Those hot-blooded Spanish naval officers never imagined that their superiors had sent them away in order to surrender.
At first, when news came that the port had fallen, the young officers were deeply saddened. Yet they soon discovered they had been deceived, and swore that blood debts would be paid in blood.
But their new superior ordered them to go to the other fleets to ask for reinforcements. Though they had already grown wary, it was also true that the Austrian Empire's fleet was far too vast.
As expected, they were tricked again. Being deceived once, then twice, then a third time, left all of them with PTSD.
It was just that they were men of little weight and few words. Having retreated to Cadiz, they no longer wanted to retreat. They were determined to live or die together with the fleet.
When the fleet commander arrived, the young officers shouted together.
"Though Spain is vast, we have no road left to retreat down. Cadiz is Spain's final line of defense in the Mediterranean, and we are willing to shed our last drop of blood for it!"
The fleet commander was deeply moved.
"Good! With you here, Spain's future still has hope."
Then the fleet commander changed tack.
"But the Austrians may launch an attack on us from land, so I need you to go to Madrid and bring back reinforcements."
"Commander, you aren't going to surrender too, are you?"
"Nonsense! I'm doing this for your own good! Do you know how many ships the Austrians have now? Do you know how much help those traitors have given the Austrians?
"To die in battle with dignity is certainly worthy of respect! But for the sake of ultimate victory, to endure humiliation and cling to life—that is courage!
"Let these old