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.
