[Silverleaf]

"You really don't remember do you?", startled I turned to see my C.O. walking towards our group, I tried to stand but he put us at ease right away. "So, I'm here to get the official story, I've read the crews reports but until I'm satisfied this case is still open, so go ahead Chief, fill him in". "Aye Sir" Chief sat back down, looked at Bull and Petre then focused on me. "First, I need you to tell me everything you do remember, don't leave anything out".

I flashed back through the haze, and started to speak.

"Well, we were after a tanker, I had Petre double check my readings, and once everything was green I fired tubes 1 & 2. About that time I ... started yelling orders ... I heard a whirling sound, thought we had a fish coming back at us and .."

I paused and shook my head, trying to make sense of all the images and sounds rolling through my mind. I looked at Chief bewildered...

"According to the record Captain, you called a string of orders out after we all heard that sound, and just as Hendrek reported a warship closing on our position. A few moments later when I got close to you, your face was covered in blood. At first, I thought you were dead, but your eyes flickered and.."

"That's when I took over, you had called for a deep double knuckle and damage control. When I looked around Chief was beside you, and Doc was trying to stop the blood flow." Petre had leaned forward, a grimace on his face. "We got away, took serious damage to the ship, lost four .. five.. men. Once we were away silently and safely, we headed back here with all the speed we could muster. Doc didn't think you were going to make it, but you were fighting Cap.."

"I don't remember...I ...."

"Easy Captain, Bull..?"

"Sir, I was on my way forward to help Kostos, who was having problems with the hatch leading to the engine room. I glanced up and saw Hawk pointing, then I saw you falling to the ground, and ..." Chief passed his flask to me, I took a deep drag, and choked from the potent liquor.

"Captain..." I looked at Dreden, a man whom I trusted, a man who kept his shoe up my rear end for almost two years, never giving me a break. The look on his face sent shivers down my spine - he's still the most intense man I've ever met. He pulled a file out of his attache and flipped a couple pages...

"I call your attention to the report filed by Seaman Johannes Hedge. During the crash dive to avoid a Destroyer and Depth Charges, he witnessed Lieutenant Ernst Hendrek run from the Sonar room, and hit you on your blind side with a wrench. Furthermore, Seaman Hedge helped to restrain Lieutenant Hendrek during the waning moments after the attack."

"This incident was witnessed by first mate Eric "Bull" Hermann, and during the action, Lieutenant Hendrek was subsequently strapped into a bunk and armed security was placed for his protection. As Lieutenant Petre Eichler secured the boat and crew, and started the trip back to port, there was a secondary rupture in the forward hull."

"Damage Control was able to secure the area, but not without casualties. Seamen Erwin Winterfield, Rolf Lang, Artur Trotha, Gerfried Simon and Lieutenant Ernst Koenig-Hendreck succumbed."

...