Chapter 26
September 21st, 2023 - Early morning.
Outer Heaven, inside a certain auxiliary dock.
"... How long have these been here and, more importantly, how did we not notice they were here until now nya!?" asked the petite, cat-eared verdette as she stared up at the two smaller escort aerial combat support craft in front of her.
"Hm? Well, I've known about them since just after coming online and syncing up with the island's main servers actually. As for why no one noticed they were here? Well, we were really busy, that's why. Anyway, I'd allocated a number of repair drones to work on them along with a small test partition to oversee finishing their construction. Actually, it's thanks to working on them that I was able to fine tune my remote control of the island's drones along with better efficiently making use of my partitions. Also, there just wasn't much need for escort craft until now so there wasn't any reason to say anything about them yet," Metis explained. "At least until now."
"I see nya."
"In terms of their overall utility, they'll be perfect for combat support or use as armored transports. And, if we don't need them for any major sorties with the Liberty, they can be used as patrol ships for Outer Heaven instead," Metis added.
"Will we have enough resources to keep them properly supplied and maintained though nya? I know we're essentially self sufficient, but still..."
"They're basically smaller versions of the Liberty, so maintenance and general upkeep won't be an issue with what we have available."
"So, how many shipgirls or dolls can they crew and hold then?"
"A crew of four along with two standard fleets and one submarine support fleet's worth of shipgirls or three squads worth of Dolls with plenty of room to spare after I'm done upgrading them."
"Wow nya! And these things were really just sitting here?"
"Well, according to the documents I managed to find, the Hyperion class ACSC were actually supposed to have four such escort ships to defend them while they supported their shipgirl fleets from the rear to begin with. But, with the war going so badly for humanity and the sudden crunch on supply lines, they were only able to assemble two of them before abandoning the island, and I couldn't say what the situation is for the other two Hyperion class ACSC's," Metis explained. "Either way, these will definitely be invaluable for our future operations."
"So, does the Commander know about these ships at least nya?"
Metis shook her head. "No, not yet. He's been so busy with his training, meeting and getting our new fleet sisters settled in, taking care of paperwork, and overseeing preparations for our trip to the Sakura Empire that there really hasn't been a good chance to tell him yet. Still, with preparations to leave almost done and the ships almost ready for field testing, I think it's about time we show him and the others."
"Which, I'm guessing, is why I'm here then nya?"
Metis nodded. "All that's really left to do is to install and fine tune the ships' OS and run some virtual and light stress tests before taking them out for some proper test runs. Again, we were very, very lucky that these ships were already almost completed when I found them."
"Alrighty then! Let's get started then nya!" Akashi cheerfully declared, eyes sparkling with excitement.
xxx xxx xxx
September 23rd, 2023 - Morning: Outer Heaven, large outdoor training field number four.
Currently, two new squads of dolls and two new fleets of shipgirls were engaged in training simulations designed for urban warfare and combating Sirns, respectively.
"Looks like updating the island's training libraries with data from our most recent live combat data really has helped improve our simulation accuracy," Sheffield observed while taking notes on her new little sisters' performance as they fought. "Not only that, but we've managed to almost double the number of shipgirls that can be woken up from three to five thanks to Miss Akashi and Miss Metis unlocking the limiters on the construction site system shortly after our return too. Indeed, at this rate, we should be ready within a few more days provided nothing goes wrong. Now then, let's see which side will finish up first..."
- With the new Dolls -
"This is P416 to Macchiato, sitrep," quietly asked a long haired light bluenette from behind cover, two short, SMG armed redheads on either side of her and keeping watch.
[Macchiato to P416. Hazy and Rainy have successfully drawn out enough of the enemy forces from the right and left to leave the center just thin enough to rush in. Still risky, but definitely doable.]
P416 nodded. "Got it. Then Cheetah, Dorothy and I will move out and capture the target on the count of five."
[Ja. Understood. I'll be switching to supporting you all with scattershot shells then. They won't do much more than buy you some extra time though.]
"That'll be more than enough," P416 said before turning to Cheetah and Dorothy. "Are you two ready?"
The two petite, redheaded Dolls nodded, confident smiles on their cute faces.
"Yup! Good to go any time, Chief!"
"Mm! Totally ready! Even managed to get in some liquid courage too~!"
P416, in a rare display of emotion, chuckled at her sisters' enthusiasm. "Right then! Five! Four! Three! Two! And... One!"
- With the new Shipgirls -.
"Hey, Kuma-chan! Cover me!" called out a slender, beige cardigan wearing twintailed strawberry blonde heavy cruiser as she charged in at the Siren mass production fleet in front of her, her rigging's guns primed and ready to fire.
"Bet!" nodded the black haired, amber eyed heavy cruiser following close behind. "Like, leave it to me~!"
*BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!*
Meanwhile, the buxom, blonde, violet eyed large cruiser rounding out this trio of vanguard gals was having the time of her life blasting away the remaining Siren mass production ships that managed to slip past the others.
"Ahahaha~! This is so much fun~!"
While firing off one special barrage after another, Guam made sure to take plenty of pictures of her own and her fleet sisters' handiwork using her nearby camera drone, whose flashes also served as the signal for the shipgirls in the rear to act as well.
...
"Signal confirmed. Reload complete; now engaging at maximum output," said the blue haired, golden eyed battleship who looked almost like an artificial angel in a monotone, almost mechanical voice. However, as stoic and emotionless as she appeared to be at first blush, the slight glint in her sharp gaze told a very different story, something that did not go unnoticed by the two other rear line fleet sisters nearby.
*BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!*
"... Ohoh?"
"... Lady Shinano? Is something the matter?" asked the silver haired, crimson eyed Vichya Dominion battlecruiser next to her while she prepared to fire off her own barrage.
"Hm? Ah, 'tis nothing of concern. This one simply noticed dear Gascogne's excitement, that is all," replied the ever sleepy yet dignified and elegant, fox eared aircraft carrier, her many large and fluffy tails swaying idly in amusement.
"Oh?" the silverette battlecruiser curiously voiced, her slender brows slightly furrowed from trying, and failing, to see what Shinano was talking about.
"... Indeed. It is not obvious, that much this one can concede, but even so... There is most certainly a spark of excitement and fervor in her aura. It is, for lack of a better phrase, very earnest and pure; traits this one finds describes her quite well actually... Would you not agree, dear Dunkerque?"
After thinking about Shinano's words for a moment, Dunkerque could only find herself nodding in agreement.
"... That is, a good way of describing Gascogne, oui." '...And, it is true that she was the first to act too...'
"Mm. Now then, let us go and follow her example, shall we?"
"Ah, oui. Let's."
xxx xxx xxx
Outer Heaven, in Liam's office.
'...Man. To think I'd be dealing with paperwork again..,' Liam thought with a sigh as he finished going over the two job contracts the remainder of Outer Heaven would be taking on while he and the others went to the Sakura Islands. 'Still. It's good we made a favorable impression on that island settlement and those traders Saratoga helped out. But man, pirates huh? Well, I guess there's always bound to be some dumbasses out there willing to rob a burning house. Well, if nothing else, that means more business for us I guess. Anyway, all that's left to take care of is to double check the supply reports before meeting the new...-'
Just then, while Liam was lost in his thoughts and his paperwork, the door suddenly opened up as several shipgirls came in unannounced, led by one very excited Anchorage carrying a plate of what looked like freshly baked cookies.
"-Teacher! Teacher! Look, look~!"
"...Eh? Anchorage? Belfast and Algerie too?"
"Ah, Master. Pardon the intrusion but, as you can see, Miss Anchorage here couldn't wait to show you what she made."
"Oui, and not just her either!" Algerie added, a tray of tea in hand. "Anchorage all but pestered/begged our dear head maid to teach her how to make some cookies, which led me to ask her to teach me how to prepare tea like they do in the Royal Islands. And well, we all figured you could use a break. Well, nothing was going to stop this one here from barging in regardless though..."
"Teacher! Teacher! Look! Cookies! Anchorage... made Cookies! Belfast... taught Anchorage! So, so...! Have some?"
"See?"
Anchorage's eyes were positively sparkling with expectation as she showed off the plate of slightly burnt but still tasty looking chocolate chip cookies. And, seeing her look at him with such earnest hope, as well as the smiles from Belfast and Algerie, Liam found he could only give one answer.
'...Ah well. And, it is true that I could use a break...'
With that, Liam rolled his shoulders, nodded, and took a cookie from Anchorage before popping it into his mouth while Algerie came and poured a cup of tea.
"Oh, *munch, munch* These are pretty good!"
Seeing her hard work pay off, Anchorage had a wide smile on her face watching her beloved Teacher happily munching away on the cookies she'd spent so much time and effort making.
"See? I told you Master would love them," Belfast said with a gentle, big sisterly smile.
"Mm! Anchorage is... very, very... happy~! ...Thank you, Bel~!"
After swallowing the last cookie, Liam then took a whiff of Algerie's tea before putting the cup to his lips.
'... Oh? This is good! It's got this nice, spicy scent and flavor to it too. Mm. And it pairs really well with the cookies too!'
"... Well? How, how is it?" asked a cutely anxious Algerie.
"Good! Like, really good! And it goes really well with Anchorage's cookies too!"
"Is, is that so?"
"Yup! Actually, can I get another cup?"
"...! Oui! Coming right up!"
Just then-
"Hm? Oh! Looks like I got a text," Liam said as he checked his vibrating tablet. "A surprise huh? Well, better not keep her waiting then."
"Master?"
"Ah, Akashi just said she had something she wanted to show me. Said it was really important too."
"Ah, I see."
"Yeah, and I could use the exercise anyway," Liam replied before looking at Belfast, Anchorage and Algerie. "Wanna come with?"
"Oh? Green Cat... has a surprise for Teacher? Anchorage wants to see!"
"I don't mind."
"Neither do I, but are you sure, Master?"
Liam nodded. "Yeah, no worries. The more, the merrier right?"
- A little later, just outside Outer Heaven's auxiliary dock -
."Hm? Frau Sara?" Prinz Eugen called out when she saw the petite pinkette coming over.
"Oh, Eugen! What, did you get a text from Akashi too?" Saratoga asked.
Eugen nodded. "Ja. But not just me, look."
"Hm?"
Turning her head to look where Eugen was pointing, Saratoga noticed quite a few others headed their way.
"Oh, the Commander, Belfast, Algerie, Anchorage and the some of other fleet leaders too," Saratoga noted. "Heh. Guess that means that whatever Akashi wants to show us must be really something big, huh?"
"Well, let's see if unser lieber Kommandant knows anything then, ja?"
"Mm! Good thinking!"
Then, after coming over and exchanging a few greetings with Liam and the others, the pair asked if he had any idea what Akashi wanted to show them, only to see him shake his head.
"Sorry, but I'm just as much in the dark as the rest of you."
But, before Eugen or any of the other gathered shipgirls could say or do anything else, the group heard the large doors to the auxiliary dock behind them slowly opening up, followed by the catgirl of the hour making her entrance with Metis following right behind her.
"Oh? Bel-chan? Algerie-san and Anchorage-chan too?" asked the cat eared verdette after spotting the three shipgirls' in question.
"Sorry about that. They were with me when I got your text," Liam explained. "That's not a problem, is it?"
Akashi shook her head. "Ie~ It's not a problem at all nya."
"That's good. Anyway, what's this 'big surprise' you wanted to show us?"
"You'll see," Metis replied rather vaguely. "Now, please. Come this way."
Gesturing for Liam the others to follow, Metis and a chuckling Akashi beckoned them to follow them inside.
- A moment later, inside -
"...Whoa! Are, are those what I think they are...?" Liam asked, looking up at the two smaller but very familiar looking ships in front of him.
"Hai nya! They are exactly what you think they are!" Akashi confirmed.
"Aerial combat support escorts, to be precise," Metis added by way of clarification.
"... 'Aerial combat support, escorts' ...?" Liam repeated.
Metis nodded. "Yes. Specifically, for the Liberty."
"Metis-chan and I have been working on getting them ready nya! Well, Metis-chan did most of the work, but still!"
"They were already mostly finished when I found them though," Metis corrected.
"...So, are they ready to use?" Saratoga asked, stepping closer to get a better look.
"... Wow...! ... So, what did Green Cat do, to help?" Anchorage asked.
"Hm? Me? Oh, I'm working to install and test the ships' operating systems before linking them up to Metis here, and no, not yet... and they definitely won't be ready by the time we have to leave either," Akashi explained.
"Not ready for actual combat with Sirens anyway," Metis appended. "They should still be ready to use for some limited field test runs at least."
"See, they can also be used as armored transports nya! Perfect for those job contracts we took on, right?"
Peter Strasser nodded. "Very true. We can also begin developing formations and strategies to include them along with training new bridge crews while you're away."
"Likewise, we can see what can be adapted from the Commander and the others' last few battles with the Sirens too," King George V added.
"Then we should start with a brief tour and rundown of the ships and their capabilities before moving on to more detailed explanations for the sisters that'll be staying behind," Metis suggested.
"That's a good idea, heehee~ It'd be best to familiarize ourselves with them as soon as possible," Clemenceau agreed, taking out her tablet and opening up her notes app.
"Since there are two ships, we should split up into two groups then nya!"
"Anchorage doesn't really get all the complicated stuff, but... she wants to be on Green Cat's team!"
"Sure nya!"
"Yay~!"
- With Akashi's group -
"By the way, Shikikan?" Akashi began while everyone else was busy looking around the escort ship.
"Hm? What's up?"
"Back when you were working to drive off the Sirens from that island, you worked with the Hyperion, right?"
"Ah, yeah. Why?"
"... Don't you remember what I said about the Hyperion class ACSC ships?" Akashi asked back.
"You mean about how the Hyperion was built in Europa and was the only one in active service by the time the Azur Lane Alliance finally fell but just before the Sirens began their land invasions?" Liam replied, recalling the explanation Akashi gave when they first found the Liberty along with the supplementary history lessons she and Metis gave him later on.
"I also mentioned that the ship built in the Sakura Empire, the Amaterasu, was left unfinished in its production facility."
"Oh yeah, but what about it?"
"I was wondering what an ACSC that should've been in Europa was doing in the Sakura Empire along with the state of the Amaterasu nya," Akashi said. "I asked Metis if she learned anything about it from her 'sister', but even she wasn't able to learn anything since we aren't part of her fleet, so I was wondering if you knew anything about it, like from that other Commander."
"Oh, I see. Well, if I'm being honest, a lot of that slipped my mind because of the battle, but I did remember to ask him how he ended up in the Sakura Empire in the first place at least."
"Oh yeah nya?"
Liam nodded. "Yeah. It's kind of a long and convoluted story, but the short of it is that the Hyperion he's currently using is actually the completed Amaterasu, or at least the ship itself is. The AI and core that controls it was apparently removed from the original Hyperion when he and his forces were sent over to the Sakura Empire."
"...What? But why would they bother doing that instead of just using the Amaterasu's AI once it was completed?" Akashi asked, confused.
Liam chuckled. "I asked the same thing, but it seems that there was something wrong with the Amaterasu's AI core and, since there wasn't a Commander present in the Sakura Empire to make use of it anyway, the Amaterasu's AI core was removed and some of the maintenance staff were transferred over to Europa to fix whatever the problems were and then install it onto the ACSC there. All they really had to do was just switch the names over on the registries and voila, the Amaterasu became the Hyperion and the Hyperion became the Amaterasu. Of course, I heard that the only reason this was even an option was because the three ACSC's and their respective physical AI cores were all identical."
"I see nya. Since these aerial ships were made to be used exclusively by a Commander their AIs have synced up with, it'd just be easier to switch out the AIs..."
"Yeah, and since then Yang has managed to all but singlehandedly keep the Sakura Empire free of Siren control."
"But, didn't Metis-chan say that about 40% of the Sakura Empire was under Siren control though?"
Liam shook his head. "Not anymore, no. It took awhile, but ever since Commander Yang showed up and got the new Hyperion up and running, along with increasing his shipgirl forces, he and the SIDA (Sakura Imperial Defense Army) have managed to take back the Empire's Siren occupied territory, though he did say that the Siren forces didn't seem to put up much of a fight and withdrew rather easily... a little too easily he thought."
"And that's why he thinks that the Sirens are up to something and wanted us to come visit nya?"
Liam nodded. "Yeah, well. There's no denying that the Sirens have been really active here in the Pacific, so it's not like we can ignore whatever might be happening either way, right?"
"That's true nya. Anyway, it looks like everyone's about done checking the ship out..."
"Seems so. So what will you and Metis do now? I need to check in on the new shipgirls and get them settled in before doing that afternoon training routine you shipgirls have me on."
"Metis-chan and I still have some work to do on these babies before showing them off to the others nya!"
"Heh, sounds good. Alright then, I'm gonna let the others know I'll be heading out then."
"Okay~! Oh, and don't forget nya! Tomorrow is me and Elly-chan's turn to sleep over nya!"
"...As if I could... You and Eldridge would just break in no matter what..."
"Nyahaha~!"
xxx xxx xxx
September 23rd, 2023 - After checking in on the new shipgirls, shipgirl dorms communal living room.
"...! ...How, how are you so good at this?" asked a hard to tell by looking but very surprised petite, pink haired and twintailed Iron Blood destroyer as she looked at the results screen of an FPS she and the buxom, blonde and also twintailed Iron Blood heavy cruiser sitting next to her were playing. "... That was like, four rounds in a row...! ...Just, how?"
"Hehe Never, ever, underestimate the power of my love for mein Kommandant~! It gives me the strength to overcome any and all obstacles~!"
"Ugh, whatever...! I love Mandy just as much as you do!"
"Now, now. Don't fight," gently admonished the foxy eared, many fluffy tailed, buxom ravenette Sakura Empire battleship lazily reclining on the couch behind them. "After all, did our Shikikan-sama not agree to spend time with both you and Little Pamiat? Thus, there is no reason to quarrel, is there?"
"...I, I know. But, like... I wanted to show off and win at least once, y'know?" Z-47 finally admitted. "I mean, I'm the only one who hasn't won even a single match yet...!"
"Um, but I didn't win one either though?" Liam said while Pamiat was happily sleeping on his lap.
"Aw, but that's okay! Frau Pamiat is just... that good, so ...um, it doesn't count?" Blucher cheerfully said in an attempt to console and comfort her only average skilled at gaming Commander.
"...Haha. Yeah, it's fine. I'm more into RPGs than shooters anyway."
"Mandy! You should play a round against me then!" Z-47 suggested/demanded. "I wanna win at least one match dammit...! I need something worth sharing with the others over the Joint Tactical network!"
"Yeah, sure. I don't mind," Liam readily agreed, chuckling at how competitive the otherwise inexpressive and stoic, eye-patch wearing destroyer was being. '... 's pretty cute. Kinda reminds me of Eldridge actually. But, with less zapping and more being into her smart phone.'
"Ooh! I wanna see that match too! Ah, but I'll totally be cheering for you though, mein lieber Kommandant~!"
"Hm. These 'videogames' certainly do look quite intriguing. Perchance do you mind if I have a go after your match, Shikikan-sama?" asked the foxy, buxom ravenette from her spot on the couch, her many tails waving about lazily behind her.
"Hm? You wanna play, Musashi?" Liam asked back, not at all expecting that request.
Musashi nodded. "I do indeed. At least one match, if that's alright."
"... Mandy, Mandy~ Like, hurry up already...!"
"Haha. Alright, alright. Oh, but this'll have to be the last one for me, alright? I still have a lot of work left to get done. But don't worry, I promise to play with you and Blucher more later, okay?"
"... Okay... Like, let's get playing already!"
With a fire in her eyes, the eye-patch wearing twintailed, petite pinkette was ready to do or die! ... Though, it was really hard to tell with how she normally presented herself. Blucher and the others, on the other hand, just giggled at how serious she was being... Well, except for the still sleeping Pamiat Merkuria, that is.
xxx xxx xxx
A/N:
AND DONE!
Preparations are just about done and Liam and the others should be ready to leave for the Sakura Empire!
As for the new additions to the fleet?
The new Dolls included many a Doll from Girls' Frontline.
P416 actually is a nod to Agent 416 from 'The Division' collab since that 416 used the POF416 and not the HK416.
Dorothy is a reference to the Dorothy Haze from the VAL-ha11a collab.
Cheetah, Macchiato, Hazy, and Rainy are references to GFL's MP7, Type 95, and Type 97 respectively, but with names and some character bits inspired by their GFL2 and Neural Cloud appearances respectively. Hazy referring to 'Daiyan' and Rainy referring to 'Jiangyu'... who themselves are likely not the same characters from GFL1 Dolls made using the same model.
Macchiato is WA2000, though her name is spelled differently from her GFL2 appearance.
These aren't the same exact Dolls from those games though, which I reflected in things like their names.
The Kumano and Suzuya here are not their AL selves, but their Warship Girls R counterparts instead. Yang actually has the AL Kumano and Suzuya. And yes, they will get to meet later.
Anyway, I had a lot of fun writing up this chapter and I'll see you all next update!