Chapter 4

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4. Can it be considered stealing when it comes to the shipgirls?

"Anyway, the abandoned base is just as you see it, there's nothing here."

Dragging the Central Planning Ship No. 1 by the heel, she threw her directly out the window. With a series of clattering sounds, Enterprise clapped her hands and looked at the pale-faced No. 111 behind her with a blank expression.

"We are in an abandoned place. There's no one to practice with, no place to turn in missions, and no salvage to be found. Even in combat, we often encounter strange deep-sea fleets. And there's no hope for fleet maintenance because there's no money, so there's nothing."

"There are no communication signals, no entertainment facilities, no delicious food or interesting trinkets. Even the repair of our own equipment cannot be guaranteed. There are no resource points to provide resources, no expedition areas for us to venture into. The area around our base, spanning hundreds of kilometers in four dimensions, is the core area of the deep-sea fleet."

"Do you understand now? We are at the forefront of the world's battle lines, the only ones who have ventured deep into enemy territory. I've launched over two hundred sorties, and I haven't seen any friendly fleets in the nearby waters."

"This is the current situation of the Imagination Fleet. What do you think? Newcomer?"

I want your honest opinion.

Sitting in a high-backed chair with a small piece missing, Enterprise snorted coldly.

Crossing her legs, she propped up one cheek with her hand, her azure eyes looking at No. 111, who was at least thirty centimeters taller, with a hostile gaze.

"That, No. 111, don't take it too seriously, I'm just asking."

It's really not intentional or anything, just a confirmation.

Seeing No. 111's somewhat strange expression, Montana quickly said.

But the implication was that she still needed to express her specific thoughts about the base. No. 111 couldn't help but look at the other shipgirls in the room for their reactions.

Not just Enterprise and the embarrassed Montana with her long brown hair, but even her sister No. 110 and the silver-haired Central Planning Ship No. 2 with a cross scar on her face were looking at No. 111, as if waiting for her response.

This is quite a harsh welcome.

Twirling the cherry blossom paper umbrella in her hand, No. 111 thought for a moment, then raised her head.

"Why don't you all go back to the original joint base? That way, all the problems could be solved, right? The admiral wouldn't have to be so miserable."

"Ah, well said. I can see you're not fooling me."

Enterprise nodded, her face showing a mix of approval and skepticism: "But that's impossible. The admiral will never return to the place that brought him shame and pain, and I don't want to be with those fools and clones."

Fools, clones.

When these words were mentioned, the contempt in Enterprise's eyes was not missed by No. 111.

As the original ship and inheritor of the hero's experience, Enterprise naturally had her pride. How could she just live a mediocre life?

"This sea area was drawn bit by bit by the admiral and me. I was the admiral's initial ship, and I have always fought for him until the end. So I have the duty and responsibility to bring victory to the admiral. When we first arrived at this base, the admiral's happy expression is something I will never forget. That's why the Imagination Fleet came to be."

"We are the admiral's imagination, his dream, his sword and shield. Even if the admiral's luck is always so bad and he has never been wealthy, no matter what happens, the Imagination Fleet will always be the Imagination Fleet. This is our soul. Do you understand?"

"… Yes, I understand, the soul of the fleet?"

"No, you don't understand."

Looking at the beautifully dressed and elaborately adorned Japanese-style girl in front of her, Enterprise smiled.

Her blue and white sailor uniform fluttered slightly in the wind, and though she looked like a teenager, her face was full of a mysterious and unfathomable expression.

"When you are alone, stranded in the sea, out of ammunition and supplies. When you return to the base alone and receive no supplies or repairs. When you alone break through the entire deep-sea fleet, then you might begin to understand what the Imagination Fleet truly means."

"I'll summarize."

Central Planning Ship No. 2 crushed an empty bullet shell in her hand and said with a cold expression.

"In short, no money, but willing to risk our lives."

"… Eh?"

The concise summary immediately froze Enterprise's unfathomable expression.

"It's just because we are so poor and can't face the shame of going back, right?"

Didn't you see the admiral crying in his room?

No. 110 held her forehead and sighed.

"No. 111, don't take it too seriously. Enterprise always talks like this when it comes to the Imagination Fleet. Because Enterprise always goes out alone and is particularly fond of the admiral, she often takes the admiral's jokes seriously. Because of one of the admiral's words, Enterprise even trained to fight without damage and to fly planes at night." Montana smiled gently and comforted No. 111.

"That's not it!"

Faced with this one-sided situation, Enterprise's face turned red.

"It's all about combat experience! What's wrong with flying planes at night! What's wrong with no damage! It's because I'm capable, okay! It has nothing to do with the admiral! Absolutely nothing! I didn't train it on purpose! How can you defame my reputation!"

"Still saying it's not?"

At some point, Planning Ship No. 1 had re-entered, leaning against the door with a cross bandage on her head, and shouted at the red-faced Enterprise.

"Would you dare let us search your room? I could find eight pounds of things related to the admiral! And I clearly saw you steal the admiral's photo, then secretly sew it onto your pillow, rubbing it against your body until you were heavily damaged and still didn't stop!"

"Can it be considered stealing when it comes to the shipgirls and the admiral!"

The red-faced Enterprise stood on the chair and shouted at everyone: "It can't be considered stealing when it comes to the shipgirls and the admiral! It's called borrowing! We are one family! There's no stealing!"

"But the admiral doesn't know!"

"What if the admiral doesn't know! Can a family know everything about each other!" Enterprise's two golden pigtails were almost standing up, her eyes wide open, stammering in response: "Family matters, just borrowing, borrowing! No, it's just taking! Not even borrowing!"

Then came a series of half-understood words, something about 'the admiral is poor but cannot be abandoned,' 'shipgirls must comfort the admiral, that's the rule, and we will marry in the future,' which made all the listeners burst into laughter. Laughter echoed throughout the base, filling the entire island with a joyful atmosphere.

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