A couple of days later.

I thought I heard voices in my sleep...

"Is she…"

"Not Kisaragi I'm afraid. Not even a 'she' It's a guy."

"A guy? I thought they found a destroyer."

"He is a destroyer. Let's just get him back to the naval district. I wonder what the Admiral's gonna think…"

I wake up in a hospital bed. It looked like the place had initially been a factory or a shipyard. After a while a woman in a mechanic's outfit showed up.

"Ah, so you're awake."

"Yep. Name's V-170 by the…" I paused. That's not my name "no wait my name is V-170. No, it's not V-170 it's V-1-Dangit."

"Interesting. Try spelling it out."

"M-I-C-H-A-E-L"

"And what does that spell?"

"V-170, FRACK! Why do I keep saying that?"

"You don't know?" I shook my head. "Everyone here is the spirit of a warship from long ago. You seem to be the spirit of the V-170 prototype, but have the memories of another life. And despite the fact you possess the spirit of a German ship, you seem to be American. Also, you're a guy, that's another thing. The rest of them are girls."

"Wait, the V-170's a German ship, do I have a swastika?"

She shook her head "actually you're from WWI, do you want one?"

"no, no I was just worried."

"Okay, just wondering. Oh, by the way, secretaryship Nagato wanted to see you when you were well."

"Can you give me directions?"

After making my way to her office. A blonde girl with big... ship antenna things jutting out of her head greeted me. This looks like a secretary.

"You must be Nagato, the mechanic told me you…"

"I'm Mutsu, her assistant. Nagato's over there, she's expecting you."

I sat in Nagato's office she had a much nicer set of… boaty... crown stuff she raised her arm in salute, and I do the same reflexively

"This isn't America V-170, you salute like this." She holds her right hand straight up; I follow suit. "Anyway, I contacted the German and American naval sectors. Germany doesn't want you, something about patriarchy or whatever. And the US would like to see you, except they're on the other side of the abyssal territory, so we can't get you to them, they can't pick you up, the Admiral has decided that you are to join this naval district and fight with Torpedo Squadron 6. One last thing. Your rigging, due to the relatively outdated engine and weaponry, had to be extensively modified. You are to train extensively with the modified equipment starting tomorrow."

"Rigging?"

"The boat stuff."

As I walked out the door, she called out to me "One more thing!" I turned around. "We don't have a men's room, so just watch yourself when you relieve yourself."

Phrasing! I could help but think.