Aboard the Lockejaw

Piper's first thought was that the Captain was an incredibly large man. While most of the soldiers she had come into contact with had been strong and well built in their own right, they were stringy compared to Tartan - who had a full beard, smelled of salt and pipesmoke, and was the human equivalent of a barge in terms of size. At once the Captain was handed a clipboard of sorts and went to work calling out names and studied each face to match. He surveyed them with more grunts than words; poking and prodding at the obviously uncomfortable arrangement. He reached Piper and looked her once over after she stepped forward at the bellowing sound of "Raddendale!", his assessment of her 3+ years of military experience culminating into a single huffed word. 

"Scrawny." 

Someone snickered behind her.

She said nothing. She wasn't sure if it was fear or if she was just speechless; never had she ever been considered scrawny, even as a female she had always led a more active lifestylethat had made her more muscular than most girls her age. 

Tartan had finished his rounds and spoke a few introductory words.

"My name is Captain Jerimiah Tartan. You will address me as 'Captain' only. If you fix to refer to me by any other name or title, you will be dismissed. And, if you fancy making the same mistake by calling me 'Cap'n Jerry' as a young recruit did a couple years past, I will not hesitate to keelhaul you through half the Clarimo sea." 

It was intimidating, though Piper was certain that he had been joking.

Pretty certain, at least.

 "We will prepare the ship by refueling and stocking supplies n' provisions, during that time you will be taught the in's and outs of the Lockjawe, meet the officers in charge of your supervision, and be assigned your duties aboard. Myself, along with many other Captains of the first Quarter, work closely with Commander Prescott'' 

Piper focused more intently at the mention of her Commander's name. 

"We shall make the utmost haste with our time here in port, for as much as I'd prefer to ease you lot into your new roles aboard my ship, I've received not two moons ago an important assignment which must take priority, so make the most out of what you are taught while your feet still stand on dry land."

With those final words, the Captain ordered the recruits onto the ship, and they spent the rest of their grueling time in port going over duties, responsibilities, what role to perform given different encounters, and assessing every members' strengths and weaknesses.

The ship was massive, and, as Piper had learned, unlike any other of the thirteen nations had been able to produce. 

"The ship relies on steam power in order to turn the paddle wheels on the sides and stern of the vessel, and so we have a large inventory of coal belowdecks to power the boilers. You will each take turns along with the rest of the crew in shoveling the coal when it is necessary. However, since the supply is finite, and an attack or accident could result in a fire or explosion, we only rely on them for power when our speed is absolutely necessary - therefore, during rudimentary patrols, our sails will be raised. The paddle wheels can be lifted from the water and stowed within the ship at the push of a button." 

They set off after two days. While a few of the recruits were dismissed prior to leaving port, a surprising majority of them made it to become mates and were assigned cabins. Then it came time to be assigned temporary positions on board based on their skill sets. This was done as a part of their training, and they would be monitored by superior sailors and officers who had been trained professionally in that skillset.

On that day, they were required to be lined up in order to receive these assignments.

Piper was one of the last in line and therefore to approach. A senior officer that was dwarfed by Captain Tartan stood by his side and in front of the line of mates. Most officers that she had seen in her short period with the crew had varied greatly in the features they possessed, and this man was no different; with a lined face and sharp features, he held a clipboard in one hand whilst fervently noting down what Piper assumed to most likely be some very droll information. After a moment, he whispered something to the Captain that she could not hear, and he nodded to him in turn. The officer then gave a quick clear of his throat before announcing that the first of the sailors in line may step forward. Truly the officer had birdlike features, Piper reasoned, though while the rest of his body and face brought to her mind the image of a hawk, the way his neck gyrated when he spoke was more akin to a turkey.

"Maxine Lidgett" The officer called.

Piper had recognized the girl at once as the muscular sailor she had seen at the port that Emeline and the others had warned her of being bad news. The Captain assigned her the role of Gunner, and the young woman gave a cordial salute before stepping towards her respective officer. After a few more sailors, Piper recognized Micah as his name was called, who made an attempt to stand straighter after a harsh scolding the day before, tentatively stride towards the Captain. 

"Rigger." 

Micah blanched, looking up into the lofty sails, he turned white as a sheet. It looked as if he would faint. The Captain saw this as a question, and responded as such.

"You're wiry and quick, small too. I trust you remember the duties of a Rigger and will perform them with competence?" 

Micah nodded slowly, and moved to stand by the side of a senior Rigger. 

A few more Mates approached, then Emeline. 

"You'll work aside our Sailing Master, assisting with navigation and coordinates." 

She beamed at him. "Yes Captain!" And strode over to the Sailing Master.

Horace was only two behind her, and though he carried himself with confidence, Piper thought she could sense his tension. 

Captain Tartan and the officer at his side looked at him once over, considering him. "You'll be studying under our Boatswain, supervising the ships' activities. I'll also be having you train as a Carpenter part of the time." 

He breathed a sigh of relief, and the tension was gone. "Yes, Captain. Thank you." He nodded, marching to the side of the Boatswain.

Piper waited on and on as more names were called and duties assigned, until at last it was her turn. She approached stiffly, unsure of her assignment yet aware that she had at least provided some level of competence over the last couple days on board. 

The Captain barely looked at her. "Swabbie" He barked, before calling the next name on his list. 

She could not move. "What?" She quietly asked, agast. 

The Officer's piercing gaze turned to her like a spotlight. "Is there an issue in the Captain's judgment, Miss. Raddendale? Or do you not recall your duties? I thought the name would be quite self explanatory." 

She took a deep breath and ignoring the Officer's question, faced Captain Tartan. "Sir I-"

"Captain" 

"Captain," She corrected herself. "I believe that I am fully capable of higher duties, I have-"

"The only thing you are capable of, Raddendale, is disobeying orders." He snapped quickly, but loud enough so as to ensure that she knew others could hear.

Piper looked as if she had been struck. The birdlike officer scoffed at her clear disrespect, while the Captain himself hawked and spat far enough to sail clear over the gunwale before meeting her gaze.

"I have been fully informed on the backgrounds of all my recruits, most importantly those who have been transferred from other divisions. You are of some arrogance to plead to me about an err in my sense. Now go." He said with a flick of his head, once again returning to look at the next mate.

She gazed around and saw some of her equals look at her with pity; but worse so were those that didn't look her way at all - or suppressed a laugh instead. It was too much to bear. 

"But Sir-" 

He turned on her suddenly with the fury of a bull. "I am your Captain, Raddendale! You seem to be under the assumption that I am here to wait on your every beck and call! If you dislike your assignment you'd do very well to throw yourself overboard now, before the swim back to shore becomes too long to make!" 

She went and limply stood along a line of other swabbies, barely managing to keep her eyes from misting over as the final assignments were given out to the remaining crew.