Pirate Madagascar
- Thread starter Tynnin
- Start date
1846:
Venetian Empire: a new Doge is elected – Marco Morosini.
England-Dutch War: The opening skirmishes are fought in Australia.
Ireland: The Famine continues to worsen.
Sultanate of Algiers: Sultan Abduhamid dies and the kingdom is almost immediately beset by crisis as several try to claim the throne.
Vijayanagara Empire: The death of Ranga III (murdered) sparks revolt in the empire’s northern regions. Proudha Ranga, the eldest son of the former raja, assumes the throne. Proudha first turns his attention on his court trying to flush out his father’s assassins, his purge of any opposition turns the northern revolt into an open civil war.
Spain: Ramon Cabrera (in exile with many others dissidents) raises the territory formally known as Portugal in revolt against the Queen Isabella II.
Canada/Orleans: Both Canada and Orleans begin settling lands both claim (OTL northwest United States) – several clashes are noted between trappers, settlers, and soldiers.
Orleans: First Consul Bonaparte attempts to keep relations with the Canadians civil as the Yucatan Revolt is well underway and troops were busy putting out fires (and starting fires) throughout the wide frontier.
German-Prussian War: Continues.
Zilverenland-Brazil War: Continues.
Ottoman Empire: the Suez Canal construction continues.
United Republics: Talk of annexation and war with England continues to buzz around the Congress. King Adams insists on facts and commissions a special trade journey to scout Nova Scotia and gather the opinions of the locals. In the meantime King Adams distracts the Senate and the Barons by forcing them to focus on several inter-republic/baron incidents (mainly the extradition of criminals).
January 1846:
Burke arrives in Kaominina. His targets are the Mar brothers (Christopher and Michael). They were the captains of the New Wales and the Dragon respectively (a 16 gun brigantine and an 8 gun sloop). According to the information tortured out of Captain Smithy Jones the Mar brothers were meant to have joined the raid on the Rampart, but never showed. Although not guilty of the death of Augustus Kelly evidence did linked them to a few other small raids on the Kellys. Burke watched them for a few days and then made his move. The brothers frequented a brothel near the docks and one evening Burke paid off Madam Tiu to have Christopher led to a room at the back of the house (Christopher was the smaller of the brothers). After Christopher had finished with his activities, and had fallen asleep, Burked crept out of hiding. He dismissed the girl with instructions to wait three minutes and then bring Michael. Later that night, when the sounds from the room had gone quiet, Madam Tiu braved to open the door at the back of the house. She writes, “I shall never again set foot in that room. I may never set foot inside this house again. So much blood. The brothers Mar no more. Each with tongues, feet, and hands cut off. By the paths you could tell they made desperate attempts to find help, but in the end simply huddled together near the bed watching the other die. Horror, there is no other word.”
The Brothers Henry returned to Fort Dauphin. Here they tracked Thomas Cane a semi-retired pirate with links to three ships which he directed towards prizes and which continued to pay him tribute for this information. Thomas kept his head down, and figured living in a Bonny city he was safe from the other families, namely the Kellys. But pirates talk. It was discovered that although a small time bandit, Thomas was at the center of a small network of informants. The Henrys chose to strike first at the head. His death was simple. A knife thrust to his throat and one to his belly while he ate his breakfast. Next they waited for the return of the three ships.
The first to return was the Fancy under the leadership of Oliver Cox. The brothers approached the ship while in dock and requested to come aboard. They then dropped a bag of gold on the deck. They then explained that Thomas was dead and that the gold would be split among the crew once Captain Cox was dead. It didn’t take long for the crew to turn on Cox, who was beaten to death. The brothers then dropped a second bag of gold on the deck and said that this one would go to the new captain. They hoped for a show, but the crew handled the choice in calm eventually naming Steven Ambrose as captain.
Two days later the Tiger returned to Fort Dauphin. The brothers again requested to board, and again explained that Thomas (and now Oliver) was dead, and again offered the gold to the crew upon the death of Captain Raymond Smith. Smith managed to talk his way into a number of cohorts, but a second bag of gold swayed enough of the crew that a brawl was instigated. Smith and his loyalists were all killed. As before, the Henrys offered another bag of gold to the new captain. This time they got their show. Several shots were fired and swords were drawn again. With twenty-seven men dead victory went to Tukoji, a thin man with amazing sword skills.
It was a week more before the Henrys heard of the return of the third ship. The Thrush was captained by Herman Milan. As before, gold was offered and the information about the deaths of Thomas, Oliver, and Raymond was passed along. Before any action could be taken Milan threw himself at the brothers and beg for mercy (Herman was planning on skipping out on his crew, who had never fully liked him, and were ready to turn against him). As Milan begged he was run through from behind. Flora Burn held the sword and claimed the captaincy. Though disappointed in the lack of show, the brothers gave Flora the bag of gold meant for the new captain.
February 1846:
Burke was in Toamasina at this time. He was on the trail of a Chatur Madan, captain of the Sahen (a 10 gun junk). He spent several days in Toamasina before going before King Rija (1). A letter, written by Grace Kelly, was presented and then Burke asked for help in finding Chatur Madan. Guards, pirates, and Foremen were sent into the city and within hours Chatur was pulled, nearly dead drunk, from the stables behind a tavern. Chatur was held between to guards as Burke and King Rija approached. Rija asked what should be done with Chatur, whereupon Burke asked to be left alone with Chatur. Within twenty minutes Burke reappeared, leaving behind a body with no feet, hands, or tongue. In thanks for the assistance Burke named Rija the new captain of the Sahen and then departed.
As it turned out the Brothers Henry were also in Toamasina at the same time as Burke. The overlap was only a few days. The Henrys were trailing a captain by the name of Benjamin Johnson. Johnson was a captain with a vengeful reputation. He was cruel and cunning, with a fiercely loyal crew. He captained a 25 gun frigate by the name of Triumphant (2). Thomas Henry went aboard as a recruit while Frederick Henry stowed away. Two days out from Toamasina with a course set for Fort Dauphin, The Brothers set in motion their act of revenge. They killed the night watch and the helmsmen and then locked down the hatches and the captain’s quarters. They were in the longboat rowing to safety when Thomas fired a single flaming arrow. When the arrow struck the deck the ship was engulfed in flames, followed by explosions as the fire found the grenades left behind.
March 1846:
At the beginning of the month Burke was in Manakara in search of James Lagoon. Lagoon was a young captain who sailed with three other young captains, and although their collective professed no High Captain the word was that they followed Lagoon’s lead (3). However, by now rumors were circulating about the assignations, and Burke soon discovered that the collective had had a falling out and scattered – with Lagoon’s ship leaving without him. Lagoon left the town two days before Burke arrived and Burke immediately set out in pursuit as soon as he discovered this news. Burke caught up to Lagoon near the town of Ambositra (Lagoon wasn’t even staying in town, but camped nearby). The following morning Lagoon was found dead on the road outside of town with his feet, hands, and tongue cut off.
April 1846:
Admiral Henry must have been happy with the news he was receiving from his nephews (and Burke via Grace) for he issued a decree that there would be a Grand Games in August.
Jacob Kelly travels to Morondava to check on the construction of the new Kelly ships. It is believed that it was at this time that Jacob first meets his future wife Rosoalona (first mate aboard the 20 gun brig Banshee) (4).
May-July 1846:
Little of interest.
August 1846:
It had been five years since the last Grand Games and the Colony was eager for such a celebration. It was time to step out of the shadow of the internal troubles of the last few years (the Bonny Family feud, the attacks on the major families, the rash of assassinations) (5). Each of the major towns held a feast and Broadside and Lacrosse games.
As well as the customary Labor teams for broadside and lacrosse, this year there was also a Labor ship to be entered into The Race (sailing out from Fort Hendrick, the Saint George). Also new this year to the games was some special participants and spectators. There were special envoys sent by Kings Muteba Munying of Lunda and Abeto Azequ of Ethiopia; as well as a Broadside and Lacrosse team sent from New Mission as part of the Zululand contingent (which was joined by King Dingane himself).
Thirty-two ships were registered for The Race and each was ready to make a name and claim the purse. Admiral Henry officially opened the events at noon. Three canons were fired, each a minute apart; as the third one sounded the ships in the harbor made sail.
As The Race was underway, and messenger ships and runners were strategically placed around the Island to furry updates to the towns, Admiral Henry, guests, players, and spectators turned their attention on the Broadside and Lacrosse games.
Seventeen teams of both Boardside and Lacrosse were assembled. In the past teams would challenge each other to battle, but this year Admiral Henry introduced a random pick. A painted stone, representing each team, was placed in a bag and then pulled at random. The winners would be placed back in the bag and pulled to play another match – and so on until a final winner was crowned (the matches would be fought over a 5 day period).
The matches after the first draw (there doesn’t seem to have been an individual draw for both Broadside and Lacrosse for this first round):
Port Mission vs Fort Hendrick
Jamestown vs Jamestown Laborers
Iharana vs Fort Dauphin
New Mission vs Fort Hendrick Laborers
Toamasina vs Manakara
Morondava vs Port Mission Laborers
Fort Dauphin Laborers vs Morondava Laborers
Kaominina vs Iharana Laborers
The odd number forced out one of the labor teams, it was decided that the Kaominina Laborers would be sent home.
The winners at the end of the first round:
For Lacrosse:
Port Mission
Jamestown
Fort Dauphin
New Mission
Toamasina
Port Mission Laborers
Fort Dauphin Laborers
Kaominina
For Broadside:
Port Mission
Jamestown Laborers
Iharana
Fort Hendrick Laborers
Manakara
Port Mission Laborers
Fort Dauphin Laborers
Iharana Laborers
The drawing of the second set of matches:
For Lacrosse:
Port Mission vs Toamasina
Jamestown vs Port Mission Laborers
Fort Dauphin vs Fort Dauphin Laborers
New Mission vs Kaominina
For Broadside:
Port Mission vs Fort Hendrick Laborers
Iharana vs Manakara
Jamestown Laborers vs Iharana Laborers
Port Mission Laborers vs Fort Dauphin Laborers
The Winners after the second round:
For Lacrosse:
Port Mission
Jamestown
Fort Dauphin
Kaominina
For Broadside:
Port Mission
Manakara
Iharana Laborers
Fort Dauphin Laborers
The drawings for the third match:
For Lacrosse:
Port Mission vs Jamestown
Fort Dauphin vs Kaominina
For Broadside:
Port Mission vs Fort Dauphin Laborers
Manakara vs Iharana Laborers
The winers after the third round:
For Lacorsse:
Port Mission
Kaominina
For Broadside:
Fort Dauphin Laborers
Iharana Laborers
The final match:
The Lacrosse game between Port Mission and Kaominina went smoothly by all accounts with only one head wound and one broken leg. The Port Mission team is named the victor.
The final Broadside match, however, was brutal as both Labor teams fought not so much for the purse, but for their freedom. There are three deaths and a long list of other recorded injuries. In the end it was the labor team from Iharana which won the match.
So crowded was the field of battle for The Race that several collisions occurred as ships made their way out of the port. The rough jockeying for position continued with a notable altercation between the Bone Yard and the Anne Marie (ships out from Iharana) – shots were fired taking both ships from the tournament.
As the armada approached the simulated attacks between Manakara and Fort Dauphin the number of ships dwindled so that as the ships rounded Fort Dauphin the fleet had been reduced by half. At the head of the pack was the Rampart, with the Tew (winner of the 1840 Grand Games, although now under a new captain), Hook and Claw, Colmillo, Punishment, Lord Steede, and the Saint George close behind. The steamship Phoenix, the only steam ship in the race this year, held a good position at the back of this leading group.
As the vessels approached the second round of simulated attacks between Morondava and New Arradon the ships had changed position. The Rampart, Hook and Claw, Colmillo and Lord Steede had all drifted towards the back of the pack. While the Phoenix, Tew, and the Saint George had taken over the lead.
As the armada approached Kaominina the ranks had been thinned to ten ships with the Phoenix and the Tew at the head. As the ships rounded the north the Saint George briefly held the command position before being over taken by the Phoenix, which held the lead shortly before mechanical problems caused the ship to drop out of the race.
As Port Mission came into view the pack had been reduced to eight with the Tew, Lord Steede, Colmillo and the Rampart close to victory. It is however, the Punishment, which took damage and was almost lost near Morondava, with a surge of speed (the dumping of everything, including cannons) that takes the lead into the harbor. Captain Horatio Reach of the Punishment (20-gun brigantine) is named the victor.
September 1846:
Harold Jones retires as captain of the Rampart and passes the ship (with Grace’s blessings) to his son Tamo.
Burke travels to Fort Hendrick following news gathered during the Grand Games that another name on his list favored that port. He finds Nicholas Potter in the custody of Captain Guerra, whom Potter had fled to in the hopes of being granted protection (Guerra, when he learned why Potter was looking for protection, locked him up). Potter’s body (without tongue, feet, or hands) lay in the streets outside the fort for three days before being dumped into the sea.
October 1846:
Jacob returns again to Morondava (ostensibly to check on the ships). His previous trips lasted less than a week; this visit had him staying for nearly a month. His courtship of Rosoalona beings.
The Brothers Henry, back in Port Mission, discovers a plot to kill Admiral Henry. They were following word that George Baggs had come to town (after first looking for him in Iharana and Jamestown). The Brothers are unable to find George, and so turn to some of George’s crew. The crew of the Avery was under orders to stay aboard ship and be on alert. However, not all obeyed the order, and the Brothers found two such folk in the Mission Inn. It was easy to extract the information the Brothers wanted. They now knew that George, and several other pirates, were in town with the plan to kill Admiral Henry, the Captains Council, and blow up Mission House. The mutineers were not meeting in one place and were instead using children to messages information back and forth to each other. The Henry brothers spent the next few days watching the streets and the comings and goings of the children before deciding on following certain ones. They were led to Peter Flock, a pirate who wasn’t on their list. They beat him for information and then killed him. Now the brothers knew where to expect George and his mutineers. On the 21st of October, as the Council of Captains met, George Baggs marched on Mission House. Assuming he would only have to face a dozen or so Foremen, George rushed the gates. It must have been a surprise when the gates opened – and much more of a surprise when it was revealed that four cannons and over a hundred pirates waited for them. The cannons fired the instant the gates were opened. After the cannons sounded George’s supporter (numbering about 70) fled, with most being cut down. George himself was shot dead in the first volley.
November-December 1846:
The rival pirates collapsed in the ending days of 1846. Many, rather than keeping their heads down and hoping not to get caught, fled for distant lands.
Notes:
1) Burke in Toamasina: Burke knew his target was in town because of his ship. However, after two days of being unable to locate Chantur, and not wanting him to slip away, Burke swam out during the night and damaged the ruder in order to keep the ship in bay.
2) Benjamin Johnson: He could have been an elite of the Colony. Although bad tempered and ruthless his skill and leadership would have made him a figure of authority very easily. However, he hated the established families and working with other pirates. He found the Code the colony lived under to be a mockery of what it was to be a pirate. He attacked who he wanted, when he wanted, without regard for the official sanctions from the admiral and Council of Captains. He is quoted as having said, “I’d rather die in my bed, and old man, than spend one minute discussing how best to use laborers.”
3) Captain Lagoon: He was a Lussian and devote follower of Lussan’s ways. He made his crew pray each morning and so influential was he among his collective that when they met before battle he would force each captain and crew to pray. It is believed that when he was abandoned by his collective and crew that he was trying to make it to Antananarivo to seek protection from Vicar Lagrange.
4) The Banshee: It was a 25-gun brig captained by Ann Bart. The crew was mostly female, hunting mainly Ottoman and Vijayanagaraian ships. She sailed out of Morondava for a few different reasons. Bart operated as a nominal Kelly loyalist. They were also protected by the Elder Council as two of the crew were daughters of members. Captain Bart also gained much enjoyment out of the irritation caused by her ship among the youth movement in and around Morondava. Among the population (mostly the young) it was believed that pirates had polluted the ancient ways. The Banshee was seen as a perfect example of this as the crew was pirate and mostly women. Rosoalona was viewed by some as the epitome of what was wrong with their people. She was herself (what some considered) of mixed blood (mother was French), plus she was the daughter of an Elder who was allowing his daughter to gallivant around no a pirate ship. None of this seems to have mattered to the young lovers of Rosoalona and Jacob Kelly. They met by accident and continued to see each other when both were in Morondava.
5) Tribute to Augustus Kelly: Although nothing official has ever been found some scholars wonder at the timing of the Grand Games of this year.
Venetian Empire: a new Doge is elected – Marco Morosini.
England-Dutch War: The opening skirmishes are fought in Australia.
Ireland: The Famine continues to worsen.
Sultanate of Algiers: Sultan Abduhamid dies and the kingdom is almost immediately beset by crisis as several try to claim the throne.
Vijayanagara Empire: The death of Ranga III (murdered) sparks revolt in the empire’s northern regions. Proudha Ranga, the eldest son of the former raja, assumes the throne. Proudha first turns his attention on his court trying to flush out his father’s assassins, his purge of any opposition turns the northern revolt into an open civil war.
Spain: Ramon Cabrera (in exile with many others dissidents) raises the territory formally known as Portugal in revolt against the Queen Isabella II.
Canada/Orleans: Both Canada and Orleans begin settling lands both claim (OTL northwest United States) – several clashes are noted between trappers, settlers, and soldiers.
Orleans: First Consul Bonaparte attempts to keep relations with the Canadians civil as the Yucatan Revolt is well underway and troops were busy putting out fires (and starting fires) throughout the wide frontier.
German-Prussian War: Continues.
Zilverenland-Brazil War: Continues.
Ottoman Empire: the Suez Canal construction continues.
United Republics: Talk of annexation and war with England continues to buzz around the Congress. King Adams insists on facts and commissions a special trade journey to scout Nova Scotia and gather the opinions of the locals. In the meantime King Adams distracts the Senate and the Barons by forcing them to focus on several inter-republic/baron incidents (mainly the extradition of criminals).
January 1846:
Burke arrives in Kaominina. His targets are the Mar brothers (Christopher and Michael). They were the captains of the New Wales and the Dragon respectively (a 16 gun brigantine and an 8 gun sloop). According to the information tortured out of Captain Smithy Jones the Mar brothers were meant to have joined the raid on the Rampart, but never showed. Although not guilty of the death of Augustus Kelly evidence did linked them to a few other small raids on the Kellys. Burke watched them for a few days and then made his move. The brothers frequented a brothel near the docks and one evening Burke paid off Madam Tiu to have Christopher led to a room at the back of the house (Christopher was the smaller of the brothers). After Christopher had finished with his activities, and had fallen asleep, Burked crept out of hiding. He dismissed the girl with instructions to wait three minutes and then bring Michael. Later that night, when the sounds from the room had gone quiet, Madam Tiu braved to open the door at the back of the house. She writes, “I shall never again set foot in that room. I may never set foot inside this house again. So much blood. The brothers Mar no more. Each with tongues, feet, and hands cut off. By the paths you could tell they made desperate attempts to find help, but in the end simply huddled together near the bed watching the other die. Horror, there is no other word.”
The Brothers Henry returned to Fort Dauphin. Here they tracked Thomas Cane a semi-retired pirate with links to three ships which he directed towards prizes and which continued to pay him tribute for this information. Thomas kept his head down, and figured living in a Bonny city he was safe from the other families, namely the Kellys. But pirates talk. It was discovered that although a small time bandit, Thomas was at the center of a small network of informants. The Henrys chose to strike first at the head. His death was simple. A knife thrust to his throat and one to his belly while he ate his breakfast. Next they waited for the return of the three ships.
The first to return was the Fancy under the leadership of Oliver Cox. The brothers approached the ship while in dock and requested to come aboard. They then dropped a bag of gold on the deck. They then explained that Thomas was dead and that the gold would be split among the crew once Captain Cox was dead. It didn’t take long for the crew to turn on Cox, who was beaten to death. The brothers then dropped a second bag of gold on the deck and said that this one would go to the new captain. They hoped for a show, but the crew handled the choice in calm eventually naming Steven Ambrose as captain.
Two days later the Tiger returned to Fort Dauphin. The brothers again requested to board, and again explained that Thomas (and now Oliver) was dead, and again offered the gold to the crew upon the death of Captain Raymond Smith. Smith managed to talk his way into a number of cohorts, but a second bag of gold swayed enough of the crew that a brawl was instigated. Smith and his loyalists were all killed. As before, the Henrys offered another bag of gold to the new captain. This time they got their show. Several shots were fired and swords were drawn again. With twenty-seven men dead victory went to Tukoji, a thin man with amazing sword skills.
It was a week more before the Henrys heard of the return of the third ship. The Thrush was captained by Herman Milan. As before, gold was offered and the information about the deaths of Thomas, Oliver, and Raymond was passed along. Before any action could be taken Milan threw himself at the brothers and beg for mercy (Herman was planning on skipping out on his crew, who had never fully liked him, and were ready to turn against him). As Milan begged he was run through from behind. Flora Burn held the sword and claimed the captaincy. Though disappointed in the lack of show, the brothers gave Flora the bag of gold meant for the new captain.
February 1846:
Burke was in Toamasina at this time. He was on the trail of a Chatur Madan, captain of the Sahen (a 10 gun junk). He spent several days in Toamasina before going before King Rija (1). A letter, written by Grace Kelly, was presented and then Burke asked for help in finding Chatur Madan. Guards, pirates, and Foremen were sent into the city and within hours Chatur was pulled, nearly dead drunk, from the stables behind a tavern. Chatur was held between to guards as Burke and King Rija approached. Rija asked what should be done with Chatur, whereupon Burke asked to be left alone with Chatur. Within twenty minutes Burke reappeared, leaving behind a body with no feet, hands, or tongue. In thanks for the assistance Burke named Rija the new captain of the Sahen and then departed.
As it turned out the Brothers Henry were also in Toamasina at the same time as Burke. The overlap was only a few days. The Henrys were trailing a captain by the name of Benjamin Johnson. Johnson was a captain with a vengeful reputation. He was cruel and cunning, with a fiercely loyal crew. He captained a 25 gun frigate by the name of Triumphant (2). Thomas Henry went aboard as a recruit while Frederick Henry stowed away. Two days out from Toamasina with a course set for Fort Dauphin, The Brothers set in motion their act of revenge. They killed the night watch and the helmsmen and then locked down the hatches and the captain’s quarters. They were in the longboat rowing to safety when Thomas fired a single flaming arrow. When the arrow struck the deck the ship was engulfed in flames, followed by explosions as the fire found the grenades left behind.
March 1846:
At the beginning of the month Burke was in Manakara in search of James Lagoon. Lagoon was a young captain who sailed with three other young captains, and although their collective professed no High Captain the word was that they followed Lagoon’s lead (3). However, by now rumors were circulating about the assignations, and Burke soon discovered that the collective had had a falling out and scattered – with Lagoon’s ship leaving without him. Lagoon left the town two days before Burke arrived and Burke immediately set out in pursuit as soon as he discovered this news. Burke caught up to Lagoon near the town of Ambositra (Lagoon wasn’t even staying in town, but camped nearby). The following morning Lagoon was found dead on the road outside of town with his feet, hands, and tongue cut off.
April 1846:
Admiral Henry must have been happy with the news he was receiving from his nephews (and Burke via Grace) for he issued a decree that there would be a Grand Games in August.
Jacob Kelly travels to Morondava to check on the construction of the new Kelly ships. It is believed that it was at this time that Jacob first meets his future wife Rosoalona (first mate aboard the 20 gun brig Banshee) (4).
May-July 1846:
Little of interest.
August 1846:
It had been five years since the last Grand Games and the Colony was eager for such a celebration. It was time to step out of the shadow of the internal troubles of the last few years (the Bonny Family feud, the attacks on the major families, the rash of assassinations) (5). Each of the major towns held a feast and Broadside and Lacrosse games.
As well as the customary Labor teams for broadside and lacrosse, this year there was also a Labor ship to be entered into The Race (sailing out from Fort Hendrick, the Saint George). Also new this year to the games was some special participants and spectators. There were special envoys sent by Kings Muteba Munying of Lunda and Abeto Azequ of Ethiopia; as well as a Broadside and Lacrosse team sent from New Mission as part of the Zululand contingent (which was joined by King Dingane himself).
Thirty-two ships were registered for The Race and each was ready to make a name and claim the purse. Admiral Henry officially opened the events at noon. Three canons were fired, each a minute apart; as the third one sounded the ships in the harbor made sail.
As The Race was underway, and messenger ships and runners were strategically placed around the Island to furry updates to the towns, Admiral Henry, guests, players, and spectators turned their attention on the Broadside and Lacrosse games.
Seventeen teams of both Boardside and Lacrosse were assembled. In the past teams would challenge each other to battle, but this year Admiral Henry introduced a random pick. A painted stone, representing each team, was placed in a bag and then pulled at random. The winners would be placed back in the bag and pulled to play another match – and so on until a final winner was crowned (the matches would be fought over a 5 day period).
The matches after the first draw (there doesn’t seem to have been an individual draw for both Broadside and Lacrosse for this first round):
Port Mission vs Fort Hendrick
Jamestown vs Jamestown Laborers
Iharana vs Fort Dauphin
New Mission vs Fort Hendrick Laborers
Toamasina vs Manakara
Morondava vs Port Mission Laborers
Fort Dauphin Laborers vs Morondava Laborers
Kaominina vs Iharana Laborers
The odd number forced out one of the labor teams, it was decided that the Kaominina Laborers would be sent home.
The winners at the end of the first round:
For Lacrosse:
Port Mission
Jamestown
Fort Dauphin
New Mission
Toamasina
Port Mission Laborers
Fort Dauphin Laborers
Kaominina
For Broadside:
Port Mission
Jamestown Laborers
Iharana
Fort Hendrick Laborers
Manakara
Port Mission Laborers
Fort Dauphin Laborers
Iharana Laborers
The drawing of the second set of matches:
For Lacrosse:
Port Mission vs Toamasina
Jamestown vs Port Mission Laborers
Fort Dauphin vs Fort Dauphin Laborers
New Mission vs Kaominina
For Broadside:
Port Mission vs Fort Hendrick Laborers
Iharana vs Manakara
Jamestown Laborers vs Iharana Laborers
Port Mission Laborers vs Fort Dauphin Laborers
The Winners after the second round:
For Lacrosse:
Port Mission
Jamestown
Fort Dauphin
Kaominina
For Broadside:
Port Mission
Manakara
Iharana Laborers
Fort Dauphin Laborers
The drawings for the third match:
For Lacrosse:
Port Mission vs Jamestown
Fort Dauphin vs Kaominina
For Broadside:
Port Mission vs Fort Dauphin Laborers
Manakara vs Iharana Laborers
The winers after the third round:
For Lacorsse:
Port Mission
Kaominina
For Broadside:
Fort Dauphin Laborers
Iharana Laborers
The final match:
The Lacrosse game between Port Mission and Kaominina went smoothly by all accounts with only one head wound and one broken leg. The Port Mission team is named the victor.
The final Broadside match, however, was brutal as both Labor teams fought not so much for the purse, but for their freedom. There are three deaths and a long list of other recorded injuries. In the end it was the labor team from Iharana which won the match.
So crowded was the field of battle for The Race that several collisions occurred as ships made their way out of the port. The rough jockeying for position continued with a notable altercation between the Bone Yard and the Anne Marie (ships out from Iharana) – shots were fired taking both ships from the tournament.
As the armada approached the simulated attacks between Manakara and Fort Dauphin the number of ships dwindled so that as the ships rounded Fort Dauphin the fleet had been reduced by half. At the head of the pack was the Rampart, with the Tew (winner of the 1840 Grand Games, although now under a new captain), Hook and Claw, Colmillo, Punishment, Lord Steede, and the Saint George close behind. The steamship Phoenix, the only steam ship in the race this year, held a good position at the back of this leading group.
As the vessels approached the second round of simulated attacks between Morondava and New Arradon the ships had changed position. The Rampart, Hook and Claw, Colmillo and Lord Steede had all drifted towards the back of the pack. While the Phoenix, Tew, and the Saint George had taken over the lead.
As the armada approached Kaominina the ranks had been thinned to ten ships with the Phoenix and the Tew at the head. As the ships rounded the north the Saint George briefly held the command position before being over taken by the Phoenix, which held the lead shortly before mechanical problems caused the ship to drop out of the race.
As Port Mission came into view the pack had been reduced to eight with the Tew, Lord Steede, Colmillo and the Rampart close to victory. It is however, the Punishment, which took damage and was almost lost near Morondava, with a surge of speed (the dumping of everything, including cannons) that takes the lead into the harbor. Captain Horatio Reach of the Punishment (20-gun brigantine) is named the victor.
September 1846:
Harold Jones retires as captain of the Rampart and passes the ship (with Grace’s blessings) to his son Tamo.
Burke travels to Fort Hendrick following news gathered during the Grand Games that another name on his list favored that port. He finds Nicholas Potter in the custody of Captain Guerra, whom Potter had fled to in the hopes of being granted protection (Guerra, when he learned why Potter was looking for protection, locked him up). Potter’s body (without tongue, feet, or hands) lay in the streets outside the fort for three days before being dumped into the sea.
October 1846:
Jacob returns again to Morondava (ostensibly to check on the ships). His previous trips lasted less than a week; this visit had him staying for nearly a month. His courtship of Rosoalona beings.
The Brothers Henry, back in Port Mission, discovers a plot to kill Admiral Henry. They were following word that George Baggs had come to town (after first looking for him in Iharana and Jamestown). The Brothers are unable to find George, and so turn to some of George’s crew. The crew of the Avery was under orders to stay aboard ship and be on alert. However, not all obeyed the order, and the Brothers found two such folk in the Mission Inn. It was easy to extract the information the Brothers wanted. They now knew that George, and several other pirates, were in town with the plan to kill Admiral Henry, the Captains Council, and blow up Mission House. The mutineers were not meeting in one place and were instead using children to messages information back and forth to each other. The Henry brothers spent the next few days watching the streets and the comings and goings of the children before deciding on following certain ones. They were led to Peter Flock, a pirate who wasn’t on their list. They beat him for information and then killed him. Now the brothers knew where to expect George and his mutineers. On the 21st of October, as the Council of Captains met, George Baggs marched on Mission House. Assuming he would only have to face a dozen or so Foremen, George rushed the gates. It must have been a surprise when the gates opened – and much more of a surprise when it was revealed that four cannons and over a hundred pirates waited for them. The cannons fired the instant the gates were opened. After the cannons sounded George’s supporter (numbering about 70) fled, with most being cut down. George himself was shot dead in the first volley.
November-December 1846:
The rival pirates collapsed in the ending days of 1846. Many, rather than keeping their heads down and hoping not to get caught, fled for distant lands.
Notes:
1) Burke in Toamasina: Burke knew his target was in town because of his ship. However, after two days of being unable to locate Chantur, and not wanting him to slip away, Burke swam out during the night and damaged the ruder in order to keep the ship in bay.
2) Benjamin Johnson: He could have been an elite of the Colony. Although bad tempered and ruthless his skill and leadership would have made him a figure of authority very easily. However, he hated the established families and working with other pirates. He found the Code the colony lived under to be a mockery of what it was to be a pirate. He attacked who he wanted, when he wanted, without regard for the official sanctions from the admiral and Council of Captains. He is quoted as having said, “I’d rather die in my bed, and old man, than spend one minute discussing how best to use laborers.”
3) Captain Lagoon: He was a Lussian and devote follower of Lussan’s ways. He made his crew pray each morning and so influential was he among his collective that when they met before battle he would force each captain and crew to pray. It is believed that when he was abandoned by his collective and crew that he was trying to make it to Antananarivo to seek protection from Vicar Lagrange.
4) The Banshee: It was a 25-gun brig captained by Ann Bart. The crew was mostly female, hunting mainly Ottoman and Vijayanagaraian ships. She sailed out of Morondava for a few different reasons. Bart operated as a nominal Kelly loyalist. They were also protected by the Elder Council as two of the crew were daughters of members. Captain Bart also gained much enjoyment out of the irritation caused by her ship among the youth movement in and around Morondava. Among the population (mostly the young) it was believed that pirates had polluted the ancient ways. The Banshee was seen as a perfect example of this as the crew was pirate and mostly women. Rosoalona was viewed by some as the epitome of what was wrong with their people. She was herself (what some considered) of mixed blood (mother was French), plus she was the daughter of an Elder who was allowing his daughter to gallivant around no a pirate ship. None of this seems to have mattered to the young lovers of Rosoalona and Jacob Kelly. They met by accident and continued to see each other when both were in Morondava.
5) Tribute to Augustus Kelly: Although nothing official has ever been found some scholars wonder at the timing of the Grand Games of this year.
1847
England-Dutch War: The war spreads to the seas and Africa.
Ireland: The Famine continues to worsen. Maurice O’Connell is deposed as Prime Minister for reasons of not taking the food shortages seriously enough to have taken France up on offers of relief. Arthur Collins is elected the new Prime Minister.
Sultanate of Algiers: The crisis in Algiers opens up into the War of Succession. France supported Mustafa the eldest son of the former Sultan and England and the Ottoman Empire supporting Mehmed (who according to documentation was the named heir). The confrontation quickly became a resurgence of the Suez War as many of the same players contributed to the war effort.
Vijayanagara Empire: The civil war which erupted last year is crushed at the Battle of Bannihatti. What remained of the factions splinter into smaller strongholds.
Spain: Ramon Cabrera continuous the revolt against Queen Isabella II.
Orleans: The Yucatan Revolt continues.
German-Prussian War: Continues.
Zilverenland-Brazil War: Continues.
Ottoman Empire: the Suez Canal construction continues.
United Republics: Debate in the Congress is halted when King Adams collapses. He is nursed back to health, issuing orders and ruling from his bedchambers. His absents from the Congress however gave the war hawks courage to push forward with their plans to annex Nova Scotia.
January – February 1847:
Little of interest.
March 1847:
Tamo Jones, after a few months of refitting, and local patrol, goes on his first extended journey as captain of the Rampart. Captain Jones took the Rampart and offered unofficial help to the Dutch by taking on an English warship which was escorting the payroll to the Capetown garrison.
The success of the hunt prompted Captain Jones to stray from the plan to return to Madagascar waters and instead continued his journey north along the African coast harassing English ships, towns, and English loyal native villages.
April 1847:
Grace, never one to miss much, organized a surprise for her son Jacob. With the help of the Elder Council of Morondava Grace surprises Jacob and Rosoalona with a marriage ceremony. Although it is sure that she would have liked to have held the wedding in Jamestown the act of surprising her son, both with a wedding, and with knowledge that she had known about his dalliances with Rosoalona, certainly balanced the scale. This was not the only surprise of the day:
Ann Brat, captain of the Banshee, offers Rosoalona the captaincy as a wedding present (1).
Jacob, when Grace offered anything he asked for as a wedding present, asked for his own ship to captain – reluctantly Grace agrees (2).
After a week’s time Grace, Jacob, and Rosoalona departed for Jamestown aboard the Banshee. Before the end of the month Jacob was given his own ship, a war sloop which he named Jamestown.
May 1847:
The Kellys of the New World, a prominent and wealthy family within the capital of the Empire of Orleans, find their standings elevated even higher with the marriage of Christina Kelly to Henry Bonaparte (the second son of Napoleon Francois Joseph Charles Bonaparte First Consul of the Empire of Orleans) (3).
June 1847:
Little of interest.
July 1847:
The first of many ships carrying Irish families fleeing the famine in their homeland arrive in Madagascar (4). The Saint George arrived in Fort Dauphin with a cargo of firearms, rum, cotton, and metal tools – as well as three families (Boyle, Higgins and McNeil). Adam Bonny quickly befriends the new arrivals getting them jobs and adding their loyalties to his reduced ranks.
August 1847:
Little of interest.
September 1847:
A French trade ship arrives in New Arradon, traveling aboard ship are a handful of Irish immigrants.
A letter from Patrician Martin (Malagasy ambassador to the United Republics) arrives with some news which grabs the interest of Admiral Henry. Innocently, perhaps, Patrician Martin makes mention of the new arms being developed in the United Republics (a repeating revolver). The Admiral sends the Brothers Henry to steal the new weapons, the prototype, or any plans they can get their hands on.
October 1847:
New Aradon welcomes several more Irish families.
Patrician Keely speaks with Admiral Henry again on the plight of the Laborers. The cleric uses the recent influx of Irish this time in his argument. A number of Irish had recently been captured as part of the usual hunting and found themselves pressed into service aboard ships or into the labor force. Keely argued that it was against the implied nature of Lussan to capture and teat people in this way – especially those who were fleeing their homeland for their own safety. Admiral Henry countered that the laborers were fed and housed and are given several opportunities to leave the labor force. He also took great offence at when Keely referred to the laborers as slaves; he added, as a reminder, that Lussan himself was a pirate and recorded to have done a number of unsavory things.
The meeting of the Council of Captains was contentious. The war between the Dutch and the English had taken a toll on the shipment of coal of which the Bonnys were the primary users. The Admiral, however, didn’t see the issue as anything serious as the Bonnys were the chief users of the material. He was supported by the Kellys who didn’t view the drop in revenue as serious (the Kellys primarily shipped the material through their contact with the Lundanesse and the Dutch). A heated exchange erupted between Kurtis Fletcher (rep. for Fort Dauphin) and Christiaan Tibbs (rep. for Jametown). Christiaan is stabbed by Kurtis, who is forcibly removed from the meeting chamber.
Christiaan is recovers from the wound and when it was clear that he wouldn’t die Kurtis was released from holing.
Upon Fletcher’s return to Fort Dauphin Adam Bonny was furious. His mood was not improved when in a week’s time a letter arrived addressed to the Fort Dauphin city council dismissing Kurtis Fletcher from his position on the Council of Captains.
After several days of arguing, with some on the city council demanding forced retribution from Port Mission, Adam Bonny suggested a less violent response. He spoke with the local patrician about the legality of the issue and it was decided that the matter should be taken up with the Vicar.
While the city council wrangled with the legality of the dismissal Adam Bonny begins sending teams to see if coal could be found on Madagascar.
November 1847:
With Vicar Lagrange listening to threats of retaliation over the issue it is decided to request that the Admiral journey to Antananarivo at his earliest convenience to help settle the matter.
December 1847:
The Admiral arrives in Antananarivo. Within days arguments begin. Threats and oration boiled down to two arguments: Fort Dauphin argued that it is the sole right of city councils to appoint or dismiss their own representative. The Admiral argued that just like any ship, the Council of Captains had the right to dismiss unruly crew – adding that the decision was unanimous.
Vicar Lagrange listened, and although he pointed out that the decision to dismiss wasn’t unanimous – there were two abstains, he did side with the Admirals argument.
Notes:
1) Ann Brat: After five years as captain Ann gladly slips into semiretirement and passes the ship to Rosoalona. Ann enters into contract with Roso for two years and will receive 6% of the take from the Banshee’s hunts. Ann remains in Morondava (out of spite), gathering a large assortment of foremen to protect her – all of them said to have been very good looking young men.
2) Jacob Kelly: although he had some experience on ship, and the personal tutelage from his mother on running a family, his position as captain aboard the Jamestown was his first as a sole leader.
3) Christina Kelly: the daughter of Margaret Bourbon and James Kelly; James Kelly is the son of Vivian Matisse and Charles Kelly; Charles Kelly is the son of Nyaria and John Kelly, who fought his brother George for control of the Kelly Family. Christina married Henry Bonaparte the second son of Napoleon Francois Joseph Charles Bonaparte First Consul of the Empire of Orleans.
4) The Irish exodus: over the next few years approximately 2000 Irish will make their way to Madagascar, most of them young men and women. A larger portion of the emigrants will find their way to the United Republics, France, and the Empire of Orleans.
England-Dutch War: The war spreads to the seas and Africa.
Ireland: The Famine continues to worsen. Maurice O’Connell is deposed as Prime Minister for reasons of not taking the food shortages seriously enough to have taken France up on offers of relief. Arthur Collins is elected the new Prime Minister.
Sultanate of Algiers: The crisis in Algiers opens up into the War of Succession. France supported Mustafa the eldest son of the former Sultan and England and the Ottoman Empire supporting Mehmed (who according to documentation was the named heir). The confrontation quickly became a resurgence of the Suez War as many of the same players contributed to the war effort.
Vijayanagara Empire: The civil war which erupted last year is crushed at the Battle of Bannihatti. What remained of the factions splinter into smaller strongholds.
Spain: Ramon Cabrera continuous the revolt against Queen Isabella II.
Orleans: The Yucatan Revolt continues.
German-Prussian War: Continues.
Zilverenland-Brazil War: Continues.
Ottoman Empire: the Suez Canal construction continues.
United Republics: Debate in the Congress is halted when King Adams collapses. He is nursed back to health, issuing orders and ruling from his bedchambers. His absents from the Congress however gave the war hawks courage to push forward with their plans to annex Nova Scotia.
January – February 1847:
Little of interest.
March 1847:
Tamo Jones, after a few months of refitting, and local patrol, goes on his first extended journey as captain of the Rampart. Captain Jones took the Rampart and offered unofficial help to the Dutch by taking on an English warship which was escorting the payroll to the Capetown garrison.
The success of the hunt prompted Captain Jones to stray from the plan to return to Madagascar waters and instead continued his journey north along the African coast harassing English ships, towns, and English loyal native villages.
April 1847:
Grace, never one to miss much, organized a surprise for her son Jacob. With the help of the Elder Council of Morondava Grace surprises Jacob and Rosoalona with a marriage ceremony. Although it is sure that she would have liked to have held the wedding in Jamestown the act of surprising her son, both with a wedding, and with knowledge that she had known about his dalliances with Rosoalona, certainly balanced the scale. This was not the only surprise of the day:
Ann Brat, captain of the Banshee, offers Rosoalona the captaincy as a wedding present (1).
Jacob, when Grace offered anything he asked for as a wedding present, asked for his own ship to captain – reluctantly Grace agrees (2).
After a week’s time Grace, Jacob, and Rosoalona departed for Jamestown aboard the Banshee. Before the end of the month Jacob was given his own ship, a war sloop which he named Jamestown.
May 1847:
The Kellys of the New World, a prominent and wealthy family within the capital of the Empire of Orleans, find their standings elevated even higher with the marriage of Christina Kelly to Henry Bonaparte (the second son of Napoleon Francois Joseph Charles Bonaparte First Consul of the Empire of Orleans) (3).
June 1847:
Little of interest.
July 1847:
The first of many ships carrying Irish families fleeing the famine in their homeland arrive in Madagascar (4). The Saint George arrived in Fort Dauphin with a cargo of firearms, rum, cotton, and metal tools – as well as three families (Boyle, Higgins and McNeil). Adam Bonny quickly befriends the new arrivals getting them jobs and adding their loyalties to his reduced ranks.
August 1847:
Little of interest.
September 1847:
A French trade ship arrives in New Arradon, traveling aboard ship are a handful of Irish immigrants.
A letter from Patrician Martin (Malagasy ambassador to the United Republics) arrives with some news which grabs the interest of Admiral Henry. Innocently, perhaps, Patrician Martin makes mention of the new arms being developed in the United Republics (a repeating revolver). The Admiral sends the Brothers Henry to steal the new weapons, the prototype, or any plans they can get their hands on.
October 1847:
New Aradon welcomes several more Irish families.
Patrician Keely speaks with Admiral Henry again on the plight of the Laborers. The cleric uses the recent influx of Irish this time in his argument. A number of Irish had recently been captured as part of the usual hunting and found themselves pressed into service aboard ships or into the labor force. Keely argued that it was against the implied nature of Lussan to capture and teat people in this way – especially those who were fleeing their homeland for their own safety. Admiral Henry countered that the laborers were fed and housed and are given several opportunities to leave the labor force. He also took great offence at when Keely referred to the laborers as slaves; he added, as a reminder, that Lussan himself was a pirate and recorded to have done a number of unsavory things.
The meeting of the Council of Captains was contentious. The war between the Dutch and the English had taken a toll on the shipment of coal of which the Bonnys were the primary users. The Admiral, however, didn’t see the issue as anything serious as the Bonnys were the chief users of the material. He was supported by the Kellys who didn’t view the drop in revenue as serious (the Kellys primarily shipped the material through their contact with the Lundanesse and the Dutch). A heated exchange erupted between Kurtis Fletcher (rep. for Fort Dauphin) and Christiaan Tibbs (rep. for Jametown). Christiaan is stabbed by Kurtis, who is forcibly removed from the meeting chamber.
Christiaan is recovers from the wound and when it was clear that he wouldn’t die Kurtis was released from holing.
Upon Fletcher’s return to Fort Dauphin Adam Bonny was furious. His mood was not improved when in a week’s time a letter arrived addressed to the Fort Dauphin city council dismissing Kurtis Fletcher from his position on the Council of Captains.
After several days of arguing, with some on the city council demanding forced retribution from Port Mission, Adam Bonny suggested a less violent response. He spoke with the local patrician about the legality of the issue and it was decided that the matter should be taken up with the Vicar.
While the city council wrangled with the legality of the dismissal Adam Bonny begins sending teams to see if coal could be found on Madagascar.
November 1847:
With Vicar Lagrange listening to threats of retaliation over the issue it is decided to request that the Admiral journey to Antananarivo at his earliest convenience to help settle the matter.
December 1847:
The Admiral arrives in Antananarivo. Within days arguments begin. Threats and oration boiled down to two arguments: Fort Dauphin argued that it is the sole right of city councils to appoint or dismiss their own representative. The Admiral argued that just like any ship, the Council of Captains had the right to dismiss unruly crew – adding that the decision was unanimous.
Vicar Lagrange listened, and although he pointed out that the decision to dismiss wasn’t unanimous – there were two abstains, he did side with the Admirals argument.
Notes:
1) Ann Brat: After five years as captain Ann gladly slips into semiretirement and passes the ship to Rosoalona. Ann enters into contract with Roso for two years and will receive 6% of the take from the Banshee’s hunts. Ann remains in Morondava (out of spite), gathering a large assortment of foremen to protect her – all of them said to have been very good looking young men.
2) Jacob Kelly: although he had some experience on ship, and the personal tutelage from his mother on running a family, his position as captain aboard the Jamestown was his first as a sole leader.
3) Christina Kelly: the daughter of Margaret Bourbon and James Kelly; James Kelly is the son of Vivian Matisse and Charles Kelly; Charles Kelly is the son of Nyaria and John Kelly, who fought his brother George for control of the Kelly Family. Christina married Henry Bonaparte the second son of Napoleon Francois Joseph Charles Bonaparte First Consul of the Empire of Orleans.
4) The Irish exodus: over the next few years approximately 2000 Irish will make their way to Madagascar, most of them young men and women. A larger portion of the emigrants will find their way to the United Republics, France, and the Empire of Orleans.
1848
Orleans: The Yucatan Revolt is brought to an end with the burning of Campeche and the taking of Sisal. The major holdout was Merida which surrendered two weeks later. Riots in Saint Louis erupt as fighting violently escalates between Catholics and Mormons. The leader of the Mormons, Joseph Smith is killed. Infighting begins almost immediately among the possible successors – ultimately the mission broke into three major factions: Hyrum Smith, who went north; Brigham Young, who moved west; and Oliver Cowdery (a formally excommunicated member) who maintained the ministry in Saint Louis.
Ireland: French grain shipments, as well as mandatory rationing, and food banks help to stem the worst of the famine this year (payment for which was passed onto landowners forcing many poor farmers to be evicted). A restructuring of the Irish agricultural industry is undertaken.
Sultanate of Algiers: Work on the Suez Canal is halted this year during the Ottoman invasion into Egypt. The Battle of Tlemcen was fought and won – primarily due to French naval superiority (English/Mehmed armies against that of French supported Mustafa army).
Vijayanagara Empire: Another series of revolts takes place along the east and western shores. Although isolated pockets, the Raja was fighting a three front war (including the stronghold to the north). French insistence on a greater military presence to help with the unrest put strain on the Vijayanagara/French alliance.
Spain: Ramon Cabrera is captured and killed, enflaming and inspiring the revolt in the former lands of Portugal.
German-Prussian War: The Prussian army suffers a humiliating defeat at Wroclaw.
Zilverenland-Brazil War: Agents for King Pedro I stir the pot of revolution in Zilverenland to aid in the war.
United Republics: King John Quincy Adams dies. He named as his successor Henry Clay, leaving him these words – “Protect the nation by not going to war.” In a quick session of the Congress Clay was approved by both the House of Barons and the Senate. Despite likeminded views on many issues, King Clay favored the annexation of Nova Scotia and war with England. The raid of the Colt Arms Factory gave him the leverage he needed to go against the wishes of the beloved King Adams.
England-Dutch War: Continues.
The Third Boer War: The conflict with the Dutch expands into a separate conflict in South Africa once again against Dutch Farmers – who want nothing to do with their native land or the English.
England-United Republics War: The UR navy blockades Nova Scotia and lands troops.
Zululand: King Dingane dies and passes the throne of the Zulu people to his nephew Cetshwayo.
January 1848:
The Rampart returns to Malagasy waters, damaged, but with full holds. Captain Tamo Jones made the customary stop in Jamestown. Grace was of course pleased with the revenue, but the lack of discipline needed to be addressed. Tamo was privately whipped with three lashes (in front of his crew) – but publically hugged, and each member of the Rampart was given a bonus. When Tamo was well enough to set sail he did so freely as captain (with the addition of Joseph Tibbs as both cabin boy and spy/a voice for Grace to help keep Tamo in line).
February 1848:
Aboard a specially outfitted war sloop named the Buadza (1) a team of thirty pirates led by the Brothers Henry land near New Haven Connecticut. Ten men, following the brothers, make landfall and head inland towards Hartford. For a week the raiding party held outside of Hartford while the brothers observe. Conditions weren’t ideal, but the moon was waning, and not wanting to risk the cold or detection any further the brothers split their team and made for their targets under what cover the night and surprise gave them. The first part of the mission was the home of Samuel Colt; the second was the Colt Manufacturing Company. Frederick’s raid on the company building was a success taking with them files, prototypes, and munitions. The attack on Colt’s home was less successful. Although initially surprised by the home invasion Colt managed to escape capture and barricade himself in his bedroom. He held off the pirates, killing two of them. Knowing the mission had been compromised Thomas quickly ransacked the house and left without the prize of the inventor himself. Over the next four days a game of cat and mouse ensued between the fleeing pirates and the state militia. Thomas would lose another member of his crew along the journey, but managed to meet up with his brother, evade capture, and by the 5th of March were back aboard the Buadza.
The raid ranks up there with the Great Raid of 1720 in the history of the Malagasy.
March 1848:
The Banshee and the Jamestown return to the Colony for repairs and refits.
Patrician Martin (ambassador to the United Republics) is brought before the King’s Council – Minister of War Richard Rush personally questions the ambassador about the attacks on Samuel Colt and the weapons factory. Patrician Martin, knowing nothing of the raid, pleads innocent. As there is suspicion enough to implement both Orleans and England, as well as the pirates, Patrician Martin is released. Although Rush advises caution King Clay uses the suspicion that England was involved to win over opposition to the Annexation of Nova Scotia. Almost immediately Patrician Martin writes a letter to Vicar Lagrange requesting reassignment – “With no proof but for Lussan’s Eyes, I feel I have been misused.”
April 1848:
Gaston Philip Gateau, after failure to get his business off the ground, goes into business with John Schewber. Together, with a loan from the Kellys, they build a small workshop and factory (located in New Arradon) to begin producing “Bouncy Balls” (2). They find a ready workforce in the recent Irish arrivals.
May 1848:
Restless to be back on the ocean Jacob and Rosoalona set sail, this time for eastern waters.
Although the Buadza departed from Port Mission the Brothers Henry dock in Jamestown as per their orders. Admiral Henry didn’t want to chance enemy spies getting their hands on the information. Grace Kelly is most pleased with what the brothers were able to acquire and after looking over the material has a secret group begin working on developing the arms at the Forge.
June – July 1848:
Little of interest.
August 1848:
Bad luck finds the pair of pirate lovers. Even after only a few short months in the Arabian region they had managed to create a reputation for themselves for daring attacks both on land and sea. When they moved into waters around the Maldives the real trouble began for the pair. The area was under the protection of the Vijayanagara Empire and by association France. After a successful raid of a small trading village and the capture of two small French trade ships the duo settled into a cove to rest and enjoy their winnings. However, their location was betrayed by spies (3). Two French war ships engage the Banshee and the Jamestown. Heavily outgunned, and no chance of creating a close combat gambit, the pair agree to split up and draw the ships away. The plan fails right from the start when the Banshee takes two direct his – now taking on water and with a shredded mast. Captain Jacob Kelly doesn’t hesitate. He maneuvers the Jamestown ahead of the Banshee and lets fly all of his rockets. A cloud of sparks, cannon blast, and smoke envelop the area. The Banshee makes her escape while the Jamestown continues to distract the French ships.
Later, having not spotted the Jamestown for several hours, the Banshee returns to the scene of the battle. Rosoalona find debris and stranded crew, both French and pirate. She rescues the living and through their tales she discovers that the Jamestown was sunk, but not before taking out one of the war ships. With conflicting stories of some of the crew being taken captive, Rosoalona sets sail in search of the other warship. After two days of following in the wake of the French ship the Banshee comes upon a long boat with Jacob and two other pirates.
They tell a story of ten pirates captured and held aboard the warship and a daring escape with only those in the longboat to survive to tell the tale (4).
September 1848:
Still in the Maldives the Banshee finds a secluded spot for the crew to lick their wounds and make repairs.
Sadness strikes the Kelly Family when Victoria Tibbs (eldest daughter of Christiaan Tibbs and Emma Henry) drowns during a family outing. A skiff Christiaan was piloting in the Port Mission harbor, overturned, although he was able to get both himself and Victoria back to shore he was unable to revive her.
October 1848:
Even the best of the factions found it hard to keep a secret with so many ears and bribes. By the time of the Council of Captains meeting rumors were around about the raid on the UR and guesses as to what was brought back. All questions and accusations were denied. The meeting was adjourned with a heavy amount of tension.
Adam Bonny finds himself in a difficult position. Some of his survey teams reported back to him about the discovery of coal on the Colony. However, the deposits were found to be within territory under the loyalty of the Kellys – specifically within the region under the protection of Forecastle. The Kellys of Forecatle were Kellys, but not on the best of terms with the Kellys of Jamestown (5) – Adam saw possibilities, but he knew he would need to tread carefully.
Adam Bonny required more information in order to proceed so he sends the McNeil family (a brother and sister, William and Rebecca) to Forecastle. Their cover story was simple and mostly true – recently landed from Ireland and looking for a new home and a place to start over.
November 1848:
King Rija of the Betsimisaraka people steps down in favor of his daughter Rafohy upon her 16th birthday (6).
December 1848:
Patrician Keely, having taken his cause for labor reform to the people, found the most receptive minds to be among the northern territories (where labor usage was the lowest).
The Banshee arrives back in Jamestown.
Grace’s youngest child, James, eager for the sea, attempts to convince both Jacob and Grace to allow him to become a member of the Banshee crew. His request is denied (probably because the memory of Augustus' death was still fresh in her memory), however, the young man had a mind for engineering so Grace appeased him by putting him to work at the Forge under Henry Tibbs.
Notes:
1) The Buadza: it was a specialized war sloop. The hull and sails were black. She had been trimmed down for speed and long hauls. She was armed with four long range cannon and only one short. The ship was light and fast and designed to attack anyone giving chase from a far.
2) Gateau and Schewber: Gaston Gateau, a chemist who having had some success with vulcanized rubber, tried to sell is adapted “Schewber” balls but found the local market limited. John Schewber was the nephew of Julian Schewber who brought rubber to the Colony in 1812. Julian was later disgraced and the Schewber family floundered. The balls, however, eventually gained some notice with children. In 1848 the two combine their efforts, and with a loan from the Kellys, they being producing their product. Near failure continues to pursue the two of them as their one ship is captured. Unable to make their payment they go to Grace Kelly offering her a greater stake in the company which they assure her, if they can use Kelly ships and the Kelly trade network, will be worth millions. Grace accepts the offer and includes official Kelly protection – for a nominal additional fee.
3) Rosoalona and the spies: Definitive information regarding how the Banshee and the Jamestown were discovered is lacking. Spies are the most likely answer, and at the very least Rosoalona believed this. After the battle where the Banshee was forced to flee the two French warships she pulled every new crew member to the rail. The Jamestown had taken on 5 new crew in Maldives while the Banshee had taken on 8. She had every one of those 8 killed and thrown overboard. Had she found any on the Jamestown alive they most likely would have found the same fate.
4) Jacob’s escape: the truth of this is a little less dramatic but no less dangerous. Captain Rainard of the French warship was familiar with the southern waters and with the Kelly name. When he discovered who Jacob was he fear a scuffle with pirates could turn into a full out war. Rainard posted only one guard and he didn’t even lock the pirates up in chains. He allowed his men to celebrate over their victory with much more than the usual amount of wine. Then he waited for the young captain to try to escape. An alert was sounded and there was an exchange of swords thrusts but Captain Rainard was happy to see Jacob safely away. Captain Rainard later wrote a letter detailing the events. Word was eventually passed down to Louis Maret Gerard the ambassador to Port Mission. Louis expressed deep regret for the incident but explained that the Banshee and the Jamestown had sacked French holdings in excesses of the deal between Port Mission and Paris. In thanks (for the allowed escape of Jacob Kelly) and to keep good relations Admiral Henry issues a payment for the warship which was sunk.
5) Jamestown and Forecastle: both Kelly strongholds. The split initially began during the Kelly Feud between George and Charles, later continued between Thomas and Charles. The real wedge was delivered by Grace when she took control of the family from Brigit (wife of both George and later Thomas). The Forecastle Kellys did not believe in the family business and strived for a simple life. The head of the Forecastle Kellys is the aged Edward Kelly, Brigit’s son.
6) Rija steps down as king: King Rija, despite his long reign, never really enjoyed the position, preferring art and literature and a quiet life. Throughout his life, and certainly during his rule, rumors of his homosexuality plagued the court and filled the rumor mills with constant scandal and fodder. By all accounts, he maintained his position more because of pressure from his family, specifically his wife Ranavalona – however, with her death the previous year and Rafohy’s coming of age this year, he was happy to step down. For the next two years the two will effectively rule jointly with Rafohy taking on the full crown in 1850.
Orleans: The Yucatan Revolt is brought to an end with the burning of Campeche and the taking of Sisal. The major holdout was Merida which surrendered two weeks later. Riots in Saint Louis erupt as fighting violently escalates between Catholics and Mormons. The leader of the Mormons, Joseph Smith is killed. Infighting begins almost immediately among the possible successors – ultimately the mission broke into three major factions: Hyrum Smith, who went north; Brigham Young, who moved west; and Oliver Cowdery (a formally excommunicated member) who maintained the ministry in Saint Louis.
Ireland: French grain shipments, as well as mandatory rationing, and food banks help to stem the worst of the famine this year (payment for which was passed onto landowners forcing many poor farmers to be evicted). A restructuring of the Irish agricultural industry is undertaken.
Sultanate of Algiers: Work on the Suez Canal is halted this year during the Ottoman invasion into Egypt. The Battle of Tlemcen was fought and won – primarily due to French naval superiority (English/Mehmed armies against that of French supported Mustafa army).
Vijayanagara Empire: Another series of revolts takes place along the east and western shores. Although isolated pockets, the Raja was fighting a three front war (including the stronghold to the north). French insistence on a greater military presence to help with the unrest put strain on the Vijayanagara/French alliance.
Spain: Ramon Cabrera is captured and killed, enflaming and inspiring the revolt in the former lands of Portugal.
German-Prussian War: The Prussian army suffers a humiliating defeat at Wroclaw.
Zilverenland-Brazil War: Agents for King Pedro I stir the pot of revolution in Zilverenland to aid in the war.
United Republics: King John Quincy Adams dies. He named as his successor Henry Clay, leaving him these words – “Protect the nation by not going to war.” In a quick session of the Congress Clay was approved by both the House of Barons and the Senate. Despite likeminded views on many issues, King Clay favored the annexation of Nova Scotia and war with England. The raid of the Colt Arms Factory gave him the leverage he needed to go against the wishes of the beloved King Adams.
England-Dutch War: Continues.
The Third Boer War: The conflict with the Dutch expands into a separate conflict in South Africa once again against Dutch Farmers – who want nothing to do with their native land or the English.
England-United Republics War: The UR navy blockades Nova Scotia and lands troops.
Zululand: King Dingane dies and passes the throne of the Zulu people to his nephew Cetshwayo.
January 1848:
The Rampart returns to Malagasy waters, damaged, but with full holds. Captain Tamo Jones made the customary stop in Jamestown. Grace was of course pleased with the revenue, but the lack of discipline needed to be addressed. Tamo was privately whipped with three lashes (in front of his crew) – but publically hugged, and each member of the Rampart was given a bonus. When Tamo was well enough to set sail he did so freely as captain (with the addition of Joseph Tibbs as both cabin boy and spy/a voice for Grace to help keep Tamo in line).
February 1848:
Aboard a specially outfitted war sloop named the Buadza (1) a team of thirty pirates led by the Brothers Henry land near New Haven Connecticut. Ten men, following the brothers, make landfall and head inland towards Hartford. For a week the raiding party held outside of Hartford while the brothers observe. Conditions weren’t ideal, but the moon was waning, and not wanting to risk the cold or detection any further the brothers split their team and made for their targets under what cover the night and surprise gave them. The first part of the mission was the home of Samuel Colt; the second was the Colt Manufacturing Company. Frederick’s raid on the company building was a success taking with them files, prototypes, and munitions. The attack on Colt’s home was less successful. Although initially surprised by the home invasion Colt managed to escape capture and barricade himself in his bedroom. He held off the pirates, killing two of them. Knowing the mission had been compromised Thomas quickly ransacked the house and left without the prize of the inventor himself. Over the next four days a game of cat and mouse ensued between the fleeing pirates and the state militia. Thomas would lose another member of his crew along the journey, but managed to meet up with his brother, evade capture, and by the 5th of March were back aboard the Buadza.
The raid ranks up there with the Great Raid of 1720 in the history of the Malagasy.
March 1848:
The Banshee and the Jamestown return to the Colony for repairs and refits.
Patrician Martin (ambassador to the United Republics) is brought before the King’s Council – Minister of War Richard Rush personally questions the ambassador about the attacks on Samuel Colt and the weapons factory. Patrician Martin, knowing nothing of the raid, pleads innocent. As there is suspicion enough to implement both Orleans and England, as well as the pirates, Patrician Martin is released. Although Rush advises caution King Clay uses the suspicion that England was involved to win over opposition to the Annexation of Nova Scotia. Almost immediately Patrician Martin writes a letter to Vicar Lagrange requesting reassignment – “With no proof but for Lussan’s Eyes, I feel I have been misused.”
April 1848:
Gaston Philip Gateau, after failure to get his business off the ground, goes into business with John Schewber. Together, with a loan from the Kellys, they build a small workshop and factory (located in New Arradon) to begin producing “Bouncy Balls” (2). They find a ready workforce in the recent Irish arrivals.
May 1848:
Restless to be back on the ocean Jacob and Rosoalona set sail, this time for eastern waters.
Although the Buadza departed from Port Mission the Brothers Henry dock in Jamestown as per their orders. Admiral Henry didn’t want to chance enemy spies getting their hands on the information. Grace Kelly is most pleased with what the brothers were able to acquire and after looking over the material has a secret group begin working on developing the arms at the Forge.
June – July 1848:
Little of interest.
August 1848:
Bad luck finds the pair of pirate lovers. Even after only a few short months in the Arabian region they had managed to create a reputation for themselves for daring attacks both on land and sea. When they moved into waters around the Maldives the real trouble began for the pair. The area was under the protection of the Vijayanagara Empire and by association France. After a successful raid of a small trading village and the capture of two small French trade ships the duo settled into a cove to rest and enjoy their winnings. However, their location was betrayed by spies (3). Two French war ships engage the Banshee and the Jamestown. Heavily outgunned, and no chance of creating a close combat gambit, the pair agree to split up and draw the ships away. The plan fails right from the start when the Banshee takes two direct his – now taking on water and with a shredded mast. Captain Jacob Kelly doesn’t hesitate. He maneuvers the Jamestown ahead of the Banshee and lets fly all of his rockets. A cloud of sparks, cannon blast, and smoke envelop the area. The Banshee makes her escape while the Jamestown continues to distract the French ships.
Later, having not spotted the Jamestown for several hours, the Banshee returns to the scene of the battle. Rosoalona find debris and stranded crew, both French and pirate. She rescues the living and through their tales she discovers that the Jamestown was sunk, but not before taking out one of the war ships. With conflicting stories of some of the crew being taken captive, Rosoalona sets sail in search of the other warship. After two days of following in the wake of the French ship the Banshee comes upon a long boat with Jacob and two other pirates.
They tell a story of ten pirates captured and held aboard the warship and a daring escape with only those in the longboat to survive to tell the tale (4).
September 1848:
Still in the Maldives the Banshee finds a secluded spot for the crew to lick their wounds and make repairs.
Sadness strikes the Kelly Family when Victoria Tibbs (eldest daughter of Christiaan Tibbs and Emma Henry) drowns during a family outing. A skiff Christiaan was piloting in the Port Mission harbor, overturned, although he was able to get both himself and Victoria back to shore he was unable to revive her.
October 1848:
Even the best of the factions found it hard to keep a secret with so many ears and bribes. By the time of the Council of Captains meeting rumors were around about the raid on the UR and guesses as to what was brought back. All questions and accusations were denied. The meeting was adjourned with a heavy amount of tension.
Adam Bonny finds himself in a difficult position. Some of his survey teams reported back to him about the discovery of coal on the Colony. However, the deposits were found to be within territory under the loyalty of the Kellys – specifically within the region under the protection of Forecastle. The Kellys of Forecatle were Kellys, but not on the best of terms with the Kellys of Jamestown (5) – Adam saw possibilities, but he knew he would need to tread carefully.
Adam Bonny required more information in order to proceed so he sends the McNeil family (a brother and sister, William and Rebecca) to Forecastle. Their cover story was simple and mostly true – recently landed from Ireland and looking for a new home and a place to start over.
November 1848:
King Rija of the Betsimisaraka people steps down in favor of his daughter Rafohy upon her 16th birthday (6).
December 1848:
Patrician Keely, having taken his cause for labor reform to the people, found the most receptive minds to be among the northern territories (where labor usage was the lowest).
The Banshee arrives back in Jamestown.
Grace’s youngest child, James, eager for the sea, attempts to convince both Jacob and Grace to allow him to become a member of the Banshee crew. His request is denied (probably because the memory of Augustus' death was still fresh in her memory), however, the young man had a mind for engineering so Grace appeased him by putting him to work at the Forge under Henry Tibbs.
Notes:
1) The Buadza: it was a specialized war sloop. The hull and sails were black. She had been trimmed down for speed and long hauls. She was armed with four long range cannon and only one short. The ship was light and fast and designed to attack anyone giving chase from a far.
2) Gateau and Schewber: Gaston Gateau, a chemist who having had some success with vulcanized rubber, tried to sell is adapted “Schewber” balls but found the local market limited. John Schewber was the nephew of Julian Schewber who brought rubber to the Colony in 1812. Julian was later disgraced and the Schewber family floundered. The balls, however, eventually gained some notice with children. In 1848 the two combine their efforts, and with a loan from the Kellys, they being producing their product. Near failure continues to pursue the two of them as their one ship is captured. Unable to make their payment they go to Grace Kelly offering her a greater stake in the company which they assure her, if they can use Kelly ships and the Kelly trade network, will be worth millions. Grace accepts the offer and includes official Kelly protection – for a nominal additional fee.
3) Rosoalona and the spies: Definitive information regarding how the Banshee and the Jamestown were discovered is lacking. Spies are the most likely answer, and at the very least Rosoalona believed this. After the battle where the Banshee was forced to flee the two French warships she pulled every new crew member to the rail. The Jamestown had taken on 5 new crew in Maldives while the Banshee had taken on 8. She had every one of those 8 killed and thrown overboard. Had she found any on the Jamestown alive they most likely would have found the same fate.
4) Jacob’s escape: the truth of this is a little less dramatic but no less dangerous. Captain Rainard of the French warship was familiar with the southern waters and with the Kelly name. When he discovered who Jacob was he fear a scuffle with pirates could turn into a full out war. Rainard posted only one guard and he didn’t even lock the pirates up in chains. He allowed his men to celebrate over their victory with much more than the usual amount of wine. Then he waited for the young captain to try to escape. An alert was sounded and there was an exchange of swords thrusts but Captain Rainard was happy to see Jacob safely away. Captain Rainard later wrote a letter detailing the events. Word was eventually passed down to Louis Maret Gerard the ambassador to Port Mission. Louis expressed deep regret for the incident but explained that the Banshee and the Jamestown had sacked French holdings in excesses of the deal between Port Mission and Paris. In thanks (for the allowed escape of Jacob Kelly) and to keep good relations Admiral Henry issues a payment for the warship which was sunk.
5) Jamestown and Forecastle: both Kelly strongholds. The split initially began during the Kelly Feud between George and Charles, later continued between Thomas and Charles. The real wedge was delivered by Grace when she took control of the family from Brigit (wife of both George and later Thomas). The Forecastle Kellys did not believe in the family business and strived for a simple life. The head of the Forecastle Kellys is the aged Edward Kelly, Brigit’s son.
6) Rija steps down as king: King Rija, despite his long reign, never really enjoyed the position, preferring art and literature and a quiet life. Throughout his life, and certainly during his rule, rumors of his homosexuality plagued the court and filled the rumor mills with constant scandal and fodder. By all accounts, he maintained his position more because of pressure from his family, specifically his wife Ranavalona – however, with her death the previous year and Rafohy’s coming of age this year, he was happy to step down. For the next two years the two will effectively rule jointly with Rafohy taking on the full crown in 1850.
1849
Orleans: In February of this year the great Empire of Orleans losses First Consul Napoleon Francois Joseph Charles Bonaparte. Charles Joseph Bonaparte is named by his father to the position of First Consul and seconded by the Assembly. Unlike his father and grandfather Charles was not a solider – although he had a reputation for a quick temper and an aggressive attitude. He was privately taught by his father in the art of war and had served in the Assembly for a few years before his father’s death. Hyrum Smith, following a vision, brings his people to Winnipeg where he establishes a new Mormon church. Those of the Mormon faith who stayed in Saint Louis with Oliver Cowdery rebuild their church outside of town.
Ireland: With food shortages still dire in many areas the Irish exodus still continues, but far fewer leave this year than in the last five years.
Sultanate of Algiers: War continues.
Vijayanagara Empire: With the greater use of French troops the Raja is able to end the fighting in several areas of unrest.
Spain: the Portuguese Revolt continues.
German-Prussian War: The Prussian army suffers several losses and ground to the German armies.
Zilverenland-Brazil War: Continues.
Empire of Brazil: Ranking nobles and wealthy families – without official sanction from King Pedro – begin sending aide to the revolution in Spain.
United Republics: The war with England has its first officially battle with the naval Battle of Glace Bay – victory for the Republic.
England-Dutch War: Continues.
The Third Boer War: Continues.
Zululand: King Cetshwayo renews the raids into neighboring lands – with specific attention on lands south.
January – February 1849:
Steven Hallion, fresh from Ireland, finds lodgings near the docks of Port Mission. Within a few weeks he finds work as a handy man around town (selling his services for much cheaper than what you would get from using a Laborer) (1). He quickly makes a name as someone who can be trusted and establishes friends among the lesser ranks of the society. On February 9 he is found beaten to death in an alley near the Mission Inn.
This was not an isolated incident. Several more such targeted events will occur in Jamestown and Fort Dauphin throughout the year against the Irish immigrants (although, some of the beatings and killings in Fort Dauphin were of Adam Bonny’s design – part of his plans in his move to gain access to the coal in Kelly lands).
March 1849:
The McNeil family establish themselves in Forecastle with a land grant from Edward Kelly. Within a few weeks William McNeil brings the coal to the attention of Edward Kelly, claiming to have discovered the deposits while wandering – and further states that he is familiar with mining (2).
April 1849:
After an extended stay to repair the Banshee Jacob and Rosoalona depart Jamestown. Their first mission is to retrieve two freshly constructed ships at the Morondava shipyards. With skeleton crews for both of the two ships the Banshee escorts them back to Jamestown.
Grace is pleased with the new arrivals and begins a shakedown of both ships. After a week Grace enlists half the necessary crew and names a captain for each ship: Jeffrey Cord is named to captain the Cerberus (20 gun brig) and Jane Ward is put in command of the Raven (10 gun war sloop) (3). Both ships set sail for Nova Island to fill out the rest of the crews.
The Banshee sails west attacking mostly English ships (and a few UR and Venetian ships closer to Europe) between South Africa and Ireland before making the return journey home.
May 1849:
A commission from New Orleans arrives in Port Mission. They are sent by First Consul Bonaparte to establish a formal embassy (4). Admiral Henry welcomes the commission, and, after some wine and bribes, formally agrees to the formation of an embassy.
June – September 1849:
Little of interest.
October 1849:
During the Council of Captains meeting open hostility towards the Admiral is shown as several of the Captain Governors begin to doubt his leadership (unrest in the colony, reduced revenue, making friends with Orleans and opening up yet another embassy, generally being far too nice) (5). To show the strength of the Colony Tyr gives each Council Member a bag of gold and sends them on their way.
November 1849:
The Banshee and her crew return home weather worn and battle damaged with stories of close calls and victories. There were profits to be shared and goods to be sold as well as prisoners to be processed for ransom, into laborers, or into crews. There is also sad news. A brief stopover in South Africa to trade arms for gold and rum with Luadanese and Boer traders brought news of the deaths of Richard Jones (killed fighting in the war), and Felicia Tibbs (who died of illness). The information was difficult to verify, however…
A letter addressed to Christiaan and Henry Tibbs arrives in Jamestown about a week later. It is from their mother Paulien. She explains the events which led to the deaths of their sister and father – and adamantly blames the English for both and the Dutch for abandoning the poor farmers to war.
Henry travels aboard the Banshee to Port Mission to inform Christiaan about the deaths.
December 1849:
Christiaan and Henry return to Jamestown and convince Grace to avenge the death of their father (6).
Note:
1) The cost of a Laborer: The Colony officially states that it never used slave labor, however, the Laborers collected from all parts of the world – man, woman, and child – would differ on that argument. They were kept, primarily, in three camps: Port Mission, Fort Dauphin, and Jamestown (with smaller pens around the island as well as some personal users, but all paid the Treasury for the use of the workforce). The main camps were overseen by certain families, who collected revenue for lending out laborers for a variety of jobs (a percentage of which was skimmed off the top and the rest was sent on to Port Mission as tribute). Enter in the Irish immigrants who worked for no faction and were now offering themselves up to do the work of laborers (clearing land, building, fixing, seasonal farm work) for a fraction of the price. Aggression towards the Irish began to grow and Factional Foreman – including Admiralty Foremen – were being sent out to persuade the independent Irish workers to find other employment, give a cut of their earnings, or simply perish.
2) McNeils: One of the early Irish families (William and Rebecca) to arrive in Fort Dauphin. The brother and sister came under the protection of the Bonnys. It was under the direction of Adam that the two moved to Forecastle to try and start over – as they feared for their lives in Fort Dauphin. They would, as part of their mission, steer relations with the Forecastle Kellys back to Adam with regards to the coal in the territory.
3) New Captains: In an attempt to keep the Cerberus and the Raven from going rogue like the Rampart did under Tamo’s leadership, Grace gave very specific orders, on pain of death, that they only hunted in their patrol areas.
4) Orleans Commission: After the Colt Raid, which became a bit of an embarrassment for the United Republics, First Consul Bonaparte decided it would be best to keep a closer eye on the Malagasy. An Embassy would help with communication but also give Orleans a staging point for spying.
5) C.C. complaints: Admiral Henry was going on his 14th year as admiral and although he commanded a great deal of respect, there was a growing list of enemies who felt it was time for a change in leadership. They came at him with unrest in the Colony – their main example stems from the attacks on the Irish. They also mentioned reduced revenue – which was a problem with captains and merchants becoming bold with such a long stretch of good fortune and taking more of their fair cut of the profits, but also, trade ships had become disrupted due to the wars. They were also complaints about making friends instead of instilling fear – they named the embassies with France and Ethiopia and now New Orleans. In general they saw the Admiral as going soft in law as well – the grievances he has sat in judgment over held sentences mainly focused on repayment (no deaths, confiscations, reduced to laborer, or banishments had been handed out in the last two years).
6) Avenging Richard Jones: Knowing what could happen, and knowing what Henry and Christiaan were going to try and make happen (as well as, being a Faction Loyalist, feeling it himself) Admiral Tyr Henry sent a letter with Henry and Christiaan back to Jamestown stating his loyalty to the Kellys in whatever choice they make – not that Grace needed the Admiral’s endorsement for a revenge killing, but I’m sure she was pleased with the gesture (besides, Tyr was being accused of going soft, endorsing a revenge killing would help his standing).
Orleans: In February of this year the great Empire of Orleans losses First Consul Napoleon Francois Joseph Charles Bonaparte. Charles Joseph Bonaparte is named by his father to the position of First Consul and seconded by the Assembly. Unlike his father and grandfather Charles was not a solider – although he had a reputation for a quick temper and an aggressive attitude. He was privately taught by his father in the art of war and had served in the Assembly for a few years before his father’s death. Hyrum Smith, following a vision, brings his people to Winnipeg where he establishes a new Mormon church. Those of the Mormon faith who stayed in Saint Louis with Oliver Cowdery rebuild their church outside of town.
Ireland: With food shortages still dire in many areas the Irish exodus still continues, but far fewer leave this year than in the last five years.
Sultanate of Algiers: War continues.
Vijayanagara Empire: With the greater use of French troops the Raja is able to end the fighting in several areas of unrest.
Spain: the Portuguese Revolt continues.
German-Prussian War: The Prussian army suffers several losses and ground to the German armies.
Zilverenland-Brazil War: Continues.
Empire of Brazil: Ranking nobles and wealthy families – without official sanction from King Pedro – begin sending aide to the revolution in Spain.
United Republics: The war with England has its first officially battle with the naval Battle of Glace Bay – victory for the Republic.
England-Dutch War: Continues.
The Third Boer War: Continues.
Zululand: King Cetshwayo renews the raids into neighboring lands – with specific attention on lands south.
January – February 1849:
Steven Hallion, fresh from Ireland, finds lodgings near the docks of Port Mission. Within a few weeks he finds work as a handy man around town (selling his services for much cheaper than what you would get from using a Laborer) (1). He quickly makes a name as someone who can be trusted and establishes friends among the lesser ranks of the society. On February 9 he is found beaten to death in an alley near the Mission Inn.
This was not an isolated incident. Several more such targeted events will occur in Jamestown and Fort Dauphin throughout the year against the Irish immigrants (although, some of the beatings and killings in Fort Dauphin were of Adam Bonny’s design – part of his plans in his move to gain access to the coal in Kelly lands).
March 1849:
The McNeil family establish themselves in Forecastle with a land grant from Edward Kelly. Within a few weeks William McNeil brings the coal to the attention of Edward Kelly, claiming to have discovered the deposits while wandering – and further states that he is familiar with mining (2).
April 1849:
After an extended stay to repair the Banshee Jacob and Rosoalona depart Jamestown. Their first mission is to retrieve two freshly constructed ships at the Morondava shipyards. With skeleton crews for both of the two ships the Banshee escorts them back to Jamestown.
Grace is pleased with the new arrivals and begins a shakedown of both ships. After a week Grace enlists half the necessary crew and names a captain for each ship: Jeffrey Cord is named to captain the Cerberus (20 gun brig) and Jane Ward is put in command of the Raven (10 gun war sloop) (3). Both ships set sail for Nova Island to fill out the rest of the crews.
The Banshee sails west attacking mostly English ships (and a few UR and Venetian ships closer to Europe) between South Africa and Ireland before making the return journey home.
May 1849:
A commission from New Orleans arrives in Port Mission. They are sent by First Consul Bonaparte to establish a formal embassy (4). Admiral Henry welcomes the commission, and, after some wine and bribes, formally agrees to the formation of an embassy.
June – September 1849:
Little of interest.
October 1849:
During the Council of Captains meeting open hostility towards the Admiral is shown as several of the Captain Governors begin to doubt his leadership (unrest in the colony, reduced revenue, making friends with Orleans and opening up yet another embassy, generally being far too nice) (5). To show the strength of the Colony Tyr gives each Council Member a bag of gold and sends them on their way.
November 1849:
The Banshee and her crew return home weather worn and battle damaged with stories of close calls and victories. There were profits to be shared and goods to be sold as well as prisoners to be processed for ransom, into laborers, or into crews. There is also sad news. A brief stopover in South Africa to trade arms for gold and rum with Luadanese and Boer traders brought news of the deaths of Richard Jones (killed fighting in the war), and Felicia Tibbs (who died of illness). The information was difficult to verify, however…
A letter addressed to Christiaan and Henry Tibbs arrives in Jamestown about a week later. It is from their mother Paulien. She explains the events which led to the deaths of their sister and father – and adamantly blames the English for both and the Dutch for abandoning the poor farmers to war.
Henry travels aboard the Banshee to Port Mission to inform Christiaan about the deaths.
December 1849:
Christiaan and Henry return to Jamestown and convince Grace to avenge the death of their father (6).
Note:
1) The cost of a Laborer: The Colony officially states that it never used slave labor, however, the Laborers collected from all parts of the world – man, woman, and child – would differ on that argument. They were kept, primarily, in three camps: Port Mission, Fort Dauphin, and Jamestown (with smaller pens around the island as well as some personal users, but all paid the Treasury for the use of the workforce). The main camps were overseen by certain families, who collected revenue for lending out laborers for a variety of jobs (a percentage of which was skimmed off the top and the rest was sent on to Port Mission as tribute). Enter in the Irish immigrants who worked for no faction and were now offering themselves up to do the work of laborers (clearing land, building, fixing, seasonal farm work) for a fraction of the price. Aggression towards the Irish began to grow and Factional Foreman – including Admiralty Foremen – were being sent out to persuade the independent Irish workers to find other employment, give a cut of their earnings, or simply perish.
2) McNeils: One of the early Irish families (William and Rebecca) to arrive in Fort Dauphin. The brother and sister came under the protection of the Bonnys. It was under the direction of Adam that the two moved to Forecastle to try and start over – as they feared for their lives in Fort Dauphin. They would, as part of their mission, steer relations with the Forecastle Kellys back to Adam with regards to the coal in the territory.
3) New Captains: In an attempt to keep the Cerberus and the Raven from going rogue like the Rampart did under Tamo’s leadership, Grace gave very specific orders, on pain of death, that they only hunted in their patrol areas.
4) Orleans Commission: After the Colt Raid, which became a bit of an embarrassment for the United Republics, First Consul Bonaparte decided it would be best to keep a closer eye on the Malagasy. An Embassy would help with communication but also give Orleans a staging point for spying.
5) C.C. complaints: Admiral Henry was going on his 14th year as admiral and although he commanded a great deal of respect, there was a growing list of enemies who felt it was time for a change in leadership. They came at him with unrest in the Colony – their main example stems from the attacks on the Irish. They also mentioned reduced revenue – which was a problem with captains and merchants becoming bold with such a long stretch of good fortune and taking more of their fair cut of the profits, but also, trade ships had become disrupted due to the wars. They were also complaints about making friends instead of instilling fear – they named the embassies with France and Ethiopia and now New Orleans. In general they saw the Admiral as going soft in law as well – the grievances he has sat in judgment over held sentences mainly focused on repayment (no deaths, confiscations, reduced to laborer, or banishments had been handed out in the last two years).
6) Avenging Richard Jones: Knowing what could happen, and knowing what Henry and Christiaan were going to try and make happen (as well as, being a Faction Loyalist, feeling it himself) Admiral Tyr Henry sent a letter with Henry and Christiaan back to Jamestown stating his loyalty to the Kellys in whatever choice they make – not that Grace needed the Admiral’s endorsement for a revenge killing, but I’m sure she was pleased with the gesture (besides, Tyr was being accused of going soft, endorsing a revenge killing would help his standing).
Hecatee
Donor
Quiet period for the pirates, I'm surprised we don't see more tension between a nation-building faction and the traditionalists, and more breaks between the great established families and those who still gain more from piracy than from trade or ressource exploitation.
Anyway, thanks for the update !
Anyway, thanks for the update !
Just read through this timeline. Fascinating.
I love the format and I love the slow way a bunch of anarchist criminals are forming a kingdom with all the setbacks and splits along the way, you'd expect.
I love the format and I love the slow way a bunch of anarchist criminals are forming a kingdom with all the setbacks and splits along the way, you'd expect.
1850
China: Civil War erupts – at its core it is an uprising against the Qing Dynasty which has failed to safekeep the land from foreign influence.
Ethiopia: Emperor Abeto Azequ quickly succumbs to an illness and dies. His son Kassa Haile Giorgis is crowned Emperor. Kassa’s rule will be plagued by internal conflicts and uprisings – most instigated by Zululand agents.
Orleans: First Consul Charles Joseph Bonaparte addresses the Assembly calling for a greater expansion into open territory. He begins by requesting the founding of a new city to be named in honor of his family – Bonaparte. It will be the western capital, a center of military and economic power – it would also be the frontline against Canadian expansion into the region (a region in dispute). First Consul Bonaparte also orchestrates the marriage of his sister Maria Theresa Bonaparte to John Adams (II) – a successful, but junior member, of the United Republics Senate (as well as the son of the very popular King John Quincy Adams). Following the reestablishment of the Mormon Church in Winnipeg by Smith, and Saint Louis by Cowdery, Brigham Young founds his branch of the Church in a small settlement on the west coast – San Francisco.
Ireland: Prime Minister Arthur Collins declares an end to the Great Famine (historically, about two years before food supplies normalize and death and exodus numbers begin to drop significantly.)
Sultanate of Algiers: War continues.
Vijayanagara Empire: The Great Peace is declared (France forces the Raja to accept terms, granting a small level of independence to some of the warlords).
Spain: The Portuguese Revolt is brought to an end.
German-Prussian War: An uneventful year, during which peace negotiations begin.
Zilverenland-Brazil War: Continues.
Empire of Brazil: King Pedro escapes an assassination attempt.
United Republics: The war with England continues.
England-Dutch War: Continues.
The Third Boer War: Continues.
Zululand: King Cetshwayo leads a raid into Luanda – officially declaring war.
January 1850:
Patrician Keely continues his mission to bring equality and fair treatment to the labor class. He stops the beating of Samuel Butler by stepping into the fight, getting himself hit by a rock and a tree branch. Soon after this event, although assigned to Port Mission, on his own authority Keely travels again to the north - Samuel accompanying him. Over the course of the year Keely is able to get agreements from many, including the city council of Kaominina that they would no longer use the labor work force.
Six Kelly ships, being led by Captain Tamo of the Rampart, engage four English war ships near Cape Town. Even though the pirates were largely out gunned Tamo is able to surround the English ships and force a victory. Of the four enemy ships two are able to escape, one is sunk and the other is captured (although Tamo decides to scavenge what he could and then scuttle it).
February 1850:
After a few weeks of scaring English ships and disrupting the Crown’s resupply of their forces in South Africa, Tamo sends his pirates ashore. They make for the Tibbs homestead which had become a small stronghold in the Boer’s war against the English. Tamo tries to convince Paulien to return to Madagascar, but she would not be moved. Tamo returns to his ships, but leaves crates of ammunition and munitions (the new revolver pistol) as well as one hundred of his pirates to help with the cause (under the leadership of Patrick Flay).
March 1850:
Flay and the other pirates help in the reinforcement of Mahikeng.
Patrician Martin is finally granted his wish and is replaced as the envoy to the United Republics. Patrician Alonzo Bosco formally meets with King Clay a week later (1).
April 1850:
Flay and his pirates help in the taking of a train south of Bloemfontein.
Flay and his pirates help in the taking of Kimberley (which had been under siege for several months).
Ryan Henry dies on the 20th. The Henry’s were beloved in Port Mission and his passing was mourned by all – not the least of which was his brother the admiral, who was not seen for two days after the funeral.
May 1850:
Tamo and his ships are beaten back at the Battle of Port Elizabeth. He retreats north to the Natal region to make repairs.
Kimberley is attacked by an English relief force – the frontal assault is a bloody failure as the entrenched Boers (and pirates) could not be moved.
Jacques de Monceaux arrives in Port Mission to formally take up the position of ambassador for the Empire of Orleans to Madagascar.
June 1850:
Kimberley is assaulted again, this time with a barrage of cannon fire. The artillery is able to dislodge the Boer’s from their defenses resulting in their eventual withdraw from Kimberley.
Tamo, seeking revenge, attacks Port Elizabeth again. This time he offloads pirates and cannons and coordinates the attack with some local militias raiding in the area. The attack is successful, and although Tamo makes no attempt to hold the town, he does however spend two days ravaging it.
The opposition to Admiral Henry moves against him. A combination of Sakalava youths and pirates invade Betsimisaraka lands sacking villages on their way to the coast.
Queen Rafohy sends her own forces to the war zone, but the youth army scatters, drawing the royal forces further from the capital of Toamasina.
Two days later Toamasina is attacked. Queen Rafohy, under the advice of her father, sends for help from the admiral.
Admiral Henry receives the message of help from Queen Rafohy and immediately issues orders for all docked pirates to make sail (he also sends word to the Council of Captains).
Admiral Henry splits his force with half landing to the north to help fight the youths, while he lands near Toamasina.
While the Admiral is away Port Mission is attacked by pirates under the leadership of Eric Pining - as well as the nominal leader of the whole revolt. Eric was a lieutenant under George Baggs (see 1846) and was largely being supported by northern factions – chiefly the city council of Iharana. He shared his former captain’s opinion about the current admiral and was determined to finish the work against him. Eric stormed the docks and Mission House before many of the admiral’s foremen knew what was happening (those whom Eric couldn’t bribe were executed). His next step was to arrest the ambassadors – who are then murdered.
The youths continue to fall back. Their lack of engagement eventually stirs Admiral Henry’s suspicions and he sends a ship back to Port Mission. The ship finds the port blockaded and reports back.
When Grace received the Admiral’s letter about the youth army she sends a ship to retrieve Tamo.
July 1850:
Tamo’s flotilla makes preparations to leave the area. He was down three ships and in need of repairs and supplies. He leaves a sloop (the Zephyrus) behind for the Boers (who cannibalize the ship and use the armaments to reinforce Bloemfontein) as well as fifty pirates to help with the cause. During the return journey Tamo comes upon the message ship sent to retrieve him.
Admiral Henry instructs Grace to gather the pirates and to press in through the Sakalava territory. The Admiral also coordinates with Queen Rafohy – setting up her warriors to cut off any communication between the youth army and the pirates holding Port Mission (the plan works as every messenger sent to communicate with the youth army is captured).
Admiral Henry gathers the Port Mission ships which had journeyed with him to relieve Toamasina and returns to Port Mission.
Eric Pining is able to sway some likeminded pirates in Port Mission with the notion that now was the time for change. However, many did not believe his assertion that the Admiral was dead and a return to the old ways was for the best. He grossly underestimated the yearning to completely return to the ways of Mission, North, and Quelch – his arrest and murders also did not help his message. So, when the city populous heard the cannon fire from the Admiral’s ships, they came out of their homes and battled Pining’s pirates in the streets. The blockade was overwhelmed within an hour however Pining barricaded himself inside Mission House.
With few supplies and his supporters scattered, dead, or captured Admiral Henry was willing to wait out Pining. However, upon learning about the deaths of the ambassadors, especially Iyasu Chukala, the Admiral orders Mission House put to the torch.
A portion of the outer wall and a large section of the main house are destroyed before Pining surrenders.
Interrogation reveals where Pining was getting his support. Admiral Henry has Pining locked away and orders repairs to begin on Mission House before setting sail for the north.
The youth army was in turmoil. They were waiting for orders to change from delay and distract to attack. Eventually infighting between the pirates and youth leadership causes a break in the forces. The army splinters with some pirates going off to rob and raid homesteads, a small force heads towards the coast in search of ships to commandeer, the bulk return homes.
August 1850:
The splintered youth/pirate army is pressed in from the east by Queen Rafohy’s warriors and from the west by Grace’s pirate/Sakalava warriors (within two weeks the lack of coordination between the splintered enemy forces and Grace’s revolvers has the major threat subdued).
Admiral Henry returns to Port Mission – sending word ahead for the Council of Captains to join him. The Admiral parades a long line of chained prisoners through the streets.
Upon the arrival of all members of the Council of Captains the trials began. The first to be put on trial were Council Members Willow White of Kaominina and Mary Dunbow of harana. Both denied any knowledge of the mutiny, which in the mind of the Admiral only made their guilt worse (2). They were executed moments after Admiral Tyr passed judgement. The last to be put on trial was Patrician Keely, but by then an envoy from the Vicar had arrived demanding Keely’s release. The Admiral allows Keely to be taken by the envoy, with the demand that Keely never be allowed to leave Antananarivo.
In all over a hundred were remained to the labor force or executed. In an attempt to ward off retribution over the deaths of the ambassadors Admiral Henry returns the bodies with a member of the ringleaders of the mutiny. To Ethiopia the Admiral returns his friend Iyasu Chukala and offers Eric Pinning as a gift.
The Admiral’s next target was the north, but his intention to slash and burn was waylaid by advice from Grace Kelly. She offered up her network of spies and informants to quietly dispose of any mutineers remaining in hiding (3).
September 1850:
What remained of the youth/pirate army manages to sneak around the Kelly pirates and Sakalava and invade Morondava. They raid the construction yards, taking command of several ships, and make for open water.
Within a few days the enemy fleet is spotted making its way towards New Mission and chased by the Banshee, Rampart, and Raven. Although out matched by the Kelly crews the enemy fleet put up a dangerous fight. When the smoke cleared it was discovered that a single ship had escaped – Jacob signaled to allow it flee.
October 1850:
There was no meeting of the C.C. Admiral Henry however does issue word to all of his governors that he was dispatching Kelly raiders to collect the roaming bands of pirates pillaging the colony (this news was not well received as Kellys in general were widely feared and their new repeaters only made pirates and denizens even more suspicious of that faction).
November-December 1850:
The Bonnys operated very much unnoticed during the year – thankful for the distraction of the mutiny. Adam notes that his speculation pits out near Forecastle have been promising and that, of his own volition, the aged Edward Kelly – patriarch of Forecastle – has made mention of ways that the operation might be expanded without the notice of Jamestown (information as per Adam’s operative William and Rebecca Williams).
Notes:
1) Patrician Martin: A meek man, initially picked to be an agent to the U.R. because of his innocents (which did pay off in the form of the Colt Raid). However, his accidental involvement in the Colt Raid weighed on him to the point he refused to speak for the Colony any longer. He is replaced by Patrician Bosco, and upon his return to Madagascar Patrician Martin devotes his life to the study of the Codex.
2) The trials: Admiral Henry had, in a previous reshuffling of the Council of Captains, placed Willow White and Mary Dunbow on the Council of Captains. By all accounts they were innocent of the mutiny. Tyr never mentions his opinion on the matter – other than having them executed. Did he really believe in their involvement? Was his pride hurt because they failed him – either involved or not? Was it a simple show of force to have them executed – as statement that all, friend or foe, would befall his wrath if he were to be crossed?
3) Kelly spies: In regards to the final days of the Mutiny of 1850 Grace Kelly knew that any further action (after the trials) would only prolong the conflict. A better way to settle accounts would be for the opposition to quietly vanish – and the Kellys were very good at making people disappear. Besides, if would further help their control of the region by taking out competition and confiscating land, ships, and goods.
China: Civil War erupts – at its core it is an uprising against the Qing Dynasty which has failed to safekeep the land from foreign influence.
Ethiopia: Emperor Abeto Azequ quickly succumbs to an illness and dies. His son Kassa Haile Giorgis is crowned Emperor. Kassa’s rule will be plagued by internal conflicts and uprisings – most instigated by Zululand agents.
Orleans: First Consul Charles Joseph Bonaparte addresses the Assembly calling for a greater expansion into open territory. He begins by requesting the founding of a new city to be named in honor of his family – Bonaparte. It will be the western capital, a center of military and economic power – it would also be the frontline against Canadian expansion into the region (a region in dispute). First Consul Bonaparte also orchestrates the marriage of his sister Maria Theresa Bonaparte to John Adams (II) – a successful, but junior member, of the United Republics Senate (as well as the son of the very popular King John Quincy Adams). Following the reestablishment of the Mormon Church in Winnipeg by Smith, and Saint Louis by Cowdery, Brigham Young founds his branch of the Church in a small settlement on the west coast – San Francisco.
Ireland: Prime Minister Arthur Collins declares an end to the Great Famine (historically, about two years before food supplies normalize and death and exodus numbers begin to drop significantly.)
Sultanate of Algiers: War continues.
Vijayanagara Empire: The Great Peace is declared (France forces the Raja to accept terms, granting a small level of independence to some of the warlords).
Spain: The Portuguese Revolt is brought to an end.
German-Prussian War: An uneventful year, during which peace negotiations begin.
Zilverenland-Brazil War: Continues.
Empire of Brazil: King Pedro escapes an assassination attempt.
United Republics: The war with England continues.
England-Dutch War: Continues.
The Third Boer War: Continues.
Zululand: King Cetshwayo leads a raid into Luanda – officially declaring war.
January 1850:
Patrician Keely continues his mission to bring equality and fair treatment to the labor class. He stops the beating of Samuel Butler by stepping into the fight, getting himself hit by a rock and a tree branch. Soon after this event, although assigned to Port Mission, on his own authority Keely travels again to the north - Samuel accompanying him. Over the course of the year Keely is able to get agreements from many, including the city council of Kaominina that they would no longer use the labor work force.
Six Kelly ships, being led by Captain Tamo of the Rampart, engage four English war ships near Cape Town. Even though the pirates were largely out gunned Tamo is able to surround the English ships and force a victory. Of the four enemy ships two are able to escape, one is sunk and the other is captured (although Tamo decides to scavenge what he could and then scuttle it).
February 1850:
After a few weeks of scaring English ships and disrupting the Crown’s resupply of their forces in South Africa, Tamo sends his pirates ashore. They make for the Tibbs homestead which had become a small stronghold in the Boer’s war against the English. Tamo tries to convince Paulien to return to Madagascar, but she would not be moved. Tamo returns to his ships, but leaves crates of ammunition and munitions (the new revolver pistol) as well as one hundred of his pirates to help with the cause (under the leadership of Patrick Flay).
March 1850:
Flay and the other pirates help in the reinforcement of Mahikeng.
Patrician Martin is finally granted his wish and is replaced as the envoy to the United Republics. Patrician Alonzo Bosco formally meets with King Clay a week later (1).
April 1850:
Flay and his pirates help in the taking of a train south of Bloemfontein.
Flay and his pirates help in the taking of Kimberley (which had been under siege for several months).
Ryan Henry dies on the 20th. The Henry’s were beloved in Port Mission and his passing was mourned by all – not the least of which was his brother the admiral, who was not seen for two days after the funeral.
May 1850:
Tamo and his ships are beaten back at the Battle of Port Elizabeth. He retreats north to the Natal region to make repairs.
Kimberley is attacked by an English relief force – the frontal assault is a bloody failure as the entrenched Boers (and pirates) could not be moved.
Jacques de Monceaux arrives in Port Mission to formally take up the position of ambassador for the Empire of Orleans to Madagascar.
June 1850:
Kimberley is assaulted again, this time with a barrage of cannon fire. The artillery is able to dislodge the Boer’s from their defenses resulting in their eventual withdraw from Kimberley.
Tamo, seeking revenge, attacks Port Elizabeth again. This time he offloads pirates and cannons and coordinates the attack with some local militias raiding in the area. The attack is successful, and although Tamo makes no attempt to hold the town, he does however spend two days ravaging it.
The opposition to Admiral Henry moves against him. A combination of Sakalava youths and pirates invade Betsimisaraka lands sacking villages on their way to the coast.
Queen Rafohy sends her own forces to the war zone, but the youth army scatters, drawing the royal forces further from the capital of Toamasina.
Two days later Toamasina is attacked. Queen Rafohy, under the advice of her father, sends for help from the admiral.
Admiral Henry receives the message of help from Queen Rafohy and immediately issues orders for all docked pirates to make sail (he also sends word to the Council of Captains).
Admiral Henry splits his force with half landing to the north to help fight the youths, while he lands near Toamasina.
While the Admiral is away Port Mission is attacked by pirates under the leadership of Eric Pining - as well as the nominal leader of the whole revolt. Eric was a lieutenant under George Baggs (see 1846) and was largely being supported by northern factions – chiefly the city council of Iharana. He shared his former captain’s opinion about the current admiral and was determined to finish the work against him. Eric stormed the docks and Mission House before many of the admiral’s foremen knew what was happening (those whom Eric couldn’t bribe were executed). His next step was to arrest the ambassadors – who are then murdered.
The youths continue to fall back. Their lack of engagement eventually stirs Admiral Henry’s suspicions and he sends a ship back to Port Mission. The ship finds the port blockaded and reports back.
When Grace received the Admiral’s letter about the youth army she sends a ship to retrieve Tamo.
July 1850:
Tamo’s flotilla makes preparations to leave the area. He was down three ships and in need of repairs and supplies. He leaves a sloop (the Zephyrus) behind for the Boers (who cannibalize the ship and use the armaments to reinforce Bloemfontein) as well as fifty pirates to help with the cause. During the return journey Tamo comes upon the message ship sent to retrieve him.
Admiral Henry instructs Grace to gather the pirates and to press in through the Sakalava territory. The Admiral also coordinates with Queen Rafohy – setting up her warriors to cut off any communication between the youth army and the pirates holding Port Mission (the plan works as every messenger sent to communicate with the youth army is captured).
Admiral Henry gathers the Port Mission ships which had journeyed with him to relieve Toamasina and returns to Port Mission.
Eric Pining is able to sway some likeminded pirates in Port Mission with the notion that now was the time for change. However, many did not believe his assertion that the Admiral was dead and a return to the old ways was for the best. He grossly underestimated the yearning to completely return to the ways of Mission, North, and Quelch – his arrest and murders also did not help his message. So, when the city populous heard the cannon fire from the Admiral’s ships, they came out of their homes and battled Pining’s pirates in the streets. The blockade was overwhelmed within an hour however Pining barricaded himself inside Mission House.
With few supplies and his supporters scattered, dead, or captured Admiral Henry was willing to wait out Pining. However, upon learning about the deaths of the ambassadors, especially Iyasu Chukala, the Admiral orders Mission House put to the torch.
A portion of the outer wall and a large section of the main house are destroyed before Pining surrenders.
Interrogation reveals where Pining was getting his support. Admiral Henry has Pining locked away and orders repairs to begin on Mission House before setting sail for the north.
The youth army was in turmoil. They were waiting for orders to change from delay and distract to attack. Eventually infighting between the pirates and youth leadership causes a break in the forces. The army splinters with some pirates going off to rob and raid homesteads, a small force heads towards the coast in search of ships to commandeer, the bulk return homes.
August 1850:
The splintered youth/pirate army is pressed in from the east by Queen Rafohy’s warriors and from the west by Grace’s pirate/Sakalava warriors (within two weeks the lack of coordination between the splintered enemy forces and Grace’s revolvers has the major threat subdued).
Admiral Henry returns to Port Mission – sending word ahead for the Council of Captains to join him. The Admiral parades a long line of chained prisoners through the streets.
Upon the arrival of all members of the Council of Captains the trials began. The first to be put on trial were Council Members Willow White of Kaominina and Mary Dunbow of harana. Both denied any knowledge of the mutiny, which in the mind of the Admiral only made their guilt worse (2). They were executed moments after Admiral Tyr passed judgement. The last to be put on trial was Patrician Keely, but by then an envoy from the Vicar had arrived demanding Keely’s release. The Admiral allows Keely to be taken by the envoy, with the demand that Keely never be allowed to leave Antananarivo.
In all over a hundred were remained to the labor force or executed. In an attempt to ward off retribution over the deaths of the ambassadors Admiral Henry returns the bodies with a member of the ringleaders of the mutiny. To Ethiopia the Admiral returns his friend Iyasu Chukala and offers Eric Pinning as a gift.
The Admiral’s next target was the north, but his intention to slash and burn was waylaid by advice from Grace Kelly. She offered up her network of spies and informants to quietly dispose of any mutineers remaining in hiding (3).
September 1850:
What remained of the youth/pirate army manages to sneak around the Kelly pirates and Sakalava and invade Morondava. They raid the construction yards, taking command of several ships, and make for open water.
Within a few days the enemy fleet is spotted making its way towards New Mission and chased by the Banshee, Rampart, and Raven. Although out matched by the Kelly crews the enemy fleet put up a dangerous fight. When the smoke cleared it was discovered that a single ship had escaped – Jacob signaled to allow it flee.
October 1850:
There was no meeting of the C.C. Admiral Henry however does issue word to all of his governors that he was dispatching Kelly raiders to collect the roaming bands of pirates pillaging the colony (this news was not well received as Kellys in general were widely feared and their new repeaters only made pirates and denizens even more suspicious of that faction).
November-December 1850:
The Bonnys operated very much unnoticed during the year – thankful for the distraction of the mutiny. Adam notes that his speculation pits out near Forecastle have been promising and that, of his own volition, the aged Edward Kelly – patriarch of Forecastle – has made mention of ways that the operation might be expanded without the notice of Jamestown (information as per Adam’s operative William and Rebecca Williams).
Notes:
1) Patrician Martin: A meek man, initially picked to be an agent to the U.R. because of his innocents (which did pay off in the form of the Colt Raid). However, his accidental involvement in the Colt Raid weighed on him to the point he refused to speak for the Colony any longer. He is replaced by Patrician Bosco, and upon his return to Madagascar Patrician Martin devotes his life to the study of the Codex.
2) The trials: Admiral Henry had, in a previous reshuffling of the Council of Captains, placed Willow White and Mary Dunbow on the Council of Captains. By all accounts they were innocent of the mutiny. Tyr never mentions his opinion on the matter – other than having them executed. Did he really believe in their involvement? Was his pride hurt because they failed him – either involved or not? Was it a simple show of force to have them executed – as statement that all, friend or foe, would befall his wrath if he were to be crossed?
3) Kelly spies: In regards to the final days of the Mutiny of 1850 Grace Kelly knew that any further action (after the trials) would only prolong the conflict. A better way to settle accounts would be for the opposition to quietly vanish – and the Kellys were very good at making people disappear. Besides, if would further help their control of the region by taking out competition and confiscating land, ships, and goods.
Hey-Hey!
I haven't been around the board as often as usual, sorry, but I've recently published my first novel and have been working on my second (pause for congratulations). I greatly appreciate the support of my friends here at AH! Cheers to you all.
Oh, and here's the next segment to Pirates - enjoy.
1851:
China: The civil war continues, with a number of cities falling into the hands of the generals Shi Dakai, Feng Yunshan, Hong Xiuquan.
Ethiopia: Emperor Kassa Haile Giorgis survives an assignation attempt. Massive arrests fallow.
Orleans: First Consul Charles Joseph Bonaparte is present at the founding of Bonaparte – a city to be a west coast anchor for military, trade, and artistic expansion (OTL Humboldt Bay).
Sultanate of Algiers: War continues with Venice dropping out of the conflict in order to deal with local uprisings within their West African holdings (uprisings supported by England).
German-Prussian War: The Battle of Berlin is fought – a major victory for Prussian forces, although, too little too late as officially peace had been declared two days earlier when Emperor Charles Fredrich I of Prussia and Frederick Whilhelm I of Germany signed the Treaty of Vienna.
Zilverenland-Brazil War: Continues.
Empire of Brazil: King Pedro faces an angry populous. The Zilverenland War dragged on, but also, there were many – stirred up by opponents to the king – who felt more should have been done to help Portugal in the uprising against Spain.
United Republics: The war with England continues.
England-Dutch War: English forces, an army of conscripts, successfully takes the last major Dutch stronghold along the Australian coast.
The Third Boer War: The victory in Australia is mitigated by continued losses in South Africa.
Zululand: King Cetshwayo leads a massive army into Luanda. The armies of Muteba Munying and Cetshwayo meet near the shores of Tanganyika. Massive casualties were suffered on both sides – with both Kings claiming victory.
January 1851:
Little of interest.
February1851:
Despite Grace’s assurance that she would handle what remained of any mutineers in the north Admiral Henry formulates his own plan. He pays local pirates to resettle in Iharana and Kaominina to cause trouble (1). Within weeks an Irish ghetto is terrorized.
March 1851:
In a little village near Moronstera along the northern inlet lived a failed pirate, but a brilliant tinkerer, by the name of Sabastian Cross. The Kelly revolver was no secret and although there is no evidence that Sabastian had gained access to the new weapon this did not stop him from tinkering once he knew that such a thing was possible.
April 1851:
Sabastian Cross’s village is hit by raiders and burnt to the ground (2).
May 1851:
The Banshee docks in Jamestown. Jacob and Roso, flush with wealth and tired of the hunt – and too many close calls - decide to enter into semi-retirement. They enter into a contract with Alice Keel, a popular pirate among the crew, allowing her to take command of the Banshee.
June 1851:
Vicar Charles Lagrange collapses during his sermon and is taken to his home. Hope for his recovery is not high and letters are dispatched calling for an Enclave. Within ten days Vicar Lagrange is dead (3).
July 1851:
The Enclave was contentious with three among the clergy fighting for the position of Vicar. Ultimately though, with the support of most of the acolytes (and about half the patricians) Edward Keely is named the new vicar.
August 1851:
Tillo Abuto (rep. for Manakara) is able to acquire several Kelly revolvers. He sets up a warehouse and begins putting together a smaller version of The Forge.
September 1851:
The Abuto warehouse is attacked and burnt to the ground.
October 1851:
It was another year of a raucous Council of Captains. All fingers were being pointed at Christiaan Tibbs and the Kellys. Tillo Abuto was particularly vocal – and he wasn’t the only one spouting rumors of Kelly activity outside of their hunting grounds. Christiaan Tibbs was a calm fellow and weathered the accusations of the Kellys moving against the Colony much better than probably most residents of Madagascar. He offered assurances and probably much more in the way of payment than Grace would have liked, but was able to smooth over the immediate situation (4).
November 1851:
Admiral Tyr announces that the mutineers have all been rounded up and issues a call for a new Council of Captains (5).
Admiral Tyr names Ralph Guerra (formally Admiral Tyr’s chief foreman, and Captain-Governor of the Bowen Islands) to be the new ambassador to Ethiopia.
December 1851:
Little of interest.
Notes:
1) Admiral Tyr’s plan: Tyr Henry, although Admiral, was still a Kelly loyalists. His plan to punish and destabilize the north was his own, and ran contrary to what Grace was trying to do in the region. Tyr took steps to make sure that his name was never mentioned. He used proxies to persuade pirates to undertake the mission, and then, those proxies he didn’t completely trust, vanished.
2) Sabastian Cross: By all accounts he was killed in the attack on his village. However, his name is mentioned a few times in the journals of Grace and Jacob Kelly. It is widely believed that Sabastian was forced into Labor at The Forge – sadly, other than a few mentions of his name, there is nothing else to say what became of him after the burning of his village.
3) Abigale Bonny and Vicar Lagrange: The relationship between these two was a widely known secret. Yet, there were many who resented Abigale’s influence over the former Vicar, and made moves to bar her from attending the funeral. It was Patrician Keely who intervened and actually walked arm in arm with Abigale, escorting her to the entombment of Vicar Lagrange.
4) Christiaan Tibbs: He was Captain Governor of Jamestown and bestowed with the authority to speak and negotiate in the name of that region, it’s pirates, people, and most importantly, the Kellys. Yet, by all accounts, he had been completely kept in the dark regarding the Kelly raids on the competition. A very angry letter, unusual for his temperament, was sent to Grace following the 1851 Council of Captains meeting regarding this issue. Grace’s response returned to Port Mission in due time – “You are a good boy. Stay that way.” The short note was accompanied by a small bag of gold.
5) Reseating the C.C.: A reseating can be a double edge sword for an admiral. It has been done in times of massive corruption and or incompetence on the part of the C.C. or because the admiral had lost control of his Captain Governors. It is usually marked with suspicion from the populous – the possibility that the admiral was losing his influence. In this case however, it was a risky maneuver in the hopes of keeping his enemies off balance. The deciding process, a little different for each region, is distracting, it also brings up questions within the ranks about “will my loyalty be rewarded”, but also, in this case, with the Kellys such a target, and the C.C. unable to push for greater concessions from that Faction, it made for agitated leaderships at home and city councils and Captain Governors fearful for their lives. Infighting was good for the admiral – and the ability to spread money and influence around in order to make sure people of his choosing end up on the C.C. is always worth the risk.
I haven't been around the board as often as usual, sorry, but I've recently published my first novel and have been working on my second (pause for congratulations). I greatly appreciate the support of my friends here at AH! Cheers to you all.
Oh, and here's the next segment to Pirates - enjoy.
1851:
China: The civil war continues, with a number of cities falling into the hands of the generals Shi Dakai, Feng Yunshan, Hong Xiuquan.
Ethiopia: Emperor Kassa Haile Giorgis survives an assignation attempt. Massive arrests fallow.
Orleans: First Consul Charles Joseph Bonaparte is present at the founding of Bonaparte – a city to be a west coast anchor for military, trade, and artistic expansion (OTL Humboldt Bay).
Sultanate of Algiers: War continues with Venice dropping out of the conflict in order to deal with local uprisings within their West African holdings (uprisings supported by England).
German-Prussian War: The Battle of Berlin is fought – a major victory for Prussian forces, although, too little too late as officially peace had been declared two days earlier when Emperor Charles Fredrich I of Prussia and Frederick Whilhelm I of Germany signed the Treaty of Vienna.
Zilverenland-Brazil War: Continues.
Empire of Brazil: King Pedro faces an angry populous. The Zilverenland War dragged on, but also, there were many – stirred up by opponents to the king – who felt more should have been done to help Portugal in the uprising against Spain.
United Republics: The war with England continues.
England-Dutch War: English forces, an army of conscripts, successfully takes the last major Dutch stronghold along the Australian coast.
The Third Boer War: The victory in Australia is mitigated by continued losses in South Africa.
Zululand: King Cetshwayo leads a massive army into Luanda. The armies of Muteba Munying and Cetshwayo meet near the shores of Tanganyika. Massive casualties were suffered on both sides – with both Kings claiming victory.
January 1851:
Little of interest.
February1851:
Despite Grace’s assurance that she would handle what remained of any mutineers in the north Admiral Henry formulates his own plan. He pays local pirates to resettle in Iharana and Kaominina to cause trouble (1). Within weeks an Irish ghetto is terrorized.
March 1851:
In a little village near Moronstera along the northern inlet lived a failed pirate, but a brilliant tinkerer, by the name of Sabastian Cross. The Kelly revolver was no secret and although there is no evidence that Sabastian had gained access to the new weapon this did not stop him from tinkering once he knew that such a thing was possible.
April 1851:
Sabastian Cross’s village is hit by raiders and burnt to the ground (2).
May 1851:
The Banshee docks in Jamestown. Jacob and Roso, flush with wealth and tired of the hunt – and too many close calls - decide to enter into semi-retirement. They enter into a contract with Alice Keel, a popular pirate among the crew, allowing her to take command of the Banshee.
June 1851:
Vicar Charles Lagrange collapses during his sermon and is taken to his home. Hope for his recovery is not high and letters are dispatched calling for an Enclave. Within ten days Vicar Lagrange is dead (3).
July 1851:
The Enclave was contentious with three among the clergy fighting for the position of Vicar. Ultimately though, with the support of most of the acolytes (and about half the patricians) Edward Keely is named the new vicar.
August 1851:
Tillo Abuto (rep. for Manakara) is able to acquire several Kelly revolvers. He sets up a warehouse and begins putting together a smaller version of The Forge.
September 1851:
The Abuto warehouse is attacked and burnt to the ground.
October 1851:
It was another year of a raucous Council of Captains. All fingers were being pointed at Christiaan Tibbs and the Kellys. Tillo Abuto was particularly vocal – and he wasn’t the only one spouting rumors of Kelly activity outside of their hunting grounds. Christiaan Tibbs was a calm fellow and weathered the accusations of the Kellys moving against the Colony much better than probably most residents of Madagascar. He offered assurances and probably much more in the way of payment than Grace would have liked, but was able to smooth over the immediate situation (4).
November 1851:
Admiral Tyr announces that the mutineers have all been rounded up and issues a call for a new Council of Captains (5).
Admiral Tyr names Ralph Guerra (formally Admiral Tyr’s chief foreman, and Captain-Governor of the Bowen Islands) to be the new ambassador to Ethiopia.
December 1851:
Little of interest.
Notes:
1) Admiral Tyr’s plan: Tyr Henry, although Admiral, was still a Kelly loyalists. His plan to punish and destabilize the north was his own, and ran contrary to what Grace was trying to do in the region. Tyr took steps to make sure that his name was never mentioned. He used proxies to persuade pirates to undertake the mission, and then, those proxies he didn’t completely trust, vanished.
2) Sabastian Cross: By all accounts he was killed in the attack on his village. However, his name is mentioned a few times in the journals of Grace and Jacob Kelly. It is widely believed that Sabastian was forced into Labor at The Forge – sadly, other than a few mentions of his name, there is nothing else to say what became of him after the burning of his village.
3) Abigale Bonny and Vicar Lagrange: The relationship between these two was a widely known secret. Yet, there were many who resented Abigale’s influence over the former Vicar, and made moves to bar her from attending the funeral. It was Patrician Keely who intervened and actually walked arm in arm with Abigale, escorting her to the entombment of Vicar Lagrange.
4) Christiaan Tibbs: He was Captain Governor of Jamestown and bestowed with the authority to speak and negotiate in the name of that region, it’s pirates, people, and most importantly, the Kellys. Yet, by all accounts, he had been completely kept in the dark regarding the Kelly raids on the competition. A very angry letter, unusual for his temperament, was sent to Grace following the 1851 Council of Captains meeting regarding this issue. Grace’s response returned to Port Mission in due time – “You are a good boy. Stay that way.” The short note was accompanied by a small bag of gold.
5) Reseating the C.C.: A reseating can be a double edge sword for an admiral. It has been done in times of massive corruption and or incompetence on the part of the C.C. or because the admiral had lost control of his Captain Governors. It is usually marked with suspicion from the populous – the possibility that the admiral was losing his influence. In this case however, it was a risky maneuver in the hopes of keeping his enemies off balance. The deciding process, a little different for each region, is distracting, it also brings up questions within the ranks about “will my loyalty be rewarded”, but also, in this case, with the Kellys such a target, and the C.C. unable to push for greater concessions from that Faction, it made for agitated leaderships at home and city councils and Captain Governors fearful for their lives. Infighting was good for the admiral – and the ability to spread money and influence around in order to make sure people of his choosing end up on the C.C. is always worth the risk.
Hey-Hey!
I haven't been around the board as often as usual, sorry, but I've recently published my first novel and have been working on my second (pause for congratulations). I greatly appreciate the support of my friends here at AH! Cheers to you all.
Huh, well then congrats there Tynnin.
Congrats Tynnin! I might just pick this up to read for my vacation later this summer.
1852:
China: The civil war continues.
Ethiopia: the unrest, and near civil war, is brought to an end with the arrest of Negus Gojjam – the ringleader and general of the opposition.
Orleans: The founding of a military capital on the west coast, so close to the contentious border with Canada, is the cause of fresh skirmishes and raids all along the north west.
Zilverenland-Brazil War: Continues.
Empire of Brazil: King Pedro I of Brazil suffers from a series of health issues, opening the door for further opposition to his war against Zilverenland and his position to lend no aid to Portuguese uprising against Spain.
England: London is again the center of uprising. The group – calling themselves The Brotherhood of Catesby and lead by John Cavendish fails in their attempt to take parliament, but unlike other such events, John does not stay to fight. Cavendish leads The Brotherhood away from England and into hiding in the north. His group continues to harass the crown by planning bombs, ambushing soldiers, and robing estates. By the year’s end Cavendish writes a book calling it – The Working Class Rights.
United Republics: King Henry Clay dies. He names as his successor Richard Rush – who is later appointed king by the Congress. The war with England continues, however, with little evidence that England was actively participating in the fight over Nova Scotia and envoy is sent by King Rush to England in the hopes of officially settling the issue.
England-Dutch War: Continues.
The Third Boer War: England finds their tenuous grip on South Africa slipping. Dutch forces, admitting defeat in Australia, are focused on the Natal Region now. The Boer’s quickly use this extra strength to drive England out of the countryside and into the major cities along the coast.
Sultanate of Algiers: The Succession Crisis is all but settled this year when England agrees to a separate peace.
Zululand-Luanda War: Still licking their wounds from the massive casualties of the previous year, both kingdoms settle into the use of smaller raiding forces.
January 1852:
A small pirate fleet under the command of Captain Jack Callahan sets sail from Port Mission. Stories – somewhat exaggerated – of the riches plundered during the Kelly’s recent attacks on the English around Cape Town spark visions of glory and wealth (1).
Callahan’s fleet of six ships (mainly sloops) makes it as far as Cape Town where they battle two English frigates and win. Callahan ordered his ships in close, knowing they wouldn’t last long against the superior English guns. The cunning and ferocity of the youth assault overwhelmed the English crews quickly. While the brazen assault took the English by surprise, the undisciplined and inexperience pirates took heavy losses – two ships and nearly half of the pirates were killed, including Callahan.
The fleet, now boasting two damaged, but seaworthy, frigates heads up the African coast. The new captain – calling herself Commodore – Lucy Blight rallies her pirates and convinces them that greater notoriety was to be found further north by raiding England on her own soil (2).
Adam Bonny’s coal speculation is expanded to full production. Adam beings shipping loyalists and equipment to Forecastle in small quantities in the hopes of not arousing suspicion.
February 1852:
Terresa Bonny, the daughter of Adam and Basia Bonny, marries a young Dutch pirate captain by the name of Hendrick Jacobszoon (3). He sailed the Oppassen, a 15-gun brigantine, and had become a frequent visitor to Fort Dauphin in the last few years as a privateer in the service of King William IV.
March 1852:
Much like her father, King Rija, Queen Rafohy had little time or interest for companionship – although it is said she enjoyed a large group of suitors. However, although still very young (about 20 in 1852) she had been sitting on the throne of the Betsimisaraka people for four years and there was much anticipation for a marriage and a successor. After months of entertaining Rafohy settled on Jhons the middle son of a wealthy and noble family from the northern reaches of the Betsimisaraka lands. The family was respected in the region, although looked at with a certain level of suspicion by much of the kingdom for how much they had adopted the ways of the people of Port Mission.
The elder Edward Kelly begins to see the coal enterprise as a means to get his branch of the family out from under Jamestown. He begins selling some of the coal as a source of fuel. He also begins to question the workforce the Williams siblings had been collecting and insists on overseeing the operation and having his own people involved. William and Rebecca write to Adam informing him about Edward’s interference – after a tense two weeks they are given the order to kill Edward.
On the night of the 20th Edward settled into bed with his usual glass of milk. He was found dead the following morning having died in his sleep.
No one from Jamestown attended the funeral. Edward Kelly was survived by his son and two grandchildren. The grandchildren were too young to ask questions, but Aaron Kelly, already suspicious of his father’s time on his “private project” approached William and Rebecca. A letter to Adam regarding the situation states that after a threat, a bribe, and the promise of regular tribute from the “private project” Aaron suspicions were dissuaded.
April 1852:
A new ambassador from Ethiopia arrives in Port Mission – Workneh Giorgis.
The self-proclaimed Commadore Blight attacks southern England (the area around, and including, the Isle of Wight). The raid is a complete failure with all but one ship escaping – Blight’s frigate.
Although they were irritated by Edward Kelly’s interference William and Rebecca were very much interested in using the coal to make money and not just for Adam Bonny to stockpile for his ships. They initially request permission to expand, with Rebecca traveling back to Fort Dauphin in order to plead their case. Adam Bonny rejects the idea. He was too worried that the sale around the Colony would draw too much attention. He opts to take the idea and sell the material off Island instead (taking all the profits for himself).
William and Rebecca don’t take the no and being to operate their own side business selling coal to homesteaders and eventually even making trips to Morondava with shipments to be sold aboard.
May 1852:
Adam Bonny starts a war between the Irish workers and the established craftsmen. He adds a third seat to the fight when he makes a public statement at the Labor work camp – making it clear that they would be sold or disposed of since Irish immigrants had become the new source of labor (the foremen watching the work camp – most of which were Bonny loyalists – were paid to ignore any escapees for the next few days).
The war was started as much to embarrass Admiral Henry with the new ambassador as it was to help hide the number of people and equipment being sent to Forecastle (Adam had grown very paranoid about Kelly spies).
June 1852:
The ambassador for the United Republics and the Empire of Orleans arrives – Michael James Winters (of the UR) and Charles Kelly (of The Empire of Orleans). (4).
It wasn’t long before labor camps in other major towns where Irish had settled began facing similar unrest issues. Laborers, already a fringe and mistreated populous of the Colony, were sneaking away to harass the new wave of homesteaders, craftsmen, and free laborers (the pressed laborers didn’t always stick to the Irish and many pirates found themselves victims of roving bands). All of these attacks were further instigated by Bonny agents passing out gold and stories of no longer needing the work camps or the pressed laborers.
After nearly two months of the local foremen failing to control the work camps or recapture the roving bands which had become increasingly brazen Admiral Henry sends out his nephews – The Brothers Henry (Thomas and Fredrick).
July 1852:
The Brothers Henry begin in Fort Dauphin and, as ordered, are not shy about their activities. Twenty people in one night are killed by the two – the bodies left in the open. Warnings were given by the Brothers – they were acting in the name of the Admiral: any laborer out after curfew would be killed, any laborer suspected of straying from their work project or of being out after curfew would be killed.
Several days of terror fell upon Fort Dauphin. The Brother’s activities ruffled a number of feathers. The city council and several elites issued their own threats at the Brothers and the Admiral when their own Foremen, as well as laborers and Irish, turned up dead. However, after about a week, Thomas and Fredrick’s intimidation had quieted the unrest and so they decided to venture north to deal with the roving bands.
August 1852:
Lucy Blight arrives in Port Mission – her frigate listing and heavily damaged. She has spent the last few months deflecting the blame for the failed attack on England (managing to survive two mutiny attempts). She shifted the blame to the Kellys and the fact they had been keeping their repeaters to themselves – she was sure that if she had had the superior weapons that the raid would have worked. She continued to press this view point back in Port Mission.
September 1852:
The Brother’s Henry return to Port Mission. Three days later the Admiral’s Foremen are sent to break up a fight at the Mission Inn between Fredrick and Thomas Henry. They are eventually broken up – many, including the Foremen, were afraid to try and stop the fight – and brought before the Admiral. After many long years of service, and many deaths on his hands, Thomas was ready to retire – Fredrick did not handle the news well. Their uncle, Admiral Tyr, took the news graciously despite the fact the pair had been his main force of strength for many years now. Tyr granted his nephew three bags of gold from the Treasury, a ship, and offered to have a house built for Thomas. Thomas accepted the gold and the house, but gave the ship to his brother (a 12-gun brig, which Fredrick names The Betrayed).
Lucy Blight gains an ally in Patrick Keefe (founder of the Keefe fire brigades) - Keefe pays for the refit to Lucy's frigate (which she renames The Hell Fire). Between the two of them they are able to stir up enough support that Admiral Henry has no choice but to reseat the Council of Captains (left empty now for about a year) (5). Admiral Henry agrees and sends out messengers (although the final straw seems to have been a letter from Grace, wherein she says: “Find a new Council of Captains, or I find a new Admiral.”).
October 1852:
The Admiral officially welcomes the new Council of Captains (although many of them had been picked, if not waiting in Port Mission for most of a year).
Jamestown: Christiaan Tibbs
Fort Hendrick: Johann Prins (a loyal second of Ralph Guerra, former Captain-Governor, now diplomate to Ethiopia)
Kaominina: Robert Seed
Iharana: William Knock
Toamasina: Rabemananjara
Manakara: Tillo Abuto
Morondava: Maupobo
Fort Duaphan: Chen Pak
Port Mission: Patrick Keefe
The first meeting of Admiral Henry’s Third Council of Captains is said to have been loud. Over a year many arguments had gone unsettled not the least of which was the issue of Kelly technology. Ultimately it is Christiaan Tibbs who comes up with a compromise – which needed to be cleared with Grace. However, upon her agreement the Kellys would release their repeaters for sale as long as they were the sole manufacturers and distributers.
The ambassador for King Louis-Charles XVII of France arrives in Port Mission – Edmond Genet.
November December 1852:
Little of interest.
Notes:
1) Youth Fleet: These types of short lived fleets were not unusual around the Colony. It had always been difficult to make a name for yourself, especially if you weren’t a member of an elite’s faction. As time has moved on many profitable hunting grounds were hard to come by – often you had to wait for a notable pirate to die, fight said notable pirate for his/her position, or live off of the scraps deemed unworthy by said notable pirate. For a young pirate setting out on his or her own it would be very frustrating. Among the Malagasy, Opportunity was seen to favor he who acts boldly and first. It wasn’t unusual for youth fleets to form – it was, however, usual for them to end badly.
2) Lucy Blight: She was able to trace her line back to Edward Lake, a member of James Kelly’s crew and participant in The Great Raid. Her family, it would seem, have done nothing so great since then. Lucy saw an opportunity for her family to relive that greatness. She was aware of England’s wars and convinced the rest of the youth fleet that the crown’s defenses would be stretched thin.
3) Hendrick Jacobszoon: A Dutch privateer who had taken to the Malagasy use of rockets in battle and used them frequently in his attacks on English ships. He enjoyed his popularity and was very generous with shares for his crew. It is uncertain when he and Teresa Bonny met, but Adam saw the union as a good match and rushed their nuptials (Teresa, as well as being the daughter of Adam Bonny, was also the grand-daughter of the disgraced Admiral Lemanowicz – who dies this year in Australia).
4) Charles Kelly: He is the grandson of the ousted Charles Kelly, former leader of the Kelly family. His sister, Christina Kelly, is married to Henry Charles Bonaparte, the brother of First Consul Charles Joseph Bonaparte. Although New Orleans accepted the death of their diplomat and the payment for the event, it would appear this appointment had a bit of resentment attached to it.
5) Pressure to reseat: For about a year Admiral Henry had been promising to officially welcome the new Council of Captains. Growing resentment from the leading faction at being kept out of the information loop, as well as Tyr’s use of force without consulting, and inter-faction troubles which had largely gone unresolved finally forced the issue.
China: The civil war continues.
Ethiopia: the unrest, and near civil war, is brought to an end with the arrest of Negus Gojjam – the ringleader and general of the opposition.
Orleans: The founding of a military capital on the west coast, so close to the contentious border with Canada, is the cause of fresh skirmishes and raids all along the north west.
Zilverenland-Brazil War: Continues.
Empire of Brazil: King Pedro I of Brazil suffers from a series of health issues, opening the door for further opposition to his war against Zilverenland and his position to lend no aid to Portuguese uprising against Spain.
England: London is again the center of uprising. The group – calling themselves The Brotherhood of Catesby and lead by John Cavendish fails in their attempt to take parliament, but unlike other such events, John does not stay to fight. Cavendish leads The Brotherhood away from England and into hiding in the north. His group continues to harass the crown by planning bombs, ambushing soldiers, and robing estates. By the year’s end Cavendish writes a book calling it – The Working Class Rights.
United Republics: King Henry Clay dies. He names as his successor Richard Rush – who is later appointed king by the Congress. The war with England continues, however, with little evidence that England was actively participating in the fight over Nova Scotia and envoy is sent by King Rush to England in the hopes of officially settling the issue.
England-Dutch War: Continues.
The Third Boer War: England finds their tenuous grip on South Africa slipping. Dutch forces, admitting defeat in Australia, are focused on the Natal Region now. The Boer’s quickly use this extra strength to drive England out of the countryside and into the major cities along the coast.
Sultanate of Algiers: The Succession Crisis is all but settled this year when England agrees to a separate peace.
Zululand-Luanda War: Still licking their wounds from the massive casualties of the previous year, both kingdoms settle into the use of smaller raiding forces.
January 1852:
A small pirate fleet under the command of Captain Jack Callahan sets sail from Port Mission. Stories – somewhat exaggerated – of the riches plundered during the Kelly’s recent attacks on the English around Cape Town spark visions of glory and wealth (1).
Callahan’s fleet of six ships (mainly sloops) makes it as far as Cape Town where they battle two English frigates and win. Callahan ordered his ships in close, knowing they wouldn’t last long against the superior English guns. The cunning and ferocity of the youth assault overwhelmed the English crews quickly. While the brazen assault took the English by surprise, the undisciplined and inexperience pirates took heavy losses – two ships and nearly half of the pirates were killed, including Callahan.
The fleet, now boasting two damaged, but seaworthy, frigates heads up the African coast. The new captain – calling herself Commodore – Lucy Blight rallies her pirates and convinces them that greater notoriety was to be found further north by raiding England on her own soil (2).
Adam Bonny’s coal speculation is expanded to full production. Adam beings shipping loyalists and equipment to Forecastle in small quantities in the hopes of not arousing suspicion.
February 1852:
Terresa Bonny, the daughter of Adam and Basia Bonny, marries a young Dutch pirate captain by the name of Hendrick Jacobszoon (3). He sailed the Oppassen, a 15-gun brigantine, and had become a frequent visitor to Fort Dauphin in the last few years as a privateer in the service of King William IV.
March 1852:
Much like her father, King Rija, Queen Rafohy had little time or interest for companionship – although it is said she enjoyed a large group of suitors. However, although still very young (about 20 in 1852) she had been sitting on the throne of the Betsimisaraka people for four years and there was much anticipation for a marriage and a successor. After months of entertaining Rafohy settled on Jhons the middle son of a wealthy and noble family from the northern reaches of the Betsimisaraka lands. The family was respected in the region, although looked at with a certain level of suspicion by much of the kingdom for how much they had adopted the ways of the people of Port Mission.
The elder Edward Kelly begins to see the coal enterprise as a means to get his branch of the family out from under Jamestown. He begins selling some of the coal as a source of fuel. He also begins to question the workforce the Williams siblings had been collecting and insists on overseeing the operation and having his own people involved. William and Rebecca write to Adam informing him about Edward’s interference – after a tense two weeks they are given the order to kill Edward.
On the night of the 20th Edward settled into bed with his usual glass of milk. He was found dead the following morning having died in his sleep.
No one from Jamestown attended the funeral. Edward Kelly was survived by his son and two grandchildren. The grandchildren were too young to ask questions, but Aaron Kelly, already suspicious of his father’s time on his “private project” approached William and Rebecca. A letter to Adam regarding the situation states that after a threat, a bribe, and the promise of regular tribute from the “private project” Aaron suspicions were dissuaded.
April 1852:
A new ambassador from Ethiopia arrives in Port Mission – Workneh Giorgis.
The self-proclaimed Commadore Blight attacks southern England (the area around, and including, the Isle of Wight). The raid is a complete failure with all but one ship escaping – Blight’s frigate.
Although they were irritated by Edward Kelly’s interference William and Rebecca were very much interested in using the coal to make money and not just for Adam Bonny to stockpile for his ships. They initially request permission to expand, with Rebecca traveling back to Fort Dauphin in order to plead their case. Adam Bonny rejects the idea. He was too worried that the sale around the Colony would draw too much attention. He opts to take the idea and sell the material off Island instead (taking all the profits for himself).
William and Rebecca don’t take the no and being to operate their own side business selling coal to homesteaders and eventually even making trips to Morondava with shipments to be sold aboard.
May 1852:
Adam Bonny starts a war between the Irish workers and the established craftsmen. He adds a third seat to the fight when he makes a public statement at the Labor work camp – making it clear that they would be sold or disposed of since Irish immigrants had become the new source of labor (the foremen watching the work camp – most of which were Bonny loyalists – were paid to ignore any escapees for the next few days).
The war was started as much to embarrass Admiral Henry with the new ambassador as it was to help hide the number of people and equipment being sent to Forecastle (Adam had grown very paranoid about Kelly spies).
June 1852:
The ambassador for the United Republics and the Empire of Orleans arrives – Michael James Winters (of the UR) and Charles Kelly (of The Empire of Orleans). (4).
It wasn’t long before labor camps in other major towns where Irish had settled began facing similar unrest issues. Laborers, already a fringe and mistreated populous of the Colony, were sneaking away to harass the new wave of homesteaders, craftsmen, and free laborers (the pressed laborers didn’t always stick to the Irish and many pirates found themselves victims of roving bands). All of these attacks were further instigated by Bonny agents passing out gold and stories of no longer needing the work camps or the pressed laborers.
After nearly two months of the local foremen failing to control the work camps or recapture the roving bands which had become increasingly brazen Admiral Henry sends out his nephews – The Brothers Henry (Thomas and Fredrick).
July 1852:
The Brothers Henry begin in Fort Dauphin and, as ordered, are not shy about their activities. Twenty people in one night are killed by the two – the bodies left in the open. Warnings were given by the Brothers – they were acting in the name of the Admiral: any laborer out after curfew would be killed, any laborer suspected of straying from their work project or of being out after curfew would be killed.
Several days of terror fell upon Fort Dauphin. The Brother’s activities ruffled a number of feathers. The city council and several elites issued their own threats at the Brothers and the Admiral when their own Foremen, as well as laborers and Irish, turned up dead. However, after about a week, Thomas and Fredrick’s intimidation had quieted the unrest and so they decided to venture north to deal with the roving bands.
August 1852:
Lucy Blight arrives in Port Mission – her frigate listing and heavily damaged. She has spent the last few months deflecting the blame for the failed attack on England (managing to survive two mutiny attempts). She shifted the blame to the Kellys and the fact they had been keeping their repeaters to themselves – she was sure that if she had had the superior weapons that the raid would have worked. She continued to press this view point back in Port Mission.
September 1852:
The Brother’s Henry return to Port Mission. Three days later the Admiral’s Foremen are sent to break up a fight at the Mission Inn between Fredrick and Thomas Henry. They are eventually broken up – many, including the Foremen, were afraid to try and stop the fight – and brought before the Admiral. After many long years of service, and many deaths on his hands, Thomas was ready to retire – Fredrick did not handle the news well. Their uncle, Admiral Tyr, took the news graciously despite the fact the pair had been his main force of strength for many years now. Tyr granted his nephew three bags of gold from the Treasury, a ship, and offered to have a house built for Thomas. Thomas accepted the gold and the house, but gave the ship to his brother (a 12-gun brig, which Fredrick names The Betrayed).
Lucy Blight gains an ally in Patrick Keefe (founder of the Keefe fire brigades) - Keefe pays for the refit to Lucy's frigate (which she renames The Hell Fire). Between the two of them they are able to stir up enough support that Admiral Henry has no choice but to reseat the Council of Captains (left empty now for about a year) (5). Admiral Henry agrees and sends out messengers (although the final straw seems to have been a letter from Grace, wherein she says: “Find a new Council of Captains, or I find a new Admiral.”).
October 1852:
The Admiral officially welcomes the new Council of Captains (although many of them had been picked, if not waiting in Port Mission for most of a year).
Jamestown: Christiaan Tibbs
Fort Hendrick: Johann Prins (a loyal second of Ralph Guerra, former Captain-Governor, now diplomate to Ethiopia)
Kaominina: Robert Seed
Iharana: William Knock
Toamasina: Rabemananjara
Manakara: Tillo Abuto
Morondava: Maupobo
Fort Duaphan: Chen Pak
Port Mission: Patrick Keefe
The first meeting of Admiral Henry’s Third Council of Captains is said to have been loud. Over a year many arguments had gone unsettled not the least of which was the issue of Kelly technology. Ultimately it is Christiaan Tibbs who comes up with a compromise – which needed to be cleared with Grace. However, upon her agreement the Kellys would release their repeaters for sale as long as they were the sole manufacturers and distributers.
The ambassador for King Louis-Charles XVII of France arrives in Port Mission – Edmond Genet.
November December 1852:
Little of interest.
Notes:
1) Youth Fleet: These types of short lived fleets were not unusual around the Colony. It had always been difficult to make a name for yourself, especially if you weren’t a member of an elite’s faction. As time has moved on many profitable hunting grounds were hard to come by – often you had to wait for a notable pirate to die, fight said notable pirate for his/her position, or live off of the scraps deemed unworthy by said notable pirate. For a young pirate setting out on his or her own it would be very frustrating. Among the Malagasy, Opportunity was seen to favor he who acts boldly and first. It wasn’t unusual for youth fleets to form – it was, however, usual for them to end badly.
2) Lucy Blight: She was able to trace her line back to Edward Lake, a member of James Kelly’s crew and participant in The Great Raid. Her family, it would seem, have done nothing so great since then. Lucy saw an opportunity for her family to relive that greatness. She was aware of England’s wars and convinced the rest of the youth fleet that the crown’s defenses would be stretched thin.
3) Hendrick Jacobszoon: A Dutch privateer who had taken to the Malagasy use of rockets in battle and used them frequently in his attacks on English ships. He enjoyed his popularity and was very generous with shares for his crew. It is uncertain when he and Teresa Bonny met, but Adam saw the union as a good match and rushed their nuptials (Teresa, as well as being the daughter of Adam Bonny, was also the grand-daughter of the disgraced Admiral Lemanowicz – who dies this year in Australia).
4) Charles Kelly: He is the grandson of the ousted Charles Kelly, former leader of the Kelly family. His sister, Christina Kelly, is married to Henry Charles Bonaparte, the brother of First Consul Charles Joseph Bonaparte. Although New Orleans accepted the death of their diplomat and the payment for the event, it would appear this appointment had a bit of resentment attached to it.
5) Pressure to reseat: For about a year Admiral Henry had been promising to officially welcome the new Council of Captains. Growing resentment from the leading faction at being kept out of the information loop, as well as Tyr’s use of force without consulting, and inter-faction troubles which had largely gone unresolved finally forced the issue.
1853
China: The civil war continues, several cities and section of the empire are now out of imperial hands.
Zilverenland-Brazil War: King Pedro seeks peace terms, agreeing to several concessions in order to bring the war, which had become very unpopular, to a close.
England: The Brotherhood of Catesby continues to make trouble. Among the ambushes, bombings, and thefts there were now work stoppages. John Cavendish remains in hiding in the north, issuing commentary and revisions on his opus The Working Class Rights which is disseminated by loyalists. All pamphlets by Cavendish are soon outlawed – a ban on all related literature soon follows this edict.
United Republics: King Rush’s envoy returns unsuccessfully from England. Later in the year a small English armada is spotted approaching Nova Scotia. Several naval battles are fought.
England-Dutch War: Continues.
The Third Boer War: The war stalls into a number of sieges as English troops hold many of the ports and cities, but have lost control of the countryside.
Sultanate of Algiers: Other supporting players back out of the war leaving France and the Ottoman Empire to end the conflict.
Zululand-Luanda War: continues.
January 1853:
Abigail Bonny finishes her book: On Thought and Action (a book which she began with Vicar Charles LaGrange before his death) (1).
The Betrayed and Captain Fredrick Henry, after setting up a base camp in the Maldives, begins to hunt between southern Arabia and the Spice Lands.
March 1853:
Despite Thomas Henry’s troubles with his brother he had taken to life on land with both feet. He, and a small harem of women, had set up living together in the house Admiral Henry had provided.
April 1853:
Jewel Jha, daughter of Robert Devereaux and Anne Bonny (III), commits suicide by poisoning (on the tenth anniversary of her husband’s murder). (see 1843) (2). It was Jewel’s wish that all of her goods and wealth be passed on to her daughter Julia and for she to leave Madagascar for the Empire of Orleans. Jewel had even prepared a letter for Grace Kelly with instructions that she please protect her daughter and if possible put her under the care of the ambassador from New Orleans so that Julia would see safe passage to that country.
None of Jewel’s wishes would be fulfilled. Adam discovered the existence of the letter and Julia’s plans to leave the Colony. He took control of the Jha home and fortune. Adam then took the opportunity to reward his chief Foreman Harold Bliss with a wife – Julia.
After only a few short months the Betrayal gains a reputation as ruthless.
May 1853:
The Kelly patrol ship Raven (10-gun war sloop) is attacked near the coast of Zululand. Captain Jane Ward returns to Jamestown with a damaged ship telling stories of a sea dragon. Grace tried to have Jane removed from her position but nearly all of the crew backed Jane up on the story.
The Raven, in the company of the Cerberus (20-gun brig), seeks out the sea dragon. On the third night the dragon made an appearance and attacked the cove where the ships were docked. “Breathing fire” the creature attacked, setting the Raven aflame – the terrified crew abandoned ship. The Cerberus guns were able to fire on the beast and the crew was surprised that their round shot met with metal not flesh (3). After a brief exchange of fire and round shot the beast withdrew into the night. After rescuing the crew of the Raven the Cerberus chases after the beast.
June 1853:
Although rumors of the sea dragon persist the Cerberus is unable to find the creature and returns to Jamestown. Based on the information given to her by her captains Grace is sure the creature is not living and sends her sons Jacob and James to investigate.
The Cerberus, with Jacob and James, return to the Zululand coast – their first stop is New Mission. After a few days of “asking” around, the boys are given information about a hunt by a Zulu general and several warriors for the best members of the pirate crews – the men were forcibly taken by the warriors and not seen again.
July 1853:
The crew of the Cerberus follows similar stories to a heavily fortified Zulu camp at the mouth of a river. While planning their attack a cargo ship is spotted heading for the camp – the brothers and captain Cord agree to capture the ship and use it to enter the camp. The attack was easy, but upon taking the ship it is discovered that the cargo is mostly coal. The brothers abandon the sea dragon to follow the information that the coal was coming from Madagascar. They arrive in Morondava a few days later.
August 1853:
Grace, sent for by messenger, arrives in Morondava in early August. She arrives in secret and meets with her spies and informants. The Cerberus, with Grace hidden aboard, leaves Morondava a week later.
Upon arrival back in Jamestown James is sent with a small band to investigate Forecastle.
September 1853
James is sent more foremen and given permission to take the town and accept no resistance. James, however, was not his mother or his half-brother Jacob, of the Kelly elites he was growing into a much more even-tempered man (much more like his cousins from the Tibbs line). He had his orders, but James devised his own plan. He left most of the foremen outside of town and, under cover of darkness, he moved into the mining camp. He discovered Rebecca’s tent first, subdued her, and then made her send for her brother – when he arrived he was likewise put under the sword. James quickly, but calmly, explains the situation. He told them that he was under orders to kill them all and punish the town. He then told them that he would spare them and the town if they agreed to some new terms. They would be allowed to continue their operation, but tribute would be paid to Jamestown (both in coal and coin). He also said he would keep a close eye on their operation by moving some of his own people into the camp.
By the morning the mining camp had several new faces and a half dozen more were dead (Rebecca and William, fearful that something would get back to Adam, had the more loyal Bonny supporters killed).
Eventually Grace was swayed to accept James’ plan. She instead took her annoyance at this happening under her nose out on her informants and spies in Morondava – none of which had caught scent of the coal and coin moving through the town until she had arrived and stirred them up.
October-November 1853:
Little of interest.
December 1853:
Adam admits to being troubled in his journals. He had grown suspicious of the Forecastle venture. He had lost four ships and five captains loyal to him this year. Mostly, he was harboring guilt at his rashness in dealing with the Jha side of the Bonny family – especially as he was now aware of rumors that suggested that Harold Bliss was not a kind lover. It seems that the damage to his friendship and the possible damage to the political stability of Fort Dauphin outweighed his guilt as Julia was never rescued from that relationship. However, it is worth noting that Adam did decide to help another branch of the family which had been figuratively left out in the cold since the Bonny Civil War. The Bonny-Degagmanna side of the family suffered the most casualties during the war (see 1843) and Mary and her son Jack were all that remained. They lived in a very modest house on the edge of town where Mary earned a living repairing and making clothing. Adam extended an olive branch to Mary and later will move her and her son into his house.
Notes:
1) On Thought and Action: This book becomes a founding document in the legal and social code of the Colony (alongside The Lusan Codex and the collection of journals and papers collectively known as The Opinions). On Thought is a book of philosophical and legal observations intermixed with descriptions and opinions on a number of conflict resolutions over her lifetime (to many, despite the focus of the book, it is seen as a biography of Abigail Bonny’s life).
2) Jewel Jha’s death: ten years is a long time to wait to commit suicide. It is guessed that she waited until she was sure her daughter was of sufficient age to take care of herself. Jewel did not count on Adam finding out about the plan, nor how fast he would move against it.
3) The Sea Dragon: was amazingly innovative. It had an extremely low profile, armor plated, with nozzles fitted to large bellows which, when manned, produced the fire breathing effect. The vessel, however, after a year of terrorizing the coast, is lost to a storm with all hands.
China: The civil war continues, several cities and section of the empire are now out of imperial hands.
Zilverenland-Brazil War: King Pedro seeks peace terms, agreeing to several concessions in order to bring the war, which had become very unpopular, to a close.
England: The Brotherhood of Catesby continues to make trouble. Among the ambushes, bombings, and thefts there were now work stoppages. John Cavendish remains in hiding in the north, issuing commentary and revisions on his opus The Working Class Rights which is disseminated by loyalists. All pamphlets by Cavendish are soon outlawed – a ban on all related literature soon follows this edict.
United Republics: King Rush’s envoy returns unsuccessfully from England. Later in the year a small English armada is spotted approaching Nova Scotia. Several naval battles are fought.
England-Dutch War: Continues.
The Third Boer War: The war stalls into a number of sieges as English troops hold many of the ports and cities, but have lost control of the countryside.
Sultanate of Algiers: Other supporting players back out of the war leaving France and the Ottoman Empire to end the conflict.
Zululand-Luanda War: continues.
January 1853:
Abigail Bonny finishes her book: On Thought and Action (a book which she began with Vicar Charles LaGrange before his death) (1).
The Betrayed and Captain Fredrick Henry, after setting up a base camp in the Maldives, begins to hunt between southern Arabia and the Spice Lands.
March 1853:
Despite Thomas Henry’s troubles with his brother he had taken to life on land with both feet. He, and a small harem of women, had set up living together in the house Admiral Henry had provided.
April 1853:
Jewel Jha, daughter of Robert Devereaux and Anne Bonny (III), commits suicide by poisoning (on the tenth anniversary of her husband’s murder). (see 1843) (2). It was Jewel’s wish that all of her goods and wealth be passed on to her daughter Julia and for she to leave Madagascar for the Empire of Orleans. Jewel had even prepared a letter for Grace Kelly with instructions that she please protect her daughter and if possible put her under the care of the ambassador from New Orleans so that Julia would see safe passage to that country.
None of Jewel’s wishes would be fulfilled. Adam discovered the existence of the letter and Julia’s plans to leave the Colony. He took control of the Jha home and fortune. Adam then took the opportunity to reward his chief Foreman Harold Bliss with a wife – Julia.
After only a few short months the Betrayal gains a reputation as ruthless.
May 1853:
The Kelly patrol ship Raven (10-gun war sloop) is attacked near the coast of Zululand. Captain Jane Ward returns to Jamestown with a damaged ship telling stories of a sea dragon. Grace tried to have Jane removed from her position but nearly all of the crew backed Jane up on the story.
The Raven, in the company of the Cerberus (20-gun brig), seeks out the sea dragon. On the third night the dragon made an appearance and attacked the cove where the ships were docked. “Breathing fire” the creature attacked, setting the Raven aflame – the terrified crew abandoned ship. The Cerberus guns were able to fire on the beast and the crew was surprised that their round shot met with metal not flesh (3). After a brief exchange of fire and round shot the beast withdrew into the night. After rescuing the crew of the Raven the Cerberus chases after the beast.
June 1853:
Although rumors of the sea dragon persist the Cerberus is unable to find the creature and returns to Jamestown. Based on the information given to her by her captains Grace is sure the creature is not living and sends her sons Jacob and James to investigate.
The Cerberus, with Jacob and James, return to the Zululand coast – their first stop is New Mission. After a few days of “asking” around, the boys are given information about a hunt by a Zulu general and several warriors for the best members of the pirate crews – the men were forcibly taken by the warriors and not seen again.
July 1853:
The crew of the Cerberus follows similar stories to a heavily fortified Zulu camp at the mouth of a river. While planning their attack a cargo ship is spotted heading for the camp – the brothers and captain Cord agree to capture the ship and use it to enter the camp. The attack was easy, but upon taking the ship it is discovered that the cargo is mostly coal. The brothers abandon the sea dragon to follow the information that the coal was coming from Madagascar. They arrive in Morondava a few days later.
August 1853:
Grace, sent for by messenger, arrives in Morondava in early August. She arrives in secret and meets with her spies and informants. The Cerberus, with Grace hidden aboard, leaves Morondava a week later.
Upon arrival back in Jamestown James is sent with a small band to investigate Forecastle.
September 1853
James is sent more foremen and given permission to take the town and accept no resistance. James, however, was not his mother or his half-brother Jacob, of the Kelly elites he was growing into a much more even-tempered man (much more like his cousins from the Tibbs line). He had his orders, but James devised his own plan. He left most of the foremen outside of town and, under cover of darkness, he moved into the mining camp. He discovered Rebecca’s tent first, subdued her, and then made her send for her brother – when he arrived he was likewise put under the sword. James quickly, but calmly, explains the situation. He told them that he was under orders to kill them all and punish the town. He then told them that he would spare them and the town if they agreed to some new terms. They would be allowed to continue their operation, but tribute would be paid to Jamestown (both in coal and coin). He also said he would keep a close eye on their operation by moving some of his own people into the camp.
By the morning the mining camp had several new faces and a half dozen more were dead (Rebecca and William, fearful that something would get back to Adam, had the more loyal Bonny supporters killed).
Eventually Grace was swayed to accept James’ plan. She instead took her annoyance at this happening under her nose out on her informants and spies in Morondava – none of which had caught scent of the coal and coin moving through the town until she had arrived and stirred them up.
October-November 1853:
Little of interest.
December 1853:
Adam admits to being troubled in his journals. He had grown suspicious of the Forecastle venture. He had lost four ships and five captains loyal to him this year. Mostly, he was harboring guilt at his rashness in dealing with the Jha side of the Bonny family – especially as he was now aware of rumors that suggested that Harold Bliss was not a kind lover. It seems that the damage to his friendship and the possible damage to the political stability of Fort Dauphin outweighed his guilt as Julia was never rescued from that relationship. However, it is worth noting that Adam did decide to help another branch of the family which had been figuratively left out in the cold since the Bonny Civil War. The Bonny-Degagmanna side of the family suffered the most casualties during the war (see 1843) and Mary and her son Jack were all that remained. They lived in a very modest house on the edge of town where Mary earned a living repairing and making clothing. Adam extended an olive branch to Mary and later will move her and her son into his house.
Notes:
1) On Thought and Action: This book becomes a founding document in the legal and social code of the Colony (alongside The Lusan Codex and the collection of journals and papers collectively known as The Opinions). On Thought is a book of philosophical and legal observations intermixed with descriptions and opinions on a number of conflict resolutions over her lifetime (to many, despite the focus of the book, it is seen as a biography of Abigail Bonny’s life).
2) Jewel Jha’s death: ten years is a long time to wait to commit suicide. It is guessed that she waited until she was sure her daughter was of sufficient age to take care of herself. Jewel did not count on Adam finding out about the plan, nor how fast he would move against it.
3) The Sea Dragon: was amazingly innovative. It had an extremely low profile, armor plated, with nozzles fitted to large bellows which, when manned, produced the fire breathing effect. The vessel, however, after a year of terrorizing the coast, is lost to a storm with all hands.
1854:
Canada: George Brown, Prime Minister, is voted out. The victor in the election is George Trent –who wins based on promises not to appease or put up with Orleans aggression or land grabs.
China: The civil war continues, although the rebel leaders, after a very successful campaign north through the provinces, are dealt a serious defeat at Beijing.
Zilverenland-Brazil War: Officially a cease fire is called as negotiations look promising, but in reality this is a bloody year of hit and run raids across the border in both directions.
England: Queen Victoria issues a stirring letter to Parliament wherein she stresses the pain of accepting loss in the hopes of regaining our strength and stepping forth even stronger after time to heal. It is decided in Parliament to take on the Queen’s advice and action is taken to deal quickly with the domestic troubles and to withdraw from the international conflicts. Serious consideration is given to the few top choices for a new canal to link the Atlantic with the Pacific. The Brotherhood of Catesby is dealt a serious setback when the army discovers a meeting between the leadership. The town of Durham is stormed and although several members are able to escape, John Cavendish was not one of them. He is brought to London where he is put on trial and killed (there was a failed attempt to free him, all members of the escape party were killed).
United Republics: Envoys from England arrive in Mount Vernon to speak with King Rush. Emboldened by the victories last year, King Rush refuses the peace terms and will accept nothing but total surrender.
England-Dutch War: Peace terms are extended and ultimately accepted.
The Third Boer War: As part of the peace treaty with the Dutch, England withdraws from South Africa – and reinforces her holdings along the west coast.
Sultanate of Algiers: The war continues.
Zululand-Lunda War: With no progress made by either side the war slides into a state of peaceful tension.
Zululand: King Cetshwayo, intrigued by recent success and experiments in new weapons, allows his war with Luanda to settle so that he can focus on these new developments. The small village along the coast where much of the experimentation had been conducted is visited by Cetshwayo and renamed Umlilo.
January 1854:
Little of interest.
February 1854:
Frederick Henry and the Betrayal capture a ship worth a king’s ransom near Panaji – among the wealth was a young bride-to-be to a prince of the royal court of Vijayanagara.
March 1854:
Edmond Genet, the French ambassador, seeks an audience with Admiral Henry. The alliances on both sides of the Algiers War of Succession were falling apart, and it was the hope of King Louis-Charles XVII to hire the Malagasy to help bring the war to a quick end. Admiral Henry accepts the first payment of gold (he later divides it into thirds: a share for himself, a share for the treasury, and a share to give out to captains who take on the new hunt – he similarly divides the subsequent payments when they arrive).
Admiral Henry calls the captains in port to Mission House. He offers them the new hunt, he gives a share of the gold to the captains who accept the hunt with promise of more to crew and captain upon proof of a successful raid on Ottoman holdings. The Admiral makes the same offer over the coming weeks as other captain arrive from their own hunts. He also issues orders to his governors that they should spread the word in their respective territories.
April 1854:
Inland raids and attacks on shipping along the Arabian coast devastate Ottoman trade.
Unaware of the shift in focus towards the Ottomans the Betrayal attacks and captures an Ottoman war galleon (which had been dispatched to lend defense against the raids along the Arabian coast).
May 1854:
The Betrayal arrives in Port Mission, but only long enough to be informed about the new hunt. Some quick repairs are made, a new crew is found for the galleon (which Frederick had named The Henry), and supplies were taken on, all within three days.
June 1854:
In late June Frederick, now in charge of six ships (three of which were Kelly ships), attacks Basra. A combination of ambush from landed warparties, a pirate ship acting like a trade ship already in port, and an unforgiving frontal assault of rockets and cannon blasts made for a quick victory.
Frederick was one of the pirate casualties in the attack. He led the attack into the city but would be shot twice, stabbed once, and eventually be carried to safety when he was knocked from a wall which resulted in a broken leg.
July 1854:
Basra is held for a week before the pirates withdraw. During their time there they were helped by local tribes and managed to ambush a relief force sent to retake Basra. Frederick also consulted with the leaders of the local tribes and fostered rebellion in them. When the pirates withdrew they left the city in the hands of the locals (with plenty of weapons and munitions).
August 1854:
Rebecca Williams (of the brother and sister Williams who were sent by Adam Bonny to secretly mine coal near Forecastle) marries a Kelly foreman by the name of Francis Malone (part of the force left behind by James Kelly when he took over the mine from Bonny).
The Betrayal arrives back in Port Mission (the flotilla of ships having gone their separate ways – including The Henry). Although the crew had been part of many victories under Captain Henry, his sour mood (more so than usual), and weakened state (essentially crippled) had led to the breakup of what had been a very strong flotilla. In a peaceful mutiny Frederick was voted out as captain (Benjamin Marlow – Frederick’s second – was made captain). Frederick was given his share of the raid, but the Ottoman bonus was kept by Marlow and the crew. Frederick was left behind when the Betrayal left port a week later.
Thomas, Frederick’s brother, found him drunk and near death at the Mission Inn. Despite the objections from Frederick, Thomas had his brother brought to his house.
September 1854:
Thomas quickly realized that although his brother needed care, he did not have the patients for it. He hires a girl from the Bonny school to be his nurse – Sara Bennington (1).
October 1854:
On the 14th of this month a fleet of ten pirate ships under the command of the pirate-governors Chen Pek (Fort Dauphin), William Knock (Iharana), and Johann Prins (Fort Hendrick) assault Aden. Aden, and the shipping lanes around it, was occasionally raided as it was a key trading port, but also a gathering point for anti-pirate ships. This fleet, initially rallying around William Knock’s plan, picked Aden this time because there was news of a large treasure fleet either docked, or soon to be. What they found was a large squadron of Ottoman war ships – and Captain Knock immediately regretted his plan to split the fleet so as to attack from two directions.
During the first hour of the battle there were several attempts to sneak or openly land pirates on the shore, however, as events tilted in favor of the Ottoman ships the pirate became more concerned about retreat. Knock was killed first, his ship was one of the first to be sunk. When a barrage of grapeshot raked the deck of Prins’ ship (with Prin himself taking wounds to his right arm and leg) Prins signaled to his ships to withdraw.
Three Ottoman ships were sunk or made useless – six pirate ships were destroyed. Captain Johann Prins would die from his wounds on the journey home. Captain Chen managed to just defeat an armed mutiny aboard his ship.
The Colony’s first native playwright pens his first play. Joseph Vert, born and raised in New Arradon, presents "Yardarm" (a tragic tale of two brothers set during The War of West and East – or the Pirate Civil War – 1761-63).
Thomas Henry, as he had grown tired of his life of an assassin, was growing tired of his aimless life of women and drinking. It is this malaise, and probably his conversation with Sara Bennington, that a new cause develops within him. The Colony was flush with apothecaries and native medicines, but there were few doctors or the study of medicine. Thomas leaves Sara in charge of his house and his goods, picked ten of his best men, hired a ship (a brigantine, The Howl, Captain Bart), and set sail to buy or kidnap the best doctors he could find.
Two Ottoman warships sink a pirate ship near New Mission. These same ships spot and give chase to the Rampart before engaging. Captain Tamo is injured but is able to escape the Ottomans as night fell. By morning the two warships had found Nova Island and began an assault. The fort guns kept the ships at bay, eventually driving the Ottomans off. The Rampart (under the command of Tamo’s second, James Crow), with the Cerberus, gives chase. Long shots are exchanged with little damage, and come the night the Ottomans were lost.
Tamo officially retires as the captain of the Rampart, handing over control to James Crow (a few weeks later Grace gave her official blessing).
The disaster at Aden and news and rumors of Ottoman ships hunting in waters near Madagascar made for a contentious Council of Captains. Admiral Henry was able to stomp out most of the opposition with plentiful handfuls of gold and silver. There were also fears that the Bowen Islands, with Prins dead, would rise up again. Tyr decides to send 50 of his foremen, under the command of Edward Hesse, to keep down any dissension while he took time to consider who to appoint as governor.
November 1854:
George Sans was a farmer from Forecastle in Fort Dauphin to sell his goods. He is overheard one night at a tavern speaking about events in his hometown – he mentions the wedding of Rebecca and the Kelly foreman. George is brought to Adam Bonny, where further detail is given. Shaken, George is allowed to leave unharmed. Adam, who had been growing suspicious of the reduced coal and tribute, and updates, called his best foremen in for a meeting. He sends two to confirm the information and waits. Before the end of the month Adam’s information in confirmed and he begins preparations to give the Kellys a bloody nose.
December 1854:
Little of interest.
Notes:
1) Sara Bennington: Her father, David, was a foreman in the service of Admiral Henry. Her mother was a prostitute by the name of Cloe. She proved to have a good mind for tactics and sword play, but not the temperament to bring real harm to anyone. When she was 12 her father put her in the Bonny school, primarily in the hopes she would learn a killer’s instincts. She excelled at learning, but to her father’s chagrin, she grew to be adept at stitching men up rather than killing them. When Thomas Henry went looking for someone smart and knowledgeable in medicine to look after his brother, Sara was sixteen and very ready to be out from under her father’s control. Thomas agreed to pay Sara for her work, and as a way of smoothing over relations with the father, paid him a onetime sum for Sara’s services.
Canada: George Brown, Prime Minister, is voted out. The victor in the election is George Trent –who wins based on promises not to appease or put up with Orleans aggression or land grabs.
China: The civil war continues, although the rebel leaders, after a very successful campaign north through the provinces, are dealt a serious defeat at Beijing.
Zilverenland-Brazil War: Officially a cease fire is called as negotiations look promising, but in reality this is a bloody year of hit and run raids across the border in both directions.
England: Queen Victoria issues a stirring letter to Parliament wherein she stresses the pain of accepting loss in the hopes of regaining our strength and stepping forth even stronger after time to heal. It is decided in Parliament to take on the Queen’s advice and action is taken to deal quickly with the domestic troubles and to withdraw from the international conflicts. Serious consideration is given to the few top choices for a new canal to link the Atlantic with the Pacific. The Brotherhood of Catesby is dealt a serious setback when the army discovers a meeting between the leadership. The town of Durham is stormed and although several members are able to escape, John Cavendish was not one of them. He is brought to London where he is put on trial and killed (there was a failed attempt to free him, all members of the escape party were killed).
United Republics: Envoys from England arrive in Mount Vernon to speak with King Rush. Emboldened by the victories last year, King Rush refuses the peace terms and will accept nothing but total surrender.
England-Dutch War: Peace terms are extended and ultimately accepted.
The Third Boer War: As part of the peace treaty with the Dutch, England withdraws from South Africa – and reinforces her holdings along the west coast.
Sultanate of Algiers: The war continues.
Zululand-Lunda War: With no progress made by either side the war slides into a state of peaceful tension.
Zululand: King Cetshwayo, intrigued by recent success and experiments in new weapons, allows his war with Luanda to settle so that he can focus on these new developments. The small village along the coast where much of the experimentation had been conducted is visited by Cetshwayo and renamed Umlilo.
January 1854:
Little of interest.
February 1854:
Frederick Henry and the Betrayal capture a ship worth a king’s ransom near Panaji – among the wealth was a young bride-to-be to a prince of the royal court of Vijayanagara.
March 1854:
Edmond Genet, the French ambassador, seeks an audience with Admiral Henry. The alliances on both sides of the Algiers War of Succession were falling apart, and it was the hope of King Louis-Charles XVII to hire the Malagasy to help bring the war to a quick end. Admiral Henry accepts the first payment of gold (he later divides it into thirds: a share for himself, a share for the treasury, and a share to give out to captains who take on the new hunt – he similarly divides the subsequent payments when they arrive).
Admiral Henry calls the captains in port to Mission House. He offers them the new hunt, he gives a share of the gold to the captains who accept the hunt with promise of more to crew and captain upon proof of a successful raid on Ottoman holdings. The Admiral makes the same offer over the coming weeks as other captain arrive from their own hunts. He also issues orders to his governors that they should spread the word in their respective territories.
April 1854:
Inland raids and attacks on shipping along the Arabian coast devastate Ottoman trade.
Unaware of the shift in focus towards the Ottomans the Betrayal attacks and captures an Ottoman war galleon (which had been dispatched to lend defense against the raids along the Arabian coast).
May 1854:
The Betrayal arrives in Port Mission, but only long enough to be informed about the new hunt. Some quick repairs are made, a new crew is found for the galleon (which Frederick had named The Henry), and supplies were taken on, all within three days.
June 1854:
In late June Frederick, now in charge of six ships (three of which were Kelly ships), attacks Basra. A combination of ambush from landed warparties, a pirate ship acting like a trade ship already in port, and an unforgiving frontal assault of rockets and cannon blasts made for a quick victory.
Frederick was one of the pirate casualties in the attack. He led the attack into the city but would be shot twice, stabbed once, and eventually be carried to safety when he was knocked from a wall which resulted in a broken leg.
July 1854:
Basra is held for a week before the pirates withdraw. During their time there they were helped by local tribes and managed to ambush a relief force sent to retake Basra. Frederick also consulted with the leaders of the local tribes and fostered rebellion in them. When the pirates withdrew they left the city in the hands of the locals (with plenty of weapons and munitions).
August 1854:
Rebecca Williams (of the brother and sister Williams who were sent by Adam Bonny to secretly mine coal near Forecastle) marries a Kelly foreman by the name of Francis Malone (part of the force left behind by James Kelly when he took over the mine from Bonny).
The Betrayal arrives back in Port Mission (the flotilla of ships having gone their separate ways – including The Henry). Although the crew had been part of many victories under Captain Henry, his sour mood (more so than usual), and weakened state (essentially crippled) had led to the breakup of what had been a very strong flotilla. In a peaceful mutiny Frederick was voted out as captain (Benjamin Marlow – Frederick’s second – was made captain). Frederick was given his share of the raid, but the Ottoman bonus was kept by Marlow and the crew. Frederick was left behind when the Betrayal left port a week later.
Thomas, Frederick’s brother, found him drunk and near death at the Mission Inn. Despite the objections from Frederick, Thomas had his brother brought to his house.
September 1854:
Thomas quickly realized that although his brother needed care, he did not have the patients for it. He hires a girl from the Bonny school to be his nurse – Sara Bennington (1).
October 1854:
On the 14th of this month a fleet of ten pirate ships under the command of the pirate-governors Chen Pek (Fort Dauphin), William Knock (Iharana), and Johann Prins (Fort Hendrick) assault Aden. Aden, and the shipping lanes around it, was occasionally raided as it was a key trading port, but also a gathering point for anti-pirate ships. This fleet, initially rallying around William Knock’s plan, picked Aden this time because there was news of a large treasure fleet either docked, or soon to be. What they found was a large squadron of Ottoman war ships – and Captain Knock immediately regretted his plan to split the fleet so as to attack from two directions.
During the first hour of the battle there were several attempts to sneak or openly land pirates on the shore, however, as events tilted in favor of the Ottoman ships the pirate became more concerned about retreat. Knock was killed first, his ship was one of the first to be sunk. When a barrage of grapeshot raked the deck of Prins’ ship (with Prin himself taking wounds to his right arm and leg) Prins signaled to his ships to withdraw.
Three Ottoman ships were sunk or made useless – six pirate ships were destroyed. Captain Johann Prins would die from his wounds on the journey home. Captain Chen managed to just defeat an armed mutiny aboard his ship.
The Colony’s first native playwright pens his first play. Joseph Vert, born and raised in New Arradon, presents "Yardarm" (a tragic tale of two brothers set during The War of West and East – or the Pirate Civil War – 1761-63).
Thomas Henry, as he had grown tired of his life of an assassin, was growing tired of his aimless life of women and drinking. It is this malaise, and probably his conversation with Sara Bennington, that a new cause develops within him. The Colony was flush with apothecaries and native medicines, but there were few doctors or the study of medicine. Thomas leaves Sara in charge of his house and his goods, picked ten of his best men, hired a ship (a brigantine, The Howl, Captain Bart), and set sail to buy or kidnap the best doctors he could find.
Two Ottoman warships sink a pirate ship near New Mission. These same ships spot and give chase to the Rampart before engaging. Captain Tamo is injured but is able to escape the Ottomans as night fell. By morning the two warships had found Nova Island and began an assault. The fort guns kept the ships at bay, eventually driving the Ottomans off. The Rampart (under the command of Tamo’s second, James Crow), with the Cerberus, gives chase. Long shots are exchanged with little damage, and come the night the Ottomans were lost.
Tamo officially retires as the captain of the Rampart, handing over control to James Crow (a few weeks later Grace gave her official blessing).
The disaster at Aden and news and rumors of Ottoman ships hunting in waters near Madagascar made for a contentious Council of Captains. Admiral Henry was able to stomp out most of the opposition with plentiful handfuls of gold and silver. There were also fears that the Bowen Islands, with Prins dead, would rise up again. Tyr decides to send 50 of his foremen, under the command of Edward Hesse, to keep down any dissension while he took time to consider who to appoint as governor.
November 1854:
George Sans was a farmer from Forecastle in Fort Dauphin to sell his goods. He is overheard one night at a tavern speaking about events in his hometown – he mentions the wedding of Rebecca and the Kelly foreman. George is brought to Adam Bonny, where further detail is given. Shaken, George is allowed to leave unharmed. Adam, who had been growing suspicious of the reduced coal and tribute, and updates, called his best foremen in for a meeting. He sends two to confirm the information and waits. Before the end of the month Adam’s information in confirmed and he begins preparations to give the Kellys a bloody nose.
December 1854:
Little of interest.
Notes:
1) Sara Bennington: Her father, David, was a foreman in the service of Admiral Henry. Her mother was a prostitute by the name of Cloe. She proved to have a good mind for tactics and sword play, but not the temperament to bring real harm to anyone. When she was 12 her father put her in the Bonny school, primarily in the hopes she would learn a killer’s instincts. She excelled at learning, but to her father’s chagrin, she grew to be adept at stitching men up rather than killing them. When Thomas Henry went looking for someone smart and knowledgeable in medicine to look after his brother, Sara was sixteen and very ready to be out from under her father’s control. Thomas agreed to pay Sara for her work, and as a way of smoothing over relations with the father, paid him a onetime sum for Sara’s services.
1855
China: The civil war continues.
Zilverenland-Brazil War: Peace declared, but no one is happy with it.
Brazil: Just months after the peace with Zilverenland King Pedro I of Brazil dies. Foul play is suspected, and for many further proof is seen in the fact that Miguel, brother to the former king, takes the crown while Pedro’s children flee the city.
England: England accepts peace with the United Republics and ends the conflict in South Africa (the Dutch and Boers claim total victory, but new borders had yet to be agreed upon). England returns to the sea, deciding on a location to build their own canal to the Far East. However, Orlean’s influence in the region made it difficult to deal directly with the Nicaraguans.
Empire of Orleans: Discovery that England was trying to buy land to build a canal in Nicaragua sparks interest at Court. Orleans sends its own shipping company representatives to the area in order to secure the rights first.
Sultanate of Algiers: The war continues.
Sultanate of Egypt: Sultan Muhamad ibn Hayir Yunis Sinan dies suddenly. His son Ibarahim Muhamad Yunis Sinan takes the throne. He defies England and presses forward in trying to normalize relations with France and The Ottoman Empire.
Ireland: Several years of economic troubles and recent unrest in the north ousts PM Arthur Collins. John Meaney is elected by his party to run the government.
The Venetian Empire: Ill health and money spark another change in leadership. The Venetians, having suffered in north Africa by way of the costly war in Algiers and the troubles in Morocco and a slump in the shipping trade, appoint a new Doge - Carlo Renier.
January 1855:
News of Joseph Vert’s play reaches Port Mission. Admiral Henry plans to visit New Arradon in order to attend a showing of Yardarm. However, before setting sail the Admiral is waylaid by illness.
George Sans upon returning to Forecastle is consumed by guilt and eventually tells his wife everything. She in turn – despite her husband’s attempts to tell her they should stay out of it – shares this information with Patrina Kelly (wife of Aaron Kelly, Patriarch of Forecastle). Patrina immediately informs Aaron. Aaron does nothing. He is happy with the deal to stay out of the coal dispute. Mostly out of fear over the Bonnys and dislike of the Jamestown Kellys, he is unmoved by his wife’s accretion that Forecastle will become a battlefield when the fighting starts. Aaron to Patrina: “That is a matter between Jamestown and Fort Dauphin.”
Patrina waits a week before deciding to do something on her own. She sends George and his wife to Jamestown with a letter for Grace.
February 1855:
The letter Patrina sends to Grace Kelly does not arrive in time. Adam Bonny had spent the last few months rallying his loyalists and deciding on a plan. He sent his three steam ships north to Morondava with a further eight sailing ships sent to Jamestown, and a large contingent of pirates were marching on Forecastle.
Between the third and the tenth of February the Bonnys attacked several Kelly strongholds. The first attack came at Morondava. The steamships sailed into the port in a brazen mid-morning attack. The target was the shipyards, but they didn’t stop there. Morondava had the second largest contingent of laborers, most of which were in the service of the shipyards – the labor camp was attacked as well and set on fire. After the initial surprise, and successful attack on the shipyards and the labor camp, the warriors and pirates of Morondava, under the leadership of the Elder Council, were able to drive the Bonnys back out to sea.
The battle at Morondava was followed a few days later with an attack on Jamestown itself. Adam Bonny, however, was unaware that Grace employed harbor watchers (1). They spotted the Bonny Trojan ship and alerted the town’s foremen. When the “trade ship” flying the Kelly colors docked and two hundred Bonny pirates charged the town the Kellys were ready. Although bloody, the battle never reached beyond the lower levels of the town. About an 30 minutes later seven other Bonny ships came up the coast – they were met by fifteen Kelly ships. Upon seeing the armada the Bonny ships fled, with only one brigantine being unable to evade capture.
The Bonny steamships attacked Nova Island next. Again, the attack – this time at night - came as a surprise for the residents of the Kelly stronghold. This attack was less coordinated, the goal given to the Bonny captains was merely to destroy all that they could. The fort cannons, however, did plenty to keep the steamships at bay long enough for the Rampart to lead the counter attack. It wasn’t the Rampart, however, which was the star of the battle, but the war sloop Thrush. The Thrush, under the command of Captain Louis Alexandre, purposely rammed the steamship Read. Alexandre commanded all of his pirates to abandon ship and stormed the Read.
The battle was a Kelly victory, although two of the three steamships were able to escape by sailing into the wind. The battle would be the first action for several islanders, but most notably Jacques and Symonne d’Arcis (the children of the respected Claude d’Arcis – see 1845) who were sailing on the Thrush and helped take the Read.
The Bonny attacks on Jamestown and Morondava were not the main objectives. Adam Bonny wanted Forecastle. He sent a large pirateband under the leadership of his chief Foreman Harold Bliss (also the abusive husband of Julia Jha, Adam’s cousin) to Forecastle. Bliss opted for surprise over stealth and rushed the town – the town fell easily, with Aaron Kelly nearly welcoming the arrival of the Bonnys. There was a skirmish at the mine, but the Kellys would eventually surrender.
Bliss, however, wasn’t finished. He had the Kelly miners and Foremen from Jamestown beaten, those who survived were locked up (the Forecastle workers he put back to work). Although William Williams (originally a Bonny operative sent to set up the coal mine) was beaten alongside the Jamestown Kellys, his sister Rebecca would not be so lucky. Bliss took her for his own and raped her repeatedly – handing her over to his men when he had grown tired. After three days Bliss strangles her to death and leaves her body at the mine site as a further warning.
Grace was impatient, but tactful, insisted on immediate retaliation with a large flotilla attaching Fort Dauphin and a wave of pirates to punish and retake Forecastle. Her sons, Jacob and James, however, were more even tempered - with James the more kind and quiet, as to Jacob who was ruthless, but patient as well. They advised a pause: send pirates and laborers to Morondava to help with repairs, blockade Fort Dauphin, and to siege Forecastle – make the enemy come to them. Grace took her son’s advice and drew up a battle plan: they would blockade Fort Dauphin, but it wouldn’t be a quiet blockade, ship would guard the sea, but every cannon she could find would bombard the town from every direction. She decided to give Forecastle time to give up or revolt against the Bonnys encamped there. She brought Tamo (de facto ruler of Nova Island at this time) out of retirement and put him in charge of the ships. Jacob she sent to Forecastle. James with Henry Tibbs, with a large contingent of laborers and pirates, were sent to Morondava. The Forge was now operating 24 hours a day.
Admiral Henry’s second attempt for a trip to New Arradon is postponed by news of the Bonny attacks on the Kellys. He issues a summons for his governors to convene at Port Mission.
March 1855:
It took a few weeks, but by early March the Kellys were on the move with Tamo and the fleet arriving first to hold the Fort Dauphin port. An early morning battle ensued but by the afternoon the Bonny ships had withdrawn into the port or fled. Town cannons began to fire in order to keep the Kelly ships at bay, but the effect was minimal as Tamo was under orders to keep ships coming and going not to attack. Several days later a horde of pirates and warriors from Morondava arrived to begin the bombardment.
The bombardment continues off and on for a week before the city council – under the direction of Adam Bonny – is able to lead a counter attack that breaks the siege. Several cannons are captured, and no prisoners are taken. With no single leader the broken Kelly pirates withdraw back to Jamestown for further orders. Although the blockade of the port continues Fort Dauphin is no longer bottled up.
In Forecastle, it wasn’t the approaching Kelly army that had caused the citizens of Forecastle to stir, it was Bliss. He was an effective agent to keep Adam’s personal enforcers inline, loyal, and motivated – he was not adept at occupying a town. His stern nature, cruelty, and bawdiness quickly wore out his welcome. Aaron Kelly held back the town, but as rumors began to circulate (no doubt fed to the townsfolks by the captured Kellys as opportunities presented themselves) that Aaron, and indeed his father Edward before him, were the cause of all of this the unrest, tempers grew ever more violent. As noted by Patrina Kelly (nee Corn) the revolt began on March the thirteenth.
The Kellys locked up inside a barn turned into a jailhouse suddenly found themselves in possession of several sharp implements. Upon making their escape they found a band of about 50 farmers ready to push out the Bonnys. There were nearly 200 Bonnys in town, but they were split up between the camp, the town, and patrols – and those in the camp and town had been given healthy access to rum and bear this day. It is decided to leave the camp for now and to take out as many Bonny in town as quickly and quietly as possible. Nearly thirty Bonnys are ambushed before several gunshots alert the rest to a problem.
After several hours of fighting eventually the two sides withdraw. Forecastle is taken and held by the Kellys, but the camp and mine are well defended by the Bonnys.
During the day’s fighting Aaron Kelly is killed – hung by his neck and disemboweled. He is found by Patrina.
The following day Jacob arrives at Forecastle to the sounds of fighting. Surrounded and outnumbered Bliss escapes with about a quarter of his original force.
Bliss and his men make it back to Fort Dauphin where a very angry Adam loudly admonishes Bliss in front of his men and threatens to strip him of command. Although Adam doesn’t follow through with this he does dismiss Bliss, telling him “Go home and stay there until I send for you.” A few days later Adam does send for Bliss. He is not found. His wife Julia, however, is found strangled. Adam issues a reward for Bliss – to be returned alive.
On March 31st Bliss arrives back in Forecastle. He surrenders and is taken to Jacob. But before Jacob can ask the former Chief Foreman anything William Williams (brother to Rebecca Williams) stabs Bliss in the throat.
The Council of Captains convenes on the 31st. Absent are any members of Jamestown or Fort Dauphin. New to the table are members Thaddeus Stevenson from Kaominina and Edward Norster from Iharana – after speaking to them separately Admiral Henry indorses their seats on the council, which is seconded by the rest of the council. The Bonny-Kelly Feud is discussed, and despite wanting support to send a fleet and pirates to stop the both of them, the Admiral is stalled by a split in the council. All (but for Thaddeus and Edward who remain neutral) call to wait and see (with half supporting the Kellys and sure they will win, and half supporting the Bonnys and sure they will win). As he has no support to go up against the factions, Admiral Henry sends his own ships under the flag of the Admiral to the south in order to gather more direct information.
April 1855:
The council members remain in Port Mission, but are kept in the dark about the health of the Admiral, who falls ill again soon after the meeting on the 31st of March. The word is that he left aboard one of his ships in order to see the conflict for himself.
Grace sees off the Phoenix (formally the Read). She had called in her best minds and ship designers, readied a makeshift dockyard, and over the last two months had refitted the captured steamship. It had the low profile and the sleekness of a schooner, a reinforced prow for ramming, 12 guns, 8 deck guns, but only room for a crew of 25. It made up for crew strength with speed and punch. To captain this ship Grace gave it to the man who had captured it, Captain Louis Alexandre – with his two newly promoted first mates Claude and Symonne d’Acris.
Two letters leave (capital). One letter was written by Vicar Keely and addressed to Grace Kelly and the other was written by Abigail Bonny and addressed to Admiral Henry. The letter to the Admiral arrives by messenger, but is never read as Tyr’s Foremen kept all but the most essential work away from their sick admiral. The first line of the letter to Grace Kelly read “I can win your war in a single day.” Within Vicar Keely laid out his plan. He’d never made much progress on advancing labor rights with the Kellys – although Grace had agreed several years back to draft more of them into pirate status. With this the Vicar hoped to strike two victories. His idea was simple – free your laborers, offer them a fair deal, have them infiltrate Fort Dauphin, fight the Bonnys from within. He concluded, “They will make you money, they will fight for you, how can you say no to that?” Grace knew the idea wouldn’t win the feud in a day, but she felt perhaps within a few weeks it just might.
It was a historic day when Grace Kelly, who had never been to the labor camp – had never seen the shanty town of guards and high wooden walls – walked beneath the gate and stood (surrounded by her Foremen) at the center of the “village”. She put out the word for several representatives to be chosen and for them to come speak with her in town.
Three laborers would sit with Grace: Thomas Howe, Patrick Kennedy, and Gale Aster. Grace laid out her offer: no more forced labor (in Jamestown), there would now be a roll call for work and those who sign on would be paid. In exchange the laborers would work to bring down the Bonnys. Patrick – the most vocal of the reps – countered with demands to look after their health and safety. For three days the small group talked and argued but in the end the April Agreement was crafted (2).
A messenger ship is sent to Tamo informing him that there is a new plan and to lift the blockade (Tamo and his fleet return to Jamestown).
While Grace orchestrates the killing blow for the feud, which had been confined to the Fort Dauphin area, the battles now expanded to include a number of raids and fights throughout the southern region of Madagascar.
May 1855:
The first of May, Abagail Bonny is found dead in her modest home. Vicar Keely orders a month long period of mourning.
One of the first pieces of news Admiral Henry hears about upon finally recovering from his illness was of the death of Abagail. He reads her letter she had sent him, her last act of kindness. Within she muses about how words are often more powerful than arms – and that she knows how un-pirate those thoughts are. She admits to not knowing or wanting to know about the politics of the Colony, but that the Admiral would not need the military support of the other Governors to simply ask the opposing parties to dinner. Tyr takes her words to heart and decides to act. He sends two ships, one to Jamestown, the other to Fort Dauphin. His own letters to them state that they would be under his protection and asks Grace and Adam (only to be accompanied by a small number of Foremen) to join him in Port Mission for services honoring Abagail Bonny.
The feud, however, was not put on hold and continued in the absence of the two leaders.
Thomas Henry returns to Malagasy waters only to be mistaken for a Kelly ship and chased by Bonny ships. Too fearful of damaging his cargo, Thomas orders evasion and manages to escape conflict (3). He docks in Port Mission a few days later and is surprised to find Adam Bonny in town. Thomas is happy for this coincidence to have saved him a further trip or at the very least a messenger and eagerly meets with the faction leader. The men share words regarding the chase Thomas had to evade but eventually get to the business at hand. Despite the presence of Adam’s Foremen Thomas is not shy about threats when describing his vision for the medical school if Adam does not comply. However, in short order the two come to an agreement (4).
Tamo and his fleet make a run at Fort Dauphin on the 20th. The approach comes late in the day and slow as to give the pirates of Fort Dauphin time to make sail. The battle is fought just outside the port. The Phoenix makes it’s first appearance. It sailed in fast, delivering a broadside and a wave of grape shot from the deck guns, and then sailing away before receiving but a few hits along her armored hull. Again and again this was done, breaking up the Bonny formation and allowing the Kelly ships to pick off Bonny ships almost with ease. Nightfall came soon, and the aggressive assaults fell back and gave way to standard tactics and successful and failure stealth attacks. A sliver of the moon hung in the sky on this night, making the hundred acts of sabotage all the more noticeable. In the weeks prior a large number of smaller villages and homesteaders had been flocking to Fort Dauphin for safety. The odd volume had gain the attention of the city council, but their fears had not prompted them to act. Many of these displaced citizens were Kelly laborers who spent their free time planting explosives and setting up other acts of disruption in readiness for this night. Jacob’s army out from Forecastle, which had spent the last few days scattering into smaller warbands and hiding in the wilderness, marched forth now attacking the town in the hours after the first explosions. By light, the Bonny ships had fallen back into the port and Fort Dauphin was drowning in chaos.
The service for Abigail Bonny was held on April 21st and said to have been beautiful. Patrician O’Rorke spoke at length about her life, kindness, and her contributions to the whole of the Colony. After the memorial Admiral Henry sat down with Grace and Adam (5). He condemned the feud telling the two of them that according to his information a number of ships had been lost and tribute, as well as supplies, was bound to be down for the year, which was good for no one and certainly not good for the Colony. He blamed Adam for the start of it – complimenting him on his attempt to cut in on Kelly territory, but admonishing him for escalating the event to a feud upon getting caught. He told them the Council of Captains, in their absence, had voted to bring Adam up on charges of acting outside the guidelines of the Code, and levying a bounty against Grace for taking matters into her own hands rather than seeking out the Council. The Admiral gave them a choice: end this matter now or in a week’s time the rest of the Colony would be marching and sailing on their strongholds.
Grace, for her part, agreed to drop the feud (knowing, that if all had gone as planned, she had already handed out her revenge). Adam, with little choice, agreed to call off the feud upon his return.
In the hopes of mending a few fences Admiral Henry kept Grace and Adam a day more before giving up allowing them to return home. Later that day Tyr gave his thanks to the other Council members who had been staying in Port Mission these last few months – of which, many were upset that they had not been allowed to speak with Grace or Adam while they had been in Port Mission (the Admiral had worked very hard not to have them meet with Grace and Adam for fear his pressure on the warring factions would be undone).
Grace is said to have called for music, singing, and dance upon seeing the smoke above Fort Dauphin as the ship that carried her and her Foremen home sailed by. She hoped the people of Fort Dauphin would give Adam a warm welcome.
Adam’s welcome was warm, but not in the way that Grace had wanted. Tamo and his fleet had disembarked the day earlier. The throngs of Kellys had been slowly trickling out of the town, with Jacob and most of the pirates and laborers pulling out not long before Adam’s return. There are many in Fort Dauphin that day who said the Kelly’s retreated at the sight of Adam’s returning on his ships (there was only one ship, and it wasn’t even Adam’s, it was a ship out of Port Mission loyal to Admiral Henry). Adam proclaimed that he would spare no expense in rebuilding his home (also his actual home, which had been mostly burned down during the fighting).
June 1855:
During the planning phase of getting the medical school up and running Thomas encourages Sara (see 1854) to get involved. She is, however, not received well – Thomas offers to correct their rude behavior, but Sara declines. The following day Sara proves she is a pirate by blackening one doctor’s eye, bloodying another’s nose, and giving the third a gash to his arm. Once she had their attention she explained her knowledge and interest in learning more from them. There were no further issues with her involvement in the project.
Grace upholds her side of the deal (most of the laborers had returned to Jamestown – some had been killed, others fled to try and make it on their own, but most had decided to honor the deal and return). Although the walls remained, the gates to the labor camp were disabled. Supplies were brought in, pirate and labor work crews cut a better road, and began work to clean up and refit the camp (6).
As it appeared that things had quieted back down Admiral Henry sends a ship to New Arradon asking that rather than coming to see him, if Vert could bring his play to Port Mission. Admiral Henry buys several buildings near Mission Inn and begins construction on Port Mission’s first theater.
July 1855:
James Kelly returns home from Morondava having finished with helping to repair Morondava and the dockyards (the laborers he had brought with him are gleeful at learning about the turn of events).
August 1855:
Two letters arrive in Jamestown for Grace Kelly. The first is another letter from Vicar Keely applauding Grace on what she had done for the laborers and asking that she take that enlightenment to Morondava and other camps. Grace’s reply was “We’ll see. Write again in a year’s time.” The second letter was from Patrina Kelly wherein she asks that the rift between Forecastle and Jamestown be healed. Grace suspected a trap. Jacob suggested caution but that the attempt was worth it – if for no other reason than to maintain control over the mine.
September 1855:
Little of interest.
October 1855:
The Council of Captains meets during the Founders Day celebrations. The verbal attacks on the Jamestown and Fort Dauphin reps are immediate. The Admiral however defends them both and orders the group to put the event behind them and move on to new business.
Events in Port Mission were capped by the first showing of “Yardarm” by Joseph Vert.
For Founders Day, Grace and James (Jacob felt it would be better for him to remain in Jamestown) journeys to Forecastle – a town she had not set foot near since taking command of the family 30 years ago. Patrina is welcoming, the meal was hearty, and the conversation was cordial.
November-December 1855:
Little of interest.
Notes:
1) Harbor Watchers: Grace had set up a similar deal here as with Marsh Island: the mid ocean island/watch tower which allows for an early detection of enemy ships headed for Madagascar. There is a 6 month rotation of laborers, three laborers at a time, if they are diligent in their duties to watch the waters leading up to Jamestown then they are freed or allowed to join a crew.
2) The April Agreement: it was the first official deal between laborers and the greater Malagasy society. In return for helping cripple the Bonnys Grace would grant several things. The labor camp would be unlocked and the laborers would be accepted as pirate-citizens. Grace would continue to supply food to the camp for a year until a refit of the camp could be made and a proper village made into it (with its own shops, farmers, services). Grace would provide protection as she would for any loyalists. In return the Kelly family would be allowed to collect tribute from the village as a whole as well as a portion of profits from whatever shops and services the village develops.
3)Doctors: Thomas journeyed to France, United Republics, and Orleans for his doctors. In France he made his way to Bordeaux where he was directed to the services of a very good doctor by the name of Samuel Gris (after some wine, Gris awoke aboard Thomas’ ship). Thomas next went to Philadelphia where he convinced Richard Tilton, by sword point, to relocate to Madagascar. Thomas last visited New Orleans where Richard had suggested the name of a friend of his, Joseph Roux.
4) The Medical School: A new building will be added to the Bonny school in Port Mission. Roux, Gris, and Tilton all will have a hand in its construction and all – after some persuasion – would be assisted by (as well as being their first student) Sara Bennington. Adam agreed to foot most of the bill for the supplies and construction with the assurance that the first three students (not counting Ms. Bennington) would be relocated to Fort Dauphin.
5) Bluff and bluster: Admiral Henry was in a unique position – probably the first in his life time. He did not have the support of his crew (i.e. the governors). He knew he needed to bring the feud to and end before it escalated further and his only weapons were bluffing and bluster. The charges against Adam and the bounty on Grace were both lies.
6) Asterville: The labor camp was now, or would be soon, it’s own village just outside of Jamestown and it needed a name. It was decided early on by the new pirate-citizens that the name should be taken from one of the three, Thomas Howe, Patrick Kennedy, and Gale Aster who struck the deal with Grace Kelly. In the end, more people liked the name Asterville so that is what it came to be known as.
China: The civil war continues.
Zilverenland-Brazil War: Peace declared, but no one is happy with it.
Brazil: Just months after the peace with Zilverenland King Pedro I of Brazil dies. Foul play is suspected, and for many further proof is seen in the fact that Miguel, brother to the former king, takes the crown while Pedro’s children flee the city.
England: England accepts peace with the United Republics and ends the conflict in South Africa (the Dutch and Boers claim total victory, but new borders had yet to be agreed upon). England returns to the sea, deciding on a location to build their own canal to the Far East. However, Orlean’s influence in the region made it difficult to deal directly with the Nicaraguans.
Empire of Orleans: Discovery that England was trying to buy land to build a canal in Nicaragua sparks interest at Court. Orleans sends its own shipping company representatives to the area in order to secure the rights first.
Sultanate of Algiers: The war continues.
Sultanate of Egypt: Sultan Muhamad ibn Hayir Yunis Sinan dies suddenly. His son Ibarahim Muhamad Yunis Sinan takes the throne. He defies England and presses forward in trying to normalize relations with France and The Ottoman Empire.
Ireland: Several years of economic troubles and recent unrest in the north ousts PM Arthur Collins. John Meaney is elected by his party to run the government.
The Venetian Empire: Ill health and money spark another change in leadership. The Venetians, having suffered in north Africa by way of the costly war in Algiers and the troubles in Morocco and a slump in the shipping trade, appoint a new Doge - Carlo Renier.
January 1855:
News of Joseph Vert’s play reaches Port Mission. Admiral Henry plans to visit New Arradon in order to attend a showing of Yardarm. However, before setting sail the Admiral is waylaid by illness.
George Sans upon returning to Forecastle is consumed by guilt and eventually tells his wife everything. She in turn – despite her husband’s attempts to tell her they should stay out of it – shares this information with Patrina Kelly (wife of Aaron Kelly, Patriarch of Forecastle). Patrina immediately informs Aaron. Aaron does nothing. He is happy with the deal to stay out of the coal dispute. Mostly out of fear over the Bonnys and dislike of the Jamestown Kellys, he is unmoved by his wife’s accretion that Forecastle will become a battlefield when the fighting starts. Aaron to Patrina: “That is a matter between Jamestown and Fort Dauphin.”
Patrina waits a week before deciding to do something on her own. She sends George and his wife to Jamestown with a letter for Grace.
February 1855:
The letter Patrina sends to Grace Kelly does not arrive in time. Adam Bonny had spent the last few months rallying his loyalists and deciding on a plan. He sent his three steam ships north to Morondava with a further eight sailing ships sent to Jamestown, and a large contingent of pirates were marching on Forecastle.
Between the third and the tenth of February the Bonnys attacked several Kelly strongholds. The first attack came at Morondava. The steamships sailed into the port in a brazen mid-morning attack. The target was the shipyards, but they didn’t stop there. Morondava had the second largest contingent of laborers, most of which were in the service of the shipyards – the labor camp was attacked as well and set on fire. After the initial surprise, and successful attack on the shipyards and the labor camp, the warriors and pirates of Morondava, under the leadership of the Elder Council, were able to drive the Bonnys back out to sea.
The battle at Morondava was followed a few days later with an attack on Jamestown itself. Adam Bonny, however, was unaware that Grace employed harbor watchers (1). They spotted the Bonny Trojan ship and alerted the town’s foremen. When the “trade ship” flying the Kelly colors docked and two hundred Bonny pirates charged the town the Kellys were ready. Although bloody, the battle never reached beyond the lower levels of the town. About an 30 minutes later seven other Bonny ships came up the coast – they were met by fifteen Kelly ships. Upon seeing the armada the Bonny ships fled, with only one brigantine being unable to evade capture.
The Bonny steamships attacked Nova Island next. Again, the attack – this time at night - came as a surprise for the residents of the Kelly stronghold. This attack was less coordinated, the goal given to the Bonny captains was merely to destroy all that they could. The fort cannons, however, did plenty to keep the steamships at bay long enough for the Rampart to lead the counter attack. It wasn’t the Rampart, however, which was the star of the battle, but the war sloop Thrush. The Thrush, under the command of Captain Louis Alexandre, purposely rammed the steamship Read. Alexandre commanded all of his pirates to abandon ship and stormed the Read.
The battle was a Kelly victory, although two of the three steamships were able to escape by sailing into the wind. The battle would be the first action for several islanders, but most notably Jacques and Symonne d’Arcis (the children of the respected Claude d’Arcis – see 1845) who were sailing on the Thrush and helped take the Read.
The Bonny attacks on Jamestown and Morondava were not the main objectives. Adam Bonny wanted Forecastle. He sent a large pirateband under the leadership of his chief Foreman Harold Bliss (also the abusive husband of Julia Jha, Adam’s cousin) to Forecastle. Bliss opted for surprise over stealth and rushed the town – the town fell easily, with Aaron Kelly nearly welcoming the arrival of the Bonnys. There was a skirmish at the mine, but the Kellys would eventually surrender.
Bliss, however, wasn’t finished. He had the Kelly miners and Foremen from Jamestown beaten, those who survived were locked up (the Forecastle workers he put back to work). Although William Williams (originally a Bonny operative sent to set up the coal mine) was beaten alongside the Jamestown Kellys, his sister Rebecca would not be so lucky. Bliss took her for his own and raped her repeatedly – handing her over to his men when he had grown tired. After three days Bliss strangles her to death and leaves her body at the mine site as a further warning.
Grace was impatient, but tactful, insisted on immediate retaliation with a large flotilla attaching Fort Dauphin and a wave of pirates to punish and retake Forecastle. Her sons, Jacob and James, however, were more even tempered - with James the more kind and quiet, as to Jacob who was ruthless, but patient as well. They advised a pause: send pirates and laborers to Morondava to help with repairs, blockade Fort Dauphin, and to siege Forecastle – make the enemy come to them. Grace took her son’s advice and drew up a battle plan: they would blockade Fort Dauphin, but it wouldn’t be a quiet blockade, ship would guard the sea, but every cannon she could find would bombard the town from every direction. She decided to give Forecastle time to give up or revolt against the Bonnys encamped there. She brought Tamo (de facto ruler of Nova Island at this time) out of retirement and put him in charge of the ships. Jacob she sent to Forecastle. James with Henry Tibbs, with a large contingent of laborers and pirates, were sent to Morondava. The Forge was now operating 24 hours a day.
Admiral Henry’s second attempt for a trip to New Arradon is postponed by news of the Bonny attacks on the Kellys. He issues a summons for his governors to convene at Port Mission.
March 1855:
It took a few weeks, but by early March the Kellys were on the move with Tamo and the fleet arriving first to hold the Fort Dauphin port. An early morning battle ensued but by the afternoon the Bonny ships had withdrawn into the port or fled. Town cannons began to fire in order to keep the Kelly ships at bay, but the effect was minimal as Tamo was under orders to keep ships coming and going not to attack. Several days later a horde of pirates and warriors from Morondava arrived to begin the bombardment.
The bombardment continues off and on for a week before the city council – under the direction of Adam Bonny – is able to lead a counter attack that breaks the siege. Several cannons are captured, and no prisoners are taken. With no single leader the broken Kelly pirates withdraw back to Jamestown for further orders. Although the blockade of the port continues Fort Dauphin is no longer bottled up.
In Forecastle, it wasn’t the approaching Kelly army that had caused the citizens of Forecastle to stir, it was Bliss. He was an effective agent to keep Adam’s personal enforcers inline, loyal, and motivated – he was not adept at occupying a town. His stern nature, cruelty, and bawdiness quickly wore out his welcome. Aaron Kelly held back the town, but as rumors began to circulate (no doubt fed to the townsfolks by the captured Kellys as opportunities presented themselves) that Aaron, and indeed his father Edward before him, were the cause of all of this the unrest, tempers grew ever more violent. As noted by Patrina Kelly (nee Corn) the revolt began on March the thirteenth.
The Kellys locked up inside a barn turned into a jailhouse suddenly found themselves in possession of several sharp implements. Upon making their escape they found a band of about 50 farmers ready to push out the Bonnys. There were nearly 200 Bonnys in town, but they were split up between the camp, the town, and patrols – and those in the camp and town had been given healthy access to rum and bear this day. It is decided to leave the camp for now and to take out as many Bonny in town as quickly and quietly as possible. Nearly thirty Bonnys are ambushed before several gunshots alert the rest to a problem.
After several hours of fighting eventually the two sides withdraw. Forecastle is taken and held by the Kellys, but the camp and mine are well defended by the Bonnys.
During the day’s fighting Aaron Kelly is killed – hung by his neck and disemboweled. He is found by Patrina.
The following day Jacob arrives at Forecastle to the sounds of fighting. Surrounded and outnumbered Bliss escapes with about a quarter of his original force.
Bliss and his men make it back to Fort Dauphin where a very angry Adam loudly admonishes Bliss in front of his men and threatens to strip him of command. Although Adam doesn’t follow through with this he does dismiss Bliss, telling him “Go home and stay there until I send for you.” A few days later Adam does send for Bliss. He is not found. His wife Julia, however, is found strangled. Adam issues a reward for Bliss – to be returned alive.
On March 31st Bliss arrives back in Forecastle. He surrenders and is taken to Jacob. But before Jacob can ask the former Chief Foreman anything William Williams (brother to Rebecca Williams) stabs Bliss in the throat.
The Council of Captains convenes on the 31st. Absent are any members of Jamestown or Fort Dauphin. New to the table are members Thaddeus Stevenson from Kaominina and Edward Norster from Iharana – after speaking to them separately Admiral Henry indorses their seats on the council, which is seconded by the rest of the council. The Bonny-Kelly Feud is discussed, and despite wanting support to send a fleet and pirates to stop the both of them, the Admiral is stalled by a split in the council. All (but for Thaddeus and Edward who remain neutral) call to wait and see (with half supporting the Kellys and sure they will win, and half supporting the Bonnys and sure they will win). As he has no support to go up against the factions, Admiral Henry sends his own ships under the flag of the Admiral to the south in order to gather more direct information.
April 1855:
The council members remain in Port Mission, but are kept in the dark about the health of the Admiral, who falls ill again soon after the meeting on the 31st of March. The word is that he left aboard one of his ships in order to see the conflict for himself.
Grace sees off the Phoenix (formally the Read). She had called in her best minds and ship designers, readied a makeshift dockyard, and over the last two months had refitted the captured steamship. It had the low profile and the sleekness of a schooner, a reinforced prow for ramming, 12 guns, 8 deck guns, but only room for a crew of 25. It made up for crew strength with speed and punch. To captain this ship Grace gave it to the man who had captured it, Captain Louis Alexandre – with his two newly promoted first mates Claude and Symonne d’Acris.
Two letters leave (capital). One letter was written by Vicar Keely and addressed to Grace Kelly and the other was written by Abigail Bonny and addressed to Admiral Henry. The letter to the Admiral arrives by messenger, but is never read as Tyr’s Foremen kept all but the most essential work away from their sick admiral. The first line of the letter to Grace Kelly read “I can win your war in a single day.” Within Vicar Keely laid out his plan. He’d never made much progress on advancing labor rights with the Kellys – although Grace had agreed several years back to draft more of them into pirate status. With this the Vicar hoped to strike two victories. His idea was simple – free your laborers, offer them a fair deal, have them infiltrate Fort Dauphin, fight the Bonnys from within. He concluded, “They will make you money, they will fight for you, how can you say no to that?” Grace knew the idea wouldn’t win the feud in a day, but she felt perhaps within a few weeks it just might.
It was a historic day when Grace Kelly, who had never been to the labor camp – had never seen the shanty town of guards and high wooden walls – walked beneath the gate and stood (surrounded by her Foremen) at the center of the “village”. She put out the word for several representatives to be chosen and for them to come speak with her in town.
Three laborers would sit with Grace: Thomas Howe, Patrick Kennedy, and Gale Aster. Grace laid out her offer: no more forced labor (in Jamestown), there would now be a roll call for work and those who sign on would be paid. In exchange the laborers would work to bring down the Bonnys. Patrick – the most vocal of the reps – countered with demands to look after their health and safety. For three days the small group talked and argued but in the end the April Agreement was crafted (2).
A messenger ship is sent to Tamo informing him that there is a new plan and to lift the blockade (Tamo and his fleet return to Jamestown).
While Grace orchestrates the killing blow for the feud, which had been confined to the Fort Dauphin area, the battles now expanded to include a number of raids and fights throughout the southern region of Madagascar.
May 1855:
The first of May, Abagail Bonny is found dead in her modest home. Vicar Keely orders a month long period of mourning.
One of the first pieces of news Admiral Henry hears about upon finally recovering from his illness was of the death of Abagail. He reads her letter she had sent him, her last act of kindness. Within she muses about how words are often more powerful than arms – and that she knows how un-pirate those thoughts are. She admits to not knowing or wanting to know about the politics of the Colony, but that the Admiral would not need the military support of the other Governors to simply ask the opposing parties to dinner. Tyr takes her words to heart and decides to act. He sends two ships, one to Jamestown, the other to Fort Dauphin. His own letters to them state that they would be under his protection and asks Grace and Adam (only to be accompanied by a small number of Foremen) to join him in Port Mission for services honoring Abagail Bonny.
The feud, however, was not put on hold and continued in the absence of the two leaders.
Thomas Henry returns to Malagasy waters only to be mistaken for a Kelly ship and chased by Bonny ships. Too fearful of damaging his cargo, Thomas orders evasion and manages to escape conflict (3). He docks in Port Mission a few days later and is surprised to find Adam Bonny in town. Thomas is happy for this coincidence to have saved him a further trip or at the very least a messenger and eagerly meets with the faction leader. The men share words regarding the chase Thomas had to evade but eventually get to the business at hand. Despite the presence of Adam’s Foremen Thomas is not shy about threats when describing his vision for the medical school if Adam does not comply. However, in short order the two come to an agreement (4).
Tamo and his fleet make a run at Fort Dauphin on the 20th. The approach comes late in the day and slow as to give the pirates of Fort Dauphin time to make sail. The battle is fought just outside the port. The Phoenix makes it’s first appearance. It sailed in fast, delivering a broadside and a wave of grape shot from the deck guns, and then sailing away before receiving but a few hits along her armored hull. Again and again this was done, breaking up the Bonny formation and allowing the Kelly ships to pick off Bonny ships almost with ease. Nightfall came soon, and the aggressive assaults fell back and gave way to standard tactics and successful and failure stealth attacks. A sliver of the moon hung in the sky on this night, making the hundred acts of sabotage all the more noticeable. In the weeks prior a large number of smaller villages and homesteaders had been flocking to Fort Dauphin for safety. The odd volume had gain the attention of the city council, but their fears had not prompted them to act. Many of these displaced citizens were Kelly laborers who spent their free time planting explosives and setting up other acts of disruption in readiness for this night. Jacob’s army out from Forecastle, which had spent the last few days scattering into smaller warbands and hiding in the wilderness, marched forth now attacking the town in the hours after the first explosions. By light, the Bonny ships had fallen back into the port and Fort Dauphin was drowning in chaos.
The service for Abigail Bonny was held on April 21st and said to have been beautiful. Patrician O’Rorke spoke at length about her life, kindness, and her contributions to the whole of the Colony. After the memorial Admiral Henry sat down with Grace and Adam (5). He condemned the feud telling the two of them that according to his information a number of ships had been lost and tribute, as well as supplies, was bound to be down for the year, which was good for no one and certainly not good for the Colony. He blamed Adam for the start of it – complimenting him on his attempt to cut in on Kelly territory, but admonishing him for escalating the event to a feud upon getting caught. He told them the Council of Captains, in their absence, had voted to bring Adam up on charges of acting outside the guidelines of the Code, and levying a bounty against Grace for taking matters into her own hands rather than seeking out the Council. The Admiral gave them a choice: end this matter now or in a week’s time the rest of the Colony would be marching and sailing on their strongholds.
Grace, for her part, agreed to drop the feud (knowing, that if all had gone as planned, she had already handed out her revenge). Adam, with little choice, agreed to call off the feud upon his return.
In the hopes of mending a few fences Admiral Henry kept Grace and Adam a day more before giving up allowing them to return home. Later that day Tyr gave his thanks to the other Council members who had been staying in Port Mission these last few months – of which, many were upset that they had not been allowed to speak with Grace or Adam while they had been in Port Mission (the Admiral had worked very hard not to have them meet with Grace and Adam for fear his pressure on the warring factions would be undone).
Grace is said to have called for music, singing, and dance upon seeing the smoke above Fort Dauphin as the ship that carried her and her Foremen home sailed by. She hoped the people of Fort Dauphin would give Adam a warm welcome.
Adam’s welcome was warm, but not in the way that Grace had wanted. Tamo and his fleet had disembarked the day earlier. The throngs of Kellys had been slowly trickling out of the town, with Jacob and most of the pirates and laborers pulling out not long before Adam’s return. There are many in Fort Dauphin that day who said the Kelly’s retreated at the sight of Adam’s returning on his ships (there was only one ship, and it wasn’t even Adam’s, it was a ship out of Port Mission loyal to Admiral Henry). Adam proclaimed that he would spare no expense in rebuilding his home (also his actual home, which had been mostly burned down during the fighting).
June 1855:
During the planning phase of getting the medical school up and running Thomas encourages Sara (see 1854) to get involved. She is, however, not received well – Thomas offers to correct their rude behavior, but Sara declines. The following day Sara proves she is a pirate by blackening one doctor’s eye, bloodying another’s nose, and giving the third a gash to his arm. Once she had their attention she explained her knowledge and interest in learning more from them. There were no further issues with her involvement in the project.
Grace upholds her side of the deal (most of the laborers had returned to Jamestown – some had been killed, others fled to try and make it on their own, but most had decided to honor the deal and return). Although the walls remained, the gates to the labor camp were disabled. Supplies were brought in, pirate and labor work crews cut a better road, and began work to clean up and refit the camp (6).
As it appeared that things had quieted back down Admiral Henry sends a ship to New Arradon asking that rather than coming to see him, if Vert could bring his play to Port Mission. Admiral Henry buys several buildings near Mission Inn and begins construction on Port Mission’s first theater.
July 1855:
James Kelly returns home from Morondava having finished with helping to repair Morondava and the dockyards (the laborers he had brought with him are gleeful at learning about the turn of events).
August 1855:
Two letters arrive in Jamestown for Grace Kelly. The first is another letter from Vicar Keely applauding Grace on what she had done for the laborers and asking that she take that enlightenment to Morondava and other camps. Grace’s reply was “We’ll see. Write again in a year’s time.” The second letter was from Patrina Kelly wherein she asks that the rift between Forecastle and Jamestown be healed. Grace suspected a trap. Jacob suggested caution but that the attempt was worth it – if for no other reason than to maintain control over the mine.
September 1855:
Little of interest.
October 1855:
The Council of Captains meets during the Founders Day celebrations. The verbal attacks on the Jamestown and Fort Dauphin reps are immediate. The Admiral however defends them both and orders the group to put the event behind them and move on to new business.
Events in Port Mission were capped by the first showing of “Yardarm” by Joseph Vert.
For Founders Day, Grace and James (Jacob felt it would be better for him to remain in Jamestown) journeys to Forecastle – a town she had not set foot near since taking command of the family 30 years ago. Patrina is welcoming, the meal was hearty, and the conversation was cordial.
November-December 1855:
Little of interest.
Notes:
1) Harbor Watchers: Grace had set up a similar deal here as with Marsh Island: the mid ocean island/watch tower which allows for an early detection of enemy ships headed for Madagascar. There is a 6 month rotation of laborers, three laborers at a time, if they are diligent in their duties to watch the waters leading up to Jamestown then they are freed or allowed to join a crew.
2) The April Agreement: it was the first official deal between laborers and the greater Malagasy society. In return for helping cripple the Bonnys Grace would grant several things. The labor camp would be unlocked and the laborers would be accepted as pirate-citizens. Grace would continue to supply food to the camp for a year until a refit of the camp could be made and a proper village made into it (with its own shops, farmers, services). Grace would provide protection as she would for any loyalists. In return the Kelly family would be allowed to collect tribute from the village as a whole as well as a portion of profits from whatever shops and services the village develops.
3)Doctors: Thomas journeyed to France, United Republics, and Orleans for his doctors. In France he made his way to Bordeaux where he was directed to the services of a very good doctor by the name of Samuel Gris (after some wine, Gris awoke aboard Thomas’ ship). Thomas next went to Philadelphia where he convinced Richard Tilton, by sword point, to relocate to Madagascar. Thomas last visited New Orleans where Richard had suggested the name of a friend of his, Joseph Roux.
4) The Medical School: A new building will be added to the Bonny school in Port Mission. Roux, Gris, and Tilton all will have a hand in its construction and all – after some persuasion – would be assisted by (as well as being their first student) Sara Bennington. Adam agreed to foot most of the bill for the supplies and construction with the assurance that the first three students (not counting Ms. Bennington) would be relocated to Fort Dauphin.
5) Bluff and bluster: Admiral Henry was in a unique position – probably the first in his life time. He did not have the support of his crew (i.e. the governors). He knew he needed to bring the feud to and end before it escalated further and his only weapons were bluffing and bluster. The charges against Adam and the bounty on Grace were both lies.
6) Asterville: The labor camp was now, or would be soon, it’s own village just outside of Jamestown and it needed a name. It was decided early on by the new pirate-citizens that the name should be taken from one of the three, Thomas Howe, Patrick Kennedy, and Gale Aster who struck the deal with Grace Kelly. In the end, more people liked the name Asterville so that is what it came to be known as.