Author: I've been lethargic recently. Probably due to the weather or the atmosphere. I've become like my cat. Which is why it took a while to upload this. Also, I'm preparing for the next event which is a Japanese take on the Attack on Pearl Harbor. Historically, I'm a bit unhappy about this.

Updated after a few weeks has passed

My name is...

Arkhangelsk dared to appear before Queen Elizabeth to seek her aid in search of the yet to be found resurfaced Tirpitz. Now she found herself under custody and guarded by the Royal navy shipgirls who are all upset at she had been doing lately.

"You know I was surprised you even thought of coming back here"

"Desperate times calls for desperate measures. Besides, it's either here or Russia...and believe me I won't be getting out with all my limbs intact if I chose the latter"

Arkhangelsk, even finding time to make a joke to Glorious who is one of the few shipgirls who doesn't view her with animosity.

"There is a good reason why I'm helping Warspite look for Tirpitz?"

"A good reason?"

"I know the lonely Queen wouldn't be coming back right when I sensed something off. I'm not sure what it is, but it's the reason why I have to find her before the others does"

"I see. So that's why you risked getting executed just to track down the Tirpitz"

"Hahaha. Death doesn't really matter to me since I can just walk off even with a bullet to the head" Arkhangelsk made a gunshot gesture

"Whatever. Queen Elizabeth has yet to decide what to do with you. Wales wants you thrown in jail, but Victorious is defending you"

"We both know she'll agree in the end. Since it's for Warspite, her favorite sister ship"

Arkhangelsk acted calmly because she knew Queen Elizabeth would never deny a request for help from Warspite.

"I just don't understand what's going on inside that head of yours"

"A lot of things. For example, I got nothing else better to do so why not join in with the fun?"

"You know I'm not sure whether you're still a loyal dog to Warspite or you're just bored"

"I wasn't lying when I said I'd do anything for her" Arkhangelsk's tone deepened

"..." Glorious is aware she isn't joking

"Why else would I even bother going back here and beg Queen Elizabeth? I know not everyone in the Royal navy would welcome me back"

"There are still who are willing to forgive you"

"Like you-"

Arkhangelsk played another joke by gently poking Glorious' forehead, but the latter quickly reacted at the slightest touch and pinned her on the ground with her arm on the back.

"Your reflexes are still quick, huh. G-good to know..."

Glorious visited Arkhangelsk while the latter remained in custody to learn her motivations and actual thoughts, but Arkhangelsk remained stubborn and cryptic as ever.

Norway...

Aria gasped in awe, fascinated at the works of shipgirls like Gotland who defend the friendly seas and fight to retake it. She knew nothing about shipgirl or even Abyssals, but she is instinctively fascinated by them.

"You shipgirls do a lot of work to protect humanity and fight to retake the seas"

"Yes, but I don't get to be in the front lines like other shipgirls though. They get to fight the Princess class, evolved Abyssals who grew in intelligence and power"

Gotland herself had never faced a Princess class before, but she has knowledge of them. She always wished to join the front lines where the real action is, but it's always the "major navies" who does the fighting the most.

"What is a Princess class like?"

"All I know is that even one of them can take on a fleet. They're much powerful than regular Abyssals and some of them doesn't stay dead"

The only Princess class Gotland ever encountered was the Beast herself who saved her weeks ago and left for Japan.

"Everyone knows about shipgirls and Abyssals, but I never heard of them. My first memory is when I woke up here"

Aria lowered her head, unable to recall anything else other than her memory of waking up in the shores of Altafjorden.

"You know you kind of looked like a German shipgirl I know" Gotland rubbed her chin

"Really?"

"Yeah. I can't put my finger on it, but you bear resemblance to a shipgirl I met some time ago"

"Who would that be?"

"I'm not entirely sure since I've met many shipgirls when I was guarding the far north by myself"

Gotland is proud how she defended the far north of Norway from the Abyssals, though if it wasn't for the Beast's aid, she would have sunk. She still believes Aria is the Beast, but the latter get angry whenever Gotland insists.

"From destroyers to battleships, I've met several shipgirls who would pass by Norway and Sweden"

"I would like to meet other shipgirls too"

"It's not going to be easy since most shipgirls who pass by here are usually on anchorages and patrolling the northern territory"

Even in her first days as a shipgirl, Gotland could never forget how she would be always in awe whenever she has a chance to encounter other shipgirls from different navies.

"My country's navy is smaller than other navies so we don't get to be in the big fights"

"Do you want to be in the front lines, Gotland?"

"Sometimes, but I'm not suited for intense fighting like the other girls"

Aria learned how Gotland wishes to be in the front lines where the "big fights". Unfortunately, Gotland's hull and equipment isn't suited for heavy battles in the Pacific.

Maizuru naval district...

Nelson faintly hummed, collecting her thoughts about the recent events. Ark Royal, on the other hand, quietly waited for Nelson to say something.

"You're not joking, right?"

"Why would I joke? Besides, didn't Rodney already told you"

"It's hard to believe" Nelson remained skeptical

"It sounds like it's hard to believe, but it's true"

Ark Royal only learned it when Glorious informed about the unexpected visitor and passed the information to Nelson. Initially skeptical, Nelson asked Rodney who confirmed it's not a hoax. Although both Ark Royal and Nelson pondered to why Warspite didn't inform them.

"Warspite already knew this, but she didn't tell us" Nelson is slightly suspicious

"Don't be surprised if she keeps secrets, even from us"

Ark Royal and Nelson momentarily locked us, growing a doubt on Warspite's honest and intentions.

"Still, she should have told us Arkhangelsk surrendered herself and begged for Queen Elizabeth's help" Nelson raised her voice

"Maybe Warspite doesn't want to tell us how a rogue shipgirl was desperate enough to show herself to Queen Elizabeth" Ark Royal sounded like she's defending Warspite

"My eldest sister has the resources and connection needed to effectively search for her"

Warspite joined in the conversation which startled the two due to her suddenly approaching them without notice. Just as Warspite did so, Gangut, who is recently released from detention, spotted the three British shipgirls.

(That's awfully suspicious...)

Gangut suspected by instinct so she hid herself in a safe distance to eavesdrop on their conversation.

"She could be anywhere and we can't really waste our time"

"How are you even sure she's already back? Resurfacing varies, remember?" Nelson raised an important question

"..."

"Warspite, just tell us the truth!"

"That is something I cannot answer so openly"

"We've been helping you, but it doesn't look like you even trust us to keep a secret"

"It's not something you would understand"

Nelson may be upset, but she fell silent as she doesn't want to quarrel with Warspite.

"Even if we find Tirpitz before everyone else does...what are we going to do?" Nelson calmed down

"Our current goal is to track her down. Until we can confirm her...condition..."

"We can't decide what to do with her" Ark Royal continued

"Correct. That's why, I'm entrusting the duty of preventing this plan from being discovered and compromised to the two of you"

"Well, whatever. It would be bad if Bismarck finds out anyway"

Nelson is reluctant to be a part of Warspite's "game" again, but she had to agree knowing the shipgirls involved and the risks. Gangut had heard enough and gritted her teeth, furious at the secrets the Grand old lady had been keeping all this time.

"Hmm. So you tea drinkers are keeping something from me, huh"

Ark Royal and Nelson, even Gangut, are all surprised at Bismarck storming in angrily.

"B-Bismarck?!" Nelson swallowed her breath

"Here I am acting as clueless as usual and you people have been keeping secrets I should know!" Bismarck raised her voice

"Bismarck, please calm down for a moment. There's a reason-" Ark Royal is cut off

"Don't even try to justify it! We're supposed to be comrades and here you are keeping secrets I should know"

"Look. Even we didn't know anything at first. Once we learned about it, Warspite pleaded to keep it a secret to you and everyone else" Nelson explained

"We know we couldn't just tell you"

"Why?!"

"Because it's...it's..." Nelson couldn't continue

"It's about Tirpitz being back"

Hearing Tirpitz being mentioned, Bismarck felt like she was electrocuted and froze in a brief shock.

"W-what?!"

"Her fairies already sensed their shipgirl about a week ago. That's why Warspite knew she came back and has been searching for her ever since" Ark Royal further explained

"You two knew this and didn't tell me?!" Bismarck stomped her foot

"We know you'd do something stupid. Look, we planned on telling you once we found her...but that's all ruined now" Nelson massaged her temples

The initial plan was to keep their plan a secret, but with that compromised due to Bismarck discovering their not so private conversation, there are unexpected changes.

"We couldn't tell you since we're not even sure if Tirpitz came back right"

"What do you mean came back right?"

"It's not easy to explain this, but it's something that applies to all shipgirls" Nelson looked at Ark Royal

"I don't think you want to hear this, but I know you should"

Both Royal navy shipgirls momentarily looked at each other before returning their sigh on Bismarck

Later...

Warspite visits the storage where Tirpitz's rigging was reassembled after two years. The fairies takes care of maintaining the equipment of a regular basis and they diligently did so.

"It's quite convenient how you little ones can sense the shipgirl that owns you"

She spoke to the fairies that helps Tirpitz man her armaments. A shipgirl is only fully capable of using their own rigging with the assistance of their respective fairies which helps them control their armaments.

"Then again it was fairies that helped the navy tracked down shipgirls all over the world"

"..." The fairies nodded

"You can sense she has returned but cannot pinpoint or at least narrow down her whereabouts?"

"..." The fairies shook their head

Warspite find it odd how the fairies knew their shipgirl is back, but doesn't know where she is.

"Hopefully the fairy with Arkhangelsk might be of help"

Apparently Warspite had one of Tirpitz's fairies accompany Arkhangelsk in order to track down Tirpitz which is why she scoured the seas for her. It's one of those "hot and cold" kind of search.

"I wonder if she resurfaced somewhere in the north like they suspected"

By theory, Warspite thinks Tirpitz might have already resurfaced and somewhere in the north.

Norway...

It wasn't easy, but Arkhangelsk returned to her initial mission of searching for Tirpitz whose whereabouts is yet to be found.

"Hey, are you sure the north is the right place? I'll turn you into fairy stew if you directed me in the wrong place again"

Arkhangelsk threatened the fairy hiding in her coat. The fairy popped out half of itself and nervously added, afraid of being tossed into a boiling pot.

"You better be sure this is the right country this time. I'm already fucking tired of touring Europe"

"..." The fairy flailed her arms

The fairy directed her to Norway some time after Glorious and Victorious scoured the north for any clues regarding Tirpitz's whereabouts. The fairy believed her shipgirl is in the north, instinctively sensing her.

"Hmm?"

She then first noticed a small memorial of the old battleship Tirpitz with a part of it's hull beneath it.

"Altafjorden. This is where she historically sunk. She suffered the same fate as her old self. Abandoned and left to die while the war rages on"

"..." The fairy is unhappy with Arkhangelsk laughing

"Hey, at least she was remembered. The likes of us coffin ships...existed just to be scrapped"

Her voice deepened, indicating her bitterness over her class' reputation of being "coffin ships" due to how little use they are unlike the Queen Elizabeth class who were all modernized.

"Anyhow, if Tirpitz is here, someone must have seen here...hopefully"

She thought of heading to the town, but she first made her stop on a small museum. The moment she opened the door, the curator swallowed his breath upon seeing an unusual visitor. This particular visitor is adorned a thigh black coat paired with black gloves.

"Hey, you seen this woman?"

She brought out an undated picture of Tirpitz and closely showed it to the curator.

"W-why do you ask?"

"I'm looking for her obviously" Arkhangelsk frowned

"No, miss. I didn't see any lady that looks like her"

The curator lied sensing Arkhangelsk might want to hurt whoever she is looking for. Though the lady Arkhangelsk is searching for bears strong resemblance to Aria for an unknown reason.

"..."

Arkhangelsk can't tell the exact thoughts of a person, but she can certainly tell if they're lying thanks to her enhanced senses and experience in hunting down elusive and stubborn targets.

"I don't have time for liars. So you're going to tell me where this woman is or I'll break your skull open"

She grabbed the man by the collar and effortlessly lifted her a few feet off the ground. She threatened him to tell the truth and even exposed her Abyssal appearance to inflict fear on him.

"I don't like the taste of humans, but I love the smell of fresh blood" She bear her fangs

"I've seen her! I've seen her! She visits here from time to time, but I don't know where she lives!"

"Hmm..."

Arkhangelsk begins to tighten her grip, choking the man and slowly robbing him of any air to breath

"..."

The fairy jumped out of the coat and ran to her arm, waving her arms and doing odd gestures. The fairy pleaded her not to resort to violence, especially to bloodshed.

"Almost forgot. I'm not allowed to kill anybody"

Queen Elizabeth let her go from custody in the condition of Arkhangelsk not causing death and causing more ruckus than she already did. What she did is slightly loosen her grip on the man and refused to release him.

"Though I can't guarantee you won't be unscathed"

While she has strict instruction not to cause casualties, it doesn't mean the humans she will encounter will be completely free of consequences for being "uncooperative" or being a nuisance. Gotland, hearing the commotion outside, rushed only to be greeted at the sight of a shipgirl clad in black military like uniform lifting the curator a few feet off the ground.

"Who are you? What are you doing with the curator?!"

"Ah. This man? He was being dishonest...so he's getting what he deserves"

"Let go of him!"

"Or what? You're going to use force? If you're confident to even scratch me...then go ahead"

Arkhangelsk does a provoking gesture, but Gotland knew she wouldn't be able to take on someone like her. At first glance, she could already tell Arkhangelsk is the type to immediately rip someone's head off unless they attack.

"W-what do you want from the curator, anyway?"

"All I was asking is where this woman is? I have job to find her even if it means to use violence"

Arkhangelsk showed Gotland a picture of Tirpitz wearing her shipgirl uniform. For a moment, Gotland is taken by surprise why "Aria" is wearing a uniform partially similar to a certain battleship.

"The curator doesn't know who that is and neither do I. You're wasting your time so just let him go and leave"

"What if I killed you both? That'd be easier than leaving two witnesses, right?"

Gotland took a step back, intimidated by the dark clothed shipgirl's threats. Of course, Arkhangelsk would never do that as she is not allowed to. If she cause even a single casualty, Queen Elizabeth will have her executed multiple times.

"This person...She's one of us that needed to be returned. I'm sure Bismarck misses her supposedly dead sister"

"Like I said, she's not here. You're looking in the wrong place and asking the wrong people"

"Is that so?" Arkhangelsk raised an eyebrow, amused

Arkhangelsk deeply exhaled and instantly releases the curator and explained why she is searching for Tirpitz who is yet to be found.

"She belonged somewhere and that's why I'm tasked to retrieve her. You better make sure you're telling the truth. Because I resent liars as much as I do with betrayers" Arkhangelsk warned Gotland

She walked passed the trembling Swedish cruiser who stood her ground, refusing her fear of being killed horribly overtake her. She left the premises peacefully without any harsh incidents. As much as possible, Arkhangelsk wanted to avoid any form violent skirmish due to her orders.

"That girl wasn't telling the whole truth, but it did confirm Tirpitz is here somewhere"

Before proceeding, Arkhangelsk thought of the girl she saw earlier.

"That girl is a shipgirl, isn't she?" She asked the fairy for confirmation

She sensed the girl isn't just an ordinary human due to her part Abyssal nature, but she wanted to confirm it from a fairy who is also capable of telling if one girl is a shipgirl or not.

"..." The fairy nodded

"I see..."

Arkhangelsk shrugged her shoulders, discarding her plan of inquiring Gotland about Tirpitz's whereabouts, thinking a shipgirl like her would be no use to her.