Arrival

April 1886, Guam

Valeriano Weyler and his men have finally landed on Guam after a long and arduous two-month journey that was derailed by storms and the subsequent encounters with pirates whom despite not attacking their fleet and are running away from their fleet, Marco still ordered the hunt because he personally despise those good for nothing wretches.

On the docks, they were personally welcomed by Governor-General Ferdinand, the Governor-General responsible for the development and management of Guam, a vital bastion of Spain with regards to its ambition towards Asia and its vast riches.

"Welcome to my humble island Senior Weyler, Thank God that I have been informed of your arrival in advance! You're one of the rising stars of our empire! I have always been willing to meet someone like you and fight with you in the battlefield! Alas! I have been assigned in this godforsaken place! Where I can only greet with those trashes sent by the monarchy as punishment to handle our minor colonies here in the pacific! They are all forgetful and corrupt garbage whose only good talents are drinking booze and fucking women! I hope that we can talk about strategies on your own art of war for I want to learn about how you managed to handle the issues of Cuba! That place is a work of art! One of the hardest assignments in the history of our empire and you've done great on it! Come to my office and I will properly welcome you, I really admire your wits Senior!" Said Ferdinand, clearly enthusiastic about Weyler, though whether he's sincere or is just bootlicking Weyler is still up in the air.

When the trio of Weyler, Marco and Ferdinand came to Ferdinand's office, a massive feast of various delicacies are laid out on a long table, the luxury is insane with cutleries that are made out of gold! One can see how Ferdinand put importance to a person such as Weyler.

This puzzled the young general though, as to why this man needs to put up such a extravagant and intricate setup just to welcome him and his fleet, this made Weyler feel suspicious yet he didn't mind it given that both of them are on the same side, on the same political party with the royal crown, there should be no bad blood between them, nothing that he knows of atleast.

"Come Senior, let's eat first before we discuss work! I remember someone telling me that balancing work and rest is something that will give immense benefits to our efficiency and capabilities to perform our duties, so eat up! Let's celebrate your arrival!" Ferdinand motioned for the butler to call for the musicians to play for them while they eat.

While eating, Ferdinand brought up the various achievements of Weyler, from his rumors of greatness since being a student in the Royal Military Academy, with various achievements that overshadowed his fellow students to his military and administrative exploits in Cuba that "stabilized" the colony. It seemed harmless at first but Ferdinand's face was a face of extreme fanaticism bordering insanity, the man is getting weirder by the minute yet Weyler and Marco didn't notice a single thing, they were too busy basking on their own glory, feeding up on their own vanity to notice something as subtle as that.

After the feast, Weyler and Marco immediately went to their assigned rooms to rest up first, because they need to start sailing immediately by sunrise.

The next day, Weyler woke up and felt a light head ache, he blamed it on the alcohol that he consumed last night, and treated it as a light hangover.

He got out of his room and immediately went for the latrines to clean himself up and do his morning "rituals".

After cleaning up, he went to Marco's room to fetch him up, they immediately went to Ferdinand's office. To discuss about their affairs regarding the soldiers and ships that they need to retake the Philippine Islands.

Ferdinand welcome them with a smile and said;

"Good morning Weyler and Marco, I know what you are here for so let's cut the chase, the troops and the warships are already waiting for you at the docks, they number at the exact same figures as you have been told before you sailed here. But before you go, I hope that you can agree to a small request of mine"

Intrigued by this sudden change of pace, Weyler agreed to his request and replied: "If I can manage to appease your request then I won't say no, you have been a great host to us and I'd like to reciprocate that"

Seeing Weyler's amiability, Ferdinand's eyes lit up and said;

"I hope that you can bring me with you on your mission towards retaking the colony, I wanna see how you will handle those indios and whoever is backing them, don't worry though I won't take command of my own soldiers and ships, they are all for you to handle, If you are worried that I'm trying to get some credit for it. I just wanna observe how you handle things. Although if you need my help, I will gladly help you in strategies and such. Also, don't worry about Guam, my second-in-command, General Borrega will be in charge of Guam while I'm away. Will you be able to approve of this request of mine?"

"I would like to Governor-General but won't that be a breach of the royal decree? Given that the King has decreed that you will stay here to manage Guam til further orders? I would also be implicated if this news reaches Spain!" replied Weyler

"Don't worry about it, this will be a well-kept secret, I will wear a mask there and you can just tell people that I'm an advisor that you've come across! Please take me, it's too boring here! There are no battles to distinguish myself from, my life will rot in this godforsaken place! I am a man of war, a person who bleeds war, a person destined for war! This is my calling Weyler, I hope that you can agree"

"But what about Borrega? Won't he tell anyone? You can't trust people so easily nowadays General, people betray those close to them for money"

"Don't worry about Borrega, he's my son-in-law and someone that I've trained for years now, he won' betray me, I'm certain of it. My daughter will make sure that Borrega won't for she holds him under the neck, he's head over heels for her, so in love that he will move hell if he can't move the heavens for her."

"I still don't trust the guy, but if you say so, I just hope that if we ever get caught in the act, you will be man enough to own up to the consequences and never let my name go down with you, that's my only wish Governor-General, I will let you come but we will be discreet, I will trust your decision on this and I hope that it will help you fulfill your calling for war, for I'm sure that this will be a hard fought battle, my senses are tingling"

"I hope so too Senior Weyler, for I will savor every single second of this war against the indios. Now that all is fixed though, let me prepare my things for the journey ahead and then let's go to the docks after, thank you for this favor Senior, I will forever cherish your kindness, May God bless us all!"

At the docks..

"How long will it take for us to travel from here to the Philippine Islands Marco?" Asked Weyler

"It will probably take us another 1 month if we go from here to Manila but that's the fastest that we can go, if we discover some delays and what nots, it will be another 2 months of travel which is generous enough for us" replied the Captain

"So the enemy has two months to prepare after all, let's go now boys! We will show these indios that we are manifested by God almighty to administer them! These dogs will die a horrible death in our hands! For the King!" Weyler shouted, although he is afraid of what is to come deep inside, his position as the leader of the fleet bars him from showing his fear for he knows that it will affect morale.

AYEEEEEE!!!! The soldiers shouted which made the docks tremble, the sheer number of these soldiers made their voices sound like thunder to the ears of an ordinary man, it reeks of both bloodlust and confidence, it reeks of battle, it reeks of death and it reeks of WAR!!!

Unbeknownst to these people, the seagulls that are flying around the docks are transmitting a message through an intricate system of communications that is setup by Renaldo years prior, the seagulls send various signals that are perceived by the aquatic life below and by the other creatures that litter the sea, the transmission is so efficient and concise, as expected of a power bestowed by a higher being from above.