IT'S THE NAVEL LIFE FOR ME...
Author: Daferge
The characters in this story and the events of all the Tenchi Muyo shows are property of AIC and Pioneer. I have neither created them, nor do I own them.
This is a Tenchi Muyo fan fiction I came up with after reading "duty calls", ( where Tenchi get drafted into the Jurai military...) I'd though about set it in Japan and use the Defense Forces as a background, but I'm not familiar enough with their organizations to do a good story, SO I relocated EVERYONE to the U.S.
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chapter 01...
The young officer read the sign outside the tall brick building, " Naval Station Headquarters, Norfolk - Virginia".
Watching all the military personal wearing white enter and leaving the busy building he was really glad he'd decided to wear a khaki (tan) uniform instead of
his normal Air Force 'blues'. He REALLY would have stood out.
Returning a couple of salutes (more by reflex than thought) he wondered for about the hundredth time why he'd been suddenly transfered from his research lab at Eglin (Air Force Base- Florida) all the way up here. Scratching the back of his neck, he sighed. He'd soon know more ( he hoped ) as he entered the busy building.
After wandering the halls for what seemed like hours, he found himself in an upper floor office, room 318, across the desk from an enlisted man in navy whites.
" May I help you, sir? "
" Captain Masaki... I have orders to report here for 'special duty'?.. ", Tenchi replied, handing a copy of his orders across the desk. One of thirty copies that had arrived on his desk 48 hours earlier...
Picking up the papers, the young man read them, " Orders... Masaki... Captain... MMMmm... Report... Norfork... Duties... mmmmmm... ".
Glancing up from the paperwork, he shook his head before standing...
" If you'll have a seat, Sir, I'll let the Commander know you're here... ".
Turning he went to a door marked 'Commander', knocked and entered.
A short time later the door reopened and Tenchi saw the young man holding it open. " Sir, the Commander will see you now. ".
Tenchi found himself across an even bigger desk from a naval officer who glanced up at him and then back at his papers.
" You are, Captain Tenchi Masaki?... ", he glanced at the papers, " number
342-99-2314? ".
" Yes, Sir?... ".
Setting the papers down, the commander eyes the younger officer.
" Do you have any idea why you're here? "
" No, Sir... ".
Tilting his head slightly, the commander continued.
" Have you ever heard of something called 'Project Phoenix'?... ".
" Yes, Sir... ".
The commander sat back in his chair.
" Now we're getting somewhere... And where might I ask?... ".
" From an 'acquaintance'... Is this about that project? ".
" Yes, what do you know about it? ".
Taking a deep breath, Tenchi replied...
" I believe it was a proposal for upgrading small 'older' warships Hulls with modern technology for a fraction of the cost of building whole 'new' one. I believe it was one of Admiral Jurai's 'pet projects' several years back. ".
The commander looked at his computer, " Huumm... ".
Tenchi scratched the back of his neck. " I believe I may have submitted designs for one of the conversions. ".
" You don't know?... ". The commander's eyes were back on Tenchi.
" Well, it was a 'dare' and I did have a free weekend... ". Tenchi muttered...
" 'dare?'... 'weekend?'... ". The commander inquired.
" Yes, sir... ", Tenchi muttered...
" Do continue... "
" Several years ago I was at an inter-service event when I happen to overhear someone complain about all the problems that the 'new' XV4 Turbo Pump was causing with the 'upgrading'. Having help design the XV4, I had to reply... ".
The commander raised an eye brow.
" I asked 'what idiot had tried to use the high pressure XV4 on a low pressure engine?'... ", Tenchi sighed.
"AND... ".
" Admiral Jurai turned and said that 'HE was the IDIOT'... ".
" Admiral Azusa 'Seadog' Jurai?... ". Asked a wide-eyed Commander.
"One and the same... ". Tenchi muttered, looking at the floor.
"And you're not an enlisted man stationed at the 'ends of the world'?... ".
"No, sir. ", Tenchi sighed. "My father stepped in and bragged that I could have come up with a better design. ".
"Your father?... " the commander asked, "That wouldn't happen to be General Nobuyuki 'Mad-Dog' Masaki?... ".
"Yes, Sir... Any way, one thing lead to another and Admiral Jurai dared me to redesign a old Destroyer Escort. "...
Tenchi smiled. "I swear Dad almost stuck his tongue out when we placed the finished plans on the Admiral's desk monday morning... ".
The commander had a smile, too.
"Ah... Now we're getting some where... "
"Sir?... ".
" It seems this 'Project Phoenix' has to do with 'upgrading' an old Destroyer Escort prototype that is about to under go sea trials this week. It's down at pier nineteen undergoing final 'adjustments' and awaiting its new Captain/Designer... " commented the Commander.
"Captain/Designer ???... ". Tenchi's eye's went wide.
"Oh, yes... One CAPTAIN Tenchi Masaki, number - 342-99-2314... In other words... YOU... ". the commander replied.
"But... But... There's got to be a mistake... I'm not a naval 'captain'... ".
"Are you implying that Military Command has made a 'mistake'?... "
Tenchi took a deep breath, he knew where this was going... 'Military Command doesn't make MISTAKES..' his father had pounded into his head... He also knew that his father ( and uncles ) tended to 'translate' their orders to fit themselves...
"Well... As for the 'Captain' part, you'll have an experienced executive officer who can 'run' the ship during the trials so you'll be able to catch any problems, as the 'designer'... And well... you ARE a 'Captain'... Huumm???... " the commander inquired.
"What now?... ". Tenchi asked.
"Shall we go and inspect you new 'command'? " replied the commander, reaching over and hitting the intercom.
"Sir?... ".
"Jackson, have my car brought around. ".
"Yes sir. ".
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Shortly there after a VERY nervous Air Force Captain and an extremely amused Naval Commander found themselves standing at the gangway to the DE prototype.
"What do you think?... "
Looking at the prototype, Tenchi took a deep a breath.
"Let's see... "
"It appears to be a 'KNOT' class, about 3-4,000 tons, over 400 ft. long and a beam of atleast 45 feet... "
"I believe I recall it having two boilers powering a single turbine and shaft, which should make over 25 knots... "
"It's estimated range was over 4,500 miles, depending on it's fuel load and at
sea refueling... "
"It's design compliment was 13 officers and 211 men... "
Glancing forward at the bow, he continued...
"I see they left the 5" gun... "
He then glanced aft...
"Can't tell if they removed the torpedo tubes or the Helo-pat... "
Turning back, he found the commander watching him closely.
"Interesting... Does the Air Force teach ship recognition? "
Tenchi scratched the back of his head.
"Aaahh... I've an uncle who's NAVY, sir. Whenever I had to spend the night, I'd ended up joining my cousins in 'class', which included ship recognition. I never was good at pre-world war one ship recognition, especially sailing ships. ".
The commander smiled and looked at the gangplank.
"Shall we? "
"After you, sir... "
Half way up the gangway, they stopped and saluted the flag.
As they step aboard a young female officer greeted them...
"Permission to come aboard, Lieutenant?... ". The Commander ask...
"Welcome aboard, Sir. ".
"Lieutenant, I'd like to introduce your new Captain... Captain Masaki, this is your executive officer, Lt. Ayeka Jurai... ", turning, he finds 'Captain Masaki' passed out on the deck, a trickle of blood coming from his nose.
Shaking her head, Lt. Jurai turned to the commander...
"Yes, Sir...That's our Tenchi... ". She commented with a big smile...
to be continued...