3rd September 1778
The Island of Dominica lay ahead of them, the dawn just breaking over the horizon basking the island in a heavenly glow, a solitary British isle surrounded by French controlled Martinique to the south and Guadeloupe to the north.
Percy stood on the bow with his lips pursed and deep in thought.
They had somehow managed to avoid any of the Anglo-French ships and were now approaching the island's main city of Charlottesville from the West.
His mind flashed back to a conversation with Malcolm from the previous evening
Percy was sitting at his desk, poured over a map of Roseau, a pencil in hand and a candle providing his only light, a worried look creasing over his face.
Malcolm knocked at the door.
"Come in," said Percy without looking away from his work
"Captain, what exactly is your plan to infiltrate and kidnap my dear ol' sister," quizzed the golden haired youth. He shifted nervously, "It's just the crew are getting a little worried that this is going to be like Porto Rico again."
Percy smirked, "Here's the thing Malcolm, this time we will actually succeed."
Malcolm shut his eyes, muttered a quick prayer before opening them again, "You mean you don't have one."
Percy chuckled, "Sure there's one, run up to the princess's window, throw a rope in, climb up and rescue the maiden, hope she doesn't scream the house down."
He shut up at Malcolm's look.
"OK sure there is a lot that can go wrong," Percy began, "You mean will go wrong", muttered Malcolm but Percy continued, "But at least there is a plan."
Malcolm sighed, "Thank you sir, but if we are going to go ahead with this newest half ass of yours then I do suggest we hurry."
"Why?" asked the Captain.
"Well Dominica used to be French, and a lot of people there are French and the island is surrounded by French territory." Malcolm sounded like he was speaking to a two year old.
Fortunately Percy caught on, "Ah, don't s'pose that could be our distraction."
Malcolm laughed, "Unless you have someone on Martinique's government or are willing to wait for Zeus knows how long"- one again he ignored Percy's glare at the mention of the dreaded Parthenon- "I doubt it, you aren't the most patient person in the world and lest we forget the Brits want us hanged, good night Sir."
Percy stared at the map for the rest of the night.
If Malcolm's logic was correct, and it normally was, then the French will attempt to try and regain control of their former colony at some point and probably soon.
In other words Percy wanted to get this whole ordeal over and done with before he and his men found themselves on the frontlines.
"Cap," addressed Luke from behind him. Luke seemed to pick up on his captain's nerves and he shot him a confident grin, " Don't worry Cap, This whole thing will be over in a couple of days."
"Chances are with our heads caught in a rope," pointed out Percy.
"Oh well, then at least you don't have to worry about being sent on any more ludicrous quests," laughed the First mate as he clapped his friend over the shoulder.
"Very comforting," muttered Percy as he rolled his eyes, "What did you want to ask?"
"Where are we making port?" quizzed Luke, "I doubt we can just pitch up to Charlotte's when they most likely have us black marked."
"There are a couple of rivers further north where we can sneak in," stated Percy, "I was thinking of the one just north of the Massacre, it quickly hides itself in the hills and it's out of sight of the Forts."
"Which one?" queried Luke.
Percy sighed as he began to make his way back to his cabin, "I'll show you."
Line break
Percy had struck gold.
Or at least that's what it seemed like.
His new little hidey hole was far enough away from any curious Brits but still close enough to the capital that they could get there within an hour at a quick hike.
The actual mouth was pretty enough if you looked hard enough with cliffs looming over the water with vines clinging onto the bare rocks and beaches of pebbles giving way to a small amount of semi dense foliage.
The Blackjack hadn't been able to get far before the water got too shallow but she had been able to hide herself away in the mouth.
The crew were then able to set up camp on the south shore and secure a defensive position in case of discovery.
The Stolls had then scouted out the surrounding area and had discovered a small pass they could scramble up to get up the south cliffs.
All of this had the Raven haired demigod actually somewhat happy and he called his senior command into his personal office to discuss what the next plan of action actually would be.
'After all,' mused Percy, 'This won't be as simple as shimming up some rope and making a getaway.'
He glanced up at his most trusted members of his crew from his chair.
Luke, his first mate and the best friend he could have asked for looking as confident as ever.
Travis and Conner, as loyal as mischievous with a list of practical skills as long as the Empire's list of lands looking ready to go at a moment's notice.
Charles, the best blacksmith he could have asked for fiddling with his hands looking lost in thought.
Malcolm his trusted advisor, sharing in his skippers worries
Will, the best healer Percy could have hoped for, grumpy at being parted from his stock
Grover, the ship's cook, as jumpy as ever but a backbone of steel for his friends in times of duress.
All of them were staring expectantly at him, waiting for what half brained scheme their captain had come up with now.
Percy cleared his throat and began, "We all know by this point why we are here and for those who missed that memo, it's quite simple, kidnap the governor's daughter on behalf of her mother, our beloved mistress of wisdom."
He paused, looking back at his inner circle, "Everyone got it?"
"Yes Captain," was the immediate response, they might be the most informal crew in the entire New World but they still knew and respected the basic hierarchy when necessary.
Percy nodded, he didn't actually think there was anyone who didn't know why they were here- small ship and all that- but he wanted to confirm it.
"Right, this means we need a plan and we are actually going to have one this time," he declared.
Charles raised an eyebrow, "Does this mean you don't actually have one yet Captain?"
"Well," Percy trailed off, "I did have one but Malcolm disagreed with it."
Malcolm snorted, "Yes, because it would require fewer words to say you had no plan."
"Ah," nodded Luke, "The normal procedure then, improvise all of it."
"Well, does anyone have any ideas, since no one likes what we normally do?" quizzes the Captain.
"We could try to infiltrate," suggested Travis.
"Yeah," continued Conner, "Like,we can subdue a couple of guards and sneak in with the guard."
"And where do you propose we put our latest prisoners?" asked Percy, "We don't exactly have a brig."
"Yes, we do," muttered Travis but a glare from Percy and Will shut him up.
"The risk of someone noticing their missing is too great," said Will, "the island won't have the biggest number of Redcoats in the world."
Malcolm nodded, "He's right, this is going to have to be a sneak in and out sort of quest, preferably without blowing up half the city in the process."
"If I can interject here," said Grover nervously, "But does anyone actually have any idea on the details, like guard schedule or city layout or something."
The entire cabin awkwardly looked at each other for a couple of seconds.
Luke sighed, "Grover's right, we actually need to know what we are up against if we are going to have the semblance of a strategy, otherwise this is going to be the normal disaster."
"The disaster's do normally work out well for us," countered Charles, "But we really shouldn't antagonize the Brits anymore."
"Not sure how much more we can antagonize them," muttered Percy before raising his voice, "I think the best course of action would have a small group go into the city to find Grover's details and then see what happens from there, everyone agree?"
Malcolm sighed, "This doesn't sound like much of a strategy, but it's better then what it was, I agree."
Everyone else nodded and voiced their agreements, after all, as Will pointed out, if Malcolm agreed to it without having a gigantic debate then it was obviously worth agreeing to.
"All right, I want a squad of 5 to accompany me into the city," ordered Percy, "Luke, you will be in command while we are gone."
Each person nodded and left bar Luke.
The First mate stayed where he was standing looking slightly worried about something.
"Everything OK Luke?" asked his friend, standing up and pouring some whiskey into two cups.
He offered one to his first mate who refused, (Percy shrugged and put it aside), "Perce, are you sure that you want to take this one slow?"
"You've been speaking to Malcolm haven't you?" quizzed the sea demigod.
Luke nodded, "I trust, he has spoken to you about his fears of the current geopolitical situation in the area then."
Percy nodded, his sea green eyes narrowed in thought.
Luke took a deep breath and continued, "There is something else, based off of tonight's meeting," he stopped. Percy gestured to him to continue.
"The Brits have a bounty on us, is it the best idea in the world to just wander into a British held territory?"
He was relieved when he heard his captain chuckle, "Not to worry Luke, news does travel slow and Blackjack is fast, chances are that we are here before the notices come through."
Percy did sigh, "It does give us some motivation to make haste though, doesn't it."
Luke nodded, "So… you are just going to chance it that no one is going to arrest you on the spot?"
Percy put his cup down and clapped Luke on the back, "Exactly, and if things do go bad, well the population is meant to have strong French lineage, maybe they will help us."
Luke bobbed his head and began to walk out, "Let's hope it doesn't come to that."
Percy stared after him and turned to the forgotten second cup sitting alone on his desk, 'yup', he thought, 'but with our luck, it will probably be worse.'
Chapter 4, hope you'll enjoy.
Hopefully updates will be more frequent, annual updates are never quite part of the plan I swear.
Blind Buck