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1st Person PoV

1 week later...

A week after I became Azur Lane's Commander, I immediately got to work, familiarizing the entire facilities, getting to know the other shipgirls, and assessing the damage from the raid last week.

The Royal Maid Corps, especially Belfast helped me in regards of the names of all the ships of Eagle Union and Royal Navy ships. I also had a list of their names in papers in a resume style format.

Adding to that, haggling with that pesky cat, Akashi, made me frustrate as we had a deal regarding the resources of oil (No, don't say it Americans.), gold, gems, (Shut up, Brits), Wisdom Cubes, and Tech Packs.

Speaking of Tech Packs, those futuristic cases holds some significant ship parts for us. From turrets, AA guns, secondary guns, planes, torpedoe launchers, radars, ship coating, and other equipment like sonars, fire control systems, and gyroscopes. I know that those aren't compatible to me so I asked a joint cooperation with Akashi for my own gear and ammunition

The rocket propulsion system and computers.

Now, I had a naval exercise between the Eagle Union and Royal Navy to handle.

"Alright!" I yelled and clapped loudly, gathering all of the attention of the ships that'll participate in the exercise. "Everyone pay attention, please."

I looked at the twenty four girls that has been chosen by the draw lots, and back at the black board. There is a map of Azur Lane next to the board as I wrote some words on it.

"Today we will tackle new tactics for you girls to practice." Before they could mumble amongst themselves, I spoke ahead of them. "I know that the Iron Blood had their Wolfpack Doctrine, Sakura Empire and their Pre-Emptive Strikes. But we have some ace hidden unerneath our sleeves. Do you what those are?"

Essex raises her hand.

"Us, Commander! The Aircraft Carriers!"

I nodded in affirmation. "Good. Aircraft Carriers. I believe you girls are using "Task Forces" to patrol across the Pacific, correct?"

The girls nodded.

"That could be improved as time goes by. What do you girls know about a Strike Fleet?"

Hornet answered. "Uhh, like a Task Force thing... But more flexible?"

I pointed at her and nodded. "Thank you, Hornet. Yes, it is just like that. But that strategy includes submarines, destroyers, cruisers, carriers, and two to four battleships, depends on the situation."

"Enterprise, Essex, and Hornet, you have your patrols to guard your Task Forces and scout ahead, correct?" The three nodded. "Illustrious, Ark Royal, and Victorious, that goes for the three of you as well. But the difference is that the Royal Navy carriers are more reliable to their torpedo bombers."

I paced across the room as the other ships that are not included in the exercise were also listening to my lecture.

"I have... a plan." I declared. "I am currently having a collaboration with Akashi, our resident scientist, to create new technologies by using rockets and modern computers."

Some gasped while some gaped at my statement.

"Wait-! That does mean that you're letting some of your gear to be examined and reverse engineered, Commander?!" Cleveland stands up.

"Yes, exactly. We also got some partially destroyed Siren technology from the raid last week and is currently being held on my dockyard. Unfortunately, Akashi and I haven't started anything yet in regards to that."

"Sooo... who's going to be upgraded first?" Javelin asks.

"Our first priority are the carriers, submarines, and destroyers. Then we will move to the cruisers, both light and heavy, then to the battleships."

There are mixed reactions from them, the destroyers couldn't help but to giggle in excitement, the carriers gawked in complete shock, the cruisers had neutral looks, while the battleships heavily protested.

I raised my hand as the commotion died down, letting me speak through.

"The reason why the battleships are not prioritized first is because you are all precious in terms of firepower."

Some of the girls blushed at my remarks, I shrugged that off and continued.

"Besides, the destroyers and carriers and the most important because of our new doctrine. Imagine this, destroyers that can launch rockets to their enemies without even seeing them. Jet fighters and bombers that can wreck havoc to the sirens, now becoming on par with their planes as well."

"Ooohh!" I can see their eyes twinkle in realization.

"Hmm... Now I see." Wales hummed. "This is not just for naval warfare isn't it, Commander?"

"You read my mind, Wales." I smirked. "Give me and Akashi 6 months and we will start taking back our territories from the Sirens. Do you all trust me?"

"Yes, Commander!" The girls responded.

"I can't hear you girls!"

"YES, COMMANDER!"

"GOOD!" I yelled back. "THEN, THE NAVAL EXERCISE BETWEEN THE EAGLE UNION AND ROYAL NAVY SHIPS WILL START IN 10 MINUTES, DISMISSED!"

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Outside the Azur Lane docks...

10 minutes later...

I stood at the bridge of my own ship, the USS Constitution, scanning the horizon with my binoculars as I was joined in by Queen Elizabeth, Washington, Warspite, and Yorktown in a wheelchair.

"Are the two teams ready, Yorktown, Warspite?" I asked the two leaders for the exercise.

"My team is ready, Commander." Yorktown reported, also holding her binoculars.

"Ours as well." Warspite paced through the bridge and stared at the seas ahead.

"Good." I said as I grabbed my radio and called the two flagships.

"Calling USS Enterprise, and HMS Prince of Wales. You can now start the exercise. Yorktown, Warspite, to your places please."

"Aye, Commander."  Wales radioed back.

"Affirmative."  Enterprise's voice on my radio crackled to life.

As I leaned back to my chair, I pressed a button and talked through the mic. "Potter-4 , you are clear for takeoff."

"Potter-4, acknowledged. See you later, Admiral."

A lone Grumman E-2 Hawkeye appeared on my flight deck and launched itself to the skies.

"Now..." I sighed as I closed my eyes and started to concentrate. "Surveillance!"

My eyes zoomed and shifted through the point of view of the AWACS aircraft that I've launched minutes ago. Now, I can see the two factions and their fleet from afar, making their first moves.

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Eagle Union Fleet in Order

Carriers:

USS Enterprise

USS Hornet

USS Essex

Cruisers:

USS San Diego

USS Cleveland

USS Portland

Battleships:

USS West Virginia

USS Arizona

Destroyers:

USS Laffey

USS Sims

USS Haman

USS Fletcher

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Royal Navy Fleet in Order

Carriers:

HMS Illustrious

HMS Victorious

HMS Ark Royal

Cruisers:

HMS Edinburgh

HMS Belfast

HMS Dido

HMS Sheffield

Battleships/Battlecruisers:

HMS Hood

HMS Prince of Wales

HMS Queen Elizabeth

Destroyers:

HMS Glowworm

HMS Javelin

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My eyes narrowed at the order of battle and let out a quiet chuckle. "Well, well, well. What a weird list they have today. EU is relying on their carriers and destroyers While RN has their heavy guns. Since I told them no rigging will be allowed, this is going to be a ship against ship warfare instead of their human avatars."

I adjusted my focus on the RN side, seeing that the three carriers have steered away from the scene, accompanied
by Javelin and Glowworm as their smkescreen slightly covers the curve they took.

"Hoh? They're letting the cruisers splitting up as well?" I said, noticing the RN battlecruisers pairing to two's.

And a loud thunderous noise from Hood's guns started the fight.

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"Glowworm, out!"

"Cleveland, Portland, out as well!"

Glowworm rammed herself towards Cleveland's starboard. Portland was struck by Glowworm's torpedoes as well, adding the bombs from Illustrious' Swordfishes, damaging the ship even further.

12 minutes have passed as I heard a big splash of water shooting upwards to where Essex's ship is.

Dogfights between RN and EU's planes danced above the clear skies as I heard a chain of explosions from the EU's destroyers.

"Hamann! Sims! Out!" I declared, seeing their state as Hamann's ships is currently listing to the side.

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"Hornet, Ark Royal, done for the day!"

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"Prince of Wales, San Diego, you girls are out! Clear that fire on your turrets if you can!"

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In the end, the EU ships won due to air superiority and when the RN ships made a fatal mistake at the very start.

Splitting their carriers away from the main fleet.

The girls who were watching the fight cheered for their factions as we came back to the shore. A satisfied Enterprise lands on the docks as she nodded at me.

"That was... exhilarating, Commander." Warspite let out a heavy sigh. "Arrghh! I made a mistake because of it!" She said in frustration.

"The exercise is quite enlightening and I look forward joining again in the future, Commander." Yorktown smiles and went on, Vestal accompanying her back to the hospital.

"Well?" I said to the girls who participated. "What did you girls learned?"

Enterprise hummed. "Many things." She stated.

"Laffey wants to sleep." Laffey said in a sleepy tone.

"I went ka-blam! and ka-boom! at them!" Cleveland exclaimed. "But I think we need to refine our tactics."

"I agree with Cleveland." Wales nodded. "We should protect our backs more than ever, especially when there's an ambush."

"The destroyers will be quite useful in future battles, Commander. Their torpedoes as well." Hood remarked. "But of course, we need to practice on our firing calibrations and aim, too."

I talked to them for another 2 minutes as the sun finally reached midday. We were back at the hall as I called each and everyone of them.

"Alright girls, heads up!" I yelled. "With the exercise we've made earlier, I hope that the others will participate in the future. But for now, relax and earn your day offs."

This caused enthusiastic cheering from them.

"Still, morning and night patrols will be conducted as we ease ourselves. Also, there's an incoming festival next week, am I right? How about we make a plan for that event?"

The girls cheered even louder. I chuckled as I raised my hand to silence them.

"Okay, with that. You are all dismissed! Have fun doing your activities for this week!"