His vision found him slowly, even as he could feel the rest of his body once again coming back to the waking world. He winced somewhat as all the feelings and pains that came with it flooded back over him, but they were brief and fleeting, allowing him a small respite as he exhaled slowly. And yet still, his vision took its sweet time returning to him.

Eventually however, it did. And as he opened his eyes, a small breeze blew in from the window somewhere in the room. Turning his head as he laid back against what he presumed was a bed, he found the large window there. And past that, the city further on, to which he furrowed his brow somewhat.

He tried to recall where he was or where he was supposed to be. But his current situation told him nothing of that, nothing useful anyways. The last thing he remembered was being aboard the Brisbane-

The Brisbane.

Logan Roberts closed his eyes momentarily as everything about that night seemed to flood back into his mind all at once. His crew. The monsters. The death, the destruction, the-

He scowled.

The Abyssals.

The Queens.

Pacific.

He opened them again as he went over the events in his head, the living nightmare just as clear now as it had been when he had lived it. He looked out at the city, and further than that, the ocean beyond it. And as if some newly formed subconscious reaction, his scowl deepened at the sight. Knowing they were out there... it had been a realization less of agitation and more of caution before hand. But now? It was simply and easily boiled down to rage.

They could speak.

They could understand language.

They were fucking intelligent.

And yet they still chose the path of genocide.

Pacific.

Celebes.

Indian.

Sulu.

The unnamed-

At the thought of the last unnamed Abyssal that was very much the reason for him being put in his current position, he turned his head as he brought his hand up, placing it at the spot where she had stabbed him. A phantom of pain passed through his form as he did so, as if his body was remembering the moment in perfect and all clear reflection. But as he put his hand all the way against his form, resting there, no actual pain bit at his nerves. Only a slight tingle of the sense of being uncomfortable but not a thing more serious than that.

But it was the shifting of movement past that brought his gaze up to another look at the room proper.

And relief flooded his veins.

There, seated in a chair, entirely opposite the wall with the window was his wife, Cameron. Her shock of blonde was done up in a messy bun, the tips dyed red like she so often liked to do. She was leaned back against the wall, but after sometime, she had naturally started to tilt to one side. In this instance, that happened to be the left side as she slept. He had no idea how long he had been here, and more so than that, how long she had been here. The last he knew, she'd been at their home in Cairns.

She slept there, clearly uncomfortable in her position if her fidgeting in her sleep was anything to go by. He watched as a moment later, she seemed to pass the point of no return as her head seemed to finally slide down the wall.

Until her body seemed to recognize the problem and she corrected automatically, once again returning to a sitting position with her head upright against the wall. And there her body settled once again.

Until her phone began to ring.

Muttering to herself somewhat, the light sleeper that she was, her eyes cracked open as she made eye contact with that of Roberts before she leaned over for her purse, going for the item so that she could dig through it for her phone. It took her a moment to find it, but when she did, she dropped the purse to the ground as she brought her full attention to the item, finger hovering over the answer button as she brought it up to her ear.

Only to double take in a rapid fire motion as she stood abruptly, and apparently before she was ready to do so.

Her phone slipped from her hand, still ringing all the while, as she all but let go of it. It began what could be described as a perfect arc across the distance of the room. The both of them watched it fly across the room before coming to a predictable and all too needed stop as it slammed against the ground on the opposite side of Logan's bed. It clattered a few feet further before sliding to a stop against the baseboard of the wall. Roberts stared at it a moment, being able to see it from where he was laid, before looking back over to his wife.

She seemed to stare at the spot where the phone was now sitting for a second or two before her gaze finally found that of her husband's again. And when he arched a brow at the display, she squinted at him.

"That was-" He tried.

"Not a word, Marion." She said with an air of challenge.

Ah, the dreaded middle name. He chuckled somewhat as she made the walk of shame across the room to collect the thing from the ground, she having to kneel somewhat so that she could reach under to grab it. Collecting it a moment, looking it over, she glanced at him as she made way for her original spot as she slipped it into her back pocket. Hooking her foot under one of the legs of the chair, she pulled it forwards so that she was sitting at his bedside proper as she leaned towards him and then over him, intending to meet him. He met her half way, leaning up as their lips met.

When they pulled away a few moments later, reluctantly on her part, she eased herself back into her seat as she now sat straight up, any vestiges of her previous sleep all but forgotten in the then and there. He offered her a hand and she snapped it up with both of hers immediately, as if she'd been deprived of his touch. But as the seconds drew on and the silence between them grew, he could see the pin-pricks of tears forming at the corners of those soft hazel eyes.

And he couldn't blame her.

It'd been a hard few years with the war going on. In the last 36 months, they'd been able to communicate back and forth all too easily, but aside from the here and now, they'd only been able to see each other in person a singular time, and even that had been cut in half of what it was meant to be originally. It had been short, fleeting, and left her with more fears that that'd be the last time she ever saw him.

At least, not in a wood box.

And damn it, it'd been so close to coming to that exactly.

He removed his hand from hers as he made to readjust on the bed, mindful of his left arm which had a myriad of iv's and needles in it as he moved over somewhat. She took what was offered and laid herself against him, tucking her face into his chest as he wrapped his arm around her, kissing the top of her head before resorting to rubbing her back. She didn't break into full on tears like she could be so easily prone to do, but he knew her. He knew she was on the brink and did everything he could to bring her away from that edge.

Which given the state of everything, was easier said than done. She readjusted somewhat, mindful of his previous wound as she stretched an arm across his chest as she seemed to settle for a moment. He let her do as she needed for a time, she trying her damndest to get comfortable with what limited space they had to make do with and the fact that someone sooner or later was going to be in to check in on him.

"When the news came down..." She opened with a shaky breath, her eyes locked to the window and what laid beyond that. "There was only mention of the Anzac and the Perth. It was hours before they gave any news, and even that was minuscule and unsatisfying." She told him. He could hear the tears on her words, the hesitation in her voice. It was as if she thought that if she voiced what she wanted to say, it would all shift, and he'd be gone again.

She moved in against him and he held her close as she did so. Her gaze stayed locked on the window, and didn't dare look up to him, lest she lose what little control she had in that moment. He allowed her the space, and simply elected to keep rubbing her back for the time being as words failed them. So they embraced the silence that seemed to fill the space for the time being.

"How long was I out?" He finally asked.

"A few days." She answered him. "They said that you suffered a puncture wound, but they wouldn't tell me what did it."

A memory flashed through his mind. That unknown with the white haze.

Pacific's laughter.

Indian's glee.

Celebes's rage.

The image of his XO in the hands of those monsters as he walked out onto the deck, entirely at their mercy.

Harper.

"It was something like that..." He offered. At that, she finally did look up at him, those hazel eyes seeming to look straight through him for a few moments before seemingly coming back to him, looking at him dead on.

"They've been waiting for you to wake up." She said. "I've gotten multiple calls from Admiral Anderson. They're going to question as soon as they know you're awake. I've talked to a few others that were here for minor injuries from the whole ordeal. They've questioned anyone they could. At this point, you're the last one they're waiting on." She told him. Logan seemed to nod somewhat at that as she settled back in.

Honestly, he'd expected that first upon waking up. Not having them standing there when he'd come around was an odd thing, but he suspected that they weren't far away.

"Are they here?" He asked. She nodded.

"There's two posted outside the door and Admiral Anderson said he'd be in the area." She answered him. He nodded at that as he settled in for a moment, preparing for the wait that's inevitably come with. She was just as ready, laying against him as they braced for the oncoming storm.

It arrived exactly 33 minutes later.

A short, but thudding knock sounded on the door from outside, no doubt to make themselves presentable if the needed arose. But given that they were simply laying there with one another, there was nothing to be made decent as she reluctantly got up from her spot on the bed and made way for the door. Opening it, she left it there before returning to her seat that she'd held before as Roberts watched as Admiral Anderson made his way into the room, offering the man a nod.

"It's somewhat of a relief to see you awake so soon." He began. Roberts nodded at that as one or two more people entered the room. "We'd like to do this more formally, but there's concern of the timeframe in question fading in accuracy from your mind." He told him. "How well do you remember your last operation?" He asked.

They're just radar contacts, Captain.

"Unfortunately for me, Sir, rather well."

Anderson nodded at that as the two that entered with him seemed to prepare. "And if we ask it of you, could you with some measure of detail recall the events of that night?" He asked.

He nodded almost immediately.

"I can." He answered.

"Then if you would." Anderson told him as he made his way over to the door to close it. Roberts held a moment, glancing at his wife for a time before looking back to the three.

And told them everything.

He told them of the opening engagements with the beasts that were Leviathan and the Kraken. He told them the way they shrugged off their weapons and in turn, they paid the price in hundreds of lives.

He told them how the Brisbane was all but rendered inert as they were surrounded and boarded. He explained how he proceeded to receive dozens of calls and reports saying that they'd been taken. He explained the feeling as he walked out onto that deck and found his XO in the grasp of two monstrosities given form.

He told them of Pacific and Indian. What they represented, who they were, and what they stood to gain.

He told them everything.

It took 45 minutes to get down every last detail, everything he could remember, recorded down to the last word. He glanced at Cameron, who had long stopped listening and simply sat forwards, her head in her hands. Her eyes had a lifeless gaze about them as he watched her. He gently reached for her, but she made no response.

He looked back to the two men that had come in with the Admiral. While they wore it better than Cameron did, concern was etched into their features. He could see it in their faces, the way their eyes searched frantically for any mistake in their work. And he couldn't blame them.

The mindless enemy that had been putting humanity to the sword for the past half decade suddenly was no longer mindless. The only problem is that those minds were monsters in their purest form.

He glanced up to the Admiral himself. He was an older man, having seen his own share of horrors and conflict. He seemed the most calm of them all, even compared to Roberts. Recalling the details of that night had not been what one might call productive, his own heart rate somewhat elevated. And yet still, the man stood there, simply adjusting to the worldview that had been tipped on it's head.

The Abyssals were intelligent.

It was not instinct. They were choosing to put Humanity in the ground.

Anderson seemed to collect his thoughts a moment longer before looking back to the man.

"These... Queens..." He seemed to test the word out for the first time, at least in this sense. A word largely associated with royalty and fairytales was now home to nightmares made real. "We have Pacific. Indian. And you said they confirmed the existence of a third, Atlantic?" He asked. Roberts nodded. "But you have no information or ability to confirm whether or not the third one that stabbed you was the same?" He asked again. Roberts again nodded.

"That's correct." He answered him. Anderson nodded.

"Then based on their apparent naming conventions, there is likely to be a Southern and Arctic." He paused. "Five queens. And a confirmed three have shown themselves. Questions there to be sure. Why? Why now?" He stopped himself. "Now onto the next point of clarification. Their Empresses."

"They serve as their lieutenants best I can tell." Roberts confirmed. "Celebes certainly gave that impression when she wasn't threatening me with bodily harm."

"And so conveniently named after the Sub-seas of the ocean that feed them." Anderson finished. "But with that being said, the death of the one known as Sulu warrants a discussion on its own. From the way you and others that observed their interactions on the deck, the two Queens are far from close allies." He observed.

"I personally disagree, Sir." Roberts countered. "While in that moment they displayed more animosity than cooperation towards one another, you can not do what they have done without close ties. In that moment, yes, they stood against one another. But our death count shows that they can just easily as slide the other way in a moment's notice should the need arise. In this sense, I believe the saying The enemy of my enemy is a friend pulls its weight." He told him. Anderson nodded at that as he looked to the two men that had come in with him.

"You two may go now." He told them. They nodded their agreement as they turned and left without so much a word while Anderson remained, looking back to Roberts. "We'll summarize what's been discussed here and send it post haste to the other navies of the world, so that they'll have a better idea of what they're up against. With that being said however, it will be solely a summary, sating them until you are available to explain to them in person."

Robert's brow furrowed at that.

"Sir?"

"A summary can only convey so much." He told him as he looked him dead on. "In that sense, those of us higher up have discussed this at length. We would like you to hold discussions with the major navies involved in this conflict and recount your own experiences with these... Queens." He explained. Roberts glanced at Cameron for a moment, who had moved from leaning forwards to holding her face in her hands. He looked back to the man. "The doctors say you should be okay to travel in less than a week. You're slated for Moscow in two." He told him. With that, the man offering only a parting nod. Only for Roberts to stop him as he spoke.

"Sir, I remember they grabbing ahold of some of my crew, my XO chief amongst them. Do we know anything of where they may have been taken? Where they may have ended up?" He asked. Anderson paused at that, watching the man a moment before sighing as he turned back to the man, facing him straight on.

"Even before your own account of the happenings, enough of your crew and allied sailors brought aboard have given a sufficient view of that happened during those crucial moments. As things are now, what with who took them and how it was done, we've been offered no recourse but to declare them lost. I'm sorry Captain." He told him before leaving this time.

Cameron did look up at him at that.

Roberts simply sighed.

—/\—/\—

"Will I end up like her?" Was the question put forth. Simple really. The question was straight forward if there ever was one, and a simple question really only needed a simple answer.

And yet, it really wasn't all that simple.

She seemed to readjust at her spot of the foot of the bed, tucking one of her legs under herself as the other hung over the side of the bed. Her hands fell to her lap a moment later as she looked to the carrier that was sitting up, leaning against the headboard. After a moment, Sofia arched her brows at the question.

"Do you think you will?" She asked.

Zuikaku seemed to sputter at that.

"I asked you!" She told her. Sofia nodded at that.

"I know, but one's own perspective is just as important as another's. Personally, no, I don't think you'll end like Hiryuu or in a similar condition as to hers. Aside from the lingering fever and residual stomach issues, you've been largely okay. At least in terms of a sleep schedule." She told her. Zuikaku frowned.

"But Kaga woke up entirely fine and clear for duty."

"And Hiryuu did not." Sofia replied as she looked to the carrier. "It may be the same virus, or so we think anyways, but the fact is that you're all different. And different people respond differently to even what is the same virus. For example, let's say Admiral Johnson gets a cold or the flu. And then I get the same thing. I could fight it off faster than her, I could fight it slower than her. She may be affected less than I am, or I could recover afterwards faster than she. Just because you have the same illness doesn't mean everyone's experience with it is going to be the same. Everyone reacts differently, no matter how large or small that difference is. And not to mention, Hiryuu had a tough time with it due to circumstance. Had someone been there when she awoke, perhaps such measures wouldn't have been needed."

"And the rest of us?" Zuikaku asked. Sofia shrugged.

"The three of you so far have woken up with wildly different experiences. They could follow in any one of them, or present an entirely separate reaction. There's no telling until they actually do wake up." She told her. Zuikaku seemed to think about that a moment as Sofia took a sip from her bottle of water.

The two of them were presently located within the Captain's room, Sofia once again checking on the carrier. After the event at the German dorms, Sofia had made originally to go find Pennsylvania to talk with her, only to be sidetracked when she learned that the carrier had awoken not longer after. Soaring the time, the woman made to check in with Z before going to go and find Penn.

"When will I actually get better then?" She asked. Sofia shrugged at that.

"Again, different people different results." She told her. "It could clear up today, it could take a few days, it could take weeks." She told her.

"Weeks!?" Zuikaku balked. Sofia shrugged.

"There's some sicknesses that take months to clear even after your body has rid itself of the initial problem. And then even then, there's diseases that linger for years and in some cases, simply don't go away. Now with that being said, given that Kaga is clear, clearly this will go away at some point. But that's gonna be up to how your body handles it." She told her.

"But I need to be out there! Helping the fleet!" She told her. Sofia nodded at that.

"But you won't be any good to anyone if you can't keep awake. Yeah, you're awake more and more often, but you're also sleeping just as much. That is a sign that your body is trying its best to fight this thing. The most helpful thing you can do right now is give your body the rest it needs to do that appropriately." She told her. "You've only been awake a few days. There's no need to rush at the moment. Aside from that, even I agree with you, Ishigara has the final say. And he's still got Kaga on reduced duty."

Zuikaku sighed, rubbing her face somewhat at that.

She knew there was no arguing with the Admiral over this, not when they weren't truly sure it wouldn't cause some undue problem. But it still irked her, being limited in such a way like she was.

"Can I at least get up?" Zuikaku asked. Sofia sipped at her bottle a moment before looking to the carrier again.

"Do you think you can get up?" She asked.

"Yes." Zuikaku replied immediately. Sofia shook her head.

"I won't stop you from trying if you really think you can, but I want you to really think about it. If you're just gonna get sick again and end up in bed again, is it really that worth it to try and rush into this?" She asked, watching the carrier as she capped her bottle again.

Zuikaku offered pause at that.

She glanced down at herself a moment, as if she was thinking about the options. The first time she'd gotten nauseous was not one she wanted to live a repeat of, and the other few times she'd gotten up had seen spikes of the same activity all too easily. The evidence was stacked in the Captain's favor in that moment, and Zuikaku knew it. And yet-

Zuikaku nodded as she looked back up to the Captain.

Sofia nodded at that as she stood, the bottle held at her side as she turned towards the carrier. "If you're sure then, let's try it." She told her. Zuikaku nodded at that as she peeled away the comforter and sheets as she made to swing her feet over to the edge of the bed. Swinging them off the side, she readied herself before pushing herself up and off, now standing under her own power once again.

Sofia neared the bucket ever so carefully as she watched the carrier, just to play it safe. And Zuikaku wouldn't say it was unwarranted as she felt that pang of nausea play havoc with her in the pit of her stomach. But as seconds ticked past them, and she continued to stand there, that's all it seemed to do.

She turned her gaze on that of the Captain, who simply watched her for a moment before nodding.

"Okay then. That begs the question." Sofia began. "Do you want to go watch something? Or do you want to try and eat a little something? See if your stomach can handle it?" She asked. Zuikaku didn't even have to think about that one.

"Food." She told her. Sofia nodded at that.

"Come on then." She told her as she turned towards the door. Zuikaku looked down at the bucket a moment before following the woman as she opened the bedroom door. Making her way for the stairs, that left Zuikaku to close the door behind them. But when she turned back, she found Sofia waiting. The Captain shrugged her shoulders at the odd look that Zuikaku sent her. "I'm covering all of my bases. I don't want to have to pick a Japanese carrier off of the floor because she misjudged her own ability. And I'm sure said carrier doesn't want to have to go through the humiliation of having to be picked off the floor. Yeah?" She asked.

Zuikaku huffed.

But she looked anywhere but the Captain as she nodded her agreement, crossing her arms.

Sofia's expression stayed neutral in that manner as she nodded for the stairs, making her way down first. A step or two after came Zuikaku, careful to mind her own and to take it slow, lest the captain's forbearing become foreshadowing. Placing a hand at the railing a step or two in, she allowed the Captain to lead the way to the bottom of the steps. When she'd reached the bottom, Sofia stopped and turned, watching as Zuikaku continued down the last few. When her feet was on solid ground, the carrier made to move for the front door, only for Sofia to stop her. Instead, she pointed towards her office.

"I thought you said food." Zuikaku said. Sofia nodded.

"I did. But that doesn't mean you're gonna have to walk halfway across the base for that." She told her as she walked her way into the office. Checking first as she poked her head inside, she opened the door for the carrier as she fully went inside. "Liz is entirely capable of bringing something here for you and I don't believe she'd have a problem with that." She told her as she neared her desk. But she stopped short of it, instead nodding to it. Zuikaku stopped for a moment, trying to figure out what she meant all before it seemed to click at once.

She wanted her to sit at the desk.

Sofia herself simply elected to go for the countertop that sat at the wall to the left of the desk, leaning against it as she waited, bottle of water already being put on the surface. In turn, Zuikaku made one last glance at the woman before she moved for the intended spot. A moment later, she eased herself down into the chair, her body having a moment or two to relax. Sofia nodded as she once again sipped at her bottle of water.

"Okay, we're gonna sit here and wait for a few minutes just to make sure that nausea isn't about to blindside you." She told her as she capped off the bottle again, putting it to her side before she crossed her arms. Zuikaku nodded at that as she glanced at the desk before her, looking around it a moment. Glancing to her left however, she found the piece of radio equipment that had been given to the Captain sitting there. Immediately, three of her own fairies manifested at the desk and made way for it, as if going to inspect it. A moment later, Sofia reached over the desk as she unclipped the piece of equipment she had on her person, Z's fairies having fashioned it in the manner of a walkie-talkie for her use. Another few fairies made way for that as Sofia returned to her momentary position.

After a few more seconds of silence, Zuikaku looked to Sofia.

"Do you really think it was Saratoga's idea?" She asked. Sofia shrugged somewhat.

"Prinz Eugen and Blücher insist as much. And no doubt that Admiral Hipper would've done the same had her own lack of self preservation not gotten her tossed into a dock." She told her. "While yeah, Saratoga's been entirely vocal about her dislike about who she finds herself around and plenty firm on that fact, it is entirely possible that her bark is simply worse than her bite. According to the two sisters, the second Saratoga realized something was wrong, she moved to act as if she'd never held a bias in the first place. Hiryuu's safety and well being seemed and looked to be her one and only concern. So much to the point that she decimated a door to ensure that."

"But she's been-"

"A terror, I know. And so does Admiral Johnson. And in this case, it could simply be that her bias against those she faced so long ago clashed with her own morals. Perhaps she viewed it as some sort of sleight against her own ideals to simply let Hiryuu suffer in such a way, even if who Hiryuu was went against her own bias."

"So what? Saving Hiryuu was the better option than allowing herself some petty victory?" Zuikaku asked. Sofia shrugged.

"Perhaps you'll just have to ask her yourself." The Captain suggested.

"No." The answer came immediately. There was a list of residents of the base that Zuikaku had no intention to converse with or put herself anywhere close to outside that of a sortie. They included a rather small population of the base all things considered, the likes of Helena and Pennsylvania up there to be sure. But chief amongst them all was Saratoga herself.

Pennsylvania was vocal against the Japanese, but Saratoga had made mention of the two sisters specifically. Zuikaku was under no illusion or false understanding about how the carrier felt towards she and her sister. It was not a way of looking at things that she was willing to entertain and so she wouldn't. She'd keep her distance as long as Saratoga returned the gesture.

Sofia huffed. "And here I thought I was about to facilitate peace between the fleets." She whined. When Zuikaku looked up at her, the woman snorted in amusement. "Yeah I know there wasn't a chance there. But speaking realistically, I don't know what drove her to act in such a manner. When she wakes up, if she wakes up today, I'm sure Admiral Johnson will ask her about it." She told her.

"Where is she now?" She asked. Sofia looked past the carrier towards the dorms.

"In her own room with one very content German heavy cruiser snuggled up with her." She told her.

Zuikaku shook her head. She hadn't really spent all that much time, if any, around Prinz Eugen outside of sorties. But she wasn't a ship girl she heard anything bad about either. Whatever that cruiser saw in Saratoga that warranted so much time spent with her, let alone in such a close proximity, was something entirely beyond what Zuikaku was capable of imagining. She looked back up to Sofia who was just now downing the rest of her bottle. Crushing and capping it, she tossed it in the bin next to her desk as she crossed her arms.

"Alright. You got your question. Might I have one?" She asked. Zuikaku nodded as she looked up to the woman.

"Sure."

"So who's Okiniiri?" She asked.

Zuikaku blinked at the question, it being one that she simply hadn't expected from the woman. She looked at the Captain head on for an explanation, to which the woman simply shrugged.

"Although I don't sleep in my room, I do have to come and go from time to time. Clothes and other necessities. And while I don't typically pry into anything that doesn't concern me, that name came up a few times here and there. Now, if it's something you'd rather avoid answering, it's frankly none of my business. But I couldn't help the curiosity. And perhaps the chance that you might sate that curiosity." She said.

Zuikaku stared.

What was she supposed to say? That she was having dreams of an alternate happening? Where Japan smashed the US in the Pacific War and then proceeded to invade the US mainland? A world where World War II had stretched eight years past the ending point that everyone knew? How would she react to that? Would it anger her? Would it make her view the carrier in a different light?

"I-" She tried.

"Like I said, you don't have to tell me if you don't want to. Not privy to everything I happen to overhear and I know that." She told her. Zuikaku nodded at that as she looked back to the desk a moment where her fairies were still tinkering away at the modified equipment. After a few more seconds of silence however, Zuikaku looked back to the woman.

"You won't like it." She told her. Sofia arched a brow at that.

"That's a pretty big bet." She said, her eyes alight with curiosity. Zuikaku hesitated a moment at that, as if she were trying to figure out if this was really a good idea, only to steel herself in preparation.

"She's my sister." She told her.

It was that answer that seemed to throw the woman's mind into a circle of confusion. She looked at the carrier in a brief moment of confusion before looking away as if trying to comprehend what she'd just been told a moment ago. But a little later when she'd apparently gone over what it meant in her mind, she looked to Zuikaku.

"You've lost me." She said. "As far as I knew, Shoukaku was your only sister. And last I checked, Japan hasn't announced any plans to continue with that design." She told her. Zuikaku nodded.

"That's because she doesn't exist." She explained. Sofia nodded at that.

"So then I take it she exists within a dream or something?" Sofia asked.

Zuikaku nodded. "Both she and Yüguna." She told her. Sofia arched a brow at that.

"Two little sisters?" She asked. "Or at least I assume they're younger sisters." She assumed. When Zuikaku nodded at that, Sofia stood straight as she made way for Anya's desk. "Just when I thought I had you figured out, you go and throw the whole 'Oh by the way, I have sisters you've never met before' card." She shook her head. "Unbelievable. Just when you think you know a person."

Zuikaku stared.

Sofia met her gaze and simply chuckled. "A joke. So two younger sisters. I would assume that your dream takes place close to the Second World War? Or at least in proximity to that given they built four of your class?" She asked. Zuikaku nodded at that. Sofia glanced up at the ceiling as she thought about it a moment then. "Then Japan must've really been deep into their resources to be able to build four of you. Was your class the last of their carriers in there as well?" She asked.

Zuikaku shook her head slowly, watching as the woman seemed to ponder her dream more than she thought she would've. To the Captain, it seemed to be a source of more curiosity than Zuikaku had thought possible from it.

"Not the last class. More fleet carriers were built after yours?" She asked. Another nod answered her question. "Okay, so Japan was really rolling in the resources then. But four of the Shoukaku class. Hm... Pearl Harbor still a thing?" She asked, arching a brow.

A slow, careful nod from Zuikaku answered her question. Sofia took in that information.

"Still six carriers?" She asked. Another slow nod. "Well then if they built four of your class, I'm guessing Tosa and Amagi weren't pushed aside and their sisters converted, yes?" She asked. When yet another nod confirmed her question. "So battleship Kaga and battlecruiser Akagi. With all these resources, I'm guessing that the United States had a hell of a time in the Pacific."

Zuikaku hesitated to answer for a moment.

And then-

"We hit Pearl twice."

"Damn." Came her immediate response. "Different parts of the war or...?"

"Two days apart." Her answer was short, her tone cautious. Sofia eyed the carrier a moment at that before seeming to think on it.

"I rescind my previous statement. This wasn't hell. That's a nightmare for the United States." She hummed for a moment in thought before shrugging her shoulders. "Sounds like that was a hell of a time to be alive." She said.

Zuikaku's brow furrowed. That was it? That was all she had? That was all she wanted to say?

"You're not mad?" Zuikaku asked, confusion still written about her features. Sofia made to chuckle at the question until she looked to the carrier a moment. The laughter died away as she took in her moment of confusion, and then after a second or two of her own thoughts, she realized the carrier was serious. Which was funny on its own right, but she didn't voice that. Instead, she shook her head.

"I'm not." She told her.

"Why?" Zuikaku asked. "The United States lost."

"Yes, and there's tons of media and books and stories that have the same thing happen under any number of circumstances. You said it was a dream, right? Despite that complexity or how in depth it went, still a dream?" She asked. When Zuikaku nodded, Sofia waved her hand. "Then at its core, it's one big What-if scenario to me. It's strange to think about, sure. But what happens in your dreams doesn't really affect me. And more than that, the whole war happened and ended decades before I was even an idea, let alone actually born." She told her.

"But we invaded you." She told her. Sofia nodded.

"Yes, and there's no shortage of countries that you could change Japan out with. During the Cold War, it was either Russia or North Korea. And had this war today not happened, perhaps they would've been traded out for China or some other country. It's all fiction Zuikaku, and despite how real it is or feels, so is your dream. It's an idea to explore and discuss, but when it comes down to it, it has no actual impact on the world around you or me. But it's not just that, I was born in the late 1900's. I have the same disconnect to the Second World War that kids born ten years later and onwards have to 9/11. We know it happened, and both events changed how our country operates and sees the world. But the question it comes down to is how much does it really affect us? In my case? The answer when it boils down to it isn't all that much. So why would I be mad about it? Or be concerned about, as far as I'm concerned, is just a dream?" She asked. "As you've said it yourself."

Zuikaku seemed to think about it a moment.

"But I appreciate you considering telling me even if you apparently thought that it would agitate or upset me." She said.

"So it doesn't upset people?" Zuikaku asked. Sofia tilted her head at that.

"I wouldn't go that far. There are those that view the acts back then as something to feel pain over. Either that they were there themselves, they had family or friends there, or simply because they view the event as wrong in their eyes." She told her, resting her chin in a hand before sitting up and standing a moment later. "Anyways, if you're feeling well enough to try and get philosophical with me, you're feeling well enough to try and eat something." She reasoned to her as she made way for her desk. When Z made to get up for her, she simply waved her back down gently as she came to her left side, a hand resting on the back of the chair as she reached for the phone at her desk with the other. Wrapping two fingers around the phone itself, she held it in her hand as she used a third finger to tap in the number.

After doing so, she leaned forwards next to Zuikaku, the carrier allowing her to do what she needed. But as she did so, she caught what seemed to be the gentle scent of rain mixed with what seemed to be some fruit she couldn't place. Her brow furrowed in confusion, not placing at all why she would or could be smelling the rain on a day like today, even as she glanced up at the American leaning down next to her.

And then it clicked into place.

It was the Captain herself.

Z's eyes widened a little at the thought.

Did it fit her? Was that what she was supposed to smell like? The carrier obviously knew it wasn't natural, at least all the way, but did it match what the carrier thought of it?

Rain seemed to be a little too soft a smell for the woman.

The Admiral maybe.

But not the Captain.

She was still pondering the thought when the Captain hung up the phone a minute or two later, clearly having gotten in touch with Liz. But the carrier hadn't seemed to notice. Too focused she was with her own line of questioning and pondering that she didn't notice the Captain now direct her gaze onto that of the carrier.

When Zuikaku looked up to meet her gaze, still wrapped up within her own thoughts, it had been the last thing she had been expecting. It took her a moment to recognize just what she was looking at, or in her case, had been staring at. And she froze.

Just as her cheeks flushed red.

Sofia's brows arched somewhat at that.

"Your fever spiking?" She asked as she stood fully once again as she made to hold the back of her hand against the carrier's forehead. At the contact, the flush deepened as Sofia hummed a moment before retracting somewhat. "Maybe a bit more, but not all that much." She reasoned as she returned to the Admiral's desk, easing herself into the chair. "Liz will be here in a little while with something that hopefully your stomach can handle."

All Zuikaku could do was nod, her voice lost to her in that moment.

The Captain took the silence as an answer all on its own. Turning in the chair she was in, she looked back outside and onto that of the dorms. A few forms here and there as they mingled. But with sorties keeping a heavy portion of the fleet deployed at any one time now, the base just didn't feel as populous as it did even two months ago. She watched as San Francisco seemed to sit and chat with Helena on one of the benches before the two of them turned at the apparent prompting by one Chicago. San Francisco immediately turned to face her and seemed to shout something back at her, Helena laughing all the while. She seemed to laugh even more when Chicago seemed to stomp her way over to the other heavy cruiser, San Francisco standing there with arms crossed. She turned her head as Chicago looked to tear into her then and there, but the other cruiser seemed to pay it no mind.

Only for the whole thing to be interrupted by what Sofia could only describe as a bat out of hell. It took her a moment, but who she eventually came to recognize as Pargo and Snook dashed their way across the courtyard. A moment later, the Captain watched as who she identified as England pursued them. She seemed to be yelling something at the two of them, and based on the way the two of them seemed to increase their speed, whatever the Destroyer Escort had yelled at them carried weight.

Their dash for freedom came to an end however when Taigei rounded the bend into the courtyard. Immediately, Pargo and Snook ducked behind the Submarine tender, prompting the woman to look somewhat confused before noting England's rapid approach. Offering the girl a simple smile, whatever she seemed to greet England with seemed to kill the girl's momentum immediately. And just like that, the destroyer escort was chatting ever so animatedly with the submarine tender while Pargo and Snook made sure to keep the older woman between they and England.

As their conversation continued uninterrupted, Pargo and Snook made to sneak away from the pair. Only to land on their asses from shock as U-2340 and U-2341 popped up from seemingly no where. That seemed to break England free from whatever conversation she'd been having briefly with Taigei as she resumed her warpath, Pargo and Snook scrambling to their feet to escape.

Only for Pargo to be scooped up like luggage and Snook to be hauled over the shoulder, Wisconsin laughing as she approached the group. England offered an exaggerated wave to the Pre-Dread, in which the older woman offered a wide smile as she hefted Pargo over her shoulder as well. England excitedly pointed towards another part of the base, Wisconsin nodding in turn as she made to follow the destroyer escort. Taigei simply watched the four for a moment before shaking her head, looking to the two German submarines. She offered them a few words before the three of them stepped behind the dorms as well, making to follow after the four and whenever they may have gone.

Only for the same way they had just come, Kitty Hawk shot across the courtyard in the same manner Pargo and Snook had. Helena had to pull Chicago and San Fran out of their spat to get them clear of the carrier. And a good thing she did as a moment later, Missouri slammed her way across the courtyard in pursuit of the super carrier. She seemed to yell something to her prey, to which she got the finger in response.

"Captain?" The voice spoke. Sofia pulled her attention away from the mounting chaos outside the window as she looked back to the carrier sitting opposite from her at her desk.

"Yeah?" She asked.

"What do you dream about?" The carrier asked.

The Captain blinked a moment at that before exhaling, laughing somewhat. "So I asked what your dream was about and now you're turning the tables on me?" She asked. When the carrier neither nodded nor shook her head, Sofia smiled somewhat.

And then her smile faded. "Nothing quite as exciting as an alternate history." She told her. "The normal, nonsensical things. Weird circumstances, things that don't make sense. Whatever my head comes up with while I sleep."

Missing goodbyes.

"Like what?" Zuikaku asked.

The Captain looked to the carrier and had to shrug off a laugh. The tables really had turned on them. Her curiosity now filled the carrier's eyes and that same reluctance that Zuikaku had had before now made Sofia feel sluggish and hesitant. But the carrier had been honest with her, despite her own reluctance. So in some way, at least a little, she figured that warranted the same response from herself.

Even if that was the last thing she wanted.

"Missed opportunities." She began. "Those I walked out on. Chances I shoved to the side because I was too stubborn and angry to see their worth. Regrets, mistakes." She sighed. "People I'll likely never see again."

Zuikaku took that into in, and for a moment, she simply watched the woman.

"Like your sister...?" She eventually asked. The reaction in the woman before her wasn't a great one, all things considered, as the carrier watched as she seemed to bristle from head to toe. But after a second or two, she seemed to bring herself down from that level as she nodded. Glancing to the carrier, she reaffirmed it with another nod.

"Yeah. Something like that." She told her. Zuikaku nodded and took the answer for what it was worth.

She didn't know the full details, just like everyone else on base. She'd heard whispers and small tellings of the issue here and there, and little bits of information that the likes of Arizona and Saratoga had gotten through word of mouth from other members of the fleet. It was a topic, that unlike most others, that was not so openly discussed for the most part. They all knew what it was like to have sisters of their own, and in most cases, what it was like to lose a sister. Zuikaku knew the feeling just as well, not only losing that of Shoukaku, but the rest of the Kido Butai. She had been the last of them, she knew what it was like to look out at a horizon soon to be overrun by steel.

And even more so than that, she knew what her sister's fate entailed, even before she came back and learned exactly how it had happened. She knew she was to go down by way of bombs and fighting.

But the Captain had no such guarantees, had no such promises of an easy know. While Zuikaku hadn't been in this life as nearly as long as the woman had, she still knew what could await someone if they were unlucky or otherwise made poor choices with the wrong people.

The silence that had settled between them was broken rather unceremoniously by way of the door to their office being knocked upon from the outside. Sofia immediately stood as she looked to the door.

"Come in." She called.

A moment later, Liz revealed herself as she opened the door. With what looked to be a bag slung under her arm, she offered the two a smile.

"I hope the two of you aren't getting into too much trouble today." She offered in greeted as she made way for Zuikaku. Sofia huffed a laugh as she shook her head.

"Certainly trying not to." She answered.

Zuikaku only nodded her agreement as she watched Liz go about setting a light meal out for her, all under the watchful eye of the Captain.

—/—\—/—\—

Today was most certainly not going the way that she had intended. She rubbed her face as she stepped back onto the base proper.

"At least Emma seemed to be in a good mood this morning." Bismarck offered from her side as she followed along. Saradia nodded her agreement at that.

"She did. Which is a small victory in of itself." She agreed. "However if it's not one thing with her, it's something else with someone entirely separate." She looked to the battleship as the two walked back onto the base, coming around the building to come out next to the Japanese HQ. "You said that you and Tirpitz took sight of Admiral Hipper dashing towards the docks, yes?" She asked.

She'd been told as much before. But she wanted to be sure she had all of her bases covered here.

Bismarck confirmed what she had said beforehand. "Correct. We didn't get the chance to try and ask her what was going before she vanished into the docks. Perhaps if we had followed after her, we could've minimized the outcome between she and Pennsylvania." She began, to which Saradia shook her head.

"This is not your fault and I will not have you feeling guilty for Admiral Hipper's very clear lack of self preservation." She made it clear. "Laying a hand in such a manner upon Admiral Johnson is one thing. But knowingly attacking one of the most easily irritated fleet members on base speaks of an ignorance that can easily be taken as a dangerous personality." She told her. "Combine that with the fact that she decided that going out and onto open water by herself was a good idea, and frankly I don't want to imagine what further trouble she might push herself into if handed the right circumstances." She sighed.

"She did have good intentions behind her most recent act." Bismarck interjected.

"Unfortunately, good intentions only get one so far. And even the most despicable of acts and moments in one's life often have ties to good intentions." She told her. "For example, good intentions may have been her guiding hand, but had a destroyer been caught between the two and suffered for it? And more so, a destroyer that was neither German or American? What if their brawl had injured the likes of Akatsuki or Shigure? Do you believe that the Japanese fleet would simply be satisfied with an answer of: Oh, she had good intentions?" She asked, glancing at her battleship.

"No." Bismarck confirmed. "I don't believe they would."

"Nor would I if the reverse were to happen." The woman said with an air about her. "Good intentions are great when they stay just that or provide something from it, but in this case, good intentions have no place anymore. Both Admiral Hipper and Pennsylvania knew full well exactly what would happen if they were to place a hand on one another in such a way. And yet they both went full ahead." She closed her eyes for a brief, passing second. "That is not to say that I am not glad that Hiryuu is being cared for because she needs it, but I will not and cannot simply allow Hipper's actions to go free, no matter how justified she thinks she was." She said. Bismarck nodded.

"Should I come with?" She asked. Saradia shook her head.

"No." She stated flatly. "Frankly, I don't need her attention focusing on anything other than me and more so, I don't need anyone trying to distract her. Even unintentionally. So while I thank you for the offer, Bismarck, kindly steer clear of the docks for the next little while. And do be sure to spread that message to those involved." She said as she looked to her. Bismarck nodded.

"Yes Admiral."

Saradia nodded at that as the two split off from one another, Bismarck going to do as she had asked while Saradia made her way towards the dock. She spared brief greetings and hellos to the few girls she came across as she did so, but ultimately none of them slowed her down for more than a minute at most. She grew closer and closer to the docks, up to the point that she could see both Admiral Ishigara and Admiral Johnson standing there, conversing with one another. When she grew just a bit closer, the two of them glanced at her as they waited for her to join them. Saradia glanced at the door momentarily before making way for the two, nodding in greeting as she approached.

"Emma get to school ok?" Anya asked. Saradia nodded at that as she looked to Ishigara.

"Is Hiryuu doing ok?" She asked. The man nodded.

"Dionysus and Akashi confirm as much. Her fever is rapidly lessening, more so going to the point where it had been before. And much to some surprise, their fairies are more so playing a supporting role this time around as Saratoga's fairies continue their own work. They're keeping a close eye on them to be sure, but so far, the results are promising." He told her.

"I've been trying to get Saratoga's fairies off of her." Anya explained. "But they're both insistent that they stay for the time being and threatening to barricade themselves within. So because of that, they stay where they are for now." She finished. Saradia nodded at that before she sighed, looking back to Anya.

"Did you say anything to Admiral Hipper?" She asked.

"I'll have my own chat with her later." Anya confirmed to her. "But I assumed you wanted first crack at her. Other than that however, Dionysus has been the only one to trade words with her. Vestal and Akashi have been a majority of their attention on that for Hiryuu for the moment."

"I appreciate it." Saradia answered her. "I just cannot fathom how- I'm not even sure how to put it into words in all honesty. I mean, it certainly seems like every other decision she has made thus far has put her at odds with someone, if not more than just one person. It certainly seems like she's trying her luck with most of your dreadnoughts from first impressions. First, Maryland. Then Arizona. And now Pennsylvania. I was not keen on learning about how Maryland responded when I was not on base. But here I am, and the only difference is that she traded out one battleship for another."

"At least she's consistent." Ishigara supplied, watching the woman with a fair expression.

"Too consistent for my own good." Saradia answered him. He nodded his agreement at that.

"I will admit that I am somewhat disappointed that my own fleet at first didn't seem to be as full as excitement when they began to arrive. I am relieved to see that particular job is being so easily picked up by your fleets quite easily." He told them.

Anya only squinted at the man as Saradia arched a brow, both women looking at him. Ishigara's only answer was a smile and not a word afterwards. Only for Saradia to sigh as she looked to the entrance to the docks once more before looking back to the two of them just as Anya crossed her arms, still looking to the man.

"I'm starting to think you like the chaos." Anya accused him. Ishigara looked at the woman, his hands behind his back as he seemed to ponder the accusation for a moment.

"That would be wrong." He answered.

Anya squinted further.

Saradia only huffed as she turned away from the two and pivoted towards the Docks. Stepping away from the two, leaving them in their rapidly derailing discussion, she stepped into the changing room and closed the door behind her. When no one further awaited her, she made her way through the space towards the sliding door that lead into the docks proper. Opening that with ease, she stepped inside before she turned and closed that too. Turning back, she looked out over the docks.

Immediately to her left was Hiryuu, still out cold. Still dressed in what she'd been changed into a day before, her dock was swarming with fairies. She watched as an Akashi and Vestal fairy seemed to approach one of the many Saratoga fairies about, and could only witness as the Saratoga fairy all but bit their heads off after one asked her a question. And then she rapidly calmed down and vanished aboard the carrier, the two repair ships following. Saradia shook her head somewhat at the sight before looking further on.

There were no other girls enjoying a dock stay on the same side of the room as the carrier. And as she casted her gaze over the shared dock in the middle of the room, which was also currently empty, she turned her gaze fully to the right side of the room. And all the way at the end, tucked into the corner, was Admiral Hipper. She seemed to be conversing with one or two of her fairies at the moment. Saradia let one last sigh slip through her lips before making her way to walk around the shared dock to make her way for the woman. As she did so, she ever so nearly crossed paths with that of Vestal. The old repair ship simply offered her a glance before moving along, Saradia doing the same as she now began her final approach for the heavy cruiser.

Heavy cruiser in question seemed to finally take note of just who was approaching her, and suddenly looked as if she wanted to do nothing more than shrivel up and evaporate. Apparently, sometime between tackling Pennsylvania and now having her Admiral on approach, she had begun to realize her hastily thought plan had more than a few flaws and a couple of gaping holes about it. The closer Saradia grew, the more nervous Hipper seemed to become.

Nearing the dock more and more, Saradia could tell that the heavy cruiser was still clothed to a degree. She knew that the Repair ships had been working on obtaining proper clothing material for dock stays for those with an aversion to such a public display of prolonged nudity, much unlike their Japanese counterparts. She knew that while some of the American fleet was not quite opposed to it, others were. And the sentiment only grew as more nationalities joined in with the fleet and voiced their own opinions. In Saradia's opinion, she understood those who were against it. She couldn't say the idea of being so exposed was ideal. And most certainly not to a timed extent, like some of the repair times could result in.

For all that though, Hipper was dressed in a rather modest black two piece bathing suit. A small sigil of the iron cross sat at the right cup, but other than that, there wasn't anything obscenely flashy or easy to notice about the suit.

Small victories she supposed.

When Saradia eventually arrived in front of the heavy cruiser's dock, standing there with her hands behind her back as her gaze fell fully onto the woman before her, Admiral Hipper reluctantly met her gaze after a moment or two. Saradia narrowed her eyes for a brief moment after that as she watched the heavy cruiser.

"Admiral-"

"Ruhig."

Admiral Hipper flinched at the use of her first language.

After hearing her Admiral speak in slightly accented English for so long, she'd somewhat brushed aside the fact that English was Saradia's second language.

And the long cold stare that she was on the receiving end of was not one of comfort.

She glanced somewhat over in the direction of Hiryuu, noting the repair ships had briefly stopped what they'd been doing at the German word filling the otherwise silence. She-

"Eyes on me."

The German came again, the heavy cruiser frantically looking up to the woman. Still and yet unmoving, those blue eyes watched the woman in an inanimate fashion, one that untied Hipper's nerves one by one as the silence between the two grew.

Eventually, the woman brought her hands around to the front of herself as she ever so slowly crouched down in front of the cruiser, bringing the two of them more to an eye level. Or at least as close as possible. And yet still, that stare didn't diminish to change or shift. That gaze continued to watch Hipper with all the cold calculations of a hunter who had their sights on their prey.

"I will preface this with the fact that I am glad you were so committed to helping someone in need. What I am not glad is how you went about trying to handle that task, or the simple fact that you thought it was even somewhat acceptable. Even remotely. Tell me Admiral Hipper, what was your reasoning to attacking someone like Pennsylvania?" She asked.

It took the cruiser a moment to find her voice.

"Pennsylvania-"

"I said your reasoning, Admiral Hipper. This is not about Pennsylvania or her choice of actions during the incident." Saradia replied, her tone even and still.

"She-"

"Admiral Hipper." Saradia said slowly.

Admiral Hipper offered pause at that, watching as the woman before her simply watched her, waiting for a response in some fashion. Her fairies attempted to offer up their own responses and replies, but Hipper quieted them immediately as she forced her crew aboard before they said or did something that truly set the Admiral off.

"I wanted to ensure the Repair ships got my message." She told her. Saradia didn't sign one way or the other if she agreed with what had just been said.

"And yet you chose an option that should not have been one to begin with. There were plenty of options available to you. If Pennsylvania was making herself an obstacle, then simply work around that obstacle."

"She-"

"Admiral Hipper." Saradia repeated. The cruiser's previous intended statement died away as she was all but put into a corner. "I do not want to hear about Pennsylvania. I do not want to know what she did. I do not want to listen to what she might've done. This is a combined fleet, yes. But at the end of the day, between the two of you, you are my concern. Pennsylvania is Admiral Johnson's concern and we shall keep it that way. Yes, i understand that Pennsylvania's personality is not one that meshes well with most people. But I am far more interested in why you thought laying your hands on her was the first and foremost idea."

"I needed the repair ships." She stressed.

"And yet somehow that ultimate goal resulted in your hands upon Pennsylvania when other options were far more clear to you. I'm going to list a few, and you're going to tell me why you thought they inadequate. First. The door to the docks from the changing room isn't even a solid surface and less than an inch thick. Tell me, Admiral Hipper, why did you not simply yell for the Repair ships?"

Admiral Hipper grew silent and Saradia's gaze grew sharper.

"Say something Admiral Hipper, or I will take your silence as an admission of intent to cause harm to another." She told her. Admiral Hipper looked up at that.

"I didn't want it to be known what was going on. You know just as well as I do that there is a hatred there." She insisted. Saradia simply watched the heavy cruiser.

"That brings us to the second idea. You were so focused on the obstacle before you, that you seemed to totally ignore that one of the Fleet's main leaders was right there. Pennsylvania aside, in no way did you attempt to say something or allude something to Arizona. In any fashion or form. Tell me, why was Arizona an inadequate plan or source to convey to? Surely, she would've gotten the message and acted accordingly. Moved past her sister and made sure your message was received. Why did that option not come up, and instead you once again decided to charge Pennsylvania down?" She asked.

"I-"

"You what, Admiral Hipper?" She pushed.

"I did not trust her to do as she would be needed to." She told her. Saradia arched a brow.

"So you decided not to trust the one American battleship that has been summoned the longest above all others, a member that has had a place in this fleet since last July. A member that in those eight or so months, has not had one outstanding incident or issue regarding those that you assumed she would not move to assist? You assumed then and there of all times, of all reasons and events, that there and then is when she would make her first infraction?" She concluded. "Tell me, Admiral Hipper, what evidence was there to suggest that she would take that course of action. What sign was there to tell you so openly that Arizona was about to shift tones so to speak?"

"I- there was none."

"So it would seem." Saradia concluded. "Onto a third then. When confronted by previously mentioned battleship, you decided the best course of action was charge your way through- ah, my mistake- attempt to charge your way through instead of turning back and going to find someone else to try and help you. Or even sent them in your stead. Now, in your very meager defense, Pennsylvania had no right or means to deny you entrance like she did so, but that's for another time. You decided that antagonizing the woman in return was to be a better option than going and getting someone to help you. Can you name someone that would've been a big help in this instance? Anyone will do." She told her.

"Langley."

"Interesting choice, but it works. Or New Jersey. Or Dreadnought. Or Bismarck. Or Tirpitz. Or quite literally any capital weight ship. But do you know the number one pick here would have been? The best person to find if an American Ship girl is causing you a problem like this?"

"Admiral Johnson." Hipper quietly answered.

"Admiral Johnson." Saradia confirmed. "The one woman that Pennsylvania in all likelihood would not have stood against and therefore granting you passage. And given how close you have grown to both she and Maryland, I find myself surprised that you did not try to seek out either one of them. Had you done so, Hiryuu would've gotten her help, things would have calmed down the same, but instead I would be commending you on a job well done. Not cornering you in a dock with you unable to go anywhere else, no matter how much you may want to. A shame. Truly. Wouldn't you agree?"

"Yes." Was her quiet reply.

"Three alternative options made open to you and yet you did not even try to seek a different approach. Tell me Admiral Hipper, what is it about the idea of engaging a woman in a fight that was made to take a fight seemed like a good idea. What was it? What was the exact reason that you looked in on and decided, yes, I can work with this?" She asked.

"I- there was not one." The heavy cruiser answered her.

Saradia's gaze seemed to harden.

"A shocking truth. Truly. When I first heard what had gone on between you and Admiral Johnson, I was absolutely appalled. Laying your hands on an allied, foreign officer in such a way that you clearly meant to cause harm? I do not even want to imagine what you could have even fathomed to even make that resemble even a faintly good idea. A bad decision through and through. And then, after you and I met one another, I tried to help you. And your reaction was to run to open ocean to think. Where once again your lack of thought and foresight brought you under harm's way. But I held my own judgement away, because surely I thought, that between the consequences Maryland brought down upon you and what you experienced and was made to go through at the Abyssal's hand was enough. Surely, a lesson had been learned there and I would never have to broach this subject ever again."

There was a pause as the woman seemed to collect herself.

"But unfortunately, It seems I was sadly mistaken. I don't know if you're simply hard in the head, or perhaps Maryland knocked a few things loose. Either way, no matter the cause, this is something that I can no longer ignore. For both yourself and the concern of the fleet. Tell me Admiral Hipper, how exactly would you handle this if you were in my position? If one of your subordinates has a problem acting in a way that benefit's the fleet, how would you go about handling that particular headache?" She asked.

"A... thorough talking too?" Hipper slowly questioned.

The slight curve of the woman's lips told Hipper that she had said the wrong thing.

"A thorough talking to?" Saradia repeated. "You place your hands on a foreign superior officer, one of her rank especially, and you believe you're getting away with a chip on the shoulder and a thorough talking too? Oh, Hipper, my dear. Perhaps had your decision making been less flawed, and far less damaging to both your own health and that of others, maybe that would be where we stood. As it stands now however, your choices and repeated actions have shown me that above all else, you can not be trusted to make the best decision for yourself or those around you. And if I can not trust you, I can not deploy you. Trust is a two way street, Admiral Hipper. You trust me to act in your best interest, and I trust you to act with a sense of responsibility be it on land or the water. You have broken this, and thus, it must be rebuilt. So in the interest of starting this off on the right foot, I do hope that you listen and you listen well. Because I find my patience with you wearing thinner and thinner. Are you listening?"

Admiral Hipper nodded.

"From this point on, you are barred from Combat sorties. Your time on the water will be comprised of two activities and two activities alone. The first, is your continued participation in Fleet Exercises. Only however, when one of four Fleet leadership vessels are present. Can you name them?" She asked.

"Tirpitz." Hipper began. "Arizona, Nagato, and Australia." She answered. Saradia nodded.

"Good." She confirmed. "Your second condition will be your primary time on the water. From this point on, you are to be assigned as Wolverine's Plane Guard while she trains new pilots." She informed the heavy cruiser. Hipper immediately frowned.

"My sisters-"

"Have and continue to prove that they are capable of handling themselves in a way that reflects upon them positively, and more so, that I can trust them to do so. You on the other hand have three strikes against you, so in this current state of things, I will not even begin to try. Not in a place where your life is at constant risk just as much as theirs is."

"A plane guard is a destroyer's job." Hipper stressed.

Saradia looked unimpressed.

"Then, as a heavy cruiser, you should be totally and wholly overqualified for such a task. You should have no problem showing me that you're serious about this in only a number of weeks."

"W-weeks!?" Hipped cried.

"Based on your exclamation, I know I need not repeat myself. These are your conditions to working your way back up. And Admiral Hipper, should I find that you were on the water for any reason other than the two I listed, I can assure you that things will grow so much worse for you very quickly. Despite what you may think, I see your ability to operate on the water as a privilege, not a right. The same as a pilot's ability to man their craft or a Captain's access to his ship. A privilege. One that i am not totally above taking away should the situation call for it. I have allowed you to retain it for now. Do not challenge me on this because in the end, should you try your hand to sway it in your favor, you will lose. I can assure you of that. Your rigging will be monitored by John Finn, and should she detect any undue use, I will know."

"This isn't-"

"This is entirely within my power, Admiral Hipper. I am expected to be able to trust and deploy you to combat in this war. But I cannot do that if I cannot trust you. And you are sorely mistaken if you think I will so casually take the role of telling your sisters that their older sister got herself killed because of a move she needed not to take. And more so than that, I have tried being nice about this, I have tried to get you to lean away from this, but yet you pushed. I have little option left, and if I must become far less pleasant so that you may finally get the messages through your head, then so be it, that is of little concern to me."

She wasn't sure if Admiral Hipper was finally coming to realize the situation or the fact that she was in a quiet disbelief, but the heavy cruiser simply sat there, staring at her. Whether that was in disbelief or not, Saradia didn't much care. Not in that moment. The woman took a glance up at the clock above the dock and saw that the woman had another few hours of her time remaining. That was fine with her. It would give her time to put things into place and let others know what exactly was going on before the heavy cruiser was released.

"If we reach such a point where that I feel I can begin to trust you once again, then my decision may be altered, and you will be allowed to join the Bay Defense Fleets again and so on from there. But at this current moment, Admiral Hipper, I find you standing on dangerously thin ice. I would advise you make sure that you do not test that once again. Do you understand what I am telling you?" She asked.

Admiral Hipper made a slow attempt a nod.

"I want to hear you say it." Saradia ordered.

Admiral Hipper seemed to pause.

"Admiral Hipper." Saradia pushed.

"I-" A brief pause, one that Saradia was ready to call her out on yet again. "I understand Admiral."

"Good." Saradia said as she stood once again to her full height. "With that handled, I shall take my leave. I would keep my words in your mind, and reflect on them for a time. And despite this, should you need something else non-related, you know you can come to me with anything. That will be all."

And then she turned away.

She began to make her way down the length of the room once again, idly making note that the three repair ships were watching her off and on, trading their own glances with the heavy cruiser. It didn't matter though. Saradia's position had been made known to the woman and if Admiral Hipper chose to go against what was now a clearly cut line, she was also acting with the knowledge in that consequences would await her there should she go against what had been said. Quietly, it was a reality that Saradia hoped she would not have to deliver upon, but she was ready for either eventuality. She glanced at the three one last time before she slid the door to the changing rooms open with ease and slipped inside.

There, of all people, she found Blücher awaiting there. When Saradia stepped into the room, the heavy cruiser's face lit up as she made to move past her. But the Admiral held a hand in front of her, stopping her path.

"I take it that you mean to visit your sister?" She asked. When Blücher nodded at the question, Saraida further stopped her as she shook her head.

"Admiral Hipper has quite a bit of reflecting to do. I would appreciate that if she were to do this without distraction. You can see your sister after her dock stay is over." She told her. Blücher hesitated somewhat at that, gaze landing on that of the door for a moment before looking back to her Admiral. And there she found the same cold stare that Hipper had been subjected to, which immediately quelled the thoughts as she nodded.

Saradia nodded as well, giving the heavy cruiser a moment to leave the changing room. A moment or two later, she followed suit, closing the door behind her as she made sure that Blücher was doing as she had told her to do so. Watching the retreating form of the heavy cruiser, Saradia sighed before she herself began to make way for her first stop. And that stop being the carrier range to find one American Training carrier. Taking one last glance at the retreating form of Blücher, she pressed on.

The walk from the Docks to the Carrier Range was largely uneventful for the most part, aside from one or two unexpected meetings.

One of which very nearly resulted in her being run over by one very livid Armando Diaz. Quick on her tail came that of Molotov and Eugenio. When the three of them didn't even seem to regard Saradia herself, she made the brave decision that that potential problem could wait a bit longer.

Approaching the carrier range, she slid the door open.

And to her surprise at 10:30, she found the space almost entirely empty aside from a few patrons here and there. She knew that the revamped Sortie schedule saw more and more of the fleet deployed at one time, but seeing such a normally busy place like the range so empty was a strange feeling compared to the one or twice that she herself had been there.

Sitting against the back wall found that of Chitose and Jun'you snickering about something unknown to her, Chiyoda sitting not far away as she kept an eye on the two of them.

Closer to the firing line was the likes of Melbourne and Unryuu, conversing quietly as they stood there, bows in hand. Not quite at the firing line themselves, it was clear that the two had either just been getting ready to shoot or that they had just finished a set. Either way however, the two were very much engrossed in their conversation.

Perhaps a surprise to her to be sure however was the presence of one Lamotte-Picquet, the French light cruiser looking to be conversing in depth with one Shangri-La. Or at least, Lamotte-Picquet was. The Essex sister only seemed to be half listening, but was still paying enough attention to be able to readily answer whatever question may have come her way. And to the German Admiral, it certainly didn't seem like the Essex was all that opposed to the attention.

At least until Saradia further registered the presence of one Newport News sitting alongside the Essex class. She offered something quietly to the two, and Shangri-La seemed to chuckle quietly at whatever she'd been told while Lamotte seemed to scowl at the heavy American. Said heavy cruiser simply offered the light cruiser a smile all her own, which only served to deepen Lamotte's frown.

Paying them no further mind, Saradia looked across room for her target. There, she found Wolverine seated against the far wall with a following consisting of Cabot, Princeton, Saipan, and Wright seated around her, there own fairies out and about and easy to see. They looked to be listening intently to the Training carrier and anything the woman said was treated like it was Secnav's word itself.

She gave them a moment or two longer before she made her presence known as she stepped forwards. Wolverine looked up in some surprise before offering her a smile and then looked down to the light carriers a moment.

"I'll be right back, girls." She told them. They nodded as Wolverine quietly and quickly rose to her feet in few motions before approaching the woman. Saradia in turn turned and stepped outside of the range. Wolverine of course followed her, the carrier approaching the woman after she had closed the door behind her. "Admiral." She greeted. Saradia greeted her in return with a nod.

"I believe I made mention of a potential idea earlier today that i told you that I would like to discuss with you, yes?" She asked. When Wolverine nodded at the question, Saradia continued. "You're familiar with Admiral Hipper?" She asked. Wolverine seemed to chuckle somewhat at that.

"I think anyone apart of the fleet would be hard pressed not to be, especially we of the American fleet. In little over a month, she's physically wounded our Admiral, nearly gotten herself killed at the hands of Maryland, tried again with the Abyssals, and now she's laid herself out yet again by way of Pennsylvania. She's got an excellent track record, if the goal was to cause undue harm to herself." She reasoned.

"How do you personally feel about her?" Saradia asked. Wolverine paused at that, as if mulling the question over for a moment or two before looking back to the woman.

"Personally, I suppose I don't have too much of a problem with her. Other than injuring my Admiral, she really hasn't done anything to earn my ire. I would assume based on that line of questioning that your potential idea has something to do with a wayward Heavy cruiser, no?" She asked. Saradia nodded at the question.

"You've yet to really start with practice flights out on the water, but would you consider taking Admiral Hipper as a Plane Guard for some odd weeks? It's become perfectly clear to me that deploying her under normal circumstances would be a risk to both she and others, and if I must prevent that by starting her out at the bottom, I will do so without hesitation." She explained. Wolverine nodded at that.

"And you didn't move her down to the Bay Defense Fleets instead?" She asked. Saradia shook her head.

"A combat built vessel being put in a non-combat orientation will do more for her than the BDF's I believe. At least for a time, just until she can show me that she's capable of working with responsible thought." She explained. Wolverine nodded at that.

"Well I don't have problem with it, no. She's likely going to hate it because she'll be training with destroyers newer to the idea, or that never served much with carriers in their original services. Which, I suppose, also includes her. Do you have any other asks of how she's worked through?" She asked as Saradia took note of the smallest glint of predatory nature forming in the Carrier's eyes. "Or are you leaving the specifics up to me?" She questioned. Saradia held a moment at that, eyeing the carrier for a brief second before shaking her head.

"I'll trust your judgement."

"Excellent." Wolverine all but purred.

—/—\—/—\—

Even amidst the ever so present breeze from in off the water, and the one that the weather brought with it, the three of them were still out and about and up to their usual shenanigans.

Their fourth member however was tucked against another as the two of them watched the three through the windows of the Cafe, one leaning back against the other while the first rested her chin against her hand.

The one sitting across from the two watched the three just as closely as they did, even as another rather strong breeze seemed to rattle the window somewhat.

"I simply don't understand how they have so much energy." Wash offered as she herself watched the three out in the cool of the wind.

Kongou and Kirishima had just gotten back to base after a sortie, and Haruna and Hiei were slated to deploy in the next few hours. Which meant that the few hours in between would see the four all but glued to one another's sides for the time being.

Well, three were. Haruna, it seemed, was far more content to be leaning against that of Arizona instead within the warmth of the Cafe at the moment. The Super Dreadnought herself leaned down to kiss the top of the Battlecruiser's head for a moment before sitting back up as she had one arm wrapped around her, the two watching Haruna's sisters as they relaxed within the warmth of the Cafe.

"Bold words from the one that is dating one of them." North Carolina added wryly from the side, turning her gaze in on that of her sister. Washington scowled somewhat, her older sister chuckling at her expression as Arizona glanced at the eldest of the two.

"You do know there are two more that aren't spoken for." She commented. North Carolina shook her head at that.

"No thank you." She told her. "There's enough madness with just my sister and yourself seeing two of them." She said before turning her gaze in on Haruna. "No offense."

Haruna simply smiled at the statement, non bothered by it nor did she try and counter it. She herself knew there was a certain madness within her sisterhood and she embraced it to a certain extent.

"There's none taken." Haruna commented. North Carolina nodded at that as Washington smiled serenely at her older sister.

"Surely, you must see the options there? I'm sure you could wrangle Kongou with relative ease." She offered. North Carolina offered a look that was disbelieving in it's entirety as she simply gestured to the window without looking.

Just as Kongou all but vanished.

Washington pursed her lips a moment as she watched the Battlecruiser reappear a few seconds later behind that of Hiei. "Yes, well, there may be some difficulty there."

"Some." North Carolina echoed.

"Yes, well, it's not an exact science." Wash replied.

"Or no science at all." North replied.

"I'm simply trying to make sure my elder sister finds someone." Wash countered.

"Which I assure you that I have handled, dear sister." North offered.

"Not with your snoring." Wash quietly teased.

North Carolina's head whipped around to glare at her sister almost instantly, eyes narrowed.

Arizona watched the silent showdown go on between the two sisters for a moment before she returned her attention to that of the three Kongou's outside. And yet, even with such a sight going on before her, she still could not get the day's earlier events out of her head. Hipper's and Pennsylvania's showdown and their reluctance to even try and talk it out.

But more so than that, Hipper's unwillingness to confide in her, even with her holding such a place in the fleet. If the heavy cruiser had just said something, even with her own feelings about the subject, she could've tried and minimized what damage had been done.

Both to Hipper and other spaces.

She readjusted somewhat as her mind wandered in that direction, the motion serving to bring Haruna out of her relaxed position somewhat. Turning to glance at the battleship, her brow arched as she took in the sight of the dreadnought. And it took Arizona a moment to recognize that the Battlecruiser was now watching her instead of her three sisters outside.

She wasn't able to voice anything however, not as Yancey rolled up to their table with two rather sizable parfaits in her grasp. Both Washington and North Carolina locked onto the Cargo ship with rapt attention as she made to place each one in front of the sisters. She'd barely gotten her hands out of the way of danger before the two all but attacked their treats, Yancey arching a brow somewhat before she looked to Arizona. "You sure I can't get you anything?" She asked. "Honestly, you look like you could use something." She told her.

Arizona shook her head, but the cargo ship's comment had done it's job. The two fast battleships sitting across from the two turned their gazes in onto the Dreadnought, now watching her as well as Haruna fully sat up, turning her attention onto the same as well. The Super Dreadnought huffed somewhat as she adjusted under the gaze of the three for a moment before once again shaking her head at Yancey. The Cargo ship held a moment before nodding her reluctant agreement and turning away as she made to tend to the one or two other occupied tables around them. This left Arizona alone for a moment, but only just as she once again focused on the table around her. The three sitting alongside her continued to watch her with a waiting sense of something, what that was Arizona didn't know, but it was there all the same.

"Yes?" She finally asked, breaking the stalemate.

"You look concerned." Haruna offered first, the two fast battleships nodding their agreement with the Battlecruiser. Arizona huffed her annoyance to be known before nodding.

"It's... the whole Hipper situation." She eventually let known. The two battleships arched shared brows as Haruna simply nodded at the statement.

"Her actions trouble you?" Haruna asked.

"Yes, but not just hers to be sure. Pennsylvania has just as much of a part to play in that as that damn heavy cruiser does." She said.

North Carolina nodded. "From what I've heard, Pennsylvania did a number on her." She commented. Arizona sighed:

"Not nearly as bad as that makes it sound, but far more than she ever should have. And Hipper... she didn't even try to seek an alternate course. It's like once she saw just who was standing before her, her resolve was finalized and she just went for it. Had she only said something!" Arizona ranted for a moment before reigning in her voice, even as she got a few sideways glances from elsewhere within the Cafe. "I could've tried and mitigate what went on between the two of them, if not outright stop it completely. But Hipper didn't seem the least bit interested in saying anything or even alluding to what was going on. She didn't even try to make mention of Hiryuu until she had two repair ships before her."

"You think she evaded the topic?" Washington asked as she picked at her parfait.

"She certainly made no intention to rush straight into the topic." Arizona told her. "She told the repair ships that she was hesitant to allude to what was going on in front of Pennsylvania, but she could've easily pulled or asked me aside and told me in confidence." She told them.

"So you think she was hesitant to tell you?" Washington questioned.

"Or outright refused?" North Carolina added.

"Either way she helped nothing." Arizona concluded with a shake of the head. "I am supposed to be someone that the fleet can approach, and yet..." She trailed off. Haruna's gaze softened somewhat as she watched the battleship. "She acted as if I was invisible. How am I supposed to try and do my job as such if she will not even attempt to confide in myself? Everything could have been avoided. Everything could have been simplified." She huffed with a shake of the head.

"I believe you may be taking this a little harder than needed." Washington commented. The Dreadnought fixed her gaze onto that of the younger of the two sisters sitting apart from her. "Admiral Hipper's actions do not define you as a leader. They do not define the choices you make or who you are."

"But they certainly don't help the feelings." Haruna commented as she gazed up at Arizona. The dreadnought looked down at the woman at that, her own gaze looking unsure. "I believe if this is truly bothering you this much, you need to go speak to your Admiral. Or at the very least one of them. They're likely to offer you a better answer in the end than we could." She told her. Arizona seemed to pause at that for a moment before nodding at that, leaning towards Arizona. Haruna didn't retract and didn't pull away as their lips met in a brief, intimate encounter before the super dreadnought rose to her feet a moment later. Pushing her chair in, she wasted no time in making way for the door to the cafe.

Haruna watched her go a moment before she recognized the twin gazes of the sisters sitting across from her watching her.

A brief moment.

"Do tell my older sister she would be a good match for Kongou." Washington asked.

The slap at her arm that followed echoed through the Cafe. Haruna simply smiled at that before turning her attention back in on that of her sisters.