Commander's Rounds

Entry 117: Fleet Day

It was another day in the commander's office, and he had the rare opportunity to look at the news. Z23 was there, taking care of some other business that was beneath the commander's immediate concern- Much to Z23's relief, as it was a long, hard road teaching the commander to be able to delegate the responsibilities of his office away from his own person.

Plus, it also gave him someone to talk to who could appreciate the news. "Looks like the Union president is going to have a talk with the Joint Security Committee. Better for us that he keeps in touch."

"Oh..." She went. "Can't say I remember hearing much about that president, anyways."

The commander nodded. "That's because he doesn't really interfere with what we're doing over here. There was an isolationist candidate earlier on in the last election but he got filtered out pretty quickly in the nomination process, and the campaign was really between two guys yelling about who supported the troops more. And the troops include you ladies."

The destroyer blinked. "How did the isolationist get filtered out?"

The commander went on. "You see, there's an old saying in Union politics that goes "Never get caught in bed with a dead woman or a live boy" or something like that."

Z23 looked over at him from the bookshelf. "Which one happened to him?"

"Both of them at once, somehow." He shrugged. "That's the way it goes, sometimes."

Nimi blushed a bit. "You'd think people would have more discretion."

"It's a dicey game, really. Someone once told me you need to know how far you can go too far." He scrolled through the news.

Z23 had another question. "...Are Union Kansen allowed to vote in those elections?"

The commander nodded. "Not at first, but after about a half dozen years or so of constant hard work, a particularly theatrical and ingenious lawyer named Elijah Morrison managed to argue that they were natural-born residents of the Union that fit the age standard, so regardless of whatever other burdens they're under, they at least have the vote. I don't know what it's like in other countries, but... Well, there's more than one war going on here, after all."

The destroyer finished putting things away. "Anything else of note from that homefront?"

The commander took a quick look through. "Looks like General Shale managed to win a battle. The Sirens built one of their automated mining complexes South of their regular defenses on Baffin Island, and it got cleaned up by a Union and Maple force of HI-MACS units and heavy air power. The Sirens were probably counting on us being too afraid to attack one of their holdings, but General Shale didn't take the bait. Once the anti-air was cleared up, they uprooted the thing with MOPs."

Nimi blinked. "Ahhh... What's a MOP? That sounds like something that the carriers would know about."

He looked up from the news. "I guess you could say it's like a Tallboy, but much bigger. Anyway, this is good news for General Shale. Not just for his military situation, but he's probably going to run for president in a few years. He's made some mouth noises about it, and while Union people like to root for the underdog, there's nothing they like more than a winner."

The destroyer walked up to his desk. "...You know, considering the possible outcomes... If our Lord goes back home after this is over, do you think the Iron Blood might once again have a Chancellor Bismarck?"

"That's up for Bismarck and the people of your country to decide. I'm sure that U-556 would be thrilled, as long as she still got to spoil her flagship."