Training and Delivery
"How's this Takao! Yeahhh!"
Wood impacted wood as two swords clashed with each other in a flurry of blows. Maddy was on the offensive. She slashed her wooden practice katana in every direction, prodding Takao's defenses with sheer brute force. Every strike Maddy ushered was meant to break the cruiser's defenses as she tried to find an opening. Maddy's footwork was steady, her stance balanced. The ponytailed brunette wielded her sword with decent technique and aggressive pressure. One could say that the Lieutenant was very familiar with the blade. Familiar but not an expert.
Unfortunately for the Lieutenant, Takao was a seasoned swordsman who trained in the blade her whole life. The cruiser parried every single strike from her Lieutenant before delivering a swift counterattack. Like flowing water, Takao moved with her blade as she countered one of Maddy's downward slices, moving the blade out of the way before thrusting her own sword forward. The tip of the wooden katana impacted Maddy's temple which knock the wind out of her as she stumbled. Takao wasted no time as she swept Maddy's legs and pinned her to the ground, her katana poking the center of Maddy's chest.
Maddy stared ferociously at the cruiser that pinned her, trying to think of a way to escape.
"Yield," Takao calmly spoke.
"I…" Maddy tried to find a valid excuse to keep fighting but her current position made it impossible. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
"Hah! Like I would ev- AHH!" Maddy screamed in pain as Takao intercepted her surprise sweeping attack by stomping on her ankle.
"Don't make this difficult, Yield," Takao spoke once again with a growing hint of frustration.
Maddy looked around for any other opportunities to escape the cruiser's grip. Perhaps she could grab the wooden blade since her hands weren't tied? Throw some dirt into Takao's eyes? Maybe even spit in her face? Multiple ideas swarmed Maddy's mind until she was taken back into reality by the increasing pressure Takao was applying to her ankle. Dang it, Maddy groaned internally. She would have to accept another defeat.
"Alright… you win." Maddy groaned.
Takao gave a nod and stepped off her Lieutenant's ankle before helping her up. Dirt from the training ground stained her white shirt a dusty brown color. She adjusted her ponytail as she took a few minutes to catch her breathe. Maddy could hear someone clapping off to the side. It was none other than Warspite who sat down on the dojo's wooden platforms observing the spectacle.
"That was quite the show Lieutenant," Warspite said, impressed by the basic skill Maddy displayed despite her unfortunate defeat, "I'm impressed that you can at least show some discipline with a sword."
Maddy groaned once more as she rubbed her slightly bruised ankle. She appreciated the compliment from Warspite. But compliments don't bring one victory and she had just lost her fifth sparring match in a row. Yet, her excitement for another round filled her being as she shook off the pain, twirled her wooden sword around, and prepared to challenge Takao to another round. Takao though shook her head and quietly sheath her practice sword. Maddy made a little 'aww' of disappointment.
"I believe that is enough sparring for now," Takao said to the energetic brunette, "We should at least take a break before you get hurt, Lieutenant-sama."
"Come on Takao, one more round? I feel like I got another idea on beatin ya," Maddy spoke with confidence.
Takao sighed, "Lieutenant-sama, I appreciate your enthusiasm but for the sake of your health I suggest a quick break."
"She's right Lieutenant, you were pushing yourself a bit too far last round with the leg sweep gamble," Warspite agreed with the same amount of concern as Takao, "We should at least take a small break."
Maddy thought about protesting. She wanted to continue the fight, to feel the thrill of battle like no other and sword fighting was one of the most exciting forms of combat to the Commander's sister. She fell in love with the lightsaber battles in the Star Wars movies and dreamed of fighting like a Jedi. It was one of the reasons she requested for Warspite and Takao to be her personal trainers. Maddy was about to tell his subordinates that she was fine, until she took a step forward. A pinch of pain shot up her ankle as she stumbled a little. Takao and Warspite moved to their superior's side to support her.
"Lieutenant-sama are you alright?" "You okay Lieutenant?"
"Ya, it's just a small bruise," Maddy reassured her colleagues, "I guess I can take a quick healin' break."
Relief filled the faces of both Warspite and Takao as they made their way onto the dojo patio. Takao offered some refreshments in the form of tea which Warspite happily agreed to. Maddy thought about asking for soda but figure that wouldn't be appropriate, so she also agreed to tea. Takao made her way out which left Warspite and Maddy alone with each other.
An awkward silence fell upon the two as Maddy made a few practice swings with her sword. Warspite was dwindling her fingers around the hilt of her own blade, a blade that meant a lot to the battleship. It was a gift handed from her majesty, Queen Elizabeth, during her ascension to knighthood. She would spend her every being dedicating herself to practicing the art of the sword. To not only protect her majesty but also to protect her dear friends and the Commander she served. Warspite looked at her Lieutenant who made a couple more swings, being careful as to not strain her lower body. Yet despite her limitations, Warspite saw how Maddy professionally placed her weight behind every movement. Clearly the Lieutenant wasn't a beginner. Why did she decide to take up the way of the sword, Warspite wondered.
"May I ask you something, Lieutenant," Warspite asked.
The Lieutenant stopped her practice swings to face Warspite with her usual cocky smile, "Call me Maddy."
"Um… sorry, Lieuten-" "Just call me Maddy, Warspite," Maddy insisted.
"I'm not in uniform right now so you can drop the formalities," Maddy explained to Warspite, "You can call me by my name. I'm not a hardass for formalities like the other higher ups."
"I'm not really sure I would be comfortable," Warspite scratched the back of her head, "I mean I've been trained to address commanding officers with respect."
"And you can respect me by addressing me by my name," Maddy countered with an inviting grin on her face.
"Alright… I'll try to do so, Lieu- I mean Maddy, ma'am, sir, miss…" Warspite bumbled over her formalities awkwardly. However, Maddy took no offense.
"That's the spirit, one step at a time, eh?" Maddy gave Warspite a playful punch to the arm. The battleship felt a little weird being associated as a friend to her Lieutenant. But if it made her happy then she'd play along.
"So, about your question?" Maddy inquired.
"Ah yes… I was wondering-"
"I have arrived with tea," Takao announced, interrupting Warspite's question. The battleship's eyes shrank with frustration but quickly recovered as soft tea fragrance filled her nostrils.
All three of them sat down Sakura Empire style on the floor as Takao handed each one a cup of piping hot green leaf tea. Warspite, being a true ship of the Royal Navy, properly sipped at the beverage without hesitation. Same could not be said with Maddy who delayed drinking her tea by blowing on it. It was a little too hot for her. She watched as the two warships had nearly finished their drinks before turning to face their Lieutenant who still hadn't taken a sip. Warspite used the opportunity to ask her the question on her mind.
"Why do you want to learn to fight with a sword?" The battleship finally asked. The question also peaked Takao's interest as her dog ears slightly twitched with curiosity. She too wondered where Maddy learned to fight and fight well enough to stand her ground against herself. Albeit for a couple of seconds but she was the only human to hold that world record.
"In fact, where did you learn how to fight with a sword?" Warspite further added. The way she fought Takao suggested that she was at least proficient with a blade. Her technique though was still not as defined as Takao's comparatively godlike skill.
Maddy spent a few seconds looking at her tea with a calm, solemn look on her face. The two ships a little unnerved by the uncharacteristic silence from their normally energetic Lieutenant.
"Fighting… a key pillar of human nature, second only to the desire to reproduce." Maddy spoke nonchalantly. The two ships had light blushes on their faces but closely listened to what words of madness the Lieutenant had to say.
"Ever since the first ape slapped another, humanity has always found creative ways to fight one 'nother. From clubs, slings, bows, spears, and swords, to muskets, cannons, rifles, machineguns, planes, tanks, missiles, nukes… and of course warships." Maddy rambled on. Warspite and Takao were a little silent but understood the nature of conflict and how it evolved throughout human history. They just wondered where Maddy was going with all of this…
"Do you want to know why I fight?" Maddy asked rhetorically, "It's the same reason as you and all our ancestors. To protect that which I hold dear. You could probably guess what 'that' is."
"The Commander…" Takao answered with Maddy nodding in confirmation.
Now the two warships understood and understood well what it meant to protect the things they held dear. Warspite fights as a knight not only in service to her majesty, Queen Elizabeth, but to the entirety of the Royal Navy. Her sword acts as a shield to protect her friends from anything that threatens them. This goes the same way for Takao who trains herself everyday with the purpose of using her blade as a tool for the Sakura Empire, her dear sister, and for her friends. She wouldn't have it any other way, it was her ultimate purpose in life. She would be her Commander's sword that protected him and his fleet. Both warships looked at their sheathed blades in contemplation. Maddy smiled and whistled to regain their attention as she continued to speak.
"As for Little Em, he isn't much of a fighter, but he does know how to handle his firearms," Maddy made little finger guns for emphasis, "Plus he has quite the brain power."
Warspite giggled at the gesture, "It's wonderful to know he can hold his own a bit."
"Well not entirely. He was always the runt of the litter. The smallest one out of the bunch. The perfect target for 'her'." Maddy's expression hardened when she mentioned 'her.' A dark memory resurfaced in her head as the grip on her teacup tightened. Concern filled the expressions of the two ships.
"Lieutenant-sama?" Takao called out with concern.
"I may not be the prettiest girl nor the smartest girl. But damn will I be a girl that can at least put up a good fight. I didn't take HEMA lessons in High School for nothin'." Maddy spoke with resolve.
HEMA. Warspite put her hand to her chin in contemplation. That name sounded familiar. Wait…
"You learned Historical European Martial Arts?" The battleship asked.
"Yep. Though I'm not the best at it, I did study a few manuals and techniques," Maddy paused a bit, "Mostly the fun ones."
Takao's eyes widened in surprise at the revelation. She knew that the Lieutenant was using a formal fighting style based on her footwork and technique but couldn't put her finger on which. This revelation gave the Sakura cruiser quite the enlightened surprise. There was also the fact that Maddy trained for the defense of her own brother. A noble aspiration which Takao respected. Though she still worried that the Lieutenant was a little too enthusiastic about battle given her insistence to keep fighting. However, it could be seen as admirable
"Still, you received training. Training that helped you with the basics," Takao said with enthusiasm, "Tell me, is there another reason for your interest in the blade?"
"Star Wars." Maddy stated.
"Eh?" Takao said dumbfounded.
"What the bloody hell is…?" Warspite said confused.
Looks like the two were still in the dark about one of the siblings' favorite sci-fi franchises. In fact, there were only a few kansen on the base that knew what the pair were referencing. HMS York come to mind as she claims to be able to use 'the force.' However, the two ships snapped out of their little bemusement and got back to the point. Warspite in particular had an idea.
"Say Lieu…I mean Maddy ma'am, how about a little sparring match with me." Warspite offered, wanting to test Maddy's skills, "This time though, how about a change in swords."
The Lieutenant gave Warspite a smirk and got up from the patio. Not before chugging her tea down of course.
Maddy had been using a katana in multiple bouts against Takao. However, she lacked the experience necessary to wield the eastern blade as it didn't have the same hilt and guard of a European sword. She was also very unfamiliar in dealing with opponents who used traditional Sakura sword techniques like kendo and iaido. So, she had to fall back to imitating the lightsaber fighting she read and saw in the various media she consumed. She tried at imitating form V and ended up blundering due to her ignorance and clumsiness. Perhaps a change in weaponry and opponent would make a difference.
The dojo had an assortment of weapons used for practice. While they were mostly that of Sakura Empire origin such as katana, nodachi, yari, naginata, and etc. They did have a small collection of European swords. Two such swords which Takao brought out of storage and tossed it over to Maddy and Warspite, the latter of which struck a pose as she caught it over her head. Those blades were the ever versatile and recognizable European bastard-swords, which were blunted for training. They could either be wielded with two hands and were light enough to be wielded with one hand. Takao did admit that European swords looked clumsier than her katana but seeing the Royal Navy and various other ships wield them changed her mind. Now to see if her Lieutenant's skill with the right blade was true.
The two combatants took their positions at the opposite ends of the court. A lone cherry blossom tree dominated the background as its pink petals fell gently on the arena. Maddy wielded her blade close to her right shoulder and over her back, The High Guard of the Lady. Warspite took a more conventional stance, holding her blade in a forward stance so she could better react to her opponent's moves. The dojo was silent as the two fighters held their stances. The rules were simple, first one to get knocked down loses. Takao stood on the patio and held her hand high to give the signal to start.
Then with a shout, Takao dropped her hand. Maddy immediately charged forward to deliver the first blow.
Meanwhile in Akashi's shop, a certain little Commander was out shopping with two of his secretaries. Taihou and Atago would have loved to go shopping with their cute little Commander if it was anywhere else besides Akashi's shop. Preferably alone with only the company of their Commander. Unfortunately, here they were in the den of an avaricious predator. One who was ready to snatch its prey from the wallet of an unsuspecting Emile who was busy roaming the shop like a kid at a candy store. Taihou and Atago did their best to stop him from impulsively buying everything off the shelves. Akashi's shop was absolutely stocked with every novelty a person or shipgirl at the port could need, from books, video games, makeup, figurines, and even small-scale models of the various kansen ship forms.
It was two models of Taihou and Atago which caught the Commander's eyes. His eyes sparkled as he fawned over the box art portraying his two secretary ships' ship forms. A massive blush formed on both the cruiser and carrier's face as their purest form was essentially exposed for their Commander to see. Clashing feelings of perversion and embarrassment boiled inside both of their minds as their Commander tried to negotiate a trade with Akashi over their models.
"Nyah~, I'll give ya them for the low price of 20000 gems, nyah," Akashi offered.
"Hmmm, that's a bit over my personal budget…" Emile hesitated despite really wanting the models.
"I'll throw you something a little extra, nya~" Akashi haggled as a sly smile formed on her lips.
"What extra?" "Wait Commander-kun!" Atago's voice sounded from behind. She and Taihou managed to recover from their embarrassed stupor and immediately went into defensive Onee-san mode.
"Careful Commander, she might be trying to trick you into spending all you precious gems." Taihou warned. Emile raised his eyebrows inquisitively before Atago stepped up.
"Akashi has a reputation across the base for price gouging and faulty deals," Atago added her warning. Emile turned back to an Akashi would was nervously waving her hands in denial.
"Nyah~, Akashi's deals are fair, trust me. Besides, I think this free extra is to your own taste, nya~," Akashi offered to the Commander who cradled the model boxes in his arms.
He looked back at Taihou and Atago who uniformly shook their heads from side to side. He then looked back at Akashi who encouragingly bobbed her head up and down. Emile then made his choice.
"I guess I could always come back and-" "I'll throw in an Iron Blood Reichtangle plushie for free nya~." "Deal."
Atago and Taihou both facepalmed.
Maddy had always believed in the philosophy of 'the best defense is a good offense.' Everything she did lived or died by that philosophy. Which is why she was taking a normally defensive guard stance and charged an experienced Royal Navy battleship with it. And to her surprise it somewhat worked. Maddy's blade came at Warspite at an almost blinding speed as it knocked Warspite's blade to the side. The Lieutenant didn't waste a second as she used the battleship's blade a leverage point to jab her own sword forward. Warspite had to step backwards to avoid the blunt tip of Maddy's sword from knocking her down, in the process she expertly parried her opponent blade away as she gained distance. The two combatants paused to gauge at each other's position before both letting out a war cry as they charged each other.
Takao observed the clash of blades with a look of awe. She was surprised by how her Lieutenant moved before but now she was even more amazed at the battle that raged in front of her. Maddy and Warspite were in an elegant yet brutal dance as the two twisted, twirled, and parried each other's blades. She even witnessed a few attempts to grapple one another when they got too close, each attempt made the cruiser's dog ears twitch in excitement. It almost looked as though Maddy had an upper hand in the engagement, her last strike smacking Warspite with the pommel of her sword. The Lieutenant just nearly managed to knock the Grand Old Lady down before succumbing to a ferocious counterattack from her. The battleship unleashed a flurry of precise strikes which Maddy had a lot of trouble keeping up with. The battleship ended her combo with her own pommel strike. The blow smashed into Maddy's face as she stumbled backwards but recovered her balance just in time to gain some distance from the battleship.
Takao was now really at the edge of her seat as her dog ears stretched faster in excitement. Her training had taught her to remain stoic but seeing a sword battle fought this intensely tinkled something primal within her. The excitement, the adrenaline, it went everything against her training but witnessing it made her feel like a small child at an amusement park. It was a good thing she trained herself enough to hide this excitement. Otherwise, the cruiser might have found herself drooling as her Lieutenant and Warspite readied their final stances.
Maddy pulled her sword back and pointed it downward in preparation for an upwards thrust. She gambled on catching Warspite in the neck before attempting one final grapple move to force her to the ground. However, Warspite's stance caught the eye of both Maddy and Takao. Royal Knight sheathed her blade and positioned herself in a similar manner to the Sakura style iaido. However, this was just Warspite's modified version of the Long Tail Guard which she had designed to catch the opponent off guard.
Both combatants stared down at each other for a few seconds before one made the first move. Takao silently held her breathe as she saw Maddy charged towards Warspite. Her sword aimed for Warspite's throat but, with the finesse of a Sakura swordsman, the battleship redrew her blade. Maddy's eyes widened as her blade was deflected upwards, then they widened even more as the shorter Warspite jumped up to wrap Maddy's sword hand under her armpit. The battleship has essentially rid the Lieutenant of her only effective offense. However, Maddy wasn't going to take this lying down and immediately used her other hand to catch Warspite's sword arm, putting both of them in a deadlock. Both combatants tried to wrestle one another to the ground as Takao tried to decide if she should stop the fight or continue witnessing the spectacle.
That wouldn't be necessary as the difference between Maddy and Warspite began to show in their grappling match. One had the physical strength of a thirty-thousand-ton warship and the other had the strength of a hyperactive human. Despite her shorter stature, Warspite managed to overpower her Lieutenant's grip and almost wrestle her to the floor. In an act of desperation, Maddy tried to headbutt her opponent but that only served to daze herself. Even in human form, Warspite still had the armor of a battleship. A battleship who stood victorious as she let her Lieutenant fall to the ground panting and in a slight daze. Both of their chests heaved heavily from the fight.
"That… that was…" Warspite huffed between her words, "That… was impressive."
Maddy groaned as she shook her head while making a ridiculous noise. Miraculous recovering enough of her energy to picked herself off the ground. However, the fight still made her pant between breathes.
"Told ya… I knew how to fight… just needed the right blade…" Maddy panted. Warspite gave a friendly laugh in response.
The two turned towards an approaching Takao who gave both of them a congratulatory clap.
"That was quite a sight to behold… does every swordsman from your continent fight like that?" Takao wondered.
"Nope, I think that's just the Lieu- Maddy," Warspite answered, "She seems to really like to go for the high risk moves."
A sweat drop formed on Takao's eyebrow. Oh, perhaps her suspicions were confirmed. Maybe their Lieutenant was a bit of a battle maniac. But at least her fighting style was exciting to watch. She just needed a bit more training and discipline.
"Come on Takao… how about another round. Maybe this time…" Maddy still panted between breathes as she teasingly pointed her sword towards the cruiser.
Takao thought for a moment and shook her head with an apologetic smile. She gently grabbed the tip of Maddy's blade and gently made her lower it. Maddy couldn't resist or do anything as she found her muscles a little too exhausted.
"How about instead we take another break and come back to train more in the fundamentals. Mostly in discipline, Lieutenant-sama," Takao offered.
Maddy groaned a bit in disappointment but had to agree with the cruiser, "Very well. Practice makes perfect and there are things I feel like I could improve on."
"Like your mouth," Warspite piped up, eyes shrunk in sly delight. Maddy turned to give the battleship a smirking glare.
"Heh, maybe one day," Maddy gave a hearty laugh, "All right, let's get some tea."
Takao humbly bowed as she made her way inside the dojo to gather the refreshments. Maddy and Warspite relaxed themselves on the patio and began to swap stories. Stories that involved the shenanigans of their siblings. Takao soon joined them in the merrymaking, laughing alongside the Grand Old Lady and her rambunctious Lieutenant. Maddy would spend the rest of the day practicing her sword skills. For her brother's sake.
Meanwhile at the checkout counter of Akashi's store. The little admiral exchanged his funds with the cat merchant, much to the disappointment of his two guardian secretaries. Still, he used his cute charm to make them forgive his indulgent spending. The two were pacified as he gave them a thankful smile causing the two to coo over him. Atago having to hold herself and Taihou back by the collar to keep from pouncing him.
Emile laughed before turning towards Akashi with a sudden serious expression on his face.
"Did the package arrive?" He asked.
Akashi's sly expression morphed to match Emile's, "It did, follow me nya."
Akashi beckoned the Commander and in turn he beckoned his two guardians to follow him as well. Atago and Taihou's confused faces suddenly shifted into surprise as a hidden door opened behind the store counter. The two ships looked at each other with concern not only for the Commander's safety but also the sketchy nature of this whole ideal.
"Commander-sama, what's going on?" The usually yandere carrier asked in worry.
"It's just a package delivery Taihou, nothing more," Emile tried his best to address his secretary's concern.
"Or at least I hope it is," He whispered under his breathe, following behind Akashi as they entered the secret passage.
The three ships and little Commander, who refused Taihou's offer to be carried, descended down a concrete flight of stairs which led into the base's massive tunnel network. The tunnels hooked up to several underground bunkers and rooms which serve various utilities. They ranged from the practical barracks, kitchens, freezers, warehouses, armories, and maintenance workshops to the more recreational like, game rooms, spa's, classrooms, and pubs. Several of the corridors had magnetically locked, enriched titanium doors which could shrug off large caliber weaponry and explosives. There were even a couple of places were automated sentry turrets were strategically placed. The whole network resembled an ant hive that was more interconnected than a Vietcong tunnel system. It was all built as a last-ditch effort should the worst scenario came to pass on the base.
Of course, the presence of such a network wasn't a complete secret to the shipgirls who resided on the surface. It would be the sheer size of the tunnel system's interconnectedness and scale that would have surprised them. Especially since Taihou and Atago were not aware of the myriad of entrances that dotted the surface, Akashi's secret door included. Only a select few personnel and ships such as Akashi and Emile knew of their whereabouts. Still, the system was so vast that they would probably forget a few.
"I still can't believe the manjuus managed to build something like this," Emile's voice echoed through the surprisingly well-lit corridors. Damn, no wonder the electricity bill was so high.
"Nya~, the little birds are always dependable," Akashi commented, "Cute and marketable, nya~"
"Not as cute as my Commander ~" Taihou flirtatiously teased. Atago giggled alongside her fellow compatriot, "Ara~ Ara~."
"Hehe, please stop it. It feels weird," A massive blush formed on Emile's face. He was still quite weak to teasing.
"Nya~, get a room you three," Akashi exclaimed.
"Oh, I plan to. But just me and him," Taihou whispered huskily with a twinkle in her eyes. Atago laughed along with Taihou. Her mind also filled with similar thoughts.
"Akashi!" Emile exclaimed at the cat's escalation of the conversation. A comedic sweat drop formed on Akashi's forehead as she mewled in response.
Unfortunately, Emile had to endure a couple more flirtatious compliments from his two secretaries until they finally reached their destination, the Shipping and Receiving dock. It was one of several hidden coves dug into the island the naval base resided on. This particular one was exclusively for shipments to Akashi's store. The dock was lined with multiple crates filled with various products for Akashi and Shiranui to stock. Several little manjuus were working up and down the dock performing maintenance and moving goods. The Commander's group stopped by the edge of the docks where Emile scanned the area for his package. It wasn't long before he spotted it.
"That must be the one," Emile pointed to a large stack of metal crates.
"I see them too, nya," Akashi added.
The other crates were the standard wooden or metal touch with the standard labeling. These crates had a slightly darker hue and were covered with a various of warning labels. It wasn't just the normal 'fragile' or 'handle gently' but instead there were 'biohazard' and 'fire hazard' symbols. Not only that but the ships could see a particular label on each crate which caught their eye.
"Streng Geheim?" Taihou repeated the words printed.
"Oh boy…" Was all the little Commander could say as he slowly sauntered towards his package.
Atago and Taihou looked upon their Commander with concern, following just behind. Their natural maternal instincts were telling them that something wasn't right with him or those crates. Akashi could also sense a strange foreboding atmosphere in the area.
"May I get some assistance?" Emile was struggling a bit trying to get a crate open. Mostly because of his small height and low strength preventing him from opening a lid.
Ignoring a how adorable the struggling Commander looked, the three Sakura ships immediately scrambled themselves to assist. Taihou got a little too handsy as she pressed her voluptuous breasts on Emile's back as she helped him lift up the lid. He was a bit embarrassed but appreciated the help. Everyone peeked inside the crate and were surprised but the 'familiar' contents.
Bombs. The same ones that aircraft would carry, ranging from 2000 to 500 lbs. Except these ones had painted blue tips.
"Oh no," Emile quietly spoke.
"Nya~, what kind of bombs are these Nya~?" Akashi asked.
"Commander?" Taihou softly peeped.
"Torpedoes?" Atago also sounded as she opened another crate.
This one contained similar torpedoes that the Sakura Empire used for both ships and aircraft. It had similar design to the Type 93 Pure Oxygen Torpedo except for the fact that the tip was painted green. Akashi found this very strange. Why would she be receiving ordnance through her private supply dock instead of it being supplied to the docks on the surface? Who sent her this? Why is it being personally addressed to the Commander? Maybe he could answer her questions through this letter that came with the package. It had that same 'Streng Geheim' label and was addressed to Commander Emile.
"Hopefully, this will explain everything, nya~," Akashi present her Commander the note.
"Hopefully," Emile repeated as her accepted and opened the note. Atago and Taihou also leaned in hoping to see the letters contents. However, Emile assured them that he would read it out loud. Still, didn't ease the foreboding feeling in their gut that something was off.
"Let's see it says: High Command couldn't authorize the production of nuclear shells, so my team developed…the next…best…thing," Emile's words trailed off at the end as horror settled on his face, "Oh no."
"Oh no? What do you mean, Oh no nya?" Akashi questioning her clearly distressed Commander as she saw him facepalm. His distress was so evident that Taihou took no offense when Atago made an effort to comfort him by gently rubbing his back.
"Also nya, Nuclear Shells?!" Akashi exclaimed at ridiculousness of such a concept.
"I only discussed a couple of ideas with her. I didn't think she would actually go through with them," Emile explained while rubbing his temples.
"Wait, 'her'? Who sent these munitions?" Taihou asked with righteous anger directed at the person causing her Commander stress. The fact that it was another woman made all her anger more justified in the carrier's head. She wanted to both comfort Emile and eliminate the object of her love's distress.
Luckily Atago was there to give the Commander a warm hug which Emile accepted but quickly broke it to explain the situation.
"To make a long story short, she's my boss. Admiral Kesselring," Emile explained, "She's heavily involved in the research and development relating to the Wisdom Cube. Along with other… side projects."
Kesselring. The Sakura ships wondered if this person had any connection to the Iron Blood fleet. Her name definitely sounded so. Akashi would have to do her own snooping if they wanted more information. Atago and Taihou though were more than concerned at the powerful position she had over both Emile and the whole fleet.
"For now though, all I can do is oblige her wishes. The rest of the letter says to test the 'experimental' munitions." Emile pointed while reading his letter before noticing something else written, "Wait what's…"
"Hmmm?" Atago hummed leaning inquisitively along with her fellow curious Sakura vessels.
Emile noticed a small little footnote at the end of the letter and began to read it out loud, "Have you had any inter… okay!" Emile then frantically folded then letter, hoping the ships next to him didn't read it. Atago and Taihou didn't seem to notice as the had a blank look of confusion. They both looked at him eagerly to know what that was about. Emile didn't dwell on the topic and instead directed their focus back to the crates.
"Alright I guess we have to... Akashi!" Emile addressed the cat with a commanding tone. The startled cat snapped in attention. The Commander's sudden sharp tone surprise Atago and Taihou, "Make preparations for tomorrow's carrier exercises. Transport these munitions to the ammo depots."
"Nya! I'm on it," Akashi obliged as she began to order the manjuus around. The little bird creatures scrambled to begin the transportation process.
"Come on you two, let's help unload these crates. Later, we're going to have to fill out the paperwork," Emile ordered his two secretaries. Atago gave him a 'hai' and a bow as she went to work. Taihou though had other things on her mind.
Emile yelped as he was sudden lifted off the ground then had his upper body squished between Taihou's breasts. Emile's cheeks went red but Taihou had no perverse intention. She just wanted to ask something.
"Are you sure you can trust this Kesselring? Taihou has a bad feeling about this," Taihou spoke with genuine concern in her voice. Taihou could sense that something was off with the relationship between Emile and his higher up.
Emile sighed while trying to turn his head to address the worried carrier but her massive breasts were in the way. However, he decided to speak anyway, "Let's put it this way Taihou, I feel safer around you and the other similar personalities around the base. Kesselring is a woman with big ideas and a scary imagination."
Taihou did not like the sound of that. She protectively cuddled her Commander closer in response. It took a few minutes for Emile to escape her pillowy prison. Then a thought suddenly resurfaced in his mind, where did he put his shopping bag?