Chapter 305: A New Era of Naval Warfare (1/2)
While Berengar was invading Northern Italy and laying siege to Verona, Adelbrand was marching his soldiers towards Zurich, where the Swiss army gathered. As for Honoria, she had already set sail from Kufstein and entered the Mediterannean via the black sea.
She and her crew of salty wenches were prepared for their first encounter of Naval Warfare, their target? Any sailing vessels that were flying the banners of a Holy Roman Empire state. Coincidentally enough, the moment they sailed into the Aegean sea, they saw a ship flying the flag of Venice.
While most of the Venetian Naval and Merchant fleets were decimated within the pre-emptive strike Emmerich had engaged in; there were still vessels already at sea that were spared their destruction. This merchant caravel which had recently departed from Constantinopole was one of those ships.
The 18 lb long guns featured on the Sloop of War known as ”Honoria's Revenge” were not equipped with explosive shells; the reason for this was simple, such weapons were far too effective on wooden ships and would sink any form of loot to the depths of the sea.
As such, Honoria's cannons were supplied with 18 lb cannonballs and chain shots, designed to take out the masts of any sea-faring vessel and cripple their ability to sail, and this was precisely the munitions Honoria ordered her crew to load into the cannons.
”Load the chain shot and prepare to fire upon the target when we get in range; I want as many of the sailors taken alive as possible!”
The Sloop of war traveling roughly twice the speed of the Caravel quickly closed the distance. Judging by the Austrian flag that was being flown on its back, the Venetian sailors knew that their luck had run out.
With this in mind, the crew began to pray to God as they began to load their bows and crossbows. However, Honoria's vessel was far from the range of such primitive weapons, and she quickly pulled up to the Caravel's port side, where she gave a command to her cannoneers.
”Open fire!”
With that said, the ten cannons on the port side opened fire as the linked cannonballs twirled through the air targeting the small Caravel. Even though some of the chained shots missed their targets, more than enough had successfully hit the masts and, in doing so, crippled the vessel's sailing capability, leaving the Venetian Caravel and its crew stranded in the water.
Upon seeing this, Honoria's crewmates quickly began to load their 1421 Repeating Rifled Flintlocks as they aimed the weapons in the direction of the Venetian sailors. The moment the Sloop approached the derelict Caravel, the Venetians began to fire their bows and crossbows upon Honoria and her crew.
Seeing the bolts and arrows fly in her direction Honoria who was currently equipped in a half-plate breastplate and with Heraclius perched on her shoulder, gave the command to her crew to engage the enemy.
”Open fire!”
with this command, the wenches aboard Honoria's ship aimed their rifles, cocked back the actions, and fired their first shots. There were roughly twenty-five Venetian sailors on board the Caravel. On the other hand, Honoria had over double that amount, who unleashed their fury on the hostile Venetians.
A volley of lead bullets flew into the Venetian sailors and penetrated their flesh, spilling blood across the ship and into the sea below. More than one of these men fell lifeless into the depths of the Aegean sea as the projectiles ripped through their hearts and skulls.
After the first volley had taken place, the Venetians immediately dropped their weapons and surrendered; as such, the girls among Honoria's crew re-cocked their weapons before cautiously boarding the Venetian vessel. As they did so, they immediately bound the Venetian sailors; their Captain began to spew profanities at Honoria as she crossed over to the ship.
”You fucking bitches! Do you have any idea who you are messing with? When the Doge finds out that you have attacked our ship, he will send the might of the Venetian Navy after you! You will not be able to escape the wrath of Venice!”
The moment he said this, the women who now held these men captive began to laugh; they were already aware of the fate of the Venetian fleet before they even set sail, as for the Venetian Captain, he had been at sea for too long. He was completely unaware of what had transpired; as such, he and his crew looked confused as they saw the women mocking them.
Honoria backhanded the man fiercely before kneeling before him and explaining what the women found so funny.
”The Venetian Navy is lying at the depths of the Adriatic sea. The Royal Austrian Navy sunk it along with half of your precious city weeks ago. All that's left are a few stragglers, and before long, they too will be mopped up. As for you and all the other merchant ships like you, you are fair game!”
The moment she said this, the Captain spat on her pretty face and responded with another insult.
”You're a fucking lying cunt! There's no way the Grand Armada of Venice could be destroyed so easily!”
In response to this insult to her integrity, Honoria coldly pulled out her pistol, cocked back the hammer, and shot the Captain in the head. Maybe it was because of Berengar's influence, but the young Byzantine princess did not hesitate in the slightest to murder this man who had done nothing more than insulting her.
Heraclius stared at Honoria with a look that conveyed his thoughts, which could be surmised with the phrase.
”Was that necessary?”
Honoria ignored the eagle's glare; as she did so, she wiped the spit from her face with her glove and kicked the corpse of the Venetian Captain into the sea. After this was done, another hostage could not prevent himself from cursing the young princess.
”Fucking pirates!”