>>5240896
>Detach from Abigail. Immediately.
>Apologize for making her worry.
>Rationalize that you'd just woken up. You don't really even know where you are.
>'Us?'
>Highlight that this place was hardly a spot to showcase such displays of affection
>Write-In

>>5240899
>>Apologize for making her worry.

>>5240899
>>Apologize for making her worry.

>>5240899
>Apologize for making her worry.

File: Abigail.jpg (10 KB, 189x267)

10 KB JPG

>Apologize for making her worry

With a small wince of pain and a rub of your sore stomach, you refocus your gaze on Abigail, aware of the spectacle that she had just caused … but ultimately unable to shrug off her outburst regarding your state (never mind the fact that you’d been in an effective coma spanning almost two weeks). Here she was with the tough act again, hands on her hips and tears threatening to leak out, hands on hips and chin wrinkled waiting for a reasonable answer that you’d yet to give. Your eyes closing slightly as you let out a small, sorry chuckle, you rub the back of your neck, feeling as though you were, once again, that child that had spent the evening too late and gotten your new boots wet … and at the brunt of a complete steamrolling from your mother.

‘Sorry for making you worry,’ you apologize, trying to sound as sincere as you possibly could, despite the circumstances. ‘I’m still in working condition though, so …’

‘When the reports came in and you weren’t accounted for, Conner and I—’

‘Now don’t you bring me into this.’

You raise your head to find the slightly apprehensive form of Conner, looking none the worse for wear … neither of them did. You go on the assumption that the both of them had somehow managed to escape with all their facilities intact, as you Conner didn’t even so much as have a scar on him (outside of the one dragging from the forehead to his nose, but that was already a given) and that Abigail seemed to have kept her energy even under all the circumstances that had piled over the last twelve days to allow this reunion in this … whatever this place was. Conner steps forward from the group, offering a tight smile as Abigail steps back; he’s unable to form the words to communicate his own feelings regarding your survival, briefly pursing his lips to say something but ultimately—and awkwardly—satisfying himself with a cross of his arms over his chest and a nod of acknowledgment. You’re not certain whether he was deliberately holding himself back because of the uniform or—

The uniform.

Abigail and Conner are—quite appropriately—outside of their formal dress, but the both of them were now clad in what was most definitely …

‘Commander,’ you let out, recognizing those uniforms belonging to those of active rank … and immediately remember the tail-end of the how you’d been caught in the middle of that mess in the first place.

Abigail and Conner were Commanders now.

‘Commander,’ you repeat, throwing up a salute and stepping back.

Conner, now apparently more in his element, throws up a salute of his own, returning your acknowledgment.

‘Good to see that you in good health ... Cadet.’

That’s as warm as you should have expected it to be, you suppose.

File: His rank is Commander.gif (1.42 MB, 498x280)

1.42 MB GIF

‘Commander.’

‘Hm?’

The three of you turn slightly to face Formidable, who had stepped into the exchange.

‘Instructor Formidable?’ Abigail starts, curiously eyeing her.

‘Your designation of rank is mistaken, sir,’ Formidable expands, formally but firmly. ‘The correct mode of address would be Commander.’

The both of them now turn to face you, eyes wide in shock.

>Shrug cluelessly
>'What? You really shouldn't be acting that surprised, you know?' (Offended)
>'I made it.' (Half-heartedly throw up a V-sign)
>'I think this is hardly a time to continue the niceties. Secretary Case, I apologise for the hold-up.' (Get back into the thick of things)
>Write-In

>>5240973
>Emergency desperation bridge during the attack. Successfully bridged with the Instructor, Lieutenant ...and one other.

>>5240973
This >>5241049
with a little bit of “we’ll catch up later, sorry for the holdup sir”

>>5241049
going for this

>>5240973
>'I made it.' (Half-heartedly throw up a V-sign)

>>5240973
>>'I made it, under duress and with great stupidity but I did it.' (Half-heartedly throw up a V-sign)

>>5240973
>>'What? You really shouldn't be acting that surprised, you know?' (Offended)

File: Son you have 3 seconds to(...).png (470 KB, 1140x1568)

470 KB PNG

>Emergency desperation bridge during the attack. Successfully bridged with the Instructor, Lieutenant ...and one other.

Both Abigail and Conner spit and sputter like a pair of malfunctioning engines in the wake of your hurried explanation, with Abigail’s finger darting all over the place as she tries to correlate the truth of your words with the facts at present. You feel a headache coming along, looking to your two new … assignments for further assistance, only for Belfast and Formidable to resume their silence, shoulder squared and their hands primly folded on top of one another (Although you suspect some semblance of amusement leaking from the corner of Belfast’s mouth).

‘You actually … pulled it off?’ Conner questions, stepping forward, his blue eyes as wide as you’d ever seen him manage. ‘You actually managed to stabilize and maintain …’

His words trail off as he appears to remember just where he is, promptly stepping back and dropping his hands to his sides. Abigail appears to do the same, whatever commentary she had on the matter dying with a side-step (but not before affording one more incredulous glance towards the conveniently silent twosome of Belfast and Formidable, who you begin to suspect had begun to take some inkling of amusement at your expense (or, perhaps, even benefit) from dropping breadcrumbs and allowing you to make up that ground with your own leg power. Shooting them a cocked eyebrow, you too, remember that you were in the presence of an executive officer and a secretary of the Eagle Union, turning your attention back to Secretary Case and the others present in the now-crowded hallway.

‘If the pleasantries are over,’ the elderly woman speaks, her voice cracking from age but still thick with authority, ‘I’d like for this wagon wheel to finally to start turnin’. God knows we’ve spent enough time tryin’ to count the toes we got left on a leg we can’t even stand on and I’d rather not have the last seventy-two hours of committee summations come to less than my granddaughter’s cryin’ ‘bout her boyfriends.’

It's your turn to find yourself mired in surprise. From her initial address of Secretary Case, you hadn’t so much as caught a lick of what you now know to be a mite more than the mere twang of a farm field-affected hick … to use the term sparingly. The woman glares at the large man in the lab coat, who grumbles as he appears to catch the message her eyes send; he walks towards the door on your right, turning the knob and stepping inside, the security detail following right behind him. Case gives you one last nod as he joins the departing party, Tague gesturing for him to enter first before shuffling inside, leaving you, Abigail, Conner and the Shipgirls that were allegedly yours with—

‘You waitin’ for lemonade or should I get the biscuits out for ya?’

>>5242157
>'Grandma's biscuits, mmm ...' (Fantasize about food)
>'Ladies first, ma'am.' (Gentleman)
>'You're ... from The Gold Flats.' (Exposit)
>'What about the Lieutenant and the Instructor?' (Inquire)
>Write-In

>>5242160
>'Ladies first, ma'am'

>>>'Ladies first, ma'am.' (Gentleman)

>>5242160
>'You're ... from The Gold Flats.' (Exposit)

>>5242160
>'Ladies first, ma'am.' (Gentleman)

>>5242160
>'Ladies first, ma'am.' (Gentleman)
Probably better not to cause more holdups.

File: Secretary Case.jpg (106 KB, 1200x630)

106 KB JPG

>'Ladies first, ma'am.' (Gentleman)

Your kind gesture is met with a raised eyebrow and a half-smile, but not much else. You glance back at Belfast and Formidable, slightly raising your arm to indicate that the courtesy that you’d afforded the old woman—the decorated officer—extended to them, as well. The old woman is given a small set of curtsies from Belfast and Formidable, meeting them with the tightest of nods before moving past the doorway. The two of them follow without fuss and you bring up the rear, shutting the door behind you and turning back around to find yourself in a half-bare excuse of a conference room. It was a lot larger than the last one you were in, with an oval table with what seemed to be a half-working display mechanism fixed right in the center, the whole damn thing an abomination of wood, metal and plastic akin to what you usually saw when you marched downward into administrative affairs and parked yourself for Long Island’s filing demands, only this time the near-ellipse excuse of a thing was wide and thick enough to seat a dozen people. The floor, however, was at the very least carpeted and the ventilation and air conditioning operated well enough that you didn’t feel stuffy. Along the walls you spy empty frames, signboards and stretched barricade tape, all of which indicated that this section wasn’t quite ready for use.

Nonetheless, you make a move to seat yourself as quickly as possible, pulling up a chair next to Commander Tague. Belfast and Formidable, much to your surprise, take up your flanks, each of them remaining on their feet. Before you can get a word of insistence that they sit themselves down, however, the loud shuffling and banging of several set of folders from across your table catch your attention, and the snap to concern from the other attendees of … whatever this was, has you quickly locking your jaw, lest you make that unnecessary step towards embarrassment. You already feel quite out of place just being in the company of the Secretary and Commander Tague; you didn’t want to give them a reason to think any less of you, especially after having showed up like you’d just fallen out of bed.

Which, technically—

‘Under current stipulations, the operations of Azur Lane cannot be allowed to be wholly independent of the presiding council,’ the woman begins, her accent masked behind a prim mode of address; she glares across the table, locking on to Commander Tague as though she was reading his report card allowed. ‘So I hope that you at least have the courtesy to write me a damn thank you note for managing to flick that little needle out of your haystack.’

‘Yes, ma’am,’ Tague returns, nodding.

‘You’re damned lucky the IRD decided that this place was worth a damn at all.’

‘It’s not like we had a choice in the matter, either way,’ Secretary Case grunts, placing his elbows on the table.

>>5242384
>'The IRD? Isn't that the Eagle Union's ...' (Spill)
>'Sorry, I'm completely lost.' (Speak up)
>Ask/Whisper for Belfast or Formidable to help jog things for you (Specify which)
>Keep your trap up and listen
>Write-In

>>5242388
>Keep your trap up and listen

>>5242388
>>Keep your trap up and listen

>>5242388
>'The IRD? Isn't that the Eagle Union's ...' (Spill)

>>5242388
>>Keep your trap up and listen

>>5242388
>>Keep your trap up and listen

>>5242388
>>Keep your trap up and listen

Notice that a lot of you lads are around during dinner time, so I'll be running later, okay?

File: Ironblood.jpg (94 KB, 1200x628)

94 KB JPG

>Keep your trap shut

‘The circumstances do leave us rather deprived of options,’ the old lady across the table begins, pulling out a thick, green folder that looked just about ready to burst. ‘Especially with the Ironblood Legions denyin’ any an’ all wrongdoin’ … and it’s hard to actually hold ‘em to it, what with the damned continental headquarters bein’ cleaned out like it is.’

‘So … it’s not a formal declaration of war then,’ Conner infers, the relief audible even from where you were seated.

‘Worse: it’s a declaration of rebellion,’ she responds curtly, opening the folder and sliding its contents out, casual as can be. ‘Or, that’s what we understand, from what the Legions were willin’ to share with us.’

‘Rebellion? From what?’

It’s Abigail’s turn to speak up. She glance around the table, visibly confused.

‘Maybe you should take it from the top, Lowe,’ The Secretary speaks up, addressing the woman by her name and raising a hand to catch everyone’s attention, ‘we are here to bring everyone up to speed.’

The woman, Lowe, lets out a slight snort, but otherwise moves to comply. ‘I’m sure that I don’t need to debrief you boys an’ girls that thirteen days ago, the island state of Sawaiiki came under attack by assailants packin’ enough firepower to level half a continent on a bad day,’ she declares with a huff. ‘Identification of the aggressors, in the wake of the attack and their retreat … was initially assumed to be an act of aggression by the foreign nation of the Ironblood, who, as you all know, are a bunch ‘a sausage ‘eatin, pussy-footin’—’

‘Star Marshall,’ The Secretary—

Star Marshall?

‘F’giveness, Mr Secretary; those sausage eatin’, pussy-footin’’—the Secretary rubs his temples, glaring at the her with one open eye—‘stiff-lipped bootstrappers, who, unfortunately, have been able to plausibly deny any an’ all wrongdoin’ on account of their complete incompetence—’

‘Star Marshall.'

It's unheeded.

‘—of whatever bureaucratic hoodoo that had in place failin’ to keep track of a few dozen sentient weapons of mass destruction—’

‘Lowe …’

She ignores him.

‘—or the fact that they’d hadn’t so much as kept a ledger of the Crimson Axis on their books on account of—and this is a stand-up special in itself—their intelligence division apparently bein’ assumed to be havin’ a committee on the whole damn transition. So we’re not just blind, but we’re also mute and deaf … and that’s not even goin’ into the Sakura Empire’s side ‘a things …’

Apparently finished, Lowe smacks the papers against the surface of the table, letting out a cruel snort.

>>5246590
You have a million questions.

>Maintain your silence
>‘Why is a Star Marshall here? I thought the agreement was for no authority to be exercised without council approval. That’s against the core of what Azur Lane stands for; it’s not meant to be … beholden to any single arm of military.’ (Keep one eye on the matter of legislation; highlight the spirit of Azur Lane)
>‘So the Ironblood aren’t behind the attack, but somehow … the Crimson Axis is? If it's a rebellion, why did they attack us so openly?' (Try to piece it together yourself)
>‘What’s that about the Sakura Empire?’ (Inquire further)
>‘I’m sorry, I don’t know what any of that really means …’ (Confused)
>‘I’m sorry if I sound rude, but I’d rather just get to what I’m supposed to do right now. Judging from what I’ve heard from you, Star Marshall, there sounds like there’s a few accounts that need to be settled.’ (Soldier’s mentality; fast forward)
>Write-In

>>5246593
>>‘What’s that about the Sakura Empire?’ (Inquire further)

Do I understand correctly that the girls that attacked us have been disavowed by their leadership as renegades? Any trace of Commanders in the area?

>>5246593

>Have there been captures of assailants? Do they have anything to say for themselves?

Bisko was on leave and in the dark of the affair which suggest ironbloods are either truthful in denying this or they bypassed her entirely in this plot.

Do we know how far away from a commander can the girls go without losing the benefits? They seemed to operate under full power so either they had to have people linked with them or someone found a way to circumvent that.

>also, What's that about Sakura Empire? (Inquire further)

>>5246608
this

>>5246593
>>‘What’s that about the Sakura Empire?’ (Inquire further

>>5246608
Do I understand correctly that the girls that attacked us have been disavowed by their leadership as renegades?
Yes, but Star Marshall Lowe isn't letting them off the hook. If the Ironblood are truly behind it, then its malicious, but if the Ironblood aren't then they just let about 3 dozen sentient WMDs and their neuroses loose on the world.

>Do we know how far away from a commander can the girls go without losing the benefits?
This is actually a pretty good question. It's actually quite dependent on the relationship between the girl and their Commander. At the same time, however, the bridge HAS to be established for them to get any sort of power boost that would allow them to rival the thresholds of conventional weaponry when it comes to sheer devastation. Then there's the issue of prolonged mind-linking/bridging/stream establishment that could potentially turn Commanders insane or even render them a vegetable. In short, the current running theory is that there NEEDS to be a Commander unit around for them to be able to operate at a passable battle capacity and there are no KNOWN exceptions to the rule, or so we believe.

>>5247056
Thanks OP!

So we have reason to look for not just renegade boats but commanders as well. Or… other phenomena. Well, let’s see what else the big wigs have to say as well. It was a rough awakening.

>>5247171
You're welcome. Any other questions?

File: Star Marshall Lowe.jpg (27 KB, 400x400)

27 KB JPG

>Have there been captures of assailants? Do they have anything to say for themselves?

There’s an … oddly neutral glance that shoots across the room, bouncing from the Secretary to the Star Marshall to Commander Tague. Tague adjusts himself in his seat, the chair squeaking loudly as he turns to face you, his expression unreadable.

‘The suddenness of the incident didn’t really allow us to consider any options beyond repelling the assault,’ Tague begins, slouching slightly into his chair. ‘Everything happened so fast that we didn’t really have time to start asking the questions until after we realized that the Crimson Axis were adjudged to be the ones responsible … or, at least, that’s as far as we’re able to go, what with the Ironblood disavowing any and all claims to the attack. Their girls were loaded and ready to engage. At the time of the attack, we had four active Commanders running their rounds. Hardly enough to organize a full counter assault, never mind a nab ‘n grab … not that we’ve ever used an operating division for that objective against our own.’

Secretary Case nods as the attention of the ‘Most of what we know is from direct contact with the Crimson Axis’ primary benefactors … or should I say, their former benefactors. The ambassadorial elect’s been working over-time getting everything grey put in black and white as possible trying to get the Ironblood and the Sakura Empire to comply, but the most that we’ve been able to take from this—if anything at all—was that both parties have claimed ignorance to the Crimson Axis’ operations in the lead-up to this attack … and that a number of their personnel have pretty much up and vanished over the last month or so.’

‘They claimed it was a consequence of the re-shuffling of jurisdictional thresholds that required addressed following the Crimson Axis’ separation from Azur Lane and establishment as an independent entity dedicated to its own theaters of defense,’ Tague recites, as if from an invisible script, wearing a cruel smirk. ‘Which, unfortunately, is the truth. A lot of the shuffling rendered the administrative divisions effectively paralyzed for the duration of the separation process. We hadn’t even finalized some of the transfers before they got the drop on us.’

‘So we really have nothing to go by outside of bureaucratic say-so, then?’ you inquire once again, disappointed but otherwise understanding of the situation.

‘I wouldn’t say nothing,’ Lowe starts again. ‘There are a number of suspects that we managed to corral up since, but they haven’t been exactly … cooperative.’

‘Suspects?’

You furrow your brows, confused. Hadn’t Tague just clarified that there weren’t any—

‘Azur Lane and the IRD managed to detain a number of Shipgirls whose affiliations remain suspect or aren’t recognized by the current Azur Lane designations—’

Wait a minute …

>‘Bismarck … you put Bismarck under arrest?’ (Disbelief, outrage)
>‘Administrator Akashi? Lieutenant Taihou? You mean …’ (Surprise)
>‘You rounded up the ones that didn’t blow up the island? Really?’ (Accusatory)
>‘Well, you can’t take chances …’ (Concede the point)
>Keep silent
>Write-In

>>5248464
>>‘Administrator Akashi? Lieutenant Taihou? You mean …’ (Surprise)

>>5248464
>‘Bismarck … you put Bismarck under arrest?’ (Disbelief, outrage)

>>5248466
>>5248480
Flipping a coin. Coin flipped.

File: I didn't want to use this(...).jpg (4.8 MB, 2894x4093)

4.8 MB JPG

>‘Bismarck … you put Bismarck under arrest?’ (Disbelief, outrage)

You feel your blood boil.

‘Only as a precaution,’ Case started, getting to his feet and gesturing for calm, without you having even said a word.

You would have none of it, however.

‘She was protecting us,’ you protest, letting out a hiss as you forget all rank and lay into their decision, positively outraged at the Captain being faced with the indignancy of detainment after what she’d—after what you four, together—had been through. ‘Captain Bismarck had nothing to do with the attack!’

‘Commander,’ Belfast speaks up, coming up to your side just as Formidable does, mimicking the Secretary’s gesture; you feel a calming hand on your shoulder, but find yourself ignoring her gesture, bearing your teeth despite the train of soothing emotions over your connection. Formidable, while silent, comes up to you with an apprehensive look, as though torn between shushing you up and reminding you of the hierarchy that you had tossed aside in favor of your own stance regarding current developments … and the reservation that your emotions weren’t totally misplaced regarding these same developments.

‘There’s no identifier on record that holds her accountable for the attack,’ Case continues, disregarding your apparent insubordination. ‘In the same way that there are no indicators that wholly clear her of involvement, whether as accessory or an inadvertent party. Her presence on the island at all, especially that close to the attack, without official authority, especially with her status … it would be impossible to take it as anything but suspect.’

‘The same as Taihou’s and Noshiro’s apprehensions were?’

You turn, stunned, towards your unexpected ally. Conner had risen from his seat, his expression one of clear accusation. Star Marshall Lowe swivels in her seat, light squeaks coming out as the security detail shift slightly in their own spots against the wall, ready to take action if need be. The room’s atmosphere, while not at all warm before, had gone absolutely antagonistic with your disregard for rank in favor of opinion, and with Conner, of all those present, chiming in, there wasn’t really a—

‘Settle down, you two,’ Abigail hisses, tossing the both of you a glance of disapproval and wearing a pink sheen of embarrassment, likely from having to speak up in an attempt to keep the both of you in check.

‘They’re precautions,’ Case goes on, calm as can be, ‘nothing that exceeds existing security and response protocols.’

‘Outside of the seizure of independent assets that have been since incorporated into the Eagle Union’s defense arm, of course,’ Tague snipes, chortling lightly.

Star Marshall Lowe doesn’t smile.

‘Looks to me that we’ve got some lines in the sand.’

>>5248602
>‘Yeah, we do.’ (Escalate the situation)
>‘Look, I apologize, but …’ (De-escalate the situation, but showcase your doubts)
>‘There aren’t any lines. Captain Bismarck saved lives that day; unless we’re in the business for rewarding putting one’s life on the line with unwarranted detainment, I say that you’re the one that’s made a mistake.’ (Accusatory; protective)
>‘If we’re going to operate on pure suspicion, then I might as well turn myself in, then … since you know, we’re going by affiliation instead of actions.’ (Sarcastic)
>'So you just rounded up everyone that didn't have their paperwork done on time? Really?' (Exasperated)
>‘You know what? Forget it. I’d rather move on.’ (Grumble, sit down)
>Write-In

>>5248616
>>‘Look, I apologize, but …’ (De-escalate the situation, but showcase your doubts)
but do also point out that bestko literally saved your life so your own bias is there

>>5248616
>‘Look, I apologize, but …’ (De-escalate the situation, but showcase your doubts)

>>5248616
> >‘Look, I apologize, but …’ (De-escalate the situation, but showcase your doubts)

It’s understandable there’d be “precautions” as well as temptation for bureaucracy to find someone to vent (probably don’t say that one out loud) but actions should speak for themselves. Bisko is without a doubt on our side, if her actions alone don’t attest to that then nature of our connection probably should.

>>5248616
>‘There aren’t any lines. Captain Bismarck saved lives that day; unless we’re in the business for rewarding putting one’s life on the line with unwarranted detainment, I say that you’re the one that’s made a mistake.’ (Accusatory; protective)

File: Secretary Case Asks.jpg (296 KB, 2030x1352)

296 KB JPG

>‘Look, I apologize, but …’ (De-escalate the situation, but showcase your doubts)

‘Mr Secretary, Madam Star Marshall,’ you begin once again, this time taking a more pensive approach. ‘I deeply apologize for speaking out of turn, but the Captain’s the last person you should be putting behind bars … and I guess the same would have to go for Noshiro and Taihou. Whatever you have them in for—which I’m pretty sure it’s not just on the grounds of a sheet of paper that hasn’t been pushed through just yet—is a charge that’s unfounded and untrue.’

‘Quite the leap of faith that you’re making there,’ Secretary Case regards, unimpressed but not quite bereft of warmth. ‘You feel the ground under your feet for the first time in two weeks and you think that you know all that there is to know, do you? Or am I going to have to start assuming that you’ve struck a bout of amnesia, too?’

‘I admit that I can’t speak for anyone else,’ you respond, sighing as you lean slightly forwards, intent on pursuing your point, extending your hand as you do so, ‘but Captain Bismarck put herself on the line to save my life … to keep everyone she could out of harm’s way, just as Instructor Formidable and Lieutenant Belfast did. Which, I may add, that she did without a proper activation sequence or an attached Commander—’

‘Yourself excluded, obviously.’

You halt yourself in your tracks, not quite stunned, but …

‘Wait, you know that I’m—’

‘We do have standing testimonies regarding what happened on the island on the day of the attack, Commander,’ Case clarifies, commanding the room once again. ‘At the same time, however, the Eagle Union State Office cannot leave the independent operation of assets of such value and power’—he fixes an accusatory glare upon your person at this—‘without due consideration and assurances regarding their allegiances. Especially with things having gone the way they have, to let them walk around unchecked would have been irresponsible.’

‘The Eagle Union doesn’t have the—’

‘No,’ Secretary Case interjects, ‘but the Ironblood and the Sakura Empire do … and we don’t trust either of them enough to relinquish any Azur Lane or Crimson Axis so easily; nor are we naïve enough to operate on the assumption of good faith after the incident in Sawaiiki. As a Commander, I’m … no, I’m sure that even without being a Commander, you’re aware of the destructive potential of a Shipgirl going rogue. In the fact of that realized fear, do you believe that we’re being unfair by not operating on the good faith of units with tangible affiliations that we have cause to suspect?’

You meet his gaze. The Secretary had command of the room now.

He waits for your answer, shoulders steady and expression unreadable.

>>5249002
>‘No.’ (Agree with the Secretary’s point)
>‘If this is just for political leverage, you should just put me under again.’ (Sneer)
>‘So you don’t trust the Sakura Empire or the Ironblood, then?’ (Suspicious)
>‘You’ll forgive me if I don’t sympathize with your perspective. Maybe I don’t have the right to say so much as a piece of what I think, but rather than actually give them more of a reason to rebel, maybe you should start giving the ones you got under lock and key reasons to fight for you.’ (Calculative)
>‘Bismarck put her life on the line to protect people. Regardless of what you think prudent, I believe she—and everyone else that you have detained, for that matter—deserve more than a jail cell and paranoia as an excuse.’ (Adamant)
>Write-In

>>5249008
>>‘You’ll forgive me if I don’t sympathize with your perspective. Maybe I don’t have the right to say so much as a piece of what I think, but rather than actually give them more of a reason to rebel, maybe you should start giving the ones you got under lock and key reasons to fight for you.’ (Calculative)

>>5249002
Although there is good case for prudence, there is no need to go on good faith alone if by your admission testimonies are available to corroborate the good intentions. (Adamant but with soft coating)
They’re not wrong to take precautions but if they know she fought against the interlopers and that she linked with us they don’t need to treat her as suspect automatically. Same goes for Connors’ girls I imagine.

>>5249008
>‘Bismarck put her life on the line to protect people. Regardless of what you think prudent, I believe she—and everyone else that you have detained, for that matter—deserve more than a jail cell and paranoia as an excuse.’ (Adamant)

>>5249002
>‘Bismarck put her life on the line to protect people. Regardless of what you think prudent, I believe she—and everyone else that you have detained, for that matter—deserve more than a jail cell and paranoia as an excuse.’ (Adamant)

Fuck prudence, this shit ain't right.

>>5249008
>‘You’ll forgive me if I don’t sympathize with your perspective. Maybe I don’t have the right to say so much as a piece of what I think, but rather than actually give them more of a reason to rebel, maybe you should start giving the ones you got under lock and key reasons to fight for you.’ (Calculative)

File: Secretary Case is dead serious.jpg (86 KB, 1400x800)

86 KB JPG

>‘Bismarck put her life on the line to protect people. Regardless of what you think prudent, I believe she—and everyone else that you have detained, for that matter—deserves more than a jail cell sentence with paranoia as an excuse.’ (Adamant)

‘You always wake up with a right hook ready to make a swing, son?’

The wording implies a light-hearted inquiry.

His expression and tone, however, make it just short of a direct inquisition.

>‘It’s just how I was raised, sir.’ (Resolved)
>‘Well, sir, we wouldn’t be able to call ourselves Unionists if we weren’t.’ (Patriotic)
>‘Punishing people for doing the right thing doesn’t encourage good-will, sir. I’ll leave it at that.’ (Repeat yourself)
>‘I meant no offense, sir.’ (Back down)
>Keep silent ... but don’t break eye-contact
>Write-In

>>5249702
>>‘Well, sir, we wouldn’t be able to call ourselves Unionists if we weren’t.’ (Patriotic)

>>5249702
>>‘It’s just how I was raised, sir.’ (Resolved)

>>5249709
If this wins, I'm going to make you guys full Southern Fried Georgian Redneck analogs, because I don't want to fight the flow anymore.

>>5249702
>‘Punishing people for doing the right thing doesn’t encourage good-will, sir. I’ll leave it at that.’ (Repeat yourself)

Rolled 3 (1d3)

>>5249709
>>5249716
>>5249898
Let's see where fate will lead us.

File: Selamat Hari Raya - From (...).png (806 KB, 1200x750)

806 KB PNG

Sorry, had to bail. Raya prep and all that. Hopefully I'll be able to continue this once my duties end. Driving back down to KL this afternoon.

Happy Eid to all you beautiful pricks.

>>5251499
No worries OP and pleasant holiday for yourself and yours

We are back and we are live in t-minus 30 minutes.

>‘Punishing people for doing the right thing doesn’t encourage good-will, sir. I’ll leave it at that.’ (Repeat yourself)

You’d said your peace.

‘Secretary Case,’ Tague begins, his fingers interlocked as he peers over the his knuckles, his tone exhausted yet formal (If slightly resigned). ‘The Commander’s sentiments aside, this isn’t something that would have gone without discussion today. As things stand, by putting those Shipgirls on ice—’

The alarm bells go off.

‘On—’

‘It’s a figure of speech, Commander,’ Tague clarifies, sending you a brief, unimpressed look before turning his attention back towards the Secretary, Star Marshall and … whoever that fat, mustached man in the lab coat was. ‘You knew that this was going to come up, sooner or later. If you’re putting up notices for results and responses to specification, then you’re only making things harder on yourself by weaving the bureaucratic fabric the way you have.’

‘The Eagle Union government does not—’

‘And yet, Mr Secretary, the State Office—and by extension, the Eagle Union—has exercised complete dominion on assets that would otherwise not fallen into the so-called black-and-whites of those same categories and classifications that you’re flouting in any sane interpretation of the law. Every splinter and layer of paint here falls under your jurisdiction … or, should I say, operates at the discretion of the relevant departments. We’ve done this before, and once again, I’m going to ask … the both of you’—he spares the Star Marshall a brief glance—‘to veto whatever you’ve adjudged prior regarding the Shipgirls that you have us currently detaining and allow them to resume what we have them here for in the first place.’

‘You’re putting out one too many serves for me to return, Tague,’ Case replies, glaring across the table. Whatever amicability that they had prior had practically evaporated in the face of this stand-off; no one in the room dared move a muscle or utter a word, even as Tague leaned back and slouched, waiting for Case to follow up.

‘Well, I’m convinced,’ Star Marshall remarks, smartly. ‘It’s not as if we ain’t full of chocolate-fried bad ideas that need their day out in the sun someday, yeah?’

It takes you a second to realize the old woman was being sarcastic.

Secretary Case removes his glasses, giving them a good wipe with the tip of his tie.

‘Is this where you want to settle it, then?’

Tague neither nods nor shakes his head. Case brings his hands together, scanning the table.

‘And where will the accountability lie in all this?’

>Remain silent
>Look to Tague to take the reins again
>‘Azur Lane will take responsibility for them, as it intended to in the first place.’
>‘You can put them under surveillance for now.’
>‘Well … what about putting them under the other Commanders, then?’
>Write-In

REALLY sorry about the late post. I had to put on Clear and Present Danger to get the feel right and before I knew it, I'd gone 70 minutes in.

>>5256866
>>‘Azur Lane will take responsibility for them, as it intended to in the first place.’

>>5256866
Are we talking about other girls than ours and connor’s here? They already have responsible commanders. Are they detaining other unassigned girls over this incident? That seems silly since they all fought even at their reduced power.

I’m not sure if we’re in position where our input would help right now but
>Azur lane
Seems the most sensible option. Surveillance would mean stretching resources thin and commanders are taxed enough as it is, unless… actually just formal assignment might work, too…

>>5256866
>‘Azur Lane will take responsibility for them, as it intended to in the first place.’

>>5256866
>‘Azur Lane will take responsibility for them, as it intended to in the first place.’

>‘Azur Lane will take responsibility for them, as it intended to in the first place.’

A heavy silence falls upon the room with the declaration. Tague supplements the feelings of those that had taken their place in agreement with the notion’s objective, smiling humorlessly and with his good eye half-shut, as if restraining himself from inadvertently worsening what you had just likely raised into an echelon that the collective had not yet found itself willing to supplement at risk of personal shame. Secretary Case, by comparison, does make his amusement apparent (Despite an attempt to conceal the extent of it with a push of his glasses). The sound of shuffling of cardboard and pages reaches your ears, followed by the dull clatter of what appears to be a cellular phone hitting the wooden surface of the table, both produced by the Secretary. The hook-mustached man in the lab coat casts a slight glower towards Secretary Case as the latter taps against the surface of the device in his hands—which you observe to be about two and a half times the thickness of a regular phone, complete with extremely visible grips around its corners—in a manner that reminds you of an elderly man attempting to send a text or start a chat group with his grand-children.

You suspect that he’s probably not that far off from the architecture of that framework.

‘Done,’ Secretary Case announces, now wearing a smirk that is much too wide for you to be comfortable with in the least. ‘Your request has been approved.’

Tague crosses his arms over his chest, leaning back into his chair with a flat look upon his features. ‘That easy, huh?’

‘You know it isn’t.’

A corner of Tague’s lips twitches, but he otherwise stays silent. The whole room seems to wait on Case’s expansion of the matter, marked by the sudden shuffling of folders and sheets on the table and a whisper to one of the members of his security detail.

The atmosphere grows a little more uncomfortable, despite the favorable announcement.

If it was favorable at all.

‘The assets will be released under your command and Azur Lane will be held accountable, as agreed,’ Secretary Case starts again. ‘However, due to the concerns we have regarding their status on the international front and the potential backlash that the Eagle Union is up against should things … escalate unfavorably, the status of this installation and all the staff concerned will be struck as a rogue operation, with the due termination clauses, of course.’

Abigail rises from her seat, her face ashen.

‘T-Termination clauses?’

‘So we’re a black site now?’

Secretary Case cocks an eyebrow behind his glasses. ‘The expansion of the scope and context of operations in its current form would be unethical to abide by within existing legislature.’

‘And Royal Albion just agreed with this, did they?’

You turn your head upwards, to your left and then to your right, realizing just how invested the two Shipgirls that flanked either side of you were in the situation. Belfast and Formidable’s features, however, remained as stoic as they were.

‘You know as well as I do just how clean the Kingdom likes to keep its hands.’

That handshake and courteous smile seems like it’s an age away.

>[Respect Secretary Case’s Machiavellian style]
>[This man was more dangerous than he’d appeared to be]
>[Feel like you’d been played like a fiddle]
>Write-In

>>5259120
>>[Respect Secretary Case’s Machiavellian style]

>>5259120
>[This man was more dangerous than he’d appeared to be]

>>5259120
>[This man was more dangerous than he’d appeared to be]

So is that how they want to play it? I get that they want to have more… “flexibility” both in operation and ability to absolve themselves of any problems but this still seems like an unnecessary hazard for the alliance, if the first thing they do after suffering a surprise attack is alienate substantial chunk of means to counter it. Unless they were genuinely convinced that we are part of the problem but that doesn’t seem to be the case.

>>5259120
>[This man was more dangerous than he’d appeared to be]

>[This man was more dangerous than he’d appeared to be]

It takes you just one second to realize that you’d effectively spurred what had been a situation of mutual demands into a wholesale purchase of the organization. Secretary Case, however, does not wear thar cold, smug look that you’d always assumed that his sort would wear, embracing facts and obstacles with an almost … callous mind. The man who you’d regarded as a sympathetic member of the bureaucracy, a man who was simply doing his job to the best of his ability, had been wiped away with your awakening to the fact that, in your blind pursuit of immediate gratification, of Bismarck’s release—as well as that of the others—you’d effectively cornered yourself by voicing your outrage, enabling an opposition that you hadn’t anticipated into playing the demands to their advantage.

You’d leapt without looking, once again.

‘We’d rather not release them into your custody, of course,’ Secretary Case starts again, his voice as matter-of-fact as it could possibly be. ‘As simple as the calls are to make, this decision that we’ve made to hand over the reins of this installation—this unit—still fall very much outside of the interests of the State Office and the Assembly, but seeing as we don’t have much of the way of a proper response against the present threat, I … concede that there’s going to be some compromises we’re all going to have to make along the way if we’re going to see this through to the end.’

The Star Marshall lets out a tired sigh, adjusting her glasses.

‘If yer gonna be operatin’ with unsanctioned asset sign-offs, then you’re gonna have to take the terms as they are, like the rest of us.’

‘Playing on terms that you’ve set for the table,’ says Tague, his visage wrinkled with fatigue.

‘The terms that we all have to abide by,’ Case corrects, taking point once again. ‘Or are you unaware of the accords The Holy See had us sign to even get this project to exist at all, Commander?’

Whatever friendliness there had been between the Secretary and Commander Tague had all but evaporated as the two fixed one another with stares cold enough to freeze a bonfire. Curiously, however, you didn’t feel any … personal animosity either. It was like you were watching one of those courtroom serials where opposing benches were—

‘Well, it wouldn’t be the Eagle Union if it didn’t try to twist things in its favor once in a while now, would it?’

‘Your demands have been met,’ Case answers, simply. ‘For your sake, however, I hope that your modus operandi turns out to be more … discrete.’

You shrink in your seat, embarrassed.

‘Will do, Mr Secretary,’ Tague answers.

Case nods, before turning to the mustached gentleman on the far left. ‘On to the next topic, I assume that you’re all aware of Grand Alchemist Orsin?’

File: Orsin.jpg (24 KB, 330x225)

24 KB JPG

>>5259306
>'Grand Alchemist Orsin? Wait, you mean former Grand Alchemist, right? Weren't you fired?' (Knowledgable)
>'Grand Alchemist Orsin? The Homunculus guy?' (Somewhat knowledgable)
>'Didn't know the Eagle Union was in the business of picking disgraced Vichy scientists.' (Dry)
>'I've seen your name in the textbooks before ...' (Absent)
>Remain silent
>Write-In

>>5259307
>'Grand Alchemist Orsin? Wait, you mean former Grand Alchemist, right? Weren't you fired?' (Knowledgable)

>>5259307
>recall what we know if the guy but keep silent for now

>>5259307
>>'Grand Alchemist Orsin? Wait, you mean former Grand Alchemist, right? Weren't you fired?' (Knowledgable)

>>5259307
>'Grand Alchemist Orsin? The Homunculus guy?' (Somewhat knowledgable)

File: Weapons.jpg (40 KB, 740x185)

40 KB JPG

>'Grand Alchemist Orsin? Wait, you mean former Grand Alchemist, right? Weren't you fired?' (Knowledgeable)

Tague buries his face in his hands.

Star Marshall Lowe looks away, suppressing a snicker.

Secretary Case’s mouth hangs slightly as he wears a look of disgust, not quite flabbergasted, but definitely not unaffected by your declaration.

Not that you knew much beyond him being sacked, of course, beyond—

‘That’s right!’ Abigal speaks up, smacking a closed fist into a gloved palm as she rises to her feet again, this time with a look of realization peaking upon her features. ‘You were fired, weren’t you?’

The Grand—former Grand Alchemist—of the Vichya Dominion twitches as Abigail, uncaring for the sudden shift of maroon that the man had taken, appears to rack her brains for further details, fully intent with supplementing your statement.

‘Grand Alchemist Orsin, one of the pioneers for sub-space applicability, combining the violator’s algorithm with the emulation matrix, the forefront of the expansion of artificial intelligence and applicable programming into the self-learning complications … one of the minds behind the concept of Shipgirl weapons theory and the theory of the amalgamated consciousness in psycho-manifestation by the atomic principle—’

You find yourself nodding, wholly impressed that she’d committed so much to—

‘—but yeah, you were fired, right? For unethical—’

‘EET EES COMPLEETLY UNVOUNDED!’

Orsin—the former Grand Alchemist—points an accusatory finger towards Abigail, who holds her hands up in a motion to defend herself. Secretary Case and Commander Tague, the coolest heads in the room, rub their temples as Orsin, now very much offended by the … accusation stands on his chair, one foot loudly thumping the table as he turns into the very picture of a ripe tomato, his mustache seemingly stiffening as his temper rises. To your right, you hear a ghost of a giggle; one that is immediately stifled by years of discipline and experience.

Not that you blame Formidable from seeing the light side of the issue, of course.

‘Abzolewtly pewpycoock,’ Orsin grunted, crossing his arms across his chest and turning up his nose. ‘Zose eedeeoots were completely happy toorning zeir stewpid noses in ze uzzer direction so long as zey—’

‘Grand Alchemist Orsin,’ Case calls out, gesturing for the man to take a seat.

He does so, but not without shooting Abigail one last glare.

‘Grand Alchemist Orsin,’ Star Marshall Lowe starts, ‘has been a consultant under the employ ‘a the Eagle Union fer the last coupla ‘a years. He’s what you’d call … our window of insight into things.’

>‘Considering he’s one of the forefathers of Shipgirl warfare … I can see it.’
>‘What now?’
>‘Does the Dominion know he’s here?’
>Keep silent
>Write-In

>>5259459
>>‘Considering he’s one of the forefathers of Shipgirl warfare … I can see it.’

>>5259459
>keep silent

>>5259459
>>‘Considering he’s one of the forefathers of Shipgirl warfare … I can see it.’

>>5259459
>‘Considering he’s one of the forefathers of Shipgirl warfare … I can see it.’

Also, is the iris orthodoxy still divided between vichya and iris libre in this quest?

>>5259581
Well, the end-result of the Siren invasion did more to divide people than unit them.

>>5259459
>‘Considering he’s one of the forefathers of Shipgirl warfare … I can see it.’

>‘Considering he’s one of the forefathers of Shipgirl warfare … I can see it.’

The (former) Grand Alchemist appears pleased with this appeal stroking of his ego—or rather, he showed that he was more receptive to it—making a very visible show of it with a succession of nods. You, personally, didn’t really know much of the overweight man in the lab coat; outside of a few distinct history lessons from Formidable during her instructorship on the evolution of sub-space transportation manifestation and how it related to the role of humans—the role of Commanders, specifically—in manifestation warfare … and, in turn, how it related to the how and why of their effectiveness against the Siren forces. Orsin’s name had been mentioned quite a few times in that context, but mostly as a footnote or reference somewhere in the corners of the pages somewhere or in a photo or two that Formidable had deemed appropriate to bring up. All that being said, you’d absorbed enough to know just who Orsin was and what he meant and would mean in the scheme of things: that regardless of his dismissal from the Dominion—and just how it had gone down—his presence here meant that the stops really were being pulled.

You’re not quite in the position to debate ethics, anyway. You’d passed on that elective.

Star Marshall Lowe mimics Orsin’s action. ‘The IRD has, whateva’ the case be, elected for Grand Alchemist Orsin ta be relinquished into your care. Seems like tha’ bunch see a lot more sense havin’ someone who specializes in Shipgirls work under a unit that’s actually goin’ ta be overseein’ ‘em over havin’ his slobberin’ buttocks jus’ cocooned up in a corner crud knows where.’

Orsin huffs, turning his nose up from Star Marshall Lowe.

You find the Star Marshall’s announcement not one of much surprise; no one even seems to protest the decision. It would have been illogical to keep Orsin away from the field of his expertise, even with his past … missteps. You make a mental note, however, to delve more into the why of his dismissal, should fortune and time give you the capacity to do so.

Tague snorts, glancing at Orsin. ‘I don’t suppose that you’d like a formal designation before you start getting to work … Grand Alchemist?’

‘I weel bee in charge of ze cohnteenewd maintenance, recovery and general well-being of ze elemental units, as eez ze scope of ze reesponseebeeleetees deektates,’ Orsin replies, in a manner that reminded you of the stereotypical popular teenage girl more than it did a middle-aged man of vast knowledge and qualification. ‘Do you protest?’

Tague raises his—

Hesitation.

Fatigue.

It appears that Formidable and Belfast have their own feelings on the matter.

File: Picture has nothing to do(...).jpg (168 KB, 850x1155)

168 KB JPG

>>5260422
>Announce that Formidable and Belfast have something to say
>Silently glance and encourage for Formidable and Belfast to make themselves heard
>Say nothing
>Write-In

>>5260424
>Announce that Formidable and Belfast have something to say

>>5260424
>Announce that Formidable and Belfast have something to say

>>5260424
>Announce that Formidable and Belfast have something to say

>>5260424
>Silently glance and encourage for Formidable and Belfast to make themselves heard.

>>5260832
On second thought this seems like more considerate option than putting them on the spot. Although I’m worried they may need the commander to speak up for them. Maybe we could raise the question without specifically calling them forward?
Something along the lines of
>the persons in question may also have an opinion to be heard.

>>5261029
In military circles trying to prompt them in such a way wouldn't really work. They literally by the book need direct permission from a superior to let their thoughts be known in a meeting like this. For them to speak out without being directly included in the conversation is a breach of military etiquette which could get them punished.

It would be different if one of them was officially recognized as our Secretary or Executive Officer at which point she would be part of the meeting from the start instead of being classified as our escort.

Pretty much the options are 1. give permission to voice their opinions, 2. let them know we need to talk later and 3. ignore them.

>>5260424
>>Announce that Formidable and Belfast have something to say

>>5260424
>>Silently glance and encourage for Formidable and Belfast to make themselves heard

File: Not very amused.jpg (23 KB, 190x266)

23 KB JPG

>Announce that Formidable and Belfast have something to say

You make the call for them.

‘I think that the Instructor and the Lieutenant have a few things to say to that,’ you announce, eyes forward and gaze steady. The words had done their flip and dive off the springboard of your tongue; it was theirs to take from here.

‘Quoi?’

You can feel one of them glowering not a foot away from you, though. You dare not raise your head to check which one of them it belonged to.

‘Professor Orsin—’

Belfast’s firm mode of address is one of authority and experience, yet, as always, cool and unintrusive; what catches you, though, is the fact that her alternative title for the man that had been so insistent on his—former—title of Grand Alchemist, seems to elicit no corrective measure from the latter, who merely raises his nose as he squares his shoulders, fixing a neutral stare upon the Lieutenant. A suspicion of unuttered forms of familiarity briefly cross your mind; whether it be antagonistic, professional or otherwise, however …

‘—while I recognize your potential value to the operations on this base, I believe that I speak for many of the girls in saying that I do hope that you keep your curiosities in check this time.’

Her tone is neither a threat nor one of aggression … and much to your surprise, no one in the room—not even Connor—seems to visibly react from whatever implication that Belfast had thrown across with that utterance. Orsin himself bristles slightly, but merely responds to the question with a tight nod and a wave, sitting himself down. The corner of Tague’s lips twitch as Case and Star Marshall Lowe’s own lips form thin straight lines. You yourself feel slightly at a loss at what Belfast had just—

‘Ze measures zat I took at ze time were within ze essical bounzaries of scienteefeek an’ alchemeekal study.’

Or perhaps you were a little wrong with such a quick assumption.

‘However,’ Orsin continues, visibly stroking the right point of his mustache, ‘Your concerns are not without prezeedent, eef not completely founded.’

Belfast and Formidable glowered at the man, the former wearing a look that seemed completely unamused with his seemingly … flippant response to her insinuation. Formidable, by comparison, just seemed fed-up. You begin to wonder if his presence would be a—

‘You know,’ Abigail speaks up, her voice much too casual to belong to someone who was part of humanity’s last line of defense. ‘What was he’—she points at Orsin—‘kicked out for, anyway?’

Case remains stone-faced.

‘That’s classified.’

You don’t miss Tague’s smirk.

Neither do you miss Formidable’s snort of amusement.

>Write-In
>Move on

>>5269843
>Move on

>>5269843
>Move on

File: Guns Guns Guns.png (150 KB, 740x384)

150 KB PNG

>Move on

Belfast steers the conference for the next few minutes. Most of the questions come from vague lines, without intersect or overlap; the addresses are clear and precise and the responses are as spot-on as they’re able to be. Neither Belfast nor Formidable, however, press further beyond one or two cut-offs from the Star Marshall or the Secretary, with both of them being less than eager to egg on the two authority figures than you had so brazenly dictated. The bulk of it appeared to be regarding the issue of logistics and jurisdiction, with questions ranging from manjuu and meowficer unit authorities to the putative research and armament duties. From what the Star Marshall and the Secretary had put out (after Orsin had been cut off), a rough picture of Orsin’s responsibilities had begun to take a passable form about four queries in.

‘—the agreement stands at—’

The first thing that was made clear was that he was an authority on-base when it came to the general health and maintenance of the Shipgirls … and that of your own. The psychiatric unit, at least, where you and your fellow Commanders were concerned, had a direct pipeline to his office that was to be made use of, as frequently as possible and as much as needed. Not that that part surprised you, of course; the psychological health center was almost a central part of cadet life, and you’d seen a few that had been dismissed by not making the quotas. From what you’d heard so far, Orsin’s responsibilities didn’t really seem that different from what you’d already experience. Perhaps, he, too could be placated with a few choice lines and looped signatures.

‘—that we’re still dealing with—’

The second thing—and this one is to your surprise—was the Manjuu and Meowficer unit responsibilities falling within his department, but for some reason, still within Akashi’s—you let out a sigh of relief finding out that she’d survived the assault—dominion. You hear a small back and forth between Tague’s dissatisfaction with the state of things—attributing many of them to Akashi’s potential backlash—but protest, otherwise, stops there.

Considering the horror stories you’d heard regarding the M and M unit, you’re not sure it’s not a good idea, however.

Thirdly—and this one is definitely not to your surprise—was that while he was on base, he was answerable to the State Office and the State Office alone.

‘Obviously.

Because of course he would be.

No one protests to that one. It’s not as though it was a term that would be negotiable, anyway.

Belfast eventually nods, seemingly … placated, for now.

‘Zees ees ze Type Three you were talking about ze uzzer day, non?’

You raise your head.

Was he talking about … you?

He was certainly looking at you.

>>5269899
>Cluelessly look around, like a moron
>‘Me?’ (Confused)
>‘Type … Three?’ (Confounded)
>Try to recall what a Type Three means
>Look to Formidable/Belfast for help
>Shrug uncertainly
>Write-In

>>5269904
>Try to recall what a Type Three means

>>5269904
>>Try to recall what a Type Three means

guess it's our extra empathic bond?

>>5269904
>‘Type … Three?’ (Confounded)

>>5269904
>>Try to recall what a Type Three means

File: Smugroo.jpg (47 KB, 460x702)

47 KB JPG

You didn’t want to come off as stupid. Recalling Formidable’s lectures, you know that a Type Three was …

You pause.

No, you know this. You paid attention in class.

>It has something to do with … a Commander's potential?
>It has something to do with … a Commander's spiritual fortitude?
>It has something to do with … the resonance of emotions?
>Write-In

>>5269966
>It has something to do with … the resonance of emotions?

>>5269966
>>It has something to do with … the resonance of emotions?

>>5269966
>It has something to do with … the resonance of emotions?

>>5269966
>It has something to do with … a Commander's potential?

From thread 1 conversation with Belfast:

>‘There are three types of Commanders,’ she starts. ‘Ones who allow the power to wash over them, ones who shutter out any and all attachment … and ones that reach back out and hold on.

>>5269994
>That’s what made them the most dangerous type of Commander; the volatility of that state …

>>5269994
>That’s what made them the most stable of any Commander type out there …

Type-1 were the most volatile, Type-2 were the most common and that leaves Type-3 the most stable.

>>5269994
>That’s what made them the most stable of any Commander type out there …

File: Spoiler Image (88 KB, 850x452)

88 KB JPG

>It has something to do with … the resonance of emotions?

Yes … that sounded about right. The three types of bridging techniques—and by that extension, the Commanders using them—all employed fortitude, emotion, discipline and mental strength, but Type Threes were the ones that explicitly walked past that turmoil and …

You remember grabbing her hand

>That’s what made them the most dangerous type of Commander; the volatility of that state …
>That’s what made them the most stable of any Commander type out there …
>That’s what made them the most common of Commander types out there; after all, almost anyone could connect emotionally with a Shipgirl …
>That’s what gave them strength. The first one dominates, the second stabilizes … and the third works together; that kind of resonance is also pretty rare …
>They’re the most uncommon type of Commander; after all, strength in itself is a commodity …
>Write-In

You guys can totally re-vote. It was my mistake. Terrible grammar on my part.

>>5270010
>>That’s what gave them strength. The first one dominates, the second stabilizes … and the third works together; that kind of resonance is also pretty rare …

>>5270010
>That’s what gave them strength. The first one dominates, the second stabilizes … and the third works together; that kind of resonance is also pretty rare …

>>5270010
>>That’s what gave them strength. The first one dominates, the second stabilizes … and the third works together; that kind of resonance is also pretty rare …

>>5270010
>>That’s what gave them strength. The first one dominates, the second stabilizes … and the third works together; that kind of resonance is also pretty rare …
power of friendship, yaaaay

also I thought you recast the post for the Bisko anon. But that's sweet anyway (and so is Bisko)

File: Grand Alchemist Orsin.jpg (5 KB, 130x149)

5 KB JPG

>That’s what gave them strength. The first one dominates, the second stabilizes … and the third works together; that kind of resonance is also pretty rare …

Orsin nods in what you presume to be approval.

Pride.

Respect.

You don’t need a micro-second to know where those two mental nudges come from.

The (former) Grand Alchemist’s gaze remains on your person as he leans back in his chair, before briefly lifting and darting between the forms of your two companions. He appears briefly thoughtful, seemingly chewing on an invisible piece of gum; Secretary Case noisily flips and closes his folders, clearing his throat in a call to attention that he acquires within seconds.

‘We—’

‘Zees ees ze lady Bismarck’s … Commander, yes?’

Orsin had spoken up again. His voice is one of curious; hunched over and palms touching, his question cuts through Case’s attempt to command the room once again. Case shows visible irritation at Orsin’s interruption, but otherwise doesn’t do much to veer the attention of the room back towards him … outside of a glower that could freeze a cow (that Orsin otherwise ignores and Tague smirks at behind a pair of crossed arms).

Tague, apparently, decides to take the initiative on that. ‘According to the reports, yes,’ he responds, his arms still crossed over his chest; the smirk, however, all but disappears with it. ‘We have statements, testimonies, visible records and data to conclude that Captain Bismarck did … establish a bridge with him.’

It’s hard to miss Abigails’s groan.

Orsin’s thoughtful expression remains.

Then he gets up.

‘Well, I zink zat zere haz been enough for mon ears,’ Orsin announces, pocketing his hands in the pouches of his large lab coat. ‘I believe zat ze rest of ze matters are irrelevant to my realm of expertise. I will leave you to eet, zen. Better for me to get goin’ were seengs need doing.’

Then he looks at you.

‘Shall we go, zen, le commandant?’

Despite the directness of his query, it still takes you a moment to realize he was directly addressing you once again. You dumbly make a sound akin to a corpse’s gargle, pointing at yourself as if to affirm that he, indeed, had just asked you to leave with him.

‘M-Me?’ you let out, practically affirming your level of intelligence with a cast of a gaze towards the other three that lined up along the table. Orsin, however, merely nods and gestures with his head for you to follow.

‘Your lady awaits, does she not?’

Lady?

Bismarck.

Hesitation.

Amusement.

Resignation.

‘Orsin,’ Case warns—growls. ‘We’re in the middle of a briefing.’

To your surprise, however, Orsin doesn’t appear to regard him in the least.

>Leave with Orsin
>Stay and complete the briefing
>Write-In

>>5270165
>>Leave with Orsin
TO BEST WIFE

>>5270165
>Leave with Orsin

>>5270165

He presents compelling argument. But...

>Stay and complete the briefing
this is important, and I think Bisko would agree. It's not like she was in any danger right now, no?

>>5270165
>Stay and complete the briefing

>>5270165
Permission to change my vote from>>5270193 to:
>Stay and complete the briefing

>>5270165
>Stay and complete the briefing.
As much as want to just go now, I still believe that is better to wait for now, we can go later.

File: [Facepalm].jpg (75 KB, 1200x600)

75 KB JPG

>>5270181
>>5270193
>>5270213
>>5270223
>>5270236
>>5270246

This is the Vice-Admiral and Kongou all over again. Why did you guys even bother making the effort to answer it all if you were just going to stay anyway? Urgh.

>>5270181
>>5270193
>>5270213
>>5270223
>>5270236
>>5270246
You know, now that I think of it ... it's really my fault. I railroaded you guys into a Type Three way back when. You guys should have been given the choice to be a Type Two. Then I didn't have to bother putting in that Formidable liked you on a personal level and that Belfast was comfortable enough around you that she'd bare her soul to you down in the laundry. You guys should have been given the option to be "typical soldiers" and "by-the-book straight lacers" instead of having to be saddled with the relationships of others.

Give me some time. I'll try to have this make narrative sense.

Maybe I can slowly phase out that Formidable and Belfast like you at all. Try to have this shit make sense.

>>5270213
>>5270246
Congratulations, Case likes you and all it took was ignoring Bismarck's needs. You're a good little soldier like the rest of the men in the pile. Good on you. Let's get on with it.

test

>Stay and complete the briefing.

You consider it for a moment … but only a moment. You couldn’t just leave right now. You weren’t even certain if you’d built up enough goodwill to be given the permission to ask. Despite the insistent gaze of the (former) Grand Alchemist, you decide to remain in your seat, offering a look of apology and a wave of the hand. Orsin’s gaze turns from one of a man at ease to one of … a more quizzical quality, before going into full-blown incredulity followed by what oddly felt like—

Disappointment.

Irritation.

Frustration.

‘We shall accompany you, Professor,’ Formidable says suddenly, dropping into a swift, formal bow. ‘Excuse us, Sir Secretary, Madam Star Marshall.’

Belfast moves to do the same.

Neither of them bother talking to you as they step away from their positions as Orsin does the same, his large size barely allowing him to move past the black-suited members of the Secretary and Star Marshall’s escort, albeit in a more boisterous and audible fashion than the other two.

No one in the room moves to stop them, with the Star Marshall and Secretary merely offering tight nods of acknowledgment instead of moving to physically keep them present. Not that you believe that anyone in the room could, anyway: Orsin seems to have a mind of his own and a stubbornness to have those whims fulfilled, regardless of those around him … and there wasn’t a security detail in the world that could contain two Shipgirls, let alone two of the SSR-Class.

Formidable opens the door, bowing once again as she gestures for Orsin to walk through. The heavy-set man acknowledges her courtesy by returning his own, bowing slightly … before swiveling on his heel and fixing you with what you could only describe as a sneer.

‘Perhaps you should look into ze profiles better, Monsieur Tague,’ Orsin declares coldly, before fully taking his leave.

Belfast and Formidable spare you a brief glance, but say nothing otherwise.

Resignation.

And nothing.

Perhaps you should have followed them.

You feel like you’d done the right thing, though.

After all, you were a soldier now; you couldn’t just give in to your—

Where are you?

—impulses.

‘Before this drags on any further,’ Case starts again. ‘I’d like to get an update on just how many rounds we still have left in the barrel. Tague?’

‘Nothing’s changed between then and now, save for him,’ Tague answers, jabbing a thumb in your direction.

‘Do we have enough of a roster for operations, then?’

‘Again,’ Tague responds, this time in a more restrained manner. ‘What you define as an operation’s much too broad for it to adhere to any specific scope.’

‘Are we fighting fit?’

‘Not in the least.’

‘How long until we are?’

>Raise your hand to put forth an inquiry
>Keep silent and allow them to continue their exchange
>Write-In

>>5270712
>Raise your hand to put forth an inquiry
>Permission to leave?

>>5270717
I really shouldn't allow this because this is meant to inquire further into the state of Azur Lane's manpower and assets at hand, but if enough people do, I can't exactly contest it without reaching myself.

>>5270578
Well for myself it’s because I saw nothing to even hint that this is some urgent issue that needs to be addressed right this instant and at cost of us missing possibly vital information. For all I knew the result could be girls upset we don’t take the job seriously enough and the military considering us compromised, considering we put instant gratification over the war we (intend) to fight for them as well. Though I suppose it would make sense from the volatility angle.

>>5270712
Also this >>5270717

>>5270832
Also this because consequences ahoy!

>>5270712
>>Keep silent and allow them to continue their exchange

>>5270712
>Keep silent and allow them to continue their exchange

>>5270717
>>5270712
Support

>>5270862
>>5271072
Why tho? We fucked up and now we gotta deal with it. Let's not piss everybody off at step 1 guys

>>5271126
Agreed, pissing off our superiors by leaving right after annoying our subordinates by not leaving doesn't make sense, and should not be the play here.

>>5270712
>>5271072
Changing my vote to:
>Keep silent and allow them to continue their exchange

>Raise your hand to put forth an inquiry
>Permission to leave?

The dismissive wave that you get is all you need. You don’t even bother to ask for assurance, electing to throw up a stiff salute and shove your chair back into place. No sooner than you’d seen Belfast and Formidable leave with Orsin, you’d immediately realized that you’d made an error in not following through on your show of vigor. You don’t even notice Abigail’s eyes rolling or Conner’s stoic glance, clumsily shuffling towards the door as you try to maintain your best show of professionalism (as lacking as it probably is).

One heel steps out into the hallway and your body follows.

The door slams shut right behind you; you glance left and right … and catch a glance of a frill disappearing around a corner. Fortune appears to favor you. You don’t seem to be too far behind in catching up with your mistakes. Footfall after footfall echoes in the lonesome corridor as you build up to a sprint; you round the corner and—

‘Oof!’

‘Gah!’

—fall flat on your buttocks, a large weight slamming into your chest at full speed. You wince, nursing your lumbar, before gazing up and meeting the eyes of the thing that had just knocked you on your keister in such an unceremonious manner.

And it’s a face that you’re not quite sure how to feel seeing again.

‘Oh, it’s you.’

Wolfgang appears to share the sentiment.

The frill disappears around another corner.

>Get up on your feet and continue your pursuit of Belfast’s dress hem.
>Exclaim your surprise that Wolfgang had somehow shared your fortune.
>Curse the manners your grandmother beat into you and help him get to his feet
>Snipe that you wish he’d been unfortunate enough to have been one of the casualties
>Declare that you’re relieved that he’s alive/Hug him
>Wonder how he ended up here
>Write-In

>>5271367
>Curse the manners your grandmother beat into you and help him get to his feet

>>5271367
>Declare that you’re relieved that he’s alive/Hug him

>>5271367
>>Get up on your feet and continue your pursuit of Belfast’s dress hem.

>>5271415
This

>>5271367

>Help him up, say sorryIgottagofast and move on.

>>5271415
supporting kek

Testing
Testing
123

>>5271367
>Declare that you’re relieved that he’s alive/Hug him

>>5271367
>Snipe that you wish he’d been unfortunate enough to have been one of the casualties