Commandeering Commodore

Chapter 12

Jack came on deck, noticing William and Elizabeth standing some distance away from the Commodore who was still standing by the rail watching the ships approach. He walked up behind James and leaning in towards him said, "So Commodore, come up with a plan yet?"

James jumped a little; so intent in his vigil he hadn't heard the man approach. "I thought that was your department Captain, miraculous escapes and all." he said turning his head toward Jack.

Jack spread his arms wide as he stepped up to the rail to stand beside James and with an apologetic shrug and expression said, "Haven't been able to come up with a thing mate."

"Surely the legendary Captain Jack Sparrow is not admitting he is unable to come up with some sort of fantastically outlandish and utterly amazing plan to outwit and escape his opponents?" James said with a bit of sarcasm in his voice.

"Might if there was only one or two of 'em, but seein as there are three of 'em no doubt armed to the teeth bearin down on us, and the wind's chosen for what ever reason at this particular time not to be blowin in our favor kind of limits what I'd be comin up with." Jack replied still a bit apologetically.

"Well Captain, perhaps when they are within hailing distance, if they haven't blown us totally out of the water by then, you can use your portentously charming gift of prattle to convince them to surrender to us."

"I did think about that very idea Commodore." Jack said with a totally straight face.

"Indeed!" James replied snappishly and turned his attention back to the ships that were now almost within cannon range, and then continued, "Well Captain, since we have not come up with a suitable plan to elude battle, I suggest battle is what we prepare for." James said seriously.

"Mr. Gibbs." Jack called out, "Cannons on my command if you please."

"Aye Cap'n, cannons ready on your order." Mr. Gibbs replied.

Jack walked over to Will and Elizabeth, "Seems we're about to be tryin to blow them out of the water as they do the same to us luvs. Might want to be findin a bit more of a concealed spot as it were to be standin."

Will and Elizabeth had been discussing the fact that battle was probably eminent before Jack had walked up to them, and had decided after much consternation on Will's part and much persuading on Elizabeth's part that they would both do their part in said battle.

"We do not intend to hide Jack, we intend to do our part to defend the Pearl." Will said.

"That's a fine ideal to be sure mate, but let's have a bit of perspective here if you please. I'm sure me next remarks aren't goin to be met with any kind of agreeability by your bonny lass but I'm going to say them just the same. I think ya need to be taken her to shelter and if she won't stay there without bindin her from head to toe then that's what ya need ta be doin."

"I'm not going anywhere Jack." Elizabeth said with determination.

"You heard her Jack, she's not going anywhere." Will said, although not in as determined tone as Elizabeth's.

Further verbal confrontation was ended as James shouted, "Cannon fire!" and a moment or two later a cannon ball landed very close to the side of the Pearl.

"Fire Mr. Gibbs." Jack shouted as he headed for the vantage point of the wheel. He could see the nearest other ship would not be within firing distance for a good few minutes yet and the farthest ship would not be within that distance for a good ten minutes. At least his Pearl would not be facing them all at the same time, which would have been a better strategy on the part of the opposing Captains. Oh well, Jack was thankful for small favors. He felt the Pearl shudder as her cannons fired, and was glad to see they had made a hit on the ship. "Keep firin Mr. Gibbs." Jack shouted at the man. And then he felt it, felt it against his face, the wind. He looked up and saw a bit of wind in the sails, now he had some maneuvering room. He took the wheel from Mr. Cotton and Mr. Cotton's parrot and began to do just that. They still might not be able to outrun them before damage was done to the Pearl but he was going to give it a hell of a try. The trick would be to keep the Pearl's cannons aimed at the enemy while trying to get out of range of the enemies cannons as soon as possible. Mr. Gibbs was doing a fine job of keeping the cannons firing and was improving accuracy with every shot. The Commodore had stepped in while Jack was occupied with the wheel, and had taken over giving orders to the crew who were now clambering up the rigging to do his bidding and make the most of the wind. Then the second ship opened fire on them, and unfortunately that gun crew was a bit more accurate in their cannon fire. The Pearl was hit twice in as many shots, although not really damaged, but to Jack that was not a good sign. They would have the range now and guaranteed the next shots would be aimed to do much more damage. "Bugger!" Jack said as he tried to maneuver the Pearl so the range would be off. Then more cannon fire from the enemy ships, one coming perilously close to the mast. "Bugger! Bugger! Bugger!" Jack said as he spun the wheel. Then he was knocked from the wheel by someone as a cannon ball crashed in the deck a yard or so away. "Bloody Hell!" Jack swore as who ever knocked him to the deck climbed off him. He looked up to see the Commodore standing there with his hand extended towards him to help him up saying, "Are you all right?"

"Would have been much more bloody better if you hadn't knocked all the air out of me lungs by smashin me into the deck."

"Sorry" James said insincerely, "Heat of battle and all." as Jack took his hand and the Commodore hoisted him up from the deck and headed off. As he got a few feet away he called back over his shoulder, "No need to thank me now Captain." and continued to the deck below.

The Pearl was firing at the ships for all she was worth, but Jack knew it would only be a matter of a very short time until the last ship was in firing range, and he wasn't sure how long they could last when that happened.

Jack had regained the wheel by now, and although his ribs hurt something awful as he spun the heavy wheel, bloody Commodore probably broke something in his all fired attempt to save him from a cannon shot that probably wouldn't have hit him anyway, he continued to navigate as best he could with his somewhat limited movement. "Bugger! Bugger! Bugger!"

Jack was so intent on his grumbling to himself and the pain that the lack of cannon fire from the other ships took a few moments to sink in, in fact it wasn't until the crew started hurrahing that he really noticed. He looked towards the ships just as cannon fire sailed over the Pearl from the other direction and hit the nearest enemy ship. Jack whirled around and saw two Royal Navy ships approaching in that direction, and doing a fine job of missing the Pearl and hitting the other ships as they made their retreat. He saw James standing at the rail watching the ships sailing towards them. James turned and shouted to Jack, "It's the Trident and the Atlantis, although what they are doing here and not protecting the harbor at Port Royal is a matter I will soon be getting an answer to." And as he finished he turned once again to watch the progress of the two ships.

"Commodore?" Jack called back, and as James turned to look up at him once more Jack continued with much exaggerated flopping of arms and hands, "In all your dressin down and sundry of said ship's Captains you'll not forget to extend a bit of thanks now will you?"

"Indeed!" James replied, although he did have a ghost of a smile on his face as he turned back around.

To Be Continued

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