Star Ship Girl Era: My Shipgirls Are Too Overpowered

Chapter 212: Chat With The Parents

Aurelian turned toward her. "You are two comments away from having your refit moved behind Astercourt."

Astercourt, who had only entered to deliver a report, looked up. "I do not want her place in the queue."

Rhoswen pointed at her. "See? She respects me."

"No," Astercourt said. "I respect the safety of my work schedule."

Neris smiled faintly.

Even Astra, standing beside Aurelian, looked like she was trying not to smile but failing badly.

The humor did not slow the work.

If anything, it made the days easier to move through.

Aurelian continued privately building upgrade paths through the Destiny System, making sure there were no major problems.

But no one knew that he was cheating his way through the paths; instead, to everyone else, he was simply studying hard, using Eirenne’s data, Meridian’s engineering work, and captured technologies to create better refit plans.

That was enough for him, and in some sense, it was also mostly true.

The Destiny System gave him the path, but the March still had to walk it.

One week after Neris finished her refit, Aurelian finally received the first reply from home.

It came through a secured Arcturus channel, layered under enough protection that Eirenne immediately grew interested.

"Family-grade encryption," she said. "Very clean."

Aurelian looked at her. "Oh? put it up."

Eirenne didn’t say much as she just opened the message and let him see through it.

His father’s face appeared first.

Cassian Arcturus looked composed, as always. Silver-streaked dark hair, sharp eyes, and a calm demeanor, which made Aurelian relax instinctively.

Then his mother appeared beside him.

Elara’s expression was softer, but only slightly.

Aurelian straightened without thinking.

"Aurelian," Cassian said. "Your report was received."

Aurelian, who heard this, replied, "It’s good to see you both."

The conversation that followed was careful at first.

Aurelian summarized the situation again, this time with more detail. Larkspur Haven’s condition.

The bastion’s production. The awakened machine population. The Kharov raid. Mournveil. The recovered Thornwake cruisers. The sealed warship.

He explained the results through discovery, ruin intelligence, fleet action, and analysis. That was enough for now.

Cassian listened without interrupting for most of it.

Elara asked a few questions about safety, support, and whether Aurelian was overextending.

He answered honestly.

Mostly.

When she asked whether he was resting properly, he said, "I get enough sleep, similar to how much I get at home."

Astra, standing nearby but outside the main projection line, said nothing.

Rhoswen muttered, "Yeah, but the number of times you do that can be questioned."

Aurelian looked at her.

His mother heard it.

"Aurelian."

He closed his eyes briefly.

Betrayal, he decided, could come in many forms.

"I rest, mother, it’s just because I am in a new territory, the ship girls and I are always busy," he said.

"That is not reassuring."

"It was not meant to be alarming."

Cassian looked like he was enjoying this far too much. "It’s good to see that you are managing things."

"It’s not hard with the help of Astercourt and others," Aurelian said.

His mother’s gaze softened a little. "Good. It’s good to see their people helping you."

For a moment, he was not just a frontier commander reporting to a great house. He was a son speaking to his parents after being away too long.

Cassian let that moment breathe before returning to business.

"We will not move openly yet," he said. "Not with the full weight of the family. Too many eyes are on us, and your frontier position is valuable enough that secrecy still benefits you."

"I expected that, which is why I didn’t tell you about this place before, or I wouldn’t even have gotten the chance to come here due to its dangers."

"But we will send support," Cassian continued. "Though quietly, as engineers, survey teams, administrative specialists, and a protected communications array will come to you. A military reserve will be prepared, but not committed unless the situation demands it."

Aurelian nodded. "That is enough for now."

"It is not everything we can send."

"I know. But it is what I can absorb without making noise."

Cassian’s eyes showed approval.

Elara looked at him more closely. "You have changed."

"I would hope so."

"You sound older."

"I became very busy."

"That is one way to say it."

Aurelian did not answer right away.

Then he said, more quietly, "I am doing well."

Elara held his gaze for a moment.

"I know," she said. "That does not mean I cannot worry."

"I know."

The call lasted longer than he expected.

By the end, the first family support movement was approved. Yelena would remain involved in technical routing.

Lucian would assist where academy access could help. A discreet team would be sent toward the frontier as soon as the route could be secured.

And the unknown visitor who had come looking for him?

Cassian did not give full details over the channel.

That alone told Aurelian the matter was not simple.

"We will discuss that when communication is stronger," his father said.

Aurelian accepted it for now.

After the call ended, the command room was quiet.

Then Rhoswen spoke.

"Your mother is terrifying."

Aurelian looked at her. "She likes you."

Rhoswen blinked. "That was her liking me?"

"Yes."

Rhoswen thought about that. "Good. I think."

Astra spoke calmly from the side. "She is correct about your rest."

Aurelian turned toward her. "Not you too."

Neris, almost half-asleep in her chair, added, "She is correct."

Lysara smiled. "This is becoming a fleet consensus."

Aurelian looked around the room at all of them.

Then, despite himself, he laughed once under his breath.

"Fine," he said. "After the next review, I will sleep."

Rhoswen raised a hand. "For a real amount of time?"

"Yes."

Astercourt entered at that exact moment with another slate. "Good. I have already cleared your schedule for it."

Aurelian stared at her.

"You planned this."

"Yes," she said. "Efficiently."

For once, Aurelian had no answer.

Outside, Helion Bastion Twelve continued working, alive with repairs, upgrades, and preparation.

The family response was coming. The fleet was rising. The Kharov were still wounded and confused. The sealed warship still waited below.

There was too much to do.

There always was.