Adelaide Branwell stood perched in the crow’s nest aboard the Gallant. The morning had been foggy, but that fog had served a perfect cover for which to troll over the smooth waters towards a ship they had pursing for nigh on three days. The Gallant was a man-o-war that sailed under the guise of a trading vessel. She was renowned as one of the most reliable traders in the water those days, and she was also known as the only ship to be captained by a woman.<br/><br/>The English Sloop-o-war stood out proudly on the calm sea, and the minute her brilliant brown eyes had landed on it days ago, she had known that she wanted to capture it. Not only for the spoils that were certain to be hidden on such a vessel, but because of the trail that someone had been leaving behind it for the last several days. Someone was trying to signal them, that could be the only explanation. Someone on board and English ship tossing goods over the side. But why?<br/><br/>“All men to their guns” Adelaide shouted as she slid down the mooring rope, her booted feet hitting the deck with a resounding thud. “We're going to board her! And spare no one on board! Move all you blackguards, move!” The outright battle had gone well, the ship had hardly put up a fight before Gallant was able to sail close enough and disable the long line of cannon's along the vessel's broadsides.<br/><br/>For a small woman Adelaide spoke with an impressive command as she strode across the deck to the side rail, placing a leg on the lowest rung and heaving herself up. It was said that Adelaide had no fear and all the courage of a man. It was also said that she convinced her men to serve her through seduction and unseemly favors. That personal rumor was her favorite.<br/><br/>From her position against the railing, she could see the starboard side of the English ship rise up impressively. It made her heart race to imagine the impending battle, she had always had a fire in her blood for face to face combat.<br/><br/>“It’s a beautiful day for a battle, Sir.” A level voice spoke from directly behind her. Gareth, her first mate and her oldest friend. As she turned to look at him, Gareth regarded her with his cool blue eyes, the same cool gaze that Adelaide had come to trust over their many years working together.<br/><br/>She grinned fiercely. “It’s a fine day for it indeed, my darling. And with the loot we’ll garner off of her you’ll undoubtedly have plenty enough coin to warm your bed when we return to the colonies.”<br/><br/>Gareth only grinned and shook his head. “You’re not wrong miss.” And then he turned on his heel and grasped a lagging cabin boy by his collar. “You heard the Captain! Git ready to board!”<br/><br/>Adelaide grimaced, Gareth could certainly be harsh at times but the cabin boy shouldn’t have been mucking about. Turning her attention back to the other ship, she watched as the boson and another crewmember threw out the rope ladders and attached them to the side of the captured ship. She wasted no time in drawing her rapier and scrambling across to land easily on her feet on the deck of the English ship.<br/><br/>She grinned widely at the crew who faced her, their expressions shocked to see the slim woman dressed in man’s clothes. “Hello, boy. We’re here to take your ship. And the less resistance you put up the less blood we’ll shed.” Her voice was perfectly polite, but there was a wicked glint in her eyes.