(Intro and Part I linked at bottom)
Catalina Erantzo Journal entries for the ship ‘Rebellion’.
May 17,1522 9:30 am – Left Seville, Spain under cloudy circumstances. Ok…. I stole a ship. Not a big one! Well ok, maybe it was a big one. What was I supposed to do? The damned Franco family of Portugal killed my brother and fiancé! Besides, it was only one ship, its not like they are going to miss it.
10:30 am – Well apparently they count the ships in harbour. Who knew? My First Mate, Emilio, saw some guards pointing at us and running to the Commander’s office as we ‘test sailed’ this new Galleon. Maybe I should have picked an older model?
12:30am – As we sailed out of the Rio Guadalqulvir we discovered Ceuta! So that’s where it is! Considering my navigation skill and that its only a two day sail away, I would have thought I would have known where it was, but apparently not.
May 20, 1522 – Docked in Lisbon, Portugal. The lion’s den. After storming up to the Franco residence it was quietly mentioned to me it might not be such a good idea at this time. Something about ‘training’, ‘proof’, blah blah blah…
Took a mission at the guild to deliver a letter to Genoa. Seven hundred gold. I have no idea if this is even going to cover expenses, but if it doesn’t me and this old man are going to have a ‘talk.
May 24, 1522 – Open sea. Discovered Palma, Majorca. Looks like a shithole.
May 28, 1522 – After and 8 day sail we entered Genoa. Delivered mail. I was told I had to sail BACK to Lisbon to get paid. I am not happy. No one has heard of Cash on Delivery?
Picked up a rookie navigator named Alonzo Orieda who begged to come along.
May 28, 1522 – Sailed into Pisa and picked up 20 lots of silk cloth. I need to bring in some money somehow to build up a bigger fleet and trading seems a good way to do that.
Picked up another navigator named Miguel Solis. Seems a solid type. Orieda is annoying.
May 30, 1522 – Discovered Algiers. Another shithole. I think the dysentery has dysentery.
June 3, 1522 – I sailed, I saw, I conquered. Off the Cape of Trafalgar I spotted a British merchant fleet. In my single Spanish Galleon I took on these 5 ships and won! I captured 3 ships (Nao, Carrack, Caravela Redonda), while 2 escaped (both Naos). I bet this astounding victory will be remember for centuries as the brave battle where one Spanish ship destroyed an English fleet!
One ship was carrying a large cargo of cheese (thank you God it wasn’t Limburger cheese). Hmmm. Spending money to buy goods and potentially lose money trading, or ‘liberating’ cargo and capturing ships. I think I need to think about this some more.
June 8, 1522 – After some difficulty with my new ships I sailed into Lisbon harbour again. This might be a good place to set up our headquarters. This will also give me a chance to hire out some people to keep an ear out for gossip I need.
Finished the mail mission. Apparently holding a knife to the old man’s throat means we are banned from Woolworth's. I’m not sure if its just that one or all of them. Emilio thinks its all of them.
You can't let some crotchety old bastard keep you from entering a single Woolworths ever again!
ReplyDeleteNice. I enjoyed it. Looking forward to more. :)
Oh, and enjoy the mounting pressure as you try to maintain the entertainment...