The Battle of Her Highness Begins
After a brief meeting about tomorrow’s schedule, we each headed to our workplaces.
In preparation for tomorrow’s departure, I began inspecting Shunmin, starting from the exterior and ending with the engine room.
“Oh, Captain. Rare to see you here,”
“Don’t be silly. I always come before departure,”
“Eh? Are we departing?”
“Tomorrow. Don’t cause any trouble until then.”
I continued the inspection, making small talk with Maria.
After completing all checks, I entered the bridge, which was as busy as usual.
Rani, Kasumi, and Kaori were working on their tasks while teaching trainees about navigation routes and various simulations.
Noticing me, Sister Meyrica called out as per custom,
“Captain on deck!”
Everyone stopped what they were doing and saluted.
To be honest, it’s troublesome.
I’d like to stop this practice, but I can’t.
I returned the salute and encouraged them to continue their work.
The next day, we welcomed Her Highness aboard the ship.
She arrived with his “Liily Squad” and the royal security detail from the Royal Security Department.
I waited in the hall with our security personnel, the “Liily Squad.”
“We’ve been expecting you, Your Highness. I’ll guide you to the bridge.”
After escorting Her Highness to the bridge and making preparations, it was time to depart.
Her Highness’s words were relayed from the bridge to all crew members, and we set sail for Nihonium.
This movement of Her Highness had been communicated to the Nihonium government in advance as a royal visit.
So, we were guided to the best spot in the spaceport without delay.
Honestly, it’s troublesome to land here, but I’d like to at least drop off Her Highness and head to the dock.
As soon as Shunmin landed, a tube was extended, and Her Highness disembarked to where the dignitaries were waiting.
The duke managing this area is Her Highness’s great-uncle, and he seems to be giving a grand welcome.
Even if they find it troublesome in their hearts… even if the duke himself doesn’t think so, his subordinates and vassal nobles probably find it bothersome.
That’s how much the nobles dislike central government intervention.
This is still within the central government’s supervision area, so the opposition shouldn’t be too strong, but there are undoubtedly those who think their vested interests are being disturbed.
It’s not my concern, but from here on, Her Highness’s royal diplomacy begins.
After the series of welcome events at the spaceport, Her Highness and his entourage were taken to the administrative area.
We had already informed them through the office that we would be moving to the dock, so we waited here for a guide.
The guide arrived, accompanied by Margaret.
The guide wasn’t a problem as we were expecting them, but Margaret’s presence gave me a bad feeling.
“Captain Bruce. We meet again,”
said the guide, whom we had relied on during this ship’s test voyages.
“Yes, we’re back before we could say it’s been a while.”
“Are you here for repairs?”
“No, it’s for modifying the carrier-based aircraft.”
“I see. It’s close from here. Shall we get started right away?”
“Please wait.”
Someone objected to our conversation –
it was Margaret, who had come along.
“I’m sorry, Captain. Her Highness is calling for you. Could you please come with me?”
“If it’s a summons from Her Highness, I can’t ignore it. Is it urgent?”
“Yes.”
“Excecutive Officer Meyrica. I’m going out with Margaret. I leave the ship’s command to you.”
“I’ve taken command. Have a safe trip, Captain.”
I left the command to Sister Meyrica and followed Margaret, Her Highness’s lady-in-waiting, off the ship.
In the spaceport lobby, key members of the organization gathered by Her Highness, including Ferman, were waiting.
Although I hadn’t spoken directly with most of them, I recognized their faces.
Seeing my puzzled look, Ferman took charge and explained the situation.
“Captain, I’m glad we could meet here. It’s really fortunate.”
“Is there some kind of emergency?”
“Well, it’s not exactly an emergency, but something unexpected has come up.”
“Unexpected?”
Then, Ferman briefly gathered the inner circle and explained.
Since this is the Yttrium star system in the capital space zone, they had planned to keep the local explanation brief. However, since the organization’s leadership is here, they’ve been invited to a party for introductions.
At this gathering, they want us to explain the significance of this new initiative to everyone present.
However, we haven’t yet confirmed if our understanding of the matter is unified.
Some of us haven’t even greeted each other yet… like me.
So, they want to use a conference room at this spaceport to prepare for the upcoming party.
I was taken to a conference room next to the spaceport lobby.
First, we start with self-introductions for everyone in the conference room.
While some of us know each other individually, that’s true for everyone here.
Ferman takes the lead, and we begin introducing ourselves one by one.
To be honest, I’m terrible at this sort of thing.
Although I wasn’t a shut-in, I spent my childhood being somewhat withdrawn, and I still haven’t developed skills in these social situations.
I understand that as the captain of Her Highness’s flagship, these cases will only increase, not decrease.
Despite my discomfort, I managed to get through the self-introduction, partly because it was among our inner circle.
The people newly introduced here were as follows:
Intelligence Director: James Baccarat
He’s the coordinator of several intelligence agencies in the country, originating from the Royal Intelligence Department.
True to the image of a spy, I couldn’t remember anything about him except his name.
Investigation Director: Thomson Columbia
A seasoned police officer who served in the police force of a sub-planet in the frontier-like Nim star system, apparently scouted by Ferman.
He’s said to be a demon of investigation.
His aura is that of a friendly uncle, but his arrest record is said to be incredible.
Ferman told me that he had arrested many nobles as well, making him quite unwelcome in noble society. He was about to be transferred somewhere when he was promptly scouted and brought here.
Mobile Squad Leader: Ice Keel
He’s a frontline soldier of common birth.
He’s said to be unrivaled in combat using a battle axe, and had risen to the rank of non-commissioned officer.
His ability to train subordinates and command in the field is also highly regarded, but following the saying “the nail that sticks out gets hammered down,” he was about to be sent to his death by an incompetent noble’s son when he was scouted using royal authority.
To be frank, he’s handsome. The kind that makes you want to say “die, normie.”
He has a sweet face and gentle aura, but he’s a monster who shows unparalleled strength in combat.
That’s the kind of talk you hear within the Squad.
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Security Director: Virginia Stanley
A beautiful woman in her early thirties.
She’s a perfect superhuman with no weaknesses in combat or in attending to Her Highness’s personal needs.
She’s from the famous “Garden of Lilies” and rotates security personnel to my ship as well.
These four were introduced this time, and they are the core of the working group for the Wide Area Criminal Police Organization Establishment Preparatory Office that Her Highness has set up.
While the Intelligence Director and Security Director were brought from the royal household, the scouted members are, to be blunt, misfits – people who were treated as unnecessary or problematic in some way.
Yet their achievements and abilities are well-proven.
To those who can see it, this lineup is like picking a fight with noble society.
Ah, so that’s why I’m here.
By including me, an insignificant failure, they avoid arousing undue suspicion among the nobles.
I hate to say it myself, but I can confidently say that I pale in comparison to them.
Moreover, I hold quite an important position among the key members as the captain of the flagship.
However, mingling with these people at a party would be nothing short of hell for me.
As I was thinking about this, Ferman continued the conversation without paying attention to me.
“Now that we’ve finished the introductions, let’s get to the main point. Our original plan was to start after leaving the capital star system, so please consider this as moving ahead of schedule.”
He then proceeded with the discussion.
Yes, the plan was to just give a brief greeting here and then tour other star systems within the kingdom.
It seems they intended to properly strategize on the ship while heading to the next destination, the Rhenium star system.
Rhenium is also the gateway to the Amin Principality, the kingdom’s only friendly nation, and its public safety is quite good.
Or rather, they’re desperately maintaining public order by stationing the Second Fleet’s home port there.
So it seemed appropriate as the first visit destination.
Her Highness’s initiative is understood as necessary by some, but most of the nobles consider it just a hobby she’s taken up.
To be frank, they don’t look kindly on royal interference in areas governed by nobles, so it becomes a kind of battlefield in the arena of noble politics.
The story was that our debut on this battlefield had been moved up.
Whether this royal diplomacy is seen as Her Highness’s hobby in the arena of noble politics or not, it’s an important stepping stone for us to gain command and control over local investigation departments as needed.
Therefore, failure on this battlefield is not an option.
There must be no discord among Her Highness’s subordinates.
So, we were instructed to align our policies here and never show any weakness that those foolish nobles could exploit.
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Thanks for the treat.
eyy things starting to get underway