Lunch had come and gone after the morning of the arrival of NJ's escort. And as such, this meant that the fleet that wasn't on sorties was spread around base. A duo in particular, walking alongside the water's front, was the pair of one Italian cruiser and one Russian cruiser. Molotov looked out over the waves of Tokyo bay for a moment before looking to Eugenio.

"Have you had a chance to meet the newcomers?" She asked, looking to the Italian cruiser. Eugenio looked up to the cruiser a moment, arching brows, before shaking her head.

"Ah, no. I assume you are referring to the Battleship New Jersey and the destroyer John Finn, no?" She inquired. When Molotov nodded, Eugenio shook her head. "Then no, I have not. John Finn has been sticking close to Admiral Johnson and New Jersey has been spending much of the day with her sisters. Besides, I am but a simple Italian cruiser. I doubt I would be that memorable to ones such as them." She said.

"But the two of them went down in the defense of your homeland, did they not?" Molotov asked, glancing at the cruiser. Eugenio nodded somewhat at that.

"That is one way of looking at it I suppose. But it is also another thing entirely that it is no secret that the world would rather keep the Mediterranean out of Abyssal clutches. And I can really see no better way to do that then a battleship. But I suppose it is a moot point now after everything that has happened. I suppose it is just fortunate luck on our part that Jersey wanted to once again serve her nation in her second life so readily as she had her first." She said. "I suppose, as selfish as it is given the circumstances, of how this all affects my own country's chances of sending proper leadership. As I understand it, New Jersey was crucial to maintaining any sort of defensive line for my home and people." She sighed.

Molotov chuckled somewhat.

"I think you would be hard pressed to find anyone that sees that as selfish." She reasoned. "You are worried about your home. And as reliant on the water as Italy is, it is only natural that you would be worried for you homeland." She said. "But it's not even been a week since things changed so drastically. Once the smoke so to speak clears, we May find ourselves surprised with the outcome." She said. Eugenio sighed somewhat as she rubbed at her face.

"It just seems so wrong. New Jersey has only just returned after being dealt a hand worse than I can imagine and I'm here worrying about my own concerns. Some fleet member I am." She sighed. Molotov chuckled somewhat at that as she looked to the cruiser, hands going behind her back somewhat as she did so.

"I believe you are worrying a bit too much for your own good. You've only experienced this life for less than two weeks and yet here you are, fretting over things as if you've been living for decades. I suppose the fact that you've not received rigging of your own just yet is helping nothing, but having a smile about life is everything." She said, shooting the cruiser a smile of her own. "I think your perception of things will settle once you find yourself battling waves with the rest of us." She said. "The ocean does good for the mind."

"I suppose." Eugenio conceded. "But I still feel that my concerns are...inappropriate at this current point in time. And sure, you may have reason with your logic, but I can't shake the feeling, no matter how much I try and justify it to myself." She sighed. Molotov nodded somewhat at that as she looked out over the bay once more.

"Your apparent concerns aside, you are enjoying your base on time, no?" She inquired. Eugenio held a moment before sighing, nodding her head in agreement, much to Molotov's pleasure.

"I must admit as much as I may have reservations about being in a fleet so different in so many ways, I must admit I am enjoying myself quite a lot. I had figured that because of so many national differences and the like, there would be more problems. Especially with the Germans, given my country's history in the war. But the Capital ships at least for Germany have been pleasant enough to live side by aide with." She admitted. "The Admiral Hipper class in particular."

"Oh? The Admiral Hipper class?" Molotov asked. "Their name ship was in quite the hot water not too long ago." She said. Eugenio nodded at that somewhat as she did so.

"She was, and though they've tried to keep a lid on it as I understand, it's effects still remain. Especially with the American fleet and some of the Japanese." She said. "But that aside, they and the Bismarck sisters have been quite helpful." She said. Molotov nodded at that, turning to fully face Eugenio.

"Again, it makes sense considering exactly what went down. That aside, things seem to be on the mend in that regard. And the Americans are now only eight away from their limit. I am confirming nothing, but I wouldn't be opposed to a few more Russian ship girls around base." She reasoned. Eugenio chuckled somewhat at that.

"If you and Leningrad are anything to base my judgement off, I'm already fearing the day." She laughed. Molotov grinned somewhat at that as she glanced off to the side, where Leningrad was in a group made up of American, Japanese, and German destroyers. They seemed to be playing a card game of some sorts. And when the next card was played, Shiratsuyu screamed in aggravation, sending Fletcher, Leningrad, Z-25, and Murasame into fits of laughter. Molotov only chuckled somewhat at that as she turned back to Eugenio.

"I suppose you may have a point." She reasoned. "If every other Russian ship girl posses an ability like Leningrad and her nigh endless supply of alcohol, then yes we may run into some serious issues." She laughed. "A drunk and inebriated fleet is not something we may exactly need at the moment." She laughed. "Sixteen inch rifles only do so much if the ship they're connected to isn't all there." She chuckled. Molotov chuckled at that as she nodded in agreement at that.

"So very correct." She reasoned. "That aside, I would like to believe this fleet has a grand future." She said. Eugenio cringed somewhat at that, shaking her head.

"I understand the sentiments, I truly do, but I believe fully that something as that should not be voiced aloud." She said. "Call me old fashioned if you will, but we ourselves are the definition of supernatural. I fully believe that superstitions are prone to us far more than anyone. Let us not jinx ourselves so soon out of the gate." She said. Molotov paused a moment at that, glancing at the cruiser a moment, before sighing somewhat.

"I can't find myself believing in such things as you so easily speak of them." Molotov said after a moment. "I hesitate to think of myself as anything supernatural in anyway." She reasoned before glancing at Eugenio. "But if it will make you feel better for the time being, I will refrain from making such declarations." She supposed. "At least so openly in your presence. But I have never really been one to hold or refrain from speaking my mind." She reasoned. "I suppose it simply comes from being of Russian blood."

"Or perhaps it comes from you as that's just who you are. Not every single thing we do must be because of what country we come from. If we were to simply follow our country's stereotypes, it is unlikely that this fleet would even begin to work, let alone entertain such a thought. This fleet, by all means, should not work. There are too many differences and far too many ideals for it too. Yet somehow, here we are, an Italian and Russian cruiser chatting side by side as we operate out of a Japanese Naval base." She reasoned. Molotov offered a Partial nod.

"I suppose." Molotov said. "But if we are not of our own nationalities, then who are we?" She asked.

"The answer should be obvious." Eugenio reasoned, shooting Molotov a smile. "Proud warriors of our homelands."

Molotov couldn't do anything but return her grin.

—/—\—

Enterprise stared out over the water a moment as she sat on the end of one of Yokosuka's piers, letting the breeze blow over her a moment as her eyes wandered up to the sky overhead, the clouds blowing by without a care in the world stopping them.

How envious E was of them at the moment.

To have the ability to not let anything hold you down.

But this was actual reality, and E knew that. No matter how much more challenging it just became for her. No matter how much she willed it would go away. No matter how much she wanted things to go back to being simple. To live and learn as it were.

But as she closed her eyes, still staring up at the gray sky before her, like so many before it, her mind was intruded by two figures.

The one she'd met on the ocean as opposition.

And the one that she'd quickly come to rely on.

One that had dared stand in her way.

One that had allowed her solace under her guns.

Enterprise sighed irritably somewhat as she rubbed her face. Why had this suddenly decided to get hard? To drive her mind up the wall in questions of what if's and but why's? Enterprise scowled at the thought as she looked across the bay.

It was selfish, but Enterprise wished New Jersey hadn't sunk.

Everything would still be simple.

Enterprise opened her eyes again.

You owe the Jap nothing.

Enterprise scowled. "Go away." She hissed. This was the last thing she needed right now. She already had enough on her mind, she didn't need someone else interjecting.

Why should I when we both know I'm right? It's clear who the obvious choice here is. We both know the Jap is a second pick.

"Shut up!" Enterprise snapped. "Your opinion means nothing!" She seethed, her anger rising. Somewhere off in the distant corner of her mind, she could hear wild laughter, uncontrolled that refused to be reigned in.

That's rich. Now, I admit, the Jap's stacked. But she's also a murderer in the purest sense of the word. They all are. Arizona burned because we couldn't see it. Yorktown and Hornet were lost because we didn't realize it, but we both know they are. They're murderers. Every single one of em. So my question is why waste your time? How long are you gonna try and ignore it when the evidence is right in front of you?

"Get out of my head." Enterprise threatened. Once again, she could hear that distant laughter. Laughter that only she really knew.

If only the Admiral hadn't found you this morning. You were so close to handing me the reigns. Now that would've been a ride. Mmm, and with the Black Dragon coming back? Oh yes, oh yes, now that would've been a ride. We both know she knows our sweet spots. Getting her to hit em would've been easy. Oh, if only Admiral Johnson hadn't spied you today, the payoff would've been beyond belief.

"Go away." Enterprise pushed. The silent laughter heightened in her ears, pounding away at them as a silent torment to E.

Why? Pushing me away because you know I'm right? You stupid bitch. One of these days, I'm gonna rip the reigns from you, and I'll make the right decisions in this life. And while I'm at it, maybe I'll finally get it through Arizona's thick skull that maybe she shouldn't be dating one of her own killers.

"Haruna didn't kill Arizona." Enterprise snapped.

And how many did her older sister kill? How many of our friends and countrymen met their end at the hands of that blood traitor? How many of our allies lost their lives looking into those guns? And does it really matter in the end? They're both Japs. And we both know the only proper place for Japanese to be spoken aloud.

"Shut up!" Enterprise snapped, having had enough apparently of the voice giving her own unwanted opinions. In her voice no less. Once again, that laughter pounded away at her ears, starting what E could already feel to be a massive headache coming on.

Getting feisty are we? Figures, you always were the easiest to work up. I'm surprised I got any work done back when with how afraid you were. Oh that's right, isn't it? They don't know, do they? That their almighty ghost is a scared girl hiding in the closet? I wonder how disappointed they'd be.

Enterprise only closed her eyes, willing the persona to vanish. But she didn't, Enterprise could tell, as she could hear the laughter more and more as time went on.

We both know that trick doesn't work anymore. Doesn't work. Hasn't worked. Not since your first sortie. I wonder what everyone would think if they knew they were plagued by someone like me? If they knew that there was two entirely different personas to the mighty Enterprise. It's alright though. You keep wearing myyyyy medals and maybe, just maybe, you might get through this war with everything you love in tact.

A brief second of pause.

Probably not but it's a nice thought. Just hand me the reigns and this war is as good as done. You can actually have a life. A life that's at home, within the United States, where we belong. You can keep living the idea that you love a jap like this, but we both know you've killed too many of them to give you an honest chance. All they need is one good chance with your back turned and I promise you they'll put a knife in your back. Probably that stacked flattop to deliver the final blow too.

"Shut up!" E cried. "I'm not you! You're not me! This is my life! Leave me alone!" She tried. The laughter within her only became louder and louder, driving her headache further and further up in scale, almost to the point that it was downright pounding against her skull.

That's just it babe. History says otherwise. I don't know why they bothered bringing you back over. After all, I'm the one they need in this war. But hey, this is on you. If you hadn't watched Arizona take those bombs, if she'd just let em meet their intended targets, maybe I wouldn't have woken up. Maybe I wouldn't have decided to rear my head. Maybe I wouldn't be here chatting it up with you. But we all lost when Arizona decided to play the hero, now didn't we?

Enterprise seethed quietly, sitting there a moment before losing all semblance of calm. Or what was left of it. "GET OUT!" She bellowed.

"E?" A voice asked from behind. Enterprise snapped around almost instantly at the voice, finding Lexington standing there, watching her with a expression that looked to be of both confusion and curiosity. Meeting eyes with the Carrier a moment, Enterprise eventually offered a sigh before giving a slight wave. Lexington arched a brow. "You don't want me to get out?" She asked. Enterprise rubbed at her face a moment at that before shaking her head.

"No I don't want you to get out." She sighed. "Come on, sit, sit. I promise I won't bite." She said.

At least not yet, heh.

Lexington watched the Carrier a moment at that before shaking her head somewhat at the odd encounter as she drew closer, soon enough taking a seat next to the Carrier. Fishing in her pocket a moment, the carrier offered E what she soon identified as a chocolate bar. "So can I ask what the whole get out was about?" She asked as Enterprise took the provision. E held a moment, staring down at the candy bar a moment before inhaling somewhat.

"You can't tell anyone." She said. Lex offered a small chuckle.

"That's always a good sign." She said.

"Lex, I'm serious." Enterprise snapped. Lex nodded at that, putting up a hand in defense.

"I know i know, you've my word. I won't tell a soul. Now spill, what's got the almighty Grey Ghost so worried?" She asked, biting a piece of her own chocolate bar off. E took a breath a moment at that before sighing.

"The Ghost." She answered. Lex paused a moment at that, the piece of chocolate bar still held between her teeth a moment at that. After a moment, she finally pulled the piece into her mouth as she watched E bite off her own candy bar.

"The ghost?" Lexington asked a moment after she'd swallowed her bite of chocolate. Enterprise nodded at that, her attention almost centered on the waves below her as she chewed at one of the bites she'd managed to get.

"Mhm." E answered as she didn't meet Lex's eyes. Lex held a moment at that, glancing down at her chocolate bar a moment before glancing back up at the Carrier, trying to put a positive spin to things.

"Well I mean you are the Ghost, E. Doesn't it make-"

"Not me." E answered. Lex frowned a moment.

"Not you?" She asked. "E, you are the ghost. The Grey Ghost is you." She said. Enterprise shook her head.

"Maybe back during the war, yeah. Maybe back when we were steel hulls, we were the same for sure. But now, being human, it's.. it's different. I'm Enterprise. And she's the Ghost." She answered, still staring down at her candy bar a moment. "When we were first summoned, it was good. But then I watched Arizona take those bombs in Mutsuki's and Kisaragi's steed.. it got so much worse." She said. Lex offered a slow nod at that somewhat a moment, letting her mind wander over the implications a moment before pausing.

"So is she like... not happy with Japan?" She asked. Enterprise scowled somewhat.

"Her favorite name for Akagi rhymes with Tapist If that tells you anything." She answered, frowning deeply as she did so. Lex blinked a moment at that, giving pause for a moment at the idea of that name leaving E's lips. Pausing a moment, she eventually only nodded.

Can confirm.

"Wow." She said. Enterprise offered a small, dry laugh in agreement at that. After a moment, she offered pause. "So I'm guessing that she's been there before, chatting it up. But when you learned about Jersey, about what happened, she pushed her chance. Tried to make a move." She said. When E didn't answer immediately, Lexi rolled her eyes. "E I saw you crying that morning when the Admiral told us. After Missouri, you probably came in second place." She said.

E's chest fell somewhat at the mention of it. Lexington sighed somewhat.

"Have you told anyone?" She asked. E rolled her eyes at that.

"Tell who? Oh by the way, the same personality that sank you is still bumping around within my head, waiting for her chance to get out and make everyone's life who was apart of the other side a living hell." She said. Lexington shook her head at that.

"How about the Admiral? Or the Captain? Or King, Herkunft, Ishigara, or Liz? For crying out loud, E, tell someone." She pushed. "Before something happens and she does something you can't just take back." She said. "Before she manages to wrangle control, which is something I assume she wants." She reasoned.

"And what would they do, Lex? Sideline me? Bench me? They'd take a look at me and think I'm just some mental patient with some voice in my head." She said. Lexington sighed.

"It's not like that, E. Not any more. Look, I can't tell you what to do in the end of this, but try to get help before she manages to get control. Before she ruins everything you've tried to build for yourself in this life." She said. Enterprise sighed a moment at that, not bothering with any sort of verbal response. After a moment, Lexington sighed at that before taking another glance at the Carrier as she watched E take another bite of candy. "So, hows Carrier life now that you've got Yorktown and Hornet alongside you now?" She asked. E paused a moment at that, the sudden change in topic catching her off guard. Though it wasn't entirely unwelcome.

"It's good. Though this month has made me wonder if Yorktown's where Essex got her bad habits from." She said. "Though Essex took it so much farther." She said. Lexington laughed at that as she nodded, taking another bite of chocolate.

"She did. She so very much did." She said. "And we both know it. Yorktown's a damn worrywart and we both know how Essex held her on a pedestal. I worry for Yorktown's safety should Essex cross over." She said. Enterprise laughed somewhat at that, even though the light in her eyes was dimmed. But Lexi didn't notice and E never said it. Instead, E only looked to Lexi.

"So what about you? You got Yorktown and Hornet the same day I did. But now you get to add on Lala to that ensemble cast. Living the life aren't you?" She asked. Lexi chuckled somewhat at that as she nodded.

"You'd think. But oh boy do I hope I get to be in a different building when my class is finished. Because living with all of my sisters is going to be a bad dream for the fleet and a personal nightmare for me. Of that there is little doubt." She said. "I've already got four sisters on base. That's more than enough." She said. Enterprise nodded at that for a moment before offering pause, frowning somewhat.

"Four? You've only got three." She reasoned. Lexi nodded at that as she looked to the Carrier.

"You." She said. "Out of the first seven of us, three were carriers, and Langley's a mother for sure." She said. "You and I though, we've gone through this whole experience at the same pace. Well, except for you catching the eye of Akagi." She reasoned. Enterprise only nodded at that somewhat, chuckling a little bit as she did so.

"Yeah, yeah, fair enough. I never took you for one with the sentimentality though." She said. Lexi chuckled somewhat at that as she nodded, shrugging somewhat as she looked out over the bay.

"There's over 20 Essex sisters. One of us has to have a caring side." She laughed, lightly punching E in the shoulder. Enterprise gave a soft smile in return, the light coming back to her dark green eyes. "Though I wonder how much that will change ten sisters down the road." She said. "See this is why it's easy having you. We're close enough to the point that it's comfortable, but I don't have to worry about you being a total slob." She said. Enterprise arched a brow.

"Which one?" She asked.

"Yes." Lexington sighed. "Like, don't get me wrong, I love my sisters. But we have a laundry hamper for a reason. I don't need their bras all over our room. Maybe I'll snag a room with Lala. She can't be any-" she began, but stopped when Enterprise slapped a hand over her mouth.

"For Secnav's sake, please do not make it worse for yourself. Just ask Shangri-La to share a room and say nothing about the situation. Otherwise you're gonna jinx and I'll fucking laugh." She said. "By the way, where are you sisters? Lala just crossed over. I figured the four of you would be inseparable for the day." She reasoned. Lexington shrugged at the idea a moment before offering pause.

"Well, Yorktown went to go either take a nap or something. Lala was talking to Langley last I saw. And Hornet... was going to try and find Newport News last time I saw." She said. Enterprise arched a brow at that somewhat.

"You might be careful around Newport News there Lex. She was eyeing Lala an awful lot this morning." She said. Lexi laughed somewhat at that as she glanced to the Carrier.

"You say that like you're worried Newport's gonna run through us one after the other, like a checklist. I'd like to think the Essex class is un-tameable thank you very much." She reasoned. "Look, if Hornet wants to run off and lay herself out for someone, I won't stop her as long as whoever it is respects her. Besides, she's an older sister. What kind of say do I really have in that regard?" She asked. Enterprise watched her a moment before shaking her head somewhat at that.

"If that's what you wanna believe, I won't say another thing in regards to it." She reasoned. Lexi only nodded at that a moment, watching E. Compared to usual, this E almost seemed to be down and out for the time being, her attention almost wasn't there, and the only thing that seemed to be holding it was the candy bar in her hands that she'd been picking at slowly. After what she'd just been told, Lex didn't even have to really think about what might be bothering her.

"She always talk to you?" She asked. E sighed as she nodded somewhat, rubbing her face.

"Yeah." She said. Lex nodded somewhat at that as she leaned forwards somewhat, getting a good look at E. And when Enterprise finally looked up to the Carrier before her, Lexington only chuckled.

"Piss off ghost." She offered in a helpful nature. Enterprise only blinked a moment at that before laughing. And fully laughing, not some half or dry chuckle. It was rich and full, something that Lex only grinned to herself at the sound of.

Rude. Acceptable, but rude.

—/—\—

John Finn watched from her Admiral's chair as she moved about the office a moment, listening as she and Captain Algerona bounced ideas off one another. Apparently the new summoning had put some hitches in the usual fleet plans, as there was no way Iowa and Wisconsin could be used for practical sorties. And the DE's without Convoy's the escort were a problem.

Not to mention Johnny herself, who had avidly shied away when the idea of going anywhere near the water came up in conversation. Apparently, being all but totaled in one salvo made one apparently aware of their fear of the ocean.

"Okay, so obviously they somewhat expect us to be able to sortie them. But any sort of late war battleship would tear Iowa and Wisconsin a new one." Anya answered. Sofia nodded at that somewhat as she offered pause, tapping at her chin a moment.

The day was drawing to a close, dinner had come and gone. And it was allowing the two American commanders a solid chance to actually discuss their new members.

"Okay, so what about bay security?" Sofia offered after a moment. "Even if it hasn't happened since, we never really addressed the fact that Pargo and Snook all but lost their legs within Tokyo Bay. Having one or two bay defense fleets, one BB, two DE's, and a pair of CVE's a piece would do wonders. Maybe even roll a few cruisers and DD's every once a while too. Because if we want to actively consider more mock battles down the line, we need to make sure our bases are covered." She reasoned. "Because at this point, even putting them on the water for practice is apparently a danger." She said. Anya nodded at that.

"We could yeah. Rotate out the CVE's so they're not relied on so heavily in the actual sorties and even use the BDF's as a test bed for new summons to get their legs about them on the water instead of just having em go back and forth like we do now. Sure, we'd still have em work with em even, but it would broaden their practice." She reasoned. "And we could even rotate out Iowa and Wisconsin for a standard every once and a while." She said. Johnny felt her chair shake somewhat as she looked back to the actual seat of hers, the lap of Battleship Maryland, who simply huffed somewhat at the idea. Anya rolled her eyes somewhat at that as she did so. "What you grump?" She asked in an amused fashion. Maryland offered only an exaggerated roll of the eyes.

"I see, I see. You get one more fast battleship and suddenly we standards are out in the cold." Maryland offered. "I get it, I really do. Just, make sure you don't forget me when you give your ring to some younger and faster woman. I'll understand." She said, offering a prolonged melancholic sigh. Johnny giggled somewhat at the show a moment, glancing back at Maryland before looking ahead once more, back to Anya.

Who in turn was only rolling her eyes at the show.

"Hey, If you want to sortie in a interception fleet with any of the Iowa's as flagship and you're on a time crunch, fine. Just don't come whining to me when your legs are on fire." She said, putting her hands on her hips. Maryland only offered an exaggerated huff at the warning, throwing her head back in one direction in mock disappointment. Anya only rolled her eyes somewhat at that, shaking her head somewhat. Though Sofia perked her head up at that.

"That does beg a question though, doesn't it?" She asked, prompting glances from the other three in the room. "We're at a hundred twelve out of hundred twenty. Shouldn't we be looking or considering another expansion?" She asked. "Shouldn't we be considering handing another ring?" She asked. Anya shrugged at that as Maryland looked to Sofia.

"Do you know of another Commander-Ship girl pairing that would make use of a ring at the moment? We don't even know if giving a ring as a token of friendship even works and not only that, but we're at 112. But we're the only fleet within ten away from the limit." She said. Anya nodded at that.

"That's a fair point. Sure, we're close to our max. But is bringing through even more American ship girls the answer only to have the other fleets feel smothered?" She asked, glancing to Sofia. "Because I mean put yourself in the shoes of an unsummoned IJN Destroyer. Went down to the hands of the US. Come back in this life only to find two hundred plus American ship girls prancing around a base in your home country." She explained.

"Point." Sofia admitted.

"We only really need to be worrying about an expansion when we really need it, not just because one fleet's about to max out. And besides, if you do have to give it in a romantic sense, I'm probably not the best choice for that." She said. Sofia nodded in agreement at that.

"That aside, so we have plans for the BDF." She said. "But Johnny wants to help as well." She said, glancing to the destroyer with Anya. Johnny only looked between the two of them a moment before nodding somewhat hesitantly, Maryland patting the destroyer on the head.

"I don't know.. we don't even know if a rigging is possible... and that doesn't even mention The apparent fear." She hummed somewhat, looking to the destroyer. Maryland blinked somewhat at what she was hearing a moment before frowning.

"You're kidding me right?" She asked, looking between the two. "You're looking for a way to let Johnny help and you can't come up with a way that doesn't involve her touching the water?" She asked, looking between the Admiral and Captain. When the two failed to provide even a simple answer to her, she sighed. "Okay, we're gonna take this slow just so everyone follows along. Because the two of you are too focused on thinking back like they did in terms of the Navy of 1940." She said, noting the scowls the two women sent her. Maryland only grinned in response at that as she nodded. "Okay, here's a question. Why are the Abyssals so effective in Naval combat against conventional forces?" She asked. Anya huffed as Sofia sighed.

"Because they're human sized gun platforms in their very entirety." Sofia supplied. Maryland nodded.

"What else?" She asked. Anya thought about it a moment before sighing somewhat.

"Their ability to submerge at will kills a lot of our plans almost immediately of any meaningful strike against them." She said. Maryland nodded at that.

"And?" She continued. The two blanched at her for a moment before Sofia scratched her neck somewhat.

"They're fighting a war of attrition that we can't hope to match them on?" She asked, arching a brow. Maryland sighed somewhat as she shook her head.

"Conventional navy. Conventional forces. Age of the Missile. Why are the Abyssals so effective?" She asked again. "What advantages do they have, what do they nullify?" She inquired. The two paused at the moment, trying to figure out where Maryland was headed was this line of thought before Anya sighed after a moment.

"Tomahawks. CIWS. Radar. So-" she stopped when Maryland snapped her fingers. "Radar?" She asked. Maryland nodded at that as she did so, grinning somewhat at that.

"What about Ship girl Radar?" She asked. Anya blinked before scratching at her head.

"Umm, you girls haven't reported any issues in finding Abyssals with Radar. At least a majority of you haven't." She reasoned. Maryland nodded at that as she gestured to Johnny.

"And who is sitting on my lap?" She asked for confirmation.

"John Finn." Sofia answered. "A member of the Arleigh Burke class of... destroyers, oh my lord we're so blind." She said. Maryland only grinned at that as Johnny glanced at the battleship before looking to Anya, who had firmly planted her hand against her face.

"One of the most, If not the most advanced CIC units in the world and we overlooked it." Anya sighed as she leaned against her desk. "Sorry Johnny." She apologized. Johnny only giggled at that, Maryland ruffling her hair as her cover sat on the desk before them.

"But she doesn't want to touch the water, does she?" Sofia asked, glancing at Johnny. The destroyer paused a moment before slowly shaking her head at the question, leaving Sofia nodding. "She's a no go for the water at the moment. So how do we make use of the CIC?" She asked. Maryland shrugged.

"Couldn't Yuubari and her evil henchmen make some sort of sensor suite upgrades for our riggings? Collect and send it back to Johnny for her to compile?" She asked. "Johnny's modern Navy. Her computing power and ability to solve problems probably laughs at ours in terms of the numbers and the like. She'd Be like a new kind of fleet command or the like." Maryland offered. Anya nodded at that.

"Maybe. We'd still have to get Johnny a rigging though to call her fairies and ship abilities forwards." She said.

"But if we're going strictly for support role for the time being, R&D doesn't have to pick the problem of miniature Tomahawks and the like, not like they aren't working on those anyways. But still, the point stands. We don't have to weaponize it. We just need the Sensor suites it comes with." She reasoned. Anya nodded at that.

"We'll need the rigging first and then Yuubari can build something based around that. That aside however, how do you feel about it Johnny?" Anya asked as she stepped around her desk, ruffling the destroyer's hair a moment. The blonde destroyer only offered Anya a small smile at that.

"Mhm. I'm happy to help. Anyway I can." She offered. Anya nodded at that, shooting the destroyer a smile of her own at that. After a moment though, Johnny began to work herself off of Maryland's lap a moment, plucking her cover from Anya's desk before running out the door. Watching a moment, Anya blinked in confusion before looking to Maryland.

"She's gonna go find J, make sure she's alright." She said. "She was telling me about it a little while ago." She explained. Anya nodded at that somewhat as she leaned against the desk a moment. Sofia nodded as she watched the door close a moment before closing the door to their office.

"So now that we have a chance to actually talk, let's back up to the subject of the rings. What if it came down to it where for whatever reason it would require you to give another ring to expand the limit. Would you?" Sofia asked, glancing at Anya. At that, Anya only looked to Maryland, who simply shrugged.

"As long as you don't give a ring to Colorado or Weevee, I'm good." She said. "But this is all in the case of giving a ring on the basis of friendship, right?" She asked, glancing at Sofia a moment. Sofia shrugged.

"Let's say it has to be more than just friends." Sofia replied.

"Are you kidding me?" Anya asked. "I barely have the time to even have a proper private life with Maryland." She huffed as she moved over, and planted herself in Mary's lap. The battleship chuckled somewhat at this as she wrapped her arms around the woman's middle, pecking Anya on the cheek as she rested her hands on Anya's. "I'm already pulled thin enough between the fleet and Maryland. Trying to add another ship to that's asking for trouble." She said.

"So why not one you already know?" Sofia asked with a chuckle. "I'm sure someone like Hipper wouldn't be a bad choice." She said. Anya frowned somewhat at that as she looked to Sofia.

"How much thought have you given this?" She asked. "And that aside, me giving a ring to Hipper would cause more problems then it would solve in my opinion. Part of the fleet still dislikes her for what she did. Me giving a ring would send the wrong message in some cases. And I'm not about to open a whole new can of worms for her if I can help it. This one beating her was already problem enough." Anya said, gesturing back to Maryland. Maryland shrugged at that. "And still it goes back to the same point. I can't even get ten minutes to properly fuck the girlfriend I have." She said, resting her elbows on her desk. Maryland blinked at that a moment before her cheeks broke into a luminescent blush, all but burying her face into Anya's back. Sofia chuckled somewhat at that as she put a hand on her hip.

"Based on that reaction, I'm guessing she really doesn't know what to expect from you. But if you're still as loud as you once were, I suppose I really should find myself some earplugs. Maybe find some for King too." She said with a chuckle.

Maryland blinked at that for a moment.

Anya rolled her eyes at that as she leaned back against Maryland a moment at that. "I could ask the same about the rings about you and Zuikaku. Are we gonna end up where you've got one of the Pearl Six on your arm?" She asked as she looked to the woman. Sofia shrugged at that as she crossed her arms somewhat.

"I think you're looking a little deep into signs that aren't there. We're just watching Star Wars together." She said. Anya nodded as she watched Sofia with a small, amused smirk.

"First it's Star Wars, but how long is before it goes from watching Star Wars to merely having it play in the background?" She asked with an amused expression. Sofia rolled her eyes at that as she waved the woman off with a hand.

"You look too much into things." She said. "Besides, it's all jokes because we don't know if giving one in a friendly way works yet." She said. Anya nodded at that, leaning forwards somewhat. "Anyways, Imma head out and go check on the dorms. You kids behave." She said before turning and walking out of the office, closing the door behind her. At that, almost immediately however, Anya got up only to turn around and plant herself back on Maryland's lap, the woman leaning back into the chair as she did so.

"It's a valid question though, isn't it?" Maryland asked. "What if it's only through romance that the rings work? I mean, we're all gorgeous." She said. Anya nodded at that as she slowly wrapped her arms around Maryland's neck. "And by the way, that comment the Captain made about you being loud. I thought..." she said.

"When we first met, it was a different story." Anya supplied as she leaned in, pressing her lips to Mary's, pressing her advantage. Mary immediately melted to the Admiral's advance, her hands only finding their way to the blonde's hips. Even through the blush her cheeks were now sporting. A few moments later, the two parted as their breaths were the only words between them.

"This isn't the place..." Maryland said, her chest rising and falling a moment.

"I don't care." Anya said. "The only question is do you?" She asked, glancing at the battleship. After a moment, after the thoughts had taken her mind, Maryland shook her head.

Their lips met again, almost crashing together.

Or they would have, had Atlanta not opened the door to the office, walking inside without a care in the world.

"Hey, Admiral, we were...." She trailed off as she watched a moment. And then she met eyes with those of Emerald and Periwinkle.

Both looked to be surprised somewhat, but more than that, Atlanta couldn't help the fact that she felt there was more than just a little aggravation mixed in. Atlanta briefly wondered why, until she noted, the Admiral was on Mary's lap. "Oh... uh, I'll just... go..." she uttered a moment before slowly closing the door, the two pairs of eyes watching her with each and every step, all the way to the closing of the door.

When it latched, a scream of frustration tore through the air. Atlanta wasn't sure who it was, and she wasn't sure she wanted to test the waters. Scowling somewhat, she glanced to the woman to her side. "Why did you tell me the Admiral wanted me?" She asked, frowning somewhat.

Sofia only snickered.