Commander's Rounds

Entry 99: A Round for the House

Alexander blinked as he put on his shoes. "You'd like to come along this time?"

King George V nodded. "Of course. After all, it does seem to be something important to you. As far as I've heard it, this is something that you've done since you've arrived at the base."

He sat back down on the bed. "I can't guarantee we'll see anything interesting. And besides, the first time I did it, it was because Z23 was called away while she was helping me get settled into the job, and I really didn't see anything else I could do at the moment."

King George smiled. "And how exactly did that turn out?"

He shook his head. "I met Oklahoma for the first time, and then I wound up at an Eagle Union barbecue they were having to pass the time. Apparently, the old provisional administrator didn't interact with the Kansen that much- Said it had something to do with blood pressure." He then realized what he had just said. "All right, maybe that wasn't the best example. But you'd still like to come?"

"It seems to be a nice opportunity." She said. "Besides, it feels like it has been a while since we've just taken a walk together. Not that I mind the other sorts of "exercise" that we get up to."

Alex blushed a bit at that. There were times when her pregnancy had made King George more "needy" than she usually was, but he didn't find it a bother to provide her with "relief." He leaned over, and kissed her on her lips, then moved over to give her a kiss on her bare, round belly. "I don't object to you coming along, I just wanted to be sure you wouldn't be bored."

"There's only so much I can do for the Royal Navy right now." She replied. "And from what I know, you're in the same situation."

It was true. While the commander had felt they were on the precipice of something major, everything was as prepared as it could be. Albert and Kashino had made sure they had enough stock to supply an operation of any size, and Purifier's mission with New Jersey and the Helena's had been a success- Yuubari's lab was busy churning out as much hardware as it could- All they lacked was their target for both.

Hurry up and wait did seem to be the order of the day. "Well, whenever you're fully dressed, we'll go out and have a look, all right?"

"After breakfast, of course."

"Of course."

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The commander stepped out of his homequarters, with King George with him, and as soon as he was out he put an arm around her as best as he could, just to give a rub to her pregnant middle. She smiled, and put her hand on his. "So, in the absence of anything else, the other girls make their own fun."

He nodded slowly. "That's how it has been ever since I got here. It was probably happening even before I came to take command, too."

"Hmm..." Was King George's response. She turned to see Sirius and Honolulu sitting on a bench, holding hands. Sirius eventually worked up the nerve to kiss Honolulu on the cheek, and when Honolulu blushed and turned to say something, Sirius just kissed the other cruiser on the lips, causing the union ship to go quiet and just turn a dandy shade of red. She looked over at him. "So it seems. So, is there any particular route you take?"

He shook his head. "Just wherever I like. Besides, it just doesn't really matter. If anything is going to happen, it just feels like it's going to find me."

"I see." She leaned over and kissed him on the side of his head, causing a giggle from a few observing shipgirls.

And the commander reflected that even if nothing did happen, it wasn't really a problem for him to have a quiet day spent with his lovely wife. It was even a good day for it, too- it was neither too hot nor too humid, and there was always a breeze from the sea. The only things that really disturbed it were the conversations between shipgirls about one thing or another, and the occasional sound of cannons as those under his command did some mock combat to settle some old scores or some new ones.