gulp

Katori! Working under the command of that geezer... is that what you really want!?

Come over to this base.

If you do, you'll never have to do any dirty work!

I'm sure that's what Kashima wishes for you!

You genuinely have no desire to hurt anyone, don't you!

However... we cannot betray the vice-admiral.

Indeed... and do you know why?

So while it might be underhanded, I've got no choice but to grab ahold of the vice-admiral's weakness and use it to make a deal!!

No matter what it costs, I have to win Katori's heart...!

So to that end...

All the issues that the vice-admiral pointed out about this base are absolutely true - they're irrefutable!!

So when she said she was my "ace up my sleeve", then she should have a strong weapon that can counter him!

A girl that's usually on the S side tied up like that... that's pretty lewd too...

If she's willing to double-cross someone with as much authority as the vice-admiral, then she's likely got something suitable ready to go.

Katori is different from Kashima - she can actually run the numbers.

In order to secure victory over the vice-admiral, I can be the ace up your sleeve and...

If we rely on the wrong person, if we make a mistake, then everything we know will be over...

I don't have a single thing that could turn this situation around...

That's right...

Hah?

I cannot make a direct move on the vice-admiral and his Kuro-Kirishima.

But how to safeguard Katori and Kashima...?

Katori... Kashima... I'm sorry, but it's just as he says...

A commander simply lacks the power to protect you from the likes of a vice-admiral...

However.

You are the Special Police, the protectors of law and order.

Just as you say, I am a sadist.

! Then...!

I'm... I'm not proud of this, but I'm skilled at pulling fast ones on people—at framing them!

All I need is the right dirt, and I can utterly cripple that man, and you'll all be free!

And even now, that face of imminent tears you have...

Backed into the veritable corner, desperately pleading for your salvation...

It's all so cute that I can't help but get my motor purring.

but that you're thinking of the base's shipgirls and us both. I understand that.

And because of that, when a person is at the end of their tether—when they're crying out for something with all their might...I can read their true intentions.

Commander, it's not that you're desperate to save your own skin...

Hypothetically... if Katori or her sister should suffer a "fault" and give you a passing grade...

I would "dispose" of the sisters, right here, right now.

As the one who is in charge of the Special Police Force, I have such a right. You, a mere commander, can do absolutely nothing to stop me.

Hmpf. How utterly deplorable, to see you reduced to this state after talking so big.

It seems that we'll have to add insults and threats to superiors to the list of charges, won't we?

Well then, it's high time that I leave this sorry place...

And what will protect you is not me... but said law and order.

Kashima, you know where you need to go, don't you?

Wha...!?

Those tears you showed me before—they weren't for show, were they!