Azur Lane: Return of Davis

Chapter 1: New Fleet

10 days until the attack...

The water quietly hits the beachfront of Santa Monica. Heh, this is where Hirata found me 2 years back. To think I'd come here, of my own volition, no less. Well, the world works in odd ways. I notice shadows belonging to folk behind me, and I could tell whose they were. I turn about and find myself face-to-face with my escort fleet.

Laffey: Yawns "Morning, commander. Everyone's here."

USS Laffey, a member of the Benson-class destroyers, looks like a 13-year-old (roughly 4'3") wearing (having?) bunny ears acting as (or are?) her hair ties, making her mid-length white hair into (very fluffy) twin tails. Her ruby-red eyes are in a perpetual state of exhaustion. I met her last night, while sitting at this exact spot.

"Morning, Laffey. And nice to meet you girls!"

Behind her are 3 other girls, one of whom surprised me.

Kansen A: "Pleasure to meet you, kommandant."

Kansen B: "S-same here! Nice to meet you, commander!"

Kansen C: "Hi there!"

Kansen A is from Ironblood (which surprised me). She was about as tall as Laffey, or maybe an inch or two taller. She has the Iron Cross attached to a ribbon in her short blonde hair, a small hat atop her head. B's major design points (beyond being only an inch shorter than Laffey) are the little golden crown on her head, her purple hair tied back into a ponytail, and what looks like a scarf... hoodie... thing. C is just my type. Brunette chick about my height with noticeable assets and looks happy to be here. Now that I think it, Hirata is almost the same...

Kansen A: "My name is Z23, an Ironblood destroyer. Her name-" she points to the purple haired girl "-is Javelin, a Royal Navy destroyer, and she-" she points to the girl of my dreams (or a brown-haired, blue-eyed Hirata, potato potahto) "-is Repulse, a Royal Navy battlecruiser."

Javelin nods with enthusiasm, while Repulse kicks back a bit, feeling the breeze passing us by.

Repulse: "Well, shall we get going, girls?"

As the 3 destroyers agree, my mind flies in between many different questions.

Wait, so Repulse is British? And so is Javelin? You wouldn't really be able to tell from the onset, though. Wait, why is Z23 introducing them? And why is she here? Surely, she knows we're supplying her nation's enemy, and who I am, right? A German helping a Welsh American isn't that common in this political climate, especially since there aren't many Welsh Americans to begin with.

I stow those questions away, as we make it towards the pier. I hop on (or rather, literally climb aboard) the HMS Repulse, and the other girls summon their rigging. Time to set off to Pearl Harbour.

--

The passage was faster than I expected, at just over 3 days. Repulse was at top speed instead of cruising speed, but as to why? I wouldn't know, and I wouldn't care. We finally arrived at base, so that's all that mattered. Rolling the exhaustion out of my muscles, I get ready for my new position. The day has come, and so have I.

Knuckles rasp upon the metal door of the cabin I'm staying in.

Repulse, from behind the door: "We've arrived, Commander. Please be prepared to disembark."

"Thank you, Repulse. Give me a little bit."

Repulse leaves, and I get up – stubbing my toe against a desk. Sucking air within my teeth, I quietly scream.

"Ffyc! Duw damn! OW!"

What a way to start of the day, eh?

--

After recovering from my misery, I disembark the Repulse and return to land once more. The mews of seagulls passing overhead. Wave on beach action. God, it feels good to be on land. I notice a few kansen looking over, questioning who just arrived and why they needed a 3-destroyer escort (now that I think it, why wasn't a cruiser with us?).

The 3 destroyers excused themselves, off to eat food or something. All the while, Repulse led me to my new office, trying to explain my duties, but occasionally being distracted by this or that. Honestly, this girl...

Kansen: "I see you arrived, Commander Davis."

I turn about and see the one kansen I wanted to see most.

"Yeah. Took a while, but we made it. Oh, nice to meet you, Enterprise."

USS Enterprise was the reason I have this job in the first place. To explain: Pearl Harbour needed a new set of hands after the previous one *ahem* did some not-so-gentlemanly things to some of the girls (doubt they'll ever talk to me), so Enterprise requested she go to the Navy training base to see if there were any good contenders. I, apparently, was the only good one out of the Lieutenants she witnessed. Using a lot of classical war tactics, hit n' runs, and just abusing HE rounds, I was able to clear the training mission in record time. Nice. But still...

"Why did you choose me? There were surely better-suited Lieutenant Commanders or Commanders for the position, so..."

Enterprise, with a pained face: "Ray was... a stain upon this harbor's history." Closing her eyes for a second, she shakes her head, returning to a neutral face. "We needed someone who could hopefully bring the girls' morale up."

"...I understand. I'll do my best to live up to your expectations."

Enterprise: "Good. Now, your secretary is waiting for you. Don't keep her waiting."

I can only nod before heading to my office.

A secretary? I have a feeling things are going to get interesting.

---

Ey, gamer! Chapter 2. Hope you're enjoying this mess. I sure did while writing this madness.