captainhornblower | Eighteenth Dispatch

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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It's fine. Are you free to discuss them now?

Of course. A stroll, perhaps? I could meet you by the fountain in a quarter of an hour.

I'll be there.

[Though maybe not as quickly as Horatio, if they're both coming from their houses. Amelia's got a bit more distance to walk, but she makes it in short order and immediately heads toward the man.]

Hey.

[He hasn't been waiting long, and he's patient. Especially on his invitation.

He straightens when she nears, raising his hand to his forehead in greeting, even if there's no hat to touch.]

Miss Amelia.

[She shakes her head.]

That's four times today you've called me that. I know it's a custom in your world, but I'm never going to get used to it. Just we're clear.

[But after her talk with Archie on the subject, she's not nearly so insistent about it as she has been in the past. Not so harsh, either--she may even be grinning a bit.]

[Horatio ducks his head slightly.] You'll have to pardon me, then. [And, well, it's only fair, really, to say it.] It is the same with many people here. I doubt I will ever get used to how easily they call others -- me, for instance -- by a Christian name.

[It's not a complaint he voices often. ...Possibly never, save speaking to Archie. Or perhaps once to William. But he shrugs his shoulders. This isn't the conversation he asked her to meet him to have. This is...

A trifle. He shouldn't give it any weight.]

Respect is assumed and intimacy earned, right?

[There's a reason she's bringing it up. It's a minor thing, but one she wants to get straight.]

I hope "Hornblower" is good enough for you off the ship. I'll be formal when we're on duty. Fair enough?

[The first remark surprises him, and he stops a moment to stare at her. It's a way of putting it he never thought he'd hear here, and an understanding most he's tried to explain his discomfort with calling them by their Christian names haven't shown.

There might be some new humility to the way he bows his head.]

It is most welcome, to be quite honest.

[The stare makes her let out a short laugh.]

Archie.

[Which is probably all the explanation Horatio will need. She nods when he agrees to it, glad for the understanding.]

So. We're going for a stroll?

[...And he smiles.]

Well. At least someone listens.

[A pause...]

Thank you.

[Because there is only so much bending he can do before it snaps and a harsh reaction occurs. A lashing out that he's afraid he might have if at least a few people weren't willing to compromise on the matter of forms of address.

If she will tolerate him adding "Miss" before her Christian name, he will happily take being called solely by his surname without a more formal start.

But he doesn't voice that, instead beginning to walk after a motion to her to come with him.]

I don't quite trust the Journals. But as to the guns. Archie and I... have one idea as to how to get them.

Sometimes. I'll find something else to be stubborn about.

[She nods when he thanks her, then falls into step beside him.]

Do you know how to filter conversations? I can show you.

[Even though she knows it's more than just the other villagers who can see the conversation.]

Alright. What's the idea?

Slightly. I'm not very good at it, though. But... the technology, even to the filters, might well have been designed by our captors. I don't trust that anything is actually safe from them.

[Trapped in a strange place by people he cannot access, let alone assess, he's a little paranoid. But he'd rather worry too much than be too complacent.]

We... [He doesn't like the idea. Not when he'd like nothing more than to help a revolution against the Malnosso. But he'd rather be prepared than not.] The Malnosso ask often for volunteers for their "missions," and they offer rewards for conduct on them.

It would be to our benefit to earn their good will and, perhaps, be able to arm ourselves thus.

Right. But I didn't know if you were just worried about the Malnosso, or other people here.

[Because there have been hints of it, in Horatio's last announcement before this. Amelia's not a fan of what it might mean, but she still feels better making the offer.

Then Horatio talks about the missions with their potential rewards. Amelia tenses slightly.]

I've been on two of them.

Archie and I went on one together some time ago.

[He's not happy about the idea, but:]

The smithy can provide us with shot, but powder and guns are not so easy. This may well be the only way to get what we need.

You might want to make sure before everyone starts signing up. The missions can be dangerous.

[Although she probably doesn't need to tell Horatio that, it's still worth saying.]

[He looks at her, confused.]

Before everyone starts signing up?

Edited 2012-09-11 05:55 (UTC)

For the missions. [She's just as confused.] You're going to ask the crew to sign up, right?

[His expression borders on shocked for a moment. Then, he sharply shakes his head.]

No. Certainly not. Mister Kennedy [solely because he doubts he could convince Archie to let him go alone] and I would be the ones to volunteer.

[It seems logical enough to her.]

And how long is that going to take with just the two of you? The missions worth the most points only come around so often, and even then you have to somehow be qualified.

Britannia holds twenty-two guns at most. We have one, and I hope to commission a second.

Depending on what the guns are worth to the Malnosso, it may only take us ten each of very basic work for them. More if they're worth more, less for the more demanding missions.

I would like to have at least ten guns before we see action, five to a side.

Of course, without crew to work them, the number of guns is meaningless.

So eighty missions. Maybe more, maybe less. That's a lot of time with just three people.

[Yes, Horatio: three. Amelia signs up for them anyway, so she might as well keep doing it.

Of course, the number of people is also a concern. She knows Horatio had a loss recently, but the way he's talking makes it seem worse than just a single person missing.]

How many do you have now?

Three?

[It takes a moment to connect, and then he bows his head politely.]

I am in your debt, then, Miss Amelia. [He can’t be too proud now, can’t refuse the help he knows he needs.] Though, pardon me. How many of what do we have?

[She shrugs a shoulder.]

I'm not saying I'm going to start going on back to back missions or anything. But you can have the points when I do go.

How many people on the crew?

On whom I'm sure I can rely? Six.

A crisis turns out more crew, I've found, but I wouldn't mind a constant set to be sure I know how they use a gun. One can learn in the moment, but that cuts rate of fire abysmally, and that can often be what turns the tide, be the enemy a better sailor or more numerous or more powerful.

Hopefully there will be some volunteers when I look for people to learn them. Then, knowing how to be a gun crew, they'll offer their services up when necessary.

[It all makes sense, and Amelia nods. Of course, it doesn't help that Horatio and Archie use outdated weapons as far as Amelia's concerned, but that's probably not an argument she'd win.]

That's probably the best way to go about it. Having that core group, and offering lessons. I think most people see the value in learning better ways to defend themselves.

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Eighteenth Dispatch - [written]

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