With twelve pirate ships destroyed in a single campaign, naval morale soared to its peak. Officers began urging an assault on Shark Island, eager to win further military glory and secure hereditary titles.
Among officers, the driving force was honor and promotion.
Among sailors, it was profit.
Earlier that year, the cabinet had formally passed the Cruising and Capture Act, establishing that a portion of captured spoils would be awarded as incentives to encourage aggressive naval action.
To prevent disorder and maintain discipline, the king established strict procedures, including:
Investigating the circumstances of each engagent
Assessing the value of captured property
Distributing rewards according to fixed ratios
After selling the spoils:
¼ went to the royal treasury
¼ funded the navy
The remaining ½ was shared among the fleet commander and all crew mbers—including carpenters, cooks, and shipboard physicians (often shamans doubling in the role)
Everyone received a share.
This ti, they had captured:
9 lateen-rigged ships300 pirates
Estimated total value: £800–£1,000
Half of that would be distributed among the three warships and five rchant vessels that took part. A typical sailor could expect roughly half a pound of silver—enough to buy four cattle.
The mood aboard the fleet was electric.
"Take Shark Island!"
"Sir, lead us in one more charge!"
Feeling the rising excitent and restlessness among the crews, Hadava finally nodded in agreent.
After returning to Sunshine Island, he t with the count to formally discuss an assault plan.
A Risky Decision
"That's too dangerous," Helgi said cautiously.
But he had already resigned as Minister of Mariti Affairs. He no longer had authority to restrain these battle-hungry sailors.
After one day of rest, the Viking fleet set sail again.
By the ti the pirates on Shark Island realized what was happening, eight Viking sailing ships had already reached the mouth of their harbor.
Desperate to survive, the pirates launched a breakout with their remaining twenty lateen-rigged vessels—only to be t head-on by the Vikings.
The Naval Battle
After repeated engagents, Viking crews had learned an effective tactic:
Target the rudder.
Their torsion engines deliberately struck the stern steering gear, rendering the pirate ships uncontrollable.
Next step:
Warships adjusted course and ramd the enemy vessels broadside at full speed. From their higher decks, Viking sailors:
hurled jars of quickli
fired crossbow bolts
Decks were cleared rapidly.
The three warships maneuvered aggressively among the pirate vessels, using superior durability and handling to devastating effect.
The pirates were helpless.
Even when they threw grappling hooks to initiate boarding actions, they could not overco the standard complent of twenty armored marines carried on every warship.
Behind them, five ard rchant ships ford the second wave under Baron Gallos, tasked with finishing off fleeing enemies.
But rchant ships were less maneuverable, and their crews lacked naval training.
They accidentally allowed three pirate vessels to escape.
The navy erupted in fury—flag signals flew wildly as Hadava and his officers cursed their incompetent allies.
Outco of the Battle
After roughly one hour:
Pirate losses:
2 ships escaped
3 ships sunk by ramming
7 ships surrendered
Remaining vessels ran aground
Surviving pirates fled inland, carrying supplies into mountain valleys, disappearing from sight.
Gallos leaned over the railing, staring at the deserted shoreline.
"This complicates things."
He understood the navy well:
They would not risk a land pursuit.
Nor would they linger indefinitely.
Once the fleet departed, the pirates would simply erge from hiding, regroup, and eventually leave the island—likely to resu raiding shipping routes.
Withdrawal
Soon after, the flagship Red Falcon signaled all ships to send landing parties ashore.
Gallos and his n searched the pirate camp thoroughly.
They found nothing of value.
Ignoring the captains' disappointnt, Hadava ordered a withdrawal.
Before departing, he:
burned the pirate settlent
destroyed heavily damaged vessels
Then led the fleet back to Sunshine Island.
Shock in Londonium
By July, news reached the holand.
The reaction in Londonium was imdiate:
Sugar prices surged
Cane liquor prices soared
That afternoon, the cabinet convened an ergency session to decide how to respond.
After reviewing the situation, King Vig delivered his decision:
"Send the main fleet to Lisbon. Intimidate the Moors."
"Attempt negotiation first."
"If talks fail—"
He paused.
"Sweep down the coastline from north to south until they beg for peace."
Mobilization
Following the order:
The navy reduced its role in transporting migrants from Denmark
Civilian cargo ships took over transport duties
After two weeks of preparation, the Admiralty assembled a formidable force:
Fleet Composition
20 warships
8 ard rchant ships
A powerful armada sailed south.
At first, the Franks believed they were the target.
Regions including:
Flanders
Normandy
Brittany
fell into panic.
Nobles ordered peasants to abandon their fields and assemble inside castles.
The Vikings ignored them.
The fleet rounded the northwestern tip of Brittany and sailed openly down the coast to Gijón in northern Iberia.
After replenishing water and fresh supplies—under the amused gaze of local residents—they continued south.
Arrival at Lisbon
August
The Royal Navy's main force arrived off Lisbon.
The sight of towering ships and black dragon banners threw the harbor into chaos.
Residents fled toward the city gates. On the walls, defenders operated four counterweight trebuchets, hurling stones into the sea—less a real threat than an act of nervous bravado.
From a fortress on the hill, the governor stepped onto the balcony and studied the fleet.
He quickly understood their purpose.
"This ss is the fault of those reckless rchants," he muttered.
"They caused all this trouble."
He ordered defensive preparations and moved to the harbor walls to inspect the Viking ships more closely.
What he saw troubled him:
All were two-masted sailing ships
Improved sail systems enhanced maneuverability and upwind performance
Reinforced rams made them lethal against smaller vessels
Each carried heavy torsion artillery
Their long-range firepower exceeded that of Moorish oared warships.
Technologically, the Moors were capable of building similar weapons—but their galley hulls were too narrow. Rows of oarsn consud deck space, leaving no room for heavy artillery mounts.
Large multi-bank galleys might solve that problem—but such ships were unstable in Atlantic swells and structurally vulnerable under repeated stress.
After comparing capabilities, the governor reached a grim conclusion:
Along the Atlantic coast, they did not hold naval superiority.
The Ultimatum
"Send an envoy," he ordered.
"Negotiate with their fleet commander."
After half a day of bargaining, Admiral Joren boarded a small boat and t the governor face to face.
Under pressure, the governor declared:
He had no involvent in the pirate attacks
The court of Córdoba had no prior knowledge
To placate the enraged Vikings, he agreed to:
Hand over those responsible
—hoping to prevent the conflict from disrupting the kingdom's planned northern war.
—------------------------------
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