25th February 1701
Within an hour of the emergency flare being raised, the officers who had gone out to sea to fish, swim, or simply relax abandoned their leisure without hesitation. They rushed back to their ships and immediately set sail to rejoin the fleet. Sailors who had been playing team sports with the indigenous Africans, volleyball, cricket, football, even kabaddi, saw their relaxed smiles vanish in an instant, replaced by sombre, hardened expressions.
The African boys who had been playing alongside them watched their backs as they ran, a sense of worry tightening in their chests. Something serious was happening, and even without words, they could feel it.
As for the high-ranking officers, those of five-star rank and above, they had already gathered inside the conference cabin of the Kathmandu-class military transporter.
"What might have happened?"
"I have no clue. The best guess is that the Europeans might be making some moves."
