Iowa

## Character Information

Iowa is the main character of Iowa’s Revenge. She is an Iowa-class battleship, the first of her class.

## Personality

Being the first member of her class, Iowa thinks she’s better than the rest of her sisters. She’s self-centered, rude, aggressive, and she hates when she doesn’t get what she wants. Adding to this, she’s also rivals with anyone who says they’re more advanced or powerful than her. Anybody who isn’t Iowa is below her, in her opinion. If it’s not her, she doesn’t care. Not her monkey, not her circus. She wants her time in the spotlight, and she’ll even use threats to get her way, such as pointing her guns at someone to show them she’s not messing around. The other ships are concerned about her behavior, and because of Iowa’s pure aggression, her captain has control over her most of the time so she can’t just go after someone who ticked her off.

## Role in Iowa’s Revenge

In Iowa’s Revenge, Iowa starts off as being aggressive, self-centered, though somewhat gullible, as seen when she falls for Yamato. After the initial attack on the base, which led to South Dakota’s loss, Iowa’s aggressive tendencies only became more severe. Iowa acts out against the other ships, going as far as to threaten and nearly attack Enterprise. When New Jersey, Iowa’s sister intervenes, Iowa stares her down, and slinks away, her attack thwarted. Iowa later on is revealed to the reader to be secretly talking with Yamato over radio communication, and that her crew has been replaced by IJN sailors. Iowa, though distrustful of Yamato at first, is convinced by Yamato to join her. Iowa turns against her fleet, joining Yamato and her fleet.

While Iowa stays in Japan, Yamato trains Iowa, controlling her mind, so that Iowa never wants to leave, hates her family, and even loves Yamato. Yamato instills a deep hatred for the USN into Iowa. By this point, Iowa is devoted to Yamato. Yamato devises a plan to take down Iowa’s sisters, and Montana, removing the largest, most powerful battleships, in order to weaken the USN. Iowa accepts, more than happy to comply.

Upon arriving to the base, and when Yamato confronts the USN ships, Musashi, Yamato’s sister, fires unexpectedly, causing chaos. The ships begin to fight. Later in the battle, Iowa fires at New Jersey, severely damaging her. Iowa considers inflicting the finishing blow, with Yamato encouraging her to do so. But Iowa can’t stand seeing New Jersey’s pain, regretful at her actions. Iowa turns back on Yamato, and she, with the help of Missouri, defeat her.

After the battle, none of the ships trust Iowa, only Missouri (somewhat) and Wisconsin (fully). Iowa is comforted by her sisters, but worries for New Jersey. After confrontations from Montana, Missouri at one point, and Massachusetts, Iowa feels hated by the others. Pennsylvania gives Iowa advice to repair her relationships, which allows Iowa to gain trust from Yorktown, Kidd, and full trust from Missouri, and Massachusetts, though it’s hard to earn her trust. Iowa begins to gain Alabama’s trust and the two become friends. West Virginia and Iowa get into an argument, which makes Missouri feel protective of Iowa.

When Texas returns from repairs, she finds out that Alabama and Iowa are in a relationship. Being very distrustful of Iowa, she argues with Alabama, thinking that she’s protecting her from Iowa. But Iowa intervenes, trying to convince Texas she isn’t bad anymore. West Virginia joins the argument, insulting Iowa. Eventually, Missouri and Massachusetts break up the argument.

After Indiana is released from dry dock, it is revealed she has gone deaf, due to Musashi’s attack on her. Iowa, upon finding out, feels like she is to blame for Indiana’s condition, being one of the ships who led the attack. Missouri tries to comfort her sister, telling her that it was Musashi’s fault. Missouri adds that the IJN would have attacked again anyway. The two sisters share a nuzzle of affection. Later on, Indiana is sent for scrap. Iowa comforts Alabama, now that she’s lost another sister, only months after losing South Dakota. Iowa tells Alabama to keep her bond with Massachusetts as strong as possible, since they are the only two of their class left. Alabama and Iowa remain very close, as Iowa’s love helps Alabama cope. Pennsylvania congratulates Iowa on her successful relationship with Alabama, and Iowa notices her mentor is becoming old and frail, struggling to move without pain, her body showing rust and cracks. Iowa worries about her, but doesn’t show her worries to anyone, hoping Pennsylvania will be repaired.

When the IJN return for another attack, Iowa comes across Haruna, who was attempting to escape after having sunk Portland moments ago. Haruna fires at Iowa, missing her, and Iowa closes in on her. Iowa then fires at Haruna, who fights back until her turrets melt from constant firing. Iowa receives a hit to her hull, and makes an emergency breakaway to prevent Haruna from causing further damage. Kidd takes over for Iowa, sinking Haruna.

Later in the fight, Iowa comes across Pennsylvania and West Virginia, who had defeated Akagi. In a blind rage, too angry to see Iowa as her ally, West Virginia attempts to attack her, but West Virginia is stopped by her crew. Iowa joins Yorktown, Philadelphia, Missouri, Massachusetts, Colorado and later West Virginia to battle Akatsuki, Kashima, Yamashiro and Kongō. When Yamashiro fires at West Virginia, Iowa attacks and defeats Yamashiro, saving West Virginia’s life. The two have a brief moment together, West Virginia bowing to Iowa, thanking her for saving her without directly saying so. When Kongō is the last survivor of her small division, the group of ships surround her. Iowa interrogates her, asking if there are any more enemy ships or planes. Kongō says there are none, and begs for death. But the ships send her away, and when Kongō leaves, the ships go to return to the base. But Kongō comes back, chasing after them. At first, Colorado attacks her, and Iowa comes in to finish off Kongō.

Back at the base, Iowa finds Alabama, who has been severely damaged, with a breached hull. Iowa, shocked, tries to comfort Alabama, though the wounded battleship cries in pain. Alabama tells Iowa she loves her, and Iowa expresses her love as well. Tugboats appear to take Alabama to dry dock. Alabama cries out to Iowa, saying she’s scared of being without her, but Iowa reassures her that other ships will be in dry dock too, and they will see each other again soon. Iowa has a similar encounter with Missouri and Massachusetts, who are waiting on the tugs to take them to dry dock. Missouri tells Iowa that New Jersey has returned, and that she should talk to her. Iowa is hesitant at first, recalling the fact that she almost killed her. Iowa wishes Missouri and Massachusetts good luck, and goes to see New Jersey. Iowa apologizes to New Jersey, and begs for forgiveness, but New Jersey, still scarred by what Iowa did to her, does not forgive her. Iowa, feeling defeated, cries to herself. Colorado comforts her, and soon enough, Iowa and Colorado become friends.

The next day, Iowa and Pennsylvania chat. Pennsylvania tells Iowa that she doesn’t have much time left to live, and that she is getting very old. Iowa becomes even more worried for Pennsylvania, who brushes Iowa’s worries off. She explains that she knows it’s her turn to die, as she has seen it happen to many other old ships. She tells Iowa to go make new friends, and to keep talking to Colorado. Iowa listens to her, and has a friendly interaction with Colorado, Kidd and Yorktown. But then Colorado expresses her concern for Pennsylvania, leading Iowa’s worries to take hold. She goes back to Pennsylvania. When Iowa arrives, Pennsylvania is with Wisconsin and Saratoga. She is crying in pain, struggling to move. Iowa, very concerned, asks what’s wrong, and Wisconsin explains that Pennsylvania is trying to go to the oil replenishment barge, but is in too much pain to do so. Saratoga commands tugboats to take Pennsylvania to the barge, which they do. Pennsylvania and Iowa say goodbye to each other, and agree to meet later that night.

That evening, the ships gather to watch Texas’s body be raised from the sea, so her body can be transported for scrapping. It is a very emotional moment. Iowa cries softly, wishing she and Texas could have mended their relationship. West Virginia, revealed to be Texas’s former lover, takes a moment to gaze at Iowa, before leaving to spend time with her sister, Colorado.

That night, Iowa waits at the docks for Pennsylvania to return. Hours go by, with Iowa growing concerned. Eventually, Colorado arrives, and brings Iowa the bad news that Pennsylvania was lied to and was sent away to be scuttled by Nevada and Fletcher, with Colorado assuring Iowa that Pennsylvania was put to sleep before her death, and that she didn’t know what was coming. Heartbroken, Iowa breaks down into tears. Colorado comforts her, until Iowa decides to spend the rest of the night with Wisconsin.

The next day, whilst talking to Enterprise, the ships are suddenly called for a meeting. Montana announces that Japan’s forces have surrendered, and that the United States have won the war. The ships celebrate, and Iowa realizes that she got her revenge on the IJN, and that she was able to change her ways for the better.