(2025-04-08) Letter to Miss Reeve

Details

Author:	inkie
Summary:	Adm. Siamus Fallon contacts Miss Robin Reeve with a request and a question.
Rating:	T for Teen

Arc: Season 16: Twilight Approaches

Fallon House
8 April 29

Miss Reeve -

First, permit me to congratulate you on what I hear is the successful establishment of the settlement of Surwich. I have no doubt your service was invaluable to the settlers, and should their experiment prove successful — as we all trust that it will — you will have contributed an enormous gift to the Alliance.

Though I wish I could say that I were writing purely to thank and congratulate you, I confess I am not so well-mannered. I have both a request and an inquiry.

First, the request: We are attempting to make up for our recent losses on the highland coast of Khaz Modan, and in order to maximize available manpower for the defense of our foothold there, which is daily under assault, the navy has dispatched several troop transports. Cargo has become a separate — but equally urgent — undertaking, and we are down to a handful of vessels.

You can see, I think, where this is going.

One of my own ships, the Madrigal, was to serve in temporary capacity for cargo conveyance, but I’ve been obliged to dispatch her to another purpose. If the Reeve fleet were able to spare a ship or two to provision our people at Highbank, the Alliance would once again be in your debt.

As to my inquiry: In your journeys around the Horn of Stranglethorn and up the coast to Surwich, did you ever catch sight of a distinctly foreign-looking vessel? It — or they — would have an unusual, exaggerated profile, with a single gun deck low to the waterline and high-stepped fore- and aftcastle. Double-masted lug rig, the sails likely dark red or red painted with black.

If you or any of your captains have sighted such a ship, I would be obliged if you would let me know where, when, and what its bearing, as well as whether it was traveling singly or in company, and whether it threatened any hostility.

And should any of your captains sight such a ship in future, give it wide berth.

Respectfully,
Yr. obdt. svt.,
Adm. Siamus Fallon