Bring the Fleet Around, Attack in Line Abreast!

On the Quarterdeck of the Lion of Cymmru, a slight altercation was taking
place. O'Toole snapped his telescope shut briskly and gave orders to the
signalman for the fleet to execute a turn in line and close with the enemy taking
advantage of the wind gage and favorable atmopsheric conditions.

Of all his captains, only one possessed the seniority, temerity, longstanding friendship,
to raise an objection.

Captain O'Toole of the Middlesea Fleet:

By God, Somme, they are allies, we cannot turn our back on our friends
and pretend to hold our head up high amongst the rank of civilized nations!

Commander Somme of the Middlesea Fleet:

Sir, as your subordinate, I would be negligent in my DUTY were I not to
REMIND you that the Fleet is legally constituted as a HOME DEFENSE fleet,
for securing the borders of Caledon, not for operating in foreign waters...

Captain O'Toole:

Somme, we are a long way from Caledon jurisdictional authority.
What happens out here will not be mentioned in the Naval Gazette,
nor will they write songs about it. We are in for some
dirty fighting, if my spyglass does not lie.

CDR Somme:

Sir, this is the THIRD extra-territorial cruise undertaken by
the fleet in so many months, and it will not escape the Guvnah's
notice this time!

Captain O'Toole:

(Quietly) Somme, if you do not tend to your ship on the instant,
I can find someone who can. Are you with me or not?

CDR Somme:

Dammit, O'Toole, you know I am, no man living can claim I showed
faint heart for an action,nor have any of my crew.. but you are
out of favor at the moment-- this could have
your career in ruins back home!

O'Toole's face broke into a wide grin.

Let us leave that into the hands of Dame Fortune, Ex.
We didn't join the service to sightsee, eh?
(louder) Now off to the L'Adventure, and see to your guns!

What do we know about psionic demons, bosun?
Should we double shot the cannon?
Heat shot? What?....