"Dr. Osta, hahaha, long time no see! Here's the detailed funding approval and energy cube list for you. Please sign here."
"Alright, I can't believe you managed to come all the way to this remote Summers Island. The Oceanic Federation's military must be quite busy recently, right?"
"Hehe, actually, it's not that bad. It's mainly the forward lines that are in disarray... Ah, thank you. Doctor, is this the artificial intelligence weapon, the infamous ANTI-X?
She's so beautiful, completely different from the rumors outside. It's hard to imagine such a cute girl having more power than our most advanced warships."
"You're flattering her. Her name is 'Compiler.' She's the latest model I created. The language module isn't complete yet.
The ANTI-X who greeted you outside was Zero, the original ANTI-X."
"Huh?! Wait, this girl isn't the same as the one outside?"
"Hahaha, so you noticed? It looks like next time when designing a test subject, I should consider adding some different elements to make them more distinguishable."
"Heh, then I suggest you design a tall woman. Not only would she look more dashing, but it would also help boost the morale of our troops."
"Ahem, is that really the military's request?"
"Hahaha, Dr. Osta, I was just joking. Don't take it seriously."
...
...
...
Uncertain how long had passed, Lin Lan gradually regained consciousness.
However, his eyelids were heavy, and even opening his eyes was difficult.
The surroundings were quiet, and the only sounds he could vaguely hear were birds chirping, indicating it was morning.
Other than that, he had no idea how long he had been unconscious.
"I must have arrived at the New Ocean Artificial Island by now, but what was that conversation earlier?"
Lin Lan tried to clear his memories from before he passed out, recalling the last moment when he saw his Eagle Union fleet.
But what were those fragments of speech?
Dr. Osta...
Lin Lan felt the name was familiar, but he couldn't quite place it.
Yet he clearly heard them mention "Compiler" and "Tester," even Zero.
He realized that he had probably developed PTSD after all the recent encounters with the Sirens, even dreaming about them.
Lin Lan wanted to laugh bitterly, but in his current state, he couldn't even muster a smile.
Come to think of it, how many times had he woken up from unconsciousness since crossing over?
As he focused on his memories, he felt his strength gradually returning, and finally, he regained control of his body.
He managed to open his eyes.
Slowly lifting his eyelids, Lin Lan saw the pale yellow light and a white ceiling he didn't recognize.
He could confirm that this was no mass-produced ship's cabin. He had surely arrived at the New Ocean Artificial Island.
"Com...Commander?"
Before he could turn his head to check his surroundings, a trembling young woman's voice sounded beside him.
The next second, a familiar, heroic face suddenly appeared in his line of sight.
Silver hair flowing down, violet eyes like crystal, and that classic white off-shoulder outfit.
Lin Lan immediately recognized this heroic fleet girl.
"Enterprise... Long time no see."
He mustered his strength, forcing a faint smile at the girl who covered her mouth with both hands, her face filled with concern.
Indeed, the first person who appeared before him when he regained consciousness was none other than the true war goddess of Eagle Union, the nightmare of the Sakura Empire.
The gray ghost who earned twenty battle star medals, the Pacific Queen, CV-6 Enterprise.
As Lin Lan locked eyes with the silver-haired fleet girl, who had been part of his main fleet since the beginning of his port's establishment until his last days before crossing over, he found himself stunned.
He really liked Enterprise, perhaps even before the game had officially launched.
He had chosen to pre-register for the game after seeing a poster of Enterprise pulling a bow in a heroic pose.
Countless times when he faced difficulties in life, he would look at the game's character portrait of Enterprise, her confident smile giving him strength.
He also drew inspiration from her in history, where she overcame extreme hardships, never being defeated by war, and ultimately securing victory.
When Enterprise's affection reached "Love" in the game, he was touched when she told him that after the war ended, she would follow him wherever he went.
Thinking back to how she had lost her older sister Yorktown and younger sister Hornet in the war, and yet had taken on the heavy burden of Eagle Union alone, only to be dismantled by Blue Star's Eagle Union after the war...
Lin Lan couldn't hold back his emotions.
Oath ring, must arrange it right away!
New outfit released, must buy it immediately!
Graduation gear, must prioritize Enterprise's experience!
Lin Lan had given everything he could as a commander to the silver-haired fleet girl before him.
Though he treated every fleet girl with kindness and loved each one deeply, his feelings for Enterprise were undoubtedly the deepest.
However, as he locked eyes with Enterprise at this moment, he felt a bit guilty.
He had made her search for him for so long after his inexplicable crossing over, and now, having fallen unconscious again, he was making her and the other Eagle Union fleet girls worry about him...
"Commander, don't speak yet. I'll go get the porridge that Vestal made for you. Wait for me! I'll be right back to feed you!"
Enterprise, sensing Lin Lan's weak voice and inability to speak, wiped away the tears at the corners of her eyes and gently stroked his cheek.
After softly whispering to him, she stood up and quickly left as if carried by the wind.
"So decisive, truly Enterprise," Lin Lan said, a faint, weak smile curling on his lips as he listened to her footsteps fade.
"But speaking of Vestal... I do wonder how good her porridge really is."
Vestal was Eagle Union's repair fleet, once Enterprise's exclusive caretaker, and she had earned a reputation for fighting while repairing ships during the darkest times of their war with the Sakura Empire.
Lin Lan also recalled that in the game, Vestal, as a fleet girl, was not only a gentle, youthful doctor but also an excellent cook, living up to her name.
Back when he first started playing, he had often fantasized about tasting Vestal's cooking. Little did he know, it was about to come true.
Lin Lan turned his head and began to examine his surroundings.
He was in a clean, tidy bedroom, lying on a white bed with a blanket covering him.
Next to his bed, on his right hand side, was a silver metal frame with an IV drip connected to his right hand, dripping clear fluid into him.
"Wow, this is really Eagle Union's medical standards?!"
Seeing the IV, Lin Lan couldn't help but feel surprised and muttered to himself.
He had thought that fleet girls couldn't fall ill, and he hadn't expected to find such professional medical facilities here.
_______
50 advanced chapters on p@t re on (.) com/SenatusTheta
_______
If any of you noticed an error, please point it out in comments!