I Became a Captain of the British Empire - Chapter 148



airman

A cold breath is heard.

In the midst of a silence like the night before a storm, the old man muttered as he stared at the port blankly as if possessed by something.

“aircraft carrier… I mean an aircraft carrier… .”

What emotions are you feeling? Is it hostility, or is it curiosity? Is it that or is it indifferent?

But either way it doesn’t matter. As long as he trusts my name and says one word, that’s enough. There is nothing more to wish for.

I held my breath and waited for his words. As the shadow of the commander’s mast turned its head, the admiral finally opened his mouth.

“The Fifth Navy Police intends to do its job properly.”

Admiral Beatty looked at me with the corner of his mouth raised. Suddenly, a sigh sank in my chest.

“First, let’s take a look at that Arc Royal guy. I need to think a little more about the carrier task force.”

It’s a success.

I lowered my head quietly, wary of the corners of my mouth rising.

“Yes, thank you. Admiral.”

Admiral Beatty coughed and averted his eyes.

It’s an achievement that even you can’t believe. That battlecruiser incarnation would see naval aviation again.

Anyway, this is one step further. Now, the position of the naval air force will be firmly established.

“Louis, is that aircraft carrier a replacement for a battleship?”

Admiral Beatty, who was about to stand up suddenly, asked again. I firmly shook my head.

“no.”

You should answer well. However, this statement is not a lie.

One day, a world may come when aircraft carriers replace battleships and completely dominate the sea. But at least not now.

“The two are complementary. Carriers assist the fleet with long-range strikes and reconnaissance, which battleships cannot do, and battleships are in charge of all-weather operations and main battles that aircraft carriers cannot. The role of the carrier is… I think you can think of the battlecruisers of the last war. It just makes it more versatile.”

And there is no reason to say that it will be. Especially for the old man who lived in the era of the giant gun. Sometimes you just have to show what you need.

“Um, I see. I think you will understand.”

The admiral turned around and nodded quietly. Perhaps it was because of the analogy of a familiar battlecruiser, but it was not a bad reaction.

Also, sometimes you need to be flexible.

“… By the way, Louis.”

“yes?”

Admiral Beatty suddenly looked at me, frowning.

I froze for a moment.

What’s going on? I didn’t say anything against my heart… .

The old admiral, who was narrowly frowning, asked before long.

“Hey, did you get your license?”

A completely unexpected question came. In a moment of panic, I opened my mouth involuntarily.

“A license?”

* * *

“That’s right, Admiral. You will be recognized as the 5th Navy Police only when you have a flight attendant license.”

Admiralty headquarters in London.

As Naval Air Corps Admiral Colonel Henry C. Rowling explained, I couldn’t help but frown in displeasure.

“Where is that case?”

“Isn’t the 5th Navy rigid first of all an aviation system?”

That’s right.

Nodding his head, the colonel replied with a shrug.

“Then, of course, you must have a flight license. Otherwise, it will be difficult.”

“sh*t. Then why did you give me this seat?”

“There weren’t many admirals who operated aircraft carriers as efficiently as the admiral.”

Have you ever seen such an absurd case?

“… Were there any objections?”

“Well, there were many stories. But nothing to worry about. It’s a problem that will be solved once the Admiral acquires the license.”

Didn’t you see it once?

What’s this. Give it back, my fleet.

When he had nothing to say and his mouth was watering, Colonel Rowling continued with a calm tone.

“This is an exceptional case. Admiral is such a person. Anyway, you need to get a license. No matter how admiral you are, this will not stand still in the air corps.”

Then, glance sideways at this side. Rarely sharp eyes. I wonder if an admiral who doesn’t even have an airplane license won’t obey. Somehow, the gaze around me was also precious.

In any case, putting aside all the circumstances behind it, if you just look at the principle, the other side is right. An airline official must first be an airman.

Of course, there are many admirals who got their aviation license belatedly and walked the path of naval aviation. Representatively, there is Admiral William Halsey, who led the US Carrier Task Force.

But I am a battlecruiser captain. A body that had nothing to do with aviation. The original Samuel Lewis had never even flown a glider, let alone an airplane. Of course, neither do I.

“You can learn slowly from now on. Admiral, aren’t you still young? One month should be enough.”

The colonel speaks with a smile on his lips. You’re saying that you’re going to pamper yourself for a month.

“Don’t worry, Admiral. Flying is not as difficult as you might think.”

The corners of his lips hung on his ears, which were vicious, told him about his upcoming schedule.

* * *

two days later,

Over the outskirts of London.

“I will help you get used to light flying first.”

During the holiday, I boarded the back seat of the exerciser under the guidance of Colonel Rowling, who had specially volunteered as an instructor.

This is over London. Altitude is about 3,000 m. The plains of the ground spread out like a deep blue carpet.

“How about the view, Admiral?”

“uh… It’s fine.”

Is this the world a pilot sees? Even huge buildings look just like toys here.

But why is the sky yellow?

“colonel… How long do we have to fly?”

“Let’s simply fly for an hour.”

“Couldn’t it be 30 minutes?”

“Admiral, this is a rare opportunity. Enjoy the flight comfortably.”

I can’t enjoy it, you bastard… .

Unaware of such circumstances, the colonel excitedly raised the throttle. When I rode the dull exercise machine myself, it felt pretty fast.

The wind brushes before my eyes and howls in my ears.

The background was wildly scattered. While I was shaking my head at the sight I was seeing for the first time, I heard a voice in front of me.

“… lightly… I will try.”

“What, what are you doing?”

“Rolling! gas… I will.”

Voice is not heard due to wind noise and engine noise. First of all, the need for an enclosed cockpit is clearly felt.

I asked the colonel again.

“What are you doing?!”

The voice groaned again.

But it wasn’t long before I knew what he was talking about.

The background is inverted.

“Wait wait wait no! no!”

The clouds collapsed. The term “ceiling” has now become nothing more than a trivial joke. The floor over my head pulled me up and beckoned me.

Am I taking the astronaut test? Houston, there are too many problems here.

I closed my eyes tightly as the fierce wind stirred my hair. By the time I had serious doubts about the position of the 5th Naval Police Officer, the acceleration that had been strangling my body slowly subsided.

“Admiral, are you okay?”

A worried voice that comes late. Was it not intentional?

I raised my hand, hoping for some mercy.

“what’s this… Send me back home.”

“Admiral, in order to do business, you must become familiar with airplanes.”

I can’t get close to you because of you, you f*cking bastard.

* * *

After a week of hard marching, I managed to get a simple flight with a trainer.

Of course, the certification exam was more difficult.

However, after a flexible judgment considering the reputation of the Royal Navy’s top generals and the 5th Naval Police, the license came safely into my hands.

“Congratulations, Admiral. You have become a full-fledged aviator now.”

Colonel Rowling approaching me with a face full of emotion after receiving my certificate of completion. don’t pretend I almost died because of you

“How do you feel about flying?”

“After taking the test, everything in my head is blank… Is it normal?”

“it’s okay. You’ll remember them all when you sit down again. If anything, I might be able to help.”

“… No, thinking about it, I still remember it vividly. I think it will be fine.”

Waving my hands, I moved away from the practice machine as far as I could. My legs are still shaking. Is this the land right?

After barely calming his nausea, Colonel Rowling quietly continued.

“Actually, when I first heard the admiral’s order, I was a little worried.”

The colonel lowered his eyes and averted his gaze.

I deliberately asked in a nonchalant tone.

“why?”

“Aren’t you an expert on surface ships, Admiral?”

Concerned about whether he could speak, he cautiously opened his mouth.

Indeed, it is.

No wonder. Since it is not originally an aviation system, it is natural to have doubts.

As the older sister mentioned, it is a principle that aviation work should be commanded by an airman.

“No matter how well-versed in aircraft carriers, we couldn’t help but have some questions.”

But the colonel, as if he had made a big mistake, bowed his head and continued his speech in a low tone.

what… Do you have anything to be sorry for? Even I would have been suspicious.

Just as I was about to tell him not to worry, he jerked his head up.

“Sure, I’m fine now. It is thanks to the witnesses that you can trust the Admiral.”

… witness?

“who?”

“Do you not know Lieutenant McIntyre, who is on duty at headquarters?”

I’ve heard of it. Even so, I don’t forget the name of a friend I met just a few days ago.

“Of course you know.”

“Yes, he was a pilot of the Furious Air Corps, wasn’t he? It was endorsed by that friend.”

It seems that something shocking fact that I didn’t know came out simply.

“… Was he in our unit?”

The world is so small.

* * *

Newfoundland, St. John’s Port.

Task Force H flagship ‘Rodney’.

Summer is coming even in the cold northern lands.

On Rodney’s bridge bathing the deck with warm sunlight, Admiral Pound quietly raised his teacup.

“I heard Lewis got his aviation license.”

“At that age?”

Behind him, 2nd Battleship Squadron Commander Admiral Cunningham asked, eyes wide in surprise.

“It’s a strange thing.”

“It’s natural for the 5th Navy Police. There were many objections to his recommendation for the position.”

“Did you have any reason to go that far?”

Admiral Cunningham tilted his head.

he couldn’t understand

Didn’t Admiral Lewis’ reputation mostly come from the front?

“There was no other suitable person, and… .”

To such a question, Admiral Pound put down his teacup and answered.

“I wish I could get away from the front line a bit.”

“If you want recuperation, aren’t there many other seats? A Navy Police officer position, his workaholic is not showing any signs of getting better.”

“Workaholic!”

The admiral laughed quietly. Cunningham couldn’t understand his reaction.

However, the man leading the large fleet in front of him only smiled dejectedly despite the bewildered gaze.

“Yeah, I’d rather have something like that.”

Watching the sunlight break through the window, the admiral raised his glass again.

It was then. Slowly, the sound of footsteps echoed over Rodney’s bridge.

“Admiral Pound?”

As predicted by the two admirals who soon turned their heads, the chief of staff opened the door and came in.

“What is it? Did Louis even see the match?”

Admiral Pound greeted him like a joke, but soon faced the stiff face of the chief of staff and kept his mouth shut. The chief of staff, who was out of breath, quietly approached the admiral and handed over the message.

“Breaking news from London.”