CSS Appomattox: A Thomas Devareaux Alternative History Military Adventure (The Thomas Sumter Devareaux Series Book 1) by Stoesen Chris

Author:Stoesen, Chris [Stoesen, Chris]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: Chris Stoesen
Published: 2014-10-29T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 17: Death of the Appomattox

The crew stood on the beach and watched the airbag partially collapse. The inner frame continued to crack and break. Additional helium air cells inside the airbag would pop as the inner frame broke and pierced those bags. The hot air from the boilers cooled and it settled lower.

As they stood there, they realized that they crash landed at high tide. More of the airship’s gondola was visible as the water receded. Devareaux had a sling on his arm to stabilize the shoulder. He grimaced in pain. Looking over his crew, Devareaux took inventory.

Tobias was still unconscious. His head was bandaged and the man seemed stable. Jed was dead. He bled out on the beach. There was nothing that they could have done for him. They tried to make him comfortable as possible before he passed.

Mark Applegate was not to be seen. The boiler room crew seemed to get a dark look when his name was mentioned. He would need to investigate that further. Hinkey looked ill. He was still up and moving, but looked physically ill. His two boiler crew, Seneca and Tiberius, seemed fine.

Hargrave and Almond were fine. Almond in point of fact looked far less rumpled and out of place than anyone who went through an airship crash had any business being. How did the man do it?

Cassius had his right arm in a sling. His face was pale even with his dark skin. He would need a doctor. The other two rocket gunners seemed in good enough shape. Elijah was attempting to tend to the wounded, but he was no doctor. Julius, having no duty, laid his head down and was asleep. Devareaux viewed him as a smart and practical man.

The marine Wilson was missing. The other dead marine, Lopez, was lying with his uniform jacket covering his head under the trees. The remaining marines were up and about. They were moving and being productive under Sergeant Benjamin’s competent leadership.

Devareaux made a decision. He called Benjamin over to him.

“Sergeant, I need you and your marines to get some help. Based on where we are on this peninsula, we should be to the north of a village. Please take a couple of men there and get some help. We have hurt men that need a doctor. Maybe they have a telegraph.”

Devareaux drew what he could remember of the map in the sand and sent Benjamin and Rodriguez off to find some help.

Devareaux stood. He moved and checked on each of his men. He spoke to them in turn. Once he had spoken to all of his men he turned to watch the marines fade into the distance. He turned to the remaining men who were mobile.

“Let’s see what we can take salvage from the old girl. My court-martial will be problematic enough without being charged for the salvageable gear aboard.”

Almond, Devareaux, Hargrave, Seneca, Julius and Tiberius proceeded to the stricken ship. Over the next three hours they pulled most of the chests from the airship.

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