“Very well, so the Spanish will find us,” Corselles agreed with a nervous nod. “But how will attacking them now save us? They are located all across that map, with many places of power. Once they know of us, they will drive us into the sea. Effortlessly.”
Van Walbeeck folded his hands. “Pieter, the Spanish are not the monolithic force they may often seem. I have made a close study of their structures of government here in the New World, much of it revealed by research available at Grantville, paradoxically. Here is what I may tell you. In addition to great difficulties and loss of time in communicating with each other across such vast distances, the viceroyalties and governorships and audiencias are often rivals, striving to advance themselves at the expense of their neighbors. Knowing this, we may reasonably project the following:
“The greatest single power, the Viceroyalty of New Spain, is centered in Mexico. She is not particularly concerned with affairs in the Caribbean except and unless they impact her single overriding concern: the safety and reliability of the flota as her means of shipping gold and silver to Spain, and receiving supplies in return. She is slow to move and often sees Tierra Firma as a nuisance. Conversely, she traditionally perceives Havana as a competitor for preeminence and royal favor, since that city is the great shipbuilder and maritime defender of the region. But let us skip to a consideration of the Spanish power that is more likely to be concerned with maritime incursions: Cartagena, the closest naval power of any size.”
“Not Caracas, and the audiencias of Venezuela?”
Van Walbeeck interlaced his fingers. “I do not think so, simply because what little strength she has is continually focused upon her contention with mainland natives. However, although Cartagena will be the most concerned when it comes to our invasion of Trinidad, she may well be fickle or undependable in her responses to the implication of our broader presence in the Caribbean.”
“Why?” asked Rik Bjelke, who had remained almost motionless beside Sehested until now. “I thought the governor there—er, de Murga?—was a most active man.”
“He is, but he answers to the viceroy of Peru.”
Rik seemed puzzled. “But Peru is—”
“On the other side of South America, yes. It is a curious arrangement, an artifact of historical flukes and no small amount of sinecure. However that may be, this will work to slow and limit Cartagena’s response. And in turn, that means she will concentrate her forces strictly upon that which threatens her interests most directly: Trinidad. This was confirmed by the surviving captains of the vessels we took as prizes there, several of whom were brought here for further questioning.”
Corselles’ eyes became grim. “And the rest of the prisoners?”
Tromp waved a dismissive hand. “Back at Trinidad. On one of what are called the Five Islands, just a few miles offshore from Port-of-Spain. They are quite secure.”
“Because the island is so remote?”
“That, and because the Nepoia natives have decided to watch it quite carefully. They are most determined not to allow any new Spanish to set foot on Trinidad.”
“So,” Sehested said, returning to the main topic, “you do not expect either New Spain’s or Cartagena’s fleets to aid any efforts made against us here, in the northern extents of the Lesser Antilles.”
“Correct. For both of them, we can only be reached by a very long sail against the prevailing winds or currents. And for now, at least, we represent no threat to their livelihoods. However, in the case of Cuba and the islands that are her immediate satellites”—Tromp ran his finger to Havana and drifted it slowly eastward to touch Jamaica, Hispaniola, and Puerto Rico—“we must expect an aggressive response. We threaten them in a variety of ways, not the least of which is our ability to sail north and attempt to intercept the flota as it returns to Spain with the silver that keeps Madrid’s bloated economy afloat.”
“So, you are saying we need to mount a campaign against the entirety of the Greater Antilles?” Corselles looked as incredulous and horrified as he sounded.
Tromp moved toward the map again, shaking his head. “Not at all. We know where they will gather their strength for a strike against us. It is also the same port to which most of the fleet we defeated undoubtedly fled.” He jabbed down at the south coast of Hispaniola. “Here. Santo Domingo.”
Sehested stroked his goatee meditatively. “Why there?”
“Cuba is too far. Puerto Rico is too undeveloped, particularly on her south coast, and her north coast often has unfavorable winds. But Hispaniola is well-developed, has several large towns, and Santo Domingo has shipyards and quite respectable fortifications. Furthermore, although the prevailing winds there are contrary, they are milder than the breezes that come straight off the Atlantic on the northern coast, and her anchorage could easily accommodate a fleet as large as sixty, perhaps seventy hulls.”