Allison; Taking Control

Chapter 3

He looked straight into Allison's eyes. But Kelvin, isn't that not the case? He took a brief pause to let those words sink in.There is no damage caused.Now put your attention on helping us get through this storm. James was smart, a good leader, and a good seaman, but Allison remembered that he was a junior lieutenant even more than he was. While it was Allison's responsibility as their commander to ensure that the crew's general lack of experience did not ultimately triumph over them, many of the officers in this crew lacked years.

"Aye, captain," I say. James replied, appearing to have recovered from his embarrassment.He continued with greater assurance, "I also wanted to suggest, sir, if I may, that so long as current conditions do not worsen further, we maintain the sail we have set." This mess started out pretty badly, but now that it's here, I think we can get through it.

“Agreed for the time being,” Allison said, still securing his hat against the wind and gazing out at the pitch-black sky.

Additionally, a slight detour to the south might be necessary. We might be too far to the west to meet the schedule you told us to keep if the winds shift again as they have in the past.

"Knowledgeable, Mr. James. Get it done.

Yes, Mr.Sir, are there any... additional orders?”

Allison was completely aware of what he was referring to. I’m afraid not, Kelvin; and despite your best efforts, the time you mention will probably still be postponed because of this weather."

During a particularly significant deck pitch, James leaned against the taffrail and nodded his understanding. Sir, yes, yes. Philadelphia seems to be doing well in her first real sea test. She probably has some time before the next one.We'll be prepared for whatever lies ahead. He gave the captain a salute and resumed his duties, barking out instructions and leaving him at the bow.

As his thoughts once more returned to that desk drawer and its enigmatic contents, Allison said to himself under his breath, "I certainly hope so."

During yet another particularly sharp deck pitch, he braced himself on the taffrail.He had to admit to himself that the upcoming storms at sea might be the least of his worries as he felt the cool rain on his face.

After a while, the storm subsided, allowing the hands who had all been summoned to their stations during the inclement weather to descend and eat their much-needed, albeit significantly delayed, dinner below. Due to the precaution of putting out the galley fires while enduring the turbulent seas, everyone's meal would be cold. However, no one seemed to care after spending so much time drenched on the topside to watch over the rigging or working hard at the bilge pumps below.In point of fact, the tough crew even made fun of the fact that the ship's strained seams had let in so much water that the cookfires probably would not have burned.

The salt beef, biscuit, and pea soup that his steward had brought to him was sat down by Allison himself. Alex hadn't had a chance to light the candles in the few lanterns hanging from the cabin's rafters before the storm. Now, they were properly outfitted.

"Will that suffice, sah?"

Yes, Alex, I appreciate it. Please ensure that you have your own meal.

"Sah, thank you." Alex stepped out and shut the door behind him with a knuckle salute.

Glad to simply hear the familiar sounds of a ship returning to something that was close to its usual routine, Allison sat in silence for a few seconds. He had definitely been through storms on the sea before, but he had always done so as a junior subordinate, following orders from superiors whose words he took as seriously as God's own commands. He didn't just do what was asked of him because he was afraid of being disciplined in the future. It was trust in the people you give your obedience and loyalty to because you respect them as leaders and believe they won't steer you wrong. True trust and respect were the true steel that produced greatness, despite the Royal Navy's iron-clad discipline.

He now had to earn the trust and loyalty of those under his command. He would serve as a model for his subordinates and serve as a source of direction. After reassuring James, Allison saw him get back on track on the quarterdeck, which was a promising start. However, Allison knew the difficulties would only get harder and more complicated as his mission progressed—if only he knew what that mission was... He took a forkful of beef and paused before even putting it to his lips. He rolled his head back and let out a deep sigh before slumping in his chair at the small table and placing it back on his plate. Despite receiving so much, he knew so little!He went back to thinking about how he got to where he was and what had happened recently now that the current dangers had been avoided for the time being.

Allison recalled spending a few minutes puzzled at that envelope on the carriage seat. He was aware that he had to use it and break the seal, but for some reason he just couldn't get himself to do so. He might simply be unable to keep up with the pace of events. He finally reached for it and tore it open while squinting absurdly out each side window as if someone could see what he was holding. A set of written instructions and an unusually intimate note were contained within.As the coach continued down the city streets, he read it out loud:

10 September 1757, Lieutenant Rane Allison, formerly of the HM Warship Praetorian: You are hereby requested and required to proceed by such means as have been arranged and provided to appear in the town of Trenton, Royal Province of New Jersey, by evening the second day following your receipt of this notice. As you have already been informed, appropriate lodging has been arranged at each of your travel stops.After you get to the aforementioned Trenton town, you should go to The Black Horse Tavern at sunset to wait for Major John Jake of the HM 1st Regt of Foot, who will give you more instructions.

After you have read and comprehended everything in this document, you are also required to destroy it in such a way that it is unreadable.

In addition, and perhaps most importantly, you will not discuss these instructions with anyone else unless you have been specifically instructed to do so. When it comes to military information, the current conflict on the North American continent calls for stringent measures.In the British colonies, it is almost certain that spies and informants worked for the French and their Indian allies.

In addition, I ask that you please refrain from making any speculative assumptions or allowing yourself to make hasty judgments about your upcoming experiences. You have my solemn assurance that everything will be clarified soon.

H. Allison, your obedient servant, was just beginning to think that this mysterious individual, whoever he was, was already asking more of him than he could promise, and that any requests to limit speculation were beyond ridiculous. In that situation, asking him to stop thinking was like asking him to stop breathing. Despite any warnings to the contrary from "H" or anyone else, the carriage ride was certainly long enough for Allison to speculate about the specifics of his transfer. He would normally have taken his captain's relative brevity and unusually quick payoff as a negative sign; However, his friend Henry's observation as he left and the order letter that had been left for him in the carriage appeared to suggest otherwise.

In point of fact, there was absolutely no evidence to suggest that he had performed poorly. In addition to the usual brow-beating that a young midshipman was accustomed to receiving from more senior or more experienced men, such as Captain Wilson, he had never received anything remotely resembling a negative evaluation or any kind of admonition. In addition, he had passed his examination for lieutenant with flying colors more than three years earlier. The board of senior officers had praised him for his meticulous preparation and attention to detail. Although Allison was fully aware that his colonial parentage, a lack of connections, and a somewhat sluggish start to his current career, rather than his overall ability, were to blame for the lengthy delay in receiving his commission, it was difficult for him to bear. He reasoned that there had to be a reason for such a silent and unassuming farewell. He would learn more quickly, but in the meantime, there would be other issues to address.

The first day of Allison's trip was uneventful but painfully boring, literally and figuratively. He was alone with his thoughts for a long time as his coach traveled into the colonial wilderness after being poled across to the mainland from the city on a somewhat shaky ferry. He was preoccupied by the road's dust, the chill of the approaching night, and the soreness in his hindquarters when he wasn't thinking about what was to come. A sensation of outrageous appreciation defeated him when the mentor in the end stopped at night's murkiness. Opened the door, respectfully doffed his tricorne, and pointed toward the veranda of a decent-looking bed and breakfast with a prominent moustache and rough-spun brown wool covering.