Moonlight streamed like silk across the calm sea, painting the fleet silver-gray.
The immense Sea Lion resembled a silent silver giant, its massive outline looming majestically beneath the stars.
Most of the ports on its three gun decks were closed, leaving only a few spilling warm, yellow light, like the half-closed eyes of a great beast gleaming with gentle vigilance in the night.
The other warships surrounded the Sea Lion like loyal guards, maintaining precise distances.
Their stern navigation lights and mast signal lamps blinked and moved steadily across the ink-dark sea like fallen stars, tracing a moving picture of order and strength.
Waves lapped gently against the hulls with a rhythmic wash, as though the sea were singing this fleet of steel a lullaby.
Occasionally, a night watchman's low call of the hour or a faint whistle from a distant warship only emphasized the vast depth of the night.
The entire fleet resembled a group of mobile fortresses cruising slowly among the stars, its stillness holding unmatched power to intimidate.
Not Playing If I'm Not Having Fun leaned against the railing on the Sea Lion's upper deck, letting the salty sea breeze brush his face. What he felt was decidedly novel and... pleasant.
He looked down at the enormous ship beneath his feet.
Even underway at night, everything on deck remained orderly. Ropes were meticulously coiled, cannons covered with canvas and firmly secured, and alert sailors patrolled their stations with light, steady steps, exchanging brief commands in low voices.
Yet despite their practiced movements, Not Playing If I'm Not Having Fun could still see their tension and inexperience.
An army took ten years to build; a navy took a hundred.
From the ships to the men, they're all rookies... Still, this big fellow really is steady.
Not Playing If