I Became a Captain of the British Empire - Chapter 145



new stage

“Admiral Lewis, what do you mean?”

A meeting room with a completely changed atmosphere.

Admiral Pound, blinking with a stunned face, asked quietly. I calmly gave the same answer as what I said earlier.

“Our task fleet captured one aircraft carrier. They still have one more ship left.”

“That’s right. But you don’t have to be too hard on yourself. The battle is just over. Your fleet must be in need of maintenance too?”

Admiral Pound expressed his doubts as if to soothe his impatience. The admiral camp around them each looked at this side with puzzled faces.

“That’s right. But aircraft carriers themselves have a lot of potential.”

“Do you believe that a single aircraft carrier can turn the tide of this battle?”

“If the situation is well followed… .”

That was when I said that. When I saw the admirals with shocked expressions on their faces, I stopped and shut my mouth. A wind of awkward silence blew. Soon Admiral Pound shrugged.

“Yeah, well, it can be a troublesome opponent.”

The admirals nodded their heads politely while keeping an eye on them. Maybe a year ago, I would have been treated as an asshole right away. Back then it wasn’t as popular as it is now.

“But no matter how you think about it… Isn’t it already too late to turn the tide of this battle?”

In the end, it’s the same as disagreeing with an opinion.

Damn it, it shouldn’t be like this.

“How about if the large ships currently under construction join them?”

“The kill mark of the Royal Navy’s main fleet will increase.”

Admiral Pound replied with a sharp glint in his eyes.

The calm voice sounded like it contained neither arrogance nor overconfidence, but the calm truth itself.

“Admiral Lewis. It’s not like we haven’t changed from a year ago either. Air raid countermeasures have been disseminated to various Naval Officers, and the Naval Air Corps is now under our direct control. You will no longer be beaten defenselessly by aircraft carrier air strikes.”

Following Admiral Pound’s slow explanation, the rest of the officers agree.

Admiral Tompkinson confidently went through the front lines with skillful and bold command even in the face of the most intense air raids.

Admiral Cunningham, who was responsible for the main force of Task Force H for the past year and repulsed countless air raids.

Not to mention veteran Admiral Fisher and Admiral Pound.

Everyone here has experienced the development of aviation power firsthand.

“And Lewis, are you not a living witness to the fact that the fleet is alive and well? There is no admiral here who does not know the activities of Task Force Z.”

Admiral Pound speaks like a joke. Admiral Jin, who was sitting around, put a smile on his lips again.

Yes. It is still a bit early for an aircraft carrier to reign as the prince of the sea.

Yes, but… .

“But Admiral. The US Navy’s aircraft carrier is an opponent that cannot be ignored.”

Admiral Pound sighed.

I wave my hand with tired eyes.

“Okay, let’s do a thorough review. So don’t be too impatient.”

“But to catch an aircraft carrier requires very solid preparation.”

“under! Anyone can see that the carrier is sinking all of our fleet.”

“That’s right! Like Enterprise… !”

“Enterprise?”

silence.

Following Admiral Fisher, who expressed his doubts, the rest of the admiral’s team tilted their heads. It was such a light voice, like throwing a stone into a stream.

But why?

I had no choice but to keep my mouth shut.

Because an important and obvious fact passed through my head.

Admiral Fisher, who blinked like a goldfish in the silence of the room, asked again.

“I’m sorry, Admiral Lewis, did they have a ship called the Enterprise?”

How speechless have you been?

When I finally noticed that I was standing, Admiral Pound said quietly.

“You are very tired.”

The meeting was over before long.

* * *

10 minutes later

The commander’s office of the battleship ‘Rodney’.

“Do you drink coffee?”

“yes.”

“Luke! Put some sugar in it.”

The orderly, who received the admiral’s order, takes a light step. A restrained look without shaking. It’s like watching an aristocrat’s attendant.

As I stared back at him, Admiral Pound, who was leaning back in his chair, opened his mouth.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve been alone like this. Almost a year?”

“… Maybe that was it.”

The admiral quietly raised the corner of his mouth. Wrinkles bearing the storms of the years smiled softly. The admiral nodded slightly before closing his eyes as if recalling a long memory.

“At the time, it was a very shabby power. A few old battleships and an unreliable aircraft carrier. After all, there were only a few usable battlecruisers.”

probably around April.

A time when the Invincible-class had not entered service yet, and four South Dakota-class ships were in good health. The Royal Navy’s darkest period.

The admiral had a bitter expression on his face as if he was lost in the memories of going through a rough storm.

“Even that was driven to you. Yeah, now that I think about it, there was no such thing as a gamble.”

Admiral Pound speaks like a joke, but I couldn’t help but laugh. It’s not true that I entered later, but it was said that it was a pretty serious situation at the time.

Including the admiral, the admiral’s team who supported me had to face criticism for a long time about what they believed in and appointed such an idiot.

It is because the shock of the defeat and the usual image were too strong to cover with only some criminal records.

Fortunately, they flatly suppressed dissent and reversed the assessment with victory news from the south.

to be the complete opposite of that time.

“I saw one person properly.”

Crossing his legs and laughing, the admiral raised his coffee cup.

I also poured myself a glass.

write. If it was Kirk, I would have put three lumps in it.

“A friend who was your manager.”

The admiral opened his mouth before he could savor the coffee aroma.

I opened my eyes and listened.

“Do you remember?”

“I remember.”

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Peter Andrew.

The first friend I called by name after possessing this body. I remember getting help in many ways while adapting to my new body. After Repulse returned from the Caribbean, they broke up… .

“Now I am in command of the heavy cruiser London. I also participated last year. Your evaluation was generous.”

“I didn’t know that because I was busy with work.”

It’s really the first time. Still, I’m glad I’m the captain of a large ship. You may be able to get to the captain of a capital ship soon.

Come to think of it, the times when we drank together seemed like yesterday. Time went by quickly.

“Your artillery chief is now the home fleet’s gunnery staff.”

“You mean Major Austin?”

“I’m a lieutenant colonel now.”

This is also the first time I’ve heard of it.

But it wasn’t that surprising.

It’s a monster that managed to get hits even with its two main guns.

“The communications officer is working at the Navy Headquarters. Your skills are amazing.”

“Because I ate too much. I’m a little sorry.”

“If you don’t have that mindset, you will become a good admiral. … Just kidding, my friend. Don’t go anywhere and talk about it.”

The admiral, who blushed embarrassedly, opened his mouth again after a while after raising his glass.

“You seem to be quite busy these days.”

“I went from colonel to lieutenant general in one year. Even if you want to get used to it, it’s not easy.”

“Yeah, it’s a tough time for everyone.”

Silence passes through the room. The faint sound of the clock hands is heard.

Tick tock tock

Time runs carelessly.

While I was hurting the approaching storm, I was not even paying attention to the movements of my comrades.

As if to understand the situation, Admiral Pound raised his glass with a sad face.

“It’s all like that. After running hard, I suddenly look back on the way I came back late.”

Everyone passing by is working hard on their own stage.

“When it has already become the distant past.”

I wouldn’t be able to stay still either.

“But you still have a long way to go. isn’t it? The youngest lieutenant general will be better.”

The admiral said, shaking his shoulders like a joke. It was not a very uncomfortable face.

“It’s just embarrassing.”

“Stop being humble. Almost broke Admiral Beatty’s record. He was watching you too. Say hello later.”

I almost spilled my glass.

It’s the first time I’ve heard of it.

“… That’s amazing. It is an honour.”

“So, can’t you put some weight on your shoulders? I ran hard.”

soft voice.

Fascinated by that charming voice, I pretended to raise my glass and looked away. The sunbeams were caressing the floor.

“I have no intention of getting off the ship.”

“It’s not a demotion, so don’t worry.”

“I don’t know what an admiral who doesn’t board a ship can do.”

“You can do the most important and valuable action in war.”

“The Admiral.”

widely-

Admiral Pound put down his glass.

Amidst the hollow ringing of the empty glass, I continued to speak.

“Have you ever been afraid of peace?”

“… Not yet.”

“I have no idea what to do next.”

Winter is over, and a new season has arrived.

A new era has arrived.

A world I don’t know.

coffee is bitter

All the while, only a feeling of desolation lingered in my heart.

“… Did the father of Ark Royal say that?”

“It was a fluke. I provided an idea, I am not a designer.”

“You are too modest.”

Yes, I will be busy in the future.

Creating a new era navy. From discovering new weapons to nurturing human resources and developing tactics. The day will come when you’ll be able to run around.

However, the daily life that permeates it is just an unknown world to me.

“Do you have any plans after the war, Admiral?”

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Putting down the glass, I looked at the admiral and said.

Seeing me empty-handed, he lowered his head.

I have never experienced British daily life other than battleships. The memories left in this body are not mine. You will have to get used to it in the future. all in my own strength.

The gap no one will ever understand.

“Historically, do you know how sea men who landed after long voyages lived?”

Is that why?

The voice that the admiral with his legs crossed after a long silence was somehow unfamiliar.

“I played like crazy.”

And, it was definitely not a story that would come out at this timing.

“… yes?”

f*ck… what?

Am embarrassed. My name is Admiral of the Royal Navy, so is it okay to use such words openly? No, it’s only the two of us… .

“Isn’t there anything else the sea man can do?”

Admiral Pound calmly continued, not paying attention to my situation that was so flustered.

It sounds so broken. I stared blankly at him as he smiled and held a pod in his hand.

“I only drank salty water and made it through the storm, but there should be a reward. And you are a person who can be played tangja tangja.”

Should I look at this as a left-hander?

But there was no time to panic. The admiral went on to list shocking facts.

“Of course, it won’t be easy in the Board of Admiralty.”

I was afraid that I could be surprised many times today.

“Become a real admiral, Lewis. This is your homework.”

Admiral Pound’s eyes, tilting his head, were probably burning with the same feeling as a year ago.