[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/zG1CMLw.png[/img][h3][i]Bow Deck, HMS 'Dreadnought', Outside Harbor[/i]
HOLY GRAIL WAR - DAY 4[/h3]
[@Paradox Witch][@Argonaut][/center]

Strategist felt her uniformed chest swell with pride as she strode out from behind 'A' turret and passed her assembled officers, Marines and ratings. The sea that afternoon had been calm; everyone had been working around the clock with little rest, judging from both her own weariness and the visible signs of bleary-eyes among her men.

But their work since the successful capture of the Harbor had paid off. Strategist clambered up an external ladder and planted her boots in an 'at ease' posture (likewise placing her hands behind her back) and stared down at the upturned faces.

"Gentlemen!" she addressed them, trying to make herself heard. "Thanks to your efforts the previous day, we have succeeded in our first action of this new war! The securing of this harbor has not only allowed us to gain a foothold into Fuyuki, but has also given us access to raw material and a place to lie-up!"

A gloved hand thrust itself out towards the Harbor. "More then that, your conduct during the raid and in securing our salvage has been exemplary! Thanks to your restraint, your swiftness in the assault and in the control of your officers, the dock-workers and foremen of Fuyuki still have a place to come and work today! Furthermore, you have succeeded in helping us lay the foundations of our new fleet!"

A quartet of ship-horns and whistles shuddered out from the harbor and, in gradual succession, four more grey-armored hulls came into view, falling in behind the still-cruising [i]'Dreadnought'[/i]. Three of them were small, swift destroyers ([i]Acheron[/i]-class), while lumbering behind them at a slightly-slower pace was the outline of a battlecruiser - HMS [i]'Invincible'[/i]; the first of her type anywhere in the world. All of them had been recreated from Strategist's memorised blue-prints, salvaged from pre-existing civilian hulls and worked on over the course of the previous evening and this morning; Strategist had to remind herself that she'd need to see her Master for much-needed Mana replenishment once she was finished here.  

Strategist snapped to attention, slamming her boots against the cast-steel turret armour. "Three cheers for the Empire and Royal Navy! And three cheers for the [i]'Dreadnought'[/i]! Hip! Hip-hip!"

A hundred or so peaked caps and sailors hats were simultaneously raised from brows in salute. "HUZZAH!"

"Hip! Hip-hip!"
"HUZZAH!"
"Hip! Hip-hip!"
"HUZZAH!"

[hr]

[hider=HMS Invincible (BC)][img]https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/26/HMS_Invincible_%281907%29_British_Battleship.jpg/640px-HMS_Invincible_%281907%29_British_Battleship.jpg[/img][/hider]
[hider=Acheron-class (DD)][img]https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e6/HMS_Attack_%281911%29.jpg[/img][/hider]