The Wave Piercer was preparing for battle. Her crew bustled around the deck, loading cannons and preparing guns. She was a three-masted caravel, built for speed. Her triangular sails made her the fastest ship in the High Seas. She had outrun every Armada ship that had come her way, but that didn’t mean the Wave Piercer couldn’t fight when she needed to.

Her captain stood at the helm, sharpening her cutlass. The helmsman, Mr. Pearce, was watching the crew hurry about.

“Tell me again why we’re meeting them, Captain?”

“Because, Mr. Pearce, they’re expecting us to run.” the captain said with a grin. “We need to surprise them to win.”

“Captain, Armada sails to the east!” Mr. Johnstone, the lookout, yelled down from the crow’s nest.

“How many do you count?”

“At least 20, sir.”

“Mr. Pearce, set a course.” the captain said.

“Aye, sir.”

The captain looked to the east, her brown hair flying in the sea breeze, as her ship cut through the waves like her cutlass would soon cut through her enemies.