Chapter 1 - Rossi - https://steemit.com/story/@fromage/an-introduction-and-chapter-1-yasht-to-the-waters-of-the-sky
Chapter 2 - Pient - https://steemit.com/story/@fromage/chapter-2-yasht-to-the-waters-of-the-sky
Chapter 3: Marchele - https://steemit.com/story/@fromage/chapter-3-yasht-to-the-waters-of-the-sky
Chapter 4: Rossi
"Hard to starboard Mr. Rossi, fifteen degrees down bubble. We have to drop off our boys before we're torn to bits up here." At altitude the planes were no threat. They simply couldn’t climb as high as an airship, and their only weapons were small fire bombs, more typically used to disrupt masses of infantry. No airplane yet built could hold a gunne, much less the systems needed to produce the pressure to power it. Even below the cloud line they were only a threat in large numbers. Barring a lucky shot, damage would likely be minimal. The captain bellowed over the wind rushing through the holes in the hull and the screaming hiss of the turrets, "and for God’s sake keep power to the engines!"
Rossi's voice was hoarse from yelling into the speaking tube already, but he couldn't be sure if anyone had heard him. The damage so far had not been severe. Last he'd been able to hear the envelope was holding, but of course there wouldn’t be much warning before things went very wrong. The light material that protected the hydrogen bubble could be treated to resist flames but it was not fully flame proof, and the vapor was very explosive.
He’d never met Iacopo, but they'd moved in the same circles. The man had been a genius, focused and obsessed with what he’d called the invisible universe. They’d found him face down in his workshop one day, major burns across most of his body with no clear source of flame.
With a dull thump and the crash of pottery glass from the windshield exploded onto the bridge. Rossi hit the deck, covering his head and hands with his coat instinctually. He cursed at himself for having thought about how unlikely this was as the wave of heat washed over him.
When he looked up he saw that Renau had not been so quick to respond. The Captain slumped to the ground, his mouth agape in disbelief. Rossi crawled to him and found a mercifully small shard of glass embedded in his right leg. Serious burns ran along his left side as well. It was bad, but maybe not deadly with treatment. Rossi pressed one hand down on the puncture wound hard and used the other to tie off his jacket as a tourniquet. You’d better survive, old man, or they'll make me pay for a new coat he thought, as the captain screamed in pain and rolled his eyes back in his head. Rossi struggled to his feet and was headed to the speaking tube to call for a medic when the ship lurched once again. He fell forward, tumbled over the captain, and was nearly tossed out the front window; they'd hit the tree line, hard.
Rossi struggled to his feet and began to scan the room for assistance. Flames leapt from surfaces not normally flammable. The instruments blazed, their glass cracking under the heat. Several of the bridge crew lay motionless, others raced to fight the flames. A young lieutenant rocked back and forth in the corner, his eyes glazed over in shock. The ship lurched once again, sending Rossi sprawling forward, tumbling over the captain. He caught himself just as he was nearly tossed out the front window; they'd hit the tree line, hard.
Wiping blood and glass from his hands Rossi grabbed the captain and began to drag him out of the room. “Get us back in the air!” He yelled to no one in particular. The shaken man in the corner stared dumbly at Rossi, clearly still far away. At least I’ve got what’s left of his attention “Now!” The boy began to stir. As Rossi turned the corner with the captain, he tamped down the panic rising in his chest. We’ll be in the range of their gunnes soon. They’ll rip us to shreds if that fool doesn’t get us some altitude. The opportunity to save the captains life, though, that was worth the risk.