Read HMS Aurora: A Charles Mullins Novel (Sea Command Book 3) for Free Online
Authors: Richard Testrake
be considered irrelevant and disregarded.”
“Mister Sims here furnished us with the original. It was a love letter probably sent to a soldier at a depot outside London. It was found blowing in the weeds near a trash dump outside the gate, probably discarded by its recipient.”
There is a purpose for all this secrecy. Should any information concerning this mission be discovered by the enemy, the source of that leak might possibly be discovered by tracing the information gained from the several packets. If the enemy finds the place of danger, but not the number of people involved or the date, then we can trace the leak to source ‘C’, since none of the others would know the destination. If the enemy awaiting has learned all of the needed information, then it will likely have come from your ship, since you will be the only person entrusted with all of the data. So, on your return to your ship, Captain Mullins, you can see the need to safeguard these packets and the information inside.”
This information was discussed before the open wardroom window, and the atmosphere in the big wardroom was becoming very cold. All of the packets were placed on the table with a large sailcloth bag to carry them in. Mullins nervously began to open one of the packets, but a hand was placed on his and he was reminded again that they were not to be opened until out of sight of land.
“Captain Mullins” offered the spokesman, “we were told you were a steady type of officer who did his duty without error. If that is not true, you need to advise us now.”
This whole matter seemed rather twitchy to him and the captain was tempted to tell these people what to do with themselves. Should he do so, there was the probability he would lose the command of this fine ship. At this stage of his career, he could not afford any serious lapses.
Swallowing his pride, he assured the others he would maintain the security of the packets and as he started to take his leave, Mister Sims spoke. “There is nothing secret about this extra box I am placing in your bag. It contains merely a set of pistols, which I wish to be given to the person identified as the proper recipient. You are free to examine the weapons after reaching your ship. Please give them to the proper person though.”
Chapter Five
His boat crew were all waiting up on the foredeck, frustrated and anxious after the long wait with no information gained. As soon as Mullins was seen on deck, the men dropped down into their boat and took it to the proper position below the man ropes down which their captain would descend. A bag containing the still sealed packets and the pistol case followed him down on a line.
At HMS Aurora, his crew was awaiting his return with barely concealed excitement. He did nothing to abate that interest, merely calling to Mister Midshipman Adolphus, who was overseeing a crew slushing down the standing rigging of the foremast with old grease skimmed from the galley’s cooking pots.
Handing the lad, the bag, he told him to stand by until he finished with the officers, then carry it to his cabin.
Mister Daley was standing by with anticipation, as were several others who could invent reasons to stand there with their ears flapping in the breeze.
“Mister Daley, are we ready in all respects to sail?” he asked.
The first officer replied that they were.
“Well then, sir. I need to take care of some things in the cabin. While I am doing that, I will thank you to signal the flag, asking permission to sail. You may inform the crew we are sailing under sealed orders from the Admiralty. We will proceed straight out into the Channel. Once out of sight of land, I may open my orders and determine our actual destination.”
In the cabin, Mullins removed the sealed packets from the bag and placed them in his desk and locked it. The pistol case he left on its top, while the orders were slipped into his coat pocket. Stepping back out on
“Mister Sims here furnished us with the original. It was a love letter probably sent to a soldier at a depot outside London. It was found blowing in the weeds near a trash dump outside the gate, probably discarded by its recipient.”
There is a purpose for all this secrecy. Should any information concerning this mission be discovered by the enemy, the source of that leak might possibly be discovered by tracing the information gained from the several packets. If the enemy finds the place of danger, but not the number of people involved or the date, then we can trace the leak to source ‘C’, since none of the others would know the destination. If the enemy awaiting has learned all of the needed information, then it will likely have come from your ship, since you will be the only person entrusted with all of the data. So, on your return to your ship, Captain Mullins, you can see the need to safeguard these packets and the information inside.”
This information was discussed before the open wardroom window, and the atmosphere in the big wardroom was becoming very cold. All of the packets were placed on the table with a large sailcloth bag to carry them in. Mullins nervously began to open one of the packets, but a hand was placed on his and he was reminded again that they were not to be opened until out of sight of land.
“Captain Mullins” offered the spokesman, “we were told you were a steady type of officer who did his duty without error. If that is not true, you need to advise us now.”
This whole matter seemed rather twitchy to him and the captain was tempted to tell these people what to do with themselves. Should he do so, there was the probability he would lose the command of this fine ship. At this stage of his career, he could not afford any serious lapses.
Swallowing his pride, he assured the others he would maintain the security of the packets and as he started to take his leave, Mister Sims spoke. “There is nothing secret about this extra box I am placing in your bag. It contains merely a set of pistols, which I wish to be given to the person identified as the proper recipient. You are free to examine the weapons after reaching your ship. Please give them to the proper person though.”
Chapter Five
His boat crew were all waiting up on the foredeck, frustrated and anxious after the long wait with no information gained. As soon as Mullins was seen on deck, the men dropped down into their boat and took it to the proper position below the man ropes down which their captain would descend. A bag containing the still sealed packets and the pistol case followed him down on a line.
At HMS Aurora, his crew was awaiting his return with barely concealed excitement. He did nothing to abate that interest, merely calling to Mister Midshipman Adolphus, who was overseeing a crew slushing down the standing rigging of the foremast with old grease skimmed from the galley’s cooking pots.
Handing the lad, the bag, he told him to stand by until he finished with the officers, then carry it to his cabin.
Mister Daley was standing by with anticipation, as were several others who could invent reasons to stand there with their ears flapping in the breeze.
“Mister Daley, are we ready in all respects to sail?” he asked.
The first officer replied that they were.
“Well then, sir. I need to take care of some things in the cabin. While I am doing that, I will thank you to signal the flag, asking permission to sail. You may inform the crew we are sailing under sealed orders from the Admiralty. We will proceed straight out into the Channel. Once out of sight of land, I may open my orders and determine our actual destination.”
In the cabin, Mullins removed the sealed packets from the bag and placed them in his desk and locked it. The pistol case he left on its top, while the orders were slipped into his coat pocket. Stepping back out on
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