Chapter 59: Chapter 59 -The Drunk Russian
---Two Weeks Later---
Having had to make a detour due to sunken ships blocking the sea route near Pogibi, Russia we end up having to sail around the East Side of Sakhalin Island. The detour was an unfortunate setback, but I didn't realize the ship issue till we were about a day away. I didn't know the tidal currents in the area so I looked at the depth in the water which led me to find the ships sunken beneath the waves. From what I could tell they were ships that had sunk after the undead started to appear as there was little to no rust on the ships yet. Most likely survivors had tried to take ships to flee the continent, and some of the ships had infected people on them. Without a crew to steer them they took out a bridge that had once spanned the route dooming any ship that came after them.
The detour was a minor setback overall, but did add an extra week of travel since we had to back track. Looking at the old, worn down settlements from the Soviet era that dotted the coast, we could see how bad things were for people living here during those years. We could see signs of habitation by people in those settlements suggesting that up till the Collapse people were still living there. As we drew near the northern tip of Sakhalin Island, we ran into some trouble with the Russian Navy who were blocking our path forward.
"Are there any people still alive on the those ships?", Rei asked looking out at them with binoculars, "They were already anchored there when we arrived, and we have been here a while now."
Only half a mile away from us, we were well within striking distances for the Russian Destroyers but they hadn't shown signs of aggression towards us yet. The mini map confirmed there were living people onboard with no one actively infected so we were in a holding partner. We had been trying to make contact with the crew, but so far no one was answering.
"I tried contacting them again, but they aren't responding.", Daiyu stated hanging up the radio for the seventh time, "Don't you have something in your storage space that can take them out? We aren't making progress just sitting here."
"Not without letting everyone on the ship know about my power, most people know what we have and don't have on the ship. If I pull out torpedo's or missiles they are definitely going to know something is wrong. Besides, I am sure they will flag us as an enemy, within the Russian Defense Network, if we attack them.", I chuckled, "I don't feel like triggering a nuclear war just yet. We are already running a risk of the automated system attacking us since we are on a US Warship."
"So what should we do?", Kyoko asked with a worried look.
"We have to wait till they decide to respond. Right now we have the firepower advantage, but they hold the number and maneuverability advantage.", I told her, "If we were to start firing on them immediately we stand a chance of escaping unharmed since their anchor's are dropped. They will know we mean to attack though once the guns move to aim at them."
Since they weren't answering us, and we were going on day three of this Mexican stand off, I told Saya to try Morse Code with the spotlight during the evening hours. Using the spotlight to send them messages, we were all shocked when they actually replied to us. Giving them the frequency to speak with us on, they finally started talking to us over the radio.
"Hello, this is Captain Victor of the USS Ohio.", I said clearly, "We are not here to fight, we are passing through to see a friend of mine trapped in an old Soviet Bunker."
"This is Commander Draven of the VMF Petersburg, we have orders to keep any and all ships out of this area. Turn back immediately.", the Commander replied with a frustrated tone.
"I am sorry, but I know for a fact that your government collapsed. Whose orders instructed you to keep ships out of these waters?", I questioned with a curious look, "You have been in a standoff with us for three days, and haven't made a single attempt to contact us till now. If those were your real orders you would have tried contacting us in some fashion, not just sit there watching us."
"We are not at liberty to disclose that information.", he answered firmly, "Turn back now, and-"
"You are taking orders from Umbrella, aren't you?", I claimed narrowing my eyes towards the Petersburg.
When I didn't get a response from the commander, I knew my hunch was right. Looking at my lovers for their input on the situation, Yuko and Yoko offered up suggestions.
"Red and White Queen, can you block the signal the ships will send to trigger a missile launch from the mainland on us?", Yoko asked.
"Affirmative.", they answered.
"I suggest we make them back down, or sink their ship.", Yuko stated.
"Hell yeah!!", Oriha shouted jumping in the gunner seat, "Let's light those bastards up!!"
"Calm down, we should at least try to make them stand down first.", Saya said stopping her from engaging the weapons system, "We can't always just shoot first."
"That's a fair compromise.", I agreed before speaking into the radio again, "Commander, we both know we have the superior firepower in this fight. We have already seen enough lives taken throughout this mess, I don't want to add your crew to that list if I can help it. Please stand down and let us pass without any trouble."
"Orders are orders...", he said with a nervous tone.
"Sir I don't see why you are following them...your country was torn apart by Umbrella Corp. Everything you know and cared about is gone, the undead they made destroyed everything. We have seen many people die on the streets and in their homes, we have even seen undead children wandering the streets, and we have seen people betray one another just to survive. If you have even a shred of humanity left, you know that helping Umbrella Corp is only killing innocent people.", I told, "They don't give a rat's ass about either of us. What have they done to help any of your fellow countrymen? Just like they did in the US, Japan, China, North Korea, and South Korea...they abandoned us all to save their own hides. If you truly want to protect your nation, there are a lot of people trapped against the coastline that need your help to save them. You can help save your countrymen, or I can sink you here in a watery grave."
The radio went silent for a few moments before he spoke again. Agreeing to let us pass, he ordered his two ships to turn back to the mainland to begin helping his countrymen. Confirming with Red Queen that they didn't send our location to Umbrella, we continued our voyage to get Gerald.
---Three Days Later---
Anchored off shore, I had let Gerald know we had arrived just off the island. Confirming he could see us, he asked how bad it looked outside. At the current point they had a few hundred undead encircling them so it wasn't too bad. Overall rescuing them wouldn't be too much of a hassle, but the real problem was something out of our control. A bad storm was brewing a few miles from us and the seas were starting to get pretty choppy. Getting everyone off the island would be time sensitive as our little boat we'd use to get to shore could capsize with a full load.
"Are we certain the battleship won't roll?", Pucca asked looking out at the water.
"The waves aren't high enough to roll us. Once we get the survivors onboard we will head straight into the storm. As long as we face the waves head on we should be safe from rolling over.", I told her.
"Agreed, that is how we did things in my home country.", Astrid agreed, "A ship this large and long won't roll over unless we are hit from the side. A wave flipping us from the front would have to be enormous, taller than two thirds of the ship's length."
"That's true, and it would have to be powerful enough to lift us up too.", Saya stated.
"Exactly, so lets make this quick.", I said putting my armor on, "Oriha, Saeko, Rei, Maya, Renka, Miu, and Sayo are coming with me. You ladies all ready to go?"
"Give me the plasma cannon!!", Oriha giggled with delight reaching out her hands.
Having put on the Samus suits the women were getting used to the suit's servos and motors helping increase their strength, speed, and agility. They were getting the hang of it, but they were still very awkward with the suits.
"I don't think so...once you master using the suit we can talk. For now just use a gun.", I told her passing out weapons, "Alright ladies, are you ready?"
"Yes!!", they shouted with excitement.
Nodding my head we got on one of the smaller boats, and took off towards the shore. As I steered us close to the beach the women did a once over of their equipment before preparing to leap off the boat. Once we were within fifty feet of shore they took off one by one using the boosters on their backs to make the jump to shore. The noise alerted our enemies of our presence, and they came charging forward to greet us. Wasting no time, the women leapt into the fray and with their weapons drawn.
Using her superior strength to out pace the others, Sayo was the first to get a blow in. Sliding under a wide swipe from an undead bear, Sayo slammed her gauntlet into it's face causing it's head to explode into a million pieces. Hearing her giggle from the boat she quickly got back up to start punching more of them like it was a game. Ripping several undead in half with her bare hands, Sayo looking back at me with a thumbs up of approval. Saeko and Maya were like killing machines too, between their sword skills and the stat increase the suits gave them the undead stood no chance against them.
Severing limbs and heads from their opponents, the two of them wove their katana's like they were writing with a brush. The two of them had been putting in long hours to improve their sword skills, and it really showed. At this point the two of them were likely Grandmaster Swordswomen, quite a feat indeed given the fact we didn't have a lot of sword wielding people on the ship. As a show of strength they were even bisecting some undead straight down the middle. Rei was doing an equally good job delivering a flurry of deadly blows to the enemy.
Each thrust of her spear was taking out at least two undead, sometimes four. Combining our private training lessons with her already peerless spearmanship, she had developed her own style of fighting. Using the spear like it was an actual part of her body, she was able to apply Ki to the weapon and made it almost impossible to break. I had been watching her practice on the ship, even a glancing blow from her would be sufficient to tear someone's arm off if they weren't cautious. When she spun that spear though...it was like being torn up by a blender...quite a gruesome sight that made her all the more attractive.
Renka and Miu were working very well together, better than they had before. Prior to our encounters, the two of them were very aggressive with one another but after Miu buried the hatchet with her the two had started working together very well. No longer bickering over a guy, the two had been soaking up all the teaching I had been giving them in martial arts. Combining Bang's Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist style with their own styles the two had reached the same level as Shigure...before I started training with her. Delivering a flurry of blows faster than most could follow, the two of them were close to being named as Masters by the Ryōzanpaku. Given a month or so I wouldn't be surprised to see them make that title their own.
As for Oriha...well not much had changed with her childish attitude when it came towards explosions and guns. She still enjoyed blowing shit up, and tearing things to pieces with guns...it always put a big smile on her face. That said I had helped her increase her accuracy so she had stopped spraying and praying...as much. Fortunately she never went to overboard and endangered anyone on the ship, but I was still being cautious. Giving her a plasma cannon was just asking for trouble as it had the effect of a gun and exploded when the plasma destabilized.
By the time I reached the shore they had cleaned up the undead in the area completely. Walking over to the bunker door, I knocked on it and told Gerald I was here about his car's extended warranty. Opening the door, he gave me a blank expression.
"You didn't tell me that you were sleeping with women that knew how to kick ass like drunk Russian when vodka runs out.", Gerald stated with a smirk.
"That's your first words to us?", I sighed, "You aren't even going to comment on what I said..."
"Did you expect me to act like scared child, or a woman in distress?", Gerald spat, "We could have-"
"It's nice to see you Victor.", his sister said pushing him out of the way, "Thank you for coming to our aid. Things were getting bad, but my brother won't ever admit that."
"I had everything under control.", Gerald stated, "...thank you though for your assistance. A man should know when to bow his head in thanks. That said..."
Placing his hands on my shoulders, he stared into my eyes.
"My sister is still off limits too you!!", he shouted with an angry look, "I will not hand my sister over to someone like you!! You have enough women now, leave her be!!"
"Gerald...I am old enough to make my decisions.", she growled.
"No no no, I am your brother and the thought of you ending up with this silver tongue ba-"
Bashing him over the head with an empty vodka bottle, Gerald groaned as he held his head. Looking back at her with confusion, she glared at him with fury very few women I knew had.
"Do not act like I am a child, I am your older sister and I will be treated as such!! You will accept whatever choice I make for my husband.", she told him, "I kept my mouth shut when you brought women to our family home, now you shut your mouth when I bring a husband home."
"...my head...", he moaned, "Sister why do you li-"
"I am sorry Victor, I know he can be a pain in the ass sometimes.", she laughed muffling this screams with her hand.
"More like all the time.", I sighed turning to him, "Get your ass up, and move it to boat. I am not staying here all day!"
Grunting he picked himself back up, and started moving towards the boat. Getting everyone onboard with their belongings we got back to the ship in a hurry. Having everyone checked out then given a room to stay in, I sat down to go over our pathing. With our current position we were roughly a day away from the Yam Islands, and I was seriously considering striking the base. Based on what the map showed me, there was only a few hundred people there. Most of them were scientists so combat wasn't their strong suit. The issue I was having was there was a girl on the island that was a Diclonius.
'If I remember correctly they have telekinetic invisible arms. They can cut through damn near everything, I only need to be scratched by it once though to have an immunity to her Vector control.', I thought, 'Problem is if she decides we are a threat, she could kill a lot of people before I subdue her. I don't know what the range of her arms are since they aren't actually attached to her...I don't think anyways.'
"Victor!!", a familiar voice cried bursting into the wheelhouse, "There is a pervert in the women's bathroom!!"
Turning to look at her, she barely had a towel on to hide her breasts and crotch. Still lathered up with soap and shampoo, I felt bad she had to run through the ship to get to here.
"Lucy...you do realize-"
"There was a pervert in the bathroom!!", she protested, "Go get rid of-"
Hearing a scuffle going on down in the bowels of the ship, I turned on the speakers in the general area of the showers.
"How many times must I beat you before you learn your lesson!!", Ju shouted.
"Kenichi made me do it!!", Kensei remarked in a pained tone.
"No...you dragged me...", Kenichi groaned.
"I can't believe you'd stoop so low, Kenichi!!", Renka shouted.
"I was starting to think maybe you were changing, but you are just a dirty pervert like Kensei!!", Miu protested.
"You got it all wrong...he brought me here blindfold. He told me it would toughen me up!", Kenichi argued.
"Perverts.", Shigure stated, "Castration."
I heard both men scream like little girls, and take off running. Chasing after her husband, Ju was threatening to cut Kensei's nuts off and keep them in her purse. As for Kenichi, it was clear the women knew he was dragged into it but had just been giving him a rough time to scare him. Offering to escorting Lucy back to the bathroom, she accepted the offer with a smile.
"So she went to you...", Saya sighed as I came down the hall, "Why am I not surprised."
"Well he is the Captain.", Lucy pointed out.
"Uh huh...I am sure it has nothing to do with tempting him.", Yuriko teased.
"Ah come on, stop giving her a hard time.", Shizuka giggled, "Are you going to join us Victor?"
"There are other women in the bath right? You know I won't join in with outsiders in the bath, I don't want to ruin their time.", I chuckled, "Enjoy your baths, and we can have some tea afterwards."
"I will bring the tea up.", Astrid offered.
Going topside, I found Kenichi and Kensei hanging from the flag pole by their underwear. Having caught them Ju apparently gave them a thrashing, and left them as an example to others. From the ground I could see Souichiro laughing his ass off while pointing at Kenichi and Kensei...along with several other men that were poking them with sticks.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone