War Plans

3 months later

Kong was frowning and tapping his foot on the ground as he waited for Galan to show up for the funeral.

The rest of the Marines were here as well, Zephyr, Sengoku, Garp, and Tsuru were here dressed in black along with everyone else, waiting for Galan and his troops.

Kong grinded his teeth and muttered "I'm gonna-" Garp looked out and said "Oh, he's here." everyone turned to see a group walking towards them, having just arrived.

The recruits gagged and threw up on the ground as Galan and his group appeared in viewing distance. Every single one of them was covered in blood, dragging along a corpse.

Galan stopped in front of Kong and tossed a headless corpse at his feet, saying "Some big fish they are…" Kong looked down with his arms crossed, looking at the Rocks Pirates Jolly Roger on the clothes of the corpse.

The rest of Galan's troop threw out the corpses and heads in their hands before saluting and shouting "Paying respects to Former Fleet Admiral Bear!" Galan looked at Kong, who turned back to him, snorting "This time you're off the hook. Next time you'll be a toothless faggot in the gutters." before he turned around and walked away.

Galan stood there, looking at the rest of the Marines, a blood soaked black cloak fluttering on his shoulders as they swallowed. Zephyr sighed and shook his head, Garp chuckled, Sengoku was silent, and Tsuru looked at Galan before looking away.

Galan nodded at them and continued along, saying "Get someone to feed the dogs." the Marines saluted tremblingly as Garp wrapped his arm around Galan's shoulders, laughing "You're back! You know! I was starting to wonder if you were dead! BWAHAHAHA!" Zephyr sighed, "He might as well be." Sengoku looked at Zephyr, saying "You know these are scum, right?"

Zephyr frowned, "Yeah, I know." Galan said "Leave Zephyr alone, he doesn't have to be like me." Zephyr looked at Sengoku, who rolled his eyes and turned to Tsuru, asking "Nothing? You said he was dead." The other three looked at her and she said "Dead to me, I said."

Galan looked at her before smiling and turning around, Tsuru looked at the back of his head and sighed, frowning to herself as she rubbed her finger, very fidgety. The rest could sense something happened and Galan felt like she was hiding something but it wasn't none of his business, maybe she found someone else.

It would be for the best.

The funeral came and went.

All the Marines held a salute as Kong said a few words and rang the Ox Bell 6 times.

Galan watched as they lowered a closed coffin with a Marine flag tied to it into a grave. He shed a few tears and paid his respects before Kong brought him into a high level meeting room, announcing that they were going to war.

Garp, Zephyr, and Galan were going to the New World to find the Rocks Pirates while Sengoku and Tsuru hovered around Paradise to catch anyone who escaped.

Not even a week later

They all set sail and left Marineford as Kong stayed back, doing Fleet Admiral Duties.

During this time, all pirates heard about the Marines hunting down anyone with a Rocks flag. Every single one of 'em that hung a flag of Rocks were slaughtered like pigs.

Slowly 9 months passed…

-1484, New World, Somewhere near God Valley-

Garp, Zephyr, and Galan were standing around a table. Galan pushed a piece on a map, saying "We have intel on Rocks' Flagship heading to God Valley for a deal." Zephyr frowned "You have civilians and Bubbleheads on that island."

Garp snorted "Who cares about the bubbleheads?" Galan nodded and pushed a bubble piece, continuing "According to the sorry sack of shit I got my intel from, the cargo is a whole lotta weapons, some special Devil Fruit, and a gaggle of Bubbleheads, Slaves, and Civies. My guess is they're gonna use the Bubbleheads as leverage for more weapons and territory from the World Government."

Zephyr held his chin and said "And the rest?" Garp stayed silent this time and Galan replied indifferently "Half of 'em are slaves already, it's only a word away from all of 'em." Zephyr closed his eyes and clenched his fists in anger.

Galan moved pieces around, going on "My plan is, we have Zephyr take a Brigade to intercept the Bubbleheads. Keep 'em away from the Civilians while protecting them from any Rocks members who may be on the capture squad. Garp, you go intercept Rocks himself with a Battalion and stop him from entering anywhere within 10 kilometers of the cargo behind Zephyr. I'll take a Platoon with me and pincer Rocks from the sea, double team his mainline crew front and back."

Zephyr and Garp looked at each other before nodding, "Sounds good." Garp asked "What about Roger?" Galan frowned and held a Mustache piece in his fingers, thinking silently. Zephyr held the table and looked at Galan, saying "Garp testified to the Roger Pirates not committing any evil as far as he was aware. I checked up on the claims and islands he had a history of going to and they all spoke well of the entire crew."

Garp nodded and said "A real son of a bitch, but a good man. Only fatalities are with other pirates and even then, minimal damage caused." Galan crossed his arms, tapping the mustache piece on his chin as he looked at the map on the table, adding "I saw the reports. I also read the ones on this Edward Newgate in Rocks' crew, my source tells me he always cleans up wherever they go, preventing innocents from being harmed as much as he can…"

He frowned and continued, "Roger is a wild card, if he sides with Rocks, eliminate him. As for Newgate… Use Non-Lethal Force when engaging. If he's what he's said to be, he'll understand the message and will reply with Non-Lethal Force." Zephyr nodded and Garp asked "And if they don't?" Galan pointed at the map, separating the Newgate piece from Rocks and putting Roger's piece next to Garp, replying "If Roger sides with us, we work with him this time. If Newgate doesn't get the message my intel was wrong and we eliminate him along with the rest. Key factors are Rocks himself, Kaido, and Charlotte Linlin. The rest are riff-raff."

He paused for a moment before putting his own piece on the map, adding "Scratch that, I'll engage Newgate myself. If he's a friendly…" he pulled Newgate's piece to his piece's side, finishing "We have 2 extra temporary allies."

Zephyr pointed at the pieces, asking "And after?" Galan looked at him, asking "You would have them arrested?" Zephyr frowned and shook his head, "Can't." Galan nodded and moved the pieces, saying "Exactly. We can use them afterwards to control the New World. A lot of scum, not enough Marines. We make a deal hush-hush and let them go after a show, make it look like an accident. But we have to end the rest here and now, after what happened, we need a show of strength. If everything ends well, we get fresh blood in the marines."

Garp chuckled "And if it doesn't, we get buried here." Galan nodded, "Precisely. Any questions?" Zephyr asked "Need Support?" Galan shook his head and pointed at the map, saying "Rocks doesn't trust his supplier, he's moving his Fleet behind the Island for a surprise attack. You're the only line of defense for these people, Zephyr. That's why you have most of our force with you. If Roger is who Garp says he is, we will have support in his crew and maybe a heavy hitter in Newgate."

He tapped on the table and looked up at Zephyr, saying "You're the Highest Ranking officer here, most likely everyone will get promoted one level after this." Garp picked his nose and scoffed, "Hmph! Don't want it." Zephyr let out a breath and nodded with a smile, "Not bad, kid. You're all grown up."

Galan's lips seemed to genuinely smile for a moment before he shook his head, returning to normal, replying "That's all I got. I'm open to suggestions." Zephyr and Garp shook their heads, saying "Nothing."

Galan nodded and took off his coat, saying "We have precisely 2 days to prepare. Remove the Marine flags and fly Rocks flags instead. We'll land on the island as pirates this time, infiltrate and wait for Rocks to show."

Garp was confused, asking "Won't he know?" Zephyr rolled his eyes and retorted "He has so many ships in his fleet, you think he'll know each and every single one of 'em?" Galan nodded, adding "Not to mention, from what I've heard, his crew is a warzone already. Whoever is the strongest has the right to speak, most likely he views his fleet as slaves. Plus… Why do you think we intercepted these ships?"

All around the three were pirate corpses!