A Festival of Stars (IC, OPEN)

by **AHSCA** » Sat Oct 01, 2022 12:18 pm

The Selkie wrote:SDFS Cailín.
“That it will be!”
It was only a short trek to where the Sea Explorers had assembled, a good dozen corvettes, a Teressian Monitor, two from the Eachtrán's Younger Militia, a fish cutter and, of course, our chaperones: Aside from Miúil, Mister Maor (the Corvette from 1961, not the helicopter carrier), Miss Rásaí and my actual oldest sister, Maighdean, took care of us.
My sister sat on a log, harp in hand, the others in front of her as she played a song and smiled, as I got up.
“It seems, that we are all present.”, she spoke, then bowed her head slightly, to Uta. “Good morning, little one. I am Maighdean.”
“Maighdean is my biggest sister!”, I said with some pride, which made her, and some others, giggle.

SDFS Miúil.
“I am afraid, that I must leave you to your own devices as well, Miss Arashi.”, I told the paddle wheeler. “We need all the chaperones we can get and, no offence, you have no idea about this island.” I shrugged and I added: “Maybe we can grab a drink later, but for now, see ya!”
I hurried behind Cailín, caught up to them just as they met Maighdean...
...leaving Arashi alone.
It was a lot going on here today and a lot of people around – and if not, she might not be a carrier, but the bar was open anyway.

The local Shipboy Population could be separated into three parts: The Boys, a tier mostly occupied by the male personifications of the SDF's Corvettes, the Wannabe-Men, a tier somewhere in the middle between the Boys and the third tier, the Men.
And there were Men.
The rough and tumble fishing ships of Hurscht Fisheries, the sharp seaplane tender of the Water Polices, the older corvettes of the SDF-Navy, first and foremost the bare-chested (not that he stood out thanks to that around here) of SDFS Nocht and the larger, more capital warships. The confident, almost arrogant, dark-skinned form of Ea, a drone carrier of the Royal Kyrenaian Coast Guard, was with his fellow carriers, but the bar was not closed. Maor, the Helicopter Carrier, was there as well, sharing a drink with his sister Sealgaire and the older Teressian Carrier Naya.
While male Kanmusu, a.k.a. shipboys, were rare around here, the majority being female, there were some. And, much like their female counterparts, the whole plentora of swimwear options was on display, from speedos to trunks, from brief to jammers, all was present.
The minimalist speedo Nocht wore left little to the imagination, then again, the unnaturally tall man with the width of a wardrobe and the muscles that gave mountain ranges a run for their money did not seem to mind. In fact, he played with some of the younger-looking shipgirls, literally holding one on each arm while they clung to his biceps a good metre off the ground.
Then, there was Bogaigh, the aforementioned seaplane tender and on the other end of the spectrum. He wore trunks, an open shirt above it, sitting in one of the beach chairs and chatting with a Kyrenaian Large Cruiser.
So, in short, Otome had a lot to pick from.

SS Uta

Uta smiled and bowed her head "Pleased to meet you, Maighdean. A nice name you have." Names always interesting to her, some were just culturally instilled like her own, others came from something more unusual but either way it was always fun to learn. "And I'm Uta, it's good to meet you! So you're the big sister! I have a big sister here too thoguh she's probably out scouting for guys or gals to talk with. I'm sure she'll meet you later."

SS Arashi

"Very well." Arashi sighed a bit dejected but oh well. Very opposite of her name, she didn't really raise a fuss over being told off (if you can really call it that) like that, again Island Steamers seldom really got much mind from ships outside their humble lands. Probably because they were echos of the past in an era of high tech. She lit up her pipe again inhaling and exhaling. Well her girls off doing their own thing, guess it was some alone time, walking about to see a bit more of the beach and other ships around to see who might fancy a conversation or just find her way for a drink. Humming a little to herself, islanders may not sing while on the mighty seas but the ships sure did, or did you think those moans and groans were all just noises? ha! For Arashi, again her name meaning storm, more to due with how well she could handle stormy seas as opposed to being hot tempered.

SS Otome

Some wandering around, Otome found herself where she was told she might see some fine young men, though she was also partial to girls just as much, how can she pass up a beefcake gent of the sea? "Come on, Otome, no need to be shy like Uta, just go for it! Gooood mooorning!" was it morning or was it afternoon? Who knew but for now she'd run with that "I'm a visitor fresh from the UIS here to meet and mingle with some locals!" A bit strong perhaps but Otome was always one to make a splashy entrance. It only seemed Arashi and Uta remained the calmer ones of the family.

by **Cartoonia** » Sat Oct 01, 2022 12:46 pm

“Ah, I see. With that said, I guess we are both make good speed. But 40 knots during trials! That is amazing. I reach those same levels too nowadays thanks to some modern modifications, but back in the 80s, when I was on trial, I could only reach 32 knots” Rosemary responded, reminiscing on the early days where she was the first of her kind. The first village class guided-missile cruiser to be launched by the Cartoon Navy. Her sisters were all over the world, guarding the territories that Cartoonia has claimed in the past several years. “So. Ms. Searc, I heard that there will be a gunnery competition going on later. Might I ask if you will be participating?”

“Ah, maritime technology has thoroughly evolved since my youth. I remember my trials, when I was a liner for the Phibetan Royal Line. I was originally the Empress of Xofrautan before being transferred over to a company in the Phibetan Dominion of The Cartune Isles, what we call Cartoonia back then. My fastest was about 19 knots, of course, you would never have known that by looking at lil’ old me. Now I go 25 knots thanks to several refittings over time. Still ship-shape as ever. I guess speed wasn’t necessarily a requirement in my time. Speed to get to the destination of course. But, it’s more about the luxuries that I offered that got people talkin’”. Fascination chuckled to herself as she remembers her prime, sailing through the long trek between Phibeta to The Cartune Isles. Neither wind nor rain stopped her.

“Would you like to hear more? And perhaps you could tell some of your stories” Fascination asked.

“I’m sure you have plenty to tell. You must have had a distinguished career” Rosemary added.

by **Novaya Equestria** » Sat Oct 01, 2022 6:30 pm

The Selkie wrote:Caja.
Caja was a bit of a nickname. Officially, I was Cartreffa Island. As in the Installation Type of this Naval Yard, by the Treaty of Mount Vellenge of 1948 actually neutral – and by the same treaty, I could call upon the assembled naval might of Kyrenaia, the Free Lands, Teressien and Lutetii if I was in danger.
Pretty neat for a former pirate base, eh?
That being said, I was at the bar, coordinating the cooking and drink-pouring that the bar crew engaged in, there was the Carrier Meetup, there were a few people getting something to drink, Halib was making ice cream, all was fine.
I was talking about something with Hammacker, when she noticed the two, made me aware of them, so, with the Teressian Large Cruiser backing me up, I turned and smiled.
“Morning, you two.”, I said and... if I were to be honest, their sense of clothing needed a lot of work. The boy looked like his Mommy dressed him and the girl looked like she was lifting her skirt for a living. Then again, that might be the old pirate base in me talking. Anyway... “Can I help you two with something?”
Usually, when people approached me directly, they had something on their minds.

"Yes, yes we do," Atlas replied in the Phineas way possible. "We're here to ask you for help in finding a place to settle at," Koikaze explained to Caja, "but we do not know where to find it." Atlas then said, "We'd appreciate it if you can lead us to a cabin we will be sharing at. And by 'we', I meant Koikaze and I."

The two have their bags with them, and they really, REALLY NEED to find a place to settle down, of course. Also, the two had changed to their civvie attires, which is a nice thing considering the couple were in a vacation. "A place, or a cabin, where we can rest and where we can view through a window the beaches," he said, "and a bed for two."

by **The Selkie** » Sun Oct 02, 2022 2:17 am

SDFS Lodan Lir.
After the ceremony was over, I had changed into a blue one-piece with white highlights and a navel-cutout, joined Ladra (who wore a white bikini) and now, the two of us had made ourselves comfortable in our natural element.
In other words, while Ladra was floating on an inflatable raft, I swam a bit.
And, of course, dove.
Cartreffa Island was an old pirate base, Caja herself an old pirate, so chances where, that the bay we were in had some interesting things at its bottom. Besides, it was fun.
There were small and big fish in the bay, the odd jellyfish, and, of course, corals. Docking places were assigned not only by space, but also with care for exactly these inhabitants and their environment, which shone in all colours of the rainbow and then some.
Of course I knew, what lived in the oceans, but seeing them in a book was one thing – seeing them here, in the wild, was a completely different thing.
And then, I felt something touching my feet, tickling.
I pulled my leg close, turned on the spot, ready to actively blast my sonar and an ASROC loaded in the shafts.
The perpetrator had vanished by the time I had turned. This was not a fish.
A tickle on my back.
I whirled around, caught a glimpse of blonde hair, but resisted the urge to show the culprit some frigate power!
And then... I felt the evil-doer reach for my stern.
My hand was quick enough, catching the hand before it could touch and then swam toward the surface. I pulled out...
“I should have known it was you, Trosc, you incorrigible lewdmarine...”, I told the Submarine Kanmusu with a sigh. Ladra looked over from her mattress, raised her head as she laid on her stomach. A quick glance revealed, that she better not raise the rest of her upper body – tan lines were not a nice souvenir. I smiled. “...but I caught you!”
“That you did.”, the Siorc-class Girl conceded, then petted me on the shoulder, “Good job, LL.”
I smiled.
“Though...”, Ladra spoke from her mattress, “...wouldn't I be an easier target?”
Trosc nodded. “You would.”, she confirmed, “But for one thing, we wanted to give you the choice of whether or not you wanted to give the boys a little show, for the other, we are doing this for the challenge.”
“Oh, thank you.”, Ladra said with a small nod, then paused, “Wait, we?”
Trosc nodded. “Yes. We.”
And that was, when someone grabbed me by the ankle and pulled me down.
I did not know, that Ladra stopped Trosc with a smile. “Is Ochtapas with you?”, she asked.
“Who knows, who knows...”, Trosc replied with a grin and with a small plop, she was gone.
Ladra chuckled and went back to tanning.

SDFS Cailín.
“I'll look forward to it then.”, Maighdean said with that mature, serene grace she had, and began to put away the harp, “Now, with all of us here, how about we begin our little trek?”
There was a cheer from all the corvettes.
I smiled in anticipation, took Uta's hand.
“We will make a small hike up to the Temple of Lodan Lir and Aranrot.”, Maighdean explained, then raised a finger, “But we won't take the straight path up Mountain Hill, but one of the hiking paths – without the navigation radars, GPS and other such systems. I can detect you accessing them, so don't even try.”
She smiled.
“Questions?”

SDFS F-4 Roc.
It was morning and while I was not exactly a young Shipboy, I did fancy myself as good-looking.
And the girl, a Kanmusu like me, certainly had enthusiasm.
I was tall, muscular and usually called stern, but when I was only dressed in a pair of long swimming trunks on such a beautiful morning, I could not help but enjoy myself as well. Smiling, the eyes softer, I regarded the violet eyed young woman with fondness. She reminded me a lot of the young Siorc-class Submarines, some of which were present today.
“So, from the UIS you are...?”, I said and smiled, offering her a thick arm to link, “...I am from the Free Lands. SDFS F-4 Roc, an old F-1-class Submarine, long retired, but I hope, that I can help you with the mingling.” A splashy entry she certainly had made, but that was fine by me. I winked at her. “If a pretty young lady such as yourself wants to be seen with an old Sea Bird like me, that is.”

SDFS Searc.
19 knots... my cruise speed was 15 knots, so Fascination was, as it was expected, a lot slower then me – then again, she didn't need to be fast.
“I did hear of the luxuries some ocean liners offered and I did have the pleasure of the famed Captain's Dinner several times after escorting missions.”, I told her with a smile, “One of the ocean ladies of way back when, Screamh the Elder, told me, that the advantage of ocean liners like her an you was and is, that one can schedule them, as opposed to the sail vessels, who could take three weeks for a route or three months.”
I smiled at that, knowing quite a few sailing vessels, but then turned to Rosemary.
“And indeed, Caja has planned a gunnery competition, several, actually, in different weight classes – it'd be unfair for girls with Long Eight Pounders to compete with one of the Scoths and their Twin-76s or the likes of us.”, I told her, “However, she has made it a bit more interesting by banning all targetting radars and targetting drones.”
Another Kanmusu, singing lowly to herself, passed us. I smiled at her, a mature-looking woman, but not as mature as Fascination was, then bowed my head in respect – I was the younger looking one, after all. I did not know it (yet), but her name was Arashi.
Turning back to Rosemary, I added, “That'll be the way she allows old warships like me to compete with young whippersnappers like you and Bruineall... though she has said, that she won't compete, but has taken a Champion.”

Caja.
I sighed.
“Kids these days...”, I said with a glance at Hammacker, who was standing next to me. She chuckled. I turned back to boy and the Fishy Wind (in Okunaratsuran, koi was fish and kaze wind – I'll pat myself on the back for that one later). “You might want to start with a greeting, like 'hello', 'hi' or 'good morning' and then introduce yourself because I have no fucking clue as to who you are.”
And usually, when people did not introduce themselves to an Installation Type like me, they lacked either intelligence or manners – I hoped, that it was the latter.
“And after that you can tell me, what you want.”, I added, then shooed them back a few steps, “Now, let's try that again!”

by **AHSCA** » Sun Oct 02, 2022 11:25 am

SS Uta

A hike huh? Sounded fun! Pretty simple they follow the trail and Cailín taking her hand would make sure she didn't get lost. And they'd do it by their own merits rather than GPS and radar? Kids stuff but Uta kept up her smile and nodded "I hear you loud and clear, no nav, understood." If she could climb the waves she could climb a mountain path no problem. She may be small but no less in spirit and she was up for the task.

SS Otome

Otome's gambit had paid off, someone at least took notice of her, and what a looker he was! A bit on the older side but oh well, not bad either. "Indeed I am" she said with pride and confidence. "I had suspected you were a local. Granted I only just met you but I have an eye for these things. So why not, won't you give a visiting ship a little way to break some ice? Granted I'm not an ice breaker...Well you know what I mean."

by **Novaya Equestria** » Sun Oct 02, 2022 6:33 pm

The Selkie wrote:Caja.
I sighed.
“Kids these days...”, I said with a glance at Hammacker, who was standing next to me. She chuckled. I turned back to boy and the Fishy Wind (in Okunaratsuran, koi was fish and kaze wind – I'll pat myself on the back for that one later). “You might want to start with a greeting, like 'hello', 'hi' or 'good morning' and then introduce yourself because I have no fucking clue as to who you are.”
And usually, when people did not introduce themselves to an Installation Type like me, they lacked either intelligence or manners – I hoped, that it was the latter.
“And after that you can tell me, what you want.”, I added, then shooed them back a few steps, “Now, let's try that again!”

The two were surprised by what she had said, so surprised that they didn't hear the last two sentences Caja said. "Is this...how people say to foreigners who just wanted directions or guidance on where to go to some place?" Koikaze asked Atlas, who shrugs. "I don't know, Koikaze," he replied, "but I feel like this lady wants formal introductions first before directing us to a cabin we can stay in, even though. Let's...just leave her alone, and then we'll have to continue finding a place to put our stuffs in."

Uh oh, looks like Caja really gave them a very bad impression of how locals would treat foreigners who asked for directions. "Yeah, we're definitely off looking for a cabin ourselves, even if it's a waste of time..." Atlas said to Koikaze. He turns to Caja and said, "Ma'am, we've been told to find you by a ship, so we went to find you, hoping that you'll guide us to one of the available cabins. And considering what happened between us, well... I'm not sure if we can ask you for directions, so...we'll just leave you be." And so the two went to find a cabin to stay in, which is going to take a long time.

"Atlas, in case we did find an available cabin but is locked, what are we supposed to do?" Caja might hear Koikaze ask Atlas, who replied, "Then we'll have to dig ourselves a foxhole to sleep on, considering that she wants us." Either that, or the two ships had been so focused on finding a cabin they likely forgot the fact Caja has the keys.

by **Aaaaaa** » Tue Oct 04, 2022 1:53 am

"R-right." she smiled at the much older vessel, if a bit insincerely. The implication that the other's "sand harbour forts" were so complicated that they could not even be classified as sand castles puzzled her to no end. Weren't the rest of these shipgirls supposed to be merciless killing machines? That's what she was told back home. That's what she was supposed to be. Why was this one spending her time creating dainty little sand castles? .. Or harbour forts, or whatever they're called. A few different thoughts quickly ran through her head, none of them good. Was this island where all the defected kanmusu go, having been unceremoniously dumped here by their creators? Were the others just like her, weaponless and neutered? But if that was the case, why would Aubise be so adamant that she'd stay in Aaaaaa? Before she could think on it, Marcharnnau piped up again, inquiring about her shirt.

Oh, right, her shirt...

"Well, I would change, but I seem to be a bit.. unprepared. I don't have a swimsuit, if that's what you're asking."

It's not like it was her fault, though. She asked the team if she could purchase one for the trip and was denied, being told she had to stay close to the lab to avoid "mass panic within the city". She wasn't going to suddenly start manifesting sonar technology out of nowhere inside Moelle, she argued, but they still said no. It was infuriating, being considered some terrifying machine of annihilation whilst simultaneously being chastised for NOT being a terrifying machine of annihilation.

by **The Selkie** » Tue Oct 04, 2022 6:26 am

SDFS Cailín.
Maighdean smiled, as affirmations similar to Uta's came out of our mouths.
Her eyes then fell on me.
“And no reconnaissance drones.”, she made it clear for me. I nodded with enthusiasm. It was almost infectious. “Wonderful. Then, kids, follow me.”
And off we went – Maighdean went ahead, Maor made up the rear guard, and Rásái and Miuil were on our flanks, making sure, that no one got lost as we assembled our convoy. It was a bit weird as usually, the support, civilian and auxilliary ships would be right in the middle, but the rate of these to military vessels was a bit high.
And then, we went off, towards the bright and vibrant jungle.
“Is there jungle where you're from, Uta?”, I asked her.

SDFS F-4 Roc.
I chuckled. Otome should be careful to not stumble over her own tongue, but it made her quite cute, if one asked me.
“I do know several icebreakers, actually.”, I said with a smile, “If you expect cold and hard people, I made the experience, that you'll rarely find any Kanmusu more hospitable and more friendly then them, if you meet them with the same friendliness... not to mention, warmth.” I smiled at an old memory from days long past. “So, how do we best break the metaphorical ice...”
I looked at her.
She did not strike me as a carrier, so despite me being invited to the Carrier Meetup (the F-1-class were submarine aircraft carriers, after all), she might feel singled out. But... she struck me as civilian anyway.
Hm...
“...how about by having ice?”, I asked.

FFS Hammacker.
Caja's rose a bit as the two went off.
“How long do you give them before they realize, that you have the keys to all the cabins?”, I said and shook my head, “But apparently, a bit of politeness is too much asked for these days.”
“Apparently.”, Caja agreed, “At least wherever these duds come from.”
“Do you even have something free?”, I asked with a raised eyebrow.
Caja nodded. “With how many squadrons and sibling ships decided to bunk together, easily. And our more further away guests aren't problems either, especially after some of the civvies decided to bunk on their hulls.”, she explained, then winked, “And then, there are of course the couples...”
I snorted in amusement.
“But, as they might soon realize, I am not a hotel reception, where you can just walk up to and make your demands.”, she added and shook her head again, then turned, “In any case, you doing another supply tour?”
I nodded. “We might need some additional firewood.”
“Then don't let me stop you!”, Caja replied with a smile, gave me a hug and waved me off as I drove off in my amphibious truck, walking pace of course.
I pulled up next to the two and kept pace as the ramp leading up to the road was right ahead.

Aaaaaa wrote:"R-right." she smiled at the much older vessel, if a bit insincerely. The implication that the other's "sand harbour forts" were so complicated that they could not even be classified as sand castles puzzled her to no end. Weren't the rest of these shipgirls supposed to be merciless killing machines? That's what she was told back home. That's what she was supposed to be. Why was this one spending her time creating dainty little sand castles? .. Or harbour forts, or whatever they're called. A few different thoughts quickly ran through her head, none of them good. Was this island where all the defected kanmusu go, having been unceremoniously dumped here by their creators? Were the others just like her, weaponless and neutered? But if that was the case, why would Aunaseb be so adamant that she'd stay in Aaaaaa? Before she could think on it, Marcharnnau piped up again, inquiring about her shirt.

Oh, right, her shirt...

"Do you realize how much of a fucking joke we're gonna look like!?"

An sat in an otherwise empty lobby, one that hadn't had any proper usage in decades. The paint was beginning to warp and peel off the walls, while the chairs, some tipped over, some not, lay caked in dust. The lobby was an old section of the labratory, on the surface layer of the structure. Her head buried in her hands, she listened for a couple minutes (though it seemed like hours) as Aunaseb argued incessantly with Andro just outside the door.

"She'll be leaving in ten minutes, we don't have time! It'll be fine, stop fucking complaining about her every goddamn second!"

"This- I don't- I feel like I am in fucking LOONEY-LAND! How am I the only one taking this seriously!? She can't fucking wear that!"

"Aub, control yourself! They probably won't even know what it says!"

"But what if they do!?"

"They won't!"

"But what if they ask!?"

"They probably won't!"

"But what if they do!?"

This continued on for seemingly enternity. An's eyes slowly peered down towards her breast. She wore a plain unremarkable t-shirt, though perhaps a little too large for her. It was an Aaaaaan shirt, clearly. On its front read:

HARMATIAM'PROHB'A'
PLENARY'BONK'Y

She didn't even think about the possible consequences of wearing this one today; it's not like she had much of a selection to begin with. It was a popular Aaaaaan saying - a bit crude, but Aaaaaans and crudeness went together like Aunaseb and cigars. It never occurred to her, until now, that it could cause an international dispute.

"Well, I would change, but I seem to be a bit.. unprepared. I don't have a swimsuit, if that's what you're asking."

It's not like it was her fault, though. She asked the team if she could purchase one for the trip and was denied, being told she had to stay close to the lab to avoid "mass panic within the city". She wasn't going to suddenly start manifesting sonar technology out of nowhere inside Moelle, she argued, but they still said no. It was infuriating, being considered some terrifying machine of annihilation whilst simultaneously being chastised for NOT being a terrifying machine of annihilation.

Note: Quote modified by removal of spoiler-tags.

Marcharnnau.
As mentioned, I had no idea, what HARMATIAM'PROHB'A' PLENARY'BONK'Y meant, but I supposed, that it was a joke, something like You're jealous the low voices only talk to me, aren't you?, but in any case...
...it fit her only loosely. And to be honest, it looked a bit ratty.
A day at the Scáinte Clothes Emporium in Wembury would do her good, not only in regards to her swimsuit situation, but one thing after the other.
She also seemed a bit confused. Maybe it was the notion of building a sand castle with a harbour that threw her off? Or she had expected something else when she came here? Maybe a fully built up Naval Yard filled with killing machines plinking at buoys with eighteen inch guns?
Only way to know for sure was to ask.
But before I wanted to do that, we had another problem.
“Not exactly what I meant...”, I admitted, though it was close enough, “...but if that is the case... hm...” I looked her up and down. I did not have the high end measuring equipment many of my peers had, no sonar, no radar, no measuring tape, but I did have good eyes and those told me (please don't take offence, An), that she was flat as a plank. “Ganembearn's would be... hm...” I placed myself before her, stood up straight and measured her height to mine, by the thumb and came to the conclusion: “If you want, I can borrow you a shirt, which can get dirty?”
We all had our quirks and while some were very keen on keeping their clothes clean, they also usually had a reserve shirt or two with them, especially on days like these.
I then added: “And before you depart these waters, I insist on taking you shopping in Wembury!”

by **Novaya Equestria** » Tue Oct 04, 2022 11:07 am

The Selkie wrote:FFS Hammacker.
Caja's rose a bit as the two went off.
“How long do you give them before they realize, that you have the keys to all the cabins?”, I said and shook my head, “But apparently, a bit of politeness is too much asked for these days.”
“Apparently.”, Caja agreed, “At least wherever these duds come from.”
“Do you even have something free?”, I asked with a raised eyebrow.
Caja nodded. “With how many squadrons and sibling ships decided to bunk together, easily. And our more further away guests aren't problems either, especially after some of the civvies decided to bunk on their hulls.”, she explained, then winked, “And then, there are of course the couples...”
I snorted in amusement.
“But, as they might soon realize, I am not a hotel reception, where you can just walk up to and make your demands.”, she added and shook her head again, then turned, “In any case, you doing another supply tour?”
I nodded. “We might need some additional firewood.”
“Then don't let me stop you!”, Caja replied with a smile, gave me a hug and waved me off as I drove off in my amphibious truck, walking pace of course.
I pulled up next to the two and kept pace as the ramp leading up to the road was right ahead.

The two ships kept searching for any cabin they thought they would need to stay in, but when they finally managed to find a cabin they will have found it was apparently locked. "Welp, that means we're going for a foxhole today," said Atlas to Koikaze. And so, the two went to find themselves a spot where it is safe and far but not a bit too far from the naval base. Once they found a spot that would likely give everyone at the naval base the greatest and widest of wide berths, the two would start digging a foxhole together that is fit enough for the two and their bags.

"Atlas-san, don't we have a tent with us?" Koikaze asked her boyfriend. "Hmm..." he reached towards his bag and begins searching for it. The bag in question may be big for him to fit two clothes if he wants to, but to add a tent in there is something he might want to find out. Turns out, he had a sleeping bag with him, and there was a note that says:

IN CASE YOU NEED IT

- SFS Alexander

Atlas turned to Koikaze and said, "Do you have a sleeping bag, Koikaze?" She reached into her bag and - well, well, well - she has her own sleeping bag! And it comes with a note from SFS Alexander, the name of a Saiyanese destroyer who was part of a certain element of Saiyanese society known for their outright overt patriotism as well as for having their brand of American Civil Religion called the Saiyanese Civil Religion. The two look at each other with annoyed looks before shrugging and putting their sleeping bags back into their bags.

"Well, what now?" asked Atlas. "Should we get something ourselves to eat?" Koikaze suggested. He shrugs and the two went to get themselves their breakfast. It took several minutes for the two to find the equivalent of the cafeteria, and Atlas says to whoever's manning the cafeteria, "Excuse me, but what's for today's snacks?"

by **Polish Prussian Commonwealth** » Wed Oct 05, 2022 10:07 am

ORP Visby
"Lemonade, if you will, please!." Visby called, with a smile. She turned back to Bruinneall as he departed. "You should've let me know there'd be kids here." she groused, her smile momentarily fading. "I would not dress like --" She motioned to her current attire -- "this if I knew. I'll prolly change into a shirt later..."

Her smile and cheer soon returned, however. "Still, he's a good lad and I suspect he'll grow up well. And it has been quite awhile. How have you been, lately? Do anything special? Get anything special?" A mischevious glint came into her eye. "Maybe even find someone special, hm?"

ORP Rota | USS/MV Severn
"A pleasure." Rota replied, coldly. Her eyes bored through Rhiannon, though her face twitched -- almost imperceptibly -- at the wink. "You have a very interesting name."
"After the deity, I believe?" Severn piped up, giving a warm -- but awkward -- smile. "I'm named after a river, Rota here after a poem."
"The Oath." Rota nodded, still with the same frigid stare fixed upon Rhiannon.

by **Mervay** » Fri Oct 07, 2022 1:48 pm

The Selkie wrote:SDFAS Cairredas.
Eris and Enyo were familiar faces, at least to me and my two sisters.
Hope-class Hospital Vessels, the three of us were – Dochassa, the little lass, who was playing with Nocht and some other of the younger-looking shipgirls, was absent, but I was here and Ferthainn was here.
Both of us swapped the (skimpy, the SDF-Navy is the SDF-Navy, after all) nurse uniforms for swimsuits.
I was blonde, had brown eyes and widely extending pointy ears, which were so characteristic for Kanmusu of the SDF-Navy. My hair was short and practical, framing a cheeky, cheerful face, though, admittedly, despite my cheerfulness, I could get a bit harsh at times, especially with patients looking a bit too low for my liking.
Not that there was nothing to look, or to not like, but if a nurse tells you something important and you are more occupied with watching down her nurse blouse... yeah, exasperation was a nice term, even if a bit too little.
Still, I did nothing to hide me being a nurse, with me wearing a white bikini, a big red diamond on the left breast and a small backpack with a red diamond on my back.
Ferthainn was less of a nurse and more of a doctor, as evidenced by her wearing her labcoat even on the beach. The red-eyed brunette was not only pointy-eared, but also had horse ears standing high and proud on her head. Her black bikini was not marked like mine was, but the fact of the matter was, upon her commissioning next year, she'd join the Fleet Logistics Squadron in Dumhach.
She waved at the two Mervayans, vessels built in Silverport at SDY, like we were.
I smiled at her and her enthusiasm, but also at our friends.
“Eris! Enyo!”, I called out, then switched to Selkie: “Come over! The water is warm, the sun is shining and the sights are worth a look as well!”
Ferthainn looked at me with a confused grin, before it dawned upon her, that I did not mean the landscape...

RKN Qallu.
Koch.
Andersen-class Aircraft Carrier, a modern one, a bit younger then the Hukms, the workhorses of the RKN's carrier forces. And thus, she was eligible for the Carrier Meetup, to which I was invited as well.
She was also a figure inspiring loyalty and respect, much like Mirfae, Eanqa and her sisters. However, unlike the two, who had a religious serenity to them, Koch had more of a stern serenity to her.
For a corvette built to carry helicopters, for ASW and assaults and whatever other reason one could have a corvette having carry helicopters, she was a flagship – and so were Mirfa and Eanqa and the other carriers of the RKN and the dozen Sharafs. Much like the difference between Mirfa, Eanqa and Koch, they all had different personalities, too.
Escort Group 4, to which I belonged and which was homported in Meninx, was usually not graced by the large and important units of the RKN.
Still, as I approached her and her escort, the destroyer Rosalina, I smiled.
Silver hair, silver eyes and dark skin gave me a distinctive enough appearance as it was, but the two large, high and black horns, which reached for the sky certainly helped with etching me into the memory of anyone seeing me. Usually, at least.
As a fighting warship, and correspondingly muscular, I could still wear a black bikini, a light jacket opened over it, showing off a well-toned body.
I cleared my throat an appropriate distance away.
“Miss Koch, Miss Rosalina?”, I asked politely, “I am RKN Qallu, Navy of Her Majesty the Sultana of Kyrenaia. I was sent to invite you, Miss Koch, and a plus one...” I smiled at Rosalina for a moment (it was a very toothy smile, with quite interesting-looking teeth), then turned back to Koch. “...to a small meetup of Carriers at the bar, organized by three of my own Navy's Drone Carriers. While you are, of course, free to decline the invitation, we would greatly appreciate your presence.”
I bowed my head lightly.
“Of course, all drinks are on them.”, I added.

MRNS Eris, MRNS Enyo
If one could define the relationship between Eris and Enyo, it would be one of sistership and friendship.
Their time together bonding in SDY in Silverport meant they would be close to the other, so; imagine their surprise when they found they would be together in the same fleet and base. The Admiralty believed it to be wise that both ships would form the CONG 5 of the 5th Fleet, with it's homebase around Boncaix in Thales Island alongside Task Force G, which was quite the experience for the two of them, they quickly became part of the base group alongside their future partners of CONG 5, the base quickly becoming their new and permanent home after leaving Silverport behind and settled themselves like a glove.

"C'mon Enyo! Try to keep up please!" A purple haired woman exclaimed as she dragged by the hand her friend, that was the ever mischievous and charismatic shipgirl that was MRNS Eris, dragging an red and ponytailed woman that looked at her with an mix of fondness and exasperation combined, a bag on a shoulder of hers for what they would need, that being the calm head of the two, MRNS Enyo.

"Just calm down Eris, it's been a couple of months since we saw them." She sighed as her friend kept dragging her onto wherever they were going. Eris was dressed with a purple swimsuit while Enyo was with a white, both bought for the occasion.

An small mercy of the fact they would be having a rest before returning to continue with more of their sea trials was soon overshadowed by ensuring Eris did not set her eyes on one of her usual shenanigans, yet, looking at the purple haired command ship, it wouldn't seem she would cause chaos... For now. Which meant that the arsenal ship stopped and made the command ship to do so as well, looking at her friend sternly.

"Remember, let's try to have fun and catch up." The redhead told to her partner before giving the violet haired ship an wry smile. "Besides, you'll have enough time for that later on."

It didn't go unnoticed how did the command ship's eyes glowed mischievously as a chill went down Enyo's spine, thinking how she gave free room to the devil to cause chaos as they pleased. Eris just chuckled with a half lidded and mischievous glance in her visage as they kept on walking; soon beaming up as she heard Cairredas calling them out, with Ferthainn besides her, the two Mervayan ships rushing to follow the two hospital ships.

"Coming girls! We have a lot of catching up to do as well!"

MRNS Commander Koch, MRNS Rosalina
Unfortnately for Rosalina, she did not make it far before being intercepted by someone alongside Koch, which was also on her way to go to the bar.
Dark Skinned and silver eyed and haired, horns which seemed to be usual if there's a distinct characteristic to the ships of the different navies; she was dressed in a black bikini and light jacket, showing her toned body along the way. The woman presented herself as RKN Qallu, Helicopter Corvette of the Kyrenaian Royal Navy; she came to invite Koch to an carrier meetup and a plus one should she desire, the toothy smile that gave to the destroyer made her chuckle and grin back before she focused her eyes on the impassive and serene carrier, her swimsuit gave that air of elegance and attractiveness the carrier desired, the scarred destroyer meanwhile had one that she bought for the occasion and displayed her scars, loving it. Koch gave the corvette an polite smile as her arms linked around her toned stomach.

"It will be a pleasure for me to join you and your peers in the bar, Miss Qallu." Koch answered, her eyes turning with the same calmness and cool that she displayed in combat to Rosalina. "Rosalina, would you like to be my plus one for the event?" An slight smile in her face was present while the destroyer just smiled back and laid a hand in her partner's shoulder.

"You bet it!" She grinned back before glancing at the glare sent her way by the supercarrier, taking out her hand off her shoulders while raising her hand in apology. "Jeez. Alright, alright, sorry for that." The destroyer scoffed.

"Apology accepted." Koch answered curtly, before glancing back at Qallu. "Please lead the way miss."

by **Aaaaaa** » Sat Oct 08, 2022 4:16 am

An, perhaps subconsciously, stood up straight in the same manner as Marcharnnau when the latter looked her over. It reminded her of when the lab team studied her head-to-toe immediately after "spawning", so to speak (granted, that was when there were multiple soldiers pointing rifles at her the whole time, so perhaps the memory is a little ingrained in her head). She was taller than Marcharnnau, if only by a couple inches. Being so close to this bizarre entity, a woman shorter than any adult she's seen in Aaaaaa, a hair colour she's never seen in Aaaaaa (was it dyed?), and with a pair only comparable to some men in Aaaaaa, An thought in that moment just how closed off from the world she's really been.

Marcharnnau's question about her shirt snapped her out of her thoughts.. but it quickly brought another into her mind.

"Wait a minute, I have another shirt! I'm sorry, I completely forgot." She quickly opened up her duffle bag and looked inside. Surely Aubise and whatever other faceless idiot in charge of packing for her brought another shirt? Perhaps she should have dug through here sooner..

Jeans, some socks, a pair of undergarments, a winter jacket. They gave her a winter jacket. She was going to the beach, and they gave her a winter jacket.

"They really don't care about me... Ah! I mean, forgive me. I seemed to have forgotten to bring another." She gave an awkward laugh, though the mention of Wembury quickly caught her attention. She wasn't expecting to hear such an Aaaaaan fixture was in the Free Lands, but she was happy to find some familiarity nonetheless.

by **AHSCA** » Sat Oct 08, 2022 11:31 am

SS Uta

Uta had a bit of time to admire the lush jungle scenery along their hike and thankfully a few good ships to prevent her from getting lost if her eyes got too off the trail.

“Is there jungle where you're from, Uta?”, I asked her.

Uta smiled "Oh boy is there ever jungle where I'm from. The UIS is tropical and made of very lush tropical-rain-forests, not terribly different from this one by the looks of it. Of course that comes with the ample rains we get. It's pretty here too, I'm having a great time!" Cailín was so nice and honestly very cute, Uta felt an instant connection, they could be good friends in their short time here.

SS Otome

"Ah is that so?" Glad her bout of awkwardness was able to be turned into something a wee bit positive for her at least. "Ice? Like shaved ice? That'd be delightful if that's the case."

by **Seleucid Pergamon** » Sat Oct 08, 2022 9:40 pm

PNP Persephone and PNP Chaldea

Persephone smiled and nodded, chuckling softly. There have been moments where she was late than usual, most particularly when she showed up at the last minute before the start of a naval exercise, because of an extra hour of sleep. Needless to say, her superior was not too pleased about her arrival before forgiving her.

"It's a pleasure when you can arrive in your own time as a commanding ship. But, even I am not exempt from tardiness," Persephone replied, "I almost missed a naval exercise due to oversleeping, one time. And I thought my friend to be Clytemnestra waking the Furies from their slumber"

Persephone turned to Chaldea.

"I have to admit. She has a better record than me."

A familiar face came into the picture, and he had brown wavy hair and red shorts. Persephone caught him with her peripheral vision and smiled, and Chaldea spotted her as soon as he greeted them.

"Finally, you're here. I was wondering if you haven't kept that smile on your face, " Chaldea greeted before Persephone introduced him.

PNP Mazaca

Mazaca preserved the nonchalant smile on his face as he sauntered towards the bar. Even though he was late, he felt satisfied enough that he found the place. He held a record of being late before, something that irked his two female companions. Despite this, he always let it go through him, and payed this debt off with his intelligence.

"Hey, you two," he greeted, "My apologies for being late. I forgot to update the software of the helicopters."

He eyed the Selkie shipgirl.

"And who is the new friend, if I may ask?"

by **The Selkie** » Sun Oct 09, 2022 6:33 am

WPS Bogaigh.
It was no secret, that Abhcan and I were sometimes an item, sometimes not.
Right now, we were.
A clear evidence for that was, that she laid next to me on her own deck chair, wearing her thong-bikini and reading a book in the shade of a beach umbrella. She looked peaceful, relaxed, calm and still had that vulpine note of mischief in her green eyes as they perused the pages in front of her.
She looked beautiful.
Her green eyes fell on me.
“Something the matter?”, she asked me.
There were so many things, which I wanted to say, some for the ears of the corvettes, some not, many only for her ears – her tail swished back and forth. I had petted it quite often, brushed it or her hair in intimate moments...
I smiled and closed my own book.
“Wanna grab a snack?”, I asked.
She smiled mischievously, putting her bookmark into her novel before she rose. “Admit it, you just want to parade around your beautiful girlfriend!”, she accused me playfully, linking arms.
“Who could blame me?”, I asked back before leaning down to kiss her on the cheek. “You're the most beautiful woman on this beach.”
“Oh, you silver-tongued charmer!”
“It is true!”, I defended myself with a smile as we got moving towards the bar, “To my eyes, you are.”
Abhcan snuggled into my arm. “To your eyes... but there are many eyes on this beach. Who's eyes should I care about most?”
I thought for a moment. “Your own. Then mine and your sister's. Then your friends and the rest can bugger off.”
I looked at her. She burst out laughing. I smiled, too.
“Who knows...”, she said, “Maybe I want to parade around my boyfriend?”
I smiled, as we approached the bar.

Yacht Aurelia.
Karkadann had described the two to me and the others and while her request, or rather order, to treat them with dismissive disdain, I was still a yacht – and I had connections. Not only was I a shipgirl of a vessel of Kyrenaian Royalty, not only was I named after Princess Aurelia bint-Damir, the Sultana's Granddaughter, I was also Shipgirl of a vessel under the ownership of Prince Damir, the youngest child of the Sultana.
And I was his favourite yacht.
So, I had connections. The old carrier did not.
Plus, I was a civilian and I had my professional pride.
Besides, I had hosted meetings between my Prince (and the Princess I was named after) and various questionable people in the past, including, but not limited to, Generalfeldmarschall Tjark Boddn and Wehrhart Djietmar, the Prime of the Ahuan Realm.
So, it was with that polite professionalism, and a smile matching it, that I received the two at the Bar with Grill, nodding. I had the pointy ears usually indicating a Selkie-Kanmusu (added bonus for me being built by Bád Industries in the Mainland), dark skin and, unlike my namesake, black hair and yellow eyes. Plus, the Princess had a few centimetres on me (yes), and while she was an excellent horsewoman, I was more of a dancer.
“We have a variety, Mister Atlas, of a variety of cuisines.”, I said and motioned elegantly to the selection: “We have battered sausages, Maith, Scipeáil and caramelised fruits from the Selkie, courtesy of Screamh, an RCL Ocean Liner, grilled fish and roasted bread with tropical fruits as toppings made by the fishing vessel Lachtach. Over there, we have lye pastries of Teressien, Leberkäs rolls, several other pastries and, of course, fruit of Ridderli, and here...”
I motioned in front of me, alfakihat, a marzipan confectionary shaped to look like fruits and flavoured after the fruit its supposed to look like with syrup, luqaimat, dumplings drizzled with date molasses and, breadsticks.
“...we have Kyrenaian snacks.”, I added with some pride, mainly because they were mine.
I let a beat pass.
“If you wish for something grilled, the grill is over there.”, I added, “Drinks can be served as well.”

SDFS Bruinneall.
I smiled.
Kids, or rather young-looking Kamusu, were not unusual for us, so we knew, how to raise and handle them. They knew better then to look, where they were not supposed to, to stare or to reach for things.
I understood Visby's concerns, though.
“I'll let you borrow one of mine, if you want.”, I offered, and then blushed, “I did meet someone special, though...” I giggled. “A young gentleman, pretty cute and he loves snacks.” I reached for my smart phone (do not ask), pulling up an image of me and a grey feline, him resting on my lap in a curled up ball as I petted him. “If I may introduce, my ship's cat Bacach.”

SDFS Rhiannon (a.k.a. Old Lady Rhi, don't call her that if you value your life).
My, wasn't Rota just a ray of sunshine...
Severn tried to keep the conversation going in a neutral direction, as if walking on raw eggshells.
I had two options, either continue or resume my watch.
For now, I decided for the former option.
I nodded at Severn's question and, after Rota had stated after what she was named, a poem, I replied: “Indeed, my name stems for the Goddess of Fertility and Horses, my siblings being named after other deities in the Six Pantheon. It became a tradition of the SDF to name the flagship after Her.” I smiled. “What's the Severn River like, if I may ask?”

Mervay wrote:MRNS Eris, MRNS Enyo
If one could define the relationship between Eris and Enyo, it would be one of sistership and friendship.
Their time together bonding in SDY in Silverport meant they would be close to the other, so; imagine their surprise when they found they would be together in the same fleet and base. The Admiralty believed it to be wise that both ships would form the CONG 5 of the 5th Fleet, with it's homebase around Boncaix in Thales Island alongside Task Force G, which was quite the experience for the two of them, they quickly became part of the base group alongside their future partners of CONG 5, the base quickly becoming their new and permanent home after leaving Silverport behind and settled themselves like a glove.

"C'mon Enyo! Try to keep up please!" A purple haired woman exclaimed as she dragged by the hand her friend, that was the ever mischievous and charismatic shipgirl that was MRNS Eris, dragging an red and ponytailed woman that looked at her with an mix of fondness and exasperation combined, a bag on a shoulder of hers for what they would need, that being the calm head of the two, MRNS Enyo.

"Just calm down Eris, it's been a couple of months since we saw them." She sighed as her friend kept dragging her onto wherever they were going. Eris was dressed with a purple swimsuit while Enyo was with a white, both bought for the occasion.

An small mercy of the fact they would be having a rest before returning to continue with more of their sea trials was soon overshadowed by ensuring Eris did not set her eyes on one of her usual shenanigans, yet, looking at the purple haired command ship, it wouldn't seem she would cause chaos... For now. Which meant that the arsenal ship stopped and made the command ship to do so as well, looking at her friend sternly.

"Remember, let's try to have fun and catch up." The redhead told to her partner before giving the violet haired ship an wry smile. "Besides, you'll have enough time for that later on."

It didn't go unnoticed how did the command ship's eyes glowed mischievously as a chill went down Enyo's spine, thinking how she gave free room to the devil to cause chaos as they pleased. Eris just chuckled with a half lidded and mischievous glance in her visage as they kept on walking; soon beaming up as she heard Cairredas calling them out, with Ferthainn besides her, the two Mervayan ships rushing to follow the two hospital ships.

"Coming girls! We have a lot of catching up to do as well!"

MRNS Commander Koch, MRNS Rosalina
Unfortnately for Rosalina, she did not make it far before being intercepted by someone alongside Koch, which was also on her way to go to the bar.
Dark Skinned and silver eyed and haired, horns which seemed to be usual if there's a distinct characteristic to the ships of the different navies; she was dressed in a black bikini and light jacket, showing her toned body along the way. The woman presented herself as RKN Qallu, Helicopter Corvette of the Kyrenaian Royal Navy; she came to invite Koch to an carrier meetup and a plus one should she desire, the toothy smile that gave to the destroyer made her chuckle and grin back before she focused her eyes on the impassive and serene carrier, her swimsuit gave that air of elegance and attractiveness the carrier desired, the scarred destroyer meanwhile had one that she bought for the occasion and displayed her scars, loving it. Koch gave the corvette an polite smile as her arms linked around her toned stomach.

"It will be a pleasure for me to join you and your peers in the bar, Miss Qallu." Koch answered, her eyes turning with the same calmness and cool that she displayed in combat to Rosalina. "Rosalina, would you like to be my plus one for the event?" An slight smile in her face was present while the destroyer just smiled back and laid a hand in her partner's shoulder.

"You bet it!" She grinned back before glancing at the glare sent her way by the supercarrier, taking out her hand off her shoulders while raising her hand in apology. "Jeez. Alright, alright, sorry for that." The destroyer scoffed.

"Apology accepted." Koch answered curtly, before glancing back at Qallu. "Please lead the way miss."

SDFAS Cairredas.
Eris and Enyo were just the odd couple as I remember them, Eris the more mischievous and active of the two, with Enyo being the sane man, or woman, of the two.
Their swimsuits did emphasize their beauty well.
“Coming girls! We have a lot of catching up to do as well!”
“You can say that twice!”, I replied as soon as they were close enough so that I didn't have to yell, and, once they were even closer, I went and used my mightiest attack, hugging Eris with a huge smile. “A few months it might have been, but you were sorely missed!”
Ferthainn meanwhile went for Enyo, a slightly smaller smile on her lips.
“Indeed you two were.”, she stated and then continued: “Do you want to share your stories first or...?”
“One moment!”, I cautioned my sister, then smiled at everyone as I motioned to our cooler: “First, does anyone want something to drink or an ice cream?”
My sister's hand shot up.

RKN Qallu.
I nodded.
Koch's swimsuit was an elegant piece, while the destroyer's did little to hide her battle scars. Both intended effects, I presumed.
“Please follow me.”, I stated and set myself into motion.
It was not a long distance, but the small meetup by the bar was getting into swing. Drinks were served, by Miss Leiwand no less, the well-endowed former tank landing ship turned mobile toy shop grinning as she served teas and other drinks. She continued to grin as Fazuzi, another RKN-Carrier, pulled her into his lap, the two quite obviously on very friendly terms. In another corner, SDFS F-1 Siorc, one of the submarine aircraft carriers the SDF-Navy had from the 20s, swapped stories with Naya, the large Teressian carrier laughing at something. Tacaí, a Selkie Drone Carrier, was theorizing with Ea and Karkadann.
And the plus ones were few and far between, Jalid und Lempo chatting with Maor and Nead Foiche about Footvolley of all things.
It was a party getting into swing, but first, we had to meet Kyra – the Kyrenaian Drone Carrier approached us with a huge smile.
“Koch and... Rosalina, right?”, she stated, then bowed her head with a smile, “RKN Kyra. It is a pleasure to meet you two.” She was a dark-skinned, grey-haired woman with green eyes and while she wore a swimsuit, she was decidedly not interested in swimming today, seeing that she wore ornamental vambraces and a few other choice pieces of jewelry. She had the aura of a dancer, an impression only emphasized by the pelvic curtain hanging from her bikini bottoms. “Handshake, bows, hugs or would you like drinks immediately?”

Marcharnnau.
I did not miss her mumbling, but decided against commenting on it.
I did smile at her perking up at the mentioning of Wembury, though – it was a large city and it was only logical, that one of the most important harbours of the Free Lands would have quite a bit of international renown.
But for now, we had another problem.
I waved my hand.
“No problem. I'll borrow you one.”, I said and motioned for her to follow me a few steps up the beach, where an umbrella was plucked into the ground, a pair of blankets weighed down with a few small stones and a bag laid. I went for the bag. “As said, this one can get as dirty as you want, but...”
I handed her a neatly folded, wine red t-shirt, which would fit her, maybe a bit baggy, but it'd fit.
“...here you go.”, I said and smiled, “If you want a bit of privacy to change, cabins are over there.”

SDFS Cailín.
There were a number of exclamations of people being impressed, myself included, and Maighdean smiled as she led us ahead into the jungle, through a bit of vegetation.
“That's awesome!”, I cheered, “I just have to visit the UIS one of these days!”
“Maybe for your next Cadet Cruise.”, Maor told me, “If Fleet Command picks up the idea and the Foreign Office makes the arrangements.” I looked at him with a puzzled expression. “When all goes well.”
I grinned at Uta. “See? I might be able to!”
Sure, a Maighdean-class Guided Missile Cruiser was a bit of a fleet visitor, but we did have a reputation of visiting ports in friendly nations when on training cruises. Maybe it'd work out and I wouldn't be stuck in some boring meeting with dignitaries.

SDFS F-4 Roc.
I chuckled to myself and changed heading, towards the Bar, where there was a small ice stall nearby.
“Shaved ice, ice cream, both of them.”, I told her and noticed the girl behind the stall: Ninai was a tender, for a sports team, but she was also a very nice woman, both optically and personality wise. I smiled. I knew her, she knew me, we were about the same age. She flashed me a smile. “Good morning, Ninai.”
“Good morning, Roc and...”, she began and looked at Otome, “...I'm not good with names.”
“Took her decades to differentiate between me and my sisters!”, I stage-whispered to Otome. Ninai tried whacking me over the head lightly with a smile, to which I replied to with a smile of my own. “Now, Ninai, if I may introduce? Miss Otome.”
“It's a pleasure.”, the tender said and then motioned to her display, “So, which ice would you like? Cream or shaved?”

SDFS Rhiannon (the younger one).
“SDFS Rhiannon.”, I said and bowed my head lightly, not only out of politeness. He was cute and had a nice smile and my cheeks felt as if I had a slightly rosy hue on them. “But please, friends call me Rhi.”
He had mentioned helicopter software and it just so happened, that I had a helipad and space for a medium-sized helicopter, a Cuaifeach, and there were certain plans of the Navy (none of which were secret)... well, there were worse entries into a conversation.
But first, another thing had to be taken care of.
“Please, sit with us, Mister...?”, I motioned to the last chair on our table, inviting him to sit with us, if he wanted.

by **Novaya Equestria** » Sun Oct 09, 2022 7:59 pm

The Selkie wrote:[spoiler=NE-Quote]Yacht Aurelia.
Karkadann had described the two to me and the others and while her request, or rather order, to treat them with dismissive disdain, I was still a yacht – and I had connections. Not only was I a shipgirl of a vessel of Kyrenaian Royalty, not only was I named after Princess Aurelia bint-Damir, the Sultana's Granddaughter, I was also Shipgirl of a vessel under the ownership of Prince Damir, the youngest child of the Sultana.
And I was his favourite yacht.
So, I had connections. The old carrier did not.
Plus, I was a civilian and I had my professional pride.
Besides, I had hosted meetings between my Prince (and the Princess I was named after) and various questionable people in the past, including, but not limited to, Generalfeldmarschall Tjark Boddn and Wehrhart Djietmar, the Prime of the Ahuan Realm.
So, it was with that polite professionalism, and a smile matching it, that I received the two at the Bar with Grill, nodding. I had the pointy ears usually indicating a Selkie-Kanmusu (added bonus for me being built by Bád Industries in the Mainland), dark skin and, unlike my namesake, black hair and yellow eyes. Plus, the Princess had a few centimetres on me (yes), and while she was an excellent horsewoman, I was more of a dancer.
“We have a variety, Mister Atlas, of a variety of cuisines.”, I said and motioned elegantly to the selection: “We have battered sausages, Maith, Scipeáil and caramelised fruits from the Selkie, courtesy of Screamh, an RCL Ocean Liner, grilled fish and roasted bread with tropical fruits as toppings made by the fishing vessel Lachtach. Over there, we have lye pastries of Teressien, Leberkäs rolls, several other pastries and, of course, fruit of Ridderli, and here...”
I motioned in front of me, alfakihat, a marzipan confectionary shaped to look like fruits and flavoured after the fruit its supposed to look like with syrup, luqaimat, dumplings drizzled with date molasses and, breadsticks.
“...we have Kyrenaian snacks.”, I added with some pride, mainly because they were mine.
I let a beat pass.
“If you wish for something grilled, the grill is over there.”, I added, “Drinks can be served as well.”

The Arrival

SDS Alexander and IRS Constantine the Great arrived at the beach, looking prepared in their military uniforms. They have bags with them, too. "Greet us not, reception party," said SDS Alexander to any ships who might greet the arriving two, even if it is Karkadann, before leading Constantine out to find the two.

At the Bar

"Ooh, that's a lot of food," Atlas commented to Yacht Aurelia, chuckling a bit, "I can't... I can't take which food to choose from... They're all so tasty, delicious, I....I...." Atlas' thought process began going off the rails as he tries to choose which food to choose from. In short, he's being indecisive. "Atlas, don't be so indecisive," said Koikaze to her carrier boyfriend before turning to Yacht Aurelia, "I apologize for his indecisiveness when it comes to food, he just likes eating food." Atlas can be seen drooling at the foods he's looking at.

"And if it isn't Atlas and Koikaze," came Alexander's voice, breaking Atlas' food-induced indecisiveness, as Alexander and Constantine approached the couple. "How fares the Novayan Commonwealth?" asked Alexander, a smile dominating her face which meant trouble is abrewing between the carrier and the destroyer. "Oh, Alexander! Well, the Novayan government has made plans to expand the energy industry through economic incentives and convincing companies to set up shop in Afronenda as part of the plans to help rapidly develop that continent. Oh, and also giving cheap solar space stations to desalinate water and provide electricity as well as providing rail and road construction."

"Ooh, the same plans the Saiyanese government have in mind, I see!" Alexander replied while maintaining the same smile. "Can't wait to see competition between my nation, your nation, and Nova Roma," she added. "Tone it down, Alexander, you might spark an economic competition between our nations," said Constantine to Alexander, "and even then, at least focus on the humanitarian aspects." Alexander merely shrugged, "Understood, Constantine."

It was Koikaze who'd break the tension Alexander had made, "Anyways, do any of you want to eat any foods here?" Alexander turned to her and said, "Sure, as long as there is barbecue!" Constantine was the next to say, "Is there any Roman food here?" Koikaze replied, "Not that I see them, no." Constantine shrugged, "I'll take any food, anyway." And so the four ships took each a small amount of food for them to eat:
- Atlas: Battered sausages, a few caramelized fruits, a few alfakihat
- Koikaze: A few caramelized fruits, alfakihat, Maith, Scipeail
- Alexander: Grilled fish and roasted bread
- Constantine: One pastry of each kind, one fruit of each kind

"Uh, is there beef around here?" Alexander asked sheepishly. "Yeah, Saiyanese liked meat-based foods," said Atlas to Yacht Aurelia, "miss...may I ask for your name? I don't mind introducing ourselves to you." He smiles.

by **Fuso-** » Tue Oct 11, 2022 9:27 pm

CARTREFFA ISLAND
23.Sept.2022
Naval Yard Cartreffa Island

Mitsuyama Tsubame, 20 year old looking Captain of the Imperial Fusō Navy found herself this September day standing before the temple of Lodan Lir and Aranrot in Naval Yard Cartreffa Island. A completely foreign place, on a far-away foreign island thousands of miles away from Yokosuka Naval Base where her job as tour guide to museum ship Mikasa was. She was on official vacation, the six weeks or so allocated to her every summer.
As to how she ended up all the way here, so very far away from her ordinary station, it was a... fairly long story that started at least three years ago.

REMINISCENCES
0200 Local, 24.Dec.2019
Yokosuka Naval Base
It was a cold, dry Saturnalia evening in Yokosuka Naval Base as Tsubame staggered out of a private club for female naval officers together with another similarly uniformed officer. Laughing all the way out to the street the pair of them somehow managed to hail down a taxi without falling over themselves and rode it home to base. Ten minutes later she and her partner staggered into their quarters, through the bedroom doors, and onto their bed in a complete drunken stupor. Drawing breath she looked at the person next to her... and slowly realised to dim horror that she hadn't brought home the mental model for minewarfare command ship Uraga but the mental model for fleet carrier Zuikaku. Blinking a few more times at the form already sound asleep next to her on her and her partner's bed Tsubame's face, flushed as it already was with the high-grade ethanol coursing through her veins went through all the shades of red in mere two seconds. Coughing severely at the shock she got up and went to her bathroom, filled the sink with ice-cold water... and put her face straight into the water.
What felt like an eternity later Tsubame pulled her face out of the water, rinsed it as calmly as she could and went back to her bedroom to... well at least attempt to wake her accidental guest... that and call Uraga... like... right now...
Shitshitshitshitshit went briefly through Tsubame's mind as she fumbled with her smartphone, found the speed-dial and almost crushed the call button in dazed panic. Three call tones later a familiar voice came out of the speakers.
"Tsubame-chan... you are home aren't you..." The voice of Uraka Miyuki, still as sober as ever posed that question with a smidgen of irritation. "We were supposed to take one taxi home weren't we? No matter, I'm coming home now... try to at least sober up a bit... there's Pocari in the fridge. See you in like ten minutes..."
"Mhmm..." Still blushing as hard as ever Tsubame closed the phone call and tiptoed to the fridge, found the drinks she looked for... and settled down on the sofa. Fifteen minutes later (she counted) a message appeared at about the same time as a knock came on the door. Tiptoeing to the door she opened it to find a tired-looking Miyuki standing at the door. Sighing, Miyuki simply walked past Tsubame with a simple glomp and carried on getting her outer wear off of herself.
"So... who have you accidentally invited to our home this time around dear?" The question, delivered with an airy tone floated through the air to Tsubame, who at least had the good grace to look embarrassed.
"Zuikaku... it appears..."
"Are you going to have Yamato stumbling through the door one night lol... oh... you already did that... last week in fact..."
Taking another bottle of sports drink out of the fridge Miyuki settled down on the sofa, yawned and said one thing... "Dear... you might need a long distance vacation... and this time without any sort of alcohol... and I might have the perfect place and contacts for this..."

A FESTIVAL OF STARS
23.Sept.2022
Naval Yard Cartreffa Island
And so Mitsuyama Tsubame found her here, on a possession of the Free Lands, thousands of miles away from Yokosuka, to spend time away from everything that had to do with bars and excessive consumption of alcohol. Clapping her hands together twice, she offered a quiet prayer to the local Gods and her own, before stepping back out to find something to eat. She had taken a cruise ship here from the mainland but her jet lag was still not exactly over, and she was damn hungry right now...

by **AHSCA** » Wed Oct 12, 2022 11:46 am

SS Uta

"Oh yes, you surely must come visit the UIS! If you like the rain, come in the summer, if you want to see when the waters can be tranquil calm, come in the winter, if you want to really ride the waves, well just come any time. That's what my dear ma says about ships and ship gals and guys who wish to visit our little islands of the southern Dienstad seas!" Uta's eyes sparkled, how could she not have pride in her homeland. "Though..." Her voice went a little sullen suddenly, "If you come....I want to hang out with you! What I mean is, I know I'm not fancy and high tech like you, you're really cool and everything. Us Kenzakis are lumbering, slow but steady types. Just...." What's this is little Uta getting jealous? How adorable! That's what she could hear Otome saying if she was here "There's lots of gals like you too back home. Not that I would mind you meeting them but I just hope you wouldn't ya know...Ditch me to hang with them." It was hard to say without coming across as a clingy perhaps but that's what it is to be a young steamer in a modern world.

SS Otome

"Ah of course! Both!" Otome smiled, simple and obvious, how she missed it? Oh well. She was soon introduced to the gal behind the counter was introduced as Ninai and likewise Otome was introduced to her. "Pleasure is mine." Otome greeted "Why don't we start with shaved ice first. Watermelon flavor would be great!"

by **The Selkie** » Thu Oct 13, 2022 7:54 am

SDFS Mór.
Gabhdán-class Fast Combat Replenishment Ship SDFS Mór – I sometimes went by the name of Mara when out and about as a civilian and as the designated support ship of the Calafisc-Group, I had a lot of fun, especially since we were not supposed to be combat ready until Spring 2024.
Calafisc, our lead-ship, was not yet launched, and so I had all the fun with our two corvettes, Taeblath and Máirtfiáin, who were technically on shakedown. Next Spring, they would be commissioned and would operate with me and their sisters of the 7th Corvette Squadron until Calafisc was operational and commissioned.
But that was in the future.
Until then, the two girls, who's names meant Jasmin and Oregano respectively, played on the beach with their siblings and other Kanmusu and had fun. And I was right there with them, as we were building a little fortification.
Of course, we were already homeported in Wembury with its magnificent Tréhelach Castle and while building a sandy effigy of that would be quite an undertaking for the day, our plans were much smaller.
Taeblath was digging the ditch, using a small shovel while Máirtfiáin was collecting seashells for said ditch, to fortify it against any attacker. A bit away, another girl was building a sand harbour fort of her own, but there was decidedly no competition as I raised our own walls, thicker and sturdier and with spots for towers.
They would be low towers, more battery towers then high towers, more suited for cannons then for torsion bar engines.
I was a black haired, red-eyed and horse-eared woman, wearing a white-brown bikini, my girls wore swimsuits of their own, cute ones, we had been shopping in Wembury. They had seen Abhcan trying on her own selection, including her current one and I was still sorry for the rather harsh “No.” I had given them.
That was, when a shadow fell over me.
“Excuse me, Miss...”, a voice with an accent asked, a dark-skinned girl looking not much older then my own girls. She was Kyrenaian, maybe one of the RKCG Patrol Boats that came with Ea? In any case, she continued a bit sheepishly. “...would you mind, if my sisters and Miss Halib were to set up our own castle nearby?”
I smiled. “Of course not. Who knows, we might be able to build a road, too?”
“And an caravansary by the roadside?”, the girl asked with a smile.
“Sounds like a plan.”, I said with a smile as she thanked me and departed to her sisters, who grinned before they went to work.
I returned to mine, only for another shadow to fall over me.
I looked up – this one, still Kyrenaian, looked more my age and if I had to wager, I'd say, that she was... “RKCGV Halib.”, she introduced herself, bowing her head, “I came to build a road.”
“Go ahead, Miss Halib, main gates are over there, the castle village is there and its gates are there and there.”, I told her, pointing out the different locations. “Ideal would be from one of the gates of the castle village.”
The other woman nodded. “Yes, quite right. The caravansary would then go...” The made a vague gesture to a relatively flat area. “...thereabout?”
I nodded. “Yes, that sounds good.” I looked past her to her girls. “They seem to be quite active.”
“Indeed, my girls are... much to Ea's dismay.” She winked. “He needs it sometimes.”
“Hah... doesn't that sound familiar...” I offered her a small bow. “SDFS Mór, by the way.”
Halib nodded. “It's a pleasure.” She leaned forward and, were I male, I'd comment about the pleasant view and... Rhiannon, damn it! “I got Ea to get himself flight permission for a drone later, to make a few photographs once we're finished. Or were progressing. Wanna have a few copies of them, too?”
“I'll give you my e-mail later.”, I told her with a nod, “But before that...”
“...we have work to do.”, she finished and indeed did get to work, while I returned to mine.

Novaya Equestria wrote:The Arrival

SDS Alexander and IRS Constantine the Great arrived at the beach, looking prepared in their military uniforms. They have bags with them, too. "Greet us not, reception party," said SDS Alexander to any ships who might greet the arriving two, even if it is Karkadann, before leading Constantine out to find the two.

At the Bar

"Ooh, that's a lot of food," Atlas commented to Yacht Aurelia, chuckling a bit, "I can't... I can't take which food to choose from... They're all so tasty, delicious, I....I...." Atlas' thought process began going off the rails as he tries to choose which food to choose from. In short, he's being indecisive. "Atlas, don't be so indecisive," said Koikaze to her carrier boyfriend before turning to Yacht Aurelia, "I apologize for his indecisiveness when it comes to food, he just likes eating food." Atlas can be seen drooling at the foods he's looking at.

"And if it isn't Atlas and Koikaze," came Alexander's voice, breaking Atlas' food-induced indecisiveness, as Alexander and Constantine approached the couple. "How fares the Novayan Commonwealth?" asked Alexander, a smile dominating her face which meant trouble is abrewing between the carrier and the destroyer. "Oh, Alexander! Well, the Novayan government has made plans to expand the energy industry through economic incentives and convincing companies to set up shop in Afronenda as part of the plans to help rapidly develop that continent. Oh, and also giving cheap solar space stations to desalinate water and provide electricity as well as providing rail and road construction."

"Ooh, the same plans the Saiyanese government have in mind, I see!" Alexander replied while maintaining the same smile. "Can't wait to see competition between my nation, your nation, and Nova Roma," she added. "Tone it down, Alexander, you might spark an economic competition between our nations," said Constantine to Alexander, "and even then, at least focus on the humanitarian aspects." Alexander merely shrugged, "Understood, Constantine."

It was Koikaze who'd break the tension Alexander had made, "Anyways, do any of you want to eat any foods here?" Alexander turned to her and said, "Sure, as long as there is barbecue!" Constantine was the next to say, "Is there any Roman food here?" Koikaze replied, "Not that I see them, no." Constantine shrugged, "I'll take any food, anyway." And so the four ships took each a small amount of food for them to eat:
- Atlas: Battered sausages, a few caramelized fruits, a few alfakihat
- Koikaze: A few caramelized fruits, alfakihat, Maith, Scipeail
- Alexander: Grilled fish and roasted bread
- Constantine: One pastry of each kind, one fruit of each kind

"Uh, is there beef around here?" Alexander asked sheepishly. "Yeah, Saiyanese liked meat-based foods," said Atlas to Yacht Aurelia, "miss...may I ask for your name? I don't mind introducing ourselves to you." He smiles.

Yacht Aurelia.
Fortunately or unfortunately, no one was there to greet Alexander and Constantine. Radar had detected them and they had been marked, but as they had not shown any signs of aggression, the Type 40s had stayed in their tubes.
Of all of that, I had only an inkling of a clue, mainly because I was a civilian vessel.
Formally.
I had more contact with the RKCG then with the RKN. When I was in touch with the former, everything was alright or a propaganda show was up. If I was in touch with the latter, something had gone wrong or Crown Prince Ilia was invited for dinner (which happened rarely enough with uniforms).
In any case, the two new arrivals broke Atlas out of his indecisive mood (seriously, that kid was supposed to be an aircraft carrier?!), the lass apologized for him beforehand, and then they got into a bit of a dick-waving contest. Bonus points for only one of them being male.
I resisted the urge to laugh out loud at the line about focussing on the humanitarian aspects – as if in large scale development plans anyone gave a shit about the humanitarian aspects further then it being useful to win hearts and minds and to look good while one prepared to cash in on the goodwill gathered...
...maybe I had too much to do with actual politicians.
In any case, the orders were processed quickly, the request for beef replied to with a smile and a “The grill is over there, just ask the grill master!” SDFS Dragan, an old Nocht-class Corvette with draconic horns (her namesake had little to do with dragons), looked up, I waved, she lifted her tongs and let them click before she returned to her job.
And speaking of...
“I am Aurelia, Yacht under the Ownership and Employ of His Majesty, Prince Damir ibn-Razia, built in Cuan and homeported in Motya.”, I informed him with a smile and a bow. “And I already gathered who you are and while I would love to chat...” My smile turned apologetic. “...I'm afraid, that I am bound by duty and honour to tend to this stall and you four are kind of standing in the way of the next customers...”
Bogaigh and Abhcan smiled both, the latter waving and adding: “Hi.”

Fuso- wrote:CARTREFFA ISLAND
23.Sept.2022
Naval Yard Cartreffa Island

Mitsuyama Tsubame, 20 year old looking Captain of the Imperial Fusō Navy found herself this September day standing before the temple of Lodan Lir and Aranrot in Naval Yard Cartreffa Island. A completely foreign place, on a far-away foreign island thousands of miles away from Yokosuka Naval Base where her job as tour guide to museum ship Mikasa was. She was on official vacation, the six weeks or so allocated to her every summer.
As to how she ended up all the way here, so very far away from her ordinary station, it was a... fairly long story that started at least three years ago.

REMINISCENCES
0200 Local, 24.Dec.2019
Yokosuka Naval Base
It was a cold, dry Saturnalia evening in Yokosuka Naval Base as Tsubame staggered out of a private club for female naval officers together with another similarly uniformed officer. Laughing all the way out to the street the pair of them somehow managed to hail down a taxi without falling over themselves and rode it home to base. Ten minutes later she and her partner staggered into their quarters, through the bedroom doors, and onto their bed in a complete drunken stupor. Drawing breath she looked at the person next to her... and slowly realised to dim horror that she hadn't brought home the mental model for minewarfare command ship Uraga but the mental model for fleet carrier Zuikaku. Blinking a few more times at the form already sound asleep next to her on her and her partner's bed Tsubame's face, flushed as it already was with the high-grade ethanol coursing through her veins went through all the shades of red in mere two seconds. Coughing severely at the shock she got up and went to her bathroom, filled the sink with ice-cold water... and put her face straight into the water.
What felt like an eternity later Tsubame pulled her face out of the water, rinsed it as calmly as she could and went back to her bedroom to... well at least attempt to wake her accidental guest... that and call Uraga... like... right now...
Shitshitshitshitshit went briefly through Tsubame's mind as she fumbled with her smartphone, found the speed-dial and almost crushed the call button in dazed panic. Three call tones later a familiar voice came out of the speakers.
"Tsubame-chan... you are home aren't you..." The voice of Uraka Miyuki, still as sober as ever posed that question with a smidgen of irritation. "We were supposed to take one taxi home weren't we? No matter, I'm coming home now... try to at least sober up a bit... there's Pocari in the fridge. See you in like ten minutes..."
"Mhmm..." Still blushing as hard as ever Tsubame closed the phone call and tiptoed to the fridge, found the drinks she looked for... and settled down on the sofa. Fifteen minutes later (she counted) a message appeared at about the same time as a knock came on the door. Tiptoeing to the door she opened it to find a tired-looking Miyuki standing at the door. Sighing, Miyuki simply walked past Tsubame with a simple glomp and carried on getting her outer wear off of herself.
"So... who have you accidentally invited to our home this time around dear?" The question, delivered with an airy tone floated through the air to Tsubame, who at least had the good grace to look embarrassed.
"Zuikaku... it appears..."
"Are you going to have Yamato stumbling through the door one night lol... oh... you already did that... last week in fact..."
Taking another bottle of sports drink out of the fridge Miyuki settled down on the sofa, yawned and said one thing... "Dear... you might need a long distance vacation... and this time without any sort of alcohol... and I might have the perfect place and contacts for this..."

A FESTIVAL OF STARS
23.Sept.2022
Naval Yard Cartreffa Island
And so Mitsuyama Tsubame found her here, on a possession of the Free Lands, thousands of miles away from Yokosuka, to spend time away from everything that had to do with bars and excessive consumption of alcohol. Clapping her hands together twice, she offered a quiet prayer to the local Gods and her own, before stepping back out to find something to eat. She had taken a cruise ship here from the mainland but her jet lag was still not exactly over, and she was damn hungry right now...

Screamh.
“Mikasa!”, I called out from my own spot, smiling as I placed my tablet on the desk of our barkeeper (as long as the kids were up, no alcoholic drinks would be served, drunk kids with cruise missiles were a bad combination) and told her, that I'd make a snack break.
Krügel agreed, the old Teressian Support Ship smiling.
I am an ocean liner, not yet officially commissioned, but I was doing my shakedowns, including to ports further away – that was, where my acquaintance, dare I say even friendship, with the ancient Mental Model of the old pre-dreadnought came from: She hitched a ride. Considering, that I might even take a route to her homeport once I was commissioned, it was a good training.
I hurried over.
“Glad to see you!”, I said, seeing that her jetlag was not over yet. Well... “Come, let's have a snack. Ever had a Leberkäs breadroll? They're wonderful!”
She wasn't the only one craving something between the teeth right now...

SDFS Cailín.
...was she... she really was...
...she really thought, that I'd be so shallow (10.6 metres) to abandon someone I was friends with only to hang out with 'more modern' ships. I had been commissioned in 2019, yes, but Captain Máthrachas and her crew had instilled a few things in me.
I stopped Uta and pointed at...
“SDFS Miúil, Gabhdán-class Fast Combat Replenishment Ship, commissioned 2016, maximum speed, 30 knots, cruise speed 18 knots.”
Next one, as Miúil protested “Hey!”
“SDFS Lahadar, Scoth-class Corvette, commissioned in 2018, maximum speed, 30 knots, cruise speed 16 knots.”
Lahadar waved while some of her siblings crowded around her. She seemed to realize, where I was going.
“SDFAS Rásaí, unique tracking and research vessel, commissioned 1996, maximum speed 14 knots.”
“Not very fast for the Navy's Race Queen, eh?”, she commented with a smile.
I switched yet again. “SDFS Maor, Nocht-class Corvette, commissioned in 1961, decommissioned in 1996, maximum speed, 30 knots, cruise speed 12 knots.”
“Accurate.”, the shipboy admitted.
“SDFS Maighdean...”, I quoted as another example, pointing at my older sister, “...Maighdean-class Missile Cruiser, 36.2 knots, nuclear powered.”
I turned to Uta.
“Back on the beach, you will find a ocean liner by the name of Screamh, who was built with antiquated technology on purpose.”, I told her, “You'll find a sailing ship, that makes ten knots in a storm, two tank landing ships, that barely make 17 knots, a wooden hulled fishing ship, a number of monitors, who shouldn't have been able to make the trip here under their own power, but who did.” I sighed. “What I mean is... what Miss Rhi had told me, is... I'm a cruiser. I don't care how fast or modern you are, Uta. What matters is what's here...” I pointed at my chest, where with a human girl, her heart would be. Then pointed at my head. “...and here.” I let my arm drop, shrugged. “So what if you are not a thoroughbred missile cruiser? You seem like a nice lass. I know, that all I just told you about are nice lassies, despite some of them being antiques.”
Maor cleared his throat and Rásaí wanted to protest, but rethought.
“So... I'd love to see your home and look around it a bit!”, I told Uta, “And who knows, maybe I'm allowed to bring my hull along, too!”

SDFS F-4 Roc.
“Watermelon shaved ice, understood!”, Ninai said and went ahead, shaving the ice and pouring a good helping of syrup over it, “A classic.” The paper bowl went over her counter before she turned to me. “And what about you?”
I thought for a moment.
“You know what?”, I asked and nodded, “I'll take the same. Never had shaved watermelon.”
Ninai nodded. “Once more, coming up. Chocolate sprinkles are over there.”, she added as she prepared, motioning to the bowl of chocolate chips on her counter. “If you want...”
I wanted.
If Otome wanted or not, that was up to her.

by **Novaya Equestria** » Thu Oct 13, 2022 9:56 am

The Selkie wrote:Yacht Aurelia.
Fortunately or unfortunately, no one was there to greet Alexander and Constantine. Radar had detected them and they had been marked, but as they had not shown any signs of aggression, the Type 40s had stayed in their tubes.
Of all of that, I had only an inkling of a clue, mainly because I was a civilian vessel.
Formally.
I had more contact with the RKCG then with the RKN. When I was in touch with the former, everything was alright or a propaganda show was up. If I was in touch with the latter, something had gone wrong or Crown Prince Ilia was invited for dinner (which happened rarely enough with uniforms).
In any case, the two new arrivals broke Atlas out of his indecisive mood (seriously, that kid was supposed to be an aircraft carrier?!), the lass apologized for him beforehand, and then they got into a bit of a dick-waving contest. Bonus points for only one of them being male.
I resisted the urge to laugh out loud at the line about focussing on the humanitarian aspects – as if in large scale development plans anyone gave a shit about the humanitarian aspects further then it being useful to win hearts and minds and to look good while one prepared to cash in on the goodwill gathered...
...maybe I had too much to do with actual politicians.
In any case, the orders were processed quickly, the request for beef replied to with a smile and a “The grill is over there, just ask the grill master!” SDFS Dragan, an old Nocht-class Corvette with draconic horns (her namesake had little to do with dragons), looked up, I waved, she lifted her tongs and let them click before she returned to her job.
And speaking of...
“I am Aurelia, Yacht under the Ownership and Employ of His Majesty, Prince Damir ibn-Razia, built in Cuan and homeported in Motya.”, I informed him with a smile and a bow. “And I already gathered who you are and while I would love to chat...” My smile turned apologetic. “...I'm afraid, that I am bound by duty and honour to tend to this stall and you four are kind of standing in the way of the next customers...”
Bogaigh and Abhcan smiled both, the latter waving and adding: “Hi.”

"We apologize, miss Aurelia," Atlas bows before he and the other three moved their foods to one of the available tables, if there's any. "The name's Atlas, one of the ships of the Novaya-class aircraft carriers," Atlas introduced himself to them, "I am formerly the flagship of the 3rd Novayan Naval Fleet during the Second Great World War on the side of the Allies at the Pacific Theater, now retired from active service and transferred to the Novayan Reserve Fleet. I guess you can tell how I behaved due to me being a reserve fleet warship, and yes I am still getting upgrades."

"This is HIFMS Koikaze, once one of the Fusoan ships who were the enemies of the 3rd Novayan Naval Fleet from 1941 until 1944, the year the Fusoan Empire surrendered, and now my girlfriend and ally," he introduces her to them. "The shogunate was once our enemy, and now they are our friends." He turns to Alexander and Constantine, "What about you two? Why don't you introduce yourselves to them? I'm sure we can get along quite well!"

Alexander rose and proudly introduces herself to Aurelia, Dragan, Bogaigh and Abhcan, "I am SFS Alexander, a Type 1A destroyer of the Omikami-class! I hail from the Saiyanese Federation, the greatest and most free nation in the world, second only to the United North American States, and the arch-rival of the Novayan Commonwealth! And I still serve in the Saiyanese Navy as part of the reserves!" Atlas and Koikaze looked at Alexander with a nonchalant and unamused smile, and Koikaze said, "Stop flexing your nation's rivalry with my boyfriend's nation so hard, Alexander. You might kickstart a second Novayan-Saiyanese cold war, except you'll drag ALL OF US into it."

Lastly, Constantine introduced herself to them, "I am IRS Constantine the Great - other names being Flavius Valerius Constantinus (FLAVIVS*VALERIVS*CONSTANTINVS), Constantinus Augustus, Emperor Constantine, Emperor Constantine I, Gaius Flavius Valerius Constantinus Augustus (GAIVS*FLAVIVS*VALERIVS*CONSTANTINVS*AVGVSTVS), Constantinus, Cosntantine, and a few others, but call me Constantine - of the Imperial Roman Navy. I am a veteran of the Second Great World War, and will and always still be the pride of the navy. I answer directly to Empress Julia Claudia Constantina (IVLIA*CLAVDIA*CONSTANTINA), descendant of Emperor Constantine I, serving in the Imperial Roman Navy's reserve fleet. Our friend, Atlas, works not just as a flagship but also a diplomatic fellow."

"So, Atlas," Alexander turns to Atlas with a menacing smile, "I can't wait for the next round of the Space Race, just so that Saiyane will take Novaya's place as the dominant factor in the interplanetary scene. Democracy and freedom will always win!" Atlas responded calmly and politely, "Save it for later. If you wanna flex, do so once we're back at Fortress Leeway's gaming cafes. Wouldn't want the whole festival to be ruined by you, of course." Alexander replied, "I'm aware, Atlas. Can't wait to beat you to a pulp in another match of Expeditionary Fleets: Multiversarus."

"Though, I might want to say this," spake Alexander, her demeanor changing from being overly patriotic to completely nervous, "but while I want to flex my nation's superiority over your nation and preach to all Novaya is now the underdog, even I wouldn't want to make him angry once we return to Fortress Leeway." Koikaze nods and said, "Then try not to earn his displeasure, Alexander. I'm sure he'll be thrilled to see us having behaved once we got back, because if one of us didn't he'll give us a very strict talking to." Who is this him Koikaze and Alexander mentioned, anyway?

Then her demeanor changes once again from nervous to overly patriotic, "But at least I have brought my smartphones to play with you four! And they're in my bags, alongside my laptop, GameBoy Advance and chargers! No one should be ever left hanging without something to do!" She gave the most patriotic smile that would make Americans proud. Then she stood up and approached Dragan, "Hey there! Mind if you make some barbecue for me and these three ships?" Alexander sounds like an American, in spite of the fact she seems to be Fusoan in appearance. "We'll take our leave and enjoy our foods, Aurelia, so next time we chat?" asked Atlas before he stood up and said to Dragan, "Excuse me, but would it be okay for you to make barbecue for me, Koikaze, Alexander and Constantine? And mind the destroyer's tone, she's from Saiyane, which took examples from the Americans."

by **Seleucid Pergamon** » Fri Oct 14, 2022 12:04 pm

"Mazaca, and nice to meet you, Rhi," he replied as he sat on the chair offered.

"You know you could've just updated it beforehand," Chaldea remarked.

"I told you, I had to take care of fixing several servers of the base's server room. And it took the whole day, which made me exhausted."

"But you had room."

"I was invested in the work, alright?"

"Whatever, smart guy."

Persephone could not help but snicker at the sight of their banter.

"Like brother and sister," she eyed Rhi, "They're both in the same fleet, and they have conversations like this sometimes. I take it that you get along at least this well with your fellow ships?"

by **Fuso-** » Sat Oct 15, 2022 10:27 am

CARTREFFA ISLAND
23.Sept.2022
Naval Yard Cartreffa Island

"Mikasa who? Oh... uh... Scream-san was it? It's Tsubame. Nice to meet you too. And thanks for the trip here, I enjoyed it."
This woman was way, way too forward was the first few thoughts that passed through Tsubame's mind, entirely in accordance to her antiquated 1980's tastes. She was also fairly hungry and still wearing her now rather stuffy uniform for this party. So as she followed Screamh to where food was Tsubame casually asked: "Do you know where people sell swimsuits around here? I've come with... the entirely inappropriate wardrobe it appears."

by **AHSCA** » Sat Oct 15, 2022 12:41 pm

The Selkie wrote:SDFS Cailín.
...was she... she really was...
...she really thought, that I'd be so shallow (10.6 metres) to abandon someone I was friends with only to hang out with 'more modern' ships. I had been commissioned in 2019, yes, but Captain Máthrachas and her crew had instilled a few things in me.
I stopped Uta and pointed at...
“SDFS Miúil, Gabhdán-class Fast Combat Replenishment Ship, commissioned 2016, maximum speed, 30 knots, cruise speed 18 knots.”
Next one, as Miúil protested “Hey!”
“SDFS Lahadar, Scoth-class Corvette, commissioned in 2018, maximum speed, 30 knots, cruise speed 16 knots.”
Lahadar waved while some of her siblings crowded around her. She seemed to realize, where I was going.
“SDFAS Rásaí, unique tracking and research vessel, commissioned 1996, maximum speed 14 knots.”
“Not very fast for the Navy's Race Queen, eh?”, she commented with a smile.
I switched yet again. “SDFS Maor, Nocht-class Corvette, commissioned in 1961, decommissioned in 1996, maximum speed, 30 knots, cruise speed 12 knots.”
“Accurate.”, the shipboy admitted.
“SDFS Maighdean...”, I quoted as another example, pointing at my older sister, “...Maighdean-class Missile Cruiser, 36.2 knots, nuclear powered.”
I turned to Uta.
“Back on the beach, you will find a ocean liner by the name of Screamh, who was built with antiquated technology on purpose.”, I told her, “You'll find a sailing ship, that makes ten knots in a storm, two tank landing ships, that barely make 17 knots, a wooden hulled fishing ship, a number of monitors, who shouldn't have been able to make the trip here under their own power, but who did.” I sighed. “What I mean is... what Miss Rhi had told me, is... I'm a cruiser. I don't care how fast or modern you are, Uta. What matters is what's here...” I pointed at my chest, where with a human girl, her heart would be. Then pointed at my head. “...and here.” I let my arm drop, shrugged. “So what if you are not a thoroughbred missile cruiser? You seem like a nice lass. I know, that all I just told you about are nice lassies, despite some of them being antiques.”
Maor cleared his throat and Rásaí wanted to protest, but rethought.
“So... I'd love to see your home and look around it a bit!”, I told Uta, “And who knows, maybe I'm allowed to bring my hull along, too!”

SDFS F-4 Roc.
“Watermelon shaved ice, understood!”, Ninai said and went ahead, shaving the ice and pouring a good helping of syrup over it, “A classic.” The paper bowl went over her counter before she turned to me. “And what about you?”
I thought for a moment.
“You know what?”, I asked and nodded, “I'll take the same. Never had shaved watermelon.”
Ninai nodded. “Once more, coming up. Chocolate sprinkles are over there.”, she added as she prepared, motioning to the bowl of chocolate chips on her counter. “If you want...”
I wanted.
If Otome wanted or not, that was up to her.

SS Uta

Uta's unfounded fears were of course dampened further by Cailín even further when she pointed out plenty of ships that might outclass her but not Cailín herself. Uta's eyes twinkled at Cailin's pretty speech about what really matters is the quality of the soul of the ship not how fancy and fast or sleak it was. Uta blushed a moment, she could hear her sister and mother now lecturing her how she's got a lot to learn about being a ship. "AAAAAAH" she yelled with a large steam plum coming off her head "Cailín, you're so right, and I'm such a dummy! Mama and sis are right, I still got lots to learn about being a good ship true! You're so nice too, how I could be dumb enough to think that is well just dumb dumb dummy dumb on my part! You're right, I'm just being overly sensitive for no good reason. I promise you come to the UIS, her sparkling blue waters, lush green jungles, crazy cool waves will make you want to sing out like they make me sing out! But nobody takes to a stormy sea quite like mama does! That's why she's Arashi! I'm Uta because I always have a song in my heart to sing! And my older sis, Otome is a beautiful maiden upon the seas. Ah sorry had to boast a bit about my family. Anyway, it's a date! Uh so to speak!"

SS Otome

"Oooh colocate! Now we're really talking business here!" Taking a few for herself munching on them until her melon shaved ice would come up. "So tell me about yourself won't you? Never met any vessels from 'round here before"

by **The Selkie** » Sun Oct 16, 2022 9:49 am

SDFS Lodan Lir.

Previously on A Festival of Stars...

And there we were – I was pulled down by Colgach and Tuinnín, the two of girls smiling as they saw the surprise and a small bit of terror in my eyes.
I am a Kanmusu, theoretically, water didn't drown me, but it was still uncomfortable to go under, getting the water out of the lungs is a pain, and not to mention the association with sinking – which was exactly what the two submarines were interested in.
I looked up – Ladra!
She was still on her inflatable raft, talking with the pervert Trosc, my hands too far away to grab the latter's ankle in retaliation. I still tried and missed. I tried radioing her, but my sister did not respond, not even after Trosc had submerged.
Whatever the Siorcs planned, I thought, I would not go for it!
I would go down with a fight instead of being humiliated by the lewdmarines!
And suddenly, we stopped. Colgach swam up to meet me, smiled, I prepared for the worst, readying the ASROCs in my tubes and the ASW-Torpedoes.
I would not go down without a fight!
Instead of doing anything I would not like, she pointed downwards.
I refused to budge.
She indicated again.
I... glanced down.
Then I looked.
And I saw. In the bay laid, about fifteen metres below the surface, a small ship on the bottom of the ocean – it had been reclaimed by nature as an artificial reef, shining in all colours of the rainbow. I was named after the deity in charge of the Sea and Rivers and I took it very seriously, having become an accredited priestess and having a lot of books about marine biology.
Still... this was way better then any book!
And what was more, something moved in it – fish!
A moment later, a horned sea snake shot out of the bridge of the small ship, a trawler of some kind, and ate a few fish without issue.
I smiled and dove further down, towards the wreck.
The subgirls joined me, even Trosc, as I went to explore. It was an old trawler, about Old Lady Rhi's age, rusting merrily away on the bottom of the sea. There had been some sort of fire, but I did not discover any human remains.
The sea snake watched me curiously, then swam forwards, past me and into the darkness of the seas. There was no name anywhere, but also no bell – the poor Kanmusu. In any case, I explored the wreck, Trosc at my side, even poked my head into the cargo bay.
I turned my back to the Lewdmarine.
I looked at Trosc, who smiled at me – I swam up to the surface, my head braking the water surface. I knew, they had a plan.
Some prank.
But now, I grinned, waving at Ladra, then swam over.
“Hey, Ladra, the subs showed me something cool – wanna check it out?”, I asked her. She still tanned with her bach up. She looked at me, long and hard. “Something wrong?”
“Uh, LL...”, she began cautiously, “...you might want to check out your swimsuit first...”
My eyes went down... let's just say, that the halter intended to hold the one-piece around my neck was no more.
Ladra winced. “Did you have to make that sonar ping so loud?”
“Imma gonna hunt me some submarines...!”
Ladra sighed and began to fix her bikini top again. “If so, then at least let a responsible adult come along!” She paused. “But maybe you should also go to our hut for a replacement...?”
I blushed – she probably had a point.

Novaya Equestria wrote:"We apologize, miss Aurelia," Atlas bows before he and the other three moved their foods to one of the available tables, if there's any. "The name's Atlas, one of the ships of the Novaya-class aircraft carriers," Atlas introduced himself to them, "I am formerly the flagship of the 3rd Novayan Naval Fleet during the Second Great World War on the side of the Allies at the Pacific Theater, now retired from active service and transferred to the Novayan Reserve Fleet. I guess you can tell how I behaved due to me being a reserve fleet warship, and yes I am still getting upgrades."

"This is HIFMS Koikaze, once one of the Fusoan ships who were the enemies of the 3rd Novayan Naval Fleet from 1941 until 1944, the year the Fusoan Empire surrendered, and now my girlfriend and ally," he introduces her to them. "The shogunate was once our enemy, and now they are our friends." He turns to Alexander and Constantine, "What about you two? Why don't you introduce yourselves to them? I'm sure we can get along quite well!"

Alexander rose and proudly introduces herself to Aurelia, Dragan, Bogaigh and Abhcan, "I am SFS Alexander, a Type 1A destroyer of the Omikami-class! I hail from the Saiyanese Federation, the greatest and most free nation in the world, second only to the United North American States, and the arch-rival of the Novayan Commonwealth! And I still serve in the Saiyanese Navy as part of the reserves!" Atlas and Koikaze looked at Alexander with a nonchalant and unamused smile, and Koikaze said, "Stop flexing your nation's rivalry with my boyfriend's nation so hard, Alexander. You might kickstart a second Novayan-Saiyanese cold war, except you'll drag ALL OF US into it."

Lastly, Constantine introduced herself to them, "I am IRS Constantine the Great - other names being Flavius Valerius Constantinus (FLAVIVS*VALERIVS*CONSTANTINVS), Constantinus Augustus, Emperor Constantine, Emperor Constantine I, Gaius Flavius Valerius Constantinus Augustus (GAIVS*FLAVIVS*VALERIVS*CONSTANTINVS*AVGVSTVS), Constantinus, Cosntantine, and a few others, but call me Constantine - of the Imperial Roman Navy. I am a veteran of the Second Great World War, and will and always still be the pride of the navy. I answer directly to Empress Julia Claudia Constantina (IVLIA*CLAVDIA*CONSTANTINA), descendant of Emperor Constantine I, serving in the Imperial Roman Navy's reserve fleet. Our friend, Atlas, works not just as a flagship but also a diplomatic fellow."

"So, Atlas," Alexander turns to Atlas with a menacing smile, "I can't wait for the next round of the Space Race, just so that Saiyane will take Novaya's place as the dominant factor in the interplanetary scene. Democracy and freedom will always win!" Atlas responded calmly and politely, "Save it for later. If you wanna flex, do so once we're back at Fortress Leeway's gaming cafes. Wouldn't want the whole festival to be ruined by you, of course." Alexander replied, "I'm aware, Atlas. Can't wait to beat you to a pulp in another match of Expeditionary Fleets: Multiversarus."

"Though, I might want to say this," spake Alexander, her demeanor changing from being overly patriotic to completely nervous, "but while I want to flex my nation's superiority over your nation and preach to all Novaya is now the underdog, even I wouldn't want to make him angry once we return to Fortress Leeway." Koikaze nods and said, "Then try not to earn his displeasure, Alexander. I'm sure he'll be thrilled to see us having behaved once we got back, because if one of us didn't he'll give us a very strict talking to." Who is this him Koikaze and Alexander mentioned, anyway?

Then her demeanor changes once again from nervous to overly patriotic, "But at least I have brought my smartphones to play with you four! And they're in my bags, alongside my laptop, GameBoy Advance and chargers! No one should be ever left hanging without something to do!" She gave the most patriotic smile that would make Americans proud. Then she stood up and approached Dragan, "Hey there! Mind if you make some barbecue for me and these three ships?" Alexander sounds like an American, in spite of the fact she seems to be Fusoan in appearance. "We'll take our leave and enjoy our foods, Aurelia, so next time we chat?" asked Atlas before he stood up and said to Dragan, "Excuse me, but would it be okay for you to make barbecue for me, Koikaze, Alexander and Constantine? And mind the destroyer's tone, she's from Saiyane, which took examples from the Americans."

Yacht Aurelia.
It was almost as if they didn't hear right – Abhcan pointed at one of her ears behind them, grinning as she indicated, that they might have to check their sonars.
As they went into their own discussion, apparently something about a video game, Dragan raised an eyebrow at me. I shrugged helplessly – she had volunteered!
And while one of them suffered from mood swings more appropriate to a child then to a fully-trained Shipperson (seriously, who in their right mind would entrust this Alexander with a water gun, let alone with naval artillery?!), they at least were moving out of the way, to one of the tables, coincidentally far away from the Carrier Meetup.
Abhcan and Bogaigh stepped forward, both smiling bemusedly.
“Sorry about the delay.”, I told them in Selkie, “What can I get you?”
Bogaigh motioned to his on-off-girlfriend, who smiled.
“Oh, I'll take lye breadsticks, please, two, and some of the fruit.”, she told me, “Drinks we already have.”
“You know Caja's rules about alcohol?”
“Yeah, yeah, nothing until the kids are in bed.”, Abhcan smiled and nodded, then motioned to Atlas and his troupe, joking: “Does that include them?”
I shrugged with a smile and turned to the Seaplane Tender. “And you, Bogaigh?”
“More of the same, let's keep it simple. And it's easier to munch on while reading.”, he explained and Abhcan smiled at him.
A few moments later, the two departed with their gains.

SDFS Dragan.
I, meanwhile, having glanced over to Aurelia every now and again (seriously, Bogaigh had a nice stern for a swimming police cruiser dispensing flying police cruisers!), was approached by one of the kids, who got Aurelia that amused.
First things first, SDFS Dragan, Nocht-class Corvette, Dragon Girl (the tail was nice for cuddles, lemme tell you that), black hair with green streaks, red eyes, white one-piece swimsuit with a cleavage reaching halfway down to the navel. I wore an apron over it, grilling was not harmless for unprotected skin and while I was the Shipgirl of a 575 tons corvette from the 60s, I was also a woman and I took care of my skin.
Besides, grease splatters hurt like a bitch.
First Alexander, who I didn't even have a chance to reply to before the Lord of the Harem approached (seriously, three girls were practically fawning over him and a chance to 'play' with him...) and repeated the same request.
“Kid, I am from 60s, I participated in the Mission to Kapundukira. That rusty tub...” I indicated to Alexander with my tongs. “...doesn't even get close to Aeval on one of her slower days and that lass spent more time with the Miodógs as it is probably healthy during Spriocearcaitheoir!” I let my tongs click. “Now, you kids want barbecue? No can do. Grilling, though? That's what's going on here! Tschecherl!” A Teressian auxiliary vessel girl looked over. “Hit 'em up with some plates!” The other girl nodded, preparing some paper plates and I pointed my tongs at Atlas. “Now... what exactly do you want? Grilled flatbread, cucumber salad with yoghurt sauce, apple blinis, grilled asparagus, grilled cod, bass, perch, Caille, other fish from Kyrenaia I can't pronounce, steaks from the pig, cow, goat, horse, assorted chicken part, sausages of various descriptions, none of them battered, corn cobs...”
The grill was... quite large, to say the least.
“Or...”, I smiled, “...do you want to bomb your girlfriends' figures into dust with a bacon bomb?”

SDFS Rhiannon (the younger one).
I smiled as Mazaca and Chaldea went at it.
Persephone's question made me look at her, still smiling: “Of course. The boys and girls of the SDF-Navy are all one big family, but the ship classes themselves are usually quite close, too. Me and my five sisters are sometimes very much like those two.”
I let a beat pass, smiling at Mazaca and Chaldea.
“Though, question...”, I began, “...Mazaca, which helicopters do you operate? I myself have a single SDY-Greadtóir 19 Cuaifeach Utility Helicopter, but there are plans to upgrade me and my sisters to operate the Monarcha M-107 Helicopter Drone and, in a more long-term plan, the M-121, maybe even with a hangar extension.”

Screamh.
Mikasa or Tsubame as an address for her, well... calling her by her hull's name not only felt more right, it also revealed me as a terrible hypocrite. Nicknames and aliases were usual for us, though I didn't choose one yet.
Still, I'd try to honour her request – I told her so, after telling her, that she was welcome.
I did not notice her being uncomfortable with my forwardness, but I did notice her casual question.
“Strictly speaking, no.”, I told her, “Caja wanted this resort to be as independent from the outside as possible and that included shops... however, and I hate to admit that, because that brings me closer to cruise liners...” I almost spat that. “...I have a few shops aboard my hull, one of which sells swimwear.” I pointed out into the pontoon harbour, where my hull, the huge black and white shape of a Marjorie-class Ocean Liner, sat in the water. “If you are interested in a small shopping trip...”
We were handed two breadrolls, a slice of Leberkäs thick as my finger between the two halves.
I handed one, and a couple of paper napkins, to Mi... sorry, Tsubame and smiled before I sank my teeth into the snack.
The Leberkäs was still warm and the breadroll new and the combination was delicious!

SDFS Cailín.
I could get behind bragging a bit with one's sisters – my two older sisters were awesome, too, one of them, Maighdean, smiling as she watched me and Uta, as well as her gushing.
I smiled and nodded.
“Awesome!”, I said with a cheer, “And don't worry about not yet knowing, what a good shipgirl is! That's what we are for – the Sea Explorers!” I struck a heroic pose, the other members standing at my side. “We explore the seas, the questions of being and oppose those, who do evil and speak evil! Like the Gryffe-Syndikat!”
There was a frown on my face at the mentioning of that group of Kanmusu, who used their powers for evil purposes.
The frown quickly cleared: “You, Uta, are now one of our associates, in time, and if you want, maybe even a member. That means, that we're all friends and that you and us will meet again after today!”

SDFS F-4 Roc.
Ninai smiled at me as she handed me my ice and as I led Otome away, both of us with shaved watermelon ice and chocolate sprinkles, she posed her question.
I smiled. “ SDFS F-4 Roc, F-1-class Submarine, commissioned in 1929, decommissioned in 1965. My hull is scuttled as an artificial reef nearby and I spent quite some time around here. I served in half a dozen operations of the SDF-Navy, none of which I can speak about. I have four sisters with the SDF, am a Part-Time Marcach and, as of late, discovered writing for myself. An autobiography, if you are interested.”, I told her with a smile, taking her to a nearby bench. “What about you, Otome?”

by **Novaya Equestria** » Sun Oct 16, 2022 10:29 am

The Selkie wrote:
Yacht Aurelia.
It was almost as if they didn't hear right – Abhcan pointed at one of her ears behind them, grinning as she indicated, that they might have to check their sonars.
As they went into their own discussion, apparently something about a video game, Dragan raised an eyebrow at me. I shrugged helplessly – she had volunteered!
And while one of them suffered from mood swings more appropriate to a child then to a fully-trained Shipperson (seriously, who in their right mind would entrust this Alexander with a water gun, let alone with naval artillery?!), they at least were moving out of the way, to one of the tables, coincidentally far away from the Carrier Meetup.
Abhcan and Bogaigh stepped forward, both smiling bemusedly.
“Sorry about the delay.”, I told them in Selkie, “What can I get you?”
Bogaigh motioned to his on-off-girlfriend, who smiled.
“Oh, I'll take lye breadsticks, please, two, and some of the fruit.”, she told me, “Drinks we already have.”
“You know Caja's rules about alcohol?”
“Yeah, yeah, nothing until the kids are in bed.”, Abhcan smiled and nodded, then motioned to Atlas and his troupe, joking: “Does that include them?”
I shrugged with a smile and turned to the Seaplane Tender. “And you, Bogaigh?”
“More of the same, let's keep it simple. And it's easier to munch on while reading.”, he explained and Abhcan smiled at him.
A few moments later, the two departed with their gains.

SDFS Dragan.
I, meanwhile, having glanced over to Aurelia every now and again (seriously, Bogaigh had a nice stern for a swimming police cruiser dispensing flying police cruisers!), was approached by one of the kids, who got Aurelia that amused.
First things first, SDFS Dragan, Nocht-class Corvette, Dragon Girl (the tail was nice for cuddles, lemme tell you that), black hair with green streaks, red eyes, white one-piece swimsuit with a cleavage reaching halfway down to the navel. I wore an apron over it, grilling was not harmless for unprotected skin and while I was the Shipgirl of a 575 tons corvette from the 60s, I was also a woman and I took care of my skin.
Besides, grease splatters hurt like a bitch.
First Alexander, who I didn't even have a chance to reply to before the Lord of the Harem approached (seriously, three girls were practically fawning over him and a chance to 'play' with him...) and repeated the same request.
“Kid, I am from 60s, I participated in the Mission to Kapundukira. That rusty tub...” I indicated to Alexander with my tongs. “...doesn't even get close to Aeval on one of her slower days and that lass spent more time with the Miodógs as it is probably healthy during Spriocearcaitheoir!” I let my tongs click. “Now, you kids want barbecue? No can do. Grilling, though? That's what's going on here! Tschecherl!” A Teressian auxiliary vessel girl looked over. “Hit 'em up with some plates!” The other girl nodded, preparing some paper plates and I pointed my tongs at Atlas. “Now... what exactly do you want? Grilled flatbread, cucumber salad with yoghurt sauce, apple blinis, grilled asparagus, grilled cod, bass, perch, Caille, other fish from Kyrenaia I can't pronounce, steaks from the pig, cow, goat, horse, assorted chicken part, sausages of various descriptions, none of them battered, corn cobs...”
The grill was... quite large, to say the least.
“Or...”, I smiled, “...do you want to bomb your girlfriends' figures into dust with a bacon bomb?”

Atlas and Alexander glared at Dragan, actually offended by how she referred to Alexander, Koikaze and Constantine as his girlfriends, when it is Koikaze who is his girlfriend. "That wasn't fucking funny," said Alexander to Dragan, a hint of outright disgust dominating her words.

Atlas, on the other hand, was more nicer as he tells her with a patient but much more stern tone, "You do realize I only have one girlfriend, and not a lot of them, right? Koikaze over there is my girlfriend, while Alexander and Constantine were actually friends of mine. And before you even think of cracking a joke, no, we're more respectful towards each other. Just because we're friends doesn't really mean you thank of those two as also my girlfriends."

"I do not know whether you're joking or not," he added, "but suffice to say, I am actually offended by your words. Even when outside of Novaya, I refused to forsake Koikaze for someone else who thinks they are more beautiful than her but were in reality much uglier within. I wouldn't want narcissists to become absolute killjoys."

Then he added, "Oh, and before you start grilling, Alexander here isn't what you think of her to be. If anything, she's part of the more eccentric elements of Saiyanese society. Yes, I'm referring to the overtly patriotic and nationalistic elements of Saiyanese society - the kind of folks who were obviously known for seeing the Novayan Commonwealth as a "threat to their freedom and national security"; in a nutshell, they're basically the United North American States but with a very unhealthy dislike for Novaya."

"Anyways," he spoke with his normal tone (read: calm and reserved) and smile, "we'll go for the chicken, steak, asparagus, a few flatbreads, and a few fish, please and thank you." Atlas then added, "Oh, and don't call me, Koikaze, and my friends 'kids'; we're not young. And also I'd like to apologize for sound quite harsh."

A Festival of Stars (IC, OPEN)

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