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| Past Acquaintances | |
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| Topic Started: 25 Nov 2007, 04:16 PM (309 Views) | |
| Royal Navy & Marines | 25 Nov 2007, 04:16 PM Post #1 |
Master of Puppets
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OOC - Re-post from the old board. IC -  The sun was blazing in the cloudless midday sky, giving the lightly-rolling sea a dazzling shine. Catcalls and shouted orders echoed around the bustling docks, accompanied by the creaking groans of tackles and the occasional boom of heavy crates settling onto ships' decks. There were sailors, lightermen, and dock-hands everywhere, but Gabriel Alderbury saw none of the activity taking place around him. He was trudging toward the Number Eight dock, the one used exclusively by the Navy. Doctor Finch had advised sternly against it, but Alderbury was adamant. Dauntless' jolly-boat was being swung out from the second-rate, he saw when he glanced briefly toward the mighty ship. The boat crew would reach the dock within half an hour and he would be rowed out to his new posting. Granted, he had been able to transfer his commission easily enough and was filling the recently-vacated second lieutenant's berth. It was a great piece of luck but he could think only of his beloved sloop, which was now lying in dry-dock. Alderbury paused to allow a group of dock-hands shuffle past. What would Dauntless' officers be like? It had been years since he'd been aboard a ship-of-the-line, with its crowded gun decks and noisy wardroom. Aboard Falcon, space had been at premium, but he had known every man, sailor and marine, aboard her. Everything was shared on a sloop of war, including living space. He wasn't looking forward to learning and adjusting to life on the hulking second-rate. He'd already heard stories about her midshipmen complement and wished that he could have taken his own senior midshipman aboard with him. Morse, while young, knew his business and was a nimble one for scampering up into the yards. A sharper-eyed lookout Alderbury didn't know of. A flash of a face moving steadily through the crush of people gave him sudden pause and he looked carefully at the approaching man. It couldn't be. Alderbury recognised the man's features, even though time had aged them from youthful roundness. It had been years. How could that be the same midshipman he'd known on Alarm? The lieutenant lifted his right arm to hail the man, taking care to keep his still-injured left arm from moving too much. "Mister Morgan!" He called, thinking that he could very well be mistaken in his recognition. If he was correct, however, he'd be most interested to know what brought the man here to Port Royal. The last he had seen young Midshipman Morgan was when Alderbury had left Alarm after passing his lieutenant's examination. Had it really been so long ago? "My God, it's been years!" It was Morgan, he saw as he got nearer. The only question was if Morgan would recognise him. His gait was nearly normal again, the limp having largely gone. There was a slight bulge in his left coat sleeve however, the most noticeable sign of recent injury. In all other ways, Alderbury looked like any other lieutenant. It was very possible that memory would not serve Morgan well, and he would consider Alderbury an unwelcome interloper upon his day. |
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| Deleted User | 30 Nov 2007, 04:30 PM Post #2 |
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Rhett brushed his clothes a bit – especially the coat had caught a lot of dust from the market. And all he wanted right now, was to return home before the midday-sun, so he could rest in his cabin. The day had so far not went as planned. Not that he planned much, but he had hoped to run into someone who had a job for him. After all, he was Red Morgan, the pirate hunter whom pirates ought to fear. And he had come to the Caribbean for that very reason. Yet all that had happened today, was that he ran into that woman and her annoying children… Rhett cared very little for children. So now he was on his way home. It was already very warm, and he could use a nice cold drink aboard the ship, hoping that there would be a breeze from the ocean down there. Finally he reached the docks where all the ships lay, and could in fact see the Ocean’s Blood right down there. But he never got that far, before someone suddenly called his name. "Mister Morgan!" Rhett turned his head to see some sort of Royal Navy officer come his way, with a raised arm. Who in the Royal Navy knew his name? He left it years ago, and although he’d fought well aboard the ship back then, the only real friend he ever made there was Roberts. And he served with Rhett again now, outside the Navy. The man came closer, and Rhett did think he looked somewhat familiar, although he couldn’t remember the name right away. "My God, it's been years!" Rhett’s mind worked at high speed, while he was thinking and taking a closer look at the officer. There was something about the eyes… the man had aged, obviously, as had Rhett. And he had noticed as the man walked up to Rhett, that there was a slight limp. It didn’t tell him anything though, but then it came to him. “It has indeed been years… Alderbury, if I’m not wrong?” Rhett said with a little smile. But his ship was so close, and now he was to be held back by someone he once knew, but not very well. What was this day, simply just against him? |
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| Royal Navy & Marines | 30 Nov 2007, 04:48 PM Post #3 |
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Master of Puppets
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“It has indeed been years… Alderbury, if I’m not wrong?” The Hampshireman grinned, surprised that he could even manage such a gesture. So it was Morgan. Well, wasn't it a small world. He nodded and gave the former midshipman a closer study. Obviously Morgan wasn't in the service anymore, but he didn't seem any worse off for it. “Not wrong at all," Alderbury answered. "By the look of it, you've been out of the service for a bit. Put ashore when Alarm got paid off?" It was a little too forward a question to ask, but it was the most likely fate Morgan would have suffered. There were few opportunities for lieutenants consigned to half-pay after their ship was paid off, and even fewer for midshipmen. Alderbury had been fortunate to maintain steady employment as a junior lieutenant. What a strange twist of fate, to cross paths with this fellow after so long. It was a somewhat bright spot in Alderbury's day. "What of Lieutenant Roberts? I can't imagine he would have been denied a transfer to another posting. Third on a frigate and as sharp as he was, it's hard to believe he couldn't have done." |
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| Deleted User | 30 Nov 2007, 06:11 PM Post #4 |
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Alderbury replied first to Rhett with a grin, while obviously taking a closer look at Rhett. He did the same, and from what he remembered Alderbury like… he hadn’t changed much until today, at all. Besides the clothes being a bit different, and perhaps the hair. Well, now they were both here, Rhett wasn’t sure what to say. It wasn’t like he had said goodbye to an awful lot of people back then, and he was quite sure Alderbury wasn’t among one of the few. It didn’t seem like the other had any second thoughts about it though. “Not wrong at all, by the look of it, you've been out of the service for a bit. Put ashore when Alarm got paid off?" Rhett nodded, but thought that Alderbury nearly made it sound like it was a bad thing that he was not serving in the Navy anymore. Like Rhett was one you ought to feel sorry for, because he had left. Quite the opposite, Rhett was rather happy that he did. Else he would not have become who he had become, and he liked to be paid for killing pirates. Alderbury was more than curious however, and continued with another question. "What of Lieutenant Roberts? I can't imagine he would have been denied a transfer to another posting. Third on a frigate and as sharp as he was, it's hard to believe he couldn't have done." “Roberts is doing just fine, as am I… none of us have served the Navy for many years. I’ve found my own way of living, and it didn’t take long for Roberts to join me – we work together today, aboard my ship. You however, look as if you’re still doing the same as years ago?” |
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| Royal Navy & Marines | 30 Nov 2007, 08:21 PM Post #5 |
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Master of Puppets
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“Roberts is doing just fine, as am I… none of us have served the Navy for many years. I’ve found my own way of living, and it didn’t take long for Roberts to join me – we work together today, aboard my ship. You however, look as if you’re still doing the same as years ago?” Eh? Alderbury lifted an eyebrow. Roberts hadn't served for many years? How was that possible? He'd have had to endure six years as a midshipman, at least, before taking the lieutenant's examination. Then to be taken onto Alarm as third lieutenant, instead of fourth. It made little sense. Morgan's second comment made even less sense. Had Roberts just thrown his commission and career away to sail under the command of a former midshipman? The very notion was pure madness. He would have been laughed out of the Navy for proposing such a thing. "I'm not a midshipman anymore, as I'm sure you can tell," Alderbury answered. "Went to Spear after passing lieutenant's examination, then got sent to Falcon. She sailed here about five years ago. I got command of her for a couple of years, and what a beauty she was to sail." His face flushed quickly and he did his best not to look toward the dry-dock, where the one remaining mast on the sloop was easily seen. "I'm second on Dauntless now, since her former second got his own command." He forced himself to shrug, an action that made his arm twinge painfully. "It's better than starving ashore on half-pay." There must have been some sort of scandal after he'd left Alarm, to have sent not only Midshipman Morgan but Third Lieutenant Roberts scrabbling for crumbs in the merchant service. Or possibly worse. Alderbury found it difficult to believe that both officers could have abandoned promising careers - promising in Roberts' case, at least. Morgan had been even more reckless than Alderbury. Small wonder the midshipman had failed his first lieutenant's examination, all those years ago. Was that why? "Looks like the merchant service called you, then," the lieutenant added, unconsciously rubbing at his arm. |
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| Deleted User | 30 Nov 2007, 10:36 PM Post #6 |
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Rhett did notice the lifted eyebrow on the other man’s face – he looked rather surprised at what Rhett just said. Something he thought was the most logical thing in the world, was something his old shipmate could not understand. But at least he didn’t stay on the subject. "I'm not a midshipman anymore, as I'm sure you can tell. Went to Spear after passing lieutenant's examination, then got sent to Falcon. She sailed here about five years ago. I got command of her for a couple of years, and what a beauty she was to sail." It all interested Rhett very little, as a matter of fact, but he listened anyhow. So not only had Alderbury become a lieutenant, he was now also commanding ships. Well, Rhett guessed it had taken the other a few more years to reach command of a ship, than it had taken Rhett. And by the looks of it, the pirate hunter had done much better. It wasn’t that Rhett did not love his ship – he was a sailor, a captain even, and he could not help but loving his ship. But seeing a grown man at his own age, blush by the thought of how beautiful a ship he sailed was… that was just odd. Luckily Alderbury realized it too, and went on. "I'm second on Dauntless now, since her former second got his own command. It's better than starving ashore on half-pay." Well at least that, Rhett could agree to. And he had heard of the Dauntless, a mighty fine ship in the Caribbean, but not very fast. Not even near fast enough to catch up with pirates, who often sailed in smaller ships. He didn’t dare to mention it though, as it seemed to be an important topic to Alderbury. ”Looks like the merchant service called you, then," Rhett tilted his head slightly, was something wrong with his hearing? No, he was quite sure Alderbury suggested that Rhett had become some sort of merchant sailor. “No, that is not the case – I captain the Ocean’s Blood…” He paused to see if Alderbury would react in any way on the name… if he knew it. “…and I suppose you could call me a mercenary. I hunt and kill pirates, and am paid for that duty. My crew and I are doing rather well, if I should say so myself. In fact, I’d say I’m doing better than the time I served where you still are.” Rhett smiled, yes he did indeed believe he did rather well. He killed pirates, what could be better than that? Certainly it was better than always listening to your superior, and follow a set of straight rules like those the Navy had. It seemed better to Rhett to be his own captain, than to serve anyone else. |
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| Royal Navy & Marines | 3 Dec 2007, 08:33 PM Post #7 |
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Master of Puppets
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“No, that is not the case – I captain the Ocean’s Blood…” Ocean's Blood. The name wasn't familiar. Then again, the only ship outside of the squadron that Alderbury had any interest in was one called Nicola. That ship had been the one that gutted his beloved Falcon. Alderbury's gaze drifted toward the shipyard located on the very edge of the waterfront, where the single remaining mast on his former sloop could be seen reaching skyward from the dry dock. “…and I suppose you could call me a mercenary. I hunt and kill pirates, and am paid for that duty. My crew and I are doing rather well, if I should say so myself. In fact, I’d say I’m doing better than the time I served where you still are.” The one-time midshipman had carried on speaking, oblivious to Alderbury's distraction. It was very much like the careless young man Morgan had been as a midshipman. A rush of resentment went through him at Morgan's last remark. Doing well, killing men? Clearly Morgan had become even more of a beast than he had been on Alarm. "Your definition of "doing well" is not one I would claim for myself," the lieutenant replied stiffly. "Mercenaries, while arguably necessary, are often little better than those they hunt. Murderers, and indiscriminate ones at that." His expression slipped into a studiously blank mask and he regarded the man before him again, considering him appraisingly in the light of Morgan's revelation as to his new profession. At one time, Alderbury would have classed this man as an ally, if not a friend. Now... clearly that was impossible. Mercenaries were notorious for their unreliability. The odds were great that one day would find whatever ship Morgan commanded pitted against Dauntless or some other well-armed Navy vessel. It'd serve him right. "Not every officer is grossly unfit or unhappy with life under the Colours," Alderbury added, unable to resist offering the barb. |
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| Deleted User | 3 Dec 2007, 08:56 PM Post #8 |
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"Your definition of "doing well" is not one I would claim for myself. Mercenaries, while arguably necessary, are often little better than those they hunt. Murderers, and indiscriminate ones at that." “I am most certainly better than those I hunt – I hunt and kill outlaws, people who have put themselves beside the set of rules of a true civilization as ours. They deserve to die… I am only doing what you also do at times – I kill those who ought to die anyhow.” Rhett was unable to hide the fact that he was truly offended by Alderburys words. Even more than offended, but at least he kept his voice calm, although still very firm. Alderbury just said Rhett was no better than a pirate! The more he thought about it, the more infuriated he felt inside. He was better than a pirate, much better! He didn’t make a living out of… well, stealing from and killing proper people. He killed people who deserved it. Surely all the people pirates murdered did not deserve it, since they were often respectable people. "Not every officer is grossly unfit or unhappy with life under the Colours," Rhett resisted a roll of his eyes. “I’m well aware of that, but it was not a life for me. I’m quite happy with being my own captain.” He could almost feel the hostility coming from the other man – like it had arrived out of thin air. Only moments ago Alderbury had smiled and thought it was nice to see an old shipmate. Now that seemed to have changed. And if he remembered anything about Rhett, it was that he was easily angered. Then why did he speak like that, when he knew how Rhett was like? Maybe he wanted Rhett upset… maybe he wanted a fight? No, that would be stupid, the man was in the Navy, and Rhett could probably be pushed through a trial for fighting an officer of the Royal Navy. Well, he’d just have to prove he was better than the pirates Alderbury so openly compared him to. |
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| Royal Navy & Marines | 4 Dec 2007, 07:28 PM Post #9 |
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Master of Puppets
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“I am most certainly better than those I hunt – I hunt and kill outlaws, people who have put themselves beside the set of rules of a true civilization as ours. They deserve to die… I am only doing what you also do at times – I kill those who ought to die anyhow.” Whatever pleasure Alderbury had felt at seeing his former comrade had long since fled. He well remembered Morgan's lust for combat, but he'd never imagined that it could have grown into this. There were mercenaries, and there were barely-legal head hunters. He'd willing bet his rank that Morgan fell into the latter category. “I’m well aware of that, but it was not a life for me. I’m quite happy with being my own captain.” From midshipman to captain. Morgan had to have swindled somebody to obtain a ship. Employment as a mercenary wasn't especially easy to come by, to the best of Alderbury's understanding. It might provide better than the Navy, but at least on an actively-posted Navy ship there was security and steady work. Alderbury wouldn't trade his commnission for a mercenary's job-to-job existence, no matter how well it might pay. Dauntless' jolly-boat had reached the Number Eight dock and several oarsmen were coming ashore from the boat. Alderbury saw them over Morgan's shoulder and knew the second-rate's coxswain had spotted him. The sailors would be joining them momentarily. "It's a sharp jump from midshipman to captain," the lieutenant commented idly. "I'm sure you had somebody in your pocket to manage it. Most likely just as well you were driven out of the service." The coxswain tramped up then, a pair of seamen following. He ignored Morgan entirely as he knuckled his brow at Alderbury. "Come fer your dunnage, sir." "The marines' horse-cart will be delivering it presently." Alderbury lifted his left arm slightly, managing to keep a grimace off his face. "Obliged, Cox'n." He looked back at Morgan and wished that the midshipman he'd once known hadn't grown into the self-proclaimed captain standing before him. He decided that it was indeed best that Morgan was out of the Navy. "I dare say the demands of your own duty outweigh any sense of civilised manners," he said icily. "Whatever sort of person you've become, it's certainly nothing that can be compared to the midshipman you used to be. A gentleman you're anything but!" Not knowing the reason for the lieutenant's thinly-veiled hostility, the seamen shifted uneasily. Alderbury forced himself to nod. "My dunnage will be arriving in a few minutes, lads. Then we can be off toward the great lady, eh?" |
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| Deleted User | 7 Dec 2007, 10:04 AM Post #10 |
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"It's a sharp jump from midshipman to captain, I'm sure you had somebody in your pocket to manage it. Most likely just as well you were driven out of the service." Rhett was just about to open his mouth and defend himself, when Alderbury suddenly looked away as some other seamen appeared and spoke to him. Rhett was not yet beside himself, but it was getting close. Alderbury had now moved on to accusing him for not coming about to his ship and position by legal ways! He had no idea what had been going on, that Rhett had nothing in his pocket besides passion for the work he did. And that was probably, in the end, what had earned him the Ocean’s Blood, the finest ship on the seas if anyone should ask himself. Finally Alderbury returned his gaze to Rhett, but once more didn’t give him chance to speak up. "I dare say the demands of your own duty outweigh any sense of civilised manners. Whatever sort of person you've become, it's certainly nothing that can be compared to the midshipman you used to be. A gentleman you're anything but!" “You’re very quick to judge a man, of whom you once knew some but today only know little. Less than little… I have earned what I have, only in legal ways. And I could not have earned it, had I not at least been able to act as a gentleman at certain times.” Rhett paused in an attempt control his voice while he spoke. Stay civilized, he told himself. It was no longer just Alderbury he spoke to, but Alderbury’s men who were listening. He thought the next words over, then straightened up. “It appears that we’ve both arrived at points in our lives, where we judge ourselves to be doing what we prefer – but are unable to understand the other. I think that’s what’s left to say in this matter.” "My dunnage will be arriving in a few minutes, lads. Then we can be off toward the great lady, eh?" Good, Rhett thought, so Alderbury would be off soon. Rhett had no regrets that he left the Royal Navy… he never had, but even less now. If this was what you still had to deal with, then he was better off without them. After all, he always thought them slow anyhow, and Rhett was not good at being slow. |
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| Royal Navy & Marines | 10 Dec 2007, 06:58 PM Post #11 |
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“You’re very quick to judge a man, of whom you once knew some but today only know little. Less than little… I have earned what I have, only in legal ways. And I could not have earned it, had I not at least been able to act as a gentleman at certain times.” Morgan seemed to hesitate and Alderbury would have happily ignored him had the former midshipman spoke again. “It appears that we’ve both arrived at points in our lives, where we judge ourselves to be doing what we prefer – but are unable to understand the other. I think that’s what’s left to say in this matter.” The lieutenant felt his lip curl just slightly. He could understand Morgan all too well. Mercenaries were out only for their own interests and all others could be damned. His encounter with Nicola, which he'd later learned was a mercenary vessel, had put an edge on his outlook. Those barely-legal pirates knew no quarter and respected no flag. "There was once some worth in the midshipman I knew, but clearly in being run out of the Navy, whatever good there was in that boy has long since gone," Alderbury replied. "I strongly suspect our paths will cross again, but with luck, it'll be with these fine lads and that fine ship under the Colours that you certainly seem to have such disregard for." Byrne and the two seamen grinned, reacting instinctively to the praise. They might not be from his Falcon, but they seemed to be of good stock. He'd soon find out for sure. "Cart's hove to, sir," Byrne the coxswain said, and the two seamen were already trotting toward the cart. The marines who'd been driven down tumbled out and formed up smartly before marching off, leaving the seamen to retrieve Alderbury's sea-chest unmolested. "That all, sir?" Alderbury looked past Morgan, toward the dock. The jolly-boat and its waiting crew were probably lounging over their looms and chatting idly. The sooner he went aboard Dauntless, the better. "I believe it is, Cox'n. To the jolly-boat, if you please. Duty leaves no room for delay." Byrne grinned again and knuckled his brow before turning to lead the way to the dock. Pointedly ignoring Morgan, Alderbury followed him. As far as he was concerned, the one-time midshipman was worth as much further notice as a pile of muck on his shoe. Were the mercenary to turn about and offer a challenge, however, Alderbury would be more than happy to call for the marines and have the blackguard hauled off to the dungeon. |
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4:04 AM Jul 30
