Commander's Rounds Volume 1

Entry 133: Signs of Life

The commander wasn't entirely sure what he was seeing when he looked into the violet eyes of the white-haired shipgirl in front of him. Alex was used to them having all kinds of appearances, and this one was no different- Much like New Jersey, this one had all of the stylings of some kind of living technological marvel- futuristic antennae, tall, semi-armored boots... She looked like something out of the sketchbook of a science-fiction concept artist.

And now she was complete after the commander gave Dr. Fuller and Dr. Anzeel anything and everything they wanted to get her up and about. The commander tilted his head a bit as he looked her over, and she actually did the same in response, the commander beginning to get the impression that she was looking at him with the same level of curiosity that he had while looking at her. The commander looked at Dr. Anzeel. "So, she said her name is Kearsarge?"

"Mhm!" Went Dr. Anzeel. "She's a shipgirl modeled after an experimental hybrid carrier/battleship design simply known as "Ship X" sometime in the past. She was originally designed for the Northerners, but by a designer from the Union. Even her base metrics say she's very powerful, or at the very least has the potential to be."

"Hm." The commander went. "Interesting name, though."

Dr. Fuller started putting away some of the equipment. "Not out of the ordinary. A long time ago there was a Union battleship called Kearsarge, so it's not like the name hasn't been used before. I have to admit that it's an odd duck for a ship with these kinds of weapons, but she's not solely a battleship. So, I think she can get away with it. Besides, it's not like the original Kearsarge had a conventional weapon configuration either."

"True." He said, still looking her over. She was a bit of a quiet one, but by now, he had understood that she was taking her time to figure out what to make of him.

Dr. Anzeel decided to tease him. "Hehe...She is pretty, isn't she?"

The commander blushed a little at the question, but couldn't escape Kearsarge's gaze, as though the ship was waiting for instruction on whether or not she should be considered pretty. It was then that the commander noticed that, ever since he came to the lab, Kearsarge had only really blinked once.

He took off his hat and ran a hand through his hair. "...As pretty as any other kansen, at least."

Kearsarge seemed to process this, and accept it as part of her classification. Kearsarge would certainly be a ship he had to learn how to deal with over time. Dr. Anzeel smiled. "Take good care of her, commander, but of course, that's not something you have to do alone."

"There is one more question." The commander looked at Kearsarge, whose attention snapped directly to him. "...So... Who do you feel that you identify with, so we know exactly where to put you?"

Kearsarge stood up from where she was sitting. "I would say that, as I was designed in the Eagle Union, that is where I believe I should reside in regards to my base assignment."

The commander paused. "...I think that settles it then."

Dr. Fuller nodded. "We should let the kansen make as many choices as we can. God knows they get few enough as is."

Kearsarge looked at the commander. "Commander. I would like to return with you to your office so I may receive my organization and orders."

He paused. "We haven't even put you on your test cruise yet."

She continued to stare at him. "However, surely you have enough command experience to consider how to use a ship like myself at sea."

He did have some idea, but being asked about it right off of the bat like this was a new experience. "Well, I do, but... Okay, I guess you really do want to jump right into this." He looked at the doctors. "All right, I guess I'll be borrowing Kearsarge for a bit before I send her home."