Tale Of Sarna The Shield Warrior First United Army

The Ocean Blue

Stanson they are not shooting at the Fort!
No General must be the Stella Marie! Blast!
I'm stuck a land! General can you hit that ship
from here man?

We can try Sir, Battery Commander Battery A and B please fire at the invaders.

Owens, what kinda ship is she? Tell me man!

She is a gun ship, two ten inch turrets forward nothing no guns on her stern Stanson.
Busard make her a small target man! Make for the
Harbor!

Captain Stanson, he can't hear you.
Owens I feel better shouting, harbor Busard!

Battery A fire! Battery B fire! Six loud Carump
then six more. Stanson pulled his fingers from his
ears. All short! She is turning! That got her attention! Make for the Harbor Busard!

Stanson she is making for the harbor, both batteries keep firing! Keep her busy! Stanson
make for the harbor dock!

Yes Sir Owens you are coming, you'll help us
or die man! They ran the hundred yards to the
harbor dock. Just as the Stella entered.  As they
climbed in the small boat. Owens looked at Stanson we don't stand a chance. I advise running
Sir.

Blast that Owens we are going to fight! So you
best be ready to tell me how to beat her.

She sees us! Pull Owens she can't turn to us now!
Closer man! Got it! Busard drop the ladder!
Climbing the ladder, Busard make ready to leave the Harbor! Mister Meyers lower gun deck open the gun doors! If you please! Owens bridge with
me, Evans man the pivot gun! Raise the battle colors! Helm use the entrance to our advantage,
stay on her Aft Now! Swing into her when I say.

The fort is taking a beating, more sail Busard,
we need some speed! Pivot gun, when you have
a good target! The rest fire as ya see her! Hold till we turn to her! Easy helm easy, hard a port man!

The ship leaned hard spray shot over the upper
gun deck. Some leaned with her others hung from
rigging. Cannons firing Meyers ears were ringing smoke filled the deck. Port side come on Men! Reload! Starboard side make ready!

Stanson shouted come about hard about! The pivot
gun fired, they felt the muzzle blast heat and wind
moved men. The boom hurt the ears. Stanson thought he felt the ship rock a touch. We got her
tower Lad's! Look she is a blaze! Owens can she fire over her bow?

Not her big ten inch no she can't. She does have a small four inch gun up front. Good only two degrees off her bow.

I got maybe a couple degrees on her bow I could
Play with? Yes Stanson maybe two, if you keep her
holding that yes.

Helm get us straight away at her bow! Zig zag away from her! Don't give her a target man!
Mister Evans! Load the double charge round!
Aim for her tower midways! Helm we turn hard when I say, starboard side guns be ready!

Busard port side guns load with triple the powder!

Sir! They won't take it! I'm sure of it!
Load it the way I say man! We are in a fight here!

Iya Captain load triple the powder! Mister Meyers
triple the powder port side man! Yes Sir Mister Busard sir! Triple the powder now men! When's ya
fire give yourselves a distance now.

Owens why she not returning fire man?
She thinks you aren't a threat, I'd think the same
sir. You haven't done real long term damage.
The fort is her problem.

Sir we can make our run sir I've got her turned and ready Helm make for her bow! Stay on her now don't vary the least off her bow! Pivot gun
when we turn ya fire!

Owens shouted we are getting awful close Stanson!
Turn now hard man all she has turn! As she turned the ship leaned hard the bow fell down.
The pivot gun fired on the downward motion.
She sped a broadside her. Firing as she passed.

Busard yelled we've lost the fore sail! Clear the bow now! Get the rigging cut and cleared! Sir
she finally fired! Felt her blow!

No worries! None Owens none at all still have the
Aft sail. Damn I missed it another hit Owens!
Look Owens Lads about a midship! She is taking
on water, I tell ya! Helm gets us moved on the port side run! Evans aim close to the same spot man!
Another double charge round now!

General Walson paced the parapet Captain can you
see Stanson's ship? No Sir to much smoke sir.
I do recommend battery D sir they have a chance of helping less likely to hit Stanson's ship Sir.

Do it man hurry, we can't loose this fort! Where is
she where is Stanson? I see ya, get them Stanson!

Helm just aft of her tower if you please, Busard!
We are making our run! Fire when you see a target
man! Iya Captain, ready now easy men. Fire men!
When ya have a target! Boom boom boom, down
line. Cannons broke stay lines jumped the stops behind them. Shouting some didn't move fast enough. Cannon ran over two. Others hit by lines
when they broke.  The bow gun fired again blowing up the forge house. The Helmsman fell
a broken board impaled in his chest.

Owens take the wheel! We hurt her men! Listen
secondary explosions! She's a listing dropping near the bow! Owens turn us safe distance away
man. Say hundred yards towards the harbor inlet.

Yes Captain, I might say didn't think you had a chance. Easy Owens were a Luffing, don't want loosening of the sheets,now man. Yes that's better.

Evans good show! Mister Busard and Meyers well
done! Any dead or wounded? Besides the Helmsman! Owens good man we are Leeward again.

Sir two men lower gun deck, wind knocked out off them. Maybe a few bruises soar a few days! None
dead Sir!  Thank you Mister Meyers Busard how about you?

Captain lucky enough on top deck sir. One dead when the forge house blew. Few bangs and bumps.
Should be fine sir. Recommend doing repairs here
sir!  Noted Busard so noted, aha if your brother only new where you were Busard.

Captain, if he only knew I wasn't a merchant officer! Dear brother would flog us both.

We are tied off Sir, I'll start repairs.
No hurry Mister Busard, form the crew I'd like to
speak to them.
Evans go below get those that are clearing the lower decks topside. All ya listen up form on Mister Meyers if ya please.

Owens thank you for your input, I've an offer to
make. Must be done in front of the crew though.
Mind ya won't be offered again now.

Make your offer Sir not sure what my answer will
be.

Crew is ready Sir. Thank you Mister Busard.
Crew men, we did something today, our guest
Mister Owens said we couldn't do, only with
his help. If he didn't help we would of stood not
near a chance. Evans you move to first Helmsman.
I knows you can do it. Pick a man to replace ya.

Thank you Sir, I will.
Now we done good, we can
do better. Crew I've question for ya. Owens proved
himself as in the tradition of the Privateers.
I offer him a spot on the crew, he'll be Mister Meyers assistant. If he so chooses.  How say ya!

Shouts of yes and welcome aboard man!

You see Owens we Privateers only care if you
serve with them and stay true to the ship and crew.

Owens didn't speak, he thought a moment.
Yes I'll stay, what about those at the fort?

They won't come aboard my ship. Nor try and
take ya. Owens welcome man. Mister Meyers
show Owens to his cabin. Make repairs Lads
I want sale in the morning! Two portions of Rum
with dinner Lads!

I'll be going a shore see about piano wire and iron
straps to wrap the cannon more. Lumber and such a forge stove. Build a new forge house. Mister Owens write as much down about your ships
as you can.