Commander's Rounds

Early Rounds: First Day

"Hey, Lieutenant Cochrane, we're here."

Alexander Cochrane looked up from his assignment papers. "Uh? Oh, right..."

He put his hat on- it was the last part of his uniform he hadn't put on yet, and he wasn't sure anyone would take him seriously as an officer without it. In fact, he wasn't sure if they'd take him seriously even with it on. He brushed the rank insignia on his shoulders, still mystified. He was a freshly-minted junior lieutenant before he got called into the office of some extremely high-placed people who gave him the news that he was going to be the supreme commander of an international naval defense force for fighting the Sirens- the so-called "Azur Lane" initiative had taken form.

But, that was the way things were in the navy- when they told you to get on the boat, you got on the boat, no two ways about it.

The new commander stepped off of the boat, and was met with the smell of the fresh sea air, and greeted with the bustle of docks. The familiar sight of transport convoys unloading their cargoes could be seen this way and that, prepping the base for the operations to come. However, as he took in the view, the base seemed a bit homier than the other installations he was used to- he'd have to get a closer look to be sure, but...

First things first.

The commander went to the dock office to meet with Commodore Haraldsen, who had been the base's provisional commander- not someone who was there to lead operations, but rather just make sure that the lights turned on when you flipped the switch. He had been here a few months to supervise the gathering of the various contingents of...

Shipgirls?

Living ships?

Kansen?

He'd have to figure that out later.

The commodore looked like someone nearing the end of his career, and this was a safe job for him to end it with. Alex handed the transfer and assignment papers over to him. He looked at the papers. "Cochrane?"

He gave a quiet nod. Best to say nothing and not invite any trouble.

"Well... I hoped they'd take things more seriously, but all of these papers check out." Commodore Haraldsen turned his eyes from the paper back to Alexander. "I can't say they'd go through this much work for a prank."

"Yes sir."

He looked at Alex for a moment. "I'd say that neither of us knows what they're thinking, but that's just the nature of the job. I know your family history, Cochrane, and you know that I and a lot of people who know about this have our misgivings- but these are the orders, so I'm transferring command to you." He walked over and opened up a desk, handing him a new ID. "This Commander's ID is also a keycard, it'll get you inside any of the base's buildings. You'll be meeting with your contact near headquarters later this morning- and the HQ is also your residence."

"Yes sir." It was all he could manage- it always felt like he was barely treading water around anyone with an officer's rank.

"Aside from that, I've got nothing for you- our enemy is nothing like we've ever faced, and you're in command of a naval force that no one quite knows how to use yet." He shrugged. "I'd wish you luck, but I don't know how far that'll get you."

The commander saluted. "I will perform to the best of my ability, sir."

"That's what's strange- I don't even know if you should still be calling me sir after this." He shrugged. "It's up to you to figure out how this is going to work, but I should be on my way. My duties end where yours begin, Commander Cochrane. Dismissed."