"U-713?" Lieutenant Rotsmann asked herself quietly, walking along the gangway onto the boat as she regarded the conning tower. No one was up top, everyone must of been inside. She took the hatch down to the command room, gaining the attention of most of the crew. One in particular moved to greet her, saluting before being interrupted by Rotsmann handing him the orders.
"Take this to the navigator officer." She asked, earning a puzzled look. "Si-.. Uh. Ma'am?" She looked around the cabin a little before turning back to the officer. "Look, get your head on straight and give that to the Navigator. If anyone wasn't informed we have a patrol to do."
From the back near the radio and sonar rooms another man showed in the hatch, wearing an warrant officers uniform and stuffing his face with a sausage. "I knew..." He said. earning a chuckle from the radioman in the same room with him. Lieutenant Rotsmann looked to the officer and back to the man that addressed her earlier. "Well Ill assume you're the Executive officer on board Lieutenant, go get us underway then." He nodded and offered his hand, shaking hers quickly. "Yes Captain, if you'd excuse me a bit I'm still a little shocked here. I was sent to the wrong flotilla and I'm still adjusting." She nodded back to him, somewhat understandingly. "Well then Officer, go get the crew ready."
The crew took their stations, getting themselves ready to go quickly and efficiently. A few names were overheard by Lieutenant Rotsmann, the Executive Officer Hugo Ohling, The weapons officer Stefan Kraus, Bootsman William Jones, Chief Engineer Merrick Joseph Leopold Hoove, Aleric Fleshier the medic, Klaus Austerlitz the radioman, and an odd seaman named Rukder Von Baden. She got herself acquainted with the crew as quickly as she could before they set off. The Navigator Viktor Neumann Plotting a course before giving the helmsman the bearings and speed, the telegraph ringing as the speed was set.
U-713 before leaving port.A course was set to leave by a nearby channel, before turning to patrol the waters near the port of danzig. All was going well until an obscenely loud scraping noise was heard throughout the whole boat. Shaking it violently.
SSSCCCRRREEECCCHHH"What in the HELL was that?" Lieutenant Rotsmann shouted as she climbed up to the top of the Conning tower. Before heading back down and striking Newmann in the back of the head. "You drove us right into the port you moron! You better un
fuck yourself and get us going on the
right course before I have you tied to a torpedo!" He began redoing his course, taking more time to make sure he's careful. "Alright alright! Sorry captain I've only worked in the sea not a port!"
A few moments later, the boat was underway. Heading for the channel near the Kreigsmarine naval base Pillau. The damage to the boat was minor at worst so the mission could go on as planned.
Time passed, and as they were through the canal radioman Klaus Austerlitz reported. "Captain! Incoming encoded message from Command at Koingsberg!" This was odd and she knew it, but she moved to read the message...
URGENT
U-BOAT U-713 IS TO DISREGARD PREIVIOUS ORDERS AND
SET COURSE FOR THE POLISH NAVAL BASE HELA.
OBSERVE THE AREA AND REPORT BACK IMMEDIATELY.
DO NOT ENGAGE AT ALL COSTS.It was exactly what she thought would happen. But again orders were orders. With some confusion from the crew, the new course was given and plotted.
Due to the nature of the assignment, the trip was hushed and quiet. By nightfall U-713 was upon Hela, snuck a kilometers distance from the port. The periscope was raised as data was taken and questions asked in hushed tones.
The Port of Hela, as seen through the periscope."That's enough. Let's head back." Lieutenant Rotsmann's voice felt nearly deafening, breaking the silence. Without a word Neumann plotted a course back to Koingsberg, but XO Ohling had some questions... "What is this about Captain? This isn't a patrol. It's more like an act of war! Is command serious?" She looked him in the face, grimly. "Because it is an act of war Ohling... And you'd be best to keep that to yourself."
The long hours back to base were quiet... No one wanted to respond to Rotsmans comment. Until the navigator hit the dock again...
Victor Newmann wouldn't talk about that day for months. Or look at a torpedo tube the same ever again.