Author: So I had become busy recently because of important real life responsibilities. I don't have much free time except a few hours in the morning and weekends so future chapters will take more than a week to upload.

Can this be accomplished...?

With the amount of work she had been dealing for the past few days, Tirpitz hasn't been able to relax. Just the other night, she had to stay up until past midnight just to finish the paperwork.

"After the ordeal in the facility, the navy has been breaking backs" With a sip of iced tea, Tirpitz let out a satisfied exhale

"You've been pushing yourself again, admiral" Yamato noted

"It can't be helped. This is my responsibility as an admiral. Besides, I'm already used to it"

She accepted this responsibility so she might well bear it. At this point, she's already used to this job after six years.

"Speaking of being an admiral, I wondered how no one realized you're a shipgirl?" Yamato curiously asked

"That's right. I really didn't explain much how"

The last time Yamato asked that, Tirpitz didn't even gave her a clear answer.

"When I came back, it's been four years years since I sank. My body became...useless as a shipgirl, so I decided not to let anyone know I returned"

Tirpitz clanked the melting ice on her half full glass of iced tea. She stared at it, recalling a certain point in her past. Even after a long time, the memory retained in tact as if she experienced it yesterday.

"After the talk with Warspite, I agreed to be far away from the Kriegsmarine as possible"

"Then why Japan?"

"It's far from Europe. The Japanese navy doesn't know who and what Tirpitz looked like. All they knew was that she's been dead for four years"

"Aren't you afraid someone will find out sooner or later?" Yamato raised an important question

"When that time comes, I'll be ready to face the consequences. There's nothing I can do but face the consequences of my actions"

Yamato silently refuses to accept how her admiral wouldn't take action if the navy discovers real identity.

"I'm a battleship who deserted her navy. It's just how it is..."

"You're not a deserter, admiral"

"What else can you call a shipgirl who ran away from your navy?"

Even with the circumstances of the past and the present, Tirpitz knows she "ran away" from her navy, the Kriegsmarine. If she is going to be seen as a disgrace to the proud navy of Germany, then she'll accept it.

Later...

Tirpitz thought about how quiet the inside of her office. She couldn't hear anything else, but the clicking of her pen. She felt bored, but she doesn't want to do anything either. Tirpitz just sat there, not speaking a single word.

"..." She closes her eyes

All she could hear now is the sound of ear rapid strafe of machine gun, the large splashes of the water, and the sounds of bombs being dropped.

What am I?

What is this place?

Where am I?

Questions circled her confused mind ten years ago. She couldn't remember anything but waking up in a fjord in the north. She was alone...no one else is there. She looked everywhere, but no one was there.

I feel...so lonely...

It's...so cold here...

Where am I...?

Why...am I alone...?

She kept wandering until she was spotted by a fleet of shipgirls one day. They all fired at her, but their attacks couldn't even scratch her first line of defense. They were all weaker than.

Ship...girls...

She recognized the girls with warship equipment. For some reason, the sight of them sparked her anger and hate. Something strongly urged her to attack and sink them...and so she did. She roared and let loose all of her cannons. She sunk one while the rest escaped.

That's the first time I felt something in this cold prison...

It was then a memory rung inside her head. There was a face of someone she felt hate the most. It was the face of a person she once called her "sister".

Left me...alone...

It's...all...their fault...

They...left me...alone

They...all...abandoned me...

The shipgirl she once called her comrades are now her targets she wanted to sink. Sinking twisted her view on the world...or...it could have just shown how she truly felt. Tirpitz never understood her own emotions, but she came to understand and accept it now.

Maybe she did hate Bismarck more than anyone...

Many years ago, she felt so lonely she resented the shipgirls who trapped her in the north in the first place. Those were her feelings back then...back when she was still a "monster".

(I can't...let them know who I am just yet...)

She decided for the time being even if she wouldn't care what will happen once they find out. Tirpitz doesn't want to end things just yet.

"Admiral" Nagato shook her

"Nagato?"

"You fell asleep...again" The secretary ship sighed

"Is that so? I just closed my eyes for a second"

"You've been falling asleep recently. Are you getting any decent sleep?"

Nagato knows when Tirpitz falls asleep while working, she hasn't been sleeping well again. She's already used to this after more than three years with her.

"I am. Work recently has been tiring me out"

"You should take it easy for today. I'll take care of the rest"

"It's my job so I'm the one who should finish it" Tirpitz refused Nagato's request

"..."

Nagato recognized a familiar emotion in her admiral's face. She sighed after knowing what it is.

"What's bothering you, admiral?"

"..."

"I can tell from the look in your face"

"I had a talk with Yamato. It made wonder about what if the navy find out about me. They'll surely won't take it lightly...but that's fine with me"

Even Nagato felt the same as Yamato. She doesn't want that to happen and if does, she won't just let her admiral give up so easily.

"There's nothing that can be done about it when that time comes"

"Admiral..."

"I'm worried about that even if I have little reason to worry"

Nagato doesn't understand how her admiral doesn't seem to care even if it's serious. Normally she'd try to do something about it, noe she just stopped caring for some reason. It's like Tirpitz became a fatalist.

Meanwhile...

Bismarck and Graf Zeppelin shared a cold drink after a fresh bath. Nothing beats a cold bath after a tiring sortie in the open seas.

"That was very refreshing. I'm feeling energized again" Bismarck finished the whole bottle

"You're in a good mood today" Graf noticed

"You see, Tirpitz and I had a talk the other day"

"A talk?"

"Well, it's about some emotional things. I felt a weight off my chest after that"

"I see. So that's why you've been in a good mood since yesterday"

Graf Zeppelin raised an eyebrow, speaking in her usual neutral tone. She's not the type to express emotions when speaking, much like Kaga who is ironically her "rival".

"You know it made think how I was ignorant to how Tirpitz feels. I never thought she felt that away all these years"

"Tirpitz just wanted to be like you. She wanted to live up to everyone's expectations, being in the same class as you"

"Yeah, but my reputation isn't a big deal to me. I didn't know it was to Tirpitz"

Bismarck is well known in her navy ever since that one accomplishment during an operation with Prinz Eugen. She doesn't care about reputation and image, but she doesn't know it became a burden to Tirpitz.

"I know it must have felt bad being compared to your own sibling. To think she didn't say anything...not even once. She just kept quiet"

"That's because she doesn't want to bother you. During that time, Tirpitz tends to keep all her problems to herself" Graf Zeppelin shrugged her shoulders

"At least we worked it out in the end" Bismarck grinned

"Ja. Sometimes you just need to talk things out to solve things"

'Talk things out'. Speaking of which, Bismarck also thought how Tirpitz avoided speaking about her past in Russia the other day. She heard her mentioned about someone referred as "Project A-150", but refused didn't speak anything about it.

(Maybe I should ask Tirpitz about that again, but she might get angry if I keep asking)

Bismarck doesn't want the two of them to argue again so she decided to scrap that idea. If Tirpitz doesn't want to talk about certain things, then she'll respect it.

The next day...

Tirpitz had to report to the headquarters so she left the naval base early in the morning. She's rather thankful she was able to finish the paperwork on time or her superiors would have scolded her again. As annoying as it looks, it's Tirpitz's duty as an admiral and she's very aware of that.

(Those geezers won't just give me a break. They're making me work my ass of ever since the the last incident)

The navy wanted to keep the incident at the facility hidden from the public, but information managed to reach the media. After word got out, several people, specially the government, questioned the navy's "competency".

(It's not like it's my fault Scharnhorst escaped)

While her fleet failed to eliminate Dreadnought Princess a few times, Tirpitz felt somewhat annoyed her superiors are venting out their mistake on her and the rear admiral.

"..."

Remembering the rear admiral, Tirpitz remembered how Scharnhorst broke free in the first place. Rear admiral Rikawa Isomi came in contact with Fast battleship's rigging. Minutes later and it suddenly activated, followed by the Abyssal regaining consciousness.

(Rikawa Isomi. I wonder why Arkhangelsk put you under her protection)

Tirpitz is both curious and amazed at how one human "connected" with an Abyssal and managed to wake up a sleeping one. No human had ever done that before which is why Tirpitz didn't simply ignore this.

"Humans can be strange sometimes. I still can't see why you protect them so much..."

To her, it was humanity who truly sparked the war many years ago. She resented them not only because of starting the war, but possibly the infinite cycle of rebirth. She just wished for the cycle to stop. It has gone too long...and she's tired of it.

"I'm already tired of this endless fighting"

She has experienced the coming back more than once so it's no wonder she had enough of the world and its punishment to beings like her.

"What I should focus on is about the navy? There will be always a risk of someone from the navy discovering my identity and past. I won't let that happen...even if it means resorting to drastic measures"

Tirpitz would never hurt humans, but with the situation now, she won't let her emotions impair her judgements. It will be a huge mistake if she does so.

"If there's anything I learned, those humans may be stupid, but they're not complete fools"

She doesn't underestimate humans to a degree, but she knows how even Abyssals can outsmart them and have more common sense.

"That old lady asked me not to do anything to the humans...I can't let them do as they please. I can't have mere humans getting in my way"

Even if humans are powerless and fragile compared to shipgirls who are humans with warship souls, Tirpitz won't let a single one stand in her way. She would never take this lightly, specially if it concerns her.

Somewhere...

Rear admiral Rikawa Isomi turns to a corner, limping with the remaining strength she has. Isomi doesn't let go of her wounded shoulder, an attempt to at least lessen the pain.

(Why? Why me? What did I do?)

In her mind, she doesn't remember doing anything wrong. She didn't do anything wrong, yet she found herself in this situation. With each step she takes and with each seconds she passes, her minds continues to grow in a panic.

"I...I don't want this..."

There's no one else around her to seek for help. She's alone in this desperate situation. A little more and she felt like she wanted to cry and scream for help.

"Why are you making this difficult?"

A man wearing pure black uniform managed to find Isomi after briefly escaping him. He held up his silenced handgun and prepared to pull the trigger on the cornered Isomi. He wouldn't hesitate to shoot any of his targets, even if it's a child.

"Don't take this personally. I'm just following orders...for the sake of my country"

Moments before the trigger can be pulled, the bodies of two men wearing the sane of uniform as him is tossed past him, landing about a few feet away near him.

"...?!"

Much to his shock, he recognized the two people as his comrades, albeit lifeless. The first one had the front part of his skull seemingly smashed on something, seeing the terrible bleeding from the forehead down to the face. The second one had his neck twisted.

"Rusko! Valeri!"

He lowered his gun and focused on his two dead comrades. They both died with a frozen terrified face, sending a child down to his spine. It baffled him how two well trained men is easily killed by anyone.

"...!" Isomi covered her mouth with both of her hands

She did so as soon as the man about to kill him had his chest punched through by someone's hand. He focused on the two dead men he didn't notice the killer approaching. As a result, he suffered the same fate.

"...?!"

After the hand pulled of the pierced chest, the third man collapsed on the ground with a visible hole in his chest.

"Antonov sure is a pain in the ass. I'll have to take care of him as soon as I'm done here"

Arkhangelsk wiped the hand she used to punch through the dead man lying in front of her. At first, Isomi is terrified of the man about to kill her, but now she's more terrified at Arkhangelsk who displayed her Abyssal features excluding the pale white skin.

"But first..."

She turned her attention at the visibly shaking rear admiral who saw nothing but a monster in front of her. One of the monsters who took over the sea and terrorized humanity ever since. Yet the monster in front of her is different from the other. Arkhangelsk can resist the Abyss and so her monstrous nature has no grip on her.

"Now then..."

Arkhangelsk cracks her fingers one by one using her thumb as she bents on one knee and curiously looked at a still very terrified Isomi. She has ever reason to be really scared after seeing Arkhangelsk murder someone right in front of her eyes.

In an unknown location...

Fast battleship Princess is already growing exhausted with the countless Abyssals attacking her at first sight. She may he strong, but her stamina would run out if more Abyssals would keep coming after her.

"Gneisenau. I still have...to see her..."

Fast battleship Princess refuses to be defeated by common Abyssals. She wants to see her sister ship whom she hasn't seen for many years. She knows she will be sunk if shipgirls find her again so before that happens, she wanted to see her younger sister.

"Tirpitz...I'm sorry...for what I did..."

Fast battleship Princess heavily panted, indicating she has little stamina left. Even against the odds, she chose to stand and fight the Abyssal fleet approaching her direction. With little ammo left, she knows she has to make every shot count.

"...?"

She hasn't even fired a single shot yet one by one, the Abyssals in front of her are sunk with one shot each. As all enemies sunk, another Abyssals showed. It's an Abyssal battleship she had never met before. Well, she hardly knows other Abyssals other than the ones pursuing her.

"...!" She locked her main guns at the Abyssal

An Abyssal battleship with cannons with a much bigger caliber than hers looked down at the exhausted Fast battleship Princess.

"I'm not here to fight...someone like you"

"Who...are you...?"

"I am Dreadnought Princess, a traitor of the Abyssal fleet"

After her last battle, Dreadnought Princess left the Abyssal fleet after being overwhelmed by her own guilt. She abandoned the Abyssal fleet ever since that battle, unable to forgive herself for letting it happen. She could have done something, but she was unable to do so.

EXTRA

Tirpitz and Nelson, two capital ships of two different navies who were mortal enemies in the past, sits down for a cup of tea. In the past, Germans and British would try to kill each other before anything else. Long after the old war passed, everything changed. Those who were bitter enemies in the past are now allies against a common enemy.

"During our sparring, you're not being yourself...admiral" Nelson pointed out

"Is that so?" Tirpitz takes a sip

"Your movements are much different than usual. Is there something wrong?"

During the practice between the two, Nelson couldn't help but notice how Tirpitz's movements are visibly different from usual. It's as if she's either distracted or not in a fighting condition. Either way, Nelson wanted to know why her admiral is not being herself lately.

"Maybe I'm not just in the mood for a practice" Tirpitz shrugged her shoulders

Nelson wanted to ask Bismarck about how Tirpitz has been acting lately, but she doubted the older sister would know anything about it. She knows Tirpitz doesn't open up to everybody, even to her own sister. She tends to keep her thoughts and emotions to herself on most occasions.

"You know, ever since the battle against Battleship Water Demon and Dreadnought Princess, you've been acting weird" Nelson lowers her cup to the table

"..."

"Did something happen?"

Every time someone mentions about the battle with those two Abyssals, Tirpitz's couldn't help but feel intense emotions. Something happened that caused intense emotions emotions to leak out of Tirpitz whenever that battle is mentioned.

"No. Nothing happened" Tirpitz calmly denied

"Admiral, are you sure about that?"

"Yes, so don't make a big deal about it. I don't like people bothering me too much"

"..." Nelson sighs, seeing how Tirpitz wouldn't reveal...sensitive details

"Why are you asking this all of a sudden? It's been a week since that battle?"

"Ever since Operation Thunderstorm, you've been acting...unusual. I just thought something might have happened"

"You worry too much"

After finishing her own cup, Tirpitz gently lowers it to the table and relaxed her back on the chair. She isn't liking Nelson visibly aiming to find out the truth, but Tirpitz can still keep her temper and composure at this level.

"Of course I'm worried. Not only because we're both battleships, you're my admiral. Besides, I just want to make sure Bismarck's little sister is alright" Nelson looked away for a brief moment

"Bismarck's little sister, huh. That person...is not my sister" Tirpitz clenched her fists resting on the table

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"Pay no attention to what I just said. I'm just rambling...random things again"

"Right..."

What Tirpitz said immediately made Nelson suspicious, but acted as if she ignored what Tirpitz said. She didn't tell the admiral, but when she said she's acting unusual, she meant around her closest comrades, the Kriegsmarine shipgirls in the base. Nelson stood up and leaned closer to Tirpitz, analyzing her face...making the latter feel awkward as result. She's not used to people being this close to her. Whenever it happens, it breaks her stoic and serious composure, exposing her more "sensitive" side. Though in this occasion, Tirpitz acts rather distant and uncaring, unfazed by the fact had leaned closer to her.

"What are you doing?"

"Nothing. I was just wondering how you look pale today"

"Probably anemia. I don't know how body works"

"..."

"If you have nothing important to talk about, I have work to do" Tirpitz stands up

Tirpitz's paleness isn't the only thing she noticed strange. Nelson clear saw how Tirpitz's breathing isn't steady, suggesting difficulty in breathing and discomfort. She's surprised Tirpitz maintains her usual composure even with how unwell she looks today.

(That battleship saw through knows I don't feel good today. At least...she doesn't know why...)

Tirpitz staggers back to her room, her dizziness almost made her lose balance a few times on the way. At the very least, she made it there without making the shipgirls she came across on the way suspicious at her movements.

"She still sunk in the end. I couldn't do anything to prevent it..."

The last operation she was in, Operation Thunderstorm...was a battle that filled her with heart aching regret. She regretted not being able to save the one life lost in the operation. It's because of what happened she had not been acting like herself lately, specially when she's around Bismarck.

"I'm sorry, Bismarck. I couldn't do anything back then..."

She wanted to say that to Bismarck, but it's not like she can apologize if she were to tell the truth. It will surely devastate Bismarck as she can never accept the lie she had been believing all this time.

"I wish I could tell everyone, but I can't break my promise. Not yet..."

Upon seeing herself in the mirror, her fist smashed the mirror, cracking it entirely and the shattered pieces fell on the ground.

"..."

Her shaking hands pops open a bottle of medicine. Rather than swallow one, she swallowed a bout ten pills at once, which is a dangerous and lethal dosage for a normal human...even for a shipgirl.

"I'm sorry...but I can't tell everyone the truth. How could I...?" She shed a tear...which she thought is impossible

After seeing their genuine happiness, Tirpitz felt guilty at what she's doing, but she's willing to set aside her feelings just to fulfill the promise she made before she lost a certain someone at the operation more than a week ago.