Silence settled over her a moment as Sofia watched the two new summons. Dreadnought and Argus? That was fine. Constitution and Enterprise? Given what the former had pulled off in Boston, it was to be expected. But as the Captain watched the two before her, both watching right back, she really didn't know what to say.

Monitor and Merrimack.

The certified mothers of the idea of a modern navy.

During the American Civil War, it had been the USS Monitor Vs at the time, Merrimack, renamed to the CSS Virgina. At the Battle of Hampton roads, the two had met as Confederate forced had meant to end a blockade imposed on them by union forces.

But after roughly 3 hours, shell after shell, the two had been unable to deal any real damage to one another, let alone sink the other. Monitor returned to her station while Merrimack retreated. But that one encounter had single handedly changed the course of Naval doctrine from that day on.

The two of them had shaken the foundation of Naval warfare, showing the world what could be in steel if they left wood in the past. And the world did exactly that. They'd taken America's lesson in devastation and built their own, Navies of the world now being born in metal and fire rather than nail and wood.

Among the base, those who called it home, these two were a different kind of Titan.

After a moment, Sofia eventually nodded somewhat.

"You seem surprised." Merrimack told the captain with a laugh. Sofia simply nodded at that with a chuckle, hands going to her hips a moment.

"Can't really say I was expecting a summoning group like this." The Captain surmised for a moment, shaking her head somewhat. "Carriers, sure. Battleships, yeah. Cruisers, most certainly. But a frigate, a schooner, a battleship, a carrier, and two ironclads are an odd mix. Especially when they carry names like yours." Sofia told them. Merrimack laughed at that as Monitor grinned.

"Nothing like a blast from the past, Captain." The ironclad told her. "Besides, the youngins outnumbers you guys quite a bit. Figure who better to even those odds than us?" Monitor told her. Sofia furrowed her brow at that somewhat.

"Support?" She asked. Merrimack chuckled somewhat as she looked to Constitution. The former 44 gun frigate nods at this as she looks to the Captain.

"My... exploit in Boston was a one time thing. None of us are equipped nor capable of battling a threat like the Abyssals. The fact that I did not sink in Boston harbor is a miracle and that alone. A second chance is not something I think I'll get." Constitution told her. Sofia nodded at that.

"Pause that for a moment. I'm assuming Constitution here told you all what's going on? Today's date and where we are?" Sofia asked as she looked around at the five.

"Abyssals. Big bad deep sea demons. Come to kill everyone. Twenty first century." Monitor told her, holding up a finger for each point. "But even Connie doesn't know where we are exactly." Monitor explained. Sofia nodded at that as she gestured for Constitution to continue.

"Like I was saying, the six of us didn't come here to fight against them. We'd do and be more help on base, providing support rather than being support." Constitution answered. "It what we decided on before we crossed over. You give us rigging, we're gonna turn it away." She told her. Sofia nodded at that somewhat, mulling it over.

"Even just to be out on the bay with the girls?" Sofia asked in return. Constitution opened her mouth to reply for a moment, but closed it, before opening it a second later.

"The only exception." She replied. Sofia nodded in return at that as she put her hands to her hips again.

"Well, welcome to the future. For you Constitution, welcome to the other side of the world. Today's date is January 12th, Twenty twenty three. You all now find yourselves in Yokosuka, Japan." She explained to them. "And as for myself, I'm Captain Sofia Algerona. But I am not the one to be considered the main commander. That rank falls to my superior and your Admiral, Vice Admiral Anya S. Johnson, who currently I am unaware of what she's doing. If we find her while we make our way across base, great. If not, she's probably being held up by something or someone. Potentially either a destroyer or a battleship." She told them. The six nodded at that somewhat as they did so, looking to Sofia.

She in turn nodded her head for the door, turning and making way for it, the six following her out of the summoning chambers.

Pushing the door open, the group of seven stepped out into the sunny day, Sofia holding a hand over her eyes as she held the door for them. When they had all exited the building, Argus immediately pipes up.

"I wish very much to see the carrier force present. I want to meet them as soon as possible." She said as she looked to Sofia. The woman shrugged as she looked to the group.

"No one wants food yet?" She asked as she looked between the six.

"Connie and myself don't even sail under our own power. Our appetite probably won't be as hellish as some of the bigger girls. And monitor and Merrimack aren't big nor fast. They'll eat a bit, but still, not like the children."

"And our appetites can be held at bay for a while." Dreadnought Answered her, gesturing to herself and Argus. "We shall be fine for a few hours." She explained. Sofia nodded somewhat at that as she did so.

"Carriers first then? No problem?" She asked for final answer. When none of them raised any fuss about going to the carrier range to begin with, Sofia nodded at that, gesturing for them to follow her. And they did so, the six of them looking around the base for a moment.

For all of about thirty seconds.

The first and last thing Sofia heard was a group of rushing footsteps. And before she knew what was happening, three blurs were colliding with Monitor and Merrimack. But surprisingly, the two Ironclads barely even bugged as those who had run into them skidded to a halt along the concrete.

Sofia looked down at the forms of Shiratsuyu, Shigure, and Yuudachi, the rest of their sisters coming up fast as well. Before however the Captain could do or say anything, she very nearly went deaf. As did everyone else.

"EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE SOOOOOOOOOOOOO CUUUUUUUUUTTTTTTTEEEEEEE!" A voice shrieked in a decibel that would have shredded any other person's vocal cord. But the Captain and the other five new summons could only watch as Argus wrapped her arms around Yuudachi, Shigure, And Shiratsuyu in one fell swoop, swinging them around as if they were some ornate stuffed animals. The three Japanese destroyers suddenly found themselves both struggling for air and very dizzy as the British carrier hugged the three of them with little issue, a surprise given her overall size.

"C-can't breathe! S-strange w-woman strangling us!" Shiratsuyu struggled to get out as she was squeezed against her two sisters.

"Hey, you strange woman!" Suzukaze demands, she and Kawakaze stepping up to Argus as she watches them swing around three of her sisters as if they were rag dolls. "Let go of our sisters right this- ohnoyouDONT!" The destroyer tried, only for Argus to snap up both Suzukaze and Kawakaze in one fell swoop, the old carrier now effectively handling and forcibly snuggling five of the ten Shiratsuyu sisters. The other five only watched in both surprise and worry as they did so.

Sofia only watched as the carrier handled all five destroyers, practically smashing them together for a moment before she suddenly realized that the five were calling out to her for help.

"C-Captain!" Suzukaze called.

"Please!" Shigure wailed.

"Poooooiiiiii." Came Yuudachi's Reply.

Sofia blinked only a moment longer, but even she didn't have to do anything as Constitution stepped up behind Argus, formed her hand into a fist, and rapped her knuckles against the back of the carrier's head. Argus blinked somewhat at that before as if she was suddenly realizing what she was doing, chuckle awkwardly as she lowered the five destroyers to the ground, releasing them. Immediately, Suzukaze wheeled on the woman, raising a fist to the carrier.

"Hey! What's the big idea with grabbing my sisters and I like that?!" The destroyer demands, staring up at the carrier in defiance. Argus only grins as in a flash, she's got both of Suzy's cheeks in between her fingers.

"You're just so darn cute!" The carrier exclaims, much to Suzukaze's chagrin as the destroyer put her hands on the woman's arms, trying to pull her off of her. Sofia can only watch as the destroyer does battle with Argus, the carrier clearly winning at the front. All the way until once again, Connie drove her knuckles into the back of the carrier's head once more.

"I realize while yes, they are adorable, they are also proud warships of Japan and would rather like to not be handled as if they were simply stuffed animals for your enjoyment, Argus." Constitution scolded her as Argus was kneeled on the ground, holding the top of her head with her hands. Monitor and Merrimack only laughed at that as they went about standing the destroyers that had been knocked to the ground when Argus had let them go. Brushing themselves off somewhat, the ten destroyers once again gathered around as they looked to the Captain.

"Captain Algerona? Who are these women? New summons?" Harusame asked. The Captain nodded as she patted Shigure and Yuudachi on the head, much to their enjoyment as she gestured to Argus.

"First things first. The one that grabbed five of you with so little issue is the former HMS Argus, Britain's first carrier and the first carrier in general. She's older than both Langley and Houshou and apparently quite the.... personality." Sofia finished.

"You were gonna use another word there, weren't ya?" Harusame asks with a smug expression. Sofia immediately flicked the destroyer in the forehead, the girl laughing in reply at that as she did so, rubbing her head somewhat.

"The one who took no time in driving her fist into Argus's head is both the former and current USS Constitution. Before you ask, yes, the very same frigate in Boston that's been on the news lately for holding off the Abyssals by herself for a while." Sofia told them. Immediately, Kawakaze and Yuudachi were watching the woman with awed expressions as they watched Constitution stand over Argus, who was still holding her head.

"Is that why she's dressed like a pirate?" Umikaze asked as she looked to the frigate. Sofia laughed somewhat at that.

"Is that why she has a sword?" Yuudachi suddenly pointed out, the ten now finding the indicated object at the woman's hip.

Sofia stopped laughing.

Constitution at that time eventually left Argus alone enough for her to notice that she was being watched, her eyes darting to the destroyers. Standing to her full height once again, she looked to Sofia.

"I don't care how you greet them." Sofia told the frigate. "But my general rule is the destroyers don't get swords. Japanese, American, German, British. Doesn't matter. Don't give them weapons." Sofia said. Murasame, Harusame, And Suzukaze looked to Sofia at that, brows furrowed.

"And why can't we have weapons? We use cannons for cryin out loud!" Murasame exclaimed.

"So I'm the only one who remembers when Shiratsuyu chugged a monster?" Sofia asked, glancing at the three as she crossed her arms.

The three halted their objections there as Shiratsuyu chuckled awkwardly, scratching the back of her head as she refused to meet anyone's eyes.

"No swords." Sofia repeated. "Anyways, after Constitution, we have USS Enterprise. The carrier you girls are so familiar with, CV-6, is the seventh ship in our navy to hold the name. She here is the third." Sofia introduced the schooner.

"So.... you're like, Constitution's best friend, poi?" Yuudachi asked as she looked up to the woman. Enterprise thought about it a moment, scratching her head before bending down to the blonde destroyer, putting a hand between her mouth and Constitution's line of sight of her mouth.

"Betweens you and me." Enterprise whispered into Yuudachi's ear. "I think Connie's just a bit too grumpy and too old for a best friend. I'm only here because I hear there's good food." The schooner told the destroyer, prompting Yuudachi to giggle as Enterprise looked side to side, as if she were afraid of being found out. The schooner shot the girl a smile before a familiar set of knuckles drove their way into Enterprise's head as well, Constitution grinding her teeth together as she ground her knuckles against Enterprise's skull.

"I'm only two years older than you, ya little punk." Constitution ground out. Enterprise, for her credit, was crouched down as she held what of her head she could.

"Okay! Okay! Connie, I'm sorry! I'm SORRY!" Enterprise called up to the woman. Constitution rolled her eyes at that as she withdrew her hand, leaving the Schooner to rub her head while muttering something about someone waking up on the wrong side of the dock. Taking a moment, Sofia shook her head as she gestured to Dreadnought.

"This is HMS Dreadnought." Sofia explained, allowing the woman a chance to nod to the destroyers. "As the name implies, she revolutionized the way battleships were designed." Sofia told them. Shigure stares up at the woman a moment before nodding.

"So you're like Arizona-san's and Maryland-san's mother?" She asked. Dreadnought applied a smile at this, touching a finger to her chin in thought before nodding.

"I suppose you can look at it like that." The battleship answers. "But if you would, I wouldn't go around referring to me as their mother. Dreadnought is completely fine." She told the destroyer. Shigure, And the other destroyers around her, nodded in understanding at that.

"After her." Sofia began. "Then we finally have these two, USS Monitor And USS Merrimack." She explained. "If you don't recognize their names, it's alright. They weren't apart of the Second World War. Like Constitution and Enterprise, they're from before the war." Sofia told them.

"Civil war." Monitor told them.

"American Civil War." Merrimack added.

The ten of them stared at them blankly.

Monitor and Merrimack shrugged at one another as they did so.

Sofia chuckled somewhat at that as she looked to the group.

"Well, if you ten don't mind, we're gonna make way towards the Carrier range." Sofia told them as she did so. The destroyers nodded at that, soon gathering themselves and the two groups separated.

All for about 25 seconds.

And that is when the blonde blur Sofia barely identified as Shimakaze before she collided head on with Constitution, the frigate barely having enough time to brace before the impact. It took a moment, but the frigate eventually slowed herself down somewhat, a hand on the destroyer's back as she slowed them down together. When they'd stopped, before Constitution even had a chance to say anything in response, Shimakaze stepped away from the woman.

"Sorry!" She called before turning and darting away at a speed that the seven of them could only hope to match. Constitution merely watched her go a moment before the six looked to Sofia for an explanation.

"Japanese Destroyer Shimakaze. The fastest ship girl currently stationed at Yokosuka and will probably keep that title for a long while." She told them as they walked on. The six simply nodded at that before Monitor and Merrimack found their attention wandering skyward, finding one of Graf Zepplin's Stuka's doing rounds around the base, being chased by two Zeroes, Sofia surmising that they belonged to Unryuu. The two carriers were supposed to be practicing on the water today. She just wondered where-

Her thoughts were cut off as two Hornet's screamed by overhead, nearly startling the woman. They weren't as loud as their full size equals, but they generated enough noise to make you know they were there.

Monitor and Merrimack only stared in some awe as they watched machines never even thought possible when they were around make the Sky theirs. They watched as the three prop planes played their own game of chase as the two hornets danced with one another in a way only they knew how.

Argus held a moment, watching the planes a moment before smiling as she watched them move to out over the bay, still dancing and twirling with one another into the sky. She watched a moment before looking to Sofia, nodding for them to continue. As Sofia nodded, preparing to get the group moving again, someone recognized them. Or, someone to be exact.

"D-Dreadnought..?!" A voice called. The group turned, and there they found Kongou, hands clasped before her as she watched the battleship with a shocked expression. Dreadnought held a moment before offering a kind smile, leaving their little group of seven as she made way for the fast battleship, each step as gracious as the last as she watched the woman.

Kongou, However, Sofia noted, was speechless at the sight of the British battleship.

Dreadnought smiled as she stepped up before the woman, peering down at the fast battleship. Kongou never stopped watching, as if she thought it to be a bad dream. After a moment, giving no warning, Kongou suddenly wrapped her arms around the woman's waist. She pulled the woman in for a hug, Kongou pulling herself to the battleship, as the battleship's face met her chest.

After a moment, a sound so quiet only Dreadnought could hear began to fill the air. Dreadnought closed her eyes as her smile remained.

The fast battleship, a source of boundless energy of both British and Japanese proportions, was crying.

Dreadnought remained still as she rested a hand on the woman's head, letting the woman continue before looking back to the Captain.

Sofia nodded, getting the message, offering a small smile in turn before gesturing for the other five to follow her. They did so, leaving the two battleships in silence as Dreadnought waited for Kongou to come back to her. And when she finally did, Kongou's weeping slowly edging off more and more, Dreadnought simply smiled somewhat as she did so as Kongou slowly pulled back and looked up at the woman, tears still trailing from her eyes.

Dreadnought easily brought her hands to her face, using her thumbs to wipe away the battleship's remaining tears.

"Look how big you've gotten." Dreadnought finally told her as she looked down at the woman. "I remember when you were simply a wee lass, eager to prove herself to a country half a world a way. Nelly and Aggie would tease you for it." Dreadnought said cupping the woman's face in her hands, Kongou leaning into one of them as she rested there. "How you so proved them wrong. You became a symbol for your people. For your nation." Dreadnought told her. "I remember I would always listen right in when my crew would whisper of you during their shifts. And when I was scrapped, I watched as you became the warrior you always told us you would be."

"B-but it wasn't in England's name...."

"But you made your people proud. You were a warrior through and through, a legend on your own. You and your sisters ruled the waters below you." Dreadnought told her. "Watching you grow up was my personal pleasure." Dreadnought told her as she bent down, laying a kiss on the battleship's forehead.

Not a kiss of a lover to another.

But a kiss of a mother to a child.

Kongou simply smiled up at Dreadnought.

The battleship smiled back.

"Now, if you do not mind Kongou, I would very much like to meet your sisters. And perhaps a cup of tea while we're at it..?" The battleship questioned, arching a brow.

Kongou's smile was radiant.

—/—\—

Sofia hummed to herself as she lead the other five towards the Carrier range, now well within view of the place. Seeing no one outside of the range, Sofia nods for them to follow her inside, the woman sliding the door to the side.

Heads perked up as the Captain entered the Carrier Range, those at the line, Enterprise, Yorktown, And Hornet lowering their bows from the shots they were just preparing to take.

Stepping forwards a little bit, she allows the other five, clearly armed ship girls to step into the Carrier range, drawing some very confused stares.

Most notably from the Casablanca sisters.

Sofia immediately noted that anyone stepping in would see them first and foremost. Sighing, she put her hands on her hips a moment as Langley and Houshou approached the woman.

"Captain? Is everything-" Langley tries, but stops her with a raised finger, as if telling her to wait a moment. And for good reason as Argus is finally allowed into the Carrier range as Constitution and Enterprise get out of the way. And immediately, the British carrier spotted the three Casablanca sisters staring up at her, their crossbows thankfully unloaded, but still watching the woman with confusion. And as they did so, Sofia heard Argus make an intake of breath.

She immediately made an exaggerated motion of bringing her hands to her ears, covering them tightly. Some of the carrier's, such as Zuikaku, Lexington, And Ryuujou only stared in confusion but did as the Captain did, and covered their ears as well. Some others were in the process when it hit. And Sofia saw Constitution raise her hand in turn.

"EEEEEEEEEEEEEEE-" Argus began, briefly shattering the peace with a sound that a human shouldn't be able to reach, but it was stopped as Constitution brought her fist down on the carrier's head, sending her flat to the floor, resuming the peace just as almost immediately. Those who had their ears covered silently thanked the Captain as those who either hadn't taken the hint or hadn't gotten to it visibly recoiled from the brief assault on their ears. Sofia let her hands fall to her sides as she looked down at Argus for a moment before looking up to Constitution.

"Although normally I'm vehemently against any of you girls using this kind of force against one another, especially against one from another country, I do appreciate not going completely deaf by the time I'm forty. Just... try not to make it a habit." Sofia asked. Constitution simply nodded at that as the two of them looked down to Argus, who was still face flat on the floor, groaning somewhat.

"Uhhh... Captain...?" Langley asked. "Are.. are these new carriers?" The carrier asked unsurely, glancing down at the floored woman a moment before looking back to the woman. In turn, Sofia pointed to Argus who was now slowly pushing herself up, sitting back on her legs as she dusted herself off somewhat, looking back up at Constitution.

"Dear me, do you have to be such a brute..? I admit, I may have overdone the volume a slight tad, but is you bullying me in such a way just American? Or are you trying to tell me you like me?" Argus asked, her tone one of cordial. But a slight grin the woman on the woman's lips and the slight undertone of mischief told the Captain that the Carrier wasn't actually hurt nor mad. Constitution only rolled her eyes as she offered a hand to the carrier, which was taken immediately by the woman.

"Just try not to deafen them all please. They are your grandchildren after all." Constitution told her. Argus simply smiled at that somewhat before turning to look at the carriers, hands going behind her back somewhat as she slowly made her way into the middle of the Carrier range, patting each of the three Casablanca sisters on the head as she went. She took a moment to look over each and every carrier present, her eyes studying them a moment before moving onto the next.

As she did so, Enterprise glanced to the Captain as most others continued to watch the stranger. "Err, Captain? Who... is this?" The woman asked. Sofia nodded.

"Argus. HMS Argus. The closest thing any of you have to a grandmother." She told them.

Some eyes widened in shock while others looked to the Captain in disbelief. Argus simply smiled at this, bowing somewhat in no general direction.

"Indeed. I am HMS Argus. And though I may not be your better, I am your predecessor." She explains, her stance even and straight, befitting one of a British carrier, hands behind her back as she did so. Immediately, she was rushed by one carrier in particular, Argus turning to meet her just as Ark Royal had gotten her hands wrapped around her in a tight hug.

As Sofia watched the British carriers reunite, others watching their reunion with some fondness, a number of the carriers turned to the Captain and the four unnamed ship girls who were simply watching indifferently.

"So Captain? Gonna tell us who these four are?" Lexington asked as she looked over the four. "A battleship? A cruiser? A two heavies and a light?" She asked as she looked to Monitor. The ironclad scowled as she put her hands on her hips, stepping up to the carrier.

"Yeah? Light, huh? You calling me small?" Monitor asked, looking up to the carrier. Lexington blinked somewhat at that, hands going up in a defensive motion as she backed away somewhat.

"Hey, look, I didn't mean nothing by it. I just figured you were based on....... you know what, I'm not gonna finish that statement. It's my bad. I judged wrong. So, what are you then, if you weren't my first guess?" Lexington asked as she looked down to the woman. Monitor watched her a moment, crossing her arms before turning away with a humph. Lexington blinked, looking to Sofia, who in turn shrugs. At that however, Merrimack laughs as she places a hand on Monitor's head.

"Don't mind Moni over here." Merrimack tells the carrier, rubbing the other ironclad's hair somewhat. "She just gets a little prissy when someone calls her small. I should know, I was the first one to do it when we were knocking the shit out of one another." Merrimack laughed. "You should've seen her. Face bright red, arms waving around. She was the full ten yards I tell ya. Cutest thing ya ever did see." The ironclad explained. Lexington blinked, many thoughts whizzing by in her mind until she settled on one thing that Merri had mentioned.

"She... you... you were fighting one another? But you're both American ship girls right?" The carrier asked. Merrimack shrugged as she gestured to herself.

"Merrimack." She explains before pointing to Monitor. "Monitor. If those names don't mean nothing to ya, you might want to check your history because you just wouldn't exist without us. Any of ya." Merri told her. But based on Lexington's reaction, she'd gotten the message. Based on the wide eyes.

"We summoned Ironclads?!" Lexington asked unbelievably, clearly not sure if she'd heard that right anymore. When Sofia offered a simple nod in confirmation, standing off to the side somewhat, Merri laughed at Lex's surprise as she placed a hand on the carrier's shoulder.

"Don't worry too much hun. We're not interested in your jobs." She told her before cackling. Monitor simply chuckled somewhat at that, having calmed down some as the two Ironclads looked at Lexington.

As they watched the Essex carrier try to process what she'd just been told, Enterprise, the schooner, poked Sofia in the side. When the Captain looked to the ship girl, the woman gestured to the wide selection of carrier girls. "Which one is she?" Came the question. Sofia was about to ask what she meant when it suddenly occurred to her that there was only one possible thing the woman could be asking for. Immediately pointing to the other side of the Carrier range, she nodded.

"On the end, the one talking with the two in red and blue." Sofia told her. The schooner nodded at that as she turned and began to make way for the woman specified by the Captain, lightly pushing past the others gathered around Argus as she reunited with Ark Royal, which was involving a lot of crying. Mostly on Ark Royal's end.

Eventually, the schooner stepped up to the woman, Enterprise suddenly looking at the new comer with some curiosity and caution. Akagi and Kaga, the two she'd been conversing with merely watched unsure of where this was going.

Looking her over a moment, Enterprise eventually smiled at her younger successor. "You do the name good." She told her, the Carrier blinking somewhat before she began to slowly catch on, her eyes widening at the realization.

"Enterprise?" Enterprise asked. The schooner nodded at that.

"The third." She Answered back with a smile.

Sofia watched the new summons interact with those already present, between the Ironclads talking with those in front of them, to Argus and her new gaggle of carrier's, to Enterprise meeting Enterprise, Kaga, And Akagi. After a moment, she looked up to Constitution, the frigate simply watching the proceedings with some interest.

"You gonna introduce yourself as well?" She asked. Constitution thought about it a moment, looking over the happenings, before a small smile popped over her features, shaking her head in turn.

"No, I don't believe I will." The frigate eventually said before she looked to the Captain. "So, What is the plan after this?" She asked. Sofia nodded somewhat.

"Well, when we're done here, we'll go meet up with the Admirals and Captain in charge of the fleet and let em know what's what. After that, the day's kind of yours for the remainder. Meet some people, eat something, your choice really. Speaking of which....." she trailed off, looking to Langley and Houshou. "I don't suppose you two know where Anya is, yeah? Kind of need her right now." She told them.

"Hmm, I believe I saw the Admiral heading towards the Japanese part of the base, Captain." Houshou recalled. "Being heavily pursued by six of the Fletcher sisters. Who, might I add, looked to be thoroughly soaked." The carrier explained. Sofia arched her brows at that, wondering about it for a moment, before nodding at that.

"We'll give them some time to figure things out here and the we'll head that way." Sofia told the woman, Constitution simply nodded as she took a moment to lean back against the wall, crossing her arms as she watched quietly.

—/—\—

"She good to go, Dio?" Maryland asked as she stood next to the repair ship as she crossed her arms. The American repair ship scowled at her for a moment, frowning at the nickname that Akashi had so easily started, before closing her eyes a moment.

"Fairies are reporting green across all fronts. The damage has been repaired, and we are sitting in the presence of a fully repaired Admiral Hipper class heavy cruiser." The woman told her as she looked over the report. Maryland nodded at that as she casted her gaze to the woman still in the dock. Crouching down, she looked to the cruiser.

"You ready to get up and out of there?" Maryland asked, though she knew the answer that the woman would provide her. Hipper rolled her eyes at that, much to be expected by Maryland, as she nodded at the question.

"I have been trapped here for two days. Yes, I would very much like to be released from this care." The German eventually told them, looking up to the two. Dionysus nodded at that, glancing down at the mix of Akashi's and her own fairies.

"Alright girls." She spoke. "Start packing it up and all. Our job's done." She told them. At that, the fairies, both Japanese and American offered nods at that as the few German fairies present simply watched from the sidelines as the repair fairies began to pack away their catwalks and cranes, the repair dock's extra features soon being packed away into crates. Hipper watches as the fairies eventually begin to move the crates away, tugging them towards Dionysus, where they and the fairies are pulled behind the woman's feet, where as far as Hipper can see, they vanish completely. As they load up onto the repair ship, Dionysus nods in turn.

"Alright Admiral Hipper. You're good to go. Have a good night." Dionysus told the cruiser. "I'll let your Admiral know that you're combat operational again, but beyond that, I don't really have any say. I can put in a word or two, but otherwise, your next sortie I can't say." The American repair ship told her before turning and making way for the door to the outside world. Maryland and Hipper watched her go a moment before they looked to one another again.

"Did Akashi's fairies just...?" Hipper trailed off. Maryland nodded as she offered a hand to the cruiser, Hipper reaching out and taking it, the battleship pulling the Heavy cruiser up to her feet in one fell swoop. Hipper waits a moment, allowing the water from the dock to slide off of her body before grasping for the towel Maryland is holding for her, wrapping it around her body as she takes Mary's hand again, carefully stepping out of the dock given that she's not used to walking because of sitting down for two days straight. After making sure she wasn't simply going to topple over, she made way for the locker room of the Docks, Maryland following behind.

As Hipper approached the locker that she'd watched Maryland put her clothes in, she stopped for a moment in front of it, and turned hesitantly to Maryland, who was leaning against the lockers, waiting for her to finish.

"C-could... could you possibly turn around?" Hipper eventually asked. Maryland looked up from her hand for a moment, watching the cruiser a moment before cracking a smirk.

"Really? I was literally just in the docks with you for two days off and on and the entire time, you were topless. I mean, I don't really-"

"JUST TURN AROUND PLEASE!" Hipper eventually yelled, her eyes wide as she looked to the battleship. But Maryland nodded at that, putting no further words in as she turned around, now leaning against the lockers on her other side. Hipper watches her a moment before shaking her head, muttering to herself.

"Keine Privatsphäre hier für jemanden, den ich schwöre." She mutters as she drops her soaked shorts to the ground, putting the towel on the bench as she opens the locker and begins going about getting herself properly dressed once again.

Once she is finally decent, she puts both the towel and the shorts into a laundry hamper next to the door for the sort of thing as she straightens out her outfit one last time before turning to Maryland, who is still facing away from the woman. When she finally noticed Hipper standing there, she offers her a nod in turn as she straightens herself up, leading the way out of the docks.

"So? Where are we going now?" Admiral Hipper asked as she looked to the woman. Maryland nodded.

"To Admiral Johnson." She told the cruiser as they walk step for step now. Hipper nodded somewhat at that, hesitantly as she thought about it.

"Ah, perhaps my time in the docks is not-"

"Oh no you don't." Maryland muttered as she looked to the cruiser. "That's not how we're doing this. At the end of the day, you do owe her an apology even if she's gotten over it. Don't make me drag you all the way there." She told her. Hipper nodded somewhat at that, scratching her head somewhat before she looked to Maryland once again.

"So.... I must ask. If you and the Admiral are together in such a sense." She began, Maryland nodding for her to continue. "Why do you call her Admiral and not Anya? That is her name after all." The cruiser says. Maryland nodded at that as they walked on.

"This stays between us by the way. Well, part of it is because we pretty much just got together after a couple months. And the other part, like I just said, is that we're keeping it from the fleet. Don't you think it would set off a couple alarms with the rest of the fleet if I suddenly called her Anya instead of Admiral. Captain Algerona is the only one who calls her Anya anyways."

"Even in private?" Hipper inquired. Maryland scowled at the question.

"I fail to see how you need to know anything that goes in private between the two of us." Maryland told her in response. Hipper shrugged at the question.

"I'm simply curious if you call her Admiral during... night battles?" She asked, hands behind her back as she walked on. Maryland blinked in response to the sudden question a moment before looking to Hipper.

"We just got together. We've not even been together a month, Hipper. It's a little early to start thinking about that kind of stuff. And besides, like I said, you really don't have the need to know either way." She told her. Hipper's eyes widened in surprise.

"My, my. I must admit, knowing how forward you are with such things and being on the receiving end of your wrath, I would have imagined that you of all people would serve as a driving force towards that objective. I must ask why you've not done so already." The heavy cruiser inquired. Maryland blinked at that before looking to the cruiser.

"W-why is this so important to you? We haven't gotten to it yet because we just haven't, Alright? It's not like we're in any rush and we're both inexperienced with that kind of thing." Maryland tried to tell her. Hipper however tapped her chin with a finger in thought, looking up to the sky in thought for a moment before her eyes landed on Maryland in a mischievous manner.

"Is it both of you that's inexperienced.... or.... is it you that's the inexperienced one?" She asked, her voice insinuating very naughty things. And all at once, the heavy cruiser watched as the battleship's face began to heat up, taking a hue of red that even the Heavy cruiser never thought possible. She would have laughed at the sight if she wasn't so curious about how such a thing was possible. "I mean, to be honest, Admiral Johnson is three decades old. It's somewhat hard to imagine that she's not at least dabbled in night battles before now. Especially when she has the ballast tanks to rival a light cruiser, if not a heavy cruiser." Hipper began. "It would be hard to imagine that someone, either Man or woman has not preformed a night battle with the Admiral in her 31 years of life. I mean, she's certainly attractive in many regards and she's got quite the charming personality. I mean, I may even find myself attracted to her before too long." Hipper told her as she tapped her finger against her chin. Suddenly stopping, Hipper put a hand on her hip as she turned back, finding that the battleship had stopped a ways back, her face looking at the ground as her fists were clenched. "Oh?" Adopting a smug smile somewhat, Hipper tapped her chin. "Did I take it too far?"

Maryland looked up at the woman, completely red in the face as she glared at the woman. Hipper nodded conclusively.

"Too far." Hipper agreed with herself.

She immediately pivoted and dashed, running like mad for the American HQ as she could hear the battleship's footfalls behind her. But despite the situation, despite the familiarity to the first situation in which the two had met, Hipper couldn't help herself.

The German Heavy cruiser, one who had come into this world believing in leaders long past and ideals even she hadn't understood, laughed.

For the first time in this new life.

It was boundless, fluttering through the air with a heavy sound.

It was a full release from the pressure she herself had held for herself.

Out of what she thought was her duty.

Even as Maryland chased the cruiser, fully intent on getting a hold of her at some point, the sound of the woman's laughter brought even a smile to her face. However small that might be.

"ADMIRAL JOHNSON! CAPTAIN ALGERONA!" Admiral Hipper yells as she laughed. "MARYLAND'S GONNA BEAT ME UP AGAIN!" The Heavy cruiser shrieks with laughter as she charges forwards to the American HQ. Maryland rolled her eyes at that as she picked up the pace, now gaining on the heavy cruiser.

They had just reached the circle of grass in front of the American HQ when Maryland reached the cruiser, wrapping a hand around the woman's waist as the two rolled through the grass a ways before they came to a stop, Hipper ending up on her stomach next to Maryland, who had ended up on her back, the two breathing somewhat as they caught their breath again.

"So, as a side question, the betting pool." Hipper inquired, Maryland arching a brow at that, nodding for her to continue. "Would you have a problem if I entered it?" She asked as she looked to Mary, still laying on her stomach on the grass. Mary arched a brow at that as she looked to Hipper.

"But you already know that we're a thing. That's kinda cheating when you look at things in some perspectives." She told her. Hipper simply shrugged her shoulders at that as she did so, pushing herself up off the grass to kneeling somewhat.

"It is my duty as both a warship of Germany and the Grand Fleet to use all information at my disposal to best my enemies in any battlefield they wish to meet on. Whether that be the open water or a back room that Mamiya refuses to admit exists." She told her. Maryland only watched the cruiser for a moment before sitting up herself.

"Me and Anya both get 7% of the winnings." She told her.

"Deal." Hipper returned, offering a hand to the woman, both sealing the deal and helping the battleship to her feet. Taking a moment to brush themselves off somewhat, Maryland gestured to the American HQ, the two of them now making way for the building.

The Time was now leaning towards 8'oclock on the nose. Dinner had come and gone and the two once again had eaten in the docks. But now, the American HQ was heavy with activity as those involved began to prepare for their movie night. Notably, those involved were Anya and the destroyers that had elected to join her. Which meant it was her versus the Gleaves, Fletcher's, Shiratsuyu's, Fubuki's, Kagerou, Amatsukaze, Hatsuharu, Vampire, Cossack, And Shimakaze. They'd opened the invite to the German destroyers as well, but the Z-sisters had declined it for the time being.

Opening the door to the HQ, Maryland let Hipper in first and the two were immediately assaulted with the loud voices of the destroyers. Some were hanging around near the door to Anya's and Sofia's office and the others were moving back and forth down the hallway to the left. They watched as Yuudachi and Shigure appeared from that way, peering into the office like so many of the other destroyers.

"Admiral! Please tell Cossack that we are watching Final Countdown!" O'Bannon demanded. Maryland and Hipper could hear a sigh at that as the woman no doubt looked to the Fletcher.

"Like I told Bristol and her sisters, I would consider it rude to watch that in the presence of the Japanese destroyers without all of them saying it's ok. And Murakumo, Amatsukaze, And Shigure have all said they're not. So no, we won't be watching Final Countdown. At least not tonight." Anya told her from inside the office. At that, Maryland and Hipper pushed their way through the wall of destroyers, some of their attention immediately snapping to Hipper as they watched her grow closer to the blonde Admiral.

"I don't understand. What's wrong with the movie?" Hipper asked, looking to Maryland as the two stood off to the side. Maryland nodded as she leaned towards the cruiser as Anya offered the two heavier ships a brief smile as she waited for the next bag of popcorn to finish.

"A couple of US Marines shoot a few Japanese pilots onboard the USS Nimitz." Maryland told her. "It's a good movie in my opinion, but I can understand why she wouldn't want to watch it if they weren't comfortable." She told her. Hipper nodded at that in understanding as they watched Anya pull another bag of popcorn, letting it cool off, and simply toss it towards the destroyers, letting them fight over it like a pack of dogs for a moment until Yuudachi, gleeful in her success, tears down the hallway with her prize in hand, some of her sisters tearing after her, leaving the other destroyers in some dismay as they watch their potential prize leave them. Anya sighed as she did so, putting a face to her hand.

"Not her first bag?" Maryland asked.

"Her fourth in fact." Anya returns as she loads up another bag of popcorn in the microwave in their office, setting it to go.

"How many bags you been through so far?" She asked. Anya shrugged as she scratched her head a moment.

"Maybe... 20? Yeah, that sounds about right. And poi over there's been a fifth of that. Can't tell if she's grabbing them for her sisters or she's just annihilating the bags she does get and is coming back for more." Anya told them before she looked to Hipper. "Looks like you're all nice and repaired. Feel better?" She asked as she put her hands on her hips, looking to the cruiser without a hint of malice or malcontent in her features. Hipper nodded slowly, taking a moment before she opened her mouth, closing it only a moment later as she glanced at the doorway, where at least fourteen destroyers were watching with rapt interest, Murakumo the easiest to see because of her floating sensors. Catching on, Anya looked to Maryland as she made a dramatic point of gesturing the destroyers.

"Wrangle, If you would." She said. Maryland shot the woman a smile before snapping her gaze to the doorway, immediately making some of the girls bolt with wild laughter as she bounced after them, the rest of them following those who had fled as Mary cleared the office door, disappearing around the corner with her arms wide open, as if she was going to grab them all up. And after what Argus had done to the Shira's today If What Sofia said was true, it was probably a very real fear.

Anya watched them go a moment, smiling as she watched Maryland vanish around the corner before she turned her attention back to Hipper, nodding for her to continue. And as she did so, Hipper offered only a slow nod. It took a moment, but eventually, she found her voice.

"I... I would like to apologize... for my entire conduct up until the point when I was admitted into the docks. I.. I came back thinking I knew what was what. That I knew where things stood . I thought I knew how things were, even after I'd gone to sleep. What I did to you, how I acted towards you, it wasn't in proper order of myself or as a representative of my navy and country. The fact alone that I laid a hand on you like I did is my fault alone and.. it was not warranted. In any sense. And for that, I am so very sorry. I am sorry that I threatened you life like I did. I have learned than in this life, everyone has their own words to say. And though I may not like what I hear, that is not cause for violence..." she said, fiddling with her hands somewhat as she refused to meet Anya's eyes towards the end of her statement. "So... I am sorry, Admiral." She finished. Anya watched her a moment, hands still on her hips, saying nothing for a time as the popcorn behind her finished.

Turning away for a moment, she removed the fresh bag, popped in a new one once again, and set it to go. Holding the bag of popcorn for a moment, letting it cool as she did so, she pulled it open, popping a piece of it into her mouth. Letting the silence between them settle, Hipper stirring in her thoughts as she did so, eventually glancing up at the woman. She found the woman's emerald eyes focused on her and her alone. And after a moment, Anya nodded.

"You seemed hesitant when saying that. I'm guessing you were even hesitant when coming here. Why?" Anya eventually asked as she watched the cruiser.

"It was my assumption that you were going to be angry with me." She told her. Anya nodded at that as she put the bag of popcorn on the counter next to her, wiping her hands on a napkin momentarily before throwing it away into a trash can at her feet against the counter. After that, she leaned back against the counter, her hands resting on either side.

"First things first, you weren't the only one in fault in that conversation. You weren't the only one whose words lead to that outcome. You weren't completely at fault." She told her. Hipper blinked at that.

"B-But i-"

"You finished the discussion to be sure, there's no doubt of that. But you weren't the one cause that the conversation ended there on that note. Partly, it was because of me and what I said and how I acted towards you. And that was wrong of me." She told the Heavy cruiser.

"I do not understand how something I did could be your fault." Hipper admitted, still watching the woman. Anya nodded at that somewhat as she did so, understanding where she was coming from.

"It's because you're German. Or, a German ship girl rather." Anya told her. Hipper blinked, feeling some anger welling within her. "But before you make an assumption on what that means, let me explain. You see, before your summoning group, I had only dealt with newly summoned American ship girls. Ships I knew. Ships I know. I'm used to immediately being their Admiral, used to them knowing that. But to you, I wasn't your Admiral. I was a placeholder for the real thing and that was my first mistake." She told her, Hipper feeling her anger dying away somewhat.

"The second mistake I made was immediately trying to keep the peace. Yeah, you were saying somethings that you and I both know we're going to rile some feathers, but I should've clamped down on Ark as well. I assume me snapping at you immediately like I did didn't give the best impression about who I am or what I'm about, did it?" She asked. "And please, be honest."

"I will admit that I did... feel some alienation about the situation when you called me out alone. Even another being called out as I was probably would have eased my nerves as the only German ship girl present at the time, given that Tirptiz was not there." She told her. Anya nodded.

"Like I said, that was my mistake. I was so focused on keeping the general peace with everyone that I was completely dismissing the needs of the individual. I wasn't considerate to the situation nor the ship in question. I was so focused on what I was feeling about the situation, I didn't even give pause to what you were feeling about being called out in front of a bunch of other ship girls like that. And when I asked you outside, that put the nail in the coffin. And when we got outside, the both of us were no better. Neither of us took a step back, we kept the words coming. I jabbed. You jabbed. There was nothing being held away like I should've. Like we should've. It was a mixing pot of emotions and I should've taken a better look at everything I was doing instead of just... reacting." She said. "And for that, I am sorry. Being in a fleet like this, it's a two way street all the time. No matter who you're interacting with, should their country have been ally or enemy, it's always something to consider. And I didn't." She told her. Hipper somewhat nodded at that, digesting the Admiral's words for a moment before looking her in the eyes.

"So... what happens? To me? To.. to us?" She asked.

"For us? I'll be happy if we can just greet one another as friends instead of whatever looks we were giving during the pizza sesh." She told her. "Cause no offense there Admiral Hipper, but you're intimidating as fuck when you wanna be." Anya told her. "As for you, Herkunft's got final say when you do get deployed again. But I'll put in a word with her as well, tell her that the blood between us had been settled. But Admiral Hipper? There is one thing I do want to see from you. Not right now persay, but eventually." She told her.

"And what might that be?" The cruiser asked.

"That night, when we were trading words outside in the snow, and you knew what you believed in, you had a fire in your eyes. Now that what you know and what you believe has been shaken, I can understand. But in the end, don't lose that. Maybe not what you did, but find something to believe in. Something that you yourself believes in. Fully. I want to see that look again. Because believe it or not, even if I am American, I do care what happens to you in the end." She told her.

Hipper nodded at that somewhat before cracking a small smile. "Is that simply because you feel bad for Maryland beating me?" She asked.

Anya cracked a small smile in return. "Partly." She offered before offering a hand to the cruiser. Hipper nodded in turn as she accepted the gesture, clasping hands with the American Admiral.

The two shook on it.

Parting their hands somewhat, Anya nodded as she pulled the already opened bag of popcorn from behind her and offered some to Hipper as she took the next bag from the microwave, putting a new one inside. "So you gonna join us for movie night?" She finally asked. Hipper blinked.

"I assumed it was only for destroyers. And I would not want to intrude on that. Plus, I do believe my sisters would like to see me now that I am free of my repairs." She told her. Anya smiled at that as she popped another piece of the food into her mouth.

"Would you believe me if I told you they want you here?" She asked. Hipper blinked at that before frowning.

"You could not have possibly known the outcome of our conversation to the point that you would ask Blücher and Prinz Eugen if they would be okay with me staying here." She told her.

"I didn't."

"So you guessed?" Hipper asked, somewhat unbelieving.

"Sure did."

Hipper grew silent at that for a moment, watching the blonde American Admiral for a moment before taking a few pieces of popcorn from the woman, popping them into her mouth. Still watching the woman, she took the open bag of the stuff from her, turning for the door. But just as she was preparing to step out, she stopped, taking a moment to think to herself.

"Admiral Hipper?" Anya asked.

"I know few things of this life, Admiral." Hipper told her. "But the one thing I know for sure is that Maryland is a lucky woman." She said before leaving the office, heading off to the right to join those getting ready for the movies.

Anya simply watched her go, some surprise to be sure. After a moment however, she chuckled to herself as she went about collecting the bags of popcorn that she'd made and making her own way for the room everyone was gathered in. Stepping in, the first thing that registers to her vision as the mess of destroyers crowding the two main couches in the room that sits at the end of the left hallway in the American HQ. Shaking her head, she hands a bag of popcorn to Kagero to split with her sister, Amatsukaze. One to Hatsuharu, and one to Shimakaze. Nodding in satisfaction, she rubs her face somewhat as she goes over to the station to start the first movie, Top Gun.

Doing so, Anya grabs the remote and goes for her seat, one directly in the center of one of the couches, seated between two people.

Maryland, the battleship that she really hadn't done anything to earn the affection of.

And Admiral Hipper, the cruiser who had raised her hand in anger against the blonde.

The two had been in blows because of the Admiral.

And now they sat next to one another, their eyes on her. Both with a smile on their faces.

Anya smiles back as she settles in between them, getting comfortable as she does so. Pressing play on the remote, one of the destroyer hits the lights.

Before anything can be said though, Anya raises a finger.

"I don't care who you are or what your nation is. If you fall asleep here, that's where you're staying cause I sure as hell ain't carrying you to bed." She tells the collective group of ship girls.

A collected laugh goes up, setting the mood for the rest of the evening as their movie begins.

—/—\—

She simply stares at the cluster before her, her hands at her sides in a helpless manner as the final climactic scene of Battleship plays out behind her on the TV screen. Glancing at the clock, the time is now turning close to one thirty in the morning. Turning back to the sight before her, she offers only a quiet sigh as she resigns herself to the sight before her.

Sofia I. Algerona can only look on at the clustered mess that makes up most of the destroyer population of Yokosuka, all sound asleep. And in the center of the mess is Anya, Maryland, And Admiral Hipper. She looks on helplessly as she watches the destroyers that are piled on one another cuddle further against one another in their sleep, most notably sisters with sisters for the most part. An exception to the rule is Bristol, who is being clung to by Yuudachi, as if the smaller American was some sort of stuffed animal for the Japanese destroyer to lug around.

Waiting a moment, she resigns herself to the fact that she will have to be the one to sort this out and make sure they all end up in their own beds, because she knows that at least a few of them have sorties later in the day tomorrow and sleeping the night away on couches will not get them the rest they need.

She silently thanks the cosmos that Tenryuu insisted on having the Akatsuki girls go to bed like they were supposed to.

Scratching her head a moment, she begins to wonder if she should start moving the Japanese destroyers first or the American's. Sighing quietly, she decides on the Japanese destroyers first, given the distance to their dorms as opposed to the Americans.

Holding a moment, she approaches Amatsukaze and Kagerou first, the two cuddled with one another in the corner of one of the couches. With Kagerou leaning her head on Amat's shoulder, Sofia knows that she can not wake one without the other. Sighing, she leans over somewhat as she places a gentle hand on the destroyer's shoulders, jostling her somewhat.

But after five minutes and the destroyer does not so much as budge, she frowns somewhat at that. That alone changes her entire plan, which was to simply awaken them and have them walk back to their dorms. Now the possibility that each of them are going to have to carried across base is creeping on the woman.

Sofia sighed.

But just as she had resigned herself to her new found fate, she hears the front door of the American HQ open. Hoping it to be King, given that the Captain was now staying in one of the building's extra bedrooms to serve as his until another suitable spot arises, she looks down the hallway. But instead of King, she finds Zuikaku instead. The carrier looked around a moment before noticing Sofia staring her down from the end of the hallway. Offering only a simple wave in greeting, the carrier made her way into the same room as the Captain, blinking somewhat as she looked over the situation.

"What are you doing up?" Sofia asked as the carrier stepped next to the Captain. The carrier in turn looked up to the Captain.

"Haven't gotten to bed yet, was waiting for the destroyers to come back. When they didn't, I Came looking. And good thing I did, they're not budging are they?" The carrier asked as she looked to the Captain. Sofia shook her head as she crossed her arms.

"Tried waking Kagerou And Amatsukaze But no luck. I was gonna try waking some of the Shira's in a moment but-" she began, but Zuikaku waved her off.

"They're not gonna budge. Pick one of them and hope you have the strength to lift a destroyer given human form." The carrier said. "This has happened before of course, but it was within our dorms." The carrier told her with a sigh as she leaned forwards and began to separate Amatsukaze from Kagerou, picking up the former, as if she was carrying a younger sister. Sofia simply nodded at that as she leaned forwards as well and picked up Kagerou, making sure she had a grasp on the girl before following Zuikaku down the hallway and out of the American HQ, the sleeping destroyer's breathing being felt on the woman's neck as she snoozed away on Sofia's shoulder.

45 minutes later, Sofia and Zuikaku trudge back into the American HQ building, finally having gotten all of the Japanese destroyers put back in their own beds. Of course, they were still in their uniforms, but neither the Captain nor carrier really cared much to change that.

It was another thirty minutes to get the American and other allied destroyers that slept within the American dorms put away within their own rooms, this being a little easier considering the distance from the American HQ.

That simply left Admiral Hipper, Anya, And Maryland, the first and third resting their heads on the second's shoulders as the second laid her head back against the couch. Zuikaku arched a brow for a moment before sighing somewhat, leaning forward and gently jostling the German cruiser. After a moment, the woman began to stir lightly, slowly coming to as her eyelids began to part. Blinking a moment, she slowly sat up as she looked to the two blearily. Sofia chuckled somewhat.

"Go to bed Admiral Hipper." Sofia says, looking at the heavy cruiser. The woman stares at the woman a moment before her words finally seem to register to the woman, nodding as she stood slowly, making way for the door.

Watching her go a moment, Sofia sighed as she went to pick up Anya, hooking an arm under the woman's legs as the other went to her back, picking the Admiral of the American ship girls from the couch, making sure she had a hold on her before backing away from the couch, allowing for Zuikaku to step forwards, doing the same to Maryland, the carrier lifting the woman, if somewhat troubled. Eventually though, she managed to get her to a point to where she could carry her properly, nodding for Sofia to lead the way.

The Captain did so, making way for the stairs leading up to the second floor. And as she did so, taking the first step up the stairs, she is suddenly overcome with a feeling that she does not recognize.

It is...unfamiliar to her and as she looks down at the sleeping blonde in her arms, she frowns somewhat. But she pushes on, ignoring the feeling that goes away only moments later.

Sofia does not see her ring pulse black.

The two eventually get up the stairs and the door to Anya's room open, putting the two on the bed and leaving the room. Closing the door behind her, Sofia sighs.

"Well, I'm up now." Zuikaku sighed.

"Same." Sofia Agreed. "Ever seen Star Wars?" She asked as she glanced to the carrier. When the Japanese carrier shook her head, Sofia smiled in return. "Come on." She said in response as the two made their way down the stairs, heading back towards the movie room in the American HQ.

—/—\—

Anya slowly made her way down the stairs at eight in the morning, getting up late already for her run. But as she hits the bottom step, she noted that the sound from the movie room is still ongoing, she chuckled somewhat as she made way for the door.

Peering inside, she found Star Wars playing, Revenge of the Sith easy to see. Chuckling somewhat, she carefully stepped into the room, making her way to the front. And as she looked back, she found a scene that she never thought she'd see in all her time on base.

On the couch, cuddled together, leaning against one another as they slept, was Sofia and Zuikaku. Smiling somewhat, Anya turned away from them, her back to them as she looked to the TV.

As she does so, the Admiral is overcome with a feeling that she does not know nor does she know why. It is unfamiliar to her, and as she glanced back to the two, she frowned.

And as she did so, the line played behind her.

"You were the chosen one! It was said that you would destroy the sith, not join them!"

Anya does not notice her ring pulse black.

The blonde only watched the two a moment later before leaving the room, leaving the two in their sleep to get started on her run in the early Japanese morning.