[Mission 1] Capture Lissa - At sea

[Elrick]

Wednesday 2nd December 1807
At sea South of Lissa Island

Captain Brenton stepped out onto the deck, sensing rather than seeing the Midshipment stiffen and turn to keep him in view. The sun had recently risen, but the only way anyone could tell under the leaden sky was that it had grown a bit lighter. HMS Spartan was running on a broad reach over a rough grey sea, with HMS Swanage and Caledonia wallowing along behind. Captain Brenton braced himself against the rigging and looked that the following ships. HMS Swanage was riding low, but HMS Caledonia was making heavy weather of it. He noted figures in Caledonia's rigging - Captain Sinclair finally bowing to the inevitable and reefing. He smiled, although it didn't reach his eyes.

[kremmen]

Elijah let his bare feet feel the planks under his feet, feel the ship flex under him.

He wasn't sure about the stowage, he thought there could be a better balance to the ship, but he would not intrude on others territory.

[Neil Gow]

Arkwright nods at the Ship's Master and takes a step back, standing behind the right shoulder of his Captain. Standing with his feet slightly apart and his hands clasped behind his back on the quarterdeck, he leans forward slightly to address the Captain.

"Both of our charges appear to be burdened by their human cargo, sir. Should we be set upon by an enemy ship, I fear they may not be as agile under sail as we might expect. And if the weather was to turn..." He glances at the low lying Swanage. " I have taken the liberty of studying the charts of the seas surrounding Lissa sir. She is defensible from sea at least. A good sea without reefs or narrow channels. High overlooking cliffs with modest crenelations... if they still exist."

[Peanut]

As the sails caught the wind Bill relaxed in his spot high in the rigging. Enjoying the breeze and the roll of the ship he let his eyes wander across the horizon. "Well, it's not the reassuring fog of London Town but I'm really starting to get used to this" he thought to himself. As he turned to look at their charges he noticed dark clouds off to the port side. "Storm brewing Sir - off to Port"

[Ovid]

Mr Chambers was worried about the turn this mission had taken. Kerim Bey was not a man he wanted to meet. Still, nothing was absolutely proven; the bey only suspected. He wouldn't act on mere suspicion, would he? Not against an officer of His Majesty's Navy. Chambers heard the storm warning and felt shame when he briefly hoped they would have to turn back. Even drowning would be preferable to what the bey might want to do to him. At least he'd drown whole and complete, with his important parts still attached.

[Elrick]

Captain Brenton continued to study the other two ships as he answered Lt Arkwright.

"I have no concerns over the Swanage. Captain Trevelyan has been in worse fixes and still made it home - his crew love him for that alone. It is Captain Sinclair that troubles me. He desires, indeed seems to somehow need, flag rank. I worry that his ambition colours everything he does and may yet cause us problems. It is also, I think, why he dislikes Captain Trevelyan so."

He turned to face the deck, the middies flinching as his gaze passed over them. The salt spray felt good against his face. He glanced up at the rigging where some of the Marines were practicing, bracing themselves against the roll of the ship. He looked at Arkwright.

"If the weather doesn't cause us problems or slow our charges any more, we should be off the coast of Lissa sometime tomorrow. My plan is to leave our charges in a secluded bay, where the soldiers can recover from the seasickness, and run round to check Lissa harbour. If by chance the French or Italians are in there, we will make our dispositions according to their strength. If not, we can place a small party ashore to secure the fort and present our compliments to Kerim while we run back round to collect our troops. We'll need an officer to lead the shore party. Not you, I think, as I'll need your navigational skills here. Give Mr Perrivale the chance to show us that he can be trusted. Have him prepare a small shore party - a few Marines and sailors. Send Mr Chambers to keep a weather eye on him and make sure he doesn't disgrace the service."

[Elrick]

Captain Brenton strides across the deck. "Is there a problem Mr Solvechik?"

[Neil Gow]

Arkwright watches as his Captain strides away and fights the urge to sigh, to roll his eyes, to let out an exasperated noise.

In the first instance he can do without overly ambitious officers within his fleet. Not only does it indicate a man of limited intelligence, as any man knows that once an officer makes Post Captain their progression onto flag rank and beyond was just a matter of time and seniority, but it also indicates an officer that will let the needs of his bravado overcome the best instincts of his mind. This Captain Sinclair will need to be watched.

In the second instance, the Captain seems unperturbed by the brewing storm, which would seem to indicate that he is wholly confident in the ships' ability to weather the tempest - which is arguable at best - or he expects his first officer to deal with the matter himself. However, without explicit orders .... some trimming of the sail would be prudent maybe? If the wind got any stronger.

No, it was the third instance that truly exasperated Arkwright. He has served on this ship for a scant few months and already he has been earmarked as irreplaceable onboard ship. That rapscallion, Perrivale, gets the honour of leading the shore party and he must remain to onboard because of his skills. Unlike a blasted Post Captain, a Lieutenant needs the chance to prove his worth, to gather some measure on interest amongst the Admiralty and frankly, he was not going to get that interest doing what the Admirals already know he is good at - dealing with maps and currents and the fantastic world of nautical physics.

Arkwright strides forward and grabs the rail of the quarterdeck with both hands before bellowing his order onto the deck.

" Mr Perrivale! Enough looking for mermaids amongst the spray. Form your landing party Mr Perrivale. Men and marines if you would be so kind. Mr Fairbright, my compliments to Mr Chambers. The Captain would have him accompany the landing party. No Mr Fairbright, the cockpit is the other direction! Handsomely now lad, handsomely!"

Arkwright looks onto the darkening storm clouds and hopes that the Captain's faith is well-placed.

[Halfbat]

"Ay, sir." Perrivale saluted, but sniffed as he turned away - just enough to be obvious but not enough to be offensive. He felt the lieutenant wanted to be on the shore party himself - and he could have it. But an idea had come to mind. 'Solvent', the carpenter, might be useful, and he made a point of desiring Solviwotsit to bring his tools and a few items of use. He needed some other backup, too - the sailor Peanut seemed competent and he needed someone to handle both the boats and any cannon that might still be usable ashore. He busied himself with picking up some crew and marines, taking care to be polite to DeSalles when he asked for a number of competent marines.

He returned to the Captain and Arkwright, carefully and pointedly asking exactly what was required from the shore party when in the fort. Secure it if it was not occupied, of course, but for how long? How many supplies would the Captain need him to take?

[I'm not sure who's in, now, but I was intending to ask them all.]

[Peanut]

Hmmm... part of the landing party. Wonder what on earth we'll be needed for there? Still, will be good to feel solid ground underfoot again. Not sure about that middie leading mind. That said, if the talk about him being loaded is true then this might be a good time to start working me way into his good books...


[Can I declare a Personal Mission - Gain Midshipman Perrivale's Favour. I'll flesh it out later when at home but looking at getting a +1 or +2 Personal Reputation with the spoilt brat... err fine upstanding middie. Not sure how much input you'd want from Halfbat as regards cost of failure etc.]

[Halfbat]

[Can I declare a Personal Mission - Gain Midshipman Perrivale's Favour. [==>] +1 or +2 Personal Reputation with the spoilt brat... err fine upstanding middie. Not sure how much input you'd want from Halfbat as regards cost of failure etc.]

[ I'm not too bothered - Perrivale will probably make his life hell.... mind you sucking up to Perrivale could be fraught with dangers - accusations could be rife. That suggests the cost of failure would be a loss of reputation with the lower decks, I think....]

[Elrick]

[Can I declare a Personal Mission - Gain Midshipman Perrivale's Favour. I'll flesh it out later when at home but looking at getting a +1 or +2 Personal Reputation with the spoilt brat... err fine upstanding middie. Not sure how much input you'd want from Halfbat as regards cost of failure etc.]

Sounds fine to me. Flesh it out and we'll take it from there.

[Elrick]

He returned to the Captain and Arkwright, carefully and pointedly asking exactly what was required from the shore party when in the fort. Secure it if it was not occupied, of course, but for how long? How many supplies would the Captain need him to take?

The Captain turned and looked at Perrivale.

"There is more to being a naval officer, Mr Perrivale, than sailing ships. All officers need to learn diplomacy and dealing with important men, and tomorrow you will begin your schooling in that important skill. We will not take the transports directly into Lissa port, so we will leave them in a sheltered cove close by. Once we have landed and paid our respects to Kerim, we will sail back to pick up the transports. This will only take a few hours, but I am keen that Kerim is not given time to foster any doubts, so a small party from the ship will stay with him as a token of our goodwill and our intention to return. You will lead that party. The doctor will be with you. I understand he has some familiarity with Kerim's family and should be able to guide you in the proprieties."

He paused and looked as Lt Desalles strode across the deck.

"You will promise Kerim nothing. You will not partake of strong drink. You will not disgrace this ship or the Navy, nor will the men under your command. Most especially, if you come into contact with any of Kerim's daughters, you will be the perfect example of a gentleman. Do I make myself clear?"

[Halfbat]

Perrivale raises his eyes slightly, merely as if shading them from the sun as his hat shifts slightly. "Of course, sir. Absolutely clear." He bowed obseqiously. "I hope you will find me, sir, to be the epitomy of restraint and civility as an escort. May I thank you for clarifying the task."

He takes his leave smartly, and orders the men to ensure they have provisions for only a short time but are well-armed with pistols and hangers and reloads - even a couple of boarding pikes. For himself, he arms himself likewise but looks for some of the new grenades on board - the armourer may have a few. He orders a bosun to check the boats - both the captains gig and the longer boats he is allowed to take [do let me know which one!].

He muses on teh captain's use of the word 'daughters'. He has no time for ill-bred foreign women, but it sounds as the captain might if that is where his mind travels...

[Ovid]

[OOC = As a newcomer to BtQ, I'm not sure how to play this. The most fun option would be for Chambers to say nothing out of embarrassment and allow all hell to break loose. But the cleverest way to play it would be for him to mention something now. Do I construct negotiating this dilemma as a personal mission? How does that interact with the group mission and its success? I'm not clear on how the IC and meta-aspects of the game interact.]