Ruby-Rose strolled along the beach towards her stranded ship as it sat on the sandy banks waiting for the tide to come in. The more faithful members of her crew returned to the job of careening the last few inches of timber that were covered with barnacles and some starfish. The faithful rabble included Ana Maria Varens, Christine Jamieson and more surprisingly Thom Laurie amongst others.

"We thought it best if some of us concluded the task of careening the ship, the tide is rising high Ma'am" Laurie informed his captain, needless to say Ruby-Rose was embarrassed by her blunder. No master of a pirate ship would be so lenient and senseless as she had been that day. She made the order of continuing the work at dusk overlooking the dangers of high tide, she was annoyed at herself…Perhaps Jack's return had distracted her more than she realised.

"Yes, Mr Laurie see that the work pace is quickened we have little time left" Ruby-Rose quivered, hastily smoothing over the mistakes she had made and silently hoped the incident would never be questioned about.

Ruby-Rose took off her pelisse jacket and brace of pistols and left them on the sand. Slipping a hand in her trouser pocket she pulled out deep burgundy coloured scarf and tie it over her head, she took the scrape and cloth and started work.

A large streak of pink lay itself out on the clear horizon; night fell quickly after this hypnotising spectacle and The Oracle's crew had begun to store their belongings below deck. Ruby-Rose was back in the master quarters this time with two of her most trusted band of pirates – Christine and Ana Maria. Before the re-appointing Ana Maria as her first officer the post belong to Christine Jamieson. She was a blonde-haired damsel that arrived into the world of pirates in circumstances similar to Ruby-Rose; she was left destitute by the misfortunes of her family. Unlike her captain, Christine's prospects were ruined by her father's bad financial decisions while she was a teenager. Ruby-Rose's prospects were ruined but not by her father, she had never known her parents. Irony took a hold on her life as both her mother and father died at sea – Drowned during a white squall.

"So Ruby-Rose what is this wild thought about taking hold of the Solstice, I agree with Ana Maria that it is foolhardy but you have thought this through I presume?" Christine enquired eagerly.

Her golden locks plaited and tied into a bun, her clothes well-kempt and clean – She accepted the ragged garments of a pirate but refused to acknowledge their crude habits. It was the trait of an aristocrat that her captain hoped would fade away, but alas her friend's snobbish habits were just as colourful now as they were the first day they met.

"Christie, I wonder why on Earth you became a pirate; you ask me the same thing on the eve of almost every expedition of this ship. Of course I have thought this through I've been in this line of work since I was seventeen…give me some credit" Ruby Rose grumbled, as she unfolding the map of the Americas and studied it. She sat there in silence with her knuckles pressed against her mouth as she muddled through the plot one last time. For once it was out in the open there would be no turning back.

"I've been planning this for a while now: The Solstice is not heading back home to Spain but to Panama…"

Ruby-Rose took the knife that lay beside the fruit bowl and dragged it's edge along the parchment. Ana Maria and Christy moved nearer to their captain.

"…They will set sail from the Florida quays, skirt around the Yucatan channel pass the Cayman Islands. If we're quick we may be able to intercept them while in the Cayman trench before they reach Panama" Ruby-Rose exclaimed enthusiastically though keeping her eyes fixed on the map as she was uncertain of the reaction from her shipmates.

"Well I must admit it is thorough Ruby-Rose, you are not planning to dock at Panama are you?" Ana Maria quizzed, she was intrigued yet still nervous by the impending voyage.

"If we have to, if we fail or get caught we can always flee to Colon" –

"Panama is not exactly your average port town Captain Sparrow, there is an abundance of luxury and wealth that our folk can only dream of. You think a place like that wouldn't have guards crawling every inch of it?" Christy intervened, leaning against the door.

"Why do you think I've chosen Colon, my father never would have allowed me aboard this ship if he knew I would make daft decisions – Of course I'm not planning to go into the capital"

"Any concerns other than the usual that need discussing?" Ana Maria solemnly

"Only one; There's a slight possibility of a rendezvous between Captain Pablo Ferreira and ambassadors of Spain's royal court in Caracas. But I'm hoping it's just a rumour"

"I don't know Ruby-Rose, this seems to hold more hazards than what it might be worth" Again Christy Jamieson voiced another sentence that was so un-pirate like. The pirate princess shook her head and started to carve up an apple and ate it to cover up her frustration

I plan to inform the crew of the expedition tomorrow, if you still have doubts you can take it up with me then. Right the hour is late and I intend to sleep in my own room tonight regardless of Jack's return"

With that the crimson-clothed captain stood up and nibbled the last segment of the apple and walked to the door.

"Ladies, I bid you goodnight" –

Christy Jamieson, who was not as skilled and confident a pirate as her counterparts remained unconvinced at this daring and highly dangerous plot.

"Captain Sparrow I just have-"

"Tomorrow Miss Jamieson" Ruby answered through gritted teeth.

"But Ruby-Rose it's too-"

"TOMORROW CHRISTY...Get yourself home, stop worrying please" Ruby-Rose scolded, leaping over the threshold and landing on the jetty. Ana Maria and Christy headed back to the inn while Ruby-Rose headed for home. The day's chores had made her weary and the upcoming voyage only added to the problem.