/* Sorry for the delay, but I've been stuck in the rice fields... How the mini-event going for you guys? */

Nagato followed her commander down the staircase and out of the building. On their way out, they passed Zuikaku, still pressure cleaning the headquarters' walls.

"Aah, momiji's in full swing already. I should go out more often.", Hara opened up, in hopes of getting to know Nagato a little bit better. "Autumn sure is beautiful, don't you think?"

"Vice Admiral, with all due respect, but aren't you being too lenient towards Zuikaku?", the battleship was clearly unhappy about the disciplinary action taken against the carrier, hence unwilling to engage in small talk.

"How would you like me to punish her then, Nagato? Speak freely."

"I wasn't there, but from what I've heard she attacked the flagship of an allied navy. It's an act of treason. If it was up to me, I would have her executed, sir. What if others start thinking that the feuds of the old are an acceptable reason to attack our allies, sir?", there was no cruelty or contempt in Nagato's voice as she spoke these words.

"I can't say that I don't understand your concerns… However, between being short-handed and Zuikaku's skill and experience, killing her would be like shooting your own leg. What you saw was just the smallest part of her punishment. The smallest and the funniest to be honest.", Hara seemed amused with Zuikaku's situation, much to Nagato's dismay.

"Sir, I don't believe discipline, or lack of thereof, is a laughing matter. How can you expect your subjects to perform to the best of their abilities if they are allowed to do as they please with no consequences?", all of Nagato's doubts began to flow out.

"Ah, that's a very good argument but you see, there's a difference between discipline and tyranny. Zuikaku's lost her rank, was reassigned to reserve and is confined to her cell when she's not doing her janitor job. Everything she's worked extremely hard for over past ten months was taken away from her. If this doesn't teach her anything, no amount of physical punishment will.", Hara's expression turned dead serious after realizing Nagato's doubts. "Before I took over this project, all previous commanders were thinking exactly like you, completely disregarding that most shipgirls are just babies. Babies in need of crash course in life. Treating them like soldiers simply doesn't cut it."

"Yes, you did mention it, sir. However, isn't this kind of approach counterproductive in regards to respect? I've seen three shipgirls openly treat you like a friend. All of them fulfill important roles, what if their attitude spreads?", Nagato remained unrelenting and pressed on the attack.

"I'd be overjoyed. First and foremost, I want every girl under my command to trust me. Respect will come naturally after that."

"Sir, I may be crossing the line, but you don't seem happy with the way Akagi and Kongou refer to you.", Nagato didn't let herself get fooled or so she thought.

"Ah… These two. They are special cases. Without constant reminders they'd be ready to call me Takuya-chan in front of the emperor himself… You might have a point when it comes to these two.", Hara's sarcasm was lost on Nagato. "Anyway, I don't expect you to adjust to this system. You are free to approach me in a way you see fit. As long as you don't try to undermine me and follow the orders, I'm satisfied. Give it some thought later, but now we have things to do.", the admiral cut the chatter as they approached a circular, concrete bunker.

The arsenal was located on a low hill overlooking the gunnery range, currently occupied by Yura's 4th Torpedo Squadron practicing anti-aircraft defense with Hiryuu and Souryuu. Needless to say, they were getting chased around by Second Carrier Division's experienced pilots and state of art machines. At least VT fuses developed with Atlanta's help gave them a fighting chance.

Nagato didn't heed any attention to the ongoing training, instead she was analyzing the talk she's just had with her superior. As much as she didn't agree with his methods, she found him to be a consistent person, with well thought out ideas and strong beliefs which he's ready to defend. The battleship expected they'll butt heads a lot more in the future, but it didn't diminish growing respect she had for this man.

Hara and Nagato headed towards a driveway and entered inside through the open gate. The battleship was extremely curious about what they'll find inside. Much to her surprise, the building was empty, save for a red automobile-looking thing right in front of the entrance and a metal object sticking out of the floor.

"Sir, is this really the arsenal? It's… empty.", Nagato babbled, confused.

"Great deduction, my dear Watson!", Hara added to battleship's confusion with an unknown reference. "The actual arsenal, or Akashi's Basement, is located underground. This just serves as a garage for the Akashimobil.", he explained and headed towards the center of the room.

"This explains the emptiness, but how are we going to go down?"

"Just stand… riiight here.", Hara positioned bemused Nagato like a chess figure and approached the waist-high metal object which was now right next to them. Upon his touch the top part lit up with green. "We're going to use this elevator of course.", the admiral continued while tapping his fingers on the lit surface. Soon later they were speeding down to the Akashi's actual basement.

"I have to say, it's very well camouflaged. This elevator.", Nagato tried to erase her previous blunder by sounding confident.

"Don't worry about it, I had problems finding it too at first. Now, if you look to our right, you will see various floors of the arsenal.", Hara said pointing his finger at the side of the elevator shaft covered only with steel beams, peaking Nagato's interest.

A moment later a wave of heat and red light hit the battleship. She could only see it for a moment, but the space was filled with forges spitting live flames, cranes and conveyor belts moving gun turrets, torpedo launchers, different ordnance and all kinds of equipment. For a moment she could have sworn she's seen a whole army of fairies operating these things. An impression quickly confirmed by Hara.

Before Nagato could ask any questions, view on yet another floor opened in front of her. The forges were replaced by large, mechanical arms, each serving a different purpose. Some of them were welding turrets, others were unscrewing torpedoes. In the far corner she's noticed a familiar shape of a 41 cm/45 3rd Year Type naval gun turret without its top armour plate. Instead a group of fairies was tinkering with the fire director and a Type 22 Surface Search Radar.

"It's the Research and Improvement Department. They are working on improving existing and creating new armaments. What you see there was one of your spare turrets having a radar fire control system implemented.", Hara quickly explained what was going on, sparkling wildfires in Nagato's eyes.

"Aaah, the one thing I always felt envious about! With such technology I'll be unstoppable! I feel a fire rising in my heart, admiral!", Nagato didn't hide her excitement and Hara decided to let her stay this way for the time being. The first training should temper her down a bit.

A moment later the elevator stopped and the door they've found themselves in front of, slid open in a thick cloud of steam.

"Welcome, to the Akashi's Basement. Abandon all hope, ye who enter here. Ahahahaha.", a high-pitched, thin voice resounded from the other side of the entrance.

Nagato was left confused yet again, but Hara stepped over the door and a loud Ouch! Could be heard just a few seconds later. Brought back to her senses, Nagato followed in her commander's footsteps. The Vice Admiral was standing with his arms crossed in front of a very young girl who was rubbing her head.

"How many times must I tell you to stop these stupid jokes of yours? If I recall correctly, Jintsuu and Naka still haven't received their upgraded rigging. Should I cancel your Shounen Jump subscription?"

"No, no! Everything but that! I'm actually done with the design and was going to report that, but Akashi said that you're coming here today anyway… I was so happy with my work, I wanted to give you a special welcome!", the girl spoke, holding back tears. Nagato wasn't sure whether these were caused by the pain in her head or Hara's threat to cancel this Shounen Jump thing, whatever it was. She was, however, glad that her commander can be tough… In his own way.

"Nagato, meet Yamabiko Maru. She's one of our repair ships. She's personally responsible for maintenance, repairs and upgrades of Sendai, Tone and Myoukou-class cruisers, as well as Shouhou."

"Yooo, admiral!", another voice came from somewhere in the room, but Nagato couldn't see its owner in the clouds of smoke still floating in the air.

"And good afternoon to you, Asahi. See you are hard at work.", Hara greeted the other girl, buried in at least fifteen different books treating on warship design of the Imperial Japanese Navy. "Nagato, this is Asahi. She's mainly responsible for Fubuki-class destroyers and Akagi, Kaga, Hiryuu and Souryuu among others."

"Yo, Nagato! I see the pride of the navy has finally made her appearance, huh? I don't mean to brag, but I used to be a battleship, just like you! That's right, I'm your senpai! I was actually in the same line with the Mikasa at the Battle of Tsushima! Ha, haa?! Are you impressed with my greatness?", Asahi bragged.

"Asashi… senpai, it's an honour to meet a veteran of Imperial Navy's finest hour. Please take good care of me.", crestfallen Nagato decided to play along – Asahi was, after all, her senior.

"Oh, no, no. Akashi's already called dibs on you. I'm actually busy with Kitakami and Ooi. Just try fitting forty torpedo tubes on a human… They really had some weird ideas back in the day…"

"I think I told you that twenty tubes will do just fine, considering port and starboard no longer exist for you. I'd prefer if Kitakami and Ooi didn't become walking bombs, so drop this ridiculous idea already.", Hara reprimanded the repair ship.

"No way, admiral! How can shipgirls be truly happy if we can't build historically accurate riggings?! I'd rather clean all the buildings in the base than commit such a blunder!"

"Just… Try to make it less hideous than the last one."

Just as Hara said that, yet another door opened and a girl which Nagato recognized as Akashi, entered the room.

"Ooh! Nagato-san! Admiral! Sorry I kept you waiting, some tuning to the summoning devices. Did you need something? Also, did something burn?", Akashi seemed as busy as a squirrel in nuts storage. She pushed a switch on the wall right next to the elevator's door and a sound of fans filled the air.

"Sorry to trample on your busy schedule…", Hara's voice was filled with sarcasm. "But Nagato's in need of fitting."

As the smoke began to clear, the battleship could finally inspect the room she's found herself in. It was rather spacious, at least 30 meters long and another five wide. The first thing that caught Nagato's attention was a huge window, directly opposite of the elevator. It overlooked another, even larger room. Circular of shape, it was mostly empty, save for metal looking platform holding a bunch of what the battleship took for control consoles.

"Vice Admiral, what is this place?", Nagato's finally let her curiousness take the best of her.

"As I said, Akashi's Basement.", Hara grinned, much to Akashi's disapproval.

"It might be Akashi's, but it's not a basement. The room we're in now is just a design room."

Akashi pointed at a row of desks. One taken by who Nagato understood was Asahi, currently biting on a sweet potato wrapped in paper reading "Mamiya". Another, located in the far corner, was occupied by an unknown girl wearing a pair of headphones and not paying any attention to anything or anyone. Another three desks were filled with books and documents, but nobody sat at them.

"This place also doubles as a control room for summoning… well, chamber. You can see it through the window.", Akashi continued, visibly embarrassed with such a cheap name. "Speaking simply, bring me enough resources and an assistant, and I may give you a new shipgirl.", Akashi clarified to confused battleship.

"May?", Nagato asked.

"Well… There's… a real chance of getting a penguin.", Akashi pointed at a cardboard box in the far room of the corner, filled with stuffed toys. "At least destroyers love them… hence Akashi's Basement.", the repair ship reluctantly explained, but Nagato still failed to understand the joke.

"Akashi… The fitting.", Hara rushed the girl.

"Oh, right… About that… You remember how I showed you the rigging I've designed for Nagato, right? Well… It's not ready yet, so she'll have to stick to the same rigging as Mutsu. I can do some adjustments, but no big changes.", Akashi just wanted to leave the room, but the Vice Admiral would find her anyway.

"One day I will make you suffer a fate far worse than cleaning walls, you know? Just bring it to the chamber. Let's at least see if it fits.", Hara signaled Nagato to follow him, as Akashi turned towards the elevator.

They entered a narrow, dimly lit corridor leading to the summoning chamber. The room was much less impressive than it looked from the outside or what the name might have suggested. Akashi took around 15 minutes to turn around. Following her, hanging from her four cranes was an enormous metal box, which only fit through the doorframe thanks to Akashi's skillful crane operating. She put it down next to Nagato and opened for the battleship to see the full glory of her new self.

Nagato's heart started pounding at the sight of familiar turrets, neatly lined up around a funnel, strikingly similar to her own. The image was fulfilled with two curved armour plates, a pair of boots, a belt ornamented with the golden imperial chrysanthemum. The battleship barely held back tears of joy. An ecstatic feeling, she couldn't even begin to comprehend came over her as her hands started shaking.

"What I planned to present you today was even more impressive.", Hara put his hand on battleship's arm to calm her down. "Now, I'll be in the corridor. You gotta change first.", he pointed at a uniform hidden between the armour plates.

After the Vice Admiral left, Nagato started putting on different parts of her uniform and rigging as instructed by Akashi. Soon later, all that was left was fitting the turrets in the rings. The process took Akashi another 10 minutes. She worked fast, precisely and with confidence expected of Japan's greatest engineering vessel.

When everything was done, Nagato run her hand down her turrets, whispering I missed you… to herself. She couldn't take her eyes off her new weapons, fighting hard not to try firing them right there and then. The spell was broken by Akashi letting the admiral back into the room.

"What do you think? Isn't she a beauty?", Akashi pointed at proudly flexing Nagato and was visibly proud of herself, despite missing the deadline.

"Yes, I have to agree it certainly underlines all of Nagato's assets. With Mutsu in the north, I've forgotten how nice this rigging is. Aren't the guns somewhat bigger tho'?", Hara asked carefully examining Nagato from every side.

"They actually might be, I'd need to check in the system, but they certainly do seem bigger.", Akashi sounded like an old professor contemplating research results. With the way she stroked her chin, one could even say she looked the part, but a stupid grin on her face clearly revealed her true intentions.

"Vice Admiral, I have a feeling you aren't talking about my rigging. Akashi can I please have a mirror?", Nagato quickly became suspicious of the other two.

"Oh, no! Believe me, all we were talking about is your equipment…", the repair ship laughed nervously, but Nagato's stare remained unrelenting, so she took out her smartphone and took a photo of the battleship. Luckily, she didn't hand over the phone or it'd probably end up on the wall.

"WHAT IS THIS ABOMINATION?!", Nagato roared and started to frantically take off her black and white uniform.

"Uhm, Nagato… I don't think it's a good idea to change in front of Hara-san…", Akashi was visibly affected by the thought of getting on enraged Nagato's bad side.

"It's not like I have anything on me right now! What do you take me for, Akashi? A comfort woman?! Even street roamers wouldn't wear something this revealing! It's a disgrace to a soldier!", Nagato was furious about her uniform. How can the pride of the Imperial Navy be sent to battle half naked?

"Oh, let's not make such a big deal out of it, Nagato-san… You look fantastic! Cute girls such as ourselves, should show a lot of skin! It's the deadliest of weapons, right admiral?", Akashi tried to make her way out of this mess with sweet words.

"Wear it yourself then! I'm a battleship, not a cute girl!", Nagato yelled, throwing her radio-headband at the repair ship.

"Now, now… Nagato. Let's slow down for a second and relax. I get it, you don't like revealing outfits. That's fair. However, as you know Akashi didn't make it in time with your personalized rigging and uniform. I promise that when they get here, they'll be more to your liking, but for now, I need you to start your training and no other clothes will survive it. Just bear with it for a while, ok? Please.", Hara took much more diplomatic way out and made a promise which caused Akashi to let out a loud sigh of disappointment.

"I… I can accept that, sir. However, Akashi has to hurry. I don't know how much I can bear this humiliation.", after a long pause Nagato reluctantly accepted Hara's offer.

With the raging dragon calmed down, Akashi could proceed with various checks. After assuring that everything looks good and no screws are left unused. She then tried asking Nagato a bunch of questions regarding potential hotfixes, but the only answer she received was This uniform!.

With the notes taken, Akashi promised to deliver the rigging to the range for Nagato's first gunnery training and showed Hara out of the room so the battleship can change back into clothes she borrowed from Kongou. Dressed up, Nagato went ahead to join the Vice Admiral in the control room. Akashi joined them soon enough and after exchanging farewells, Hara and his companion left the Arsenal in silence. Despite the outrage about her uniform, Nagato's eyes looked dreamy and absent. She couldn't wait to finally fire a full broadside salvo and let herself loose at some poor target.

"You can take the rest of the day off. Get some sleep, go sightseeing, get to know some other shipgirls. Just don't overdo, your first training starts at 6AM. I'll let Katori know to pick you up from here if you wish.", Hara broke Nagato out of her trance.

"Please do, sir. I'm ashamed to admit it, but I still feel a bit lost on the land.", Nagato answered with serious and official tone before bowing down. "If I'm free to go, I will take my leave, Vice Admiral.", she continued and left after Hara's nod.