Commander's Rounds

Entry 73: Yes, Prime Minister

The commander was hard at work in his study with the usual nuts and bolts of running a base. He was almost finished for the morning, and was even in his dress uniform thanks to an important engagement later. King George V had some other appointment to deal with, but he wasn't left all alone in his office. That morning he had opened the door to find Shinano snoozing away on the office couch, and he decided to leave her be. She wasn't a disturbance at all, as the only sounds she made were the occasional thump of one of her thick tails against the couch, as well as every so often making some kind of soft vocalization that the commander had collectively categorized under "Sleepy fox noises".

it was just when the commander was getting to the end of this last-minute business that Shinano woke up, looking around to see where she had parked herself. She may very well have sleepwalked into the commander's office, and as she looked around, she only let out one noise. "Huh..."

The commander looked up. "Well, it's still technically morning, so, good morning, Shinano. Did you have a nice rest?"

"Mm..." She went. "...Commander, did I bother you?"

"Not at all." He went on. "Even when you're not doing or saying anything, you're still pleasant company."

"Ah..." She went, and remained laying down on the couch.

The commander did think of something. "Actually, while you're here, there's something I've been meaning to ask you, something that I've been thinking about since we talked after Purifier was captured."

Shinano looked over at the commander. "...What is it that bothers you?"

"It's not so much that it's something that bothers me," he said, putting his papers away. "It's more something that I've been curious about. I don't know how much you feel you can tell me, but I thought it was worth asking. After what you said to me, my big question is this: Did you have any other candidates in mind for being the commander of Azur Lane? Even with the criteria you gave to me, it would still be pretty strange, even sad, if I was the only person fit for the job."

Shinano shook her head, and twitched one of her ears. "...You were not the only one in consideration. I cannot say exactly how many there were, but... I can tell you, at least it was not an easy decision. It took some time to decide that you were the best fit out of all of them. One of the other candidates commands the Atlantic Division..."

The commander gave her a nod. "Well, no wonder you weren't worried."

"There is an unfortunate reason that the decision was not harder..." She went on. "...There was another who may have been about as suitable as yourself, but... He was killed by chance during a Siren attack on the Maple Monarchy..."

"Hm." Was the commander's response. "Now it makes me wonder if there was a world where things had turned out differently for me, and that person has had something like this conversation with you."

Shinano smiled. "You are our commander. The commanders of others will tend to their own. If you were in competition, though, even I cannot foresee which among you would first vault the dragon gate."

"Well, I can only hope that other commanders look after their own." The commander stood up. "Anyway, it's time to think about going. How do I look?"

Shinano smiled. "No one would think you are not a commander. Will Albert be joining you?"

He adjusted his collar just a bit. "Only for the photo-op, after that he is free to do as he likes for the rest of the day. I don't think the Prime Minister of the Royal Isles will have any interest in talking to a junior officer, and besides, I've heard that some of the girls have been keeping him good company, so I don't want to get in the way of that for what's likely not much more than a press stunt. You can come along if you want, unless you need some more sleep."