incomplete and will never be completed.
Zuikaku stopped short of slamming the pen into the table. She cannot work like this—the roaring winds outside, the torrent crashing into the window, the dim ambiance, all proved to be too much a distraction. That the power went out didn't help either—but at least they'd already expected the situation, having received the typhoon warning from days before.
Yet another glance at the Commander revealed the same thing—he would attempt in vain to make a call—for the base technicians, she had no doubt—and then promptly returned to his work with a sigh when it was clear it wouldn't go through.
It was pretty jarring to see the usually laid-back man looking so frustrated, and as much as she's embarrassed to admit, it probably distracted her more than anything else combined.
"Did you make sure nobody's out at sea?"
"Um, yes, sir; I've canceled all exercises and patrol schedules."
"Ah, good; the girls are going to get holed up in their dorms for a day or two, though…hope they have emergency supplies ready," the Commander whistled and leaned back. He looked at the emergency lamp sitting on his table. It had seen better days and didn't provide much in terms of lighting.
"I wonder how Shoukaku-nee is doing," Zuikaku murmured, just as a slew of thin branches, blown by the gale, struck against the window. The force wasn't enough to shatter it, but it did produce a rather loud, abrupt noise guaranteed to catch anyone unsuspecting off guard.
"Whoa!"
Zuikaku, who was one such person, jumped from her seat—a sudden action that sent her reeling and fumbling—and she soon found herself being caught by the Commander.
"...Easy there, little birdie."
The Commander didn't show his usual grin to go along with his familiar moniker for her, likely because he's just as surprised, but Zuikaku got flustered anyway, and she was quick to remove herself from him.
"I'm so–sorry!"
The Commander waited until she returned to her own desk before answering.
"Well, that was the most exciting thing to happen today," he shrugged. "And boy, do we need that."