You turn toward the dder, pausing at the bridge door. "It might be a month, or it might be a decade, but we'll meet each other again somewhere. Hopefully we'll find something to ugh at then too. But for now, we need to get back to the Portnd to check on the next wave. Have a good decade."

  Sullivan's expression shifts, something between amusement and resignation. "I'll hold you to that," he says quietly. "Good luck out there."

  Down the accommodation dder, back into the speedboat where Albedo, Nova and Robin wait.

  Albedo doesn’t bother hiding her irritation. “Well,” she says sweetly, golden eyes narrowing, “that took long enough.”

  You kiss her first, slow, deliberate, unapologetic. She leans into it immediately, fingers curling into your jacket as the tension bleeds away.

  “You’re forgiven,” she murmurs. “For now.”

  You turn to Robin next, drawing her in just as unhurriedly. Her response is measured and precise, approval evident in the way she lingers before stepping back. “Efficient,” she observes lightly. “And overdue.”

  Nova is already halfway through untying gear on her RIB, pretending very hard not to notice.

  You catch her by the colr and pull her in for a brief, firm kiss, a promise more than indulgence. She exhales a quiet ugh when you release her.

  “About time,” she mutters. “Next time, try not to save the world so slowly.”

  Hinata averts her eyes politely. Erza just shakes her head, lips twitching.

  Rika gnces back at USS Ford, then at you. “Portnd next?”

  You nod. “Webb will want confirmation Sullivan didn’t crack.”

  Rika already has the speedboat pivoting, engine purring as the luxury vessel carves a smooth arc away from USS Ford. Hinata sits beside her, Byakugan still faintly active, scanning the horizon with habitual vigince. Erza stands near the rail, scarlet hair catching sunlight, expression thoughtful.

  The speedboat accelerates smoothly, wake spreading white behind you as Rika adjusts course toward the massive gray silhouette of USS Portnd anchored several miles northeast. The destroyer and its escorts are visible in the distance, metal hulls gleaming in afternoon sun.

  Albedo shifts closer, resting one hand on your thigh with casual possession. "The next tanker wave arrives in approximately one hour," she says conversationally. "Three additional hulls plus escorts. Webb will want confirmation that Sullivan is cooperative before finalizing departure schedules."

  Robin nods once. "And awareness of the nd operations. Redding itself remains unstable. We’ve identified indications of three organized survivor groups, though only one attempted pursuit. The successfully enchanted locations would likely benefit."

  You nod slowly at Robin’s assessment, eyes still on the water ahead as the speedboat cuts through the swell.

  “Warn him about the hostile groups and it just clutters his desk,” you say quietly. “Webb can’t act on it, and I don’t want him trying. Once the enchanted locations are broadcast and trade starts moving again, most of those groups will sort themselves out, either integrate or colpse.”

  You gnce back toward the coast, jaw tightening slightly. “The locations are the sensitive part. I want to hold Redding until the st RVs are out. Announcing an endless fuel source while we’re still on the ground there is just inviting armed idiots to take a shot at us.”

  Your gaze shifts to Rika. “If we send the RV group back by helicopter, it should only take about an hour. Once they’re clear, I’ll have Webb announce Redding as a fuel node to the Northwest.”

  A brief pause. “Eureka comes next, after we finish loading. That one’s an addition, not the headline.”

  You exhale, low and measured. “And yeah... I’m betting there are still armed groups clustering around Crescent City, hoping to catch me before I disappear. Let them wait. I'm not eager to be hunted.”

  The speedboat crosses open water at speed, salt spray misting across the deck. USS Portnd grows rger ahead, the massive amphibious transport dock dominating the horizon, multiple deck levels, radar arrays, and the open mouth of the well dock visible at the stern.

  Rika eases back on the throttle. The Portnd’s well deck is already flooded, stern gate partially open. Inside, two heavy-loaded nding craft sit secured along the sides, deck crews visible and waiting.

  “Clear approach,” Robin reports calmly.

  Rika guides the speedboat through the widening wake and into the well dock with precision, the engine dropping to idle as the water calms around you. The sound of the ocean dulls, repced by echoing steel and shouted deck calls.

  Albedo rises smoothly, adjusting her clothing with practiced elegance. “Webb will be either on the bridge or in the command center,” she says. “Shall I notify him via the Telepathy Web that you’re aboard?”

  Rika cuts the engine completely. The speedboat drifts the st few feet before a pair of deckhands secure it with quick, efficient movements. Overhead, Marines watch from the well deck catwalks, alert, professional, already aware that this is not a routine arrival.

  You give Albedo a brief sideways gnce and shake your head slightly.“He was likely watching our progress ship to ship,” you say. “No need to ping him. If I had to guess, he’s already reorganizing timelines and escorts in the command center.”

  Albedo smiles faintly, amused rather than surprised. “Of course he is.”

  You step off the speedboat onto the well deck as the st line is secured, boots ringing softly against steel. Around you, the Portnd’s crew resumes controlled motion, signals passed, deck crews dispersing, the rhythm of a ship that has accepted a new kind of normal. Without ceremony, you head inward toward the spine of the vessel, toward the pce where decisions are already being made.

  Albedo falls into step beside you as you move deeper into USS Portnd, her tone light but precise.“The next tanker wave arrives in approximately one hour,” she says. “Three additional hulls, plus escorts.

  Rika nods once. “And the asset transfer.”

  Nova exhales quietly. “Paperwork, even at the end of the world.”

  The command center doors slide open to a familiar controlled intensity. Tactical dispys dominate the space, enchanted tankers already peeling away on southern vectors, escorts slotting into formation, fuel-generation projections updating in real time.

  Captain Webb looks up from the central console the moment you enter. Reeves is beside him, tablet in hand.

  “Ford?” Webb asks.

  “Enchanted. Sullivan’s on board,” you reply. “Still adjusting, but he understands the role.”

  Webb nods once, satisfied. “Good. That closes the loop on this wave.”

  Albedo gestures lightly toward the main dispy. “Expected arrival?”

  Webb taps the console, bringing up three inbound contacts.“Forty-seven minutes. MV Eastern Promise, Coastal Runner, and Pacific Horizon. Two Arleigh Burke–css destroyers and a Halifax-css frigate. All captains briefed. No resistance anticipated.”

  He shifts the dispy again. A rger icon appears.

  “USS Anchorage,” Webb continues. “San Antonio–css LPD. ETA just over five hours. As agreed: one LPD, two LARCs, one CH-53 King Stallion, and one AH-1Z Viper transferred to your operational authority.”

  Reeves steps in smoothly. “Anchorage will be enchanted upon arrival. The aircraft as well. That’s the down payment. Continued tanker and escort enchantments fulfill the remainder of the deal.”

  Rika studies the icon. “LPD makes sense. Well deck, vehicle capacity, sustained habitation.”

  “Exactly,” Webb says. “We’ve already cleared space for the RVs. LARCs will load them directly and bring them aboard once your people signal readiness.”

  Nova nods approvingly. “Clean. Minimal exposure.”

  Webb’s expression tightens slightly. “Once Redding and Eureka go public, we expect movement. Armed groups. Opportunists. Everyone who thinks controlling fuel means controlling people.”

  “That’s why we wait,” you say. “RV extraction first. Then the announcement.”

  Webb meets your eyes. “Understood. When the signal goes out, we’ll broadcast fuel avaibility across the Northwest. No exclusivity. No choke points.”

  Reeves adds quietly, “And no excuses for anyone to py king.”

  The dispys continue to update. Outside, the first convoy is already slipping south, white wakes carving new trade routes into an empty ocean.

  You shake your head slightly. “One crification,” you say evenly. “Anchorage and the aircraft are transferred ownership. What I do with them isn’t part of the deal, enchantment or otherwise.”

  Webb doesn’t bristle. If anything, his expression tightens with respect.“Correct,” he agrees. “Transferred assets. Full stop. Any enchantment beyond tankers and escorts is your call.”

  You gnce back to the main dispy, where the outbound convoy is already pushing south.“Which is why I asked for the use of your LARCs earlier. If we half the RV loading time, we’re out faster, and those locations get announced sooner.” You look back to Webb. “If you’re comfortable with the timing, we’ll take the LARCs ashore after we finish enchanting this wave.”

  Webb considers it for only a moment. “Approved. I’ll have them staged and crewed. You’ll have priority use until extraction is complete.”

  You nod once. “Good. One more thing, how many more tanker waves should we expect after this?”

  Webb exhales slowly, then brings up a broader regional overy. Most of the map is empty.

  “None in the near term,” he says. “Any remaining hulls either can’t reach us for at least a week or don’t have the fuel to justify moving yet. You’ll be heading south before that window opens.”

  Reeves adds, “Better for them to stay put, conserve, and prepare to disperse once you reach their regions.”

  Webb meets your eyes again. “This is the st wave here. After that, the center of gravity moves with you.”

  Outside the hull, the ocean remains indifferent, but the routes are no longer empty. A moment passes.

  Then you start giggling, the sound low at first, almost disbelieving, before it breaks through the silence.

  “Mom once told me the world doesn’t revolve around me,” you say, shaking your head. “Joke’s on her this time.”

  There’s a beat, then a short, incredulous exhale from Webb. Not ughter exactly, but close. Reeves snorts despite himself. Even Albedo’s lips twitch, the corner of her mouth lifting with restrained amusement.

  Rika just studies you for a second, then nods once. “Try not to let it go to your head,” she says ftly.

  You gnce back at the dispys, fuel routes, ships moving, the map subtly reorganizing around a new axis, and the humor fades into something steadier. “Don’t worry,” you reply. “I’m very aware how fast gravity can crush.”

  You exhale slowly, "So, half an hour to breathe," you say quietly. "Before six more ships. Then back to shore for three hours..."

  You pause, jaw tightening slightly. "Sounds right. Enough time to put Kira and Lyra in the ground properly. As the sun sets."

  The command center goes still.

  Webb's expression shifts, not surprise, but acknowledgment. Reeves nods once, a military gesture of respect.

  Albedo's hand finds your shoulder, fingers curling gently. "Where?" she asks, voice soft.

  "Somewhere they can see the ocean," you reply. "Somewhere quiet."

  Rika studies you for a moment, then nods. "I'll coordinate security for the site. Make sure no one's interrupted."

  Erza straightens slightly. "I'll help prepare the ground."

  Hinata's voice is barely above a whisper. "We should say something. For them."

  You meet her eyes, and nod.

  Webb clears his throat carefully. "The LARCs can transport you ashore whenever you're ready. We'll hold the next wave until you signal."

  Reeves adds quietly, "Marines can provide honor guard if you want it."

  You shake your head. "No. Just us."

  Robin shifts slightly, arms crossed. "They died fighting to stop the convergence," she says evenly. "That should be remembered."

  "It will be," you reply.

  Nova exhales through her nose, expression unreadable. "Kira was young. Still figuring out who she was."

  "And Lyra saved everyone," Albedo adds, golden eyes steady. "Severing Harmon's contract cost her everything."

  The dispys continue updating, ships moving, fuel generating, the world turning, but for this moment, the command center holds space for grief.

  Webb steps back slightly, giving you room. "We'll keep the timeline clear. Take the time you need."

  You nod once, grateful.

  Rika is already pulling up topographical maps on her tablet. "There's a bluff north of Trinidad Harbor. Overlooks the water. Private."

  Erza leans over, studying the map. "Good sightlines. Defendable if necessary."

  "It won't be necessary," you say firmly.

  Hinata moves closer, her presence quiet but steady. "When the sun sets, the light will be beautiful there."

  You close your eyes briefly, seeing it, golden light on water, two graves overlooking the ocean, the weight of what they sacrificed finally acknowledged properly. "We'll go after the next wave," you say. "Give them the sunset they deserve."

  Albedo's fingers tighten on your shoulder, a silent promise.

  The command center remains quiet, the only sound the hum of systems and the distant crash of waves against the hull.

  You gnce at the tactical dispy, then toward the deck access.

  “We’ll wait in the well dock,” you say evenly. "When the first ship stops, we’ll head out to it unless you tell otherwise."

  Captain Webb nods without comment.

  You turn, signaling the group to follow, and head out of the command center toward the internal passageways leading down to the well dock.

  You step aboard the Luxury Speedboat and sit. Erza takes position beside you without comment. Hinata moves to the bow, posture rexed but alert. Albedo settles with composed ease, wings folded tight. Robin remains standing near the center console. Nova finishes a quick check of her gear and sits.

  Rika nods once to the deck crew. The mooring lines are released. The speedboat drifts free, floating clear of the dock.

  The well deck opens behind you. Sunlight spills across steel and water.

  Once the boat clears the dock, you use the Telepathy Web to speak to the group, so as not to be overheard by the deck crews. “Hey Rika. What can you tell us about an LPD?”

  There is a short pause. Then surprise bleeds through her voice.

  “You already made the deal,” Rika says. “I assumed you knew what you were asking for.”

  You answer. “I kinda... looked it up on the way from the oil ptform to the USS Portnd. Right before making the deal.”

  The channel goes still. Robin turns her head slightly. Nova looks over, brows lifting. Even Albedo’s attention sharpens.

  You continue before anyone interrupts. “I didn’t have time to do proper research. Yachts were too luxury, not enough space. Megayachts were big enough, but not built for a mixed group like this. A rge cruise ship could have worked, but the only ones I could find fast were on the Atntic. They also would’ve needed a lot more staffing.”

  Robin turns her head slightly toward you. Nova looks over, eyebrows raised. Even Albedo’s attention sharpens.

  Rika exhales once, controlled. “You made a national, world-scale infrastructure deal based on ten minutes of research?”

  “Closer to eight,” you say. “Signal was bad. and we were all exhausted from the eldritch thing...”

  That gets a quiet, strained acknowledgment.

  You gnce around the boat as you speak. “The LPD was big enough for twenty to fifty people to actually live on. We can carve out individual spaces and make it functional for non-military life.”

  Rika exhales slowly. “You gambled.”

  “Yes,” you say. “It was the only ship that fit the requirements, and had a bonus of being aircraft capable, so I looked up the helicopters too...”

  Rika stares at you, then blinks. “You realize the USS Portnd is an LPD,” she says.

  The words nd. You freeze for half a second.

  “Yes,” you say carefully. “I realized that immediately after saying it out loud, on camera. In front of the many beautiful girls staring at me, that I needed to make a strong impression to.”

  Nova lets out a sharp breath. Robin’s eyes flick briefly toward the memory of the command center.

  “I nearly had a heart attack,” you continue. “Webb and Reeves traded looks like I’d just asked for his ship without realizing it. They were right...”

  Rika snorts quietly, then shakes her head. “San Antonio css. Same family. You accidentally asked for the ptform you were already standing on.”

  “A-a-and I'm really hoping I didn't ask for the wrong thing, because trading it will undoubtedly be a pain after we move in.” you say. “The helicopters I asked for because I wanted to make sure we weren't limited to others for support.”

  Rika nods. “Flight deck rated for medium and heavy lift. Hangar space. Fuel systems designed for sustained rotary operations. You can run Apaches, transports, medevac, logistics. That alone makes it worth the hull.”

  She shifts fully into briefing mode. “Landing Ptform Dock. Amphibious warfare ship. San Antonio css in this case. Two hundred meters. Vehicle decks. Well deck. Flight deck. Medical. Command spaces. Built to stay operational when supply chains colpse.”

  She continues, steady now. “It’s ugly, modur, and survivable. Not designed for comfort. But it’s one of the best mobile ptforms you could have picked.”

  “That as much as I put together,” you say. “The long-term pn is still to cim luxury cruise ships once we reach the Atntic. They should be vacant by then. No fuel. No food. No crew.”

  Robin’s lips curve faintly. “Grim, but likely.”

  “They’re better for comfort,” you add. “But they come with staffing problems.”

  “That’s where it gets complicated,” Rika replies. “Normally you’re looking at hundreds.” Rika meets your eyes. “Which Webb is already trying to solve.”

  You pause, then widen the Telepathy Web, deliberately extending to the group still on shore.

  "Listen in."

  Acknowledgments ripple back as the channel expands.

  You continue, knowing they hear you. “We can’t accept Navy personnel as residents.”

  Rika nods. “That’s where we disagree.”

  “If even one organization has permanent representatives onboard,” you say, steady and firm, “every organization on the pnet will start sending theirs. Governments. Militias. Corporations. Spies. Assassins. Honey traps.”

  You shake your head once. “That’s a mess I’m not getting into.”

  Erza nods immediately. Hinata’s shoulders ease slightly.

  “The enchantments handle maintenance, cleaning, life support, fatigue,” you continue. “Nobody needs to sleep. What we actually need is rotation. Navigation watch. Communications watch. One person awake on the bridge at all times.”

  Robin’s voice cuts in. “Legal?”

  “And autonomy,” you say. “If they live aboard, command authority gets messy fast. I won’t build a floating jurisdiction nightmare.”

  Erza nods once. “Agreed.”

  Rika considers. “That cuts crew requirements hard.”

  “We can even make it tolerable,” you add. “Games on the bridge. Rotations measured in hours, not days. Nobody burning out.”

  Nova lets out a short breath. “That’s… actually humane.”

  You don’t stop there. “Staffing used to mean wages or trade, we won’t be short of either for a long time. But the problem isn’t pay. It’s people.”

  The Web tightens with attention.

  “When economies colpse,” you continue, voice level, “bor gets ugly. The sve trade doesn’t show up with chains at first. It comes back as favors. Promises. ‘Opportunities.’”

  Your jaw tightens. “And then there are the mothers and fathers willing to throw their underage daughters at anyone with power, even if they expect mistreatment, just for the promise that their family survives a little longer.”

  Silence.

  “That might’ve been a timeline I lived in,” you say. “If I were alone.”

  You gnce around the boat. “I’m not.”

  You straighten. “So until my women decide to correct me. I need to be the self-righteous bastard about letting underage girls starve with their families instead of prostituting themselves for survival...”

  Albedo speaks calmly. “That stance reduces long-term instability.”

  Robin inclines her head. “And removes leverage vectors.”

  You finish the thought. “And I’m not putting this group of very visible, very valuable women in close quarters with hundreds of men whose mentalities we can’t control.”

  Silence follows. Not awkward. Serious.

  Hinata’s voice enters softly. “Thank you.”

  Albedo speaks next, tone calm and approving. “That assessment is risk management, not fear.”

  Robin inclines her head. “It also limits leverage against us.”

  Rika nods slowly. “Webb won’t like it. But he’ll understand.”

  “Then he can give us a temporary support crew, when we're doing more than sailing straight” you say. “Professional. In and out. No residency.”

  “That’s doable,” Rika replies. “Forty to fifty. Enough to move, navigate, communicate. Not enough to overpower anything.”

  “We cover most of it ourselves,” you say. “They’re there for the fancy maneuvering.”

  The speedboat drifts in pce, water rocking gently under the hull. Beyond the open stern gate, the ocean stretches out, bright and calm.

  Rika checks the time. “Eight minutes until first contact.”

  You lean back slightly as the boat floats, waiting.

  SnafuSam