Zeke ducked back into the captain’s cabin and put on the former captain’s spare coat and hat. He walked out on the deck to a sea of sad faces. Pushing his own feelings deep into his soul, he addressed the boarders.
“Captain Hardwood was a great man and we all had friends on the crew, but I’m the captain now. Those damn Loonies are on their way and we will avenge the deaths of the crew. I have a plan and we’ll all get home safely with some gold in our pockets, if we stick to it.”
The boarders looked at him in shock, but they soon realized the truth of his words. He was the highest-ranking officer from the Raptor still alive. With battleship approaching, they wondered how much longer he would be the captain.
“Throw the dead overboard, check the hold for valuable cargo, and slow the engines to half speed. Don’t want the battleship thinking we are trying to run,” Zeke said to the boarders, who immediately complied.
The Brute returned from the cargo hold, his face as white as the bears that lived in the Frozen Plains. He gave salute as best he could with trembling hands. Zeke swallowed to give himself a moment to collect himself. What could have been in the cargo hold to shock hardened man of blood?
“Sarg- Captain, the cargo is..it’s…”
“Spit it out airman!” Zeke said in his best ‘captain’ voice.
“Mongrels,” he replied, “we’re transporting Mongrels.”
Zeke blinked. The Mongrels were hardy folk who lived outside the Kingdom, in the Wastes, After the death of the last wizard 300 years ago, all of the magic in the world went haywire due to her dying curse. The world’s magic all coalesced into one region and devastated it, creating the Waste. The people who lived there occasionally possess a strange power, but true magical ability was no longer found among men. They were neutral in the war, so why were they in cages below deck?
Before he could question any of the imprisoned Mongrels, the shadow of the battleship passed over the cargo ship and a wooden ram descended on the deck next to Zeke.
“Brute, you are my first mate now. Congratulations on your promotion. Play nice with the Loonies and do what they say. I will get us out of this mess.”
“Yes, Cap’n,” replied the Brute.
While the battleship had come in close enough to drop the ramp, it was far enough away that the wings of both vessels were not interfering with each other. Zeke slowly walked up the ramp. After a gust of wind took him off his feet, he thanked the Lunar ship designers for including netting on either side of the ramp.
At the end of the ramp were several Lunar Marines in full battledress, who formed two lines. Zeke carefully walked between the lines and he was guided toward the battleship’s wheel. At the wheel, stood a gaunt figure with a pencil-thin mustache. Despite appearing frail and sickly, the air of command hung about him.
“Welcome Captain…” said the man.
“Windrider. Captain Winderider,” Zeke replied in his best Lunar accent.
“You are not the original captain of the Tranquility. What happened? Who killed Captain Alex?”
“Pirates,” Zeke replied.
“Care to explain?” the man said in a tone that was demanded an answer.
Zeke spun a tale that was mostly true. A bold pirate attack, under the flag of the hated Victorians. Captain Alex bravely saved the life of many a crew member with his swordsmanship, but in the end, he went over the side with three of the pirates. The crew, inspired by their captain’s heroic actions fought off the rest of the pirates and the timely arrival of the Republic’s best made short work of the pirate vessel.
“We are saddened by the loss of the captain, but we take heart at his courage. May the Goddess embrace him in eternity,” the man said.
“Eternity,” replied the Lunar crew in unison. Zeke faked a cough when he did not catch on.
“Where are my manners?” the man said, extending his right hand, “I am Admiral Storm, welcome to the Liberator.
Zeke grasped his hand and shook it firmly. Despite his weak appearance, the admirals’ handshake was stronger than it should have been. With his left hand, he waved and the line of Marines parted.
Carrying a tray with two cups of tea was the most magnificent woman Zeke had ever laid eyes on. Each step she took was deliberate, and even on the rocking shop, not a single drop of tea sloshed out of the cups. Her fiery red hair was trapped in a bun on top of her head, but Zeke imagined it running wild and free, as it was meant to. Her pale face was adorned with freckles, the way a crown is adorned with rubies and her eyes were as green as a fertile forest. She arrived and delivered the tea to the Admiral, who handed one cup to Zeke. While handing the tea to the Admiral, Zeke saw, hidden in her sleeves, a silver manacle on each wrist.
He pointed and as suddenly as she arrived, she was gone. Zeke swore that her hips moved a little more than necessary as she walked away. He had to get to know her.
Part One | Part Two | Part Three
Picture Credit: "airship again" by Mike is licensed under CC by 2.0