Her eyes cracked open, without the help of an alarm, without the help of someone needing to tell her to get up. Her eyes cracked open just as she was pulled closer. But closer was relative, seeing that she'd apparently spent a majority of the night sleeping ontop of the only other patron of her bed, they appearing to not even be the slightest bit bothered by the woman lounging atop of her.

Anya took a moment to collect her thoughts before the memories of the night previous flooded into her mind, a cacophony of pleasure and flesh. A light blush dusted her cheeks as she laid her head back upon Mary's shoulder, watching the battleship's sleeping face. Whatever the woman was dreaming of, it was apparently something good, if her expressions were anything to go by. But the hand placed in the middle of Anya's back told her that the Battleship still recognized at least in someway that she was still there.

Her legs were intertwined with Mary's and it was something that she didn't want to end. Not at the moment. A quick check of the clock told her that wasn't going to be an issue either, it still being a ways off from the base finally waking up. Though it was closing in on the time she usually got up to go for a run. Pausing a moment, she came to the silent conclusion that she could bare to miss a single day. She reached over and shut the alarm down before it had a chance to sound off before laying her head back down, nearly pressing her face into Mary's neck.

The battleship didn't even seem to stir, more than content in her sleep. And Anya was fine with that. She couldn't imagine anything else after the previous night, and what exactly that entailed. Anya closed her eyes a moment, the pleasures and experiences coming back to her mind. After a second, Anya's eyes reopened as her mind began to wander to something new that was now hanging on her mind.

The dream.

Was it real? Had she actually talked to Momi? The supposed mother figure for Maryland and so many more? More importantly, who was she? And Ska? She wasn't completely sure for Ska, but she was pretty sure there'd never been a ship in the United States Navy's history named the USS Momi. She briefly toyed with the consideration that possibly the woman wasn't actually of the US's own, but she pushed that idea away after a second. There was little doubt in her mind that Momi was fully American. Or at least had a large majority of it within her.

Her mind wandered over the possibilities of just who Momi was, but she supposed it wasn't that big of an issue at the moment. Sure, knowing who she was In actuality would help a lot, but in the now, it really didn't help anything. She glanced at Maryland a moment before placing a gentle kiss at the woman's collarbone, something that caused the woman to stir somewhat. Her eyes slowly opened at that, the periwinkle amongst the early morning light standing out before she looked to the blonde. A soft smile followed after suit, her lips greeting Anya's in a kiss.

"Good morning." Maryland greeted as they parted, her eyes focusing on Anya's. The blonde smiled amongst the early morning light coming in through the window, bathing their bed in the pale orange light of the base lights.

"Morning." Anya replied, going in for another kiss, a motion that Maryland was more than ready to return. When their lips parted for a second time, Anya smiled up to the woman. "I guess don't need to ask if you slept well, if the rest I got was anything to go by." She said. Maryland nodded at that as she brought up a hand, Anya intertwining her fingers with Mary's. "Oh, and these fingers. They do God's work I tell you what." She said. Maryland snickered at that as merely laid her head back amongst the darkness of the room.

Anya took that moment to reach over for the lamp at her bedside, flipping it on before settling back down, her body pressed against Mary's in a way that she hadn't known she'd been craving. "So I take it wasn't too bad as a guide through your first experience, no?" Anya asked in a joking manner. Maryland nodded at that, offering a small smile of her own, as her only main response was to move her hand from Anya's back to her rear, squeezing herself a handful. The woman chuckled at that in response.

"Oh, I wonder whatever you could like more about me." Anya said simply. Maryland laughed at that somewhat, Anya looking to her in that moment. Eventually, she spoke again. "So i know this is totally an odd question, but Momi... is she like seven feet tall?" She asked. "Likes to wear her coat like a cape?" She asked. Maryland blinked at the question before looking to Anya.

"How do you-"

"I met her last night. Or, at least I think I did. It was a weird dream for sure, but yeah, I think I met Momi last night." She said. "You said she had a mouth on her, but I never imagined it was that much of a mouth." She said. Maryland seemed to stare at the woman in surprise before laughing somewhat, chuckling as she laid back against her pillow again.

"Huh." She said. "What do you know. Always figured Momi was gonna pop up one of these days. But all but dragging you into a dream apparently wasn't how I expected her to do it." She admitted.

"So I guess I must just be lucky." Anya said. Maryland nodded at that as she turned onto her side, pulling Anya to her.

"So what did you all talk about then?" Maryland asked. Anya paused at that, her mind trying to recollect what all they'd discussed. But as she tried, knowing full well their conversation had seemed to stretch on for hours, she realized that she could only recall the opening minutes of it, Ska's appearance being one of the last notable things. Apparently, her face was showing a fair bit as Maryland looked to the woman, arching a brow.

"Can't recall any of it?" She asked. Anya frowned at that as she pressed her body to Mary's as she looked up at her.

"I can easily recall the fact There's a good chance that she most certainly saw me buck naked." She said. "Because apparently putting me to sleep on a beach was an excellent call. But any of the deeper meaning stuff, it's almost like it's blocked." She said. Mary shrugged at that.

"Don't feel too bad. Momi's always been a bit mysterious like that." She said before wrapping an arm around Anya's waist. "But before anything else happens.." she trailed off as she pressed her lips to Anya's again. "Happy birthday." She said. Anya couldn't help the laugh that sounded from her lips, giggling somewhat as she kissed her back.

"Thank you." She said.

"Can I ask why I didn't know until breakfast yesterday?" She asked. "Really putting me on the spot for a gift last night." She said.

"Quite the gift you ended up giving it I do say so." She said. Mary chuckled at that, glancing to Anya.

"My point still stands. Why not tell anyone? The only reason we knew was because of Nancy telling Liz. But why didn't you just tell us?" She asked. Anya shrugged at that.

"I've just never really put much stock in my birthday. Like, I get that's important to some people, but I.. I just never really spent much time caring about it. I guess I kind of need to get over that line of thought though." She said. "What with the apparent shock of the fleet not knowing, I probably made a mistake." She resigned to the fate. Maryland nodded at that, patting Anya on the back as she did so.

"Oh you certainly did." Maryland said in agreement. "But I was able to give you something. Just next year, I hope it's something a little more solid." She said with a snicker. Anya rolled her eyes at that as she leaned in for another kiss with the battleship, Maryland more than willing to give. But when they parted, Anya pulled away, yawning somewhat as she sat up, swinging her legs over the edge. "You're not starting your day already, are you?" Maryland asked. Anya shook her head at that.

"Not a chance." She said. "But a nice shower is calling my name and I've decided I can go one day without going for a run." She said, pushing her arms off as if she were fixing to get up. But Maryland wrapped an arm around the woman's waist, pulling her back to her as she did so. Anya laughed as she was pulled against her will, Maryland now sitting up as the blonde was held against her.

"Who are you and what have you done with Anya?" The battleship purred as she nipped at an ear. Anya couldn't help but laugh as she pushed against the battleship, Maryland eventually relenting her hold on the woman.

"I've awakened a monster, haven't I?" Anya asked with a knowing smile. Maryland only shrugged her shoulders in an exaggerated motion, even all the while her lips wore a mischievous grin. Anya shook her head in amusement as she made way for her dresser as she also went about searching for clothes, tossing last night's forgotten articles in the hamper. As she did so, Maryland watched.

"So... have you had those since you arrived on base?" She asked. Anya paused at that, glancing at the pair of panties she was tossing into the hamper, before nodding. Maryland chuckled at that as Anya picked some clothes from the dresser as she made way for the bathroom, shooting Maryland a smile before stepping into the bathroom. But she didn't bother closing the door as she turned the light on, going about turning on the shower as she tossed her clothes onto the counter.

It was twenty minutes later when she emerged from the shower, wrapping her towel around herself when Maryland entered the bathroom, her own clothing ready. Mary kisses her on the cheek as she passed before stepping into the shower, Anya having left it on for her. As she began to dry off, the door at the other end of the bathroom opened up, Anya watching as Sofia walked in to the room. Watching her a moment, Anya finally pushed her question. "Did you sleep well?" She asked.

"The ear plugs did fuck all." Sofia replied, throwing her arms up in an exasperated motion. "You've gotten louder in your old age." She said in a grumpy voice. Anya rolled her eyes at that as she dried her hair, her towel wrapped around her as she looked to the woman.

"Please, we were not that loud." Anya said as she looked to the woman. Sofia nodded at that in surrender as she shrugged her shoulders.

"Alright, you weren't. The ear plugs helped, I'm not gonna deny that." She said. "I don't remember you being that loud back then. And I fucking called it. God has a very prominent place in your relationship." She laughed. Anya rolled her eyes at that as she went back to drying her hair.

"I'll be sure to provide feedback of my own when you and Zuikaku finally get around to doing a dance of your own." She said. Sofia rolled her eyes at that, shaking her head a moment as she did so. Anya only chuckled at that as she dropped her towel, going about getting dressed.

"Afraid I'm onto something?" She asked with a chuckle. Sofia rolled her eyes at that as she looked to the woman.

"I'm afraid you're losing your mind is what I'm afraid of." She said. Anya laughed at that for a moment before glancing back at the running shoulder, barely able to make out the form of Maryland through the clouded glass. Looking back to Sofia, she shrugged.

"Hey, I'm just saying." She said. "Should you find someone you're comfortable with, it'd be a nice change of pace." She said. Sofia narrowed her eyes at that.

"And what exactly is that supposed to mean?" The woman asked. Anya only grinned at that as she pulled her shirt over her head, turning to the woman as she placed her hands on Sofia's shoulders, offering the woman a smile.

"I say this in the very best way possible." She said. "But you're complicated." She said. But the shit eating grin Anya wore on her lips caused Sofia to give a hard roll of the eyes at that, shaking her head before she looked to the blonde.

"How nice." She chuckled. Anya laughed in return before releasing the woman, turning back to the mirror as she began to finish with her hair. As she did so, Sofia sat herself against the counter, looking at the ground a moment before glancing to Anya. "I know we talk about all of this a lot, more so lately than we used to. But when you were five years old, sitting at home, with the safety of your family, is this what you could've imagined? 25 years later?" She asked. Anya gave the question some thought for a moment before shaking her head.

"If I really think about it, I guess the Navy was apart of the plan. But that's about the extent of it." She said. Sofia arched a brow at that.

"You knew you wanted the Navy? At five?" She asked. Anya shrugged at that as she looked to Sofia.

"You've met my parents." She said. "Of course they didn't try to push us in one way or the other, but we kind of all just sort of knew we'd end up in some sort of military service. It wasn't guaranteed. But more like largely hinted at. What? You didn't know you want to join the Navy while you were still in kindergarten?" She asked with a smile. Sofia offered a pause at that, as if her mind was mulling over days long since past.

"No." She answered. Anya took the answer for what it was and didn't push further at that, Sofia instead electing to look back to Anya. "That aside, why did so many of your siblings go for the Navy?" She asked. "I don't think I've ever gotten an explanation for that In the years I've known the circus that is the Johnson family." She said. Anya shrugged at that a moment before going back to straightening out her hair.

"I dunno know that I think back on it. I mean, I was Navy from the second I could really think about it. I mean, I am the Twin's favorite sister." She said. "Maybe they wanted to be just like me." She said. "Is that really so hard to believe?" She asked. Sofia only laughed at that as she shook her head, crossing her arms.

"Just like you? Guess the doctor's gonna have to start making house calls if that's the case." She said. Anya rolled her eyes at that, not bothering to hide the smile she sported at the remark, as she glanced to Sofia.

"Not my fault. I get my dislike of medical professionals from my mother." She said. Sofia nodded at that, rolling her eyes.

"Oh yes. The woman that refused to finally recognize that she was pregnant until three weeks before you were due. I've heard this story many a time." She said. "And largely how stressed your father was." She chuckled. Anya shrugged at that as she did so.

"Still blame her. She's the one who had to be talked into a normal delivery." She said.

"Weren't the rest of your siblings home deliveries?" She asked. Anya nodded at that.

"Yep. Same doctor and everything. Minimal oversight, minimal presence. If there's one thing you can say about my mother, it's that she knows what she wants and trying to give her anything other than that is likely to end poorly for you." She said.

"Like mother, like daughter." Sofia dryly replied. Anya waved a hand at her, feigning annoyance.

"Shush you." She said with a wave of the hand. Sofia laughed at that as she stepped away from the woman, going to focus on taking her own shower. Anya turned her own attention back to her hair.

—/—\—

It was close to an hour later when Anya walked down the stairs towards their office, putting the final adjustments on her outfit before she noticed King walking down the opposite staircase across the room.

"Captain?" She called out. But the man didn't seem to even notice her speaking to him as he seemed to be looking at something on his phone as he walked down the stairs. Arching a brow, she tried again. "Captain?" She called again. But even then, he seemed to fall silent to her. But when they reached the bottom of the stairs and Anya came to a stop in front of the man, he seemed to recognize there was someone standing there. Looking up from his phone, he slid it into his pocket as he offered a smile. And then froze only to chuckle as he reached up to his ears and pulled what looked to be ear plugs from them.

"I'll have to thank Captain Algerona for the heads up." He said with a proud smirk. Anya rolled her eyes at that, dramatically dismissing him with a hand.

"Ugh. Kids these days." Anya huffed. King laughed at that as he followed her towards the office, snickering to himself as he looked waited for her to open the door, heading for his desk. Depositing the ear plugs in the drawer, he eased himself into his seat as he looked to the woman.

"I'd ask how well you slept last night, but In all honesty I think I have a pretty good idea." He said as Sofia entered the office, the woman cracking a smile as she high fived King. Anya shook her head, logging onto her computer as she turned her chair around, looking out the window as she watched the early morning, some of the fleet apparently awake as well. Already she spied some of the girls, such as Vestal, Dionysus, and Akashi, the three standing together as they discussed something. Or, two discussed something as Akashi and Vestal seemed to be arguing quite animatedly about something Anya wasn't privy too.

Elsewhere amongst the courtyard, she also spied the forms of Benson and Laffey out amongst the early morning, an oddity amongst the destroyers she noted. She watched as the two of them seeming to be heading towards the basketball court. And yet another grouping, this one foreign, was the sight of Vampire, Voyager, and Vendetta seemingly in an argument with Vega, Violent, and Vanessa.

"King? Do your girls get along with the British?" She found herself asking.

"Hmmm? Oh, yeah." He said. "It's just the five V class of the British don't really see the appeal in Vampire's choice of animal sidekick." He said. "You know they are sisters, yes?" He asked. Anya rolled her eyes as she looked to the man, prompting King to laugh.

"Yes I know they're sisters." She said. "Just wasn't sure if something had happened between the group of them." She said. "Because I would imagine that even with being sisters, the fact they represent two different countries has to be odd."

"Okay you have a point." King replied. "But still, I would like to think the girls that were given to different nations still see one another as sisters." He said.

"Like Ellyson." Sofia said. King arched a brow at that.

"Was she given to a different country?" He asked, somewhat curious. Sofia and Anya nodded as the blonde turned back to look at him.

"Japan." She said. "Under the name of Asakaze." She explained. King nodded at that, apparently having expected something of the sort before he turned his attention back to his computer, Anya returning his gaze to the window.

"But here's my question. Let's say in the next summoning, we get Canadian and New Zealand ships. I vote they go King." Anya said, chuckling as the man looked up to her in surprise.

"I already have over thirty ships I'm handling by myself." He tried to intercede.

"As opposed to Ishigara?" Sofia asked in response, prompting the man to stop somewhat before huffing, rolling his eyes in return.

"Okay fair." He said. Sofia and Anya laughed at that. "But there's somewhat of a difference.  Yeah he's got Richelieu and Strasbourg, but aside from that, his ships are all of his own country. If the trend continues, I'm gonna be overtaken." He said. "And that's with a trio of Heavy cruisers trying to jump me." He said. Sofia shrugged at that.

"Just be glad one of those heavy cruisers isn't Newport News." She Warned him. Anya nodded in agreement at that before pausing somewhat, looking to Sofia.

"So if this is what Newport News is like? Is this gonna be a trend among the Des Moines?" She asked. Sofia shook her head at that, waving a hand at the seemingly bad idea.

"Oh come on." She said. "A full class of promiscuous heavy cruisers?" She asked. "Do you even hear yourself? I mean, yeah, I get that they're sisters, but my bet is that Des Moines is gonna be the calm to the storm." She said. "And after that... hmmm, what was the third one launched?" She asked.

It was Anya who answered her immediately

"Salem." She replied, glancing at the woman. Sofia snapped her fingers at that, nodding

"That's it." She said. "Look I'm calling it right now. Newport News is the oddity among the Des Moines class. DM and Salem? The older ones? They're gonna be downright saints." She said proudly.

The glass full on water sitting on the captain's desk was knocked from the surface, shattering as it made contact with the wooden floor. Anya and King watched the water spread along the wood and glass a moment before glancing back up Sofia, who seemed completely unfazed.

"That was a coincidence." She said as she got up to handle the mess suddenly present.

"Uh-Huh." King said with a chuckle, clearly showing that the man didn't believe her. At that however, the door to the office opened once again, admitting Maryland inside. Pausing a moment as she noticed the mess the Captain was cleaning up, she pointed to it as she looked to King and Anya. "Captain Algerona is trying the fates." He told her.

"Oh?" Maryland asked as she pushed the door close behind her before looking to Anya. "What were we trying the fates of?" She asked.

"We got onto the topic of Newport News." Anya told her. "Like, you saw the look that she gave Shangri-La did you not?" She asked. Maryland nodded at that as she made way for the woman's desk, leaning against it somewhat.

"I did." She said.

"The Captain's trying to tell us that Salem and Des Moines won't be just like Newport." Anya explained. Maryland arched a brow as she looked to the Captain.

"Oh what grounds?" She asked.

"Look, I'm just saying the chances of the three of them being just like one another in terms of that is low." She said. Maryland tapped her chin at that for a moment as King offered his own input.

"The Fletchers?" He asked.

"They're destroyers. They don't count." Sofia fired back.

"The Kongous." Maryland said in return. Sofia opened her mouth to reply at that before the apparent spoken of class came to mind. After a moment, she offered her response.

"Haruna...?" She tried weakly. Anya and Maryland laughed as King chuckled at that as the battleship went for the window, watching outside for a moment as Anya looked back to her computer, going about making sure everything was right. "Okay, so maybe my defense in the whole thing isn't the strongest." Sofia admitted.

"If you're worried about a class of Cruiser being that promiscuous." King said. "I wouldn't be surprised if one of em has eyes on you two, if we're being totally honest here." He said. Anya shrugged at that as she pointed to Maryland.

"Sorry but I'm taken." She said.

"By one." Maryland offered. "But you do have another nine fingers." She said. Anya frowned as she looked to the battleship.

"Whose side are you on?" She asked.

"Whichever side keeps things interesting." Maryland replied before leaning down and kissing Anya on the cheek. Anya only shook her head as she kissed Mary back a moment before noting something caught her eye out in the courtyard. Thinking she'd seen things wrong, she ever so casually took a glance back out the window. And whatever she did, she couldn't recall. Because she was too focused on what she was seeing.

Standing out there, in the middle of the courtyard, watching Benson and Laffey talk, was Momi. The destroyers didn't seem to even take notice of the woman waiting there, watching the two of them. But after a moment, Momi looked up, meeting eyes with the Admiral. The blonde hesitated a moment before suddenly turning to the door. "I'm gonna check on the girls." She said. "I'll be back." She said without offering anything else before she was out the door, closing the door behind her. Immediately making way for the door to the outside, she left the building as she turned to make sure the door closed.

"Spooked are we?" Momi asked from behind, prompting the woman to jump somewhat as she immediately turned on the woman, her hands at the defensive as if she were ready to attack. Momi for her sake only watched with an amused grin, crossing her broad arms across her chest. When Anya finally regained her voice, she looked up to the woman.

"What are you doing here?" She asked. "Did you come through the Gateway?" The blonde inquired. Momi paused at the question, seeming taking the time to glance down at herself before looking around before looking back to Anya, shaking her head.

"Don't believe I did." She answered. Anya frowned at that, looking back up to Momi.

"So where'd you come from?" She asked. Momi shrugged.

"Can't seem to recall." She replied with a simple shrug of her shoulders. Anya blinked at the woman at that, merely watching her for a second before letting her head droop. Momi laughed at that, stepping away from the door to the building, Momi gave Anya a peace to collect her thoughts as she watched out over the bay. When Anya finally came back around, she looked to Momi.

"What are you doing here?" She asked. Momi watched out over the bay before she turned to Anya, shrugging as she reached for a cigar, sticking it in her mouth as she reached for her lighter.

"Excitement." She answered her as she lit the cigar, taking a few puffs from the item as she looked Anya. Despite herself, Anya stared at the Amazon before closing her eyes, as if she was mulling over what she'd just been told.

"Excitement?" She asked for confirmation. Momi nodded as she turned back around, looking back out over the bay.

"Excitement." She confirmed. "Figured spending some time out here won't hurt anything at this very moment." She said. "And it's not like I'll be a big distraction to the base or anything like that." She told her. Before Anya could question exactly what she meant by that however, she got her answer as Laffey and O'Brien came shooting around the corner, and ran directly for Momi.

Momi didn't even flinch as the two destroyers passed right through her, the woman only taking a puff of her cigar as she turned her gaze on them, watching them run off along base. But Anya only stared for a second before a realization hit her.

"You're not actually here." She said.

"Quick, aren't ya?" Momi asked with a grin. Anya rolled her eyes at that a moment before another realization dawned on her, having to resist the suddenly very present urge to slap her hand to her face.

"I'm the only one who can see you." She said with a dreading put building in her stomach. Momi's grin now bared teeth as she looked at the woman.

"Give the girly a prize. She's on a fucking roll." Momi said before slipping the cigar back between her lips. Anya only rolled her eyes at that for a moment before she shook her head, thinking about her next move a second before she glanced back up to Momi.

"So why?" Anya asked. "Why focus on me? Why-" She tried to ask but found herself stopped when the door behind her suddenly opened, revealing Sofia, King, and Maryland. Momi smirked, putting the cigar back between her lips as Anya turned her attention towards the three of them.

"Not that you can actually answer me openly anymore, but largely it is due to the fact of simply because I can." Momi explained as she watched Anya turn to Maryland, the battleship leaning down for a kiss. Anya gave one readily, much to Momi's amusement. The admiral pushed back the urge to roll her eyes at the moment as she and Maryland parted.

"So? Breakfast then?" Sofia suggested as she unknowingly walked right in front of Momi. The unseen woman watched her a second before turning her attention to King, taking a few to study him. All as Anya nodded at the question, her eyes traveling over Momi another second before turning and leading the way, Maryland already at her side. As she did so, she felt the battleship slip her fingers into her's, Anya chuckling as she looked up to the battleship.

"Not the best idea for trying to keep a secret, you know." She said. Maryland paused a moment at that before leaning down and pecking the woman on the cheek again, prompting Anya to laugh as Sofia and King chuckled.

As did Momi from behind the four as she pulled the cigar from her lips, filling the air with a coal scented fume as smoke poured from her nose and mouth. Anya almost cringed at the smell, but she held that back for the moment as the four walked along, Mary's hand slipped from Anya's as they began to enter the line of sight for some of the fleet. And immediately, Anya was surrounded as the Gleaves class recognized her approaching, Bristol all but sprinting for the woman. Anya chuckled as she leaned down with her arms opened, Bristol immediately running into them. Standing, Anya brought Bristol with her as the other seven of the Gleaves immediately surrounded them, Anya looked to Bristol. 

"So how was your stay with Atlanta and her sisters?" She asked as she looked to the destroyer.

"She wasn't you." Bristol supplied as she hugged Anya, the woman laughing lightly at that as she walked on for a second longer before she leaned down and put Bristol back on the ground.

Anya opened the door to the Mess Hall when they arrived, Maryland offering a parting wave to the woman before she made way to go sit at her own table. That left the three officer's to go join their own table, where Ishigara, Saradia, and Emma were already present. Upon their arrival, Emma offered a wide wave, eliciting Saradia and Ishigara to look in their direction. Saradia offered a smile as they began to sit.

"I count myself surprised." Ishigara said. "You've arrived on time today." He said. Anya chuckled at that as she sat down, trying her damndest to ignore the fact that Momi was now actively walking around the Mess Hall, apparently not caring as each girl she came across simply passed through her without issue. She continued to walk around the room, watching as the girls settled into breakfast as they began to pile things on their plate.

"Well, you know." Anya supplied, her eyes wandering more and more to Momi as Anya began to fill her plate. "Figured we should mix things up every once and a while." She said, glancing to the man before her attention was once again pulled out to the fleet. And found that Momi was now parked at the Shira's table, notably standing behind Yuudachi and Suzukaze. Anya only watched as Momi reached down for Yuudachi's tufts of hair, lightly playing with them. And to Anya's and the Shira's surprise, the movement carried over, the other nine destroyer's apparently confused by what they were seeing.

"Pooooooooi?" Yuudachi questioned in confusion, her voice carrying over the room. This prompted some of the other tables to glance over and see what was going on. And they all watched as Yuudachi's hair tufts seemed to have minds of their own. Yuudachi brought up her hands, covering her head with her hands. That briefly stopped her hair tufts from moving under her hand. But when she brought her hands off her head a second later, her hair tufts began to move once again. "Poooooooooooooooooi!" Yuudachi cried.

Momi only grinned as she continued.

Anya resisted the urge to plant her hand to her face.

"We better see what's going on over there." Sofia suggested. Anya nodded at that as she and Saradia got up from their table, Saradia wiping her hands as the two began to make way for the Shira's table. Immediately, Anya and Momi met eyes, Anya's expression briefly annoyed before putting up one of feigned concern as she approached the blonde destroyer.

"Yuudachi?" Saradia called. Immediately, the blonde destroyer looked to the woman as she clapped her hands to her head again.

"Poooooi!" She exclaimed, looking at the German Admiral in confusion. The sound of Momi laughing was a sound that served to cause further annoyance within Anya, but she didn't let that show as she approached the destroyer behind, placing her hands on Yuudachi's head. Momi seemed to get the message, backing away from the destroyer.

"What seems to be the problem, Yuudachi?" Anya asked.

"What seems to be the problem, blondie?" Momi echoed from behind her. Anya ignored that, no doubt expecting that the woman was talking to her, as she looked down at the destroyer, who was peering up at her, her hands under Anya's.

"My hair has a mind of it's own, poi!" She said. Saradia bit back a laugh at that, Anya seeming to be the only one who noticed it, before Anya herself repressed a chuckle.

"A mind of it's own?" She asked for confirmation. Yuudachi nodded at that as Kawakaze offered her own take on the subject.

"She's right!" The fiery haired destroyer agreed. "We all saw her hair moving on it's own!" She insisted. The other eight sitting at the table agreed, glancing to their blonde sister before looking up to Anya, some with varying degrees of worry. Anya glanced at each of them a moment before looking down to Yuudachi. After which, she sighed as she looked down to Yuudachi.

"So I don't know what was going on." She said. "But here's what I'll do. In a few seconds, I'm gonna take my hands off your head. And when you do the same, my bet is that whatever was going on is gonna settle down." She said. "So here we go. You ready?" She asked.

Yuudachi nodded.

Anya returned the nod as she slowly brought her hands up and off of Yuudachi's head.

Yuudachi hesitated a minute before she slowly brought her hand up as well, way from her head.

Everyone seemed to freeze.

Her hair tufts remained still.

Momi huffed behind Anya.

Anya pushed that to the back of her mind as she smiled down at Yuudachi, the destroyer looking more than grateful. After a moment, Anya and Saradia looked back to go for their table as the fleet continued to trickle in. As they did so, Umikaze reached out and snagged Anya's hand. Before she could question why, Umikaze had already pointed it out.

Her ring.

A new summoning.

Anya paused at that before letting her shoulders droop. "It never ends." She said. Umikaze giggled at that as Anya looked for Sofia, already meeting her eyes. Gesturing to the ring, Sofia seemed to catch the message as she looked down at her own. Nodding, Sofia shot the woman a thumb's up before looking back to the table. Accepted that as sound, Anya made way for the doors to the mess hall, passing by Bismarck and Tirptiz as she left.

"Never get any rest, do you?" Momi asked as she crossed her arms, already standing outside as she waited for Anya. The blonde prepared to say something in turn when she noticed Momi suddenly pause at that, something catching her eye. Looking from Momi to the way she was looking, she realized the woman's gaze was now fixated on two approaching carriers, Akagi and Kaga. Momi didn't even move a muscle, only watching the two like a hawk. Even the puffs of her cigar seemed to have halted altogether as the woman's eyes watched the two carriers.

Anya couldn't place exactly what it was, but something told her the two carriers weren't exactly her favorite.

Akagi offered Anya a small wave and a smile, Kaga simply electing for a nod as they made their way into the Mess Hall, Momi's eyes following them the entire time. Anya watched the two before looking back to Momi. When the two were well within the Mess Hall, Anya blinked as she opened her mouth to say something.

Only to realize Momi was gone.

Searching the immediate with her gaze a moment, she found no trace of the woman. Pushing it from her mind, she began to make way for the summoning Gateway as her mind began to wander. Why was Momi here? And what was her full intention? She was gonna be honest, she really didn't know what to expect here.

But as she approached the Summoning chambers, there she found her again, Momi standing there with her back to her. Glancing around just to make sure there was no one within earshot, Anya sighed. "So? You wanna talk about what that was?" She called out. Smoke rose from Momi's other side, Anya having no doubt that she was still puffing that's cigar.

Momi offered no sort of response. Anya briefly considered staying a moment to try and figure out what was going on, but then the realization that this likely wouldn't be the last time she ran into her. Mulling her thoughts a few seconds longer, she eventually turned away in favor of the summoning chamber, opening the door.

And briefly stopped.

Standing in front of the gateway, their backs to Anya, stood two figures. One with her hands on her hips and the other with her arms crossed over her chest, the two seemed to watch the Gateway before them. Letting the door close slowly behind her, making sure it latched, she turned back to the two. And found that Momi was standing off to the side of the summoning chambers, seeming to be watching the two before gazing at Anya.

Walking across the glass floor, her footsteps echoed across the chamber, just barely being overshadowed by the sounds of the waves washing up against the shore. But they proved loud enough that one of the two, the one with her hands on her hips turned back to the woman, a pair of dark violet eyes now focusing in on the woman. Her hands remained on her hips before she let them fall to her sides. "I suppose you're our Admiral, then." She reasoned, reaching up to toy with her ponytail, twisting the ends of it as she brought it over her shoulder.

"I am." Anya affirmed, coming to a standstill. Her gaze briefly wandered to the second of the two before looking back to the first. The presumable heavy cruiser, based on the height of a solid six foot and the curves she was sporting, watched Anya with interest as her blonde ponytail remained over her shoulder. "How about you though." Anya questioned. "A heavy cruiser, I assume?" She asked. Though for whatever reason, Anya couldn't shake the feeling that she'd seen this woman somewhere before.

"I am." The woman chirped. "CA-33. Formerly the USS Portland, nameship of my class." Portland introduced herself. "I must admit. You're not at all what I expected of an Admiral." She said. "But if I'm being honest, I can't really say I'm disappointed with what I got instead." She said.

Anya didn't miss her violet eyes looking the woman up and down once for good measure.

The slightest of grins tugged at Portland's lips.

Anya only chuckled somewhat, closing her eyes for a second before opening them again. "Okay. So we have Portland. And her friend might be..?" She asked, glancing to the second presumable heavy cruiser.

"Baltimore." The woman said, not bothering to turn away from looking at the Gateway at first before she finally turned to look at Anya. "USS Baltimore, CA-68, namesake of the Baltimore Class of Heavy cruisers." The gray haired woman said before glancing to the woman, reaching up to push her glasses up with a finger, her yellow eyes watching the woman from behind them. Her long braid also sat in front of her shoulder. Anya nodded at that.

"So we have Portland and Baltimore. I'm gonna be honest, I'm glad we've managed to snag a few more Heavy cruisers." She said. "Our Heavy cruiser numbers have been a little lacking." She admitted. "And with the limit, you two are welcome sights." She said. Baltimore nodded at that as Portland chuckled, crossing her arms.

"I'm glad you seem to be such a fan of us. I would assume she'll be glad for that as well." She said. Anya paused at that, briefly looking to Baltimore, hoping for that to clear it up. But when the heavy cruiser shook her head, she was going to ask Portland what she meant by that.

Only a for the sound of a ship's wake to fill the air.

Portland and Baltimore backed up, now coming to stand on either side of Anya. And as one, the three of them watched the Gateway, eventually spying that telltale silhouette. Emerging from the Gateway in that very moment, Anya laid eyes on her.

And the realization hit her.

Her dream. The dream with Momi. The three she'd seen, she realized as she watched the last one make way for the solid ground. It was them. The three she'd seen in the dream was the three she was now in the company of. Her mind struggled with what That meant as she watched the last of the three eventually step onto dry land, taking a moment to steady herself before she offered a smile to Anya.

"I would like to think that you must be the one I'm supposed to call Admiral." She said, her smile greeting Anya first, her eyes twinkling with curiosity. Anya paused at that, taking in the sight of the cruiser.

"I am." She confirmed, noting the height. The supposed ship girl before her only stood at 5'7, the correct height rang for a light cruiser. But her curves, stacked being the first word that came to the Admiral's mind, told her that wasn't quite right. Her midnight black hair ended in curls that were down to just past her shoulders, the woman's hands now resting behind her back as she watched the woman. "We have Portland and Baltimore already here. I don't suppose you want to give your name?" She asked.

"Gladly." The woman offered with a giggle thrown in for good measure. "I am CA-139. The Former and Present USS Salem, the last heavy cruiser of our Navy, second of the Des Moines Class cruisers." She greeted. But Anya arched a brow. Already, the differences between NN and Salem were clear. NN seemed to have the height on her older sister, but Salem seemed to have her younger bested in curves in all departments. But still the height.

"Kind of short for a Des Moines, aren't you?" Anya asked with a hum. Salem's cheeks puffed, putting her hands on her hips as she leaned forwards somewhat, her eyes meeting Anya's.

"And just what is that supposed to mean?" She asked, titling her head somewhat as she frowned. Anya chuckled.

"I am unsure if you're aware of this, but the fleet has already received Newport News, who stands at a solid six feet. We're glad to have another heavy, of that there is no doubt. But your height's an oddity." Anya said with a smile, holding a hand over Salem's head for good measure. Salem seemed to take this information in, once again standing straight, tapping at her chin before she offered a sudden giggle.

"Fair enough, I would suppose." She said. "But how about you, Admiral?" Salem asked. "Do we not get a name for our supposed leader?"

"Of course." Anya nodded. "I am Vice Admiral Anya S. Johnson. Also on base but not presently with us is my second in command, Captain Sofia Algerona." She explained. "As for everything else, well that all starts with-"

She was cut off by the sound of a grumbling stomach letting it's disapproval be known. Arching a brow, her gaze befell Salem, who was holding said section with a slight laugh. Taking this into account, Anya nodded, her hand going to her own stomach.

"Agreed. Breakfast it is." She said. Salem nodded enthusiastically at the idea, Baltimore and Portland offering their own agreement as the four began to make way for the door to the summoning hall.

Stepping outside, Salem seemed to stretch her arms before looking to Anya, shooting her a smile as her eyes glistened in the sunlight.

The deepest crimson the woman had ever seen.