In 1900 PD, Cardones held the rank of Lieutenant (junior grade), serving as Assistant Tactical Officer aboard the light cruiser HMS Fearless. He took over as the ship's tactical officer after Lieutenant Andreas Venizelos was assigned to Basilisk Traffic Control as a customs inspector. He accidentally programmed the recon drones wrongly, but he was able to fix it, and was later injured during the First Battle of Basilisk. In 1901 PD, he was promoted to Lieutenant (senior grade) and assigned to the new Fearless as the tactical officer. (HH1)