Episode 3 - A Trip to San Juan
Two days later...
The main dock in Tortuga harbour berthed several ships. Coggy's refitted Sloop, The Grim Reaper, and Moose's Baron Boat, a Brig, sat riding anchor to the southwest. While to the east lay Tew's Insurrection, a 100-gun Frigate.
All three ships had been stocked with provisions, and the final hoards of marines, sailors, and gunners were now headed towards their flagships.
The three Captains stood outside the shipwrights and watched in eager anticipation.
"We's gonna sail east towards San Juan, then head down tha Lesser Antilles on a massive recruiting drive - 'cos were gonna need as many scurvy bastids as we can get ta 'elp us on this'n," explained Cog.
The other pirates nodded their agreement as Coggy continued, "We'll also be wantin' ta take an indirect route to Puerto Bello - masking our true intentions from any bleedin' Spanish spy's dat might be sneakin' about."
"Aye mate, and if'n we sails along tha Main, maybe we could deal wit them friggin' Pirate Hunters dats been sniffin' about down thar..." added Moose.
The pirates watched as the final preparations were completed aboard their ships.
"Ok... Davey Jones 'n NavyRum 'r wit me. Moose and Morgan 'r sailing together, so dat just leaves you, Admiral." said Coggy to Tew.
"Arrr, matey, 'appen I's got Cap'n Mako aboard tha Insurrection. He's gonna sail as me first mate till we reach San Juan. His ship is in them thar parts helpin' Iguana Jack chase down a couple 'o two-bit pirate buggers by tha name 'o Greenbeard 'n Cap'n Green Eye." replied Tew.
"What ye chasin' pirates fer?" asked Moose.
"Tha two Gits have been slandering tha good name 'o tha Dark Water Alliance. And dat Greenbeard bastid got Iggys twin brother hung in Cartagena. Tha swine left him in tha mire during a battle offshore a while back." explained Tew, "Iggy wants ta teach tha swab a lesson 'o two" he added.
Within the hour the ships were ready for departure. Coggy, Moose, and Tew headed for their vessels and it wasn't long before the small pirate fleet finally got underway and headed out to the open seas.
Aboard the Reaper, Captain Cognito stood on the Bridge with Davey Jones and NavyRum.
"It's just like old times again, hey Davey?" remarked Cog as he watched his crew work the rigging.
"Aye, Cog!... But I just hopes we don't end up in the locker this time!" replied Jones with a wry smile.
NavyRum looked intrigued and asked; "I heard bout yer last adventures, Coggy. What happened?"
"Arrr, lad, tis a l-o-n-g story, but all's I can tell ye is ta never trust a tax collector 'n a two-bit whore from Cartagena..." replied the elusive Coggy.
"Anyhow, what's yer story?" asked the Captain.
NavyRum smiled and pointed to the insignia on his jacket, "Ye see that thar badge 'o mine?" he asked.
Coggy nodded.
"Well mate, that thar represents three years service in his majesty's navy. Tha worst three years 'o me life!" replied the disgruntled Lieutenant.
"I gathers yer a deserter, eh?" replied Cog, with a smile.
"I aint no deserter! 'Appen I's just taken an extended leave 'o absence, that's all!" replied NavyRum, trying to justify his actions.
"Mate, don't ye worry. Most 'o tha scum sailin' these waters don't give a damn about yer roots. Yer a pirate now - and that's all that matters" replied Cog, as he gave the Lieutenant a pat on the back.
"Aye, tis a pirates life fer me, 'awrite," announced NavyRum with pride.
"Twas either sail tha seven seas in tha Kings Navy, swash buckle me way around tha Caribbean as a pirate, or follow me dear ol' father inta politics" he added.
"I tried tha first choice - now I'm givin' tha second a go!" he said, with a smile.
"Arrr, so yer dad be a landlubber, eh?" asked Davey Jones.
"Aye mate. 'Appen tha silly ol' fool ended up bein' tha bleedin' Gov'nor 'o Santa Catalina. I aint seen him in years" replied the Lieutenant.
Coggy and Davey Jones looked at one another for a moment. A smile came across both men's faces.
"What yew two grinnin' at?" asked NavyRum with a touch of unease.
"Haaarrr, nottin' mate." replied the grinning Cog, before adding, "It just so 'appens the good Cap'n Moose met yer dear ol' father a while back"
Davey laughed, and then added, "Aye, and he took a liking to yer mother too! Kathryn, as I recall"
Coggy and Davey Jones laughed amongst themselves and watched as several townsfolk stood and waved as the three ships headed south and out of the bay.
Twelve days later, mid July, 1643...
The three ships approached a small hidden beach twenty miles west of San Juan. From his deck, Coggy could see a couple of Brigs careening in shallow water just off shore.
"Looks like Tew's mates 'r doing a bit 'o barnacle scraping" he said, as Jones and NavyRum looked on.
Aboard the Baron Boat, Moose had just given the order to reef the sails and drop anchor, while Morgan sat on the deck, sharpening his cutlass.
Tew stood on his Bridge, he was a little irate at what he was seeing.
"Those friggin' half-wits!" he barked, as his ship came to a halt thirty yards off the starboard side of Iguana Jack's ship.
"What's wrong, Tew?" asked the puzzled Captain Mako.
"Those silly swines have left 'emselves open fer ambush! If'n I's told 'em once; I's told 'em a hundred times... One ship careens while the other stands guard." replied the angry Admiral.
A few minutes later Iguana Jack's open launch pulled alongside the Insurrection.
"Permission to come aboard, Admiral" asked Iggy.
"Granted, matey" replied Tew, as the two pirates met on deck and shook hands.
"Arrr, Mako, yer ship's still in one piece, mate. We never found those pirate swabs we wus lookin' fer," explained Iggy.
"Well, I's glad yer took tha time ta scrape her hull fer me" replied Mako.
Tew lead his two mates back up to the Bridge, "Iggy, I's got some news fer ye." he said, as he proceeded to brief his mate on the Treasure Fleet endeavour.
On board the Baron Boat, Moose was signalling Coggy's Reaper.
"What ye doin', Moose?" asked Morgan as he approached the Bridge.
"I's wantin' ta know if'n we's gonna pay a lil' visit to San Juan while we's 'ere" replied Moose as he caught the attention of one of Coggy's officers on deck.
Aboard the Sloop, Cog stood on his Bridge as his officer appeared.
"Sir, looks like Captain Moose is wantin' a word with thee..." he said as he pointed over to the Baron Boat.
Later that day...
Three hours had passed since the rendezvous. The Dark Water Alliance ships were now berthed a few hundred yards off the shore as the tide came in and re-floated Captain Mako's and Iguana Jack's Brigs.
Coggy was back aboard his flagship and was informing his crew about Moose's plans to raid San Juan.
"Right lads, we's gonna go 'n do us a bit 'o pillaging wit tha Baron Boat. 'Appen I also wants ta repay tha fine citizens 'o dat thar town fer thar kindness they showed when I wus guest 'o honour in their prison," explained Coggy.
The crew eagerly prepared themselves for their first taste of action.
"Hey Coggy, any chance 'o going it ta battle wit ye?" asked an enthusiastic NavyRum.
"Aye lad, yer more'n welcome," replied the Captain.
"I's gonna personally lead a group 'o me murderous bastids on this one. So ye can come 'n help me co-ordinate tha scurvy buggers when we sneaks inta town." he said.
"I'm commin' wit yew too..." said Davey Jones, "We's running low on supplies, and I fer one aint sailin' all tha way to tha Spanish Main without a drink 'o two!"
"So while yew lot 'r killin' peasants, I shall be raiding tha taverns," he announced.
A few minutes later Coggy's open launch stuffed with psychotic Cutthroats headed for the Baron Boat.
Aboard his ship, Moose had finished preparing his ManiacMen, "Right yew bunch 'o buggers, we's gonna do us a bit 'o killin' 'n whorin'" he called.
The ManiacMen gave a hearty cheer and soon welcomed aboard Coggy, NavyRum, Davey Jones, and a bunch of Cog's murderous swines.
"Arrr, Coggy, welcome aboard. We've informed the Admiral 'o our lil' raid, and they's gonna stay 'ere till we gets back." explained Moose, as he greeted his guests.
"Ok, mate but remember I's wantin' ta 'personally' deal wit tha townsfolk! - yew concentrate on lootin' tha buildings, and me 'n me psycho's 'ill introduce ourselves to tha natives..." smiled Coggy with an evil grin.
"Tis a deal" replied Moose as he rubbed his scurvy hands in anticipation.
Just then Henry Morgan approached, "Hey, yew bunch 'o bastids aint going neywhere without me! I's havin' me some action too, so don't be leavin' ol 'Enry out else yee'll feel me wrath!" he growled, before giving a sly wink.
"Don't worry matey, I fer one is lookin' forward ta fightin' alongside ye again." replied Coggy, as the ship got under way and headed east towards the town.