I Became a Captain of the British Empire

to the east

December 24, 1930. England, London.

A salute sounds. Fireworks flashing in the sky.

Even in wartime, the atmosphere was heated up to the fullest, as if to publicize the empire’s health.

grand dinner party.

people, people, people… .

“Congratulations on your promotion. Admiral Lewis. No, Sir Louis.”

“ah… Thank you.”

A tall young man appeared in front of him holding a glass. Who is it?

I smiled and was greeted and left.

Too many people don’t know.

This is the party room on Christmas Eve.

The party, which was held at a former minister’s mansion, was crowded with people celebrating the big holiday, adding to the atmosphere.

A huge tree is built in the wide yard, and people in groups of twos and threes chat with each other. From nobles of famous ducal families, central officials to army generals.

Looking at the luxurious combination that would probably fit within the top 10% of British society, I wandered around aimlessly. I was invited, but the level seems too high to enjoy together.

“Damn it, where else is this?”

I don’t even know where I am now, as I’ve been dragged around the medal ceremony, the promotion ceremony, and the party. Was this the medal ceremony reception? no, that wouldn’t be it

“The decorations really suit you, Sir Louis.”

“no no. It’s too much for me.”

“If you say that, what will the other admirals do? hahahaha!”

“is it… This is very rude.”

Friends you’ve never seen before come pouring in. Friends mostly dressed in navy uniforms.

I answered appropriately and glanced around.

does not exist. Kirk, where did this guy go?

At such a high-ranking gathering, a guy with a lot of magazines should help me!

The medal hanging over the uniform is cumbersome today.

Bath decorations.

It is a British knight’s medal. The one I got was a 2 star ‘Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath.’ It is called ‘KCB’ for short.

After receiving this, everyone attaches a ‘Kyung’… I don’t know what it is. Have I become a noble?

I don’t know what happened because I was so nervous. Once the promotion is certain… … .

“Admiral! Where have you been?”

“Kirk!”

Kirk breaks through the crowd and grabs me. Surprised glances around.

However, he didn’t care and asked him.

“what’s the matter? No, let’s go out now.”

“The Secretary of the Navy is calling.”

also?

He frowned momentarily. The gaze around me felt unusual, so I cleared my throat and turned my head.

What are you going to do in the meantime?

It seems that the nobles are not good enough. Still, I’m glad I found a suitable excuse.

“Unfortunately, the Secretary of the Navy is calling. More on that later.”

I told an officer who was trying to hold me and talk to me with the utmost regret. It seemed that the other party knew the matter and quietly backed away.

“I’m sorry. I look forward to our next meeting.”

“okay. Oh, by the way, what is your name?”

I was a little sorry for leaving like this, so I asked politely. The officer, who stood up straight with a nervous face, said clearly.

“Donald… This is Donald McIntyre.”

“I will remember. Mr. MacIntyre.”

Sorry, it’s actually Gura. I probably won’t remember

It’s just that I’m sorry I left in the middle of the conversation.

… But where have you not heard of it?

“Where is the Secretary of the Navy?”

“He asked to meet me at the office.”

“You are so annoying.”

Is it because of the mood? Well, if you can’t remember the name at once, there’s no need to know it.

Leaving behind my uneasy feelings, I hurriedly moved on.

* * *

Twenty minutes later, Naval Headquarters.

“You are very late. Sir Lewis.”

“What if you suddenly call me and say that?”

“A gentleman always prepares for the contingency.”

yeah i’m not a gentleman What should I do?

… A voice like this reached the tip of my chin, but I barely held it in. Instead, I shrugged and replied.

“Unfortunately, there is no additional work without pay. Especially if you make random calls on Christmas Eve.”

Cuckold, Churchill furrows his brow.

I didn’t back down and cleared my throat at him staring at me with a bulldog-like face.

I am also ‘Kyung’, this is it!

come and see Guardian of Gallipoli.

… Still, I averted my gaze.

After a while, he sighed and waved his hand.

“It’s all nonsense. I called because I wanted to ask you something more.”

As expected, since the title is attached, I like the fact that the way of speaking changes. Anything you want to ask?

I didn’t understand.

A man the size of a naval minister has something to discuss with a task force commander?

“Isn’t this something to discuss with the 1st Naval Police, not me?”

There are many people who ask for opinions even if it is not me. From Admiral O’Connor of the Straits Fleet to Admiral Fields, Commander of the Home Fleet, to Admiral Kelly, First Lord of the Navy.

It is the Navy Headquarters that is full of leading talents.

But Churchill looked at me with serious eyes and shook his head.

“It’s because someone recommended it.”

“Who are you?”

“you.”

Shuk, raise your thick finger and point at me.

My eyes blinked incessantly at the strange pointing.

“yes?”

“Remember Admiral Hodgers?”

Incoming questions out of the blue.

It’s also a name I haven’t heard in a long time.

Admiral Michael Hodgers.

A former commander of the British Atlantic Fleet and a person who shared his life with the battleship Nelson.

And the first naval admiral I ever encountered.

“… Yes, I remember.”

I can’t remember The first day I fell in this world, the moment I met him alone is still vividly kept in my head. It was also the first time I came up with the idea of a carrier task force.

“As expected. The admiral left a letter to the 1st Navy Police before the sortie.”

Churchill silently nodded.

Come to think of it, Admiral Pound of Task Force H said something similar. What did you say?

“He told me to look carefully at you. He’s a pretty unique talent.”

“You mean me?”

“exactly. Still don’t know?”

After coughing heavily, he continued to speak with a pod in both hands.

“You get a lot of attention. No one in the Navy doesn’t know your name anymore. Oh, I meant it in a good way.”

That’s what everyone you meet, starting with K, says. Now, to the point where scabs sit on your ears.

The annoyance seemed to show on his face, but Churchill seemed unconcerned.

“Some say that he is the best talent since Nelson. To be honest, I can’t believe it either.”

Take a deep breath, let out a sigh. What does it mean?

Just as he was about to say something, wondering if he had called to talk about something trivial, he opened his mouth.

“Because people have changed as if they suddenly woke up right before the outbreak of war.”

what?

When I opened my eyes and looked up, he was shooting a serious gaze at me.

sharp eyes. In it, decades of experience sway.

Like the eyes of a beast shining in the dark, his gaze pierced his opponent sharply.

“I don’t know what you are talking about.”

“You are asking what happened.”

“A job?”

“Have you ever collapsed at the captain’s inauguration ceremony the day before war was declared?”

In an instant, I unknowingly shook my head.

Did you do all of my background research? something is unsettling

“… Is that so?”

“Because there are testimonies pouring in that people have changed since then.”

Damn, what do you mean? The mouth is dry.

Even the heating is turned off in the room, but the wind that blows past is like the waves of the North Sea.

What’s the situation? I thought it was a boring call.

I wondered if a cold sweat would flow down, and I suddenly touched the corner of my mouth.

“That’s right… Coincidence.”

“Maybe. It doesn’t matter either way.”

Shrugging, Churchill leaned back in his chair and placed his hands on the pedestal.

I don’t know what it is, but the situation is bad. We must overcome this situation once and for all. Damn, is there no chance?

While thoughts passed like a storm, he still looked at me with a heavy face and said.

“But please answer me one thing.”

My heart goes mad and my instincts sound the siren. What are you asking? What is your intention?

First of all, you have to make good choices.

Instinct whispered so.

The seasoned politician continued his attack word by word.

“Are you sure you intend to serve our United Kingdom?”

good night. get out of here

He swallowed dry saliva and immediately opened his mouth.

“That is a very rude question, Secretary of the Navy.”

The atmosphere has to change.

I gave strength to my voice for the effect of reversal.

“I’m sorry to say this, but it feels a little rude.”

good night.

Churchill’s eyes widened slightly.

We must continue the offensive without stopping here. Don’t even have a chance to make up for your mistakes. So which weapon should I bring out?

“I have given everything for the glory of our empire, from the Atlantic to the Caribbean and beyond to the Mediterranean.”

Simple. All you have to do is pour out your accumulated emotions to that fat man. It was the other side that made the mistake first, so this side also has the right to engage. It’s a free deal.

“I carried out my mission regardless of unreasonable requests, and lost countless men in the process. I couldn’t even set foot on the soil of my home country for half a year. Is this the only treat you get after such an ordeal?”

As if to resolve a hundred-year-old grievance, emotions spontaneously escalated and the voice rose. Echoes bouncing around the room. When I came to my senses, I took a step forward and looked down at him.

“… I’m sorry. it’s my fault I hope you forgot the question I just asked.”

The posture of looking down at the minister’s seat.

Churchill, hidden in my shadow, answered quietly.

“I just wanted to ask you something, but I called because I needed your knowledge. It looks like you need the admiral’s advice. I apologize if I offended you. I’m sorry.”

Nodding, looking at Churchill with his head down, he cleared his throat and stepped back.

I’m surprised How can that gentleman admit his fault? Even in the midst of that, the expression on his face was still suspicious.

Anyway, it seems that the hurdle has been passed. I didn’t intend to attack this side any more, so I asked while accepting an apology.

“What is?”

“We want to end the Atlantic campaign before the US Pacific Fleet joins in.”

what? fleet battle?

I tilted my head to see if he was serious. However, the attitude did not change.

“Is there any other way?”

“That is difficult. It is unreasonable for even the mightiest navy to deal with a fleet stuck in a port with an existing fleet.”

Even in World War I, when aircraft were less developed than now, the British Grand Fleet could not attack the German Great Sea Fleet hidden in the harbor as far as Wilhelmshafen.

Coastal artillery, mines, torpedo boats, etc… This is because aircraft are not the only means to protect ports.

Churchill, however, did not give up hope and continued to ask.

“But didn’t you do that in Taranto?”

“It’s a different story than that.”

This man has gone through air raids.

But this is too early. About 8-10 years?

“Taranto was just caught off guard, and the size of its fleet was embarrassingly small compared to that of the United States. Prior to that, naval battles were won and lost outside the port.”

Above all, the opponent was stupid. The use of searchlights was also late. The early warning posture was also poor, and countermeasures against torpedo flooding were also insufficient.

Even after doing so, only two battleships were disabled. Even this can be repaired if enough time is spent. It’s because the war ended before that, so if it led to a long battle, the damage would be enough to join the front lines again.

In a word, it was possible because the other person was unique. Conversely, didn’t the fleet depart from Brest?

Despite similar surprise effects, the Furious was unable to prevent the departure of the French Atlantic Fleet.

“The U.S. Navy is not so easygoing that it can be neutralized with just a night raid.”

The opponent is a superpower with the world’s No. 1 naval power. It is of this scale even though it has not yet entered the full-scale total war system. It is not a weight class that can be cleared up with just a few air strikes.

“Right. So, is there any way?”

“How do you mean?”

“How to end the war as soon as possible.”

thump—Churchill said firmly as he slammed his fist down on the desk.

“For this, we must at least prevent the Pacific Fleet from crossing Panama. That was the intention of ordering to attack Panama.”

As if to rectify the mistakes of the past, he lengthened his horse’s tail.

However, I’m not interested in that. Whatever his intentions were, the past is the past.

I spurred on the story so that unnecessary chatter would not stick.

“So, the Pacific Fleet is getting in the way?”

“exactly. Damn Japs still ain’t got his ass off.”

With a weary sigh, Churchill shook his head.

The last information I heard from the Naval Intelligence Department was that the main force of the combined fleet was forward deployed to the truck port.

Thanks to this, it is said that the US Asian Fleet was unable to withdraw and was isolated in the Philippines. Although there has been no special engagement action yet.

“Why is Japan not moving?”

“They say the power is unstable. Deep down, he’s just aiming for both sides, but that’s okay. Sly bastards!”

I agree. However, that is politics. This side is promoting hard, but there is no need to step out and bleed. The US Pacific Fleet is also not a very easy opponent.

Yes, to fight alone.

“Did you say the power was unstable?”

“It is.”

But this excuse is too weak. So, if you follow the excuse, it is a surprisingly easy answer. Until now, it was difficult because my nose grew three years old.

“Then isn’t it simple?”

Surprisingly, the answer is already out there. At the confident voice, Churchill blinked his eyes with a puzzled face. Seeing him tilt his head, he spoke calmly.

“We are going to Asia.”

Z Mobile Fleet should live up to its name.

* * *

Eastern US, Fort Drum. Office of the Chief of Staff of the Ministry of War.

A window with warm sunlight pouring in. An old record goes back lonely.

In a room filled with old-fashioned classical music, MacArthur clenched his fists while sitting on a chair.

“So, Hoover is trying to knock me out?”

“Yeah, yes. General.”

The man in front of me stood in a sloppy posture and answered in bewilderment. MacArthur lowered his head and shut his mouth. A storm of thoughts passed before his eyes.

‘Is this because it’s Tosa Gupin… … I almost got my throat cut with my eyes open.’

The information collected through long-standing connections gave him a rope at an important moment. However, whether it was a rotten rope or a gilt-bronze rope was a matter for you to decide.

“Hoover… Are you trying to betray me? You mean you declared war, right now?”

And he was a man of determination.

“From now on, contact the people I am talking about. right now!”

MacArthur looked up at the man right in front of him with the veins between his eyebrows raised and said.