The Prize

The heroes begin in pursuit of a fat prize, a Vendel merchantman called the De Ruyter -- but as they close, it turns and opens fire, closing a desperate battle.

The Battle

As battle is joined, the De Ruyter turns to fight, grievously wounding many of the Banshees. Axel and Alondra rush across with the boarders as Orlando and Jenny try to organize the crew aboard the Banshee; as the fight rages above, Orlando crosses gundeck to gundeck, only to discover that the better part of the De Ruyter's forces are holed up below in a fortified bastion. Orlando takes cover with his men as the fighters above drive the De Ruyters down, and a stalemate ensues outside the bastion.

Stalemate and a Ticking Clock

The De Ruyter captain, Jan Ranulfson, tells the heroes that there is a Castillian 'Black Spot' pirate hunter nearby, and that he has cut the rudder line. He believes they will not be able to penetrate the bastion before the Black Spot arrives, and so the Banshees will have to flee.

This is true, but the Heroes convince Captain Malcolm and Anne Crieux to embark on a daring plan -- they will split the crews, with Crieux, the Heroes and a few others remaining behind to take the bastion while the Banshee sails off. Things get worse when one of the topsmen, Jack, falls into the ocean while trying to repair the rudder -- Axel is forced to save him with Jenny's help, delaying their chance to fix the rudder before the Black Spot arrives.

Still, the Heroes make progress -- Alondra makes a connection with one of the De Ruyters and Orlando prepares an alchemical charge to breach the door.

Taking the Bastion

When battle is joined, they rush in -- Von Teller, the De Ruyter who Alondra had connected with, leads her down to a hold full of slaves, and she works on saving them as Orlando duels Captain Ranulfson, Jenny fights the crew and Axel repairs the rudder. As the Heroes get the rudder repaired, Alondra leads the slaves up from below to clear out the remaining De Ruyters and the skeleton crew aboard the De Ruyter gets her underway just as the Black Spot begins to range her guns.

Persons of Note

• Anne Crieux -- The Quartermaster, she volunteered to stay behind with the Heroes to try to hold the De Ruyter.
• Jan Ranulfson -- Captain of the De Ruyter. Slain by Orlando when the bastion is taken.
• Olga Vanderberg -- :The De Ruyter's security officer. Missing in action when she finds the door to the Bastion fused shut.
• Jack -- A topsman aboard the Banshee, he is rescued from a shark by a feat of derring-do on Axel's part.
• Von Teller -- : De Ruyter who Alondra convinces to switch sides.