As Kavier gave the order, the fleet leaned over and accelerated, barrels of petroleum rolled out of the hatch, and the sailors swiftly unsealed them, lit the fuses, and poured them out.
The hot oil slicked across the waves, and thick smoke rose from the sea, spreading towards the direction of the dock with a pungent smell.
The sails vibrated under the taut ropes, and the wooden hull emitted a low creaking sound within the tidal waves.
Every ship was advancing at maximum speed, with crew pulling ropes and adjusting sails with the wind.
This was the top speed of the old Northern Sea sailing ships, devoid of advanced technology but still fast like a strong gust in the hands of seasoned sailors.
Successive horn sounds rose from the deck, and the semaphore signals of the various ships simultaneously switched.
The two flank escort ships began to glide from behind the thick smoke, forming a pincer formation under the cover of the smoke and the current.
