Author: Not much seriousness in the first chapter, but future chapters will tackles more serious things such as Admiral Schwarze's past with the Kriegsmarines and what happened with Commandant Teste and Richelieu. Also the story will tell what exactly is her relationship with Warspite and how is she connected to her past as well.

Note: I'm still not allowed to get out of the house and take a bath since I'm not fully healed from measles yet. It's really hard to think straight when you didn't have a bath for a week and be stuck inside the house. I'll be able to regain my normal mental health by Saturday after a good bath and walk.

It's been a while since something happened...

Early in the morning, Admiral Schwarze prepared for today's work and among other things.

"You look like you slept well" Nagato brought freshly brewed coffee

"Because for once there's no Tatsuta trying to kill me like every other night or a Kongou sneaking into my bed"

The admiral stretched her back and stirred the warm cup of coffee.

"Admiral, here are the documents that needs to be signed" Nagato handed over several papers

"Ah that's right. There's going to be a reshuffle so some ship girls are getting transferred and going to be assigned here"

From her tone, it's like she doesn't like the idea of that even though it's a decision from the higher ups.

"They rarely do this kind of reshuffling. Maybe there were issues with other Naval bases. Who knows" Admiral Schwarze shrugged her shoulders

"You seem relaxed, admiral"

"It's not like I'm complaining. Though the ship girls they're going to assign here...are a bit ironic"

"What do you mean?" Nagato didn't understand what the admiral meant

"Nothing in particular"

Nagato had been Admiral Suveran Schwarze's secretary for two years now yet there are times she would find her admiral's words hard to understand.

"Anyway, I'm not even surprised at the ship girl they're going to send here first. Honestly...I never thought I would see her again after a long time"

"Admiral?"

"It's nothing"

She's already used to it, but she keeps wondering about the admiral's thoughts. As Suveran enjoyed the early morning sun, she watched some of the ship girls jogging as a part of the base's morning mandatory exercise.

"This proves the Yuugumo class are better than the Kagerou class" Yuugumo looks like she's jogging with little effort

"There's...no way...haa...haa...the Kagerou class is losing to the Yuugumo class!"

Kagerou lifted her own spirits and used her determination to fuel her stamina. The lead ships of both classes ran ahead of their sisters and rushed, trying to prove whose ship class is superior.

"They're competing again...as usual" Kazagumo sighed

"That's a nice action pose they got there. Too bad I can't draw while running after last time" Akigumo sparkled with joy, but became depressed afterwards

"I must improve my stamina if I want to be a Yamato class battleship!"

Even though Kiyoshimo wants to run faster, her body is at its limit and she'll pass out if she pushes herself even more.

"Makigumo will do her best!"

While Makigumo tries to catch up to Yuugumo, she is ran over by Naganami and Asashimo racing against Shiranui and Nowaki. Not just the lead ship of the classes, but even their sisters are competing against each other.

Later...

While Admiral Schwarze is busy checking the post sortie reports from the past few days, someone knocked.

"Admiral" Nagato saluted

"What's the matter?"

"A letter is sent for you" Nagato handed over the envelope

"For me?"

Seeing the seal, Suveran could just smile as she already knows who sent the letter. She carefully opened it and brought out the folded letter.

Dear Admiral Schwarze,

I'm certain you are aware of my arrival in a few days.

Not just me, but those girls from that country.

Worry not, they have still yet to know the truth.

Though I'm curious how she will react upon seeing you.

Do not worry, I wouldn't directly interfere unless necessary.

I sincerely wish there wouldn't be any trouble with them.

Anyway, I can't wait for the two of us to meet again.

I hope you will welcome in your fleet, my dear admiral.

Let's have tea like the old days once I arrive.

Sincerely,

Your acquaintance

After finishing reading it, Suveran laughed as she returned the paper inside the envelope and placed it on her desk.

"Who was it from, admiral?"

"Ha ha ha. It's from that damn old lady"

"...?"

"Don't worry, you'll meet her soon. Really soon"

Nagato had this feeling, the admiral's words had a deeper meaning, but she didn't bother asking any further. For a brief moment she saw nostalgia in the admiral's face.

The next day...

Just like every other day, the admiral spends her days doing paperwork and managing the base operations.

"Today's still the same, huh..."

Seeing the paper scattered in her desk, she begins piling up the important documents in proper order. Seconds after she sat comfortably, the door barged open.

"Admiral!" Kongou yelled at the top of her lungs

Behind her are Kirishima, Hiei, and Haruna who looks embarrassed as they peak from behind.

"What's the matter?" The admiral sighed

"I've heard an English battleship is coming here!"

"You've just heard? I announced it a few days ago"

"Heeeeh?!"

"And she's coming in two days"

"Heeeeh?!"

Kongou became more upset that the admiral doesn't seem to notice her distress or even care.

"No fair, no fair!" Kongou whined

"Why are you so upset about it?"

"Because admiral will prefer the newcomer over me"

She knows Kongou is a bit too affectionate and attached to her, but her jealous and childish behavior is something the admiral finds hard to deal with.

"Stop crying, will you? I'm not replacing you or anything"

"You're not?"

"Of course not. Because Kongou is a unique girl. A REALLY unique girl"

"Really?"

"Yeah. There's no one that can replace you because you are your own unique individual. You're my Kongou after all"

"Your Kongou? Aaaadmiral, I'm so happy"

"Thank goodness" Her sisters sighed in relief

Kongou begun crying when her admiral reassured she isn't going to be replaced or anything just because a pure British ship girl is coming.

"Now go drink black tea or something. I have work to do"

After that, her sisters drag away Kongou who is crying with joy. The admiral sighed in relief with peace inside her office again.

"Finally. I can relax"

She laid back comfortably on her chair and enjoyed the peace after doing paperwork since this morning. She closed her eyes...only to fall asleep immediately.

Later...

While polishing the picture frame, Yamato enters the office seemingly concerned.

"Yamato?" She stopped her current action

"Admiral, there's something I want to discuss with you"

Yamato's tone is solemn unlike her usual gentle self so Admiral Schwarze took it as a serious manner.

"I'm worried about the Kriegsmarines arriving in a few days"

"..."

"Admiral, how are you going to face them?"

To her, talking about the Kriegsmarines is a serious matter so her usual carefree expression quickly changed to a grim one.

"I know I can't just pretend like that tragedy never occurred, but I don't know if I have the strength to face her...to face Bismarck"

"It's not your fault for what happened. Her sinking was not something anyone can prevent"

"No. I could have prevented it...yet I didn't" Regret filled the admiral's heart

Nagato was about to knock when she heard the admiral's conversation with Yamato. So she just stood there and continued to listen.

"I've discarded my past, but it seems fate wants me to face the past I wished to escape"

"The emotional scars are more painful than the physical ones, aren't they?"

Being reminded, the admiral pressed her hand on her side, knowing there's a large visible scar there.

"To tell you the truth, I'm afraid to face them...because I'm afraid to remind Bismarck of how she wasn't there when it happened"

"Admiral..."

"I'm supposed to be dead, but like everyone else...fate wouldn't let me die"

Being reminded of the past was too much to her Yamato fell silent.

"You don't have to worry about their arrival, Yamato. I'm going to face Bismarck, but I can't tell her the truth"

"Isn't she...I mean, why...admiral?"

"Well, for starters, her dead sister is a sensitive topic for her"

"Well that's true, but still..."

Admiral Schwarze scratched her head, stressing herself about the Kriegsmarines.

"Warspite is coming in two days. I'll discuss this matter with her"

"I understand"

"For now, remind Akagi and the others to not speak anything about the truth once the Kriegsmarines arrive"

"Understood"

As Yamato left the office, she looked around and thought someone was just there a while ago.

(Admiral, what are you hiding?)

Nagato had walked away, but couldn't stop thinking about that. From the sound of it, the admiral is somewhat connected with the Kriegsmarines.

One hour later...

While the admiral is busy dealing with the paperwork regarding Warspite and the Kriegsmarines' arrival, Nagato used the free time to think.

"My, my, Nagato, you look down. This is unusual of you"

"Mutsu, do you know a ship girl by the name of Bismarck?"

"All I know she's a famous fast battleship from Germany. What about her?"

"I overheard the admiral mentioning about her. It's like she's worried on facing Bismarck"

"Oooh. So you're curious to know about the connection between this Bismarck and the admiral"

Really unusual, Nagato barely reacted at Mutsu's teasing tone. This worried her as Nagato rarely acts this much concerned.

"Sometimes I feel like admiral doesn't trust me even though I'm her secretary ship" Nagato sighed

"The admiral is mysterious, that I can say. Despite her carefree nature, she does have this cryptic and serious side"

"What are you trying to say?"

"I'm trying to say, the admiral has her reason of keeping things from you. It's probably too personal she doesn't want to talk about it, not even to you"

Nagato accepted the reason as a possibility for the admiral's often mysterious behavior.

"Our admiral is a strange one, that's for sure. I mean she did harbor and let an Abyssal be in our base, didn't she?"

"True. That kind of action is enough for her to be executed for treason"

"Just have fate in our admiral" Mutsu winked

"Yeah. As her secretary ship, I should trust my own admiral"

Seeing Nagato in her energetic self again, Mutsu is glad Nagato is back to her usual confident self.

Meanwhile...

Sitting around on a peaceful afternoon, DesDiv 06 is enjoying eating snacks together with the admiral herself. She couldn't help but wonder how she got herself into this.

(Why am I even here?) Admiral Schwarze thought to herself

"Commander, try this cookie Inazuma baked" Ikazuchi stuffed a piece into the admiral's mouth

(Oh right. I can't say no when they pleaded using their cuteness. Not to mention…..Akatsuki was about to cry when I said 'no')

As an admiral, Suveran knows she has no time to just sit around, but she let it slide and made an exception for the Akatsuki class.

"Nagato wouldn't be happy if she sees me slacking off. Just like my old secretary"

On her second statement, her voice fell off in a solemn and pained tone. It reminded Admiral Schwarze of her first secretary ship, a certain fast battleship before Nagato is even assigned in Maizuru Naval district.

"Commander, I'm curious to know...what is secretary Nagato like when she first arrived here?" Ikazuchi brought that up

"Was secretary Nagato always so serious and scary, nanodesu?" Inazuma is also curious

Reluctantly, the admiral looked around to check if Nagato is nearby. When she made sure she isn't there, she cleared her throat and prepared to speak.

"To tell you the truth, Nagato was a completely different ship girl when she first came here. I can't help but laugh when I compare her past and current self"

"What was she like?" Akatsuki swallowed her breath

"Well Nagato wasn't also serious and intimidating. Honestly, she was like an oversized destroyer-"

"That's enough slacking off for the day, admiral"

Before the admiral could tell more to DesDiv 06, Nagato squeezed her admiral's head to a controlled degree. Even without looking, Admiral Schwarze knew what expression Nagato is making. She gulped at the mere sense of Nagato's menacing aura.

"Also, you shouldn't freely talk about your ship girl's personal life"

Her hand is shaking and Suveran can tell Nagato feels embarrassed about the admiral mentioning her old self.

"On second thought, you haven't changed at all. You're still an oversized destroyer"

"Time to get back to your office and finish doing those reports. No breaks till dinner. That includes beer!"

"To take beer away from a German?! You're horrible! This is unacceptable!" Admiral Schwarze begun whining like a child

Pouting, the admiral herself gets dragged away by the still flustered Nagato while the four Akatsuki class sisters could just stare and watch quietly.

"I wonder what was the admiral like before being an admiral?"

Hibiki's curiosity made the other three destroyer curious as well.

(What was the admiral like before?)

They all thought the same thing as they can still see a complaining admiral being dragged away by Nagato.

Somewhere in England...

In less than two days, Warspite is going to be assigned at Maizuru Naval district in Japan. Helping her pack her belongings is Ark Royal, a close companion of hers.

"To be assigned in a Naval base with that admiral. What a coincidence, don't you think?"

"Yes. What a coincidence indeed" Warspite giggled

Outside, the two veteran British ship girls spoke to each other privately.

"You didn't have anything to do about it, did you?"

"To be deliberately assigned in the Naval base with her as the admiral? Certainly not"

Warspite's sarcastic way of speaking and sly of a smile doesn't convince Ark Royal. Not at all.

"You're a horrible liar, you know that?"

"A noble lady doesn't know how to lie"

"Well whatever. What I'm more concerned are those girls"

"The ship girls from that country, no?"

When the topic changed, the atmosphere became more tensed than it is a minute ago.

"You also did that on purpose, didn't you?"

"What if I did?"

"You had it so they would get assigned to her base. Why? You know what will happen if she meets the Kriegsmarines again"

"Ark Royal, don't you think it's time they face each other once again?"

"But Warspite...it's Bismarck we're talking about! Among the two of them, she's the emotional one"

When Ark Royal sounded like she's against what Warspite did, the latter turned to her and sighed lightly.

"It's been more than five years. It's time for Admiral Suveran Schwarze to confront her past"

"But she discarded it ever since her return. You know that"

"It's time she face the past she had long abandoned. She knows she has to at some point, even if it's painful"

Warspite briefly lowered her head as if she doesn't wish to have Ark Royal look at her solemn expression.

"She was once just like us after all..."

After reminding Ark Royal, the Grand Old Lady turned her back away and left Ark Royal speechless and concerned about the outcome of this.

"That's what I'm worried about..."

Ark Royal dropped her shoulders and watched as Warspite walks away without even looking back. She wondered...if anything good will come out of it.