[UKönig]

With my command cap tucked under my left arm, and my reports folder in my right hand, I accept the glass awkwardly with my left hand and ask, "Begging your pardon Sir, but I don't think you have seen my reports yet; there may not be enough left to congratulate."
I place the folder on the desk in front of him and I notice (hard to read because it's upside down) an official correspondence with my name on it. A shiver of fear runs through me, because it's probably my execution order, and this champagne is a last rites sort of gesture on the part of the CO.
"Nonsense." He says matter-of-factly. "Two things prevail." "We got a transmission from you a few days ago. We sent a reply, but you never answered. We presumed the worst."
He looks at the official folder I placed on the desk and says, "If those reports contain what your wireless report did, then I already know what I need to, and the rest is just a formality."
Between sips of champagne I ask, "What's the second part?"
"This." he says and hands over the official memo. I haven't begun to read it when the Officer takes another memo from his desk, crumples it into a paper ball, and throws it into the fireplace, which, for the first time, I notice is burning nicely. A few months hence that fireplace will be eating a lot of paperwork...
I ask "Was that....?"
"The three star announcement? Yes. You made it back, we don't need to take things that far.
"I have already taken the task of condolence letters to the families of your dead crew. I hope you don't mind, but we saw to that after you made your last radio report."
"Well, I don't think the boys will regret missing the papers again this time."
As I finish my drink I read the memo I was given.
I skip down to the part that says, "Forthwith is assigned as Commanding Officer of the type XXI class, U-2503!"
"Well Herr Kaleun, you have made quite a name for yourself. You have amassed enough renown to come to the attention of some very influential persons at headquarters. They have decided that your tonnage count is enough to trust you with the latest design, and so, when you have gotten yourself and crew cleaned up I will be taking you down to the docks to introduce you to your latest command."
"Ack! My crew! I left instructions for them to fall in for muster in the parade square, and they've probably been waiting around for the last ten minutes now, wondering what's happened."
"Look." He begins, "It's 0800, Norway time, go take care of your crew and meet me back here tomorrow morning at the same time. You and your crew will not be going back into battle for a few weeks now anyway. I have scheduled some training time for you to get used to the new boat first. It is a very different breed of fish. And not without its troubles."
A raised eyebrow from me.
He continues "The sister ship that sailed up with, U-2511, still requires more shakedown. Korvettenkapitan Schnee is in command and he is currently tasked with getting her into shape. Things are not so well with the new XXIs, they were, shall we say?...rushed into production."
I nod in understanding, and he continues. "U-2503 is more combat ready, but I need a captain and crew who are well trained in the quirks of this new design before I can commit them to battle. I am sure that I can count on you Herr kapitanleutnant, for your understanding, and success."
After I am dismissed, I head to the parade square to confer with my new Exec.
I tell the officers and men nothing in particular, but that they have the rest of today off, and are to muster in the square at 10 am, tomorrow morning. And no heavy partying! I also tell them to reset their watches to the proper time. We have been cut off from the normal cycles of life, of night and day for so long that nothing feels real anymore. I detail the (former) Ensign to return to U-110 with a select crew of engineering techs, to finish closing the last rites of the boat. Not right away, of course, they get some time to clean up first.
The next morning, after breakfast, I gather my newly promoted 1WO and Chief Engineer and we head, washed, shaved, and in clean uniforms for a change, over to the offices of the C-in-C, U-boats, Norway, for my formal Acceptance of command, and a surprise for my 2 officers who know nothing of the reasons I've dragged them here.
The CO tells us that before we begin, he would like to see the remains of the infamous U-110, so we all pile into his Mercedes Cabriolet staff car (black), and are chauferred a short, ten minute drive back to the U-pens.
The guard on duty salutes the senior officer present, and opens the door for us. We all clear the hatchway and step inside, and the guard then closes the door behind us. My chief hits a few switches on the nearest wall, and a few more lights come on overhead.
She's sealed in and resting on chocks and at the moment, the pen has been pumped dry. Looking down on the shredded remains of her rusting carcass, I proclaim with a sweeping gesture, "Our Boat."
From the engineer, "May she rest in peace."
From the 1WO, "Because she's certainly in pieces."
From me, "Do you guys mind? I'm really hurting here. I loved this stinky, rusty, moldy, ole' tub, and I will not have you disrespecting my pain."
"Sorry, Sir." From my crew.
"Nah, it's ok. She really is junk now. I'm not nearly busted up as I could be." I said, thinking about the promise of U-2503.
"So this is U-110, huh?." Says the CO. Korvettenkapitan 'something or other'.
He leans closer and takes a good long look at the upper deck. The shredded foreship, missing deck gun and jumping wires. It looks stupid with the snorkel canted at 45 degrees. Like a tree falling in the woods that refuses to go all the way to the forest floor...
"Wow, you really didn't bring back much, did you?" He laughs.
"Let's go take a look at what's left, shall we?"
The engineer grabs a flashlight from a nearby tool box and we all trudge down the stone stairs into the basin, to study the remains of U-110, type VIIC, glorious old wreck...