Chapter 285 Execution of Plan
"You want us to fire on your own transport ships?" Antonio repeated, his eyebrows raised in surprise at French General Desaix's audacious proposal.
"If you fire upon our ships, we can use it as a justification for war, providing us with a legal basis to invade Spanish colonies in Cuba, Florida, and the rest of North America," Desaix explained with a calculated calmness.
Antonio leaned back in his chair, his fingers drumming on the worn wooden table. "I see. So, in return, I'll receive a substantial sum of money. Your offer is undeniably tempting, but I must remind you, General, that persuading my crew won't come cheap. It'll cost more than what you're currently offering."
Desaix's lips curled into a wry smile as he recognized Antonio's bargaining tactics.
"Ah, the negotiator," Leclerc mused, amusement dancing in his eyes. "We already expected that you would require more than just a bag of gold to secure your cooperation, Captain Boneo. For that, we have come prepared."
Leclerc flicked his finger again, and one of the French soldiers stepped forward, placing a chest on the table. The soldier opened it, and a bullion of gold gleamed inside.
The sight again allured Antonio into a trance of contemplation. While he was at it, Desaix spoke.
"I think we have struck a chord within you, Captain Boneo. This gold should definitely be enough to buy off your crews for participating in this operation."
A moment later, Antonio snapped out of his trance and asked. "How will the operation be played specifically?"
"I take you raising that question as a yes to our proposal?" Leclerc asked, wanting to be sure of Antonio's commitment.
Antonio nodded his head. "Yes, General Leclerc," he replied with a determined look in his eyes.
"On March 3rd, 1802, a French transport ship will sail towards the Bahamas, a French-controlled territory, and your ship of the line will intercept it. You will fire upon it without warning which would sink it," Leclerc explained.
"Hmm—this transport ship, is it crewed by the Frenchmen?" Antonio asked.
Leclerc shook his head. "The ship is crewed with Africans from our colony in Egypt. There's no way I would send Frenchmen to their death. Besides, it doesn't matter if the ship is crewed by French or other nationalities, as long as the ship flies a French flag, it will serve our purpose."
"Okay, should there be a crew that survived, do we kill them or take them?"
"Of course, you'd take them, we need witnesses after all," Leclerc said.
"And what of the aftermath?" Antonio inquired. "Once the ship is sunk, what steps will we take after?"
"Of course in response, our fleet will be sent to intercept your ship. There'd be a mock battle to which you will lose and allow us to capture your ships and crews. Don't worry, we will treat you and your crew with the utmost respect and dignity," Desaix assured Antonio.
Antonio listened attentively, his mind racing through the intricacies of the plan. The sinking of the French transport ship followed by the staged battle made sense strategically.
"Very well, General Desaix, General Leclerc, General Dumas," Antonio replied with a steady voice. "I am committed to this endeavor, and I will convey your plan and assurances to my crew. March 3rd, 1802, it shall be."
Leclerc smiled, a look of satisfaction spreading across his face. "For our partnership, we shall drink," Leclerc flicked his finger and a servant entered the room, carrying a bottle of fine French wine and six crystal goblets.
Leclerc poured a generous amount of wine into each goblet and raised his own in a toast.
"To the success of our venture," Leclerc said, his eyes locking onto Antonio's with a sense of shared purpose.
Antonio, the French generals, and the two officials from Saint-Domingue clinked their goblets together.
***
Captain Antonio Boneo made preparations for the upcoming operation with the French Empire. He told the plan to his crews and the monetary rewards that came after it, emphasizing the wealth and opportunities that awaited them once they successfully executed the mission. He assured them that they would be well taken care of and that their families would benefit from the substantial rewards.
As the days passed, anticipation hung in the air aboard Captain Boneo's ship. The crew members, a diverse mix of seasoned sailors and battle-hardened marines, understood the risks involved but were enticed by the prospect of a better life and the allure of gold. They trained rigorously, ensuring that they were prepared for the fateful encounter on March 3rd, 1802.
Amidst the preparations, Captain Boneo received messages from his contacts in Port-au-Prince, updating him about the course the French transport ship would take and what time it would arrive at their designated location in the Bahamas.
"The French are really serious about starting this war," Antonio muttered under his breath as he gazed upon the expanse of the Caribbean sea.
"There's no way our country would win against the French," his adjutant José Butler. "Their modern weapons and tactics alone would definitely crush the Spanish armies stationed in the colonies."
Antonio nodded in agreement. He was not that ill-informed about the development of the French Army in Europe. How they defeated the Austrians, subjugated North Africa, and invaded Great Britain.
The Spanish Empire wouldn't stand a chance against such a formidable force, and Antonio was acutely aware of this fact. The Empire is the shadow of its former self, and the impending war with the French would likely be a grim testament to its diminished power.
***
March 3rd, 1802, one hundred kilometers off the coast of Cayo Romano. A French brig ship was sailing along the calm waters of the Caribbean, making its way toward the Bahamas. On board the ship, Egyptian sailors and crew members from Egypt went about their duties, unaware of the impending confrontation that awaited them.
Captain Antonio Boneo, on his Spanish ship of the line, San Juan Nepomuceno, had meticulously positioned his vessel to intercept the French transport ship.? He watched the target from his spyglass draw nearer on the horizon.
"Assume battle stations!" Captain Boneo commanded.
The crew of the San Juan Nepomuceno sprang into action. Sailors scrambled up the rigging, adjusting the sails to maximize their speed. Gunners manned the cannons, ensuring they were loaded and ready for action.
As the two ships drew closer, Captain Boneo waited for the right moment.
Moments later, the San Juan Nepomuceno was within firing range, and Captain Boneo gave the order to open fire. Cannons roared to life, sending fiery projectiles hurtling through the air toward the French transport ship.
The first salvo struck the transport ship with devastating force, tearing through its wooden hull and causing it to shudder violently. Chaos erupted on the French ship as crew members were thrown to the deck, and cries of pain and fear filled the air.
Captain Boneo's ship continued its approach as he watched the French brig sink under the water.
Survivors from the French ship swam and clung to pieces of debris, struggling to stay afloat in the open sea.
"There's no turning back now," Antonio said.
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