March 10th 2011,

Newport News Virginia

The USS Monitor, that was her name.

In truth, the replica gave her something nice to inhabit compared to the trinkets that were recovered from her wreck.

The news of that battleship theme cape making her way around the country making the ship's spirits visible to the humans had her excited; however, her ship and museum was out of the way. There is no way they would know to stop there.

She has been alone for years with few visitors since they pulled her up from the bottom of the river.

She wouldn't get her hopes up though, who would want to visit her?

"No one, that's who…" Monitor mutters sitting down in the spot that would be home to her boiler.

Then again Hunley was visited by the mysterious battleship. So who was to say she would be ruled out?

People outside started shouting. At first in worry then amazement.

One of her guides had recognized what was happening.

The fact that an escort carrier had not been seen in nearly half a decade ever since the museum ship failed and had to be scrapped. The fate of all ships who couldn't get enough visitors… the scrap yard…

She loses herself in her thoughts, forgetting that there are supposed to be no escort carriers left.

The USS Independence was sailing into port, its deck lined with aircraft was a rather impressive sight.

The TBF's The F4F's and the SBD-3's were a magnificent sight to behold to all who would watch.

The people around her eventually disappeared over the period of an hour, not even the tour guide had disappeared. I mean she was seeing significantly more people these days than she had in the past few years. Likely because of that BB-70 cape old ships were beginning to get attention again. Something about ship spirits coming to life and giving tours and telling stories themselves.

That was when a girl walked in and for some reason, Monitor shivered looking at the Yellow and blue eyes. It's been so long since the ironclad has made eye contact with anyone. Let alone someone acknowledging her existence.

"Hello."

==========================================

1 hour ago.

Georgia was watching Independence steer herself. It was surreal to be honest the Escort carrier maneuvered herself well beyond what she should've been able to do.

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I mean at one point Eurobeat should've been blasting when the carrier docked. She was drifting sideways, managing to stop just within a foot of the birthing.

The gangway was dropped down as the escort group was ready to give surprise tours to the people visiting the monitor museum.

Georgia herself however would be exploring the museum that had a replica of the USS Monitor and it's not the actual thing like the Hunley. Though Archerfish constantly calling Hunley grandma was rather entertaining. She still had to check she would never forgive herself if she forgot to save a family member.

All the patrons at the museum were aboard Independence while the town seemed to buzz to life at the impromptu meet and greet from the ship girls. A cape team named AzurLane had been established on PHO though she hasn't filed the paperwork for it yet.

Georgia shakes her head from her musings as she arrives at the museum and gets a good look at the model Monitor.

A small ramp led up and on to the model ship which Georgia marched up with ease. Before crawling down into the space which would've held the boiler.

Georgia notices a small girl sitting in the corner alone. Her eyes seem to be nearly empty, devoid of emotion.

"Hello?" Georgia asks trying to get her attention.

"I guess I wasn't forgotten" Monitor mutters happily.

Monitor had not been this happy since her duel with CSS Virginia at the Gosport navy yard. Virginia was her fated foe after all. She was built to counter the confederate Ironclad being built. The fact that the south was building the CSS Virginia wasn't even a secret; it appeared in both northern and southern newspapers often with regular updates on the progress of the ship.

"Of course, I wouldn't forget you, you're family after all." Georgia says with a smile patting Monitor's head.

"I'm older than you," Monitor says pouting.

"Sorry, I blame archerfish. She keeps asking for head pats." Georgia says with a smile

"So? How does this work?" Monitor asks

"Just stand still and it's gonna sting a little," Georgia says pulling out a blue cube.