FIRST PERSON POINT OF VIEW
I wake up abruptly only to discover that I see the sun. The sun? And on the... deck of a warship? Wait? What has happened?
I am so surprised that I cannot utter words from my mouth. My mouth moves uncontrollably but no sound comes out. I quickly check my body for injuries and find none. I can still remember what 100 rounds of 7.5mm bullets fired in a second did to my body. I am a soldier who fought in the jungle of my country while my platoon faced off against drug traffickers. Suddenly I was caught off guard by an improvised grenade that turned out to be a machine gun bomb. I threw myself onto the bomb and it exploded on my abdomen.
The bomb was strange shaped like a sphere with multiple 7.7mm bullets arranged like a sea urchin on top of it – a contraption never seen before. I don't know its name so I called it a machine gun bomb and that was the last thing I saw.
And now I find myself on the deck of a World War II destroyer.
Me: Now that I think about it why am I short? Ah... my voice... this isn't my voice...
As I look at myself I can only see that...
No... no... Why? Why am I a girl? This is impossible. Is this what they call 'transferred to another world' or 'reincarnation' that my 15-year-old younger sister has talked so much about?
Me: I didn't expect this to be so real.
The reason I suppose I've accepted everything quickly is due to my military training. Quickly adapting to the environment and making fast decisions ensures a soldier's survival. Second I have knowledge about these types of events because my sister provided information and I've read a couple of mangas and watched some animes of this genre. But I didn't expect it to be so real... and finally I don't believe that everything happening is just a coma or a dream due to two factors:
-The first is that I can smell and I smell the sea... the saltiness of the sea, I can smell the metal of this ship.
-Second seriously a fragmentation grenade made with 7.7mm bullets would leave a hole in my abdomen and chest killing me instantly. There wouldn't even be certainty if there'd be any remains for someone to mourn, apart from the minced flesh of my body. I don't even know if my head would have survived.
It doesn't matter if they took me to a hospital instantly I wouldn't have survived by the time they arrived. I would have died for sure.
But... why did I reincarnate as a girl? I look at the ship and think... Girls and ships... Where have I heard something like this before?
Me: AGGHHHH!
In that moment an unbearable pain hits me and I start to suffer a lot... Eh? What is this? Memories of a past life come to my mind. I can recall a life I didn't have... or did I? Memories of a warship invade my thoughts... Memories of a destroyer from the US NAVY USS Benham DD-796 of the Fletcher class. I remember fighting against the Japanese in World War II everything unfolds before my eyes. Then earning eight battle stars and later participating in the Korean War. Finally being reassigned to the Peruvian Navy and undergoing modernization to carry helicopters. My service was ultimately decommissioned in the 1980s. I was struck by the BAP Ferre it fired an Exocet missile sealing my fate heading straight to the scrapyard.
I never held a grudge against Ferre not even for the pain I felt. She was following orders. After that I remember being in a non-existent plane where... how to explain it? The paradise of the ships? I reunited with many of my sisters until I decided to reincarnate as a human with the condition that the god would use me for something I don't remember. That's when my life as a human began. I was born into a somewhat poor family in the country where I served in my last years as a destroyer Peru. From there I lived my life without memories as a warship until my death and reincarnation in this world...
Me: (Heavy breathing) It can't be... I've had two lives... I didn't expect this... it's all so overwhelming... I don't think I can process all of this... I think I'll take some time...
I look at my hand so this body I have is my human version as BAP Villar. Is this how I look in my human version as a ship?
I start jumping and throwing some kicks and punches in the air. It seems that my human body moves at my will so I begin walking towards the bridge. I don't know why but I have a feeling that I can make a great leap from here and reach the lookout post without any issues. I don't understand why but I take the leap manage to control my strength, and jump to the spot landing without any problems.
Me: (surprised) I made it without any problems...
Upon entering the bridge I felt a strange sense of nostalgia and I wanted to cry but I managed to suppress the urge. I look for a clue that indicates what I can do and on the captain's chair I see an envelope.
Me: This?
I pick it up and open the envelope:
[The contract has expired your life as a human has ended terribly. It's a pity. I will return your memories of your life as a ship, so forgive me for the headache. This world is called Azur Lane I bet you know about this from your younger sister.]
Me: Yes it's the mobile game she always plays. I don't understand why she enjoys playing with Chinese shipgirls so much.
[In this world the ship girls are called Kansen. The ships in this world have acquired human bodies to fight against the Sirens who are extraterrestrial beings from another dimension. They are very dangerous creatures that can distort space and time at will. They are a thorn in our side. Therefore I entrust you. I would like to get involved, but I am prohibited from intervening. As you are a ship from World War II you won't attract much attention so you can use your regular cannons and torpedoes when accompanied. However I have hidden anti-ship missiles like the Exocet MM40-BLK-III beneath your hull and replaced one of your stern guns with an MK-13 so enjoy the anti-aircraft missiles. I have upgraded your radar and sonar to more modern versions and your 127mm guns have also been modernized for increased range. I've given you a super-powered ability to survive in solo and disadvantageous battles. For every enemy you eliminate, you recover ammunition. You can also replenish ammunition every time you eat.]
Me: I appreciate everything... Oh there's a P.S.
[P.S.: I've left 200 MANPAD FIM-92 Stinger missiles in the armory of the helicopter hangar so make good use of them. I've also left some Javelin missiles. I know it sounds useless but they might come in handy someday. I've left a drone too so be grateful.]
Me: Well something is better than nothing.
When I leave the envelope on the tactical table of the bridge I see a pistol with a holster. When I touch it I feel an electric shock throughout my body and my head starts pulsating. It's as if something has installed itself in my memory and indeed it has. I then fall to my knees in pain that courses through my entire body. I feel like I'm on fire. This sensation and the memories are about operating my powers as a Kansen—how to summon my rigging, how to fire cannons and torpedoes without injuring myself, and how to use my sensors.
Me: I guess I should be thankful but can they be somewhat painless?
When I get up I see portals opening in front of me. Miraculously all the pain leaves my body. So I summon my rigging while feeling euphoric. My life as a destroyer demands that I fire my cannons and torpedoes. My former comrades scream in anguish urging me to tear through the enemy's metal.
To be continued
Ship:
Human appearance:
Weapons: As specified in the story.