Norfolk Naval Base, 2nd of January 2030, 0645 hours:
The sky remained gray that morning as the cloud still covered the sky, preventing sunlight from reaching the ground. Activity was high near the dock, as an aircraft carrier can be seen with hull number 080, sitting near with ropes and the anchors keeping the ship in its current position.
Below were hundreds of seats covered in white cloths, where personnel were seen still tidying the seats for an event that was about to happen. There was also a large stage with seats lined up behind it, placed on an open, very lower hangar, decorated with fabrics of combined red, white, and blue. With a dark oak podium in the middle sporting the US Navy's logo.
Medellein was standing on one of the carrier's lift platforms, wearing her ceremonial dress, a white shirt with a dark blue coat decorated with multiple medals, many of which came from her century-long service, along with a wide golden stripe with a thin golden stripe near the tip of her coat's sleeve and a dark blue trouser with black flat footwear. She was observing the staff, who were still preparing the seats for the guests for the upcoming commission ceremony.
She then switched her attention towards the island superstructure, decorated with multiple pieces of electronic equipment on its large tower, and back towards the large expanse of the flight deck filled with aircraft, those being F-35 C's and F-18 Super Hornets, along with a growler. Lined up for the short exhibit that will soon occur after the opening ceremony. Attached to the hardpoints are LRASMs on several F-18's, with some being attached to other munitions like the GBUs and other weapons. The F-35's, meanwhile, have their internal bays opened, showing off the JATMs and several other weaponry attached inside the weapon's bay. The planes were guarded by temporary rope railings to prevent visitors from getting closer, with each aircraft having an information board.
She then went back inside the island and into the lower hangar, where there were several other aircraft, similar to the ones above the deck, with several aircraft parked side by side, being E-2D's, EA-18G's, MH-60H's, HSM's, and C-2A's, protected by the rope railings. Each aircraft has an information board in front of it.
Looking at the assets she'll be using, it's been a while since she's been using the superhornets in the old Nimitz class for almost everything. Seeing the new assets, like the F-35s, felt like fresh air for her. She then looked at her watch, showing the time at 0650.
"Enough time to explore." She muttered.
She began walking through the ship's hall. Her hand touched the wall and looked at the various rooms, which would most likely never see its use, though who knows if it did come to be used for something? She forgot why the rooms existed in the first place; to be fair, it's been over a century since she came to this world. The design of the ship could've been a lot simpler, accommodating stuff for thousands of sailors, but perhaps some questions are better left unanswered.
She continued walking down through the small hatches and through the heavy, tight doors, entering a compartment that was larger than the other rooms, which spanned almost the entire length of the carrier. It being the engine room. Large pipes and tubes can be seen spanning all the way back.
She walked further, which took quite a while, seeing two large turbines on her right and left. Nothing new; it's pretty similar to the one she saw on the Nimitz. But the smell sure reminded her of the first time she received Nimitz as her new ship. She continued exploring the ship, going through the CDC and going up to the radar room, looking at the large pieces of hardware. She then looked at her watch, with the time indicating 0840.
"Oh well, it's about to start." She then walked back down to the bridge connecting the ship to the dock, seeing guests already starting to arrive.
The gray cloud continued to cover the sky, blocking sunlight from touching it. Snow continued falling to the ground on the already snow-covered surface. Hundreds of guests were seen seated as an old man wearing a ceremonial dress in blue with his cap on continued delivering his speech. The president, the secretary of the navy, and the other essential VIP guests were sitting at the rear, just beside the rear admiral and Medellein. Medellein, meanwhile, was sitting beside her rear admiral in a tight position with her hands placed on her lap, her eyes fluttering up and down as she tried to keep herself awake. The rear admiral noticed Medellein struggling to keep herself awake.
"You really need to start drinking coffee." Said the rear admiral.
Medellein jolted awake upon hearing the rear admiral's words. She covered her mouth, releasing a yawn before she replied back. "S-Sorry.."
"Also, the camera's on you. You better don't embarrass yourself again." The rear admiral looked back forward in a tight sitting position. Followed with Medellein looking back forward to see some of the guests staring at her, some giggling and taking photos, noticing the camera crew having a mischief grin on their faces, feeling all the attention on her. She also noticed her drool dripping down her mouth. Her face turned violet red, and immediately looked down, embarassed.
"And now, to hear the words from Rear Admiral Medellein." The audience clapped their hands, followed by Admiral Hasley turning back towards Medellein and sitting back on his seat.
"Well, Rear Admiral. Let the people hear your words." Said Admiral Hasley.
"Good luck, Rear Admiral!" The gray-haired man in his 40s, wearing a black suit with his glasses on in support of Medellein, was President David.
Medellein looked at the admiral. "R-Right.." She then stood up and walked towards the podium, looking at the guests as their eyes were towards her and also feeling that the cameras were pointed at her. She took a deep breath, got close to the mic, and began delivering her speech.
"Mr. President, ladies and gentlemen who attend this ceremony. First of all, I want to say thank you for all your support in the construction and commissioning of USS Enterprise. This ceremony reminds me of that one ceremony during the commissioning of the USS Nimitz, except for the fact that it's been half a decade or so ago when everyone..." Medellein paused, unable to continue her speech. She had forgotten to memorize her speech as she was very tired yesterday, only taking a small glimpse of it from her subordinate Rosey. Cold sweat began dripping down her skin, with her hands shaking. Never before has she felt this nervous in a commissioning ceremony. She looked down for a moment, her breathing ragged.
The audience began to talk to each other, asking questions and wondering what was happening. Meanwhile, in the distance, both Rosey and Marie were seen spectating at their superior stuttering in the middle of her speech.
"What's happening to her?" Asked Rosey as she continued looking at Medellein before looking to her left towards Marie.
"She lost her composure." Marie answered. "She was all ladylike and stern, but I think she really got hit hard during the pandemic. I mean, she got 2 years straight of deployment at sea from 2020 to 2022, unlike us, who got rest after 6 months. Then after that, she never left Norfolk or something like that. Then got deployed again after a week for another 2 years straight! Like, what do you expect? Not getting insane?"
"Yeah.. maybe." Rosey replied back. She pulled out her phone from her skirt pocket and watched the live stream of the current event that was happening. Looking over at the live chat, with messages popping up non-stop of people reacting to Medellein's breakdown during the speech, "Damn, she's getting screwed online."
Medellein was still in deep thought, thinking about what she should say next. The situation became more tense as the audience continued talking with each other, with the voices getting louder and louder. The two seniors behind him looked at her, breaking down in their speech.
"Christ, have you taken her to the medical officer for psychological evaluation?" Asked Admiral Hasley as he looked towards the rear admiral.
"Well, she did." The rear admiral was interrupted by the sound of the mic being hit a few times. Looking back forward, I see Medellein looking back to the front. The audience went quiet, their attention now back towards her. Medellein took a deep breath before she continued speaking.
"I'm sorry for the, uh, stuttering. To be honest, I forgot the script that was given by my subordinate." She took another deep breath before she continued. "As I said before, it's been a while since I participated in a commissioning ceremony. The name Enterprise is a name that is mandatory to be given to every new generation of ships, a tradition kept since 1775. Now, uh, I'm... glad that we are all gathered here. To see the revival of this new class of ship that will serve our nation's interests across the seven seas. I am honored to be the one controlling this ship, and I appreciate the trust given by the American people to control it. Never shall I betray you, the people of the free nation. Thank you." Medellein stepped back from the podium and back towards her seat, followed by the audience clapping.
"That went well, despite how stuttery she was." Rosey commented before looking back at her phone. "Damn, she's being called an introvert. Can old ladies be introverted?"
"Well, she's no ordinary old lady, silly. She's a shipgirl, old lady." Marie shook her head. "And stop watching that!"
"What? I just want to look close." Rosey groaned before placing her phone back in her pocket. "Ugh, fine."
Medellein sat back on her seat, releasing a heavy sigh as the pressure washed down, with her heartbeat going back stable. The rear admiral then commented on her. "You screwed up a bit, but you did alright."
"T-Thanks.." Medellein sighed once more, her eyes almost closing, until the rear admiral woke her up again.
"It's not over yet. Wake back up." Said the rear admiral in a low, stern tone.
Medellein's eyes jolted back open, realizing the event was still ongoing. She fixed her sitting position back to a tight and straight posture, with her arms placed on her lap. The MC's voice was then heard, continuing the ceremony.
"And now for the cube and implant ceremony, by Norfolk High School's scouts. Rear Admiral Medellein, please head to your station. All attendants, please stand up." As soon as the voice stopped, everyone that was attending the ceremony stood up, followed by Medellein stepping down from the stage and walking towards the small entrance to the interior of the ship with two marines holding an M1 Garand with fixed bayonets placed on their right shoulder guarding the entrance, before stopping in between both of them.
Then, a group of both boys and girls wearing the scout's uniform of a khaki top with trousers or knee-length skirts came in, with either sneakers or short boots as their footwear and their berets or hats as cover, with one girl in the middle carrying a soft cushion with an item covered in thick dark blue clothing.
"Halt!" The leader of the group ordered it, and the group came to a halt.
"Open Formation!" The group began to disperse from each other, forming a formation and giving space to the girl carrying the cushion holding the item.
"Execute." The girl walked forward, away from the group and walking towards Medellein, before stopping right in front of her and handing over the cushion, followed by Medellein taking the cushion away from her hand.
Medellein then turned 180 degrees and began walking inside the interior of the ship, followed by the two marines accompanying her, with a navy cameraman following. Walking deeper inside the ship before eventually reaching a room labeled 'Engine Room'. She entered while the Marines formed up near the entrance on the right and left of the entrance, and the cameraman also stopped walking.
Medellein walked deeper into the ship, looking left and right before taking a deep breath and exhaling it. Feeling somewhat nervous despite the fact that nothing would probably happen. Sweat began dripping down her skin once more, as the room was quite humid. She then arrived at a small platform held by one pole, with a sharp hand shaped like a sculpture on top.
A blue light can be seen glowing through the thick, dark blue cloth. Medellein removed the cloth to reveal a small transparent cube with a small ball rotating rapidly inside, emitting a very bright blue light. Medellein took a deep breath before she lifted the cube from the cushion with one of her hands and began leaning closer to the sculpture ahead. The light became brighter and brighter by the second as it approached, with a dark blue and white ring-shaped aura beginning to surround and circle Medellein. She then placed the cube on the sculpture, which fit, and long, bright lines of auras began to appear from the walls of the ship, reaching towards Medellein and touching her head.
Medellein began experiencing slight headaches, and numbers began appearing on her vision, along with diagrams and other things that turned her vision into a computer-like digital image. Her eyes were glowing bright white for a few moments. She flinched back, feeling energy flowing through and inside her, feeling both pain and ecstasy.
It was until the aura began to fade away, along with the feeling. Medellein just stood there before looking at the cube, now just hovering above the hand, with the ball inside spinning non-stop. Then, a computer-like-vision appeared on her eyes, where a program's booting up before she was greeted with a feminine robotic message.
"Welcome aboard Rear Admiral Medellein. I am Lisa, your personal A.I assistant of the AEGIS Mk. IIIsystem.Gladto have you here."
"I feel new again." Medellein released a breath of content; everything feels new again to her. She feels a new, strong energy inside, like she has been reborn into the world. She then remembered that the ceremony was still ongoing and began making her way towards the exit, where the cameraman and the two marines were waiting for her.
Medellein came out of the ship with her eyes glowing blue. The spectators looked at her with a look of awe on their faces, looking at the woman that will control the ship, the one that will protect them, and serving the interests of the nation.
The sky was clear, with the sun sinking into the horizon. Seats were seen being stacked on loaded trucks, with the podium and stage being disassembled from the ship's lower hangar by the staff and cleaning crew. Medellein was standing near the dock, looking at the aircraft carrier that was now under her control, until she was greeted with a voice from her rear.
"Well, Rear Admiral. Congratulations on getting your new ship!" Said President David as he reached out his hand for a handshake. Two secret service members were standing behind him.
Medellein looked back, surprised by the sudden greeting. With an awkward look on her face, she extended her hand and shook his hand. "W-Well. Thank you, Mr. President."
"You were quite nervous during the morning ceremony. But you managed to turn the situation back to good."
"Thank you, Mr. President! Well, may I ask something?" Asked Medellein.
"Well, sure, say anything." Said President David.
"Why are you still here? I thought you'd be back in the White House shortly after the ceremony. Don't you have some more important matters?" Asked Medellein.
"Well, I was planning to talk with you. But it seems like you were busy giving a tour to the guests. You see, I was in the Navy once. You were one of the reasons I joined the Navy in the first place. I've always wanted to meet you and talk about your battles in the Pacific and how you and your, uh, battle sisters took out and crippled the Japanese fleet in one blow. Now I'm here, seeing you face-to-face." The president explained.
"Oh, well, I'm. I am honored to hear that I inspired you, Mr. President."
Just as the president was about to talk further, one of the bodyguards coughed on purpose, as if signaling something. The president stopped and sighed. "Well, guess my time's up. Let's meet again when we have time in the future, shall we?"
"Well.. I'll be very busy, but maybe. It depends on the world situation."
"Very well; see you later." The president turned away, along with the bodyguards, where a limousine can be seen in the distance with other cars and bodyguards waiting for the president to finally come. The president entered the car, and the convoy began to move away from the port. There was only snow dropping and wind blowing through the surface. Medellein decided to return to her room for rest until she received a call, feeling a buzz from her cell phone inside her trousers. She pulled it out and responded, hearing her rear admiral's voice coming through.
"Medellein, I need you in the office for a short meeting. There's something important I want to say." Said the rear admiral.
"Oh, well. Sure, sir. I'll be there in a few minutes." Medellein shut off the call, put her cell phone back in her pocket, and began making her way to the rear admiral's office. Wondering what awaited her in her superior's office.
Walking the streets, crossing several building blocks. The sun had already set deep beyond the horizon, replaced by the moon slowly rising up to the sky. Snow is still covering the landscape, and lights are shining from windows, with people seen doing their own activities. The staff and other navy personnel wearing their working uniforms with mixed patterns of green and brown were seen loading boxes into trucks along with other belongings as well. Some even greeted and saluted Medellein along the way.
Medellein eventually reached the parade grounds, where a building was seen still with its lights lit up, trucks parked nearby with multiple boxes packed with papers and other belongings, and some essential things like the fleet and CSG's emblem and flag. Photos, medals, and trophies. She walked inside the one-story building where there were even more boxes in the hallway, walking across multiple doors where rooms of commanders of multiple sections were there, including her own office room, which she rarely used. Then reaching the end of the hallway in front of a blurred door labeled with a sign that says, 'Fleet Rear Admiral (Upper Half)'. She knocked on the door three times, waiting for a response, before a voice came through.
"Come in." The rear admiral's voice was heard, inviting her to come in. She saw multiple shadows through the door, thinking about who they would be. She reached for the door handle and swung it before pushing the door, where three figures can be seen, with the Rear Admiral sitting on his desk and three young girls in their working dress and their covers placed on their lap, sitting on the seats in the right corner of the room. The room was quite empty, with the glass cupboards that once stored medals and trophies gone. "Well, I was supposed to tell you earlier, but I have tons of paperwork to do. Please take a seat." He stood up and pointed at the seat in front of his desk.
Medellein was surprised by the presence of the three girls. But the faces of the three girls seemed familiar until she remembered the three new destroyers just recently commissioned—those being the three new Arthur Radford class destroyers being built to replace the Flight II's Arleigh Burkes.
She looked back at the rear admiral and nodded, approaching the chair in front of her and sitting down. There was a desk plate with the rear admiral's name, Rear Admiral Dwight. S. Johnson.
"Well, I'm here to introduce you to our new members. These girls will be under your command and care from now on. Well, ladies. How about you three introduce yourselves to her?" The Rear Admiral said this to the three girls who were sitting on the right side of the room.
"Right!" Said one blonde, short-haired girl in a cheerful tone, standing up from her seat and looking towards Medellein. "I'm Nana Lee! I control the ship DDG-126!"
The two other girls, both with braided dark brown hair, looked at each other and whispered to each other about who should introduce themselves next. Until one girl who's an inch higher than her was pushed by the shorter one. The girl gulped before she talked in a very low tone. "I'm Alisia Ambelain. I control the ship DDG-128. She's Lily Ambelain. She controls the ship DDG-127. Our trainers told us that we're sisters." The shorter girl, who still remained in her seat, just waved at Medellein with a shy look on her face.
Medellein looked at the three with a blank look on her face. She looked at the rear admiral with a look as if wanting to ask a million questions. But was then answered without a word being spoken by her.
"Don't worry about that; three of them are from 9/11, not from Clinton's smuggled dead children from the 2010s. They just got activated as recently as last month when their assigned ships got commissioned, so their minds are still fresh yet old. Surely you can babysit a few more young girls. You once babysit both Gonzales and Ross; this one shouldn't be that hard." Said the rear admiral.
Medellein only sat there, silent. She stared at the three girls; even though she had taken care of some young shipgirls before, it still shocked her. Young girls in the navy just don't mix with her anymore. She then just nodded. "Well, sure. Sir. I will take care of them."
"Good, just make sure they talk to their parents every month; keep them stable and happy, clean, and disciplined." Said the rear admiral.
"I know that, sir. You don't have to tell me twice about that. I know what to do." Medellein sighed. Looking back at the girls.
"Right.. We'll be departing in 4 hours, and I want you to introduce them to the rest of the fleet. That will be all, dismissed." Said the rear admiral.
Medellein nodded before she stood up from her seat and gave a salute, which the rear admiral saluted back. Medellein then turned away and looked at the three girls. "Right, with me, ladies." Medellein walked towards the door, opening it, and waited for the three girls to come with her. The three girls came and approached her, walking out of the door, followed by Medellein going out last and closing the door.
The three girls with Medellein walked through the hallway, there being only silence between them until Nana asked a question. "Rear Admiral? Or, uh, is it ma'am?"
Medellein looked back towards Nana, still walking, but her attention was now on her, giving her a smile. "Yes, it's ma'am."
"Oh! Well, what does Iceland look like? Is it all just ice?" Asked Nana.
"Iceland.. Well, just as you said, but not really. It's barren, and it's got a big mountain in the middle. Some nice people, cold weather, cold waters... Things that you'll probably not like." Said the rear admiral.
Nana nodded, and Medellein looked back at the other two girls, who were walking close to each other. "Well, don't be too quiet, you two. Speak or something." Both Alisia and Lily were looking up at Medellein with a shy look on their faces, neither wanting to speak up first. Medellein sighed. "Alisia. You spoke up first. Say something."
Alisia remained quiet for a while before she decided to ask in a low tone. "Well, uhm, what are we going to do?"
Medellein heard Alisia's question despite the low tone she spoke in; she then answered. "Well, I'm introducing you all to the rest of the crew. They'll be the people you'll always be in contact with on the sea, keeping you well informed of things you cannot see yourself. Keeping you sane in the seas also"
"Uhm.. Sane?" Alisia gave a look of confusion.
"Ah, just ignore the last part. There is nothing you should be bothered about." Said Medellein.
"Oh! So are they like observers?" Asked Nana.
"Well, kinda, but more than that." Walking out of the office building, the four began walking along the dark, cold streets on the sidewalks, the moon covered by clouds, and there were only the street lamps illuminating the streets.
Cars and trucks were still seen going on the streets. The naval base remained filled with activity, with trucks and cars moving across the streets, and the airfield was filled with activity as aircraft landed and took off from the runway. The cold still covered the naval base throughout the night.