Chapter 28
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September 29th, 2023 - Early morning, aboard the Liberty and en route to the Sakura Empire.
'A good night's sleep really does do wonders for you, huh?' Liam thought with a yawn while stretching his arms and getting the last bits of sleep out of his system with an equally half awake but silent Eldridge following him, gently holding onto the hem of his coat.
"I'm surprised you can look so refreshed considering how much everyone pestered you last night," Metis noted while she diligently checked on the status of the ACSC's automated course towards the Sakura Islands. "Though, I suppose that included me as well, doesn't it? Well, at least we really did just get some sleep in the end though."
"Yeah, and it was some damn fine sleep too. A little crowded but totally worth it I say."
"I bet it was, judging from how your body responded to all the attention we gave you~" Metis replied with a fair bit of teasing in her normally cool and controlled tone. "Though, I suppose even I am as guilty as the rest aren't I?"
Liam chuckled. "Yeah, you even fought with Eldridge over who got to hug me first. Actually, come to think of it. You've been really touchy-feely with everyone since getting your body, haven't you?"
"... Hmph...!"
"... There is something, quite addicting about the influx of sensory input data physical contact elicits," the petite silverette quietly admitted, her pale cheeks now dusted a light pink.
"... Commander, warm..."
"Still, I'm glad things didn't get too out of hand... Not the best time for it and all that."
"Says the man who had an erection, pounding heartbeat, and elevated body temperature the whole night. Honestly, it never fails to both fascinate and amuse me getting to see your desperate struggles to fight off your body's responses to so much constant stimuli."
"... Commander, pervert..."
Liam sighed with a light blush of his own. "Seriously, with so many half naked, awesome smelling, and super soft beauties all crowding into my room the night before our arrival for an important mission? Of course I'd do everything I could not to give in... But, if I'm being honest, I just had a lot on my mind so if anything, a part of me is more than a little grateful for the distraction... even if it did give me a whole different set of issues to deal with..."
"Are you worried about what the Sirens might be planning, or whatever this new mystery faction the other Eldridge belongs to might want?" Metis asked, now back in her usual and serious adjutant mode.
"Yeah. I just can't help but think something huge is gonna happen..," Liam admitted with a nod. "Anyway, enough about all that drama for now. What are the others up to? Are they even all awake yet?"
"One moment," Metis said before interfacing with the Joint Tactical Network. "Ah, it seems most of them are up and getting breakfast ready now before beginning their patrol rotations."
"Breakfast huh? Yeah, food sounds good... Alright, let's go get something join 'em then."
"You can go on ahead first, Commander," Metis said, pointing to the nearby terminal. "I still have a few things to check first."
"Alright, but try not to take too long, okay?"
"Mm, I won't. Or, I'll try not to at least."
- With Littorio META's mixed fleet -
"Alright. Begin the targeted shift onto their ship. Also, don't forget to deploy the area wide stealth field so as to minimize risk of detection by the Sirens," ordered the serious Sardegnan verdette.
"Roger that~!" replied Pola and Zara META as they and the other three META shipgirls began their group transfer technique to get themselves onto the Liberty.
"You're being much calmer about all this than I thought you'd be, Signorina Eldridge," Littorio META observed while looking at the petite and tanned silverette.
"... No, not calm... Eldridge can't wait to see Commander, but..."
"Mayhap is it because you got to see him already?" Nagato META observed. "And speaking of being calmer than one would expect, how are you feeling, Littorio?"
"... Hm? What do you mean?" Littorio META asked back with a raised eyebrow.
"Both you and little Eldridge-chan are the only ones who can not only clearly recall your past Commanders, but that he and this Branch's Commander seem to be, more or less, one and the same. That is certainly more than any of us can say, especially considering how much of our own past memories have become lost in a thick sea of thick fog since undergoing METAmorphasis," clarified the petite, fox eared battleship.
After a moment of thought, Littorio and Eldridge META could only nod at what Nagato META said.
"...Mm. Commander, is Commander."
"We've all lost much, memories included, but I'd still like to think that, no matter what happens or how much we change, the bonds with our Commander are forever engraved in the deepest parts of our wisdom cubes."
"Fair enough. After all, we very likely wouldn't be here if that weren't the case."
"Anyway, that's enough chitchat. Let's go."
With that, Eldridge and Nagato META nodded before following after Littorio META.
- After breakfast aboard the Liberty, bridge -
"...! Big Brother!" Natsuha loudly called out in an uncharacteristically panicked voice.
"Natsuha? What's wrong?"
"Um! Um! A, a.. um... spac, spacetime an, anomaly detected! It, um, matches the recorded pattern the other Eldridge left behind."
"Wait, what!? Metis? Is that true?"
"One moment," Metis said as she hastily analyzed and cross-referenced the pattern against what was recorded in the Liberty's database. "Yes, the pattern matches what was left behind."
Liam nodded. "Alright, get in touch with the others and-"
"-Now, now. I'm sure our dear little Eldridge already told you about us, si?" interrupted a very confident yet somewhat theatrical sounding voice followed by the slight shimmer and warping of space as the voice's owner and several other figures gradually phased into reality and onto the bridge. "Rejoice, for you have gained the favor of one Littorio and her merry band~!"
...
...
...
"..." '... Uh. What, the fuck..?'
That wasn't just Liam's reaction either. Most everyone aboard the bridge, and anyone else listening in over the 'Joint Tactical Network', was stunned into silence at the sudden and somewhat out of place, overly dramatic greeting. And, sensing that she might have gone a tad overboard, the now fully manifested Littorio META cleared her throat before speaking while her five companions, minus Eldridge META, did their best not to laugh at her before commenting on the human, Dolls, and shipgirls currently staring back at them.
'Oh, other Eldridge is here, too,' Eldridge META mentally noted seeing her blonde counterpart standing next to Liam.
"My, my. What silly looks on their faces~ Well, that aside, they seem far less surprised by our arrival than I expected," Nagato META said, a fan covering her lips and eyes twinkling in amusement.
"... So you really did show up, huh? Glad we made sure to load that recorded strange ether pattern data onto the Liberty's database then" Liam asked, totally surprised.
"Glad you made use of the gift little Eldridge-chan left for you," Nagato META said. "Consider it a sign of our good will and desire for us to get along with you and your fleet. Ah, and I am Nagato META while the tall one with green hair next to me is Littorio META."."
"Oh, oh~! I'm Bremerton META~!"
"I'm Pola META!"
"And I'm Zara META, pleasure."
"... Eldridge, META."
"Sorry, but what's with the 'META' thing?" Liam asked, not really recognizing the phrase.
"The 'META' modifier for our names is short for 'METAmorphasis' and refers to what happens when a shipgirl's wisdom cube limiters are released due to the trauma of losing their Commander along with, more often than not, being the sole survivors of their respective Branches when they are destroyed," Nagato META explaiend.
"... Branch?"
"A Branch is what you might call a parallel world," Bremerton META clarified.
"... Wait, what? Parallel world? You mean, those are actually real?" Liam asked in utter disbelief with nerd fueled stars in his eyes.
...
*ZAP!*
"...Yeowch!"
"... Commander, stay... on topic," huffed the blonde little zapper, blue sparks of bio-electricity dancing about around her body.
"... R, Right. Sorry. An, anyway... as much as I'd like to hear more about parallel worlds and such, or how you even came to this world-man that's really weird to say out loud by the way-why is it you're all here?" Liam asked, scratching the back of his head.
"We simply came to greet you, as well as to confirm a few things," Littorio META said.
"Confirm a few things?" Metis repeated, slender brow arched in curiosity.
Littorio META nodded. "One such issue has already been confirmed, but the other..."
"... The other?" Liam repeated, wondering just what it was that the tall beauty with long, dark green hair and her companions were so curious about.
"Why are there Sirens here?" Littorio META asked, her cold gaze sweeping over Metis and the other Dolls on the bridge.
"... Hey! Natsuha is not a Siren! Natsuha is Natsuha!" protested the twintailed blonde, not liking being called that again.
"She's right. While it is true that our Doll frames were made in part using reverse engineered Siren technology, our base logic and personality layers were made based on the shipgirls psych data," Metis explained.
"Reverse engineered Siren technology? You mean like this ship?" Pola META asked.
Metis nodded. "Yes. Our nanomachines were made using Siren derived technology in order to try and simulate the organic nanomachines you Kansen naturally produce and possess in order to modify and augment the base frames our bodies are made from so that they could better handle the installed wisdom cubes that act as our cores. So, if anything and as far as we know, we Dolls are closer to artificial shipgirls than Sirens."
"Interesting," Nagato META said, her interest piqued before turning to the former Sardegnan verdette. "Well?"
"Mm. But, that still doesn't really explain why Dolls were made at all if Kansen already exist."
"We were made to fill in roles that our shipgirl sisters couldn't, like acting as bodyguards for the Commander, bridge crew for the Liberty, and/or handling missions that may require a different approach," P416 explained, speaking up for herself and fellow Dolls.
"Well, that and I just wanted a physical body of my own in order to experience the world in the same way as everyone else," Metis added.
Hearing this, the six META shipgirls turned to each other and seemed to be having a silent conversation as they process everything they just learned.
'... Seeing as they're basically shipgirls too, I bet they have their own version of the joint tactical network. It'd explain why they're just standing still and looking at each other like that,' Liam wondered.
After a minute or two that felt far, far longer later, Littorio META and the others wrapped up their silent conversation.
"This Branch really is strange," Littorio META finally said with a light smirk. "At the very least, it really is unlike many of the other Branches we've seen before."
"What do you mean?" Liam asked.
"She means that we haven't come across any other Branch where shipgirls and Siren coexist like this," Bremerton META replied.
"Really?" Metis was quite surprised to hear that.
"Well, as far as any and all other Branches we've visited, observed or came from, it's always been a case of one or the other existing in any given Branch, not both at the same time, and certainly not as harmoniously as what's going on here," Zara META replied.
"Wait, really? Then does that include this ship too?" Liam asked. "Because, this Liberty here was also made using reverse engineered Siren tech too."
"No, humanity using reverse engineered Siren tech to help them survive isn't itself that unusual... This situation, however, is definitely a first," Littorio META confirmed before finally getting back to why she and the other META shipgirls showed up in the first place. "But, the oddity of this Branch aside, or perhaps because of it, our faction has decided to take a more direct approach in our interactions with its affairs."
"... Meaning?" Metis pressed
"We are to observe and aid your fleet if needed for one, and to stop the Sirens from continuing whatever it is they are doing in this Branch," Nagato META answered.
"A few questions, if I may," Macchiato cut in.
"Hm? What is it?" Littorio META replied in a less than friendly tone, likely due to her nature as a Doll.
"Is Admiral Yang aware of your existence? Or the other Commander said to be active on the Europan front? If so, what of the forces backing them? Are they also aware of your presence in our world? Also, why did you and your faction choose to make contact with us now, of all times?"
"... So, many questions..," Eldridge and Eldridge META simultaneously commented, their heads both cutely tilted to the side with blue and red bio-electric sparks in the shape of floating question marks.
"Yes, both Commanders and the governments supporting them are aware of us, though we have refrained from offering them any open or direct aid unless absolutely necessary. As for why we chose to show ourselves now? Well, you can thank Signora Eldridge for that," Littorio META said, motioning towards the petite and tanned silverette behind her with her chin.
"Oh!" Realization flashed in Liam's eyes. "The red lightning attack that struck the two Siren Elites at the end of our last battle!"
Littorio META nodded. "Si. Were it not for her acting out when she did, then we may have stayed quiet for a while longer. But, the fact that she did forced us to act sooner and, well, here we are."
"... V..!" added the cute little zapper, red, bio-electric sparks floating up around her.
"Happy accidents are well and good, but..," Liam began, only for Bremerton META to nod in understanding.
"Now that the Siren forces in this Branch are fully aware of us, by formally allying ourselves with you and your fleet, we'll be able to act more freely and out in the open now."
"Why us though? Why not Admiral Yang?" Metis asked.
"No! Only help, Commander!" Eldridge META quietly but firmly declared, red sparks flaring to accentuate her point.
"... Okay, but why?" Liam asked again, not really understanding the fixation on him.
"Maybe because it's Big Brother?" Natsuha innocently suggested.
Littorio META smiled. "Exactly. You see, most META shipgirls have lost much of their memory after their transformation. Well, to be accurate, it's more like the details of our pasts become hazy and faded, as if they were burned away, especially those concerning our old Commanders. However, for some reason or another, Signora Eldridge and I can still remember ours."
"Wait, are you saying that the Commanders from your old worlds was..."
"Si."
"Mm."
...
"... That's, um... I actually have no idea how to respond to that..."
"No, I suppose you wouldn't," Bremerton META replied with a chuckle.
"So the rest of you don't recall your Commanders then?" Macchiato asked.
Nagato META shook her head. "We don't, no. However, and bear in mind that I am only speaking for myself here, there is something quite... familiar about you."
"Same," Bremerton META admitted.
"Si, us too," Pola and Zara META said simultaneously.
"It is... difficult to properly put into words, but the feeling is not unlike the resonance we shipgirls feel when encountering another version of ourselves, be it META or otherwise," Nagato META added.
"Oh, she's right!" Bremerton META said as realization flashed in her crimson red eyes. "I was wondering what that was."
"... What, about Commander?" Eldridge META asked, sincere curiosity flickering in her eyes.
Picking up on what the little zapper was likely asking him and not at all wanting to get zapped by the other little zapper, Liam quickly put his thoughts in order a moment before giving her his thoughts.
"Well, if I'm being honest... I'm not really sure what I'm feeling actually but, if I had to compare it to when I was around Admiral Yang's fleet though? It'd be, a faint sense of ease, I guess? Like, I don't really mind being around you all? I don't feel distant from you like I did around Admiral yang's shipgirls. Like we aren't strangers or something? Sorry, it's really hard to put into words but maybe it's because it's a Commander thing? I know that's why it explains why I feel, um... really attached to my fleet, so maybe it's similar?"
The META shipgirls nodded at Liam's words, seeing the logic in his thought processes.
"Since getting my new body, I've been so overwhelmed trying to process the constant influx of sensory input data I never really had much time to think too much about this myself, but does any of what they are describing sound at all familiar to you?" Metis asked, looking at her fellow Dolls.
"... Um, what?" Natsuha asked back, not really understanding just what her big sister was getting at.
"... I, I have no idea. It, it's not like that dork of a Commander makes my wisdom cube feel all warm and fuzzy or anything like that...!" Macchiato tried, but failed, to deny while looking anywhere but at her sisters or Liam.
P416 didn't say anything and just faintly blushed, though her eyes said it all.
"... Oh wow, she's adorable!" Bremerton META squealed.
"... Tsun, dere..." Eldridge and Eldridge META said, repeating the word they'd heard their versions of Akashi taught them.
"... Nyahahahahaha~" openly laughed said catgirl as she and Liam's other shipgirls came in, drawing everyone's attention.
"Akashi? And everyone else too? Wait, they aren't enem-"
"-Oh, we know Milord. We've been listening in over the network," Prince of Wales assured.
"Right. I keep forgetting you all have that 'Joint Tactical Network' thing," Liam said while scratching the back of her head before asking. "Anyway, seeing as you already know what's going on and who our guests are, what do you all think of this situation?"
"Hm? Well, seeing as our dear guests here are likely as powerful as those Siren Elites and seem to want to work with us, then I don't see any reason to not let them," Prinz Eugen said before turning to the other shipgirls behind her. "What about you all?"
"Um. You all like Teacher too, right...?" Anchorage innocently asked, affixing the META shipgirls in place with her curious and pure gaze.
'... Oh, she's so CUTE!' Bremerton META thought, goofy looking smile on her face while nodding not at all trusting herself not to say something dumb.
"... Eldridge, loves Commander..!" declared the petite and tanned silverette, red sparks emphasizing her declaration.
"Well, we wouldn't be here otherwise, no?" Littorio META said, slightly annoyed at such a stupid question. Pola and Zara META behind her silently nodded in agreement. "At any rate, I think it's high time we get down to business."
"Meaning?" Liam asked.
"Commander, our faction has dispatched two fleets to aid you, starting with your operations in the Sakura Empire," Nagato META explained.
"Really?" Liam repeated.
Bremerton META nodded. "Yup! Really, really~!"
"Wait, two fleets?" Liam asked.
Pola and Zara META nodded.
"Si~! Though Eldridge all but threatening to shock us all if we didn't let her come aside, we actually had a really hard time figuring out which of us actually got to go," Pola META said.
"Let me guess, you guys fought it out?" Liam asked.
"How did you know?" Zara META asked back, surprised the Commander correctly guessed what they did to settle things.
Liam chuckled, fondly recalling several memories where his shipgirls often solved many group disputes in the ring.
"Oh, just something I'm used to seeing since becoming a Commander, that's all. Since we'll be working together from now on, what did you all have in mind, exactly?"
"Ah, right. Well, after much discussion and how odd Siren movements have been around here lately, we've come to the conclusion that they are likely planning a major operation in or around the Sakura Empire," Littorio META explained. "That being the case, our forces were support and reinforce yours and Admiral Yang's shipgirl fleets any way that we could."
"I see," was Liam's unsurprised response.
"And you don't seem at all surprised to hear about a possible major Siren offensive?" Nagato META noted, slender brow arched curiously upwards ever so slightly.
"Because I'm not," Liam answered honestly. "Or more like, it's something Admiral Yang had brought up after our battle with those two Siren Elites a while back."
"Ah, that does sound like a conclusion he'd reach," Littorio META agreed with a nod.
"Speaking of which, how much time until we reach the Sakura Empire's territorial waters?" Liam asked.
"At our current speed? A little under two hours now. Should we get in touch with Admiral Yang then?"
Liam thought about it for a moment before looking at the six assembled META shipgirls.
"Do you mind? Personally, I think Admiral Yang should know about all this too what with you being here and all."
Littorio META and her companions nodded.
"Very true. And it would save us the trouble of explaining things later," Littorio META agreed.
"Great, then give me a bit to let him know what's up. In the meantime." Liam then turned to Prinz Eugen and the others. "I know you all will be listening in, but do you mind sending a rep from each fleet to be present when we have our impromptu virtual conference? I know it's not necessary, but it'd really put me at ease having your there with me..."
"Ja, no problem. Just give us a bit to decide who to send,"
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A/N:
...Aanndd... DONE! FINALLY!
1. Sorry for the massive delay. I, uh, got sidetracked due to a combination of Xenoblade X DE's release and some pre-production stuff for a project I'm working on. I actually wnated to release this a few weeks earlier, but... yeah... my bad.
2. I did a fair bit of chopping out the fluff but we now have the reader requested pasta girls joining Liam and the others, as well as everyone setting foot onto the Sakura Islands! I wonder how they'll all react to seeing so many humans and whatnot for the first time... Well, maybe not so much the META shipgirls, but Liam's girls for sure!
Anyway, I'm actually in a bit of a creative boom right now that... has caused me to spin in several different directions which will like delay the next few updates, but they'll still happen.
Anyway, thank you and I hope you enjoyed the read. See you next update!