Part 3
The flight
3.1
Captain Amos
looked into his special view glass; the thirty inch long spy glass mounted on
the stand. He was smiling when Kassius met him there on the helm of the Attila.
Kassius looked into the direction which the captain was eyeing. He saw the
clouds and then glimpse of the darker shades that resembled the dirigibles.
“Are those
frigates out there?” Kassius asked.
“Aye, there is
an armada on our tail. I counted ten frigates, two dreadnaughts and I am sure I
seen the bow of a destroyer.” Captain Amos sounded out. He then turned to the
Boatswain.
“Charley secured
the deck and open the armory.” Captain Amos barked the order. His First mate
had gone below deck to check on the cannons, while the third mate was
organizing the sailors.
“Assassin, you
are going to witness a history in the marking.” Captain Amos smiled. He saw the
Second Mate who was in charge of navigation, had fired the first salvo but it
was towards the ground level. Kassius was still confused, but when he looked
below the hull he saw the glimpse of approaching dirigibles. Those were not the
troopers, but of assorted designs.
“Who are those?”
Kassius asked.
“The opposing
armada of the Free Traders” The Free Traders was the name adopted by the
smugglers and pirates.
“We have our own
fleet in wait for this fight since they downed five of the Captains among the
traders.” Captain Amos replied. “The Attila was running the gauntlet on these
clouds for some days now. We have been the prey for the predators, and they
bitten the bait.”
“I don’t
understand.” Kassius asked. Irina has joined the duo on the helm.
“Guess what I
found in the cargo hold.” Irina was trying to show her latest findings but
Kassius wanted to know more of the armadas.
“The United
Continents had tightened their patrols, and we lost five Captains who tried to
run through the clouds.” Captain Amos explained. “The Attila volunteered to
bait them, and with all of you on board had added more spice to the bait.”
“You had used us
as a bait to lure them?” Irina shouted out. She was infuriated with the
Captain’s idea.
“Bait? No, my
dear. Just as the extra morsel to the main piece of meat.” Captain Amos smiled.
“Never worry for we are prepared for them.”
It was then the
Second Mate came up to the helm and gave his report.
“Captain, we
have the fleet ready.” The Second Mate laid out the charts of the sky. “We have
us here at these coordinates, with the Mayflower and Hind joining us at nine
thousand feet.”
“Good ships,
with twelve cannons broadside, and twin on the fore.” Captain Amos relate on
the strength of the two ships.
“There will be
three more on our portside, coming in as the left flank at eight thousand feet.”
The Second Mate continued. “It’s the Berserker, Queen’ S and Stryker”
“Another trio of
twelve cannons.” Captain Amos added in. “Who’s on the right flank?”
“We only got the
Junkyard, and three more yachts at six thousand feet” The Second Mate reported
in. “The others are not here.”
“Why? The Honky
Tonk should be there.” Captain Amos moaned out on the loss of that ship.
“It’s the United
Continents Armada. You saw the Third Fleet; with the two Dreadnaughts, five
Frigates, and one Destroyer at eight thousand feet.” The Second Mate reported
in. “But to their rear is the Fourth Fleet; with the same complements at nine
thousand feet. Captain, we may be outgunned.”
“Outgunned, we
may be but in dire straits we ain’t.” Captain Amos sounded his confidence. “Get
the two Eagles primed for flight.”
“Eagles?” Irina
was curious to know of the eagles. She had heard of such inventions, but they
were shrouded in secrecy that the even the Guild could only guessed what it
was.
“Yes, the Eagles
were your father contribution to us. We have two in the stern at below deck.”
Captain Amos led the way.
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