Chapter 4
Halifax covert, Nova Scotia
January 1812
The next weeks passed slowly for all those based at the covert. Most of James' time was filled with the usual and non exciting duties of any posting. Guard duty, endless bayonet and musket drills in the corner of the landing ground given over to such things and long route marches through the snow. The formation itself trained overhead, occasionally one of the dragons would take up some of the marines as part of their own drills and twice each week the entire formation went up and patrolled the nearby coastline but the frigid water of the Atlantic remained stubbornly empty of any French privateers as if to prolong the garrison's collective frustration. To make matters worse the covert's marines, aviators and even the dragons themselves were aflame with rumours, some of the officers had overheard parts of the French captain's interrogation and inevitably their whispers spread and grew in the telling. Roberts had it that the French were massing forces at Detroit in preparation of storming the border, another marine had been 'reliably informed' that the Americans had purchased an entire corps worth of heavyweight dragons from Japan and were themselves massing for invasion. James' had even overheard Achilles whispering loudly as only a dragon could to Captain Way whilst the marines dismounted following a patrol.
"At least it would break the tedium somewhat Arthur, Imperalus gave us little bother so I'm quite sure we could handle any number of his fellows". The dragon's confidence was comforting but Way's grunted response less so.
"Were we entering the Summer months I'd agree with you Achilles but how indeed do you plan to fly with frozen wings given the blasted winter we'll be enduring shortly?" The glare that followed in the direction of the lingering marines and crew had quickly ruled out any further inadvertent eavesdropping. James had wondered at his response though, by now the snow was falling in earnest and if the temperature dropped any further the British dragons would be grounded until the spring due to the danger of ice forming on their wings during flight. Any French dragons, real or imagined would be equally limited, and any force of smaller native beasts adapted for the weather would be countered by the British covert near Toronto where the Ghost Reapers were stationed. The other marines had been equally worried when he shared what he'd heard that evening but Paterson's view that aviators just became short tempered when unable to fly went down reasonably well and prevented any further worry.
Imperalus remained grounded by his injury but under supervision by the British surgeons he was allowed to practice the furling and unfurling of his wings daily to help the recovery of the muscles around the injured ribs. Twice a day Courtois was allowed to speak to his dragon and both captain and dragon's heads drooped constantly between these brief meetings. The rest of the french crew had already been sent to Halifax to be put on the next ship to England and likely some prison somewhere. James had no notion of what sort of prison Imperalus would be transported to when recovered but judging by the aviators mention of breeding grounds perhaps it wouldn't be all bad. News on that score was eagerly awaited by most at the covert, the last courier had taken dispatches containing Barclay's reports a week after Imperalus capture before Christmas and Barclay expected the courier to be able make the return journey back from Britain before the freezing cold closed the sky to them.
The snow had fallen more heavily now and the land around the covert was thickly covered, the dragon's huddled around the lake casting envious looks at the native dragons who delivered their dinner each day. The native beasts were lightweights with pale grey hides crossed sparingly with dark red stripes. Their hides and scales were thicker than those of the British dragons and their wings focused blood flow along the edges rather than the membranes minimising heat loss whilst preventing ice from building up along the edge and fouling their flight. Several of the surgeons were fascinated by the dragons and after receiving permission from the bemused natives to examine them reported back their narrow nasal passages and the transparent second eyelid that allowed them to see through the snowfall in rough weather. Barclay had heard this all before from the breeders in Newfoundland who were so desperate to merge these traits with the strengths of European dragons, he assured the surgeons they'd likely get to see the British Canadian Ghost Reapers that were the sole success of the breeders before they left the continent. Secretly though he dreaded the thought that the Americans had already exceeded that single success.
Another week passed with no news from Britain but General Brock's response came finally via a native courier. Much as Barclay had expected Brock counselled caution until they had more substantial proof but assured Barclay he'd add his own voice to Barclay's desire for aerial reinforcements and promised to authorise the fortification of both coverts with artillery and pepper gun emplacements when the weather allowed their construction. He went on to detail his own efforts at raising and drilling the Canadian militia and fortifying the border. Bar a short mention of the militias crewing of two native dragons now based at the Toronto covert this didn't interest Barclay a great deal, the border was ill equipped to deal with assault from heavyweight dragons regardless of anything Brock could do.
Finally then just when Barclay had given up hope of a courier being able to get through a flustered, shivering Greyling struggled into the covert, sending up a great flurry of snow as it landed poorly in the clearing. Barclay heard the commotion instantly and was out of the mess and running towards the dismounting Captain before the man had even set foot on North American soil.
"Captain Meyers! I'm glad to see you!". Meyers wasn't in a great deal better shape than his dragon but he smiled and shook Barclay's hand warmly.
"It's good to see you John, I'm sure you don't want to stay outside any longer than you have to, can your ground crews manage some food for Finitus? We're bound for the West Indies next and I want to be heading South before we get grounded here". Barclay was somewhat amazed the Greyling was able to fly at all but then again they did have Grey Widowmaker blood so perhaps he shouldn't underestimate the breed's endurance.
"Of course. Finitus drag yourself over to the lake besides those other beasts and someone will bring you something to eat". At the mention of food the dragon's stance lost some of it's weariness and he began to amble towards the lake without hesitation shouting loudly about cows to Achilles and the other dragons. Barclay and Meyers made their way through the snow towards Barclay's office, on the way Mayers separated out the letters for the Captains and their crews, handing them on to Captain Rashworth of the Yellow Reaper Rycarnus. When they'd entered Barclay's office Meyers only had a single letter left and he handed it over as he began to strip off some of the layers he'd packed on to make it through the cold. Barclay turned the letter over slowly, he'd waited weeks for the Admiralty to reply but now he had the letter he was dreading what it would say. With a deep breath he broke the seal and scanned the page. As he read his head began to drop and upon finishing he sank back into a chair and put his head in his hands.
"A dragon transport will arrive at Halifax in time to coincide with the arrival of Spring. Achilles, yourself and the whole formation will embark whereupon you will be transported directly to the Portuguese coast with the intention of reinforcing General Wellesley and supporting his opening of a second front against Napoleon in Europe". As Barclay finished Way's face displayed the same shock and dismay which had no doubt riven his own an hour before at the news.
"Sir...who will be replacing us here?" he managed slowly. Barclay sympathised with him, supporting Britain's most successful General in the peninsular campaign was a good posting but likely he felt guilty to be abandoning the place he knew Barclay had planned for him with Brock in their strategy to defend Canada, he'd feel worse shortly Barclay thought sadly.
"Nobody will be replacing you Arthur. Napoleon's position in Europe has grown almost untouchable, every British dragon will be required either to defend the channel in the event of his invasion or in Spain where the only signs of any success against him can be found, Admiral Roland is adamant that the colonies will have to fend for themselves". Barclay kept his voice calm and repeated the orders almost exactly as they'd been written, seeking to keep the anguish he felt from his outward appearance. Way was likewise struggling and his voice was angry when he replied.
"I understand that but surely given the news we passed to the admiralty they can see the folly of pulling our aerial presence from the continent? And if Bonaparte has seen fit to help the Americans then any victory for them surely helps his own cause also. And what about the West Indies and India?!".
Barclay smiled coldly at this last part.
"I suspect in all honesty that despite Roland's words some force might be left in both those places Arthur, the French have tried before for the "jewel of the empire" afterall but unfortunately Canada isn't quite as rich or prestigious a prize. In short I think the admiralty believe the colony expendable. And Achilles is a prime fighting heavyweight and his formation an experienced and formidable one. Roland evidently believes you're too important to be left defending a backwater"
"Balanced against the threat of another invasion then perhaps the colony isn't as important" Way was cooler now, his soldiers brain taking over, Barclay knew he'd fought in Britain and buried his men during the last invasion so didn't disagree.
"Then you should return with us John, your experience would be vital even if you still refuse to harness another dragon, don't waste your life here if there's no hope of holding".
"I thank you for the sentiment friend but Brock has been planning to defend the colonies with a meagre force of infantry and guns so I will do the same with what dragons I do have"
"Come on John, I know you're stubborn and you don't want to leave but holding both provinces with a dozen half native middleweights?" Way's eyebrows rose alarmingly towards his hairline as his voice rose in volume to match.
"There's the dozen Ghost Reapers yes. I'll move four here along with the two natives the militia have crewed. I'm going to move down to the Toronto covert myself and oversee the training of the other nine, that's where the blow will come if it does. I have a plan for them and Brock has been working on recruiting the natives to our cause so we'll have lightweights and couriers for support".
"You'll need a pretty impressive plan John if the Americans have half as many heavyweights as Courtois claimed…"
"Yes. And I'll need your help before you go my friend. The Reapers only have skeleton crews. They've been harnessed by their captains obviously but between the twelve they only have about thirty flight crew. If your formation can spare any men then I'd be grateful."
"John if the admiralty have given up on the continent, and I understand why you can't do the same I do but can I order my men to stay here given the situation?".
"I realise it's a lot to ask but trust me. Ask for volunteers, anyone who can be spared will help. Especially the marines, I'll need them to help train boarding parties".
"Brock's spared you some infantry then? Or you're mad enough to put militia on a dragon's back!"
"No Arthur, the Admiralty have abandoned me so I will look for other strength from the land itself. I'm going to put First Nation warriors on the back of those dragons, and then between us we will show the French, the Americans and anyone else that British Canada will not be an easy prize to take".