Boarding the Cren Fleet Cbapter

Apkis stood next to Goldis as their fleet of thirty ships lined up into two rows of ships. Their allies the Crowsians also lined up in attack formations as the Irkan Clansmen guarded their rear flanks. The Angoths were also preparing for battle under the leadership of Leothrad himself. “Where the blazes are Servestine and Eron? They should be back by now! Servestine you have disobeyed my orders.” Apkis gritted his teeth wanting to punish something. He thought of punishing Aimal at this very moment, but his conscience said no. It reminded him of the wife and children he had back home in the Veek homeland.

Leothrad’s fleet of five ships lined up ready for battle as other Angoth vessels filed in behind his ships. Each one had drums of war beating in the air. None of the Cren warships bothered to stir. Some or most were too scared to come out or even command their troops to do anything. It was likely they were all still asleep as dawn crept around the corner with some light from the sun illuminating the battlefield. Apkis waited for the dawn to emerge before the mass assault was executed under the command of Commander Goldis. Goldis was the commander who waited for the right moment to strike.

Leothrad had his own ships and the Angoths stop within an arrow’s distance away from the Cren fleet, which are just moments away from stirring awake. Another volley of arrows are fired from the Angoth vessels. Goldis raised his sword and signaled for the attack to commence. Oarsmen and sailors put their vessels at full speed as others ready the battering rams and grapnels for boarding.

“Sharpen your blades boys this war is just the beginning!” Apkis hollered to the crews, Marines, and Hoplites aboard the thirty ships gathered in the Veek fleet. Crowsian vessels did the same as they prepared to attack the Cren galleys and board the linked ships for prize and glory. Masts had every sail down increasing the speed of each vessel as the wind blew in their favor, some believed it was the work of the sea god Nepotus, others the Sky god Erusina, Apkis believed it was the work of the Crowsian Mages who believed in this alliance. All along the lines Crowsian and Veek alike gathered at the bows of their vessels ready to ram into the enemy ships as their crews scrambled to prepare for battle.

Goldis ordered for archers and ballistae to be fired at the ships in front. He had ballistae fire on the masts and archers loose arrows on the decks killing crew and warriors alike. There were loads of them running a muck on the decks trying to figure what to do while others stood ready to face sixty ships full of enemy troops coming at them in return. Ten vessels rammed into three vessels at once. The impact was so tremendous it could have caused the vessels to sink immediately. None of the ships sank since the rams connected the ships to the galleys, which smashed into ships behind them and next to them. Goldis swung first onto the galley followed by Apkis and fifty men aided by scores of archers and peltasts who acted as marines. They threw their harpoons and javelins into the ranks of the enemy before Goldis swept across with his boarding party. Other ships did the same as they dropped down onto enemy decks.

Apkis swung down onto a Goblin breaking its leg as he landed the wretched creature was cured with a blade through its heart as the Crowsian-Veek swung at his second opponent. Scores of enemies fell to their blades as they fought for control of the galley. There was not much for them to lose as the Cren forces threw themselves into the spears and shields of the Hoplite forces.

The ship they boarded felt crooked from the impact and its hull smashed up against two other vessels whose crew and warriors joined in the furry. Apkis swung his Xiphos defending his position as more men piled on board from behind them. He sliced through four goblins and seven Cren demons that fell at his feet the moment his blade went through them. Hoplites next to him had greater success as they fought side-by side with brothers and commanders. Arrows and javelins flew over head into the ranks of the enemy as more boarded vessels to get to them. Archers aboard vessels behind them fired volleys into crowds of enemies as they passed by.

Apkis felt victory was assured as they formed a phalanx formation in a circular shape. He looked over at other vessels that had Crowsians and Veeks alike doing the same formations slaughtering the enemy. Only a few Hoplites fell in the battle over control of the first ten vessels they boarded. Some started to climb back on to the ships they came from leaving possession of the crooked ship to the Veeks.

Cheers and hurrahs sprang up as the enemy back away, some had arrows shot at them as others fell in the gaps in between ships. Apkis saw nineteen receive arrow shafts in the back and head as they tried to retreat. He turned to Goldis whose face was painted in enemy blood. The young Commander howled with joy with his men as a victory could be smelt in the air. Even Apkis could smell it.

“Sir, shall we press on?” Apkis yelled above the noise of shouts of victory and joy.

“What?” Goldis yelled back unable to hear Apkis.

Apkis shouldered his way to the Commander so he could hear him. “I said, should we press on?” Apkis shouted in his ear.

“No we should search the ships and loot them, but have men and archers here to defend what we have taken here!” Goldis replied as he sheathed his Xiphos for the moment. Out of the cabins chained warriors sprung out killing Cren guardsmen and holding a Cren Priestess hostage, plus a Cren Captain’s severed head is flung in Goldis’ direction.

The warrior is a large man with tribal tattoos on his arms and face. “Are you here against the Cren Order’s will?” the tattooed warrior asked. Goldis nodded and had a Hoplite pick up the head and place it on a pike. He turned to Apkis who glanced at the girl then at his Commander.

“Shall we then Commander?” he asked smiling.

“VEEKS! FORWARD!” Goldis shouted at the Hoplites and Marines whom advanced onto the next vessel as other groups board others at the same time. The Cren forces were waiting for them, but were too stunned to fight back well enough to curb the tide of the battle. Hoplites formed their phalanx lines with their leaders and captains mixed in. Spears pierced through bodies like a needle through cloth. Apkis paused as he came aboard the second vessel. He climbed up on the ropes of the vessel to get a better view of the battle. Crowsians advanced quiker than they did and swept across a column of eight ships already armed with Veek equipment, but Crowsian weapons. Their sickles and Kopis sliced through the enemy easy enough, decapitating numerous foes as they advanced forward. It was hard to tell if the Crowsians were freeing prisoners since he saw mainly bald heads, braided heads and heads with dreads.

Countless enemies fell to the blades, and spears of Veek and Crowsian alike. He looked down to check on the progress of his men who were halfway through the second ship as thousands of Cren warriors met them. It seemed to stall them for awhile with bodies of enemies littering the decks. He watched as Hoplites and Marines forced their way into the cabin to free more prisoners. Apkis spotted Goldis who was leading the advance as a few hundred Hoplites were ordered to press as one against five times their numbers. A thousand Cren warriors were all over three galleys with platforms set up to connect them. Apkis watched the young commander force his way through the numerous enemies.

The Hoplites and Flax warriors sliced, and speared their way through the crowd of enemies. Goldis’ Hoplites killed their way to the other side of the ship as another group of Hoplites aboard another craft took over another vessel and were about to board another one. Prisoners poured out of the cabins and lower decks armed with weapons of their captors and so called masters. His first thoughts were of how many slaves did the Cren Fleet bring and what were their true numbers.

Apkis looked over to his left and saw the Crowsians were having trouble with Goblins and Ogres aboard the vessels. He looked down and saw fifty Hoplites and thirty Peltasts resting their arms from battle. Apkis took a quick glance seeing the Irkan warriors were guarding their rear flanks. He even caught a glimpse of some Cren vessels breaking away in attempt to flank them. The Veek Supervisor slid down watching Goldis’ progress as he lead four-hundred men across his second prized vessel as prisoners armed with bows covered his flanks and rear. Another faction appeared on the battlefield, but Apkis could guess who it was. He felt its presence approaching. For now he had to get more men to help the Crowsians who were losing ground to the Ogres. Apkis landed in the center of the resting group and looked around, seeing well rested men.

“What the Hern are you doing? Do you want the goddess Atheyan fucked in all three holes by ogres?” he shouted at them.

“No!” they all said at once, standing at attention. Apkis pointed his Xiphos in the direction of the Crowsians who needed help.

“On the other side of that quarter deck our Crowsian Allies are being forced back by the enemy! Join me and flank the enemy and be rich with spoils of war!” Apkis preached, arousing the men to fight on in a battle over the sea. He charged towards the quarter deck as the men followed him up a ramp to the quarter deck. Apkis had Peltasts throw their Javelins at the nearest enemies who were about to flank the Crowsians from another vessel. Another group of Hoplites occupied the space at the bow of the galley the Crowsians were fighting over. Apkis yelled for them to stay there and hold the line as he lead his own group over to the other ship next to it, riddled with Cren Warriors, and Goblin Raiders.

Fifty Hoplites boarded the vessel as Peltasts followed close behind. More Cren Vessels feel to the combined forces of the Veek and Crowsian Forces with help from the prisoners they keep freeing. Hundreds of prisoners made up their own force as they fought their way alongside Crowsian and Veek. Apkis and his fifty Hoplites plunged into the flank of Cren warriors and Ogres that never suspected them. His sword slashed through five enemies before he came face to face with a towering Ogre that reached for him. Acting quickly Apkis sliced the palm of the monster’s hand forcing its arm back. It backed away hurt trampling those behind him. A javelin was thrown and struck the creature in the throat killing it. More Ogres turned to them as arrows flew at them.

It was clear this battle was far from over. They may have caught the enemy by surprise, but the enemy brought more men than the Veeks, Angoths, Crowsians and Irkan warriors combined. Before he resumed the fight aboard his third vessel for capture Apkis spotted ships in the back broke away and fled towards the reefs. He turned to his left and saw ten Irkan warships engage the Cren galleys and board others linked together with platforms and hooks. What he also glimpsed were vessels surfacing from the ocean full of Makool attack the Irkan Longboats.

A large hand snatched him up as his men fought the Goblins and Ogres. It was huge beared ogre with a scar on his nose and one eye covered up. His instincts took over as the monster brought him to up to its face. Gripping his Xiphos Apkis shoved it into the Ogre’s other eye stabbing away as it cried in pain. He grabbed it by the nostril hairs to hold on as he shoved his blade further in as blood covered blade and arm. Another Hoplite shoved a spear into its gut right as Apkis dealt a lethal blow stabbing its brain. The creature fell on its back crushing several behind it.

He yanked the Xiphos from the corpses head and drove it into the guts of a Goblin Elite as a hundred more Cren warriors came aboard from other ships deeper in the linked fortress of ships. It was midday already and they had made some dent in the fleet. Crowsians appeared from his left flanking the Goblins and Cren warriors. His mind went to Leothrad and what he was doing as arrows rained down on ships just beyond his reach.

“Are the Angoths still harassing the Cren bastards?” He asked a Crowsian warrior who was more mage-healer than a warrior who looked him in the eyes.

“The Angoths are attacking on the other side and are making their way through the ranks of enemies, sir. More of your Veek brethren are here….” The healer’s voice trailed off and disappeared as the adrenaline of war swept over Apkis in the heat of battle. The healer hollered at him as the fight went as he sat there with bodies and arrows falling around them. He could tell they were mostly winning as twenty prisoners poured out after some mutiny spread.