Legends Don't Die, They are Reborn

Chapter 2: The "International" Taskforce

The British Captain stepped on the Deck of the Bismarck. "Kapitän an Deck!" yelled a unteroffizier of the Seebatallion. The Attending seamen saluted Kerr and formed a circle around the British officers as they stepped on the Bismarck, some had hopeful face, eager for peace, others had grim faces expecting a betrayal. "Guten Tag, Kapitän, may I know your name?" asked Kapitän Lindermann to his counterpart.

"My name is Ralph Kerr, may I know yours?"

"Ah, My Name is Ernst Lindermann, der Kapitän of das Schiff you're on." replied Lindermann as he shook Kerr's proffered hand. "So, the treaty we were talking about..."

"Yes?" replied Kerr.

"We can talk about the terms in my office," continued Lindermann. He wished to talk his counterpart in his office where he held domain, perhaps even turn the treaty to their side. He gestured to the door and lead Captain Kerr into the Battleship to his office. No one followed them, instead the crews either glanced at each other with suspicion or traded stories about their homes.

As time drew on, the British crew were beginning to show restlessness and began to whisper amongst themselves on the fate of their captain, "Maybe the Germans killed him?" questioned one young sailor.

"Nah, If they would, then they would have shot us already" dismissed the older sailor. Just as the younger sailor was about to reply, Captain Kerr stepped out of the Door with the Lindermann behind him. Kerr's face was a face of joy, as was Linderman's.

"Sailors of the Hood," he announced to his faithful crew, "From this moment onwards, the war has ended..."

The Hood's crew cheered and began to hug each other in delight, had they continued the war, many of their number would have died even if they had won against the Bismarck, a somewhat horrifying concept considering the extensive armament of the Battleship. Continuing to fight the war in this world would have lead to one ship afloat, badly damaged in this new world.

"Unfortunately, we cannot return back home, due to us being reincarnated into this world. As such, Captain Lindermann and I have decided in the best interests of our country and ourselves, we will form an International squadron. If we do ever return to our world, this squadron will be disbanded we will return to our respective countries. With favourable winds!

"With favourable winds!" replied the British Crew. The German crew looked on with a bemused expression at the joyful reaction of the British sailors. They had expected the British to be well trained and strict disciplined, not like this.

"Sailors of the Bismarck, as you would have heard, we and the British are now in an alliance. We decided this would be the best decision for both of the crew. In Iron and blood we will prove ourselves for the ship, worthy of the Title of the Bismarck's crew, For Deutschland!"

"For Deutschland!" roared over 2,000 German men.

"Crew, action stations! Set sail at economical speed" ordered Lindermann. The German crew immediately responded, hurrying to their stations. Engine room personnel began to switch on the oil pumps, restarting the 12 Wagner boilers while Stokers shovelled coal into the steam turbines, slowly pressurising the gears. The Screws began to slowly turn as the Oil-fired turbines began to move them.

Unfortunately, the Hood, being a 1919 battlecruiser, had old steam turbines and required a long time to warm up and to build the pressure necessary to move its screws. After a good half an hour of shovelling coal into the furnaces of the Hood, it began to sail in formation with the Bismarck. The Pair of Capital ships sailed side by side, waiting for contact, whether it be hostile or Friendly.

Eagle Union, Azur Lane HQ

The Eagle Union's Naval Commander was doing what he had done for years, filling out paperwork. "Ah!" he moaned while stretching stiff shoulders. Some Politicians had been as troublesome as usual and refused to allow certain ships to be Manifested. With 4 Iowa-class in Reserves, only one had been Manifested due to alleged fears that if they manifested all the ships, there would be no work for the dockhands.