Chapter 25: The "Well-Connected" Team
On the way to the conference room, Garp briefed Ian on the details of his new command. For a Commodore to be granted his own unit was a special exception within Headquarters. The unit's specifications were to be organized according to the standard authority of a Rear Admiral.
The basic marine complement would be 800 personnel, which included the fifty veterans Ian had brought with him from his East Blue branch. Those fifty were currently undergoing a mandatory one-year special training program at Headquarters and would automatically rejoin his unit upon its completion. This brought his current effective strength to 750.
Next came the cadre level, the crucial information in Garp's rundown.
One Headquarters Captain, serving as Ian's direct adjutant, vested with a certain degree of decision-making power.
One Headquarters Commodore, assigned to Ian but available for dispatch on other Headquarters missions when needed—a "floater" or guerrilla officer.
One Headquarters Captain, responsible for handling daily affairs and emergency business, occasionally leading smaller missions.
One Headquarters Petty Officer, a position for which Ian's internal application for Nami had been approved.
These four would form the core leadership of Ian's unit. Ian was genuinely surprised he had the pull to command two officers of Commodore rank, even if one was a "floater." It was a formidable foundation. There were almost no incompetent officers holding the rank of Commodore at Marine Headquarters, and Ian was keenly anticipating the elites Sengoku had selected for him.
…
When they arrived, the conference room door was open. Ian could sense several presences inside—undoubtedly the cadres chosen by the Fleet Admiral.
"Commodore Ian, reporting in!" Ian announced as he entered, offering a crisp salute. His eyes swiftly scanned the room's occupants.
"Vice Admiral Garp! Commodore Ian! Good morning!"
The prospective team members saluted the newcomers in near-unison.
When Ian's gaze landed on the young woman at the head of the group, his eyebrow twitched almost imperceptibly.
It's that little Peacock!
Peacock met his gaze, a subtle, knowing smile playing on her lips. The hand she held in salute drifted slightly, brushing against her own cheek in a gesture that felt like a secret, teasing signal meant only for him. Ian didn't dare hold her stare for long, because standing calmly to the side was Peacock's grandmother, Vice Admiral Tsuru.
In the conference room, aside from the three standing cadres, Fleet Admiral Sengoku, Vice Admiral Tsuru, and Admiral Kuzan were also present.
Seeing Ian arrive, Sengoku stood. "Ian, as of today, your training period here at Headquarters is concluded." He gestured to the three officers in the center of the room. "These three are all elite Marines with years of service at Headquarters. Let them introduce themselves. You'll be working as a team for the foreseeable future, so you'd best get acquainted."
Ian nodded, his face a mask of calm composure. Aside from Peacock, the other man and woman were new to him. They looked vaguely familiar, but he couldn't immediately place them.
"Commodore Ian," Peacock began, her voice crisp and formal. "I am Peacock, a Captain of Marine Headquarters. I am a Devil Fruit user, a Whipmaster who has consumed the Paramecia Whip-Whip Fruit. We are the same age. On this occasion, I requested to join Brigadier General Ian's unit." Her tone then shifted, laced with a hint of something else. "As your direct adjutant, I will fulfill my duties to the best of my ability... Hehe."
Everything she said up to that final, unnerving giggle sounded perfectly normal. That soft "hehe", however, was loaded with implication, making the whole statement feel increasingly wrong.
Ian was genuinely taken aback that she had actively sought a position under him. Was she really that enamored with the beating he'd given her? As he walked in, he'd secretly hoped she would be the "floater." But no—she was to be his direct adjutant. Did her grandmother know she was playing with fire like this?
Ian's eyes flickered almost imperceptibly towards Tsuru, who remained as impassive as ever, as if the young woman speaking had no relation to her at all.
Before Ian could ponder further, the middle-aged man stepped forward. He carried himself with a seasoned air. It made sense; at just eighteen, Ian was young, and Headquarters had likely assigned an experienced officer as the "floater" to provide a steadying influence.
Snap!
The man came to rigid attention, saluting Ian with a earnestness that was almost comical. He looked prepared to bellow a report, but instead spoke in a low, steady rumble. "Brigadier General Ian. I am Commodore T. Peng. I am forty-nine years old and honored to serve as your subordinate. I am a swordsman, proficient in close-quarters combat. I maintain my own unit at Headquarters and may not always be at your side. But for the duration of my assignment, I am at your disposal!"
Upon hearing the name, Ian immediately placed him. T. Peng! The ship-cutter. He was lanky and had a somewhat severe face, but was known for a fundamentally kind heart and a willingness to help others. Though only a Commodore now, in a few years, he would be a powerful Vice Admiral. Tragically, that very kindness would become his fatal flaw, leading to him being betrayed and killed by the very civilians he sought to protect.
After T. Peng finished, the final member of the trio, a blonde girl, took two timid, awkward steps forward. She wore pink headphones and a cropped short-sleeved shirt that revealed her midriff. Specialized gloves covered her hands, likely to protect them. Her most distinctive feature was her pants—one leg was covered in striped leggings, while the other was clad in baggy camouflage cargo pants.
"Commodore Ian," she stammered, her voice barely above a whisper. "My name is Skylark, a Captain of Marine Headquarters. I'm a sniper... and I'm also good at compiling daily information and intelligence. Besides, I... I really admire you... Ah! That's not what I meant! It's... you're a rising star in the Navy! Most of the young recruits admire you! Don't get me wrong, I... that's all I have to say."
Ian: "..."
A fangirl? And a terribly nervous one at that. Her introduction had been a jumbled, incoherent mess. But the name "Skylark" and the "sniper" designation clicked instantly. In a few years, this girl would also be a member of the secret special forces unit, SWORD. Her sniper rifle wasn't standard issue; it was a custom-modified weapon utilizing the advanced technology of Vegapunk's Science Corps. Even more interestingly, according to rumors... she was the daughter of Admiral Akainu. While unconfirmed, the fact that a mere Captain had access to such high-end gear and the combat talent to eventually join SWORD strongly suggested powerful internal connections.
So my team is a "well-connected" team, is it? Ian mused internally, his thoughts racing. But he kept his expression perfectly neutral, betraying nothing.
"Hello, everyone," Ian began, his voice calm and authoritative. "I am a young Commodore, and a young leader. I look forward to your support and our cooperation in the days to come. If there is anything I can improve upon, please communicate with me openly. Let us work together to improve, to achieve results out on the sea. We will start small, grow steadily, and step by step, build a stronger unit and create greater glory together!"
End of Chapter