1636: Commander Cantrell in the West Indies

Synopsis

Eddie Cantrell, now married to the king of Denmarks daughter, is sent by Admiral Simpson to the Caribbean to secure access to the most valuable commodity on that continentnot the gold and silver which the Spanish treasure, but the oil which up-time machines and industry need. The admiral has also provided Eddies small task force with the new steam-powered frigates that have just come out of the navys shipyards. Even with the frigates, a giant obstacle stands in his way: the Gulf-girdling Spanish presence in the New World. So a diversion is needed, carried out by an up-time car mechanic and a down-time mercenary colonel who also happens to be the last earl of Ireland. Their mission: grab the oil fields on Trinidad, and so distract the attention of Spains New World governors. While the Spanish galleons and troops head for Trinidad, Commander Cantrells smallest and fastest steam sloop will make a run to the Louisiana coast. There, her crew will wind their way up the bayous to the real New World prize: the Jennings Oil Field. But Cantrells plans could be wrecked in a multitude of ways. He faces often-hostile natives, rambunctious Dutch ship captains, allied colonies on the brink of starvation, and vicious social infighting that can barely be contained by his capable and passionate new wife. When the galleons finally come out in force to engage his small flotilla, Eddie will discover that the Spanish arent the only enemies who will be coming against him in a fateful Caribbean show-down.