Shipgirls sure are strange creatures.

... does this count as an Azumanga Daioh reference?

Arael said:

... does this count as an Azumanga Daioh reference?

Sure looks like one doesn't it?

Are we sure the "light of the core" isn't just a reference to Cherenkov radiation?

It looks like she's doing the "Demon Core under a neutron shield" thing on both sides of her head; there's little cores left underneath.

EDIT: Ah, well, due to a glitch in how notes are rendering on mobile at the moment, I didn't see that was already pointed out there...

NWF_Renim said:

Are we sure the "light of the core" isn't just a reference to Cherenkov radiation?

Yeah. It's Cherenkov Radiation happening not in the air but in the water of your eyeballs.