Atten-shun!!! Fleet Captain on deck!!!!! Yelled Commander Duncan.

Fleet Captain Greyylene stepped off the gangplank connecting the Exeter to the Carolyn, waving off the salutes and ceremony. Thank you Commander, but I do not need nor do I want the pomp and stance.

Well well, Captain Greyylene, its good to see you again. Said Tiberius from the railing beside the ships wheel. To what do I owe this surprise?

You should know full well Commodore, she said.

Spell it out for me.

Very well, why were my ships and crews left out of this attack?

Good question, not a good place for an answer, meet me in my quarters.

Greyylene gave the Commodore a slight nod and walked into his cabin on the main deck.

Tiberius turned to his helmsman and said, hmm shes in a wee bit of a snit today don’t you think?

The petty officer manning the wheel, looking decidedly uncomfortable, swallowed hard and replied, that’s not for me to say sir!

Tiberius laughed and then yelled get that gangplank pulled too!! Bring the sails back to the wind, lets get this ship moving again!!!

But sir said the helmsman from beside him, how will fleet captain Greyylene get back to her ship?

The Carolyn is much faster then us, so she can keep up, and when the good Captain is ready, she can go back in a dingy.

As Tiberius walked into his quarters Greyylene knew full well she was about to meet his wrath yet again.

Would you care to explain why you left your post in the Tokuno Islands and came here?

Your going to confront Buds, I know him far better then you, I can be of help!! Why was I left behind?!?!

I am not going to confront Buds. We are going to attack, a full out all points bombing of Port Baldmor.

Captain Greyylene’s face went blank, her lips began to move though no sound came out.

And I see by the look on your face, my decision to not bring you into this battle was the correct one.
I could no more order you into this battle, then you could order your guns fired while in it.

Greyylene looked to the cabins floor. Not for the first time she wondered how he could know her so well, yet she could not figure him out to saver her life. She then felt a hand on her shoulder.

I know how you feel Greyy, my brother is with them. And I am going to be taking the chance of hitting or killing my own brother in this attack, I wont ask you to attack those who used to be your family as well.

Tiberius walked back to his desk and picked up a piece of rolled paper.

This was to go out by pigeon today. He sad as he handed her the paper.

Greyylene read the orders and looked up.

A rogue element inside Pax Oku?? I thought they had those problems worked out??

Its all rumors at this point. It may well be a new band of pirates just trying to stir things up, but that’s what I need you to find out. Do not engage them. Just get us some recon. We need to know whats going on. This attack on Baldmore will take less then a day, after that we will rendezvous at the east bank of Temple Island, once you have something for me send me a message.

Aye sir. And Greyy turned to leave.

Greyy, you're taking a dingy back to your ship. we're moving out now so you will need to do the same. get yourself to Tokuno and get settled into the patrols as soon as you can. pick your next XO I know your last one left. oh and Greyy, dont look at me in that tone of voice, of course its partly because I like to tease you.

Her next coherent thought found her in that dingy with a midshipman rowing towards the Carolyn, I’m gonna get him for this…..

Tiberius watched as the dingy pulled away from the Exeter, in it a midshipman he ad givin the duty of rowing back to the Carolyn, and Greyylene with a decidedly sour look on her face.

Tiberius shook his head and smiled.

You know she will never forgive you for that don’t you? Said Duncan from behind him.

Oh, she will forgive me, she just wont ever let me live it down.

You do live dangerously.

Is there any other way to live?

Now it was Duncan who shook his head and smiled.

Tiberius watched him turn and walk away. Then coming day would be hard on them all, he thought. He turned he face to the bow of the ship and closed his eyes to allow the sea spray to cover his face.


Depending on your point of view, the attack was either a resounding success, or a crushing defeat.
The Navel fleet began bombing Baldmor island at daybreak and continued into the evening hours, its was a nonstop barrage, of cannon balls and wizards fire. The once great docks were laid waste, and not a single ship was left afloat. Those who could not get off the island moved as far inland as they could, but the Navy had yet again thought ahead, they had added 5 pound guns that could reach the middle of the island. The pirates huddled in the Soggy Barnacle drinking the rum and savage ale, all the while cursing the navy in general and Tiberius Clearcastle in particular to the deepest layers of hell. One pirate was heard to tell another, when Buds finds Kerrs and those two are working together they will make the navy pay for this!!
The Barnacle took many hits but never fell, the same could not be said for the other buildings around them, what was once the navy outpost was now rubble. The Inn that had sat the shores for three generations would need to be almost completely rebuilt.

As quickly as the bombing began, it ended. Budswoman, lucid for the moment, staggered out of the Barnacle and took in the destruction that the navy had wrought. The destruction was an almost physical blow to her. She had worked to hard for this, she dropped to her knees on the beach, completely defeated, and looked out at the Exeter, the only ship to be seen, and not a scratch on her. She could barely make out a single form looking back at her from the wheel deck. Tiberius she thought, and he looks no more happy about this then I do. she wished it would end here, but she knew the madness would take her again and she would retaliate. With a look of sorrow on her face she closed her eyes and bowed her head. When she lifted her head and opened her eyes they were as black as night again, and the look on her face was pure rage.


It was indeed Tiberius looking back at Buds. Since the attack no one went near him. He was not pleased with doing what he had done and wanted no one around, and without ever saying it the crew just knew.
The fires, and plums of black smoke rolling off the island were hard to look at. How many had they killed today? The damage they had inflicted was far worse then Tiberius had thought it would be.

Even now, knowing what the outcome would be, would you still have gone through with the attack, came a voice inside his head. Yes came the instantaneous response.

I hope you did the right thing today Commodore, the heat of revenge can cloud our judgment at times. Said Duncan.

And old Shakespearian proverb tells us that revenge is a dish best served cold Mr. Duncan. Tiberius turned to the wheelman, make for Temple Isle, best speed. And he walked into his cabin.

~The End~