The next day...
Maser stood on the bridge gingerly gazing out into the morning fog that was thick as sour cream, so thick that the sentry sitting on the mast could barely see the outline of the neighbouring ships.
But not for morning views the man was up early today, if it were up to him he'd be lying in his cabin sipping wine, but the prince de jure - the head of the whole enterprise had called a council of war.
'Bitch, when will they give the signal, why the fuck did I get up so early?' - He didn't manage to sleep well, as he supposed the fleet moved out deep after midnight, and taking into account the fact that Maser managed not only his own ship, all the frigates of the flotilla were under his command, and taking into account that the prince led the fleet purely nominally, the whole fleet was comfortably laid on his swarthy shoulders.
This fact did not frighten Maser, he had seen worse, but the man was concerned about the very conditions under which this expedition was being organised. 'Excessive haste and vague orders have never led to a good result.' - The man thought, catching a glimpse of a small yellow trail in the sky.
"Captain!" The observer's shout from the mast was as loud and ringing as a church bell.
"I've already seen it," he replied, turning his gaze to the bored sailors who were playing cards without remorse.
"And what are you standing still for, you bastards, lower the boat!" The sailors, excited by the commander's order, literally glided across the deck like sledges on ice, in other words, fast and very fast.
In five minutes Maser was already shaking in a small boat, his ship was sailing near the end of the formation, and it would take him about 15 minutes to get to the 'Warrior'.
The flagship appeared on the horizon, against his titanic figure, the surrounding ships looked like dwarfs against the giant. Everyone had seen it in the harbour, but the blissfully surprised expressions did not leave the faces of everyone, including Maser.
A rope ladder was thrown to him and he and his officers climbed aboard. He felt that he was on an ordinary street, but if the masts and cannons were removed from the background, and the deck replaced by masonry, it would be difficult to distinguish the surface of the ship from the streets of a small town.
"And we thought you were lost," said an officer who came up, and Maser recognised him at once - it was one of the prince's lackeys, who was sleeping so sweetly on the floor of the brothel.
"Can't wait, is the prince in place?" The officer nodded silently and went in the direction of the cabins, Maser, accompanied by the officers, followed him.
"How do? You like our ship?" With pride and superiority in his voice asked the accompanying officer.
"Very much so, but I'd like to see what this monster can do in combat."
"Don't worry, you'll soon see that hell is waiting for our enemies." They walked on in silence, reaching a richly painted door, the officer let Macer through.
'Wow' - The first impression almost managed to knock him off his feet. The captain's quarters, where the council of war was being held, were no less luxurious than the royal chambers in the capital's palace. Everything that could and could not be finished with expensive stained wood.
Part of the composition was lacquered, or covered with gold, and all this splendour was actively reflected by the light of the lanterns, which forced Maser to squeeze his eyes shut, in an attempt to get used to such a bright illumination.
"Captain Macer, you're on time as always, we're just waiting for you." With a wry smile, the prince announced, swinging his legs over the table.
"In that case, let's get started." Maser approached, pushing the officers and captains closer. No one prevented him, everyone in the room except the prince and his retinue realised that the entire success of this dubious enterprise, and therefore their survival, depended on this man.
"I have already approved the plan, but as a loyal and illustrious warrior of the crown I will explain it to you personally." Maser looked around nervously, only to be met by the dejected faces of the ship captains looking down at the floor.
'I don't like this anymore.' Maser thought to himself, and the prince began his victory speech.
"We will divide the fleet into three parts, the first group with 15,000 troops will head to the top of this miserable kingdom." Listening to this rapturous raving, Maser's face paled and reddened at the same time, but he kept a calm look as he listened further.
"The second part will go to the lower part of Haro, the composition of the expedition is similar to the first group. The third group will be the largest and will land in the largest port of this under kingdom with 20000 troops." After hearing this plan Maser wanted to do only one thing, to jump up on the table, grab this half-wit by the hair and beat his empty head against the table, repeating.
'We are not in Midgard, to divide the forces is death.' Suppressing his indignation, he snagged a piece of paper lying us the table. The man picked it up, it outlined the ship composition of each group.
The prince had decided to divide the fleet into three roughly equal parts, the small groups were led by a battleship each, accompanied by a small group of frigates. The central group was led into battle by the armoured frigate Warrior, the other ships were divided according to the residual principle.
Putting the sheet on the table and meeting eyes with the prince, Maser sighed tiredly, Edward displeased with such freethinking, took his feet off the table and turned to Maser unhappily.
"Is there something that displeases you, Captain Maser?"
"Speak Prince, I'll hold my comments until the end." Edward scratched his head lazily and continued.
"Fleet groups smash their wretched vessels and land a landing party, which in turn seizes the coastal infrastructure," the prince, pleased with his tactical and strategic genius, continued.
"Having finished foraging, the landing force suppresses the resistance of the locals, and will unite in the province of Mena, then our united forces go to the capital, and further capitulation with tribute or capture of the capital and its subsequent looting, it will be decided by the locals." The prince finally shut up, on Maser's face, kept a stony expression of submission and humility.
But a real storm reigned in the man's soul. Surprised by the sudden pause, he asked. "Your majesty is that all?"
"Yes," Edward replied proudly. - 'I knew he was stupid, but I had no idea he was so stupid.'
"Your Majesty, your plan sucks!" Maser literally shouted the last word, deafening everyone present with his voice.
"Captain Maser, you in the presence of the prince, choose your expressions, otherwise..."
"Otherwise I'll have to fuck your whore mother, stay out of this cunt's way." The prince's lackey's fervour faded, and realising he had understood, Maser turned to the prince.
"Your majesty, your plan does not correspond to the postulated task, we know little about our enemy, it is impossible to scatter our already not too big forces, the loss of one of the landing groups will jeopardise the whole plan, exposing our flanks for attack."
"And i didn't hear, your contingency instructions, and much more. Patrol and mail ship schedules, fleet control signs in case you hadn't noticed." Maser turned and looked round at everyone present.
"This flotilla is a real hodgepodge of military, merchant and raiding ships and teams, without prearranged signals, our fleet is just a bunch of disparate vessels."
"And your plan for a ground attack..."
"Enough!" Captain Maser you are forgetting yourself, you have been removed from command, I am in charge of all these people and you should not forget that.
'You can hide behind your mother's skirt all you want, everyone knows why you were appointed as commander, don't you think that's going to save you.' - Of course Maser said all of this to himself, to say such a thing was tantamount to signing his own death warrant, but he didn't exactly intend to give up just like that.
"Your Majesty, we need to talk about this again."
"If I didn't know about your adventures I would consider you a coward and an alarmist, our opponents are wretched savages with wick guns. They have no fleet, they are scattered, and it would be hard to find a better opponent, and you are disgracing the honour of the Webian Trading Company with your alarmism. - There was a wave of whispering in the crowd."
Maser looked round to say something, but the prince interrupted him.
"Captain, I'm not asking for your advice or opinion, I've already decided everything, your task is only to approve this plan as commander of the raiding part of our fleet, only your signature is left." The prince's sycophant handed him a sheet of paper, the paper was scribbled across and across, and only at the very bottom of the page there was a blank space with his name on it.
"And if I refuse?" Maser asked with a stony face. The prince, obviously not expecting such an approach, almost fell off his chair from surprise.
"You will be removed from the command, and taken to the homeland for trial." Unsurely said the prince, and Maser thought hard 'Maybe to hell with all this nonsense, I have money, I'll give a bribe, I'll go back to my homeland,' - reasoned Maser well aware that he will not do so, there on his ship and not only on it, were his compatriots who followed him at his own call and his honour will not allow to throw them to certain death.
And that it would be her and only her he realised immediately as the prince described the first part of his 'plan'.
"I will sign, but I have two conditions, the first is that my ship and I are part of the central group and accompany you wherever you are, the second is that the captains and I will discuss all the details, you can join us if you want."
A wave of approving murmur passed through the crowd behind him, but before it could grow it was interrupted by the prince's angry look. He was about to order his guards to take the impudent man into custody, but seeing how hopefully the crowd looked at the savage, he said.
"Well, so be it, I believe your remarks were prompted only by eagerness and a desire to help in our common cause." 'I'll remember you for that, you insolent savage.'
"Nasim I consider the council of war over, the rest of the details to be reported to my aide-de-camp." Said the prince and with a benevolent glance at all those assembled he departed, accompanied by his friends and servants.
After waiting for the prince to leave, Maser turned round and said loudly "Alright guys, we have a complicated matter to deal with, come closer we have a lot to discuss." 'If I can't change this fucking plan, at least I can make it look good.'