Anya had known. She had known that the larger the class of Ship, the more they could scarf down. The more they took in, the more their model like waist lines stayed the same. She had known that from her very first meal with the Ship Girls.

She had known.

It did not make it easier on what she was watching.

The three Iowa class sisters that had come through forty five minutes prior we're keeping that surprise alive and well as Anya watched the women partake in a late breakfast if anything. Even Kentucky, who seemed to hold some sort of contempt for the woman calling herself Admiral, seemed to care little of her presence as she took in another plate of pancakes. Liz, her usual silent self, watched in total quiet at the fueling meal that could only be rivaled by the Yamato sister's first refueling in these forms.

What she was watching should've been impossible. Anya had been sure of it. She had not expected the theories in R&D to hold any merit. The idea that there could at one time be two very different Missouri's was baffling. But she was sitting here, watching one eating as the other sat out on the water tied to port. To very different beings, but also one in the same.

As she watched the three sisters enjoy their first meals as humans, the Admiral found her mind drifting once again. The fact that Illinois and Kentucky had joined who was supposed to be alone, Missouri didn't seem to mind their presence even though she had never met the two before. Or so that's what Anya believed. If Missouri had met her younger sisters before, the Admiral wasn't sure where she would have. Though, to be fair, the Admiral wasn't exactly sure where the Gateway connected to. And she claimed to be no expert on the subject.

After they had arrived at the mess hall for the three to eat, Gailer had gone back to the Missouri to check up on the ship's suddenly admitted patients and let Sofia and Ishigara know what had transpired at the summoning chamber.

"Admiral?" Missouri called, wiping her mouth with a napkin as she looked to the woman. Anya was brought out of her thoughts as she looked to the battleship.

"Yes Missouri?" She asked as the battleship's sisters kept attention focused on the conversation but continued to enjoy their meals.

"I assume we are not the first that have been brought through?" She asked. Anya arched a brow as she looked to the battleship.

"You don't know..?" She asked, somewhat confused. Missouri watched Anya in return of the question for a moment before a small, amused smile spread along the battleship's lips.

"No, I'm aware. I was just making sure you weren't going to try and hide what happened to them." Missouri sighed. "It was never my intention to down so many of them in such a way. I only took what I needed..." she said. Anya nodded.

"So then why do I have nineteen battleships passed out cold?" She asked. Missouri nodded at the question as she gestured to her younger sisters.

"They needed adequate energy to become physical forms so that they could cross over. If it had just been me drawing energy, then I would've most likely required no more the six. And, they would not have passed out because of the energy transfer conducted." She said as she looked to the Admiral. "So besides the battleships, where is everyone else? Specifically the carriers." She asked.

"Well.. presuming that they left the ship... you after the others collapsed, the total carrier stock of Yokosuka should be at the carrier range by now." The Admiral said. Missouri nodded in satisfaction at the answer.

"Would it be at all possible for myself to meet them? It is still my job to protect our carriers, even if that now includes those who were once at war with. I'd like to know who I'm working with." She said. Anya nodded as she looked at the battleship.

"I mean, I don't see why not. After you've finished eating, I'll take you over there to meet everyone." She said. Missouri nodded at that as she wiped at her mouth one last time before standing from her seat, looking to the admiral expectantly. Anya blinked at the motion.

"We don't have to go now if you don't want. You can finish eating, Missouri. I don't mind waiting." She said. But to no avail as the battleship continued to stand at attention, patiently waiting for the woman to ready as well. But Anya felt more like she was being ordered to go as the battleship's gaze didn't relent. And soon after that, Kentucky and Illinois finished their meals, standing as they walked around the table to come behind their older sister. Nodding in defeat, Anya wheeled around and gestured the three to follow as she began to make way for the carrier range.

"So how many carriers does Yokosuka play host to?" Kentucky asked, her tone still somewhat lacking in respect.

"We've a total of twenty five carriers on base. Right now, all twenty five should be able to be found in the carrier range." She said. Kentucky rolled her eyes at this.

"What? You can find carriers in the carrier range? No... it can't be.." Kentucky replied, a sarcastic tone to be heard. Illinois giggled at the reply, more out of nerves than anything as Missouri glared at her youngest sister but said nothing as Kentucky rolled her eyes. Anya didn't respond as she continued to walk towards the carrier range.

Eventually, they came upon the building that Missouri wished to see. Holding a hand for the three to wait, Anya walked up the few steps as she quietly slid the door open, peeking her head inside.

She found that the sight now was no different than the so many other times she had visited the range. A pair of carriers, Lexington and Saratoga this time, were taking their turns shooting as the rest were seated around the room. But on hearing the door slide open, Saratoga lowered her bow as she looked to find the Admiral there.

"Admiral..?" Saratoga asked, drawing Lexington's attention to the woman as well. As many of the carriers. "What are you doing here?" She asked.

"Thought I'd check in with you after the Missouri tour. Make sure you're alright." She said. Saratoga nodded as Lexington shrugged.

"We're better off than the battleships." The carrier answered. Anya shrugged.

"Better than most of them anyways." She answered, looking at the carrier. Lexington nodded at that, accepting it as she turned back to her target, preparing to fire when she suddenly stopped. Blinking a moment, she looked back to Anya.

"Most of them?" She asked in confusion. Anya nodded.

"Most of them." Anya confirmed. "I can confirm that there are now twenty one battleships on base as of this moment. Three of which have great interest in meeting our carriers." She said. Enterprise nodded.

"So we got Missouri, Iowa, and New Jersey in guessing?" She asked. Anya shook her head as she poked her head out the door, nodding to the group that was standing there before coming back inside. She was soon flanked by three of the tallest women the carriers had ever seen. But not by much since Indiana was only an inch shorter than the three.

"These ladies are battleship sixty three, sixty five, and sixty six. Missouri, Illinois, and Kentucky. And any of those here familiar with the Iowa class would note that..." she trailed off.

"Illinois and Kentucky were never commissioned." Cabot answered. Their Japanese counterparts who were not aware of this looked at the Iowa sisters in surprise.

"Wait! What?! Then how did you summon them?" Zuikaku questioned. Anya shrugged.

"By knocking the other nineteen battleships flat on their asses apparently." She said as she crossed her arms, looking at the three battleships, who were currently looking from carrier to carrier with an inquisitive gaze. "Anyways, the carriers just got some serious AA defensive capabilities." She said. Ryuujou tilted her head in a questioning way, looking at the woman like she had another head.

"What...? How would a battleship mean good things for us?" She asked. Enterprise looked at the light carrier.

"The Iowa's main job was carried screening. They're fast so they can keep up with the carriers and provide additional defenses when needed." She answered, looking to the girl. Ryuujou only nodded in understanding at that as Kirkun Bay stepped up to Missouri, looking up at her from the floor. Missouri only smiled down at the carrier, and in response, Kit hugged one of the battleship's legs. Laughing, Missouri reached down and picked up the carrier, holding her with one arm as Lexington approached the woman.

"Are you really Missouri?" She asked, still not sure if she was fully accepting it. Missouri nodded to the question as she kept her grip on Kitkun.

"I am." She answered, looking down at the carrier. Lex nodded.

"And your hull?"

"Sitting out on the water where you saw it before. I can even feel my human crew walking around if I focus hard enough." She said, pausing a moment before turning to Anya.

"One of my fellow battleships is starting to awaken from their sudden decent into sleep." She said. The Admiral blinked, having not expected her to say something.

"You know that from over here?" She said. Missouri nodded.

"As I settle further into this form, I imagine that my connection to my hull will soon dull away. But at current moment, I am still rather connected to it and the people aboard. Thus, feeling my fellow battleships waking up from their forced sleep is little to no effort." She said, looking to Anya.

"Well... alright then. I'll need to make sure that they're alright. We can head over there in a little while if you want." She said, looking to the battleship. Missouri nodded at that as she turned her attention back to Kit, as well as her sisters, who were attempting to scale the woman as if she was some sort of tower.

Stepping off to the side, Anya watched Missouri interact with the escort carriers before she had her attention else where as she focused on Cabot and Saratoga who were nearing their Admiral.

"Yes?" Anya asked, looking between the two. Saratoga crossed her arms as she looked at the woman.

"When are we going to start rifle training? You said after the sorties. And guess what, they're over. So when do we get to learn how to shoot?" She asked.

"I had planned for either tomorrow or the next day to begin lessons. There's still a lot that has to get done and I know you want to learn, but you'll have to wait somewhat longer." Anya said. Saratoga only huffed as Cabot looked to the Admiral.

"So when are our next sorties going to happen?" She asked.

"Just as soon as division assignments are made. We're hoping to better increase the fleet functionality and deployment speed." She said. Cabot nodded at that as she went back to her spot along the wall, Saratoga grudgingly following after.
--------------------------------------------

Anya sighed as she neared the doorway to the medbay, where she could hear only a few voices inside. Already knowing that Missouri and her sisters were following behind her, she kept walking. She needed to know if whoever was already awake was feeling alright and figured that the Iowa sisters would like to meet their fellow battleships.

Turning into the room, she found the ship's doctor standing in front of Indiana, who was awake and alert. The doctor seemed to be asking the battleship multiple questions as Sofia and Ishigara stood to either side as they observed, watching the battleship with keen eyes.

"And you're sure the exhaustion is no longer present?" The doctor asked as she watched Indiana like a hawk. The battleship nodded at that, leaning back on her bed somewhat as she watched the woman.

"Yes, I'm sure. I feel fine at the moment. It's almost like earlier never happened." She replied. The doctor watched her a moment before giving a satisfactory nod.

"I'm assuming this base has some sort of medical resident that can confirm this better than I can?" She asked. Sofia nodded.

"We've got repair ships on base if that's what you're asking." She said. The doctor nodded at that as she stood back from Indiana.

"I don't know if it would actually help anything, but it'd sit well with me to know that these girls got a better looking over by someone who actually knows what to expect. I'm just doing what I know but I don't know how well that applies to people who can, in theory, lose a limb and have it replaced with a brand new one." She said. Indiana nodded at that before the battleship noticed the Admiral standing in the doorway.

"Hello Admiral." Indiana greeted, thus bringing Anya's presence known to the other three in the room. "How are you?" The battleship asked. Anya chuckled as she approached the battleship, giving the three battleships behind her free reign to poke their heads into the doorway.

"I should be the one asking you that. You feeling okay?" She asked. Indiana nodded.

"As I was telling the doc, I feel fine..." she said before noticing the three women in the doorway. "And those three might be?" She asked. Anya nodded as she gestured the three to enter the room. Missouri lead the way, her two sisters following after her.

"This is Missouri, Illinois, and Kentucky. They make up one half of the Iowa class." Anya said as she stepped to the side, allowing Missouri to approach Indiana, older battleship watching her younger cousin make the approach.

"I do hope you're alright... I'd hate to know that you suffered any permanent sideffects will on board..." she said, looking to the older battleship. Indiana only returned the woman's worried with a warm smile.

"I'm alright. Though... it is odd to meet you while on board your hull... as i understand though, this isn't your first time in a physical form?" She asked. Missouri sighed, shaking her head.

"Unfortunately, no. I seized control of my bridge during the sortie so that the Captain would not cause any unseeded trouble for these.. new Abyssals or our girls." She said. Indiana nodded.

"Well, from what I hear, it was quite the ball." She said. Anya nodded at that, looking to Missouri.

"I totally forgot that I can ask you about that. So.. these Abyssals actually had full sized warships as the other girls are claiming?" She asked. Missouri nodded.

"Yes. They had six ships, all looked enough to tangle with me. Copies of the Nagato, Mutsu, Kongou, Haruna, Atago, and Takao were present." She said, looking to her Admiral. Ishigara arched a brow.

"Copies? And you're sure of that?" He asked. Missouri hesitated a second before shaking her head.

"No... I can not say for a fact that the ships the Abyssals used against their own kind are copies or the original hulls that sunk so long ago.." she admitted. Ishigara nodded.

"Noted. For the most part because there have been recent reports in the past months of Ship wrecks going missing. The Nagato, Kongou, Haruna. All missing. Granted, their Mutsu has to be a copy since there was no wreck for them to possibly recover. But other than that, this could go either way." He said. "If these... Snow Abyssals are indeed reclaiming our old wrecks for their own purposes, that's not exactly a comforting thought."

Sofia nodded at this as she approached the group as well. "But if they're using them against the.. other Abyssals, then that's also a win for us." The Captain said. Anya nodded.

"Assuming they're not just vying for control over their own faction. After that happens, who knows what could happen... and they've only exhibited Japanese ships. The US has plenty of wrecks as well that they could possibly scavenge. The Yorktown. The Saratoga. The Hornet. We have no way to tell if they're continuing with this large scale scavenging operation." She said. "There's a lot to figure out here and consider. Plenty of mines to stumble upon and we've got nothing to go off of. If we meet these Abyssals again, we've got to figure out what they want and what their intent is. We can't just hope they stay friendly because we need them to be." She said, looking between the group. Ishigara and Sofia nodded at that shorty before a groan filled the air of the medbay, making the four turn.

There they found Musashi, slowly sitting up as she tried to get her bearings. The doctor approached the battleship, her glasses in hand as she made sure the battleship didn't make any sudden movements. There wasn't a need to have her finally wake up, only to knock herself out again by not being able to see where she was going.

"Easy, easy... you've been out for about an hour." The doctor said, keeping the battleship from trying to get up despite the woman's relative small size compared to the super battleship squinting at her. Opening Musashi's hand, the doctor placed the woman's glasses in the palm of her hand. Needing no further explaining, Musashi slipped her glasses on, taking a moment to adjust before spotting the Admirals, Captain, and the three supposed new comers.

Seeming confused for a moment, Musashi suddenly seemed to realize just who, at least one of the figures were. A deep chuckle sounding from her throat, Ishigara only shook his head as he approached the woman.

"Are you feeling alright, Musashi?" He asked. The ebony woman nodded, watching Missouri for a second longer before turning her attention to her Admiral.

"Yes... I can see that this whole ordeal has paid off..." she said as she began to stand, despite the doctor's efforts to keep her at bay. Popping her neck a moment, she approached Missouri, who watched the other battleship approach with an innocent smile, titling her head somewhat.

Stopping in front of the American, Musashi only stood one or two inches under her counterpart, Musashi seemed to stare the taller ship down with a plan to apparently intimidate. Missouri, for her sake, looked no more intimated than her sisters however.

"So you're a member of the Iowa class... the supposed contender to the Yamato class..." Musashi said after a moment, drawing silence into the room as the two stared one another down. Missouri nodded.

"I am, as are my sisters. You must be Musashi. Do I sense some distaste with our presence?" Missouri asked, still looking as innocent as ever.

Musashi only eyed the battleship a moment before shaking her head. "I hold no distaste for you or your sisters. I only hope that you keep in mind which of our classes is the superior one." Musashi said. At this point, Illinois and Kentucky had taken up spots behind their older sister, watching Musashi as Missouri only chuckled, nodding at the statement.

"So that's what this is about..." she said before narrowing her eyes in a seemingly predatory manner, something that Musashi had not been expecting. "Well, if that's how you want to go about this, remind me when the US signed its surrender aboard your deck." She said, daring Musashi to respond. The battleship's eyes widened by fractions before her lips curled into a small smirk.

"It would seem that even the prestigious Iowa class is not above knocking holes in one's ego." She said. Missouri nodded methodically, watching the battleship.

"I knock holes. My sisters blow them open." She said. Musashi only nodded at that, eyeing the younger sisters of Missouri a moment before putting her focus back on the lead of the three.

Before they could antagonize one another much further, Anya pushed her way in between the two battleships.

"Before you two start comparing cannon sizes, let's make sure everyone is alright. Musashi? Could you go sit down on your bed?" She asked, looking to the Yamato class. Musashi looked between the Admiral and Missouri for a moment before nodding, retreating back to her bed where the doc was waiting to do the usual questioning. Sighing, Anya looked back to Missouri.

"And I don't need you causing fights, Missouri. I figured that was not in your character to do so." She said. Missouri only chuckled somewhat, more laid back then Anya would have preferred at the moment.

"With all do respect Admiral, you've known me for less than two hours. Do not assume you know what I am like so soon. I am aware that you've gained a feel of how us Ship Girls operate, but do not make the mistake of chalking us in with one another." Missouri said. "I am more than willing to get along with everyone one base, but this is the one thing that I ask. I am old. I've seen more than most on this base." She said, returning to a more gentler tone. Anya nodded as she nodded at the woman.

"Will do." She said. Missouri smiled, leaning down and pecking Anya on the forehead with a kiss before turning and leaving, her sisters following behind. Blinking, Anya was preparing to ask what had just happened when someone beat her to it.

"Oh? Leaving me behind already and hitting on the new girls? Rude." The voice said with a scoff. Sighing, Anya chuckled somewhat at the coincidence in timing. Of course, Missouri would pick the exact moment that Maryland woke up to place a friendly kiss. At least the hope was that it was friendly and only that.

Turning, Anya rolled her eyes as she laid eyes on Maryland. The battleship had her arms crossed as her head was turning away from Anya, as if she was a spoiled child not getting what she wanted, in some cases Anya thought was perfectly accurate. "I have to ask Mary. You know we're not dating right?" She asked as she approached. Maryland scoffed.

"Yet." Was all she replied. Anya rolled her eyes in an amused fashion as she took a seat on Maryland's bed, looking to the battleship.

"All antics aside, how're you feeling?" She asked.

"Hungry as hell and real confused. Who was that?" She asked, now looking at Anya.

"That was Missouri, Illinois, and Kentucky. Apparently the reason the battleship's dropped hard was because they were making human forms for the two youngest of the Iowa classes, something R&D never saw coming."

"And her kissing you?"

"A friendly gesture." She said. Maryland rolled her eyes at that.

"Some gesture. Seems more like a flirt to me." She said. Anya rolled her eyes.

"No. It's a friendly. You can kiss my forehead to if you want just to prove it. It's just a friendly gesture." She said. Maryland rolled her eyes but leaned forward to do so. But was caught off guard when Anya moved to the side and planted a kiss on the woman's cheek in a motion faster than Mary could counter. Blinking, a small blush began to overcome the battleship's cheeks as she looked to Anya for an explanation.

"What was that for?" She asked. Anya shrugged as she pulled back.

"Missouri was right. I've kind of been grouping all you girls in one thing. I can't do that. I can't act like you're the same person in different bodies. I've got to make changes." She said.

"And kissing me on the cheek?" She asked.

"Just for fun." Anya answered before she got up and left the room faster than Maryland could react. Blinking, she looked to Sofia for help. The Captain shrugged.

"Don't look at me. I may have known her the longest here, but the Johnson family is odd ground to walk upon. Just when you've think you've figured them out, one of them mixes up the plans." She said as she crossed her arms.

Maryland only huffed in response.