Smoke rolled over the shattered waterfront.
The fires spread fast along the piers. Broken beams burned where they had fallen. Sections of the quay had collapsed into the water, and the few remaining river craft were either drifting loose or already sinking.
From the bridge of the Napoleon I, Admiral Maisonneuve lowered his telescope.
"Cease fire," he said.
The gunnery officer nodded at once and relayed the order below.
The forward turrets fell silent. The barrels remained trained on the port, but no further shells followed. Only the sound of crackling fire and distant shouting carried across the water.
Behind the flagship, the rest of the French fleet held position exactly as ordered.
They watched.
Villeneuve stood with his hands behind his back, eyes fixed on the damage ahead. The port had not been erased, but it had been broken. The batteries were gone. The docks were no longer usable. Smoke covered most of the shoreline.
"They will not mistake this," he said.
