Vimes nodded. This seemed fair. "Sorry about being rough, then. Command-" he paused. Did the rank really mean anything, here? He reflected on this, for a moment. Some would argue that he was not, in fact, 'Commander' Vimes. But, he would shout back, they were not in possession of all the facts. "Commander Vimes. What's your name, lad?" After a moment, he had to add:
"Wait, ship? We're on a ship? Can't be, it's all metal, wouldn't a metal ship, er... well, sink?"