Azur Lane: Savior

"We're back Commander." Enterprise saluted to him.

He nodded to her and told the other to immediately get to work, after that he turned to her."Great work out there, how was Sakura Empire current situation? I heard from your last report on the water that you've engaged with a Sakura Empire's fleet."

"They're still isolated as always, we engaged in a fight with Zuikaku and Shoukaku fleets when we tried to take a Siren-occupied zone." She explained to him.

"Did they withdraw?" He asked.

"Yes, for most part their mission differ from ours. Shoukaku wanted to have a ceasefire with us because certain condition can't allow them to go back exhausted. Also it seems something has happened inside the Sakura Empire and a shift of governance has happened inside." She continued. "Zuikaku wanted to have a spar with me so i comply to her demands and they retreated back to Sakura's water territory." 

"I see... Then it must be because of a shift in flagship opposition and Akagi progressively having influence within the faction, that takes them to the position where probably, the oldest among one was forced to make a move. One of contributing program was the attack of Siren on them after Akagi abolish their contract with them." Greynar murmured.

Enterprise widened her eyes. "Don't you mean.." 

He looked at her with a smirk. "Battleship Mikasa, if you even remember her."

She nodded. "Yes, i know about her when i was visiting Sakura Empire. I met her and she is a nice person." 

"Battleship Mikasa of Sakura Empire, one of oldest ship along with Avrora during the Siren invasion that happened. I wonder if that was their mission? To meet with Mikasa and go back to Sakura Empire safely." He leaned on the nearby wall, hand crossed.

"I think that's the logical explanation of why we met each other suddenly, perhaps Mikasa was somewhere near the border on the pacific ocean. Also, this is the result today, Commander." Enterprise summoned her rigging and searched around her bow handle. After some time, she took out a well-sorted written paper with a beautiful handwriting inscribed on it. 

He received the paper and turned to her. "This is her idea right?" 

Enterprise chuckled. "Yeah, she suggested it when we want to go back, the details of the report what happened today on the mission." 

The Commander shook his head, "She still finds a way to help me even though we aren't near each other." He folded the paper neatly and placed it on his pocket. "Thanks for the report, i will see it through, you may rest now, Enterprise." 

"Thank you Commander." She bowed and went join with the others. 

He turned to the docked ship on the dockyard. A certain somebody who hasn't appeared yet, but her carrier ship was docked there. He decided to take a detour to the ship, but before he was halfway on his step, a hand from behind gently closed both of his eyes.

A small giggle heard behind him. The Commander stopped his track and asked. "Let me guess... Volga?" 

"Correct~" The girl behind him giggled, "I'm back Commander." 

"Welcome back, now can you let your hand off from my eyes? It's dark here and i wanted to see your face." He jokingly said.

As her hand gradually lowered, he could see the light again. Turning around behind, he met with the auburn-hair carrier girl. She greeted him with a hug to his chest.  He reciprocate her hug with a tender caress on her back. As the two had enough of feeling each other warmth, they stared at each other and smiled. Those brief second feels like an eternal passage of time. 

The silent was broken by some Manjuu who accidentally crashed their body onto Volga's leg. They chuckled together, laughing at their silly behavior. The yellow chicken immediately got up and continued to their way.

"By the way, Enterprise told me about it." He decided to speak first. 

"Oh? Was it the handwriting?" She asked.

"It's your idea, wasn't it?" He squinted his eyes, checking her expression.

She fidgetly playing with her hand. "Well... I thought i should be helpful and ease your burden, so i suggest that idea." She looked at him, her eyes brimming with excitement. "So how was it?" 

"I haven't take a look at it, yet. I will do it once i get to my office." He showed her the folded paper.

"Give me your opinion once you've done reading it, Commander." She smiled brightly and led him to a walk. "Meanwhile, let's go talk about your day!" 

As they strolled, the Commander and his shipgirl companion chatted and laughed, exchanging stories about their respective days. The streetlights cast a gentle glow, adorned with the twinkling stars above, creating a comforting atmosphere as they walked together. Once they met with a separate path to their respective place, Volga suddenly kissed him on the cheek. 

Stepping back from the kiss, she bid him a farewell. "Alright, i will go to Enterprise now, take care of yourself, Commander! Don't sleep late and please don't overwork yourself, okay?" She waved at him with a bright smile. 

"I will, don't worry about me. Fixing my schedule right now is my prioritize." He chuckled, and waved to her. 

As they parted away, the Commander got back to his office. He sat on his chair and begin to unfold the paper. As he read it thoroughly, he found something interesting in the list with the name, "Project Blueprint". He knew it's a blueprint ship project that the each faction secretly trying to make. From the looks of it, they are trying to research the mystery of wisdom cube using a non-existent hull of the ship and only through history. 

Information regarding ship being kansen can vary, it can be a history of its active role as a ship, but even if it's just a Blueprint, it seems like it can be made into reality as long as it's clearly recognizable as a ship. The different between blueprint and a normal shipgirl are clear as day. Take example of a shipgirl like Volga who doesn't have her real-life history affiliation but she got her existing blueprint data that are sufficient for the wisdom cube to materialize her, while with a blueprint ship, you need to make her hull first because there's no sufficient hull information regarding their existence. 

But in the case of Volga of this timeline, she materialize using a fragment of a ship which is still a mystery until this day. If one has to guess, it could be the influence of S.A.V.I.O.R that still clouded with a lot of unknown ability or power. A shipgirl is near impossible to materialize unless there's a sufficient data for the wisdom cube to get. 

"Project Blueprint huh? How did it got into the island unless... Observer intentionally left it there for them to take." He murmured to himself.

'Observer, you are still not giving me the full picture of what you are doing currently.' 

Rubbing his left eye, he was tired and decided to stop for the day. He left his light room turned on in case something happened. Walking down the dim lit hallway, it was sure a peaceful night. When he took a look on the outside, it has started to rain. As the only capable Commander of Azur Lane, he stays on his feet backed by the girls. 

The Commander entered his room, the small light switched on and he fall to the bed. Closing his eyes, he began doze off to the dream world.

"Nnnghh..." The Commander was awoken by something, his eyes are blurry but he felt like he wasn't on the bed.

After a while, Greynar found himself wide awake, surprised to encounter a giant torii gate stretching hundreds of meters ahead. He gathered courage and walked through it. He gulped himself, as the intimidating torii gate was around him. After a long walk, he could see the end of the gate. 

At the end of the gate stood a woman, her presence commanding yet serene. Her cascading silver hair danced in the breeze as it flowed down her back. With fox ears perched atop her head, she exuded an aura of elegance and grace. Nine silver tails swayed rhythmically behind her, each one a testament to her divine nature. As she sensed Greynar's approach, she gracefully rose to her feet, assuming a seiza position. With a gentle flick of her tails, she welcomed him with a serene smile.

As Greynar stopped his track, the woman said. "This one has await for your presence, Commander. This one name is Shinano, i am but a drifter, a wanderer through the mirror of dreams. I am pleased to be your acquaintance." Her smile was enchanting, with a warmth that could captivate even the most stoic of hearts.