Halloway and Sons Shipping Co

The morning was warm, a blue sky and a calm sea graced the Captain as he stood upon the poop deck of the ship. The Crew crowding the main deck. Only his officers allowed upon the raised deck with him. Krise gazed around them before turning his back to them to gaze out open the sea. The wind caught the back of his skull bristling the short fur. He turned back and pointed towards the open sea.

"Ye know what lies beyond this island? Fortune and Fame... Infamy! Beyond this rock we become the masters of our own destiny! We hold allegiances te none but the men and women on this ship. I don't care what country's banner they raise, if it aint a jolly roger then its fair game. I promised ye boons, I promised ye a lot. Now I will deliver it on to ye. Our life isn't an easy one mates! But it is the life we know."

He took a step forward standing by the helm, where Shannon should be. Lisska up there with them, and even the Cook Syrena, who he had given an officer's position, as she needed the power to dictate the rations to the rest of the crew.

"We have a skeleton crew mates, that means a lot of ye are gonna be doin more than yer job description calls fer... But again, this is our life. Nuttin new to you group of rag tags!"

He'd call out to the jovial rumble of laughs coming from the crew.

"But is also means fatter purses fer the lot of us, and I'm fine with that. We aint gonna see home fer some time mates. This is our home now, No fightin' amongst ourselves... No trying to steal rations, our cook won't have notta issue lumpin ye up if you try. When we return to Guildereim, it will be with a hold so filled with boon, that we'll be lyin' low in the water. Enough gold for all of us to taste the finer things... But first we gotta go take it. So enough of listenin' to yer captain yammerin' on!"

His attention turned to Lisska.

"Fox get these lazy arses in gear, I want to be outta this port... Now. Shannon! Get this boat turned about and into the wind, Once we're out of Guildereim set a course north by north west... We're head te Kasuria! Syrena! Better get cookin! Come lunch these boy's and girls gonna be a hungry rowdy bunch."

Even Krise would throw in on the work. Stepping down to the main deck to help pull in the ropes from the docks, as the anchors were drawn up. Long poles pressing into the water to help push the frigate away from the port and pushing into position to make sail. It was finally time. A calm and peaceful morning, though the peace was sure not to last, and they certainly would be the catalysts.

Syrena had been looking forward to this day and it had finally come. Once more on a pirate ship and ready for the ways of the seas. She stood up on the helm with the others, but of course was back a bit. Raven was upon her shoulder, his wings giving a flutter behind him a moment. Syrena's own wings were spread a little, but not enough to get in the way of anyone.

Ears perked as she listened to Krise give his speech and it felt good to hear a captain giving words to a crew again. For a moment, she glanced up to the sky and smiled, knowing her parents were watching her and were hopefully smiling upon her. She listened and chuckled softly as Krise spoke of no stealing rations, to which she gave a wicked grin towards the grew, her wings extending a little more to show that the captain wasn't joking.

The order to make way was heard and as Krise turned to her, she gave a salute towards. "Aye captain! I'll have a grand lunch planned out and ready to go by the time lunch time rolls around!" She made her way down the stairs and down to the kitchen. She reached for Raven and placed him on a shelf. "A'right Raven, you know your place. Keep watch." She grinned and patted Raven on the head before she set about grabbing what she'd need for the lunch she had in mind.

Fox stood by the right of the helm, a position that in her days as a Naval Officer and later a first mate to another pirate crew, was one of respect and rank. She was busy chowing down on an apple swiped from a merchant stall along Guildereim's docks, juices dribbling down her chin as she listened with pricked ears to Krise's address to the crew gathered below. Her massive wings, ivory and gold with silver-sharp pinions were furled against her back; she stood with shoulders lined and spine straight. Muzzle tilted in a manner that belayed confidence and power.

When the speech was over and Krise barked commands at her and her fellow officers, there came to be a spark in the unicorn's electric eyes. She tossed her apple core over the side of the ship and in a few short bounds, leaped over the helm's perch and landed on the deck with a thunk of cloven hooves. Fox's voice, melodic but commanding, rang out over the crowd. "Open those sails! Tighten the ropes! You, there! Check the cannon's fastenings! Weigh anchor, you four!" Her wings flared, shimmering bladed feathers catching the sunlight with a menacing glint.

Activity was a blur, bodies bustling and voices mingling into the familiar drum of a crew's motions. The mare helped where she was bid, but mostly she oversaw the men and corrected those who made mistakes. One troublemaker, who sneered at her passing, was given a sharp whip of her tail to his face. Her eyes burned with storms and he was quick to fall back into line. And so, they were to turn the Valdys about and leave the island of Sin.

Shannon stood off to the side, her gold blade tipped tail lashing about behind her, wings equally spread ever so. She listened as the Captain gave the speech, ignoring some of the leering the crew members gave her. She was third in line of command, behind Fox and the Captain, and she intended on making sure these men knew she wasn't playing games. The blade attached to the end of her tail glinted menacing in the light, 'goyle giving a sharp nod once her orders were given. She swung the ship in the directed course, concentration set solely on getting the frigate and its passengers safely from the island and on its way to Kasuria where plunder and treasures awaited them.

Single crimson eye trained on the horizon, ignoring the sharp, stinging glare of sunlight as she eased the great vessel on its way. Brow was squinted just so, to cut out harsh rays and focus on her goal, a thing she had to learn years ago when she lost her other eye and her depth perception was thrown off. She kept the ship sailing smoothly and on course, not once deviating, that look of intense focus kept on pretty piratess' face. It was her responsibility to make sure these men and women didn't become part of Davy Jones' locker and come hell or high water, she'd see to it. Never again would the sea claim the lives of her crew while she was manning the helm.

Departure went well, and as the islands seemed to slip away behind them. The ship was running like the well oiled machine. "Easy as she goes, Shannon." Krise had taken position by her side, watching as Lisska whipped the crew into shape. He grinned before glancing to Shannon.

"Set our course, then have one of these lubs take the helm fer ye... I want to see ye and the first mate in my quarters... There is much for us to discuss."

With that he'd give her a nod before walking down the steps and heading towards the door that lead to the captains quarters. Gaze shifted to his Quarter master.

"Oy! Fox, my quarters."

He'd call after her before stepping into his quarters and moving over to his desk where a map had been pinned to the wood, it was a full map of the known world, but there were lines scrawling from one coast to another, some tracing to different lands, it wouldn't take much to see that they were routes taken by other ships. Almost like a nice little cheat sheet for the Valdys to pick and choose their plunder.

Kept moving about the kitchen, preparing what she'd be making for lunch. She whistled as she moved about the kitchen, moving gently with the roll and sway of the ship as it moved over the water. She heard the men moving about on the deck and it felt good. Once she was set with what she had prepared, she took a moment and grabbed the basket of wild mint she had gotten. Raven was on watch while she started to put the wild mint around the ship.

She placed sprigs of the wild mint around the ship to help get rid of the rats. With them out at sea, she would have to set a trap to capture the rats so that she could get rid of them once land was spotted. She worked on a few ideas in her mind while she worked wit the mint placement.

While she was placing the mint around, one of the crew decided to try and sneak into the kitchen. Seeing she wasn't there, the mink snuck into the kitchen and saw the lobster that had been cut up for a stew. He looked around and grabbed a few pieces of the meat. As he did this though, a high pitched shrieking sound came from all around the kitchen. The mink paniced and looked around, but the door slammed open and the mink was soon confronted by the alicorn hybrid. She snorted and grabbed the mink. "Steal from the kitchen eh? Lets make sure the others learn."

The door was closed behind her and locked as she moved towards the corner of the kitchen. "Whatcha gonna do? Have yer way with me?" he sneered. He squeaked though as he saw a paddle brought. "Nope." She reached for the mink as he made to run and grabbed the knob the door. "HELP! Mad woman!!" A yelp came as the paddle came down across his rear end. He tried to scream for help again, but another yelp came from him, then another and another. She continued to paddle the mink till she had reached the number of twenty. The door unlocked and she booted the mink out. "Now stay out of the kitchen unless you're helping to cook!!"

The mink rubbed at his rear as he ran back up to the deck, cursing up a storm.

Fox was amidst the rigging with several other sailors, helping them adjust the sails and check the ropes. The wind buffeted she and the men who accompanied her; but they were all steady on their feet (and hooves). With final knot secured and a double-check of the quality, her wings flared and angling them to catch a draft, she floated easily down to the deck. Hooves landing lightly 'pon the wood, picking up a lazy saunter as bodies milled about with everyday tasks. Electric eyes tuned into Shannon at the helm, "Damn fine job, Shan! Fair weather, dont need ta worry about any storms for awhile."

With that, pointed ears were drawn to Krise's voice, the summons heeded with a nod. Once last sweep over the crew and the unicorn tromped her way into the captain's room. Not at all giving pause to wait for the gargoyle, though she did leave the door ajar for the sailing master to enter. Vibrant gaze swept over the husky before zeroing in on the map sprawled on his desk. "Hard at work, I see." She leaned over to examine the parchment closely, tapping her muzzle thoughtfully. "So, what're we tailin first, hm?"

Shannon nods to Krise's order, getting the ship nice and steady before calling over one of the men. Ignoring the way he drooled at her, she gave a short, terse explanation as to how the ship should stay and finished with, "An' so 'elp me if ye veer off course in th'LEAST, I'll 'ave ye fer shark bait, got it?" When he nodded she turned and sauntered to Krise's quarters, not far behind Fox so she caught her words.

She leaned over the map as well, single crimson eye studying it with interest. Given that she was an expert navigator, she was well adept at reading maps and happened to be a rather good cartographer herself. "Aye Cap'n, which o' these will be our firs' target?" she asks, cocking her hips to one side, all business. The easy going 'goyle they'd met on the island seemed to have disappeared the moment she set foot on deck. She wore a serious expression that showed she was here to work and put in her every effort. She waited patiently for his answer, frame seemingly relaxed but muscles lay waiting, tense, ready for action.

Krise couldn't help but notice the way the ship was running; pristine... A well oiled cog in his devious design, the main cog at that. Many would think that a woman couldn't drive a crew of men, these women proved to be quite the opposite. They had the salt, and without even a question they had begun whipping the crew into shape. It had him grinning as he stepped into his quarters to loom over the map. Fox came in first, head tilting to the side as she spoke, that sly grin pulling at his muzzle.

"Aye Fox, always hard at work."

Finger rose to tap his head. Her question had him glancing down towards the map only to her Shannon make her entrance.

"Perfect timin' Shannon."

He'd point to the map, to a line that was left dotted.

"Well, the closest one to us is a merchant line... They aint got anything to send us home early, but it'll be a good first hit. They got a hull full of sugar and spices... Prolly a good amount of rum too."

He grinned at that glancing between the two gals.

"What I'm thinkin' its a good warm up. We hit this ship hard enough they won't put up much a fight. We take the goods, cut the masts and be on our way. But..."

He pointed to a line not more then a hundred miles from the dotted line, this was a thick black line tracing from Kasuria to the old world.

"This one here... This one's a ship that a bunch of scoundrels can make a name with..."

He tapped the line a few times.

"She's a Man 'o' War Alright... A Galleon with the right kinda boon... Loaded down with finer things, Gold trinkets, Silks from the eastern isles. She'll be on her way back from the isles just about when we'll be finishin up with the merchant ship... If we were to sail diagonally with her route, we'll meet her in open waters right about here."

His paw slid down the map and tapped it once.

"She aint gonna give up with out a fight, Lassies... She gonna bite and claw with a broadside that holds more guns than we got on this ship... Question is Fox, Shannon... Do we play it safe, hit the merchant ship and skip on down the water way to pick off another merchant ship? Or do we try to take on this sea-beast? I want it, but the way I see it, it should be a decision between the three of us savvy?"

Krise grinned as he stood straight staring down at the map.

"So infamy? Or play it safe?"