>>5303494“Please excuse me, captain. I lost it there, it is entirely my fault.” Marc says in the training room aboard “Horus”.
“No, its fine. Just, you really went full on, I hadn’t expected that, and my body’s still not 100% yet.” You say consoling, feeling the pressing pain on your chest.
Marc had been distracted the entire time you tried talking to him, so you decided to ask him to spar, something that he loves to do. And then he attacked. Attacked far, far harder than you would have thought you’d see from the timid little Marc, always holding back in fear of injuring someone. A shame he decided to come out of his shell when you were so heavily injured.
“Come on, help me back up.” You say extending your arm, which Marc grabs and raises you upwards.
“Feel like talking yet ?” Wincing you ask.
“Ah, yes, please excuse me, captain.” Marc says with his usual stammer.
“It’s fine. How are you holding up ?” Sudden pain strikes your leg. “Come on, help me onto that chair.”
“I am, I am doing fine, sir. As any officer in their imperial majesty’s navy should.” He says trying to hide his clearly downtrodden expression.
“It is fine to be stoic, but do not let your emotions bottle up. I can attest from personal experience that it is unhealthy.”
“I understand, captain.”
“So, your opinion of the operation ?”
“Deadly, sir. I think we should have followed our original orders to simply locate the pirates and then call for reinforcements.”
“Didn’t have the time for that Marc.”
“I know, sir. I know.” His eyes twitch, as he tries to hide his emotions, but you can see his lips quivering.
“Do you have any recommendations ?”
“If we’re to operate as independently as you had grown to like, captain, we need a bigger force. We went against a single heavy cruiser, and look at what happened. If we’re to face other houses, heavy cruisers are ships of the line, flying in support of battleships or conducting independent operations in twos or trios, or what other number may be deemed necessary. We either need more ships of our own, or for you to get more friends captain.”
You give a light laugh. “That latter part might be difficult.”
“In that case, perhaps you would grant us more autonomy, captain ? I have excess funds, so do mosts, and after this we will also be given our fair share. We could invest that into our fleets.”
“Fleets loyal to you that can be split from me at any time, since you will more or less form your own individual groups, not to mention that every officer will gather what they like, not what I need.”
Avoiding your gaze, he stammers. “Ye- yes, sir. That is correct.”
“I’ll think about it. Thanks, Marc. If you ever need to talk, come and find me.” You say giving him a smile.
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.
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“Come to gloat, tyrant ?” The self-proclaimed Emarian Queen, Katrya, asks.
“Am I not treating you well ?”
