Chapter 309 05.0308: "Captain Horatio"

After the Hell's Vanguard achieved its strategic goal, the battle inside the Star Fortress continued for more than ten hours.

This space megastructure was so huge that it housed many defensive forces. The Imperial Navy Armed Forces took a lot of effort to basically wipe them out, and they also suffered more than 2,000 casualties.

However, thanks to the Navy's high-quality armor and sufficient medical supplies, those wounded who survive can basically return to work within three months.

Even if your limbs are broken, there are mechanical priests on board to provide prosthetic installation services.

Apart from its rugged appearance, the neural-electric sensor drive is not much different from using real hands and feet.

In the void, the fleet never stopped.

After eliminating the orbital threat, the two Imperial Navy fleets immediately began a blockade and patrol of the inner ring of the planet.

Destroyers, frigates and carrier-based aircraft immediately expanded perimeter patrols and reconnaissance.

Half of the ship's mechanical priests and state priests were assigned to repair and purify the orbital defense facilities, while the other half were repairing the breaches in the battleship and calming the restless machine spirits inside.

Although they had won the battle, no one could relax and they were still very busy and tense.

They were afraid that the main fleet of Chaos or Greenskins would suddenly appear on the auspicious instrument from a certain direction and launch an unexpected attack.

"Sir Andrew, your Karl-Duniash fleet will go to Pandex and escort the Astra Militarum troop transport ship here. We will continue to blockade this planet and send Hell's Vanguard to conduct pre-war reconnaissance and infiltration sabotage."

"The landing will not be easy. You must be careful, Lord Peru." The captain wearing a white curly wig looked at the holographic image and said:
"Here is an array of anti-aircraft artillery left behind by the Iron Warriors traitors. These blasphemous but powerful war artifacts are different from the crude and shoddy products of ordinary traitors and the captured imperial artifacts."

"We will destroy as many of the artillery batteries as possible before landing so that they will not damage our warships," said Horatio.

The commander of the Karl-Duniyash Squadron looked at this outstanding and capable young man and nodded in approval. His initial doubts about his abilities were no longer there.

"Mr. Cochrane is truly a man of great talent. Once they see a young and promising general like you, no one will believe in the ridiculous and self-defeating rumor that the Gothic Fleet is an old lion.

Your battle report performance has impressed the officers of our fleet. People are talking about your age and your resume.

The compliments from others can only superficially praise your talents. I feel relieved to leave the aviation team to you.

I believe that you will be a shining star in the Imperial Navy in the future."

The old brigadier general raised his finger and looked at the energetic young man in front of him and commented affirmatively.

"Your Excellency, you are too kind. I am only fulfilling my duty to the Divine Emperor."

The two veterans laughed.

"Then, Commodore Andrew, do you think that Junior Captain Horatio Cochrane (Navy Lieutenant) is qualified to remove the prefix 'Sub'?"

"Why not?" The brigadier general said with a beaming face, "Some of our captains have worked in the aviation department for so many years, and they are not as good as him. They actually abandoned the entire aviation wing and encouraged the captain to withdraw from the battlefield."

Brigadier General Edward Perroux nodded.

"Since Brigadier General Andrew has said so, then Junior Captain Horatio Cochrane."

Brigadier General Perroux resumed his solemn and dignified demeanor.

"Here!" Horatio straightened his chest, and the various medals on his chest swayed slightly.

"The Gothic Fleet Admiralty has authorized me to assess your qualifications as a captain. Perhaps my approval is unfair and difficult to convince others.

But now your ability has been recognized by the commanders of both squadrons.

So I officially declare, Lieutenant Horatio Cochrane, that from today on, you are officially a captain in the Navy. You have all the authority of a captain in the Navy. "

Horatio bowed solemnly.

Brigadier General Peru personally put the golden tasseled shoulder plate on Horatio's left shoulder, obviously having been prepared for it.

Now, he had gold epaulettes on both of his wing shoulders.

This symbol of completion also indicates that a lieutenant has moved from junior to mature and senior.

It also symbolizes that he, along with other naval captains, is now ranked second only to other officers and above ten thousand others on the warship.

The right to independently lead and command an entire naval department, or to command a non-classified ship of the Imperial Navy that is not capable of warp navigation.

On capital ships, the most senior captain is officially appointed Lord Lieutenant and serves as First Officer.

On frigates and destroyers, the first mate is automatically the most senior naval captain.

At the same time, becoming a captain also means that his head has touched the threshold of a colonel. The Imperial Navy does not have a major position.

A lieutenant colonel is the captain of a small-class ship.

A ship can only have one lifetime captain.

Once a captain, always a captain, you will be in the top position of a warship for your whole life.

Only through death or promotion will the ship welcome a new captain.

As a result, the number of midshipmen is far lower than their counterparts in the Astra Militarum.

According to the regulations of the code, the total number of large and small class warships in a star zone fleet will not exceed 600.

Among them, including light cruisers, the number of battle fleet battleships that need to be commanded by colonels is no less than 50 and no more than 75.

The remaining 500 or so ships are frigates and destroyers commanded by lieutenant colonel captains.

If we take into account that many of the warships are still in storage or under maintenance, they have no captains.

This figure may have to be cut by one third.

This also means that this is a huge hurdle that most naval captains will find difficult to overcome in their lifetime, and it is also the fundamental reason why the Imperial Navy's standards for selecting captains are so strict.

"Captain is the end point for many naval officers. Many have worked in this position for decades, but never made it to the point of death, and never got the commission issued by the Star Region Navy.

If you want to become a school officer, Captain Cochran, you have to work hard. "Brigadier General Andrew said earnestly:

“All those who can become navy captains are outstanding people. The Star Region Navy Department needs to select a captain from among so many outstanding people.

The first half is based on qualifications, and the second half is based on achievements. Only if you become the champion among champions and stand out from a crowd of talents, can you be noticed by the Star Domain Navy Department. "

"Your father, Thomas Cochrane, served as a captain for three years, a lord captain for four years, and became a lieutenant colonel at the age of 28. Five years later, he was promoted to naval captain for his outstanding military exploits. As a descendant of Admiral Speyer, the Cochrane family was born for the navy.

Like father, like son, I believe that Captain Horatio, who has just turned 18, will surpass his father. "

"Just turned 18?" Brigadier General Andrew was surprised.

"Hmm~" Brigadier General Peru pursed his lips: "Captain Cochrane, just turned 18."

"18..." Brigadier General Andrew was speechless for a moment because he misjudged Horatio's age based on his appearance. He did not expect that the young man was younger than he thought before:

"Well, considering your age, young captain, you have a bright future ahead of you."

[Why do I feel like I've been tricked by this old guy, Peru? Well, now that things have come to this, I'll just treat it as a matter of human nature.

After all, the promotion from lieutenant to colonel is the real hurdle that is difficult to cross, and no one else's opinion counts except for the generals of the Star Domain Navy Captains' Council.]
“Well, Captain Cochrane, since you have reached the bottleneck of the lieutenant, I will now explain to you in detail the conditions for promotion to colonel in our Imperial Navy.

The first is military merit points, which are quantified based on the type and difficulty of the mission. It is a fair, just and completely open military merit points system.

In order to be promoted to lieutenant colonel, one must first reach 10,000 military merit points before being eligible to be on the list and reported to the review committee.

Then, the general members of the Captains' Council will select a corresponding number of people as lieutenant colonels based on the list submitted at one time and the number of vacant captain positions.

These generals have been through many battles, have a keen eye for selecting people, and are very demanding. Just like what Brigadier General Andrew said, only by becoming a champion among champions and standing out from a crowd of talented people can you be noticed by them. "

"Understood, Commander."

"In addition, you can use the reputation points you have accumulated since you were a lieutenant once you become a lieutenant colonel. It will determine how much priority you will receive in resource replenishment in the future," another brigadier general reminded.

"I still have a lot to learn from you commanders. For me, the journey has just begun," Horatio said modestly.

"Perhaps in ten years or so, I will have to learn from you again." The old brigadier general laughed:

"Perhaps we will witness a brilliant general rising up."

　The data on the number of ships in this article comes from the description of the size of the sector fleet in the Gothic Fleet campaign background book.

　　The Court of Documents will subsequently rationalize the number of 75 battleships to be classified within the framework of the Code (before the Regent returns to reform).

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(End of this chapter)