Encounter in Dechaine
The Black Talon? That made even little and less sense.
Swearing to himself in another angry volley of Montaignoise curses, Han cast a furious look out towards the ship currently ruining what was supposed to be a joyful reunion. With Albert's orders made clear, Han wasted no time, his voice thundering across the deck to see them carried out. "SIFRIT, KEDGE ANCHORS. THOMAN, LONGBOAT. GET US OUT OF THIS SCHEISSE!"
Sifrit shouted an affirmative, the officer taking off towards quarterdeck at a sprint while calling other men to his aid. The moorings were cast off, the unloaded goods still on the quay clean forgotten. The remaining sailors threw themselves at the gunports to latch onto the side of the ship. Around the deck, any sailors not manning the guns made for the capstan, and with practiced efficiency, the ropes to the kedge anchors were tied off around it and secured fast.
Connard de salope!
There was no time to find a tow now. Although it was far from ideal, kedging was the only choice they had. The Gespenst was far too large for oars, but she could still pull herself out by the kedge anchors in an emergency. Thoman's longboat dropped off the side with a heavy splash, the impact shuddering along the small vessel. Behind him, two lightweight anchors were thrown over the side, and Thoman hauled the rope to pull them into the longboat. Another shout, and the men in the boat began to row, powering along the water with deep strokes to drop the anchors into the bay as far away as they could.
Han watched only long enough to see the kedge anchors drop into the long boat, before he was rounding on the next set of men. Half letting go of the shroud, Han dangled over the deck, holding onto the rope with only one hand and foot as support. It wasn't a fight yet, but he sure as hell didn't want the men caught unprepared if it turned into one. "MARINES. READY ARMS."
He knew what Albert was trying to do, and all he could do was pray the man had lost none of his touch. Given their frigate, normally they would have to wait for a vessel to tow them into the bay, and then set their sails once they were well clear of the surrounding ships in the port. As it stood, the only option was to set sails almost immediately once they were far enough from the quay. In the hands of any other captain with a ship this size, it was asking to crash into an anchored ship, or into the quay itself.
Then again, Albert was no ordinary Captain. And thank God for that.
Satisfied the orders were being followed, Han grabbed hold of the shroud again, climbing towards the mizzen top. Below him, there was a roar and a grind as the capstan began to turn, pulling the ship forward. The quay began to separate from the Gespenst, and Han looked down to see the ocean moving underneath him.
"HANDS PREPARE TO SET AND STRIKE THE SPANKER! PREPARE TO HAUL HEADS'L SHEETS. TOPSMEN ALOFT, PREPARE TO SET TOPS'L'S," he roared. It was Albert's job now to man the helm to keep them straight as they hauled themselves free. The sails couldn't be set until they were far enough way, but the millisecond the orders came, Han was going to make damn sure the crew was ready to sheet them home. "LET GO BUNTL'NS, EASE THE CLEWL'NS."
Han was quick, moving through the ropes as though he'd been born to it. Scampering up the futtock shroud on the mizzen mainmast, Han swung past the topmast shrouds and onto the top itself. His feet once again landing on a stable platform with a thud, he cast a quick glance along the deck sprawled out below — at the men rapidly turning the capstan to pull them away from the quay, the men swarming up the shrouds like ants on every mast, rushing to prepare to drop the topsails, and the men on the deck, ferrying up balls and powder and priming the culverins.
There was a click as Han fished at his belt for his telescope. Extending it to his full length, he aimed it square at the Black Talon to keep an eye on her while Albert held them steady, just in case her guns began to turn in their direction. He looked over briefly, throwing a quick glance at the sad fate of the Southern Wind. Getting underway was the most dangerous part, and the last thing they needed was the Black Talon deciding they were a threat and turning on them before they'd braced their sails. The Gespenst was the next largest ship in the bay, and her magnificent black and white paintwork didn't exactly help for subtlety in broad daylight.
The Black Talon.
What were they doing here? And more importantly, why?
This message was last edited by the player at 11:43, Mon 20 Nov 2017.