Right, I guess I should expect more enemies coming at me now that the tutorial's done. Doesn't really make any sense, especially if I’m supposed to be the one saving this world. You'd think they’d trust me by now. But nope, I had to be put on training wheels before facing the actual threat. Like that’s supposed to make me feel better.

I sigh, grabbing my glass of orange juice and finishing it in one go. I wipe my lips with the back of my hand and eye the two CPU chips in front of me. They’re just sitting there, taunting me with their mysteries. One looks like an I9—familiar, almost comforting in a weird way. The other... well, it's bulkier, like something you'd find in a weird alien tech lab.

The I9 chip is slightly smaller than the ones I grabbed from that island, which now officially goes by the name "Port Seven." Still don't entirely get what those chips are for, but hey, I won’t complain too much. That island alone boosted my naval budget to half a billion credits, which means... dream fleet time, right?

Well, that was the plan before I faced that thing. My aircraft carrier-centric fleet has some serious holes in it, and I can’t stop thinking about how I almost didn’t make it through that battle. Carriers are great, sure, but they’re not exactly built for direct confrontation. Maybe what I really need is a fast battleship to support the carriers—something with enough punch to keep those nightmares at bay.

I twirl one of the chips between my fingers, lost in thought. It's funny how quickly the dream of a perfect fleet can start to unravel once reality slaps you in the face.

Looking back at that battle, it’s painfully obvious my Scharnhorst-Class with those 9-inch guns just isn't cutting it. Sure, they have their moments, but against that? It’s a clear sign I need more firepower. I mean, yeah, aircraft can pack a punch with my glide bombs, but what happens if the skies are contested before I can even think about launching bombers? It's a gamble I’m not willing to take again.

I sigh, feeling the weight of it all, and yawn—probably from thinking about this too much. I head back to the pitcher, fill my glass with more orange juice, and drink slowly this time, trying to stall before diving back into the mess that is fleet planning.

Alright, focus. I spread out the papers in front of me, my mind drifting from battlecruisers. Sure, they’re cheaper, and part of me thinks I could save a lot of credits going down that road. But no—if I’m going to build something, I need real power. Nothing halfway. I tap my finger on the desk, weighing the options, and push the idea of battlecruisers aside. I need a proper battleship. Something that can dominate the seas.

But what kind of battleship?

I could take the safe, predictable route and just make an Iowa clone—solid, practical, effective. Iowas are a proven class, after all, with 16-inch, 50-caliber guns that can wreck anything in their path. But there’s something about it that feels… boring. Too easy. I don’t want to settle for "effective." I want something iconic. Something that screams, "Beatrice is here."

That’s when the idea hits me—what if I went bigger? Like, Yamato big? A ship with 18-inch guns, towering over everything else on the water. A true floating fortress. Just imagining the sheer size of a Yamato-style battleship makes my heart race a little. Plus, with my solid air fleet, covering a behemoth like that wouldn’t be an issue. And if I’m going to go big, I might as well go all the way, right?

Leaning back in my chair, I let the thought settle in, staring at the ceiling as I picture this massive battleship—its guns, its armor, its presence on the battlefield. It would be unbeatable, or at least close to it. Something that could shrug off threats both from the sea and the air.

But how much did the Yamato even cost? It must’ve been a fortune. That thing wasn’t just a ship; it was a floating empire, well that's where the imperial economy went to honestly. I sit up and run some rough numbers in my head. I’m sitting on eight hundred million credits right now, which is a lot, but sinking it all into one massive ship… am I falling into another sunk cost fallacy? I’ve already made that mistake once with the heavy cruisers, and I’m not eager to repeat it.

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Then again, I’ve been facing some seriously tough enemies lately—thankfully one at a time, for now. What happens when they start coming in waves? A Yamato-style battleship might just be the insurance policy I need. Something that can take on the toughest threats without breaking a sweat.

I was just about to start drafting the specs when another idea hit me. Something more practical, more… reasonable. Montana. Twelve 16-inch, 50-caliber guns, just like the Iowa, but more of them. It’s not as flashy as the Yamato, but it’s still a serious bruiser, and the best part is it wouldn’t completely wreck my budget. With the Montana, I could get almost the same firepower for a fraction of the cost—and let’s be honest, sometimes being economical is better than going for overkill.

But here’s the thing: those 16-inch guns are great for taking out ships, but what about the floating citadels I’ve been running into? Those things are not normal ships—they’re giant, heavily armored fortresses that laugh in the face of conventional firepower. That’s where the Yamato’s 18-inch guns come in handy. Sure, the Montana’s got numbers on its side, but sometimes size really does matter. And in this world, where I’m dealing with massive, bizarre threats, it’s hard to shake the feeling that the extra firepower of the Yamato might be exactly what I need.

Montana or Yamato? It’s a tough call. Both have their strengths, and each could be invaluable depending on the situation. But why settle for one or the other? I could make a pair of each. Two Montanas and two Yamatos. That way, I can see which one performs better in real combat. Plus, having both gives me the flexibility to handle whatever comes my way—whether it’s standard naval battles or those terrifying floating citadels.

I smile, reaching for my pen. This is going to be an experiment—a very, very expensive experiment—but one that could save my skin down the line. I’ll have a mix of pure, raw firepower with the Yamatos and some versatility and efficiency with the Montanas. It’s the best of both worlds.

With that decision made, I jot down the specs. Two Yamatos. Two Montanas. Let’s see which one becomes the real star of my fleet.

Right, moving on. Speaking of the Scharnhorst, it’s probably time to expand that class too. She’s served me well, but I could definitely use more firepower from her class. Four more Scharnhorsts wouldn’t hurt, just to balance out the fleet. Plus, it’d give me a nice solid battle line when things get thick. Yeah, four more should fit the bill nicely. I’ll add that to the list.

Now, about carriers… Long Island’s been great, don’t get me wrong, but she’s pretty limited with only a 30-aircraft capacity. It’s time I invest in real fleet carriers—ones that can handle the bulk of my air power and give me more flexibility in battle. I need something that can carry at least 150 planes, maybe more. Light carriers just aren't cutting it anymore.

Again, time to go big or go home.

I guess a dedicated fleet carrier force is the way to go. Four ships should be enough to cover at least two strike forces, fully supported by battleships and heavy cruisers. That way, I can have some real muscle backing up my airpower.

With that in mind, I start writing everything down. I’ve got a vision for this naval expansion, and if all goes well, I’ll have two fleets under my command, patrolling and exploring the waters beyond my current reach. I title the whole thing Naval Expansion No. 3—sounds official enough.

But just as I’m about to finalize the plan, a thought hits me. Destroyers. How could I forget? Honestly, I’m not sure why they slipped my mind, but with my healthy 873 million credit fleet budget, I think I can afford to design a new class. My industries are growing by the day, after all. It’s not like I’m struggling for resources anymore.

The same goes for the light cruisers. I’ve been meaning to develop some dedicated AA light cruisers for a while now, but with all the excitement around aircraft, I kind of forgot about them. Now that I’m thinking about it, I should get those rolling too. They’ll be crucial for protecting my carriers from air threats, especially since I’m putting so much faith in airpower these days.

Alright, so here’s the plan: 40 new destroyers, dedicated to the two strike forces, leaving my trusty Color Class destroyers to handle convoy escort duty. Then, I’ll add five AA-focused light cruisers, three heavy cruisers, two fast battleships, and two fleet carriers.

With all of that, I’ll have every role covered, from fleet defense to long-range strike capabilities. It’s ambitious, but I think this will finally give me the well-rounded fleet I’ve been aiming for.