Desperate Defense

Dropping off the remnants of Hunterson's crew was easily done. However it involved sailing from Borvados all the way to the very ending tip of the Evusian Empire. This late deceased Captain's crew desired to go to this port there called Tel Orsavex. A part that lay at the very end of the Evusian Empire. It rested on an island that looked like ti connected to the mainland like a peninsula. At a closer glance the island was connected by a bridge.

Jenere watched as the island shrank from the increasing distance. With Zana's Ego of Queens at his heels he felt taking a longer route that veered south of Evusia's shores. He had been here twice while evading authorities. That was forty years ago when Evusia's main ruling families still squabbled for dominance. Now a days she was an empire of her own directly south of a large Union of nations. As he stood on the stern of the vessel with the sea in view and the island disappearing in the distance.

“Evusia is a big empire made up of more than a dozen nations forced together. Most of them were once made up of tribes until they united or banded together. These days many of those nations are forced to be loyal to the Evusian Empress. Gantronese invaders saw to that by attacking them from the south. Legend says that more than five hundred woman are selected for breeding warriors to fight in the name of this empire.” He heard a crew member ramble on to a few new recruits. Jenere looked over his left to see crew mate Makeen talking to three new recruits. The crew members leaned against the corner of the stern on top of the cabins. His gaze turned to Zana's ship which appeared smaller than his own vessel. Her Ego of Queens cut through the waters like a sword skimming the earth.

“Isn't that Redrin Republic part of the Evusian Empire?” one of the recruits asked Makeen.

“Nay lad, Redrin wants nothing to do with the Evusians!” Makeen snorted at the question. “They resisted that Empire for eight long years until peace was forced between the two of 'em as the Gantronese continue their advance...”

Jenere wanted to join in the conversation. He glanced back and forth between the crew and the Ego of Queens. For two minutes he went back and forth with temptations to speak to them. Something stopped him from speaking to his own crew. Even as Captain he was obligated to speak or not speak to his crew. It felt more like he had isolated himself by not saying a word. For him to be this isolated was unlike him, but it was not unnatural behavior. There were times a man or person needed time alone, yet too long alone and you would go insane or mad. Jenere retreated back to his quarters just as Makeen told the recruits how a crew of women sail about the world. It was an all female crew according to legend whom set out to fight the invaders.

He woke up to the usual sounds of the seas. Sophine lay next to him on the bed. She had come to him some time in the night. Jenere kissed her on the head then left the cabins for breakfast. Inside the mess hall he was greeted by his crew who cheered and raised cups to him. Jenere took a seat with his officers who passed a platter of tuna over to him. Elydark handed him a cup of coffee as he proceeded to eat. While he ate and drank his First Mate went on to inform him of a new mission.

“Captain, there is an island in the Ruhonthra isles that will need some assistance. During our journey to Evusia the Gantronese launched an assault on Ruhonthra . Because of a combined fleet of multiple nations and privateers the assault was pushed back. That crippled the forces sent to assault the isles. However that also left most of the defending ships damaged.-” Jenere interrupted him at that point.

“So they need to get one lonely fleet of vessels to stave off another assault!” Jenere shouted slamming a fist down on the table. The whole mess hall fell silent from the noise and all eyes were on the Captain. He looked around at this crew then stood up on the table.

“Hear me out men! Our employers want us to go sail to our deaths and fight alone!” Jenere roared with a hint of exaggeration in his voice. Elydark tugged at his trousers trying to get his attention.

“Captain, Captain our fleet will not be alone.” Elydark tried to get his attention to no avail. Jenere went on with his speech ignoring his First Mate in the mess hall.

“I say we show up anyways! Our employers pay us well! What do you say men? Do we go to a watery grave as privateers and pirates or do we turn down the call and be hunted by U-Boats?” Jenere presented the options to his crew.

“Aye, aye Captain!” One crew mate yelled out from the wall.

“Oi Capn that'd be a way to go!” another cried from the cent of the mess hall.

“Aye, I'll follow ye to the depths of Hithna's rotten hole!” a third one bellowed.

“Aye a pirate's life has never been sweeter than this!” a fourth one cried out just as the crew chanted his name. For a couple of minutes they chanted his name out in the mess hall. Their voices echoed all over the ship's interior until the Captain quieted them down.

“Alright men finish your grub and get back to work! Set sail for our deaths!” Jenere urged the whole crew. He turned to an old sailor who became a pirate after meeting him in a port decades ago. The old sailor smiled at him with just a few teeth left, overwhelmed with joy. Jenere shook his hand causing the old coot laugh heartily with his whole beard shaking from the laughing. He then turned to his First Mate who had a stern expression on his face. Jenere got down from the table to see what Elydark wanted. The two elves went to the map room in the cabin area of the ship. Elydark entered first with Jenere following him inside. When the door closed Elydark nearly turned on his own Captain. He had his hands on his hips for one second then raised them up.

“Captain we will have other ships coming to join up with ours. Close to thirty and more privateers from Evusia, Redrin, Malvieth, and Castaria will rendezvous with us at sea. Fortunately the Gantronese have not attacked the weakened defense.” Elydark explained to his Captain who appeared hot headed over being sent into battle across the sea.

“How many ships do the invaders have?” Jenere demanded to know from his First Mate.

“Several hundred likely four hundred ships attacked the island nation with a hundred of their flying ships dropping off troops. I cannot give you the details on our forces, but they had more than five hundred craft defend Ruhonthra.” Elydark answered his Captain.

“Only four hundred ships?” Jenere mocked the size of the Gantronese fleet. He knew the Gantronese fielded a large behemoth sized fleet. What he did not get was why the Gantronese attacked in small forces. They had the ships in terms of numbers and countless hordes of troops. He had seen massive fleets of the Gantronese while slipping past their notice. That was when the two invaders fought each other for a whole decade. Jenere witnessed a large scale battle between the two armies. Whoever else witnessed that battle would never forget seeing the large ships pounding each other in the skies and the fire power exchanged between the two fleets. It was no wonder neither invader conquered the world yet.

“Captain they sent over a hundred thousand to invade the whole of Ruhonthra! It was a miracle, not luck that Ruhonthra defended their shores.” First Mate Elydark pointed out to him.

Jenere just nodded at his First Mate. He sounded like some green officer who was just given his rank through high levels of academics. The Elydark he knew disappeared only to be replaced by a green recruit high ranking officer who spews statistics . He walked out of the room to another part of the ship. Exiting the map room Jenere took a left out of the map room. Outside the room he stormed through the hall towards his own quarters. When he entered his own quarters Jenere threw his clothes off and went to wash himself while feeling the ship move and shift under him. He stood in the showers for nearly an hour before getting out. His ship his command was now under the command of an employer who had defeated the invaders multiple times. They had chosen him and other pirates to fight on their side.

Once he returned to his quarters Sophine was just getting up. She watched him the entire time he was in the room. In front of her Jenere dressed in a privateer's/pirate outfit he was given years ago. When he had it on Sophine put his weapons on him for her lover. His belt harness went over his privateer's shirt with the pair of revolvers, war pick, curved dagger, cutlass and metal axe. She put the overcoat on him. His arms slipped into the sleeves while she straightened it up. Jenere allowed her to tie his hair into a male style bun. On his head Sophine placed a cap that was a fisherman's cap with a decorative belt buckle on it.

“The Gantronese attacked Ruhonthra.” Jenere said to his lover.

“Who haven't they attack? Those invaders launched an assault on everyone according to our new recruits.” Sophine scoffed as she straightened things on his over coat.

“Being an invader with countless hordes at your disposal would give off the temptations to launch assaults every year.” Jenere added to their conversation. She took the cutlass off the harness only to reattach it over the overcoat itself.

“They are setting out to conquer our world which only a quarter and more have been take over.” Sophine said as if she was agreeing with him.

“You get some breakfast. There's pig of the sea and Borvadosian fruits.” Jenere said dismissing his officer and lover. She did as he told her leaving him in his cabin quarters . Alone in the quarters Jenere also left his quarters for the command bridge. He passed various crew members who were still half asleep, wide awake, tired, sprite, groggy, lethargic and slow. Jenere passed through the sections of the ship receiving greetings, and salutes as he went by. He then went straight for the command bridge.

At the command bridge he found the rest of his officers on deck. Each one stopped what they were doing to salute Captain Jenere Omavern. All the hands on the command bridge stood up and saluted to him as well. Jenere saluted in return then turned his focus to the path ahead. The sea itself lay open before the Abomination with Evusia's coast line in the distance on the right. On the left was the Ego of Queens sailing ahead of them taking the lead. Zana was in command of their small fleet that was set to increase. Going further along Evusia's coast and shores their fleet started to increase. Five privateer vessels flying Evusian colors and Vestrisian colors as well approached them in a rendezvous pattern. He took a good look at those vessels the largest of them was a frigate armed with three turrets and four mounted cannons that must have been modified, an AA gun, and several heavy machine guns. The other four vessels were smaller corvettes and the fifty man crew Sea Aketons. The Sea Aketons were slightly bigger than gunboats armed with one turret, several heavy machine guns, and depth charges plus a few torpedoes. As the rendezvous commenced they began communications.

When communications were over the five vessels followed Jenere and Zana to another rendezvous point. Their increased fleet did not meet another ship until they got close to Redrin where four other ships joined them. With a fleet massing the privateers proceeded onward for a few more days until Zana spotted six more ships flying Vestrisian colors along with Castarian flags. These ships came from the Badraan ports. Seventeen privateer vessels sailed towards Malvieth, and Tante where they had to stop at border checks.

Passing through the border checks they rendezvous with the rest of the privateers. More than ten ships flying the Malvieth flag met them at some islets in the southern sea. Here they met the Admirals and Captains for a brief dinner. Jenere was introduced to four Admirals and twenty six Captains. He remembered fourteen of their names all of whom had different appearances, facial hair, heights, clothes, skin texture and belonged to another race. The next day he found himself talking to Admiral Forkrist about how they would come around the flanks of the invaders. This one Admiral went on about strategies, and tactics on the high seas. Jenere also had the pleasure of talking to the Evusian Admiral who started to question him about this days of piracy. To his fortune Jenere's contract with the Vestrisians allowed him to avoid such questions. In a span of three days the armada of thirty one ships arrived at the Ruhonthran isles.

The situation did not appear as bad from very far until they came closer. Most of their employer's fleet and allied fleets were at port for repairs leaving a few hundred to keep watch and ready to defend Ruhonthra. However the enemy fleet was farther, but not too far from an island that stood alone in the ocean. It was under heavy bombardment. All along the span of a few miles lay the aftermath of the battle that occurred several days ago. They passed wreckage, debris, corpses, and small fires from the oil that was set on fire. Their attention was drawn to the island under siege to the island that was still under siege. It appeared to have an invasion force still on the beach. Jenere took a better look through his spyglass counting seventeen Gantronese ships of different class and dozens of landing craft heading towards the island. Up in the air allied aircraft raced to perform attack runs, but only a few were able to drop their load.

“Captain sir, Captain Caniir wants to speak with you.” Ersig said to him as he steered the ship at full speed towards their target.

“Put her on the line.” Jenere ordered leaving the wheel to his first helmsman. He went over to Ersig's station and picked up the phone piece.

“Captain Omavern speaking over.” Jenere said to Caniir.

“Omavern start opening fire on those Gantronese! The Malvieths will flank around Over.” Zana ordered him.

“Yes Captain-Admiral!” Jenere replied before he hung up the same time she did.

“All guns open fire!” Jenere ordered to his officers and crew.

His orders were passed on through the radios. Jenere watched their turrets came alive firing on the Gantronese ships. Each turret they had fired in unison as well. For nearly twelve minutes twenty one ships bombarded the Gantronese ships the island's eastern and southern flanks. The ones on the north began to move towards them to engage in combat. Five Gantronese ships sunk after receiving multiple hits. Jenere took a peek through his spyglass to check on the island battle itself. The fort was no longer suffering the bombardment. Its defenders were preparing for a ground assault by a force of less than eight hundred Gantronese troops. More Gantronese forces were about to land on the island as he counted their numbers. Just over hundred seventy made it to the islands to reinforce the assault.

“Elydark on take command of the ship! Second Mate Mate Morlen summon the landing parties and my officer swordsman Sophine. Meet me on the outer decks.” Jenere ordered his two lieutenants whom should be Captains by now however the occasions never came up. He went out on to the balcony and lowered himself down, climbing and jumping down. As his feet landed their turrets started to cease fire. Looking over at the Gaontronese ships were surrounding the island he saw that not one of them stood afloat on the water. After the quick bombardment from thirty ships the Gantronese lost that small fleet of ships.

His lover/officer swordsman came up to him with the sixty of their crew each one heavily armed and ready for battle. She looked fierce with a serious expression that meant to kill. Many of his crew painted themselves in war paint armed with guns and lethal melee weapons. Without his command the boats were lowered as were the climbing nets.

“We will come around on their flanks!” Jenere barked out to his landing party. He turned to see Caric next to him. “Raise the colors and signal for the rest of our friends to do the same.”

“They are ahead of you on that sir.” Sophine pointed out to him. Jenere turned around to see landing parties heading for the island. This encouraged him to speed up and get off board onto the boat. None of his crew hesitated or dawdled and they set off to relieve the defenders. As they landed their smaller boats on the sands of the beaches the privateers jumped out of the boats and raced towards the flanks of the Gantronese who seemed oblivious to their approach.

On that island more than a thousand Gantronese lay siege on the island fort. Despite their ships being sunk these invaders fought to the death. Jenere and a few hundred privateers attacked their flanks while the defenders held them back. This particular island almost had zero vegetation on its southern portion which the two gates of the fort faced. One the walls the defenders gave everything they had to push the enemy back.

Coming in from behind the Gantronese more than four hundred sixty privateers stormed the beach. All of them formed ranks and fired wildly into the back ranks of the Gantronese invaders. They killed more than half the Gantronese force before charging in to engage in close combat. Jenere unsheathed his cutlass and began cutting down Gantronese troops left and right on the field with ease. On his flanks privateers killed numerous Gantronese alongside his crew. Jenere moved through the battlefield taking out nearly a score of Gantronese. His movements were swift, agile, and showed his skills in combat. Using the correct poses, strikes, and foot movements Jenere performed guard and swipe deceive and pierce plus slice to dispatch his opponents. All around him his fellow privateers engaged the Gantronese wielding an assortment of different weapons such as axes, knives, clubs, various sword types, tools converted into weapons, spades, hammers, maces, chains, poles, harpoons, machetes, and picks. The Gantronese wielded bayonet rifles, katanas, two handed war clubs with spikes and metal, and short swords. Most of these weapons appeared too primitive for these invaders who had the capability to travel the stars.

As the privateer army pressed their attack they realized there were more Gantronese than they had noticed before. Numbers did not matter since the invaders were caught between the defenders and the privateers. Jenere plunged his sword into the side of a large Gantronese that scowled at him before dying. Just as he was about to pull the cutlass out a Gantronese officer came at him with his blade raised in attack position. As the Gantronese was about to bring the blade down on his arm two of his crew took the officer down. Three other Gantronese bayoneted the crew members. Jenere released the cutlass and grabbed his axe and war pick quickly dispatching the Gantronese trio with other crew members. On the sands of the island the battle became chaotic as all battles do. Combatants stabbed, cut down, bludgeoned, and knocked opponents down only to find the same thing happen to them in turn. However it did not happen to all combatants who killed a few foes. In the midst of the chaos the defenders opened fire with the last rounds of their guns to wipe out or even reduce the Gantronese force. At first it appeared the battle would end down to a few men until the defenders fired their guns rapidly. The act mowed down the majority of the Gantronese leaving a few units to suffer under the hands of the privateers.

A calm wind blew from the ocean bringing with it salt sea and droplets of the ocean. The sands became red, pink, and stained with blood. No more than two hundred ninety privateers stood victorious over the invaders. Many of the cheered and raised their weapons in the air. Following the battle's after math privateers began collecting the wounded. Each wounded privateer was brought away from all the corpses, limbs, and spilled guts. The fort's two gates opened and out came the defenders. How large the original garrison was Jenere could not say, but he did see two hundred thirty six pirates, privateers, thirty eight armed volunteers, and nine well uniformed and lightly armored soldiers exit the fort. Every defender came over to aid the privateers with their wounded. Out of all the privateers who fought against the invaders and fallen over a hundred fifty seven came out alive, but wounded. As for the dead privateers they were all collected and lined up neatly at the beach ready to be buried. Weapons, limbs, Gantronese corpses littered the blood soak sandy battlefield. He scanned the aftermath of the battlefield watching the privateers and pirates search for more wounded. Only a handful more were found only they died a moment later.

“Captain sir the fort leaders would like a word with you and all the officers who lead the assault.” a crew member said to him.

“Crew mate how many men did we lose?” he asked the crew member.

“Six pirates dead and four wounded.” The crew members said to him. Jenere took a good look at this crew member who appeared to be human of his mid twenties. He wore a red shirt, baggy pants, and nothing on his feet. This crew member was known as Gabos with dirty brown hair and no facial hair.

“That is not bad.” Jenere said feeling confident and secure about the minimal losses.

“Um Captain one of our own dead is Sophine, your lover, wife, and swordsman-officer.” he said sounding a little sad. Gabos looked like he was about to cry from his own captain's loss. Jenere held in his grief as best he could ordering Gabos to collect her weapons. Holding in his despair, grief and sadness in Jenere Omavern went to meet the leaders of the fort.

He approached the leaders who stood several feet away from the corpses and blood. Three leaders of the fort stood at the edge of the battlefield. A pirate leader in a blue duster, white shirt, dirty red pants, and odd hat leaned on a crutch. He only had one leg and a peg leg to replace the missing one. This leader looked rough on the face with a stubble of a beard. Next to him stood a rugged uniformed ex-soldier in an unprofessional posture. This ex-soldier was an exile from Damis who must have sailed to Ruhonthra with his troops. He had a dirty, sweaty face, a few scars, tears in his uniform, a gaunt, clean shaved face and a flat cap on his head. Reasons for their exile were still unknown. Beside the ex-soldier looking leader was a well uniformed and lightly armored leader who appeared to be a knight leader. He had the usual knight symbol of the shield indicating he was a knight. Jenere looked at all three while trying to hold in tears for his loss.

“You are welcome gentlemen. I will head back to my ship. You can speak to my superiors and fellow Captains.” he shouted at them before they put in a single word. In grief Jenere stormed away to see the corpse of his now dead lover. He got down on his knees next to her. Jenere grabbed her deceased hand and held it against his chest letting his grief and tears out. When his crew surrounded him he then ordered all bodies to be sent into the sea. A brief funeral was held and all the corpses of their crew mates were loaded onto a Gantronese boat. The motor was cranked on before sending it off into the sea with the corpses in it. One of the crew members prayed to the Tortoise God Kunkaliim for Sophine's and the deceased crew members to be granted safe passage to the after life. Once his prayers were over Jenere returned to his ship leaving his Second Mate to speak to Zana and their privateer allies. Without a single word to any one he returned to his own quarters having lost an officer swordsman, and a lover who was his wife and a mother. For a few days or more Jenere remained cooped up in his room grieving only coming out to eat, watch the stars, get information from his two Mates or roam the outer deck. It was on the fourth day Elydark and Brucs entered his quarters. They found Jenere on his bed wiping away his tears.

“Captain are you okay?” Elydark asked him.

“I feel hollowness on the inside yet I am still willing to perform my duty to the Vestrisians. It may be some time before I am well. My grieving will be done and gone from here.” Jenere replied to his First Mate. He felt pain and emptiness inside his chest along with the beating of his heart.

“Will you need comfort Captain? Some of our female crew wish to see about you.” Brucs offered to Jenere.

“Give me time Boatswain, give me time. Our swordsman and officer positions need to be refilled.” Jenere replied feeling his duties as Captain return to him.

“Yes sir Captain, and Captain Caniir would like a word with you on the starboard.” Elydark informed Jenere. He got up from the bed still in his Privateer clothes and walked over to his desk. Much of the desk was covered in letters and charts along with a few weapons and an atlas.

“Who is our best swordsman and who is a good candidate for officer?” Jenere asked not taking his eyes off the desk and what was on it. He began rummaging through it in search of anything that had Sophine's name on it.

“Jogan Maidenson is the best swordsman out of the whole crew's raiders. In fact sir he killed more than thirty Gantronese whom wielded those blades. A good candidate for the officer's position is Stormin Mac one of the crew's favorites. He mans the machine guns under Caric's command whenever the other officers are performing other duties.-” Elydark explained to his Captain who then cut him off with a raising of one single hand. He busied himself collecting the letters Sophine had written and were written to her in return. Jenere compiled them in a stack on top of the atlas.

“Get the crew to prepare to sail when ready and commanded. I am going to meet Captain Caniir.” Jenere commanded his officers sending them off to order the crew around and promote the two crew members. He followed them out of his own quarters exited the cabins then took the direct path to the starboard. Here on his ship's starboard he found Captain Caniir with her personal escort. She looked at him with great amount of sympathy on her face.

“Captain you have my deepest sorrows and condolences. I am so sorry for your loss.” Zana said to him starting to reach out for him. She put a hand on his arm as a way to comfort Jenere. The privateer captain felt some comfort then noticed something in Zana's other hand.

“Thank you Captain what is that in your hand?” He asked her wondering what she was holding. She held it up showing him it was a sword from an officer. It had an other worldly appearance to it compared to the Gantronese blades they collected as loot. He swore they had a full room with these mounted on the walls. They would arm a small army with as many blades as they took off the battlefield.

“This is for you from the fort leaders. A gift for saving them from that Gantronese assault.” She handed him the blade which he took from her grasp. “Also the employers would like us to stick around and hold the line. However our Evusian and Redrin buddies will not be joining us.”

“What?! Those Imperialist Evusians and rebellious Redrin won't be joining us? That is nearly a third of our fleet! Did their countries call them back?” Jenere went on a rampage of words over this sudden news.

“Calm yourself down Captain they will not leave until tomorrow. Today we need to prepare for another wave.” She replied to Jenere trying to get him to settle down.

“How large is this wave?” Jenere insisted to know from a fellow Captain.

“Vestrisian scout craft estimated over six hundred Gantronese ships, two hundred troop transport vessels and a dozen large craft that look more like floating forts.” Zana explained passing off vital information that the Gantronese would prefer to stay hidden. “Also they have a few carriers so expect various flying targets in the air.”

Jenere took this advice prizing the new sword he had just earned in battle. The pain of losing his lover ached and lingered in his chest. It felt stuck inside his own heart. He didn't know how long he would suffer this grief. This grief had to remain hidden in order to perform his duties required of a privateer. Jenere pondered over what class the Gantronese were sending to invade Ruhonthra another time. Zana dismissed him as she went back to her own ship. He returned to the command bridge after several days of absence and barked out orders to prepare the ship for another battle. Jenere stood in he command bridge watching his crew prepare for another onslaught with the Gantronese.

Within the span of a few days the Gantronese fleet arrived in force. This fleet appeared to be complete with a dozen battle ships, destroyers, frigates, gunboats, troop carriers, and aircraft carriers. Their guns and other weaponry appeared some what similar to weapons many modernized weapons of Calorn. Although these invaders had their star ships they still insisted on building on a flee of ships for the oceanic travel and naval warfare. Many of their guns fired what appeared like blue or purple fire balls. From their scientists he heard that the invaders fired energy or what they apparently called Metamocris.

Before the defenders who also fielded a large fleet the Gantronese moved in formation. Just as they were about to complete their formation all privateers opened fire with all guns the deck. Some shots missed, others found the intended and unintended targets. This triggered on all out battle at sea between the invaders and the coalition of nations and privateers. Ships from both sides exchanged fire while maneuvering around the sea.

Jenere watched his own guns fire away at the invaders. Vessels on each side endured hits, avoided fire received heavy fire and retreated a little. A few ships on the battlefield began to sink as others started to retreat to avoid sinking from hits. He had his ship maneuver along with other privateers while his turrets fired on a Gantronese destroyer. They hit the stern, and the center several times before it sank. Once the Destroyer was out of combat he sent his sights on another target when six gunboats came after him. His own turrets focused fire on the smaller crafts. The privateer's gaze then went to watch his allies who seemed to be struggling against the strange turrets on the Gantronese ships. It did not mean that none of the enemy ships went down. Their turrets ripped holes into the Calorn defenders' ships. Hours passed as the battle went into dusk seeing over a hundred vessel sunk and damaged on each side. Both sides backed off as night came over the ocean.

“How do we disrupt their formation?” an Admiral burst out in the fort's command center.

“They came with a larger force but lost more than we did. Most of those gunboats were merely cannon fodder, meat shields, pawns used to distract us from the bigger ships.” Another Admiral pointed out.

“Yes and none of their aircraft carriers or landing craft took part in the battle.” Admiral Forkrist added to Admiral Krunkavowe's observation.

“What do you Admiral's propose?” Captain Caniir asked the room of Admirals and Captains. None of them spoke a word for a few long moments. A young looking First Mate nudged his Captain who was a Castarian with auburn hair, facial on his face and lips, but not his chin, a middle aged face, strong body, a scar on his neck. He wore a fisherman's overalls over a sea jacket over two layers of shirts. The Captain stood up and cleared his throat to get their attention.

“Before we arrived we intercepted Vestrisian radio transmissions about their U-Boat movements and gathering. We should get reinforcements soon.” He said rubbing his mustache.

“Did they say when?” Zana asked him all eyes were fixed upon the Admiral from Castaria.

“No, but we are set to get aid from Vestrisia, Lybresan, Alagen, and Ivodra whom will send reinforcements. Troops and ships to help defend Ruhonthra. Many of them are busy securing their own shores and borders. Whereas my countrymen are busy in the Vollante seas eradicating invasions, fleets and patrolling what they have taken from Vullan.” The Castarian privateer answered Zana.

“Yet you are still able to send ships out.” another Captain pointed out accusingly. This caused a babel of voices to rise up in the room. For several minutes the Captains and Admirals argued. Jenere rolled his eyes and drew a revolver and fired two shots to end the mass of arguments.

“We need to set out in force and meet them in the open sea. Sure they have superior weapons and the numbers, but this world is ours and they do have limits to things. Over time their casualties will catch up to them. I have seen their ferocious battles between them and those Nazdar. Many ships fell out of the skies and that forced them to build ships of the seas we now fight. What do you say to launching a counter assault on them as a pirate I have raided, and plundered Gantronese ships!” Jenere blurted out to the whole room whom did not let him finish. They all went in an uproar of approval.

Every one of them raced out to their ships. Jenere followed their lead and raced to his Abomination. Zana did the same rallying the crew to prepare the ship for the assault. He barked out orders to his crew to get their stations. Jenere himself manned the helm and sailed towards the Gantronese lines.

Not giving any warning the privateers attacked as many Gantronese vessels as they could. Their assault on the Gantronese lasted for hours then they retreated. For several days they pulled it off sinking seventeen or more ships each time. Every few assaults they would lose a ship or two while they chipped away at this fleet. It was before and after their assault on the coalition of ships. On the sixth day they witnessed the aircraft carriers come to life as fighters flew towards them and the coalition.

“Our fleet grows smaller yet the Gantronese still out numbers us.” Jenere pointed out regretting his decision. The two Captains sat in Zana's own cabin. She remained standing while he was seated in a comfy chair.

“In a few more days or less the cavalry should arrive according to Admiral Garnich.” Zana said sounding worried they may lose this battle. “We've already sustained a few hits and a few more and we're sunk.”

“What do you propose then?” Jenere asked her in her lest favorite chair.

“How many ships did we capture?” Zana asked Jenere taking a swig of her beer.

“Fifteen of their ships were captured. Are you suggesting he load a few of them up with explosives?” Jenere curiously asked Zana.

“No, no that would take too much time, and a lot of explosives which we don't have. Besides more than half their fleet is sunk, damaged, captured and incapacitated.” She pointed out over the radio.

“Well setting up another assault as a last hurrah is now useless and futile. They've already sent the fighters and bombers.” Jenere cut the conversation there while looking through the wind of her cabin. He left her cabin and raced back to his own ship to prepare it for another attack. When he returned to his ship the aircraft were halfway to them. He quickly climbed back on board.

“Get those AA's and flak guns operating start firing when ready!” Jenere yelled to his crew who did as he ordered. All guns opened fire on the incoming aircraft shooting down a few before they drew closer to them. On his flanks his allies did the same thing. Jenere rushed over to an unmanned machine gun only to witness a large wave of Vestrisian aircraft came flying in to intercept the Gantronese. He figure these aircraft were meant for dog fights and attacking other aircraft. Plus they may have been running late. Jenere opened fire taking down a couple before the waves of aircraft clashed in the air.

From their ships the privateers and their allies aided the aircraft while their guns pounded on the enemy vessels. Jenere left the gun to a crew member to keep an eye on the Gantronese fleet that was apparently coming under attack. Ships were beginning to sink in the back of their formation. He watched plenty of larger ships blow up and set fire from what appeared to be torpedo hits. Chaos spread in the skies and in the Gantronese formation. A small fraction of this Gantronese remained before it began the slow retreat. Nearly all Gantronese Zeykos were downed and more than half the troop carriers fell into the ocean.

A massive wave of disbelief hit the defenders in the face. They watched the invaders retreat while under attack by unseen u-boats. Everyone cheered, roared, jumped, danced, threw hats in the air, laughed, danced, hugged, shook comrades, shouted, and some fired pistols in the air. Flags were waved on other ships as their crews cheered the end of a long hard battle they had fought desperately to win. Another victory was won against the invaders.