Aldebaran and the Royaliste
Saturday, 11 June 2005

Civil War Gun Battle
Unionist forces, represented by the Aldebaran,
rescue the Angel Island Fort from the Confederates,
represented by The Royaliste.
~ Photos: Karsten Brooks ~
~ Text: Renee ~

Captain Hayden Brown
Chris Ramsey, 1st mate
& (alphabetical)
Aaron Brooks
Bob
Elizabeth O'Neil
Henry
Jim O'Neil
Karen Tully
Karsten Brooks
Neil Clark
Pat
Renee

Elizabeth is incognito in the background.
Karen wears a lovely, fine wool period outfit.
She recommends Army/Navy surplus stores for costumes!

Gun Captain Bob stands ready to fight the enemy.

Jim and Chris keep a lookout on the bowsprit.

Neil anticipates battle.

Aaron anticipates battle.

Chris anticipates battle.

Renee at the tiller; Captain Hayden tending the mainsheet.

Our nemesis, the Royaliste!

The Fort is under siege!

Captain Hayden and Neil plot strategy, and sail.
The railgun is behind Neil's left elbow.

Henry is confident of victory.

Bob and Elizabeth ready the cannon...
Pat (left) and Renee (right).

Renee cowers from the cannon blast!

Jim and Chris discuss tactics.

The Royaliste.
Our Nemesis is so pretty!
Oops! Railgun shoots out our main runner.

At last, the Confederate ship is pinned
between the Fort and the Unionist ship, Aldebaran.

Who are these crazy people picnicking in the midst of battle?!

Gun Captain Bob lights the Parker Piece.
Bob and Hayden made 60 charges of aluminum-wrapped
gunpowder. The prick (a metal awl) perforates the aluminum,
and allows the fuse (gunpowder-impregnated tape
threaded through a cocktail straw) to make contact.

Groucho Marks!
Renee keeps a punk (clove cigarette) lit.
Pat's smoking habit saved the day!
We used them to light the cannon fuses.
Each time, the cigarette was blown to smithereens.
(Next time, we're using incense sticks.)

Railgunners Karen and Jim work on the aft deck.

Elizabeth is prepared to defend her countrymen with her life.

Renee is laid low by Elizabeth in a sword fight.

The Royaliste drummers are decimated by our cannons!
Fortunately, most survive to drum again.

Captain Hayden, Aaron, and Henry.

Hey, we're shooting at people that look a lot like friends!

But we can't stop! BOOM! goes the Parker Piece.

Apart from the drummers, the Royaliste seems undaunted...

...but Henry and Karen are confident of victory.

Aaron is confident of victory.

Captain Hayden is confident of victory.

Neil and Elizabeth are confident of victory!

Neil prepares his final shot...

Cannon loaded, Bob braces himself for the impact...

BOOM!