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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I suppose some might be quicker to join up now that we know for certain that these enclosures can be invaded.

[Archie is reading all this from the couch in the parlour, his cup of tea forgotten.]

It's only a matter of time before they attack here again.

[Of course, they're one ship with one cannon. And there was nothing organized for the land...

But.

But it was something.]

We can at least try to be prepared.

We'll need guns. More than we need crew, at the moment.

We will.

I wonder how keen the Malnosso would be about arming us, if we helped with the tasks they ask sometimes. [He isn't fond of the idea of working with or for the Malnosso, but it's worse to be unarmed and possibly facing an invasion than to bend his principles regarding them.]

Missions, you mean?

Yes.

We do them a favour, maybe they do us one.

Would they really give us guns? I suppose there's no harm in asking.

In all honesty, they might not. But if we don't try, we don't know.

Of course. We will. [A pause.] I saw the Suzumiya lass. What she said to you. Perhaps there's hope for us yet.

Edited 2012-09-08 17:43 (UTC)

[He smiles faintly.] Perhaps there is. It... is certainly heartening.

...So. I shall endeavor to perform my duties as first lieutenant this time rather than first mate.

[Horatio can't help the chuckle.]

Something good about just hearing that, I'd say.

Luceti's own navy. Good God, a navy of one ship.

A navy of one ship with one gun.

God help us.

We'll do better before long, Horatio. [It's that quiet, soothing voice he has used on Horatio so often in their past, but never really thinks about.]

[The tone makes Horatio smile. It's a bleak situation, but... There's no immediate threat, so he can joke about it.

Then again, this is the man who, upon being informed of the (obvious) fact at the Renown had been pierced with heated shot, replied that they'd drown long before they burned.]

Then we'll be a navy of one ship with two guns.

And then we shall be well-equipped to rule the waves, just you wait.

There won't be any force to rival us, I'd wager.

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Eighteenth Dispatch - [written]

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