Max Stared at himself in the mirror and scowled. The bruise to his head had disappeared, and while he no longer had an issue with his balance, he was having strange dizzy spells on occasion. Really it was a miracle that was all he had, what with surviving an attack on the island and a supposed attack by a Siren Isopod Landform. He had never seen them before, and didn't even recall seeing it, but he had recalled a number of stories about them.
They never ended well.
"Ha, a bit of dizziness here and there is fine, I'm not sitting around in bed for another day," he then muttered to himself before stepping out of his dorm rooms bathroom and heading for the door, but not before grabbing his duster that was now slightly damaged.
Heading out he got his first real sight of the base after the attack as he had been discharged from the medical bay the previous evening. The damage to the base was less than what max figured it would be. In some places there were craters, and there were holes in some buildings and burn marking all around, but the actual damage in most places seemed limited.
That was until he saw the harbor. Pieces of metal stuck out of mounts to the harbors sides, what were likely batteries of some kind at some point, while a number of ships in the harbor were burned and damaged, though none of them appeared to be sunk or truly crippled. It looked like repairs on a number of them were already underway as well. Staring at it for a moment he tried to understand what had happened.
How had sirens snuck up on an entire base so easily? And more importantly, what had happened to him when he was knocked unconscious?
He shook his head a second later and turned away from looking at the bay, heading back into the base proper and right for the contractors working area and the cafeteria therein.
It took a few minutes to arrive, but as max entered the cafeteria he found it surprisingly filled with contractors. The din of the room was omnipresent, and not a single person seemed to even notice his entrance. Which was fine by him.
Getting his food was simple, but finding a seat was not. It seemed that everyone in the room was split by their faction, with those few present from the Ironblood keeping to them and seeming to try to look uninteresting. Sakuran peoples were keeping to themselves to an extent as well, leaving most of the tables a mix of union and royals, much to Max's chagrin. Luckily as he walked down the tables he found one that just emptied a bare moment before and took a seat.
And promptly flinched as the noise in the room seemed to triple suddenly. And though he tried to ignore it and eat his food, the reason for the noise revealed itself in short order.
"Hey, can I sit?"
Max looked up to see none other than Admiral Hipper standing to the side of the table with a tray in her hands. "I can't stop you from sitting down, nor can I deny you."
"Idiot," Hipper muttered with a sigh and a roll of her eyes as she moved and sat down across from max. for a few minutes they both ate their food in silence, though the glares and murmurs of those at other tables was annoying, but finally Admiral Hipper let out a sigh. "So . . . Uh, look. . . I'm sorry."
"For?" Max asked as he continued to eat, sensing someone at a table behind him getting up very suddenly.
"For you getting injured. It's not exactly my fault, but if our people had properly explained a plan of their then-"Admiral Hipper tried to awkwardly explain, clearly trying to do so without revealing something particular.
Unfortunately she did not have a chance at continuing as the man behind Max who had abruptly gotten up stormed around the table and slammed a hand into their table while glaring at Admiral Hipper. "And what the fuck do you think you are doing here, huh?" the man asked rudely, his accent marking him as being from the union.
"Eating, why's it matter to you," Admiral Hipper responded, seeming very tense if the way she was crunching the handle of her fork was anything to go by.
"You think you have the right?" the man asked angrily, causing the Ironblood people at a nearby table to glare at him, one of them even getting up.
"Hey, you cannot speak to her like that!"
"Fuck you I can't! Who do you think is at fault here? Whose faction is responsible for all the damage to the base and the deaths that happened, huh?!" the man yelled at the others before turning his attention back to Admiral Hipper. "That's right, it was your faction. You arrogant Ironblood freaks and your creepy siren corrupted machines are responsible for all of this. You allied with them once, and this just proves it, proves that you still are!"
"We are not allied with the sirens!" Admiral Hipper declared as she stood up to face the man who was almost a full two heads taller than her.
"But you were!" The man countered loudly, causing much of the cafeteria to quiet and begin listening in if they hadn't been already. "You Ironblood whores were the sirens bitches for almost half the last war, and now they get a free shot at our base and the rumor going around is you are responsible. So what is it, some trick to weaken Azur Lane, to reclaim your position to the Sirens as submissive bitches out to kill humanity and-"
The sound of a glass striking a table somehow echoed out into the whole room, turning attention to Max as he sat there, his glass in his grip and against the table, and also covered in cracks. "The ironblood arrived the same day the attack happened. The bay's defensive guns looked destroyed, meaning they had likely been hit first. The Ironblood could not have possibly gotten such exact coordinates out as they had just arrived. Stop venting your anger at those who do not deserve it."
"Haah? You some sort of Ironblood lover, some siren spy too?" the man suggested as he turned to Max with a hateful look in his eyes.
"Hardly. I merely am trying to eat my food in peace, something difficult when you are venting anger and making mountains out of molehills."
"What the fuck do you know! You weren't there, how would you-"
"And where were you?" Max interrupted him as he set down his fork and stood up, his duster making him look quite a bit more dominant than he actually was. "I was out in the base doing work when the attack happened. I was nearly killed by a siren landform near the Royal Dormitories. Where were you?"
"I, I was uh, um,-"
"You are not dressed like an engineer; in fact your clothing is pretty fancy. So I'd guess you are a secretary, or a store clerk or something, right? I'm guessing as soon as the alarm went off you ran for a bunker, for safety, while the Shipgirls and marines fought, and died, to protect this place."
"You think I don't know that? My brother is among the dead, he is, dead!"
"How nice that he died so you could yell and scream and make a nuisance of yourself and disrespect his sacrifice then," Max stated as he pushed his duster backwards a bit, making it look like he was moving his hands into his pockets.
"You bastard!" the man yelled as he swung his arm back and then forward, tying to punch Max in the face with a painfully telegraphed strike.
Only for max to squat down and avoid the blow, grab a wrench from in his coat and stand up while swigging it, connecting the tool of steel to the tool of flesh's stomach. The man dropped to the ground in an instant, many others yelling in shock. But before they could act Max swung the wrench down and into the metal table, making a horrendous crash that made many flinch and even step backwards. "People are dead and injured, but unless you are part of the ones looking into this situation at the order of our boss, the Bases Commander, maybe you should all stick to what you can actually do, and let the ones capable of dealing with this issue deal with it so it never happens again. The Sirens could have had the entire base scanned and scouted months or even years ago, could have planned this attack months in advance. We do not know. Is yelling at others and pointing fingers and laying blame going to help bring people back? Or is it simply going to make it harder to work together to defeat them?"
The entire cafeteria was silent as no one dared move or act. Then, to everyone surprise the sound of a few slow claps could be heard, and everyone's eyes turned to them to find the Commander himself standing just inside one of the doors. "He is right you know. Throwing blame around will do us no good. Everyone has jobs to do, and as long as everyone does their jobs to the best of their abilities, we will come back from this, we will make the sirens pay for what they have done now, and in the past. Understood?"
Many people in the cafeteria, mostly marines but a few others, all saluted the commander and gave affirmation as he walked through the cafeteria and stopped by the Max and the man on the round. He then helped the man up, patted him on the back, and whispered something into his ear. The man seemed to tense and ran off yelling something about apologizing later, leaving the Commander to turn to Max and to Admiral Hipper. "However, even if you are right in your words, I would say using a wrench to prove your point is going a little far. Come to my office in half an hour, understood technician?"
"Understood," Max said with a nod.
"Good. And Admiral hipper, I will need you to come to my office as well to understand what led to this foolishness. Understood?"
"I- I guess," Hipper said as she looked to the side away from the commander.
"Hmm, it seems I was not clear," The Commander said as she shifted his body to fully face Admiral hipper, standing tall and proud as he looked down at her. "Admiral Hipper, I have given you an order, Respond!
Admiral Hipper flinched and then tensed, standing to attention a second later. "Sir, yes sir. I understand."
"Good. I will see you both in half an hour and no later," The Commander said before glancing around the cafeteria and speaking up loudly. "And If I hear anything about any more violence between anyone on the base, there will be punishments put out that reflect the crimes. I hope I do not need to say this again, but we are all here in this together. We rise, or fall, as one. Do not disappoint me with petty instances of fisticuffs!"
Many in the cafeteria looked sullen or ashamed as the Commander walked out as quickly as he appeared, leaving the cafeteria in a much quieter r state as people went back to their food.
After a second of standing there Max let out a sigh and put away his wrench before taking his tray and walking it back to the kitchen counter.
"Awfully reactive today," Joseph said as Max walked up, a smirk on his lips as he spoke. "I see you are not leaving us for the land of the dead just yet."
"I was just unconscious. Small concussion, nothing major," Max said as he handed Joseph the tray.
"Perhaps, but I'd still be sad to hear if you keeled over boy. Also, try not to make such a scene in the cafeteria, even if it is to protect a lovely young lady more than capable of protecting herself. If that man had been a marine he's have turned that around on you in an instant."
"I'll, try my best," Max said as he turned to leave.
"Hold on Max, one question. Di you really almost get taken out by a Landform?"
"Supposedly."
"Supposedly?"
"I don't recall myself. I didn't see it. I got knocked out by almost getting crashed into by a siren aircraft."
"Goodness, you don't do things in half measures, do you?"
"Not like I was trying to get dive-bombed," Max said as he gave Joseph a wave as he left, doing his best to ignore the glares some in the cafeteria were giving him as he left.
And within less than a minute of leaving, he realized he was being followed and turned to Admiral hipper standing before him.
"Why did you do that?" she asked instantly.
"Because he was being an idiot," Max answered simply, making Admiral Hipper look slightly aggravated.
"No, not why did you hit him, why did you try to cover for me like that?"
"I wasn't covering for you explicitly, I was just pissed off by his idiocy,"
"Bullshit!" Admiral hipper stated. "You could have simply just watched it play out, so why didn't you when you are supposedly scared of us?"
Max looked at Admiral Hipper dead in her eye, though with his glasses she could not tell that, and let out a sigh. "So, you know that huh? Who squealed?" Max asked before sighing and turned around from her. "No, I probably know. Damn royals."
"Hey, we're talking don't walk away from me!" Admiral hipper exclaimed before Max had even taken a step away from her.
"So walk and talk. We've been ordered to the commander's office and I don't feel like being late as it could cost me my job."
"GRRRR, asshole," Hipper grumbled as she began walking beside Max away from the building. "So, you going to answer my question or what?"
" . . . I did not simply stand by because putting him in his place was the right thing to do."
"Fine and what about being afraid of us, what is that about?"
"Common sense," Max said as he took a few steps and then stopped, turning to Admiral Hipper. "All of you, regardless of what nationality you hail from, or what class you are, are capable of unparalleled destruction. You wield weapons once commanded by crews of hundreds as single entities. You react faster than any human could, are near invulnerable to anything but weapons fire of a similar caliber to what you wield. It's only sensible to fear what could be unleashed by all of you if you wished it."
"So you were polite and decent to me, out of fear?" Admiral Hipper asked. Her tone was odd, a mix between disbelief and hurt.
"No, I was polite and decent to you because it was the right way to act," Max said as he half turned away from her, only for his gaze to linger in her direction. "Just because I fear your kind, doesn't mean I need to be rude to you. Just, cautious, careful . . . . . wary."
"Then, why are you supposedly an utter ass to the Royal navy?" Admiral Hipper asked, seeming very confused by what she was hearing. It was so different to what she had heard, and while it all somehow tracked to how max acted in front of her, what she heard from others made it strange.
Max's visible scowl of disgust made Hipper then take an involuntary step backwards. "The Royal Navy, are monsters. They are responsible for the death of my mother both by actions and deeds, and they are also responsible for the painful, subservient and crippled existence the Maple Dominion finds itself in. their pompous fake acting of being nobles and other individuals in some sick monarchy construct is also . . . . It rubs me the wrong way."
"Geez and I thought I had issues," Admiral Hipper grumbled out in shock.
"I am fully aware my opinions upon the royals are not shared. I just don't care," Max said as he began walking again. "Every single one of them is arrogant and far too prideful for their own good, acting like their some kind of nobility from a bygone age that the rest of the world is trying to move past it."
"That sounds ridiculous," Admiral Hipper stated, sounding more than a bit conflicted. "I get we're pretty powerful, but there has to be more to it than that, Right?"
"There is, but it doesn't matter," Max said with a shake of his head. "It's not a simple fear that will just go away, not with what I know and have seen."
"That doesn't answer the question, idiot," Admiral Hipper said as she continued to glare at Max.
"You are right, it doesn't," He simply replied as the two of them moved in silence until they reached the door to the commander's office a few minutes later.
Both of them simply stood there for a few seconds, staring at the simple wooden door. Admiral Hipper seemed calm, and by compare Max looked highly worried, but was surprisingly the one to step forward and rap a knuckle on the door.
"Come in," came The Commanders calm voice from within.
Max let out a sigh and opened the door as he stepped to the side, allowing admiral hipper to enter first, and then followed her a bare second later.
The office was simple, a desk by the window that faced the door, a table between it and the door with two couches to either side of it, bookshelves on the walls to either side covered in both books, files and memorabilia of various kinds. What was most curious and concerning however was that the commander was not alone. To the right of the door a blonde Ironblood woman with a powerful presence stood casually against the wall, while to the left was a petite royal navy woman sat on the couch drinking tea daintily.
"Commander, we have arrived as you ordered for our debrief," Admiral hipper said as she took a formal attention stance with a salute.
"I can see that," the commander said as he stood up from his chair and looked at both of them. "Mister Grey, please close the door behind you and flip the latch to the side of the knob."
Max turned around to do so and noticed the latch in question was connected to a small screen embedded in the door that made it look like a security feature of some kind. Something that did not bode well for his continued work. With a light sigh he did as told however and then turned back around when he saw the small screen turn blue. "The latch is blue now, sir."
"Good, the room is secure then, I am happy you understood its purpose," the commander said before letting out a light chuckle. "Though I suppose it should not be a surprise with your ability."
Max tensed ever so slightly but said nothing, making the commander stifle a chuckle.
"You can both relax and be at ease, requesting you here because of your altercation in the cafeteria was merely a well-timed cover for what I actually wish to speak to you both about," He explained as he glanced to Hipper. "Admiral Hipper you, as well as many of your faction, have already had the situation with the table explained to you, correct?"
"It has, yeah," Admiral Hipper responded awkwardly.
"Good, then that makes this simple," the Commander said as he looked at Max. "Maximus Grey. When you repaired the broken Holo-table in the Ironblood Dorms, did you find anything odd about it? Such as parts that looked like it did not belong within it?"
"Not particularly."
"Even though a piece of Siren technology was hidden within it?" Bismarck spoke up suddenly, her expression neutral. " a piece that you specifically and correctly Calibrated?"
"So the Ironblood are somewhat culpable for the attack then?" Max asked as he looked at The Commander, as if unwilling to look at Bismarck.
"They are, and are paying for it already," the Commander confirmed with a nod. "however, we do need to discover the last piece of the puzzle. Your ability to calibrate it as you did."
Max was silent for a moment before suddenly swearing. "Fuck, so that was why she was asking about the table?"
"Who?" the Commander asked.
"Prinz Adalbert," Admiral Hipper said simply. "She is one of our mechanics, and before the attack she wanted to speak to him, so I introduced her to him. At the time I hadn't known why."
"She is the one I asked to find the truth of the calibration," Bismarck then spoke up. "The response she received made it seem unlikely that the mechanic before us knew what he was doing, and was why we did not consider the holo-table to be showing accurate data. A fact that has since been proven incorrect."
"I see," The Commander said with a nod as he continued to look at Max "I would like to know how you managed to calibrate the siren piece of technology, how did you know what it was?"
"The damn ability I have," Max said with a sigh. "If I touch something mechanical I can understand its construction. It does not separate pieces however, so I have to give it some thought often. It's why some people call be a savant despite not being one."
"That's how you fixed everything in the dorms so quickly?" Admiral Hipper asked in surprise. "You just touched things and knew what was wrong with them?!"
"It takes some time, but it's pretty easy to tell when things are broken by looking over how something is built I admit, but I still need the skills to fix the problem itself."
"And what of Belfast's words that you apparently can do the same for Shipgirls?" The commander asked causing both Admiral Hipper and Bismarck to look at him in surprise. Though their expressions on the matter were radically different, and the fact the Royal in the room was seemingly unaffected by the news was curious.
"All I see is their Technical Vessel Data," Max said simply.
"Can you prove it?" the commander asked as he glanced at Admiral Hipper and Bismarck.
"N-no way, that's way too personal!" Admiral Hipper exclaimed angrily.
Bismarck however stepped forward and held out a hand toward Max silently.
Looking at her hand Max very slowly touched her palm for a second. "Displacement of 41700 tons, 241.6 meters long with a Beam of 36meters and a draft of 9.3. mx speed of 30 knots with a compliment od 103 officers and 1962 enlisted men to man the systems, including guns of 38ch, 15cm, 10.5cm, 3.7cm and 2cm, with totals of 8, 12, 16, 16 and 20 respectively," Max spoke almost mechanically before removing his finger from Bismarck's palm. "I can go into further detail if you'd like, but I would prefer not to."
"Well, that depends," the commander said as he looked to Bismarck. "How accurate was he?"
"Perfectly," Bismarck answered. "If a simple touch like that gave him such information, I am not surprised he was able to calibrate that piece. I believe we should proceed with our plan."
"I agree," the commander said with a sigh as he grabbed his computer monitor and turned it to show a screen showing a number of names on a list. "Maximus Grey, I would like you to assist us in looking into some siren technology they have still, however, Azur Lane is directly opposed to such a thing being done without any direct oversight. So I managed to convince the admiralty board to allow such things if they were done in large groups with supervision from all factions. I would like you to join this group."
"Would this be, in addition to my maintenance division work, or replacing it?" Max asked calmly, finding the idea strange, but little else as he knew nothing about what it would entail.
"In addition to, and not right away as we are still forming this research group," The Commander said. "It is still a week or so from officially forming, and would be made up of the intellectually and mechanically skilled in both research and development from all factions, with both humans and Shipgirls within it."
"Is this a volunteering thing, or paid?"
"Paid," the commander answered instantly.
"Which is to be considered the more important?"
"Both will be important; however at current maintenance work will be your priority, considering the state of the base."
"Understood, then feel free to put me up for it," Max said simply.
"Excellent. You will receive more information when things begin rolling for project Overwatch."
"That is what it is called then?"
"Yes."
"That sounds dumb," Admiral Hipper mumbled, her voice still being heard clearly by al present however.
Though no one seemed to comment on it.
"Very well, my business is concluded here, correct?" Bismarck spoke up in question, her eyes looking solidly at the commander even as he typed upon his keyboard.
"For now yes, we will speak later about the other issues," the commander said without looking away from the tilted screen.
"Then I shall depart," Bismarck stated as she moved toward the door, glancing at Admiral Hipper as she did.
"I'm staying. I have business with him still. I need answers."
Bismarck simply nodded and opened the door, then left without a word, the door clicking and locking behind her.
"Right, then onto the second point of business," The Commander said with a sigh as he glanced at the Royal siting down. "Mister Grey, Queen Elizabeth has a few questions she would like to ask you. And due to the situations at current, I must ask that you respond to them properly and with the least amount of, friction, possible. Understood?"
"I will answer, but that is all I guarantee," Max said, his tone colder than before at the prospect.
"Goodness, as rude as I have been told," Queen Elizabeth said with a sigh as she put down her teacup. "Do you not think a servant should be a little more respectful?"
"I am no Servant, especially not to a Royal Whore!" Max growled out, his tone catching everyone in the room by surprise.
"There is no need to be so violently brutish," Queen Elizabeth stated calmly as her expression returned to normal. "You are from the Maple dominion, which is a dominion of the Royals, would that not make you a servant of our glorious nation?"
"Stop getting yourself off and tell me what you want squirt," Max growled.
Crack.
Max, the commander and Admiral Hipper looked down to find that Queen Elizabeth's cup was now sitting on the table on its side, teas spilling out onto the table as the handle, or the remains of it, was crushed within Queen Elizabeth's hand. She looked furious, like she would explode and could kill at a moment's notice, but slowly began taking deep breaths until she looked almost calm a minute later. "You will learn your place, and respect, later. I have been told of what transpired between Duke of York and yourself from Belfast, but I would like to hear the story for your hatred of our Glorious nation and navy."
"Why?" Max demanded instantly. "Its history and nothing will change that."
"I merely wish to hear it myself to confirm some details that stick out in a, concerning way," Queen Elizabeth stated.
" . . . . Fine, but it's not going to change anything, especially what your forces chose to do," Max grumbled. "My mother was killed during the battle of Hudson Harbor by one of yours, Duke of York I now know by her words, when I was a baby. She was trying to kill a siren that was chasing my father and others, and blew the civilians apart as she did. The royal navy left Hudson harbor after that, a ruined husk of its former self, and never worked to help the region recover. The Royals never did a damn to help any place in the Maple dominion, during that war, after it, or during the next one. Whether it was famine, economic issues, or being bombed by forces from the sea, they never did a damn. Only constantly demanded more resources from all across the land."
"How do you know that?" Queen Elizabeth suddenly interrupted.
"Seriously?" Max asked before instantly answering. "It was all anyone grumbled about for years. No matter where you go in the Maple Dominion you hear people grumbling about the Royals and their treatment of them. Constantly inflating taxes, demands of increased resources including food to be shipped back to them, a lack of infrastructural and economic support, the list goes on and it's been like that for years!"
"So you hate the royals because of their unjust treatment of your country and for killing your mother then," Admiral hipper solemnly stated in understanding.
"For that, and more," Max grimaced as he glared at Queen Elizabeth. "Do you know how many pompous nobles from the Royal territories live in the Maple dominion? Before the wars there were only a handful to govern and the like, now, there are almost a hundred all across the land to make sure quotas are met. All of them are arrogant bastards that are little better than leeches sucking the life from the land. Just like all nobility!"
The room was quiet for many moments. Admiral Hipper was wide eyed in shock at what she had heard, while Queen Elizabeth looked solemn and the Commander unflinching.
"Is, is that all?" Queen Elizabeth asked warily.
"Excuse me?!" Max responded in indignation, prompting the Commander to raise a hand.
"I believe her Majesty is merely asking if you are done speaking or not. She is not thinking little of your words."
"Y-yes, quite so," Queen Elisabeth stated quickly.
"Yes, it is," Max said slowly, his body obviously tense even while his coat hid most of it. "Is that everything, sir?"
"No, Her Majesty has a couple questions still I believe."
"I - I do, yes," Queen Elizabeth said, seeming a little shaken as she spoke. "Do you recall anything from the attack as you left?"
"I have already told the medical staff that I have no memory of anything between the siren aircraft crashing and waking up in the medical wards," Max said coldly.
"We understand that, but the situation is odd," the Commander spoke up as he tapped on his computer screen an turned it, showing an image of the area outside the Royal Navy dorm where a massive beetle like machine covered in spines and guns laid in pieces against a wall, some parts of its armor looking like they had turned to slag while others looked like they had been cut by a knife as if made of butter. "This is an image of the Siren Isopod Landform you were told had crashed just after the plane did."
"Okay?"
"It is believed that Duke of York destroyed it," The Commander began. "However, none of you, yourself, Belfast, or duke of York, seems to have any memory of what occurred."
Without being able to see Max's eyes it was difficult to discern his expression, but the way his head suddenly tilted back did a good job of showing his confusion. "That doesn't make sense. If I got knocked out by the concussion wave of the blast that is one thing, but I do not believe two Shipgirls were either knocked out, or somehow killed a siren Landform without being aware of it."
"I agree," The Commander said with a nod as he turned his monitor back. "The situation makes little sense, so we are trying to discover what actually happened. Something that is difficult when those part of the event seem to recall nothing. Ah, I am not blaming you of course, it is simply, strange."
"It is, but I am sorry, I do not recall anything," Max said before tilting his head to the side. "No, that is wrong, there is one thing, but I do not know if it is related."
"And that is?" The Commander asked.
"When I awoke my body felt tingly, not like I couldn't feel anything, but like I could feel things too easily. The lights in the room were also rather bright even through my glasses, and my lips felt numb. I figured these were the results of medications or something of the like though, so I had not said anything previously."
"That does sound unrelated and likely medicine, but I will mark it down nonetheless," The Commander said as he tapped away at his keyboard. "Your Majesty di you have any other question for Mister Grey, or will you be letting him get back to work?"
"You have been supremely rude to a number of our best and most respected. Would you be willing to apologize to them for such?" Queen Elizabeth asked carefully as she looked at Max.
"Apologize to royals?" Max asked with a scoff. "Hell no."
"Then I have nothing else to say to such a Rude man who will most certainly learn his place in the coming future," Queen Elizabeth stated with a huff as she looked away from Max.
"Good," Max responded in turn before looking to the commander. "If I am not being charged for the cafeteria then, permission to return to work, sir?"
"Granted. Do not cause a scene like that again however please."
"Understood," Max said before turning, marching to the door, deactivating its security lock ,and leaving with Admiral hipper following him out barely a second later leaving Queen Elizabeth and the commander alone.
"Servant, was what he said true?" Queen Elizabeth asked after many minutes of silence.
"About what?"
"The situation in the Maple dominion," Queen Elizabeth clarified. "I knew that it was having some trouble for years due to the war but . . . . I believed it was due to damages, not others actions or inactions."
"It's true. The Union has been trying to help them for years, but politics is making it difficult," the commander explained. "The wars were difficult, and the Royal Navy needed vast quantities of resources to keep both its own people fed, and to continue with the various war efforts themselves. The Maple and Sand-peak dominions ended up taking most of the slack to do this, and of the two the Maple dominion has far vaster and richer lands. So inevitably, much of their produced goods and resources were, and still are, sent back."
"So his anger is not unfounded it would seem," Queen Elizabeth said with a heavy sigh. "And here I was hoping the issue of his rude behaviors could be solved with a simple pointing out of foolish ideals and minor issues."
"Even if he did not have half of his reasons it would not be that easy," the commander said with a shake of his head. "You have never spoken to anyone from another nation who is not navy, have you?"
"No, I have not. Why does that matter?"
"It shows. The Royal Navy may have a good reputation, but the Royal Territories as a whole, let's just say a number of nations under the banner do not share the same opinion."
"I see. . . . That will need to be fixed."
The commander chuckled, making Queen Elizabeth look at him. That will not be a simple thing as most of the Royals leadership is quiet fine with the current status quo, and your power is mostly limited to Naval matters. No?"
"Be that as it may, as a leader of my people I must do what I can to make our nation the best it can be, and such inequality of wealth does not bode well for the future."
"Yes, especially not with the new war against the sirens starting up.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"So, what further business did you have with me?" Max asked as he and Admiral Hipper came out of the Main administrative building.
"What?"
"You stuck around because you said you had business with me still, right?"
"Oh, right," Admiral Hipper said as both of them stopped a bit away from the door by a tree. "So, you are afraid of us Shipgirls."
"I had said as much, yes."
"But you, treated me like you did before, not because of fear, but because you thought it was right, right?"
"Yes?" Max said in confusion as to where this line of thought was going.
"Okay so. You might not fear us, if you know, or, learn how that were more similar to humans than you think, right?"
"I already know how similar Shipgirls are to humans; you just have a whole lot of extra abilities, power and durability."
"That's not what I'm meaning and, ooh, just," Admiral Hipper took a moment to pause and calm herself, looking on the verge of losing it before she managed to calm herself down and looked at Max right in the face, since she couldn't see his eyes. "Do you want to go for coffee with me tomorrow?"
"Yeah, I can go for a simple coffee to help wake up," Max answered simply, seeming to aggravate Admiral hipper even more.
"No, not like that I . . . . I'm asking you out on a date!"
Xxxxxxx
Authors note: alright, considering some of the lore thrown forward her I should probably explain a bit. The situation between the royals and maple (UK and Canada) is a worst case scenario concept of what would happen if Canada did not get independence when it was supposed to, and then was unable to as ww1, and then the siren war occurred. There's a bit more to it, but that's it in simplicity, so unlike the US becoming free by violence, Canada decided to wait it out, and it got bad, worse when the royals needed resources, and Canada has lots.
Hope that makes sense and I hope everyone likes the chapter, and its whiplash.