captainhornblower | Sixteenth Dispatch

Sixteenth Dispatch - [written]

To the crew of the Britannia:

We sail on the sixteenth as planned.

To interested parties:

Today is the last day I will allow new crew members to sign the muster list. My officers need time to relay important instruction before we sail.

- Hornblower

[In the face of everything? The threat from the Malnosso over this missing member of their own? Charged with unnamed crimes? And a ticking clock for how long they have to obey?

...It's better, Horatio thinks, to be away from the village. He has no place in the politics of this group. What they do is their choice. He will, though, be trying to protect his crew. It's a gamble, but it's one he's willing to take.]

[Filtered, Jilly, 25%]:

[He's slightly learned to filter!]

Miss Jilly,

I would like to request your presence on board Britannia for her maiden voyage.

Horatio

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Horatio?

[Archie is going to duck his head in after Horatio has written his initial message. By the way, he hacked your message to Jilly, but he's not saying anything about it.]

Archie.

[Is there guilt in the quickness of his reply?

...Very possibly.]

Will we not...be in the village, in case it's attacked?

That is a possibility.

[A guarded, short tone... which says quite a bit.

Like "That's exactly what I'm trying to accomplish."]

But are we not to protect the village?

[There is no way to explain it properly. Whatever he says will cast him in a poor light, especially in Archie's eyes.

And yet...]

We would potentially risk the lives of everyone who might come with us for someone we have no more reason to trust than those who want him.

[It sounds like cowardice. Maybe it is. He isn't sure he could swear that it's not.

But it's also a way to keep his crew out of danger. Maybe, depending on what they have and what happens, a chance to present a second front.]

Horatio.

[At that soft-uttered name, twin telepathy takes over.

This isn't about Catherine. They will need experienced fighting men.]

Edited 2012-06-15 02:42 (UTC)

[A fine thing to die in someone else's war.]

Archie.

[Non-combatants. Wellard.

Yes, the midshipman had seen war. And it had killed him. And it had killed Archie. If he can act to protect them? And Jilly?

He will do it. Even risking being called a coward.]

We've fought together here before. Why not now?

[A pause. It's risky to say. To give voice to it while the Journals are in the same room. He doesn't trust them, but...]

Because we are not ready to stand against them. And if we fight them now? We may never have another chance.

I'd prefer our battle against them at least start on our terms.

You want to have the weather gage. Choose our battles. Let them take him, and may those found defending him suffer the consequences on their own?

[The short answer: yes.]

They control this place, Archie. They bring in the food, what weapons we have. They can put us under siege for as long as they like, and we do not have the time now to prepare for that.

[It makes sense. It does. And ultimately, Archie obeys Horatio as his captain. If Horatio says they sail, they sail.

He gives a reluctant nod.]

I can't compel you to come. Any of you.

[Because Archie might decide not to obey. They're not in the Navy here. Horatio has no more authority than anyone else chooses to grant him. There is no Admiralty, no Articles of War.]

But I do want you by my side. If you can abide that.

You are my captain. More importantly, my friend. I will always follow you.

Then pray. [He manages a smile. It's weak and uncertain, but he manages it.] Pray that I haven't doomed us all by rash action.

[But any way he looked, he saw the possibility of doom on all their heads. This seemed the best odds.]

...There is nothing to be gained by staying, I suppose.

We...

The most solace I can offer is that... if I am wrong... we will be back within the week. We can provide a second front, if we find it's come to that. We can perhaps surprise them with an attack they did not see coming.

[It's a thin hope, but it is it a hope.]

Either way, we are playing steep odds. I... know that. I admit that.

[A swallow.]

Yes, sir.

[Silently, he nods. The loyalty of a lieutenant. The devotion of a friend.

God in Heaven, let this not be another mistake to haunt his dreams.]

[Playing it safe, Horatio? Running from action? Archie is putting it together. What you're really up to. He hates it. Feeling like part of the responsibility for rendering you ineffective.

But you're still probably right.]

[There is no King and Country here.

There is no patriotism. There is no balm to soothe the pain of losing someone dear in combat. In asking men (and women, in this case) to stand and fight. There is no cause.

He can only protect as many as he can. He can only hope to live to fight another day.

Because there is not the rest of the Navy to continue the fight if they fall.

He doesn't look at Archie, doesn't dare. This may destroy any credibility he has as a captain. Certainly as a good man. But they can hate him when this is done. It will still be done.]

[Not as a good man. Never. In remaining visibly neutral, at least Horatio's planned mutiny has a chance.]

I will...help, in all the ways you need. How ever you need. If you need...an ear?

[A captain keeps his own counsel.

...And yet...]

I... well may, Archie. Not... not tonight. [He does not know his own mind tonight. He could not ask someone else to try and parse through it.] But I well may, soon.

[A lingering pause, then a hesitant nod.]

All right.

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Sixteenth Dispatch - [written]

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