text: Most men on board the HMS Defiance hadn’t seen their families in years now. When the war first began, men like Lieutenant Shecter were more than eager to serve under Captain Barbosa as Privateers in his majesty’s navy. But that was years ago. Now the weary crewmen hadn’t seen their families in years, their pay was constantly being delayed and there was seemingly no good outcome to the war. Lieutenant Shecter thought on all these things as he approached The Captain’s quarters and knocked hard on the door and was beckoned inside. “I hope I’m not interrupting you, Sir?” He asked as he closed the door behind him. Captain Barbosa set aside his pen and folded his arms neatly on his desk. “Not at all. I can always make time to speak with my right hand. Please have a seat won’t you?” Lieutenant Shecter smiled slightly and sat down. Shecter has served as Barbosa’s right hand for many years now and it was no use trying to hide his thoughts to him as he spoke. “Sir... I’ve come to speak about Fisher.” Barbosa took in a deep sigh and opened a bottle of Scotch and poured himself two glasses deciding he didn’t want to speak about the topic sober. “Yes it was a great tragedy.. unfortunately for our men accidents seem to be deadlier than bullets”. Barbosa then offered him a glass but Shecter refused “Not tonight Sir”. Barbosa drank the glass himself in one go before slamming it back on the table with a thud. “You mustn’t let it get to your head... Fisher was as fine as a sailor I’ve ever seen. But he should have been more careful handling powder like that.” Shecter then began to fidget with his fingernails as he spoke. “Yes. Well rumors have been circulating about his death Sir and I can’t ignore them any longer”. Barbosa then leaned back in his chair with the glass in his hand. “Rumors?” He asked with genuine curiosity. “Sailors love rumors and superstitions Lieutenant I thought you’d be above that.” Shecter however shook his head. “Not this one Sir... There’s a rumor going around that Fisher found out something remarkable. Something we have all been wondering about for some time.” Barbosa became more attentive and nodded “Well what was it?” Shecter then changed the subject at the last second and stood up and began pacing the room before speaking again. “We haven’t weighed anchor in a month now Sir. The last time we did so was back in that harbor town in the Hornish isles and we barely spent an afternoon there.” Barbosa nodded “Is that what this is about? Alright then the next time we spot dry land we’ll weigh anchor and the boys can stretch their legs”. Shecter shook his head. “They don’t want to walk around on some shrub-infested island Sir. They want to go home. They want it to be over”. Barbosa ran his fingers through his beard. “In case you haven’t forgotten our blue-coated enemies guard the coasts of our homeland day and night ensuring we cannot do so. No William not a single one of us will go home until this war has been won.” Shecter’s lip began to quiver before speaking. “What if it was over then? What if the war was over and we all could go home then? What would we do?” Barbosa then drank down the scotch and sighed “Then we’d all sail home as heroes wouldn’t we?” Shecter then raised his eyebrow “Wouldn’t we?” Barbosa then became angry “What are you getting at Shecter? Don’t be coy with me spit it out.” Shecter then reached into his coat and threw down a newspaper onto the desk. “Read it yourself”. Barbosa then took up the newspaper. He didn’t even need his reading glasses as the font on the front page was quite large. “THE WAR IS OVER, CEASEFIRE IN EFFECT IMMEDIATELY”. Barbosa then swiveled his jaw and growled “Where did you get this?” Shecter nodded “Fisher’s sea bag. How long have you known?“ Barbosa then set down the newspaper. “It’s a ruse. I’ve seen this before. The enemy is getting our own sources to print fake papers to dissuade our men still in the f-“ Shecter then exploded in anger “How long have you known Sir?!” Barbosa then stood up to face him man to man. “Watch your tone, Lieutenant. As long as you draw breath on MY ship you will address me with the rank to which I’ve earned.” Shecter began to tighten his fists “Earned? All we have done this entire dreaded conflict was rob and sink merchant ships. We are no better than pirates at this point”. Barbosa then changed the subject. “How many ships do you think we’ve sunk over the years William? 10? 20? Try 68.” He then sank back into his chair. “Don’t you think I’ve gone over this before? If we go back now you lot will spend the rest of your days in a jail cell.. meanwhile I’ll have my appointment with the hangman”. Shecter then nodded “Is that why you murdered Fisher? To save your own ass? What sort of Captain are you?” Barbosa then lunged at Shecter and the two men crashed to the deck with Barbosa’s paws firmly grasped around Shecter’s throat as he shouted. “I am the Captain who has kept you safe for all these years! And I will see my ship drown with all of us on it before I surrender to those bastards!” It was just then that several crewmen breached into the room and grabbed Barbosa and began beating him relentlessly until Shecter stopped them. “Enough! He’s had enough lads!” The men then ripped him from the floor and Shecter spoke with a scratchy voice. “Captain Arthur Barbosa as acting commander of the HMS Defiance and a Lieutenant of the Ticonderogan Empire. I hereby place you under arrest for murder, perjury, and other such war crimes. You will be placed under arrest until your trial.” Captain Barbosa then looked at his former crewmen and only began to chuckle. “You minus well lock yourself away then as well”. Shecter then cocked an eyebrow and asked “What?” Barbosa then flashed a grin. “9 months ago when the war ended. They sent out a letter to all privateers and smugglers still in service.. surrender or be branded as a pirate and face immediate execution.” “We’re all war criminals now William. No one is ever going to go home.