Departure (1)

Four days after her final holiday. Freesia spent the intervening time in a whirlwind of last-minute preparations for deployment, and at last the day of departure had arrived.

Third Orbital Station, Docking Bay 15.

Originally, Freesia was supposed to travel to the Garion System—where the 41st Flotilla was stationed—and conduct a formal change-of-command ceremony for her battalion. This time, however, the plan had changed. A brand-new squadron would be formed right here in the capital system of Ariel and set out from there.

The flagship of the 2nd Search Battalion under the 41st Flotilla, a Tourmaline-class light cruiser, along with several other vessels, had reached the end of their service lives and were slated for decommissioning. Taking the opportunity to assign a new flagship and subordinate ships, the command had decided to assemble an entirely new squadron with Freesia’s circumstances in mind.

While riding the orbital elevator, she checked several times to make sure the secure case containing her master key, deployment orders, and assignment documents was still safely tucked inside her coat. As the blue sky gradually disappeared and the chilling blackness of space unfolded before her, Freesia steeled her heart again and again.

In just a little while, she would become the commander of a small but genuine squadron. Even if she knew next to nothing about what that actually entailed.

After arriving at the station and reaching Docking Bay 15, a massive vessel came into view through the transparent windows. A Carnelian-class light cruiser. Measuring four hundred meters in length, capable of carrying roughly twenty embarked craft, and armed with a five-million-onyx main cannon, it was the Federation’s newest model of light cruiser. This would be the ship Freesia would operate as the direct-search battalion commander under the 41st Flotilla.

But before she could even take a proper look at her new vessel, someone came sprinting toward her and snapped into a crisp salute.

“Loyalty! Staff Sergeant Daisy, reporting for duty as the battalion commander’s orderly effective today!”

The young non-commissioned officer had striking violet hair and a graceful appearance. When she saluted, Freesia returned a small nod, quietly moved.

An orderly. I actually have an orderly now.

It wasn’t the personal adjutant assigned to admirals or flag officers, but the position was still akin to a dedicated secretary provided for the convenience of commanders at the rank of lieutenant colonel or ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠higher. For a long time, one of the things Freesia had envied most while watching her superiors was the presence of an orderly. And now she finally had one of her own.

Separate from that surge of emotion, the fact that Freesia simply stared without saying a word made Daisy break into a cold sweat. Her eyes darted nervously left and right.

What is it? Did I do something wrong? Is my uniform out of regulation?

To think she might already be on her direct superior’s bad side—on the very first day, no less, and with a battalion commander at that. As Daisy inwardly screamed at the thought of her ruined future, Freesia finally snapped out of her daze.

Spacing out in front of someone like this… It was obvious even to the naked eye that she had completely frozen up.

“Sorry, I was lost in thought for a moment. I’ll be counting on you for the next year.”

When Freesia offered a gentle smile along with her greeting, Daisy let out a huge internal sigh of relief.

“By the way, why were you waiting out here?”

The two were currently standing in front of the elevator at Docking Bay 15. At this hour, most personnel should have been busy with final preparations aboard the ship. Come to think of it, why exactly was this girl out here?

The only people who were supposed to accompany Freesia through the departure approval process were the vice commander, the operations officer, the personnel officer, and the logistics officer. So why was she—

Under Freesia’s puzzled gaze, Daisy straightened her back proudly and answered with confidence.

“The master chief petty officer ordered me to come out and escort the battalion commander.”

Daisy puffed out her chest, proud to have been entrusted with the important duty of being the first to greet her new direct superior. But Freesia looked at her with pity in her eyes.

Although she was still quite young to be a battalion commander, she had spent ten years in the military, weathering all kinds of incidents and accidents. In the frantic atmosphere of a bridge where even a cat’s paw would be welcome, sending someone out like this usually meant they were of no help at all—or worse, that they were actually in the way.

Beyond simply being marked by her superior, the poor staff sergeant had now been marked by the master chief as well. Freesia quietly offered a silent prayer for her orderly’s future.

“Loyalty! Major Dmitry, vice commander, reporting for duty to assist the battalion commander.”

“Loyalty. I’ll be counting on you, Vice Commander.”

After walking for quite some time with the somewhat questionable Daisy in tow, Freesia exchanged brief greetings with several subordinate officers including Dmitry before proceeding with the boarding process. Unlike last year when she had simply been one of the passengers, this time she had to receive final departure authorization from headquarters ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠as both the ship’s captain and the battalion ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠commander. She also had to complete a final personnel inspection and supply verification.

It took roughly an hour before every check was completed and departure clearance finally came down from command. Only then was Freesia able to board her own vessel.

She had boarded this cruiser many times before—both as an adjutant and as a vice commander—but the feeling this time was completely different. This was the first step of her journey as the officer responsible for everything aboard this ship and every vessel under her command.

Along the way, the sentries posted at various points offered crisp salutes. After returning several of them with light nods, she finally reached the bridge at the very heart of the ship.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

“Battalion, attention!”

The personnel who had been bustling about or preparing for departure at their stations all froze at the shout of a white-haired, clearly elderly non-commissioned officer and snapped to attention.

“Loyalty!”

Judging by the rank insignia and the badge on his chest, he appeared to be the master chief petty officer. And now that she saw his face, she recalled seeing him in the assignment documents.

“Loyalty. Everyone, continue with your duties.”

At Freesia’s order, they all returned to their tasks.

She climbed up to the command platform at the highest point of the bridge and looked down. The entire bridge came into clear view. It looked almost identical to the bridge of the Behemoth-class heavy cruiser she had served on for the past two years.

If she followed what Colonel Tachyon had taught her and what she had already experienced as a vice commander, there shouldn’t be any major problems. She prayed desperately that it would be so.

She knew nothing about administrative work, so at the very least she had to handle ship operations properly. If she messed that up too, she really would become the incompetent battalion commander everyone feared.

While she was briefly lost in thought, Master Chief Petty Officer Frederick climbed up to the command platform, offered a kindly smile, and bowed his head.

“Hehe. Have you met your orderly yet?”

Since that was exactly what she had wanted to ask about, Freesia took the opportunity to inquire about Daisy, who had essentially been banished to the orbital elevator.

“There’s nothing particularly problematic about her, but… how should I put it? She lacks finesse. She handles familiar tasks better than most, but she’s a bit slow to adapt to new ones. Moreover, her previous specialty was in communications, so I figured she wouldn’t be of much help on the bridge right now and sent her to escort you, ma’am.”

Communications specialty, huh… It was true that during departure preparations there wasn’t much for that specialty to do. Besides, at the rank of staff sergeant, she would still be clumsy at anything outside her own field unless she was a sergeant or higher who had already gained proficiency in other areas.

Before long, all preparations seemed to be complete. The forward panel of the bridge displayed a vast panorama of space, while a three-dimensional star map of the Ariel System—where the light cruiser was currently docked—floated beside the command platform. It was the signal that the ship’s basic systems had been awakened by power relayed from the station and that full departure preparations could now begin.

After receiving the report that every member of the battalion was ready, Frederick gave a quiet bow and returned to his station.

Now came the battalion commander’s address before the official departure.

“Connect communications between this ship and all vessels under my command.”

At Freesia’s order, video links were established with every ship in the battalion. Images of the bridges of each subordinate company’s corvettes appeared on the main panel, and indicators showed that connections had also been made with the high-speed boats of each platoon.

“Battalion, attention! Salute the battalion commander!”

“Loyalty!!”

At Major Dmitry’s command, the resounding salutes from everyone on the bridge and those visible on the corvettes echoed powerfully across the channel.

Whether they had rehearsed beforehand or not, their voices were loud and perfectly synchronized. Freesia accepted the salute with a light, satisfied smile.

“It’s good to see you all. I am Lieutenant Colonel Freesia Vermillion, commander of the 2nd Search Battalion under the 41st Flotilla. I consider it an honor to serve alongside you starting today. As the direct-search battalion of the 41st Flotilla, we will carry out search, reconnaissance, and security duties in the Garion System. I hope you all perform your missions with diligence, and I pray that every one of you returns safely to the Ariel System. That is all!”

Knowing full well how tedious and annoying long-winded speeches could be, Freesia kept hers short and to the point, covering only the essentials.

Some commanders tried to sound more authoritative by delivering lengthy addresses, but that wasn’t Freesia’s style. And to be honest, she was so nervous that she was afraid she might slip up if she spoke for too long, so she cut it as brief as possible.

The subordinate officers, unaware of her inner turmoil, looked slightly surprised and more than a little relieved as they began to applaud. The handful of administrative staff on the bridge joined in with sincere clapping.

I know exactly how they feel.

Until just a month ago she had been standing in their position, so she understood deeply why they were so genuinely happy about a short speech.

Her former superior, Colonel Tachyon, had not been an authoritarian man, but his deep care for his troops often led him to ramble on, making his addresses drag. Back then, she had always prayed inwardly for him to finish quickly.

Once the brief departure ceremony was over, Freesia hid her tension behind a confident voice and declared,

“All ships, begin departure preparations. The initial assembly point is in front of Warp Gate 32, bound for the Syrd System.”

After the subordinate company commanders repeated the order, the communication links were cut. Soon afterward, every light aboard the ship went dark. With the exception of minimal emergency lighting and control systems, all power had been cut.

But everyone on the bridge knew this was simply the preliminary step before the captain brought the ship fully online, so no one panicked.

Freesia pulled out her matte black master key and inserted it into the small slot on the captain’s chair at the command platform. A soft turquoise magic circle rose into the air, and soon the interior lights began to come back on with a faint vibration.

The auxiliary engines had begun to operate.

Next, a small panel appeared to the right of the command platform. Freesia placed her hand on it and began to awaken the main engine in earnest.

Humanity had progressed from primitive internal combustion engines to nuclear and electric engines, and with the dawn of the space age, they had used nuclear fusion engines. Then, several hundred years after the space age began, the United Human Federation—formed by humans, elves, and beastmen—finally reached the era of the mana engine. They embedded colossal amounts of mana, which no living being could possibly wield alone, into the ship’s power source and synchronized the vessel’s mana circuits with the captain’s own mana circuits to operate it.

It was an enormous quantity of mana that no single living creature should have been able to handle, yet the ship’s mana circuits and engines—products of the combined technological prowess of all three races—managed it without strain. Because the ship bore most of the burden, even a mere living being like a captain could manipulate such vast mana.

An incredible amount of mana slumbered within the cruiser’s engines—enough to obliterate the Third Orbital Station in an instant if it ran wild. Yet under Freesia’s guidance, it obediently began to flow through the ship’s mana circuits.

After the sequential checks, the system message confirming there were no abnormalities appeared. Freesia secretly let out a sigh of relief.

She had practiced this several times in the virtual reality systems at the academy and had done the same under Colonel Tachyon’s supervision many times, but this was the first time she had ignited the main engine of a capital ship as the person ultimately responsible. She had been quite nervous, but fortunately the engine had started without any issues.

“Departure clearance?”

“We have notified the station of main engine activation and are awaiting their reply.”

The communications officer answered Freesia’s question.

While waiting for departure clearance from the orbital station, Freesia stared at the blue marker indicating Warp Gate 32 on the three-dimensional star map and discreetly wiped the sweat from her palms.

“Battalion commander! Departure clearance has been granted!”

The communications officer soon announced the approval.

“Are all subordinate vessels ready for departure?”

“Yes! They are all awaiting your orders, ma’am.”

“Good. We are departing!”

At Freesia’s command, a powerful vibration ran through the ship as a massive surge of mana flowed unhindered through its circuits. The vessel slowly began to move forward.

Behind the light cruiser led by Freesia followed three corvettes, and behind them came a number of high-speed boats, forming the squadron.

And so, the 2nd Search Battalion of the 41st Flotilla under Freesia’s command began its journey toward its destination—the Garion System.