A/N: With this chapter, this story now has a total of 566k words.

Not even at Chapter 100 yet.

Rip.

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"So have you four thought about where you're gonna keep two cats?" Sofia asked as she glanced back at the four new pet owners in question.

Bismarck and Ark Royal.

Saratoga And Prinz Eugen.

The former two had adopted and named a scruffy white and black cat 'Samual Oscar Von Bismarck'. The first suggestion of the name had resulted in Ark heckling the blonde battleship a moment until she herself had offered the last part of the name.

The latter two had adopted the cat that Prinz had come across, simply settling on the name of 'Prince Maru', even with the cat being female. Saratoga Carried both pet carriers as the other three carried various bags of supplies, toys, and food.

"Shhhhhhh." Saratoga shushed the woman. "Live in the moment Captain." The Carrier said.

"So no." Sofia sighed. "You haven't." She concluded.

Saratoga only grinned.

Saradia simply chuckled. "I have to say, I was only expecting to leave with one cat. Prince Maru was a surprise to be sure." The German Admiral said. Sofia nodded at that as the group of Ship girls and humans made their way back to base.

"Yeah, neither was I." Sofia admitted. "She just catch your eye?" She asked as she glanced at the two. "And where did the name Prince Maru come from anyways?" She asked. At that, Prinz Eugen pointed to herself.

"Prince." She said before pointing to Saratoga. "Sara Maru. But we just took Maru from her name." She said.

"They're great names, Captain!" Bismarck Sea cheered, throwing her arms in the air a moment before resting her hands on Tirpitz's head. The battleship chuckled somewhat at that as she glanced up at the escort carrier, who was currently seated on her shoulders. Sofia shook her head in amusement somewhat before glancing back to them.

"That still doesn't tell us anything about where we're deciding on setting them up." The Captain reminded them. Saratoga shrugged as Argus offered an opinion.

"What about the German dorms?" She asked. "They have more overall space and Saratoga's and Ark's are just a little too busy now a days to be viable options for them to regularly live there. The first morning after I crossed over, you would think there was a fire with how much shouting there was going on." She said. Sofia thought about it a moment before glancing to Saradia in a silent questioning manner.

Saradia tapped at her chin a moment before shrugging. "I mean, I don't have a problem with you ladies setting them up in the German HQ. But I do have to make it aware that they cannot be allowed to make it up into our personal quarters. Emma is allergic to cats afterall." She said. "I'll get some allergy medication just in case, but I figure it important for you to know." She said.

"Oh? I don't know. I don't want to make her suffer simply so we can have a few pets." Ark Royal said. "She's such a sweet girl."

"Isn't that dangerous? Aren't Allergies deadly?" Prinz Eugen Asked. Saradia only chuckled somewhat at that as she glanced back to the cruiser.

"Her allergies will only go as far to give her a stuffy nose. It isn't by any means pleasant but at not as bad as some other allergies. We have time to work out a plan too, granted that she is at school for the next few hours. Plus, she'll probably end up with allergies affecting her anyways." Saradia sighed. "Emma is quite fond of cats." She said.

"I still don't understand why I couldn't get a snake." Cossack whined from her spot next to Argus.

"It's because you don't have money. Afterall, Saratoga paid for everything this time around." The older Carrier said as she looked down at the destroyer.

"After Prinz guilted her into it." Naka offered in reply to that, shooting the carrier in question a coy grin. Saratoga only rolled her eyes at that as she walked on, making sure not to jostle either animal carrier too much.

"Prinz Eugen has been bestowed a power that can overcome even the angriest of oceans." Yorktown said with a chuckle. "The blessed power to tame the mighty Sister Sara." She said in a dramatic voice, garnering laughter from Cossack, Violent, Vanessa, Argus, Tirpitz, Naka, And Jintsuu. Sendai only smirked at that, looking back to the American Carrier in question.

Saratoga only rolled her eyes at that, Prinz Eugen giggling at the idea.

"Anyways, back to the topic at hand." Saratoga said as she looked to Admiral Herkunft. "We can find a new place to host them if it'll be much of an issue for Emma. We can put them in the American dorms. We could make it work." She said. Sofia shook her head at that.

"As much as you may have good feelings about that, I'll have to refuse that option. Like Argus said, there's a lot of noise. Something you don't want when trying to get a pet adjusted to a new environment." She said. "And, all it takes is one wrong step or move and either of them could be seriously injured." She said.

"It's really no problem to settle them in at the German HQ." Saradia said, looking to the group.

"But seven months down the line, when the German Fleet numbers in at the same as the Americans and Japanese do?" Ark Royal asked. "I don't mean to sound disrespectful, but if your submarines come in force, the German dorms will be no safer than the American dorms." She said.

Saradia sighed, admitting to the point.

"Point." She admitted.

"What about the American HQ?" Yorktown asked. "It's a separate building from the dorms and the number of permanent residents there is under five. And, it remains quiet most of the day. So what better place?" She asked.

"In that sense, the Japanese HQ would serve it better." Sendai said.

"But none four of them are Japanese ship girls. It seems kind of odd to ask Admiral Ishigara to watch over two cats that don't even belong to any of his girls." Tirpitz.

"Not that he would mind though." Jintsuu offered.

"Still." Yorktown supplied.

"So wait. We're sticking them into the American HQ because of the fact that Saratoga is an American Ship girl?" Sofia asked.

"Yes." Chirped a few of the girls present.

"Just making sure." Sofia sighed. "We'll have to run that by Admiral Johnson, but Anya shouldn't have a problem with it." She said. "Because I don't have a problem with it." She said.

"Well you don't exactly sound like you're ok with it either." Ark Royal said. Sofia shrugged.

"I wasn't a Cat person growing up. My family had three dogs and that was it. I'm a dog person through and through. And they weren't small dogs either. These were dogs that could knock small children over with ease." She said.

"So you don't know if you're a cat Person then is what I'm hearing." Yorktown said. Sofia gave a roll of the eyes.

"If you want to get technical, sure. I have never had the chance to fully know whether or not I am a cat person or." She said. "But I wouldn't expect anything either." She said.

"You know Captain, you don't really talk about your family all that much. The Admiral talks about hers all the time." Saratoga said. "We know her siblings. Her mother came to visit in person. Three of her siblings have all but invaded Yokosuka. But you, there's not really anything to go on." Saratoga claimed.

"There's not really too much to go on. Not much left." Sofia returned. "I haven't talked to my dad in a couple of years, at least before the war started if not before that. My mom even longer than that and my brother since before he went to prison." She explained.

"That's... kind of sad..." Vanessa said after a moment. Sofia shrugged.

"Not everyone has or gets the ideal family. Some people make it work and some people just watch as it all falls apart." Sofia said in return.

"And what did you do?" Yorktown asked.

"Just told you I hadn't spoken to anyone, right?" Sofia asked in response, glancing back at the Carrier.

Yorktown didn't respond.

"Okay. Maybe that gives the wrong impression." Sofia sighed. "I didn't just sit back and watch as my family practically collapsed in on itself. But on the other hand, I really didn't do anything to try and stop it either. But all that aside, this isn't a conversation I'm going to continue. So that's it. We're over it. It's done." She said in finality. "Don't bring it up again." She said.

"But why?" Bismarck Sea Asked.

"Because I don't want to talk about it." Sofia said in return. "It's in the past. It's done. It's over with. My family is all but separated and there is little doubt in my mind that that will change." She said.

"But you do have doubt." Sendai said in response. Sofia sighed.

"Is there a part of me that wishes my father wasn't an alcoholic when I was growing up? Is there a part of me that wishes my mother hadn't turned to the needle when her kids needed her. Is there a part of me that wishes my brother hadn't murdered someone in cold blood? Is there a part of that wishes that someone knew where my sister was?" She asked. "Yes, there is. But that wasn't the hand I was dealt and I consider myself just lucky enough to not fall into the same spiral they did." She said with a sigh. "Why is my family such an interesting topic anyways?" She asked.

"Because our histories are in the public domain?" Saratoga said, almost as if it was obvious. "Everything About us is online. You can find the day each and everyone of us was laid down, find the dates we were launched. I could ask the Sendai class here how each of them met their ends, and even if they didn't want to tell me, a five minute web search could get me all of the answers I wanted and more. Or if I wanted to learn about Bismarck and Hood. Or Iowa and Yamato. As a ship girl, we have a bunch of power. But there's no privacy to our history. We're all in the public domain. Our histories are out there for all to see. To learn." She told. "But you. Admiral Herkunft. Admiral Johnson. Admiral Ishigara. Captain King. All unknowns." She said.

"You speak as if this is something that means a lot to you." Saradia said, glancing back at the woman.

"I have read the backgrounds, operational histories, fates and statuses of every single girl apart of the fleet." Saratoga said, prompting some to look at her in surprise. "But for as much as I know about all of that, the one's in charge of us are the biggest unknowns of the fleet." She said.

"We know Admiral Ishigara has a daughter in the JMSDF as well." Naka supplied. Saratoga nodded at that.

"Exactly my point. As much as we may not look it. As much as we may not seem it, we hold great interest in those in command. You should hear the conversations we have in the dorms concerning Admiral Johnson's older sister." She said.

"Cynthia?" Sofia asked. Saratoga nodded.

"She has quite the legend around her among the American ship girls. Some of us think if she makes her way to base, no one will be safe. And others think that everything's been over exaggerated." She said. "But because Admiral Johnson won't really confirm anything about her, she's become something of a myth around base."

"Well, I'm not about to have my sister turned to the same." Sofia said in return. "Especially when I don't even know where she is."

"But wouldn't it be better if-"

"Ensign." Sofia said, glancing back at the Carrier with a gaze that told Saratoga to stop while she was ahead. "Drop it." The Captain said before looking ahead once again.

She hadn't yelled like Admiral Johnson the first time she'd pulled rank.

She'd simply spoken in a tone that felt almost empty.

Detached.

Saratoga fell silent.

The others only stared, Prinz Eugen glancing at the Carrier as a silence settled over the group as they walked on.

The Captain lead the group back towards the base in silence, the ship girls present only glancing at the Captain somewhat. Some in worry. Some in curiosity.

Saradia simply walked alongside the woman, striking up a small conversation with her, as if to ease the tension. When Sofia finally replied to the woman, allowing herself to be dragged into a conversation with the German admiral, only then did the ship girls present allow themselves a glance to one another.

"The biggest mystery." Sendai offered quietly. Naka rolled her eyes at that as Jintsuu lightly chopped her sister on the top of her head as some of the other girls glanced at the cruiser as if she were crazy.

"Let us not tempt fate, please." Jintsuu said with a sigh, bringing her hand down from her sister's head.

Prinz looked from the three a moment before slowly casting her gaze back to Saratoga, who was simply staring ahead as the group walked on. "Sugar?" Prinz asked quietly, looking to the Carrier. Saratoga only offered a quiet sigh in response as she shook her head somewhat, only glancing to the heavy cruiser before offering a soft smile.

"I'm kind of a jerk if you hadn't noticed." Saratoga offered quietly. Prinz simply offered a small smile at that as she did so.

"Have. Had. And will always notice." Prinz Replied easily. "But you're not malicious." She said. Saratoga chuckled somewhat at that as she glanced back to the heavy cruiser.

"Aren't I Though?" She asked. Prinz shook her head in reply to the question. "I just tried to push a subject like that." She said. "Even with how I am with the subject of my own sister."

"That's called hypocrisy, not being malicious." Prinz told her, still holding her bag of pet supplies as they walked along. Saratoga simply offered a small smile at that.

"Still a jerk." She said.

"My jerk." Prinz corrected, looking up to the carrier with a smug, knowing gaze.

Saratoga only rolled her eyes at that, despite the smile her lips wore.

"I'd pinch you again if my hands weren't full." The Carrier Warned. Prinz only offered a laugh at that as the group walked on.

It was another fifteen minutes for the group to reach the base again, walking by the Japanese HQ building. As they walked on, their group began to shrink as they crossed the base, all the way until they just had Captain Algerona, Saratoga, Prinz Eugen, Bismarck, Ark Royal, And Admiral Herkunft.

Reaching for the door to the American HQ, Sofia opened it, more than ready to get away from the tensions lingering over them. Only to find herself stopping in confusion when she stopped right inside the doorway, flanked by the other five.

And they blinked as one.

"What...." Sofia asked to no in particular.

"Is going on?" Ark Royal finished for her.

Before them, spread amongst the entrance to the office, along the floor, was Lexington, Hornet, Yorktown, And Hornet. And four of them appeared to be cleaning the floor in some sort of way. Or looked to be mopping something up. Holding a moment, Sofia, eventually finding her voice, looked to the four.

"Lexington? Yorktown?" She called. But when they offered no response to look at the Captain in turn, only focusing on their work, Sofia frowned. Until she heard a door open upstairs.

"Captain? That you?" Anya called from the second floor as the blonde left her room. A moment later, the woman poked her head over the railing of the second floor railing, peering down at the group. Finding them looking up at her, she offered a smile at that as she began to make way down the stairs as Sofia looked back to the four carriers on the floor.

"Should I ask..." Sofia broadly gestured to the four. Anya let a sigh from her lips at that as she made contact with the bottom floor, walking over to the six as she put her hands on her hips.

"These four deemed it acceptable to try to go ahead with pranking Captain King in return for Lex's impromptu swim. They decided, amongst the four of them, that a bucket full of water on top of the door was the best course of action."

"Oh dear lord." Saradia sighed, already seeing where this was going as she planted her palm against her face.

"Let me guess. Not King." Sofia assumed.

"Correct." Anya replied cooly. Sofia rolled her eyes at that.

"So who'd they get?" The Captain inquired, looking to the woman.

"McCalla." Anya replied at that, lazily watching the four continue to clean the floor of what water still remained in the office. Only for a moment though before turning back to the group, glancing at the two pet carriers in their grasp. "So I take it that the pet trip was a success, then? Perhaps more than Even I was expecting." She said, glancing down at the two pet carriers.

"Quite so." Ark Royal offered in reply.

"So Ark Royal and Bismarck adopted one." Anya said. "And Saratoga And Prinz adopted the other?" She asked as she crouched down, peering into the two pet carriers, the two cats watching her right back before the one in Sara's right grasp finally looked away, more than uninterested. "Something tells me this is the one Sara had a hand in choosing." She said.

Saratoga only huffed.

Prinz giggled.

"But why bring them here?" She asked.

"We have deemed the best place to set them up is going to be the American HQ. Having them live within the dorms is a very big danger to their health. And even though the German dorms are not to the same capacity that the American dorms are, who knows if the Gateway will feel... giving one of these days." Bismarck supplies.

"Ain't that the truth." Anya chuckled.

"Not to mention Emma is allergic to cats." Ark Royal added.

"A double negative then." Anya confirmed. "Well, I don't have a problem with you girls setting them up here. And I'm assuming Sofia doesn't either." She said, glancing to the Captain in question. When she shook her head in Reply, Anya nodded. "Alright. But that does not mean that just because we're in the same building as them does that mean they're our responsibly. I mean, we'll stop them from doing something obviously dangerous if it comes to it, but at the end of the day, they're yours to care for. I hope that's understood?" She asked.

When the four ship girls in question nodded at that, Anya nodded in return as she pointed to the hallway to the left.

"There's two rooms down there that would be about the right size to host them. We can get them set up down there." She said.

"Two? Would they not only need one?" Bismarck inquired as she looked to the Admiral.

"Well, we don't exactly know how these two are gonna interact with one another." Anya said. "And another thing, are these two both male or female?" She asked.

"No." Sofia said, pulling her lips into a thin line.

"Is the female-"

"No." Sofia answers again.

"Okay." Anya sighed. "Well, another reason to keep them out of the Same room. Let's try to get them settled in for a while before we have to worry about kittens." She said.

"You do that." Sofia offered. "And I'll keep an eye on these four hooligans." She said, gesturing to the four carriers currently cleaning the floor. Anya looked surprised somewhat at that before eventually nodding, watching as Sofia walked past her into the office. Holding a moment, Anya shrugged at that as she lead the other five towards the two rooms in question.

Opening the doors and flipping on the lights, she shrugged. "Let's settle Sara and Prinz in here and Bismarck and Ark over here." She said, watching as each pair split off. Anya stepped into the room with Sara and Prinz, closing the door behind her after they handed off Oscar to Saradia.

Going about getting the room set up for Prince, Anya hummed as she opened a few cat toys, glancing at Saratoga. The carrier was simply sitting in front of Prince's Carrier, sticking her finger in the box, letting the cat bat her paw at it. Already, the cat seemed to be adjusted to the carrier's presence.

"Saratoga?" Anya asked as she helped Prinz work with getting some more things set up.

"Hmmm?" The Carrier Asked, not glancing in the Admiral's direction.

"You good?" Anya asked after that, still glancing at the woman as she did so, Prinz taking her own glances.

"I'm an asshole." Saratoga said almost with no hesitation. Anya snorted at that as she looked back to the work she was doing with Prinz.

"Well, that's not exactly news." Anya said. "But you've always been one that doesn't seem to care about statuses. What's brought this declaration on?" She asked. "Maybe something to do with the fact that the Captain seemed irked?" She asked as she looked back to Saratoga.

The carrier only nodded somewhat.

"You push the subject of her sister?" Anya asked without bothering to look back at the Carrier to confirm it. The silence in turn was almost damming. Anya sighed at that somewhat, scratching her head as she did so. "You pushed the one spot that actually gets under her nerves more than anything else." She sighed.

"Is it really that bad?" Saratoga asked after a moment.

"I've known her for twelve years, almost thirteen. And beyond the general situations of each family member of hers, in twelve years, she's only told me the name of her sister." The blonde told her. "And I only know her sister's name because it was needed at the time. The Captain doesn't talk about her family. At least, not in any meaningful way." She said. Saratoga only looked at the woman in surprise.

"You mean...?"

"You, Saratoga, know as much about her family as I do. And I've known her far longer." Anya said.

"But can't you, You know, look them up?" The Carrier Asked. Anya chuckled somewhat before shaking her head, looking to the woman.

"That's not how this works, Saratoga." The Admiral told her. "You don't simply go behind someone's back to find information that is theirs to tell." She said. "Though, if it makes you feel better, we both knew this would happen or come up at some point."

"You did?" Saratoga asked, peering at the woman.

"Mhm." Anya replied. "With how much my own family seems to be involved with the base and make random, unannounced visits, we both figured it was only a question of when, not if, someone would begin to ask about her own family." She said. "So, don't feel too bad. She was expecting it from someone at some point." The Admiral told her as she and Prinz finished up their work, Anya standing full as she looked over the room before going for the cat bed the two had brought with them.

"So she's never told you anything about her family?" Saratoga asked, somewhat unbelieving as she continued to let Prince bat at her finger.

"I mean, she's told me stories of her childhood. She growing up in Nevada." She said. "None of it's particularly happy or satisfying, but she has told me. But it was always begrudgingly, always as a last answer if I've ever heard em." She explained, looking to the Carrier. "Of course, what they prey tell once again aren't my place to say or explain." She said. "But I will say the Captain Algerona you met on your first day on base is nothing like the woman I first met twelve years ago."

"She's not?" Saratoga almost blurted in surprise, looking to the blonde. Anya shook her head.

"When I met Sofia I. Algerona, she was a loud mouthed, no nonsense, sassy as all fuck kind of woman." She said. "When we first entered the Naval academy, she really couldn't stand me. She wanted nothing to do with me. Because as much as she wanted nothing to do with her past, it still makes who you are as a person. And she had opinions. And a lot of them. Mostly about how much I needed to stop invading her space, she would say while widely gesturing to our room, lest I leave the mark of my military brattiness behind." She said. "Lindsey and Melissa hated her at first and I wasn't too far behind." She said. "She was brash, crude, and loud."

"But it didn't stay that way." Saratoga assumed.

"No, it didn't. As the months wore on, we learned what made one another tick. What made each other operate. But it never really started really changing until the first Christmas break. Mostly everyone was going home to their families, and she was getting real finicky about the whole thing. So I invited her over to my house for the break. Let me just say, it was a mistake. She and my siblings got along far too well." She said.

"But that's not what Captain Algerona is like at all." Prinz finally added to the conversation. "She's not rude, she's not loud, she's not outspoken." The Heavy cruiser said. Anya nodded.

"And she's not." Anya said. "It was almost as if it happened overnight. When The Captain learned that her sister had gone missing, she almost changed in the quietest ways. She wasn't outspoken anymore. She wasn't loud. She didn't offer the kind of sass that she did when her sister was still around." She explained. "If I didn't know the circumstances, I would've just outright called her a different person altogether."

"But, can losing someone change you that drastically?" Saratoga asked. Anya shrugged.

"You're gonna tell me that you were always this brash when Lexington was still alive? Back during the war?" The Admiral asked in response.

Saratoga didn't respond.

"When did the Captain's sister go missing?" Prinz Eugen Asked. Anya thought about it a moment.

"I think the last contact confirmed by Sofia with any of her family was late 2014, early 2015 if I remember right. We haven't talked about it in a while though, but I'm pretty sure that's the area of time of when it happened." She said.

"At least she managed to avoid this war." Saratoga sighed. Anya shrugged.

"Maybe. Maybe not. They're still pulling human remains from San Francisco, New York, And other major cities that were still attacked but not nearly as battered." She said. "And that's only when she went missing. We don't know anything about her whereabouts in 2018. She could've very well still been a casualty in the opening hours of this war. And that's assuming she wasn't already dead by that time."

"That's... a little morbid, Admiral Johnson." Prinz Eugen supplied, somewhat uneasy by the sudden topic shift of the conversation. Anya shrugged.

"It may be Morbid, but it's a very real possibility that the Captain wakes up to every morning. The possibility that she may or will never see her sister again." Anya said as she crossed her arms. "But, whatever the case, don't worry about the Captain too much. If you're worried about her being angry about what you said on your way here, Sofia really doesn't hold a grudge. "Just give her a little time to cool off and she'll be right as rain." She offered, placing a hand on the side of her neck. "Now, if everything's set up here, you should be good to play with Prince for a while. I need to go check in on the four hooligans." She explained.

The heavy cruiser and carrier nodded at that, allowing Anya to slip from the room, closing the door behind her as she made way back for the office, peering around the corner to find Sofia standing where the previous four had been. They in question were standing as the Captain apparently searched the floor for any puddles or remaining water the four had missed in cleaning. When they noticed Anya standing in the doorway, the four carriers stood just a little straighter as Sofia stood as well.

"So. Have Sharkbait and Co properly done their jobs?" She asked as she looked to the Captain. Sofia nodded at that as she put her hands on her hips.

"Floor's dry as can be. How's McCalla?" Sofia asked in return.

"She was all good." Anya replied. "Maybe startled at most, but besides that, she's all good. She might have a bump on the head for a little bit, but other than that." She said. "But given that the floor is dry, I suppose that means the four of you have done your job." The woman said as she turned to the four. "That aside, I do hope this teaches you a valuable lesson. I do not care if you wish to play practical jokes on someone expecting them to be played, but make sure the one you're fixing to hit is going to be the correct person. Like I said, what if you had hit Emma?" She asked.

"She's at school right-"

"That's not the point, Hornet. The only reason McCalla wasn't injured by the bucket is because she's a destroyer. A Bucket that heavy could've seriously injured Emma or even me or the Captain. Could've given any normal human a concussion. Look, I'm fine with you girls reeking havoc and engaging in some sort of prank war. But this is not a war that will engage in acceptable casualties. Do I make myself clear?" Anya asked as she looked to the four.

When the four of them nodded in reply, Anya simply offered a dismissive wave.

"Admiral..?" Hornet Asked after a moment, the Admiral glancing to the woman in turn.

"Yeah?" She asked.

"Our hangars...?" Yorktown inquired.

"Are safe." Anya replied. "I wasn't actually going to make you all Sortie with Japanese aircraft. That'd be going just a little too far in most cases. But I'm serious otherwise. Make sure you know who you're gonna catch in the crossfire or next time I might not have such a sense of humor about it all. Do I make myself clear?" She asked.

The four nodded.

Anya offered a wave of the hand.

The four carriers scattered before she could change her mind. Watching them practically all but run for the door, leaving Anya and Sofia in their office. Chuckling somewhat, Anya closed the doors to the office a moment before glancing back to Sofia, who was just now easing herself into her chair. After a moment, Anya finally fully turned to face the woman as she made way for her own desk.

"If you're gonna bring up some conversation about my sister, save it." Sofia offered as an opening statement. Anya chuckled dryly somewhat.

"So Saratoga did ruffle some feathers then." Anya replied as she sat down in her chair. "I was beginning to assume that you'd shrugged it off." She said.

"Save it Anya." Sofia snapped. Anya smirked somewhat at that, glancing at the woman.

"Is that really the way to address your superior officer?" She asked with a joking nature. Sofia rolled her eyes at that.

"You're right. I apologize, Admiral Antagonize." She returned, leaning back in her chair somewhat. At that, Anya got up, making way for the woman's desk, leaning back against it as she looked down to the woman.

"She really caught you that off guard then." Anya said quietly, looking to Sofia as she crossed her arms. "You know, even if it's Saratoga, she didn't mean anything by it." She said.

"I know she didn't." Sofia returned. "Just, I was backed into a corner." She said. "And you of all people know that I don't like being backed into corners. Whether or not they relate to my family." She said. Anya nodded at that.

"Sara thinks she's an asshole for it though." The Admiral said.

"Saratoga? An asshole? Nooooooooo." Sofia drawled dramatically. Anya chuckled at that somewhat for a moment before the smile slowly slipped from her lips. The Captain lazily glanced up at the woman, one that she saw as both a friend and a sister.

"What's wrong with you?" She asked.

"All this. Everything we have here. The girls are happy. The fleet's growing. They're building their lives in a war. But how long until the other shoe drops? How long until the war catches up with us?" She asked. Sofia only shrugged.

"We're both in too deep, Anya. If there comes a day when one of them don't come home, we all suffer together. That's how it's gonna work." She said with a sigh. Anya only sighed at that a moment before nodding.

"I know." She said. "But that doesn't make it any easier."

"Nor would I expect it too." Sofia replied. "But we both know that there's a good chance that eventually, one day, one of em's not gonna come home. And I really hope you don't cry." She said. "Because your crying face Is kind of ugly." Sofia said.

Anya immediately scowled, Sofia laughing at her own joke as the Admiral swatted at the Captain, Sofia taking the jab with grace as she laughed.

"On the other hand." Sofia said. "Maybe it wouldn't be such a bad idea to have some Psychs apart of the base staff. Because even if no one sinks, this is still a war and a lot of them have to watch each other bleed or be broken in combat. Maybe it's not much now, but how long is this war gonna go on? Another five years? Ten years?" She asked, looking up to the woman. "It really couldn't be a bad idea." She said.

"Yeah." Anya Answered with a hum. "Heh, maybe Doctor Rushman will pay us a visit. She was with the girls down in Pearl after all." She said.

"As the docks supervisor." Sofia replied with a roll of the eyes. "And wasn't Emily the real one you messed around when you were back in high school? Off the record?" She asked, a smirk growing on her lips as Anya rolled her eyes this time.

"It's good to know my sisters can keep secrets." She said with a huff. "How Long have you known that?" She asked.

"First time I met Cynthia." Sofia replied. "She was convinced that you and I were a thing. You remember that? How sure fire of it that she was?" She asked with a grin. Anya rolled her eyes.

"Yeah I remember. You were about ready to tear Cynthia a new one. And so was she to you. All in all, it was a pretty memorable Christmas. Would experience again." She laughed. "Before all this War." She said, her laughter dying off somewhat. "But the Psych ideas a good one. I'll see if Heyfield can't get us some personnel. Maybe see if Germany and Japan would be willing to send some too. But that's all for later. Don't you have a date tonight?" She asked with a smirk.

Sofia rolled her eyes.

"Call it a date and Zuikaku will kill both you and me. We're just watching some movies." Sofia said with a huff. "We fell asleep thirty minutes into three." She informed her.

"And you're not gonna watch the Clone Wars?" Anya asked. "Isn't that really important to grand scheme of the story?" Inquired. Sofia gave the woman an odd look.

"Didn't think you were into all they kind of stuff." She said.

"I'm not." Anya replied as she turned to her own desk. "That doesn't mean I don't know things though." She said. "Come on, you know me. I'm not some kind of nerd. What, you expect me to go fight an Abyssal with some sort of energy sword?" She asked jokingly. Sofia only rolled her eyes at that, though the grin she adorned told that she wasn't actually upset.

"Yeah, yeah." She said with a sigh. "But there's a day to get through before that."

—/—\—

She picked lazily at the parfait before her as she watched those around her interact with one another. She watched as those around her chatted and laughed like old friends. She watched as those around her seemed to pay her presence no mind.

Being apart of the Grand Fleet was a daunting assignment, Lammote-picquet had decided.

American. Japanese. British. Australian. German. Russian. French. And Italian. All sailing, all fighting for the same goal.

The world had come a long way from the last time she herself had tasted salt. She didn't know how to think about this. She didn't know what to think about this. The last time she knew, America was knocking at her country's door.

And now, she sat across the room from three of their battleships, the cruiser idly glancing at the forms of Idaho, Mississippi, and Maryland, easily chatting with one another.

On her side of the room, she found four Japanese cruisers, Kuma, Kitakami, But She could not recall the other two. Even if she had given her name in front of them, there was so many names going through her head, she couldn't possibly remember em all without the help of her crew. Shaking her head, she took a bite of her parfait, glancing to another table.

There she found a mixture of Japanese and American Heavy Cruisers. Myoukou, Mogami, San Francisco, And... Alaska?

Wait? Wasn't Alaska a Large Cruiser?

Lammote only groaned to herself at this, letting her head slump somewhat while she swallowed the bite of parfait before opening her mouth in a sigh. Already, she can feel another headache coming on. There were too many names, too much to try and remember. After all, she could barely even remember the commander's names, let alone every single member of the Grand fleet. And she hadn't even met every single member of the fleet yet. At most, she'd met maybe sixty. And half of those were only because of her own dorm building.

The Australian ship girls, as she understood it, were only minutes older than her in this form upon returning to life. But there was so many more of them compared to the nine French ship girls that called Yokosuka home.

She hadn't even had a serious run in with any American ship girl yet.

Let alone her.

She glanced upwards at the counter where she found the resident tenders of the Cafe standing about, chatting with one another. If she could remember even their names, Lammote would be rather proud of herself at the end of the day. Let's see, there was Houshou, Langley, Irako, Mamiya, And...?

Oh what was it!?

Diancie?

Nancy? No that wasn't right.

"Yancey!" Someone called as they walked into the Cafe.

That was it! Yancey!

Lammote smiled to herself somewhat as she took another bite of her parfait.

"Oh hey Massachusetts." Yancey greeted with a wave of the hand, leaning against the counter.

Lammote nearly coughed up a lung at the sudden inclusion of the name as she jerked her head to the left, nearly having to crane her neck to look up at the battleship in all of her height. She knew the American battleship had been tall, but sitting down next to her made it so much worse. She slammed her fist against her chest to get herself back in order, to bring her coughing fit to an end. But in doing so, she'd attracted the attention of the very battleship that had caused it in the first place, Massachusetts looking down to the cruiser a moment.

"Are you Alright?" Massachusetts Asked as she looked to the cruiser. Lamotte-Picquet, wanting to do nothing more than fade away into nothing at the moment, could only nod in response to the question, stuck staring up at the battleship as Yancey approached the cruiser, leaning on the table.

"You okay, Lamotte-Picquet?" Yancey Asked, trying her best to pronounce the girl's name right.

"Oh, so that's your name." Massachusetts said. "I'm sorry, I couldn't recall it for the life of me. I'm not too good with names." She said, scratching the back of her head a moment. Lammote only nodded somewhat at that, still staring dumbly up at the battleship. So much to the point that Yancey decided to wave a hand in front of the cruiser's face, eventually snapping Lamotte-Picquet out of it that way.

"Hey, hun. Are you alright?" Yancey asked as she looked to the cruiser. It took a moment, but eventually, Lamotte nodded in response.

"Yes, I am alright. I..." she trailed off as she glanced to Massachusetts again uneasily, glancing up at her before her eyes found her parfait once again. Yancey frowned, opening her mouth to say something before Massachusetts put up a hand to the Cargo ship.

"Lets give her some space." Massachusetts suggested before offering a smile to the cruiser in parting before turning away and heading for the counter. Yancey spared Lamotte one last glance before making way for the counter as well, stepping behind it as she stood apart from Massy.

"So? What's the issue there?" She asked.

"I thought I recognized her name the other day. So I did some fact checking." Massachusetts told her with a sigh. "I'm the one who sunk her in the last war. Which explains perfectly why she's so antsy around me." She sighed. Yancey offered a low whistle at that, leaning against the counter somewhat.

"That's rough." She sighed. "But she doesn't seem to actively hate you for it though." She remarked quietly, glancing around the battleship at the cruiser a moment before back to Massachusetts. The battleship sighed somewhat.

"It's because she went down apart do Vichy France. Or at least I assume. But she certainly isn't comfortable with me." She said. Yancey opened her mouth to say something when the the door to the Cafe opened, drawing her gaze. And she sighed.

"You might be right." She Answered.

Massachusetts turned and looked. Only to find the parfait that Lamotte had been eating still there. But the cruiser was long gone.

"Yeah." She sighed. "That's what I was afraid of."

—/—\—

She couldn't be thankful enough to be back at Base. The second her feet hit solid ground, she practically ran for her dorms, making it to her room in record time. She hadn't taken any damage on the Sortie, so she didn't need to spend any time in the repair docks, which was thankful enough.

When Tone had said they'd had six hours to kill, she hadn't been kidding. For six hours, the fleet had practically interrogated the youngest crane for any info they could grab. For any sort of sliver of intelligence they could handle. And for the most part, Zuikaku hadn't given them a thing.

Which had immediately lead the fleet into trying to assume what kind of partner she would be.

Musashi had even been so bold to suggest that the carrier herself was into mooring. As if! Zuikaku knew she herself had far more class than that.

Slapping a hand to her face, she silently hoped that it was just to be her and the Captain tonight. She knew above most, Captain Algerona wouldn't push anything she didn't want to actively discuss and they could focus on the movie before them. And without a Sortie the next morning, she could get more than a few hours of peace. Or, relative peace to be honest.

She sighed as she stepped into the Japanese dorm building, sighing somewhat as she did so as she immediately began to head for the stairs.

The Japanese Dorm building wasn't like the American dorms, being only four floors. But it was also far longer than the American Dorm complex, allowing for more ship girls to stay there. It meant while that the American dorms were nearing the first full building, this one wasn't even half full. And probably wouldn't be until they neared Ship Girl Numbers they were no where close too.

Walking herself up the stairs, the Carrier was more than looking forwards to a bath before dinner. And given that she had the time, she was going to make the most of it. But as she stepped onto the second level, what they called the Battleship level where all of the Japanese battleships made their homes, she found herself being stopped as she found Yamato coming down the hallway in her direction.

"Ah, Zuikaku-San. If you're back, then that must mean Musashi is back as well." She assumed. Zuikaku offered a small nod, rubbing her face again.

"Yeah, She is. She took some light damage yesterday so she'll probably be in the repair docks if you're looking for her." She said after a moment. At that, Yamato offered a kind smile in turn.

"You appear tired, Zuikaku. Was being flagship of a Joint Fleet really that tiring?" She asked. "I understand you had the three legendary destroyers of the American Taffy 3 alongside you. Were they everything i remember?" She asked, peering down at the carrier.

"Yes." Zuikaku replied lazily, looking up at the battleship. "And that's exactly the problem." She said. "You May be the biggest thing they rushed, but you're far from the only one. I had to have Taffy 3 as my plane guard because the stupid Tin cans wouldn't stop rushing Abyssal battleships!" She huffed. "Admiral Hipper took a shell for it. Tone and Chikuma nearly did the same as well." She sighed. Yamato laughed, covering her mouth with a hand as she did. "Yamato-San, they could've sunk! I'd like to think that's not such a funny subject."

"It's not that, Zuikaku-San. It's simply amusing to think that even in today's world. Even if they are sailing alongside their own nation's ship girls or alongside those of the countries they once knew as enemies, they do not change. It's somewhat of a refreshing take on this life, even those that met insurmountable odds once before do not allow that to become a discouragement. But of course, when the number one battleship crosses over, most of us battleships will have to relent our titles." She offered.

"Number one battleship? Who? Iowa? New Jersey?" She asked. Yamato shook her head pleasantly.

"No. One known as Samuel B. Roberts. It's been that much agreed between the Japanese and American battleships present that such a title will go to her when she eventually makes her way to base." She said. Zuikaku thought a moment, racking her brain over whatever information that she'd collected about the Americans history over the last few months before giving pause.

"The Destroyer escort apart of Taffy 3? Isn't that a little... odd to be givin a destroyer escort the title of number one battleship?" The Carrier Asked.

"Not when it is warranted." Yamato offered in rebuttal. Zuikaku blinked before shrugging.

"I mean, if that's what you want I guess, more power to you then." She said. "Hey, I had a question. How's Totomi and Tosa settling in. You've been spending a lot of time with them lately, right?" She asked as she looked to the battleship. Yamato nodded in understanding at the question as she tapped a finger to her chin a moment.

"Totomi's been settling in wonderfully." She offered. "She's still a little slow going on the water as of yet, which is why she's not been deployed. But she's learning quickly. Right alongside Tosa, Nagato, and Louisiana." She offered.

"I'm assuming Kaga's been helping along Tosa as much as she can." She said.

"She has." Yamato confirmed. "Tosa's presence has been an odd but welcome one. And Kaga seems to have changed for it as well, becoming more open with those around her somewhat." She told her. "Honestly, seeing the two of them together is almost too good to be true. I do hope we're graced by a visit from Amagi as well." She said. Zuikaku nodded at that.

"Yeah." She Agreed. "Though I wonder what she'd think when she learns her sister is dating the Ghost." She mused. Yamato shrugged.

"In another life, it could've been me dating the Ghost. Or you." She said, a hand on her hip as she stood there. Zuikaku shook her head at that.

"Yeah, no thanks. I like being able to eat meals in peace. Not to gulp em down trying to get to the next one that much faster." She said. "Plus, after today, I'm gonna have more than enough rumors about me and Captain Algerona." She sighed. "So how's Louisiana and Nagato settling in?" She asked, trying her best to ignore the look that Yamato was giving her now on account of the most recent bit of information. "Yamato. Please. How're Louisiana and Nagato?" She asked again.

"Oh, um." Yamato said. "USS Nagato is settling in well enough as well, much with the help of Nagato and Mutsu. Not to mention that the American fleet themselves, most of have been quite receptive. And Louisiana, as you would expect, is constantly doted by her older cousins. All in all, the group of them are settling in well enough." The battleship told her. "So what is this I hear about you and Captain Algerona?" She asked, a small smile curling at her lips. Zuikaku scowled at her feet a moment before looking up to Yamato again.

"You better not go spreading rumors, Yamato." She said. Yamato only smiled at that.

"Why would I do so? When there's others apart of our fleet so better adapted at it?" She asked with a chuckle. "As I understand it, Mutsu was apart of your fleet, was she not?" The battleship inquired. Zuikaku sighed at the sudden point, nodding her head.

"She was." She sighed. "And considering Tone and Chikuma wouldn't shut their mouths, my guess is she's got quite the fire to build." She assumed. "Ugh, why can't everyone just mind their own business? Why isn't that a thing that people can learn to do?" She asked. Yamato simply shrugged.

"I think it has more to do with the fact that it is you of all people getting cozy with an American. And not even a ship girl. An American commanding officer." Yamato said. "Does it bother you?" She asked.

"What? That she's American?" Zuikaku asked. "No, that's not what bothers me. What bothers me is that everyone's gonna blow all of this way out of proportion and there's gonna be all these rumors flying around. Like, I wouldn't be surprised if at one point there's a betting pool on it." She huffed. "She happens to be American. But all we're doing is watching movies. There's nothing more to it then that and I really don't understand why people are trying to make this something it's not!" She huffed. Yamato only smiled.

"But let me ask you this, Zuikaku." Yamato Answered. "Is this movie night, you sitting down with an American captain like you're going to do and just watch movies for a few hours. Is that something you would've done when the Americans first arrived on base? During last July?" She asked, crossing her arms somewhat.

"No." Zuikaku Answered without hesitation.

"Then I believe that is your reason right there." Yamato Answered. "It's not so much that you're cozy with an American more of the fact that you're willing to give an American a chance." She said. Zuikaku rolled her eyes.

"I'm not getting cozy with anyone." She replied, crossing her arms. "And I give Enterprise a chance. I gave Langley and Lexington chances." She fired back. Yamato only smiled at that somewhat as she looked to the Carrier.

"We both know there is a major difference between Enterprise and Captain Algerona." Yamato returned. "While yes, Enterprise represents an obstacle that we couldn't overcome in the last war, there is a large gap between the most notorious American Carrier and an American Navy Captain." She said.

"In that case, when you put it that way, shouldn't it be E's that's the one whose hard to approach? I mean, like you said, she was an obstacle. We thought we sunk her multiple times, only to be proven wrong again and again. She doesn't hold the Ghost moniker for no reason."

"And you know that better than anyone." Yamato replied. "The last of the Kido Butai, the last of the six that started the war. You saw better than the rest of us just what kind of Giant we'd awakened. If you, of all people, are willing to give the Americans a chance, it's more than refreshing to most if that's the case. Though, if you did end up with the Captain, it's not as if it wouldn't be quite adorable." She said in supply. Zuikaku only scowled at the battleship.

"Don't talk like that. Literally, it's just some movies. A lot of which I don't really understand. But the Captain is courteous enough to explain a lot of it." She said.

"So she's patient." Yamato snickered. Zuikaku rolled her eyes at that somewhat, shaking her head.

"I'm serious Yamato. I don't need you spreading rumors too. Or starting a betting pool. Heavens know we've already lost enough money to the one already going." She huffed. "And like I said, I don't really see how it's anyone else's business what I do or who I relax with. I wish people would just mind their own business for once and leave people in peace." She said. "Anyways, I'm gonna head up. I want to get a bath in before Dinner. Like I said, Musashi's in the docks." She said. Yamato offered a smile in passing before walking past her at that, their conversation finished.

Zuikaku sighed as she made her way to the third level, this being for the carrier's.

And immediately ran into Zuihou.

"Hey Zuikaku. Heard you were going somewhere with Algerona tonight." She greeted almost immediately.

Zuikaku hung her head in defeat as she sighed.

—/—\—

Eugenio Di Savoia watched those on bass come and go, watching as pairs went that way while trios went this way. It was an odd feeling being apart of a fleet this large, this international. Back then, she'd just been happy with whatever fleet she found herself in. But one like this?

Where Japanese and American fighters flew together?

Where British and German guns sung in unison?

Where American and German subs hunted side by side?

Where German and French sailed together?

It was more than a little mind boggling if she was being honest with herself, as she sat there, watching various members of her fleet walk to and fro. She knew Dinner was quickly approaching, but that almost seemed to be a back thought as she watched, leaning back somewhat. She couldn't help but wonder about what the future held for such a fleet.

"Something interesting to you?" Someone asked from her side, Eugenio looking over to find who it was. Before her stood a ship girl she didn't recognize, not one that she'd spoken too or recognized.

"Just people watching." Eugenio replied, unsure if that was actually a thing. Surely it must be, right? People watching? The ship girl snorted in return.

"Nyet. I believe most people simply call that stalking." The ship girl replied easily, crossing her arms as she looked to the woman. Eugenio blinked a moment before her eyes widened in surprise.

"Stalking?! I would never! I am simply watching those of the Grand fleet-" She tried, but tapered off when the ship girl she was conversing with started laughing somewhat, placing a hand on her hip as she did so.

"I am kidding!" The Ship girl laughed. "It's a joke." She said as she looked to Eugenio. The Italian cruiser for all her worth however didn't really laugh back, instead only electing to stare at the woman before her.

"It's not very funny..." She said after a moment. The ship girl in question only rolled her eyes.

"Leningrad thought the same thing." She offered in reply. Eugenio blinked at the name before nodding somewhat, gesturing to the woman.

"Leningrad huh? Then that must make you-"

"Soviet Cruiser Molotov." Molotov greeted. "You're Eugene right?" She inquired as she looked down at the cruiser.

"Eugenio di Savoia." Eugenio Replied, somewhat exasperated. "I do not see the humor in shortening my name. Prinz Eugen is named after the same figure I am. But no one shortens her name." She insisted. "Honestly."

"I think that's because the two of you, Eugen is a bit more memorable." Molotov Answered her, prompting Eugenio to look at her with narrowed eyes. "Not that there's anything wrong with that. Lots of the fleet didn't end up as these notorious ships or anything and that's just fine." She said. "Can I sit here?" The Cruiser asked as she gestured next to Eugenio. After a moment, Eugenio relented and nodded to the question, gesturing for Molotov to take it. The cruiser nodded in thanks as she sat down next to the Italian, falling silent a moment before speaking. "It's odd isn't it?" She asked.

"What?" Eugenio Asked.

"This. This fleet. Being human. It's all so... surreal." She said. "First, we were all steel hulls. And now, we're human. Just like our crews." She said as she looked down at her hands. "It's Quite the experience. One that you yourself has only known for two days." She said. Eugenio nodded at that as she looked to the cruiser.

"And you? How long have you been a human?" She asked. Molotov shrugged.

"More towards the better part of a month I guess." Molotov replied. "It's been an interesting experience so far." She said.

"And what's been your favorite part of it all?" Eugenio asked as she looked to the cruiser, watching her.

"Hmmmmm.... probably eating. Yeah, eating is pretty good. So many good foods to try out there and I haven't even experienced a fraction of them." She said.

"And your least?" She asked.

"Having to Argue with eighty American ship girls who gets first use of the showers in the morning." She said in reply with a chuckle. Eugenio briefly let her mind wander to the sight before shuddering.

"I suppose that would be a lot of yelling so early in the morning." She Agreed.

"What about you? Your fleet shares with the German Fleet, do you not?" She asked. Eugenio nodded at that.

"But it's far more controlled. Admiral Herkunft has been very apt with schedules for us to keep in the morning, allowing for everyone to make sure they get quality time with the bathroom before breakfast." She said. "She is not Italian and I am unsure of my own feelings of Germany at the moment, but I suppose I could've gotten unlucky in that regard. Gotten someone who only favors their own nation's ship girls. Pola has been very adamant that Admiral Herkunft does not look down on us for being of a different nation. And her daughter Emma is someone I adore very much, even though she really will not approach me."

"All of the Base commanders so far have been quite agreeable. Captain King. Admiral Johnson. Captain Algerona. Admiral Herkunft. Admiral Ishigara, who might I add, is a very poor chess player. But a very good conversationalist if you ever find yourself with spare time." Molotov said.

"Hmmm, I do suppose we have been very blessed to be placed under the command of people who do not simply see a fleet of weapons. People that actually value our names and who we are as individuals instead of simply seeing a fleet as a whole." She said. Molotov nodded at that as she offered a small smile.

"Let us hope that our own eventual Italian and Russian commanders are as helpful as those we've met so far have been, no?" She asked as she looked to Eugenio. The Italian cruiser only smiled in response at that, offering a nod in certain agreement.

A gust of wind blew by them, causing both of the two to shiver somewhat.

"Agreed. I will look forwards to seeing just what kind of Commander Russia will send for it's fleet." Eugenio commented.

"You May find yourself quite surprised." Molotov laughed. "But I will be looking forwards as well to seeing just what kind of leader Italy provides. Though, Russia never had the kind of fleet that Italy or the US or Britain had."

"That does not mean you can not take pride in being a Russian ship girl, no?" Eugenio inquired. Molotov nodded in agreement.

"A point to be recognized to be sure." Molotov replied as she watched out over the bay a moment before looking back to Eugenio. "We should probably head to Dinner. Come and let us be regailed by more of Leningrad's wondrous stories. Mind you, none of them are true." Molotov offered, offering a wide smile and a hand as she stood.

Eugenio simply smiled, taking the cruiser's hand.

She hoped that smile would never fade.

—/—\—

"What're you doing?" Sofia asked as she walked back into their shared office after coming back from dinner. The Captain was now dressed in a pair of sweatpants and a long sleeve shirt, adorning a pair of rainbow socks with them. Her hair was down for once, something she'd only done once before, when Anya had brought twenty one ship girls at three in the morning.

"Browsing Reddit." Anya returned, sparing a glance at the woman a moment before looking back to the screen.

"Excuse me?" Sofia asked for confirmation.

"The ship girl subreddit." Anya replied. "Anything Ship girl related usually makes its way there. I'm looking to see if the public is starting to figure us out." She said.

"Are they?" Sofia asked, growing generally curious. Anya nodded at that.

"Yeah. Among other things, apparently, someone caught a picture of E and Akagi smooching the day we went out to the Medical clinic. So there's that, people demanding to know who's apparently charmed their way into the heart of one of the most prolific Japanese carriers in history." She explained. "But that's not been their biggest hint that not all is as it seems here on Yokosuka." She explained.

"Oh?" Sofia inquired. "And what might that be?" She asked.

"You." Anya replied, glancing up at the Captain. Sofia blinked a moment

"Me?" She asked, almost unsure if she'd heard her right. Anya nodded as she gestured for the woman to come over to her and look at what she meant, Sofia doing so hastily. As she did so, Anya clicked on a post.

Aptly named 'Mystery Woman'.

"Because you were there at the Clinic and then the Ice Cream shop, and then Tokyo, and then the pet shop today, people have associated your presence with the ship girls. And on top of that, someone made you out as a graduate of Annapolis. Probably someone we even knew if I had to guess, but the point stands. People now know there's an American naval officer hanging around with Japanese ship girls. I figure it's only a matter of time until they put me into the picture." She said as she gestured to three different pictures of Sofia.

Well, the pictures weren't of Sofia persay, they were of various Japanese ship girls. But each picture had been zoomed in and Sofia circled in red, showing her presence with each one.

It was a little unnerving if Sofia was being honest.

"That's not creepy at all." She said, scratching her head as she looked.

"Is now a bad time to mention that some people think you're cute?" Anya asked in an amused manner, smirking up at Sofia smugly. Sofia batted at the woman.

"I can't be the biggest hint to the Ship girl program. You are not saying I am the biggest give away of this whole time we've been in Japan." She reasoned. Anya nodded.

"And you're not." She said as she went to another post, made about four hours earlier. It was the same picture taken by the girl earlier that day, the same picture that Saratoga had given Jintsuu the bunny ears. The post itself had already been viewed almost three million times and shared over seven hundred and fifty thousand rounds.

The post was aptly named 'The Devil Queen'

"Saratoga?" Sofia asked, somewhat surprised as she looked at the picture, focusing in completely on Saratoga's face.

"Saratoga has unintentionally become a focal point for the world and the image of the yet to be announced American ship girl fleet. Apparently, having yellow eyes like hers warrants a lot of attention." She said. "Who knew."

"Does Saratoga know?" Sofia inquired somewhat as she looked at the picture a moment longer before looking to Anya. The woman shrugged at that.

"I've no idea." She said. But at that, the front door to the American HQ opened, both women craning their necks to look at who it was. At first, they couldn't tell. Whoever it was, they were dressed in laxed clothing and their hair was down. It was pretty hard to recognize whoever it was that-

Wait.

"Zuikaku?" Sofia called, prompting the mystery woman to immediately look to the women in surprise.

So it was Zuikaku.

"Captain. Admiral." Zuikaku greeted as she entered the office, standing before them a moment.

The two American officers only stared.

Zuikaku fidgeted in place somewhat at the unfounded staring.

"Is there something wrong?" The Carrier Asked unsurely, But still crossing her arms as she looked to the two. The question however seemed to indeed snap the two from their apparent trances, Sofia offering a smile.

"No, there's nothing wrong. I just wasn't expecting you to have your hair down. You've usually got them up in the hair ties." Sofia Answered her. Zuikaku huffed at that, running a hand through her now long hair.

"We weren't gonna do anything but watching movies. I figured it would be ok." She said. Sofia nodded.

"And it is." Sofia confirmed. "It's just odd seeing you with your hair down. It's not a bad thing, just different." She said.

"It's not like I sleep in the hair ties." Zuikaku muttered. Sofia only laughed at that somewhat, nodding in reply.

"Fair, Fair I suppose." She offered in reply. She looked back to Anya in response, who stood.

"That's fine. I'm gonna turn in early anyways. Maryland's not been feeling to well and shed like to get to bed early as well." The woman said, glancing at the clock. Which was just now settling in at 9:35. Humming, Anya nodded to them in passing before she found herself suddenly stopped at the door.

Zuikaku and Sofia glanced around the door frame to find Anya standing face to face with Bristol.

Sighing to herself somewhat, Anya eventually nodded in reply to a silent question that apparently only she knew what it asked as she leaned down and picked Bristol up, settling her on her hip as she began to make way up the stairs, Sofia arching a brow as she watched.

Zuikaku blinked.

"What was that about?" She asked. Sofia shrugged.

"Bristol's been having nightmares more and more recently. When we ask about, she can't seem to remember em. But they're bad, she comes here to sleep with Anya. Though, for whatever reason, Anya and Maryland have been getting a little fidgety in the mornings lately. Anyways, to the show." Sofia said, walking out of the office and towards the movie room, Zuikaku following behind.

As they were walking down the Hallway however, someone called out to Sofia from behind. Turning, the Captain and Zuikaku found someone standing there.

Zuikaku met eyes with her first, and she had to resist from scowling.

Sofia Met them second, and her eyes asked questions that only she could answer.

"Saratoga." Sofia greeted, her tone betraying nothing. The carrier in question watched Zuikaku a moment longer before shifting her gaze to the Captain a moment.

"Can we talk a moment. Captain?" Saratoga asked as she looked to the woman. Sofia held for a minute until she looked to Zuikaku, offering the Japanese Carrier a short nod, sending her on before the woman turned back to the American Carrier, walking towards her slowly until the two were back within the lobby of the American HQ.

"Yes?" Sofia asked eventually, crossing her arms as she looked to the Carrier. Saratoga sighed a moment, closing her eyes.

"I was out of line this morning." She said. "I was trying to push a subject I had no business doing so. And given how I am with my own sister, that was way off boundaries for me. It wasn't right of me to push a subject like that, especially with everyone else right there. So, what I'm trying to say is I'm sorry I guess." She said, meeting eyes with the Captain. Sofia watched her a moment, her gaze unchanging before the woman offered only a brief chuckle, quickly collapsing to a sigh.

"You weren't out of line. You didn't know about any of that going into that conversation and I should've shut it down the second I realized we were gonna end up somewhere I didn't want it to be. So in part of this, it's my bad that I didn't act sooner to prevent it." She said. "I appreciate the apology, but a lot of this was on me." She said.

"So.. you're not mad?" Saratoga asked.

"With a fleet like the one we have, it was bound to come up at some point." Sofia said. "Not expecting it to would've been ignorant of me." She said with a chuckle.

"Oh." Saratoga blinked. Sofia shook her head in amusement as she nodded to the Carrier.

"Goodnight Saratoga." Sofia offered. Saratoga nodded at that in return.

"Goodnight Captain." She returned before making way for the door, quickly leaving the HQ building behind. But as she did so, that stupid song that Cabot kept singing popped into her head once again, the Carrier huffing.

She might not like it, but she had to admit it was catchy.

"The Devil went down to Georgia, he was looking for a soul to steal." She sung quietly to herself as she walked back towards the dorms.

Back inside, Sofia huffed as she entered the movie room, Zuikaku already seated on the couch. The carrier turned to look to the woman, arching a brow as she played with one of the remotes present.

"Everything alright with Saratoga?" She inquired, though the carrier couldn't really decide if she cared about the carrier or not. Sofia nodded a moment after that, rubbing her face somewhat.

"Yeah, everything's good." She offered for a Reply. "So, the Admiral brought up a good point today. We were in the third movie, but there's a whole animated series that takes place between two and three that really adds to the story." She said. Zuikaku arched a brow.

"Does it add to the story?" She asked. Sofia nodded.

"Both the story and the characters themselves." She said. Zuikaku huffed a moment before shrugging.

"Alright. But you realize at this point it's gonna be December before we even get to nine at this rate." She said. Sofia only chuckled at that. "And I'm not sitting through anything else without popcorn. It was too late last time. This time, I refuse to go without." She said. Sofia nodded.

"Fair." She said with a chuckle.

—/—\—

Admiral Valeria Sonferi wiped the exhaustion from her eyes, sipping at her drink a moment before resting the mug on her desk as she scoured through the various stacks of paperwork making themselves right at home upon the surface there. She glared at them a moment, simply willing them to cease to exist. But when it didn't work, she went back to trying to find what she needed.

All the way until a panicked man entered her office, Valeria looking up to the man almost immediately despite her exhaustion.

"Yes? What is it? Out with it!" The Admiral ordered. Immediately, the man opened a file and handed her a photo, blurry and hard to make out. But she could still make out some forms in it.

"Just came in from Aerial Recon near Gibraltar." He stated. "They tore through three frigates before breaking into the Mediterranean." He reported. Valeria nodded at that as she studied the photo a moment.

"So? The Abyssals break through the strait all the time. I don't-"

"New York." He suddenly interrupted. Valeria blinked.

"Excuse me?" She asked, not understanding.

"Reports indicate that a group of those Abyssals pictured there haven't been seen since the Attack on New York." He explained. "No one can confirm it or not, but we're fearing the worst." He said.

Valeria began to worry.

"When was the last time we saw them? Where?" She demanded.

"That's the thing. They haven't dove. They haven't faded. We're tracking them right now. They want us to know where they're going." He said, his voice trying to stay calm. Valeria blinked before suddenly standing, the paperwork covering her desk all but forgotten.

"Show me." She ordered.

Immediately, the man wheeled on his heels and all but ran for the door, Valeria hot on his heels.

A four minute walk later, they entered the information center, her eyes immediately going to the large screen at the front of the room. Showing real time feed of the Abyssals location, she watched as the brigade of the lot of them continued on their merry way through the Med, not deviating in the slightest from their course.

Valeria frowned somewhat.

What was their target? There weren't any notable cities anywhere near their position. There weren't any serious targets that could be considered highly valuable. She didn't-

Wait.

Valeria's mouth went dry with panic.

"Show me the location of the New Jersey's Task Force." She ordered, almost snapping at those around her.

Please be wrong.

Please be wrong.

Please be wrong.

The information popped up as she requested.

She paled.

She wasn't wrong.

They were pursuing the Black Dragon.