Pirate Solidarity Thread.

[Gentleman-Adventurer]

With delberation, Burnside slid off his glove, and enveloped the other man's hand. Jerking his arm, he pulled Yastreb off balance, and hissed in his ear:
"This ain't over, comrade. After we settle the Fleeters, I'm coming for you. We finish this like gentlemen: pistols or sabres on a sandy cove of your choosing."
Releasing Yastreb, Burnside turned his back and shouted aloud.
"All gunners, stand down. We have no quarrel with these men..."
He whispered under his breath.
"...Yet..."

[ShredsnPatches]

The deckhands scattered and returned to their various duties. Shreds, recognising the start of one of Burnside's pensive moods, ran to the galley and made a pot of tea from the Captain's personal caddy, arranging it with its accoutrements on a tray. Balancing it carefully, she returned to the bridge and set it down. She picked a speaking tube, opened her mouth to call Burnside, changed her mind and went out to the deck.

"Captain? There's a pot of tea for you inside, sir. The Gatlings are ready to go on a moment's notice, and the lads know which gun they're assigned to. Is there anything else you need done?"

She fell silent, waiting for a reply.

[Gentleman-Adventurer]

Burnside threw a look over his shoulder, to make sure nobody was listening, then dropped his voice to a whisper.
"Ms Shreds," he muttered. "I have formed a shaky alliance with an old enemy, whom I do not trust beyond throwing-distance. He needs watching. I'd like you to find a volunteer from among the crew to stow away aboard his flagship. Hazard pay: an extra share from our next big haul."

[ShredsnPatches]

Shreds adjusted the scarf she'd wrapped around the lower half of her face to hide her features during the exchange with Yastreb's crew.

"That shouldn't be too difficult, sir. Most of the crew see me as their adoptive little sister, so they'll listen to me. If I can't find someone I'll do it."

[Storm Rider]

Yastreb takes some time to take in the design of the Abandon. He strolls around the deck with a simple ease despite the looks of Burnsides crew. " Burnside I need to message my fleet and we need to get to that fuel caravan soon otherwise my fleet will not even make it to New Babbage" he says leaning into the bridge" and I am quite impressed that you have such a fine ship. Do I smell tea?"

[Gentleman-Adventurer]

After clapping a grateful hand to Shreds' shoulder, Burnside rolled his eyes.
"A few things. Firstly: my tea, not yours. Secondly: if we do set off to get this oil, then the Fleet will have plenty of time to gather reinforcements, something detrimental to my strategy. Thirdly; two of my best friends are looking to us to haul their arses off that floating city when we send it down. I ain't leaving 'em high and dry. If you must, you can go get your oil, and then move your fleet to intercept the First Fleet ships who will be moving to cut off our line of retreat. This is all about taking down New Babbage, it's not about a kill count."

[Sir Nikolas Vendigroth]

"The shipyards are locked down, sir, and the Atlantic battlegroup has evacuated the last of the engineers. We're ready to depart to Medway."

"No. We're going to Vendigroth." Said Peregrine, anxiously scanning the horizon.

"Sir, the orders...We're ordered to Medway."

"I know. Program the navigational engine to take us to Vend-" An officer burst in, out of breath - He'd sprinted a great distance.

"Sir! Look at this print! It's from the IFS Feurrader, to the Authority. I think we're in trouble."

Peregrine took the print from the young officer. It was a picture of the small fleet, with its new addition.

"But these are pirate ships..." Bad news.

[Storm Rider]

"My fleet is all ready heading to New Babbage. We have been using a storm front to cover our advance, as such my ships have been burning more fuel oil than usual. Burnside We have to get that oil caravan before we meet up with my fleet. But specifically we need to capture a sloop that is part of the caravan it is the single most important vessel of this caravan." Yastreb reaches into his jacket pocket and pulls out a cigarette case sized box. He flicks a switch on it's side and talks into it in Russian. When finished he turns to Burnside after hearing a long reply. " A frigate called Chernaya Loshad or Black horse is coming to rendevous with us at this moment. She and the light cruiser Yarennyj will move with this fleet to capture the caravan. I am going to take the Buran back to my flagship when we have the caravan. When my fleet is refulled I will lead it against New Babbage and any reinforcements the first fleet can muster.. Is that okay with you?" he says with some slight sarcasamhough tell me Burnside how mnay ships do you have in this fleet?

[Bellono]

Bellono never liked to here the orders to stand down... frowning he moved slowly away, he always liked to fire the round he chambered and never liked leaving one in there. He sat down by the deck wall and started to make safe and strip his Belgun assault rifle, he had plenty of sidearms in the many hidden holsters of his coat if he was needed quick as well as the very obvious precusion cap pistol hanging from his hip... Plenty of fighting soon he thought the fleeters are getting closer!!!

[ShredsnPatches]

Shreds smiled under the plain cotton scarf. She was happy she'd chosen to cover her face for this one - not having an old enemy of Burnside's know what she looked like was a good idea.

Raising her voice a couple of octaves to change the tone, she asked in an uncharacteristically perky voice "Anything further?"

[Storm Rider]

The dark eyes of Yastreb turns to the deckhand with the cotton scarf. his eyes locks with her own and a smile spreads across his face. It is shockingly cold. This man had no fear at being surrounded by so many hostile people." if you wouldn't mind I could use some refreshments"

[ShredsnPatches]

Shreds startled back a little, and flickered her eyes towards the captain. She decided that keeping the foreigner calm might be the best strategy for now. Turning on her heel, she walked inside and ran from there to the galley. Using the common stash of tea, she brewed up another pot and arranged it carefully on a tray. Returning to the deck, she placed it down beside the other tray and looked at Burnside quizzically. The girl looked scared above the scarf.

[Storm Rider]

Yastreb sits down and takes a cup of tea noding to the deckhand "thank you very much" he starts to drink his tea savouring it looking out the closest window simply enjoying the view. There in repose several features become clear. Yastreb's nose had been broken and re set in thepast. a scar across his upper lip was pale against his all ready ashy skin. the fingers of his right hand had also clearly eben broken by the way they are not as straight as they should be. Even though he is barely thirty it is clear every day of his life has been a hard one.

[ShredsnPatches]

Shreds' eyes were warm and brown with light flecks. Aside from her hairline and ears, they were all that was visible of her face. Her clothes were simple and functional, and her small strong hands spoke of manual labour and an active life. Under the scarf was a pretty face, but she didn't know that.

[Gentleman-Adventurer]

"That would be acceptable," Burnside admitted, at length. "And we have somewhere in the region of six hundred vessels. And I will ask that you refrain from bullying my crew, particularly the female members thereof."

[Storm Rider]

"I bullyied no one" Tastreb says idily as he drinks his tea "Burnside have you ever wonderd why I did what I did or even who was that man that you killed?

[Arcturon the hobo]

Mac fiddled idly with the glass bottles on his bandolier as he scanned the horizon. His allies were certainly approaching, but their progress had suddenly slowed for some reason he couldn't fathom.

[Gentleman-Adventurer]

"Yes. Yes, I have," came the response. "It's kept me awake some nights. But now isn't the time for pleasant reminisences. We have an attack to launch. So are you going to keep warming my ship's cushions, or are you going to round up your ships and get to fighting?"

[Storm Rider]

Standing Yastreb finishs his his tea" thank you" he says actually genuinely thankful to the masked deck hand. He takes out the small radio transmitter again. he speaks into it and recives a short reply" Chernaya Loshad has made visual contact with us" he points to the horizon. there a frigate sized air ship is quickly aproaching. It's hull is painted a dark black that seems to easily hide witnin the colour of the sea. it's hull is similar of the Buran with a dagger like profile. Everything about this ship speaks of speed and stealth with all the deadlyness of viper. it's armanent of
2 x 105 mm guns
4 x 37mm guns
4 x 20mm guns

.It easily sldies in beside the ligth cruiser Yarennyj " the stage is set Burnside. The Caravan is less than one hundred miles away to the south. We can catch it before night fall if we hurry."

[Gentleman-Adventurer]

"Then go. We shall meet you at the fortress. Right now, I have people who are depending on me."

[Storm Rider]

Yastreb agian signals to the light cruiser Yarennyj. A launch unlatches from it's side to pick him up" Tell me Italian, you wouldn't be interested in coming with me on this attack? If I am right on the origin of your accent you are form the north of Italy. That area is where the fuel caravan is headed to supply the Britisih occupation forces there." Yastreb then turns to Burnside" of course I also ask as a sighn of good faith, he can act as a liason between my fleet and yours" in his mind Yastreb thought * come on Burnside I am givng you a chance to trust me and to spy on me aswell*

[Bellono]

Bellono flashed with fury... he didnt like any reminders of the past his sleep was bad enough however a chance to kill members of the cursed Royal Navy was never one he missed. It would be a good chance to gather weapons as well as see how these Russians fight. It ment booty it ment revenge it ment setting foot on his home country even if it is nothing more then a vassel state of the infamous empire of evil that had ruined his life it was still his native land and it called to his blood "I may go with you Senior however it is the capitano who is in command and will need my services in a pinch it is his decion if i can be spared"

[ShredsnPatches]

"Captain, I'll go." Shreds muttered. "If you need Bellono, I'll do it."

The words were out before she could stop herself. But once she'd said it Shreds knew she couldn't un-say it. And she wouldn't ask any of the other deck-hands to risk themselves - a seamstress is much more dispensable than a trained deck-hand, she told herself.

[Bellono]

"Seniora, i dont know if this is the type of work is suited to you... It is brave notion however you should stick to the ship were your skills can be of help" it sounded harsh but Bellono's intent was to keep the young lady safe from harm

[InquisitorLordKain]

Finally waking up, Haplo got up and immediatly began drawing up plans for new guns for the Osiris, seeing as he lost his old ones, due to not being mounted.

"Ahh...and this'll go here, and I'll make the barrels wider to fit a larger round...and have a larger magazine for these ones......and for these a smaller round...Ahh coffee..."

Smelling the coffee made by Isabella, Haplo got up and thanked her while still holding the plans for the new mounted guns.