# One Against Five explained — Facing the Flag

> Chapter companion for Facing the Flag by Jules Verne.

## What happens

Simon Hart witnesses Thomas Roch's devastating use of his fulgurator engines against approaching warships. After destroying one cruiser, Roch hesitates when he recognizes the French tricolor on the next vessel, ultimately refusing to fire and crushing the phial of deflagrator liquid. The pirates panic as French shells rain on the island, and Roch escapes into the passage while Hart resolves to stay and record his final notes.

## Themes in this chapter

### Madness and Genius

Thomas Roch's brilliance in creating the fulgurator is juxtaposed with his moral blindness, which is only overcome by a surge of patriotism.

### Revenge and Vengeance

Roch's initial willingness to destroy any ship reflects his vengeful hatred; his refusal to strike the French flag shows a limit to his vengeance.

### Technology and Destruction

The fulgurator engines demonstrate immense destructive power, capable of annihilating warships from a distance, highlighting technology's role in warfare.

## Character check-ins

### Simon Hart

Narrator and observer; risks exposure to intervene with Thomas Roch; records final notes from his hiding spot.

### Thomas Roch

Initially launches engines to destroy a cruiser; refuses to fire on the French ship upon seeing the tricolor; crushes the phial and flees into the passage.

### Ker Karraje

Commands the pirates; orders Roch to launch engines; threatens Roch when he refuses.

### Engineer Serko

Assists in directing Roch; signals Roch to fire; pursues Roch after the refusal.

### Captain Spade

Among the pirates threatening Roch; present at the trestle during the attack.

## Key lines

> At the risk of being seen—and what do I now care if I am seen?—I creep over the rocks. I will be there to sustain Thomas Roch and prevent him from weakening.

Simon Hart decides to risk exposure to support Thomas Roch and stop him from weakening in his resolve.

_Hart's desperation to intervene despite the danger._

> Thomas Roch refuses. Captain Spade and the others, mad with rage, menace him—curse him—strike him—try to wrest the phial from him. Roch throws it on the ground and crushes it under foot.

When Roch refuses to fire, the pirates angrily threaten and strike him, but he destroys the phial by crushing it under his foot.

_Climactic refusal and destruction of the deflagrator._

> The cruiser has disappeared—blown to pieces. The effect is that of the Zalinski shell, but centupled by the infinite power of Roch’s fulgurator.

The cruiser is completely destroyed, the explosion far exceeding the power of a Zalinski shell due to Roch's fulgurator.

_Description of the fulgurator's devastating effect._

## Links

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