As Zug Zug plays dumb Harrigan narrows his one eye and then gives a shrug.
"Frankly I don't really care whether you're really this dumb or not. Follow orders and don't break the code. I don't care if you can understand me or not. You work or you get tossed overboard."
When Kalia makes her bold claim it actually leaves Harrigan speechless for a second. He doesn't take kindly to the confusion and instead responds physically with a swift punch to Kalia's chest that knocks the wind out of her and drops her to the deck.
"You will do what I tell you to do and I don't recall asking your opinion about anything. If I tell you your job is to lick my boots then your only response had better be to drop to the deck and stick your tongue out."
Having regained his composure he lets out a chuckle and some of the other pirates chuckle as well at a press ganged prisoner trying to be put in charge.
When Xao Fang drops to the deck Harrigan is surprised for a second time. He glances up to ensure there aren't more coming and then takes a moment to eye Xao Fang up and down. Finally he gives her a nod, accepting her pledge.
Once everyone had pledged (or been tossed overboard), Harrigan walks up and down the line to give proper introductions.
"For some of you this might be your first time crewing aboard a Freecaptain's ship. For some of you this might be the first time crewing a ship period. Let me be clear I am going to work you to the bone and you will either prove your value or get dumped overboard. If you serve and you show skill and guts and enough loyalty then you might find yourself getting off of swabbing the decks and getting some real work to do but until then you're all going to serve under one of mine. When I'm not around, they are in charge and their word is just as good as mine. If you don't listen to them, well..."
He nods at the bloodstain still at his feet from where he 'dealt' with the previous captain.
"...stringing up lollygaggers and mutineers is pretty much our only form of entertainment. Hell we like to make an evening out of a good keelhauling. Now I'm going to do these introductions once so pay attention."
As he introduces the surviving pirate crew officers they pop their heads up and give a wave
or a scowl or a simple call before going back to their work:
Melvick Plugg - First Mate
Cut-Throat Grok - Quartermaster
Peppery Longfarthing - Sailing Master
Caulky Tarroon - Captain's Steward
Riaris Krine - Gunnery Master
The Stichman - Carpenter
Fishguts Kroop - Cook
Patch Patchsalt - Bosun's Mate
Kipper - Gunner's Mate
For those who saw the flash of light, they recognized Peppery as the wizard that cast the spell of teleportation that saved Captain Harrigan, Caulky, Fishguts, and Habbly from the other ship. While there is the bosun's mate, there doesn't appear to be a bosun anymore which is a very important position to leave unfilled long term.
"For now don't worry about who's who, just know that if one of them gives you an order you drop what you're doing and do what they tell you. This ship is barely holding together after skirting the Eye so we don't have time for the usual breakdown of duties. If you're smart you'll realize this is an opportunity to prove yourself and get promoted from scum sucking prisoner to an actual part of the crew.
I have no patience for anything that disrupts our repairs. There will be no fighting, no killing, no thieving, no insubordination of any kind or you're getting lashed or tossed. Keeping your head on your shoulders and your skin on your back is going to be very easy. You do what we say, when we say it, and we all get to become rich and fat on all the gold you can eat. Har har har."
Given the way the crew erupts in laughter, even the more stern faced ones, this is apparently some reference to an inside joke. It seemed that the laughter broke a lot of the tension in the air that had been building after the captain imposed draconian justice upon the whole ship.
"So you've heard the bad news from me. Grok here will tell you what'll happen if you do right by us."
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 23:25, Fri 19 Feb 2021.