Yet again had she failed to get Sara's fairies off of Hiryuu. Yet again she had failed to convince an occupying force to retreat from their locale.

She didn't think it could get more annoying.

She was wrong.

"Oh. And now she's trying to speed walk away from us." The first commented.

"She's never done that to me. That must be because you're here." The second offered.

"Surely not? I'm certainly a better guest than you could ever dream of being."

"Is that what you tell yourself on the daily? I'm suddenly a little sad."

Anya pinched the bridge of her nose.

"Oh, she seems to be getting a little annoyed." The first observed.

"Naa, that's just how she is." The second stated as fact.

Anya wheeled on the two women, meeting eyes with them.

Well, one of them anyways.

Momo and Momi only grinned.

And then the fourth figure of their unlikely grouping only sighed as she looked to Momi and Momo. "When you said you had someone you wanted me to meet, I didn't think that meeting would involve tormenting her for seemingly no reason."

Anya turned her gaze onto that of the apparent 'Noro' yet again. And by far, Anya's favorite of the mystery women that seemed to creep up on her with no end in sight.

Dressed to the nines in what Anya could only describe as the cleanest and nicest set of  Dress whites she had ever seen, Noro was a woman that was built and built well. Golden blonde locks done up in service style, she looked like a woman ready to mean business.

And the expression she held upon her features as she regarded the trouble makers told Anya that she meant it well.

"Oh come on Noro!" Momo insisted. "It's fun!"

Noro cast her gaze over that of Anya, and met eyes with her. A moment later, she rolled her eyes as she looked back to Momo. "Oh yes. I can tell that she's certainly having the time of her life being oh so openly harassed by the two of you hooligans." She offered in a dry tone.

Anya's favorite bar none.

"You just haven't gotten to know Blondie like I have."

"The fact that you so earnestly refer to her as Blondie is telling in an entirely separate fashion. And more so than that, she is attempting to do her job. She does not have the time nor should she have to openly and clearly engage with the likes of you two. Momo, I already get enough of you as is. Let's not add Momi into this mix." She remarked. "And what's more than that, she is in charge of caring for the ones that you see as your own. Maybe a little less harassment, a little more appreciation, hmm?" She asked as she put her hands behind her back, standing before the other two. Momi and Momo seemed to trade a glance at that, before looking to Noro again with a skeptical gaze.

"Now I remember what they named the Noro-virus after." Momo muttered. Noro blanched.

"E-excuse me!?" Noro exclaimed in relative disgust. "One, that's barbaric. And two, that isn't helping your case any further." She paused. "So I came prepared."

There was a brief pause at that before Momo seemed to bristle, Momo chuckling somewhat at that as the more recent of the two fully wheeled on Noro.

"You didn't!" She shrieked.

"She did." A yet fifth voice announced from behind Anya. Momi laughed as Momo oriented herself to face the newcomer, and in that moment, Anya turned to get a look for herself.

Dressed not in whites, but instead the dress blues of a high ranking officer, the newcomer walked towards their grouping with hands behind her back as well. She looked between the two problematic entities for a moment as she approached them, giving Anya a moment to take her in as well.

Like Noro, her uniform was spotless, squared, and sharp. She wore it like a second skin, not like an uncomfortable feeling or happenstance like she knew some people tended to do. Instead of the golden blonde of Noro, the new visitor's locks were a deep, hushed red, the darker it got the closer she got.

Momi laughed as Momo made to say something to Noro, who simply smirked as the newcomer addressed Momo directly.

"When she told me just who she was coming out here at the behest of, I thought I'd tag along for myself just to see what's what. And dare I find two of you. Momo I knew about, but Momi, I hadn't expected to find you here as well. Never thought you the one to get so involved to this degree. What's the reasoning?" She asked.

Momi pointed to Anya. "Admiral here is shacked up with Maryland."

The newcomer turned her gaze onto that of Anya, nodding somewhat. "Oh?" She asked. "I hadn't been informed of this. Johnson, yes?" She asked.

"Anya Johnson, yeah. Are you..." She searched her mind for a moment. "Are you Capo?" She asked. The newcomer offered her a smile that looked to be almost offended somewhat at the assumption.

"No, child, I am not. In this context, you may call me Niago." She offered in response, her deep violet eyes watching Anya for a moment. "You may suffer hair loss if you're made to bear Capo, Momi, and Momo in the same setting." She offered.

Anya bristled somewhat at the child comment, but pushed it down as she looked between Noro and Niago. "So then... I take it these aren't your actual names? Niago? Noro? Momi?" She asked.

"Hey." Momi warned.

"Momi's the exception rather than the rule, that being her actual name. The rest of us simply go by one nickname or another that have come to us over the years. The only one who does not is Momo. That's just her fully screwing with you." She explained. Anya arched a brow before casting a gaze at the woman in question. Momo only turned away with a huff at that, her fun being oh so and easily exposed.

"So then... I can't know your actual names?" She asked.

"We would prefer not to hand those out so readily." Niago answered her. "Momi wasn't supposed to openly give you her name either, but her... nickname-" She applied carefully as she took note of the dirty look that the woman in question shot her. "Is far too easily recognizable." She explained. "For the moment, you'll know us by our nicknames and only those. Anyways, with that out of the way, and having introduced myself, it is rather a pleasure to finally put a face to the name, Admiral. Momi's antics aside, she seems rather fond of you."

"Niago." Momi warned. Niago only offered the woman a smirk similar to that of her stature as Noro chuckled somewhat from the side. Anya gazed up at the woman in question, Momi squinting at her in response.

"Likewise...?" Anya slowly returned before looking to Niago. "Admittedly, I don't think I had your meetings in the to do schedule?"

"Nor do I think you originally intended to meet that of Momi and Momo in such a personal way." Niago answered. Anya nodded at that as she glanced at Momi and Momo a moment before looking to Niago and Noro, hoping that they would be just a bit better in explaining some things given that Momi thus far had not been and she doubted Momo would be either.

"And before you ask." Noro began. "If it's something Momi has not said thus far or openly told you, we will likely not either."

Or not.

"Okay..." Anya regrouped within her mind. "Then what about the other one I met that one time?" She asked, looking to Momi. "The pale one. Ska? Why doesn't she show up with you?" She asked.

"Because first and foremost, you're not her concern." Momi answered her as Noro and Niago seemed to look around for a moment. "And honestly, if you weren't with Maryland, I probably wouldn't show up to you either. And the only reason these three have is because of that initial connection." She explained. "Unless you ingrain yourself with one of the girls, we don't really take notice with all of you all that much. We just quietly observe and that's that."

"Which isn't a sleight on you." Niago answered her. "It's just how we choose to keep things. Though from what I'm told, there is now one other here who's aware of us now." She offered as she looked to Momo.

"It's not my fault! The girl was there with her when I arrived. What? I just wait for her to leave?!"

"That's exactly what you should have done." Noro snapped.

"Yeah, well-" Momo began. "The rules set for us are dumb. Why can't we interact with the girls? I mean come on, what's the harm?" She asked.

"Rules?" Anya asked.

Momi, Niago, and Noro focused half lidded gazes onto that of Momo.

Momo suddenly looked vastly uncomfortable.

Anya blinked.

"What do you mean-"

"Admiral Johnson?" A voice she knew questioned from behind her. Anya turned immediately to find that of Liz approaching her, an inquisitive look upon her features. "Were... you talking to someone just now?" He asked. Anya blinked at the question a moment as she vaguely recognized the forms of the four women that weren't supposed to be there still behind her.

"....Yes." Anya agreed. Liz's brows arched.

"Oh....?" She asked.

"I have finally gone insane." Anya admitted. Liz's concern morphed into that of disbelief as she rolled her eyes.

"Ah I see. You've my condolences then." She answered. "Certainly sounded like quite the conversation you were having just now." She asked. Anya shrugged at that.

"I've found talking to myself helps alleviate the stress of the job. And you know what?" She asked, gesturing for Liz to lean in.

Liz did so cautiously, eyeing the woman somewhat.

"I've come to find myself fairly charming." Anya told her.

Liz rolled her eyes again, even more exaggerated this time as she put a hand on her hip.

"Uh-huh." She muttered. "It's truly amazing that not every single person on base has started to fall for you. Hell, even I feel myself becoming weak in the knees. You might have to catch me, oh Star of my show."

"Oh don't worry, I would never let-"

"Okay you can stop." Liz offered.

"Right." Anya stated, scratching the back of her head.

"Oh dear lord." Niago muttered from behind her.

"I dunno... I could see it." Momo remarked.

"She's with Maryland you nitwit." Noro growled.

Momi laughed as Momo gasped.

"That doesn't mean I support it!" She fired back.

Anya tuned out their squabbling as she focused in on Liz, who was now watching her carefully. "So what exactly were you doing?" She asked. "Normally you can only be found inside the Mess. And considering that's behind you." She inquired.

"A little something to tide over the Repair ships until they can get away from the Docks. And of course, something for Admiral Hipper. As stupid as her actions this morning were, she does still need to eat." She explained as she crossed her arms. Anya nodded at that, understanding the reasoning as Liz made to walk past her. "I should hope you can tear yourself away from your overly charming self and join the rest of us for lunch, no?" She questioned, arching a brow as she walked past Anya.

"I- uh.... Yeah." She said as she watched Liz go.

"Smooth." Momi offered, the grin still upon her lips.

Anya scowled as she watched the woman safely step inside of the Mess Hall before wheeling on the four. Niago offered her a look that dared her to try and blame her with her own failure to notice someone approaching. Noro looked mildly unimpressed. Momo looked slightly apologetic. And Momi looked down right amused at the whole fiasco, crossing her arms boldly.

"Not a single word?" She asked quietly.

Niago arched a single brow.

Anya shook her head.

"Anyways...." Momi started, looking to Noro and Niago. "I'd imagine that you didn't just come all the way over to Japan just because of Momo. So, aside from her, what else you here for?" She asked. Noro and Niago traded a glance with one another before Niago looked to the woman.

"After what you've been saying oh so openly, we got curious ourselves. So as much as this trip was about Noro reigning in Momo for Johnson's benefit, we both wanted to lay our own eyes on the fleet, see if this.. Grand Fleet really is as grand as you say." She reasoned. "Which, admittedly, perhaps we picked the wrong time of day given that so many of them are already deployed."

"There's still upwards of seventy or so girls on base at the moment." Anya supplied, Niago and Noro turning their gazes back onto her. "It's not the full effect, not what you'd get with the entire fleet, but it's Lunch and there's still enough of a diversity of nationality for you to get the general idea. And when dinner rolls around later, with more of them on base, you'll see that effect expanded." She told them.

Niago and Noro nodded at that.

"Oh, good! I'm famished!" Momo happily agreed.

"No!" Momi, Noro, and Niago snapped.

Momo looked hurt.

"Feeding the fleet is already an undertaking of massive proportion." Momi said, glancing at the woman's rounded stomach. "Feeding you is asking for total and utter devastation in anything even remotely regarding food." The woman commented.

Noro shook her head, watching Momo slump somewhat as Niago looked to Anya with a sigh.

"I believe that would work best." Niago answered. "And, it allows you to get to Lunch, lest someone else come upon you, talking to seemingly no one." She observed. Anya nodded at that as she began to make way for the Mess Hall for the last little bit she had to go. And then she paused.

"Momi, leave your hands to yourself this time." She asked before continuing on. Niago and Noro casted a glance at the woman in that second before they made to follow after Anya as she made way for the Mess.

She made to step inside, not having to worry about the four as she looked to the right side of the room, where the other commanders were already seated. She took a general glance over the room for herself before making way proper to her table. Sofia regarded her with a nod as she approached the table. She sat down easily enough, already finding a cup of coffee sitting there for her as the Captain looked to her.

"Success?" She asked. Anya sighed.

"The occupation of Hiryuu continues unabated." She answered. Sofia chuckled somewhat at that as King looked to her.

"Did they at least give some sort of positive news?" He asked. Anya nodded somewhat at that.

"Yeah. They're confident they've got most if not all of her back in proper order." She said. "Now they're focusing on making sure her fairies are okay. They're confident that she should wake back up by the day's end at the earliest." She said.

Ishigara took the information as it was nodded. "It could've been far worse. There's no telling of how Saratoga's quick thinking assisted in keeping it from growing worse." He said. "I'll have to thank her after she awakens."

"If she's not her usual grump self when that does roll around." Sofia commented. Ishigara nodded.

"A risk to be sure. But thanks are in order regardless." He said. "And perhaps a replacement door for the one she ripped of it's hinges, no?" He asked as he looked to Saradia. The woman seemed to sigh at that.

"Blücher was adamant that Saratoga's apologies for the door were passed on and expressed throughly." Saradia made known.

"I'd say we're on the right track if that's the first door that's had to be replaced since the start of the fleet." Sofia observed, before looking to Ishigara. "Any comments on that? Any problems when the fleet was first starting out?" She asked. He seemed to think about it for a time.

"There were a few that stand out amongst the rest." He answered. "But for the most part, it was simple events that were resolved mostly without issue. Even despite their novelty to this life, the fleet has always been overly cautious when it comes to their strength in such matters. There have been a few cases of doors being closed too roughly, but nothing as extreme as one being ripped out of place." He said.

"Ah." Anya remarked. "So plenty of space for new experiences it would seem."

The other four commanders at the table cast a gaze at the woman, that together, prompted Anya to rethink her statement somewhat.

"Okay okay, maybe that's the wrong way to put that." Anya huffed.

Sofia laughed at that as King smiled, Ishigara nodding his agreement as Saradia shook her head.

Anya took that moment to look out over the Mess Hall for a second or two, most notably to keep track of the four spirits or whatever they were as they walked about the mess. The newcomers, Noro and Niago walked in step with one another, quietly observing when they weren't making the odd comment back and forth to one another.

Momo was making her own rounds around the room, quietly and oh so subtly eyeing the various dishes upon the tables set out before them. But any time she'd look like she was going to make a move for one of them, she'd find either Niago, Noro, or Momi watching her. Or, in the case when she grazed a little too close to the table shared by that of the few Japanese heavy cruisers on base at the moment, all three turned their gazes on her.

Momi herself decided to stick close to Anya, simply overlooking their table as she listened in on their conversation.

She idly glance at the other four commanders and then back to Momi.

What it was like to have someone looking over your shoulder, and not even know it?

Anya wouldn't like it, she didn't think.

Momi idly glanced at the woman for a moment, and then looked at the form of Koko standing over her.

"So." King opened. "Any news in the world of being a ship girl while also not being a ship girl?" He questioned. Anya huffed.

"I wish there wasn't, I really wish there wasn't. But there is. So what news do you want first? The one that implicates me with 80% of the fleet? Or the one that's come as a revelation to me as of today?" She asked, looking to the man.

"I would personally like to hear about the one that's puts you at odds with the fleet." Saradia told her. Anya nodded at that as glanced at the table a moment before reaching up with a hand, depositing a group of fairies there.

They looked confused for a moment, as if trying to remember where they were.

A Bismarck fairy, a Nachi fairy, two Nagato fairies, and one Ark Royal fairy.

The Ark Royal fairy immediately made for the plate of bacon sitting before her. In turn, the Bismarck and Nagato fairies made to try and help her up and over the rim of the plate so that she could get at the treasure.

"So clearly, I'm something of a hotel for them." Anya commented. "Like some messed version of the Stanley, yeah?" She asked.

"The.. Stanley?" Saradia questioned.

"The Shining." King offered.

Saradia made the motion of nodding at that, her mouth closing before nodding to Anya for her to go on.

"Well, I thought that was it. Until oh... a few nights ago? Well, that was all flipped on its head. I was in the Kitchen, away from everyone else. I was pissed at the recent events and all that, and I was- I wanted to be alone." She explained.

"Oh yeah." Sofia agreed. "Shigure was looking for you that night. Did she end up finding you?"

Anya nodded. "She did. And she's actually how I became oh so aware of my current predicament. I have at least one fairy for every single girl that has them to give. Which isn't a problem, not really at the core of it. No, the problem is that oh so many of those decided that they simply weren't going to inform their ships. Shigure saw that I had one of her fairies, and she questioned it. That's how li learned of it." She explained.

"Oh." King commented. "That's... well I mean it's not the worst thing in the world."

"I'll keep that in mind when I have to explain to Musashi why I have not one, not two, but three of her fairies."

"Oh." Sofia nodded. "So you're going to let the fleet know then."

"I was going to anyways. And that was before we came to learn what happens exactly when a Shipgirl hands off too many of their fairies. Even keeping Maryland's fairies now makes me nervous for her safety and well being." She admitted.

"While your point does have validity to it, and is a point to keep in mind to be sure, you and Maryland are somewhat different in that regard." Ishigara offered in statement. "While yes, you have hundreds of fairies by this point, most are individually only one or two in number, no where close enough to present their ships with the same problems that Saratoga underwent. Still something to keep in mind, but the same urgency would not be present, I would think." He reasoned.

"Yeah." Anya agreed. "But still. Why me?" She asked. Sofia chuckled.

"I'm more interested in knowing what it's like. How is it, having 250 some plus Individual, separate entities living aboard you?" She asked.

"Like ants." Anya answered dryly. "Burrowed beneath the skin. Knowing full well that you'll never  get every single one of them if they don't want you to." She explained as she looked dead on at Sofia, her amusement void.

Sofia shuddered.

"Forget I asked."

Anya only smirked at that as she watched the Ark Royal fairy finally attempt to get over the lip of the plate, only to tumble backwards along with her cohorts. Anya shook her head as she took one of the larger pieces of bacon off the plate, taking a headcount of the fairies for a moment, before breaking it up into appropriately sized pieces for the group. Passing them out to them, the collection of present fairies sat in a small circle as they went at the bacon with malicious intent.

Anya watched them with a small smile.

Only for five Kitty Hawk fairies to suddenly pop up around the plate as well.

Anya scowled.

Doing the same for them with another piece of bacon, Liz approached again, her mug in hand as she watched the whole thing unfold. She sipped at it as Anya then spread out the bacon to those five, the five of them joining the already present circle as Anya then went to take a sip of her own coffee.

"If you feed them, I feel that would warrant them to come back more often." Liz offered.

Anya slumped forwards.

Liz grinned into her mug as she sipped at it.

It was the motion of Nagato, Mutsu, and Musashi entering the Mess Hall that captured her attention however, watching as the three came to settle down at the same table as the group of heavy cruisers. Taking a moment as she watched them, she eventually settled on her course of action as she stood. The fairies that were stationed aboard her looked panicked at that, stuffing their prizes into their mouths before getting up and running for the woman, the rest of the table watching as they vanished aboard her.

She made careful way across the Mess Hall towards the assembled cast of now eight Japanese ship girls, Haguro having returned to base right before lunch. It was however Takao who noted her approach, the heavy cruiser making to swallow what food she had before addressing the woman.

"Admiral." She greeted as she sipped at her drink. Anya offered a small wave as she gestured to an empty seat.

"May I?" She asked.

Out of place as it was, those at the table seemed to regard the question before Mutsu nodded for them all. Anya took her seat as easily as could be, settling into the table with the nine eight present ship girls, each one watching her.

"Okay." Nachi opened. "This is weird."

"Nachi." Myoukou scolded lightly.

"It is!" Nachi argued.

"It's certainly odd." Haguro observed.

Myoukou sighed.

"Hello Admiral Johnson." Nagato finally greeted as she prepared her own plate. After a moment, the battleship finally looked to the woman. "Can we do anything for you?" She asked. Anya nodded at that.

"You're all somewhat aware that I can host fairies to a certain extent, right?" She asked. It took a moment, but they all offered their own sort of nods, Musashi's being least noticeable of the lot.

"Yeah." Nachi answered for them, verbally at least. "You're not... making secret deals with the Gateway, are you?" She asked.

Anya blinked.

"Is... is that a concern that the fleet has?" She asked.

"It's a little strange that the Gateway has seemed to take such a liking to you." Haguro answered her. "But you have to realize this is mostly circulated around by and with those of us who were here before you and the Captain arrived. Put yourself in our perspective. We were just 60 strong. And then you arrive with the Captain. You pull seven girls on your first summoning, your next summoning is three times that. And then girls of nationalities start to show up that don't even have a ring given to anyone. It's a little odd, and a tad strange when you put all the evidence together." She explained.

Anya opened her mouth to answer that.

But closed it the more she thought about it.

"Fair... I suppose." She admitted slowly.

"Do not think too deeply into it." Nagato commented, Anya looking to the battleship. "It is largely and mostly something only discussed between those of us of Flagship position." She answered. Anya nodded at that somewhat, at least thankful that the original sixty weren't suspecting her of something she had no say in.

"Okay..." Anya thought for a moment. "The eight of you have your fairies, right?" She asked. When the eight of them offered her nods, she slowly continued. "So can the eight of you do a roll call or something along that degree?" She questioned. When the eight again nodded to the question, she nodded in return. "Do one for me then if you would." She asked of them.

They seemed to regard her for a time before each of them slowly nodded at the request. And Anya watched as each of them seemed to focus for a time on something she couldn't see. She wasn't sure how long it was going to take or supposed to take, which was totally fine with her. So she simply waited, watching the eight of them as they humored her request. She idly tapped her fingers against the table as she waited, eying as Momo ventured too close again. She was staved off however by that of Niago stepping up to the other side of the table. The two seemed to have a stare off before Momo relented with a huff, turning away from the table. Niago shook her head as she watched her before looking to the table before her, watching the eight for a time before arching a brow at Anya.

The woman shrugged her shoulders mindlessly, not turning her body in any way or form to signify that she was publicly answering the woman.

Niago seemed to accept that as she turned her attention back onto that of the eight.

And just in time as Anya watched a small frown spread over Myoukou's lips.

And then Nachi even an even larger frown.

Mutsu with a curious look upon her face.

She watched as the eight of them very rapidly came to the same conclusion.

They looked to Anya.

Anya immediately pointed to Atago. "Two."

Takao. "One."

Myoukou. "Two."

Haguro. "One."

Nachi. "Five. For whatever reason."

Nagato. "Two."

Mutsu. "Two."

Musashi. "Three."

There was a brief silence as the eight suddenly regarded her with a new expression, one that Anya wasn't really fond of having so focused on her.

"I believe an explanation is in order." Nagato said, now watching Anya carefully. Anya huffed as she placed an arm on the table a moment.

And then they watched as the missing fairies began to wander out from behind the limb, suddenly all too aware that their ships were now alert and watching them across the table, as opposed to where they had expected them to be. On board.

"None of you were present, but in the days following the summoning that brought the Gateway's expansion, it came out that I could in fact host fairies like I do." She explained as she looked at the eight of them. "Some have given fairies here and there, but under no circumstance did I request that anyone give me fairies, and most certainly no one out of the American fleet." She explained. "So when I got to my room that night, my first task was figuring out just how many I had, which at that time, was a fairy from everyone who one to give. I asked them if they were sent to me, and not assuming that they would lie to me, I took their word for what it was and let it be."

"And you didn't think of stop and consider that? I mean, some of us I can understand. But some of us? Kaga and Zuikaku for instance?" Takao questioned.

"You have to understand, since I received the ring, my entire experience here has been at the amusement of the Gateway. The fact that I can even host fairies is a problem I do not know how to properly handle, let alone that I now know a large majority of them are in fact stowaways. I am an Admiral first, a wandering home for wayward fairies second. I did not dismiss the possibility that they simply went along with just because everyone else had." She told them.

"So how'd you figure it out? Who found out?" Nachi asked.

"A couple nights ago, I was in the kitchen, dealing with everything when Shigure found me." She told them. "She came to notice that I had one of her fairies, and that's when it was brought to my attention. Which, I am now bringing to your attention. Especially after this morning, with the stunt that Saratoga pulled for Hiryuu. Even minuscule, I don't want even the slightest chance that this causes you girls problems." She explained.

The fairies between the two groups on the table however only looked between the two.

And then the five Nachi fairies made eye contact with their ship.

They scrambled back aboard Anya, vanishing from the table. Anya scowled at that for a moment, emerald eyes narrowing.

And suddenly the five were once more back on the table, much to their surprise. They looked to Anya with eyes of betrayal, only for the woman to point at Nachi. "Your ship. Your responsibility. I don't mind if you wanna come with me for whatever reason that might be, much to my chagrin, but you clear it with her first!" She snapped at them.

They made to push for Anya again.

And then someone stood before them, stubby arms crossed in the most daunting way they could.

The eight Japanese ship girls watched as one of Anya's fairies stared down the five in much the same way her larger self was. Anya's eyes widened at that momentarily, intending to call her back before anyone else saw, but her intentions never met their goal as two more of her fairies rounded around her arm, already speaking and ushering the Nachi fairies on in stern and unmoving 'Heys.' The Nachi fairies were simply pushed on by the three, the other fairies following along as the three Anya fairies corralled them back towards their ship.

Nachi watched in total and utter befuddlement.

The five fairies were all but forcibly moved towards Nachi until they were standing just before the heavy cruiser. A few more stern words from one of the Anya fairies saw the five vanishing aboard Nachi, she feeling their return as they settled back in to their ship. But that did not solve the issue as the three looked to the other collections of fairies around them.

The other seven present ship girls watched as each of their fairies, however many that might be for each, were walked back to them by one fairy or two.

Eventually however, the groups of fairies were dispatched properly back to their own ships.

The eight looked up to Anya in surprise.

The woman in question had her face in her hands.

"Admiral Johnson?" Myoukou slowly questioned.

"I don't know." Came the response.

"How do you have fairies?" Mutsu furthered.

"I don't know!" She exclaimed.

When a few glances were spared in her direction, Anya held a moment as her fairies made their way back to her before vanishing aboard her. She sighed at that, resting her hands together as she regarded the eight sitting around the table with her before shaking her head.

"I don't know why I have fairies." She told them. "They showed up that first night when I did the initial roll call to figure out who I had aboard-" She paused, scowling somewhat. "Who I had with me. They showed up alongside them. And since then, I've tried to keep them on the down low. And at first, it worked. Only a few people know about them."

"The rest of the Admiralty?" Musashi assumed.

"And up until the other night, Maryland. But now, Shigure and now the eight of you are in that collection of those in the know." Anya explained.

"For being the American Admiral, your people in the know are rather non-proportionally Japanese." Myoukou observed with a somewhat teasing smile.

"And that may be for the best." Anya offered in return.

"Do you not want your fleet knowing this information?" Nagato questioned. "I find it hard to believe that those under your command would not want a part of you in a sense stationed aboard them for their own crews." She inquired.

"And that there in lies the problem. I have 115 American fleet personnel under my direct command." She offered, Nagato nodded at that. "But including the fairies aboard Maryland and Shigure? I only have 10 in all." She answered her, Nagato and the others immediately seeing the problem. "At least with you ladies knowing, I don't have to immediately deal with the mobs that would inevitably form trying to get a fairy from me. Example? There are eight Gleaves on base. If they learn of this?" She asked.

"You're getting rundown." Nachi offered. Anya nodded at that.

"So I plead with the eight of you. Past the surface, I know we really haven't traded any meaningful words or anything, but please? Keep this quiet? Because if this gets out, there's gonna be no shortage of problems and hurt feelings arising out of this. And more so than that? If they learn that I offered a fairy to Shigure in the first place? Some of them like Penn and Nevada are gonna raise hell and I would rather Shigure not be at the center of that."  She asked of them.

The eight seemed to trade looks with one another at that for a time.

All before Nagato nodded. "Understood. We will keep this secret. For now. But I would advise that you surmise some way to reveal this to the fleet. Like you said, should it come out at the wrong time or to the wrong people, it could cause problems. Please, attempt to minimize that risk." She asked of her. Anya nodded at that.

"Thank you. And I'll... try and think of something. But with that being said, I'm going to go back to my table. Your fairies are where they should be, yeah? No wandering souls looking to jump ship?" She asked.

When the eight nodded, Anya took that as her cue. Offering them one last thanks, she got up and made her way back towards the commander's table. Where she sat down with a sigh.

"Productive?" Sofia asked.

"A little too much." Anya answered her. "I got their fairies back to them, but my fairies had to come out to do so. So now, eight more ship girls now about the fact that I have fairies of my own, meaning there's now a total of ten who know my secret. So... I'm taking on water here." She said.

Sofia and King laughed as Ishigara smiled somewhat at that.

"So it would seem. I assume you asked them to keep the secret?" He asked.

"Yes."

"Then I do not believe you'll have much if any issue. In my opinion, your weakest link in your circle may perhaps be either Shigure or Maryland. The former because even she is prone to excitement and the latter simply because I do not know her all that well." He said. "Mostly what I do know in depth of her is because of you. But that does not necessarily mean that you are doomed to failure there."

"Yes, but now Nagato suggests that I come up with a way to at least reveal to the fleet that I have fairies of my own. Which is immediately going to turn into a fight and accusation of favoritism."

"So give your last eight to the Gleaves." King suggested. "Let them try and argue with you on that one. Or, give seven of them to your original seven and keep the last one. There's solutions here, but you need to give them thought."

"Or I just rewind time and tell the Gateway to leave me alone." Anya offered in rebuttal.

"No." Sofia said. "Because if you don't take your rightful spot as the Gateway's punching bag, that means it's gonna default to the next best pick. And that's obviously King."

"Hey!" King objected.

"That's only the simple choice." Sofia nodded. "My condolences."

"Nooooo." King pushed back. "That's obviously you. Clearly, the Gateway is biased towards you Americans. Which means if not her, it targets you." He so willingly informed her.

"Mmmm..." Sofia pretended to think about it. "No." 

King seemed taken aback by that.

Anya idly watched the two bicker back and forth for a time before she looked to Ishigara and Saradia.

"You only have ten altogether though, yes?" Saradia questioned. "That remains unchanged?"

"Yeah, so far. I-" She paused as she glanced out over the Mess Hall again. She watched as Musashi got up from their table she was just at and made her way towards their table. Even Sofia and King seemed to take note of that, ceasing their back and forth as they watched the battleship approach.

"Musashi." Ishigara greeted as she drew closer. Nodding to the man, she gestured to one of the empty chairs at the table on Anya's side. Both he and she nodded at the request, watching as the battleship eased herself into one.

And immediately looked at Anya.

"We would like your fairies."

Anya blinked.

Sofia, King, and Saradia only stared.

Ishigara developed the ever so rare start of a frown. "Musashi." He warned. The battleship turned her attention on the man.

"Apologies Admiral, but my request is justified." She told him.

"Is it?" Sofia questioned.

"Okay okay. Stop." Anya said. "Musashi, they are my fairies. What exactly makes your request justified to the point that it would warrant giving up my fairies on another's ask? When we were just having this conversation and nothing came of it?" She asked.

"You said that Shigure is one of two Ship girls with your fairies, yes?" She asked.

Anya nodded.

"And you're worried that the more opinionated ship girls will take issue with that if they were to discover it before you are ready to reveal it, yes?" She asked.

Anya nodded again.

"Does that not mean that Shigure is at a somewhat apparent risk because of her involvement, knowing or otherwise?" She questioned.

Anya blinked.

And then she sighed.

She didn't want to think Pennsylvania or Nevada capable of making the decision to accost Shigure. She didn't want to make the assumption that they would do something so positively stupid.

And yet...

Anya put her face into her hands as that train of thought only got worse and worse. That'd be like Nagato or Kaga going after Bristol. And that wasn't something she was willing to overlook in the slightest.

"So then your plan is take whatever potential heat that may arise because of this on to you and yours rather than they come down on Shigure, yes?" Ishigara questioned. Musashi nodded at that.

"Correct Admiral."

"Fine." Anya answered at that. "How many do you want. All of them? One for the each of you?" She asked.

"Anya, shouldn't you-" Sofia tried. "You were just concerned about the fact that Sara giving out so many of your fairies caused her issues, and now you're considering giving out all of yours?" She asked in disbelief.

"That doesn't seem like the smartest plan." King offered carefully.

"And I'm not going to have Shigure be accosted for something so minor in importance." Anya said, her tone rising more and more at the simple thought of one of her girls going after her for it.

She wouldn't stand for it.

Not a fucking chance in hell.

Musashi quietly observed the woman.

"No, not all of them." Musashi answered her. "Only five of us intend to receive one. Nagato, Mutsu, Myoukou, Nachi, and myself. Haguro would not do well in a confrontation between any of the more openly hostile members. As for Takao and Atago, they're simply not interested in it at the moment."

Anya nodded at that.

"Fine." She said. A moment later, the five fairies that had been requested appeared on the table before her, looking up at her before looking over to Musashi. They then looked to Anya once again, who looked at them with narrowed eyes.

"No trouble. You are guests." She told them. The five of them offered hefty nods at the statement before turning and making their way to Musashi. The Japanese battleship watched them a moment before all at once, they vanished. At that, Musashi gave Anya a nod before pulling away from the table and making way back to her own. Anya watched her go before shaking her head.

"Feel like you're about to pass out?" Saradia questioned.

"No, not yet." Anya offered in response before quietly summoning her remaining three fairies to the table. "What about you ladies. Everything okay?" She asked. "Nothing running amok in there that shouldn't be? Nothing out of place?" She asked before seeming to blink somewhat.

She huffed.

And yet her fairies offered her their reports in quiet bursts of 'Hey' and even more methodical explanations of 'Hey'. She listened to them for a time, regarding each as they gave her reports of seemingly nothing that made sense.

And yet somewhere in the back of her mind, all of that nonsense info suddenly made perfect sense.

And then she frowned.

"I don't have boilers. We've been over this." Anya told the one standing in the middle. In response, the fairy held out a miniature clipboard for the woman, waving it around to where Anya could see. And even despite it being tiny to the point of hilarity, she was able to make out the words written there. "What do you mean they were fitted wrong!?"

The other four at the table chuckled somewhat.

"This is pretty amusing." King observed. Sofia smiled.

"Welcome to my world."

The fairy with the clipboard looked confused for a moment at the woman, bringing the item back down. Looking suddenly panicked, she quickly flipped it around and held it back up for the woman in just as eager a move. Anya read that too.

She simply stared straight ahead in an expression that radiated contempt.

"And...?" Sofia asked.

"Apparently my keel...." She paused somewhat. "Is too wide..."

Sofia blinked.

And then she nearly began coughing as she began to laugh, heavy and hard. The woman was thrown into a fit of laughing so sudden that King simply patted Sofia on the back, his own grin grazing his lips as he kept an eye on Sofia.

Even Saradia seemed to take mild amusement in the statement somewhat, trying her best to diminish the grin that wanted to take hold over her lips.

"Yes, well..." Ishigara added. "Perhaps they know what they're talking about."

"Doubt." Anya replied as she looked down to the three. "Do the three of you even have a blueprint-" she paused. "Are you even qualified to work on a ship? Are you ship wrights? Are you specialized in a profession that I am not? Am I suddenly gifted in the career? Am I now a shipbuilding prodigy?" She asked. The fairy looked down at her clipboard again, seeming to mark something out and replacing it with something else. She held it up again for the woman to see.

"Alright." Anya snapped. "Back onboard with the three of you."

They vanished with a trio of smug expressions.

"What'd she say?" King inquired just as Sofia was starting to calm down.

"They got it wrong. It's not my keel." She huffed as she rested her chin in a hand as she looked away from the table.

"And?" Saradia inquired.

"Aft."

Sofia cackled.

Anya shoved her in the arm, but Sofia didn't stop her laughter.

"I don't think you needed your fairies to confirm that. I could've told you just as easily." The Captain offered up through more laughter. Anya rolled her eyes at that.

"So then I suppose you'll need to keep track for yourself of just who has your fairies." Saradia suggested.

"It certainly seems that way." Anya muttered. "I-"

She paused. After a moment, she seemed to frown.

Someone.... Had just come aboard.

She frowned deeper at that.

"Admiral J-" Saradia tried, only for Anya to put up a hand as she looked to focus on something that only she could see. She needed-

Her three fairies suddenly reappeared in front of her, watching her with curious gazes.

And yet that wasn't what she felt. She knew it. It felt almost as if.....

Her question was answered as another ten fairies formed up behind the three. Looking to belong to her just the same, the only difference was that where as her first fairies adorned the white uniforms, these adorned blues. The new gaggle of ten looked up at their bigger self with a quiet curiosity as Anya adjusted to this new development.

She now had....

20 fairies.

And yet.... There was something else. Something further than that.

She looked to her three fairies still dressed in the whites. "Do we have any recent additions?" She asked. The first fairy seemed to regard the question before pulling what looked to be the same clipboard out for a moment before looking up to her with a solid nod. Anya sighed. "Bring them out."

A brief nod.

And then?

Anya wasn't sure what she was looking at anymore.

Behind her fairies in the blues came a set of 72 new fairies. Except they weren't new in any way shape or form. Before her, standing in close formation to one another, came six sets of twelve. And who they were supposed to be? That was the easy part.

There were sets of Nagato, Mutsu, Shigure, Musashi, Nachi, and Myoukou. Firmly shoulder to shoulder, the suddenly occupying force within her looked up at her as one.

"Looks like they came back." King commented as he watched.

"Curious." Ishigara offered.

Sofia and Saradia watched them a moment.

"Were Nachi's fairies... so well dressed last time?" Sofia questioned. Anya frowned at that somewhat as she regarded the 12 Nachi fairies before her for a moment.

And then she realized.

These were uniformed. And not the heavy cruiser's day to day uniform. No, these were actual and proper military uniforms, leaning towards those that saw service in within the JMSDF.

Anya's face met her hands.

"What is going on?" She muttered.

"I suppose that is a question better directed at them." Ishigara supplied. Anya nodded somewhat at that, giving the assembled fairy group to return to her before she dragged herself up and out of her seat once more. She shook her head as she ever so casually made her way back over to the table holding the eight ship girls. But once they spotted her approach, whatever conversation they may have been having before hand died away as they once again regarded us.

"Admiral Johnson?" Atago questioned.

"And so she returns." Mutsu tittered. "Missing already?" She asked.

"I really wish it were that simple. So give me a minute here. I come over here originally to return the stowaways aboard me, yes?" She asked.

"To which you did exactly that." Nagato commented.

"And then, my fairies showed themselves to you, revealing a secret that I would have liked to keep rather unknown for the most part, yes?" She asked.

"Rather unabashedly, yes." Myoukou answered her.

"And then I left. Fairies having been returned, I figured out business done until Musashi strolled over to us, asking for my fairies. Of which, now, five of you are in possession of one. Just for clarification, Nagato, Mutsu, Musashi, Myoukou, and Nachi. M and N's aside, correct, yes?" She asked.

"Mhm." Musashi confirmed.

"Admiral Johnson, what is this about?" Takao questioned. To which Anya held up a single finger.

"I'm getting there. So after that, Musashi comes back, sits down, and that's it, right? No one had any other ideas? Or other complex thoughts? Or by chance, perhaps, the five of you who received fairies from myself decided that giving up 12 fairies back to me even though I just gave them back to you?" She questioned.

"No?" Nachi questioned, with a brow raised.

"No?" Anya repeated.

"No, we did not give our fairies back to you, Admiral Johnson." Myoukou confirmed.

"Could the five of you by chance preform another roll call?" Anya questioned. "Or scratch that, just one of you. I just need a roll call." She told them.

"Admiral Johnson, we-" Myoukou attempted.

"Yes, I know you did not give me fairies. But you also didn't know you had fairies missing in the first place. So please, someone do a roll call?" She asked.

"Fine." Nachi said with a huff. "And when I come back with a full roster of fairies, you're going to feel real silly."

"Most likely, yes. But a roll call anyways." She said.

Nachi offered her one last look before doing the same as she had before, once more running through a roll call. As she did so, Anya rested one of her arms on the table before her, her attention kept on the Heavy cruiser as she went about tracking down her crew once more. And after the next few moments had passed, Nachi came back with a victorious smile. "As I told you. I have my entire crew with me." She answered. Anya slowly nodded at that, rubbing her face.

"Excellent." She said. "So if that's your entire crew, answer me this."

"What?"

"Who are these then?" Anya asked as she brought her arm up and off of the table. And in turn, the twelve uniformed Nachi fairies stood there waiting. It took Nachi a moment to recognize just what she was looking at, but when she had, the heavy cruiser was silent. And the other girls around the table were much the same way as they regarded the foreign Nachi fairies. None of their fairies had ever adorned a uniform. They always mimicked whatever their larger self was wearing, so as Nachi watched as a few of her 'missing' fairies walked towards the center of the table, she could only stare.

"I don't-" Nachi paused. "What? How?"

"I don't know. Musashi came and got my fairies after I agreed, she came back here, assumingly split up the fairies between the five of you, and settled. After which, most likely immediately after, these twelve showed up with 60 others." She explained. "I have sets of Nachi, Myoukou, Nagato, Mutsu, Musashi, and Shigure. What I don't have is a set similar to this of Maryland." She explained.

"But... I'm not missing any fairies." Nachi said slowly, as if doing so would make it make sense.

"I know. And I believe you. But that does not change the fact that these are here." She answered.

Nagato seemingly watched this unfold before she looked to Anya. "Can you summon one of mine?" She asked. Anya nodded at that as she tapped the table once. And the next second, one of the Nagato fairies appeared. Approaching the battleship as if sensing what exactly she wanted to do, there was no hesitation as she boarded her larger self.

The table seemingly waited for a few moments as Nagato seemed to focus on something unseen to the rest before she seemly relaxed again, the fairy emerging before her once more.

"She's foreign."

"What do you mean foreign?" Myoukou asked.

"I mean in the sense that although she is by all means a Nagato fairy, she did not originate from me or anything to do with me." The battleship explained.

"So where did she come from?" Nachi asked.

"Admiral Johnson."

The silence settled over them faster than Anya wanted.

"That's-" Nachi paused. "You can't be serious. That's one of your fairies. Admiral Johnson can't just... birth them?"

"Please for the love of all that's good about the world do not put it like that." Anya hurriedly told her. Nachi seemed to reconsider what she'd just said in that time, cringing somewhat as she thought about it more and more.

"Manifest them." Nachi corrected.

"Bring your own fairy aboard and verify for yourself." Nagato answered her. Nachi looked to the battleship before her gaze slipped to that of the closest of her fairies. Eventually, Nachi nodded at the being, who then made her way straight for the cruiser. Vanishing as she approached, Nachi seemed to go still as she focused on something unseen.

And then the fairy reappeared before the heavy cruiser, Nachi slowly nodding her agreement.

"She's right. These fairies are through and through a product of Admiral Johnson."

"Even though..." Myoukou paused. "They're of us. I mean, they look just like ours. Just like us. They are our fairies."

"And yet their source material is that of Admiral Johnson." Musashi mused.

"Can we not use the words birth, source material, original, progenitor, or anything else that might imply that I had some hand in their creation, please?" Anya asked.

"But you are." Nagato confirmed.

"And that's great apparently. But I did not ask to be." She told them.

"And you said that you did not get a set of Maryland's fairies?" Takao questioned.

"No." Anya said. "Only those of the Japanese so far. And specifically just those of you that took one of my fairies." She explained.

"Can we test that again?" Myoukou asked.

The look that passed over the woman's face was one that spoke of much distress, one that didn't pass by them unseen. But eventually, Anya nodded at that as she tapped the table again. Once more, another of her fairies in white appeared before her, looking curiously at the ship girls before her. "Any volunteers?" She asked.

The volunteer came in the form of Takao.

Making her way over to the heavy cruiser across the table, the fairy spared one last glance at her older self before vanishing.

Then, all eyes went to Anya.

Just like Nagato and Nachi had done before, she seems to focus on something that the rest of them could not see or simply did not know was there. But unlike the other two just as well, her focus looked to be flawed, imperfect as her eyes seemed to search for something.

And then she sat up straight as she tapped the table.

Just like with Nachi's, they watched as 12 fairies resembling that of the heavy cruiser appeared before them on the table in front of Anya. The woman held her face in her hands, rubbing it a moment as Nagato looked to the American.

"Perhaps I spoke too soon. Maybe you should not reveal this to the fleet." She answered. "At least, not until we have a better understanding of exactly what this is." She reasoned as she looked to the woman. Anya nodded at that.

"I haven't had a chance to explain any of what happened with Shigure to Maryland yet. I'll touch base with her later today and lay everything out for her, see if we can't get a handle on this all. Or, at the very least, somewhat of a start." She sighed irritably.

"Don't worry Admiral Johnson. Surely, we'll be able to figure out what's going on with you." Myoukou told her.

"Hopefully before something bad happens." Anya offered. The eight of them nodded at that as Nagato looked to her.

"With that sentiment in mind, perhaps you should let the Repair Ships know about this. Or the fact that you have fairies at least. Even if they can't actively do anything, it would be wise to be on their radar should another, more dramatic change take effect. One, that as you say, could potentially be bad." She reasoned. Anya seemed to hesitate at that.

"But you girls need the docks after sorties-"

"Which will do us no good if one of our command staff is laid out due to a condition that was entirely preventable in the first place." Mutsu offered in rebuttal. "You forget, we now have your fairies aboard. If you do not reveal yourself to them, one of us will. Your girls have enough to worry about in this life as is, a potential unseen danger to their Admiral is not one I believe most would like added to that list." The younger of the two Nagato's laid out for the woman. Nagato looked at her sister with a somewhat surprised expression.

"Mutsu."  Nagato warned.

"No." Musashi reaffirmed her. "Mutsu is absolutely right. A commander has to be in their best condition possible. They owe that much to those below them. And there has already been talk of the fact that you do not practice proper care for yourself. Not only that, but I remember your second summoning. Where you should have been in bed, instead you were awake at some ungodly hour of the morning. No, Mutsu is absolutely right here. Admiral Johnson must reveal herself to the repair ships if only as a precaution."

Anya sighed.

"Fine. But that means we handle any more of this me... manifesting fairies business on my terms and my terms alone. And right now, I touch base with Maryland before anything else happens or we test anything."

"And your revealing yourself to the repair ships?" Mutsu inquired.

"How much time do I have?" Anya questioned.

"They know by the day's end." The battleship told her.

"Fine. I was going to touch base with Admiral Hipper anyways, so that works." She sighed. "Anything else?"

"Not unless you're hiding any other interesting secrets." Mutsu offered with a smile as she rested her chin in her hands. Anya shook her head at that, the fairies that she'd brought with her making to return to her.

She let out a small sigh as she stood.

—\/—

"Why are we having this conversation in your room?" New Jersey questioned openly, watching as the battleship before her lead her towards the Japanese dorms. In turn, the younger of two sisters simply offered the American a smile.

"For comfort." Mutsu supplied.

"Isn't that a little redundant?" The battleship asked. "We've talked like this before a time or two. Why are we doing this one in your room?" She asked as Mutsu opened the door to the dorms for them. "Also, I'm not sure how receptive some of your fleet is going to be to my presence." She asked.

"No more or less than your fleet would be to my presence in your own dorms." She answered with a smile.

"Pennsylvania and Nevada?" New Jersey offered in response to that.

"I'll get to them at some point." The secretary ship offered.

"That's a big assumption." New Jersey replied. "And I think you underestimate just who you're attempting to deal with there." She answered her.

"No more than you think." Mutsu replied as the taller American followed after the littlest Nagato.

Making their way up and onto what was easily the most sparsely populated floor of the Japanese dorms, the battleship level was relatively calm at current moment, what with only three Japanese battleships currently on base. With the Kongou's having deployed just before lunch, that only left Nagato, Mutsu, and Musashi. And the former was slated for deployment only a short time from now, leaving it only as Mutsu and Musashi.

At least, until Mutsu deployed with four of the Gleaves at ten that night.

Eventually, the two arrived at the correct door needed. Opening it, Mutsu offered Jersey a smile before stepping inside, Jersey following her in.

And immediately came face to face with Nagato and Nagato.

"Jersey." The two greeted as one.

"Nagato." Jersey greeted. "Nagato."

It was then that Jersey took a moment to take a look around the room properly. Clean, organized, almost stately in a manner, it was everything she expected of someone like Nagato.

Except for the two beds pushed together in the corner.

"Oh." Jersey remarked, pointing to the joined beds. "You guys too?"

"Pretty much ever since I crossed over." Nagato answered from her spot at the small table that sat at the opposite side of the room.

"Though we've been considering bringing the third one back inside." Mutsu explained as she placed a hand on her hip.

The American Nagato only shook her head. "I keep telling you that's not required. I am perfectly content in my room with Louisiana."

"And I keep telling you." Mutsu offered in response as she approached the woman. "I will not be content until I have both of my sisters within arm's reach. So simply put, we are considering it." She answered her. Her American sister seemed to want to say something in response to that, but eventually let it go. Her Japanese self simply offered her a small reassuring smile at that, a gesture that the American Nagato seemed to appreciate before the two looked to Mutsu and Jersey.

"So what the might the two of you be doing here?" Nagato questioned. Mutsu smiled.

"We're talking." She answered.

Nagato seemed to nod at that, her American counterpart standing a moment later.

They placed hands on each of Jersey's shoulders.

"Good luck." They offered her before walking past her.

Mutsu pouted.

"Hey!"

Jersey watched the two go, her own grin easy to make out as Mutsu simply watched her older sisters leave the room. She watched after them a moment longer before shaking her head.

"I swear those two..." Mutsu muttered.

"Weren't you just the one saying that you wouldn't be content until you had both of your sisters within arm's reach?" Jersey asked with a grin. Mutsu turned a smile on the battleship.

"Of course I did. But that doesn't mean it is without it's challenges or cons." She said.

"Like getting the two confused?" Jersey asked in a joking manner. "What's it like, having two older sisters that are the same person?" She asked.

"It's more like having twins for older sisters than a singular person. Even though they're the same person, there's differences in they themselves and how they present that to the world. Nagato is more sure of herself, in both who she is and how she presents that for others to see. Chōshū however is far more mild, more timid. She looks at the position she has been put in and hesitates somewhat, unsure of what place or role she has to play in this life."

"Hmm, I suppose I never thought of it like that. Admittedly, I haven't spent a whole lot of time with... what'd you call her?"

"Nagato is fine." Mutsu offered. Jersey nodded at that.

"I haven't spent much time with her."

"You've also been on base for less than a month, Jersey." Mutsu offered in her defense. Jersey shrugged as she took the seat offered by that of Mutsu as she sat across from her.

"I still like to think of myself as the sociable kind. I've touched base with a lot of those on the base." The fast battleship offered.

"No one is expecting you to connect with all two hundred fifty plus members, New Jersey. Even the Admirals don't have that kind of reach just yet, even though they may try." She said.

"Observant." Jersey commented.

"I am my Admiral's ship after all." Was the reply, the slightest of smiles curling at her lips.

"And so is Arizona to her own Admiral, and yet I don't see her playing coy at every angle she gets." Jersey answered.

"Arizona, like many in this fleet, has her own fair share of issues that she contends with. Her past chief amongst those manifests itself in many ways for her, whether it be her own quiet, non-spoken biases or memories that haunt her in the dark, they are many. And though far from the only example, Arizona is the one that I know the best given her length of service here. Though you-" Mutsu offered as she readjusted in her chair. "Are on a fast pace to surpass her in that category. Facing your end is one thing, but so boldly requesting to be stationed where the act happened only days after the fact is another fact entirely." Mutsu stated.

"I needed to do something. I need to do something."

"And do you think that thing you are supposed to do with so magically emerge before you should you sail the same waters that you met your end?" The battleship asked openly, watching the woman. Jersey seemed to recoil at that to an extent at the question. "What do you remember from that night?" Mutsu asked.

Jersey seemed to pause at that for a moment, her mind wandering back to that night like it had done so many times before.

She let her mind settle into it.

"I remember it was supposed to be somewhat peaceful. The last Abyssal reporting had been early in the day, and then all at once, the med had seemed to relax in a weird way, almost like the war simply wasn't in effect there anymore. My crew-" She paused. "My Captain were in good moods, even if it was only to last a day. And then..." She trailed off.

Mutsu watched as the battleship seemed to focus on something out the window as she continued.

"And then all at once the waters seemed to turn violent. Wave sizes and expected conditions losing their meaning as it all seemed to rebel against us. That's when I first picked up sign of them, their... I'm not sure what to call it exactly. But it was loud in a quiet way. Like, one that I couldn't ignore regardless of what I did."

"Their challenge?" Mutsu suggested.

"No." Jersey answered. "That's not right. It was more like..." She trailed off.

Mutsu waited.

"It was more like an order of execution."

Mutsu nodded at that.

"My crew couldn't hear it. They couldn't even detect it. But once they began to close distance, it was like this creeping terror sneaking up on me. And then they finally brought out their guns, I could feel..." She shook her head. "I knew what was going to play out."

"You knew you were going to sink?"

"No." Jersey said. "It wasn't that advanced. But I knew people were going to die. If only because they wanted them to." She explained. "But the fact that they were satisfied with my demise and didn't chase down the rest of the task after me and Johnny went down tells me a lot about their intentions there that night." She said.

"Have you asked Johnny about this?" Mutsu questioned. Jersey shook her head at that.

"And say what? Ask what? She's already terrified of the water right now as is." The battleship told her. "What would bringing this up to her do aside from make it worse for her? There was no reason to target her as well. But whichever of three it was did it on purpose. That salvo was meant for her. It wasn't just misfire on me."

"The Abyssals targeting indiscriminately is something that's been made clear." Mutsu told her. "And not to take away from Johnny, but it is my understanding that she was somewhat keeping pace and track with you. You might have been their main target, but she was not putting herself in any favorable position in that moment. Or more correctly, her crew was not. Johnny's Captain was a twin to your own, was she not?" She asked.

"Yes, but should've, I could've done something more for them. I-"

"Are as exactly as you allow yourself to be, Jersey. But expecting yourself to do something that was beyond your capability is not realistic Jersey and more damaging than you know. You are a battleship yes, and in that moment, you were their foremost line of defense. But from what's been said about those that pursued you into the Med, they were made for Brawling. That's never been your trade or purpose. You were built following a changing doctrine that favored your country's carriers far more than it did of our kind and your support of them. A rather loathsome example of this would be your younger sister's interaction with that of Maryland. Though the more advanced one of the pair, your classes strength has never been in that of brawling, the close up fight."

"Tell that to my sisters." Jersey answered.

"In which I assume you're referring to their penchant of getting within eyesight of their land based targets?" Mutsu questioned. Jersey nodded. "That's the same kind of thought that persists within the question of whether you and your sisters or the Yamato sisters are the better built. All of it is based on circumstance. There are countless points where they would trump you and yours. And just as equal number where the six of you would come out on top. But we aren't discussing any number of potential happenings. We are discussing the one that night and that alone. Even if you hadn't gone down in that moment like it played out, they were going to close the distance. What were you to do in that circumstance?" She asked. Jersey scowled.

"And what would you have done?" She asked. Mutsu simply watched her, those green eyes searching for something that only she could find.

"I would've done my duty." Mutsu answered. "Much like you did as well. Yes, your ending was likely not what you had imagined it to be, but your task made it away and your adversaries had their fill. Even despite what we wish, there are times when the oath demands sacrifice and death. Fortunately, you and your sisters back during the war were spared that grief. Only for it to find it's way to you now, in age when your existence should've meant rest and solace, not fire and brimstone at the hands those that would take your life as only the start. It hurts Jersey, I know it does."

Jersey grimaced somewhat at that. "And what would you know about that?" She asked, somewhat demanded of the battleship.

A simple, and yet pained smile turned at the battleship's lips.

"I've learned to be lost Jersey. And I've learned what it is like to lose."

Jersey held at that, frowning somewhat.

And then she cursed under her breath.

Mutsu simply smiled as she looked out the window.

"Fuso." Jersey offered. Mutsu's nod was a sleight, barely notable thing. But it was there. "Were you...?"

"What we were or may have been no longer matters, Jersey." Mutsu answered her as she turned her gaze on that of the battleship. "It hasn't mattered for sometime. What matters is the here and now, that being the fact you're hard on yourself for events that you had little if any control in."

"I could've done more. My crew-"

"Your crew knew what they were signing up for when they were placed in your care. When they kept serving into a war like the one we find ourselves in. You were their home, and in the end, they went with you to the end, no matter how grand or little that was for you. You were their ship Jersey, and if they truly trusted you, they knew the risks associated with that. You can sit there and tell me all you want that you could've done more, that maybe you might've been able to do things differently. But the only changes you're making are within yourself, and those are only bringing you lower. Get out of your head Jersey. Get out of your head and take a look out instead of in." She told her.

"It's not that easy." Jersey told her.

"Oh I know." Mutsu answered her. "I'm under no false ideals or illusions that it will be. But I'm telling you, New Jersey, you will feel so much better. Now, that's not me telling me to forget your crew or push them from your mind, but do not a lot what happened such a large part of your mind. There are so many things to focus on in this life. Such as your sisters." Mutsu offered.

Jersey smiled somewhat at the thought.

"Or Enterprise~"

The American's smile turned into a scowl as she looked to the battleship.

"What are you trying to say?" Jersey questioned.
Mutsu simply offered a gentle smile.

"Nothing more than what's readily available on the surface. And that is the simple fact that you care a great deal for Enterprise."

"Yeah, well, she's been through some serious shit." Jersey said. "She deserves someone watching out for her."

"And you don't?" Mutsu asked.

Jersey fell silent.

She found that she didn't have a comeback for that one.

—/—/—/—\—\—\—

The day was carrying on slowly in her opinion, but given the activities that morning, she supposed it was fitting. She sighed as she entered the German dorm building, but this time not to return to her office or private living quarters. No, this time she continued on straight ahead and made a right once she reached the actual dorm hallway itself. She turned the corner and continued on, towards the mess that dominated parts of the floor from where Saratoga had oh so easily pulled a door to pieces.

Pulling her gloves on, she approached the nearest couple of pieces, relatively small all things considered.

She stood before them for a moment, glancing at where the door had been in its holdings. Part of it still remained on the hinges, an even larger issue to be addressed later. But right now, cleaning the door itself was the priority. She did not want, even as unlikely as it was, Emma to come through here and have the chance of getting hurt. Or even as more unlikely as it was, one of the girls to somehow manage an injury because of the debris scattered about the hallway.

It had all been done with a good reason in mind.

And for that is the only reason she wouldn't hold such a choice made against Saratoga. Hiryuu benefitted off of her quick, if a little too quick thinking, but she did. No one could have expected that Hiryuu would end up against the door like she had. And if not for Saratoga's option made, the chances of getting the door open otherwise were a little few and far between. And far less so without doing something to Hiryuu, however little that may have been.

And then that lead the woman into thoughts of the whole Admiral Hipper situation, and she found her amusement fading far faster than she would like.

She leaned down to collect a few of the smaller pieces about, only to frown when she realized just how little she could carry at one time. It looked as if the door had splintered in such a way to maximize devastation and mess altogether. She frowned somewhat before she came to the realization that she would likely need some form of help.

The only problem was is that as the day had worn on, all of her girls aside from Prinz Eugen and Admiral Hipper were deployed. And for the moment, that included the Italian girls. The German and Italian dorms were totally and entirely empty.

She'd need to ask for help.

Help however came to her when she suddenly heard voices grow louder in the front lobby of the building. Turning, she watched as Strasbourg poked her head into the hallway. First looking to the left, she shook her head before then looking to the right. And when she made eye contact with that of Saradia, she smiled, offering a wave before looking back to whoever she had brought with. She clearly said a few words and then turned back towards Saradia. A moment or two later, the taller form of that of Richelieu appeared behind her, the two French battleships making their way towards the woman.

"Oh." Richelieu observed.

"Saratoga really did a number." Strasbourg commented. Saradia nodded at that as she took another glance at the pieces of door on the ground before looking back to the two battleships.

"She did." She paused. "If I may, can I ask why the two of you are here?" She questioned. The two women nodded.

"We just returned from Sorties, and after reporting to Admiral Ishigara, he made comment about the fact that you intended to clean up the apparent mess from this morning. After explaining to us a little bit about what had apparently transpired this morning just after we left, he let us go. But given that we know most of your fleet is deployed and we weren't sure if you'd already found help, we thought we might come and check in with you."

"It would appear that you do not have help." Richelieu observed. Saradia seemed to hesitate at that before nodding.

"No. Asking for help has never really been one of my strong suits unfortunately. But this time, I may have overestimated just how much clean up there was going to be. For a single door, Saratoga maximized in the devastation category." She observed.

"So she did. So she did." Strasbourg answered her, looking over the mess for herself for a time. "What are you planning to do with the scraps if I may inquire?" She asked.

"No idea." Saradia answered. "Right now, the main focus is getting them out of the building. We'll pile them against the side of the front door for the moment and then we'll go from there. Most likely, it will come down to it all simply being thrown away properly." She answered her. The two battleships nodded at that as they stepped forwards and gathered up their own collection of pieces. Saradia followed suit, collecting her own, admittedly smaller pile before she made to follow after the two battleships.

Or so she thought.

She turned to find the two of them waiting for her.

Apparently, she was going to lead.

Which she had no problem doing so as she lead the two French ship girls down the hall and around the corner and out to the door. But not one to bask in the silence for long, Saradia had to make some sort of conversation, even if it was only just small talk.

"I suppose this is a late ask, but are the two of you doing well enough on base?" She asked. She winced internally. The question was awkward and forced and clearly just an attempt to stir up some sort of conversation, as forced as it was. Both of the battleships looked to the woman in that second  likely seeing the attempt for what it was. Especially given the fact that Saradia had very rarely spared any words for the two. Which in her defense, wasn't the easiest to do given that the two of them slept on the other side of the base with those of the Japanese.

But the two entertained the question anyways.

"We are." Strasbourg answered her. "Or I am anyways, now that there are more of my country on base." She answered her. "Richelieu was one happy addition, but with Lamotte and Primaguet alongside our destroyers, it has only increased that feeling." She told her. Richelieu nodded somewhat to that same degree.

"While I agree with most of what has been said, I would admittedly feel better with someone of our own nation in a position of leadership alongside the others." She told them. Strasbourg and Saradia nodded at that.

"I assume you've been in communication with someone of your navy?" Saradia asked. "Much like the early Germans had been with that of Admiral Schafer?" She questioned.

"Yes, yes." Strasbourg answered. "One Zoe Mercier."

"Ah." Saradia answered. The two French battleships looked to her as she pushed her way out of the building.

"You know her?" Richelieu asked.

"I.... Have met her in passing a few times, yes." Saradia confirmed for her.

"You sound hesitant." Strasbourg said as she and Richelieu followed Saradia around the corner, watching as she seemed to put the pieces there in a as neat as can be pile.

"I have been given no reason to openly doubt her ability in her position." Saradia told her. "But I have heard talk of her well known penchant for alcohol. I've never heard anything about her getting into trouble because of it, or drinking at times that would otherwise be inappropriate it, but as someone who does not drink, I can not say I do not have my own hesitation." She explained.

"Well at least she should not be too straight-laced then." Strasbourg answered. "I would think I may take issue with such an approach to that sort of lead style after being under Ishigara for so long." She reasoned.

"There is no guarantee that she will necessarily be the one that takes up the reigns here." Richelieu reminded her. "There are no doubt plenty of qualified personnel to take up leadership of our fleet, and I must be honest, the idea of our own admiral being so attached to alcohol is not an idea that I am ideally satisfied with."

"As this life persists, there are many things that you seem to find non-satisfaction with." Strasbourg answered, her hands going to her hips. Richelieu seemed to bristle at that.

"Well at least I seem to have some idea of what I want of this life, unlike someone who simply seems to be content with coasting through the day to day with barely a concern about her. There is nothing wrong with having some view of how I would like things to go. Take for example, your lack of concern on what we are to do when the British fleet arrives in force. Do you plan to sit idly by and simply allow them to do as they may?"

"Do you plan to remove the stick from your ass in the near future?" Strasbourg commented off handedly.

Rage flared in Richelieu's eyes.

"Okay." Saradia interjected at that point as she looked between the two. "I've already had one of my own ship girls go at another with reckless abandon. I do not see the need to double it, let alone with those of the same nation, please." She said.

The two seemed to regard her in that moment, as if suddenly remembering who they were in the presence of. Richelieu managed to look at least somewhat sorrowful for the display as Strasbourg simply seemed to shrug her shoulders.

"Apologies Commandant." Richelieu muttered.

"Sorry." Strasbourg answered in a simple way.

Saradia looked between the two for a moment. "And here I thought the joke about the French infighting was simply in bad taste." She commented. "I take it that the two of you do not get along, then?" She asked.

"No." Richelieu provided.

"Not a chance." Strasbourg answered.

"Far too many differences in how we think and view things." Richelieu explained. "As explained, I believe a firmer hand with the fleet is needed. From all parties involved."

"And I gladly and eagerly tell her that she is simply nonsensical." Strasbourg explained. "What good would a firmer hand do? Limit our freedoms? Take away from what we can do during our time on base? Nonsense." Strasbourg declared. Richelieu only glared at the other battleship before looking away, shaking her head. Even making a move to step away from the battleship, Strasbourg huffing in amusement at the sight.

"Have your fun until Jean arrives." Richelieu offered as she looked back to Strasbourg. "Then we will set you straight."

Strasbourg laughed.

"I'm sorry, but we are talking about the same Jean Bart, yes?" She asked in some disbelief. "I'm not sure what you're getting at here, but your sister was always by and far so much more agreeable than yourself. I believe when she and Dunkerque finally come around to crossing over, you will see then just how shortsighted you truly are." Strasbourg said, crossing her arms. "From how you speak? You would put us under another restrictive power. Sounds more than a little similar, does it not?" She asked.

Saradia blanched.

"Watch your tone." Richelieu threatened. Strasbourg made move to say something to her in return, only for Saradia to raise a hand with a heavy sigh.

"Sie schienen meine vorherige aussage falsch verstanden zu haben." She told them. But when she looked to them again, they found stares of confusion pointed her way. She sighed further, correcting herself and the slip of the tongue before trying that again. "I said- you seem to have misunderstood my previous statement as a suggestion. It was not. I have already had one ship girl under my direct command make a rather moronic decision, and that was not in my presence. And now I have two directly before me, not of my own command, acting as if they are heading towards making the same decision." She said as she joined her hands together, one on top of the other, fingers clasped to the sides of her hands. "I must ask, do you bicker like this in front of your roommate? Are you subjecting Yamakaze to this same argumentative relationship?" She asked.

The two French battleships quickly took up on the woman's voice, her quiet, insightful tone fading in favor of one that was far colder, more resigned, and more than willing to make their lives far harder than they needed to be.

"Uh-" Strasbourg offered.

"No." Richelieu answered her. "No, we keep this between ourselves."

"Lucky me then." Saradia offered in a dry, humorless manner. "If you hadn't, we'd have no shortage of problems. That's not to say we aren't without them now, given your apparent disposition towards one another. I already had to chew one Heavy cruiser out today and lay down judgement on her. I would very much appreciate not having to do it a second or third time, but should I have to, I will bite my tongue and deal it out anyways." She said with an air of finality. "I suppose my first question is why do the two of you continue to room with one another if your dislike of the other and what they believe is this strong." She asked. "Strasbourg I understand, given that you crossed over with Yamakaze. But Richelieu, I wonder why you continue to put yourself in this position."

"Would you prefer that I room with some of our destroyers? Or Lamotte and her sister?" She asked.

"If you were to change rooms, ideally, you would be alone. The last thing we need or I want is this clearly competing train of thought making it to the other seven members of our French compliment." She stated. "Do you not think that this way of thought, from their only two battleships on base, would not cause some sort of problems amongst them? No, if you were to leave your room in the Japanese dorms, it would be straight to a room here, under my watch, and preferably alone."

"Not with the other French personnel?" Strasbourg answered.

"No. Admiral Johnson and Captain Algerona have far too much on their plate as is, and that's just due to the amount of personnel they're responsible for." She answered her. "And frankly, Captain King is far too young and inexperienced at this point that I would trust him to be able to snuff this out at its source. But I have far less that I am responsible for in both numbers and maturity. Which means I am in far more of a position and ability to snuff this out where it stands. Call it a bad repeat performance, but if I, a German Admiral must become the French Navy's newest Spectre so to speak, then I will do so if only to give you something else to focus on rather than each other. I believe it would make for a good report for the French commander that comes to base, Mercier or not, as I give them every last detail that their most experienced battleships also double as instigators." She said.

The two battleships did not make to reply.

"I've half a mind to forcibly move you now, Richelieu, if only to give the two of you a break from one another. Try and let this settle as it were, lest we have to revisit this conversation later down the road. Which, as I told Admiral Hipper this morning, would be so much less pleasant for you two than it would be for me. And actually, yes, we'll go with that. Richelieu, go and gather your things from your room and relocate to an empty room within the German and Italian dorms. I will explain to Admirals Ishigara and Johnson later today of exactly why. And then, at a later date, I will have one on one conversations with the both of you. If I must be made to micromanage the French fleet in lieu of one your own countrymen, then I will do so. If only to keep the already fragile peace of this base." She looked to Richelieu. "Now go."

Richelieu hesitated a moment at that before slowly nodding at that, quickly making herself scarce between the two. Strasbourg watched her go before turning to say something to Saradia.

Only to find the woman watching her.

"Shall I go as well?" Strasbourg asked slowly.

"Once we get the rest of the door out of the hallway, by all means." Saradia answered as she made to lead the battleship back inside. The battleship followed her along, the women making way down the hallway in a somewhat relaxed pace.

If only the atmosphere were the same.

They approached the still largely scattered pieces of door, Saradia growing closer to the nearest portion of wood as she glanced to the right.

And then she stopped, Strasbourg nearly bumping into her then and there.

"Admiral Herkunft?" She asked.

"The door." Saradia answered her. Strasbourg blinked.

"The one we're picking up?" She asked. Saradia shook her head.

"The door." She answered as she pointed at the doorway. Strasbourg followed the gesture and also looked to the same doorway of the room Hiryuu had been in.

Only to stop.

The two of them only stared openly at the door that securely closed the room, in place and secure as if nothing had ever been wrong in the first place.