(no subject)
A ship's crew always like to make a good show when their vessel comes into port, with decks freshly scrubbed and yards blackened and every sail showing full and true. All the more so, for the Pridewin, because the commodore has ordered that the Union Flag shall be flown from her stern in a position of honour above the Company's colours -- as a sign to all that for this voyage, she has been seconded to His Majesty's service.
She docks in a very business-like procedure, without fanfare or a gun salute. The order goes up to set watches and have all men take stock of the remaining provisions aboard. It is busywork, perhaps, but it is necessary work, and it requires a good deal of attention and effort to make an accurate count. Yet the crew do not fail to notice that the first mate has been placed in command to supervise their work.
Commodore Lyon, it seems, has gone ashore without so much as a single pipe to see him off the ship.
And he has taken with him a dozen armed Company marines.
(The men taking stock of the armaments note that according to the most recent records, the marines -- in addition to their officially issued arms -- have taken two sets of newly-wrought iron manacles.)