Rae;94375
The Captain did not notice the passing figure until the folded paper was pressed into the Captains own hand.Having heard many stories, the Captain suspected the meaning of this message. The desire to run to the ship and barricade the cabin door was suppressed. This would not be like last time. No more vessels would be lost.
There are at least four Captains who would have the skill and ability to not only relieve a person of their goods, but to plant a mark on them and do it discretely and quietly.
Captain Mystique:
"Once she arrived in the closest port, which Panther Pete's ship had just sailed from, she put in time, and learned even more about making a life on the sea. Odd jobs, and many lifted bags of gold fattened Mystique's coffers until she had enough to buy her own ship, and hire on a rag tag crew of misfits."
Captain Santiago Ortiz:
"At 14 years old Santiago was living a life of reckless abandon. He didn’t know what the next hour held in store for him, let alone the next day. Having escaped from an orphanage two years before, he was enjoying his careless freedom. Santiago was, however, homeless and jobless, so his primary source of income was what he could steal from unsuspecting individuals."
Captain Darsa:
"As she grew, she steadily amassed her own fortune, by means that were less than honest. She managed to pilfer a coin here and there when booty was brought aboard, and slowly, slowly her stash grew until it was too large to hide aboard safely. She noticed that they seemed to frequent a particular portside town, visiting the portside town once every couple of months or so. She searched the town until she found a reputable goldsmith who began an account for her which she kept track of diligently, threatening the life of the smith when her numbers did not *quite* match his, and assuring his honesty. Her pilfering grew more stealthy and more rewarding as she aged, and learned what would be more profitable to take."
Captain Piestewa
"She stole from others, and had others steal from her."
Any one of these Captains could have planted the mark on Captain Williams and slipped away with ease.
But how would the Mafia vessels know that the mark had been duly delivered and that Captain Williams was in a bother?
Signaling from shore with lanterns to the ships out in the darkened waters is one option. Only problem is that of any witnesses noticing what is going on.
The far quicker and more quieter option would to have a certain feathered fiend (aka Dominic the Parrot) fly out from shore after the mark was delivered to Captain Williams.
Of all the above suspects though, only two have ships that could not hope to go up against Captain William's East Indiaman ship. The East Indiaman class ships were amongst the largest of merchant vessels and were designed to carry both passengers and goods and defend themselves against pirates, often carrying a sizable armament as a deterrent.
There's no way Captain Santiago or Captain Piestewa's Sloops could take part in naval action against an East Indiaman. Thus it would make sense for the fast, light vessels to be in Port with a Captain who could plant the mark on Captain Williams and signal the waiting ships lurking just outside the Port (through a certain Parrot) .
Merec
Captain's Name: Santiago Ortiz
Ship's Name: Huracán (Hurricane)
Ship Type: Sloop
Nationality: Spanish
Flag: Two crossing spears on a black background.
Verlileah
Captain's Name: Nova Piestewa
Ship's Name: Powaqa
Ship Type: Sloop
Nationality: American, bitches!
Flag: An orange spiral on a red field
If this assumption is true, then one Mafia is on land at the time to make sure Captain Williams is suitably startled, and we know that at least two or more are just outside the port waiting to waylay the
Aurora.
Rae;94375
Captain and crew made it to open sea just as the red rays of the sun touched the horizon. By the dawn’s early light, the Captain could see that it was already too late. The ships were there waiting. Even a craft as grand as this would have trouble when out-numbered. The Captain and crew may go down, but they would go down fighting. Giving the order, the first cannon was fired. The battle had begun.
Captain Williams was outnumbered. That usually wouldn't bother the Captain of an Indiaman class ship. "The force of the blast hitting the deck" seems to indicate that the good Captain is facing vessels whose total combined firepower matches, or even exceeds that of an East Indiaman.
Forget three Schooner's or Sloops trying to take on an East Indiaman. No contest. Not enough cannons to bring to bear, and the craft are too light. Even a Barbary Corsair in conjunction with a Kobukson and a Sloop of War would hardly be a threat. And a rowing boat? Sure...
That leaves the big ships - 2 to 4 most likely.
Captain Devilish Mary - Brigantine
Captain Jack Morgan - Brigantine
Captain Mon Claire - Brigantine
Captain Solomon Caine (me) - Frigate
Cesare (Cuirasse) Bontempe - Caravel
Captain Rosa - Man-O-War
Colonel James O'Connor - Large Frigate
Captain Lilith - First rate ship of the line (essentially a Battleship)
Captain Ginger Ears and Dominic the Parrot - Stolen Flagship Galleon of the Andorran National Navy
Any combination of the above ships could take down an Indiaman - but this paragraph is telling:
Rae;94375
"Soon black smoke and gun powder filled the air. The force of the blast hitting the deck caused those too near to lose footing. The Captain fell back into the splintered handle of the wheel."
The concentration of firepower from ships that could rock an Indiaman like that and deliver such a broadside that would splinter wood that easily narrows the list down to:
Captain Rosa - Man-O-War
Colonel James O'Connor - Large Frigate
Captain Lilith - First rate ship of the line (essentially a Battleship)
Captain Ginger Ears and Dominic the Parrot - Stolen Flagship Galleon of the Andorran National Navy
Take away Captain Rosa's Man-O-War and Captain O'Connor's Large Frigate and you have two ships that easily outclass Captain William's East Indiaman.
Captain Lilith - First rate ship of the line (essentially a Battleship)
Captain Ginger Ears and Dominic the Parrot - Stolen Flagship Galleon of the Andorran National Navy
The poor
Aurora would never stood chance against a ruthless combined broadside from those two hulks of ships.
That's all for now...