The Commanders' Meeting
The meeting has just started and from what they have explained, my assumptions earlier are correct. This is a different world where we're summoned to lead so called shipgirls to fight against sirens.
"...."
Yup, the last one didn't make any sense.
Shipgirls? Is it the same as the animal-person genres in those anime? Also, sirens? Poseidon's army perhaps?
"It would seem you're already well informed" Andrew said as he noticed my lack of reactions.
"Not really, I woke up a little early so I had time to think about everything that happened until now, but I-"
"Oh! Is it the incident you caused earlier?" Akira playfully asked, interrupting me.
"What incident?" Matteo asked.
"Apparently, She left her room and roamed the base without telling anyone" Johanna answered.
"You, purposely ignored the note on the door, didn't you? Akira interrogated me, amusement was apparent in his voice. And to that accusation, I can just lower my head.
Andrew chuckled "Well, surely someone as perceptive as you would surely notice a note pasted on the door"
I can already feel the glares of the 2 Eagle Union girls by the door.
"Vestal was fuming earlier. They almost had the base on alert" Akira said with a laugh.
Eh!? It's that serious!? I immediately looked at Akira, shocked that it almost caused a big commotion.
Enterprise is looking at me like we need to have a talk later about this. We need another topic.
"U-um, what are shipgirls, and the sirens?"
"It will be a long discussion. The Eagle Union girls can tell you about it later" Andrew said then smiled.
Ugghh I can't escape. I regretted my earlier actions even more.
"You get what you deserve" Louise rubbed more salt into my wounds making me more regretful.
Jeanne smiled wryly. "Should we go to the next topic then?"
Thank you very much Jeanne! I looked up and gave Jeanne a very thankful look.
"You're a very amusing girl aren't you?" Alena, who was just watching earlier then said.
"Then, to start off the next, I guess we could introduce you to our girls" Matteo stood then motioned two of the girls behind their row to stand up.
One by one, the shipgirls introduced themselves.
Carabiniere, and Littorio, form the Sardgena Empire
Akagi, and Kaga from the Sakura Empire.
Tirpitz, and Prinz Eugen from Iron Blood.
Avrora, and Kirov from the Northern Union
Jean Bart, and Saint Louis from the Iris Orthodoxy
Hood, and Belfast from the Royal Navy
Ning Hai, and Ping Hai from the Dragon Empery
I do recognize some of these names, like Hood, Tirpitz, and Akagi. They're some of the famous battleships in my world after all.
After restarting the meeting with the shipgirl introductions, they briefly mentioned the equivalent nations of this world. Although I now have a general idea based on the names, I got little bit confused about the Iris Orthodoxy, which is currently the reunified Iris Libre, and Vichiya dominion, supposedly representing Free France, and Vichy France respectively.
Did France have a Civil War in this world? I can't remember anything in our history that would split France in two.
We then went to the part of our summoning.
Apparently, not everyone are from different unique worlds. Some of them hailed from the same world like Andrew and Johanna. Qīng tiān, and Akira also came from the same world, which also has magic like my world.
"Ohh so you guys also have magic?" I asked the two with interest as fellow magic ability users
"U-um, y-you, mentioned something about magic earlier, right?
"Yeah" Akira confirmed. He smirked then snapped his fingers. In that instant, blue flames appeared, and floated on the palm of his hands. He then closed his hands, and the fire is gone.
"I'm more on defensive magic so unless I'm attacked, I can't really show you" Qīng tiān said when I turned to him.
"Alena is also an ability user though" He added.
When I turned to Alena, she already had a finger pointed at me. I noticed the others move slightly away from the table which triggered a familiar memory. I subconsciously spilled the water from my glass and tapped at the table, then a thin column of ice rose and immediately shattered.
Everyone except from the magic users were amazed.
Alena made a face that tells she is very amused "Interesting. So you've been pranked like this multiple times"
"Unfortunately, yes" I sighed at the memories of second elder sister pranking us whenever we 3 get together. I just somehow learned to anticipate this and defend over the years.
"An ice user, huh? First time I've seen it" Qīng tiān said.
"Is it rare in your world?" I asked.
"It' a very rare ability in our world to the point that they're protected by law" Akira added. "So, what else can you do? He asked with excitement in his voice, and his eyes.
"Ahem" Louise cleared her throat to get everyone's attention. "Can we continue?"
""""Sorry"""" The four us apologized.
We continued where we left of.
It seems that the criteria of the nations of this world for summoning is a similar narrative between them, and us regarding history.
The meeting then moved on to the current situation of the war. They put a large map of the world on the table, which is very similar to our map but the names of the countries are very different.
Currently, the sirens control most of the waters in the southern hemisphere, including those around the White Southern Cross, and the Red Southern Cross.
Alright those are Australia, and New Zealand. I memorized the new names of the locations I'm familiar with.
Apparently, the overstretched Royal Navy, and Sakura Empire lost control of them just before the first commander got summoned. Plans to take them back have been postponed as resources are put into driving the Sirens out of the Mediterranean Sea in order to prevent more damages done to the Sardegna Empire, and the Iris Orthodoxy.
After that, the plan is to fight southwards, in the Atlas Ocean, and the Red Sea at the same time up until we reach the Sacred Lotus Ocean, taking back the Cape Colony, and easing the burden of the Sacred Lotus Dominion.
Okay, Atlas should be the Atlantic, Sacred Lotus is India, and Cape Colony is South Africa.
The Eagle Union forces in the Eastern Pacific will move at the same pace southwards as the forces in the South Atlas Ocean until they link up at the southern tip of South Nova Terra.
South America. Alright.
The Dragon Empery, and Sakura Empire will slowly move south in order to liberate the seas to their south, and move towards the seas around the White Southern Cross, and the Red Southern Cross.
The final goal is to clear the Southern Ocean, and the Southern Frozen Continent where the main base of the Sirens are located.
The alliance still has a monumental task ahead and it looks daunting, but the ship girls mentioned that the alliance made good progress after the commanders got summoned. They finally got full control of the North Atlas after a long stalemate around the Mid-Atlas Ridge, and also making great progress in the Mediterranean so they now have hopes of ending the war.
"And that's where we are currently in right now" Johanna ended the topic.
Ughhh This is overwhelming. I moved my hand to towards my chin, like the typical pose detectives use while thinking, although I'm not solving anything.
"Sophia, Is there anything in your mind? Jeanne asked noticing I'm thinking very hard, well from her perspective. I didn't hear her unfortunately.
I studied the map for a while. The Eagle Union's forces are split into 4 groups guarding the Union's east, and west coasts, the Panama Canal area, and the islands in the Pacific up to Midway. Of course they're named differently here.
All nations will definitely stretched thin, and the Eagle Union doesn't have a colony that has a navy.
The other's have noticed me looking at the map intently.
"Ms. Sophia" Louise called out to me, which brought me back.
"Eh? Ah, what?"
"You don't really have to stress on this now. This is the general plan, we will still iron out the details since you're here now" Andrew said.
"Priorities may also change in the future so it will be best if you come up with with a plan as well. This will be a long war" Johanna added.
I just nodded in agreement.
Well they're right.
"I guess that concludes the meeting this time" Andrew started to close the session. "We may not have delved deep in the topics, but we can treat this as a general introduction."
"The next ones will be much more detailed discussing our movements going forward" Johanna followed"
These two were probably the first ones summoned. I thought as they seem have been leading the group before I came here.
"Then, meeting adjourned" Johanna ended the meeting.
The commanders, and the shipsgirls stood up and prepared to leave.
"We'll be on our way then" Jeanne said as she left with Louise, and Matteo.
"Then, we'll be seeing you in another time" Akira cheerfully waved and left with the 2 fox girls. The one in black clinging to him very tightly to the point that he can't walk properly.
He is followed by Qīng tiān's group, the girls waved at me as they passed by, to which I smiled and wave as a reply.
Alena walked up to me and offered a handshake.
"Once again, I'm Alena Stravinsky. Nice to meet ya"
I shook her hand "Nice to meet you"
"These 2 are Kirov, and Avrora"
"We look forward to working together with you" Avrora said.
Kirov just looked at me then nodded.
"Then, be seeing you later" Alena then left followed by the two Russian shipgirls.
Andrew, and Johanna then approached me.
"Sophia, If you'd accept, Her Majesty would like to invite you to a tea party at the Royal Navy gardens" Andrew showed me a letter with the Royal Navy's seal.
"A tea party?"
"She probably wants to know you better" Johanna added.
I'm very reluctant to accept. First of all, I dislike the strict rules the nobility has in their parties. The food is great, but I think they're very boring.
"When will it be?" Enterprise asked.
"3 days from now, in the afternoon" Andrew answered.
"Hmm, I think we can move the commander's schedule for that day"
"Then it's decided! We accept" Cleveland cheerfully and received the letter on my behalf, while I'm still thinking of various excuses to refuse.
"Wait, What!? I haven't--"
"It's a great opportunity to let the others know they can trust you, commander" Enterprise said.
"Also, like it or not, you'll still be doing this sooner or later" Johanna interjected. "It's better to have this out of the way while you still have free time"
They make sense. I can't think of any comeback.
I sighed. "Alright, I'll accept the invitation"