The Longboats

Hagan had his boat and three others sailing past Calais and into the wider part of the English channel on a regular patrol they had been on many times in the past week. The trip was always more than a pleasure for them as no Greek ships had been noticed since the last large scale battle over a week ago and he hoped this would be no different. Salt air, the wind in their hair and the large boat they now had made sailing a joy and he and his boats were in line as they came through the Strait of Dover and into the open channel. He looked at the sun and felt it would be around mid-day with few clouds to cover the sun and most of his crew had stripped to the waist, with the exception of the women that wore a small band of cloth around their chest, when he heard the look out from above yell out.

“Smoke on the horizon!” He looked up and saw the lookout pointing due south, which would be toward a large port near a town called Berck.

Taking his binoculars, he focused them at the shore line several miles away on a tall plum of black smoke that seemed to stretch for several miles. He could see a single ship near the shore and that town but at this distance it shouldn’t look so large, he thought, and it had no sails!

“Come to one-eight-zero and let’s head south to see what this thing is.” He yelled at the crew then refocused his binoculars on the ship in the distance.

Within several minutes the ship in the distance became even larger than what he thought and at two miles away he dropped the binoculars with wide eyes as he spotted the flag of the Greeks on the main mast in front of the two large smoke stacks belching black smoke.

“What is it?” A crew woman asked standing next to him as she leaned on the railing.

“It looks like a very large Greek ship at full steam.....and no sails!”

He raised his binoculars again to try to see what kind of ship it was, war or freight. As he steadied himself against the railing he let out a loud groan as if he was injured.

“What’s wrong?” She asked as he dropped his binoculars.

“It’s the biggest damn war ship I have ever seen!” He looked at her with wide eyes. “That thing has guns all over it, front back, sides and by the look of its wake; she is heading full steam right for us.”

He turned to his communicator room next to him.

“Send a message to all boats!” He paused, looking at the giant again. “Make a one-eighty and head back towards Calais.”

As his boat began to turn, he saw the giant ship closing on them quickly, the water spilling over its bow as if it were going twice as fast as his boast. Raising his binoculars again, he saw the skin of the ship was not wood! On the bow there seemed to be something that looked like a flat topped turtle shell with two gun barrels sticking out of it and it seemed to be turning as his gun does when he wants to aim it. The bridge of it was so tall it seemed it towered over his own boats as it closed in on them.

“I don’t think we can out run this ship!” He said to himself.

He saw two flashes from the forward guns of the Greek ship, then its shells landed in the water among his boats with such fierceness it knocked him off his feet and his boat rocked as if a toy.

“We can’t out run them!” He yelled to the communicator. “Send a message for all boats to turn and fight!”

“Come about and head for that damn Greek ship. All hands on the guns and fire at will.” He ran forward to the main gun to help with the reloading. It would be useless for him to stay on the bridge; he knew they would all be dead or in the water very shortly.

He heard one of his boats begun firing before his were loaded. Other crew members had retrieved their rifles and were firing at the Greek crew as they scurried back and forth on their deck. Something that took his breath away went over their heads with a deafening sound then an explosion to his rear on one of his boats. Turning around he saw nothing but a very tall geyser where his boats use to be. Splintered wood and human bodies flew into the air in a wide area, so wide parts of the boats were landing on his deck along with a few arms and legs bouncing over the side of his deck into the water.

“By the GODS what is it?”

“Send a message back to the rear. Tell them we have met a giant Greek ship of steel and are engaging.”

He put the binoculars back to his eyes as his crew began to load their deck gun.

“Message from Hagan.” A runner came into the room and handed the message to the Skipper. As he read it his eyes began to widen and he stood slowly to face me.

“What is it?” I asked him as I stood next to the bed.

“Here. You read it. I can’t believe this!” He said as he stood there with a blank look on his face.

“A giant steel Greek ship?” I said then looked at the Skipper. “We need a lot more information on this!”

He stood there watching as it closed in from a mile away, still firing as it turned for a broadside. He could see it clearly now and this monster was made of steel, not a stick of wood on her from what he could see. Guns covered nearly every empty space on the deck with large guns that looked like turtle shells on the front and rear that had two barrels sticking out of each one. He saw several men standing on their bridge watching as more shells flew into his other boats with disintegrating accuracy taking his boats out one by one.

“Come about. Turn port side. TURN PORT SIDE!” He yelled to the pilot of his boat.

He saw his gun crew turning the deck gun as the boat began its turn to the left. They fired and reloaded with one of their shells hitting the rear guns of the Greek ship. Looking behind him he saw two of his ships still afloat and they too were making the turn trying to keep out of the Greek line of fire.

Geysers of water from the huge Greek shells were exploding among his boats with narrow misses when another of his boats was hit. He saw the shell hit the stern of one of his boats and it tore through the wooden boat as if it were made of paper. Bodies, wood and even the steam engine flew into the air as it sank quickly.

With only his boat and one other he decided to try to retreat with the knowledge of this monster and report it back to the King. They had to know of this threat so they could retaliate with something else and the King would know what to do. He always knows what to do in a situation like this but as far as Hagan was concerned, he was at a loss.

“Odin! Hear me! To Valhalla we come!” He yelled just as a large shell hit his boat with the deck seemingly to buckle and he flew overboard straight into the water. He swam to the surface through parts of his boat and grabbed onto a large piece of wood and hung onto it as the Greek ship turned and headed back south with one of his boats steaming away quickly in a zig zag pattern the Greeks were unable to hit.

Looking at the coastline he figured it was about a mile away and he could swim for it but it would take a few hours. He also knew the Romans were surrounded in Dunkirk so if he landed south of Calais he might be able to walk around to his forces near there but that would take a few days. One thing he knew for sure, he had to get back and report this giant Greek ship that just sank three of his boats like they were toys.

“No word from Hagan yet!” The Skipper reported as he sat at the desk in my room.

“How many messages have been sent to him?” I asked.

“More than a dozen messages and no response.” He said.

“Send out a boat and see if we can’t find him. Even if he was in the middle of a battle, he would respond so there’s something wrong.” I said as I sat on the edge of the bed.

“OK. One boat still in port and they will be underway in about thirty minutes.” The Skipper said.

“What’s the word from our people in Dunkirk?” I dropped the paper in my hands and looked at the Skipper.

“They still have them surrounded and the English army are the ones on the front line this time. Major Welsh says they plane on starving them out. He doesn’t want to lose any more men.”

“Good idea,” I said with a smile.

“And Skipper?” I asked as I looked at him fumbling around at the desk. “What about those ribbons we spoke about? The ones for the troops?”

“Ah, yes!” He turned around in his chair. “I have someone working on those and they will be the sewn on kind. The colors you choose will look great, although I STILL think you should have gotten a different color other than that Viet Nam ribbon for the Valley of Death battle.”

“Well,” I chuckled. “It’s a good looking ribbon and will only go to the few that are left.

Hagan saw his boat that escaped in the distance as he swam slowly for the coat line and the Greek ship was sailing away with thick clouds of black smoke coming from its huge smoke stacks. He saw his boat began to turn around and come toward him under full sail and steam and the thought was they were coming back for him. Glancing back to the Greek ship he did not want to lose all his boats for one man and began to get angry at this boats captain but the Greek ship was so far away now he could hardly see it from where he was. In only a few m minutes his boat was next to him and he was hauled out of the water on to the deck. As he was being pulled onto the deck he yelled out loudly.

“Get a message to the rear, to the King! Tell them we have met the steel Greek ship and lost. We are on the way back to port in the rear.”

He stood looking at the faces of the crew and saw confusion in their faces but no ear. They wanted to know what to do next but he had no answers so he went to the boats bridge to speak to the captain.

“Gunny! We have a problem!” The Skipper handed me another message.

“By the GODS!” I said as I read the message. “It sounds like a Dreadnought to me!”

“Steel?” The Skipper asked. “Those where early nineteenth century ships that changed the way war was fought on the ocean!”

“I know. And we still have wooden boats. This French commander has NOT been sitting idle while we have.”

“I’ll call a meeting of the council and get those Marines in here that have been building boats.” The Skipper said as he turned to his desk. “We have a LOT of work to do in a very short period of time, Gunny.”

“I know and if we are lucky, and I say that loosely, we will survive.” I looked out the window at the cobbled streets and the foot traffic with all the small shops and stores that have sprung up with the freedom they now have. If we can’t stop these Greeks they will surely burn this to the ground.

Yngvildr turned to Colonel Hendricks who just received a message from the rear.

‘Reinforce your lines. New type of Greek ship found and it is unstoppable. Be ready for the unexpected.’

“What type of ship was it?” Yngvildr asked as she sat on a wooded crate.

“I’ll have to request more information. This does not make much sense.” He stood frowning at the message for a few seconds.

Turning to a runner, he scribbled a message on a piece of paper and handed it to him.

“Take this to the rear supply. Tell them I need to speak to their head man.”

“Why didn’t you just send a message instead of a runner?” Yngvildr asked.

“It says to expect the unexpected. In my time the enemy could cut into your line of communications and listen to everything you say. My be the Greeks have done the same here.” He rubbed his chine in thought.

“I’ll have to recall all my spies as soon as possible,” he turned to a communicator, scribbling a small message he gave it to him then stood up.

“You have spies out?” Yngvildr asked with a frown.

“Yes!” Colonel Hendricks looked at her with a stern face. “I sent them out several days ago to infiltrate the Greek lines and find out anything they could on enemy strength and supply.”

Yngvildr rubbed her face the stood as if helpless.

“Well what the hell am I doing here? You have control of everything!”

“Yes, mam. I do!” he said flatly as he continued to look at her.

“IS there anything you want me to do that I haven’t done yet?” He asked her. “After all, you ARE the Queen!”

She smiled at him then shook her head.

“No! Absolutely nothing. You are in complete control of our army and I should just stay out of it.” She moved to the side of the bunker entrance, picking up her ax and rifle, she turned to him.

“I’m going back to the rear to see the King and my children. You are in charge, Colonel. I have complete confidence in you.” She began to turn but stopped.

“Do you have family back in the rear?” She asked him.

“Yes. A wife and three boys.” He said without expression but before she could continue he interrupted her.

“No! I do not need to go back. You must remember, Yngvildr. We are U.S.Marines and are use to long periods away from home like this.” He had a slight smile on his face. “But could you see them and tell them I think of them every day?”

“I will, Colonel. I surely will, sir.” She said then turned to leave.

It took Hagan the rest of the day to sail back to home port at full speed and the engines of this boat were starting to show strains just as they pulled into port at Skavateland. The docks were busy with activity with port workers loading and unloading other ships with some of the Greek ships being loaded with reinforcement troops to go forward. Supplies of every sort were also being loaded onto several Greek ships and he even saw several of the new artillery pieces being loaded with the ammunition being put onto other ships so they would not be together in case of attack.

He jumped off the boat onto the docks before they were even tied up and began to walk briskly towards the Great Hall. He wanted to get this information to the King and Skipper as soon as possible so they may know what to do. He felt helpless at the thought of fighting this Greek monster again.

“Sir!” A runner came into the room. “Hagan is in the Great Hall waiting to see you. What should I tell him?”

I looked at the Skipper then stood.

“Tell him I’ll be right there,” I said as I started putting my pants on.

“You’re not supposed to leave this place. Doc is going to be pissed!” The Skipper said.

“I know but this is more important than relaxing in bed.” I said as I finished putting on my new uniform.

The Skipper stood there with his mouth open as he looked at me.

“Very impressive, Gunny!” He said with a smile as he looked at me from head to foot. He reached over and picked up my hat then tossed it to me. It was similar to our frame cap or barracks cover in the Corps as we called them, made of the same green material as the uniform with a large Mjolnier on the front.

“Well. At least I’m well dressed,” I said as we left the room.

The walk to the Great Hall was only a block away and it was the first time I had been back here in months. There were no longer street venders because they had all moved into small spaces in building in the middle of town. As we walked down the street we had to dodge people as the street was crammed with pedestrians shopping, carrying items home or selling. At nearly every step I had someone come to me and touch my arm or shoulder with a broad smile, then move on about their business. When we finally got the Great Hall I was nearly exhausted and the Skipper had to help me up the steps into the building.

As I entered, the sight took my breath away. No longer were there old chairs and a long wooden table made from rough cut lumber, nor were there any sign of the huge fire pit that was in the center of the room. It was beautifully built chairs sitting around the walls by the dozens with tapestry hanging on the walls that obviously came from England. Two high backed chairs were straight back at the back if the room that sat side by side. A smaller fire pit had been built in the center of the room with small benches circling it. Even the ceiling had been painted white to bring in more light.

Hagan was standing on the left side of the room near a long table filled with fruits and mead. As he ate and drank he looked up at me and set his cup and pear he was eating down.

“Gunny!” He said as he rushed to me and the Skipper.

“We have a major problem with Greek ships!” He said’

“I’ve heard and I think I know what they are.” I said as the Skipper helped me to one of the chairs near the table and sat down.

Hagan and the Skipper pulled chairs up close to me and sat.

“You need to draw a picture of what it looked like. Or, let me draw it as you describe it to me.” I took a piece of paper from my breast pocket and a pencil and waited for him to begin.

“OK,” he started. “First, it was very long, at least the length of four of our boats and not very wide. May be one and a half times the width of one of ours.”

“OK. What did the silhouette look like?” I asked.

“The bridge was at least as tall as our main mast with two smoke stacks in the center of it. There were turtle shell guns on both the forward and rear decks that were movable with two barrels in each. Other guns that seemed about the size of our deck guns were on both of her sides and I would say there were at least three or four on each side. Machine guns looked like they were everywhere. And their guns were bigger than anything we have. And the whole damn thing is steel!”

As I finished drawing a sketch I turned it around for him and the Skipper to see.

“That looks like a World War One battle ship to me,” the Skipper said with a frown.

“That’s it!” Hagan said as he picked the paper up and stared at it.

“That’s called a Dreadnought.” I said, then looked both of them in their eyes.

“Seems this Frenchman has been busy for these last months.” I looked at the Skipper.

“How are we going to stop it?” Hagan asked as he laid the paper on the table.

“I have just one idea and we need to discuss it because it will get more than a few killed in the process.” I said.

“Well! Let me know!” Hagan said impatiently.

“We will need to strip our boats down to nothing but floating hulls and guns. Removed all the rigging for sails, depend on steam only and speed.” I thought for a second.

“Hit them quickly?” Hagan said as he leaned closer to me.

“Yes but at night. We have to devise a way to find them at night, light them up then hit it with everything we have.”

“How the HELL are we going to find them at night, Gunny?” Skipper asked before Hagan could.

“I have a few ideas. Let me figure this one out and I’ll get with you later on it. Right now Hagan needs to get some rest and refit another boat.” I looked at him as I stood with a loud grunt.

Hagan and the Skipper both stood and I stuck out my hand to Hagan.

“I’m damn glad you’re back with us Hagan!” I said with a smile. “You’re the back bone of our navy here.”

He smiled as he shook my hand.

“Well. Without your ideas I think we should have crumbled long ago with this Greek threat.” He said.

“Get back to me tonight, Hagan and we’ll discuss how to approach that ship and pound the hell out of her.”

Hagan nodded and left, heading for the dock and another ship. The Skipper helped me to the back room where Sara had the children and there was a small bed I could lie on. My chest and back were killing me terribly and I had to rest.