Revolution In This Century

Canon Base: Mutiny & Retribution, but in 1712 – 1713
Age: 26-27
Corresponds With: To Free The Sea Of Piracy

Horatio finds himself in the midst of many changes, few of which are welcome. Captain Pellew has been stationed among the admiralty, resulting in Horatio’s transfer to a new ship as the Indefatigable was set to be re-outfitted for a new captain and crew, and was in need of a complete overhauling that was expected to take nearly a year to complete. Stationed aboard a third class galleon as third lieutenant, Horatio finds himself dealing with an aged captain whose crew took great advantage of his failing nature to imbibe in an abundance of alcohol and a sense of being untouchable on account of serving a hero of the Spanish peninsula. Matters escalated to the point that Horatio and the other three lieutenants were forced to discuss deposing of the captain – an act of mutiny and sedition in its very voicing – and actions of the captain that nearly lead to the destruction of the ship forced the hand of the ship’s surgeon into declaring him unfit for command.

Matters grew worse, and Horatio knew the only way to spare himself and his fellow lieutenants from the gallows for mutiny would be to carry out their mission and claim the fort they were set out against in the first place. This lead ultimately to the destruction of the fort, the death of the captain, and Horatio on trial along with the other lieutenants on account of their crimes. One of them was injured, and in the end he chose to take the fall, knowing he would die regardless, to clear the names of Horatio, Lieutenant Bush and Lieutenant Buckland, saving their lives with his own. The admiralty understood they needed a scapegoat to protect the legacy of the fallen captain and had fixed their canon against Horatio – something Pellew worked hard to redirect – and in the end the sacrifice of Lieutenant Kennedy and the actions of Pellew were what not only saved Horatio, but lead to him being promoted to captain upon a smaller vessel.

These experiences hardened Horatio against England and blind patriotism, though he wisely kept his contempt trapped between his teeth. Sympathy for those who had turned to the black flag, where captains could be voted off and ships could be run with democratic command so that such horrors as these need never be faced, had never before sounded so appealing.