Just as suddenly as it had started it was ended. Whistles blew on deck and the cry carried down to them. "Cease firing!"
The Fourth Lieutenant repeated the order, his voice cut off by four ragged bangs as the last four guns fired in succession. "Damnation Mister Barclay! I said cease firing, sir!"
Harry didn't hear the response, he didn't really want too. His own guns had done well and his people had obeyed every instruction exactly. He passed along the gun captains and said to each, "Well done, I think we may have winged him."
"True, sor," grinned one of the older hands, "But I reckon's 'is mates 'ave gotten clean away."
"Maybe," Harry replied, "But they'll be a bit more cautious now."
There was a heavy thud as two hulls came together and then a burst of musket fire followed by the bang of some heavier swivels. Screams and shouts mingled as the hulls ground together, the dhow now obscuring the forward gun ports and some of Harry's division as well. A heavier bang told of the carronade on the fo'c's'le firing and one of the gunners said, "They'm finding out what the smashers can do then."
Evidently this was sufficient as the noise of fighting died swiftly to be replaced by the moans of the wounded and an unearthly wailing. At first Harry thought an animal had been injured. Then he recognised it as something akin to the cry he had heard in Colombo from the minarets.
"Secure the guns." The order was repeated from deck to deck and supported by the Boatswain's trilling pipes.
Harry checked all the guns in his division were once more loaded and the locks secured beneath their lead shrouds. Then, having checked all the lashings that secured the guns and rendered them unmoving while not in use, he reported to Mister Rogers. "All secure, sir. Have we taken a prize, sir?"
"So it seems, Harry, so it seems. Though Lord knows who will buy her into service from us." Mister Rogers dodged a party carrying several partitions and said, "Damned handy things these ships on a reach. And weatherly too – but awkward to tack."
-
"Mister Rogers, sir," the messenger was out of breath, "Mister Bell's compliments, but you are to take a boarding party and take possession of the brig, sir."
"Very well," the Lieutenant looked about him, "Mister Barclay, Mister Peterson, with me. Mister Heron, Mister Tanner, see to things here." He led the two midshipmen up the companionway, leaving Harry and Kit alone amidst the busy gun crews as they secured their charges.
"Well," said Harry, "I wish he'd picked us. I wonder what the brig has suffered – or the dhow for that matter?"
"Why don't we try for a look," grinned Kit. "I doubt there will be any harm in us opening the port for Number One."
"Good idea," replied Harry, "It might help clear some of this fog as well and a little clean cool air will be welcome too."
Kit led the way and hauled the lanyard that swung the heavy cover upward so that they could peer out of the opening and see the other ships. The dhow lay close alongside, both her masts fallen and evidently many of her people were injured for the Spartan's men seemed to be almost alone in working to clear the wreckage of the fallen spars. Aft a group of red coats stood guard over a huddle of the few visible survivors of the crew. Beyond the dhow the brig was just visible in the fading light. She idled, her sails in disarray and the ship evidently not under any sort of control.
As they watched the launch pulled into view and made for the Spartan. "What a shambles," Harry commented. "No doubt we will know soon enough what has happened aboard both. Come, we had better attend our duty again – our curiosity will see us in trouble else."
The word reached them soon enough as they supervised the restoration of the last screens and furnishings on the gundeck.
"The brig's crew 'ave been carried off by the pirates," a Master's Mate told them. "This bugger we 'ave under our lee would have made a clean pair of 'eels of it too 'ad we not shot away 'is masts.
"What could they have been after," Harry mused, "Surely pirates would have taken the ship and her cargo?"
"Perhaps they abandoned her if they thought there was a chance we would overhaul them," said Kit in reply.
"Perhaps," said Harry. "No doubt we shall soon hear more. Come, the work is done here. Have you checked the lashings on the guns? Good, then we can report all secured to Mister Bell and perhaps hear what is afoot."
***
"A dead French officer on the Dhow you say?" Captain Blackwood frowned, "Now what mischief are they planning here?"
"He was not alone I am told, sir," Mister Beasley told the Captain. "It is my understanding that they were aboard these Dhows to intercept the brig. The Dhow's Captain speaks French and admits that they were under orders to prevent her reaching their intended destination, but whose orders he cannot say – or will not."
"What did they take from the brig then?"
"The Master's orders, the crew and the Agent together with the diplomatic pouch, sir." The lieutenant frowned, "I think the intention was to sink or burn the ship once they had what they came for. We seem to have spoiled the plan by appearing unexpectedly."
"So it appears," Captain Blackwood replied frowning. "The rain squall which masked us did its work well, we were upon them before they knew. And the dusk was in our favour as well. So now we have the brig recovered and a capture to our credit but have lost the Agent and the documents he carried. Can the dhow's masts be set up to sail her do you think?"
"Unlikely, sir. Her fore went just above the deck and the main not much higher. Both her lateen yards have broken in more than one place and the carpenter says they cannot be adequately fished to carry sail even if we could set up the masts.. A tow is the best option, sir."
"Then let us see to it. We will return to Bombay since our orders were to find and protect the brig and her passenger. Once in Bombay we will be better able to discover what is afoot here."
-
Chapter 27 — A new Commission
The trials had gone well, but now the ship and her crew were about to commence an intensive training period. The next six months would see the ship put through every possible evolution and every possible emergency simulation that Training Staff and their Admiral, a man with a devious mindset in these matters, could come up with.
"Your exercises for the next week will be based on a number of different scenarios. The first will require you to insert a landing force against a defended planet. We will be using the moon Calisto as the 'planet' and you will be up against the Russian Federation Ship Kiev and her escort, two frigates and her strike squadrons. I need hardly add there will be no live firing. Targeting will be done as per normal, but receivers on your outer hull and theirs will register target locks as hits." The Captain giving the briefing touched an interface and a screen lit up with images of the Russian ships.
"To even things up a bit you will carry observers who will monitor each department or section and will have the task of inserting emergency scenarios in that department's operations during the exercises. The same will be happening on the Kiev. She has undergone a major rebuild recently and has a number of upgrades. I must stress that it is essential that should a real emergency arise Heads of Department will have the authority to override and end the exercise." He looked around the briefing room and asked, "Any questions?"
Commander Grenville raised his voice, "Yes, sir. I understand the Kiev is straight from the builders after a major refit. Is she fully worked up?"
"Good question, the answer is no. Like yourselves they are now working up. The Kiev has a new crew on board, though her Command Team are experienced. For training purposes we like to work up new crews by pitting them against each other, but there is a risk of mistakes leading to major accidents. So there will be experienced teams coming aboard to 'shadow' during the evolutions." He smiled as he continued, "On this ship I will have the luxury of using your Flag Command Centre to monitor the exercise, my partner in crime on the Kiev will have the use of one a great deal less sophisticated."
Captain Heron asked, "Will we have t
he opportunity to hold a Captain's Conference with the commanders of the three ships working with us in this exercise? I feel strongly that I should at least have the opportunity to discuss with them the evolutions I might have to put this ship through."
"Good point James, and yes, you will have that opportunity. You have one destroyer, the Emden, and two frigates, the Lion and the Lynx with you, the Emden acting as your Landing Ship. I have arranged for their Captains to be here for a Captains' Conference at sixteen hundred today. At that briefing I will give each of you the exercise orders."
Further questions regarding the deployment of a variety of weapons including mines followed and assurances were given that though these would be used, they were deactivated and although they would respond aggressively, there was no danger of damage from them. Nick Gray, Flight Commander for the ship's strike squadrons, managed to ascertain that the exercise directors expected his squadrons to be fully engaged.
But the briefing officer cautioned, "These exercises are designed to test you, your ship and your systems to the limits. You have to recognise that there are some serious risks present, not least because of what we are trying to do and trying to teach brings a lot of fast, expensive and dangerous equipment together with inexperienced pilots, navigators and officers. Accidents can happen and do happen – but we must ensure that the risk of an accident is as low as reasonably practicable and that we still get the job and the training done."
"Some risks," muttered Nick in an aside to Valerie. "He's joking – putting two hundred strike craft into a giant wargame with half the jockeys straight out of flight training?"
"I know the feeling. Over half of my weapons pods are being handled by rookies. The potential for disaster has never been better," she replied. "At least we Russians do not expect less."
Nick grinned. Valerie's fatalistic approach was well known and hid the fact that she was probably the most professional weapons officer in a branch in which exceptional professionalism was considered average. Her reputation for targeting and accuracy were legendary and she demanded the same or better from her people. And her teams usually delivered it as well, since they knew that she could do everything she demanded of them as well or better.
They listened to the rest of the briefing in silence then gathered their detailed order chips from the Exercise Commander and departed to brief their own teams. The next four days promised to be interesting, exciting for some, and demanding for every member of the crew.
***
The Kiev was smaller than the new Vanguard, but still impressive and her newly installed upgrades on weapons and systems made her a formidable opponent. But her Captain, Yuri Polensk, had to acknowledge that the ship he was supposed to take on was, on paper, more powerful than his own even with her upgrades. To his second in command he said, "This will be an interesting exercise Andreas, Vanguard is very new and equipped with some of the new scanners and weapons we do not have room to install."
"Then perhaps we can be glad she makes a bigger target," his Executive Commander replied. "Especially when we are required to change roles – I do not like our having to defend. Attack is always better than defence."
"Our turn will come," smiled the Captain. "For now, these are our dispositions. We will take up station in readiness immediately. The next few days will be a good challenge. We have spent too much time playing in simulators – now we can test our skills in real time and in real manoeuvres."
***
In the days that followed tempers frayed on both sides and in all ships as both ships and men were stretched to breaking point. But eventually this exercise was drawn to a close, with Vanguard having succeeded in inserting her landing force and crippling her opponent.
"James," Yuri Polensk greeted his opponent. "I think I must demand to have Valerie Petrocova returned to me. You have stolen the best weapons Commander from us to man your ship. This is not right!"
"Yuri, I think I'd have a mutiny on my hands if I even suggested she give up the weapons department she has created here." James Heron smiled. "Your own weapons people did a magnificent job though. I thought you had the edge on us for a while, but then our heavier punch started to tell. Tell you what, how about a dinner between our ships after the debriefing? I'll invite the Admiral and his staff."
"Good idea," the Russian Captain acknowledged, "I accept. What is it you say? Your place or mine?"
Both Captains laughed. "Why not both?" James Heron responded. "My ship can entertain yours first and then we can swop over for a second party aboard yours. I think our people deserve it don't you?"
"Agreed," Yuri Polensk replied. "Name the day and the time."
"It will have to be tonight and tomorrow," Captain Heron responded, "We start a new set of evolutions which will take up a month in four days time – and I'll need my people sobered up by then."
"Very well," Yuri replied. "I will inform my compatriots – we will look forward to it."
***
After the hard work of the previous four days the party for both Rates and the Officers was a welcome relief. Captain Heron proud that his ship rose to the occasion and turned on a magnificent meal and an entertainment to follow which cemented many relationships even across some language difficulties. And the Executive Commander was even more impressed by the fact that he was confronted by only two defaulters once the reciprocation had taken place.
"Both of them on report and reprimanded," he informed the Captain. "Silly idiots got carried away with some vodka the Russians brought with them and both of them should have known better than to try drinking that stuff against professional vodka heads." He chuckled. "Though I gather some of the Russian chaps weren't too fit afterward either."
"Well, as long as they are fit for duty and aren't likely to do anything that will jeopardise the ship, I'll leave it with you." James Heron was strict but fair. "Warn them they'll be off this ship faster than a Strike Fighter if they do."
"Already done, sir." Richard Grenville had made this very point very clear to both offenders earlier. "I think they got the message."
"Good." The Captain nodded. "Now our next set of evolutions start tomorrow. I shall want everyone in the briefing room at nine hundred hours. We're embarking the Training Team again for this one so they will require accommodation for the next month. I suggest you put them all in the Flag Officer's accommodation. Keeps them together and gives them somewhere private to hatch their devious plots." He smiled. "Has Mary forgiven them for making her carry out the emergency shutdown of two of her reactors yet? Or evacuating her Control Room?" He saw the grin spread on his Executive Commander's face and said, "I thought not. Still, she and her team came through that in the middle of our 'battle' with flying colours. Though I think the Observer's ears will take some time to recover from the scorching she gave them."
The incident he was referring to was likely to go down in Fleet legends. The Exercise Director had inserted a random option into the scenario and it had turned up containment failure of the reactors in two reactor rooms and a fire in the Engineering Control Room in near parallel events. Commander Mary Allison and her team had carried out the Reactor Shutdown Procedure while simultaneously fighting the fire and donning evacuation suits. Because Mary had simply ordered the activation of the SCRAM procedure – which quite literally stopped the fusion reaction in its tracks by injecting a fusion damping stream of Boron particles into the core – and then hit the atmospheric decompression button which vented the Control Room's atmosphere into space.
The Engineering team had had seconds rather than minutes to get their suits on from the moment she gave the order and then they had had to rescue one of the Observers who had failed to bring his emergency pack with him. Mary's dressing down of the individual – having shoved him into an airlock and slammed the hatch just in time – was going to be the basis of a new and rather rude song to be sung on Mess Nights in the Wardroom and the Senior Rates Messes. The fact that she was small and rather petite and the Observer had been a l
arge and well-built individual certainly added to the ribaldry of the words already circulating.
"I gather that one or two changes have been made to the team we will be shipping," agreed the Executive Commander. "I hear one of the Engineering Observer's is still jumping every time he hears a hiss and has asked to work with another group."
"Serves him right." Captain Heron was less than sympathetic. "Fleet standing orders say that when we are at action stations everyone must have their emergency survival pack with him – and of all people he should know that if you set off a smoke canister in battle exercises the venting of the compartment is what you are going to get."
Their Lordships Request: A Harry Heron Adventure Page 24