Normandy
for the first time. All around, the crew were making last minute preparations. Master-at-Arms Aela, calling her by her first name as requested, noticed my arrival and saluted. Returning the salute, I gestured she continue with whatever she was doing now. Walking up the quarterdeck, Quartermaster Moreau was already at the wheel, no doubt dreaming of piloting the ship across the worst waves imaginable, adding to that, hoping we'd end up in some sort of battle, where he could truly prove his prowess with the wheel. My officers gathered around as I looked forward towards the bow.
"Simply magnificent," Master Pressly stated, "Seeing her from the shore is one thing. But actually standing on her..."
Standing on the quarterdeck, the three masts reached for the heavens above, the sails as white as snow. Even at anchor, the ship made those usual noises one would expect, suggesting the very wood beneath our feet was alive. It was a clear, warm day, the smell of salt in the air. I could see my officers waiting for me to say something. Everyone knew their jobs. Knew what was required of them. "I'll make a speech to the entire crew once we're ready to go. For now, move to your stations and prepare for departure."
They all saluted again and dispersed to where they should be. I stayed near the wheel, Moreau lazily leaning against it. Master Pressly had a small table on which he had placed a compass, sextant, map and notepad on which he would plot our course. Aela approached me a couple of minutes later, suggesting we could cast-off within the hour, Pressly agreeing with her assessment. Most men were in position, ready to depart. Thanking her, Pressly started issuing orders to rig and prepare sails.
I could hear orders for the men to come up to the deck. There was no chance they'd all fit on the deck itself. Many climbed the rigging so they could see me. Many wouldn't have seen me before, though I believed most would have heard of me, even before their recruitment. From my position above the deck, all my officers lined up in front of me, hats removed from the head. Behind, the enlisted men lined up as best they could, but it wasn't important. More men were hanging from the rigging, some even on the right rung of the masts above. Whether they'd actually hear me or not, who knows...
"Ladies and gentleman, welcome to your new home, the Normandy!
Many of you gathered in front of me would not know my face but might know my name. I am John Shepard, captain of this mighty vessel. It is a new design, a ship never built before. It is called a man-of-war, a new class of ships being built called Ships of the Line. It is an honour that the Lord Admiral and Emperor himself has placed this vessel and its crew in my hands.
There has probably been much conversation, whisper and rumours about the purpose of this vessel. I will now make our task crystal clear. For the first time in one hundred years, a ship of the Empire will pass through the Great Barrier Reef. Our task is two-fold. One, to locate evidence of the first ship to pass through the reef. It was called the
Dunkerque
and it failed to return from its maiden voyage. There is hope within the Admiralty that we will locate survivors from that ship, whether it was wrecked or attacked. But the second objective is most important. We have been tasked to sail the ocean blue and discover how alone or not we are on this world. We know of the Batarians, but their numbers appear few, their technological progress behind ours, and there is no desire to locate their homeland. But there is belief that there must be more people beyond the reef. The Emperor wishes to know who is out there, and if they will be friend or foe of the Empire.
We will be gone for many months. More than likely a year. Of what is beyond the reef, information is scarce and maps are mere guesswork rather than fact. We are all travellers and explorers aboard this vessel. When we return to Arcturus, we will all have stories to share. And it is my solemn vow to each and every one of you, whether enlisted man or officer, that you will see our homeland again.
Sister Leliana, please commence the prayer."
Leliana stepped forward and invoked the will of the gods, to provide a strong wind, to protect us from storms, to shield us from the enemy, to provide us with a safe journey back to port. Nearly every man and woman in front of me was devout, arm across their chest, right hand above their heart, fingers spread wide as a symbol of the Five. I did the same as I listened to that wonderful accented voice.
Once she was finished, she stepped back. "Ladies and gentleman of the Normandy, prepare to set sail. Mister Pressly, weigh anchor and billow the sails. We have a world to discover!"
There were cheers from the decks and voices quickly rose above them, orders flying between officer and enlisted man as the ship was prepared for launch. I watched men climbed the rigging to prepare the sails. One man climbed even further to the crow's nest, a small basket placed at the top of the centre mast. I noticed he climbed around the outside of the basket, to show his skill and courage. Any man who used the ladder inside, the obvious and safer option, was mocked by his fellow sailors.
Standing next to Moreau, I did ask, "Believe you can handle this ship in the roughest weather, Moreau?"
I believed he did but wanted to hear the belief in his voice. The polio had left his legs weakened, but his upper body appeared strong. But the wheel required strength in both legs and arms. Feet needed to be planted and it took strength from ankles to groin. Moreau looked and me and smirk. "I've been working on something to help, Captain," he replied, leaning down to lift his trouser leg, showing what appeared to be a thin iron bar along his leg, "There are leather straps around my ankle, knee and thigh. Reinforced iron. Probably strong than bone, sir."
I crouched down to have a look. "Remarkable, Moreau. You did this yourself?"
"I had a bit of help from Doctor Chakwas. She's a wise old woman."
I gave him a look. "I wouldn't be calling her old to her face, Moreau. But this will help with stability and strength?"
"Sir, the only time I'll be taking the damned things off is when I sleep. Chakwas believes these will help me remain on my feet even in the worst of seas, and will definitely help me at the wheel. Granted, I'll need the occasional spare hands if it gets
really
bad."
There was a noise, looking up to see the forward sail had already captured the wind, the ship lurching forward as it pulled on ropes that attached it to the peer. I could hear orders the ropes to be cut, as they were not required, not part of our rigging.
"Anchor's up, Master!" I heard a call.
"Hoist the main sail!" Pressly ordered. Once that was billowing, the ship would feel like it was taking off. The rear sail had also captured the wind, as the ropes attaching us to the pier were severed, the ship moved forward under the wind for the first time. There was another loud cheer, Moreau immediately turning us to port so we could leave the harbour. A few people had remained at shore to see us off, seeing them wave us goodbye. I knew that the newspapers would be full of news about our ship and departure. The people of Arcturus would only see upon our on return, whenever that happened to be.
"Captain, this new sail design, the spinnaker. When would you like it unfurled?" Pressly asked.
"Once we're past the reef, Pressly. For now, let's just do what we normally do."
"Aye-aye, sir. I'll have the men prepare it for then, sir." He consulted his compass and sextant, calculating speed and position. We had already checked the maps and had to aim for a singular point in the reef. And passing through that alone would take a long time and plenty of calculation. It took only fifteen minutes to be past the headlands, and ahead was only the ocean blue. "Quartermaster, tack starboard, thirty degrees. Keep her on that heading until further notice."
"Aye-aye, Master." Moreau wouldn't know when it was at thirty degrees. Pressly would call out when the ship was pointed in the right direction. The boat turned easily, Moreau barely having to strain to make it tack. I'd been told she handled like a dream, but standing at the bridge near the two men, if this was what it was going to be like, at least when it was calm...
"Thirty degrees, Captain. We are now fifty miles from the Great Barrier Reef and the lone entry point," Pressly reported.
I checked my watch. "Once we're at full sail, take the average speed. We should do eight knots, though I had it reported that it will do nine. Though the weight currently on board may slow us to begin with."
"And with the spinnaker?" he wondered.
"If it truly catches the wind, we could top twelve. Those were the estimates of the man who designed it."
Moreau couldn't help whistling. "I'd heard rumours, sir," Pressly stated before trailing off.
