RM Vol 3: For a World without Boundary – Chapter 21-13: The Hunt for Bismarck (Part 13)

RM Vol 3: For a World without Boundary – Chapter 21-13: The Hunt for Bismarck (Part 13)

*GASP*

With a startled intake of air, Admiral John Tovey is just about to jump up whatever thing he is using to rest his back on, only to find out that he just can't as a rush of pain assaults his senses. Fighting back the sudden bout of fear, anxiety, and frustration that comes out of the woodwork, Tovey swivels his head around to examine his situation. He is shocked to see that his left leg and right arm are bounded in casts while gauze and bandages can be seen and felt all along his body.

His first instinct is to figure out how did he get himself in this tough spot, but then he gives up when a migraine attacks his mind instead of the answer he seeks. "Bloody Hell..." Tovey allowed himself a curse before resting his head on a surprisingly soft pillow. Knowing that he is not in the best of health to think too hard on matters, Tovey opts to scan the foreign quarter he is in instead.

He dares a one-second look and knows almost immediately that the quarter he's situated in does not conform to an Erusean vessel. Too roomy and too luxurious even by officer standards. The full-sized bed, carpeted flooring, wooden decors, a small kitchen with a table and a few chairs, and even curtains by the viewing ports? The amenities here will make the entire Royal Navy goes green in envy. Thinking thus far, Tovey knows that he has most probably been captured by his enemy, the Belkan Reichsmarine...

Wait a second? Capture?

It's all coming back to him now, scattered pieces but enough for him to get the gists of his conundrum. Tovey remembers the duel, the preparation, and the eventual decimation of the entire Home Fleet. He also sparsely remembers being knocked back, burned by something. Though judging from the look of it, he survived somehow, only going unconscious and being rescued by his men. And after that, they were pulled aboard by the Belkans when the combat was truly over.

Now then, Tovey has the fortunate ability to choose the emotion he will like to feel now that his mind is back in working order. You know, whether to be downtrodden at the loss of lives or to express anger and hatred at the enemy that sank them. He ponders, mulling deeply about the circumstances that led to this point before eventually settling on this particular feeling. Relief. Relief that, despite everything that happened, he is still alive, banged up, but alive nonetheless. This means that whatever comes next, there's still a chance for him to return home, back to Aida, back to his loving wife.

What follows next, however, is the emotion called guilt. Survivor's guilt, to be exact. Tovey has been in this line of naval military business long enough to move past that feeling though. Nonetheless, a part of him can't stop wondering whether things could have progressed differently. Maybe a different tactic? Or, God forbids, had he just turned away and waited for another opportunity? But even when going all over again what he had available at the time of before and up to the destined duel, Tovey knew that he himself wouldn't have done anything different than what had happened. They were truly and utterly outclassed, bested at their own game.

Perhaps it's only by Divine intervention that the outcome would have been much different than now. Although if what the Belkan propaganda had to say anything about then they have literal Divines on their side. That's not an odd Tovey would have liked to face again now that he is in this awkward position. He wonders, aside from him, who else has made it out alive from that slaughter.

But most important of all, just what will he say to Aida when they meet again? He can just imagine how Aida would react to the news that her husband is MIA on his mission. And he fears that the Association of Sailor's Wives, headed by Aida herself, would literally burn the Admiralty building to the ground if words get back home that he is in Belkan custody. They will stop at nothing to get their husbands and sons back.

Tovey allows himself a smirk at that. If things develop thus far, then those bastards Pound and Churchill deserve it for sending them on a wild goose chase, which ended in the hunters becoming the hunted. Too much crucial information was missing, with military intelligence being woefully inept at giving any credible intel to act on. An example would be the Belkans capable of crippling their comms system at will. Or that they need not a visual identification of the targets to engage. Other than those, there was also that devastating weapon that wiped out their cruisers and destroyers in one go. Tovey would have never touched them with a ten-meter stick from the get-go had he known of this.

Heck, he would gladly resign and be a farmer instead of getting involved in this mess had he known the things he needed to know. But it's too late to regret any of that now.

*Knock* *Knock*

Hearing the knockings, Tovey instantly assumes it must be his captors. Tovey can hazard a guess as to why they need to knock on their own vessel, and the guess he has pleased him. He can at least hope to be able to hold a civilized conversation with the other party if they could learn how to knock.

"Come in." Tovey squeezed out the two words a bit painfully, surprised that it had taken him an effort to do so. It appears he also has internal injuries to be worried about.

Having heard his acknowledgment, the door is pushed open, revealing four figures standing outside the quarter. They're two guards, a medic from the look of it, and a female officer with the epaulets and markings of a Belkan Admiral. The latter of which is no doubt Admiral Tallulah that challenged him to that duel. CHeCk for new stories on no/v/el/bin(.)c0m

Said Admiral Tallulah though, smiling politely at him. "It seems that you've been awake for a while, Admiral Tovey." The smile is pretty, and so does the lady speaking, but Tovey only has one true love and that is his wife Aida.

Tallulah then turns to the medic. "I hope that you can check him now that he's awake, doc. The man was badly injured in our scuffle earlier."

The doc nods before moving closer to Tovey's bed. "With what I've been allowed to give him, he will be able to make a steady recovery if he is allowed quality meals and rest." Once the doc pulls a seat to sit next to him. "Would you kindly allow me to examine you, good sir?"

Hearing the polite request, Tovey gives an acknowledging nod, letting the doc take readings of his health. After a few minutes of nobody talking, the doc puts away his instruments and turns to Tallulah. "Well then Admiral, he is good enough for a chat. Though I would advise against triggering any intense emotion, lest the patient worsen his recovering health."

"I will see what I can do, Admiral." Tallulah could only offer that much. The decision ultimately rests in the hands of the top brass.

"Moving on from that," Tallulah said. "You all will be allocated Belka prisoners of war status once we're docked. We will treat you for injuries sustained in battle before you will be moved to a camp. There, you will be screened and vetted for intelligence before settling down there for the foreseeable future, at least until an agreement with Erusea can be made for your freedom. At the camp, you're given the opportunity to work voluntarily alongside other prisoners, chiefly the Ustians, to earn credits that can be exchanged for specific amenities. Even without working, you're still given enough supplies to make your stay in Belka a welcome one. However, credits can be used for many things, and it's my opinion that you should get them whenever you can. The works don't allow any illegal activities, and mostly only involve community services so I think you won't have any reservations about doing them. That's the short rundown I can give you. The people back home can fill you more on that."

"That sounded way too good to be true." Tovey commented on that immediately.

Tallulah shrugs. "Compared to the rest of the world, yeah. But in Belka, we have the luxury to be better, more civilized than whoever painted us as vile. You can thank our Marshal for that though, for without her, you and I won't be having this conversation right now."

"I have been hearing more and more about this fabled Marshal of yours. And I admit not knowing enough about this figure... But I guess I will soon be having more than enough time to learn more later. That is if what you described to me is true." Tovey added.

"I can swear on my rank as an Admiral and my six-month salary that I haven't lied to you a single word, Admiral Tovey." Tallulah immediately said.

Tovey, however, catches on to a part of her statement. "What happened to your salary for you to say that?"

Tallulah visibly groans, much to Tovey's confusion. "Let's just say that I made a stupid mistake and that cost me half a year's worth of salary in one go."

"... I won't pretend to understand your pain because I haven't run into that trouble in my entire life." Tovey admitted, causing Tallulah to smack her face in an attempt to cover her embarrassment. "Damn it, me."

"Say," Tovey speaks up to change the subject. "Is it possible for me to contact my wife?"

"When we finish registering you all, each of you will be given an offer to mail your families, if you have any. Other than that, a small allocation of credits, enough to buy you more chances to write letters or save up for something else, will be given each month. Of course, all the letters will be checked for their contents for the reason that I am sure you will understand." Tallulah answered.

"That in itself is already generous enough of a treatment in my book. To be honest, to have such a polite and pleasant conversation with your enemy like this, surprised me." Tovey sincerely said that. The situation is quite surreal.

"You and me both, Admiral. You and me both." Tallulah chuckled.

"So what's next on your agenda, if you don't mind me asking? "Tovey asked in genuine curiosity. He can't imagine just what Tallulah, and by extension, the Bismarck battleship would do after multiple battles back to back.

Tallulah crosses her arms, pondering what she is allowed to say. Ultimately, she settles for this. "As I've said, we will guard this location until our convoy can get here to both handle the survivors and tow the King George V back. We would have been the one to chase your aircraft carriers, now barely able to defend themselves, had headquarters not assigned other elements to do the deed for us. With the Home Fleet gone in this area, our Reichsmarine has free reign on this part of the sea. I think you can understand that."

Hearing that, Tovey sighs, accepting his defeat with grace. "You said in that message if I run or fight, I would be destroyed either way, it seems that wasn't a bluff at all."

"That is correct. Despite the abruptness of the situation, our Marshal was still able to devise a daring plan to make the most out of it with minimal risk. Nonetheless, you and your men put up a damn good fight regardless of the bad hands you were dealt with. I can't think of any fleet that could do what you did." Tallulah gave her sincere compliment with the due respect Tovey deserved.

Tovey laughs good-naturedly at that. "And you, lassy, were a worthy adversary. I sure hope our duel was legendary enough to be written in the history book for years to come." And that is Tovey putting it lightly.

Disregarding any misgiving between them, the two Admirals join each other in a fit of giggles. It's not every day you can amiably chat with your enemy. As such, despite both parties skirting around a few issues here and there, they can be seen talking as if they're best of friends until it's time for lunch. By then, the Fur Spaniard convoy has arrived and duty has spirited away Tallulah for the rest of the day. But not without her leaving behind these words.

"Well then Admiral, I sure hope that this will be the start of a wonderful friendship, or rivalry, depending on how one may look at it."