Thorson sighed as he looked over the railing of the Laffey's bow. Laffey had managed to gracefully sail them over to the shards they'd won in their victory over the unmanned Sakura fleet, but that still left their collection. "I guess I'll head to the life rafts. Just stay around here I suppose?" He suggested, surprise growing on his face as Laffey began to titter quietly at his side.
"Commander doesn't need to worry himself. Laffey will retrieve them."
"Laffey, we need you here making sure we don't drift and…hey! Laffey!" Thorson yelled and reached for Laffey's jacket as she stepped up onto the point of the bow, just slipping through his fingers as she dropped calmly off the ship into the water below. Thorson felt his heart leap into his chest as he prepared to follow her but that proved unnecessary as the tiny form that was Laffey gracefully moved over the water, snatching up the four wisdom shards as she went. Thorson was reminded of a figure skater as she took a few moments to just enjoy herself, twirling and making figure eights along the surface of the water before heading back. As she approached, Thorson watched her crouch down and leap, somehow propelling herself high enough to get back onto the deck. The Commander staggered backward and caught her as she reached out for him with open arms. The two of them collapsed heavily onto the wet deck, with Laffey deactivating her rigging as they fell, preventing any extra damage to Thorson who landed beneath her with an 'oof' as the air was forced from his chest.
"Laffey is glad Commander was ready to catch her. Laffey wasn't so sure about the landing," she giggled, straddling his chest as she presented a handful of blue, glowing shards. "Laffey and the Commander are victorious!"
Thorson reached out tentatively and touched one of the shards, surprised and relieved to not be on the receiving end of shocking, burning pain. Taking them all up into one hand, he circled Laffey's waist with another, standing and carrying her back to the bridge as they adjusted heading and made for the stranded Eagle Union supply ship that Captain Stevens had mentioned. With no enemy contacts on radar, the Union convoy was communicating freely and they had no issue tracking the vessel down. As they approached Thorson stared at the shards while absently rubbing Laffey's wet hair. The destroyer girl made sure he hit all the right spots, adjusting her head accordingly as he massaged her scalp with his fingers.
"Did you feel anything when you held them, Laffey?" Thorson asked. She considered with a finger to her lips.
"Not like the shards that gave Laffey her rigging. Laffey could faintly sense the creator of those ships, but she doesn't know who it is or what they looked like, just the shame of defeat."
"Anything else?"
"Laffey sees herself and the Commander, watches the battle from another's eyes, sees openings in our maneuvers."
"Is that right? Want to take one?" Thorson offered, watching intently as Laffey plucked one of the shards from his palm and easily incorporated it into herself, just as she had with the shards that had formed her rigging. Fortunately for Thorson's heartrate, she didn't seem to suffer any ill effects. "Well? How do you feel?"
"Laffey feels good! Slightly better than she was before, Commander. Maybe we will be harder to defeat next time? Laffey must go and ready the tow cable. She will see the Commander soon!" As she reactivated her rigging and bounded off the bridge, Thorson couldn't help a smile as he took a moment for himself, looking down at the remaining shards.
"She's a lot cuter than my rifle, that's for sure."
"So this is your base then, Commander? I have to admit I'm a bit jealous. I was unaware the Union was in the habit of handing out island installations to commanders."
"You can take it up with the OSS, Captain Stevens. I'm just following orders," Thorson replied, watching as Laffey towed the crippled supply ship into one of the dry docks. The Akashi could also be seen leaving port, freeing up a spot for Laffey to undergo repairs and heading for the Demeter where Thorson now found himself. Stevens was looking at him warily.
"Those orders also involve Sakura vessels?"
"Told you it was classified. Your men know they're to stay on their ship?"
"Yes, but how will they be able to fix their-"
"Don't worry, Captain. Leave it to us," Thorson reassured him, watching as the Akashi dropped anchor in the waters just outside the docks themselves before a certain ice-green moneycat jumped from the deck and began making her way over the small waves towards them.
"Shikikaaaaaaan!" She yelled as she mimicked Laffey's leap onto the deck. This time Thorson was ready, easily catching her as she barreled into his arms. Stevens and a couple other crew members stepped back a few paces, furrowing their brows as Akashi planted a firm kiss on Thorson's cheek. "Akashi was worried, nyaa! But you are back with so many ships!"
Thorson placed her back on the deck and turned her to face Stevens. "Captain, this is Akashi, formerly of the Sakura Empire. She's defected to our cause and will be leading the repair efforts for your vessel. She and her comrade Shiranui are in charge of the base's logistics and mercantile exchange. If possible I would appreciate it if you would consider trading with us. We have need of perishable goods and can trade fuel, munitions, and various other resources."
"You expect me to trade with the enemy? I'd be court martialed!" Stevens insisted.
"No, Captain. I'm asking you to trade with Azur Lane, reformed on the direct orders of the late Admiral Hawkins."
"Is that what this is all about?" Stevens asked with wonder, looking back at the base. "Then I suppose we can come to an arrangement provided you give me something to convince my own superiors. We do owe your our lives after all."
"You were already underway when hostilities began, yes?" Thorson asked.
"Exactly, Commander."
"Where are you coming from?"
"Various civilian ports and Union bases throughout Southeast Asia. We do have a few luxury goods aboard, if you're interested. I doubt Union command will want them much now."
"Akashi is very interested in these things, nyaa!" Akashi interjected, looking at Thorson with pleading eyes. Thorson knelt to eye level.
"Food and basic necessities first. We're at war and we've shown our hand to the enemy. Keep our fuel and ammunition stores no lower than ninety five percent. You have leeway within that number, understand? Shiranui has the full figures." Akashi looked downcast at his admonishment, but Thorson tilted her chin up. "I know it's not ideal, but I'm sure you and Shiranui can do it. You girls need a good place to live, somewhere other than a shitty concrete building. We just can't sacrifice our fighting strength to achieve that. Talk to Captain Stevens and his officers, figure out what they need, make some arrangements. Laffey, Shiranui, and I can manage the exchange while you work on the other ship. Alright?"
"Hai, Shikikan." Akashi then turned to Stevens. "Does the Union Captain have any futons?"
"I…am not sure?" Stevens replied, flatfooted by the request. "I can certainly say we won't have any in the future."
"Don't be too sure, Captain," Thorson interrupted.
"What do you mean by that, Commander?"
"I've been tasked with realizing the potential of shipgirls as weapons. From what I've gathered since meeting them, that means realizing their potential as women, as well. I believe my methods are the reason Laffey was powerful enough to save your convoy today. I am increasingly convinced that the combat potential of a shipgirl will increase proportionally to her intellectual, physical, and personal development. I'm not yet at the point I'd consider publishing this hypothesis as I only have a handful of data points, but so far that theory has borne fruit. I will compile my findings while you and Akashi discuss things. It should be more than enough to ensure your own record remains blemish free. What is your final destination?"
"We sail for Pearl Harbor and then San Diego."
"Very well. I will compile a list of people or…offices where you can deliver my request. I am unsure just how much of the command chain of my unit was severed by the attack on Pearl Harbor. I believe there could be some profit to be made in a secured trade of luxury goods during wartime, to say nothing of how much Akashi would enjoy resting on a futon, it would seem."
Stevens stroked his chin as he considered Thorson's proposal. "Who would provide security for such an endeavor, Commander? The Merchant Marine is going to be all hands on deck."
"We would," Thorson replied confidently.
"You have one warship."
"I hope to have more by the time you return."
"I see. Very well, Commander. The least I can do is deliver your message. The rest is up to people who get paid more than we do." The two officers shared a laugh before exchanging salutes, with Thorson returning to the base while Stevens was left with a very bubbly catgirl. As Thorson stepped onto the docks he was met with the floating form of Shiranui.
"Just the person I wanted to see."
"Not now, idiot Shikikan. I must go ensure that Akashi does not promise the conductive matrix in exchange for some shiny rock."
"That's what I was about to ask. Farewell, Shiranui," Thorson waved calmly, surprised as her disinterested look morphed into a fiery glare.
"Where was your farewell when you went off to war?" She hissed.
"There wasn't time. I didn't know where you were," Thorson defended himself apologetically. Shiranui turned from him and floated out to sea.
"Idiot Shikikan…" The Commander was left on dock, scratching his head.
"That girl," he whispered, turning and heading up the many stairs to his 'office', unable to spend too much time contemplating matters of the head or heart when there as a report to write. Reviewing the events of the day in his mind, Thorson considered exactly how he would frame his request for goods that would likely be denied to the majority of the populace of the Eagle Union during the coming conflict. "I suppose 'my five foot nothing bunny girl just won a knife fight against four Sakura warships so she could be rewarded with head pats' is a good place to start," Thorson chuckled, surprised to find something red glinting on the desk adjacent to the radio equipment. It was Akashi's gemstone, a testament to how quickly she'd run out to greet him upon his return. Securing it in his pocket for safekeeping, Thorson retrieved a stack of yellowed but untouched paper that Shiranui had located earlier in the week along with a pen and began to write.
"So it really is as you say then?" Stevens asked, looking at the bold, red 'TOP SECRET' splashed across the stuffed manila envelope that Thorson had just handed to him. They were all aboard the bridge of the Demeter.
"You think I kept your men cooped up just for kicks?"
"Of course not. It's just very easy to forget these fine young ladies are a part of some secret wartime operation, as you say," Stevens chuckled as Akashi nodded proudly before returning to Thorson's side. He presented her with her gemstone.
"Keep that safe, alright?"
"Hai, Shikikan!"
"I assume the three of you reached an agreement then?" Thorson asked, looking between Akashi, Shiranui, and Stevens. The Captain nodded.
"These two drive a hard bargain, Commander, but I consider it all a fair trade, especially since this little one was able to repair that steering gear in a matter of hours. I had expected to be laid up for a matter of days. The seas will only become more deadly, I would like to give the order to shove off as soon as possible."
Thorson turned to Akashi. "Is everything loaded?" He asked, having seen various cargos being swapped between the Akashi and the Demeter upon arrival.
"We have everything we traded for, Shikikan," Shiranui confirmed. "In addition to a small variety of food for the four of us we were able to secure a few things that Akashi desires for her new project."
"Akashi found cement, steel, pipes, wood, and wiring!" The catgirl exclaimed. Thorson couldn't help it as his eyebrows rose on his forehead.
"You had all of those things?" He asked. Stevens shrugged.
"Plenty of mines along our route, Indonesia for example. There are a few factories churning out finished products."
"I'm not complaining. Thank you, Captain. We'll get out of your hair now. Be safe on your way and I hope we'll see your convoy soon." Thorson saluted as Shiranui and Akashi bowed politely and left the bridge, heading back to the IJN Akashi. Stevens returned the salute.
"I won't admit to understanding what's happening here, Commander Thorson, but I certainly can't argue with the results. Hopefully we will speak again."
"Yes sir."
"Farewell and fair seas."
"Same to you, Captain."
The sun had set and the stars were out by the time Stevens' convoy departed the base, leaving Thorson and the three shipgirls to unload the various cargo that Akashi had traded for. It was simple enough getting it onto the dock thanks to Akashi's cranes, but once it was all there the four of them were at a loss.
"No offense to the three of you, but I wish we had more hands here," Thorson remarked, looking at stacks of copper pipes, hardwood, steel beams, bags of dry cement, a couple crates of food, and a few other things that Akashi had secured in exchange for fuel, torpedoes, and shells. Laffey hummed contemplatively at his side, bobbing back and forth on her feet. She wasn't forthcoming with any ideas though. "If only your rigging was stronger…or automated."
"Nyaa!" Akashi shouted, scampering off into the warehouse. Thorson looked at Laffey and Shiranui before shrugging and heading after her. Soon the four of them were in front of the conductive matrix as Akashi placed a wrench in one pod and stepped into the other, depositing a single wisdom shard into the 'hopper' between the two on her way in. Thorson stood before her as the door to the other pod swung closed with an ominous hiss.
"Care to tell me what you're planning on before you potentially drown yourself?" He asked concernedly. Akashi smiled at him.
"Akashi is inspired by the Commander and Laffey. Laffey wishes for rigging and the shards give her rigging, yes? Shards are supposed to only create ships, but when a shipgirl uses them, they create something new, nyaa! Akashi plans to try it with tools, create something that can help!" Thorson nodded in understanding.
"Shiranui, add a few more shards into that hopper, please. I don't know if this is going to work at all, but the last thing I need is Akashi draining her own cubes to power the process."
The ghost ship nodded and complied as Akashi hit an interior button and closed herself in, seemingly unperturbed as seawater filled her tank. The other was already full. "That is a not so idiotic idea, Shikikan."
"I thought so too. Now let's get this process started," he said, pressing a button to activate the matrix the moment Akashi's tank had filled. A bit of air had bubbled up from her nose and lips as she'd been submerged, but the moment the device activated she seemed at ease, opening her eyes and looking around as an almost grid-like sheen stabilized the water within the tanks. Looking at Thorson with excited eyes, Akashi focused and entered a contemplative, almost trance-like state. "Damn, I wish I had my notebook with me," Thorson muttered, watching for any change in either pod. After a few minutes the wisdom shards began to glow, facilitating a flow of water between the two pods via the hopper that contained them. Akashi's brow knitted, but she didn't seem to be in pain. Instead, Thorson's attention was drawn to the other pod where the wrench had begun floating in the water. Laffey made a curious noise as the simple tool began to flicker and shimmer, as though it wasn't entirely of the material world. The outline of a small, humanoid figure began to make itself known around the tool, the core glowing slightly. Thorson's jaw dropped as the process continued, unable to tear himself away for the next fifteen minutes as Akashi's will was made real thanks to the power of the cubes. He wasn't sure how the machine knew when to stop, but the tank containing Akashi suddenly started to drain, soon releasing the catgirl into his waiting hold.
"You're dry?!" Thorson wondered, ruffling her ears and confirming that she'd somehow escaped the process without getting wet. Akashi nodded.
"Did Akashi succeed, nyaa?" Her question was soon answered as the second pod began to drain, having consumed three of the several shards that had been placed into the machine. Thorson shook his head as a short girl stepped out of it and blinked her eyes.
"I don't believe it…" Thorson whispered, looking her over. Her snow white hair was accented by a golden chevron and a hairpin in the shape of what looked like the bow of a destroyer, though he couldn't say which class. She wore a white dress with black accents, as well as forearm sleeves and mid-thigh boots in the same motif. Her tail, if one could call it that, was actually a large spark plug.
"Buli?" The girl squeaked in a friendly voice, holding up her hand a materializing a giant wrench that featured a glowing drill bit as part of the handle. Akashi walked right up to her.
"Hello Bulin! Akashi created you to help strengthen this base and the fleet, nyaa. We need to repair the Laffey too! Is that your name, Bulin?" Akashi requested, looking proudly at her creation.
"Universal Bulin reporting for duty, buli! Are you the commander?"
"No, that's the commander!" Akashi replied happily, pointing to Thorson. The girl looked at him.
"Hello? My name is Commander Thorson," he said, still sounding a bit awestruck at what had just happened.
"Greetings Commander! How can I help, buli?"
"Well, we have quite a bit of supplies that need moving. They're resting on the dock just outside. Are you…hungry or anything?" He asked as the girl's stomach growled audibly. She nodded. "I guess I can make something for everyone before we get to work. Let's all head over to the canteen and-" Thorson trailed off as the Bulin looked around and walked up to the nearest oil drum. With ease she used her wrench to remove the lid and drank deeply from it as Thorson spluttered behind her. After consuming about half a gallon, the Bulin turned back to him.
"Refueled and ready to help, buli!"
Thorson looked at Laffey and Akashi.
"Can you two do that?"
"Yes, but it tastes gross, nyaa. Akashi much prefers Commander's cooking. But now that this worked, Akashi has some ideas too, nyaa!"
"Akashi, you're a mad genius. How much can you lift uh…Bulin?" Thorson requested. She easily hefted the drum of oil in the air to demonstrate. "Well alright then. Come with us if you please. Akashi?" Thorson looked back at her as they shut down the matrix and began walking back to the docks. Laffey and the Bulin had taken to chatting amicably, with the bunny girl regaling the mini mechanic with tales of her victory that day.
"Nyaa?" Akashi cocked her head at Thorson.
"Damn fine work."
"Nyaa!"