Chapter 8: Councils of War

[Solomoriah]

Will went up the ladder first, to warn the crew aboard about the prisoner; then, as Tommy, Simon, Catherine, and the natives watched, the sailor ascended (his hands having been freed, of course, and his trousers refastened). Aboard Morgana, Lt. Briggs and Mr. Green took charge of him. "The Captain is in his office, Mister Thornton," said Briggs. "He'll be wanting to see all of you. Down the hall, past the mess, on the right."

Tommy and Simon waited for Catherine to ascend, and then Tommy followed, with Simon bringing up the rear.

The door to the Captain's office was ajar, and Will found Pelton sitting at his desk. "Come in, son, and sit, please. You look like you have bad news."

As Will explained the situation, the Captain's expression became dark. "Bloody hell," he said at last. "Damn Nazis."

Just then, Catherine, Tommy and Simon entered. "Gentlemen, come in, sit down. Mister Briggs," he called out, more loudly, "come in here please." The room was a bit crowded with so many present, and Simon found himself obliged to stand. "Now, then. We can't leave Mister Evans in the hands of those Nazis. On the other hand, they are surely better armed, better trained, and they might outnumber us. We have damn little intelligence." He thought for a moment. "Suggestions?"

[Hywaywolf]

Simon, doesn't sit, but stands in the passageway.
"What I want to do first," he says, "is to collect rifle and ammo belt I took from the river and clean it if that hasn't already been done. I can talk and listen while I clean it. While I do that I'll leave this with you Captain to pass out to who needs it."

Simon hands over the Luger, ammo belt and ID papers from the captured German. "I filled Tommy in on the details of my inglorious encounter with Sullivan where I lost Artie. As soon as I am rearmed I want to head back out with a a few villagers and some proper supplies and scout around downriver to find where they have taken Artie.

"I don't know how safe it will be to move the Morgana closer to the U-Boat's deckgun. Maybe we should set up a messenger service between here and where we first encountered the villagers. (ooc isn't that near the river mouth?) We could use some of these unemcumbered passengers with villagers as protection.

"So? Where is the rifle?"

[crazycrypt]

"One can only think that somehow the Germans figured out that Artie can speak their language," Tommy will say. "Bearing that, I would assume that they are downriver at the other village trying to figure out the same thing we are, how to get out of here and back on our way."


"I think it best to try and find out from the natives just how many villagers are in the other village and how heavily armed they are. I also think it would be wise to attempt a scouting mission to find out exactly what we are up against. We are assuming that they have a U-boat, but nobody has seen it yet. As the natives are too primitive to know how to tell what the German's have brought with them, I suggest sending 1 or 2 people out to scout. Once we know exactly what we are up against we can be much more prepared for an attack. Also, I believe Catherine stated that the natives would be ready to move out in force by dawn, so I suggest doing this rather quickly."

[Hywaywolf]

(ooc is Mr. Markwell present?)

"Mr. Markwell, can you rig us up some hand held radios so we can communicate with the ship? We really need a way to keep in communication if we want this to work. If no radio, perhaps Mr. Vance can come with me and whoever wants to go on a scouting party ... tommy? We should be able to use a few villagers to take us to the village then one of them can show vance the way back here to lead the party to us come dawn.

"Does that sound feasible? I really want to get moving as soon as the rifle is ready to be fired."

[Ahlmzahad]

Will speaks up "I'm with both of you. Either one or both of you go down and scout with some of the villagers. Then we can organize the rest of us and the villagers and get there in time to launch an early morning attack based on what you've found".

[Solomoriah]

"What I want to do first," he says, "is to collect rifle and ammo belt I took from the river and clean it if that hasn't already been done. I can talk and listen while I clean it. While I do that I'll leave this with you Captain to pass out to who needs it."

Simon hands over the Luger, ammo belt and ID papers from the captured German.

"Excellent thinking, crewman," said Captain Pelton, "but I'd like your full attention for a few minutes longer. Mister Briggs has the German's weapon and ammo, correct?" Briggs nodded, and Pelton continued, "You can get them from him after I dismiss you."

"I filled Tommy in on the details of my inglorious encounter with Sullivan where I lost Artie. As soon as I am rearmed I want to head back out with a a few villagers and some proper supplies and scout around downriver to find where they have taken Artie.

"I don't know how safe it will be to move the Morgana closer to the U-Boat's deckgun. Maybe we should set up a messenger service between here and where we first encountered the villagers. We could use some of these unencumbered passengers with villagers as protection."

"No, I'm not ready to do that yet," replied the Captain. "I've let too many passengers get involved as it is, and look what happened to poor Mister Vance. We do need information, though... what the Nazi's are up to."

(ooc isn't that near the river mouth?)

From the village, the meeting place is about a mile away; the rivermouth is more like five miles from the village, in a slightly different direction.

"One can only think that somehow the Germans figured out that Artie can speak their language," Tommy will say. "Bearing that, I would assume that they are downriver at the other village trying to figure out the same thing we are, how to get out of here and back on our way."

"That makes sense, Leftenant," said the Captain, nodding his approval.

"I think it best to try and find out from the natives just how many villagers are in the other village and how heavily armed they are. I also think it would be wise to attempt a scouting mission to find out exactly what we are up against. We are assuming that they have a U-boat, but nobody has seen it yet. As the natives are too primitive to know how to tell what the German's have brought with them, I suggest sending 1 or 2 people out to scout. Once we know exactly what we are up against we can be much more prepared for an attack. Also, I believe Catherine stated that the natives would be ready to move out in force by dawn, so I suggest doing this rather quickly."

Will speaks up "I'm with both of you. Either one or both of you go down and scout with some of the villagers. Then we can organize the rest of us and the villagers and get there in time to launch an early morning attack based on what you've found".

"I say, Mister Thornton, have you become the Captain, then?" asked Pelton. Will froze, realizing that he had overstepped his authority; but he saw, beneath the Captain's stern demeanor, that he was amused. Will smiled a self-effacing smile and sat back slowly.

"Very good," said the Captain, "now that's settled. We do need intelligence about the other village. Miss Burton, what have you learned about them?"

"Not much, sir," she replied. "I'm afraid I'm not as good with their language as Artie is, so it's a slow process, talking to them. I do know that the Suran and Dalar are about equal in numbers of warriors."

"So in an all-out battle between us and them, it's the difference between us and the Germans that will really tell," said Lt. Briggs.

"It seems so," replied the Captain. "Continue, please," he said, looking at Catherine.

"Well, I don't know much else. I'm sorry."

"Quite alright, Miss." He turned toward Simon and Tommy then. "I can ill afford to lose a single crewman right now, you'll understand. But I can't use intelligence from the natives, as they won't know the significance of anything they might see. I'd send just one of you with some native warriors, but then I'd have to send Miss Burton, here, to translate, and I don't care for that at all." Will saw her start to bristle, but the Captain swept on. "So, unless you can suggest a better course of action, I'm going to send the two of you, Leftenant Mansel, Mister Lars, to scout out the enemy. Leftenant Scott," he said, loudly, "step in here please."

The navigator stepped into the doorway, saying "Excuse me" to Lars. "Yes, Captain?"

"Can you guide us toward the rivermouth in the dark? I'd like to be a mile away, and we'll be going in low."

"I can do it, sir," he replied confidently. "The sky is clear tonight, and with the moonlight, I think Chapman and I can get us there."

"Good," replied the Captain. "Tell Chapman and Green that we'll be casting off in the next ten minutes."

(ooc is Mr. Markwell present?)

No, though the radio room is just across the passageway; the door to the radio room was closed when you came in. However, Simon would know that portable two-way radios are not yet available; it was only three years ago that the first U.S. city (Bayonne, New Jersey) deployed radios in their police cars, and they were not portable.

[crazycrypt]

"Very good sir," Tommy will say to the captain, "however, we are still tied to a tree down there. Instead of cutting the rope up here and having to find another, would you rather I descend the ladder before moving the ship and untie us, then follow the ship in order to retie it once in position?"

[Hywaywolf]

"I don't know about you, Tommy, but I think it will be easier to scout the enemy village without a huge balloon over our heads. And I would feel much more confidant if we had a villager who could guide us to the village. This is unknown country to us and I would rather not hike into a bog if a single hand gesture from a friendly native could guide us around it. I am sure Miss Burton can tell them the basics of what we need, guidance to the other village and a good hideout to spy on them for a bit. Then the natives can return to the village to give their chief the intelligence they gather."

Simon, looks away to the direction he suspects the enemy village to be, as if he can see through the bulkhead straight into the enemies camp.

"Also, I think its possible the other village is making the exact same plans we are. Things have been stirred up quite a bit since we arrived. I think we should keep some with bright eyes and a sharp aim on the lookout while you move the ship."

[Solomoriah]

"Very good sir," Tommy will say to the captain, "however, we are still tied to a tree down there. Instead of cutting the rope up here and having to find another, would you rather I descend the ladder before moving the ship and untie us, then follow the ship in order to retie it once in position?"

The Captain looked bemused. "We are planning to move about four or five miles, by air, by moonlight; if it takes fifteen minutes, it will be due to Mister Chapman's caution. I doubt you can cover four or five miles of trackless jungle in the dark in that time, Mister Mansel, so while I applaud your concern over our rope situation, I assure you it isn't that important."

"I'm sure Kordal would be happy to have one of his men untie the rope for us," said Catherine, breaking the awkward silence.

"Yes, that would be good," replied the Captain. "Please see to it, if you would."

"I don't know about you, Tommy, but I think it will be easier to scout the enemy village without a huge balloon over our heads. And I would feel much more confidant if we had a villager who could guide us to the village. This is unknown country to us and I would rather not hike into a bog if a single hand gesture from a friendly native could guide us around it. I am sure Miss Burton can tell them the basics of what we need, guidance to the other village and a good hideout to spy on them for a bit. Then the natives can return to the village to give their chief the intelligence they gather."

"Mister Lars, if you are proposing we remain here, let me remind you about that trackless jungle I mentioned. I'd very much like us to know more about our opponents before the savages arrive in force. It's not as if Morgana will be hanging over you, after all... you'll still have to proceed the last mile afoot."

Simon, looks away to the direction he suspects the enemy village to be, as if he can see through the bulkhead straight into the enemies camp.

"Also, I think its possible the other village is making the exact same plans we are. Things have been stirred up quite a bit since we arrived. I think we should keep some with bright eyes and a sharp aim on the lookout while you move the ship."

"Now that's a thought. Mister Lars, please make sure our running lights are doused, then if you would, get that rifle ready and take a position in the Crow's Nest. I think the lower windows will open well enough to allow you to aim outward. I'll assign someone to replace you when we arrive."

"Now, everyone, it's been a very long two days, and we haven't had much sleep. If you aren't assigned a duty, I'd recommend you try to get a little rest."

[Hywaywolf]

"Yes sir, I'll head for the crows nest. If I see the deck gun from the u-boat fire I'll be sure to let you know."

Simon take the rifle and heads out, doing the various procedures to be sure the running lights are off. Before heading to the crows nest, Simon will locate some binoculars and then drop by the galley for some coffee and whatever food he can scrounge up.