Still, I won't fall

by Batrix2070

For Poland, the war with the Abyss is not a big problem as it is for the coastal countries. Unfortunately the long coastline and the small number of Shipgirls that can serve in defense causes fear, and gives reason to try something impossible to summon Shipgirls that never existed in this world. But after all, a Pole can do! Right?

3. The First Meal

Poland
16 April 2007
Naval Port Gdynia
Unrug Military Unit Canteen

For the newly summoned four girls, the food they were served was the truest manna from heaven. They ignored the laughter from the other girls and the cooks. Hearing how food tastes and tasting it are two different things and they obviously felt it on their skin or tongue. -And what? I didn't tell you.- said Amelia "Piorun" Szlaścicka loudly. Cedynia rolled her eyes and then after swallowing her food she said - Yes, you're right, it's great, we're not eating for the first time in our lives and we're getting to know new tastes and how pleasant food is - She said that in a serious and snotty tone. After which she smiled and went back to eating. Piorun blushed and tried to retaliate, but one of the torpedo boatswains, Krakowiak to be precise, blocked her mouth and said -Leave them alone. It's their first meal ever, how could they know that what they're eating isn't that good? Krakowiak rolled her eyes and took her hand from her mouth.

For Westerplatte the meal was a pleasant but embarrassing experience considering the size of her portion which was as big as all the food of the other three together! This was not helped by the fact that at first she did not want to eat all of it and it took a warning from Błysk that he would start feeding her like a small child to convince her to eat everything. Needless to say, in the end she asked for more four times. She wasn't sure about their new situation either, all those questions about her and her companions were too intrusive for her taste and only the encouraging example of her friend allowed her to go through the whole situation without any problems. Though she did wonder why Gryf giggled so much and said that the girls wouldn't believe her and asked her to take their picture. Of course she had no problems with that, after all she had been photographed more than once and more specifically her hull. Although it surprised her as they were leaving that Gryf fell off her chair laughing into the computer. All she could see on the monitor was some Shipgirls Online forum or quality like that. After which a second Błyskawica arrived, looking remarkably similar to her friend, who quickly deleted what Gryf had inserted and yelled at her asking if she could hold off on breaking the rules regarding summonses for a while.

At the table where the newly arrived girls were dining, a brown-haired girl with cool blue eyes, who looked to be 15 years old, came up to them in her uniform. On her epaulettes were insignia that gave away the rank of Komandor Podporucznik. She approached them calmly and looked around at the girls at the table, then in a calm and emotionless tone said. -Komandor Błyskawica told me to tell you that you have to go to the command building, there in the conference room you will meet our commander General Pluta who together with the Kommandor will give you a lecture about the current history since World War II. Seeing that one of the girls raises her hand to ask, the girl added - My name is Komandor Podporucznik Małgorzata Grom and I'm OPR Grom and any additional questions should be asked to the commander and Komandor Błyskawica.- The girl lowered her hand seeing that Grom is not in the mood to ask questions. -You have five minutes to finish your meal I will be waiting for you at the exit.- And then she walked confidently away towards the door ignoring the stares and jokes about her iciness from the rest of the girls.

-Your soeur, clearly turned into a lady of ice- Burza looked at Błysk and then added -Her glace in her eyes froze me and discouraged me from asking questions, even you can't do that.- Błysk looked at Burza -What do you say Żabojad.- She took a sip of tea from her glass. - And she's not my sister, but rather my cousin, remember how Gryf told us that it was an attempt to get a ship from another dimension? - Burza nodded at that and went back to eating the last two potatoes from her plate. - Seeing that she didn't want to continue the conversation, Błysk drank her tea and went to get what she needed. She then headed for the exit.

After five minutes, the four of them followed their guide to their destination. Curious, they looked around looking for differences between their version of the port and the one they were in. What struck their eyes the most were the ships standing in the harbor. There were only two ships that looked similar to the ships they knew from their world, while the rest was just small stuff they knew more from the bombarded Soviet harbors than from the Polish fleet. -I wonder what those Bolshevik scraps are doing here?- said Burza out loud. Their guide replied -They are sailing under the Polish flag.-The attempt at a retort was interrupted by the arrival of their destination.

-Kasia, is everything ready? - asked Pluta. The Destroyer checked the projector and showed a thumbs up. -Okay, where is it? -He looked for the right presentation on the computer. -Here it is. -He noticed and switched on the right presentation. Then a blue board with a yellow inscription "A Brief History of Poland and the World from World War II to the Invasion of the Abyss" appeared on the projection. -Did you prepare the documents Bartek? -Błyskawica asked -Yes I have them in my bag, here. -She breathed a sigh of relief.-Lucky I don't have to remind you of that. It's not very professional to forget about such things, General- Slightly nodding his head in agreement, the commander began to take out the documents needed for the new girls. -But you know you don't have to do this every time Bartek? -Błyskawica said. Bartek looked at her. -Well Kasia, unlike others here it happens very rarely. And I always like to talk about past things. And I prefer to greet new people this way.-

Błyskawica smiled -True, Bartuś- Further conversation was interrupted by a knock on the door and then the girls came in through the door. -General Pluta, I report the completion of the task. Hearing that, the other girls quickly but with surprise also saluted. -At ease- said the General, giving the salute. - Please sit down ladies, and you Komandor Podporucznik can leave, Komandor Blyskawica will take care of the rest - Grom quickly and with a stomp she saluted - Yes sir! - and left the room.

In the meantime, the girls sat down in their chairs and waited to hear what the commander would say. The general looked at them, assessing them and recognizing familiar but slightly different faces. -Welcome, ladies my name is General Bartlomiej Pluta and I am the commander of the Military Unit Unrug which is part of the Special Forces and shares with the Navy the military ranks up to the rank of Commander. Together with my secretary Ms. Komandor Katarzyna "Błyskawica" Grom to present what happened from the time of our World War II to the present. Any questions?" he said then waited waiting for a response. One of the girls raised her hand - Yes Miss?

-Cedynia, General, I have a question why do we get names and surnames? -The General raised his hand to his chin -If I remember correctly, it was firstly to make the Stateczki more human to the Polish society, secondly because of the Special Forces, where pseudonyms are a daily part of the military heritage, and thirdly because it is easier to call you by this name.-Cedynia nodded her head -Thank you, General -He looked at the girls waiting for another question, then Burza extended her hand

-Let me guess, you're Burza?- Nodding, Burza said, -Yes, Mr. Żeneral, why do you wear that rank? -Folding his hands behind his back, he replied. - Well, Miss Burza, it's because I was the one who created this unit and I myself served in the Land Forces at the beginning, then I was transferred to the Special Forces and more specifically to the GROM and when it came to the whole Abyssal affair I was appointed as the commander of this unit and I had a lot of free hand so I chose it out of habit. He smiled- And to piss off the allies and the Navy for their attitude- After snorting with laughter he asked- Any more questions? - Seeing that they were shaking their heads. -Well, let's get started. -Commander, turn on the first slide. -Commander sitting behind the computer turned on the first slide, and the General began to tell the story. -In 1945, after the surrender of Japan...-.

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Glossary for those interested

Gryf-Griffin
Komandor Podporucznik-Literally Sub-Lieutenant Commander, In the U.S. Navy and Royal Navy, this is equivalent to Lieutenant Commander.
Żeneral- General in French but written according to Polish spelling.
Żabojad-Literally a frog eater, a disdainful term for a Frenchman in Polish, This is due to the country of construction of the Burza, she was built Chantiers Navals Français, Blainville-sur-Orne in France, and the fact that the Błyskawica came from the UK does not help matters at all.
Krakowiak-It has a double meaning meaning both a folk dance and a krakow resident, in this case the latter.
GROM-Everyone knows what this unit is, it's an abbreviation of Operational-Management Reaction Group, even the letters match although not in the same order as in Polish.