Michael Aye - Barracuda

Putting his arms around Betsy and drawing her close Dagan kissed at the moisture on her cheeks tasting the salty taste of tears. "No, my love, it's not over that much I promise you. You may have to wait but I'll come… I promise I'll come."

At that moment Dagan knew his words were true.

His lips left her face and found her lips for a long, warm passionate kiss. She eased up onto his lap; their bodies crushed together, each feeling the other's heartbeat against their chest.

"My God, Dagan, I'm in love. I want you. I want you forever."

"Aye," Dagan barely whispered, "I want you and soon… soon mind you, you will be mine forever. You just wait."

"I will Dagan. I promise with all my heart… I'll wait."

Lord Anthony stood on the quarterdeck of Warrior.

Small droplets of sweat dripped from his hair running down his neck to his back. Just out of sight of Saint Augustine they intended to come about and head southward. That is of course if no sails were sighted following them.

Buck made his way over and knowing his admiral as he did said, "Questions, doubts, always the what ifs.

Don't you worry, my lord, we've covered every possible situation we could."

Nodding, Anthony replied, "You're right as usual, Rupert. Let me know when we sight the other ships."

"Aye, my lord."

As the admiral ducked into the companionway Bart winked at Captain Buck, "'E always worries but don't yew's fret. I's'll take care o' 'em proper like."

"Aye," Buck replied, "I'm counting on it." Both knowing Lord Anthony's biggest worry lay in the fact that Gabe's Merlin would be the first to encounter Barracuda if in fact she lay in her lair as hoped for. Gabe was a seasoned officer and he'd handle himself well, Buck was sure but an extra prayer wouldn't be amiss.

It was just after midnight with a faint breeze blowing and a quarter moon shining down on the gentle ocean a mile off Cayo Hueso that Merlin picked up Lieutenant Hazard, Lieutenant Davy and the long boat crew. Once the longboat was brought aboard the orders were given to come about so they could rendezvous with the rest of the squadron who was hove to just out of sight of land.

"She's there," an excited Hazard had reported. "Not only is she there but from the number of campfires we spotted I'd say half the crew was ashore."

"We were close enough to hear their drunken laughter," Lieutenant Davy interjected, "as well as a few giggles from some of the little huts we could see that sat just at the shadows."

"Aye," Hazard confirmed, "and I'm betting there will be more than a few buggers hungover and nursing headaches in the morning from all the drinking and womanizing that seems to be going on."

"Any sign of her captain?" Gabe asked.

"No, we wouldn't know what he looked like of course but we didn't see anyone who was an obvious officer."

Once the rendezvous was made and Hazard's report relayed to Lord Anthony, final preparations were gone over and Merlin, with SeaWolf following, would enter the channel at first light. Once Barracuda was in range Merlin would start firing and if SeaWolf could bring her guns to bear she would concentrate her fire on the ship as well. If not, she was to fire on the batteries ashore or other targets of opportunity.

If Barracuda ran for it they'd be waiting and if she didn't an attempt to enter the channel would be made by Defiant. That failing a force would be sent in boats.

"She'll run," Paco volunteered. He had been brought forward due to his knowledge of the anchorage.

"Capitaine de Lavago is not such a man to risk his ship Barracuda

or fight a battle without having the odds in his favor. He will run."

"Well, I damn well hope so," Buck had growled, ready to bring the rogue to an accounting.

Lord Anthony then asked the question no one else had, nor was it mentioned in the report by either Hazard or Davy, "Are there any other ships at anchor?" Hazard's chin dropped and Davy suddenly looked crestfallen. Finally Hazard spoke, "We didn't see any others but a smaller ship could have been at anchor to the Gulf side of Barracuda. I didn't see any mast but as dark as it was I couldn't be certain. I'm sorry, my lord," a dejected Hazard said. "I saw the obvious and didn't try to get past the Barracuda to see if another ship lay alongside."

"No, you did the right thing," Anthony said wishing he had the information but trying to salve the young lieutenants sense of failure. Damme, why hadn't he sent Bart or Dagan along. They would have looked then he'd know what lay ahead, not guess but know.

Gabe straddled his legs and waited for the swell that caused Merlin's bow to rise to glide past, then raised his glass to peer toward the small island or Key as Gunnells was so apt to correct. "Cayo Hueso is the Dago name.

For us it's Key West," he'd say.

"Not yet light enough to see anything as of yet," Gabe said. He had come on deck at dawn as was his custom, shirt half buttoned, coat unbuttoned and hair all mussed.

"Good Lawd, sir," Lum declared. "One look 'et you'd plum scare dem pirates oudda dey skin. Better let Lum get you a comb."

"Later," growled Gabe. Sensing Gabe's mood Lum backed off.

"Good morning Mr. Jackson, Mr. Gunnells."

"Morning, captain."

The habitual greeting, the habitual reply.

"Mr. Jackson, let's get the men fed before we have to douse the galley fires."

"Aye, captain."

Dagan came forward with a cup of coffee. "Not like the kick you get with Silas's coffee but its got flavor," he said.

Silas always spiked his coffee wit a small tot o'

sumthin' to get you going. Lum on the other hand added a small amount of chicory to his coffee that made the coffee strong but once the taste had been developed nothing else satisfied. Caleb had gotten to where he stopped by every morning for a cup and Dawkins wasn't shy about grabbing a cup, "to help me concentrate on me duties" he'd said.

It was now fast growing light and you could now see the Key in the distance.

"Let's get underway, Mr. Jackson… quietly if you will."

"Aye, captain."

"Mr. Gunnells, make our course sou'west by west."

"Aye, captain, sou'west by west."

"Deck there," the lookout called down, "Breakers on the larboard bow, sir."

"We've a good three miles," the master said without being asked as Gabe turned to him.

It was then that Hazard spoke, "Nothing to worry about, sir."

Gabe watched as the land became nearer. "Alter course two points to starboard, Mr. Gunnells."

"Aye, cap'n, two points it be."

"Damme," Gabe said, "I hate entering into a channel like this."

Barracuda "I can get us through captain," Lieutenant Hazard declared.

Seeing the relaxed look on Hazard's face eased Gabe's anxiety somewhat but not completely. "Very well," Gabe replied. Then so that everyone on the quarterdeck could hear he said, "She's in your hands, Lieutenant Hazard."

"Aye, aye, sir."

Then to Gunnells, Hazard ordered, "We will alter course, steer west by north."

Then turning to Gabe, Hazard said, "I'd put a couple of leadsmen in the chain, sir."

Nodding to Graf, the bosun set about the order.

They were less than a mile from the entrance of the channel when Gabe ordered, "Clear for action, Mr. Jackson… quietly."

Quietly, aye," Jackson replied. He then asked,

"Should we signal SeaWolf, sir?" Somewhat taken aback by the question it took Gabe a moment to realize Markham was now on SeaWolf. He was on Merlin.

Feeling somewhat embarrassed at his momentary lapse he spoke sharply, "I assure you, Mr. Jackson, Captain Markham knows how to command his ship." Gabe was instantly angry with himself and spoke again, "Forgive me, Jem, I had no call to speak that way."

"No apologies necessary, captain," the first lieutenant replied as he went about passing the word to clear for action… quietly.