"Queen of the Channel Pirates" (closed)

[PennySaver]

(Note: I lost my writing partner before he posted his first reply, so I decided to write this on my own. If you enjoy it, please give me a like.)

"Queen of the Channel Pirates"

Ashley Hamilton looked down upon the harbor of Port James with a conflicting mix of dread and hope.

Today was her 18th birthday. Her father had promised her a magnificent ball with music, dance, and eye-high stacks of presents. Citizens from all three classes -- noble, merchant, and common alike -- had been invited; she was adored by the people of Port James, regardless of their class and wealth, and she in turn adored them.

But instead of a grand celebration, Ashley was watching the island city's citizenry scrambling for berths on any one of the many ships docked or anchored below. They were desperate to get away before the arrival of Port James's new rulers: the French.

Ashley didn't understand how the British could give Port James away to the French. Despite the loyalty of its citizenry to the English Crown, the island had never officially been part of the British Empire.

In the year 1619, Ashley's great-great-grandfather had died, leaving his titles, lands, and wealth to his then-15-year-old son, James. Of all the valuable things he'd inherited, the new Lord Hamilton had shown interest in only one of them, an uninhabited rock in the midst of the Mozambique Channel between the continent of Africa and the island of Madagascar.

He'd spent the next three years selling off most of his properties and other physical valuables. Once freed from those obligations, James outfitted an older armed merchant vessel purchased from the Crown and sailed for what would come to be called Port James. In addition to a crew of 25, James was accompanied by 16 families comprised of 60 men, women, and children; the men and women brought skills to Port James while the children brought a future.

By the time James had passed and his son, George, had assumed control, Port James had become one of the most important and prosperous ports on the far side of the African continent. Merchant ships carrying goods between the East Indies and either Europe or the Americas made port calls there. Although James Hamilton had made clear his loyalty to the English Crown, he'd opened the port to all merchant vessels, regardless of the flag they flew.

By the time George's son had assumed power, Port James had reached a population of almost 3,000 and was one of the most important ports on the Mozambique Channel. The three successive Hamilton rulers were, of course, very proud of this. Two other aspects brought pride to them as well: first, they'd accomplished it all without slaves, despite the very near proximity of Africa and the low cost of acquiring such laborers; and second, they'd built it all without financial help from the English Crown, which meant that while they still considered themselves Englishmen, they'd never been beholden to the Crown, which had meant no taxes paid to such.

And yet now, the English Crown had decided that it could exercise possession over Port James, and as such was turning over control of it the the French. This had all come about as part of the Peace of Utrecht, a series of treaties signed to end what in later years would come to be called the War of the Spanish Succession.

The British government that hadn't lifted a thumb to help Port James financially or militarily over nearly a century had suddenly decided that it could give the island, port, and city to France in exchange for a French port that England saw as more beneficial to them.

Ashley's father had, of course, been incensed. Lord Jeffrey Hamilton had only heard of the Port Royal's inclusion in the Treaties when a representative of the Crown arrived, handing him the papers announcing the decision. Knowing that letters and envoys would gain him nothing and only cost him time, Jeffrey sailed immediately for England to request an audience with the King.

But after four months of refused requests, Jeffrey departed England, having gained nothing. Three days before his ship returned again to Port Royal, Lord Jeffrey Hamilton threw himself overboard in the middle of the night. He left a letter of apology to his people and, more directly, to his daughter.

That had been almost a month ago, and Ashley had spent that time not preparing for her departure from Port James but for her refusal to do so. Port James was her home; it was her birthright. She wasn't going to give it up because some distance King to whom she owed nothing told her she would.

In order to expedite the transfer, England had sent ships to Port Royal to facilitate the removal of those residents who preferred not to remain here under French authority. There were three ships currently tied up to the docks and two more waiting just beyond the harbor's mouth for entry. These ships had carried passengers -- colonists -- to the East Indies and typically carried valuable goods -- tea, spices, and more -- back to England. This time, however, they'd sailed empty from India and other locations to transport families from Port Royal to England or other British territories.

It wasn't these ships that occupied Ashley's thoughts, though. Anchored in the middle of the harbor was a Royal Navy warship, Victory. It was here as a reminder that failure to follow the Crown's directives would have severe consequences. It wasn't a large warship by comparison to other Royal Navy vessels, but Ashley's bodyguard, Charles, had heard from his contacts on the docks that in addition to its sailing and gun crews of 220, it carried an equal number of Marines aboard who -- if and when ordered -- could very quickly be deployed throughout the port city to enforce the Treaty.

The Victory was a problem, obviously. But Ashley had a plan to deal with her...

 

[PennySaver]

Introducing Robert Barlow

Ashley caught movement out of the corner of her eye and turned to find her bodyguard, Charles, escorting a second man her way. She took the moment to study him, considering whether his appearance fit with what she'd been told about him. How does one know? she thought to herself. A book and its cover ... a book and its cover.

"Lady Ashley," Charles said when the pair of men reached her, "Robert Barlow--"

"Captain Barlow," the man corrected Charles. He looked to Ashley, smiled, and bowed, clarifying, "Of the Valiant."

"Captain Barlow," Charles continued the introductions, "Lady Ashley Hamilton."

"Thank you, Charles," Ashley responded, looking to her bodyguard. "Please, give the Captain and I a moment to talk."

Charles was hesitant to leave the young woman alone with this man. But his loyalty led him to step away, staying near in case he was needed while also giving her the space she needed.

Ashley turned back to the rock wall running along the terrace's ledge and gestured toward the ship in the middle of the harbor. "The English have ordered my father--"

That last word caught in her throat. She choked back the memory of recently losing her father, then continued, "Have ordered that Port James be abandoned by my family ... and turned over to the French."

"I've heard," Robert responded, adding with a tone of respect, "M'Lady."

"I'm going nowhere," she said with a defiant tone. "I will not give up Port James to anyone ... French, English ... anyone."

She looked to Robert, studied him another moment, then said, "That's where you come in, Mister Barlow."

He chuckled. "Me...? And how do I, as you put it, come in?"

"You are a pirate, Mister Barlow," Ashley said in a blunt, strong tone.

"Privateer," Robert corrected with a smile. "I have papers--"

"Yes, yes," Ashley interrupted. "Papers from the English Crown giving you permission to raid the ships of their enemies. However, those papers are now moot following the end of conflict between the English and French. Continuing your trade now will be seen by the British -- not to mention the French, Dutch, or any other nation whose ships you set upon -- will be seen as an act of piracy."

Ashley could see by Robert's reaction that he was already aware of this; she was telling him nothing he didn't already know. She looked down to the Victory again, asking, "Could you and your pirates take control of that?"

Robert walked closer to the wall for a better view of the port. Surprised, he asked, "The Victory...?"

"Yes," she answered simply. They looked at each other, and after a moment Ashley asked again, "Could you seize control of that ship? I would prefer it was done with as little loss of life as possible."

Robert studied Ashley for a moment before his lips spread a bit in a smirk. "And why would I and my men seize this Royal Navy warship ... which is fitted with more than two dozen guns and, I've been told, is carrying a rather large contingent of Royal Marines?"

"Because if you were able to take control of that vessel," she said, "it could then become the flagship of the Navy of the Republic of Port James ... a navy which would be under your command ... as Admiral Barlow."

"Admiral...?" Robert laughed. "I like the sound of that."

"Then you can do this?" Ashley asked.

Robert laughed again. But he could see in her face that she was serious about this. He took another moment to study her. He looked to the ship below and considered what would be involved in accomplishing what was being asked of him. It was a ludicrous idea. He would get killed, his men would get killed, and -- when it was discovered that Ashley was behind it all -- she would get killed as well, hung by the neck on the docks for all of those who were resistant to departing Port James to see.

"The Republic of Port James?" Robert asked. "I wasn't aware that Port James was a Republic."

"It will be," Ashley told him, "Once I have convinced the Nobles that this is the path on which we should be traveling. Of course, that isn't going to happen unless you can take that warship."

Robert looked down upon the ship again. He ventured, "We could simply sink it."

"No," Ashley responded immediately. She repeated with a stressed tone, "As little loss of life as possible. The Nobles will not support me if we kill 500 Englishmen. Additionally, I am hoping to avoid a British invasion. Sinking that ship ... killing the majority of its crew and Marines will lead to a full-scale bombardment, reducing the city to rubble."

"The French wouldn't like that, having their new possession destroyed before they'd even taken control of it," Robert pointed out. Then, thinking to the next step, he said, "Even if we avoid a Royal Navy attack, the Frogs are still going to want Port James."

"One step at a time," Ashley said, not wanting yet to consider that issue.

Another long moment of silence passed between them before Robert asked, "And if I and my men attempt this and fail...?"

"Then I'm sure I'll hang with you, Captain," she said, mirroring his earlier thoughts about the consequences of failure. She gestured toward her bodyguard, who covered the distance he'd put between them. She gestured to Charles, who offered Robert folded papers. Ashley explained, "These are my orders to you, Captain. They also serve as my confession should this not work, and we find ourselves in an English Court facing charges of treason. As I said ... I will hang with you."

Robert unfolded the papers and read them under the combination of illumination from the moon and several nearby fiery torches. They were exactly what she'd said they were: a confession. He considered what Ashley was proposing, then -- once again -- looked down to the ship and contemplated just what the Lady of Port James was asking of him.

"I accept your terms, Lady Hamilton," he said, folding and pocketing the papers, then bowing to her again. Smirking, he said, "It would be an honor to hang with you."

Ashley couldn't help but chuckle at that. She hoped that that would not be the result, obviously, but at the same time, she knew that it was a distinct possibility.

"If there is nothing more that M'Lady requires of me at this moment," Robert said, "I shall be off to make and execute plans."

Ashley nodded her permission for him to depart, but Robert took a step forward, held his hand out to her palm up, and asked, "May I, M'Lady?"

She hesitated, looking at his hand before looking back up into his eyes. The irony was obvious: Captain Robert Barlow was a criminal, a pirate, a scoundrel ... and yet he was Ashley's only chance of maintaining control of all she'd ever known. She reached her hand out, palm down; he took it, leaned forward, and ever so gently pressed his lips to them before rising again and -- without hurry -- releasing his hold on her.

"M'Lady," he said with respect, taking a step back. When she again nodded her approval, he turned and departed.

 

[PennySaver]

Ashley didn't fail to notice Robert's lustful look, nor had she failed to notice the intimate nature of the kiss he'd laid upon her fingers. She would have spoken on it – warned Robert of his inappropriate familiarity – if it hadn't been for two things: first, Ashley needed Robert, as he was the most capable, experienced, and respected ship's Captain for whom she had an opportunity to recruit; and second, she hadn't entirely disliked the intimacy of the kiss, and while she would never let him know this, it had actually sent a sharp chill of excitement up her spine, as well as flooded the skin of her arms and legs with gooseflesh.

She made a gesture Robert would understand as being his dismissal, then turned to look down upon the English schooner again. She listened to the sound of Robert's boot leather turning on the stone walkway, his heels contacting it as he began his departure. She called out, "Captain!" She waited for his departing steps to cease before saying with a sincere tone, "I wish you the best of luck."

She turned to look at Robert. He smiled, responding, "And to you, m'lady."

Robert departed, and Ashley again looked to the harbor. Her plan to sever Port James from the British Empire was risky. It was doomed to fail in the long run, of course. She doubted that Whitehall would do much other than complain about Ashley's actions, issue arrest warrants for her and her associates, and declare seized by the Crown any possessions she had elsewhere in the Empire. After all, England only owned Port James and the remaining island of Madagascar for a few more weeks, far less time than it would take for them to organize a fleet and a Marine Company to take action.

However, the French -- who were soon to be the new owners of what Ashley claimed for herself -- would most certainly respond. Port James was the most secure port on the Mozambique Channel, and the city surrounding it was the most vital and profitable commercial port between South Africa and India.

However, Ashley believed – or at least hoped – that she could secure enough support before the French acted to fend off any sort of attack. Unlike her former British masters, the French had very little useful knowledge about Port James: its port, its city, its defenses -- both on land and at sea -- as well as its population were unknowns to them. Ashley hoped this ignorance would delay their actions or – a stretch, maybe – prevent them altogether.

Looking down at it again, Ashley knew that the British vessel -- the HMS Persuasion -- would be key in her plan. The schooner sported eighteen 12-pound guns on each of its port and starboard sides, the deadliest of weapons available to a warship for a broadside's engagement with another vessel. Additionally, it had four 8-pounders at its bow -- a design new to British warships -- and two more at its stern, for battle while pursuing or being pursued. A half-dozen scatter guns could be quickly mounted to the railings fore or aft, port or starboard, for clearing the deck of a vessel -- be it an enemy warship or a commercial prize -- of the armed men who might wish to prevent the boarding of their own ship or who might be contemplating the the boarding of the Persuasion.

Armament wasn't the only advantage the vessel had over most of the ships-of-the-line on the high seas, though. A revolutionary hull design had given it a top speed of 18 knots, much faster than other ships of a similar size. During the now-ended war, Persuasion had chased down and -- when necessary -- destroyed a number of French war ships, building a reputation that ultimately led to France pulling most of its fighting vessels away from Africa's coastline from Angola to India.

Looking to her right, Ashley caught sight of Robert as he descended the hill from the Great Hall. He looked back her way as well and gave her a respectful tip of his hat. She contemplated returning the acknowledgement but instead only stared on; she was torn about her feelings towards him as she'd only just moments earlier realized a sort of fascination with him -- maybe even some erotic feelings? -- and yet he was still nothing more than a pirate, legally.

And yet, he was her pirate. Ashley contemplated that for a moment; since her father's suicide, she'd made a great number of decisions on a great number of topics -- something that had always been his domain -- yet these two most recent ones were unique to her: she had put her name to a document that stole from the Crown an entire colony, then -- to ensure that she kept control of it -- had repeated that act by authorizing the theft of a Royal Navy warship, something that could very well result in the death or death of sailors and officers who had once served her Nation, her father, and herself.

Ashley turned from the railing after losing sight of Robert, and as she headed toward the warmth and comfort of her quarters inside the Great Hall told her protector, "Charles, I'd like you to go to the docks, find our new Naval Commander, and offer him any assistance he requires. Any assistance, you understand?"

The man who'd protected her since she was a child responded, "I wish you would allow me to remain with you, m'lady. I have other men who could--"

"Other men might not fulfill my wishes as fully as you will, Charles," Ashley cut in. She reached a hand up to his cheek, touching it softly. "You have always been here for me, Charles, and I wish you to continue to be so for a long time. This venture upon which I have set up with succeed or fail upon what happens tonight, and I need to be sure that the Captain knows he has my full support." She hesitated a moment before adding, "And ... if, by chance, the Captain is unable or unwilling to fulfill my request of him ... I need you to put a knife across his throat so as to let others know that I am not to be trifled with."

Charles's lips spread a bit at Ashley's suggestion; he was no fan of the pirate's involvement in his Lady's plan, and -- should it fail -- he had no qualms about ending the man's life. He nodded his head to Ashley, saying only, "Yes, m'lady." He escorted her to the door of the Great Hall, then left her for his walk down the hill.

 

[PennySaver]

When he introduced himself as Robert Barlow, most people seemed confused: the very English name didn't at all match his ethnic heritage of Spanish and Italian. He'd often had to recount the story of his life, of having been abandoned as a newborn upon the steps of the Church of Port James to be raised by English nuns and priests who, obviously, had named him as they'd seen appropriate.

Robert had left the orphanage at 12 to become a cabin boy aboard a merchant ship. He'd risen quickly through the ranks of that ship, then joined the crew of a former Royal Navy warship that was now contracted to by Whitehall as a privateer. Aboard the Rover, Robert had risen from Able-Bodied Sailor to Gunner's Mate to Master Gunner and finally ship's Quartermaster.

When both the captain and the vessel's First Mate were killed in the failed capture or a more deadly French ship, Robert found himself selected Captain of the boat. He ordered the ship to Port James for refit and resupply, and it was there that he first laid eyes upon Lady Ashley Hamilton and lost his heart to her beauty.

Of course, Robert knew that nothing could ever come of his infatuation for Ashley: he was the newly elected captain of a privateering vessel -- one step legally above being a pirate -- and she was the daughter of the Colony's Governor. And yet, after years of longing from a distance and fantasizing about her while whores were sucking his cock or riding his groin, Robert had just this evening laid his lips upon the hand of his long-time object of lust.

Descending the hill and glancing upwards to catch her silhouette against the nearly full moon, Robert couldn't help but imagine that maybe, just maybe, there was hope for his dreams and fantasies after all. Then he laughed to himself and at himself: despite this sudden and significant advancement in his career, Robert was still nothing more than a pirate, and Ashley was still a Lady of Noble birth and -- if she got her way -- the leader of a newly born country.

Continuing toward the Ugly Duck, where most of his crew was likely getting drunk and having their own cocks sucked, Robert wondered what title his new employer would take for herself: would she continue to be just Lady Ashley; or perhaps she would take her father's title and become Governor Hamilton; or would she declare herself something more Noble or Royal, from Dutchess to Princess to Queen? Queen Ashley of Madagascar, Robert mused. It had a ring to it, he thought.

At the tavern that was popular with many of the privateering and pirating crews that frequented Port James, Robert passed the word that the evening's fun was ended, and that all hands were to assemble at the long boats that had brought them into the harbor from the distantly anchored Restitution. (Robert's current command had been renamed such by its former captain when he'd seized the 30-gun schooner from his own predecessor in lieu of pay denied him and his crew.)

There was, of course, much objection from the sailors whose last visit to a civilized port had been more than six weeks ago. The Restitution had been in desperate need of careening and other repairs, and Robert had selected a beach on the shore of the African continent that had offered little benefit in the ways of women, alcohol, or even good food. And yet, less than an hour later, the entirety of the ship's 44 man crew -- officers and hands -- was assembled in the midship's hold to hear what their captain had to say to them.

Robert was unsure of how they might receive the news of the assignment from Lady Ashley, and yet the crew cheered the news with delight. Most of the men had long despised the Royal Navy and wished they could set upon English commerce as they did most of the other nations' ships traveling the Mozambique Channel. Now, it looked like they might get their chance.

In truth, they wouldn't. Seizing the British warship currently in the harbor was in Robert's orders. However, those orders specifically forbade raiding British commerce, just as his privateering contract had. Ashley knew that taking the Persuasion would be looked upon poorly by Whitehall, but as she'd explained to Robert, she thought she had that handled: various entities in London -- some government and others backed by government -- owed vast sums of money to the Hamilton family for what they'd done for the nation here in the Western Indian Ocean, and Ashley was confident that she could come to an understanding that would allow her to retain the ship and forgo those unpaid debts.

However, if Robert and his men were to begin attacking British shipping, the consequences would be something Ashley wasn't capable of countering. Her reign over the independent nation of Port James would come to a swift end, even without the French stepping up to take what legally was to be theirs before the next full moon.

"Then it is settled!" Robert called to his crew, more of a statement than a question. They roared their approval, rattling their sabers and daggers in the air. Their captain settled them down, then told them, "Okay, listen up. Here's what we're going to do..."

 

[PennySaver]

The captain of the Persuasion rose from his seat at the end of the dining hall table with an expression that seemed to become even more surprised with each passing second. Flabbergasted, he asked, "Independence...? Independence? Are you mad?"

Ashley, at the opposite end of the table, replied simply, "No, sir, I am not." She gestured politely toward the men sitting down one side of the table and the mix of men and women down the other. "They are not mad either, I'm sure they would tell you."

The guests to dinner had included more than just the captain and his senior officers, who sat facing one another at the far end of the table flanking their commander; Ashley had also invited 12 of the more important townsfolk -- merchants, estate farmers, and others -- with whom she had previously shared her intentions for Port James and from whom she had gained their support.

It wasn't surprising that Ashley wasn't the only resident of the island who'd been unhappy with England's decision to surrender their homeland to the French. She'd been careful about whom she'd shared her plan with thus far, inviting only those who she'd been certain would support her audacious plan. Many of Port James's residents had already departed the island for other still-English owned locations; the rest would learn of the move toward independence from the Street Cryer tomorrow morning.

"It was a mistake for control of Port James to be turned over to a ... a little girl," the captain said, looking her up and down as if judging her small stature. "I said so when I heard of your elevation to Lady of Port Royal and I say so again now."

His opinion wasn't a unique one, of course; many had questioned the sanity and even the legitimacy of a then-17-year-old girl inheriting control over one of most important British sea ports in the region. The now 18-year-old Ashley had been her father's only legal heir when he'd killed himself month's earlier, and -- without a proper will -- his lands and titles had gone to her out of default. But while much of the property and other wealth of Port James now belonged to her, control over the port and its commerce was regulated by the Crown and protected by the Royal Navy. The captains of that organization had not been happy to learn that they were now serving a girl who very often was less than half their own ages.

While many in the upper or merchant classes saw the death of Ashley's father as their opportunity to make gains in Port James, those negotiating the treaty to end the war with France saw it as an opportunity to simply cast away a problem with which they wished not to deal. Port James was so easily surrendered, in exchange for other assets in the sub-continent, and the question of what to do with Lady Ashley Hamilton was answered.

"I will not sit still for this!" the captain bellowed. "I can not sit still for this! It is my duty to inform you, Lady Hamilton, that this will not stand. Port James is as of this moment under martial law, to be enforced by the officers and crew of HMS Persuasion and the Royal Marine Detachment at my disposal in the barracks on Front Street."

The captain glanced left and right to his officers, an indication that dinner was over for them. They began to rise, but as they did, the doors to the dining hall opened all about them and Ashley's security force -- 12 men armed with pistols and swords -- rushed in to take up positions surrounding the dining table. The captain and his officers -- all unarmed, of course, as was proper for sitting down to dinner with the Lady of the house -- were sufficiently taken aback with surprise.

"Perhaps we could all return to our chairs and finish dinner, captain," Ashley said softly from her end of the table. She looked left and right, finding her non-military guests with varying expressions of surprise; some had known that Ashley had had men in the adjacent rooms for their security, and those who hadn't seemed to be now understanding that it had been a wise move. Their hostess gestured to the captain, asking, "Please, sir, may we sit and finish our meal and conversation?"

 

[PennySaver]

The Persuasion's aft watch was the first to notice the longboat approaching them from the direction of the City Dock. The return of the captain was still hours away, and the longboat shuttling more of the crew to shore to enjoy Port James's amenities – food, drink, and women – had only departed minutes earlier and wouldn't be back until nearly sunrise. The watch pulled one of his two pistols from his belt and studied the launch as his second hand reached for the warning bell.

Then he saw them: bared tits! A giggling sound wafted over the water from the boat as one of the three bare-breasted women aboard the boat stood and shook her shoulders left and right, causing her bountiful orbs to swing to and fro in the light of the bow's lantern.

"A gift, my good man, from your captain," a male voice sounded from the stern of the small craft, just loud enough for the aft watch to hear. With a smile glowing in the lantern, the man asked with a humorous tone, "Permission to come aboard?"

The fore watch had, by now, also noticed the approaching boat and was moving aft down the starboard side. What neither he nor his counterpart had noticed was the second and third longboats approaching from port, neither lit by a lantern, of course.

As the watches were quietly flirting with the whores flashing their wares, 12 of Robert's most capable men were silently ascending the Persuasion's side. With not a sound, they slipped up behind, seized, and silenced the watches; they had been ordered not to take lives unnecessarily, and neither man lost his life now.

Once in control of the main deck, Robert's men lobbed a dozen smoke bombs into the lower decks. One of the pirates began calling down toward the now-waking sailors, "Fire! Fire! Abandon ship, abandon ship, before the magazine explodes!"

Seconds later, the ship's crew was scrambling to the main deck and right into the hands of the awaiting and armed pirates. The latter used shock and awe to frighten the ship's crew into submission without ever firing a shot, slashing a sword, or stabbing a dagger. The absence of the officers having dinner with Lady Hamilton proved key in the ease with which the crew was subdued.

The sailors were bound at the wrists and disembarked using the long boats. Per Robert's orders, they were taken to one of the commercial buildings recently vacated by a merchant who'd relocated due to the upcoming treaty demands. There, the hostages were shackled to one another and left under guard while the rest of Robert's crew set about their second mission of the night.

Meanwhile, 20 more sailors from the Restitution – led by Robert himself – had made their way through the dark city streets just as silently as their counterparts had across the water and onto the Persuasion. They arrived at the Royal Marines Barracks just moments ahead of an island resident who'd heard and then seen the kerfuffle in the bay and was hurrying to the Marines to report it.

Instead, Robert kept his men in the shadows until a messenger from the other attack arrived to report. Once he had that information, Robert sent the messenger back with orders. He then approached the barracks, carrying a torch in one hand and a white flag in the other.

"I need to speak to your commander, please," he called out.

"And who the hell are you?" one of the night watches called out.

"I'm the pirate captain who just seized your warship in the harbor," he told the man. Stepping into the light, Robert waited a long moment until the Detachment's commander appeared. Robert repeated what he'd said regarding the Persuasion, adding, "And I did so without taking a single life."

One of Robert's men stepped into the light, pulling along with him one of the Persuasion's sailors, bound at the wrists by rope. Robert commanded, "Tell him."

"It's true, sir," the sailor confirmed. "They took the ship."

"Casualties?" the commander asked.

Behind him, a handful of armed Marines were spilling out of the barracks into the yard between it and the barricades. They carried long rifles and swords, but as long as they remained behind the fence and Robert had quick access to the shadows, he wasn't too concerned.

The sailor hesitated, uncertain of how to answer. Robert and his lot were pirates, after all, and the sailor wasn't eager to give the raiders a pat on the back. But eventually he answered, "There were no casualties, sir. A few cuts and bruises … but nothing more, sir–"

"And just what do you want from me?" the commander asked.

"I want you and your men to remain in your barracks until that time at which Lady Hamilton has an opportunity to speak with you, sir," Robert answered.

"You can't possibly imagine I will surrender my men to –"

"I did not say surrender," Robert cut in. "I said … or at least implied … that you and your men … take a seat near the fire … have a cup of tea … a biscuit."

"While you…?" the commander inquired. "What? Pillage the city. Rape, murder, burn…?"

"Not at all, sir," Robert said. "My men and I have completed our duties for the evening. Besides … Port James is our home. We have no desire to cause her harm."

The commander appeared doubtful, even in the low illumination of the nearby lanterns. A man behind him stepped up closer and whispered. Robert became concerned that the men were up to something he wouldn't like. It was time to reveal his deterrent.

Giving a soft whistle resulted in four pairs of men emerging from the shadows, flanking the corners of the barrack's barricades. They were working together to support the Restitution's scatter guns; the small cannons were filled with dozens of pellets of shot that – if the weapons' triggers were activated – would be propelled with enough force as to send them through the walls of the barracks and, of course, through the men beyond those walls.

Sight of the guns had an obvious effect on the Detachment's commander. He gestured to the soldier with whom he'd spoken, hesitated, then lightly shook his head. He looked to Robert and asked, "If my men and I return to our barracks … for tea and biscuits, as you suggested … no harm will come to us … to the people of Port James? There will be no pillaging … no raping … no–?"

"None," Robert answered simply. Here gestured to the gun teams to lower their aims, which they did.

"It's a cold night," the commander said. He looked to the men who'd come outside – now at more than a dozen – and suggested, "Perhaps it's time to go inside … stoke the fire … warm ourselves."

The commander turned, and he and his men surrendered to their quarters. Robert ordered the scatter gun crews to remain; other crew had arrived during the standoff, and he left them on guard as well.

He sent a messenger to the Great Hall to inform Ashley of their success. He offered to climb the hill to give more details, but when the messenger returned, the ruler of the new country of Port James was by his side.

"Success, m'lady," Robert told her with a respectful bow. "My men are searching the town for the odd sailor or soldier, but for the most part, control of Port James is firmly in our hands."

 

[PennySaver]

(For anyone who is reading along, I previously said that Port James was on the island of Madagascar. That was an error; it was supposed to be edited out and replaced with the idea that Port James is on a fictional and much smaller island of Nosavato, off the coast of Madagascar. Nosavato is the anglicized version of nosy vato, which in Malagasy -- the language of the Madagascar's indigenous people -- means rock island. I doubt that this matters, as I doubt anyone is reading along. Thankfully, I'm writing this for my own pleasure. However, if you are pleased with my contribution and would like to tell me so, I'd love your PMs telling me what you think. Everyone likes a pat on the back from time to time.)

Ashley couldn't help but smile to the man who'd just secured Port James for her. Although she would never have told him this, she -- and Charles and the others advising her in this quest -- had actually given Robert a 1 in 4 chance of succeeding in his portion of mission.

"Thank you very much, Captain," she said before looking to the sailors standing near and adding, "Thank you all very much."

Robert gave a quick recap of the important news he felt she needed, to which she again thanked him and his men. She asked, "Is there anything more you and your crew need from me before the sun rises?"

"Do you have men -- armed men -- who you could spare, m'lady, to watch over the Marines and Persuasion's crew?" he asked. "I would like to get my men aboard my ship and aboard the prize, in case there is a need for either of them ... and, if necessary, their guns."

From where they were standing, the entirety of the harbor could be seen, and Robert turned now to gesture to the other ships currently at anchor or at the north or south docks. "The captains of those vessels are surely under the impression by now that a pirate crew has taken the Persuasion, and if I know their thinking -- which I do, m'lady -- they are currently ordering their crews to prepare for escape to the see, prepare for battle with the captured Persuasion, or both."

"Can we simply alert them to the facts at hand?" she asked. "Alert them to the truth of the matter ... that you are not pirates ... and that you have acted under my orders?"

Robert couldn't help but smile wide, the light of a nearby torch glinting off his uncommonly perfect and gleaming white teeth. He said in a soft voice, "M'lady, I feel that I must remind you of the truth of the matter: when you ordered me to board and take control of a Royal Navy warship ... you became a pirate."

It was obvious to Robert by her expression that Ashley had not considered this truth in the same light in which he'd presented it. She opened her mouth to respond, then closed it without words presenting themselves. Robert suggested, "If m'lady would send messengers to each of the boats in harbor explaining that they are in no danger, my Signalman will do the same. And ... just in case ... I will better position the Persuasion and Retribution to defend themselves ... should any of the armed merchant vessels not heed the news as well as we hope they will."

Ashley considered the suggestion, looking to her bodyguard and most trusted man, Charles, for his response. He signaled one of his men closer and -- ensuring this man heard him -- said to Ashley, "I will have messengers dispatched by horse and skiff immediately, m'lady."

Once Ashley had nodded her approval and Charles had again looked to his man, the latter hurried off with two others to get the word out. The Lady of Port James looked to the twenty men she'd brought to the docks with her, then to Robert: "These men are at your disposal. I fear that other than those already assigned to other important tasks, they are all I can afford."

"They are enough, m'lady," Robert said, giving her yet another slight bow. "May I...?" he asked, to which she nodded. He turned to the Retribution's Master-At-Arms and ordered, "Assign four of these men to join the men securing the Barracks with the scatter guns and the rest to guarding the Persuasion's crew." He looked to his Quartermaster: "Get the men back to the ships. I want sailing crew aboard the Retribution to bring her into the harbor's mouth and gun crews on the Persuasion ... just in case."

In truth, most of his crew fell into both categories of sailing and gun crew, but the Quartermaster would know how to split the men up to suit his captain's directions. Most of the privateers-suddenly-turned-pirates departed behind the Quartermaster, leaving Robert with just two men -- Gilford and Rolland -- who knew that their job was to stay with and protect their captain at all times; they were each heavily armed with at least two pistols each, a long rifle, one or more swords, and daggers ... and more importantly, each of them were very deadly with what they carried.

"You will be safe?" Robert asked Ashley, glancing to the small contingent of armed men she had with her. He clarified, "Your men ... they will protect you from whatever dangers you may face in the hours to come, as the town awakes and learns what has happened here?"

"Yes, captain," Ashley responded without hesitation. Just as he had, she looked left and right to her own people; she couldn't help but notice that -- faced with pirates that quite possibly they didn't fully trust or even trust at all -- they seemed to be more on guard than usual. To Robert she said, smiling, "I am well protected from any dangers I may face. Again, thank you ... for what you and your men have done here this night. If you have nothing more you need from me...?"

Robert bowed again, saying, "Nothing more, m'lady."

She smiled once more before turning and heading for a coach that had arrived during their conversation; descending the hill from the Great Hall on foot was a much different thing from ascending it, which required even a two-horse drawn carriage to navigate six switchbacks through the town on its way up the steep hill.

Robert waited until Ashley was aboard the vehicle and pulling away before he turned to return to the dock and the longboat that would take him back to the Retribution.

 

[PennySaver]

The following 18 hours or so were filled with adventure for Robert and Ashley both. The criers began their monologues in six locations to ensure that their Lady's message got out to one and all. The response was, as expected, varied amongst the population. The people of Port James had had months to decide upon staying or leaving, and most of those who'd decided on the latter had already boarded ships and departed. And of those who'd decided to stay, some -- only the most trustworthy and discrete -- had been informed over the last weeks or just days of Ashley's plans to separate from England, and yet there was still heated discourse in the Halls, taverns, and other meeting locations regarding two questions: had Ashley done the right thing, and had what she'd done been legal.

The answer to that last question -- at least in the eyes of England -- was an obvious no. But, it was done. There could be no going back, at least not without Ashley being taken into custody, charge with treason, and hanged, even considering her gender and youth. No, this separation -- this declaration of independence -- was happening, and the people of Port James now needed to deal with it in whichever way they chose.

The Marine Detachment sequestered in their barracks was dealt with very shortly after dawn. Ashley's personal Guard led the unarmed marines single file to one of the merchant ships and locked them into the hold for transport to the English port town of Nacala; the town on a significant bay on Mozambique's coast had been a possession of the Portuguese for generations, but when Arab invaders threatened to seize it, England sent 3 ships and 600 men to retain it as a resupply port for European vessels.

Surprising to Ashley but not so much to Robert, almost half of the Royal Marines about to be shipped out of Port Royal pleaded to remain, as part of what would come to be called the Home Guard. Ashley was uncertain of the safety of having loyal English marines as part of her rebel force, but her Home Guard's commander reassured her that the 14 men he ended up retaining could be trusted, and the decision to keep them had been made.

In very much the same fashion, nearly a third of the crew of the Persuasion requested to remain in the employ of Port James as well. Word was sent to Robert -- by then guiding the Retribution into the harbor -- and he, like Ashley, made the decision to keep a majority of those who'd spoken up. To ensure no trickery amongst them, however, Robert had the men split up: a third of them came to the Retribution, a third -- mostly younger men who were less likely to be of trouble -- remained aboard the Persuasion, and the remaining third were kept ashore for future assignment to other ships while providing dockside labor in the meantime.

Robert's fear of violence and bloodshed on land did not come to pass, which was fortunate for his Lady's sense of security and control of her city. The same was not true for out on the water, however. Upon learning of the plot to sever Port James from the British Empire, one of the armed, English merchant vessels, the Blackpool -- which had been at the south dock unloading food, the most vital import for an island which itself grew very little of it -- hurriedly but its dock lines and began to set sail. It was underway and catching wind when the Retribution cut across its path; Robert's Signalman had by then run up the flags instructing all vessels to remain docked or anchored, and Robert himself was bellowing through the bullhorn for the other captain to tie up his sails and drop his anchor.

But as the two ships neared one another, the Blackpool's starboard gun ports opened, and her guns began sliding into position to fire. Robert had feared this, of course, and -- being a successful warrior upon the high seas, despite his young age of only 24 -- his own ship and crew was ready to react. Robert called one last warning to the opposing captain -- a warning ignored -- before he called out orders he'd wished to resist. Moments later, sharpshooters in the heights of his masts -- armed with the most modern of rifled rifles -- fired upon key members of the Blackpool's crew: the vessel's captain was killed, hit by two rounds; the helmsman, while not killed, was hit sufficiently to pull him from the wheel, causing the Blackpool to begin turning slowly to starboard, which prevented her guns from finding their target.

After three more rounds of rifle fire, the Blackpool had lost most of the Officers responsible for leading the vessel into battle. Robert questioned whether to fire his cannons at all, but not knowing for certain how effective his sharpshooters had been, he waited for the right time and called out, "Gun crews, on my order ... fire!"

The Retribution's starboard side battery unloaded, and from bow to stern, waterline to deck, mayhem erupted throughout the Blackpool. Robert hadn't wanted to sink any vessels that might not heed the warnings provided by both Ashley and himself, so he'd had his guns loaded with smaller, antipersonnel shot. The result was that hundreds of smaller balls of shot ripped through men on the deck or behind the opened gunports; the screams of the merchant ship's men could be heard across the bay as a result.

"Steer us to board her!" Robert called to his helmsman. As the wheel was turned and the Retribution turned toward the other vessel, Robert called out to his men, "Limit the carnage, gentlemen! These men are not our enemies unless they wish to be!"

The boarding was surprisingly far less bloody than had been the single barrage of flesh-ripping flesh. Except for a handful of men who resisted, the crew of the Blackpool surrendered without a fight. The ship's anchor was dropped, its sails furled, and -- once the multitude of swords, pistols, and rifles had been secured -- the crew was dealt with appropriately, with the uninjured shackled in the hold and the injured tended to by the doctor's of both ships and, eventually, four additional medically trained men from the shore.

And with the capture of the Blackpool, the military portion of the operation had ended; there was not another gun fired or another sword jabbed. The damaged yet very salvageable merchant ship was moved back to its previous docking location, and -- to ensure this didn't happen again -- the crews of the other ships in port were disembarked and housed where they could be watched by men loyal to Ashley and Robert.

Regarding the citizenry, the criers let it be known that Lady Hamilton would be addressing the population that evening from the Great Hall's amphitheater. All who wished to hear her speak -- even the lower classes who typically were not welcome that high up the hill -- were encouraged to come; as an incentive, it was announced that a grand meal would be served to one and all, and later as the sun neared the western horizon, it was obvious by the vast numbers of lower and middle class attendees that the offer of free food worked.

 

[PennySaver]

The sound of the Retribution's broadsides echoed between the rocky cliffs that surrounded the port, reaching the assemblage of citizens in and around the Great Hall a couple of seconds later. It startled Ashley, who'd been making conversation with Lord Timmons, who she was sure would be one of the most difficult converts to her future for the Republic of Port James.

In a flash, her man Charles and three of his men had her surrounded, as they looked about the room for any immediate danger to their lady. They saw nothing of concern, and after she saw the same, Ashley called out to the equally concerned gathering, "Ladies and gentlemen, I'm sure there is nothing about which to be concerned. Please, feel as ease. I will see to this immediately."

Her words did nothing to relieve the sudden fear rushing through the crowd; that crowd, as it would happen, did some rushing itself, with the majority of them heading out of the Great Hall and out onto the balcony where, half a day earlier, Ashley had made her offer of control of the new country's navy to Robert Barlow.

Ashley, too, moved outside, with Charles -- who wished her to go the other way but was denied -- and his men politely pushing their way through the crowd. At the railing, she looked down to see the cannon fire smoke wafting through the still air from one ship toward the other. She wasn't immediately certain who was firing on whom, until one of the more informed people nearby said to the others, "That's the Blackpool, Captain Richards's ship ... the one being fired upon."

"Please send someone to the find what has happened, Charles," she told her bodyguard. She looked around to find faces beginning to look at her with questioning -- even accusing -- expressions. She told him in a softer voice, "I can't lose the support of these people before I have even gained it."

Charles waved over one of his men, gave him orders -- which included gathering more men to gather all the information available -- and dispatched them with haste. He said quietly to Ashley, "We need to go back inside, m'lady."

"No," she responded without hesitation. "I need to see this. I need to see this firsthand." She looked about herself, then called out, "I'm sure this is nothing, my friends. A misunderstanding between the vessels' captains regarding--"

"Your pirate had fired upon one of our merchant ships without warning or cause!" a particular male guest called out. Lord Carpenter stepped out of the parting crowd to give Ashley a clear view of him. He couldn't be aware of the fact that Captain Richards had been ordered to remain at the dock and had obeyed, nor that the merchant ship had opened its gunports first, but this didn't stop him from continuing to state the facts as he saw them. After a long monologue that was beginning to cause others to nod and whisper words of agreement between themselves, he asked Ashley with an accusatory tone, "Is this what we have to look forward to, m'lady...? Pirates, under your employ and direction, raiding our commercial interests right here in our own harbor?"

Ashley looked about her again and saw that she was very quickly losing the gains she'd made over the past couple of hours. She was about to defend her efforts when a messenger -- unrelated to the task at which she'd put Charles only minutes earlier -- arrived at the dining halls entrance, breathless, and asking to speak to Ashley personally. The Bodyguard at the door brought him forward.

"Sorry to interrupt you, m'lady," the young man struggled as he regained his ability to speak clearly through the deep inhalations and exhalations, "but the captain of the Retribution has signaled to the Port Master. He is requesting medical assistance for the crew of the Blackpool. There may be injured in need of a doctor."

"What happened?" Ashley inquired with obvious concern. "Who fired on whom ... and why?"

The messenger took a couple of more deep breaths before informing her, "The Retribution signaled the Blackpool to remain dockside. The Blackpool instead attempted to make sail. Then she opened her gun ports. She was going to fire on the Retribution."

"You're sure of this?" Ashley asked desperate for a positive response.

"Yes, m'lady, I saw it myself," he told her. "Was at the docks myself, m'lady ... saw the Blackpool open her ports."

Ashley was relieved to hear this and continued her inquiry, "The Retribution ... it didn't fire first...? It fired in defense of itself?"

"Yes, m'lady, I saw it myself," the young man said. "Its gunports were closed until the last moment. The Retribution was calling on the bullhorn for the Blackpool to standdown. I saw it!"

"Thank you, my good man," Ashley said. She looked to Charles and said softly, "Please, get this man food and drink ... and ... show him our appreciation." That meant give him some coin, of course, something Charles would have understood. Before her man took the messenger away, though, Ashley told the young man, "Please, sir, stay nearby. I will need good men like yourself to keep me informed of the situation."

The messenger nodded his acknowledgement, even smiling at the thought of suddenly having been given such an important job. As Ashley looked about the room, she saw and heard the reaction of the others to the news. Although she didn't expect it to reassure most of the crowd, she called out to them, "Please, ladies and gentlemen ... as you heard, we are not under pirate attack ... we are not under siege ... we are not in danger. As I said earlier, a misunderstanding between two ships' captains. I'm sure it will be straightened out shortly."

She looked around for a particular man, found him, and asked, "Doctor Williams ... please ... are you available to respond to the request from the Retribution's captain for medical assistance for the crew of the Blackpool?"

The doctor -- who normally tended only to Port Royal's more affluent citizenry -- didn't hesitate to answer, "Yes, m'lady, of course. I will make haste." He identified two more attendees who each had some medical experience, and the three of them -- escorted by four men Charles signaled -- headed out of the Great Hall to deal with what they presumed would be a number of dead and injured.

"I need to see what's happening," Ashley told Charles. "Please, I need to go to the docks."

 

[PennySaver]

"No, m'lady, I must insist that--" he began. But he saw the expression on his charge's face, and after a moment of considering the fight that would brew between them over this, he told her, "I will take you down as far Third Avenue but no closer. We can't know for certain that the fighting is over."

Ashley excused herself from the gathering, telling her guests that they should remain here in the Great Hall, high above the action on the harbor water. She told them to eat, drink, be merry, and not worry about what she was still calling a misunderstanding; before she left the room, she pulled aside one of her most trusted confidants and instructed, "Keep you ears open ... survey the crowd. I need to know ... well, I just need to know."

Charles and the rest of Ashley's personal Bodyguard descended the hill on foot. As he'd said earlier, the man who officially carried the rank of Colonel allowed his charge only to go down as far as the third street up from the bay, where he presumed they would safe from any exchange of cannon fire between the ships.

By the time they reached an outlook that permitted them a good view of the harbor, the Retribution had already come alongside the Blackpool and sent men aboard. Ashley had never seen a pirate boarding before, of course, and now that she looked upon one, she found its appearance confusing: there was no combat, no slashing of swords, no discharging of firearms; it all looked relatively peaceful.

"I don't understand," she mused to Charles. "It ... it's not what I was expecting."

Over the next many minutes, it became obvious to Ashley that the crew of the ship that had fired upon the crew of the second was tending to that latter crew's injured and dead. She eventually caught sight of Captain Robert Barlow himself as he helped a second man tend to a third man's serious leg injuries.

After some time, launches began arriving at the side of Blackpool; Ashley recognized Doctor Williams and three others he'd brought with him. They ascended a ladder and set about tending to the injured.

"I need to go down there," Ashley said, not waiting for Charles's approval before they turned to find the appropriate path down the hill. "I need to be there when the injured are brought ashore."

They reached the dock just minutes before -- using lines between them and the Blackpool -- a small group of rowed launches pulled the merchant ship back to its dock. Ashley watched in both horror and appreciation as the pirate crew hurried to remove the injured from the ship and deliver them to the nearby Port Authority building where a makeshift infirmary was already being assembled.

Ashley caught the eye of Robert Barlow, lifting a hand to signal to him that she was looking at him as well. He didn't hesitate to make his way from the Blackpool's main deck to the dock to stop immediately before her.

 

[PennySaver]

"I did my best, m'lady," Robert began, then to ensure that Ashley knew what he meant, he added, "We made it clear to the captain of the Blackpool that his ship, crew, and cargo were in no danger so long as he remained tied to the dock."

"I was told she opened her gun ports first, captain," Ashley responded, wanting to show that she was at least somewhat abreast of the situation. "Is this true?"

"Yes, m'lady," Robert confirmed. There was a cry of agony that caught his attention before he listed the results of the one sided battle: "The Blackpool has suffered 32 casualties, m'lady ... 12 of them deaths--" and then, with a hesitant tone, he clarified, "--so far. We ... I anticipate more by the end of the day, I am afraid."

"Was there anything you could have done differently, captain?" Ashley asked, hoping the answer would be no.

Robert gave her what she wanted: "No, m'lady. The merchant ship was only moments away from being in position to fire upon my ship. I ... I hate to have to put it this way, but it was either them or us once they opened their gun ports. Again, I am sorry."

"There is no need to apologize, captain," Ashley said, shifting her eyes to the bodies -- both dead and only injured -- being removed from the Blackpool. She looked back to Robert and pointed out, "You said nothing of your own casualties, captain."

"One dead, two injured, m'lady," he told her, clarifying, "killed during the boarding."

"I'm sorry to hear that, captain," Ashley said with a sincere tone. "Please, will you extend my sorrows to their families and reassure them that they will be well compensated for their losses."

Robert raised an eyebrow in surprise at her promise; compensation for injuries and deaths had always been the purview of the ship for which the men served, the money's disbursed by the vessel's Quartermaster. Robert had to remember, however, that the Retribution was no longer operating as a privateering or even pirating vessel anymore; he and his men were now part of the Republic of Port Royal's official Navy.

"They will appreciate hearing the news," he responded, deciding not to argue about his responsibility of ensuring that the dead and injured men's families didn't starve to death after seeing their source of income come to an end. "My Quartermaster will put together the names for you in the next couple of days."

A sailor called for Robert's attention, and he told Ashley he needed to get back. She reached out to catch his arm, causing him to stop in his tracks and don a questioning expression; to have a Noble touch him in such a way, particularly a young female one, was unexpected, though, not at all unwelcomed.

"Please come to me at my home tonight, captain," Ashley said. She realized that she was still gripping his forearm and unhurriedly pulled her fingers from him. It was then that she realized how her request sounded -- let businesslike and more personal -- and she felt her face and neck explode in a fiery blush. She diverted her eyes, trying desperately not to smile or even giggle at the embarrassment she felt. When she looked back, she clarified, "Charles and I will be there, together ... to hear your full report ... on ... the situation ... and the battle. It was a battle, was it not?"

"Not much of one, m'lady," Robert responded; he himself was entirely unable to prevent a smile from spreading his lips as he'd so easily noticed the blush that had reddened her so. "But I will come to the Great Hall this evening--" He intentionally didn't use the words your home -- "and make my report."

They shared departing words and Robert bowed again, and Ashley loaded up in her carriage, which had descended from the hilltop during their conversation. Again, the captain maintained his gaze on his Lady until she pulling away before he returned to his ship to deal with any number of post-battle issues.