[the.terrabyte.pirate]

1 September 1939.

Dear Liesa.

I'd hoped to see you again before we left, but there was simply no time. The Oberleutnant demanded the workmen have the boat seaworthy by midnight, and whipped them all the way. To his credit he succeeded, but I can't help feeling that the work was rushed, and the boat may be at risk because of this. I also can't help but feel that Arendt thinks me lazy for not having the work finished before he arrived.

I was atop the conning tower smoking and watching Arendt usher the workmen ashore when another Kaulein hailed us from the dock. I thought he was hailing me, until I heard the Waltenburg's voice reply from over my shoulder. Over the noise of the docks I had not heard the Kaulein climb up the ladder from below.

"They have you playing with toys now?" called up the stranger mockingly. Why don't you get a real boat, Walty?"

I tried to fade into the background.

Waltenburg simply spat over the side, and gestured down with his cigarette. "I don't need a big boat", he replied cooly. "I have a big white cock."

The other officer laughed and walked away.

I leaned over my side of the conning tower to look. During the night the workmen had painted a new emblem on the conning tower of the boat. It was the shape of a running rooster, painted white and outlined in black.

Waltenburg finished his cigarette and slipped back down to the command room. I waited several minutes before following.

Just before 0300 Arendt told me to plot a course out of Kiel, and out through the canal. We cast off soon afterwards, with the sounds of a band playing from the wharf. Arendt personally woke Kaeding and sent him up for the first watch shift. It was Arendt who took us out of harbour, and through the mouth of the canal, dictating my course changes to the crew. Waltenburg only occasionally made an appearance, checking gauges and whispering to Arendt.

It was midday by the time we'd finished the canal run. Arendt then asked me to plot a course for grid reference AN 26. We increased speed to ahead standard, and the U-11 began to surge through the waves of the open ocean. The perfect conditions were to change soon afterwards.