Odyssey

[sat8997]

Did Granger get lost???  Damn, I am sure this is Calvert's fault somehow...

 

   

[ricky]

Did Granger get lost???  Damn, I am sure this is Calvert's fault somehow...

I was going to ask if maybe we had to take up a collection to post bail or something.

[ricky]

Well usually that would get a rise out of him. Hopefully everything is ok. Perhaps his computer took a crap on him.

* Sigh *

[Mark Arbour]

Maybe he's holding out for more reviews. (Smile)

 

I've got a chapter to post sometime within the next 24 hours.

[ricky]

Glad you are ok. Thanks.

[Westie]

I don't think Charles James Fox would be behind this.

 

Mark has, in the past, gone to great lengths to maintain historical accuracy with real life players.  Within the decade, Charles Fox will join the government as the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs ("The Foreign Secretary").  Being responsible for the British intelligence services (which of course didnt "officially" exist at this time) made this a sensitive post, to which a man implicated in any form of treason would almost certainly not be appointed.

[Daddydavek]

The UK  government link is pretty harsh about Mr. Fox

 

 

See the following link:   http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/about-us/our-history/a-brief-history-fco/foreign-secretaries/fox

 

 

I quote from the opening paragraphs in the above link:

 

"Charles James Fox

 

Foreign Secretary between:

• 
• Mar-Jul 1782
• Apr-Dec 1783
• Feb-Sept 1806

Fox was a gambling addict, womaniser, debtor, and dandy who was forgiven his failings by many because of his defence of civil liberty and his overwhelming charisma. He was Britain's first Foreign Secretary. In fact, he was Secretary of State three times, in 1782, 1783 and 1806, but each time he used the position more successfully to fight for a constitutionally stronger Parliament than to achieve foreign policy aims.

 

In 1782, the Foreign Office was a new endeavour, and it was much smaller than it is today. When Fox took the post he had only 13 staff in London, one of whom was a 'Necessary Woman'—the housekeeper. The total number of consuls and diplomats abroad was not much bigger. The Office was created because the Northern and Southern Departments that had dealt with home affairs, colonies, and international relations since the 1640s were no longer fit for purpose. George III created the Foreign Office to coordinate international diplomacy and the Home Office to run domestic policy and the British colonies. Fox saw other advantages than administrative necessity. He believed that George had too much power and hoped that the new Secretaries of State could force the king to accept American independence. "

Edited March 5, 2013 by Daddydavek

[Mark Arbour]

I don't think Charles James Fox would be behind this.

 

Mark has, in the past, gone to great lengths to maintain historical accuracy with real life players. Within the decade, Charles Fox will join the government as the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs ("The Foreign Secretary"). Being responsible for the British intelligence services (which of course didnt "officially" exist at this time) made this a sensitive post, to which a man implicated in any form of treason would almost certainly not be appointed.

True, but Fox was quite capable of intrigue, and of plotting to bring down the current government.

Edited March 5, 2013 by Mark Arbour

[Kookie]

In the reviews for Chapter 34, there is a brief discussion of the amount of daylight in various locations.

Reply from Mark Arbour (author)

Well, I was thinking that the long evenings they encountered would have been when they were in the whaling areas, which would have been to the southwest of Valdivia near Antarctica. In Valdivia, it would probably feel similar to home. I'm not sure how that compares to England itself.

For reference, Valdivia is located at about 40 degrees South of the equator, London about 50 degrees north, and Chicago about 42 degrees North. So the daylight time of Valdivia should be close to what is seen in Chicago (except winter and summer are reverse). Of course Mark is correct that closer to the Anartic the more sunlight hours during this time of the year (early winter).

[Daddydavek]

Per my count at 10:00 PM Central US Time we still need 5 more chapter reviews for the latest chapter of Odessy--if Mr. Arbour can be taken at face value.....

 

For all those who complain about the time between postings and needing their Granger fix, now is the time to make your voices heard!

[Daddydavek]

Sharon's comment  in the review of the latest chapter is funny and Mark's was about commas!   LOL

[Mark Arbour]

Sharon's comment  in the review of the latest chapter is funny and Mark's was about commas!   LOL

 

Yeah, Sharon's a freaking riot.  

 

I think that's the first time she's posted a review of one of my stories.  

Edited March 6, 2013 by Mark Arbour

[ricky]

I about laughed myself silly when my screen reader read Winker where it should have been Winkler. It was appropriate for the passage I think.

 

As for the time and length of daylight. When I lived in Anchorage. Starting December 21st, the winter solstice, every ten days you were gaining an hour of light all the way until June 21st when it happened in the reverse. It works out to 6 minutes a day, 3 in the morning and 3 in the evening, you are either gaining or losing light. It may not sound like much but every ten days you had an hour more or an hour less of light. Coming into December you have a white Christmas but nobody can see it because everyone was inside working during the few hours it became twilight so it was dark when you went to work and dark when you left.

 

But that's how it worked. They closed down Anchorage every June 21st, also known as "The Night of the Midnight Sun", and everyone goes up to Whitehorse to go fishing.

 

They have another phenomenon during the winter called "ice fog" It's where the moisture becomes crystallized and it refracts light in a strange way. A simple streetlight for instance would not illuminate under it normally. It would create a spire of light that would shoot both down to the ground AND up into the sky almost like a stationary searchlight. It's really very cool to look at. You can see the spires all over town shooting up from the darkness. I expect a lantern at sea would do much the same just not so far into the sky. A streetlight would shoot a focused beam hundreds of yards straight up as one straight down. The spires would be slightly larger than the diameter of the fixture itself.

[JimCarter]

Per my count at 10:00 PM Central US Time we still need 5 more chapter reviews for the latest chapter of Odessy--if Mr. Arbour can be taken at face value.....

 

For all those who complain about the time between postings and needing their Granger fix, now is the time to make your voices heard!

I tried my damnedest to get my review in, but my cable modem was not having any of it.  It is great when it works, but has been having a lot of trouble at night.  I did get it in this morning.  I trying to use reviews have been problematic in the past.  I don't know what it is, but at times my touch-pad does something stupid and goes wild and I loose all that I typed.  Doesn't seem to happen in the forums, so I use those instead of reviews most of the time.  However this time only a sledgehammer to the modem was going to abate my frustrations.  Last night I wasn't a happy camper.  

[Westie]

True, but Fox was quite capable of intrigue, and of plotting to bring down the current government.

I'm not sure this would classify as mere intrigue.  It would be treason.  And these are the waning years of his influence, he isn't stupid enough to commit treason and risk the life of the younger son of an influential Earl.

[sandrewn]

Thankyou, Daddydavek for echoing my thoughts. It seems to have had some effect.

 

Mark good follow up.

 

On my very first Leadership course, after being told by the officer to always lead by example and after he had left the area. The sgt major then looked each of us in the eyes and said, rememder also that when all else fails, grab them by the short and curlies and their hearts and minds will follow.

 

B.T.W. I counted 10 replies. So was that a right after, shortly after or normal after ( just kidding -Not )

 

Thanks again Mark.

[Mark Arbour]

Thankyou, Daddydavek for echoing my thoughts. It seems to have had some effect.

 

Mark good follow up.

 

On my very first Leadership course, after being told by the officer to always lead by example and after he had left the area. The sgt major then looked each of us in the eyes and said, rememder also that when all else fails, grab them by the short and curlies and their hearts and minds will follow.

 

B.T.W. I counted 10 replies. So was that a right after, shortly after or normal after ( just kidding -Not )

 

Thanks again Mark.

 

And true to my word, Chapter 35 was posted as soon as I could.  

[centexhairysub]

I have to agree with Westie; Fox just has to much to lose with not enough upside for it to be him tipping off the Spanish.  I could see it if he was getting more benefit but there doesn't seem to be enough upside in this for him.

 

I thought the new chapter was excellent.  The way that Granger took only a few minutes to view the situation, make a decision, and then execute it is why he is so successful.  The ability to take action in that manner is very rare.  Calvert even did a semi good job in this chapter as well.  I have to wonder if Granger has decided to send Calvert back to England with his ship or keep him with him until his journey ends. 

 

I still think we need to find somethig out; maybe the Spanish midshipman will get a little tipsy and let something spill about the treasure ships leaving and heading west...  Granger just has to capture a treasure ship; he might even get a bump to an Earldom for that one... 

 

I bet Mark can find an adventure or two on the island where they are as well; not sure what they will be but I bet there are there if we look for them...

[ricky]

Good thought Centex . . .

I just figured the good Midshipmen would turn out to be important. No mention of the lieutenant, whether he succeeded in escaping after he flooded the magazine. Perhaps he is on Calvert's ship?

 

I was surprised that no mention of the captain was made or that Granger didn't try and salvage papers from the captain's cabin before the ship went down. It seems to me that would be worth the risk. I would have liked to have seen Granger try for the papers and end up jumping out of the window in the captain's quarters with a sack full of information and take a bath in the Pacific. A harrowing experience to write home about. Of course how many frigates manage to sink a ship of the line and survive to tell about it? 

 

I hope we find the answer to the mystery of how they knew Granger's every move and his orders.

 

Now that the ship of the line has been neutralized, how long before Granger can leave for amboyna? Must he stick around longer? To what end?

 

A great and yet unusual battle but then again what does Granger EVER do normally.

 

Thank you lord Granger.

[Daddydavek]

With the fire below I suspect getting people off the ship was the priority and then getting away from it in case the magazine did blow, rather than someone making some foolhardy attempt to obtain info from the captains quarters.   I'm unfamiliar enough with the ship's plan to think the bow smasher might have smashed right through those quarters anyway.....

[centexhairysub]

The Spanish captain died immediately after the ship was boarded.  I am pretty sure the description of the damage means that the Captain's quaters suffered severe damage during the gun battle; plus the fire started before they could even start to organize anything.  I am not sure that Granger would have risked any of his men on the off chance that any papers found would really prove beneficial.  The only thing that might have been mentioned is how they knew Granger and his ship was going to be in the area but the Captain may or may not have been privy to that information. 

 

I have to admit, I forgot about the Lt; I do hope he survived and is on Calvert's little ship.  Would be sad to lose such a brave man no matter who he had been fighting for.

[ricky]

I wonder if a frigate has ever sunk a ship of the line before. That alone should get him a little bragging rights the next time he sits to play cards with the folks. Especially with Fox. He can hardly dispute Granger's bravery on that one. I love to see the Fox eat crow.

[JimCarter]

Hey Mark,

 

I know I'm a big PITA, but can you give us some idea when we can expect a Granger fix?

[Mark Arbour]

I'm actually working on it. I'll keep you posted 

[ricky]

Music to my ears!