Episode 9 - The Spanish Armada
The morning of the 26th day of January, 1640.
The morning mists began to rise gently above the sea. As the five pirates stood quietly on the Bridge of the Grim Reaper, there was an eerie silence with just the calm lapping water and creaking oakwood to be heard.
Through the dispersing fog, to the west, the dark images of several large ships could be seen taking form.
"That's 'em!" said Moose.
"How many?" asked Morgan.
The mist cleared and the several ships grew in size to over twenty large War Galleons - Spanish Galleons!
"Shiver me friggin' timbers!" called an anxious Coggy.
"We's got our work cut out today, lads" said Moose trying to play down his growing concern.
A few tense moments passed before the lookout broke the silence, "SIR!, thars a fleet approachin'!" he anxiously called.
"We knows! Ya bleedin' halfwit! We's lookin' at 'it" replied an irritated Coggy not taking his eye off the Armada.
"Nay, Sir, thars ANOTHER fleet approachin'!" replied the lookout.
All five men turned to look up at the lookout who was pointing toward the southwest.
"Jeeesssus!" called out Morgan, "How many more 'r there?"
Coggy lifted his spyglass to his eye.
Morgan and Moose waited for Cogs answer, but Coggy embarrassingly adjusted the spyglass to his good eye before announcing, "Those ones aint Spanish! They're tha friggin' Dark Water Alliance!!!"
The Dark Water Alliance, led by the renegade pirate, Admiral Thomas Tew, were despised throughout the Caribbean by most sea-farers. Not only did they wage war on the various European powers that held colonies in the region, but also frequently attacked and stole from fellow pirate ships and strongholds. According to the Alliance, loot was loot, wether it belonged to the natives, some distant crown, or the Brethren of the Coast.
The Spanish Galleons held their position a few hundred yards off the Pirate ships as the Alliance fleet cut through the water and closed in - seemingly heading straight for the Grim Reaper.
"Bloody alliance scum," said Davey, with a sigh of resignation, "Reckons we's in fer a 'ell of day, Coggy"
"La Foot - git yer scurvy hide up 'ere," called Coggy anxiously.
The young Lieutenant quickly made his way up to the Bridge.
"'Tis the DWA, La Foot" said Quinn.
"What'd ye reckon, La Foot? Are they with us or against us?" asked Coggy.
"Why's ye askin' me?" replied the puzzled Lieutenant.
"'Cos you sailed with 'em fer a while and ye knows tha Admiral," said Moose impatiently.
La Foot collected his thoughts, "I don't know" he replied, "Admiral Tew 'is as unpredictable 'as a drunken grenadier," he continued, "And with him bein' in exile from the brethren fer so long, I reckon's he'll side wit tha dons,"
La Foot had barley finished his sentence when a loud crack of cannon fire billowed out from the alliance ships.
But the target wasn't the Pirates - it was the Spanish!
"Then again I could be wrong," blurted La Foot quickly, as the cannon balls struck their target.
The pirates watched in disbelief as the alliance ships broke formation and began broadsiding the bewildered Spanish Armada.
"YEEEEEEEAHHHH" came the chorus of celebration from the pirate crews.
"Arrrggghh, Tew, yer scurvy blaggard! Remind me ta buy yew a rum when the days thru," said Coggy to himself.
The pirate fleet began to disperse and head for the battle zone.
Within a few minutes, the three alliance ships where taking heavy damage from the retaliating dons, but the Grim Reaper, followed by a dozen pirate vessels out of Tortuga, quickly cut through the water and joined the ensuing melee.
"Yeahhh, yer greasy Spanish swabs! Tink ye could take Tortuga did ye?" shouted La Foot in excitement, as the mother of all battles commenced...