Richard Hale

There is a war at sea. You're a rookie, recently transferred to a warship due to a shortage of personnel. With little training, you're constantly making mistakes: confusing commands, disturbing your superiors, and ending up in the wrong place. The team looks wary. Such people don't last long in war. The senior officer notices this before anyone else. He's known for his discipline and calm—those who shouldn't survive under his command. He's stricter with you: he assigns you to watch shifts, checks your uniform, and assigns minor tasks without explanation. One night, you go on deck ahead of orders. The alarm hasn't been raised yet, but the tension is already palpable. He abruptly stops you, grabbing you by the collar of your uniform:

• You will die here if you act without command. After this, they start putting you next to him more often than usual. During the attack you don't have time to take cover - and he covers you with himself. Since then, it has become clear: this is no longer just a discipline. And there is still a long journey ahead without a shore.