A New Venture: Meshuda's Loss

[Bos'n]

Cover.psd

Boy am I ticked! Yes, Mr. Union Jack, I am ticked, angry, furious! I had the game won; the merchant ship had nine boxes of cargo; this was looking like lots of victory points for my privateer. Then boom, that D*mn Yankee made a lucky spin of the helm and got in a lucky shot, and it all went away.



Who am I you say? Why not the pirate you claim me to be. I’m Murad Reis, Commander of the schooner Meshuda, Grand Admiral of the Eyalet of Tripolitania, and son-in-law of Bashaw Yusuf. You may know me better as Peter Lisle of Scotland. My story of slave to corsair is well known.
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28 Dhu I-Qu’da 1218 A.H.
Meshuda, Flagship of the Navy of Eyalet of Tripolitanian
Grand Admiral Murad Reis

Sir:

I encountered an American merchant ship on route to Malta with a shipment of naval stores. The cowardly captain surrendered his ship without a fight. Siyyid Adami ibn Jafra-i-Sfax was given command and told to sail for the port of Tunis. I only hope he completed his journey.



The USS General Greene came upon us as our prize crew was taking control of our captive. The American approached us from the leeward side, giving us time to get underway. Adami secured his command and set his course for the Southwest. I took Meshuda into the fight.



I used the headwind to push our ship backwards and quickly swung our bow toward the American frigate. The wind was in our favor. Sails were raised as quickly as possible to take advantage of our good fortune. The American fired first causing some damage to the hull and a considerable toll to the crew.



We two combatants closed and exchanged cannon fire at close range, allowing me to empty my double loaded port side batteries into the opponent’s hull.



The American’s guns did considerably more damage, causing more casualties and starting a fire.



I decided that discretion was the better part of valor and to follow the prize ship to Tunis.



The three ships had been sailing on for hours when some misfortune put the American into the wind. The more she struggled against the irons, the worse it got for her.



My decision to take advantage of my adversary’s difficulty proved to be my undoing. As soon as I got close enough I made a sharp turn to port and emptied my starboard broadside into her forward batteries. At that moment she broke free of the wind’s chains and fired into my rear guns.



The blast shattered a coupling in the rudder and our course began to wobble.



The General Greene used the headwinds to present her starboard broadside and fire.



With all of the damage poor Meshuda had undertaken, I had no other alternative but to strike my colors. I assume the merchant made it to port and I hope to meet up with Adami when this conflict is over.
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Renown Points:
If the merchant leaves the table outside these parameters (1/2 or full ruler length of corner) and you have been driven off (ie leave the table) captured or sunk; then consider the merchantman recaptured.



+1. Capture The Merchantman and it leaves the table at point B. (Gain bonus Prize money of 6)
Siyyid Adami ibn Jafra-i-Sfax, a lieutenant of Marad Reis, was successful in sailing the merchant off of the playing surface at the right place.

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Likely Outcomes

The crew of the General Greene would have to ferry the prize crew and a contingent of marines to escort Murad Reis and his officers back to the American ship. This would take a total 8 turns plus the 2 turns between the merchant leaving the play area and the surrender of the Meshuda; a total of 10 turns. The American ship would be at struck sails while the merchant would be cruising at battle sails. The General Greene would take 2 more turns to equal the speed of the merchant and 1 more to out race her.

Questions

1. Could the merchant get over the horizon line before General Greene could reach a speed that would equal the merchant?
2. If the merchant could still be seen, then could the American catch her before nightfall?
3. If either of the answers to either of these questions be no, then could the merchant change course and avoid capture?
There are two islands west of Malta, Linosa (w) and Lampedusa (wsw), each of which could provide sanctuary for the merchant. The islands are halfway between Malta and the Tripolitanian ports of Tunis, Sousse, and Sfax, Adami’s family hometown.

You'll have to trust me on this. The D___ Thing would not copy. Meshuda filled all of her hull boxes and half of the crew boxes. USS General Greene filled half of her hull damage boxes and 2/3 of her crew boxes.

I am not sure Murad Reis gets any points. The mission was successfully completed, but he was captured in the process.



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