[ WP ] In an alternate universe , gunpowder was never invented . What does warfare look like ?

Lord Nelson lowered his telescope and turned to the men on the deck below. 
 
 `` Mr Pasco!'' he said. `` I wish to say to the fleet:'England confides that every man will do his duty.''' 
 
 `` It will be done, sir,'' saided Rear Admiral Pasco. 
 
 The colours went up, and cheers came across the water from the other ships in the fleet. 
 
 `` Mr Pasco, I believe your eyes are better than mine. Is the Lee Formation in position?'' asked Nelson. 
 
 John Pasco took out his own telescope. 
 
 `` Yes sir,'' he replied. `` Furthermore, the French are formed in an arc as expected. They have the wind behind them.'' 
 
 `` We have allowed them the wind, Mr Pasco,'' said Nelson. `` They will wish they did not have it by day's end. Now, let us begin. Signal that Weather Formation is to quicken the pace. Put out the oars.'' 
 
 `` It will be done, sir.'' 
 
 HMS *Victory*'s seven decks of slave rowers slid out their oars and began rowing. Drums rolled and boomed throughout the ship, punctuated by the crack of the whips. The French ships extended out to the left, seeking to get behind the British mass and encircle the fleet. 
 
 Nelson stood on the aft deck, watching, waiting. Any moment... 
 
 `` Break up our formation!'' he cried. `` Signal the rest of Weather to do the same!'' 
 
 Ahead of *Victory* was her target, the *Redoubtable*. The rest of Weather Formation would have an easier job, catching their targets side-on with their rams. But the *Redoubtable* was almost at the centre of the French line, and would have to be taken head-on. 
 
 `` Sir,'' said Pasco. `` We will be within range soon. You should get below deck.'' 
 
 `` Scurry and hide like a rat, Mr Pasco? I will do no such thing.'' 
 
 Along both ships, the men loaded their crossbows and opened fire. The metal bolts whistled through the air and stuck in the wood of the ships with a *thunk. * Some found their mark, punching through even the thick plate armour worn by the footmen on deck. 
 
 And then came the grinding crunch as the ship's rams tore into one another's hulls and embedded themselves there. 
 
 `` Sir!'' cried Pasco. `` We're stuck!'' 
 
 `` Lower the corvus,'' said Nelson. To the men on the deck he called: `` The footmen will prepare to board!'' 
 
 The ropes and pulleys squealed, and the great wooden bridge by *Victory*'s forward mast descended upon the French vessel. The thick iron spike protruding from it sunk deep into the wood of the *Redoubtable*'s deck, holding the two ships together. 
 
 Pasco drew his mace from his belt and unslung his shield. 
 
 `` The footmen will advance across the bridge!'' he yelled. 
 
 With a roar, the British troops swarmed across the bridge. The men of the *Redoubtable* had barely had time to form up, and they were cut down in seconds. The French were falling back to the aft deck, desperately trying to mount some kind of cohesive defence, but it was no use. 
 
 Nelson nodded with satisfaction. He took out his telescope and looked out to the left. Two French ships were already sinking, three had been boarded and were very clearly losing and one had already surrendered. As he watched, another French ship was skewered by the *Ajax. * In their haste to encircle the British line, they hurled themselves unwittingly onto the British rams with the wind behind them. 
 
 The Battle of Trafalgar was over.
