⛵ ⛵ ⛵ ⛵. . . "Tour of the Gulf of Aden". . . (cont.)
[Last time...]
“He says ye can troost everythin' he is tellin' ye coz he wants tae kill th' Lord Jinn an'..." Andofzara said hesitating.
“An’?”
“An’… he wants tae join uir crew!"
“Fock th' queen an' aw 'er coort!!" The Captain barked in heated disbelief!
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The mood of the crew was tense as the Captain and Commander Galligan were still locked behind closed doors below with the Arab skipper. Meanwhile, Petty Officer- Armourer Ickied, Seaman- Quarter Gunner Errislravenhill, Seaman- Able Seaman Teemitag and Seaman- Ordinary Seamen Ergino and Tokjockey all gathered at the starboard rail, looking down at the crew in the Dhow.
“At leest th' true pirates ur haur!!!” Tokjockey said excitedly as he pointed down at Asif’s crew below, “Ahh've ne'er seen a pirate up close!"
“Aye, an th’ plot thickins likes braw bluid… we kin be in a fight suin enaw!" Errislravenhill added.
“Nae sae fest mates, we dornt know fur sure if they's pirates ur jist rogue traders." Ickied reminded as he crossed his arms and gave a hard eye towards Abdul.
“Guid tae know 'att Seaman- Able Seaman Andofzara can spick Arabic! If we be in th' Sooth Pacific Ahh'd be decent in Chinese an' Japanese if need be, Sairrr.” Errislravenhill replied.
“Ahh didne know 'att. Ahh'll be sure tae teel Cockpit Mate- Midshipman's Mate Fisky. Who knows whaur uir next toor will gang..." Ickied replied as he broke off with his stare-down with Abdul and walked away from the rail.
[Below deck, back in the chartroom…]
The discussion was becoming heated and was taking on a whole new light as the Captain leaned forward in his chair and gave Asif a hard eye…
“Say 'att again seaman?!" The Captain ordered.
“Aye Sairrr…” Andofzara replied as he cleared his throat, “He says he wants tae join uir crew...Sairrr."
The Captain glanced at Commander Galligan and then back at Asif…” An' wa woods Ahh want thes pearl trader oan mah crew?!"
Andofzara translated and Asif replied quickly…
“He says he’s laid a trap fur th' Lord Jinn, an' 'att if ye brin' heem oan board, ye will surely be able tae destroy th' Jinn’s fleit in open water!”
The Captain wrinkled his brow in attention as he processed the plan…
“Hoo mony an' whaur ur th' Jinn’s fleit noo?” The Captain asked as he drew a long puff on his pipe.
Andofzara translated…”He says th' Jinn's fleit will noo be sooth ay th' Gulf o’ Aden, followin' a twintie degree sooth-eest coorse headin' fur Seychelles. He says th' Jinn has nine ur ten war Dhows, nane larger than thirty-fife feit an' nae mair than seven ur eight guns each Sairrr.”
Commander Galligan turned towards the Captain, “War dhows ur burst an' rin vessels. They need th' cover o’ islands an' coves tae be successful in attackin' a warship..."
“Aye, they's dae...” The Captain answered absently as he looked at Asif.
The Arab skipper nodded slightly as if to show his confidence in the plan…
“It seems yoo've got a guid heed oan yer shoolders trader! Ahh likes th' plan. Ahh hud it in mah min' tae kill th' Jinn anyways sein' hoo he laid waste tae th' King o' Aden who was mah friend! Tells heem!"
Andofzara translated…
“He wants tae know if ye agree tae tak' heem oan as crew?”
The Captain thought a while before answering…”Aye, Ahh'll tak' heem oan, but nae until efter Ahh hav cut th' Jinn's fleit tae pieces! Ahh want tae see 'att he is loyal…"
Andofzara translated…”He says he agrees, but must know 'att his crew will hav safe passage back tae Saudi Arabia?"
“Tells heem they ur free tae gang an' will hav safe passage ower th' northern horizon as far as Ahh can see’s..."
Hearing the reply, Asif slowly extended his hand across the table in agreement. The Captain took hold and gave him a firm shake while Galligan smiled slightly in approval.
⛵ ⛵ ⛵ ⛵
'Hit an' rin tactics'
"Th' open brine provides th' most favorable battlespace fur a large, weel-gunned warship. Th' presence o' lain an' th' topography o' an area compress th' battlespace, limit th' opportunities tae maneuver, make it easier fur an enemy tae use 'hit an' rin' tactics, an' make th' detection o' enemy forces mair difficult. In shallaw waters with inlets and islains, th' detection o' small Jackdaws ur war Dhows is especially problematic an' sae forth. Ye hav tae watch oot fur 'att!!" 🤨- Keptin
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"Confused? Ascared? Seasick? Need a private chat with the Captain?" - joshua.slane@aol.com
References: Pictures froms: www.freeimages.com, www.pexels.com, pixabay.com, steemit.com an’ www.google.com/maps. Data loosely interpretted froms: www.wikipedia.org an' sometimes reit from th' author's extensiff personal experience an' such.
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