She peered into the empty room with a curious gaze. But once she finally realized a moment or two later that in fact, the room was empty, she quietly cursed her luck as quietly and ever so slowly closed the door. Glancing down the hall towards the dorm bathrooms, she supposed that her target could be within there. But she wasn't about to simply barge within there. So she'd wait. She had the time, no other pressing matters, and with Hipper confined to a dock, the base at the moment was largely peaceful. And so she in turn elected to lean back against the wall next to the door, hopeful that her random guess would payout.

She knew there was no guarantee it would though.

Of course, that was also to say she'd no idea of just how long Penn might be even if she was in there. For all she could know, the super dreadnought could have just entered the baths only minutes before she herself had arrived.

It was a waiting game of the worst kind.

But it was also all she had to go on. So that's exactly what she did as she offered the door another glance, hands tucked behind her as she leaned against the wall there. The building seemed to settle around her for a minute or two, but nothing too out of the ordinary seemed to occur or take her notice. Hell, she didn't even think any of the girls were actually in the dorm at the moment. Which prompted her own pause at that thought, that off chance that she was simply waiting there for something that would never come. Yes, there was a chance that Pennsylvania was within the dorm bathrooms. But there was also just as great a chance that she was not.

But Sofia did not see her as the kind of person to simply walk into there and ask that the two of them have a chat. And even more than that, she highly doubted that the woman herself would exactly be a fan of that approach either. And especially not after the day's earlier events. Hell, she wasn't even really sure of just what mood she'd find the woman in. She hoped that it was one that the Captain could work with, but she was more than likely resigned to the fact that Pennsylvania was likely to be in one of those moods.

She shook her head somewhat as she pulled herself up and off of the wall, crossing her arms as she slowly paced back and forth between one wall and back to the other. Even if Penn was inside, the Captain couldn't wait forever. Ten minutes would be her max, and if it didn't happen like she wanted it to, she'd have to try again at a later in the day. She knew the Dreadnought however wasn't slated for a sortie until the next day, so it wasn't going to be that much of an issue trying to get a hold of her.

Or at least, in theory it wouldn't be.

She shook her head yet again as she glanced once more towards the bathroom door. And following that, turned her gaze back onto that of the front door of the dorm building. She watched it for a moment, half expecting someone to come through, hopefully her query if she were to be so lucky. But when no one made themselves known, coming through or otherwise, she shook her head as she turned her gaze back onto that of the bathroom door.

And proceeded to meet gazes with that of Salem.

That brief moment of surprise jolted through Sofia's body to the point where Salem watched her entire body stop seemingly all at once, limbs briefly moving on their own for one singular second. And then Sofia's brain caught up to her body and the woman offered a heavy huff as she stepped away from the Heavy cruiser, a broad mix of agitation and fading surprise being written along her features. Adjusting herself before the heavy cruiser, she turned her full attention on her this time.

"Salem." She greeted.

"Captain." Salem returned the gesture.

"I don't appreciate that." Sofia told her.

"My apologies." Salem answered.

Sofia studied the heavy cruiser for a moment or two, Salem no doubt doing the same to her. Sparing another glance down the hall at the bathroom door, she turned it back onto the cruiser. "So where did you come from?" She asked. "The Baths?" She asked. Salem shook her head.

"Upstairs." Salem answered. Sofia adjusted to that a moment, saying nothing to it or about it for a time. The fact that she'd been standing in the middle of the hallway and doing nothing meant that there was a high probability that she would've heard Salem coming down the stairs. And yet somehow she hadn't. And sure, while the likelihood that the heavy cruiser had simply managed to sneak past her in the perfect moment wasn't impossible, it was far less likely in its chance that Sofia really cared for.

But the point was mute, what with Salem being clearly in front of her.

"Just waking up?" Sofia asked.

"Oh heavens no." Salem offered with her usual smile. "Simply making sure Baltimore and Portland don't sleep in too late, you know. They had... some trouble getting to bed last night. So I was simply making sure they're up around in a rather decent time." She explained. Sofia arched a brow somewhat at that, casting her gaze up and to the ceiling for a moment before landing it back down on the heavy cruiser.

"Trouble, huh?" She asked. "Should I go have a word with them?"

"Oh no, that shouldn't be needed." Salem ensured her. "They were just about to start getting up and about. They should be just about-" she paused as her gaze travelled past the woman to something at the other end of the hall. "Ah, here they are now."

Sofia turned at that again, her gaze going for the stairs. And as she turned, that's when Baltimore stepped onto the ground floor, Portland already there by a few steps. Both looked far less than enthused to be awake at the hour, even though Sofia was pretty sure it was more towards noon than anything resembling morning. Still, she held her tongue in that regard for the moment as she watched the two shamble down the hallway as if they were the dead returned to the world of the living.

Baltimore was without her glasses and Portland looked ready to drop. Dressed as they were, which was to say, dressed for the sake of modesty rather than purpose, the metal collars the two adorned were easy to see. Sofia watched them for a brief time, each step the two took drawing them closer and closer to the Captain and Cruiser. Placing her hands behind her back, Sofia simply stepped to the side as Portland grew closer. She wasn't even sure that the woman would recognize her presence as she drew so close that Sofia could reach out and touch her with ease.

Portland ever so vaguely glanced over at the woman, the two meeting eyes just slightly, before she pushed on with Baltimore in tow.

Only for the heavy cruiser to go rigid in the back as she suddenly stood straight and snapped awake.

"C-Captain!" Portland cried in a frantic way as she whipped around to look at the woman head on. In hearing Portland in such a manner, Baltimore snapped to a second later as she too came to focus on Sofia. The Captain herself simply watched the two with a lazed expression as they scrambled to stand before her, dressed in simple pajamas. Sofia looked them up and down for a moment before fishing in her pocket for her phone. Checking the time only for a moment, she slipped it back into where it had come from as she watched the two.

Salem simply giggled quietly from the side as she observed.

"I suppose a good morning is in order, but by my count, it's about 20 minutes to noon." Sofia offered in a dry, cut manner. Her tone offered little room for maneuvering, and just like, the two green Heavy cruisers found themselves up against the shallows that were the Captain's unwillingness to overlook the issue.

"A-apologies Captain. We- the time got away from us last night." Baltimore explained.

"I see." Sofia offered, even less impressed than she had been a moment ago. "I understand the two of you haven't really gotten all that much time on the water yet, and have yet to actually take a place on a Combat sortie yet, but that does not mean the rules do not apply to you. We do no run a hotel here, and unless you're coming back from an early morning return sortie, you are to be up by zero nine-thirty at the latest. And not only that, but I'm fairly certain the three of you are slated for fleet exercises in 20 minutes, yes?" She asked.

Portland and Baltimore went wide eyed before they nodded ever so slowly.

"Then I'd get moving if I were the two of you. I'd make some sort of threat about you being late, but it's almost noon, you two are probably hungry something fierce, and Nagato's in charge of the exercise. I think you're in for enough of a punishment as is." She told them.

They immediately moved for the bathroom door in a newly resurged panic.

"But don't let me catch you sleeping in like this again." She offered as a final warning. "Or I will hand your asses to the Admiral!"

She watched the two of them all but plow their way into the bathroom with little care for anything else. When they'd vanished behind the door that they had all but slammed shut behind them, she turned her gaze back onto the third cruiser that was still standing at her side. In turn, Salem looked back up to the Captain.

"Harsh." Salem commented.

Sofia's still stern gaze turned in on the cruiser.

The heavy cruiser watched her with a gaze of innocence personified, shrugging somewhat at the expression.

"You said you woke them up yourself?" She asked.

Salem nodded.

"And you didn't try and wake them up long before now why?" She asked further.

"Oh I was certainly trying, I assure you of that. But Portland has an awfully bad habit of working against the current. And Baltimore can be all too much of a pain when the mood strikes her. Bad habits I'm slowly working out of them, I assure you, but such progress takes time." She offered. Sofia merely watched her with a questioning gaze, the heavy cruiser unbothered by it in the slightest.

"I would appreciate that should this situation try and unfold again, you attempt to take a more proactive stance in it. They are your roommates, and to a certain degree, they are your responsibility just as you are theirs." She commented. Salem simply nodded at that.

"Fair." She offered. "If all that is said and done however, might i ask why you're here? Surely it's not to catch two oversleeping heavy cruisers red handed, no?" She asked. Sofia shook her head.

"And I wasn't." She answered her.

"So what then?" Salem questioned. "When I came downstairs, you were standing around the Pennsylvania's door. And given what transpired earlier today, I assume you must be looking for the name ship herself, no?" She asked. Sofia held a moment before nodding.

"Yeah. I had hoped she was in the baths." She commented, gesturing her head towards the door. To which Salem shook her head.

"Incorrect. Head past the German dorms." She told her. "I had spotted her previously speaking with who looked to be Nevada, but I didn't see a point in getting too much closer. Especially given the fact that my experience with the two is rather low, I'd rather avoid stepping on a landmine." She explained.

"Smart. The base has had enough Heavy Cruiser antics for one day, and I'd rather not see another start so soon. So if you'll excuse me, I'll go see her. Do be sure that Portland and Baltimore get out on the water on time, would you?" She asked.

"Aye aye, Captain." Salem responded in the affirmative. Sofia eyed her a moment before shaking her head as she turned and made way for the door to the dorms.

"Oh, and do give Zuikaku my regards!"

Sofia whipped around at that.

The dorm hallway was as empty as it had been when she'd first entered.

The Captain huffed as she pushed out of the door without a second glance behind her, her goal now set in stone. She veered towards the left side of the dorm buildings, opposite the courtyard as she made way for the direction that Salem had specified. Would she actually find Pennsylvania there? She'd no reason to doubt the heavy cruiser, but at the same time, her experience with the woman was limited. Sure, she could be telling the truth. But it could also just as easily be a ruse or a hoax.

Though, personally, she doubted that last bit. She did not think Salem the kind of person to intentionally mislead in such a way or to such a degree. At least, that is not the feeling she got when she talked to the heavy cruiser.

Still, as she broke away from American dorms proper and landed her gaze on that of the German dorms, she supposed she'd find out one way or another. Keeping her head on a swivel, she proceeded as she looked for her query. She highly doubted that she'd had to worry about having to go inside and look for her, given exactly what had happened. And perhaps it was for the best in that way, given just how opinionated the eldest of the two sisters could be about almost anything. If the subject wasn't her sister, or one of those present at Pearl Harbor, her tendency for mercy or hesitation typically dropped to zero.

Still, Sofia pushed on, keeping an eye open and out for that reclusive Super-Dread.

However, she didn't have to wait that long. Not long at all.

Not when she rounded another corner and laid eyes on the older of the two battleships standing there, looking out over Tokyo Bay. Standing at her side was Nevada, and the two looked to be laughing about something between them. Their laughter died away somewhat, only for Pennsylvania to say something to the other battleship, and that seemed to restart all of it all at once. The two seemed to be in their own little world with one another, seemingly uncaring of anything or anyone else that wasn't the other.

Sofia watched the two a moment before approaching. But not from directly behind. No, she doubted that Nevada and Pennsylvania, being who they were, very much did not enjoy being taken by surprise in any capacity. So her current pathing would bring her alongside Penn's right side. But it didn't matter, not as Nevada made to looked to Pennsylvania again, and spotted her as well. Arching a brow somewhat, she looked to Pennsylvania. Who in turn looked in the same direction.

And simply offered the Captain a nod.

"Captain."

"Pennsylvania." She greeted before looking to the second battleship present. "Nevada."

The older of the two battleships nodded at the greeting as Pennsylvania fully turned to look to the Captain.

"I'm guessing your searching me out isn't entirely coincidence." Penn asked. Sofia arched a brow somewhat.

"Did you really think that you would get away unscathed?" She asked. Penn seemed to consider saying something, but she suddenly thought better of it. Nevada however did not as she stepped up alongside the woman.

"What have you heard? And who told you?" She asked." Sofia nodded.

"Everything that went down. From the only other person that was there to witness it." Sofia explained to the two. Nevada huffed as Penn didn't seem displeased in the slightest.

"Ari." She confirmed. "So then I take it that you know that it wasn't my-"

"Your fault?" Sofia finished for her. When Penn nodded at that, Sofia shook her head a moment. "That's not quite the way we're seeing things. Yes, we know that you didn't initiate the skirmish. Which is the only reason I'm seeking you out here and not having someone else haul your ass before the Admiral. She can be a generous and giving person. But there's a line with her, and both you and Mary are toeing that dangerously close." She told her. Penn arched a brow at that at that.

"When she went after Atlanta and her sisters? Yeah, I'm not too worried about being yelled at." She told her. To which Sofia nodded.

"Yes. But, that's more of her puffing up her chest. With a few outliers, most at first glance are going to take that as fact and not tread it again. Again, a reason that I'm here and she's not. Because this incident, although it involved Admiral Hipper, was not because of Admiral Hipper's past actions. At least, not directly. You haven't met the Admiral when she's truly and rightfully mad and I would advise that you not strive to make such a greeting." She offered as she glanced at the battleship. Penn only somewhat nodded at the warning somewhat.

"Is that all?" She asked.

"Hardly. Though you did not initially start the skirmish between Admiral Hipper and yourself, you certainly made no intent to try and lower the tension of the room, nor did you make any attempt to simply allow Admiral Hipper to pass you by without incident. So even though you did not throw the first punch, you made very sure that the events would result in that outcome. Even if the act of rushing you only served to cause more problems for she herself."

"She wouldn't tell us what she needed." Pennsylvania returned in response.

"And that frankly is another problem. What right do you have to disallow her access to the Repair ships, regardless of the reason?" She asked. "Hipper's poor responses aside, there is no valid reason that you had to block or bar her from speaking to one or all of the repair ships." She told her. But Penn merely watched the woman as Nevada looked to Sofia as well.

"Why did Hipper need the repair ships? From what Pennsylvania said, she seemed perfectly fine this morning when she came inside. Why the urgency?" She asked. Sofia looked between the two a moment before shrugging.

"You want to know?" She asked.

Nevada nodded first, and then after a few moments, did Pennsylvania do as well.

"Fine. The two of you have given me no reason to suspect you're stupid or other such claims, so I'll offer you the pieces and let you put them together. First, why would Hipper be reluctant to say something in front of you Pennsylvania of all people? She could've simply told you what exactly what was wrong, and yet, she elected for violence to herself over the truth. Why might she hide that from you?" She asked.

Nevada seemed to furrow her brow a moment.

Pennsylvania however seemed to take a breath as her entire being seemed to bristle. Whether it was a guess on the right footing or because she'd heard mention of it somewhere else on base, Sofia didn't know. But as the Dreadnought stared the Captain down, something inside the woman seemed to twist and knot as any previous enjoyment in their conversation vanished in all but an instant.

"The Jap." Pennsylvania hissed.

"Hiryuu." Sofia corrected.

"The Jap." Pennsylvania pushed.

"Her name actually means Flying Dragon in Japanese." Sofia remarked.

Penn's stare intensified, and yet, Sofia simply watched her with an air of normalcy about her.

"Do you ever wonder what it is about your personality that had someone like Admiral Hipper reluctant to voice her true intentions to you? What's it like, Pennsylvania? To be seen as nothing but a walking, living, breathing ball of hatred that those around her, even those of your own nation, to act as if they are walking on glass?" She asked.

"They are murderers!"

"Tell me Pennsylvania, do you enjoy living your life so full of hate that it influences those around you? That people are told and warned of you long before they ever meet you?" She asked.

"They killed my sister!"

"Yes." Sofia replied. "And I'm not standing here before you to downplay that. But you act as if there are pounds of flesh still owed, still yet to be paid. There was not a single man, woman, or child that did not hear of what happened at Pearl. What happened to your sister. Imperial Japan made a tactical move that they thought would benefit them, and instead it spelled out the beginning of their end. Japan was made to pay for every live that they ended by the thousands. And yet you stand before me, preaching a hate for a nation that at its core no longer exists. Imperial Japan does not exist in today's world. What remains of their might are men and women decades into their lives, and with each and every passing day, what transpired and that nation fades more and more into the past."

"Which is not nearly enough!" Nevada seethed as she stepped up next to Pennsylvania, the two of them now staring at Sofia as one. The Captain looked up at the older battleship as Pennsylvania sneered.

"So then what?" Sofia asked. "You would enact your vengeance to a degree that you end up wrapping all the way around and become the same monsters you're trying to rid the world of?"

"Bold words, Captain, from the person who allows one of them to sleep in her own bed." Pennsylvania spat. Sofia only chuckled somewhat at that.

"You attempt to get me to see things the same way as the two of you, and yet you don't seem to grasp that my generation just doesn't have the same connection to it. To me, Pearl Harbor is something you read about, something you watch any number of movies about the subject, made by either side. But my generation, the people my age do not preach the same kind of hate that oh so easily flows through your veins. They have never known Japan as an enemy, not the Japan that attacked you and your crews where they slept. To them, Japan is a place to visit, to experience their culture that has flourished in the decades since the end of the war. You would preach a hate to a people that for the majority would scorn you for it."

"They can be made to see reason." Pennsylvania snapped.

"They can't and won't. You lived your last years with the Navy in a world that was ruled and ordered by hate, malice, death, and war. Even with the war we now find ourselves in, the hate that you would have fester is not the same nor would it be." Sofia paused for a moment before looking to Pennsylvania again. "Tell me, if you were to fester that hate and have it spread like you want? How would Arizona take it? You would spread a campaign of violence and hate against the same people that the one she spends her time with comes from? Tell me, how would Arizona react to that? How would Arizona look at you after you'd gotten the one she cares for killed?" She asked.

Sofia knew it was a cheap shot, bringing Arizona into the fold like this, but she needed to quell Pennsylvania to a certain extent. She needed her at a point where she might at least be a little willing to listen to reason, to allow calmer heads to prevail.

And Pennsylvania did quell, at least a little bit. It was more than Sofia had hoped to get honestly, watching as the edge dulled and rolled off of the battleship somewhat. Nevada had turned her attention off of Sofia for the moment onto that of the younger dreadnought, watching her. Sofia held a moment before she pushed her luck.

"Look, I know what it's like to be angry at circumstances that you have no control over. I know what it's like to want nothing more than to want to burn everything down around you, but that feeling, that rage, it doesn't help you. I used to live that way day after day after day, for years. And for the most part, I was miserable. An eye for an eye and the whole world goes blind. Pennsylvania, I legitimately want you to live this life to the fullest. But letting your rage lead you like you do is going to eventually catch up with you, if not put you in the ground entirely. I don't want that. The admiral doesn't want that. Arizona doesn't want that. And despite what you may think, what you may feel, not a single person in this fleet wants that. Be that American, Japanese, German, British, or any other nationality."

Pennsylvania seemed to shake her head at that as she looked back to the Captain after a moment.

"You can't know that. You don't know that. We are not one big happy family as Admiral Johnson all too easily seems to claim or seems to label us as." She told her.

"Nor has she." Sofia answered her. "Admiral Johnson has never claimed that everything and everyone gets along without issue, and the extent to what she has referred to this base as is a Grand Fleet, which is not wrong. You've only known her for a little over a month, but I know you've gotten a better feel for her than that. There has never been a point where she has so clearly tried to brush one's feelings aside for another. Yes, there have been mishaps and problems and flaws, but need I remind you that just the American section of this fleet nearly outnumbers her 120 to 1. She does not diminish how you feel, at least not intentionally. But even she is not infallible, no matter how much she seems to punish herself for even the most simple of slip ups. Kentucky. Maryland. Admiral Hipper. If I were to ask anything of you Pennsylvania? Please, do not be the next name on that list."

"Is that the whole point of this conversation? You coming and searching me out only to ask that I don't make any trouble for the Admiral?" She asked with a shake of the head.

"No, I searched you out to inform you that there will be consequences associated with trying to Gatekeep the Repair ships from Admiral Hipper. Admiral Johnson hasn't given a verdict, but I'm going to recommend increased activity within the Fleet. Namely, leading fleet exercises for a time. For their sake however, I'll make the recommendation that it's done under Arizona's watch." She told her.

"Would we be having the same conversation if it had been one of the Japs instead of Admiral Hipper?" She asked.

"We'd be having the same conversation regardless of nationalities involved, Pennsylvania. The only reason that this conversation is not more involved and further at length is because Admiral Hipper made the decision to rush you. Had the roles been reversed, and you had made the move? I can assure you, me coming out and finding you in such a way wouldn't have happened in such a peaceful manner. You'd be standing before the Admiral, and made to deal with her in all of unpleasantness." She told her. "Hopefully, I'll see the two of you at Lunch. Bye for now." She offered them before turning away from the two dreadnoughts and making her way back towards base proper. Pennsylvania watched her go a moment, Nevada doing the same before the younger of the two shook her head as she gritted her teeth. Looking back out over Tokyo Bay, her previous mood all but shattered. She seemed to bristle, even as Nevada approached from behind her, the older of the two slipping her hand into the younger's.

Pennsylvania only relaxed a little bit as Nevada came to rest her head on her shoulder.

—/—\—/—\—

She shook her head as she pushed her way across base, her ultimate goal being that of finding her Admiral. She wasn't sure where she was at that point in time, but she figured that at the very least, it wouldn't be that hard to find the woman. She had a knack of getting around the base, and that meant most anyone would have some general idea of where to find her. Her Admiral had a memorable presence at the very least, and often left a lasting impression wherever she went.

Arizona simply huffed as she didn't quite jog, but she very briskly speed walked towards her destination, that being that of the American HQ.

Her own doubts of the events that had transpired that morning were mounting and to her, that was not something she wanted on her mind in addition to everything else. She had her own doubts on the subject, but as far as sources of which to confide in and that could possibly actually help her, Admiral Johnson was at the top of that list. And so she went, soon coming in sight of the building.

It was no matter to open the door to the building, going to step inside. But she stopped momentarily as Prince Maru came slinking out of the building before she could act. The feline only stepped out half a foot or so before glancing up at the battleship with a twist of the head and a flick of the ear. The cat seemed all too happy to stop in the woman's path, even going so far as to sit in her way, preventing the woman from closing the door without first moving the cat.

Arizona simply scowled.

Prince Maru tilted her head the other direction in that regard, another flick of the ear as she watched Arizona. "Meow."

"Move cat." Arizona ordered. And yet, there was no attempt made by Prince Maru to do anything of the sort. She simply watched the woman with an endless gaze of judgement. Fitting, Arizona supposed, given who one of her owners was. But still, as Prince Maru seemed to watch her with a suffocating feeling of smugness, the battleships found her willingness to entertain the feline for much longer fading rapidly.

Arizona made to reach for the cat to pick her up, only for Prince Maru to get up on her entirely own volition and simply pad by Arizona unheeded, taking only a moment to brush herself up alongside Arizona's leg before continuing on her way. Arizona watched the cat for a moment, as she seemed to scamper off to the side and round the American HQ building. The battleship shook her head as she fully made it into the building, stepping into the front hall proper.

Looking straight ahead, she was greeted with the double door that lead into the shared office of the Admiral and Captain. To Arizona, it was odd for a superior officer to have such an open door policy like the one Admiral Johnson made use of. To her, the Admiral's office was a space of sanctity, and to so easily go in on her own volition and not at her Admiral's behest felt wrong. But she'd known the woman that called herself her Admiral for almost a year at this point.

Arguing with the woman on the case was all but a pointless endeavor.

She stepped up to the door and simply opened it, only to find herself surprised by who she found.

Sitting at the desk was not the Admiral herself, and yet instead Helena. Standing against the counter on the right side of the room was Anya, sipping at a cup of coffee as she watched the light cruiser. She offered Arizona only a glance at the entrance, as if to take note of who was in the office, before looking back to the light cruiser seated at her desk.

"Helena." She started again.

"Yes Admiral?" The light cruiser asked.

"Do you or don't you know anything about the supplier of the snakes that were used to target the British and French ship girls?" She asked. Helena tilted her head somewhat at that, arching a brow.

"I'm sorry Admiral, but we do not." She answered for her.

Anya narrowed her eyes. "See, there it is again. The We statement. What does that mean?" She asked. Helena simply shrugged at the question as Arizona approached the two.

"Admiral." Arizona began. "Can we talk?"

Anya looked to Arizona at the request, and seemed to watch her for a moment. As she studied Arizona in those brief, few moments, the concern of Helena became less and less and less crucial to her as her priority slowly and fully shifted itself over to the battleship that she now found before her in her office. Turning her head, she looked to Helena one last time. "You know nothing?" She asked.

"Nope." Helena offered, with a solid pop off of the P as it left her lips. Anya gestured to the door.

"Then you're free to go." She told her. Helena nodded all too simply at that as she rose from the desk she was seated at and stepped away. Offering her Admiral a nod in parting, she offered the same to Arizona before she left the office altogether, closing the door behind her. Anya watched the door for a moment before shaking her head, sipping at her coffee a moment before gesturing to the desk as she looked to Arizona. "Please, have a seat."

"With all due respect, Admiral, I would rather stand." She commented.

"Very well." Anya commented. But she herself made no move for the desk either, still standing where she had been before. Sipping at her coffee again, she nodded to Arizona. "So, you said you wanted to talk. What's up?" She asked.

"I think that Admiral Hipper purposely chose not to try and inform me of the incident this morning." She aired. Anya watched her a moment at that, being her cup up for another sip but made no move to actually do so.

"So you think she personally kept quiet even though she may have considered the option?" She asked. Arizona nodded, to which Anya did the same as she took a sip of her coffee. "I suppose I should ask what gives you that idea in the first place. Was there something in her attitude or the way she acted when she came into the changing room, where Pennsylvania confronted her?" She asked. Arizona seemed hesitant.

"I.. am unsure. I laid eyes on her pretty fast after she entered, but didn't see her as she came in. And from the way she acted, it was as if the simple act of seeing us simply caused her to alter all logic she held within her mind. Yes, I realize and know that the way Pennsylvania acted was not at all helpful in any sort of way, but she did not even attempt to try and pull me aside. I am supposed to hold this position within the fleet that people can approach me if they have an issue, and yet she seemed only interested in causing more issue than she needed to. All while claiming that she was doing it to get ahold of the Repair ships. I... I simply do not understand why she did not try to at least make the case known." She told her.

Anya watched the battleship for a moment at that, sipping at her coffee before bringing the cup down again.

"Okay. I'll answer that with this. Why do you think that Admiral Hipper didn't decide to try and confide in you?" She asked. "Does anything stick out to you that would potentially prompt or cause Hipper to take a look at you, and still decide that picking a fight with your sister was the better course?"

"The only conclusion that I can draw is that because her past experience with Maryland, she was hesitant to approach me with something needed. But I've never dared to approach anyone of the fleet like Maryland approached her. I've also considered the fact that potentially it was simply because Pennsylvania was in such a close proximity to us. And even if it was because of Maryland or something there related, as far as I knew, she and Maryland had seemingly turned things around." She answered her, to which Anya nodded.

"And you're not wrong." She confirmed. "But Maryland's place in this discussion isn't really there. Can you think of any other possible reasons of why Admiral Hipper might have acted or may have thought her course of action was the best one?" She asked.

Arizona thought about it longer.

Before shaking her head. Anya nodded as she drained the cup of coffee before putting it down on the counter behind her.

"So let me preface this with saying the fact that I do not condone what or how Admiral Hipper went about what she did. There is not a single circumstance anywhere in this whole situation that called for her doing what she did. That's simply off the table and from what I hear, Admiral Herkunft brought down the hammer on her. Which is exactly what I would have done in this scenario. But with that being said, there's one minor thing you're overlooking here." She told her. Arizona's brow furrowed.

"And that would be?" She asked.

"Let me ask you this. Why was Admiral Hipper going to the docks in the first place?" She asked.

"She was going to find the repair ships." She stated.

"For what purpose?"

"She was seeking out help for Hiryuu." She explained.

Anya nodded at that. "Mhm. Arizona, why would she not have come forwards with such information so directly in Pennsylvania or your presence?" She asked. Arizona seemed to furrow at the question a moment, as if her brain was spending all available resources on the question suddenly presented to her. And the more she thought about it, the less and less the battleship liked the conclusion that she was drawing herself too.

Anya watched her, arms crossed across her chest, as Arizona began to draw more and more of the same conclusions. All pointing to one fact.

"She didn't trust me because it was Hiryuu's well being." She said. But her motions were still and the words came slow. Anya nodded.

"Now, before you get trapped in your own head with that, let me say this. You're one of, if not the most reliable girl I have on base. I trust you completely to make the right choices for those involved." She told her. "You've never given me reason not to."

"But yet, Admiral Hipper did not?" She asked. Anya somewhat shrugged.

"I don't for sure. I haven't talked to her about it, and I doubt she was able to really get anything out when Admiral Herkunft went for her." She told her.

"I... I don't understand?" She asked. Anya sighed.

"I can't tell you for certain of why Admiral Hipper decided against trying to work with you on this. But if I had a guess, it was because she looked at yours and Pennsylvania's past history with Hiryuu in this case and decided against trying to explain, or show what was going on before even trying any other solution. Even wrong in this case, she made a judgment call."

"I don't... why would she see it in that way? I've never done anything towards them that would hint at aggression. I'm cordial with them on sorties and leave any past transgressions between us behind us as we are expected to do so. I've given no reason or instance for someone to think that I would not act with their best interests in mind at that moment. I don't attempt to antagonize needlessly like my sister. I am not vocal in any negative manner like Oklahoma or Nevada. I try." She told her. Anya nodded at that as she now stood fully in front of the counter, watching the battleship.

"Yes. But what haven't you done?" She asked. Arizona seemed to frown further. When she didn't answer for a time, Anya continued. "I'm sure you've figured this out to some degree, but everyone has their own way of seeing things, viewing things. Everyone looks at something and makes their own decision. This includes other people and their choices. For example, I might look at something entirely different and base my actions off of it as opposed to how Captain Algerona might look and act to something. In your case here, you don't socialize at all with any of the Japanese carriers. And while I'm not telling you to do so one way or the other, you have to realize that someone else is going to look at that, and make their own judgement calls. And then, such as this case, act accordingly. In this case most likely, Admiral Hipper looked at the two of you and keeping in mind of how you present yourselves independently, made a call." She said.

Arizona took that information in for a brief few seconds of passing silence before she frowned deeper.

"So... I am to be made untrustworthy because of those that I associate with, or those that I choose to or not to spend time with when I am within my own personal time to do so?" She questioned. "If that is the case, why do I still hold this position. There are plenty of other options for roles of leadership, those far more trustworthy than I."

"And in that case as to your position within the fleet, Admiral's Hipper trust or lack there of in you doesn't mean a damn. In that regard, your focus is my trust and the Captain's trust. And if we had a problem with how you were presenting yourself or running fleet exercises, you would've heard about that long before now, I can assure you of that." She told her.

"But if I do not have the fleet's trust, how am I meant to do my job?" She asked.

"You need the fleet's trust. You don't need everyone's trust. If Admiral Hipper is an outlier in that regard? So be it. Because for one German Heavy Cruiser that had a problem explaining herself to you because of a perceived bias, you have nearly every Japanese destroyer in your corner knowing that they can trust you to properly lead them and make the best call for them, with their well being as a priority. Admiral Hipper's wrong move is not a sleight against you so don't take it that way. Even with her actions aside, I have not had a single member of the fleet and express to me that they think you're not doing a good job. Nor has the Captain. You're doing fine Arizona. I stand by my decision to put you where you are now and that isn't going to change. Don't let this whole thing get into your head. That's not going to help you in any way for the better."

Arizona seemed to sigh at that as she seemed to think on the words that had been given to her.

"I just- even if she didn't want to voice her concerns to me, I just wish she hadn't used my sister in the way she had. I have a hard enough time trying to make sure she's somewhat content, and that's already hard enough. I- I just-I-"

"Arizona, you can speak your mind with me." Anya told her.

"Freely?" She asked.

"Freely." Anya confirmed.

"If Admiral Hipper does something like this again, I'm putting my foot up her ass, Admiral."

"Yeah, well, perhaps it's deserved in this case. Previous issue with Maryland aside, she's managed to irk both of the Pennsylvania class on entirely separate occasions. Honestly, I'm a little worried that she may be trying for the entirety of Battleship Row at this point. Maryland. You. Pennsylvania? Not a great track record she's going for at the moment."

"We should all hope for her sake that she escapes this venture by the time West Virginia makes her appearance, or Hipper unfortunately is going into the ground." She commented. Anya nodded at that as she fully stood, nodding to the door.

"Walk with me. I need to stop by the docks to see if I can Saratoga's fairies off of Hiryuu." She told her. Arizona nodded as she made to follow the woman, her admiral already making way for the door. When they were outside, the two of them fell into step with one another as Anya looked back to her battleship. "So then it sounds like West Virginia is to be somewhat of a headache then, no?" She questioned. Arizona nodded somewhat.

"West Virginia was a... headache most of the time. Between she and Tennessee, Momi often had her hands full more than she would have liked. But that is not to say that West Virginia is not or cannot be reasonable, because she very much can. But she like all of us, myself included, is prideful of who we are and what we were. And sometimes, that clouds her judgement. Vestal used to tell her that she was going get herself hurt. And by tell, I mean Vestal had a penchant for screaming at her when WeeVee was in one of her moods." She explained. Anya paused.

"Surely, she can't be that problematic?" She questioned.

"West Virginia once spent close to 10 hours, attempting to coax a reaction out of Utah. When that failed, she turned her attention onto that of Pennsylvania." She explained. Anya's brows arched.

"I'm sure that turned out well." She commented. The smile that overcame Arizona's features was as sad as it was prominent.

"Better than you'd know." She told her. "Back then, before the War in the pacific, things were different. We were different. Pennsylvania and Nevada were strict, but they didn't wear hate on their sleeves, didn't look at the horizon with rage. They were outspoken, but it was about mundane topics, little things. There was no overwhelming feeling of malice driving them on, filling their beings. Oklahoma was quiet, she was nice, kind. There were few who wouldn't approach her if they had a problem, or even ask her little things here and there." She grew quiet for a moment.

"Sounds like you miss it." Anya observed.

"I do." She offered. "My own sinking was an experience that I wouldn't wish on anyone, but sometimes I wonder if I would've been made to see the world just like Penn or Nevada. Had I survived the attack, would I call for their heads in much the same way my sister does? Or would I be the angry one instead, taking my sister's role?" She asked. "It's strange, that one moment I was talking with enjoying time with them, and the next I'm reuniting with them here. But none of them are the same way I remember. Pennsylvania. Nevada. Oklahoma. Maryland. They all have chips on their shoulders that no matter the idea or attempt made, will never quite heal."

"With no shortage of your own." Anya remarked as she glanced at the battleship. "But I suppose I lucked out if Pennsylvania's the most extreme that I need worry about." She told her.

"Not quite." Arizona told her. Anya arched a brow as the two of them walked across the base.

"Oh? If not Pennsylvania....? Uh..? Florida? Texas?" She asked. Arizona shook her head. "Utah? New York?"

"A little closer to you personally." Arizona commented. Anya seemed to think on that a moment before glancing back to Arizona. The battleship sighed somewhat.

"For reasons that don't need to be stated, but aside from my sister, only one other comes close to her views on the world. And namely, even though it was no fault of her own, she believes the fact that because both of her sisters were present and yet not her when the attack came? She took it as her own personal failure." She explained.

Anya sighed.

"Colorado."

Arizona nodded. "Obviously, I am none too familiar with her, or more to say, how she became during and after the war, but the images that Pennsylvania , Nevada, and Maryland paint are not ones that inspire much confidence. Not in how she would handle or present herself to our current selection of allies. Nor, do I doubt, that she would be much of a fan of the... shenanigans Maryland puts on with the intention of capturing your attention. From my own experience? She would heavily reprimand Maryland before setting her sights on you."

"Me?" She asked, her tone disbelieving. "It's not like I asked for Maryland's attentions."

"I don't much think she would care. In her view, you are the Superior Officer. Your word is law, and you would be expected to treat it that. If Maryland is stepping outside of those bounds? Colorado would expect that you bring her in line through any means necessary, even if that means throwing the book at her sister. Honestly, if or when she learns that you share a bed with her sister? Even if it is for a simple reason? She's gonna have a stroke."

"Greeeaaaaaaat. Haven't even met this one, and I'm already off on the wrong foot."

"To be fair..." Arizona paused. "Sleeping, either romantically or platonically with one's younger sister does not typically start either of you off on the right foot." She suggested. Anya casted a sideways glance at the battleship.

"Whose side are you on?" She asked.

"Yours of course, Admiral." Arizona returned. "Though, platonically can only hold for so long." She dryly offered.

"Are you saying you doubt me?" Anya asked.

"I'm saying that should yet another battleship try and make harm to you, Colorado is resting comfortably at the top of that list." She offered. "I can-"

Thud.

The two seemed to pause at the noise a moment before something looked to approach them.

And then something bumped against Arizona's foot from behind.

The two glanced down to find a now still Skateboard sitting there, as if trying to avoid detection by the two women. The two seemed to stare at the item for a moment, as if they themselves were trying to process what exactly they were looking at. At least, until Arizona decided to trace the path the skateboard had come from with her gaze.

And went straight faced as she slowly garnered Anya's attention with a tap on the shoulder, only pointing in the direction that they needed.

Anya blinked momentarily before following her hand, taking a look for herself.

The sound of her hand hitting her face prompted a rapidly suppressed laugh from Arizona.

Laid out before them was who was clearly to see William D. Porter, the apparent person who had been on the skateboard at their feet oh so previously. Reason as to why she was not on said skateboard was her apparent and clear collision, given that she was now laid sideways atop who looked to be Takao. The heavy cruiser on the ground seemed to be trying to collect herself as Leningrad and Kidd stood around the cruiser. The Russian was simply laughing as she stood there, her own skateboard held on end between her hand and the ground. Kidd however looked to be far more panicked as she all but stood over the two with her hands on her head.

Anya's head simply slumped forwards.

Arizona couldn't help the grin that time as she stepped on one end of the board, flipping it up and grabbing a hold of it. Hefting it up and under her arm, she nudged Anya forwards, the two soon approaching the devastation as a pair.

Just as Atago, Myoukou, and Nachi rounded the corner to find what had happened to their fourth. And at the sight, Atago all but let the giggling take her as Myoukou simply offered a gentle smile. Nachi however placed hands on her hips in a grand gesture as she looked over the scene largely unimpressed, agitated even if Arizona were to give words to the expression. And as the two drew that much closer, the three heavy cruisers seemed to regard their presence.

"Admiral." Leningrad greeted for the group as a whole, even though her own amusement was on par with that of Atago's. Anya glanced at the destroyer a moment before gazing down at the skateboard in her grasp. She watched it for a second before looking back to the Russian destroyer.

"I don't suppose-"

"No Admiral." She answered before Anya was finished. "I've no clear idea of where it might have come from." She told her honestly. Anya huffed.

"So Paintball Guns, Itching Powder, A bag of snakes-" She began as she counted each one off on a finger. "And now skateboards. Given to Willie of all people." She sighed as she approached the destroyer and pulled her up and off of Takao.

"Someone's taking pleasure in the chaos." Myoukou commented as Nachi and Atago helped the downed heavy cruiser to her feet. Anya nodded somewhat as Arizona looked to Anya.

"Is that what you were questioning Helena about when I walked In?" She asked. Anya nodded at that as she retrieved the skateboard from Arizona for a moment, looking the item over as if she was trying to find any sort of identifying call sign or calling card. But she shook her head as she made to hand it back to the destroyer, Willie carefully reaching out to take it.

Only to stumble forwards into Anya.

"Sorry." The destroyer mumbled into the woman's side. Anya sighed as she gently patted the destroyer on the head before making to hand the skateboard to Kidd. The other Fletcher ever so carefully took the item from the woman as Anya looked to the now four heavy cruisers.

"And we still have no idea of who actually planted the snakes in the British rooms, if anyone actually did so." She told them.

"And we likely won't, unless they screw up down the line." Myoukou offered. Anya nodded at that as Atago seemed to look over Takao, making sure she was okay as could be, which really wasn't all that much. Collision aside, the destroyer that had collided with her wasn't that much to be concerned about at least in the terms of physical damage. Well, normally that'd be the case.

Willie D. however was a whole other story.

"Yeah." Anya huffed before looking to Takao. "You are okay, right Takao?" She asked.

Takao nodded at that, her own gentle smile coming to her features.

"I am Admiral." She said as she glanced down to the Fletcher. Anya gave her agreement at that as she looked down to Willie.

"I'm sorry, but I don't want you on the skateboards." She told her. Willie seemed to watch her for a moment at that before nodding slowly, once again putting her face in the woman's side.

"'S okay. I'm not really that good anyways..." she muttered against the woman. Anya closed her eyes at that before looking to Kidd and Leningrad.

"I'm not gonna confiscate the skateboards, but you do it in open, non-populated areas of the base. And under no circumstance do you attempt to do that inside anywhere. No matter how good you think you might be. You understand me?" She clarified. The two nodded their agreement and understanding, to which Anya returned the gesture before patting Willie D's head one last time. The destroyer took the gesture for the message it was meant to be as she pulled away from the woman and turned towards her sister.

Leningrad turned and immediately skated away. But Kidd instead elected to hold the skateboard under one arm as she opened the other hand for Willie, who took it quietly as the two walked off. Kidd clearly said something to the destroyer a few seconds later, and Willie seemed to laugh somewhat.

Anya only watched them as they walked off before turning her attention back in on the four heavy cruisers.

"I don't suppose the four of you might know anything about the odd placed items that seemingly keep ending up in the hands of destroyers?" She asked. But the four of them shook their heads, Nachi vehemently shaking her head.

"Did you think we would?" She asked.

"What I didn't think was that we'd have to spend an hour or so clearing the British floor of the dorm building of Snakes." She answered. "Saratoga was livid for the next two days. But here we are, with now four incidents of random items, and no closer to finding the supply line." She said.

"You sound worried about this." Myoukou told her. Anya only chuckled darkly at that.

"So far? It's all been small scale incidents. Some battleships hit, some destroyers. What's the plan when whoever next holds the capability of hitting an entire dorm at once?" She asked, eyeing the four. "Say for example the next destroyers graced with what ever item comes next are the Fletchers? Which dorm do you think they're going to think of targeting first?" She asked, her question all but rhetorical.

The four heavies seemed to get the message.

"We'll keep our eyes open, Admiral." Myoukou offered. Anya nodded as the four ship girls began to walk away, with a Pan-Paka-Pan thrown in for good measure. Anya watched them go, Arizona doing the same before she turned back to the woman next to her.

"Do you think they'll actually keep their eyes open?" She asked.

"Do you think the Fletchers would hesitate to target their dorms if they thought that they could get away with it?" She countered. Arizona nodded immediately.

"Yes."

"Good. Because they would and will." She answered. "Here's hoping that we can get to whoever's supplying the destroyers with weapons of mass destruction. And barring that, pray to the Gateway that whoever is giving these things out that they decide not to go over the top with the next set of items." She answered. Arizona's brow furrowed.

"The Gateway?" She asked.

"I'm already it's bitch. Might as well start marking up favor with the thing." Anya replied, glancing at the battleship. Arizona's brow furrowed deeper, as if doing the metaphorical math in her head before turning her back onto that of the Admiral.

"I don't think that's how-"

"Shuuuuuuuuuush. Shush. Shush. Shush." Anya replied, holding a single finger up to the battleship. "It's probably listening to us right now and I don't need to give it any reason jinx me. It can smell fear you know?" She asked.

Arizona's brow shot up at that.

"Admiral?" She asked.

"It's a joke." Anya replied, waving away any concerns. "I'm not that far gone. Not yet anyways." She told her. Arizona slowly agreed, watching the woman.

"And if there should come a time? Where I find you huddled under your desk and muttering about the Gateway in more and more insidious ways?" Arizona asked.

"Call my father. His closest sister went into Psychology when she got out of the Army." She explained to her. Arizona blinked.

"I... was not aware that more of your family were Military members? Yes, I knew that your family has history dating back to the start of our country, but more recently?" She asked.

"All of my aunts and uncles. All branches. Admittedly, their parents had a bad habit of pushing them into it. Like really pushing. But push they did." She told her as the two began to walk on once again.

"And... they're retired, no?" She asked. Anya shook her head.

"Most are, yes. But my father's oldest sister, my oldest Aunt is stationed here in Japan as well, up North." She told her. Arizona paused somewhat at that before nodding. "Rear Admiral Johnson."

Arizona's brain seemed to misfire at that news.

And a few moments later went into a full grade shutdown.

"Admiral... Johnson?" She asked.

"Adelaide Yvonne Johnson." Anya answered. "My Father's eldest sister."

"....There's more of you?" She asked, as if unsure she'd heard her right. Anya nodded at that.

"Though she's far older than I am. I'm at the lush age of my thirties. She's a stone's throw into her seventh decade." She answered her. Arizona seemed to adjust to that information.

"You really did fly through the promotions because of the war." Arizona remarked. Anya nodded at that as they approached the docks.

"Yeah." She answered. "A move of desperation more than speaking for my talents."

"What's she like?" Arizona inquired. Anya arched a brow.

"Who? My aunt?" She asked. Arizona nodded. "Old. Stuck in her ways. Has her ways of doing things and is a firm believer of the get on board or get out of the way ideology. She'd probably have a stroke if she knew down the last detail of how I run the fleet, but-" she said with a pop of the lips. "She's not here and I'm hoping it stays that way. My interactions with her are limited to Christmas, Thanksgiving, and the odd family gathering. More than that, and I'm likely to develop an ulcer. Or an aneurysm. Or both and then have a stroke to top it off." She paused. "Though, she's also the one that made me want to join the Navy. So she's more like... a necessary evil."

Arizona snorted.

"I'm sure she is." She said.

"She is." Anya confirmed. "She's like the wicked witch of the west. But if the Witch wore blue all the time and doesn't know when the fuck it's time to retire." She explained. Arizona nodded at that as they made the final approach to the docks, Anya making to step inside.

"Admiral?" Arizona asked. Anya paused before turning to look to her battleship. "Do you think... that it would be better for everyone if I were to attempt to make a connection with the six?" She asked. Anya looked her over, looking to study the woman before her for a time, the seconds ticking by as she seemed to look for something that Arizona couldn't place. After a time, she looked back to Arizona dead on.

"I think it would be best if you make the move that suits you. If there comes a time of whether it's tomorrow, or next week, or ten years down the line and there comes a time where you can sit down with one or all of them and have a pleasant conversation? Good. But if it comes down to it, and that simply isn't possible or that you feel yourself not capable of knowing them individually? Don't worry about it." She told her. "You already do more than enough as is. There's no reason to push into questionable territories because you feel yourself required to do so." She told her.

Arizona nodded at that as Anya turned and walked into the docks.

The words sticking in her mind for some time.

—/—/—/—/—/—

"We're not blackmailing them." She said.

"But I mean-"

"We are not blackmailing them." She pushed again.

"But we could certainly-"

"AOBA!" Reno snapped.

Her voice echoed for a second or two before dying away. Good, given that it was just them on the basketball court behind the American dorms.

Aoba chuckled good-naturedly. "Just kidding."

"Sure you were." Reno offered as she let the ball fall from her hands, the basketball coming right back to her a second later. She got into the feeling for it for a second before she looked to Aoba to pass the ball.

Aoba caught it with ease. "Honest." She offered with a grin before she bounced it along the ground at the cruiser.

Reno caught it again, this time dribbling the ball as the game was now in play. The light cruiser made to advance on the heavy, Aoba keeping low as she made to guard her.

"I think you're just overreacting about all of this." Aoba offered unhelpfully as she made to swat at the ball. Reno reacted accordingly, switching to the other hand as she pivoted and made to go around the cruiser. But Aoba was ready and able to react, moving along with her in a smooth motion of activity. She stayed on the smaller woman as Reno made to try and get around the other.

"I think you're not reacting enough about this. I've seen the Admiral mad already once, and I'm not really looking for a second go with that. Especially not with something like this." She replied. Aoba arched a brow as she made to swat at the ball in the light cruiser's possession, but Reno was more than ready as she pivoted around the cruiser and made her way for the end of the court, going for an all too easy lay-up. The ball simply rolled along the rim before falling into and through the hoop, putting Reno up by 2 points. Reno made her way for the middle of the court as Aoba recollected the ball and made to join her, this time Reno standing with her back to the hoop as she bounced the ball to Reno.

Catching it, Reno bounced it back.

"I still think you're-" Aoba tried.

"This could ruin her career if it got out, Aoba." Reno told her. "And I for one am not looking to explain to her nor the fleet of just exactly how that happened just because our fairies decided that they wanted to put the camera there!" She said. Aoba nodded somewhat.

"Are you planning on making copies of the video?" She asked as she began to dribble the ball as she slowly made her way forwards. Reno made to guard her, but still shook her head at the question. "Then why are you worried? It's not like you're about to ship the thing off to your Navy. If you don't go around advertising that you have something like that, no one has any reason to look for it, let alone expect it to exist. There is no demand for something until you create one. If you go around, acting nervous about it all the time, people are going to want to know why that is. And they're eventually going to come upon the video."

Aoba suddenly surged to the right, Reno right on her as she did so. Aoba made to pivot left with the intent to shoot, but the American swiped the ball from her hands. There was a brief point of change before Reno made to run straight for the goal, but Aoba was faster on the draw as she intercepted Reno's shot altogether, the ball bouncing out of bounds in the process. Aoba watched it bounce out of bounds before going to retrieve it as Reno waited around the middle of the court.

"I'm worried, because there's no shortage of bullshit going on around this base, Aoba. It is not and never will be the place to try and keep a secret like that. You know that." She told her.

"So destroy it." Aoba offered as she approached once again with the ball at her side. "Eliminate any further issue. Plug it into the computer, and push delete." She offered as she passed Reno the ball. But when Reno caught the ball, her lack of a voice told Aoba exactly what she thought of that idea. "You don't want to."

"I mean-" Reno attempted.

"If you want to keep the thing for personal use, I sure won't tell." Aoba chortled. Reno looked at the cruiser like she'd gone mad.

"AOBA!" She shrieked, the ball dropping from her grasp. Aoba cackled at that, having to turn away for a moment as she let the laughter run its course.
Reno fumed as she immediately made to kick the ball at the Heavy cruiser, but the woman proved ready for that as she immediately caught it with ease. She kept it safe as the last of the laughter left her form a moment or two later before she even thought about returning the ball.

After that however, she did. Reno glared at the heavy cruiser as she bounced it to Aoba, in which the Heavy cruiser made to pass it back.

"That's not funny." Reno snapped.

"It's kind of funny." Aoba supplied. "But I'll humor you. Why don't you want to get rid of it?" She asked. Reno fumed a few seconds longer before shaking her head.

"That.. thing." She said. Aoba arched a brow at that before nodding in understanding.

"The Ghost." She answered.

"It's not a ghost." Reno answered with a roll of the eyes.

"It's kind of a ghost." Aoba fired back.

"Not a ghost."

"It was definitely a ghost." Aoba corrected.

"ITS NOT A GHOST!" Reno yelled.

"Are you saying that because you don't want it to be a ghost or because you're afraid of ghosts?" Aoba inquired, glancing upwards as she began to ponder the question. Reno began to fume again as she threatened to throw the ball at her again. Aoba cut it short at that as she fully addressed the woman.

"Fine. Not a ghost." She agreed.

"Thank you." Reno huffed.

"The Spectre."

Aoba cackled as she dodged out of the way of the hastily thrown basketball. Reno openly seethed as Aoba ran to collect the ball once again, still laughing all the way as she did so.

"So then if it's not a ghost." Aoba began. "Then what is it?" She asked. "Or should I ask what you think it is?" She inquired.

"It could have been the Captain moving-"

"No." Aoba answered immediately. "The lighting and how it moved disproves that theory". She explained. "Plus, even with no direct lighting on it, if it was Captain, the ambient light would have revealed her. Unless your Captain owns and wears a black sheet in the middle of the night for fun, it ain't her." She answered her.

"Maryland."

"She's in the bed, Reno."

"Bristol."

"That doesn't even make sense."

"Someone who wasn't supposed to be there."

"Now there's a shock."

Reno glared.

"Would you take this seriously!?" She demanded.

"I am taking it seriously." Aoba countered. "You're the one about to have an aneurysm."

"I am not!" She insisted.

"The bulging vein in your forehead says otherwise."

Reno shook her head at that as she made to glance at the time for a moment before doing a double take. "Shit!"

"What?" Aoba asked.

"I've got practice in ten minutes!" She yelled as she suddenly turned and ran for her down building. Aoba laughed as she went for the ball herself, intending to practice shooting for a little bit longer. Making her way back towards the middle of the court, she let the ball bounce free as she made to catch up with it. Bouncing it a few times, she made to turn around to focus on the hoop they'd been playing with.

But as she glanced up, her vision befell that of the empty dorm building, on that of the top floor.

There, at the end window, Aoba watched.

She could see someone standing there, in the window.

She paused for a moment, watching the top window for a time, as if she had locked eyes with the figure.

And then Aoba blinked.

And the figure had moved down a floor and one to the left.

Still standing there.

Aoba fought down the feeling of General quarters as she dropped the ball, all but forgotten as she turned and ran for Reno.

It watched her go.