00—A Vacant Slot


On a hill overlooking the southeast coast of Auspice Island, a lone girl took shelter under the lush green canopy of a flowering tree and plopped down on the grass. The gentle sea breeze caressing her face soothed her mind and body as she took in the scenery before her. And with a big yawn, she stretched her arms towards the sky.

Hot afternoons always made her drowsy for some reason. If she had eaten a heavier lunch earlier, it would've been harder for her to fend off the urge to lie down and take a nap for an hour or two under such pleasant weather. To combat the lethargic sensation spreading in her body, she had decided to retreat to her usual lookout spot near a defunct anti-air turret facing the vast blue expanse. She had grown tired of lounging about in her quarters anyway, so this change of pace was exactly what she needed at the moment. And so far, she didn't feel as restless and bothered as she was anywhere else.

Humming a tune to herself, she fished out her phone from her skirt pocket to check the time. She let out a sigh as she realized that she had been waiting for her contact since the early hours of the morning. A friend from the local logistics department had repeatedly assured her last night that he would be able to disembark today, but she had yet to receive any updates on her end since then.

In fact, she had been expecting him to arrive two days ago, but all she could do was purse her lips and wait until the delays in the commercial routes were sorted out. The congestion within the island's harbors and outlying trade routes seemed to continue to grow worse every week, so it shouldn't come as a surprise if everyone's schedules were pushed yet again to a later date.

With the recent discovery of the Southern Cluster Isles, the entirety of Auspice had never been busier with the influx of ships from around the world.

From her vantage point, she could see several fleet girls in the glistening harbor, assisting ships of different kinds. She had always admired how strong those girls were. Despite their size, they could push and pull massive ships with ease. Their unparalleled endurance also made it possible for them to work nonstop until daybreak.

Watching them work hard, steering through the harbor's chaotic puzzle, made her more excited. As a freshly commissioned ship, she couldn't wait to do something similarly helpful to everyone. Her line of work was starkly different to the girls of the harbor though; it was a realm of its own, but its significance to the world was second to none.

At the base of the grassy slope, she noticed a cab about to pull up next to a convenience store's parking lot. She held her breath as the passenger's door swung open.

"Ah, that's him!"

Recognizing the young man's uniform, she stood up and patted her skirt. Her hazel eyes glimmered with life and eagerness once more; the moment she had been waiting for was finally here!

She took the steps on her immediate left to meet him halfway, but he never climbed the hill as she had hoped for. Upon reaching the sidewalk, she made a sprint towards the parking lot, but she didn't even catch a glimpse of his shadow as if he had vanished in thin air.

Wiping her forehead with the sleeve of her blouse, she opted to check the convenience store next. Her eyes darted left and right as she walked down the building's dining space. Plenty of familiar faces were present there, but she could worry about them later.

She soon caught a glimpse of the man's distinct dark blue cloak on the other end of the aisle, so she tailed him until he stopped next to the snack bar corner. When he was just within arm's reach, the girl stood high and straight as she gave him a firm salute. Slowly, the young man turned around, holding a half-eaten steam bun over his mouth.

"Destroyer Inazuma, reporti—" She caught her tongue as her supposed commander glared at her. "U-Um, are you okay?"

Beads of sweat ran down on his pale face as he took a step backwards. He looked like he was about to collapse at any moment. Stumbling towards a table, he pulled out a chair and sat down next to his tattered luggage.

"W-What should I do? Should I call an ambula—"

"N-No, I'll be fine if you let me rest like this for a while."

Inazuma grabbed a chair of her own and sat across him. "Commander, what happened? Did you get seasick during the trip?"

He took off his beret and patted down a conspicuous gray cowlick sticking out of his crown, but the stubborn lock of hair sprung up a few seconds later. "Not exactly, but I can tell you that it was a hectic ride. Haven't eaten a proper meal since yesterday too."

"H-Huh? Did something bad happen?"

He directed his gaze at the glass window to his left, looking at his reflection. "You want to know that badly? And I thought this day couldn't get any more... surreal."

"Um, if you're okay with it."

He paused as he turned his attention back to the steaming bun in his hand. "My fault for bringing that up. It'll be a huge favor for me if you just forget about it."

Inazuma gulped, curiosity rising up. Whatever it was, it sounded like a nightmare that was brought to life. Fearing that further prodding of the subject would get her into trouble, she silently watched him finish his steamed bun instead. When he was done, he crumpled the bun's wrapper and stood up. "You want something in particular?"

Startled, she forced out a smile. "N-No, I'm fine."

The commander just blinked and entered the snack aisle. Seeing him recover quickly from such dismal state a minute ago lightened the situation at least.

It didn't take him long to return with a plastic bag in his hand. As he settled down again, he suddenly handed out a chocolate bar.

Inazuma refused at first, but she was forced to take it anyway. "Thank you, Commander."

He fell silent for a while. "Who are you again? I'm not really good with names."

"You did read the directives memo, didn't you? In any case, I'm Inazuma, an Akatsuki-class destroyer. I was assigned as your secretary ship as long as you're part of the Maritime Peacekeepers!" He didn't reply, keeping a steady gaze towards her. The destroyer's lips quivered. "Is something wrong? Ah, is there something on my face?"

Moving his head left and right, he took a deep breath to compose himself. He seemed troubled more than anything else. "I only got the memo after we entered the port. It was good that I recognized your voice at least."

"That's weird. Could it be that the transfer procedures weren't finalized until today?"

"Is there a problem?"

"No, sorry about that. My department already gave me your profile and I thought it was already official." She shook her head. "Anyway, as of today, you'll be commanding your own fleet. And as your fleet secretary, I'll be your helping hand in your everyday duties. And, um, try to enjoy your stay here too. Keeping a healthy state of mind is very important."

He blinked. "This whole fleet girl business is all but new to me, so I'll do just that. But rest assured I won't forget your name this time."

"I can relate to that. Don't hesitate to ask questions since that's part of my job too!"

After a long pause, he took his brown eyes off the table and assumed a more serious expression. "Hmm, well, a lot of things actually."

Now was her chance! She smiled and nodded. "Okay, ask away!"

"It's about the Navy's large-scale advancement projects, which includes several supply ports and naval bases, in the western seas. Well, I want you to confirm a few things for me."

"Advancement projects? What are you—"

"Like the offshore center they are building on the front lines? The issues surrounding that particular project are highly questionable, and it's been in the center of countless debates ever since it was exposed."

"Eh?! I'm sorry, Commander. I don't really know the particulars of that expansion project in Serenoir..."

He began drumming his fingers on the tabletop. "You were originally a Navy fleet girl, right? Shouldn't you be more informed about these developments?"

"Th-That's true. But I was just—"

"And what about the rising tension between the Naval Domain and the Conglomerate? I assume you already knew that you folks shot yourselves in the foot with the whole restructuring excuse. No one's buying into that PR nonsense last week too—it's dead obvious who's getting the short end of the stick when they get to pass the revisions.

"Since they're so keen on taking so much flak lately, don't you think it's only a matter of time before they completely pull the plugs of those affected joint branches?"

Inazuma wished that it was just her imagination; the commander's tone had suddenly became more aggressive. "Destroyer Inazuma, are you paying attention at all?"

"Y-Yes, I'm listening..."

"Then out with it. What better way to gain invaluable insight in this matter other than hearing from an affiliated fleet girl such as yourself?"

She felt a lump in her throat as she tried to speak. "I-I'm sorry, Commander. I don't know what to say. I've heard some of those issues before, but it didn't cross my mind that—"

"And that's why the Navy's so tactless. They always get a free pass because they're the 'vanguards of the high seas,' collateral damage be damned." He took a deep breath. "Perhaps it's just a coincidence, but I find it sad that they had to commission someone who can't even—"

Her eyes began to water as she looked down, grabbing on her skirt. "I don't think you believe me at all," she sobbed. "Even though I'm trying my best to keep up a good impression."

The commander blinked but remained straight-faced. "What are you talking about?"

"I've realized that I still have lots of things to learn as a secretary ship. Being so clueless for this long, I feel so—"

"Look, I was just teasing—"

"I wonder if it's really okay for me to continue on like this. I thought I'm ready for this kind of responsibility, but this is just embarrassing. Maybe I should just—"

"Destroyer Inazuma."

His tone was stern and imposing, causing her to snap into attention. Tears in her eyes started to well up, but she kept her held high as she awaited further instructions. "Y-Yes, Commander!"

Sweat drops began to form on his face as he stifled a brief chuckle. Inazuma's poise crumbled just as quick when the commander avoided eye contact, turning his back towards her. As she wiped the tears with her sleeve, she could almost collapse out of weariness and embarrassment.

That was the final straw.

Teeth clenched, she pushed the chair away and walked towards the doorway. She caught a glance of the commander's astonished face as she left, but she didn't care anymore.

Without looking back, she hightailed back to headquarters. She had been anticipating such a scenario to crop up ever since she was commissioned as a fleet secretary. Wild, if not overtly enthusiastic, speculations had haunted every conscious moment, fearing that she might wound up working with a less... desirable leader. She felt that she was now creeping in that territory and it wouldn't certainly do well for her mental well-being.

Her better judgment told her to give him the benefit of the doubt as she just met him moments ago. Perhaps it was his way to break the ice and ease the awkwardness earlier? She wasn't sure at all.

She stomped into the building's lobby, ignoring the stares of the other girls lounged there. Some of them called out to her, but their voices failed to reach her as she focused on getting to the quarters as quickly as possible. Maybe she could think of her next course of action after calming down a bit.

Inazuma slammed the door after stepping into her room, and her startled roommates gave her a befuddled stare. Realizing her mistake, she quickly bowed and apologized to the girls sitting at the table across her. The black-haired girl simply returned the gesture with a curt nod before she went back to fiddling with her smartphone. The other girl stood up from her seat, giving Inazuma a worried look. "You're early," she said. "Did something happen?"

Inazuma shook her head. "U-Um, sorry about that."

She blinked, directing her eyes out the window beside her. "Well, we can't really do anything about the delays. We just have to be patient until—"

"I actually met him just now."

She let out a gasp. "H-He's already here? That's good news!"

Inazuma grabbed a bottle of orange juice from the mini refrigerator. She took a few gulps of the juice and returned it along with the chocolate bar for later. "Y-Yeah."

"What's he like? We were just talking about him a while ago."

"W-Well—"

"I know! We should go and meet him now! Prep up, Hatsuyuki!" The girl hopped towards the mirror, fixing a few strands of her purple hair. "We have to project a mature and dignified aura towards the commander while we're at it too!"

Narrowing her eyes, Hatsuyuki furiously tapped on her phone. "Wait... I'm almost done."

"Is he in the office right now? How about you lead the way, Inazuma?"

Settling down on the bedside, Inazuma grabbed a pillow and hugged it tightly. "Can't you just go without me? I'll be fine here."

"Come on, you're the secretary of this fleet!" She paused for a moment, glancing at the door. "Wait, did something happen earlier that we need to know?"

Inazuma sniffled. "Like I said, I'm fine. I'm just going to sleep it off and—"

"No, you won't! Does that mean you haven't given him the orientation tour as well?"

"Akatsuki, I don't mind if you give him the tour in my place."

Wearing her cap, Akatsuki raised an eyebrow. "Huh? You don't want to be the secretary ship anymore?"

"Hawawa, I didn't say that!" She looked down, biting her lip. "I... just lost my enthusiasm for today, that's all."

"That's no good, you know? How will you continue your duties as a fleet secretary with that mindset? You've been working so hard for this moment too!"

Shoving her phone back to her skirt's pocket, Hatsuyuki stood up from her seat and settled beside Inazuma. "Could it be that... you're afraid of the commander? Is he really that... scary?"

"Ugh, I hope he just looks like it!"

Their chatter came to a halt when they heard someone knocking on the door. Inazuma tensed up. Her mind raced with unpleasant thoughts as anxiety began to consume her from the inside.

Akatsuki grabbed the door's handle, pushing it down. "A visitor? I hope it's not that pastry girl again."

Inazuma hid her face with the pillow upon seeing the commander, exhausted and out of breath, on the hallway. To her dismay, Hatsuyuki yanked the shield from her grasp, leaving her exposed again.

Akatsuki put a hand on her waist as she wagged a finger at the commander. "Hey, hey! This wing's exclusive to us reputable women! What are you doing here?!"

"I'm picking up—"

Before he could take a step forward, Akatsuki grabbed the initiative and kicked his shin. As the commander fell to his knees, she restrained him with a chokehold. "Now look what you've made me do! I'll give you a chance—just a single one—to leave this hall and never come back, or else you will be—"

Taken aback in the sudden turn of events, Inazuma jumped out of the bed and waved her hands frantically over her chest. "Hawawa! He's our commander!"

"What now?"

"He's our fleet commander, Akatsuki!"

Akatsuki's eyes widened as her grip slowly slackened. Releasing the commander from her arms, she walked in front of him and bowed. "My sincerest apologies, Commander."

He rubbed his neck, taking in deep breaths. "I-I thought you're going to snap my neck for good..."

She giggled. "Fortunately for you, a highly regarded fleet girl like me is compassionate to everyone."

He stood up as he did a quick fix to his uniform. "As I was about to say before you rudely interrupted me, I'm here for my secretary. I was told that the orientation protocols should be finished before nightfall."

"Introductions first before we move on."

He sighed. "Fine then."

The girl saluted. "Destroyer Akatsuki, member of the Naval Domain's 12th Stinger Division, 3rd Caffelatte Forward Fleet! You better not forget my name or I'll hate you!" She gestured over to the black-haired destroyer. "And the other girl's Hatsuyuki, by the way."

"Eh... I can introduce myself just fine." Hatsuyuki nodded as she looked at him in the eyes. "Nice... meeting you."

"Commander Yuu, UMP Pathfinding Task Force, Section 18." His eyes narrowed. "Our unit is provisional as per shared directives contract, but we'll be participating in many operations from here on out. And it goes without saying that I will be expecting your full cooperation to ensure the success of our duties as peacekeepers of the primeval seas."

Inazuma swallowed.

There it was again—the sudden shift of air that caught her off guard earlier.

Akatsuki didn't move a muscle from where she stood while Hatsuyuki just stared at the commander, jaw slightly hanging. The commander took notice of them and turned his head to the side, avoiding eye contact.

"Good. I don't think I messed up this time. I'm not really fond of stock introductory lines."

Akatsuki beamed and nodded. "Hmm! All things considered, you save us the trouble by coming here instead." She looked towards Inazuma. "Now that's out of the way, it's your turn Miss Secretary!"

When Inazuma noticed that their commander was staring at her, she sat back down on her bed and immediately covered her face with another pillow. Still, she couldn't resist to peek, noticing Akatsuki baffled expression.

She puckered her lips, her gaze directed towards the commander. "Commander, what exactly happened earlier?"

"It was my fault. I got carried away and—"

"Were you making fun of her?" She started pulling up her right sleeve. "Do you want me to pummel your kidneys next? I don't hold back on bullies, you know?"

"R-Reflected upon it on the way here. I feel like a massive jerk for making her cry."

"As long as you understand. How about it, Inazuma? I think he learned his lesson." She smiled and went to pat the secretary's head. "Even if he didn't, I'm sure we'll find a way to hammer it down in his brain."

Inazuma sighed, tidying up her skirt. "The offices are located in the opposite wing. Please follow me."

Exiting the left wing of the headquarters, the group entered the central lounge where a couple of amenities were readily available for the occupants. And similar to the lobby on the ground floor, the spacious hall also had benches and tables arranged for those who want to unwind after work. The commander looked around as if he was a tourist in a local museum, absorbing every little detail around him with his probing eyes. Seeing him like that made Inazuma smile.

A familiar fleet girl wearing pigtails approached them along the way. "Good afternoon. We made some tarts out of the leftovers from earlier," she said, handing out a small bag decorated with a ribbon. "Hatsuyuki, here. Share it to everyone, okay?"

Hatsuyuki nodded as she took the tarts. "These look tasty. Thank you..."

She suddenly stopped as she her gaze went to the commander; her face reflected a horrifying revelation. "A-Ah, sorry for being rude! It won't happen again! P-Please excuse me!"

The fleet girl took off after giving him a salute. "Is she going to be okay?" the commander asked. "She looked like she just saw a ghost or something."

Hatsuyuki shrugged. "Don't worry. She's just like that sometimes."

Walking past a personalized booth selling homemade pastries, they went through the corridor leading to the executive wing of the headquarters. "This place sure is lively," the commander said. "Not unexpected, but still surprising somehow."

"You think so too?" Akatsuki said. "It's because the officers here know what they're doing—huge step up from the last base I was stationed in. But don't get it the wrong way! First-rate ladies like us are always hardworking!"

"Morale shouldn't be a concern in this base, at the very least. Good to know."

Inazuma took a left and stopped at the very first door in the hallway. "Room 318!"

"Nearer than I thought." Akatsuki crossed her arms. "I never stay here for too long. It just feels suffocating."

As she let her eyes wander around the hallway, Inazuma couldn't agree more with her.

The hallway's dark coat of maroon and mahogany largely contributed to the claustrophobic, sometimes foreboding, atmosphere of the place. And while the wall lamps gave off sufficient light to distinguish objects on the carpeting, the overall lighting retained a gloomy impression. The potted plants marking every room barely added life and color to the corridors.

Turning to his right, the commander stared at the end of the hallway. "Are the other rooms in this hallway vacant?"

Inazuma gasped. "Yes. How did you know?"

"Just a wild guess, but I haven't seen other officers in the building aside from the ones I've seen in the lobby," the commander replied. "I'm just curious though. You can continue."

"In that case, let's go inside." Inazuma swiped a keycard on the wall panel and door opened on its own. As they entered inside, she activated a panel next to the doorway. She hit another button and the ceiling lights went on.

"The room's empty." Hatsuyuki crouched down and ran her index finger on the floor. "Well... at least it's clean."

"Not bad." Akatsuki nodded, resting a hand on her cheek. "It's spacious too. Or it just looks like it because it's mostly empty."

"It's bigger than our room for sure," Inazuma said. "This is the commander's room after all!"

The commander walked past her. "My personal room, huh? Got it."

He began inspecting the bathroom and the storage space next to it. Akatsuki and Hatsuyuki followed him to take a peek as well. When they were done, they returned to the secretary's side.

"Commander, here." Inazuma handed him the keycard that she used to open the office door. "Secretaries also carry a duplicate with them, but make sure not to lose yours. We'll get penalties every time it happens."

Akatsuki pointed to her left. "What are those boxes there?"

The commander took the topmost box and placed it on the floor. As he removed the sealing tape, stuffed penguins peeked out of the covers. "Hm? Who owns these?"

Inazuma hugged one of the fluffy penguins. "Ah, don't worry! I'll explain equipment development later."

"That doesn't answer my question, but I'll just follow your lead for now."

Akatsuki tapped the box with her foot. "Shouldn't we put these out? These are trash anyway."

"Why?" the commander asked, raising his eyebrow. "You sure you don't want to keep a few of these?"

"Let's just say you'll get tired of seeing them soon enough."

"We can't throw them, Akatsuki. Not until the furniture shipments arrive." Inazuma closed the lid and reapplied the tape. "We can use them as chairs and tables for now. Cardboard boxes can be useful too."

"That will take forever! Maybe we can find something we can use in the storage roo—"

"Uh, about that. I already checked most of the vacant rooms. Not a single furniture was spared. I even asked the maintenance staff in the underground hangar, but they can't give us any more extras."

"If you had told me sooner, I could've gotten us a coffee table!" Akatsuki started fuming. "This place looks so fancy from the outside, so you can't possibly imagine that this is actually the norm unless you start living here! It's absurd!"

Hatsuyuki sat as she leaned on the wall. "Um... we can move some of our stuff here. The table set... should be a nice start."

She knitted her eyebrows and stomped a foot forward. "B-But that's our furniture! We should just buy new ones for the office."

"But we need... furniture points for that."

"Furniture points?" The commander made a confused look. "What, are they handing out point cards of some kind here?"

"No, but the system is quite similar," Inazuma said. "Basically, you get furniture points when you accomplish assignments or reach certain milestones. Once in a while, we may participate in special, urgent missions that can give us plenty of rewards."

"Correction: rare rewards!" Akatsuki said. "Like limited and special edition items! Last month, there was this one officer who got a big carp figurine!"

"Ah, I remember that one! It looks so pretty and colorful!"

"I guess that's a good incentive?" the commander replied, rubbing his cheek with his index finger.

Akatsuki nodded. "We'll have to work hard to transform this room into an office brimming with flair and sophistication! Not only it reflects the occupant's character, a commander's room showcases all their efforts and achievements they have acquired in the open seas!"

"You sure are very eager about this."

"I know it sounds boring and unimpressive, but wait until you see the furniture catalog! They're expanding it every month, so there's always something to look forward to!"

"A television set should be fine... right?" Hatsuyuki said. "The TVs in the lounge only air news channels."

The enthusiastic gleam in Akatsuki's eyes vanished as she rolled her eyes. "It wouldn't hurt you to aim for something more reasonable, you know?"

"It's doable... if we save our points wisely. You'll be able to watch your favorite morning cartoo—"

"N-Nonsense! W-We don't need a television, especially now that the commander is here with us!"

"The television set comes with a fancy video recorder... so you can schedule it to—"

"For the last time, we don't need it, okay?! I would appreciate it if you stopped dragging my name into your childish whims!"

Inazuma smiled.

This exchange was exactly how she imagined their meetings with the commander: fun, loud, boisterous. For reasons she couldn't put into words, she felt relieved and energized. All of the eagerness that left her body earlier had returned, and she was more than thankful that it did.

Marking the start of her duties as a fleet girl secretary, she silently vowed to do her best. Things would only get busier in the future as their fleet grows, so she had to prepare for that too.

"Inazuma?" Akatsuki poked the secretary's cheeks. "You're spacing out."

She blinked a few times, slightly dazed. "Ah, it just crossed my mind that we're already having our very first meeting in this office," she said. "Um, this is embarrassing to say, but I'm happy that we're here right now."

The other two destroyers looked at her with smiling faces. As she repeated those words in her mind, her cheeks felt hot as she hid her face with both hands.

"Of course, you are," Akatsuki said, holding back her laughter. "And I wouldn't call it a proper meeting though. We definitely need a table for that. A round one should be good, yes?"

"If you put it that way, then now is as good as any." The commander turned his back towards them and paced forward. "The fact that you three are here means that you are well-aware of the repercussions in joining the Maritime Peacekeepers. I just want to know if anyone is having second thoughts right now."

Hatsuyuki looked up. "Is this... what they call a trick question?"

"We're already commissioned under your name," Akatsuki said. "It's not something that we can just change on a whim, you know?"

"Then, I'm sure you're aware of the Peacekeeper's two-fleet restriction clause?" he said.

She tilted her head. "Why are you bringing that up now?"

"Why? Because you're free to blame the Navy for adding another clause in the agreement. Back then, both fleets of the Navy and Maritime Peacekeepers weren't so much different in terms of composition and fighting strength, but someone finally caught on and decided to water down those they can't control within reach."

"Another one, huh?" Akatsuki raised an eyebrow, staring at him. "Wait, don't you just make up things so casually! We haven't heard anything like that from the Joint Committee!"

The commander faced them again with a hand over his chin. "Well, you weren't supposed to hear this until they decide to put the mandate in effect."

Inazuma nodded. "Fleet composition has new restrictions, like how fleet commanders can only have a single battleship and aircraft carrier under their command. As per executive terms, any more will have to be reassigned and transferred to the Navy."

Akatsuki looked at her with widened eyes. "You knew?"

"Um, yeah. Remember that emergency meeting the other day? Secretary ships were told about it too."

"B-But why?" Fists trembling, she directed her glare to the floor. "Tch, is that the reason why they sent me here?"

Sensing the abrupt shift in her friend's mood, Inazuma grew flustered. "D-Don't worry, it's still tentative! We might see some changes in the final revision regarding that clause!"

"I... won't get my hopes up on that..."

"I should point out only recently commissioned officers will be affected with this mandate," the commander said. "At least, for the time being."

"Does that mean we're safe?" Akatsuki asked. "When did you get your certificates, licenses and whatnot?"

"Well, there's no point bringing it up if we were in the clear. It does feel annoying knowing that my options are already limited from the get-go."

Hatsuyuki frowned as she closed her eyes. "How unlucky. Can't we just keep quiet about it and—"

"Infraction strikes are a no-no!" Akatsuki stomped her foot as she swept the air with her hand. "Why would you even suggest something like that? Seriously, if anyone's to blame with this, it's the commander's fault for getting assigned so late!"

He simply shrugged. "For the most part, I'm not bothered with it."

"Why not? Obviously, it's just a cheap way for them to get additional resources at the expense of the UMP's Naval Force."

"You're right, but even I had to admit that they raised a valid point in regards with resource management and allocation." He raised his index finger. "Concentrating limited resources to a smaller, cost-effective fleet is inarguably more sustainable. We're a completely separate entity from the Navy—that means we won't get any help from them.

"Besides, they're already too stretched across the world to bother, and our sponsors from the Conglomerate can only provide enough resources to keep the bases running."

"Ah, of course. How did I not think of that? Maintenance alone would eat up our resources quickly, and it will have a considerable impact to the fleet's performance during missions!"

Akatsuki's mocking tone made Inazuma more uneasy. She never saw her that upset before.

The commander noticed it as well, but he didn't look bothered in the slightest. "Well, if you're not satisfied with this arrangement," he said, "you can file a request for transfer. You three are warships and I'd imagine you would want to serve the Navy instead of doing contractual work with a pretentious officer like me.

"But I will give nothing less than my all in keeping this fleet afloat. That, I can promise you."

Heavy silence took over the room. As much as she didn't want everyone to go separate ways, Inazuma couldn't force her friends to join the fleet. As for herself, her fate was set in stone the moment she enlisted herself in the UMP's Management Initiative Program. Admittedly, she could be wishy-washy at times, but her resolution to aid everyone with the best of her abilities was neither whimsical nor for show. Turning back was just unthinkable.

She imagined that Akatsuki wouldn't have any trouble coming from a special destroyer unit. It would be just work as usual for her, but returning to the Navy would be the better option opportunity-wise if she had the desire to expand her horizons further. Hatsuyuki, on the other hand, had openly expressed her disdain about the constant conflict in the open seas. Either that or she just didn't want to get beaten black and blue in grueling operations.

With all these thoughts swirling in her head, it wasn't like she hadn't anticipated and prepared for this very moment. Whatever their decision would be, she was going to respect and support them all the way.

Finally, Hatsuyuki stood up and stretched her arms. "I'm... staying."

"Th-That's good to hear, Hatsuyuki! I'm happy!"

"Besides... the Navy is infinitely stricter than here, so..."

"Hawa! That's your reason?!"

Akatsuki chuckled as she lowered her hat. "I'm in as well. If all those things that you just said are true, then I'll show them what destroyers are truly capable of. All I ask is that you treat me—no, treat us like proper ladies. Again, I'm glad to make your acquaintance, Commander."

It was only brief, but Inazuma caught him smiling. "That's that, I guess. Thank you."

"But aren't you lucky?" Akatsuki raised a hand and clenched it. "Right off the bat, you get to start with three destroyers who have finished the Navy's Six-Six Preliminary Course! I'm sure we're off to a good start!"

"What about our future recruits?" he asked. "The Peacekeepers don't offer mandatory training programs for their fleet girls."

"Hmph! Yours truly is a certified combat instructor under the Peacekeeper's MIP, specializing in high-speed surface battles!"

"Really?"

"D-Do you doubt me?" Her expression soured for a moment. "Well, that's fair. I haven't had many opportunities to share what I've learned from the program and my own experiences, but you should put your faith in me regardless! I will do what is expected from an exceptional fleet girl such as myself!"

Inazuma flashed a smile. "Unlike Akatsuki," she said, "Hatsuyuki and I are still learning the ropes of operating a semi-independent unit like ours, so I hope we can learn a lot from each other."

"Don't sell yourself short," he replied. "I'm the one who needs to catch up a lot here."

Nodding, she gestured at the door. "In that case, shall we continue the orientation tour? We still have a lot of ground to cover too!"


Completing the orientation tour was a success, but that was only one of the many obligations of a secretary fleet girl. Inazuma was also thankful that the commander was very cooperative, and her friends were more than willing to give more details and insights on the different topics they had talked about yesterday.

She didn't get much sleep last night though. She felt restless as if she was still brimming with energy. And so, she decided to visit the office after her morning rituals. She stood in front of the commander's office and a passing chill rooted her in place.

Wait, what if he's still asleep? I better check first.

Inazuma took a deep breath and leaned on the panel's receiver. "Good morning, Commander. It's me."

The door opened and she promptly went inside. Sitting in front of a cardboard box, the commander was busy typing on the laptop's keyboard.

Inazuma plopped down beside him, peeking at the screen. She noticed multiple documents in the background as the commander shuffled through them. He did this until he found a half-finished page with several brightly highlighted lines on it. For the commander to do his work so early in the morning was nothing short of inspiring, encouraging her to do better as well.

The commander pulled his hands away from the laptop. "If you need to use a computer, say for reports and other documents, don't hesitate to ask."

"Um, I'm not good at using one though. It's much faster for me to write my reports instead." Inazuma giggled. "Technology surely is wonderful. Getting the format printouts of everyday documents is very convenient."

"Hmm. Maybe I should write mine once in a while too."

"Ah, don't! You should stick to the method you find more comfortable."

"Not that I'm complaining, but they're expecting us to do office tasks without the means to do so." He covered his mouth as he yawned. "But I guess I'm asking too much when they can't even provide chairs for us to sit on."

"G-Good point."

"After you gave me that terminal last night, I looked into each of your specifications, weapons systems compatibility, and other smaller stuff I was able to digest. Since you guys are only using stock equipment at the moment, I visited the development factory to order new weapons."

"Really? I'm glad to hear that!" Inazuma said. "Just make sure to use factory permits wisely since we have to pay for those."

"I'm no weapons expert, but the very least I can do is adjust your loadout according to mission conditions and parameters." His face suddenly darkened. "After coming here though, I feel like I've learned nothing in the program. Kinda frustrating."

"Oh, I have read that you went at the Naval Junction in the mainland. It's kind of like an institute for fleet commanders, right?"

The commander yawned again, his cowlick wobbling in the air. "Ah, yeah. Something like that, but calling it an institute is too much of a stretch."

"Um, didn't get much sleep last night?"

"No, I haven't slept at all."

He said it in a matter-of-fact tone that made Inazuma's eyes widen. "Eh?! Why?"

"I just couldn't sleep. It happens when I move into a new place." He rested his back against the wall. "Don't worry about it, I'll get used to it soon. It's better to finish what needs finishing while I'm at it too."

"A-Ah, I should start working now. Where did I put those files again?"

The commander patted a neat stack of folders and envelopes on top of another cardboard box. "You mean these? I already filled them up an hour ago."

Inazuma grumbled. "But that's my job!"

"Why do you sound mad? I already did your workload for today."

"Even so! What's the point of having a secretary if you're just going to shoulder everything?" Inazuma looked away. "What am I supposed to do next?"

"It's somehow my fault now? I just thought we can get the paperwork out of the way."

Silence settled in between them and her face began to scrunch on its own.

She couldn't possibly concede so early in the game. Not in her second day as a secretary fleet girl! She had to think of something!

"Ah! We should go out on a sortie today! I remembered you wanting to observe our exercises yesterday."

"A sortie, huh? If that's the case, then I better prepare too."

"Um, you want to go with us?"

Her curious tone made his eyebrows cross. "I can't?"

"It's not like you can't. Most fleet commanders don't need to go with their fleets as long as they can be monitored with adequate communication equipment. We'll need to ask for a permit in advance if you want to borrow a boat."

There was a slight tinge of disappointment in his eyes as he continued working on his laptop. "Hm, can't be helped then. I'll get our clearance as soon as I finish this last form."

"But why do you want to come with us? We can't have the commander be exposed in the open just like that." She bit her lip for a moment. "And the enemy doesn't choose their targets."

A deep sigh came from the commander. "I'll leave it at that for now, I guess."

"And if you're working all this time, it'll be best not to overdo yourself. Have you eaten your breakfast in the mess hall at least?"

His expression soured for a bit. "I was planning to until you dropped by."

"Please don't pass the blame on me." From the corner of her eye, she saw an upturned box wobble in the shadows. "C-Commander? Th-That box moved just now."

The commander stopped typing. "Oh, right. I almost forgot about her. Maybe she fell asleep?"

"Hawawa! Someone's in there?"

The box was lifted from the inside and a girl crawled out of the box. "Hatsuyuki? What were you doing in there?"

"Ah... good morning," the other destroyer said. "Did you see Akatsuki before going here?"

"She's looking for you all this time."

Hatsuyuki let out a tired sigh. "I don't wanna be her practice dummy anymore. She's just too... serious."

"Err, you mean, her practice partner?"

"Sounds the same to me. Maybe... maybe I should do secretary work to skip training too."

Their attention went to the sliding door as it opened without notice. A shadow crept towards the room, hesitating.

"Commander, are you—oh, you guys are here too." Akatsuki stomped a foot forward as she pointed at Hatsuyuki. "Aha! So this is where you've been hiding!"

Hatsuyuki's eyelids drooped. "Just go away. It was so peaceful... until you showed up."

"S-Skipping halfway through our training—you got some nerve, Hatsuyuki!"

"And you're so bossy for a non-commanding officer. I want to relax today."

"What did you say?" Akatsuki gritted her teeth. "C-Commander! You should set certain rules and priorities in place or this fleet will fall apart faster than that soggy cheesecake I had last week!"

"They sell cheesecakes here?" the commander whispered.

"Yes," Inazuma replied. "The bakery usually makes them during weekends."

Akatsuki stomped the floor again. "Don't ignore me!"

A set of knocks interrupted their banter, then they heard a soft female voice from the intercom's receiver. Inazuma was surprised; she didn't expect that the office would get rowdy so early in the morning.

"Um, good morning. Delivery for Admiral Yuu, S18 Pathfinding Unit?"

"The door's open," he replied.

The newcomer was a fellow fleet girl, pulling a loaded trolley behind her.

"You... You're a Sendai-class cruiser," Akatsuki said.

"That's right. I'm Jintsuu, hope to make your acquaintance." The light cruiser picked up a small rectangular box from the trolley's basket as her eyes focused on a piece of paper in her other hand. "I see. This box contains your fleet girl equipment order. Please check them thoroughly."

Akatsuki turned to the commander. "You started developments already? How thoughtful of you."

Inazuma thought that the upper box on the trolley wobbled for a bit, but she brushed it aside as she took the equipment box and removed its paper wrappings. Opening the box, she brought out a thin crystal case. "Commander, you had these developed in bulk?"

"They were having some sort of limited-time promo for new commanders earlier and I did remember something about a card holder. Maybe that's the one they're talking about?" he said. "Check them if they're anything useful."

She inhaled deeply. "Commander, how much did you spend making these?"

He paused for a moment. "N-Now that you mentioned it—"

"According to the receipt," Jintsuu said, "it was a bulk order of fifteen items. And each order used up a total of eighty resource points. With the promo in effect, it should only cost you sixty points per order."

"Nine hundred, right?" Hatsuyuki said.

Inazuma's eyes narrowed. "That was all of our initial provisions gone in a flash, but we're still okay as long as we don't spend something that much again."

"The fairies said it was a good deal," the commander replied. "Maybe it was better to put those resources in a single order after all and—"

"We pooled everything we had in the resource bank to your account, so please spend them wisely from now on."

"Don't look at me like that. It really feels like I did something stupid."

Akatsuki approached Inazuma. "It's not like we're wasting resources for nothing. This should be a good investment as our fleet continues to grow." She snatched the case from the secretary and examined the cards inside. "Hm? These aren't any different to the ones we already have. Wait, only seven? Goodness, that's just bad luck, Commander. We can't even use three of these!"

Akatsuki deployed her armaments comprising a pair of torpedo launchers, and of course, her twin gun turret as her primary weapon. She closed her eyes as the card in her hand began to glow a dim white. In seconds, one of her torpedo launchers transformed into a twin barrel anti-aircraft gun. "Hmm, equipment change is refreshing every now and then. Gone are the days of rentals too!"

The commander had a surprised look on his face. "You had to rent your equipment?"

"Other than what we already have? Of course, it's cheaper that way. We can't sustain our equipment's upkeep alone, much less upgrades and modifications."

"What about the rest?" Hatsuyuki asked the light cruiser.

Jintsuu glanced at the small paper once more. "The box on the top has the navigation unit sent from the office. And the bottom box—contents aren't indicated in the list? In any case, these are all they sent today." She handed out a clipboard and a pen from the trolley to the commander. "Please sign over the line below."

Wearing a serious expression, the commander started reviewing the form. As he did, his face gradually turned to a confused one. Afterwards, he looked up to the light cruiser who tilted her head in response.

Somehow, Inazuma felt the need to know. "Commander, is something wrong?"

"I'll have to go back to the factory later for verification."

"If it's just that, then I can do that for you."

"Thank you, but let me take this just this once."

Inazuma inwardly grumbled. She was being denied of work again! "But I didn't know they can deliver orders and packages straight to the offices." She watched Akatsuki unload the boxes from the trolley. "Was that always the case?"

"Um... I'm terribly sorry. I have no idea." The light cruiser took the signed form and fastened it on a folder. "I'm just helping them out today."

"Aah! What's the meaning of this?" Akatsuki pulled out a stuffed penguin from the larger box. "Why are they even sending these to us? I'm starting to think they're doing this on purpose!"

Jintsuu blinked, making a small smile. "S-So, that explains the lightness of the packages."

"What about the other one? You mentioned about a navigation unit, right?"

Inazuma and the rest exchanged looks as they suddenly heard voices coming from the remaining unopened box:

"Isn't it about time we reveal ourselves? At this rate, they're going to ruin the surprise."

"Can we just do this normally? This is a bit..."

"Come on, just like we rehearsed! Preemptive strike, go!"

With a burst of glitter and confetti, three small figures hopped out of the box and ran towards the commander.

"Hawawa?!" Inazuma recoiled. "Th-That scared me! What were they doing in there?"

The crimson-haired fairy wearing a sun clip bounced up and down. "Heya! I'm Ram!"

The more reserved fairy with a crescent moon clip smiled. "Hello, my name's Luna."

Lastly, the fairy with a bowler hat over her head walked forward and curtsied. "Pleased to meet you. You may refer to me as Aster. The three of us are assigned—"

"Are they equipment too?" the commander asked, looking at Jintsuu. "Or did they get mixed in there somehow?"

"How rude!" Aster tapped a silver cane next to her feet, placing her free hand on her waist. "We are a special unit dedicated in maritime navigation. You will require our services to overcome the irregularities permeating the seas beyond here."

"Yup, yup! Other navigation systems simply can't compare to us!" Ram said, nodding. "We're low maintenance too! Don't worry about budget!"

Everyone shared a single expression on their faces while they stared at the fairies. Aster only shook her head, her lips forming a smile.

"What's with that look of disbelief? If you're having doubts in our abilities, I suggest you should send out your fleet on a sortie posthaste!"

"Good idea," Akatsuki replied. "Commander, how about it?"

"A sortie?" Hatsuyuki hid under the box again. "Good luck, everyone."

"That settles it! We're going out. Now!"

And so, they did.

After an hour of preparation, the destroyers took off to the waters southwest of the island. With the calm sea and clear blue sky, it was a perfect day to get some exercises done.

Inazuma tapped on her earpiece as she raced against the wind. "Commander? Flagship Inazuma, checking in."

"A bit fuzzy, but this should do. Any updates?"

"It's peaceful sailing, Commander. No problems here!"

"No signs of any hostile fleet so far." Akatsuki put a hand over her eyes, squinting at the horizon. "Well, that's to be expected since we haven't traveled that far yet."

"According to earlier statistical reports," the commander said, "the encounter rate with smaller abyssal ships is quite low outside the initial cluster chain. Why's that? Even forty nautical miles is already far enough."

"They usually avoid populated islands, especially those with naval installations. But I'm wondering about it too."

"But isn't that a good thing?" Inazuma said, looking at Akatsuki. "The sea areas are more peaceful now."

Akatsuki smiled. "I can't argue with that."

"Or... they might be plotting something we don't know yet," Hatsuyuki said. "It could be... anything."

"Oh, that's quite a rare statement, coming from you. Do you now understand why you shouldn't play hooky during practice? How will you become a bona fide lady if you keep up that attitude?"

She pouted and took her gaze elsewhere. "Whatever you say, Lady Slave Driver..."

"Huh? What did you mumble just now?"

"N-Nothing..."

They went further ahead until the surroundings became hazy. Inazuma and the others skidded to a stop as they assessed the dense fog that obscured even sunlight from above. The encompassing, unnatural chill worried her every time they entered such place.

Akatsuki placed a hand over her right ear. "We hit a miasma cluster," she said. "Do your work fairies."

"Affirmative," Aster replied. "Ram, if you would? And Miss Inazuma, please stay still for a moment."

Inazuma did just that as she breathed in deeply to relax herself, clearing out her thoughts.

"Are you sure we can trust this?" the commander said. "This fairy just rolled the damn compass on the floor and—"

"Shut up, shut up! Don't you dare question my methods ever again!" Ram coughed twice. "You girls should go northeast! That's where the jackpot is!"

"Alright. If she's on the money with this forecast, you should arrive at an abandoned assembly sector shortly."

Akatsuki faced to said direction. "Wilco. Proceeding now."

"I still don't get what she meant with the jackpot thing, so I advise caution from here on out."

As they exited the miasma cluster, they spotted a washed-out structure jutting out of an island's cliffside several miles from their position. They also noticed several floating objects up ahead. As they got closer, it became more apparent that the items in question were actually supply crates and barrels. Inazuma could hear the resounding cheer of Ram in the background, demanding praise from the commander.

"I know they already sealed this issue with the Rules of Secure Acquisition," he said, "but picking up oil barrels like this doesn't make it more convincing."

Akatsuki looked around. "If the Conglomerate said so, we should do them a favor and grab as many as we can carry. It'd be a waste if we didn't."

"And come to think of it, where are those supply items coming from?"

"Heh. You sure ask a lot of questions," she said, brushing a barrel with her hand. "Truth is, we have no idea too."

"They just spawn out of nowhere, huh?"

"Presumably, most of these are coming from the wreckage of numerous transport vessels that didn't get so lucky." She sat on the barrel. "And there are also several forward outposts within the cluster chain that were abandoned a few years ago, so we can only guess if the enemy already burned them down to the ground. Maybe they want us to play treasure hunt with all these items littering the sea areas."

"Makes sense. This could be our lucky break today, so let's bring what we can carry and go back for now."

"We can earn a few brownie points if we notify the other fleets back in HQ too. I doubt we'll be able to enter this area again anyway."

"I can point you to that place again if I tried!" Ram said.

Akatsuki tilted her head to the side. "Uh, we better not. And to risk something that we haven't earned yet is just ridiculous."

With Hatsuyuki's help, Inazuma loaded two supply crates on her core structure's rear brackets, causing her feet to submerge a little. "Yup, this should be enough. Thank you," she said. "How about you take that barrel over there?"

"Hold on. Looks like we have company." Akatsuki stood up. "Distance: 5100, west-northwest. Moving in at around 30 knots."

Hatsuyuki's eyes darted to the left as she held her gun close. "Ugh, I didn't ask for this."

"Load your guns, ladies. This could be the fight we're looking for."

Inazuma looked up from her forearm terminal to see a white trail speeding towards them. "Split, now!"

They hurried into different directions seconds before a hostile torpedo wholly consumed the space they were in before. Inazuma covered her eyes from the massive splash as she glided backwards. Her main turret clanged and rattled behind her as she assumed combat procedures. "Akatsuki! Hatsuyuki! Should we retreat? We're outnumbered!"

"Not an option! Don't disappoint the commander now!" Akatsuki hopped and twirled around as she released two pairs of torpedoes midair. The torpedoes plunged into the water as they raced straight ahead, fanning outwards. "Almost there. Get ready!"

"What's the enemy's fleet composition?" the commander asked. "Make sure to take note of their formation as well."

Numerous black figures with distinct facial features tore through the water's surface. Inazuma clenched her teeth as she quietly calmed herself, double-checking her weapons before the ensuing fight. With an audible click, she released the crates on her back and regrouped with her friends.

"Six I-class destroyers. We can handle this," Akatsuki said, looking back. "They're picking up speed right now, but I'll lure them in a line so you two can get a clearer shot. Hit them hard, okay?"

Hatsuyuki rested a finger on her main gun's trigger mechanism. "Roger."

Four huge torrents burst from the distance. As the water settled down, several thin trails of black smoke wafted from the wreckage of an enemy destroyer.

Akatsuki grinned, her piercing glare focused on the abyssal destroyers. The water ripples beneath her swelled as she crouched down, placing a foot forward. And with a powerful kick, she launched herself into the fray, splashing copious amounts of droplets in her wake. "Now engaging enemy fleet!"

The immediate sea area quickly became a battlefield with the fierce exchange of artillery and torpedoes from both sides. Executing their plan, Akatsuki managed to attract the attention of three destroyers as she continued her relentless barrage through their formation. Hatsuyuki moved in from the flank, scoring a kill with accurate shots on one of them. Meanwhile, Inazuma supported her from the rear, laying down cover for Hatsuyuki as she weaved away to safety.

Akatsuki made a sudden right turn, but the closest abyssal destroyer in pursuit made a bold attempt to close the gap as it jumped out of the water. Opening its mouth, the destroyer launched a shell towards Akatsuki, creating a large water column as it struck the water behind her.

It was a grave mistake on its part however, as Inazuma and Hatsuyuki seized the timely chance of firing at the exposed enemy. Sandwiched between the gunfire, the incapacitated abyssal ship made a huge splash as it crashed into the water. They shot at it again, finally sending it back to sleep into the depths below.

"Akatsuki, don't overdo it!" the secretary cried.

Her clothes were singed and tattered, but she didn't seem to have any apparent injuries. "I know! Thanks for the cover fire!"

The remaining enemies dispersed as they fired at them from a distance. Inazuma retaliated with angled shots from her gun, but she had yet to land a hit. The abyssal destroyers were bigger targets compared to them, but their size didn't hinder their speed at all.

"Inazuma, watch your six!"

Her eyes widened as she turned; the enemy had her on its sights.

She had no choice but to trade hits.

Without delay, she unloaded two torpedoes into the water. And as if it was a sleight of hand, Inazuma detached her torpedo launcher's plating with a single sweep and shielded her face at the last second. Her mind went blank for a moment as she took the high-explosive shell at full force. Shortly afterwards, her ears caught a nearby explosion and she was positive that one of her torpedoes managed a hit.

"You alright?" came Akatsuki's voice. "Keep moving or you'll get hit again!"

Pulling the shield away from her face, she saw Akatsuki making a beeline towards the damaged destroyer. She swerved to her left and dropped a torpedo in front of her. The enemy anticipated the projectile's path as it veered to the right, closing in towards her.

"Caught you now!"

Following the torpedo feint, Akatsuki blasted the enemy with a point-blank shot. The abyssal destroyer flinched as it fell on its broadside. As she skidded quite a distance backwards, she released another torpedo to finish off her target. The resulting blast sent a shower of debris all over the place.

Another explosion from the far right took Inazuma's attention. She brought her trembling hand on the side of her face as she tapped her earpiece. "H-Hatsuyuki, what's your status?"

A shadow emerged from the eruption. Then, a flash of gun fire ripped through the cascade. "Lightly damaged... but I could use some help," Hatsuyuki said. "This one can use torpedoes too."

"I'll take care of the last one," Akatsuki chimed in. "Stay sharp!"

Enveloped in a fiery glow, an abyssal destroyer maneuvered towards Hatsuyuki's blindside and fired at her. A column gushed from the blast zone, then another bigger splash followed the first.

"Hatsuyuki?! Hatsuyuki!"

Only loud static dominated her receiver as she rushed to the scene. The enemy, vicious and relentless, circled to her flank with great haste.

Inazuma shifted her weight to the side as she made a sharp turn to her left. If she wanted to do some serious damage in a single shot, she would have to get close. Abyssal destroyers always adhered to such method, but it was only because they had to compensate for their main gun's limitations.

One close shot. Just one!

Before she could get into range, the abyssal ship already fired. Her instincts told her to evade, but the projectile demonstrated that it wouldn't be necessary as it only struck the water ahead of her.

There was a momentary relief on her part as she slowed down, but when she stirred away from the torrent, a powerful blast consumed her senses. Indescribable pain shook her tiny frame as she got thrown off her feet, bouncing off the water once before landing on all fours. The throbbing from her limbs eventually subsided, but her mind had yet to recover from the trauma.

Two consecutive explosions brought her out of her stupor, and a drenched and ragged Hatsuyuki supported her from behind. "How are you feeling, Flagship?"

Aside from being covered with scorch marks everywhere, one of her sleeves got torn up to the shoulder. Her skirt became charred and tattered, and a part of her undershirt had been exposed as well.

With a muffled cry, Inazuma struggled to cover herself as she felt her undershirt crawling down her skin. "I... I'm fine! But my clothes are... this isn't good at all!"

"You're more worried about your clothes?!" the commander said.

"Tch, lucky shot." Akatsuki also appeared from behind as she checked on Inazuma. "But you're luckier since it wasn't a direct hit. We might have to tow you back otherwise. Can you move?"

"Y-Yes! My arm feels sluggish," Inazuma said, standing up, "but I can still fight!"

"Good, since we're not yet done here."

Inazuma looked up with a worried expression on her face. "What do you mean, Akatsuki?"

"West-southwest. Distance: 4600." Akatsuki stared at her terminal. "I'm only getting two blips, but I won't take any chances here."

"Reinforcements?"

"I'm not sure. They haven't moved since I caught them on radar. And it doesn't look like—they're moving again?" Akatsuki tapped her gun twice. "What's our plan, Commander?"

"Only two surface ships?" The commander paused. "That means... no! Get away from there!"

"Tch, fall back!" Akatsuki dashed to the opposite direction. Inazuma and Hatsuyuki chased after her as the two of them exchanged looks.

"What's going on?" Hatsuyuki asked.

"Listen, we should just—" She made a full stop and looked at her terminal again. "Huh? Give me a moment."

"Maybe... I should've gotten a radar. I don't like this recent trend of the enemy suppressing their mag-ion signatures out in the open."

Inazuma let out a small laugh to ease the tension. "I'm clueless too. My operator is still rattled from that last attack."

"Commander, they're now heading northwest. Almost out of range." Akatsuki stomped her foot. "Argh! What's up with them, getting us worked up over nothing?!"

"Forget those supplies, you should hurry back for now," the commander said. "You will be at a disadvantage if you get caught in another engagement."

"You worry too much." She raised her portable turret. "Fleet girls don't sink that easily."

"Y-Yeah," Inazuma said, "after all the resource points you've spent on development, there's no way we'll go back empty-handed. Acquiring raw materials out in the field can get really risky, but it's still a great way to offset our fleet's operating expenses!"

"Alright, if you say so." He sighed. "I've collected the data I needed anyway. Take those supplies back to base and earn yourselves a rest."

"And seeing the mess we made here," Akatsuki said, scanning the area, "let's just hope we can still find a lucky few floating nearby."

Hatsuyuki squinted at the purple-haired girl. "Why do you have to say that? Inazuma... we know who to blame if we didn't get any."

"T-Take that back! We haven't even searched yet!" Hatsuyuki whispered something to herself, which only agitated Akatsuki even more. "Hey, what was that just now?!"

Fixing the fringes above her eyes, Hatsuyuki looked away. "Nothing. Let's finish this... okay?"