In the candlelit war chamber of Fort São Miguel, high above the bustling port of Goa, the Portuguese High Council of the Indies gathered under vaulted ceilings draped with naval banners. Rich tapestries hung like trophies, reminders of past glories—from Melaka to Mozambique, from Hormuz to the Cape.
Governor-General Gaspar de Sousa stood at the head of the table, his silver beard immaculately combed, his eyes sharp and calculating.
"All of you have read the latest dispatches," he began, gesturing to the documents on the polished teakwood table. "Ottoman expansion continues unchecked along the Red Sea. Their grip over the slave and gold routes grows stronger each year. And now, word comes of a rebellion near Kilwa—one that threatens both Ottoman and Adal interests. Ships have been getting lost at sea, especially slave ships. We've been loosing shipmets as well."
He paused, letting the words settle.
