Admiral's log current date is October 20, 2015.

Where to start? I was promoted to Rear Admiral at the beginning of this month which was a pleasant surprise. Honestly, after I submitted my report on the fall of Australia I expected to be removed from my command. I was pleasantly surprised when I was commended for my actions and subsequently promoted with the Tenth Fleet placed under my command.

With communication somewhat reestablished with the outside world, I have received important updates on the war effort. The Japanese have repulsed the Abyssal attacks on Okinawa and have launched a second invasion of Taiwan. From the early reports, they're having success. The Chinese have halted the Abyssal advance but have yet to counterattack. The situation in the Indian ocean is slowly swinging in our favor. A British fleet hit an Abyssal fleet at Sir Lanka allowing our forces to land.

There's good news in Europe. The Abyssal invasion of Denmark has been defeated and we're driving the Abyssals back in Finland. A report a received yesterday stated British and German forces have invaded Norway; I can only hope it goes well.

I just received a report a few hours ago about a failed Abyssal invasion of Portugal. A small Kanmusu force from Spain engaged an Abyssal fleet and tied them down until a French task force arrived and together they sent the fleet to the bottom.

Large convoys are arriving every few days now carrying critical supplies and troops. It's easy to see the Americans are planning to use New Zeeland as a jumping-off point for the invasion of Australia.

A knock caused him to look up. "Come in."

An officer walked in carrying a few papers. He stopped in front of Hayes's desk. "Just place them in the stack."

He did so and left. Hayes looked to the growing stack and sighed.

"What I would give for a secretary right now."

He took a report and read it over. It detailed the final repairs for the Tenth fleet which had been completed earlier today.

"There's some more good news."

He placed that aside and began the long and tedious task of going through paperwork.

"Ah. Now this is more like it."

Leander rested her hands on her hips and smiled. "Now, the rec room doesn't look like it was abandoned."

It was her little project she worked on when she had time. It had taken far longer than she would have liked even with other Kanmusu pitching in when they could. Now, the Rec room looks brand new.

Leander turned to Defender, "What do you think?"

She smiled, "It looks great. I didn't know you were so good at housekeeping Leander."

She shrugged, "When you're bored you look for anything to occupy your mind. I actually learned a lot from Belfast."

"Really? Hm."

"Come on, let's enjoy the fruits of our labor."

Leander laid down on the couch and stretched out with a sigh. Defender sat down on a loveseat, leaned back, and closed her eyes. They let their minds drift away.

Knock knock.

Leander groaned but didn't wake up.

The knocking came again and this time more insentient. Defender mumbled something in her sleep.

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK!

Leander groaned and her eyes slowly opened. She blinked a few times before rubbing her eyes.

KNOCK KNOCK!

"Hey, someone in there!?"

Leander yawned, "Yeah!"

"Can you unlock the door?"

"Unlock the door," she muttered, irritably. "Didn't even know we could lock the door."

She looked over to Defender who was still asleep. She looked to a tissue box and smiled. She grabbed it and tossed it at Defender.

Thud!

"Ow! What the...!"

"Wake up Defender."

"Did you..? You threw a tissue box at me!"

Leander smiled, "I needed to wake you up."

Defender sighed, "Unbelievable."

Leander laughed and walked over to the door. She unlocked it and opened it finding Houston standing there.

"Hi Houston. Come in."

Leander walked back inside and sat back down on the couch. Houston walked around the couch and she studied the room.

"Damn, this looks much better than it used to. Did you do all this Leander?"

"Most of it. Defender, Java, and Augusta helped out when they could."

Houston nodded, "Well, I came looking for you as your patrol is in thirty minutes."

"Thirty minutes," she said, surprised. "How long was I asleep," she asked herself. "Thanks Houston."

She stood up and left the room.

Houston turned to Defender, "Come on."

"Why?"

"All of the cargo ships have been unloaded. I've asked a few members of the Eighth fleet if they wanted to visit Remutaka Forest Park and relax for the day. Want to come?"

Defender thought about it and stood up. "Sure. I didn't have anything planned for the rest of the day anyway."

Standing at the docks and watching the ocean is Lexington. She breathed in and slowly exhaled with a small, content smile. It was a meditation of hers that she tried to do once a day. Due to how hectic the past few weeks have been she hadn't had a chance to do it. Her eyes slipped shut on their own accord and she let her mind drift away to the sound of the ocean.

She was broken out of this trance when she felt someone's eyes on her. She opened her eyes and turned to find Glorious watching her with a curious expression. Her cheeks flushed and she lowered her head."

"I'm sorry. It's rude to stare."

She smiled, "It's fine." She looked out at the sea and closed her eyes again. She heard Glorious's footsteps as she moved to stand beside her.

After a few seconds she asked, "Do you do this often?"

Lexington opened her eyes, "I try to do it once a day. With how busy we've been I haven't had the time."

She looked back out across the ocean. "Now though, I can enjoy it."

Glorious hummed, "Do you mind if I join you?"

"No."

Glorious closed her eyes and just like Lexington allowed her mind to drift away to the sound of the ocean. They're not sure how much time passed by eventually, they opened their eyes.

"So, you showed me what you do to relax. Can I show you how I relax?"

Lexington nodded in acceptance and followed Glorious. She followed her through the base and towards the barracks. She stopped at one of the many doors and typed in a passcode. It flashed green and the door opened. Lexington followed Glorious inside and studied the room while Glorious headed to a very small kitchen.

"Who else do you share the room with?"

"Leander and Exeter along with six destroyers."

"I bet it gets pretty chaotic when you're all here."

"You would be surprised. Even with everyone in here, it's rather calm. That doesn't mean we don't have our chaotic moments," she said with a small smile.

Lexington smiled, "I see the Royal Navy's discipline can slip at times."

Glorious rolled her eyes, not the Lexington saw it. She turned to face her, "Why are you so happy about that?"

"Well, I've never met a Royal Navy Kanmusu myself I had to rely on what my friends told me about them. They all said that most of the Royals they fought with had cold attitudes during engagements with the Abyssals a far cry from how their attitudes were. Their attitudes were different during their downtime but they were still rather cool and collected. It's nice to know that shenanigans still happen behind closed doors."

Glorious softly laughed, "As a lady of the Royal Navy and can safely say that we get up to our fair share of mischievous activity. It's largely the destroyers who are involved but I've been roped in a few times."

"Any funny stories you want to share?"

"Plenty, but none I'm going to share."

Lex sighed, "Ah well. Hey, What are you making?"

"Tea."

She couldn't contain her amusement at that and giggled a little. Glorious turned to her, "Why are you giggling?"

Lex smiled, "Your British and your favorite way to relax is making tea."

She gave her a flat look conveying just how amusing she thought that was.

"Sorry, couldn't help it."

Glorious sighed and shook her head. She turned around and continued making tea.

Lex walked over to one of the beds and sat down. "So, how long have you been in the field?"

Glorious looked over her shoulder. "You're asking many questions about me."

A light tine of red dusted Lex's cheeks. "Since we're going to be working together I thought I should know more about you. I'm sorry if I'm being too pushy."

Glorious gave a small smile, "It's fine. I was summoned two months after the war started. What about you?"

"Three months."

Glorious nodded and checked on her tea. "Have you worked with Kanmusu from other nations?"

"No. Have you?"

"I have. Before I was sent to reinforce Australia and New Zeeland I had the pleasure to fight alongside many German Kanmusu."

"Hm. So there isn't any bad blood between the British and German Kanmusu?"

"Not that I heard of. There was some distrust about working with German Kanmusu but that was it."

"Huh. Did you meet any German Kanmusu?"

"Sadly no. Leander and Exeter did. They would be happy to tell you about them."

"Something to ask about in the future then."

Lexington laid down and pulled out her phone. She fiddled around with it for a few minutes before sliding it back into her pocket. She looked at Glorious who was still making tea.

"How long?"

She hummed in thought. "Ten minutes."

A knock on the door caught their attention. "Who is it?"

"Brazen and Brilliant. Can we come in Glorious?"

"Yes."

The door opened and the two destroyers walked in.

"I didn't know you had company."

Lex smiled and waved. Brilliant smiled and waved back but Brazen didn't.

"I was showing Lexington how I relaxed. You are welcome to stay for tea."

"Are you kidding? I would never pass up your tea."

Glorious graced her with a smile. "Thank you Brilliant. Brazen?"

Brazen thought for a moment. "Alright."

They took their seats on the bed across from Lexington.

"What type of tea are you making?"

Glorious smiled, "My own special blend."

Both Brazen and Brilliant smiled. Brilliant looked to Lexington, "You're in for a treat Lexington. Glorious's blend of tea is the best I've ever had."

"Really? Well, I eagerly await the chance to try it."

"Well, wait no longer for it's finished."

She poured four cups of tea and handed them out. She sat down next to Lexington and sipped her tea. They all sighed in content after their first sip. Lexington looked at each of them, looked at her tea, shrugged, and took a sip. She stopped completely and looked at the tea. She turned to Glorious, "This is amazing. Can I have your recipe?"

Brazen laughed, "Well, I didn't think I would see it. An American that has a good taste for tea."

Brilliant nudged her, "Glorious's tea can sway anyone."

"True."

Glorious smiled slyly, "Sorry Lexington. A lady never reveals her secrets."

Lexington sighed, "Ah well. It was worth a try."

"Ah, where is she?"

Saratoga was standing at the docks looking for her sister. She had hoped to spend the day relaxing with Lex but she was gone. She scanned the docks again but didn't see her sister. She sighed, "Wandered off without me."

She turned around and walked back to the base. She spotted Augusta, Houston, Chester, and Northampton talking to each other. "Maybe they know where Lex Wandered off to."

"-on Augusta!"

Augusta shuffled back from Chester. She stopped, "Augusta?"

Houston laid a hand on Augusta's shoulder. "She's not used to your eccentric behaver Chester. Give her a little time and she'll come around."

Chester was disheartened, "Oh, Okay. Sorry Augusta."

Saratoga stopped not wanting to interrupt but Northampton noticed her and waved. She waved back, "Hey, sorry to interrupt but have you seen Lex?"

"No. Houston?"

"Nope. Haven't seen her. Chester, Augusta?"

"Nope!"

Augusta just shook her head.

"Ah well, I'll find her eventually. Guess I'll hang with Wasp. Do you know where she is?"

"Yeah, She was heading towards the rec room."

"The rec room," She asked. "No one told me we could use it." She groaned, "I swear nobody tells me anything."

Houston, Chester, and Northampton laughed while Augusta smiled. Sara waved to them and headed inside the base. She followed the signs to the rec room. As she approached, she started to hear noise through the door. She pushed the doors open and stepped inside. There are over a dozen Kanmusu in the room playing games, watching TV or just talking. She searched for Wasp but didn't find her in the room. She walked across the room and opened the door to the outside.

"Hey! Saratoga!"

She turned and found Wasp sitting under an umbrella. She walked over, "Hey Wasp. How are you doing?"

She beamed, "I'm doing great! I can sit out here and relax while enjoying the view."

The base overlooked the bay that Wellington was built around and the porch was built to take advantage of that. Saratoga sat down next to Wasp. "It is a beautiful view."

"Indeed it is."