Episode 32 - Encounter Off Smugglers Cove
The Grim Reaper and Baron Boat had quickly hoisted their sails and upped anchor, and were now heading out of the Cove - into deeper water where the seas where a little rougher.
The sun had almost disappeared over the distant horizon, but through the fast approaching twilight, the lookout could just make out the shape of a distant sail coming around the southern most tip of the island, while to the north, another sail appeared.
Captain Cognito was laying on his bunk in the cabin while the ships' surgeon finished off patching up his wound.
"Here ya go, Sir" said the surgeon as he handed Cog the blood-covered musket-ball he'd just removed from the wound, "A going-away present from the Sisterhood!"
Coggy gingerly got to his feet and took the ball, gave it a clean with his handkerchief and looked at it before placing it in his tunic pocket.
The cabin door opened and Davey Jones entered, "Arr, glad ta see yer back in da land 'o the living, mate," he said, before adding, "Yer needed on deck - looks like we's got trouble!"
Aboard the Baron Boat, Captain Moose, Henry Morgan, and Sir Loin 'o Beef, stood on the Bridge - each one looking through their spyglasses at the approaching ships.
"What ye reckon, mates?" asked Moose.
Morgan remained silent, but his cousin began to realize who the new arrivals where, "I knows who dey be! I recognize dem boats, I do!" he said, with a touch of concern.
Beefy didn't need to say anymore - both Moose and Morgan quickly realized that the fast approaching Brigs belonged to the Sisterhood of Pirates.
"Pink sails!!! Harrrrrr, have ye ever seen anything so ridiculous, mate! Haaarrrr!" laughed Morgan, as the vessels grew ever closer.
Back on the Reaper, Coggy had made his way onto his own Bridge with Davey Jones. Both men had also recognized the approaching ships to be those of the Sisterhood.
"Looks like da blimmy hags are trying ta cut-off our escape route" remarked Jones, as Coggy ordered a crewman to signal the Baron Boat.
"Tell Moose, ta swing to starboard and head fer da ship coming from the north… we'll tackle da other" explained Cog to the man.
"Aye Sir," replied the sailor as he got to work on organizing the communication flags.
Aboard the Sisterhood flagship, Captain CupperBut had already prepared her crew for action. The gun-decks where swarming with eager gunners and all cannons were loaded with grape-shot, whilst on the ships main deck, a hoard of cutlass wielding wenches had been mustered and were now listening to their Captain's orders.
"Ya all seen what these bastids done to our home port - so I don't need ta tell yew what I expects when we gets aboard thar rat-infested pieces 'o drift wood" shouted CupperBut as she rallied her hyped wenches.
"We'll nail their gizzards to the yard arm!" they all called back in unison.
CupperBut had recognized the flag of Captain Cognito atop the Reapers mast and she was eager to 'meet' her old acquaintance again.
"That vile Parrot abusing bastid is gonna taste me blade, fer sure!" she said to herself, as she made her way over to a large bird cage and proceeded to take out her beloved companion.
"Squawk-let-us-at-em!-squawk" squawked the bird as it was placed on to CupperBut's shoulder.
"Don't worry, sweetie I'll let ya peck out Coggy's one good eye when we get our hands on him!" replied CupperBut as she gave the bird a pat.
"Squawk-Coggy-da-Bastid!-squawk" squawked the concerned bird.
"Aye, that's who it be, fer sure. And he's the one that caused the untimely demise of yer dear old mother" replied the Captain.
"Squawk-I-miss-Polly-squawk" squawked the upset bird.
CupperBut comforted the sorry looking parrot and said, "Don't ye worry, darlin' I won't let that scurvy bastid do to yew what he did ta dear ol' Polly."
"I'm gonna feed ya his gizzards, I am!" she added.
An officer stood watching the distant pirate ships, "Captain… the two ships are breaking formation. One is swinging towards us" she reported.
CupperBut glanced across to their foes 1000 yards off the bow and watched as the Baron Boat turned and headed towards her ship.
"Looks like we'll have to get passed these sorry fools before I can deal with Cognito!" replied the Captain, as she ordered the ship to run with battle sails.
Aboard the other Sisterhood ship, The Bonny Maiden, Captain Kat had done likewise and had wasted no time in preparing her own crew for the impending battle. The Brig ploughed through the rough surf towards Coggy's Grim Reaper as the Captain stood on her deck and rallied the gathered women, "Ok ladies, it's time we gave these unsavory menfolk a taste of their own foul medicine" she said, in her upper-class English accent, "Lets get aboard that ship and tear those bastards limb from limb!" she added.
"HUZZARR" replied her eager crew, as the female Cutthroats on deck drew their swords and prepared the grappling hooks.
The two pirate ships continued heading in opposite directions - the Baron Boat heading north towards CupperBut's Brig, while the Reaper had swung south and headed straight for Kats Bonny Maiden.
And as the deep orange sky began to fade with the last glimmers of twilight, all four ships were soon within firing range and each one began it's deadly duel with it's opponent.
The Baron Boat was the first to open-fire. A 50-gun blast of double shot whistled towards the fast approaching Brig but failed to hit its target - simply falling short by a few yards and causing the crew aboard to get soaked with sea water.
CupperBut's ship swung hard to port and unleashed its broadside of chain-shot - but at the moment of firing, a large wave tipped the Brig to her starboard side - causing her shot to hit the Baron Boat high in the rigging. Several of Moose's unfortunate crew fell from the masts as they became the first victims of the battle.
The Grim Reaper and Bonny Maiden had by now began their own duel. Kats hardy Brig was the first to open up with a close-range broadside that hit the Reaper amidships. The Sloop shuddered in the rough surf as splinters, chunks of wood, and torn canvass crashed down onto the deck.
Almost immediately, Coggy's ship had returned the compliment and hit the Sisterhood vessel with a retaliatory strike. The broadside of double shot blasted away the lower deck and many gun-ports were put out of action Kat was knocked off her feet and covered with burning embers as the Bridge caught fire.
Un-hurt, the Captain got to her feet immediately, and wasted no time in ordering her ship to swing hard to starboard and prepare its second volley.
Coggy's Sloop had gained a slight advantage - being more maneuverable than its heavy opponent, and had quickly swung across the stern of the Bonny Maiden. Within moments, the Sloop had fired its second broadside - this time raking the damaged Bridge and causing more fires to light up the fading twilight. However, the moderate breeze blew a large plume of thick gray smoke across Coggy's ship that temporally put it out of action as the men aboard were blinded and began coughing and choking for breath.
Seizing her chance, Kat immediately ordered her ship to swing around and blast the blinded Sloop with chain-shot. The close-range volley impacted into the Reapers canvass - destroyed the main sails and caused many disoriented sailors to clamber across the deck, trying to avoid the falling timber.
Within moments, the smoke had cleared and the Sloop had escaped the latest attack with little loss to her ships compliment. Another blast of double-shot bellowed out from her side and finally blew the Bonny Maidens heavily damaged gun-decks to pieces. The port-side of the Brig was engulfed in a fireball as several officers and many gunners met their untimely demise.
Kat survived the impact by the skin of her teeth. The blast had blown the Captain over the Bridge railings and down onto the deck, causing only minor injuries. However, her ship had lost most of its officers, and the port-side cannons were out of action.
To the north, Moose's Baron Boat had come within grappling-range of the Fearless. The Captain had quickly mustered his eager Cutthroats and prepared them for boarding.
Moose and Morgan had joined the men on deck - leaving Sir Loin 'o Beef to take command of the Bridge. The former maroon wasted no time in ordering Moose's gunners to fire a point-blank blast of grapeshot seconds before the two ships crashed together.
And aboard the Sisterhood flagship, CupperBut had done likewise as she joined her marines on deck. The two Brigs steadily drew closer as the seas became heavier and the sea breeze stronger. Both ships ploughed through the waves and finally crashed together just as Beefy's broadside bellowed out and blasted many hapless Sisterhood marines to pieces.
Within seconds, two-dozen grappling ropes from both ships fired across to the decks and firmly secured the Brigs together as hoards of Cutthroats from either side sprang into action and merged into one sprawling mass.
Moose and Morgan wasted no time in swinging across to the Fearless - where the rapier-welding Captain CupperBut waited to meet them...