Reassigned as Captain
Afterward, I headed to the high-rise government building where I had previously received a medal, using the memo given to me by the general affairs department as a guide.
It was near the royal palace, a bit of a distance from the government district I was in earlier.
Even so, it wasn’t like being in outer space – it only took about ten minutes on foot to reach it.
Upon arriving at the building, I immediately looked for the reception in the spacious lobby.
Suddenly, someone called out to me from behind.
To my surprise, it was Ferman san, who I had seen earlier with Her Highness.
“Acting Captain. We’ve been expecting you. I’ll guide you.”
I followed Ferman san to the elevator hall and up to the higher floors.
We were taken to a place with a good view on the top floor, but the entire floor seemed deserted.
It felt like the interior was still under construction.
“Though it’s not fully prepared yet, this will be the ‘Interstellar Criminal Police Organization Preparatory Office.’ This will include the grand office of the ‘Shunmin’ and the investigators will be stationed here. We’ve secured nearly half of the planned personnel, but it’ll take a bit more time for everyone’s transfers. We’re also continuing to scout for the remaining positions. Her Highness’s office is ready, so I’ll guide you there.”
With these words from Ferman san, I was led to the office at the back.
“Your Highness. I’ve brought the Acting Captain.”
“Welcome, Acting Captain. I’ve been waiting for you.”
“Your Highness. As per our discussion yesterday, I’ve been reassigned here starting today. I look forward to working with you.”
“We’ll be in a superior-subordinate relationship from now on. Unless it’s official, you can be a bit more casual with me.”
“………”
“I’m sorry. It seems I’ve made you even more formal. Shall we talk about work? Please, have a seat.”
Following Her Highness’s invitation, I sat on the sofa in the room.
As Her Highness sat across from me, she explained in more detail what I had heard earlier from Ferman san.
“So, it’ll take a bit more time before this place is fully functional. Since you’ve been transferred here, we’ll prepare an office for you right away, Acting Captain.”
“Um, Your Highness, what about the ground crew?”
“Ground crew?”
“Yes, the department that manages ship operations and resources.”
“Ah, right. There were three women in the management department of that ship. They will also be transferred here. We’ll prepare an office for them as well, so don’t worry. Oh, and regarding the home port of the ship, we’ll continue to use the fifth spot at Faren Spaceport.”
“Your Highness, before we get ahead of ourselves, the official appointment…”
Ferman san, who had been listening to our exchange, gently reminded Her Highness.
“Ah, yes, of course. I’m sorry. I’ll give you your official appointment now. Ahem. Lieutenant Nao-Bruce. You are hereby reassigned to the Interstellar Criminal Police Organization Preparatory Office and appointed as the Captain of the space destroyer ‘Shunmin,’ hull number KSS9999.”
“Eh? Captain? Isn’t it supposed to be Acting Captain…?”
“We’ve considered various factors, but this isn’t the military or the coast guard, and we don’t need to worry about troublesome precedents. More importantly, considering how you’ll be treated in the field, we decided on Captain.”
“I apologize. I humbly accept the appointment.”
“You’ll need to decide on crew assignments right away, and above all, continue with the unfinished tests to ensure that ship is ready for action at any time.”
“Captain Bruce. From now on, that ship will be used to transport Her Highness within the kingdom. For that, we need to convince the royal palace, so you’ll need to go on an inspection voyage with the examiners we’ve prepared. I apologize, but please be ready for that as soon as preparations are complete.”
“U-understood. And who are these inspectors?”
“Ah, yes. Let me introduce them right away. Margaret, could you call them in?”
At Her Highness’s request, the lady-in-waiting Margaret briefly left the room and quickly returned with some people.
“Let me introduce them. This is Ford, who captains my cruiser. And next to him is Sardar, the chief researcher from the Royal Shipbuilding Institute, who will also serve as an advisor to this preparatory office. Could you take these two on board and conduct various performance tests? By the time you’re finished, we should have everything ready here.”
“I’m Ford. I’m in charge of Her Highness’s cruiser. We’ll be working as colleagues from now on, so pleased to meet you.”
Ford, the captain of Her Highness’s cruiser, extended his hand for a handshake, which I returned while greeting him.
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“I’m a novice captain, but I look forward to working with you.”
“I’m Sardar. I research armaments for combat ships at the Royal Shipbuilding Institute. From now on, I’ll also be advising here on matters related to pirate ships and such, so pleased to meet you.”
“Likewise, I’m fresh out of school, so please guide me in various matters.”
“If you don’t mind, could you show us to your ship right away? I’d like to take a look at various things before we set sail.”
“That sounds good. I hear your ship has achieved the fastest speed in the country. I’m very interested. May I join as well?”
“My, my, the gentlemen seem absorbed in their new toy. I have nothing more to add, so go ahead. Ferman, do you have anything?”
“Yes, I was thinking about supplies for the voyage, but can I leave that to Captain Ford?”
“Yes, that’s fine. Oh, that’s right, Your Highness. Since your cruiser won’t fly without me, may I bring along a few of my crew members?”
“I don’t mind, but what do you think, Captain Bruce?”
“As long as we’re supplied, it’s fine. We have plenty of room, or rather, we’re short-staffed, so there’s space in the cabins. Please, do invite them.”
“Then I’ll head to the fifth spot with my subordinates. Let’s meet at the ship.”
“In that case, I’ll bring my assistant too. Is that alright, Captain?”
“Yes, that’s fine. Then, Chief, let’s meet at the fifth spot at Faren Spaceport where we’re docked.”
“Alright, we’ll do that. Then I’ll start preparations right away. Your Highness, if that’s settled, I’ll take my leave.”
The introduced individuals hurriedly left Her Highness’s presence and went somewhere.
“Captain, I’m sorry about this. Please take care of them.”
“Yes, I’ll return to the ship right away and prepare for their arrival.”
“Yes, that’s right. Oh, please wait on departing for now. I’ll come to the ship again tomorrow to give official appointments to the other members. Once that’s done, you can set out on the test voyage. When you return, please come back here.”
“Understood, Your Highness. I’ll head back now.”
Parting from Her Highness, I headed to the fifth spot at Faren Spaceport.
There was a security gate in front of the spot, heavily guarded. Despite my ship being there, it was quite an effort just to approach.
Perhaps tired of this effort, they were loitering in the lobby in front of the spot.
“Acting Captain~~ We can’t get back to the Shunmin~”
Maria, spotting me, came crying to me.
Huh??
It was much easier to get in and out yesterday. How strange.
While patting Maria’s head to comfort her, I looked for the person in charge of guarding the gate.
Then, I saw someone approaching hurriedly from outside the gate.
It seemed they had business with me.
“Captain, I’ve been looking for you. Please guide me to the ship quickly.”
It was Captain Ford, whom I had just parted from.
“Oh, Captain. Aren’t you here early?”
“Ah, being attached to Her Highness gives me certain privileges. I used an official car to get here, so I arrived about thirty minutes ago. However, without the captain’s permission, I couldn’t board the ship, so I’ve been looking for you.”
“I see. However, it seems the security level has been raised, and even I can’t approach the ship.”
“That’s absurd. Hey, you there. What’s the meaning of this?”
As expected of Her Highness’s cruiser captain, he seemed to have some influence in this area.
He immediately caught hold of someone who looked like the person in charge of guarding the gate and started questioning them.
……
It seems the matter has been settled.
“Captain. I apologize. It seems they didn’t know you. Apparently, they were under the highest alert on orders from the Royal Palace Guard because they thought there was no crew on that ship.”
“Ah, if that’s the case, please call Chief Shinome who’s guarding the ship’s entrance. If you tell her that Bruce is having trouble at the entrance, she should come.”
“Understood, I’ll relay that message.”
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it’s slowly coming together
Thanks for the treat.
lol it was like returning home but couldn’t enter because you forgot your keys inside.