Captain Horatio Hornblower (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
captainhornblower) wrote2012-08-15 06:54 pm
captainhornblower) wrote2012-08-15 06:54 pm
Seventeenth Dispatch - [written]
[Horatio knows.
The moment he wakes up, he knows something in the house is wrong. Cat-like, he pads down the hall. Young Wellard is fast asleep, so is Archie. He pushes open the third door and sees it.
The room is empty, utterly untouched.
William Bush is gone.
Silently, he closes the door. He showers, brushes his uniform twice before donning it, and is still out of the house at dawn. He goes immediately to the sip. To his beloved Britannia.
Will he endanger her, doing what he knows he must? This is reckless. He knows it, too well.
"It's always worked out for the best, sir."
He's only sorry it took William's disappearance to cause this.
On board, he pulls his muster book out. Beside the name William Bush, he makes a simple cross. Then, he goes to the wall and removes the Union Jack there. Less than ten minutes later, the colours are flying from the ship's mast, above the banner they commissioned for Britannia.
This ship, here and now, is England.
And he is an English captain.
Two hours later, he writes in the Journal, barely daring to breathe as he pens the words on the paper.]
Wednesday, August 15th
It is my honour to inform the citizens of the Luceti enclosure that the duties of the frigate Britannia have changed.
She is a vessel of war, meant for naval battle if the Third Party or any sea force should threaten the village.
To that end, she will need guns. Mister Haddock, I should like to commission another from you as well as shot. Lieutenant Kennedy will contact you later with specifics.
I am sure at least a few of you will not believe me, but I will state this now: this is not an act of aggression toward the residents of this village. My ship will enter into conflict only with enemy crafts, those who would harm the people of Luceti. Only acts of violence to persons or property of Britannia will nullify my offer of peace.
Respectfully,
Captain Horatio Hornblower
HMS Atropos
LES Britannia
[As he signs his name, he lets himself take in a breath. No warning, no discussion. Only Archie's encouragement a week ago he cautioned against.
Now, the die is cast. The colours are nailed to the mast. He can think only one thing:
God be with us.]
The moment he wakes up, he knows something in the house is wrong. Cat-like, he pads down the hall. Young Wellard is fast asleep, so is Archie. He pushes open the third door and sees it.
The room is empty, utterly untouched.
William Bush is gone.
Silently, he closes the door. He showers, brushes his uniform twice before donning it, and is still out of the house at dawn. He goes immediately to the sip. To his beloved Britannia.
Will he endanger her, doing what he knows he must? This is reckless. He knows it, too well.
"It's always worked out for the best, sir."
He's only sorry it took William's disappearance to cause this.
On board, he pulls his muster book out. Beside the name William Bush, he makes a simple cross. Then, he goes to the wall and removes the Union Jack there. Less than ten minutes later, the colours are flying from the ship's mast, above the banner they commissioned for Britannia.
This ship, here and now, is England.
And he is an English captain.
Two hours later, he writes in the Journal, barely daring to breathe as he pens the words on the paper.]
Wednesday, August 15th
It is my honour to inform the citizens of the Luceti enclosure that the duties of the frigate Britannia have changed.
She is a vessel of war, meant for naval battle if the Third Party or any sea force should threaten the village.
To that end, she will need guns. Mister Haddock, I should like to commission another from you as well as shot. Lieutenant Kennedy will contact you later with specifics.
I am sure at least a few of you will not believe me, but I will state this now: this is not an act of aggression toward the residents of this village. My ship will enter into conflict only with enemy crafts, those who would harm the people of Luceti. Only acts of violence to persons or property of Britannia will nullify my offer of peace.
Respectfully,
Captain Horatio Hornblower
HMS Atropos
LES Britannia
[As he signs his name, he lets himself take in a breath. No warning, no discussion. Only Archie's encouragement a week ago he cautioned against.
Now, the die is cast. The colours are nailed to the mast. He can think only one thing:
God be with us.]
[Action]
Modelling took a little more than I thought. There was already a model in the database that had to be modified to fit the Britannia, but I had to take in account the differences.
It's mostly ready, though. It only needs the scenario you would want us to train in, Captain.
[Action]
But first I need to teach gun use, then improve rate of fire. Then I'll worry about actual targets.
[Action]
[With a few movements, she finds and imports the model of a 18th century cannon into strategic locations of the ship, along with the necessary equipment, as the Lieutenant taught her once.
She erases one of the Third Party ships, and disables its' offensive capabilities only to be activated by a specific, voluntary trigger from the part of the crew. With those small actions, she stands tall, and then opens one of the doors to the bubble.]
It's all ready, sir. All it needs is your approval.
[Action]
Excellent.
[With a deep breath, he steps through the door. It takes a few moments, with him standing there in something near shock, to really think about it not being real.]
[Action]
The Chief Petty Officer only watches. In her actions, she moves around the simulated wooden rooms as if she knew the area.]
First time in the Dome, sir?
[Action]
[He places a hand against the side of the ship.
There.
It isn’t something he can define, but it’s wrong. Wood, grain... but not.It doesn’t have the life in it a ship does.
Still, close enough.]
Exceptional work. Thank you. I look forward to setting the crew to their exercises.
[Action]
The Dome can be programmed to hurt, but it's set to shut down before it causes any lethal injuries. In most scenarios, at most you'd get pushed around.