Historical fanfiction? More like historical gayfiction. And I have unhealthy obsession for Weiss in naval uniform. Yee.
For AngelFlower23 at AO3. Her WWII Whiterose RP with me gave me the idea that had to be scrapped due to some impossibility, but paving me the way to find better inspiration.
Special thanks for TheRodrigator6 at Discord, a fellow history buff and my main technical advisor for this historical gayfiction.
Ein
Of Coals and a Stranded Cormorant
"Are you sure, sir? US might be a neutral party, but our relationship with them isn't that warm either."
"Thank you for your insight, Leutnant Schnee. But between becalmed after our last coal has been burned and getting torn by the Japanese, I'd rather gamble it with the Americans."
She still remembered the conversation she had with her captain days ago, as it had happened just minutes before. While she had her share of wary that refused to be ceased by the captain's reassurance, she still carried her order dutifully.
Though, no one knew what the Americans would do to a band of German sailors led by a snow-haired female officer laden with insignia of Leutnant rank. She shouldn't be surprised if they were welcomed at shore with gunshots and all. United States' neutral standing in this war was the only flimsy security she and her crews had, but it wouldn't stop a belligerent American rifleman's bullet from striking their body.
After wading through the water all the way from Lamotrek Atoll, with the fear of running into Japanese patrols, the forerunner party approached the island of Guam. A sailor raised the white flag high to signal their peaceful intention, and the cutter reached the shore safely with no scuffle with the American coast guards. She quickly explained the situation to them, and followed with brief moment of heated exchange, she and two of the sailors were escorted to the governor's office while the rest were to stand by on the cutter.
Without much words exchanged, the snow-haired officer was allowed to had her audience with the governor.
"Leutnant Weiss Schnee of SMS Cormoran, sir," she introduced herself with her English that carried thick German accent.
The governor only replied with a solemn nod. Weiss didn't get any reciprocating introduction from him, but she already knew to whom she was talking to from the plaque spelling his name; Captain James Ironwood.
"I need to know why a German officer is now standing in my office."
Weiss could felt her clenched hands getting clammy under the governor's scrutiny. Recalling the words she had nervously memorized for days, she spoke with even voice, "Our ship is short of coal and unable to continue our voyage. Considering United State's neutral standing in the war, we peacefully request your aid by providing us enough coal for our ship."
"Why, this is a conflicting matter." The governor's forehead creases in deep thought. "There are some certain circumstances and reasons why I have to reject this. However, if you're really in dire need of help, I'm willing to discuss the terms but only with your captain. Do inform him to anchor at Apra Harbor, your ship will be received peacefully here."
This was the answer neither she or her captain wished to get. Unfortunately, Weiss was no apt negotiator, especially not in delicate situation of war, hence there was nothing she else she could do.
"I will relay this to our captain. Thank you for having us, sir." Weiss politely saluted the governor and left the office. She was offered a short stay for her and her men to rest, but she turned it down. The captain needed to know this dismaying news as soon as possible.
Going back to the shore, Weiss barked orders for the sailors to haul their rear faster and get the cutter going. She impatiently hopped to the small sailing craft and the cutter left the shore to cut through the water in haste. Wind and seas were in their favor, pushing the cutter in better velocity for their hasty trip back to the Cormoran.
The tropical sun above beat the sailors with heat and delivered a dose of headache with it, but Weiss also felt chills crept under her coat. Upholding her duty and honor as an officer, she shrugged them off until they could see the Cormoran again.
In a couple of days, the cutter reached the reefs where the cruiser was hiding at. Weiss and the sailors got on board all weary to the bone, but this was the price to keep the whole crew from getting tracked and killed by the Japanese while radioing the Americans for help.
After dismissing the tired sailors, she only took short break before getting back to her feet and reported to the captain. The hope hiding between the lines of the captain's face made a heartbreaking contrast to the less hopeful news she was just about to break.
"What is the response from the governor?" asked the captain.
A pang of upsetting throb drummed her head, but Weiss wouldn't let it stumbling her words. "They refuse our request for coals, but the governor is willing to discuss it with you, sir."
The captain cursed inaudibly under his breath, his reddish brown moustache hid little of his disappointment. "Then we'll head to Apra Harbor and get our coals or go along with whatever their terms. You can go back to your quarters and have some moment of rest, Schnee. You're dismissed."
Saluting the captain, the snow-haired officer retreated to her quarters and rested herself. She really needed rest, but she doubted sleep would be enough to chase away her overall discomfort—from both her headache and… everything.
It shouldn't have been surprising. War never brought anything but dread to people's bosom, no matter they were in the frontline or the other side of the Earth.
Dull days, sleep and headache cum light fever made the days flew fast yet painful. The meager remaining medicine on board did good job alleviating her ailments, but failing on curing it. Upset and bored, she fought the bits of sickness and donned her uniform then set straight to the deck.
She was mildly taken aback by the green of the island being so close from the ship, the light blue of shallow water replaced gloomier deeper shade of open seas. A sight that was so beautiful that it was disheartening.
"Morning, Princess Snow White. Lovely to see you on deck," greeted a man with hair colour that matched the sea, clad in same rank insignia as Weiss.
"Shut up, Neptune Vasillias," Weiss scoffed while her eyes were trained on the island. "So finally the Cormoran anchors at Guam, huh?"
"Aye, and Herr Sieben has just gone ashore to meet the Americans for coals." Neptune played with his cap in one hand and another combed through his matted hair. "Man, I want to see some action! I'm tired playing cat and mouse with the Japs! Once we get the coals, the Japs will have their asses handed to them!"
While Weiss shared the same sentiment, she was much more doubtful about the coals. Governor Ironwood seemed too steadfast in his reluctance, and a negotiation with him probably wouldn't do much.
The two young Leutnants was surprised by sudden marching thumps of the captain's boots against the steel flooring and the loud roar of his order :
"All hands on deck for assembly immediately!"
The officers were sent scurrying Moments later, sailors and officers of SMS Cormoran assembled before the captain, murmuring among themselves until they were silenced by the captain's booming voice. (Oh fuck pls halp mi I can't write this part well)
"We've spent months at sea, dodging the Japanese while doing our duty to the empire," the captain opened the speech. "But as you all know, our current shortage of coal won't guarantee our survival against the Japanese's savage sea scouring. They give us a choice between leaving this island with the last bits of coal we have or to be interred. I will not let our enemies We'll go with their terms. This ship, all sailors and officers will enter their detention."
Even the steeled discipline of Imperial German Navy couldn't keep gasps from coming out. The sailors were already crowing between themselves about what would become of their fate. The officers weren't spared the time to dwell on their astonishment, as they were immediately prompted to retrieve their swords and follow the captain ashore.
American marines had been waiting for them on the shore under command of Governor Ironwood himself and led them to the base's courtyard. With minimal verbal exchange between the two parties, the German officers positioned themselves with commands from the captain. After briefly inspected the Germans, the governor prompted to start the procession.
Korvettenkapitän Sieben handed his ornate officer's sword to Governor Ironwood. His face was steeled and devoid of emotions. The captain's second in command, Oberleutnant Schwarzschild, followed suit with defeated look peppered with apparent distaste on his face.
One by one the officers gave up their swords in the procession. When it was her turn, Weiss reluctantly handed the grandest badge of her pride as Imperial German Navy officer to a white-clad American Marine officer—or it might be actually a Navy officer. She probably wouldn't know, and she didn't care.
Painlessly, albeit humiliating, the weary Cormoran and her crews were finally safe in the clutch of American shore.
While the captain and his second in command were coming with the governor for further discussion, the officers were welcomed to unwind within limited perimeter.
"Better than being ripped to pieces by the Japanese, sure," she mumbled to herself.
Neptune landed his palm on her back with a chuckle. "It's not that bad, Weiss. We're not prisoners of war, we're here as…uhh…guests, I guess? But not also guests." He placed another friendly back slap when Weiss rolled her eyes with audible groan. "Look at the bright side, grumpy! Aren't you bored with months not getting to walk on the land? Besides, you seem tired and pale lately. You certainly need some fresh air from this pretty island!"
"You don't need to point out my skin's natural paleness," Weiss grumbled. "I hate to agree with you but fresh air sounds like a good idea."
"Aye, fresh air, good liquor and pretty ladies! Let's check what the Americans have here!"
Weiss practically resigned to her fate as the overly excited Neptune dragged her to a decently-sized bar not far from the base complex. They weren't alone, as most of their fellow officers decided to bank on the bar and relieved their pent-up frustration with beer, rum or whiskey.
Some already chugged beer while complaining—in German—how American beer tasted like shit compared to the lovely ones from German brewery. A handful of them opted for rum, either in delight or frustration or a mix of both. The shameless ones, like Neptune, already tried to hit it with the ladies.
Sitting by the counter, Weiss had her own helping of rum, but a barely touched after two puny gulp. She suddenly just lost her appetite and just sat there with lightly gritted teeth and a hand lightly massaging her temple.
"Excuse me, are you alright?"
Beside her was an unexpected company in form of a young woman, looking at her with concern. Instead of responding, she only stared at the woman for a long second before letting her heavy head dropped between her shoulder. Weiss knew this constant hammering on her skull wasn't from the onset of alcohol in her system. If she was drunk, even in the middle of headache she would've been throwing flirty—or even bawdy—pick-up lines at the grey-eyed woman.
Upon closer inspection, the woman's grey eyes popped out too much under the light, as if it was shining silver.
"Junior, a glass of water, please," the woman called the bartender and a glass of water was quickly served for them. With a soft smile she gave it to Weiss, wordlessly convincing the snow-haired officer to drink, then placed a piece of wrapped tablet on the counter.
Weiss frowned after the last gulp of her water. "What is that?"
"Aspirin always helps with anything," the woman chirped.
Duly, Weiss accepted the tablet and downed it with another glass of water. She tipped her head and muttered "Danke"—not "Thank you"—before going back to mull over whatever her headache wanted. She might not be fully aware, but the silver-eyed woman sat beside her, giving her a company of silence. If Weiss wasn't so much under the weather, she probably would exchange a short banter or two, but again she wasn't much of a talker outside of her drunken state. And her drunken state was a very embarrassing one—a reason why the snow-haired woman wasn't so into drinking.
The party was over when a couple of Marine guards—with rifles slung on their shoulders—came and ushered the officers to get back to the Cormoran before dark. The officers initially responded with dismayed groans and all, but even the drunkest of them complied and started to leave the bar. All but the noisy and flushed Neptune.
He was still flirting with an amused slash terrified American woman with his gibberish of German and French. The Marine guards was so aggravated that they were so close to ramming the butt of their rifle on him, but Weiss just stepped in time to save her intoxicated shipmate.
"Just get along with their rules," Weiss reprimanded and pulled him away from the poor woman and the fuming American Marines. "We are not enemies, but also not guests, remember?"
"Noooo! It's too short! Like your height, Weiss!" Neptune huffed and flailed to get away from her iron grip. "Get this ugly white dwarf away from me! Give me my beautiful ladies—oof!"
Weiss jabbed Neptune's ribs viciously with her elbow and dragged the drunken womanizer all the way back to the ship.
While I know an officer handing his sword is a sign of peaceful parley or surrender, I don't know whether it's only the most senior officer who did it, or all the commissioned officer had to do the same. Eh, I'll take that artistic liberty license, please.
And yes, Klein as a captain seems to be an odd choice. My initial plan is to have Ironwood for that role, but with his name that is too American for a German captain I decided to change it. Besides, Ironwood suits more as the then governor of Guam for reasons you will see in next chapters (or if you're a history buff, you might already know why).
And keeping German ranks without translating it to equivalent American ranks is a decision I take to…uhh…setting them apart from the Americans as well as stylistic choice. Okay, I'll just admit it Weiss with German rank just sounds so sexy. A Leutnant is equivalent to an Ensign, but I'll take "Leutnant Schnee" over "Ensign Schnee" any day.
Btw, anyone knows what SMS stands for?
p.s. wait… wasn't 1914 still in the Prohibition period? If it is, would there be alcohol at Guam tho?
p.p.s Nevermind. The Prohibition started in 1920 lol.