Deep Seas Chapter 29

29.

The Surface

Colonel Kingsley held his head high despite the bombardment on the trenches. He was in there with the Army alongside with the Sergeant Major and Corporal Jones. Both non-commissioned officers were holding the Thompson machine gun close to the chest. He was there to give motivation to the men there. His squadron of Sopwith and Caldrons had all returned to the airfield for refueling and reloading of the ammunitions.

The artilleries were all scattered or damaged by the bombardment. Half the armored were on the retreat to the rear in the case of a counter-attack. The others were burnt husk at the trenches. The flying dragon overhead was making its sorties by the length of the trench. It will fly up and then down the same trench with the precise bombing.  At its height, the artilleries were not making any impact on the flying dragon.

“Colonel there is something you need to know.” Colonel Braddock spoke up from the rear. “I got observers that tell me that the dirigible returns every two hours back to the town. We think its refueling there.” 

“Where exactly?” Colonel Kingsley asked but the other Colonel was unsure. Then the Colonel suggested a recon in the town.

“It’s our unknown factor.” Colonel Kingsley continued on. “I have someone who was local. He used to live here but moved on to join the Army.”

“Corporal Henley at your service, Sir.” The man snapped to attention in front of Lord Henry. He was a short stout uniformed man with the clean-shaven head but retained the curled mustache on his upper lip.

“Aye, Colonel. I used to run the milk runs here. It was before I tended the sheep and before that I ….” The Sergeant was gladly interrupted by the oral history of the Sergeant.

“So you know the nooks and crooks of the place?” Sergeant Major asked. “So is there a way which we could outflank the enemies here?”

“Aye, Sergeant Major Sir.” The Corporal heaved in his breath and replied. “There are several …”

In the end, they decided on the sheep trails that were on the sides of the hills and would be secluded. The task force to handle that was the Sergeant Major and Corporal Jones to lead with a hundred men. They were armed with explosives and accompanied by the two mountain guns they discovered in a local outpost. The 2.5 inches’ mountain gun weighed eight hundred pounds was broken down into four parts and packed on the mules for transport. It had a range of three thousand yards.

The sheep path was filled with sands and gravel with smattered bushes and narrow paths. It was not an issue of elevation of the climb but the severity of the uneven grounds made the trail a challenge to the ones not familiar with it. The lack of the tree canopy made the trail it unbearable on the midday sun. There were some hills on the trail and then swallowed in by the narrow valleys.

“Are we any nearer to the town?” Corporal Jones sat on the mound of grass while the tougher men were pulling the horses carrying the loads. Corporal Henley stood before the other and smiled. He was enjoying himself having been away for years.

“Nay, Corporal Jones. We are just on the trail now.” Corporal Henley stretched his legs. “I am sure you are able to do the march. It’s our routine, mate.”

Bloody show off was on the thought of Corporal Jones. He then heaved himself up and trod behind the hind of the other Corporal. The trail eventually came to an end before the hill. The Sergeant Major climbed up the hill and then laid his eyes on the former town of Bale. He saw the landing area of the dirigible at the edge of the town.

The flying dragon was not there.

The place was unfenced but there were three sentry posts facing the hills. There were five exoskeleton guards there on the perimeter. Those guards looked like statues for they were standing still without any movement. He then saw the three men patrols that were on the four-wheeled steam coal-fired engine. The patrols numbered three groups and were driving up and down on the perimeter.

The Sergeant Major then turned back to his men. They were assigned into smaller platoons of twenty men each were spread out on the hill facing the town. There was one group of twelve who were pulling their horses. They were called the riders. The gunners were also setting up the two mountain guns on the slope and were ready to roll it up the hill.

“I want the guns to train on the fuel drums there.” The Sergeant Major was referring to the sketch mapping of the enemies. “Once we got that cleared, train the guns onto the storage structures there. I believed that’s where the goodies for the dirigible are kept. Meanwhile, the men will attack the sentry posts and …those infernal man machines.”

“Sergeant Major, the …infernal machines as you may call them; they are difficult to attack. We could use the riders on them.” Corporal Henley made some good sense then. The Sergeant Major smiled and then motioned to Corporal Jones.

“Corporal Jones here had volunteered to take care of those infernal machines.” Corporal Jones looked at the Sergeant Major with his surprised look. He was to object to his new task when the Sergeant Major passed him the grenades belt.

“He shall lead the riders into the battle with this garland of …. blessing.” The Sergeant Major smiled. “Sling it over their head and let the beheading done. After all, Corporal Jones had always great faith in his horsing skills.”

“Thank you Sergeant Major.” Corporal Jones replied.

Warrior Chen sat on the fuel drum with his left leg bent and raised to the chest level. He was not doing any pugilistic moves but it was his preferred seated frame. His left hand was rested on the knee and his keen eyes were on the skies. The Mother Dragon was due back anytime for its refueling. Without the regular refueling, the dirigible would be grounded. He heard the boom and then the pair of dark specks in the skies. They looked like birds but they were headed towards his direction.

He had a vision then. It was his mother but she was dead for over five years. He cursed at the vision. It was his last curse for soon after the flame took the flesh off his bones. The projectiles fired from the mountain guns had ignited the fuel in the drums.

The fuel drums went up in flame when the explosion began. It threw some drums high into the skies and then landed with the oil burning. The fire spread out and soon lit up the nearby structures.  The sentry posts were returning fire at the hills at random spots. The platoons of men have moved from the hill to the plains in a semi-circular manner under the covers of the bushes.

“Shoot the clown down!” Corporal Jones shouted at the Sergeant Major. “Well, you are the holding one of the best in your hand.”

The Sergeant Major was still holding his Whitman. He growled at the accusation and later he aimed the rifle. He pulled the trigger with ease. The warrior manning the Vickers there toppled over clutching his neck.

“Good shot, Sergeant. I knew you could do that.” Corporal Jones then rallied the men to cross the field to reach the burning structures. The Sergeant Major wanted to correct the Corporal on his rank but when he saw the men following the later he swallowed his words. They reached the airfield perimeter and were met by the enemies. It was line five exoskeletons.

“Bring on the riders.” Corporal Jones called out. “And saddle up my mare.”

The white mare was soon ridden by the Corporal. He rode to the fore and was met by the earlier riders who went for the attack. They were almost slaughtered to the last man by the exoskeletons guns. Only the wounded returned to tell the tale.

“We are done for. Those machines are untouchables.”  Private Hicks groaned out while holding his chest. He may still make it if the healers were around. “Here take my grenades, man.”

“It’s Corporal Jones, Private….” But Hicks was past listening. “Bloody jocks never understand respect.”

Corporal Jones was past grumbling and grabbed the belt to ride at the exoskeletons. They were lined up with a distance apart of fifty feet. The shots came before he even reached a hundred yards of them. His horse reeled up in protest and in the good sense, he followed the horse instinct. He turned to see the other riders still on their horses had ridden to follow him. He turned the right and rode hard. The others followed him and he was leading them towards the town. It was outflanking move on the exoskeleton.

“I knew those apples I fed you gave you more than a sweet bite.” Corporal Jones galloped the horse on its way. He saw from the corner of his eyes, the nearest exoskeleton had difficulty keeping track of the horse. Its mechanical body was too rigid to move fast. Corporal Jones then called out to the riders to spread out.

“They can’t move freely. Don’t clutter and ride like Hell if they began shooting.” Corporal Jones smiled at that and then he was galloping fast at the turning exoskeleton. The man-machine had turned its frame when Jones reached it. He slung the belt of grenades around the neck of the exoskeleton with the pin pulled.

“Take off the head and it's dead.” The grenades exploded and removed the head from the torso despite its armor. The exoskeleton without its head stopped firing.

Corporal Jones reeled the horse and rode to help the others. He saw one of the riders went down in a hail of shots. It was no time to check on the rider but he grabbed the dropped belt of grenades and rode off towards the exoskeleton. The later was firing at him but the shots went high over Jones. he kept his body close to the saddle like he was taught young then to avoid the low branches.

Jones felt the shots had reached his horse and it was going down. He used the momentum to jump off the horse and rolled on the ground. He got up from his rolls and ran zig-zag to avoid the shots. He made it with a last effort of the body slide and landed between the exoskeleton frame. He pulled the pin and dropped the belt. He then got up and ran to the rear of the exoskeleton. It was a short run before he heard the explosion and the subsequent push of force that got him flat faced to the ground.

“Damn! That was good.” Corporal Jones smiled to himself. He then rolled over when he realized his buttocks was on the flame. It was a piece of the exoskeleton that landed there. He smoothed the flame with his lower body humping and then sighed in relief.

“Thankfully, I was lying face down.”

The Depth

Lieutenant Galen called out to the ship captains. They have sighted the enemy ships of a single cruiser and three destroyers approaching them. The twenty ships under his command then split into four lines and formed into a pack. He had fashioned twin cannons to the port side and starboard of the ships. He had also the harpoon guns installed on the aft and stern with the explosive tips. Each Ship also held the twin Lewis machine guns at the bow. He had towed the fishing nets on the stern. 

“I want all guns to be primed for firing when we see the white of those heathen.” Lieutenant Galen then looked to the sky and completed a prayer to God.

“And God bless you for the fine works you have done here.” Lieutenant Galen had completed his prayers to the crews. “Man your guns now.”

The crews then ran to man their positions. Galen then looked up to the sky and asked for more guidance.

“Your lambs are going to contest the lion in its den. Do tell me I am foolish and stupid so that I may die in peace.” Lieutenant Galen said his piece. He was to listen for the reply when the crew told him that the cruiser was firing at them.

“Keep the line. We will run in between them.” Lieutenant Galen called out to the crews. “We cannot falter in the face of adversity. We shall triumph when we are united.”

His words were drowned by the shot that landed close to the rails and raised a splash of seawater to his mouth. He spat out the seawater and stared at the oncoming cruiser. It was helmed by the two destroyers on both sides with the last destroyer on the stern. He calculated the distance and reckoned if God was kind, he might make it there in ten minutes with the speed they were churning out.

Bloody long time to await death but he was counting on that not happening.

The shot landed on the side of the third trawler at the portside on the stern. It barely missed it but there were damages. Her engines were stalling. Her Captain called out that they were pulling out.

“No….” Lieutenant Galen signaled back but the trawler was dropping off to portside. It was still trying to get its engine going. The cruiser saw that and got their aft cannons to the line on the drifting trawler. The six-pounders have a longer range and were soon reaching its target. The shots landed on the deck and tore the trawler apart.

“Damn!” Lieutenant Galen cursed out. He needed a miracle then.

And it came.

The destroyer on the port side of the cruiser was seen in veering out of control. Its draft was getting higher with the seawater surging in through the torn side of the hull. It was damaged by the Sea King qh8ch had surfaced then under the command of Captain Arthur. He had sailed in from portside and announced the arrival with the four harpoons on the destroyer although only two of the harpoons were effective.

The Sea King then veered to run parallel and its eight machine gun turrets armed with the Lewis machine guns scorched the sinking destroyer's deck. 

The enemies saw a new threat and turned to starboard to reposition their strategy. When they did that, Lieutenant Galen called out to steer the ships portside and then they opened fire with six-pounders cannons that they salvaged from the defense wall.

“Let’s show them our claws.” Lieutenant Galen shouted out and the twin cannons on ten ships roared out in unison. The shots fell short of the enemies but it woke them up to the other threat. The crews adjusted their sights and shot the second salvo. That time it hit the cruiser on the deck and caused some major damages. The enemies also returned fire and took out two trawlers.

“Move the second line forward and hit their starboard.” Lieutenant called for the signal to be relayed to the second line of ships

The exchange continued on between the enemies and the first line of ships under Lieutenant Galen. The Sea King was ignored in the battle for it held no cannons but it came close to scorch the cruiser deck with the machine gun. With its harpoons reloaded, it fired off all four at the cruiser hull at point-blank. The four harpoons tore into the side of the hull and flooded the lower decks with water.

The fleet under Lieutenant Galen then down to five ships poured on the salvo on the remaining destroyer which eventually peeled off with its deck aflame. The Lieutenant called off the battle and watched the destroyer limped back to Bale with the rear destroyer lending escort to it. The second line of Galen ships had ceased in the pursuit and took their vengeance on the damaged cruiser. Soon, the cruiser sank and its crews were in the water.

“Move in to help the ones in the water.” The crews under the command of Lieutenant Galen reluctantly agreed but they knew as seafarers they were obliged to assist. It was the humane way of seafaring. The crews had to work fast for the sea predators have arrived. While they were pulling the survivors off the sea, they did not see the approaching new threat. The serpent swam just below the surface. It was watching the battle and when it saw the burning cruiser, it moved in. It lunged at the cruiser and with its hard head, it impacted against at the aft. It was hastening the sinking of the cruiser.

“Serpent!” The crews called out when they saw the sea predator hit the cruiser. They ran back to their cannons and fired on the sea predator but it had disappeared beneath the waves. The crews on the trawlers waited for the serpent to strike again. Lookouts were posted at the rails but they could not make out anything for the surface was coated with survivors and debris from the sunken ships. Everyone was standing still and waiting. The worse were the survivors in the water for they were swimming to avoid the other sea predators.

The Sea King had dived below the surface to hunt the predator. The serpent sailed beneath the waves while it brushed its body against the debris from the cruiser. It was not keen on the feeding but it was moving leisurely there. It saw a twenty footer shark in its path and did not hesitate to bite it to create the mayhem of feeding. It then swam downwards to the sea bed before it pushed up in a swift turn. It was going for the trawlers. It veered off at the last moment when it saw the Sea King in its part. It then swam back to the depths.

“The serpent is toying with us.  Make sail.” Lieutenant Galen called out. “We can’t do much now.”

The fleet slowly moved away despite the calling of the last survivors in the water. It was a sad moment but the survival of the remaining fleet was the key task.

The Sea King did not join the fleet as it makes it way to Devan. It had received signals that the Devan was under attack from the sea.

Senior Captain Cheng Ha had the First Fleet with the two cruisers and two destroyers under his command to fire on the port of Devan. The two cruisers trained their six-pounders on the port. It was assisted by the two destroyers which barraged on the docked fishing ships.

“So the exalted one thinks that by doing this, he could lure the enemy out?” Captain Li Fung of the First Fleet asked his First Officer Wong. The other did not reply but kept his focus on the burning port. He also felt remorse to kill the civilians there but as an officer, he was to take orders too.

“Where’s Mother Dragon?” Captain Li Fung asked.

“They are outside of the bay waiting for the enemy.” Captain Tong replied. “Our task is to be the bait.”

The sailor came in with the new message.

“We are to stand down and prepare to return home.” It was from the Senior Adviser to the Clan.