Battle at Sea Chapter

Triremes, Bireme-Longboats, Outriggers mixed with Triremes, and Galley/Currachs formed the arsenal of the Veek Naval Fleets. Sadly there were only a handful of each type of vessel. Captain Goldis stood at the bow of his own Bireme/Longboat with General Apkis next to him holding his helmet near his hip. He knew he should be leading the Crowsian fleets, since he did represent the Crowsians as well, except his uncle ruled that he was to fight with the Veek Hoplites instead. Apkis shared the same heritage, but had to fight for the Veeks. From what he was told the General was raised to be a Veek not a Crowsian despite his heritage.

“The odds do not favor us do they, General Apkis?” he turned to the experienced soldier and leader who donned his helmet ready to engage the Cren Order, whereas other vessels already engaged them at the reefs. That was only to stall them and give the representatives time to meet and discuss terms of their new alliances.

“There is nothing the Cren Order can do to crush us here, they have lost plenty of ships to the reefs and the stupidity of their Captains and Admirals.” Apkis said in a cynical tone. He watched the Crowsians leave the battlefield at the reefs as the Cren Order tried to mobilize.

Arrows and fiery projectiles are launched on the Cren Order as they try to mobilize thirteen ships are set ablaze as they give chase to the Crowsian War Galleys, and Dromons evade an frontal assault against the much larger force of War Galleys. Goldis had no doubt they were manned by Goblins, Ipama, Demons, and powered by Ogres who have tremendous strength that gives Cren Galleys great speed over their enemies. He turned to his right and saw the Angoths were mobilizing as well with Long ships/Hulks, Heavier Outriggers, Currach-Cogs, and Dragon Boats. He counted forty vessels with scores of warriors aboard each one with crew enough to man them during battle and help the warriors.

Goldis spotted their own vessels, which numbered thirty. Thirty vessels crafted for warfare and carrying cargo at the same time. It was not uncommon for the Veeks to have crafts of warfare carrying goods across the ocean to Crowsian or colonial ports. He remembered a story about the Angoth Champion named Leothrad who was aboard a Veek Trireme/Outrigger that went into Makool territory by mistake. Its cargo was citizens and Angoth Warriors travelling to a Crowsian State. The warriors were on a trade business to an Isseult colony on a mountainous island in a northern continent of endless winter.

“It would be wise to wait for our allies to gather before making our move before it becomes dark.” Apkis whispered in his ear. Goldis’ uncle gave instructions to the General not to appear in charge of the fleet despite Goldis’ inexperience with commanding fleets let alone Hoplite units in the field. He was fortunate that all the Hoplites and Crew members knew that and went along with his orders even though they were commands from Apkis. Apkis commanded the units Goldis was in during the recent conflicts with the Makool which ended a month ago. Now he was supervising the young Captain Goldis with his own unit aboard the fleet that was sent out by the Triangle Brotherhood Courts.

Goldis looked out at the Cren Order formations watching the vessels take their positions in attack mode. He feels Apkis’ gaze looking over his shoulder observing what the young leader must face in the battle over the reefs of Kruskor Island.

“Apkis, should we begin our formations for battle, I feel it is ripe to do so?” he whispered to the General behind him who was well aware of the situation unfolding before them.

Apkis told Goldis to order the fleet into battle formation forming a wide spear tip. Goldis turns and looks at the flagger and yells. “Order the fleet to take their battle positions have all Captains form the spearhead formation!” Goldis looked to his left as the flagger waved two flags in three different ways. The ships moved around and formed the formation they were given to form. He heard the drums betting as the oars maneuvered the vessels to the positions their Commanders gave them.

There was enough room for another vessel to slip through the first line except there was another line of ships behind the first. His ship rowed up to form the very tip of the spear as the Veek vessels prepared to fight the Cren Order.

Goldis observed the formations of the enemy and noticed a group of them were headed this way. He looked at the flag and saw a skull on a black field. “Goblins, those ships are packed with Goblins.” He observed watching the vessels charge towards them.

“How many do you count?” Apkis asked.

“I see seventy-five ships and fourteen of them in a line. They are making a square formation.” Goldis observing feeling sweat roll down the back of this neck.

“This isn’t your first battle, you can handle them. These are just simple raiders from the abandoned isles to the south. Order your ships to load their weapons!” Apkis commanded.

Goldis turns his head again and tells his ships to load their ballistae and scorpions attached to the bows, and decks of the ships. Each one had enough to fight three galleys at a time and still win against three to one odds even if they were boarded. As he turned to see the Goblin Galleys race toward their ships another vessel caught his eye.

Leothrad’s vessel rushed to join the Angoths as the battle resumed. “What is he doing here? Shouldn’t he be escorting the Etrasisans to the Brotherhood?”

“It appears that he decided to board them on the other vessel, after all it is under the protection of Veeks, Crowsians and Angoths.” Apkis shrugged as another vessel joined their formation. It was an Irkan Longboat armed with two scorpions traded from the Veeks during the days of the Makool conflicts.

“Thank you for supervising me Apkis, but I can take it from here.” He muttered to the General as the Goblins came within an arrow’s reach of them. They seemed to be coming in fast from what the Veeks could tell. Goldis knew the galleys were being rowed by Ogres at the oars.

“By your lead Commander Goldis, order your fleet. It is yours to command.” He heard Apkis step back allowing him to take command.

“Ballistae are your missiles ready?” Goldis yelled.

“Aye Commander!” the crews yelled back.

Goldis stood at the bow watching the Goblins get within firing range as their oars slowed down. Apkis drew his Xiphos ready to be boarded. Goldis turned to him and barked an order. “Apkis, summon the Hoplites and Marines, get them up here.” Apkis rushed down to the lower decks to retrieve the Hoplites and Marines waiting below them.

“Sailors and Marines on deck fire your weapons!” Goldis hollered loud enough that the other ships heard him and fired their ballistae on the Goblin infested Galleys. He watched as the ballistae fired their projectiles on the encroaching Cren Warships. Four projectiles tore into the hull of the first one as others succumbed to damage on the decks. Other Veek vessels reloaded quickly and fired another round into the same targets. Five vessels sank as another slowly went down from the first four hits to the hull and the decks.

Goldis raised his sword arm and ordered for another volley to be fired. His vessel had cocked the ballistae and fired another volley into the Cren warships. Other vessels did the same thing bringing more vessels to ocean’s floor. The volleys of projectiles took their toll on the charging galleys sending ten to watery graves and three running away. Only seven vessels remained foolish enough to continue the frontal assault. Apkis came up with the Hoplites and the rest of the Marines.

“What took you?” Goldis asked.

“I had to arouse the men first and get them ready!” Apkis explained.

“Make sure they sleep in their armor next time this happens!” Goldis growled.

Apkis nodded and turned to prep the Hoplites to be boarded by the enemy. The three galleys that ran away were now turning back around to join the other vessels. It was a slow time before the galleys could reach them or so it felt at the feeling of battle swept over Goldis. He remembered his first sea battle against the Makool aboard vessels that were revived from their watery graves in the depths of the Verisian Ocean south of New Angothia. There he fought Makool who outnumbered them ten to one. That battle lasted for four days without so much as an hour of rest for the Marines and Hoplites who had to burn the vessels in order to keep them from resurfacing again with more Makool. At that age Goldis was just learning about the Makool and how they fought. Most tried outnumbering you so they could surround you.

Goldis came back to the present and discovered the Goblins were within boarding distance of their vessels. They had proceeded with the attempt to board the Veek vessels for they had more goblins packed on the decks. Goldis turns to make another quick command. “Oder signal ships in the back rows to break formations and swing around the Goblins!” Goldis yelled as the Goblins swung from their own vessels to theirs. He saw scores of them armed with sabers, axes, war picks, and sickle axes board the Atheyan, the flag ship of the Veek fleet he commanded in this battle. Goldis drew his sword as ten of them landed in front of him. He struck the first one as it landed then cut the line as it fell back. Another Goblin swung at him, but Apkis caught the blow and killed the assailant. Goldis attacked a third one as the rest were cut down by Apkis and Hoplites who came to his aid. More Goblins swung down and landed behind them caught in a trap on board the very vessel they had boarded.

None of the Goblins seemed to have a chance against the well trained Hoplites who cut them down as though they came unarmed to the battle. One would have suggested not wearing armor at all considering how easily the Goblins fell to the Xiphos and Spears of the Veek Hoplites. Another score of Goblins swing from other vessels and boards them as another wave from the other vessel boards them. Goldis glanced around seeing half of the first line of ships was boarded by scores of Goblins. He even glimpsed the Galley Currachs coming around from the back engaging other Goblin vessels who were hit with the rams of their vessels and slowly sunk.

Even as the vessels sunk the Goblins still swung and climbed from theirs to the Veeks’ vessels. Goldis returned to the battle aboard the Atheyan fighting two or three Goblins at a time. These Goblins seemed more of a challenge and bigger than the ones who made up the first wave. Apkis and other Hoplites dueled against two Goblins at a time blocking blows with shield and Xiphos. Others used the spear on one and bashed the second into the side of the ship or into other Goblins. Goldis killed one of his attackers as the other two were beheaded and speared by four Hoplites. The battle was resuming as Goblin Galleys maneuvered in between the Veek lines. They still had some Goblins aboard their vessels as other vessels came around.

Four Bireme-Longboats attack the Goblins as they come around to attack them. Goldis’ strategy and quick commands entrapped the Goblin vessels in a cage manoeuver. They have two ships flanked at a time in between each vessel. Marines and Archers begin firing arrows at the sails and the Goblins. Goldis watches as arrows fly all around them hitting the Goblins on the decks many are hit as most duck down or run for cover in the lower decks. He witnesses the destruction of one Galley that is rammed by four Veek Biremes. It immediately sinks as it crushed by the heavier vessels, which also sustain damage from the impact.

“Apkis are there any that escaped our trap?” Goldis looked around as smoke engulfed the area from the fires on the enemy sails. Some Goblin Galleys had to be boarded and the entire crew killed as the battle raged on within the caged maneuver.

“I believe so Commander Goldis.” Apkis said gulping nervously about the honest answer. He had the expression of regret on his face after telling Goldis the truth.

“Where, where are they?” Goldis demanded as he looked around seeing nothing but smoke from burning ships, galleys sinking and the Veek Marines boarding the Cren Vessels in return to the Goblins attempts. Goldis could not see the one that got away since his own ship was in the center of the battle that continued down to the last Cren Galley caught in the trap as two others escaped.