Settling Down

Sima, Yoshimura and the shipgirls found themselves in a meeting room with the three leaders and several other military officers.

"Welcome to Shanghai," the Paramount Leader said in English, "and thank you helping us. From what I know, you people will need a base."

"Indeed," Yoshimura replied, "which is what our construction fairies will begin work on as soon as possible."

He turned to face Tenryuu, "Show them a fairy."

Tenryuu nodded. A small orb of light flies out of her headgear. When it came in contact with the table, it burst and turned into a tiny humanoid creature, about the size of Tom Thumb. Maybe smaller. It had a yellow hardhat, fluorescent vest and other construction worker equipment.

"Incredible," Sima said in English, "but how long will it take for them to build a base?"

"A small naval base the size of our Shikotan Base will take a month," Yoshimura replied, "without a base, we cannot have operations. Sure, we can refuel and rearm shipgirls by feeding them, but we need the docks to ensure our ships can be repaired. Conventional docks do not work."

"How long does it take for you to design a base?" asked Ouyang, also in English.

"Our architects can get a design up in three days," Yoshimura replied, "a team of them would be arriving here, assuming they haven't already."

"We have met them," Zhou said, "they are already beginning to find a suitable area, assisted by Chinese engineers."

"Okay," Yoshimura nodded, "so I take that we need a few days to get the base designed and a month to construct."

"Not true," Yang smirked, "we can build the base faster than your engineers can make the designs. I guarantee that we can finish construction in the same day you finish your designs. We aren't employing private construction companies or government controlled construction teams. We are using military construction specialists."

Meanwhile, the shipgirls, unable to understand English, turned to Tenryuu. The light cruiser shrugged and explained she could only get the general gist of things.

"How is the Citadel?" asked Sima in Chinese.

Ouyang shook his head, "Our engineers and construction workers are working around the clock, but it is a massive task. We are talking about repairing the damage done by a hundred Abyssal vessels. Only thirty percent of the railguns are operational. We are considering reactivating the warships moored at Nanjing to take part in the defenses until the Citadel is repaired. The original plan was to wait until we get new radars which can accurately track Abyssals and fast reaction weapons which can keep up with them though. But the situation is pretty desperate."

"To make matters worse," Yang continued, "most of the destroyed railguns are those on the islands of Hangzhou Bay. We have to transport the replacement railguns and construction equipment out there. The guns on the mainland can be made operational by tomorrow or the day after. But the ones on the island will take about a week."

"So we have to defend that area, right?" asked Yat Sen.

"Do you have what it takes?" Yang interrupted.

Yat Sen told the Japanese shipgirls about the situation in Japanese, describing the condition of the Citadel and the requirement to defend the 100 kilometer wide bay. The shipgirls chattered amongst themselves before turning back to face the Chinese ministers.

"Well?" asked Yang, smirking, "What did they say?"

Yat Sen matched Yang's smirk, "Tenryuu said 'Don't leave me out of you are going to fight', Kaga said, 'You shall know the glory of the First Carrier Division', Shimakaze said 'I'll sink them faster than you can count them' and the four destroyers said 'We got this'. Is that a satisfactory answer?"

Ouyang, Zhou and the officers laughed, but Yang didn't.

"I hope you are ready," Yang said, "to keep to your word."

"One promise is worth a thousand gold," Yat Sen winked, "we got this."

"Very well," Zhou nodded, "we will get you places to sleep until the base is built. Tomorrow, you will begin patrols in the Hangzhou Bay."

Sima conveyed this to the Japanese, who are excited to begin work. Tenryuu seems aggressively passionate about sinking Abyssals.

"I won't be able to command you, however," Yoshimura said to the shipgirls, "so I will be counting on Tenryuu to be the leader."

The meeting ended and the various individuals left the room, heading to wherever they needed to. Yoshimura and the Japanese shipgirls picked up their stuff turned left (except for Shimakaze, who got Rensouhou-chan to carry her travel trunk), following an officer. Sima turned right and followed the Chinese ministers and their guards. He heard footsteps behind him.

"Why are you following me?" Sima suddenly turned around and asked Yat Sen.

"Huh?" Yat Sen blurted, "Why wouldn't I? You're my commander, right?"

"Uh," Sima raised an eyebrow, "I am not. You need a person from the Navy. I am from the Air Force. An engineer at that. I know nothing of naval tactics."

"Oh," Yat Sen, slightly taken back, "I see. But where are you going?"

"I am returning to Dachang Air Base," Sima said, "because that is where I am based."

"What about me?" asked Yat Sen, taking a step forward.

"You are no longer my responsibility," Sima said as he turned to follow the ministers and their guards, "understand?"

Yat Sen stood silent before asking, "Do you hate me? Because I am not as good as the…uh…Type 55 or 58? Whatever the hell they are."

"No," Sima said without slowing his pace, "you are a frontline fighter in the war against the Abyssals. And you will be contributing more than I ever can."

"Then," Yat Sen said hesitantly, "will I see you again?"

Sima stopped in his steps, "Perhaps, but I didn't think anyone would ever want to. I don't mix well with other people."

He then continued forward, without turning around.

"Man, they were so slow," Shimakaze said as she began to unpack her stuff, "does it really take that long to find us a room?"

"Well," Kaga said, "there are a lot of people here. They have to repair the Citadel and bolster its defenses. Are the fortifications working?"

"I saw footage of the attack on Bastion," Tenryuu collapses on the bed, "and those railguns killed a Southern Demon in three hits and an Air Defense Princess in six. Not all of them were direct hits either. Those guns would be every battleship's wet dream. Pity no one has succeeded in making modern weapons for us."

"How are your new engines going?' asked Kaga.

Shimakaze sighed, depressed, "My steam turbines were the best of their time. It is difficult for me to improve upon them. Amateurs like me can only get so far in the engineering business. I need a bach degree. Maybe I'll go to uni after the war."

Tenryuu snorted. Shimakaze can forget that she has a mission the next day and can't sit still for thirty seconds. Definitely not academic material. Yuubari is a different story. She might be a little weird, but no questioning her brain power.

Another helicopter flies over, visible through the window. The huge aircraft had a large artillery piece slung under it, tethered with chains.

"Man," Shimakaze said, "these Chinese people sure have a lot of energy."

"What choice do they have?" Kaga asked, "They have to build up their defenses before the next wave of Abyssals come in."

Pilot Officer Sima enters the dorm building of Dachang Air Force Base after a long taxi ride. The driver didn't take money, but a selfie instead. It is nice to be back in a place he is familiar with. As soon as he opened the door, he was Zerg-rushed by everyone nearby. There were soldiers, pilots, officers, engineers and journalists.

Before he could even respond, he was bombarded with questions and camera flashes.

"Pilot Officer Sima," said a journalist, "what exactly happened on Shikotan Island?"

"What?"

"Hey comrade!" shouted a soldier, "How did you make Yat Sen?"

"Huh?"

"She has a nice body!" said an officer, "You like it?"

"Eh?"

"STOP!" a loud voice shouted.

The mob took one look at the speaker and backed off. The speaker is a man in his late fifties in blue air force uniform. Although his age showed in his hair and wrinkles, it was overshadowed by the power and control he radiated.

"Squadron Leader Zhang," Sima prepared to salute.

"No need," Zhang stopped him, "you have been through so much over the last days."

He frowned, "But a shower with soap does not seem to be one of them. Please go rectify that as soon as possible."

"Oh," Sima said awkwardly, "yeah, I'll go."

"Did no one else survive?" asked Zhang.

Sima lowered his head and sighed, "No. Yat Sen said I was the only one she could find. It was a storm with fifteen metre waves, high winds and very low visibility."

"I see," Zhang nodded, "but it's good so see survivors. Better still to see a shipgirl who is combat ready."

"I'll be on my way," Sima said, "I can talk later."

"No," Zhang said, "take the day off. You are going to be busy."

"Huh?" Sima blurted.

"The nations of the world have been attempting to make modern weapons for shipgirls," Zhang explained, "and given the substandard performance of Yat Sen, it is important that we do the same. However, all attempts so far have failed. They have shrunk the weapons to shipgirl size, but the firepower wasn't condensed. A laser weapon is no more powerful than a laser pointer."

Zhang then locks his eyes with Sima, "But you, who have been called the Magician, Mad Scientist and various other things, have yet to attempt it."

He then walks forward, passing the Pilot Officer, "Sometimes, thinking outside the box and deviating from the conventional can do amazing things."

"Yes sir," Sima said, "I will do my best."