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+--- Thread: Dunkirk (/showthread.php?tid=165544)
Dunkirk - Thunderer - 11-01-2018
Red, to honour tradition, and to symbolize the blood of those who give it for the sake of others. Grey, the colour of castle walls, to symbolize firmness in the face of any army. And finally, the touch of an artist, bought by the many patriotic benefactors, the soul of Dublin weaved throughout the structure, presenting its ornate splendour to impress those who she defends -- and those against whom she defends them. She is not only a tool, she is also a prized possession and a symbol, no, a thundering heap of symbolism. Called a "she" for a reason, instead of the "it" many other nations refer to their ships with. That, is a Dunkirk.
The HMS York was a Dunkirk stationed near Southampton Shipyard, currently tasked to defend it against occasional raids, but with a much more important duty ahead, probably soon, which all of her crew were aware of -- and prepared for. A Clydesdale was approaching her docking gate. It was bringing supplies, as well as Commodore Kaze Reidman Dagon and Captain George Richard Hall, very nearly saved from the gallows for treason by the timely letter of amnesty from Queen Carina, brought by Dagon. They were silent most of the time, having their natures in mind, listening to the music of the engines. But Hall decided to speak about what was going on on the other side of his abstracted eyes after all, because this could be the last chance for it.
"Why do you think her Majesty pardoned Mountbatten?"
RE: Dunkirk - Kaze - 11-02-2018
While her eyes were fixed in the metal support struct of the Clydesdale transport bay, her mind was far away from that locale and moment. The multitude of events twirling around each other, dependent and non-dependent, much like the Ouroboros of old filled her mind and the reverie of putting the pieces of the puzzle together was broken by Hall's question.
He always had that capability of asking questions that threw her off-balance. Something she enjoyed thoroughly. The full metal bitch, a seemingly pejorative nickname that the soldiers had given her, looked at Hall, and reset her trail of mind. The transport shook slightly as its shields bumped a rock out of its eternal dance towards a new direction.
For two seconds, her mind raced to remember the specifics of Mountbatten and the September rebellion. Soundly breathing in, she finally spoke, her dead eyes and stone face facing Hall, like an cold and lifeless alabaster bust, carved by a master and a life of war.
He always had that capability of asking questions that threw her off-balance. Something she enjoyed thoroughly. The full metal bitch, a seemingly pejorative nickname that the soldiers had given her, looked at Hall, and reset her trail of mind. The transport shook slightly as its shields bumped a rock out of its eternal dance towards a new direction.
For two seconds, her mind raced to remember the specifics of Mountbatten and the September rebellion. Soundly breathing in, she finally spoke, her dead eyes and stone face facing Hall, like an cold and lifeless alabaster bust, carved by a master and a life of war.
"Political necessity, aristocratic save of face, bureaucracy. Although.."
Her eyes turned again to the support struct of the Clydesdale, akin to the one she ripped and used as a weapon when she crash-landed in Otley, back in Planet Leeds. More than a month ago, but in this war, it felt like it was a lifetime away.
."She has a thing to set wrongs right."
RE: Dunkirk - Thunderer - 11-02-2018
Hall did not answer, but sank back into the obscure. He did think of what he had heard, though, but not its very content. He liked the flow of thought that was going on under the surface of Dagon's words. At first they were automatic, fitting her posture, but then a spark in her eye lit up what seemed to have come from her very soul. It reminded him of war. Planned and exercised moves were to come first, but they were never enough and a commander always had to adapt. Adaptation is what he liked about it. It made a screw become a person again. It was a touch of personality. That very thing was what Dagon's words showed that Queen Carina, but more Carina than queen now, had. There was a person behind the function. Dagon told him nothing he had not already known, but she did bring what was at the bottom of his thoughts, to the top, and thus quite rearranged his mind.
"A collection of hard choices, a monarch's function. I wonder how harder it is to make one when you can feel the same it fe-" The hallmark clank which BMM engines tended to make when shut down interrupted him. "Well, seems we are here. I'm looking forward to seeing how Steiner is going to welcome us..." He unfastened his seat belt and gathered his luggage. "On a tall, white horse, I foresee. And he's probably going to expect me to kiss his feet." He groaned slightly as he got up. Those bones were getting old. "The horse's."
RE: Dunkirk - Kaze - 11-02-2018
With a flick of a finger, the safety belt came off and Kaze got up, looking at Hall picking up his belongings and wondering on Admiral Edmund Steiner's reception. Her eyebrow rose ever so slightly as she eyed the two Royal Corps. soldiers that also got up and did a once-over their gear. While Hall was in his captain uniform, clean, crips and displaying his medals of past-deeds, Kaze looked akin to a marine, black clad armored jumpsuit, the KY-14R Blaster in its holster, with just the necessary shoulder insignia displaying her rank.
With a nod, she signaled Hall towards the presence of the two soldiers and then turned to face the still closed up side door of the bay, standing straight and tensing her jaw, her hand travelling to her 'sidearm', to make sure it was ready and a move away.
With a nod, she signaled Hall towards the presence of the two soldiers and then turned to face the still closed up side door of the bay, standing straight and tensing her jaw, her hand travelling to her 'sidearm', to make sure it was ready and a move away.
"Those two are here for me."
With a very uncommon smirk in her face, she turned to Hall, remembering the last time she was in the York. What was once her own command, near the front lines, she trained the men to the brink of exhaustion and preparedness. Kaze knew that meanwhile, some of the men therein had been rotated to other vessels, the structure she once created, broken apart. And she held no bars telling Steiner how she disagreed with the status of the men when she docked, back then. Her mind wandered to the question if it was still the same.
"So do believe me, your reception is bound to be better than mine. Not expecting kisses, obviously."
RE: Dunkirk - Victor Steiner - 11-02-2018
''Admiral, Captain Hall has arrived just now, he is on his way up.''
''Very well.''
''Commodore Dagon is with him Sir.''
''Ah...''
Edmund sat at his desk, somewhat bewildered as to why Dagon would accompany Hall to the York, but not concerned. Presumably there would be some other reason as to her visit, possibly to gloat, possibly to ensure Hall played nice, there was even a chance it was to deliver a message of some kind. But he doubted it was for a social call or even for some other non-controversial reason. No, she was here to do something and he was going to get an earful about it.
The headache had already begun, and neither Dagon nor Hall had even set foot in the office.
RE: Dunkirk - Kaze - 11-05-2018
As they exited the Clydesdale, the bay was a testament of the York's importance in the war theater. Several fighters and bombers were being serviced by an army of technicians with several small groups of pilots receiving their briefings from their squadron leaders. A full platoon of marines were in charge of the bay security, using the standard Bretonian Royal Corps. exo, playing their part as menacing and stalwart. A solid change from the last time she was here. A sergeant, probably the security officer in charge soon arrived at their front, alongside four marines and saluted, receiving Hall's and Kaze's salute back.
"And this is where we go our different ways, Sir Hall."
She looked back at the two soldiers and sighed with a raised eyebrow. Turning to the sergeant, she removed her sidearm and delivered it to him, alongside the ammo cells and her datapad.
"Captain Sir Hall is to meet the Admiral in thirty minutes, after I confer with him. I am certain you won't be against a quick check of the York status, Sir Hall? After all, I am certain you are on the edge of your seat for such.. assignment."
Kaze asked Hall, while the soldiers gravitated towards her back, with the organized chaos of the York swirling around them.
RE: Dunkirk - Thunderer - 11-10-2018
"Oh, of course", Hall answered automatically, as his view span around the hangar. He was disappointed that Steiner was not waiting for him immediately, but had instead sent a clerk to meet him. The clerk introduced himself and offered Hall to show him the ship around.
"I am confident that I already have a very deep understanding of how these machines work...", he paused to take a look at the clerk's emblems, "...lieutenant."
"But Sir, the admiral will be ready to meet you in at least half an hour!"
"I know the ship, but I wouldn't mind meeting the crew. I have a task for you, lieutenant."
"Yes?"
"Take me to the messroom and bring me a violin."
"A... violin?"
"You do have violins on this enormous ship, no?"
"We do have a band, I might be able to borrow one of theirs."
"Excellent. You do that, and when you return, I would like you to approve of anything I do in the messroom. If I finish playing, clap. If I say something patriotic, shout "aye". Is that clear?"
"Aye, Sir!"
"Good. Off with you then!"
The lieutenant saluted and ran to do his task. Hall headed towards the messroom, alone.
The clamour and clanking indicated the presence of a good number of strong men that were in the process of refilling their strength. Hall entered the messroom and stood still for a few moments, eying the occupants. He decided to sit at a table for four which was taken by three ensigns.
"Good morning, gentlemen." Noticing his emblems, they all rose to salute. "Please stay seated. Do you even know who I am, to salute me?"
"Admiral Steiner, Sir!", said one of them, very confidently.
"No, you plonker!", one of his comrades corrected him in his habitual manner, "Don't you see his emblems? He's onl-", he narrowly avoided offending a higher ranking officer, "He's a captain!"
"So you don't recognize me?"
"We just got here, a week ago", said the third one, casually.
"That's no issue", said Hall. "I am only a captain, after all. What is your name, ensign?"
"James McBeth, Sir."
"And yours?", he pointed at the first one and the second one.
"Tom Ramsbottom, Sir."
"George O'Brien. And if you are the new captain of the York, then I pledge my service to you, Sir", he redeemed himself. Hall smiled upon hearing the name. O'Brien was about twenty.
"I like that name." He took a look at his watch and let the unpleasant silence move in, albeit he was perfectly indifferent towards it.
"What is the new captain of the York doing here, among ensigns?", McBeth broke it.
"Good question!", answered Hall. "How has the admiral been treating you?" At first they were all silent, but then McBeth and O'Brien looked at Ramsbottom, who answered, under pressure.
"Well... We haven't had an issue with him, really... yet... We haven't even seen him yet. But the experienced men have been very harsh on us, as if they haven't ever been rookies themselves. Especially during trainings!" Hall nodded.
"Hm. Quite useful information. Thank-". Noticing that the lieutenant has arrived, carrying a coffer, interrupted him. "Thank you", he continued, but looking at the lieutenant. "Very well chaps!", he said as he was getting up. "Glad to have met you!", he added as he took the instrument from its suitcase and left towards the stage, which served to entertain the crew in evenings to keep the morale high. It was currently empty, as it was breakfast time. He climbed onto it and took the violin, gently, between his chin and shoulder. With a smug smile, he closed his eyes, and started playing an old tune.
At first it was barely audible due to the local noise, but the noise gradually snuffed out and allowed the melody to rule the messroom. None of the men had heard it before, but most of them obviously found it pleasing. When Hall was finished, the lieutenant clapped, as instructed, and the three ensigns followed him, which turned into a general applause. Hall bowed. Raising the fiddle bow, he gave the sign that the applause should stop.
"Oh, what a mannerless knave I am! I haven't even introduced myself! I am Sir George Richard Hall. Captain Sir George Richard Hall. Of the HMS York, under Admiral Steiner... that is, if the admiral doesn't change his mind. And I will issue my first orders to you now. You are to sing along. Don't worry, this one will be something you know." He grasped the violin into position again and gently drew the bow over the strings. The tune was indeed familiar. All the men immediately rose from their chairs, and the lieutenant was not even needed to stimulate them. All at the same time, they started singing the lyrics of the Bretonian anthem, proudly, and albeit they were not all born singers, everyone knew the words perfectly. They clapped even harder when they were finished, to both Hall and each other. The messroom was fuller with pure, burning patriotism than all of the turret houses of the ship together, at the moment.
Rising the fiddle bow again, Hall made the sign for silence. "Her Majesty must feel very secure when she knows that such men as you defend her and her people. I will be parting from you, for now, gentlemen. Have a good breakfast!"
He gave the violin back to the lieutenant and added one more thing which he remembered, before he left. "And if the admiral doesn't change his mind, I plan to forbid the usage of the phrase bon appetit aboard this ship!" At first the crowd was confused, but when the lieutenant realized what he was supposed to do, and loudly exclaimed "Aye!", everyone else followed, in an explosion of patriotic approval.
Hall left towards Steiner's office, carrying a genuine smile of satisfaction. He has already managed to bring a significant portion of the crew to his affection.
RE: Dunkirk - Kaze - 11-10-2018
Commodore Kaze Nelson Reidman Dagon stood in attention, two soldiers at her back, with Admiral Edmund Steiner reading the datapad she has just delivered. Rising his eyes, he nodded at the two soldiers to leave his office. As the door closed with an almost imperceptible click, his eyes rest again onto the datapad to read the contents. Finally he spoke:
"And the Fleet Admiral felt best not to send this through the neural-net?"
As the question left his lips, Kaze moved her hand to the inside pocket of her jacket, an action that surprised and sent a shiver of panic in Edmund Steiner. Yet, her hand appeared again with a letter. A paper letter. Kaze walked towards Edmund and delivered the letter.
"The Fleet Admiral knew I was to deliver this letter to you, and asked to deliver the datapad in person as well."
Her reply came, as she walked back to her original position and stood in attention once again. Edmund carefully looked at the letter. Uncommon, in that day and age. Yet, the symbol stamped on its wax seal triggered his undivided attention.
"It is for you and you alone, sir. I will return post-haste to my station, after I retrieve my 'Upholder' that I left here in the lastest defense sortie. With your permission?"
Her voice asked, but Edmund's eyes were fixed on the letter. A silent nod and a wave of his hand, Kaze exited the office, the two soldiers resuming their duty again, following her, like Cerberus on a leash.
RE: Dunkirk - Thunderer - 11-12-2018
One of the two guards from outside of Steiner's office entered. "Captain Hall wishes to come in, Sir!"
"Let him in."
Hall's view was pointing downwards, as if he thought he had done something wrong, and was ashamed of it. When he saluted the admiral, he looked bluntly at the wall behind him, avoiding eye contact.
RE: Dunkirk - Victor Steiner - 11-12-2018
He didn't bother looking up as he wrote yet more letters and signed yet more documents. Hall and Steiner did not get on, the entire Armed Forces knew that much. Welcome aboard, master Hall. He said in a quiet tone, Steiner's Rheinlandic accent being far more profound in the quiet office than it was in the courts. I want you to know, that while you are here I shall employ a policy of forgive and forget. You'll be treated the same as everyone else, no better no worse. The Admiral paused for a time, signing off another letter, this one marked with a wax seal of the House Steiner, before he continued, Now glancing up and staring at a rather tired looking Hall through grey eyes. Before we begin, I want you to remember something very important. If I can find out that laws have been broken on a ship a system and a half away, do you believe I would be blind to the happenings of my own vessel? No master Hall despite what Commodore Dagon might think, I am acutely aware of what happens on the York. Nonetheless, the issue that happened prior to your arrival has been dealt with, and now we can actually get on to the business of fighting a war. Did you receive my letter by chance?