"Wake up!" The voice urged. "C'mon, we need you, Commander!" I groaned, wanting nothing more than to go back to sleep. It was damn cold in my quarters, and I just wanted to snuggle up beneath the blankets and get warm again. But the voice was not having it.

"WAKE UP! WE NEED YOU!" Pamiat's screams snapped me out of the unconscious haze I had been in and dumped me back into the frigid world of the living again. I took in a ragged gasp of cold air as I looked around, trying to get my bearings. I wasn't in my quarters back at Azur Lane HQ, I was on the deck of a ship. Her ship.

Pamiat Merkuria smiled brightly at me as she patted my head. "There you are, sleepyhead! Hope my wake-up call did you good."

"Urgh…what the hell happened?" I moaned, my head still ringing like a bell as I fought to recall what led up to this. "I remember fighting...and then...an explosion…" The memories came flooding back in and I looked around for signs of the others. "...is everyone okay?"

The small cruiser smirked down at me as she helped me back onto my feet. "What a thoughtful commander you are." She sighed and shook her head. "Sorry to say, but your Eagle Union buddies are on the other side of this wall of ice. Just me and Avrora right now."

I didn't understand what she was talking about at first, not remembering any ice wall during the initial fighting. "What wall of-oh." Behind us was a massive blue-white glacier, too tall for us to climb over, and getting around it would take some time, given how far it seemed to stretch out. "This is going to complicate matters a bit."

"That's not all," Pamiat said as she came up beside me. "We've got good news and bad news. The bad news is that this whole region became a Mirror Sea after that iceberg showed up, and we can't establish contact with the Eagle Union girls."

"Fantastic," I muttered. "This just keeps getting better and better. And the good news?"

No sooner than Pamiat had opened her mouth to reply we found ourselves under enemy attack, pillars of water surrounding us from a volley of near-misses. Avrora pointed towards the source of the enemy

"The good news will have to wait, it seems, " she calmly stated. "First, we must get out of harm's way of the enemy's attacks."

Pamiat looked up at me, her hands on her hips, and declared, "We need someone to command us, so...do your thing!"

I looked between her and Avrora for a second before I nodded and got started. "Alright, then. Avrora, take point, but stay evasive, we need to hold out until reinforcements arrive. Pamiat, come with me to the bridge."

"Ura!" they both cheered before we headed off in our own directions. Avrora leapt off the side of the ship as Pamiat led me up the superstructure toward the bridge. She quickly hauled the door open and I rushed inside toward the holotable.

"What the hell is this?!" I exclaimed as I looked in stunned disbelief at what should have been the holotable. Instead of the touchscreens, holographic displays, and other controls that I was used to, I now found myself staring at an ancient, flickering CRT monitor surrounded by various dials, selectors, and switches.

"It's my tactical display!" Pamiat shot back as she dogged the hatch.

"From what century?"

"You callin' me old?!" she growled.

I was very rapidly losing my patience. "No, maybe you just really love antiques!" I barked.

Just as Pamiat opened her mouth to issue a scathing retort, more shell splashes blossomed around us, shaking the ship. We glanced at one another, and our eyes locked before we each nodded. Now was not the time for petty squabbling.

"Get us underway and then help me make sense of this thing," I ordered, and almost immediately, I could feel the ship starting to shudder as her engines rumbled to life.

Pamiat held up her hand as she dashed toward what appeared to be ancient communication equipment. "Be with you in a sec," she called out over her shoulder as she fiddled with the various dials and switches on her end. "Any particular course you want me to take?"

"Evasive for now, just keep our distance from those mass-produced Sirens," I called back as I tried to figure out the tactical display. After a few seconds of flipping switches and toggles, none of which helped, I set everything back the way it was and waited for Pamiat.

Fortunately, it wasn't long before she appeared at my side and began to explain this archaic device. "Try and keep up, Commander," she said in a sing-song, almost mocking tone, as she began identifying the various dials, switches, and toggles. "You use these to select your map grid, this one to lock it in, magnification settings are here, IR toggle here, and scanner switches are here."

I took in as much as I could, making a note of which did what, but I couldn't help but notice there was one lone switch that she hadn't identified. "What's that one?" I asked, pointing to it.

"That one?" Pamiat repeated, glancing down at the errant toggle, then staring at it for a worrying amount of time. "Huh. You know, I don't know what that does."

Without any warning, she reached out and flipped the switch. When nothing happened, she vigorously flipped it back and forth for a good ten seconds and it took all my willpower not to scream and bat her hand away. As nothing continued to happen, much to my relief, she set it back in the original position she found it in. "Oh well. Guess it's not important."

"What if it was important?!" I all but exploded. "What if it had been some kind of self-destruct or something?"

"Then we would've found out about it pretty quickly," she said with a fatalistic shrug. "Anyway, get a lock on the Siren's flagship for me, will ya?"

It took a few tries, but I managed to finally pull up the mass-produced battleship that was leading the attacking fleet. "Got it," I announced as I locked it into the system.

Pamiat gave me a congratulatory slap on the back. "Great! Now what do you recommend we do about it?"

Before I could answer her, I first needed to study the data that scrolled down the screen, grateful it was giving information in English as well as Russian. It would have added even more stress if I needed Pamiat to hang around as a translator. "We need to get some space, link up with the Eagle Union girls." I zoomed back out and began scrolling across the map. "We have a rendezvous point for them?"

"Not them," Pamiat said with a shake of her head. "Mirror Sea popped up before we could work anything out. But if we can make it to…here, we should be able to find some backup."

She pointed to an area to the southwest of our location, several dozen kilometers away. I idly wondered how exactly she knew backup would be there. Had that been our original meeting point with the rest of the Northern Parliament fleet? I zoomed out a little more to get a better picture of the overall situation. The meeting point was in the opposite direction of the Sirens, which was good, but I wanted to increase the odds of our survival as much as possible. "Alright…set course for the rendezvous point, but take us around the northern end of this iceberg here."

The diminutive cruiser looked down at the map, then up at me. "Sure thing, but…why?"

"It should break line of sight with our pursuers and force them into one of two options. One, the escorts will have to leave the flagship to keep eyes on us, leaving them vulnerable when they peek around the corner to find us. Or two, stay with the flagship but give us precious time to catch our breath."

"Not bad," she mused appreciatively. "Startin' to see why they say you're such a big brain."

"Thanks," I wryly grinned. "Now let's get going and have Avrora provide rearguard support."

"On it, Commander!"

It was a running fight all the way to the iceberg. Shell geysers erupted all around us, and both Pamiat Merkuria's and Avrora's guns barely stopped firing. They'd managed to claim a good amount of enemy ships, even a couple of cruisers, but the Sirens maintained their dogged pursuit. Only until the massive blue-white mountain of ice obscured the enemy from our vision did I allow myself a moment to catch my breath.

"Good job so far," I sighed as I leaned against the plotting table. "Now we wait to see which way they're going to jump."

Pamiat nodded as she gazed out at the frigid waters. "Which way are you hoping they go?"

"Hoping they stay back with the flagship," I replied, glancing back down at the screen. "The longer they aren't shooting at us, the more distance we can put between us and them and the closer we get to the rendezvous point."

"And if they decide to just gun it and come speeding around the corner?"

"Then we'll get a few escorts in the process, but taking evasive action and fighting will slow us down, giving that flagship a chance to catch up." And that was my biggest worry. While I wouldn't be worried about Avrora and Pamiat handling one flagship by themselves, with me on board the Pamiat, we were handicapped, and it would only take one lucky salvo to cripple the cruiser. And with the waters being as cold as they were, I had no qualms about my chances once that happened.

My hopes were dashed as the first Siren escort appeared from behind the iceberg. Immediately, the ship rumbled as Pamiat's aft turrets opened fire, followed shortly by Avrora's rigging. The enemy destroyer took several direct hits and began to burn fiercely, turning hard to port to break line of sight. There was unfortunately no shortage of replacements as it was replaced by more escorts, and these didn't hesitate to open up on us. "Here we go again," I muttered as I grabbed onto the plotting table.

No longer hampered by their flagship, the Sirens were now chasing us down at full speed, and they were gaining ground quickly. Avrora and Pamiat focused their fire on the lead ship, chewing it up until it was a burning, sinking hulk, only for another to surge past it and take its place. All the while, they were shelling us, splashes all around us, and in a couple of cases, the resounding CLANG! of a ricochet. They hadn't gotten within effective torpedo range yet, and they'd have to divert their course to drop a spread, but as I watched the numbers scroll down faster and faster, I realized that time was rapidly approaching.

A shell landed close to the ship, the shockwave hammering the hull and causing Pamiat to let out a startled cry. "Eep! Stay away, I can't handle it when combat gets too close for comfort!" She sighed and reached for the radio. "Avrora, any update on where our backup is?"

Before I could remind Pamiat that we're in a Mirror Sea and any long-range communication would be impossible, Avrora replied. "They're not far!" she shouted over the sound of her own cannon fire. "We just need to hold on a little longer!"

I stared at Pamiat in disbelief. How did they manage to get messages across in a Mirror Sea? Even with all the improvements we've made back home, that one's still eluded us. Pamiat didn't notice my wide-eyed wonderment, however, as she was too busy trying to keep us alive. " I'll try! But I'm nearly out of– Ah! There they are!"

She pointed to a large white point on the horizon, and I ran to the window, grabbing a pair of binoculars and peering through them. I could just barely make them out, but what I saw was nothing short of impressive. With their snow-white uniforms and rugged riggings, they cut a distinctive look, but it was how they moved that I remember most.

Their movements were coordinated, practiced, as if this were an intricate dance rather than a battlefield. There was no communication over the radio, no hand signals, just disciplined movement followed by unrelenting firepower. They came on like a wave of iron and steel and quickly swept away those who were closest to us in a blizzard of shellfire.

"My God…" I quietly breathed as I watched them work. Pamiat, now no longer concerned with fighting for our lives, stood beside me with a big grin on her face.

"First time seein' us in action, huh?" she asked as she playfully nudged me. "Quite the sight, isn't it?"

In less than a minute, they had sunk or crippled our pursuers and were now sailing past us. The radio crackled to life, and we both headed back to receive the message.

A voice, strong and commanding, even through the static, came over the speakers. "Avrora, Pamiat, sorry we took so long to get here. It seems like we made it in the nick of time though. Stand down and keep the Commander safe while we finish off the enemy here."

She nodded and gave the radio a tired smile. "I'll do just that. I'm bushed…" With that, she slumped against the wall and slowly slid down until she was sitting on the deck. "Is this what it's like for you all the time?"

I thought it over for a minute, then nodded. "Usually."

"Ugh," she made a face and shook her head. "I couldn't do it."

I chuckled and turned my attention to the monitor, watching the various Northern Parliament kansen get to work. Their voices crackled over the radio as they began to attack the flagship and her escorts. I couldn't understand them as they were all speaking Russian, however, one voice stood out amongst the rest. Strong, proud, full of life, with bellowing laughter that seemed to shake the compartment at times. I wondered just who this woman was, and hoped I would get the chance to meet her soon…

As luck would have it, I would. The Siren flagship was swiftly defeated, and our rescuers came aboard Pamiat Merkuria to greet us. There were six of them, some small and petite, others tall and curvaceous. A svelte woman with long, snow-white hair and a cruiser's rigging stepped forward.

"Zdravstvuj, comrade!" she greeted me with a broad smile and a warm embrace. "The name's Kirov! Is this your first time seeing our fleet in action?"

Surprised by the sudden warmth and enthusiasm of her greeting, I found myself without words for a moment, much to Kirov's amusement. " If you were surprised by what you saw, don't be shy and just give it to us straight! After all, you're no longer in the Eagle Union, comrade! We'd be glad to listen to anything you have to say!" She declared with a playful pat on the shoulder. "But before that, let's get you acquainted with everyone here. The one who should do the honors is... the leader of the fleet!"

She gestured to the woman in the militaristic greatcoat, who stepped forward. "Ah, that is but a formality," she demurred with a smile and an outstretched hand. "Commander, I am Soveskaya Rossiya, leader of the fleet. Pleased to meet you."

I stepped forward and took it, exchanging a firm handshake. "Likewise."

"Having that said, that title is just provisional in nature. In actuality, we do not observe rank or status in our command structure." She gestured back towards the woman who had spoken up before. "First of all is Kirov. Her participation in this operation will be limited, but I'd at least like you to remember her face."

"That's right," Kirov nodded, a rueful grin on her face. "We'll get to fight together next time though."

"I'm looking forward to it," I smiled back, bowing my head slightly. "And thank you for the rescue."

"Think nothing of it, Comrade!" Then, with a wink and a grin, she steps back in line with the others.

Rossiya gestures to the next kansen, a cruiser with vibrant blue hair and a hungry expression. She seems almost…hesitant to introduce her. "...This is Chapayev. She's mastered her equipment better than any of us have. Also... I'd advise you to not get on her bad side."

Chapayev smiled wickedly and eyed me up and down. "I brought my bridle with me just in case. Anyway, let's get along…"

I gave the crazed woman a diplomatic, yet terrified, smile as Rossiya moved down the line. She gestured to one of the destroyers, a purple-haired girl wearing a fluffy white coat with overly long sleeves. "This is Tashkent. She was born in Sardegna, but she is one of our irreplaceable friends."

Tashkent seemed wildly unimpressed. "Hmph. I'll show you how strong I really am, dear comrade."

Rossiya and I shared a look before she shrugged, moving on to the next destroyer, this one wearing bunny-themed winter gear. "This is Grozny. I'd advise you to stay away from her krolik."

"Her what?" I asked, not sure what a "krowlick" was.

"My krolik ubiytsa…" The girl repeated laconically. "It's a cute bunny that kills things…"

"Where is it?"

"Around." The unhelpful answer sent a chill down my spine that had nothing to do with the cold.

The Northern Parliament battleship gave me a knowing, sympathetic smile as she moved on to the last destroyer. "This is Minsk. Her imagination can be a bit whimsical, but also helpful at times. Hopefully, she can offer you some new insights."

Minsk hopped forward and thrust out her hand toward me. "Pleased to meet you, Commander!"

I couldn't help but smile as I took her hand in mine and warmly shook it. "Pleased to meet you, too!"

Finally, she reached the last kansen to be introduced. "Over here is Gangut. She acts hot-blooded and headstrong, but she's actually quite caring."

The woman strode forward. While she wore a fur-lined white cape and shako like Rossiya, the rest of her outfit was less militaristic by far. Her coat had a cleavage window, exposing a fair amount of her chest while her skirt barely went past her hips, black stockings hugging her shapely legs. Her white hair was wild, like a snowstorm, with a single lock of black errantly peeking out of one side. While both Rossiya and Gangut were approximately the same height, and neither were that much taller than I, Gangut seemed to have more of a presence, looming over me like a large bear. Her red eyes gleamed in the twilight, sizing me up before, without warning, she wrapped her arms around me in a fierce, yet comforting, bear hug. "Hahaha!" she laughed uproariously as she swung me around. "Comrade, let us fight for the safety of these azure lanes!"

Normally, I wouldn't enjoy someone I'd just met picking me up and spinning me around like a toddler. In fact, I'd downright hate it. I was never one for physical affection anyway, and yet, with her, there was so much warmth, so much sincerity, I couldn't help but laugh along. When she finally set me down, I smiled broadly and laughed, "That was one hell of an introduction-" Oh god. What was her name? I know they just said it but in all the hugging and spinning I forgot! Acting quickly, I simply finished, "Comrade! Thank you!"

At the word "Comrade", her eyes lit up even brighter, practically blazing crimson until Rossiya pointedly cleared her throat. We both gave her an appropriately cowed look before Gangut stepped back in line. Rossiya gave me a nod before she gestured to the two shipgirls standing off to the side. "I assume I don't need to introduce Avrora and Pamiat Merkuria…"

"We're very well acquainted by now," I agreed before smiling at everyone. "And I hope to be well acquainted with everyone here, in time."

Everyone exchanged nods and smiles before Rossiya drew herself to attention and saluted smartly. "What are your orders, comrade?"

A/N-Hello once more, or if you're reading my works for the first time, hello! This is going to be a bit different than most of my other stories as this will have smut in the story itself, rather than as a separate piece. There won't be a lot of it, just as the story requires it, and I'll have a note at the beginning of a smut chapter in case people want to skip that part.