"Signora? Signora? New Jersey, it's time to wake up." Vittorio spoke softly as she ran the back of her hand over New Jersey's face.
"V... not yet. I don't want to get up just yet." New Jersey spoke.
Vittorio huffed a bit.
"Honestly, had I known that a night like last night would make you so difficult..." Vittorio said as she trailed off.
"Hmm?" New Jersey asked.
"You may not have a choice, Abruzzi is getting a strange report from some random commander." Vittorio explained.
"Is it urgent?" New Jersey asked.
"I do not know, Signora. But we should go and listen to the report at least." Vittorio reasoned.
"Fine. I guess there isn't much of a choice." New Jersey said as she kicked off the sheets, revealing her freshly tanned body that she had gotten since her arrival in Gibraltar.
"Un corpo così bello, se solo avessi il tempo di esplorarlo di più." Vittorio whispered as a blush slowly crept across her face.
"Didn't you have your fill of exploring me last night, V? If you find everything right away, there'll be nothing left to surprise ya, don 'cha think?" New Jersey said, sticking her tongue out as she slipped on her underwear.
"Ah yes, but with a beauty such as yourself, one can never have too much. It is like walking through an everchanging garden, you will never have the same experience twice." Vittorio said as she walked over to New Jersey and hugged her from behind.
"V..." New Jersey said as she put her hand on Vittorio's arm.
New Jersey was about to smile when she heard Vittorio's soft crying behind her.
"V?" New Jersey asked.
"It's hard, Signora. To be without her, even now." Vittorio said as New Jersey turned to face her.
"It's your sister again, isn't it?" New Jersey asked.
"Sì. My sister would always tell me about the gardens... I miss her constant rambling and her flamboyant personality." Vittorio said.
"I promised that I would help you. The Eagle Union doesn't back down from a challenge, V. We'll work hard, together, to find Littorio. Don't ya worry." New Jersey said as she gave Vittorio a quick kiss on the cheek.
Vittorio took a deep breath.
"You're right, Signora. We will find her. And when we do, on my honor as the Eternal Flagship of the Sardegna Empire, nobody will take her from me again." Vittorio spoke, putting what little pride she had left into her voice.
"That's the spirit, V." New Jersey said as she quickly finished getting dressed.
"New Jersey... I know our nations were not always allies. But I am glad that we can work together like this." Vittorio said as she waited by the door.
New Jersey smiled.
"What can I say? We in the Union love to give a helping hand." New Jersey said as she and Vittorio headed out towards the communications center on their little base.
"Did you finally wake up, Vittorio?" Abruzzi asked as Vittorio and New Jersey walked into the communications center.
"It was Mi Amore. She refused to get out of bed this morning." Vittorio tittered.
"Way to throw me into the minefield, V!" New Jersey said with a pout, causing Vittorio and Abruzzi to chuckle.
"So, what is this message that you received?" Vittorio asked.
"He is still on the line. He has asked for our fleet composition." Abruzzi reported.
"But who is he, and can we trust him?" Vittorio asked.
"It may have been my imagination, but I heard someone say the name Apollyon in the background. We may be speaking to him." Abruzzi said.
"Can I have the receiver?" Vittorio asked.
"Of course." Abruzzi said as she handed the receiver to Vittorio.
"Salve, forestiero." Vittorio spoke.
"I'm liking the accent. From what I gather, you must be Vittorio Veneto. Abruzzi here has been filling me in a bit on your operations in Gibraltar. My name is Isaac Garner, Admiral of Azur Lane. I am communicating with you via my flagship." Isaac spoke.
"You can understand me?" Vittorio asked.
"A little. My father had friends in Europe before the war. So he taught me what he knew. It is very good to hear your voice, Vittorio." Isaac said.
Vittorio blushed.
"Such a forward man. To compliment a woman he has never met." Vittorio spoke fervently.
"I did not mean to offend." Isaac replied.
"There was no offense taken. Merely stating an observation. Now, formality aside, why did you contact us, Admiral?" Vittorio asked.
"Forgive my imposition. But I am sending a battle fleet filled with refugees to Gibraltar from Bermuda. Strength attacked my forces there and forced me to abandon the base. You should be receiving a carrier group within the coming weeks, along with the hull of the Missouri." Isaac spoke, causing New Jersey to freeze.
"Mo?" New Jersey asked, creeping forward and stealing the receiver from Vittorio.
"Admiral... is that... Mo? BB-63... that Missouri?" New Jersey asked.
"Who am I speaking to?" Isaac asked.
"You are speaking to the only Kansen operated Iowa class battleship, New Jersey, Black Dragon of the Union. Now answer me." New Jersey demanded.
Isaac was silent for a bit.
"Yes. USS Missouri was decimated in an attack by Strength off the southern tip of South America. What's left is being towed in by Ranger and her fleet." Isaac said.
New Jersey fell back into a chair that Vittorio had set behind her.
"Missouri was lost?" New Jersey asked.
"From what was reported, she's not in the best shape, but she floats. And if she floats, she can be repaired. And as for your other statement, I have someone here who is begging to say hello." Isaac said as the sound of shifting hands was heard.
New Jersey's eyes filled with tears over the news of Missouri's destruction, but her descent into depression was stopped cold by a voice on the other end.
"Jersey?" The voice asked.
"Who is this? And why did you refer to me in that manner?" New Jersey asked.
"Jersey... that's so mean. You can't even recognize your older sister's voice. It pains me so." Iowa spoke.
"I-Iowa?!" New Jersey asked, jumping to her feet.
"Bingo! You win... I'd ruffle your hair... but right now I'm in Palau." Iowa said.
"Palau?! I can be there in two weeks!" New Jersey spoke as she held the receiver tighter.
"Jersey, as much as I would love to see you with these eyes I have been granted, you must remain at your post. Admiral Garner will come for you when the time is right." Iowa said.
"B-but!" New Jersey said frantically.
"Jersey, please be patient. You were the first of us to have a body. And you have waited for another to awaken. Be patient just a little longer. I will see you soon, sister." Iowa said as she returned the receiver to Isaac.
"Admiral, was that real?" New Jersey asked.
"As real as her leaning against my chair, listening in. I assume you three can hear me?" Isaac asked.
"We can, Admiral." Vittorio spoke up.
"There is another thing I wish to see accomplished, if you have the ability." Isaac said.
"We have kept Gibraltar alive and kicking for the past two months. We have the ability, Admiral." Vittorio spoke.
"I have recieved reputable intel that there are Blueprints for two very powerful ships being held in Germany. If those ships are built and added to the fleet, the power you could exert would increase tenfold. The only issue is... those Blueprints are being guarded by Observer Alpha." Isaac said.
"So you want us to steal those blueprints?" Vittorio asked.
"Yes. If you can, and if you have the resources to pull it off." Isaac said.
"We will see what we can do. We only have a few ships capable of such covert tactics. Z2, Viersechs, and Gneisenau might be able to pull it off." Vittorio said.
"Quite a bit of Ironblood there." Isaac said.
"Only those three and us three. We have managed to keep the Drone patrols away with help from the Civilians in the area." Vittorio admitted.
"Civilians?" Isaac asked.
"Well... Former sailors of the Regia Marina. They have been helping to set and maintain minefields around the port using fishing boats." Vittorio said.
"So you have the support of the Regia Marina?" Isaac asked.
"But of course. I am the Flagship of the Regia Marina, and the Sardegna Empire at large, if I didn't have this much influence, what good would that title be?" Vittorio asked.
"I see. Well, I leave the mission decision up to you. I must return to fleet business. We are preparing for our assault on the Philippines, so we may be unreachable in the near future." Isaac spoke.
"I look forward to meeting you, Admiral." Vittorio spoke.
"Godspeed, Vittorio." Isaac said as he cut the line.
"Well?" New Jersey asked.
"Alert Z2. I will send for a detachment of the Regia Marina. We will not let this Admiral's faith in us be wasted." Vittorio said as she turned and headed for the door.
"Will do, V." New Jersey said as she and Abruzzi switched channels to talk to Z2 about her upcoming mission.