114: Chapter 114 Internal Report

"That's my Ship Girl... Alert! Over here!"

"Comrade Commander?"

She jogged over and was then lifted high by her Commander.

"Comrade Commander! What are you doing!" she struggled, "I told you I'm not a child anymore! There are so many people..."

"My bad, my bad..." Li Ming put her down and rubbed her head, "Where's Anshan?"

"She said she went back first and wants you to bring her some dinner." Alert's face was still a bit red; though somewhat dissatisfied, she still answered Li Ming's question.

"Uh..." Li Ming said helplessly, "Fine, anyway, with Z23 there, she won't starve."

Alert looked at him, "Comrade Commander..."

"I think we should consider what to eat today... oh wait, I still have something to do." Li Ming patted his head; today he had to visit that poor Green-Haired Teacher, "Alert, you go back first too, I have to handle some business..."

"Erm, is it that matter regarding Anshan?"

"Correct."

"Comrade Commander, can I come along?"

"Wait, wait, what's going on?" Cliff watched their self-absorbed interaction and interjected.

"Ah, nothing, just some private business," Li Ming replied, "Cliff, where's your Ship Girl?"

"Over there." Cliff pointed to a group of Ship Girls who had just come ashore.

That was the capital ship group.

"Oh, a battleship," Li Ming nodded, "Congratulations."

Cliff rubbed his nose and went up to greet them with several other Commanders.

"Alright, Alert, you..."

"I'm going too."

Seeing Alert's stubbornness, Li Ming fell silent for a moment, "Fine, let's go together. We'll go buy some sympathy gifts first."

——————

Edenia.

Aussie dawdled for quite a while before finally picking up the report co-authored by the diplomatic mission.

"Speaking of which, that guy should have enrolled by now, right?" Aussie recalled Li Ming's general appearance, "Nothing special about him."

After reading the first page of the report, she frowned.

"Psychological trauma? How can someone in that state become a Commander and a faction leader?"

She didn't quite understand; if someone's mental state was that poor, they should be receiving long-term treatment in a hospital, shouldn't they?

Looking further...

"Hmm, physical issues?"

Another reason for the hospital +1.

Fine, Conclusion 1 is that this guy isn't a normal Commander; if anything, he's more likely a giant baby.

Alright, next report.

Brevonia? She's quite the veteran industrialist; after all, without her, the Federation's development probably wouldn't be this advanced.

That's the value of the 'Mother of Industry' behind the scenes (laughs). If we really had to rely entirely on the Federation's development departments, which can't even agree internally, we'd probably struggle to even supply ammunition by now...

An estimated annual steel production of ten million tons? On a single island? And it has a complete naval shipyard and supporting component production lines?

Damn, is this a joke? Who can churn out steel like that?

Even for an archipelago, how many resources would it take to supply such a massive industrial zone?

Alright, I take it back. Even if he's a giant baby, he's a giant baby forged from steel.

An industrial scale of ten million tons can produce things that fully satisfy some of the Ship Girl Bureau's interests, especially since deals with the Federation and the Empire are becoming increasingly troublesome as they demand more and more.

Next page, Miss Persephya's notes. God knows what that mad scientist saw...

A proposal related to aviation industry reform?

Interesting, since when could she give such a serious suggestion?

Information about aircraft?

This plane is called the B-25, codenamed Mitchell.

Maximum flight speed is about 400 kilometers per hour, with a range of about two thousand kilometers.

This is under the premise that it's equipped with dozens of 12.7mm machine guns and ammunition, while also carrying three high-yield aerial bombs.

Although its loitering time is short, its maximum range is inferior to the Federation's airships, and even its payload is far less, one point is noteworthy: it's cheap, can be mass-produced, and is easy to take off, land, and maintain.

Most importantly, in terms of cost, the price of one military airship is enough to buy fifteen of these "medium bombers."

Right, and most importantly, this is just one of many types of these aircraft.

Persephya mentioned something entirely new: aviation combat theory.

This faction named "Horizons Edge" uses miniaturized high-speed aircraft on a large scale for patrols and even combat forces.

These planes can be equipped with rockets or bombs targeting ships and ground targets, or even torpedoes and large-caliber autocannons; their flexibility is beyond what airships can reach.

Even the Federation's expensive super mechs might not necessarily defeat those smaller, more agile "fighters" in aerial combat, and might even end up in a helpless one-on-one predicament.

Most importantly, these aircraft have extremely low requirements for takeoff, landing, and maintenance sites. Compared to the extreme maintenance of mechs and the massive takeoff/landing areas of airships, these planes can take off from a leveled patch of land.

Aussie's fingers unconsciously tapped the table piled with instant noodle cups. Judging by Persephya's remarks, Commander Li Ming highly values this type of aircraft. Although he hadn't spoken to her about any tactical usage, the displayed weapon configurations were enough to explain everything.

Most importantly, the existence of what appears to be Horizons Edge's current Flagship: Fujian.

An aircraft carrier Ship Girl.

A user of sea-based aircraft; although she hasn't displayed her power, it's almost certain she is the confidant Commander Li Ming relies on most.

Seriously, am I not just reading reports like I always do? Why am I so distracted today?

Aussie gave a bitter laugh and tossed the report aside... onto the instant noodle cups.

Clatter! The high stack of noodle cups toppled over, falling under the table along with the documents.

"It's over!" She hurriedly got up to rescue the noodles... no, the documents.

"This is bad..." Holding the report soaked in long-cold noodle soup, Aussie felt like she had become a bit too degenerate lately...

Clumsily going to get cleaning tools and trash bags, she had to clean this mess up quickly.

Her golden hair hung loose behind her back, unkempt for a long time. The last time she groomed herself was... the last time?

Forgotten. Anyway, it was a long time ago.

However, this guy Li Ming... an outlander suspected of being one of the xia people, really can't be treated simply as someone to be toyed with, unless someone could enchant him so much that he'd willingly leave with her...

It seems unlikely; after all, as a Ship Girl Commander, he must have basic awareness, especially since his new Ship Girl seems to have caused some trouble and doesn't look weak.

So troublesome.

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