Episode 41 - The Battle: Part One
"Lets stay clear 'o dem two Sloops!" called Captain Green Eye to his cousin.
Greenbeard watched as the two ships Green Eye had mentioned came into formation alongside William Fly's Schooner off the bow.
"They're flying Dark Water Alliance colours!" remarked Green Eye.
Quickly taking a look through his spyglass, Greenbeard soon had one of the Sloops' Captains in focus. "Tis Captain Mako aboard the portside ship" he announced, before swiftly turning and glancing across to the other ship.
"Arrrgghh! Iguana Jack!" he called, on recognising his old foe.
The two cousins continued watching the ships for a few moments before ordering their Fluyte to drop back behind Blackhawk's Galleon.
"We'll deal wit them later. We's got bigger fish ta catch fer the moment!" remarked Greenbeard as he turned his attention to the approaching Treasure Fleet.
Aboard their own ships, William Fly, Mako, and Iggy, continued to shadow the Grim Reaper and Baron Boat as the five vessels drew ever closer to the line of Spanish Galleons.
"Stay close, mateys. When the fireworks start, Cognito 'n his mates will be on tha frontline!" called Fly.
Pike Masters watched from the Schooner's Bridge and signalled the two escorting Sloops to prepare to break formation and begin harassing a few guard ships.
"Thar's a couple 'o Merchantmen bringing up the rear 'o the main fleet I reckon we's found our first catch 'o the day!" he called, as he watched the Spanish ships drop off the main column.
Within ten minutes, Coggy's Sloop and Moose's Brig had reached the firing arc of the first line of guard ships.
The Spaniards had been aware of the small fleet shadowing them for close to an hour, but had not given them a second thought - thinking them to be local traders or stragglers trying to catch up to the departing fleet. However, as the pirate ships grew ever closer, and began breaking formation, the don's witnessed a sight they could hardly believe. For atop the mast of each ship, the Jolly Roger proudly flew in the moderate breeze.
Each Spanish officer aboard the closest ships arrogantly laughed at the foolish pirates and calmly ordered the gunners to prepare them a welcome.
Within minutes, several more guard ships further up the line had been informed of the approaching pirates and in their haste to get a glimpse of the fool-hardy intruders, the ships broke formation against orders and had began to turn to greet them.
Many of the Spanish Captains were relatively inexperienced merchant seamen. But their eagerness to go up against a pirate ship with the knowledge of having a vast armada to back them up, was soon to be their undoing - for within moments, several ships had turned into the breeze and where quickly going into irons. Several more had to take swift evasive action as their inexperienced crews took them on a bearing directly into the path of the larger, less manoeuvrable War Galleons.
Witnessing the growing confusion amongst the nearby line of ships, Coggy signalled the Baron Boat to turn hard to port and rake the first Galleon with grapeshot. And at the same time, the Grim Reaper opened up with its first barrage of chain shot against another.
Within seconds the deafening crack of cannon fire from a 100-gun Galleon bellowed out and hit the sea a few yards short of Coggy's ship. A huge plume of water showered the gathered Cutthroats on her deck.
"HARRR, that's yer baptism maties!" called out Cog, "Lets go git 'em!" he hollered, as the Sloop swiftly cut through the surf and came within sniper range of the Spaniards.
Instantly, the pirates fired a volley of musket shot into the rigging of the towering ship, and followed it by another close-range blast of cannon-shot. Many startled Spaniards fell from the masts as they became victims to Coggy's accurate musketeers. And as the cannon-shot hit its target, the stunned officers aboard the ship watched as the starboard gun decks erupted into a ball of fire as many powder kegs exploded on impact
Moose's Brig had caused its own share of confusion against another Galleon to the stern of Coggy's target. A 50-gun raking of grapeshot had blasted many hapless Spanish sailors to pieces, and caused the lumbering ship to turn into the path of a nearby Merchant. The two Spanish vessels had crashed together and soon became fouled as their rigging and canvass intertwined and ripped the sides of each ship apart.
"Dats two more out 'o action, mateys!" called out the gleeful Moose to his men. "Now bring us about 'n follow tha Reaper! We's heading in!" he added, as the Brig and Coggy's Sloop soon left their first victims in their wake and headed for the central column of Loot hauliers.
Meanwhile, Blackhawk's Galleon had began it's own deadly duel with a heavily armed Frigate. The ageing vessel managed to get a devastating 100-gun broadside in before the Spaniards could get into position. The deadly shot blasted the Bridge to pieces and took down the mizzenmast.
"Arrr, Blacky!" called out Red Chaos to his companion, "I'm beginning ta believe all them stories ye told me 'bout this 'ere ship 'o yers! She's blessed I tells ye!" he called, as he watched in admiration at the damage the Galleon had caused.
"Actually mate, I made most 'o dem stories up!" replied the sheepish Blackhawk.
"Not including our lil' skirmish with the French traders, this 'ere be me first taste 'o action with her!" he called, as he looked a little pale and nervous as the sea battle grew in intensity.
Red began to have second thoughts for a moment or two as the aged Galleon groaned and creaked under the stresses of battle.
"Ya bleedin' fool! This ships a friggin' floatin' death trap! One shot from them buggers and we's had it!" he called, as he watched another Frigate bear down directly on their position.
Off the portside, William Fly's schooner had by-passed the crippled Spanish ships and set an intercept course for a group of scattering Merchantmen several hundred yards ahead.
Her two accompanying Sloops, captained by the two Dark Water officers, had since broke formation and where each taking on a couple of defending War Galleons.
The fast Sloops easily outmanoeuvred the heavy Spaniards, and continuously peppered the warships' sails with chain shot.
"This'll keep them bastids at a crawl, mate!" remarked Mako to his first mate. "We gotta keep off thar bow and cross da T, else one broadside from that bugger and we're 'istory!" he warned.
Iguana Jack had done likewise - ordering his crew to stay clear of their pursuers broadside. The little Sloop continued weaving across the bow of the lumbering giant and to the growing annoyance of the watching Spaniards, blasted the Galleons canvass to pieces.
Meanwhile, The Finnegan's Wake, commanded by Undead Jack and Lieutenant Excaliber, had wasted no time in reaching a Brigantine laden with Inca gold. The pirate ship crashed into the trader's starboard side and dozens of grappling hooks firmly secured the two ships together.
Standing on his Bridge, Undead Jack called down to his eager Cutthroats; "Remember lads… No Banter…. No Barter…. And NO FRIGGIN' QUARTER!"
And in an instant, the former slave, Jacob Jones, swung across to the enemy deck and began mercilessly butchering all in his way.
Witnessing the lone buccaneer's antics, the remaining Negroes soon followed suit and swarmed onto the deck after him. Within minutes, the terrified Spanish defenders were begging for mercy as the white flag shot to the top of the mast - leaving Undead Jack to look on in admiration.
Turning to Excaliber he said, "Mate, I had plans ta dump these merciless buggers back in Jamaica 'n swindle them out 'o the loot! But by the looks of it, they're the hardiest bunch a bastids a Cap'n could wish fer! I foresee a lot 'o lucrative times ahead of me with these sods in me crew!"
"Haarrr, Jack!… in other words, ye don't like the idea 'o havin' a bunch 'o former slaves chasing yer thieving hide ta perdition's edge 'n back fer not dividing the plunder!" laughed Excaliber.
Jack gave a sly grin and said, "Aye, that too!"
By now the Spanish had gained a little composure and began to regroup after their initial shock at the pirate attack. And aboard the flagship, Admiral Mendez had watched in rage at the audacity of the pirates. And to make matters worse, the officer looked on in disbelief at the unprofessional behaviour at some of his fellow Captains after the pasting they'd just received.
"These damn scoundrels shall pay for this!" he barked as he looked at the distant pirate ships though his spyglass.
Turning his attention to a few stricken Spanish ships, he added, "And as for those… those damn amatuers. I'll make sure each and every one of them incompetent fools stand trail before the admiralty for what's transpired today"
Slamming his spyglass down, he ordered an equally irate officer to inform his two escorting War Galleons to turn about and deal with the pirates once and for all.
It wasn't long before a couple of formidable looking warships, commanded by some of Spain's finest, had broke formation and swung about - leaving the flagship to continue on its bearing with the rest of the fleet.
The War Galleons wasted no time in heading down the line towards the numerous skirmishes at the rear of the fleet.
Coggy's Sloop and the Baron Boat had by now reached the central column of loot hauliers. But to the puzzlement of the on-looking Spanish sailors aboard each lightly armed Merchant ship, the two pirate ships done no more than fire a few broadsides of chain-shot as they continued running along the line towards the northern edge of the fleet.
"Stay on course me hearties!" called out Cog, as he reassured his eager crew.
The Captain knew his men desperately wanted to get aboard some of the nearby treasure ships, especially as each and every one of them carried no more than a dozen guns and a handful of marines.
But the Captain continued to remind the crew that their target ship would be none other than the Spanish flagship - laying no less than 1000 yards off the bow.
"That's where tha most valuable loot be at, maties! And that's where we's headed!" he called, trying to reassure his men that they'd soon be aboard a ship with more loot than they could possibly imagine.
Aboard, the Baron Boat, Moose had done likewise and continued to inform his crew that they'd soon be in action.
"These pox-ridden curds have nottin' worth lootin'" he hollered. "Tis the flagship where the real stuff be!" he called.
The officers were eager to get aboard the Galleon as soon as possible and determine whether or not the rumours about Ol'Man being aboard her were true.
Back on the Grim Reaper, Davey Jones brought Cogs attention to the departing War Galleons. "Lookee thar, mate! Tha bleedin' flagship has sent her escorts south!!! We's got us a clear run at her!" he called, with glee.
Coggy watched as the warships passed by a few hundred yards off the starboard. Remaining silent, he turned to Davey and gave a simple wry smile…
Meanwhile, at the rear of the dispersing fleet, William Fly's Schooner had finally reached her two target vessels; one was a lightly armed Pinnace, the other a Cargo Fluyte.
Within minutes her crew of ex-navy marines had boarded the Pinnace and made short work of her inexperienced crew. Most of the Spaniards aboard where simple traders with little or no battle experience - but that didn't prevent Fly's crew from cutting them down where they stood.
The Captain of the ship eagerly surrendered his vessel to the invaders and pleaded for his life.
"Sir, they ask for quarter" shouted one of Fly's men, as he and Pike Masters scrambled aboard.
"Signal yer escort to strike - else we'll gut ye where ye stand!" called Fly across to the enemy Captain.
Nervously looking around him, the Spanish officer wasted no time in carrying out Fly's demands.
The on-looking Spaniards on the other ship ignored the captured officers orders at first, but after a couple of the Pinnace's sailors where shot and shoved overboard, the officers aboard the nearby Cargo Fluyte hastily ordered their crew to hoist the white flag to spare their countrymen more bloodshed.
"Right, git aboard her and loot dat bugger dry!" shouted Pike Masters to a bunch of marines.
"And be quick about it!… we're gonna haff more comp'ney!" he added, as he motioned towards an approaching Frigate.
Meanwhile, Captain Mako's Sloop had been caught with a devastating broadside from a passing Galleon. She frantically tried to stay ahead of her pursuer, but the menacing warship continued to close in on its prey.
"Damn it! We've been holed, Sir!" called an anxious officer.
Mako knew their time was short. The War Galleon would soon be within grappling range, and hundreds irate Spanish redcoats would waste little time in bearing down on them.
"Prepare to abandon ship!" he called.
"On my order, swing us about 'n bear us directly on that thar ship" he shouted, as he motioned towards the closing warship.
Within seconds, the Sloop had turned with the wind and now faced her formidable foe. Wasting no time, Mako ordered the lighting of the magazine before giving the signal for his surviving shipmates to jump overboard and swim for their lives.
At the last instant, the Captain leapt from the Bridge into the sea below, and a second later, his Sloop crashed into the bow of the heavy War Galleon. A thousand burning splinters showered the Spanish ship as she ploughed through the smoke and fire.
Mako soon resurfaced from the debris-strewn water in time to see the Galleon's rigging catch fire and begin to burn uncontrollably.
On witnessing the Sloops' violent demise, her sister ship, commanded by Iguana Jack, swiftly came about and began picking up Mako's crew as she went.
Further south, Blackhawk's Galleon had sustained heavy damage in her battle with the Frigate. Most of her gun ports where out of action - leaving the two officers aboard with only one option left, and that was to board the enemy ship before it was too late.
"Steady as she goes" called Red Chaos, as the old warship lumbered towards the fast approaching Frigate.
The two ships drew ever closer, and just as the Spanish Captain ordered his gunners to prepare another 80-gun blast at point blank range, the pirates' Galleon turned into her path and cut across her bow.
The Frigates bowsprit instantly broke into pieces as the ships collided. Grappling hooks from the Galleon found their mark and brought the two heavy warships to an abrupt halt as they shuddered in the collision.
Within seconds, Blackhawk and Red had joined over fifty cutlass-wielding Cutthroats, including many of the Jamaican slaves, as they waded into the defending Spanish marines on the Frigates deck...