"Tack. Beat to starboard." The senior topman passed the order on to the foremast crew. First Officer Seebok Winiipaas didn't bother giving details. They had beat to starboard, beat to port, beat to starboard over 50 times since leaving Fadath, bound for Crocea. If the top men didn't know which lines to loosen and which to draw tight, they should have fallen overboard by know.

Seebok watched as the helmsman aimed the bow of the Windsinger across the grand canal. So long as Gluumen followed the canal by day and the stars by night they would not get lost. No good reason to take sightings. Just keep track of the last village passed. He stifled a yawn and inhaled deeply. It sure was nice having authority without the backbreaking labor!

The lanky mariner leaned over the railing and gazed down on the lush Martian landscape. "I wonder if Captain Paayuun will press on to make up lost time, or stop at a village for the night," Seebok thought. "Hope he stops at Chabees. They have a good market for fresh fruits and vegetables. It's the season for good pheeshi melons." He could taste the succulent meat; the tart tang of the juice as it slid slowly down his throat. "With luck, Aleecki is still the melon seller." He rubbed his lips in expectation.

Zaalmar Cimatii climbed up the ladder from the hold, gazed around the quarterdeck, and approached Seebok. "When will we quit shifting from side to side," he moaned. "It could ruin my cargo."

"I'm sure Captain Paayuun realizes this might hurt your wine, but you wanted speed to beat your competitors. This is the best speed we can make until the wind changes. We haven't seen another ship headed for Crocea since we left Fadath. You should be happy we've gained a day over anyone following. And we realize that the earlier your Hobokii blend is drunk, the better it is. It does not store well when compared to Saardaari spice wine."

"But what about my competitors who'll fly cross-country?" bleated Zaalmar.

"Remember the captain sets the course. Even if I was in command, I'd rather tack all the way along the canal than risk a landing in the Swamp of Gorklimsk. How good are you at fighting swamp pirates?"

Zaalmar shuddered.

"Ship ahoy," shouted the lookout. "Screw galley. Headed back along the canal."

The Morning Breeze had passed them under full canvas, even spinnakers, earlier in the day. That had been a beautiful sight. A large merchant kite can carry almost an acre of sail headed downwind. Now, another sky galleon was going to Fadath. Seebok wished that he had business in Crocea instead.

"Who is he?" yelled Seebok.

"I don't know sir. Looks like a Hullcutter class, but different. She is flying an Oenotrian squadron pennant from the jib."

"Where away?"

"Off the lower port bow and climbing."

Seebok grabbed his binoculars and sauntered to the front of the quarterdeck with Zaalmar trailing behind. "Maybe the new ship is a replacement for the Storm Rider, he wondered. That Oenotrian warship had patrolled this stretch of canal for years and had gone on to Astrapsk recently.

Rumor had it an Oenotrian battle squadron was sailing north, possibly to meet the British.

Ever since the red-skinned off-worlders had raided the High Martian kraag of King Hattabranx, the Oenotrians had been worried about the devils from the third planet.

"Sadaak, go wake the captain. Maybe we can get a military escort." While Zaalmar visibly brightened, the sailor ran to obey the order.

The warship finally pulled even with the Windsinger. Using glasses, Seebok inspected the new vessel. Yes, the bow certainly showed the sleek running lines of a hunter. The prow obviously was made in the Crocean shipyards. But there were signs of major rebuilding and extra gunnery outriggers. Suddenly, she turned bow on and surged closer. Seebok noticed the signal flags flying. "Prepare to stop," he muttered. His eyes wandered to the top of the flagstaff. A new pennant had just been unfurled, black with a red skull and cross-bones. "May the Worm Priests take them," exclaimed Seebok. "Pirates! Gunmen! Hard to starboard, run with the wind! Sound the alarm!"

Three smoke puffs erupted from the pirate ship. Seebok grabbed the surprised wine merchant and slammed him to the deck. Most of the crew instinctively ducked as the shells fell, fortuitously short. The first officer knelt behind the railing and scanned the approaching predator once more. The range was getting shorter. Sussex Pride was painted on the side of the ship's bow. Seebok focused on a rotund man decorated with medals standing on the bow. The color wasn't right. Instead of the usual golden hue, this man was pink and fat. He did not look like any Martian Seebok knew.

As the off-duty crew piled out of the forecastle, Captain Paayuun finally arrived on the quarterdeck, sleep still in his eyes. "Who is the slime, Seebok?" he spat through gritted teeth.

"The ship is flying a red pirate flag, and its name is not Martian. I think this is a red Captain's ship. If we run out of luck, we will be meeting our first Earthman soon."

"I see we've completed jibbing. If we can avoid the first rush while we gain speed, and if the wind holds, we'll outrun her," growled Paayuun. "Mr. Cimatii, if you would please go down to your cabin until the battle is over. Seebok, here is the key to the arms locker. Get some weapons for the crew while I organize them to repel boarders."

Sussex Pride

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The ship is about 170 feet long. The bow-mounted ram is metal and wood and ends in a solid wooden keel.

The Sussex Pride is equipped with two small cannons and two sweeper guns mounted in outriggers. It also has two heavy cannons and a power grapnel.

The crew totals 46, with 10 gunners, 24 turncranks, six bridge crew, and six deckhands. The ship also carries 16 marines, one of whom is an officer. The Sussex Pride can reach Very High altitude, has a top speed of 4 (20 knots), and costs £42,120.

Constructing the Sussex Pride

This conversion requires the hull of a large screw galley and two-pairs of outriggers from large kites. (You should have the outriggers in your parts box if you have previously constructed a Glory Sled and a Warm Winds.) First, cut the small engine mounts off the sides of the screw galley. Sand the two guns of the quarterdeck, then sand a curve into the plank ends of one pair of outriggers. Glue them to the sides of the quarterdeck, where the engine mounts were. Glue the other pair of outriggers so the planks make one continuous long board. Once this has dried, glue it to the neck of the hull, just behind the forecastle.

For added detail, use a gangplank (from a Blood Runner or Small Bird) or a small piece of sprue to make a single aft gun mount. Sheet styrene can be used to make a more elaborate ram.

Windsinger

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Measuring 475 feet long by 78 feet high, the Windsinger is smaller than the Warm Winds but larger than most Martian warships. She is outfitted to carry 16 passengers and up to 1800 tons of cargo. Fully loaded, she is capable of reaching Medium altitude. Reducing her cargo load to 1400 tons, allows the Windsinger to reach High altitude. She can reach Very High by further reducing the cargo to 1130 tons. The 39-person crew consists of 16 rigging crewmembers, 16 deckhands, and seven bridge crewmembers. The ship costs £90,100.

Constructing the Windsinger

Cut the two outriggers off one of the large kite hulls. Next, cut the stern off flat slightly behind the two gun mounts on the quarterdeck. Sand the guns off both the forecastle and quarterdeck mounts, and remove the ram. Cut across the mast-mounting hole in the forecastle down to a depth equal to the top of the neck. Now cut parallel to the neck from the neck to the remnant of the mast-mounting hole. These last two incisions form an L-shaped seat. Take the second large kite and cut the quarterdeck off immediately behind the stairs. Sand the guns flat on the two mounts and glue this piece to the back of the first hull.

Now the hull is ready for the masts to be attached. Glue a small kite's mast into the L-shaped seat. Fill in the gaps with putty. Drill two holes in the expanded quarterdeck, one immediately behind the stairs and one between the aft gun mounts. Glue one of the large kite masts in each hole. You should cut one eighth of an inch off the bottom of the mizzenmast (the one to the rear) before gluing it in place so it is shorter than the mainmast.

To create a foremast, cut the second small kite mast in half. Glue the mast upright in the middle of the forecastle, angling the sail along the vertical mast.

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