Facing the Flag · Character

Simon Hart

A French engineer posing as warder Gaydon at Healthful House, whose quiet vigilance over Roch becomes a desperate fight for survival and escape.

major

Also known as Mr. Simon Hart, Mr. Hart, Hart

First appearance: iii kidnapped

As a major figure in Facing the Flag, Simon Hart is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

A French engineer who has assumed the alias Gaydon and become Roch's guardian at Healthful House.

In the storyHealthful HouseOpen this moment free

See Simon Hart in Healthful House Book page

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With Thomas Roch (professional): Simon Hart, a pirate lieutenant, guards and monitors Thomas Roch, ensuring his compliance. With Engineer Serko (professional): Engineer Serko and Simon Hart are pirate subordinates who…

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See Simon Hart in iii kidnapped

Character Web

9 connections

A slice of how Simon Hart sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

Relationship types

Professional
Rivalry
Other

Character groups

Pirates and Allies
Protagonist
Naval Pursuers and Victims

+4 more in the full Character Web

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point
Aftermath
Closing

This is the story's dramatic climax because it marks the emotional and psychological peak where Simon Hart’s s…

Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.

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Relationships

Thomas Roch
professional · negative
Simon Hart, a pirate lieutenant, guards and monitors Thomas Roch, ensuring his compliance. How this plays out →
Engineer Serko
professional · negative
Lieutenant Davon
professional · ambivalent
Gaydon
rivalry · negative
Engineer Serko
professional · negative
Thomas Roch
professional · negative
Simon Hart, a pirate lieutenant, guards and monitors Thomas Roch, ensuring his compliance. How this plays out →
Lieutenant Davon
professional · ambivalent

Thomas Roch
Simon Hart, a pirate lieutenant, guards and monitors Thomas Roch, ensuring his compliance.
Engineer Serko
Engineer Serko and Simon Hart are pirate subordinates who collaborate on guarding and managing Thomas Roch.
Lieutenant Davon
Lieutenant Davon and Simon Hart are fellow pirate lieutenants who share guard duties.
Gaydon
Gaydon and Simon Hart are antagonistic, as Hart is a loyal pirate who distrusts Gaydon's true motives.
Engineer Serko
Engineer Serko and Simon Hart are pirate subordinates who collaborate on guarding and managing Thomas Roch.
Thomas Roch
Simon Hart, a pirate lieutenant, guards and monitors Thomas Roch, ensuring his compliance.
Lieutenant Davon
Lieutenant Davon and Simon Hart are fellow pirate lieutenants who share guard duties.

Relationship notes

How these ties play out is in the reading companion — open the free preview.

See Simon Hart in iii kidnapped

In the story

Simon Hart appears across 15 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

Healthful House
A French engineer who has assumed the alias Gaydon and become Roch's guardian at Healthful House. He is motivated by patriotism to learn Roch's secret for France.
V: Where Am I?
Narrator and protagonist; awakens in captivity, resolves to maintain his Gaydon disguise and observe his captors.
On Deck
Narrator and protagonist; observes the schooner's mysterious propulsion and attempts to communicate with Thomas Roch and the crew.
Two Days at Sea
Posing as Warder Gaydon, he contemplates revealing his identity, observes the schooner's operations, and is ordered below as the Ebba approaches a merchantman.
Back Cup
Narrator and protagonist, disguised as Warder Gaydon; recognizes Back Cup from a prior visit and deduces the schooner's location.
Inside Back Cup
Narrator exploring Back Cup, assessing escape possibilities.
X: Ker Karraje
Narrator who learns Ker Karraje's true identity and confronts him, demanding his freedom.
XI: Five Weeks in Back Cup
Narrates his captivity, reflects on his identity being discovered by Ker Karraje, and observes events in Back Cup.
Engineer Serko's Advice
Narrator and prisoner; overhears plans, considers escape through the submarine tunnel, and learns he is suspected of knowing Roch's secrets.
God Be with It
Narrator and prisoner; observes the fulgurator's power and devises the keg message plan.
Battle Between the Sword and the Tug
Narrator and rescuer; coordinates with Lieutenant Davon to rescue Thomas Roch and experiences the battle firsthand.
XV: Expectation
Recovers from asphyxiation and feigns ignorance during Serko's interrogation; continues to maintain his cover as a prisoner.
Only a Few More Hours
Desperately tries to enlighten Thomas Roch about the pirates and the approaching warships, even contemplating murder to stop the destruction.
One Against Five
Narrator and observer; risks exposure to intervene with Thomas Roch; records final notes from his hiding spot.
On Board the Tonnant
Found alive among the ruins of Back Cup, clutching his notebook; recovered on board the Tonnant and provides the account of Thomas Roch's sacrifice.

Chapter companion notes

Spoil-light check-ins for Simon Hart unlock in the free preview.

See Simon Hart in iii kidnapped

See Simon Hart in Healthful House