[We Interrupt Your Usual RP to Bring You... International Talk Like a Pirate Day!]

[kirktastic]

It was morning on the Enterprise, and it came with the slow creaking of wood deck around him, swelling in the heat of the morning, the sound of waves against the sides of the ship. Definitely a damn good way to wake up.

Even better was waking up between two warm bodies, one pressed to either side of him. On one side was his cabin boy, a young buck with a foolish head but a pleasing face and tongue. On the other, his first mate, a smug, stoic, uptight, ridiculously intelligent bastard who he had finally talked into ...sharing his bed. At least in the physical sense. He'd won the argument that the captain's bed was the most comfortable place on the ship, but anything beyond that was met with a pointed look and a reach for the sword hilt.

It was a damn good life here on the Enterprise.

He was Captain James T. Kirk of the pirate ship Enterprise, the most feared name on the open seas. He ran his crew with a mixture of charm, command, and the point of his sword. He was a good swordsman, a better brawler, and decent with a flint lock.

[OOC: This will be the ONLY pirate thread everyone, no multiple posts on multiple journals! Post just in here for this! Today only!]

Comments

Unnatural Thunder

[allmhadadh.livejournal.com]

The schooner Lady Grey was being gained upon, and even her near renowned speed was not enough to shake off the Enterprise on her stern. That left her only one option: Abandon course, and run for her life.

It had started with an unlikely rescue (http://kirktastic.livejournal.com/23975.html?thread=947879#t947879). Before that, the Grey could have simply outrun the larger, heavier vessel. But that had lost them time, and ever after, the Enterprise had been breathing down her neck (http://kirktastic.livejournal.com/23975.html?thread=962983#t962983).

The newly employed and rescued Harold Lee was standing by with the starboard watch, under the second mate; the larboard watch under the first mate. And the captain, ever vigilant, waited to give the order.

There would be no bellowing until the final act of the tack. The Grey was going to go from her starboard to larboard tack, forcing the Enterprise to follow and give up her dead-on-the-wind advantage. This would leave the Grey's stern vulnerable to shot from the Enterprise's quickly loadable bow-chaser, though hopefully the fleet and nimble schooner would be out of range before she could man her main guns and fire a full volley. It would be close.

The watches stood ready and tense; no barking from the mates, nor the captain, so as not to have the orders drift and warn the Enterprise.

"Ready to off sheets and tacks," Lowe said, and it was passed once to Scott who repeated it to his crew. Mercifully, everyone had a great deal of practice in switching tacks; it would be a ballet. Maybe enough.

The entire crew tensed in anticipation.

And then it came from the quarterdeck: "The helm's a'lee!"

"Off tacks and sheets!" Scott and Lowe yelled in unison, and the sailors moved swiftly to obey, casting off lines.

The bow swung around hard, a nearly hair-pin turn for a vessel at sea, and everyone moved to their next lines, waiting and waiting to see if the Enterprise would fire her bow-chaser on the schooner.

"Foresail haul!" Scotty cried out, as his watch dragged the massive foresail, the main steering sail of a schooner, around against the forces of wind, driven by fear and determination.

"Mainsail haul!" Lowe followed, the main power driving sail of the vessel, as soon as the fore was brought around.

"LET GO and HAUL!" was the final order of the ballet, a breathless rush as the schooner picked up the wind, heeled hard to her starboard side and jumped over a swell. And then, she was running hard, picking up speed, waiting for the unnatural thunder... and so busy worrying about what was behind that they did not see what was ahead (http://kirktastic.livejournal.com/23975.html?thread=920999#t920999).

Re: Unnatural Thunder

[kirktastic.livejournal.com]

Kirk's eyes went absolutely huge then he saw another ship coming up. He stared at the other ship without its flags and growled. He gestured up sharply to Spock, "East! We're going to head for Risa and leave the ship for then to fight it out."

Re: Unnatural Thunder

[mirror-brightly.livejournal.com]

Nero watched out the long lense of his telescope and a dry grin pulled his expression up. The Enterprise, he knew it even at such a distance, and chasing some Federated Merchants no less. The moment she veered for Isla del Risa, Nero lowered the glass and snaped it shut.

"All hands, hard to port. Intercept course. I will have that ship," Nero called and behind him, his first officer repeated him, crew scrambling across deck as the great form of the Narada picked up and took turned into the wind. The commodore tucked the spy-glass into his coat and turned to regard the Foriegn Marshall Ephram.

"As I said, sir," Nero repeated almost smugly. "My navigator is always right."

Re: Unnatural Thunder

[cso-spock.livejournal.com]

Spock spun the helm around at once, turning the ship sharply towards the east, hearing shouts from down below as he did so. At least Kirk was sane enough to know when to pass up a fight (at least at sea).

"Captain--" Once they were all steady again. "If you would examine the ship with your spyglass, while we still have the opportunity."

Re: Unnatural Thunder

[allmhadadh.livejournal.com]

"Ship ahead!" was the cry that made the decks of the Grey feel suddenly cold. And Scott and Lowe nearly ran over everyone in the way running forward to see what could be there -- another pirate? Worse?

The low moon, just breasting the horizon, gave off light.

Lowe recognized her immediate. So did Scotty; he breathed out, in awe, "Narada."

Re: Unnatural Thunder

[kirktastic.livejournal.com]

"Already on it." Kirk was pulling out the glass from his pocket, extending it and peering through. When he finally got a better look at the ship, he recognized someone immediately.

"...Nero..." He whispered, standing in shock. The great black ship with great tentacles carved into it like a kraken was wrapped around its bow. A monster of the deep. People said that legend said that it could separate from the boat and devour another ship whole.

"Spock! ...Spock, it's the Narada!"

Re: Unnatural Thunder

[mirror-brightly.livejournal.com]

Nero turned his attention from the Marshal with a nod and held his hand aloft. Deep below, along the lines of the Narada's warpaint, the canon ports opened and the gunners moved to the ready. At his back the men dashed back and forth.

They were gaining.

"Long-guns, on the mark!" Nero ordered and a deck below, ten men shouted their readiness.

Re: Unnatural Thunder

[allmhadadh.livejournal.com]

"Put us hard a starboard, bring 'round the sails!" Winslow howled from the quarterdeck. The Grey would get in no firefights tonight. They would take their rescue, and count their blessings. "Good luck, Narada," he added, tipping a salute to the naval vessel.

Re: Unnatural Thunder

[cso-spock.livejournal.com]

His hands tightened into a white-knuckled grip as Kirk announced the identity of the ship. They could outrun the Narada, with the oars, maybe. "Engaging her would be unwise, yet--" Spock glanced over his shoulder. "It may be necessary." Considering the possibility even though he loathed it.

Re: Unnatural Thunder

[kirktastic.livejournal.com]

"Hands to cannons! Row fer yer lives!" Kirk called down to the lower decks, "Naval vessel behind!"

Kirk bolted up to where Spock was, glaring over their stern, "Dammit, dammit. How the hell can we deal wit' outrunning them? Even if we get ta Risa, and they gotta know that's where we're goin'..."

He was thinking fast. "...There's a nobleman's port we might be able ta hide in fer the right price..."

Re: Unnatural Thunder

[mirror-brightly.livejournal.com]

Nero's eyes narrowed on the horizon as the Enterprise shifted against the line that lead to Risa. Was the Captain pulling around, intent on circling Risa to lose them? Nero shouted something to his first and his Navigator's voices snapped back from behind the wheel, beyond his vision.

His expression was dangerous as he stepped to the railing, his eyes fixed on the shape of the Enterprise.

Re: Unnatural Thunder

[kirktastic.livejournal.com]

"We'll circle the island and 'round its backside we can hide. The madam of one o'the brothels runs a ship fer her silks and fer girls..." He smirked, thinking of the beautiful lady Gaila. "We hide can there."

Re: Unnatural Thunder

[cso-spock.livejournal.com]

Spock glanced at Kirk, skeptical about this plan but accepting it for lack of any other. A silent nod, his grip still tight on the helm.

(He hated brothels, even with Kirk there.)

Re: Unnatural Thunder

[ephram-green.livejournal.com]

Ephram remained silent, quite impressed with Nero's command abilities. He gripped the nearby railing, knuckles turning white as Enterprise filled his vision.

So close. He would see Kirk in chains before the day was through.

Re: Unnatural Thunder

[ephram-green.livejournal.com]

Ephram nodded slightly, willing to concede this to the Commodore. "Your navigator proves his worth, sir. I will make a note to report this to the Federation, as they have clearly underestimated Rihannsu skill."

His hand falls to the hilt of his rapier, fastened securely at his belt. "As I said before, my blade is at your service in this pursuit, Commodore." There is a glint of joy at the chase in his eyes.