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Backstory competition runner-up 1 |
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Written by Captain Obvious
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Friday, 09 December 2005 |
And so we're on to our first runner up. I feel the need to remind people that the runners-up are in no particular order, they're all joint for their place in the winners. Congratulations to Capt. Wolfe for this one, he's won himself a beta access key!
Nathaniel Wolfe was born into a wealthy seafaring family, his father being a merchant and owner of three trading vessels, his uncle a Commander in the Royal Navy. Growing up was good for Nathaniel, being educated in the best schools in London and living a privileged life. At the age of thirteen Nathaniel's uncle had gotten him an appointment as a midshipman with the Royal Navy, promising a career of excitement and fame. Quickly he learned navigation and the workings of a modern ship of war. His name began to be known among the Captains as a promising lad with an eye for detail and a vocabulary that did not include defeat.
The autumn of 1718 found young Lieutenant Wolfe bringing up the tail of a blockade against French Navy. This was his second command, but already Lieutenant Wolfe had shown promise. His first command had been aboard the Brigantine Constance, a French prize that had been captured off the Ivory Coast. He had sailed her boldly into French dominated waters and had taken three more prizes, using her design and flag as a rouse against the French. His career in the Royal Navy was off to a grand start! If he could keep this pace, advancement to full Captain would be his for the taking. Manning the blockade found him in command of the Frigate, HMS North Star. She was quick to tack and her broadsides were pinpoint accurate. Most of his crew had come from the Constance, and he new each of them well. Ahead of him was the frigate, HMS Glory, captained by Lieutenant Christopher Hawkins. Hawkins was a good sailor, but a foul temper, and he and Wolfe had had a few bad encounters in their history. Hawkins had accused Wolfe of subversion in order to gain the upper hand with the admiralty. One of these young men would be made Captain soon, but not both.
The fifth night on station found a slight gale blowing from the north. The lookout had called down that running lights could be seen from the east, but had vanished. Wolfe called his crew to quarters, as had every other Captain in the blockade. Three French sloops appeared out of the haze and were trying to run the blockade! Wolfe called out to release the main and the fores'ls to ready a quick come about. The sloops ran further up the line and the made a dash between the frigates, hoping that their smaller size would prevent being fired upon and accidentally hitting a fellow frigate. Looking through his spyglass, Wolfe could see Hawkins on the quarterdeck of the Glory shouting orders. The ship made a hard lean and began to turn to starboard, one of the sloops aiming between her and the next ship in line. Cannons roared as The English tried desperately to stop the French blockade runners. The starboard gun ports of the Glory opened and cannons were run out. 'Wait!' Wolfe screamed in his head, 'Port guns, you fool!' He glassed the deck of the Glory and his worst fears suddenly became reality. Looking back at him was Hawkins, an evil sneer on his face. "Hard to port!" Wolfe called out, but too late. The volley crashed across the decks, sending splinters flying like missiles, men screaming and running for cover. As the Star began her swing to port, Nathaniel called for her starboard guns to be run out. "I'll not be another of your casualties of war, you bastard!", Nathaniel yelled above the din. He had ordered the guns to be loaded with chain to cripple any blockade runners and take them as prize, not sunk with all hands as Hawkins was notorious for. "Healy! Sweep the decks with the chain, not her sails!", Wolfe called to his chief gunner. If treachery was what Hawkins had in mind, then so be it. Wolfe could be as nasty as any when cornered. The roar of his guns was deafening as the chain shot tore across the decks of the Glory. Sweeping the ship with his spyglass, Wolfe could see the remnants of Hawkins deck crew, mutilated and dying. Then he saw Hawkins. The Lieutenants hand still clutched his spyglass as his face was forever frozen in agony, his body cut in two by the onslaught of Wolfe's cannons.
The sloops made safe their getaway as the blockade reformed itself and damage reports began between the ships. The next day, Wolfe was ordered to the flagship, HMS Invincible, for an inquiry. It seemed Hawkins had kin in the admiralty, and certain Captains called for Wolfe's immediate execution. The Flag officer had assured Nathaniel that a fair trial would be conducted back at Portsmouth, and THEN he would be executed. Until that time, he would be held in custody aboard the Invincible. He was allowed to return to the North Star under marine guard, to gather his belongings and turn command over to his first mate.
Once aboard the North Star, Wolfe informed his crew the decision of the Flag, whence by he relinquished his command. Upon returning to the quarterdeck with his belongings, Wolfe suddenly realized that his marine guard was no longer armed, and that they were now, in fact, prisoner aboard the Star. "We lost 14 of our shipmates yesterday, Cap'n." The bosun, Flannery, spoke up, "We'll not let this go to rest that easily."
The marines were put back into the longboat, free to go unharmed back to their ship. Before they were allowed to cast off, the order was given for all sails and a hard cut to starboard. The acting captain of the Glory saw the sails of the Star snap in the wind, but in his inexperience did not think to alert the other ships until the Star had turned about and was making a hard run. Instead, the acting captain concentrated on bringing the marines aboard his ship for questioning.
Their getaway was swift! The fleet chased Wolfe for three weeks before losing sight of him in the cold waters of the north Atlantic. Immediately, Wolfe set a course south-southwest for warmer waters. For two years he dodged English ships, running from the coast of Virginia all the way to Cape Horn. His last encounter had been the worst. The North Star had been caught unawares, exiting a port off the coast of Florida. Wolfe had been forced into a battle in which he had killed his friend since childhood, Daniel Walker. Danny was aboard the HMS Juggernaut when her magazine exploded, burning her to the waterline and killing all hands. This was more than Nathaniel could bear. He had tried to back off without forcing a fight, but the other captain would have none of it.
After the slaughter, Nathaniel made a vow that all ships sailing under English colors were hereby subject to his aggressions. He was now a man without a country. He, Captain Nathaniel Wolfe, was an outlaw.
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