text: [Themes: Historical, naval]
  
  > Go downwards
  You pass their names to Mr. Carter.
  
  "Watch them, Mr. Carter."
  
  "Aye aye, sir. I will, sir."
  
  At this point, you believe that, overall, the crew is tolerably happy and with reasonable but not great discipline.
  
  There are definitely some bad apples in the crew.
  
  >Next
  
  > B.
  Mr. Carter was an experienced and expert sailor. The only explanation for his death is murder. And since you doubt Benton killed him, and you know that you didn't, that's tantamount to mutiny.
  
  So the question is: What are you going to do about it?
  
  A: Investigate the murder. I know he was murdered, but I don't know by whom.
  B: Seize the most likely suspects and proceed straight to a court-martial. It's better to be firm and swift in response than to be right.
  C: Think about it some more. I have to respond correctly, and that's more important than acting quickly.
  D: Ignore it, at least for now. Starting an investigation could lead to an open mutiny, and I can't risk that.
  
  > Stats
  Name: Mr. Edward Rockersuke
  Rank: Commander
  Seniority: 2 years
  Age: 31
  Sailing: 46%
  Gunnery: 66%
  Leadership: 64%
  Fighting: 73%
  Patronage: 74%
  Tact: 71%
  Likeability: 73%
  Honor: 19%
  Courage: 44%
  Bloodthirst: 51%
  Intelligence: 31%
  Wealth: 64%
  
  >OK
  
  > go
  A: Investigate the murder. I know he was murdered, but I don't know by whom.
  B: Seize the most likely suspects and proceed straight to a court-martial. It's better to be firm and swift in response than to be right.
  C: Think about it some more. I have to respond correctly, and that's more important than acting quickly.
  D: Ignore it, at least for now. Starting an investigation could lead to an open mutiny, and I can't risk that.
  
  > B.
  A few nights later you awake with a start, to the sound of shouts and clanging metal outside your cabin.
  
  You swing up out of bed, grabbing for your sword--just as a team of armed sailors breaks down the door. The leader's face is twisted into a sneer. "Not so powerful now, are you?" he says scornfully. Over his shoulder, you can see the Marine sentry and a sailor bleeding to death on the deck outside. "Throw down that sword."
  
  Do you?
  
  A: I can't win. I throw down my sword.
  B: Never!
  
  > B.
  You attack so ferociously he stumbles back in surprise. Ruthlessly following up your advantage, you cut your way through the mutineers and manage to maneuver your way out of your cabin. On deck, you see that the mutiny is just getting started.
  
  You rally the loyalists, and assess the tactical situation. Though parts of the crew were unhappy enough to risk their lives to kill you, notwithstanding your efforts to build discipline. . . the numbers are still on your side.
  
  For now.
  
  >Next
  
  > go
  "We must re-take control of this ship!" you shout, and the men surrounding you nod. Some of them are armed, with blades or pistols; some have only their bare hands. But at least they are all on your side.
  
  "For Albion!" you yell. They follow you as you charge back down the deck, no longer fighting defensively but now actively attacking anyone in your way.
  
  >Next
  
  > go
  From around a corner come a contingent of mutineers--some of the ones who broke into your cabin, and some others. They stop when they see your party of loyalists. You stop too. Your two groups glare at each other along the deck. Light glistens off the blades of their cutlasses.
  
  What do you do?
  
  A: Bluff them into surrendering.
  B: Charge down the deck and engage them directly.
  C: Grab a pistol from one of your loyal men and start shooting from here.
  
  > go
  The battle is long and bloody, but in the end, the loyalists are victorious.
  
  Easily a dozen men have died, and a further two dozen more are unable to work, but with that show of force, you have put down the mutiny and re-established control of your sloop.
  
  >Next Chapter
  
  > go
  H.M. Sloop Defender continues her cruise. On a bright and clear day, you come into sight of a Gaulish merchant convoy, with no apparent warships to defend it. There are a dozen Gaulish merchant ships in all.
  
  How do you plan your attack?
  
  A: We stay to windward, planning on picking off the Gaulish ships one by one as we overrun them. With the advantage of the wind gage, we will be able to catch any ships that try to run easily.
  B: We head to the middle of the convoy. We want to get as many ships in cannon range as quickly as possible.
  C: We sail to lee of the convoy. With the wind pushing them towards us, they will have little choice but to come to us, and Defender is faster and more maneuverable than any merchant ship.
  
  > B.
  You snap off orders, closing with the Gaulish convoy and running up the ensign of the Royal Navy. The Gaulish ships begin to scatter, hoping that you will have to chase one or two and allow the rest to escape.
  
  Defender's crew responds to your orders well. The men are not the most disciplined crew that you have ever served with, but they are adequate to the task at hand. You maneuver the sloop well, overtaking one Gaulish ship after another, and a barrage of cannon fire at the Gaulish sails cripples your prey. Inevitably, most of the merchant ships escape, but you capture five of the enemy. You have deprived Gaul of much-needed supplies and earned yourself a sizable payment of prize money.
  
  >Next Chapter
  
  > go
  In recognition of your able service turning H.M. Sloop Defender into a worthy part of the Royal Navy, the Admiralty promotes you to post-captain and assigns you to command H.M.S. Dauntless, a 38-gun frigate.
  
  The Admiralty asks if you have a preference for your first lieutenant.
  
  A: I ask for Mr. Stuart from H.M.S. Courageous.
  B: I ask for Mr. Mason from H.M.S. Courageous.
  C: I ask for Mr. Benton from H.M. Sloop Defender.
  D: I make no requests; the current first lieutenant will serve admirably.