Redemption

Shrouded (Old Version)

"I clearly overestimated."

Earlier when there was still visibility, it was easy to imagine being able to spot a rescue ship at least a mile away, maybe more, but now I was beginning to hope to be able to see at least a hundred feet into this seemingly impenetrable fog.

All around me was a thick pale white which left every detail that could be seen dull, the front two cranes cut through the fog disturbing its stagnate position in the air, the bow seemed to disappear into nothingness, even the sky and the sea seemed to have lost their color amongst the cloud.

The worst thing about it was the absolute silence, apart from the small waves of the sea rocking the ship softly and the low thrum of the engines echoing through the vents there was nothing, not a sign or hint of another ship or the familiar hum of an aircraft, just silence.

It was deafening.

It also made me extremely worried, if I couldn't see anything in front of me then how on Earth was I supposed to find the rescue they hopefully sent for me, if they even did, there was a slight chance that they could have interpreted the plane they sent being destroyed as an attack plane ordered by me and have sent destroyers and battleships instead of the coast guard.

There's also the issue of who actually sent that enemy plane, what enemy would there be left to fight, the war had been over for at least two years before my... mishap, Germany surrendered, Japan had their peace talks, Italy basically solved itself so then who?

"There... there wasn't another war that happened while I was away, was there?" I asked to myself.

I had taken to talking to myself to get my thoughts in order, help me calm down, that sort of thing, it was also kind of nice being able to talk after so many years of quiet.

But anyways, all that other stuff can wait, more important things to think about.

As I walked from port to starboard for what seemed like the hundredth time, was actually the twenty third time, yes I counted but that was because I had nothing else to do with my time, a potential idea came to me.

"If I go down and pay a visit to the officer's quarters, there's a chance I could find a pair of binoculars which would help me spot any lights from other ships nearby, but that could take a while and I might miss them passing by in the time I'm gone. I could also turn on one of the searchlights up a deck but that might take time finding a suitable ladder and a light that actually works."

I rested my arms and the railing, the metal creaking as I placed my weight on it with my back faced to it, as I softly mumbled to myself "Decisions, decisions..."

...

"Whelp, it's decided," if I wasn't sure on the searchlight then I would go for the binoculars, there has to be one in at least one of the rooms, my officers were very meticulous with their equipment placement.

That and it was the one thing that was sure to help me spot a rescue.

So, with my thoughts finally in order, I took a deep breath in, the cold air stinging my lungs, and made my way to the stairs with my crutch thudding next to me.

Having walked between the decks back and forth for over an hour, I decided to take a break and look back over the others who both seemed to have had the same idea as me, Washington going through seemingly every gun she had making sure they were all loaded, something we would have to have a talk about later, and Vestal seemed to have an invested interest in swinging the binocular by the band around her wrist.