"You must go to the hangar immediately, and if necessary, ensure Her Highness gets on the first lifeboat."
"Understood, Captain."
The second officer nodded vigorously, saluted and was about to leave the bridge when a young signalman cried out.
"My God, they've fired again!"
Several beams of light exploded in the northeastern sky, momentarily outshining even the sun.
"Stay calm! See where the shells are hitting!"
Ruiter didn't plan to blame the young man; if the barrage had come from their own battleships, the spectacle could be described as magnificent, but if it was enemy fire and they were the target, any rookie would panic.
