Murdoch's POV
It was bloody cold out tonight but that was expected when you were in the North Atlantic. Captain Smith had retired to his cabin for the evening leaving me in charge of the bridge. Below a couple came out from a door laughing. They exchanged a few words before they kissed. I smiled to myself before turning away so the couple could have some privacy.
Things were peaceful until the bell from the crow's nest was rung. Immediately I turned around wondering what the ruckus was. The phone in the bridge rang and my colleague answered it. I then saw the iceberg and ran into the bridge ordering "Hard to Starboard", then I made sure the people below were alerted to change course.
Again I went outside and saw the iceberg more clearly now. The ship was nearing it and I began to sweat.
"Is it hard over?!" I yelled to my colleague.
"It is sir hard over!" came the reply.
As the iceberg drew nearer I hoped the ship would turn and she started to. Someone from below shouted there would be impact and I braced myself for it. The ship then scraped alongside the side of the berg and the entire ship shook at the impact.
Breen's POV
A shudder woke me up. My entire cabin shook for a few minutes before eventually stopping. Something didn't feel right so I got out of bed to get dressed.
Rose's POV
The ship shaking made me stop the kiss I was sharing with Jack. Then we saw the iceberg and Jack pulled me back so the ice wouldn't hit us. Had that been the reason the ship shook?
Murdoch's POV
I had Titanic round hard to port before I went to shut the watertight doors. After issuing another command did Captain Smith come out of his cabin now alert.
"What was that Mr. Murdoch?"
"An iceberg sir" I answered with a shaky reply. "I put her Hard to Starboard, I also tried to port round it but she hit"
Cal's POV
Whatever that shaking was caused Ruth to wake up and Lovejoy also looked shaken up when he returned to the cabin.
"What the bloody hell was that?" my valet demanded.
I shook my head.
"No idea" I replied.
"I apologize sir but I lost Ms. Rose"
Damn it!
Lovejoy must have decided to follow her. I hoped she was alright wherever she was. It wouldn't surprise me if the shudder made Breen wake up too.
Murdoch's POV
Mr. Andrews put the drawings of the Titanic onto a desk and talked.
"Water fourteen feet above the keel in ten minutes, in the forpe, and all three hulls including boiler room six"
"That's right sir"
"When can we get on the way damn it?" Mr. Ismay growled.
"That's five compartments!" Mr. Andrews replied before turning to the captain. "She can stay afloat with the first four compartments breached, but not five, not five, as she goes down by the head the water will spill at the bulkheads at E deck from one to the next, back and back there's no stopping it"
Captain Smith suggested the pumps but Mr. Andrews dismissed that idea.
"The pumps by you time but minutes only, from this moment no matter what to do, Titanic will founder"
At that news everyone paled including myself.
"But this ship can't sink" Mr. Ismay protested.
"She's made of iron sir I assure she can, and she will it is a mathematical certainty"
The room was silent until Captain Smith asked.
"How much time?"
Mr. Andrews did his calculating before estimating.
"An hour, two at the most"
The captain was now looking pale.
"And how many aboard Mr. Murdoch?"
"2,200 souls on board sir" I answered.
The captain was quiet again before he turned to Mr. Ismay.
"I believe you'll get your headlines Mr. Ismay"
Cal's POV
The hallway was busier than normal so I knew something was going on. To my relief Rose arrived and with her was Dawson.
"Rose are you hurt?" I asked her. "I felt the shudder"
"No I'm fine" Rose reassured me.
"So is your Mr. Dawson apparently" Ruth muttered.
"Something serious has happened" Rose continued.
But before she could continue Lovejoy had taken hold of Dawson.
"Hey! What the hell?!"
"I have a feeling this coat was stolen" Lovejoy explained as he took off garment from Jack.
"Cal? What's going on?!"
I was going to reply but Lovejoy was already dragging Dawson out of the room.
"Good riddance" Ruth muttered before going back to her room.
"Rose I swear to you I did not ask Lovejoy to do that"
"He followed after me and Jack earlier and I know you didn't order him to do that" Rose stated.
I was about to apologize when a steward entered our cabin.
"Mr. Hockley sir I've been told to put on your life belts and come up to the main deck"
That got me and Rose to look at him.
"Does this have something to do with the iceberg?" Rose questioned.
"I'm sorry miss I don't have any more information all I was told was to inform other passengers, dress warmly since it's quite cold out tonight"
The steward handed me several life jackets and I thanked him before he took his leave.
"You saw an iceberg?"
"Yes" Rose confirmed with a nod. "I was on the main deck with Jack and I felt the shudder before seeing the iceberg I also heard the mail room was underwater"
It took me a few minutes to register what she said until it dawned on me.
"Shit" I swore. "Rose I could be wrong here but I think the ship might be sinking"
"Are you sure?"
"No I'm not but if the stewards are making people put on life jackets then it's serious"