Commander
8:31 AM. It's been three weeks since the Siren attack on our base. Walking out the infirmary, it all seems like yesterday when Purifier was running around these parts bombarding everything in sight…
My secretary's finally awakened. I sincerely hope she won't go causing trouble in her condition. Before launching her final attack on Purifier, Eugen mouthed something to me…
Ich liebe dich
Did she mean those words? Or was she teasing me again? I'll have to ask her personally later when we're alone. I don't have the time to think about this too much right now since I have to deal with those guys again…
"Man, that bastard's lucky to be staying in an island alone with these hotties!"
"I would give ANYTHING to be the Commander. How come he gets to stay with Bismarck? Not to mention Prinz Eugen, Illustrious, Hood, Akagi, Kaga, and even Enterprise…"
"Imagine what he gets to do with these girls… lucky bastard."
"Yeah the gods are so unfair! How come that loser gets to stay in an island full of hot babes who are all so into him?"
I spotted the engineer chatting with his construction workers who were taking their break chatting outside the Iron Blood residence. They were sent two weeks ago by the HQ to help repair and renovate the residences. Since then, they have successfully restored the Eagle Union dorm and started rebuilding mine. Next up on their list would be the Iron Blood residence which took minor damage when Purifier targeted Eugen's room out of spite. After that, they'll have to repair the entrance to the Sakura Empire dorm which suffered minor damages from when Bismark missed her shots while chasing Purifier. For now, the Eagle Union's dorm has been fully restored, mine is still being renovated, and Eugen's room renovation is undergoing some planning. The plans for the other dorms to be built are running late, too.
"Good day," I approached the head engineer with a smile. Keep it together, man. They're only here until the new dorms are built. You can send these guys right on home after they finish their business. "Are we making progress?"
As if they saw a ghost, the engineer, the foreman, and the construction workers all frantically scrambled to get in line and salute. "Sir!" They all declared.
"Hut!" I commanded as I saluted back, signaling them to stand up straight for inspection.
Respect is hard to come upon amongst humans… Very few ship girls would talk back to their Commander let alone talk about him badly behind his back. Not only that, they dare talk about the girls who fight for humanity this way?
"Where's your safety helmet?" I questioned one of the construction workers. He gulped and looked at the engineer who was sweating bullets.
"Actually, where are the plans for the new dormitories!?" I boomed. "Those plans were due two days ago!"
I paced hurriedly towards the head engineer and stopped dead in front of him. "Well? How can any of you talk about the 'hotties' here when you can't do your job properly!?"
I stood in front of the crew.
"Do you all think this is a joke? Why the hell did any of you join the CASTF* anyway?" I loudly asked. "Did you join to ogle the ship girls fighting for humanity? Did you join because you think this will be a vacation?"
The crew's shoulders drooped. They should be ashamed of themselves.
"The ship girls here are not the kind of girls you meet on the bar. They fight for all of us, they put their lives in danger on a daily basis just to give humanity a new lease on life! They risk losing their own just so us humans can enjoy the peace we all love." I pointed my right hand at the direction of the infirmary, "One of them was seriously injured just three weeks ago! She's currently recovering in the infirmary and I will tell each one of you that she's ten times the human you all are combined!"
I swiped my right arm in the air and clenched my left fist. "If any of you here has any more complaints—or cannot do their job properly anymore, then get on the earliest boat off the island. I don't need self-important useless engineers and workers who treat this job like a damn joke!"
A silence ensued.
"Well? No one?" I stood straight as I asked. "Good. I will hear no more of your useless rumor-mongering. Anyone who continues this behavior will be court-martialed under the offense of insubordination and mutiny. The girls here are my eyes and ears so don't even think of doing anything behind my back. I won't tolerate it and neither would the HQ."
I fixed my scuffled uniform. "Are we clear?"
"Yes."
"ARE WE CLEAR?"
"YES!"
"YES WHAT?" I boomed.
"YES SIR!"
"Then get to work." I cleared my throat. "The ship girls from the Northern Parliament are arriving in two weeks. Finish Prinz Eugen's room renovation in two days—"
"B-But sir!" The head engineer stammered.
"Did I stutter?" I asked sternly. "Two days, head engineer. If that room isn't finished by then, I will have you removed from your post. Unlike those 'hot babes' you spoke of, you are, unfortunately, very replaceable."
The crew looked at me dumbfounded. I have to be strict and stern to maintain discipline and respect. I won't let these people walk all over me and the girls.
"Well? MOVE, MOVE, MOVE!" I shouted, making the crew scramble towards their shed presumably to devise a plan to finish their renovation of Eugen's room as soon as possible.
8:37 AM. After speaking to the construction crew, I entered the Iron Blood residence.
"Commander!" A short-haired Iron Blood heavy cruiser with claws of steel waived at me with a smile that sends chills up my spine. "Hey, don't you recognize me? It's me! Roon!"
I should start running but… before I can even react, Roon's already taken my arms with her iron grip and pressed her chest on my back. "When are you sending me on a sortie again?"
Since the base was in no shape to mount a proper defense, I eased up on sorties for now… Recently, Roon's been asking me to send her on more missions since she's bored of the peaceful life here on the island but…
"Roon I need your strength to protect everyone here on the island, for now," I explained to her. "The last Siren attack really did a number on our base… if I send people out on sorties carelessly, we may not have enough manpower to defend."
Roon looked confused as we paced towards Bismarck's office. "But, Commander, don't we simply need to crush the enemy so that they'll never bother us ever again?"
"Er, you really love crushing people, don't you Roon?" I scratched my head.
"Of course," She replied in a matter-of-factly tone. "Especially those who dare lay a hand on my Commander."
Of all the Iron Blood ships in the base, Roon scares me the most.
"My, my, my children are here flirting with each other in front of me…" A tender, slow voice sent more chills up my spine. I practically stopped walking as I felt her presence looming over me. "Are you afraid, my child?"
Roon hugged me as if trying to shield me. "Friedrich! You won't have the Commander for today. He'll be accompanying ME today."
Friedrich smiled and paced towards us from the sofa in the residence she sat upon. "Then I shall have both of you children as my guests."
The two of them aimed their guns at each other as the atmosphere began to grow even more restless.
"H-Hey, you two!" I tried breaking up the fight. "We can't afford to break the Iron Blood dorm as is!"
Roon and Friedrich der Groβe stared at each other for a good ten seconds before both smiled and put their rigging away.
"Very well, my child." Friedrich paced towards Roon and me as Roon moved over to my right arm. Friedrich took my left arm and soon I was buried between the Mother of the Iron Blood and the most feared heavy cruiser of the Iron Blood.
"What brings you to our dorm anyway, Commander?" What a relief… these two didn't blast the entire place into smithereens…
"Is there anything you require, my child?"
"Yes, I was looking for Bismarck. Have you seen your flagship?" I asked before noticing Roon's brows furrow.
"And here I thought the Commander was here to visit me…" Owowowow! She tightened her grip on my right arm!
"Hmm then go look for Bismarck, my child." Friedrich used her gentle touch to remove Roon's iron clutch on my arm.
"Th-thank God—I mean thank you, Friedrich."
"Let go of me!" Roon exclaimed. "I'll crush you!"
Friedrich chuckled. "I shall have you over in my room, my child. The Commander requires the Iron Blood flagship, Bismarck and my child shall always get what he needs."
From across the hallway, a familiar commanding voice echoed: "Friedrich! Roon! Stop bothering the Commander."
Thank the gods you've arrived, Bismarck.
After sending Friedrich with Roon on their way, presumably to Friedrich's room where she'll…spoil Roon, Bismarck motioned for me to come with her to her office. I followed the Iron Blood flagship.
Bismarck's office differs vastly from my own. The only light source in her office is the lone chandelier that hangs in the center of the office. A blood-red carpet adorns the floor, contrasted only by the brown, ironwood desk Bismarck uses. On the desk are a radio set and a stack of papers neatly piled under a book that acts as a paperweight. There are no portraits hanging on the office walls aside from two frames. One of them is the certificate that U-556 gave to Bismarck several years ago. It hangs on the wall in a green picture frame, neatly maintained presumably by Bismarck herself. The other one is a more recent one; it is the picture I took of all the Iron Blood ships welcoming the New Year last year in traditional Sakura Empire clothing. It is encased in a wide, red, picture frame.
"Guten morgen. What brings you here, Commander?" Bismarck asked as she took her seat which was situated in front of a wide window that illuminates the room.
"I would like to ask if Graf Zeppelin has returned from the commission that I sent her on two weeks ago?" I took the left seat in front of Bismarck's office. "I hope she's brought in enough materials for the upcoming event I planned."
Bismarck leaned forwards and supported herself on the desk with her arms. "She arrived just earlier today, still Commander, couldn't you have asked me that over the radio?"
I shrugged my shoulders and replied: "Yes, well, I could have. But I also had to meet the construction crew working on Eugen's room. Besides, I still have to do my daily dorm rounds. By the way, Eugen's woken up today!"
Bismarck sighed a breath of relief. "Gott sei dank." Bismarck stood up. "I will be visiting Eugen today, Commander. Graf is waiting for you in her room. Auf wiedersehen."
Bismarck walked out of the room in a rush. Eugen is her friend and the only ally she's ever experienced combat with before they were reconstructed in the present. It was natural that she'd be worried about her safety.
Graf's room is found on the third floor of the residence right next to Z46's room. Zeppy shares a room with her so I doubt she'll be alone at this time of day.
"Come in." I hear Graf Zeppelin's voice after I knocked on her door twice. Upon entry, Graf Zeppelin's room is unexpectedly bright; the curtains are parted, allowing ample light to illuminate the room well as toy planes are scattered all over the red floor. The room itself is mainly red while Graf's bed and wardrobe are both white. Zeppy rushed over as I entered the room.
"Hey, you!" Zeppy stopped in front of me while holding a toy plane. "How dare you send Graffy on a long commission? Take this!" Zeppy launched a toy plane at me—wait, that's not a toy!
After Graf had finally pacified Zeppy and sent her to play outside, I sat on her bed wheezing due to the absurd amount of running I had done dodging Zeppy's fighters. It's a very good thing I didn't equip her with powerful ones… Imagine if I had equipped Zeppy with Dive Bombers… Graf's room might have needed renovations, too.
"So, Commander," Graf Zeppelin sat beside me. "Are you here because of the commission you asked me to go on to in secret?"
I nodded. How can I control myself when I'm in a room with Graf Zeppelin alone… Moreover, she's not wearing anything other than her lingerie.
"Am I making you uncomfortable, Commander?" Graf stood up and opened her wardrobe. She wore her usual attire after seeing my disgraceful expression. "You truly are brave, Commander, to gawk at me like that. I apologize, though. I'm wasn't expecting any guests, after all."
"Erm, well, yes." I struggled to find the words to answer Graf. "Did you bring the beer from Munich?"
"Ja." Graf Zeppelin sat next to me again. "A hundred barrels full of Oktoberfest beer from the Fatherland."
"Good. Were there any issues along the way?"
"Nein," Answered Graf. "Commander, how kind of you to do this for Eugen."
Eugen always loved drinking. It's one of her hobbies that Bismarck banned her from indulging in as soon as she became my secretary… Bismarck's probably worried she'll mess up if she comes to work hammered or if she comes with a gnarly hangover. However, since she saved my life, I thought it was necessary to reward her… So, I thought of asking Nimi if there were any celebrations in the Iron Blood homeland that involved heavy alcohol intake. She recommended the Oktoberfest to me which was, at the time of asking, two and a half weeks away.
It was then that I thought if I can't bring her to the Iron Blood homeland to allow her to participate in the yearly Oktoberfest, then perhaps I can bring Oktoberfest here for everyone to enjoy.
"Is it? I thought she deserved it." I replied.
"Don't spoil Eugen too much, Commander," Graf warned me. "That girl will definitely abuse your kindness."
I shook my head in disagreement. "In the month she was my secretary, Eugen has been very useful, Graf. She's even done a really good job organizing the files."
Graf stared at me with her ruby eyes and closed her mouth as if she was stopping herself from saying something.
"I see, very well, Commander." She closed her eyes. "I brought the beer to the warehouse last night without anyone on the island noticing. Here are the keys to the warehouse."
She returned my keys to me as she laid on her bed. "I, too, appreciate all the effort you muster for everyone. Maybe, I don't hate everything after all."
Did Graf Zeppelin just compliment me?
9:32 AM. I finally finished doing my rounds for today. We're up to our necks in oil since I cannot send out ships on sortie as often as I could before. I approached the shop with cat ears located right next to the Sakura Empire's residence. I made sure not to bring my gems to not allow myself to be tempted by Capitalism Cat, Akashi.
"Commander! Welcome nya~" The repair ship greeted me as she guided me through her shop. "Would nya care to look around nya?"
I took a look at the merchandise Akashi was selling. I saw swimsuits, kimonos, and even school uniforms: all being sold for a whopping average price of 300 gems. Th-This is vastly overpriced… still it's a good thing I didn't bring my gems…
"H-Hey stop tempting me, Akashi," I stopped looking around to get straight to the point. "I asked you to take a look at that shell, right? Just take me to your workshop… Is Nimi and Yuubari there?"
Akashi tilted her head sideways. "Nyes Commander. Still, you haven't bought anything from Akashi's shop in quite a while… nyah…"
I gave Akashi a headpat. I know how hard your job is, Akashi, I really do. Still, I can't let myself splurge my gems all the time… "I promise to buy something if you can finish the analysis on that shell, ok?"
Akashi's ears excitedly flopped about as she enthusiastically led me to the area behind her shop which leads to her workshop.
"Master," Yuubari greeted me as I stepped into the workshop. "Take a look at this."
Yuubari, dressed in a hazmat suit, placed the dud shell in the center of a glass tank large enough to fit two to three people. Nimi is also dressed in a hazmat suit as she focused on handling the controls.
"Commander, wear this nya." Akashi handed me a hazmat suit my size. I changed into it as quickly as I could and observed Akashi fastening the shell inside the glass chamber. Akashi's workshop actually looks very different today. Usually, her workshop would have several clothing articles or a lot of other peculiarities hanging around. Her workshop today is simply a shell of that: no outfits, no gadgets to be found. Only a lone glass chamber in its center connected to Nimi's computer being powered by a pipe that leads to who-knows-where.
"How's it going, Nimi?" I asked the Iron Blood destroyer who was busy trying to adjust some sort of meter on her computer.
Nimi turned to me and put her finger in front of her mask. "Be quiet, Commander. I need to focus."
Yuubari stood beside me and Nimi. "Master. Akashi, Nimi, and I worked together to make this isolation chamber. Here, we shall expose the shell to a certain stimulus."
"Stimulus? What do you mean?"
Suddenly, I heard the whirring of some unseen contraption and the turning of gears. Akashi turned off the lights in the room and I saw Prinz Eugen standing a few steps from the shell inside the glass chamber.
"E-Eugen! Don't—"
Yuubari hugged my waist to stop me from rushing over. "Relax, Master."
What does she mean?
Nimi puffed her chest from within her suit. "Witness the power of German science! Commander, what you're seeing now is simply a simulation; a hologram. Frau Eugen isn't really there. Just a projection of her. Also, don't worry about us. We've tweaked the shell slightly so it won't explode: just gently spew the nerve gas out."
Science sure is amazing… I couldn't even tell the difference between this Eugen and my unruly secretary.
"Nimi, start the test nya." Akashi pointed at the glass chamber with such gusto as she commanded Nimi. Suddenly, the hologram of Prinz Eugen began walking towards the shell. No reaction. The hologram touched the shell and suddenly…
PFFFT!
The shell began expelling the green gas we saw before!
"Wh-What is this?" I flabbergasted.
Nimi turned off the projection of our Iron Blood heavy cruiser as Akashi inputted something on a console connected to the glass chamber. Soon, the chamber's contents, save for the shell, was flushed out of the chamber through a transparent pipe.
"Master," Yuubari stood in front of me. "Allow me to explain. The projection of Prinz Eugen you saw a while ago has a certain amount of heat."
I stood attentively. I need to understand this.
"The amount of heat expelled by our hologram is virtually the same as the amount of heat any human produces. From our experiment, we can see that the shell won't explode if there is no heat being applied in its immediate vicinity."
Nimi joined in the explanation. "However, if sufficient heat is around, like from a heavy cruiser using her body to block the shell from hitting you, or her guns firing in a direction near the shell…"
"Then the nyerve gas would come rushing out, nya!"
I see… so the first shell exploded when Eugen shielded me, thinking it was a normal shell. The shell exploded upon contact with her body and my room came collapsing on her. She thought she could take it and caught the ceiling for me—only for the gas to cripple her without her knowledge. The second shell exploded because Eugen's guns expelled enough heat for it to explode where it did. Meanwhile, the third shell was a dud because Eugen's guns were pointed away from the shell, meaning there couldn't have been enough heat for the shell to explode.
Akashi came closer and removed her helmet. "Akashi hasn't finished analyzing the nyerve gas yet nya."
"Why?" I asked. "You've gotten so close, Akashi. You three have practically understood the entire activation mechanism of the Siren's new weapon!"
Akashi scratched her head.
"You see, Commander, Akashi is nyot a medical expert. I would need Vestal's input to anyalize the nyerve gas." She explained.
"Moreover, Commander, the equipment here did nyot come cheap nyah."
Oh no, here we go.
"Research costs quite a hefty sum of money, nya." Nimi and Yuubari nodded in agreement.
Kuh… et tu, Nimi?
"How much gems do you need?"
"About 1800 nya!"
God, there goes my salary!