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Raid
Aug 24, 2012 10:45:50 GMT -5
Post by Ladorak on Aug 24, 2012 10:45:50 GMT -5
It was now late August. The 26th to be precise. The fleet had some down time during the latter half of July, first at Personza, and then at Livorno. Whilst in the latter place, Caden had FINALLY managed to procure a present for the very late birthday giftsgiving of Selvis Frenata. They literally hadn't been back in port since May, and this was the first landfall they'd made since then.
The present consisted of two items. The first was one he'd bought in Livorno. It was a book (thankfully printed in Common, though Caden had done some digging to find a book printed in such a language in Calgary!) entitled "Even More Magic Tricks" and had some that the marten hadn't seen Selvis practice (and hopefully didn't know). It was written by several noted magicians of the continent (remaining anonymous of course) and by this time was running in very small circulation. It included a section on hypnotism too that the marten figured the weasel would find interesting.
The second was a surprise, even to Caden. He had given Selvis the first present when they'd risen at the crack of dawn for the Morning Watch today (they being on the starboard watch for the 26th), but had waited until after dinner was concluding to paw over the second of the two presents. As tables were being cleared and dishes were being washed (it was Carrow's turn for mess cook this week), Caden had raced up from the cockpit a little ahead of time (having finished his dinner early) in order to surprise the weasel in the aftermath of his own dinner.
Picking his way through the busy lower gun deck, Caden strode right up to Selvis's table, a wide grin on his face. "Selvis! Glad I caught you! It turns out I've got some mail... stopped by the purser's office earlier today... and it seems YOU'VE received a letter! Courtesy of me." the albino made a show of digging around in his jacket pocket, and pulled out an envelope, holding it out for the weasel in a swift motion.
"It seems it's from one Carmelita Guetierrez... I wonder where we've heard THAT name before?" Caden was all grins now as he let the weasel take the envelope. "Hope you don't mind, but this is my second present to you. I decided to write her after you mentioned her last month, and as we're rather close to Ferlusan, it didn't take long to reach her at all, or so it seems! I mentioned I was a friend of yours on the Agamemnon, and dropped a hint that you MIGHT be interested in corresponding with her again, so I left your forwarding address here on the ship. Guess she decided to take me up on my offer! Well go on... open it!" he exclaimed, still grinning.
He knew too that his own birthday was ironically enough only three days from now. August was being unseasonably cool, compared to the fiery July they'd experienced. The days now were all in the low 80s, and were quite comfortable to work in outdoors. Caden knew they'd most likely be spending his birthday at sea, and he wasn't sure yet if his friends had done any shopping before they left Livorno on the 6th, but as that had been 20 days ago now, it was impossible to say.
They were presently operating alone... well not alone, but they weren't with Hotham, and that was the important thing. They'd sailed on the 6th of August with Hotham's fleet to blockade Toulon. Arriving two days later with an excellent wind, it had been noted that the Rosferian fleet had not sailed as of yet, and were still lying in the harbor. Deciding to support the renewed Kostritzer/Calgarian offensives taking place near the Alps, Hotham had detached Ladorak's ship to command a small squadron, mostly consisting of frigates, but containing a sloop and a brig as well. Their orders were to raid Rosferian shipping along the Calgarian coast, and prevent the Rosferian Army of Calgary on land from receiving supplies by sea.
It was the kind of command Ladorak had been aching for, and so here they were, off the port of Savona on this particular day. Ironically enough, this patrol would start to bear fruit in just a matter of hours...
"Hmmm... two brigs... I'd say one of ten... the other of six guns. Two galleys... don't see many of those anymore... five guns each. The other seven are merchant ships. No doubt about it. Judging from the waterline on the merchant ships... I'd say they haven't discharged their cargo yet..." The ships lying at anchor in the bay were fat and juicy in the spyglass's sights.
Captain Ladorak Fugate proceeded to snap the spyglass closed, and replaced his monocle over his left eye. "Well! It doesn't look as if they're preparing to unload anytime soon! The Kostritzers and Calgarians have already cut the road leading to the Rosferian army... so that small convoy is probably stuck right now. Let's not give them time to figure out that they can sail down the coast for the resupply! Those ships are Rosferian... no doubt about that! Their flags are clearly visible, and I could even make out the name of the bigger brig... Resolue. If that isn't Rosferian, I don't know what is!"
The stoat captain was already planning on giving his ward an early birthday present. The Rosferian escorts were light and were heavily outgunned by his own force, which consisted of the Agamemnon, four frigates, a sloop, and a brig. It was time to act! "Let's adjust course and start heading into the bay. There are plenty of prizes for everyone! Let's clear for action at the start of the Afternoon Watch! We're going in there and taking some prizes! Prepare to muster the crew after the clear for action's been completed! We'll be taking volunteers to board those enemy vessels! Let's hop to it!" the stoat ordered, snapping his claws and giving out his directions to the first lieutenant effortlessly. "Spread the word to the rest of the squadron. We're going in!"
"Yes sir!" the first lieutenant saluted, and passed the word along to several midshipjacks, who in turn would begin spreading the word to the rest of the ship. It was time to recoup for Hyeres Islands!
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Raid
Aug 26, 2012 19:47:33 GMT -5
Post by Carrow on Aug 26, 2012 19:47:33 GMT -5
Selvis was greatly intrigued by the nature of his pine marten companion's other gift to him; he had already thanked his fellow mustelid for the book about magic tricks (rather profusely so, in fact), and a quick perusal of the book had revealed many possible additions to the weasel's already impressive repertoire. His eyes brightened when he was told that he had received a letter, but he had no idea from whom it could be - he'd already received something from his parents earlier in the week, so was at a loss as to the identity of this mysterious correspondent. He watched curiously as Caden dug the letter from his pocket and held it out for him, his heart soaring when it was revealed to him that it was from Carmelita Gutierrez. He was about to speak, but the words wouldn't come so easily, and he had to wait until Caden had finished explaining the origins of the letter itself. He was stunned.
"You did this?!," he exclaimed incredulously, eyes widening. "Wow, I... really don't know what to say. Thanking you doesn't seem to do this justice; never in a million years would I have expected you to do something like this for me!" He hugged the pine marten, smiling from ear to ear, not yet ready to let on that he had the marten's own birthday taken care of. He'd decided to let Carrow do his own thing for the marten's birthday gift this year, after they'd clubbed together for that model of the Santissima Trinidad, on the very same day that the albino had received his promotion to Midshipjack, but was looking forward to seeing what his rodent companion had come up with.
He nodded enthusiastically when urged by his companion to open the letter. "All right!," he exclaimed, paws trembling a little as he did so, barely able to conceal his excitement. Soon, the envelope was open, and he removed the letter, beckoning Caden over to him. "You'll want to read this too, mate," he informed him before beginning to do so himself...
León, Ferlusan
August 14th, 1795
Dear Caden:
Thank you very much for getting in contact with me. I'm quite pleased to 'meet' you, and I appreciate your correspondence. From what you've told me about your ship, I can conclude that it is quite a fine vessel, and it seems that you are enjoying your time aboard her. I hope that you continue to do so, particularly so as you are getting to do something that I'm precluded from. I can't properly express how grateful I am to you for putting me back in touch with Selvis. He was indeed an old friend of mine, and it's been more than two years since we last spoke. I look forward to catching up with him. I wonder whereabouts you are based now, as it didn't take all that long for me to receive your letter.
I hope this finds you well, and that you are able to give Selvis this gift.
Best wishes, Carmelita
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Dear Selvis:
It's so good to hear from you again. You will have to excuse the shortness of this letter; I'm slightly nervous and unsure of what to say. It really has been quite a while, and I'm merely wondering how you're doing. I was quite certain I would never see you again, and I was initially unsure how to react when I received your friend's letter, because... well... it brought a lot of feelings rushing back to the surface, and I have to admit I still have feelings for you. I know that young love can be a fleeting thing, but it's still there, at least for me. If you don't feel the same way, then that's understandable - I'm just glad we can be friends again.
You will have to tell me more about your other companions - Caden strikes me as a very interesting creature, so that's a good start. I can't imagine you're all that far away right now, but I hope to hear from you soon; whatever becomes of things between us, we can still be friends. I loved you once, and I love you still, but I understand if it's too hard for you to maintain something like that. I'm sure you're aware of the situation our home nation is in, after all, and added to that, not being able to see me makes it harder still. I realise all this, but I would like to hear your thoughts.
Speak soon, Carmelita
P.S. Send Caden my best regards for his 15th birthday!
The weasel smiled, sighing blissfully as he closed his eyes for a moment. "Oh, I can't thank you enough, Caden! It's wonderful to hear from her, but I know that a penpal romance can be very difficult to keep up. We can go back to being friends, of course - she was my best friend before we decided that there was perhaps something else there, and wanted to investigate it. Either way is fine by me, but I'll be sure to let her know where I stand on this. She seems rather pleased with you, too!," he remarked, nudging his companion. "Oh, and speaking of being pleased with things - you're not the only one who got some post this morning! I have something you may like taking up temporary residence in the Purser's store. It arrived ahead of schedule, but I didn't want to bring it anywhere because it's a rather conspicuous package," he said, chuckling. "No chance of me being able to hide it, at least not for too much longer, so I'll take you down there now so you can see it, if you like," he offered, smiling.
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Cerinus Apodemus was hard at work, tending to his Mess Cook duties. The mouse had gotten an early present for Caden as well, but was going to wait a little while longer before presenting them to him. Well... technically two early presents. One of them was quite small, though. He did in fact have that object on his person, though it was concealed quite well. He was waiting for the right moment to give Caden his gifts, and he couldn't do anything about that right now as he still had his job to complete. He knew that the mustelid would appreciate both gifts, though - he had had a tough time choosing the larger gift, but had in the end decided to go with his gut.
Selvis hadn't been the only one to receive some post that morning. The rodent had gotten a letter as well - an eagerly anticipated one from Archie. He hadn't had the time to read it yet, as he hadn't had very much privacy so far today, and would need it to properly process her response. He was moving on from what had happened between himself and Tally, but knew that his last letter had featured him basically pouring his heart out to her, and knew she'd have something to say about that. There was no way she'd just let it drop, but at least he was feeling more comfortable about discussing things of that nature now. That talk he'd had with Ocean whilst on bed rest in early July had helped to clear up a lot of things in his head, and he saw things differently now.
He soon finished cleaning up, wiping his paws dry after completing his task. He could see Alleline nearby, and this was fortuitous for him, as he had been meaning to speak with the goanna on his own. There had been quite a bit of discourse at their mess table, as per usual; Carrow had found himself in a rather talkative mood, and with the expansion of their circle to include Evi, they were never short on topics to discuss, the hedgehog doing his best to be as chatty as possible, even if he was still prone to bouts of shyness. The field mouse padded over to the lizard and sat down, looking rather content. "Hello, Alleline," he said gently. "Good to see you again. I wanted to ask, how did you find our time on land? Have to say that I rather needed it after so long at sea. It was nice to change things up. How about you?," he enquired.
--
Evi Panettos was about as well. The hedgehog had had a hearty dinner, and now he was going to use some of his remaining free time (as he had a little before the start of the Afternoon Watch) to catch up with some of his friends. He had very much enjoyed the time they had spent on land, and had been quite grateful to be on shore for a while after such a prolonged period at sea. He had celebrated his 15th birthday on August 10th in typically low-key fashion as that was what he had become used to over the years. He had asked that no presents be procured for him just yet, as he had actually only informed his friends of his impending birthday about a fortnight before the event. He was starting to open up and come out of his shell, and he found that he rather liked being that way.
At this point, they didn't have all that long until they went back on duty, and the hedgehog really felt as though he needed to speak to Ocean. He was curious about something, and wanted to ask the mustelid what he thought. Those other times he had been to Personza and Livorno, he had mostly kept to himself, but this time had been surrounded by friends, and this had made the experience all the better for him. He didn't feel as shy as he'd used to, and doing some exploring and shopping with his companions had really helped him. There was something he needed to have a word with his ermine friend about, though - he'd gone for a short walk after his dinner to try and get his thoughts in order (having been the first at his table to finish), but needed somebeast else's input.
He approached him, clearing his throat. "Hi, Ocean. Could we talk, please? Maybe over... here?," he suggested, pointing to the table opposite the one at which Caden was speaking with Selvis, as he didn't want to interrupt their conversation. He padded over and waited for the ermine to join him, clasping his paws together as though he were read to start uttering a prayer. He needed to focus. "Recently, I've been thinking about getting back in touch with my dad. I didn't say goodbye to him properly before I left two years ago, see, and I need to fill him in on what my life's been like since then. I only ran away because of my abusive stepmother, and I felt like I couldn't tell either of them my plan face to face because, well... if I'd told him, it might have got out somehow, and I didn't want her to hear that I was essentially cutting ties with my family because of her. I need to know how he's doing... should I reach out to him and ask about that? I'm nervous about it, I have to admit," he almost whispered, keeping his eyes on Ocean's as he waited for the mustelid to respond.
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Raid
Aug 26, 2012 22:21:09 GMT -5
Post by Ladorak on Aug 26, 2012 22:21:09 GMT -5
The tables were being cranked back up into the ceiling, and the lower gun deck was once again being cleared. Ocean raised a brow when Evi approached him. He was in their mess now, as Caden of course ate down in the cockpit. "Oh? Why... sure." the ermine nodded, and moved to where the hedgehog indicated, in between two guns. He knew they really didn't have a lot of time for this, but there was a few minutes at least before the start of the Afternoon Watch.
He hooked his thumbs into his pants' pocket, and listened as the hedgehog outlined his plan. He nodded as it seemed the hedgehog wanted to get back in touch with his father. Ocean had initially suspected Evi of having a religious question, but as it turned out, that wasn't the case.
"Oh? You left without ever really saying goodbye?" Ocean asked now, nodding thoughtfully. "Yes... of course you should write to him." the ermine replied without hesitation. "You see, he's still your father, and it sounds like you didn't at least part on bad terms... but not telling him where you've gone to... that certainly won't help matters." Ocean shook his head here. "I think it's only right and proper that you get back in touch with him and let him know about your current situation. You're old enough now that he can't really interfere in your life, and chances of you seeing him again are of course slim... where did you say you were from again?" They only port they'd continuously been to on a regular basis had been Livorno, so was Evi from Calgary? It made sense at least. He certainly didn't seem to be from Welkin... but of course Ocean was only basing that off of him not seeing Evi when he himself joined the Agamemnon back in June of 1793.
"God wouldn't want you to simply cut all ties after all. Your father is a good person... from what you told me... and it'll be good to at least let him know where you've gone to."
A little further down from them, Alleline leaned his back against the hull, exhaling through his teeth in a hissing manner as Carrow asked him what he thought of their time back in port. "Hmmm... well it was good to finally get back on land I think, sir. I'm more partial to the sea than I am to land... but nothing like solid ground beneath your feet after a lengthy cruise." the goanna commented, digging around in his pocket and pulling out some chewing tobacco. He was certainly enjoying getting these twists for free.
Breaking open the pack, he popped the twist in his mouth and began chewing. "Can't say I particularly thought our last cruise to be very eventful though, sir. That battle was certainly a bust. Don't seem to be getting any closer to finishing the Rosferians in this theater... that's for sure." he mumbled in between chews.
Caden, who was still a bit further on, had read the letter's contents, smiling as Carmelita wished him a happy birthday. She also stated she certainly loved Selvis! Well... that was good news, and he smiled, clapping the weasel on the back. "Well... you never know... maybe once this war's over, you can go and visit her when we drop you off at Crittenden." the albino commented, still grinning.
"I think it's good to at least keep it alive a little. Something to look forward to... someday. Ahem... oh?" he asked after clearing his throat.
"So... there's something in the purser's office for me, is there?" he asked, smiling again. He opened his mouth to tell Selvis that yes, heading down there was a good idea, but the words never left his mouth before the cry of "CLEAR FOR ACTION!" sounded out from the deck above them. A midshipjack shouted the order down through the hatch, and Caden's ears perked up. "Huh! Well what do you know? Must've sighted the enemy! And you know what the best part of that is? NO Hotham around to interfere!" Caden said. "Right... CLEAR FOR ACTION!" he cupped his paws around his mouth, and shouted the word along the lower gun deck, then ran to the main hatch and shouted it again down to the orlop deck to keep the word passed.
"Everyone assemble topside for orders!" Caden called out. "Looks like that package of yours will have to wait... but I'm sure we'll get to it once this is over... or possibly before the battle itself. You never know!" He clapped Selvis on the back once more, and was racing off topside now, most of the crew starting to follow suit to learn what their assignments would be.
Heading up to Ladorak as the crew began mustering on the weather deck, the albino looked about him, wondering where their target was. He had a good guess it was that group of ships clustered close inshore though, along the Calgarian coast.
"Reporting for duty sir!" Caden saluted Lieutenant Andrews, the fox sixth lieutenant, who was his direct superior officer in command of his division. "What would you like us to do? What's the target by the way, sir?"
"Captain Fugate is looking to cut out that Rosferian convoy lying inshore near Vado. Midshipjack Fugate, I'd like your subdivision to bring up extra shot from the lockers and start filling up the garlands. Same as the last few times. Make sure they're all filled. You'll be pawdling the garlands on the upper gun deck. All the 18 pound shot."
"Yes sir! Understood Lieutenant Andrews, sir!" Caden saluted again, was dismissed, and headed over to his subdivision. "OK guys! Same routine as last time! We'll be bringing up the spare shots from the lockers in the hold! You know the drill! Head down there, start stacking the 18 pound shot in your baskets, and start filling the garlands on the upper gun deck! Let's go! Let's go! Let's go! Let's go!" He clapped his paws, and sent his subdivision on their way.
Ocean and Alleline saluted, and immediately started making for the stairs. Caden moved beside Selvis as they started taking the stairs down. "So guess what?" he asked the weasel. "I heard Ladorak wants to cut out that Rosferian convoy inshore of us and take them! FINALLY! Some real action... we might even get to board the enemy ships too! Won't that be something?" he asked eagerly, a little breathless from all the running. "I'm sure we'll get details in a bit... but I'm just happy to be actually doing this kind of thing! My first... our first time after all." He quickly corrected himself, a wide smile on his features.
They soon reached the dark and cramped hold. Opening up the 18 pound shot lockers, Alleline began distributing the shot into baskets for Ocean, Evi, and Selvis to take. "Jussst tell me when." the goanna told them, as they knew how much weight they'd be able to handle after all. Once they had their fill, they would of course move up to the upper gun deck and begin filling up the shot garlands. They had around 15 minutes to perform this task, though they'd become well accustomed to it now, and doing so would be a piece of cake for them. After that, they'd report to their gun to "unlimber" It so to speak, and get it ready for firing. Then... the Afternoon Watch would resume as normal.
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Raid
Aug 29, 2012 11:10:39 GMT -5
Post by Carrow on Aug 29, 2012 11:10:39 GMT -5
"We parted on terms that were as good as could have been expected at the time," Evi responded with a wry smile. "We certainly got on well, but I had to go about announcing my decision in a way that wouldn't alert my stepmother. I told them I was leaving, but I didn't say where I was headed... mostly because I hadn't a damn clue where I was going next. All I needed was to leave. I didn't have any skills worth mentioning, couldn't find work... but I always knew I'd made the right decision. I got out while I still had the chance, before I was broken by the atmosphere I'd lived in for four years. At some point it crossed my mind that I would be much better off at sea, as I would get a fresh start and be able to make something of myself. Granted, it's only been recently that I've started to come out of my shell, but it takes a while to shake that sort of stuff off."
He nodded as Ocean went on, smiling slightly. "I agree; I've needed to do this for a while, but I've been putting it off for this long because I have had literally no idea what to say, not before now at least," he admitted. "He loved me, and I loved him right back, but it was better for both of us that I left when I did, because I could have broken up his marriage to my stepmother if I'd opened up about what she'd been doing to me, and I was on the verge of doing so, but I knew that he loved her. He never really interfered in my life, only when he thought it was for my own good. We were always on good terms, but he had been unlucky in love, and was perhaps reluctant to have too much bearing on my decisions because he knew how hard it was for me to deal with the divorce. If only he'd known...," he said softly, shaking his head. As for where I'm from, well, I'm from Livorno, but I'd been shuffled around a few places in Calgary before we settled there - my dad moved from one job to the next.
"He was quite unlucky in that respect also. We settled after I turned eight... and then he was divorced barely a year later. I might never have known of the opportunity to serve at sea if I hadn't moved as much as I did, though, so perhaps it was a blessing in disguise. God wouldn't want us never to speak again, though, I know that - I'm not overly religious, but I do say my prayers and such things. It's not much, but it's there. It's what works for me," he revealed to the ermine, smiling. "When I couldn't talk to anyone, I got down on my knees, put my paws together and talked to God instead... and I'd like to think He was listening. So yes... I'll write home when I get the chance. Thanks, Ocean!" He was about to say more when the call to Clear for Action came, and the hedgehog leapt to his paws. "Oh, what's this now? Well, I'll see you up above in a moment, I s'pose!" The hedgehog sped off topside. He wanted to be ready when Caden's orders were passed on, after all.
--
"I would agree, Alleline," Carrow responded with a smile. "I prefer being at sea as well, but it's nice to plant one's paws on terra firma every now and again; of course, if we're talking about why I enjoyed coming ashore a few weeks ago, well, that's only half the story," he said with a chuckle. "I rather enjoy Livorno, and I think I've grown more fond of it with each visit that we've made there. There hasn't been a single visit to Calgary that I haven't enjoyed. As for Personza, well... that place and I are not on good terms. It's not a particularly nice place to be, especially not at this time of year as it can be rather humid there, but at least we didn't lose anybeast to sickness there like we did last year," he commented.
The field mouse shook his head in response to the reference to their doomed Hyeres Islands conflict. "The only thing that particular skirmish was, was a non-event, if anything," he quipped, smiling despite the fact that he was still a little sore over how things had turned out. They'd lost quite a bit of ground because of Hotham's screw-up. Little did he know that there was a chance to make up for that disastrous turn of events about to be presented to him... something rather different than those which had come before. "You're right, though - we don't, and what's worse that we both know who's to blame for that. Oh well," he said, shrugging, "I'm sure there'll be another chance at some point, and I'm looking forward to when one arrives."
No sooner than he had finished speaking, he got his chance, as a cry suddenly ripped from Caden's throat. "CLEAR FOR ACTION!" The rodent shook his head again, but this time in surprise. "Well, how about that? Looks like we're getting that chance a lot sooner than I had anticipated! Would love to stay and chat, of course, but I've gotta dash. Good luck, mate!," he exclaimed, before tearing up the stairs, slowing his pace slightly once he had cleared the two gun decks. He jogged over to his post beside the Ship's Wheel, throwing salutes to the on-duty Quartermaster and Captain Fugate. "Reporting for duty, sirs!," he exclaimed eagerly, wondering what exactly was going on. At least Hotham wasn't around to spoil things this time. "What's the plan for this time, sir?," he asked, smiling.
--
Selvis was beaming as Caden patted him on the back, nodding slightly as the pine marten suggested that he could perhaps meet her again if they made it back to Crittenden. "Oh yes, that's certainly a good idea, but just in case that chance should never arrive, I don't want to become too heavily invested in this. We do love each other, but my situation has changed, and I stand to lose a lot if I can't get back home to see her and have fallen harder for her by that time. I know it may sound like I'm playing it safe, but I'm really not. I'll need to let her know about things, but we were best of friends before, and we can go back to that. I'm quite confident about that. I'm incredibly glad to hear from her again, in any case - that was a wonderful idea, Caden," he complimented his friend, still smiling.
"I'm going to keep it alive, of course, but I'm just fine leaving things where they are for now. It's been two years - who knows, a lot could have changed for her as well. I'll need to check in and see how she is, and then we'll decide what we want to do. It'll need to go both ways, of course, but she knows where I am, and I know where she is - a long-distance relationship will be quite a lot harder to maintain than a long-distance friendship. Maybe we're better off with the latter. I'll consider your advice, all the same." He smiled once more as his companion asked about the present that was down in the Purser's store for him, but their conversation was abruptly cut short by a cry of 'CLEAR FOR ACTION!' from above. Selvis's ears perked up, and he nodded again, much more enthusiastically this time as it was mentioned that there was indeed no sign of Hotham this time. "Heheh, that'll certainly make things interesting!," he exclaimed, before Caden started spreading the word.
The longtail knew he could look forward to pawing Caden his present later, and he smiled as the marten speculated about what was to come; he appreciated the pat on the back as well. He then headed for the weather deck, visibly looking forward to what was to come. That clueless capybara that passed for an Admiral was nowhere to be seen, so already their chances of coming away with something from whatever it was they were now getting themselves into were looking better. Left to their own devices, the crew of the Agamemnon could accomplish quite a lot - the weasel knew that, and what's more, he'd seen it. He met up with Alleline, Ocean and Evi (making sure to keep up with all three creatures, of course, as they weren't wasting time in getting onto the weather deck, where they would soon be receiving orders from Caden - once the albino was filled in on what was going on).
Evi grinned at Selvis as the pair joined Ocean and Alleline in Caden's subdivision, standing together and eagerly awaiting Caden's arrival; they could see him discussing things with Lieutenant Andrews. The pine marten soon approached them and gave them their instructions: they were to accompany him to the hold and start bringing up the 18-pound shot, as the garlands on the upper gun deck needed to be filled. His exhortations lent speed to Selvis's paws, and after throwing a salute, he hurried for the stairs, but Caden soon caught up with him, and the weasel looked quite excited by what his friend had heard. "Oh yes, that sounds VERY exciting! It's about damn time we got some proper action, so I'll be sure to get involved once we know what we're doing." He soon joined his friends down in the hold, taking a short while to catch his breath after taking several flights of stairs in quick succession.
He watched as Alleline filled the baskets for himself and Evi, but the hedgehog was the first to speak - he didn't want to bite off more than he could chew, at least not this early in the task, as he knew they'd have several trips to make. "Er... that's fine, Alleline, thank you," he informed the monitor lizard when he guessed that the ideal weight had been reached. With a grunt, Evi took up the basket and started back the way he had come. Eventually, Selvis gave Alleline a thumbs-up, nodding at him before retrieving his own basket and following his friend up the stairs. They were quite used to this procedure at this stage, but it was becoming clear to both creatures that things would most likely be taking a different turn later on.
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Raid
Aug 29, 2012 13:06:12 GMT -5
Post by Ladorak on Aug 29, 2012 13:06:12 GMT -5
"Report for duty at the wheel, Mr. Apodemus." Ladorak pointed to the ship's wheel, and returned his salute. "We're executing a turn to larboard, and I want our bows pointed RIGHT at those Rosferian ships near shore!" Ladorak explained, adjusting his claw so it was now pointing at the Rosferian convoy.
"We'll decide which ship to put ourselves alongside once we get a little closer... unless of course YOU want to pick which ship we'll be taking as part of Caden's early birthday present." Ladorak told Carrow, his eyes flashing as he gave the mouse a smile now.
"Either way, the plan is to cut out that convoy. We'll pull alongside one of those ships, while the rest of my squadron does the same, board and capture the lot of them!" the stoat exclaimed, giving a firm nod.
"I'll be asking for volunteers for the boarding party shortly, young Apodemus, though as an officer, you of course will be staying here." Ladorak pointed at the deck of the ship. "Quartermasters always stay with the ship, after all, as you possess a unique skill set. Technically, I'm supposed to be staying behind as well but... I don't think I'll be able to help myself on this one." the monocled stoat Captain stated, grinning. "Rather than delegate it to one of my lieutenants, I'd MUCH prefer to lead the boarding party myself!"
This was of course highly unusual, as captains did not lead boarding parties, but Ladorak of course was an exceptional stoat when it came to making his own rules. "Just get us pointed right at that convoy, and pick out any particular ship you like!" Ladorak ordered, jabbing his paw right at the convoy now for emphasis.
"How about it then?" Quartermaster Judson asked Carrow. "Any ship you think we should target? Captain can always overrule us after all... but just the fact that he's giving us THIS discretion... well I suppose that's Captain Ladorak Fugate for you!" the coati grinned. "Let's see... we got two brigs... two galleys... and seven merchant ships to choose from. Any preference?" he asked the mouse.
Ocean was delighted to hear that Evi was a fellow believer, though it didn't surprise him. Calgary was the holy seat of the Vatican after all, and even though Tuscany was part of Kostritz, Kostritz WAS the seat of power for the Holy Roman Empire. Catholicism abounded in those lands.
As they heaved up their baskets and began heading topside, Ocean managed to reach out and pat the hedgehog on the back. "I was very pleased to hear about your faith, brother." the ermine told the hedgehog. "God hasn't abandoned you in your time of need... and He's still watching out for you even now." he told Evi reassuringly. "He'll be with you wherever you go... even if your father can't be. You may not have known this, but I myself am a member of the Knights Hospitaller. If you ever have any questions concerning your faith, my mission is to serve my brothers in need, so please don't hesitate to ask." he told the hedgehog warmly.
They moved their way up to the upper gun deck, dropping their baskets and beginning to fill up the garlands. Caden directed where best to fill in the empty spots before they went back down for more, continuing this rapid work until all of the holes on that deck had been filled.
The crew then proceeded to cast loose the guns and get them ready for firing. It was unknown yet just what sort of resistance they would encounter, but Ladorak wanted to be ready for all number of possibilities, even IF the Agamemnon could destroy any one of those armed ships almost effortlessly with her broadside.
With the guns secured and ready for firing, it was now back to work... though not just yet. As it turned out, Ladorak called for the ship's company to muster up on the weather deck, and form into their respective watches. Larboard watch would line up along the larboard side of the ship, starboard watch on starboard.
Caden mustered his subdivison together, and proceeded with them topside to line up along the starboard side of the Agamemnon, where the wind was currently coming from. It was at their backs, as the starboard watch lined up facing amidships, and both watches formed a convenient "corridor" that the Captain and other officers could walk down.
Captain Fugate strode down in between them, his boots thudding on the deck as he walked with his paws behind his back, looking from left to right with glowing pride and determination at his ship's crew. "Noble seajacks of the Agamemnon! Today, we are embarking on a different sort of mission. This one is a boarding action! Out near the Calgarian shore, there just happens to be a small Rosferian convoy, very weakly protected compared to the squadron under my command." Ladorak pointed out, his voice strong and carrying over all of them as he placed his paws on his chest.
The monocled stoat swiveled to face the starboard watch. "We're going in there to take the lot of them! Our ship and the others in our squadron will each pick an opponent, pull up RIGHT alongside them, and board them!" He turned to face the larboard watch now. "We'll kill any who resist, and take the rest prisoner! Now I'm not expecting much resistance if any at all... but you never know with the Rosferians, after all. So BE prepared. Think very carefully about what types of weapons you'll be wanting to use. You each get one!" he held up a silvery claw, turning now to face forward. "This will be our first real boarding action! Therefore I would like volunteers to toe these two lines..." he pointed downward along the seams in between two planks on the deck on either side of him in front of each watch.
"I'm going to need about a hundred able bodied jacks. The rest will keep running the ship and act as reinforcements if necessary, though once again, I don't expect much resistance. Some of you ARE in fact designated boarders in action. For those of you who are, step forward now. Volunteers step forward after them."
Caden stepped forward almost immediately, and saluted his captain and guardian. "Captain Fugate, sir! Requesting permission to act as second to the boarding commander!"
"No need, Midshipjack Fugate." Ladorak replied, walking over to him with a knowing smile on his face. "I will be commanding the boarding party personally." He patted his great sword Midlight Hammer at his side.
Caden raised his brows, surprised by this, but knew better than to question his captain. "Sir! Yes sir! Of course!" he replied, standing at attention on the seam. So unusual though! A ship's CAPTAIN leading the boarding party? Usually that kind of thing was left up to one of the lieutenants! But then again... Caden knew from experience that Ladorak would never give an order that he himself was not willing to do... so maybe this was just proof of that.
Ocean stepped forward as well, as did Alleline, and other crew members began following suit. Ladorak walked back and forth, still looking from left to right as he waited for the boarding party volunteers to finish assembling on either side of him.
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Sept 1, 2012 17:23:55 GMT -5
Post by Carrow on Sept 1, 2012 17:23:55 GMT -5
Carrow blushed slightly and nodded bashfully at the stoat's instructions as he padded the rest of the way over to the wheel. He hadn't meant for that to happen, but apparently he was being told to get right into things today, and his large ears twitched eagerly as Ladorak told him to point the ship's bows right at the Rosferian warships. It took the rodent a moment to register what was going on, but he followed the mustelid's claw as he pointed at the foreign vessels, and his breath caught in his throat. Could it be...? Wait!, his mind told him, you don't know if you're ready for this yet, or even if you're allowed to go... that's if it even is a boarding action. That part hadn't become clear yet, but he was sure he'd find out soon.
He nodded, taking hold of the wheel and using a push-pull technique to turn to the wheel to starboard, and as he did so, he listened to Ladorak as the stoat continued. He had to take a moment to process what was being said to him, but he could have sworn he heard something about the Agamemnon taking a ship. He didn't find himself capable of responding right away, and had to concentrate on his work for a moment as he the stoat's comments to sink in. The rodent's eyes widened. "Ohh. So it IS a boarding action that you're suggesting, sir. I wasn't sure at first, but that sounds like quite an exciting prospect!," he exclaimed, his tail rising in anticipation.
"You'd like me to choose the ship we'll take, sir?," he repeated, shaking his head in wonderment. "Wow, well... first of all, thanks a lot for giving me the option. I'm not quite sure on my choice as of yet, though. Give me a moment and I'll make my decision then," he told the Captain. He wasn't yet sure if he would be accompanying Caden and Selvis in this endeavour; the mouse wasn't sure Evi would be up to something like this, and indeed, he didn't even know himself, but then Ladorak told him that he would be staying put, which removed the prospect of him making a difficult decision. He wasn't that disappointed; if anything, he was relieved that the choice was being made for him.
"I don't blame you for wanting to take part in such a thing, sir," the field mouse responded to the mustelid as he completed the turn so that the ship's bows were now pointing directly at the convoy of enemy vessels. "It's certainly exciting, but I'm still unsure I'm cut out for such things, so I'm glad I can still serve the ship properly without having to become involved in any of that. I appreciate that quite a lot, sir," he told the stoat, now able to make out some of the ships in the foreign convoy. He had to choose one out of what appeared to be 11 Rosferian warships. Hmm..., he thought, let's see what they are first. Quartermaster Judson then addressed him, and the mouse's eyes brightened as he was told about the different kinds of ships he had to choose from. It didn't take him too long to make up his mind from there on. "I think we should go for a galley, sir," he told his superior, smiling slightly.
--
Evi greatly appreciated the pat on the back that he received from Ocean. "It's nice to know He's looking out for me, Ocean, and that you're looking out for me as well, being of the same faith. I have struggled with it in the past, but I'm comfortable with choosing to believe in God because I feel like it's part of my identity. I don't think it was before I ran away from home that I started to get in touch with my religious side. It was there before - my dad and birth mother were both Catholics, my dad perhaps more so, though I could never really tell. My stepmother made no mention of religion, so I couldn't tell one way or the other." He shrugged, before raising his brows at the ermine's revelation. "I most certainly did not. You're one of the Knights of Malta? This is quite interesting to me, and I shall have to ask you more about this when I can think of what to ask. I'd be delighted to discuss other religious matters with you, of course," he told the ermine with a smile.
He and Selvis dropped their baskets on the upper gun deck, and began to fill the shot garlands, making more trips down to the hold and back up until this task had been completed. They were both expecting to go back to work at this stage, but word came through that Ladorak wanted both the starboard and larboard watches to assemble on the weather deck, so the weasel and hedgehog went with Caden to line up alongside the rest of the starboard watch, both of them eager to find out more about what the stoat Captain had planned for them. Said stoat soon appeared, striding down the so-called 'corridor' that had been created. There was a real sense of occasion to things, and it didn't take long for either of them to find out why.
Both creatures listened as the Captain addressed them about their latest mission, and their respective responses could be seen clearly in the way they reacted: the weasel's face showed excitement and determination, whilst the hedgehog's features displayed thoughtfulness and trepidation. Selvis was prepared to injure and even kill in the line of duty, and indeed, had done so before when on Calvi (sustaining a broken ankle in the process), but Evi, whilst he knew that things would come to this eventually, wasn't so sure. Both creatures were unable to hide smiles at Caden's eagerness to serve as second to the boarding commander, and likewise, unable to suppress gasps when Ladorak informed his charge that he would be leading the boarding party himself.
They watched as Ocean and Alleline stepped forward, and neither moved for a moment. Then, Selvis had an idea. He crouched for a moment, whispering into Evi's ear as he placed his paws on the hedgehog's shoulders. "You can do this, OK? You're going to have Caden, Alleline, Ocean and myself with you. It's not like you're going to be doing this on your own, all right? I've seen you out there on the gun crew; you have good instincts, you just need to know when to trust them, and that's what you'll need to do if you step up for this. I believe in you, mate; now, the choice is yours." He stepped forward to join his friends, smiling, but keeping an eye on Evi for a moment. The hedgehog thought about the longtail's words, before nodding, knowing he had to start sometime. He stepped forward and lined up beside Selvis, receiving a gentle pat on his headspikes from the mustelid, who felt much better knowing that all his eligible friends could join him.
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Sept 2, 2012 17:34:32 GMT -5
Post by Ladorak on Sept 2, 2012 17:34:32 GMT -5
"A galley it shall be, then!" Judson responded, nodding as they adjusted course to head for one of the two 5 gun galleys. They would be taking on a warship, though the galley was ill disposed to fight them. Her 5 guns faced only forward and aft, and were not in broadside, thus giving the Agamemnon the advantage.
Ladorak was nodding now, pleased with how many volunteers he had. "Good! Well get down below. The Master-at-Arms will be distributing the boarding weapons." Indeed, the hedgehog was already starting to take stock of how many weapons they had, so that everything could be returned at the end of the day. "Take what you need, then continue the Afternoon Watch. We'll be heading in, cut them out, then take our prizes out of the anchorage by sundown." Ladorak assured them. "Report to subdivisions once you have your weapons. Dismissed!" He said, the crew coming to attention, and saluting their Captain as the stoat returned their salute.
Striding back over to the wheel, the Captain noted their new course. "Aha... from the looks of it, you want us to take on one of those galleys, right? Excellent choice, Mr. Apodemus!" Ladorak praised. "While you no longer find many of those on the high seas, they still can be found every now and then in the Mediterranean, and they rely more on muscle power than wind power... but I'm experienced enough that I'm confident we can sail her out of the anchorage." Ladorak nodded confidently.
"They're lateen rigged, so it's a little different than a square rigger, but it'll be good experience for the prize crew sailing her as well, and Caden in particular, as I may have him study the lieutenant who will be commanding the prize. Sailing a lateen rigged vessel is much different, after all." Ladorak pointed out. "If you like... you could take the wheel on her, as we WILL be needing a Quartermaster in the prize crew." Ladorak winked at Carrow now. "Of course, you'd be supervised by a Quartermaster, but I'll leave that up to you."
The boarding party by now was heading below to the gun room on the lower gun deck. That "room" was just an open space now, due to the bulkheads having been taken down. But the arms' chests had been broken out, and the Master-at-Arms and his Corporals were there, getting ready to paw out the weapons requested. There were pistols and muskets, cutlasses and poleaxes, pikes and tomahawks. Any weapon one could want for close quarters battle. While resistance wasn't expected, it always paid off to be prepared.
"Good day, Midshipjack Fugate sir. What'll it be?" the hedgehog Master-at-Arms greeted the albino who was first in line to collect his weapons. Caden already had his answer. "A pistol and a tomahawk, please." The marten requested. Tomahawks were his preferred close-quarters combat weapon. And the pistol was due to his being an officer, and not wanting to take any chances. The dirk at his side was more ceremonial than anything else, and was of little use in a close-in fight.
Pawing him a pistol and a tomahawk, the albino stuck both into his belt, making sure they were secure. Ocean requested a cutlass, as he liked swords during his practice with the Master-at-Arms and his peers, and preferred them to anything else.
Alleline decided to try a poleaxe out, and took a musket as well. He was big enough that he didn't have to worry about handling a musket (due to their shorter statue, the striplings would be refused muskets if they asked for them). There were paw or hand grenades as well, though they were usually reserved for stand-up broadside battles between ships very close together. You didn't want to be throwing grenades onto a prone ship after all. It risked damaging the prize and causing fires.
The big monitor stuck the poleaxe on his back, obtaining a belt with which to do so, and carried the musket at his side. The muskets for the crew weren't fancy Indian patterns like the marines had, but they got the job done all the same. Caden moved back out onto the gun deck, waiting for his subdivision to gather, as he already knew what work they'd be doing for the Afternoon Watch; his schedule had been given to him in the wee hours of the Morning Watch earlier in the day.
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Sept 5, 2012 10:59:27 GMT -5
Post by Carrow on Sept 5, 2012 10:59:27 GMT -5
Carrow nodded, smiling, still with his paws on the wheel. He'd never seen a galley, but he'd read a little about them before and had gotten the impression that they were rather old-fashioned. From what he'd seen, there'd be no chance of the vessel he'd targeted being able to stand up to the Agamemnon, certainly in terms of firepower, but the rodent couldn't help but wonder if there would be resistance from her crew, even if they found themselves outmatched. He knew that the Rosferians could be quite obstinate, from what he had experienced of their combat methods, but he'd be relying on Caden and his friends to fill him in on how things had gone. For the next few hours, he'd be here, but he knew he'd have to find somebeast to eat his supper with if his friends were away - he really didn't feel like being alone for something like that.
"The reason I went for that kind of vessel, sir, is that I've recently read a little about a few types of ship that are different to our own, which I'm obviously more familiar with. I'd love to see a galley up close, but since I have to stay here, I'll be hearing about it from my friends instead. I'm quite excited for them, but I would have seriously considered joining them if I'd been able to do so. I've passed up opportunities like this before because I didn't feel confident enough, or felt too afraid to commit, but it's not really like that anymore. I enjoy getting involved in things, and I'm going to try to do that a little more whenever the opportunity arises. I know it'll be different for me, being a Quartermaster and all, but it's something to consider, at least," he said softly, in the process of doing so himself.
Before he could become too lost in his own thoughts, though, Ladorak returned, and the mouse saluted the stoat when he reached him, nodding eagerly as Ladorak commented on the course the ship was now set on. "Thank you, sir! I do indeed! I was just explaining to Quartermaster Judson here that I've recently become quite interested in different kinds of ship, and galleys in particular. From what I understand, they're not exactly a common sight these days." Ladorak went on to back up the rodent's point, and he smiled. "Aha, I thought as much. Yes, I've read before that they rely on the strength of their crew much more than anything else to get around... but you do seem rather confident about things, sir," the field mouse noted. "I hope things go well for you and your boarding crew."
He nodded again as the stoat explained to him that lateen-rigged vessels required a different method of steering than square-rigged ones. "Yes, I've heard about that before, sir, but I'm not entirely sure what those differences are. I'm sure that I shall be enlightened about those in due course, however, if we do manage to capture that ship." His eyebrows rose as the stoat Captain made his offer. "Really?," he asked, voice rising in pitch somewhat. "That would be a very interesting thing to do, sir. It definitely sounds appealing, at least. I'll make my decision on that at a later stage, though - let's see how things go first," he said, not wanting to count his chickens before they hatched.
--
Selvis and Evi listened intently as Ladorak told them what he planned to do as regarded the capture of the ship. They didn't yet know that a galley had been targeted as their prize, but it didn't matter to either of them what they went after; they were greatly excited by the prospect of some action in any case. They nodded, smartly saluting the stoat once he had finished giving his orders, and were dismissed along with the rest of the boarding crew. There was an eager smile on the longtail's features as he joined up with Caden et al as they made their way down to the gun room. He wanted to stick close by to his friends for the moment, as he was quite interested in hearing what they had to say about all this once they had returned to work.
They soon reached the gun room, and both creatures looked quite thoughtful as they considered the different kinds of weapons they could choose from. There were six, but in reality there were only five, as they were both aware that they would be refused a musket if they asked for one; this was irrelevant, anyway, because even though the hedgehog was well-built, he was nowhere close to being able to pawdle a weapon such as that due to his diminutive stature. Selvis, meanwhile, would have been able to use one if allowed, but in this case he preferred something smaller and far less unwieldy.
He waited for his friends to go first, and smiled as they chose their weapons. Each of them elected to choose weapons that the mustelid thought suited them rather well, and he once again needed to coax Evi into going before he did, as he still hadn't made up his mind. The hedgehog did indeed go first; despite his slightly nervous disposition (he was still coming to terms with the coming engagement, after all), he had been able to decide which weapons he would be using. He stepped forward, clearing his throat before addressing the Master-at-Arms (another hedgehog, something that helped him to feel slightly more comfortable about doing this). "I'd like a pistol and a cutlass, please, sir," he informed his fellow hedgehog - these were weapons he had pawdled before and had something of a feel for. He was pawed both, as well as a belt for his cutlass, which he promptly stuck on his back after watching Alleline do the same with his poleaxe.
Next, it was Selvis's turn, and he was hesitant to ask for any weapons in particular, as the five options available to him all looked rather appealing, but as he stepped forward, he decided to go with his instincts and stick to weapons that he was a little more familiar with, which ruled out the poleaxes and tomahawks straight away; he'd rarely used either of those in weapons training, but there were two particular weapons that he was quite fond of, and like Evi, he found it best to stick to what he knew. He cleared his throat also before addressing the hedgehog. "I'll go with a pike and a pistol, please, sir," he informed the Master-at-Arms, smiling as he was pawed both of those, as well as a belt, as the mustelid didn't have one. He stuck them both into it, and rejoined his companions, ready to get back to work.
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Sept 6, 2012 13:33:55 GMT -5
Post by Ladorak on Sept 6, 2012 13:33:55 GMT -5
"Well good for you, Mr. Apodemus!" the coati Quartermaster responded. "I'm sure your friends will be glad to hear that as well. Being active and wanting to volunteer is far better than the opposite, in my opinion. Will certainly get you noticed by the Captain too." Judson managed to say before Ladorak returned.
"Well it's certainly different, I'll say that." Ladorak replied to the mouse. "And yes... they're much more rare, these days. You see, the lateen rig is useful for the light and often fickle winds of the Mediterranean. No matter which way the wind shifts, you can always easily catch it with a lateen rig, and sail much closer to the wind than a square rigger can... BUT..." Here the stoat paused for effect, smiling now.
"Square riggers run before the wind MUCH better than lateen riggers do, and that's a real advantage when crossing the oceans, where the winds are more constant and easy to take full advantage of. Lateen rigs can't fully do that, so a square rigger wins out when making long voyages and traversing oceans, hence why the lateen rig is often considered out of date in most parts of the world, but still useful for small seas like the Mediterranean."
"Fortunately for us..." he continued. "I can sail both. I just want to make sure the prize crew I leave aboard will be capable of pawdling themselves and their ship correctly. It's a whole different world from a square rigger, after all!" he pointed out.
One of his lieutenants fortunately had some experience in those types of vessels as well, and Ladorak had him in mind to command the prize once they took it.
"Just let me know then, Mr. Apodemus, and we'll get to figuring out where you'll be going a bit later on." the stoat Captain informed the mouse, giving him another nod as he watched their ship's progress. It would be some time before they arrived... Ladorak estimated perhaps an hour to an hour and a half... but once they got there, time would most certainly start to fly. The stoat patted his great sword at his side, and stared right ahead of them at their target. It didn't even look as if the Rosferians were trying to flee... and maybe they weren't aware of the true danger they faced, though they would soon find out.
Caden waited for his subdivision to assemble, smiling as they gathered around him. "OK! Now that we've got the weapon choices sorted, we're going to be helping the Caulker today. As you know, it's been awhile since our last major refit... and while most ships can stay relatively dry this long without needing further work, the Agamemnon, sadly, cannot. So we'll be helping the Caulker and his mates out by doing what we always do."
For the crew, that meant hammering in pieces of fibers and packing into the seams of the ship, and letting the Caulker and his mates run over the seams with their tar to seal it all up and keep the innards of the ship as dry as could be managed. It wasn't pleasant sleeping in wet hammocks after all, which Agamemnon had experienced a bit more of the past few days. It was clear that the ship's poor design was catching up with it, and long times away from Welkin and refits weren't doing it any favors.
They would be working on the upper gun deck, and Caden led them up there to meet up with the wolf Caulker. The canine greeted them, and around him lay baskets of hemp and "junk", or knotted and disused bits of rope that would make for convenient filling for the seams. "Afternoon, lads." the Caulker greeted, tipping his hat. "We've been waitin' for you. We gotta start recaulking all along this deck, so let's look lively and hop to it!" He clapped his paws to get Caden's subdivision moving. Ocean and Alleline threw their salutes, and began gathering up the "junk" and wooden hammers to commence their work.
"Just pack it in as tightly as you can manage lads... as tight as you can!" the Caulker reiterated for them.
"Hard to believe my birthday is only three days away." Caden said to Selvis as he stood close by the weasel (who would of course be working on his paws and knees for this). "Even harder to believe that I'll be 15!" he exclaimed, shaking his head. "What happened to the little marten of 11 that I used to be?" he asked, unable to stiffle a chuckle.
"Well... looks like we can talk again." Ocean told Evi as he knelt down and began hammering the bits of hemp and rope into the seams in between the planks. "Sorry it got cut short before. I'm very glad to have found a brother in the faith aboard, after all. I was wondering too... did your family come into Calgary from Kostritz after Tuscany's annexation to the latter after the War of the Kradowskan Succession... or were they always there under the Medicis before said family had to surrender the lands to the Habsburgs?" That had certainly been an unusual arrangement. The loser of the War for Kradowska's throne had been given the Duchy of Lorraine as compensation for his loss, whilst the Duke of Lorraine (who later become Holy Roman Emperor and Emperor of Kostritz) was compensated by getting the Grand Duchy of Tuscany.
As unusual as it was, the Medicis were a dying house at the time, and by the 1740s their line had become extinct anyway, so Kostritz picking up the traditional Medici lands made sense, as it had helped stop Ferlusanian expansion into Calgary at the time, which was something Ferlusan had had its eyes on ever since the losses of their Calgarian possessions in the War of the Ferlusanian Succession.
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Sept 10, 2012 18:16:25 GMT -5
Post by Carrow on Sept 10, 2012 18:16:25 GMT -5
"Yes, I suppose one has to keep themselves occupied whenever they can, sir," the mouse responded to the coati already thinking about what was to come. Even though he knew that he wouldn't be involved in it, it was still a most exciting prospect. "If I can get myself noticed by our good captain whilst doing so, that'll just be a bonus. I'm not in this for prestige or anything of the sort, but it's always nice when somebeast acknowledges the work you do. In fact, I still haven't quite figured out just exactly where I'd like to end up once all this is over - assuming I even reach that stage, of course, as one has to be realistic - but I have to take each day as it comes, because things can change rather quickly from one day to the next" he said, in a thoughtful mood now.
He listened to the stoat Captain outline the differences between lateen-rigged and square-rigged ships for him, and, as per usual, found himself hanging on the mustelid's every word. "I need to look into these kinds of of things a little more, sir. I hadn't the slightest clue about different vessels when we set sail two years ago, but recently I've found myself becoming rather interested in all that. There's just so much to take in that I've not been quite sure where to start. I'm willing to learn, of course, as I know there are quite a few different aspects to ship life, and that includes taking in knowledge of methods different to our own" the mouse acknowledged, smiling from one creature to the other. "It'd be something to investigate, anyway!
"I can certainly see those differences clearly now, sir. Wonderfully explained, as ever" he complimented the stoat, giving him a warm smile. "I can also understand why they've largely fallen into disuse these days, considering the amount of long-haul journeys that are undertaken on vessels nowadays. There are pros and cons to each type, of course, as you've just outlined. That's good to know, and I'd certainly be mindful of those differences if I ever were to attempt standing at the wheel of one!" he exclaimed, brown eyes gleaming in excitement as he thought of what an experience something like that would be, before widening as Ladorak informed him that he could sail both types.
"Really, sir? That's quite unexpected, but it just goes to show what a versatile creature you are! It's good to have somebeast like that on board. If everything goes to plan and we do indeed end up capturing that galley, I'm certainly not going to pass up an opportunity to learn how to sail her. I'll end up regretting it. This is what my joining up was about, after all - well, among other things. I wanted new experiences and challenges to try and overcome, and I think something like that would fit the bill very well indeed. What do you think, sir?" he asked the monocled stoat, wanting a second opinion.
--
Evi and Selvis nodded at Caden's latest set of instructions, saluting him to show that they had understood. They enjoyed doing that kind of work as much they did anything else, but what the pine marten said was true: the Agamemnon needed to be refit more frequently than usual, so while the hedgehog and weasel perhaps had to do this more often than they would if they had served on another ship, they still liked doing so. Both creatures had been able to avoid sleeping in wet hammocks; Carrow, not so much, but it was something he had been able to deal with just fine. It didn't keep the rodent from sleeping, and was a minor inconvenience (if even that) when compared with what he had to deal with in the past.
They followed the rest of the marten's subdivision up to the upper gun deck, whereupon they were greeted by the wolf Caulker. They'd been over this plenty of times before, of course, but it certainly didn't hurt to be reminded about these things every once in a while. The ship was poorly designed, but they had learned to make do with what they had. They saluted once the canine had told them what they needed to do, and gathered up the 'junk' and the hammers, setting about doing their work, ready to approach the task with commendable enthusiasm. Evi was going to make sure to work alongside Ocean, as they had a conversation to continue from earlier on, and indeed, the ermine approached the hedgehog once he'd gotten into position.
Meanwhile, Selvis had made sure to limber up earlier in the day when he'd gotten the chance to do some early morning exercise (taking a leaf out of Caden and Ladorak's book in the process), just in case they'd needed to do work like this. Being down on all fours put strain on his back every now and then, and he had become more mindful of this in recent weeks. Caden moved over to talk to him as he began his work, hammering the 'junk' in between the planks with as much force as he could muster. The albino marten had a question for him, and the weasel initially could only muster a smile in response as he thought about his companion's query for a moment. When the words came, though, they came straight from the heart.
"Well, that little 11-year-old marten grew up, and he's about to become a 15-year-old Midshipjack!" he exclaimed, chuckling as he continued his work. "He also changed a lot, made some new friends, and discovered a fair few things about himself in the process. You're so far removed from who you used to be - or rather, what you've told me about who you used to be - that if I were meeting you for the first time today after 4 years, I wouldn't be able to recognise you! You've changed quite a bit. We all have - at least, I can see that the rest of you have, and I'd like to think I've come along a bit as well" he said modestly, smiling bashfully as he continued to work, being careful with the hammer he held in his paw, listening out for his friend's response.
Evi had started working, and he shook his head in reply to the ermine's apology. "No, that's just fine - it could hardly be helped, what with the sudden call to action and all. I'm quite glad to have found a fellow Catholic as well. I'm sure there are more here, of course, but y'know how it is. Protestant majority in Welkin and all that. As for where my family came from, well, I know for a fact that my dad's side have lived in Calgary for a number of generations. I think they go back as far as the Medicis, but I haven't had that confirmed one way or the other - this is actually one of the things I've been meaning to ask him about for a while. As for... well... my birth mother" he tried, wincing a little, "her side of things is a little more ambiguous. She may have some Kostritzer blood in her, but I'd need to get in touch with her to find out, and that would... probably bring up some issues for my dad. Maybe I shouldn't ask right away - they haven't spoken to each other in years, you see. In any case, it's definitely something to think about" he mused, smiling as he worked.
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