The Captain's Trial (10)

Writers: Anaria
Date Posted: 7th June 2011

Characters: Tiernan, Paraner
Description: The Day After the Storm
Location: Elsewhere on Pern
Date: month 2, day 9 of Turn 6
Notes: The mechanics of a sea rescue...

For once, Rukbat was up before the Captain, her brilliant rays
creating a pink-purple sunrise for anyone awake to observe. Tiernan
awoke on the floor of his chambers, Squirt snuggled up neatly in his
jacket, snoring softly. "So you finally come around, ya little
bastard," he muttered to himself with a shake of his head.
Straightening, he found that his head was pounding, and his ears were
ringing loudly. He groaned. If he would have known the fresh water
supplies were going to be contaminated by sea water, he would
certainly not have drank so much rum.

He blinked, clearing the sandy feeling from his eyes, and noticed a
packet made from thin hide sitting next to him. It wasn't something
that he'd seen before. He couldn't immediately look at it though. He
picked it up, and stood to place it in his desk, while cradling Squirt
with one hand. The firelizard stirred slightly.

"Are you ready to deliver a message yet?" Tiernan asked, stroking the
firelizard's head.

~~curious~~ sent Squirt. ~~Image of Meledei~~

"No, no. Not to Meledei. To the Dockmaster at Topaz Sea Hold," Tiernan
said, as he sat down and grabbed a small piece of hide, and a bit of
charcoal.

Squirt cheeped unhappily. He would much rather go visit Meledei.

"We need you, Squirt. We need you to save the ship. You're very
important," Tiernan knew that they wouldn't get back to shore quickly
enough to get the food and water they'd all need to survive. Squirt
was quite literally his only hope of getting out of things safely.

Squirt preened proudly. Of course he was important. He was Squirt,
Blue Firelizard!

Dockmaster,
This is Captain Tiernan of the Seawing. Our ship is heavily damaged by
a hurricane, and we are nearly out of food and water supplies. We are
nearly 5 days travel due north of Topaz Sea Hold, but I do not believe
we can wait 5 days for a vessel with supplies. We have one critically
injured crew member who needs to see a healer urgently. Please advise,

Tiernan

Tiernan tucked the note into the tube about Squirt's leg, and
concentrated on the image of the Topaz Dockmaster. He only hoped that
the man wasn't busy. Squirt cheeped in understanding, then hopped into
the air, and disappeared /between/.

Tiernan took a deep breath. He needed to eat something. He knew that
the Quartermaster and the Cook would already be carefully rationing
off food stuffs for the rest of the crew. He pulled the emergency
water skin from his desk, and sipped carefully from it, trying to
avoid drinking more than he absolutely needed to function. His stomach
rumbled hungrily, but he remembered the first rule of limited
resources - digestion uses water. It's best not to eat if your water
supplies are limited.

A few moments later, Squirt reappeared, chirping happily. He landed on
Tiernan's desk, shaking his leg with excitement.

"Hold still, you silly thing. I can't get the tube off if you shake
around like that!" Tiernan said, although with good humor.

~~Image of Dockmaster giving Squirt a treat~~ Squirt sent, his mental
tone tinged with pride.

Tiernan finally disentangled the note, and read it quickly.

Captain,
I'll be in contact with the riders at Dolphin Cove. I am sending a
Firelizard to see if dragon assistance will be possible. There is a
ship 2 days south of your location. I have them heading your direction
now. Please provide maps tomorrow so I can give them more exact
directions. Sne dyour firelizard back in a few candlemarks and I'll
provide you with updated information.

Tiernan nodded, and headed above deck. He knew instantly that there
was a problem. The Seawing wasn't where it belonged. He could tell
that from where the Dawnsisters were in relation to where Rukbat was.
He figured they were travelling vaguely Southeast, but he had no idea
of how far they'd gone.

He turned the wheel of the Seawing, trying to point her due south
again, but navigation was hindered by the lack of sails to bring
about. Swearing under his breath, Tiernan did the best that he could,
and then shouted for one of the Journeyman to man the helm.

"Any word from the Hall, Captain?" Paraner asked, gesturing to Squirt.
The firelizard was happily flying about above the ship once more.

"Aye, they're getting in contact with the Weyr, although the best
they'd likely be able to do would be to drop off some supplies. Still,
it helps. There's a ship roughly 2 days south of us that has been
given instructions to intercept. I'm hoping we're drifting in their
direction," Tiernan said.

"I wager we can't get a dragon to pick up Galliet?" Paraner asked.

"I think it'd be too risky," Tiernan said, after giving it some
thought. "The Seawing can't support the weight of a dragon to land.
The dragonrider would need to hover above the ship, put down a rope,
and someone would need to climb up a moving rope while carrying
Galliet. I don't think it'd be wise to risk landing a dragon in the
ocean, I don't know if they'd be able to get out. And to add insult to
injury, it's quite windy today. What has Hawthen said about his
condition?"

"The break is showing signs of infection in the bone itself," Paraner
said. "He's thinking only a few candlemarks before he has to amputate.
And he is going to need a few people to assist him."

Tiernan cringed. As a Captain, he'd been given extensive field healing
classes at the Seacraft Hall. He much preferred using the knowledge to
remove splinters and to tend blisters than he did to amputate limbs.
"Is the fellis still keeping him out?"

"So far, sir, although we're running out. Hopefully we can get some
delivered from the Weyr," Paraner said.

"Well, the rescue is in the works. I'd recommend everyone taking it
easy. We'll rotate shifts at the helm to ensure that we stay in a
southward facing, but other than that, everyone needs to be below to
avoid dehydration until water can get here one way or another,"
Tiernan said.

"Aye Captain."

Last updated on the June 13th 2011

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The Captain's Trial (10)