text: rting strength, and only has enough food left for another week or so.
  
  The sight of The Corral Mountain also causes your sprits to plunge. The Lapau seem to have finally dug in, fortifying themselves on the Mountain's steep slopes and hundreds of warriors are moving among the natural cover of the corral crags. The Mountain is so tall you cannot even elevate your ship's cannons to fire more than a quarter of the way up the slope and an assault by your sailors, even with covering musket fire, will surely trigger a rain of spears and arrows from above. Despite it all Anne-Marie remains confident.
  
  "The Lapau have clearly gathered their last remaining strength here to fortify this place," she announces. "After we capture this place they have only one more island to shelter in, one more bolt hole. Once we take this Mountain an end to the war is in sight. This mountain must be taken in one assault, one swift charge to overrun their position. My Commanders, you have all fought with tremendous ability and courage so far in this voyage, now I ask who will lead this attack?"
  
  She looks round at her officers, at Naomi Swift who has her arm in a sling and her leg in bandages and had to be hauled aboard the Monarch of the Sea in a canvas bag to attend this council, at Thomas Finch who also has his arm in a sling and at Esme Hale and Eva Freer who have also been wounded so far in this voyage. The sycophantic Richard Quarrel remains silent and finally it is the ailing and grey-bearded Tobias Cuthrew who speaks.
  
  "My Crew is the strongest of those that remain," he declares. "If this mountain must be taken then I will lead the attack."
  
  Anne-Marie looks at her deputy with great respect. "One half of our men must advance up the Mountain while the other half give them covering fire. Who else will charge these slopes?"
  
  "If it shortens this war and saves our lives me and my Crew will advance though I'd rather do anything other than this," Hale says reluctantly.
  
  "I will go too," Freer announces. "I don't expect this assault will succeed unless I am there."
  
  You feel a sudden jolt inside you as you realize the tomboyish adventuress who you have grown so close to will deliberately be putting herself in harm's way.
  
  "Is there no one else?" Anne-Marie asks glancing pointedly at Quarrel who looks at
  
  > volunteer to join the assault on the slopes
  At dusk you, Tobias Cuthrew, Esme Hale and Eva Freer and your Crews row ashore amidst a hail of spears. Moving with a speed you did not think you were capable of you scramble up the steep slope. Muskets flash behind you as Anne-Marie, Thomas Finch and Richard Quarrel lead the second wave ashore to give you covering fire. A spear plunges down in front of you and chunks of corral break off in your hands as you scramble up the steepest parts of the slope on all fours. All around you men are falling screaming and as some Lapau begin firing muskets the assault grounds to a halt, sailors seeking shelter in whatever cover they can find.
  
  Seeing that the assault has halted Esme Hale springs to her feet and stands tall amidst the storm of flying spears and musket balls. "Come on my boys," she shouts. "Let's take the top!" A moment later a spear strikes her full in the center of her chest, the bloodied point emerging from her back. Time seems to stand still as she falls slowly backwards, her body skidding down the mountainside. There seems to be a moment of stunned silence and then with a collective roar of rage sailors spring to their feet.
  
  If anything could have electrified you and your countrymen it was the death of the most popular officer in the Fleet. Screaming with rage like the rest of your countrymen you can think of nothing but getting up the mountain and tearing apart with your bare hands the men who have murdered your friend. Eva Freer is springing up the slope ahead of you when she spins on the spot and goes down: shot through the right shoulder. You falter momentarily to check she is ok but she has fallen behind the shelter of a rock and impatiently gestures for you to get moving.
  
  A musket ball knocks your sword flying from your hand and bare-handed you spring on up the slope. Incredibly, despite his age, Cuthrew is ahead of you and he leads his sailors in slaughtering the Lapau warriors. As they flee from their positions they are pursued and butchered without mercy by the vengeful sailors. With the Mountain won and sickened by the sight of the slaughter you turn away and stagger down the slope to where Hale is lying motionless on her back, her eyes staring sightlessly at the sky.
  
  "We can't do anything for her," a voice tells you nearby and you see Freer is dragging herself over, trailing blood. The sight of Freer immediately drives other thoughts from your mind and against her protests you hurry over and lift her up in your hands. You carry her down to where the wounded are gathering on the shore near a beaming Anne-Marie who stares up at the mountain top where Cuthrew has ordered your country's banner to be raised.
  
  "Now we have won this War," she tells you triumphantly.
  
  "Esme Hale is dead," you tell her bluntly. "So I couldn't care less."
  
  Anne-Marie stares at you as you walk past her and carry Freer to the safety of a boat back to the Adventurer. Casualties are remarkably light and only three of your Crew have been killed in the fighting, though many more are injured.
  
  > A Friend's Funeral
  That night the mood aboard the Fleet is mutinous as the bodies of those who died during the day's battle are consigned to the deep. Only twenty or so men died but three quarters of those who sailed with the Fleet are now dead. When Esme Hale's body, still beautiful in death, is dropped into the ocean a fierce outcry goes up, many men are crying and cries of "murderer" and "tyrant" are shouted at Anne-Marie. Quarrel tries to calm the crowd but someone fires a musket at him which fortunately (for him) wasn't loaded. Taking the hint Anne-Marie retreats to her cabin with you and her other remaining officers.
  
  Here the mood is scarcely better. Eva Freer and Naomi Swift are staring at her with real hatred, white-faced from the pain of their wounds. Thomas Finch is sitting to one side grimly staring out of a window. Even Richard Quarrel seems to have nothing to say as he nervously fidgets with a ring in his hands. It falls to Tobias Cuthrew, white-bearded like Old Father Time and with his face still blackened from musket smoke to say what you are all thinking.
  
  "My Queen three of us are now dead and three of us wounded. This Fleet has lost three ships, has less than a week's worth of food and has lost three quarters of it's men. One more battle will destroy this Fleet. If you keep going this Fleet will come apart. You must seek terms with the Lapau."
  
  "Who are you to talk to your Queen like this?" Anne-Marie snaps. "We will keep going until the Lapau surrender. We have not come this far and suffered so much to roll over and beg when we are on the verge of victory."
  
  "No we will not," you tell her quietly and look up at her. "Will you continue until we are all dead? If you do not seek terms of peace when we arrive at the Lapau's last island then all will be well. But me and my Crew will not fight."
  
  "Mine neither," Freer says. "Nor mine," Swift adds. "I am finished fighting," Finch agrees. Quarrel glances round the group looking like a rat caught in a trap and quickly shakes his head. "Queen, you have heard your officers," Cuthrew says quietly.
  
  "You fools," Anne-Marie says with icy venom. "None of you appreciate what I am trying to do. I am establishing an empire that will last for hundreds of years to come. What are a few lives now compared to greatness in the future? Safety and security cost lives: if we do not take lands the Lapau will take them and one day be so numerous they sill snuff us out like a finger crushes an ant! Do you want to see our small Kingdom of Three Islands surrounded by vicious war-loving Lapau? I know the road is difficult and we will lose many friends on the way but we must be strong! One more week, that is all I ask."
  
  "My Queen, you must realize not everyone is like you," Freer tells her.
  
  The next morning you sail south from the scene of such terrible fighting.
  
  > The Homeland of the Lapau
  Starving and short-handed the War Fleet limps on. Perhaps as a bribe Anne-Marie places Eva Freer in command of Hale's ship Merry Company where mutiny is thickest. Freer promptly changes the ship's name to Esme's Joy and despite moving with a painful limp she provides the perfect leadership the five remaining sailors on that ship need, telling them their only chance is to get home alive is to keep heading south and reminding them they are approaching waters she and they have sailed before. Naomi Swift has herself carried up in a chair to the quarterdeck of the Explorer to resume command of her ship.
  
  Finally you reach the last island of the Lapau, their Capital which they call Matan. A terrible sight awaits you: hundreds of canoes wait silently before the island filled with warriors ready for one last battle to save their homeland. Anne-Marie remains out of sight in her cabin as to the relief of you and every sailor on the ship Commander Quarrel and a few sailors row a boat towards the waiting fleet waving a white flag. A canoe so big it holds a dozen warriors comes out to meet him and accompanies him back to the Monarch of the Sea. You and the other officers hurry aboard to meet your adversaries.
  
  The first Lapau aboard after Quarrel is a blond-haired lady who looks vaguely familiar to you. She is followed by a handsome young man in war paint and a grey-haired tough old warrior whose bare chest is covered in old scars. Anne-Marie has finally emerged from her cabin in her finest clothes and waits surrounded by you and her other officers. The blond-haired woman's eyes take in Finch, Swift and Freer's wounds before her eyes settle on Anne-Marie.
  
  "Greetings to you Queen Anne-Marie," she says, speaking your language perfectly. "I am Ann Lovett, formerly Captain of the Hope and now honored to serve the Royal House of the Lapau."
  
  You start, as does Anne-Marie and Cuthrew. The three of you recognize her as one of your fellow rivals in The Great Race to sail around the world of Magellan some five months ago. She was presumed lost but now it seems she has been found and adopted by the Lapau.
  
  "I have come here to translate the words of Al-Capu, King of the Lapau and of his son Al-Balu," she says gesturing to the tough old warrior and his handsome son. The King of the Lapau speaks in the deep ponderous tones of his people while Lovett provides a translation.
  
  "Al-Capu knows your heart Queen. He is tired of fighting. Many of his warriors are killed. You have taken all his villages and all his lands but Matan. Al-Capu is tired of the war you have waged upon him and his heart is sad. If you leave him in peace he will fight with you no more."
  
  "Al-Capu promises not to attack our islands if we do not attack his?" Anne-Marie asks.
  
  "It was never the intention of Al-Capu to harrass your colonies," Lovett replies. "Those were the actions of ambitious petty chiefs and young warriors. If you leave the Lapau alone they will leave you alone."
  
  "That is not enough," Anne-Marie replies. "I too have lost too many warriors. We demand land as recompense."
  
  Al-Capu considers this when Lovett translates and gestures to his fleet of canoes.
  
  "If they fight with you perhaps you will win or perhaps the Lapau will triumph," Lovett translates. "Either way many will die and both of us will lose. But if you sail away we will have a lasting peace which will be sweeter than any victory in battle. Trade routes can be established and our people can learn much from each other."
  
  Anne-Marie tries one last time. "Your warriors attacked our Fleet without warning when we first visited you in peace," she insists. "We deserve something at least for that."
  
  Al-Capu and Al-Balu talk rapidly among themselves for some time before Lovett what they say.
  
  "Prince Al-Balu was leading his annual tour of his kingdom with his escort when he learned of your ships off his father's lands. Perhaps his attack on you was over hasty but he feared you meant to attack his father's lands. To ensure a lasting peace between our two peoples King Al-Capu will give his son Al-Balu and myself to you as hostages to live for one year and will now provide your Fleet with food to help you return to your own lands. In this way we hope to ensure a lasting peace."
  
  Anne-Marie hesitates, glances around at the unfriendly faces of you and her other Commanders and finally nods and sighs.
  
  "Let it be so."
  
  > Matan
  When news that peace has been agreed spreads throughout the War Fleet the cheering is continous and quickly prompts Anne-Marie to retreat to her cabin, quickly followed by Quarrel. Ann Lovett remains aboard the ship and chats affably with you and Cuthrew while Prince Al-Balu stands awkwardly by while his father returns to Matan to tell his own people of the peace agreement. The Lapau break into song, stamp their feet and wave their spears and within an hour dozens of canoes are speeding out from the island, conveying welcome supplies to the Fleet. All the food the Lapau took from their islands has been gathered here and is swiftly shared out among the ships of the Fleet. You make sure the Adventurer receives as much food as her holds can contain.
  
  Anne-Marie emerges from her cabin that afternoon and using the shaky premise of her hostages and the food delivery claims this war has ended in victory while Lovett later tells you in private the Lapau regard it as a victory because the War Fleet is leaving their lands never to return and a lasting peace has been established - despite their fierce appearence Lovett insists, slightly unconvincingly, that the Lapau are basically a peaceful people. Either way no one seems to have won in this war which has cost many good lives, foremost among them Donald Trevers, Bermuda Mason and Esme Hale.
  
  That evening over a dinner aboard the Monarch of the Sea Lovett tells how she was captured by the Lapau on the tropical island where Swift was shot and kept by the Lapau so they could learn about your culture. The next morning the War Fleet is resupplied and ready to return to The Kingdom of the Three Islands and Anne-Marie summons you and the other officers aboard her ship for one last Council.
  
  "The voyage home is safe," she announces. "The waters south and west of here are mostly known to us and it will take approximately two weeks to return to Golden Sands. I propose that the Fleet splits up and returns to The Three Islands on separate to ensure we explore this area as much as possible, the first of us to bring his ship safely home will have the honor of bringing news of our success to our people. I recommend following a Southwest course for one week and then turning South but I have absolute trust in your skills."
  
  After such a long voyage you have little enthusiasm for more risks but as you are leaving the cabin Naomi Swift hobbles after you awkwardly on crutches. "Cleo?" she calls out to you. "There is something I would like to talk to you about. Can you please sail South of here so no one else is around and I can come aboard the Adventurer and have a private talk with you?" Wondering what the talk could be about you give a non-committal answer. Returning aboard the Adventurer you watch the War Fleet start to break up as it leaves Matan and most of the ships turn Southwest except for the Explorer and Freer's Esme's Joy which turn South.
  
  > sail Southwards to talk to Swift
  Traveling south across the sparkling water you are pleased to have finally escaped Anne-Marie's dictatorial command and you soon catch up with the Explorer and Esme's Joy and pull alongside so their Commanders can join you for dinner. Naomi and Eva come aboard looking like the outpatients of a hospital: Eva is still limping and Naomi still needs crutches to get about but all of you are glad the voyage is nearly over.
  
  "We should not have gone so far," Eva says firmly. "Queen Anne-Marie is a tyrant."
  
  You are captivated by the attractive tomboy's conversation throughout the dinner and it is only when the meal is over that you realize Naomi has hardly said a word. When you ask if she is ok she nods distractedly. Later when Eva has returned to her ship Naomi hangs back waiting nervously. When you open your mouth to ask her what is wrong the strong-willed adventuress suddenly hobbles closer and kisses you wion the mouth!
  
  "I care for you and you care for Eva so that is that," she declares suddenly pulling away. "After Bermuda died I thought I would never know happiness again and then I got to know you! I just wanted you to know how much I cared and how I know we can never be together." She turns and hobbles out of the room leaving you stunned. It takes you a minute or two to recover your wits and follow her out onto deck but she has already left. You hear someone call your name and turn startled to find Eva is still on board the Adventurer.
  
  "Are you alright Leo?" she asks you looking amused. "You look shaken."
  
  "Naomi... er" you mumble trying to work out how to phrase this.
  
  "Kissed you did she?" Eva asks, still with that mocking grin. "I thought she might. She looked like she wanted to. Did you tell her you didn't care for her because you were so in love with me?"
  
  "Eva!" you exclaim. Everyone seems to know your own heart better than you!
  
  "Isn't it obvious?" Eva asks. "You probably haven't even noticed but most everything you do is with one eye on my reaction. You're a good friend Leo but let's not get stupid about things alright?"
  
  With that she turns and walks away towards the gangplank back to her ship leaving you standing open-mouthed on the deck. Later during a sleepless night you reflect on what you have learned tonight and realize that perhaps during the voyage you could have been a little kinder towards Naomi.By dawn there is no sign of the Explorer or Esme's Joy so you turn the Adventurer Southwest towards the Northern Passage and home.
  
  > Food for Thought
  As the Adventurer skims across the sparkling water you notice pieces of corral floating in the sea occasionally, a sure sign you are approaching The Great Reef and your homeland! You also haul something even more unusual from the ocean: a net full of struggling fish! The net must have been lost by a fishing vessel somewhere nearby, surely belonging to one of your countrymen. Your men are thrilled and enjoy a fish fry as well as outfitting the Adventurer with enough food for several days but you reflect bitterly there were times in the past when this food would have been much more welcome rather than now when you have plenty to eat. Continuing Southwest you finally arrive at The Northern Passage.
  
  > The Northern Passage
  You feel a great sense of relief as you sail through the narrow breach in The Great Reef called The Northern Passage, the real border of your homeland, The Three Islands.On your last voyage you were attacked by a treacherous Captain as you sail in the opposite direction but that man is now dead and this is your gateway home. On the Reef a small watchtower has been built and if you want you can halt here and request supplies, alternatively two of your home islands Amethyst and Onyx lie to the Southwest and Southeast respectively.
  
  > stop and request supplies
  Dropping anchor you go ashore to be greeted by the men at the watchtower.
  
  "Fleet's returning home then?" one asks cheerfully. "Where's the rest of you?"
  
  "We're some of it," you tell him wearily. "What's left of the rest is coming along soon."
  
  "Many new lands been conquered?" the man asks, determined to be cheerful.
  
  "None. We have got two new friends thought."
  
  The man frowns. "What happened on this voyage Commander Trapa?"
  
  "You'll soon find out when Anne-Marie tells you all," you tell him wearily. "Please load what supplies you can aboard my ship."
  
  With fresh supplies on board you sail on.
  
  > Southwest to Amethyst
  It is nice to see Amethyst again, a busy little port that builds ships for your country. Your arrival provokes a surge of activity along the waterfront but anchoring offshore you do not visit the island; so close to home and with ample provisions you have no intention to stop and meet the widows of your sailors who are not returning on the quay. The next morning a gentle breeze fills your sails and turning Southeast you continue on towards Golden Sands and home.
  
  > Going home
  Finally as the beautiful shores of Golden Sands come into sight you feel an indescribable relief at coming home tempered with the grim certainty that in the future you will have to embark on more dangerous and difficult voyages into the unknown. You have made good time but are you the first Commander of the War Fleet to bring their ship back to Golden Sands?
  
  > click here to find out
  Swift and speedy throughout the voyage it is no surprise that you and the Adventurer are the first to return to Golden Sands. A silent crowd waits on the quay as you descend as you go ashore and putting the best possible spin on the War declare that the War Fleet has been victorious in eight out of nine battles and skirmishes with the Lapau earning valuable hostages and recognition of trade routes and national boundaries. The people cheer as you mutter in an unheard undertone that over two hundred of the Fleet's sailors lost their lives including three of the Fleet's most likable officers. Over the next few days Anne-Marie and the others return until within a week all the surviving ships of the War Fleet are back in Golden Sands.
  
  You have earned 1 Score Point.
  
  > And at the end...
  When the last ship (Captain Quarrel's Indefatigable) has returned to Golden Sands on Day 85 Anne-Marie gives a victory feast in honor of all the survivors of the War Fleet. Fresh promotions are conferred: Ann Lovett and Prince Al-Balu are given the honorary rank of Commander while you, Finch, Swift, Freer, Quarrel, Cuthrew and Anne-Marie herself are all promoted to the rank of Commodore. As a Commodore with royal approval all of you can now independently command fleets of ships.
  
  At the Victory Feast Anne-Marie spends most of her time talking to Lovett and Al-Balu leaving you free to make awkward but stilted conversation with Swift, Freer and Cuthrew, the memory of your rebellion against Anne-Marie on the high seas still fresh in your minds. Cuthrew is unusually talkative.
  
  "I have been talking to Prince Al-Balu with Commander Lovett's assistance," he tells you all in an undertone. "It seems the Lapau and ourselves are not the only great civilization in these waters. There is apparently a third, a nation the Lapau claim are also armed with muskets and appear as technologically advanced as ourselves."
  
  "Well no doubt Anne-Marie won't rest until they are all dead," you comment bitterly.
  
  Cuthrew sighs. "That's the problem with exploration Leo," he tells you. "It is like opening a door at a zoo where you only get to find out what animal is inside the room after you've opened the door permanently. If you are not lucky the animal might prove to be much stronger than you."
  
  He glances nervously at Anne-Marie and suddenly hisses. "Don't trust that woman for a moment. She means to have the whole world of Magellan by force or not at all. The time for peaceful sailors like me are passing."
  
  "What's all the whispering about?" Anne-Marie asks suddenly. "We should be cheerful for we return victorious. You must not become too comfortable though! My friend Saphia Dancer informs me that voyages to the west have uncovered some interesting communications with a previously unknown nation. More uncharted waters await for us to explore! Enjoy your rest now my officers for you have earned it but I expect I will be needing your services again very soon."
  
  You roll your eyes and glance across the table. Eva Freer is staring at Anne-Marie with such venom that if looks could kill Anne-Marie would be dead already. Looking away you meet the eyes of Naomi Swift who is watching you sadly. She glances away briefly then looks back and smiles. Raising her fingers to her lips she kisses them softly, reaches across the table and takes your cold hand in her warm one. Your grip tightens as you realize in the future you will need the help of friends like her and Eva more than ever now that Esme is gone.
  
  For it is certain that very soon you and the crew of the Adventurer will sail again...