The Science Department of the Sakura Empire.
Normally, this was a place used when Akashi or Shiranui held experiments, but since there was nowhere suitable for a lecture, they had hurriedly brought in a blackboard and turned the place into a classroom.
Inside the makeshift classroom, my passionate lecture was in full swing.
"Fleet warfare is all about carriers now. Every ship should fight with carriers at the center. Based on carrier reconnaissance and the various visual data from each ship, battleships should carry out crossfire attacks, and..."
I began rattling off everything I knew.
The once-empty blackboard was quickly filling up with example diagrams and writing I had drawn.
Everyone seemed to be following my lecture well.
Then the door slid open, and someone spoke to me.
"Hmm, I disagree with your opinion. I think fleet battles should be conducted with battleships at the center."
"Huh?"
I looked toward the open door.
"S-sis...?"
Akagi shot to her feet and shouted at the mysterious woman.
"Sis?"
Akagi’s sister? Then...
"Ah, I’m late with my introduction. I’m Akagi’s older sister, and the lead ship of the Amagi-class, Amagi."
Amagi placed a hand over her chest and greeted me politely.
I cut straight to the point and asked for the basis of her earlier rebuttal.
"Then could you explain the grounds for your objection just now?"
"Fufu, Commander, you’re quite combative. Very well."
Amagi picked up a piece of chalk and began laying out the logic behind her tactics.
"First, battleships are not so weak that they would be sunk by carrier aircraft armament alone. It takes a great many carrier aircraft to sink a battleship. Also, the Sakura Empire excels at torpedo-based tactics. At this point, changing our doctrine would be costly. Wouldn’t it be more effective to form a wall of fire or strike enemy ships with a few powerful main-gun salvos than to attack with large numbers of carrier aircraft?"
Wait... change the doctrine? N-no, that’s not the point. For now, let’s just refute Amagi’s logic.
"Doesn’t the Sakura Empire already possess many excellent carriers? And as our Iron Blood has proven, dive bombing is currently the most accurate way to hit the enemy among the attack methods available to you. And frankly, aside from anti-air and radar for spotting enemies, your Sakura battleships are excellent in every other respect, but those areas are severely lacking. Only carriers can truly counter carriers. Azur Lane already has a large number of carriers, and haven’t you already been badly beaten by carriers before? A single Enterprise alone caused several ships to suffer heavy damage and critical damage. That alone proves the superiority of carriers."
"....Enterprise was... a special case. She was lucky, too."
"Is that so? Then how about we conduct a mock battle and prove that your view is correct?"
Normally, when something a person had blindly believed was thoroughly denied right in front of them, they would only then begin to look around and reconsider.
"...Very well. We can do it right now."
"Good. I’ll show you the strength of the Sakura Empire’s carriers."
And just like that, a mock battle was arranged in a very short time.
I built my fleet around the First Carrier Division, the Second Carrier Division, the Fifth Carrier Division, Taihou, and Tirpitz, while Amagi organized her fleet around herself, the Nagato-class, the Kii-class, the Fusou-class, and the Ise-class.
Honestly, from my perspective, knowing full well how powerful carriers were, the result was obvious. But for the sake of the Sakura Empire’s development, it was necessary to break the deeply rooted big-gun doctrine embedded in them.
Once everyone had taken their positions, the radio crackled.
"The mock battle will begin at 15:00."
I dispersed the destroyers and had the rest of the ships escort the carriers.
It wasn’t long before Taihou reported that she had spotted an enemy destroyer.
"Commander~ I found an enemy destroyer~ What should I do?"
"Raise the reconnaissance plane’s altitude and tail them as quietly as possible without being detected."
"Understood~"
"Commander! Report! Engaged enemy ship Kawakaze! Over!"
When Yudachi reported contact, I immediately ordered the First Carrier Division to launch their aircraft.
"Akagi, prepare for enemy fighters coming from their light carriers and determine whether the engagement area needs support. Kaga, support Yudachi!"
"Understood."
At my command, the First Carrier Division launched their aircraft in unison.
"Commander! We found the main fleet~ What should we do?"
And then came the good news, one after another.
This was the power of carriers.
Battlefield control through countless carrier aircraft, reconnaissance ability that couldn’t even be compared to lookouts or radar.
"All carriers except the First Carrier Division, pour every aircraft you have onto the coordinates Taihou transmitted. And Tirpitz, Takao, and Atago, move to the coordinates Taihou sent and begin bombardment. Over."
"Commander, we’ve spotted a torpedo bomber formation heading toward the main fleet!"
Hiryuu’s reconnaissance plane happened to spot a torpedo bomber formation heading this way.
"Tch, maybe I should have held back a few fighters. Turn the nearest fighter formation back around right now. And Agano-class, form a circular defense and begin anti-air fire!"
"We’ll make contact with the enemy torpedo bombers in five minutes!"
But those torpedo bombers never reached our formation.
The Agano-class, formed into a defensive circle, and the carriers’ thug-like anti-air fire tore them apart before they could get close.
And then...
"Call all the destroyers back in!"
"Kyaaah! Ugh... direct hit to the boiler... I can’t maneuver anymore~"
"Hah..."
Amagi looked up at the sky filled with carrier aircraft and finally felt the true weight of carrier power.
"Commander’s... overwhelming victory, then."
The result was three aircraft lost on our side, while Amagi’s side suffered four battleships sunk, six heavy cruisers sunk, and one destroyer sunk.
"Good work, Commander. I lost."
"As expected, a Commander is still a Commander~ That was amazing."
Kii patted my back.
"Do you feel the power of carriers now?"
The reason I had delayed battleship construction and completed Graf Zeppelin first was exactly this.
"Fufu... You’re the first person to ever defeat my logic, Commander. And by action, no less."
Amagi smiled elegantly.
"...Yeah... maybe Akagi was right after all..."
"Hm? What was that?"
"Nothing. I’d like to treat you to tea. Would you accompany me?"
"Sure, pour me a cup."
"Puhuhu... pour you a cup... Tea isn’t ramen, you know... fufufufu...."
Apparently amused by my joke, Amagi shook with laughter, even covering her mouth and turning her head away.
"I’d like to speak with you alone, though..."
Amagi said, glancing at Tirpitz.
".........."
Tirpitz said nothing and looked at me.
W-what is this... is that a yes or a no...?
I glanced between the two of them.
The pressure felt like static crackling in the air. I understood it immediately.
"Sigh...."
Amagi sighed.
"I am the Commander’s escort. I don’t think there is any need to exclude me from the conversation."
I needed to step out of this one.
Since taking either side would only lead to trouble, I chose to keep my mouth shut.
I prayed it would end in the best possible way...
"There may be matters concerning the internal affairs of the Sakura Empire. That is why I wish to speak only with those involved."
"Then why am I involved while Tirpitz is not? And weren’t we allies?"
"Then can Tirpitz share Iron Blood’s internal affairs with us? Also, the reason Tirpitz is not considered involved is because she came here as an escort, not as an envoy."
"Since the Sakura Empire and Iron Blood are allies, I believe internal matters can be shared. And if this is a matter of status, I will inquire with Iron Blood headquarters and Sakura Empire headquarters about a possible elevation of status immediately."
They were both strong...!
Tirpitz, if you can speak this well, why don’t you ever talk to anyone normally? You shut-in.
"Sigh... this won’t end like this."
Ah, this flow is... not good! The choice is being pushed onto me!
As expected, Amagi looked at me and asked,
"Please decide, Commander. Whose words are correct, and who is being unreasonable?"
...She deliberately added the part about who was being unreasonable to make the choice harder.
If I sided with Tirpitz, Amagi would ask me whether she was the one being unreasonable...
And if I sided with Amagi, there was a risk all of this would reach Bismarck’s ears.
Couldn’t I catch both rabbits at once....?
I thought while clenching a cigarette between my lips.
And then I made the best choice possible.
"If Tirpitz isn’t coming with me, then I can’t go either."
"....How unfortunate."
Amagi’s expression visibly darkened.
"Hmph, then we’ll be off to rest for now."
Tirpitz took the lead and headed for the lodgings, her lips curving up in a faint smile.
And as I passed Amagi, I whispered into her ear,
"...Midnight tonight. Here again."
".....!"
Amagi stared at me in surprise as I walked away.
...
"Midnight tonight. Here again."
Amagi was impressed.
A Commander who could solve problems in a way that preserved everyone’s trust while still steering things in the direction he wanted was truly astonishing.
"....As expected, you’re amazing, Commander."
"Which means I have to... hold on to you even more..."
Amagi swayed her tail and thought about what kind of refreshments would be best to share with the Commander.
"Even if it means turning my back on Iron Blood, you are worth more than that."
"Mm... but..."
Nagato rested her chin on her hand and flicked her fingers.
"Tch, such an indecisive person. You are not fit to lead."
Behind Amagi’s smiling face, those thoughts had taken root.
"Akagi... your eye for people really is exceptional."
"Our dealings with Iron Blood are numerous, so if we make enemies of them, something bad will surely happen. And what if the Commander chooses not to come? We must consider that possibility as well. Even if the Commander were to join the Sakura Empire, could we really handle everyone by ourselves?"
"The Commander is someone who surpasses everything and then some. Did you not experience that yourself, Nagato? And the Commander is resisting Azur Lane all alone."
"Sigh... Amagi. I don’t know what you’re thinking, but we cannot break the peace that was only just found. Do you intend to bring the embers of war back to this land?"
Amagi fell silent.
"Fool drunk on peace. Do you really think this peace will last forever?"
The shadow of war was slowly creeping toward the Sakura Empire.
...
Elizabeth was busy devising a new operation.
And she intended to call Belfast, her capable aide, to discuss it.
"Belfast."
But the door that should have opened within seconds did not open.
"Belfast!"
Even after she raised her voice a little more, Belfast still did not come in.
"Belfast! Are you not there?!"
At the queen’s command, the door flew open.
"Belfast! Just how many ti..."
"Your Majesty! This is terrible! It seems Belfast, Sirius, and Dido of the maid corps have all deserted!"
"What...?"
The shocking news delivered from the knight commander’s mouth.
The maids who had always stood at her side and were supposed to obey her every command.
Had deserted.
"We searched every place they could have been, and even combed the nearby waters thoroughly, but we couldn’t find them."
"Grr...!"
Elizabeth hurled her pen away.
"They’re all in league with the Commander! Those traitors! How dare they betray the royal family?!"
Elizabeth pounded the desk as she shouted.
"Bring Belfast before me right now! Belfast! Belfast! Belfast!!"
The queen grew more and more hysterical, and the Royal Navy’s morale sank lower and lower.
...
"Listen carefully. We can no longer return to the Royal Navy. And we’ll be treated as traitors for the rest of our lives. Will you still follow me?"
Belfast said with determination to Dido and Sirius standing before her.
"...The Royal Navy as it is now is no longer the Royal Navy we knew. We have to find the Commander and set everything right..."
"The Commander would never... abandon us. There must be some reason for this... I’ll meet him in person and hear the answer."
"...Very well. Then follow me immediately. Take what you can and leave quickly without being noticed."
The three moved quietly.
The Royal Navy’s elite slipped out of the Royal harbor without leaving the slightest trace.
...
New Jersey’s long hair was tangled in places, and her once-vibrant face had grown dull, but her beauty still shone through.
New Jersey could not remember the last time she had smiled.
When the Commander had been there, every day had been happy. But when had it started? Her face had stopped smiling.
Then.
creak
"....Eldridge. At least knock befo..."
"...New Jersey."
"...Enterprise?!"
Enterprise, who had supposedly disappeared, was standing right in front of her.
"You... weren’t you..."
"Yes. I know what you’re going to say. I was immature."
New Jersey let her half-risen body sink back into the chair.
".....Why did you come back?"
"...Because I found the answer."
"Did you find the Commander?"
"Yes."
Silence stretched for several seconds.
If this were New Jersey, she would have shouted, What?! at the top of her lungs, but she no longer had even that much strength left.
"But... why did you come back alone...?"
"Actually... I lost him right in front of me. And the Commander... seems to be with the Iron Blood."
"Was he being held captive?!"
Enterprise shook her head.
"...No, it seems he went there of his own will."
"Why...?!"
New Jersey let out a dry laugh.
What, did he think we would ignore him?
If he had just waited a little longer, we would have taken you with us.
New Jersey’s mind began filling with the word why.
"Let’s do what we can right now, New Jersey."
"...Heh, yeah."
New Jersey wanted to catch the Commander, apologize to him, ask him a thousand things, and complain just as much.
For the first time in a while, she went to get some proper sleep.
Her body, which had been surviving on energy drinks until now, simply would not cooperate anymore.
Even if shipgirls could endure longer than humans, there was still a limit.
And again, thoughts of the Commander came to mind.
The Commander who had looked at her murderous schedule and said, What the hell is this? before drastically simplifying it and giving her room to breathe.
A single tear slid down New Jersey’s closed eye.
...
"There’s been no movement from the Royal Navy down in the Mediterranean lately. Have you heard anything?"
"The Royal Navy seems to be in internal turmoil right now. According to Iron Blood intelligence, the Commander who was with Azur Lane has defected to Iron Blood..."
"What?"
Littorio stopped the wineglass she was about to drink from.
"You heard me correctly. The Commander of Azur Lane has defected to Iron Blood. And apparently he’s now touring the Sakura Empire."
Littorio couldn’t believe her ears.
That someone would abandon the place he had been in, or that Iron Blood would accept it without even questioning it.
"Haha... Did the world I knew change while I was asleep, Carabiniere?"
"No. The world seems to be... the same."
"...I’ll have to meet this Commander once he comes to Iron Blood."
"Should I inform them that you wish to visit Iron Blood?"
"Yes."
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