The Hidden Sorrow's Prize

Griffin-Spear

Captain of the Shark class U-boat 019 aka. “Hidden Sorrow”

Spring of 1843

West Southern Seas Garvosce Bay, Unknown Lands

            Bringing down over seventeen ships between Borvadosian waters and the platform seas proved very useful yet overly intricate. For multiple weeks on end the Hidden Sorrow and Admiral Villainos’ fleet of forty six U-boats circled these waters. Nearly several hundred more Gantronese vessels sank to the bottom during those weeks. In his log Degrast recorded up to seven hundred thirty six enemy vessels destroyed by their single fleet of U-boats. Sitting in his own quarters Captain Degrast Griffin-Spear looked over the next assignment which was to intercept a certain vessel holding an important prince. This prince was apparently third or fourth in line to the throne of city-state Kilscar Orvain. He was often known as the Colorful Prince-Lord Uchan Vannak Rath. Most called him Khiev-Khan-Khun Rathonai the artful. At his age of twenty four this Prince was naïve and easily swayed.

            With their U-boats circling the seas and exterminating enemy vessels the Prince would have difficulty traversing the seas in the south. Once the prince’s ship was intercepted it was to be commandeered then taken straight to Ruhonthra. There this prince would be ransomed in exchange for the city-state’s withdrawal from this conflict. With Kilscar Orvain out of the war the Gantronese lose support and another city. Along the coasts of the Unknown Lands scores of settlements and states fell to the Vestrisians. Degrast didn’t know very much about these Unknown Lands except for every report, rumors, and tales he heard of or read about.

            According to Captain Chessoke the Gantronese were losing and gaining territories. These Unknown Lands were said to be vast in terms of thousands of miles all around. His deceased friend Lyren Connerson knew much about the Unknown Lands. It was enough for him to stay clear of it. For nearly six years Degrast received private letters from Lyren concerning his thoughts on the Unknown Lands. A knock on his door interrupted his train of thought. Taken out of the reminisce Degrast turned to his door.

            “Enter,” he commanded letting whomever rapped on his door know they were permitted to come in. The door opened with that metal squeaky moan you heard aboard every steel vessel. In came First Mate Omar Zangi-Alamut wearing his officer’s uniform. He stepped further into the Captain’s Quarters. First Mate Zangi-Alamut stood at attention before his Captain.

            “Sir, Captain sir.” Alamut saluted before he was permitted to continue. Degrast nodded for him to go on. “Three vessels have been spotted 236 degrees South West at our eleven thirty o clock. At our two o clock is a small fleet of seven vessels possible Gantronese.”

            “What of the three vessels?” Degrast asked the First Mate.

            “Those other three ships belong to the city-state Kilscar Orvain, and the island state of Iperantos in the platform isles and sea.” Alamut reported to his Commanding Captain.

            Degrast stood up closing the log book of orders, chapters, schedules, and the ships they had sunken to the bottom. The Captain tossed the log on his cot and proceeded out of his own quarters. First Mate Alamut moved to the side letting his Captain by. He entered the hallway full of hatches, pipes, valves, and lines protected by metal lining. The Captain turned left away from the bow, Torpedo room, and the battery space. With First Mate Alamut following at his heels the Captain passed through the control room that was built under the conning tower and above the pump room. Passing crew members, OOD’s, Petty Officers, and experienced crew Captain Griffin-Spear made his way to the radio room.

            Inside the radio room sat radioman Ensign Menelson with Seaman Apprentice Givorne Worenson. Both the radiomen stood up at attention when Captain Griffin-Spear entered the radio room. He looked at the two U-boat sailors hoping they had at least been in contact with the other Captains concerning the Chancellor Miron Thindir. After taking Prince Vannok-Rath to Ruhonthra they would sail for Borvados.

            “Have you been in contact with Captains Chessoke, Borheen, Ambrosius, Heartstone and Korchis?” Griffin-Spear asked the sailors demanding his answer immediately. The Seaman Ensign looked at him with a few hints of few in her eyes.

            “No, no sir I haven’t contacted them for days.” She answered him. The fear in her eyes grew as if she had disobeyed an order. For a second he thought she was going to cry. It was neither because she was a woman nor would it ever be that way in the ranks of the Vestrisian Army. The reason would be how sverxed they’d be for not following orders. If one did cry it would be in private away from others. Nonetheless no one would blame anyone for shedding tears especially during a war that could cost millions of lives on both sides. Menelson kept her cool and stood straighter then saluted.

            “I will contact them sir on your orders.” She said as if she had boasted with masked enthusiasm. He could almost tell what she was thinking. Degrats kept that to himself then watched her observantly with a stern expression. Menelson twisted dials and flipped on the radio to contact the other U-boats. She typed on a keyboard with one hand and turned the dial while looking for the right channel and frequency signal.

            “Captain I have a signal!” she cried appearing excited.

            “Hidden Sorrow to fleet…Hidden Sorrow to fleet this is Uboat 019 do you read? I repeat this is Uboat 019 do you read?” Menelson asked over the radio with the head phones on her head and the microphone piece in one hand. For several moments she waited listening to the silence for any answers or signal. Another moment passed and she got something.

            “Yes I can hear you as well over.” Menelson responded to another radioman over the radio comm. “This is Seaman Menelson of Uboat 019 aka Hidden Sorrow.”

            “Good afternoon Captain Borheen, Captain Griffin-Spear wants to ensure you and the other Captains know which vessels not to attack.” She said to the person over the radio. For several moments Menelson did not speak as she listened to the other Captain. “Yes sir I will inform my Captain over.”

            She turned to her Captain with some info from the way she looked at him. In his mind he could tell there was more to this mission. Not only would they have to sink the Gantronese vessels, seize the others, but engage more vessels. He could almost read it on her face.

            “There is another small fleet of Gantronese ships further away from the Prince’s ships. Admiral Theinus and his fleet will engage that fleet while we disable the target. Menelson explained to her Captain.

            Degrast took this in and pondered over a good course of action. Ordering the crew to their stations Captain Degrast Griffin-Spear left the radio room to the control room. His crew were at work preparing the sub for another engagement with the enemy. Those who were at the torpedo room loaded their vessel disabling torpedoes. OOD Lieutenant Velkonoy gave the Captain the helm while the First Mate stood near the periscope. At the steering helm Degrast steered the Hidden Sorrow towards the target. Under the guidance and navigation of his Lieutenants, radars, and navigators Degrast maneuvered the Uboat to the three vessels’ direction.

            When they got close enough he aligned the Hidden Sorrow for a decisive shot. In mere moments of lining up a shot they released two torpedoes. Every crewmember sat down or kneeled quietly and listened to the silence. They let the Hidden Sorrow sit idle until the torpedoes hit their targets. Degrast looked at his pocket watch counting down the seconds before impact. He counted up to thirty eight seconds until the sea shook a little like an earthquake causing vibrations. Even though they were under water in thick sheets of metal the sound of the explosion still reached their ears.

            “Sir we have two direct hits!” a crewman manning the sonar yelled with glee. This crewman was a Geverine from Boathria. His face was thin with a goatee and a military fashioned haircut. He had more of the dancer’s body type and tall in frame.

            Every crew member within earshot cheered and raised their arms up in celebration. One seaman stood up and broke into song. He began the anthem of the VUVR before others joined the chorus. Spirits arose amongst the crew showing excellent morale. While the crew celebrated Griffin-Spear ordered for their vessel to ascend enough for the periscope. He looked through the periscope to see the damage of those hits. Their target floated on the surface motionless like a sitting duck. Prince Vannak-Rath’s ship the “Ganonoque” could not move and had smoke spewing from its stern. With no one else coming to defend this vessel their prize was free to take. He turned to look at the Gantronese ships which were now a flame and sinking from multiple hits. Degrast smiled at this then turned back to the “Ganonoque and her fellow ships. The two ships that joined the Prince’s ship were now leaving it to the mercy of their hidden enemy. As he watched these two ships abandon the Ganonoque and the Prince of Kilscar Orvain his crew ceased singing.

            After observing the damage done to the Gantronese and Ganonoque Degrest let the periscope go up. He looked around at his own crew before checking his pocket watch once more. Looking at it reminded him of his daughters and wife. All of their faces appeared inside his head smiling at him. Each one looked very happy inside his own mind. He imagined the whole family at the beach with friends on a picnic. The image gave him a good feeling as he returned to where he stood aboard the Hidden Sorrow.

            “Velkonoy bring her up to surface. Menelson contact the other U-boats tell them we are going in for the prize. First Mate Zangi prepare a boarding party that Prince will be in our hands!” Griffin-Spear shouted orders to his Officers who immediately obeyed his orders. Every crewmember went to action preparing the U-boat craft for surfacing.

            The Hidden Sorrow shook a little causing everything to vibrate a little. Degrast held on as the craft rose up to the surface. It took them several minutes to ascend up to the sea surface. When the craft stopped its ascension Degrast let go. In moments the entire craft settled on the ocean with the slow rocking on its surface.

            “Captain we are on the surface!” one of the crewmen announced.

            “Move her towards our target.” Degrast commanded. His order was carried out as he felt the vessel move towards the target. First Mate Zangi-Alamut came up to him armed to the teeth but only summoned six men for the boarding party. Degrast squinted his eyes and knitted his eyebrows at his First Mate. He showed his disgust at only six armed sailors summoned for boarding the Ganonoque.

            “Dammit First Mate we’ll need more men than this to take that sverxing ship!” Captain Griffin-Spear yelled at him. His expression must have shown his fury from the way his crew looked surprised and felt a little sverxed.

            “Yes, yes sir. I shall round up more men for the boarding party.” First Mate Zangi-Alamut replied in a tone that only hoped it would satisfy his angered Captain. Ignoring this Degrast turned around and returned to his own quarters. He thought it was best to leave his First Mate to his duties. Inside his own quarters Captain Griffin Spear prepared to board this sitting vessel. He looked under his bed where the footlocker lay. Degrast pulled the footlocker out.

            Opening the footlocker Degrast found his life vest, fine uniform for parades, banquets, and evenings. Among this he found his personal bullet proof vest and an O-3 combat pistol in a holster hooked on a belt. Grabbing the vests and pistol Degrast unbuttoned his shirt. Once he had it off he put on his bullet proof vest. He quickly buttoned up again then put on his life vest and armed himself with the pistol belt. Before exiting his quarters Griffin-Spear checked to see how much ammo he had. Counting about seven clips on the belt Degrast exited towards the control room.

            There he found First Mate Zangi-Alamut and fourteen selected sailors for the boarding party. All the sailors his First Mate chose were armed and ready to board. Every one of them held an assault rifle, submachine gun, Optimates, or hand machineguns. He observed each one then turned to his First Mate.

            “Stay here and man the helm I am leaving you command of the vessel while I am gone. I don’t expect much resistance or any more Gantronese coming.” Degrast climbed the ladder up to the conning tower. He opened the hatch to the tower and climbed up to the top. From there Degrast and his assembled boarding party went out on deck.