The Stage of the Sea

Prologue

Letter of invitation

It was a day as any other as rays of sunshine illuminated the grand office within the Royal Navy's main building. In it, several people were seated at their desks, busily working at their workload. The room was silent as everyone in it knew better than to engage in idle chitchat as long as their Grand Admiral, Elaine Smirk, was sitting at her desk among them. Unlike most days however, today this silence was broken as the door to the office violently swung open and a man larger than life walked in and right to the desks of Elaine with no care in the World, his carefree nature as well as red hair and beard seemed to increase the temperature of the room a bit as if to counteract the degrees it lost from the frosty aura of Elaine.

“'ey lass, 'ope I ain't interrupting yer fun time.“ Roared the large man towards her as he gave her a big smile and a small wave of the hand.

“Redbeard, to what do I owe the displeasure?“ Elaine, however, replied in a voice cold as ice as she gave a menacing stare towards the jolly man, and hers and Redbeard's Auras seem to almost spark where they met. Many of the people in the room took, what they perceived to be their last chance, to excuse themselves out of the office, and only some of the more veteran officials remained.

“Aww, don't be like t'at, little one.“ Redbeard made an overdramatic crying face for a moment before he returned to his smile and held up some papers he brought with him for Elaine to see.

“Know t'at me got sent 'ere by t'em Lords of us. 'ere are t'em slips for ya.“ One of the man in the room took the papers and went to present them for Elaine to see as she asked Redbeard for details.

“A new Errand for them? Cannot be that simple if you come to me with it.“ As she let Redbeard explain the Situation, she looked over the papers for herself.

“Aye, no simple sailing around one of t'em. Some of t'em squirrel folk wanna go across our waters wit t'em walken deads and our Lords wanna make an exception since t'ey like t'em squirrel folk and instead of taking over escort, me am to go and sail along to keep stuff dandy for politics stuff.“ Pain was clearly visible as Redbeard exhaled sharply from imagining the pain he got roped into once again thanks to his Lords. Elaine gave no reaction to any of it, focusing on the papers instead.

“How surprisingly sensible of our Lords for once, I wished however this would have gone towards me directly first.“ she was almost ready to sign off the papers as she began to hesitate. Giving the papers a glance over once more, she seemed fixated on certain parts that she read before she decided on her verdict as she handed the papers back to the Man besides her.

“Oberleutnant Maik, have the Red Rose prepared. You can take the details of what and when to prepare for from these papers.“

""WHAT?““

An uproar went through the room at the implication of this statement. Now everyone present was giving their full attention towards Elaine.

“Grand Admiral, if I may, what exactly are your intentions here?“ As the man questioned what was going through their Grand Admiral's mind, she stood up and looked across the room, everyone that met her glance getting shivers down their spines from the icy stare that they were receiving.

“I plan to personally oversee this mission. The high political implications of it are too much to have just a single captain send from our side. I do not understand the true nature of this mission but the fact that several important nations are involved at different steps of the way seem to indicate something larger at play, there is also mentioning of a VIP from the Risuners. Therefore, I deem it necessary to get involved myself. We cannot allow our nation to underestimate this and make a fatal blunder.” None of the officials in the room could argue with the Grand Admiral on this, and so they all could just silently accept what had been ordered. Redbeard however was not so sure about any of this and continued to question Elaine.

“Are ye sure, Lass? I t'ink you are musing too much over t'is. Knowing t'em Squirrels, t'ey just went and did w'atever and t'at be t'e result of it.”

“That is a possibility, but we do not know, I am not taking any risks and if that is all there is to it then we merely did a good showing for ourselves, so I see no issues in that regard.”

“Well, if ye say so, guess it is yer t'ing now.” Not caring further, Redbeard could only shrug his shoulders and be relieved of this mess, or so he thought.

“No, I shall not embark on my own, since our Lords requested for you, you and the Prima Vista shall join me on this escort, also have a corvette with an able captain ready too. This should be enough to show our presence without being seen as overbearing. Also, someone go and inform the All-Bones family to sent someone to help deal with the Black Fleet, I want this to go as cleanly as possible.”

“Aww come on Lass, ye don't need me, ye got enoug captains of yer own!” Clawing at the last straw of freedom in front of him, Redbeard began to plead with Elaine, but a cold stare and harsh words cut off any chance for it.

“Did I make myself clear?”

“”YES GRAND ADMIRAL!”” came a sound reply paired with a salute from the men.

“Good, then you lot make sure this gets done, you are dismissed from office duty for today until this is dealt with.”

“”YES GRAND ADMIRAL!”” followed by a wave of freezing air, the men began leaving the office to fulfill their Orders. Elaine remained behind in the office and made sure that everyone left to do as told. Only after the last person left and closed the door behind him, did she allow signs of a smirk to show on her face.

The Black Fleet and a VIP of the Risuners that the Lords cherish. How could I pass up such an opportunity. I shall make sure to leave a lasting impression on them and drive home the glory of our Nation!


Somewhere in a fancy Mansion within Moriji, a Butler enters the room of a Lady dressed in a fine dress. The way she handles herself giving away her higher status towards the Butler. She could almost be mistaken for a Deadbeat, if not for her dark gray eyes and yellow blonde hair.

“Ojou-Sama we have just received word from your Father, it seems to be just as my lady expected, and she is to handle the Job of the Home Nation to deal with the Black Fleet.” The Butler informed the Lady in a formal manner while giving a bow. The Lady, however, paid him no mind as she continued to sip on her tea. Only after she was satisfied did she open a fan in front of her mouth and began speaking to the Butler.

“Ohohohoho, but Joseph, did you doubt for one moment that anyone but I, Johanna aus All-Bones, could be fit for such a job? It was a foregone conclusion the moment we were asked of the Grand Admiral for this herself. Who else could hope to accomplish what I can?” she boasted with all of her body as she extended her other hand towards her small chest as to show off herself.

“It is as Ojou-Sama says, thanks to her friendship with Lady Yami Wexlus, anyone else would have been a foolish choice. We shall prepare her belongings for the travels ahead.” Is all, the Butler could reply with a small nod as he kept bowing as to not upset his Lady's mood.

“Do not fret Joseph, I as you can see I have already gone ahead and prepared all that I will need.” Johanna said proudly as she gestured to a mountain of baggage.

“Ojou-Sama, it is unsightly for one of her status to do these menial tasks herself.” Finally, Joseph broke out of his formality and could only sigh at the headache his Lady was giving him as he looked towards Johanna with pleading eyes. Johanna however did not care for his plight and instead began to move out of the room.

“Nonsense, Joseph, why waste precious time with this when I could spend the time with Yammies instead?”

“Ojou-Sama, if I may ask her to wait, the ordeal is still a long time off, and I presume Lady Yami will be quite busy with her own preparations.” Joseph tried one last appeal but as Johanna began to raise her dress up, revealing that she already exchanged her stilettos for wandering boots, he knew that nothing could be done anymore. The only reply that awaited him was a dignified Ohohohoho as his Lady booted off with a laugh towards her cherished friend.

Waiting for Act I

“Dammit, I get ya next time Captain” exclaimed a Sailor towards the big burly man with red mane, who was sitting relaxed in a summer chair enjoying his rum.

“Sure ya do, mate, sure ya do.”

As the Sailor threw some coins into a bucket in defeat, an elderly man, roughly in his late 60s with just a few millimeters of gray hair and eyes barely opened, came to take his spot in front of the big man in the chair that was wearing a big grin at the events.

“Love ta see ya pay, also ahoy old man Steve, w'at brings ya on me ship?”

“Ohh, I just finished the preparations that I was asked of and thought I come visit an old friend, Captain Redbeard.”

Captain Steve Shepard, captain of the corvette RR Von Braun, extended his hand towards Redbeard who leaned forward to shake it. Both men were enjoying the beginnings of a sunset at the Way station at Cape Leopold. The escort, send by the Retro Reich, arrived early due to favorable winds and so for the past few days they have been sitting at port and waited for the Black Fleet to arrive.

“Tch, no luck today either...” Another one of the Sailors on the Prima Vista turned from the railing towards the bucket and threw in some coins before going under board.

“Hmm, and what kind of pastime are you enjoying here?” Steve raised an eyebrow, not fully understanding what was happening around him.

“Don't be worrying, old man, we be just enjoying some nice betting.” Redbeard just pointed over the railing that his crew was looking out to and leaned back, so he could get back to his rum. As Steve got closer and the view across came to him, the nature of the betting dawned on him. Across the boardwalk sat the Red Rose anchored. On it, Grand Admiral Elaine Smirk could be seen surrounded by a crew in hectic motion. She shouted orders as she forced her crew from one imaginary scenario to the next, in between she would name crewmates of her ship that seem to have made some error.

“Ohh, I see, ahh, but to be young again and have the pleasure of serving under our Grand Admiral.”

“Bwahahaha, old man, don't be selling ya cheap, ya still got a mighty fine kick in ya. I bet ya me share of t'is bucket, t'at anyone over t'ere be trading t'eir spot wit' ya inna 'eartbeat.” Redbeard could not help but burst out laughing, drumming his belly like a mighty war drum, trying to rile up the hearts of warriors before a battle. Stan could not help but let out a hearty chuckle himself before he fell into a more melancholy mood.

“I don't doubt your words my friend, but it would not be the same, my old bones would not be able to keep up anymore with the shifts of the world that are happening. It is the young folk like our Lass that are needed.” feeling the shift in mood, Redbeard stopped laughing and drumming like a coin flipped over as he stood up and looked in the same direction as Seve.

“Aye, t'e world certainly be spinning faster t'en ever, and every part of water seems to be riling up bigger waves.”

“Quite so, things are getting more complicated as the world seems to grow ever more linked. What was true for our generations has long since been overhauled.”

The two men looked at each other in silent agreement for a while before turning their eyes back to their beloved Lass the sun now nearly sunken was coloring the world a bright red as to announce the shift towards a different phase, all the while sailors of the Prima Vista turned in frustration as their picks got called out by the Grand Admiral, leaving their coinage in the bucket before heading down the deck, eager to take a nap before the night, and its fun, would start for them. As the two men were finally alone and the time came for them to part, a smirk crossed Redbeards face.

“But t'at does not mean t'at us oldtimers get ta leave t'e stage quite yet, t'ere still be plenty of work we can do to show em younglings w'at be w'at. We be t'e Retro Reich for a reason, gotta show our value as relics.” The smirk now grew into a full-blown grin, and Steve could not help but join in as he opened his Eyes in amusement at the words spoken.

“It seems the two of you are enjoying yourselves.”

Absorbed into their own world, the two men did not notice Elaine approaching from her ship. She was standing with her arms behind her back as usual, waiting for the two to properly acknowledge her.

“Ohh, Grand Admiral, is your dry-training over already? It was quite the pleasant sight.” the old man made a small bow before Elaine, as Redbeard instead decided to sit back into his chair and eagerly began to count the coins into 2 leather bundles.

“Yes, there is no point in overworking the Crew before an important mission, so I am leaving them off for now. I assume your being here means that preparations have been concluded, Captain Shepard?”

“Indeed, thanks to the reports from Lady All-Bones we should have plenty of rations and goods prepared for when the Black Fleet arrives so that there will be no time wasted dillydallying as you wished. I do hope however that your eagerness to impress is not opening you up for exploitation.”

At these words, Elaine simply crossed in front of the old man towards Redbeard, opening up her hand towards him.

“Do not worry, Captain Shepard, I might not be a trickster out of a fairy tale, but that does not mean I have not some tricks up my sleeves either.”

As she spoke those words towards Steve, a leather bundle full of coinage was dropped into her hand.

"Aye, ye cut as promised, Lass."

She turned her face towards the old man, revealing just the slightest hint of a smirk on her face.

“Hohoho, ahh, to be young again.”

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Pub: 24 Sep 2022 18:44 UTC

Edit: 30 Sep 2022 23:27 UTC

Views: 298