The Waves Don't Forget

Cyclone of Terror

"Now girls, what do you believe happened to me in those following years?"

It was silence for a while in the room, but eventually she saw Z23 raise her hand. "Did...you possibly try to find a calling?"

"No not really. I already knew what I was going to do, and there was no further reasoning to change it then."

She shifted a bit on her chair, readjusting her seating as her armored plates clinked and jingled together. "I continued my work as Otto's assistant, and with a helpful hand from him as well as other high rank officers who personally came to witness, I was able to join the military."
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"Military life back then was a lot different to now, when manpower was all we really needed compared to shipgirls, which wouldn't exist for another century, barring me."

Mathilde walked through the halls of the barracks, passing by other soldiers who gave her passing glances before continuing their duties. It was already news to the Corp that a woman has joined their ranks, and despite the initial protests, her superhuman capabilities have been seen by many, and her leadership had been tested.

It's safe to say they more than tolerate her, what with her being one of the best officers they had.

Mathilde's rank was Oberst, one she took in pride and strength.

"That rank meant something a bit different back then. It's equivalent to a Colonel nowadays, and back then, such people were usually in charge of a Regiment of soldiers, front liners to be precise."

Once she passed several of these other soldiers, she passed into another room, seeing other officers dealing with their share of work. Many turned to her and saluted her, which she saluted back to, as many were of equal rank, though there were lower.

'That role is perfect for me, as we had experimented on my capabilities for years at this point, and we knew that there was no human on Earth as powerful as I was. My smarts lasted me in politics, but the battlegrounds was like a break from that. So simple, yet so complicated..."

"Oberst Hering." She turned her head and saw a fellow officer, Rikar Windle. "Oberst Windle."

They smiled to one another, not bothering with the formalities as they got to work. It was the year 1887, and just a week prior, Germany has been asked for aid by a Samoan ally, Tamasese, in taking the crown of Samoa from his rivals.

The previous king has died, and now three others were trying to take the crown for themselves. Tamasese wished for aid from his German allies, on which he would promise resources and more if he is able to win.

Germany accepted, and now they had to get themselves ready to go over and assist.

...

"Girls, this is where I finally learned my true self, as a Shipgirl. This was the First Samoan Civil War, and even if it wasn't a big one, it was a war nonetheless."

Years have passed, and Mathilde was set on with other warships towards Samoa, ready to provide military assistance to Tamasese. Back to Mathilde however, she has felt an increasing irritability of staying on the ship, and her body seems to want her to...jump off.

'Why is my mind like this? That would be suicide!'

She was worried that she may be having suicidal thoughts, or her body might be not feeling the best on the waves. She shook off those thoughts for the time being and got to work keeping everything ready for the fighting.

Naturally, she was ready to handle the heavy loads that usually requires several men on board, and they were more than happy to have her assistance. She was taking one of the shells into storage for the built up guns of the SMS Adler, on which she was stationed alongside the captain of the vessel, who wouldn't say his name and only said to call him by his title.