What kind of modifications can they have in their ships, and what are their maximum tolerances?

That question caused some of the ship’s girls to pause as they had never given these questions much thought before, but now being asked has made them think about them.

Solenne answered part of it through a remote link, calm and clear as always, while Neris filled in the rest in her slow, steady way.

Rhoswen added her part too, though she did it louder and with less care, which seemed to catch Eirenne’s attention for a different reason.

By the time they were done going back and forth, Eirenne went quiet for a few seconds, like she was sorting everything out properly instead of just reacting.

Then she said, "Shipgirls are not what I first thought they were."

Neris nodded. "No, they’re not."

"They seem to have a better time compared to what some of my core memories have shown," Eirenne continued.

"Oh?" Neris said.

"And it seems that this means that the bond with the commander in the future will not have any major problems."

"Yes."

Eirenne turned her attention toward Aurelian. "That is extremely unfair to normal ships."

Aurelian almost smiled. "It is."

Eirenne didn’t react much as she just took the answer and kept thinking about it, as if she were placing it into something larger rather than treating it as a simple comment.

After a moment, she said, "A properly supported shipgirl fleet has much higher long-term value than a normal fleet built to the same level."

"That’s why I’m building one carefully," Aurelian said.

Rhoswen leaned closer to the projection, clearly interested now. "So does that mean you wish you were a shipgirl?"

Eirenne looked at her, calm and direct.

"No. I am not built for that."

"Really?" Rhoswen pressed.

"I can handle systems, fleets, stations, and large structures at once," Eirenne said. "A shipgirl is stronger inside her own ship. I am built to cover more than that."

Neris nodded slightly. "That makes sense."

Rhoswen leaned back, looking a little disappointed that Eirenne didn’t rise to the bait.

Aurelian wasn’t disappointed at all.

That answer told him something useful. Eirenne understood what she was and what she wasn’t. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

She wasn’t trying to be like the shipgirls, and she wasn’t trying to fit into something she wasn’t made for.

That mattered more than it sounded. A system like hers trying to act like a shipgirl would only create problems later.

A system that stayed in its own role and did it well could become something solid.

That was what he needed.

No overlap.

Structure.

Later, when most of the sorting work was already underway and the immediate tasks were handled, Eirenne spoke again.

"I can prepare a limited sub-core for long-range operations," she said. "It would not be equal to my main system, and it would draw some resources from it, but it would allow me to assist directly during missions instead of relying on delayed links."

Aurelian looked at her.

"How limited?"

"Enough to control several hundred low-tier automated units if needed," she said. "Or fewer high-priority ones with better response. It would also allow real-time support for logistics, threat sorting, route management, and integration of captured systems."

That was useful.

More than useful.

For something like the raid they were preparing, it could make a real difference. If they ended up taking transport ships, dealing with captured escorts, or managing movement during the strike, having something like that on hand could keep things running smoothly instead of turning them into confusion.

Rhoswen sighed silently as she muttered. "Damn, she is showing off."

"Maybe, but for her, this is pretty normal," Neris corrected.

Eirenne turned toward Rhoswen. "Do you want me aboard your ship?"

Rhoswen paused for a second. "Would you tell me not to ram things?"

"Yes."

"Then no."

Neris laughed quietly.

Aurelian considered it for a moment before answering.

"Prepare the sub-core," he said. "Not for Rhoswen. It goes with Neris or with the command support unit, depending on how we finalize the raid."

"Understood," Eirenne said.

After that, the work continued, but the feeling around it had changed a little. Not lighter, not relaxed, but steadier.

The haul from Halcyon Vault had solved more than one problem at once. It gave Neris the speed she needed to work with.

It gave the March materials for future upgrades. It gave Aurelian more room to build his core fleet without cutting corners.

It gave Eirenne a clear place in everything. And it made the upcoming Mournveil operation feel like something properly supported, rather than something pushed forward because it had to be.

Aurelian stood near the edge of the storage bay later, watching as the last of the blue-grade pieces were sealed into secure racks.

The process was controlled, clean, and fast enough to keep everything moving without slowing them down.

Astercourt stepped up beside him.

"This changes the schedule, not enough to delay the raid, but we should adjust loadouts before we leave," she said.

"Yes, do it."

She nodded once, already moving on in her head to what needed to be changed and how it would fit into everything else.

For once, Aurelian didn’t feel like the work ahead had simply grown heavier.

It had.

But this time, it came with something to back it up.

That made the difference.

Across the bay, Eirenne’s projection moved between Neris, Seris, and Meren, already going through storage setups, power distribution, and plans for what remained in Halcyon Vault.

She didn’t waste time, and she didn’t need to be told what to focus on. She simply worked.

Rhoswen watched her for a bit, then looked back at Aurelian.

"You know," she said, "she really does belong here."

Aurelian followed her gaze.

"Yes," he said.

There wasn’t much more to add.

March had gained something important.

Her being here has taken a lot of the load off the other ships’ girls, who are unable to do much other than work on these logistical jobs.