23rd July, 1941.
"The situation between us and Iron Blood has escalated. Their Luftwaffe has bombed our capital." Sovetskaya Rossiya informs Victory. She is visiting Azur Lane to discuss cooperation formally now that Churchill and Stalin have signed the Anglo-Soviet Agreement. Moscow had been bombed for the first time a couple of days prior, and Victory can tell by Rossiya's tone that she's getting worried.
The Commander says, "I can arrange to send some of my girls to you for reinforcement."
Rossiya declines, "I do not need your ships, I need you to start increasing your operations in sinking Iron Bloods on your end. The Red Army will handle the Heer. The agreement our leaders signed was merely to ensure neither will make peace with Hitler. Also, I have noticed a number of said Iron Bloods walking about your base as if they are on our side." She narrows her eyes and her tone turns accusatory.
Victory says, "They ARE on our side. I have shown them the truth. They have woken up to what the Nazis are actually doing and they refuse to support them further. You can trust them, I assure you."
"You are far more lenient and forgiving than I would've been, tovarisch." Rossiya sighs.
Victory shrugs, "We're all Kansen in the end, Rossy. We need to be united together against the Sirens, if you and your faction will join us?"
Rossiya snaps, "If you stop calling me "Rossy", I may consider it!"
"Aw! Seriously? But I thought we were besties!" Victory sarcastically retorts.
"…How you were one of the founding members of Azur Lane is beyond me…"
Suddenly, a rather urgent-sounding knock is heard at the door. Victory says, "Sorry about this. Come in!"
Warspite walks quickly into the office. The two Commanders look over to see the battle-corgi with a concerned look.
"Warspite, what's wrong?" Victory grows concerned herself.
The petite Battleship delivers a new report, "Commander. Miss Rossiya. I'm afraid a situation has developed in Indochina."
"Indochina? Isn't that controlled by the Vichya Dominion?" Victory asks.
Rossiya raises an eyebrow, "The who?"
Victory quickly explains, "When Iron Blood invaded the Iris Orthodoxy, the latter split in half. The Vichya Dominion is essentially the northern half and the western coastline of the country and loyal to Iron Blood."
"I see… go on, Comrade Warspite." Rossiya respectfully requests.
Warspite continues, "The Vichya Dominion have signed a mutual defence pact with the Sakura Empire, who are now moving their forces into Indochina. Our territory of Malaya and the Singapore naval stronghold are now in danger."
"Hm, seems you have more on your plate now, tovarisch." Rossiya says.
"Quite." Victory agrees. She asks Warspite, "Do we have any ships at Singapore?"
"Only human-crewed ships, Commander." Warspite confirms. "Shall we send them Kansen reinforcements?"
Victory asks her Secretary, who's been watching Rossiya and listening to everything so far, "Do you think Force G can handle it, Nelson?"
Nelson nods, "No doubt. Wales' and Repulse's AA guns alone will be more than a match for whatever paper planes the Sakura are probably using. The Vichya don't have any of their own ships over there as we have them pinned down in and around the Mediterranean."
"Are you sure we should send Wales, Commander?" Warspite asks.
"We need to get her away from Bismarck for a bit. Their last argument when she saw her working in the café caused George to get involved. Plus, she needs something to focus her attention on. Repulse could also hopefully help cheer her up." Victory reasons.
Rossiya asks, "What happened between them? I admire Wales's hostility towards Bismarck." She smirks.
"I'll explain in a bit." Victory answers.
"They are fair points, I suppose…" Warspite says. "Shall I allow Her Majesty give out the order, Commander?"
"Please, Warspite. Thank you." Victory agrees.
Warspite salutes her, "Yes, Commander!" She leaves the office.
"Seems like Warspite's outburst really did get to Elizabeth…" Victory says.
Nelson, absent-minded, lets out, "If they respect you this much now, I suppose that's something to be commended…"
"Oh? Was that a compliment, Nelson?" Victory teases.
"Do you want to taste my cannons, Commander!?" Nelson yells, blushing. Rossiya starts laughing out loud.
Bismarck mops the floor of the now closed café and sighs. At first, this position felt rather degrading, especially with the dark crimson waitress outfit that was made for her. Being made with her proportions in mind, it highlights her curves a lot more than her highly decorated uniform. Now that she's gotten used to it, however, it's not the worst thing she could be doing. Sheffield could easily have made her wear an embarrassing maid uniform, so she grateful for that, at least. Besides, the Royals all treat her with some level of respect, with the exception of Wales. She may have sunk Hood, but that combined with taking almost the entire Royal Navy to take her down is why they don't dare mock her. Some have even praised her for trying so hard to redeem herself. She had expected to be the laughing stock of the whole base by now, but only a couple of ships, Wales and Deutschland, have said anything negative before being taken away by their respective sisters.
When she's done, she puts the cleaning supplies, locks up and returns to her dorm, to find Sheffield finishing cleaning up the place.
"Sheffield, may I ask you something?" Bismarck asks.
"Yes, Madam?" Sheffield looks at her, now fully assuming her maid role. "You may ask me anything at anytime, as long as it's not a stupid question."
Not sure what Sheffield considers a stupid question, Bismarck asks, "You won that sparring match. You don't have to serve me like this."
Sheffield slightly smirks, "I fully intended on obeying Her Majesty. I just wanted to kick your arse." She jokes. "If you would like to have it kicked another time, I'll gladly do it again."
Bismarck sighs, "…Fair enough, I suppose…" she goes to her bathroom to undress and shower. Sheffield stops her.
"Madam? A question, please?" The maid asks.
"What?" The Battleship looks at her.
Sheffield's face turns very serious. "When you defeated Lady Hood, do you know what happened to her Cubes?"
Bismarck has been dreading being asked this question. Of all people, a Sheffield had to be the one to ask it. She decides that the extremely perceptive maid would detect a lie from over the horizon, so she'll be truthful. She sighs and says, "When she sank, I forced Wales to rout so she couldn't grab them. I recovered them myself…"
Sheffield looks hopeful, until Bismarck continues, "…and then I gave them to Observer Zero while she was influencing me…"
Sheffield looks down, "… I see… My apologies for holding you up, Ma'am. I will be leaving for the night."
"Danke." Bismarck says while her maid leaves. She slowly walks into her bathroom.
Upon leaving her room, Sheffield encounters the Head Maid herself. She smiles and says, "You seem very friendly with her now."
Sheffield responds, "Our score has been settled, Miss Belfast. Besides, holding grudges is inefficient."
Belfast asks, "What about the demise of Lady Hood?"
Sheffield says, "That is Lady Wales' score to settle. I've suggested she do so diplomatically, but her response led me to believe that if the two of them entered a room alone, only one would leave it. The Commander's plan to send Wales to the Pacific may be for the best."
They start walking together. Belfast asks, "Very good. Speaking of Lady Hood, Bismarck said the Sirens have her Wisdom Cubes?"
Sheffield nods her head to confirm, "So she says. It seems the device that was attached to her neck did not compromise her memories, at least…"
Bismarck takes a shower, Hood's Wisdom Cubes still fresh in her mind. She thinks, "Surely there must be a way to get them back… Gott knows what that Zero is doing with them…" after stepping out and drying herself off, she gets into bed, and the expertly washed and prepared sheets allow her to quickly fall into a deep sleep…