The year is 1719. On the British Isle, England, Scotland, and Wales are all the same country now...much to Scotland's chagrin. And yes, Georgia is a very-established prison colony of the British North American colonies. And while the most recent Duke and Hogg have started out there, it seems their respective career paths have taken them to the high seas...

This is a merchant ship. It moves across the Atlantic at an easy speed. It flies a British flag. From far away, chains can be heard clinking in its massive clink.

These are slaves, fresh from Africa. They're mostly Niger-Congofolk, or Bantus. If they're not in chains, they're kept in small spaces. Shipping companies give less and less thought to their welfare as they ship them.

But across the sea, a beacon of hope shines. It's another ship. Compared to the merchant one, it's badly kept-up. It flies no colors...other than a black flag with a skull and crossbones.

And these are the pirates who crew it. They take turns at the helm. They take turns swabbing the decks. And they drink, brawl, and party as one.

This is Nathaniel Fiennes Hogg. He's one of the more influential pirates aboard the Boar's Nest. He's envious, gluttonous, greedy, lustful, proud, slothous, and vengeful. He hates the British Crown...and he has an optimistic opinion about all the Crown's enemies.

A deckhand comes below, and announces that the Boar's Nest is coming up on a slave ship. All the pirates shout out with glee, and ascend to the weather deck. "All hands on deck," everyone commands. The helmsman turns the ship towards the slave ship, and aloft, the braver pirates adjust the ship's rigging, so that the wind will guide them to the slave ship's weakness.

They come up right next to the slave ship's port side. The ill-prepared merchants don't stand a chance.

The pirates run them through with swords. They gouge out their eyes. They club them in the groins. They tie them to the mast.

They pillage and plunder the slave ship's material assets. They pocket whatever they can, without regard to their crewmates' needs.

One finds the keys. He breaks into the cargo hold, and one by one, he frees the slaves. They shout out with glee, and join their saviors on all the decks. The females among them kiss some of their saviors on the filthy cheeks, thanking them.

A beautiful black girl caresses Nathaniel's face in her hands, and kisses his forehead. It's one of the best moments of his existence; one he'll wish he could share with his will-be descendants...

Across the sea, another ship approaches. This one's a warship of the Royal Navy. It flies the British colors, high and proud. On each side, it's got artillery pieces to spare.

Lieutenant Isaac Duke is an officer of the HMS Hemi. Sternly, he extends a telescope, and with one eye, peers off the port bow...

He sees the slave ship. He sees the Boar's Nest moored next to it. He sees the slaves, being freed. He sees the merchant ship's colors being retired, and burned, as if they were damned.

Lt. Duke puts the telescope away, and calls the other sailors to arms. The Hemi's bow turns towards the slave ship, and charges it.

The pirates have taken the slave ship. They leave several of their crewmen aboard it, so that the slaves won't crowd the Boar's Nest.

Within range, the Hemi turns, with its starboard side towards both ships. One at a time, they open their gun ports, and slide their cannons through them...

The slaves sound the alarm. The pirates shout orders; both crews take measures to make a quick escape.

Before long, the Hemi's opened fire. Many shells hit, and scathe, both ships' surfaces. But they're fast, despite being tethered to one another. It's as if they were meant to be joined at the hip...

Lt. Duke watches, in vain, as the Boar's Nest and its freed slaves get away. He sighs, and puts his fists on his hips. Nathaniel might've won today...but as far as Isaac's concerned, this is just the beginning.

He can't imagine what those pirates see in those slaves. They're just a bunch of apes that do work...

(Isaac's words; not Nathan's...)