Episode 24 - The Demise of the Dark Water Alliance
150 miles northeast of Maracaibo...
Admiral Tew's flagship anchored a few hundred yards off the burning remains of a Spanish Cargo Fluyte. The trade-ship was Tew's latest victim during his personal war against Spanish and Dutch shipping between Coro and Santa Marta.
Captain Mako approached Tew, "Mate, some of the prisoners have requested to join our crew. 'Appen they's heard 'o our exploits in these 'ere waters and want to join us rather than take their chances wit tha blimmy sharks" he explained.
Tew remained silent for a moment and surveyed the bedraggled looking Spanish sailors who anxiously waited off the portside in their last surviving rowboat.
"Read 'em tha articles and get the ships surgeon ta de-lice the buggers 'an check 'em over. I'll have none 'o thar vile Spanish diseases brought aboard me ship." he replied.
Mako motioned to some sailors to bring the new crew additions aboard before going to awake the surgeon from his drunken slumber.
Weeks earlier, Tew had hired a dozen local Captains to report back to Santa Marta should any ships matching the Baron Boat and Grim Reapers descriptions be spotted in these waters. The latest of his cronies had finished briefing the Admiral of his recent voyage from Coro - and again brought no news of any said sightings.
"Damn dat Cognito bastid" barked Tew as he surveyed the distant horizon. The Admiral was irate that his devious idea to beat his rivals to the Treasure Fleet was not going to plan. "Those gits should 'o reached tha Main by now. I fear tha swabs could 'o out-witted us 'n went straight fer Puerto Bello."
"Maybe Coggy didn't even reach tha Main, Admiral," replied a hopeful officer, "Thars been reports 'o pirate hunters operating out 'o Martinique, and last we heard, Moose 'n Cognito had sailed through them thar parts."
Another officer stepped forward and echoed his shipmates comments, "Aye, they're probably residents 'o Davey Jones' Locker. Lets ferget bout those lubbers 'n just head straight fer Puerto Bello. If'n we don't set sail within da next ten days, we're gonna miss our date with tha Treasure Fleet" he said.
Tew wasn't convinced, but he knew time was running out. He slowly walked to the stern of his ship and paced the deck for several minutes in deep thought as the two officers looked on.
After what had seemed an age, he finally glanced across to the deep red sunset and took one last look at the distant horizon before slowly walking back to his men, "Tha 'morrow be yer last day 'o shore leave, lads. We be sailing ta meet Iguana Jack the day after." he said, with resignation in his voice.
The two deck officers smiled.
The next day...
A thin veil of early morning sea mist enveloped the Insurrection as she began her short trip into Santa Marta. Tew was eager to sell off his latest hoard of ill-gotten gains and prepare his ship for its journey to Nombre de Dios and the rendezvous with Iguana Jack.
"Admiral, thars been a few murmurings amongst tha crew. They's wantin' ta know why yer only granting shore leave to officers." said Mako, with a touch of concern.
Tew made his way to the edge of the Bridge and overlooked his crew that was working the rigging.
"Cos if'n one 'o these drunken buggers lets slip our plans to some Spanish landlubber, ye can guarantee thar won't be no bleedin' Treasure Fleet waiting fer us in Puerto Bello" he replied, with menace.
Mako continued, "Some 'o 'em have nay desire to attack the Treasure Fleet," he explained, "and dey reckon that while pickings are good in local waters, thars no reason fer us to go makin' some fool-hardy suicide raids"
Tew didn't look surprised, he'd realised the unease within his ranks had been steadily growing ever since the departure from San Juan, several months previous.
"Assemble the crew before we docks in Santa Marta. I think I'd better have a word 'o two with these ungrateful swabs." he said.
"Aye mate" replied Mako.
Later that morning...
Tew stood on the Bridge. Below him, on deck, the entire ships compliment had been mustered.
"Ok yew bunch 'o miserable buggers. I know most of ye 'r growing disgruntled with our upcommin' plan ta sail fer Puerto Bello - especially now dat we's making a good livin' in these 'ere waters." he called - with a touch of menace in his voice, "But, I want ta remind yew 'o what one 'o them treasure Galleons is worth..." he continued - before a hardy sailor stepped forth and interrupted...
"What good is a Treasure Galleon to a dead crew?" he shouted.
A chorus of agreement rumbled through the gathered men.
Another man stepped forward and echoed his shipmates concern, "Aye, even tha Dark Water Alliance is nay match fer a fleet that size" he bellowed, "We don't stand a chance 'o getting anywhere near da blimmy thing!"
"SILENCE!" barked the irritated Admiral, "Listen 'ere yew gutless swines - This ship is sailing fer Nombre de Dios, and when we've rendezvoused wit Iguana Jack, we'll be ready ta take it on 'n get uselves one 'o two 'o those Treasure ships. And if any 'o yew sniveling cowards want out - ye can git off me ship this very hour, 'n ye can ferget about yer portion 'o plunder - As far as I'm concerned, yee've forfeited it fer cowardice" he called.
An uneasy silence descended across the deck. Tew's officers stood on the Bridge - fear of imminent mutiny etched into their faces and the Admiral, himself, remained motionless as he stared at his crew below. He angrily awaited the first voices of discontentment as the thin veil of sea mist grew denser - causing an unnerving atmosphere to chill each soul to the bone
A few tense moments passed...
From the rear of the gathering a disgruntled crewman broke the silence, "Who's with us, lads?" he called, as confusion spread throughout the ranks.
Several men drew their daggers and inched their way forward towards the steps leading up to the Bridge.
The officers immediately drew their swords ready to defend themselves and Tew moved to the top of the steps - pulling out a pistol as he went.
"Now, now lads… there's no reason for this!" called the master of the ship, "Settle down, we can sort this out without any bloodshed"
"SHUT YER TRAP!" barked an irate sailor, as he shoved the master forward and away from the rowdy gathering.
The atmosphere grew more hostile as several loyal pirates pushed their way through the men and stood at the foot of the steps as if to guard their officers on the Bridge.
And it wasn't long before an uneasy stand-off ensued - on one side, Admiral Tew, Captain Mako, and the Bridge officers, supported by a dozen hardy crewmen - whilst on the other-side remained sixty disgruntled Cutthroats, most of which had knives and cutlasses drawn.
At the back of the mutineers gathering, a sailor began to rally his mates, "COME ON… LETS RUSH 'EM!" he barked.
"Arrrr, Arrrr" came the chorus of approval, as the men grew in confidence and prepared to take the ship.
Just as all hell was about to break loose, Tew pulled back the hammer of his pistol and fired a shot over the heads of the men. "I'LL KILL THE FIRT SWAB THAT MOVES!" he shouted, with anger etched within his face.
Again, another few seconds passed as the men on both sides intently watched each other. The tension in the air grew to almost breaking point - only for it to be disturbed by the lookout atop his crow's nest!
"SIR!" he called.
Everyone gathered instantly glanced up to the crows-nest "Two ships astern, Sir! I can just make 'em out through the mist - They're approaching with battle sails!" announced the nervous lookout.
Tew quickly turned and scrutinized the fast approaching ships through the swirling mists.
A look of horror spread across the lookouts face, "Oh no! Thar pirate hunters!" he proclaimed.
Tew turned to his officers, "Quick! Hoist tha truce flag!" he bellowed. "We've been caught cold - maybe we can buy us some time..."
BOOM! No sooner had he said it, than the lead ship fired its front chaser - hitting the Insurrection with a glancing shot off the starboard side.
"Think again, Admiral!" replied a stunned officer.
With that, the Insurrections crew instantly dispersed and without awaiting orders they quickly prepared the warship for battle.
"They must 'o seen tha smoke from dat ship we blew up yesterday!" called Mako as the officers made their way to the stern for a closer look at the attackers.
"Ol' Neptune aint be kind to us, Mako, one 'o dem ships 'is flying Cap'n Creeds colours!" shouted the concerned Admiral as he made his way down onto the deck, quickly followed by Captain Mako.
"I knew da swab would catch upta me one day, but 'is bleedin' timing couldnae be worse..." added Tew.
Creed's Fluyte cut across its escorts bow, a Dutch Frigate, and fired a 50-gun blast towards the starboard side of Tew's vessel, but the cannon balls fell just short of their target.
Simultaneously, the Dutch Frigate had quickly turned and positioned itself off the Insurrections stern ready to rake its deck with a 100-gun blast of grapeshot.
Tew's officers looked on with horror as a plume of fire and smoke, quickly followed by the deafening sound of cannon-shot, bellowed out from the enemy ship and instantly blasted the Bridge and deck apart.
Ships rigging, splinters, and body parts blew through the air as the Insurrection's upper deck disintegrated - leaving screams of dying and wounded crewmen to echo throughout the ship.
No trace of the on-looking officers remained.
However, Tew and Mako found themselves buried under burning timber and rigging. A few hardy sailors, covered with blood, quickly lifted the debris off the two men, who had survived the impact by the skin of their teeth.
"We's done fer, Admiral" reported one sorry looking sailor.
Tew stood up and dusted himself down, "Not yet we aint...." he replied, before another blast - this time from Creed's ship, hammered the Insurrection's port-side, knocking the pirates off their feet again.
The surviving men on deck tried valiantly to get their ship under control - hoisting aloft what little sail she had left. But the Dutch Frigate was coming about for another pass - one that would surely finish off the Alliance flagship once and for all.
Mako staggered to his feet, "He's right mate - we've had it. Just look around ye Admiral - the men 'r in no state ta fight these bastids now..." he said, wiping the blood from his forehead as he surveyed the carnage.
"RETURN FIRE!" shouted Tew atop his voice.
But the gunners below deck were too busy trying to douse a raging inferno sweeping through the ship.
"ADMIRAL, THA MAGAZINES ON FIRE! WE'S GOTTA ABANDON SHIP!...." screamed a scorched sailor as he emerged from the thick smoke coming from below.
Off the starboard side of the stricken warship, Captain Creed's vessel held its position and fired a broadside across the Insurrections bow before lowering its red flag of defiance and raising the French tricolor.
"Time fer us to dictate terms, me thinks." said the Frenchman to himself, with a broad grin.
Creed made his way onto his deck where sixty marines, made up from a collection of Dutch and French mercenaries, awaited the order to commence their boarding action. Each man, with muskets and cutlasses at the ready, were eager to claim their share of the bounty on Tew's head.
"Remember - I wants the Admiral taken alive" called Creed as he began to rally his men.
Aboard the burning Insurrection, panic-stricken sailors scrambled overboard and into rowboats that were bursting at the seams.
"Sir, the enemy ship has signaled fer us ta surrender..." the lookout proclaimed, as he quickly made his way out of the crow's nest and down the rigging.
With his ship burning all around him and his crew fleeing for their lives, Tew knew the day belonged to the bounty hunters. Without a word, the Admiral quickly made his way into his cabin to collect a few personal belongings before joining Mako and his surviving shipmates in the rowboats.
On witnessing the mortal blow he'd struck against his enemy, Creed ordered his men to stand down, and lower the rope ladders over the side of his ship - bringing to an end the quick and brutal skirmish.
The Insurrections rowboats slowly pulled away from the side of their doomed ship, and the men aboard frantically rowed towards Creeds vessel.
Mako and Tew watched in silence as the Dark Water Alliance flagship began to list to her portside. The burning canvass and timber sent plumes of thick grey smoke into the morning mists and as the rowboat pulled further away from the burning wreck, the ship faded from view - leaving a hundred smoldering pieces of drift wood strewn across the surface and a distant orange glow flickering through the mist.
Within fifteen minutes, Tew's rowboat was secured against the portside of the Fluyte. One hundred yards astern, the Dutch Frigate signaled its departure as Creed stood on his Bridge and gave the distant Captain a salute.
"Sir, we're bringing the Admiral aboard. What shall we do with the others?" asked an officer as he motioned towards several rowboats off the portside.
"I wants the Insurrections Captain brought aboard - leave the rest 'o dem Alliance scumbags to the mercy 'o Neptune" replied the Frenchman before making his way down on to the deck and over to where a group of armed marines stood taunting the bedraggled survivors in the rowboats below.
"Arrr, git that bloated bilge rat up 'ere NOW!" barked a menacing looking sailor on deck, as he pointed his musket down at the Admiral.
A few eager marines began firing their muskets and pistols down into the water all around the surviving rowboats - soaking the sorry looking survivors.
Tew stood up and reluctantly made his way up the rope ladder while Mako remained in the boat and bid the Admiral farewell, "Fairwinds mate." he said, sorrowfully.
Again Creed's crew taunted their defeated foes; "Cast away before we changes our minds 'n drops a few grenades inta yer lil' boats" shouted one, with a chorus of laughter from the on-looking marines on deck.
The rowboats slowly pulled away from the Fluyte leaving their Admiral to hold onto the rope ladder.
"That's it then the end of the Dark Water Alliance" came the quiet announcement from one of the oarsman in the boat.
Tew stopped halfway up the ladder and glanced back down into the boat, "No!...... Dark Water will rise again." came his instant reply, with defiance in his voice that lifted the survivors' spirits.
The Admiral looked on as the rowboats slowly drifted away into the sea mists, and after a few moments, he clambered up the rope ladders a little more - looked up - and saw the grinning face of Captain Creed looking down at him.