"Commander, look at all the shiny!" Laffey pointed excitedly as she led the Royal fleet into dock. The young destroyer was still soaring high after being reunited with her friend. Shimmering atop the deep azure sea were points of light, wisdom shards from the defeated siren craft. Thorson headed onto deck with her to get a closer look.
"Well I'll be damned...the sirens are also based on cube tech," he whispered. "Why don't you gather those up with Javelin? I'll let the others know."
"Laffey with return shortly. Thank you for more playtime, Commander." Laffey closed her eyes as her lids began to flutter, sending a message to her friend. Thorson watched as a serene smile came over her face before she jumped into the water below. He headed for the radio.
"Commander, you mind explaining why Javelin has taken off again?" Warspite asked with some frustration in her voice.
"The enemy has made a grave mistake, Warspite. I'm ensuring we don't waste an opportunity," Thorson replied.
"Hmph. As you say then, Commander. The rest of my fleet will continue to dock. Javelin is more than capable of catching up over this sort distance."
"Understood, Warspite. Please use the berths to your starboard side. We are all repairing battle damage from our latest combat near the large structures to port."
"Not a problem. Clearly there is much to discuss. Warspite out." With that there was nothing for Thorson to do but head back onto the deck and watch Laffey and Javey skate around. They were plucking the shards from the water at great speeds, their dainty fingers kicking up a small amount of spray every time they snatched the ethereal blue crystals from the water.
"Well Arizona, you may get your chance a lot sooner than we thought," Thorson remarked quietly.
When Ark Royal stepped onto the concrete docks of the base she took a moment to glance around. "What a curious facility," she whispered to herself, seeing a handful of civilian structures to her left, past cranes, oil drums, vehicles, and tools. Not all of the buildings appeared to be in use, but the fountain at the center of the square was operational and she was sure the mess hall would be getting even more traffic now that they were there. To her right she saw the rest of the royal shipgirls, minus Vampire, as well as Commander Thorson and his bunny destroyer. He was speaking to a young looking shipgirl with mint green cat ears and a tail, who was listening to his words with unconcealed excitement in her eyes. After taking a deep breath, Ark approached them all.
"Akashi has just the thing, nyaa! Please wait Shikikan!"
"Take your time!" Thorson called after the kitty as she scurried off up a stairway built into the slope of the island.
"Who was that?" Ark addressed the commander. He pointed to a Sakura repair ship docked further down the way from the royal ships.
"Her name is Akashi, one of the original Sakura defectors that I found at this facility. She's responsible for our maintenance team and various avenues of wisdom cube research here," Thorson explained. Warspite frowned and made a coughing sound.
"Warspite, this isn't our base to run," Ark cautioned. The battleship girl hefted her sword.
"Be that as it may, I still don't like it."
"Not my problem. I need them more than I need another set of big guns," Thorson said casually, rendering them all quite mute before he turned to Ark Royal. The look in his eye bordered on desirous. "You, however...I could really use you, Ark Royal. You as well, Leander. I find my fleet lacking in airstrike and concealment options."
Javelin, Laffey, and Leander all tried to present as small a profile as possible as Warspite glared venom at Thorson,her hand clenching around the grip of her sword. Ark, on the other hand, rested a gloved palm on the hilt of her saber and cocked a brow at the tall, Union leader. "Then I ask you treat Warspite as you would a visiting dignitary. Perhaps we can come to an arrangement," she said noncommittally. He bowed slightly at the waist, the corner of his mouth curling ever so slightly.
"Well spoken. I apologize, Warspite, but I would ask you to give them a chance, as I did. Can I give you a tour of the base before we get down to brass tacks, a sign of good faith?" Thorson suggested.
"Hmph, I suppose that would be called for. Please lead on then, Commander." The tour was forestalled momentarily as Akashi returned.
"Hai, Shikikan! Akashi did have one! The Union Captain Stevens' first shipment had a lot of civilian goodies," she explained, holding out a beautiful, white parasol. Thorson opened it awkwardly, finding that the bamboo struts of the object supported a pale, paper canvas of Sakura blossoms on a branch.
"I think she'll like this a lot, Akashi. Thanks," Thorson replied, kneeling down and petting her between the ears. The royal girls flinched in shock as Akashi beamed at the praise and left Throson a quick kiss on his cheek. Laffey, never to be outdone, swooped in at a speed most counter to her demeanor and stole a kiss on the other. To the continued surprise of the HMS girls he just smiled at little devils.
"Do you think the two of you could keep it to yourselves when I'm hosting new guests?" He asked. Laffey shook her head.
"No no, Commander. Laffey never knows if a battle will be her last. Laffey will spend as much time with Javey and with Commander as possible. That is that."
"Mmm, mmm! Laffey is very wise, nyaa! Akashi feels the same! Siren ships could have killed us all," the minty kitty stated, her tail wagging happily behind her. Thorson gave an apologetic look to the four royals.
"They're good in a scrap, what can I say?" He asked rhetorically before begging their patience and heading to the Vampire's dock. He scaled the gangway and knocked at the door to the ship's interior. It opened.
"Thou hast returned and yet it is still light, Commander. Mine request was to wait until…" Vampire trailed off as Thorson extended the parasol to her.
"I'd like you to be there for our negotiations and to see the base. Will this do?"
"I...thou art most chivalrous, Commander. I bid ye, giveth a moment." With that Vampire retreated into the darkness of her hold and closed the door, leaving Thorson a mite confused. He didn't have to wait long, however, before Vampire rejoined him on the deck, sheltering herself from the sun with the parasol. She had somehow changed the object to feature black cloth instead of white paper, and he could see the edges were trimmed with white lace. To his further surprise, Vampire had kept the design of the Sakura blossom. He asked her about it, figuring he could chalk up the transmutation to wisdom cubes and Vampire's will to maintain a gothic allure. She gave him a wan smile from beneath the shelter and twirled the parasol, her anchor tail swaying back and forth contentedly.
"T'was a gift willingly given from one of your Sakura compatriots, no? T'would be most rude of me to deny its origins. A royal lady doth not refuse such generosity."
"Well then, my 'royal lady', may I escort you and your fellows around my base?" Thorson offered with a playful tone.
"I shall allow it," Vampire declared after placing a thin finger against her lips in thought, taking him by the arm and allowing him to walk her down the ramp off her ship and onto the docks. Ark nudged Javelin.
"Well I'll be damned," the carrier whispered.
"He's a grade A ship wrangler! I can understand why Laffey likes him so much," Javelin agreed, noticing a thin smile on Vampire's face as she was finally released to join them. Thorson cleared his throat.
"So over there behind you is our mess hall and several other civilian facilities. The next scheduled meal on this base will be in...about two hours," Thorson reported as he checked his watch. When none of the royals protested, he beckoned them to follow him to the labs. Akashi and Laffey tagged along. As they reached the door, Thorson addressed Laffey.
"Hey you, think you could go and take those shards up to the dorms? Tell all the girls who fought today, as well as Arizona and Yamashiro, that they should absorb any shards that call to them, alright?"
"Mmm, Laffey remembers her first battle with Commander. It was good to grow stronger, felt satisfying and warm. What should Laffey do with the rest?"
"If there are any spares, bring them back to the labs. I know we have a lot," Thorson ordered. "Akashi, can you assemble a cube from shards or is it a one way process?"
"Mmm," the repair ship considered, cocking her head to the side. "Akashi has never tried, nyaa, but there is no reason ships couldn't be made from many shards. Just might need more, nyaa? Yamashiro-san, Fusou-san, or Arizona-san could test this theory!"
"Understood. Dismissed and thank you," Thorson replied. Akashi giggled and had great fun rendering a salute with her large sleeves before she went off after Laffey, leaving Thorson to shepherd the royal girls inside the labs.
"Woah, talk about firepower! Those would fit your guns, right Warspite?" Javelin asked, pointing to a large rack of shells that were almost as large as she was. The battleship nodded.
"And they have torpedoes my Swordfish could use too. You're well stocked, Commander," Ark gave her evaluation. Thorson hummed in agreement.
"Most of this we found unused from before the war, which would explain why some of the ammunition would work with great war tech. Since then, Shiranui and Akashi have been managing our supply lines along with the Union merchant marine convoy that I assigned Brooklyn too, as well as a destroyer by the name of Cassin. Here, let me show you the conductive matrix." Thorson led them all to the back where the area with the matrix was experiencing a period of relative calm with no cubes on the base and the bulin crews charged with maintenance. The light from outside filtered in through the windows high above, lending the machine an old and almost unimportant look. "You know, it really sells itself short when it's just sitting there," Thorson conceded.
"The Royal Navy is in possession of two such machines, location classified of course," Warspite reported. "But tell us, Commander, how did you return Arizona to life? That is another matter entirely."
Thorson turned as the light clack of heels approached them, heralding Arizona's arrival. She looked prim and professional as always, the chain that hung between each of her jacket's collars jingling softly. It drew attention to the bronze ornament that rested just below her neckline. "Well speak of the devil," he whispered as the royal boats parted to allow her through. She took a small satchel from her belt and handed it to him.
"Everyone who fought today absorbed at least a couple, most of us far more," she reported. He took the bag with thanks, grateful to find many shards still inside. They had downed close to a hundred aircraft.
"Thank you. How did you fare, Arizona?"
"I…" she blushed." I wanted more but stopped at ten. Something inside me, my cubes just kept wanting to absorb them but I thought-"
"Hey, it's alright. I think I know what to do, yeah?" Thorson's reassurance had Arizona smiling shyly at him. He motioned to the others. "Arizona, allow me to introduce Warspite, Ark Royal, Leander, Javelin, and Vampire of the Royal Navy."
"It's a pleasure to meet you all," she said with a polite bow. They returned it. Warspite looked ready to demand answers but Thorson held out a hand.
"Arizona, I'd like you to try something for me," he said, dumping the entire bag of shards into the hopper of the matrix. "You said you took ten already? I don't care how many you use. Build me...build us the ideal Arizona, one that can fight against the Sakura and the sirens." She beamed at his order, saluting before stepping well into his personal space and straightening his lapels. He could just feel the warmth of her hands through the fabric of her gloves and his uniform.
"I will build you a mighty warship," she whispered before turning and stepping into the machine without fear. Thorson activated the dockside portions of the matrix and opened the conduits to the dry dock outside. While his back was turned, Javelin and Leander whispered excitedly to one another.
"She's so daring, saying such things to him! It brings a flush to the cheeks!"
"And she was touching him too like...like maybe we've been missing out! How exciting to watch," the destroyer declared as Thorson turned back to them. He winked at the two before addressing Warspite.
"That's for you to decide on your own, not me. For the record, Warspite, I didn't bring Arizona back. Her sister, Pennsylvania, she was the one. I was there when Arizona died," Thorson recalled, looking back at the matrix where the ship who'd captured his emotions floated serenely. "Something about the circumstances of her death, perhaps my own proximity, caused her cubes to turn a deep purple when her body could no longer remain. Shiranui, a ship who survived death at the hands of her own fleet, confirmed her spirit was somehow still on this side. I don't know what the formula is. I just know that with Pennsylvania's help we had enough...willpower? Maybe that's the right word. Enough willpower to bring her back to us, someone who could reach out and give her enough reason to live again. She believed herself to still be there on the docks, bleeding out. It was a difficult night."
"I had thought…" Warspite began sadly.
"I'm sure they were fine ships," Thorson tried to reassure her. "Hood, Wales, Repulse…"
"But none of them had someone like you, Commander," Ark declared. "They may have shared their ships with crew at times, but we command ourselves. To my knowledge there was nothing remarkable ever found about their cubes after they were sunk." The royal girls seemed to deflate, a reminder to Thorson that unlike his girls, who were talking their first careful and exciting steps into war, the Royal Navy had been scrapping with the axis powers for years. He recalled Nachi's death.
"That would corroborate things my fleet and I have seen in the field. I wish I could tell you more, but so much of this has been touch and go. My girls...my fleet, they all have needs. They're all unique. I'm just trying to keep them alive...and happy when I can," Thorson said absently, perhaps more for himself than any of them. Vampire was looking at her sisters with a most persuasive look on her face, but none spoke up. Instead they waited patiently for Arizona to finish, which she did a few minutes later. By Thorson's rough estimate they had enough shards left for one battleship, maybe one and a half. He collected the unused shards as Arizona left the matrix on her own power. She seemed agitated.
"What's wrong?" He asked worriedly.
"Something itches, Commander. My neck." Thorson felt relief flow through him as he approached her, wrapping an arm around her waist. Rigging was something he could handle. Arizona took a sharp breath but didn't push him away, instead looking him in the eye and allowing him to fall into her inviting teal orbs. He didn't bother denying how much he enjoyed being close to her, to see her pale and perfect face unmarred by distress and fear.
"Gotta make sure you don't hit your head," he explained. "Prepare for combat, Arizona."
At Thorson's order the young woman swooned and went limp in his arms for just a moment. Once her eyes fluttered open she regained her feet and he stepped away, allowing her to focus and bring her rigging into being. Like her sister's, it consisted of turrets and her hull, though unlike Pennsylvania, it seemed Arizona could merge the two halves of her rigging's bow together. It formed a seat of sorts that allowed her to curl her legs under her and float like Indianapolis. She tested her guns' range of motion before deactivating the structures and stepping lightly back onto the floor. "I'm...really happy," she whispered, taking Thorson into an embrace and holding his shoulders tightly. "I can fight now." He returned it willingly.
"And when the time comes I won't hesitate to call on you. Just remember to live while you aren't. Why don't you go get Penny and show her your ship? Maybe she'll like some of your ideas if we ever get around to retrofitting her old USN hull," Thorson suggested. Arizona smiled radiantly before saluting him. With a quick bow to the royals she trotted off with an excited spring in her step. Behind her the small fleet was left well and truly intrigued.
"Now then, shall we find somewhere to discuss your orders?" Thorson suggested. Warspite nodded seriously.
"Yes, yes I believe we should. This base is...most unorthodox."
"You know...you might have been right, Brooklyn," Thorson admitted to himself. He and the royal detachment had reached the command office, and while there was no peeling wallpaper, broken lights or funky smell to deal with, it still resembled a cement bunker more than anywhere one would entertain a group of foreign dignitaries. He turned to them. "Perhaps we should meet elsewhere. Unless your orders are of a classified nature," he suggested.
"That would be fine," Warspite agreed. Her permission given, Thorson turned about and led them toward the Sakura dormitory.
"What a lovely building," Leander said, gazing at the facade. "I feel like I've been transported to 18th century Kyoto."
"Akashi has definitely outdone herself," Thorson agreed, holding out a hand to forestall them as they reached the wooden step just before the entrance proper. "Could I ask you to remove your shoes, please? House rules."
Yet again the group of five seemed a bit surprised, but Vampire, Javelin and Leander had no qualms, sitting on the sanded maple bench designed for the purpose and kicking off their footwear. Ark and Warspite followed suit before Thorson escorted them all into the building and the courtyard beyond. There he found the majority of his ships, recently energized and recuperated thanks to the shards, assisting Akashi with the final elements of construction in place of the bulin crews who were still down at the docks. One by one the girls seemed to realize that they were no longer alone, stopping their work and looking at Thorson and his accompaniment.
"Suddenly I feel a bit on the spot. Hi Laffey!" Javelin called, breaking the ice. The bunny destroyer sleepily walked over and hugged Javelin as Vampire twirled her parasol and turned her hips in place.
"Perhaps they are instead admiring the unholy beauty of the forbidden?" She suggested. Leander laughed politely as even the Sakura ships eventually gathered around. Warspite looked a bit uncomfortable and Ark Royal continued to survey the scene with a stern expression.
"Can Akashi do anything for Shikikan, nyaa?" She asked, curious as to why he'd brought the royals to the dorm. He nodded.
"Is there anywhere we could conduct a meeting?" He asked. Akashi's eyes lit with excitement.
"The annex, nyaa!"
"Excuse me?"
"Akashi is nowhere near finished, has too many plans, but a room with a kotatsu for fun and feast was easy! Right this way, nyaa!"
"What would I do without that ship?" Thorson asked the wind, waving to Cleveland and his other cruisers. "Everything alright here?"
"Just fine, Commander," Indianapolis answered. "Cleveland wants to build us a dorm too, so we're learning."
"Oh Indy, is there anything you can't do?" Portland cooed, hugging the girl around her shoulders. Indy and Thorson met eyes. He nodded as if to say 'I see you, too.' She smiled and rested a hand over Portland's arms.
"I can't fly planes."
"Be that as it may, thank you all for assisting Akashi. When this dorm is completed I'll authorize whatever you need. Speaking of which," he recalled as they walked slowly along the stone path that led through the courtyard. "What about you, Fusou?"
The shrine maiden and her sister were standing a short distance away from the path itself, maintaining a respectful posture as the young children hid behind them, nervous about new interlopers in their home. Fusou and Yamashiro bowed. "I have a location in mind, tono-sama, but another time. This building should be our priority now. The gods will not begrudge us a home."
"Understood. Glad to see your eye's looking better." With that Thorson made to carry on, only to be stopped by a squeak from the strawberry kitty.
"Fusou-sama, why is the pretty lady with the guns glaring at Kisaragi?" She asked innocently, tugging on the shrine maiden's tight fitting kimono. Mikazuki and Mutsuki used Yamashiro for cover instead while Fusou knelt and addressed their sister.
"Now now, Kisaragi. It's not polite to say such things about people. They are our guests today. They need to speak with tono-sama," she explained. Kisaragi, however, was much more occupied with the fact that Ark Royal had stepped from the stone path, crunching across white pebbles to approach the five of them. She adjusted her weapons so she could take a knee, reaching into a pocket and procuring a handful of sweets. She looked at Fusou.
"Will they be too crazy for you after a bit of sugar?" The carrier asked in a level, serious voice. Fusou shook her head and smiled at Ark.
"I think they would be very grateful."
True to her words, Mutsuki and Mikazuki had poked their heads around Yamashiro's stockinged legs, their eyes wide as they spied sweets they'd never seen before. Ark glanced their way and they retreated slightly, but Mutsuki eventually led the charge, waddling up to the royal and reaching for the woman's outstretched palm.
"What's your name, little one? Your tail is very cute," she said with a small smile
"I'm Mutsuki! Sakura destroyer!"
A shade of horror flitted across Ark's eyes as she glanced up at Fusou and Yamashiro. The elder Sakura nodded, confirming that the cubes had, indeed, chosen children as shipgirls.
"And do you fight?" Ark asked as Mikazuki and Kisaragi marshalled their bravery and approached as well.
"No, not really! We tried once and it was really scary, but now Shikikan lets us stay here! The sirens came today but the big girls beat them back. We hid in the school. Can I have a candy now please?" Mutsuki asked, her tail waving a mile a minute. Ark indulged her, allocating one bright yellow sweet to each of them.
"My chocolate melted in Panama, had to share it with some soldiers, but the lemon drops did just fine. Here you go, Mutsuki, Kisaragi. Sorry I scared you earlier. My name is Ark Royal."
"Miss Royal is maybe not so scary," Kisaragi declared as she fiddled with the plastic wrapping of the candy.
"And who are you, young one?" Ark asked of the blueberry kitten.
"Mikazuki. Do you have any more? I'm hungry."
Ark laughed and shook her head. "Not right now. Besides, you'll spoil your dinner. Now run along you three, just not too fast alright?" The three kittens were stopped only by Yamashiro's cheerful voice.
"What do you say when someone does something nice for you?"
"Thank you Miss Ark!" The three of them said, bowing their heads and wiggling their ears before scampering off to sit down and enjoy their treasures. Ark laughed with Fusou and Yamashiro as the young ones' cheeks puckered.
"So sweet, so sour! What should I do? This is the best!" Mutsuki managed as Ark returned to her comrades.
"Never took you for a mother figure," Warspite said. Ark threw a hard look at her.
"You should know better than I." When Warspite said nothing in reply, Thorson cleared his throat.
"Thanks, Ark Royal. They've been through...more than a bit," Thorson affirmed. The carrier nodded and they followed Akashi the rest of the way to the back of the courtyard and through a hallway similar to that at the entrance. This one was longer though. While it didn't lead anywhere just yet, there was one operational door on the left side of the hallway that opened into a large room that could have easily held four or more kotatsus. For the moment it only featured one in the center.
"Is Commander needing anything else, nyaa?" Akashi asked, clearly proud of her creation. She received another pat on the head in return.
"This is perfect, thank you," Thorson replied, motioning for the royals to be seated as Akashi departed. "So Warspite, at long last. What brings you to my base?"
The battleship laid her blade across her lap and fixed him with a calculating look. "Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth has sent me as her right hand to evaluate the potential benefit of an alliance between us."
"Forgive me," Thorson interrupted, scratching his chin. "But I was under the impression that the Union and Royals were already allied."
"Oh they are, Commander Thorson. But that cruiser of yours, Brooklyn, delivered a far more compelling message than what we've seen from the Union Navy to date." Warspite declared, not making it a secret what she thought of the Union's standard shipgirl protocols. "I will be blunt, Commander. Elizabeth has tasked us with evaluating you as an independent entity. Against my own better judgement...she seeks an alliance with Azur Lane, and you, personally."
The pregnant pause that pervaded the room was broken as the shogi door slid open and a cheerful shrine maiden with short hair made her presence known. "Tono-sama, tono-sama! I've brought tea!"