New Faces and a Reunion

"We'll be happy to join you. Might I suggest this pattern to make things easier?" Katla asked, sending over a quick diagram that had the fleet in a loose sphere with the two flagships in the center. According to the system, it would lead to the least difficulties for the shuttles.

"That is agreeable. I look forward to welcoming you aboard." That was the end of the call for the time being, a quick data burst laying out the time for the dinner. Katla sent the new formation orders to the fleet and the dinner arrangements to Jaclyn to have her set up the scheduling so everyone arrived at the correct intervals. Meanwhile, Shyna had begun to stir, her belly had noticeably started to round and it was clear she wasn't fully used to it yet as she wiggled around a bit in her efforts to get up. Katla took pity on her and crossed the room to lend a hand which she accepted gratefully.

"We'll be going over to Washi's ship for dinner and a strategy meeting." Katla informed her, "Think your uniform will still fit?"

"It should, they're designed with a bit of give for," She looked down at herself, putting a hand on her belly. "situations like this. I'll just have to loosen the fitting."

"Good. I want your friends to see you're alive and well. Feel free to speak with them, just don't reveal anything you know you shouldn't. Particularly don't tell them about our boarding team, analyst team or drones or even hint at them." Katla didn't think she would but making it an order helped protect against any accidental slip ups. It was the same reason Himeko also hadn't been told about them.

"You think she would sabotage you?" Shyna asked

"I just like to keep a few aces up my sleeve. She might be perfectly reasonable but all it takes is one of her captains holding a grudge."

Zui Yang was waiting for her as she disembarked the shuttle. To either side of the junior Yang sister a row of sharply dressed sailors snapped to attention to welcome Katla aboard properly. She gave them a respectful nod.

"My sister is waiting for us in the officers wardroom." Zui said, the picture of professionalism. Not sparing a glance to Shyna or Jaclyn as they both trailed a step behind you. "Please follow me."

Katla considered trying to strike up a conversation but the stiffness in Zui's shoulders indicated that it might not be the best idea. As they entered the wardroom the table was set, somehow managing to not look too cramped despite the relatively small space. After the meal they'd adjourn to the ship's meeting room for the actual strategizing but this would do for now. Washi was already seated but it was the woman to her left that caught Katla's eye.

It was clear that Washi had gotten the dress specially made considering that Saga's old Ragnarok dress was currently in storage awaiting its owner's return. The new one also had a bit more of an Authority cut to it and red trimming to go along with the sash that marked who she'd been claimed by. Her belly also didn't look quite as rounded as Shyna's. The bracelet on her wrist instead of a collar was a particular surprise considering the Authority's usual idea of a good submissive **** being reinforced at every opportunity.

"Welcome Commodore." Washi said standing up to greet her, "Please, have a seat, the others should be joining us shortly." Naturally, the seat to her right was Katla's with Shyna occupying the chair mirroring Saga's and Jaclyn on the other side of her. Zui left again to return to the hanger bay, leaving the five of them alone for the time being. "I believe you know my consort."

"That I do, she's a bit slimmer around the middle than I'd expect by now but I like what you've done with the dress." Katla said, giving an approving nod.

"She was given to me untouched after the humiliation you inflicted on my sister. A gift of contrition. I admit it will be hard to part with her once her time is done." Katla did her best to keep a straight face as Saga comically mouthed, 'Help Me' behind Washi's back.

"Shyna has been quite a treat too." Katla said before looking toward the door to make sure nobody was entering yet. She decided now was as good a time as any to breach the elephant in the room. "Are we going to have a problem?" She asked. Washi for a moment looked like she was going to play the fool before letting out a sigh.

"I would be lying to say that some of my captains are not... displeased with our partnership in light of what occurred. My sister most of all. However, they will do their duty and follow my orders." Washi explained, "There is far too much at stake for infighting don't you agree?"

"I do." They were interrupted from discussing the matter further by the door opening again.

The dinner itself was pretty good, with several forms of sea life and noodles in a delicious sauce making for the main entree preceded by a simple garnished salad. Best of all however was the fact that it only required basic eating implements. As the dinner went on Katla got a general impression of Washi's officers.

Zui had been relegated to the command of the task ****'s new destroyer, a clear step down from her previous command. Still, the fact that she'd still held one at all indicated her mother had intervened on her behalf or the consequences had been allayed by the general surprise of Katla's action.

Fei Long and Sa Shen were the juniors of the group commanding the corvettes, the two of them largely keeping back and observing rather than participating in the meal. They were sharply contrasted by Song Pan, one of the carrier captains who was having an enthusiastic conversation with Hosten about the benefits and drawbacks of the Archer-class light carrier compared to the older Bowman class they'd replaced. From the gist that Katla understood the Bowman had been made more for wading into the general melee, sacrificing a bit of hanger space to add armor and guns compared to the deployment-focused Archer.

The other carrier captain Jinhua Zada seemed to have other interests as she plied Himeko with compliments that the noble prat was soaking up like a sponge.

As the table was cleared and the captains stood for a brief social event before getting down to business Katla managed to get Saga by herself as Washi did likewise with Shyna.

"I see someone is moving up in the world." Katla teased, giving a meaningful glance at the bracelet adorning Saga's wrist. It wasn't a simple piece, a ruby-eyed dragon looking up at her from its gold inlay carving.

"Family heirloom apparently." Saga said, holding it up to let Katla get a better look at the craftsmanship. "She's trying her best to wife me."

"Really? On a six-month contract?" Katla asked, raising a brow.

"When the best fuck you've ever had enters your life you try to lock it down. We're going to meet her mother after the battle." Katla almost started to laugh before she realized her fellow Viking was serious.

"Be careful. Her mother is on her way to a proper chair in the Authority. Let her down easy." Katla warned

"I'll try but I'm probably not getting out of this without a bounty on my back. Especially once she sees how much of a cutie this one is." Saga said, rubbing her belly.

"Got it. Ugly babies are good shields." Saga rolled her eyes.

"Yup, unfortunately, I'm smoking hot and their sire is gorgeous so I'm doomed."

"How could she ever resist someone so humble." Katla chuckled, looking around it seemed things were winding down and they'd be going in for the meeting soon. "Any idea how things went for the others?"

"Pretty standard, Zui was pissed so no officers got one other than her sister. The loss really put a damper on festivities."

"Fair enough," The others were starting to exit meaning it was time, Shyna had finished her own discussion with Washi so it was time for you to do the same, "it was good seeing you, we'll have your spot ready for you when you get back. We'll try to get you on the giving end next time."

"Thanks boss."

Katla and Washi stood at the front of the conference room, a basic image of the expected battleground projected above the table. They'd had a quick sidebar of their own and decided Katla would kick things off.

"Mwaro system isn't anything special." Katla began, "This is going to be a battle of manuver and counter manuver until it either becomes a slugging match or there's enough attrition to **** withdrawl. We know the enemy will be of roughly the same strength as our battlegroup but they might have it allocated differently." Specifically based on the previous known **** structure for Mara it was likely she only still had one light carrier unless they'd reinforced her with more. Her previous command was a bit short for this kind of engagement leading to a bit of uncertainty. She had a pair of heavy cruisers, three corvettes, two destroyers and a light carrier according to the latest intelligence and there was only one light carrier in range that could possibly be sent to join her without stripping it from someone more favored so the carrier advantage for Katla's **** was likely solidified.

"The battle will begin one hour after our formal entry to the system." Washi chimed in, "We cannot expect them to be scattered without any defense points needing to be held."

"Which means we need to have our initial formation nailed down before we jump in. We can react a bit but we want to be prepared for as many contingencies as possible." Katla finished, tapping to pull up a graphic of the joint fleet.