Dear Mikuma,

Dr. Harpwell asked me to write and apologize for the little incident in the dockyard the other day. I'm not sure if he realizes that I'm aware you're a normal ship and not someone I can write a letter to, but it's easier to humor him than argue with him. I wonder why, if he thinks I'm delusional, he wants me to lean into it this way. I mean, is that how you treat a delusion? Doesn't make sense to me, but then, I'm only a sailor, not a psychiatrist.

Anyway, since I'm doing it, I might as well do it with sincerity, right? That's always been the way I try to operate. So, I'm sorry again for ramming you the other day. I promise it wasn't on purpose! Captain Gryphon, Lt. Hattori, and I were still working out the kinks in my new rig's steering system, and as you can see, we still had a ways to go.

They tell me the damage isn't too bad and they should have you fixed up soon—thank goodness! I'm OK, nothing was really damaged but my pride and some experimental gear we were going to have to rebuild anyway. And Cap'n didn't drown, so all's well that ends well.

Of course, the base commander wasn't feeling quite so generous, which is why I'm writing to you from Crone Rock. Cap'n and I were barely dried off before Admiral Sugita sent an orderly to let us know that we were being asked to remove ourselves and our harebrained scheme from HMS Barbican at our earliest possible convenience, which, as you know, means "drop everything and hustle your ass" in the Imperial Navy. ^_^

Still, it may be for the best. This base used to belong to the 501st back during the Battle of Britannia, and Cap'n was here in those days—he knows the place inside and out. The Air Ministry never cleared it out or assigned it to anyone else after the unit left, so we had to clean up a lot of dust, but all the repair shop tools and stuff were still here, and we're right on the water, but without other fleet assets around to... um... crash into.

The last few tests have gone really well. I think we've just about licked the steering and stability problems. I saw a truck from Ordnance Command pull up to the shop loading dock this morning, which probably means we'll be ready for weapons testing soon!

I hear Lt. Hattori calling for me, so I'd better wrap this up. Again, I'm really sorry about the accident. Get well soon! And please be careful when you go back into the field.

Your affectionate sister,