A/N: I'm glad it sounds like people are enjoying the mystery element to this one, but I'm not going to give it away just yet who the mystery maid is… I will say this much, it's not Belfast.

Part Three – Butterflies and Eagles

As I left the Eagle Union dorm with more questions about what went on around my birth, I at least had a direction to try and track this down now. I looked left and right, I knew that I came down the street from the right on the back of the motorcycle with Swiftsure, so I figured I'd try left this time.

I'm not sure how long I walked in that direction before I came across a track field, where I saw a blond with pink hair tips in black track gear slowing down to a stop. As she came to a stop she bent at her hips, clearly catching her breath facing away, I know that I had bumped into her just a little while ago.

I made my way down to the field as I racked my brain for her name, when she stood back upright I saw her reach up and then tilt her torso off to the side to stretch, when she did that I saw a purple tattoo just above her stern, in the center of the artful work was a what looked like a butterfly. When she turned and saw me walking towards her she waved and called out to me, "Hey Commander, you wanna come and help me get in a good stretch?"

With a shrug I hurried over while she sat on the grass facing away from me, once I got there she leaned forward between her out starched legs and asked, "Can you push on my back a bit?"

As I put my hands on the back of her torso I could feel her heart beating, her lungs expanding and collapsing as she breathed, on some level I knew they were leaving breathing people, I mean hell my mother is one of them, my aunt Howe felt so warm to the touch… But this one, well I don't really know how to put it, she made it more real, I could see and smell the sweat on her. It was just suddenly so real, these are people, not just tools or weapons.

She gave off a happy sounding sigh before I felt her adjust her position to grab at her foot on her left, giving me a good look at her side profile and she teased, "I don't mind you looking, but don't get creepy about it, 'kay?"

I felt my cheeks get hot as I mumbled, "Sorry, I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable."

She sits upright and laughs while motioning me to sit across from her. Once I do, she extends her hands and I mirror it only to feel her take my hands, and lean back, pulling me forward, holding it for a moment, then pushing forward, letting me know to pull her forward and hold it for a moment while she said to me, "Like I said I didn't mind."

When she was fully forward I could see her bust through a hole in her top and I saw another butterfly on one of them. She caught me looking and laughed as she said, "I like butterflies; they reinvent themselves four times over their lives… they gave me the idea that I could reinvent myself too… I didn't always look this good."

I blink at her a few times and she laughs again before saying, "I know, I don't look like the kind of girl that would be into science stuff, but I used to look the part… When I met Fiji, Nachi, and Kumano, well I just thought they looked so cool and they were so confident to dress like the way they do… I wanted that too."

I nod and get pulled forward again as I say to her, "Well you know what they say… confidence is sexy."

I pull back to center and she says to me, "It is. But that's enough, for now, sir, I need to get back to the dorm and get ready for the exercise with my sisters now. I'll catch you later, 'kay?"

I nod as I say to her, "Sounds good."

As she waves at me, I watch as she almost trips over her own feet and calls out, "You didn't see that!"

I laugh and lean back with my arms propping me up as she hurries out of sight. Once she's gone, my thoughts return to what Washington told me about the maid that had taken me from the port, she had been in a dark blue uniform, sounds like she was in Belfast's realm then… I'd learned from my mother that the maids fell into two color codes, white and dark blue were tasked with cooking and caring for a specific person, while white and black were tasked with cleaning and general duties. The problem I had was a lack of images to work with in finding her; we're talking about something that happened twenty-five years ago, I doubt there would be many if any security images of them still. As I let out a heavy sigh, closed my eyes, and leaned my head back, I noticed it suddenly got very dark. I opened my eyes and found myself looking up at a bust from below that was in a white and dark blue frilly dress. I blinked a few times as I tried to place them, but it became easy when I heard the voice, "What are you doing out in the middle of a field, master?"

Huh… I wonder how Belfast managed to find me so fast…

"Distracting myself," I start off saying before changing gears and asking, "I've got a question for you though…"

She moved to sit beside me, her legs going off to the side and splaying out her dress on the grass as she said, "I shall do my best to answer you, master."

I give her a sideways look, her dress fit the bill, white and dark blue so I just asked it, "Were you on this base twenty-five years ago?"

I hoped that maybe she was, but when she shook her head no, I felt like I got kicked in the stomach when she followed that with, "I'm sorry master, but I've only been awakened for ten years."

Damn.

I give off a heavy sigh and ask, "Is there any way for you to find out which Royal Maids were on base back then?"

I see her brow knit together for a moment before she asks, "Why?"

Stands to reason that she'd want to know my reasons for asking… I look back to the sky and say, "I'm trying to solve a mystery, so far the next clue has pointed me to a Royal Navy maid."

I hear her stand up as she tells me, "I'll make some discreet inquiries, master… but it may take some time before I have any information for you on this."

I get up off the grass and say to her, "That's fine, I'm not expecting this to be solved anytime soon… it's been a secret for this long…"

Her tone became a little icy as she said, "Remember master, it is easy for a group to keep a secret if everyone but one of them is dead."

That sent a chill down my spine and her smile when she said it didn't help.

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By the time I got back to my quarters, I could see my mother and Howe sitting on the bench swing that was on my porch, waiting for me apparently, when my mother saw me, and that I had Belfast in tow I could see the relief cross her features. I guess she was worried about me, as I got up the stairs she hurried down to wrap me in a quick embrace before Howe latched on to me, almost crushing the life from my body in the process as my mother asked, "Belfast, where did you find him?"

"He was sitting in the track field, looking up at the sky, my Lady." Belfast replied to her, clearly not telling what I asked about.

Perhaps I asked the wrong person about the mystery maid…

My mother turned her attention to me, I could still see the worry that had been in her eyes, I understood it, she was concerned something had happened to me and I think if something did, I'm not sure she'd make it through it this time. I smile at her and say, "I'm fine; I had an unscheduled meeting with Washington and North Carolina."

I noticed out of the corner of my eye that Belfast stiffened when I mentioned Washington… I wonder if she knows that's where I got my information about the maid…

The rest of the day seemed to be one where I got to relax, my mother and Howe had excused themselves as they felt the need to go and smooth things over in dorms to make it clear on Swiftsure's behalf that nothing was going to happen.

I had just gotten into my sleepwear when I saw my phone start to trill, picking it up I saw that it was a video chat. I start to wonder who is contacting me, as I hadn't given out this number to anyone aside from my mother, today. I move to sit on my bed before I open the link, I was really starting to wonder who would be on the other end at this point. What came up on the other end surprised me, she had red-rimmed glasses, purple-pink hair, big blue eyes, and a black and red wedge-shaped hat with a golden eagle on it, before I could ask anything she greeted me, "Guten Abend, Kommandant, I am Gneisenau. I am contacting you on behalf of Herrin Bismarck, she wishes an audience with you at your earliest convince."

I'm really surprised, I hadn't expected to be called by the Iron Blood… maybe on some level, I had hoped it would be Swiftsure or maybe butterfly girl… Though this one was pretty too… seems to be a running trend on this base. I look to my alarm clock quickly before I offer out, "Well I was planning on sleeping in tomorrow since it's the weekend, but I could manage to meet her around oh-eight-thirty hours."

"Done, Herrin Bismarck will come to you for oh-eight-thirty hours tomorrow." She said back to me before closing the link, leaving me a little bewildered.

Really, the real question was how did she get this number… with a heavy sigh I ask, "Belfast, are you outside still?"

My door opened in short order and she stood in my doorway, hands folded in front of her, her head tilted to the side as she asked, "How may I be of assistance, master?"

"It's short notice, but would it be possible to put in a request to the kitchens for a traditional breakfast for the Iron Blood to be ready and delivered here for a meeting that is going to happen at oh-eight-thirty?" I ask her, to her credit she doesn't look phased at all, simply nods.

"If that will be all, master, I will inform the kitchen staff." She says to me.

"Yes, thank you Belfast… you can take the day off tomorrow if you'd like." I offer to her as a way of showing some appreciation for this.

"Good night, master." She says, stepping back and closing the door.

"Good night, Belfast." I say to a closed door.

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By the time I got downstairs to be ready to meet with Herrin Bismarck, I had just over half an hour before she would arrive, to my surprise what I saw rolls already laid out and there was a note on my fridge saying:

Commander Thatcher,

Thank you for the day off, but please understand that I at least came in to make sure that everything you would need for this meeting is in place. Please take out the platter of meats and cheeses at ten after, knowing what I know about the Iron Blood; they will expect the meeting to start at half-past. This means they will likely arrive somewhere between 8:15 and 8:20. Coffee is set to be ready for 8:15; tea should be hot at 8:00 so that you have a chance to wake up.

Belfast.

I fold the note and put it in my pocket as I grab a teacup and say, "Thanks Belfast."

It wasn't long after I got my tea that I heard a knock on my front door, flipping over my wrist I see that it says oh-eight-fifteen, taking one last sip of my tea I head to the door and open it to see a tall blond in a tight black uniform with red and gold accents. Behind her with a clipboard in one hand was the one that called me last night, I had to admit her outfit left little to the imagination and I kind of wondered how she got it on or off, it looked extremely tight.

The one in black gave me a stern expression as she said, "Guten Morgen, Kommandant."

I had a feeling that this must be Bismarck, so I offered back as best as I could, "Guten Morgen, Herrin Bismarck, please come in."

She gave me a bit of a smile as she crossed the threshold removing her cap in time with her movements. The three of us moved to the seating area where I had put out the plater that Belfast had left for me, to my surprise Bismarck dug right in, spreading some butter on a roll adding some ham, cheese, and tomatoes before she sat, crossing her legs at the knees on my couch.

I copied what she had done, taking a seat in a chair across from her before I spoke, "Gneisenau, please help yourself."

She looked a little surprised by that, before looking to Bismarck who gave her a nod. Gneisenau put down her clipboard on the couch beside Bismarck and went about getting herself loaded up with something to eat. Bismarck looked me up and down before speaking, "You remind me of a couple of people, Kommandant…"

"There is likely a good reason for that…" I start to say, but she raises a hand and tells me, "No, don't tell me…"

After a moment, she puts down her roll and leans in closer to whisper in my ear, "That would be King Geroge the Fifth and Prince of Wales… but that shouldn't be possible."

I shift a little uncomfortably as I lean back and she adds, likely for my benefit, "You can be honest Herr Kommandant, I trust Gneisenau to hold her tongue with anything she learns in this meeting."

"The truth is rather complicated and I'm still coming to terms with it myself." I offer out.

Bismarck shrugs before sitting back and telling me, "I understand the need to keep somethings close to the chest, Kommandant… but do be aware sooner or later, the truth does come out. Now, let us get down to business."

Reaching beside her, she picks up the clipboard and takes some papers off of it, and hands them to me, I take a look at the information to see that it is a detailed report on what the Iron Blood has been doing in port since they arrived here ten years ago. To my surprise, there is even some questionable information in this report as well as reports and observations on the other factions too. When I look up Bismarck smiles at me and says, "My forces may be small, but we are highly capable… May I ask you something Kommandant?"

I give her a nod, my head is still swimming in all of this information, I don't fully register what she says, "How is your aunt, George?"

"She's doing well." I say back.

That was when it hit me, I just told her the thing I had been trying to avoid admitting to today… that became clear when I heard Gneisenau start to cough and choke on her coffee, while Bismarck started to laugh as she said, "I knew it!"

I gulp, worried about what this could mean.

To my surprise Bismarck seemed to become much more relaxed after she heard that as she smiled more warmly and said, "I remember playing poker in your kitchen with your uncle when he was stationed here, even teasing him about how long his courtship was going with George."

"Really?" I ask back.

She nods, adjusting how she was sitting to be less ridged as she says, "I had even told him, had I known he was looking I would've offered him, Tirpitz."

I was stunned, I watched as she sipped her coffee before adding to that information, "Now I cannot make you the same offer, for Tirpitz, has rotated back home…"

I manage to get myself snapped back to what is going on and I say, "That is fine Herrin Bismarck, I'm not looking for anything at the moment."

Bismarck extended her right hand to Gneisenau, palm out just as Gneisenau placed a phone in her hand and I saw that blasted Juustagram post while she said, "Naturally I understand that this is something that was simply a misunderstanding… However, you do need an assistant that is highly capable and would be able to prevent things like this in the future."

I slowly nod, it made sense… All of three days here and it's been implied I'm looking to conduct a boarding operation. Bismarck looks at me through half-open eyes, with a smirk at the edges of her lips as she says, "And if something should happen between you and an assistant, well I would prefer if it were someone with my blessing…"

Now I was curious, what was the leader of the Iron Blood up to… And I wondered how much this would complicate my search into what went on here so long ago… Bismarck turned her attention to her assistant and said, "Kommandant, I offer you Gneisenau, both as an assistant and possible lover. Do be gentle with her; she has not had much experience."

I and Gneisenau started to choke on our drinks, the smirk became a smile as she went on to add; "This is effective immediately."

Pounding my chest a few times to clear my lungs before I went to protest, Gneisenau beat me to it, "Herring Bismarck, why?!"

Bismarck patted her on the shoulder and said, "We've lost twice so far to the Royal Navy. Both times without knowing we were even in the game, this time we will strike first… besides this is a much more amusing competition than shooting at each other."

Just as I go to say something, Bismarck finishes her coffee, stands, and says to me, "Now, I'm going to give you two some time to get acquainted… Gneisenau, I still expect you to report back to me once in a while if something might affect the interests of the Iron Blood."

I watch as Gneisenau clenches her teeth as she stands, bows with her right fist against her left breast, and said, "Nach deinem Willen, Herrin."

When she stood upright again, Bismarck clapped Gneisenau's shoulders with both hands and said, "Gut!"

She paused and turned her attention to me and said, "You are in fine hands Kommandant, give my best to your mother when you next speak to her."

I nod numbly and show her from my home, as the door closes behind Bismarck I turn to face my new assistant, she looks irritated as she runs a hand through her hair and takes a breath to center herself before she says, "I assume you have not yet met with the Sakura Empire? My intelligence suggests that you have already met with the Royal Navy, as expected really… and the Eagle Union…"

I nod to her while she takes out her phone and says, "Then I will make arrangements for a meeting with my counterpart in their fleet, perhaps for something this afternoon."

She turns her back to me and I lean against my island counter and start to wonder just how I'm going to navigate this new problem I'd been handed. I lean forward across the counter and run both of my hands over my head, while I hear Gneisenau talking away on her phone, from this side of things it sounds like a pleasant conversation, even if a little quick before she hangs up, turns to face me as she moves her glasses up to pinch the bridge of her nose and sigh out, "I managed to secure a meeting for this afternoon with Nagato… But I should warn you Kommandant, the Sakura Empire detachment here may be a little unsettling to you…"

"Do I even want to know?" I ask in a slightly defeated sounding tone.

I hear the leather of her uniform move, likely from her shrugging as she says, "Probably… if only so you do not stare at them."

"I'm not a lecher…" I groan out.

I hear her giggle a little, perhaps she's not as stern as I thought...

"I had no reason to think you were, Kommandant… Rather finding those in the Sakura fleet that are more human in appearance is not something I've seen. Often they have animal traits… Nagato herself is very fox-like in appearance." She says as I hear her boots click on my kitchen floor over to the island.

I lift my head to see her leaning over the island countertop and I ask, "How so?"

"Fox like ears and tails. There seems to be a hierarchy within their fleet, based on the traits they have… most often those with more Foxlike traits seem to be in positions of power, then comes birds, dogs, cats and finally oni." She says to me, while she is inspecting me closely.

I sigh and look back down and ask, "Do you think Nagato will likely try to do what Bismarck just did?"

I hear her sigh before admitting, "Most likely… did the Eagle Union?"

I shake my head as I tell her, "No, I don't think Washington's brain works that way."

Looking back up I see her nod before she adds, "As a warning about the Sakura fleet, do not judge them based on their physical appearance… Nagato may look like a child, but she is a very powerful kansen."

I nod my head slowly before getting off the island and heading back to the sitting room and flopping back down in my chair and not really asking anyone, "Why is this happening… I came here to track down who my mother is… Now I'm in the middle of a mystery of finding out why I was hidden away… And now this! I don't even know what this is yet…"

To my surprise, Gneisenau spoke up, "I am wondering why I was put in this position, Kommandant. I don't mind assisting you, but I am not keen on being handed to you as a possible mate."

That was when it sunk in and I started to laugh, you know the kind of laugh the one you have when you're brain starts to break. Gneisenau tilted her head to the side and said, "I don't see how this is funny…"

I shake my head, close my red eyes and try to stop laughing and I ask, "Do you know who birthed me?"

"Based on all available information, my educated guess would be that she is Prince of Wales." She says to me.

I open my eyes and look at her and asked, "How did you guess that?"

She shrugs and sits across from me, crossing her knees and leaning forward a little as she said, "I knew that she must be a King George the Fifth class, based on the information that Herrin Bismarck referenced King George the Fifth as your aunt. I combined this with you having red eyes, a trait possessed by only two of that class, along with blond hair being possessed by three of that class. I then combined that with you saying that you came here to track down your mother."

She sat back a little, pushing her glasses up a little in the process she adds, "I do find the idea of being introduced to her as a potential lover amusing, and I cannot help but think that Bismarck is doing this to poke fun at Queen Elizabeth."

I groan and lean my head back again as I say, "Ugh… I have to go to that gala this month she is arranging to introduce and welcome me…"

"Yes, I'm aware." She says to me, causing me to look up and tilt my head to the side.

Gneisenau turned her clipboard around and showed me the invitation that had been received by Bismarck.

I give a heavy sigh and ask, "So, anything I should know about you?"

"There is plenty, Kommandant." She says back, getting more comfortable on my couch.

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A/N: Chapter three done. So that marks three out of four girls put into his orbit… Swiftsure, Marblehead, and Gneisenau… who number four is going to be, I'm not totally sure yet, I'm looking for less used girls for this story, to give them a chance to shine. I will say this much, the Sakura girl will be one used as a way to ward off possible advances from Akagi, and keep Nagato in the loop.