I need to know what the captain is really up to...,
"Like I told you," Gee, this guy is hard to convince. What is it about these locals, that they can't just accept what looks like an honest deal as an honest deal? "the captain is looking to retire, and sent us to find him a good quiet business he could run for an income in his reclining years." One that would let him bring his share of treasure ashore a bit at a time disguised as imported rum, and spend it as if it were profits from his business.
...where they are now...,
How the blazes should I know that? Obviously this landlubber doesn't know much about seafaring. "We're supposed to meet him somewhere out in the direction of the Greater Syndic. He's on his last trading run, and sent us ahead to find him a place to settle." And if he can increase that treasure a bit while he's waiting, I'm sure he will.
...where they're going...,
Captain will be coming here, probably take over our ship and leave the mother ship in the hands of the first mate. Mother ship's much to recognizable as a pirate vessel to bring her into a port like this. 'Course, word of the stolen ship we're using will reach here eventually, but he'll send that away with one of his other officers before that happens. "Not my place to tell the captain his job; I just do as told."
...are they currently pirates...,
Boy, he is a suspicious one. Wonder what makes him suspect?"Pirates?" he laughs. "If we was pirates, would we simply sail into port and do a bit o' regular business?"
...or is he planning to go rogue after their captain retires?
What kind of question is that? Who is he talking about? "Don't know what you mean, inspector. We're honest law-abiding sailors. If we sometimes transi-gress against the laws of a particular city, it's sure to be an accident because we don't know all the rules everywhere we go, and we'll make repair-rations as needed. I don't know why you think all sailors must be pirates, but I assure you, most are good honest men just trying to make a living, like yourself."
--M. J. Young