He nods and prints it out. "You'll get the pay of a lieutenant junior grade, which comes out to four and a half thousand dollars monthly, on top of the quarters on base and access to our cafeteria, workshops, and parts supplies." Then he slides the contract across to her.

She pauses. "I'm presently assuming that any summoned spirits of non-this-world origin would be treated as OTC citizens, not local ones, but I don't know how you're handling shipgirls' citizenship right now, and that could matter in case the OTC remains uncontactable for the long term. In such an event I'd like a proviso that they get access to a naturalization process or ideally birthright citizenship, though that miiiight be above your pay grade?" 

"The admiralty has broad latitude in deciding how to handle shipgirls. If we convince Admiral Winters to back dual birthright citizenship for OTC ships, it'll be approved."

"That makes me feel more relaxed. Who's this Admiral Winters, am I to be under their command?"

"Vice Admiral Alan Winters, the newly promoted flag officer in charge of shipgirl affairs. He'll be your direct commending officer, as he is with the shipgirls. Made waves immediately after Blood Week by quickly intuiting how best to operate with shipgirls and fold them into the Navy, took charge when everyone else was panicking. Got field promoted up from Captain three days later."

"Impressive. Hope I meet his standards. I guess that'll be a separate conversation with him." 

She signs the contract and sets down the pen. "Thank you for all the information you've shared so far."

"Glad to help, Miss Rider. Hopefully we can all work together smoothly, going forward."

There's a knock at the door.

"Ah perfect. Come in!"

A young woman in uniform steps in and salutes. Her ginger hair is tied back in a tight ponytail, and she looks earnest.

"At ease," Edwards says to her. Turning back to Rider, he continues, "Yeoman Price will show you to your quarters, and get you started with communication accounts, banking, and a parking pass."

The Yeoman nods. "Yes, if you'll please follow me, ma'am?"

"Of course." Motion onwards is good. She can't wait to meet the rest of her team. Maybe it's a bit possessive of her to call it that already, but who's listening to the contents of her head right now? Nobody.

Yeoman Price leads Rider through the corridors of the base, stopping first at the quartermaster, where she collects a stack of papers, with a small box on top. She passes that to Rider, and then accepts another, larger box. "This is everything we'll need to get you set up in the system."

Rider nods and accepts the box, not bothering to comment on the bureaucracy. It's pretty much the same wherever you go, and as places go, this one's better because at least they don't require a bribe for her petition to even be considered. 

They're fighting a war against an existential threat. They really don't have time to be demanding bribes from people or slowing things down like that.

Yeoman Price leads the way down further corridors, until they're interrupted along the way.

A slender girl with ginger hair scampers down the hallway, looking around curiously. She's wearing a uniform-styled dress that ends just above her knees, thigh-high stockings, and glasses. She lets out a quite "oooh" when she spots Rider and Yeoman Price, then hurries toward them. "Hi! Are you the new visitor?" Her voice is a little on the quiet side, and a bit bouncy-sounding.

"Hello, there!" 

Something's not quite right with this girl's momentum. It's subtle, but she's used to picking up subtle differences. 

"Are you one of the shipgirls?"

"Mhm! USS Fletcher, at your service." She nods quickly, eyes wide.

"I'm Rider, pleased to meet you!" She offers her hand to shake.

Then she adds, sotto voce: "I'm not from this universe so please excuse me if I'm impolite. I've been to other Americas before but not this one in particular." 

"Good to meet you," Fletcher replies with quiet excitement, shaking Rider's hand warmly. "Can I tag along?"

"I would say that is up to Yeoman Price here."

"If Miss Rider doesn't mind, I don't see why not," Price replies.

"Yay!" She falls into step beside them. "Where are you heading next? Rider's Quarters?"

"Yes, Ma'am," she agrees with a nod.

"Can we pass through the lounge on the way? I bet she'll like it."

"Sure," Price replies.

"I'd love to see it. Lead on."

The Yeoman leads the pair down one more corridor, out across a courtyard, and into another building labeled "Shipgirl Dorms". Inside, there's a small mailroom off to one side, a couple hallways lined with doors, and a large lounge area. A big, U-shaped set of couches stands in front of a large TV with quite a variety of game systems hooked up to it. "Here we are."