Kiyohime

[Levenna]

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Security Log: Kure Shipyard

[01:27:57] M.I.: Kure Shipyard, this is destroyer Kiyohime, requesting permission to dock after patrol for rearmament and repairs.

[01:28:05] Kure Tower: Affirmative, Kiyohime. Please hold. What do you require?

[01:28:14] M.I.: Outer hull repairs, mostly. We ran in to a Blood Dragon cruiser and gunboat, they gave us some trouble. Nothing we couldn't handle. Seven crew members require medical attention.

[01:28:35] Kure Tower: Please hold, Kiyohime.

[01:29:01] Kure Tower: Captain Matsuda, you are to report to the office of Rear Admiral Sato Hiroto. He is displeased at the level of risk you put yourself at in such an engagement. You're cleared to drydock four.

[01:29:22] M.I.: Level of risk..?

[01:29:29] Kure Tower: That's what I was told to pass along, ma'am.

[01:29:37] M.I.: Drydock four. Affirmative, Kure. We will be moored shortly.

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Matsuda stood on the bridge of the Takeda, her feet at shoulder width and her hands clasped behind her back. The conversation with Kure had been broadcast upon the bridge, and she had no need to give any orders. She had served alongside her helmswoman for seven years now, she didn't need Ichika to guide her through the simple process of mooring a ship. Matsuda continued to hold her position for a few seconds, before she spun on her heels 90 degrees to the right, looking down at the young Lieutenant beside her. "Lieutenant Botan, is there a reason a rear admiral would know any details of our skirmish today before I file my report?"

The lieutenant fixed Matsuda with his sharp brown eyes as his chin rested on his clasped together hands, his elbows resting on his knees. In a steady, calm voice, he replied. "I filed my own report, Matsuda. I hear it's good for career progression."

Matsuda continued to fix her XO with a look of distrust. She had yet to place the source of her feelings but something felt.. off about him. He didn't seem genuine, but she put it down to her own emotional instability after the loss of the Kagoshima until now. Nonetheless, she swallowed her feelings as best she could, meaning not very well, and once again opened her mouth. "Captain, or Matsuda-san, if you please. You have yet to earn the right to refer to me by surname alone, lieutenant."

Suzuki looked up at the captain with a warm, disarming smile. "Of course, Matsuda-san, it was a slip of the tongue. It will not happen again. I merely am trying to become more approachable to you, I understand it must be difficult to have a new crew."

"See to it that it doesn't repeat." Matsuda replied flatly, before turning once more to face the window, the few inches of hardened transparent material separating her from the void. The destroyer was pulling in to drydock now, the ever present, low, laboured throb of the power core now reducing in pitch and tempo as it spun down for maintenance. There was an audible metallic clang that resounded throughout the ship's interior as the docking tubes latched on to the ship's airlocks, connecting the interiors of the destroyer and the shipyard. A low murmur began to spread across the bridge as the crew began to finally lose their edge and let themselves relax after the patrol. Over time, as a few congratulations and smiles were exchanged, more and more began to look expectantly at the Captain, until the entire bridge awaited her word. Matsuda always felt awkward at this part. She never felt she had the commanding presence others seemed to prescribe her. She briefly rocked up and down, pushing herself on to her tip toes and back down once, twice, three times, her hands still clasped behind her back as they had been for some time now. "It's just past 1.30 in the morning universal standard time. Maintenance crews will handle the Kiyohime for us. We've been patrolling for days now. Get some R&R while you can, we move out again tomorrow evening."

Matsuda tried to keep a cool composure, but couldn't help but crack a small smile at their accomplishments that day and the days prior, causing a near ripple effect of grins throughout the bridge as the dozen or so crew began to file out. This wasn't the Kagoshima. This wasn't her ship and her crew. Not yet. But she took pride nonetheless in the progress they were making. The small contingent of veterans were tutoring the younger rookies, and there had been hardly any disciplinary or behavioural issues in the weeks since their first deployment. The crew was, above all else, dutiful, Matsuda thought. And that was something she could work with, it's all she'd ever ask of her crew.