"And we do the same! Navigator! Change heading, north-northwest! Quick!"
"Changing heading, north-northwest, aye sir!" The Navigator turns the steering wheel and the sailors and topmen begin working the decks. Perhaps there's a chance to avoid the pirates.
2
Unfortunately, the winds and the sea work against you, and the pirates, once small dots upon the horizon, quickly catch up with you. The First Mate scampers from the forecastle.
"Message from the Lion! They're preparing for battle!""We can't run anymore! We do the same! Prepare for battle!"
"Aye, sir!!" The First Mate rings the alarm bell to the proper beat. Soon you hear the gun ports being pulled open and cannons pushed into the position as some of the sailors arrive at the top deck with muskets, bullets and gunpowder. You briefly return to your quarters to get your pistol and some gunpowder too. You watch as the Lion shortens the distance to Santa Julia to better provide assistance.
The pirate ships steadily get closer until you hear the dreaded sound:
3 vs 1
Cannons.
The bombardment from the ship in the lead is very ineffective, but some of the cannoballs do splash magnificently very close to Santa Julia's port board.
You hear Gunner Schmidt yell to open fire, and Santa Julia's cannons also send their fiery gifts to the lead pirate ship. These however fail to even get close.
1+1 vs 4+1
The distance is short enough that both pirate ships can shoot against Santa Julia and the Lion.
The pirates' cannons fail once again to reach any of the merchant ships, but your crew scores an early success with their second salvo. You see as the planks, ropes and men alike are exploded into the air after several cannonballs land on the top deck of the first pirate vessel!
1+1 vs 5+1, 4+1 vs 4+1
The exchange of cannon fire continues, and the succesful scores against the first pirate ship keeps it and the other at bay. It's only by the fourth exchange that some balls strike the railings of Santa Julia, graze one of the masts, and smash somewhere below deck, the metallic clang possibly coming from down there. Others fly past, and you see a few sailors being hit and wounded as others hide behind the woodwork and hardened parts of the masts, their muskets and pistols and swords ready for the enemy to come close enough. However, similar damage occurs on the enemy ship as Santa Julia's salvo explodes some of the woodwork.
5+1 vs 2+1, 2+1 vs 6+1
The terrible sound of ripping cloth above you announces the worst news; the pirates' shots, which you barely notice being chained, are damaging the sails. An unlucky topmen yells and crashes onto the top deck near you. Soon your ship will start to slow down and the dreaded aboardage might take place!
But the cannons of Santa Julia and The Lion work fiercely in tandem, and one cannoball from either of the ships scores the biggest hit - it smashes right into the middle mast of the pirate Ship in front, and your crew yells in jubilation as the aforementioned mast tilts and crashes into the fore mast, tangling ropes, pulleys, sails and wooden beams alike, causing that particular ship to rapidly lose speed on the waves.
2 vs 2+1, 3 vs 4+1
As the pirate ship in lead inevitably starts slowing down, the other circles it from the port side and tries to catch up with you.
But the exchange of cannon fire is in your favor - the Lion and Santa Julia having advantage over just one ship of the same draught and load. There are misses and splashes of water.
Then the newest salvo from Santa Julia crashes against the top deck of the second ship now up front, grazing and wounding its crew and damaging its precious rigging and woodwork.
2 vs 1+1
There is less cannonfire now that the other ship is trying to maneuver. You wish for the last salvo to hit the enemy and the enemy suredly wishes for their last cannonballs to hit your deck, but neither wish comes true.
6+1-1
The very last salvo by Santa Julia hits the top deck and the starboard of the ship, further damaging it. Few tense minutes later, that one ship then abandons pursuit of Santa Julia and the Lion and turns to port, no doubt going to approach his equally damaged companion, which is now quite far behind.
The First Mate appears by your side as sailors try to contain their joy and relief at having scared the pirates away, and begin to help the wounded, assess the damage, and clean the mess of the topdecks.
"Captain, communication from the Lion. They're disengaging from the fight, and continuing north-northwest for now." After a moment, the Gunner climbs from the lower deck and wipes some sweat from his brow.
"Herr Kapitan, this was tense. I have some wounded below deck, the surgeon's there. But the pirates! Their ships are damaged and one of them is crippled. By my reckon, if they are truly brothers, they won't abandon each other. We could have a chance! A chance to rid the zee of that scum.""Bloodlust has gotten to you! Our's a merchantship. We have wounded, our woodwork's pierced. Sails are ripped, look!" The First Mate waves his hand at the most important damage on Santa Julia right now.
"But still! The Zeelanders' ship have suffered the least. With it at our side, we have clear advantage!""Madness!" The First Mate yells.
"Madness, and bloodlust!"A) "Madness indeed! We shall leave these pirates and these waters with as much haste as the sails allow. The topmen and carpenters need to fix the damage, and fast."
B) "The Gunner is right! Communicate to the Lion that they're asked to join us in the noble task of sending these pirate ships and their crews to the bottom of the Karib Sea!"
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Topic: SPAMTRADER OF LUSITANIA: Captain Scott Finley! (Read 10525 times)