Chapter 21

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21. Overall, the Commander is a Good Person

In the abandoned base, in the large dining hall

As it was already close to evening, the sky darkened unusually quickly. For lighting, a few incandescent lamps were lit above the dining hall, casting a pale light that enveloped the entire room in a bleak atmosphere.

More than a dozen shipgirls were chewing their food in the hall, not engaging in any light-hearted conversation. However, from time to time, a few would raise their heads, silently glancing at the Commander standing silently on the platform, then shake their heads and continue chewing their food.

The shipgirls involved in the incident were even more restless, their expressions changing like a kaleidoscope, unable to eat the food in front of them. Only Sacramento, who had always been very relaxed, sat away from the crowd, eating her food with a serious expression, showing no signs of being affected.

"…Overall, this accident was entirely due to a systemic error." The Commander, who was sitting on the platform, sighed after glancing at the shipgirls who had almost finished their meals.

"The judgment is that the main responsibility lies in my unfamiliarity with resource and administrative allocation. From today onward, anyone who needs to withdraw more than a thousand resources from the warehouse at once must report to Sacramento—"

"I don't think they can find me, though?"

The invisible person sitting in the corner raised her hand leisurely.

"—Then report to me. If it's a small scale, cumulative withdrawals of five thousand resources must also be reported to me. The person in charge is Sacramento. Is that okay?"

"Sure, no problem."

Sacramento, sitting in the corner, nodded.

"As for my own punishment, to be honest, because I am the highest commander, I don't know how to punish myself well. So for the next three months, I will give up on construction and the communication network as a form of self-punishment."

"I know this punishment seems a bit trivial, but in addition, I will make a promise to those who have suffered losses. As long as it's something I can do, I will fulfill the promise."

"Is this form of punishment acceptable?"

"…"

Silence. No one raised any objections.

The Commander, sitting in the chair, weakly scanned the shipgirls around him with sunken eyes. As the Commander's weapon, except for the peculiar Sacramento, the other shipgirls had no intention of opposing the Commander. Or perhaps Sacramento also had no intention of opposing, otherwise she wouldn't have fallen silent again at this moment.

His cracked hands awkwardly rubbed the naval cap in his hand, the Commander, with a shaved head, sighed deeply. Looking at the shipgirls quietly waiting for his words, he instinctively reached out, then let his hand fall, sighing again.

"Next, I have some announcements to make. Please remain calm."

His expression was like that of a frugal person who suddenly discovers their savings are gone, forced to dismantle what they once treasured.

His fingers constantly flexed, tapping the lectern in agitation. His face was full of gloom and pain. Shipgirls like Sea Tiger, who were loyal to the point of foolishness, looked at the Commander's dark expression and felt extremely regretful, as if they wished to take the Commander's suffering upon themselves.

"…Actually, I just received news today."

His fingers interlocked, gently supporting his chin, the Commander's voice gradually became clearer.

"A Deep Sea Fleet tide will appear in the near future. The intensity of the battles may increase several levels. However, due to resource issues, we cannot treat it with our usual intensity."

"If we continue with the usual supply and sortie methods, the fuel chain will break in a short time. Therefore, from today onward, the sortie method for the combat department will be changed to 'Emergency War Rules.' The operational radius will be reduced to one-third of the usual, and high-molecular vibration weapons will be unrestricted. However, don't overdo it; you just need to remove the nails around the base."

"'Emergency War Rules'…."

Chewing on the meaning of this term, the veterans of the combat department all showed a conflicted expression. The logistics department also showed a look of pity.

"Sister…."

111, completely at a loss, tugged at 110's sleeve, seeing the pitying expressions around her.

"What are 'Emergency War Rules'?"

"A special sortie method used when resources need to be conserved. Although it's fast and has no side effects, to be honest… it's a bit hard to accept in terms of behavior."

110 patted 111's head, pulling a grim smile. She seemed to have a deep aversion to this sortie method and didn't explain much to 111.

"…Next is the punishment for the logistics and execution departments."

The Commander, sitting on the platform, sighed lightly.

"The execution team, due to poor supervision of secondary damage, will be temporarily disbanded. They will be integrated into the 691 supply team to start mapping the surrounding sea and determining the specific resource range. The time will be set for two months. Sea Tiger, due to blind obedience, will also be integrated into the supply team for two months. The extra personnel will form a night team. Do you have any objections to this punishment?"

"I have no objections."

"Your orders will be followed."

"That's good. The base's resources will be entrusted to you from now on."

Nodding to Essex and Sea Tiger, who stood up, the Commander's gaunt face forced a smile. It was quickly shattered by some invisible emotion, and he buried his head in his wrists, looking extremely pained.

Faced with the Commander, who was in unbearable pain on the platform, the other shipgirls could only look at each other, sitting quietly in their chairs, waiting for time to pass.

After about ten minutes, the pale-faced Commander slowly raised his head.

"I've said what I wanted to say. You can do as you please from now on."

"Ah, right. Peace Ark, come here."

The pale-faced Commander extended his hand to call a shipgirl in a light pink nurse's uniform, pulling a dry smile.

"Peace Ark, if you have any quick-acting heart pills, give me two. Also, two painkillers. Five thousand fuel. I feel a bit of pain in my chest and want to take some medicine to ease it…"