Fog Fleet was the fleet consists of all model warships from WWII era which got upgrade with unknown technology. Aside from Ship-gun, Torpedo, Bomb, or many outdated weaponry, they got mount with with VLS missile, Guide-weapon, etc. up to super-over-technology like super-graviton weapons, laser/electric weapon, Klein Field, etc. All in all, the most remarkable signature about them was Tanatonium multi-purpose warhead; if you ever detected it, just screamed 'The Fog is HERE!' and ran for your life.
Their origin and purpose were mystery, no one knew who built them and for what?. They just appeared out of nowhere 17-year ago and destroyed the entire sea-trade route, plus almost destroyed all the navy war vessels, and they just kept their position ever since like governing all sea continent. Human had been trying to fight back, but they were completely crushed even with cutting-edge war airplane. The sea and sky area above most sea didn't belong to Human anymore. Curiously, they didn't invade inland territory at all except for some stray shot when the naval battle took place near costal area.
However, it wasn't like human would give up that easily. After so many researches, trial & error, etc; they lastly found the method to fight back, which is the Ship Girl. The counter-measure that clashed an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth; Ship-girl construction was based on WWII era warship as well. Creation method was kept top secret, no one know how to build them except high-rank governor or project scientist. While ship girl appearance were range from little girl up to fine grown-up woman, they packed punches nonetheless. Surprisingly, their memories when they were being actual warship remain, so they started their duty not as newbie but as someone who knew how to get a job done. Despite there were still some issues regard their unstable mental state which the project team concluded that might be the effect from their time as actual ship, Humanity's hope was shined.
Unknown to the human, some fog vessels got advance evolution on their own. They gained self-awareness and ability to think; they noticed that human was slowly but surely gaining the upper hand; they would be the one to be pushed through extinction if this continued. So, they produced their Mental Model to mimic human anatomy while keeping their strength inside: infiltrated human society to learn and spy on everything for their advantage. Coincidently, their action match the old saying 'If you know your enemies and know yourself, you will not be imperiled in a hundred battles'
Some Fog Flagships were the first group who got Mental Model and already presented in their respective area of command. Unknowingly, some big shots already blended in many countries such as Japan, Russia, USA, Germany, Italy, etc. They influenced their subordinate vessel to act like them too, but now only a few vessels followed this produce Mental Model order: possibility of more mental model in the future.
Which side would gain the victory? Let see through the End.
Dining room, Chihaya's House, Hakodate, Hokkaido, Japan
No matter how many times Chihaya Gunzou had been dining with his family, he couldn't shrug off the uneasiness with his stepmother, girlfriend, and his own father. Reasons? Well, please found below as it was a long…long explanation;
- His Stepmother: Kaminari Musashi;
His real mother, Chihaya Saori, died with a blast from Fog gunship when he was a few years old. It wasn't like he still felt depress about his deceased mother and wouldn't accept his father new love, but the real reason was because Musashi-san was just 15 years old girl! ! ! ?
His dad said that he got a crush on Musashi at the time He was assigned to station at Yokosuka naval district. Musashi was a daughter of a wealth-family in that area. One day the coffee shop he usually dropped by was very busy; all single seats and most group tables were occupied. So he glanced around and stopped at the unoccupied seat at Musashi's table, asked her if she didn't mind to have him sharing the table. Yes, she didn't mind. They talked about many things and they got sparked for each other.
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Even underage wasn't an obstacle for marriage as her parent signed marriage approval for her.
Even it was unofficial business, the real deal still awaited once Musashi reached the lawful age.
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Mission Complete…
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Hey! He didn't see this COMING! Maybe he would ask his Dad some other time about the real reason for his love, because he wasn't going to believe that crap soon.
- His Girlfriend: Kotono Yamato
She was Gunzou's Girlfriend and his eternal rival since they met at the navy marine time school; Yamato was always at first place in everything she did, she was some kind of invincible iron-great-wall that Gunzou couldn't win over no matter what! So that made him always stay at second place. Nevertheless, he was charmed by Yamato's intelligence.
Never mind that envious statement above, the more shocking truth was that Yamato appeared to be Musashi's half-older-sister! Th..Then…that made Yamato his Aunt! right?!...
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'WHAT THE HECK?!...WHAT KIND OF TWIST FATE IS THIS ? ! ? ! ? ! ? !'
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Somehow, if he was marry her, which also made her his Aunt + WIFE. God! So weird when he had to introduce her to someone.
- His Father: Chihaya Shouzou
His father was his role model; he was a good Captain, his naval record was perfect until those FOG bastards appeared! His dad had engaged in naval battle against Fog ship, he might be lost and forced to retreat but it was alright as long as he survived. Gunzou was sure that no one could blame him for the lost against overwhelming advance technology foe.
Despite his good reputation in career, he found it hard to believe that his dad taste preferred young girl!
Is he a LOLICON or something!?
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OK! Enough with this family complex!
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"Dad, have you ever met actual Ship Girl?"
"Sure son, why do you ask?" Shouzou suspected about his son topic.
"Because as we're part of TOP 5 students, the navy decide to assigned them to be our ship girls buddy. They said that to give us familiarity, so we don't mess up when we actually command them to battle. Do you have any idea or information about them?"
"Well, to put it short, they're just like us normal human."
"That's too short DAD, goes into details a bit more, will you?" Gunzou protested.
"Their origin is a secret; even I don't know, well maybe Kamikage-san knows, but let we finish our dinner first. I can show you some info. about them. You two meet me in my study room after this, Oh! If honey wants to listen too, you're very welcome" Shouzou ended the conversation while smiling to his wife.
"Lucky YOU! Musashi. I wonder when this idiot will confess marriage proposal to me?" Yamato glimpsed at Gunzou.
Gunzou coughed very hard from Yamato's tease, He glared back at his girlfriend.
"NON-SENSE! I admit that you're my girlfriend, but I'm not ready to marry you yet! Give me a break!"
"Ara..Ara~ you scare? You can't stand me ahead of you in everything..Gunzou is such a stubborn." She giggled.
"Sh..Shut up!" Gunzou blushed as that was the truth; he wouldn't marry her until he can be first place and push her down to second place.
It ended with laughter from Shouzou and Musashi.
Shouzou's private study room, Chihaya's House, Hakodate, Hokkaido, Japan
"So these are how those ship girls look like"
Yamato mumbled while scrolling down the profile of each ship girl, Gunzou and Musashi; who took interest in the matter, sat on each side of Yamato, Shouzou was the only one who sat far away at the sofa.
The file listed from Super-battleship down to destroyer; Gunzou completely failed to remember their entire name and face, Musashi had no reaction, but Yamato nodded with every single line of information.
"I wonder if I can get Yamato, she looks COOL-Beaty." Yamato blurted out.
"I doubt it? She is one among the highest class ship; there's no way those higher up will approve of this, we will be assigned with some destroyers at most." Gunzou sighed as he put his mind down.
"To be honest, why did the developer create them to resemble human, and female at that? I pity them if they experience their death. Do these ship girls realize they're just human tools? I think if they should be just war-machine-android-metallic-apperance, as they won't suffer."
Musashi's question brought dead silence upon the entire room.
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Shouzou was the first to break the ice "May be emotionless war-machine isn't what they want, Darling. Normally, Captain like me will be on board the warship. I order any crew to act base on schedule and sudden change of event. But this case is difference, the fleet commander just execute his order through nominated secretary ship and listen the report from frontline ship girls; he isn't actually up-to-date with the situation. That's why ship girl need intelligence to act on life & death situation, in case they can't contact the base."
Shouzou thought for a moment before continued speaking to his 3 enthusiastic listeners "For the part about Female,….Well….I have no idea. Um…..if I have to guess, I guess it's about the fact that we refer to Ship as Female gender."
"That's IT!?" Gunzou shocked.
"That's it" Replied by pokerface Shouzou.
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"It..is..Understandable, you think?" Yamato threw the open-end question at her boyfriend.
"Ridiculous! Concept of lifeless-weapon turn into living-weapon; anybody can criticize me about how pessimistic I am, I really hate the concept, you won't know when they will smart enough to betray us. Sure, I'm being paranoid here. But I feel like they're our time bomb we made ourselves."
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Gunzou's statement effectively hit the nail on two girls' hearts hard for a certain reason, both Yamato and Musashi kept their stern face but actually hurted inside.
Yamato asked grievously "Hey, Gunzou...Do you actually MEAN IT? Also, Don't judge them too early. Give them a chance, will you?"
"Yes, I do. Well, it's just my own point of view, it's not like I'm going to insult them." He retorted.
"We'll see about that."
Gunzou was not sure that he imagines things or not, but he thought he perceived a little sadness from Yamato's eyes.
Reception room, Yokosuka naval base, Honshu, Japan
The top 5 students: Yamato, Gunzou, Maruri, Sou, and Iori, who were chosen to have ship girls as their sidekick for the program, waited patiently in the conference room. While they wait for the ship girls present, they were chatting.
"I hope I got the biggest battleship Yamato. As I was named after her, I'd like to know her for real." Yamato wandered.
"I told you before! Don't get your hope up. At most, destroyer-class is suffice." Gunzou retorted.
"Geezz, Gunzou! Read the mood! I also want to have the Battleship-class." Iori supported Yamato on this.
"Too bad Iori! Consider your rank, you will end up pairing with destroyer for sure. Ho..ho..ho" Yamato mocked.
"Damn you, Yamato! If you have nothing better to say, just keep quiet!" Iori yelled.
Maruri and Sou kept quite. Any ship girl was fine by them, no need to be specific.
Then they heard the knocking from the door and the saw door knob spun.
Marching into the room were 5 girls; wearing different outstanding uniforms, Gunzou gang suddenly sprang up to their feet to greet them.
The ship girls saluted them, and they returned salute by reflex.
"Haruna is Third-Kongou-Class-Battleship, Battleship Haruna. I'm assigned under admiral Kotono Yamato command. Might Haruna know who is admiral Kotono Yamato?"
"I'm Kotono Yamato, and I'm not an Admiral so don't call me one." Yamato smiled.
"Haguro, Fourth-Myoko-Class-Heavy Cruiser, reports for duty, sir. I'm assigned under admiral Chihaya Gunzou." She turned around to find Gunzou.
"That will be me. Same comment as Yamato, why you call us admiral when we aren't one?" Gunzou doubted.
"It's encoded into our military protocol, sir! We instinctively call our commander: Admiral." Haguro explained with timid voice.
"Ha..those developers have such pathetic taste." Iori pointed to the leftover 3 girls "Hey, you three. Don't you call us admiral, this is an order!"
The introduction kept going on.
"Third-Kuma-Class-Light Cruiser, Kitakami, I'm going to be Miss Hibiki Maruri's sidekick" Kitakami chilly introduced herself.
"That's too CASUAL! KITAKAMI-SAN!" Haruna complained.
"Don't worry, that's fine. I'm Hibiki Maruri"
"It's my pleasure to serve you, Mr. Oribe Sou. I'm Sendai, Name-ship of Sendai-Class-Light Cruiser, at your service! Don't forget to count me in if you happened to have Night Battle schedule" Sendai was energetic about night battle as usual.
"Oribe Sou, the pleasure is mine"
The last girl grabbed Iori's hands and introcued herself cheerfully. "Second-Shiratsuyu-Class-Destroyer, Shigure. Nice to meet you, Watanuki Iori-san!"
"Oi! Why I'm the only one who gets a destroyer? It's not fair!"
"Am I not good enough for you, Iori-san?" Shigure got crestfallen.
"Oh Crap! Sorry, I didn't mean it" She patted Shigure's back "I'm just got envious of my friends that's all. Destroyer has big advantage as well"
Iori pointed to everyone. "I'll prove it to you guys that destroyer isn't the weakest in the food-chain." Shigure was happy from her commander's declare.
They had conversation for some times, after that they headed back to school, and classroom, which located inside naval district area, with assigned ship girls; they attracted lots of attention and tons of questions for the day. The top 5 students fully exhausted themselves.
Kotono Yamato's room, Female Dorm, Yokosuka national maritime institute of technology, Honshu, Japan
In the evening, Haruna's belonging was load into Yamato's room. She was busy helping her subordinate arrange everything until bed time.
Yamato, in her pajamas, was stargazing on her bed near a window in her room. She sighs
"Something's wrong, Lady Kotono?" Haruna, who changed to pajamas as well, shot a question from her futon.
"Oh Please! Call me Kotono or Yamato whichever you like, I have enough headache from you third person speech already." She protested.
"Haruna is very sorry! But Haruna can't change herself because Haruna's characteristic was encoded to Haruna very core. Still, You haven't answer Haruna's question yet, la-…Kotono-san"
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"Haruna-chan, what do you think you are? . . . . I mean, you consider yourself a person or an object? Answer me honestly."
The battleship took some times before answered. "Even Haruna is close to human now, Haruna's still think of herself as ship."
Her answer irritated Yamato to some extent. "Really? Don't you think that you waste your second chance in life? If I were you, I would live as human and cherished every moment. You never know which day you'll die out there."
"Thank you for your advice, Kotono-san. Haruna thinks it's better this way. So that if one day Haruna has fallen, Haruna can rest in peace easier" Yamato noted that she seemed not to change her perspective easily.
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"Well, you can sleep on ahead. I'll star-gaze a bit more." Yamato turned toward the night sky.
"Good night, Kotono-san"
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After about 30 minutes passed, Yamato mumbled to herself.
"It's funny, Gunzou; you said you hate the idea of weapon turn into being. I wonder how will you react when you eventually find out that I am the same as them in a sense."
She melancholy smiled.
"Lifeless-weapon becomes Living-weapon, that's it"
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Unknown to Yamato, Haruna clearly heard everything as she was still awake despite closed eyes. She wondered.
'What does Kotono-san mean?'
Male Dorm, Yokosuka national maritime institute of technology, Honshu, Japan
Well, ship girl was a same gender as girl, so no harm done for them to sleep together with their partner. But in male case, the school arranged separated living quarter for ship girl separately for mannerism, boy & (ship) girl slept in the same room wasn't a pleasant sight to see, was it?
Gunzou reviewed this day event with Sou, who he invited to come to his room. He gladded with Yamato to get battleship partner, even she wasn't Yamato. He satisfied to have Haguro, she was quite shy and timid, but he was sure that they could get along without troubles. On the other hand, Sou got very annoyed by hyperactive Sendai, who interested in only night battle; she tried to avoid day-time activity at all cost. Sou said he would try to adapt to Sendai, because he knew she couldn't change the way she was, absolutely! Aside from night battle fever, her overall performance was acceptable nonetheless.
Joint tactical network room, Fleet of Fog
The Supreme Flagship of Eastern Fog Fleet, Battleship Yamato, sat with Heavy Cruiser Takao.
"Takao, as you're near this area, I want you to sail close to Yokosuka naval base as close as possible, bring some destroyers or light cruisers with you. Intimidate them as hard as you desire, I want to see them in action myself."