Captain Kate in the Caribbean

By

UCSBdad

Disclaimer: We all know by now who owns Castle, right? Rating: K Time: An AU 18th Century.

Once back aboard Revenge, Kate put many miles between them and Jamaica. Then at breakfast, she called her family together, as well as Ryan and Esposito and Queen L'Anie, and Lhamso Thondup and Zhu De.

"Young Master Franklin's observations were not as helpful as I hoped." Kate said. "Being pirates ourselves…"

She was interrupted by Priscilla. "You are no such thing, Mother. Considering what my father has done to you and others, you are merely enforcing the laws against piracy, in an unofficial capacity."

Kate smiled. "I doubt the authorities would see it that way, but let's just say we know the haunts of pirates here in the Caribbean. Both Tortuga and the whole of Haiti have been pirate lairs for over a century. It's a perfect place to wait for merchantmen to come through the Windward Passage between Haiti and Cuba and capture them. But, this Colonel von Bachmann may have useful information. I propose to visit him."

"If the man is honest, he'll have little truck with pirates." Castle said. "We might be better off going to Tortuga and asking the pirates there."

"We might try that. There are always pirates that'll stab another in the back for a bit of gold. But, we'd need to watch our own backs for that reason."

"We'll need more than information." Ryan said. "We have two fast, well-armed ships, but pirates prefer smaller, faster ships with a lighter armament. They only need to overawe an unarmed merchantman and be able to run from anything that can fight."

"We'll solve that problem when we come to it."

Lhamso Thondup spoke. "Both Zhu De and I wish we could have seen the microscope. It is just the type of invention we set off from our homes to see."

"When you two decide to leave my ship, gentlemen, I'll provide you with enough gold to go to Europe and study science and technology to your heart's content."

Both men bowed to Kate. "A most generous offer, Captain Beckett, but thanks to the excellent educations of your two daughters, we are learning a great deal where we are. We'll stay aboard Revenge until such time as we can all go freely to Europe."

'That may be a very long time."

"Perhaps." Lhamso Thondup replied.

Once the others had left, Kate sat with just Rick and stared at the portrait of herself and her parents.

"I was seventeen when that was painted. I remember my mother was quite scandalized that my father paid fifty pounds for the painting. She said it was a shocking extravagance, but I think she secretly liked it." She stared at the painting for a while.

"I've never discovered why Bracken had my parents killed. I could never see any reason for it."

"Your father was a barrister, was he not? Perhaps Bracken was angry that your father represented his political enemies."

Kate shook her head.

"No. Bracken had corrupted the entire court system. The judges, juries, other barristers, the constables, everyone was in Bracken's pocket. My father used to say that Bracken liked the fact that my father represented his enemies. That way it looked, from London, anyway, as if the courts in Jamaica were working properly. Besides, most cases didn't involve Bracken or any of his cronies, so he was perfectly willing to let the law take its course."

"When we catch him, we'll ask him, them."

"And then I'll send him to Hell." Kate said softly.

Four days later, they stood off of Mole St. Nicolas. Kate and her family and her officers stood on the quarterdeck of the Revenge, staring at the small town though their telescopes.

"The old French fort to the south has been repaired, I'd say." Kate said.

"If I recall correctly, the fort had some sixteen thirty-two pounders covering the entrance to the bay." Esposito said. "And the fort is high enough on the hill that we'll have the Devil's own time elevating our guns sufficiently to hit the fort."

"Mother, I believe there are two more forts on the other side of the bay." Alexis said. "They're at sea level, or thereabouts, and the redoubts are of sand reinforced with palm logs. I can't tell how many guns are there as the forts' gun embrasures are covered with palm leaves."

"We won't be fighting our way in or out." Kate said. "We're here on a peaceful mission to find information about Bracken."

"I hear drums." Said L'Anie. "In Africa drums are used to send messages."

"There are other drums, too." Ryan said. "Those are military drums. Dr. Franklin said von Bachmann had his own regiment. That's L'Assemblée. The regiment is gathering."

Kate had thought about wearing a dress to meet with Colonel von Bachmann, but felt that she would make a better impression if she didn't try to disguise who and what she was. Accordingly, she dressed in sea boots with four-inch heels, skin tight doeskin pants, a deep blue silk shirt tied under her breasts, with a red silk sash around her waist. Over the sash she wore her sword belt with her rapier, dirk and two pistols. On her head was a black, wide brimmed hat with the brim turned up on one side, with a feather in the band that she'd gotten in Africa from a bird called the ostrich.

Rick, Alexis, Priscilla and Queen L'Anie went with her. She hoped that taking her family with her would show their peaceful intent. She also took the two Buddhist monks who were always anxious, too anxious, Kate thought, to see new things, places and people.

She did take twelve red coated Irish soldiers with her as an escort. As both the Irish Brigade of the French Army and the French King's Swiss regiments wore red coats, she hoped that Colonel von Bachmann would be curious about their party.

They were not halfway to the beach when they saw a small company of soldiers double timing onto the beach from the town. They formed up into two lines, facing the sea. The front rank knelt and the rear rank stood. All were armed with muskets. In minutes, a second company arrived and took up a position to one side of the first company. Just as the boat carrying Kate and her party grounded on the beach, a troop of cavalry, twenty strong rode up.

As they stood there, Lieutenant O'Donahue spoke.

"They may be barefoot and wearing ragged blue trousers and white shirts, but their muskets are clean and they have the look of men who've done this before."

Kate nodded.

"We come in peace."

An officer stepped out in front of his troops. He was slightly better dressed than his men, having a blue coat, a wide brimmed hat and was wearing sandals.

"Then go in peace. We do not want your kind here."

"I'm Captain Kate Beckett, of the ship Revenge. I wish to speak to Colonel von Bachmann."

"We do not care who you are, only what you so obviously are. Now, leave or fight."

Kate thought for a moment.

"If I send my people back to the ship, can I see Colonel von Bachmann, alone?"

"No! I will not tell you again! Leave!"

The officer was interrupted by a woman's voice calling, "Let me through. Let me through."

Soldiers stepped out of her way and a young blonde woman ran towards Kate and her party.

"Priscilla! Priscilla Bracken. It is you. Oh my God!"

Priscilla ran towards the woman and they threw their arms around each other, crying and saying each other's names. The other blonde was apparently called Brigid.

Brigid turned towards the soldiers.

"Captain Lannes, this is my very best friend, Miss Priscilla Bracken. Please send your soldiers away and send for my carriage. I'm taking her and her friends to see my husband." Brigid glanced back at Kate's party and added, "And we'll need a wagon for her escort."

Captain Lannes saluted and led his troops off.

"You're married?" Priscilla asked. "To whom?"

"Why to Colonel Josef von Bachmann, of course." Brigid hugged Priscilla again. "Dear Priscilla, I thought that you must be dead. No one's heard from you since you ran from your father. And now you come with two ships and some very interesting friends."

Priscila introduced her friend to Kate and the rest.

"This is my very good friend, Brigid O'Shaughnessy. Oh, I suppose I should call you Mrs. Von Bachmann now."

Brigid smiled. "Oh, I was also Priscilla's maid, but we were always friends."

"When I ran away from home to keep from having to marry that dreadful Lord Desmond, Brigid climbed into my second floor bedroom and when I left, she spent the whole night sobbing and crying so that everyone thought I was still there. Just before dawn, she left and went back to the servant's quarters. My father thought that I had only been gone for a few minutes and not half the night."

"Is Desmond still with your father?" Brigid asked.

"No. He's dead. Shot dead in a duel."

"Good. He forced himself upon me at your father's home. I'm afraid your father also forced himself upon me."

That led to more hugging and crying.

As they waited for the carriage and a wagon, Priscilla explained who Kate and her friends were and why they had come to see von Bachmann.

The carriage and a wagon soon arrived and they headed through the small town. As they drove, Kate noticed that the workers in the sugar cane fields weren't supervised by armed overseers, and the homes for the slaves were neat and tidy. Kate also saw young children at what appeared to be a school and even a small church.

Brigid noticed her interest.

"When my husband first arrived here, the conditions were horrible. The slave owners all over the colony treated their slaves like animals. Worse than animals. He set about trying to change things, but the government refused to allow any changes in their status. So, being a military man, he raised his own regiment, armed and trained them. In addition to the regiment. Every man and many women are members of the milice, the militia. Legally, every Black person here is a slave, but in reality…It is as you see. And the colonial government ignores us. I fear that one day there will be an awful slave revolt in Haiti. I hope I do not live to see it."

As they drove, they ascended into the hills behind the town, finally arriving at a lovely neo-classical mansion, surrounded by a green spacious lawn and a formal garden containing both English and local flowers.

Brigid led them inside and into a formal dining room. A small string quartet played Mozart in one corner and a group of well dressed people listened, chatted among themselves and are and drank. The group was both Black and white, and even a few native Americans were present.

"Listen everyone." Brigid cried. "This is my very best friend, Priscilla Bracken and her friends, here to meet with my husband."

TBC