[Hornblower has taken a cue from the senior officer.]
Captain Horatio Hornblower, of His Britannic Majesty's Royal Navy. I have been at sea for twelve years-- I served on the 74-gun gun Justinian as midshipman, 64-gun Indefatigable as midshipman, acting-lieutenant, and lieutenant, 74-gun Renown as lieutenant. I have commanded the 18-gun Retribution and the 20-gun Hotspur. I was promoted from commander to post-captain just prior to my arrival to this place.
I would consider it an honour to be put in command of one of the ships.
[He does not answer for several moments. The thoughts are knitting together, the words taking their time to fit properly.]
Of course, Miss. You are... quite right to ask.
Taking command of a vessel, especially under this nature of orders, would mean that every life on board is, were command given to me, my responsibility. Success would be a concerted effort, failure a reflection of my inability. I will expect, particularly in combat, my orders to be obeyed, but those orders will be given for the good of the ship, crew, and mission.
[She appreciates the thoughtfulness of this answer. And - the manner of the answer as well. There was no raging about place or position, none of the nonsense about 'Who are you, a girl' to raise such a point. She'd left out her name deliberately to see if that would happen and so far... better than she'd thought.
Point of clarification, however:]
And what do you see is your mission, in this case?
[He's not used to having to explain himself to women, especially not young women, but he's enough sense in his head to know that people here can be more than they seem and... both for this and for later, he does not need to make enemies. He will be serving with these people, no matter what.]
That's what they wanted them to do, yes. But they're the captors. They do not have her loyalty. For Katara? The mission is to bring as many people back safely as possible. To survive. To find a way home. Not to do what the Malnosso say.]
I heard the Commandant.
[She knows what it's like to have the call of a fight in you. She's a warrior. Sometimes it frightens her how alive she feels in battle. But this isn't their home. And their goals aren't hers.
...but she's not going to say so under the Commandant's nose. Maybe he isn't either? She's been here long enough to know that what you say or don't say makes very little difference, but in this case she's still waiting to hear about Toph. And she isn't going to take chances.]
You will be part of this business, then? [He is not pleased about young women being in on this, damn it, but Archie explained long ago that there was nothing to be done about it.
[...and just once before, probably, due to the fact that she still hasn't hounded him into dropping the 'miss.' He'll probably get a pass on this due to current circumstances, but it... may not last long.]
It's not the first time. [It hasn't been the first time for... a long time.] At least this time we'll be at sea.
[If it makes you feel any better, Horatio, at sixteen Katara is considered fully adult by her tribe's standards.]
Have you fought against the Third Party before?
[She's not asking this as part of her official evaluation - that's done now. This is as a warrior to another warrior, she wants to know if he knows what to expect, and if he doesn't, how she can help him to prepare. She believes it's his first time on the draft, but... there's always the battle dome. There's a distinct danger for ships when the attacks come from the sky - there's no where to hide.]
A friend and shipmate of mine-- Lieutenant Archie Kennedy-- has. [It's a poor substitute, but he'll get what he can from Archie. And anyone else who's willing to offer him information.]
With respect, sir, this is not so different from what we are used to. The Press brings in all sorts back home, and many of them never set foot on a ship in their lives. If you did not hear what was said to Miss Katara, I will say it again: Captain Hornblower seldom loses a man. He knows all their names and what they did before they came aboard. He does not fling men at an enemy until everything rights itself, as many would.
As to the type of vessel being outside experience, well. If that is the case, we are in trouble indeed, because of the volunteering captains, three were born in our world and century. However, as the pilots are provided, I assume the captain will focus on tactics rather than on the actual function of the ship, which is a matter for his men in any case.
Captain Horatio Hornblower, of His Britannic Majesty's Royal Navy. I have been at sea for twelve years-- I served on the 74-gun gun Justinian as midshipman, 64-gun Indefatigable as midshipman, acting-lieutenant, and lieutenant, 74-gun Renown as lieutenant. I have commanded the 18-gun Retribution and the 20-gun Hotspur. I was promoted from commander to post-captain just prior to my arrival to this place.
I would consider it an honour to be put in command of one of the ships.
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Of course, Miss. You are... quite right to ask.
Taking command of a vessel, especially under this nature of orders, would mean that every life on board is, were command given to me, my responsibility. Success would be a concerted effort, failure a reflection of my inability. I will expect, particularly in combat, my orders to be obeyed, but those orders will be given for the good of the ship, crew, and mission.
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Point of clarification, however:]
And what do you see is your mission, in this case?
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Our orders are to protect the cargo ship.
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That's what they wanted them to do, yes. But they're the captors. They do not have her loyalty. For Katara? The mission is to bring as many people back safely as possible. To survive. To find a way home. Not to do what the Malnosso say.]
I heard the Commandant.
[She knows what it's like to have the call of a fight in you. She's a warrior. Sometimes it frightens her how alive she feels in battle. But this isn't their home. And their goals aren't hers.
...but she's not going to say so under the Commandant's nose. Maybe he isn't either? She's been here long enough to know that what you say or don't say makes very little difference, but in this case she's still waiting to hear about Toph. And she isn't going to take chances.]
Thank you for answering my question.
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Of course, Miss.
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It's Katara.
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I believe we've spoken before.
You will be part of this business, then? [He is not pleased about young women being in on this, damn it, but Archie explained long ago that there was nothing to be done about it.
Not yet.]
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[...and just once before, probably, due to the fact that she still hasn't hounded him into dropping the 'miss.' He'll probably get a pass on this due to current circumstances, but it... may not last long.]
It's not the first time. [It hasn't been the first time for... a long time.] At least this time we'll be at sea.
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[It's strange, to find himself agreeing with so young-sounding a girl. But a task at sea...
That, he can manage. That, he knows how to deal with. Much else... Well. He'd be a fish out of water.]
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Have you fought against the Third Party before?
[She's not asking this as part of her official evaluation - that's done now. This is as a warrior to another warrior, she wants to know if he knows what to expect, and if he doesn't, how she can help him to prepare. She believes it's his first time on the draft, but... there's always the battle dome. There's a distinct danger for ships when the attacks come from the sky - there's no where to hide.]
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A friend and shipmate of mine-- Lieutenant Archie Kennedy-- has. [It's a poor substitute, but he'll get what he can from Archie. And anyone else who's willing to offer him information.]
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[She does not LIKE that place.]
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As to the type of vessel being outside experience, well. If that is the case, we are in trouble indeed, because of the volunteering captains, three were born in our world and century. However, as the pilots are provided, I assume the captain will focus on tactics rather than on the actual function of the ship, which is a matter for his men in any case.
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