The system's response puzzled Setsuna for quite a while.
What did it mean to "upgrade to a formal civilization"?
Not enough people? Insufficient strength?
That didn't make sense. One glance at the Hyperdimensional Map revealed that after the Vanguard Fleet arrived in this world, the military strength of the opposing faction—like the one in the Demon Slayer world—had been reduced to insignificant ants.
A civilization stuck in the Steam Era stood no chance against pre-space-age shipgirls. They were recognized as a civilization, so why wasn't he?
If it wasn't due to military, technological, or economic shortcomings, the issue had to lie in something more abstract.
He pondered what made his world different from others or what it lacked compared to other civilizations or nations.
Industrial and agricultural systems?
Religion? That couldn't be it; some technological civilizations were entirely secular.
Government? Administrative structure? There was some merit to this, but it didn't fully explain it.
He noticed his world was simply labeled "Settlement" on the map.
"What constitutes a civilization…"
Setsuna wracked his brain, trying to pinpoint the missing elements.
"Economy, military, culture, politics… A name!?"
"A name?!"
A flash of inspiration struck.
"Everyone, gather up! I have something important to discuss."
Half an Hour Later
In the naval base's meeting room, all 30 shipgirls of the Vanguard Fleet were gathered.
They glanced at Setsuna curiously, whispering among themselves.
"What's going on? Why the sudden meeting?"
"No idea. The commander said it's something important he needs our input on."
"Does he plan to make a pact? Is it with some other bug?!"
"Taihou, act normal for once…"
Some of the destroyer and submarine shipgirls even had nets full of freshly caught fish in hand, having been interrupted mid-fishing session.
"Is everyone here?"
Setsuna cleared his throat, and the room fell silent.
"Commander, what's the matter?"
Richelieu, holding a copy of the Holy Bible, frowned slightly and asked.
"We're founding a nation."
"…???"
The shipgirls blinked, stunned, as they stared at Setsuna.
"We need to decide on a national name, a flag, military uniforms… and hold a founding ceremony."
"What?!"
The shipgirls were flabbergasted. For a while, no one knew what to say.
"What does this mean exactly?" Essex asked.
"These are essentials for a formal civilization," Setsuna explained.
"When we venture into other worlds, we'll need a striking name and a flag to represent us."
He admitted to himself that he'd overlooked this simple yet crucial detail amidst the hectic city-building tasks.
As a civilization, they needed a name and a symbol to call their own.
"Hmm… is that so?"
"Then Commander, why don't you decide? After all, this is your world," Victorious suggested after some thought.
"No, no, no."
Setsuna smiled. "Thanks to all of you, this place was built in the first place. You're the founding members of this nation. Any ideas are welcome."
"Wow!"
The shipgirls buzzed with excitement.
Founding members.
Indeed, they were the first companions to rebuild civilization on Earth alongside the commander.
Though few in number, their significance was monumental.
Encouraged by this, the group quickly launched into brainstorming.
"The port is called Azur Lane… How about something similar? Sky Blue Highway? Cerulean Mirage?"
Yukikaze was the first to raise her hand.
"That's weird. Next," the others vetoed.
"We need to acquire a lot of knowledge and technology from other worlds to fight the Sirens. How about Knowledge Keepers?" Ning Hai suggested.
"Nope, that sounds strange too," Setsuna shook his head.
"This Earth is the first foreign territory we've landed on, which makes it special. How about Sacred Guardians?" Victorious proposed.
"…"
"Next," Setsuna waved it off.
"The commander can observe the multiverse from higher-dimensional space. What about The Mysterious Watchers?"
"…"
"Are you going to suggest Isolationists or Ancient Wardens next? Did you walk into the wrong genre?!" Setsuna facepalmed.
Yat Sen, arms folded, contemplated for a moment.
"The multiverse is vast, like an endless sea of stars. We aim to build a civilization that spans dimensions and fosters alliances with others…"
She paused thoughtfully before continuing.
"We're also organized as an alliance back at the port. How about calling ourselves the Starsea Alliance?"
"That's it!"
The room lit up with approval as the other shipgirls nodded enthusiastically.
Trust Yat Sen to come up with something elegant and meaningful.
The name was grand yet dignified.
"From now on, we are the Starsea Alliance," Setsuna declared.
"This marks Year One of the Starsea Alliance. From now on, this day shall be celebrated as our national founding day!"
"Proclaim amnesty, inaugurate a new era, and prepare for the founding ceremony!"
After finalizing the nation's name, the focus shifted to designing the government structure, flag, and uniforms.
For the administrative system, there wasn't much to discuss. Setsuna commanded the shipgirls, the shipgirls directed the Bulins, and the Bulins oversaw the little yellow chicks.
Since there weren't many people, a single shout could summon everyone, making a complex administrative structure unnecessary.
Thus, attention centered on the flag and uniform.
In the Azur Lane world, each faction had its own naval flag, usually in blue-and-white designs.
Drawing inspiration from the United Nations of Humanity flag in Stellaris, Setsuna designed a crimson-and-gold eagle flag.
The central feature was a sharp, soaring eagle set against the bold red background.
Compared to the naval flags, this new design exuded a greater sense of majesty and aggression.
As for uniforms, given the shipgirls' varied wardrobes—ranging from short cheongsams and kimonos to casual wear and even milkmaid outfits—there was a pressing need for standardization during expeditions to avoid looking disorganized.
Another reason was that a unified appearance fosters cohesion and makes the group more recognizable in external conflicts.
Over the Next Two Days
The uniform design process invited input from all the major fleets, and the shipgirls enthusiastically displayed their creativity.
"New outfits? Yay!"
"Imagine how striking we'll look when everyone's wearing the same uniform."
"I think Iron Blood's military uniforms should set the standard…"
Soon, Setsuna's desk was piled high with various design sketches and samples.
Contributions from the Fleets
The Dragon Empery Shipgirls created cheongsams with white bases embellished with blue porcelain patterns—elegant and dignified.
The Sakura Empire Shipgirls offered a modernized kimono that highlighted their stunning figures. Conveniently, it could be undone with a single pull. (This was undoubtedly Taihou's design.)
The Eagle Union Shipgirls combined their military uniform designs with elements reminiscent of Marine Corps blue-and-white attire.
Other contributions included outfits from Royal Navy, Iris Libre, and Iron Blood that incorporated their cultural flavors, leaving Setsuna dazzled by the variety.
"Everyone's designs are fantastic," said Richelieu, examining a cheongsam designed by Yat Sen.
"Commander, which one do you think fits best as our uniform?"
Setsuna grinned. "Why don't you try it on? Let me see for reference."
He caught a flicker of curiosity and longing in Richelieu's eyes, much like a girl spotting a beautiful outfit while shopping.
Even the noble Cardinal wasn't entirely detached from earthly delights.
"Me?"
"No way. I don't suit cheongsams," Richelieu hesitated, surprisingly shy as she waved her hand dismissively.
"Just try it on. I want to see it in action—imagining it from a sketch just doesn't do it justice."
Setsuna leaned back in his chair, teasing yet earnest.
"Fine…"
Richelieu glanced at the dress in her hands, then at the door. After ensuring no one else was around, she sighed, picked up the cheongsam, and stepped into a side room.
"Alright, let's consider this part of the uniform selection process."
A few minutes later, the door creaked open, and Richelieu stepped out, each step deliberate and graceful, the soft click of her high heels echoing through the room.
The silver-white cheongsam she wore shimmered faintly, its sleek fabric clinging to her curves in a way that left little to the imagination.
Tailored for a cruiser's more modest frame, the dress hugged Richelieu's fuller, statuesque figure with an almost daring snugness, the material taut against her hips and chest.
The hemline sat daringly high, barely brushing the tops of her thighs. With every small movement, the fabric shifted slightly, the high slit along the side revealing flashes of her charming legs. The alluring sheen of her sheer pantyhose caught the light, further highlighting the curvaceous lines of her thighs.
"It's a bit tight," Richelieu murmured, tugging at the neckline, which plunged slightly lower than she was comfortable with. Her cheeks flushed faintly as she tried in vain to adjust the dress, the tight fit pressing against her curves and emphasizing her flawless silhouette.
Despite her mild discomfort, the cheongsam exuded a captivating charm. The Oriental design, adorned with intricate silver embroidery, perfectly complemented her golden hair and luminous violet eyes, adding a touch of exotic beauty to her already radiant presence.
"Well? How does it look?"
Seeing Setsuna momentarily dazed, Richelieu tilted her head and asked.
"Not bad. You're stunning. Next one."
Over the next half hour, Setsuna was treated to Kimono Richelieu, Royal Dress Richelieu, Iron Blood Uniform Richelieu, and more.
Some were dashing and heroic, while others were alluring and seductive.
Unfortunately, she steadfastly refused to try on a uniform incorporating Azure Horizons.
Finally, she changed back into her regular dress.
"Well? Which one do you think works best?"
Having thoroughly enjoyed the show, Setsuna shook his head. "None of them."
"What?!" Richelieu blinked.
"Their designs are all tailored to their respective factions. While beautiful and attractive, they don't qualify as military uniforms.
"Our future forces won't just consist of naval shipgirls; we'll have armies, air forces, even space fleets. We need something more formal and distinctive."
As he spoke, Setsuna handed his designs to Richelieu.
His Proposals
Black-and-red Military Uniform: Inspired by Iron Blood attire and the navy uniforms, it featured a golden eagle emblem representing the Federation on the chest. Bold and commanding.
Black-and-red Dress Uniform: A black jacket with red trim, paired with a matching one-piece dress, black stockings and heels. It had a softer, elegant flair while retaining formality.
"Wow…"
Richelieu let out a soft gasp.
One glance was enough to discern the difference between Setsuna's designs and the others.
These weren't just costumes—they were genuine military uniforms. Every detail exuded professionalism and authority.
"These are perfect! Everyone will love them!"
She activated the communicator, preparing to share the designs with the others.
But she suddenly froze mid-action.
"Commander, if you'd already designed these, why did you make me try all those outfits?"
"Compared to your designs, the others aren't even in the same league. Everyone would've picked yours from the start just by looking at the sketches."
"…?"
Setsuna merely smiled.
"Commander!"
"Be honest—did you sneak that Azure Horizons design into the submissions?!"