Tying in with
the first episode of our Gloire games, we may proudly present a sequel. We used a slightly modified scenario from
Under the Black Flag. Hope you enjoy it!
Northern Spain, late summer 1813
After escaping from Santa Catalina - and the unwanted escort by Sharpe & Harper - Captain Jonathan E. Derby is joined by seaman Nagle and his loyal companion, old mastiff Jupiter. Finally the plan seems to come together as the French are in complete confusion and Derby has word from his squadron patrolling off shore, awaiting his command. No army buggers needed to get the job done!
Now Derby hurries to reach one of these new semaphore towers the French installed along the coastline. Fortunately its crew has abandoned their post to join De la Vére at Santa Catalina - but stupidly they've taken the manuals for the semaphore with them. Instantly Derby decides to sign to his comrades at sea by arousing a good old signal beacon on the rooftop. All what's needed is some brushwood to ignite the fire.Derby and his fellows fan out...
...just as some suspicious French crewmen are returning.
Derby sets Jupiter on stunned Sergeant Délétre who refuses to shoot at animals (he'll soon live to rue it).
In the meantime Derby & Nagle are searching the woods and are immediately rewarded with some fine flammable materials.
The action barely started Sharpe & Harper arrive on the scene, not willing to fail their mission whatever Derby's own plans may be. But as they find British breeding in danger all animosities are forgotten.
Forthwith Harper opens fire on a French crewman who tries to sneak up the tower.
But in hurry the shot is wasted.
Derby reaches the door, the firewood shouldered and briskly climbs up the ladder to the roof....
... where he comes under fire from the pistol-armed crewman.
Lucky John, he misses.
Sharpe displaces poor Jupiter in fighting Sgt. Délétre - respectively what the dog has left. Repeatedly repulsed (and only one step away from another world) Délétre finally perishes under Sharpe's deadly blows.
Seeing his Captain in no imminent danger, Nagle drops the paper and intercepts another Frenchman who's carrying a waterfilled bucket. Before the villain might foil Derby's plan he's faced by the grim seaman.
Meanwhile Jupiter has to cope with another crewman who's joined the fighting around the tower. But suddenly Capitaine de la Vére, hardly recovered from his wounds but driven by desire for vengeance, enters the stage. He's ready and eager to topple British fortune at last second.
Although, hate is a bad advisor - De la Vére, trying to jump over a low stonewall and directly into the fight, stumbles and falls.
At the same time Derby ignites the bonfire, setting the whole semaphore ablaze.
De la Vére rises and, realizing what's going on, cries out: "You a' on ma liste, Capitaine!" But now there are bigger problems to be resolved. Therefore De la Vére leaves the scene, once more deeply ashamed.
With great delight Captain Derby watches the ships coming into the bay and mumbles: "See ye, ol' Frog..."
25 July 2008, 04:32:26 PM