Note: I still don't own the world, and thus this is still not mine, and
thus you should not sue. For the time being, that is.
Other note: This is completely ignoring Horry's promotion and Archie's death. 'Cause it's much more fun that way.
Other other note: I will not delete reviews just because they are critical. Otherwise how will I ever improve? I also disapprove of everyone else who does so. *Ahemm*
'Listen!' hissed the captain across from him. 'Here he comes.' Six voices fell silent, and six captains looked apprehensively at the door. There was a sound of a light tread on the staircase outside the door. Pellew realized with disgust that he was holding his breath. He let it out with a whoosh that was embarrassingly audible. He mentally chided himself for acting like such a fool.
The door was pushed open, and Commodore Harker walked in. Having never seen him or heard of him before, (not that he was one to judge a man with nothing but rumors) Pellew took notice in every single aspect about the man. He should find out as soon as possible if this was going to be an easy cruise or not. Pellew had been in the navy long enough to dispense of the romantic notion that all officers were capable gentlemen. He had served under officers of many different temperaments, and knew a bad commander could mean a disastrous voyage. Mr. Hornblower's recent court martial was testament to that.
The commodore was a middle aged man with immaculate but graying brown hair tied back with string. His eyes were gray and had a fierce look to them, which reminded Pellew unpleasantly of Foster. He would have been decently good looking if his features hadn't been ruined by a long white diagonal scar across his face. All in all he looked like someone who you wouldn't want to cross, at least before he had his breakfast.
He glared around the room. With a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach, Pellew realized that this was not going to be an easy cruise.
'I, as you are most likely aware, am Commodore Harker. You are probably wondering why captains of your superiority and rank are being force- ah, serving under a commodore.' He scowled as if to say, 'and you'd better be wondering why'
'Why are we here, sir?' asked Captain Foster. The look the commodore gave him was enough to curdle milk. Pellew inwardly smirked as Foster was visibly cowed. Then, he felt ashamed at acting like a child with a schoolboy grudge. Damn it all. Foster always brought out the very worst in him. God, how he hated the man.
'Perhaps, captain, you'd better sit down and listen, and perhaps, with time, you might learn something, eh?' snapped the commodore.
'My apologies, sir.' Foster must be even more cowed than Pellew thought, to apologize. Foster almost never apologized if he could help it. It caused him actual physical pain to do so. He felt a great wash of relief. If the commodore could keep Foster in check, then maybe they wouldn't be at each other's throats constantly, as had happened every other time they had the misfortune to serve together.
'Well, gentlemen, you have been selected as the most capable and successful in the captains list. The admiral wants us to bring his latest brainchild into action,' said the commodore. Was he imagining things, or was there a sneer in the commodore's voice? Pellew, though he would never say so aloud, but he thought the admiral was an incompetent fool. Perhaps this Admiral Harker thought the same? Captain Pellew's opinion of the man rose greatly, and he sat back to listen to the admiral's plan.
Other note: This is completely ignoring Horry's promotion and Archie's death. 'Cause it's much more fun that way.
Other other note: I will not delete reviews just because they are critical. Otherwise how will I ever improve? I also disapprove of everyone else who does so. *Ahemm*
'Listen!' hissed the captain across from him. 'Here he comes.' Six voices fell silent, and six captains looked apprehensively at the door. There was a sound of a light tread on the staircase outside the door. Pellew realized with disgust that he was holding his breath. He let it out with a whoosh that was embarrassingly audible. He mentally chided himself for acting like such a fool.
The door was pushed open, and Commodore Harker walked in. Having never seen him or heard of him before, (not that he was one to judge a man with nothing but rumors) Pellew took notice in every single aspect about the man. He should find out as soon as possible if this was going to be an easy cruise or not. Pellew had been in the navy long enough to dispense of the romantic notion that all officers were capable gentlemen. He had served under officers of many different temperaments, and knew a bad commander could mean a disastrous voyage. Mr. Hornblower's recent court martial was testament to that.
The commodore was a middle aged man with immaculate but graying brown hair tied back with string. His eyes were gray and had a fierce look to them, which reminded Pellew unpleasantly of Foster. He would have been decently good looking if his features hadn't been ruined by a long white diagonal scar across his face. All in all he looked like someone who you wouldn't want to cross, at least before he had his breakfast.
He glared around the room. With a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach, Pellew realized that this was not going to be an easy cruise.
'I, as you are most likely aware, am Commodore Harker. You are probably wondering why captains of your superiority and rank are being force- ah, serving under a commodore.' He scowled as if to say, 'and you'd better be wondering why'
'Why are we here, sir?' asked Captain Foster. The look the commodore gave him was enough to curdle milk. Pellew inwardly smirked as Foster was visibly cowed. Then, he felt ashamed at acting like a child with a schoolboy grudge. Damn it all. Foster always brought out the very worst in him. God, how he hated the man.
'Perhaps, captain, you'd better sit down and listen, and perhaps, with time, you might learn something, eh?' snapped the commodore.
'My apologies, sir.' Foster must be even more cowed than Pellew thought, to apologize. Foster almost never apologized if he could help it. It caused him actual physical pain to do so. He felt a great wash of relief. If the commodore could keep Foster in check, then maybe they wouldn't be at each other's throats constantly, as had happened every other time they had the misfortune to serve together.
'Well, gentlemen, you have been selected as the most capable and successful in the captains list. The admiral wants us to bring his latest brainchild into action,' said the commodore. Was he imagining things, or was there a sneer in the commodore's voice? Pellew, though he would never say so aloud, but he thought the admiral was an incompetent fool. Perhaps this Admiral Harker thought the same? Captain Pellew's opinion of the man rose greatly, and he sat back to listen to the admiral's plan.