The imperial elven capital's airship port was more like a large field of towers and landing spots than a traditional seaport. Different sized rotating towers lifted up platforms of cargo and people with magical ease while their steady humming filled the air.
On top of the usual traffic several new patrol class cruisers were in the middle of their launch preparations even though their new captains straight from the military academy had not yet even arrived.
All nine of the new patrol ships were still maintaining the artistic swan inspired elven hull structure from the naval era even though there were many external and especially internal changes. For example, the foldable sails were on the sides to help navigating natural magical currents to save the ship's own magical lift generating core. Though the ships still had the three masts for spotting over the horizon.
On the white deck of the Sky Trident, twenty sky knights in full silver magic-tech armour were already in parade formation along with the rest of the crew that all combined into around hundred men. The human lieutenant Kurt who had been in charge wanted everything to be ready in time so that the other two half-elf lieutenants had nothing to complain to the captain when she arrived. All three of the lieutenants had shown different levels of competition on seniority from the start ever since they met the first time a week ago.
Before the appointed captain arrived the crew had stood in the sun for almost an hour. Even Kurt smelled the sweat. He began to shake a bit as he thought about the high noble female elf that was going to come any minute now and was going to be greeted by the smell of all of the male sweat. He had even ordered everybody to wash today but all of that was slowly going to waste.
"Captain coming," came a soft shout from a lookout as they had spotted someone walking to a platform at the base of the nearby tower. A louder than usual humming of a platform rang in the crew's heads as it rose along the lift tower. The distance was not that long to the relatively small ship and a figure dressed in the white navy officer's uniform soon stood next to the deck. It was similar to what Kurt and the other officers wore. Though there was one aspect that it was notably different.
"Captain on deck," Kurt declared and the entire crew saluted. All of their eyes focused on their new captain and it was more than easy to notice that her uniform top was hiding notable mounds of perky elven breasts.
"I'm captain Isara of house Polar. I will be taking command as of this moment," Isara announced as she stepped on the deck from the platform. She had a calm expression on her beautiful elven face with cold blue eyes and pale skin. Her icy blue hair was on a ponytail behind her back and she wore the peaked white cap of a sky captain. On it was the black swan wing that was the symbol of the imperial sky navy as the white wing had already been taken by the traditional navy centuries ago.
"Captain, the ship and the captain's gun are ready for inspection," Kurt announced while still keeping his salute up. Though he was not able to stop himself swallowing hard, just from the eyes and hair of the captain he was able to tell she was from one of the clans that had used ice magic for generations. They had some of the harshest reputations among the high noble clans. Also, he was doing his best to not look at any improper spots on the captain's well-fitted outfit that was leaving very little to imagination even around her hips.
"At ease," Isara commanded and even the armoured sky knights looked like they were relaxing. Most of the men could swear that just her presence was cooling down the hot summer air.
"She came alone?" came a whisper from a distance and Kurt angrily stared towards the crowd of sailors. Though he too wondered that. Usually, female captains at least had some servants with them.
"Lieutenant Kurt, we are to depart immediately, see to preparations," Isara instructed and started to walk towards the captain's cabin that was under the quarterdeck.
One of the half-elven lieutenants stepped to stop Isara, "Captain, we should establish the seniority between the ship lieutenants as quickly as possible."
"Yes, of course... lieutenant Kurt, only your name was given to me by the admiral, so you are the senior and get to establish the order of the other two until I get to know the ship," Isara instructed. The half-elf lieutenant looked a bit shocked but he stepped away while sending a glaze at Kurt.
After that Isara quickly left the deck and hastily walked into her cabin. Her luggage had already been delivered and she went to one of the containers and started to unpack it. From it, she took out a large mirror and placed it above a cabinet table. It locked in place with magic that was essential to most objects on an airship.
Isara inspected her face and sighed in relief.
"I did not blush this time," Isara happily whispered and patted her cheek. "So many eyes yet my magic cooled me down this time, such success."
A strong knock came to the door and Isara jerked like she had been doing something wrong. Though she quickly calmed down and turned to face the sound.
"Permission to enter," Isara voiced in a cold tone.
Kurt stepped in with a salute, "Captain, the ship is ready to sail."
"Commendable speed, give me a moment and I will come to take the ship out of port," Isara instructed and Kurt left with a salute.
Isara turned back to her mirror and gave herself an encouraging pep talk, "I did great, I did not look at anybody's crotch even once and did not blush. I just need to resist my urges a few years and stay a virgin till marriage, I can do this."
"I just wish... my father had not told me to join the military... it's not my fault I'm his twenty-fifth daughter without suitable adult nobles left to marry," Isara muttered while straightening her cap and ponytail.
After her talk session Isara took a stern cold face before leaving her new cabin. Outside she climbed the stairs to the quarter deck and was saluted by her lieutenants.
"Captain, lieutenant Kirov and Mikado are the second and third in seniority respectively," Kurt declared after Isara waved them to stop saluting. Both of the mentioned lieutenants were blond with blue eyes but their facial features were different. Though not enough to really set them apart with a quick glance even though both were handsome on human standards.
"Very well," Isara replied while looking at the blue sky. The light at the tower indicated that the ship was free to depart when ready so Isara took her position at the altar's steering stone. It was a transparent crystal that was used to control the ship's magical core.