/* Finally after a long break caused by my JLPT N3 and TOEIC preparations, I'm back. Further delay was caused by finally scoring a job in Japan where I'll be moving in 3 weeks! Wish me the best of luck, 'cos it's scary as hell */

The week of Nagato's arrest passed unexpectedly fast, hugely thanks to Sakawa's and Kongou's unending support. The battleship spent her days playing with the destroyers, watching trainings and manoeuvres and binge watching, as Sakawa called it, animated series of this era. Just the last night they've started a show talking about characters from other worlds being transported to modern Japan. Unsurprisingly Nagato found it very easy to empathize with them, as she too still felt foreign to this new reality.

Due to the sleepless night she woke up around afternoon. As her cruiser companion was still asleep, she proceeded with her morning routine with utmost care, trying to not wake her up. Barely able to withhold the excitement she quietly left the room and headed towards the Vice Admiral's office, hoping to finally be transferred to active duty and join the fleet exercises.

Watching various Shipgirls train everyday gave her a lot of ideas for improvements as well as her own manoeuvres. If her status as ex-fleet flagship didn't disallow it, she'd be jumping like a little girl.

Only upon reaching the headquarters, Nagato had realized that the base was unusually quiet. No guns roaring in the range, no aircraft flying all over the place practicing more and more complicated manoeuvres… and no Shipgirl in sight. She'll have to ask the admiral what's going on.

The battleship stopped in front of the office, her hands trembling with excitement and anxiety. What if he changed his mind? She reached for the knob and slowly opened the door. The admiral was, however, absent. Actually, the entire office seemed empty. Taught by experience though, Nagato headed towards the small kitchen hidden around the corner.

"Vice adm-", she stopped right in time to avoid bumping into a tall lean girl, carrying a bunch of documents.

"If you are looking for Vice Admiral Hara, he won't be available until evening, maybe longer. Also, shouldn't you be on standby in your room?", the figure asked brushing her jet-black hair behind her ear.

"Standby? Did something happen?!"

"Oh… Nagato-san, I suppose?", the battleship nodded sheepishly. "Nothing for you to worry about, I was actually asked by the admiral to leave a note for you. Nagato will probably try to catch me at least five times today, would you mind heading over to the office and leaving a note to let her know that I'll see her when we're done? is what he said."

"Uhm, sure. Thank you…", she stopped uncertain how to refer to the girl in front of her.

"Ah, where are my manners… Fleet Command Ship, Ooyodo-class light cruiser Ooyodo. Pleased to make your acquaintance, Nagato-san.", she reached out her free hand to Nagato.

"Ah! The pleasure's all mine!", the battleship needed a moment to realize what's going on before shaking the cruiser's hand.

"Now if you excuse me, I need to go back. If you could please head back to your room. We need every Shipgirl to be ready to sortie at any moment."

"U-understood!", Nagato uncertainly stood at attention, not sure how to act next to Ooyodo.

"There's no need for the ceremony.", the cruiser smiled and headed towards the door.

"Ah, Ooyodo-san… May I ask what's happening?"

"Unfortunately, I cannot reveal any details right now. I'm sure that Vice Admiral will inform everybody on today's events in due time.", she closed the door behind her.

As Nagato was wondering what to do with another free day, Hara together with Ooyodo were in the middle of a crisis containment meeting with JMSDF and USN admiralties, as well as commanders of all bases in the Pacific.

"Vice Admiral Hara, you seem to be misinterpreting the situation. As it stands, Guam base is no longer operational! The Abyssal are free to do as they please in the Philippines, the supply lines between Japan and the Solomons have been cut and as it turns out we no longer have effective means of observation!", a clean shaved man around his sixties smashed his fist against the desk he was sitting at, shifting his camera's frame to the wall behind him.

"Rear Admiral Fernandez. That last part is exactly why I am unable to reassign my main carrier force. The moment we received the news all our carriers were sent on combat patrol. Even with aviation cruisers and submarine carriers, we're barely able to maintain the perimeter. The best I can do are two Kongou-class fast battleships, a Suzuya-class aviation cruiser, a Sendai-class light cruiser, six destroyers and a small repair ship.", Hara read from an impromptu report prepared by Ooyodo.

"That's not enough!", Fernandez's desk received another undeserved punch.

"Then ask Vice Admiral Halsey for more.", the C-in-C of the Japanese Shipgirl Project snapped back. "As far as we know there might be another Abyssal task force heading for Tokyo right now."

"Vice Admiral, you are well aware that our forces are already spread thin. We have half of the globe to cover.", with unusually calm and diplomatic tone, Halsey finally spoke up. Hara couldn't help but think that even the ever-conceited woman could behave herself with her superiors nearby.

"Unfortunately, our project's size doesn't compare to yours, Vice Admiral.", a still young man interrupted the American. "Our C-in-C will proceed to transfer the aforementioned force to Guam immediately. That's all I can approve as well.", he ostentatiously pointed at his four-star insignia, effectively ending the discussion, much to Hara's relief.

"What about Singapore and Rabaul bases?", John O'Bannon, the Fleet Admiral of the United States Navy asked. Hara always felt unsettled by this man's lack of emotion. Ironically, his worried tone made the Japanese even more anxious.

"I'm afraid Rabaul can only offer a seaplane tender.", with hesitation, Shouhou, the only Shipgirl aside Iowa to receive a command of an entire fleet, answered.

"Singapore can offer standard carrier Ark Royal, light carrier Ryuujou and one destroyer division.", Vice Admiral James Cunningham, the Commander-in-Chief of the European Far Eastern Fleet stated with smug expression. "That is if Vice Admiral Hara approves.", he added quickly, putting Hara on the spot.

"Then it's settled.", O'Bannon summed up, not allowing any objections, but visibly relieved to receive some carriers.

"I am more interested in knowing how were you caught off-guard. Our surveillance system has been working flawlessly until now.", Inoue picked up another topic to avoid further inquiries.

"We're still working on it, Admiral Inoue. We'll inform you the moment we know something. For now, it seems that the system works as designed.", Halsey's voice was filled with resentment.

"Please do.", he paused for a moment. "I think it's finally time to wrap this up, but before that, Fleet Admiral O'Bannon.", he addressed the highest ranking American in the meeting. "I'd like you to share all the information about the attack with our engineering team as well as Repair Ship Akashi.", the Admiral's eyes wandered away for a moment. "Also, if possible, all the logs from the surveillance system."

"I'll see to it, Admiral. Thank you for your cooperation."

"Thank you as well. It was good to see you, John.", Inoue paused. "Hara, Kondo. I want you to talk to you, so don't run off."

As the meeting ended, Hara looked out the window, realizing it's already past the dark and despite wasting an entire day in meetings, more were still on the horizon. Nagato might have to wait until tomorrow.

Luckily, the following meeting took less time than expected. With Ooyodo's help the reassignment orders and all necessary preparations were done within three hours.

"Time to visit that troubleship of ours…", he smiled at his own pun and headed for the exit.

"Admiral…", the Command Ship spoke up.

"Yes?"

"Please, never make that pun again.", Ooyodo's pitiful expression said it all.

"You seriously have no sense of humour…", Hara threw back putting on his coat.

"I'm afraid it only has to do with quality of your jokes, admiral.", she sneered.

"Unforgivable…", he sighed, leaving the room.

Several minutes later the Vice Admiral stopped in front of what used to be Nagato's door. Neither the battleship nor Sakawa noticed his arrival, so he knocked on the doorframe letting himself in.

"Is this some new fashion trend?", he pointed at the gaping hole in the wall.

"V-vice Admiral!", Nagato immediately albeit clumsily stood at attention, nearly tripping over Sakawa's legs. "It's…"

"I'll send somebody to fix it tomorrow. For now…", he took a peek at the TV screen on the opposite wall. "It's a good series, but we have to go. Sakawa, you too."

"Pya!", the cruiser seemed less bothered by Hara's presence than her friend.

As both Shipgirls began changing, the admiral stood outside, leaning against the wall barely withholding the laughter each time he looked at the broken door.

"Kongou sure packs a punch…", he said casually.

"Kongou?", Nagato answered befuddled.

"I can't imagine anyone else kicking down the door. I wish I could see that…", he sighed as if reminiscing the good old times.

"You're not angry, Vice Admiral?", the battleship was getting more confused with each sentence.

"I got used to such things… Nothing will ever top the sight of Maya punching a hole in my office's wall.", he laughed manically. "I had her fix it and paint it… Took her over two weeks to get it right."

Admiral can be quite strict when he wants to, Nagato thought before leaving the room.

"Don't forget to lock the door.", Hara joked.

"Ad-mi-ral! Stop with the bad jokes already!", Sakawa put her foot down.

"Sakawa!", the battleship reacted immediately, ready to discipline the cruiser.

"They aren't bad, you just have no sense of humour… Worse than Ooyodo, I tell you…", the admiral sighed and turned on his heel. "Now, off we go!"

And back to his usual self…, Nagato covered her face with her palm.

After leaving the dorms, Hara explained that they will take Akashi's car before proceeding, a prospect which filled Nagato with a mix of excitement and anxiety – she never rode in a car before.

"Vice Admiral, where are we going anyway?", Nagato finally broke the silence.

"I'll explain when we're in the car. I don't want to stop in the middle."

Few minutes later the group arrived at the Arsenal. Hara grabbed the keys from one of the many shelves.

"Admiral, can Sakawa drive!?", the cruiser shouted, full of excitement just as they were supposed to get in.

"Forget it.", Hara opened the door and quickly slipped inside before Sakawa could even react.

"But admiraaaal! Sakawa can drive pretty well!"

"Over my head body. Now get in, we're already late.", he started the car. "Eeeh… I'll think about letting you drive us back.", he added seeing Sakawa's disappointed expression in the mirror.

"Pya!"

Able to finally go, Hara started explaining the situation to his companions.

"I'll be keeping it short, so pay attention. The USN base at Guam got hit by a surprise Abyssal attack."

For Nagato it was the first time riding a car. Comfortable seats, fast pace and quickly passing lights felt mesmerizing, magical even. Seeing this, Hara patted her shoulder a few times, to remind her about paying attention.

"Ah, my apologies, Vice Admiral. What do you mean by surprise attack? Aren't all the bases surrounded by a net radar and sonar stations?", Nagato said instinctively.

"They are, it didn't stop the enemy from staying invisible until the last moment. You'd have known if you listened.", Hara reprimanded the battleship, causing her face to turn slightly red. "The scary part is, it was a rather large task force, with multiple battleships and carriers. The base has been damaged to the point of being inoperable. Additionally, the garrison has been put out of commission with only few Shipgirls in combat-ready state.", Hara paused, giving Nagato and Sakawa a chance to ask questions.

"How come they weren't detected? Is the system flawed? Was it some new tactic?", Nagato's tone revealed a mix of anxiousness and excitation. A new and stronger foe! I can't wait!

Nagato was pulled out of her fantasies right in time for Hara's answer, as the car entered a wide, reinforced bridge. Her well-honed eyes could see an outline of what seemed to be an island on the other end, but she didn't pay much attention to it.

"No idea. JMSDF and USN repair ships are searching for possible causes, but at least the system seems to be fine.", Hara's face turned grim.

"Doesn't it mean that the entire Japan is at risk now, pya?", Sakawa immediately stuck her face to the window after asking. They found themselves in an entirely new place, full of hangars, cylindrical structures and concrete buildings. Contrary to the island they lived on, the only source of light penetrating the surrounding darkness being the Akashimobil.

"Unfortunately, yes.", the Vice Admiral paused again, but no more questions came. "This said, we not only had to double the patrols, but also reassign several Shipgirls to Guam. This includes Kongou and Hiei of course, so you are left without a tutor, Nagato."

"I will do my best to catch up on my own, sir!", Nagato felt disappointed, but didn't let it show. She's wanted a chance to sail with her old friend ever since she joined the Project and now it's gone for who knows how long. However, before she could even sulk about her bad luck, the wildest idea came to her. "Am I actually being reassigned to Guam as well, Vice Admiral?!"

"Oh no, you are not ready for combat zone deployment yet. Somebody may end up dying if I send you there in this state.", Hara smirked thinking about battleship's enthusiasm. "We're going to pick up your new tutor.", he turned right, stopped the car and went out, signalling Nagato and Sakawa to do the same.

"What's this place pya?"

"Oh, it's Akashi base's airfield. It's usually off-limits for Shipgirls….", landing plane cut of the rest of Hara's sentence. "Seems we're right on time.", he added after aircraft's engines finally stopped.

Immediately a pair of lights appeared to their right. They belonged to another automobile. It was carrying what looked like stairs. Higher and squarer than Akashimobil, the car stopped next to the plane, putting down its cargo, before disappearing into the darkness.

Moments later the plane's door opened and a feminine looking silhouette appeared on top of the stairs.

"My, oh my… Isn't it my admiral?", playful voice felt familiar. "You missed me so much you just had to come and pick me up, how lovely! I'll make sure to reward you afterwards.", she added descending the stairs.

"I'm happy to see you in good spirits.", Hara ignored woman's attempt at flirting and started walking in her direction. Nagato and Sakawa followed.

As they closed in and newcomer's face became clearly visible, Nagato froze, motionless and speechless.

"Oh my! If it isn't Sakawa-chan!", she patted light cruiser's head, ruffling her hair.

"Pya!", forgetting the world and ignoring everybody around her, she hugged the woman. A thing so characteristic to her.

While her hair colour might have been different from what Nagato remembered, the smug expression and dim green eyes, the barely visible cheekbones and a sharp chin. Everything in this person screamed in Nagato's mind.

"Nagato.", Hara opened. "I'd like to introduce to you, the flagship of the Russo-Japanese Shipgirl Taskforce, Naga-"

"Mutsu!", the battleship shouted forgetting the world and ignoring everybody around her, interrupting her commander and embracing her sister ship in such an uncharacteristic manner.

"My, oh my.", Mutsu stood there surprised, before returning the embrace a moment later.