Azur Lane: Konvergenz

Chapter 10: Subsurface Threat - Rewritten

Location: Pacific Ocean

Locational data: Offline substitute active / No errors detected

Current time: 7:18 - Morning

Weather: Mild Fog – Preconditions for potential storm detected / Continuing to monitor

Objective/s: RTB to Azur Lane base // Continue to monitor surrounding waters for hostile threats

Status: Internal system integrity compromised / Operational capabilities compromised / Support capabilities compromised

/Proceed with Caution/

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What a certain frigate expected to occur, especially after what she had been through, was to eventually fall asleep atop the deck of her frigate. Yes, sleeping on a hard metal surface may not be the best choice, but the exhaustion did not allow her legs to carry her towards the nearest located bed in time. Yet, she had slept the last few hours peacefully and without interruptions...

...which was surprising because last time she checked, steel was never this soft and warm. She also did not remember to have brought along a pillow before her consciousness slipped into sleep. These questions made their way into her mind as she slowly woke up.

And so, she slowly opened her eyes and perceived her surroundings. She was greeted with the gentle sounds of the waves splashing against the bow of her vessel, the deep engine sounds of the imposing battleship towing it, her head resting atop something really soft, and a smiling face staring directly down at her.

"AH! What are you doing?"
She yelped from the scare, perking up straight as an arrow. Which was also when she realized that New Jersey, who was in the process of giggling to that display, had repurposed her thighs as a pillow for her on purpose.
"Mornin', sleepyhead. Took you long enough."

The situation took a few moments to register before she answered. "There are better ways to wake me up, you know.", The frigate pouted. "Staring at me mere centimeters away from my face is not one of them

"Sorry, your face just looked very cute while you slept." She added, still amused. "You must have been exhausted from all that back there - honestly, I can't blame you. I hope my 'assistance' helped."

Hessen brushed away that comment, taking a glance at the half-cheeky half-smug smile the battleship still portrayed. Although she had to admit that it was indeed very much comfortable...
"Yeah - you can say that. But forget it, how many hours did I sleep through?"

New Jersey took a moment to check the time.
"I'd say you were out for 'bout two hours."

"Two hours, huh..." She repeated, relieved for a strange reason as she resumed thinking tactically. "No encounters within two hours... Yes, that should mean we are outside of dangerous waters for now. Chances of encountering something out here are slim, but still present."

"Aw, c'mon Hessen." New Jersey snapped her out of that line of thought with a headpat. "You just woke up and you're already on edge. Relax a little."

"..." Hessen fell silent, noticing a pattern which had been present for the last few days. It was not annoying, but... noteworthy. "...You know I'm a frigate, right? I feel like you're starting to treat me more and more like a little sister."

New Jersey responded with a simple smug smile, not even thinking about withdrawing her headpatting hand in the slightest.
"Well, I find it funny to headpat the very same person responsible for laying waste to half an enemy base just hours ago. With that kind of firepower, are you sure you're not secretly my long-lost battleship sister?"