It is day five since my arrival, and today is turning out to be a good day! Well, most of it.

The rest of yesterday also went well. With Cpt. Bernie vouching for Highwind's identity, many of her crew eagerly came forward to meet with her. It was a happy event all told, small groups of sailors speaking with the cheerul ship spirit under the watchful eye of Cpt. Bernie. I took over for him eventually when he had to return to his duties, and that's when Highwind revealed some of her abilities.

"I'm sorry Highwind, but duty calls! I'll be seeing you later." Spoke Cpt. Bernie as he got up from his chair. The ship spirit, who was regaling a fresh group of sailors with embarrassing stories from her sisters, looked up at him with understanding and some sadness.

"Of course captain. But!" There she made a determined face and pointed at him. "If you need me, just call for me. I'll be right there in a flash!"

Many in the room chuckled at her eagerness to help. Bernie was among them, acquiescing to her demand when he calmed down. "Off course! Who better to know a ship than she herself?"

"But shouldn't you be resting?" One of the sailors asked her with some worry in her voice. "You're in no shape to be walking round', much less going upstairs to the bridge."

Highwind made smug face and, to my amusement, disappeared from her bed with nary a sound. Everyone else was shocked and was looking around the room until she reappeared seconds later standing on a spot nearer to Bernie and the door.

"See?! I- ouch, aaah..." In her excitement she'd forgotten about her injuries and lost her footing. She would've fell backwards to the floor if it wasn't for a young sailor catching her in his arms. "Ow... t-thank you."

"Y-you're welcome, Windy!" Said the sailor, who looked to have gotten flustered at holding the shipgirl in way almost like a proncess carry. Highwind looked up at him for a moment before she too started blushing.

"Ahhh, young love." Sighed Dr. Lisana, holding hand on her mouth to hide a teasing smile. The pair's blushes went several shades darker and good natured teasing frome and the others started pouring in.

I also had my first taste of food days since I came here later that night. I ate with Highwind in the ship's mess, the other girl wanting to join me for her first ever meal. She stayed seated on our table though, her legs being in no shape to support her weight, so I went and got us our plates of dinner. At first I got an amount that regular old me would find enough, but just looking around at the variety of dishes on display had me drooling. So I decided to get a few more plates.

Highwind's face when I plopped down two trays covered in plates of fried chicken, beef stew, vegetables and rice was hilarious. The one she made on her first bite of chicken was just plain adorable.

Got some sleep later on in the same room as Highwind, bringing out a mattress, pillow and blanket from my inner stores to fet comfortable and slept the night away. It's a shame though, that eating a lot of food doesn't replenish my stores of munitions and fuel. I suppose that's only for the shipgirls of the kantai collection verse.

Now I'm having breakfast with Highwind in the same table from last night, the two of us indulging in several plates of pancakes dripping in syrupy goodness and mugs of coffee and fruit juice for me and her respectively. Midway through their meal Highwind inhaled a plate of pancakes before she started sharing more tales from her sisters.

I'll have to come up with something in the future to replenish spent fuel and munitions, or else I'll be quickly spending the rest of my life here sitting on the sidelines.

"...and big sis Houren had radioed me last month, bragging about her new Sieg Armaments six-inch QF heavy cannon. Saying things like she's the strongest of us sisters now that she's got a bigger gun straight from Atlas and all. And I said to her that it's not the size of the gun its how she uses it that'll make her strong. And last I've counted even I have fought off more Grimm than her!"

"Mmhmm." I hummed in reply, not wanting to speak with my mouth full. I must thank the chefs later, they cook these things good.

"...boom! And the big hardshell's insides went splat against the side of the fishing trawler, killing it quickly, and that was just the first shot. So clearly a heavy cannon is only as good as its gun crew, and mine are the best amongst my sisters." She paused to eat another chunk of pancakes, savouring them even as she chewed quickly and swallowed it all down with help from her fruit juice. Wiping her mouth with a tissue, she continued on. "By the way Iowa, what caliber are your main guns? Its just, the boom three of them made was huge!"

"Oh, hold on." I was about to take a sip from my coffee when she asked, so I took a quick sip before answering. "Sixteen-inch or fifty-caliber."

"Eh?" So shocked was she that she accidentally dropped her knife and fork on the table, making a loud racket. "T-those s-s-small things were sixteen-inches?!" By the end she'd stood up and was leaning over the table towards me. Compared to her though I was sitting relaxed on my chair, dabbing my chin of the syrup clinging with my utensils on my now empty plate.

"What's the big deal though, I'm sure Vale's walls have bigger mounted on them. Not to mention Atla-"

"Yours are about an inch bigger than the guns lining Vale's walls! And last I counted you have nine of them on you!"

Oh. Oooooh.

"That' so?" I replied, glancing at some nearby tables and seeing other people looking at us weirdly. Though a few, composed of sailors and those who know their firearms, are sharing a similar if not quite as intense look of shock as Highwind's. "I couldn't be the only warship around with the same caliber though?"

"Ow, ow, ow stupid paddlewheel." Speaking of her, she'd since sat back down rubbing her legs gently. "Turst me Iowa, me and my sisters have met with quite a few warships in our serive life. Aunties Victory and Valiant in Vale both have thirteen-inch guns in three dual turrets, and she's got the biggest guns around out of all the other kingdom's fleets. Those still around anyway, and not counting Atlas and their airheaded airships."

"Huh. What happened to the other warships?" I was genuinely curious. Talking to other warships, even a destroyer equivalent will do, and comparing their experiences to my own inherited ones will help me learn how to fight even more. Maybe I should ask about the great war? "I've heard of sea grimm growing so big that I doubt a team of huntsmen would be enough to kill one quickly. Much less without a casualty."

Highwind began expressing some sadness at my question, slowing her pace in eating. "Budget cuts. That's what auntie Valiant told me and my sisters when we asked. There's no war, bigger sea grimm avoid going near the ports due to emplaced gun batteries, and destroyers and light cruisers were said to be enough to defend convoys. Now auntie Val and her sister are the last true seagoing battleships left in all of Remnant and they're stuck being museums. Made to look pretty on the outside while their engines and internal systems rusted and left alone unmaintained."

By the end of her explanation she was sadly poking the last pancake on her plate, and I wasn't left unnaffected. Memories not my own rose up in my mind, the me that was Iowa alongside my/her sisters watching treasured comrades and mentors leave one by one over the years towards the breakers. Until the Iowa-class of battleships were all that's left, no longer even the core of a fleet with the role long since replaced by the carriers. Melancholy and longing for better days were the prevalent emotions linked to those memories, stretching out for decades until they/we were retired and became museum ships.

Thinking about it more, me and my sisters were lucky. None of us sank, all of us have served our country proudly accruing numerous battlestars, and we were never sent to the breakers. But... it has been years since us sisters have even gotten together properly. Letters and recorded messages cannot replace a hug in person.

"I understand the feeling. Lord knows how much I've wanted to sail the open seas with my sisters again." I spoke at last after a moment of silence. Getting up from my chair, I walked around until I got down on a chair to the left of the saddened Highwind. I scooched over until nothing much separated us and carefuly and gently pulled her into a sidehug. "But hey, I'm here now. USS Iowa, lead ship of the last and greatest class of battleships. Here to show everyone counting the coins in their high offices how stupid they were to think us battlewagons obsolete. That your aunties over in Vale could still bring the hurt, not just sitting pretty in port as museums."

That got a grateful smile from the smaller girl, turning to look up at me to show it. "Yeah. Maybe with your help aunties Val and Vic will finally get the help they need!" Then her smile shifted into a thoughtful frown, looking away for a bit before turning back towards me with a curious look this time. "By the way, I'm sorry but I've never even heard of you and your sisters before. Which kingdom built you?"

Good news, she's not sad anymore. Bad news, I might have to lie to her of my origins or reveal to her my otherworldly origins. Hmm... you know what, I'll just make this a secret between fellow ship spirits. I'll trust her on this, and that she'll have my back when this gets out to the other spirits.

"About that." I whispered to her, our faces separated by mere inches. I think she shivered a bit. "Promise that you'll not talk about this to anyone except your sisters and aunties? It's... kind of hard to believe."

She didn't even hesitate in her acceptance. "Of course." She whispered back turning to me with a serious look, though her red cheeks added to her cuteness. "Even I have secrets I don't want captain Bernie to know."

"Thank you." I said with a smile. "Then listen up..."

I spent much of the morning there with her sharing my life's story as the USS Iowa alongside her-my sisters in their service to the USA throughout the second world war, and the wars that followed. I made heavy use of my log books, contained within which were several decades worth of Iowa's thoughts, copies of official documents and, most importantly, photographs of various memorable moments in her life.

"And here we are." I spoke as I turned the page and pointed at two old black and white photos. In one were all us Iowa sisters standing together under the barrels of my frontmost turret. I think I remember asking a destroyer escort to take it. And below that photo was a zoomed out shot of our hulls, the USM BatDiv 2 in line abreast formation.

"Wooaah, so cool..." Indeed Highwind was pretty awed, looking at the photos like I did with my boy band posters years ago. Oh boy, I'm internally cringing now recalling those days.

Now a couple of hours later I've been called up to the bridge on Cpt. Bernie's request. Had to say goodbye to Highwind for a bit, who teleported back to her infirmary room for a check-up by the good doctor. So up the last flight of stairs I went and upon reaching the open door I knocked on the side and spoke out. "Iowa here, what do you need?"

"Miss Iowa! Come in, come in, just gonna ask you for something." Responded the captain jovially, and so I stepped in. I looked around for a bit, seeing as its my first time stepping into the bridge of any Remnant vessel. First thing that stood out was the consoles manned by the three other bridge officers, which were nothing but slightly inclined tables with large bright touch screens on them. There's three of them in all. One in the middle which displayed a map of the area (useful) and the ship's route, one to my left displaying icons showing denoting what must be the different sections of the ship like a red cross and food, and lastly the one to my right had varying cannon, wrench and sword symbols on them. So guns, damage control and defense teams.

I walked past the three officers, returning the respectful nod of the right side officer as I went, and stopped just behind Cpt. Bernie who's got his left hand on the helm and reading something on the scroll on the other hand. He looked up at the sound of my steps and put his scroll on a chair to the side.

"Ah, just the huntress I need. Enjoyed breakfast I hope?" He greeted me with affably.

"Your ship's mess serves some really good pancakes." I nodded at him with a smile, leaning my right shouler on the window. "Highwind also very enjoyed her first taste of real food. I'm expecting your chefs to be visited by Highwind later to tell them how much she loved it."

"Her first taste, hm?" The captain looked sad for a bit there, likely thinking of the years she's spent invisible and unable to affect anything much. "Four years since her commisioning, and to not have had anything to eat..."

"If it helps captain," I made an attempt to lighten his mood. "us ship spirits only feel hunger when our fuel reserves are low. And with your diligence I reckon you'd never set sail with tanks less than half full."

"Mmhmm. It does help, thank you." He said to me, before he contined with a curious expression. "Wait, you're a ship spirit yourself?"

I felt some panic at my slip, before I calmed down and decided to roll with it. "Yeah. I'm a battleship actually."

If he decides to push things I can say it's private or redirect and ask him about what he wanted me up here for.

"A battleship..." Was the hushed reply of the captain, and glancing to my left I can see the three officers giving me awed and surprised looks. A raised eyebrow from me had them looking back at their consoles, doing their work. Cpt. Bernie then shook his head a moment later, composing himself again.

"Alright. I really want to talk to you more about that later. But I did call you up here for a reason." He said, then waved a hand at the scroll he dropped on the chair near him. "Engineering and damage control sent their assessments. Unfortunately, we don't have the supplies or equipment to repair Highwind's damaged paddlewheel."

I nodded in response. Highwind's very legs reflected her damaged paddlewheel, and with the greatly reduced speed she'll be much more vulnerable to pirates prowling this part of the channel. At least that's what the other sailors told me when I asked them some questions.

"And with your abilities I hope that we can attatch a line to you and tow Highwind that way." Cpt. Bernie continued. "Think you can do it?"

I thought about it some. Well, seeing as Highwind is smaller than a Fletcher-class...

"I believe I can captain. I'll do it, just point the way." I said, standing straighter and putting a fist on my chest with a confident grin.

"Excellent!" The captain returned my grin, then turned to the officer on the left console. "Call Takeyo, tell him to bring up the tow cables to the foredeck."

"Aye captain!"

"Thank you lass. This'll save us a lot of time!" He turned back to me and spoke with a relieved look. I waved away his thanks and opened the door to the bridge's open deck.

"It's no problem captain." Walking onto the open deck, I thought of summoning my rigging. They reappeared in a bright flash of light, the weight of fifty thousand tons of metal settling comfortably on my lower back. With their reappearance I felt my senses expand all around me towards the far distance, feel my armaments like my own limbs and I felt... complete.

I took a moment to indulge in the feeling, before letting out a happy sigh. Then I ran forwards and before I hit the railings jumped up and over, getting plenty of airtime before falling towards the open ocean, landing with a big splash and a bigger smile.

I skidded over the waters sideways to a stop, letting out a joyful laugh. I then pushed my engines accelerate gradually to a sedate fourteen knots, sailing ahead of the ship and then lowering it to match Highwind's speed. I also spotted the shipgirl herself sitting at the base of her hull's bowsprit, waving at me with a smile.

I waved back of course. Then I had an idea, and decided to try it out.

"Iowa here, do you hear me Highwind?" I spoke through my radio, but with the intent of contacting only Highwind herself.

*"Hello Iowa!"* She cheerfully responed immediately, and seeing that no one else from the ship responded too I deemed it a success. *"I hear you loud and clear! Also, my techies are bringing up the tow cables. Are you gonna be towing me?"*

"Yep!" I replied, sailing backwards to face her way and flexing an arm. "I'm more than strong enough. You doubting my strength, hmm?"

*"Seeing you easily drag that Ketea with you? Never!"* She giggled at me too. *"I'll be in your care then, auntie Iowa."*

"You can count on- wait. Auntie? I'm not old!"

She then laughed at me, the little rascal. But I'll have my revenge, just you wait! Maybe while she's undergoing repairs, I can tape a pink smoke generator atop her smokestack...

A.N. - Big thanks to MidKnightMoonglow99 for helping me with ideas to refine my story.

Also, I've decided that Iowa cannot replenish her stores by eating regular food. She'll be needing an actual dockyard to load the real ammunition and fuel into her ship form.

I have a plan for that, don't you all worry. It involves docks.