Revelation

January 10th, 2003 - Whale Island - Empire of Oceanica

"What more do you want from us!?" a voice yelled.

The yell was out of place, and startled the others in the room. The mahogany furniture, antique paintings, and exotic furnishings gave the room a feel of antiquity, a feeling which the aging historian, a Mr. Ronald Thrussell, only added to. He was one of the few civilians allowed to step foot on Whale Island, the headquarters of the Oceanic Royal Navy, along with the members of Cabinet, the Prime Minister, and other civilians who were useful resources for the Navy.

The woman who had yelled was staring at him, expectantly, with fury in her brilliant gold eyes. Her long brown hair covered the shoulder epaulets of her immaculate red and gold uniform, but he knew her rank: Admiral. She was Admiral Warspite, younger sister to the Queen, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth. She commanded the Gibraltar Fleet, and was the most short-tempered of the dozens of Admirals and other high-ranking military officials in the room.

It was understandable that she would be upset. All of these women had spent the past few months trapped in this dusty room day in and day out for the past few weeks, having the annual navy policy meeting, where key decisions for the future of the Empire were made. None of them enjoyed it, and, now that it had been completed, all of them were free to return to their fleets. However, while they were making arrangements for their departures, they had been called back.

Mr. Thrussell, however, had no idea what was going on, and was just as confused as the rest of them, and could not provide an answer. Luckily for him, Rear Admiral Malaya, the commander of the Oceanic Malaya Squadron, and Warspite's younger sister, rescued him.

"One of my subordinates sent me a very interesting report, dated the 7th."

She took out a folded piece of paper from inside her coat jacket, an all eyes in the room focused on her. Not a sound could be heard except for the slight creaking of chairs. Malaya unfolded the paper and read it aloud. It was a report from the sentry in Malacca about a fleet flying no colours made of both Westarian and Yamato ships, including a ship that none of them had even knew existed, and a civilian.  

As soon as she finished talking, the room erupted in discussion. Thrussell was the only one who remained quiet. He racked his brain, hunting down the idea that was trying to worm its way away from him. After about a minute, he finally caught it: the civilian had to be a Builder. Builders were supernatural beings who had disappeared over a century ago. They were said to have the ability to create and repair shipgirls, which was the only explanation for the previously unknown ship. With the destruction of the Singularity, it had seemed as if no new shipgirls could be created, but, maybe, they had a chance.

***

Den Helder - Kingdom of Hollandia

"This is quite interesting. Don't you agree, Java, Sumatra?" asked a young woman with long brown hair as she slowly sipped on a cup of tea. She sat in a luxurious red armchair, looking out at the view of the harbour from the balcony. Two woman who looked almost identical with short blond hair stood behind her, and they answered simultaneously. 

"Yes, quite, Admiral."

Admiral De Ruyter, commander of the Hollandian Navy, put down her tea on a small table, and began to idly twirl her finger through her hair, gripping the armrest with her other hand. She scowled in disdain.

"If not for this wretched war, we could have had him. Just imagine! Exclusive access to the creation of new shipgirls. Now that he's in the Southern Expanse, those Oceanic pigs will probably try to nab him."

She grimaced, and the two women behind her stood still and silent. Her finger stopped moving, and she let her hand fall into her lap. CRACK! The armrest snapped in her other hand, and the two women flinched simultaneously. De Ruyter stood, still facing forward. 

"Java,"

"Yes, Admiral?" 

The woman on the left bowed her head, her bangs covering her eyes.

"Assemble a fleet and head for the Southern Expanse. I want that man alive. Sumatra?"

"Yes, Admiral?"

The woman on the right bowed her head, and the one on the left lifted hers.

"You are to go undercover and infiltrate the Reich. Even if we have to give up some islands, get us out of this war. We need all of our forces hunting that man down. Is that understood?"

"Yes Admiral."

The two women nodded, and turned and walked out of the room.

***

January 11th, 2003 - Berlin - Niemec Reich

"Schleswig!"

A voice rang out across the water. Blücher, an Admiral Hipper-class heavy cruiser, was running along the pier towards Schleswig's hull. It had been almost six months since they had seen each other, back in Kalininberg. Blücher was currently acting as Bismarck's right hand, and was going all over the Reich delivering messages and carrying out her orders. 

"What is it, Blücher?" Schleswig called back from where she was raising a new flag on her prow. She was wearing the Reich's field uniform; black and silver practical work clothes, with an officer's cap. Her long blond hair framed her face, and her blue eyes her bright. She quickly tied up the last knots on the line before turning to face Blücher.

"According to the Intelligence Branch, there's a rogue fleet in the Southern Expanse. It's some ships from Westaria and Yamato."

Schleswig rested her chin on her hand, thinking. Westaria and Yamato... hadn't they been at war, and signed a ceasefire less than two weeks ago. Was it possible that they were working together to hunt these ships? There was no way that a small fleet was important enough to justify stopping an entire war.

Blücher wasn't finished though, and she continued, saying, "An Oceanic fleet and a Hollandian strike force both left harbour yesterday, supposedly to hunt down this fleet."

"What!?"

Schleswig looked up in surprise so quickly that she almost fell over.

"You're telling me that four world powers are hunting down this fleet?" She was practically shouting. Blücher gave a wry smile and shook her head. 

"Not four, Schleswig. It's eight. Gneisenau and Scharnhorst are leaving tomorrow with an escort fleet. Gaul and Mediterrenea have already sent fleets of their own, and there's a rumour that the Commies are sending a small force as well. It's absurd."

Schleswig took a moment to regain her wits, before asking a final question.

"What is so important about this fleet?" Several possibilities were emerging in her head. It could be the ones who destroyed the Singularity, or it could be Tirpitz's fleet. Maybe they were traitors, who held important military secrets.

Blücher just sighed. "We don't know. Only Westaria and Yamato know for certain, and Hollandia and Oceanica probably have a good idea, but the rest of us are only joining the hunt because they seem to think it's worth it. For all we know, it could be a trap of some kind."

"Why are you telling me this?" asked Schleswig. Information like this was supposed to be top secret. 

Blücher laughed, a sad, mournful laugh, and turned to walk away. 

"I'm going too," she called back over her shoulder, "If I die, then you're the new commander of the Kiel Fleet."

Blücher didn't hear Schleswig's response. It was a good thing she had turned away. That way, Schleswig wouldn't have to see the tears running down her face.