[ETW AAR] 6 Bells, Alls Well Sir...

[M D]

This is a small intro to my future AAR this month.


Commander James Williams paced impatiently in the Admiralty foyer.. He had been summoned by letter to see the first sea lord.He saw Captains and Lieutenants go into the office while he and one marine major were left in the lobby. He read the 'Gazette' put put it down once he saw mention of his bravery off Cape St. Vincent.. He started to tap his feet until the Marine gave him an irritating look until finally, a Captain with his gold epaulettes compared to James' dull one, poked his head around the door..

"Commander James WIlliams?" He said in a Scottish Accent.

James jumped up with the most ungentlemenly attitude and followed the Captain into the First Lord's office. He was motioned to sit then the Lord kept writing orders and finally looked up at the blonde boy sitting in front of him..

"Commander WIlliams, I am seeing you to congratulate you for Cape St. Vincent.. A Frigate against a 3rd Rate now that really is something, eh!"

James realised he was meant to say something now..
"Not really sir, just doing what i was taught."

The Admiral chuckled,
"We need more officers like you. I hate captain who fret of going to battle as it could scratch the gold leaf on the figurehead, what what! Now then, I have orders for you."

James perked up and looked interested,
"May I enquire of their nature sir?"

The admiral looked at him, gauging his trust..
"Your getting a Carronade Frigate Brand New! The HMS WIndsor.."

James smiled,
"Thankyou sir, and where am I going? THe channel to hunt French SMugglers.."

The admiral smiled slightly,
"Have you ever been to the West Indies Commander?"

--------------------------------------------------------------


OOC: Please post any comments and rep if appropriate will rep back..
This is just an Intro!

[thealmightyzorg]

Very intriguing, I'll have to watch for this when it comes out.

[Hector Barbossa]

Looks good major will watch out for it

[M D]

aiming the first chapter for tuesday.

[Celsius]

french smugglers in the channel? Impossible! :shifty

[KoS]

Not bad.

[finian1712]

love it but back then was he a lieutenant or a master and commander, if he was a master and commander courtesy dictated that he would be called captain and if so he wore on epaulette and a lieutenant wore none and was adressed by which lieutenant, plus a master and commander would never command a frigate only a sloop.

[M D]

I know and actually you'll find they did away with master and commander during this period.. The ship's crew shall call him captain, remember Hornblower was a commander but not a master & Command

[finian1712]

Im talking about the early 19th century set Aubrey-Maturin series

[Mickas the Great]

Nice intro, i look forward to the real thing.

[M D]

Commander James Williams sat in his ship's gig as it rowed out from the jetty in Kingston. They had barely been here a week, enough time for the men to get drunk and get enough whores for the whole navy but also enough time for James to go to the Port Admiral and recieve his orders.. He had been tasked with ending smuggling into British DOminions in the Carribean. He was getting used to his new ship and her crew.. He had sorted the good officers from the bad ones and the mutinous sailors from the patriotic sailors.
THe gig jumped up and down in the port as it slowly made its way to the HMS Windsor...
An officer from the Frigate called out,
"SHip Ahoy!"
The gig then replied,
"Windsor!"[IMG]file:///C:/Users/Tessa/Pictures/frigate.jpg[/IMG]
That meant the captain was onboard the little boat..

James saw the side boys and the marines get ready on the poop deck as he climbed the side and as soon as his head rose into vision the pipes chirmed and the marines presented arms.
The lieutenant of the watch stated the log, of course nothing had happened but rules were rules.. He made his way to his cabin after giving the order to deport and make their way to the Hispaniola Strait.
When James lay in his cot in his cabin he listened to the ship, the creaking of the English Oak, the sounds of the sailors, the orders of the Officers and the whistling of the sails under wind...

After a brief nap and the sounding of the fourth bell on the dog's watch he invited the officers to his cabin. They sat around the table while the Steward doled out Stew..
"RIght then Gentlemen.. And boys."
The last comment was directed at the young midshipmen..
"We are here to kill us some pirates! We are to wait in the Hispanioala Straight and intercept any smuggler, privateer or confessing pirate. Any caught shall be hanged immediately. When we engage, we wil not be firing for their holds as thats where the evidence lies.. Go for their rigging with some chain and then sweep the deck with Grape. Any Questions?"

The Marine Captain piped up,
"Shall we be boarding them sir?"

The commander smiled,
"Of course, unless you want to ask them nicely to surrender!"
There was stifled laughter around the table at the last comment..
"Alright then, Mr. Mercer.. Get us a good course along the Tradewinds.. I want us there fast."

4 bells rang out, then 5 and finally 6.. The commander woke and went up to the deck. The officer on watch spoke to him,
“6 Bells, Alls well Captain.”
The commander spoke,
“Very good lieutenant.. I shall have a look around if you don’t mind.”
He took out his telescope and stepped to the foredeck near the edge and opened the telescope, empty.. Wait, there was a brig.. The commander calmly turned,
“Lieutenant, Ship ahoy on the port bow.. Run up the colours and beat to action stations if you please!.”
A rolling drum rang out, Marines rose to the deck and took their places on the sides and rigging ready to snipe any officers. James saw the Red Ensign being run up on the flagpole,







The ship smoothly closed in on the brig who knew she was trapped in the strait, she raised her colours too.







“PIRATES! Mr. Grange, launch the spinnaker if you please and shorten the top’ sails of you please..”
The navy ship closed in on the Pirate ship drawing ever closer. The sailors were issued their swords and sent to their guns.
It was not long before the ships were alongside and the gunners prepared, reciting the ancient gunners prayer,
“For what we are about to receive...”

Officers went to their respective sides and gun stations and quickly briefed the crew,
“The captain has changed his mind.. Fire roundshot, destroy them. NO need to board.”

The frigate rumbled out a gigantic broadside, worthy of the practice done by the sailors on the long journey to the Carribean. Every gun fired at the same time almost a total chorus.
It was immense, the brig erupted in a great ball of flame, a ball must have hit the powder magazine causing it to ignite, there were no survivors..

[Stildawn]

Nice update... Tell me why are the pics at the bottom and not in the post?

[Nole4694]

Cause they are thumnails, Major, nice work man, though I would suggest that you upload pictures to photobucket and then copy and paste them here, that way they can be in the posts not at the bottom

[Yojimbo]

Very good, nice and descriptive and i agree put the images on imageshack as they don't have a bandwidth limit, so you can put each picture where you'd like it. Looking forward to more

[trueshadow21]

Nice work Major

[M D]

Thanks for the feedback, am working on the photo thing. THey will be in next time.
Next update in a couple of days..

[Blackshamrock.]

Cool. Looking forward to the next up date well done. and I'll give you a bit of rep as well for keeping me interested .

[M D]

update soon.

[René Artois]

Demned good report Major! I shall +rep you post haste, what!

[Amaz]

I like this AAR, it seems like you spent a lot of time on this chapter.... or is this still part of the intro? Are you a naval historian yourself and know all these things about ships and whatnot?