captainhornblower: (With matchless beauty crowned)
Captain Horatio Hornblower ([personal profile] captainhornblower) wrote2012-09-06 08:27 pm
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Eighteenth Dispatch - [written]

Thursday, September 6th

To all of you newly arrived: welcome. I offer my condolences to those upset by their sudden situation.

I am Captain Horatio Hornblower of His Majesty's Ship Atropos and Luceti Enclosure Ship Britannia.

Britannia is always seeking new crew members. With the exception of commissioned officers, there is no exclusivity expected of crew.

On September 15th, Britannia will set sail. We depart at two bells in the forenoon watch. [He writes in the margin: 9 AM.] We will return on the 19th. This voyage will be to instruct crew members in sailing a three-masted ship-rigged vessel.

All those interested are to contact myself or Lieutenant Kennedy by four bells in the first watch [another margin note: 10 PM] on the 14th of September.

Cpt H. Hornblower
HMS Atropos
LES Britannia
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vor: (Gotta be kidding me)

[voice]

[personal profile] vor 2012-09-09 05:27 am (UTC)(link)
...That wasn't a critique, actually.
captainhornblower: (Default)

[voice]

[personal profile] captainhornblower 2012-09-09 05:34 am (UTC)(link)
[...The delay in reply probably gives away how surprising that remark is.]

Ah. Well. [Criticism, he can take. Can heed or reply. But something that might, then, have been a compliment. That's another matter.] Indeed.

[He's not good at this whole thing.]
vor: (Lean and dark)

[voice]

[personal profile] vor 2012-09-09 05:37 am (UTC)(link)
...You're British. From what time?
captainhornblower: (Britons never will be slaves)

[voice]

[personal profile] captainhornblower 2012-09-09 05:40 am (UTC)(link)
Eighteen-hundred-and-five, sir.

[Yay, simple question and topic change.]

And -- if I may ask -- where -- and when, I suppose -- are you from, sir?
vor: (Um.)

[voice]

[personal profile] vor 2012-09-09 05:45 am (UTC)(link)
Ah. Not a planet that's been colonized in your day, and about twelve hundred years in your future. 1805 was around the time of the Napoleonic Wars, wasn't it?
captainhornblower: (Over the shoulder)

[voice]

[personal profile] captainhornblower 2012-09-09 05:48 am (UTC)(link)
[Planet. Twelve hundred years. Headache incoming.

Though a cynical part of him just barely manages not to remark on the fact that, even after another twelve hundred years, colonization is alive and well.]

During it, in fact. I have... seen the conclusion of it in the books available here, but where I am from, it is still a great uncertainty.
vor: (Almost a smile)

[voice]

[personal profile] vor 2012-09-09 05:56 am (UTC)(link)
We had to study a lot of military history at the Academy. Mostly owing to the fact that there aren't really any new strategies.
captainhornblower: (Determination)

[voice]

[personal profile] captainhornblower 2012-09-09 08:53 pm (UTC)(link)
It's always best, particularly with strategy, to build on the strengths and weaknesses of the ideas before you. It's... good to know that doesn't change.
vor: (Tell him to give you that speech.)

[voice]

[personal profile] vor 2012-09-10 03:13 am (UTC)(link)
...Greg Bleakman, by the way.
captainhornblower: (Britons never will be slaves)

[voice]

[personal profile] captainhornblower 2012-09-10 03:27 am (UTC)(link)
Good to make your acquaintance, Mister Bleakman.
vor: (Emperor Therapist)

[voice]

[personal profile] vor 2012-09-10 03:31 am (UTC)(link)
And yours, Captain Hornblower. I know the Royal Navy of your era has a soaring reputation that resounds throughout history.
Edited 2012-09-10 03:36 (UTC)
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