"So are we clear on the rules and settings of the mock battle?" Ishigara asked. Anya gave a nod as she stood in front of his desk, looking over the agreements of said arrangement.

It was the seventh of November, only a mere three days after the arrival of the various new pieces of rigging. And it had been three days since Admiral Ishigara and Admiral Johnson had begun discussing the terms of the coming mock battle the next day.

"I believe so. Thirty vs Thirty in Tokyo Bay. Your girls start up North. My girls start down South. No live rounds or bombs. Only the Type 0 rounds." She recalled. Ishigara gave a nod.

"Indeed. And I expect you to use the thirty Kanmusu you have at your hand?" He asked. Anya gave a nod in turn.

"As it stands, I only have seven actually combat experienced girls and twenty three new summons. But I have faith. That does beg the question though. What can I expect out of your force? We only have five battleships? Can I expect you to match that with what we have or a difference in force?" She asked. Ishigara shrugged.

"Well, if it is to be believed of what your Navy is asking of us, we'll need pretty much all hands on deck. And since resources are at an all time high for this base, you can most likely expect two certain individuals to use this mock battle as a way to stretch their legs per say in preparation." He replied. Anya gave a nod in turn.

"Should be an interesting event then." She replied, a small nod joining her statement. Ishigara gave a nod.

"Indeed. Shall we agree on a starting time for tomorrow?" He asked. She gave a nod.

"How about 12:30 tomorrow? They'll be already past on breakfast and running on a fresh lunch.  Depending if they're done by then of course..." She reasoned. Ishigara gave a nod.

"Sounds like a plan. I'll organize our division tonight and your girls will meet them out on the water tomorrow it would seem." He answered. She gave a nod.

"Indeed. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to be heading to the carrier range. I asked all those interested in rifling to come to my office a few days ago, but the next morning I had a few more come to me as well. So pushed it back to tonight. They had better be there if they wish to learn." She reasoned. Ishigara only chuckled in reply as he gave a nod.

"Well then, I won't keep you any longer. I will ask though, did any of my girls show up?" He wondered aloud. Anya gave a nod.

"The first night, Shouhou and Zuihou showed up, curious and all. And the next morning, Zuikaku came slinking into my office, not exactly clear with what she was doing. Took close to an hour to figure out even a smidge of what she wanted." She answered. Ishigara gave a nod in reply.

"Well, then it's best to not keep them waiting. I trust they're in good hands with you?" He asked. She gave a nod as she turned to leave, quickly doing so. Taking no time at all, she made her way out of the command building, soon finding herself walking across the base.

The sun was just setting, casting a light glow across the base, the shadows seeming to stretch forever. She watched as the water remained calm, nothing disturbing it too much besides the occasional wake. Anya watched the water a few moments before continuing on her way, soon watching as she neared the carrier range.

Taking a peek inside, she found the building empty. Giving a shrug, she walked inside, watching as the lights flickered on. Soon enough, she found the various bows and quivers put up and stored correctly. Watching a moment, she didn't have to wait long for girls to start showing up.

Watching the door, she recognized as Shouhou and Zuihou walked through the door, soon landing their gaze upon Anya.

"Hello Anya-San." Shouhou greeted. Anya gave a nod.

"Hello to you two as well. I take it you two are still interested in learning how to handle a rifle?" She asked. Shouhou gave a nod.

"We would not be here if that were not the case. So, are actually learning anything today?" She asked. Anya gave a shake of the head.

"No, we probably won't actually start learning anything until the approaching set of sorties has passed. That and the mock battle." She replied. The two looked surprised.

"Sounds like we are gonna be busy. Care to let us known any specifics about the sorties?" Zuihou asked. Anya gave a nod.

"So far, four separate fleets, four separate goals. But as it stands, we're planning on over eighty girls being deployed...." She reasoned. The two light carriers looked at her wide eyed in response at this little piece of news. "But don't spread that around. We're still working on some details and its best not put out false info." She reasoned. Zuihou cocked a brow at her.

"You wouldn't have told us if you didn't have a pretty good idea of what exactly it was." She reasoned. Anya gave a shrug.

"More or less." She replied. As she did so, the next set of girls walked in, surprising not only Anya but Shouhou and Zuihou as well.

"Houshou?" Shouhou asked. The motherly carrier only smiled as Langley walked alongside her. Houshou gave a small nod as the two approached.

"Langley, I can understand. But Houshou? You surprise me." Anya reasoned. Houshou only gave a small laugh.

"I had my doubts at first, but I received some.... Convincing..." She reasoned, stealing a glance at Langley. The American motherly carrier only smiled in return, stifling a small laugh as she did so. Anya just chuckled as she gave a nod.

"Fair enough. I won't ask." Anya reasoned. The two motherly carriers gave a nods in reply as Shouhou and Zuihou eyed the two for a moment. But only for a moment before chaos erupted again as Coral flew through the door.

"Thanks for joining us Coral.... I think..." Anya said, watching as Coral Sea picked herself up off of the ground. Coral only nodded as her sisters, Enterprise, Lexington, Saratoga, and Cabot entered the range as well. Waiting a moment, she looked to Enterprise and Lex.

"I assume someone is keeping the Casablanca sisters controlled?" She reasoned. Lex and E shared a devious laugh.

"We dropped them on Nagato and Mutsu's doorstep." She reasoned. "We didn't give them a chance to refuse." She said. Anya just gave a chuckle.

"I hope Nagato survives... Hopefully that won't overload her by too much..." She reasoned. Sara gave a nod as she gestured to the rifles sitting along the wall. Anya gave a shake of the head.

"No. We won't be starting anything today. This is just to see who's interested in doing so. I asked the same the other day, but I got people showing up the next day. That's not what I asked. So this is the final chance. Anyone who shows up, I'll gladly teach. Anyone who shows up late, they're shit out of luck until I get done with the first group, which so far, is shaping up to be quite the class." She answered. E gave a nod in turn as she looked to the others.

"Well it's a pretty decent sized group you've got here." She reasoned. Anya gave a nod.

"And it's not done yet. We're still waiting on a few more girls." She answered. That got a few surprised looks.

"Not to doubt you, Admiral, but I think it was a miracle that myself, Zuihou, and Houshou came. You believe more of our girls will come?" Shouhou asked. Anya gave a nod.

"I believe exactly that." She replied. Zuihou arched a brow at this, looking at Anya.

"I don't share the same belief with that. Like Shouhou said, it's a stretch that three of us are here. A lot of the other girls can be a bit picky about these kinds of things..." Zuihou reasoned.

"Picky about what?" Souryuu asked as she, her sister, and Zuikaku entered the range. Zuihou whipped around in a startled motion as Anya shrugged.

"Just the simple fact that Zuihou did not believe that more of you would come." Anya recalled. Souryuu arched a brow at this as her sister looked to the light carrier. "But I guessed right it would seem." She answered. Hiryuu and Souryuu shrugged as Zuikaku only rolled her eyes.

"So is this all that's coming?" She asked. Anya gave a nod.

"Most likely. But as I said earlier, this is nothing but just a check of who's interested and who is not. And I think I'm seeing a pretty clear cut variance at the moment." She reasoned. "And as I told Zuihou and Shouhou, we will not start until at least the upcoming sorties are dealt with. That and the mock battle tomorrow afternoon." She replied. Some of the girls looked surprised at this, including Enterprise and Lex.

"What? A mock battle? Against who?" She asked. Anya nodded.

"Thirty on thirty. If you're American, you're in it for sure. If you're Japanese, it sounds like Ishigara is still making up the team." She reasoned. E gave a nod.

"Then that means we should probably get some good sleep today then. Any idea of what the sorties will entail?" She asked. Anya shook her head.

"Not telling anything yet. As it stands, just be prepared to be out on the water for a while. A day at least..." She reasoned. E gave a nod as the carriers began to exit the range, once again leaving Anya alone like she had arrived. But as she herself was leaving, she bumped into someone she had not been expecting.

"Akagi?" She asked as she looked at the Japanese carrier. Calling the carrier by name had seemed to bring her out of what looked to be a dazed expression. "Akagi? Are you alright?" She asked again. The carrier nodded after a moment.

"Yes... Anya-San, I am alright..." She said after a moment. Anya watched her a moment before arching a brow.

"Alright. What's up?" She asked. "Because if this is about joining the rifle class, you're out of luck. You'll have to wait until I finish with the current group." Anya said. Akagi shook her head in turn.

"No... This is not about that. As I understand it, we have sorties upcoming. Correct?" She asked, looking to Anya. The American Admiral gave a nod.

"Yeah, but I can't tell you any specifics if that's what you're after." Anya said. Akagi gave a shake of the head.

"No, I'm not after anything dealing the sorties. Well... I guess I am in a way... You see, I'm... I'm quite confused at the moment..." She answered. Anya looked at Akagi for a moment before shrugging.

"Confused? I'm not sure I follow Akagi. What does that have to do with the sorties?" She asked. Akagi bit her lip a moment before taking another look at Anya.

"My... Feelings.... I think? I'm not sure, I've never felt like this before and I'm not sure what to do. Does that make sense..?" She asked. Anya watched her a moment before giving a nod.

"Maybe. How about you explain further. These feelings? What do they have to do with the upcoming sorties?" She asked. Akagi looked down in thought for a moment before looking back up.

"I'm a liability.... I see that. With how much these feelings are in my mind lately, I can not see myself being reliable in the field. Which is why I requested of my Admiral that I be held away from active duty concerning the upcoming sorties...." She reasoned. Anya looked at her in surprise.

"Ok...? But why come to me...? I mean, it's good that you saw that you had a problem, but why are you talking to me about it? They're your feelings.... Unless they're for another person... And if they're for another person and you're coming to me, then it's probably one of my girls you hold feelings for. This is just assuming though...." Anya reasoned. Akagi offered a slow nod in turn.

"Indeed...." She answered. "I can see why you were made Admiral..." The carrier reasoned. Anya just gave a small laugh.

"Well... That and a few other reasons. But still, that doesn't explain why you came to me about this...." She answered. Akagi nodded.

"True.... But, as you know, these feelings are for another under your command. I was hoping.... That... You would hold them away from the sorties so that I could figure out these feelings... With their help..." She answered. Anya crossed her arms in response as she gave a sigh.

"You know she won't be happy with this..." Anya answered. Akagi arched a brow.

"I haven't even said who it was...." She told her. Anya gave a shake of the head.

"I'm not stupid Akagi. I talk to the girls about their days when I get the chance. And it would seem that a popular going on within the carrier range is the teasing of you and one Yorktown class carrier for the apparent attraction between the two of you. But you're accepting that you have feelings for the other. So you want me to hold her back from sortie?" She asked. Akagi gave a nod.

"That is my request..." Akagi answered. Anya gave a sigh.

"Like I said, she won't be happy.... But I'll see what I can do. Just keep in mind, that if we do end up keeping her off, she's gonna be not the most enjoyable person to hold a conversation with. Right?" Anya asked. Akagi gave a nod.

"All I ask for is a chance...." She said. Anya watched her for a moment before giving a nod.

"Alright..." Anya eventually answered. Akagi grinned in response, clapping her hands together in glee.

"Thank you Anya-San. You won't regret this!" Akagi said before running off rather quickly. Anya watched her go a moment, amused, before continuing on her own way, intending to get to dinner.
-------------------------------------

The next day, Anya and Sofia had the thirty American ship girls assembled in their office at exactly ten minutes before noon, the time previously agreed upon by both Anya and Ishigara.

"So... What exactly are we doing here?" Snook asked, looking at Anya across her desk as she stood next to Pargo and Harder. "Not that I don't enjoy being in your office, but my past experiences haven't exactly been the best...." She reasoned. Anya just gave a small nod, looking at the submarine.

"Well who's fault is that?" She asked, giving the girl a stern glare. She of course was referring to the fact that the three Submarine sisters had taken up quite the reputation for causing mischief. Whether it be stealing various pieces of clothing from various girls or causing various other issues, the clues could usually lead back to the three American subs.

"Not sure. I feel like Arizona and Maryland could be held accountable." She reasoned, giving a shrug. That was answered with a slap upside the head at Arizona's doing. As Snook looked up at Arizona in response, Maryland did the same, bopping Snook upside the head. Snook only giggled in response as Anya gave a roll of the eyes.

"No striking one another in our office. Anyways, reason that you all have been assembled is rather simple. And that is because we have you girls set for a mock battle with the Japanese ship girls." She reasoned. The carriers gave nods in reply as the other girls looked surprised at this news.

"A mock battle? Seriously? We literally just got our riggings! You expect us to go out there already?!" San Diego asked incredulously. Anya gave a nod.

"It's not a live combat situation. It's practice is what it comes down to. You won't be using live rounds and it'll be confined to Tokyo Bay. If anything, it's a good chance for you to learn how to use your rigging more than you already do. And going off the fact that you've only had it for a couple of days, I'm gonna guess the extra help couldn't hurt at the moment." Anya explained. Arizona arched a brow.

"And what about all the people out on the water?" She asked. Anya gave a shake of the head.

"Not a problem. The JMSDF have already cleared the water so no one will be hurt in the crossfire. But as I said as well, you won't be using live rounds, so there's that as well." She told them. Some nodded as Saratoga looked to the Admiral.

"So which of the girls are we facing?" She asked. Anya gave a shrug.

"Whichever thirty that Ishigara decided upon. So I'd probably expect a variety of girls to be standing against you." She reasoned. E gave her a narrowing look.

"Are there any hints that you could give us as to who will be out there? Anyone at all?" She asked, looking at her Admiral. Anya just gave a chuckle.

"1818. That's all I'll say." She reasoned. Some of the girls gave her a glance as she shrugged. "Now go, get ready. His girls are out on the water waiting. Also, keep in mind, this mock battle may or may not determine what sortie you are placed into the ranks of. So just don't slack off out there, alright?" She asked. She got nods in return. After a moment, she gave a nod as she stood.

"Good. Then I'll see you all off. And we'll see if any of you can figure out the hint before we reach the launching chambers." She reasoned. Gesturing to the door, she walked out as the girls began to follow her out, their destination being the launching chambers.

"1818 huh? A year? But we don't have any ship girls on base that were commissioned in that year. Hell, we don't have anyone even close to that date on base. Why would 1818 be a hint if it doesn't tell us who it was?" San Diego mused. Juneau gave a shrug.

"Well it's got to be something important. Isn't it Admiral?" She asked, looking at the woman walked in front of the group. Anya merely looked back at the girl, giving a nod only accompanied with a small mischievous grin before facing forwards again. Juneau looked uneasy.

"Admiral, that expression was not an expression befitting an Admiral! I would appreciate if you would not look at me while making such an expression! It's creepy!" Juneau yelled. Anya just chuckled as Atlanta looked at her sister with an arched brow.

"Weren't you the one offering the Admiral questionable activities just the other day?" She asked. Juneau only shook her hands in a defensive manner, shaking her head rather briskly.

"No,no,no! That's completely out of context!" Juneau insisted. San Diego gave a shake of the head, looking at her sister.

"I do not believe so. It sounded pretty cut and dry to me." She reasoned. Juneau only gave a sigh as some of the other girls have a chuckle in response, Maryland putting a hand on the cruiser's shoulder.

"I think you've buried enough of yourself Juneau. I would just stop talking before you bury yourself further." She reasoned. Juneau only crossed her arms in response as she looked up at the battleship, narrowing her eyes as she did so.

"You were the one flirting with her!" Juneau reasoned. Maryland shrugged.

"So? I'm physically more mature than you and between you and me, the Admiral's ass is too great not to look at." Maryland said, giving a shrug. Juneau, her sisters, and a few other American ship girls only looked at the girl, their mouths agape. Arizona and Oklahoma just sighed as they planted their palms firmly to their faces. However, Anya had stopped walking forward, causing the group of American ship girls following her to stop walking. Giggles broke out among the smaller girls as Anya slowly turned back to look at Maryland. After a moment, she began to walk towards the returned ship spirit. A few tense moments later, Anya stood directly in front of Maryland, her face showing a kind of serious that Maryland had never bore witness to by the American Admiral.

"Admiral, I can-" Arizona tried, but was silenced as Anya held up a hand, not turning her gaze away from the Colorado class battleship.

"You wanna run that by me again sailor? I don't think I heard you the first time...." Anya said, her tone suddenly void of amusement. Maryland just stared back at her, not faltering under or shying away from the blonde's gaze.

"I. Said. Your. Ass. Looks. Fantastic." Maryland said once again, staring right back at the blonde Admiral. Anya only watched her in silence, her expression showing no evidence of changing.

"Jesus Mary....." Arizona sighed. Maryland only shrugged as she continued to stare back at Anya, who had yet to show any change. Then, before anyone could say anything further, Anya just chuckled.

"That so? Well, I guess someone has been noticing all the exercise I put in during the mornings. Anyways, let's keep moving. Best not to keep the other girls waiting." She stated before quickly turning and walking forward once again, leaving the group of American ship girls stunned.

"What...? What just happened...?" Indiana asked after a moment. Other shrugged as Maryland watched the Admiral walk on.

"I have no idea..." Maryland mused. Giving a shake of the head, she continued walking forward. This prompted the other girls, some still quite confused about what had just happened.

"Okay.... Maryland's sexual tension aside, do we know what the Admiral's hint meant?" Saratoga asked. Chicago gave a shake of the head.

"No. Only thing we have to go on is 1818. And we know it's not a year." She reasoned. San Francisco gave a shrug.

"Only if we had someone capable of excess amounts of logic and reason." She mused. But as she did so, she stopped walking and turned to take a look at Midway, who in turn only looked right back at the heavy cruiser. As San Francisco did so, other girls of various types as well turned to look back at Midway.

"So Mid? You got any ideas?" Lex asked after a moment, looking at the carrier. Midway, after a moment, gave a nod.

"The Admiral's hint of 1818 seems self explanatory enough. A year it would seem. But since because she said 1818 together, that's what we automatically assumed. Stop thinking of the number as one whole thing and start thinking of each 18 differently. With different meanings. For one, one of the eighteens could not be a year, but since we are ships girls and some of us possess multiple guns, it could be a quantity. So a girl with eighteen guns possibly." She reasoned. E gave a nod in response.

"That's a lot of guns being aimed at us." She reasoned. Midway gave a nod in reply.

"Yes, eighteen is quite a few. But that still leaves the second eighteen. Now, assuming the first is a quantity of guns, those guns would need a size. Best and most logical answer would be the second eighteen. Eighteen eighteen inch guns. Now, no girl on base has that heavy of an armament. Not by themselves. But there is a class of Japanese battleship. Two members. Between them, they possess eighteen eighteen inch guns. And neither of them have been on the water since we Americans have been on this base." Midway reasoned. Arizona only gave a small laugh.

"Yamato and Musashi..." She reasoned. Saratoga sighed.

"How are we supposed to win then? Isn't their Anti Air like god tier?" She asked. Arizona shook her head.

"No, but they're enough to supply a couple ships over. And those guns will blow holes in our defense."  She reasoned. Bristol shook her head.

"Not if we don't let them hit us!" Bristol reasoned, waving her arms in the air excitedly. Her sisters only sighed as Mississippi just laughed, patting the destroyer on the head.

"We'll keep that idea in our back pocket for later. But as it stands, Yamato and Musashi present a serious problem." She reasoned. Arizona gave a nod as she looked to Midway.

"Hey Mid, you're the one who figured out the hint. You have a plan to take down the thirty Japanese ship girls?" She asked. Midway in turn looked out over the water for a moment before giving a nod.

"Those of the Japanese are more experience than us in these forms. They've been here longer. But, that will also prove to be a problem. Not only that, but they're going against us. They can say it all they want but they're still weary of us out in the field, simply because our country sank so many of them..."

"So you have a plan we take it?" Arizona asked.

"Indeed." Midway said as she kept walking. The girls watched her go a moment, before giving a shrug and following the carrier girl.