they waited for your say so."
Thorson closed his eyes and lowered his head as the ship swayed gently. "You both did the right thing. Well done, Akashi. How's Indy?"
"Portland would be tearing this place apart if she knew," Pennsylvania pointed out as their attention passed to the last occupied bed, where Indianapolis seemed to be suffering from a chipped horn and a very bad case of bed head. The petite cruiser was sleeping peacefully, however, and Akashi assured him that she was stable.
"So time and rest. Let's pray we get it," Thorson agreed as faint footsteps sounded at the entry to the infirmary. He turned to find Soryuu and Hiryuu there, calmly taking in the scene. "We had a bit more trouble than you did."
"Damn, all this from one, immobile ship?" Hiryuu asked, her tone almost impressed. Thorson clicked his tongue in frustration.
"Yes. And I'm not even sure we managed to kill her."
"Arrêtez, ne tirez pas!" Forbin pleaded loudly as she and Brooklyn hauled themselves aboard the Jean Bart only to end up in the middle of a grim standoff. On one side, several dozen Iris soldiers had rifles leveled, ready to fire. On the other, Massachusetts knelt cradling Jean Bart's limp form, protected by her 'prisoner', her own shield, and those of South Dakota and Kasumi. A spark of hope jolted through her as many of the soldiers seemed genuinely surprised to find another kansen flying Iris colors in Casablanca, but Forbin knew not how to proceed or what she could possibly promise either side.
"I'll take it from here if you'll translate for me," Brooklyn offered kindly, a tanned hand resting on the squire's shoulder as she kept a precautionary barrier deployed. Forbin did a double take as she turned to look at the soft-spoken Union kansen.
"Where did you get a typewriter from?" she exclaimed, eliciting a sly smile from the temptingly dressed woman.
"A secretary must keep some secrets for herself, young one. Now, time is of the essence. If you would kindly explain to these gentlemen that we can only help the good knight if they stop pointing their rifles at us, we can begin in earnest. Oh, and if you could ask who is currently in command?" the light cruiser suggested before shutting off her radio. Wichita's calls to 'chat and make up for lost time' were getting incessant.
"I'll try," Forbin promised bravely, drawing her rapier slowly from her belt before taking a knee on deck and laying down her weapon. To her immense relief, the Dakota class sisters were wise enough to follow suit, though they also kept their barriers at full strength. Kasumi had never shown her rigging in the first place. She had been too busy flitting about Jean Bart, feeling the faint struggling of the knight's cubes, checking her vitals, and communing with the spirits and Foo.
"I know our fleet is filled with many brave warriors, but her soul is uniquely indomitable. What a life she must have led before now," Kasumi breathed airily as Massachusetts' gaze shifted rapidly between her and the furious, mourning soldiers standing at point blank range for rifles.
"You can sing her praises later, shaman. Will she make it?!" the battleship demanded. Her sister seemed to sense her desperation as well as her plans.
"You're still using your original hull, sister. Impressive as it is that you were able to deconstruct it at all, if you slam those cubes into her chest you'll change her forever. Kasumi will warn us if she's in immediate danger of passing over to the other side," South Dakota counseled wisely as a handful of Iris troops stood down in response to Forbin's gesture of good faith. The Sakura destroyer nodded softly in agreement, her 'bad' eye glowing strongly as she stood upright and wobbled for a second. She smiled as Dakota stabilized her.
"Thank you. Her presence, even now, is overwhelming. We do not have much time, but we have more time than you think, Massachusetts," Kasumi stated cryptically. Again South Dakota spoke up, cutting through the thick miasma of her sister's stress and anger.
"Today was brutal but the Commander has always done the right thing if given a choice. Give him a chance to do it now before you go doing something you'll regret forever, Massie. Besides, those soldiers won't understand and I'm not sure how many bullets I can handle at once."
"Is that what he did today when he ordered that damn fox to pull a sneak attack?" Massachusetts hissed. Dakota pursed her lips and narrowed her eyes slightly, the only outward sign that she was becoming tired of her sister's unusually emotive state.
"That woman didn't give him a choice. Now shut it, sister, if you know what's good for you both."
Massachusetts looked around to find many of the parties that should have been negotiating instead fixated on their sisterly spat. Brooklyn cleared her throat in the momentary silence and spoke to Forbin. "They were saying?"
"The gentlemen are insisting that if Jean Bart is still alive that she is the commander of the garrison, Mademoiselle Brooklyn," the destroyer explained, using English so as to afford a modicum of privacy.
"Oh you flatter me, but I'm quite spoken for at this point," Brooklyn tittered, glancing down at her ring finger. "But they are a crafty bunch, aren't they?"
"Ah, perhaps more desperate than crafty?" Forbin tried, feeling sympathy for her countrymen as she kept her gaze fixed on them. More than a few had refused to lower their weapons. Brooklyn did not seem concerned, on the other hand.
"Whatever the case may be, you can inform them that if our Commander and medical staff are guaranteed safe passage that we will do our best to treat the wounded kansen. As things stand, however, we cannot risk such a thing," she laid out plainly, directing a pointed look at the holdouts. Forbin conveyed the message promptly, causing a sudden flurry of whispered conversation among the survivors. Those deliberations quickly escalated into shouting, as several Vichya soldiers began scolding their comrades and pointing insistently at Massachusetts and Jean Bart.
Thorson's kansen waited patiently as the group slowly came to agree that while it was not a great offer, there was not a better one waiting in the wings. Eventually, a soldier stepped forward, introduced himself as Francois, and stated that the garrison would accept the terms in exchange for immediate medical attention for the Knight Captain. Brooklyn snapped her fingers pleasantly and turned her radio back on.
"Sister, please. I'm in the middle of something important. Hello, Akashi? Yes, this is Brooklyn. We need you, the Commander, a few more guards, and any wisdom cubes we have left at the Jean Bart as quickly as you can, if you please. I'd like to wrap this up before the Major General knocks the city gates down with his tanks, thank you!"
Over the next hour, Commander Thorson's fleet effectively occupied the harbors of Casablanca, towing wrecks out to sea, disabling or detonating any remaining mines, and stationing several battleships and cruisers to protect their carriers as well as remind any surviving Vichya soldiers to not try anything funny. That proved necessary when Akashi stated that Jean should be transferred to her hull.
"If the shiny princess stays here she will die, nyaa," the minty kansen insisted in no uncertain terms with a wave of her sleeves. "Akashi cannot work without her infirmary and infirmary is on her ship! Akashi has been shot at enough times in this war already, nyaa!"
"Won't be the last time, Akashi, but I sympathize. I'll stay, you get going," Thorson ordered the natives and his medic, scanning the faces of the Vichya garrison as Jean was removed from their presence. None liked it, but the fact that he remained prevented any from taking drastic action; that and the fact that the main and secondary batteries of the Tennessee were pointing directly at them from the next berth over. He took a few steps towards Brooklyn as Hiryuu and Pennsylvania flanked them, having tagged along to lend a bit of extra muscle to the equation. More than a few soldiers stared at Hiryuu's two swords, no doubt wondering if she could use both in a fight. "So?"
"Hello to you too, Commander. It's been too long," Brooklyn said fondly, standing on tiptoe to kiss his cheek. She laughed at his reaction. "A friendly gesture and nothing more. It seems you've been busy these past weeks."
"I could say the same of you… and Downes?!" he replied, sitting on the deck. The man made note of several soldiers lighting up cigarettes, a sign that tensions were slowly dropping. He didn't say anything when Forbin joined them. Having authorized the use of his final cubes to stabilize Jean Bart, there was little else for him to do other than wonder how he'd acquire more. Conversation with Brooklyn was more appealing than contemplation of another Mirror Sea or Siren fleet.
"Don't ask me about that, I wouldn't know the first thing!" Brooklyn replied with a healthy blush as she joined him in a seated position and ensured her undergarments were concealed from prying eyes. "All I can say is that Downes and Ooshio are quite inseparable and very much in love, at least outwardly. How Ooshio came to be with child is anyone's guess."
"Not sure 'with child' is accurate, but no way for me to know now. I somehow doubt Mr. Miles was involved in that development," Thorson replied with a shake of his head. The sunlight prismed off Brooklyn's finger. "That's a nice rock you have there."
"How kind of you to notice, Commander," Brooklyn said proudly, holding out her hand with fingers up. "I suppose falling for a Merchant Marine Captain during wartime has its perks."
"Just keep it safe from Akashi," he advised, earning a snort of agreement from Hiryuu. "Are things really that calm in the Pacific?"
"Other than the occasional spat between kansen over honor or whatever else, yes," she confirmed, tilting her head upward and running a hand through her long, strawberry blonde hair. "The Empire proves stubborn, and I don't envy the men sent to capture their territories, but we rule that ocean thanks to you. That makes it all much easier."
"And the Sirens?" he questioned seriously. She looked back at him.
"Completely vanished."
"What the hell?" Thorson cursed under his breath. "All that subversion of the Sakura fleet just to scurry off?"
"Oh they didn't scurry off. Well, Tester and a few observers probably did!" Hiryuu cut in, shifting her weight from one foot to the other in her boredom. Penny listened and watched with arms crossed over her chest. "I think you simply caught their eye, Shikikan. Maybe you should ask Ark about it? I think her shades tended to live longer than mine. In either case, once those grubby, tentacled freaks think they've found something unique or powerful, they tend to fixate on it. I'm thinking you, or we, fit that bill. Least that's my two yen on the subject."
"And before you go off saying you aren't special, or whatever, at least consider that eventuality, Andrew. Failure to do so could end up with us all in hot water down the line," Pennsylvania advised, not feeling the need to verbally remind him that she and several other Union kansen had engaged in mutiny on his behalf.
"Ok, fair points all around," Thorson allowed, casting his mind back several weeks. "Now that I think about it, reports about the deterioration of the European situation really picked up once we returned from the Sanctuary operation. Think we could end the war by sailing into the middle of the Atlantic and challenging the Sirens to a fight to the death?"
"Ha! One we'd no doubt lose, but I like your steel, Shikikan," Hiryuu opined with a glance over her shoulder at the Akashi. "I'd like our chances better with that kansen and her ilk on our side. Shouldn't we all be on the same team anyway?"
"While the reality of the situation is that we've established a beachhead for a proper invasion of Ironblood Africa, we technically also assaulted neutral, Vichya garrisons all along the coast," Brooklyn reminded Hiryuu. Penny scoffed, tossing her hair over a shoulder.
"Yeah, sure, neutral. She didn't fight like a neutral."
"She didn't fight like an Ironblood either," Thorson added with a rub of his chin. "I was asking Forbin about the rest of the Templar. Sounds like they split into two factions back when the Ironblood invaded the Orthodoxy mainland. The White Templar scattered to the winds, but the Black Templar are all in Toulon."
"Then that must be your next objective. We should begin planning immediately," Brooklyn stated in no uncertain terms. "Both we and the Ironblood have attacked Vichya territory within the last forty eight hours. That means the fleet is up for grabs, either destruction or capture."
"Or conversion, if the Commander is able to turn on the charm," Pennsylvania cut in pointedly. "Don't look at me that way, Andrew. It worked on me, didn't it?"
"And me!" Hiryuu added, causing the battleship's face to fall into a scowl immediately. "What? It was nice!"
Brooklyn tittered as Pennsylvania rested her head in her hand, happy to be left out of such shenanigans. "Your bedroom is one negotiation I cannot help you with, Commander Thorson. But we have other matters to attend to it seems. She's awake."
Thorson leapt to his feet as Forbin's cigarette fell out of her mouth. "Already?!"
"Easy now, you're safe, if not among friends. This is an infirmary. No one will hurt you here."
"Merde, my head," Jean Bart cursed, fighting through a screaming headache and a body more sore than she'd ever experienced during training. She'd taken a blind swing with her fist, wielding an imaginary sword. Someone with delicate but strong fingers had stopped her. The Templar shook her head and blinked rapidly, willing her eyes to focus. When they finally did so, she saw she was indeed inside an infirmary aboard a foreign ship. A young feline woman in an oversized white dress was tottering about with medical supplies and shards of wisdom cubes, while the one holding her hand was none other than- "You!"
"Me," Massachusetts replied softly, leaning forward on the bed towards Jean's bandaged form. "I'm sorry."
"Drink. The scary kansen must drink! Drip infusion can only do so much beyond replenishing fluids," Akashi insisted, presenting Jean Bart with two large cups of glowing coolant. When the Templar cocked a brow at her, she shoved them into Massachusetts' hands. "Chocolate battleship will prove they are not poison while I go check on the Union kansen you almost killed! Don't make Akashi regret saving you, nyaa!"
"I…" Jean Bart managed as the excitable medic waddled off to check on Jenkins. Waking up in the same room as the foes she'd injured hours earlier was not what she'd planned. "I suppose I planned to be dead by now."
"Don't say that. Here, drink. You'll need your strength. My Commander will want to speak with you and your troops are all on edge," Massie explained, taking a sip of the supercharged coolant before offering it to Jean.
"Are you aware your eyes just glowed?" the Templar asked quietly as she took the suspicious beverage in hand.
"I'm aware that I feel like I could take on an entire Siren fortress. That stuff can't be cheap. Don't waste it," the native battleship replied. Jean shook her head.
"Just tell me why," Jean whispered urgently, not missing the comment about Sirens. That didn't mean she could trust. Massachusetts' eyes fell to her lap where she worried her fingers and clasped her hands.
"You don't… you didn't feel it?"
Jean's heart thrummed powerfully as a memory flashed behind her eyes. The battle against his fleet had occupied her every faculty, but once she'd stood one on one before the warrior seated on her bed, with only a stretch of ocean separating them, a divine revelation had struck. "Who the hell are you, really?"
Massachusetts did not get to reply before the sound of heavy footfalls reached their ears, preceding the arrival of Thorson and the others who appeared to have sprinted all the way from the Jean Bart. The Commander shook his head in disbelief as he caught his breath. "Well I'll be damned. All that and you're still kicking?"
"Only because she slurped up two and a half cubes already!" Akashi raised her voice as she went about her work. Thorson nodded and approached the wounded Templar.
"I don't expect you to thank me for it, but it sounds like I spent a lot saving your life just now. So I'd appreciate it if you'd listen to what I have to say," he said calmly, not missing how Massachusetts leaned towards the woman with light brown hair and ruby red eyes. They looked him over quickly.
"You are far younger than I expected, Commander Thorson of the Eagle Union. Tell me, did you order the airstrike because you were afraid I would kill her?" the Templar demanded. He answered without hesitation.
"You asked me how many kansen I was willing to lose to take you down. The answer was none."
"Mmm, maybe you are still young, just seasoned," the Templar realized, her tone softening a bit. "What of my men?"
"One step away from a riot that will not end well for them," Thorson explained tersely, hand resting close to his sidearm. "So we can do one of two things, negotiate an alliance between your forces and my own, or take you and your garrison prisoner. I get the sense you didn't fight for the honor of the Ironblood today. You brought Forbin to tears."
"Forbin?! Where is she?" Jean demanded, leaping from bed only to land on unstable legs. She would have collapsed to the floor were it not for Massachusetts' timely assistance. Thorson had drawn his weapon, but not seen the need to level it at her. "I… damn it. Merci."
"You're welcome, but don't push yourself back towards the grave. Please give him a chance to do the right thing," Massachusetts passed on her sister's wisdom. The Templar nodded once her head stopped swimming.
"The Union and the Orthodoxy have been allies since the founding of your nation, Commandant. Let me see them, my troops. If you are telling the truth I will parlay in good faith, in honor of that history. You would not be here if I didn't have something you want, non? And as you say, I did not fight today for the Empress or her Dragons."
Thorson looked from Hiryuu to Brooklyn and then back to Jean Bart. "Empress? Dragons?"
"Why don't you do what she says, Kommandant? I can tell you everything you wish to know later," came the voice of Bismarck from the open doorway. The Ironblood leader did not remain in the shadows for long, showing herself as Thorson realized she'd been eavesdropping on the whole conversation.
"You move quietly when you want to, Bismarck," Hiryuu put Thorson's thoughts into words. The Ironblood shrugged her shoulders.
"I have one arm and no hull. I must fortify myself some other way. Knowledge will do," she said simply, eyes focused on Jean Bart. "So you are the leader of the Black Templar."
"And you are a discarded pawn."
"From the perspective of the Sirens, perhaps," Bismarck acknowledged in a haughty tone, refusing to let the jab get to her. "But you and I find ourselves in more similar positions than either would like to admit, Templar."
"I think I've been too relaxed when it comes to discipline," Thorson admitted to Soryuu as Bismarck and Jean Bart conversed as though they were sharing a table and frosty conversation at a pub.
"With respect, Thorson Shikikan, I don't think the word discipline is a part of your vocabulary when it comes to kansen," the carrier opined quietly. Her sister let out something between a grunt and a chuckle.
"Not even in the bedroom."
Thorson and Soryuu both were spared the necessity of a response as Bismarck left as quickly as she'd arrived, with Hiryuu tagging along to keep tabs on the enigmatic Ironblood. Jean Bart cleared her throat politely, seated on the edge of her cot as she met Thorson's eyes once again. "We can discuss our mutual antipathy towards the Sirens once the fate of my soldiers is resolved?" she suggested. Thorson crossed his arms over his chest and nodded curtly.
"Last thing I need to cap off this invasion is a slaughter. Let's go," the man ordered shortly. "Soryuu, Massachusetts, if you would? If she can walk she should be as far away from Indy and Minnie as possible."
"Commander?" Laffey spoke for the first time since he'd arrived, still at Jenkins' bedside with red, puffy eyes. If Jean Bart felt any pride about sinking the Jenkins, it didn't show. Thorson thought for a moment before nodding to his capital ships.
"Take her out onto deck, I'll just be a moment," he requested as Akashi continued to flit about her infirmary, checking on Indianapolis' IV, taking the kansen's pulse, and leaving a bottle of coolant on her bedside. Thorson took a knee at Laffey's side, all breathing easier with the Templar Captain removed from the premises. South Dakota remained at his side, but Kasumi broke off to remain with Minneapolis and Indianapolis
"I know it looks bad, but you can trust Akashi. She looks stable," Thorson assured his oldest ship as she nodded and wiped her eyes on his sleeve.
"Laffey understands but Laffey is still sad, yes yes. Jenkins did not deserve this, no no. But Laffey does not feel like hurting the golden lady either. She is not like the Ironblood who hurt Zed," the destroyer mumbled into his uniform. Thorson hummed approvingly.
"I think you're a good judge of character, Laffey. She's definitely unlike anything or anyone we've fought before. I have to go now, though. Brooklyn and I need to see if we can improve on the less than successful diplomatic efforts with the Vichya so far. Some of the Admirals were hoping to land without a shot being fired today."
"Admirals are silly then, yes yes, not like Commander," Laffey delivered blunt judgment that Thorson agreed with privately but was forced to reprimand publicly.
"We're working with those Admirals, Laffey. And it was worth a shot, even if nothing came of it. I'll come by to check on you and Jenkins when I can," he promised, stroking her voluminous, silvery hair that was in a perpetual state of bedhead. The young kansen pulled away and looked up at him.
"Laffey accepts."
"Ah wonderful, you've returned. I was getting a bit worried," Brooklyn admitted as the mood on the deck of the Jean Bart changed in an instant. The moment Massachusetts hopped back onto deck, living and ambulatory Knight Captain of the Black Templar in tow, celebration had broken out as though the Vichya forces had carried the day. Francois and the others rushed to her side. They touched her armor before making the sign of the cross over their head and torso, proclaimed she'd pulled off yet another miracle, offered her several dozen cigarettes between the lot of them, and generally conducted themselves in a manner that had Soryuu, Brooklyn, and Thorson exchanging dubious looks with one another. In the distance, over the sounds of the ocean and port, came the low rumble of Major General Patton's armored divisions' arrival at the primary objective for the initial stage of Torch.
"I don't know I've ever seen morale so high from a defeated force before," Soryuu observed coldly, disapproval obvious in her voice. Thorson removed his cap and ran a hand through his hair. Time spent away from the rest of the Union Navy had allowed it to lengthen to the point where the action actually accomplished something in terms of taming his locks.
"In fairness, the bar was exceedingly low. I'd be happy just to be alive in their boots, overjoyed even," Thorson defended his human 'brethren'. He deferred to Brooklyn as one of Rear Admiral Hewitt's ships sounded its horn out in the harbor. "So…"
"Patience is a virtue," the kansen counseled wisely as she glanced inland. "They have nowhere to go. Speaking of, where's Forbin? I could have sworn she was just here."
Thorson's stomach dropped out as he realized he could not see the Templar squire anywhere, utterly forgotten in the maelstrom of more important kansen and affairs. "She wouldn't have… would she?"
"Whatever it was you were thinking, Thorson Shikikan, I think you can put it to rest," Soryuu told him, the tall, keen eyed carrier pointing to the middle of the scrum of Vichya soldiers and sailors. "They are drinking."
"You really would think they won, carrying on like that. Figures a Vichya ship would carry its own stash," the Union Commander said in disbelief as Forbin caved to relief, peer pressure, or both and drank straight from one of several bottles of wine that had been retrieved from somewhere aboard the Jean Bart. Fortunately, the Knight Captain herself was more considerate of her position, taking Forbin gently by the shoulder and steering her slowly back to Thorson. Massachusetts had not left the woman's side since they'd come aboard, but her face was an impassive mask. South Dakota leaned close and whispered in his ear.
"My sister is smitten."
"Is she?" Thorson questioned quietly, to which Dakota responded with another question and a smile, recalling some of her earliest conversations with the man.
"Is she not? Brooklyn, here?" she wondered, eyes constantly scanning the 'partying' soldiers on the off chance that one of them decided to do something suicidally drastic. She did not know if the alcohol would increase or decrease that likelihood. The Union cruiser sighed.
"Ideally not, but I don't know that they'll allow us to leave again."
"They will be made to," Jean Bart insisted, conjuring her rigging and firing a blank shell into the air. Thorson's mouth hung open, trying to comprehend how a ship that had barely seen any action, that had not even had her hull properly finished, could demonstrate such power after taking so much punishment. Not even her 'greedy slurping' of wisdom cubes, as Akashi had described it, was a sufficient explanation in his mind.
"How the hell?"
"Rallier à moi, tous!" the Templar demanded, ensuring a silence aboard the ship so complete that she could hear the gulls again. She allowed a smile to break through her still battle-weary expression. "The glory you give to me belongs to God. You should all reflect upon this while I see to negotiations, since many here seem to have forgotten that we lost this battle. You all have a choice to make, and soon. As do I. Union Commandant?"
"Am I to take that as a sign of surrender?" Thorson demanded evenly, able to feel the white-hot gaze of Tennessee boring into his back as she no doubt waited for even the slightest reason to fire upon the final Vichya ship at dock. "If we move now and obtain your cooperation we may be able to spare the city some tank related damage."
Jean looked out to sea, her eyes glassy for the briefest of moments, before turning her back to him and surveying the city of Casablanca. Everywhere she could see the influence of her nation, from the architecture of the buildings to one Vichya flag still flying where Union troops hadn't yet arrived to snatch it away. She closed her eyes and tilted her head skyward, wondering if she was doing the right thing. In addition to the four hundred or so souls aboard her hull, her thoughts were drawn to distant Toulon, to Malin and Tartu, Algèrie and Foch, Dunkerque and all the others. The Lord had seen fit to keep her alive. "I vowed never to surrender, for their sake. I vowed never to retreat, for my own. I hope this will suffice, for now."
South Dakota moved with swiftness belying her voluptuous form, hand on Jean Bart's wrist as the Templar procured a dagger with an obsidian pommel from her boot. The Vichya captain was unfazed, twirling the implement with practiced ease to grasp it by the handle, blade facing her own body. With the 'business end' of the weapon pointed away from her Commander, South Dakota allowed Thorson to step forward and accept the token, only then releasing Jean. Her rigging remained, however, as it had since the Templar proved capable of summoning her own yet again. Thorson examined the weapon curiously, even testing the point with his finger before handing it to Brooklyn. "I don't know the first thing about fighting with blades of any kind. I'm more liable to hurt myself than anything else, if you wouldn't mind? As for you, Templar, let us speak then. God saw fit to pit us against one another this morning. I would prefer it not always be so."
Jean nodded to her troops, raising her voice for their edification. "They have seen me alive and will behave while I am in negotiations! They will also remember that they have hundreds of guns and planes pointed at them if they do anything other than drink, make merry, and clean my vessel of its battle damage! You mentioned the Sirens, Union Commander. And you sail with the disgraced Bismarck, as well as the Sakura. I may be stubborn, but I would like to imagine I am no fool. You came here for more than just the capture of Casablanca and a beachhead for your nation's tanks. Let us see if our aims can be reconciled before more blood is spilled this day on either side. In that effort at least, I am confident the Lord will bless us."
"Brooklyn, Soryuu, Dakota, Massie?" Thorson asked his kansen. When none of them disapproved, he nodded to the younger of the Dakota sisters. "See her to the South Dakota for now. Brooklyn, get in touch with Rear Admiral Hewitt and Major General Patton if possible. They may not care to be a party to kansen matters, but it would be a gross violation of protocol if we didn't ask. This isn't like the Sanctuary campaign where Nimitz directly gave us wide latitude."
"I've already begun," Brooklyn answered confidently, a pair of fingers to her temple as she worked her radio. She smiled and sighed with mild exasperation. "Ah, yes. Commander, once the negotiations are concluded, requesting permission to spend some time visiting with Wichita? She has been calling me practically non-stop since the battle's conclusion."
"I don't see why not," Thorson replied as Massachusetts left the ship along with Jean Bart. They were not far behind. "Though I have to ask, why are you and Cleveland here? Did Nimitz order you to come? Are you assigned to Admiral Hewitt?"
"It was Enterprise's suggestion," the cruiser informed him simply before offering her opinions on the Pacific. "Colorado and her sisters seem uninterested in the burdens of command beyond ensuring that Big E doesn't do anything detrimental to your cause. One of those three is always at base while the other two assist with invasions and landings against the Empire's Southeast Asian holdings. It's a bit tense at times, but with Tennessee and Pennsylvania here in the Atlantic it's given her some room to breathe. Downes and Portland are working on our plan of establishing kansen-only bases on uninhabited islands along with the bulins who were left behind. Enterprise suggested that Cleveland's anti-air capabilities and my knack for diplomacy would be better used here, especially with Siren activity seemingly dropping to zero in the Pacific. I'm sure you understand that neither of us were about to say no."
Thorson gazed ahead of them at the pair of Massachusetts and Jean Bart, a small sense of relief settling his heart as he received the news that all was as well as could be on the homefront. "I'll have to thank her when I get the chance. We may be about to enter the most important negotiations of the war since the Sanctuary fell, assuming the estimates of kansen strength in Toulon are accurate. I'm glad you're here, Brooke. And congratulations again."
The Union cruiser adjusted her glasses and cocked a smile at him. "Thank you again, sir. It's a pleasure to be here but we should not tarry once we're aboard. I don't need to crack any Ironblood codes to know that if the truce between them and the Vichya is broken, Toulon will be a priority target."
Thorson nodded grimly, already puzzling whether it was physically possible to beat Ironblood ground forces to a Vichya port city almost two thousand kilometers away from his current position. "I can't fault your reasoning, Brooklyn, but let's see about securing her cooperation first. Imagine what she could do with both turrets operational."
His most thoughtful kansen added a key detail as she received confirmation that both Hewitt and Patton would be joining the negotiations. "Operational and pointed in the right direction. I'll get in touch with Shiratsuyu, sir. We are expecting guests."