So far from home.

Captain Seigfried Albercht was awaiting the arrival of Karl Dönitz, commander of the entire Kriegsmarine, at a hotel in Kiel. Seigfried was personally summoned in what he was informed to be an "Upmost important and very secretive mission" after returning from a regular patrol. He had served in the U-Boat force since the outbreak of the war, commanding the U-101, U-212, and now the U-304. Why Dönitz called him specifically, he did not know.

After waiting a good half hour, the Admiral finally entered the room. He was wearing his typical officer attire, his medals and Knight's Crosses gleaming on his right breast. Overall, he seemed ready to give a speech to the Berlin public, but that was obviously what he was not here for. Seigfried gave the customary salute and sat back down. Dönitz began,

"Seigrfried, as one of our top U-Boat commanders, you may have realized operations in the Atlantic are steadily increasing. Our tonnage is slowly but surely rising, while casualties remain minimum. The British were obviously ill-prepared, and have suffered, but they are far from being counted out."

Dönitz pulled out a map of the Pacific, which gained the curiosity of Seigfried.

"Yes, this is the Pacific. Our Japanese allied have, as you know, attacked the US Naval Base at Pearl Harbor and we have declared war on the Americans. This is bringing Britain a whole new wave of supplies and warships. We need to halt this. It is why I am now assigning your boat to a new theater- India."

Seigfried was now confused at the order. The Indian Ocean? The long trek through Allied waters?

"You will leave tomorrow, remember to make yourself unpredictable, do NOT engage shipping along the way until you rebase at Saigon. Good luck, you are dismissed." The admiral left the room ater giving him a salute.

Seigfried stayed in the chair contemplating the best route to the Indian Ocean. Obviously, he would need to talk to the crew.

Seigfried Albercht, U-Boat commander of the Atlantic War, was now going to the Far East.

So far from home.