Flame Of War | Azur Lane

Chapter 9 | After Action

---Later The Same Day---

---U 556 Point Of View---

"...Hey U-556..." U-47 tiredly speaks from the hospital bed next over. Staring up at the ceiling silently, with tired eyes, clinging to life by a thread. We all hang on. Fighting our bodies wish for eternal slumber. "... Yeah ..." "D-Do you think. . . We won?" She asks me, tiredly. I speak. "I don't know" A few long moments of silence pass over. Before U-81 spoke. "....I hope, we bought them enough time..." U-81 speaks, whilst lifting her nub of an arm, from the elbow down, she had nothing left of her right arm. On my other side, U-47 stares at her missing leg, and I choose not to look at my own amputations. Walking into the room, a Danish nurse opens the door, and speaks to us. "Ladies, you have a visitor from home, who wishes to speak with you." She toned it in such a way, that seemed to have both a mix of excitement and yet worry. It left us skeptical. Stepping out of the way, she lets the man in, as he walked in, he took off his hat, and held it in front him. Glancing over at her, as she walked behind him, and closed the door as she left him to speak with us in private. I turn my head, looking out onto the man. Finally, my expression changed from blank and tired, expressing hints of surprise and even maybe a bit of excitement. "As soon as I heard that Denmark had hospitalized U-Boats suspected of fighting the British through there waters into the Baltics. I dropped everything. I had to come and give you women the news in person." Kaiser speaks in a tone of up most respect and gratitude, as he walked towards us.

"Thanks to you brave women. We were provided the extra time we needed and more! To build our navies numbers that much more, to get allied ships into Kiel bay, and reinforce our coast and air numbers for the fight ahead! If not for your sacrifice, our nation, and its navy would not have won the day. I heard the story, from the Danish on the coastlines observing the battles. You ladies when above and beyond what was expected of you. Fighting an uphill battle even after providing the time we requested. You put your lives, your bodies, and your vessels on the line. Prepared to pay the price in blood to protect your home. An I cannot let those actions go uncelebrated nor unrecognized..." He speaks, taking out metals from off his own fatigues. "U-boats are not capable of receiving the same metals as Battleships from combat action. But today, I will make exception. You ladies fought harder than any battleship in history. An for that, you will be awarded as though you are battleships." Approaching each of us, pinning a High Seas Fleet Badge, and taking out a Knight's Cross that was decorated with Golden Oak Leaves, Swords, and Diamonds from his pocket, pinning it to each of our fatigues.

Then after, stepping back, and saluting us, whilst standing at attention! "Thank you, ladies! It's through your strength and determination, that the flag of Iron Blood, will continue to fly over the oceans abroad!" Hearing that, made everyone break into tears, for whatever reason, hearing those words, finally gave us the inner peace we needed to allow ourselves! To mourn the friends, we lost in protecting our home; to cry and grieve the pain and suffering we went through to protect it! To pour onto the table our pain, without the shame or belief that we could have done more! This was what we needed, confirmation that what we did was more than was needed of us, that our actions weren't in vain, that our losses where integral, not wasteful.

---Kaiser Point Of View---

---The Next Day---

Walking along the pier, looking out at the ocean, watching as scavenging and recovery vessels from across the nation drag both ships of our own, and enemy out of the water to be burried, and have their ships split from them to be turned to well needed scrap to refuel our nations limited amount of steel. Pulling planes of either side from the debts bellow, so there materials can be recycled and reused to fuel our war machine! Bearing witness as some vessels from the battle, remain by the shore, waiting for their siblings. lost in battle to be recovered. So they may put them to rest. Crying in silence, as they wait what must feel like eternity. I look away, staring ahead, refusing to watch on. Remembering what I'd said to those in the dock yards not hours ago. "Cancel my ships repair and Refits. Focus on those damaged and clinging on first. I waited decades to sail again, I surely can wait a few months longer."