Authors note: kind of an odd chapter, continuing the events of the last. It also feels odd to me for some reason, but after staring at it for a week I still can't put my finger on it, so I guess it'll be good enough for now.
Hope everyone enjoys this!
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Normally when ones boss tells them that they need to talk to you, it could lead to a couple things. Being reprimanded, fired, or congratulated for something tend to be the most common, and while Max had only a handful of jobs throughout his life before coming to Azur Lane, he had had his unfair share of employers reprimanding him or letting him go for menial things. Of not being friendly enough, not coming in on his days off, not taking his shades off, not staying late without pay.
He had had a history of unfair treatment in many workplaces, so the fact that the Commander of Azur Lane not only allowed him to go back to his dorm to fetch a new pair of glasses, but also allowed him to do so unguarded and unescorted, was surprising
That did not stop a few Shipgirls who thought they were sneaky from shadowing him back to his dorm room and on the way back hours later. They didn't do anything else though, and he sort of heard what sounded like a couple of Shipgirls bickering in the distance about him, so he wasn't going to let it worry him.
Not yet at least.
When he arrived at the Commanders office he found Belfast waiting outside the door where she soundlessly led him in. To where the real trial would commence.
The Commanders office was packed. The commander was in his seat at his desk with the leaders of Factions, Bismarck of the Ironblood, Queen Elizabeth of the Royal Navy, Richelieu and Jean Bart of the Iris Libre and Vichya dominions, Avrora as the Northern Parliaments representative, Vittorio Veneto of Sardegna, and much to his surprise New Jersey of the Eagle union seemingly as its representative. The only factions not present were the dragon Empry and Sakura. And these were just the Shipgirls who were arrayed at the back of the sealed wall by the Commander. To Max's right stood Admiral Hipper, Prinz Adalbert, and Hornet, while to his left stood Vestal beside a couch with Duke of York upon it, still looking deathly pale and tired, as well as a Union woman with gray hair and glasses, and a woman who was petite and garbed in a leotard with a long coat overtop, the colors of which marked her as likely from Sardegna.
With a clicking sound coming from behind him Max knew that Belfast had looked the door, and the slightest shuffling of feet made it clear she took up a position beside the door right behind him. He was trapped on all sides by Shipgirls with the power to decimate entire cities, and he was the centre of attention.
"So, should I prepare for chains to be slapped across my wrists?" Max asked, his gaze fixed on the commander as he spoke, utterly serious in his question.
"That would be safest," the glasses wearing union woman said analytically.
The commander however shook his head. "Not only did you not do anything but what you requested when you went back to your dorm, you told off a Siren to their face. That is not something many humans like us could do. So as far as I am concerned I need not worry about your allegiance. Just your existence."
"I see," Max said as he thought over the commander's choice of words before a few parts stuck out. "You have stared down a Siren?"
The commander stood up and unbuttoned his collar, pulling it down enough to show off a rather horrible blackish teal scar on his neck. "Yes, back during the end of the first Siren war, back when I was little more than a fresh faced recruit of the navy, fighting alongside Shipgirls to save humanity and the world," He stated as he sat back down and levelled his gaze at max, seemingly ignoring his shades. "Just as we now do the same."
"I see. Then, I take it from your words, you want some kind of answer for what that woman said?" Max asked before speaking almost immediately and letting no one else speak. "Honestly, it all sounds like crap to me, and I've never seen her before in my life."
"I understand that, however her words, and your biology, do bring a number of questions up that must be considered and understood," The commander said as he pressed a button somewhere on his desk, making the metal plated windows hiss, as if adding some further security to them. "You understand, yes?"
"I would have to be pretty damn dumb not to at this point considering some of the glares I am getting," Max responded. He had intended to sound comical, but instead it sounded concerned, making the Commander glance around the room.
"True. Then to start this, Maximus Grey, is there anyone here who you do not know the name of?" Max aid nothing as he glanced to the two to his left, making the commander sigh. "Of course. They are the Union Aircraft carrier Shangri-la, and the Sardegnan Sub Leonardo Davinci. Both of you, please stop making Mister Grey more uncomfortable than this already is."
"Respectfully commander, I do not believe I can do that," Shangri-la stated clearly. "If that man is some form of Siren Weapon, he should not be spoken to; he should be locked up at simplest, or dissected at best."
"I agree," Leonardo stated with a nod. "If he has some kind of power over us, he needs to be dealt with before the sirens reset him into their weapon."
"A little extreme don'tcha think?" New Jersey spoke up with a mixed expression on her face as she looked at Shangri-la.
"No, I think it is not far enough," Shangi-la responded sharply, making Veneto lightly cough.
"Even if I, may be of a similar mind, many of us are not aware of all the details of what has occurred or led to this situation. Perhaps, we should fix that before arguing amongst ourselves about the man's fate?"
"The only one who is deciding anything about him is the commander!" Admiral Hipper snapped, making many, including Bismarck, glance at her. "What? You all think we have any say over the Commanders employees?"
"Hipper, you are beyond yourself. Reel it in," Bismarck stated clearly.
Admiral Hipper looked like she wanted to say something, but did not, taking a literal step back and scowling.
"Even if her choice of words was a bit direct, Admiral Hipper I correct," the Commander said, his tone like a blade on a sharpening stone, becoming harder and sharper with each word as he spoke. "Mister Grey's fate is my choice, I merely decided it was best to have all the factions know the situation and hear your opinions to perhaps hear alternate options to what I have considered."
"And what, may we know, is your correct decision before hearing our mere opinions?" Richelieu asked calmly, her choice of words making it clear she did not like the current direction the conversation was going.
"Mister Grey was already slated to join Project Overwatch once it begins when the last of the factions arrive. Recent events merely make his being part of it more important."
"Part of it, not under its direction?" Jean Bart asked.
"Yes."
"Commander, if that Siren wench's words are to be even partly believed, he is responsible for Duke of York's current ill health," Queen Elizabeth spoke up in a commanding tone as she turned her gaze on him, now harder than it had been in the past. "If he is a siren he deserves nothing but scorn and fire for what he has done."
"And what have I done?" Max spoke up, making everyone look at him.
"You did whatever it was to Duke of York that-"
"And what was that?" Max asked, interrupting Queen Elizabeth. "Neither me, or her, recall what happened during that attack. I might have done something, but she could have done something too. Unless proof is discovered one way or another, you are making decisions out of assumptions."
"Yes, that would be the case, which is why I would like to confirm everything here and now," The commander said as he looked to the couch. "Duke of York, please recall your meeting with that siren, Empress III, and what led up to it to begin."
"I, will do my best" Duke of York said she, in surprisingly detail, retold of the events of Hudson harbour to the whole room. Though it took longer than it could have as she was not speaking fast, her body still very tired it seemed. By the time she was done many in the room were glancing at Max, but said nothing.
"I see," the commander said with a hum before tapping on his computer keyboard. "Duke of York. Is this the man who yelled a you?" he then asked as he turned his screen, allowing duke of York, ad Max, to see an image of a man.
"Yes, that was the man."
"I see," The commander said as he turned to Max. "Your father, correct?"
"Yes, though he's pretty young in that picture, and looks sane," Max replied, earning a number of confused looks.
"Why would you insult your own blood like that?" Veneto asked, sounding insulted by his words. Though when one considered how heavily the Sardegnan's relied on family, it was understandable.
"Because it's the truth," Max said with a shrug. "My old man is insane maniac who is always spouting how Shipgirls will be the end of humanity, and that Both the crimson Axis and Azur Lane were insane."
"So he is the real reason you spouted such unilateral hatred for my home?" Queen Elizabeth asked, with a smile.
"No, everything I said about you royal Fucks was my honest opinion, and one shared by most people from the Maple dominion. We hate you; my dad just hates everyone and is insane about it.
"Now hold on, how do you mean insane?" New Jersey asked curiously.
"He regularly tries to convince people to fight against Shipgirls, claiming them as evil," Max said, before grimacing as a memory came to mind. "Crap, now his words about the sirens being stronger and better start making sense. He literally worshipped them but tried to hide it."
"That is some rather important information to just drop now of all times," Bismarck commented neutrally.
"I only recalled it now, and he only said it once when I was really young," Max countered, making Jean Bart take a step forward.
"And how are we to know you do not serve them then when one claims you as its kin?"
"How are we to know you are not the Ironbloods pathetic little puppet instead of an actual leader?" Max stated coldly toward the Vichya woman, making her twitch, and a few gasp. "We don't. All we have is your words, and the Ironbloods. And just like that, my word is that I have never met that woman in my life, and I feel nothing for her whatsoever."
"And you think that means a damn thing?" Jean Bart asked aggressively. Only to be stopped when the commander raised a hand.
"Enough. We are confirming information here," the commander said as he looked at Max. "Do you have any idea what the Siren Empress III was perhaps meaning when she tried to command you?"
"No. she could not have been talking about my, ability, as it does not work that way," Max said honestly, making Richelieu speak up.
"This ability, it is the one we have been informed of that allows you to understand mechanical structures, correct?"
"Yes."
"Including that of us Shipgirls vessels?"
"Technically yes. But all it gives me is technical information."
"You are sure of this?" Veneto asked calmly. "You have only met our kind recently after all, no?"
"If you want proof, I can give it," Max challenged.
And much too much surprise, Veneto nodded and walked up to Max, holding out one of her hands daintily. "Then, if you would prove your abilities merit?"
Max nodded and gently took Veneto's hand for a moment. "Vittorio Veneto, Second of the Littorio Class of Battleships. Laid down on the twenty eighth of October 1934, launched on twenty fifth of July 1937. Standard displacement of 40723 tons, length of 237.76M, Beam of-"
"Th-that is fine, I understand you do not lie," Veneto said with a bit of pink on her cheeks as she backed up to where she had been before.
"Hmph, the grand leader of Sardegna is embarrassed to have her specs spoke," Jean Bart Commented bluntly.
"Enough, you have the proof that Mister Grey's ability works as he has said," the Commander said with a sigh. "It works through cloth such as gloves, yes?"
"Yes sir. The thickest material it has worked through was a pair of leather work gloves and a second pair of gloves for warmth when I was repairing a car in negative thirty seven degree's."
"That's not very cold," New Jersey commented, earning a poke from Avrora.
"He means in Celsius."
"Oh . . . how cold is that again? Celsius is weird"
"Around negative thirty four degrees in Fahrenheit," The commander spoke up, making New Jersey shiver in horror at such a temperature. "More importantly, I believe there is one last thing to consider. Vestal."
"Yes Commander," Vestal said as she looked to Max and smiled. "Mister Gray, may I ask you a couple questions?"
"About?"
"The days after the attack on the base. "you said when you awoke, your lips felt tingly, correct?"
"Yes, I figured it was an odd side effect of medicine."
"I see. One of the few times when Duke of York awoke sane, the first time, she mentioned something similar."
"And you think they are connected?" Max asked, seeing where Vestal was going.
" I believe that it is possible that perhaps some part of your biology may have an unspecified ability in regards to we Shipgirls, something you would not have had an ability to find out in the past," Vestal said as she stepped toward Max and stopped in front of him before holding out small open vial. "Would you please spit in this?"
Max did so without issue or complaint. "Testing Mucous membranes I take it?"
"Yes. I should know in a few days for sure if your body holds any other abilities, just to be safe and certain.
"Alright, please inform me if you find anything as well," Max said, just as he noticed that Bismarck was staring at him.
"Hold a moment Vestal," Bismarck spoke up, garnering attention from the room before looking at Max. "You, have begun Dating Admiral Hipper, have you not?"
"Wha- Lady Bismarck that-" Admiral Hipper began to exclaim before Prinz Adalbert stopped her from continuing.
"We have, just started a relationship in that vein, yes," Max responded slightly awkwardly.
"Then I believe what you are doing is meaningless, Vestal."
"You do not believe his body will affect anyone I take it?" Vestal asked.
"No, I believe the opposite," Bismarck said as she looked at Max, and then at Admiral Hipper. "I have been informed you did very well in leading a force against Siren forces a few days ago, Hipper."
"Uh, thank you but-"
"I have also been told that you did so well, those with you were surprised. Very surprised."
"S-so? Everyone can have a good day."
"True, however those you deployed with did report that during the mission, you mentioned that your lips tingled a bit."
Almost every person in the room looked at Admiral Hipper, this piece of information being of great note to many.
"Admiral Hipper, have you kissed Mister Grey?" Vestal asked almost instantly.
"Wha-, no, no of course not, who would, I mean, it would be, and that, it wouldn't-" Leading to Admiral Hipper instantly turning into a gibbering mess.
"What are you saying Bismarck?" Queen Elizabeth demanded.
"If their lips tingled, is that not perhaps a direction to investigate?" Bismarck replied as he looked back at Admiral Hipper. "Hipper. If you did not kiss, him perhaps you shared a drink, or did something else that could cause a minor transfer of mucous?"
Admiral Hipper froze completely, giving Bismarck a change to look at Vestal.
"If his ability is as you believe, would something such as that cause some kind of effect?"
"I cannot even begin to fathom what sort of effect could occur if any," Vestal stated seriously. "And no, we should not begin experimenting here or without proper planning and safeguards."
"I believe we should do exactly that so we know what we are dealing with," Bismarck countered as she glowered at Max. "We must now what he is capable of, especially if he is to be of potential use to us."
"Bismarck, you are going too far," the commander stated suddenly, his voice seeming to echo through the whole room.
Bismarck however was unperturbed. "No, Commander, I believe I am not going far enough. Considering what we know, I believe the answer is already clear as to what is going on here. I believe, this man must have kissed duke of York, or perhaps their lips merely touched during the Siren attack, perhaps when she moved to protect the weak human, and that his strange ability supercharged her in some way. Even without my history of Siren powers, I feel this should be obvious at this point. It merely needs to be proved," Bismarck said as she took a step toward Max.
"Bismarck!"
Only for a single work from the Commander to make Sever Shipgirls, New jersey, Queen Elizabeth, Hornet, Vittorio Veneto and even Richelieu to suddenly half deploy cannons or weapons, pointed right at Bismarck.
She moved no further, but continued speaking while staring at Max. "We heard that Sirens words. Heard the command she tried to give you. Kiss her and make her your loyal slave, was it?"
"The ramblings of a mad woman," Max said nervously under Bismarck's gaze.
"The Sirens are not mad, merely alien to us," Bismarck said as she stared at Max for a few seconds before smiling, and then humming for a moment. "Few humans can stand under my gaze unflinching. You are the fourth, so perhaps Admiral Hipper is not wrong in defending you after all," she explained before stepping a step closer, despite the weapons aimed upon her. "Prove you are not the Sirens toy and kiss me. Whether I turn rabid or not, will decide your fate."
"Lady Bismarck!?" Admiral Hipper exclaimed, right alongside many in the room going wide eyes ro opening their mouths to deny her.
Only to lose the chance to as Max responded. "No."
"So you accept that you are a danger then?"
"Of course not, I just refuse to do something so foolish as to endanger everyone in this room with uncontrolled experimentation and testing," Max said seriously.
Bismarck smiled and slowly turned around to glance at the Commander. "Commander. As one of the ones behind Project Overwatch, I would like to suggest that Mister Grey not merely participate as a member of project Overwatch, but as a ranking lead."
"What?! Have you gone mad Bismarck?" Jean Bart exclaimed in outrage. "We cannot have a Siren monster in charge of research and –"
"He managed to fix Siren technology as if it was nothing, without knowing it was siren technology," Bismarck stated, interrupting Jean Bart with a smirk on her lips. "And in addition to fixing many pieced of the base as a technician, he created that electrical weapon that with one mere hit, seemingly fully knocked Duke of York out of whatever was ailing her. Something that Vestal had no true idea how to do. Yes, I t may be mere fluke, or luck, but results are what matters here."
"And what if those results then are given to the sirens?" Leonardo asked as she glared at Max.
Instead of Bismarck answering however, it was the Commander. "Some of you who have just recently arrived may have not been given the whole image, but Project Overwatch is meant to be a united research front. Scientists, engineers and the inventive from all nations, and lots of life. That includes, Shipgirls." He let his words sink in for a moment before sighing. "I agree with your suggestion Bismarck, but to what degree I will decide. For now. This meeting is adjourned, and I would like everyone except for Mister Grey to leave my office."
"Servant, that is hardly proper or safe," Queen Elizabeth stated instantly.
"I agree," Shangri-La said with a nod, earning other motions of agreement from any of the other Shipgirls in the room.
"Well, that is unfortunate, because I was not asking," the commander said stoically as he stood up from his desk while pressing something, causing the door to the room to unlock and open all on its own. All of you but Mister Grey, leave."
The Shipgirls, clearly upset over his decision, but seeing no alternative, gave their goodbyes as they let. Some with more worry, or snark than others, and in a few minutes Max found himself in the room with the commander and no one else. And then the door closed on its own as the Commander sat down in his seat.
"Take a seat Mister Grey," the Commander said as he let out a sigh. "As you can see, there are many who do not trust what we now know, and therefore, do not trust your existence."
"It is not surprising sir," Max replied as he sat down on the couch.
"Oh?"
"The great masses of people always will fear what is new and unknown to them. Humanity feared the shipgirls when they were first created, and it was only major propaganda campaigns that got rid of that fear."
"There was more to it than that, but that is true. I severely doubt a mere campaign of words will change their opinions of your, potential existence and potential parents identity, however."
"I am aware of that . . . Sir, if I may, how many Humanoid Sirens have been encountered thus far?"
"You do realize that is classified, do you not?"
"I do," Max answered simply.
The commander smirked for a second. "Many have been seen that are Humanoid, often leading siren battlegroups. The Explorers and Trackers for example. But I'm willing to bet you are meaning ones that speak, of which that number is much lower. Tester Beta, Observer alpha, and Purifier. Three."
"So that one. Empress III, mentioning Arbiters as the name of a group is entirely new then?"
"Correct. Do you know something?" the Commander asked neutrally.
"I do not know her, or any by such names. I have never seen her before in my life before her appearance," Max began to say. "However. When I recall her appearance, and her words I feel like something has been lost and forgotten. Something that shouldn't be recalled in the first place."
"I see. . . . that is, admittedly slightly damning you realize, yes?"
"Everything that happened last night is damning," Max countered with a sigh as he looked at the table for a few seconds in silence. "When you allowed me to return to my room and get new glasses and a shirt bit of rest I took a shower. And my mind wandered and thought."
"Showers tend to do that," the commander said with a nod, recognizing this was a mere precursor to what was about to be said.
"The idea I could be some kind of siren weapon, or perhaps some kind of hybrid thing, while absurd and horrible, does make a number of things, including my eyes and ability, to make more sense than they ever did before."
"So you are admitting you could, be a Siren being of some kind?"
"Anything is possible, and my eyes do not make it easy to simply wave away. Not after I 've seen a siren with the same eyes," Max said as he took off his glasses and placed them on the table. "It does not change my thoughts on the matter though. She did not raise me, so I feel no compulsion to do a thing she says, I feel no care for her opinion, and I see her, all Sirens, as merely an enemy of humanity. As my enemy."
"I see. . . . And what do you think of the Shipgirls?" The Commander asked, looking straight at Max and his vibrant flaming eyes. Though their effect seemed rather muted.
"I have already said my feelings on them. Fear."
"Of what. Tell me of what makes you fear them so? It cannot be their mere power, for many humans in the past have held comparable power, so why do you fear them?"
" . . . . It's their potential," Max said after a few seconds of silence. When the commander did not speak he then realized how he was expect to further explain. "Maybe it's my power, but whenever I have looked upon Shipgirls, even in pictures, all I can see initially are autonomous weapons masquerading as people. And yes, I am fully aware they are not merely autonomous, they are people, but the thought is still there. They wield the power of tools that before needed crewing by hundreds and could send devastation across leagues. Shells, bullets, planes and bombs and torpedoes, weapons of war, able to send off en-masse by a single individual. I can tell what they can do so I am wary of them, and when I imagine the fact that they are people, and people change, how long until humanity itself is thought to be no longer needed?"
"You believe they will turn around and conquer us?" the commander asked for clarification.
"No, at least, not intentionally," Max said with a sigh as he leaned back on the couch, his blazing eyes looking up at the ceiling. "it's well known what happened when Bismarck attempted to control Siren power during the inter-faction war between Azur Lane and the Crimson Axis, and everyone knows of the rumors of madness and corruption that plagued research groups during the first Siren war. I always worried, what would happen, if the Shipgirls, simply realized they do not need humans, and those stories always made it worse, made me wonder, what would happen if like humanity, they kept evolving, gaining more powerful weapons and capabilities, until they were beyond humanities ability to control?"
"We do not control them, the time when governments tried to do that is long past," The commander stated simply.
"Yes. Humanity tried and it did not end well, and now they get full pay, benefits and the like for risking their lives for humanity. But how long until someone tries again? How long until they get so strong they no longer need humanity to help them. I've always feared their potential as time goes on, their power and their willingness to use it so easily for humanity," Max stopped and sat up, looking at his hands.
"And now?" the commander prompted.
"If, if I am some sort of Siren weapon, I am now wondering in what vein? Empress told me to claim someone and make them my slave, does that mean that I could simply shackle one's mind to my command, or does this other power of mine that I might have do something far worse? Does it evolve them into madness like Bismarck almost did during the last war, or does it go further in some way? With my fear of what they could become, could I become merely a tool for them that will allow humanity to fall under their heel, or the Sirens?"
"Waxing poetic now?"
"I am being serious," Max said as he looked toward the commander. His expression hadn't changed, but his eyes flared up as he spoke.
"I know just lightening the mood," the commander said with a light shake of his head. "That is quite the philosophical worry though."
"I am aware. My fears have always been. . . . Partly unfounded, I admit. Meeting them of late has made it even more clear to me that my old fears were such, but they do not go away. The idea they could turn on humanity, conquer us or enslave us as easily as a child overcomes their parent's achievements; it never leaves the back of my mind. It's like I know something that I at the same time do not, and it influences my feelings and thoughts ever so slightly."
"Like deja-vu," the commander said, his tone neutral, but his gaze solidly locked on Max's.
"I guess? I do feel like that sometimes. More often as of late, but I figured it was just my ability acting up."
"It is not your ability," the commander said as he opened a drawer on his desk and took out an object, placing it on the desk and switching it on, making a low whining noise. "What I am about to tell you is secret kept by each nation and the higher echelons of their Shipgirls forces. During the first Siren war, there were times when the few leaders of the sirens spoke to Shipgirl forces. In most cases it was mere talk, mockery and the like, but at other times, they made comments, phrased their sentences, and spoke, as if things had already happened. As if we were merely a simple test. One of many."
"That's . . . unnerving," Max said simply. "So they have done this before?"
"It is not just that they have done this before. They have done this before, to us. To humanity."
". . . What, are you meaning, sir?"
The commander took a deep breath. "What I just told you is a High ranking secret, now, I will tell you one of mine, as a fellow man who has not only stared own a Siren, but told one off. I showed you my scar that I got in the first siren war. The one who gave it to me was a humanoid siren. Purifier. One considered the most dangerous to encounter. Shipgirls had only just been created, and there were none near where me and my allies, my bothers in arms, were deployed. We had to retake a harbour from Siren forces. Equipped only with machine guns, SMG's, and Anti-tank weapons. We lost a lot of good men, but we took back the harbour. Then Purifier arrived and everything was for not. My brothers, all dead, the Harbour and every ship in a d around it decimated, and what was not destroyed was being consumed by fire. I must have been out of my mind at the time, but I was alive, and angry, so I walked out into the open, right at Purifier, and aimed the only antitank weapon left we had at her, a recoilless rifle, and shot her in the small of her back," the Commander stopped and took a few deep breaths, his face slightly pale, making it clear to Max that the memories were likely hard to deal with even years later. "It did nothing but get her attention, and a second later I was hit by, something. I couldn't see it, but I assume it was one of her cannons turned and firing, but I just don't recall. I was sent flying to the ground, a shard of metal and fire in my collarbone as fire and pain spread across my skin. She then walked over and planted a foot on my chest and talked to me. Said I was foolish but plucky, or something like that, and laughed as I told her off, and then she said what I recall most. He looked at me and her expression shifted, and she said, 'oh, you are the one who will lead Azur Lane against us, guess I better not kill you or it'll upset this timeline!' And then, she yanked the shrapnel out of my collar, and shone some kind of light on me before walling off. I woke up almost two weeks later, and was told they had no idea how my scar was formed, or how I hadn't died, as there was no wound there."
"The Siren healed you, and said killing you would upset the timeline?" Max asked carefully.
"Yes. And it said I would lead Azur Lane. Despite that, at the time, it was not even a public existence. And while being the commander, I have seen things, been reported of things, and begun connecting the dots," the commander said grimly. "The sirens are not aliens, they are Time travellers of some kind that are using timelines as proving grounds for some ultimate endgame."
"That, is very different from what most people publicly think," Max said after a moment of thought. "Most people think they are aliens mocking us with our shape, or trying to take over by looking like us."
"Most governments want such thoughts to be the most prevalent, because it's easier to shift public opinion against them without issue that way."
"I see. . . . . Sir, may I ask why you think that is the truth?"
"Certain events of the past point to it, but the direction if vague, and I admit I am, probably getting ahead of myself as I have yet to find any true evidence to this theory of mine."
"But that sirens words to you . . .and old actions, point to it in your opinion?"
"Yes, and perhaps most importantly, you," the Commander said. "A New Siren, never before seen except by one Shipgirl, appears, and reveals your identity as something new, never before heard of or seen. If they were truly aliens aiming to conquer earth, they would not leave a tool or weapon for us to use against them. And if we truly are just a timeline they are using to check something, then what are you to them in regards to it? What exactly are they planning?"
" . . . . Um, I don't know."
"I know, sorry, I began wondering out loud," the Commander said with a shake of his head. "I'm sure you understand a bit of what I am trying to say though, yes?"
"Yes. . . .This, all of it is a chance to try to find the truth."
"Exactly," the Commander said with a smile as his hand reached out to the device on his desk, but stopped just shy of it. "And, again, everything I have just told you shall stay between the two of us,"
"Of course sir."
"Good," the Commander touched the device, making it stop whining before putting it away in his desk. "Now, I know that many will not like the idea, but Bismarck's suggestion of giving you a proper position in Project Overwatch does have merit. As such, tomorrow when the Sakura and Dragon Empry forces arrive, we will be gathering all of the people who will be part of the project together to get acclimated to each other and the facility. I will send someone for you tomorrow for that purpose, but until then, we are done here."
"Sir, then might I ask, what my fate is to be?"
"Nothing. Nothing is changing at this time. You have the rest of the day to yourself to do as you please. Rest, return to your maintenance work, it is your call. As tomorrow, Project Overwatch will begin ahead of schedule. Dismissed."
"Thank you sir," Max said as he got up from the couch and put his sunglasses back on.
"Don't thank me yet. You will be working with a number of people in Overwatch who clearly do not like you. It won't be easy."
"I take it you mean a number of those Shipgirls?"
"Yes."
"How many are going to be part of the Project?"
"An Advanced Ironblood blueprint ship will be acting as a sort of lead advisor for the project and other than her currently-" the command stopped, doing some math with his fingers for a few seconds before speaking. "Nine, is the planned amount. All Shipgirls with leadership, invention, engineering and research skills. There will also be many humans from each faction. Yourself included."
"I see. . . then, I might take it easy and prepare for tomorrow. Thank you for telling me, sir."
"Just do your best, Mister Grey."