Legends

Chapter 3: New Orders

Two months after the loss of Dauntless, Sheera and her senior officers were subject to a court martial. Standard procedure following any ship's sinking, it normally occurred immediately following such an event. However wartime conditions meant that the brass's attention was focused primarily on other things, causing for some delay. Fortunately, those same wartime conditions meant that the grilling from the brass was far less severe than what it could be during peacetime. At least negligence was not considered a possible cause. That didn't mean the grilling was any less unpleasant. Thankfully, the proceedings were relatively quick and Sheera and her crew were praised for their efforts.

"Commander Tegran Olympic Sheera, on the charge and specification of inadequate defense of the United Kingdom, not guilty. On the charge and specification of conduct unbecoming of an officer in the royal navy and on the charge of cowardice, not guilty. On the charge and specification of willful endangerment and loss of Royal Navy property, guilty. Are you ready to hear sentencing?"

Sheera took her gaze off Admiral Briggs and focused on Admiral Halton who sat at the center of a panel of admirals. Halton was the Royal Navy's Commander of Operations. If ever there was a god in the Navy, he was it. Sheera swallowed back any apprehension she might've felt, ensuring her features remained as schooled as would be expected of an officer in Her Majesty's Navy. "Yes sir, we are." She replied.

"This court offers no sentence and praises the crew and officers of HMS Dauntless for their unmatched bravery in the face of overwhelming enemy assault. Commander Sheera, for your actions you are hereby promoted to the rank of Captain. With all the rights and privileges hereto afforded that rank. Each of your bridge crew will also receive a promotion of one rank and all the men and woman of the Dauntless shall receive the Victoria Cross."

"Sir, thank you sir." Sheera's face flushed with emotion and she knew without looking that her officers were doing the same. To receive Great Britain's highest military award was the equivalent of becoming a Medal of Honor recipient. It was an award that carried with it not just the honor and prestige but also a great deal of pride. Because like the American's Medal of Honor, one could only earn such an award. And that made the gift all the more precious.

"Captain Sheera, you will report to Admiral Holloway for further orders. The officers and men of the HMS Dauntless shall be redistributed according to the Admiralty's needs. This court is adjourned."

As the court emptied, Sheera made her way over to her commanding officer. "Captain Sheera reporting as ordered sir." She said, feeling a flush of pride at stating her new rank for the first time.

Holloway's eyes held a friendly twinkle to them. "Congratulations are most certainly in order, captain. Just don't let your new rank go too far into your head."

"No sir, absolutely not sir." She replied.

"Come with me."

Sheera followed Holloway into his office. Hood was there, delivering the Admiral's latest batch of intelligence reports. She stood at attention when he entered. "Admiral, the latest reports from Italy sir."

"Thank you Commander. Now if you will excuse us, the Captain and I have a few things we need to discuss." Holloway said.

"Captain?" Hood wondered, looking at Sheera. Then her blue eyes widened and she smiled. "The court martial went well then I take it."

"The brass couldn't find enough words to praise me." Sheera replied.

Hood's expression told Sheera that a. this tidbit of news would be all over the base within the hour. and b. Hood would be vigorously and ruthlessly seeking her out for details until she got them. But now was neither the time or the place and they both knew it. The battlecruiser left with a respectful nod at Sheera.

Sheera stood firmly at attention as she faced Admiral Holloway. In the months following Dauntless' sinking, she had been assigned to the kanmusu base at Portsmouth as the Admiral's XO. Court martial aside, the lack of interference from the brass meant she was able to be all that more effective in her duties. Her actions earned her instant respect from the shipgirls but it was also her actions that had earned her their love. "Which is why," Holloway thought with a sigh. "That this meeting is going to be so hard."

"Our American friends are only just beginning to receive kanmusu of their own and no one on either side of the pond can match your experience. You will report in at Naval Station Boston as an ambassador and assist in summoning wherever possible."

"You're giving me to the Americans sir?" Sheera didn't have a problem with going to the states. She'd been to America many times and was more used to the 'boisterous loudness' that was often associated with her Yank cousins.

"Yes. America has a penchant for turning things around quite quickly. All they need is the final clue to the puzzle."

"You believe they can summon kanmusu of their own sir?" She asked.

"I hope they can. This whole nation does. We just might need, no we will need their kanmusu to save our skins a third time." He said.

"I'll do my best sir." She promised.

"Transportation has been secured, and since we all know of your dislike for airplanes you'll be sailing to Halifax on the Queen Mary 2."

"Yes sir. Thank you sir."

He handed her a packet. "She leaves tonight. I suggest you go and back your things."

"Aye sir."

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Sheera leaned against the rail, allowing her upper body to lean forward into the wind passage generated by the Queen Mary 2's movements. The salty breeze stung her cheeks and made her her hair clump and knot together in large strands that would be a nightmare to brush out later. But she didn't care. This was the open ocean, this was her home.

She didn't hear anyone approach but that didn't matter. She sensed the girl behind her and sighed. "Are we alone?" She asked quietly but she knew the other girl could her her just fine.

"It we weren't would I be here?"

Sheera turned around, still leaning back against the railing and faced the kanmusu. Since the appearance of shipgirls, captains and crews had been quick to catch on and subsequently see their own ship's spirits. It was quite the interesting experience. Amusing too sometimes. She had been there when Captain Osprey had seen his girl for the first time. The memory still brought forth a smile. Not right now though.

"What do you want Mary?" She sighed.

The ship's kanmusu stood beside her. "To talk."

"No, you're going to ask me, again." Sheera shifted her position so she was leaning on the railing with just one hand. "And my answer is going to be no, again!" She started to walk away.

"How long are you going to live in denial Tegran Sheera? Or should I say Tiffany Andrews." Mary smirked as Sheera stiffened and whirled around to glare at her, her green eyes ablaze.

"That was a long time ago!" She hissed. "Long before your namesake even sailed. So why should you care?"

"Because it's who you are. And no amount of name changing can hide that." Mary replied. "No matter how hard you try to forget."

"You think I can forget?" Sheera asked. "Not a day goes by I don't think about that night. That I don't dream about it. It's always with me. Even if my true self isn't."

"You can't hide the truth forever, Tegran. Because one day, this war is going to bring it out of you. One day, you're going to have to fight."

Sheera paused. "I've fought well enough as a human, thank you." And with that, she twirled on her heel and left, shoving past Mary who mostly stepped aside. Her 150000 tons was an easy match for Sheera's 45000 but she had no desire to stop the stubborn redhead. Sheera couldn't be reasoned with anyways in her current fuming state.

As she stormed off to her room Mary watched her with eyes that only a kanmusu could have. She would deny anyone watching that she was staring at the Commander's well refined stern but Sheera had lovely lines and Mary had eyes. It was that simple. If only other matters would go down as easily.