"All hands on deck!" the first mate yelled. Bejamin threw himself out of his hammock and quickly pulled his boots on. He was tucking his shirt into his pants while simultaneously sliding is jacket on as he and the other men stood in a perfect line waiting inspection.

It was the middle of the night and the Nautical was drifting smoothly in the middle of the Atlantic. Amongst a fleet of three other ships, the Nautical was the flag ship and by far the best of them. No doubt due to the broad shouldered, striaght backed man who was looking down at them with hawk like eyes.

"Men," Admiral Willoughby said and stopped as he looked down at Benjamin. He straightened and kept his eyes focused directly in front of him not daring ot make eye contact. "Order from his Majesty, the King. His daughter has been taken...by pirates." There was a collective gasp which was silenced by one look from the Admiral. "We're ordered topolice these waters and stop all ships regardless of what flag it flies....well? Get those sails up!" Everyone scurried about. Shouts and orders filled the cool night air with a frenzied panic. The Princess was missing. The heart of England had been stolen. And they were to find her. It was as simple as that.

*****

"Captain?" Jane Ceracin looked up from her compass as her first mate, Jeremy Connelly, a thick blooded Irishman, entered the cabin. "Word jsut arrived. The King's daughter has gone missing."

"So?"

"Pirates," he said with a furrowed look on his freckled face. Jane grinned and stood upright as she had been leaning over an extensive map. Her black hair, a mess of wild curls, spilled over her shoulder as she placed her hands on her hips.

"Really?" She looked thoughtful for a moment. "Well then, I suggest we find her and...return her." A cruel grin spread across her face and Connelly nodded.

"Yes ma'am." As he left the doorway, she could hear him barking orders at the rest of the crew and soon the ship was slicing through the waters as though it were flying. Jane set her compass on on the table and looked out the port window as she sipped rum from a goblet. This would be the bounty of a lifetime.

Dewi stood on the helm of the small HMS Menai. The ship was house to no more than 10 men, including himself.

It was a routine shipping from Liverpool down the west coast toward the southern port of Dover. The voyage would be sheltered by the mainland of Ireland for the majority of the journey, only when hitting the southern penninsula would they really become a target.

True, the seizure of His Majesty's fine daughter meant for much of the Imperial Navy to scoure the sea's in the hopes of finding her, but to Dewi, there was little point at this time; the world was Britains for the taking and the wench that was the Princess wasn't truly needed for any kind of treaty at this time.

Regardless, orders were orders and Dewi stood firm in the wind that was sending the small shipment of munitions southward. The finest cannonballs and musketballs in the area with the Bersham Industrial Factories yeild aboard would make the 4 gunned vessel a worthy foe to anyone wanting to gain the spoils.

" Southstack, 1 mile South! " Came the shout of the navigator who'd just spotted the dim flash of the lighthouse in the distance to be rivaled with the sun. Dewi nodded and plodded his way to the wheel, " No rush boys, it's not like Her Majesty is in peril. " A couple of the Red Coats snickered while another 2 chuckled, it'd be a steady trip south by the looks of things so far.

A young girl stood on the bow of the ship, keeping lookout. Her red hair blew behind her , and her green eyes were bright. She stood up without a wobble, and walked back along the bow. A fellow pirate walked back up along the bown, and sat down. "Victoria!" A voice called, sounding like an opera singer hitting a high note. The girl sighed. She walked up to an older woman. "My name is Tori." Tori said through gritted teeth. "Go tidy up your cabin." The older woman snapped, and Tori walked over to the stairs, and ran down them.
Tori stared at her cabin. It was almost completely tidy, apart from a few bits thrown around. Her black trousers swirled around her ankles, as she bent down to pick up a pair of black boots. She hung up a pretty black dress. She tucked away a wig and a corset. She turned aroun, and smiled. Her room was completely tidy now, and she collapsed into her bed. Not her look-out was finished, she could catch up on her reading.
After half an hour of stumbling over her words, Tori closed her book. Reading was too hard for her, so she gave up.

Admiral Willoughby was counting off clicks on the map when a knock came to his door. "Enter," he called without looking up. A young soldier stood in the doorway. "Yes Mr. Thorton," he said when the boy didn't speak. Benjamin was surprised the Admiral knew his name but quickly shook it off.

"Captain wants you sir," he stated as he straighted up. Just being in the man's presence made him feel more important. "There's a ship approaching from the North."

"Flag?"

"Too far to know for sure, sir, but he thinks it one of ours. A boundery vessel joining the search for the Princess."

"Very well," Admiral Willoughby said and nodded for Benjamin to leave. When the door was shut he walked over to the mirror and pulled his dark brown hair into a low ponytail and tied it with a white ribbon. He washed his face, his hands, and strapped his saber to his waist before pulling his coat on that signified his position.

Above deck the Captain was waiting at the wheel. He handed him a scope and the Admiral looked through it at the ship on the horizon.

"One of ours, he stated. "Have two of our ships hang back with guns in range. We'll board her ourselves. Send up the warning flare." He closed the scope and handed it back to the Captain. "Make sure that Benjamin Thorton fellow is with us."

"Aye sir," the Captain said and relayed the orders.

The HMS Menai was erupt with singing as all ten input to the small choir. Having finished their first song, the navigator sprang up with " 'Ey! Southstacks gone! It was a latern, must have been! " A wave pf besmused chatter washed over them, Dewi moved to the bow slowly squinting.

It did seem to be in the right area, but then again it was pitch black and all of them had been a little slack.
" He's right boys, looks like Dover's a little bit further West. No trouble, bring her about Williams, we'll go straight ba- " His talk was interupted by the flare that lit the night sky, casting worried looks upon half of the shoddy looking red coats.

"Pirates!"
" Damn the dogs! "
" They've probably got the girl! "
" 10 of us and a ship of them! We're done-"

Shaking his head, Jones simply started to speak in a casual tone, " Yes, pirates, they light up a flare everytime they are to board a ship to let their victims blissfully aware of what is to come. It's one of ours you fools! " The flares light had his smile look twisted, when in fact is was of simple amusement.

HMS Menai continued it's course straight, anchor was set down to much the groan of the chord. It was more a worry to the crew of it being a vessel with an officer aboard than the enemy as they all hurridly tucked in their shirts, threw the booze overboard and general tidied up their appearance. Once satisfied they had done their jobs, they stood in two rows of 5 and awaited the oncoming vessel to approach.

Sarah was still in shock from what had happened earlier. One minute she’s getting ready to go to bed and the next she’s being gagged, blindfolded, and having her hands tied behind her back. Now she was no longer gagged and blindfolded, but her hands were still tied behind her back. Red curls fell around her face as she stood on the deck of the pirate ship in her night gown. She shivered a little at the coolness of the air. She was not used to being out at sea, especially in her night gown.

Her brown eyes darted from one pirate to the next as she studied each ones face. She had never seen pirates in real life before. Even at the hangings, she never looked at them. One because it never interested her and two she couldn’t stand seeing their bodies wriggle around and then suddenly stop. The only thing she knew about pirates were of stories she’d either read or heard and none of them could have prepared her for this. Stay strong Sarah. Don’t let them see your fear. She thought in her mind as she stood there bravely waiting for the worst to happen.

Admiral Willoughby frowned as he took his first step onto the HMS Menai. The ship was hardly up to code and the men crewing it were a joke. He doubted the redness in their eyes was from lack of sleep. He walked along the line of men who swayed on their feet. The click of his well polished boots on the deck was the only sound save for the heavy breathing of the men. It was a cold night and their breath sent small white puffs.

"Who's in charge?" he asked in his clear and booming voice. He wasn't please and from behind him, his two officers: a Captain and a Luitenant as well as Benjamin Thorton and another private whose name was Charlie Epperson, could tell. They shifted on their feet knowing that when the Admiral wasn't happy, no one was happy.

Three of the crew of HMS Menai directly infront of this booming figure looked at each other in confusion, whispering words that were obviously not English to one another. Thankfully for them, Dewi stepped forward in a single motion, straightbacked and obviously the better dressed member of the vessel.

" I am Sir. " Raising his hand to his head in salute Dewi made himself the target of this rather prominant figure, " Leading Seaman David Jones, sir. I was given command of His Majesty's Ship Menai for a simple shipping route from Liverpool to Dover, sir. Extra 'munitions for an Admiral Willoughby for the search, sir. "

Get it all out at once Dewi, make sure no technical questions need answering... He thought to himself, glazing his eyes over quickly those behind the dark haired man. Two younger members and another two of power; he started to wish he really was back in Southstack, hell Fishguard would have done.

The rest of the crew stood as still and as to attention as possible, they'd had a rough evening in Liverpool before setting off down to the white cliffs. Loading this tiny vessel was a feat in itself taking into account none of the dockers would help, insisting they had other jobs to do more important.

"Well then," the Admiral said after returning the salute and looking the man up and down, "what an unfortunate accident that we spotted you before heading South. I claim the title Admiral Willoughby." The terseness in his voice was a false way of showing respect to the man. Whatever his personal opinion, you never undermine authority in front of the crew. "Perhaps you should start docking the cargo onto my vessel. Allow me to lend two of my men. Thorton, Epperson!" The two men stepped forward. "Let us speak below deck," Willoughby said with a quirked eyebrow. "Does this ship harbor a Captain's quarters?"

Sarah had really stopped paying attention to everything that was happening around her and had just been staring out to sea since there wasn’t really anything she could do. Suddenly she felt a sharp pain in her leg as she shrieked a little and her head snapped down to the girl. Again the girl kicked her and Sarah became quite irritated. “Stop it!” She yelled at the girl and went to kick her back.

She was relieved when she did stop, but then looked at her disgusted as she spit near her foot. “Why yes I am a real princess, but it’s awfully boring. It’s not like they make it sound in fairy tales. You have to study all day and rarely ever get a break to go walk around outside. You have to stay in the dreary darkness of the indoors.” She told the girl as she looked at her. She couldn’t believe that this young girl was a pirate. She then thought about how all these pirates would be hanged when she was rescued, including this little girl. Sarah couldn’t help but feel sad for this poor girl. “How old are you?” She asked as she looked at her curiously.

Captain Ciracin stood at the wheel of her ship steering the ship through the torrents. The wind filled the sails and pushed the ship along at an ungodly pace. Whispers of capsizing struck fear in the hearts of the new recruits and the sinister smile on the Captain's face did nothing to settle their nerves.

"She'll run us to the bottom of the sea," a young nave said to his comrade as they secured the main sail. "More than likely the ship will split in two..."

"Well it'll be smoother sailing if we toss the two of you overboard!" Connelly snapped as he smacked the two of them on the back of their heads. "Speakin' ill of the Captain will but you a one way passage to Davy Jones locker! Get back to work."

"Yes sir!" they said and scurried toward the other side of the deck. Connelly headed up the stairs to stand near the Captain.

"See that ship on the horizon?" Cin asked. Connelly strained his eyes but couldn't see anything but darkness. He looked back at the black haired woman with uncertainty. "The Princess is on that ship...I can feel it. Douse the lamps and roll out the guns."

"Aye Captain."

A cool breeze washed through the ship like water, flowing through every furrow. Alvilda sucked in ther sweet sea air slowly, letting it pass through her body with ease. Her blazing red hair whipped from her face, revealing her smoldering brown eyes, intense and focused. She glanced about the ship, her eyes inspecting the rest of her crew mates. She longed to be captain. Desired for nothing else; to sit within the sheltered confineds of the exquisite main office, eat extravagantly, barely pay head to the surroundings. The life she wished to lead.

"Ships ahead!" The booming voice from atop the ship's turret abruptly interrupted Alvilda's thoughts as she swept the deck, for the hundreth time. Suddenly, the fifteen or so crewmen were surrounding her, scattered here and there, glancing in shock out to the now black sea. Alvilda tried aimlessly to push through the masculine bodies that bordered her. Her eyes caught the glint of rifles and other such weaponry aboard a broad ship. She gaped, focusing her eyes more, trying to view the ships that enclosed it.

"Out o' me way lads!" The vile voice of the captain sounded over every relatively nice sound the sea threw at them. His large frame staggered toward the boats side, his every step a drunken one. A snarling grin shot upon his face, and he yelped across to the ships. "Yar blocking me way lads!" His voice was so loud, Alvilda actually shielded her ears. The crewmen, along with Alvilda gasped in unison. Is he mad? Alvilda thought to herself, her heart punding, unknowing of whether the ships ahead were English Fleets or Pirate Ships. Either could be equally bad.

Kane stood on the crows nest along side the look out. The wind rushed throught his hair as he looked out at the great blue sea. Then he heard his name being called. He looked down and saw that it was a small cabin boy that he knew as "Curles." Kane sighed. Ever since he joined this ship things had been frantic, he was on another ship before this one but it had recently been captured by the navy and he had gotten away. He joined this ship and soon found out they had captured a princecess and were on a contant run. The captain had asked him to look after the other cabin boys because he was the most experianced. He lept off the crowsnest and grabbed a rope, it circled around the mast and he let go landed beside a few barrels, the landing was decent but he still stumbled a bit and his feet were a bit numb, Nontheless he walked to Curles.
"Well what is it then?" He asked sharply. Curles took a nervous step back.
"Um can you make sure that the others are doing their jobs... I feel as if i am the only one person doing anything." Kane patted the kid on the shoulder.
"Alright I will then mate, now get back to work."