"Howarth," Kaiden breathed silently, keeping his voice down. He often repeated names he wished to remember, which means he would have a lot of repeating to do the next day or two. He watched the man leave, which left him standing there uncomfortably with Sabatine. She turned to him and asked for a shower in the silence. Briefly he recalled when she had made a similar request in their relationship, only she had meant they should share one. How things change with time, he told himself. 

"Far be it from me to stop you Lieutenant." He told her, though before she left he stepped forward and halted her from leaving just yet with a word. "Oh and Lieutenant," He said, looking at her. His eyes were as striking as ever, hard and blue like sapphires. "I'm not here to make your life difficult. I didn't ask to be transferred here. However, I am here and that means we'll be working together. I suggest we do what we need for each other without complaint so things will go as smooth as possible until this war-mongering is over and I am taken back to my original station so we don't need to suffer one another anymore. I trust you see the wisdom in that."   

With that he dismissed her with a curt gesture, and then stalked away toward the bridge. He pushed thoughts of Sabatine or of what he just said out of his mind. Lord knows one gets obsessive when it comes to people who rankled them or what they say in such situations. Instead he focused on what lay ahead, which for now was examining the ship as he made his way through the halls. Kaiden Caladwarden knew his way around any Corvette, but even so there were arrows painted along the walls for any newcomer to follow. 

The bridge was pleasantly advanced and well cleaned, with a raised platform at its center where the Captain could turn and view any of the monitors his shipmen and communications officers were stationed at. At this moment there was a skeleton crew. A pretty young woman and two plain looking fellows were at the front consoles, keeping eyes on the ships support systems and sensors for the immediate area. The Captain himself was on the central platform, standing in his long officer's coat and regalia. Kaiden was impressed at the medals he had on his chest. 

"Ah, you must be the new Lieutenant Harkin has told me so much about." Captain Micha said, giving a friendly smile. He was a man of standard height and grey eyes, with a carefully shaved head. He beckoned Kaiden to enter, and the prince did so with a pleased look. Perhaps surviving under this Captain wouldn't be as poor as he initially had dreaded. "Aye sir, junior Lieutenant Kaiden Caladwarden at your service. I am merely checking in with you, Captain." 

"So, you're really a Caladwarden pup?" He marveled. Kaiden should be used to it by now, but such acknowledgements usually irked him. The only times he enjoyed being recognized by his family name was to lay flat other highborns by declaring his own family's dominance or picking up lovely young women, and the Captain was neither. Still, he seemed a pleasant enough fellow marvelling at the name. Micha continued. "I heard of a young Caladwardem joining our ranks a few years ago. Got into some scandal involving his father. That wasn't you, was it?" 

"I am afraid it was, sir." Kaiden replied, making his way to stand beside him. Perhaps one day he could be a Captain. It felt natural being up here, watching all that one might survey to command the ship. "As of now I try to further myself through victory rather than any more underhanded ways. I know many other noble sons blackmail and resort to bribery." 

Micha laughed at his forthright manner. "I will be watching your career with interest, though hold no illusions Liuetenant, I am at the helm of this ship."  
[@Penny]