"So.... What's the opinion at this point? Think this is just gonna be another practice round for us or we might actually have a challenge on our hands?" Jun'you asked as she watched the souther horizon of Tokyo Bay. She was standing among the select group of Japanese carriers that had been picked to go against the American ship girls. Along with her was Ryuujou, Shokaku, Zuikaku, Hiryuu, and Souryuu. Hiryuu and Souryuu in turn looked at the light carrier, their brows raised in skepticism. They weren't the only ones however, as Nagato and Mutsu took glances over at the girl.

"Do not be a fool, Jun'you. Underestimate them, and we've already lost. Not only that, but history tells us how that played out once already." Nagato said, crossing her arms as she looked over at Jun'you. The light carrier only rolled her eyes.

"So? This isn't for real. And we have Yamato and Musashi out here with us! What's the big deal!? There's no way we can lose!" She reasoned. Nagato only sighed, a hand to her face, as the Yamato sisters looked over to her, Musashi more lividly than her older sibling.

"You say that, yet history met our ends with carrier based aircraft. And right now, they've got who is pretty much the goddess of the carriers if her service is anything to go by." The Japanese battleship said. Jun'you arched a brow, securing her scroll as she did so.

"Who? Big E over there? Nah. Sure, she may be good, but she's no goddess. At least not to most. Akagi and Zuikaku might argue that though. One wants to wash her pants and one wants to get into her pants. Ah, the mysteries." Jun'you said, giving a shrug as she chuckled. Ryuujou giggled in reply as Zuikaku glared at the girl.

"You have no idea what you're talking about Jun'you." Zuikaku said before looking to Nagato. "Shouldn't the Americans be out on the water soon?" She asked. Nagato gave a nod.

"Indeed. Soon, if not already. Speaking of which, Goya, Iku, Imuya." She spoke. In turn, the three subs popped out of the water in front of the battleship, waiting patiently for their orders.

"Yes Nagato?" Goya asked, looking up at the battleship from the water.

"You three, make sure you get a position on them as soon as you can. More importantly than that, do not lose sight of Harder, Pargo, and Snook. History has taught us that our American allies are no slouches when it comes to utilizing their submarines most effectively. Let's see to it that we don't get a reminder of that today." She said. The three submarines gave nods of their own before ducking down below the waves once again. After a moment, Musashi looked to Nagato.

"So, who do you think their likely flagship is?" She asked, crossing her arms across her bound chest. Nagato watched the horizon a few moments before giving a shake of the head.

"No. Not a definite suspect anyways. Sure, there's a few, such as Arizona and Enterprise. But this is a mock battle, a chance for some of the new girls to try their hand at a lead ship role. Too many possibilities to just go around taking wild guesses in the dark until we have a better idea. Plus, I imagine if Admiral Johnson had a say, she would push one of the new girls to be flagship rather than an experienced selective. Simply to increase their overall effectiveness if anything." Nagato reasoned. Mutsu and Musashi gave nods in response as they turned to watch the horizon as well.

"We have to be especially careful, since the rules seem pretty straight and forward. If any of us get hit with anything, we're out it would seem. No matter how much or little we are struck with." Myoukou reasoned, stating the simple fact. Nachi crossed her arms in response, scoffing as she did so.

"I do not know why anyone would want to fire paint at anyone on purpose. It seems messy, just thinking about all that paint getting in my hair... A total waste of time and perfectly good paint." She reasoned, giving a dismissive shake of the head. Haguro gave a shrug.

"I believe the Admiral compared it to a well known game in today's world.... Paintball was it? Yes, I believe that was it." The heavy cruiser recalled. Nachi gave a shake of the head.

"That still doesn't make it any more sensible!" She replied. Myoukou and Haguro only shrugged as Ashigara only chuckled in response to her sister.

"It doesn't matter anyways! They can't beat me in a night battle!" Sendai proudly proclaimed from her position. Jintsuu and Naka only sighed as Fubuki looked at the cruiser, the confusion more than clear to see.

"But Sendai-San.... It's the middle of the day..." Fubuki insisted, looking quite concerned. Sendai seemed to pause momentarily, faltering slightly, before her smirk suddenly returned.

"Haha! See! They wouldn't dare face me in the dark of night! They wouldn't stand a chance!" Sendai yelled. Her sisters only sighed again in response as Fubuki looked to Shigure, Yuudachi, and Mutsuki, her skepticism knowing no bounds at current moment.

"Is it safe to be fighting Arizona-San and the other American Kanmusu like this...?" Fubuki asked timidly as she looked at her three fellow destroyers. Yuudachi only shrugged excitedly, practically bouncing up and down as she did so, as Shigure gave Fubuki a slow nod.

"Indeed Fubuki-chan. There is no harm for us in this battle. Only fun and practice." She assured her. Fubuki only gave a nod as she scanned the horizon, looking for any sort of sign that the American girls had begun their attacks.

"This is a real lady's battle!" Akatsuki exclaimed, proudly standing next to her sisters and the Tenryuu sisters. The destroyer's sisters offered their own roars of agreement as Tenryuu looked to Nagato.

"So what's the plan? Overwhelm them with air strikes?" The light cruiser asked. Musashi gave a nod.

"Sounds good to me." The battleship agreed. Nagato only looked to the carriers in turn, as if silently asking the question. Most of the carriers in turn shook their heads, Zuikaku being the one to explain.

"No, this time trying to gain air superiority isn't in our book of tricks. They have almost the double number of carriers that we do. Not only that, but six of them are fleet carriers. Plus the lights and escorts, they'll have the higher number from the get go. And even if we manage to slip planes behind theirs, I speak from experience, Atlanta and her sisters aren't exactly going to let them go free. As one who's been under the protection of her guns personally, they're not an asset whoever their flagship is about to skip out on." Zuikaku reasoned. Nagato gave a nod as she crossed her arms.

"Then we'll need to do this as it comes our way." She reasoned as she looked at the other twenty nine Japanese Kanmusu.

"So the question is, who's going to present the largest threat to us at current moment?" Hiryuu asked.

"At this range, best bet is the carriers. Or the Subs. Anything else, we'll see them coming." Souryuu reasoned. Nagato gave a nod as she prepared to say something, but found herself stopped as an alarm filled the air.

After the alarm had died down, their Admiral's voice came over their radios.

"Attention all Japanese Kanmusu in Tokyo Bay. Those of the Americans have launched from the chambers and are now entering position. Rules are as follows. There is only one way to win this mock battle, and that is in the total elimination of the opposing force. There will be no use on the other girls of anything other than Type 0 rounds. Any variables of this rule will result in severe consequences. That is all. Good luck and good hunting." Ishigara's voice said. Nagato gave a nod as she looked back to the horizon.

"Fleet forward!" Nagato ordered. But before anyone could follow, Zuikaku intervened.

"Heads up! Planes at twelve o'clock!" Zuikaku said as she readied her bow, arrow already nocked. Before anyone knew what was happening, a fresh squadron of zeroes was in the air, well intent on bringing down the approaching squadrons of Corsairs followed by SBD's. Behind them followed a wave of F4F Wildcat's, these also being followed by more SBD's.

"They're certainly not taking anytime!" Hiryuu yelled before quickly launching a squadron of her own, more planes lurching upwards in an attempt to combat these sudden new opponents. Taking this as a clue, the other carriers sprung into action as well while Nagato looked to the other girls.

"If you're not a carrier, be ready with the Anti-air!" The usually stoic battleship commanded. Giving a nod, the girls turned their guns skyward as the planes continued to near their location. As they did so, the fleet began to move, picking up momentum, as if to make it harder for the planes to get a solid hit on them. Giving a nod, the various girls around took aim at the approaching planes, their anti-air on the ready.

They watched overhead as the first squadron of Corsairs met their Zeroes, neither side willing to just sit and wait. Soon enough, the planes met in mid air, the specialized rounds flying all over the place.

Tallying the opposing planes, Zuikakua totaled up at forty eight planes. The carrier shook her head in annoyance as she readied another fighter arrow. Shokaku in turn had turned her gaze to Zuikaku.

"What is it Zuikaku-nee?" The white haired carrier asked as she put up another wave of fighters alongside her sister. Zuikaku only watched the approaching waves.

"They've got forty eight planes in the air right now, but we have no idea who they're from! Hell, this size doesn't even make up half of a single Midway class capacity." She reasoned as she watched her new wing charge upwards to support those already present.

"Wait seriously!?" Tenryuu shouted. "They can field three hundred aircraft just between the three of them!?" She asked. Zuikaku gave a nod in turn as she turned her gaze back skyward, watching as the opposing forces approached, beginning their decent. But as she watched, she noticed that one of the planes had dropped their payload early.

"Heh. Looks like they got too jittery." Jun'you mused as she, along with other various ship girls, watched the bomb fall to the water. But as it made contact with the water, it did what they were not expecting. It exploded.

"What the hell!? That was a live bomb!" Zuikaku yelled, throwing her arms in the air. "What are the Americans playing at?!" The carrier demanded. As if sensing her question, the girl's radios lit up, a voice coming through.

"This is Midway. This is Midway to all actively participating Japanese Kanmusu. Bismark Sea has informed that she mistakenly launched a squadron of bombers loaded with live bombs. Can you confirm?" She asked. Zuikaku sighed as Nagato replied.

"Can confirm. Live rounds are in play. What's the meaning of this Midway?" Nagato replied. Midway gave a sigh.

"I apologize and so does she. It was a slip of mind and will not happen again. We are calling back all presently deployed aircraft. Are any of you hurt?" The monotone carrier asked. Nagato gave a sigh.

"No. The bomb was dropped a clear distance away from any of us. I trust this will not happen again?" Nagato inquired, her voice wavering between calm and anger.

"Indeed. I will make sure of it. Midway out." Ended the call. Nagato gave a heavy sigh as the American planes overhead began to pull away, venting back towards the South. Watching them a moment, Nagato looked back to the carriers, taking no time in issuing an order.

"Set a line between us and them. Don't let anymore planes through and make the bombers a priority just in case this does somehow happen again..." Nagato ordered. The carriers gave nods as their planes overhead began moving southward as well.

"Well at least we know who their flagship is." Jun'you mused. Nagato gave a shake of the head.

"Maybe. But Maybe not. I do not believe the Americans would reveal their flagship so easily.... We need to get moving closer before they get another strike coming our way." Nagato reasoned before heading forwards. Trading glances with each other for a moment, the other twenty six Japanese Kanmusu followed their flagship to the South.

As they did so, the carriers sent off another wave of planes, Southbound as well as the fleet made their way towards the American Kanmusu.

As they began moving, movement registered to Fubuki's vision. Turning to look, expecting to find one of her fellow destroyers as the source, she found herself surprised when she found that her fellow destroyers were no where near her. Furrowing her brow in confusion a moment, she turned back to follow the rest of the fleet.

After a moment, she saw it again. Turning her head fully, she was once again greeted with nothing there, only furthering the destroyer's confusion. Watching the spot for a moment longer, as if to test whatever was playing with her. When nothing popped up, she gave a shake of the head as she turned back. As she did so, she heard a small giggle from behind her.

Practically whipping around at the noise, Fubuki was almost certain she'd find someone behind her. But when the water behind her remained clear, the only movement being her own wake, she stared on in confusion. Giving a shake of the head, she turned her attention back back to following the fleet.

That's when torpedo warnings started going off in her head.

Jerking back around, Fubuki only had the briefest of moments to move out of the collision as the torpedoes surfaced, their trails adding a new element of suspense to the supposedly tame mock battle.

"Torpedoes!" Fubuki shouted, alerting the rest of the fleet, causing some to snap around rather quickly as they identified the incoming weapons.

"Torpedoes!" Yuudachi sounded off as well as the water based missiles made their way through the waves, separating the fleet in two as they dodged out of the way. As they did so, Nagato immediately went to her radio.

"Iku! Have you found the American subs yet?!" She demanded. It took a few moments, but she eventually got a response.

"Yes Nagato-San! We are currently engaging all three of them!" Iku reported through the coms.

"Where are you right now!?" Nagato demanded. She was answered as Iku popped her head out of the water directly in front of her, the submarine girl facing the other way as she looked around.

"I'm a good distance in front of you all. We encountered the American subs about halfway....." She droned off as she eventually turned and found Nagato standing before her, slowly looking up at the battleship. "Ohhhh...." Iku said. Nagato gave a sigh as she placed her head in her hand for a moment before looking back down at the sub.

"So all three of their subs are under us at this moment?" She asked. Iku gave a nod.

"Yes! All three of their subs are currently under the fleet. But if that's so, they have yet to actually make an attempt on anyone... I wonder why?" Iku wondered. Tenryuu shrugged as she offered her own answer in response.

"Maybe they're just doing some scouting work. But then if that's the case, who'd the torp come from?" The light cruiser asked. Iku shrugged.

"I think Goya had plans to launch a torp at Snook, but it missed." She reasoned. Nagato gave a sigh.

"Well we need to deal with them now. But it does beg the question. What are they really up to?" The battleship asked. And as if hearing her question, the universe gave her an answer.

All of the sudden, Nagato heard something launching out of the water. Then, she felt a small tugging on the hem of her skirt. Looking downwards, she came face to face with Snook. Looking down at the girl, the American Gato class submarine girl had a mischievous grin upon her lips. Then something occurred to Nagato.

The American Sub sisters usual antics.

But it occurred to her too late.

"In War, it is always wise to exploit any weakness of your enemies." Snook began, her grin never fading. "And for you all right now, skirts fall into that category. Heh."

"Hit her! Hit her now!" Zuikaku yelled, causing some of the Japanese Kanmusu to take aim. But Nagato rose a hand to stop them, still locked eyes with Snook.

"I'm out if any paint lands on me. Friendly or otherwise. It is unwise to attempt to hit Snook... Despite the situation..." Nagato reasoned, giving a sigh.

The other Japanese Kanmusu could only watch in horror as Snook tore at Nagato's skirt, the fabric giving way after a moment as it ripped down the seam, leaving the metal belt and giving sight to the black lace that Nagato had chosen that day. Retreating, Snook vanished beneath the waves with her new prize, leaving a stoic Nagato and surprised Japanese Kanmusu all around.

"Oh my...." Mutsu breathed, a hand covering her mouth as she looked on is surprise. But have no doubt, the amused grin upon her lips did nothing to hide her own amusement at the current situation. "Nagato-nee, I believe you are missing-" but she was shushed as Nagato raised a hand, her features trying very hard to remain calm despite the now missing article of clothing.

"Ok! What the hell is this?! I didn't sign up for a mock battle just to be stripped of my dignity!" Zuikaku yelled, throwing her hands in the air. Mutsu just chuckled as she looked to the carrier.

"Are we worried Zuikaku?" She asked in an amused tone, looking at the carrier. But before Zuikaku could respond, Harder and Pargo emerged from beneath the waves as well, lurching up and grabbing fistfuls of Mutsu's skirt.

"You know how it is." Pargo said, her own grin looking up at the battleship. "If one sisters gets it, it's only fair that the other does as well."

"And you know us Americans..... We're all about equal opportunity..." Harder sneered, her face void of a grin. But she still held an amused air about her as she and her sister began to tug as well, soon leaving Mutsu in the same state as Nagato while the American subs retreated beneath the waves. Giving a sigh, Mustu looked down as her white panties no longer hid behind a skirt. Nagato only took a glance before a small smirk came to her face, eliciting a pout from Mutsu. But before either of the pantsed sisters could do anything, Musashi gave an order.

"We need to get moving before the skirt thieves strike again!" She roared. Nagato gave a nod as she gave a hand motion to move forward. But as she did so, something registered to their vision on the horizon.

"What is that, poi?" Yuudachi asked as she and the other destroyers watched the object near them.

From the looks of it, it looked like a solid cloud of smoke moving across the water like a snake as it made its way towards them.

"Someone get an aerial view on that! We need to know what it is now!" Nagato yelled, all but already forgotten her current dilemma. In turn, Shokaku and Zuikaku nocked a fighter arrow each, briefly checking their surroundings for the prowling American subs, before turning their attention back to the target.

Soon enough, twelve new zeroes were soaring above the waves as they flew just above the water, more than intent on finding out just what this new contender was.

As they did so, the smoke seemed to react as they approached. In turn, as they drew closer, it split off into three smaller smoke trails, still traveling across the water. But at the junction of where they had separated from one another, the approaching zeroes found a surprise in the form of three squadrons of Corsairs, shooting from the smoke as they rose to face the Japanese aircraft. Something that really no one was expecting at the moment.

"What?! What is this?!" Zuikaku demanded as she reordered her aircraft to focus their attention on the sudden appearance of the Navy Blue fighters. Other various Kanmusu, such as Fubuki and the older destroyers, refocused their weapons as they prepared to put up Anti-air. The other Japanese ship girls still had their eyes on the now three separate smoke trails.

"What are they?" Nachi asked as she kept her guns trained on the right most trail, along with her sisters. Yamato and Musashi were covering the left as the Sendai sisters and Nagato sisters had their attention focused on the middle while the carriers were focused with the surprise air forces.

"As far as I can tell, they're smoke trails.... But what's making them...?" Yamato asked. Musashi gave a shrug as she gave the order for her guns to take aim. As they finally took aim to her directions, she gave the order to fire. And fire they did.

Musashi's nine eighteen inch guns spit up nine type 0 rounds as they befell upon the smoke trail, separating it where the shells fell. And as they did, Musashi made a discovery.

As she watched the shells separate the smoke near the front of the trail edging on their left, she saw the briefest of movements within it. But that was more than enough convincing for the Japanese battleship as she loaded a second salvo, only making the briefest of adjustments, before firing again.

Once again, her shells tore through the smoke, causing gaps in the line. As they did, once again she saw the briefest of movements within before it vanished back within the smoke. But this time, the smoke was planning to return the favor.

Bang!

Bang!

Bang!

Yamato and Musashi watched as whoever was within the smoke began to throw shells up into the air in their direction, watching as the shells kept on coming.

"It's Atlanta!" Zuikaku yelled as she put up another squadron of Zeroes, planning on strafing the smoke. Her idea was met in turn with resistance as the smoke trail on the right of the Japanese fleet began to open up as well, also throwing shells in their direction. Shells landed among the carriers as the six scrambled to dodge the ones they could.

Nagato, Mutsu, and the Sendai sisters were not willing to wait with the middle trail. Opening fire, Nagato set the speed as her sister and the three light cruisers did the same, lighting up the head of the smoke trails with a plethora of various shells. They watched as the Smoke only seemed to consume their shells without a thought, still lurching forward.

It didn't help that as it neared them, the American sub sisters surfaced once again, taking no time in hesitating as they threw a multitude of torpedoes directly into the Kanmusu's course, only grinned briefly before slinking back beneath the waves.

As if adding to their conundrum, the smoke trails dissipated, giving sight to the six American destroyers. Sailing backwards, they were previously pouring smoke out of their stacks, 2 with each trail. Behind them, sat one of the three Atlanta sisters. And as the smoke cleared, the sight became straight.

The nine American ship girls opened up, holding nothing back, as they pelted the Japanese fleet, shells coming to no break.

The first one to be struck came in the form of Shigure, one of Atlanta's shells striking the destroyer in the stomach, her outfit now blotched the with the blue paint loaded inside the American Type 0 rounds.

The second of the mock casualties came in the form of Haguro, as three of Juneau's shells hit her up and down her right arm, turning her clothes and part of her rigging a dark Navy Blue.

More losses came in the form of Inazuma and Ikazuchi as Bristol and Ellyson pelted them with shells, turning their white uniforms part blue as the paint set in.

The fifth loss came in the form of Iku, as a shell exploded across her face, covering the sub's face in Navy Blue paint, causing the other two Japanese subs to break out into laughter at the event.

That's where the Japanese losses ended.

And the American's losses began.

Who had been the left smoke crew, Mervine, McCalla, and Juneau, now had no smoke cover to speak of. The three American ships were sailing without cover, and they would pay dearly for it. Their only hope was that the Japanese ship girls hesitated.

Yamato and Musashi didn't.

They didn't even hesitate a breath as the Yamato's collective 18 guns fired full salvos, decorating the three American warships with a payload of red paint. Only taking the briefest of moments to admire their handiwork, they quickly turned their attention to the next set of American ship girls, who in turn were not about to simply give up.

As Musashi finished turning her guns on the next three, the three in question were already set. And they fired.

Musashi's guns dealt what would have been a killing blow to the three Ship girls, and in turn, they decorated the second of the Yamato class battleships with a whole gallon of blue paint. As collateral, Mutsuki was hit the excess.

Giving a sigh, Musashi took a look at the last three, San Diego, Forrest, and Fitch. Who in turn were well in the midst of a tactical retreat. Watching them go a moment, listening as their own side attempted to hit them, she eventually turned back to her own fleet, who along with the struck American girls, were surveying their losses.

"Aw Damnit...." Atlanta cursed as she and her two destroyers sailed towards the fleet. "What's the loss on your end?" She asked, looking to Musashi.

"Myself, Iku, Shigure, Haguro, Ikazuchi and Inazuma. How about you?" The battleship asked in return.

"Me, Bristol and Ellyson here. And Juneau, Mervine, and McCalla. Good fight so far...... Nagato? Where's your skirt....?" Atlanta asked, unable to tear her gaze away from the indecent battleship. Black haired beauty in turn just gave a hearty sigh. "Alright, alright. No need for such language!" Atlanta joked. "Well, we're heading off the water then. Ikazuchi, Inazuma! Me and the destroyers are going for ice cream. You coming too?" She asked to the two destroyers. Destroyers in question only momentarily hesitated before nodding and following after their American tender.

"I could use a snack...." Musashi mused, absent minded. Atlanta only nodded in turn as the Battleship followed.

As the last of the eliminated cleared the area, the rest of the Japanese Kanmusu turned their attention back to the horizon, watching for anymore incoming threats for the moment.