text: [Themes: Historical]
  
  > go downward
  Mr. Bryce, now the first lieutenant, asks you privately, "Mr. Rockersuke, do you really think it was an accident?"
  
  A: "Yes, I'm sure it was an accident."
  B: "No, I don't think it was an accident."
  
  > go
  "I do not think we can catch her," you say quietly to Bryce.
  
  "We must catch her," Bryce replies, "before she gets much nearer shore. We can't manuever Courageous in those shallow waters--"
  
  And, indeed, before very long the Captain is forced to call off pursuit, citing just that reason. Courageous stays a safe distance out, in deep water. You and many others stare resentfully at the escaped prize--nestled against shore in the company of another Gaulish merchant vessel, one that was already there. The Gauls must use this island often for resupply.
  
  "Mr. Bryce! Mr. Rockersuke!" the Captain's voice cuts through your reverie. "In my cabin, if you please!"
  
  >Next
  
  > go
  "We can hold them pinned here indefinitely," the Captain says, "but we can't get close enough to engage them directly. Which means a cutting-out expedition is called for." A group of men will be sent to approach the merchant ships in the dead of night, board them secretly, take them over, and sail them away from the island as prizes.
  
  "There are two ships, so our force will be divided in two. Mr. Bryce, you will command one half; Mr. Rockersuke, you will command the other. Expect that each enemy ship has a complement of thirty men. You will each have forty under your command."
  
  Few lieutenants get such a chance to prove their capabilities. If you are able to pull this off, it will be a significant boost to your career.
  
  So how are you feeling about this?
  
  A: Thrilled. I have been waiting for this sort of opportunity for a while now. I have no doubt at all I will succeed brilliantly and impress the Captain.
  B: Determined. This is going to be difficult, but I will give it everything I have and hope that is enough.
  C: Terrified. If I am NOT able to pull this off, it could represent a signficant setback to my career! Isn't that just like the Navy, to put you into positions where there is only a tiny chance of success, and then punish you for failure? I wish the Captain had chosen someone else.
  
  > B.
  That's the spirit!
  
  You give serious thought to how you will organize your men, and then you go to brief the ones who have been assigned to you. They consist of two midshipmen and forty sailors.
  
  "We will take two boats," you explain. "I shall command one, with Mr. Midshipman Stuart to assist me. Mr. Midshipman Mason will command the other. My boat shall come along the starboard side of the Gaulish vessel, and Mr. Midshipman Mason's along the port side. We will climb aboard secretly, and then attack from two sides with plenty of shouting to frighten the spineless Gaulish boys."
  
  The men grin.
  
  You pause. You know that one of the three officers must be made responsible for cutting the anchor cable, so that your men will be able to sail the Gaulish ship out to where H.M.S. Courageous waits. Another must be responsible for ascending the rigging and loosing the topsail to get the ship underway. And a third must be responsible for taking over the steering of the ship. There are three officers available--you and the two midshipmen. Which job do you want for yourself?
  
  A: Cutting the cable is the most important job. It will have to be done while hand-to-hand fighting is still raging on the deck. I will take responsibility for it myself.
  B: Ascending the rigging to loose the topsail is both important and dangerous. It will require iron nerves and great agility to climb to that unsteady height in the dark while fighting rages on the deck below. I will take responsibility for it myself.
  C: Steering the captured prize back to Courageous is the proper job for the officer in command. I will take responsibility for it myself.
  
  > Stats
  Name: Mr. Edward Rockersuke
  Rank: Lieutenant
  Seniority: 4 years
  Age: 28
  Sailing: 37%
  Gunnery: 66%
  Leadership: 64%
  Fighting: 73%
  Patronage: 74%
  Tact: 83%
  Likeability: 71%
  Honor: 19%
  Courage: 44%
  Bloodthirst: 51%
  Intelligence: 31%
  Wealth: 60%
  
  >OK
  
  > B.
  Bryce raises an eyebrow at you. You are uncomfortably certain that he knew you had forgotten, and isn't overly impressed by your attempt to cover your error. "See that you do," he says tersely. But then he manages a somewhat strained smile. "Good luck to you, Mr. Rockersuke."
  
  "To you too, sir," you say, and go to shepherd your men into the boats.
  
  >Next
  
  > go
  "Now see here!" you order your men in a fierce whisper. "Not one sound from any of you once we're out on the water! And keep those pistols of yours half-cocked until I give the order otherwise! Any man who disobeys will be kissing the gunner's daughter tomorrow!"
  
  They all nod, and you join them in the boat, satisfied that you covered your earlier mistake brilliantly. No one would ever guess you entirely forgot to give the order before.
  
  >Next
  
  > go
  The oars skim smoothly over the water, and the men obediently keep quiet. You can feel your heart hammer in your throat as the great dark shapes of the Gaulish ships loom overhead, and you hope your hand doesn't shake on the tiller. It is your responsibility to get the boat close enough to board the merchant vessel, without letting their lookout see anything. You hope your sailing ability is up to the task.
  
  >Next
  
  > go
  "Uh, Mr. Rockersuke," Stuart whispers loudly. "Uh, sir, begging your pardon, but I think we're drifting--"
  
  To your horror, you realize that Stuart is right. You hastily fumble to correct your error. Do you thank him for his assistance, or order him to keep quiet?
  
  A: I nod my thanks as I correct course.
  B: I order him to keep quiet.
  
  > go
  You fling yourself at the chains that snake up the Gaulish ship's side, ordering your men to follow and remembering to call over your shoulder the additional order to cock their pistols. Above your head, you can hear shouts and pounding feet as the Gaulish sailors rush to defend their ship.
  
  You and your men climbs as fast as you can, but your poor sailing ability gave the Gauls a chance to get themselves prepared. You were counting on the advantage of surprise, and you have largely lost that. Still, nothing for it--
  
  "For Albion!" you shout, and plunge into the fracas on the deck.
  
  >Next
  
  > go
  You cut to the left and the right with your sword, shouting as loudly as you can. At first, the Gauls scatter before you--but then they begin to regroup.
  
  One rushes you from the left, and you turn and plunge your sword into his chest. He falls--but there is another diving in from the right, closing fast as you struggle to extricate your blade from his dead shipmate.
  
  What do you do?
  
  A: I use all my strength to wrench my sword free, and then I turn and fight.
  B: I can't waste an instant. I abandon my sword, and turn to fight with my pistol.
  C: There isn't enough time to turn. I dodge to the left.
  
  > B.
  You let go of the hilt and spin around, leveling your pistol as your new opponent swings his sword. Steel whistles past your ear--you fire at point-blank range--and the Gaul falls to the deck, a smoking hole in the center of his chest. In a smooth motion you pick up the fallen Gaul's sword and pistol to replace your own.
  
  You turn your attention back to the task at hand: fighting your way through the mass of bodies to the cable. You have almost reached your goal when you find your way blocked by two massive, angry Gauls standing shoulder to shoulder. You aim your pistol--and just then, out of the corner of your eye, see Mason fighting a desperate duel on the other side of the deck.
  
  If Mason falls, his task will go uncompleted. On the other hand, if you spend your bullet to save his life, you will be out of ammunition. And then you will have to fight both these Gauls with just your sword. If they cut you down, your task will go uncompleted.
  
  What do you do?
  
  A: I am confident in my ability to win any swordfight, even two on one. And it is my responsibility to see to the safety of those under my command. I turn and fire at Mason's attacker.
  B: Mason can take care of himself--he is a well-trained officer of the Royal Navy. It is my responsibility to see my own part of the mission successfully executed. I fire at one of the Gauls in front of me.
  
  > go
  He is not wearing the uniform of the Gaulish Navy, but it is unmistakably the same man whom you met aboard a Gaulish prize some time ago. The years since have treated him well--his skin is more weather-beaten, perhaps, and a scar seams his left cheek, but he looks to be otherwise in good health and good spirits. And not hurting for money, either: he is dressed in a very fine linen shirt and a coat with gleaming gold buttons, and he carries a pair of elegant gloves such as a gentleman wears when dancing. He has clearly come to this Assembly intending to dance. It is a small shock to you to realize that a Gaulish officer is here as someone's invited guest.
  
  How do you respond?
  
  A: "Mr. Villeneuve! What a surprise."
  B: "What on earth are you doing here?"