Death With Dignity
"Are you sure?" asked Akeno. "Meet me in my cabin in ten minutes" and she hung up the phone on the bulkhead. "Deputy Captain, come with me – until one of us comes back, the Chief Gunnery Officer has the deck" and the girls all blinked at their Captain's unusual formality.
"Aye… Aye" Tama blinked as Mashiro followed her off the Bridge.
#
"Shiro, I've asked you and the Doctor to speak with me here on an important subject" Akeno gestured at Minami. "Doctor…?"
"After the Chief Gunnery Officer was infected, I decided to run blood tests on every member of the crew. In the course of those tests, I have discovered that one of the crew has an incurable form of cancer"
"What?" Mashiro's jaw dropped and she felt sad at the thought of one of her crewmates being sick in such a fashion. "Who is it?"
"I am afraid that it is you, Deputy Captain" Minami said quietly.
"No… It can't be… I'm not sick… I feel fine"
"That is normal, however your cells will start to degrade within five to six months. I regret to tell you that you will have around two to three years left"
"I… I… I…" Mashiro was hit full force with the thought of her impending doom – even if she had a few years left.
"I am so sorry, Shiro" Akeno said. "Minami has said that she has to report this to the school
"But I wanted to be a Blue Mermaid" Mashiro whispered. "All I have ever wanted to be was that and now that's taken away from me"
"Maybe they will find a cure – new cures are found all the time, right Minami?" Akeno shot a look at her Doctor.
"Oh… Well, yes…"
"You don't sound convinced"
"I'm a Doctor" Minami shrugged, "I look at things practically. However, the Captain is correct – you might yet find a cure. There is one other thing that I must tell you and the Captain. Now that I have confirmed the case, I must report it to the school and Headquarters"
"How soon?"
"At once"
"Are you aware that we are under orders to maintain radio silence?" Akeno asked them both. "With us going to take part in the rescue of Musashi's crew, we're under orders not to transmit anything that might give away our position. Besides, there is nothing that we can do about Shiro's condition right now, is there?"
"No" replied Minami.
"Well then… Deputy Captain, do you wish to tell the crew?" Akeno asked, giving Mashiro a sense of formality.
"What would you do?"
"I do not know… I suppose I would be worried about letting them all down, but I'd be alright for the near future. Yes, I think I would tell them" Akeno smiled faintly.
"Do you mind if I wait until after this has all finished?"
"Not at all" and Mashiro nodded and walked to the cabin door. "Shiro?"
"Yes?"
"I'm sorry"
"Thank you, Captain" and she left.
"I never thought that I would have to do that" Minami said quietly. "Captain, I have to report it to the school, but there might be a way around it for a while. The exact letter of the rules start when they are seriously ill – the Deputy Captain might be dying, but she is not ill just yet"
"You'd do that?" Akeno blinked at the comment.
"I would… I have learnt from you that comrades at sea are family and that…" Minami gave an uncharacteristic snicker, "That some rules are meant to be broken"
"I just wish there was something we could do for Shiro"
"With the right treatments to slow the progression, she could live another four or five years. I'm a Doctor, I know about death, but I'm having trouble"
"We all are" Akeno looked at a picture on her desk. "Its hard to face the thought of losing a family member"
"That is Captain China, isn't it?"
"Yes, have you ever met her?"
"No"
"Oh…" Akeno traced a finger lovingly over the frame before sighing and turning back to Minami. "Moeka is a good friend of mine and her parents took me in after my own were lost in a shipwreck years ago. She went to a different school compared to me for the last two years, but we met up just before we set sail. I don't even know if she is still alive"
"I am sure she is" Minami assured her quietly. "I better go back to my Sickbay and see if there is anything I missed"
"Is there…?"
"Anything is possible" Minami smiled and then she left Akeno alone to think hard.
"Bridge to Captain" Tama's voice came down the voicepipe.
"Captain"
"We're picking up a distress call from a freighter that says she has been torpedoed by the Musashi and is in need of assistance"
"Have Rin go to full speed and adjust course to intercept" and as she was about to close the flap, she had another thought. "Bring the ship to Action Stations"
"Aye"
#
"Kaede, can you hear anything at all?" Akeno asked as she peered into the darkness.
"Nothing on my scopes"
"I see nothing around us" Macchi said from high above them.
"The Musashi must have done just enough to make us divert from an interception course" Mashiro said. "Captain, if we stay to help, we might never be able to help stop the Musashi"
"And if we stop the Musashi, then we lose the lives of the people here" Akeno shook her head. "Range to the ship?"
"Ten miles" Rin said shakily.
"We should be able to see her" Rei said, "So she must have lost all power"
"Captain? What do we do?" Mashiro noted the tight grip Akeno held her binoculars in.
"How many people on the ship?"
"Three hundred and eleven passengers and hundred and fifty crew"
"Anybody injured?"
"Just minor injuries that were last reported as being treated from first aid kits"
"Right… Shiro, grab as many people as you can find and get all of the lifeboats ready to be thrown overboard and inflated. We will stop for no more than five to ten minutes before resuming course for Tokyo Bay. Tsugme, broadcast the position of the foundering until you get a response. Listen out for any emergency beacons"
"Acknowledged"
"Shiro, I hope that if we throw our lifeboats to this ship's passengers and crew, we'd still be able to attack and disable the Musashi"
"And if we don't…?"
"Then that is my decision and responsibility. There are a few hundred people at risk here, but hundreds of thousands in Tokyo. We have to stop them by whatever cost needs to be paid"
"Even if we have to sink the Musashi?"
"Yes. Rin, have a course plotted at flank speed to Tokyo with a aim to intercept Musashi around dawn"
"Ri-Right" and nothing else was said until they got to the site of the shipwrecking. The lifeboats and rafts were put over the side and inflated and then the Harekaze came about and sailed off at a constant flank speed.
#
"You wanted to see me, Captain?" Mashiro stepped into the class room which had been emptied and laid out as an extended operating room.
"Yes… I wanted to know how you are feeling. Finding out the bad news and then having to go up against the Musashi most likely doesn't make for a good day"
"No really" Mashiro allowed herself to smile. "Been thinking about my life so far and wondering if there was any reason to be so mean spirited and rude"
"I don't think you were"
"I was" Mashiro sighed. "You are my Commanding Officer and I owe you the dignity and respect that comes with that position. All my life since I was a young child, I have wanted to be a Blue Mermaid like my mother and sisters… Now, that has been taken away from me"
"Like Minami said, there might yet be a cure"
"There is more chance of Kouko going an entire day without a fantasy" Mashiro giggled.
"There is hope and there is stupidity…" Akeno smirked. "I've spoken to Minami and asked her to run the test again in case she did something wrong, so that will take another two hours to complete. However, I have made the decision that even if the second test comes back the same, I will not be reporting this to the school"
"But, Captain…"
"I know what the regulations say, but I think it is best that you do it yourself when we put in" Akeno looked around as if expecting somebody to come walking in. "This is something you should tell your family about before making it official. For what it is worth, I have already written my report up saying that you are a fine Deputy Captain and that I want you to serve on the Harekaze for as long as it is possible"
"I thought you hated me"
"No… Just mildly angry"
"Ah" and she was about to say something when Rin called out for the Captain.
"Report"
"Ma'am, Macchi says she can see a Yamato class ship dead ahead"
"We've found the Musashi" Akeno explained to Mashiro. "Tell her to look out for other ships and get a target lock on it"
"Aye"
"We have work to do" and Akeno turned to walk out with Mashiro following close behind. Both of them knew with a sickening feeling that she should have been under attack by ships from the Blue Mermaids. The fact that she was not suggested that either they were late and under orders to not transmit messages or were otherwise disabled or sunk.
"Captain, what do you plan to do with the Musashi if she fails to respond to our messages?"
"Carry out our orders from the school and the government"
"At the cost of the crew?"
"I don't want to hurt anybody, Shiro, but if it comes down to losing a few lives to save thousands…" Akeno paused before they walked onto the Bridge. "I'll do it"
#
"Captain, the fog has lifted and there is only one ship nearby"
"Can you identify it?"
"It is a Kagero-class destroyer… I can't read her name, but her pennant number is 467 – I'll look it up"
"It's the Harekaze… Can you send her a signal?"
"No – we used the last of the battery power to send our distress call"
"We need to find a way to stop this ship"
"If we do that, we will be as infected as the others"
"I know, I know… I just wish there was something we could do"
"We are" and they all looked as the turrets turned to face the Harekaze and fired.
"MIKE!"
#
"HARD TO STARBOARD" Akeno yelled.
"Hard to starboard" Rin confirmed and swung the wheel as quickly as she could – letting them get missed by only a few feet off the stern.
"All back – hard to port. Tama, can we fire the main guns?"
"Not for another twenty seconds"
"Standby… Tsugme, send a message to the Musashi ordering them to stand down or be fired upon"
"Tama" Mashiro had an idea. "Target the forward gun for the starboard fuel tank and the aft gun for the engines – maybe we can stop them that way. Mei, same for you and the torpedoes"
"Maron, standby for quick engine changes"
"Don't hurt them… You've damaged them too much" Maron despaired down in the engine room.
"I rather think that the Musashi will do more damage to them then the Captain, Chief Engineer" Mashiro said.
"No reply to our messages, but I have picked up a weak call from the Blue Mermaid task force… Three of them have been knocked out completely and the other one is moving at just six knots" Tsugme called up from her position.
"Looks like we're on our own then" said Kouko with a tremor in her voice.
"Well, that's good then… They would only have got in the way" Mashiro chuckled. "Rin, all ahead full – course 123"
"Ahead full. Course 123"
"Captain, we need to knock out the guns on the Musashi, right?" Tama spoke.
"Of course"
"What about if I aimed for the turret barrels? I could damage them in such a way that they'd not be able to fire. We'd be a threat with her torpedoes, but it's an idea we could try"
"Aim for the barrels" Akeno agreed. "Torpedoes are to aim for the stern. Shiro, organise a boarding party"
"You are not thinking of sailing over there in boats are you…?"
"No, that would be silly… However, we already have a boat. I want to try and help those in trouble and ramming the Musashi and boarding her is the best option"
"I will lead the assault"
"No I will"
"I will do it"
"If you don't stop arguing, I will lead the assault" said Rin.
"Um, I think we're supposed to actually have a chance of winning" Kouko said.
"Fine… We will both go – you take a group to the engine room and I will take a party to the Bridge"
"We can't both go"
"You need the help" Akeno shot her a look that had the rest of the Bridge wondering what was going on.
"Aye, Captain" was her only response.
"In range" Tama said.
"Open fire then switch to the turret barrels" Akeno said.
"Aye" Tama bent to the speaking tube. "Fire!" and the Harekaze roared out her main guns.
#
The attack had been a success and, thankfully, everybody was okay apart from a few injuries sustained in hand to hand fighting. After repairing battle damage, the Harekaze and Musashi departed Tokyo Bay for the journey to the school and much more extensive repairs.
"Bridge, Radio Room. School says they will be ready to take us into the dockyard when we get back"
"Acknowledge" Akeno said. "Rin, how long until we get there?"
"Three hours"
"Very well… Kouko, you have the deck. Deputy Captain, please come with me" and they all wondered what had happened with the normally happy girl to be so cold towards Mashiro. They went to Akeno's cabin where they glared at each other before the Captain sighed.
"Why, Shiro, why did you argue with me?"
"I didn't mean to… I just wanted to prove I am still capable of doing my job even if I am dying"
"Is that what it is? Shiro, you didn't want to prove anything – you were hoping to die out there before the cancer took you"
"I…"
"I'm right, aren't I?"
"Yes" Mashiro whispered. "I feel perfectly fine but I am living in a body that is set on a course to self destruct. I keep thinking this is some horrible dream"
"I know… I wish there was something we could do, but there isn't right now. Look, I have spoken to Minami and we're going to try and fudge the reports and delay things until we can't hide it any more. Luckily, we have an option for you"
"You… You do?" Mashiro perked up.
"Because of the virus affecting people in different ways, we have been selected to go on a visit to the Royal Naval Academy in the United Kingdom. It should have been the Musashi, but I think they will want to keep all the virus infected ships close to home just in case it happens again"
"And how does this help me?"
"Minami knows a couple of Doctors there that might be able to do something to give you a few extra years of life. There are a few treatments that are being tried out and they need a test subject"
"Why would you do this for me when I have been mean and nasty to you and everybody else?"
"Because I could, really… Yes, your attitude was really nasty when we first met, but you are a part of my crew and it is my job to see to your safety"
"That won't matter in a few years" Mashiro snapped.
"Deputy Captain!" Akeno said firmly as she rose from her chair, "Do you want me to report your condition to the school and have them remove you from the ship the moment we get back? I've told the department heads already, they deserve to know, and quite apart from Minami's contact, Kaede and her father might very well be able to help you"
"Kaede?"
"Yes. It seems that her father owns or has shares in a lot of experimental drug companies that require testing. She thought that having them done on you can't hurt matters worse. She has already spoken to her father and things are being done for you. Minami will fudge the reports a bit more and when things get serious…" she shrugged, "Well that will be an interesting day"
"But why?"
"You are crew… You are family… Family help each other" Akeno broke it down as simply as she could make it for Mashiro. "Look, this has been trying for you, I know, so go to your cabin and have a rest before we dock. I promise to send word for you to get up here before we put in"
"Thank you, Captain"
"Akeno… My name is Akeno"
# # # # #
Three years passed and, true to what Minami said, Mashiro got sicker and sicker as time marched on. At the end of the second year, she couldn't hide her sickness any longer and was transferred ashore and a transfer made Deputy Captain – though nobody ever referred to her in such terms. They were currently doing a short patrol of the sea as part of their final exams when Tsugme called up from the Radio Room.
"Radio Room to Bridge"
"Bridge, Captain" Akeno picked up the microphone.
"Captain, we're receiving a message from home – the Deputy Captain is close to death"
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, Captain… It came through on the priority channel"
"Very well" Akeno almost fell to the deck in shock. She knew that Mashiro was very ill now, but she seemed okay enough when she last saw her. "Rin, how far away are we in hours from home?"
"Twenty hours at full speed"
"What about flank speed?"
"Um…" their Helmsman and Chief Navigator did the calculations in her head. "Maybe twelve hours if we kept it constantly"
"Kouko, note in the Ship's Log that the decision I make is mine and mine alone"
"So noted" she whispered.
"Engine Room, Bridge… Maron, you there?"
"Aye, Captain – what is up?"
"Can you keep flank speed up for twelve hours?"
"Why do you want to strain my engines so hard?" Maron moaned.
"Its almost the end" Akeno said.
"Oh…" Maron replied, and she didn't need any explanation. "Engine Room ready in all respects"
"Hime, have the refuelling hose unhooked quickly" Akeno passed the order on urgently.
"Done" she said after a few minutes.
"Tsugme, order the tanker to proceed independently. Rin, came about and put us on a course for home – flank speed"
"Coming about… Heading 331 for home. Flank speed" and the Harekaze answered her helm and her nose swung round to start a most desperate dash for home. As they set off, the Deputy Captain came running up to the Bridge and demanded to know why Akeno had broken off from the practice patrol and was returning at full speed to the school.
"You could be punished for that"
"I know" Akeno said.
"Why does it matter so much?"
"Because our friend is close to death and we promised that we'd be there at the end"
"I understand that, but she isn't part of this crew anymore. Once she's gone, maybe we can be more business like…"
"YOU BITCH!" Rin screamed as she ran around the wheel and punched the Deputy Captain in the jaw, knocking her to the deck. They watched in a stunned stupor as Rin dived down and started throwing punches and slaps like a wildcat. It took the combined efforts of Kouko, Tama and Mei to peel Rin off.
"Maron, send two of your biggest girls to the Bridge… Have them come armed" Akeno then turned to face the fighting pair as the others paled. The Harekaze carried small arms, but they had never had cause to use them before – Akeno had never even had the gun cabinet unlocked in her three years of commanding the ship. "Rin, you are confined to your cabin" she ordered.
"Yes, Captain" Rin shook herself free, drew to attention, saluted and then left the Bridge.
"She assaulted me… She struck a superior officer"
"You are no longer a superior officer" Akeno said darkly and coldly as Sora and another girl came up panting. "I am reliving you of your duties and confining you to your cabin under guard. One of you stays inside and the other stays outside. She is to see nobody but myself and the Doctor… Dismissed. Kouko, you are now Acting Deputy Captain"
"Your orders?"
"Maintain our course… Keep the speed as fast as we can and see if Maron can't rustle up a few more knots or something. I am going to my cabin for a while and I don't want to be disturbed unless it is important"
"Aye, Aye, Captain" Kouko nodded.
#
"How long have they said you have?" asked Mei quietly. The crew had all gone to the hospital were Mashiro was being made comfortable as soon as the ship had been tied up alongside the pier.
"I've been told that I have maybe a week for sure… Might make it to two if the drugs work well" Mashiro whispered.
"You shouldn't die like this" Akeno said with tears coming down her face, "You should die in old age or as a hero"
"I doubt I will manage either. You wouldn't believe me, but I often dreamed of dying at sea"
"Maybe you can" Akeno sniffed and then turned to Maron. "Go back with your girls and get the ship ready to sail the moment we get back" she turned to Kouko. "Can you and Rin help her get dressed in her uniform? Minami, see what you can do about getting Shiro discharged from here"
"Aye" came the almost perfect replies. It was hard for them seeing their Deputy Captain and friend so sick and dying, and most of them would have given their lives for her in an instant.
"Captain?" Mashiro called out weakly as Akeno was heading out the door.
"Yes?"
"There is a little case in the bedside cabinet… Would you keep hold of it? It is… It is important"
"Of course, Shiro" and she picked up the case and then left the room.
#
The Harekaze slipped her moorings without warning to the school and without a notice to the port master. Akeno knew, deep inside, that she would get a reprimand for it but for she did not care about it. With no real course for them, Rin had elected to take them to the spot of their original training mission as that was where their adventures had really started as a crew and a family. Mashiro had been helped into a uniform and was standing with a grip on the edge of windows at the front of the Bridge. She was pale, shaking like a leaf but also determined to find strength within her to do her duty for what little time remained to her.
"Adjust course by three degrees to port" she said.
"Aye. We are almost there, Ma'am"
"Very well" Mashiro replied as she wobbled a bit. "Take us close in to the island and then bring the ship around to face the sunset. Stop both engines"
"Right" Rin regarded Mashiro for a moment before making another adjustment to her course.
"Captain to the Bridge"
"Right here" Akeno said, walking onto the Bridge with a mug of tea that she handed to Mashiro. The pair exchanged a look before the older girl smiled and sipped the drink and looking out of the windows at the sea and island.
"Thanks, Akeno… Thank you for giving me what I always wanted" Mashiro whispered. Akeno felt her heart grow heavy and she battled to stop the tears that threatened to spill from her eyes.
"Least I could do for my friend" she shrugged. "I didn't think that I'd be asked to do this"
"You are my Captain, who else would I ask? I have left a letter detailing everything I want done after" Mashiro hesitated before finishing the tea in two gulps and handing back the cup. "You'll get me home safe, won't you?"
"I will"
"Thanks" Mashiro looked at the setting sun. "You know" she said as darkness clouded her vision, This'll sound silly, but I wanted to live on the sea and perhaps even to die on it. Thank you… Thank you for giving me the death I have dreamed of" the darkness grew and she wobbled and collapsed to the deck. Akeno knelt and cradled her in her arms as she felt the life ebb out of Mashiro.
"Doctor to the Bridge on the double" Kouko called. Minami arrived a few moments later, took in the view and bent down to check Mashiro's pulse.
"She's gone" she said. "Her cancer must have accelerated its spread and been too much for her body" Minami spared a quick glance at Akeno. "That's my official report, Captain"
"Very well" tears poured down from Akeno's face as she stood up and allowed Mei and Tama to carry her away on a stretcher. "Take good care of her, Doctor" she sobbed.
"I will make sure of it" Minami promised her. There was silence on the Bridge before Akeno managed to pull herself together.
"Radio Room, Bridge"
"Go ahead"
"Send a signal to the school that the Deputy Captain has died – report to follow"
"Wha- What shall we do with her b… b…body?" asked Rin, gripping her wheel so hard it looked like her knuckles would pop out.
"The Doctor is just going to look after her, Rin" Akeno smiled weakly. "Plot a course back to the school – flank speed" she picked up a handset that would connect her to the entire ship. "Attention all hands, this is the Captain. I regret to inform you that the Deputy Captain has just passed away on the Bridge. Those of you who believe in a deity, deities or have some other form of belief are permitted to go off watch and gather together or be alone to pray. That is all"
"Captain, might I please be excused from watch?" Rin asked quietly. Her request took Akeno by surprise as Rin kept her religious views private though she did know she had a belief system.
"Go on" Akeno nodded. "I'll take the Helm" and soon only Akeno and Kouko were left on the Bridge.
"You helped her"
"Yes"
"So did the Doctor"
"Yes"
"You know that is technically a crime?"
"Yes"
"Are you bothered?"
"No" Akeno shook her head. "She was dying anyway and she didn't deserve to die in some strange hospital. She wanted to die doing the job she loved and on her own terms. I just… I just speeded things up a bit. Put that in your report – I won't stop you" the girl looked at the sea in silence for a few moments. "I'm going below… The ship is yours" and she left.
#
"Ma'am, the Port Manager says he has seen the Harekaze heading towards the school"
"And still no word from them since their transmission?"
"No. However, the Port Manager says that the Harekaze's crew are almost all lined up on the aft deck and have the school and national flags at half mast"
"An honour guard" Mashiro's mother turned to look out of the window to see the ships coming up the channel.
"So it would appear. I have two senior instructors meeting the ship to arrest Captain Misaki for disobeying orders and kidnapping"
"Call them off" Principal Munetani said. "I know what my daughter secretly wanted and they have honoured her wishes. Take care of the appropriate details… I… I am going to welcome my daughter back"
"As you wish"
#
By unspoken agreement, the crew had lined up in their best uniforms around the rear most part of the ship where Mashiro Munetani's body lay in a coffin with a flag draped over the top of it. Only Akeno, Kouko, Rin and Maron were not there as they brought the ship up the channel by themselves with both sides filled with spectators. Once they had docked, Principal Munetani boarded and spoke to Akeno and thanked her and the crew for letting her daughter die in peace and how she wanted. The burial service was held a week later with the entire crew in attendance along with a few friends she had made as well as her entire family. After the ceremony, the Principal came up to Akeno with a stone like expression and asked her to meet with her that evening in her office and to come alone and with a copy of her logs. When it took place, the Principal looked over the last few days carefully several times before closing the book and sighing.
"Captain, are you aware of the penalties for falsifying your log?" she asked.
"I… I don't understand"
"The investigation into my daughter's death has brought up some interesting things. Mainly that she did not die as the result of the cancer but from a massive overdose of drugs taken in tea. Your own logs indicate that you left your patrol route without permission, relieved your Deputy Captain and confined her to her cabin, broke into a hospital to kidnap a terminally ill patient and then assisted in euthanasia – that last one alone is criminal offence that carries a severe penalty, Captain Misaki – one for both you and your Doctor"
"I deny none of it" Akeno replied. "The crew and I discussed it on the way in after we heard the news and decided to help Shiro die with dignity and honour – not in a hospital bed with machines keeping her alive for one more hour"
"So you admit to helping my daughter kill herself?" the Principal shook her head. "The report has already reached the local police and Mayor – it is their joint recommendation that you be brought up on charges of assisting euthanasia and murder. I hereby order you to surrender your weapons key, your command codes and turn command over to your Acting Deputy Captain. You will go with the military police officers outside to be imprisoned until a trial can be arranged for you"
"But we gave Mashiro the ending she wanted – she died with honour and dignity the way she dreamed of. And now, after all of that, you want to send me to jail for doing the right thing?" Akeno raised her voice, quickly calmed down and then tossed her uniform cap on the desk and removed her necktie and put that on there too. "I hereby resign as Captain of the Harekaze and as a member of this school. If this is how I am treated, then I don't want to be a part of your school anymore" Akeno stood up, spun on her heel and walked out with her head held high.
#
News spread quickly about the resignation of Akeno and, one by one, the rest of the class followed suit and left the school – Kaede's father obtaining the use of a hotel for them all. Thankfully, they had all their certificates and tickets to obtain jobs on the sea and they thought of applying directly to the Blue Mermaids, but it was made clear that they would not stay together as a group and would be sent to where they were needed best. The girls gathered together in Akeno's suite and tried to think of something else to do instead. Surprisingly, it was Rin that came up with an idea.
"Can't we put together all of our money and buy a ship?"
"And do what? Sail round and go fishing?" Hime snorted. The rest of the class started to argue before Akeno's quiet voice broke though.
"We sail the seas and protect ships and people" she said. "We can find an old ship, buy it and then get it ready to escort merchant ships through areas of pirate activity"
"Is that allowed?" blinked Macchi.
"Private firms are allowed so long as they are registered and submit to inspections" Akeno replied, remembering something she had read months ago. "All we need is a ship… Something fast and powerful"
"And big enough for us all to have our own cabins" noted Kouko dryly.
"Well, we can do that" Akeno said, "But who would be in charge? Who would man the ship?"
"Captain, if you think we're going to leave you hanging without a crew…" Maron shook her head in exasperation. "I'll remind you of what I said to the Captains that wanted me after the first Harekaze sank – you are lucky and I don't want any other Captain but you" and, one by one, the others agreed to serve under Akeno in their new business venture. Even Minami, a fully licensed medical researcher in her own right, agreed to come along as Doctor. That had surprised Akeno as Minami had often talked about going back to medical research, but then she had also mentioned how she'd come to regard the class as her family – her real family forcing her to do things she had no interest or love for. When she had been told this, Akeno had arranged for the Doctor to spend a day or so learning all the parts of the ship and could sometimes be found either at the Helm of the Harekaze II or elbows deep in some part of the engines helping to fix something with her steady hands. To the surprise of many, it turned out their erstwhile Medical Officer was also a dab hand at cooking and liked to bake cakes with her own supplies purchased with her personal money but used on the crew for birthdays.
"You will be Captain of our happy band" Mono added.
"But if we are all putting money towards this, how can I be in charge?"
"We have an equal share of the ship and, therefore, an equal share of the profits" Kaede went on to explain just what that meant and how it fully worked as she was used to this from things her father had taught her. "As for basic pay, we can take the base as what we made from our last pay issue at Yokosuka and increase it by one and a half times the rate – that would bring us into line with other firms out there. If we have a bigger ship with cabins left over from us all having one, we could even take a few passengers during escort missions or on our way back home"
"You seem to have worked this all out" Mei smirked.
"I used to do it in my off hours as a bit of fun" Kaede blushed lightly.
"Well, I think the first thing we can all agree on is what to call it" Akeno looked around at her friends. "We'll name it the Mashiro"