AAR - April 2016 Solo Campaign - Copping a Packet

[Vagabond]

Copping a Packet – Game 4

Bon Soir Hermione, it is a pleasure to see you again, where is your Father tonight. Ah I see him at the bar, run over like a good girl and ask him to add my glass of the 98 to his order. It will save him time, returning here and then having to go back and order it. You know how he sometimes gets grumpy about the cost.
Grumpy! It’s an English word Hermione, I’ll explain once you’ve stopped your Father leaving the bar. Off you go now.


Ah Baptiste, don’t pull that grumpy monkey face, there Hermione, if you look at your Fathers expression that describes grumpy better than ever I could. No Baptiste the 98 is not overpriced, now just sit down because I’d like to tell you and your lovely daughter about the first time I met an American.

It was like this, we, or should I say I had been entrusted with carrying a special cargo to the Americans, this was a secret mission and apart from the fact that there were documents and 5 very heavy wooden crates I do not know what was in either of them. We were anchored in a sheltered bay in one of the Caribbean Islands……it’s name escapes me for the moment but we were close to the cliffs and protected by a small fortification. We had a line ashore and the boats were plying between us carrying the cargo as quickly as we could.


Perhaps I should draw a plan of the bay on the table rather than describe it. No don’t fret I’ll do it by dipping my finger in your beer Baptiste, the 98 is too precious to waste like that.


We had just sent the final load over when around the headland came a British Frigate. HMS Cleopatra, with all sails set.


She had the wind abaft the beam, pushing her along at a goodly rate of knots. The last piece of our cargo had been delivered to the American sloop and my orders had been to avoid contact with the enemy at all costs so once my small boat was alongside we hauled her up on deck at the same time that the capstan started to turn and raise the anchor.


As Cleopatra turned into the bay the wind shifted a little and I could see her sails start to shiver but not enough for her to be completely taken aback.


Her Captain adjusted his course quickly and she continued to come on in fine style. I hadn’t been in command of Alligator long but already I’d created a strong sense of Esprite d’Corps and the men were pulling hard on the capstan bars.
No Baptiste, it wasn’t so they could escape the British Frigate but so they could impress me, their new Captain.

The American sloop, the Thorn was much slower and I could see her Captain looking at my crew, envy all over his face.


Their lack of alacrity served him well though. As Cleopatra closed the gap there was a tremendous salvo from the Thorn’s small guns and they caused tremendous execution on the British ship. The Foremast went over the side and a huge plume of smoke enveloped them as fire broke out in more than one place.


I’ll give the Rosbif’s their due, even with the ship a blazing inferno their Captain turned to starboard and returned fire.


Thorn had reloaded her guns and was able to fire off a second salvo, not as effective as the first but I was pretty sure Cleopatra’s days were numbered. I knew that the cargo I’d handed over must be important, otherwise why would the Admiral send me, and so I started to turn to aid Thorn.


But she didn’t need any help because Cleopatra sank almost immediately, the fire spluttering like a demon possessed as she sank beneath the waves.

I had a little trouble extracting Alligator from the bay but was able to wave a cheery adieu to the Thorn’s Captain as he returned to his home port.

When I reported to my Admiral he was full of praise for me and my men, noting how remarkable a seaman I must be, to engage in such a sharp action and bring my ship through undamaged. Praise indeed, do you not think so Baptiste?

Well I think I’ll just have one more glass of the 98, for the road you understand and then I’ll be on my way.


That was indeed a remarkable salvo from the Thorn, the fire damage killed the Cleopatra very quickly, I really didn’t expect that.

I’d decided to play the sloops rather than as the scenario states the Frigate because I’ve never sailed them before. I expected to have to manoeuvre quite a bit to be able to fight the frigate on even terms but the luck of the draw went my way.


There was no damage inflicted on Alligator, obviously through superior seamanship and not as implied by Baptiste because we were trying to escape quickly.