by William one eye » Fri Dec 22, 2017 2:40 pm
A mysterious passenger lurks in the darkness below deck, his wrists still raw from the shackles he has so recently freed himself of. He enters the munitions hold, where Midshipman Smithwick Thomas is doing inventory. Smithwick Thomas, a member of the navy since youth, is being groomed for military command as his family title would dictate. He hates the sea, he is a poor sailor and lacks the charisma for effective command. He deep down wishes to move to the country side and write poetry. He his disliked by the crew, and even more so by the Captain. He is frequently ordered to do menial tasks below deck where he cannot do any harm to the ship. These days he is seldom seen and many do not even remember what he looks like.
I approach quietly from from behind a battened down stack of crated cannon balls. As he continues to inventory the munitions, I collect a 1" hemp rope that had been stowed, and I tear a piece of tarpaulin of from the linen covering the cannon balls. In a moment it is over, before he knew what happened Smithwick Thomas was knocked unconscious. I quickly switch my tattered garments for his uniform. I bind him and gag him and stow him behind some cases of spare ramrods in the corner. I quickly make my exit and begin my mission to find some disgruntled members of the crew who I can convince to aid me in my escape. William makes his way up a small flight of steps and approaches some of the crew. As expected they stand at attention and salute to the midshipman as he passes. So far, so good.