No battles for now. You will see me trying to get used to this new life on the base as I contemplate my options and what I think about Azur lane in my mind!

"Confidence born of ignorance, the cycle cannot be broken."-Sovereign

Washington led me through the corridors and halls of this militarized town (as I would call it) at a fast pace. I was honestly glad that my ability to use Magic also had a passive enhancing effect to my physiology because I could easily keep pace with her without being winded. It didn't change the feeling of uneasiness that was going on with my clairvoyance sixth sense though. Washington was someone who took combat seriously for all the issues of the North Carolinas being originally designed to 356mm guns and with that in mind a armor scheme against these same guns. Unless you were North carolina herself, I still thought that this seemed very odd for her to be doing.

Where Washington was leading me however, it took a long time. so It left me room for thoughts. thoughts that would begin to wander elsewhere as I listened to anyone talking if possible. hoping to gather information that may be of use at a later date. The cake was being moved elsewhere much to my sadness, and already my mouth was dirty with cake from trying to greedily eat so much of it.

Being someone who knew the game, even if I had to get translations to do so. Many would have expected me to start changing things, But the sad truth is. I am not a Obi-wan when it comes to influence. and I can't just try and 'befriend' the entire United Nations assembly. That would only likely end with my death.

Basic training along with the internet had gave me some clues when I got the chance, Previously. I had considered using Raising heart before to search for any internet access points and link to them. Search everything and add them to my memories, but... I decided against it, Namely because I had no idea if a Intelligent device without a AI could do it. and secondly. I had no clue if something like that can be tracked back to me. and thirdly. I didn't want to find out if it was possible for viruses to seriously mess with me. especially my digital systems.

What I did find out is that there was the opening salvos of this war which lasted for a few weeks. of the 14-Day first strikes orchestrated by submarines and carriers that managed to put a serious dent into the UN's ability to defend, but which also alerted the entire world to what they were facing off against. There were a few ports in America that handled the majority of its oil imports. Destroy these, and by doing so. you would be able to effectively cripple them. Canadian tar sands were no useful replacement unless you wanted the economy to implode. and of course the EU was in a state of disagreements, possibly caused by Siren agents further pushing Germany (and more than likely japan) further and further down the right-wing spectrum. but these were my speculations on that one.

My 'home' country. the United Kingdom was doing relatively fine, but the idiots there were destroying it from the inside out. It didn't shock me one bit, after all. if you can get them to believe that you offer a super-simple solution to all of their problems, then they are stupid enough to not see that their social welfare systems and prosperity was being dismantled by you and the profits funneled up to your backers and shareholders.

As a Magical girl. I was supposed to protect the world and its residents, but if these same morons didn't care about you one bit until it affected them. pretending your health problems didn't exist until it was time to cut you loose from the military into the homeless streets and were even ironic enough as migrants to vote against immigration. Then I had to admit, I would care more about two highly skilled workers dying than a entire family and hundreds of children being slaughtered at a hospital painfully from a bunch of hospitals just because the local Magical girl there was too depressed to even work up the will to fight.

But at the same time, Azur lane wasn't that stupid. right? Shipgirls were your main fighting force. so you provided them with Civ comforts. after all, you wanted shipgirls that could fight on-demand at peak performance rather than one who was out of action because she started going psychotic at the sound of even so much as a cannon firing. right? Perhaps I should wait and observe...

After all. I was Norfolk and Alsace with modern weapons, Right? It didn't make too much sense to be mistreating your golden goose who held the secret to overthrowing the current power of balance (Until your petty rivals caught up that was) with drill sergeants and hellish conditions when you could simply accept her needs and have her be content instead of risking the most monstrous political suicide in history? I also got the feeling Dorsetshire would be mad at me being unhappy from a cause. Be it from Azur lane or something else. And once there was Magic, all bets were off.

And yet, My sixth sense still feels uneasy. I kept up my pace with Washington toward a room and kept my eyes open for any interesting information but... I couldn't help but feel a foreboding sense of anxiety and the feeling something big was going to happen in that room. the presence of what felt like multiple people in there didn't take much off my mind.

Finally we reached our destination, snapping me out of my thoughts and Washington actually stopped to hold the door open for me. Very british-like. "W-what are we doing here?" I asked. the Norfolk part of me was making my more blunt and casual personality... gentler and submissive.

Washington just shot me her trademark smile. "See for yourself." She gave a nod toward the doorway, Sighing as I restrained my need to unleash my transformation. I stepped into the room. my sixth sense sparkling...

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY!"

I nearly jumped into the ceiling when at least 20+ shipgirls all shouted at the same time. Holy mother of god! "Motherfucking...!" I muttered as my clairvoyance screamed at me like a banshee and my core pulsed in my chest.

"You okay there Norfolk?" Shropshire asked, Giggling. I was very tempted to start screaming obscurities at her and fire a Starlight breaker. I didn't when I noticed that the destroyers were all in the first row. Some of the Zs were all grouped in front of Repulse. who was next to Shropshire in the front. above the happy committee was... What was that again? A banner that read out "Happy birthday" with my historical name written in hastily scrawled markers/brushes below it.

The room was all set for a big party. Foldout tables had been set up for a buffet line. with snacks, the cake from before. food and... Was that another cake? There was also a punch bowl as my memories as Norfolk fed me that piece of information in a attempt to recognize it. bulk packs of juice boxes and much to my glee. lots of cola.

"Geeee..." I breathed. taking a look around the room. "Was... this all for me?" My sixth sense began to calm down and with it the aggression in my heart as it was replaced with a smile and some pity (Why would they need to spend so much?).

"Of course it is." Washington confirmed after she had followed me into the room. "We thought that after everything, We hadn't really given you a proper welcome. Considering that today is important. We figured this would be a good time as any to make up for it."

"So. Come on! 'Lsace!'" Shropshire cheerfully said with my Class name to my slight irritation. wrapping her arm around my neck, That alone had to have taken some skill seeing as I was obviously shorter than her. or worse could have accidentally punted me into a table. "Enjoy it to your heart's content."

"Just give me popcorn and i am happy for w-whatever..." I said, struggling to hold back the blush that was growing at my cheeks. Shropshire smiled and started dragging me toward the food table. Which just so happened to lead me into the flotilla of shipgirls that were attending. Though I noticed that when I looked closely there was a face missing from the crowd of people congratulating me. Where was... My mind just braked to a grinding halt as I just realized that the County class were here. but... Dorsetshire was not, Hold on. I was not the Norfolk sub-class. right?

"BIG SISSSS!" A familiar oneesan-sounding voice shouted above the crowd. I turned to see Dorsetshire standing on one of the couches in the room (which I was slowly suspecting to be recreation more and more by the minute) with a big. stupid smile on her face after waiting for her sister for so long... and stood up like a hungry-looking Yukari. I stared at her, then glanced back to Shropshire and her again who was wearing the most happy-looking smile I think I've ever seen. Oh no...

"I've been waiting for you for so long!" She shouted "You're finally here. Big sister!"

Now considering the extent of my interactions with her was only "Stay distant from her and try not to talk much when possible" I was pretty damn sure that Dorsetshire was going to crush me in a hug. I was not interested in panicking during my own party.

So I turned and bolted, trying to weave as I bumped into Kent. Repulse cried out at Dorsetshire to not get so eager, trying to grab the heavy cruiser as she slipped by. I tried to run off only to feel the heavy cruiser wrap me up in a hug as I responded promptly with a cry and began squirming to try and get out of her grip.

"S-Stop!" I called out as my little sister seemed confused as to why I was telling her to not hug me. Shropshire approaching... Just as I turned my head to look at her with a stare that told I was obviously not liking this. I was done with being shy for this once. "You've scaring me!" I sharply said. before a unhappy-looking Repulse and Washington stepped into view. You could see Dorsetshire's face looking like she didn't want to. but relenting as I was put down.

Maybe I should just hold off on dropping my Facade more... If Dorsetshire really sees me as someone to be like. she was more reasonable than Portland, sure. But just how quickly would her opinions change once I really could and I can use superpowers or literal magic? Now that was something I did not want to think about unless I wanted her to constantly follow me around on why i am the best.

After telling tales of my history as HMS Norfolk and the general history of the Alsace-class battleships. as well as venturing into Vietnam war and Gulf war stories sometimes thanks to my modern systems giving me a excuse to do so. We began playing on a multiplayer game of so. Several. maybe 13 of us were active. Most. if not almost all tended to be destroyers but there were a few cruisers in and Repulse was trying after prodding her. I was going to admit, golfing took me back to my child days. I was gonna be up against Jersey after the current golfing session that Leander and a bunch of other destroyers were currently playing. The first round had already passed where my long-back memories of the Golf game still wasn't enough... But my Sixth sense again helped me crutch very hard and come out on top against Z1. Yeah, She didn't take that loss too well...

Remind me again about Ironblood engineering when they couldn't even get it right with actual modern battleship designs let alone S-band RADAR? Their pionnering concepts and practical simplification of the first jet engines however I say that goes to them. as well as some clever tricks like the R4m rockets and a prototype for cheap light fighters like the He-162. V1 cruise missiles and plans for a 'wooden round' Porsche jet engine did also count.

Repulse had already dealt with Dorsetshire after the failed attempt to smother me. The verbal argument wasn't really anything special, It was her words about how she should still understand what I felt about her... Now that was fodder for my mind to think about. I glanced away as Ardent messed up her shot and Koln got a Eagle. placing her ahead by a few numbers of so, sitting from the group. unhappy and pouting with her arms crossed as she stared at us was Dorsetshire.

Yes, Repulse had told Dorsetshire to not harm me when it was clear I didn't want it.

I knew I shouldn't find that funny. But seeing my sister get told to not disturb me like an unruly child was funny to me. for some reason.

"AGH! NO!" Dewey shouted as the session ended. Ardent whooped and Koln cheered as the blonde destroyer jumped up onto the seat. holding her controller high above her head in victory. Shropshire pretty much had to pull the destroyer back down onto the floor to get her to stop bumping into anyone along us, A slightly unhappy Union destroyer took her leave while four of us began preparing for our sessions.

I got my controller as I took a deep breath to calm myself. This reminded me so much of when my sibling's friends would come over for a Wii party complete with ramen and drinks. Z19 stared at me like a rival. "Ready to get your bow kicked?"

"I don't know.." I said. "Y-You going to put your effort where i-it counts. or are your foghorns louder than your torpedoes?" That made her stare at me for a long. silent moment, before slowly turning her attention back at the screen.

"Oh. I will!"

Boy. this whole RN and Kriegsmarine rivalry and wehraboo and freeaboo stupidity never really changes. Then again, I had just ate so much damn cake in the last hour of so that I was feeling pretty slow as well. I had to revise my strategic options given Azur lane may still do something to me if they found out about my powers. But, I was sated and happy... For now.

"Come in."

Behind a figure. someone walked in, The figure saluted at her. her uniform gleaming with decorations as she pulled a table over to sit down.

"As you may have known, We've received reports of disappearances of a few of our patrol fleets." She explained. her eyes shining in the Noon sunlight. "The only real evidence of this new enemy is from a radio burst that we caught briefly, Strangely enough. the transmissions. Which we believe are distress signals were asking for Warsaw pact or NATO assistance, and as we know. the Warsaw pact does not exist today, not anymore. And neither do our enemies use a shipgirl that was constructed during the Cold war years. Not yet." The girl gestured and motioned with her hands. practiced and on reflex alone from her days as a commander.

"So. What do we have on our newest enemy shipgirl?" The figure who was sitting asked. as the other gave her response.

"According to reports on this new shipgirl. We know that she may be the Alsace-class battleship. Command believes that she was responsible for multiple disappearances of escort carrier and hunter-killer squadrons throughout the contested frontlines. Until now, That was her only major victories." Her prognosis was pessimistic. mirrored by her expression. "It is the belief of our Intelligence specialists that these initial victories were achieved mostly by surprise or through overwhelming firepower. Culminating in her true limits being tested in a major battle between one of our task forces and a Azur lane fleet. Without her. the losses would likely not have been as catastrophic." The figure in the chair snorted as she heard all of this.

Finally. she decided to speak up. "Do we have anything about her that suggests advanced sensors and weapons?"

"It is where i bring bad news." The girl who saluted said. "From accounts of the battle, Our estimates are... She was confirmed to be using anti-ship missiles. specifically the Exocets from some of the task force's survivors. Jet fighters that highly resembled the MiG-29 and bombers that were all but the A-7 Corsair IIs and from our downed patrol aircraft. anti-aircraft missiles and proximity fused ammunition." The presumably intelligence specialist added. "Broken accounts also highly suggest that her sensors are modern RADARs and electronics. as she was somehow landing hits on our forces with a uncannily high precision."

"Anything else?" The girl in the chair said. The intelligence specialist herself struggled to form the words, but shaking her head. she worked up the will to do so.

"I am not sure we should use the word... but..." She hesitated before stuttering out. "If one of our accounts was right... She was using something like magic. Actual magic. Ranged fireball-like projectiles and even some kind of regeneration factor. She also showed the ability to even use and launch aircraft even though the Alsace-class battleships were not battlecarriers. which again would suggest some kind of impossible hammerspace-like ability, We've currently working out what she was using... But we still don't understand what happened. We've likely facing a extremely dangerous modernized shipgirl."

"Hmm..." The girl in the chair held her chin as she slumped over on the table. A idea forming in her head. "It seems we've dealing with a modern warship. and one who can somehow draw on Magic as hard as it is to believe. However, If we can work out how to replicate that... I have a idea." The girl in the chair picked up the telephone's handle. dialing in the numbers as she contemplated the new possibilities.