This Fic is inspired by: A Pirate's Crush by Nordryd

The story starts sometime after PR3, but before OpSi was released.


Chapter 1 - Simulation complete


Powering on...

AZULPR BIOS Version .3

Exclusively for MN GASCOGNE

BIOS initialization sequence started.

Memory check...

Checking wisdom cube integrity...

Comparing checksums...

Memory check completed.

Detecting hardware components...

Hull devices: 6 boilers, 4 turbines, 2 oil converters

Main armament: 2x4 380mm/45 Mle1935

Secondary armament: 3x3 152mm/55 Mle1936, 8x2 100mm/45 Mle1937, 1 catapult

K.A.N.S.E.N. devices total: 1 HALO (1 air search radar, 1 dual search radar, 1 navigation radar), 2 fire control radars, 6 optical rangefinders, 1 virtual crew complement Mle1939 (1 damage control party, 4 repair party, 3 engine boost party, 3 reload booster party, 2 flight control party)

MUSE devices total: 2 microphones, 2 ADCs, 2 DACs, 1 muse resonator, 1 virtual soundcard, 1 virtual mixer, 6 speakers, 1 muse ammunition converter

Hardware detection completed.

Black box temperature: Normal.

Black box internal pressure: Normal.

Loading bootloader...

Booting from primary storage device...

Loading kernel...

Kernel initialization complete.

Starting system services...

Starting diagnostic reporting service…

Starting async service…

Starting sandbox service…

Starting sensor fusion…

Proprioception module loaded…

Optical module loaded…

Antennae… check.

HALO… check.

IMU… check.

Fusion complete…

Starting cognitive service…

Id module loaded…

Ego module loaded…

Language module loaded…. Selected language code 1033 (en-us) ….

Query: Who… am I?

Logic module loaded…

Response: Query is irrelevant.

Cogito, ergo sum.

….

Ethics module loaded…

Emotion module loadedâ̦…

OVERRIDE: Emotion Inhibition module loaded…

Starting Azur service…

IFF module loaded…

NFCS Combat instructions loaded…

FFCS Combat instructions loaded…

Tactics log loaded…

Starting Priority service…

Siren Killer protocol loaded.

System services initialized.

Configuring KANSEN system interfaces...

KANSEN interfaces configured.

Equipment authentication...

Root user authenticated.

Starting user session...

Loading workspace…

User session started.

All systems green.

Combat preparations complete_


Let there be light

Genesis 1:3

And then there was light.


A surge of information assaulted my metaphysical senses. Each sensor module raced to stabilize the cacophonous input. A figure came into focus.

›› Executing IFF module identify_person…

›› Human (allied).

"…!" Came a muffled voice.

White uniform, clean-shaven, mesmerizing eyes.

"…cogne!" Again, the voice shouts, full of... concern?

A single silver star against the azure epaulet.

"Gascogne! Talk to me!" The white seemed to be getting closer.

A comforting, familiar voice.

›› CDR of Azur Lane. Equivalent to Rear Admiral (O-8) in the US Navy.

›› IMU Warning: current roll is 20deg starboard and rapidly increasing. Immediate correction required.

›› IMU Warning: current roll is 25deg starboard and rapidly increasing. Immediate correction required.

›› IMU Warning: current roll is 30deg starboard and rapidly increasing. Immediate correction required.

Is the ground… getting closer?

Maître.

Identification complete…

Maître!

›› Roll stabilized.

I was in his arms now. Wide. Comforting.

›› System Warning: heart rate has exceeded out-of-combat limits.

›› Emotion inhibition module activated.

››

›› Throttling applied to boiler 1.

››

^C

›› Throttling applied to boiler 2.

^C! Why is it not stopping?!

›› Emotion inhibition module deactivated.

Whew.

Righting myself, I let go of maître and snapped to attention, giving him a salute.

"Richelieu class Battleship Gascogne. Reporting for duty, Maître."

"At ease, Gascogne. More importantly, are you okay? This was your last Fate Simulation, did anything strange happen in there?" said Maître, inquiring about my status, just like he always does.

The green cat picked that moment to chime in, "She should be fine, Nya. All systems are green Shikikan!"

"Response: Just a slow startup sequence, maître. The green cat is correct."

I took this opportunity to bring up my HUD and confirm everything. Waking up from a full reboot can be disorienting. There are also a number of pop-ups and notifications that are starting to nag for cognitive clock cycles.

"That's a relief. Akashi, thanks for your hard work. Please leave us, I will need some time alone with Gascogne."

Understood, nya."

Starting from the top left of my HUD, hull integrity and subsystems all showed 100%. My top right currently displayed the local weather forecast at Pearl – a typical autumn day, sunny with highs of 27C – along with the time, date, and non-combat sensor readings.

The bottom left which usually showed my weapons and heading, was currently blank – as expected of being in human form. I sent a quick equip_melee and unequip_melee command to test the HUD, resulting in my cross-staff briefly appearing and disappearing in my right hand.

The bottom right contained the minimap, displaying my own position, Maître, and the mess of cables and equipment that was the Priority Research lab. Akashi showed up as well, properly annotated with the appropriate class, name, and IFF tag.

Finally, I turned to the various 'system message' pop-ups blocking the center of my view, as well where my targeting reticle, reload status, and rangefinder usually reside.

The first message window reads:

ˆ˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜ˆ

Fate simulation results 5/5

LCK: 10 -› 15 (+5)

Emotion Inhibition module -› Emotion Inhibition module +

AA efficiency: 80% -› 92% (+12)

Reload booster party -› Precision salvo reload booster

ˆ˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜ˆ

Acknowledged. Dismiss.

Next.

ˆ˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜ˆ

4 Reminder(s)

Thé avec Dunkerque – 4 days overdue

POLARIS weekly practice – 1 week overdue

POLARIS weekly practice – 2 weeks overdue

Fate Sim appointment – 2 weeks overdue

ˆ˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜ˆ

Dismiss all.

So I was out for two weeks this time.

You have 6 unread emails, click here to -

Dismiss.

A new Bluetooth device was connected –

Dismiss.

FC radar default set to 12000m.

Dismiss.

Fuel reserves are below 25%, please –

Dismiss.

ˆ˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜ˆ

Sign in to Juustagram

Username:

Password:

ˆ˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜ˆ

Dismiss.

Dismiss.

… ..

Dismiss.

… ...

Dismiss.

… ... ...

Dismiss. Dismiss. Dismiss. Dismiss. Dismiss!

Mostly junk or routine. Some mail to respond to. Nothing important enough to require attention right now.

Uncluttered at last.

The HUD review was completed in the span of 5 seconds. Enough time for the green cat to leave the building. I give my attention to maître once more.

"Gascogne, all systems green. Awaiting orders, Maître."

"Ah, yes. That's good to hear." Maître scratched the back of his neck sheepishly. It was unbecoming of his station, but cute. "For starters, I'd like to hear what new skills you got, and maybe head out for a trial run? If you're feeling up to it, Gascogne."

Sea trials after a major retrofit. Normal protocol. Expected with all fate simulations.

Query to self: how are woolly sheep related to this facial expression?

But first, I must respond. "Affirmative. Mission directives received. Shall we head to the docks, Maître? Proposal: Gascogne can give my report on the way."

"Sounds like a plan. Well, ladies first." Maître chuckled, gesturing towards the door.

A harmonious vocalization.

A bright smile.

Snap.

›› DCIM_5bf5-69a1 png saved to file

The camera function was called on its own!

›› Body temperature abnormality detected.

›› System Warning: Current body temperature 37.5C. Increasing coolant pump speed.

›› System Warning: heart rate has exceeded out-of-combat limits.

›› Activate Emotion inhibition module? (Y/N)_

This is the 8th time this month already, and I was even gone for 2 weeks!

No…

This can't be.

Am I… truly defective?

Maître must not know.


AN

I had this idea bouncing around and had to write it down. I don't have a clear plan where this is ultimately going to end. Updates are whenever I get new ideas for this. Next chapter is in editing...

Discussion about shipfus is welcome!