Star Ship Girl Era: My Shipgirls Are Too Overpowered

Chapter 209: Astra’s Ship Upgrades To Tier V 2

The Thornwake sisters were still recovering. Selvarin had taken to guard duty during her own repair windows; Veylora was already helping to analyze old cruiser design data; Liora remained quiet but useful; and Maelis was finally able to stand without support for longer periods.

That alone was enough progress for now.

Meanwhile, Aurelian also used the Destiny System to prepare a limited set of shipgirl leads for later use, but he did not act on them yet.

He passed some less urgent leads through family-safe channels for Yelena’s side to hold and process when the time was right. But that is still not urgent, as his own fleet came first.

March came first.

But his family could no longer be ignored either.

The more Aurelian looked at the situation, the clearer it became that cooperation with the Arcturus family needed to move from possibility to planning.

He was no longer a young commander with one ship and a dangerous frontier gamble.

He was Tier III now.

He had Larkspur Haven.

He had Helion Bastion Twelve.

He had a growing fleet, production capacity, ancient blueprints, a hidden route through Mournveil, and a Kharov sector badly wounded enough to buy time.

After Astra’s refit, he also had his first Tier V shipgirl, except for the one that has not been awakened yet.

That could change how the family might see this new site, as although they have many places with amazing resources, the place he is at can be considered as one of the better ones due to the mystery behind some of the ruins.

Aurelian waited until the final test results from the Black Crown came back clean before returning to the private draft he had started weeks earlier.

This time, he did not leave it unfinished.

He added the latest details on the tier V flagship refit being complete, the captured materials, and bastion production.

He also noted that Kharov’s response and how low their combat readiness was.

There is some info about the Mournveil route being usable, and how further expansion is possible.

He also added other things for his parents, specifically because he has not seen them in a while, and their only form of communication is these messages, which take time due to the distance.

After making sure that everything was correct, he sent the message.

The response would not come immediately, even through family channels. Distance still mattered, and the route was not simple. But the message was out now, and that alone shifted something in his mind.

Astra found him later in the command room.

"You sent it."

"Yes."

She did not ask what was inside.

Aurelian appreciated that.

After a moment, she said, "They will come."

"Probably."

His family would care that he had advanced. They would care that he was alive and succeeding.

But they would also care about the bastion, the frontier, and the chance to build influence in a region where the local powers were weaker than the Alliance.

That was how noble families worked.

Affection and interest rarely traveled separately.

Aurelian did not resent that.

He was using the same logic himself.

A few days later, the Black Crown completed its first controlled movement test outside the bastion.

Aurelian watched from the command deck as Astra moved through open space, slow at first, then faster as she adjusted to her new body.

Even at reduced output, the difference was obvious.

Her acceleration was smoother. Her shields carried more depth. Her weapon alignment was cleaner than expected for a fresh refit.

The command field around her felt stronger through the bond, not loud or forceful, but steady in a way that made nearby systems feel easier to control.

Eirenne observed the test silently for several minutes before speaking.

"Her command support capacity has increased more than projected."

Aurelian nodded. "By how much?"

"More than enough to serve as the center of a larger fleet formation without strain. With proper support, she can coordinate multiple strike wings, escort groups, and drone formations at once."

"That was the goal."

Rhoswen, listening from another channel, sighed. "She is going to become even more unbearable."

Astra answered calmly. "I have not changed that much."

"You have become bigger, stronger, and more important."

"Yes."

The test ended cleanly after more tests.

No major faults.

Only minor tuning issues.

Aurelian was happy with that, but he did not stop just there.

AS one success did not solve everything, it proved the direction was correct. Tier V refits were possible.

The captured materials were usable. Eirenne’s support, Meridian’s work, and the Destiny System’s plans could combine into something real.

That meant the rest of the fleet could follow.

Not all at once.

But eventually.

That evening, Astra stood with him near one of the bastion’s outer windows, looking at the Black Crown resting in its berth.

"What are your thoughts about the future?" she said.

"Develop, destroy, and devour to grow, what else?"

"What about the situation with the family?"

"No response yet."

"And the Kharov?"

"Also, the same."

She looked at him for a moment. "What else?"

Aurelian’s gaze shifted toward the deeper bastion levels, where the sealed warship still waited.

"That."

Astra followed his gaze, understanding at once.

The preserved warship had remained untouched through all of this. Not forgotten. Never forgotten.

But left waiting because Aurelian had not wanted to awaken something he could not yet properly support.

Now the situation was different.

Hearing this, she simply said, "It will require care."

"Yes."

"Then do it when you can give it that."

That was why he trusted her.

Aurelian stood there quietly for a while.

Outside, the bastion continued to move.

Ships passed through the yard lanes. Drones worked across the hulls of damaged craft. The Thornwake cruisers remained in repair.

Solenne’s carrier decks were being rebuilt. Neris’s supply network grew more stable by the day.

Rhoswen trained harder than before, clearly determined not to fall behind. Lysara kept studying the first garrison’s records, already turning enemy competence into future advantage.

Everything was moving at a pace where he could look over and not have to worry.