14th May 1941.

As the light of sunrise breaks through the thin curtains of the dorm window of the luxurious dorm room 51, a blonde Battlecruiser rolls over in her bed to look at the beautiful sleeping Battleship on her back next to her, the soft duvet covering only her lower half and her hair a mess. She smiles, regards the clock, then slowly leans over. She softly caresses her body and places her lips on hers, gently waking her. When she does awaken, she puts her arms around her lover and they make the most of the kiss in the five minutes it lasts.

The Battlecruiser pulls away and says, "We had best get ready, Wales. We don't want to be late to the Queen's morning meeting."

Wales looks at the clock and says, "That's about two hours from now, Hoodie…"

Hood smiles, "Well, we do still have to have a shower, don't we?" She says deviously.

Wales blushes and looks back at Hood. She says, "I love you…"

Hood nods, "I know."

Classical music graces the ears of the women sitting around a circular table in a lush garden. The sun breaks through the clouds and provides plenty of light for the casual tea party being hosted by a small woman with a tiny crown on her headband. She has her staff propped up against the portable throne she's sat on. To her left is her faithful corgi companion, bodyguard and sister. Noticing the frown on her face, she says to her, "Warspite, what seems to be the matter?"

Her sister says, "Nothing, Your Majesty. This tea just seems to be a bit too sweet, that's all…"

Her small complaint is heard by the maid who had prepared it, who then prostrates herself next to Warspite's seat, crying and she wails, "Please, Lady Warspite, it was an accident! I'll get it right next time, please don't get rid of me!"

Warspite sighs, "Dido… why do you always think I'll throw you away every time you make an honest mistake? It's not like it's poisoned or anything…"

QE facepalms as another, far more experienced maid picks up Dido and says, "Your Majesty, I'll sort out Dido."

"Thank you, Belfast…" QE groans. She hears another woman giggle a little while holding her fingers over her mouth. "Yes, yes, very funny, Illustrious…"

Hood and Wales finally arrive and take their seats, looking as respectful and presentable as ever, despite the racket they made the previous night. Illustrious sees them and winks, "Ah, the love birds have arrived." Wales blushes. Kent had told Illustrious what she had heard from room 54.

QE straightens herself up and says, "Now then. It is time we discuss the main issue here. The new threat to our fleet."

Wales, who has her hand in Hood's, guesses, "The new Iron Blood Battleships, Your Majesty?"

QE nods, "Correct, Wales." She signals another maid over, not quite as well-endowed as the two previous maids, but she is undoubtedly one of the most competent.

"Your Majesty?" The maid asks in her monotone voice.

The miniature monarch orders, "Deliver your report of the Hamburg dockyard, Sheffield."

Sheffield bows, "Of course, Your Majesty." She stands up straight and turns slightly to address everyone at once. "The new Battleships Bismarck and Tirpitz will be assigned to missions as surface-raiders, hunting Eagle Union merchant fleets to cut off our supply lines, like Scharnhorst and Gneisenau. The two new ships possess double-hulls with 22 water-tight compartments each. Their main armour belts are 13 inches thick and each have four main turrets that all house two 15-inch guns. They both have a displacement of around 52,600 tons and currently their top speed is 30 knots. From what I have seen, so far only Bismarck has a Kansen and Tirpitz is slightly larger."

Illustrious turns to the lovebirds, "Oh my, it seems you have a real challenge this time, Lady Hood."

Hood places down her teacup on its saucer. She returns Illustrious' smile and responds, "If you say so, but if I dare say, I personally would have preferred if Bismarck could be swayed to our side. She would make a powerful ally."

Warspite reminds her, "Lady Hood, the Iron Blood Kansen have all been indoctrinated into the Nazi ideology. We would most likely be unable to sway any of them. Achilles, Exeter and Ajax tried that with Admiral Graf Spee, remember?"

Hood argues, "What happened to Spee was not confirmed to be of her own choice. She may have been forced to scuttle herself to distract Ajax and Achilles from capturing her Captain. He's probably living a life of luxury in Buenos Aires by now."

Wales sees Sheffield's troubled expression. "Sheffield? Was there something else?"

Sheffield takes her turn to speak and she informs them, "I maintained a distance from Bismarck that no Kansen should've been able to hear me from, yet she still seemed to sense my presence from that far away. She must have some sort of new highly sensitive radar system. It may prove difficult to follow her out at sea without her knowing."

Hood says, "Then we take her on in a straight fight. We go out there and sink her, and perhaps bring her back with us if she surrenders." Wales almost swoons at Hood's elegance and confidence. She'd fallen for Hood some time after she had been taken her under her wing as she was too embarrassed to learn directly from her elder sisters and the Mighty Battlecruiser had reciprocated. Wales gets lost in Hood's shining cobalt eyes.

"You're not going anywhere without an escort, Hood." QE proclaims, "Wales, you will go search for Bismarck with her, understood?"

Wales is shocked to be the one picked, especially since her eldest and most experienced sister, King George V, was at the table as well, just taking in the information about Bismarck. Wales looks at Hood, who winks, then back at QE, "I'd be honoured, Your Majesty. I'll protect her with my life."

"Ahem." Another voice sounded. It was the voice of their Commander. She had also been dragged to the tea party.

QE sighs, "With your permission, of course, servant."

Slightly agitated by QE's disrespect, the Commander nods, "Seems like an ideal plan. I'll allow it. Sheffield, did you manage to find any intel on where Bismarck is going for her first mission?"

Sheffield shakes her head, "That I do not yet know, Master. I shall depart soon on a scouting mission to Gotenhafen find that out."

"Gotenhafen? Aren't they in Hamburg?" The Commander asks.

"Yes, Master. However, their plans had read that they will be deployed there soon." Sheffield confirms.

QE says, "Very well. Hood, Wales, prepare your ships. You shall go as soon as Sheffield secures that intel."

Hood and Wales stand and bow before them and say in unison, "Immediately, Your Majesty. Commander." And they excuse themselves.

Warspite says to QE, "You really should treat our Commander with respect, Your Majesty."

Before QE can retort, a woman who had been silent so far with black hair covering one eye speaks up, "Commander, I think they should have a Carrier escort as well. I have new experimental torpedoes that could—"

She and the Commander are interrupted by the pint-sized monarch, "No need, Ark Royal. Hood is the Pride of the Royal Navy. She's perfectly capable of dealing with this new ship. Plus, she has her apprentice Wales with her, and with Hood's training, she's more than a match for whatever other ship is escorting Bismarck."

The concerned Carrier tries to argue, "But Your Majesty, I have a very bad feeling abou—"

She's sliced again by QE, "That's enough, Ark! They will handle it, and hopefully they can bring me this new Kansen, if Bismarck has one." she drinks her tea.

The Commander leans over and whispers into Ark's ear, "Take Force H and wait at Gibraltar."

Ark nods and leaves the table.

Hood and Prince of Wales walk together to the docks to prepare their ships. The latter looks to the former and asks, "Lady Hood, are you concerned with the relationship between Her Majesty and the Commander?"

Hood smiles, "Not at all, Wales. Elizabeth can stay in her fantasy world as long as she respects the fact that she cannot issue us orders without the Commander's approval. For now, let us focus on our mission. Elizabeth has given us her orders, so we shall do our duty. Even if she or the Commander hadn't given us the order, the Prime Minister wants all merchant raiders dealt with anyway."

Wales nods, "Understood, Lady Hood."

Her elegant companion chuckles and says to her, "You know you don't have to speak to me with such respect when we're not in the presence of the others, my love, except in the bedroom if you'd like to try that kind of thing."

Wales, a little surprised by Hood's naughty side poking through, blushes as red as her vibrant uniform and sighs, "Alright. Ahem. So when do we get underway, Hood?"

Hood gets serious again and stops walking with her hand to her chin, "Whenever Sheffield gets back with details of any missions Bismarck or Tirpitz will be given. It would be rather foolish to just wait for either of them near Norway now that the Nazis have taken it along with the rest of Europe. We'd likely have the entirety of Iron Blood after us and we'd be in trouble if the "Ugly Sisters" are with them as well."

Wales nods, "Very well, I'll start making preparations immediately." She signals over a team of Manjuus and divides them between herself and Hood.

Hood smiles and says, "Don't worry, my love. Together we will once again remind the Iron Blood that the Royal Navy is the true power on the seas." She gives her flustered girlfriend a kiss on the cheek before parting ways with her to her own ship. "Don't worry, the Manjuus can keep secrets. Can't you?" She suddenly glares at the Manjuus, who chirp with terrified expressions.

QE looks at the Commander and says, "Yes, my servant, I know the risk, which is why I'm sending them!" She elects to ignore the Commander's further criticisms and addresses her remaining guests, "Ladies, we shall crush these Battleships that the Iron Blood seem so proud of along with their morale. After that, we shall set out and hunt down their other capital ships and sink them as well, so they don't try anything like this again." The Commander, very agitated now, leaves and returns to the office.

The Commander's Secretary, Nelson jumps a bit as her Commander slams the door open. She asks, "What's wrong with you?"

The Commander looks at her, "Sometimes, I wish Elizabeth would just talk to me before deciding what to do with my fleet."

Nelson nods, "With that, I can agree with you on. However, you should assert yourself more. You just allow people to step all over you. Keep that up, and nobody will take you seriously, idiot."

The Commander stands up to her, gets in her face and snaps, "Is that all, Nelson? Or would you like to really speak your mind about me!?"

Shaken a little by the outburst, Nelson can only think of how she really feels deep down about the Commander, and starts to think wether she has upset her too much, then she shuts up and returns to her work. "…no, ma'am… I apologise…"

Shocked by her Secretary suddenly becoming remorseful for something so trivial, the Commander calms herself, puts her hand on Nelson's shoulder and asks, "I'm sorry, Nelson. Is there something wrong? Are you alright?"

Becoming emotionally overwhelmed, Nelson quickly stands up and says, "I just need to go for a walk…" she heads out.

Shaking her head, the Commander just returns to her desk and carries on with her work. "Every time… another walk… I wish she'd tell me what's going on with her…"