She was kneeling on the deck with lowered head for… hours… maybe a whole day? She couldn't tell it. She didn't know anything. The only thing she felt was the emptiness in her soul. Without him… there was no point in anything. She didn't even move since then. She was just kneeling with glassy eyes.

It happened. The thing she feared the most has happened. She lost her captain, her one true love, the only person she cared about apart from her dead sister. What is she going to do now? She had nobody. And she definitely will not return to her old life. In a situation like this she didn't see a point even in her pure existence.

"Holy shit Bismarck?! What on earth has happened to you?!" a somehow familiar voice said nearby. Finally Bismarck looked up and recognized the Panzerschiff from her old fleet.

"Hello Graf Spee." said Bismarck with a lifeless voice. She wasn't watching her sensors. She didn't feel the pocket battleship closing. Now Graf Spee was swimming only a few meters from her with an unknown cruiser nearby. Her mental model, a girl with shoulder long blonde hair, dressed in a black shirt and a black skirt stood in the bow.

"What happened with you?" repeated Graf Spee her question and jumped aboard Bismarck. "I haven't seen you for more than a year! And when I meet you again your ship lies on a reef broken near Argentina and you are depressed!"

Bismarck didn't say a word.

"And why did you attack our friends?"

"Because I wanted to protect somebody." replied Bismarck weakly.

"To protect somebody? From our own fleet? Who is that?"

"I don't even know if he is still alive. He was the dearest one for me ever."

"I understand nothing."

"Neither I." interrupted the cruiser. "I only see two german ships who are talking about things I never heard of."

"Who are you?" asked Bismarck.

"I'm the cruiser General Belgrano from the South Atlantic Fleet." Belgrano had dark raven hair even darker eyes and she wore grey pants with brown boots and a blue shirt.

"Belgrano huh?" thought Bismarck.

"Bismarck. Tell me your story please." asked Graf Spee kneeling down to her.

It took a while but Graf Spee heard the whole tale.

"And you don't have idea what happened to that human boy?"

"No."

"Did you find anything which proves his death?"

"No."

"Then do not give up the hope! Search for him."

"Why are you telling me such kind things?"

"Because… you've always been some kind of a friend to me Bismarck. Even if I didn't say it."

"A friend?"

"Listen to me." said Graf Spee seriously. "He is alive. What do you want to do?"

"It's obvious: I'll search for him even if it takes an eternity to find him!" replied Bismarck and she slowly got back her vitality.

"You speak well. Then? Is there any trace you can rely on?"

Bismarck tried to recall her memories. They were laughing together with Heinrich on the board before that huge blast knocked her off. What could it be? Some human weapon? No, that wasn't an option. A vibration warhead doesn't look like this and no onshore battery would be able to damage her. Then another Fog ship? Who? Why didn't she destroy her completely? Where did she come from?

Bismarck tried to remember as best as possible. Looking back most likely it was the beam of a super gravity cannon which was not aimed directly on her hull, otherwise it would have sunk her. And the color of that shot was… She only saw it for half a second but Bismarck would have sworn that it was dark reddish pink. Why is that color familiar to her? She definitely saw it somewhere before. Where?

Then she realized: in the Pacific. Near Guatemala, and next at the Galapagos Islands. It was the color of that fast battleship Hiei! But how? How could she be here? Was she alone? And again: why didn't she make sure that she managed to sink Bismarck? Bismarck didn't know that, but she knew something else: Hiei might know what happened to Heinrich. And if that's the case she must find her by all means.

"Yes Graf Spee. There IS a trace."

"Gut. Now hurry up and start to repair your ship. I'll stay here with you until you finish. I also have some saved nanomaterials."

"Spee please. Don't be a fool." said Belgrano who was silent until now. "You know that the Fleet's leadership considers her as a wanted ship. I'm not planning to report about her but we can get into big trouble if we help her!"

"I'm fully aware of that Belgrano. But something keeps telling me that I should do for her what I can."

"…"

"Don't worry. It took me a long time to understand it too." said Bismarck to the Brooklyn-class cruiser. "By the way what's up with the Atlantic Fleet?"

"Scharnhorst is our flagship now." replied Graf Spee. "She took the lead after you disappeared."

"And she is determined to destroy me if we meet again." added Bismarck.

"Correct."

"Very well. Then I'll make sure to meet with her. Now get the work started."

It took days for Bismarck's ship to regain its former glory. However for Bismarck it was only an empty shell without Heinrich.

"Say Graf Spee. Has anyone of you heard about a Japanese Fog battleship sailing the Atlantic?"

"A Japanese ship here? I didn't hear a word about it." Graf Spee shook her head. "Maybe the others… But pretty sure they won't tell you."

"And if I were the flagship again?"

"Well…"

"Where is Scharnhorst now?"

"West from Ireland currently."

"Sail there and tell her this: I'm waiting for her at the Equator. I challenge her for a duel."

"O… Okay." stuttered Graf Spee then she left the scene with Belgrano leaving Bismarck alone.

"Hiei. I'll find you even if I have to go to the abyss of Hell!"

North Atlantic Ocean

Scharnhorst was a tall, elegant girl. She had long, blond hair worn in a braid. Her eyes were dark brown and she wore a long navy blue coat together with a black shirt, black trousers and a pair of black heeled boots.

She was standing on top of her conning tower when she felt a ship closing.

"Wasn't it too short for southern patrol? Panzerschiff Admiral Graf Spee?"

"I have a reason flagship." explained herself Graf Spee.

"And that would be."

"Bismarck." Hearing this Scharnhorst now turned her head to the south where Graf Spee was coming from.

"Bismarck?"

"Yes. She is alive."

"Did you fight her?"

"No. She sent a message for you through me."

"What does she want from me?"

"A showdown. For the title flagship."

Scharnhorst didn't say a word. A duel? That could be risky. Even though she was very self-confident she wasn't naive. She knew exactly that a Scharnhorst-class battleship wouldn't be able to fight on equal terms with a much stronger warship like Bismarck. But on the other hand there was her prestige as the leader of all Fog ships in the Atlantic. And though she was known as a cold person, deep in her soul there was hidden hate against Bismarck. That damn renegade battleship has sunk her only sister Gneisenau. She wanted her to pay.

"Where?"

"At the Equator. I guess she's already waiting for you." replied Graf Spee.

"I see. Then what are we waiting for?"

Bismarck's POV

Bismarck's ship was standing in the middle of nowhere on the southern side of the Equator. Her mental model was sitting on top of the foremast at the main rangefinder with sadness in her eyes. Since Heinrich has disappeared that was nearly the only feeling she had. Sadness mixed with torturing loneliness.

Her radar sensed closing ships from the north.

"So you accepted my challenge."

"I wouldn't miss this opportunity for anything." replied Scharnhorst.

"I wasn't expecting the others."

"I wanted an audience."

Behind Scharnhorst there were hundreds of Fog ships. Germans, British, French, Russian, American, etc.

"Bismarck! I'm so glad you're alive!" Prinz Eugen shouted to her friend. She still saw her as a comrade even if Bismarck has sunk Blücher, her sister.

"Shut up Eugen! She is a traitor!" ordered Scharnhorst angrily.

Many ships arrived from the south too, led by Belgrano to see the battle.

"Are you ready Bismarck? Are you ready to meet your fate?" asked Scharnhorst with an evil smile and with nervousness in her voice.

"You are right to be afraid." replied Bismarck with scary calmness.

"What? You deserted the Fleet. You attacked your own kind, corrupted your purpose, sided with a human and… you murdered my sister! How could I afford it to myself to shake before my foe?"

"Scharnhorst wait!" the cruisers Molotov, Maxim Gorky, and Kaganovich shouted.

"For what?" asked Scharnhorst annoyed. The Russian cruisers were listening to something.

"Sister?" Molotov asked in shock. "Kirov! Are you alive?"

"Hello girls. It's been a while." Kirov in her union core form greeted her little sisters.

"What happened? Where are Voroshilov and Kalinin?" asked Kaganovich.

"They are…"

"Everyone, hold your mouth!" shouted Scharnhorst. "I want the fight started."

"What? You can't fire at Bismarck if our sister is on her ship!" cried out Gorky.

"Sure I can. Now be quiet!"

"But…"

"I said be quiet!" yelled Scharnhorst and fired her forward turrets. The shots have bounced off Bismarck's Klein-field.

"As you think." said Bismarck silently and fired her own guns. Scharnhorst's ship shook so heavily that she nearly fell. She replied with all guns, rockets and torpedoes she had. "Too easy." whispered Bismarck. She used her smaller guns to shoot down the rockets and fired the others on Scharnhorst.

The difference between the two's firepower was obvious, Bismarck had the bigger and more cannons. Soon Scharnhorst's ship had 5° list to port and some of her systems were damaged. But she fought on. Even Bismarck had to admit that her opponent was brave and determined. But overpower is overpower. With each of Bismarck's salvos another gun or system of Scharnhorst fell out of operation. Her main mast has fallen and her hull was smoking heavily.

"Even now it is not too late Scharnhorst." said Bismarck, standing with crossed arms. "I can still stop firing."

"I'm ready to meet death if I have to." replied Scharnhorst furiously standing on one knee. "Unlike you I'm a real soldier of the Fleet!"

"Whatever you say I'd sorry to fire my cannons again. If you changed your mind, give up the fight and surrender to me."

"Surrender?" murmured Scharnhorst. Then she fired her last few operational guns. OF course the shots had no effect.

Bismarck aimed and with a blast she destroyed Scharnhorst's armament completely.

"Scharnhorst, stop please! You'll die!" Royal Oak begged her flagship.

"Don't be a fool!" yelled New Jersey.

"Leave me alone girls. That's my choice." replied Scharnhorst in a calmer tone.

In mean time Bismarck was thinking. She didn't really want to sink her opponent but it could be dangerous to keep her alive. She fired a full broadside and Scharnhorst has disappeared in the flames. Bismarck sailed there and found her union core floating on the surface. She walked down on platforms and collected it.

"You could destroy me." said the battleship with a scornful voice.

"You know Scharnhorst. Sometimes it's showing mercy what really takes courage." replied Bismarck.

"And now? What will you do with me?"

"You'll stay with me deactivated. I'll wake you up when the time is right."

"Death would be better."

"Let me disagree. By the way, do you know that your sister is alive?"

"Wh… What? Is Gneisenau…" she couldn't finish because Bismarck deactivated her. Well, Gneisenau COULD be alive. She was in Heinrich's coat when he disappeared. "I'm back in command everyone." said Bismarck to all the ships of the North and South Atlantic Fleet.

"Now let me ask you: did anyone of you see a Japanese Fog ship called Hiei?" She heard the mental models whispering. They were shaking their heads. None of them has seen her. "Verdammt."

"Um… well…" a voice said behind Bismarck.

"Yes? What it is?"

The battleship São Paulo had an uncertain look on her face.

"Well, I'm not sure…"

"Paulo please, answer the flagship's question directly." said Belgrano.

"I'm not sure flagship." said São Paulo. "But a few days ago when I was on a patrol south from the Falkland Islands I detected an unidentified ship."

"Did you see her?"

"Not really, I only saw the top of her main mast and the superstructure on the horizon and she was steaming away. I can only tell that she was a pretty big one."

"What direction did she go?" asked Bismarck curiously.

"To the southwest towards Cape Horn." replied São Paulo.

Bismarck was thinking. A big Fog ship, unknown to an Atlantic ship sailing toward the South Pacific Ocean… Why would any of the Fog ships in the Atlantic do such thing? She saw only one explanation: it was Hiei.

"Danke Paulo. Now you got a praise from me."

"Well…. obrigado."

"What do you want from that ship Bismarck?" asked Nueve de Julio, Belgrano's sister.

"I'm sorry but that's my business."

"And what are your orders?" questioned Von der Tann.

"Stop all actions against human cities and ships." said Bismarck surprising everyone. "Do not fire at human ships unless you are attacked by them, but still try to save as many sailors life as it's possible. Secondly, blockade the Strait of Gibraltar to prevent the Mediterranean Fleet from attacking you. We'll handle them later."

"Littorio will not like it." noted Dunkerque the fact that Littorio, the flagship of the named fleet will not like the idea of being closed into the Mediterranean Basin under pressure from the Atlantic.

"They only have a relatively narrow strait to break out and you have the numerical superiority. It will not be a problem for you."

"And what about you? asked Prinz Eugen.

"I have something to do. And I have to do it alone." said Bismarck. "Derfflinger, you are the commander until I come back." she said to the Battlecruiser.

"Understood flagship." nodded Derfflinger.

"Goodbye everyone. Fair seas to all of you."

And with that Bismarck turned around to go back to South America and sail back to the Pacific.

"I'll find you wherever you are!"