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SKELETON
ISLAND - Was a pirate secret location, known only to a small number of
captains by that name. But as piracy became unfashionable with mass hangings, the numbers
of those in the know, dwindled. Until, all that remained was a location
carved in wood. Generally hidden somewhere safe by the pirate concerned.
This location was useless without a chart giving the exact position that
each pirate buried their stash. The maps made on parchment, were handed down
to the next generations, by way of inheritance free of taxes.
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CHAPTER 15
The bridge of the Elizabeth Swann, usually a beacon of calm technological prowess, pulsed with a nervous energy. John Storm paced the polished deck, the holographic displays around him a swirling vortex of sensor readings and navigational charts. His silent dialogue with HAL, the ship’s ever-present AI, filled the air with an unseen tension.
Commander Storm, HAL’s synthesized voice resonated within John’s mind, I am detecting increased naval activity in the southwestern Caribbean. Primarily British and Spanish vessels. Their deployment patterns suggest a blockade formation, focusing on the passages around Santa Catalina and Providence Islands.
“Maynard,” John muttered aloud, his jaw tight. “He’s not letting go. He must have forged some unholy alliance. He’s not about to let that treasure slip through his fingers again.”
Confirmed, HAL responded, the calm tone belying the gravity of the situation. Intercepted encrypted communications indicate a cooperative agreement between Royal Navy Commander James Maynard and elements within the Spanish Navy. Their stated objective is to interdict any vessel attempting to transit the area with significant bullion. Prize protocols are being discussed.
“Prize ships…” John’s voice was laced with disbelief. “They’re going to try and seize the Swann… and the Hispaniola. The gold. They actually think it’s theirs.”
Their justification, based on historical records, cites the Spanish origin of the Aztec treasure and Commander Maynard’s ancestral involvement with Blackbeard, who they believe possessed knowledge of its final location.
“Blackbeard died before he could tell anyone anything useful,” John scoffed. “Maynard’s ancestor got nothing but a corpse. And now this Maynard thinks he has a divine right to what Morgan liberated fair and square?”
Logic suggests a tenuous claim at best. However, their naval presence is substantial.
A separate holographic window shimmered into existence, displaying an intercepted text-based communication.
Nicaraguan authorities have acknowledged the situation but maintain a position of neutrality regarding the disposition of the treasure, HAL’s disembodied voice read.
Another window bloomed, revealing further digital intercepts.
Mexican and Panamanian governments have declined Commander Maynard’s invitation to participate in the blockade. Their official statement expresses ‘significant concerns regarding the potential infringement of international maritime law and the principles of cultural heritage.’ They further note that the Colombian Archipelago, where the treasure was recently located, is surrounded by international waters, rendering the proposed blockade a questionable act.
John expelled a frustrated breath. “At least some nations still recognize the concept of international law. But Maynard and the Spanish… they’ve appointed themselves judge, jury, and executioner.”
Suddenly, a shrill chime pierced the tense silence, signaling another incoming communication alert. HAL displayed a heavily encrypted message originating from the Hispaniola.
Captain Storm, a secure transmission from Longstride. He appears to be in communication with Commander Maynard.
The holographic display flickered, resolving into a fragmented and distorted audio-visual feed of John Longstride on the bridge of the Hispaniola, his gruff voice echoing from the Swann’s internal speakers as he spoke to an unseen figure.
“…the Golden Skull… yes, I have it. But my terms remain firm, Commander. The safe return of my… associates. No harm shall come to them. That was the agreement.”
A distorted voice, presumably Maynard’s, echoed from Longstride’s end of the transmission. “The agreement was for the skull, Longstride. The gold is the priority now. Your… associates are leverage.”
Longstride’s voice, though still rough, held a strained urgency. “Leverage, yes. But not casualties. I made it clear. No bloodshed.”
“Circumstances change,” Maynard’s voice was cold and dismissive. “The Spanish are eager. Don’t push your luck, pirate. The blockade is tightening. Your only way through is cooperation.”
The transmission abruptly cut out, leaving Longstride’s grim face frozen on the holographic display.
“Longstride…” John murmured, his mind racing. “He’s trying to play both sides. He wants the skull, but he doesn’t want Dan and Cleopatra hurt. Not yet, anyway.”
Analysis suggests a conflict of interest within Longstride’s motivations, HAL observed. His earlier threat to secure hostages contrasts with his current insistence on their safety during negotiations with Commander Maynard.
“He’s stalling,” John realized. “He’s hoping we can somehow pull them out of this mess.”
Another incoming message alert chimed, this time Longstride directly contacting the Elizabeth Swann. His holographic image, though still bearing the scars of a hard life, was clearer now, a forced cordiality attempting to soften his ruthless features.
“Storm, old friend,” Longstride began, his tone oozing a false camaraderie. “Seems the waters are getting a tad… congested. These pesky navies, eh?”
“You sold us out, Longstride,” John’s voice was flat, devoid of any warmth. “You took my ship and my crew.”
“Now, now, let’s not be hasty with accusations,” Longstride countered, a flicker of his old menace returning. “Think of it as a… strategic repositioning. I might just have a way through this little blockade. Some old contacts, you see. But it requires… cooperation.”
“Cooperation?” John’s disbelief was palpable. “After what you’ve done?”
“Look at the bigger picture, Storm. Those Spanish dogs and that pompous Maynard think they can just waltz in and take what’s ours – what will be ours. I can secure passage through their net… for both our vessels. A temporary alliance of necessity.”
“What’s the price, Longstride?” John demanded, his eyes narrowed.
“Just a little… patience. And perhaps a show of good faith. Let’s just say I’ve painted a picture for Maynard, a picture that involves… you still having something they desperately want. Something that will take time to acquire. Enough time for us to slip through their fingers.”
Commander, HAL’s telepathic voice interjected, Longstride’s bio-signatures indicate a high level of stress but also a calculated attempt at deception. He is likely buying time, hoping for an external resolution.
John considered Longstride’s words, his gaze hardening. He knew the pirate was as trustworthy as a viper, but the safety of Dan and Cleopatra was paramount.
“What exactly have you told Maynard, Longstride?” John pressed.
Longstride offered a strained smile. “Just enough to keep him… intrigued. Let’s just say he believes the Golden Skull is still within your grasp, and you’re willing to negotiate its release… for safe passage. A little white lie to navigate these treacherous waters. Trust me, Storm. For once, our interests align. We both want to get out of here with our ships and our people intact.”
John stared intently at Longstride’s image, searching for any flicker of genuine intent behind the pirate’s words. It was a treacherous gamble, but with the combined might of the British and Spanish navies bearing down on them, they might have no other choice but to dance with the devil they knew.
“Don’t try to double-cross me again, Longstride,” John warned, his voice low and dangerous. “If anything happens to Dan or Cleopatra…”
Longstride nodded emphatically, his eyes holding a surprising intensity. “They are my insurance, Storm. Their safety is… paramount to my own. For now.”
The communication ended, leaving John staring at the now-blank display, his expression grim.
“He’s playing a dangerous game, Hal,” John said aloud, the weight of the situation pressing down on him. “And he’s dragging us right into the middle of it.”
Agreed, Captain, HAL responded, his synthesized voice calm and analytical. However, his actions may provide a window of opportunity. The blockade’s focus will likely be on anticipating our movements based on Longstride’s fabricated scenario. This could create vulnerabilities we can exploit.
John nodded slowly, a plan, as dangerous and unpredictable as Longstride himself, beginning to coalesce in his mind.
“Then let’s use their assumptions against them,” John declared, a steely glint in his eyes. “Longstride wants time? We’ll give him time… and then we’ll hit them where they least expect it.”
>>>
CHAPTER 17
Maynard does deal with Spanish Navy to blockade south-west Caribbean & Santa Catalina/Providence islands, to prevent John or Huntington returning to Atlantic with Blackbeard's/Morgan's gold - which they consider to be theirs - split 50-50. They are prepared to board or sink Swann and/or Hispaniola - to take as prize ships. Nicaragua remains neutral. Mexican and Panamanian governments decline offer to join group. Express concerns, as to cultural heritage, where technically a Colombian Archipelago surrounded international waters, hence they consider blockade, a pseudo act of piracy. Hal intercepts messages as watching brief. Maynard offers Longstride a deal for Aztec Golden Skull, but John Long will will not agree to harming of Dan or Cleopatra. He does secure safe passage through blockade.
HURRICANE IOTA NOVEMBER 2020
- Providencia (boat dock) and Santa Catalina were ravaged by extreme weather
when heading into 2021.
The small Colombian island of Providencia was hit hard by the powerful Category-5 hurricane Iota,
which caused severe damage to the majority of local’s homes and the already scant public infrastructure.
At that time, Colombia’s President, Ivan Duque, said it is the first Category 5 – the most serious of hurricanes – to hit the Andean nation in its history.
Providencia island had a population of 5,000 people and is part of the Archipelago of San Andres, Providencia and Santa Catalina located in the Caribbean Sea about 775km (481 miles) northwest of mainland Colombia. Geographically, it is closer to the central American country of Nicaragua.
The hurricane was first considered a Category 2 but just before passing Providencia it developed into a Category-5 tropical cyclone which NASA said can have wind speeds of up to 253km/h (157mph) and has the ability to cause catastrophic damage.
Neighbouring larger island San Andres also faced damage to its infrastructure, albeit less intense. Northern Colombian coastal cities, like Cartagena, have flooded and are battling high winds.
According to the United States Office of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 2020 has had the highest hurricane activity in the Atlantic since official records began in 1851.
PROLOGUE:
ROYAL
AFRICAN COMPANY - King Charles
II, Royal Charter James Stuart II,
transport goods from Africa: Bloody
Triangle.
SCENE
1. THE
BATTLE OF OCRACOKE - Lt Robert Maynard, Blackbeard's
curse, beheading &
torturous interrogation on the
Adventure
SCENE
2. EARTHQUAKE
JAMAICA - Present Day - An earthquake hits Port Royal,
disturbing the sunken city & Palisadoes cemetery.
SCENE
3. BLUE SHIELD ENGLAND -
Blue
Shield, Newcastle UK, UNESCO
requests Storm catalogue underwater city UNEP
World
Heritage Site.
SCENE
3.1. SWASHBUCKLING
- John tries out Dan's VR sword fencing program, then duel with real pirate
cutlasses, Hal keeping score.
SCENE
4. HENRY
MORGAN'S DEATH - Henry Morgan has a heart attack; funeral ceremony at Palisadoes
cemetery, old Port Royal.
SCENE
5. SUNKEN
CITY SURVEY - Present Day, Swann's sensors scan the ocean bed, revealing mausoleum former Governor of Jamaica.
SCENE
6. JUNE
1692 TSUNAMI - Jamaica, June 7th, an earthquake hits
Port Royal, then a tsunami washes the pirate haven
under the sea.
SCENE
6.1. GHOSTS
BLACKBEARD & MORGAN - Spectral figures cheer on John Storm as
he searches Henry's Palisadoes crypt for clues.
SCENE
7. HENRY
MORGAN'S COFFIN - John Storm & ROV,
comes face to face with Henry's skeletal remains. Finds interesting wooden engraving.
SCENE
8. BBC
JILL BIRD - London. John
Storm's finds lost Henry Morgan's pirate remains. "And for those of you wondering,
there was no treasure."
SCENE 9. OPERATION
HISPANIOLA - British Geographical Society,
& Royal Navy fund Lord Huntington's
expedition to recover relics in the Caribbean.
SCENE
10. SHIP'S
COOK - William Gray helps John Long's cut-throats to crew for
Huntington's Hispaniola, Long a dab
hand on the galley.
SCENE
11. ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOS - Huntington
(BGS
bigwig) asks John Storm for help with
shipwreck survey - meet in the Caribbean, Haiti.
SCENE
12. SKELETON
ISLAND - Intrigued by map proffered by Lord Huntington, John
agrees to switch attention to location, to coast of Panama. .
SCENE
13. SANTA
CATALINA - Colombian,
Mexican,
Panamanian,
Nicaraguan
patrols re: 'Satisfaction'
& hunt for Aztec
gold, Spanish
Conquistadors.
SCENE
14. TREASURE ISLAND -
Hurricane
Iota erased map clues, Isla Providencia.
Longstride believes location of Blackbeard's/Morgan's treasure.
SCENE
15. KIDNAP -
Black Jack
& Billy Bones kidnap
Dan, Cleopatra - lock in Hispaniola with
Tremaine. Hal alerts John to events via BioCore.
SCENE
15.1. THE
GAUNTLET - With Dan and Cleopatra
hostage, John challenges Black Jack to a duel, which Billy Bones ends with a
pistol shot.
SCENE
15.2. MAROONED - Left of the dockside, John is forced to play
along with Longstride, to give Hal time to recover situation safely.
SCENE
16. DOUBLE CROSS - Maynard
pact with Spanish
Navy to blockade Caribbean to capture John & Swann. Longstride deal Aztec
Golden
Skull.
SCENE
17. BLACKBEARD'S CURSE - John retakes Swann, Hal immobilizes Black Jack and Billy
Bones and rescues prisoners on Hispaniola.
SCENE
18. MORGAN'S TREASURE SHIP - John deciphers carving
code helped Dan and Cybercore
Genetica. Dives to find privateer's shipwreck.
SCENE
19. BILLION DOLLAR DEAL - John
negotiates with Panama, Peru, Colombia, Ecuador & Blue
Shield for % salvage based on wreck video.
SCENE
20. BLOCKADE RUNNER - Swann navigates through
Spanish
Armada & Royal Navy
blockade in stealth mode, invisible to radar.
SCENE
21. BERMUDA TRIANGLE - Pirates
head into
Bermuda Triangle, Colombian Navy in pursuit:
BBC Sky News. Never to be seen again.
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