George here. I'm getting better, and I'm almost completely recovered yay!

I do not own Azur Lane or Halo

Things were going well, to say the least. With Noble Six being the new commander of the base he got more responsibilities than he could ask for but on the other hand he could command all the ships in the base.

Of course he didn't wanted to command. But if his new allies urgently needed someone to command the shipgirls. He will provide that, even if it was against all he was taught.

("Time to improvise.") Six wasn't comfortable with the situation. But he didn't make any signal or voiced his thoughts. For now, he was waiting for the admirals to make the announcement.

The center of the base was big enough to allow a large ammount of shipgirls to attend the event. It has been a few months since the last commander was presented to the girls, some even were having flashbacks of how it was.

The last commander certainly leave an impression in all of them. But now, there was no cheering, there was no claps and morale was low. Some shipgirls literally had to be dragged to the central park of the base to come and meet the new commander. They were reluctant because this was so sudden that some even believed it was fake

Admiral David cleared his throat before stepping closer to the microphone, the situation was precarious. The Manjuu didn't have much time to prepare the amphitheater since it was hit by a bomb and most of the scenery was damaged that required a complete restoration. At least they had the idea to utilize the central park of the base ("Those birds are really helpful.") A-David thought before remembering his entrance speech.

"We now things are hectic after the recent enemy attack." A-David could catch a glimpse of the girls. They weren't happy with this. They wanted to respond to the attack. Set sail and get revenge for their fallen sisters and friends. But as an old saying goes 'Rushing things are the best way to end in failure after the opponent makes the first move.'

"This attack made something clear girls. Despite your prowess and high tactical skill, you need someone to command you and to make the strategic planning of the operations." If the girls weren't happy for the appointment of a new commander, the words of the admiral made that awkward and uncertainty feeling become anger in a few seconds. Did he called them useless?

Now some girls were muttering between themselves some even glaring at the admiral after he told those words. He was about to continue but one of the girls voiced what most of them were thinking in that moment. "We have more than 9 months without a commander. We surely are doing a great job. This attack is just a mere stumble. We can win this war with or without a commander at all." The shipgirl stated. Some girls supported this, others did not. This did nothing more but to worry the admirals.

"Phoenix, this is not about if you are capable of winning the war by yourselves. You need someone to guide the entire base and make the biggest decisions. Without a neutral figure to point out your flaws and create the best strategy for you girls. In order to increase your efficiency in combat and as a larger operative fleet. Human intervention is needed to do that. I'm not insulting you girls. But you need to understand that this is for the best of all of you. A few admirals in high command suggested to replace some of you with conventional vessels. And that is something we cannot afford." He sounded stern but also worried. He cared for the girls and he wanted to point that out. Some girls noticed this and seemed relieved that the admiral did worry about them.

"Is that what they are planning? Huh? To get rid of us. We are only tools of war for them?" Phoenix was going beyond her boundaries, she was hurt and the admiral knew it. Her sister Brooklyn was severely injured during the attack. She was letting her emotions get the best of her...

"Phoenix, the admiral is not the one who sees us as tools. Please refrain yourself from taking your anger against him. You are not the only one with a sister in the medical bay." Pennsylvania said not annoyed but pointing out Phoenix's mistake. The admiral didn't want them to be mad with high command. But to prevent any of the drastic changes high command wanted to do. Something Phoenix failed to see...

Phoenix was about to respond but decided against it. Some girls that supported her previous statement backed off. A tear could be seen on her left cheek, after that she left with unknown destination. Most of the girls watched her leave and sighed. Emotions were not a bad thing but it can make you do or say things out of place...

A-David watched the scene and decided not to comment anything regarding that. The attention of the girls was in him again. He forget for a second the next part of his speech. He was lost before he continued "I'm sorry if I made some of you uncomfortable with those words girls. But I wanted to emphasize that some in high command are not very optimistic about the Azur Lane project. Yet their decision is not important if they don't get the absolute majority. So rest assured, none of you will be replaced soon. A conventional ship will never be able to replace any of you."

Now most of the girls relaxed. Of course a normal ship will never be able to replace them. What a few admirals think about them is not important. A-David and A-Lucian on the other hand are in high regard for the girls. Above all the other admirals of Azur Lane they are the most reliable and the most friendly to them. For most of them they are like fathers for girls of both factions Eagle Union and Royal Navy respectively. Every commander the girls have worked with had to pass their scrutiny and expertise in selecting the best candidates to command.

Of course there was some exemptions like the first and only commander from Sakura Empire that ended up being a freak and attempted to misbehave with some of the girls. He was known for being a ladiesman he was only accepted because of the alliance during the first days of Azur Lane. Of course the multiple complaints and reports of the girls of his attempts to hit a score on the girls ended up in his immediate destitution and expulsion of the Sakura Empire Navy. After that the Sakuranesse never send another candidate for the commander position. They said it was to avoid another shame like that to happen.

And now it was Noble Six time. He wasn't from the aforementioned nation nor the others that never were in Azur Lane before, like Iris Libre or Vichya Dominion or Northern parlament. He was found in a mysterious mist fighting Bismarck and her escort Prinz Eugen. He ended up being found by Azur Lane and almost fight them too but he didn't. And he wasn't alone, of course this was suspicious, and his blood and DNA tests indicated that he could be a threat. But he cooperate with them, most recently in the defense of the base. He was military for sure, but he didn't appear to be from any military organization or country known by Azur Lane. It was only because of the current state of the war that high command decided this. Besides, what could be better to command the shipgirls than someone that already has experience combating them hand-to-hand...

"I know you are all skeptical and have your doubts about this. We have our doubts too. But he has shown that despite being an enigma even for us. Thanks to that helmet he's wearing all the time..." After that he glances at Six "But he above all of the suspicions and doubts regarding his past and implications. Seems to be the best candidate for the position, even more than the one I and Lucian are training back home. Of course this was rushed a bit by high command. But seeing how Crimson Axis attempted to assassinate him, I don't think he has any connection to them. That and other reasons that are either complicated or classified to mention is why this decision was made, in order to turn the tide in this war, we must keep Noble Six on our side. Not like he has any question about it... Right?" A-David scanned Noble's Six faceplate for any indications of doubt or surprise. But Noble Six stood there like a statue, no emotions could be seen on him...

After a few seconds of continuous observing by the admiral, Noble Six shrugged as response. Of course he didn't have anything to say. The admiral make it sound like he has no other option...and he was right he didn't.

The admiral turned again to the microphone smirking. He at least got a response from Six. Now it was time for the main reason of why everyone was here "I think that's pretty much what I needed to say before continue. Girls if you would be kind enough to receive Noble Six as your new COMMANDER!" A-David started clapping as he stepped aside and gestured to Noble Six to step forward to the microphone. Six stood still for a few seconds then he moved. Some girls clapped as well, not all of them but few. If he wasn't comfortable before, now he was nervous but he didn't show it. He steeled himself and looked at the crowd, it was more girls than he thought. Then the claps stopped and an awkward silence set in...

("Ok, time to say some words I guess.")

"I.." He couldn't find the words, he was fried about situations like this. What should he say, that he came from a war against aliens that liked to kill humans and turn their worlds to glass? Or that he was an expert in assassination tactics and black ops...those options had an effect on him. He didn't noticed at first, but he felt something he hadn't feel in a long time... Courage, for those he remember have died at the hands of the Covenant, Marines, sailors and ODST'S. His Spartan brothers and sisters. Those memories gave them something he could use to raise the moral now.

"I...come from a world not different from your own, I know this world is earth. But my earth doesn't have shipgirls or anything like it. Even Manjuus doesn't exist in there." Everyone gasped at his statement even the Manjuus were looking astonished by his words "Even if this is something unbelievable for you, which I know it is. I have proof to confirm what I said. But that's for another day. Today I want to tell you this-" He hesitated, but not for to long "-I might not be what you expected and I might not be what you want it. But I'll do to the best of my capabilities to be the commander that ends this war..."

This time everyone started clapping as he watch them. Even the admirals were clapping the Manjuus were doing sounds that he thought were happy ones because of how they acted almost as if they were dancing. Still some of the girls weren't clapping such as Enterprise and Prince of Wales. They were starting at Six almost in disbelief for what he said. Most of the commanders that were in that position before said something familiar, to end the war against the Sirens. But it ended up dividing Azur Lane and making them enemies.

If he made it, he would be the best commander of all time. But he had to surpass great challenges to do so. First, the Crimson Axis, most girls weren't happy about fighting their old allies and friends they couldn't just trow away all that time just of befriending and fighting alongsode like that. He had to either make them surrender or have them join their side.

Two the Sirens, of course it was the main enemy but their incursions in the war were so scarce that some even believed they left the planet. But one can't confirm that, so they must be up to something.

Three the socialization with the girls, of course this had to come eventually. Every and all the past commanders had to socialize with the girls at some point, some never tried and the girls didn't resented that but it was as if no one were commanding them. They are not entirely human, being made up of a blue looking cube and one most cherish wish is not natural at all, but they still have the behavior of people, some were shy others are extrovert and others were extraordinary social. They are girls after all. They all have different personalities.

Some commanders didn't have any of those points. The demise of the last commander was the detonating factor to divide Azur Lane and lead the IronBlood and Sakura Empire to create Crimson Axis. That and some other factors, like experimenting with Siren technology and having a different approach of how to engage the enemy forces and different doctrines. Despite the ultimate goal of retaking the oceans from the Sirens it looked more like everyone was doing it in their own way. Giving little effort to the coalition.

Of course it was difficult to gather humanity under one banner but they didn't knew that the new commander has something to say about that.

The event continued for one hour with the girls making questions to the commander which he answered or not. Some questions were about his past, the less sensitive ones he did answer but those that implicated giving confidential info were discarded. He did said he would answer to some of those questions in the future not because he was messing with them. But because he needed to know them better in order to do it.

Some girls didn't opposed that idea. After all you can't give away the history of your life to someone you just met. Still some girls wanted to know more about him. His mysterious appearance raised the curiosity of the girls.

A-David and A-Lucian decided to call it a day and the event finished with the Admirals and Noble Six going to his new office again. The girls were dismissed and were given a day off. Tomorrow the base will run operations again. Now with Noble Six as the commander.

8 HOURS AFTER THE APPOINTMENT OF THE NEW COMMANDER.

In the mess-hall the girls were having chatters about the new commander. Some even believe it was a robot the way he sounded and moved puzzled them. It was so unbelievable to think a human could endure so much time under a full body size armor all the time.

A certain group of shipgirls were having a chatter about the commander too. "Do you really believe he can make it?" Cleveland said before eating her fries. "I mean, I know the other commanders did a good job, well most of them. But no one was close to achieve it."

Illustrious was taking a sip of tea as she heard Cleveland bring back the topic again. In this table was the group of shipgirls that were very doubtful about the commander such as Prince of Wales, Illustrious, Enterprise and South Dakota. Cleveland and Pennsylvania also sat there. They weren't as doubtful as the others

"He's very skilled for a soldier, to handle himself against Bismarck not just once but twice and survive is not a feat to forget. Some girls regained their confidence after his few but powerful words." Wales commented as she took a sip of her tea.

"For him to fight against shipgirls didn't seem difficult." Pennsylvania added as she drink a bit of soda.

"He's experienced in combat that's for sure. But I can't get enough confidence to not suspect about him being with the Sirens." Enterprise spoke solemnly. He could sense he was a warrior and he fought many battles just like her. But her alarms were aimed at him.

"I don't care if he's with the Sirens or not. If he can guide us and not dying in the process like he showed yesterday. That's enough for me." South Dakota tell the others before leaving to the outside, she decided it was best if she just asked the commander about him rather than just talk behind his back. But decided against it, it was late and the night has come. She would wait until tomorrow before question her commander, so she call it a day.

The others watched as South Datoka leave. Her words echoed in their minds. To them his implications make them worry, but he was the new commander they have to acknowledge that. Being suspicious is not going to change anything. That doesn't mean they are less cautious about him than before. Tomorrow is his first official day as commander of the Pearl Harbor base. If they want to know him better, they will have to get close to him. And there is one way to do that...

Apply for the secretary role.

Better late than never eh? Review and comment. Give me your thoughts and your souls. Well not that much. C'mon I want to read your reviews, tell me what you think about this chapter :u