Episode 39 - A New Alliance
Two weeks later - Late November, 1643...
Captain Cognito's Sloop, and Maniac Moose's Brig where less than a days sailing away from the Spanish Main when the lookouts informed the crew of the presence of a large warship and two escorting vessels, several miles behind.
The last thing the buccaneers wanted was to be put out of action on the eve of their encounter with the Spanish Treasure Fleet and thus it had been decided by the crew to take no chances when dealing with ships so close to Puerto Bello.
However, unknown to Coggy and his mates, the warship the lookout had mentioned belonged to non other than Captain Blackhawk, and her two companions vessels, commanded by Undead Jack and Captain Greenbeard, were the French trade ships taken during the Galleons voyage from Jamaica, a few weeks earlier.
The two separate pirate fleets where now converging on a third fleet of unidentified ships, anchored a few miles east of Puerto Bello - and that fleet consisted of a Schooner and two Sloops, owned by William Fly.
Captain Mako and Iguana Jack had previously taken command of the two Sloops, purchased by Fly, and the two Dark Water Alliance officers had also managed to recruit a handful of sailors each from the local tavern and plantations around the small town of Nombre de Dios. The ships had undergone a refit in preparation for their impending raid on the Spanish fleet.
William Fly's Schooner, flanked by each Sloop, had spent the last two hours looking for a suitable anchorage a few miles down the coast from Puerto Bello, and the excitement and fear throughout each crew was steadily mounting.
Through his spyglass, Pike Masters scanned the distant horizon and looked on in awe at the size of the gathered Treasure Fleet. He could see ships of all sizes; Sloops, Brigantines, Galleons, and Frigates, most laden with Inca gold, "Mate, I'd always heard rumors about the Spanish Treasure Fleet… but I neffer thought I'd actually see da blimmy ting wiff me own two eyes! Tis a sight ta see!" he said, with growing excitement.
Fly too looked at the distant sails in awe, "Pikey, when this is all over and when we's got our hands on tha loot from one 'o them ships, you do know I'll be retiring from the smuggling business?" he said.
Pike put away his spyglass and patted his mate on the back, "You and me both, matey! Thars enough swag in one 'o dem boats ta keep you, me, and the good Cap'ns Mako 'n Iggy, in a life 'o luxury fer da rest 'o our lives!" he said, with a laugh.
Just then, the lookout announced the approach of the two small pirate fleets from astern
Within the hour, the Grim Reaper and Baron Boat soon furled their sails and cast anchor a few hundred yards off William Fly's Schooner. Whilst, to the north, Blackhawks Galleon, flanked by her two escorts, did likewise.
The eight ships held their positions for several minutes before the flag of truce appeared atop the mast of the Grim Reaper. Coggy and Moose had realised the other ships looked suspiciously like privateer vessels and they wanted to know exactly whom the unwelcome ships belonged to.
Cog was a little irate - he'd realised word of the Treasure Fleet's presence in Puerto Bello was now common knowledge and not exclusive to himself. "I just hope these bleedin' swabs are tha only ones dat know! If'n the dons have had word 'o our arrival, our trip will 'o been a friggin' waste 'o time." he moaned.
Davey Jones continued watching the other ships through his spyglass and said, "Ye better get on over there 'n figure out just who they is and what they's up to"
Within a few minutes, Cog's open launch headed across to William Fly's Schooner, while Moose made his way over to Blackhawk's Galleon.
Later that evening...
Each Captain and officer of the eight-anchored ships had reluctantly agreed to refrain from interfering with each other's plans regarding the Treasure Fleet. Although they all had the same goal in mind - looting as many treasure ships as they could - the pirates remained wary of each other and there was still a sense of hostility and mis-trust in the air.
On returning to his ship, Moose met Coggy and the two Captains briefed each other on what they'd discovered about their 'competition'
While aboard William Fly's ship, Coggy had overheard Pike Masters talking about the new governor of Cartagena. He'd discovered that the man would be a passenger aboard the Treasure Fleet's flagship, and Cog eagerly approached his mates with the news.
"Listen ta this, me hearties!" he called, as he clambered up the rope ladders and met his shipmates on deck. "Word has it that the new governor of Cartagena - da traitorous bastid Ol'Man! is to sail on the flagship bound fer Seville! He's under orders from tha King 'imself to return ta Europe wit tha dirty rotten tax-money 'es been hoardin!'" he excidetedly announced.
"Arrrggghh! Tha Ol'Man is on da flagship, say ye?" called Moose, with a touch of excitement - and anger.
"Aye! I heard it wit me own two ears! A fella by tha name 'o Pike Masters reckons tha Ol'Bastid passed through a small town just east 'o here nay more than a month back. Apparently he was headin' fer Puerto Bello wit a ship full 'o loot bound fer Spain. He's using tha Treasure Fleet ta provide him wit a safe passage out 'o da Caribbean" explained Cog, as the others listened with great interest.
"So what we gonna do about it?" asked Henry Morgan, "I wants ta gut dat Ol'Bugger fer what he did ta us back off Belize - not ta mention all dat Dutch treasure he stole from us!"
"Arrr, Henry's right - we ought ta teach that treacherous Ol'Git a lesson he never be fergettin'!" added Moose.
Sir Loin 'o Beef stepped forth and asked, "Who da heck is he? Some sort 'o Spanish official?"
"Nay mate, he's an' old sea dog from years back," explained Cog.
"He used ta be a Brethren 'o tha Coast til he figured workin' fer tha Spaniards, instead 'o pillagin' 'em, was more profitable" he added - before explaining the events that took place three years previous.
"So tha Ol'Man stole yer swag 'n sent some of ye to the locker, eh?" replied the irate Sir Loin on hearing the pirates' sorry tale.
"Aye, so I reckon we owes it to our fallen brethren ta put that Git out of his misery 'n steal tha very ship he sails on" replied Moose, before adding, "No doubt his boat will be laden wit tha most swag! Inca gold, tax money, 'n probably a hoard 'o jewels 'n gems ta boot!"
The gathered officers all nodded their agreement and spoke further about their plans to avenge the events that occurred during their last encounter with the Ol'Man.
After talking for the good side of an hour, the pirates had decided to attempt a raid on the Treasure Fleet's flagship in a hope to capture their man. Each pirate agreed they would take the risk of tackling a heavily armed War Galleon rather than see the Ol'Man and his ill-gotten gains escape their grasp for good.
Looking across to the other anchored pirate ships, Moose proceeded to explain what he had learned about the other buccaneers that were present in the area, "That thar old Galleon is commanded by none other than Blackhawk! I've had dealings wit him in tha past… he's an unsavory bugger fer sure. And tha other swab aboard be a fella called Cap'n Red Chaos. I aint never heard 'o him"
"What 'bout tha Brig 'n Flutye?" asked Cog as he looked across to the anchored ships.
"Undead Jack has command 'o da Brig… he's da fella dat sacked Santiago a while back. And the Fluyte is Cap'ned by that Greenbeard Git an' his cousin Green Eye. They're tha two buggers the Dark Water Alliance were after near San Juan" replied Moose.
Coggy remained thoughtful for a moment before informing his mates that Captain Mako and Iguana Jack were in command of the two Sloops owned by the Schooner Captain, William Fly.
"Haaarrrrr!… if only Iggy knew who was aboard that thar Fluyte!" laughed Cog.
"What ye mean?" asked Moose.
"Mako 'n Iguana Jack were under the impression that Greenbeard 'n Green Eye had been hung in Tortuga a few months back!" explained Cog.
"So the Gits must have escaped, eh?" replied Moose as he scratched his beard.
"Aye, but lets not spill tha beans just yet. These buggers may come in 'andy when we goes up against the Spanish" said Cog.
Moose looked across to the two Sloops commanded by the Dark Water Captains and asked, "So did they mention what 'appened about our Curacao rendezvous? And where da 'eck is Admiral Tew?"
"Our ol' mate Cap'n Creed finally caught up wit the Admiral" replied Coggy, "Mako seys the Insurrection was sunk near Santa Marta and as far as he knows, Tew's probably swinging from a French gibbet by now"
"Although I has me doubts… somehow me thinks we aint heard tha last 'o Admiral Thomas Tew." finished Cog.
Just then, Davey Jones made his way aboard the ship and headed up to the Bridge. "So who are they 'n what 'r dey up to?" he asked, as he glanced across to the pirate ships.
"They're scurvy bastids like us" replied Cog, before briefing his mate on what he and Moose had discovered.
"Looks like we has nay other choice but ta tolerate these bleedin' Gits an' make tha best 'o it" remarked Henry Morgan.
"I hate ta say this mateys, but by da looks 'o tha size 'o that there Treasure Fleet, we're gonna need da 'elp 'o those unwelcome friggers… especially when we goes up against the flagship!" said Moose.
"Aye, a reluctant Alliance if'n ye will" remarked Coggy as the men set about planning the impending attack on the Spanish fleet.