Andrea Doria sat in his office, alone, looking through the various papers. Reading without comprehending, simply distracting himself until his next meeting. Every few moments, his eyes would glance to the chest sitting beside his desk, the contents already known to him, and he was sure he would not be able to lift it if he tried. No, the weight of the chest itself was no problem, it was the metaphorical weight, the weight that sat on his soul. The Spanish had shown them great mercy by allowing them to settle in the New World, to save them from the Emperor's blade, and now? He could barely stomach the thought of what the Council had agreed to do. Should he have stood up, stopped this matter? No, he could not, not after so long remaining silent. How could he raise his voice now, without wondering why he had not done so long ago, when the Council was long paralyzed? No, he had chosen his path, and now he would walk it, even if it lead straight into the damnation of Hell.

Doria was brought out of his internal thoughts by the door opening, glancing up he watched as 20 young men walked into the room. 20 young, brave, men. Chosen specifically not only for their seafaring abilities, but also their ability to keep a secret. He gestured down to the chest and said "Gentlemen, within this box you shall find the new colors your ships will fly, the colors of the Kingdom of Navarre. You shall leave Habana flying the colors of Liguria, and upon exiting the sightlines of the coast, shall raise these new colors. You have already received your letters of Marque, so you shall be acting under the auspices of the Crown of Navarre. If asked, we shall deny any knowledge of your actions to the Kingdom of Spain, and if pressed, declare you outlaws, though should you return...well it is hard to find outlaws in the vastness of the Bahamas no?" He allowed the small chuckles to subside from the men, before continuing "Remember, you are to inform the King of Navarre of all your captures so that he may take his piece, the rest shall be yours alone. Now, you know your duties, may God grant you victory. Amen."

After the captains have left, Doria heaved a great sigh, before slowly rising from his chair, and moving toward the single window in his office. With a groan of exertion from bending his aging knees, he kneeled and clasped his hands in front of him, and in a small voice said "Kyrie, eleison. Christe, eleison. Kyrie, eleison. Christe, audi nos. Christe, exaudi nos."

The 20 ships of the Ligurian navy shall depart from Habana, purportedly to rebase in Neuva Zena and once they are out of sight of the coast, they shall replace the colors of the Ligurian Republic with the colors of the Kingdom of Navarre. After this, they shall split off into two main groups, 10 galleys and 5 galleons shall be part of the first group, and the second group shall consist of the remaining 5 galleons. The first group shall further split up into groups of 2 galleys and 1 galleon, and they shall patrol the seas south of the Spanish holdings of Hispaniola, Puerto Rico, and Jamaica, engaging any suitably undefended ships flying the Spanish colors. The second group of ships shall patrol in a single group in the sea to the north, allowing them to attack more well defended ships. Should the ships become heavily damaged, they shall be allowed to make port in any Ligurian ports. In addition, in order to send over Vani Fieschi and his troops, 3 transport ships shall be constructed.