Pirate's Life For Me....

It's Begun

  "A fleet. Eight ships, soldiers, 700, all led by a man claiming to have been appointed governor of this place and empowered to take it back by force if necessary." Max explained. "News of this is spreading quickly."

  "How long until they arrive here?" Vane questioned.

  "Twelve days, approximately." The people in the room shifted as even more tension filled the air.

  "How many batteries have been repaired on the fort walls?" Bonny asked.

  "Two. Two guns each." I stated as my captain began to pace like a lion in a cage.

  "The fifth and sixth guns are going up tomorrow." Jack added.

  "Did he say how the fleet was compromised? How many Men of War?"

  "He didn't say." Max crossed her arms.

  "Well, how many guns did he say?"

  "He didn't say." She repeated.

  "Well, whatever it is, six guns ain't gonna be enough to stop it." Bonny glanced over her shoulder as I bit my bottom lip.

  "If they were supporting a fleet in the bay. A line in defense of the harbor mouth." Vane placed his hands on the table.

  "Yeah, but how many of those crews can we honestly expect to participate in that fight? A third? Half, if we're lucky?"

  "What if it were all of them?" Jack raised a paper in his hand.

  "All the crews?"

  "All that matter, yes." The scrawny man came over and unfolded the paper onto the table. "Burgess. Woodall. The Cockrams."

  "Have you met those people? They're not exactly a....rally around a flag sort. How could you possibly convince them all to join a fight like this?"

  "Because if they all join, there may be no fight."

  "A show of force." My captain nodded.

  "A massive show of force." Jack stated. "A thousand men, a dozen ships, plus a Man-of-War, all organized for battle." He began to move the random objects on the map, using them to symbolize the positions of the ships.

  "Organized under who? Flint is still nowhere to be found."

  "He'll return in time, and if he doesn't, I'll do it." I looked at Jack when he said that, and I felt my brows momentarily furrow. "Look me in the face and tell me you doubt it." He said to the man next to him. "If we all unite, the fight that we will present to our invaders will appear so costly and painful, they will choose to walk away from it rather than risk humiliation at our hands. Increase their fear of defeat, and we decrease the cost of our victory. I believe it is to be done. Tell me you do, too, and we'll make it happen together."

  "Jack...." I spoke up while crossing my arms. "You're a genius in your own right, but the men may not follow you as they would Flint."

  "What?" He looked across the table at me.

  "The men wouldn't even do basic work on the fort when you paid them to do it, and they all knew the importance of the fort to this island's safety. Why would they decide to stand under you now? When money isn't even involved?" There was a silent pause as Jack gave me a very thought-filled look.

  "They'll do it....or we'll all lose everything."

~

  "You want us to combine our forces and engage a fleet of half a dozen ships, and you want us to do it with six guns supporting us from the fort so that we can frighten the British Navy into retreat?" The old captain questioned.