Attention!
Captain Roland Daykin raised his leg and stamped it on the deck for emphasis. Seven hundred servicemen turned as one, dress whites blasting a glow the strength of ten thousand searchlights at Imperiums naval yard in the midday sun, and slammed their feet in a similar manner.
Present!
Seven hundred salutes, seven hundred caps swept to sides with off hands, seven hundred sets of perfectly still sailors, from radar technicians to missile operators to CIC management personnel to petty officers and even helicopter crew and the engineering and damage control teams. Eighteen men produced Navy bugles and fifes as one, raising the instruments. With ramrod-straight spines and almost eye-watering precision, they let out the most beautiful rendition of the Imperial anthem Captain Daykin had ever heard.
It was the first time his crew had been required to perform the maneuver aboard their new home. Before now, a few had done it on some of the old Carefree vessels currently patrolling the sealanes, but most had only practiced the display on land for the benefit of visiting admirals, potentially the Lord de la Ware himself.
Today was different.
Vox Populi, Vox Dei! the assembled crew shouted as one, clamping hat-holding off hands over their hearts. As one, the utterly, insanely massive body of men called out the national anthem verse by verse, not a single man missing even a beat. Roland surveyed them critically from the rail, his officers pacing through the assembly.
After the anthem was finished, silence fell upon the deck, carrying the weight of expectations. Roland resisted the urge to swallow.
Well, the big man behind him said, a little subdued. That . . . was impressive, Captain. My compliments.
Roland turned smartly, bowing and snapping to attention. Thank you, your majesty!
Emperor Timothy I laughed. Truly, a stunning performance. I cant emphasize that enough. I didnt expect half of this greeting.
Thank you, your majesty, Roland repeated. His men had to be grinning on the inside theyd managed to impress the Imperial Majesty himself!
Roland wondered why he was slightly more worried about impressing the young blonde girl hovering in her fathers shadow. It was a foolish wish she was only fifteen, and let alone the fact she was the heir to the throne. But she was astoundingly beautiful, from her flowing golden hair to her brilliant sea-green eyes and even in her dress unlike many of the royal courts, the Princess Taylor had foregone flowing gowns on her journey to visit the ANV Roadrunner, instead choosing far more practical pants and a T-shirt.
But, then again, few Ladies of the courts visited the [I}Roadrunner[/I].
But, captain, the Emperor said. Roland returned his attention where it belonged to the girls father, not her figure.
Yes, your majesty? Roland asked. The Emperor eyed the crew.
Your men must be hot in June. Shall we dismiss them and begin the tour I was promised?
Of course, your majesty! Roland agreed. He turned and quickly issued the orders to return the crew to duty, waiting as the men dispersed en masse. A few moments later, he led the Emperor and his daughter into the ship to begin their tour.
The Emperor was delighted by every gizmo and gadget, jabbering back and forth in complicated technical terms with even the engineering and computer science people. Roland followed all the conversation, of course, but no one in the Emperors legion of retinues and guards seemed to.
Roland studied Taylor. She was visibly curious about a lot of the ship, but didnt ask a lot of questions instead, every few minutes, she would slowly nod, like shed already pieced together what she needed to know. The girl clearly wasnt a talkative person, but had a brilliantly sharp mind buried in her.
There was always a tall man lurking around her the Adjunct Stavros. The man wasnt large, but Roland remembered something about his being a well-trained martial artist and ex-special forces soldier who had fought with the Emperor in York. He was Taylors guardian now, and he seemed always to be hunting for threats to his charge.
After the tour was concluded, the two royals were seated on a specially-prepared table on the bow, Stavros and the other guards hanging around while Roland joined his guests. The captain was nervous and tense the entire Gulliver program hinged on a successful meeting with the Imperial majesties here.
Absolutely marvelous, the Emperor said instantly as he sat. A marvel of modern engineering. Laser batteries, you said?
Nothing movie-style, but yes, Roland agreed. Theyre paired with the EM system to counter incoming missiles and projectiles. Were equipped to deal with anything short of an opposing full-scale missile destroyer or battleship a submarine should be no trouble to the Hawkers back there. Roland nodded to the stern.
Ah, yes, the submarine-hunting helicopter, the Emperor enthused. What a wonderful concept. I can safely say Im sold, captain this ship deserve a class to follow it. Ill be touring the Gulliver itself tomorrow, you see, but Tay wont.
Im not sure, Taylor said, speaking for the first time. Roland faintly recognized her voice from holiday radio broadcasts. She eyed the ships nameplate contemplatively. About the ship.
What about it, your grace? Roland asked. He prepared to bring the discussion of his vessels capabilities down to fifteen-year-old terms.
Well, primarily, I understand that youre capable of dealing with multiple surface threats and several undersea and airborne contacts all at once, Captain. I have no doubt of the fighting quality and capability of the crew or vessel, let alone both my only concern arises from the altogether separate question of whether or not the financial expenditure on the program will produce results we can use. Of course the ship and crew are fully capable and we couldnt ask for better, but I question whether we will ever need to fight a full-scale naval war with another major naval power as opposed to simply rounding up pirates and corsairs as we do now.
It was so hard for Roland not to gape, but much of that was probably due to his inexperience with teens and young adults. Hed been at sea for several years now, in addition to a life as an only child in a small family.
But one thing had just been abundantly clear: Princess Taylor had the intellectual capacity to both understand the immense power of the weapon at her disposal, the precise best way to use it, and yet debate whether or not the thing was practical. Roland was more than a little surprised at such clear competence coming from a noble girl.
He did manage not to gape and to respond relatively promptly, at least. He suspected there was a flash of amusement in the Emperors eyes even as a matching burst of disappointment rushed into Taylors.
Well, my lady, Roland said. Thats for the Naval Board and the Courts to decide, and hardly myself, but I am concerned for the naval security of the Empire, especially with the Olympics coming up in the winter. If I may express my sole opinion, a blue-water fleet for the Empire to utilize in the upcoming years and decades might perhaps be a powerful tool in our arsenal and one we can use to establish a larger presence in the global trading scene.
Astute, Captain, the Emperor said. Roland frowned, getting the sense that his nations leader and the heir were resuming a debate theyd shared on the car ride down. Keeping the trade lanes open will be a massive boon in our favor, regardless of the situation. If someone moves to close us off, a force of these new destroyers and some of the other naval projects should be good enough to see off all but the most determined.
But on the off hand, the older corvettes work well enough, Taylor countered. Roland couldnt tell if she was expressing a true opinion or playing Devils advocate certainly the captain had filled that role himself in his career!
Well, Taylor, we havent run into someone with a dedicated fleet, the Emperor said. Captain Daykin, could a corvette such as we have stand up to a couple of missiles from one of the destroyers I hear other nations are developing?
Not a chance, your majesty, Roland replied instantly. Taylor nodded sharply and the captain suddenly got the feeling the royals were actually in complete agreement.
That girl is smart helping her father hash all of this out, and providing an excuse to get me explaining the ships capabilities again to remind him of everything weve got aboard. Plus, she probably got him thinking about blue-water capabilities and again! used me to reintroduce the topic. God Almighty, where do they make girls like her?
Roland curtailed the thought and returned his attention to the Emperor. He marshaled his brain.
Well, your majesty, its fairly simple to start with. The corvettes are only lightly armed . . . .
I think that went very well, Taylor said, pulling off her shoe and rubbing her foot with a sigh. And Im going to kill Myra if she makes me wear these heels again.
Your mother always said that, Emperor Timothy replied, leaning back in his favorite armchair. The two were back in the Imperial Hall, clustered around a table laden with their shared favorite afternoon snack powdered donuts and sweet tea. Myra Lewis, Taylors senior lady-in-waiting, had never understood why her charge adored the stuff, but she brought it in by the trunkload anyway, just for her.
Im lucky I spend so much time skiing, Taylor thought. Id be pretty fat and round from Myras attention if I didnt practice and work out as much as I can!
She always would sit right over there, looking so regal and dignified, Taylors father continued. Then, as soon as all royal business for the day was done, shed kick off her shoes like a little girl and mutter some decidedly unladylike words about them.
Taylor laughed. Im tempted sometimes. So tempted.
You do remind me of her a lot, Tay, the Emperor said. You look just like her.
You say that all the time, Taylor shot back. Im aware. I have your eyes too.
The Emperor smiled. Just remember that, Tay. Your mother would be very proud of the young woman youve become.
The two sat in amiable silence for a moment, eyeing the donuts. Finally, Taylor stirred.
The captain was cute, she said. Her father laughed heartily.
Of course thats the first thing you think of. Youre fifteen. Focus on your skiing!
Dad . . . have you made a choice yet? Taylor asked hesitantly as her father brought up the topic. The Emperor paused, then grinned.
Well, if youre your mothers daughter I could hardly stop you. Look out, 3010. Princess Taylors going for the gold medal!
Taylor hugged her father tightly. Thank you so much, Dad. Ill do our country proud.
