In January 1945, the weather in Italy was very cold, Elrond and the soldiers stood outside the barracks, shivering, but Elrond did not order that the group be dismissed. But Elrond did not order the group to disband. Instead, he started the first introductions directly outside the barracks, because Elrond knew that he was too young, and since almost all of the men in the group were older than him, and there were two second lieutenants by rank, Elrond had to establish himself as a stern man in the first meeting.
That's what everyone's elders say about new officers, and Elrond knows very well that authority is very important in the military, and you have to make sure everyone understands who calls the shots around here.
Elrond gives a standing salute and the team gives a neat salute. After the salute, Elrond began his first speech, "At ease, good day brothers! I am the captain of this newly formed transport ship, my name is Elrond, thank you all for welcoming me in the cold and windy weather, from now on we will be fighting on the same ship. I would like to get acquainted with you all first, next, one at a time, starting with the platoon leader on my right, introduce yourself, I need to know your name, years of service, service experience, and position on the ship! Is that understood!"
"Understood!" The team shouted neatly, clearly the Americans had trained the free-spirited Brazilians well. Although the posture and discipline of the team could not be compared to the army in Elrond's mind, it was still much stricter than the Brazilian army.
"Let's get started then!" Hearing everyone's responses, Elrond ordered it to begin straight away.
"Report, my name is Fyodor de la Torre, eight years of service, been in the Navy all that time, first mate of the destroyer Marcillo Diaz before transfer, now your first mate." The first person introduced made Elrond blink, how could a first mate of a destroyer have been sent out as a first mate on a transport ship like this? It was the equivalent of being sent to the frontier!
"Report, my name is Norobertru Findis, two years of service, from Logistics, now serving as your second mate." This one was obviously a relation, the logistics department had planted him, and someone from the logistics department ran over to be the second mate, wasn't that bullshit?Elrond didn't think about how he wasn't an even bigger relation in the minds of these crew members! The young, a less than twenty army staff sergeant, suddenly became the captain of the Navy transport ship, the Americans also specified that he must be the captain, this is not a relationship, what is a relationship.
Of course his backstage for this connection is the Yankees, and now the Yankees are the Brazilian's dad, so no one dares to have any objections is all.
"Reporting, my name is Amar Reyna, two years of service, before service I was a transport ship's wheelman, now I'm your wheelman." Finally, a normal crew member.
"Report, my name is Cruzere Duarte, three years of service, former infantry squad leader in the 11th Army Regiment, now your guard squad leader." Here was another counterpart, but by guard squad leader he didn't mean Elrond's guards, although he was also responsible for a portion of Elrond's guards, this squad was primarily a guard force designed to defend the ship from being sunk by Kraut planes or submarines, using the ship's anti-aircraft machine guns, anti-submarine guns, and other defensive weapons.
The rest of the crew was basically sailors and fighters, and not to Elrond's surprise, most of these crew members were drawn from various Navy ships, and some even had experience working on riverboats. Still, Elrond was pleasantly surprised to have a first mate with experience on a destroyer.
Although Elrond knew that the man could have been sent over, or it could have been a backup arranged by the Brazilian Navy worried that Elrond couldn't play with the transports, Elrond wouldn't have cared in the slightest. Now with Elrond's relationship with the US military, the Brazilian Navy didn't dare to move Elrond's position. So arranging such a person, as long as Elrond can use it well, Elrond will be very relaxed.
Finally, everyone had finished introducing themselves, and Elrond began to summarize, "Very well, although we all come from different military branches, different departments, and have different experiences, I hope that we can seize the time to familiarize ourselves with each other and form a fighting force as soon as possible. Our superiors have only given us a week to get used to our new duty stations. This afternoon I will confirm clearly with the U.S. Army the situation of our ship, tomorrow morning we will officially receive the ship and start our crew career, I hope that since we are all on the same ship, we should be united, customer service difficulties together through the blockade line of the Germans, to complete the mission entrusted to us by our superiors. Have no confidence!"
"Yes!"
"The voices are too low for me to hear!" Elrond eyed the soldiers coldly, able to hear their replies but clearly not hearing their confidence in the responses.
"Yes!" The voices were finally a little neater and a little louder.
"Are you guys pussies? The voices of so many people aren't loud enough for me alone! Answer me loud and have no faith!" What Elrond needed was for the soldiers to shout as loud as they could.
Finally the soldiers, one by one, put their best foot forward, the veins on their necks bulged, and a loud, red-faced bellow came, "Yes! There! Yes!"
"Very well! Remember the feeling that you have to put your best foot forward, both in what you say and in what you do. I don't have a very good ear, so when you answer my questions in the future, please keep it the same as it was today." Elrond of course wouldn't have a bad ear, his body after the fusion of the memories of the two lives, whether it's memory, physical fitness or spirit has been doubled compared to the original, especially his body has been much stronger than the original, the muscles on his body bulged one by one, the elevated strength made Elrond feel that he could dry over ten enemies with his hands.
"Attention! All hands, except the first officer, who remains behind, return to camp and rest. Dismissed." Hearing Elrond announce dismissal, one by one, the soldiers, who were freezing in the cold wind, dispersed. This made Elrond very dissatisfied, but he didn't say anything else, after all, this was the Brazilian army.
"Hello Mr. De La Torre, it is a pleasure to work with you." Elrond extended a hand of friendship to his first mate. Mr. First Mate was a blonde, bearded white man, not very tall, and judging by his age Elrond thought he was at least thirty-eight or eighty-nine, in the prime of his life.
Mr. First Mate also extended his hand to shake Elrond's hand and said in a solemn tone, "Greetings Mr. Captain, it is an honor to hold the position of First Mate on your ship."
Elrond didn't hesitate to get right to the point, "Mr. First Mate, if you'll excuse me, I'm very curious as to how you agreed to come aboard my transport ship as First Mate with your resume."
Perhaps most foreigners were relatively straightforward people, or perhaps De La Torre himself had expected to be asked this question. So he also said in a slightly embarrassed manner, "Mr. Captain, because of my family's condition, my monthly income is sent back to my family, so I don't have the money to send a gift."
The first mate's answer made Elrond froze and didn't react, no money to be transferred from a destroyer to a transport ship? What kind of bullshit reason is this? You should find a more reliable reason to lie to people! However, looking at Mr. First Mate's serious expression, Elrond felt that he should not be lying to himself.
It was only after half a day that he slapped his head and reacted that he was in Brazil! This time in Brazil was a time when corruption was prevalent, and the government was dictatorial in nature, so if the lower level officers didn't give enough favors to their superiors, there was basically no hope for promotion. A phenomenon like de la Torre should be very common.
"I understand, Mr. First Mate, then first of all I want to tell you that I don't care elsewhere, but on my ship I don't allow you to receive benefits from the crew below, and I don't need you to give me benefits, I will give you a certain amount of cash rewards additionally to the fixed military pay based on your work performance. My requirements are very simple, I hope that you can put all your energy into your work, into improving your work ability. If your ability is sufficient, I will give you enough power, as well as enough income to support your family. Do you understand me?" Elrond spoke seriously to Mr. First Mate, already thinking in his mind that perhaps he had found a way to cultivate his power.
"Are you serious, Mr. Captain?" De la Torre said as he stared at Elrond's expression with a shocked and expectant look in his eyes.
"Of course, don't worry about it! It's my job to generate income, and all you have to do is help me manage the crew, and catch up on training to hone the bond between the crew. I want me to have a ship with a fighting chance, and if you can over satisfy me, then you will be able to get no less than a hundred dollars a month in extra allowances from me." Elrond patted Mr. First Mate's arm affirmatively and promised earnestly!