Azur Lane: Return of Davis

Interlude/Howell: From Commonplace to Captain

September of 1718. The Buck and the Mumvil Trader, 2 sloops (single-mast ships), went to purchase materials within the Caribbean. Amongst them were seamen who never wanted to be there, former pirates, and one Howell Davis (occasionally spelt as "Howel").

Howell always loved the sea. Born in Milford in Pembrokeshire, Wales, he joined the slave trade. Out on the coast of West Africa, his ship, the Cadogan, was seized and plundered by Edward England, a pirate. He wanted what Edward had, so he went to the Caribbean, planning to form a pirate crew.

And that's where we are now. La Española, or modern-day Haiti/the Dominican Republic.

However, the members of the Buck and the Mumvil Trader were not willing to trade, oh no. They wanted none of that. Instead, tired of the work forced upon them, and a desire to return to their old ways, a coup d'état was raised upon the ship lords, Howell a part of the uprising all the same. Treason awaited them should they return to the pirate hunter who hired them, so, instead, they became the hunted by choice.

(Please note: The following is a possible interpretation of what might have gone down that day combined with Azur Lane fiction. Ignoring the obvious Azur Lane content involved, there is little record of any of these events, and all of the information is sourced from If a Pirate I Must Be by Richard Sanders. Take the historical context with a grain of salt.)

--

We saw the Mumvil Trader disappear into the horizon, the non-believers alongside their captains heading to the Bahamas. I hear it's beautiful this time of year.

The punch tastes as well as you'd expect. Not bad.

"Right. Woodes will most surely have our damned heads, so what should we do, gents?"

Johnson: "Well, obviously, we'll be pirates. Question being: who leads?"

Quiet murmurings withing the ranks discuss who should be elected as Captain.

Quincy: "I'm the one who caused the uprising, I say I'm Captain."

Cohen: "I say Howell!"

For whatever reason, the crew agree with that Cohen's statement.

Obviously, I planted the idea of mutiny into Quincy's head. He's so easily manipulated. But, why me?

I sigh. "If you all wish of me to lead, I can lead." Cheers from the crew (except Quincy, who's fuming) shout their agreement with my lead.

"Then, mark my words. Those bastards up in Britain, in France, in Spain, Portugal, all of them! May they know the wrath of us lower folks!" Cheers. "We have been put down long enough!" Cheers! "Now tell me! Who wants to reclaim their lives?!"

Everyone, even Quincy, cheers.

Commander Davis, Captain of the Buck, would be born today.

--

The next few weeks were about establishing our presence. We took over multiple French gunships using classic trickery and are on our way to the southern portion of Africa.

We left behind the Buck, since we have too many men on a tiny ship. So, using a ship we commandeered from Liverpool, we named her King James, and rushed our asses southbound.

Met some fellow pirates: one Jeremiah Cocklyn and some Frenchie named La Bouche. Captured a slave ship Bird, thus capturing their captain.

Had to step in and stop the abuse of the Cap, since he was fine. Snelgrave, his name was. Here was how it went down.