BOOM!!

            The sound repeated many times as 2 the two ships exchanged cannon fire.As was common, most of the rounds missed, however the ones that did land were mostly inconsequential due to the 400 yards between them. The distance sapping the momentum of the projectiles and although our Brig wasn’t anywhere near the biggest or sturdiest vessel it was still reinforced past the point of being average.”We were set up.”Said the man to my left.”If she were just a cargo ship they wouldn’t have swivels on her,and I’ll be damned if those are less than 8 pounders.” The man spit then ramed the gunpowder into the cannon while another man shoved the chain shot down it’s barrel packing it back with a separate rod. After the four minutes it took them to reload the cannons the distance between the two ships had narrowed considerably down to about 200 yards or so. The man took hold of the lanyard and held it waiting for the angle to be better.” Fire yer last shot and get ready to board ya dogs!” The First Mate shouted from behind me.Leaving the cannon to the veteran aiming it. I threw down the swab rod I was holding and went to the main mast where we had the boarding pikes. As a Classless I was forced to do a bit of everything on the ship till my class and specialty unlocked. So while I was scrambling to get a weapon the main boarding crew were standing fast, already prepared for the bitter struggle ahead.Of course there were another 20 or so of the crew now getting weapons ready, but at that moment it was the main boarders who commanded my attention. 39 men all veterans having been pirates on these seas for years not one a lick shy about the bloodshed to come some even showing expressions of anticipation.In a formation of two sets of ten men one group standing in front of the other with a group of nine men standing in front of them with one man standing at the tip the First Mate.                                                                                                                 Jared Mansin Title First Mate (Pirate)                                                                                                        Extremely Dangerous                                                                                                             Status and abilities ??? Unknown                                                                      He was a tall man his presence was almost supernaturally intimidating, definitely a skill but knowing doesn't make a difference. He wasn't the tallest just above average always wore an engulfing coat with a sharp hat on his head and a rare cavalry sabre on his hip.Only visible when the wind blew right were two flintlocks one on the left side of his chest the other on the right,both easily accessible. You didn’t have to like the man but no matter who you spun it he definitely struck an imposing figure. I grabbed the boarding pike and got to the side waiting for the almost inevitable collision. BOOM!! Our ships once again traded vollies now that we were closer far more rounds hit. One of our masts were shredded by the merchant turn military ships chain shot. However the Military ship Bisentine wasn’t left unscarred as two of it’s masts were done in by our rounds. The men near by either mast were all in pain and indeed several were damaged heavily by the wood chips blasted into them by the chain shot’s destruction of the masts. As the boats started entering within 50 feet sharpshooters on both sides fired and the men on the swivels did the same. Musket rounds and Grapeshot were spread over both ships I threw myself down onto the deck to avoid… well all of it. Throughout all of this the some the screams of pain,the coughs and sputters of the dying those 40 men were the only constant. On our Brig with a total crew of a low 100 number a handful were injured and  there were several pockets of 20 men or so around, not very organised, but there you have it. But those 39 men and the First Mate didn’t seem bothered at all, most drawing weapons from their sheaths and and loosening their shoulders with some shrug like motions. Me? I threw up. The screams of pain, the disgusting and disfiguring wounds, one man was clutching his eye and screaming another had gaping wounds in his chest, His heart still beat pumping blood out of the man's body at a fatal rate.I spit, the calm daylight and waves seeming to mock the battle going on irritated me more than a little.The Bisentine and Our Brig Old Salty drew alongside each other. Both ships were relying on their crew. Whichever ships crew killed or made the other side surrender won both ships and all the treasure the other held. (Although for the military they probably aren't interested in whatever gimmicks are left over more being law inclined they’re probably interested in the prestige comin with sinkin a pirate ship, maybe a merchant reward being their goal.) This gave me a bad feeling for a very simple reason. Whoever’s captaining that vessel they ain’t a moron so unless they’re confident or desperate they wouldn’t use this maneuver, less it be a bluff but it’s too late for that in any case.

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