“Sir, I thought combat was exactly the time when you would order steam. Is that not one of the main purposes of this cruise, to see how the steam ships fare in actual combat, under power?”
“Normally, yes, but this time, I’m worried about detection. If this ship is not alone then, trap or no trap, raising steam means sending a message to any and all of the rest of an enemy formation about where and what we are.”
The radioman cleared his throat politely. “Message from Resolve, Commander.”
“What does Admiral Mund have to say?”
“Sir, he points out that in order to deploy the balloon, he will have to clear his stern of canvas. And if he does so, if he slacks the sails on the mizzen and swings wide the yard to clear the deck for air operations, he will slow down and fall further behind.”
“Send that this is not an operational concern. He’ll still have better speed than either Patentia and Serendipity, whom he must remain behind and protect. More importantly, please remind him that decreasing his ship’s speed makes it a better platform for the balloon. When you’re done sending that, send to the Serendipity and Patentia that they are to crowd sail. I don’t want them lagging behind too far, and stretching out our formation. And have the Tropic Surveyor close on us as she is able, crossing our wake when we clear Gob a Ghiall.”
“Aye, sir. Sending now.”
Bjelke frowned. “You want the bark to the south of us, closer to the island?”
“Absolutely, Lieutenant. Because if the enemy has more ships behind that headland, I want to give them something to deal with while we bring round our rifles and teach them just how long our reach is.”
Gjedde may have nodded. “And so, what will Intrepid be doing?”
Eddie smiled and, by way of answer, waved Svantner over. “Lieutenant, do we have solutions for range, bearing, and speed of the Spaniard?”
“Yes, sir. Mount One has rechecked first findings and confirms the following with highest confidence: the Spaniard is now just under a mile off, making two and a half knots and heading north by northwest true.”
“Crown of Waves and Courser?”
“Now on parallel courses with the Spaniard, sir. Crown is making three knots and a bit, Courser is almost at six.”
Eddie made a mental map plot. The Spanish carrack was in a tight spot. If she turned to either port or starboard, she’d be turning into the paths of faster, better-armed ships, and losing the wind in doing so. And since the ships boxing her in—Crown of Waves to the south, Courser to the north—could sail closer hauled and faster, their speed and maneuverability would be even less affected if they made a matching course change. He had the Spaniard straitjacketed. Now to shorten the chase—
“And our speed, Mr. Svantner?
“Five knots, sir. We can make a bit more if we steer a half point to port, and put the wind just abaft the starboard beam.”
“Do so, but keep me out of a direct stern chase. I don’t want to shrink the target profile.”
“Sir?”
“I don’t want to have to shoot straight up that Spaniard’s narrow ass; I want a little more of his side to aim at.”
“Aye, aye, sir!”
“Mr. Bjelke, send the word to Mount One: stand ready.”
“At once, Commander!”
Gjedde unfolded his arms as Bjelke hurried down the stairs. “About fifteen minutes then.”
Eddie turned. “I beg your pardon, Captain?”
“Fifteen minutes before you start firing. The range will have dropped to under half a mile, by then.”
Eddie smiled. “Less.”
Gjedde narrowed his eyes. “How?”
Eddie felt his smile widen. “I would be delighted to demonstrate, sir.”
Gjedde crossed his arms again and frowned. “Please do.”
Eddie gave a partial salute and turned to his First Mate. “Mr. Svantner, has the Spaniard reacted to our course change yet?”
“A bit, sir. She shifted course slightly to the north, keeping us at distance.”
“But closing on the Courser, yes?”
“A bit sir, yes.”
“Then send to Courser: change heading one point to port. Full sheets on the spencer masts. Give that Spaniard a reason to run the other way.”
“Aye, sir.”
Eddie turned—and caught Gjedde smiling. His face became stony in an instant. “So. You’ll scare him into tacking. Each turn of which costs him time and momentum.”
Eddie shrugged. “It’s what you taught me, second day on ship. Seems like the right plan, here.”
Gjedde nodded. “Seems so.”
The radioman uttered a confused grunt, checked an incoming message a second time. “Sir, signal from the Courser. But it doesn’t make sense.”