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Time-Spanned Soul Vice Captain
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 Posted: Tue Sep 12, 2006 12:02 pm
"Seize Hold, Doc--" was all Baxter heard as the hatchway to below slammed shut. He would have to worry about it later he thought to himself as he worked on dragging his patient to his operating theater.
<>
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Posted: Wed Sep 13, 2006 5:13 pm
Nodding, Syn took hold of another rope and started to carefully make her way up to the helm, squinting against the rain and wind that stung her eyes and the waves that threatened to sweep her off the ship. It didn't take her an overlong time to stagger up to the helm, throwing a wild salute to to Vanstring that threatened to knock her off balance.
" 'ey! Cap'n sez I'm to assist ye and whatnot! Hopefully the two of us won't be knocked off and lost at sea, eh?"
Despite the conditions around the two of them, a broad smile was on her face as her hair whipped around her head, her knuckles white as she held onto the railing as tightly as she could.
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Posted: Thu Sep 14, 2006 1:22 pm
*As the wind blew fiercely across the bay, the ship drew nearer to the straits. Myere would put the helm hard to starboard and follow the coastline along to Marseille and then onto Barcelona, where he would recruit for more hands and repair any yards or rigging that had been damaged during the storm... or at least that's what he would do.
Tearing his eyes from the harsh seas, Myere Vanstring, the large, non-social german helmsman looked forward to see his captain lashing himself to the stantion near the beakhead alongside the foremast. The Inner-Pride that he held for the man he called 'Kapitän' beamed across his face. Myere Vanstring had been with the ship's crew for two years and had not once seen Kurisutofa leave the quarterdeck during a strong blow.
Squinting to rid his stinging, dry eyes of the saltwater, he caught sight of a woman coming down the gangway. He'd not seen her before, but he was aware that the captain had sent her there for a reason, he just didn't know what that reason was.
As the young woman approached him, he looked three feet above her head and caught a glimpse of a great wave that seemed to have the purpose of putting the ship on her beam-ends & to sink her.*
"Junges Fräulein! Duck behinde dat gun und grabbe tighte ta dah runnaeng geir! Schnell! Schnell!"
*Pointing frantically toward the recently secured portside gun, Myere guestured her towards the same-haven. Right as he turned form aiding her into a hiding spot, the wave crashed into the highrail. The ship lurched to starboard and begun to list heavily. Myere heard a loud pistol-like snap, as his deck lashings carried away and he was sent crashing into the starboard rail. Blood mixed with the saltwater as the wave passed and the water that stood a foot and a half high on deck hurried out of the scuppers.
As the ship plunged from atop the wavescrest, gravity seemed to take a holiday and everything on deck, including the crew, few through the air.
AS the saying goes, what goes up, must come down... and thus the ship & it's company did just that. With loud crashes and bangs, the ship righted itself and continued on her course. Myere pulled himself from his corpse position on the leerail and quickly retook the vacant, freely spinning helm.*
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Posted: Thu Sep 14, 2006 2:03 pm
*as the waves crashed into the ship, the gun crew tied down the guns to keep them in their places. the water poured into the ship, sweeping the dry wood away and replacing it with a layer of water. Ares looked at her frantically working crew*
Men! Hold tight! Get those gun secure!
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Admiral Lord Cochrane Captain
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Posted: Thu Sep 14, 2006 4:23 pm
*Holding tight to the stantion, Jack watched as the world spun about, righted and continued underway to Barcelona, Spain. Though under topgallants & forestays, this storm would wear the sheets to the thinest threads. Seeing the navigational charts in his mind, he saw that Marseille on the southern coast of France was the best port for repair... but did they want to risk being stuck in port again? The answer for that was 'No'.
Repairing at sea... that was the answer. Lumber, tar & tools they had in masses. But it was the task of finding a Ship's Carpenter that he had not found time for back in Toulon, though now his procrastination was, of course, coming back to haunt him.
Though, as the winds drove the rain deep into his flesh, Jack could do no more than issue sail-tactic technics. Everything, aside from abandoning ship, had been done. Now they were at the mercy of the storm.*
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Posted: Thu Sep 14, 2006 5:36 pm
*Attempting to stand on a heaving, rolling ship deck was proving to be a very difficult task. Knowing of the fate usually befallen of the slight, Omi found rope and tied herself to the mast. There was quite a length, allowing for her to be able to do whatever she should need to, but it still sort of worried her that there might be enough for her to drown anyway should she go over the side. It was better to not think of such things, though, and she tried to concentrate on the freezing rain instead.*
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Posted: Fri Sep 15, 2006 12:17 am
She watched as the waves grew higher and more agressive, smashing into the side of the ship. Almost losing her footing, she grabed a safty line and knotted it around her waist, feeling the salty rope slip in her hands more then once as the waves soaked her clothing until she was almost undecent. Trying to keep herself covered while directing crew took her entire concentration as she kept an eye on the sails, hoping they wouldn't tear.
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Posted: Fri Sep 15, 2006 5:58 pm
*Grabbing the forestay'sle lines, he called for assistance on hauling the line in. With a few of the guncrew and three topmen, the stay'sle was sheeted home and belayed upon the pin, but Jack made sure it was doubled down so it wouldn't carry away.*
"Extra rations of grog for every man that rides out this blow, boys.
You'll have it with supper, upon my word. I'll see Miss Destiny personally..."
*Before he could finish his sentence, the sound of flogging canvas sheets sounded as loud as thunder. Suddenly, with a quick snap, the foretop gave away and was blown far off into the raging torent, cordage still clinging to it's anchorcables. The 'Lady' came to a dead stop in the water, bobbing side to side and then lurched to port, her siderail becoming engukfed in white seafoam.*
"ALL HANDS TO THE PORTRAIL!! MISS MIDNIGHT, FETCH THE BOARDING AXES, IF YOU'LL PLEASE. I WANT THIS WRECKAGE CLEARED AWAY AND THROWN OVER THE SIDE!"
*As the water on deck gathered in depth, Jack unlashed himself and relocated to the portside fore'rail abnd began hacking away at the lines with what blade he had on him. Having only a small splicing knife, he sawed viguriously at the thick hemp line.*
"AXES QUICKLY! THE WRECKAGE IS ACTING AS A SEA-ANCHOR: WE MUST CUT IT LOOSE! IT'S GOING TO SINK US!"
*As the wreckage held the ship in position, her head spun off course by eight points and held. No matter what they did, they were in dire need of doing away with the destroyed topgallant mast, and jury-rigging the foremast with a new mast. The ship would be fine under fore'sail & Mainsheets alone. Infact, she'd likely be better off.*
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Admiral Lord Cochrane Captain
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Posted: Fri Sep 15, 2006 7:49 pm
*Hearing the command, Omi struggled her way to the portrail, more than once nearly tripping on the rope about her waist, but never once wishing it wasn't there. The wreckage that met her vision was almost horrifying- a sickening mass of splintered wood, ripping canvas, and rope, rope all over, taut as kite string, spelling death and disaster with every hempen inch. She had no blade of any sort on her person, and she was but small, what could she do? Still, she was of the crew on this ship, and anything that could be done for its benefit should be. Shouting over the storm, she asked the captain,* "What can I do to help?!"
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Posted: Sat Sep 16, 2006 12:42 am
Syn leapt up from the safe-spot Myere had put her in, frowning in concern and joining him at the helm. She wasn't bound to anything and she thought the German needed a rope. She fell to her hands and knees, looking for a rope until she located one, winding it around his waist before he could respond and tying it to a nearby railing. She rose to her feet and spat out more water just as a wave struck her and shoved her against the railing, threatening to knoch er overboard. She clung to it for dear life, the laugh on her lips by now long gone.
"'tis a wild wind tonight..." She didn't understand if the helmsman could understand her but she turned to him, shouting over the roar of the wind and waves, "Sir! Can I do anythin' to help ye?" She smiled a little, trying to put a bit of optimism into it.
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Posted: Sat Sep 16, 2006 11:12 am
As she saw the sail tear away and the ship come to a dead stop, bobbing in the water like a toy sailboat her heart skipped a beat. Looking to the main deck she saw the Captain looking her way, his eyes locked to hers when he called out. Snapping quickly to attention she searched her brain to were the axes were stored. Had they been moved?
She searched quickly to no avail, having to untie her safty line to go down below. Finally the ship rocked violently throwing her into a room and on an ax. Grabbing as many as she could in her arms she raced back above deck. Tossing them onto the deck she directed some of the gun crew to take up axes and start clearing away the wreckage.
Taking the ax in her small hand she swung it over her head and brought it back down, making her unused shoulder muscles tense and then loosen in a smooth, swift motion. The action was familiar and she was soon in a rhythm, cutting and tossing debris over the side of the Lady, trying to prevent her from sinking and all from drowning. The handle of the ax ripped at her hands, opening sores and making her hands one with the ax handle, blood and salt water blending into wood.
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Posted: Sat Sep 16, 2006 3:08 pm
*As if in reply to Miss Omi's question, Miss Midnight reappeared ondeck with a box full of canvas wrapped boarding axes. As the storm raged, a cloud opened to starboard that let a beam of light shine down upon the sea. From his position on deck, the light shown heavenly behind her, giving her an almost arch-angelish appearance. Chuckling to himself, he smiled at Miss Omi.*
"Our Guardian Angel has descended upon us, Miss Omi. Take up a boarding axe and have at it. Even the smallest people can do big things."
*As he grabbed an axe, he paused for a moment. Reaching inside his coat, he pulled a knife out and handed it to Miss Omi*
"A gift."
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Admiral Lord Cochrane Captain
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Posted: Sat Sep 16, 2006 6:13 pm
*Her face lit up happily.* "Thank you!" *With great zeal, she began hacking away at the ropes.*
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Posted: Sun Sep 17, 2006 1:56 pm
*Cringing at the sight on the foredeck, Myere could only imagine how the ship's helm would respond. Putting the wheel to starboard with all his strength, Myere attempted to straightened the ship's course. Gradually, the ship's head came around and found herself pointing full on into the open Mediterranean Sea, with the knowledge that if the storm blew them too far, they'd disembowl the 'Lady' upon the Barbary Coastline.
Without the latitude & longitude charted, Myere used dead reckoning to guide the ship towards Marseille, French Territory: Sea of a Thousand Fortunes. If the Captain were not to busy, he would surely find the sun with the instrument that he called a 'quad-rat' or something to that effect.
But as for now, Myere could only hope that the wreckage was soon cleared so he could try to bring the ship out of this storm. Looking to the young, valiant girl who laid there ondeck, behind the gun, he extended his hand to her.*
"Car to jione meh, fraulein?
Take the red side of the wheel, I'll take the green."
~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~
*Contrary to popular belief, not all sailors knew the correct nautical terms. Myere, for example had spent too many years in the service of that corsican rouge, Napolean Bonaparte.
Having been pressed from a dutch merchantman three years ago, he served aboard a french frigate by the name of 'Soliel Royale', a 104 gun man-o-war. There, he was taught by untrained officers that knew nothing of life at sea and that had spent too many years on the battlefield.
Unlearned as he was, Myere was taught to navigate by means of color-coding: The Left (Port) was Red, while the Right (Starboard) was Green. His navigational skills as a helmsman didn't come into play until later in his life, when his ship was cut from it's moorings in Nice, Italy and towed out to sea in the dead of night by longboats. Once out of range of Chateau Monsteau's long guns, the pride of the emporer's navy was stripped of all valueables, robbed of it's yards, spars, hempline, sailcloth... everything but the ship's main components.
The crew that were not slaughtered, were offered amnisty and a place aboard this mystery ship, definitley smaller from the looks of the rigging in the moonlight... They were lead into the wardroom of the 'Soleil Royale', to find their captain merrily sitting on his bunk with a smile on his face, and a bullet in his brain. As the men gasped, the chair behind the desk spun around to reveal a long haired, one eyed man.
"I'm looking to hire a coxswain... any takers?'
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*Smiling to himself he offered up the free side of the wheel to the young girl. She was small, but he was sure that her efforts would not be in vain. Any help at all would be appreciated. He'd seen eight men on the helm during one voyage to Bombay... but this storm was his to reign in, but he'd need some help.*
"Vhat eis yur naime?
I am Myere Vanstring, Kapitän's Coxshwain & Hellmsman
aboard the 'Fraulein Vashington'."
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Posted: Sun Sep 17, 2006 3:09 pm
Taking the other side of the wheel, Syn kept tucking her gray hair out of her face and finally gave up, keeping an eye on Myere so she could follow his instructions. True, she was small, but like the German had supposed she was stronger than she looked.
"My name is Syn De Beumont, sir. Please call me Syn. I've just been taken on as a Ship's Purser, although I doubt our dear Cap'n has had time to add me to the roster."
She was conversing as casually as if they weren't on a bucking, rolling ship in the middle of a horrendous storm, although her death grip on the helm and her way of looking around constantly to keep an eye out for more falling pieces of the ship belied her tone.
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Reply
![[ M!DNIGHT ]'s avatar](https://a1cdn.gaiaonline.com/dress-up/avatar/ava/8b/0d/11df77ce30d8b_flip.png?t=1232002726_6.00_00)