Chapter 4
I stood on my bridge looking out to sea. I could hear Rangitaiki behind me working on something. We had been at sea for a week or so now, and had seen nothing. I hadn't detected anything on radar, or ASDIC. We hadn't seen anything either. Rangitaiki was trying to chart our progress but without proper charts it was a guess at best.
"Well I think we are making good progress" Rangitaiki told me "But as i'm not sure where we are, its hard to tell." Part of the issue was Rangitaiki had no idea where we had been in the first place, only having a vague idea. So she couldn't use latitude or longitude properly.
"It's fine!" I assured her "we will find summant soon!" I heard her sigh.
"I agree but I feel like a failure without being able to say, though I never did fully complete my training."
"Rangitaiki! come here! ye've been looking at th' charts long enough!" I told her, turning back meet her eyes. She nodded, and reluctantly rolled the chart up, putting it in the case where were using, and walked up next to me. The wind was blowing, and adding that we were sailing into it, that made the bridge a pleasant place to be. Overall today was a good day for saling, the seas were mostly calm, with waves at most 5 foot, and a moderate breeze. Or a Beaufort scale 4 day, as duitfly recorded in my new logbook.
"I've been wondering" Rangitaiki started, wind whipping her long hair behind her "but why is the bridge open? I know saling ships have open bridges like this, but steamships increasingly don't, and this appears to be some sort of advanced steamship."
"Ah! well, th' idea th' Royal Navy has is 'at a captain needs an unobstructed veiw of th' battle so RN ships hav an open bridge. If th' weather an' conditions are bad enough it is possible to lead from th' deck below!" I replied, I was lucky in that I hadn't run arctic convoys, but still my open bridge was thought to be unusual by some at the time. Rangitaiki nodded at this, turning her gaze back out to sea. Perhaps now because we were finally on our way to civilization, it occurred to me that I didn't know much about Rangitaiki. "Hey, Rangitaiki cuid ye tell me aboot yerself?" This seemed to catch her off guard.
"What? why are you asking all of a sudden?"
"Well I've told ye a lot aboot myself, but I don't ken much aboot ye" I replied "am not trying to be invasive but I want to know ye better." she nodded at that.
"I understand, perhaps I had been avoiding it due to being trapped on the island, but now?" she pondered what to say. I had no reason to rush her, so I made myself comfortable by leaning my back against the front of the bridge side. "Well I'm from Aotearoa, its a island in the southern part of the Te Rangimarie Ocean. We are in an association status with the United Republic Kingdom of Welvern. One of their many colonial or territorial positions around the world." She started. I did appreciate the geopolitical lession this was, but that was not what I wanted. "I personally am from one of the native groups on the islands. The town I'm from isn't on any maps, not for any reason other then we are still more traditional then is liked by the government. We do accept new technology, and especially ships, but we incorporate it into our traditions."
"I see, so a margnilized populace in the territory?" I asked, feeling uncromfortable at that implication.
"Not quite, the government wants to promote the fact we are equals to the Welvens, but our continued insurance on tradition, does not help that image. We are treated fairly in the country, especially by those in the seafaring business, as our ability to navigate is legendary, but we tend to get shuffled to the back on the international level." Rangitaiki explaned. I nodded at that. It was heartening to see that the local traditions were still vauled somewhere, that they hadn't been whiped out.
"As for me, I last I knew I had no siblings, I was an only child, My grand parents lived in the town with us, but not in the same household. I don't look much like my family, my skin is too light, similar to what my great grandfather's from what I hear, pale white and red eyes." she continued. That surprised me. I had nominally heard of others like that but that was it. I looked at her eyes, properly for the first time, and saw they were green with a red tint.
"Ye eyes appear to hav some red themselves" I replied. Rangitaiki nodded at that.
"I have been told many times, it seems I took after him. As for why I'm out here with you and not back home? Well the sea called me. I've been learning the traditional ways of navigating that my ancestors used to conquer oceans. We once sailed the Te Rangimarie Ocean at will, on boats that were nothing like what you have seen. I trained for years, and once I was old enough I started looking for a ship bound position." I could hear pride in Rangitaiki's voice. As she had explained, she had held her hand up in a certain way. I'd seen her do it before when she was trying to navigate. Perhaps that was part of the methods she employed? She did use traditional tools, but supplemented them with her hands.
"I was lucky one of the regular long route ships was hiring. The captain was familiar with my village and well, the current navigator was looking for a student. They also realized that it wasn't magic as some people claimed, we do have magic in our tradtitons, but we don't use it for navigation." Rangitaiki contiuned her story. That mention of magic caught me off guard. This was not the first time she had mentioned that. But they had steamships, the wreck was a clear enough indication of that, and she had mentioned steamships minutes ago.
"Hey Rangitaiki? Whit was 'at aboot-" I started. Then I jerked my head to look forward. Rangitaiki caught my action, concern growing on her face.
"What is it?"
"I got a contact oan my radar" I replied, turning around fully to look forward. "It's no' big, much smaller then my hull. Its no' travling fast either, comparatively speaking."
"Radar?" was her response.
"Radio Detection and Ranging, radar, using radio waves I can detect objects beyond visual range." I replied quickly. With that Rangitaiki, ran back to the makeshift table we had set up here and grabbed some bincaulars, which had usefully come with my hull.
"Where!?" she asked me.
"It's no' yet in visual range" I replied shaking my head. We were currently cruising at 15 knots, based upon the revolutions my screws were preforming. My Type 291 radar had about a 35 nmi range. "It's going to be a bit before we can see it." I increased my speed as I told her, up to roughly 20 knots. For the first time since leaving the island this was the first contact I had. The prospect of finally meeting another ship had us both excited. Rangitaiki had lowered the binoculars, but held tightly on to them. I quickly retrieved my javelin, and held onto it, the prospect of meeting a ship driving me to some sort of comfort.
I gradually speed up the the increased power drove the propellers faster. neither of us had the means to see what time it was, but it felt like an eternity. I scanned the horizon knowing that it should be reaching visual range shortly. Able to tell the distance thanks to my radar. Soon something started to break the horizon.
"Thir it is!" I cired pointing it out for Rangitaiki. She already had the bicnocluars to here eyes and was rapidly adjusting it. From what I could tell from my eyes, was this might have been a sailing ship. I couldn't tell it was too far away, and I hadn't yet tried to use my rangefinders remotely yet. Silently cursing that decision, I could only wait for what Rangitaiki's report. Then I heard her gasp.
"Slavers". Slavers, that sent some level of primordial rage through me. But I managed to remain calm for now.
"How can ye be sure?" I asked squinting to try and make the ship out better.
"The sails, and the mast the flag is flown from. I personally don't recognize the flag, it looks Yvonian, but the symbols on the sails, and the flag flown on the first mast are strong indications its Slavers. I hate to admit it but I know the company." Rangitaiki replied, disdain entering her voice the more she explained. That caused the rage I had to boil back up. Every Royal Navy ship knew what to do with slavers. We may have once enabled it, but once we stoped, we destroyed the institution. I increased my speed again, intending to catch the ship.
"Well then, time to intervene" I replied, shivering at the sound (my voice making myself uncomfortable). This earned me a look of confusion from Rangitaiki.
"What do you mean?"
"The Royal Navy does no' allow th' contiunation of th' institution of slavery. We seek it oot an' destroy it." I replied, moving to the starboard side of the bridge.
"I easily agree with you sentiments, but we are two people!? How do you expect us to stop them? besides we don't know where we are, certain nations still allow it, depending on where we are we could be breaking the law!" Rangitaiki was sounding concerned. A quick look told me she was nervous about this.
"Those who do no' act are no better than enablers. Besides" I started with a grin "Am a destroyer, an' 'at evens th' scale." Rangitaiki still didn't look convinced but she did look less nervous.
"Are you sure? You can do this? Javelin you are my friend I don't want to lose you, there will be trained fighters on that ship!" Rangitaiki quickly approached me and spun me around, putting her hands on my shoulders.
"Aye" I replied gripping my javelin tighter. "If I didn't think I cuid then I wuidn't be taking daylight action." Rangitaiki still didn't look please but nodded.
"I'll come with you!"
"Nae, we only hav wan weapon, an' I wuid feel much better if ye remained here." I replied. Rangitaiki looked dishartned, but nodded releasing her grip on me. I gave her sympathetic look, then looked back at the ship. It was much closer now. I quickly adjusted my speed to make sure we came up next to the sailing ship. They had seen us and a lot of activity was happening on the ship. Sails being adjusted, people amassing on the deck. "Rangitaiki, when we pull aside, go to th' deck below, a'll lock the doors so they can't get to you. You shuid be able to watch thir, please you need to be safe while I do this?"
"Okay" she didn't sound happy but she didn't try to protest.
"Hey if 'is goes well, we shuid hav charts and information on where we are. plus stopped at lest wan slaving vessel" I encouraged her the best I could. I wasn't sure if it helped but I had to focus on the action now, as we were soon to be in range for me to board them. I watched as we gradually dew up next to the ship. I was managing the speed so that my hull should be matching speed with the slavers. the ship was a smaller sailing ship, a brig rig set with two masts about 200ish feet long. several of the people amassed on deck had weapons. I quickly caculated my move before we drew level with the midships.
"Look! its a Girl!" I heard from somewhere on the ship. Any other responses I didn't catch. As the ships finaly drew level, with a quick hop I was on the side before fully jumping off. I landed exactly where I hoped I would, right behind the amassed group. My landing did surprisingly rock the ship a bit causing some to lose their balance.
"Get her!" someone ordered. They group behind me didn't have a chance, I swiped hard with my javelin, knocking them down. A couple others who hadn't been in the group slowed their approach. Perhaps concerned by my ability to displace around 15 people at once. I jumped back, trying to open a better positon, and not be surrounded. This put me even farther from my side, though allowed me to have better vision of my enemies. They started to group up infront of me. My second large concern was if there were any slaves below, and now that I was firmly onboard this start to nag me. I decided the best way was to knock out the people infront of me and either confront the captain, or get below.
That decided I charged at the closest person. They tries to swip at me with their club, but missed. I didn't. Catching them with the shaft part of my javelin. I was trying not to severely harm anyone. I figured that on the off chance Rangitaiki was wrong if they were only unconcsions and not badly hurt we could smooth things over better. This foe went down hard, allowing me to focus on the next. They brought their sword down, I managed to deflect it with my javelin. I struck out with my leg, catching them in between the legs, felling them. I followed that up with a wack to the head to knock them out as well. The next two backed off, wearily walking around me. I also noticed that some of the first group I hit were starting to get back up.
Crack. Something wizzed by my head. I snapped up to look at the castle aft. There were a couple people with rifles of some kind. That changed things, as guns could definitely do damage if they hit. I jumped back, primarily to keep from getting attacked from the front, and ran aft towards the castle. I jumped up, sailing up on to the castle, earning some verbal response I didn't catch. As I landed the second fired at me, luckly going between my legs. I reacted by swinging my javelin hard, catching them in the legs, knocking them down. Before they could react, I used my free hand to grab their weapons and pitch them over the side. I took a look around, and saw that there were only two other people up her. The helmsman, and someone else, who looked fancy enough to be a captain. With that I dashed over the the fancy man. I grabbed him, lifting him up with my free hand, using my javelin to threaten him.
"Ye hav any slaves aboard?" My voice was low. No nicites for slavers. His eyes went from fear and confusion to fear and understanding.
"Now why would I discuss any business venters with an intruder?" he responded with a laugh.
" 'ats no' an answer" I replied, poking the javelin lightly into him.
"Pray tell even if we did, why should I tell you?" he was trying to sound calm, maybe attempting to control the conversation "what our company does it not your business, unless you are interested in buying any? Though too bad on that side" I wasn't sure what he was trying to get at, but so far what he had said did line up with this being a slaver. I now had to figure out my next action. I could see the crew on the top of the castle, watching me. I needed to figure out the best way to capture this vessel. The captain was saying something, but I was tuning him out.
Suddenly I shuttered. I had an indescribably bad feeling. I quickly glanced at the captain, saw his eyes were focused on something behind me. At the same time it felt like ASDIC might have detected something, right under the sailing ship. Without thinking I slammed my wheel hard over in my mind, intending to ram the saling ship. I was focused on the feeling and not thinking. Then it hit me, ramming the sailing ship was a bad idea. Before I could correct that action, I heard the creaking of wood. My hull was already starting to run the ship over, a severe list was already forming. Acting quicky, I threw the captain back and raced for the side. Jumping up, and grabbing my railing and looked back watching in horror as the sailing ship was overtaken. With a massive crack the formast snapped, and fell. The list greatly increased, and as I watched the ship capsized. My hull continuing over only slowed little by the action.
"What the hell happened!?" Rangitaiki called. I looked and saw she was on the bridge looking down at me. Shock plastered all over her face.
"I don't ken! I just got a bad feeling an' acted on it!" I responded climbing onto the deck. I started to turn my hull around so we could rescue any survivors. I raced across the deck, behind the funnel to the other side. I hoped to get a good look at the scene to figure out the best corse of action. They may have been slavers but I was not going to abandon them in the middle of the ocean. However there was a problem.
"Where ur they!?" I exclaimed. looking where the ship had been there was nothing. Which shouldn't be the case. There would be some sort of floatsum, especially the damage done by my hull, but there was nothing. No one was in the water floundering. There was no wood floating on the surface. No screaming, and no trace of the hull, which should have been partially visible, based upon where the ship was in the process of sinking when it disappeared underneath my hull. Instead it was as if nothing had been there. Thinking quickly just in case, I ran to the closest motor launch, and deployed it. Racing over to where the ship should have been.
Nothing. The only thing I saw was a weird reflection under the water. Without thinking I dived over the side and swam to it. I grabbed it, and surfaced, luckly close to the launch. I was able to climb back in and look at the prize. It was some odd glass or crystal shard. It appeared to glow, but I wasn't sure. Tearing my eyes from it, I looked back out across the water. Badly hoping to see anything. I didn't, so I fired the launch back up and started racing across the water looking for anything. I also used my ASDIC to see if I could detect any sound of the ship breaking up underwater. After what felt like hours, I was forced to give up, there was nothing. I hadn't even heard anything on ASDIC. In defeat I motored back to my hull and got back aboard. Rangitaiki was there and she shook her head before I could ask her anything.
"I hate to ask, but what happened? I thought you meant to take the ship not sink it" she sounded confused. She didn't approach either, like she wasn't sure what to make of my actions.
"I don't ken, I was questioning th' captain, they were a slaver but I don't kenw if thir were any slaves aboard. Suddenly I had a terrable feeling, lek we were in danger. I-I I guess my combat instincts kicked in. Withoot thinking I ramed them." I told her, trying hard not to break into tears at the though of possibly killing salves "I also thought I detected something oan wan of my sensors. I never meant to do 'at, after we-no I hit them I hav no idea what happened. I was ready to rescue anyone that survived, but there was no trace of th' 'hip. All I found was 'is". I held up the glass or crystal thing, tears starting to stream down my face.
Suddenly I was hugged. I managed to blink the tears out of my eyes enough and saw it was Rangitaiki.
"I didn't see anyone either. I don't know what happened, but I believe you didn't mean it" she told me "How about we take a break for a moment and compose ourselves before moving on?" I nodded at that, hoping that at the very least the ship was not carrying anyone when this happened.
For context as to why Javelin gets so angry see Drachinifel's excellent video about the Royal Navy's war on slavery: Anti-Slavery Patrols: the West Africa Squadron. She carries on the legacy that the Royal Navy started in the 1800s and well into the 1880s at least perhaps longer. Javelin has inherited that rage and will carry on this crusade into this new world, even if she had never directly participated in anti-slavery patrols, as thankfully the institution had been destroyed long before her commissioning.
