Commander's Rounds

Gaiden entry 72.5: Gotterdammerung

(A couple of notes:

The Imperial German Navy didn't make any distinctions between torpedo boats and destroyers, so Large Torpedo Boats are basically German destroyers of the period.

The character of Arminius is based on the L24e (alpha) design concocted during the last years of WWI.)

The High Seas Fleet!" Deutschland exclaimed. "I still can't believe we're dignifying them with a response!"

Bismarck kept her eyes straight ahead, despite the Panzerschiff's bellyaching. Almost the totality of the Ironblood surface fleet had landed at a nearby airport, and was now making their way over water towards the home base of the Azur Lane Atlantic division. Bismarck had accepted König's challenge to a war exercise, and they had negotiated their agreed-upon forces. Bismarck had brought nearly every surface ship at her disposal, save for Agir, Odin, and the non-combat ready August Von Parzeval. knowing all the while that König would be picking her own forces from a much larger pool of ships. She had to make do with what she had while her opponent had the luxury to pick and choose. Howevr, she knew her people were undaunted by things like "odds".

Deutschland continued. "I don't see why we're even giving these relics the time of day!"

Prinz Eugen smiled, and pulled alongside. "These "relics" have been rearmed amd equipped with the best technology Azur Lane has to offer, and besides, I don't think that your armor could ever laugh off a 38 centimeter shell, regardless of its vintage."

Deutschland huffed. "Still- Armored Cruisers? Large torpedo boats? What do they think they can accomplish against us?"

Eugen giggled. "I think that's a question you should be exploring~"

Bismarck called out to Eugen. "Eugen, what do we know about Azur Lane Atlantic's commander?"

The heavy cruiser went up to Bismarck. "Hm? Well, his name is Marco Barisi. He is an academy graduate who served as a navy man for years, but his career had stalled out somewhat. Apparently he liked to make noise when he felt his people were getting a raw deal, and that sort of noise isn't always appreciated. And then a little over a year ago, he was put in charge of Azur Lane Atlantic. Rumor is he isn't the most serious person on the surface, but at the end of the day, his people have been winning battles against Compiler and Omitter's forces. Of course, he's not really the one we're worrying about, hm?"

"Thank you." Was Bismarck's response. Eugen took that as a cue to go off and do her own thing.

Friedrich was the next to approach Bismarck. "My dear, you seem rather tense. Does the prospect of going to this sort of battle bother you?"

Bismarck shook her head. "Not the fact of going to battle, but rather facing König at all. This is the first time she has spoken to me, so I can hardly imagine how she and the others will react to meeting us. I have a notion that there are many matters where we do not see eye-to-eye, and I'd rather there not be hard feelings between us and our distant cousins."

Friedrich put on her warm smile. "If she wanted to have nothing to do with you, she wouldn't have called you out here in person. Besides, she has the burdens of leading the High Seas Fleet in the absence of the other Friedrich, so why not speak to a countrywoman who has the same circumstances?" She put a hand on Bismarck's shoulder. "She is your kin, Bismarck."

Bismarck gave a slow nod, but remained quietly apprehensive.

Elsewhere, someone else was less apprehensive. Scharnhorst was practically gleeful. "Finally, someone worth fighting for real! A no-holds barred war exercise, Iron Blood against Iron Blood? With Goeben, Seydlitz, Moltke, all as my possible opponents? Valhalla couldn't make me more pleased!"