Rohan at Sea - Foul Frog for the Baug

[Borys]

 March 17, 1904

Off the coast of New Rhun

Heorl Lithol, Captain of Goldwine, looked out from his bridge. The winds were in his face as his mighty battleship steamed south into it. Theoden, Battleship of the Mark, was steaming 1,000 yards of his port bow, it's signalman trying to tell the Goldwine something has been spotted on the horizon.

"Well what have they spotted now? A Columbian fishing boat?" mused Lithol.

"Captain, signal reports that Theoden's spotted black powder smoke and gun flashes ten miles South of us. Captain Ithilson says he is moving to flack to inspect and recommends we follow."

"Very good, Bring the ship to General Quarters." 'What mess are we about to get into now?' thought Lithol.

"Engineering, Make for flank speed."

"Tell Gunnery to make ready. We want to be able to hit anything before they can hit us."

"Sir"

A few minutes passed as the ship readied for a possible battle. The Captian looked ahead but couldn't make out any flashes.

"Lookout reports two vessels at seven miles, bearing 195. Looks like a freighter and a sloop."

"A sail sloop?" asked the Captian.

"Yes, sir, as sail sloop."

"I guess some pirate decided to pick on someone who couldn't steam away. Gunnery be ready to fire a warning shell over the freighter. Signal be ready to flash them to stand down and perpare to be boarded in the name of Theocro King of Rohan."

"Yes sir."

"Captain, The sloop is turning away from the freighter and is trying to make sail away from us as best they can with these winds."

"Maybe the pirates are surrendering."

BOOM!

"BY Galdalf's Beard!"

The freighter's midsection exploded in a burst of fire and smoke.

"They wouldn't give up without a fight, or at least trying to run?"

"Captain, signal reports the freighter is still flying French merchantman colors!"

"Signal Theoden! Have them move to assist the merchantman. Look for survivors, and try to save that ship."

"Sir?"

"Do it!"

"Sir."

"Helm adjust course to intercept that sloop."

"Gunnery change target, fire a warning shot over that sloop's bow"

"Yes, sir."

A turret fires a shell which lands 600 yards ahead of the sloop.

"Signal that ship to stop in the name of Theocro King."

Three flashes and black powder smoke answer's Goldwine's request.

"Sarumans, return the favor!"

A turret fired her second gun, the shell spashing astern of the sloop.

"Engineering and want flank speed. He doesn't have the wind to escape right now, but I don't want to give him the option either."

Theoden moved behind and past Goldwine as she moved to check on the French merchant, she fired a broadside at the sloop but also missed.

"They seem to be firing old rifles judging by the smoke and splashes, sir."

"What, from 40 years ago?"

"More like 30, sir."

"They can't do anything to this ship with those." CLANG! He said as a shell bounced of A turret.

"They could still kill us up here sir."

"Sir, it looks they they do have an engine, look."

Black coal smoke rose from s short stack on the sloops deck.

"They seem to be having difficulty getting her going nice."

A turret was silent for a minute.

"Report!"

"The gunnery crew is picking themselves up from that hit."

"Well get them firing again, quickly, the wind might change"

Theoden fired another broadside as it closed on the freighter, scoring two hits on the sloop, both ripping up the sails and rigging a bit.

"She's slowing a bit."

CLANG! a shell bouced on the hull armor.

A turret openned fire again. splashed just 200 yards form the sloop.

"Come on men, we've practiced better than this."

"We've not done this for sailing vessels sir."

"Are we in range for the Nines?"

"Yes sir"

"Then let them have it"

Two of Goldwine's nine inch guns opened up, splashing on either side of the sloop.

"We've closing the range. 5,000 years now sir."

"Keep at it"

Theoden fired again with a broadside as she reached the freighter, two more shells hit the sloop. crippling its weapons and punching a hole in the low funnel.

Goldwine's gunners were having a hard time, but only the forward few guns were firing at the small target. A turret missed again, but one of the nines hit the vessel near the main mast, snapping it.

"Good hit, she can't get away not."

The guns fired again, a single nine hitting once more punching a hole in her hull.

"That's enough. Signal her to surrender to the Kingdom of Rohan."

"Yes sir."

"No responce"

"Take us in. Get the boarding party and the boats ready."

"Sir."

Goldwine moving in the the crippled sailing vessel, it fired some small arms and light guns at the battleship, but Goldwine's machine cannons and Quickfires soom supressed those as the boats where lowered.

The boarding party fought their way onboard as Goldwine's machine cannons supressed the crew. Fighting was fiece, the pirate crew held out to the last man, but the hole in the ship had flooded the magazine enough to prevent then from destroying their ship.

Two hours later one of the boats returned to report on the vessel.

"Can we tow if home?" asked Lithol of his engineer.

"We can patch that hole in the side and cast the mainmast into the sea, sir. Shouldn't too too much of a challenge."

Lithol turned to his executive officer that lead the boarding action.

"What did you find?"

"Caniman mostly, some dead Baniwas and Kamayurá, probably press gangs killed before we boarded. And Captain...We found this." He handed the Captain a black flag with a white hand and a red eye in the center.

"The Baug's work. Too bad it wasn't him. We could have cleansed this world of one Saruman director." Lithol handed the flag back to the officer. "I want log, diaries, any documents you can find on that ship. I'm sure the French will be at least somewhat relieved that the pirates we seek and that say seek are involved."

"Sir."

"What about the Theoden?"

"Theoden report they can't save the Frenchman, they don't have enough counterflooding equipment and firefighting gear to keep her afloat."

"What about with our supply?"

"She's already listing 18 degrees to starboard sir. They think they can hold her for maybe an hour or two more. Captain Ithilson has ordered his men to make an inspection of the ship, take her logs, take some pictures and abandon it before she rolls over."

"I see."

"He does say they found no survivors. She also doesn't appear to have been plundered."

"What?"

"We'll get a full report when they are finished."

"Get a line to that sloop, we are bringing her back home."...
   
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P3D    
Posted: Dec 5 2006, 01:23 AM


Hegemon
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QUOTE (Ithekro @ Dec 4 2006, 10:03 PM)

Heorl Lithol, Captain of Goldwine, looked out from his bridge. The winds were in his face as his mighty battleship steamed south into it. Theoden, Battleship of the Mark, was steaming 1,000 years of his port bow, it's signalman trying to tell the Goldwine something has been spotted on the horizon.

Light years and space battleships, I presume. wink.gif
   
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Ithekro    
  Posted: Dec 5 2006, 01:27 AM


King of Rohan
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Too much eye strain more likely...but close enough.

Considering it should be "Rohan at Sea".....
   
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Borys    
Posted: Dec 5 2006, 06:50 AM


Kaiser und Koenig Stefan
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OOC
Fowl Frog - now that's a mutant ... does it go "quack-croak"?
Borys
   
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Ithekro    
Posted: Dec 5 2006, 09:51 AM


King of Rohan
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Group: Head of State
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Joined: 7-February 05



   
When is a Frog not foul? When it is fowl for a pirate. biggrin.gif