The Azur Lane Base

I wake up feeling refreshed like I have slept for a long time. I opened my eyes, but I couldn't see anything.

"I wonder how long I've slept? I sighed.

I didn't imagine launching those shards would be taxing. It's a miracle I managed to be saved"

"Is there a clock somewhere?" I thought as I waited for my eyes to adjust to the dark.

I looked to my right and I could barely make out what seems to be a table lamp. I scoot over to that side of the bed and tried to find anything that will turn the lamp on.

"A string?" I pulled the string I just felt then the lamp turned on.

The light is a bit dim, but it still illuminated most of the room which lacks any design, and furniture aside from the bed and a wooden drawer cabinet.

There is also a scarlet curtain made for a 2-door window opposite the bed, and a door not far to its right.

I then noticed a note beside the lamp.

"Commander, as this will be you room, you can use everything inside however you like, Cleveland"

"Huh?"

I don't know where to start. Commander? My room? Please don't assume I already know what's going on!" I silently complained then sighed.

I got up and walked towards the curtains and moved them aside. Outside, I see almost nothing, no surprises there, although I can make out silhouettes of some ships.

I looked back at the room and noticed 2 other doors from the side of the bed opposite the table lamp. The doors are built next to each other, but on different sides of the room

"I wonder what's inside those" I walked over to one, and opened it. I flicked open the switch next to the door, then I saw various clothing hanging on one side, and huge mirror on the other.

"Ohhh! A walk-in closet" I'm pleasantly surprised.

"What about this one?" I closed the closet, and turned to the other door.

"So this one is the bathroom" I said after I opened the door, and lights.

I walked in and noticed that there is a clock installed on the countertop, next to the sink.

There's also some towels, and a set of toiletries placed on. A note is also present.

"Commander, I've left these for you if you want to freshen up, Helena"

"She probably has a rank seeing this is a proper name. Still, commander again?"

Anyway, let's leave that aside. I should probably take a shower. I did sweat a lot when I was being chased.

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I finished showering after about an hour, and I'm now inside the walk-in closet picking out clothes to wear. Interestingly, the bathroom is connected to the closet via another door, which can be locked from both sides.

I picked out a white one-piece dress, a navy blue denim jacket and a white straw dress hat that had a white ribbon.

"Ohhh! these fit perfectly" I said while looking at the mirror after putting them on.

I twirled around, satisfied with my look. I then exited the closet and looked at the windows. Dawn is almost here. The darkness is now slowly being replaced by light.

I can now see that the room I'm in is not on the first floor, and that I'm in a port of sorts as I see multiple ships docked, all of them look like warships. They are clearly of old design, especially the carriers. They also have battleships, and some smaller ones.

"Could those be a museum ships? I don't remember any country that has a collection of museum ships this large in one place".

Anyway let's just explore this place

I walked out the room "without noticing" a note that said "Don't go outside without anyone!. Wait for Enterprise at least!". As I closed the door, the note fell to the floor.

To my surprise, I entered another room that looks like an office with a 2 door entrance in front of the desk. It looks very important so I just ignored everything and went straight for the doors.

"Now I just need to get outside"

Although I was worrying at first that I might get lost, it was really for nothing as there are directions on almost every corner, and the building has a simple layout so I easily found my way out.

"Now then first thing's first. I need to find the cafeteria of this place. I hope it's open now, I feel like I'm starving to death right now"

I wanted to ask somebody, but no one is around yet.

Again, I got worried, and again it was for nothing since the port also has signs with directions to where the buildings are located thus I quickly found the cafeteria, which is as big as a gymnasium.

I opened one of the 2 doors, and went inside. The interior is pretty modern, and the dining area consisted of two floors. This place could serve more or less a hundred people at the same time.

"Amazing" I could only utter a word in amazement

"Ohh who might you be, a new girl perhaps? You're a beauty ain'tcha. Do you need something at this hour?" A woman with blonde hair, her bangs covering her right eye approached me

"I'd like to eat something. I'm starving"

She then had a slight troubled face.

"Well you see, we are still in the middle of preparing the food."

"Could you at least make some sandwiches?" I begged as my stomach growled loud enough to be heard.

The woman chuckled. "Alright we'll try to make something. Hey Oklahoma!, can you make some sandwiches" She shouted towards the kitchen.

"Wait for a bit alright?" She said then headed for the kitchen.

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I left the cafeteria after the woman, who called herself Nevada, handed me a pack of sandwiches and a bottle of water. I then walked around the area to find some place to eat quietly. Quite a number of girls are now walking about, and some of them were even staring at me.

I then stumbled upon a hill with a single tree overlooking the area.

"Wow! This place is big, and beautiful" I said as I sat beside the tree.

I started eating the sandwiches as I stared at the clear skies slowly change turn into a beautiful blue as the sun rose up.

During this time, I started thinking about the things that happened yesterday and came to a silly sounding conclusion.

I hate to believe this, but this seems to be a different world. Since I retained everything, I may have been transported here to somehow help this world. Seeing I'm in a naval port, and they kept calling me commander, I'll probably be leading a naval fleet. Wouldn't admiral be more fitting than a commander?

I let out a huge sigh at the probable huge responsibility. "I can't believe I'm in one of those fictional settings. I should've taken more lessons from both my sisters."

I let out another huge sigh.

"What will they do in this situation?" I hugged my legs extremely worried about my situation.

Unlike me, my two sisters have actual experience as leaders. Our eldest leads the Security Council's special force, our second is an actual navy admiral for the British Royal navy, and me? A civilian who just takes lessons from these 2 people.

I once again let out a huge sigh.

After a while I heard a couple of voices heading towards where I am.

"The Eagle Union's new commander is super pretty, right Laffey?" A rather cheerful voice said.

"Yeah... Cute sleeping face" A sleepy voice responded.

"All of us blushed when we saw her, especially our commander, and the Sakura Empire's" the cheerful voice added.

One of them chuckled "I hope she's a good person" A reserved voice added.

"I'm sure she's a good person" The cheerful voice said.

I got noticed by one of the girls who's wearing a blue hat, and a what looks like the German Iron Cross as her hairpin. She stopped walking as we locked eyes

"What's wrong Nimi?" The cheerful girl asked.

"I think I understand what you mean now" The girl called Nimi said while staring at me

The 5 girls then looked towards my direction, and the one her purple hair tied up greeted my cheerfully.

"Oh! Commander Sophia, Good Morning!" She cheerfully waved at me. I waved back while also giving a smile.

The cheerful girl approached me followed by her friends.

"We haven't introduced ourselves right? I'm Javelin"

"Laffey" The sleepy girl uttered.

"Unicorn" A shy girl holding a stuffed toy hiding behind Javelin said. I smiled at her to somewhat make her less wary of me.

"I'm Ayanami" The girl with horns said.

"Guten Tag, I'm the eldest sister of the Type 1936A destroyers, Z23. Pleased to meet you, Eagle Union's new commander" The girl with the German Iron Cross formally, and politely introduced herself

"Oh right, Enterprise, Cleveland, and Vestal were looking for you"

"There you are! Jeez, why did you leave when we purposely left a note! You don't know what could happen if you go somewhere without an escort!" A girl wearing a nun outfit approached me, and scolded me right away.

"Um, I'm sorry" I looked down, feeling guilty making them worry like this

"I think she gets it now, Vestal." Enterprise tried to calm the other girl. "But she is right commander, please don't walk around without an escort next time"

I looked up and saw Enterprise's is showing that she's as worried as the girl named Vestal, or probably even more.

Enterprise then held out her hand "Anyway, let's go. We'll be meeting with the other commanders shortly"

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Enterprise led me to the meeting hall of the building I was sleeping in earlier. Vestal went back to her office at the base's hospital.

"Commander, please go in first" Enterprise opened the door a large room with a long rectangular table in the middle. There are 8 people already seated around it wearing white military uniforms making me tense up.

Near the walls, I see various girls sitting, who I don't really know. Although all of them have quite unique appearances, some of them really stood out. A maid, a woman with clothing designed as the U.K flag, 2 girls in Chinese clothing, 2 that are obviously from Russia, and 2 fox girls.

Fox girls? For real? Or is it cosplay?

As we entered, everyone on the room turned their attention to me, making me uncomfortable in an instant.

"You're here, Sophia." Jeanne who is seated near the doors called out to me.

"Yes. Thank you for saving me at that time"

"Commander, please sit here"

Enterprise ushered me to a seat that overlooks the rest of the table. I felt like the chairman of a large company. Making things (me) look silly, is the fact that I'm currently still dressed like I'm on vacation. I removed my hat and placed it on my lap.

After helping me sit on my chair, Enterprise went back to sitting next to the door. Also I just noticed that the girl called Cleveland sat on the other side of the door.

"Shall we start then? Jeanne asked everyone.

I still felt uncomfortable as I feel someone still staring at me. This may sound stupid, but I'm quite confident that if I feel someone is staring at me, they are indeed doing that.

I raised my hand a bit

"What is it? Jeanne asked me. I didn't answer.

"You do know staring is a bit rude, right?" I didn't say this to anyone in particular, in fact I said this loud enough for everyone in the room to hear.

After that, the staring sensation stopped. "Thank you"

To say that my little loud statement stunned everyone should be the exact description of the current situation in the room, and it brought with it an awkward atmosphere.

Jeanne sighed "I didn't expect you to be this outspoken"

"On certain times when I'm uncomfortable enough"

"Anyway, let's start with introducing ourselves to the new commander" Jeanne said standing up then turned to me

After Jeanne introduced herself, the rest of the commanders followed.

To my right are Jeanne, Louise Francois, also from the Iris Orthodoxy, next to them are Alena Stravinsky of the Northern Parliament, and Johanna Schneider of the Iron Blood.

Opposite them are Andrew Bristol of the Royal Navy, Zuo Qīng tian of the Dragon Empery, Matteo Sicilliano of the Sardegna Empire, and Hosino Akira from the Sakura Empire

Now it's my turn to introduce myself. I stood up and started.

"I'm Sophia Arcadia, pleased to meet all of you" I did a little curtsy and bowed.