It's almost strange how swiftly one begins to all into a routine. Especially given how long it takes to notice how normal that new routine feels. But by the time I'd begun to notice, weeks had already gone by.

Go to school. Work through my classes. Have lunch with Anong, Connie, Laura, Jessica, and Amelia. Finish classes. Do schoolwork on the over to the base with Anong, Connie, Laura, and Amelia. Mostly Laura, Connie, and Jessica, or on the days where I was on my own, just do homework by myself, saving the history stuff until I got back to base.

Once on base, I would meet up with my sister, Louisiana. From there, we either did exercises or went to the classes there until dinner rolled around. After that, we showered up, then I finished up my history homework, using what I learned in class to help Louisiana bridge the gap of her knowledge that spanned nearly a century of United States history.

Which was a lot of history, and was pretty slow to boot. But it was nice and comforting. An excellent way for us to bond and get closer.

She didn't take learning about World War 2 particularly well, though that was something I expected. I still wasn't looking forward to having the conversation with the rest of my sisters.

But beyond that? Things had been pretty good.

But today? Things would be different.

Considerably different.

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"You two are likely wondering why I called you in today," Admiral Jeffery had his arms crossed behind his back, as I struggled to keep my face straight. I was failing, given the slight twitch in my lips. A few ideas bounced around in my mind, almost like a kid bouncing off the walls before Christmas. Sure, the expression on his face was quite serious, but that probably had something to do with him needing to maintain a professional appearance.

The screen behind the admiral's head, complete with a projector on the ceiling, kind of gave the game away a bit. Only a little bit. Still, I made sure to sit properly, without making a sound, just in case this turned into some type of lecture. I didn't recall either of us doing anything that would cause that amount of trouble, but it was possible. Louisiana looked puzzled, though her facial features were similarly muted, like mine.

"Yes sir, I'm very curious as to why, sir," I finally responded after a few moments of awkward silence. Admiral Jeffery paused for a moment as my sister nodded her head.

"I received the news just last night. The design for your retrofit has been approved," Admiral Jeffery tapped a button on his remote, the projector flaring to life. The screen, once blank, was overtaken by a picture. No. Blueprints? But not one, but two of them.

The first I recognized almost immediately as the blueprint for the Connecticut class. The guns. The turrets. The armor. But the second? The second I did not recognize.

It was longer, to start. Not much longer. An Omaha class cruiser would still have been larger in that regard. Gone were the casements and underwater torpedo tubes, replaced by a torpedo blister and a thicker armor belt. Sure, there was only an added inch in thickness, but that had to count for something. Small writing on the design also noted an increase in the thickness of our deck armor. A blessing against enemy bombers.

The superstructure and smokestacks were the biggest change. The three pillars had been brought down to two larger stacks. The rest of the superstructure was completely unrecognizable, no hint to its original shape being left behind. It looked like a slightly downsized version of the North Carolina class, however, it seemed to have even more space dedicated to anti-aircraft gun platforms, a combination of twin Orliken and quad Bofors, with even more resting on our decks. They were trying to squeeze in as much anti-air fire out of the newfound free space that they could.

It bristled with several different fire directors as well, each location marked. Then came the arrangement of the five-inch twins, two on each side of our eight-inch rifles. Spaced just enough so that the middle would be able to fire over both its five and eight-inch neighbors. However, the eight-inch guns would be able to fire over the smaller five-inch, in the event of a surface action. Furthermore, they had managed to squeeze in another two five-inch guns, one aft and forward, respectively, superfiring over our main twelve-inch battery.

As for our main armament? They looked slightly larger before, with a bit of elevation, to further help with longer-range engagements. Even part of our superstructure had been extended, helping disguise the fact that the elevated turret was there. Even the addition of the deck armor would prove useful, to say the least. Out four eight-inch guns had gotten similar treatment, though not as high, allowing the five-inch dual-purpose gun to fling shells over the top towards aircraft approaching towards the stern or bow, depending on the gun.

Impressive was the only word I could think of to describe this. Miraculous. Incredible! If it wasn't for the layout of the main battery, I wouldn't have been able to tell that this retrofit was meant to represent a Connecticut class battleship! They'd changed so much! And that was just the external! Along with those outside changes, there would have to be just as many, no, more internal ones to allow for such systems to operate. New boilers, turbines, engines, electronics. New shell loading devices. Protection systems. Electronics.

The whole nine yards. My expectations had honestly been set pretty high, but this had blown them completely out of the water. No joke, there were completely gone by this point. Seriously, those new guns had to be fifty and fifty-five caliber, respectively. Which meant one thing and one thing only.

We were getting the super heavy armor-piercing shells.

That alone was a potent increase in firepower. It is almost the equivalent of having upscaled guns.

Sure, it would cut into our maximum range, but even a twelve-inch super-heavy armor-piercing shell would still outrange most eight-inch guns at maximum distance. With improved fire control, we'd be a match for anything smaller than a large cruiser, like Alaska and her siblings. Given the armored belt, probably superior.

It was taking everything I had to not salivate. This? This was just.

Wow. I didn't have the words.

"As you can see, the improvements are extensive, and even more so internally," Admiral Jeffery crossed his arms behind his back. "The casements have been removed, as they simply lack the range necessary for modern engagements. Even if we did want to keep them around, the seven-inch gun has fallen out of use, meaning we have no modern equivalent in both size and shell. The same can be said with the torpedo tubes, though for somewhat different reasons. Their underwater nature can lead to weak points in the armor. As for the smaller guns, they're better off replaced by dedicated anti-aircraft weaponry, alongside the dual-purpose five-inch twin turret as secondary armament."

"And what about our primary guns, Amiral? They look different, as well," Louisiana looked at the screen, almost perplexed by what she was seeing.

"That is because they are being replaced with more modern weapons. Replacing your Mark fives are the modified Mark eight, a fifty caliber rifle kept in two twin turrets. Included with these guns are new systems for loading shells, specifically, the Mark 18 super heavy armor-piercing shell, which had a maximum range of over thirty-eight thousand yards, or more than thirty-five kilometers," There was a slight twitch on Admiral Jeffery's face. "The piercing capacities of such shells is enough to match the 14 inch, fifty-caliber guns used on many older American dreadnaughts, giving you access to the most powerful guns a ship of your size would need to possess."

Wait. The super heavy shell? Let us match 14-inch guns? Oh wow. That was, busted, to say the least. We were pretty much pocket battleships at this point.

"That is considerably impressive. Right, my souer?" my sister tipped her head my way, as I nodded, still somewhat shocked by the revelation.

"You'll find that the protection on such guns has improved as well, so you won't have to worry about a lucky airstrike as much. Likewise, the eight-inch forty-five caliber guns are being replaced with the standard of American Heavy Cruisers, the eight-inch, fifty-five caliber. The Mark 16 was considered, but due to space concerns, it was decided that the Mark 15 would remain effective until we know that the autoloader won't cause issues. Like the twelve-inch rifle, these guns also fire super heavy armor-piercing shells, though at a smaller size."

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"Next is your anti-air defense system, guided by radar and Mark 51 for small gun direction and the Mark 56 for your larger, dual-purpose guns. Each of you has twenty such guns, kept in ten twin turrets. There were some cases for the three-inch to be brought in as the medium armament of choice. However, given several factors, including the 40 millimeter Bofors effectiveness, up until the end of the war, they've been relegated as a future retrofit. As such, thirty-two guns have been emplaced. Five quadruple turrets, supplemented by six twins. For the light anti-aircraft battery, there are overall less. Eighteen in total spread out across nine twins," Admiral Jeffery pointed to the locations on the hull where the guns would be kept. "For a ship of around your size, you will have an average number of medium and small caliber guns. However, when it comes to your largest anti-aircraft guns, you have the same number as found on the fast United States battleships."

Okay, when put like that. Sure, compared to American battleships, it wasn't a whole lot. But given our size? That was an oppressive amount of firepower we had access to. We were smaller than most light cruisers. But then again, our superstructure might as well be a container for as many anti-aircraft batteries they could fit on a single ship. But still. Having the access to the same number of 5-inch guns as an Iowa was nothing to sneeze at.

"Naturally, your armor is getting enhanced as well. While some of Vestal's original ideas called for the implementation of a twelve-inch, all-or-nothing armor scheme, though this was rejected due to a few issues. Instead, your original protection will be replaced with an armor belt ranging from 12-inches in the midships that tapers down to 7-inches towards the bow and stern, making use of more modern knowledge to keep the weight of such a belt as light as possible. This would be further reinforced with a torpedo blister, to help against not only submarines, but aerial torpedo strikes," I blinked in surprise. They were considering all or nothing? Sure, that made sense, we were battleships, even if we were old. But putting an armor scheme meant for a battleship on a larger vessel?

That hadn't exactly gone well if I remembered my history. Of course, there would be a considerable difference between us and the Hippers. As our armor would be as thick as a proper battleship, unlike the German turtleback that the Hippers had. But the size might cause some oddities. Maybe that was why such designs were rejected in the end?

"Your decks as well would see considerable improvements. Given how we intend to replace your boilers and turbines with more modern equipment, and the overhaul of your superstructure, we see no reason to increase your deck armor to increase defense against aerial assault and plunging shells. Alongside providing layered protection found on most other American Capital ships," Admiral Jeffery paused for a moment. "Which is to say nothing for the other fire control systems, electronics, and the other types of equipment that would be placed aboard. Presently, our estimates place you at gaining one to three thousand tons in displacement, possibly, with a top speed of twenty-one to twenty-two knots."

I bit back a grimace. Our speed was only eighteen knots as was, so an increase of a few knots wasn't exactly awful, but that did little to stop the bitter taste. Sure, being able to keep up with the main battle line may have been a bit much, but I'd still have hoped for a bit more. There was a limit to just how much they could do, I understood that. But such a speed would only be good for escorting transports and other, slower naval vessels. Which was an important task during wartime.

Without proper supply lines, one couldn't fight a war, much less win one. Sure, it wasn't glamorous work, but necessary work nonetheless.

"As for a combat roll, a few ideas have been pitched forward. First would be a large gun escort vessel for convoys, one that would be supported by light cruisers and destroyers as an anti-submarine screen. Mostly to aid in countermeasures against pocket battleships for forces lacking sufficient air cover or support to counteract such vessels. Another is an escort for smaller escort carriers and seaplane tenders. For many similar reasons as transport convoys," Admiral Jeffery paused for a moment. "And also to do everything in our power to make sure we don't get caught with our pants down like at the Battle off Samar ever again."

At that one, I winced. Okay, that was something I hadn't considered, how differently the battle would have gone if there had been larger ships in the area. Given how shipgirls were just as much human as they were a ship, having anything that resembled a repeat of such a battle was probably for the best. Though against a dreadnought I doubt we would be able to accomplish anything of note, but regardless.

"As for the time being, do you have any further questions?" Admiral Jeffery fell to rest, having been pacing back and forth across the room for the past several minutes. After a few seconds, Louisiana raised her hand. "Yes, Louisiana?"

"I'm curious, how long would a refit of this extent take? I would imagine it would take a considerable amount of time," Louisiana cocked her head to the side. It was a good question, and I'd been wondering about the same one.

"I'll be blunt with both of you. This is less of a refit and more of a rebuild. Even with shipgirl physics working in your favor, this easily will end up being a two and a half, if not three-week process. Maybe a month, if complications arise," Admiral Jeffery let out a sigh, placing his hands against his desk.

On one hand, that didn't seem too long. At least, on paper, it didn't. Especially compared to the repair and retrofit times of historical vessels. But still. Everywhere from seventeen to eighteen days expected, with up to a full thirty days if something went wrong? That was not a small chunk of time. Possibly up to a month of school was a lot to miss.

Oh. Okay, something told me I wasn't going to get that retrofit as I had originally been promised. Which explained why we were being told about it now, rather than closer to a long-term break.

Because the retrofit wasn't going to be for me. It was going to be for Louisiana.

Disappointing, but at the same time. Understandable. When the promise of me getting a retrofit was made, I'd been the only Connecticut, and while they were expecting my awakening to help rouse my sisters, Louisiana arriving as quickly as she did was not something they had expected.

Normally, they'd have to wait until one of my longer breaks from school. Winter would be possible, but honestly? I'd prefer it if I took Louisiana back to Kansas to meet the rest of my family, or bring them out here. One of the two. Which meant winter break was most likely out.

Leaving summer break as the real only option. Which was long enough to avoid any major issues, while having free time available.

"And how long will it take for all the equipment for said retrofit to arrive?" I asked, curious. Sure, unless it took a while, there was no chance of me being the recipient.

"It'll take anywhere from a month to a month and a half to acquire everything needed for a retrofit. We do have a decent amount of what is needed here at the moment, but not everything," Admiral Jeffery shook his head. "For a singular retrofit. I'm sorry, Kathrine. I know you were promised a retrofit, but given the circumstances."

"I understand sir," I spoke once I was certain the Admiral had finished, Louisiana's head suddenly tilting my way. "I'm still in school, while Louisiana is able and ready."

"Plus, I looked up policy on the refit for underage natural borns," I chuckled a bit, "I'd have to get my parent's permission, and given much had to be done as a concession for me to even be here after my first outing? Doubt I'd be able to push for a month out of school."

I gave Louisania a reassuring grin, though for a moment it looked as if her face twisted when I mentioned my first outing. Must have been a trick of the light, as she began blinking tears from her eyes.

"You mean it, ma souer?" Louisiana clasped my hands tightly in her own. "Truly?"

"Of course, sis," I used her grip on my hands to pull my sister into a tight hug.