Episode 38 - A Smugglers Dream
In the Rusty Cutlass tavern, Captain Mako and Iguana Jack had finished briefing each other about recent events. The two surviving officers of the Dark Water Alliance cursed their misfortune, but the rum and ale they'd recently consumed began to lift their spirits.
The two men began to make plans on what to do next.
Iggy gulped down a tankard of grog, wiped his lips, and announced, "Thar's no way we can continue wit our mission now. The blimmy Treasure Fleet can rot in 'ell fer all I care."
He took another swig of rum and added, "And as fer Admiral Tew… well, he'll have find 'is own salvation… we's in no state ta mount a rescue raid."
"Don't even know where he's at, anyhow" added Mako, "Probably half-way ta Paris fer all we knows."
Mako thought for a moment as an idea came to mind, "Iggy, 'appen I knows of a fella in dis very tavern dat has himself a Schooner 'n a competent crew," he took a drink and continued talking as a little excitement at what he was about to propose grew within him.
"He's a grog smuggler, but wit a decade 'o sea-warfare experience behind him, he aint no lubber, fer sure."
Iggy listened with interest as Mako continued…
"Sailed against da Spanish, 'n seen many a battle during 'is time in da Navy, says he. So, here's me idea… how's bout asking da fella if'n he wants ta take a lil' trip ta Puerto Bello?" finished Mako.
Iggy scratched his beard and remained in deep thought for a moment as he pondered Mako's scurvy plan, "Ye still want ta risk a raid on the Treasure Fleet, I takes it? Ye reckon ye can trust him?" he asked.
Mako nodded.
Again Iggy scratched his beard and thought for a moment, "Me ships still in quarantine mate. We won't be able ta use her" he said.
"Like I said, the fella has himself his own ship 'n crew!" replied Mako.
Iggy thought some more before finally standing up and saying, "Ok, lets go meet him. Where's he sat?"
Mako got up and led his mate over to where William Fly and Pike Masters were sat and proceeded to introduce his shipmate to the two smugglers.
Within the hour...
Mako had explained his plan to sail with Iggy along the coast to Puerto Bello and mount a raid on the gathering Treasure Fleet and was now awaiting the response from his two mates.
Pike Masters thought for a moment before saying, "Mateys, I's seen some weird things 'appening in local waters lately… Frigates, Galleons, 80-gun Brigs, they's all been buzzin' 'bout da place like a bunch 'o angry hornets. I never knew why till now"
Iguana Jack added his own sentiment, "Aye they's amassing quite an armada by tha sounds 'o it"
"And tas been playing havoc wit our liquor-runs too," added Fly, "Nosey bastids come a sniffin' when me Schooners about" he moaned.
Fly remained skeptical at his mates' idea and related his own thoughts at Mako's plan, "Lad, those War Galleons 'r formidable foes. Ay's had me first-hand experience at dueling wit those buggers."
Pike Masters echoed his associates concerns and explained, "Listen ta what Fly's tellin' ye fer he's seen many a battle during his Navy days Gibraltar, Bay of Biscay, Florida Channel - he's fought at 'em all."
Fly continued, "Aye, that Ay has. Now from what ye says, lad; thar's gonna be nigh on forty 'r fifty ships in that fleet. Granted not all 'o 'em warships, but there'll still be enough fire-power there ta blow half da French Navy ta perdition's edge."
Now Iguana Jack looked a little concerned, "What ye reckon, Fly? How many do ye tink 'ill be carrying tha swag, 'n how many 'ill be just escorts? he asked.
Fly thought for a moment and shrugged his shoulders, "Can't say fer sure. But with the amount 'o gold the dons pillage from da friggin' Inca's Ay'm bettin' most 'o 'em will be lightly armed loot haulers"
"Lightly armed ye say?" said Mako with surprise.
"Aye lad. The dons won't want ta waste valuable cargo space carrying a hundred tons 'o cannon 'n powder - when they'd rather fill tha space wit gold 'n tha like" explained Fly.
"But that don't mean tha fleet 'ill make easy pickings… the escorting War Galleons I mentioned will more than make up fer tha lack 'o armed vessels." he added.
The men sat and thought some more.
"I gather yer wanting some 'elp with yer endeavors?" asked Pike Masters, with a broad grin.
Mako and Iggy just nodded as they pondered what Fly had been saying.
Later that day...
William Fly's crew had finished unloading the last remaining barrels of illegal ale, and were wasting no time in preparing the ship for it's departure on another smuggling-run later that day.
Fly, Pike Masters, and the two Dark Water Captains had since made their way aboard the vessel and were sat in the Captains cabin discussing Mako's idea.
"So are ye with us?" asked Iggy.
"Aye" replied Pike, eagerly.
But Fly remained cautious for a moment, before saying, "Aye Ay'm up fer it. But remember this lads - me Schooner may be a fast lil' ship, but she won't last long against a 100-gun Galleon."
"We aint planning on a prolonged attack, mate." replied Mako, "A quick hit-n-loot raid is just about all we could manage." he said.
Again Fly remained skeptical, but announced, "Ay've got me a fair bit 'o swag tucked away fer when me smuggling days 'r over. So me hearties, Ay'm willin' ta purchase 'nother couple 'o ships to 'elp us with our endeavors - on one condition! And that's Ay gets due 'n appropriate compensation when we divides the plunder"
"Arrrr, Arrrr" came a chorus of approval from the others.
Fly continued, "I's noticed a couple 'o Sloops fer sale down by tha Shipwrights. They need refitting, so I'll have ta postpone me next grog-run. We're gonna have a few days of hard work ahead 'o us, mateys."
Iggy added his own thoughts, "We knows an approximate date fer the fleets departure - about two weeks from this very day, and we knows it always ships out under cover 'o darkness. So I reckon we should shadow it at a fair distance fer a day 'o two then, at dusk, we'll try'n pick off a couple 'o stragglers."
"Aye, sounds good ta me," replied Pike, "Fly, here, has a crew 'o eighty men. Most 'o 'em haff seen plenty 'o action at sea in thar times, so we should haff a fair chance in any boarding action"
Fly nodded his agreement before saying, "Tis true, mateys. Some 'o 'em be retired Navy-types like meself. We could use the Sloops ta draw off any enemy warships, while tha bulk 'o me men board our target ship and loot the bugger dry - or even take tha ship!"
Iggy produced a pouch of tobacco from his tunic pocket and proceeded to offer some to his companions before saying, "Well, then. All we need ta do is get yer men aboard a ship as quickly as possible. And hope tha blimmy dons strike thar colors 'afore we's set upon by da escorts!"
Fly sat back in his chair a lit his pipe. Taking a few puffs of the strong-smelling tobacco he announced, "Lads… an opportunity like this comes but once in a life-time. Tis a smugglers dream, Ay tells ye! And if'n we pulls this thing off, Ay'll be givin' up me grog-runs 'n probably retire to some tropical island somewhere 'n build meself tha biggest brewery this side 'o Hispanola!"
The four men continued talking for the good-side on an hour and it was decided that Captain Mako and Iguana Jack would command the soon to be purchased Sloops and use them to harass the patrolling escorts. Whilst Fly and Pike Masters would use the Schooner to board and loot a Spanish Treasure ship.