The story of how I arrived on the HMS Ophelia is so convoluted, it is difficult to know where to begin. I suppose I should start with my time on the sailing vessel “Elysiumâ€. We were a small time pirating vessel that plundered ships off the southern coast of Gibraltar. Our operation was small enough so as to not attract to much attention, but that soon changed. It was an early August morning when we spotted a small Barque heading our way. It seemed like an easy prize, as there were no visible gun ports or escort vessels. Silently we gliding across the sea, closing on our target, its Union Jack fluttering in the salty Mediterranean air. We rolled up along its starboard side and open our gun ports, releasing a quick volley on canister at close range. By this time, we were already salivating over our prize, and did not notice a shadow pass over us. Needless to say, I learned that day that escort ships need not be in the water. By that evening, the HMS Ophelia has disabled my ship and we were boarded, stripped of our weapons, and pressed into service for Her Majesties Royal Navy. To make a long story long, I worked aboard the Ophelia for many months, until that fateful day when we were caught in a terrible storm. The wind blew many men overboard, and nearly tore us to pieces. As the chaos subsided, I ventured out on deck and released that early everything and everyone was gone. In addition, we seemed to have gained a bi-plane, and its remaining crew Robert and Kristina. Seeing as all of the officers aboard our ship had been swept away, we though it was only fitting that we “appropriate†the Ophelia for our own purposes. And so began my days as the logistics officer and gunsmith for Abney Park aboard the HMS Ophelia.
