Naval Skirmish: The False Flag

The Hook

Ambush at sea by pirates pretending to be Bluebeard’s men.
Loot or documents hint at the Isle de Gros Garçon as Bluebeard's base.

Admiralty Orders

Aboard HMS Resolute, Nassau Harbour

July 1715

To Lieutenant Alfred Fairweather, Royal Navy

Sir,

Your conduct during the recent operations against the pirate conspirators at Nassau has been brought to my favourable notice.

Whilst your methods continue to display an alarming disregard for established procedure, I am reluctantly compelled to admit that they have also produced results.

Accordingly, by authority vested in me as Senior Naval Officer upon this station, and pending confirmation by Their Lordships of the Admiralty, you are hereby appointed Master and Commander of His Majesty's Sloop Swift.

You will proceed immediately to independent command.

Your orders are as follows:

Intercept suspicious vessels operating under false colours.
Render every assistance to His Majesty's Governors in suppressing piracy.
Avoid unnecessary heroics.

I draw your attention particularly to the final instruction, which I have found you possess a remarkable talent for disregarding.

Mr. Crane is to remain attached to your command as Surgeon and Interpreter.

Lieutenant Edward Bressington will continue to command the embarked detachment of Royal Marines.

Sailing Master Hepzibah Mott has, for reasons known only to Providence, volunteered to accompany you...

Endeavour to remain alive long enough to inform me of events.

May God preserve you.

Captain Kenneth Hawke, RN

"The King's Hound"

HM Sloop Swift off the Nassau reef

Scenario Three

The False Flag

"Not every black flag belongs to the same pirate."

Time

Two days after the brawl at the Broken Compass.

Location

The reefs north-east of New Providence.

Fairweather has persuaded Captain Hawke to let him investigate one of the strange channels marked only on his own charts.

Accompanied by Surgeon Crane aboard the Royal Navy Sloop of War Swift, they set sail at dawn. Near midday... Smoke is sighted.

A brig is sighted flying the dreaded black flag. The same flag described by survivors of the Burning Sloop. Fairweather finally has his chance to confront Bluebeard.

Forces

Royal Navy

HM Sloop of War Swift

Captain:

Lt. Alfred Fairweather (Experienced)

Passengers

Surgeon Tobias Crane

Crew

Veteran Sailors
Royal Marines

Pirate Force

Brig Santa Muerte

Captain Esteban Calderón

Veteran Sailors

Spanish Marines

Several crew wear black scarves and false beards to imitate Bluebeard's notorious followers.

Background

Unknown to the Royal Navy...

Captain Calderón is no pirate. Not exactly.

He is a licensed Spanish privateer and his papers are genuine, his commission legal. His methods... Less so.

He has been paid to impersonate Bluebeard and draw British patrols away from the real pirate's movements.

Battlefield

A 4' x 4' sea table.

Includes:

Large reef
Two small rocky islets
A narrow navigable channel (known only to Fairweather)
Trade wind blowing steadily.

Deployment

The brig begins under false colours. At long range she flies a British merchant ensign. Only when within pistol shot...

The colours are hauled down. The Black Flag rises. Spanish marines cheer.

Special Rule

False Colours

Until the brig reveals herself:
Royal Navy ships may not fire.
After the reveal
Both crews immediately gain one free Command Point.

Fairweather's Charts

Once each turn Fairweather may attempt a Navigation test.

Success allows:

Ignore reef penalties.

Gain an extra movement.

Force the enemy to test for grounding.

Calderón's Discipline

Unlike pirates:

Spanish crew reload normally.

Ignore first failed Resolve test.

Receive bonus dice when firing from prepared positions.

Crane's Medical Skill

Once during the battle:

A wounded officer immediately returns with one wound remaining.

Remove one fatigue from a crew.

Boarding

Calderón avoids boarding unless forced.

His plan is to cripple the British vessel with disciplined broadsides before withdrawing.

If boarding becomes unavoidable...

His marines fight like regular soldiers rather than pirates.

Hidden Objective

After crippling the brig, the British may search her captain's cabin.

Roll D6.

1-2

Worthless cargo.

3-4

Spanish Letters of Marque.

Calderón is operating legally... or appears to be.

5

A coded journal.

6

The prize.

The Map Case

Inside a locked chart tube lies a beautifully drawn French chart. One island has been circled. Written beside it: Isle de Gros Garçon. Underneath: "Deliver the prisoners here." It has no signature, only a small blue wax seal bearing a trident.

Calderón's Secret

If captured alive, Calderón smiles politely.

"You are chasing the wrong man, Lieutenant. I've never met Bluebeard....but I know who pays him."

Whether that's true is anyone's guess. Calderón is a consummate liar when it suits him.

Victory Conditions

Royal Navy

Capture Calderón alive (+3)
Recover the chart tube (+3)
Prevent the brig escaping (+2)
Keep HMS Swift afloat (+2)

Calderón

Escape the table (+3)
Sink or cripple HMS Swift (+3)
Destroy the chart tube before capture (+2)
Leave the British convinced Bluebeard was responsible (+2)

Campaign Epilogue

If Fairweather and Crane recover the chart, Hawke finally accepts that the investigation has uncovered something far larger than ordinary piracy. Someone is orchestrating attacks under Bluebeard's name, using forged colours, false witnesses and hired captains to conceal a hidden base at Isle de Gros Garçon.

The campaign now shifts from investigation to expedition. The Royal Navy knows where to look—but not what waits there. And somewhere beyond the reefs, the real Bluebeard is doubtless smiling, content that his enemies have only just begun to understand the game he's been playing.

2nd Lieutenant Leslie "Twitchy" Balls

"Ding Dong!"

Role: Royal Navy Officer
Officer Type: Naval Lieutenant (Untested)

Personality
Neat, soft-spoken and perpetually twitchy, Balls gives the impression of a man who would rather be anywhere else. He startles at cannon fire, apologises before giving orders and is forever straightening his neckcloth. Yet the moment cutlasses leave their scabbards, he becomes a fearless and remarkably gifted swordsman. His cry of "Ding Dong!" usually signals that someone is about to lose a duel.

Strengths

Superb swordsman and boarding leader.
Commands his sailors with quiet confidence.
Exceptionally brave in close combat.
Completely loyal to Lieutenant Fairweather and Captain Hawke.

Flaw
His nervous manner causes both enemies and allies to underestimate him. He has little patience for prolonged musket duels and is often eager to close with the enemy before the moment is tactically ideal.

Favourite Saying
"Ding Dong... I do believe that's the signal to board!"

Sailing Master Hepzibah "The Unsinkable" Mott

"The Unsinkable Mott"

Role: Sailing Master & Navigator
Officer Type: Naval Specialist (Experienced)

Personality
An old salt with a mischievous grin, an inexhaustible stock of sea stories and an uncanny instinct for wind and tide. Mott has served in His Majesty's Navy for over forty years, surviving storms, mutinies, battles, shipwrecks and more than one court martial. Nobody is entirely certain how he remains afloat—or in uniform. He is rarely seen without a clay pipe and a knowing chuckle.

Strengths

Master navigator in coastal waters.
Expert at handling ships through reefs, shoals and narrow channels.
Inspires confidence in sailors through long experience.
Unflappable under fire and during heavy weather.

Favourite Saying
"Ho, ho... I've run aground in better places than this!"

Three Midshipmen:

◊ Midshipmen

A low level officer. He also traditionally leads boarding parties, boars and is responsible for learning the duties of an officer.

Nationality/Faction: Navies

Unit Restrictions: Any with Sailors

Sailors. Only one Midshipman may

be added per Force.

Command Range: 3"

Command Points: 1 (Grapple, Charge, and Fight

Actions only)

Special Rules: Hard Chargers and pistol shot

shot

Midshipman Tibulus Hathershaw

"The Greenhorn"

Nationality/Faction: Royal Navy
Role: Midshipman

Personality
Fresh from the Naval Academy, Tibulus knows every regulation by heart but has yet to discover his sea legs. He turns a delicate shade of green whenever the Swift leaves harbour, much to the amusement of the crew.

Quote

"I assure you, sir... I'm only inspecting the lee rail."

Midshipman Benjamin "Blondie" Fredriksen
"The Silent Dane"

Nationality/Faction: Royal Navy
Role: Midshipman

Personality
Tall, fair-haired and unnervingly quiet, Fredriksen speaks only when absolutely necessary. He never seems hurried, frightened or excited, even under heavy fire. The sailors find him deeply unsettling.

Quote

"If we are to board, sir... now would seem appropriate."

Midshipman Elias Bulge

"Of the Shropshire Bulges"

Nationality/Faction: Royal Navy
Role: Midshipman

Personality
Rosy-cheeked, energetic and forever introducing himself as being "of the Shropshire Bulges," Bulge volunteers for absolutely everything. Whether the Bulges are genuinely distinguished or merely enthusiastic local gentry remains a matter of debate.

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