You and Jen make haste up to the main deck of the Antelope, you can hear a commotion begin as the rest of the crew gathers ahead of you. Scurrying into the open, you are hit by the cool, salty breeze of the open ocean; at once both unfamiliar and nostalgic, your muddled mind seems to clear as you take in another deep breath.
"Alrigh', lads, set yerselfs down! Cap'n is ta gif arders soon!" The boatswain shouts while unceremoniously shoving the crew toward the aft of the ship where the captain is perched at the helm. As you're pushed into your shipmates, you just can't shake the sinking feeling in your gut that something is amiss, like you've forgotten something important... Shaking your head, you try to focus on the captain, it has been three days since you first spied the lone merchant ship out on the horizon and know the Antelope is finally ready to overtake her.
"Gentleman!" The booming voice of your captain sounds out across the deck, "The chase has, at last, come to its inev'table conclusion! Ye'd be forgiven fer thinkin' we've bin chasin' an empty vessel what with the run 'round she's bin givin' us! But, mark my words, that merchant is laid low with gold! Look at how she sits in the drink, fat and fit fer plunderin'." He waves in a grand gesture to direct our attention to the ship just off our starboard bow. Indeed, for how hard it was to catch her, it's clear that her cargo is substantial and keeping her low in the water; a light chill creeps up your spine as you watch that ship desperately try to outpace your own vessel.
A roar from the crew breaks you out of your thoughts as the captain finishes his speech, "Our salvation is at hand, me boys! Run 'em through! Quick and bloody, as to leave a mess that'll not soon be forgotten! Now get to yer stations, they'll be waiting on their dance with the devil." Without thinking, you find yourself already sprinting to your post. Heart racing with excitement and adrenaline pumping through your veins, you grab a boarding axe and grappling line and wait for the fight to begin...