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[color=1E90FF][b]Time[/b]: Mid-morning[/color]
[color=1E90FF][b]Location[/b]: The Range[/color]
[color=1E90FF][b]Interactions[/b]: [/color]
[color=1E90FF][b]Mentions[/b]: [/color]
[color=1E90FF][b]Attire[/b]: [hider]
[url=https://i.postimg.cc/8z5xjhFf/b73aac48-9c15-4c53-9289-37731ac8aace.png](Placeholder until I get a better reference image)[/url]
Roughspun, blue trousers
A shoulder belt and waist belt carrying his equipment
Two swords and two pistols, one on either side
A woven, conical hat wide enough to shade his entire face
Lamellar armour: Cuirass, tassets, armguards[/hider][/color]
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[hr]
Keeping a warship up and running, as Sjan-dehk was quickly finding out, wasn’t exactly cheap.

That said, however, he did have [i]some[/i] inkling of his [i]Sada Kurau[/i]’s running costs. As her dutiful Captain, he made it a point to keep track of everything she used – in battle or otherwise – lost, or needed replacement, repairs, or restocking. He knew, for example, that since leaving Viserjanta for Caesonia, [i]Sada Kurau[/i] had expended fifty-eight shells of various types. Two-and-a-half rolls of sailcloth had been used to maintain her sails. Roughly a mile of rope, to replace rigging that frayed from wear-and-tear. 

And that was just what the ship herself had used. Her crew had consumed almost three tons of provisions of various sorts, and those would have to be replaced sooner rather than later. Similarly, the rifle and pistol cartridges that had been fired – five hundred-and-sixty-eight in total – would also need to be replaced in as short order as possible. 

So, yes, Sjan-dehk [i]had[/i] known about what it took to keep [i]Sada Kurau[/i] operational. What he [i]hadn’t[/i] known, and what he was now discovering, was the amount of money needed to purchase all those things. 

An annoyed huff blew from Sjan-dehk’s nose. The fingers of one hand drummed an erratic beat against a gnarled, wooden tabletop. In the other, he held a brush with such force that it started to bend. Beneath the cooling shade of his hat, his eyes scanned the numbers and notes scrawled across the crumpled sheet of paper before him. With each row he looked over, his brow pushed closer and closer to each other, and his expression grew darker and darker, as if the paper that was somehow at fault for showing him calculations that were less than satisfactory.

He sighed and dipped the brush into an inkwell. [color=1E90FF][i]“You’re a demanding lady, aren’t you?”[/i][/color] he muttered under his breath as he scribbled another line, adding another item to the list; five barrels of gunpowder to replace the roughly six tons that had been used up. 

Sjan-dehk clicked his tongue. None of this would be such a headache had he been in the Commonwealth; replenishment there was a simple matter of listing down everything [i]Sada Kurau[/i] needed, bringing that list to the local Naval supply depot, and then waiting until the requested items were loaded into her holds. The monetary cost would be a problem for the Commonwealth Navy to handle, not Sjan-dehk.

But here in Caesonia, there was no such luxury. Sjan-dehk chewed on his lip. The final amount he arrived at for [i]Sada Kurau[/i]’s approximate expenses didn’t look wrong, but neither did it look appealing. It was much larger than he would have liked, and he couldn’t see a way to make it any smaller without giving up things which he felt were utterly essential to keeping [i]Sada Kurau[/i] fighting fit. Sjan-dehk wondered if this was why the Navy had entire offices dedicated to managing its finances. 

[color=B0E0E6][i]“I don’t like this.”[/i][/color] Kai-dahn’s dour voice came suddenly, and as a distraction Sjan-dehk welcomed. 

He looked up at Sada Kurau’s Commander-of-Seaborne. [color=1E90FF][i]“Neither do I, Commander,”[/i][/color] Sjan-dehk said and tapped a finger on the paper. [color=1E90FF][i]“But shit work’s still work, and someone has to do it.”[/i][/color]

Grass crunched beneath sturdy, lightweight boots as Kai-dahn approached the table. Tall and well-built, he stood with his back ramrod-straight and hands folded neatly behind his back in front of Sjan-dehk. Despite the heat of the ascending sun, Kai-dahn looked immaculate in his uniform, with barely a crease of either of his tunics out-of-place, and his leather equipment sitting flush enough against his body to look tidy, but not so much that it wrinkled his clothes. His helmet – a conical hat made of hardened leather and steel – hung from his waist belt. 

[color=B0E0E6][i]“My apologies, Captain,”[/i][/color] Kai-dahn said with a bow of his head. [color=B0E0E6][i]“I should have made myself clear. I wasn’t talking about [/i]Sada Kurau[i]’s expenses.”[/i][/color] He threw a quick glance over his shoulder. When he turned back to Sjan-dehk, his lips were turned downwards in a severe frown. [color=B0E0E6][i]“I’m talking about what’s going on there.”[/i][/color]

Sjan-dehk leaned to one side to look around Kai-dahn, the rickety folding chair beneath him creaking with his shifting weight. At a glance, Sjan-dehk saw nothing out of the ordinary. [i]Sada Kurau[/i]’s crew were where Sjan-dehk had left them, gathered at the firing line. Granted, most of them were in some state of undress, with a handful having undone their sashes and opened their tunics to their waists, and most had taken off their webbing and helmets, leaving them stacked in neat piles on the grass. 

But that wasn’t anything Sjan-dehk thought to be alarming. If anything, he was pleased to see that, despite having been given leave to rest, none of the crew had left their rifles unattended. They had their weapons either cradled in their arms, or slung behind their shoulders. 

[color=1E90FF][i]“You’re against them resting?”[/i][/color] Sjan-dehk asked, looking at Kai-dahn with a raised brow. 

The Commander frowned. [color=B0E0E6][i]“Captain, they’re [/i]fraternising[i],”[/i][/color] he said pointedly. [color=B0E0E6][i]“That’s strictly prohibited under section twenty-eight of the Commonwealth Naval Book of Laws.”[/i][/color] His face darkened, his usually impassive features cracking ever-so-slightly to reveal some modicum of displeasure. [color=B0E0E6][i]“I also caught some of the men exchanging arms with local troops.”[/i][/color] By the tone he used with that last sentence, one could be forgiven for thinking that to be one of the gravest transgressions possible.

Sjan-dehk furrowed his brow. For a moment, he was confused; just who was Kai-dahn talking about? But, he soon remembered the dozen-or-so Caesonian soldiers who had arrived at the range not too long after Sjan-dehk had finished addressing his crew. He hadn’t paid them much attention – the Caesonians mostly kept to themselves and went about their business on their side of the range – but now as he examined the crowd once more, he did notice the neatly uniformed Caesonians mingling with the less-than-presentable crew of [i]Sada Kurau[/i]. They communicated mostly with exaggerated gestures and stilted conversations, but that didn’t seem to get in the way of them getting along amicably, as far as Sjan-dehk could see.

Coincidentally, he also saw them swapping firearms, as Kai-dahn had mentioned. 

Right away, Stratya’s words from the previous night surfaced in Sjan-dehk’s mind. From what little he had seen of the Caesonian’s shooting this morning, it was clear she had been telling the truth. Muzzle-loading and smoothbore, the muskets used by the Caesonians were wholly inferior to the rifles arming Sjan-dehk’s crew. In the time it took the former to load and fire a single shot, the latter would have already fired off five, or even six, if the shooter was skilled enough. And at a range of a hundred paces, each of those five or six bullets could be guaranteed to strike a target the size of an average person. A Caesonian musket couldn’t match even a third of that accuracy at half the distance. 

With all that in mind, Sjan-dehk could see why Kai-dahn was concerned. Allowing the Caesonians to study and possibly replicate Viserjantan rifles would be, at the very least, irresponsible. At worst, it could be akin to surrendering a powerful battlefield advantage for no reason whatsoever. However, as much as he could understand Kai-dahn’s perspective, Sjan-dehk couldn’t say that he agreed with him.

[color=1E90FF][i]“Fraternising only applies if they’re with the enemy, if I’m not mistaken,”[/i][/color] Sjan-dehk started, bringing up his elbows to rest on the table, and supporting his chin with the backs of his hands. [color=1E90FF][i]“Unless something terrible happened in the time it took me to put this abyss-forsaken list together, we’re not going to make enemies of the Caesonians. And as for the rifles…”[/i][/color] He trailed off and nodded towards the crowd. [color=1E90FF][i]“I don’t think they can understand each other enough to tell each other anything important. And besides, Mursi is there with them. He made the damn things, he’ll know what should or shouldn’t be shared and act accordingly.”[/i][/color]

Kai-dahn didn’t look entirely convinced, but nevertheless, he nodded. [color=B0E0E6][i]“As you say, Captain.”[/i][/color]

[color=1E90FF][i]“We’ll have them back in action soon enough, anyway,”[/i][/color] Sjan-dehk said, picking up the brush and twirling it around his fingers as he reluctantly returned his attention to [i]Sada Kurau[/i]’s expenses. Kai-dahn remained standing, still as a statue, and eyes gazing dispassionately at his Captain. Sjan-dehk glanced at him from under the brim of his hat. An exasperated sigh left his lips, and he gave the empty chair beside him a hard nudge with the tip of his boot. [color=1E90FF][i]“Might as well come help me with these fucking numbers, if you’re just going to stand around.”[/i][/color]

Kai-dahn immediately marched himself around the table, coming to a stop directly behind Sjan-dehk’s right shoulder. The Captain shook his head. He didn’t doubt that had he said nothing, Kai-dahn would have just stood in front of the table until it was time for him to return to the firing line. [color=1E90FF][i]“Sit down,”[/i][/color] Sjan-dehk ordered and jerked a thumb towards the empty chair. [color=1E90FF][i]“I need you to tell me how many cartridges we’re expected to use by the end of practice.”[/i][/color]

[color=B0E0E6][i]“As you say, Captain.”[/i][/color] Kai-dahn nodded, pulled the chair out, and sat down. Even with an action so simple and mundane, the Commander managed to make it seem like a military drill with the deliberateness and sharpness of his movements. He took a moment to straighten out invisible creases on his uniform before turning his body to look at Sjan-dehk’s list. [color=B0E0E6][i]“The men don’t seem to have much trouble with the new rifles, other than reloading the reloading drill, but that will come with use and practice.”[/i][/color]

[color=1E90FF][i]“They can’t reload properly?”[/i][/color] Sjan-dehk’s brow creased. [color=1E90FF][i]“Sounds like trouble to me.”[/i][/color]

Kai-dahn shook his head. [color=B0E0E6][i]“Apologies, Captain. It’s nothing as major as that. They simply fall back on their old drills under stress. There’s no need for concern, Captain. I can assure you that all of them would be as capable on these new rifles as they were on the old ones by noon.”[/i][/color] A pensive look came over his face and he looked at the firing line. [color=B0E0E6][i]“With your permission, Captain, I will have the men carry out a second round of familiarisation shooting before we move onto snap shooting and battle drills and commands. That should iron out most of the problems the men have with reloading.”[/i][/color] He paused. Sjan-dehk turned his head to look at him, prompting him to continue. Kai-dahn cleared his throat. [color=B0E0E6][i]“That will be another twenty-four cartridges on top of the two hundred-and-fifty I’ve set aside for today, Captain.”[/i][/color]

[color=1E90FF][i]“That’s all I needed to know,”[/i][/color] Sjan-dehk muttered and made the necessary amendments to his list. He sat back, holding it in his hands as he scanned through the rows of items and numbers. Then, with a grumble, he dropped it onto the table and made another change. [color=1E90FF][i]“Better get another eighth-ton of powder to be on the safe side.”[/i][/color] As he scribbled, he waved a hand towards Kai-dahn. [color=1E90FF][i]“Do whatever you think is best for the crew, Commander.”[/i][/color]

[color=B0E0E6][i]“As you say, Captain,”[/i][/color] Kai-dahn replied. He glanced over the list, and frowned. [color=B0E0E6][i]“Captain, that’s not a list of our expenses for the day, if I’m not mistaken.”[/i][/color]

[color=1E90FF][i]“No, you are not,”[/i][/color] Sjan-dehk muttered. [color=1E90FF][i]“It’s for everything since we left the Commonwealth.”[/i][/color]

Kai-dahn didn’t say anything immediately. For a few moments, the only sounds that reached either man’s ears were the vague chatter of soldiers, the quiet rustling of grass in the breeze, and soft birdsong coming from the trees just behind the range. [color=B0E0E6][i]“If I may ask,”[/i][/color] the Commander began, clearing his throat. [color=B0E0E6][i]“Is there a reason you are doing this?”[/i][/color]

[color=1E90FF][i]“Better to get it over and done with, than to leave it and let it become a nasty surprise.”[/i][/color]

[color=B0E0E6][i]“I understand that, Captain,”[/i][/color] Kai-dahn said with a nod. [color=B0E0E6][i]“But we don’t have to calculate the exact costs, do we? I was under the impression that [/i]Sudah[i] has people for this sort of work.”[/i][/color]

[color=1E90FF][i]“No, we don’t,”[/i][/color] Sjan-dehk admitted, but continued scribbling nonetheless. He tapped the end of the brush on the table as he formulated an explanation. Even so, when he eventually spoke, his words didn’t sound as convincing as he had hoped. [color=1E90FF][i]“But it’s better for us to know how much we’re spending. Especially when we’ll be stuck in this city for however long it’ll take for Lady Adiyan to become well enough for us to move.”[/i][/color]

Kai-dahn grimaced. [color=B0E0E6][i]“That shouldn’t take more than a week. Master Sahm-tehn returned to duty in half that time after he lost his arm.”[/i][/color]

[color=1E90FF][i]“Master Sahm-tehn is a sailor like you and me,”[/i][/color] Sjan-dehk replied drily. [color=1E90FF][i]“And he’s likely made of the same wood as [/i]Sada Kurau[i]. You can’t compare Lady Adiyan to him.”[/i][/color] He drew in a deep breath, releasing it as a long, resigned sigh. [color=1E90FF][i]“We should be prepared to stay here for at least a month. Maybe two. Either way, we’ll be here for much longer than planned, so we’ve to be ready for when [/i]Sudah[i] can no longer sustain both us and herself with her supplies. Best we start finding ways to be at least somewhat independent.”[/i][/color]

[color=B0E0E6][i]“But as you said, Captain, we still have a few weeks before supplies will become an issue.”[/i][/color] Confusion was clearly written across Kai-dahn’s visage. [color=B0E0E6][i]“While I understand the need to be prepared, surely it would be a lot easier to come to a decision when we’re closer to that stage, and after we have exhausted all austerity measures as outlined in section thirty-one of the Commonwealth Naval Book of Laws? It would be wise to first consult with[/i] Sudah [i]as well, to know their supply situation before coming up with our own plans.”[/i][/color]

Sjan-dehk waved off Kai-dahn’s last sentence, but his own response died on his tongue. The Commander did have a point. Naval regulations provided Sjan-dehk with a list of possible actions to take when the risk of a supply shortage became a distinct possibility. He could, for example, enforce rationing to stretch what provisions they had left for as long a time as was physically safe. He could also keep [i]Sada Kurau[/i] moored at harbour to reduce damages from sailing. Those were just two of the suggestions Sjan-dehk recalled out of a list that spanned pages. He felt almost certain that, if he cared to look through the Book of Laws, there would be at least a handful of suitable actions he could take.

Alternatively, he could – as Kai-dahn suggested – check with [i]Sudah[/i] to see if he even needed to take such measures.

But, despite the doubt growing in him as he looked at the paper, Sjan-dehk said, [color=1E90FF][i]“The Book of Laws was written with the assumption that we’d be in Commonwealth waters and not elsewhere. Its suggestions only account for things like food or water, and not money.”[/i][/color] He paused, his eyes still glued to the list, seeing the words and numbers, but not reading them. [color=1E90FF][i]“It assumes that we would only have to hold out as long as we need to either reach a harbour, or be resupplied by another ship. Money’s not an issue, there. But here, it is. We’ve to pay for everything we use, and while rationing and keeping [/i]Sada Kurau[i] docked can avoid that issue for a while, it’s still an eventuality. I don’t want us to have a lack of local currency if and when we’ve to start relying on ourselves to keep [/i]Sada Kurau[i] supplied.”[/i][/color]

The more Sjan-dehk spoke, the less he felt like he was convincing Kai-dahn. If anything, his words felt like they were meant for himself. He shook his head slightly and continued. [color=1E90FF][i]“I’ll send word to [/i]Sudah[i] about our intentions, though. Let them know what we’re going to do.”[/i][/color]

[color=B0E0E6][i]“And what are our intentions, Captain?”[/i][/color] Kai-dahn asked.

Sjan-dehk’s answer came quickly. A little too quickly, surprising even himself. [color=1E90FF][i]“Could try privateering.”[/i][/color]

More surprising, however, was how easily Kai-dahn agreed to the idea. [color=B0E0E6][i]“A bit of action every now and then would keep the crew in practice, yes,”[/i][/color] he said with a nod, his usually flat voice carrying the barest hints of excitement and approval. 

A strange mix of uncertainty and hesitation stormed in Sjan-dehk’s heart, and he knew that it was certainly showing on his face. Had he hoped that Kai-dahn would be opposed to the idea? That someone would tell him that he was being rash with his plans? But that wasn’t the case, was it? This wasn’t something that he thought up on a whim; many considerations had gone into his decision to give privateering a go. It wasn’t as if there was much else a warship could do to earn her keep, and Sada Kurau wasn’t the sort of vessel which could be anything other than a warship. 

And yet, Sjan-dehk couldn’t say anything until Kai-dahn called for him. [color=B0E0E6][i]“Captain?”[/i][/color] The Commander asked with some concern. [color=B0E0E6][i]“Are you alright?”[/i][/color]

[color=1E90FF][i]“Yes,”[/i][/color] Sjan-dehk replied even as he admonished himself. What was he, Sada Kurau’s Captain, doing? He couldn’t afford to be so indecisive. His crew would follow him no matter what choice he made, there wasn’t any question about that. And so he had to choose, and he had to be resolute about it. [color=1E90FF][i]“Think they’ve had enough rest,”[/i][/color] he said and nodded towards the firing line. [color=1E90FF][i]“Let’s not waste any time. Get the crew back on the line and get them shooting. And get me the runner. Need him to send a message to[/i] Sudah[i].”[/i][/color]

Kai-dahn got to his feet and saluted. [color=B0E0E6][i]“As you say, Captain,”[/i][/color] he said with a nod. With that, he marched over to the disorganised crowd, barking orders along the way. 

Sjan-dehk looked around the table and grabbed the first blank sheet of paper he could see. It didn’t seem as if anything important was written on the other side, and so he started writing his message for [i]Sudah[/i]’s Captain and Lady Adiyan. With each painted stroke and each completed logograph, the doubts that had been in his mind faded. It was as if by writing this message, he was setting his decision into stone. It was no longer something to be questioned, but something to be acted upon. 

And if there was one thing Sjan-dehk was good at doing, it was taking action.