The New Arrival

A small boat came bobbing out over the water towards the Terpsichore , in the stern of this boat sat a man with a slightly green face , the green face of seasickness, When the wind blew his cloak over his shoulder he was revealed to be wearing the uniform of a Marine Lieutenant.
Lieutenant Moore Looked up at the ship that would be his home for the next, well he didn’t know how long, and thought “This should be interesting.” He heard a man on the deck hail the boat
“Boat ahoy”
And then he heard the man in the bows of the boat hail back “Aye Aye “this would mean that preparations would now be made on the deck in order to receive the officer in the boat.
Then at last the boat bumped against the side of the ship and Lieutenant Moore Stood up and began the slow climb to his new post. When at last the long climb was over he saluted the Quarterdeck and strode aft to where the Officer of the watch was standing.
John Moore Lieutenant of marines sir.

The newly-promoted Corporal Thompson dismissed the hastily-gathered Marines, feeling very self-conscious as he did so - only a few days ago he had been the same rank as them, after all. He took advantage of his new rank to remain on deck where he could hear the new officer report in.

Lieutenant Moore. It was obvious he was a Marine; his red coat with the dark blue facings gave that away. He wondered what sort of an officer he would be.

His formal report to the Officer of the watch being over, the new lieutenant turned to the corporal who was hovering on the other side of the Quarterdeck “Ah Corporal Thompson may I congratulate you on resent promotion?” He had heard all about the NCO’s from the very talkative marine that had been sent with the boat to collect him from the shore.

“I would be much obliged to you if you could go and warn the men that I will be addressing them in the mess in Half an Hour and if you could I would like to see Sergeant Quinn in my Cabin in 10 minutes.” and with that the new officer swept down the hatchway to the Wardroom following a very nervous wardroom steward.

"Aye, aye, sir," Thompson replied, and found himself saluting an empty deck as the new officer disappeared down the companionway to the wardroom.

It was probably a lucky chance that he'd addressed the right Marine; there were two Corporals aboard now, after all. Thompson fought back a grin at the thought of how Johnson would have received congratulations on being promoted to a rank he'd held for years.

John entered the totally empty Wardroom behind the still slightly frightened steward who showed him to one of the cabins and said “here you are sir ,your Cabin.”
“Thank you.” he looked sternly at the steward who quickly scuttled away to the far corner of the room.At last he was in his private space ,his own cabin, “Home sweet home” he muttered under his breath to himself.

The Cabin was furnished with a Cot , A desk , A Chair and a wash basin. It wasn't much but it was his. He looked at his desk that had some books and papers laying on top of it. He glanced at the top sheet of paper on witch was written a short note from his predecessor “I hope you look after the men as well as I did.” John promised then and there that he would. He sat down at the desk and started to look through the papers on his desk.

Then there was a knock on the door.

The news had reached the messdeck almost as soon as the boat's hail had been heard topside. There was a new officer aboard.

Shoes clattered hurriedly down the aft ladder and for a moment there was a flash of scarlet visible. Then the wardroom sentry was pushing that thin door shut and nothing more could be seen.

Johnson looked up briefly from the shoe he was blackballing and grunted. Like as not that officer would be an empty-headed fop just weaned off his mother's milk and all a-fire to join a man's profession. They'd soon see, wouln't they?

Lieutenant Deverel emerged from his cabin and gave a glance toward the closed door next to his. "Our Mister Cartwright's successor?" he quietly asked Markham. The steward gave him a hushed reply in the affirmative. "Ah, lucky old Cartwright, eh? Thus goes everyone to the world but I, and I am sunburnt. Speaking of burnt, bring us some toast, Markham, if there's any of it left." And he made himself comfortable at the wardroom table, spreading his books around him.

In short order, Johnson had pulled on his jacket and shoved his feet back into his shoes. The word had been passed that the new lieutenant wanted to see Sergeant Quinn at the double. That was not worth noticing, but for the additional warning that the lieutenant would be addressing the men as well. Great.

While Sergeant Quinn made his way aft to the wardroom, Johnson looked around for Thompson. No better time to break the lad in to his new duties.

Quinn straightened his jacket and headed aft to the wardroom. This was going to be... interesting, to say the least.

His eyes widened at the sight of Johnson dragging his coat on.

He passed the suddenly ramrod-straight Mallory, who was on sentry duty outside the wardroom, and knocked on the Marine officer's door.