Chapter 15 – Feels Like Home

"There are some orders that even the most loyal of soldiers cannot accomplish."

'8th December 1778,

Upon returning to Port Royale I have focused myself on building a crew and preparing to set out for Nicaragua. Those under my command as well as myself have stayed at the inn as we await Sir Parker's return. Soon I will have my own ship, and then all I will need is the firepower to achieve my goal…'

The image constantly flashed in Nelson's mind, vivid, as if it were real. Among the dense jungle trees was an outpost, towering ten meters high. Then, in a flash the image changed to a series of buildings spaced out in a massive circle. Between them was a dirt path lined with patches of lush green grass. In the centre of the little village was a well, and there was a man wearing Spanish light armour using the pulley to collect a bucket of water.

One of the buildings was a blacksmith and Nelson saw the forge and the racks of swords and spears organised and placed on the porch out the front of the building. Nelson also recognised a barracks, a fletcher and various other military buildings. Opposite to the main gate entrance was a hall with a stage out the front. The hall was the largest building in the village that Nelson now recognised was a fort. He realised that the key he was after must have been kept locked up somewhere in there.

Suddenly there was a cry, and it was loud and hoarse. Then Nelson saw a group of men, prisoners, being led onto the stage on the far side from the hall. The prisoners had been badly beaten and they were covered in dirt and dried blood. Their long tattered hair drooped over their heads and obscured their faces, but Nelson could hear them curse and he instantly knew that they were British. A man followed the prisoners up onto the stage. He was heavily built and his brown eyes gazed coldly as he gave his orders to the Spanish soldiers under his command.

The soldiers responded to his authority with subtle actions. The man wore a steel breastplate and helmet, and his dark beard poked out of the gap between the metal. He shouted to his men as they rounded up the line of prisoners and had them fixed with nooses around their necks. The prisoners cursed and spat on their captors. Then the man in armour stepped over to a wooden lever, his face showed no emotion, and without pause he condemned the prisoners to death. The stage beneath the British men gave way and they fell. Some of the prisoners' necks broke straight away, and the others were forced to hang until the life in them was gone.

Nelson awoke from the dream and sat up hastily in his bed. His breath was heavy and he was starting to sweat. The room that he had stayed in was the best that the sailor's inn could offer. The fine furniture was nicely spaced out and the bed was soft. The early morning sun came in through a single window and spread itself over Nelson's sheets. The warmth was soothing.

There was a gentle knock on the door and Nelson called for whomever it was to enter. The wooden door creaked as it was swung open and in the doorway stood a pretty looking young lady. A soft green dress covered her slim body and her light brown hair only drooped down to her neck. In her hands she held a tray with a small loaf of bread, some sweet cakes, some juice and a note.

The lady smiled at Nelson as she set the tray down on the table by his bed, 'Compliments from Sir Parker.' She said kindly.

Nelson rubbed his eyes for a moment, 'Wait, Sir Parker is here?' He asked.

'Oh, he arrived just this hour. Gave my daddy this note and then asked that you were given a nice breakfast. I'm Astrid, my father owns the inn.'

'Thank you Astrid.' Nelson returned Astrid's smile. He then collected the tray and started to eat his breakfast after Astrid had quietly left the room. Nelson read the note that was placed on the tray with his meal. It was written in Sir Parker's exquisite handwriting and it simply congratulated Nelson on his recent success and asked for them to meet at the town centre. When he was done Nelson pulled on his breaches and slipped a jacket of his shoulders before washing his face in a basin of water and heading down stairs. As he entered the main room he sighted Astrid's father sweeping the floors. Astrid's father was a middle-aged man and his hair and beard was grey with blotches of black remaining.

Nelson walked off the pier onto the path that ran through the town. The morning breeze was heavy with the smell of the ocean and the trees. There were some soldiers running drills not far from the main part of the town, and Nelson could hear their muskets constantly firing. He walked past the bakery and was soon approaching the luscious circular gardens that surrounded the town centre tower. Sir Parker waited patiently on a chair beneath the massive tower that shadowed most of the garden. He was drinking a cup of tea. As he sighted Nelson, Parker stood up and straightened his uniform that was still worn with pride. Parker had not yet washed himself and he had the smell and appearance of a man who had long been at sea.

'Ah, Nelson, you are looking well.' He said in a conversational tone.

'Thank you, sir.' Nelson took notice of Parker's weak tired eyes. 'I wish I could say the same for you, but.'

Sir Parker laughed, 'Yes. I think a few hours of sleep and a bath will do me some good, but there are more important matters to attend to.' Sir Parker's tone changed to show a hint of compunction. 'I heard you lost one of your boys. Anderson. It's too bad, he was a good lad.'

'Nothing can be done for him now.' Nelson said sadly, 'I saw to it personally that his killer received proper punishment.'

Sir Parker then changed the conversation. 'Did you learn anything of importance from the prisoners? Were there any documents aboard the ship?'

'Yes. I had found a map within the captain's files that marks the locations of most of the Spanish and French forts and camps all around the Caribbean.' Nelson saw his chance to go after the key. 'The French captain was among the prisoners. He spoke of a fort with great significance located in Nicaragua.'

Sir Parker was silent for a moment as he paced slowly around the garden. 'I want this map immediately. I think General Dalling will find it most interesting. Now, I believe there is the matter of your promotion.'

Nelson reminded himself that he was a sailor and he stood firm and straight as Parker spoke to him.

'I am appointing you as the official commander of the HMS Badger. She is a fine ship so treat her well. You may select a crew of your choice however they must be approved and considered through me. Your orders are to patrol the Central American Coast and intercept as many Spanish and French vessels as you can. You have my permission to leave as soon as you have a crew and are properly rested. That will be all.'

Nelson took in the information he had just received. 'Thank you, sir.' He said respectively. 'My crew and I will be ready to set sail first thing tomorrow morning.'

After Parker dismissed him, Nelson walked back down the dirt path and returned to the sailor's inn on the pier. He selected a table in the corner of the main room and seated himself. Nelson checked his new golden pocket watch, and it was eight o'clock. He needed to find Collingwood and begin selecting his crew. He assumed that Collingwood was still sleeping so he left his table and moved up the stairs to find Collingwood's room. Atop the stairs was a hallway with six doors on both sides and a there was a green mat laid through the middle. Collingwood had room number four. Nelson knocked twice before Collingwood opened the door and stood with his lower body hidden behind it.

'Morning sir.' Collingwood greeted first.

'Collingwood, where are your clothes?' Nelson said brashly. He looked behind Collingwood and saw a woman lying naked on the bed. 'Who's the woman?'

'That's Lila. Or was it Rose? I can't remember. Heck of a girl she is, though. She'd do anything to please a man. You should've seen her.'

'Spare me the details, Collingwood. Just have yourself dressed and meet me downstairs. I spoke to parker.'

'Parker is here in Port Royale?' Collingwood cut in.

'Yes.' Nelson answered. 'I spoke to him this morning. We are to select a crew and then be ready to sail tomorrow morning.'

'Why so soon?' Collingwood asked and then answered himself. 'Wait, it's your secret mission isn't it? From Captain Locker.'

Nelson disliked that Collingwood was not part of his mission. 'I wish I could tell you, but I have my orders.'

'Think nothing of it.' Collingwood said. 'Orders are orders. I'd do the same if I were in your position. I'm just glad to be able to help.'

Nelson walked back down the stairs and he found that sitting at his table was Elizabeta, wearing her white shirt and trousers and drinking a mug of coffee. As Nelson sat down he noticed that the daily commotion of the inn was beginning to fester. People were now coming in and out rapidly.

Elizabeta was straight to business. She placed a clean logbook on the table and opened it up. 'I spoke to my Port Royale contact.' She said quietly so that they would not be over heard. 'Captain Locker sends his regards from Nicaragua. They've been doing some digging for us. There's a Spanish general there by the name of Cortez, Locker says he's the one keeping hold of the key. He even drew a picture of the man.' Elizabeta turned the page and presented a rough sketch of a heavily build man with a thick dark beard.

'I've seen this man before.' Nelson pointed out. 'In my vision, there was a fort and they were lynching British sailors.'

'Do you think Cortex may have caught on to some of Locker's scouts? Locker is good enough to keep away from Cortez for now, but if Cortez knows about us, well we'd best not waste anymore time.'

Nelson agreed, 'Did your contact mention anything of lending us men?' He asked.

'He did. Three men from Boston have been called to meet us when we reach Nicaragua. They are all skilled assassins and are relatively high in the ranks.'

As they discussed this, Collingwood came down and sat quietly with them.

'Good.' Nelson continued. 'However my orders were to only patrol the coast and capture any passing vessels, I am not expected to engage the enemy on land. Besides, I have seen the fort and even with a full crew we will not be able to take it alone.'

Collingwood cut in, 'Maybe General Dalling would be able to help. If you were to convince him that Nicaragua needed to be taken I'm sure he would supply the necessary firepower needed for such a cause. Although, he is a busy man and I'm not so sure that he would listen so eagerly to someone of your rank, especially when making a request such as this.'

'This morning I gave Sir Parker the map with the enemy locations on it. He said that he would give the map to the general immediately. Here's what we'll do. I want you to enlist the names of our new crew, and make sure that James, Dannie and Frank are on board. Take the rest from the barracks if you have to but make sure we have a full ship by sundown. I am going to go see if I can talk to General Dalling.'

Nelson left the inn and was once again heading for the town centre. He checked his pocket watch again and it was almost noon. A dark skinned man, a gardener tending to the hedges, greeted Nelson as he entered the main building. The hall was very open. There was a long table in the centre that ran half the length of the room and there were doors on both sides that lead to smaller rooms. Upon entering the hall Nelson was stopped by a man in the British uniform. 'State your business.' He demanded.

'My name is Captain Nelson, and I have very important information for General Dalling.'

The guard moved aside. 'Very well, he is in the war room at the end of the hall.'

Nelson continued forward, pacing hastily until he reached the war room. General Dalling was leaning over a table and staring at a world map. All across his map were little figures. There were ships, soldiers and buildings. The little soldiers in blue represented British men, just as the blue ships and buildings represented British vessels and forts. The figures in red must have represented the Spanish and French. General Dalling appeared to be a strong man. His face was cleanly shaven and he wore his uniform with a disturbing amount of superiority, there was not a fabric out of place.

Nelson stood in the doorway and awaited permission to enter. One of the men next to Dalling waved Nelson in. 'What is it?' He asked.

General Dalling had not yet taken notice of Nelson's appearance, and then he raised his head and glared at Nelson with pale blue eyes. Nelson took notice of General Dalling dark hair, which was combed over to the side of his head, with a single strand hanging just above his eyes. Dalling spoke, 'I know you. You're Parker's boy.'

'Correct, sir. I have information concerning some of our men in Nicaragua.' Nelson stated.

'Nicaragua? We have no men stationed there. It is heavily controlled by the Spanish.'

'I believe it may have been a covert operation. I only received word from Captain Locker this morning.'

The General turned to his lieutenant. 'Bretton, what did you know of this?'

'It was under my orders.' The man explained. 'It was some time ago that I had a hunch as to where the Spanish' main force in Nicaragua was located. I dispatched Locker and a scouting crew to see what they could find. Looking at the map that we received from Parker, it seems that I was right.'

Dalling turned once again to Nelson. 'So what do you have to say about this?'

Nelson realised that he had no way to prove what he was about to say. 'Locker and his men have been captured. I think the Spanish know that we're onto them.'

'And how exactly do you know all of this?' General Dalling questioned.

By now Nelson assumed that the lieutenant was Elizabeta's assassin contact.

'I… I just know. General Cortez, the leader of the Spanish forces in Central America, well, he's a careful man. He also seems to be quite cunning.'

The lieutenant continued for him. 'The lad's right, sir. In Locker's message, he mentioned that some of his men had long been missing, but nothing was confirmed.'

General Dalling looked annoyed and he continued to speak. 'Look, I don't know what you're getting at but you seem to know what you're doing. Now pay attention.' Dalling indicated for all the men to gather around his map. 'I understand that Nicaragua is of great importance, however we are still dealing with the whole of Central America here. According to Sir Parker's map, Locker and his men are here, at the fortress of San Juan. Before we can take this we would have to clear all of the smaller outposts in the area. Then we would be able to send a fleet directly from Port Royale to Nicaragua while at the same time having infantry troops ready to infiltrate the fort after the first strike from our big guns on the coast.'

'Attack them from both sides.' The lieutenant agreed.

'But what about Captain Locker.' Nelson argued. 'He'll be dead by the time we are ready.'

'We do not even know that he is in trouble. A mission such as this requires precision, and a rescue would be too much of a risk on account of your instincts. What were Sir Parker's initial orders for you?'

'I was to patrol the Central American coast and intercept any enemy vessels that come or go.' Nelson explained.

'Good, I want you to do that. If we were to cut off their supplies then our mission would become much easier. You are dismissed. Return here in three months time for more orders. We will organize the official plan then.'

Nelson tried to hold back his anger about Locker as he paced out of the room. When he exited the main hall he checked his pocket watch. It was now two o'clock. Outside the hall, Elizabeta waited for Nelson by the garden. 'What news?' She asked.

Nelson continued to walk back to the inn and Elizabeta followed him as he spoke. 'General Dalling is going to attack the fortress of San Juan in Nicaragua, however it will be too late for Locker.'

'What are we going to do?' Elizabeta asked.

'We are going to go in ourselves and save Captain Locker. Get Collingwood and have the crew ready. We are leaving tonight.'