Thursday, May 26, 2005
At the beginning
"Dragon Wing reporting for watch keeping sir! Permission to enter the bridge."
"Permission granted. IC, have your men been assigned their positions?"
"Yes sir."
"Good. Take your positions. Charts are in the room at the back. Lookout, go ask the coxswain for a spare pair of binoculars."
I stifled a yawn as I entered the darkness. It was close to the witching hour, and the rest of my batchmates were already snug in their bunks below deck. We had just slipped off from Tuas Naval Base about five hours ago, having just bided farewell to our friends and family as we left for the first leg of our two month Midshipman Sea Training Deployment. There were crying from girlfriends and mothers as they thought of the two months separation before they next see us again. Fathers stood by stoically, with the occasional words of encouragement while little brothers ran about the ship, trying to take in everything at the same time. Course instructors were walking around, assuring parents of their children's safety. The rest of the ship was a hive of activity as seamen prepared to get the ship underway. We slipped off at sunset, standing at attention on deck and waving goodbyes to the people gathered on the docks.
As my eyes adjusted to the darkness, I could make out the people already on the bridge. The navigator was already helping to spread out the charts and briefing the midshipman on the ship's position and heading. Another midshipman was on the comms with the engine room finding out the conditions of the turbines. From the radar, I could hear laughter spliced with the beeping of the equipment. And over them all, the Officer of the Watch was in her usual seat, looking over all of us. Right now, she is merely the caretaker for the real master of the ship.
"Captain on the bridge!"
"At ease gentlemen."
He stood at the door for a moment, taking in the activity before him before making his way to his seat. As he settled in, the OOW walked over and gave her report. The midshipman navigator and radar operator called out their taking over of their respective positions. I spied the coxswain at the wheelhouse and walked over to him.
"Coxswain, where can I get the spare binos huh?"
"Over there, hanging by the wall" " Thank you coxswain"
Having gotten my equipment, I walked out and commence lookout duty. The cool sea breeze was chilly. I pulled my jacket closer and listen to the sounds of the waves crashing against the ship. Above me, the full moon shone upon the waters, leaving a reflection like the wake of another ship. Up above in the sky, the milky way snaked across the cloudless night sky, a dense river of stars so bright, its difficult to make out the individual stars that are a part of it. And the stars. Uncountable numbers of them spread all over, twinkling, immutable. Stretching from horizon to horizon, they were everywhere. Looking at them brings back that classic line from 2001: A Space Odyssey:
"My God, it's full of stars!"
I smiled and thought to myself: This should be a good trip. ¶ 10:51:00 am
"Permission granted. IC, have your men been assigned their positions?"
"Yes sir."
"Good. Take your positions. Charts are in the room at the back. Lookout, go ask the coxswain for a spare pair of binoculars."
I stifled a yawn as I entered the darkness. It was close to the witching hour, and the rest of my batchmates were already snug in their bunks below deck. We had just slipped off from Tuas Naval Base about five hours ago, having just bided farewell to our friends and family as we left for the first leg of our two month Midshipman Sea Training Deployment. There were crying from girlfriends and mothers as they thought of the two months separation before they next see us again. Fathers stood by stoically, with the occasional words of encouragement while little brothers ran about the ship, trying to take in everything at the same time. Course instructors were walking around, assuring parents of their children's safety. The rest of the ship was a hive of activity as seamen prepared to get the ship underway. We slipped off at sunset, standing at attention on deck and waving goodbyes to the people gathered on the docks.
As my eyes adjusted to the darkness, I could make out the people already on the bridge. The navigator was already helping to spread out the charts and briefing the midshipman on the ship's position and heading. Another midshipman was on the comms with the engine room finding out the conditions of the turbines. From the radar, I could hear laughter spliced with the beeping of the equipment. And over them all, the Officer of the Watch was in her usual seat, looking over all of us. Right now, she is merely the caretaker for the real master of the ship.
"Captain on the bridge!"
"At ease gentlemen."
He stood at the door for a moment, taking in the activity before him before making his way to his seat. As he settled in, the OOW walked over and gave her report. The midshipman navigator and radar operator called out their taking over of their respective positions. I spied the coxswain at the wheelhouse and walked over to him.
"Coxswain, where can I get the spare binos huh?"
"Over there, hanging by the wall" " Thank you coxswain"
Having gotten my equipment, I walked out and commence lookout duty. The cool sea breeze was chilly. I pulled my jacket closer and listen to the sounds of the waves crashing against the ship. Above me, the full moon shone upon the waters, leaving a reflection like the wake of another ship. Up above in the sky, the milky way snaked across the cloudless night sky, a dense river of stars so bright, its difficult to make out the individual stars that are a part of it. And the stars. Uncountable numbers of them spread all over, twinkling, immutable. Stretching from horizon to horizon, they were everywhere. Looking at them brings back that classic line from 2001: A Space Odyssey:
"My God, it's full of stars!"
I smiled and thought to myself: This should be a good trip. ¶ 10:51:00 am
