Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Ryan, NJ and I sat in a room on base with a camera facing the table we were sitting at. With a nod from all three of us, the interview began. Ryan started the recording.

“Hello everyone. Ryan here… okay… I'll have to remedy my intro sometime soon. You all know me as a curator for the Battleship New Jersey museum and memorial. With the declassification of ship-girls on an international scale, the ban on information has been lifted. And with the express permission of the Admiral of the recently formed Azur Lane, I am starting a series where I will interview the girls about their lives. Service life, achievements, retirement. All aspects of their life that they are willing to divulge. With this being the inaugural episode, I am joined by the Admiral of Azur Lane, Tyler Sweigart, and his lovely wife, New Jersey. Hey there, guys. How are you doing?” Ryan asked.

NJ and I chuckled.

“We're doing alright, Ryan. The kids are keeping us busy beyond belief. I'm thankful to have such a large support system to help us with raising the next generation.” I said as NJ looked at me lovingly.

“And you, New Jersey? How's motherhood treating you?” Ryan asked.

“Well… it might be TMI, but thank god they're able to eat real food now. I swear raising twins would result in my nipples falling off. But, that said, I couldn't be happier. And Honey has been a superstar dad, making sure to keep me well rested and relaxed.” NJ replied.

“I don't mean to nitpick… but if we can keep it a bit more PG… I have to post this online so I can pay my dues here.” Ryan said with a chuckle.

“I'm sorry. I'm doing great, Ryan. The kids are a blessing the world over.” NJ said with a smile.

“Now, enough banter. I live here with my own family and we can chit chat over dinner. Let's get down to brass tacks. We're here to interview you about your life. And the Admiral is here to help mediate. That said, you can disclose whatever you wish to. Leave nothing unturned. You ready?” Ryan asked.

“Yup! Let's get this going.” NJ replied happily.

“New Jersey, tell the world about yourself.” Ryan said as NJ put a finger to her chin.

“I guess I can introduce myself. Heya! I'm New Jersey, formerly known as Nicole Jackson. I came into being at my launch in 1942 during the height of the War in the Pacific in World War Two. I am the ship-girl attached to the Iowa class battleship, BB-62, USS New Jersey. I command a vessel weighing in at 50,500 tons, the heaviest of all of my sisters. I have access to my most modern retrofit, consisting of Tomahawk missile launchers, Phalanx CIWS weapon systems, dual five inch gun turrets, and my bread and butter, the nine 16-inch, fifty-caliber guns in three mark seven turrets. I served the United States Navy from 1942 up until my retirement in 1991. I saw combat in World War Two, Korea, Vietnam, and the Gulf War. Behind my girl Enterprise and her CV-6 hull, I was the most decorated ship in US Navy history and the most decorated Battleship in USN history.” NJ spoke with a smile.

“Quite a record of achievement. But we can all look up details on your vessel's service history. Plenty of records there. Let's talk about you as a woman. I have a list of questions I feel that would make for some quality content. Do you mind?” Ryan asked.

“Go ahead!” NJ replied as she leaned against me.

“You served as a sailor on your own vessel. What was that like?” Ryan asked.

NJ closed her eyes.

“I had to do everything a normal sailor would. I actually didn't join my own crew until after basic training. When I was finally placed on my vessel, I was instructed to shadow everyone so that I knew the proper way to do things without really using my abilities as a ship-girl. So I learned how to maintain gun mounts, how to manually load my five inch guns, how to transport powder bags in the barbette space. I followed the rules set by the Navy for my sailors, making me just another one of the guys.” NJ explained.

“Did you have a favorite position to fill?” Ryan asked.

“I enjoyed my rotation through turret two. Honey will attest that I adore the number two turret.” NJ said as she looked at me.

“It's true. She said that the number two turret was her absolute favorite since it's in the most centered spot of the ship, relative to her other turrets.” I spoke with a nod.

“And why is that?” Ryan asked.

“The swaying of the ship isn't as pronounced. And you're not fighting as much with crosswind and bow or stern drift. Turret two is also a lot easier to get in and out of.” NJ replied.

“Interesting. Not something you'd be able to tell when your vessel was sitting in Camden almost a year ago.” Ryan joked.

NJ shook her head.

“You need to feel it in combat to know what I mean. When you're sailing ahead at half speed and you've hit a rough patch of ocean, if you want your shells to have a better chance to hit, fire from turret two. It's the most stable on a free floating vessel.” NJ reiterated.

“Where there things during the war that you wished you could have changed?” Ryan asked.

“I wished we could have forced a surrender before dropping the bombs. The bombs were a show of force that we never should have had to use. And as someone who absolutely loves south and southeast Asia, I really wish we could have preserved the beauty of Japan instead of nuking it.” NJ lamented.

“You love Asia? Pretty much every conflict you fought was in that region. Isn't that counterintuitive?” Ryan asked.

“I mean, yeah. It's a bit sacrilegious, but the food, the culture, the people… they are wonderful. In fact, Honey and I are planning to take the kids to Japan to visit Mount Fuji when we go to collect blueprints to continue to build our forces.” NJ said.

“A family vacation. That's adorable. Is Mount Fuji your only objective?” Ryan asked.

NJ shook her head.

“I'm going to the epicenters. I want to take in that energy… the somberness of it. I want to pay respect to those cities.” NJ said softly.

“You're quite emotional for a battle-hardened warship. Are all ship-girls like you?” Ryan asked.

NJ shrugged.

“We're all unique. I haven't met someone who is completely like me. I just understand my place in history. My generation saw the power of the sun unleashed on a nation who had nothing but their lives to lose. I do not like that we used nuclear weapons. I make a point to try and visit those cities every time I find myself in the land of the rising sun. It's how I pay tribute.” NJ said softly.

“I see. It takes a level of maturity beyond my years to hold yourself to that standard. The world could learn from you, New Jersey.” Ryan admitted.

“My motto is freedom through firepower… but if your firepower destroys everything it's used against… can you really be fighting for freedom?” NJ asked.

“A deep question. One that can be pondered for years without an answer. Moving on, the Iowa's were the only battleships to become nuclear capable. Can you expand upon that?” Ryan asked.

“No.” I replied firmly.

“O-oh?” Ryan asked, clearly taken by surprise.

“All nuclear payload related materials that are available to the public can be found online. If you cannot find answers to certain questions, it is because it is still classified. I cannot allow NJ to release sensitive information without proper authorization. All we can confirm is the creation of sixteen inch Nuclear Artillery shells and Nuclear tipped Tomahawks capable of being launched from standard tomahawk launch sites. Whether she carried them or used them is not for us to release.” I replied firmly.

Ryan nodded.

“With that explanation, I assume questions about specific dates will be deflected?” Ryan asked.

I nodded.

“Got it. Moving on. You two were the start of what few have called the Kansen Revolution. What was the driving force behind that?” Ryan asked.

“Initially it was because NJ had disclosed her identity to me. At the time, it was highly classified and illegal for her to mention it, due to a permanent NDA she signed upon her retirement. The plan was that if we were discovered, she'd whisk me away in the dead of night and we'd sail the seas until we found a place where we could be left alone. A few things happened and I found her and I in London meeting with the dignified Queen Elizabeth, Kansen of Aircraft Carrier Queen Elizabeth, formerly the Battleship. It was after speaking with her and several more that we discovered just how bad things were for Kansen, not just in the US. Our trip to London transformed our plan from simply escaping, to causing such a stir that the world would be forced to recognize us. And to that end, just over a year ago, we broke ground on what is now, quite possibly, the most advanced Military and research installations in the world, sans like… CIA Black sites and other classified facilities.” I replied.

“It's as Honey said. But he skipped over the important bits. The reason we went to London was due to an injury that nearly killed him. We were awarded a nice settlement, for an amount we cannot legally disclose. But using that money, he took me on a vacation to London. We did a few touristy things. Visited the Belfast, stayed at the Claridges, courtesy of Her Majesty, Saw the Big Ben. I found the trip quite enjoyable… aside from a certain German Heavy Cruiser attempting to remove my Honey from the census. After it was decided to form Azur Lane, we flew privately from London to Tokyo. This was done to dodge MI5 who had stepped up their attempts to gather dirt on Honey and I by slipping a bug into his outfit, something I discovered immediately and disposed of just as quickly. And, side note… MI5, I swear to god, you try to do that to Honey again, I'll be delivering the broken microphone pieces directly to your agent's mailboxes. Don't think I can't find you.” NJ huffed.

“Sweetie, we can't threaten MI5 like that.” I coached softly.

“There's no threat of violence. It's perfectly legal!” NJ cried.

“Either way, let's not piss off the intelligence agencies. You like how little they mingle with us as is, so let's keep it tame, alright?” I asked, scratching her chin.

NJ fumed for a moment.

“Fine. But you better be careful if we find ourselves in London again. Actually, I think we have a meeting there next month, so we should look at getting a small fleet together so we can set sail.” NJ said.

“Do you need to be there?” I asked. Ryan sat quietly while he paused the recording.

“No… but I get so lonely when you go out for these meetings.” NJ whined.

“You're still my Flagship, honey. Your word carries the weight of mine when I'm not on base. Besides, I can't bring the kiddos on this one. Apparently the Brits are considering a partnership with our production facilities to build a prototype for a new gun system for their new frigates. Lots of boring details. The kids'll riot.” I said softly.

NJ sighed.

“Bring me back something nice then, okay? And I want you to text me every night.” NJ huffed.

“I can do that. I'll be taking Shinano, Sheffy, and Impero with me.” I said with a smile.

“Take Z-23 as well. They just finished fitting a sonar system similar to Grid’s on her hull. Give her a chance to break it in.” NJ suggested.

I nodded.

“We can do that.” I said as Ryan jumped back in.

“We good to continue?” Ryan asked.

NJ and I nodded as Ryan resumed the recording.

“What happened when you left London?” Ryan asked.

“We called a meeting in Mutsu, Japan. Kansen from almost every nation gathered there to discuss Azur Lane's formation.” I replied.

NJ fumed again.

“You left stuff out again!” NJ whined.

“We arrived in Yokosuka and visited Mikasa, an old friend of mine. We also met Arkhangelsk before heading to Mutsu, where Musashi and I maybe kinda sorta had it out.” NJ said.

“Had it out?” Ryan asked.

“Musashi was pissed that we had even showed up in Japan. So she sought to fight NJ. But NJ was all about trying to de-escalate until Musashi tried to fry me via lightning bolt. Then she kinda flew off the handle a bit.” I said as NJ smiled smugly.

“So a Yamato class and an Iowa class fought in Mutsu?” Ryan asked, doing his best to hide his excitement.

“Yes. Although it wasn't a true fight. NJ did her best to end it peacefully, but Musashi was too angry to let the grudge die. It ended when NJ dismantled Musashi's rigging, leaving her unable to fight. It was truly something to behold.” I replied.

“You weren't there to witness it… how do you know?” NJ asked curiously.

“Well… with Shinano basically using my restless nights as a way to play cinema in my head, she showed me how the battle transpired. I'm proud of you for showing even more restraint than I gave you credit for. Way to take the high road, honey.” I said sweetly.

“Seeing how Azur Lane exists now, I take it your meeting in Japan was a resounding success?” Ryan asked.

NJ and I nodded.

“We had the full support of every kansen present pretty much up front. Once we figured out that the German and Soviet Kansen were horrendously handled, that kinda cemented everything. Fast forward to now, we've pretty much stabilized our relationship with the world. We're our own nation. We pay taxes to none. We answer to none but the ICC and the UN. There were talks of drafting us into NATO, but I shut it down due to Article 5. I can't be a part of that when the Article 5 is enacted, as any force I bring is enough to wipe countries off the map. So we decided that if we are to be called upon, it must come directly from the UN. And even now, we take requests on a case by case basis. Right now we're working with the less aggressive powers in the middle east to provide safe passage for international shipping. Mainly Saudi Arabia and Egypt. We also deal with Somali pirates for smaller, less fortunate shipping companies who cannot afford to hire mercenary support against pirates.” I explained.

“Oh? And what level of force does that constitute?” Ryan asked.

“I usually send the trio of Hipper class Cruisers. Tallinn, Eugen and Hipper are typically enough to handle pirates. That and their armor is enough to withstand RPG attacks without really worrying about heavy damage. So it's more about presence than threat elimination. UN reports a twenty five percent drop in piracy reports in the region thanks to our intervention.” I replied.

“Three heavy cruisers. Once thought to be a menace to shipping, now they guard it. This movement has seen these girls and the ships they command step into a more supportive role for humanity as opposed to a destructive one. Warships are now being used not to kill, but to help humanity prosper. I think it's wonderful.” Ryan said.

“Is there anything else you'd like to know?” NJ asked.

“Not unless there's more to share. I know plenty about you, NJ. I'm just happy to know the girl behind it.” Ryan replied.

“Then I guess that's it for me.” NJ said as she looked at me.

“Then that's all for this episode folks, let me know who you'd like to see next, and I'll bring em on. We have mountains of information and gossip to get into, so stay tuned. This is Ryan, signing off.” Ryan said as he turned the camera to us.

NJ smiled and I gave a playful salute to the camera before he turned it off.

“I think that was a good pilot episode.” Ryan stated.

“I think so. It more or less gets everything regarding us across. So now the other girls can focus more on themselves.” I said as NJ and I stood.

“I'll send you a request for the next girl, so you can plan accordingly.” Ryan said as he held out his hand.

I took it and shook his hand.

“Sounds good. Dinner at your place tonight? Junior and Nikki won't stop hounding us about seeing Grandpa Ryan.” I teased.

“Dude… I'm not even sixty yet. I'm too young to be known as Grandpa.” Ryan complained.

“Tell that to the rugrats. I'll bring the whiskey.” I said as NJ and I left the room with Ryan following after.

Chapter Text

Ryan sat at a table, hasily set up on the deck of the Musashi that was anchored just outside the dry docks where a massive, partially constructed carrier and the USS New Jersey were sitting in the carrier-sized drydock berths.

Across from him sat Musashi, the black furred Kitsune Battleship of the Imperial Japanese Navy, now a full fledged member of Azur Lane. With a nod from the kitsune, he turned on the camera.

“Hello Everyone. It's Ryan, former curator for Battleship New Jersey museum and memorial. I'm sitting here with the illustrious Musashi, sister ship of the legendary Yamato. Wow. I still can't quite believe it. I'm really sitting on the deck of one of the world's two largest battleships.” Ryan quipped.

“I am thankful to my older sister for giving me the opportunity to reclaim my vessel. Being able to feel the wind caressing my tails on the open sea is a feeling I thought lost to time.” Musashi spoke as she sipped tea from a small clay mug.

“Why do you think the New Jersey has been placed in drydock? I thought you girls could repair damages.” Ryan asked.

“The British government contacted Shikikan and asked to utilize one of our larger vessels to test out a new laser based missile defence system. The New Jersey was volunteered to test it. So she had to be moved to drydock to facilitate the necessary modifications to her hull. If successfully integrated, she can teach the rest of us how to utilize them, bringing our battleship fleet into the modern era.” Musashi explained.

“And what about you? I noticed that your vessel was taken into drydock not too long ago.” Ryan asked.

“We ran through everything we could possibly modify on my vessel. Shikikan decided that for now, my sister and I would not be a high priority for modifications due to the lack of engineers on base.” Musashi said.

“Engineers?” Ryan asked.

“Yes. Shikikan wants to convert Yamato, Shinano, and I to nuclear power. But because we don't have engineers capable of reverse engineering Enterprise's new reactors, or the Hawaii's reactor, it isn't plausible for us to undergo any modernization at the current moment since our hulls have relatively little electrical infrastructure.” Musashi spoke.

“He's converting you three to nuclear? How do you feel about that?” Ryan asked.

“It's… conflicting. It will vastly improve our abilities and allow us to keep pace with the modern fleet, but it utilizes the energy we witnessed firsthand at Hiroshima and Nagasaki. It feels wrong, but it allows us to become more than floating hotels.” Musashi replied.

“Has he tried to reassure you?” Ryan asked.

“He has. He admits that he feels it was wrong of the US to utilize such weapons against us, and that gives my sisters and I comfort. We accepted on the principle that even with our access to nuclear material, we would not supply it to a nuclear armed warship. We will not commit the sins of the past.” Musashi stated firmly.

“A fair compromise if I've ever heard one. I'd say we can begin the interview if you're ready.” Ryan offered.

“We can. I am eager to spread my message to the world.” Musashi spoke as Ryan took out a folder.

“Well then, Lady Musashi. Tell us about yourself.” Ryan said as he sat back in his chair.

“I am Musashi. Kitsune Kansen of the Yamato class Battleship Musashi. Yes, the tails and ears are real. Ask Shikikan, he has felt Shinano's fur countless times by now.” Musashi said as she hid her blush behind the steam of her tea.

“That sounds juicy, what does that mean?” Ryan asked.

“Shikikan has taken my baby sister as a lover in his… harem. She gave herself to him willingly, so I'd say everyone got what they wanted. I even have a niece to show for it. Little Yume has been a breath of fresh air in my life. She has given me the gift of understanding the meaning of life and living. There is nothing I wouldn't do for that little kit.” Musashi spoke.

“Sounds like the Admiral is a busy man. Twins with New Jersey and a baby with Shinano. He has two more right?” Ryan asked.

“One with his Italian mistress, Impero. And one with his British lover, Belfast. He has sired five children.” Musashi informed.

“I see. He cast quite a wide net, it seems. How did the legendary Musashi find herself becoming a member of Azur Lane?” Ryan asked.

“Coercion by committee, mainly. When the Black Dragon came to Mutsu, I viewed her as an enemy. To that end, I attacked her for what America did to my home. To my navy. To my friends. She in turn retaliated with overwhelming force, destroying my rigging and leaving me powerless to seek retribution further. After I had been soundly defeated, I was privy to a meeting in the secluded shrine of Mutsu in which Kansen of every nation pledged loyalty to Azur Lane. My sister and I, coming off the heels of attacking New Jersey, were hesitant, as I had my doubts. But over the course of that evening, leading to an inevitable communal meeting in the Onsen, Nagato and my fellow Imperial Japanese Navy allies convinced me that this was for the best. So we joined Shikikan and New Jersey in the Onsen as a sign of non-hostility and pledged our allegiance as well.” Musashi explained.

“I see. Is it common for Kansen to bare themselves like that? Onsen etiquette demands nude bathing.” Ryan asked.

“The onsen is a sacred place. It cleanses the mind as well as the body. If anyone broke etiquette, it was the Black Dragon. I will not air dirty laundry, but simply put, there is no shame to bare one's self in the onsen. So yes, it is quite common if you follow proper etiquette.” Musashi replied.

“How is Tyler as an Admiral?” Ryan asked.

“Awful. He is emotional. His reactionary way of dealing with problems is short-sighted. Azur Lane is his crowning achievement for a reason. That said… if anyone but me were to say such a thing about him, I would smite them with a wrath not unlike that of God himself. I can say such things because back in the war, I was considered a tactician. I saw the big picture and planned… or tried to help plan accordingly. During my years in hiding, I played my tactics out in wargames. My ideas could have turned the tide after the surge of American might after Midway. In my opinion, Tyler sucks as a proper Admiral. But as our leader? Our cornerstone? Our Commander? I'd follow him to hell without orders. He cares about us like family. Every problem we will face is going to be faced together with the full, overwhelming might of our combined fleet. Professionalism be damned, he deserves the success he's achieved.” Musashi answered.

“Bold words, no doubt. How has life been for you since the war?” Ryan asked.

“Thinking back to almost eighty years in Mutsu? Lonely. Compared to now, where I meet with Ironblood and Iris Libre and Sardegna… my time in Mutsu was lonely. I spent those eighty years building resentment in how Japan was treated post-war, mainly because we couldn’t leave. I didn't know the full extent of how much the world had changed until I was summarily dressed down by the Black Dragon. Cell phones were the biggest thing. But learning about nuclear reactors, rockets and missiles, technology. It was a shock to the system for sure. Actually… Shikikan has been nice enough to use some of our funding to make the girls here quite comfortable. Buying anything he can that isn't bolted down. I had seen something that interested me and asked him to buy me a handheld console from the Nintendo Playing Card company. I was quickly informed it was just called Nintendo now, and they are quite the massive empire in terms of commerce. He bought it without question along with a slew of games. With help from some of the American carriers… well… former carriers, mainly Ticonderoga and Bunker Hill, I got the hang of playing games. So when I am finding myself bored and unwilling to mill about, I play games. My favorite is one with these little monsters that you send out to fight other monsters. It allows me to remain sharp in noticing patterns and predicting moves from a skillset. That is how I justify this new pastime.” Musashi spoke.

“So what I'm hearing is that you're addicted to video games.” Ryan teased.

“Perhaps. But it has yet to be an issue. If it becomes one, I am certain I can break the habit.” Musashi defended.

“Are you still bitter about the war? What is the general sentiment among the Imperial Japanese here?” Ryan asked.

“Honestly? Learning that I had been fed lies back then shook any bitterness that I had held on to. We attacked Pearl pretty much unprovoked. Sure the oil embargo escalated tensions, but the Americans did nothing to warrant such a blunt destruction of life. We lost the war because while we were willing to die for our cause… the Americans were willing to destroy for theirs. We wanted them to come to us. They didn't and they used a new weapon to show us that the sheer loss of life was too much of a risk. Even after the bombs, it took the Soviet invasion of Manchuria to force our hand. But it was for the best. Our loss and reconstruction led Japan to a far brighter future than even Emperor Hirohito could have imagined. That is my opinion of it all. Others may believe differently, but I believe we fell right into place the way we needed to. So I feel no animosity. And, to add on, I hope Shikikan's idea works.” Musashi spoke.

“Idea?” Ryan asked as Musashi paused the recording.

“I cannot disclose it on the record. But apparently, he plans to resurrect those whose cubes were destroyed.” Musashi said with crossed arms.

“Oh?” Ryan asked.

“He believes that building their hulls from scratch and then imbuing them with records, testimonies, and records of their deeds, feats, and lives that they can be formed into new versions of their old selves. He was adamant on attempting to revive the one stain on our legacy at Pearl. She died needlessly. Arizona… hopefully it works.” Musashi spoke somberly.

“If it works… will you push for others?” Ryan asked.

“I'd ask him to revive our carriers. Taihou, Akagi, Kaga. Zuikaku, Shokaku. I have no delusions that he would readily agree to all of them. But I could see some making it back to the land of the living if Arizona proves to be a success.” Musashi said as she resumed the recording.

“After living like that for eighty years, how is life here for you?” Ryan asked.

“It's absolutely divine. Honestly, each faction has what amounts to their own little world here. Shikikan spared no expense in building the best quality items that each faction could want. As a joke, Takao suggested our dorms be built to be reminiscent of Himeji Castle. Shikikan went to Japan and found the descendants of the man who built it originally and had the architects among them draw up designs for our dorms. He then hired builders skilled in traditional Japanese construction to build our dorms here on the island. It feels like I never left Japan.” Musashi spoke.

“That’s quite the feat, and you said he did this for every faction?” Ryan asked.

Musashi nodded.

“Our section of the island has a small Shinto shrine for those who pray. A large onsen to fit everyone from our faction and more. Even a small tea house separate from our dorms, which has all three built inside its walls. Rock gardens and a small bamboo forest. Even a nice koi pond and a waterfall. It's a paradise for so many of us who knew nothing but war.” Musashi spoke.

“That does sound nice. What kind of things do you do now?” Ryan asked.

“About once a month we go out on rotation. Typically towards Somalia or the Red Sea to help shipping lanes. We occasionally act as secondary security for transiting Naval task forces between training exercises. Nothing too crazy. Even so, a lot of girls jump at the opportunity since it gives us free reign to sail. We have conditional orders to open fire if we're attacked. It's a pretty good assignment when all is said and done. Other than that, we occasionally are contracted by relief and support charities to have Kashino transport supplies, food, water, and other items to areas decimated by war, famine or disaster. We rotate out warships for that assignment too since we've been set upon by pirates ourselves before. Our first assignment of this type was to Haiti, and we were attacked by pirates. Kashino only had Laffey with her at the time and they needed support from the US coast guard to keep Laffey from going ballistic. From that day forward, we send a full escort fleet with her, just in case.” Musashi spoke.

“What does that fleet look like?” Ryan asked.

“One carrier, one destroyer, one submarine. If it's something in coordination with other nations and the red cross, we send double the support craft and Shikikan himself to oversee it.” Musashi answered.

“So one carrier, one battleship, two subs and two destroyers?” Ryan asked.

“Yes. But if it's an area where our big carriers aren't welcome, we send in Kiev since her Soviet origins puts those who are negatively influenced by American style warships at ease.” Musashi spoke.

“So that would mainly be the Middle East?” Ryan asked.

“Pretty much.” Musashi replied.

“So how does it work when the Admiral goes out?” Ryan asked.

“Usually one or more of his harem will join him. Most often Belfast or Impero. My baby sister on occasion when visiting the Far East. Most of the time they request him for Red Cross missions due to how advanced his vessel is compared to most of our fleet.” Musashi said.

“Speaking of… how does it feel knowing you and Yamato aren't the only ones slinging eighteen inch shells anymore? Your claim to fame was carrying the biggest naval guns in history, after all.” Ryan said.

“We still do. Not by much, but our guns measure four hundred and sixty millimeters in caliber. Shikikan and Georgia's guns measure four hundred and fifty-seven millimeters in caliber. So Yamato and I still hold the title. But it does make me wonder what could have been if carriers hadn't become so prominent.” Musashi said as she reached into her kimono and pulled out a small thermos to refill her tea.

“Can I offer you some tea? I made a pot a bit before this interview and poured it into here to stay warm.” Musashi offered.

“I appreciate it, I'll take some.” Ryan said as Musashi produced another mug and set it before him before pouring tea into it.

Ryan sipped it as Musashi drank.

“Is there anything else you'd like the world to know? New Jersey's interview seemed to be received well, so we could see a lot of people viewing this as well.” Ryan offered.

“Yes. Although my sisters and I are Kitsune, we do not like being hounded about our tails and ears. My poor elder sister has been forced to use a disguise to conceal herself. I have heard of things called anime conventions in the United States. If you must consider us to be cos-players in order for us to be treated like semi-normal people instead of gawked at like gods among flesh, please utilize convention rules if you happen to see us. Our ears and tails are only meant to be touched by those we permit and those we care about. Please respect our wishes should you encounter us.” Musashi said firmly.

“I see. A warning to the viewers. Keep that in mind if you see this dark furred battleship around. Be respectful and keep your hands to yourself. That said, that's all the time we have for this interview. If you've followed the rise of Azur Lane and watched the news, the history buffs among you will know who all is here. Put who you'd like me to interview next in the comments below and I'll figure out how to approach them. Until next time, this has been Ryan. Signing off.” Ryan said as he stopped the recording.

“This was enjoyable. I shall have my sisters made aware of what these interviews entail so they can prepare for their eventual interview.” Musashi said as she whisked her cup into her kimono.

“D-didn't that cup still have tea in it?” Ryan asked.

“It did.” Musashi said with a cheeky smile.

“How did it not spill?!” Ryan asked.

“A woman has her secrets, Mr. Curator. If I could suggest your next guest… perhaps Graf Zeppelin will do. I'm sure a look into what her life is about to become would be a good way to farm views, considering that massive supercarrier is hers.” Musashi said as she lazily pointed at the carrier being constructed.

“Duly noted.” Ryan said as he packed up his gear and walked to where Georgia had come to pick him up.

Chapter Text

“Hey everyone, Ryan here. Former curator for Battleship New Jersey museum and memorial. The third installment of this interview series comes on the suggestion of our previous guest, Musashi. Would you introduce yourself for the viewers at home?” Ryan asked as he looked across the table at Graf Zeppelin, who had shown up wearing her full uniform from her time in the Kriegsmarine. Next to her was Otto, sporting a golden band on his finger. Compared to Zeppelin who was wearing a platinum band with several less than humble diamonds.

“I am the unfinished aircraft carrier, Graf Zeppelin. Premier aircraft carrier of the Kriegsmarine.” Zeppelin spoke clinically.

Ryan chuckled nervously.

“You can be a bit more relaxed Graf Zeppelin. We're in your home, after all.” Ryan offered.

“She is just like this normally. Eighty years in confinement wreaks havoc on your interaction capabilities. That's why I'm here to help her.” Otto said with a soft smile. Zeppelin looked at him with a smile matching his.

“I seem to recall something like that being said during the escape we all went through over a year ago. It still weighs heavily, I'm sure. Are there any topics we should avoid during this interview? I realize an interview might come off as something similar to a trial or interrogation and would like to not get on your bad side.” Ryan spoke, gesturing to Zeppelin.

“I will answer anything asked of me, so long as it is not deemed confidential by my kommandant.” Zeppelin answered firmly.

“I see. Let's start with him, then. What are your thoughts on the Commander?” Ryan asked.

“The Kommandant is a man among men. That is to say, I see men as cogs, tools to operate the framework of the world. But my husband and the Kommandant are two men who stand out to me as being more than cogs in a machine. They connected with me more than some nameless nobody.” Zeppelin spoke.

“I see. That's quite the take. Can you elaborate on that viewpoint a bit? Why do you see men as nothing more than cogs in a machine?” Ryan asked.

“You give a man a task, he will do it more often than not. Most men have a conscious, but when men are together, their consciousness fades away and urges them to go with the flow. That is what happened to Germany in nineteen thirty-three. A single man wanted to lift Germany from under the boots of a post-great-war Europe. But his ideals were twisted, vulgar… abhorrent. The men of Germany were hesitant for a small time, of this I have no doubt. But it quickly eroded under his charisma, plunging a once proud nation into the depths of brutal insanity. For twelve years, men could have stood against the flow, made waves in a pool of mindless despair. But they did not. They worked and fought as cogs in a machine that saw the world plunge into a war unlike any seen before… a sequel to a production nobody wanted. That crazed bastard took his own life in nineteen forty-five. He abandoned Germany to suffer in the aftermath of the destruction he had wrought. And the men stood, useless, clueless as to how to proceed without instruction. Some fought and were killed. Most surrendered and were either taken prisoner by the western allies or executed by the Russians until the war ended, where they were taken prisoner…” Zeppelin ranted. Her breathing deep and fast as her anger vented through her words. Eighty years of repressed scorn for her situation rising in response to Ryan's questions.

Otto rubbed Zeppelin's hand gently.

“Zepp. Calm down a bit, the stress won't be good for you or for Laura.” Otto said softly.

“Laura? Are you expecting as well?” Ryan asked.

Zeppelin blushed brightly.

“We just found out her gender last week. Since then, Zepp has been doing everything in her power to keep stress levels down. We've visited the ongoing construction of her carrier several times over the past week to calm her mind.” Otto spoke.

“Congratulations, you two. I'm glad to hear that another bundle of joy will soon be joining us.” Ryan said earnestly. Zeppelin took a breath.

“I hope that will suffice for an answer. I feel that digging deeper into it will cause me undue stress and headache. Just know that I hold my husband in the highest of regards, followed closely by my Kommandant, who indirectly set me free from my confinement and has granted me that which the mad leader could not. I will have a powerful vessel with which to aid my allies in any future conflict.” Zeppelin spoke as she rubbed her belly, which was expertly hidden by her uniform.

“It will do. Speaking of your carrier, I'd say that trumps Enterprise by quite a margin. That thing is enormous.” Ryan spoke.

“Yes. A true city on water. Should something happen here on this island that it becomes impossible to sustain life, my hull has the space to move everything we have onboard. It truly is a marvel of engineering. How something so big can float baffles even me, but the Kommandant is certain of the work done by the engineers and scientists in our employ. Being twice the size of Enterprise also hammers home the idea that Enterprise is no longer being forced into a flagship role. This design was chosen with her blessing.” Zeppelin explained.

“It's quite interesting. I didn't realize stacked flight decks were making a comeback. Although… the top flight deck only occupies the stern area and the lower deck inhabits the bow. I assume the lower one is for take-off?” Ryan asked.

“Correct. The lower one is capable of launching any currently available carrier based aircraft. The Kommandant also wishes for me to trial something called a RATO C-130. He said RATO stands for Rocket Assisted Take Off. Apparently this is a land based cargo plane with the capability to use rockets for an extremely short take off. I am excited to undertake the challenge.” Zeppelin spoke.

“A C-130? That's not a small plane, Graf. Just how big is your compliment supposed to be?” Ryan asked.

“Twelve Helicopters. Twenty-five Fighters. Three Early Warning Aircraft. Three C-130 cargo aircraft.” Zeppelin answered.

“For a carrier that big?” Ryan asked.

“It takes a lot of focus to command an aircraft as a Kansen. I have no pilots, Herr Ryan. Each plane I send up is a separate portion of my mind being occupied. Forty-three aircraft is my limit. But, we are also adding self defense weapons that take up space for extra hanger storage. I need space for missile magazines, shell magazines and elevators, flare and countermeasure canister storage, etcetera.” Zeppelin explained.

“Forty-three is quite specific. Any reason?” Ryan asked.

“My original vessel was supposed to be capable of holding forty-three aircraft. So I was trained on forty-three aircraft. The process to do more is long and strenuous, something we're not going to do with a child on the way.” Zeppelin replied.

“Understandable. So if the lower is for takeoff, the upper is for landing operations?” Ryan asked.

“That's the idea. The idea is to be able to very rapidly cycle aircraft in a high intensity combat scenario. After a conversation with the Kommandant, we carriers explained that rearming in flight is a lot more burdensome than just landing and recycling. So this carrier is the first, purpose-built, carrier to implement that feedback.” Zeppelin said as Ryan looked out across the port to see the carrier in question. The size was something to behold.

“So with the C-130's… how will they aid in combat?” Ryan asked.

“The Kommandant got permission to utilize America's Rapid Dragon missile deployment system. I was given two hours to learn the system from top to bottom and aced the reconstruction. So I can utilize the palletized tomahawk launchers in the C-130s.” Zeppelin answered simply.

“That's quite a boost in power, Miss Zeppelin. You've really taken becoming a flagship to heart. Have you gotten any sort of praise for your efforts?” Ryan asked.

“Of course. Everyone here is extremely supportive. The survivors of my faction. The Russians. Even Elizabeth and her ilk have come forth to congratulate me for undertaking such a task. It gives me a purpose, so I couldn't be happier, even if I don't have the faculties to show it.” Zeppelin replied with a practiced smile.

“Moving on from that, can we talk about what life was like for the Kriegsmarine after the war? Is… that a topic we can broach?” Ryan asked. Zeppelin looked uncomfortable for a few moments until Otto spoke.

“Do you want to say anything, my dear? We can skip the question.” Otto whispered.

“No… the world must know.” Zeppelin said as she looked defiantly into the camera.

“The Kriegsmarine were treated like terrorists after the war. Nuremberg saw us as no better than the pigs who slaughtered the innocent masses and lumped us in with the drivel and filth. Any who were lucky enough to be handed over as war reparations were either outright slaughtered in the cases of Nurnberg and Z20. Eugen was spared death by the Russians and was instead subjected to being used for nuclear testing. She broke down last week during the Iron Blood meeting due to getting her test results back from Vestal. She can never carry a child of her own, the radiation she absorbed during the cleaning of her vessel has ruined her reproductive system. The only ones who tried to help us during the trials were the Americans who abstained from the vote centering around our lifetime imprisonment. Eighty years, I sat alone in a cell. Eighty years… no visitors. No news. No hope. Eighty… fucking… years.” Zeppelin spat.

Ryan sat silent.

“Thankfully… talks have begun for reparations to those of us in the Kriegsmarine. Even Lord Bismarck would be included. The German government seems willing to finally differentiate between us and the SS.” Zeppelin said as she reached over and hit the record button on the camera, pausing the recording.

“Everything okay?” Ryan asked.

“I don't care what anyone says or thinks… we had no hand in those fucking camps. We had no connection to the SS aside from being a part of the military. My friends and I were not Nazi sympathizers.” Zeppelin spat.

“Nobody is accusing you, my dear.” Otto spoke softly. This calmed Zeppelin slightly.

“Has anyone given you or the others grief? I can write up a report to give to the Admiral.” Ryan spoke concernedly.

Zeppelin fumed softly.

“The human contractors working on my home the past few weeks. I see them look at me and my friends when they come around. I see the look in their eyes. The words they don't have the courage to speak. They see us as Nazi's. I am no Nazi… and if I must publicly denounce my own nation to prove it, I will.” Zeppelin spat.

“That's not necessary.” My voice came from the open window.

“K-kommandant!?” Zeppelin spoke as she scrambled to her feet. She snapped a salute with a fist over her heart.

“Can I come in for a moment? Am I interrupting?” I asked.

“Of course, Admiral. We're taking a bit of a break right now.” Otto spoke as he opened the door, allowing me to enter.

“At ease, Zeppelin. You know the rules. You don't salute me in your own home. I am a guest here.” I said as I looked at her.

“Of course… my apologies, Kommandant.” Zeppelin said with a healthy blush.

“Now, what's this I hear about the contractors?” I asked.

“Zeppelin believes that they are biased against her and the other German kansen.” Ryan spoke.

“I see. Have they said anything?” I asked.

“No, sir. But the looks… I know them well. The judges in Nuremberg wore them as our sentence was handed down. Ignorance and inability to see different shades. I understand that they have not said anything, and I realize I am imposing a bit… but if this is how they are to act, I would rather not have them work on or around my home.” Zeppelin spoke.

“And that is an exceptionally reasonable request. What all needs to be done still?” I asked.

“The concrete pad for the porch and the awning to cover it. They were taking measurements a few days ago.” Zeppelin admitted.

“Excellent. Martin, Billy, and I will come and do that ourselves. I won't have the contractors return to do work on your house or the houses of the other members of Iron Blood. Contractually, I can’t fire them until the end of the season, but I will ensure they do not interact with any of the German Kansen until then. Does that work for you?” I asked.

Zeppelin was shocked and only managed a small nod.

“Good. Now… I gotta get going. Bismarck and Eugen wish to speak with NJ and I. I was heading there when I overheard your complaint. If there's nothing else, I'll see you all later this week.” I said as I turned and left, shutting the door behind me.

“This feels like heaven.” Zeppelin muttered softly.

Ryan and Otto smiled.

“Are you ready to continue? I only have one more question for you.” Ryan said as Zeppelin nodded. Ryan hit the record button on his camera.

“Final question, Graf Zeppelin and then I'll let you relax. What are your thoughts on Azur Lane as a whole?” Ryan asked.

Zeppelin smiled.

“Azur Lane is a slice of heaven in a world of hatred. It was what we, as Iron Blood, needed. We were wronged at the end of the war, and this feels like a massive leap in the right direction. The Kommandant is a man I wish we had back then. He might not be the most tactically sound, or the most charismatic… but he has a heart that's worth five times its weight in gold. He has single handedly done more for me and my countrymen than my own damn country has in the entirety of my life. Azur Lane is exactly what he set out for it to be. It's a place for us to be free to choose. Funny… we're given freedom to do what we want… and yet… when given the choice, we'd rather serve under him. I don't think there's a Kansen here that thinks otherwise.” Zeppelin said as Ryan nodded, turning off the camera.

“I'll record the outro later. I thank you for your time, Miss Zeppelin. Otto. If I can send you anything to help keep you relaxed, please let me know. My family and I live on the opposite end of the housing block near the dorms. I'll be more than happy to swing by.” Ryan said as Otto and Zeppelin smiled.

“We appreciate it. Thank you for allowing me to tell my story. I hope it can do some good for those we haven't found yet.” Zeppelin said as Ryan smiled.

“I'm sure it will. Have a good evening.” Ryan said as he left the house and headed for home.

Chapter Text

Ryan sat uncomfortably in a gazebo outside the Royal Dorms. The Royal maids ran back and forth, preparing various snacks and beverages for the two kansen he was set to interview. It had originally been only for Queen Elizabeth, who had taken quite a bit of convincing to even attend the interview. But now it was clear that her right hand woman was not going to allow that.

Ryan opened his mouth to speak but was quickly shut down by a glare from Warspite.

“You seemed ready to speak… is everything alright?” Elizabeth asked.

Ryan's eyes darted to Warspite, causing Elizabeth to turn to her sister.

“Warspite. I allowed you to sit in on this interview because I know how much you wanted to be here with me. I agreed to this interview, he is allowed to speak. The Knight Commander has assured me that he does not wish to air dirty secrets, so we have naught to fear.” Elizabeth scolded.

“Of course, your Majesty.” Warspite said as Elizabeth turned to Ryan.

“Shall we get any housekeeping out of the way first?” Elizabeth asked.

“I-if we could. How… would you like me to address you? I'm not too familiar with the intricacies of how one such as myself is to interact with royalty.” Ryan said, airing his collar.

“I will accept Elizabeth for the duration of this interview. I have been wishing for a while to lighten the tone of my presence, and I feel like allowing my name to be utilized by a commoner would be a good place to start.” Elizabeth spoke, her tone one of formality, clearly finding it unsuitable to drop into a more casual tone.

“Alright, Lady Elizabeth… does that work for you?” Ryan asked.

“It will have to do. I guess you are not as crass as the Knight Commander. You know, he calls me Lizzie every now and again. I find it comical seeing my sister get worked up over it, despite my acceptance.” Elizabeth Said as she gripped her cup of tea and took a sip.

Elizabeth made a small face that did not go unnoticed by Warspite.

“Everything alright, Your Majesty?” Warspite asked.

“Sirius is not quite at Bel's level for tea quite yet.” Elizabeth lamented.

“I shall contact her at once, see if she is available.” Warspite said as she held a hand to her ear.

“It's not necessary, Warspite. With practice and time, she will get it.” Elizabeth reasoned.

“Unacceptable. I have already requested Belfast's aid in the matter. She will be here soon, along with your goddaughter.” Warspite spoke.

“Yay! Little Belora is on her way!” Elizabeth squealed excitedly.

“Have Dido bring out the chocolate cakes. Belora loves the chocolate cakes.” Elizabeth ordered.

“At once, your Majesty.” Warspite said as she walked out of the gazebo for a moment to grab Dido's attention. As she did, a gust of wind whipped by, giving Ryan a glimpse of Warspite's lack of proper shorts.

“Lady Elizabeth?” Ryan asked.

“Hmm?” Elizabeth asked.

“Is it common for Warspite to… not wear pants?” Ryan asked.

Elizabeth chuckled.

“Yes. Her outfit choice is quite unique, but she has assured me time and time again that pants are really quite restrictive. As she is my loyal bodyguard, she needs to be able to utilize her full mobility and range of motion… so she claims. Personally, I feel it is her way of rebelling against the pomp and circumstance. She wears a two piece beneath the proper regalia of a lord… she also refuses to wear pants.” Elizabeth said as Warspite returned.

“Dido is grabbing the cakes now, your Majesty. Belfast is on her way over.” Warspite reported.

“Thank you, Warspite.” Elizabeth said as she looked at Ryan.

“So, shall we begin?” Elizabeth asked.

“Right. Of course.” Ryan replied quickly as he turned on the camera and began recording.

“Hello Everyone, Ryan here. Today, by overwhelmingly popular demand, we are interviewing Queen Elizabeth, Kansen of the Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carrier.” Ryan said before Elizabeth held her hand up.

“Actually. I've taken the Knight Commander's offer to build me a new ship. I've since detached from the carrier that holds my name, and am awaiting the construction of a Lion-Class battleship, modified by the Knight Commander and the engineer corps, of course.” Elizabeth spoke.

“Ah. My apologies. Allow me to re-introduce Queen Elizabeth, Kansen of the upcoming Lion Class battleship. Jumping into the first question, what was that process like? Uncoupling yourself from something that was basically an extension of your very being?” Ryan asked.

“Right to the nitty gritty. I don't mind that at all. Like I told the Knight Commander. It's a weird process. Imagine if you will… being stuffed full from an exquisite dinner. Not to the point of sickness, but you can feel the food in your stomach, you feel full, whole. Uncoupling from my carrier makes me feel empty, like now I am searching for something to fill the void. It goes from feeling normal to feeling extremely light and awkward. That would be how I'd choose to describe it.” Elizabeth spoke.

“Quite an interesting feeling to say the least. Is it a gradual thing? Or is it sudden and you suddenly feel like you're missing something?” Ryan asked.

“It's gradual in a sense that it doesn't happen all at once, but it is a quick process, like maybe two or three days. I know when I first left my original hull, I confused the feeling for hunger and ate more than my fair share. I felt terribly ill afterwards and was confused as to why until I came across others who had done it. They explained it as I have to you.” Elizabeth said.

“I see. I see. It sounds like quite the ordeal. Are you feeling any discomfort over the whole thing?” Ryan asked.

“Not particularly. Once you get used to the empty feeling, your body conditions itself to ignore it. We've reached the point now that I feel normal.” Elizabeth spoke.

“Gotcha. Moving on, I hear that you were the one to plant the idea in the Commander's head to make this paradise a reality. Is that true?” Ryan asked.

“Partially. In all honesty, the Knight Commander did all the work. I just tossed the idea out there because I saw the same fire in him that I held. I was skeptical at first. His chances at success seemed rather slim. But he has gone and exceeded my expectations in nearly every category.” Elizabeth explained.

“So what was his original plan?” Ryan asked.

“To escape with the Black Dragon and fight off any who would dare try to assault or apprehend them. I merely helped him expand on it by granting him an audience with which to sort his thoughts. As I said, the legwork was mainly on him. He gathered everyone. He made the moves. And now, I doubt there has ever been a human in history that has wielded so much power. His rise to Kansenhood has also granted him immortality… so we will have a commander until the end of the oceans.” Elizabeth said as Warspite turned to her.

“Uhm… your Majesty… that was supposed to be a matter of secrecy.” Warspite whispered.

“Was it? I figured it would be obvious to anyone we've been in contact with. Commoner, you are to give your word that the statement I made will be struck from the record.” Elizabeth demanded.

“Of course. I'll ensure that the video is edited to clip that part out.” Ryan assured her.

It was about this time that Belfast walked over wearing her usual maid attire.

“Ah, Bel. It does my heart good to see you.” Elizabeth spoke warmly.

“Many thanks, Your Majesty. I am to understand that your tea this afternoon was subpar?” Belfast asked.

“Unfortunately so, my dear. Sirius is close, but nobody makes it like you and Sheffy. But since I granted you both the freedom to serve the Knight Commander personally, it has led to a decline in my usual standard of fare.” Elizabeth lamented.

“I see. I shall invite Sirius to Tyler's residence later so that I may properly take time to train her.” Belfast said as she left the gazebo.

“So, Belfast used to be one of the maids?” Ryan asked.

“Yes. She was my head maid. She oversaw the maid corps during the war, who served me both at home and on the sea. Our kansen acted like a separate monarchy, with me at the top. Warspite, my sister, as well as Valiant, my other sister, were my right hand ladies. King George and her sisters acted as my knights. l had maids from many different classes of cruiser, but Belfast was a cut above the rest. Sheffield was her second hand, my number two. But those two became quite smitten with the Knight Commander, so I let them go.” Elizabeth said as her eyes shifted over to Belfast, who was returning with a tray in hand. At her side, carrying a smaller tray with several slices of chocolate cake, was a mini version of Belfast. Ryan took the hint and paused the recording.

“Belora!” Elizabeth exclaimed happily as the child waddled over, reaching with her tiptoes to put the tray on the table before accepting a hug from Elizabeth.

“Your tea and sweets have arrived, your Majesty.” Belfast spoke professionally as Elizabeth took Belora into her lap so she could sip her tea.

“Ah~ It feels as if I have gone to heaven. I don't know how you do it, but you haven't rusted a day, Bel.” Elizabeth said happily, earning Bel a nod from Warspite.

“I have brought several cups so that Lady Warspite and Master Ryan can enjoy as well.” Belfast said as she set up the cups and poured the tea.

“Come and sit, Bel. I wish to spend the rest of the interview with Belora. I will not remove her from your care to reflect that.” Elizabeth said as Belfast smiled and sat next to her.

“So this is little Belora? It's she okay to be on camera?” Ryan asked.

“I will allow it. I'm sure the Master won't mind. But please wait to publish the interview until I've cleared it with him.” Belfast requested.

“I've paused the recording for now, but of course. It's such a unique situation. Belora is one of three daughters born to the Commander. You're one of the four mothers to those five children. I can see that she takes a lot after you.” Ryan spoke.

“She does. She is my little bundle of joy. But please, return your focus to her Majesty. This is her interview, I am merely here to ensure her comfort.” Belfast requested.

“Right.” Ryan said as he graciously took the tea he had been served and took a sip.

“Delicious. As one would expect from someone held so highly by her Majesty.” Ryan complimented.

“Before we start again, could I have a few words with Bel? With her duties as one of the Knight Commander's secretaries, it leaves little time to visit when she isn't busy with Belora or getting busy with her Master. I assume this is no problem?” Elizabeth asked.

“Of course. I'll just drink and enjoy these lovely looking cakes.” Ryan said as Elizabeth smiled, bouncing Belora on her knee as she turned to Bel.

“Anything new, Bel? Any juicy gossip to spill?” Elizabeth asked.

Belfast looked around before looking at Ryan.

“Discretion is key when gossip is afoot. I trust what you hear will not leave this table.” Belfast spoke firmly.

“Of course. I'm not much of a gossip myself, so you'll be alright.” Ryan agreed as he opened his laptop to pour through the footage he already had collected to go through and cut out what he had promised. Warspite walked over to watch him.

“Well? What do you have for me?” Elizabeth asked.

“Well. I am uncertain about the details, but the heavy mood surrounding Prinz Eugen has dissipated following a meeting between her, Bismarck, the Master and the Mistress. Bismarck seems unnaturally giddy as well, as if she's excited for something, though what it could be eludes me.” Belfast spoke candidly.

“I see. Wasn't the issue last month that Eugen would be unable to bear children due to the effects of the atomic tests? Vestal pretty much guaranteed and certified her uterus to be unfit for life.” Elizabeth quipped.

Belfast nodded.

“My master has also been requested frequently by Vestal for check-ups. I have accompanied him to a few, but both the Mistress and Vestal refuse to divulge any information on why the sudden increase in visits is occuring.” Belfast said with a sigh.

“Vestal herself? Didn't she take a step back when the Knight Commander brought on full teams of specialists to operate the hospital on base? She stepped back into her administrator role, no?” Elizabeth asked.

“She did. But when it comes to my Master, she refuses to allow the men and women he has hired to perform any form of medical exam, treatment, or procedure on him, likely due to how he could be perceived by the humans we keep on staff.” Belfast answered.

“Ah, the ‘god among men’ situation. It's become so normalized for us that it slipped my mind. It's probably a good thing that he's not left alone with human women.” Elizabeth teased.

“I know full well he wouldn't attempt anything. It's the women I am worried about. They hit on him and the mistress finds out… we'd need new doctors.” Belfast said with a sigh.

“Well… enough about that, I'm sure I can talk with him in private and find out for myself. He may be the Knight Commander, but I still sense his hesitation to defy me. Perhaps I can be a tad more persuasive.” Elizabeth said as she turned back to Ryan.

“We may continue now.” Elizabeth said as Ryan cleaned his mouth and hit record again.

“Next question, it seems we have another guest. Off camera you had mentioned this little one is your goddaughter. How has that been treating you? I've heard that the baby boom here on base is quite unprecedented in the history of Kansen.” Ryan said.

“Yes. This is Belora, my sweet goddaughter. The result of the wonderful union of the Knight Commander and Belfast. The baby boom you speak of is actually quite a phenomenon. See, humans have a very hard time impregnating a kansen due to differing DNA, but… for reasons I cannot disclose, this seems to be a non-issue for the Knight Commander. As for me, I adore Belora as if she were my own flesh and blood grandchild, as I feel slightly responsible for helping raise her mother too. It's a wonderful experience for one who has only known war.” Elizabeth said.

“I can understand the potential magic of children. Now, if memory serves, you commanded a battleship bearing your name as the flagship of the class. Yet your redeployment was as an aircraft carrier. Was there a process that you underwent to learn how to utilize the tools of a carrier?” Ryan asked.

“There was quite a long process involved, yes. Most of it was spent going to the Americans and training with Enterprise. They kept her around when they retired most of their Kansen. Poor woman still has issues… but thankfully the Knight Commander has granted her safe harbor. She doesn't have to fight if she doesn't want to, and that was enough to pull her from the brink. But it was quite an arduous task. Imagine having to relearn how to breathe.” Elizabeth explained as she gently played with Belora.

“I can't imagine how difficult that would be. Do you think the same will need to occur for your reinstatement as a battleship?” Ryan asked.

“No. I still remember all the forms and functions needed to command a battleship. But some of the upgrades the Knight Commander has proposed are interesting. He wishes to use that hull and make it something known as a VLS battleship. He has proposed removing the superfiring turret in front of the bridge to install something to the tune of one hundred VLS cells. I would have to learn from the cruisers and destroyers on how to operate the launch systems, but it shouldn't be too difficult.” Elizabeth answered.

“And how do you feel about that?” Ryan asked.

“I approve. In this day and age, a battle can be decided at ranges far beyond that of a main battery gun. Hundreds of miles as opposed to somewhere within thirty. Having that capability lends itself to tasks aside from shore bombardment which, according to Warspite, are not the most thrilling of tasks.” Elizabeth spoke.

“I see. A question I have asked everyone so far is how they feel about the Commander. I believe I should ask you as well.” Ryan stated.

“As a Knight Commander, he is as green as a young sapling. But his soul… the heart he carries. It makes up for the inexperience in my book. He's far from perfect, but with time and experience, he will learn how to command this navy he has acquired. I still find it hard to believe, but I feel a slight kinship with him. He has an old soul, willing to risk everything to protect what he holds dear. Now… he has the power to do it.” Elizabeth spoke.

“If I may… I must voice my opinion of him as well. He's crass, crude, shameless, and emotional. He's everything that would see men like him turned away by high command for lack of confidence… but Her Majesty's statements are ones that I cannot argue. He's beyond green. He would have been medically inept to join the Navy of his own nation… but here? Here he doesn't need all that specialized training, because we can raise him up the way we need for him to be effective. I'll admit… I didn't like him when we met in London. But now? There is no commander alive or dead that I would raise my sword for faster. He's earned my respect. And thus, has earned the right to command me.” Warspite spoke firmly.

“I see. That's quite a powerful sentiment from The Grand Old Lady. Would you perhaps be able to answer some questions?” Ryan asked.

“No. I will should you come to me for my own interview, as I have tales that could make your head spin. But I am here as Her Majesty's retainer. My own opinion should not have been voiced, but I felt compelled to do so. If you wish to seek me out for an interview, I will not reject you, but I will not allow myself to overshadow Her Majesty.” Warspite spoke, her tone level.

“I see. And I assume that to be the same for you, Belfast?” Ryan asked.

“That would be correct.” Belfast replied professionally.

Ryan looked at Belora, who was eyeing him.

“Can she speak?” Ryan asked.

“Yes. She managed to learn quite quickly despite being merely two years of age. I can allow her a question or two, if Her Majesty is willing.” Belfast said as she looked at Elizabeth.

“Sure! I'd love to hear what she's learned.” Elizabeth said as she propped Belora up higher so the camera could see her better.

“Can you say hello to Ryan?” Elizabeth asked, shocking everyone with the use of Ryan's name.

“Hi!” Belora squeaked softly.

“Can you tell me your name?” Ryan asked.

“Belora Sweigart!” Belora chirped.

“Very good. What do you like to do, Belora?” Ryan asked as the girls all smiled at the child.

“Playing with Papa, and Mama, and Nana, and Sheffy!” Belora said excitedly.

“That sounds like a lot of fun. Anyway folks, that's all the time we have for this interview. Let me know who you'd like to see next time in the comments below so I can continue bringing you some insight to the world of Azur Lane. This is Ryan, signing off.” Ryan said as he stopped the recording and closed the laptop.

“Do you guys know of anyone who might be looking to do an interview?” Ryan asked.

“Hmm. I'd try Vestal. She has some insights into how things have gone since the war. And she's been working hospitals since the end of the war, so… why not try her?” Warspite asked.

“I'd like to see Bismarck's interview. I can't imagine what it must be like to be dead for 80 years only to be woken up in the middle of the Atlantic. I'd say that's a pretty unique interview.” Elizabeth spoke.

“In the same vein, why not Roma? She was stuck inside my Master's head before she was fully revived. That could be interesting as well.” Belfast offered.

“All lovely suggestions. I'll allow you three to relax for now. I've got a video to edit. The tea was delicious. Thank you.” Ryan said as he packed his gear and left.

“And I should soon be looking to visit the Knight Commander. Now I want to know what's gotten the Ironblood's premier duo so excited.” Elizabeth said as she, Warspite and Belfast sat around eating cake and playing with Belora.

Chapter Text

Ryan had set up his equipment in a meeting room inside the base's hospital. The inside was sterile, as if it had just been professionally cleaned. Looking around, he tapped his pen on a notepad, waiting for his guest to arrive.

Suddenly the door opened, and in walked Vestal.

“Good afternoon, doctor.” Ryan said cheerfully.

“Sorry for the delay. I completely forgot I had Graf Zeppelin's eighteen week checkup today.” Vestal said as she sat down across from Ryan.

“It's all good. I'm in no rush. You look tired, can I grab anything for you?” Ryan asked.

“I'm alright. That's just how my face rests after years in the medical industry. I'm still fully awake and aware.” Vestal said with a soft smile.

“Are you ready to begin?” Ryan asked.

“I am. But remember, even though we aren't in the states, I still abide by HIPAA and will not be divulging any information I have not been given prior authorization to release. Just in case our interview skews in that direction.” Vestal spoke firmly.

“Of course. I expect nothing less from an industry professional. Are we ready to begin?” Ryan asked.

“We can.” Vestal said as Ryan hit the recording button.

“Hey everyone, Ryan here. In the fifth installment of this interview series, I bring you someone not known for her offensive power or her tactical genius, but her skill in tending to wounded Kansen and in the years after the war, wounded people. An accredited doctor from the United States and a loyal friend to the fleet, Repair Ship Vestal. It's nice to finally get you on camera, Doctor.” Ryan said with a smile.

“It's my pleasure to be here. I've seen New Jersey and the Admiral's interview on the internet, it seems like we have quite a few admirers.” Vestal said.

“Quite. It seems like this series has caught quite a few eyes. Did you have anything you wanted to say before we got stuck into the interview?” Ryan asked.

Vestal shook her head.

“Alright. Well, let's get the big one out of the way. What are your opinions on the Admiral?” Ryan asked.

Vestal laughed.

“He's an absolute pain in my ass! But I love him as a friend. He's a great guy.” Vestal said cheerfully.

“Really? Ya'know… I heard a thing from Belfast. And I've taken notice too as of late. The Admiral comes by the hospital quite frequently. Is everything alright?” Ryan asked.

Vestal nodded.

“He's a kansen. Newly minted and only a year into his new existence. As his doctor, it's my job to address his health as he navigates his new life.” Vestal deflected.

Ryan nodded.

“Well. It's pretty well established by now that he's well liked despite not being a proper commander. So I guess I should have expected nothing less. Tell us about yourself, Vestal.” Ryan prompted.

“My name is Vestal. When I was first built, I was a fleet collier. What that means is I was a coal transport ship that would sail with or be dispatched to rendezvous with deployed fleets to tend their coal fired ships. This was back in world war one when most capital ships were coal fired for their propulsion. But when world war two came around, I went in for an extensive retrofit that saw my coal bunkers removed and replaced with machine shops and extensive repair bays before returning to active duty as a second line repair ship.” Vestal spoke.

“Second line? What does that mean?” Ryan asked.

“Well… it's not official. But it's how I see myself. See, I was deployed as every other combat vessel. But instead of venturing into the front lines to help repair damaged vessels, I stayed back with the fuel haulers and troop supply ships and rendered aid when vessels retreated from the front lines. Frequently I was called upon to help Miss Enterprise in the Pacific when she was the sole fleet carrier in the US arsenal before the deployment and reinforcement of the Essex class. In fact, I have a small tale… to humanize us if you will. May I tell it?” Vestal asked.

“Please. The floor is all yours.” Ryan said excitedly.

Vestal nodded.

“I was actually with Miss Enterprise the day we got the news that she was no longer the only fleet carrier in the Pacific. In the months before Wake Island, I was helping Miss Enterprise when her radio crackled to life. It was Essex calling in and letting us know she was on station, ushering in the arrival of what would ultimately become a fleet of twenty-four Essex class fleet carriers. I had to physically hold her as she collapsed in my arms, crying from the stress of all the months that she faced the Japanese alone. She was ordered back to Puget Sound Naval Yards for extensive repairs and went on to finish the war, where her final act was taking a hit off Okinawa from a Kamikaze that destroyed her forward elevator. She wasn't in Tokyo Bay for the surrender as she was back home being repaired.” Vestal spoke.

“You speak fondly of Enterprise. I can tell she is a close friend.” Ryan spoke.

“I helped others as well. And not just Kansen. Actually… my current job as a doctor stems from what happened at Pearl, if you can believe it.” Vestal said.

“Really? How does one go from a repair ship to a doctor?” Ryan asked.

“When the Japanese attacked us at Pearl, I actually took hits myself. Two bomb hits meant for battleship row. One of them exploded within my hull, necessitating the flooding of my forward magazine for my three inch guns. The second blew a five foot hole in the bottom of my ship after passing through the carpentry shop and the shipfitter shop. And then… when Arizona was blown away… my men were blown off the deck as well. I didn't know much, but after spending time at Pearl and watching the nurses, I did what I could to stabilize anyone I came across as my crew fought to keep me afloat. Then the ruptured oil tanks from Arizona caught fire and lit my vessel aflame, and I did what I could to help knock the fires down while the black gang in my boiler rooms got my vessel underway with help from the tugs. After a quick conversation with my captain, we decided to beach my vessel rather than risk sinking ourselves. With my vessel beached, I scrambled out with the rescue teams to help anyone I could as we worked to get Pearl back into fighting shape. If you look really closely at the old grainy pictures of the men cutting open the hull of the Oklahoma, you can find me in there with a cutting torch, doing my best to get to her sailors.” Vestal explained.

“That's insane!” Ryan cried.

“I was awarded a Medal of Honor alongside my Captain for our performance that day. After repairs, we sailed for Tonga to aid in the launching of Operation Watchtower. I did repairs and light medical work for Saratoga, South Dakota, and North Carolina during that campaign.” Vestal reminisced.

“So many big names. I'm surprised more people didn't know about you. I sure didn't know all this.” Ryan gushed.

Vestal chuckled.

“I'm fine with being a background character, Ryan. I never did it for fame. Continuing on… I met Enterprise in Santa Cruz… she sustained heavy damage and lost Hornet in that battle. Seventy five of my best men, men from the Seabees repair battalion, along with myself worked to repair massive damage from a bomb hit that destroyed nearly eighteen hundred square feet of flight deck as well as machine spaces, bulkheads, and the Officers lounge. Those seventy five were written up in the Presidential Unit Citation that Enty got from that day. We also sent sailors to help South Dakota again as a bomb nearly took out one of her main gun batteries, and she collided with USS Mahan, who put a hole in her starboard side.” Vestal rattled on.

“You were quite a busy bee, Vestal.” Ryan complimented.

“You don't know the half of it. I was busy the rest of the war, But those were some of my most memorable acts of service. I was eventually awarded two battle stars for my service before the end of the war.” Vestal explained.

“So what did you do after?” Ryan asked.

“I was decommissioned in August of 46. Scrapped by the mid fifties. When I retired, I used my medal of honor to demand access to a nursing program where I climbed the ladder quickly. I then gained the respect needed to finally go and get further education to become a proper Doctor. I specialize now in Traumatic injuries and disorders subsequently caused by physical trauma. A combat medic on steroids with the plaque, credentials, and attitude to back it up.” Vestal spoke proudly.

Ryan chuckled.

“Rumor has it you are the personal doctor of the Admiral. Is that true?” Ryan asked.

“Yes. If he comes into my hospital, there is nobody on staff that I allow to work on him besides me, Reno, and Washington. And those two fall under me. I met him in a Philadelphia teaching hospital. He'd been in a horrific crash, my case file stated that he was extracted, via the jaws of life, from a truck that had practically folded in half with the engine sitting in the cab. If it weren't for his extreme fortune of dating New Jersey, he'd be dead. By all accounts, he should be. But… she saved him. I actually saw her before I saw him. She came up to me and we hugged it out like the friends we are. And… things kinda went from there. I took over his case and came to know that he knew about us from her. From there… it's a wild ride. Him getting cut up in London forced me to divert from going to Hawaii to sit with Arizona to join him and Jersey on their travels. Then we went to Japan and finalized the plan for Azur Lane. Then we flew home so that Jersey could steal her ship. I took his car and headed to New York to meet up with Intrepid before we too left to join up.” Vestal recounted.

“That's quite a history. Any particular reason that he is still the only patient you see personally?” Ryan asked.

“He's a male Kansen. Even the prettiest boy or the most handsome model can't compare to him now. He's on our level, and the girls get hit on by the human males on base to such a high degree as is. Imagine what would happen if I wasn't the one doing physicals and check-ups on him and it was a female human nurse? We'd see Bikini Atoll go up in nuclear fire again. New Jersey is quite protective of him if it doesn't involve her or his mistresses.” Vestal said with a stern look.

“I guess that tracks. I've seen her get a little bent out of shape before.” Ryan said.

Vestal laughed.

“Hah! You haven't seen anything. I watched her throw down with Musashi. But it just goes to show the kinds of precautions we have to take. I am also the one dealing with the case files for his children. As much freedom as he and his family have, he's also being contained. His DNA is something we cannot allow any world government to sequence now. So we always make sure he never goes out alone, and I am always on standby should something happen.” Vestal explained.

“Sounds like he is quite well guarded. I suppose this secret is allowed to come out?” Ryan asked.

Vestal nodded.

“I talked it over with everyone and Elizabeth brought up a good point. He has a vessel. The world has seen him commanding it. It's not a well kept secret despite my insistence on it. But now we can ensure that even if the world knows, they cannot do anything about it. He is safely contained here.” Vestal spoke.

Ryan nodded as he paused the recording.

“Is everything alright?” Vestal asked.

Ryan nodded.

“Since you brought up Elizabeth… I try not to be a gossip, but Belfast spoke with her during her interview. What is going on with Prinz Eugen? I heard she's changed significantly after the discovery of her… unfortunate predicament.” Ryan spoke.

Vestal shook her head.

“I cannot disclose anything about that, Ryan. It's a very intimate medical case right now.” Vestal spoke.

“I see. My apologies.” Ryan said as a knock came to the door.

“Door's open.” Vestal called.

The door opened and NJ and I walked in.

“Oh. I didn't realize today was your interview. Am I interrupting?” I asked.

“Not at all. I paused the recording for the moment.” Ryan said as Vestal stood.

“Have you made a decision?” Vestal asked.

NJ nodded.

“She's repaid her debt. And… after everything that's happened, I forgive her. So we're going to go through with it after all. Honey's numbers check out?” NJ asked.

“They do. We'll discuss next steps with them after the meeting. But for now, let's not disclose anything. According to Ryan, the rumor mill is already running hot.” Vestal spoke.

“I can always swear him to secrecy.” I offered as I looked at Ryan, my golden eye briefly flashing a soft golden light.

“No. He can find out like everyone else. Have you conveyed your decision to them?” Vestal asked.

“I already reached out to them. They're on board. Bismarck is quite excited.” NJ spoke.

“I can't imagine why… I've been dealing with Hipper in her third trimester. Graf Zeppelin well into her second. This base is having a damn baby boom, Commander. I demand funds for a maternity ward if this is going to keep up.” Vestal spat.

I turned to NJ who nodded.

“Make sure a disease research lab is added as well. We've been contacted by the WHO to be a cutting edge disease research facility unaffiliated by nationality. Promise me that and your maternity ward will be covered. We've had the Soviet girls taking on the accounting and we've managed to gain a sizable surplus from our maintenance pay. You've got a blank check.” I replied coolly.

Vestal stammered as she looked wildly at me.

“A b-blank check?!” Vestal asked.

“We got the money. Use it. We're here to help the world, not hoard wealth.” I replied.

Vestal quickly regained composure before accepting the situation.

“So be it. I'll work with Reno and Washington on the research center as well as organizing the logistics for disease samples. I assume our facility will need to be BSL-4?” Vestal asked.

“I would assume so? I don't know what that means, but I can figure that if it's a high level of safety and security, then that's what they'll want. I'll get engineers and designers out here to work with you on what you need. Tell them everything we need. I'll direct all calls from the WHO to your office so they can work with you. Get me an estimate for the research center and make sure to have the designers work on your maternity ward too. Send me the estimates and I'll coordinate everything. Got it?” I asked.

“Of course, Commander. I appreciate the generosity.” Vestal said as the door to the meeting room was thrown open and I was nearly tackled across the room by an airborne heavy cruiser.

Bismarck stood in the doorway shaking her head.

“She couldn't wait… many apologies, Black Dragon.” Bismarck spoke.

Eugen held me tightly as she cried into my shoulder, thanking me over and over through her sobs.

NJ smiled awkwardly and scratched her cheek.

“It's fine…” NJ said as she walked over and gently pried Eugen away before handing her to Bismarck, allowing me to get up.

“Eugen. I appreciate your enthusiasm, but tackling the Kommandant is not appropriate.” Bismarck scolded lightly.

Eugen dried her eyes and nodded.

“My apologies, Kommandant. Lord Bismarck and I will wait for you in the other room.” Eugen said as they left.

“What was that about?” Ryan asked.

I looked at Vestal again.

Vestal sighed before leaning out the door.

“Bismarck.” Vestal called.

“Ja?” Bismarck replied.

“Do you want me to disclose this information to Ryan? Or should it remain a secret?” Vestal asked.

“He can know… but he must keep quiet. None in my faction know what is transpiring. I wish to surprise them all.” Bismarck called.

Vestal came back in and shut the door.

“You are not to tell a single soul. Bismarck has given me permission to disclose this, so listen well, as I will not be repeating myself.” Vestal demanded.

“I promise I won't tell.” Ryan spoke as he looked at me and NJ, who were staring directly at him with a dangerous glow in our eyes.

“Eugen's eggs proved viable despite her womb being incompatible with life. Bismarck, on the other hand, lost her eggs when she died, but her womb is perfectly functional. Tyler, as a male Kansen, has a nearly one hundred percent fertility rate going by his latest scores during his exams. The idea is to fertilize Eugen's egg with Tyler's DNA and implant it into Bismarck's womb, allowing her to carry the baby to term and deliver it. Giving Eugen and Bismarck the baby they've wanted.” Vestal explained.

“Is… it really that serious of a secret?” Ryan asked.

“It is to us. Honey isn't going to be a walking sperm bank. I'm doing this to end the back and forth transactional relationship that I've had with Prinz Eugen ever since she tried to kill him. This gift symbolizes that she is able to focus on herself now. She's allowed to be her own woman without worrying about me and my demands for her. She no longer needs to serve as his shield, as we now are in a spot where we can't reasonably be threatened. I saw her desire for a child as a way to end the subtle hostility. So… Honey and I talked it out with them and got all the tests done. But I'm not going to let the entirety of Azur Lane use my husband to knock themselves up. So keeping this low key until we can figure things out further would be appreciated.” NJ spoke.

Ryan nodded.

“Gotcha.” He spoke as I walked to the door.

“I'm going to go speak with them now. Are you coming?” I asked.

“Of course, Honey. Right behind you.” NJ said as we walked out, allowing Vestal to close the door and continue her interview.

“Well… that's quite the news.” Ryan said as Vestal sighed.

“That's six damn kids… I swear I'm going to convince NJ to let me tie his damn tubes. This is ridiculous.” Vestal spat.

“Not a fan of children?” Ryan asked.

“Kids? I adore children. But when they are the children of one of my most problematic patients? That's when I have to contend with the possibility of six more patients just as problematic as their father.” Vestal said as Ryan looked at his camera.

“We have quite a bit of footage. Did you have anything you want to add?” Ryan asked.

“I think I'm alright. I appreciate you letting me tell my story.” Vestal said as she collected her things.

“I'll work on a closing in post. You're free to go then.” Ryan said with a smile.

“I appreciate it. Have a good day.” Vestal said as she walked out and headed to where NJ and I were with Bismarck and Eugen.

Chapter Text

Ryan sat across the table from Bismarck and Eugen. The two clearly more interested in one another as the cruiser leaned Happily against her battleship fiancé, as evidenced by the small matching bands on their fingers.

“I see congratulations are in order on your engagement.” Ryan said with a smile.

Eugen beamed happily as Bismarck smiled a soft smile.

“Thank you, Herr Ryan. I believe there has never been a time where I've seen my Prinz looking so gorgeous as the day she knelt down and proposed to me. It was wonderful. We were escorting cargo vessels through the Black Sea when she came over to my vessel and proposed. I couldn't contain my emotions and cried for a few hours after that.” Bismarck reminisced.

Prinz Eugen blushed heavily at the sentiment.

“That's adorable. When's the wedding?” Ryan asked.

“We're trying to decide if we want to do it before the baby gets here.” Eugen said softly.

“Oh? You guys went through with it?” Ryan asked.

Bismarck nodded.

“Eugen and I have been talking for a while since my resurrection. She told me how the nuclear tests ruined her body, and I told her how I could no longer conceive due to having my eggs lost when I died. Even so, she wanted to try and find a way to nurture life. She said it was to make amends for her and our shared past. She wanted to raise a part of the next generation to be better than we were. We discussed options for it and got tested, which is how I found out about my egg situation and she learned of her inability to nurture life in her womb. Prinz grew quite depressed for a few days before the Kommandant came to us to ask about her.” Bismarck explained.

“And how did that go?” Ryan asked as he checked his camera equipment for the upcoming interview.

“We told him. And he asked the Black Dragon if he could help us. She… agreed readily. I don't know why. I'm still refusing to entirely believe that this is happening.” Eugen admitted.

Ryan shrugged.

“Either way, he called the repair ship, Dr. Vestal and asked if a three way surrogacy was an option. She admitted it would be a complex case, but manageable. So… the Kommandant donated to our cause. With his seed and my Prinz's egg… I will grow our beautiful child and birth them in the coming year. To think that I could become a mother.” Bismarck said softly as she rubbed her belly.

“You got the procedure done already?” Ryan asked.

Bismarck and Eugen nodded.

“The day of the Doctor's interview, Prinz Eugen had a few of her eggs harvested and fertilized. I was then impregnated with those eggs to ensure that we'd have at least one viable pregnancy.” Bismarck explained.

Ryan made a concerned face.

“Um… you said multiple?” Ryan asked.

Bismarck nodded.

“I overheard Vestal and the Commander speaking… his fertility rate is nearly absolute. And your method of pregnancy, IVF, is known to commonly produce multiple children.” Ryan spoke.

Bismarck nodded.

“Yes. But the Doctor also mentioned that despite the high fertility rate, we may only see one child. Either way, I am excited to experience this.” Bismarck said softly.

“I see. And I'm certain there are plenty more details that I need not be privy to. Are… we ready to begin the interview?” Ryan asked.

“Yes. I'm ready.” Eugen spoke.

“I am as well, Herr Ryan. Please begin.” Bismarck spoke as Ryan turned on the camera.

“Hey Everyone, Ryan here. And today, I have a special interview for you. Ladies, could you introduce yourselves?” Ryan asked.

“I am the Heavy Cruiser, Prinz Eugen. It is an honor to be here.”

“I am the Battleship Bismarck. I share my partner's sentiment.”

“‘Now Ryan…’ I hear you ask. ‘What makes this interview so special?’” Ryan posed.

“I'll tell you. Bismarck was actually killed in action back in nineteen forty-one when she was sunk off the coast of France. She went down with her ship and perished. Yet, with research done behind the scenes, it has become clear to see that Kansen are able to be revived under certain circumstances. So today, we have someone who has seen the other side and can speak of her experience, as well as our usual line of questions.” Ryan explained.

Ryan looks to Eugen.

“But, I'd like to start with you, Prinz Eugen. Tell us about yourself.” Ryan said, handing the floor to Eugen.

“Well… as stated, my name is Prinz Eugen. I am a former member of the Kriegsmarine and a heavy cruiser that now serves Azur Lane. I escaped the trials of Nuremberg due to being handed off to the United States at the end of world war two where my vessel was used as a target for nuclear testing during Operation Crossroads. So, while I avoided being imprisoned for life under the Nuremberg Trials, I was more or less used for target practice. In nineteen forty-seven, I got word from my sister, Tallinn, who had been sold off to the Soviet Union, that in exchange for the isotopes that were present on my vessel, she'd use the Soviet salvage ship Kommuna to raise my vessel so I could repair it. So I spent a few months cleaning my vessel, at least the exposed parts, and handed her what I had when she came to collect. Those months took a toll on my body, but I got my vessel back. I limped it to Montevideo and repaired it, all the while laying low to avoid scrutiny from the international community.” Eugen spoke.

“Montevideo is in Uruguay. Where Graf Spee was scuttled, right?” Ryan asked.

“Yes. But I'll leave that as her story to tell. I have some opinions about it that I'd rather not cement in print before she gives her own testimony.” Eugen admitted.

“I see. I can't wait to hear it. Now… how did you come to hear about Azur Lane? Did the Commander reach out? How did you get involved?” Ryan asked.

Eugen tugged at her collar and chuckled nervously.

“Y-yeah… I was there when the idea was first proposed. But… I was only there because the Kommandant found out who I was as I was attempting to mug him in a dark alley in London.” Eugen said softly as Bismarck turned to her and lightly chopped her head.

“Shame.” Bismarck spoke softly, causing Eugen to whine weakly.

“You attempted to mug Commander Sweigart?” Ryan asked.

“Yes. In fact… he almost lost his life to me that night. I saw him wearing nice clothes, staying at the Claridge's Hotel. He seemed pretty loaded for a tourist, and I needed money to get back to Uruguay, since I had spent it all illegally entering the UK. So… I tried to take his money and phone to sell. Held him at knife point and got a bit too aggressive, leading to a decent slice across his neck. That was the night I learned he was dating the Black Dragon… my stomach, even now, rolls over when I remember being hit by her.” Eugen spoke.

“That's quite the dramatic story. But you and the Commander get along so well. This truly happened?” Ryan asked.

“Yes. New Jersey forced me to stick around under the threat of being destroyed for harming him. Soon, he completely forgave me and we became friends. I introduced him to the girls in Mutsu, which ultimately led to all this. Since then, he's been very kind, despite how tired he gets. And he's given me and Bismarck a gift that we'll never forget.” Eugen said as she leaned against Bismarck while rubbing her belly.

“I'd venture to say that speaks well of his character. What do you think of him?” Ryan asked.

“He's a kind man. Far kinder than any man I've taken time to get to know. He's naive, but that just adds to the overall charm, I guess. He's rash… tends to react emotionally rather than logically. But in my mind, that's not always a bad thing. Logic is for the good of everyone. He has a family now… reacting on emotion means he is simply doing what he can to protect his family. So… honestly, I say he's a fine Kommandant. I've never been more proud to be brought into this world as a Kansen as I am serving under Kommandant Sweigart.” Eugen elaborated honestly.

“That's some exceptionally high praise, but a sentiment shared by everyone I've interviewed so far. He's really made an impact, hasn't he?” Ryan asked.

“He did. His ideals freed my sisters and my friends. His ideals brought the pieces together so that I can now live happily with my partner, someone I thought lost to me forever. And while Mogador is the one who did the work, she would never have attempted it if it weren't for Azur Lane.” Eugen said as she leaned against Bismarck.

“Did you have anything else you'd like to add, Eugen?” Ryan asked.

Eugen nodded.

“We've had a few incidents on base with outside help… those of us in Iron Blood have gotten dirty looks and horrendous things spoken about us. I despise the Nazi Party. I despise anyone who still holds that mindset in any regard. I murdered three men in Uruguay back in the fifties, SS officers who transferred from the camps prior to the collapse of the Nazi War Machine. That was the only time I personally killed anyone… and it was to dispose of the garbage that sullied my country's name. We are the Kriegsmarine. German Navy… nothing more.” Eugen spoke coldly.

Ryan swallowed heavily. He switched off the camera for a moment.

“Alright then… I'm… going to have to edit that last bit out. Admitting to murder isn't something I'd advise.” Ryan spoke.

“It's fine. Leave it in. The government at the time was impossibly corrupt. I slid a few bricks of gold to the treasury and all was forgiven. Besides, it's been seventy years. Nobody cares… they were Nazi's anyway.” Eugen retorted bluntly.

“If you're certain.” Ryan replied in a defeated tone before turning the camera back on. He turned to Bismarck.

“Moving on, Bismarck. Mind telling the world about yourself?” Ryan asked.

Bismarck nodded.

“I've been informed that the story surrounding my actions in the second world war has been very well documented. But, I shall give a shortened version. Guten Tag… I am Bismarck, Battleship Kansen of the former Kriegsmarine. Notably, I sank the Battlecruiser Hood with a single shell to her magazine. I was heading to France after that engagement when I was set upon by torpedo bombers from the HMS Ark Royal, which crippled my steering gear and reduced my speed, allowing a fleet headed by King George the fifth to catch and sink me. Destroying the Hood was my only real achievement, so the world's glorification of my story seems rather unwarranted when compared to the wolfpacks of our Submarine force, or Scharnhorst and Gneisenau, our intrepid commerce raiders.” Bismarck spoke softly.

“Quite humble for the capital ship of the former Kriegsmarine. I see you do not share the ego of the man who ordered your construction.” Ryan said, intending a joke.

“I will choose to not take offense to that statement, Herr Ryan. Being compared to that man, even in jest, is a very sore subject. Had it not turned my own country against me, I would have killed him myself when I had the chance… which I did… several times. Seeing how the world evolved after my death… and learning of the atrocities he committed… I wish I would have followed my instincts back then. That will be one of my greatest regrets.” Bismarck spoke firmly.

“My deepest apologies. I did not intend offense. It's just… in contrast to how you are perceived, you're not at all like one, who knows the story of Bismarck, would expect. You're quite laid back for being the leader of the German Fleet.” Ryan redirected.

Bismarck nodded.

“In light of my reawakening, I have come to learn that being uptight all the time is far more exhausting for me and the people around me. Even though I was not implicitly ordered by my Kommandant, Kommandant Sweigart's demeanor lends itself to nurturing a sense of… casualness. So long as information is relayed and orders executed, the need for a high strung mentality is lost here at Azur Lane.” Bismarck spoke.

Ryan nodded.

“I've gotten that feeling too. So… I guess the big question the world wants the answer to… what was it like?” Ryan asked.

“Dying?” Bismarck asked.

Ryan nodded.

“It… is an experience that most will never truly get to fully ingest. I view my life now in a positive manner, and as such, the thought of dying again is not something that brings me comfort. But… during the war. Under the stress and strain of combat and expectations. Dying was the only way out. War was raging with no end in sight. One could not simply walk away from her duty. When Ark Royal crippled me… I prepared myself for death. I ordered Prinz Eugen to escape. I went to my favorite crew members and, in a manner most unbefitting of my station, hugged them. I came to terms that my short life could end, so I took the liberty to do what I wanted. I hugged my crew. I had my cooks make my favorite meal. I thanked my captain for his service. By the time the Royal Navy had caught up to me, I was ready to accept the outcome of whatever would transpire. I fought to the best of my abilities alongside my crew. But alas… the damage was too much. We were sinking. As scuttling charges were set to ensure that my vessel went down, my captain ordered all hands to abandon ship. I helped who I could… I then took my place beside my steering gear as the charges went off, sealing my already determined fate.” Bismarck spoke. Eugen gently rubbed her hand and pressed herself against Bismarck to show her support.

Ryan remained respectfully silent.

“I remember shivering as the water crested over my deck, filling the corridors and dooming those who were injured and unable to escape. I remember kicking off my shoes and deciding that if I was to die, I would die comfortably. As my ship listed and eventually capsized, I was thrown to the ceiling of my bridge before the windows gave way, flooding the bridge with frigid atlantic water. I lost consciousness shortly after the pain of water entering my lungs subsided. My final conscious thought was that my duty was over. I was free. Cue what I can only describe as the weirdest feeling I have ever felt. It felt like I was asleep, but not to the point where one goes completely under. Imagine trying to sleep but there is water dripping into a steel pan that never seems to fill, so the metal panging sound is a constant. You never fully get to sleep, but you are too tired to open your eyes. That is what it was like. I would assume that is what was happening for over eighty years.” Bismarck recounted.

“And your awakening?” Ryan asked.

“It was as if someone had turned the lights on to finally fix the leaking water. The noise stopped and my eyes opened to the burning rays of the sun. When I finally felt the warmth on my skin… I took a breath, expecting water, but instead I got the salty taste of ocean air. I was alive… somehow. I had also lost my clothing, so my first order of business was to dress myself. Only after doing so was I confronted by Battleship Dunkerque and Destroyer Mogador of the French navy. I was informed that I had been revived. I was asked if I was hostile, and I replied by asking if I should be. I did not know the war had ended, so I drew my rigging to do battle. And… that is what came to me.” Bismarck said as she pointed out the window of her home. Ryan panned the camera to see a giant metal hydra chasing a petrified young woman with long white bunny ears in a black and white dress adorned with a teal bow. Her cries as she sprinted away from the lumbering dragon were enough to make Ryan and Eugen chuckle.

Bismarck, on the other hand, was stern.

“Geryon. Zurücktreten. We do not harass our allies. Leave that rabbit alone. If you want hasenpfeffer, I shall make some. You do not hunt the rabbits on base.” Bismarck scolded as a knock came to their door.

Eugen answered it to find NJ and I standing there.

“Ah, Kommandant. A pleasure to see you.” Bismarck spoke softly.

“I'm not here to visit for long. I was on my way here to inform you that Geryon was harassing our newest addition to the fleet, but it seems he has lost interest.” I said.

“I saw. I ordered him to stand down. He should be returning to his den.” Bismarck replied.

“Excellent. No need to scold him too much. The curious rabbit did deserve it, but she kept running him through the gardens and backyards of other residents and I got a few calls. Just make it known that he needs to ignore her prodding is all.” I requested.

“Understood. I'll make sure he doesn't react to her. Was there anything else?” Bismarck asked as Ryan turned off the camera again.

I smiled.

“How are you feeling?” I asked.

Bismarck smiled as she rubbed her belly.

“It is a unique feeling. I've been nauseous the past few days, but I guess that means that the treatment took hold. I'm excited to be frank.” Bismarck spoke.

I nodded softly.

“We'll have to discuss if you'd like for me and NJ to be involved at any point, all things considered. I already signed over custody, but just in case you wanted, I'm offering.” I spoke.

Eugen looked at Bismarck.

“I think we'd like that. Perhaps… an aunt and uncle? Someone who can be a positive male role model in the child's life, despite them being biologically you and Eugen's children.” Bismarck suggested. Eugen nodded in agreement.

I looked to NJ who smiled at me with a nod.

“Looks like we're on board with that. If you two need any kind of support, let me know. I'll be here in a heartbeat.” I said softly.

Bismarck and Eugen nodded.

“You two have a good day. We're going to go find that little rabbit and see about building ourselves another destroyer.” I said as NJ and I waved goodbye before leaving.

“Quite unorthodox for a sperm donor to be involved to this degree.” Ryan said.

“In all reality, it is his and my child, still. But he has relinquished full custody to us, meaning Bismarck and I are the child's parents. But I think having him be there to help us out in such an off center capacity can help nurture the child even more than we could without him.” Eugen said as she rested her head on Bismarck's shoulder.

“Was there anything else you wanted to add? It seems today has gotten a bit hectic.” Ryan asked.

“I think we're okay. We've said our peace. I should begin preparing dinner… the mention of hasenpfeffer has made me hungry. I shall need to begin preparations at once.” Bismarck said as she stood and walked away from the table.

Eugen smiled.

“You seem happy.” Ryan quipped.

“I am. More than I ever have been. The love of my life has returned and we are expecting a child. I don't think there's a greater feeling than that.” Eugen said as Ryan packed his equipment.

“I'll head out so you two can get on with your day.” Ryan said as he hoisted his bag.

Eugen nodded.

“It was good to see you. Drop by the Iron Blood dorms more often. The subs enjoy your company.” Eugen said as she ushered Ryan out, sending him off with a friendly wave.

Chapter Text

Ryan walked over to the battleship berths where workers and engineers milled about, readying a ship for launch, the superstructure being built in drydock wasn't standard procedure, but it seemed to not be much of an issue. As he walked he also saw me and Washington talking and decided to approach.

“Howdy, Commander.” Ryan spoke.

“Ah Ryan. How are you?” I asked.

“Doing well. I was supposed to meet Enterprise here, she said she wanted to be here for her interview. Did you happen to see her?” Ryan asked, showing his camera equipment.

“Yeah, she's over talking with some of the engineers.” I replied, pointing past the hull of the battleship being pulled into the bay from the slipway.

“Oh?” Ryan hummed.

“Yeah. She asked if I could do what the US wouldn't and give the people a Yorktown class carrier museum. I told her that our steel stores are over capacity and to have at it. So on the other side of this berth, they're laying down the original plans of CV-6 USS Enterprise. Hornet is going to curate the museum with fighter examples from squadrons that were on all three Yorktown carriers. She said she'd also show off a B-25 kitted out like it was for the Doolittle raid, so that will be a major attraction for history enthusiasts. This battleship is leaving the berth to make way for an experiment I am working on with Washington.” I replied.

“Those both sound equally intriguing. What are you trying to accomplish?” Ryan asked.

“The resurrection of a Kansen whose cube has already been destroyed. I want to give our resident Ohio class something to make her feel better about life… so I decided to give one of Washington's theories a whirl.” I replied.

“Ohio class… that's Pennsylvania, right?” Ryan asked.

I nod softly.

“And if we're here… what could you be doing?” Ryan asked.

“Attempting to reawaken Arizona using her original blueprint, documents made surrounding her original awakening, and a gun barrel taken from Nevada's wreck off the southern island. The theory is, using my stock of raw wisdom cubes given to me by the government, that I can completely reawaken Arizona from scratch. And using documents from her original awakening, we can impart the original Arizona's memories onto the new hull, so she will be exactly as Pennsylvania remembers.” Washington explained.

Ryan was dumbfounded.

“You're building a Pennsylvania class battleship to make a new version of Arizona?” Ryan asked.

Washington and I nodded.

“That's the hope.” I said as Ryan spotted Enterprise approaching. Victorious was at her side like a loyal guardian.

“Looks like my interviewee is here. I'll talk to you later, Commander.” Ryan said as he approached Enterprise.

“Have fun!” I yelled as Washington and I got back to work.

Ryan walked over to match pace with Enterprise as she walked with Victorious.

“It's time for your interview, Miss Enterprise. Where did you want to set up?” Ryan asked.

Enterprise looked to Victorious, who smiled.

“This is about you, my big strong eagle. Wherever you want to go, I'll be with you.” Victorious promised.

“There's a bench that looks out over the bay. I want to watch the Commander inspect the Friedrich der Große when he's done talking with Washington.” Enterprise spoke.

“Then we'll do just that. I have my tripod in the backpack so we can get everything set up the way you want.” Ryan said as Enterprise led the way.

As they walked, Ryan struck up small talk.

“So, you and Victorious, huh? What's the story there?” Ryan asked.

Enterprise blushed softly.

“She… she is who kept me together after the sinking of Hornet and Yorktown. I thought they had both perished at the time… and I was a wreck. Before those battles… I had never wished death upon anyone…” Enterprise started as Ryan hit record on his camera and did his best to keep it steady as they walked.

“But Yorktown sank at Midway. My older sister… the one who taught me how to be a carrier. How to move with decorum and purpose. She and Hammann went down… and I saw red. I recognized the fighters from the First and Second carrier divisions on the retreating fighters… my anger boiled over when word came in saying that my boys found them. Every pilot in the air heard me scream the same bloody orders… kill them all… avenge my sister.” Enterprise continued.

“And Midway saw all four of those carriers sunk. Akagi, Kaga, Soryuu, and Hiryuu. Your pilots struck hard and turned the tide of the war in the pacific.” Ryan spoke as they reached the bench. He quickly set up the tripod while keeping the camera rolling, attaching it with a nifty quick detach mount so he could join the two Kansen on the bench.

Enterprise nodded.

“I barely had time to process my grief… four months of believing Yorktown was dead… and then came Santa Cruz. If there was ever a defining point in the war for me… it was there at Santa Cruz.” Enterprise spoke, her tone dipping dangerously low and adopting a hollowness not seen since before her addition to Azur Lane.

Victorious noticed and rubbed her back.

“If it gets too tough, we can take a break. Your days of putting up a front are over, Enty. I will step in if I need to.” Victorious promised.

Enterprise nodded.

“I'm okay… it's… just a dark day for me.” Enterprise said as she remembered.

“Santa Cruz saw Hornet's crew abandon ship from damage sustained by the fifth carrier group… only to be finished off by a pair of manned destroyers, Makigumo and Akigumo. She was caught in a torpedo detonation and slipped into the sea… four months after losing Yorktown… I broke. That was the day I gained my metaphorical scythe… the kids gloves were off, so to speak. The war had become personal.” Enterprise said softly.

Ryan nodded along softly.

“I was left as the only US carrier in the Pacific. Lexington was gone. Yorktown was gone. Hornet was gone. Ranger was in the Atlantic. Wasp was gone. Saratoga was undergoing extensive repairs. Langley was gone. CV-1 through CV-8… and only CV-6 remained. 1942… Essex wouldn't come online and join the Pacific war until May of the following year… October to May… eight months… They practically begged the Royal Navy to send Victorious to the Pacific. We needed more than me… I may have been among the best… but I wasn't enough…” Enterprise lamented.

“You were enough, Eagle. Japan just didn't know when to quit.” Victorious reassured her.

Enty smiled softly.

“I can't remember all the finer details… those months were a blur. My air wings cut through anything they saw like a reaper's scythe. They hit me so many times… thought they had sunk me three times over… I became known throughout the Pacific as the Grey Ghost. But I remember… I took a particularly hard hit around the time of the Battle of New Georgia. Victorious was with me… USS Robin, she was called. I remained on station, stowing away on her vessel while mine was limped back to Pearl for rapid repairs. It was during that time that the weight of the world crashed on me… I lost complete confidence in myself and in the war effort. Victorious kept me together long enough for July of ‘43 to roll around… when I heard her radio crackle to life… it was Essex… the Essex class had been fielded at long last. And not just one… but five. Essex, Lexington, Wasp, Bunker Hill, … and Yorktown.” Enterprise spoke, her voice straining softly.

“That was the tipping point after Midway. The arrival of the Essex class?” Ryan asked.

Enterprise nodded.

“With them arriving on station, my vessel was sent to Bremerton for a complete overhaul, more AA than I knew what to do with. In that time, the Independence class carriers flooded our ranks, and by the time I returned to battle, I was far from the only carrier in the region. We fought like hell up till Okinawa… by that time even more of the Essex class had come into play. Shangri-La, Bon Homme Richard, Ticonderoga, Intrepid… and all the unkansened Essex carriers. Our shipbuilders won that war… Back on track, I took another heavy hit in May of ‘45 that saw me pack it in for the rest of the war. I got out of the shipyard just in time for Operation Magic Carpet to bring our boys home. And that's… it… at least for the second world war.” Enterprise spoke as she let out a shaky breath.

“Easy, Eagle. Come, let's answer some more generic questions. Your story has been told to death thousands of times over. Let's give the people a long look at the woman behind the legend, okay?” Victorious asked softly before looking at Ryan.

“Give her some easy pitches here, Ryan.” Victorious demanded softly.

“No problem. I only started recording because she was telling a story.” Ryan said.

“And we got wildly off track. You asked about our relationship. So I'll answer that. The time we spent together off the coast of New Georgia was probably the most fulfilling time of my life. Enterprise was broken down after Midway. I wanted to help. We got to talking, helping keep each other together and supported… and eventually… she wound up in my bed. I don't quite know when it clicked… perhaps a particularly late dinner, or a sunset on the flight deck… all I know, is that our lives shifted during those months. And since then, up until the day she joined Azur Lane, I was waiting for her to retire so I could come claim my prize, my big strong Eagle.” Victorious spoke firmly.

Enterprise blushed wildly but refused to hide it as she leaned against Victorious.

Ryan smiled softly.

“I heard snippets of what your life was like, Enterprise. It does my heart well to see that smile. I know everyone here will fight tooth and nail to ensure you keep it.” Ryan spoke softly.

Enterprise nodded as a single tear fell from her eye.

“Let's see here… easy questions. How is life on base going for you?” Ryan asked.

Enterprise sat up.

“Honestly… it's heaven. If I didn't still bear the wounds on my soul from my life here on earth, I'd believe I'd died and gone to heaven. No curfew. No mandatory training. No orders. No demands. No… anything. I wake up, make breakfast with Robin, eat, then go about my day, doing as I please. Sometimes the Commander will come and ask me to assist in a small training exercise, or he'll have me fire up the reactors for a small cruiser around the atoll. But as of late it's been getting with Graf Zeppelin to teach her the ins and outs of a supercarrier, since she is going to soon be in command of something the Commander deems as a hyper-carrier. I assume it's that thing out there.” Enterprise said as she pointed out to the two tiered aircraft carrier that was undergoing the final stages of fitting out.

“I actually spoke with Miss Zeppelin about her new carrier. I'm impressed by the overall size. She said it'll be big enough to launch C-130's from.” Ryan spoke.

Enterprise nodded.

“The Commander wanted to ensure that I was never forced to pick up the role of flagship again, but being the biggest carrier in the world lends itself to being a centerpiece in any fleet. So he built a bigger one. The amount of steel used to build that thing is insane… but it's extremely well built. He had the top engineers come in from across the globe to double, triple, and quadruple check the calculations and design philosophy, only to have another independent team come and verify the findings again. Only when he was satisfied with the results did he order the construction. And with our rotating labor force, we are building vessels at a wartime pace despite being at peace. He's a civilian, no doubt about it… but sometimes a military mindset isn't what is truly needed to lead… that's what I'm choosing to believe.” Enterprise said softly.

“What do you think of that carrier?” Ryan asked.

“It's a marvel of engineering. I believe we all misjudged the size a bit. It's about one and a half times the size of my current vessel, meaning a little over fifteen hundred feet. But it's still two nearly eight hundred foot long runways, one for landing on the rear, and one for launching down in front. So she'll have almost two full Yorktown class runways to work with, and since getting B-25's in the air wasn't an issue for Hornet, I can only imagine the crazy stuff that Gerry will be able to pull off. If she's getting a C-130, he's likely given her the rocket assisted takeoff version to ensure that she doesn't have to skimp too much on her payloads. I'd also assume modifications were made to the catapult system to be able to help push such a plane.” Enterprise spoke, her excitement visible.

“I see. How are things going between you and our Japanese allies?” Ryan asked.

“The war is long over. We both paid the price for playing a part in that conflict. They, wrongfully, tasted the power of the sun. I was subjected to nearly a century of servitude thanks to my performance in combat. I hold some ill will… but only because I have suffered, and I know it's selfish. But I get along with them just fine. Actually… I've gotten quite close to the Yamato sisters lately. Little Yume has begun speaking and I melt a little every time when she calls me Auntie Enty. I've sat and talked with Yamato and Musashi, buried the hatchet in a more official stance. All in all… I've come to understand the Sakura girls. My anger towards them has long since faded.” Enterprise explained.

“And what about your friends from the US?” Ryan asked.

“They never treated me differently. Me coming here… they greeted me like the old friend I was. Everyone has aged so rough since the war… New Jersey being the biggest change of all. Miss goody two-shoes. The shining, all-singing, all-dancing Iowa class kansen, capable of untold destruction and chaos… she's become a loving mother and wife to a truly unique man, the world's first male Kansen. She used to be so ‘by the books’. I could go for hours just talking about everyone.” Enterprise said as she looked out into the bay towards the Friedrich der Große. Ryan looked out too, just in time to see a blinding flash of blue light explode from the bow of the vessel.

“What was that?!” Ryan exclaimed.

“The birth of a new Kansen. Looks like Georgia isn't the only blueprint ship in our fleet anymore.” Enterprise said with a chuckle.

Ryan quickly composed himself.

“I…”

“I want to go see this. I'll be right back.” Enterprise said as she got up. Curiously, Victorious stayed behind. Ryan turned off the camera and sat as the two watched Enterprise walk back to the slipways.

“The US begged my government for help.” Victorious spoke softly.

“Hmm?” Ryan asked, pulled back to reality by her words.

“That's right. The United States, a bastion of defiance against the British Empire… begged for our aid. Enterprise was the only one left, as she said. Saratoga was down for the count, everyone else besides Ranger was presumed dead. I heard of this when I was with the Home Fleet. It was when I caught wind of this that I knew this had become a matter of life and death. We were already stretched thin… with the loss of Glorious, Ark Royal, and Courageous…” Victorious paused for a moment.

“My sisters and I stood firm against the Kriegsmarine and the Luftwaffe. But we had help from the US… Battleships sporting guns bigger than Her Majesty's. Ranger was another huge help. Along with cruisers and destroyers. Wasp was taken to aid in the Pacific and was sunk, and I realized the danger posed by Japan. If they took out Enterprise, we'd be doomed. Our support from them would be completely withdrawn to fight in the Pacific. So I went and demanded an audience with Churchill and the War council. When granted, I told them what I knew and what I felt and demanded to be sent to the Pacific, for the good of the Home Isles…” Ryan nodded along with Victorious's story, painting himself a mental picture of the war from an angle he never even thought about.

“It took a force that I no longer possess… but it was enough. I was shipped out and sent to bolster the US fleet in the Pacific under the name USS Robin. The Japanese didn't know what hit them… or more specifically… what they were hitting. Kamikaze attacks were rampant… and the first few times, they tried to hit my flight deck, either mistaking me for an American carrier, or not knowing my design philosophy. No news source or photos will confirm… but it took two or three of them impacting my flight deck and dealing next to no damage for them to realize that my sisters and I had armored flight decks. Thanks to our proximity to Germany, we were made to be tough and take hits… this helped tremendously.” Victorious spoke softly.

“That's amazing…” Ryan spoke.

Victorious nodded.

“After D-day, Germany became the battleground, freeing up the Royal Navy to come to the Pacific. My sisters came to aid the newly fielded Essex class carriers while I was sent to hunt Tirpitz in the fjords of Norway. I left my Eagle… a fate I wish I would have never accepted. So I waited after the war ended. I'll admit… my feelings faltered when I saw Tirpitz… but it was short lived, and I regret both my part in sinking her, and my wavering loyalty. The war ended… and I lost touch with Enterprise. I watched as her name became the stuff of legends. And up until this… the creation of Azur Lane… I thought I'd never get to reconnect. But I did… and I am forever grateful to the Knight Commander for his hard work.” Victorious said as Enterprise returned.

“How was it?” Victorious asked.

“You'd probably enjoy talking to her. She seems quite well put together for just being awakened. She learns quickly.” Enterprise spoke as she sat back down.

Victorious smiled sadly.

“I'd say the same thing about you if Tirpitz would have survived.” Victorious whispered.

Enterprise smiled as she hugged Victorious.

“Yes. Yes. You have a soft spot for stoic women with white hair and sad backstories. That's why you love me so much.” Enterprise teased, causing Victorious to chuckle.

“Well… if the experiment the Commander is doing proceeds and is successful, we could see something like that occur.” Ryan said with a shrug.

“His plans to reawaken Arizona, right?” Enterprise asked.

Victorious wore a slightly shocked expression, but shook it away.

“If it is to come to fruition, then let it be so.” Victorious spoke softly.

“You'll still stay with me… won't you Robin?” Enterprise asked.

“Tirpitz knew not for my fleeting emotions. In all reality, I only strayed the path because she reminded me so much of you. Even if she is reawakened, she will have her sister to comfort her. I've waited for you to retire, and now my dream has become reality. You are mine, Eagle… all mine.” Victorious said as she hugged Enterprise tightly.

Enterprise smiled softly and allowed herself to be hugged. Ryan took this moment to turn his camera back on.

“Well… I guess I have one final question. I've asked everyone so far, so… What do you think of the Commander, Enterprise?” Ryan asked.

“He's insane. But not in a bad way… he stood up against the most powerful government in the world as a man in love. His love for New Jersey sparked this revolution, and while we were initially considered enemies… I couldn't find a place on Earth I'd rather be than here. I consider him a valuable friend and a worthy commander, even if he is a civilian. When out doing patrols around the island, the feeling of having his vessel pinned to my side, watching over me even though I've come so far from when I was a slave to the US Navy… It's evident that he cares so much about us. Should I ever pick up my scythe again… I'll reap our enemies for his sake, someone like him… needs to be cherished by everyone here… that's how I think… and that's what I believe.” Enterprise admitted.

Ryan smiled.

“You heard it here folks. The legendary Enterprise and her wonderful partner, Victorious, or Robin… as she prefers now. Tune in next time for the next interview, I finally got a time set up with the Hero of Okinawa, so we'll be meeting the gunboat destroyer, Laffey. Stay tuned! This is Ryan, signing off.”

Ryan turned off the camera and put it away.

“Ryan?” Victorious asked.

“Hmm?” He replied.

“Please edit out calling me Robin on that recording. There is only one person on this planet that gets to call me that, and that is my partner. Nobody else gets to call me that, and the only reason it comes up from time to time with the Knight Commander is because of his obsession with naval history. I hope you can understand.” Victorious spoke.

“Right. My apologies, Victorious. I'll edit that out as soon as I return home. If I may ask… is there a reason for that? Robin is a nice name.” Ryan asked.

“It was how she addressed me back then. When she had nightmares, I'd turn over to hear her whimpering ‘Robin’ over and over. When we woke up, it was ‘good morning, Robin’. Months I went by that name with her, and after everything? She deserves to live in the comfort we built during our months together. That is why she will be the only one to call me Robin constantly. If you need a nickname for me, use Vicky. Okay?” Victorious asked.

“Noted. Well… I'm going to check out Friedrich der Große. See what she's all about. You two have a nice day.” Ryan said as he grabbed his things and began heading down to the docks.

Enterprise leaned against Victorious.

“We'll be like this til the end, right?” Enterprise asked.

Victorious smiled and reached into her outfit before pulling out a small box. Opening it, there was a simple diamond ring.

“Only if you want it that way, my big, strong Eagle.” Victorious whispered.

Enterprise gasped softly, tears welling in her eyes as she nodded.

“Yes. You don't even have to ask… yes.” Enterprise whispered as Victorious slipped the ring onto Enty's finger. Enterprise hugged Victorious and kissed her deeply as her tears flowed freely.

“Let's go back to our nest. It's getting quite busy today.” Victorious suggested.

Enterprise nodded softly as the two carriers headed for their shared home.

Chapter Text

Ryan walked over to the dorms where the majority of the American Kansen lived. After an extensive and comprehensive evaluation by Vestal, Ryan had been cleared to interview Laffey. She stressed the importance of keeping her in the dorms where the Japanese Kansen rarely went, as despite the growth she had exhibited after coming into contact with Martin and Martha, she was still rather volatile towards some of the Japanese Kansen. In a surprising twist, however, the reawakened Shimakaze was one with which she had no aversion, and instead had become fast friends with. This was made evident when Ryan knocked on her door.

“Miss Laffey? It's Ryan. I'm here for your interview.” Ryan said as the door opened.

Inside was a plush haven full of pastel blues and soft whites and carrot plushies, of all things. Laffey sat comfortably in her bed as Shimakaze sat in a chair across the room. Both were watching a trio of two year olds that Ryan immediately recognized as Bonnie's children.

“Staying with Aunt Laffey, I take it?” Ryan asked.

“Yeah. Bonnie wanted to spend some more personal time with her man, so I offered to watch the runts. Shima and I just got back from the playground the Commander authorized, so they should be ready for a nap soon.” Laffey said as she took a drink of a dark liquid from a liquor bottle.

“Should… you be drinking so heavily when watching them?” Ryan asked nervously.

“I'm not. It's sweet tea. I had a lot of bottles hidden away in the keel since before I was locked away. The liquor went bad over those eighty years so I figured I'd reuse them. Besides, it's not the alcohol that keeps the edge off. One of my coping mechanisms is more feeling the weight of the bottle and tricking my mind into believing I'm drinking. It's worked wonders, surprisingly. Shima taught me that it was a roundabout way to material meditation.” Laffey explained.

“Interesting take on mental health. How are you feeling?” Ryan asked as he set up his camera equipment.

“I'm feeling fine overall. Her sword stresses me out, but she never goes anywhere without it, so we compromised and I do this to keep my nerves in check.” Laffey admitted.

“It was a part of our training… and in eighty years, that's all I really have right now. I haven't been awake long enough to really know much of my surroundings… and after the incident with that dragon thing, I don't feel comfortable remaining disarmed.” Shimakaze spoke as one of the children scooted over to her. She gently picked the child up and sat them in her lap and played with her arms.

“You said you reused the bottles, but those bottles look really quite old. They could be worth some money.” Ryan said.

“I sold quite a few during the year we were building the base. The Commander made sure that they were shipped out across the globe. They were selling close to a thousand a bottle due to the rarity and the fact that the distillery that made and used them no longer exists. Collectors paid top dollar.” Laffey said.

“That's a nice chunk of change. How many did you sell?” Ryan asked.

“Four hundred. At around a grand per… you're looking at close to four hundred thousand. Not a bad haul, but mostly pointless since we don't really need money on base. The commander is the only one that needs it, and he gets it through the UN. We just submit requests and he buys things for us.” Laffey said, gesturing to a personal satellite internet receiver that was hooked up to a very well built gaming computer.

“He bought you that?” Ryan asked.

“Kinda. I mentioned that Shima and I would like to play some of the new video games that I keep hearing about, since they didn't exist when we kinda just… left the world. Three weeks later, my dorm has its own internet and this beast of a personal computer. Not gonna lie, the commander has some very expensive tastes. I looked into parts for this thing and it had to cost at least five grand.” Laffey said.

“Well, that is quite a rig. Anyway, I'm ready to record your interview. I've been instructed to steer clear of your wartime service, so I'll focus more on your involvement with Azur Lane.” Ryan said as Laffey looked at Shimakaze.

“Take the kiddos to Mom and Pops. Kiddos don't need to see me drinking the real thing.” Laffey said as she reached under her pillow for a bottle of clear liquid branded with a Soviet star and Avrora's name.

Shimakaze nodded and gathered the children, who cooed in her arms as she bounded out of the room.

“They could have stayed…” Ryan soothed.

“No. I know what doc told ya. But I'm not going to hide my story. The world must know of my pain.” Laffey said as she uncorked the veritable tractor fuel the Soviet girls drank.

Ryan swallowed softly as he set up the camera and hit record.

“Hello Everyone… Ryan here. Today our special guest is a rarely spoken about member of the US Naval family here on base. Laffey, an Allen M. Sumner class destroyer who used to inhabit a Benson class destroyer. Hello, Laffey.” Ryan spoke.

“Howdy.” Laffey said as she took a swig of the tractor fuel, a small blush crossing her cheeks.

“Well… the floor is yours. What do you want the world to know about our favorite gunboat destroyer?” Ryan asked.

Laffey sighed.

“My name is Laffey. Like many of the Kansen here, I am a veteran of the second world war. I started my life as a Benson class destroyer two months before Pearl Harbor. I was launched in October of ‘41 and wasn't fully commissioned until March of ‘42. I underwent my trials and shakedown cruise before being sent into combat in August of that same year.” Laffey spoke as she took another swig, mentally preparing for what was to come.

Ryan sat and listened. Vestal had told him not to prod for information with Laffey. He should only record what she was willing to give.

“September rolled around and the flagship of my first ever task force, Wasp, was sunk during her operations to support our first landing at Guadalcanal. I was there to pick men out of the water… things already looked grim for us then because this was after Coral Sea and Midway… Lexington and Yorktown had already gone down… little did we know the following month… we'd lose Hornet too…” Laffey said as she tipped her bottle back, taking a much heavier drink. The flush on her cheeks became more pronounced as time passed. She parted her lips from the bottle with an abrasive huff, evidence of the purity of her chosen drink.

“Mid-October saw my first true slice of combat. I was tasked with keeping the Japs from reinforcing their troops on Guadalcanal. Night ops… the Japs were making moves that would soon come to be known as ‘Running the Tokyo Express’. When they thought we couldn't hit them, they'd send ships with troops, supplies, and weapons through what we called ‘The Slot’ in an attempt to reinforce their suffering troops on the ground. Our boys were barely holding ground, so it was up to us Navy girls and the men we fought with to deal with it… and we did.” Laffey said as she laid back on her bed.

“Everything okay, Laffey?” Ryan asked.

“Yeah. My tolerance for alcohol has tanked in the past two years, and I save the bottles that the Ruskies hand out each Christmas. Just gonna lay down if that's okay, head spinning.” Laffey replied.

“Do you want to take a break?” Ryan asked softly.

“No. I want this story to be told… that way I can finally leave it behind. I can direct people to your video instead of explaining why I am as fractured as I am.” Laffey retorted as she capped her bottle before hugging it to her miniscule chest.

Ryan nodded and kept the camera rolling.

“That October saw me engage the cruiser Aoba with my task force, along with cruiser Furataka and Destroyer Fubuki, who were both sunk. Aoba was heavily damaged by my hand, but managed to limp back towards Japan. It cost us one destroyer and heavy damage on another along with the heavy damage sustained by Boise. Later came to learn there was a kansen present on Boise during that action… I hope she made it out okay…” Laffey said as she took a breath.

“November saw another run at the slot. Guadalcanal was becoming intense and the Japs needed supply convoys to get through to hold ground, as our boys were tearing into their forces like packs of wild dogs. But for me… it was the first Naval Battle of Guadalcanal. Two battleships, one cruiser, fourteen destroyers versus eight destroyers and five cruisers… they had more destroyers than we had ships. But it didn't matter. We fought like hell. Battleship Hiei fought for position during the night and nearly ran into me, missing me by twenty feet. I dumped torpedoes and lit her up with the five inch guns, wrecking her superstructure with high explosive. I nearly killed the commanding officer too, killed his chief of staff and I swore there was the white cloak of what looked like a priestess onboard that tub of iron… part of me believes she had a kansen too…” Laffey paused

“I barely had time to escape that engagement when a fourteen inch shell from Hiei blew through my hull… I couldn't even help issue orders for damage control before a torpedo from the Yukikaze blew my stern clean off… the order to abandon ship was given but not two seconds after, my depth charges detonated along with something else in the rear of my vessel and it felt like my vessel was ripped from under me, I barely blinked and found myself treading water with a little under 200 of my crew. I was scooped out of the water by some mangy dog onboard the destroyer that had sunk me, claimed her name was Yukikaze and that she was taking me prisoner.” Laffey recalled.

Ryan sat quietly as he listened.

“November of ‘42 to June of ‘43… I was a POW in Jap controlled China. Internment was hell. As a Kansen, we don't need food or water, but we still get hunger pains if we get nothing. But.. they didn't care. As soon as it was discovered what I was, they wasted no time in ensuring I received nothing. I was woken up at ungodly hours and forced into twenty hour days of back-breaking manual labor. If I made even a single mistake, I was beaten and a member of my crew that had been taken prisoner was executed. They looked for any reason too… if my back wasn't straight enough? Executed. Took a few minutes too long to complete a task, even if done to perfection? Executed. Said even one word that the camp leadership disliked? Executed. Of the twenty or so men that were taken prisoner with me… none of them made it out. I know this… because I was aided in my escape by the Nationalist Chinese guerilla fighters. I grabbed my remaining men and made a run for it… five had remained by that point… but they sicced dogs on us and my men were too weak from months of starvation and brutal conditions to outrun them… I heard the sounds of metal slicing through skin… a telltale sign of execution by beheading. I could only cry as I was whisked away to different safehouses until being delivered to General MacArthur in Australia. After a week of food and rest, I was sent stateside to be bound to a new destroyer… DD-724, and Allen M. Sumner class.” Laffey said as silent tears poured down her face as she clutched her bottle.

Ryan reached to pause the camera when Laffey glared at him, pausing his hand.

“I was attached to my new vessel… and sent to support the D-day landings in Normandy. I was stationed on Utah beach and screened for enemy advances from the sea. My guns then turned on gun emplacements and put in the work to bring them down. Looking back… it was a blessing I hadn't been sent to Omaha… I don't know if I could have watched that many men die. During the D-day campaign, I stayed in my quarters, nightmares befell me at every turn, the sound of blood gurgling in my men's throats as their heads were separated from their bodies, the ache of old wounds, the mental images of men being brutalized beyond comprehension… my onboard medic said I was suffering shell-shock… wouldn't be properly diagnosed with PTSD until the standard definition came into being in the 80's.” Laffey spoke softly.

“We can stop if you want.” Ryan offered.

“No… I… I need this. I can't keep retelling this story…” Laffey spoke, choking back tears.

“I survived D-day and was sent to the Pacific in September of ‘44. October of ‘44 saw me head into the fight after a month of rigorous training. I sailed to Ulithi and joined up with Enterprise in Task Force 38. Guam and New Jersey were there too… I felt… safe. The strongest in the fleet, Enterprise, and the new big guns, the Iowa class and Alaska class were there in my task force. I resumed normal operations in the Pacific and went about business as usual until April 15, 1945… the day I snapped.” Laffey said as she uncorked her bottle and downed the remaining half in a single long drink that saw the empty bottle roll from her hand onto the floor.

Ryan sat worriedly. He watched as this small destroyer tore her mind apart again to retell her story and deep inside, it broke his heart.

“That day started at 0800 like any other for me. I woke up and just had my morning whiskey when the air raid alarms went off. 13 aircraft downed on the 15th. The sixteenth was much the same. Woke up at 0800 and had my whiskey… but that day… that day would be hell all over again. 0825… I felt the planes coming on radar and told my commanding officer that I refused to be returned to a POW camp and that my ship would either survive… or sink with all of us aboard. I took direct control of my ship after that point as my men helped where they could. 0830… five D3A's and a D4Y attacked and were shot down before any major damage could be sustained. Some of my gunners caught shrapnel from jettisoned bombs, but they lived. 0842… another six D3A's and another D4Y. We shot down the first D3A but it spun out across my deck, spilling avgas across my deck and crew. The second D3A suicided into a 40mm mount, killing three, destroying AA guns and lighting my magazine on fire. The third D3A strafed the aft section before slamming into my rearmost turret, disabling it until the bomb it was carrying destroyed the powder magazine, and in turn, the gun mount itself. This also sparked a massive fire with help from the avgas. The fourth D3A double-tapped the burning turret after getting its wing clipped off by a 40mm while the fifth dropped its bomb load and ruined my steering gear, locking me into a 26 degree port side turn. I was also hit by the remaining D3A and the D4Y.” Laffey recalled.

“The Shamrock Bay was nearby and saw my plight and sent up Wildcats to disrupt the enemy flight paths. The marine air division sent up corsairs to finish what the wildcats couldn't… I owe them greatly for their actions. I lined up and shot down a KI-43, but it ended up impacting my mast and falling into the sea, causing more damage… the Corsair that was pursuing that plane lost control and slammed into my radar array and was forced into the sea, but was eventually scooped up by an LCS. By the end of it all… I was struck by four bombs and six planes. I lost 32 men and 71 more were injured. Half my crew was down and out… and I was soaked more than a Marine on shore leave. Torpedoes ran on pure ethanol back then… great for a Kansen to get drunk on. Before I blacked out, I heard Frank Manson ask Captain Becton if he should order the crew to abandon ship. I swear he looked down at me as he said ‘No! I'll never abandon ship so long as a single gun will fire and if I can find one man to fire it.’” Laffey recalled as she grabbed a stuffed carrot and hugged it tightly.

“I was towed to Okinawa for temporary repairs and sailed for Saipan to make the trip back towards the states. May of ‘45 I landed in Tacoma, Washington. I was removed from duty and shipped off to the psych ward under recommendation of my captain, who fought for my general discharge due to my actions saving over half my crew from an all out suicide attack… I spent 80 years in the psych ward, most of that time either sleeping, or stealing alcohol to help me get back to sleep. I only came back into the world two years ago, thanks to the Commander.” Laffey concluded.

Ryan dried his eyes.

“That… was quite the retelling, Laffey. Are… you okay?” Ryan asked.

“I'll live. I did it once already, right?” Laffey asked with a depreciating laugh.

“We're almost done. Can I ask a few questions?” Ryan asked.

“Sure. Too out of it to care, so ask away.” Laffey replied.

“How are you holding up now that Azur Lane has come into existence?” Ryan asked.

“It's better therapy than those eighty years in the psyche… I'm cared for here. Monthly check-ins with Vestal. Martha and Martin are wonderful… I'm older than they are, yet I've been adopted as a daughter. I will miss them terribly when they pass. I plan to hold a funeral for them alongside the Commander.” Laffey spoke.

“What are your thoughts on the Commander?” Ryan asked.

“He's a good kid with a good heart. He gives a shit about us when nobody else really does. I'm glad I got to meet him. Still needs work on the actual commanding part of his job, but he never had formal military training. He's fucked in the head just like me. So I couldn't imagine a better commander for my sorry ass.” Laffey said with a smile.

“How have you handled integration with the Japanese Kansen?” Ryan asked.

“I avoid them as much as possible, save for Shima. Although… I heard there's a cube floating around that belongs to the bitch that sank me… if he brings her back… it's on sight.” Laffey spoke, her voice carrying a lethal edge.

Ryan nodded softly.

“Is there anything else you'd like to say?” Ryan asked.

“Yeah… check in with your veterans. 17 veteran suicides happen daily, and that number could be lowered if you just check in with the people in your communities. Reach out and be a friend that someone needs you to be… I could have used a friend when they brought me home… but they locked me in a cell for 80 years. And I didn't have the option to kill myself since my vessel remained afloat. Please… check in and save a life.” Laffey whispered softly.

“Is…”

“Please check on your friends… please…” Laffey said as pained sobs tore from her throat as a heartbreaking admission followed.

“I watched the psych ward nurses carry out Portland the Christmas of 1959. She killed herself as soon as she found out her vessel had been scrapped. She loved her sister, Indianapolis, like nobody else. When she learned that Indy was killed in action, her bubbly demeanor disappeared. She sulked and cried for years. 1945-1959… my dreams were interrupted by the choked wails of a Portland class cruiser who wanted nothing more than to die, but couldn't. The moment her vessel was scrapped… she stopped crying… but only because she had taken a razor blade to her neck and arms to end her suffering. They carried her out on fucking Christmas… CHRISTMAS GOD DAMN IT!” Laffey screamed as Ryan quickly paused the recording and clicked the call button on his radio in a rapid SOS to alert anyone nearby.

It was only a few seconds later that Laffey’s door opened and several girls walked in. NJ, Guam, and Enterprise all came in and walked to Laffey's bedside.

“Laffey~ It's gonna be okay~” NJ said softly as she leaned down to take Laffey into a tight hug while Guam sat and rubbed the crying destroyer's head.

Enterprise turned to Ryan.

“She reeks of booze. What happened here?” Enterprise asked.

“I tried to steer away from the war. But she went there on her own. I was going to ask questions about Azur Lane from her perspective. But she pulled out a bottle and started drinking… from that point… it was just her. She was okay until the last question I asked. I asked her for any final remarks… she said to check in on Vets, a powerful statement… but then she lost it when she talked about Portland.” Ryan said as Enterprise's face fell into a sad frown.

“Damn it… I forgot… Portland was in the same psych facility… Laffey saw it all. No wonder she lost it again.” Enterprise said as Laffey's wails slowly subsided.

Martin and Martha walked in and Laffey was immediately transferred to the arms of her adoptive parents.

“Hey there, kiddo.” Martin said softly, like that of a loving father.

Laffey sniffled softly as she hugged his chest.

“She didn't deserve to die… I should have done more…” Laffey whimpered.

“Oh, honey… it's going to be okay.” Martha soothed as Laffey rapidly improved in her demeanor.

“You smell like a distillery, slugger. The past buggin ya again?” Martin asked softly.

Laffey nodded softly.

“Come on. Hey New Jersey, can we get clearance for a maintenance run?” Martin asked.

“Absolutely. I'll let Honey know. Do you want targets for target practice?” New Jersey asked.

“Wanna blow off some steam, girlie?” Martin asked. Laffey nodded softly.

NJ turned to Enterprise.

“I'll send out some Hellcats rigged with drone equipment. Give her some targets to shoot down.” Enterprise spoke with a nod.

“I appreciate it, E. Laffey, go and prepare for a maintenance run. You're clear until lights out. Keep an eye on radar for Enterprise's drones.” NJ said softly.

Laffey nodded as she and Martin headed out.

“She's still got a long road ahead.” Guam said softly.

“She does, but she's a lot better than she was.” Enterprise replied.

“Agreed. This was her first stumble in two years. She's doing great by all relative metrics. She's doing so much better than she was in the 38. Poor girl…” NJ said as the girls looked at Ryan.

“Keep her last message, but cut out the very end if you caught it. What she needs is to be heard, not pitied.” NJ spoke as the girls left the room.

“Not a problem.” Ryan said as he quickly gathered his equipment, cleaned up the bottles in Laffey's room, and left for the day.

Chapter Text

Ryan sat down at a marble table onboard the Impero. With her ship in port, she had taken some liberties to update some of her common areas to more closely match her preferences. He quietly got his camera equipment ready and sat waiting. Checking his watch, the hour was fast approaching.

Then, right on schedule, Impero walked in. But much to Ryan's surprise, she wasn't alone. Donned in her white toga, and her hair adorned with an olive branch crown, she was followed in by Roma, Littorio, and Vittorio, as well as me and our son, Romeo.

“Oh. I wasn't expecting the entire family.” Ryan said with a cheerful chuckle.

“Well, it may be my interview, but my life was pretty boring up until Azur Lane was formed. My sisters have more history and Roma has several accolades to her station, so I want them to have some of the spotlight as well.” Impero said as she walked over to me and gently kissed both me and Romeo on our cheeks. Romeo, who was a little over two at this point, giggled happily, his golden left eye, just like his papa's, shining brilliantly under the lights of the enclosed space.

“The world will finally learn about Italy's forgotten battleship.” I said softly.

Impero shook her head.

“No. The world will learn about your battleship, Tesoro~. Italy could not spare me the time nor resources to make me into what I should have been. My heritage no longer defines me… you do…” Impero gently caressed my cheek before gently pinching Romeo's cheek, causing him to giggle.

“... and he does…” Impero continued as she went to her sisters and hugged all of them around the neck in an awkward group hug.

“... and they do. That is all that matters to me now, protecting the home we built and being the warship I was meant to be in service to the one who made me realize my value.” Impero said proudly.

I smiled softly and went to her, kissing her cheek.

“Well, I am ready whenever the four of you are. I assume you'll be in the other room, Admiral?” Ryan asked.

“Yeah, I'm gonna go play with Romeo and set him down for a nap. Sweetie, when you're done. I'll need you to take over watching Romeo for a bit so I can check on the progress in the yards. Supposedly the hull of the new Arizona is coming along quite quickly, so I want to make sure they're doing it right.” I said as I picked up my son.

“Of course, mi tesoro. I'll be over as soon as I can.” Impero said as she gave me a tiny wave as I stepped out of the room.

Vittorio pouted again.

“Even after everything… I cannot fully contain my jealousy, baby sister. I wish I could find one so dedicated.” Vittorio whined.

“Perhaps in time, Vittorio. Lord knows we have plenty of it. But Impero found a man that suits her. So please do your best to keep your jealousy in check. You have done things she has never experienced as well. Life always has a way to balance the scales.” Roma spoke sagely.

“I agree, sister. We haven't been the best to Impero, so crushing on her man won't do you any favors.” Littorio chimed in.

“Easy for you to say, Littorio. You swore off men by the time Germany surrendered.” Vittorio shot back.

Ryan chuckled.

“Such free spirits here.” He quipped as he set the camera to record.

“Howdy all. Been a long time coming, but we have another interview today with a first for this channel. The entirety of a class in one setting. As we all should know, a class is a series of ships of the same design with similar properties and all carry the name of the Lead Ship. However, this one is unique as this class of ships can be referred to as either the Littorio class or the Vittorio Veneto class of battleships, of which there were four laid down. So, before the camera, you'll find all four of the girls that represent the Littorio/Vittorio Veneto class. Would you all mind introducing yourselves?” Ryan spoke.

“I am one that needs little introduction. While I have simply gone as Madame V for quite some time… I am the kansen known as Vittorio Veneto. Former Eternal flagship of the Regia Marina.” Vittorio spoke, her tone full of pride, an actor through and through.

“I am Littorio. I am a restaurateur in my home land of Italia but, like my sister, I am a battleship of the former Regia Marina.” Littorio said, her suave tone and charming looks pouring into the camera as if posing for a photo shoot.

“I am Roma. I am the only one of my sisters to have died while in combat. I hold the unfortunate honor of being the first ship to ever sink due to a guided munition. I was sunk in 1943 and was unceremoniously revived in 2022 to help my baby sister and my Comandante.” Roma explained.

Impero blushed softly.

“I am Impero. The Emperor Flagship of the Italian forces within Azur Lane. Once called Italia's forgotten battleship, I found love and a new life within Azur Lane, free from the shackles of historical neglect. I am also the personal battleship of Comandante Sweigart alongside Battleship New Jersey, Light Cruiser Belfast, and Aircraft Carrier Shinano.” Impero said proudly.

Ryan nodded.

“You all seem like you have a lot you can share with the audience. But… Vittorio and Littorio were the only ones to see combat through to the end of the war, as in, they survived even after the Italian surrender. Roma was sunk and Impero never finished. So… I guess we should start with the two in contention for head of the class.” Ryan said.

Littorio and Vittorio looked to Impero who nodded.

“Well. Our involvement was quite short. We didn't… really do much in terms of Naval warfare. Littorio and I… while we did sortie through the Mediterranean, our hunts were often met with failure and torpedo hits. And while I did… tease Impero throughout the years, we never really did anything noteworthy. We were, more often than not, in drydock repairing torpedo damage due to fatal flaws in our unique torpedo defense systems.” Vittorio spoke as Impero seemed shocked.

“You never told me they were flawed!” Impero hissed.

Vittorio avoided her gaze.

“You'll explain the flaws to me after this so I may fix and rectify them. I will not allow myself to become a liability.” Impero hissed.

“Yes. Yes, baby sister. I'll fill you in later. For now… let us remain on task for the interview, okay?” Littorio soothed softly.

Impero crossed her arms.

“Fine.” Impero snapped, her tone coming across as bratty.

“If I had to say anything, I was the only one with any naval accomplishment due to my severe damaging of HMS Havock and HMS Kingston. Other than that… Vittorio and I were either in drydock or escorting convoys.” Littorio said with a sad tone and a soft shrug.

“I see. For such powerful looking ships, it seems ineptitude in leadership was present just about everywhere.” Ryan said jovially.

“You can say that again. The sheer number of sorties that ended with no engagement and ended up being a waste of oil were dizzying.” Vittorio hissed.

Ryan then turned to Roma.

“I was brought online in mid-1942 and joined my sisters. It is as they said… very little actual combat. I sailed for a year and three months before being sunk by the German Fritz-X radio guided bomb on my way to Sardinia to sign the armistice. I did what I could that day, saving my men after my anti-aircraft batteries failed to bring down the Luftwaffe pilots. The Fritz-X… a massive weapon system. It was a ship killer in every sense. And since being revived, I have seen that technology become far more advanced than I could have ever imagined. Our skirmish with the USS Ford was enough of a demonstration for me.” Roma said softly.

“I can't claim to know how it feels to be the target of new technology. I assume it must have been quite a harrowing experience.” Ryan prodded.

Roma nodded.

“Evasive maneuvers were never executed. The first hit disabled half of my propulsion and my engine rooms. The second hit… took out the bridge and penetrated my forward magazine. I personally watched my number two turret be thrown into the sea from its barbette due to the sheer force of the detonation. I sank quickly. Of my nearly 1300 crew… I've come to learn that only 576 survived my sinking. I only learned this recently… as I too perished in that attack.” Roma explained.

Ryan nodded softly.

“You're not the first one to be interviewed who has seen the other side. But I personally am curious. What was it like?” Ryan asked.

“It was cold. I was alone in a dark place. I couldn't open my eyes to see, but I could hear. It was like a steel pan below the rain gutter. Slow…methodical tapping. Water droplets. Unending. But…one day, I was pulled into the light. I awoke in a medical ward. Where? I had no idea. I just knew we were on the ocean again. The first person I saw was my baby sister, Impero. I was immeasurably happy. But then I began to feel weird. Feelings I hadn't felt before. Nerves, muscles, skin, organs I had never had. It was then that I was informed by New Jersey that I was inhabiting the body of the Comandante.” Roma explained.

Ryan looked at her, stunned. He knew the story somewhat, but not in detail.

“So does that mean…”

Roma blushed brightly.

“Yes. Whatever it is you're thinking, yes.” Roma replied quickly.

Ryan cleared his throat and tugged at his collar.

“So… what was that like?” Ryan tried as Vittorio and Littorio looked on in confusion.

Roma buried her face in her hands before turning to Impero.

“You are stronger than I, baby sister. Know that and never forget it.” Roma whispered.

Impero chuckled.

“Roma isn't going to describe what it was like to fully take over the body of a man as a female, so if we could skip that question, it would be greatly appreciated.” Impero said with a smile.

“All I will say… is it felt extremely wrong for me. I will not elaborate further.” Roma whimpered through her hands.

Vittorio finally caught on.

“You were in complete control when you were in his body?! You felt EVERYTHING?!” Vittorio cried.

Roma nodded softly.

Ryan collected himself.

“Swiftly moving on! Sharing a body with the Commander, what was that like?” Ryan asked.

Roma quickly nodded.

“I viewed his memories as one would a film. I used his knowledge of history since world war two to basically gauge how the world progressed in my absence. It was quite interesting to view someone else's mind and their life as a whole from their own perspective. But as I did that, I slowly configured my cube, the one used to save his life, to be more accepting of his human biology. It wasn't easy, but eventually I got it worked out… which led to his second collapse after a fight between New Jersey and Tennessee. See, a kansen can survive without a vessel if she had one to begin with. There is no kansen if there is no vessel. Does that make sense?” Roma asked.

“I'm tracking.” Ryan replied.

“Well, Tyler at that moment was a Kansen that never had a vessel. And he wasn't linked to mine or to New Jersey either. Not legitimately. He was linked to my sunken hull by my cube. He was linked to New Jersey via his ring that contained her rigging. Neither form of connection could save him. And his body, now immortal, was trying to sustain two full kansen on one cube… my cube. He and I were sharing one source of power. And it led to a collapse that required that we bind him to a vessel.” Roma explained.

“Still tracking… kinda.” Ryan quipped.

“Well, we couldn't take another Iowa class, because his body was now actively overpowering the core of an Iowa class battleship's power. His body was now stronger than New Jersey. So… we needed to build him a completely new vessel from the ground up. And that led to the creation and building of our two Georgia class Battleships, Georgia and Hawaii.” Roma finished.

“As well as you getting your body back and the ability to rebuild your vessel when we need it.” Impero added.

“Of course.” Roma concurred.

“That'll be another interview for another time… So I'd hazard a guess that it was quite a unique experience for you, Roma?” Ryan asked.

“Yes. And honestly… not one I'd like to repeat, so dying again is not on the to do list.” Roma spoke firmly.

“I'd be more concerned if it was. Alright, finally we reach Impero. Care to weigh in?” Ryan asked.

“The war was nothing for me. I was never completed. And while I played a hand in my sister's revival, it was something else that wasn't the biggest highlight for me… but seeing her again and hearing her voice after so long… It was a dream come true. No. My life truly began when I took over this vessel from my sister… no… I guess it was back in Mutsu in the onsen. Tyler wanted to talk to me and learned we could communicate via sign language since, at the time, I only spoke Italian. He didn't swoon for Vittorio, and Littorio… he seemed content to be cordial with. But he saw me and I saw him and something in my mind sparked like mad. We talked for a while before I headed home so Vittorio could reclaim her vessel. But on the way over, she made me quite angry and was threatening our standing in the newly formed Azur Lane. So… I took this ship from her. She conceded it to me, to be fair, but I took it and made it my own. I joined up with Azur Lane and met with him again…” Impero spoke, her eyes drifting into pleasant thoughts.

“I swore to be his personal battleship and he accepted me. Even if Azur Lane would have failed, I would have remained with him. Then the incident surrounding Roma's revival occurred… and shortly after, I became his second mistress, after Belfast. Now? I couldn't imagine life without him.” Impero said dreamily.

“You seem quite content with that arrangement.” Ryan spoke.

“I am. I have a son. I have a lover. I have my sisters and my family. Even if I never return to my homeland, my home is here with me. Tyler made that happen… we made it happen.” Impero said cheerfully.

Ryan smiled and nodded.

“Well I guess the final thing to ask is what you all think of him as a commander. Sentiment among the others I've interviewed has been much the same, so I wonder if the trend will continue.” Ryan said as the girls looked amongst themselves.

“He's not your typical Comandante… he has no formal training and has no rank to back his words. We call him Comandante out of respect for him and his position here, but at heart, he is a man with a dream. He relies heavily on us to make this work like a proper military institution…” Vittorio started.

“... but he has been shown to have decent decision making skills, so long as he has council with the more level-headed members of the fleet. I won't go into specifics, but we were pretty touch-and-go for a bit… more than once…” Littorio continued.

“... Yes we were, but you have to remember, Sisters, we were birthing a new nation. The world wasn't going to just roll over and let us have this. They sent the US Navy and Enterprise out to stop us. We even got into a fight over it in the mid-atlantic. Sure he had some… not-so-great reactionary ideas, but in the end, he made the right calls. He has us here, not to lean on, but to seek council. A lot of kansen here have lived since the end of World War two, some of us even older. We are essentially walking history books. And one who does not know history is doomed to repeat it. Comandante Sweigart is an excellent leader in that regard, in my opinion. Sure he's not officially military, but who cares? He points us where we need to go and it's worked for us.” Roma countered.

Impero smiled softly.

“I'm irreparably biased. But… my Tesoro is the only man I'll ever allow to command me, legit or otherwise. The Comandante of the Italian Navy could come here to claim my ship, and I'd point my guns at them with the intent to fire if Tyler gave the word. He gave me a purpose here. He's given me a life worth living. He… he gave me a son.” Impero said as she teared up, wiping her tears with a finger, adorned with a simple gold band. The other sisters noticed the ring immediately.

“Wait… he gave you a ring?” Roma asked softly.

Impero nodded.

“New Jersey said he could if he wanted to. He had one made for me and Belfast while a simple gold choker was made for Shinano, per New Jersey's stipulations.” Impero said as she caressed the ring on her finger.

Roma smiled softly.

“From mistress to wife, huh?” Roma teased.

Impero shook her head.

“A wife in all but name. But it fits. Because he's a Comandante in all but name too.” Impero said as the sound of a child crying came from the room beside ours. Impero stood and moved towards the door.

“Can you three finish this off? I'm going to tend to Romeo.” Impero said as she slipped out of the room.

The remaining three looked at each other.

Ryan looked at them.

“I'd say I have enough to wrap it up.” Ryan said casually.

“He may not be a proper commander… but Impero is right. He is what we needed. What the Kansen as a whole truly needed. Littorio and I… we had lives back in Italy. We joined up because we knew the others needed support. Even if the road has been a bit bumpy… I'm glad we chose to follow it.” Vittorio said softly.

“Do you and Littorio plan on returning to Italy?” Ryan asked.

Littorio and Vittorio looked at each other.

“I actually had my restaurant staff transferred here and we've become quite popular on base. Date nights for the human staff and the Comandante whenever the mood strikes, and hearty Italian fare year round. I don't need to go back.” Littorio spoke with a soft smile.

“And I've accepted remote modelling work. Photographers and reporters come out every couple of weeks like they did back home. Comandante Sweigart has made it so as long as they are reputable reporters and photographers, their companies have been granted clearance on base specifically to keep me employed. I still get hundreds of fan letters. But… I think this is better. It promotes a healthier Idol lifestyle, because before I was sleeping with the best among my fans. Now… I'm more disconnected and I'm able to do what I want in terms of how I portray myself. I feel… better about myself than I did. I may not have a man in bed every night, but I've come to realize that I don't need that to be happy. I have my sisters. I have a nephew. And apparently I have a pseudo-brother-in-law. Even now… he and Impero or New Jersey invite me out to dinner to try and build a healthier relationship for Impero's sake, since I'll admit… the past two years have been awkward for me at best. All in all… I don't think I want to go home. I like it here.” Vittorio admitted.

“And I'm glad to be among the living again. The Italy I remember was ensnared in war and destruction. I have gone on sorties with our task forces that head to the Mediterranean. I've seen the Italy of today. It's nice, but I prefer it here. My family is here. And it is as Impero said, where my family is… that is where home is.” Roma said as Ryan nodded and cut the cameras.

“Thank you guys for popping in. It's quite an honor to interview an entire class of kansen at once.” Ryan said with a smile.

“It was our pleasure. Honestly, Impero invited all of us since she said her interview would have been dreadfully short without us. So it was just nice for us to tell our story, even if we don't have that glamorous of a history.” Vittorio said as the three got up and headed for the door.

“Littorio, I'm thinking of taking the wife out for dinner… mind slipping us onto the books?” Ryan asked.

“Not at all. I'll give you a full ten courses, so you had better come hungry. I just had a nice shipment of wine imported from Italy, France, and Germany and I'm excited to pair it with some exciting new cuisine.” Littorio said with a smile as they all headed next door to aid Impero in caring for Romeo.

Chapter Text

Ryan sat in his home office editing the latest interview with Impero and her sisters when his doorbell rang. He checked his watch to see that it was nearing 1pm.

“I wasn't expecting visitors today…” Ryan muttered to himself as he went downstairs and opened the front door. Upon doing so, he was met by the towering presence of a woman cloaked in black and red. Fur sleeves ending in red metal gauntlets, a black skirt, cut away in the front to reveal her inner outfit. Black stockings leading to red bottomed black thigh-high boots. The most prominent feature of her entire presence were the two red horns sticking from her head as well as her bright yellow eyes.

Ryan looked up at her for a few moments before speaking.

“Hello there…” Ryan spoke, a hint of nervousness in his voice.

“There is no need to fear me, my child. The Kommandant said you could help me with a certain matter that I am having trouble grasping. So I found you. Would you mind lending me your aid?” The woman asked.

“Uh…”

“Oh right… my apologies, my child. I haven't introduced myself. I am Friedrich der Große, but you can call me Friedrich… or Mother if you prefer.” Friedrich spoke, her tone level and unindicative of a joke.

“Um… well, good afternoon, Friedrich. W-what did you say the nature of your visit was?” Ryan asked nervously. Ryan himself wasn't a small man. Standing roughly five eleven, he was above the US average. Despite this, Friedrich towered over him by nearly a foot.

“The Kommandant said you have an outlet which has humans interacting with it and interacting in ways that revolve around us. I have been having difficulty processing certain… human qualities. The Kommandant says that your videos have something called a comment section where viewers of your work can voice opinions and offer critique. He believes that exposing me to some of these comments might offer a bit more of an understanding of how humans think and operate when exposed to us.” Friedrich spoke, a soft tone backed by rigid professionalism.

“So… he wants me to go through the comments left on the interviews we've done so far?” Ryan asked.

Friedrich nodded.

Ryan sighed. He had been reading the comments pretty frequently and policing some of the more… graphic and toxic comments being left by the scum of the internet.

“I guess if that's what he said you should do, I can oblige. Come on in, watch your head. The house wasn't really made for seven foot tall individuals.” Ryan spoke as he stepped aside, allowing the German matriarch to enter his home.

Friedrich looked around.

“This is quite a cozy domicile, my child. It seems you have quite the formidable design sense.” Friedrich said as she inspected her immediate surroundings with a careful air of respect.

“You can credit my wife for that. She said that she wanted full control since I managed to get her and myself wrapped up in this whole thing. Thankfully the Commander has made it easy to get what we need.” Ryan said with a chuckle.

“Ah. Then she is to be commended on curating such a comfortable dwelling.” Friedrich said as Ryan led her to the studio where he was editing the Italian girls's interview.

Friedrich looked at the screen with a slightly confused expression before identifying the girls.

“Ah those are the four sisters of the Regia Marina. The red haired one introduced herself to me upon my awakening.” Friedrich said as Ryan turned to her.

“Well… if we're here doing this. Could I bother you to record our interaction? This is the first time I've interviewed someone who… well… just popped into existence. A blueprint brought to life basically.” Ryan said as he motioned over to his charging camera.

“I do not mind, my child. But I fear I may not have anything of substance to share with you. I have no history and I have not existed beyond the confines of this base.” Friedrich said as she looked around the room. Ryan noticed and pulled over a rolling office chair for her to sit in, which she graciously accepted.

“That's okay. This is more of a…get to know you kinda thing. We can look over some of the comments while I am asking you about yourself. Sound fair?” Ryan asked.

Friedrich nodded.

“I can abide by that, my child.” Friedrich said as Ryan started recording while going through to the youtube page that held nine interview videos for the girls he had already interviewed.

“Before we dive in, I have a question or two. Can we start there?” Ryan asked as he went to one of the videos and scrolled to the comment section.

“Go ahead, my child.” Friedrich replied, her tone soft and full.

“This whole ‘my child’ business. Is that a tick? Or something you picked up?” Ryan asked.

Friedrich thought for a moment.

“I was born with an understanding of language. A child refers to someone smaller than one's self while also being held in a friendly regard. It feels appropriate for me to refer to most people here as such. I find that I am possibly the largest person here on base, and while I haven't been here long, I've come to really enjoy the company of almost everyone I have encountered. Is this way of thinking incorrect?” Friedrich asked.

“Not… entirely? Calling someone your child tends to imply some form of maternal instinct that drives one to see the person they are addressing as someone related to them through family bonds. But if that is how you chose to interpret the word ‘child’ then I see no harm in continuing to refer to others as such unless they find it demeaning or patronizing.” Ryan explained.

Friedrich rubbed her chin a bit.

“Nobody has complained or has seemed off put to my knowledge. The only one I could say that had an issue would likely be the blue haired battleship that spends a lot of time with the Kommandant.” Friedrich spoke.

Ryan froze up a bit.

“That would be New Jersey. The Commander's wife.” Ryan clarified.

“A wife?” Friedrich asked.

“A partner in love. A soulmate. Someone you have such heavy feelings for that you legally bind yourself to them, in theory, for life. The Commander and New Jersey are wildly in love and have been married now for around two years.” Ryan said.

“So… when I called the Kommandant my dear child?” Friedrich posed.

“New Jersey likely let the mask slip and showed a bit of jealousy. She's gotten a lot better at keeping it reigned in since she had kids, but sometimes the mask slips and she reminds everyone who runs the show here.” Ryan said with a chuckle.

“Hmm… perhaps I shall speak with her. I have a deep urge to protect the man who ordered my construction and creation, so being unable to express my emotions on the matter will not stand.” Friedrich stated firmly.

“Just explain it to New Jersey like you have to me. I'm sure she'll see reason behind your logic.” Ryan said as he went to the comments under Laffey's interview.

“Oh! That's the small bunny child I bumped into the other day. You interviewed her?” Friedrich asked.

“Yes. Her interview… was less of an interview and more of a way to help her heal. This video exists so that she doesn't have to relive the wounds of her past.” Ryan said as he scrolled up and clicked play on the interview.

After nearly forty-five minutes of listening to Laffey pour her life's story onto the digital page, Friedrich stopped smiling. A singular tear fell from her eye and she wiped it away with a finger.

“Someone so small… went through so much.” Friedrich whispered softly.

Ryan nodded.

“The comments seem to agree. Like this one…” Ryan said.

‘Poor bunny can finally catch a break after those 80 years enduring… Laffey gets a brand new & big family called Azur Lane.’

Friedrich nodded softly.

“The message at the end… it feels like there was more behind her eyes than just the sadness carried by a lifetime of repressed trauma. I am glad to see that she is loved here.” Friedrich said as she looked at several other comments, the main sentiment being an uplifting wave of support for the lapine American destroyer.

“There was… I had to cut it from the final video. She… detailed one of her friends, the Heavy Cruiser Portland. Portland had a sister ship named Indianapolis. Portland adored her baby sister, according to Laffey. Obsessed over her at some points. Portland survived the second world war… Indianapolis… didn't.” Ryan explained.

“What happened then?” Friedrich asked softly.

“Portland was sent to a psych hospital, where Laffey was. The day she heard her vessel had been scrapped, the Christmas of 1959… she slit her wrists and neck, killing herself in moments. Laffey bore witness to her final moments and the nurses taking Portland's corpse to the morgue.” Ryan explained further.

Friedrich frowned.

“The bunny has been through more than anyone should have to go through… just the thought of it all makes me feel like someone has stacked twenty tons of lead on my chest.” Friedrich replied.

Ryan nodded.

“She's got a good support system. Martin and Martha have practically adopted her as their daughter, and she's got a bunch of friends here. It's nice to see that the people who watched her story are empathetic to her plight and are supporting her from afar.” Ryan said as he continued to scroll through the comment section, allowing Friedrich to see message after message of support for Laffey.

“Humans care for her despite not knowing her?” Friedrich asked.

“Empathy. It's a fairly common, if not woefully underappreciated, emotion among humanity as a whole. You yourself have already demonstrated empathy. Your care for Laffey alone shows that the concept is not foreign to you, even if you didn't know the word.” Ryan spoke.

Friedrich nodded.

Ryan then went to the first video, NJ and I's initial interview.

Friedrich's eyes lit up.

“That's her. The woman with the Kommandant.” Friedrich spoke.

“Yes. That is New Jersey. As I explained, she is his wife. Mother to two of his now six children.” Ryan said as he scrolled through the comments of the video before coming across a fairly new one.

‘Congratulations Ryan, you got promoted to be a grandfather.’ This comment had a crying laughing emoji afterwards.

“That little face thing… is it meant to signify the human emotion behind the text?” Friedrich asked.

Ryan nodded.

“Yeah… a lot of emotion is lost on the internet. Humans usually need more than just words to decipher what other humans intend for them to understand. This face, an emoji, gives some semblance of context. So imagine the person typing this saying it as if they were laughing so hard they started crying.” Ryan said.

“They are referring to you though… does this person know you?” Friedrich asked.

“Not personally… I think. I used to be a public figure. Before this channel, I used to run a channel where I would post videos about the USS New Jersey. I used to be a curator for the museum it once was.” Ryan said.

“I think I understand… but why does that make you a grandfather?” Friedrich asked.

“Because… public perception of me is a bit weird. With the idea that warships have women attached to them becoming mainstream news… I believe the public sees me as an adoptive father for New Jersey, given my closeness to the vessel that dictates her being. So when she had twins… the internet did its thing. The Commander seems to have embraced this as well, considering New Jersey asked me to play the role of her father for their wedding to give her away to her husband. So… yeah. I have two insanely rambunctious grandkids that share no blood relation to me.” Ryan admitted.

Friedrich chuckled softly.

“I can see why it would be humorous” Friedrich said as Ryan turned to her.

“So… how are you adjusting to life here? Almost everyone here has a history. You and Georgia are the only ones without a proper history, but I got you here first.” Ryan asked.

Friedrich tapped her cheek.

“I find that my lack of history makes me well equipped to mingle with everyone equally… I've noticed that despite my colors and banner being that of Iron Blood, as stated by Bismarck and Graf Zeppelin, I do not hold such an… undying loyalty to one faction. Perhaps it is merely due to my lack of history and me seeing everyone here as part of my family. But I am getting settled in quite nicely. And actually, Georgia has become a fast friend of mine… she looks like my dear child, the Kommandant. Is she related to him?” Friedrich asked.

“In a literal sense, yes. She was a byproduct of turning the Commander into a male Kansen. Too many cubes were used, and the blueprints that made up his hull formed a consciousness of their own. Georgia is a female replica of the Commander with a differing personality. That is how it was explained to me by Georgia herself.” Ryan admitted.

“Hmm. I wonder if that is why we have become such fast friends. Whatever the case may be, I quite like it here. I have been told that I am to be a protector of this nation. Azur Lane. So if that is my duty, I will fulfill it in excess.” Friedrich spoke firmly.

“Oh? And what does that mean?” Ryan asked.

“The Kommandant told me upon my awakening that without a nation to call my own, I am a battleship of Azur Lane. This nation is my home… my pride. And I am to defend it ruthlessly and without apology. So I shall.” Friedrich spoke as the sound of metal clinking came from outside Ryan's home. He walked to the window to see two gargantuan metal serpents coiled throughout the neighborhood, each one stretching at least four hundred feet, leading to them contorting through several plots of land to avoid destroying anything.

“Is that…”

“My rigging. The Kommandant asked me if I had it and this is what materialized when I followed his advice for summoning mine. So yes. These two have names picked by the man who awakened me and I have taken to them quite fondly.” Friedrich said as she looked out to see several households inspecting the massive metallic snakes that had appeared in their backyards.

“The Commander named them? Did he ask to?” Ryan asked.

“No. I offered. More like I asked if they should be named and he said it wouldn't hurt, so I asked for suggestions. The one with the ‘X’ on his head is named Jörmungandr, a legendary serpent from Norse Mythos. The one with the triple diamond is named Leviathan. They respond to their names as well.” Friedrich said.

“Jörmungandr and Leviathan?” Ryan asked as the two serpents raised their heads and looked directly at him, their glowing yellow eyes boring into his soul with an uneasy sentience.

Ryan swallowed softly. This was enough for Friedrich to notice and wave her hand, sending the creatures away and returning the neighborhood to a quiet, peaceful place.

“They are quite a handful if I'm being honest.” Friedrich said as she returned to her seat.

“Really? I figured they were under your complete control.” Ryan said.

“Oh they are. But still, one can see that they have certain tastes. Leviathan loves to play in the surf, while Jörmungandr enjoys wallowing in the dirt. They are quite fascinating.” Friedrich said as Ryan went to another video. Vestal's video.

“Oh this is the repair ship. The Kommandant's doctor, right?” Friedrich asked.

“Correct.” Ryan said as he played the video for her.

Once finished, he scrolled into the comments and found one that stood out.

‘It’s hilarious that Vestal is refusing to let any of the civilian medical personnel examine the Commander but I can understand the justification.’

Friedrich looked confused.

“None of the human medical staff are allowed to treat the Kommandant?” Friedrich asked.

“Nope.” Ryan replied bluntly.

“Why exactly? Her video went a bit into it, but… is it really just because of his status as a male Kansen?” Friedrich asked.

“He is, currently, the only Male kansen in existence. And while human men will flock to you girls, human women will flock to him. But the real reason I suspect is that she is the only one allowed to see his files and treat him… is espionage.” Ryan admitted.

“But Azur Lane has a good standing with the world at large, right?” Friedrich asked.

“Yeah… if you leave out the Russians and the Chinese that despise Kansen due to their lack of ability to be controlled through force. The Commander doesn't discriminate… so we have staff from all over the world. Vestal being his only doctor, means that they can't get a hold of his papers and any sensitive information. It could lead to bad people being made worse by being converted, so keeping him and his family secure is a big reason for that arrangement.” Ryan said seriously.

Friedrich nodded.

Ryan waited for a few moments, just watching as her face went through several subtle changes indicating that she was lost in thought. He went to cue up another video, but she stopped him with a gentle hand on his shoulder.

“This has been…enlightening. It seems I have much to learn still. I shall need access to these videos so I can further study human interaction, but for now, I must depart. Farewell and have a wonderful day, my child.” Friedrich said as she gracefully stood up and walked to the door.

“Oh… no problem then. It's been a pleasure, Miss Friedrich. I do hope we cross paths again. It's been an honor to help you sort through some of your queries about humanity in relation to you girls. Always fascinates me when I get to see something new.” Ryan said as he shut off his recording equipment.

“Say, before you go. I have a question for you.” Ryan said.

“Ah. You mean to ask my opinion of the Kommandant?” Friedrich asked.

“Normally I would, but not today. I won't ask for an opinion when you haven't really been around long enough to really form a solid opinion of anyone here. But, in the time you have been here, is there someone not in these videos that you would suggest for an interview?” Ryan asked.

Friedrich paused and blinked a couple times, processing his request.

“If you don't have anyone in mind, that's alright…”Ryan started before Friedrich spoke up.

“Oh… I saw someone… a Kansen by the name of Nevada. She wants an interview too. Perhaps that could be your next project?” Friedrich asked as she left the room, and Ryan's home as a whole.

Ryan thought to himself.

“That could be a good one. People have been asking for some of the girls that survived Pearl Harbor. I'll do just that then.” Ryan stated as he returned to editing Impero's interview.

Chapter Text

Nevada sat in her hut on one of the more secluded islands in the atoll. Ryan had reached out for an interview and asked for the location, she said she'd do it in her home. I had asked her upon our initial encounter if she'd like to have a proper house within the confines of the residential dorms or the private housing on base, but she just looked through me and said that ‘she'd like to stay where she's been since the Navy abandoned her after the war.’ That ‘it is built well and has everything she could want.’

Despite her initial excitement to help establish our base here in Bikini Atoll, she remained staunchly separated from the group, something I planned on fixing… whenever I could figure out how to win her trust. It seemed like while she was happy to have company, she was a bit stuck in her survivor's mentality.

Upon concluding the encounter over her housing, it was decided that her small island would remain undeveloped as per her request, aside from a small dock to tie up a boat to get visitors to and from Nevada's abode.

Ryan tied off the boat and gathered his things before stepping onto the small wooden dock. Looking around, he spotted the hut, silhouetted by the orage rusted hulk of steel that was once Battleship Nevada. Despite naval historians claiming that she sunk further out at sea, Nevada had limped her vessel back to Bikini Atoll where it has sat since the Castle Bravo tests. Ryan studied the half-sunken ship with a pang of sadness, noting the chipped orange paint beneath heavy rusting, a clear indicator of her use as a test ship for nuclear detonation. He also noticed several gun barrels missing from cut up turrets, evidence of the agreement between myself and Nevada to take the guns she had received from the USS Arizona.

Ryan approached the hut and was greeted by Nevada.

“Howdy, young man.” Nevada said, putting effort into sounding cheerful.

“Good afternoon, Nevada. It's a pleasure to meet you.” Ryan said as she ushered him inside. To his surprise, several more Kansen were present. Namely: Penny, California, Tennessee, and surprisingly, Dewey.

“I see we have another party going on in here.” Ryan said with a chuckle.

“We heard ‘Vada here was gonna give an interview, figured why not give you a comprehensive interview from those in Battleship Row… at least the ones we know that made it…” Tennessee said bitterly.

“Battleship row, huh? And Dewey?” Ryan asked.

“I was there too. I wasn't damaged in the attack, but my crew and I engaged enemy aircraft before beginning patrols to hunt down potential threats in the Hawaiian island chain. Mainly the midget submarines.” Dewey said softly.

“I see.” Ryan said softly.

“She put up just as much a fight as any one of us. She can give her story too.” Penny said as she sipped something amber from a glass.

Ryan nodded.

“Pennsylvania…” Ryan tried.

“Penny. I don't mind.” Penny interrupted.

“Penny… have… you heard?” Ryan asked.

Penny's eyes darkened.

“Yeah. I've been drinking ever since the keel was laid. Now… she's built. Now we're waiting to see what becomes of it. I… don't know how to feel about it. She'll have her memories… but… will she really be my sister?” Penny asked softly, only for Tennessee to pat her back.

“If she wants to be, take it and hold on to it. She'll have her memories… and honestly… what are we if not hulls with memories? You deserve that happiness, Penny. After everything they did to you. To Nevada… to all of us.” Tennessee said as California nodded in agreement.

“You were forced into that sardine tin at the behest of the Navy, Penny. You found a husband through that service. But that doesn't excuse the wrongs you endured. The Commander is trying to right the past… make families whole again.” California said softly.

“No… he's trying to rewrite the past. Bring back those who died.” Penny said firmly.

“He's done that already with several girls. Hornet, Shimakaze, and Soyuz being the three examples that he had a direct hand in. You're only pushing back because it's Ari.” Tennessee said harshly.

Penny looked ready to get defensive but sighed instead.

“Yeah… you're right. I'm… just scared. Will… will she recognize me? Will she love me like she did back then? I'm scared, Tenn. What… what if it's for nothing? What if she doesn't remember me and I have to live with a new Kansen wearing my sister's face and using my sister's hull? I'd… I don't think I could do it…” Penny said as she took a long sip of her drink.

“That's a whole lot of what-ifs, Penny. Why work yourself up when you don't know how this'll go? I understand your fear… I understand it all too well… because as soon as he announced the plan to relaunch Arizona… my mind went right to Okie… He has the kind of mindset of… if this works, he'll bring back everyone he can until he runs out of steel to do it with. But we have to wait and see.” Nevada said as she too took a long drink.

Ryan shifted uncomfortably.

“I… can come back later.” He offered.

“No. It's fine. It's been a common topic lately even without you bringing it up. The hull has been sitting in dry dock for a week now as Washington, Reno, and the Commander finish testing the cubes that were delivered with the latest batch of American scrap steel. It's a herald of the unknown.” Tennessee spoke bluntly.

Ryan nodded and quietly set up his camera equipment.

“Do we need any ground rules for this interview?” Ryan asked.

The girls looked among themselves.

“Is this because of what happened with Laffey?” Dewey asked softly.

Ryan nodded.

“You girls… you've fought wars and taken countless lives. Lived through unspeakable torment in the prison of silence and confidentiality. Humans can develop PTSD without racking up medals or body counts like you girls have… and as heartless as that sounds… I'm meaning it in the nicest way possible. That is to say, if there are things that you cannot handle… it is okay. Please do not force yourselves to unearth things you cannot handle. Laffey… she tore her soul open again during that interview. She was holding on until she mentioned Portland. That's when she lost it. Out of an abundance of caution and consideration, I have been ordered by the commander to relay a message. If there are issues you have not fully resolved, either on your own over the years, or more recently with the medical and emotional staff on base, please do not dig it up just to put it out there. So I will not ask about specifics revolving around Arizona or Oklahoma. I will not ask about family life during the years of confidentiality. I will not ask about Alameda. That is my promise.” Ryan spoke, taking an uncharacteristically firm tone.

The girls looked at one another once more.

Tennessee chuckled harshly.

“And to think I treated that bastard so poorly when we first met. I'm jealous of the newbie… she's got herself a man with a good head on his shoulders. To think that he really does care.” Tennessee rattled.

“Of course he does. I wouldn't have joined up if I sensed that he wasn't serious about us.” Penny said as Ryan turned to them.

“You girls ready?” Ryan asked.

The girls dried their tears and adjusted their clothing before nodding.

“Ready when you are, young man.” Nevada said, her tone firm but tired.

Ryan activated the camera and went to sit next to Tennessee and Dewey.

“Hello everyone. Ryan here with another interview. Today we have another collection of girls with something in common. With the exception of Vestal, who I have already featured on this channel, these girls were all present during the attack on Pearl Harbor on the American side. Going around the table, you have four members of Battleship Row and the Destroyer Dewey. Our Battleships here are: Nevada, Pennsylvania, California, and Tennessee. Girls? Mind greeting the camera?” Ryan asked.

Nevada spoke first.

“My name is Nevada. Lead ship of the Nevada-class standard type battleships. I was the first to be deemed a Standard-Type in the US Navy's history alongside my sister.” Nevada spoke firmly.

Ryan noticed her tenseness. Pausing his camera, he addressed it.

“If you wish to be more at ease, the camera equipment is capable of picking up softer tones. No need to be so tense, Nevada.” He said softly.

Nevada nodded.

“My apologies. The last cameras I interacted with were used to film the tests at castle bravo. I see technology has progressed quite a bit during my self-imposed exile.” Nevada said.

Ryan nodded before resuming the filming.

“Hello again everyone. I'm sure you all remember me from the nationwide address that declassified our existence, but just in case, I'm California. Originally a Standard-Type battleship of the Tennessee class.” California said.

“I'm Tennessee. California's sister and the lead ship of my class.” Tennessee spoke, her face painted with an indescribable emotion that laid somewhere between disdain and apprehension.

“I'm Pennsylvania. Formerly the lead ship of my class of Standard-Type battleships alongside my sister. I now am in command of an Ohio class nuclear submarine along with my captain and crew who have been naturalized within the confines of Azur Lane.” Penny spoke.

“My name is Dewey. Former Farragut class destroyer. I now command an Arleigh Burke Flight IIA Aegis guided missile destroyer. I never commanded a battleship, but I can give a different perspective of what happened at Pearl.” Dewey said, her tone as firm as she could force it to cover the underlying nervousness.

“These five girls were present during the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7th, 1941. I open the floor now to let them talk. We can start wherever, girls.” Ryan said with a smile.

“Well… the day started like any other. Up early for PT with the crew. 0600 PT. Whispers of Jap subs inside the defensive zone around the Hawaiian islands were circulating but nobody was doing anything. I speak for all of us when I say we felt a massive pit open in our stomachs, like something big was about to go down and nobody was prepared for it… I hate how right we were.” Tennessee started as she looked to Nevada.

“0740 comes around and there's planes above Oahu. I notice the red circles and try to raise the alarm, but it's dismissed by my captain at the time as the rumors on base had reached the upper command structure. They wanted to wait for confirmation before dictating a plan of action.” Nevada spoke as she turned to Penny.

“0755… my sister and Vestal sound the alarms as the first bombs fall on Pearl. Arizona… she was the first of us to react, rousing her crew and breaking doctrine to command her AA guns until her crew was able to man them. She became the primary target of Battleship Row… torpedoes and bomb hits came through. We were so woefully unprepared. A bomb penetrated her deck by the number two turret… moments later at 0810… the port was rocked by Arizona's ship detonating. The dry dock I was in was bombed. Oklahoma, California, and West Virginia took heavy damage… all of them sank that day but were able to be refloated later on. Maryland and Tennessee escaped heavy damage. Cassin and Downes took damage because of me… my presence in dry dock attracted bombers and those two were bombed to hell…” Penny spat softly, only to be comforted by Tennessee.

“I went down over the course of three days after the attack, but I fought as best as I could while helping whoever I could get my hands on. The second wave mopped up a lot of servicemen… the first wave targeted us, but the second… that was a personal attack if I'd ever seen it. They crippled our Pacific fleet at 0755. They sealed their fate at 0854. We would have went to war either way, but the sheer loss of life that day led to the awakening of the American spirit. We had been punched… blindsided. And now the nation that wanted to remain uninvolved had been dragged into it.” California spoke softly.

“I managed to escape damage that day. It was clear to me and the cruisers that Battleship Row and the airfields were the number one targets, alongside our servicemen and the supply depots. I watched the Shaw detonate in drydock… thank god her crew was given orders to abandon ship after fire fighting efforts were exhausted. I was given orders to hunt down submarines in the area, an order given thanks to the information given to command by the Ward and the midget sub sank by the Helm. It… it was a bad day. Nearly two and a half thousand men and civilians killed… in exchange for 64 Japs. To this day I thank the powers that be that the carriers weren't at Pearl that day.” Dewey said as she fidgeted with her cap.

“My sister… she died that day as well. Arizona is the most famous… but Okie… she was overlooked. I don't fault Arizona… I fault nobody but myself. I should have advocated more. She died during the attack and her hull was left to rot… they said she was a lost cause… fitting that I ended up the same way. Bombed and left here to sink, forgotten by the navy I served.” Nevada spat harshly.

Ryan listened intently as the girls laid out their brief retelling of the events. Once they settled into an uncomfortable silence, he spoke up.

“Well… that was… difficult to hear just as it was likely difficult to retell. Thank you all for being so candid. Perhaps we can answer a few questions?” Ryan asked.

“Ask away. We have nothing but time.” Tennessee said, leading the group from their dour mood.

“The world knows about the during, but not much about the after. What was it like for you girls in the days after the attack?” Ryan asked.

“Fishing corpses from the bay… assisting in cutting open the keel of Oklahoma's vessel to save those who were trapped in her engine compartments… helping my men cope with the loss of friends and brothers whenever I could. I stopped more suicides than I care to admit.” Nevada answered first, her tone hollow.

“I helped advocate for Cassin and Downes to get medical treatment due to the heavy damage they sustained because of my presence in dry dock. My crew helped where they could with repairs and manning the harbor's defensive emplacements. We didn't know if there would be more in the following days.” Penny said softly.

“I escaped heavy damage so I went to help my sister clear her vessel even as it was actively sinking over the course of three days. I was grateful that she was spared… but it hurt watching Nevada and Penny… I watched them when they thought nobody gave a shit enough to care. Two of the strongest girls I know, and you'll never persuade me otherwise. I don't know how they managed to pull an entire war out of their ass after losing their sisters like that, but that's a level of anger I hope to never experience again…” Tennessee said, her eyes darkening during her final sentence.

“Everyone treated us a bit better. Our crews, despite being under agreements to keep quiet about us, treated us like queens as best they could. They knew we were hurting and that we had lost people like they had. I've never received so many flowers before… so many handwritten notes… gratitude, guilt, sorrow, anger. They felt those things for us when we couldn't find the power to feel them for ourselves. Our captains forbade us from PT and menial tasks until Pearl was back in working order and orders began coming down from the top. Then the rallying cries across the fleet. It was like firing the shell one put into the starting chamber of the bombers. It was as if all the emotions we couldn't feel in the moment were suddenly compressed and released in an explosive fit of rage. Those of us that lived… we went out on the hunt. Decked out in enough AA to man an airfield, we went to war.” Nevada said as she swirled her glass.

“The Colorado girls were the biggest change. West Virginia specifically. Maryland and Colorado underwent AA enhancement as well as changes to their secondary batteries… but WeeVee… that was a darkness I don't think any of us could have ever harbored. I think they added enough steel to her hull to constitute a full destroyer. She was so quiet before everything went down… when 1944 came around, she led the charge at Surigao Strait. There was a fire under her ass unlike any we had seen before. Radar helped her strike out in the black of night to slam her shells into the Yamashiro… she was a force of vengeance that some of us just couldn't bring to bear. But for those who couldn't, she served in abundance.” Penny said as she studied the bottom of her empty glass.

Ryan nodded.

“How have you been feeling as of late? We're three years into the formation of Azur Lane. Have you all managed to get settled in?” Ryan asked.

The girls nodded in a hesitant consensus.

“It was a bit jarring to see such a large navy pull up here after so long of being alone. But the Commander did what he could to make me comfortable, putting up with my increasingly stubborn demands to ensure that I'm not being forced to do something I'd rather not do.” Nevada admitted.

“It's nice. My husband and I have a house. The crew sleeps on base and has been trained further by the Kansen of other Navies in an effort to have a security force here for Azur Lane. A lot of sailors are now working as radar technicians or security for delegations who drop by the atoll. The Commander gave them the option to go home, but they decided they wanted to ride it out with me. Those who had families back home went home, but the majority remained. Makes me feel good.” Penny said with a soft smile.

“Grid and I have gotten a pretty good lay of the atoll and help Penny on patrol. It feels nice to be in control again instead of being mere consultants for our vessels. Our time in the Navy was kinda boring, but now it feels like it did way back when. All in all, I am content with the choice I made three years ago to defect with the others.” Dewey admitted.

“I… can't say much. But I'm happy. I get to see my sister and her kid every morning considering she and her husband let me stay in a room in their place. I love her kid… reminds me a lot of my own sometimes…” Tennessee said, her tone cracking slightly as memories pour in.

“We're more than happy to have you, sis. I'm just glad you're here with us and not… back in the states.” California admitted.

“So the general consensus is good?” Ryan asked.

The girls nodded as some of them perked up, hearing a small engine approaching the island.

“What do you all have to say about the commander? I'm interested in hearing your opinions considering that a lot of you came from either defection, or just by being found. Quite different from those who actively sought him out.” Ryan poised.

“He's green. And honestly, that's a good thing. He’s not some stuck up officer who has an ego to stroke. That said, he'll need us if things pop off, so… I like the kid, but he's got a long road ahead to be a proper leader.” Nevada spoke.

“Same here. Definitely needs some work, but he's genuine and in all honesty, despite his naivete and questionable outbursts in the face of stress, as long as he has Jersey and his mistresses, not to mention his kids, he'll always make the right choice for us. He sees us like family and his whole mindset is to protect his family, even if it kills him. So… he gets marks for being a good man. Rookie commander, good man.” Penny said.

“He got the US to agree to releasing my sister from prison. That's all I need to say about him. He practically strong armed the President into deploying the National Guard to the Hornet. He turned his fleet for California the moment he figured out what was going on. He can only lead because we're here and we can decode what he wants in a way that works for us, but he's got a good head on his shoulders. He's a good commander to me. Not saying I'd go to the ends of the earth like Jersey and the others… but I'd be willing to start that journey and see where it takes us.” California said with a hopeful smile.

“I agree with my sister… He got me busted from prison. Sure… I can't go back to the US, but there's nothing there for me anyway. So I don't really care. Azur Lane is my home, and I've come to admire him. In the beginning, I called him a nobody. And in all reality, he still is. He has no achievements in battle or a famous family name. But by the time the writers and movie makers get to him… he'll be legendary. He's a nameless nobody because nobody but you has put him on screen before. Once people get the taste of his name, he'll become someone worthy of respect, not just from us Kansen, who already respect the hell out of him, but the world at large. He's a good kid. Green like Nevada and Penny said, but give him time. He's got nothing but time now. He'll become a better leader than any in history.” Tennessee said as the girls turned to Dewey.

“I-I like him and what he's done. Grid and I… we were facing retirement in a few years. We could have ended up homeless like so many others. But his movement for us gave us an option that would spare us that struggle. I like him. He's a bit slow in stressful situations, but I know that he won't lash out at any of us if we need to make a judgement call without him.” Dewey said as a knock came to the hut.

“Busy.” Nevada spoke.

“My apologies, Nevada. Is Penny with you?” My voice came through the door.

“Ah, Commander. My apologies. Please come in.” Nevada said as Ryan paused the recording. I entered the room alone.

“To what do I owe the pleasure?” Nevada asked.

“It's… done.” I said softly.

Penny froze.

“Does… she look anything like the pictures?” Penny asked softly.

“Not… exactly. Washington speculates that there might have been a slight change in appearance due to so many ‘canon events’ that occurred involving the name and memory of the Arizona. But… I know that she acts like the way you described her to me.” I offered.

Penny gripped her glass tighter.

“Where… is she?” Penny asked.

“I've asked her to remain outside until I can confirm if you'd like to meet her. The… first thing she did was ask about you. She has memories from her original hull thanks to Nevada donating her guns… so the original is in there. Reno said that the cubes built the remaining framework around those memories…” I explained, my hands fidgeting nervously.

Penny swallowed heavily.

“She… asked for me?” Penny asked.

I nodded slowly.

“She said ‘Where is my sister? Is she okay?’ I believe she was alive long enough to see your hull bombed at drydock during Pearl… if I can speculate… I believe she thinks you might have died alongside her that day. I believe that is why she died. She gave up hope. She didn't want to die… she didn't accept her demise… but she had nothing left to live for either. That… that's what I gathered from that conversation.” I replied.

Penny steeled herself.

“Bring her in…” Penny whispered.

I nodded and turned to the doorway.

“Arizona. Please come in here.” I called.

In the doorway, appeared a tall woman with shoulder length raven-black hair. Green eyes glistened in the lights of the hut. Her body, clad in a black bikini top and short shorts, cloaked by a tattered Captain's coat and an officer's cap. From her shoulder hung a broken pocket watch. Tarnished gold, missing a cover plate to permanently display the time… 8:10. Black high heels adorned her long, ivory legs, one of which had a teal band around the thigh.

“As ordered, Commander.” Arizona said softly as she looked around the room. Her green eyes grew large and a smile grew on her face.

“Tenn? Cali? Nevada?” Arizona asked as she finally turned her attention to Penny, who had tears streaming down her cheeks. The others watched in shock as the once-dead battleship ran to her sister and pulled her from her seat, wrapping her in an embrace that would have snapped a grown man in two.

“You made it…” Arizona whispered softly.

Penny slowly accepted the hug and returned it.

“Y-yeah… I did. Those… bastards couldn't throw enough planes at me to kill me that day… not… after losing you.” Penny whispered.

Arizona smiled as a few tears spilled down her cheeks.

“I'm so happy you made it.” Arizona said softly as the others shook off the shock.

“Are… you our Arizona?” Tennessee asked bluntly.

“Not… exactly. I am not the same one that died at Pearl Harbor, but her memories and mine are one in the same. I am her in a new body.” Arizona spoke, using the explanation I had given her to answer this exact question.

“A ship of Theseus.” California whispered.

“Yes. But while every aspect of my body and hull are new… My memories with you all are the original. And that will not change. Think of it as me… getting a bit of a facelift.” Arizona teased gently.

The girls looked at each other while Penny held Arizona tightly.

“So… you really are our Arizona, just with a crazy new body?” Nevada asked.

“Yes, Nevada. I remember our times before Pearl. I remember escorting Woodrow Wilson to the Paris Peace Conference post World War One. I remember representing American interest in the Greco-Turkish war. I remember responding to the California Earthquake in ‘33 and my role in James Cagney's ‘Here Comes the Navy’. I remember awakening my hull in my final minutes to give my crew a few precious minutes to get to battlestations once the planes dove onto Pearl. I remember being amidships when the front half of my hull was blown apart and I took several large chunks of barbette and wood shrapnel to my neck, chest, and stomach. I remember bleeding out as I watched them bomb Penny to hell… and when the fires consumed my vessel… that's where my memory fades.” Arizona spoke, her green eyes shifting minutely as she recounted the memories of her previous life.

“Reno told me to differentiate. Bismarck was resurrected. Shimakaze was resurrected. Hornet was resurrected. Soyuz was resurrected. Arizona… has been reborn. This is a new body with original memories. She may look different, but she is still the Arizona you all remember. I hope you can treat her well.” I spoke firmly.

The girls nodded.

“Her voice is still the same as I remember… if not a bit more mature.” Penny said as she finally released Arizona and offered her the chair she'd been sitting in, Arizona accepted readily.

Nevada turned to me.

“I… I have steel plating. I kept it hidden deep in the keel of my ship. I can grab it.” Nevada said softly.

“Oklahoma?” I asked.

“Do… you think it would work?” Nevada asked.

Arizona froze.

“Okie… died too?” Arizona asked as Nevada turned to her and nodded.

“As far as I know.” Nevada whispered.

Arizona turned to me.

“Don't let me be the only one, Commander. If you can bring back Okie, please do… I can't allow myself to be the only one who died that day to be reborn.” Arizona demanded.

“It'll take time. I'll need to fabricate another completely new battleship. Even Arizona's vessel took nearly six months of round the clock construction. That's with help from Voroshilov and the contracted ship builders.” I admitted.

“I don't care. If you need six months, then I will wait six months. But… if this is possible… I want my sister back, Commander.” Nevada demanded.

“She'll undergo the same changes as Arizona… she likely will not look as you remember.” I warned.

“Like I care! If her memories are there, that's all I need!” Nevada pleaded.

I swallowed.

“I'll see what can be done. In the meantime, I'll speak with Mogador to see if we can confirm a record of death. If she is deceased, then we can begin the process.” I promised.

Nevada nodded softly.

“That is the best I can hope for then.” Nevada said as Ryan looked around.

“Do… we want to wrap this up or should we get Arizona to answer some questions?” Ryan asked.

“Let my sister get used to being among the living again. You should have enough there to make a decent video about us. If you need more, we can come and record more… but for now… I want to be with my sister.” Penny spoke.

Ryan smiled.

“I understand. Please give me a ring if you would like me to return. I'll begin working on editing this so we can put it up. The people seem to like it and you've all garnered quite a following.” Ryan said a s he gathered his equipment.

“I'll escort you back, Ryan. Girls, have fun.” I said with a smile as Ryan and I left the hut and headed back to base.

Chapter Text

Ryan sat surrounded by secret service agents on the bow of my vessel. The President had flown in for a meeting between me, the US, and the Senate of the Philippines to discuss the viability of an Azur Lane affiliated naval base in the Philippines. When the President saw Ryan walking around the port, he had sent his security detail to grab Ryan and bring him to my vessel. When asked why, he stated that he was quite a fan of the interview web series and would like to see if an interview could be possible for him. When Ryan said it was mainly for Kansen, the President offered to share the stage with a Kansen of Ryan's choosing, so he chose Georgia.

As Ryan sat at the table on my vessel, Georgia strolled over, only to be briefly patted down by the Secret Service before being allowed to sit at the table.

“Heya, Ryan. What's all this about?” Georgia asked.

“The President of the United States wanted to get an interview, said he was a fan of the series so far and thought it would be cool. When I said it was mainly for you girls to share your stories and experiences, he offered to share the stage. So, I got to choose the Kansen to sit with him. That Kansen is you.” Ryan admitted.

“Huh. Such a powerful figure wanting to go on a small time interview show? Perhaps it is his way of showing that now that we are exposing how hard it's been for most of the girls, he is keeping us actively in the forefront of his mind to ensure something similar doesn't happen again.” Georgia spoke.

“Maybe. That could be a very good explanation.” Ryan said as he saw another group of Secret Service members boarding my vessel with the President in tow.

“Ah, Ryan. Good Afternoon. And I assume this fine young lady must be Miss Georgia?” The President asked.

“Yes she is, Mr. President.” Ryan said as Georgia stood.

“Wow… I could've swore that I left the Admiral in the Command building.” The President spoke.

“You did, Sir. My name is Georgia. A blueprint ship that was never built. I came into being during the procedure to convert the Commander, my brother, into a Kansen.” Georgia spoke.

“Wait, your brother?” The President asked.

“Yes. My DNA is a genetic match to the Commander. I was made from a cube that had already bonded to his DNA, giving me my genetic material. For all intents and purposes, I am a female twin of Tyler Sweigart.” Georgia admitted.

“That is extremely fascinating.” The President said as he sat at the table. Ryan took initiative to begin rolling the camera.

“Hello everyone. Ryan here. Today we have an extremely special guest. The President of the United States was in the area for a conference and asked to come on the show. I don't really do interviews for humans on this show, so this will be a first. But perhaps this episode can be more dialogue focused. The President and I are joined by Georgia, a blueprint ship that was brought into being two years ago. Georgia, mind introducing yourself to the audience?” Ryan asked.

Georgia smiled.

“Howdy all! I'm Georgia! Lead ship of the Georgia class of battleships in service to Azur Lane. My hull design is detailed as a deviation of the Iowa Class Scheme IV from 1938. Some debate has come forward on base as to where my design truly came from, whether it was an elongated South Dakota hull or an Iowa hull, but in my opinion, both are pretty much the same. What is an Iowa if not a stretched out South Dakota? Either way, I am a fast battleship capable of matching speeds with New Jersey while carrying some of the heaviest guns in the Azur Lane fleet. Despite my position as a blueprint ship, I am not alone in my class. My Brother, Tyler Sweigart, the Commander, shares a hull in my class. His vessel, Battleship Hawaii, carries my same main batteries and hull design. But I was built to World War two specifications with fifty caliber, twenty millimeter, and forty millimeter anti-aircraft guns and my five inch dual purpose turrets. The Commander's vessel is a modern take.” Georgia explained as she gestured behind her to the main guns of my vessel.

“We are actually sitting onboard my brother's vessel now, so you can see the eighteen inch cannons to our rear. These are the second largest guns in Azur Lane, second only to the Yamato class sisters.” Georgia said.

“Excellent. And Mr. President. I'm sure you need no introduction. I'll open the floor for you two to have some dialogue and interject if I can add anything of substance.” Ryan said as the President and Georgia nodded.

The President extended a hand to Georgia.

“Hello, Miss Georgia. It's nice to meet you.” The President said.

“Likewise, sir. Please forgive me for not using your title. I hope ‘sir’ will suffice.” Georgia said cheerfully.

“I have no issue with that. So, you mentioned being a blueprint ship. What exactly does that entail?” The President asked.

“Yes. I was never actually built. My blueprints have existed since the late 30's, but I was never constructed and awakened. My memory only begins when I awaken looking at my Brother. My blueprints were infused into his body along with cubes to bring about his conversion and the construction of his vessel. But something along the way went wrong and a cube was spit out. The cube with my blueprints imprinted on them. Soon… my heart started beating. I felt my blood begin pumping and my lungs fill with superheated air. I opened my eyes… and I saw him. Things moved quickly from there. I was handed a piece of metal and it just felt so… natural. I closed my eyes and reached out to it… and quickly after, my vessel was sitting in the bay next to Battleship Hawaii in Alameda, California.” Georgia explained.

“So it's fair to say you've only lived for two years at this point?” The President asked.

“Yes sir. In comparison to the other girls here, I was practically born yesterday. I had no hand in the revolution for our freedom, but I stand firm as a protector of our newly obtained rights. My guns will lash out at any who aim to harm Kansen.” Georgia spoke firmly.

The President nodded.

“I saw a recording of your press conference… when you declassified the Kansen. How are things going in the US?” Georgia asked.

“We are making plenty of strides. Executive orders have been my friend for the past two years. Actually, we just found the Baltimore sisters and we're getting the ball rolling on bringing them back into the fold to get them at the table to discuss releasing their vessels from the nuclear disposal program. The Kansen Public Affairs office is up and running with full force. Kansen who have lived in the shadows since the war are being tracked down and reached out to to receive proper compensation and information regarding the release of their NDAs and the procurement of newly formed US Identifications. Those that wish to live in the US will have a much easier time doing so. We've also streamlined the breakaway process for those who wish to come to Azur Lane. No paperwork necessary, they just inform the KPA office and their files are updated and closed out to be sent here to Azur Lane. All in all, we have made massive strides in what I can only describe as the right direction in relation to how things were two years ago.” The President spoke.

Georgia smiled.

“That sounds wonderful. You mentioned compensation?” Georgia asked.

“Yes. In an internal audit and extensive investigation, it was found that the KIB drained assets that were legally acquired by kansen who were either wrongfully imprisoned or were found to have breached their NDAs. So… one file I remember off the top of my head was South Dakota. She was reported to have breached her NDA by her husband. There was reconciliation in the time between the report and the arrival of the task force to apprehend her. Her husband was murdered by the responding task force and she was imprisoned for nearly three decades due to the subsequent violence during the arrest. Well, it was found that her home was transferred to the KIB and liquidated for cash and her bank accounts drained to the tune of nearly three quarter of a million dollars. Once this was discovered in the dissolution of the KIB, their portion of the budget was diverted for a one time payment to pay out every cent that was taken, alongside a handwritten apology from me and the members of my administration for the multitude of failures on behalf of the US. This has been a long process, but we are working through the files of every Kansen we have located and have paid out tens of millions so far.” The President replied honestly.

Georgia clapped happily.

“That is wonderful!” Georgia exclaimed.

“So, what all do you do around here? What does a day to day itinerary look like here?” The President asked.

“Depends who you are. Sometimes we head out to help with disaster relief. Sometimes we head out for training, like RIMPAC last year. My day to day looks like training against Musashi in gunnery duels. She and I have a two year long list of wins and losses. But for girls like Zeppelin and Enterprise, they do air patrols that extend to the edge of our sovereign territory. Penny does weekly submarine patrols. A lot of us like to come and play with the Admiral's and Bonnie's kids. All in all, without a war going on, we just… chill. We train, keep our skills sharp, and relax when all our work is done.” Georgia answered.

“Seems to be working out pretty well. What does Tyler do day to day?” The President asked.

“New Jersey likes to make sure he only really goes out when he’s required at the UN. Most of the time he's either doing paperwork in the command center, hosting meetings, or being a wonderful dad to his kids. Taking them on walks, letting them play onboard his ship, taking them to the few restaurants we have on base. They love Littorio's place. She made a kids menu just for them.” Georgia said with a smile.

“So why were you here? It's not often we get visitors like you.” Georgia asked.

“I was here to give Tyler backing for a discussion with the Filipino senate. He's proposed a forward deployment base in Filipino waters to have a better way to help project Azur Lane's power while also providing additional security in the region. We just began talks today, so I reckon I'll be here every now and then as talks progress.” The President said.

“Oh. That's news to me. We'd be right on China's doorstep. I wonder who our forward operating team will be.” Georgia wondered aloud.

“It's still in the early planning stages, but it sounds like he'll be doing quite a bit of modernization to the fleet beforehand. He even made mention that the British Dragonfire weapons defense system has been fully integrated into the New Jersey's defense system and plans to have it brought to every capable hull in the fleet. This military nation is progressing at a rate not seen since the second world war. Looks like the fight that birthed most Kansen left its mark.” The President said as he turned back to look at my vessel.

“Even this ship, which should be outdated by every conceivable metric, is more than capable of defending itself from an American task force. I can't fathom what a fight between just this vessel and a carrier strike group would look like.” The President said.

“It'd never happen, Sir.” Georgia spoke firmly.

“Let's hope not.” The President said with a soft smile.

“No. It would never happen, because this vessel never leaves port alone, sir. Azur Lane doctrine, written by New Jersey herself, states that this specific battleship, Battleship Hawaii, is to never sail without a minimum of: Two escorting carriers or Graf Zeppelin, Three Battleships, two cruisers, and two submarines. My brother is to be guarded at all times when not on base.” Georgia spoke.

“O-oh… why? He seems powerful enough on his own.” The President spoke.

Georgia tapped her ear. It was here that Ryan paused the recording.

“Commander. Can you come here please.” Georgia asked into the open air.

In minutes, I arrived.

“Georgia, is everything okay?” I asked.

“Yes. The President was wondering why we never let you leave here unescorted. I figured asking you would be best.” Georgia said.

I chuckled.

“Oh, that's simple. If people get too close, I have no way to defend myself. My rigging makes it impossible.” I answered.

“But… wasn't rigging meant to help Kansen in close quarters?” The President asked.

I shrugged.

“Dunno. But mine sure as hell doesn't.” I said as my eye shifted to a nuclear trefoil, indicative of my rigging activating. Deep in the keel of my ship, my reactor hummed to life as alarms blared across the base.

“What is all this?!” The President asked as the Secret Service surrounded the President.

“A warning for everyone to brace for impact.” Georgia said as she pointed to the sky. The President looked up to witness.

The fortress that composed my rigging slammed into the ocean nearly a mile off the coast.

“A… castle?” The President asked.

Seconds later, the report of a loud fog horn pierced the sky as the castle rose from the waves on the back of a massive, mechanized titan. The weapons formed on the arms and back as the fortress glowed a soft orange.

“No. A non-nuclear deterrent. It carries non-nuclear weaponry, but it is effectively a nuclear deterrent.” Georgia said with a smile.

The President was stunned.

“You…control that thing?!” He cried.

“Yes, sir.” I said as I made the giant titan wave its left arm before the titan vanished into a cloud of white smoke.

“Sir…that's the same anomaly that's been stumping the Pentagon. This marks the third time it's shown up on satellite scans.” One of the service agents spoke, having just been sent a text from the coordinators at the Pentagon.

“So that nuclear test we've been trying to figure out from March two years ago?” The President asked.

“Yeah…that was me test firing the arm mounted cannons. Strictly non-nuclear… just a massive payload.” I answered.

“I see… I hope you understand that this incident will need to be updated with the UN Security council.” The President said.

“Please do whatever you need to. We're on friendly terms and I have enough self control to let the girls do the fighting. We've agreed that my rigging is strictly a worst case scenario… considering one of those cannons lit up the atmosphere during my test firing two years ago. This is the third time I've ever summoned it. So… yeah. It's our version of a red button… along with our nuclear arsenal.” I said.

“Perhaps at the next meeting we can lay out some… formalities for a defense pact. The United States has a vested interest in remaining friendly with Azur Lane.” The President spoke.

I nodded.

“Not a problem, sir. We can discuss it more when you come down again.” I said as my phone buzzed.

“Sorry, gotta run. Yume crawled under the house again when Shinano nodded off. I really should seal off that damn crawlspace.” I said as I took off back home.

The President stood stunned again.

“He acts like he didn't just show off a national security asset.” The President said softly.

“He knows that nobody can stop it. It would take nuclear weapons to combat it, and even then, we're unsure on if it would be entirely effective. But he also doesn't like to use it for much. As he said, this was the third time it's seen the light of day. It's a real ‘shit hit the fan’ kind of rigging. If it is called upon, annihilation follows swiftly after. We are very careful to never let him fall into a position where he could even consider calling upon it.” Georgia said with a smile.

The President chuckled nervously.

“Got it. Definitely no need for any further demonstration. Well… I thank you for your time, Miss Georgia. I should… really be getting back to Washington DC.” The President said as he stood.

“Understood, sir. Did you need an escort back to the airstrip?” Georgia asked.

“No… it's alright. I'm just… gonna head out. I thank you both for your time. I look forward to the video hitting your channel, Mr. Ryan.” The President said as he and his secret service agents headed out, moving down the gangway and heading towards the base's airstrip.

Georgia turned to Ryan.

“I guess our interview is over.” Georgia said with a chuckle.

“Did you want to answer the trademark question?” Ryan asked.

“Sure!” Georgia exclaimed cheerfully.

Ryan resumed the recording.

“Alright Georgia… final question. How do you feel about Azur Lane and Tyler as a Commander?” Ryan asked.

“It's my home. Has been since the day I woke up. Azur Lane has always been my home. I love it for all of its ups and downs. Sure we lack in entertainment, but we make up for it in other ways. We're still figuring things out. All in all? I love Azur Lane. And my brother is a hell of a commander. He's my only sample. But from how I see the others act around him? How they treat him? How they act on his orders? I think he's a good commander. I'd follow him any day, any time, anywhere.” Georgia said with her whole chest.

Ryan smiled as he stopped the recording.

“Excellent finisher as always, Georgia.” Ryan quipped.

Georgia giggled softly.

“Thanks, Ryan. Got any plans?” Georgia asked.

“Not really. Why?” Ryan asked.

“Have the wife come out. I think Musashi is doing a little pop-up for a beef barbecue. Said she learned the recipe from King George after Tyler's wedding. I'm eager to try it.” Georgia said.

Ryan smiled.

“Sure. I'll give her a call to meet us there.” Ryan said as he and Georgia headed off my vessel and into the main section of the base.

Chapter Text

Ryan sat rigid across the table from a very disinterested looking Bon Homme Richard. She had agreed to the interview in its entirety, but the face she was giving made Ryan begin to want to reconsider.

“Everything alright?” Bonnie asked.

“Did… I choose a bad time? I can come back when things are less irritating.” Ryan offered.

“Oh… nah we're good. Resting bitch face. You spend as long as I have scowling at humanity, you develop a pretty gruesome one. Even if it doesn't look it, I'm actually having a decent day. Billy has the kids out with Martin and Laffey. Martha's baking bread and pie with Shimakaze today, so dinner's gonna be great. All in all, I'm doing good today.” Bonnie replied.

“I see. Then I guess we can start right away so I don't take up too much of your day. Did you have any topics you wanted to avoid?” Ryan asked.

“I should be alright, I mean… I've taken time to process things a bit now that I've become a mother. Figured I'd rather not pass down my bad attitude and trauma to the kids that had nothing to do with my past.” Bonnie answered.

“That's nice to hear…” Ryan started as he began filming.

“... Let's crack on with it. Howdy everyone, Ryan here. Back with another interview with the amazing and honestly inspirational women of Azur Lane. Today's guest is someone not many people know of, a name lost through the cracks when compared to names like Enterprise, Bismarck, New Jersey and the like. Allow me to present, Bon Homme Richard.” Ryan spoke earnestly.

Bonnie waved at the camera while doing her best to put on a smile.

“Wanna introduce yourself?” Ryan asked.

“Sure. I'm Bonnie, Bon Homme Richard. Former Essex Class CVA-31. My current hull is LHD-6, a Wasp class Amphibious Assault ship with F-35 capabilities. I was the last Essex to be commissioned in time to earn a battle star in World War Two. I earned five stars in Korea before my modernization prior to Vietnam. In ‘92 my Essex hull was scrapped and my name placed back on the registry for six years before being used for LHD-6 in ‘98. I served that hull until 2020 where I kinda… lost my mind a bit. Torched my vessel while in San Diego. They wanted to go after a random sailor to keep me around, but I made it difficult by straight up telling them that I torched my shit to get out of the Navy during his trial, which ended up leading to his acquittal. I was locked up in 2020 and spent two years in prison before word reached me via South Dakota that the Commander was looking to build a fleet of us girls. I figured it'd be fun, so I busted out of the clink and stole my shit back. Now two years later, here we are.” Bonnie spoke.

“Quite the interesting story. You don't seem to be unstable, so the bit about losing your mind must be some kind of hyperbole, right?” Ryan asked.

Bonnie laughed hysterically for about a minute straight.

“Hyperbole? Hell no. I'm probably one of the more twisted individuals here. I just do a really good job at hiding it. Nah, I one hundred percent lost my shit during a PTSD meltdown in 2020 stemming from my time in Vietnam. I can't quite remember exactly what set me off… oh, no wait, I remember. I saw someone aboard my ship that looked like Charlie. Like… it looked like him in his flight suit before he went out on his last mission before his death. I think I suffered a minor psychotic break when I saw him and it kinda just… took over. My memory fades in as I'm actively pouring aviation fuel onto a massive fire in the lower vehicle deck. By then I knew I was done and needed to get out. Concocted the story that I did it expressly to be dismissed by the Navy, because I would rather have gone to prison then be tossed to some Psyche facility like they did to Laffey. And so, nah, I did absolutely lose my shit.” Bonnie retorted.

Ryan seemed shocked.

“O-oh. And I guess your more recent stability is a result of the current situation?” Ryan asked.

“You mean being a part of Azur Lane? Or being engaged to the father of my three beautiful children? Either way, the answer is yes. Being with him… it's brought me peace to calm the nights where I had every right to lose my mind. He pisses me off to no end, can't cook, has to be told to do stuff all the time, and is a bit too eager to interact with the other girls on base… but I guess that's why his presence is so grounding. He's so different from Charlie yet I get the same feeling in my chest when he looks at me. And then there's the kids. So innocent… they need stability too. So I've been seeing Vestal when she isn't busy toiling over the Commander's medical charts and dealing with check-ups for the miniature baby boom on base. She's been helping me with some coping mechanisms for when my family isn't enough to keep my mind off the past.” Bonnie said as she looked out the window.

“Does the past haunt you frequently? What was it like for Kansen during Vietnam? I know our servicemen had it tough, seeing the brutality of that war definitely cut a lot of people to their core. How did it affect you?” Ryan asked.

“Honestly? It wasn't too bad for me. I was confined to my vessel. Very rarely did I ever make landfall. The toughest part was dealing with humans and the various… intricacies that scream out when in a time of war. The war itself was a blur… until the day I got the news… well not even the news, but I knew that Charlie had gone down. He was one of my aviators… and a damn good one too. Flew an A-1 like nobody's business. He was also my boyfriend at the time… and the crew knew it. I was his dedicated mechanic. Stamped little hearts into the oil clamps when I'd fix an oil leak. The days he flew were the days I was the most busy, because I would double and triple check every single facet of his preparations. When I did my job, the only way he could go down is if the VC got lucky.” Bonnie said softly.

“But something happened…” Ryan spoke, trying to keep his tone neutral despite sensing the depressive aura in the room.

“Yeah. He was fragged. Not in the traditional sense… but still. I know it was true and I know the people who did it were punished when Enterprise stepped in to ensure that it happened. The fuckin bomb techs… and I swear to God, if you fuckers are still alive out there, suffering from chemical exposure and whatever the fuck else, you had best hope that we don't cross paths… I'm not the same scared girl who feared going to prison due to who I was. If I find out you fuckers are still alive… I'll send you to hell myself.” Bonnie seethed.

“Let's… not put that bit on the air, Bonnie…” Ryan spoke softly.

Bonnie took a deep breath.

“Fine. Anyway, the bomb techs were a group of guys who thought that just because I liked the man Charlie was, that they too could make a pass at me. I'll admit, they looked the part, but they all gave off this… gross feeling like I was just a trophy fuck for them. I never entertained the idea of dating then, much less sleeping with them. And I told that to their face. They didn't like that. So one day, Charlie was set to fly over a known VC trail and drop jungle juice to flush ‘em out for the boys on the ground. He was set to go out at noon, but someone had his name pushed up on the roster. I didn't have time to check his bomb load or anything besides the routine checks. I sent him off with a kiss that day… by the time night had fallen… it was a different story. A special forces group in the area spotted his plane burnt up in a rice paddy. I went out immediately on one of the outgoing Huey's. When I landed… I remember a woman, strong, muscular, scars on her neck and breast. Her hair was a vibrant green, matching the trees perfectly… I remember her vividly. She and the men she was with led me to the crash site under the cover of darkness. I inspected the crash scene myself and found two things. Evidence of Napalm on the fuselage and underside of the aircraft, indicative of ordinance tampering… and the heart-stamped oil hose clamps that were signature to his plane and his alone.” Bonnie recalled, her tone neutral. She looked out into the sky as if she were watching the same A-1s she used to send off.

“So the bomb techs tampered with his munitions?” Ryan asked.

“Yes. We used low yield explosives to disperse and ignite the napalm when we dropped it. This allowed for super low passes and precise placement. Well… when a low pass is standard practice, all you have to do to frag someone is replace the low yield explosives with an equal weight of C-4. Investigation on my part concluded that they used the C-4 to basically coat his plane in burning Napalm, which ended up sending him down in VC territory. By the time I reached that conclusion, the SF soldiers were dragging me to the Huey as the VC had found us and were closing in. I wanted to bring him home, but I couldn't. The VC would have captured all of us. It was Enterprise who eventually used her weight to bring him home. I'm grateful that Charlie is home and resting on home soil. I cried myself to sleep for the rest of my deployment. The bomb techs tried to get with me now that I was ‘unfortunately single’ but I told them that I knew what they did and that if I ever slept with them, they'd wake up in pieces with their peeled dicks as a centerpiece in a human themed table spread. After deployment… I fell into a depression that culminated in my psychotic break in 2020.” Bonnie explained.

“That's… graphic.” Ryan quipped.

“It was the only thing that got through. Telling them I wasn't interested was made to seem like I was playing hard to get. Telling them no was met with joking, borderline mocking laughter. When I told them I had Charlie, they killed him and tried to pass it off as an accident, a ‘combat fatality’. At the time, I knew I'd get in serious trouble for enacting revenge… I had no choice but to let them go. But eventually their actions caught up with them. And for that, I am grateful. I kinda wish they would have died in prison, but they had Vet status… the prison system is weird when it comes to the hierarchy of respect, but I guess being a Vet down on murder charges isn't bad enough to get you shanked in prison… a shame… a damn fucking shame.” Bonnie scoffed.

“I see there's still lingering resentment. Are you doing okay?” Ryan asked.

“Yeah. I only bring it up so that my story has context. I loved Charlie. I was so innocent back then… he was the one who wooed me. My first encounter with love as a Kansen. None of the boys of World War Two got to me like he did. There are times that I miss him enough to cry, but I look at my fiance and realize that even if it isn't Charlie… I have a man who's better in nearly every way. And while it has taken me time to get here, my man has been patient and understands that while I loved Charlie, I truly love him now. I've almost completely moved on from the past… I think, honestly, that my wedding day will be the closing of that gate. The end of my attachment to the ghost of my past. Billy… he's incredible. A stand-up father, a gentleman… if not a bit raunchy sometimes, and honestly… he's just… everything I could need, want, or desire in a man. He's honest, hardworking, eager to please the right people. Sure he's impulsive, but that's fine. I like spontaneity. Sure he's incompetent in the kitchen, but so what? I love having his eyes on me when I cook for us and the kids. I'm a woman to him. Not a weapon or a piece of hot ass. If putting people on a pedestal was my thing, he'd be up there… with the Commander being a close second. Because while the Commander gave me the option to be free, Billy made me want to choose it. I had my doubts about Azur Lane and about the Commander. But being with Billy since the escape, it's brought a lot of things into focus that I never would have even thought about. It's made me see that Azur Lane is a net positive, the Commander is a decent guy, and that humanity still has some good left in it.” Bonnie confessed.

Ryan smiled.

“So I guess your answer to the next question is the same as everyone else?” Ryan asked.

“What, about the Commander? Mostly. He's a decent guy, but we really need to get some proper training done for him if he's to seriously head this navy. He has a good head and a heart of gold, but he needs training. But as for him as a person? I think all things considered, I'd sit and have a beer with him. He's chill and doesn't judge a girl. In fact, he's come asking about lighting fires because he has trouble setting up an efficient campfire in his backyard for his army of tykes. So I still get to play with fire a bit.” Bonnie admitted.

Ryan nodded as Billy entered the room.

“Did… I interrupt?” Billy asked.

“Yes. But what's up, everything okay?” Bonnie asked.

“Kids are down for a nap with Laffey and pops. I was wondering if you wanted to go out for a bit before dinner.” Billy said.

Bonnie smiled.

“You get me pregnant again, I'll kick your ass.” Bonnie quipped.

Billy smiled.

“Not the plan right now. Three is enough… don't think we can handle six like the Admiral.” Billy replied.

Bonnie turned deadly serious.

“You stick me with triplets again, I'm going to tie string to your balls and yank em with each contraction.” Bonnie threatened, sending a shiver down Billy's spine.

“Duly noted…” He replied nervously.

Bonnie turned to Ryan.

“If that's all, I'm going on a hot date.” Bonnie spoke.

“Actually, before you go, Billy, I'd like your thoughts on the Admiral as well. I collect an opinion from everyone, so I'd like yours if you have anything.” Ryan said.

Billy thought for a moment.

‘Well… he may be one of them now… no longer a human. But he has his human flaws. Like all humans, nobody is perfect. But he put himself on the line for these girls. Turned the world against him and even traded blows with the US Navy. I've seen this man get angry for these girls. I've seen this man break down and weep for these girls. This man trusted me to deal with a problem that plagued these girls for years, and that spoke volumes. He trusted a man he barely knew, just because I was my father's kid. Pops said the Admiral is like an adoptive son to him and mom. And honestly, I see him in the same light. He's a brother. And human I may be, I'll step up if he needs someone in his corner even more than what these girls provide. That's my opinion. Out of all the visionaries that could have helped these girls, I'm glad it was him.” Billy spoke earnestly.

Ryan nodded.

“A deep and well thought out response. Admirable. Thank you.” Ryan said as Bonnie looked at Ryan.

“Anything else?” She asked.

Ryan shook his head.

“No worries. We got what we needed. Have out and have fun!” Ryan called as Bonnie ran to Billy and practically dragged him out the door.

Chapter Text

Warspite and Ryan sat across from one another in the gazebo that had been built within the confines of the Royal Dorms. Various maids roamed about, completing tasks assigned by Elizabeth and the other high ranking members of the Royal aristocracy.

“Quite the set-up you have here. I'm glad to see that you all seem so comfortable.” Ryan said cheerfully.

“I have to admit, Knight Commander Sweigart does listen quite well when things are requested of him. We have some of the finest commodities that money can afford. In all honesty, he is borderline spoiling Her Majesty a bit too much… but such is life when one of the mothers of his children requests things for us on my sister's behalf.” Warspite said as she sat, her legs crossed beneath a soft white sundress and a woven sun hat.

“You look quite refined yourself, Warspite. Are you sure he isn't just generous considering the sheer amount of cash that this base is paid to do the work you all do?” Ryan teased.

“That could be it. But in all honesty, could you justify spending money on a top of the line brewing set for every single member of the Royal Navy to brew their preferred tea? Not to mention individualized china sets for said tea? And let us not forget the immaculate gazebo, the heated pool, the tennis court, and a proper throne for Her Majesty? Even if money is no issue, do not pretend that Belfast whispering her sweet tones into his ear during their… more… intimate encounters… doesn't have anything to do with the seemingly bottomless budget he has to spoil the Royal Navy.” Warspite retorted.

“Well to be fair, the Iron Blood dorms just finished constructing a brewhouse and a brewery at the behest of Bismarck and Graf Zeppelin. It allows them to contribute to the cultural diversity on the food front here on base. That takes a sizable budget as well.” Ryan countered.

Warspite sat and sighed.

“Perhaps you're right. He is rather… open with how he splits our funds. Quite fair as well. I heard rumors of Avrora and Soyuz opening a distillery in honor of the late battleship Gangut. I'm sure that will keep them busy for a while… at least until the operation to retrieve their lost cubes is announced. And the Americans… I think they're getting a steakhouse and a movie theater. The Japanese have their own amenities as well… so I guess you have a point.” Warspite replied.

“If you wouldn't mind, in addition to a few questions about your history and your time in Azur Lane, I was hoping to get a more… personal view into the life of Warspite. What your day to day is. This is the first Royal Navy kansen besides Queen Elizabeth that we've interviewed, so it would be interesting to see what serving such a woman is like.” Ryan proposed.

“I do not mind that line of questioning. Perhaps it can bring some light into how we in the Royal Navy operate. I'll allow it.” Warspite said as Ryan turned on the camera.

“Ready?” He asked.

Warspite nodded.

Ryan hit the record button on the camera.

“Hello everyone, Ryan here. A returning guest to our show, please allow me to reintroduce Warspite, a name that no doubt many of you know. Care to introduce yourself, Lady Warspite?” Ryan asked.

“Hello. I am Warspite, former Kansen of the Queen Elizabeth class battleship that carried my name. I now serve Azur Lane aboard the Valiant class nuclear powered submarine. I served Queen and Country from 1915 to 1947 and from 1967 to 1991 for a combined total of fifty-six years of service.” Warspite spoke.

“Quite a monumental service career. Half a century is nothing to shake a stick at.” Ryan quipped.

“Quite. But yet it pales in comparison to some of us here at Azur Lane. The most prominent being our very own Enterprise. Nearly a full century of continuous service and training. I tip my crown to her if I were to ever have one bestowed upon me.” Warspite retorted softly.

“Well, you are the sister to Queen Elizabeth, would that not make you a Princess?” Ryan asked.

“In a literal sense… yes. But I do not feel worthy enough to accept the fine jewels of the monarchy. As such, a loyal retainer I remain.” Warspite replied as she nodded to herself.

“You seem a bit more… nervous. Is everything alright?” Ryan asked.

“I'm not used to doing much without my sister anymore, if I'm being honest. During the war, I was far more independent… rebellious even. But ever since the war… and even during my service as a submarine, I felt like I was more… of an accessory to Her Majesty as opposed to doing as I pleased. But do not mistake that for resentment! I chose this life for myself… I… chose this.” Warspite said with a soft smile.

Ryan could feel his chest tighten as it had with Laffey. There was a deeper story to this, but unlike last time, he wasn't given anything to steer clear of. He hit the pause button.

“Does your sister know any of this, Lady Warspite?” Ryan asked seriously.

Warspite looked at him, but her eyes saw through him.

“No. I've never breathed an inkling of it to her. My job is to perform my duties as her retainer. A servant of the Queen is to ensure all possible attention is given to Her Majesty and to not detract from her word or her presence. So my sister knows nothing of the struggles I have faced.” Warspite spoke as she looked at Ryan.

“I will tell my story here… but you will never allow her to see it. If she finds it, it is another matter that I will handle later… but you will not, under any circumstance, willingly give her this video file. Do I make myself clear, young man?” Warspite asked firmly.

Ryan swallowed and nodded.

“I understand. Is… there anything we should avoid?” Ryan asked.

“I do not mind laying out my life. In fact, this is a chance to let the world see me for who I am… and not just a shadow of my sister. Make no mistake, I love my sister dearly, but as I previously said… one does not detract from Her Majesty. So my story has never been shared.” Warspite spoke.

Ryan nodded.

“Please do not feel like you need to tear yourself apart. It hurts to see you girls like that.” Ryan pleaded.

Warspite shook her head.

“I will tell my story. Because for all the good, bad, and ugly… it is what shaped my life.” Warspite said as she reached over and resumed the recording.

“Alright… so I guess we'll start with your history. You are one of the oldest serving Kansen in the world, with your hull being completed in 1915, is that right?” Ryan asked.

“Yes. I was commissioned in 1915 during the height of the Great War. I was present at the Battle of Jutland as well as the subsequent Action of 19 August. Both battles were deemed inconclusive, but… it was a poor showing. In my opinion, both battles were a loss for the Royal Navy. We lost more sailors and more tonnage than the High Seas fleet did, I just happened to be there for it. My first hit came to fruition against the battlecruiser Von der Tann of the high seas fleet during the Battle of Jutland. However, shortly after, I was struck by a shell that hit the port-wing engine room and jammed my rudder. I took several heavy hits during the chaos, even defending the armored cruiser Warrior, who had been critically damaged. And yet, I fought on. My steering gear never worked quite right after that…” Warspite spoke, her tone firm as she remembered her past, over a century earlier.

Ryan watched her features like a hawk, ready to take action if she began to show signs of mental distress, but she kept on.

“When I finished repairs, I went out on a night training exercise… only for my crew to ram my vessel into the Valiant, one of my other sister's vessels. She held that over my head for years… I ended the war by… leading the high seas fleet to their internment… I saw some of the German Kansen there for the first time.” Warspite said with a soft chuckle.

“How was that?” Ryan asked.

“Sad. Knowing that we… Kansen to our nations, born for no reason other than to fight. Knowing that other nations had them… and that they could be allies or enemies… knowing that one day I could be forced to kill someone like me. It was a sobering experience.” Warspite recalled.

“What did you do between the world wars?” Ryan asked.

“Mainly spring cruises. I was a part of the Royal Fleet Review in 1924, presided by His Majesty King George the Fifth… not the battleship, the man she was named after. In 1934, I underwent a massive retrofit process that basically turned me into a brand new warship… just in time for the second world war. I was set back to sea in 1937, just two years prior…” Warspite reminisced.

“And then?” Ryan asked softly.

“Andrew Cunningham… a man among men. He became my Captain. From 1939 to 1943, he was my captain at Narvik and in the Mediterranean. We fought the Germans and Italians by day… and by night… we… were more.” Warspite said as a small blush crossed her face.

Ryan felt the pit in his stomach open again.

“You were involved with Sir Andrew Cunningham?” Ryan asked.

“I was… for a time. I did love him… I truly did. He gave me my nickname, the Grand Old Lady. He's… actually the reason I wear spats below my uniform as opposed to pants or a dress. He slipped up saying it in public, but during our heavier nights together, we would toss around like kids… and he'd commonly say, ‘look how fast the Grand Old Lady can run when she hikes up her skirt.’. Remembering such times… it does bring a smile to my face.” Warspite said with a soft smile.

Ryan smiled softly as well.

“But… as with every good thing, shadows lurk. I became pregnant during one of our nights in 1943… several months before the Italian surrender. The Italians surrendered on the 3rd of September and the armistice was signed on the 8th. But, the Gerries still occupied Italy… so, we fought. I was nearing my delivery date on the 16th of September when I was stationed off of Salerno, providing fire support for the fifth army. I… I didn't even see it coming. A Gerry fighter broke through and dropped their new superweapon… the Fritz-X. It had sank Roma not seven days prior. We should have been more vigilant… I should have been more vigilant. When the bomb hit… I was thrown harshly to the deck by the blast, but the greatest damage had been done… the baby I was carrying… it died due to the damage and stress on my body… nearly full term.” Warspite spoke as the sound of a tray dropping and china shattering behind the gazebo was heard. Ryan and Warspite turned to see Belfast standing there, a look of pained horror plastered over her features.

Warspite's tears fell silently as she realized that Belfast had heard her. Ryan quickly paused the recording.

“Lady Warspite. If you need a break, please take it.” Ryan pushed.

Belfast rushed to her side and pulled her into a hug.

“Lady Warspite… I had no clue.” Belfast whispered softly.

Warspite wept softly as she fought hard to reel in her emotions. The memories of losing her child, even now, stung worse than any hit she had taken.

“His name was Andrew… four more weeks… I would have had a beautiful baby boy…” Warspite whispered as Belfast held her head.

Belfast continued to hold her close as Warspite sniffed her tears back, attempting to seal the memory once more.

“I was examined once the bombers were clear… they told me Andrew had died due to the fall I took from the blast, it hit his head… my small body wasn't enough to protect him. The doctors onboard helped me deliver the stillbirth and ensured I would be okay… I remember bringing down my flag and removing the Union Jack from my mast to wrap his tiny body in… I pinned the flag shut with the Victoria Cross I received from Scapa Flow at the end of the Great War. The crew pulled up damaged deck boards and cut them apart to fashion a coffin for his body… and I buried him at sea off the coast of Salerno.” Warspite admitted through tear-choked sobs.

Ryan looked wholly uncomfortable as Belfast did her level best to support the battleship. Reaching between her breasts, she retrieved a flask.

“Lady Warspite. Have a drink.” Belfast offered softly, unscrewing the cap of the flask.

Warspite nodded and downed every drop in seconds, breathing harshly at the burning sensation.

“Russian?” Warspite asked.

“It's the only thing that works for us, Milady.” Belfast said as she helped Warspite straighten her sundress and dry her eyes. With a couple of deep breaths, Warspite looked at Ryan, her eyes red and puffy.

“We may continue, Commoner.” Warspite spoke softly.

“A-are you sure?” Ryan asked.

Warspite nodded.

Ryan slowly hit the record button again.

“What… happened after Salerno?” Ryan asked softly.

“My captain became cold… distant. It was after the repairs that I learned he had a wife back home… he had been married since 1929… and I… was nothing but a clandestine affair, covered up by the advancement of the war effort. I sought comfort… support… anything, but it was never given. He removed his flag from my mast after Salerno… went on to become the First Sea Lord… while I… well… I trudged along. Warspite… My name says it all. Carry on in spite of war. So I did. Fired my guns for the final time after actions at D-day. I was… sent to Deal on November 1st, 1944. I sat, awaiting new orders… only to learn that… the Admiralty… and by extension, First Sea Lord Andrew Cunningham… had approved the order to scrap my vessel.” Warspite said softly.

Ryan wiped a tear from his eye. The Grand Old Lady… a beacon of strength for the Royal Navy, betrayed and burned so brutally by the man she loved, it was heart rending to behold.

“From there… it's a blur. I devoted my time to supporting my sister, Her Majesty. I took to her shadow like a tree to the sun. Even during my not so glamorous service as a submarine… I remained her loyal retainer. I've never taken another man… I've never even entertained the thought… but… that is my story. The Grand Old Lady… Warspite. Survived two world wars… but lost her heart along the way.” Warspite admitted softly, and cheerful tones she had were now long gone.

Ryan moved to hit the pause button but was stopped by Warspite.

“Next question, please.” Warspite said hollowly.

Ryan swallowed.

“Azur Lane. You were present during the initial stages of brainstorming right? This occurred in London?” Ryan asked quickly.

“I was. In fact, I was the one to pick up the Knight Commander and Black Dragon from London Heathrow. The very first thing he did was insult me.” Warspite said with a soft chuckle.

“That doesn't sound quite right.” Ryan said softly.

“Well, he didn't really… and he wasn't trying to. Considering New Jersey and Vestal were his only real interactions with Kansen, it was clear that he had no clue what to look for. He thought I'd be taller, like New Jersey.” Warspite said, a smile slowly creeping back onto her face.

“So just confusion?” Ryan asked.

Warspite nodded.

“Azur Lane was pitched after his day with Bel, here. We went together to her vessel and toured her ship. Seeing him like that… he reminded me of a kid in a candy store. I'll admit… seeing him learn about us, experience the stories we told and how he interacted with us… he grew on me. I… I'll admit… had he not been in bed with the dragon… I… might have eventually given him a chance.” Warspite said as she looked at Belfast, who had remained by her side.

“I'm sure he would have accepted and adored your companionship, Lady Warspite.” Belfast spoke softly.

“So it's safe to say that you enjoy him as a person? We already heard your thoughts on him as a commander.” Ryan said.

“He's a joy to be around. Especially when with his kids and the girls. He's a lighthearted guy. Jovial. A bit reclusive in social settings, but the girls keep him engaged. He's really taken our comfort to the forefront of his responsibilities. As I said earlier, anything we could want, he will obtain… no matter the cost. He's built out our tiny island base into something we can truly call home. I appreciate everything he has done for everyone here and I am glad to have donned my uniform one final time to aid in making Azur Lane a reality.” Warspite said with a genuine smile.

“Did you want to go into anything else?” Ryan asked.

Warspite shook her head.

“I believe I have spoken my peace. I thank you for your time and the opportunity to share my story…” Warspite said as she looked around to see Elizabeth approaching the Gazebo. Her smile softened and she stood from her seat.

“I apologize, Your Majesty. I was unaware you were coming.” Warspite spoke professionally as Elizabeth put her hands on the battleship's shoulders and pushed her gently back into her seat.

“Bel told me everything.” Elizabeth spoke softly as Warpite's face fell. Ryan took this as a cue to cut the recording.

“Why didn't you ever tell me?” Elizabeth asked softly.

“It is not proper for a retainer to trouble Her Majesty with such trivial matters.” Warspite spoke softly.

“Trivial?! Warspite… you've suffered for eighty years under the weight of your past, and you never once thought to share it with me? I am Queen Elizabeth, that much is true, but I am your sister first and foremost.” Elizabeth spat as she drew Warspite into a hug.

“You're too stubborn for your own good, Warspite. Is this why you've clung so tightly to me for all this time?” Elizabeth asked.

Warspite hesitated but nodded eventually.

“I… was too afraid to open myself up again. And with you being the figurehead for the Royal Navy Kansen, I found the perfect place to be so that I would never have to again.” Warspite replied softly.

“We're going to get you some help. Even if you continue this path, I will not stand by and allow you to bottle those memories up. We'll talk to the Knight Commander and see what can be done. I want my sister to live again. To smile freely. To laugh alongside us. I adore that you have been my retainer for so long, Warspite. I adore the closeness we share, now more than ever. But to know it all began because you had lost everything? And that you repressed it all for the sake of others? That doesn't sit well with me. Can we please find someone to help you?” Elizabeth asked softly.

Warspite sniffled softly before breaking down crying in Elizabeth's arms, nodding as her sister held her tighter.

“We'll talk to the Knight Commander once we're done here. See if we can't find a way to help you process everything. And until then, I will not allow you to see me as anyone other than your sister. I have decreed as such.” Elizabeth said as she reached into her bag. She pulled out a simple silver tiara and put it on Warspite's head.

“Members of the royal family do not address their family by titles. Until the day that you can look at your past and remain steadfast, I do not want to hear the words ‘Her Majesty’ or ‘Your Majesty’ come from your mouth. Call me Elizabeth… or Lizzie. The Knight Commander likes to call me that, and I've grown attached. Even little Bellora has begun calling me Nana Lizzie. Okay?” Elizabeth asked as Warspite nodded through her tears.

Elizabeth turned to Ryan.

“This interview is over.” Elizabeth declared.

Ryan nodded.

“Warspite herself had just wrapped it up. I'm simply here for support if needed.” Ryan spoke.

“Good. Then we shall take our leave. My sister deserves to start her road to recovery without further delay… eighty years is long enough to delay processing such trauma.” Elizabeth said as she and Belfast helped Warspite to her feet and guided her from the Gazebo in the direction of the command building.

Ryan looked down at his notes, looking over the names of potential interviewees.

“I'll ask Soyuz to reschedule… I think my heart needs a bit to recover after hearing that…” Ryan muttered to himself as he packed his gear and headed home.

Chapter Text

Ryan sat out on the forward deck of the Graf Spee as she, Dewey, and San Jacinto sailed along towards Midway. Ryan had been set to do an interview with the Deutschland sisters, but a sudden message from SecNav had me send these three heading to intercept someone looking to join Azur Lane. Unwilling to miss being onboard a legendary Kriegsmarine vessel in transit, Ryan proposed going with to document everything as a study for how the girls were treated without NJ or I's direct presence. I readily agreed to this with the stipulation that Ryan deliver a report to me so I could use potential findings for continued talks with the Filipino senate for our first expansion.

As the ships sailed quietly through the ocean, Ryan looked out over the ocean, reminiscing about what his life was like prior to Azur Lane. Prior to being a stowaway on the New Jersey when we made our escape. Prior to Kansen and learning the deplorable conditions endured by so many. It was during this i trospection that Ryan heard footsteps from behind him. Turning, he found the panzerschiff sisters standing behind him. Spee standing confidently in front of Deutschland, who seemed content to hide behind her sister. Despite her crass attitude during the war, it seemed that over eighty years in confinement took all the boisterous air from her sails, leaving nought but a timid shell of a once proud Kansen who seemed more than happy to let her baby sister take the limelight now.

“How are you handling the voyage, Herr Ryan?” Spee asked.

“It's different from being on a battleship. I can feel the waves slightly more here.” Ryan admitted.

“The only thing ‘battleship’ about me is the caliber of my guns. I'm still a cruiser through and through.” Spee said as she and Deutschland sat across from Ryan.

“So do we know who we're picking up?” Ryan asked.

“Kommandant said we're linking up with someone known as Lady Lex and her sister Sara. I do not know what that could mean.” Spee replied.

“Ah. Lexington and Saratoga. The second and third carriers ever built by the US Navy. I wonder if Lexington is coming via her Essex class hull.” Ryan mused.

“The Kommandant told us to expect a carrier, so I would assume this to be the case.” Spee said as she looked at her sister.

“Are you going to say hello?” Spee asked. Deutschland hesitated.

“G-guten tag, Herr Ryan.” Deutschland spoke softly.

“Eighty years in solitary confinement in a prison separate from the others has severely degraded her confidence. It's been a task to adjust, but I'm managing.” Spee said softly.

“Is she going to be okay on camera?” Ryan asked.

Spee nodded.

“Let's get it out of the way so she can relax. She's been a bit anxious about it ever since we left.” Spee said as she looked over to see Deutschland picking at her nails.

Ryan nodded as he hit the record button on his camera.

“Hello everyone, Ryan here. Today's guests are a pair of sisters with two very different lives being lived prior to their reunion. If memory serves, I have already introduced Graf Spee when they joined the rebellion nearly two years ago now, but it's always nice to have a refresher. Girls, could you introduce yourselves to the audience?” Ryan asked.

“Guten Tag. I'm the panzerschiffe Graf Spee, sister of the lead ship Deutschland.” Spee said, her glistening blue tail swishing softly behind her.

“Guten Tag. I'm Deutschland. Lead ship of the Deutschland class, Panzerschiffes of the Kriegsmarine.” Deutschland spoke softly.

“Excellent. Now I guess for those of us at home with no clue what a panzerschiffe is, what would that roughly translate to?” Ryan asked.

Deutschland looked up.

“It directly translates to Ironclad. But for us, it means we are heavily armored and even heavier armed. We are late interwar cruiser hulls with interwar battleship caliber guns as well as modernizations like standardized secondary gun batteries and quad torpedo launchers.” Deutschland replied, her tone forcing confidence, causing Spee to beam with pride.

“So a cruiser hull with battleship guns? What makes you different from a large cruiser like Guam?” Ryan asked.

“We do not have a heavy displacement like Fraulein Guam. Guam displaces thirty thousand and a quarter tons. My sister and I combined only displace twenty-eight thousand tons if we both had our vessels. But the fact remains, we have guns only twenty-two millimeters smaller in caliber. She sports the 305mm, we carry 283mm.” Spee explained.

“So you are quite small despite the firepower you provide. Has that led people to underestimate you?” Ryan asked.

“In the beginning, yes. But very quickly we earned the title of ‘pocket battleships’ from the British due to our small stature.” Deutschland spoke up.

“I see. You don't seem to quite like the term.” Ryan poised.

“It's a misnomer. We may seem deceptively tough, but we're still only cruisers. Our cannons might be large, but we pale to that of the Battleship Queen Elizabeth or Warspite. In essence we, like the large cruisers, don't really have a place in a formal navy. When we were commerce raiding before the Americans got involved? Yeah we were doing well. But when the Battle of the Atlantic took off and we weren't the premier Navy… we kinda just… faded into obscurity.” Deutschland replied.

“How so?” Ryan asked.

Spee's featured hardened.

“I was ordered from high command to position within established merchant lanes in late july early august of nineteen thirty-nine. Weeks before the outbreak of world war two. Between September 1st and December 17th of that year… I alone sank fifty some odd thousand tons of allied shipping before Ajax, Achilles, and Exeter caught up to us outside Montevideo. I laid into Exeter hard during the battle of the river plate. Hit her three times in half an hour, disabling half of her available firepower. Ajax and Achilles came to relieve pressure… they damaged my fuel systems, forcing me to retreat inland. My bastard captain… wouldn't trust my judgement, my intuition. I told him I could repair the damage, destroy those cruisers and get out before the British carriers and French battleships could cross the Atlantic. I could have gotten us away from South America… But no, false report from high command told him to scuttle. I had no choice but to obey. Bastard shot himself not three days later, leaving me to try and pick up the pieces.” Spee spat harshly.

“That… sounds terrible.” Ryan said softly.

“I managed to avoid showing my face. I was never once associated with my crew. Even when USS Helena showed up down in Montevideo, nobody recognized me. So… I found a quiet spot overlooking the bay… and built a cabin. And I lived there alone until 1947, when Eugen pulled her vessel into the bay. She moored up on my burnt out wreck and I invited her to my home. We lived there until about two years ago, completely bypassing Nuremberg and all the other crap that the war put on display.” Spee added.

Deutschland looked at Spee.

“You never… told me that.” Deutschland whispered quietly.

“I've been so caught up in having you back, I never thought to mention it, große schwester. But yes… I spent eighty years living in the abandoned hills overlooking the river plate and Montevideo with Prinz Eugen.” Spee explained.

Ryan turned to Deutschland.

“I've noticed you're a bit more… reserved. Did you want to say a few words?” Ryan asked.

“Not much to say. I was sent to sea in 1933 in service to the Reichsmarine. Renamed Lützow in 1940 after the Kriegsmarine sold the Hipper class cruiser of the same name to the Soviets. The madman didn't want to risk the name of the fatherland being sunk in combat, so I officially lost my name in 1940. I participated in interference patrols during the Spanish Civil War, Operation Rösselsprung, the battle of the Barents Sea… and Operation Weserübung…” Deutschland spoke, her tone growing softer throughout.

Deutschland reached into her pocket and produced a small blue cube, swirling with golden energy, along with a rusted bolt and a chunk of a coat of arms.

“I… had time when I was released from prison. I asked for permission to go to Oscarsborg… a debt to a friend. I'll repay it here.” Deutschland said softly.

Spee’s eyes widened.

“Is that…”

Deutschland held her breath as she joined the bolt and the cube, leading to a flash of light consuming the bow of Spee's vessel.

Before the eyes of the camera, the body of a woman formed rapidly. Long slender legs, strawberry blonde hair stretching down to the middle of her back, vibrant red eyes. As her body settled, a red skirt, grey tunic, red and black scarf, and black thigh high stockings adorned her alabaster flesh before taking a deep first breath.

Spee and Ryan were speechless as the woman turned to Deutschland.

“Deutschy!” The woman cried excitedly as she ran to the now-timid battlecruiser and hugged her tightly.

“Hey, Blücher… sorry it took so long.” Deutschland whispered softly.

“So long? How long?” Blücher asked.

“The year is 2024. So… eighty-four years.” Deutschland said softly.

Blücher looked around and saw Spee.

“Spee!” Blücher cried as the other battlecruiser was drawn into the group hug.

“That was risky, sister!” Spee cried as she embraced the hipper class cruiser.

“I promised I'd find her. But when I saw Lord Bismarck alive and well again… I knew I'd need to try. I… waited until we had a chance to be away from Hipper and her sisters… just in case.” Deutschland said softly.

“But how did you know what to take?” Spee demanded.

“The bolt and coat of arms would have been given as a souvenir to Hipper as a keepsake. I picked up the cube on principle.” Deutschland whispered softly.

“Is everything alright?” Blücher asked.

“You've been dead for eighty-four years. You died in Norway.” Spee spoke as Ryan recorded everything.

“Yes. I remember… torpedoed by an old fortress. Not even another boat!” Blücher said cheerfully at first, only to pout during the second statement.

“Lord Bismarck said you died… holding onto your lover.” Spee recalled.

Blücher's eyes dropped a bit.

“I did. But I promised I wasn't going to leave him, that we'd be together again real soon… I guess I lied, huh?” Blücher whimpered.

“In a sense… but your acceptance… it preserved your life. You've come back to us.” Spee said softly.

Blücher nodded before looking at Ryan.

“Who are you? And what is that?” Blücher asked before San Jacinto and Dewey's vessels caught her eye.

“Woah! What're those!?” Blücher cried.

“You have a lot to catch up on, but we have time. Join us, we're recalling stories for this man's… hmm… he's shooting a film about us. Do you have anything you'd like to tell the camera?” Spee asked, adjusting her language on the fly to keep Blücher from becoming too confused.

Blücher sat next to Deutschland.

“I… do I just say things then? Do I wait for him to say ‘action’?” Blücher asked.

“Not… not at all, miss. I've been recording this whole time.” Ryan stammered.

Blücher gasped before covering her chest.

“You didn't film my naughty bits did you?” Blücher accused.

“I assure you… I will have him snip those moments from the film.” Spee assured her.

Ryan nodded slowly.

Blücher sighed.

“So… I just talk?” Blücher asked.

“Yup. Anything you want.” Spee said as she noticed Dewey and San Jacinto approaching.

“Okay then… Guten Tag! I'm Blücher! Second ship of the Hipper class of Heavy Cruisers. I love my big sis Hipper and my baby sisters, Eugen, Seydlitz, and Lützow! I sailed for six months and got myself sunk by an immobile Norwegian Fortress that was built nearly a hundred years prior. My story is short and sweet, just like me!” Blücher regaled sweetly.

Dewey and San Jacinto boarded shortly after.

“Lexington is waiting for us at Midway. Saratoga is with her. We'll reach it in half a day. In the meantime… who is this?” San Jacinto asked, pointing to Blücher.

“The final missing sister of the Hipper class. Our friend, Blücher.” Deutschland said softly.

“Eugen is going to be over the moon.” Dewey said.

“Agreed. So will the Kommandant.” Deutschland spoke up as she handed the piece of Blücher's coat of arms back to her.

“Hmm? What am I gonna do with this, Deutschy?” Blücher asked.

“I've been told that you can call out to a piece of your old hull and it will reform with any available material nearby. You can sail again.” Deutschland answered softly.

Blücher's eyes sparkled as she did just that, calling out to her old hull as old, decrepit shipwrecks from years in the past slowly rose to be torn apart by a mysterious invisible force. Ryan turned the camera to document this phenomenon before seeking cover behind one of Graf Spee's secondary gun turrets due to the sheer amount of heat being thrown by the rapidly forming heavy cruiser.

After about an hour, a new Hipper class cruiser was sailing happily beside the Graf Spee, decked out with traditional German war paint and yellow turrets.

“That was amazing.” Ryan said as he returned to the camera, turning it back to the girls.

“The cubes are an enigma… but they respond to us and they respond to strong wills. It seems even physics can be overwritten in some cases.” Spee said as she turned towards the camera.

“Was there anything more you needed from us, Herr Ryan?” Spee asked.

“Not at all. I think this footage alone is going to attract quite a few more people to the channel.” Ryan said as he stopped the camera before looking at Blücher.

“If you don't mind, miss Blücher. Could I trouble you for a tour of your vessel while we make the final stretch to Midway?” Ryan asked.

“Not at all! Come! I'll show you around! I'm gonna just follow you, Spee!” Blücher said as she picked up Ryan without so much as an ounce of effort and quickly hopped across the waves to her vessel, leaving Spee, Deutschland, Dewey and San Jacinto alone.

“Was she always this chipper?” Dewey asked.

Deutschland and Spee nodded.

“With the sadness everyone in Azur Lane has endured… her neverending spring of cheer and joy will be a much appreciated respite." Deutschland said softly as the fleet continued their trek.

Chapter Text

I sat in my office chair, spinning listlessly as I procrastinated on a stack of finance reports that I was contemplating calling my mother to help me understand. The girls were out for the day. Mommy/son and mommy/daughter dates being one of the few things the girls had that didn't pull me from my work, and something I encouraged. As I picked up the phone to call my mother, I heard the telltale sound of a pager going off in my head. The unmistakable sound of a radio hail.

“This is Tyler.” I answered, speaking into the empty office.

“Commander. I have news.” Dewey spoke softly.

“Is something wrong?” I asked. I turned to the computer and quickly pulled up satellite feed that was tracking Spee, Dewey, and San Jacinto on their way to Midway.

“Not at all, sir. We're almost to Midway, about four hours at current speed. But there's been a development.” Dewey said as I refreshed the satellite feed and saw a new ship keeping pace with the three ship formation.

“Does it have anything to do with the new ship keeping pace with your formation? Have you been intercepted? Wait… that's not modern… Nothing made nowadays has four gun turrets.” I spoke as I studied the image on screen.

“Apparently Deutschland had possession of a cube and material. The last of the Hipper Class has been resurrected, Commander.” Dewey answered.

“Last of the Hipper class? Let's see… we have Hipper, Eugen, Tallinn, and Weser… Blücher?” I asked.

“Correct.” Dewey replied.

I smiled softly.

“I think our German friends will be quite happy to hear that.” I replied.

“Should I send her back to base with Spee? Jack and I can handle picking up Lexington and Saratoga, sir.” Dewey requested.

“I think that should be alright. Where is Ryan? I need that report.” I asked.

“I'll have him transferred to my vessel, Commander. He is touring the Blücher right now.” Dewey spoke.

“Gotcha. Have him transferred quickly and have Spee guide Blücher here. I have a cute idea for Ryan's channel, but I need to get the ball rolling now.” I said as the plan formulated rapidly.

“Understood, sir. I'll have it done.” Dewey said as she cut the line.

I did a little happy dance before switching the radio channels. I'd been sitting on a routine delivery escort mission for a few days while I was deciding on who to send. This bit of good news had made my choice rather clear.

“Kiev, Eugen, Hipper, Weser, Tallinn. Report to my office on the double. I have an assignment I'd like you all to undertake.” I said as I turned to face the large window in my office. A few minutes later, the aforementioned girls entered my office.

“We have arrived, Comrade.” Kiev spoke firmly.

“Excellent. I'm thankful for the prompt response. Before that, however, let me ask a few things. Kiev? How are you feeling? Getting used to the new arm Reno made for you?” I asked, turning to see Kiev sporting a fully cybernetic arm that had been seamlessly incorporated into her shoulder.

“It is odd, Comrade. But I am getting used to it quickly. I should be back to full strength in a few weeks.” Kiev replied earnestly.

I smiled.

“Excellent. I love to hear that. Eugen? How is Bismarck doing? She looks ready to burst.” I asked.

“She is well, Kommandant. We are excited to bring this life into the world. And of course, a continued thanks for your involvement in this momentous occasion.” Eugen said sweetly.

“Good. I'll be taking over her care during your deployment. So if there is anything I need to know, please leave it to me in a note. Hipper, you and my brother are adjusting well to parenthood?” I asked.

“Yes, sir. Anna is doing very well, a certified daddy's girl if I've ever seen one.” Hipper said with a soft smile.

“I love that for you guys. Tallinn, Weser, I'm still working on securing your vessels for you, but of course the Russian government isn't being the most cooperative entity on the planet. So for this mission, you two and Hipper are ride-alongs. Extra security. I hope this is okay.” I said before standing and handing a file to Kiev.

Tallinn and Weser nodded.

“What is the job, Kommandant?” Eugen asked.

“I need a pair of ships escorted from Vietnam to Saudi Arabia. Standard cargo shipment, but of course Piracy and tensions in the Red Sea make such travel dangerous. Hence why Kiev is going to flagship this mission. Having my American carriers in the region would draw unwanted attention.” I reasoned.

The girls all nodded.

“I'd like you to head out posthaste, as I've been sitting on this for a few days waiting to try and figure out who would be best to send out. But considering your knowledge of the region and Kiev's non-alignment to the US, you two are perfect with the rest of your class acting as security for you, Eugen.” I explained.

The girls nodded again before heading out of my office and down to the port. Within the hour, my aviation cruiser and my Hipper class cruiser were heading West towards Vietnam. The file I gave to Kiev had the home port of Cat-Lai in Ho Chi Minh City. It would take them three and a half weeks to complete the assignment and return home. Plenty of time to get Blücher situated in Azur Lane and get her reintegrated into the Iron Blood faction.

As soon as Kiev and Eugen were out of visual range, I contacted Bismarck.

“Lord Bismarck?” I asked.

“Kommandant. Nice to hear from you. I have told you before that addressing me in such a way is wholly unnecessary.” Bismarck spoke softly.

“I know. But it fits. Anyway, are you mobile?” I asked.

“I can move freely, Kommandant. Do you require my presence?” Bismarck asked.

“I do. I have good news for you.” I said as Bismarck cut the line. Nearly ten minutes later, Soyuz and Bismarck entered. The baby bump was hard to miss. I smiled softly.

“I'm sorry for summoning you so suddenly, but I felt like you'd want to be here.” I said as Soyuz eased Bismarck into one of the high backed chairs in my office.

“Greetings, Comrade.” Soyuz spoke cheerfully.

“Thank you for aiding Bismarck here, Soyuz. It is a great help.” I said as Soyuz looked at Bismarck.

“Please call again if you need assistance. I am available all day.” Soyuz said as she left the room with a wave.

“What is this about, Kommandant? What good news have you to lay upon me?” Bismarck asked.

“Blücher.” I replied firmly.

Bismarck perked up.

“She died in Norway.” Bismarck replied.

I turned my screen to show her the satellite image of Blücher keeping pace with Spee.

“Apparently Deutschland has been keeping her cube and items pulled from the wreck for a little over a year. Barring the secrecy, Blücher has been revived.” I replied.

Bismarck smiled softly.

“Please pardon her, Kommandant. I'm sure she had her reasons.” Bismarck said softly.

“I bet. I have no plans to punish this. In fact, I want to reward her at a later date. But… I wanted to do something for Hipper and her sisters. So I sent them out to Vietnam to undertake a mundane security gig.” I said.

Bismarck's eyes shifted.

“So Blücher could be here waiting for their return. Am I correct?” Bismarck asked.

“Yes. I wanted to record the reunion and hand the footage to Ryan for his channel. Everyone loves a nice, wholesome reunion. It's a feelgood kind of thing.” I replied.

“I agree that it could be quite a heartfelt ordeal. But why ask for me?” Bismarck asked.

“Because I wanted someone there when she and Spee gets here in a few days to welcome her home. Someone who can show her around and get her used to life here. Who better than Lord Bismarck? I asked.

Bismarck nodded.

“I understand, Kommandant. I shall be available upon her return.” Bismarck said as she slowly stood and walked from the room, where Soyuz was waiting to walk her home.

XXXXXVVVVVXXXXX

Dewey hopped onto the deck of the Blücher after speaking with Spee. She found Blücher and Ryan by the Bruno turret talking about the intricacies of German engineering.

“Ryan, you are to report to my vessel and we will continue on to Midway. The commander needs that report to get a feel for the new expansion in the Philippines. I've come to transfer you, considering Miss Blücher doesn't have a helipad to land my helicopter.” Dewey spoke softly.

Ryan nodded.

“Sorry to run, Blücher, but orders are orders.” Ryan said as Blücher smiled.

“No problem! We can continue this another time!” Blücher replied cheerfully.

“Furthermore, Blücher, you are to form up with Graf Spee. You two have been recalled to Bikini Atoll. Commander's orders.” Dewey explained.

“Okie dokie! Just follow Spee and Deutschy?” Blücher asked.

“Yup. She'll take you back to base.” Dewey said as she helped Ryan down the side of Blücher's vessel and into a small rubber boat before motoring back to the USS Dewey.

Blücher turned out to follow Spee back to base while watching San Jacinto and Dewey continue on towards Midway.

XXXXXVVVVVXXXXX

Several days later, I stood on the docks with NJ, Z-23, and Bismarck. Belfast was tending to the house while Impero and Shinano played with the kids in the back yard of our home. Down in the port, Bismark sat in a lawn chair that had been brought over by Z-23. I had asked Z-23 to aid Bismarck when possible to give Soyuz time to continue reorganizing the Northern Parliament command structure.

“They should be here soon, right?” Bismarck asked.

“Should be. The trip isn't that long.” NJ said as the distant sound of Graf Spee's fog horn alerted us to her presence.

“Looks like our resident Panzerschiffes have returned along with the new arrival.” I said as I pulled out my phone and began recording the docking sequence. Blücher, not yet having her own berth, anchored out in the bay. Within ten minutes, Spee and Deutschland stood before me as Blücher ran over to join them.

“We have returned, Kommandant. Do you have orders for us to have requested our expedited return?” Spee asked, ready to depart once more.

“Nope. You've completed your duty. I needed you to lead our newest arrival home. And you have done so vigilantly and without delay.” I replied happily.

“Are you the Kommandant?” Blücher asked curiously, obviously not noticing Bismarck off to her side.

“I am. My name is Tyler, Kansen of Battleship Hawaii. I take it you are Miss Blücher, sister of the Admiral Hipper class of heavy cruisers.” I spoke casually.

“Aye, sir. Second ship, Blücher. Sailed for six months before getting myself sunk by a fortress. Apparently that was eighty-four years ago.” Blücher answered.

“It is wonderful to meet you, Blücher. I have heard you are an absolute ray of sunshine. I can see why.” I said with a smile.

“Aww. Someone's trying to butter me up! Who said that?” Blücher asked cheerfully.

“I did, Blücher. It's good to see that death hasn't dulled your cheer or stolen your perpetually good mood.” Bismarck spoke as she stood with help from Z-23.

“Lord Bismarck! Oh my goodness! I didn't see you there! How have you been?!” Blücher said as she ran over to hug Bismarck.

“Careful, Blücher. She is with child.” Z-23 warned.

Blücher paused and examined Bismarck to see that there was, in fact, a baby bump. Adjusting her approach, Blücher hugged Bismarck from the side as opposed to head on.

“It is good to see you, my friend.” Bismarck said softly.

“You look so different, Lord Bismarck.” Blücher whispered.

“I am like you. I died the year after you. I was revived by our French adversaries three years ago. My change is a result of that.” Bismarck said as I gave a sharp whistle. Several seconds later, Geryon bounded over and laid next to a tree nearby.

Blücher looked at him in awe.

“This is Geryon, my rigging. Because he cannot be dismissed, it feels right to introduce him alongside myself.” Bismarck said as Blücher went over and began giving Geryon a mountain of scratches and headpats, something the mechanical beast seemed to enjoy immensely.

“Blücher. I would like for you to stay here with us, here in Azur Lane.” I spoke firmly.

“Here? Of course! Lord Bismarck is here. Zed is here. I'm sure a bunch of other Kansen are here. I'll stay here.” Blücher said cheerfully.

“Your sisters are here too.” I replied.

Blücher stopped dead in her tracks.

“My… sisters?” Blücher asked softly.

I nodded.

“I sent them out on a routine escort job because I want them to come back to you being here as a surprise. So they will be back in a few weeks. Just in time to have you settled in as the newest member of Azur Lane.” I spoke.

“Also… I feel you should know. You're an aunt.” NJ spoke.

“Oh that's right, Hipper and the Kommandant's brother had a child late last year.” Z-23 spoke.

Blücher's eyes widened.

“Big sis had a kid?!” Blücher cried.

“She did. Come, we'll introduce you.” I said as everyone present headed for Hipper's residence.

XXXXXVVVVVXXXXX

Jo was warming up a bowl of apple sauce for Anna when a knock came to the door. As he stirred the bowl, he walked to the door and opened it.

“Oh. Sup?” Jo asked as soon as he saw me.

“We have a new addition who happens to also be your sister in law. And naturally, little Anna's aunt.” I said as Jo stepped aside.

“Well, Hipper isn't here. But I guess you know that.” Jo said as he sat in a chair next to Anna's high chair, giving Blücher a good look at her niece.

Blücher's eyes lit up as she looked at the child before her. Small, slightly pudgy due to some lingering baby fat, a thin head of bold blonde hair and striking blue eyes thanks to my brother's genes.

“She looks like her mother.” Blücher whispered softly as she approached.

“She took a lot from her mom. Definitely worth listening to her complaining about the little one curbstomping her bladder against her pelvis weeks thirty-two through thirty-seven. Then for the last two weeks before going head down, she decided to cuddle up under Hipper's rib cage. All in all, Hipper said she'd do it again, but not for a while.” Jo said as Blücher gently played with Anna's arms.

“Such a troublemaker for your mama. Naughty naughty.” Blücher cooed softly, earning her a giggle from Anna.

At that moment, another knock came to the door. Jo got up and answered it, only for the seven foot giant known as Friedrich to make herself known.

“Ah. My dear child has come. Guten Tag.” Friedrich said as she looked right at me. If NJ had issue with this, she refused to vocalize it in this moment.

“Guten Tag, Friedrich. What brings you around here?” I asked.

“I come over every so often to those in Iron Blood who are with children to see if any assistance is needed. I have come to learn that I am… adept at managing children for a small time so that Graf Zeppelin and Admiral Hipper can enjoy some alone time without fussing about finding care for their little ones. I noticed that Admiral Hipper was sent on commission, so I figured it would be wise to drop by and ask Herr Sweigart if he needed any form of assistance.” Friedrich replied as she looked over at Bismarck.

“Oh my. It seems another stop on my rounds will be required soon. How far along, my child?” Friedrich asked.

“She's due in two months. Princess Clara, named after her mother. Eugen told me about her time in London in which she chose that name to cover for herself and the Kommandant. And, as we recently discovered, she's biologically related to royalty through our donor.” Bismarck said as she looked at me.

I sighed.

“Princess Clara, huh? Does she have a last name?” I asked.

“It is… sadly unoriginal… but Kiel-Voss. As Eugen and I have no formal last names, and unlike the Americans, we did not need to craft false identities, it made sense to pay homage to our birthplace. So we took the town Eugen was constructed in, as well as one of the names of the shipbuilders that constructed me. So her full title and name is Princess Clara Kiel-Voss.” Bismarck replied as Friedrich approached.

“May I feel?” Friedrich asked.

Bismarck hesitated but nodded.

“Carefully.” Bismarck spoke as Friedrich placed her hand on Bismarck's stomach.

Friedrich smiled warmly.

“She is a strong little one. A healthy baby girl. As one should expect from a trio of astounding parents.” Friedrich said as she gave me some side-eye.

Friedrich stood and finally saw Blücher.

“Ah. I do not know you. What is your name, my child?” Friedrich asked.

“Blücher. Second ship of the Hipper class.” Blücher replied, a tone of confusion clouding her usual cheer.

“The missing sister. A shame my dear child has just sent them all on commission. I'm sure they'd love to be reunited.” Friedrich said softly.

“That's the reason, Friedrich. I wanted to record their reactions when they get back from their assignment to see Blücher here waiting for them. And upload it to Ryan's site.” I said honestly.

Friedrich put her fist in her hand as if an idea had popped into her head.

“Is this another one of the human things that you do to evoke emotions?” Friedrich asked.

“Yeah, kinda. The reasoning is because a lot of the interviews, while necessary and warranted, are quite downtrodden and sad. But we need to show the world that these girls are capable of more than just war and sad stories. Showing them something like this… makes everyone here feel that much more human, meaning more humans will support our existence.” I replied.

Friedrich nodded.

“I see. So sending them off was a way to plan this out to get the maximum effect?” Friedrich asked.

“Selfishly? Kinda. But also, the mission they're on is boring. Especially since we've seen a decrease in piracy in that sector over the past few months. So three and a half weeks of boring escort duty is being rewarded with a surprise reunion. I felt like I could improve our image while giving the Hipper class something nice.” I said with a smile.

Friedrich nodded again.

“I understand now. A wonderful idea, my dear child.” Friedrich said as her attention turned to Anna.

“And how are you doing, little one? Are you being a good girl for Papa?” Friedrich asked as she knelt in front of Anna's high chair as Jo fed the girl her applesauce.

We decided to spend the day visiting with Jo and Anna while giving Blücher a chance to bond with her niece. I even went so far as to make dinner that evening for everyone, something that was warmly received.

XXXXXVVVVVXXXXX

Three weeks later, I got a hail from Eugen stating that they had just passed the wind farm and had entered Azur Lane's territorial waters. It was here that I put my plan into action.

“How was escort duty, Eugen?” I asked.

“Slow and tedious, Kommandant. We did have a few fastboats try to board the freighters, but high caliber secondary gunfire overturned their boats and we were able to arrest them and turn them over to UN forces in Saudi Arabia. Other than that, we had a peaceful trip.” Eugen spoke.

“Good. And how are your sisters doing?” I asked.

“Everyone is ready to come home for a bit. Being at the ready for three weeks is exhausting even for us.” Eugen replied.

“Good. I like to hear that. Hey, while you were gone, your berth was damaged by a nasty storm that rolled through. I'll need you to dock closer to where my vessel is until I can get a crew in there to repair the facilities.” I lied.

“I understand, Kommandant. I'll be sure to adjust my docking procedure accordingly.” Eugen said as I looked off to my side to see the Iron Blood faction standing with Blücher. We had actually put her vessel in Eugen's berth, but since Eugen would reach the area where my vessel was docked first, she wouldn't see that. I muted my end of the line to talk to Blücher.

“Nervous?” I asked.

“Not at all! They're my sisters! I'm beyond excited, if anything!” Blücher quipped cheerfully.

I turned on my camera and set it up on a tripod pointing at the docks where Eugen was going to be forced to land. I moved to stand in front of Blücher as Eugen's vessel pulled in. I was flanked closely by Bismarck and Friedrich while Spee, Deutschland, as well as Zed, the other destroyers, and the submarines all crowded around to obscure Blücher from view.

As the sisters walked towards us, I remained unmoved.

“Mission complete, Kommandant.” Eugen said as she looked at Bismarck and smiled.

“Well done, Girls. Another successful commission in the books.” I stalled as Eugen, Hipper, Weser, and Tallinn all looked around.

“Right… not something worthy of having the entire faction meet us dockside…” Hipper spoke hesitantly.

“True… but this is.” I said as I stepped to the side, allowing everyone to see Blücher for the first time in over eighty-four years.

The screams were immediate as Hipper and Eugen both bolted forward to tackle Blücher to the ground in a group bear hug. Weser and Tallinn, while not nearly as vocal, wore shocked expressions as they cautiously approached.

“Looks like you all missed me!” Blücher chirped happily as she ruffled Hipper and Eugen's hair.

“Big sis, I think you're gonna bust right out of your shirt. Eighty-four years and those things just keep getting bigger. I told you that Little Eugen was just pulling your leg. And little Prinz, it's good to see you so grown up and mature. Married to Lord Bismarck as well? Color me impressed. I knew you had the courage to pull out of your shell.” Blücher cooed as Hipper and Eugen cried into her chest.

“When did this happen? Where did you find her?” Tallinn asked.

“Deutschland had her cube and parts of her hull. For reasons unknown, she waited until her trip to Midway to attempt a resurrection. But, the proof that it succeeded is undeniable.” I replied as Blücher slowly dragged Hipper and Eugen to their feet along with her.

“Lützow, Seydlitz. It is wonderful to see you both again… Lützow? Why are you dressed like a member of the Northern Parliament?” Blücher asked curiously.

“I… was transferred six days after you sank. I was in service to the Soviets until… nevermind that. Come here.” Tallinn demanded as she walked forward and hugged Blücher as well.

“Seydlitz. You seem different as well.” Blücher said curiously.

“My hull was destined to become a light aircraft carrier. But it wasn't meant to be. I was built far enough to come into existence, not much more, big sis.” Weser replied with a soft smile.

Blücher smiled tearfully.

“I'm home!” She yelled cheerfully.

“Welcome home, sister.” The other four Hipper class replied in unison as the Iron Blood faction applauded the occasion.

“And Eugen… sorry. I did lie. Your berth wasn't damaged. Blücher needed a place that wasn't in the middle of the harbor, so I let her use yours.” I spoke casually.

“Her vessel too?!” Hipper cried.

“Yup. Now we have two Hipper class cruisers to sail about. How fun!” Blücher chirped as Hipper looked at her.

“Have… you met her yet?” Hipper asked. Blücher nodded.

“Anna is the cutest little munchkin I have ever laid eyes on, sis. Motherhood suits you beautifully.” Blücher cooed as Hipper nodded tearfully.

I cleared my throat as I cut the recording discreetly.

“I have ordered the port to take the evening off in celebration of this, so if you all head to the common area, we have a massive banquet laid out, courtesy of the Sakura Empire, Sardegna Empire, and Royal Navy. So, who's hungry?” I asked as I led the way towards the banquet area with all of Iron Blood in tow.

Chapter Text

Ryan stretched his arms and legs as he disembarked the USS Dewey. Dewey and San Jacinto had just returned from their mission to retrieve Saratoga and Lexington from Midway. He yawned, thinking about all of the footage he needed to edit. But before he could head off, his phone buzzed with a reminder.

“Interview Richelieu.”

“Ah. I forgot that was today. She said she'd meet me at the cafe by the Iron Blood's brewery, right?” Ryan asked as he took up his bags and headed that way, jogging briskly to try and cut the travel time.

As anticipated, the Cardinal was sitting peacefully at one of the outdoor tables at the cafe. A creamsicle cat was purring ceaselessly while rubbing up against her legs in a constant figure-8 pattern. The cat sensed Ryan's approach and quickly jumped into Richelieu's lap, alerting her to a change. She looked over and smiled when she saw Ryan approaching.

“Greetings, Ryan.” Richelieu spoke warmly, stroking the cat in her lap.

“Sorry I'm late. Just got back from the Midway excursion.” Ryan said as he took a deep breath and set down his equipment.

“Pay it no mind, noble Curator. Perfection cannot be rushed.” Richelieu teased as she sipped her coffee. Ryan smiled as Dunkerque walked over to the table.

“The Cardinal said you'd be coming. Can I grab you some refreshments?” Dunkerque asked as Ryan spotted Howe inside the cafè baking trays of cookies and tarts.

“A double shot of espresso and maybe a slice of chocolate cake.” Ryan said as he attempted to hand Dunkerque the money.

“This one is on the Cardinal. She said she'd pick up your tab.” Dunkerque said as Ryan looked towards Richelieu, who nodded to confirm.

“I see. Well then I humbly accept. Thank you both.” Ryan said as he began setting up his equipment.

“Did you see what the Dragonslayer uploaded to your channel while you were gone?” Richelieu asked.

Ryan seemed puzzled.

“He uploaded something?” Ryan asked.

“He did. A reunion video for the Hipper Class. It was quite a tear jerking moment to catch on film. It has done quite well.” Richelieu said, showing her phone screen to Ryan with the likes and comments section on my amateur video.

Ryan smiled.

“So that's why he brought them home during the operation. I can't be mad. He said he wants this channel to humanize you girls, and what better way to do that then to show that you go through the same things we humans do.” Ryan said as he sat down. He looked at the cat, who had a collar on.

“Does the little one have a name?” Ryan asked.

“The French faction members came together and decided to honor one of our fallen. So this little one is named Surcouf. But it seems that she is drawn quite heavily to me.” Richelieu replied as she scratched the cat's neck.

“I guess she found her person then.” Ryan said as he looked at Richelieu.

“Are there any topics I should avoid for this interview?” Ryan asked.

“None that I can think of. I do believe my history is one without much, if any, tragedy. I did hear about the poor American girl. I do hope she is well.” Richelieu spoke softly as Ryan's food and drink were delivered.

“Laffey? I think she's doing better. The Commander sent out offers to some of the best therapists and psychiatric professionals he could find and brought them in to interview with Laffey. She found one she liked and he has commissioned that therapist and her family to live here on the atoll. Laffey has been seeing her several times a week when she isn't out decompressing or on commission, so I can only assume she is doing better.” Ryan replied.

Richelieu nodded.

“Are you ready to begin?” Ryan asked as he sipped his espresso.

“Of course. Ask away.” Richelieu replied as Ryan began recording.

“Hello, everyone. Ryan here. And today we are joined by the first French ally of the Azur Lane movement. I believe she was also the first frenchwoman to come into contact with the Commander, making her the oldest French member of Azur Lane by technicality.” Ryan said as he gestured to Richelieu.

“Would you introduce yourself for the camera?” Ryan asked.

“Of course. I am Cardinal Richelieu, battleship of the Free French Naval Forces during the second world war.” Richelieu said with a soft smile.

“Cardinal? As in a member of the Catholic Clergy?” Ryan asked.

“In a sense. I am more named after Armand Jean du Plessis, the first duke of Richelieu. But he was commonly referred to as Cardinal Richelieu. I took the title based on the name my vessel took, but it is not without merit. The French Faction of Kansen operates as a theocracy, where our actions are dictated by our beliefs in religion. Being appointed as the leader of the Free French Naval Forces, that meant taking a title of leadership. It was decided that calling me Pope Richelieu was deemed blasphemous, so my friends decided upon Cardinal Richelieu. I am treated as such and my words are what stirred my friends to action.” Richelieu replied.

“I see. So the French Faction split in world war two?” Ryan asked.

Richelieu's expression hardened.

“It did. Into three separate factions. The Free French Naval Forces, the Marine Nationale Forces, and the Tribunal. And while we typically did not use military prefixes, these were the factions that defined our allegiances. FFNF stood with the allies. MNF stood with the Axis. The Tribunal… was a secret that only a select few knew of, with members from both sides of our internal conflict, as well as outside the factions, participating in actions that ultimately lead to the reunification of our faction post war, alongside efforts in reviving dead Kansen and finding ways to try to end the second world war.” Richelieu spoke.

“Quite a rich and in depth overview. But that raises a question, wasn't Jean Bart classified under the MNF prefix?” Ryan asked.

“She was. It was by force and she ultimately did not have the confidence to stand against the Axis without support. Support we, in the FFNF, could not readily provide due to the German chokehold on MNF territories. My sister and I argued for years on end, with her saying that her forces were not going to be slaughtered by a suicidal stand against the Nazi or Fascist Italian regime. While I argued that if she could just stand up, we could fight them together. It was a tough time for all of us. Thankfully there were no hard feelings post war and we reunited under one banner and one navy once more.” Richelieu explained.

“Did any of that animosity surface when you learned that the Germans and Italians were joining Azur Lane?” Ryan asked.

“Not at all. It's been a long time since the war and with the Dragonslayer in charge, any animosity has been worked out and has been allowed to flow like water under a bridge. In fact, Jean and I regularly visit Bismarck and Eugen at the Iron Blood brewery. Bismarck, of course, cannot drink at the moment, but I bring her some sparkling grape juice as a proxy for wine. We have become good friends despite our roles in the war.” Richelieu spoke.

“Dragonslayer? Who is that?” Ryan asked.

“Ah. That is my name for le commandante. After all, our flagship is known as the Black Dragon. He has no doubt subjugated her countless times by now, earning him a place at the round table with names like Sigurd, King Arthur, Saint George and Ragnar Loðbrók as a Dragonslayer… although, with the golden scales he now possesses… he could be elevated further to the title of Dragon King.” Richelieu said, tittering softly at her own explanation.

Ryan chuckled.

“I see. Moving past that, was it only ever supposed to be you and Jean Bart?” Ryan asked.

“Ideally, no. I was to have two additional sisters by the names of Gascogne and Clemenceau. But the invasion of France put a stop to that. I had heard whispers that enough of her hull existed for my sister Clemenceau to be awakened… but I have yet to see or hear from her.” Richelieu spoke just as Mogador was walking by.

“Lady Clemenceau?” Mogador asked, covering her mouth the moment she said it.

Richelieu turned to face the destroyer.

“Yes. Is there any merit to that rumor? That she was awakened using the partial completion of her hull?” Richelieu asked.

Mogador hesitated.

“I… can neither confirm nor deny, Cardinal. As much as I would like to help answer that… I cannot.” Mogador tried.

“Mogador. I am ordering you to answer me.” Richelieu demanded.

“I can not answer that, Cardinal. The Tribunal doctrine outranks your authority.” Mogador argued.

“But it doesn't trump mine.” I spoke firmly from behind the destroyer.

“Commandante!” Mogador screeched in surprise.

“Why are you unable to answer the Cardinal, Mogador?” I asked softly.

“Tribunal doctrine, sir. Active members may not be disclosed by other members. Only by the member in question themselves. It is a matter of utmost security that trumps even the leader of both french factions.” Mogador spoke.

“And what was your question, Richelieu?” I asked.

“I had a third and fourth sister. Clemenceau was to be the third. I heard rumors that they had awoken her from the partial hull they had constructed, while my fourth, Gascogne, was never started. I had asked if there was merit to the rumors.” Richelieu replied honestly.

I smirked.

“I think there's enough information out now that you can read between the lines while allowing Mogador to uphold her doctrine. So let's drop the conversation there.” I spoke.

Richelieu nodded as I turned to Mogador.

“I respect the work you do, Mogador. Keep it up. But perhaps if there is a way for me to… stumble upon the truth of this matter, I would much appreciate it.” I spoke, kneeling down to her level.

Mogador nodded and took out a small notepad.

“I cannot describe her, nor confirm her existence. But… here.” Mogador said as she handed me a torn page with a set of coordinates.

“I lost contact with the Tribunal's science division quite some time ago. If she were to exist… this would be a good place to start.” Mogador said as she quickly made herself scarce.

“I smell an excursion.” Richelieu said sweetly.

“Perhaps. We'll round up a few friends and go have a look. No promises.” I spoke as I handed the coordinates to Richelieu.

“Thank you, Dragonslayer.” Richelieu teased.

“Yeah. Yeah. Foch and Jean Bart should do. If you wrap this up soon, we can head out. Those coordinates look like they take us towards Switzerland.” I said.

Richelieu nodded.

“I shall do my best, sir.” Richelieu said as I walked off to go inform NJ and the others.

“I guess that means we'll be ending this early?” Ryan asked.

“Not at all. It will take time for the Dragonslayer to gather my sister and Foch. Jean stays with Massachusetts most of the time because those two tend to be all over one another. If anything, Foch will be easier to track down and get ready.” Richelieu said as she continued petting Surcouf, who had fallen asleep in her lap.

“I see. Then we'll continue. How has Azur Lane impacted you? If I recall, the French were more than happy to turn a blind eye so long as you didn't make too much noise.” Ryan asked.

“Azur Lane has been a breath of fresh air, in all honesty. Sure we were okay. I was a leading figure in my local church as well as moonlighting as an adoption agent for animal shelters in the area where Jean and I lived. Jean on the other hand became quite the jeweler. Her works are prized possessions even in our home country. So we did quite well, but every move we made to try and better ourselves was met with some level of over-reaching bureaucratic red tape. When your identity needs to remain a secret, it makes things difficult. Here, we can be who we are without worrying about all the red tape. I manage adoptions remotely thanks to the Dragonslayer allowing me to have a personal computer in my home. All in all, life here is pretty good.” Richelieu said with a smile.

“What kind of work does he have you do?” Ryan asked.

Richelieu pondered.

“I typically don't leave base unless requested. The battleships and carriers tend to stay near the island so that we can respond to any threat that could befall us. The destroyers and cruisers are more likely to be sent out on escort and humanitarian aid duties. But as I said, here on base, I do my interviews with potential adoptees for shelter pets back in France. Interviews, paperwork, coordination with more local members of the organization to properly vet new pet owners. It seems silly, but it is a fun passion of mine.” Richelieu admitted.

“Not at all. I believe you should be deemed worthy to own a pet. Otherwise it is cruel to the animals you set out to house. So you do a public service that keeps people and animals safe.” Ryan said.

Richelieu nodded.

“Final question for you, what do you think of the Commander?” Ryan asked.

“He is a fine leader in my opinion. Spirited and has the best interests of his charges at heart. Does he stand to learn a few things? Yes. But nobody is perfect. I know a bunch of my colleagues have been quite critical of him, even if they say that he is a good commander. But I have faith that he will be exactly what we need, when we need him to be.” Richelieu said as Ryan nodded.

“Quite the mature take. That's pretty much everything. I can handle the outro later. I can see your sister and Foch heading this way so I believe it might be time for you to weigh anchor.” Ryan said as Richelieu turned and nodded.

“So it would seem. Thank you for your time in interviewing me. I'm glad to be a part of this project. Do have a blessed day, Ryan.” Richelieu said as she stood, prompting Surcouf to scale the woman's body and climb onto her shoulder. Without another word, Richelieu left to join her sister and Foch before heading towards the docks where I was waiting with Impero and Shinano.

Chapter Text

“So… what's this now?” Martin asked as he sat with Laffey, Bonnie, and Billy at their kitchen table. Martha was tending the children in the next room, giving Bonnie a much needed break from the three rug rats. Tachanka, the German sheppard that had been with Billy in Brownsville, laid quietly in the corner of the room where he could see both the dining room and the front door.

“It's an interview, dad. Laffey and I bullied Ryan into getting you on the channel so you can talk about your war stories too. Like the ones you told us.” Bonnie said with a smile.

“Now I ain't that old, squirt. I know what an interview is. I watch enough news on TV as it is. I'm just tryin to figure why me? Ain't this whole channel supposed to be about you girls and your lives?” Martin asked as he took a sip of iced tea.

“It is, but Bonnie said something to me that made me think. There were men who served alongside these girls. Men who fought in every nation and some had the honor and privilege of fighting on the warships that these girls embody. She and Laffey said that maybe if you share some of your stories and explain how you became connected to Azur Lane, maybe we could get submissions from retired sailors who also served with these girls in the past. Encourage those who served to come forward with their own stories. And we could identify those who are alive and possibly host an event here to get the girls reconnected to some of their former crews. All in the effort to continue humanizing the girls.” Ryan explained.

“Ah. So that's the angle you're playing. I could see it working… but you'd be better off with one of Penny's sailors, wouldn't ya?” Martin asked.

“Maybe. But the girls here really pushed for you, so… here we are.” Ryan said with a shrug. Tachanka raised his head to look over, but very quickly returned to resting with a small sigh.

Martin sighed.

“Alright, fine. Yer lucky. I quit drinkin for the tykes and I'm pretty sure alcohol ain't allowed on that video channel of yours.” Martin said bluntly.

“I drank during mine.” Laffey said as if she were proud of it.

“I know you did. But I saw your video and the bottle was blurred out. Methinks that alcohol is a big no-go.” Martin said as he ruffled Laffey's hair.

Laffey paused.

“And let's not forget that you nearly wiped out Miss Enterprise during the aftermath of that interview of yours. The American military loves to spend money, but with the number of planes you shot down, you'd’ve bankrupted the state of Ohio. I'm pretty sure that if those planes of hers didn't shimmer away to nothing, you would have created an artificial island from plane wreckage.” Martin said, his tone upbeat to keep the mood stable.

Laffey nodded softly and leaned against Martin's arm.

“Sorry…” Laffey whispered softly.

“No need for apologies, little rabbit. When ya stumble, it means you're moving forward. Hell of a sight better than standing still and letting the weight crush ya.” Martin said as Ryan looked at him.

“I'm ready if you are.” Ryan said neutrally.

Martin nodded.

“Alright, kid. Let's get this thing rollin then.” Martin said as he sat back in his chair, stroking Laffey's long hair as she laid her head on the table and began dozing off. Ryan turned on the camera and hit record.

“Hello everyone, Ryan here. Today I'm joined by two returning guests, Bon Homme Richard and Laffey. But, by their insistence, we are actually here to interview the patriarch of the family that more or less adopted these two. Bonnie, can you give us the rundown on that?” Ryan asked.

“Well, I joined the family via marriage. I married this knucklehead shortly after Azur Lane became fully established with international recognition… “ Bonnie started as Ryan panned the camera over to show Billy giving a dual thumbs up. He turned the camera back to focus on Martin as Bonnie continued.

“He and I had a short relationship beforehand, but it all really started in Texas when I stole my ship back from the boneyard. He was a security guard working the fence at the scraping facility where they were scraping my LHD hull. I broke in, he chased me, I trapped him aboard my vessel and kidnapped him… and eventually he grew on me. I married him shortly after the Admiral married New Jersey. That's how I came to be a part of this family.” Bonnie said as she pulled Billy down by his neck to drag him back into frame.

“I'll answer for the rabbit… she seems to be comfortable sleeping here at the moment. My wife and I adopted her outright when she told us what happened to her during the war. As a vet myself, I understand some of the demons that can plague the mind of a warfighter. And I promised this little thing that she wouldn't fight this fight alone. So, she's become my adoptive daughter… even though she's twice my age.” Martin said with a hearty chuckle.

“So now that begs me to ask, who are you? Can you introduce yourself for the audience?” Ryan asked.

Martin nodded and straightened his spine.

“Retired Staff Sergeant Martin Kidd of the United States Army's Eighty-second airborne division. Deployed and served from the invasion of the Persian Gulf all the way through to the end of the Iraq war.” Martin replied firmly.

“That is quite the record to keep, Martin. When did you join up?” Ryan asked.

“I went to boot camp right out of high school. My grandpa was one of the blue and white devils and I thought the world of that man. My father was as well, serving in Vietnam as a part of the Golden Brigade. So it became my goal to join up in my time too. My boy… he broke the tradition and didn't enlist, but considering some of the crap the Admiral’s put him through, I'd say he earned his stripes and redeemed himself.” Martin explained.

“So you come from a long lineage of All-American's, huh? It's an honor to sit across the table from you, Sergeant.” Ryan spoke professionally.

“Yeah. I did my duty to my nation. Made my money, got my boy through school and got my wife through her business degree. I like to think I made pops and made my old man proud.” Martin said as he took a drink of his iced tea.

“Before we get into some of your stories, I have to ask. How did you get caught up in all this? If I recall, you were among the first onboard the New Jersey in Camden when the revolution began. The only one before you… was me.” Ryan queried.

“The Admiral is like my own son. We bear no relation, but I love that kid like I do my own son. It really began when my wife and I decided to visit a nice steakhouse for date night… I'd have to say nearly six years ago now. We ordered some drinks and looked over the menu. I saw a really nice steak, so Martha and I ordered it to share. The server asked if we wanted the steak sliced tableside, and I figured ‘what the hell’. Well, nearly an hour later, Tyler, the Admiral, came out with this massive cutting board that looked like they cut down half an oak to make. He set that thing down and by damn, the steak was still sizzling hot from the grill. He talked with Martha and I, gave us a rundown of the restaurant and how it got its name before getting a bit more personal. All the while he's carving this nearly two pound porterhouse into some of the most perfect slices I think I've ever seen. He transferred everything to a serving board, wished us a good evening, and then disappeared back into the kitchen. When I tell you that was the best damn steak I've eaten in my nearly half a century on this godforsaken planet, I mean it. From then on, date night twice a month was always at that restaurant. We always ordered that steak and every time, we had him come to the table and chat with us as he sliced that steak.” Martin said as he fondly remembered the steakhouse he and Martha had frequented.

“So I take it that you three got to know each other quite well after a while?” Ryan asked.

“Yeah. Eventually we started drinking on his off days, he'd come by the hardware store when he'd need something or was doing renovations. Martha and I took him under our wing when he let slip that his ma had moved to South Carolina, leaving him up here since he couldn't find work down there. Since then, he's been like a second son to us. Naturally, that led to us being let in on this whole thing right before he was set to leave the country, so Martha and I sold the shop and came along for the ride. Now we're here, living on a tropical island with a bunch of people coming and going like tourists. Not a bad way to spend retirement.” Martin said with a chuckle as the doorbell rang. Martha walked into frame and answered the door, where Shinano was standing, all five of my kids wrapped in her tails. Tachanka got up and padded over to the door with her, wagging his tail happily seeing five more kids coming into the house.

“Come on in, sweetie. I just got the tea water hot, so we'll have some soon. The others are in the living room.” Martha said, her light southern accent warming the room.

“Many thanks, Madame Kidd. Shikikan said that he cleared it with Martin for the kids to come play with Miss Bonnie's children.” Shinano said as Martha ushered her inside.

“That's alright, come along. The men have an interview going right now, so we'd be best kept in here with the kids.” Martha said sweetly as she and Shinano disappeared into the living room. Tachanka followed quietly.

“Quite the mad house.” Ryan quipped.

“Well, having the Admiral as a second son means we get to see all eight grandkids just about every week. It's never a dull moment.” Martin said with a chuckle.

“Alright then. Let's get this rolling so that you can spend some time with the kids. I'm sure they'll wonder where grandpa is here pretty soon.” Ryan said as Bonnie stood up.

“I'll go help keep watch, make sure the runts don't trash the house.” Bonnie said as she kissed Billy's temple before joining the women in the living room.

“So. I take it you have nothing but good things to say about the Admiral?” Ryan asked.

“I ain't the one to ask that. I'm just a resident here. I'm retired and the Admiral respects that. But if I had to answer, of course. He's like a second son to me, and he runs this navy better than I have seen quite a few leaders in the US Military. That's all I can really attest.” Martin said with a shrug.

“Alright then. Now down to the nitty gritty. What was your time in service like?” Ryan asked.

“Well, I was first deployed during the opening month of Desert Storm. By the time I was deployed the first time, I was a Private First Class assigned to infantry. I was in charge of my squad's SAW and when we were on the move, I was the top element on the humvee. Whether it was the Mk19 or the M2, I was the top gunner as we rolled out against our mission targets. I got real good at keeping my head on a swivel. The first deployment was probably the best if I can be honest. It was more conventional. We knew who we were fighting, and it was easy to pick targets. Once we had liberated Kuwait, I was stationed in Saudi Arabia as part of the security forces in the region. I rotated out a few times to undergo leadership training and more specialized training stateside whenever they forced me back home. But most of my time during the regional occupation was spent topside on the humvee.” Martin spoke, his tone rigid as he remembered his first taste of war.

“You said that was the best?” Ryan asked.

“Yeah. The enemy combatants wore uniforms. They didn't hide behind civilians. It felt less like I was fighting a citizen, and more like I was facing an army. It felt… right in a fucked up sense.” Martin clarified.

“I see. So from ‘91 to…”

“‘91 to ‘03 I rotated out several times to undergo training. By the time 2003 came around, the second gulf war was being kicked off as we went into Iraq to topple Saddam's regime. This one… this one was bloody. Not only were we fighting the men loyal to Saddam… but Al-Qaeda as well. IED's. Suicide bombers. Guerrilla warfare. Everything seemed handpicked to counter the US-led coalition. I was no longer in the turret, I was leading squads. Being inside the humvee instead of up top was a nice change, but meant very little considering IED's would tear apart a humvee no problem. This was before the redesign to uparmor the humvee, so we were all just sitting in what amounted to a damn Spam can on wheels. I got good at spotting things that could be used to hide an IED. Urban warfare sucked. Some days I'd be tasking my men with clearing buildings, every single room was a slog. It got to the point where my direct superior said it'd be easier to have my men send the fifty through the walls or use the M72 to just take out chunks of the buildings. I struggled with the possibility of civilian casualties… but my higher ups more or less called it the cost of doing business.” Martin said, hunching forward, a sign of discomfort.

“We can take a break.” Ryan offered, his words rousing Laffey from her slumber.

“You okay, pops?” Laffey asked sleepily, slipping her hand into Martin's as she rubbed his arm.

Martin smiled softly.

“Yeah, kid. I'm alright.” Martin said as Billy looked on. He quietly got up and left the table for a few minutes, returning with a pitcher of tea and a quarter full rocks glass of deep amber liquid. He placed the glass next to Martin, just out of reach of Laffey.

“I can't imagine that being easy for you.” Ryan said.

“Not in the slightest. Soon numb became the new normal. It became routine to carry multiple M72's and an M32 rotary in the humvee. We scrounged up sheet metal, flak jackets, and whatever else we could strap to the sidewalls of the humvees once the reports of IED attacks became a daily occurence. My squad would frequently light up a building with the M2, maybe lob in a few 40 mike mikes through the windows before I'd consider letting anyone out of the truck.” Martin recalled, taking the glass and sipping at the amber liquid.

“That sounds like hell.” Ryan replied bluntly as Laffey rubbed Martin's arm.

“If you need a break, pops. It's okay. I didn't know just how bad it was for you, this is the first I'm hearing some of this.” Laffey said softly, a soft line of tears reflecting light from the open window in the room.

Martin shook his head. Both to shake the darkness in his mind, and reassure Laffey for the moment.

“No. That alone wasn't hell… Fallujah was hell. Operation Phantom Fury. My squad and several more went in like it was just another routine offensive. What we didn't account for was just how tenacious the enemy was becoming. IED's littered everywhere. Every barrel, every piece of trash, every stone or wayward brick could have held an explosive with enough punch to rip through a humvee. Highway blindness got a hold of me a few days in and I slipped up. We were pushing up and… it came out of nowhere. One second, my gunner was laying down suppressive fire on the fifty, keeping heads down so we could find cover against potential RPG strikes… the next… a damn jerry can on the drivers side… damn near tore the fucking humvee in half. Driver, gunner and SAW gunner were killed instantly while my sole rifleman and myself escaped with minor injuries. We got out and found cover just as insurgents began taking potshots at the column. I grabbed what I could, amounting to the M32 and the SAW, which had thankfully been spared significant damage. I couldn't even stop to check on the guy that survived. We found the nearest hard cover and did what we could to stave off the attack.” Martin recalled, sweat beading on his forehead as the memories flooded his mind. Bonnie came in and sat next to him, listening to him speak while offering her presence to help keep him centered. Tachanka padded his way in behind her, curling up at Martin's feet after sensing a shift in the room.

“Six weeks of hell. Six weeks. We ended up being tossed back in once me and the surviving man from my squad made it back to regroup. I was put in command of a new squad that absorbed the one man who had lived. We pushed up with the Raiders. The damn crayon eaters had to come and bail us out during the offensive… I remember one of them. I'd never seen a female raider before. But she was there. A nasty fucking scar on her neck. Jungle green hair and a shitty attitude towards anything not wearing US colors. She wore a plate carrier as a shirt and handled a 590 like nobody's business. She was one of the breachers. And when she wasn't aiding my squad in clearing house, she was manhandling a 240 better than any man I had ever commanded. I wonder whatever happened to her… I didn't see her again after Fallujah. I asked around… but nobody knew anything. Part of me believes she was something my mind made up to cope…” Martin said as Bonnie perked up. Tachanka gently pawed at Martin's leg, leading Martin to reach down and pet the German Shepard, regaining a soft smile for a moment.

“Green hair and a neck scar?” Bonnie asked.

“Yeah. Why, you know something?” Martin asked hopefully.

“When I went out to identify Charlie's remains during Vietnam… one of the MACV-SOG soldiers… she matched your description. She wore a cut down flak jacket, camo face paint, BDU pants and a grenade bandolier. She carried a captured RPD and something called a China Lake. She matches the woman you described near perfectly.” Bonnie said softly.

“As far back as Vietnam?” Martin asked.

Bonnie nodded.

“She had notches on the wood furniture numbering something like fifty. But… if she was there and in Fallujah… there's no way… it might have been a Kansen.” Bonnie replied.

“I wonder who it could have been.” Martin said as he sighed heavily.

“I'll ask Jersey. She was in Vietnam with me. Maybe she might have something.” Bonnie said as she left the room.

Ryan turned to Martin.

“If you need to stop…” Ryan trailed off.

“After Fallujah, I was promoted to Staff Sergeant and sent stateside for a year before being redeployed to the region. I did several ten month deployments between ‘04 and ‘08 before being transferred stateside to help with training younger soldiers before retiring in 2011 with the end of the Iraq war. My deployments post Fallujah were mundane… full of patrols and general containment missions. I can count on two hands the number of times post Fallujah that I would hang out the side of my humvee manning the 240. I'm pretty sure the top brass assigned me to those patrols specifically to keep me away from the very front. Regardless, I never felt fully secure in my position after the IED, but thankfully I never had another run-in with death like that. Honorable discharge and a Staff Sergeant pension. I settled in PA with my wife, son, and my hardware store… the rest is history. I don't regret my time in… but it takes a part of you that you can never quite get back. Sometimes… I still hear the voices of the boys that died that day in Fallujah… but I'm better off than quite a few of the boys they sent over there… I wouldn't wish it on anyone.” Martin said as he polished off his bourbon.

Ryan nodded.

“I'm sorry that you had to endure that… and I as well as many Americans thank you for your service.” Ryan said as Martin nodded.

“Yeah. I did what I thought was right. If'n that's all you need, I'm gonna go spend some time with the tykes. Revisiting my past isn't always fun when I go that far in depth. I hope you have what you need, cause I think war stories are gonna be off the table for me for a bit.” Martin said as Laffey helped him stand. Tachanka stood and whined softly, panting until Martin acknowledged him and pet him again.

Ryan shut off the camera.

“I have plenty, Martin. I thank you for your time and your stories. I'll put the finishing touches on it in post, so you're good to go. Let me know if there's anything I can do in the meantime.” Ryan offered.

“I'll be alright. Just make sure that video reaches who it needs to. Do that, and I'll be happy.” Martin said as he disappeared into the living room.

Chapter Text

Ryan walked up the the Soviet style apartment housing on base. Despite my insistence on their ability to choose something a bit more cozy, the soviet girls had all collectively decided that modern communist bloc style buildings better suited their needs, with proper amenities of course. He was greeted by the strong smell of vodka and a friendly smile.

“Good day, Comrade.” Chapayev said cheerfully as she watered an astounding bed of vibrant red carnations.

“And a good day to you, Chapayev. How have you been?” Ryan asked as she shifted his shoulder bag.

“I've been well. My sisters and I have been discussing at length with Comrade Commander about our eventual incursion into Russia to retrieve our fallen comrades. So far the planning is coming along well, but sadly we've hit a bit of a snag.” Chapayev said as she shut off the hose.

“Oh? May I ask why?” Ryan asked.

“Dealing with the… Russian Federation is proving to be quite… taxing. They claim we can come and collect our sisters, but yet they want no battle fleet sent to what they claim is their territory, and absolutely no missile bearing warships anywhere in the region. Comrade Commander is pushing back with Yamato, saying that demands like that are not only insulting, but inflammatory to our cause. He claims that assuming the worst of us is nothing below insulting and abrasive and could lead to worsening relations. So we've hit a bit of a roadblock.” Chapayev admitted.

“Have you had luck getting him to contact the US government? The US does plenty of freedom of navigation cruises through contested hotspots. Perhaps knowing the rulebook could be of some use? Azur Lane is an internationally recognized nation and a member of the UN. Russia cannot attack a peaceful convoy without risking a war with Azur Lane and her allies. Not to mention, Russia is already busy with the war in southern Europe." Ryan poised.

Chapayev tapped her cheek.

“You know… you have a point. It hasn't come up in the meetings before. I'll have to inform Comrade Commander immediately. Thank you for your insight.” Chapayev said, giving him a quick salute before jogging off to come find me.

Ryan chuckled.

“Most problems can be solved with simple solutions. Don't forget that, Commander.” Ryan said as he walked into the brutalist structure that the soviets called home.

XXXXXVVVVVXXXXX

After walking to the lobby directory, he found what he was looking for.

‘Avrora and Sovetsky Soyuz. Apartment 203’

Ryan chuckled softly to himself before heading that way. Upon reaching the door, he rang the doorbell, only to be met with a harsh buzzer instead of the typical pleasant doorbell or chime. Moments later, Avrora answered the door.

When she opened the door, the smell of cooking borscht and aroma of freshly baked bread hit him square in the chest.

“Ah, Comrade Ryan. Welcome, we have been expecting you. The borscht is almost ready and the bread is cooling. Do you drink?” Avrora asked as she grabbed his bag before ushering him in.

“I do occasionally…” Ryan said, hoping she'd pass over on the offer. Expectedly, she did not.

“Excellent. I just finished distilling Comrade Commander's personal batch of black currant vodka from Gangut's secret recipe book. It is proofed significantly lower than what we usually drink, so it should be more palatable to less accustomed tastes. Come, come. Try some.” Avrora spoke as she practically dragged Ryan to the kitchen where a small stovetop distillation contraption was trickle feeding vodka into 375ml bottles to be delivered to my home.

“Do you drink it straight or can I offer you a mule? I got some fresh ginger beer from the maids and some limes from the recent produce delivery from Guam.” Avrora said, diverting the flow of vodka into a steel shot glass.

“I'll take a mule. Drinking straight gives me a killer headache.” Ryan admitted.

Avrora nodded and patted his back.

“Poor child. It's alright. Soyuz is sitting in the living room working on her latest hobby. I'll bring the food and drinks out in a few minutes.” Avrora said as she practically pushed Ryan from the kitchen.

Ryan took a deep breath and grabbed his bag before heading into the living room.

Sovetsky Soyuz was sitting on the couch in front of a folding table. She was bending flower stems and tying ribbon as she worked on creating a beautiful ice themed floral arrangement. White roses, white petaled carnations, baby's breath, lavender, and allium all arranged in a crystal clear vase filled with light blue marbles and water.

“Ah, Comrade Ryan. It is good to see you.” Soyuz said as she gently set down the bundle of allium she was about to set into the vase.

“Taking up flower arrangements?” Ryan asked with a smile.

Soyuz blushed and nodded.

“While the aesthetic of our home is Soviet in origin, we do not believe purely in functionality. Keeping some color is just enough balance to keep us at peace after everything we've been through. Kirov and Arkhangelsk have joined with Dunkerque and Howe in the bakeshop, adding some traditional Russian cuisine to the menu, while Voroshilov and Kuybyshev have aided King George and Littorio during pop-up markets to bring our hot cuisine into the fold as well. We all find pleasure in the simple things. I never happened to take up my mother's passion for cooking and baking. The only thing I took from her was a passion for distilling, but she says that right now is not the time to spend doing so, even though we've been granted a distillery by Comrade Commander. So I've channeled another passion, flowers.” Soyuz explained.

“It's a very beautiful arrangement. Have you considered contracting out your service for weddings or anniversaries? There is quite a market for that if you can figure out the shipping.” Ryan suggested.

Soyuz shook her head.

“Nyet. It hasn't crossed my mind. I just do this for fun and then donate it for a new centerpiece for Littorio's restaurant. Maybe if we get some more human visitors I could consider dabbling in a bit of capitalistic commerce, but for now, I see no need to hassle myself when we have the tools to provide what we need right here.” Soyuz answered respectfully.

“To each their own. How have things gone between you and George?” Ryan asked.

“We've been going on dates for the past three years. At his insistence, we've gone a bit slower than I would like, but I don't really mind. It gives me time to process some more of the recent guilt and grief I've felt surrounding my and my late husband's death. I'm sure that's why he's given our relationship such a long timeline. I remember him saying that I can take all the time I need. So I've been seeing one of the specialists in the base’s hospital to deal with what they call survivor's guilt. If he doesn't propose to me before the end of my self-healing journey, I'll do it myself and propose to him.” Soyuz said as Avrora came into the room with two trays balanced on her hands.

“Comrade Ryan, sit. It is time to eat and then we can begin with the questions.” Avrora ordered, practically forcing him to sit on the couch next to Soyuz as Soyuz tidied up her folding table. Moments later, everyone had vodka in some form and a hot bowl of borscht, fresh from the loving hands of a truly unaged babushka.

As the trio ate, small talk commenced over little things until it got to the point where Ryan was ready to set up his camera. He wiped his mouth and drank some of his mule before setting up the tripod in front of the couch.

“I was hoping for an interview from both of you. Is that alright?” Ryan asked.

Avrora turned to Soyuz, who nodded.

“We'd be happy to oblige, Comrade.” Avrora replied cheerfully.

“Are there any topics you'd like to avoid?” Ryan asked.

Soyuz looked to Avrora.

“Preferably anything to do with my son. Comrade Commander has stated that the world isn't to know that we were the ones to liquidate Mark Faiser. So we can speak of my life, death, rebirth, what have you… but I'd like to avoid bringing up my son if at all possible, merely to keep his demise a secret.” Soyuz spoke.

Ryan nodded.

“If that's all, we can begin. Ready, ladies?” Ryan asked.

“Roll the film, young man.” Avrora said as she sipped a rocks glass of crystal clear vodka.

Ryan hit the record button on the camera and moved into frame.

“Hello everyone, Ryan here again. This time, we have a pair of wonderful ladies that hail from a country that truly doesn't exist anymore. A legacy that ended only thirty-four years ago. Allow me to introduce Sovetsky Soyuz and Avrora, kansen of the Soviet Union. Ladies, it's lovely to have you on the show.” Ryan spoke cheerfully.

“It is a pleasure to be here, Comrade.” Soyuz spoke clearly.

“The feeling is the same, Comrade.” Avrora added.

“Now before we get too far into this, you've called me Comrade. Now, I've been here.for three years and have grown accustomed to the name, but for those at home who might not, why call me that? Is it just something you do or does it have some deeper purpose?” Ryan asked.

“Comrade is a word that the entirety of the Northern Parliament uses when referring to anyone we speak to. Comrade, defined as someone who shares in one's activities or is member to a similar organization. But we take it a step further, as humanity as a whole is an organization we aim to cohabitate with. We see ourselves as no better than humanity in most regards, as we are created off the human design. Therefore, you are a comrade to us. But it also signifies a bond of collective togetherness.” Avrora explained.

“We see humans as friends to our cause and to our ideals. Therefore, Comrade is the word that fits our purpose.” Soyuz added.

Ryan nodded.

“But you call the Commander something different?” Ryan asked.

“Comrade Commander. He is our brother, but also our leader above my daughter. He is a man of strong values and a heart that matches the gold of his scales. His title is the only one we do not share with anyone else.” Avrora spoke firmly.

“I see. So, you mentioned the Northern Parliament. And you both hail from the former Soviet Union. What is the Northern Parliament?” Ryan asked.

“The Northern Parliament is the collection of Kansen that once served the Soviet Union during the second world war and beyond. We are a group of Kansen who idealize Communism as a way of life as opposed to a form of socio-economic and political ideology. We deal not with money, but with the idea that the part is no more or less important than the whole. I am the flagship and a battleship, but in our eyes, I am no more important than my mother, who is a world war one protected cruiser.” Soyuz answered.

“So how does that translate to day to day life?” Ryan asked.

“It is exactly as it sounds. Nobody is too important for menial tasks and nobody is too unimportant to not have a hand in the highest echelons of our faction. We work as a collective group, and not like a hierarchy unlike most of the other Factions. Ironblood answers to Bismarck. Eagle Union answers to New Jersey and Comrade Commander. The Royal Navy answers to Queen Elizabeth. We do not have a de facto leader so to speak. But if we needed to put a name on paper for procedural occasions, we would put my daughter, Sovetsky Soyuz.” Avrora explained.

“I see. So Soyuz is like a figurehead, like the King of England?” Ryan asked.

“If it helps to think of it that way, yes. She does not have absolute authority, as we operate as a collective. Hence the Parliament part of our faction name.” Avrora said as she sipped her vodka.

“Alright. I think we've gotten the gist of that. Avrora, you are a protected cruiser, precursor to pretty much every class of cruiser in the modern world. And it is said that you served pre world war one. Can we dive into that a bit?” Ryan asked.

“Ah. Ancient history. I served in four distinct events in history. The Dogger Bank incident, which occurred during my transit to the far east. I was sailing along with Oleg as a member of the Baltic fleet when we intercepted several British fishing trawlers. Some of the officers mistook these fishing vessels as Japanese torpedo boats and ordered action stations. One trawler was sunk and I sustained five friendly fire hits from other members of the Russian fleet. A sailor and a priest were killed aboard my vessel as a result.” Avrora explained.

“That must have been quite the fiasco to report.” Ryan quipped.

“It almost caused a war between the Empire and the British. Our officers didn't log the incident and nobody wanted to come forward. I'm still a bit hazy on how we avoided going to war with the Brits after that. My next major action was the Battle of Tsushima. I went toe to toe with the Japanese fleet and walked away with minor damage and bruised ego, but I survived. That's all that mattered. Mikasa would be a good one to ask about that specific battle. That was her claim to fame, one she holds dear.” Avrora reminisced.

“A legendary naval battle indeed. A turning point in naval history.” Ryan spoke.

“Indeed. And actually, I was the first to utilize an X-ray machine post-battle onboard my ship. Naval medicine revolutionized in the wake of a bitter defeat.” Avrora touted pridefully.

“Ah, the birth of modern naval medicine. A wonderful leap forward at the time, I presume.” Ryan said, earning a nod from the cruiser.

“Then came the part where I have to tease my mama a bit.” Soyuz tittered as Avrora sighed.

“Yes. Yes. The October Revolution. I fired my guns in revolt against the Russian Empire to back the Bolsheviks and bring in the Communist revolution for the people of Mother Russia. In a whirlwind of activity, I somehow gained the Moniker of the Mother of the Soviet Union, making me quite an influential character for the Kansen that were brought into being later on.” Avrora said as she reached up and ruffled Soyuz's long white hair.

“Until I came of age and was converted. I gained the name Sovetsky Soyuz, which literally translates to Soviet Union. Avrora is my birth mother, as I was a human by birth. I was converted through Soviet science and technology. So in both a figurative and literal sense, Avrora is truly the Mother of the Soviet Union.” Soyuz said with a teasing titter.

“You gained the name? What was your name before?” Ryan asked, shocked.

“Misha Orlov. My mother named me after the admiral who revised the final plans for my hull. And when he heard of this, he pushed for me to be tested for compatibility. I had the highest success rate, a perfect match. So when I turned 18, they fused my body with the wisdom cubes and bound me to the keel of what was to be my hull. I was granted the name Sovetsky Soyuz, and that has been my name ever since.” Soyuz said with a smile.

“I occasionally find myself using her old name when it's just us… but then I remember everything she did to earn her name and I end up apologizing until she yells at me.” Avrora teased as she leaned over to rest her head on Soyuz's shoulder.

Soyuz laughed.

“Like when we first got our new apartment here. Mama isn't used to the luxury that Comrade Commander has afforded us. So I would often hear things like: ‘Misha~ How did Comrade Commander say the shower worked again? Misha~ How do I operate this electric oven… I'm used to gas ovens. Misha~ Can you help me with this… laptop computer thing? It is quite nice to know that Mama still needs my help from time to time.” Soyuz said as Avrora gently punched her arm.

Ryan smiled.

“You said four major incidents. What was the last incident, Avrora?” Ryan asked.

“Ah, yes. I also fired my guns during the Siege of Leningrad. 872 days I went between my vessel and the front line, aiding either by shelling, or by picking up a machine gun and helping my brothers fight off the Nazi menace. When the war came to an end, my vessel was preserved and now serves as a museum piece in Russia… however… in light of certain recent events, I will be retrieving it when Comrade Commander makes his first trip to the Russian Federation.” Avrora spoke darkly.

Ryan aired his collar and turned to Soyuz.

“Is there anything you would like to say?” Ryan asked.

“Not much to say, Comrade. My vessel was never finished. I never got to serve my purpose. But… in recent years, I was able to construct my vessel and put it to use in service to Azur Lane. I have not gone to war, but Comrade Commander has plans to bring my vessel up to modern standards as he staunchly believes that battleships still have a place in today's modern warscape. He said that there is something he'd like to try, utilizing autoloading missile technology and the theory of VLS systems. I cannot go in-depth any further, but I have been drawn into meetings with representatives with an American company… Lockheed Martin, I believe. He has them working on a project that could completely modernize our battleship fleet. So I am excited.” Soyuz said cheerfully.

“I completely understand. Well, I think that'll be about it for this one. Unless you girls have anything more to say?” Ryan suggested. Avrora and Soyuz shook their heads, more than satisfied with their testimony.

Ryan nodded and stopped the recording.

"Thank you for keeping this a bit more lighthearted. We've had quite a few downtrodden stories lately.” Ryan said with a chuckle.

“We do not need to tell of the struggle we faced, as we faced much less of it than the others. I would expect Arkhangelsk and Kirov to give you something far darker. I am just happy to set the stage for my sisters.” Soyuz spoke softly.

Ryan nodded again.

“I'll prepare accordingly when they call then. Thank you for your time, ladies and thank you for the food. It was delicious.” Ryan said as he packed his gear.

“I packed some more in a plastic container for you. Take some home, Comrade.” Avrora said as she helped him to the door with his food and gear.

Ryan smiled as he took his belongings and left the warm Russian abode, eager to get back and edit this heartwarming interview.

Chapter Text

Ryan sat in a small shrine within the Sakura Empire section of the base. The recent return of Kashino from her latest disaster relief commission had brought Ryan face to face with the subject of his next interview. Kashino brought in tea as Yamato lounged on a sea of pillows, an ornate kiseru settled between her fingers as she smoked an exclusive reserve of kizami-style tobacco leaves that she had imported from Cuba and prepared on base by Nagato, who had been more than happy to prepare them for the former flagship.

Ryan settled onto his own pillow as Kashino served Yamato her tea.

“Quite the set-up you have here, Lady Yamato.” Ryan said with a softer than usual tone.

“Indeed. The decadence is something I have grown accustomed to after my disappearance from the Imperial Japanese Navy and my release from captivity post-war. Most of my time spent in hiding was spent running my hotel. I eventually had the money to spoil myself, and so I did. This shrine is something I had built with my own funds, as I did not want to pester poor Shikikan with accommodating my privileged lifestyle. Kashino and I live here full time and host parties weekly.” Yamato said with a smile as she took a drag of her kiseru.

“Weekly? How have I not heard of these parties?” Ryan teased.

Yamato shrugged.

“I put the invitations in the command center. Shikikan and his harem come by every other week when someone is available to watch his children.” Yamato said as she handed Ryan a small talisman.

“What is this?” Ryan asked as he accepted the token with both hands.

“Your invitation. It will glow softly the day of. So if you wish to attend, you are welcome. It is open to everyone, but please keep the children at home. I do serve alcohol at these parties and this is an area where I permit smoking, so I would rather not expose the little ones to the dangers of secondhand smoke.” Yamato said as she tapped the burnt out tobacco from her pipe before packing in another round and lighting it with a white flame from her fingertip.

“Of course. I understand. Before we begin, are there any topics we should avoid discussing?” Ryan asked.

Yamato looked at Kashino.

“I don't believe so, but I reserve my right to refuse to answer a question if I find it distasteful or inappropriate.” Yamato said firmly.

“Of course.” Ryan said as he set up the tripod and turned on the camera.

“I have to ask, why interview me? You have so many other kansen to interview.” Yamato asked.

“You have been a very much requested guest of the channel for some time now, actually. The legendary battleship Yamato has quite a ring to it.” Ryan said as he turned to Kashino, who had just served him a steaming cup of hot tea.

“You are also a part of this, Miss Kashino. The word has spread that the legendary battleship doesn't go anywhere without her loyal munitions ship. The world would love to know a bit more about you too.” Ryan said as Kashino nodded and joined Yamato on the other side of the table.

“Are we ready?” Ryan asked.

The girls nodded, prompting Ryan to begin recording.

“Howdy all, Ryan here. Today, by popular demand, I have managed to snag an interview with the ever elusive Yamato and her wife Kashino. Good evening ladies and welcome to the show.” Ryan said cheerfully.

“It is an honor to be here, Ryan.” Yamato answered as she blew a soft ring of smoke before taking another hit of her pipe.

“Likewise. I'm excited to be on the show. I got to see all the others. I'm excited to tell you my side of things.” Kashino said sweetly as she picked up her own cup of tea and took a sip.

“Alright. I'm loving the enthusiasm. So, Yamato. Kashino. Want to tell the world a little about yourselves?” Ryan asked.

“You go first, my love.” Yamato said softly, caressing Kashino's cheek and horn softly.

Kashino blushed and nodded.

“Hello. My name is Kashino. I am the sole member of my class, as I was designed and built for one purpose. I was built to carry the turrets and main battery guns of the Yamato class battleships. I was laid down and awoken on July first of nineteen thirty-nine in the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries shipyard situated in the former city of Nagasaki. So I guess for all you car lovers out there, I am what you would call vintage. My first mission was the delivery of one of Lady Musashi's main battery turrets and one of her nine guns. I made only the number of trips necessary to transport six turrets and eighteen guns before my purpose changed to being an ammunition transport ship, which ended in nineteen forty-two due to my being sunk by USS Growler.” Kashino said cheerfully.

“You're awfully chipper for someone who was sunk.” Ryan said neutrally.

“It is a part of war. I served and completed my original purpose. I was just lucky that the cubes made me this way…” Kashino said as she gestured to her body.

“Oh?” Ryan asked.

“As you can no doubt tell… I am a very… plush… individual. I was able to float for quite a prolonged period of time after my sinking and that is what led to my being saved by a Taiwanese fishing trawler that happened to pass through. I was taken to the island nation of Taiwan and remained there as a guest until the end of the war.” Kashino spoke truthfully.

“Oh wow. So the submarine crew onboard the Growler didn't try to save anyone in the water?” Ryan asked.

Kashino shook her head.

“Sadly, no. And I was knocked unconscious in the aftermath of the sinking, so I am unsure of if any of my crew survived the ordeal.” Kashino admitted.

“I am sorry to hear that, Miss Kashino. But the good thing is that you survived to be here with us today. The base wouldn't feel right without you.” Ryan said as Kashino smiled.

“That's a sweet thing to say, Ryan. Thank you.” Kashino replied sweetly.

Ryan took a sip of his tea as Yamato finished off her second bowl of kizami, ashing it into an ornate black and jade pot. She packed a third bowl and lit it with her finger while on camera.

“Lady Yamato, is that a flame coming from your finger?” Ryan asked, all for the camera.

“Hmm? Oh, yes. Yes it is.” Yamato said as she held out her hand and allowed a pure white ball of flames to sit peacefully in her hand.

“Does… that not burn?” Ryan asked.

“No. Does… your audience not know about Musashi's ability?” Yamato asked.

Ryan shook his head.

“She didn't showcase it during her interview.” Ryan said.

“Ah. Well, I don't mind people knowing. Every member of the Yamato class has a special ability tied to our existence as nine-tailed kitsune. As Musashi probably explained, the tails and ears are not for show. They are real and biologically significant to our lives. My ability revolves around Ameterasu, god of the sun. I command pure white flames with the same ease as it takes one to draw breath. Musashi draws her power from the god of storms, Susanoo. She commands storms and bolts of vibrant purple lightning to strike fear into our enemies. And my baby sister, Shinano… mistress of our illustrious Shikikan, derives her powers from the god of time and the moon, Tsukuyomi. She is able to conjure visions of the future with near perfect accuracy as well as command those she touches to awaken or fall into slumber. But her abilities are by far the most draining, so she will spend extended periods of time sleeping, which is likely why she is hardly available for your interviews.” Yamato explained.

Ryan was amazed.

“That is incredible. Are all the members of the Japanese navy capable of such feats?” Ryan asked.

“No. The only other two I have knowledge of were Kaga and Akagi, who managed to unlock the secrets of kitsunebi and were able to utilize balls of fire during their final stand at Midway. Amagi, Nagato, and Mutsu, while also kitsune, do not have abilities tied to the mythos.” Yamato explained.

“If it isn't too much… could I see a bit more of your ability, Lady Yamato? The white flames are impressive to behold.” Ryan requested.

Yamato nodded before passing her pipe to Kashino.

“Could you hold this for me, my love?” Yamato requested.

“Of course.” Kashino replied with a bow as she accepted the pipe with both hands, immediately setting about cleaning out the pot and polishing the stem.

Yamato stood, adjusting her robes before walking to the rear of the shrine. Ryan stood and panned the camera to capture this. Yamato took one of the massive ōdachi from the rear wall and hung the nearly seven and a half foot sword from her hip.

“If you wish, please follow me to the training court outside.” Yamato spoke softly as she walked outside, prompting Ryan to follow with camera in hand.

He set the camera up and watched as Yamato took a fighting stance. With one hand on the hilt of the blade and the other holding two fingers up to her lips, Yamato's breathing halted and her tails fanned out.

In a moment that would take super slow-mo cameras on their highest setting to capture, Yamato drew her blade, the tip of the sword glowing a brilliant white as three arcs of white light were slashed into the evening sky directly in front of her. She sheathed the blade and paused for dramatic effect before speaking.

“Ameterasu”

All at once, the arcs of light exploded into billows of pure white flames, exploding outwards in a destructive push that caused several high pressure waves of air to rustle shingles, trees, and cause ripples in the nearby koi pond. Her robes fluttered violently until the wind died down.

“Was that sufficient, or should I perform another?” Yamato asked softly.

Ryan was stupefied.

“That was incredible. Like something out of pure fantasy.” Ryan spoke as the heat from the flames finally dissipated.

Yamato bowed softly before gliding back into her sanctuary and setting her sword back on the wall.

Ryan followed and quickly reset the camera while Yamato returned to her lounge, accepting a freshly packed pipe from Kashino, who had also fetched a warm towel for her wife.

“I love seeing you practice, my love.” Kashino gushed softly as she scooted over to Yamato, who pulled her close and allowed the bovine to lounge with her.

“So the legendary title isn't just for show. I can say with zero exaggeration, that was real. No editing… no special effects. Yamato is some sort of magical prodigy.” Ryan spoke as the camera continued to roll.

“And yet, none of my sailors knew. I was prohibited by doctrine from using my abilities. Yet, if we had gone all out, we might have been able to make an impact in the war. But that is a time long since passed. And I do not regret strictly adhering to our naval doctrine. I am now treated the way I feel I should have been. I have sailed more in the three years under Azur Lane than I have in all my time serving in the Imperial Japanese Navy.” Yamato said as she took a long draw on her pipe.

“The world knows a lot about your story, but I happen to know a bit that the world doesn't. The Commander mentioned something to me about his visit to Mutsu. About how there were four names under the Yamato class shrine. Yet there were only three completed. He said that Kashino's name was under your shrine. He had mentioned Nagato saying that you adopted her into your class. Can you shed some light on that?” Ryan asked.

Kashino blushed softly.

“This cute little thing was purpose built to serve the Yamato class. Her sole purpose for being constructed was because Japan couldn't physically transport my turrets or my guns by land or by sea. But as the war progressed… Shinano, who was meant to be another battleship, was converted to an aircraft carrier and my remaining sisters-to-be were cancelled before they were even laid down. So, when her final delivery was made and we learned of all this, we decided that she was to be an honorary Yamato, as only the ships in my class were capable of carrying the turrets and guns I wield. And she did it too. So, while she was a heavy lift munitions ship, she is also an honorary Yamato for her feats of strength. And we love her like we would any other sister to our class.” Yamato said as she ruffled Kashino's hair gently.

Ryan nodded.

“I see. Quite the sound reasoning if I do say so myself. It makes sense. Honestly, I don't even know if the Georgia class could handle your guns. And both Georgia and the Yamato's are eighteen inch battleships.” Ryan replied.

“They cannot. The Georgia class, while sporting a similar caliber, cannot measure up completely. My hull holds nine to their six. The extra weight would be detrimental, not to mention all the extra weight in a larger turret.” Yamato reasoned.

Ryan pivoted.

“Taffy 3 and your role as Admiral Kurita's flagship in the Center force. Do you have any insight on that?” Ryan asked.

“Hmm… which battle was that again?” Yamato asked softly, rubbing her temples gingerly.

“The Battle off Samar.” Ryan replied knowingly.

“Ah. Yes. I recall now. Was that their name? Taffy 3? No matter… Never before have I seen such small ships carry themselves with so much heart. Such honor. Such unbridled prestige. I even remember their names. USS Johnston and USS Samuel B. Roberts. A Fletcher class destroyer and a John C. Butler class destroyer escort. The tin can destroyers who risked and gave their lives against Center force to protect the escort carriers that we were hunting down. When I fired my guns at that destroyer and I hit it three times, I figured that ship was toast. Nothing hit by that much energy lives to tell another tale. And yet… she came charging at me and my task force like a demon possessed. Her crew in shambles, her captain mortally wounded, her systems faltering and sparks flying from the smokestacks… it was one of the few times I felt fear. Like something could actually hurt me. It was against those brave souls that I actually considered bringing Ameterasu to bear, as the sheer tenacity of my foe made it feel as if I was facing one of the beasts that guarded the gates of hell. That brave destroyer crew forced Suzuya and Kumano from the battle without being hit. They got lucky because I had loaded AP thinking they were a cruiser. Overpenetration. That destroyer took so much damage and yet… fought on with those three small destroyer escorts. Samuel B. Roberts… they fought valiantly as well, distracting Chōkai and Chikuma as well as myself and several battleships with me. Those brave souls saved all but one of those escort carriers. Then Kurita forced our retreat when bombers from Hornet came and dove on us. I took bombs to the deck and turret one. The Battle off Samar is one I don't often think about, but it is memorable when it is brought up. I thank you for reminding me of such a significant event. Those men were some of the bravest I have ever faced and I silently prayed for their acceptance into the halls of warriors, as they died a warrior's death.” Yamato recounted, her tone one of reverence and respect.

Ryan smiled.

“To have an adversary speak so highly of them. I am sure that they are honored in the afterlife to hear you speak such kindness.” Ryan quipped.

Yamato smiled softly.

“It was one of my few contributions to the war. That and Ten-Go… a suicide charge against the vastly superior American Navy. I won't go into detail, but I was… relieved to be plucked from the waves by Intrepid. I was sent to the US and interned until the war's end, where I was released to go and explore the new world. It opened my eyes. Made me realize a lot of how I thought was just plain wrong. I wandered this world, absorbing new ways of thinking. New ideas. New cultures. And eventually, it landed me in Taiwan, reunited with my adopted sister… who, barring niche societal norms, I proceeded to… blur the lines with over time. So while I did adopt her into my class, the reality is… she is still her own woman, and I fell in love with that woman. So I married her. And that is why Kashino and I are together, reunited after both of us were presumed dead by war's end.” Yamato rambled.

Ryan nodded along, enjoying the story. When she finished, he pivoted a final time, looking to wrap up the interview as he had run out of topics not easily found online.

“I'd say that pretty much sums up everything I have… But now I have to ask the question. What do you think of the Commander?” Ryan asked.

Yamato smiled.

“I like him. Shikikan may be untrained, but when you have so many of us who are trained by our own navies, it doesn't take much to mold him into something better. He absorbs our knowledge like a sponge and uses it to better himself. That in and of itself makes a good leader. But as a person, I adore him. He is a lovely father to my niece, Yume. A wonderful companion to Shinano. And a friend to both Musashi and I. In fact, when this is done, he has invited me, Musashi, and Kashino over to his home. He says he wants to watch something with me that he thinks will make me laugh. I, for one, am looking forward to it.” Yamato said.

“Oh? What movie is he putting on?” Ryan asked.

“He said it was something called… Star Blazers 2199? It sounds odd, but he seems convinced I will find it amusing.” Yamato said with a smile.

Ryan smiled.

“I think you'll find it humorous. I haven't seen it myself, but I'm sure you'll have fun.” Ryan said as he shut off the camera. Finishing his tea, he packed his equipment.

“Thank you for honoring me with your time, Lady Yamato. I won't keep you any longer.” Ryan said with a smile.

“I appreciate your time as well, Ryan. Please have a safe trip home. Here…” Yamato said as she conjured a small white flame.

“It has grown dark outside. Hold this in your hands until you reach your home, then snuff it out. It will provide enough light for you to see.” Yamato said as the flame hovered over to Ryan, who was all too happy to participate in the magic. He nodded and smiled before carrying his flame out of the shrine and back home for the evening.

Chapter Text

Ryan sat again in the Soviet dorms, this time in a much colder space. It felt more akin to a basement or cellar than an actual apartment. As what seemed to be the usual Soviet hospitality, he was offered a bottle of harsh clear liquor and a box of Winston Churchill Limited Edition cigars from Davidoff. He was also granted a loaf of warm bread and a bowl of shchi, a traditional Russian cabbage soup. Arkhangelsk and Kirov sat on a black leather sofa as Ryan eventually got comfortable in a black leather recliner.

“Quite the setup you gals got here.” Ryan said nervously.

“We sleep during the day most times. A lot of our work is done at night, so keeping it dark in the house helps us sleep whenever we want to.” Arkhangelsk spoke as she sat close to Kirov, but remained respectfully modest in her affection.

Ryan scratched his head.

“You two work? I've heard rumors throughout the fleet, but I haven't heard anything definitive. The Commander sure hasn't informed me of anything, but it's not like I was asking. I was all too wrapped up documenting the absurdity that I had been plunged into. Maybe you could fill me in before we start?” Ryan asked.

Kirov looked at Arkhangelsk.

“We kill people.” Kirov spoke bluntly.

Ryan froze.

“Huh?” Ryan asked, rubbing his ears as if he were cleaning them.

“We're assassins. Private contractors… Human Management Specialists. We get paid to handle problematic individuals for an agreed upon finders fee. Although, we've taken ourselves out of freelance service as of three years ago with the invent of Azur Lane. Now we work alongside Interpol, who knows about our past and has decided that it would be best if we continued to use our talents to help… promote human rights through the arrest and removal of certain… undesired ruling figureheads, mob bosses, warlords, etcetera.” Arkhangelsk explained.

Ryan was stunned.

“So… you just…”

“We get permission from Comrade Commander to set out onboard the Arkhangelsk and we track down and either detain or eliminate our target. We've shifted to really push for apprehension rather than outright murder, but when you face problematic members of drug cartels, or the cynical heads of mafia families, or terrorist group pariahs… your finger slips back onto the trigger for the betterment of humanity.” Kirov explained, shrugging her shoulders.

“And Interpol sanctions this?!” Ryan cried.

“Yes. We're given a bingo book every year, updated with individuals who need to be brought before the scales of justice. Whether that justice is something a bit more permanent… is up to them.” Arkhangelsk said as she flashed a leatherbound black book from between her breasts.

“So… how many people have you… ya'know…” Ryan trailed off.

“In total? Probably around a hundred since the start of the Cold War. A lot of the money to kickstart Azur Lane was given to Comrade Commander from Ark and I's shared bank account. We take only the highest paid jobs, mainly because we can't really be killed. So we can easily walk into a drug den and walk out with the proof we need to get paid.” Kirov spoke, lounging back and putting an arm on Arkhangelsk's shoulder.

Ryan swallowed.

“And the rumors about Mark? And what Sovetsky Soyuz said before her interview?” Ryan asked.

“That was us. We set out with Bonnie's hubby and we snagged the bastard from the brig of a Chinese Carrier. But, Babuska was the one to put the nail in his coffin. We can't take credit for such a righteous kill.” Arkhangelsk spoke.

“Avrora killed him?” Ryan asked, shocked that the sweet older Kansen had been capable of such a thing.

“She did. Her own grandson. It took plenty of long nights and stiff drinks to really get her past it once the celebration of Comrade Commander's wedding died down. But, she's right as rain now, so we don't question it.” Kirov said as Ryan nodded slowly. He nervously set up his camera.

“Well… I'll be sure to steer clear of any mention of occupation. Laffey's consumption during her interview got her video demonetized. So I'm pretty sure having you two out yourselves as assassins wouldn't be good for the continued survival of my channel.” Ryan said with a nervous chuckle.

“We saw that. If you want, we can convince the website to remonetize that video. Give us a callback to some of our earlier jobs. Blackmail, extortion, menacing. It's all too easy now, thanks to the internet.” Kirov offered.

“No… that's quite alright. I'd rather not terrorize the people who pay my bills.” Ryan said with an infinitely more nervous chuckle.

“So if not our job, then what would you interview us about?” Arkhangelsk asked curiously as she sipped a glass of bright red liquid.

“Well, happier times mostly. Life in the Soviet Union prior to the purge. Maybe how you two met and got together. What the Northern Parliament was like and how it was founded. Stuff like that.” Ryan said, doing his best to push past the insane info dump he had been subjected to.

“I guess we can do that. Do you mind if I check my phone every now and then? Keeping tabs on the black market hit list. Old habits. Gotta make sure nobody puts anything out on Comrade Commander or his family.” Arkhangelsk asked.

Ryan nodded as he hit the record button on the camera.

“Hello everyone, Ryan here. Back with another interview. Keeping with the theme from last video, we have another pair of Russian beauties to talk to today. Ladies, care to introduce yourselves?” Ryan asked.

“Beauties? Best not let your wife see this interview.” Kirov teased

“Anyway, my name is Kirov. Former Soviet Light Cruiser and lead ship of my class. Most of my history comes from the Winter War and the Siege of Leningrad. All in all, I had no real contribution to the second world war, but I now command a Battlecruiser, once again being the lead ship of the class. The President of the Russian Federation calls my vessel Admiral Ushakov, but I despise that name more than anything and I will not answer to it. I served aboard that vessel from the day it was launched in 1974. Not that I did much there either. A reactor failure left me stranded in 1990 after a pretty mundane career. With the fall of the Soviet Union in ‘91, that is when the new name was granted, but I never took to it.” Kirov explained before turning to Arkhangelsk.

“I am Arkhangelsk, formerly Royal Sovereign of the Royal Navy, a Revenge class battleship up until my transfer to the Soviet Navy. My original vessel, a descendant of the Queen Elizabeth class, was in service to the British crown until May of 1944, when I was transferred to the Soviet Union and renamed. No offense to my partner… but I wished I could have remained with the brits… they kept up maintenance. When my hull was returned to the Brits in ‘49, they found that my turrets were jammed to centerline and most equipment was unservicable. It was scrapped, but by then I had come to love the culture of the Soviet Union, so I refused repatriation with the Crown and instead pledged my service to the Soviets. Eventually, I got a submarine. My current vessel. Soviet Akula class nuclear powered ballistic missile submarine. NATO designation: Typhoon.” Arkhangelsk explained.

“The Kirov class battlecruiser is Nuclear Powered, as is the Typhoon class, but the Typhoon class is also nuclear capable. How does that work?” Ryan asked.

“Actually, I'm nuclear capable too. I just don't like them. So if Arkhangelsk needs nuclear material, I will provide it for her to maintain an arsenal.” Kirov replied.

“An arsenal? Does that mean you two are part of Azur Lane's nuclear deterrent?” Ryan asked.

“Yes. There are several members of our fleet who are a part of the nuclear defense program run by Azur Lane. Arkhangelsk is one such member. But we will not disclose the others. I only speak for us, and I'm sure Comrade Commander will give me an earful even for mentioning it.” Kirov said.

“I have to ask, how does that work exactly?” Ryan asked.

“Well… I'll say that it requires two members to be a single active unit of this nuclear defense but I will not disclose for what reason. While horrendously misguided and abused, the United States did have a solid reason to keep their Kansen a secret, at least up until this whole thing kicked off. But the way they screwed over their own girls is horrific and they deserved everything that came of it. All the backlash and settlements. They earned that by letting dumbass individuals run their Kansen focused intelligence agency.” Arkhangelsk spoke, shutting down the conversation.

“Okay. Then let's pivot to why that was. Surely that can't be secret still.” Ryan tried.

“Because of New Jersey.” Kirov spoke.

“Oh?” Ryan asked.

“Yeah. They did it even before her, but when she came about, they enforced it a lot more, according to some of the other American Kansen. The Iowa class are nuclear capable, yeah… we knew. But they are the only nuclear capable warships being held as museums. If someone got a hold of someone Jersey cared about… mainly Comrade Commander or their kids, she becomes an extremely malleable target for blackmail and extortion. She could be forced to initiate nuclear launches to destroy targets in an act of terror unlike any seen before. So they really dropped the hammer once the Iowa class was fielded. The American kansen were a secret before then, those who retired needed to sign NDAs and whatnot. But when Jersey retired… keeping them a secret became priority one. And it was bad.” Arkhangelsk answered.

“I see. Well, it seems we have it pretty much sorted now. Let's move on. What was life like in the Soviet Union?” Ryan asked.

“Not too bad, but only marginally better for us because we served the military. Humans… humans cannot fully embody the true meaning of communism, because greed is present in every man, woman, and child bred by the world of man. Communism is the ideal that all who work share in the reward equally, therefore if everyone works equally, everyone is rewarded for their labor justly. Humans cannot achieve this, by my own experience. There will always be those who want more for doing less, and those are the people smart enough to put themselves above everyone, hoarding what rightfully belongs to the masses. Life in Soviet Russia… it was… fine for us. We made do with what we got because pride is a powerful motivator. Nationalism was high for the Northern Parliament. We believed in our home, our country, to the point that we devoted our lives to training in its defense.” Kirov spoke.

“But truth be told, we were not blind to the suffering of the Soviet populace. Men conscripted and mowed down. Women forced to work just as hard as the men, only to end up in the bread lines just like every other unfortunate soul. I think… honestly… my pride in my nation faltered heavily after witnessing a mother of three keel over in the bread lines while her three children stood helpless as nobody stopped to help their mother. It was I who went to them and drew attention to the situation, which then involved military police coming to take the children and tend to the body of the deceased woman. I never saw those children again, but one can only assume, given how little food there was for the people.” Arkhangelsk explained.

Ryan nodded solemnly.

“And then there was the purge.” Ryan muttered.

Kirov sighed deeply.

“Yes. The collapse of the Soviet Union saw a new leader emerge, promising to lead us to a new economic utopia. To allow Mother Russia to rise from the ashes like the legendary phoenix. But it was too good to be true. Yes, nowadays you can find enough food for the people of Russia, but it came at a cost. The man who took over wrote legislation to keep his power over the nation until 2036. We spoke out about it. We rallied. We made noise, as was the right of a democratic people. We were seen as a threat. The newly formed FSB, merely the KGB with a fresh coat of paint, hunted the Northern Parliament kansen ruthlessly. The ones here at Azur Lane, barring Commissar Soyuz, were the only ones to escape the witch hunts. So many of my friends died, all because we dared to speak our truth.” Kirov spoke, unwilling to sugar coat even a single word.

“How did it affect you?” Ryan asked.

“We went into hiding. As did many of our friends. Old Soviet territories were the ideal place, as the newly formed nations wanted nothing to do with Russia. They were happy to harbor us as we tried to reclaim some semblance of normalcy.” Arkhangelsk answered, skirting the truth about how she and Kirov were always abroad, hunting for bounties and hits.

“Can the same be said for the others?” Ryan asked.

“I can't speak for others. We only really found each other once again when Azur Lane was formed. Part of the cover was concocting fake identification and false narratives. Every trace that could be reasonably tracked in relation to any in the Northern Parliament would ultimately turn out to be a red herring. Even Ark and I had some trouble keeping tabs on our friends after the purge. It wasn't impossible, but damn were they good at making us work for it. And knowing what you know, that is impressive.” Kirov explained.

Ryan nodded.

“So I guess keeping track of anyone proved to be next to impossible. How did that affect you?” Ryan asked.

“We eventually just accepted the notion that our friends could all be dead. Went about our own lives after having found Kirov several years after we fled Russia. It was only after hearing about Azur Lane from Queen Elizabeth that I pulled on every red string I had cast out and tied to the loose threads… the faint glimmers of hope that others had survived. I tugged… and I got feedback. Several members of the Northern Parliament had survived and could hear me. I told Kirov and she told me to send them to her vessel in Northern Russia. So I did before heading to Japan to meet up with Comrade Commander. The rest is history. Kirov returned and took her boat, we joined Azur Lane, and eventually we wound up here in the Pacific, living our best lives as an independent nation.” Arkhangelsk spoke.

Ryan smiled softly.

“I guess it's pointless to ask, but your thoughts on Azur Lane as a whole?” Ryan spoke.

“Heaven on earth. No more looking over our shoulders. No more worrying about the status of our friends. That, and so much sated curiosity. You don't realize just how much the fall of the Iron Curtain did to stunt the free movement of information. I didn't realize that New Jersey was nuclear capable until after the purge was initiated. I didn't realize just how vast the US navy had become. I didn't realize that there were others like us… the Kansen of the Republic of China… they were liquidated too. Comrade Commander is currently looking into the idea of reviving the sole member of the RoCN that we have a cube for. But he's hit a snag…” Kirov spoke.

“Oh?” Ryan quipped.

Kirov nodded.

“She's the only one. We haven't heard or found any other cubes. If he brings her back… she'd be all alone.” Kirov spoke sadly.

“And we told Comrade Commander that the Northern Parliament would take her. China unknowingly harbored Kiev. We will return the gesture and absorb Yat Sen into our ranks and give her a home with us.” Arkhangelsk spoke firmly.

“Yes, but she'd be alone regardless. There aren't any of the Chinese Kansen left. One sole Chinese Kansen among a fleet of Soviets? Imagine how she'd feel.” Kirov rebutted.

Arkhangelsk pouted.

“So basically, Azur Lane was a net positive for the Soviet Kansen.” Ryan stated, trying to skirt past the idea of yet another genocide.

“Correct. And before you ask, Comrade Commander is one man that we hold above all else. If he says jump, we ask how high. If he says sail, we ask where to. If he says fight, we ask what he wants left standing. He singlehandedly revived the Northern Parliament to a point nearing our former glory. I don't care if he's green or new or inexperienced. That man is owed our lives. And if he needs a problem solved, we solve it.” Arkhangelsk spoke firmly as her phone rang.

Looking at her phone, she nodded.

“I need to take this.” Arkhangelsk spoke as she stepped away.

“I guess the same can be said for you, Kirov?” Ryan asked.

“Da. Comrade Commander brought back the Commissar. Brought true joy back to Babushka's eyes. Saved Kiev's arm. He may be inexperienced, but he has a good heart. And a man like him… I could see him fitting in quite well in the Northern Parliament. His greed is not one that seeks to destroy. He is greedy for our sake. He puts us before himself and that takes a level of pride and selflessness that I aspire to reach one day.” Kirov said thoughtfully as Arkhangelsk returned.

“We need to cut this short.” Arkhangelsk spoke firmly.

Ryan nodded.

“Alright folks, it looks like these two have business to attend to, so we're going to have to cut it short here. Thank you all for watching and leave a comment down below to suggest who I can interview next. Until next time.” Ryan said as he stopped the recording.

Arkhangelsk checked to be sure that the recording was finished before speaking.

“The Jungle Princess is back on the market. She's been spotted in the foreign legion in Ukraine. Bounty has increased again. Half a billion for her capture.” Arkhangelsk spoke.

“Jungle Princess?” Ryan asked.

“We believe she's a Kansen. She has to be if she still looks like she did back then. She was in the special forces in Vietnam. A Marine Raider during the battle of Fallujah. Now she's been spotted with the same battle scars and bad attitude she had all those years ago, now aiding in taking down drones on the front line in Ukraine with that old 590A1. What irks me though is the client…” Arkhangelsk spoke.

“Who wants her?” Kirov asked.

“The United States… as in… the Department of Defense, the CIA, and the Department of Homeland Security all pitched in to raise the bounty for her capture. The proxy on the dark web is one we've worked for before, only to find out it was for the behest of the United States government.” Arkhangelsk spoke, scratching her head.

“We should take it to Comrade Commander… we can't go poking around with someone like that if the US is after her. As much as I want to find her, if they want her, she's gotten too hot.” Kirov spoke.

Arkhangelsk nodded.

“Then we'll talk to the dragon and Comrade Commander. Sorry to run, Comrade, but we need to settle this quickly so we can figure out what we're doing.” Arkhangelsk spoke as she and Kirov helped Ryan pack before all of them left the apartment.

Chapter Text

Ryan sat aboard the French frigate Jean Bart as she sailed in formation with Battleship Hawaii, Battleship New Jersey, Destroyers: Laffey, the recently reconstructed Shimakaze, and Gridley, Aircraft carrier Enterprise, Submarine U-110, and Amphibious Assault Ship Bon Homme Richard. Originally invited to document the proceedings of the groundbreaking ceremony for a new joint naval base in the Philippines, Ryan was quite happily filming B-roll footage of the fleet cutting through the waves of the south pacific. The strength of the battleships, the calm of the carriers, the speed and maneuverability of the destroyers. All caught on camera for his and the world's viewing pleasure.

“Having fun?” Jean asked as she emerged from her vessel's superstructure.

“I am. It's still very surreal. Three years ago, I was a museum curator for the Battleship New Jersey. It was set that she'd never sail again. Now… here she is, sailing the seas. Along with a battleship that never existed, modern naval vessels, and legendary vessels from the second world war. I don't think I've ever seen that many torpedos on a boat, and I've seen a Gato class submarine.” Ryan said as he pointed towards the Shimakaze.

Jean shrugged.

“Never seen her before. If you know my history, then you know I didn't see much action.” Jean said as she leaned against the railing on her bow.

“I know a bit, but since we're out here already, why don't we do an interview for you and you can help fill me in. I already have the camera and I think the Commander said we still have about an hour or two before we reach the Philippines.” Ryan said.

Jean shrugged again.

“I guess we can do that. Not much to tell aside from how I met my girlfriend.” Jean said as she went to fetch a nearby chair.

“That's fine. We can incorporate some stuff from your more recent life as well. From what I hear, you forged the wedding rings for New Jersey and the Commander.” Ryan said.

Jean set her chair down as Ryan moved his camera equipment.

“I did. The Comandante's ring was actually quite difficult to make. A ring-maker's tools don't do too well in the face of Ti6-Al4-V heat treated titanium. And then making nearly a hundred individual razor thin scales to weld back together to form dragonskin? That type of craftsmanship would easily cost someone a quarter million from my shop. I had to bring out actual steelworking tools to make that ring, not to mention NJ using a cufflink from her jacket. That ring was a highly dangerous item… but it gave us a nigh immortal leader, so I guess it all worked out in the end.” Jean spoke.

“A quarter million on a ring?!” Ryan cried.

“Oh she didn't pay a red cent. I should have charged her, but she actually stood up for Massachusetts and I's relationship, so I owed her big time. Now we're even again, so she better not expect any freebies.” Jean said with a smirk.

“Oh? And how did that happen, if I may ask?” Ryan asked.

“NJ heard about the US crews giving Massachusetts a hard time since her and I fought. She made mention that she… ya'know… liked me and whatnot. Well, this was the forties. You can see where I'm going with this.” Jean spoke.

“Ah, gotcha. New Jersey was an early adopter of love is love, huh?” Ryan asked.

“Something like that. If she heard any of Massachusetts's sailors giving her shit about it, those sailors would end up with bruises in the brig for a week or more. Soon, none of Mammie's crew even mentioned her relationship with me. Kind of like don't ask, don't tell. And that worked for us.” Jean said with a smile.

“Well, either way, I'm glad you're happy. Speaking of Massachusetts, why isn't she here with you?” Ryan asked.

“Comandante wanted her to stay back at base. Said she'd be a bit slower than us and he's trying not to leave his kiddos for too long, which I fully get. I love those little tykes.” Jean said as Ryan cocked his head.

“Oh? I didn't realize you had a connection.” Ryan mused.

“I don't. But Mammie and I enjoy people watching now and again, and Comandante brings the kiddos to the park on base every now and then. They usually come and play with us for a bit before he realizes. I've come to enjoy those few minutes whenever Mammie and I go out.” Jean said as Ryan chuckled.

“I understand. I'm some kind of odd grandpa to them considering my connection to New Jersey. I've begun to see them like I do my own family. The joy is infectious.” Ryan said as he sat down and turned on the camera.

“Hello everyone, Ryan here. Another long awaited interview has come at last. This time, the cunning, beautiful, talented Jean Bart of the French Navy. Welcome, Jean.” Ryan said.

“Pleasure to be here, Ryan.” Jean spoke.

“Well, why don't we open by having you tell the world a bit about yourself. Then we'll find some more pointed questions to get into.” Ryan suggested.

“Sure. My name is Jean Bart, Richelieu class battleship that was never actually fully finished in time for the second world war, yet was present and an active participant in the battle of Casablanca during part of Operation Torch, the invasion of the French controlled North Africa in nineteen forty-two. The destroyers and cruisers duked it out for most of the fight, but the real showstopper was when Massachusetts came into range and opened up on me. I managed seven shells from my sole operating main battery turret before her fifth salvo jammed my turret in place, disabling my vessel for the remainder of the fight. My ship laid in Casablanca as I was shuffled around allied POW camps. I had actually gotten to see Massachusetts during our battle… and I got an address for correspondence. So I wrote to her as I was shuffled around until war's end. Then, they finished my vessel in nineteen fifty-five and I took to the seas under the reunified French Navy alongside my sister, Richelieu. She was broken up by nineteen sixty-nine and me by nineteen seventy. From there… she kept with her namesake and became a member of the Clergy, working her way up to become an actual Cardinal if you can believe it. Me? I became a jeweler in Talmont-sur-Gironde, far from tourists who would cheapen my product.” Jean spoke proudly.

“I've never heard of that town before. So it must have been quite effective at weeding out people who didn't want to pay the prices you charged. Did you operate under a pen name? Someone the world might recognize?” Ryan asked.

“I do. But that is a secret for me and me alone to know. After all, I don't need people haggling with me to bring down my prices when each piece I make is completely and utterly unique. Like a dragonscale titanium ring for the Comandante, or a pair of platinum dragons clutching a custom cut, heart-shaped, pink natural diamond for New Jersey. Each piece I create has a special meaning or purpose. And I charge what needs to be charged for time, expertise, and accuracy. I've never had a complaint, because I don't do shitty work.” Jean spoke firmly.

“Gotcha. So now that you reside in Azur Lane, does that mean your business has stopped?” Ryan asked.

“No. I moved my operation to Azur Lane under a new name to keep the secret alive. Some of my most loyal customers have already found me and placed orders to commemorate the move.” Jean said as an alarm blasted out from my vessel. Jean reacted immediately by holding a hand to her ear, likely receiving intel from me and my suite of onboard systems.

“Hold on one second.” Jean ordered as Ryan quickly paused the recording.

“Chinese aircraft, this is Azur Lane Frigate Jean Bart. You are operating within temporarily restricted airspace. Vacate the area until such time as we have passed through this area. Failure to do so will be met with interception and possible engagement.” Jean spoke firmly as she looked out over the side of her vessel to see the now spotted Shaanxi Y-9JB slowly banking away from the area.

“What was that about?” Ryan asked.

“The whole incident with the South China Sea being contested territory. The Chinese government is obviously trying to size us up to see if it'd be a good idea to rock the boat and try to drive us off. They've been against this new military base ever since we started vying for approval from the UN. When it was voted in favor, Comandante could tell China and Russia weren't too keen about it. So this is likely them trying to harass us.” Jean spoke as she returned to her seat.

“Are… we going to be okay?” Ryan asked.

“Yes. In addition to my radio warning, the sudden appearance of F-35B fighters onboard the Bon Homme Richard probably scared the hell out of the pilot of that aircraft. They're hightailing it back to sovereign Chinese territory based on their radar trajectory.” Jean said as Ryan nodded, suddenly remembering the whole reason why Azur Lane existed.

“Shall we continue?” Ryan asked.

“Yep. We're clear.” Jean said as she lounged back in her chair.

Ryan hit the record button again and the interview continued.

“So I notice we're not on a Richelieu class battleship. Were you reassigned?” Ryan asked.

“I was. Relieved of duty shortly before the rebellion, I was stationed aboard this tiny thing. An anti-air frigate of the Cassard class. Traded massive 380mm guns for a 100mm peashooter. But I got missiles and torpedoes in exchange, so I guess it evens out. I helped capture pirates aboard this thing, if you can believe that. I also did drug interdiction, embargo enforcement, and training exercises with the US Navy's 5th fleet. I was decommissioned in 2021, allowing me to briefly return to my shop before a mysterious invitation to Mutsu in Japan kinda set me on a different path.” Jean spoke.

“Do you enjoy this ship, or do you wish you could return to your battleship alongside Richelieu?” Ryan asked.

“I'd like to go back to a battleship, but I am not so selfish as to deny my new home of a powerful anti-aircraft asset. Lord knows we need cruisers to help balance out the old world steel we have going on. We've got more cashflow than a damn casino with how many defense corporations we're in contact with to bring the older vessels up to modern day standards. I actually overhead Comandante saying that after looking at the Shimakaze, he could justify spending the money to get his hands on a Mark 48 torpedo from the US navy and a sonar system for the rabbit so that he can retrofit her torpedo launchers into the twenty-first century. Type 93 torpedoes used to be the bane of ships everywhere, but they're stupid in a world of smart munitions. Give that rabbit sonar guided torpedoes and she'll be a massive threat to enemy ships and submarines alike.” Jean said offhandedly.

“Interestiing. So Shimakaze is going to receive an update here soon. I wonder how that'll pan out.” Ryan mused.

“You can always ask her at some point.” Jean said with a shrug.

“So… the big question. You and Massachusetts. How did that happen? You two fought at Casablanca as enemies. How did you two end up together?” Ryan asked.

Jean blushed softly.

“I… like to think she just outright adopted me. Something about me putting up a fight somehow equated to me playing hard to get. She was a quiet one back then, that's for sure. But you don't really argue when a caramel skinned, tatted, feather wearing woman comes and plucks you out of the fires burning on your stricken battleship. Not to mention the weird skimpy leather thing she has going on in conjunction with a bikini as her uniform… I dunno. Something that day just gave me the hots to go foreign and I never really looked back. I'll never fully admit it to her, but when she came for me that day, I felt my heart beat just a tiny bit harder knowing that she had beaten me so completely.” Jean said as she reminisced fondly.

“Safe to say that Azur Lane brought you back together after years of separation?” Ryan asked.

Jean nodded.

“And that is something I'll thank the Comandante for until the day we all sink. Finding her, especially after my second stint of service, was quite difficult, so writing letters was my only method of communication. I'm glad to have her back at my side.” Jean said softly.

“We can wrap this up, I can see land ahead. One more question before we sign off, however.” Ryan said with a smile.

“My thoughts on Tyler?” Jean asked.

Ryan nodded.

“He's got a good heart. He's a sap for romantics. A bit stir crazy every now and then. Quite fierce and intense when anyone shows hostility towards Azur Lane as a whole… I swear if it weren't for Yamato, he'd be wanted by the ICC for murder. Some of the secret recordings she takes of him during UN Council meetings are fun to watch because you can pinpoint the exact moment that he's debating whether to jump over the table at someone for suggesting something adverse to Azur Lane… mainly the Russian or Chinese delegations. She usually keeps him in check, then we hear him vent about it for about a week afterwards and then he goes back to normal. All around, he's a real entertaining guy. But he's a guy that I'll serve under any time. Look at that behemoth of steel he commands. Obtained through necessity, he uses it to shield us. Us. The women who fought wars for humans… and a former human turned Kansen is now using that monstrous vessel to protect us. If he weren't locked down by that beast of a dragon, New Jersey, I'm sure many of the women on base would love to cut themselves a slice of that cake. All in all, I approve of him.” Jean said firmly, cementing her opinion.

“Similar sentiments from everyone. Seems he's done right by all of you. Well, that's all the time we have for today. This had been Jean Bart, and I'm Ryan, signing off. Until next time.” Ryan said as he cut the recording.

“Hope you have a spare battery. We're being escorted in by the Filipino coast guard. The time has come for Azur Lane to establish a presence.” Jean said as the armada sailed into the territorial waters of the Philippines.

Chapter Text

Shinano was utterly exhausted. With New Jersey and I in the Philippines, Belfast and Impero watching over the port, and Sheffield performing duties inside our shared home, Shinano was left to look after the kids. Thankfully, she wasn't alone. My mother had come over to help Sheffield with the cleaning while Musashi and Yamato had come to help with the kids.

Even now, as Shinano sat down at the computer in my home office, she could see Musashi quickly walking past the open doors with Bellora and Junior held by their ankles in her tails as Musashi tried desperately to catch Romeo, who had managed to get into the sweets I had procured for a date night with the wife and mistresses upon my return to Azur Lane.

The kids' screams of elation were soothing to the sleepy kitsune, but there was just so much going on that even thinking about her upcoming conference call with Ryan for her interview was beginning to weigh on her.

Shinano rested her head on the desk and rubbed her ears softly as Yamato entered.

“Baby sister, is everything alright?” Yamato asked as she glided over to Shinano's side.

“I am so very tired, but I promised to do an interview today. I feel slightly overwhelmed.” Shinano whined softly.

Yamato smiled slightly as she pulled up a chair next to Shinano.

“Musashi is playing with the kids right now. And Shikikan's mother is preparing their lunches. Yume is currently down by the surf, but she is being watched by Kashino…” Yamato said as she reached into the sleeve of her robes and pulled out a thermos and two clay tea pots.

Shinano sniffed the air as Yamato poured the contents of the tea into the cups.

“Mmm~ Korean Ginseng. Did you swipe some from little Kashino?” Shinano asked as Yamato handed her a mug.

“I did. I had a feeling that you were a tad overwhelmed so I asked her for some to make your favorite tea. You always tend to get a bit more sleepy and tad worked up when Shikikan is away.” Yamato spoke as she sipped her tea.

Shinano snickered softly.

“I guess. It… even if I cannot marry him like I had hoped, I am happy where I am at. I don't need a document to prove that he loves me. So I pour my all into loving him when he's actually here. So when he leaves… all that time I could have been asleep catches up with me. But I know I have to perservere…” Shinano said as Yume came bounding into the room with Kashino hot on her heels.

“Miss Yume! Please! You need to put that back!” Kashino whined as the little kitsune ran circles around the bovine carrying what looked like a baby blacktip reef shark that seemed to be content chilling in Yume's tiny hands.

Yamato stood up and used her tails to capture Yume and hold her in front of her mother.

“Yume, my sweet budding dream. What are you doing with this poor creature?” Shinano asked softly.

“It's my friend, mama! Look how calm it is!” Yume squeaked happily.

Shinano looked at the baby shark and noted that it was still breathing.

“I can see that, sweetie. But Yume… this is an aquatic animal. You need to put it back. I'm sure it'll stay close by for a while.” Shinano said as she gently coaxed the animal from Yume's hands and handed it to Kashino, who quickly ran to return the shark to the bay.

Yume sniffled softly and looked ready to cry.

“Yume, sweetie. It's a fish. It needs water to live. You don't want to kill your friend, do you?” Shinano asked softly as she transferred her daughter from her sister's tails to her arms.

Yume sobbed softly as she threw her tiny head from side to side as she wailed on about almost killing her new friend.

“Why don't we talk to Papa when he comes home?” Shinano asked.

“W-why? I almost hurt him!” Yume cried.

“Because Papa can reach out to a bunch of people. I've heard of a bunch of places in America that run aquariums. Why don't we ask Papa if we can spare an island here in the atoll for a marine research center? That way you can go and see all the pretty fish and cool sharks you want, while we can do more to protect them in the future. Wouldn't that be nice?” Shinano asked.

Yume slowly calmed herself down and nodded, wiping her nose with one of her nine tiny black tails.

“O-okay.” She said softly as Kashino returned.

“The shark has been returned to the sea, safe and sound.” Kashino said with a small huff, showing how fast she had been running to save the poor creature.

“I think Yume has had quite a big day today. Perhaps it's nap time.” Shinano said softly as she gently booped Yume's nose, causing the child to fall asleep pretty much instantly after giving her mama a kiss on the cheek.

“I'll see her off to bed then. Please try not to overexert yourself, Lady Shinano.” Kashino said as she scooped up Yume and took her from the office.

“Quite the adept little hunter, isn't she? To catch a reef shark barehanded at her age.” Yamato said as Shinano sat back down and sipped her tea.

“All of Shikikan's children are brilliant. They take after their mothers almost to a tee.” Shinano said as a link popped up on my computer. It was Ryan phoning in from the Bon Homme Richard by way of satellite internet.

Shinano clicked the link and situated her kimono to properly cover herself.

“Lady Shinano. Can you hear me? I'm testing the connection from here in the Philippines.” Ryan spoke.

“Yes… I can hear you.” Shinano said as Yamato scooted into frame.

“Ah, I see Yamato is with you. The commander asked me to check in on the kids. How are they doing, and how are you holding up?” Ryan asked.

“The kids are doing good. Aunt Musashi is being the playful one today. I'm a bit tired, but that's alright.” Shinano said as she sipped her tea.

“Understandable. New Jersey apologizes for leaving you alone with all the children. This groundbreaking ceremony was apparently planned for over a month out, but suddenly got shifted up due to recent events.” Ryan said.

“It matters not. Why should the dragon apologize for leaving my children with me? The dragon herself has said that I am just as much a mother to every single child sired by Shikikan as I am to my baby Yume. It is a mother's duty to watch her children, and sometimes it takes an entire naval base to do it.” Shinano retorted softly.

“That's quite the mature take. Tyler said he'll make sure to make it up to you when he returns.” Ryan said.

Shinano blushed brightly as a wave of thoughts crashed through her head.

“L-let us begin. I am ready now.” Shinano stammered as Yamato chuckled beside her.

“Alright. And, we're recording. Hello everyone, Ryan here. Got a bit of a weird format today. I am joining Azur Lane leadership in the Philippines for a special project that will be revealed to the world in a few months. But, as a good actor always says, the show must go on. So, in the spirit of keeping that energy, we are interviewing the final member of the Yamato class. After having spoken with Lady Musashi, Lady Yamato, and class adoptee, Kashino, we reach quite possibly the least known of the original trio, the Aircraft Carrier Shinano. Welcome Lady Shinano.” Ryan spoke from his end.

“It is a pleasure to be here, Ryan. Yes, it is quite true. I am the least known of my sisters, as I never truly saw combat… much less finished fitting out. From what I recall, I was to be built as a third battleship, with two more sisters planned after me. But, with the total loss of the Kido Butai, it was decided to convert my hull into that of an aircraft carrier to attempt to reestablish air dominance in the Pacific.” Shinano replied, introducing herself briefly.

“I can see that you follow suit for your sisters. Long silver ears and I think I see tails behind you. Are you a kitsune as well?” Ryan asked.

“I am, but I am far more reclusive than my sisters. My lover and those in Azur Lane are the only ones to have set eyes upon me since the forties. This will be quite new for me.” Shinano said as she sipped her tea.

“Your lover?” Ryan asked.

“Yes. Sweigart Shikikan. He has sired a daughter with me… the first kitsune born naturally.” Shinano admitted.

“Your daughter is a kitsune as well?” Ryan asked, strictly for the camera.

“She is. She has black furred ears, nine black tails, and vibrant purple eyes. She is a sweet little thing.” Shinano said cheerfully.

“I see. Well congratulations on that. You mentioned your operational history being rather short. What happened?” Ryan asked.

“Ah… well… I was transferring from Yokosuka Naval Arsenal to Kure to complete my fitting out while also transporting fifty rocket powered Ohka aircraft. But… I was sunk around the midpoint by the United States submarine Archerfish. I was then picked up by the Kansen of the Archerfish and held as a POW in the recently liberated Philippines. I was released back to my homeland by war's end.” Shinano explained.

“I see. I did a small amount of digging. Did you realize that your sinking is still holding the record for the largest ship sunk by a submarine?” Ryan asked.

“I do… Archerfish teases me every now and then about it, but she knows it is a sore subject.” Shinano spoke flatly.

“Ah. My apologies. I was unaware. So, what have you been doing since then? Before Azur Lane?” Ryan asked.

“Mainly sleeping. I've seen my sister's interviews and noticed that Big Sister Yamato has unveiled the secret of our class. Musashi's command of lightning. Yamato's command of Fire. And my command… well… I command the moon in a sense. I am what is known by my sisters as a dreamwalker. I am able to project myself into the dreams of others, or even into the future to some extent, and by that, I mean I can tell the future to a certain degree the closer we get to it. I can command the restless to rest. The lethargic to arise. And… recently… I discovered I have the ability to control gravity… like the moon and her tidal forces. It's not really useful right now, but I have begun training with it for the sole purpose of exploring its use.” Shinano admitted.

“Gravity?” Yamato asked, surprised.

Shinano nodded as she touched a tungsten cube on my desk. It had been a gift from one of the other girls. Concentrating fully on the cube, she was able to lessen the effects of gravity to make it float.

Yamato was shocked.

“Impressive, dear sister. To think your abilities stretch this far.” Yamato praised.

Shinano sighed through a smile.

“A shame it isn't as influential as your ability or Big Sis Musashi's ability.” Shinano lamented.

“Nonsense. We shall train this ability to become a massive asset to our home. But even this is amazing.” Yamato said as she lightly tapped the floating cube, causing it to spin in a slow, uncontrolled fashion. After a few more seconds, Shinano cradled it and the weight of the item returned to normal. Replacing it on my desk, Ryan seemed amused.

“That is quite a feat, Lady Shinano. When did you discover that you could do this?” Ryan asked.

Shinano blushed brightly.

“I… uhm… I am in no… position to really… get into that. Next question please.” Shinano stammered as she sipped her tea defensively.

Ryan seemed confused for a moment before deciding not to pry.

Yamato leaned in and muted the camera.

“Come now, sister… indulge in a bit of gossip. I'm also curious. Don't worry, they can't hear us.” Yamato said softly.

Shinano blushed even brighter.

“It was our third anniversary… of the night we conceived Yume. I grew fatigued but wanted more… and… I just… felt myself become weightless. It was surreal… no pain in my legs… It was like I was floating. Yet… I was able to do so much more with him… only when he… corrected me and broke my concentration, did I fall back to earth.” Shinano whispered through folded hands as she tried desperately to explain through her embarrassment.

Yamato tittered softly as she covered her lower face with a golden tail.

“My my. I didn't realize just how naughty my baby sister has become. To use your ability to enhance the bedroom… that might be something fun to explore with my own partner. After all… I can control what my flames burn.” Yamato said as she poured Shinano more tea before unmuting the microphone.

“I saw you had paused, is everything alright?” Ryan asked.

“Yes. Of course. We can continue now.” Yamato said.

“What was that about?” Ryan tried.

“Just intimate business between sisters. Nothing the world needs to hear.” Yamato explained.

“I see. Moving on, I understand from Musashi's interview that you and her attacked New Jersey when the Commander went to Japan. What was your takeaway from that, the showdown between the Iowa class and the Yamato class?” Ryan asked.

“It wasn't a fair fight. My sister and I… we weren't prepared to understand, much less face such an opponent. She shredded my planes like it was nothing. She paid them no mind, despite me pouring energy into creating the aircraft to be chewed up by her AA. I became fatigued early on and had to retire, leaving Musashi to deal with the brunt of the dragon's fury. Thankfully, New Jersey was kind enough to spare not only myself, but Musashi as well.” Shinano explained.

“What was the battle like?” Ryan asked, curious.

“It was intense. It was dark, stormy thanks to Musashi. Her thought behind it was that if the weather was inclement and visibility low, she could level the playing field against New Jersey. This was false. I had tried to warn her of the radar technology I had seen when peering into our future. The sheer destruction we could have faced. But she wanted to hear none of it. So… I went with her to help. New Jersey hesitated… I am unsure why… but the words Shikikan yelled at the time still haunt me, even as I warm his bed. The words of reassurance she needed to summon her rigging to do battle. The sheer release of energy was enough to quell the raging typhoon my sister had conjured and reverse the direction of the wind. A headwind for my sister and I. I launched planes and they were demolished in seconds. I… I kept going and every single plane was torn from the sky while she focused solely on Musashi… like I wasn't even there. And in reality… my contribution to that battle was similar to my own war contribution… next to nothing. I watched as my sister angered New Jersey. I watched from afar as New Jersey blew apart my sister's rigging. Crushed her ōdachi to dust. Pummeled her to within inches of her life. It… was terrifying. But… Shikikan had given her orders not to kill us. And so… we surrendered after facing a portion of the dragon's wrath.” Shinano recounted.

“That sounds terrifying. Do you think the battle you experienced lives up to the hype most people envisioned if the Iowa were to do battle with a Yamato?” Ryan asked.

“Not even remotely. We were vastly underpowered for a fight like that. Was it terrifying? Yes. It was my first battle. Because I never fought Archerfish… so my battle against New Jersey led to my first and only loss. And Big sis might have bigger guns… but it doesn't matter if you can't pierce the dragon's armor. And my wooden planes aren't very helpful against a firehose of tracers. We were merely an example to prove that she still had the fight in her.” Shinano admitted meekly.

“I see. But now you seem quite happy. Has Azur Lane helped you in any way, or has it just been a change of scenery?” Ryan asked.

“Azur Lane brought me the love of my life. And a beautiful daughter to bear proof of that love. I will admit, I miss the shrine in Mutsu where I spent my days, but now… I cannot imagine waking up from a night of dreamwalking without seeing my man sleeping next to me. That, and the others who share his heart. We're all one big happy family.” Shinano said happily.

“Wonderful to hear. Did you want to say a few words, Lady Yamato?” Ryan asked.

“I'm quite alright. Besides, it is time for lunch, so we really must be going.” Yamato said as Shinano nodded.

“Of course. We'll sign off for now then. Thank you for coming on the show, Lady Shinano.” Ryan said as Shinano nodded and waved to the camera before ending the call.

Just as she did, Musashi entered holding Romeo, Junior, Bellora and Nikki by various appendages within her ocean of fluffy tails. Romeo wore the evidence of a thoroughly destroyed chocolate cake while the others giggled at being manhandled by Aunt Musashi.

“I believe lunch time should be postponed for these rugrags. I think a nap would suit them better, especially this one.” Musashi deadpanned as she singled out Romeo.

“I just put Yume down for hers. So we'll put everyone else down for a while. We'll have lunch on our own so we can focus on the kids when they wake up.” Shinano said softly as she glided over and kissed each child on the forehead, knocking them out cold with soft smiles on their faces.

“Sweet dreams little ones. Papa will be back before you know it.” Shinano said as the Yamato sisters exited the office to continue about their day.

As they headed for the dining room, Musashi leaned in.

“So~ What's this I hear about my baby sister learning to manipulate gravity? And to make such frivolous use of such a gift to grant limitless pleasure to our Shikikan~ It seems my baby sister is quite lecherous indeed~” Musashi teased as she and Yamato chuckled while Shinano buried her face in one of her tails.

Chapter Text

Ryan was practically vibrating with excitement as he sat across from us. With a brief to the entire base that Wisky had joined our ranks, the port exploded with a multitude of different reactions, most of which were positive. Among some of the more notably positive reactions, was Ryan, who reached out immediately to secure an interview with the second Iowa class sister to join our ranks.

Now, sat in my dining room, Ryan set up the cameras to capture NJ, Wisky, and I together in the space across from him.

“Who is this guy again?” Wisky asked bluntly.

“This is Ryan. He used to be the curator for my vessel when I was a museum piece in Camden. He also acted as my father when I got married and handed me off to my wonderful Honey~” NJ replied, clinging to my arm.

Wisky looked me up and down.

“Mighty big guns to have a beast like my big sister fawning over you like some little schoolgirl.” Wisky teased.

“Bigger than yours, Wisky. Bigger than yours.” I replied, pulling NJ into my side to hug her for a bit.

“You don't need to tell me, sir. I got a good look at that snazzy battlewagon of yours and I gotta say, it's nice that someone in the modern age still cares about the finer points of naval warfare. Missiles and CIWS can't do shit to a ton and a half of steel and high explosive travelling at seven hundred and eighty meters per second.” Wisky replied respectfully.

“Uh…” Ryan cleared his throat.

“I'm… ready whenever you are, Miss Wisconsin.” Ryan spoke respectfully, doing his best to curb his enthusiasm for professionalism's sake.

Wisky turned to me.

“How do you want me to do this, sir?” Wisky asked.

“First. Just call me Tyler. You're my Sister-in-law for god's sake. Second. Anything not internationally declassified by the United States is restricted information. If you want to tell us, I'll have Ryan stop recording. But I firmly believe that despite the bullshit the US has put everyone through, they don't deserve to be lambasted for things that the world has no way of knowing.” I replied.

Wisky nodded as she turned to Ryan.

I looked her up and down, noticing a change in clothing. She still wore her Vietnam era BDU pants and black bra, but draped over her shoulders, and held on by a gold cord between the top button holes, was an admiral's formal coat, like NJ's, except hers was black with gold accents. I had no doubt that her coat was the same as NJ's in the sense that it contained her rigging.

Ryan quickly turned on the camera and began recording.

“Hello everyone! Ryan here. It's been quite a bit since the last upload, and now we have a guest that quite literally shook the port to its roots. Accompanying our guest, we have the Admiral, always a pleasure…” Ryan said, gesturing to me.

“Pleasure to be here, Ryan.” I replied respectfully.

“... and the ever illustrious New Jersey…” Ryan said as he gestured at my wife.

“Oh, shush…” NJ said with a soft smile.

“... and now, for our esteemed guest. Care to introduce yourself?” Ryan asked.

“Sure. My name is Wisky. Short for Wisconsin. I'm an Iowa class battleship like my big sister, New Jersey. I'm a no-nonsense boat with a short fuse and a quick temper. So keep it straight around me, or you can personally ask the North Korean artillery operators who fired on me where the crater near Songjin came from.” Wisconsin spoke bluntly.

“Wisconsin. The second known Iowa class battleship to have a Kansen manifest from its hull. We were under the impression that New Jersey was it. Should we begin looking for others?” Ryan asked.

“Maybe? I'm not too sure. J and I were told the same thing. We were told that we were the sole Iowa to take to a cube and that none of our sisters had ever manifested. It took quite a while for me to discover that New Jersey had a kansen, and I only discovered it via a Filipino newspaper when you unveiled that new naval base in Subic Bay, near Manila. But as soon as I found out about it, I rushed home and confronted the President about it to his face.” Wisky spoke earnestly.

“You confronted the President?” Ryan asked.

“Yeah? He's the only one I knew who had any kind of access to know who I was.” Wisky replied.

“So… did you have an appointment? It's very rare for a supposed normal citizen to meet directly with the President.” Ryan asked.

“Appointment? Fuck no. I booted down the door of the Oval Office. Secret Service didn't want to let me in. But they're human, so they couldn't stop me even if they wanted to. Anyway, he told me all about Azur Lane and how to get here, so I took my boat, and here I am.” Wisky replied.

“Let's not forget the psychological warfare upon your arrival, little sister.” NJ quipped.

“Hey. Considering what I used to do, be thankful I only resorted to stalking him. I could have done… so much worse.” Wisky replied.

“What do you mean?” Ryan asked.

“Oh, right. I snuck onto the island when the Commander got a bit antsy, seeing my helicopter approach on radar. I saw him coming and ditched it and snuck in with the Baltimore sisters, who happened to be in the area when he was looking for me. I may have stalked him for a few days, leading to a small mental breakdown on his part, but it was all in good fun.” Wisky said as NJ chopped her head.

“Ow! What the hell!” Wisky exclaimed.

“Honey has a very delicate mental constitution. Fun or not, it wasn't nice.” NJ retorted firmly.

“Yeah, I know that. But I had fun.” Wisky quipped back.

“We had to put him to sleep for half a week, Wisky. There's a reason that I booked him with Bremerton the moment I found out she went for her doctorate in psychology. You could have done some real lasting damage.” NJ whined.

Wisky paused.

“Is he that bad?” Wisky asked, conveniently forgetting that I was sitting next to her.

“By my own admission, yes. I am. I'm far from the most put together person on this base, which is why my title is merely that… a title. Azur Lane is run by committee. That's why people listen to NJ or Bismarck or Soyuz. I can give orders too, but my rule isn't absolute. That decision was made because I am far from the image of mental fortitude.” I replied.

Wisky's face ran through several emotions in short order.

“I see. My apologies then, Commander.” Wisky spoke.

“Tyler. Don't call me ‘Commander’ again. No sister of NJ is going to use my title, you hear me?” I spoke, firmer than before.

“Understood, Tyler.” Wisky replied professionally.

“We'll work on it. Let's get this back on track. Ryan? Any questions to lead us off?” I asked.

“Sure. Well, Wisky. Tell us a bit about yourself.” Ryan suggested.

“Sure. As you know, I'm the kansen of an Iowa class battleship. And just like Big Sis Jersey, I'm just as much of a handful for the world as she is. Only difference with me is I'm not married to a man who can handle my temper. I received the same modernizations as New Jersey, making me Tomahawk armed and nuclear capable, however, my lack of a second keybearer means my nuclear arsenal is completely neutered. A fortunate series of events for the world, I would reckon.” Wisky spoke.

“Couldn't that be overridden by the Commander?” Ryan asked.

Wisky looked at me.

“I wouldn't have an idea as to how. If it were something Wisky really wanted, I could talk with Washington and Reno to see if such a thing were possible, but for now, she hasn't expressed any desire for that to become a reality. So for now, our only nuclear capable Iowa is my wife.” I replied curtly.

“I see. Now, I have some idea as to the answer of this, but I figured I'd ask for those who don't know. Since the Iowa class was rumored to carry nuclear weapons, did you have to display the trefoils that civilian and private ships need to display?” Ryan asked.

“No. We were under the NCND protocols during our time in service. It provided ambiguity and allowed us to project nuclear power in a safer way, as our nukes weren't capable of being targeted if the enemy had no idea where they were definitively. So none of the Iowa class battleships displayed the nuclear trefoil, regardless of whether or not they were actually carrying them.” NJ answered.

“I see. Wisky, from what I hear, you actually separated from your hull post-Korea. Can we shed some light on that?” Ryan asked.

“Yeah. It wasn't my choice. After the incident in Korea, the government forcibly removed me from my boat and discharged me from the Navy on account of my short temper.” Wisky replied as she sipped a glass of Dalmore that the newly healed Sheffield had provided for us for the interview.

“So… how does that correlate? I thought you girls were pretty much forbidden from taking control of the vessels. How would your temper lead to your separation from the Navy?” Ryan asked.

“Because I did exactly that. I had a good relationship with every single man on my crew. The moment those North Commie bastards struck my boat, I felt it. But when I investigated the damage, I saw three of my guys hurt and in need of medical. I kinda snapped and ripped control of the vessel from my crew, much to the horror of my Captain, and deleted the gun emplacement with a full high-explosive broadside. Pretty sure the crater is visible via satellite to this day. Not my proudest moment, but damn if it wasn't cathartic.” Wisky reminisced.

“So the government kicked you out and put blame on your captain?” NJ asked.

“Pretty much. They couldn't admit that it was me. Not when we were in the midst of the nuclear arms race with the Soviets. That could have triggered an all out nuclear war. So they blamed my Captain and I was whisked away from the front. Eventually I was approached by the CIA for potential admittance to a newly formed intelligence unit centered around growing tensions in Vietnam. Came to find out my role in ‘intelligence’ was to be as much of a nuisance to the NVA and Vietcong as I possibly could under the cover of MACV-SOG. Black Ops.” Wisky said as she reached into her bra and dug out a cigar before cutting and lighting it.

“Impressive. Is there anything you can shed light on?” Ryan asked.

“Nothing too wild. But I remember one of the first months in, I ended up assaulting a position with a few of the guys and stealing an RPD from NVA forces. I chopped it down and made it my goal to use only that to handle enemy forces. A way to sow doubt in the enemy forces. They'd autopsy the dead and see their guys being killed by their own bullets. I'd learn the writing habits of enemy soldiers and write letters before crumpling them and leaving them in enemy camps, sowing even more doubt and mistrust. A few times it worked, I sat back and listened to some hothead Vietcong execute several of his guys due to shit I wrote in those letters. Almost felt… fulfilling. Oh. And one of the best parts was when we captured one of the counter-intelligence members of the NVA. Force fed them bits of C4 with dud primers buried in them. Harmless in practice, but it was funny watching them spill their guts under the threat of being turned inside out by high explosive. Good times. Then there was the time I called in the bombardment that gave my big sis the achievement of sinking an island.” Wisky remembered fondly.

“That's … dark.” Ryan said as he considered cutting that part of the footage entirely, despite the interesting end.

“Yeah, no shit. But like I said, Black Ops. We were off the books and did what we had to to get intel. A lot of the more substantial shit we did is still locked behind a classified stamp. Although… I remember another case. An escort mission. Bonnie's boy toy from her air wing. Me and the guys met her and several marines from her security detail at the LZ and escorted her in to where the VC were crawling around like maggots. I had to take a walk watching her break down like that. She probably didn't even know who I was. But I knew her. I watched her come into her own in the post-war period. I think seeing her pick up that hose clamp was probably the most heartwrenching thing I've ever endured. Set a tone for the rest of that godforsaken war. I became… cold. Empty inside. Seeing how clinical they were with her. So much different from the second world war, where our crews and servicemen actually gave a shit about us. I didn't do much fucking around after that, I just handled business.” Wisky recounted, taking a long drag of her cigar.

“I'm sorry you experienced that. It's hard to think that you girls experienced some of the same nightmarish things our sailors and soldiers did during those wars.” Ryan spoke.

“Yeah. Worst part is, those of us who died got off easy. Look at what had to happen for Kansen to be treated decently. This motherfucker had to take on the entire US government to stage a coup with my sister. Shit got real bad, real quick in the post war era.” Wisky spat as she pointed her thumb at me.

“You mentioned to the Commander about being in the Marines as well?” Ryan asked.

“Yeah in the years post-Vietnam, I spent my time evading bounties placed on me by surviving NVA and VC bigshots. I think the Soviets sent a pair after me early on… but I digress. Eventually I came home and was basically told that I had to reenlist but I wasn't allowed back on my boat. So, naturally, I went for the Marines. I loved my Marines back during the second world war. So I figured I'd give back. Ended up excelling right out of boot camp and they offered me a spot in selections for what would end up becoming the Raiders. I took it, aced it, and got outfitted and was sent out in ‘91. I was in through the end of the Persian Gulf and the Iraq war before getting poached by Blackwater in 2011, transferred into the Academi umbrella once Blackwater shuttered in 2014. Did a whole bunch of shit for them. None of which I can really talk about. But, I can say that Venezuela and the Democratic Republic of the Congo are real nice during the fall months.” Wisky explained, taking another sip of her drink.

“Gotcha. Looks like you've been real busy since the second world war. Anything else?” Ryan asked.

“I mean… before I saw the newspaper from the Philippines, I was operating in the Ukrainian foreign legion. Rockin Vietnam era BDU pants and a black bra while slinging hot lead out the business end of a Mossberg 590, blowing up drones like a damn skeet shooter. I gotta tell ya, having a built in radar is kind of unfair. I had men scrambling to go out with me on patrol towards the front lines. They figured out I could ‘hear’ the drones coming long before they could. Swatted them out of the sky. Then I saw the newspaper inside one of the Ukrainian General's tents. Got pissed off and hauled ass back to DC. Now, here I am.” Wisky replied.

“Damn. You really did get around. You didn't tell me all that.” I quipped, tone indicative of surprise.

“You never asked, short stuff.” Wisky shot back.

“Hey!” NJ whined.

“She is taller than me. I'll let it slide.” I replied with a shrug. Looking at Wisky, she was a solid 6’5”, taller than me by a quarter foot. Which incidentally put her five inches taller than NJ.

“Moving swiftly along. Wisky, how did you earn that nickname?” Ryan asked.

“Easy. The bow on my ship actually came from the incomplete hull of my would-be sister ship, Kentucky. Mine was damaged when my Korean War crew rammed it into USS Eaton off the Virginia Capes. Around the same time, I got in a pretty nasty fight and caught a scar to my neck. Pretty symbolic. They just lopped off Kentucky's bow and welded it to my hull. Now I carry a part of both of us.” Wisky replied.

“As someone who has recently joined Azur Lane. What do you think?” Ryan asked.

“Man… I have Nieces and Nephews now. Take away everything else, and that alone is worth it. Everything else Tyler does is just icing on top.” Wisky said. Right on cue, Belfast and Shinano led the kids into the living room before gliding past us to begin preparing lunch. Impero followed and stayed with the kids as she scrolled through the TV channels to find something suitable for the small army of three year olds.

The kids saw me and immediately came waddling over, climbing on me, NJ, and Wisky as the latter scrambled to put out her cigar and move her drink towards the center of the table. Ryan stopped the recording with a smile.

“Well, it seems like you three have a lot to tend to, so I can cut it off here. I'll slot in an outro later. It's really nice to meet you, Wisky. I hope we can talk more, off the cuff, in the near future. I had a good relationship with the curator for your vessel and Nauticus as a whole, but I feel like I can learn so much more just talking with you.” Ryan said as Junior and Nikki settled into Wisky's arms.

“Sure thing. Come find me whenever. I got plenty of stuff I can spill off the record. Just… make sure to eat a light lunch. I got some stories that have turned the stomachs of Air Force PJ's.” Wisky replied as she began playing with Junior and Nikki. As Romeo and Belora settled in with NJ, and Yume crawled into the crook of my arm, Ryan packed his stuff and headed out, the kids all waving goodbye to Grandpa Ryan for the time being.