Norfolk Naval Base, 1st of January 2030, 1200 hours:
The sky was gray and covered by clouds, which blocked the sunlight from falling to the earth. Snow was still falling on the naval base, with snow stacking on the road. A sound of an engine was heard as a yellow sweeper truck was sweeping the road from the snow.
Meanwhile, near a dry dock can be seen a massive nuclear aircraft carrier with hull number 068. Its deck was filled with activity, as there were a small number of workers present on the large carrier carrying tablets on their hands and small bug-sized robots seen eating out the rust on the ships while at the same time painting the once-rusted area with new paint.
On the other parts of the naval base were two Ticonderoga class cruisers with hull numbers 052 and 054, docked, and with the ropes and anchors keeping both ships at dock. A large, one-story building can be seen a few hundred meters from the ships.
Inside a large mess hall, it was filled with decorations and a large banner that read, 'Happy 118th birthday, Medellein'. With a cake in the middle of the room and other foods and drinks on the table, people were talking with each other; some were eating the food and enjoying the time.
There was a blonde woman with blue eyes, with a look like she's around her early 30's while giving a tired look on her face, sitting on her corner while wearing a dark navy blue suit with there being one golden stripe and one star on the edge of her suit's sleeve, along with a white shirt on the inner layer with a neck tab, along with wearing a dark navy blue knee-length skirt, with black flat shoe as her footwear. Her long overcoat was folded and hanging on her left arm, along with her service cap and gloves. She looked around the mess hall, where her fellow comrades from the control station were having fun.
She then released a heavy sigh, laid back on the short seat, and closed her eyes. It has been quite some time since she came to this planet. A hundred and eighteen years of service with a nation she cared for and was willing to protect its ideas to the death. Over the course of her entire life, she saw the rise and fall of empires and the colleagues she worked with, changing ship to ship for more than a century. Now she's just sitting here, relaxing with her mortal colleagues.
She looked at her two other fellow shipgirls, Marie and Rosey, their dark hair fluttering down and covering their faces, where they sat down side by side, consumed by the drink they just had. "Oh, well. Those girls... can't really control themselves," she thought, still with that tired look on her face, closing her eyes again as she was very tired from her last deployment in the South China Sea in a short transfer with the 7th Fleet.
"Ma'am." One young woman approached as she mentioned her, wearing almost the same clothing as her but instead with 3 golden thinner stripes with a thinner stripe in the middle along a golden star, with dark brown hair, while holding her cap on her elbow, where she placed her cup on the table as she approached closer. "I have always wanted to see you face-to-face! The living legend of the navy. I'm Commander Kayla Summers. Nice to meet you." She gave a salute to Medellein, standing firm in front of her.
Medellein looked up towards the young woman; her eyes were wide open, and she straightened herself on her seat, looking at her. She then sighed before giving a salute back from her position before dropping it. "Off with the formalities, Commander. Just enjoy the party."
"O-Oh.." Kayla lowered her arm, and her body posture went from straight to a more relaxed posture. "I never thought such a person I thought to be cold could be this relaxed."
"I'm not cold." Medellein released a sigh as she laid herself back on the short cushion. "Just tired."
"Oh, I see." Kayla nodded in understanding.
"Well, why don't you sit here? You seem like you want to talk with me." She pointed her index finger towards the seat facing the table in front of her.
"Oh! Thank you." Kayla sat down on the seat Medellein pointed at before. Despite the figure she admired so much for being very relaxed, not only that but also being nice, she cannot help herself but is still feeling nervous. The person she dreamed of meeting with was now in front of her.
Medellein stared at the ceiling; her mind was empty at the moment. She was tired, both physically and emotionally. Reminding herself of the long service she has gone through. She then stared down at Kayla, who was nervous, staring in front of her. She then opened up a conversation to ease her nervousness. "So, tell me. Being the fleet's operation's specialist commander, this is your first time seeing me face-to-face, hm?"
Kayla was caught off-guard by the sudden question, but she was quick to respond in a nervous tone. "A-Ah yes! Ma'am."
"Off with the formalities. We're not in for some flash inspection. So, I heard your brother just got married?" Asked Medellein as she kept eye contact with Kayla.
Kayla's eyes widened, surprised by her superior's knowledge of her brother's marriage. She then responded back. "W-Well, yes! Poor brother got dumped on several times by several women, and he finally found peace with a milk lady near our old house we grew up in. I've heard that you'll be changing ships soon. Is that right?" Kayla asked.
Medellein nodded at Kayla's answer before she was greeted with a question. Which she then answered. "Well, yes. It's currently on final checks before the commission ceremony tomorrow." She looked out the window, towards her old Nimitz class carrier. Being repaired in preparation to be sent off to a museum dock. "Good thing they decided to preserve that thing."
"Well, may I ask what ship it would be?" Kayla asked once more.
"USS Enterprise, CVN-80. It was supposed to replace my current ship years ago, but some accidents and delays during construction made me still use this old ship. Now I will get another new skin. New fancy tech." Medellein released yet another tired sigh.
"I see.." Kayla nodded once more. "I also heard that we'll be moving our base of operations to Iceland since the 1st Fleet is getting reactivated. Y'know, China and stuff."
"I'm aware. Damn those silly Chinese after getting a hold of the soul cubes. Guess they really went on and started doing programs on 'donating' young girls' souls to fuel their navy. Now they're making ships and spreading their legs like cockroaches." Medellein replied as she ended it with a heavy sigh.
"Yep, damn right. Poor girls.."
As the two continued talking, the party was still going, coupled with a sailor playing the piano somewhere near the entrance that was brought in for the special occasion. It was not until the entrance door was opened that a figure entered inside. A middle-aged man with brown hair mixed with some strands of gray hair was wearing a dark blue overcoat that stretched to his feet, along with a cap.
"Atten-tion!" One person shouted in a low tone. In response, everyone in the room stood up as they went into attention, except for the two sleeping ship girls. The admiral took off his overcoat to reveal his dress in a blue suit with a golden stripe on his sleeve, with a small space separating a small, thin golden stripe above, combined with one golden star. Along with that, a thick, dark blue trouser was combined with a flat shoe as his footwear.
He then took off his cap and placed both his overcoat and cap on his right arm. Before he looked at the personnel in front of him, he said, "At ease, ladies and gentlemen."
The personnel went into the said posture, widening their legs by a few inches and crossing their arms on their backs, still keeping a tight posture in front of the admiral. The admiral then smiled. "Well, good day, everyone," he greeted.
"Good day, Sir!" Everyone inside the room answered back in unison.
"Well, it seems like I'm a bit late to the party. I was talking with Admiral Hasley regarding the 2nd Fleet's transfer to Iceland. Our home port will be moved to the vital Arctic route, and the headquarters have just finished being built as we speak. So after the commission ceremony, we'll be packing our things as we'll be handing this base to the 1st Fleet." He halted before he continued. "Also, not to forget our big nanny here, who just turned 118 years old!" He turned towards Medellein.
Medellein blushed at the mention of her old age. "I'm notthatold." She muttered. "I still look young."
"Well, no matter how old she is, she always looks like she's only 30 or 35. Young and dandy, ready to kick our enemy's butt and make them beg to stop, like when she's being all wild in the club." He joked, causing a chain of laughter throughout the room.
Medellein at this point was unable to hide her red face, almost unable to bear it-that last event a year ago of almost sleeping with a guy for being drunk after going to a club. Thank God her fellow shipgirls, who were her two early disciples, helped her off the scene. But it was quite embarrassing, as it was leaked to the public. Thank God once more; the reaction wasn't all that bad. The reaction from the public was quite interesting. Most of the comments were about people being degenerate and talking about artists making unholy pieces of art of her. "Being both a popular figure and a navy symbol sure is hard." She muttered to herself; she somewhat enjoyed the attention. After all, being alive for 118 years and serving a nation can be tiring. She does need a little bit of appreciation and recognition.
"Well, that's all for today. I'm still handling the papers for our transfer. Have fun, everyone, and have a good day." The admiral then gave a short salute before he walked back out towards the entrance, leaving the building.
The building was then buzzing with activity as the piano continued to play. Some personnel were also seen singing. Medellein sat back on the seat she was on before, releasing a heavy sigh after the short speech from the rear admiral. The feeling of tiredness entered her once more before she fell asleep completely.
"Uhmm... Madame Medellein?" Kayla approached her, wanting to shake her up but also not wanting to be rude. "Oh, well, she's really that tired." Then, came in both Rosey and Marie after their deep slumber.
"Huh? What happened to Madame Medellein?" Asked Rosey with a look of confusion, adding to her post-awakened state.
"She's asleep, silly." Marie gave a light slap on Rosey's cheeks, causing her to flinch.
"Ow! What was that for?" Rosey gave a small grunt, despite the light slap that was given.
"I'm still not sober at this moment." Marie looked at the sleeping women before she decided to take the initiative and picked Medellein up by her right arm. "Come on, let's bring her back to her room. Usual stuff."
"Right.." Rosey looked towards Kayla. "Well, see you later."
"R-Right.." Kayla stared at the two as they brought the woman back to her room. Now all alone, she left with her drink placed beside Medellein's cup. She decided to threw the cups in the trash and returned to her subordinates to keep herself occupied and not alone.