The 6 Admirals

EQandCivfanatic · February 25, 2003, 18:16

OOC: Here is the 2nd in what will be a series of short stories. It started with the 7 Queens, now for the 6 Admirals.

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After the conquest of France in the Middle Ages, Egyptian society entered a period of rebirth or Renassaince. With great people like Leonardo Da Vinci, Sun Tzu, and JS Bach building cathedrals and workshops in Egypt, the nation thrived. Trade poured in from all foreign nations.

However some people in the world were not content. Most educated people around this time knew the earth was round no matter how much the Church tried to deny it.

These brave men wanted to find ways to shorten trade routes. Their problem was that they were short of funding. Only one nation in the known world had the wealth and time to sponser an undertaking for a journey of exploration across the world, Egypt.

-Thebes, Egypt-

Angry shouts and curses came from the Palace, in many languages. Those walking outside wondered what was going on inside and if it would effect them. For 4 days boats had been arriviving on the coast and horsemen not seen before had been riding into town.

Inside the palace, the servants froze at the shouting. Such an uproar had never been heard before in the great halls of the Palace of Thebes.

In the great hall of the palace were 5 groups of people from all nations. There was a Spainard named Christobal Colon with a small escort, a well-built Greek named Odyesseus with a short fat man, yet another Spainard named Ponce De Leon all by himself, and Egyptians from the towns of Lyons and Heliopolis. They were yelling amongst themselves for different reasons, although it all boiled down to one big reason: money. Everyone of them wanted money and funding for a voyage to create new trade routes.

"Her royal highness, Queen Cleopatra and General Ramses," loudly announced the guard by the enterence to the throne room, causing the assembled men to bow before the Queen.

"Gentlemen from afar, I know you all came to see me for the funding and ships nessacary to discover a route around the world," said Cleopatra, "I know also that you are willing to offer the rewards and prizes of the new lands to Egypt in exchange for some of the profits."

"My Lady," said the Spainard, Christobal Colon, "my calculations are the most accurate compared to the fools assembled here, I have the evide..."

"No, I do not want to hear the nonsense of calculations and mathematics," Cleopatra said, cutting the Spainard off, "I am willing to offer a deal to all of you. The first of you which discovers a feasible trade route from Egypt to Greece and Germany will be rewarded with 1/10 of the current Egyptian treasury as well as a permanent 10% of all the profits from the new trade. I will personally provide 10,000 gold peices to each one of you as to purchase and equip ships for your voyages. You can collect your funding when you reach your horses and carridges once you leave. Good luck to each of you."

At this all of the explorers bowed out of the room hardly gracefully and basically ran out to their horses.

Laughing, Cleopatra turned to Ramses and said, "You have been training for admiral command, correct?" "Yes my Queen," he replied. "Very good, just make sure you beat those fools to finding a feasible route. Most likely once they hear you are competing for the reward they will try to stop you. Be careful."

Nodding to the Queen, Ramses left the Palace to prepare for his voyage.

OOC: Hopefully this is a good start for y'all. comments appreciated.

ChrisiusMaximus · February 25, 2003, 18:33

Very good start, please give us more.

Prince Jason · February 25, 2003, 22:06

very good!

Waiting for more

Jason

vovan · February 25, 2003, 23:36

Very nice to see you writing more. Pretty cool, and promising start. Do continue.

EQandCivfanatic · March 2, 2003, 14:26

-Thebes, Egypt-

The "Queen's Daughters" bar was in full swing as music played from the stage in the corner of the room. Some people were dancing drunkenly, while most others were huddled around bars or tables, drowning their sorrows or rejoicing their fortunes.

Ponce De Leon entered the bar and strode quickly to the counter and took a seat. Ordering a drink and looking around the bar, he saw one of the groups of Egyptians that had been in the Palace earlier in the day. Returning his gaze, the Egyptians glared back. Nodding to acknowledge them, Ponce De Leon turned back to his drink, leaving them muttering amongst themselves and pointing at him occasionally.

After a few minuites, the Egyptians got out of their seats, allowing Leon to see the pistols that hung at their sides. The one who seemed to be in charge was at their head.

THe head Egyptian said, with the smell of beer emenating from his mouth, "You think you can cross the world before us you damned Spainard?"

"If I can I will," said Leon, "If I don't then I will live with the money already paid by the Queen."

"Don't talk back to the Lord of Tours, you damn Spainish bastard!" said one of the men nearby, drawing his pistol.

Before he could, Leon drew his sword and quickly and easily put it right through the man. The others with him began to draw their guns but 2 were wuickly put out of their misery before they could do a thing. Throwing a table onto its side, Ponce drew his own pistol while pistol balls hit the table behind.

Turning around and firing over the table, Leon hit a Egyptian who was heading over to him and quickly jumped over the table to finished the job. Thrusting his sword into the Egyptian he jumped over the bar, where the so-called Lord of Tours was hiding.

"This is your own fault, 'Lord of Tours', you should never have even tried," said Leon, who quickly struck the Egyptian down and ran out the back door.

When the Egyptian Musketmen peacekeepers arrived all they saw were several dead, rough looking Egyptians and a dark figure running away from the scene.

EQandCivfanatic · March 2, 2003, 17:02

no coimments?

EQandCivfanatic · March 2, 2003, 18:58

-Heliopolis, Egypt-

Odysseus walked down the cobbled street to the great harbor adorned by the Great Collossus, which towered over the port and the rest of the city. By the great statue's feet lay hundreds of anchored ships from all over. Only one of these ships was of any interest to Odysseus. One was his ship, the Syklops, and the other was the Egyptian ship, the Memphis.

On board the Memphis was a retired Egyptian admiral who had fought the Greek navy in the very short Greco-Egyptian War. He was also a prime competitor in the race for new trade routes. [The Memphis was a modified galley changed to be able to travel on the high seas. It had a crew of only about 30 men compared to the 60 men on the Syklops.

Another landmark in Heliopolis which interested Odysseus was a flat roofed building that lay nearby the Egyptian ship.

Upon arriving, Odysseus was greeted by his friend Achilles, a short fat man, who was Odysseus' accountant and contact to the less legitimate people of the world.

"Odysseus my friend," said Achilles," I acquired the goods you requested from my friends at the army barracks and have already positioned it upon the roof to be used at your pleasure." "Thank you my friend, by the end of the night we will have one less competitor for the prize," replied Odysseus.

After climbing the narrow stairway to the roof, Odysseus thought over the night's plans. It takes a special man to acquire a cannon when there are so few in the world thought Odysseus I am fortunate he works for me and not against me. Upon this thought, Odysseus lay down against his new cannon to nap and prepare for the coming events of the night.

-Nighttime-

Standing on the deck of the frigate Thebes, Ramses waited for the sign that would allow him to quickly remove two of his most determined competitors.

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Ex-admiral Al-Raraft, stood over the maps of the world in his cabin, planning his course to discover a new trade route. He was to set sail tomorrow on his voyage to complete wealth and splendor.

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Odysseus aimed the cannon to the light shining from the Memphis. Having adjusted the cannon to be sure to hit the vessel he nodded to the gunner to fire.

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BOOM! CRASH! The peace of the Egyptian night was disturbed as the cannon roared and struck the Memphis right in the captain's quarters, quickly ending the life of one of Egypt's admirals.

"THERE! FIRE!" shouted Ramses, "at that building". One well aimed shot from the frigate quickly destroyed the house and all the occupants.

After the chaos and destruction of the night, Ramses went to sleep.

2 more of the 6 admirals competing for glory were dead.

ChrisiusMaximus · March 6, 2003, 20:11

Good stuff EQ keep it coming.

EQandCivfanatic · March 23, 2003, 01:06

-Somewhere on the Eastern Ocean, the caravel Florida-

The waves crashed against the wooden sides of the ship. Bobbing up and down through the waves, it seemed to fall beneath the surface and rise once more. The sails of the ship lay idle, the ship letting the tides and waves carry it. The deck was bare of men, hiding below decks, praying that the boat would not collapse. To the rear of the ship, a dim light shone through the dark sky and the waves.

Ponce De Leon, the captain of the vessel was gripping onto the sides of the cabin, trying to stay steady while showing his top men a map that he had drawn himself.

"Gentlemen, I know you are no doubt wondering why i ordered the sails to be put down and why we are so heavy laden with muskets and a cannon. This map shows the reason. Before we left Egypt I had a talk with a French sailor named Sinbad in Heliopolis. He claims to have traveled once to a strange land inhabited by primitive German-looking men. He told me how he got there, which was by the tide. his information matched with the information I gathered in my research, so i believe him."

At this point a large wave crashed into the boat, send one man onto the floor and causing a fit of cursing and a outbreak of laughter from the rest. Sipping from a mug at his side, Leon continued.

"The Frenchman told me at this point of a great city the locals call Stockholm. The people there were as wealthy as men could be, having many slaves and much land to their names. In these lands there is no doubt much wealth to be had." Leon paused to let the point sink into the gathered men.

"We will not only gain the wealth of Egypt, but the control of a undiscovered empire!"

Cheering themselves hoarse, the men left the room in great spirits.

Poor men thought Leon, THey do not know what really awaits them. Leon leaned into his small wooden bed and thought of what the old sailor really said of a great empire connected by wars and a hostile people, who nearly killed the sailor himself before he managed to escape by his lonesome on a battered galley.

ChrisiusMaximus · March 24, 2003, 10:52

Nice stuff EQ looking forward to some more.

EQandCivfanatic · March 25, 2003, 21:12

-Somewhere on the Eastern Ocean, the Florida-

The sun was shining now. The days of bad weather had finally ended and the sun now shown upon the ship. Ponce De Leon stood by the helmsman directing his course using the Egyptian-invented compass. The rest of the crew stood at ready for their next orders.

Two days ago, one of the crewmen, who was an avid birdwatcher back home as well as a skilled marksman hunter, had spotted a flock of birds of unknown origin flying southwest. The crew flew into a celebratoy mood, and many bottles of fine Egyptian fine were broken out and much celebrating and drinking took place on deck all night long.

"LAND HO!" cried the lookout on the bow, stirring the men on deck to join him, causing chaos on deck as all went to see the land. "BACK TO YOUR PLACES. RAISE THE MAIN SAIL!" shouted Leon.

-A few hours later-

The Florida glidely across the water along the coat of what appeared to be a island that one could see straight across of. However, there was one cove and safe harbour on the island, but it was occupied.

As the Florida had drawn closer to the shore, they had seen 3 masted ships that appeared to be Egyptian, leading a chorus of groans across the crew. Ording the cannon readied on deck, Leon ordered an approach.

As the ship moved nearer to the 3 caravels, Leon noticed something unusual. There was no one on board any of the ships. No alarm was raised as the obviously heavily armed caravel neared the minifleet.

There seemed a heavy gloom all about the place, and the crew sensed it as well. As they grew closer they started noticing the smell of gunpowder looming over the area and minor details such as a body that hung on the largest ship's railing that appeared to be full of arrows.

The ship crept slowly to the shore...

vovan · March 25, 2003, 21:20

Hey, EQ, I just got a chance to read through your story. The chapters are kinda short, and leave me very thirsty for more. Definitely good stuff. Keep 'em coming.

Oh, and BTW, I would greatly appreciate it if you could read and comment on my recently finished creation, Julius Caesar: A Tragedy in Five Acts. Thanks!

(Hey, so few people bothered responding, I figure is could use some advertising.

)

beno · March 26, 2003, 11:52

I'm liking the life on the open waves EQ. keep it up

ChrisiusMaximus · March 28, 2003, 15:16

Superb story EQ but watch those typo's.

EQandCivfanatic · March 28, 2003, 15:21

typos? what are these typos you talk about? my speling is prefect.

thanks for the comments.

EQandCivfanatic · April 9, 2003, 20:23

-The Island of Rejarvak, 3000 miles east of Egypt-

The crew -of the Florida had catiously gone ashore the mysterious island at the same point where the 3 caravels were anchored. Leon, pointing at 5 of his men, took one of the launches of the Florida to scout the 3 caravels to see if there were any survivors.

On the beach were many dead bodies, mostly Spainish, although there were bodies of some incredibly large men, almost 6-7 feet tall. The acidic smell of gunpowder still rose from the battlefield, as Leon was now sure it was, and masses of strangely crafted arrows lay in the dead Spainish soldiers. A fierce fight had taken place here, who won though could only be told if anyone on board the ships still remained alive.

Considering this on board the launch, Leon realized that they were very close to the nearest ship, also the largest one, with the name Santa Maria emblazoned on the side.

"Captain, we are ready for you to board," said the sailor who had climbed up to the deck. Climbing carefully up the rope that connected the launch to the Santa Maria, Leon got his first look at a gory scene of blood and destruction. A gaping hole was in the center of the deck, with ominous looking blood stains around it. On one part of the hole two legs remained, looking as if whatever hit the ship had taken the man but left the legs. near the door that obviously led below deck and to the cabins was a Egyptian pinned to the wood by a spear sticking through him. At the looks of this one of the crew members crossed themselves and said, "May God have mercy on their poor souls."

Below decks was just as bad, they had obviously been caught by surprise, and those who were not killed by the large rock obivously flung by cattapult that went right through the ship, appeared to have at least 2-3 arrows through them. Only 2 men appeared to have managed to put up a fight, dying with sword in hand and one of the swords soaked in blood. The stench of the decay and death led to one of Leon's crew vomiting and fainting. The rest felt nearly the same way.

Suddenly a noise was heard behind a door marked "Captain's Quarters". Signalling to his men to load their muskets, Leon catiously approached the door with sword drawn.

With a kick and a war cry Leon burst through the door to find a barely alive Spainard which he recognized as Christobal Colon from their brief meeting at the Palace of Thebes. He was soaked in blood, four of the strange men lay dead around him. Being pinned crucifix-style to the wall of his own cabin, Christobal gave a weak laugh at the entry of Leon and his crew.

"Damn fools," he said,"You must leave this island, it is populated by savages who wouldn't mind slitting your throats as you sleep. They wouldn't even agree to a simple tribute, for God's sake!" "You asked them, for tribute," asked Leon incredously, "You must have realized that they would rather fight than give tribute, tribute is the ways followed only by our semi-barbaric homeland in Spain." Just as surprised Christobal said, "Well of course, isn't it the right of master races to gain tribute from the lessers?" Disgustedly Leon said, "I am horrified I am part of your race and you deserved everything you recieved here," and turned to leave the boat and find the people that Christobal had termed "savages".

ChrisiusMaximus · April 9, 2003, 21:12