A end of an era for you, but it's also a new beginning...
Azur Lane is owned by Yostar and BiliBili JP, I do not claim rights to this works
Rated whatever, has language
Arkansas woke up again at 4 AM, such a time was instilled on him during his basic training and shakedown cruise from a long time ago. Morning PT though just consisted of him walking around the base again. This time shadowed by a Sakura ship keeping an eye on him. The incident with the landmine is still remembered by Nagato. And the Siren.... and the shark. He really wanted to keep the shark. Only about a week is left till Arkansas transfers over to the main base.
Arkansas: Hmmm, I need coffee.
Arkansas decided to venture towards the canteen again, managing to retrace steps a bit better and better as the days gone on. Nagato reported that his ship was nearly repaired. After which, he would be sent to the main Eagle Union base for a shakedown and skill test. In terms of CQC, he was undisputed in that category. There was however a Royal Navy ship he heard about that had a sword, maybe he could train with her. Though, he heard that this ship doesn't know the concept of.... pants.
Arkansas orders some rice and ohitashi, along with a coffee and starts eating and drinking his food. He hears someone approaching him from behind, and they scream AT EASE.
Arkansas: Zuikaku, that only worked once, and because I was asleep. You are not catching me off guard like that again.
Zuikaku: Oh... well, always next time. Got my orders to transfer with ya to the main base, so always more chances to prank you.
Arkansas: Delightful.... (sarcastic)
Zuikaku: It ain't all bad. I think your ship is in a state where you can summon it's rigging now.
Arkansas: Rigging?
Zuikaku: Yeah.... don't you know about it?
Arkansas: No....
Zuikaku: Want me to teach you?
Arkansas: Sure I guess.
Arkansas finishes up his breakfast and coffee and follows Zuikaku out to the rigging practice area. Arkansas is unaware of what rigging is, he has never seen something like it in his world, and only knows about through what some of the other kansen have told him about it. From what he could gather, it was an extension of your ship reduced in size but keeping in firepower and endurance.
Zuikaku summoned her rigging, that of a usual aircraft carrier.
Zuikaku: How do I explain this.... okay...
Zuikaku: As you probably know, rigging is an extension of one's self. You think up an image of your ship and you then try to think of it as the ship fully being part of you.
Arkansas does this for a few minutes. At the repair dock, the ship begins breaking down into mental cubes and forms around Arkansas. He can feel changes as he does this. He feels stronger, faster, and generally having a lot more guns. His rigging appears in the form of his ship split in half, with 3 turrets on each side of him, 2 of them superfiring over a set, while another hangs at the sides. Smaller secondary guns and numerous AA guns litter his rigging. On top of one of the superfiring turrets is a catapult, which has a floatplane hooked into it.
(I build 3D models as a hobby, so I built a visual representation of his rigging. Sorry if it isn't perfect.)
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Arkansas gets a feel for it. IN the words of the engineer, use more gun. And Arkansas certainly had plenty of that. Zuikaku stares are Arkansas' rigging, amazed by the amount of firepower he has on it.
Zuikaku: Huh, got yourself quite some firepower.
Arkansas: Yes. and with a direct tapping into the targeting radars. I can somewhat see the general area. This is quite an interesting perspective you have.
Zuikaku: Okay, well, time to dispel your rigging, you just do that by imaging your ship in it's full form. But oh, be careful where you summon it, you need a good visual lo... wait....
Arkansas desummons his rigging. He is then greeted by a 26,000 ton battleship failing rapidly from the sky next to him. The waves it produces splashes both Arkansas and Zuikaku.
Repair teams are sent out to retrieve the battleship. Both Zuikaku and Arkansas got a scolding from Nagato for that. After the scolding, Arkansas walks away and heads to the cafeteria to get some lunch. He's greeted by Cleveland, who came up to him to ask something while Arkansas is enjoying a bottle of scotch.
Cleveland: Hey Arkansas, I need some help with something, and I figure only you can help me.
Arkansas: Sure... what's it about?
Cleveland appears embarrassed and but musters up the courage and finally asks.
Cleveland: Can you help me propose to my girlfriend?
