After a cascade of flowing light, solid ground was under their feet once more.
Before them stretched a bleak, desolate, completely uninhabited world.
Since this was their first landing in another world, the Azur Lane shipgirls looked around with open curiosity.
“So this is the Commander’s world?” “Mmm, a little better than I expected.
A nuclear wasteland would have been a real problem.” Head Maid Belfast sniffed the air.
It carried the scent of soil and forest.
A few of the more energetic little destroyers immediately took off running, chasing tigers, wild boars, brown bears, and other large animals in every direction.
“Is that the place the Commander was living in before?” Essex had spotted the small wooden cabin at the edge of the woods.
After a month of wind and sun it was already on the verge of collapse.
“You could call it my spawn point.
There are still some tools and a bit of rice and flour inside, but I doubt we’ll need them now.” Adam considered for a moment.
“Since we’re going to help the Commander rebuild civilization here, we should start by planning the construction.” As flagship, Richelieu took charge at once.
“Formidable, confirm our location and scout the surrounding terrain.” “Understood.” The twin-tailed carrier deployed her rigging and launched two aircraft.
They started out the size of toys, then rapidly grew to several meters in length in the air and roared off into the distance.
When Adam had first arrived he had only been able to guess they were somewhere in Europe from the architectural style; the exact coordinates had been a mystery.
Formidable soon received the report from her planes.
“Current position: 50.7° N, 8.40° E.
On a world map that puts us near Frankfurt, in Western Europe.
“Recon confirms no signs of human activity within a three-hundred-kilometer radius…
only a few animals in the forests.” Because the terrain matched the Blue Planet of his previous life, the old maps were still usable.
“We’re inland…” Richelieu thought for a moment.
“Where’s the nearest outlet to the sea?” “Follow the Rhine north and you reach the ports on the North Sea.
Head south, cross the Alps, and you enter Italy.
Venice is a solid port city with access to the Mediterranean.” Adam spread a map on the ground and pointed it out.
“I see…” “Commander, where do you think we should begin development?
“North?
South?
Or build right here?” Richelieu looked to him for a decision.
As the first city in this world…
and the future capital and pivot point for everything that followed…
the site choice was critical.
“What do the rest of you think?” Adam turned to the leading shipgirls.
“I suggest going north and building a port on the North Sea, just like the Port,” Formidable said, idly playing with her hair.
“We’re shipgirls, after all.
We’re used to living by the sea.” “I disagree.” Belfast shook her head.
“This is the Commander’s world.
We should think of what’s best for him.
The climate on the North Sea is harsh and not suitable for humans.
“Building here with local materials is the most practical option.” The Head Maid never stopped looking out for the Commander.
“I think south is better, nya?” Akashi raised a paw.
“Venice is a larger port than anything on the North Sea, and the climate is warmer.
“If we build inland, later development becomes a headache, nya.
We’d have to lay out road and rail networks from scratch.
“By the sea we can solve everything with our own shipping.” Opinions were split evenly.
In the end everyone looked to Adam for the final call.
… “Hmm…” Adam rested his chin in his hand and thought.
North, south, or right here…
each had advantages.
Building on the spot was simplest; metal ores could be sourced locally.
But transport would be inconvenient and would limit future expansion.
Shipgirls were adapted to the ocean.
Their naval technology was advanced, yet Adam suspected they had barely touched the tech trees for agriculture or light industry.
A northern port would offer excellent sea access to the world’s oceans, but the city itself couldn’t grow too large, and the high latitude meant it would be cold.
Venice’s port was decent, yet the city itself wasn’t large enough to support a complete industrial and agricultural system.
None of the three options fully satisfied him.
“Hmm… “Is there a place with enough land area for later roads, railways, and airports, a port where shipgirls can live comfortably, convenient sea and land transport that can link several continents… and preferably decent local resources?” His eyes scanned the map.
“Commander, your requirements are way too high.
Places like that don’t exist…” Formidable muttered, pouting.
“Got it!
Here!” Adam pointed at a spot on the map.
Everyone leaned in.
It sat at the very center of the Eurasian landmass…
the traditional dividing line between Europe and Asia.
Constantinople.
Land routes could reach the entire continent, while the Mediterranean opened the way to the world’s oceans.
For a long stretch of history it had been the largest city on Earth, known as the “City the World Desired.” After the fall of the Eastern Roman Empire it was renamed Istanbul and gradually declined in the modern era for various reasons.
Yet its superb geography and historical weight had never changed.
“This was once the capital of the Roman Empire.
“And it will be the starting point of our Imperium among the stars.”