Free Wind Dancer: Secret War Steampunk Series - Adventure, Mystery + Mad Science by Raven Bond

a long
shot I know. Use our identity, and ask for Hu Fan himself. Hiki,” he called to
the bridge look out on his left. “Same message on the heliograph. Let’s see if
they’ll talk."
    "Aye Aye, Cap'n” McGuire acknowledged. His set the Aetherwave
to the standard maritime addresses and began calling though them. The lookout
clacked away on the heliograph as well, sending flashes of coded light towards
the junk. Not every ship had a wave, so other methods such as signal lights and
flags where still used as well.
    "Lawrence," Will asked, "How long to
close?" Rogers looked at the compass while measuring with a pair of
calipers on the map. He straightened up, looking at Will’s back.
    "Unless he has more power than he should, we'll be in
boarding range in about thirty minutes,” he reported.
    “So we will be boarding then?” Saira asked, entering the
bridge Saira looked out towards the ship on the water. Will nodded a greeting
at her as she came to stand beside him.
    “Most likely we will,” Will answered. “I doubt that he’ll
actually want to turn over what we’re after. He’ll make us come get it.” He
said grimly.
    “And what is your station’s status, Arms-Master?” Rogers
asked archly.
    “Oh, all the secondary guns are manned and ready, coil cannon
is on stand-by, and the Tigers can muster in ten minutes,” she replied without
turning around.
    “I thought that we would be boarding, and so came up here to
see the target, naturally,” she finished innocently.
    “Naturally,” Rogers replied in the same tone.
    “Enough, you two,” Will ordered them. He turned to Saira
quizzically, “I still can’t believe you said to Smeadly that you would ‘shrive
his soul’ and it worked.”
    “Smeadly is a very religious man in his way,” she replied
solemnly. Rogers snorted at this.
    “William Smeadly?” Rogers said incredulously. “I’ll believe
that when I see it.”
    “No answer on any connection, Cap’n,” McGuire reported. “No
joy on the heliograph either.”
    Will nodded, “Keep trying both. Let me know if you get any
answer at all.” He paced towards the electric lens mounted at the front of the
bridge, Saira and Rogers following behind him. They took turns at the lens
examining the ship which sported a wake that indicated they had an engine
running as well as their sails.
    “It’s Hu Fan alright,” Will stated, recognizing the ship. “He
can’t imagine he can out run us,” he said musingly. He turned to his officers,
“Thoughts?”
    “He’s hoping to keep us from closing,” Rogers announced.
“It’s what they did in Japan.”
    “Agreed,” Saira said. “Only this time he has believes that he
has nothing to bargain with, else he would answer our hails. That means no
hostages. We shall take him yes?” She asked eagerly, hand grasping the hilt of
one of her knives.
    “Yes, we will.” Will replied decisively. “Here’s my idea,” he
outlined the plan in a few sentences. Saira was grinning in feral agreement
when he finished. “Any other ideas or objections?” he asked finally. Rogers
frowned.
    “If I am to direct the attack from the ship,” he glanced
pointedly at Saira, “which I believe we should discuss in more detail, where
will you be?” He asked.
    “On the drop with the boarding party,” Will replied. He
answered their surprised looks, “You’ll still be leading it Saira. I have every
faith in you. I’m going along for Hu Fan.” His face brooked no argument.
    “Pity,” Saira remarked, hands still on her knife hilts. “I
had hoped for him myself. Still it will be as you say, Cap’n. I shall go muster
for the drop.”
    “Do so, I’ll be along.” Will ordered. He watched her leave
the bridge then turned towards Rogers. The First Officer leaned closer to him,
so that no one else could overhear,
    “Captain,” Lawrence began earnestly, “I strongly suggest that
I not be given combat command. You should have it, or you should give it to
someone else. If