Royal Navy Administration Building, Devonport, Plymouth.
The Administration Building, the land-based office and command post of the Channel Fleet, is a large Georgian-style building with white walls and blue roofs, and rows of sliding windows that are symmetrical and quiet.
On the third floor, at the west end, is the contemporary head of the Drake family, the new captain of HMS Lion, Captain Shaq. Francis. Drake's office.
He was sitting behind his desk, expressionless, listening to his helmsman, Bell. Judea reporting on his work.
"On October 4, the First Fleet of the Drake Chamber of Commerce launched a privateering attack on transshipment vessels belonging to the Kingdom of France's Foulk-Anjou Chamber of Commerce in the Cantabrian Sea, west of Ile de Jos, capturing one and sinking one, news confirmed."
"While mopping up the battlefield, they were intercepted by the French Desai Chamber of Commerce destroyer Reindeer, which was met by the Buttercup, and the Cattail escaped, message confirmed."
"On October 9, the Reindeer returned to port at La Rochelle, Veren. Desai claimed that the Buttercup had been sunk on the western edge of the Celtic Sea, with no survivors of the ship's occupants, information unconfirmed."
"But ..." Bell stole a careful glance at his superior, "the engagement was on the 4th, the Reindeer's return to port was on the 9th, and today is the 22nd. Ramos. Piddick confirmed that the Buttercup was hit with at least three shots while fleeing westward, and it's likely that Mr. Drake hasn't shown up so far ..."
"Veren. Desai, who is it?" Shaq asked suddenly.
"Captain, Velen Desai is the Vice President of the French Desai Chamber of Commerce and Captain of the Reindeer! Desai is Vice President of the French Desai Chamber of Commerce, Governor of the First Fleet, and Captain of the Reindeer!"
"He claims ... sunk my stupid brother?"
"Yes ... yes!"
Shaq's face had no joy or anger, he found a document from the desk and flipped through it for a moment, "In three days, the Lion has a cruise, our target is in the North Sea, while the Spartan Guard's cruising area is in the Celtic Sea ... Make an appointment for me with Colonel Brow, I'd like to have afternoon tea with him. "
Bell blinked, "Captain, the Commander has asked us to exercise restraint and not initiate a war with France, you're ..."
"The Lion never goes against the advice of Command." Shaq toyed with his fingers, "But you have to realize that the Lion has only recently been formed, and there are only a handful of officers originally belonging to the Wanderer that I brought with me, including you."
"There is always a break-in period for a new team, and deviation from the course is an acceptable accident; if a couple of wild-eyed pirates happen to be eliminated in this accident, it should be treated as an unexpected blessing. ..."
"Your opinion is always pertinent." Bell shrugged helplessly, "Captain, you know that while studying under Sir Layton, I was a rare friend to fellow Drake. I would like to ask a question on his behalf ..."
"Why did you banish him from the house?"
"Yes."
Shaq was silent for a long time, pushing the window open and looking out at Devonport in the distance.
"I'm not the father."
As soon as he heard such an opening statement, Beck couldn't help but frown.
"Father has a great war record, a great reputation, and the trust of His Majesty. The entire aristocratic circle of England knows that he will one day become Secretary of the Navy and perhaps Prime Minister, so he is in a position to shelter Lorraine and that repulsive woman."
"But I can't." Shaq smiled to himself, "I'm just an incompetent man with a budding father's yin, and when I was at sea school, I even killed the heir to a noble house in a duel, and it's only thanks to my father's prestige that I'm barely able to stay in the military, and become a tool for His Majesty to make up for what he owes to his father."
"I can't shelter Lorraine."
"He is proud, and doesn't need to go through the cold stares and taunts of the nobles flat out because of this useless older brother. I can give him what he wants, including a privateer's license, and self-respect."
Bell didn't understand Shaq's mind at all, "If that's what you're thinking, it's perfectly fine to talk to Drake's classmates about it ..."
"On what grounds?" Shaq interrupted abruptly, his eyes burning, "Lorraine is my brother, and it is that repulsive heathen woman who has kept him from being a perfect nobleman, and I loathe her."
"Mrs. Arnason ..."
"Before I went to see Lorraine, I went to see her tombstone. If there was some guilt originally, after seeing that epitaph, there was no more." Shaq's voice was icy cold and chilling to the ear, "She was the one who guided Lorraine to turn her back on God, and in order to punish her, I would lose everything."
"Go and invite Colonel Blow, the sooner the better for this meeting, I hope."
Knowing the conversation was over, Bell sighed and legged a salute, "Aye! Captain!"
He was about to go and carry out Shaq's orders when the door to his office room was violently pushed open from the outside: "Captain, Sailport ..."
"Staff Sergeant Amani, where are your rules?" Shaq stood up straight and looked at the new sailor in the door with displeasure, "Get out and re-report!"
"Yes!"
The sailor exited with a flustered salute, and a short while later there was a soft knock on the office door, "Report! Staff Sergeant D. Amani, Chief Mast Handler, is here to see you! Amani is here to see you!"
"Enter."
After fixing his clothes, Staff Sergeant Amani marched in, saluted Shaq, then twisted around and saluted Bell solemnly.
"Captain, Captain, the scouts in Port Sail report that at 1012 hours this morning a Brigantine and a Brig in convoy sailed into Port Sail's Berea Dockyard. It has been verified that both escort vessels are armed merchant ships of the Drake Chamber of Commerce, the Buttercup and the Macaw, and that the President of the Chamber, Lorraine . Mr. Drake. Mr. Drake ... is unharmed!"
"Has indeed ... you gone up to inquire?" Shaq's face showed no elation, as if his attention was all off point.
Bell coughed bitterly, "Captain, when you asked me to arrange for someone to watch over the Civil Harbor, I picked the old men of the Wanderer, and they all know the ropes."
Shaq breathed a vague sigh of relief.
He sat back in his seat, solemn and solemn: "Staff Sergeant Amani, we are about to be transferred to defend the New World. The ship's drill has been relaxed for the past few days, notify all sailors ashore that they must assemble on the ship in two days, and all leave will be canceled!"
Two days later ...
Staff Sergeant Amani understood and snapped to attention excitedly, "Yes! Sir! Be sure to deliver your orders to every sailor's ear!"
"Go get busy."
"Aye! Sir!"
Staff Sergeant Amani perked up his step and retreated, Bell narrowed his eyes and made a surreptitious odd face, "Captain, your afternoon tea with Colonel Blow ..."
"Captain Judea." Shaq slowly sorted through the papers on his desk and flipped out the chart book, "I've been busy, haven't had afternoon tea in many days, and don't intend to waste any of this precious, time spent familiarizing myself with the charts of the new defense zone anytime soon."
Bell deflated with a look that said it all, "Got it."
"By the way, I heard your sister went to parochial school, is the family short of money?"
"Are you ... going to sponsor me?"
"There's a shipment of lances in the quartermaster's place, about 40 of them. It's not yet in the inventory process because of the Lion's impending transfer to defense. Those lawless privateers will probably make a good offer for them."
"You are worried?"
"Lorraine has never been able to eat her way out of a fight, and she's got a short temper. This time in that ..." Shaq frowned.
Belle hurriedly whispered a reminder, "Veren. Desai."
"Veren. Desai." Shaq nodded, "He suffered a great loss at the hands of Velen. Desai's hands, and he's certainly not going to take it lying down. That destroyer is already his prey, and there's nothing he can do about it but pick up the slack."
Bell raised an eyebrow, "Understood, I'll sell the lance for a good price and never let my sister at home suffer!"