Pearl's reaction was immediate. "We need to go. Get everyone out." "They're blockading the entire island. No one is getting in or out!" Royal Phoenix gasped. Interceptor bit his lip. "Hide!" he hissed, as Alexander, his deputy HMS Chambers, and a few other brigs sailed forward. "We demand a parley with the vessels who call themselves the governors of this island. Benjamin, Ranger and Queen Anne's Revenge!" "This is not good at all." Interceptor whispered as he, Pearl and Royal Phoenix watched from behind the cliffs which supported the old fort. "Someone has to come out and speak to him." Pearl said. "May as well be me." "And me." Britannia interrupted. "Like hell you're going out there alone." "They're wanting to speak with Ben, Ranger and Anne. We'll eavesdrop." Interceptor whispered. On cue, Benjamin called over Ranger, telling him to bring two other schooners with him, Burgess and Cockhram. "Don't get seen. Let's see what Alex wants..." "I have a pretty good idea." Pearl muttered, sending a spiteful glare her uncle's way. She took a step back and watched. "Welcome to Nassau, gentlemen. I am Benjamin, sadly Queen Anne's Revenge is no longer based out of this harbor, but I'm happy to answer any and all questions." Benjamin bowed respectfully. Interceptor scowled. "I must admit that was not the welcome I was expecting. You're clearly a man of wit." Alexander nodded down at the much smaller vessel. "I'm only eager to hear what the King has to offer, Sir. Follow me to the harbor center, just over here." "Very well. Lads! Spread out and take this island as if it were your own!" Alex announced to the smaller vessels that weren't part of the blockade. "We should confiscate all weapons and sink every God damn ship not flying the King's Colours!" Chambers growled, "Send a clear message to these pirates that the King is not to be trifled with." "I am Flagship, Deputy Chambers, and as such you will listen to my orders to the letter. I have my plans, you only need to listen to me. Is that clear?" "Yes, Sir..." he grumbled. "Hide the stores." Pearl whispered. "I already have." Britannia replied as she Pearl, and Interceptor moved into the center. "Hello Uncle." Pearl's voice was anything but friendly. Alex turned to face her, looking surprised. "Black Shadow?" he asked, using her original name in a tone that was almost care-full. "I thought...I thought you were dead." "Despite your best efforts to the contrary." Pearl replied. "And it's Black Pearl now." "Black Sh-ah, Pearl...Very well. I'm glad you're here to listen to the King's offer. This is your chance to get your life back." he murmured, almost silently, desperately pleading for her not to continue defying the King and himself. "And why, would I want to do that?" Pearl hissed. "Indeed, why would we?" Britannia asked. "I see now I should have chosen a different deputy. You have become a tyrant, Alex." His eyes hardened. These were two ships he cared about, two ships he loved. But he could not be any less dangerous to them as he was to the others. "I have a duty to the King. A duty that requires dirty work. I'm the only one with the will to carry that burden. History may remember me as a tyrant but it'll be me that kept the Empire alive. I am sorry you disagree with my methods. They are brutal. But they are effective. It's why the King has sent me here now. I have a pardon on offer for any and all pirates." "Your tyranny will destroy the empire one day soon. But, let's hear it." Britannia said. "Britannia!" Pearl hissed. "He has a right to speak, Pearl. Go on Alex, let us hear your blessed pardon." Britannia's tone was mocking but at least he had an opportunity. He straightened as he bellowed out for all to hear.
"To all pirates of Nassau, a pardon is on offer! From the fifth of September, any pirates who turn themselves over to the British government shall be pardoned for any piracy or piracies they have committed! You will be returned to British service and your pockets emptied of your gains! However, after the fifth of January it shall become the duties of all warships, fortresses and even merchants to arrest any pirate that defy or disobey this pardon. In lieu of a public trial you will all be confined in Nassau until further notice!" "Alexander puts it too lightly, maggots," Chambers hissed, "Accept the King's pardon and protection, or we will stretch your bloody necks!" "Peace, Chambers, we are not executioners! Not yet." Alex looked at Pearl and Britannia. Britannia turned to the fleet. "Those who wish to accept the offer can do so without fear of retribution from the rest." She said. Over half the ships moved across to Alexander but some did not. And among them were Interceptor, Pearl and Britannia. "You should know me by now Uncle." Pearl hissed. "I stand with my fleet." Britannia said. "The pardon stands until January. You have your opportunity. Be smart like I know you are and take it." Alex sighed before sailing off with Chambers. Ranger hissed after him. "Thank you, Sirs! And God save you!" he retorted mockingly. Benjamin grunted. "We should look on this as a stroke of fortune. The King is offering mercy to us." "Oh piss! I'll die before I submit to that bastard." Ranger growled. "For Christ sake, Ranger, look around you! We had ourselves an opportunity here, a chance to make a government run by free men for free men, but in two years we've pissed it away. I won't make that mistake again." he hissed, sailing off after Alex. "Bastard!" Ranger howled after him before looking at Pearl, Interceptor and Britannia. "Come on, then...I need a drink." Pearl sighed, looking to Passionate. "It's up to you." She said. If it meant keeping her daughter safe, Pearl would go back to the Royal Navy, the one place she hated the most. "I'm debating." her daughter sighed, "What's left to fight for? Why should we not take the pardon?" "What are the chances we could actually live a decent life? I certainly can't and Alex knows it. That's the brilliance of his trap. Welcome the scum in knowing they can't adapt. Then cull them." "But they'll hunt us if we don't accept. It's adapt or die...is that worth it? To run?" "We have quite a few hidey holes." Pearl said. "And I can buy you all some time to escape. They won't take me out easily." Britannia said. "Don't you dare!" Pearl gasped. "My sister…" "Will be just fine on her own. I trust Dogg can keep her in line." Britannia smiled. "We still have to make it through the Blockade. Alex won't have any gaps." "We'll have to fight." Britannia said. "Not necessarily." Interceptor murmured, "The Lobsters are securing their munitions, see over there?" he pointed to barrels and crates being offloaded onto a secure beach. "If we can secure some gunpowder and pine pitch, we can use a fireship and send it at the blockade, smashing out a hole to escape through." "We'll need a volunteer for that." Britannia said. "And that's not a question even I am comfortable posing to the fleet." "I'll do it." Royal Phoenix murmured, "I'm small and nimble, hard to see and hard to hit until it's too late." "Are you certain Phoenix." Pearl asked. Being a fireship was a one way trip. "My conscience is clear." he nodded slowly. "Your sacrifice won't be in vain." Britannia promised. "Pearl, gather the fleet. When night falls, we'll be ready." "You get the gunpowder, I'll secure the pine pitch." Ranger blurted, turning and sailing off. Pearl nodded and joined him in procuring said items.
"Britannia sighed and turned to Interceptor. "Take care of her." She begged. "Shadow and Dogg too. I leave the fleet to you." She handed him her flag. "Britannia. You don't have to. If this goes to plan you can escape with us." he murmured, nuzzling her, "I wish they were here! Blockade is keeping them from entering... You have to make it with us out of here. You can't leave them. You can't leave us. You can't...you can't leave me." "Just in case." She whispered, gently nuzzling him. "If I do go down, I won't go without giving them a fight to remember." "You better try. So help me, Britannia..." She pressed her muzzle to his flank briefly before turning her attentions to assisting in any way she could. By the time the gunpowder was secured, they found Ranger having difficulty opening a crate of pine pitch. "Here." Britannia offered her much larger muscles and easily pried the wood apart. "Thanks." he murmured.
"Lieutenant!" came a sturn voice. "Down!" Jackdaw hissed in a whisper. A frigate approached two brigs. "Deputy Chambers has ordered us to sink every pirate ship anchored in the harbor. You're to take up positions tonight." "Despite the Flagship's orders, Sir?" "This is an order, soldier. Meet with Chambers in the north harbor." "Someone should kill that Deputy Chambers before he has a chance to bark those orders." Ranger hissed. "You think so?" Interceptor asked. "We're dead in the water otherwise." Pearl immediately offered to do it but Britannia shook her head. "No, you need to escape. I'll kill the scum." She growled. "Your brains are baked! I'm not taking part in killing the Deputy, not one of the King's ships!" hissed one of Ranger's smaller cutters. The brig was quick to grab said schooner as he tried to escape, and silenced him. "We can't risk our good fortune...go on ahead. If you can do it without getting caught, meet us on the southeast shore tonight." Britannia nodded. "If I'm not there by the time the moon is high, don't wait for me." She said.
When darkness fell, at a time of night before the moon rose so it was pitch black, Britannia slipped out of the harbor. She knew where Chambers was stationed. Alexander had trained him well, but not well enough. She halted however when she felt a familiar touch against her keel. "Ah so you have returned." She whispered. "Well them, my dear Campe. Think you can do me a small favor?" If there was a verbal answer, it was not heard by anyone. But moments later Britannia was spectator to the mysterious being known only as the Krakan, attacking Chambers. Chambers attempted to call for help, but the unseen beast beneath him kept him quiet before incapacitating him with a quick keel twist. It didn't kill him but it paralyzed him, and left him for Britannia to finish off. He growled as he watched her approach, but she was followed silently by Jackdaw. "Alex offered us a pardon, Chambers. Don't a man's word mean anything in these times?" "Spare me your philosophy lesson, lout! You're all parasites, living off the industry of honest men!" Chambers hissed. "Much like King George in that respect." "Know your place, peasant! You may have taken my life, but you have not improved your own by any measure." "Does some purpose keep you talking?" "Ugh...if not for Alexander, I'd have seen you all burned in your own berths...worms! All of you!" Britannia moved in, and in the moonlight her eyes glowed with power. "I am no peasant." She hissed. Chambers only spat at the water before her. To him, she was a traitor. She was below a peasant in his eyes. If she was bothered by the disrespect she didn't show it. Instead she dispatched him with a simple and quick bite to the throat. She spat out his blood. "As disgusting as any limey." She growled. "Good job, Britannia. Let's meet up with the others." Jackdaw praised turning to lead her to the southeast shore.
As the rejoined the fleet, there was a commotion within Alexander's ranks. Apparently someone had discovered Chambers was missing. "Its now or never Phoenix." Pearl whispered. "They're onto us, there's bound to be smaller ships patrolling the waters around the blockade. Let's clear the way for Phoenix." Interceptor said as the schooner put the final fuse in place. "I'm ready." he murmured quietly. "As am I." Shadow said as she surfaced beside him. "The next time you open your eyes, I will be there to guide you." She promised. He nodded, "Fair enough. Let's get our ships out while the window is open. Charge!" he howled, setting full sail. It was quite a sight. Pirates raced out of the darkness, a fireship in their midst. And behind him cannons roared. It was a scene well outdoing the worst of Shadow's Locker. As schooners and cutters attempted to intercept Phoenix, the larger ships of the line that made up the blockade were silently sleeping, cannon fire waking them, but too groggy to properly understand what was going on at the moment. As Pearl and the smaller ships of the fleet pealed off making a break for it. Their retreat was covered by Britannia who was easily a one ship offensive. Her brilliance was in who she attacked. She avoided the schooners and brigs as they could easily be dealt with by Pearl's group. Nor did she attack the man o'wars who were too slow to catch the fleeing pirates. No she focused her attacks on Alexander's spies. The frigates and the third rates. Decimating their ranks. "To glory!" Phoenix cried as he lit the fuse and shut his eyes. By the time the blockade understood what was happening, it was too late. Phoenix plowed into a first rate and exploded in spectacular fashion. There were screams as the first rate and two accompanying fifth rates had massive holes blown in them and caught fire, rapidly sinking. The blockade was broken!
But it wasn't all good news. Alexander was rapidly approaching with a fleet of heavy frigates. Until now, Interceptor was assisting Britannia. The man o'war turned to him. "Go, Interceptor." "Britannia...I'll see you again. And I can't wait for that." he whispered, saluting his former flagship as he broke off to run the gauntlet with the escaping pirates. A full broadside of oil slicked grape shot, each pellet burning, from Alexander's guns riddled Britannia's flank. She howled, the pain serving to entice her to fight harder. She returned the favor with chain shot that took out several man o'wars closest to Alexander. The Armada was closing in, and like a hydra, when one ship was sunk, two more took their place. It was like they came crawling out the crevices of the island. Alexander growled, and this time used his heavy mortars to rain fire down upon her masts and deck. She didn't quit. Even as her foremast fell. Then her mizzen. Her main cracked and still she continued her barrage. Blood was dripping out of her mouth, from wounds on her head into her eyes. Her shots were more wild now as she was firing blind.
Finally, she ran out of ammo. Alex approached her as two second rates held her down. "Accept the Pardon. For God's sake, Britannia, don't make me do this!" he hissed sadly. Still she struggled, managing to raise her head and glare spitefully at him. "There's a special place in Shadow's Locker for you. I'd hate for you to miss it." She broke free and lunged, aiming for his throat. For his size, he was nimble. He pushed her to the side and in the same motion placed her head against his triple gun decks. "To the devil with you." he murmured. Interceptor looked back as he heard cannon fire, and the cheers of the British warships. He slumped. "NO!" Shadow screamed in agony as the bond was severed. She made to go back but Pearl grabbed her. "Interceptor, help me!" She cried, her sister writhing in her grasp. The brig took a moment to recollect himself before helping his mate in containing Shadow. Shadow was furious. Her green eyes were flashing sickly yellow again. Just as they did before. "Let me go! I'm going to kill him!" She shrieked. "There will be time for vengeance! But now is not that time. Come on. Nassau is finished, we need to head to the hideout. We'll figure what to do there." Shadow pulled free of him but she didn't make to attack the British fleet. Instead, she faced them, eyes glowing now. A horrid shade of yellow with a blood crimson edge. "You go. I, have work to do." She dove. "There are tough times ahead. I know it." Jackdaw shook. "We have no choice now but to survive." Pearl said. "The hideout it is. Until we can find a more suitable place to call home." "Then, to the hideout we go." he nodded. The small fleet sailed southeast.
