Commander's Rounds

Entry 11: Checkmate

"While I do agree that Monarch threatening to blow up your tea room was improper, your majesty, what you are asking me to do with the matter of Monarch is impossible."

While the commander had successful conversations with Queen Elizabeth before, they mainly were to convince her of things she was sure to find appealing anyway- but now she was in his office along with Warspite, and she was challenging him on matters of authority.

"And what, servant, makes it impossible, aside from your own unwillingness to do so?"

He leaned back in his chair. "For two reasons. The first is that I cannot compel Monarch to declare allegiance to you, personally. She is already entirely loyal to Azur Lane and its mission, and I cannot ask any more from her than what she has already given- and she has given considerably. The second is that asking an officer to pledge obedience like this undermines my own overall authority as the commander of the mission- an authority, I remind you, that you yourself are subject to."

Queen Elizabeth pointed at the commander with her scepter. "Monarch is a ship of the Royal Navy, commander!"

He shook his head. "A ship that was abandoned by the Royal Navy and never brought into being by the Royal Navy- her existence is due to the efforts of Azur Lane, and she has transferred her allegiance wholly to our mission, and that is all that the mission requires of her. You are not entitled to her personal allegiance."

The queen's huffiness increased. "Don't think that you can start putting on airs because of your position, servant, and that you can speak that way to me just because you've started... Warspite, what was the word that rather rustic battleship used?"

Warspite stood to attention "Canoodling, your highness."

She was reinvigorated. "Yes! Canoodling with my knight commander!"

The commander leaned forward on his desk. "Your majesty, dictating Monarch's personal affiliations is not something that lies within my mandate as the commander of Azur Lane. If that's something you want, then you'll have to achieve it by your own means- after all, she even gets along with her half-sisters, so it's not like it's even impossible. But it's not an order I can or will give."

The Queen was intensely frustrated, but the commander would certainly stand firm.

So instead, the Queen opted for another way out. "Fine then! Commander, while you have fought many automatons and the fanatical invaders, I challenge you to a grand exercise to test your real worth as a commander- me and my Royal Navy versus whatever you might dare to bring to bear! I expect you won't back down, so I look forward to making the arrangements."

The queen stormed out, and Warspite stood in her place. "Commander, I must apologize for her majesty's outburst. I believe she may forget about this within a week."

The commander spoke up. "Tell her majesty that I accept her challenge."

Warspite blinked. "Pardon, commander, but why would you do such a thing- while your authority is legally guaranteed, to accept and lose would undermine the reputation you have worked strenuously to build."

The commander put on his cap. "Then I'll just have to win."

The battleship nodded. "Of course, commander. While I'm sure you have some compelling reasons, this does seem to be a great risk to take."

"While I appreciate your caution, this has been simmering ever since Monarch joined us. For there to be a Royal Navy ship that doesn't pay her homage is something she seems to consider a standing insult, and now it is beginning to boil over. Better to deal with it now."

Warspite nodded. "Then I think we should do all that it is possible to cover that this is borne from some grudge, and make sure that the only ones who know this is some personal matter of honor is you and her. It would likely be simple to disguise it as just a regular exercise."