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Allison; Taking Control Chapter 46
Later, after the sun had gone below the horizon, Allison sat in his cabin with his two naval lieutenants and Master Washburn going over the direction they had received from Semple as well as the signals he and Suggs had devised. Bosun Tallow already had men hard at work cutting, sewing and painting their new signal pennants which he had been assured would be ready for use by the time they weighed anchor. Allison was just going through the list of basic messages they would generate with those pennants when a hurried knock came at the door.“Come!”Midshipman Hardin walked in to deliver a message.“S-sir, Mr. Bannon sent me to let you know... there’s a dinghy approaching from Allison . There’s... there’s one man aboard. He said you wanted to know immediately, sir.”“Indeed I did. Tell Mr. Bannon to call the men to deck and prepare to receive one person onboard amidships and then recover the dinghy. I will be there presently.”“Yessir!” Hardin answered in the nervous, overly-quick fash
Allison; Taking Control Chapter 47
“I remain a bit puzzled on one detail, William,” Allison said to Weyland as the six men sat around the table in his small cabin again. “Why would these men simply bring legal documents like these to a public place and openly discuss issues that might only serve to bring suspicion upon many of them? Even if these sessions of theirs were actually sanctioned by some act of the government, which I almost certainly doubt, they seem to pose a great risk for both the completely legal and the illicit affairs in which these men might be involved.”Weyland smiled the smile of a man who seemed to be saying ‘I know something you don’t.’ It reminded Allison somewhat of the ever-present grin that nearly always covered Caldwell’s face.“Well sir,” Weyland began, “this meeting of theirs apparently happened in the exact same locale, on the same day of each week for quite some time. Anyone who knew about it, from tavern-goers to the gentlemen themselves, would have found it odd and out-of-place if th
Allison; Taking Control Chapter 48
“As I’ve said before,” Weyland started, “it was the matter of underhanded profit-taking that formed the basis of the whole argument Thorpe had with these gentlemen that night. The proprietor of the establishment even went so far as to say that they were so jealous of the fact he was outstripping them in that way, the whole matter almost devolved into a fight. This, of course, is to say nothing of how he probably outshined them in legitimate ways.”Allison now knew what he was saying.“So Thorpe might have learned that they were planning to undermine him in some fashion and he decided to confront them all at the meeting in question,” he said, finishing the lieutenant’s thought. “Now, with him thought to be gone, they’re planning on seeking reparations for his crimes in the name of the government... from his wife and the estate he leaves behind?”Weyland nodded. “From the parts of their conversation I was able to hear, that’s what I gathered. No doubt each of them would find a way to p
Allison; Taking Control Chapter 49
“We’ve been given little, if any, direction from our superiors, I know,” he started, turning back to look at his officers, “and I understand, in light of that fact, why we may feel the need for greater assertiveness at times. Mind you, I’m not at all saying that I find that particular characteristic detrimental or undesirable. You are all here, obviously, because you have talents and skills that allow you to see things where others may not. Even so, I caution you, yet again, not to let yourselves be completely swayed by suppositions which, no matter how compelling, simply fit the available facts but lack corroborating evidence.”Allison paused once again, taking a deep breath.“Gentlemen, I firmly believe we were not brought together as a unique command on this vessel of the Royal Navy merely to solve a simple crime on one small island, no matter how illustrious its alleged victim. We were given this small, maneuverable ship for a reason. We were given valuable navigational implement
Allison; Taking Control Chapter 50
A referral to the navigational plot showed them to be holding on their intended track, traveling the shortest possible distance to their destination which would split the twenty or so mile distance between Anguilla and St. Martin to the North and St. Christopher to the South. It was effective and efficient in terms of time spent, but Washburn and his mates continuously grumbled over the necessity to constantly change course.“It’s just the man’s nature,” said Caldwell, who had the watch, as he and Allison stood on the quarterdeck one evening. “Give him some of the best charts to be had by humankind, not to mention two wondrously accurate marine clocks, and it will still never quite do. In his estimation, things can always be done in a better fashion.”“I think he’s just asserting what authority he can,” said Allison , speaking his mind. “We all know he’s the bullish headstrong type, so he’ll always have his own opinion. However, sailing through the Virgin Islands was a prudent measur
Allison; Taking Control Chapter 51
“I would certainly agree with your assessment of his overall ability, William,” Allison concurred. “In the short period of time I spent with the man, I believe he actually managed to teach me something as well. He mentioned that in the capacity in which we now serve, we would have to take actions that were unorthodox and irregular – a notion that was echoed by Lord Haig. If your foray to the Pink Conch is any indication, he was quite correct.”The two shared a laugh.“I only wish we could have seen your performance, Mr. Weyland,” Allison continued. “Anyone who has the ability to just walk into Louisbourg and collect intelligence must have been able to put on a fine show in a simple English tavern.”“I was quite glad that I didn’t have to speak French in this case,” Weyland explained, “and I believe my Cockney was quite good, if I can pay myself a compliment.”“Well, all I know is that we owe a great deal of what we now know to your talents, William. It was a job well done. Now we ha
Allison; Taking Control Chapter 52
“What’s this, then, Mr. Fortescue?” Allison asked, visibly perturbed. “Have you forgotten how to make a proper report?”“N-no, sir. Sorry, sir.” The young man took a moment to catch his breath. “Wreckage in the water, sir. Two points off the starboard bow. Mr. James has sent more men aloft and has stationed idlers to help spot and survey the debris. He respectfully requests your presence on deck and wishes to know if we should change course to search for any bodies in the flotsam.”“I’ll be there momentarily. Tell Lieutenant James he can make whatever change in heading is necessary.”“Aye, sir!” Fortescue acknowledged with a proper salute. He quickly ran back the way he came.Allison knew that his Midshipman’s fit of nerves stemmed from the obvious knowledge of what wreckage in the sea almost always signified; and during times of war it took little if any imagination to envision just how it could have happened.“Come, Doctor!” he said to the surgeon. “If we find anyone alive out t
Allison; Taking Control Chapter 53
Allison was unsure exactly how to feel at that moment. From his conversations with Peele, he understood that the Dutch and the Spanish habitually carried French trade, given that the Royal Navy’s control of the seas made it almost a necessity for their colonies in the region. However, he also knew full well that British privateers, in their insatiable lust for profit, had preyed upon the shipping of neutral countries even if they weren’t necessarily suspected of carrying French goods. Such activity was worrisome given that it served to create potential enemies of nations that would otherwise be uninvolved in the current conflict. Still, as the Royal Navy’s power only increased, a good many persons in positions of power seemed more than willing to overlook these incidents since they felt that no one on earth could truly challenge Britain’s mastery of the seas. That opinion wasn’t necessarily shared by all, however, including Admiral Haig if his last set of orders were any indication.
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