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The next part in my collab with Ayrlego and my category 4A entry. Prior builds: In the Captains Cabin (Bregir) Pieces Of A Puzzle (Ayrlego) Arriving at Mooreton Bay (Bregir) Continuation: TBD What Major Allcock had to report made Cooke regret the orders he had given Ferguson. The Athena could have evened the scores somewhat, but she would be halfway to Cocovia by now. The curse of hindsight. Cooke pushed aside these fruitless thoughts and considered recent events. Just earlier this day he had stepped aboard the old Ironsides, only to be greeted by a widely smiling version of his old friend Ferguson. "I have been given the honour of being the first to congratulate you on your promotion, CAPTAIN Cooke," he had said, presenting Cooke with a set of glorious golden epaulettes and the news of his promotion. "Post-captain" - he had yet to fully grasp his own bliss. And while the Ironsides was not the frigate he had dreamt of, nor exactly a flyer, she was still a powerful tool if only used right... And he found himself endearing to her already. His orders reaffirmed his position as commander of her Royal Majesty's armed forces on and around Cocovia, and in Ferguson he had been given a competent officer to assist him in this task. Which is why only hours ago, it had seemed so natural to dispatch him with the Athena to Cocovia with the newest orders and directives. Cooke had to admit other duties had forced him to neglect the colony recently, but Ferguson would surely make up for this. It was in the capacity of commander that he was now talking to Major Dirk Allcock, the ranking Corlander military officer on Alicentia and temporary military governor of the colony, and a friend and colleague of Montoya's. Being responsible for the colony, Allcock had been concerned by the build-up of military forces in the neighbouring Garvian colony Leopoldis, which had led him to investigate recent rumours of a large warship being stationed there. "Let me see if I understand you correctly, Major. A Garvian frigate sailing under a letter of marque has arrived in Leopoldis, rumoured to after the largest ever prize of the New World?" "Correct," Allcock interjected. "And you believe the prize is an Eslandian treasure fleet?" "So everything suggests, sir." "You have done good work, Major, very good work. One might take you for a man of intelligence one day. Intelligence work, I mean." Cooke said, forcing a smile. "Thank you, sir! All in the line of duty." Allcock said, bowing his head politely. "Diplomacy be damned... Even though we know all this, there is nothing I can do without risking diplomatic ramifications... We need proof," exclaimed Cooke after a short pause. "Might I suggest getting someone on board the privateer to investigate? We could arrange for certain crewmembers to... fall ill, opening up for replacements..." "A sound suggestion that might give us conclusive evidence," Cooke responded before letting out a sigh. "But it is a dangerous mission... And we would have to ensure our men get picked..." "One of my advisors... Russel should be able to arrange for me and him to fill those openings. He is somewhat of a rogue, but rather well-connected in the relevant... eh... circles..." "Are you willing to take that risk?" Cooke asked, and Allcock nodding in the affirmative. "Very well. I shall row you out myself to see you off. And you must get off that vessel the moment you have the necessary proof - take no chances! When you return, the Ironsides may have to re-earn her nickname..." And so, late next evening, a new purser and his mates were being taken to the "Black Oak" in the port of Leopoldis after the original crewmembers had suffered from alcohol induced comas... "Godspeed, Major Allcock, Godspeed..." "Thank you, Commander Cooke. I shall return as soon as I have the evidence..." ----------------------------------------- Hope you like the story and builds - C&C is, as ever, more than welcome. Stay posted for more. Extra photos in the spoiler.
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This is the second part of a multi-part collaborative with Bregir which will consist of our Challenge 4 entries as well as a free build or two. Hope you enjoy and please feel free to make C&C as usual! Also I plan on licensing the tavern as a small artisan in Mooreton Bay. Prior builds: In The Captain's Cabin Following builds: Arriving at Mooreton Bay _________________________________________________________________________ “Major Allcock, you asked me to notify you if our agents heard significant news from Leopoldis, well this morning I have received some troubling correspondence from my contact there” opened ETTC Agent for Alicentia, Colin Jenkins. “Do go ahead my dear Sir, what are our neighbours up to?” asked an instantly interested Dirk. “It appears a large warship has recently arrived in the harbour there, my man claims it is a sixth-rate frigate….” Dirk instantly sat up, that size vessel was larger than any Corrington naval vessel currently in the new world. “A sixth-rate? Is he sure?” he asked. “He is ex-navy, so I assume he would know.” “The vessel is from the Garvian Navy?” asked Dirk. “Well this is where it gets interesting,” said Jenkins, “apparently she was, although her status is now unclear. The crew are rumoured to be serving under letters of marque and it has reported to have been seen flying the black – so I assess it is currently serving as a privateer.” Dirk by now was quite visibly worried. This was indeed major news. The presence of such a large privateer so close to the Corlander possessions of Alicentia and Cocovia was very concerning. The fact it was a Garvian privateer, apparently using the the Garvian settlement of Leopoldis on Alicentia as a base was equally worrying to Dirk, who had a latent fear of conflict between Corrington and Garvey for possession of Alicentia. “This is indeed troubling, is there any other information?” asked Dirk “No, that is all he had to report, that and the name of the vessel, The Black Oak.” Replied Jenkins. “We must find out more. I will need to alert Commander Cooke and Sir Thomas Smaugton on Cocovia, but without more information on the vessels intentions the news is of little value.” Dirk paused, Commander Jonathan Cooke was the Military Governor of Cocovia and Mayor of King's Harbour. Sir Thomas was the mayor of Quinsville, the other Corlander settlement on Cocovia. “Actually Cooke is due to visit here on his way back to Cocovia within the next fortnight. I must have more information to present to him then.” With that the two men exchanged salutations, and Dirk rushed off to plan how to obtain more information. A couple of days later….. Davy Russell, former Captain of the pirate vessel Bonne Voyage, now convict in Mooreton Bay, entered 'The Yellow Mermaid', a seedy tavern, with a suitably disguised Major Allcock. Davy enjoyed a privileged position for a convict – while some of his more roguish former comrades laboured away in penal work parties around the island, the charismatic and educated former pirate had integrated his way into the Major’s inner circle. Using knowledge accumulated over his years of experience as a mariner and his contacts throughout the Sea of Storms and beyond, he provided advice and information to Dirk to assist in the running of the settlement. It was such information that led the two men to this tavern. Yesterday a sailor had appeared in the settlement claiming to be from Leopoldis and bragging about a privateer crew poised to take a prize so big, they would never have to sail again. Davy, knowing the Major was actively looking for information on the rumoured privateer in Leopoldis, had dutifully reported his presence. Dirk, desperate for more information before Commander Cooke arrived, had donned a disguise and had accompanied Davy to the tavern to find out more. On entering the tavern, the barman, an associate of Davy, silently nodded towards a drunken and dishevelled sailor in the corner of the room, who appeared to be mumbling into an empty cup of rum. “Hello matey!” exclaimed Davy. Dirk waited back in the shadows. “Looks like you be needing a refill of that there cup! – Barman, two more of your finest if you please” “We only be having rotgut and you well know it Davy” rejoined the Barman, slamming two cups of sickly smelling rum on the bench. “Aye well, it’s all grog ain’t it!” then Davy turned back to the drunken sailor, who was looking around blankly, startled at this sudden intrusion into his misery and yet not believing his luck in a full cup. “What brings you here friend?” asked Davy. “They kicked me off” explained the indignant drunk. “Who kicked you off what?” “The Captain kicked me off the Oak” explained the drunk as if that made perfect sense to all. “Just kicked me off…. Told me if I ever showed my face around the settlement again they’d keelhaul me…. Me Rotgut Roger. Keelhaul me….. “ As Dirk observed silently, the conversation continued back and forth at a rather painful pace. Davy draw out that the drunk, whose name apparently was Roger, had been run off the Garvian privateer accused of breaking into the rum supply – an accusation Dirk had no problems believing. What was interesting is that the drunk constantly mentioned the huge amount of treasure the ship was expecting to plunder. Could this treasure be from plundering Mooreton Bay? Dirk didn’t think so, surely there wasn’t enough in his small settlement to attract such rumours. However try as he might, Davy couldn’t extract any more from the sailor, who had now lapsed into a drunken stupor, and was incoherently babbling in the corner. The two men turned and left, Dirk generously tipping the barman on the way out. Now he had confirmed the frigate in Leopoldis was a privateer, and one intent on some large scale plunder… but where and or who???? The next day…. Dirk was awoken early in the morning when Xochitl unexpectedly arrived in his quarters bearing news. A Halosian man had been found by her father’s warriors wandering deep in the jungle. The tribesmen believed he was fleeing from Leopoldis, and knowing Dirk’s interest in that place had sent for him immediately. Later in the day, guided by Xochitl and her attendants, Dirk arrived at the scene where a tattered man lay. Several warriors stood around, although none ventured to close to the man, who was clearly not in a good way – pale, with a visible fever and several seeping wounds. Dirk approached and indicated for Xochitl to bring water. “Ho friend, help is here.” Said Dirk in a soothing voice. The man looked up, his cloudy eyes not really seeing. “dying” he croaked. “must warn the fleet…” he gasped. “We’ll have you back in civilisation soon” replied Dirk, although he realised the sad truth, it was too late, the man was clearly dying. Xochitl passed him a piece of paper she had found in the man's pocket. It was a personal letter and quickly scanning it Dirk learned the man was named Juan deLuna and was a treasury clerk from the Eslandolian settlement of Nellisa. “Who are you?” asked Dirk, “kidnapped… taken from Nellisa…. you must warn them….” “Warn who friend, who kidnapped you?” “Pirates, Garvians…… warn the treasure fleet….. the secret is known…. You must warn them….” With that the man made a final effort to clear his vision, unfortunately he must have recognised the red uniform coat Dirk was wearing as he gave a startled gasp. “You’re not Eslandolian!!” he exclaimed. With that what remaining colour was left in his face drained, his eyes rolled back into his head and he died. Dirk stood up, shook his head at the watching Sergeant Gowen, who now approached. “Most interesting Sergeant,” commented Dirk, “It would seem the pieces of our puzzle are coming together” “If you say so Sir,” replied Sergeant Gowan. Dirk stared into the jungle pensively and reviewed what he had discovered. A large Garvian Privateer had arrived in Leopoldis. The crew of the privateer were boasting of a potentially huge prize. Now an Eslandolan man turns up, claiming to have been abducted from Nellisa and who died fleeing his capturers – capturers who were almost certainly those same Garvian privateers. And the dying man clearly concerned with warning the ‘treasure fleet’. Yes the pieces to this puzzle were starting to make sense. Another fusilier approached through the undergrowth. “Sir, our lookouts are reporting the approach of Commander Cooke’s ship” reported the private. “Excellent, let us go and greet him and Don Montoya.” replied Dirk, confident he now had enough to make a report and informed assessment. _______________________________________________________________________ And a final image to prove it's all in the 32x32 footprint!
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Greetings All, I apologise in advance for the small builds. I promise you this is not about doubloons! Instead this post is much more about advancing Dirk's story line to the point where I can next post my Challenge 2 Category A entry! So if you enjoy the story, please read on. If you came only to see some impressive builds, probably best you skip this thread! Bregir's characters have been used with his permission. Dirk's previous story can be found here --------------------------- On taking to the high seas again, the Lady Jacqueline came across a small Corlander supply vessel. Surprisingly, she carried two letters for Dirk Allcock! Both were from a gentleman Dirk only knew by reputation, Don Isaac Montoya. Montoya was a well known name in the scientific community and his interests in the area coincided with Dirk’s own. The first letter was a business proposal; apparently Montoya had come into a quite substantial fortune of late. The second interested Dirk far more – an invitation to assist with the founding of a New World branch of the Society of Natural Philosophy. Montoya was currently in the new Corlander colony of Cocovia, establishing a settlement at a place called Kings Harbour. Dirk decided to proceed there at once. King’s Harbour was a beautiful natural harbour on the west side of the island that Corrington had recently christened ‘Cocovia’. The area was bustling with activity as the serious business of establishing a settlement began. As was his duty, Dirk’s first step on proceeding ashore was to report to the temporary Governor of the settlement, Captain Jonathan Cooke. Dirk found the Governor supervising the unloading of supplies from a newly arrived transport vessel. As the crates and barrels piled up before him, Dirk stopped to watch the naval officer. Relations between the Army and Navy were sometimes strained as the two services competed for funding and prestige. As Captain Cooke held his rank in the Royal Navy, he far outranked Dirk, whose Captains commission was held in the army. The peculiarities between the two services meant that a Captain in the Navy was the equivalent of a full Colonel in the Army. Dirk was impressed with what he saw. Captain Cooke directed and controlled the bustling chaos before him. Aides and civilians would rush up and were dealt with quickly and purposefully. When he felt he had seen enough, he approached the Naval officer and waited to be noticed. As if waiting for his approach, Captain Cooke turned and raised an eyebrow. “Captain Dirk Allcock, Her Majesties 47th Regiment of Foot, newly arrived Sir and reporting as a courtesy” announced Dirk with a crisp salute. “and what brings the Army to King’s Harbour Captain Allcock?” queried Cooke. “I am on detached duty, with a special roving commission of exploration from the Army board Sir” “Right… and does this commission specify any specific duties Captain?” “Well actually no Sir, I have with me 15 men of my light company and am to assist with any exploration or colonisation efforts for the crown as required, I am in town to meet with Don Montoya, with whom I have business and to offer any assistance that I can to your good self Sir.” “Well Captain, it just so happens I require some assistance, my dear friend Montoya will have to wait! You see, I am devilishly short of Officers - have you, by chance, had any experience with artillery” “Indeed Sir, as it happens, I was assigned to a Major of the Royal Corps of Artillery for a six month period as a Lieutenant, we toured fortifications conducting inspections and supervision maintenance of batteries in the southern districts of Belson.” “Ah that is most fortuitous; I have established a prefabricated colonial half battery on the southern arm of this bay, but I need someone to sight and supervise the construction of a second half battery on the northern arm, somewhere over there” Captain Cooke pointed across the bay to the cliff lined northern peninsular. “It is rough country I’m afraid, and I haven’t the time to supervise the placement myself. The second battery is important so that the entry to the bay is completely covered and at this early stage the settlement remains very vulnerable to attack. Do you think yourself capable of this task Captain Allcock?” “Why yes of course Sir, it would be a pleasure to assist.” replied Dirk. “Excellent, I shall assign you Midshipmen Knowles here as a liaison, he has the details for the half battery, report back when the battery is complete, now if you will excuse my discourtesy Captain, I am extremely busy.” Captain Cooke announced with a tired half smile, while beckoning over an impossibly young looking Midshipmen who was hovering in the background. “Yes Sir, I shall begin at once” Dirk replied and saluted. Cooke promptly returned the courtesy, before turning back to the chaos on the beach. ----------------------------------------- Dirk's story continues here
