Zhejiang and Enterprise (Book One)

Cold Hard Love

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We've just arrived at Azur Lane's main base in the region. Everyone's gathered around my carrier as the injured girls are carried down my gangway and onto the docks. During the trip here, I learnt their names from Belfast. Apparently, the other girls were Repulse, Cleveland, Javelin and Laffey. With me are Dalian, Ying Swei, Chao Ho, Ning Hai and Ping Hai. The other girls remained in Dragon Empery to ensure our nation had a suitable defence. We'd have returned there ourselves but a slight misunderstanding led to our current situation.

????: My! What happened? 

Belfast: There's no need to worry Miss Illustrious. We're all fine.

Illustrious: Fine? Perhaps when you left but right now you can hardly walk.

????: More importantly, who's your guest? 

Dalian: Who do-

Me: I'm Zhejiang. A pleasure to meet you. 

????: Prince of Wales, likewise. 

Me: As for what happened here. We rescued our girls, they fired on us, we fired back and now we're here. 

Wales: Forgive me but that sounds awfully biased. I find it hard to believe our girls would fire on ships from Dragon Empery.

Me: You're right. They didn't attack our ships as we were still far out of range but they did their very best to shoot my planes out of the sky. 

Wales: But-

Belfast: She's telling the truth. We attacked first though we thought they were sirens. 

Wales: I see we have much to discuss, including how we never knew the Dragon Empery had an aircraft carrier. 

Me: Perhaps but I think you have bigger problems to deal with right now. 

I wave my hand towards the damaged girls and Wales concedes, for now, taking them with her towards what I can only assume is a dry dock where they'll undergo repairs. As she walks away, I turn to face Dalian who's shifting uncomfortably on her feet. 

Dalian: I'm sorry.

Sighing, I don't even bother responding, instead choosing to take the free time I currently have to explore this new location. She doesn't follow but I don't allow it to bother me. She has to learn to listen and control her emotions. Regardless of our past, these people are our allies. It's bad enough that I bombed their fleet to kingdom come. We can't afford for more diplomatic incidents like these.

I don't know how long I've been walking but I find myself standing on a cliff overlooking the base. It's quite a peaceful view and the cool feeling of the wind blowing through my hair soothes me. Sitting in the grass, I find myself worrying about Dalian. I was a bit harsh, perhaps even more so than she deserved. I keep forgetting that for all intents and purposes, she's still technically just a child but more importantly, the only family I have in this strange world. 

Why did we have to get pulled into this mess.

Summoning one of my planes, I half hazardly toss it over the cliff's edge. As expected, it takes flight as if launching from my flight deck and jets off above the clouds. The sound of it's engines cause some of the girls down on the beach below to look up but by the time they do, it's already out of sight. 

????: Uhm. Hi.

Turning around I find Chao Ho looking at their feet sheepishly. I never figured her for the shy type. I wonder what's happened to bring this kind of behaviour on.

Me: Hi?

Chao: Please don't be mad at Dalian. She was only trying to help.

Me: Who said I was mad at her?

Chao: Uh...well...I

Me: Nevermind. I'm just taking a break from it all. Nothing to worry about. 

She squeals and quickly excuses herself. I don't think I raised my voice or gave off any indication that I was upset but she seemed far too eager to leave as quickly as possible for it to be likely that I didn't. She all but ran. Why am I even upset? Is it because of Dalian, really? Or is it because of what I did and I'm just taking it out on whoever's before me. 

Sigh.

Whatever the case, I should just isolate myself until I figure it out. No need to traumatize anyone else. Summoning another plane, I examine it's features before tossing it too. If only life was simple. 

J-16: [Incoming ships spotted.]

Hmm? It's probably just one of Azur Lane's ships. Why is it warning me anyways? It's not like I sent it on a recon mission or anything. I was simply finding something else to do besides staring blankly out to sea. 

J-16: [Engaged by enemy. Request support!]

Me: [Enemy?]

J-16: [Siren carrier sighted. Kansen also present. Advise.]

Sigh. 

Life just doesn't know when to leave a girl alone, does it.

Me: [Fire at will! Prioritize any and all carriers. All squadrons, launch!]

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Ships (Dragon Empery): New + Original

Type 003-class Carrier: Zhejiang

Yat Sen-class Light Cruisers: Yat Sen
Chao Ho-class Light Cruisers: Chao Ho and Ying Swei
Ning Hai-class Light Cruisers: Ning Hai and Ping Hai

Anshan-class Destroyers: An Shan, Chang Chun, Fu Shun, Tai Yuan
Type 055-class Destroyer: Dalian

N.B. - No other modern ships will be added to the story. At least, that's the plan.