December AAR.

[Bligh]

Preamble. Come into my lair said the Spider to.......






Captain David McBride sat in the Anteroom at Bombay Castle and fidgeted with his gloves nervously.





Naval Officers, clerks, and flunkies came and went, but for all the speed of his summons to the inner sanctum of the Honourable East India Company he had now been waiting on their Lordships convenience for a good two hours. What was more concerning was the fact that in two days time, after two and a half years on the Indian station, he and his crew were due to return to England for six months leave. HEIC Nottingham being overdue for a full overhaul was to finally get the ministrations of a proper English dockyard, and the addition of a few refinements to her ordinance, and hull. This summons to the Castle could signify that all the hopes and plans for himself and his crew were about to be dashed.
David began to adjust his sword belt which was causing him some discomfort in the sweltering heat, despite the large fan in the ceiling





driven by an ingenious mechanism powered by a punkah wallah concealed in the next room.





As he turned to reach the Sword belt, the double doors at the end of the room swept open and no lesser figure than a Royal Naval Post Captain strode through the lobby and into the Governor's Office.
A few minutes later, a clerk emerged and in a rather supercilious tone called for

"A Captain McBride".


On entering the Board room of the HEIC McBride was surprised to note that the Governor was absent.





Only the Chief Secretary and a Royal Naval Post Captain were present along with Anderson, McBride's own Commodore.

On the table in front of the trio were charts of the Southern Indian Ocean and the Mozambique channel.





George Anderson opened the conversation with a curt
" Morning McBride, please be seated, and help yourself to the decanter.*
McBride folded his hat, sat down and having filled his glass with a fine Port from the decanter, in some trepidation awaited his fate.


Anderson continued,

" Allow me to introduce you to Captain Perryman, Flag Officer to Admiral Pound at the Cape." Both Captains acknowledged each other with a slight bow without getting up.


"You will no doubt have heard of the Admiral's resounding victory over the French recently. This has cleared the way for our troops final decent upon the Isle De France. Although the enemy Battle Squadron was annihilated, a couple of Frigates and smaller craft escaped. They are now making a nuisance of themselves preying upon the supply convoys provisioning the army prior to its decent upon the Ile de France. Thus the Admiral's Frigates are tied down escorting these convoys, as all his Liners are in for repaired at Simon's Town following the battle.


A coastal trader has tipped off the Admiral that the Frigates are working out of L'île d'araignée just to the north of the Mozambique channel. With none of his own ships to spare, he has asked for the Honourable Company's assistance in clearing out the nest of vipers. Knowing that you were about to leave the station bound for England, I have instructed Captain Pennyman here to inform the Admiral that you will take a look into the island on your way to the Cape. Captain Pennyman here will brief you on the details and answer any of your questions. Please feel free to use this room, the charts and the decanter as you see fit gentlemen."
With no more ado, Anderson and the chief clerk left the room, whilst McBride and Pennyman got down to planning their stratagem for removing this threat to the supply route.

Bligh.