Chapter 279 04.0278: "Song of Promotion"

"father!"

"Farida, here!" Horatio called to Farida.

It was a room with a stasis field. Farida anxiously lay outside the door and looked inside.

Lieutenant General Alexander Hood lay on the instrument in the middle of the force field.

"Your father is still alive, but he has fallen into a coma. To be on the safe side, the Holy Rose Sisters and the Mechanicus have provided him with a static life support device. They will try to treat and wake him up later. Since his tissue functions have not been severely damaged, the chances of him waking up are very high."

Farida finally couldn't control herself anymore. After experiencing great joy and great sorrow, she finally burst into tears of joy.

Horatio smiled when he saw her finally free, and patted her back.

Farida buried her head in his chest, in that reliable haven.

"Thank you, Horatio." She raised her clear watery eyes, and her slightly shining pupils were as bright as stars and the moon.

After such a long time, Farida's beautiful smile appeared on her face again, although it was accompanied by tears.

"Ahem! I don't want to disturb you, but there is one thing." Lieutenant General Samuel Hood had to remind the two young men that there were other people present. He was bringing a group of strangers to Horatio. After the two hurriedly separated, he politely introduced them to these people: "This is Acting Lieutenant Horatio Cochrane."

Several officers saluted Horatio, and Horatio quickly let go of Farida, straightened his clothes, and saluted in return.

Judging from the insignia and high-grade military uniforms worn by these gentlemen, they should be naval officers from the Star Domain Naval Headquarters.

"Mr. Horatio Cochrane, according to the determination of the Admiralty of the Hazy Star Region and the personal observations of our special inspection team after they came to Abyss Port, your ability has been unanimously recognized. We hereby grant you the sacred and noble commission as a lieutenant in the Imperial Navy."

Two Home Office servants came up to Horatio carrying a heavy box.

They opened the box and took out a three-meter-long Imperial Navy lieutenant commission.

The characters on it were all written by professional psychics in the Astronomican Hall with the help of the Emperor's divine power, and are pure gold in color.

Everyone took off their hats and greeted.

"The Imperial Navy Headquarters of the Hazy Star Region, in the name of the Divine Emperor, has appointed and granted Horatio Cochrane the qualification of a lieutenant in the Holy Navy. He is officially granted the Imperial official rank, and his authority will take effect immediately after Officer Horatio Cochrane receives this letter of appointment.

Based on your outstanding performance in Zhongsi Academy and in accordance with the Talent Promotion Outline of the Hazy Star Region Navy, your promotion to the rank of lieutenant will be decided by the Gothic Fleet based on your level, without the need to follow the age limit. "The Commanding Officer saluted Horatio, who was a commissioned lieutenant.

Horatio knew that because the navy's job was to command the operations of a super war creature, it had its own particularities.

Therefore, the promotion among naval lieutenants who work together to operate the entire warship is calculated based on time.

This was the case in ancient Terra, and it has not changed in the 41K era.

Promotion of Imperial Navy lieutenants requires a candidate to serve on a ship for 24 Terra months before being promoted to senior junior captain (mid-lieutenant).

After becoming a lieutenant in the navy and training on board a ship for 30 Terra months, one can become a formal captain of the navy and independently be in charge of an entire ship's department, or command a non-classified ship, which is used in the Imperial Navy to refer to warships that cannot navigate in the warp.

As the name suggests, naval lieutenants are essentially 'Lieutenants'.

Their salary package was only at the level of "Navy Commissioned Lieutenant", and their share of the hunting bonus in the Navy Department was exactly the same.

The so-called naval captains, naval lieutenants, and naval ensigns are nothing more than a command sequence ranked according to seniority, and lieutenants with higher seniority receive an additional seniority allowance issued by the Navy Department.

On Imperial Navy ships, the leadership of an ordinary department is usually a captain, a lieutenant, and two ensigns.

But four commissioned officers are obviously not enough to support a department, so four commissioned officers often command a large number of naval warrant officers to ensure the operation of a department.

The relationship between the four officers is more like the division of labor and cooperation among government civil servants in the same office. The captain is the chief officer of the department, the lieutenant is the deputy chief officer, and the two second lieutenants are similar to regular clerks.

The veterans lead the newcomers, and the junior captains divide the work and cooperate with each other while learning, training and accumulating experience.

"I, Horatio Cochrane, will live up to the will of the Emperor."

Looking at the coveted, genuine Imperial Navy commission, Horatio took a deep breath, suppressed his excitement, and saluted again.

"Lieutenant Horatio Cochrane, at your command." Horatio thought that was the end of it, but then he heard Lieutenant General Samuel Hood next to him also ask the servant of the Ministry of the Interior to hand him a document.

“Horatio Cochrane performed outstandingly and diligently in the Special Warfare Division of the Navy Department, defeating many threats posed by the Emperor’s enemies.

In accordance with the promotion authority granted by the Naval Headquarters of the Segmentum Obscurus, the Gothic Fleet Admiralty promoted Horatio Cochrane to the rank of Senior Junior Captain (Lieutenant) in the Imperial Navy.

Your qualification as a naval captain will be reviewed by Commodore Peru based on your performance during the voyage with the 25th Gothic Squadron, and then reported to the Sector Navy Department."

A colonel stepped forward and personally untied the white cloth strip on the collar of Horatio's uniform, symbolizing the reserve officer, and put a tasseled epaulette sewn with gold thread on his right shoulder.

Horatio blinked.

The implication of Vice Admiral Hood's words is that the Gothic Fleet indirectly promoted him to captain in order to commend him. However, this is indeed legal and compliant, and there is no problem.

Through his outstanding grades and performance in Zhongsi College, he obtained preferential treatment in the Star Domain documents that was not subject to fixed seniority requirements.

Since lieutenants are promoted according to seniority, and there is no time limit for me, shouldn't my promotion be decided based on my performance and professional level at the post?

However, Horatio also understood that the decision could be made so quickly, probably because the Hood family was grateful for his promise. With the instigation of Vice Admiral Samuel Hood, the Navy Department directly delegated power.

"When will the 25th Squadron set sail?"

"Soon, but before that, the Navy Department has ordered that you take a good vacation during this period.

All of your father's frozen assets have now been officially unfrozen by the Tribunal, and you will inherit them all."

Lieutenant General Samuel Hood gestured the number 10.

Ten digits? God Emperor, that old man I have never met was a captain for a short time, and the ship he was in charge of was only a light cruiser.

How much hunting bounty dividends did he win?

Or, how many ships did he sink or capture?
This achievement was just a thought, and Horatio didn't even have the confidence to surpass his father, the captain.

"Thank you, Lieutenant General."

"Farida." Samuel Hood looked at his niece: "Have you made your choice?"

"Yes, uncle." Farida straightened her chest and put her hands behind her back: "I decided..."

"I hope to continue serving the Divine Emperor in my position as the Navy's Military Supervisor."

Samuel Hood took a deep breath and let it out slowly.

"Since it is your decision, I respect your choice. Old Willy has decided to transfer you back to the Fleet Security Committee. You have been promoted to acting military supervisor and will sail with the Gothic 25th Squadron as a member of the Discipline Squadron."

Farida looked very excited: "Yes, I will definitely fulfill my duty."

Then she looked at Horatio and said lovingly, "I'm back."

"Well, welcome back." Horatio gave her a hug.

After many twists and turns, the young man and woman finally embraced each other, and the knot in Farida's heart was quietly untied.

Prophecy is not unchangeable.
-
Abridar Loyal Academy, Captain Abridar's tomb.

Since the second half of last year, more than 50 new officers of the Gothic Fleet who have obtained the qualification of commissioned lieutenants have been standing in a circle around the sarcophagus of Captain Abridal.

The Romanesque stands behind him were filled with students from the Zhongsi Academy and naval cadets.

These newcomers, who still looked a little green on their faces, looked at these newly promoted naval commissioned lieutenants with great longing and infinite yearning in their eyes.

Farida, Louise, Archie, Harvey, and David Beatty were also present.

Horatio was the first cadet in his class to receive a commission, and also the youngest cadet.

The average age of the second lieutenants in the queue is 24 years old, and the oldest is 37 years old. Almost everyone of them took the naval lieutenant examination several times before passing it.

Moreover, among all the naval lieutenants, he was the only one who wore a single golden tassel shoulder plate on his right shoulder, symbolizing the rank of naval lieutenant.

"Everyone, draw your swords!"

At the command, all the guns started to fire.

Horatio drew a single-edged power saber from his waist.

This is a custom-made power weapon made by the Gothic Fleet for the loyal heirs of the navy who are promoted to officers. It is made by craftsmen priests from the Gothic Forge World. It is reliable, durable, and beautiful.

The hilt guard is in an elegant D-shape with a small upturned tail. It is forged from solid gold and the outer layer of the grip is wrapped in soft leather, which is very comfortable to hold.

Even the scabbard was hand-carved with beautiful and sacred holy war patterns by the Mechanicus acolytes, recalling the glorious past achievements of the Gothic Fleet.

Led by a lord captain, the newly appointed lieutenants began to sing the "Song of Promotion" in unison. The melody was low and melodious, solemn and dignified, just like a hymn sung by a choir.

Your life originated in the sacred universe of the Empire, and you spent your childhood relying on the peaceful love of the God-Emperor.
After training at the NCO Candidate School, they will be allowed to enter the Officer Candidate School.
From pursuing personal ideals to longing to serve the God-Emperor.
Colonel Abridar, our patron saint, bless our advancement.
Thanks to him, new horizons are unveiled.
Brave Captain, you chose His Holy Navy and finally fulfilled your heroic dream.
Colonel Abridar, please give us your fire, courage, passion, loyalty.
Tonight, the eagles sing your glory.
Guide our steps along the path of honor and devotion to our vocation.
Young lieutenant, leave your skirmishes, for the vastness of the Empire calls you.
You land in lands that ennoble your soul, from Ultima to Pacific, across the enchanting worlds of the Imperium.
The galaxy is on fire, and here you are, Captain.
Aboard the Voidship, your courage shines brightly as you pursue the Chaos enemy with determination.
You fought bravely to maintain the glory of the empire in the East.
You wear the solemn laurel wreath of five hundred worlds.
The Tau fleet launches a futile charge against your battle lines.
The alien pirates in the turbulent void were overwhelmed by the sailors' fierce firepower.
When the evacuation bell on the ship sounded, you did not retreat, but stopped the enemy and prevented them from advancing.
A glorious victory will eventually resonate, and you will be honored as the victorious leader.
After being promoted, you set sail towards the vast territory of the empire.
Throwing your commandos into the crucible of boarding warfare, you pursue your enemies across the bleak frontiers of the Imperial Astronomican, battling rebel forces until dawn and dusk.
In sorrow and fire, the battle finally ends, and then you will see the majestic mountains and vast seas of the empire.
In order to forge the most outstanding naval elite, thank you for the blazing hell that will never be forgotten.
Colonel Abridar, please give us your fire, your courage, your passion, your loyalty.
Tonight, the Sky Eagle sings your glory, guiding our steps on the path of honor.
Consecrate our vocations and support our advancement.
When the song of promotion was finished, everyone raised their swords and saluted to pay tribute to the legendary captain who died heroically.

Gazing at the tomb of the legendary captain, the newly promoted officers felt a heavy sense of mission, which brought the second lieutenants who were still immersed in the joy of promotion back to their senses.

Everyone knows that war will never end and death will always be with them, but in order to protect the vast territory of the empire and the glory of the God-Emperor, they must fight the enemies of the empire to the end.

(End of this chapter)