Episode 9 - Tortuga Under Siege
The Grim Reaper and Baron Boat were making good progress in their voyage south towards the Spanish Main.
The two hardy ships had stopped briefly just off the island of St. Vincent to replenish Coggy's coconut supply, before swinging southwest, away from the Spanish town of Trinidad and on towards Margarita.
Several Spanish merchant ships had passed by earlier that morning, but much to the annoyance of the ManiacMen and Coggy's psychotic bastids, the two Captains had decided against attacking them.
All that mattered now was to reach Curacao as soon as possible and hopefully keep the rendezvous with Admiral Tew's small fleet in a weeks time.
Unknown to the pirates, Tew had immediate plans of his own
Sixty miles southwest of Tortuga...
Tew's flagship and Captain Red Chaos' Pinnace held their position. The morning mists began to disperse, and the two pirate vessels eventually hoisted their main sails. The Pinnace quickly pulled ahead of the Insurrection and led the warship west.
During the previous night, the Admiral had ordered Mako and Iguana Jack to return to Tortuga to await his return. In the mean time, Captain Red was leading the Insurrection to Greenbeard's rendezvous point off Jamaica.
"Can we trust him, Sir?" asked Tew's first mate as they watched Red's Pinnace take up its position a hundred yards off the bow.
"We aint got nottin' ta loose," replied Tew, "Besides, if'n this swab double crosses me, a single broadside 'o grapeshot should suffice in sending tha bleeders tub to tha bottom" he added, with a smile.
By now, Greenbeard and Captain Green Eye had waited long enough for Red to return, so the two ships, followed by Excaliber's damaged Sloop, Diablo, had left the previous day and where slowly limping into Tortuga bay after bypassing the Insurrection in the night mists.
Tortuga was quiet. The townsfolk had yet to awake on this early September morning, and only the gulls broke the tranquil silence as the sea mists gradually cleared.
The cousins had barley finished ordering their crew to furl the sails when the lookout announced some alarming news!
"SIR! me thinks I've spotted Iguana Jacks Brig!" he announced.
Greenbeard quickly made his way to the bow and glanced over to where the lookout was pointing.
"SHIVER ME FRIGGIN' TIMBERS!!!" he barked, as he looked on in concern.
Over on the SplitTail, an officer banged on the door of Green Eye's cabin.
"Sir, wake up!" he anxiously called.
"Who tha 'ells that?" groaned Green Eye as he stumbled out of bed - still half asleep.
Again the officer knocked "Sir, we've got trouble!" he called.
Within a few minutes, the two cousins, along with Excaliber had ordered their crews to hold position at the harbour entrance.
Peering through his spyglass, Green Eye scanned the distant berthed ships at the docks. After a few moments he made his way to the side of his ship and called across to the others, "TIS THEM ALRIGHT"
"OK MATE, I RECKONS THIS TOWN NEEDS A WAKE UP CALL!" shouted Greenbeard as he motioned his crew to ready themselves for action.
Within the hour...
Excaliber's damaged Sloop had anchored close to a secluded beach, just south of the docks and hoards of his men quietly made their way ashore and headed along a path leading into town.
Tortuga was still sleeping but Greenbeard and Green Eye were about to change that.
"Right, Iggy's Brig is berthed next to that thar Dutch Fluyte. So me plan is this..." explained Greenbeard, as his cousin looked on, "First we'll use Excaliber's marines ta secure tha town. Then, Green Eye, yew position yer ship a few yards to tha starboard side 'o Jacks Brig. I'll bring me ship around to tha portside 'n when I gives tha signal, we'll blew that piece 'o drift wood ta perdition's edge!"
"Them that die will be the lucky ones!" replied Green Eye, with a broad smile.
"Lets get on wit it 'afore the Alliance swabs awake of their own accord" finished Greenbeard.
Meanwhile, a few miles northeast of Jamaica...
By now, Admiral Tew and Captain Red were approaching the rendezvouz point.
"That silly Git 'is try'n ta trick us! Thar aint no one 'ere!" barked Tew, as he ordered his crew to pull along side of Reds Pinnace.
Aboard his ship, Red looked concerned. "I dinnae understand! Whar tha frig are they?" he said to himself as he scratched his head and desperately scanned the horizon looking for Greenbeard's fleet.
"Sir, the Insurrection is coming about. Ye better think 'o something - fast!" called Red's fearful first mate.
Red turned and looked on as the warship came menacingly close to his small vessel.
"Oh crap!" he mumbled, as a look of great concern spread across his pox-ridden face.
Back in Tortuga, Greenbeard and Green Eye's ships were now in position, whilst Excaliber and his marines had quietly made their way into the town.
"Wait till 'e gives us tha signal" called Green Eye to his eager gunners as Iguana Jacks Brig was firmly fixed in their sights.
Aboard his ship, Greenbeard was watching Excaliber's landing party take up their positions around the taverns and whorehouses.
"When tha fireworks start, any poor swabs spendin' tha night ashore 'r gonna find 'emselves wakin' up to a hail 'o musket balls!" he said, with an evil grin.
A few tense moments passed and through his spyglass, Greenbeard could see the last of the marines reach the town square.
"Right lads, would ye do me tha honour 'o sending that friggin' piece 'o deadwood to tha locker!" he called, as the gunners gleefully opened up with a round of double shot into Iguana Jack's docked ship.
BOOM!
As Greenbeard's deafening volley struck home, the SplitTail followed it with another deadly salvo. Hundreds of seagulls flocked to the sky and the sleeping town of Tortuga was shaken to its foundations.
BOOM!
Iggy's poor Brig exploded as the point blank volleys tore into the ship and flames engulfed several anchored vessels along the dock, including Captain Mako's Brig and a couple of Dutch traders.
Within seconds, the docks were a blazing inferno and startled townsfolk began awaking from their slumber and heading out into the narrow street's.
Excaliber stood outside the Ye House of Pyrates tavern just above the burning docks as a group of his men stormed into the building.
Greenbeard and Green Eye had now turned and began to blast away at several other pirate vessels that where helplessly berthed along the west dock.
"LETS TAKE NEY CHANCES! SINK 'EM ALL!" shouted the hyped Green Eye.
Inside the tavern, a one-sided fight ensued as half-drunken and sleepy pirates stumbled down the stairs into a hail of musket and pistol shot.
And around the narrow streets, hoards of invading marines began to round up anyone who looked like a pirate or sailor.
"Remember, we want's da bastid Iguana Jack 'n his swabs. Everyone's a suspect till we gets him!" barked Excaliber to his marauding men.
Meanwhile, back off Jamaica...
From the deck of Admiral Tew's flagship, Captain Red Chaos watched in silence as his Pinnace slowly sank beneath the calm waters.
Red had his hands tied behind his back and the sorrowful pirate was quickly led up to the Bridge where Tew stood looking at him with menacing eyes.
"So much fer our lil' deal" remarked Tew.
"Thar's one thing yew had better learn, Cap'n Red - And that's NO ONE double-crosses ME!" he added, menacingly.
Red was shoved in the back by one of Tew's men. He stumbled forward and fell the Admirals feet.
"Ok Red, just what shall I do with you? Yew worthless piece 'o whale turd..." said Tew, as he growled at the poor swab.
Back in Tortuga, the town was well and truly awake. Greenbeard had finished off the last of the berthed ships and was now disembarking his vessel via a rowboat.
On the smouldering docks, Excaliber stood with a bunch of men and waited for his mates' arrival as the buildings were set ablaze.
The marines had secured most of the establishments throughout Tortuga, and many irate townsfolk and pirates were being held against their will in the town square.
"What tha 'ell do ye think yer doin'?" asked an angry citizen to one of Excaliber's men.
"Shut yer trap! We're lookin' fer someone." replied the menacing pirate as he drew his cutlass and began to intimidate his prisoners.
"Yew bunch 'o bastids have just attacked Tortuga! Thar aint gonna be any hiding place fer yew, mister" screamed another irate citizen.
Back at the docks, Green Eye had met up with his cousin and Excaliber. The three pirates headed straight up the hill and towards the town square.
"We've got most 'o the prisoners up here," explained Excaliber, "But some of me men 'r a lil' worried" he added, with a touch of concern.
"Why's that?" asked Green Eye.
"Arrr, mate, 'appen some of the lads got a lil' carried away and a few folks were sent to tha locker! Thar worried cos this 'ere place is supposed ta be a neutral port 'n all" replied the Lieutenant, as the concern grew within him.
"Tell 'em thars nottin' ta be a feared of. I'll have me a chat with tha Gov'nor and sort things out" replied Greenbeard, trying to reassure his mate.
By now, Admiral Tew's Frigate had come about and was now heading northeast, through the Windward Passage and back towards Tortuga.
The Admiral watched as his gleeful men tied Captain Red's beaten and bloodied body to the main mast.
"Yew can stand thar fer a few days. If'n yer still alive when we reaches Tortuga, I'll consider puttin' yew outta yer misery - quick 'n painless!" remarked Tew as he took a swig of rum and headed back up to the Bridge.