I Became a Captain of the British Empire

to Panama

“Oh, of course, this is an opinion from the Secretary of the Navy.”

crumpled.

K began folding the papers with the ciphertext on them.

Eventually, he puts the crumpled paper in his mouth. And chew.

“I’m sorry, but the issue I’m going to write about is… .”

“For now, let’s skip what’s in your mouth and talk about it.”

gulp.

It sounded not so good.

“So it’s nothing to worry about.”

“I would appreciate it if you could tell me right away.”

“sorry. First of all, I have to tell you that it’s an order.”

When I saw K talking calmly, I felt dizzy.

what did you just do? No, I understand that it is a confidential document… Is it okay to eat that?

It seems that something incomprehensible has happened, but for now, I need to turn my attention away for a while. There are more important things now.

I rubbed my forehead and asked again.

“If that is what the Secretary of the Navy thinks, what else does the Prime Minister have in mind?”

“yes. However, the invasion of Panama that the Secretary of the Navy spoke of is something that most members of the Cabinet agree on.”

In short, the attack order itself was the will of the entire cabinet. But the difference between the Prime Minister and the Secretary of the Navy… .

“There seems to be a difference of opinion on the method.”

“bingo.”

K nodded lightly.

“The Prime Minister is concerned about the reckless planning of the Navy Secretary. Since we are also directly under the Prime Minister’s Office, there is no reason to listen to the Minister of the Navy’s orders straight away. Well, in the first place, that old friend talking nonsense isn’t even a day or two, right? hahahaha!”

Minister, I haven’t heard anything.

K.

“Anyway, the Prime Minister is worried about losing valuable power.”

It’s a valuable power. After all, we don’t want to lose our two fast battlecruisers and our veteran crews with plenty of real combat experience.

However, K’s answer that followed was different from what I expected.

“A good propaganda vehicle that is you.”

“me?”

What are you talking about?

Seeing my bewilderment, she tilted her head and then opened her mouth. They clap their hands and take a step closer to continue talking.

“You didn’t know! Head of the flyer, now you’re a celebrity in your home country. There must be no one in London who doesn’t know the name of Captain Lewis.”

Celebrities? I?

Am embarrassed. No, it’s the first time I’ve heard of it. Now, he is only in the position of commanding a small detachment with the rank of brigadier general. I wouldn’t know if it was Admiral Pound of Mobile Unit H or Cunningham who was active in a decisive battle, but suddenly he pushed me.

“Thanks to the extensive publicity in the cabinet. Hey guys! A battlecruiser commanded by the unsung admiral Brigadier General Lewis is sweeping America’s front yard! Well, something like this.”

Shrugging his shoulders, K.

It’s a very blatant push. Anyway, it seemed like my name was only mentioned occasionally on the radio I used to listen to, but… Could you give me some hints in advance?

“Anyway, the Prime Minister seems to want you to be alive… .”

K cleared his throat and continued.

He stares at me with a smile on his sharp eyes.

“Well, it means to hit moderately and kill yourself. You wouldn’t listen if I told you to get out of there anyway, wouldn’t you?”

that’s the correct answer

He simply nodded.

Of course, it’s not just because the subordinates are pitiful. Repulse, Tiger, and Furious, these three high-speed capital ships and veteran crews are not power to simply throw away. Abandoning them is like giving up half of the Royal Navy.

You came all the way here and ran away. I am not MacArthur. Every country has its own pride. This is also a matter of trust with the subordinates you will meet in the future.

So, you need to be more careful in your decision.

I calmly organized my thoughts and said.

“If we hit Panama, there’s a high probability we’ll have no choice but to engage their battlecruiser squadron.”

“Perhaps in terms of time.”

“However, this ship is experiencing difficulties in refurbishment and supply.”

Having said that, I held my breath and breathed in. He caught his breath and resumed his conversation.

“Without reinforcements from the home country, engagements are bound to be risky. There is absolutely no guarantee of defeating the enemy.”

“That part… .”

K. crossed his arms and closed his eyes as if in agony. Soon he opened his mouth in a refreshing voice.

“I think you can run away on your own.”

pestilence. What do you want? I’m the problem.

“I’m not in the Navy, so I don’t have much advice on that, hahahaha… sorry!”

Then why don’t you open your mouth in the first place? Mr. Pak.

Fists almost spoke before words.

Anyway, the upper management doesn’t seem to have much concern about the field. That I, the commander, do something.

“First of all, you won’t have to worry about supplies anymore.”

At the moment of worrying with his nerves on edge, K opened his mouth. He shrugged his shoulders slightly as if he was sorry that he was of no help.

“Tomorrow morning, we will have a supply ship stand by off the coast of Belize.”

This is good news.

“Supply ship? Are you reinforcements from your home country?”

“no? Someone is bringing a supply box all the way here. Well, I don’t know if it’s a disguised ship. But there are too few people to come here, and I’m busy.”

what. It is said to be a supply ship. I don’t think he’s asking us to piracy… .

When I put on a puzzled face, she continues.

“I prepared a bigger one instead.”

There was something very unpleasant about the face that raised the corner of the mouth.

* * *

At the same time, the Panama Canal. Entrance to the Pacific Ocean. U.S. Navy battlecruiser Constalation.

Under the lights of the night sea, a huge hull cuts through the waves. A long, sharp prow leisurely disturbs the surface of the water.

Ian Ashford, commander of the 1st Battlecruiser Squadron, looked at the prow advancing in white foam.

“Cruising speed of 25 knots, engine, no problem.”

“What is your maximum speed?”

“We will be able to sail at full speed soon.”

At the captain’s report, the admiral looked at the floor for a moment.

You can feel the vibration under your feet. He was silent for a moment, then jerked his head up.

“Let’s proceed right away.”

“yes? But Admiral, this is a canal ahead. Even if you sail at full speed, you’ll have to slow down later. Moreover, it is night, so the view is… .”

“It doesn’t matter.”

firm expression. A look that urges execution.

The captain gave the order without hesitation. The floor vibrates again. The captain, who was checking the speedometer, opened his eyes wide and said.

“Currently… 31 knots.”

Unexpected number. According to the original design, it should have a high speed of 33 knots.

Behind the blue-faced captain, the admiral quietly crossed his arms. Instructing him to slow down again, he opened his mouth in a relaxed voice.

“They said they reinforced the gloves… Is there a problem too?”

The admiral, who was touching his chin with his right hand, asked while looking at the officer behind him.

“What do you think, Chief of Staff?”

The officer, who was standing like a wooden stone, replied with an expression that did not change at all.

“I don’t think this much is a problem.”

“Hmm, why?”

sharp eyes. The admiral deliberately raised the edge at the end of his words and asked. But the chief of staff didn’t even dream of it.

“The speed of the enemy Leenaun-class battlecruiser is about 30 knots. Because there is no reason to fall behind in the chase.”

calm voice.

However, there was a certainty in the calm. The admiral felt it.

“Do you think this ship will be able to catch an enemy ship in its current condition?”

“I do not know.”

The Captain, who had been listening to the story, looked at the Chief of Staff in confusion.

Are you saying that in this situation?

Eventually, the chief of staff continued without changing his expression.

“I just do my best.”

“good. I like it.”

The squadron commander nodded in satisfaction. In front of the captain who looked at the two with puzzled eyes, he turned his gaze to the bridge window without hesitation.

“I heard that the commander of the enemy fleet is quite competent.”

The lights of the night sea were shining brightly on the black water surface. The admiral continued as he gazed at the brightest port, as if engulfed in flames.

“I think they’ll struggle if they come out of the port and run amok, Chief of Staff.”

“If they come out of the harbor… .”

The chief of staff is speechless. Even that, is there no clear way to stop the battlecruisers from striding across the ocean?

It was a time when Constalation’s captain thought so.

“I’ll have to let you go back in.”

A light answer, as if thinking about how to eat breakfast.

Beyond the bewildered captain, Admiral Ian spread a smile across his wrinkled mouth.

“Let’s do that.”

Clouds obscured the stars in the night sky.

* * *

The bright sunlight enveloped Repulse. We left the port while the mid-heaven sun heated the surface of the water.

“Institution current speed 20 knots. Boiler no problem!”

“good. If there is anything wrong, report it right away.”

He stepped back from the Jeonseong Hall and sighed quietly.

Fortunately, the institution is still holding out. It’s still unreasonable to achieve maximum cruising speed.

Well, I should take comfort in the fact that it’s not broken now. Up to 26 knots can be produced somehow. Sailing at full speed, the Panama Canal could be reached in three days.

The problem is that US battlecruisers may still be passing through the canal.

These are two wounded battlecruisers. Moreover, it is not a matter of fraud because it hastily scrambled. Our only hope, the Furious, will barely reach the vicinity of Jamaica by the time we descend. If you run into them before rendezvous with the carrier, you have no choice but to be beaten.

But I won’t just sit back and get beaten. If put in a situation where he had to fight, he would risk his life to bite. That’s all I can be prepared for now.

“Chairman, are you really okay?”

As I looked out the window with a sigh, the officer asked in a nervous voice.

“What do you mean? Don’t you know that you don’t have time? I can’t help it.”

I have everything in mind.

The morale of his subordinates is low, ammunition is not enough, the fatigue of the hull is gradually accumulating, and so on.

But even after all that, I have no choice but to move on.

It was the moment I was about to answer.

“No, not that… .”

The commander shook his hand, scratched his head, and then continued by pointing to the port visible from the bridge window.

“Is it really okay if I leave him?”

“ah… that?”

I see what you’re talking about. I pondered and asked him again.

“Did you hear about the contact information and the rendezvous point?”

“Sure.”

“Then there’s no reason to take her.”

I didn’t say anything wrong. The operation officer nodded his head alone, as if he understood that.

I suddenly thought of it and asked him.

“Hey, operative. you mean What would you think if you saw someone chewing paper while leaving a shredder in good shape?”

“I think you’ll think I’m crazy.”

“Isn’t that true?”

The officer nodded without hesitation. This is an expected reaction.

however…

“Well, because there are all kinds of people in the world.”

“uh… .”

“Isn’t it possible to meet about 10 or so people like that?”

I am… I don’t know.

Apparently the British are a bit familiar with these unusual people.

Maybe that’s why, the officer couldn’t erase his uncomfortable expression while looking toward the stretched shore.

“You know what. Could it be that you came all the way here without any preparation?”

He patted him on the shoulder and said.

The sound of seagulls flying in the sky resonates pleasantly on the bridge.

* * *

“Are you lying? Are you messing with all of this? Right?”

In front of the breakwater in the port of Veracruz.

In front of the dangerous lapping waves, Mr. K, despite the warnings of the sea, stepped forward to look out over the horizon.

Above the blue line of the vast sea, a battlecruiser with a prominent triangular mast was advancing, emitting smoke. She was supposed to be riding in that Repulse.

The terms of the deal were simple. Taking Repulse only to the rendezvous point of the refueling ship in front of Belize.

There, while Repulse was being refueled, her plan was to transfer to a camouflaged merchant ship and return home via Jamaica.

however… .

“Oh my god, someone abandons a government agent and goes off on his own. hahahaha! We will be sending a boat soon. wait and see Wait, K. You can do it.”

Slumping, sitting on the breakwater, she stared at the distant sea. His blue eyes rolled like crazy as if he wouldn’t miss a single yacht on the sea.

Her curly blonde hair quivered like her gaze.

When Repulse finally disappeared completely over the horizon, she faced reality and murmured dejectedly.

“I… How do I get home?”

The intricate whispers were drowned out by the cries of the seagulls, and no one could hear them.