November 23rd, 1655.
The city of Makran, Southeastern part of the Safavid Empire, on the Gulf of Oman.
The sun shone brightly over the Arabian Sea, with temperatures soaring to a sweltering 38 degrees Celsius. Along the sandy coastline of Balochistan near Chabahar Lake, an incredible sight unfolded. From the vantage point atop the hills, one could see around 400 canoes moving inland like a group of diligent marching ants. Each canoe was borne aloft by a squad of Marines, carrying the boats on their heads as they advanced.
The Marines, covered in sand and dust, had faces filled with a mixture of sweat and dirt, making them look like wrestlers fighting in the mud. Some of their hands were shaking, unable to bear the weight of the boat, but with the constant encouragement echoing from their comrades, no one had the intention of dropping the boat.
