More than a week had passed since the Brass Blades had fled with her only evidence connecting her wayward Lieutenant to House Valeneaux and the greater plot beneath it all. Her report to Commander Gavronchette was short and to the point. The contents of the Valeneaux shipment appeared to be nothing more than medical supplies. But Sounsyy knew there had to be more to those crates, otherwise why would they have been flagged?
All the same, Sounsyy penned a missive to Shiv'to Vodha in Thanalan warning him of Brass Blade involvement. The Brass Blades likely knew more than they let on and the Sergeant must needs know just who was looking over his shoulder. Until his reply, she had nothing to go on. Sounsyy only prayed that his investigation would uncover some lead.
Sounsyy swallowed down several sleepless nights, pouring over old documents and shipping records. There were sketchy interactions aplenty there, but nothing that stood out as linked to Valeneaux. These files she added to her already overflowing pile of documents within her desk drawer. Biting back the frustration that gnawed at her senses, she finally bid herself retire.
Fourteen hours passed before she stirred from her deep, dreamless, sleep. She groaned, trying to fight off the exhaustion that still plagued her. Rubbing sleep from her eyes, she noted an envelope upon the floor under her door. Struggling out of her chair, she made her way across the small room and retrieved the letter. The missive was from Shiv'to. Sounsyy's heart sank when she read he hadn't any answers, just more questions. There was nothing for it. She would have to travel north to Coerthas in search of Grin. A sudden terror gripped Sounsyy's chest. It meant taking that long road north from Ul'dah into Bluefog and Mor Dhona. She would be forced to pass near Carteneau.
A few suns passed seemingly in a blur. Commander Gavronchette had recalled the 3rd Squadron's 8th Levy to Limsa Lominsa so that they might accompany their new captain to Coerthas. The 8th Levy Tactical Unit was a skeleton crew at best. Twenty men and women of mixed and colorful backgrounds who could be trusted to deal with sensitive assignments. Some, Sounsyy learned, had been 'Cudas before the Calamity, others Privateers, while two had even fought on Carteneau. She saluted each of them in turn as they introduced themselves.
When she got to the end of the line, she stood to the side at attention as Sabine Gavronchette made her way across the ship's deck to the crew. She gave Sounsyy a quick salute then said, "Captain, I trust these men are to your liking?"
"Aye, Commander!"
"Good, then, 8th Levy, allow me to introdu-" Sabine began, but a voice from the line cut her off. A Seeker woman with dirty blond hair and a hard face stepped forwards. "No offense 'Mander," she said, "but we know who she is an' what she's done."
"Mirke's military record is none of your concern, Lieutenant," Sabine retorted calmly as if she was ready for the backlash for her decision to readmit Captain Mirke. But the Seeker woman only shook her head, "The 7th made a hole fer me n' mine on Carteneau. I were 4th Squadron then. But I remember thinkin' that's a cap'n worth followin' what can give 'er men the courage to meet the Garleans 'ead on. They opened that line like it were the most important thin' to get done."
Sounsyy swallowed hard. In her mind she was no one to be admired. She had only done what needed to be done. She had pushed her Levy hard because that was all they had left. She had thought they would all die there.
"Your unexpected admiration is noted P'welro," Sabine chided. The Seeker woman, P'welro, stepped back into line. She looked neither embarrassed nor put down by the Commander. Gavronchette cleared her throat and continued, "Captain Mirke, meet your First Mate, P'welro. Everyone else, listen up! Captain Mirke, formerly of 3rd Squadron's 7th Levy, will be taking the helm on this Levy's operations. You will give her your full respect despite her reputation. But knowing her reputation, I expect should you think it wise to test her, she will break you. Understood?"
"Aye, Commander!" They chimed together.
Gavronchette flicked a pleased expression in Sounsyy's direction. Sounsyy met her gaze but kept her countenance unchanged. Was Sabine testing her? Or was her commander truly seeing if she was as terrible a Captain as the rumors suggested. She snorted to herself. Let the rumors fly, the ones who repeated them knew nothing of leading in wartime. They knew nothing of her.
The following day saw the 8th Levy into the Straight of Merlthor. There were clouds to the north, but no sign of a storm. Her 1st Helmsman, a man named Fhruhsunn, informed her that they would reach the coast of Thanalan in a few days time with their present course up the coast of Bloodshore. She had decided she would meet with Shiv'to in Thanalan before pressing north in pursuit of Grin. Let him freeze up there, she thought.
Sounsyy nodded to Fhruhsunn and paced the deck, overseeing her new crew at work. She did not have to push them. They were already hard working, pushing themselves to run the frigate with just a skeleton crew. Her new first mate, P'welro, could be seen near the main mast tying off the sails, her muscles gleaming with sweat and seaspray. Sounsyy shed her captain's bliaud and went to help the woman.
P'welro cast her captain an odd look but accepted the help. When the job was done, P'welro leaned upon the gunwale with an amused expression. She said, "Ye don't 'ave to earn me respect cap'n. I told ye ye already has it."
Sounsyy shook her head, "Yesterday, you said my men were courageous to charge that line."
"Yeh-"
"Weren't courage. We were scared shiteless. My men charged that line, because they knew I would never ask somethin' of them that I wouldn't do myself. I never asked them to follow me. I lead, they followed. That's how I captain. That coat," Sounsyy said, pointing at the bliaud crumpled on the deck, "is just a coat."
"Aye, cap'n," P'welro said in a slow, almost dazed voice, "So Gavronchette was 'avin' a go at us then? Ye ain't gon' break us?"
Sounsyy burst into a mirthful laugh as she walked away from P'welro across the main deck to retrieve her fallen bliaud. "I never said that," she called over her shoulder. She turned and tossed her bosun's call to P'welro, who caught it in both hands.
"Assemble the crew, P'welro," Sounsyy said, "We've got drills."
All the same, Sounsyy penned a missive to Shiv'to Vodha in Thanalan warning him of Brass Blade involvement. The Brass Blades likely knew more than they let on and the Sergeant must needs know just who was looking over his shoulder. Until his reply, she had nothing to go on. Sounsyy only prayed that his investigation would uncover some lead.
Sounsyy swallowed down several sleepless nights, pouring over old documents and shipping records. There were sketchy interactions aplenty there, but nothing that stood out as linked to Valeneaux. These files she added to her already overflowing pile of documents within her desk drawer. Biting back the frustration that gnawed at her senses, she finally bid herself retire.
Fourteen hours passed before she stirred from her deep, dreamless, sleep. She groaned, trying to fight off the exhaustion that still plagued her. Rubbing sleep from her eyes, she noted an envelope upon the floor under her door. Struggling out of her chair, she made her way across the small room and retrieved the letter. The missive was from Shiv'to. Sounsyy's heart sank when she read he hadn't any answers, just more questions. There was nothing for it. She would have to travel north to Coerthas in search of Grin. A sudden terror gripped Sounsyy's chest. It meant taking that long road north from Ul'dah into Bluefog and Mor Dhona. She would be forced to pass near Carteneau.
A few suns passed seemingly in a blur. Commander Gavronchette had recalled the 3rd Squadron's 8th Levy to Limsa Lominsa so that they might accompany their new captain to Coerthas. The 8th Levy Tactical Unit was a skeleton crew at best. Twenty men and women of mixed and colorful backgrounds who could be trusted to deal with sensitive assignments. Some, Sounsyy learned, had been 'Cudas before the Calamity, others Privateers, while two had even fought on Carteneau. She saluted each of them in turn as they introduced themselves.
When she got to the end of the line, she stood to the side at attention as Sabine Gavronchette made her way across the ship's deck to the crew. She gave Sounsyy a quick salute then said, "Captain, I trust these men are to your liking?"
"Aye, Commander!"
"Good, then, 8th Levy, allow me to introdu-" Sabine began, but a voice from the line cut her off. A Seeker woman with dirty blond hair and a hard face stepped forwards. "No offense 'Mander," she said, "but we know who she is an' what she's done."
"Mirke's military record is none of your concern, Lieutenant," Sabine retorted calmly as if she was ready for the backlash for her decision to readmit Captain Mirke. But the Seeker woman only shook her head, "The 7th made a hole fer me n' mine on Carteneau. I were 4th Squadron then. But I remember thinkin' that's a cap'n worth followin' what can give 'er men the courage to meet the Garleans 'ead on. They opened that line like it were the most important thin' to get done."
Sounsyy swallowed hard. In her mind she was no one to be admired. She had only done what needed to be done. She had pushed her Levy hard because that was all they had left. She had thought they would all die there.
"Your unexpected admiration is noted P'welro," Sabine chided. The Seeker woman, P'welro, stepped back into line. She looked neither embarrassed nor put down by the Commander. Gavronchette cleared her throat and continued, "Captain Mirke, meet your First Mate, P'welro. Everyone else, listen up! Captain Mirke, formerly of 3rd Squadron's 7th Levy, will be taking the helm on this Levy's operations. You will give her your full respect despite her reputation. But knowing her reputation, I expect should you think it wise to test her, she will break you. Understood?"
"Aye, Commander!" They chimed together.
Gavronchette flicked a pleased expression in Sounsyy's direction. Sounsyy met her gaze but kept her countenance unchanged. Was Sabine testing her? Or was her commander truly seeing if she was as terrible a Captain as the rumors suggested. She snorted to herself. Let the rumors fly, the ones who repeated them knew nothing of leading in wartime. They knew nothing of her.
The following day saw the 8th Levy into the Straight of Merlthor. There were clouds to the north, but no sign of a storm. Her 1st Helmsman, a man named Fhruhsunn, informed her that they would reach the coast of Thanalan in a few days time with their present course up the coast of Bloodshore. She had decided she would meet with Shiv'to in Thanalan before pressing north in pursuit of Grin. Let him freeze up there, she thought.
Sounsyy nodded to Fhruhsunn and paced the deck, overseeing her new crew at work. She did not have to push them. They were already hard working, pushing themselves to run the frigate with just a skeleton crew. Her new first mate, P'welro, could be seen near the main mast tying off the sails, her muscles gleaming with sweat and seaspray. Sounsyy shed her captain's bliaud and went to help the woman.
P'welro cast her captain an odd look but accepted the help. When the job was done, P'welro leaned upon the gunwale with an amused expression. She said, "Ye don't 'ave to earn me respect cap'n. I told ye ye already has it."
Sounsyy shook her head, "Yesterday, you said my men were courageous to charge that line."
"Yeh-"
"Weren't courage. We were scared shiteless. My men charged that line, because they knew I would never ask somethin' of them that I wouldn't do myself. I never asked them to follow me. I lead, they followed. That's how I captain. That coat," Sounsyy said, pointing at the bliaud crumpled on the deck, "is just a coat."
"Aye, cap'n," P'welro said in a slow, almost dazed voice, "So Gavronchette was 'avin' a go at us then? Ye ain't gon' break us?"
Sounsyy burst into a mirthful laugh as she walked away from P'welro across the main deck to retrieve her fallen bliaud. "I never said that," she called over her shoulder. She turned and tossed her bosun's call to P'welro, who caught it in both hands.
"Assemble the crew, P'welro," Sounsyy said, "We've got drills."
