As two days passed since the start of the operation, Greynar's fleet had successfully set up their outpost. Now, they were waiting for Memphis' fleet from NY City to arrive with the resources needed to upgrade the outpost. Meanwhile, the Commander rested at the outpost while the girls stood watch, patiently awaiting further orders from Command.

  A knock echoed from outside his room. “Onii-chan, are you there?“ Unicorn's soft voice called out.

  Recognizing the voice as the cute little carrier, he casually closed the notebook he had been writing in. After all, it was his break time.

  “Come in, Unicorn,“ he called.

  The door creaked open, and Unicorn immediately stepped in, taking a seat beside him in her usual adorable manner. Her bright smile showed her curiosity about what he had been doing. Smiling, he gently patted her head before opening the notebook for her to see. He expined that it was a compition of all the information he had gathered while commanding the fleets.

  Unicorn's curiosity only grew as she began flipping through the pages, her eyes wide with wonder as she examined his meticulous notes.

  “Wow, Onii-chan, your writing is so pretty. Unicorn can't write as nicely as you...“ she commented, her tone a mix of admiration and a hint of self-consciousness.

  Feeling embarrassed by the praise, Greynar scratched the back of his head with a sheepish smile. “Ahaha... thanks. I guess it’s because I like taking notes a lot—it just comes naturally, I suppose.“

  Unicorn giggled. “Onee-chan's really being humble right now. That’s not good, you know?“ Her pyful words drew a soft chuckle from the Commander.

  Shifting the conversation, he asked, “Anyway, Unicorn, how have you two been these past few days? I hope the operation hasn’t been too much of a burden for you both.“ His tone was filled with genuine concern. Though they weren’t part of the Eagle Union, he cared deeply for the sisters' well-being.

  “Mmm..!“ Unicorn nodded enthusiastically. “Illustrious-neechan and I are fine. We're quite comfortable here at the Outpost,“ she replied cheerfully, grabbing a piece of candy from the table nearby.

  “That's great. I was concerned that you two might not be used to it, but it seems my worry was unfounded,“ he said, gently caressing her head.

  “Ehehe~“ the small carrier giggled adorably and hugged him. “Onii-chan is the best big brother. Unicorn likes Onii-chan.“

  Greynar chuckled softly. “Yes, I like you too, Unicorn.“ It might not be the same as having a little sister, but he was happy and fond of Unicorn, who had kept him company during his breaks these past few days.

  Hours ter, Unicorn decided to explore to kill some time. The area around the Outpost was peaceful—no Sirens had appeared, and the fleet only ventured as far as the peripheral vision could reach before returning to the Outpost. Enterprise and Illustrious took turns patrolling the area, ensuring the seas were secure. Even if any Siren were to appear, they would be met with the mass-produced fleet already stationed around the waters, ready to surround any threats.

  So far, nothing has yet to really appear.

  The next day, Saratoga announced that the reinforcement fleets would soon arrive at their location. TB had secured the safest route for the reinforcements, led by Memphis, after they deployed the Outpost on the other side of the NA ocean. Saratoga also reported that before they had set up the Outpost, they encountered a strange Siren who called herself an Arbiter.

  A simir report came from the Royal Navy, who had encountered a peculiar Siren that didn’t flinch when they attacked it. It seemed the Sirens were up to something, and no one knew if the development on NA Ocean has only becoming worst. Outside of the increasing sightings of Ashes, nothing was clear. Even the Azur Lane Command remained confused by the ongoing developments, as the situation seemed to be spiraling out of control.

  On Memphis' side, they were confronted by the Arbiter, who demanded they stand down and surrender. This led to a fierce confrontation, but the Siren proved to be far too powerful. Just as they were on the verge of defeat, the Arbiter, along with the mass-produced fleet, suddenly vanished. The situation was strange and unsettling—especially since even the wrecked Siren ships disappeared without a trace. It was a dangerous and mysterious encounter, leaving everyone questioning what had just happened.

  “Commander, I'm back!“ his secretary greeted him as soon as she arrived at the Outpost.

  “Welcome back, or should I say, welcome to my Outpost?“ the Commander replied with a smile.

  “Now that we've really built an outpost around the central area of the NA Ocean, we're almost at the next stage of the pn, aren't we?“ Memphis asked as she switched into secretary mode.

  “Yeah, the sea around here is retively calm for now, but the Sirens are still out there. We haven't completely eliminated them yet,“ he replied.

  “Hmm... That's a bit troublesome...“ she murmured.

  Hearing her murmur, Greynar asked, “What's wrong? Is something bothering you?“

  Snapping out of her thoughts, she turned to the Commander. “Commander, do you mind if we take a round of patrol? Maybe we can also make sure no Siren will spawn again.“

  “Hmm? Sure, should I go with you then? I’ll take Carolina and Hornet along while we're out,“ he suggested.

  Not expecting her Commander to willingly join her small patrol, she nodded. “If that satisfies your curiosity, then all right. Just note that this isn’t a small detour around the area, though.“

  Greynar chuckled. “I know, I’ll be aboard the New Jersey mass-produced model instead of my usual command ship. Also, my schedule is clear today. Command will call me for a meeting tomorrow, so I’m thinking we’ll just take a detour around to ensure the sea is safe and no ambush happens.“

  “Sure then,“ Memphis smiled and murmured silently, “It might be even better if it's just us two...“

  Not catching what she was saying, the Commander asked, “Sorry, what was that?“

  Surprised as she snapped from her daydream, Memphis waved it off with her hand. “Oh! It's nothing, Commander. I was just thinking it might be better if every fleet went on patrol at the same time, but I guess the Outpost defense is more important.“

  “Guess that settles it then. I'll call North Carolina and Hornet to see if they want to join the small patrol,“ the Commander said, then took out his communicator and sent an invitation to the battleship and carrier through a private channel.

  After a while, he informed Enterprise about his pn to take a small detour around the sea to rex while conducting a patrol. Initially, Enterprise objected to him going on patrol, but she relented upon hearing that Memphis would accompany him alongside Hornet and North Carolina. Shortly after, TB notified him that the mass-produced ship was ready for departure.

  Standing at the dockyard of the Outpost, he took in the imposing sight of the New Jersey mass-produced model. Its sheer size and massive structure made an impression, even from a distance.

  Once aboard, he found himself momentarily overwhelmed by the spaciousness of the bridge. However, the familiarity of its yout, simir to that of his usual command ship, quickly put him at ease as he began working with it. Since this was just a mass-produced ship, there was not much to do inside other than giving the vessel a command.

  As the ship started to move, Hornet and North Carolina joined them. Greynar ensured a small contingent of mass-produced ships accompanied them, while the remainder stayed behind to defend the Outpost. In case they encountered any troublesome Sirens, the mass-produced ships could act as bait to slow the enemy down, allowing the main group to retreat if necessary.

  Since it was just a small patrol, the fleets didn’t assume any specific formation. The Commander’s ship led the rest, maintaining a steady course. The shipgirls stayed aboard the mass-produced ship alongside Greynar, while TB acted as their radar, assisting them in navigating and scanning the area as they patrolled.

  “Ngghh...“ Hornet stretched her arms comfortably as she lounged on the sofa in the ship's cafeteria. “Man, this mass-produced ship has a pretty nice spot to rex.“

  “Haha, I guess it comes with the benefit of having a big ship,“ the Commander remarked, enjoying a drink Memphis had handed him.

  “Yes~ I agree,“ North Carolina nodded. “This ship offers many advantages, especially since it's the rgest mass-produced vessel we’ve used. Initially, it was pnned to serve as your command vessel, but considering your own input and preferences, that pn was scrapped.“

  “So Saratoga pnned it, huh? Interesting,“ the Commander murmured in acknowledgment. “I was thinking this could serve better as a reserve vessel rather than just a command vessel.“

  “And it seems like you're enjoying it too, Commander,“ Hornet teased with a sly grin. “I think one of the reasons you wanted to join this small patrol was to escape work while being surrounded by beauties like us.“

  The Commander rolled his eyes. “It’s not like I’m escaping. I’m just killing time since Command hasn’t really assigned me anything yet,“ he murmured, then shrugged. “But I won’t argue about that st part.“

  “Hee~ So you won’t deny it. I like that—being forward,“ Hornet said with a sly smile. “I wonder what my sis would say about this...“

  “Now that you mention it, what is your type, Commander?“ North Carolina asked, her curiosity piqued, drawing Memphis’ attention.

  “Yeah, I’m curious too,“ Memphis chimed in, leaning slightly forward. “Even with so many girls around the port, it’s hard to tell if you have a specific type or not.“

  The Commander hummed, trying to think of a way to escape the situation, but it seemed useless. “To be honest, I don't really have a type...“ His words took the girls by surprise.

  “That's... surprising,“ North Carolina murmured, her eyes narrowing slightly. “How come you don't?“

  “Well...“ he paused for a moment, choosing his words carefully. “It just comes off like that, I guess. Maybe it's because I’ve become desensitized to the idea of favoring one type of girl, but... I’m just fond of any girl, really.“

  Hornet teased again, her grin widening. “Ah, so you're being considerate of the girls in port, and that just makes you seem like you have an all-rounder type, huh? Doesn't discriminate against any kind of girl...“ She nodded thoughtfully, then added with a sly smirk, “Are you trying to create a harem?“ Her words caused a small gasp from the others.

  Greynar facepalmed, exasperated. “How did you even come to that conclusion, Hornet...?“

  “Hey, I'm just thinking logically here,“ Hornet replied with a mischievous grin. “I mean, the port girls are all fond of you—or idolize you, at least. Makes sense, right?“

  “You really trying to corner me with that, huh...“ he murmured, rolling his eyes.

  “But I'm not wrong, right...?“ Hornet continued, her grin widening. “Besides, it's a compliment. You manage the port well, even if it's just the Eagle Union girls and not the others. And I'm curious to see how you'd fare if every girl in Azur Lane actually lived at the port.“

  The Commander groaned, running a hand through his hair as if the question had physically worn him out. “You know, maybe that question would be best saved for when we actually defeat the Sirens in this operation,“ he muttered, trying to dodge the teasing.

  “I'll hold you to that,“ Hornet replied with a wink, clearly enjoying his discomfort.

  “That said,“ Memphis interjected, gncing at the radar dispy, “it's been about half an hour since we boarded, and we haven't encountered any Sirens in the area. Even TB hasn’t reported any sightings.“

  “Isn't that a good thing?“ North Carolina said with a calm smile. “It might mean that we've genuinely cleared out the sea around this area after our patrols.“

  “Yeah, though it's a bit concerning that the other side has been encountering strange Sirens all over the NA Ocean,“ Greynar remarked, his tone thoughtful.

  “Pray for the worst, Commander,“ Memphis chuckled, stepping closer behind him and pcing a comforting hand on his shoulder.

  Feeling the soothing touch, the Commander leaned back slightly, letting himself rex. His tense posture eased as he murmured, “I hope it never comes to that, but when it comes to real concerns... it’s the Ashes that worry me the most.“

  “Ashes, huh...“ Hornet murmured thoughtfully. “The Hiryuu we encountered was one of them too, wasn’t she? They seem... friendly, at least. They don’t attack unless provoked.“

  “First mistake, Hornet,“ Greynar interjected firmly. “Assume everyone is an enemy. We don’t really know what the Ashes are, what they want, or what they’re capable of. Treating them lightly could cost us.“

  ~TB reporting: A Siren facility is ahead of us.~ The comms crackled to life as the AI's voice announced the discovery.

  Everyone immediately rose from their seats, the rexed atmosphere vanishing in an instant. Hornet and North Carolina exchanged a quick gnce before leaping from the ship, summoning their rigging in a synchronized motion that demonstrated their readiness.

  “Finally, some action after all this patrolling,“ Hornet said with a grin, her excitement is evident as she crackled her fist. “Looks like we’ve got ourselves a nice little toy to py.“

  “Memphis, lead the mass-produced ships to engage the Sirens. I want to test something using this New Jersey model,“ Greynar ordered.

  Memphis hesitated briefly but nodded in agreement. “...Understood. We’ll protect you from the fnk.“

  The fleet promptly shifted into formation, with the Commander's ship securely positioned at the center. Following Greynar's orders, they altered their course to encircle the facility. The structure, though roughly the size of a small isnd and seemingly insignificant compared to the Outpost, was rendered menacing by the presence of Sirens swarming around it.

  What made the situation even more critical was the facility's potential to spawn a new model of Siren if left unchecked. These instaltions were essentially cssified as “kill on sight“ due to the immediate threat they posed. And it was good that they already prepared to attack the facility.

  “Riiigghht... What can I do here?“ the Commander murmured to himself as he reached the bridge, a spark of curiosity flickering in his eyes. Deciding to test something, he issued a sharp command. “Turret, lock onto the Sirens at the coordinates provided by TB.“

  At his directive, the turrets of the New Jersey model ship smoothly rotated, aligning their aim with precision toward the facility. Once he issued the command to fire, the triple-barreled turrets unleashed a thunderous salvo, tearing through the mass-produced Siren fleet scattered around the area.

  In response, the humanoid Sirens snapped their heads toward the fleet, their movements unnervingly synchronized. Like a frenzied swarm, they surged forward, their counterattack swift and relentless as they unched a barrage of salvos aimed directly at Greynar's position.

  Hornet and North Carolina immediately unched their own barrages, coordinating their attacks with precision. Hornet dominated the airspace, skillfully deploying her aircraft to intercept any incoming Siren fighters and bombers, ensuring the skies remained clear and the fleet stayed protected from any danger on the air.

  Having learned a technique from Enterprise, Hornet swiftly ran and jumped into one of her pnes, taking control with practiced ease. She commanded her squadron to assist her in intercepting the incoming Siren fighters. Hornet shot down several of the Siren pnes with remarkable skill, narrowly dodging an anti-air attack in the process. Scanning the area below, her eyes locked onto the target she sought. With a grin, she dove toward it, unching her bomber directly from above, aiming to strike with precision.

  As explosions erupted in the distance, Memphis directed the mass-produced fleet to focus their fire on the facility's entrance rather than the Siren fleet. They had already managed to destroy the barrier protecting the area around the facility, clearing the path for a direct assault.

  Asking Hornet to distract the Sirens, Memphis directed her fleet to close in on the facility, unleashing a relentless barrage of salvos from the mass-produced battleships. The Commander joined the assault, but his focus was on the facility's critical weak point—the main generator cube located at the back of the structure. Greynar carefully aimed his strikes to maximize damage and disable the facility's core.

  The red facility flickered ominously, almost like a wounded beast, as the New Jersey mass-produced model relentlessly targeted its core. But how did the Commander know about this weak point? It came from Enterprise's report during the interception of a simir facility the day before. She had mentioned a strange, core-like structure within the Siren stronghold, noting its vulnerability. The strategy had proven effective when they destroyed it, and Greynar now sought to replicate that success.

  As the facility crumbled into a fiery heap of wreckage, fmes spreading across its remains, the Siren fleet began to sink one by one. With no reinforcements spawning from the now-destroyed facility, the battle was effectively over. The fleet had executed a successful interception against the Sirens, and the girls felt a wave of satisfaction with their well-executed strategy.

  “Whew,“ Memphis said as she stepped into the Commander's ship, wiping a bit of sweat from her brow. “I guess that's probably the st of those lingering Sirens.“

  “Great job out there,“ the Commander praised with a nod. “TB, what’s the chance of the Sirens reappearing in this area?“

  ~With the current rate of progression and patrols, the sea has effectively been cleared, Commander. It was at 98%, but the destruction of the recent facility has brought it to a full 100%,~ TB reported.

  “That should be everything, then,“ the Commander murmured, turning his gaze to the now-destroyed facility. “We should head back now. Don’t want to worry the fleets at the Outpost too much. TB, set a course straight for the Outpost, keep an eye out, and alert us if anything unusual comes up. We'll rest inside the ship in the meantime,“ he ordered the AI.

  ~Affirmative, initiating autopilot,~ TB responded promptly.

  Feeling exhausted, Greynar made his way to the cabin deck on the first floor of the ship. With the girls likely preoccupied with the aftermath of the battle, he decided to take a moment to experience what it felt like sleeping in the cabin room of the New Jersey model. However, as he opened the door, he was greeted by a sight that left him stunned—it looked like a five-star hotel suite. The room was vishly furnished, and the bed was massive, exuding an air of opulence.

  'What the fuck? Is this supposed to be a reserve command ship?!' he thought in disbelief.

  He walked into the room and began inspecting the area. Everything about it screamed luxury, more akin to a five-star hotel suite than a ship's command cabin. It made sense if the room was functional and simple, but this level of extravagance seemed excessive for just a reserve command ship. If it were destroyed, all of this would go to waste—an unfortunate thought, given the sheer amount of effort that had gone into outfitting the space.

  “But... this is an Iowa-css hull and a New Jersey model. Maybe it won't get damaged as easily. At least it could tank some of the damage,“ Greynar murmured, trying to stay positive.

  Since it was no use dwelling on what-ifs, Greynar figured it would be best to just lie on the bed and think of nothing. However, before he could settle in, there was a knock at the door. It could be either Memphis or Hornet. He got up, walked over, and opened the door. To his surprise, all three girls were standing there.

  “Hello, you three...?“ he asked, raising an eyebrow. “What brings you here?“

  “Yo, Commander,“ Hornet greeted, sneaking a gnce inside the room. “Seems you've seen the room.“

  “Yeah, I was pretty surprised,“ the Commander sighed, rubbing his head. “Like, what the hell did the team who built this ship think?“

  “Haha, well, it was actually supposed to be a surprise for you once we finished this operation,“ Memphis chimed in. “Saratoga wanted you to have the most secure command fleet, and the New Jersey model was chosen as the command vessel,“ she said with a stealing a shy gnce.

  North Carolina chuckled. “And since you've seen it already, we need your opinion about the room. How was it? Since it will eventually be your command ship, do you like it, Commander?“ she asked.

  The Commander replied, “Like might not be enough to describe it. I guess I love it very much. Although I’m a bit frustrated that they made the room look too neat and well-decorated, I suppose this will be my second home when I'm out at sea, won't it?“

  “It's true. Ever since your journey with the Royal Navy, we've wanted to make it more comfortable for you to stay inside. Besides, with TB helping us now, she can call us anytime and serve as our navigator and support in case any emergency situation arises,“ the blonde girl replied.

  “Figured,“ he crossed his arms.

  “Woah... It's soft!“ Hornet excimed in excitement as she sat on the bed. “Memphis, come try this bed! I'm starting to get jealous of the Commander.“

  “H-hornet! That's not polite to the owner of the room!“ Memphis reprimanded the carrier, but her expression betrayed her voice. She gnced at Greynar, who chuckled and gave her an amused nod, excusing her to try the bed.

  Memphis gave in, running her hand over the bed’s surface. It was so soft she could imagine sleeping there all day. Just then, Hornet piped up, her tone teasing. “Y’know, Commander, it’d be nice if we all squeezed in here together, don’t you think?“ She shot him a sly gnce.

  “Trying to grab my attention, Hornet?“ he smirked. “What if I actually ordered all of you to sleep with me? Would that finally shut you up?“ His devilish grin made her blush.

  “W-well…“ Hornet stammered, nervously ughing. “Not like I’d resist…“ she muttered under her breath, her face turning red.

  “Careful, or I might just take you up on that,“ the Commander teased, chuckling.

  Suddenly, a hand pressed against his back, pyfully shoving him forward. “Huh?! W-wait—!“

  “Oh, c’mon, Commander,“ North Carolina said with a smile, gently pushing him onto the bed. “It’s just a quick nap, nothing more.“ She flicked off the lights, leaving the room bathed in the soft glow of the evening sun.

  Memphis let out a surprised yelp as the Commander tumbled between her and Hornet. It was an unexpected move by North Carolina, but Memphis figured the battleship just wanted to bond with the Commander—and the rest of them—in her own way. What caught her off guard, though, was how close the Commander was now. She could feel the faint warmth of his skin against hers.

  “C-Commander…“ she murmured softly, her heart skipping a beat. ‘He’s so close…’

  “Urgh…“ The Commander shifted, trying to get comfortable, but he was now firmly sandwiched between the two girls, both clearly enjoying the bed’s plush comfort.

  North Carolina chuckled. “Just rex, Commander. Don’t you have a meeting tomorrow with the Command?“

  He thought for a moment, then sighed. “Yeah, you’re right. It’s not like anything’s gonna happen on the way back.“

  “Good~“ North Carolina nodded, climbing onto the bed herself.

  The Commander gulped. Being surrounded by three girls at once was… overwhelming, to say the least. And now, lying on a bed with them? His mind raced with possibilities, but he kept quiet, closing his eyes and trying to rex. Before long, the warmth and comfort lulled him into a deep sleep, the girls’ presence making it all the more peaceful.