Reincarnated as Napoleon II-Chapter 148: The New Fleet

A week later, in the Arsenal de Brest.

There was a planned series of commissioning ceremonies for the new warships built for the French Navy. There were battlecruisers, heavy cruisers, destroyers, and submarines.

But this time, the attention was not focused on a single vessel.

Several new warships had been completed and were now ready to formally enter service.

Battlecruisers, heavy cruisers, destroyers, submarines—an entire generation of modern ships stood ready along the docks of Brest.

The harbor was alive with movement.

Naval officers moved between the vessels carrying inspection documents and schedules. Workers from the shipyard gathered near the edges of the ceremony grounds, curious to witness the ships they had spent months constructing finally become part of the Imperial Navy.

Rows of sailors stood at attention along the decks of their assigned vessels. Their dark blue uniforms contrasted against the gray steel of the hulls beneath their boots.

Signal flags snapped sharply in the wind above the harbor.

Foreign observers had not yet left Brest either. Many diplomats and naval attachés from Europe had remained after witnessing the launching of the battleship the previous week. They were now eager to see the rest of the ships France had quietly been constructing.

Napoleon II arrived shortly before noon.

His carriage rolled through the dockyard gates and stopped near the main ceremonial platform overlooking the harbor. Guards immediately stepped forward, clearing a path through the gathered crowd.

Napoleon II stepped out first, followed by Napoleon I, Charles-Louis, and several senior officers of the Imperial Navy.

The moment Napoleon I saw the harbor, he slowed slightly.

Several warships were already lined up along the docks.

Closest to the pier were the destroyers.

Their hulls were long and narrow, riding low in the water compared to the larger ships further out in the harbor. Gun mounts were arranged along their centerlines, while torpedo tubes were clustered amidships.

Beyond them stood the heavy cruisers.

Larger and broader, their hulls rose higher above the water. Triple gun turrets sat along their decks, their barrels elevated slightly as if already prepared for battle.

Further out, near the deeper section of the harbor, two battlecruisers rested at anchor.

Even at a distance they appeared formidable. Their hulls were long and sleek, their forward turrets dominating the silhouette of the ships.

Napoleon I stopped for a moment to study the formation.

"So these are the rest of the fleet you spoke about," he said.

Napoleon II nodded.

"The first operational elements."

Napoleon I continued observing the ships.

"The battleship alone was impressive," he said. "But seeing them together..."

He gestured toward the harbor.

"...this is something else."

Napoleon II allowed a faint smile.

"That was always the intention."

Charles-Louis stepped forward slightly, holding a leather folder that contained the schedule for the ceremony and the registry documents for the ships being commissioned that day.

"The captains are waiting for the formal proceedings, Your Imperial Majesty," he said.

Napoleon II nodded once but did not move immediately.

His attention remained on the harbor.

From the elevated platform overlooking the docks, the entire formation was visible. Destroyers sat closest to the pier, their narrow hulls rocking lightly in the water. Further out stood the heavy cruisers, their larger superstructures and triple gun turrets clearly visible from the platform.

Beyond them rested the battlecruisers.

Napoleon I studied the arrangement quietly.

For a moment he said nothing.

Then he spoke again.

"You have assembled quite a fleet," he said.

Napoleon II glanced toward him.

"It will grow larger."

Napoleon I looked again at the ships.

"I noticed something," he said.

Napoleon II raised an eyebrow.

"Oh?"

Napoleon I gestured toward the nearest destroyer.

"You named the battleship after me," he said with a faint grin. "Napoleon I."

Napoleon II chuckled lightly.

"That seemed appropriate."

Napoleon I folded his arms and continued observing the harbor.

"But what about the rest of them?" he asked. "What are they called?"

Charles-Louis glanced briefly at Napoleon II, knowing the answer was written in the registry documents he carried.

Napoleon II turned slightly toward the harbor again before answering.

"There is a naming convention."

Napoleon I nodded slowly.

"I assumed as much."

Napoleon II pointed toward the destroyers closest to the pier.

"Destroyers will be named after notable officers and naval commanders."

Napoleon I followed his gesture.

The nearest vessel carried a freshly painted name along the bow.

Jean Bart.

Napoleon I smiled faintly.

"A privateer."

"Yes," Napoleon II said.

"He harassed the Dutch and English fleets for years during the reign of Louis XIV."

Napoleon I nodded approvingly.

"A good choice."

Napoleon II continued.

"There are others."

He pointed toward the next destroyer along the pier.

"Surcouf."

Napoleon I’s eyes brightened slightly.

"The corsair of Saint-Malo," he said.

"Yes."

Napoleon II gestured again.

"Duguay-Trouin."

Napoleon I nodded again.

"You favor bold captains."

"They embody the spirit of destroyers," Napoleon II replied.

Napoleon I gave a short approving grunt. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

"Fast ships named after aggressive men. I understand the logic."

Napoleon II turned his attention further into the harbor.

"Cruisers follow a different tradition."

Napoleon I watched as Napoleon II pointed toward the heavy cruisers.

"These ships carry the names of major French cities."

Napoleon I studied the closest cruiser.

The name along its bow was painted clearly in white lettering.

Marseille.

He nodded.

"And the other?"

"Bordeaux."

Napoleon I looked toward the second cruiser anchored nearby.

"That is fitting," he said.

Napoleon II continued calmly.

"These ships will operate across distant sea routes. It seemed appropriate they represent the great ports and commercial centers of the Empire."

Napoleon I nodded slowly.

"Yes... cruisers protecting trade routes named after trading cities."

He gave a faint smile.

"That is a clever bit of symbolism."

Napoleon II then gestured toward the larger vessels resting farther out in the harbor.

"The battlecruisers follow a different pattern."

Napoleon I narrowed his eyes slightly as he studied the ships.

"And what is that?"

"Victories."

Napoleon I looked at him.

"Victories?"

Napoleon II nodded.

"These ships represent striking power and speed. They carry the names of battles where France achieved decisive results."

Napoleon I turned toward the nearest battlecruiser.

The name on its bow could just be made out even from the platform.

Austerlitz.

Napoleon I stared at it for a moment.

Then he chuckled.

"You chose that one deliberately."

Napoleon II smiled slightly.

"I thought you might appreciate it."

Napoleon I nodded slowly.

"That battle ended an empire."

Napoleon II gestured toward the second battlecruiser.

"Trafalgar."

Napoleon I raised an eyebrow.

"Trafalgar?" he repeated.

Napoleon II nodded calmly.

"Yes."

Napoleon I studied his son carefully.

"That was a defeat."

Napoleon II shrugged lightly.

"History does not change because we ignore it."

Napoleon I looked back toward the ship.

"And naming a warship after it?"

Napoleon II clasped his hands behind his back.

"It serves as a reminder."

Napoleon I’s expression shifted slightly.

"A reminder?"

Napoleon II nodded.

"That the sea is where France once faltered."

Napoleon I remained silent.

Napoleon II continued.

"And that we intend to correct that."

Napoleon I looked toward the harbor again.

The battlecruiser Trafalgar sat quietly beside Austerlitz, its guns pointed forward across the water.

Napoleon I let out a quiet breath.

"Well," he said, "that is certainly one way to make a statement."

Napoleon II then gestured toward the far side of the harbor.

"Submarines follow another convention."

Napoleon I glanced toward him.

"And what is that?"

"They are named after sea creatures."

Napoleon I looked mildly amused.

"Sea creatures?"

Napoleon II nodded.

"Predators of the deep."

He gestured toward the small hull resting near the submarine dock.

"Requin."

Napoleon I nodded.

"A shark."

Napoleon II pointed to another vessel.

"Barracuda."

Napoleon I chuckled softly.

"That is fitting for ships that hunt unseen."

Napoleon II looked across the harbor one more time.

"Each class has its own identity."

Napoleon I studied the fleet again.

Destroyers bearing the names of daring captains.

Cruisers named after cities.

Battlecruisers named after battles.

Submarines named after predators.