DISCLAIMER: I do not own Kantai Collection or any of the characters whatsoever. This includes the actual ships, their histories, etc. I'm just a fan of Kancolle as a gamer and of the ships as a history lover, nothing more.

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When I first awoke, I knew nothing about the world around me. Lost in a vast, expansive, gray fog over the oceans, I knew not where I was or how I got there. Who I was, however, was not a mystery. My memories told me I was born as the first battleship of the 8-8 fleet programme. The flagship of the Combined Fleet of the Japanese Navy, I was also called one of the 'Big 7' along with my sister, Mutsu. Nagato – a battleship from a war long since passed – that was who I was. That was my name, but I was not a ship. That ship left the world at the Bikini Atoll. I was a ship girl.

Ship girls were beings that nobody was certain about, not even us. We were born alone on the seas with strong firepower and natural survival instincts. Such abilities were necessary because we were never truly alone after awakening. The reason why I possessed cannons as part of the rigging on my back came to me the moment I encountered hostiles within the mist. Black and white creatures, some beastly, others humanoid, attacked me relentlessly. It may have been primal for both of us. My body told me to fight them just as they tried to attack me. I learned quickly that I was to fight back if I were to survive. For my first battle, I was able to show my superior strength, and that strength drew the attention of others outside of the fog of battle.

"You're strong. Would you be willing to fight with us?"

There was no question as to my response.

"I look forward to working with you from now on." I told the golden medal decorated admiral and gave him a salute my body already knew by heart. The officer and his subordinates, my comrades, returned the salute.

I carved my place into the naval fleet with my strength and effort. In return, I was rewarded with camaraderie and warmth I would never find simply wandering the empty seas. To be able to share a meal under the dim yellow lights of a bar, to be able to talk and joke and laugh while watching the orange sunset on a green, grass field, to be able to fight side by side with others along the blue seas under the blue skies knowing they in turn were watching my own back… I, who had fought alone until then, felt like color had been added into my lonesome, monochrome world.

I worked to protect that color.

Training with my fellow comrades, I showed them the power of the Big 7, and outside in the ocean waters, I supported my friends with all of my heart. Counseling, strategy, shelling practice, encouragement, I grasped at every opportunity I could to help my comrades and friends. Eventually, I became looked at as a leader people could trust, and even the admirals saw me as their equal in authority. When it came to taking charge of strategies on the battlefield and building morale, I was one they could turn to.

"P-please to meet you… I am the Kongou-class Battleship, Haruna. I-I look forward to working with you!"

"I'm Haguro… the youngest of the Myoukou class… U-um… I'm sorry!"

"Good day to you… I am the heavy cruiser Kumano… My apologies, I'm not used to being out in the field…."

I later came to take on the duty of motivating new recruits, and I did so with all of my heart. I was strict in drilling them for battle so they could improve their ability to protect themselves. At the same time, I was also kind and open to talk so we could build trust in each other. Self-confidence and discipline, those were the two things I spent long hours coaching them to develop. Practice battles, team building exercises, combat drills, Spartan training, I went through everything I could think of for those girls to find their strengths. I hoped they could also find that sense of belonging that I had found.

"Fast battleship, Haruna, reporting for duty!"

"Myoukou-class fourth ship, Haguro. I will support the front lines!"

"TooooooOooouuuh!"

Haruna, Haguro, and Kumano were among a few of the girls I supported. As nervous as they were having been alone in the world until we located them, they grew to believe in themselves. They began to take charge. Haruna never gave up and always assured herself that she was alright. Haguro stopped apologizing over every little thing and spoke with authority that grew when she earned her second remodel. Kumano took to using Zuiun planes with a battle cry that took even her sisters off guard.

I couldn't be more proud of them. They were all fighting to bring peace to the oceans and protect the land they were now able to call their home. Together, we hoped the bright yellow sunrays from above the white clouds and the light blue sky would continue to pierce through the dense mist that the Abyssal Fleet, our unpredictable enemy rampaging through the seas, called home. We would push them back. We would ensure the safety of our comrades, our friends, our families, our country. The seas would be calm once again with us ship girls working together.

That dreary day, I set out for battle with the first fleet, ready to make a difference and finish our operation in the Northern Pacific Sea.

Here's an experimental work with Nagato as the main character. By experimental, I mean they'll be short chapters but the story'll be long. I'll be trying to push out chapters whenever I have time. I've gotten into a habit of putting characters I like through hell lately, so I'm sorry, Nagato. Be strong. ~Richi