SHIPGIRLS.
By the way, BAC .049%.
The Review Box:
MarauderPrime12: Aye.
Thanks to Cptdave for the follow. Due to the hiatus, I'll just add on additional thanks to this chapter until I get around to the next one. On the subject, thanks to readerofgoodfanfiction (that name sounds like a good sign) for the follow.
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Journal of Admiral Steele, January 13, 2564
Another weekend. Yayyyyyy.
I slept in. It was great. Hood did as well, likely because she knew that getting up early was the name of the game now, and sleep is precious. She was still sacked out when I finally rolled out of bed. I figured I'd leave her there again, but decided to have Equinox leave her a message instead.
Hood found me at the agility range, where I was training to see if I could beat the course while testing the rules. It's how I do everything- find out the rules/habits of the game/person you're playing against, and exploit them mercilessly. They bet high often? Call their bluff. Act calm, but they have a tell? Watch. I may have gotten myself banned from some casinos because I'm rather good at poker and Blackjack, though that's probably just me getting somewhat lucky- although I won't touch slots.
Ever deal with a little trick known as the Kansas City Shuffle? There are two correct responses to the trick: if it's a shell game, punch the shuffler. If it's a game show, start questioning the host.
I was younger, then, and the gambling age is lower… for some bizarre reason. Fuck if I know.
"Hmmm…" I… well, hmmmed. "Hood, how easy would you say the agility course is?" The battlecruiser seemed slightly startled by my question, mainly because I hadn't even acknowledged her entering the room.
"Uhhh.. for the lighter, faster girls, it's easier." She said. "The slower ones have a tougher time."
"Obviously." I said. "Now, riddle me this; 'you can see me, but cannot touch.'"
"A stripper?" She asked in deadpan. I rolled my eyes.
"Christ, no. You spend too much time on the extranet. I mean being visible, but untouchable."
"My previous answer still applies."
"For fuck's sake. Appearance. Look slow, move fast." I said, pointing at the motion sensors. "See, when those detect movement, they signal the guns to fire. But, if I do this-" I shot a practice round at it, the paint blocking the sensor and allowing me to walk right past it.
"-it doesn't shoot." I finished.
"Alright." The battlecruiser glanced at the course as the self-clean went to work.
"First rule of combat: there are no rules. Second rule of combat: loopholes and exact words are your friends." I dictated.
"I think that's a violation of some ethics code somewhere."
"Ethics takes a backseat to survival." I shot back. "Wasn't sure if you knew."
"Well, I imagine the aliens didn't do much to endear themselves to you first." Hood replied.
"Now you get it." I clapped my hand on her shoulder cheerfully, then started dragging her out. "Now let's get some food, I'm goddamn starving."
You know, there really isn't a whole lot to do on a space station orbiting an uninhabited planet orbiting a binary star.
What do normal commanders do when they're bored? Well, go off base, I would think. Except that requires there to be something to go off base to.
Which we do not have, due to the classification of this mission.
I was pulled from my internal monologue by Equinox popping up on my desk, holding a worm.
"Interesting." The smart AI muttered, manipulating it in her palm.
"What is?" I pulled my boots off the desk, scooting in a little.
"I've been scanning the station's systems since you jacked me in, and I just isolated this little bugger."
"Dammit, I must not have cleared my junk mail again…" I muttered, already moving to do so.
"Didn't come from your mailbox." I paused.
"So it was already on the station?" She nodded. "What's it do?"
"That's the thing." Equinox said, frowning. "I don't know. I just know it's been lingering in the codebase for a while."
"Wonderful." I muttered. "Zit malignant?"
"Not sure. Can't believe you even know that word."
"Smarter than I look."
I was looking over a list when, to my surprise, Ashford walked up to me where I was sitting at the not-bar's bar. I glanced at her before returning to my reading, dimly listening to the frigate order a drink.
"What are ya reading?"
I turned to the blonde frigate. She was leaning on the bar, arm propped while giving me an inquisitive look.
"The Evil Overlord list and Genre Savvy Guide." I responded.
"Planning to be an Evil Overlord then?" She asked, taking her drink from Houshou and taking a sip.
"Au contraire. I like to expect everything." I replied. "Know thyself, know thy enemy."
"Ah." We sat in silence as I continued reading, and she started drinking. The hum from the rest of the shipgirls added a bit of background; a few destroyers and Bismarck hanging around the console, Tenryuu and her kids (I did not snicker at that thought) eating, Iowa and Jersey arm wrestling…
Oh, hey, Akagi's strangling a destroyer. Again.
"Just another day at the office." I muttered, reaching for my whiskey.
Personal alcohol preference: Straight.
That is all.
I miss when these things only took a day to write.
ATTENTION: UNITED NATIONS SHIPGIRL COMMAND IS GOING ON HIATUS AFTER THIS CHAPTER. I HAVE LOTS OF WORK TO DO, AND NO CHAPTER BUFFER TO LEAN ON. I APOLOGIZE FOR THIS, SINCE THIS IS WHY I INSTITUTED A BUFFER IN THE FIRST PLACE, BUT I PROMISE TO BEGIN UPLOADING AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND UNDERSTANDING.