September 2nd, 1945
× After a bit of a weird morning. I acquired a new ship. USS Omaha. The cubes seem to store the most recent memory of the girls associated with the ships, but will always revert to original defaults as per the ships construction. An example of this is the weak plating that was used to piece together the hull of the Omaha. Omaha herself told me that 'since her ship was laid down in the 20's, there was bound to be leaks.' I'll be keeping a note of that when it comes to other ships I encounter. On a related note, it seems the girls and their ships, while sharing a corporeal plane, can feel one another and affect one another to a certian degree. Two examples were Omaha's ability to remove the heat shield from her engine and use it to weld the plates of her hull to waterproof it. She seemed normal as if the process made no physical change in her senses or form. However, a joke I had made seemed to strike a nerve, suggesting that fundamentally altering a ship outside of full retrofits may involve a similar augmentation to the body of the girl. The joke being that if we welded the excess steel to the bow to increase armor thickness, she would grow top heavy. Her reaction leads me to believe this is the case. As such any and all augmentations will be meticulously thought out on how it would affect the girl before implementation as to not lower morale among my growing fleet. However, weapons seem to be a constant. And any changes may affect the overall combat effectiveness of the rigging these girls possess. As such, no changes to weaponry will be permitted. I will however be experimenting with shell types and even prototyping special shells, bombs, mines, and other munitions once materials are obtained. We are surviving off rations and rainwater. It works for now. But with Sakura being the closest theater, we need a big fleet to liberate the Sakura and get trade going with them. If we can gain a foothold in Sakura. We may be able to get their wartime facilities going. Land based invasions would be key to ensuring a complete victory. Our foothold in Sakura would allow us to bombard ports under siren control. Once liberating the ports, we can hopefully stand a chance against the sirens further inland. But for now, everything is going smoothly. I've earned the name commander in both union and sakura tongue. To think a civvy like me would be graced with such an honor. × Isaac bound his journal and put it in the toolbox he had brought. He now sat on the bridge with Omaha standing on the bow, piloting her ship with ease.
"How is everything checking out?" Isaac yelled from the bridge.
"Everything is green, Commander. I even feel a bit lighter now that my hull's patched up." Omaha responded.
"Good. Lets take the rest of the day and do a partol around the island. By the time we return, we will have a new ship to welcome back into the world." Isaac spoke as Omaha joined him on the bridge.
"As you say, commander." Omaha said as her ship reacted, beginning a slow cruise around the relatively big island.
Isaac kept an eye out for anything on the horizon. Luckily he saw nothing.
"I guess we're to far out of the way for them to really care." Isaac thought aloud.
"Or maybe they let you escape? Sirens are notorious for testing and experiments. Maybe this is another one." Omaha spoke.
"No. They could have killed me long before i got to this base. They don't care. Which means that we have the element of surprise... up until we attack a siren or a ship controlled by them. It seems like they have a mental connection that works like radio. Or least the drones do, so im told. If we attack a drone ship, any others will be alerted and will come to attack. Seeing as my boat wasn't attacked on the way here, they're just set to attack those who attack them. So on patrols, do not fire unless fired upon. We can't afford to take on a fleet of drones with our numbers so few." Isaac explained.
"You make a good point, commander." Omaha agreed.
"I try, Omaha. I try." Isaac breathes a sigh.
"Whats wrong, commander?" Omaha asks, slightly concerned.
"Its... nothing. I need to rest for a bit. I'll be in the crew quarters. Come and get me if something happens." Isaac said as he wallked off the bridge and down below deck.
"Hmm. Akashi, you there?" Omaha asks over the radio.
"Nyaa? Omaha-san, what can Akashi do for you?" Akashi asked.
"You've been with the commander longer than me. He had a sad look on his face and just left to lay down in the crew quarters. Is there something he's not telling me?" Omaha asks.
"Yes. His family is dead, nyaa. And from the sounds of it, thats all he had in terms of people he was close to. He's lonely and grieving, nyaa." Akashi spoke over the radio.
"Oh. I see. Well, i guess i should check on him, make sure he's okay." Omaha said as she put the reciever down and walked below deck towards the crew quarters. She found Isaac asleep on one of the cots, his cheeks stained with tears.
"I will help you, commander. Those sirens will pay for what they have done. I swear on my hull and name that our guns will bring your enemies to their knees, or we will die fighting." Omaha spoke softly as she covered him with the softest blanket she could find.
"Sleep well, commander." Omaha whispered as she headed back to the bridge.
Isaac awoke to the sound of Omaha's horn blaring, announcing their arrival in port.
"Where did this blanket come from?" Isaac thought to himself before shaking his head and standing up.
"Omaha!" Isaac yelled as he walked through the halls towards upper deck.
"Yes, commander?" Omaha asked as she popped her head out from the bridge.
"Get me a list of things you feel you need done before our first sortie. I'll take time while youre in port to get as much done as i can." Isaac said as he climbed the ladder to the top deck.
"Sure thing, and I'll help you out. After all, nobody knows my ship better than me." Omaha spoke in a cheery tone.
"Yeah that would be helpful. I dont have blueprints of your original construction so I dont have your full hull design commited to memory.
Omaha blushed.
"I hope you dont expect me to just show you. Youre gonna have to find every bit on your own. I'm just gonna be there to make sure you dont do something you shouldn't." Omaha spoke as she faced away from Isaac.
"This one is a bit strange." Isaac thought to himself.
September 2nd, 1945
× it is nearing 8pm in the pacific. Omaha's trial and maintenance run went by without too much of a hitch. Radar and Sonar need adjustment and tuning. The gun mounts are also a bit stiff, according to Omaha herself. Might try to find some grease to lube the bearings before turning to machining new parts. The less capital material I use, the longer we can go without aid of another nation. As for me, I'm about to recommission my first battleship. Hopefully this one is as nice as the two i have currently. Its been almost a month since the world as we knew it came to an abrupt end. I miss my family. But i know theyre in a better place. I wonder if they are watching me from above. ×
Isaac rebound his journal and slipped it back into the toolbox before making his way to the computer. He pressed the 'finish' button. In the tube this time was a busty young woman who immediately caught Isaac's gaze, earning him a harmless glare from Omaha.
"It seems you struck gold again, commander. That is Rodney. The battleship that, along with King George V, sunk the Bismarck." Omaha spoke.
"I see. So we have a powerful ally now, yes?" Isaac asked.
"Yes. She is one of only 7 ships capable of mounting and using 16 inch guns. One of the big seven." Omaha explained.
"Hmm. That sounds like a lot of material I guess I'll find out just how much when we go on her maintainence run." Isaac spoke.
"Since when was it us?" Omaha asked.
"Battleships are weak when they are alone. So I'll have you help us with your radar and sonar. After all, we need to act like a fleet in order to stand a snowballs chance in hell of fighting the sirens." Isaac thought aloud.
"You have a point. Just... keep your hands to yourself. She is a lady after all." Omaha huffed as she walked off.
"What is up with her?" Isaac whispered to himself.
Akashi shook her head.
"Shikikan is dense. Nyaa." Akashi spoke as the tube opened. Isaac was there to catch the fair-skinned battleship as she fell forward.
"HMS Rodney?" Isaac asked as Rodney opened her eyes.
"I thank you for the assistance, kind sir, but please release me. It is unsightly for a man to touch a lady in such a way if they aren't at least acquainted." Rodney spoke, her tone was soft. Isaac released her into a chair where he finally got a good look at her. She had long white hair that was braided around the back. She worn a low cut dress that barely covered her voluptuous chest. Her skirt rode down to her knees while the body was almost form fit to Rodney's hips.
"I can see you eyeing me up, you lecher." Rosney spoke as Isaac finally saw her rigging. 9 gun barrels pointed at his head. One side held her main turrets and half her hull while the other side contained all of her secondary batteries and the other half of her hull.
"My apologies. I'm just not used to being surrounded by women. Akashi and Omaha can tell you I'm not what you think." Isaac protested.
"Shikikan is okay, nyaa. He is still learning." Akashi spoke on his behalf.
"I see. Well, commander. Mind telling me what is going on?" Rodney asked as he rigging shimmered away.
"Sure thing. Let's talk while we take a look over your ship. Any repairs should be made before we leave drydock." Isaac spoke.
"Aye. That is agreeable. Lead the way." Rodney spoke.