Commander's Rounds Volume 1

Entry 7: Supply in Demand

Entry 7: Supply in Demand [skk/FdG/Kashino/Illustrious/Atago]

The commander found out later that the thing that Monarch gave the Queen to think about was a threat to blow up her majesty's tea room. She had complaints about that, and while it did take his and Warspite's efforts to calm her down, he did at least agree to put a mark on Monarch's record. It's not something that Monarch would even likely care about in the first place, so she wouldn't resent him for it.

That was not the problem, especially since this wasn't even the first time he had to hand out disciplinary marks in the first place for things that went a bit beyond harmless pranks. Here were a few things he had on the books:

HMS Victorious: Noise violation (Standing outside of Tirpitz's window with a boom box playing "In your Eyes")

IJN Akashi: Unlicensed merchandising (using Shinano's likeness for plushies without permission)

USS Albacore: Conduct unbecoming (Commander's discretion: In this case, pranking Niizuki)

KMS Prinz Eugen: (Classified at commander's discretion)

RN Littorio: Vexatious romantic conduct (Filed by Formidable on behalf of Illustrious)

So, that was not a big deal.

No, the problem of that day was that Roon wanted to talk to him. And she had even made an appointment.

The problem with Roon was that she had a pleasant smile, was good-looking, but there was just something... wrong . Something happened when she was made, and she was not well. He had no problem with her performance at sea, that was not the problem at all. The problem was just... Dealing with her in person.

But he met her by the docks, anyway. "Hello, commander."

And there she was, looking at him with that warm smile. "So, what did you want to talk about?"

She got up on the railings and balanced herself on them. "I have a question. About a thing people have been talking about, and I want to hear it from you, okay?"

He walked alongside her. "You can ask away. It's natural to have questions about the mission."

"Okay, so." considering her personality, it was ironic that she kept perfect balance on the railing. "The others... they say that the commander is working towards a world of peace. What does that mean, really?"

Erk. That was a question he wasn't sure he wanted to answer Roon about, but he wasn't going to lie to his people. "Well... the idea is that once the mission is over, and we've put down the invaders and reclaimed the sea, the thing I want most is to set things up so that we can stow our weapons for a long time and just... Not have to fight."

"Not have to fight...? Hmmm..." Roon stood on one of the rail posts. "Not sure how I feel about that..."

The commander looked at her. "Well, the truth of the matter is that this can't go on forever- there will be an end to this all at some point, and, if I have my way, it will be with our victory, both in the war and in the peace."

The two of them continued walking. "So... After we've crushed and ravaged and burned all of our enemies, we'll just have to... Stop?"

"That's about the size of it."

Roon kept her smile. "But... I don't think I can stop, commander. Sure, the rest of you might, but what if... The rest of you stop but I don't?"

"Well, that's a problem, then. I know I would want you to stop."