The adventures of Prinz Eugen and the young engineer Volume 1.

Chapter 6

"Leitender Ingenieur Otto Wiedling reports that the maintenance has been completed and the issue has been resolved. The rigging of the heavy cruiser Admiral Hipper is fully serviceable again." Otto reported while both stood at attention and saluted. The oldest officer answered. " Good to hear that you can actually do the job you are supposed to do. But how did you do it and why is the mechanic of cruiserdock 2 here?" The young mechanic answered: " I was asked to assist LI Wiedling on the behalf of heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen, since LI Wiedling would not have been able to do the task of two people simultaneously. I assisted in his plan. He got the idea of working the joint while flushing the stuck splinter out with lubricant. Therefore I assisted in that task by doing what had been instructed by LI Wiedling. Here are the detailed reports to the maintenance procedure. I must say, his idea was brilliant. I would have never had the same idea. His knowledge and expertise made this repair possible without a doubt." He handed the oldest officer the two reports. The officers started to read the reports, while Hipper walked over to her rigging, attached it to herself and tried it out. Prinz watched the young mechanic with an destinc impression on her face, which he could not read. Otto took the young mechanic to the improvised weldtourch cooker and wispert: " You are truly one stupid kid. That could have been a point for promotion you gave away there." The young mechanic answered: " Probably, but what's a most likely useless promotion to losing a colleague. They would have retired you if it turned out that I was the one to fix the issue. That way you will keep your job and these guys don't get the satisfaction of kicking another one of the old guard out. No need to mess it up. Get me another kilogram of your wonderful tea blend and a Korbbrot and we are good, ok?" Otto looked at him in astonishment, but could not answer since he got turned around by Admiral Hipper. " I didn't think you could still fix it. The joint works better than ever. I have to say that you did a great job and maybe I should have trusted your word and advice more. But don't think that is an apology or anything." She said in an almost happy and then insecure tone. She ignored the young mechanic completely and returned to the side of the officers. The two mechanics grabbed their teacups and also returned to the group. The oldest officer addressed them: " After reading the reports, we have come to the conclusion that the repair of such a complicated issue is remarkable and deserves praise instead of retirement or court martial for incompetence. Therefore we will forward a recommendation for promotion of LI Wiedling to the base commander. That will be all. Have a good morning." With that the three staff officers left the dock. The two engineers gave each other a tired smile and sat down on a shipping crate. "So, the old and young mechanic figured out a way to repair an issue that had been there for weeks. Remarkable." Prinz said in her mocking tone. Both looked up to her and their tired expressions told her that they had no nerve for her games. " I guess you two did not get to rest until now, right? ... Hey Hipper, how about we order these two to take today off? They are in little to no capacity to work for us, wouldn't you agree?" Prinz Eugen continued. Her big sister nodded. "We both agree, you two take the day off. Rest and relax, we don't want to see any of you here for the next 24 hours." She continued. Otto looked at the two shipgirls and then at the young mechanic. He then emptied his cup, stood up and grabbed his coat and left with the words. " I won't let them tell me that twice. I am looking forward to sleeping in my own bed and seeing my wife. I will see you all tomorrow at 8:00 hours." With that he was gone. " And you? You will not sleep in the drydock, do you hear me? " Prinz addressed the young engineer with an authoritarian voice. " Ugh, where else should I go?" The young mechanic asked confused. "Is this idiot just pretending or is he really that stupid? Go into your dorm or go home for the day. We don't want you around here all tired and drained of energy." Admiral Hipper yelled in her usual annoyed tone at him. " I won't leave my station. I have to be here. I will go and lay on the sofa." He answered and stood up as well, making his way out of dock one and towards dock two. " He is such a stupid stubborn idiot. How can you put up with him Eugen?" Hipper asked her sister while they watched the young engineer leave dock one. " I don't quite know. He is naive but hardworking, reluctant to show off and absolutely loyal. Although it sometimes seems a bit self destructive. He still is the best mechanic I had and the first human I can feel normal around. He seems to not see me as a wonder, monster or extraordinary being. He is so nonchalant around me. He only does the formal stuff when others are watching. In a way he is similar to me in that regard." She answered. "You are weird Eugen. Don't grow too attached to them. Humans are so fragile and die so quickly. It's not normal to have a mechanic like Wiedling around. He has been with me for 15 years now 13 as my mechanic and the last as my rigging mechanic. But you know just as much as me how many mechanics and so on we had." With these words Hipper went out of the dock on the water, testing out her fixed rigging. Prinz Eugen walked out as well. She had a meeting with the commander.