if i was a whaling ship captain and was tasked with the safety of the ship, crew, mission, and cargo... i would sink them as a severe threat
i might even have hired a crew to provide security for my ship.
they could even board such a ship, seize it, and imprison the crew with thoughts of hanging them
welcome to the high seas
I was thinking along the same lines. Now that they are officially pirates, it’s pretty much open season on them. I wonder what one of those harpoon cannon would do to the pilothouse?