Set Sail

Zelena walks along the shores. Wearing her White Service Dress, consist of a white suit coat and skirt along with the shirt, and a neck tab. Carrying in her hands, the white combination cap the wind sweeps from the shores swaying her long soft black hair along her waist. Her light brown eyes shine while her pink blossom lips curve upward, forming a crescent smile as she recalls the meeting about a particular operation that she will take part.

"I wonder what ship will I assigned to in this operation?" Mumble to herself, she heads straight toward the naval station.

Standing in front of the base entrance, she watches people race in a hurry to full fill their tasks before the operation start. The base holds various naval units, administration buildings, military training schools, airfields, communication facilities, barracks, armouries, and a military hospital was established nearby in the course of its history, turning the area around the arsenal into a significant fleet base.

Looking down at her watch as the tip hit 12:00 pm, she headed toward the central command building, located on top of a hill overseer the base.

The building is cover in modern glass windows reaching up to three stories high, Zelena looks at the building and thought that it seems more like a business building rather than a headquarter before entering the building.

People perform a salute toward her while she walks down the hallway and enters the elevator.

"Lieutenant." Sailors saluted.

Nodded her head in return before entering the open elevator doors heading up.

The third-floor reveal a wide space with a single wooden double door in front, she approaches the door and knocks on the frame.

"Enter." A low voice reply. She opens the door and enters.

"Lieutenant Zelana, reporting for duty." She immediately stands at attention, her back straight and feet together with her left hand at her side while her right performs a salute.

"Zel, you don't have to be all formal with me. Please take a seat." The man groans, his head still looking down on the pile of documents. Zelena returns to standing at ease before heading toward the sofa set in front of the room. Sitting down on the sofa with her crossed legs set on the table, holding in her hand an apple that was in the basket on the table.

"Zel, after knowing you for over two years. You are still acting like a tomboy and not a woman." The man looked up at her from his pile of works with a frown.

Yes, the man who is talking about her is no one else but her close friend, Admiral James Cross. He was the only friend she knows and speaks to in the Naval Academy for over two years and still her close friend till now.

"You know me, James. I never like wearing fancy clothes, shopping, or any of those kinds of thing." She glares at him before taken a big bite on her apple. She does not hate it, just that she found it's a waste of time since the only thing she loves is the ships.

"At least, eat like a normal woman." James stared at the bite mark as big as a fist left behind on her apple. It's not like he dislikes her behaviour, but when your close friend is the only woman you talk to, it would be nice if she shows some manner.

Zelana shrugs her shoulder, ignoring him before taking another bite, "So Admiral James, when will the operation start?" She was eager for the operation to start. It would be the first time she'll ever be on a ship rather than in an officer spending her time doing nothing.

"About two or three hours, give or take." He grumbles as her calm manner before burying himself in a pile of paper works.

Zelena look at the pile of papers James have to deal with, she leans back and laughs nearly flip the sofa backward. James glared at her, "What!?"

"Oh, nothing. I'm just glad I'm not the lucky chosen one." Hugging her stomach, she continues laughing. James' eyes flare with anger, "Lieutenant, look like you need extra work since you look like you are free." He smirks while pushing half the pile to the edge of his table.

"Oh no, you are not doing this to me." She stares at the pile of paper, feeling her head is getting a headache.

---------------------------------------

"Agh, this is tired some." Zelena stretches her arms and legs from spending two hours looking over a stack of documents and sign every single of one them that have to do with the upcoming operation.

"I'm glad someone is on the same boat with me." James looks over at Zelena with a hint of amusement before standing up.

"This is not how you treat your best friend." She glares at him.

"Too bad, you aren't the chosen one to give the order." He smirks at him before pressing the button on his office phone calls his secretary.

"Yes, Admiral." A female voice reply, "Operation, start now." He speaks through the phone, signalling the base to the action station before cutting the line.

"Zelena, I assume you have to go somewhere now, don't you?" He questions her.

"Aye, Admiral James. I'll see you on the sea." She grins at him before walking out of the room. Looking at her leaving, James mumble, "Be safe, Zel."

Zelena walks out of the building and starts joggle her way toward the port where all the warships docked. "Number 251, where are you, my little kitty." She mumbles to herself while lookings at the line of ships through a wall of people rushing to their assign position. During the time she spent with James, she learns that her ship is number 251.

Closing to the very end of the port, the warship number 251 appears at her line of sight, "Ah, there you are." She grins before walking toward the ship while admiring its beauty.

Warship number 251 is a Guided Missiles Ship, with all modern types of equipment on board the ship. Its primary armaments are 1 × 5 inches (127mm/L62) Mk-45 Mod 4 automatic loader cannon caple of shooting medium to long range, 2 × missile canister up to 8 Type 17 and 96-cell Mk-41 VLS both carry SM-2MR Standard Missile caple of hitting ships, SM-6 Standard Missile for anti-air, SM-3 Anti-Ballistic Missile to counter-missiles attack and Type 07 VL-ASROC anti-submarine missiles. The boat even carries 2 × 20 mm Phalanx CIWS to shoot aircraft or missiles if the main defense line fails and 2 × Type 68 triple torpedo tubes (6 × Mk-46 or Type 73 torpedoes) as secondary armaments.

"I can't believe this is where I'll spend my next two months on the sea." She walks on board the ship, sailors on deck salute to her.

"Executive Officer, on board!" One sailor yells to inform the crew of her arrival.

"Well, isn't it, Lieutenant Zelena." A middle age man approaches her with a warm smile on his face.

"It's an honour to be with you in the next two month, Captain Jake." Zelena stretches her hand out toward him.

"The honour is all mine." He grabs her hand and shakes, "Now if you, please follow me. I'll give you a tour around the ship." Jake lead her toward the command bridge.

Walkings through the door, she looks at crews on the bridge monitor the electric devices upon the ship. The bridge extent horizontal with window glass stretch along the wall provides enough space for the team to operate and view to observe the boat from above.

"This is amazing." Can't hold herself from admiring and excitement.

"Indeed, it's the newest ship module." Captain Jake said in pride of his new ship. After all, he was also eager to set her on a voyage since the moment he steps on aboard this ship. "Alright, I think it's time we start moving." Without delay, he grabs the radio microphone.

"All crew on deck, we're setting sail! Detach the ropes and raise the anchor." The captain spoke in moderate tone yet complete authority.

Zelena is standing next to the captain as she watches the crew getting into action. The sailor follows the order start to detach the ropes connecting the dock with the ship and lift the anchor, a sailor standing on the bow with both flag on his hand waving different signals toward the bridge.

"Backward, Full throttle." Receiving the signal, the captain ordered the navigator. He pulls the throttle backward on the pod control panel. Respond to the bridge signal the ship slowly reversing back.

"Continue moving backward, turn hard left." The ship continues reversing and angle its bow toward the port gateway. The sky was clear of the cloud while sunlight shines reflected against the blue sea create sparkling light just like a mirror; one would think there is another world on the other side of this mythical mirror.

"Operation start now. All ships full throttle forward." With a smile on his face, the captain gave the signal to move out of the port, following behind them was a line of warship participate in this operation.

"Lovely day to set sail!" Zelena spoke with her hands on her back. She's breathing in the saltiness of the sea.

"Indeed, Executive Officer Zelena."