The Remarkably Short, Yet No Less Interesting Career of Commodore Derpy Hooves of The Equestrian Nuclear Submarine Fleet

"Captain are you sure that pole is the best place for the prisoner? There is a lot of sensitive information that flows directly to this room and is in clear view," Commodore Hooves said while she pulled Captain Robertson aside.

"Hooves, if there was anything that ol' Buzz over there wanted to know he would have found out already. Besides I don't want take me eyes off this catch. It has a certain look in its eyes that gives me a bad feeling in my gut," Captain Robertson replied.

"Alright then, so what now?" Commodore Hooves asked.

"Isn't that the question? Well we aren't going anywhere fast because of the state our engines are in. We have the saboteur. We still don't know where the Valiant or Bravery are and the precise location of the Pride is unknown. You can bet we are still in unfriendly waters and beyond help of the Equestrian Navy," Captain Robertson explained.

Commodore Hooves walked over to the Navigation Table and pulled out some maps along with various tools. The Commodore began to make errant scriblings and became frustrated when the lines she drew didn't match up the way she wanted them to. Captain Robertson looked over the work of Commodore Hooves and suddenly got an idea. The Captain rushed out of the room to the confusion of the Commodore.

"What's the Captain doing?" The Commodore asked no one in particular with a tone of annoyance.

"Sometimes the Captain gets these bright ideas that he has no time to explain to anyone. I would say it would be best just to let him go, Ma'ma," Jenkins said to the Commodore.

The Commodore stopped scribbling on the nautical charts and turned around to face Reggie.

"I don't mean to sound rude Crewman Jenkins but why are you not at your post? I know you may feel some attachment to the current situation because of your part in solving our little identity fiasco but the K.S. Pride needs you to be on duty with the rest of the Maintenance Crew," the Commodore said.

"I understand I just thought that you might have needed assistance," Jenkins said.

"What do you mean?" the Commodore asked.

"Its just that you have had a hard day and look pretty beaten up. Your hoof was trembling when you where plotting and I thought it would just be a nice gesture to see if you where alright," Jenkins told the Commodore plainly.

"Thanks for your concern Jenkins. I am glad I warrent it after what happened in the Mess Hall. As much as I would want to have another friendly face in the Command Room, I must ask you to return to your post," the Commodore said while she turned back to the charts in front of her.

"Yes Ma'ma! Also as I said before it is all water under the bridge now," Jenkins replied with a salute and walked out of the Command Room.

The Commodore returned her focus to the maps and tried to figure out where exactly the K.S. Pride was. After much figuring, the Commodore could only narrow down the possible location within a quadrant. Just as Commodore Hooves was about to throw down her pencil the Captain rushed back into the Command Room with an old looking tool.

"It's my old, antique sextant! If I could just have a minute with the night sky above then I could make short work of our navigation woes. Sailors used to sail all around the world using nothing but the stars! Dash these new computers and their flimsy data because we have something as reliable as the stars themselves!" The Captain said giddily.

"As promising as that sounds Captain it is quite impossible. We can't surface at a time like this! We could risk being found in enemy waters," the Commodore said.

"It is a risk we will have to take then! Your current scribblings are getting us nowhere. If you want to be a Commodore in this navy then you will have to learn to tolerate the occasional risk, Bubbles," the Captain retorted.

"I did that once and I got explosion for my trouble," the Commodore sighed.

"What happened with the explosion was unavoidable even if you would have tried to out maneuver the fake torpedo. So will you please give the order?" Captain Robertson asked.

"Sure, when there are stars for you see! We still have a few hours before nightfall so I see no reason for surfacing now." Commodore Hooves said while looking at the clock.

The door to the Command Room opened without urgency while an older colt in scrubs walked in. He crossed the command room slowly with clipboard in hand and stopped in front of the Captain.

"Captain, when you have the time there is a duty to be preformed," the Colt said.

"This isn't about Hector is it, Drips?" The Captain replied with deep concern.

"I am afraid it is. The nurse went to check on him an hour ago but Hector gave up the fight a little before then. I am very sorry, Robertson. I know you where intensely involved in his recovery but you can take comfort in the fact that he slipped away painlessly." Drips explained.

"The death of a young crewman is always a tragedy but this was his very first voyage. Hector shouldn't have died from such a simple accident. I remember when he came up to me saying that he wanted to be under my Command. Hector hadn't quite finished his basic training yet but remembered the stories his father told him about me. I had to pull a few strings but I got him on the K.S. Pride just in time for this voyage," Captain Robertson said before trailing off and tearing up.

"Commodore, I think it would be best that you would come along as well. I think it might bring comfort to everyone that knew him if we had a flag officer in attendance of Hector's service," Drips said.

"I would be honored Dr...uh," The Commodore said before she realized she didn't know the doctor's name.

"Dr. Slow Drip, Chief Medical Officer aboard the K.S. Pride," Drips said without offense.