I can remember sending a spy to check out the baltic region and then i saw something which made me laugh - there were 4 fully stacked rebel fleets just on the coast, which I called 'Pirate Bay'

I dont know what sparks them on their journey but eventually i ended up fighting them off the coast of north spain - and after taking out 2 of the fleets my admiral was 5 stars and had 'legendary admiral' status.