October: Aya eye spy

[TexaS]

Johan took possession of Andromaque. He led a boarding party made up of the largest, unwounded båtsmän left and went aboard the frigate. There were wounded all over. He was met by a short man with glasses who introduced himself as "Citoyen Bertrand". When Johan asked "Qui est le capitaine?" he let him know that it was he. It turned out that the noblemen who had captained the ships had been replaced by citizens loyal to the revolution, but not necessary with any knowledge of the sea.

Johan's thoughts wondered. If the revolutionaries were attacking him, a ship not involved in the internal struggle of France, it meant that the small group he picked up must have to do with the revolution itself. Johan quickly made up his mind that even though he wanted to take both ships home as prizes, not that he would get payed for them as in the British Navy, he couldn't get them in good sailing order in time, He hated to leave one of the frigates as prizes still would help with his promotion. He also did not want to bring any prisoners at all. If these women were so important, he wouldn't risk having a single frenchman onboard.

He knew he would have to make repairs before leaving but estimated that he needed to set sail before nightfall. That only left him perhaps ten hours. He ordered the ships to be anchored close to the shore and all prisoners were set ashore. He left water barrels and supplies to sustain the many wounded. Everything that could be salvaged from Surveillante was transferred to Venus and Andromaque. There was no time to take down the masts to replace the damaged, so only spare yards, cordage, timber, sails, cannonballs and powder were transferred while the two frigates were repaired as best as could be done. Surveillant was then set on fire as the Venus and Andromaque started their journey back to Sweden.


HMS Venus sailed well enough with her new rudder, repaired rigging, and spare sails, keeping up well with the captured 32 gun frigate with its repaired topmasts. Leaning on the railing Johan looked at the Andromaque, wondering how he would be received back home. Would he be punished for having been in an action with ships of a nation Sweden wasn't in war with? Would he be received as a hero defeating a powerful naval opponent that attacked him? Axel von Fersen appeared on deck. He walked up to Johan, lifted his hat slightly and said "Jag hade aldrig trott för mitt inre öga att de skulle skicka fartyg efter oss." telling Johan of his surprise to the ships sent after them. "De förde inte fransk flagg utan den af revolutionärerna. Vad faan har greven dragit in oss i?" Johan asked wondering what they had been mixed up in. Taken aback Axel only answered "Är majoren alltid så ful i mun?" before lifting his hat, turning and walking away. Johan looked after the Swedish count as he walked along the deck. Turning back to the sea and the captured frigate Johan felt a bit less anxious of how the capture would be received. Sweden was not at war with France but if the attackers were to be known as revolutionary pirates...


As HMS Venus arrived at Göteborg from it's secret mission picking up the small group of people outside of Dunkerque, a closed carriage was waiting, and the group bid adieu. The captured prize was taken to a drydock and Johan received orders to continue to Karlskrona, his home port and the home to Högsjöflottan. Before leaving he asked for how long the carriage had been waiting and learned that it had been there for over a week.


Johan sat at a table with empty plates in an expensive restaurant in Karlskrona. He looked deep into the eyes of Vice Admiral Nordenskjöld. He drew on his pipe, but it had gone out. "Vet ni vem jag hämtade?" Johan asked the Admiral. "Det är bäst att inte ställa frågor en inte vill höra svaret på." he was answered, hinting that it would be better to not know. Johan told the Admiral "Äfven jag har hört rykten om Drottningens älskare, Axel von Fersen, och jag kan lova att den guvernanten aldrig skött om ett barn." He rose up, nodded slightly and told his adieus. He thought about the rumours about Axel von Fersen being the lover of the French Queen. The thought was staggering. Madame Rochet. Could it be? Was she actually Marie Antoinette?