Aziel cursed as her gun fouled, expertly working to clear it even as she yelled at Luckshore.
"Machine Mate Luckshore! You have an order! Go to the nearest officer on deck and inform them we have a problem down here!"
"On knees! Hands behind head!" Ralf barked at Natick as he shucked his pack before tearing off after Rost.
Shane emerged into a wheelhouse enclosed in glass, giving a commanding view of the dark ocean. There was a wheel, a map table, three sets of oversized binoculars on head-high posts, and a tall, wide compass bowl with numbers all around the ring, all of which he recognized, and a tall stand with a lever, which he didn't.
The lights up here were tinted a dim red, giving everything a sinister cast.
A middle-aged man with a salt-and-pepper beard looked critically at Shane. Three other crewmen stayed concentrated on their work of navigating the ship.
"Yes, constable?"
Shane wasn't sure if he was expected to salute, but he did anyway, just in case the captain was fussy about such things. Then he said, "I was just down on the ...," he paused to think of the proper nautical term, "starboard railing toward the fr... fore of the ship, looking out at the water. I saw something very large running parallel and keeping pace with the ship. It appeared to be just under the surface. I lost sight of it, but it seemed worth reporting in case it poses some threat."
Jaelynn/Anthony, Gun Deck
Once she had his name, she continued. "Very well, Midshipman. The Duchess and her handmaiden are in that cabin, there. Watch that door, and make sure no one bothers them. If they go anywhere, or send you to get them anything, come get me, so that I can help you. I will be on this deck, most likely. I will let you know if I leave."
Then she nodded to Anthony, and followed her fellow Constable in searching the gun deck.
The very young man quickly provided "Rilen, ma'am." Once she provided his orders, he saluted again. "Yes, ma'am. You'll know if anyone goes in or out, ma'am."
The rest of the Gun Deck proved to be unpopulated. The guns were all secured, the shutters over the gun ports shut, and the doors at the far end of the deck locked.
Aziel/Ralf, Engine Deck
Aziel cursed as her gun fouled, expertly working to clear it even as she yelled at Luckshore.
"Machine Mate Luckshore! You have an order! Go to the nearest officer on deck and inform them we have a problem down here!"
Luckshore stayed hunkered down, clearly hoping with all his might that someone didn't decide to come and put a knife in him.
Shane, Command Tower
Shane wasn't sure if he was expected to salute, but he did anyway, just in case the captain was fussy about such things. Then he said, "I was just down on the ...," he paused to think of the proper nautical term, "starboard railing toward the fr... fore of the ship, looking out at the water. I saw something very large running parallel and keeping pace with the ship. It appeared to be just under the surface. I lost sight of it, but it seemed worth reporting in case it poses some threat."
The captain waved off Shane's salute and frowned at the description. "Could've been a whale." He walked over to the window on the starboard side. Over his shoulder he called to the other officers. "Get a searchlight out on the starboard side."
One of the more junior officers exited the conn through a door and walked out onto the catwalk. He gestured to a sailor Shane hadn't noticed in the dark on the other side of the glass, who then went to a large spotlight mounted on the railing and turned it on. Whatever was inside the housing- some combination of magical light and mirrors, no doubt- cast a cone of light as bright as day out on the water off the starboard side.
Many of the guests, curious about what was going on, moved to the starboard rail to watch the light pierce the water, but after a few minutes even Shane had to admit there was nothing to be seen. The captain shook his head. "I appreciate the warning, constable. We'll keep our eyes open."
Many of the guests, curious about what was going on, moved to the starboard rail to watch the light pierce the water, but after a few minutes even Shane had to admit there was nothing to be seen. The captain shook his head. "I appreciate the warning, constable. We'll keep our eyes open."
Shane nodded and descended back to the level of the main deck. He collected and re-hid his shiraken and dagger before exiting back to the deck. He made a circuit around the deck passing through the party and the caterer's area, pausing at length every so often to look out at the water again. He hoped what he saw was nothing more than a passing whale but couldn't shake the suspicion that it was more sinister.
With the Gundeck all checked out, Anthony gestured quietly for Jay to follow him down to the Berth deck, apparently intent on making a sweep through that too. The man was quiet as they looked, focused, his only words going to Scrapper when the construct needed a little extra push or a bit more direction for actions. Otherwise, all seemed well with him.
Aziel/Ralf, Engine Deck
As Rost turned to run, Ralf slipped up behind him and smacked the man hard in the side with his hanbo.
As the constables attacked, Natick slipped back behind the engine and was lost to sight. Rost, however, spun and launched a crushing haymaker at Ralf's head. If it had hit it probably would have hurt. But Rost's heel banged into a low pipe as he spun and it threw him off balance, allowing Ralf to easily dodge the clumsy blow.
Aziel cleared the jam in her pistol.
Fitz continued to cower as the constables unleashed violence on the firegem shovelers.
With the Gundeck all checked out, Anthony gestured quietly for Jay to follow him down to the Berth deck, apparently intent on making a sweep through that too. The man was quiet as they looked, focused, his only words going to Scrapper when the construct needed a little extra push or a bit more direction for actions. Otherwise, all seemed well with him.
Jaelynn nodded at Anthony, though she made a mental note of any targets of opportunity on the gun deck, before turning to follow her fellow constable down the "stairs."
Shane moved to the aft ladders leading below and almost descended to see what was keeping the other officers away from the party. He hestitated, however, and instead started another circuit of the main deck. If anything happened up here, he thought, and no Unit 11 agent was present, it might not go over well with Delft.
Shane made a point this go-round, to spot Masarde to see if he was still drinking himself into oblivion. He also tried to spot where Captain Miller was. If Masarde was still drinking, he obviously wouldn't take kindly to any more suggestions from Shane. But, Shane reasoned, perhaps the Captain, who spoke so sagely about the need to understand what others want, could be persuaded to attempt to keep the engineer sober enough to not embarrass the crown and draw attention away from the extraordinary achievement the ship represented.
And he continued to scan the waters for another hint of what he saw earlier. To keep himself calm and amused, he hummed the melody of the song he sang back in Shale about the party of rich nobles, thinking the lyrics as he hummed.
Anthony notices her gaze and, guessing her intent, points at a few other things too. Literally pointing, actually, saying little as he had through out the gun deck. He wasn't really sure what to say, having only a few minutes here and there with Jaelynn and none alone to really get to know her. Better not to say anything and appear a fool, or actually be one, he had thought. Better to focus on work as well.
An amused "Hah!" issued from Ralf as Rost's kick caught the piping. "Am suggesting you give up now before hurting yourself!"
Is my job, he added mentally as he swung again.
Ralf's hanbo caught Rost full in the face, breaking the man's nose and leaving his face a bloody mess. It didn't stop him, though, and he swung back at Ralf.
He caught Ralf hard in the midsection, displaying more than a normal sailor's expertise of hand to hand combat.
The sight of all that blood apparently was too much for Luckshore, and the machinist's mate broke out of his huddle to virtually fly up the ladder to the Berth Deck.
Jaelynn/Anthony, Berth Deck
Jaelynn nodded at Anthony, though she made a mental note of any targets of opportunity on the gun deck, before turning to follow her fellow constable down the "stairs."
The Gun Deck didn't look like the best place to sabotage the ship. Oh, the individual cannons could be sabotaged, but it would take time. The powder didn't appear to be stored on this deck, unless it was wisely behind the locked doors in the bow.
After the inspection of the Gun Deck, the two constables started down to the Berth Deck. They heard a man's frantic raised voice as they descended down the ladder and quickly figured out that the yelling was coming from a slim man in dirty clothes with grease on his hair.
"...she shot at him!," he was just saying to a young Marine standing sentry in the bow.
Shane, Main Deck
And he continued to scan the waters for another hint of what he saw earlier. To keep himself calm and amused, he hummed the melody of the song he sang back in Shale about the party of rich nobles, thinking the lyrics as he hummed.
Shane didn't see anything in the water. Masarde still had a drink in his hand but on closer inspection, Shane thought the tiefling might be nursing it instead of gulping it down like he had the others. The party continued around Shane, the dignitaries as at ease as if they'd been in back on land in Flint.
He did catch a bit of conversation as King Aodhan walked by with PM Lee and a few others. The King apparently had a touch of indigestion. "...one of the local archfey must be upset we're steaming in their water." He and his courtiers all laughed at the idea as they continued walked toward the bow.
Aziel reloaded her gun with swift, decisive movements, then brought it up to point at Rost. "No more trouble, Seaman Rost. We are with the RHC. There is nowhere to go. If you cooperate, things will go better for you than they will for Natick, if he thinks he can sneak up on me from around the engine. He could hang for assaulting an RHC officer. You do not want that, eh? So stand down, and we will forget about this little disagreement."
He did catch a bit of conversation as King Aodhan walked by with PM Lee and a few others. The King apparently had a touch of indigestion. "...one of the local archfey must be upset we're steaming in their water." He and his courtiers all laughed at the idea as they continued walked toward the bow.
Shane shook his head at how much his life had changed. A few short years ago, he was a teenager in an orphanage and now he was almost rubbing shoulders with the king. His heart swelled a little with pride.
Shane continued his circuit of the deck. He again wondered what was going on below decks that was keeping the other agents away from the party. Perhaps they were just uncomfortable mingling with the high-brow crowd. Maybe Anthony was hiding from someone who knew him or his parents. Maybe Aziel and Jaelynn were self-conscious as non-humans and Ralf of his accent and his unusual garments.
He scanned the crowd, hoping he might find Captain Smith and start a conversation with him, if he could do so without interrupting. He had his orders not to speak unless spoken to, but he felt the Captain might be approachable.
Aziel/Ralf, Engine Deck
Aziel reloaded her gun with swift, decisive movements, then brought it up to point at Rost. "No more trouble, Seaman Rost. We are with the RHC. There is nowhere to go. If you cooperate, things will go better for you than they will for Natick, if he thinks he can sneak up on me from around the engine. He could hang for assaulting an RHC officer. You do not want that, eh? So stand down, and we will forget about this little disagreement."
Rost grimaced at Aziel, his smashed nose and bloody face a macabre mask past Ralf's shoulder. "Things are gonna go badly for all of us, horn-head. Just you wait." He looked shaken but didn't stop fighting.
Shane, Main Deck
He scanned the crowd, hoping he might find Captain Smith and start a conversation with him, if he could do so without interrupting. He had his orders not to speak unless spoken to, but he felt the Captain might be approachable.
All fey were known to be tricksy and vengeful, and archfey most of all. Most everyone knew you had to try to placate the fair folk or they would play tricks on you. Apparently the king thought his upset stomach was one such trick.
As he made his circuit, Shane came back to Captain Smith and his dwarven eschatologist debate partner. After a moment's listening, Shane realized they had segued to just war theory. They weren't actively excluding anyone from their conversation, but the discussion was more intense than most party-goers seemed to want.
"Not 'we,' " Ralf corrected. "Am not forgetting this."
A quick crouching spin, and the hanbo lashed out once more...
... unfortunately missing wildly.
Jaelynn/Anthony, Berth Deck
The Gun Deck didn't look like the best place to sabotage the ship. Oh, the individual cannons could be sabotaged, but it would take time. The powder didn't appear to be stored on this deck, unless it was wisely behind the locked doors in the bow.
After the inspection of the Gun Deck, the two constables started down to the Berth Deck. They heard a man's frantic raised voice as they descended down the ladder and quickly figured out that the yelling was coming from a slim man in dirty clothes with grease on his hair.
"...she shot at him!," he was just saying to a young Marine standing sentry in the bow.
"Excuse me," Jaelynn said, walking to meet the two, pulling her badge from somewhere in the folds of her skirts and holding it where they could see it. "RHC. Who shot at whom?"
Anthony had already drawn his shield and warhammer, the moment he heard of someone being shot at. He didn't think it was near hear considering the man wasn't running but that didn't change the fact that being ready would be a bad idea. Scrapper did the exact same thing, as if mimicking Anthony perfectly in this, even though it was so awkward in other areas. In his uniform, Anthony didn't need his badge. And with his size, weapons and shield, few people would question the uniform.
Shane slowed as he passed the just war debate. He found a spot where he could listen in while still looking about and keeping an eye on things. Gradually, he stepped closer, until it became obvious that he was listening and following the arguments as best he could. He let his face show approval at some comments he agreed with while sometimes frowning in thought at things he would question.
Aziel/Ralf, Engine Deck
"Not 'we,' " Ralf corrected. "Am not forgetting this."
A quick crouching spin, and the hanbo lashed out once more...
... unfortunately missing wildly.
Rost dodged Ralf's oversized club and threw another punch at his face, missing by a mile. The man apparently wildly overestimated his pugilistic abilities.
With all the noise, Aziel never noticed Natick coming around the far side of the engine. She heard the shot quite clearly, though, and was turning to see what the new noise was when the bullet smashed into her back.
Jaelynn/Anthony, Berth Deck
"Excuse me," Jaelynn said, walking to meet the two, pulling her badge from somewhere in the folds of her skirts and holding it where they could see it. "RHC. Who shot at whom?"
Fitz looked down at the badge then back up at Jaelynn's face. "Uh, umm. Another constable? She, I don't remember her name, she told the guys they were under arrest then shot at Rost when he started to run away." He gestures at the ladder down to the engine deck.
"You," Jaelynn pointed at Fitz, "go topside, find a Constable in uniform. Quietly. Tell him what's going on. Then bring him down here. You," She pointed at the marine, what are you guarding?
While still talking to the Marine, Jaelynn caught Anthony's eyes, and tilted her head towards the stairs down, indicating he shouldn't wait for her.
"You," Jaelynn pointed at Fitz, "go topside, find a Constable in uniform. Quietly. Tell him what's going on. Then bring him down here. You," She pointed at the marine, what are you guarding?
While still talking to the Marine, Jaelynn caught Anthony's eyes, and tilted her head towards the stairs down, indicating he shouldn't wait for her.
Fitz nodded frantically. "Right!" He sped off without another word. The female marine, however, remained right where she was. "The magazine, ma'am. I will not leave my post."
"Amria!" cursed Ralf as he heard the shot and, from the corner of his eye, saw Aziel jerk in response to being hit. "ON KNEES, DILO!" he shouted, pointing the hanbo at Rost threateningly while stepping to the tiefling's side.
Keeping one eye on Rost, he reached out and placed a hand on Aziel's shoulder.
Ralf grimaced briefly as he shared some of the gunslinger's wounds.
Fitz nodded frantically. "Right!" He sped off without another word. The female marine, however, remained right where she was. "The magazine, ma'am. I will not leave my post."
Jaelynn gave the marine an approving nod and a fierce smile. "Of course you won't," she said, "You're a Risuri Marine - born, bred, and blessed by all that's holy to wear the colors that never run. Keep your eyes open, Marine. We're trusting you to watch our backs here. We'll be back just as soon as we know what's going on. Until then, if it were me, I wouldn't let the King Himself into that magazine. Keep it professional, and don't panic any guests, but keep it locked down. Something is going on. Anything happens - anything at all, you call for us, and we'll come running."
Aziel cried out when the bullet smashed into her, and dove for cover from the second seaman, a curse cutting off mid-word in surprise as her pain abruptly lessened at Ralf's touch. Safely behind the block of machinery, she glowered briefly in Natick's direction. Rost, however, was the bird in hand.
Aziel aimed her pistol at Rost's shoulder and pulled the trigger.
Anthony grunts, rushing down the stairs to the Engine Deck as Jae speaks. He resisted the urge to add something himself, feeling that she had handled it well given the short amount of time emergencies gave you, and that they had likely even less time in this situation. Warhammer in one hand, shield the other, Anthony moves surprisingly quickly for someone with bulk. Scrapper follows behind a bit more slowly but manages as well.
Aziel/Anthony/Ralf, Engine Deck
Aziel's shot smashes against the inside of the firegem bin as Rost ducks down to take cover from the deadly constable.
Rost uses Ralf's momentary distraction in caring for Aziel to launch another punch at Ralf's head. Whether through luck or skill, Ralf puts his hanbo in the way of Rost's hand and the sailor's punch cracks off the hard wood loud enough to make even the least sympathetic enemy wince. Rost yelps in pain and draws back his hand almost faster than the punch he had thrown.
Jaelynn, Berth Deck
Jaelynn gave the marine an approving nod and a fierce smile. "Of course you won't," she said, "You're a Risuri Marine - born, bred, and blessed by all that's holy to wear the colors that never run. Keep your eyes open, Marine. We're trusting you to watch our backs here. We'll be back just as soon as we know what's going on. Until then, if it were me, I wouldn't let the King Himself into that magazine. Keep it professional, and don't panic any guests, but keep it locked down. Something is going on. Anything happens - anything at all, you call for us, and we'll come running."
The marine nods at Jaelynn's short speech. "Aye aye, ma'am. Nobody's getting in here until that," she nods her head at the ladder Anthony had just disappeared down, "is all sorted out."
Shane, Main Deck
Shane slowed as he passed the just war debate. He found a spot where he could listen in while still looking about and keeping an eye on things. Gradually, he stepped closer, until it became obvious that he was listening and following the arguments as best he could. He let his face show approval at some comments he agreed with while sometimes frowning in thought at things he would question.
Shane found he could follow the arguments readily enough. Captain Smith looked curiously at when Shane nodded at one of the captain's points. "You're familiar with catechism 2309," the young captain peered at Shane's uniform much the way the older, more annoyed naval officer had, "um, officer?"
Smith had just offered up the Clergy's basis for its just war doctrine, the so-called catechism 2309. It stated that in order for a military action to be justified, the damage inflicted by the aggressor on the nation or community of nations must be lasting, grave, and certain, that all other means of putting an end to it must have been shown to be impractical or ineffective, there must be serious prospects of success, and that the use of arms must not produce evils and disorders graver than the evil to be eliminated.
The dwarf grunted and looked at Shane and Captain Smith. "Not producing evils and disorders greater than that of the aggressor is something that can be argued from now til the sun burns out. And all the while that aggressor is doing whatever it wants when so-called good people stand by and dither. Rational self-interest is the only way a community of nations can possibly govern themselves and interact in harmony."
Both the captain and the dwarf looked at Shane to gauge his reaction.
Still bleeding quite heavily despite Ralf's efforts on her behalf, Aziel holstered her gun and, with gritted teeth, stepped in to jab her rapier at Rost's leg, meaning to slow him down and keep him from Ralf.
"You think being shot in the back will stop me? Vous êtes fou! I survived the War, and I will be here long after you are hung for treason!"
Jaelynn, Berth Deck
The marine nods at Jaelynn's short speech. "Aye aye, ma'am. Nobody's getting in here until that," she nods her head at the ladder Anthony had just disappeared down, "is all sorted out."
Jaelynn nodded in return. "Very well." And speaking of what was going on downstairs, Jaelynn pulled a scroll from... somewhere inside of her semi-uniform, and began to read from it. When she was done, a shimmering, near-invisible field of force snapped into existence around her, almost - but not quite - touching her skin. She tucked away the remains of the scroll, and headed to join her companions.
Both the captain and the dwarf looked at Shane to gauge his reaction.
Shane shifted nervously, feeling unqualified to judge but wanting to say something intelligent. He had engaged fellow dockers in discussions about what kind of retaliation might be justified in hypothetical situations, trying to find out which might be advocates of terrorism. Killing civilians was a common point of disagreement, some arguing it was justified, others that it was evil.
"If one's country is attacked, I can't imagine anyone arguing that one should not mount some kind of defense. The question of restraint might arise, however, if, for example, some new weapon could kill everyone in an enemy city--men, women, children. If the enemy used it on us, does that mean we could use a similar weapon on them without remorse?" Shane glanced a little nervously at the mysterious weapon rising from the fore deck of the ship.
Despite being surprised by how efficiently he'd healed Aziel -- it'd almost seemed too easy -- the blur of Rost's fist didn't escape his notice, even from the corner of his eye. Almost unconcernedly, he interposed his hanbo, stiff-armed, and let Rost's power work against the man as his fist cracked into the staff.
"I said ON KNEES!" he barked as he spun in place to take a countering swing at Rost.
Unfortunately, the man's sudden effort to avoid Aziel's rapier moved him out of the line of fire and Ralf missed.
Anthony comes down the steps in time to see Aziel stab at the man with her rapier. Under normal circumstances he'd ask what the hell was going on but when a comrade was in a fight, you didn't waste that kind of time.
Hammer and shield already in hand, Anthony charges with an angry bellow, hoping to get his and everyone else's attention, giving him a split second of surprise. His hammer comes down the moment the individual glances at him with wicked power.
Ralf glanced over his shoulder at the yell, to see the welcome sight of Anthony charging in their direction.
"Careful!" he shouted, "Is another!"
Aziel/Anthony/Ralf, Engine Deck
Aziel slipped forward and stabbed Rost in the gut. The man gasped, eyes widening at the nearly fatal blow as he slapped a hand down over the wound. He leered at the two constables. "You'll see."
Despite his condition, the sailor still managed to weave out of the way of Ralf's hanbo. Or maybe lurched was a better term for it. He really didn't look very well.
Anthony rushed forward to smash down the faux-engineer.
Behind the line of action, Natick disappeared again. This time up the ladder and out of the engine room, moving at top speed.
Jaelynn, Berth Deck
Jaelynn nodded in return. "Very well." And speaking of what was going on downstairs, Jaelynn pulled a scroll from... somewhere inside of her semi-uniform, and began to read from it. When she was done, a shimmering, near-invisible field of force snapped into existence around her, almost - but not quite - touching her skin. She tucked away the remains of the scroll, and headed to join her companions.
Jaelynn was nearing the ladder when a man in soot-stained overalls climbed up it and dashed to the stairs up to the Gun Deck.
Shane, Main Deck
"If one's country is attacked, I can't imagine anyone arguing that one should not mount some kind of defense. The question of restraint might arise, however, if, for example, some new weapon could kill everyone in an enemy city--men, women, children. If the enemy used it on us, does that mean we could use a similar weapon on them without remorse?" Shane glanced a little nervously at the mysterious weapon rising from the fore deck of the ship.
Captain Smith clapped Shane on the shoulder and grinned at the dwarf. "Well said! Proportionality! A central tenet of justified warfare!" Before he could go on, a thin man with wild hair and grime covered clothes burst out of the stairs. He looked around frantically and ran up to the trio.
He looked at Shane, with his noticeably non-military uniform. "You, uh, you," Fitz leaned forward, hands on his knees as he panted for breath, "are you... a Constable?"
Shane stepped closer to the man and pointed out his RHC badge. "Yes I am. What's wrong?"
As the man answered, Shane knelt so he could reach the sling bullet "buttons" on his boots and began yanking them off and placing them in his pockets.
Shane, Main Deck
Shane stepped closer to the man and pointed out his RHC badge. "Yes I am. What's wrong?"
As the man answered, Shane knelt so he could reach the sling bullet "buttons" on his boots and began yanking them off and placing them in his pockets.
"There's a... there's a fight. In the engine room. The, uh, hot elf constable lady... she said to come get you."
Jaelynn, Berth Deck
Jaelynn was nearing the ladder when a man in soot-stained overalls climbed up it and dashed to the stairs up to the Gun Deck.
Jaelynn frowned, then turned and followed the man. "Halt! RHC!"
"Ah, Monsieur Muscles! Arrest this man for idiocy," Aziel said through gritted teeth as she sped off in hot pursuit of Natick. She moved so fast that blood hardly managed to spatter the floor in her wake.
"Locate and inform Assistant Detective Inspector Delft what you just told me," Shane said to the sailor; then noting his winded condition, he glanced significantly at Captain Miller. "Constable, walks with a cane, chews tobacco." Shane glanced around to see if he could point the ADI out, but didn't linger.
Shane moved like cat through the crowd toward the ladder the sailor had just used. Once at the ladder, he put his head to the opening and scanned for trouble before sliding down the ladder as he had seen sailors doing.