Deep Seas War 2.2

The Depth

The Sea King measured four hundred feet and sixty across the beam with a draft of twenty feet. It holds a displacement of over seven thousand tons with full speed knots of eighteen knots.  With those dimensions, even the high crest of the waves still towered over it beam. It was one thing to run into a wall of salt water but the lurking danger was what it may hold inside.

“Portside, First Officer.” Captain Arthur called out when he saw the sea serpent that was hiding in the waves. “Steer to port and keep it steady.”

First Officer Stacy pulled at the ship wheel to steer the ship away from the serpent’ path. It was not a hard task for the ship’s wheel was powered by the shifting gears that eased the pressure of the pull but the force of the waves outside was had caused a drag. She struggled with the wheel with her strength while the Captain called on the crews to man the positions needed in such happening. In the crew’s quarter which could house up to sixty crews, they were roused by the siren which told them that the ship was in danger.   

Elise pulled her up from the flooring after she had pushed Arnold off her. She stood up and pulled on her yellow pant suit before she trod off to the kitchen. Arnold meanwhile had sat up with his lower half of the body naked was soon stepped or pushed aside by the storming pace when they rushed to their positions.

“Watch where you…” Arnold could not complete his statement when one of the crews stepped on his left knee. He cried out in pain but no one pays heed to him. During such an emergency, every crew member was concerned on the ship. Arnold was trying to stand up when someone assisted him up. He turned to look and saw it was the Boatswain. He was a short squat man with a body frame dyed with seventy different tattoos. He had then done for every fishing expedition and that had averaged three per year.

“Next time get a room.” Martin Anjon grabbed Arnold by the back of his neck and threw him out alongside with his pantsuit lower half. “Get to your position.”

Arnold ran off with his clothes toward the upper deck. His positon was at the portside to man the crane. He crawled into the crane seat and strapped in. It was then he saw the serpent which swam effortlessly in the waves. It was huge; a hundred and twenty feet in length with a sleek scaled body that breath over eight feet across and the head was a snake head the blue slits for eyes with a wide jaw that could have swallowed a man. Inside the serpent’s jaws were the three rows of sharp teeth that prevent the catch from escaping its bite.

 “It’s a Medusa.” Captain Arthur called out. These serpents are deadly but they are also highly priced for their succulent flesh. “I want her.”

Stacy bit her lower lips on the order. The Captain have a tendency of calling all the sea monster by feminine names although they were all assumed to be eggs carrier. The Medusa was a rare catch for it was known to strike down smaller ships and their crews. The Sea King was bigger than the serpent but the later was known to swim in pairs.

“Keep an eye for her mate. She does not swim alone.” True to the Captain’s warning, the second serpent appeared on the starboard side. She was a beauty too with her open deadly jaws and no bigger than the earlier one at over a hundred feet in length.

“Holy mackerel! That is a huge one.” Stacy called out but the Captain was focussing on the crews which were in their assigned position. He saw Martin had strapped into the harpoon turret.

The Frenchman has then activated the harpoon gun to be brought up. It was laid beneath the turret for secure holding. When the Frenchman pulled at the lever, it will moved the gears into motions which will pulled the hoist that will in turn raised the harpoon gun. These actions were activated from the steam generated turbine which fed the electrical generators. The harpoon gun was a five feet long rotating barrel muzzle loading design with a breech firing trigger. The trigger mounted on the back of the gun. The breech block would be fed with a cartridge that contained gunpowder to create the impact for the propulsion of the harpoon. Once it’s fired the breech lock will be manually opened by rotating its cover to dispense off the spent cartridge casing before a new one is inserted. Then the cover is rotated to seal the breech lock. The harpoons are loaded by the turret loading mechanism which was similar to an overhead beam with the spring released hanging two feet length harpoons over the gun. .

The beam loading mechanism held four harpoons per load. The gun will position to its vertical position for the loading of the harpoon. The harpoon will dropped into the barrel and ready for firing. Each loading and firing will take no more than twenty seconds. When all the four harpoons are fired, the beam will be lowered to the loaders below to reload it. That will take about thirty seconds to reload. The effective range was only five hundred yards. The Sea King held six of these harpoon turrets with three on each sides while on the stern was the heavier double harpoon gun with the double displacement in weight. The extra length barrel extended over twelve feet has an effective range of over five hundred yards.

In addition to that the deep fishing ship held eight machine guns turret armed with the Lewis machine guns. The gun was gas operated with an aluminium barrel-shroud that cools it. The gun held a pan magazine with 97 rounds each. It has an effective range of eight hundred yards. Those were the standard weapons configuration of most deep sea fishing ships. The sea posed more dangers than a normal hunting expedition.

“Serpents alert!” Captain Arthur called out. 

Deep Seas War 2.1

2.

The Surface

The Ministry of Food and Natural Growth was located inside a tropical garden grown in a glass house covering over a hundred acres. It was an unusual structure for outside of that glass enclosure was the natural surroundings of thick smog and varying temperatures, although the structure was build outside the city boundaries. Anyone would have stated that the glass panels for the structure were an invitation to intruders or pranksters but no one dared to intrude there. It was guarded by a company of guards with the armoured vehicles to ensure the growths there have their peace of mind to survive in solitude.

The amount of food was near to starvation level then, when the world’s population exceeded its supply. It was not the fault of the growers or breeders, but the land was just not assisting in the process of growth. The soil of the lands was getting rancid with the previous impregnation of fast growth additives. It had mutated the soil to reject new growths or manifested into toxic produce.  That good produce lands slowly and eventually dwindled into pockets of these places. While the growing soils were getting smaller, the land creatures themselves have also evolved into carnivores and devoured the others in the name of survivals. The creatures have more than evolved but digressed into their previous moulds. The predators became larger while the surviving breeds also evolved to become more resilient to their predators. Man was the culprit but they also turned to be saviours albeit it was a last resort move. They tried to reclaim the lands by nurturing the soil but it was a tedious work. More so when on the land were predators of their own and also of the others. It was compounded by the hungers of the mass. It was once remarked that the poison of one was the meat for the other. Man embarked on hunting expeditions to seek more food for the mass. They rounded up the living creatures and penned them into corrals to breed and to slaughter for food. With the new supply mode, the perpetrators soon displayed their greed to outdo the other. Hence the war started for the hunts and breeding

“It’s a senseless war.” Lord Henry raised his point to the assembled at the Great Hall of the Ministry of Food and Natural Growth. It was a grand hall with the decorated ceiling that was garish with the drawings of organic growths and some living docile creatures. Lord Henry sniggered when he saw the drawing included a stallion with an obvious marker protruding. Obviously the artist had a unique sense of humour. The gathered in the hall was seated on both sides with the high back chairs situated on four elevated rows of platform. Each side of the seats could seat a hundred persons and both sides were filled to the last seat. The gathered there on the right includes the large corporations that funded the hunting and breeding expeditions. The Ministry was hospitable to have two long tables laid out on that side with the lavish spread of food including the fresh growths. The offered food of the Ministry would alleviate anyone of their hunger pangs after all these discussions do dragged long into the wee hours of the next dawn. Sadly none of the gathered there took notice of the food but they consumed what they had brought with them in their personal valise. It was not that the food was not appetizing but each plate was viewed with contempt for fear of being poisoned.

“Irony for us that we are fighting a war over the produce of food when ….” Lord Henry’s voice was drowned out by the producers and breeders with their fists banging and their feet in resonance to protest on the word ‘war’ imposed for the current conflict. He decided then to move from the podium back to the left side of the hall where the other group of the gathered there. They were not of the other side but they were the mass elected representatives to voice out the concerns of the mass. Ironically they do attend but for the lavish food served there although theirs was on separate tables with the equal offered delicacies. Poison was not considered for the gathered there had massacre the feast to its crumbs.  

“Jolly bad turnout, huh?” Lord Henry looked to the one who had whispered to him. It was Lord Ian Stuart, a jolly turbulent figure with a penchant for the three piece suit although his preferred design of crimson red was to hide the scant leftovers on his crude gobbling.

“No, the turnout is good. It was just the listening crowd that was deplorable.” Lord Henry replied with sarcasm. He looked hard into Lord Ian.

“Could I place my trust with you?” Lord Henry whispered to the other. He did not await the reply and continued on.

“Do you think we should seek new pasture for our food source?” Sir Henry was all excited of it. “I am talking of the open seas.”

“Don’t be daft, Henry.” Ian hit back. “The open sea is a dangerous place. I be darned even with the hills yonder our hunters are already quivering in their knees and yet you want to tempt the open seas with the depths unknown.”

“Could you not settle for the beaches and the jetties?” Lord Ian was commenting on the then fishing practice then. “We have enough casualties there with those …what they call them….sharks taking bites off them.”

“I know, Ian. I am referring to the open sea with the correct equipment. We can bring in the larger catch of fish and heck it might even run over the loads they could breed in six months.” Lord Henry was past listening and found the needed ears for his idea.

“Good Lord, Henry. You will be ruined if you proceed.” Lord Ian pleaded with the other. “Be a jolly chap and retire please.”

Lord Henry had stood up when he saw the gathered had adjourned the session. He stood up and moved off to his next audience. Lord Ian asked where he was headed.

“The Chamberlain Office.” Lord Henry called back.  The Chamberlain was the channel to the Head of the Ministry.

“Good Lord, he is going to meet the monster straight on.” Lord Ian muttered to himself. “The man knew not of his own limits.”

Deep Seas War 1.2

The Depth

The fishing deep fishing ship named the Sea King was pushed to the limit by the battering waves of the North Sea. The hull was constructed with welded steel construction with a raised foredeck and the steel top house placed on it. The stern was designed with elliptical design while its bow was flared. The ship consists of three decks; the main deck, spaces below tit and the storage below the decks. The upper deck held the forward weather deck with the wheelhouse. 

The later also served as the navigation bridge with the captain and first officer’s mess.  The weather deck is stocked with the fishing and harpoon equipment’s, deck cranes and hatches to the lower holds and machinery below deck. The machinery deck is divided into seven large compartments for the storage. There was the forward collision bulkhead essential for the ship journey which also holds the saltwater ballast tank. At the stern was the refrigeration and main propulsion steamer engines which powered the deep fishing ship. Its steam was released through the ship’s funnel above the engine. The coal holding areas was next to the main engines. The deep fishing ship have two high beams which support the sails needed when the winds was blowing or to save on the coals. The two beams were upright with its sails wrapped around the trunk. It could be unfurled in minutes and the billowing winds will sail the deep fishing ship on its journey.

On that morning, the Sea King was greeted by the fifteen feet high waves which were flooding the decks with water. The sea waves are generated by the low pressure areas where the gusts of wind will push the crest to its limit. As the volume of the water accumulates and the wind increasing n velocity, the crest of the wave will climbed higher. It’s when the crest of the wave falls down that creates the strong energy force that resembled a solid wall that have crushed on the person. The difference is that the next crushing blow may be just seconds away. The seas have never been tamed by Man unlike the solid lands. Here the salt water rules the wide surface with its temperamental storms. Man had battled it with solid structures that extend to the water depths but it only reached a small fraction in reclaiming the sea. Its flaw was the need to hold anchor to the main solid land or it may be swept away. Then Man have had designed the  sea surfing structures they called as boats and ships if larger  but those are just mere toys structure when the sea flexed its irritation.

The Sea King have been fighting the waves for over ten years and with its bruising refit at over three times have ranked it as a hero among the other ships. It was on its thirteen expeditions then on a two months sea surfing she was returning home to port with the catches. She had been harassed on her return with the sea calling for its inhabitants but the Sea King was who she was named. She was no side seated Queen but the King herself. She fought and raked her way past those storms and ever determined to make it home. Since the last three days and nights, the See King had shouldered the sea conditions once more for a last call of tilting her over. 

Captain Arthur Kendrick Rodriquez stepped in from the storm into the wheelhouse where his first mate was still holding the steering of the ship. Each step taken from the lower deck and onto the storming water flooded main deck was a hellish trip by itself. He had to anchor himself to the safety ropes and pulled him past the swelling waves. Each blow of the wave was like being given a ring fight brawl with him against four others. His yellow pant suit was all soaked to the inside. It was freezing cold from the salt water but he knew that his real motivation was the wheelhouse with the hidden cache of hard liquor and a gentle lady to speak to.

“How’ the chappies at the aft?” First Officer Stacy Rowles called out when the Captain stepped in. The first Officer was a young lady who had lived all her time on the boat or overboard since she was five. She was hardly what you may termed as beautiful with the weather beaten expression but her short reddish cropped hair and sturdy feminine body was a feisty figure to stare at.  That was when she was on shore taking parts in the long runs or hiking up rough trails. On her seafaring trips, she had shed her tight shorts and tees for the thick flat straight rubbery yellow hoodie pantsuit and Wellington boots.

“I won’t recommend a stand up fuck there with the waves churning our guts.” Captain Arthur replied while staggering to his honourable seat. He was a stout rough and huge build wrestler crammed into the same yellow pant suit but his head was covered by the salted washed Captain’s hat. His face was caked with the two weeks old beard while his eyes brows dug into his forehead to give him a snarling look. He was a tall figure at nearly seven feet which literally mould him into the giant category. He reached for the hidden bottle of hard liquor and drowned himself half of it to stop the body from chattering with the cold.

“So Elise giving the new guy the standing ovation, huh?” Elise was the cook and besides cooking, she was the only one that would fancy a fuck on the stormy deck. She once told Stacy, that given the choice on a boring journey of over two months, the next best thing to do was getting laid by the crew members. She has plenty of offers given that there were only two of them who were ladies on the decks with the nut holes, unless you fancy a butt plug, then you need not concern on the boobs and focus on the butt... 

“Isn’t much they can do for now.” The Captain took to his seat on the wheel house. He was born to sail like his forefathers and their’ before. His blood lineage was from the breeds of sailing greats of the Spaniards and the English. His grandfather told him that two things matter on the ship; the liquor and then the ship. Both will save your life.

“I thought you and that Arnold chap was sizzling then.” Arthur besides his great sailing skills somehow had a bad thing for conversation piece. Stacy frown her hard creases while her stare was on the next rise of the wave. Arnold was the new crew member who had joined the Sea King for the fishing expedition. His last ship went down with three quarters of the crew but he was rescued along with the others. He was also the one showering Elise with his last meal on their fucking sojourn. The sleeping quarters were cramped and for a rendezvous of sex, the parties are not ignored even at plain sight.

“He was but on the Sea King, I am frigid like the Snow Queen. My only lover is the sea. Here we fucked on every rise of the wave.” Stacy replied. She was every bit part of the Sea King while it ploughed through the wave. If the deep fishing ship gets swept on it port or starboard, she will list over by the wave. It was crucial with the waves or over it.

“I heard that we got a new adventure when we hit the port.” Stacy cut in without hesitation. They have been on the expedition for over two months then and were on the returning voyage. Captain Arthur took up his silver flask of the hard liquor and whooshed down its remaining content with one gulp.

“It won’t be what you think of. I heard that we won’t be sailing per se but actually submerging.” Captain Arthur replied. “I dinna care. I am retiring soon after.”

“Submerging? Heck, I have not done that before since Brutus tried to drown me in the bath.” Stacy laughed. She recalled that incident but poor Brutus lost his desire for any sexual assault after she knifed him at his groin. It does not pay to force when it comes to Stacy. She carries her diving dagger even during her sex acts.

It was then Captain saw the new danger of sailing on the high seas.

Deep Seas War 1.1

Book 1

"The fishermen know that the sea is dangerous and the storm terrible, but they have never found these dangers sufficient reason for remaining ashore."

— Vincent Van Gogh, Painter

1.

The Surface

The carriage that pulled away from the high gates was not grandeur in design but more to a hearse in with its extended wagon space. The carriage was steered by the pilot as it was the norm for these steam operated contraptions operator preferred to be named. They were differentiating themselves from the horsemen with their oat fed geldings with their fined tuned coal burned steam that works the gears and screws with the hot steaming turbine at the rear. No one cares that the contraption may be contributing to the smog that was already suffocating the city. If it was, it was only a meagre amount compared to the large chimneys of the factories that were churning out the needed for the growing population there.

The carriage was a six seater with the cola driven steamer in the front, looking like a train steamer but with short boiler upfront. The carriage was supported by six sets of wheels of which four was supporting the boiler with the pilot compartment. The rear was the passenger’ wagon separated by the leather lined compartment wall to keep the heat of. That carriage was modified for only two s eaters with a table laid across it then lined with rolls of drawings on paper with the stacks of crates. As mentioned earlier, the carriage was akin to a hearse for it lacked all the fineries of the drapes and cushions with the drinks counter.

Lord Henry Huggins was not a generous Lord when it comes to the plush and comfort. The man was still looking at his prime with the wide shoulders and trimmed chest despite his late fifties age. He hardly drinks with his strict high vegetation diet. He was a retired General some years back due to a bad leg from a fall off his horse. He had then distanced himself from that infernal four legged beast in his exact words. His Lordship on retirement however had not dwindled on his brilliant mind that was doing wonders for the military in inventions. With his retirement, he had indulged himself into developing what he termed as military assisted designs to further mankind in the new frontiers. He was by no mean fearful of funding for his late father had left him a fortune in the family estate.   

“Watch out for those bloody holes, you oaf.” His Lordship had had his writing ink spilled on the paper roll. He swabbed at it before it dried and then scratched at it to highlight the earlier details. He cursed at the pilot for the mishap although it would have helped if he had paddled the carriage with some springs and cushions. His nature of longing for the hard boards and tacks of his military days was his legacy to the fineries there. He then leaned out of the carriage window and hollered to his servants who were doing the paces at the rear. They were soldier mates of his but they were ranked way below him. His Lordship had them riding the fine horses he bred.

“Stewart”, The Lordship called out to his butler and personal aide riding a grey gelding with the back upright on the saddle. “Did you pack the extra set I asked of you?”

“Aye, your Lordship.” The ex-Sergeant Major voiced back with his deep baritone voice that used that once to rouse up the sleepy heads in the barracks. “It’s in the box marked “Extras”.

“Good, old chap. Keep in pace.” Lord Henry then popped his head in but he had to annoy the pilot. He pulled at the metal cup that had a wire linked to the pilot’s compartment. He had to depress the switch which will light up the lamp there to signal the pilot. It was the only method to alert the pilot above the loud noise there.

“What’s my time of arrival, Jones?” His Lordship was a precision man with his time and action. He does everything on a timely basis including his indulgence in the game of bridge. He hurries the others in the game so that he could complete the game within the scheduled hour. He was all about timing and carries two watches plus a stop watch with him at all times.

“It’s all about timing, my good chaps.” That was his Lordship favourite quote. There was a standing joke that his Lordship probably shagged with the precise number of strokes. He was not married but he has been associated with a number of ladies of fine standings. They have moved on but none of them complained of their relationship except one that was rumoured to say the Lordship holds a hard baton. It was never elaborated but it was the hush of the servants he rode them harder than the stable studs.

“We should be there soon, my Lordship.” Jones was formerly a Corporal who never made it beyond that rank due to insubordination. The man was a fine chap from the southern island and was built with a tall lanky frame that had on him accolades in the fighting rings then. Nevertheless the Corporal had been a fine guard for his Lordship as a personal guar with gallant protection when attacked. He retained the Corporal as well as the Sergeant Major for their loyalty and strength.

“Scram it, you miscreant for a Welsh. I have a scheduled appointment there”, his Lordship picked up his watch on the vest pocket to check. “In bloody ten minutes.”

“I can’t push the steamer any more, my Lordship.” Those ending words held a twang of cynical tone. “Your servant had got us some lower grade coals. Probably had soot over his sight when he parted the shillings. My Clarks and Guinness’ are moaning through the shafts.”

“Screw your clangs and gears.” His Lordship snapped back with his barroom tone. “I will have you flogged for your remarks.”

“Dos i chwarae efo dy nain…” The Corporal cursed in his own words. It was Welsh for go fuck your granny.


“I heard that, you oaf. I have relatives in your sodden hills too.” His Lordship was getting nowhere with the argument and decided to shut it off. He slumped back into his leather seat and huffed on his self-wrapped paper with tobacco. He picked it up from his lads in the ranks and was hooked. He disliked the wrapped prick long cigars for they lack the smoke he needed.

Tweet...tweet... 160815...Back to the Land of the Web

First, I would have to apologize for the delay in my postings. Second, for the first time I need to re-write Mordred. There are so many passages I need to edit and make the flow complete. I tried to write during my breaks but the ideas were not there. I have decided to place it in the KIV section.

Please allow me to present to you the new tale I was penning....

Here's to Chapter One.

P.S. New laptop and its taking some effort to get the old feel needed...like the 'Look I can type fast like a typist' feel. Now I felt like a Pontiac with the powerful engine and the seats are not in balanced for the driver.

Cheers

Tweet...tweet..... Will be away this week..

Real working life kicks in today. I  will need to be away for the week, and Heaven allows me I may have access to the Web but in case I don't please bear with me for my untimely delay in posting. I may use the time to redo Mordred ending chapters.... and also complete Deep Sea Wars last few chapters.

Or 50 shades of grey marks on my back....Arggh... I am BAD....Mommy... SPank me please. Geez, the last time I read those lines was in THE STORY of O. And I thought the O was for you know what but my first read was O-O with eyes wide open. Ten years later I re-read the book again, and it was Oooohh.... That was nothing compare to sharing it with my wife ten more years later. Her exact words were....

"Anytime you are ready I will be Pierre, Slave...." Since then I stopped my reading with her. Its a lot safer than swimming with JAWS <snap...snap....>. I even stashed away DEEP THROAT for health reasons.

Oh, yes back to narrower bandwidth.

No, I am not chickening out....its just that work place is remote with narrow bandwidth for internet, with the onslaught of  the works may be alike to tidal waves. Welcome to the real world of system consulting where the clients is always advised beforehand that if they think they know anything please discard for the sanity of the organisation and the paid consultants. That way implementation can be a cinch or it will become a bone gnawing affair.

Cheers, my plane is waiting on the runway now..... I don't intend to fly without wings. Or wear my red undies outside my blue body clinging pant suit.

If I was Lois Lane interviewing Supes, my first question would be; "Do you ever need to use the bathroom during a fight?"

"Yup, I do. Like Batty we wore disposable ones with high absorption. If it gets too heavy I will zap it with my heat ray to dry it. I believe in recycling and so does Batty. He hangs upside down with them on while Alfred turned on the gigantic fan. He may be rich but stingy on the changes of his disposable. Don't be mistaken on the ark shade. The disposables only come in red but on over used it tend to become darker."


Cheers

Mordred 22.2

The New Realm

Leggins approached the King of the Serpents. He reached out for his sword that was snatched by the furry wolf for the King. Keb looked at the sword and then continued on while he held onto the sword.

“Tauriel’s death sadden me. This sword that once belonged to him was forged with me in the fires of the Mountain.” Keb looked at Leggins. “Your father once said that only his rightful heir can hold it. Merlin disputed on your legacy but I am here to say that you are his rightful heir.”

The gathered among the Elves muttered and grumbled on the words spoken by the King who was their sworn enemy. Leggins glared at the other but Keb held up the sword high. Keb had then handed the sword over to Leggins.

“Take back what is yours.” Keb told Leggins. He then looked at Merlin who was hovering nearby. “The Elf called you a challenge. Do you accept?”

Merlin was to reply but on the other side of the divide, the battle had started. During the standoff there with Leggins and Merlin, the Dark Queen and her knights have attacked the guards there. They have sneaked up on the Dreadnoughts which were perceived as the major threat.

“Hostiles incoming!” Major Paul Drake, commander of the Dreadnought Company with the codename Barco called out on his intercom. He had detected the attack when he saw the alert n his automated sentry system. The system triggered the alarm into the communication system. The commander had his cannons firing at the oncoming knights in an instant on alert. On his right was Sergeant Beale who was codename Tango caught the message one second later before his cannons went live. He saw his shots were deflected by the knights’ shield.

“Concentrate fire on the shield. It’s bound to crack.” The Sergeant hollered out before he backed up closer to Barco machine. His cannons continue to tear into the knights who had used their shields to protect themselves. He saw some of the knights fell on constant bombardment but they soon recover to move forth. Arthur who was in the lead on the attack held had onto his shield while it was pounded by the cannon shots. It was blistering to hold hard onto the shield against the onslaught. The shields held well with the reinforced spell that loan strength to the metal properties of the shield. He saw Gawain had fallen off his mount when the later’ mount tripped. The fall exposed the knight to the cannon shots which flung the knight to the rear. It was his body armour that saved his life but the knight will be feeling the bruises for some days. The accompanied followers of the Dark Queen were without the enhanced armour took the major toll on their numbers. Their bodies were shredded into pieces by the concentrated fire.

“Kill!”Henry the Butcher threw the knives from his hand at the dreadnought. The butcher had on a belt of assorted knives from choppers to daggers. The enhanced knives on flight will ignite by the spell that Henry had mastered during the crossover. The ignited knife cut into the dreadnoughts armour as if it was thin material. His aim cut the cables on the left limb of the dreadnought and caused the machine to stagger on its remaining limb.

“Bravo, I am down.” Sergeant Murray codename Trinity called out before his heavy armoured body collapsed on the knees. He was trying to recalibrate the power flow looping off the severed cables but it exposed him to an open attack. Henry the Butcher had then reached the dreadnought before he climbed on the chest. He stepped out with his legs to prevent the dreadnought to swing the cannons at him. He pulled out a dagger from his belt and ignited it before he thrust it into the right arm socket. The dagger sliced in deep and severed the cables there. Henry then reached for the chopper and swung it with his right hand at the dreadnought left shoulder. He cut a gap there and killed the operator.

“Ya!” Henry cried out in glee but he was soon dead when another dreadnought shot him in the face.  

“Barco, Trinity down.” Specialist Ginza codenamed Samurai called out while he shot the enemy in the face. His call was ignored when he heard the whooshing missile echo. It was the hovering drone which took the killing to a higher count. The missiles launched by the Helo-plane exploded on impact and caused a number of them to be killed.

“All units withdraw.” Barco called out to the surviving dreadnoughts while the helo-planes took over. The dreadnought leader retreated with his cannons firing but he was soon brought down by a ramming force by one of the knights. Gawain had rushed onto the dreadnought with his mount and then used his shield to push against the gigantic armoured enemy. His push was timed when the dreadnought stumbled over the earlier fallen unit on the ground. When the standing dreadnought was staggering, Gawain used his staff to hit at the chest plate of the unit. Major Drake felt the impact as it vibrated through the metallic body. The electronics parts were buzzing and then fire broke out. The Major found himself stuck inside the metal body with the flames spreading. He was to call for help when the ammo pack on his back exploded. Trinity was later to be killed when Arthur hit the dreadnought with the staff that caused a major vibration inside the machine. The vibration short circuited the delicate electronic boards and caused a major explosion inside the dreadnought.

“I am coming in hot!” Lieutenant Jones screamed out from the cockpit of the Helo-plane while he tilted the wings to come in fast from the other side on his second run. The plane cannons were blasting away and the missiles released. “Hot bombs on the drop.”

The Lieutenant did not get to see his handiwork for the energy beam that hit from below. It was released by the Dark Queen who used her staff to project the dark energy at it. The energy beam tore through the left wing at the body attachment and caused the helo-plane to dive into a spiral descent. Meanwhile the knights have reached the other dreadnoughts and at the close proximity, the knights were at their best. The knights used their staff to reactivate or destroy the machines.

One of the other helo-planes was attacked by the enhanced creature who gained strength and weight from the cross over. The bulkier person leapt high and caught the helo-plane on its stern wing. The enhanced figure punched into the wing interior and then pulled at the wirings before it jumped with the wirings still intact. The plane creaked out on the pulling by the strong figure and then it lost its power to crash into the divide. The besieged guards tried to escape into the forest were killed and some ran for across the bridge. That was when the battle spread to the other side.

“Where?” The confused guard called out while he stood on the middle of the bridge.  To the guard, the fore was the Dark Queen and on the other side were the Elves.

Mordred 21.2

The New Realm

We went our own way after we left the cave. Gabriel had stayed back to locate Ramiel. He believed not all the Grigori are on the side of Merlin. He wants to communicate with them so that they can be back to their true self as the Watcher; which was to oversee and protect the Angels there.

Leggins have returned to locate his own people. Aladdin have left to seek his followers on the Divide. We left Chiton with some of her friends to recover leaving me and Rumpel to do our own thing. I decided to go back to the main land but the divide was an obstacle. We had to retrieve bike first. I checked the bike and saw it was damaged in the front wheel. We did not notice it then or maybe the damage was done more recent. Nevertheless the bike could still move although we may never cross the divide with it. We rode the bike towards the Pier. It was one place which we could cross.

The Pier was actually a bridge across the divide but it was manned by Guards. It was span cantilever split into three sections and supported by the incline legs on the cliff sides. The middle span was a draw bridge operated by the other side. At both ends of the bridge were two bunkers each with the manned heavy fire powers. There were two Dreadnoughts stationed at the New Salem side. 

On that day, the scene that greeted us was different.

The Dreadnoughts were seen in a slumming position with the chest cavity torn wide. The human operators were not seen anywhere. The bunkers were in a state of collapsed and there were the bodies of the guards laid on the ground. Smoke was billowing from the inside of the bunkers. The bridge was intact with the draw bridge levelled down.  On the side of the Divide was the Elves led by one named Edgown. He was accompanied by a few hundred elves all armed with their swords drawn. Across the Divide were the armies of the new realm, with ten Dreadnoughts and five armoured vehicles with rotary cannons and missiles on them. There was also a company of over a hundred guards with heavy fire power. There were also three armoured helo-planes hovering over the Divide. The helo-planes were aircrafts in design but the two turbine engines on the wings can be tilt to allow it to hover above the ground. Each craft have an array of missile and cannons.

The guards were under siege by another group that was on their side of the Divide on New Salem land.

It was led by the Dark Queen, with her line of knights. Their numbers were about fifty but there were the others who had joined with the Queen that was intimidating including wizards and witches. There was also a fraction of the people of New Salem there that joined in with assorted of weapons from crude home made to the automatic guns of the new realm. She was also backed by a pack of dragons that flew overhead.

I was to move in to intervene when I saw Leggins arrived. He moved to the front of his people and greeted them.

“The Clan of my people” Leggins addressed them. “This is not our war. Let us retreat to our own land.”

“There will no retreat, Leggins.” Edgown replied. “The Elves have been given a new mandate by the Gods. Hear them out.”

From the rear of the elves, three figures rose above their heads. It was Merlin, Berlin and one named Lilith. The three figures were no longer in the disguise of Man but of the Fallen. They were clothed in armour and held each a long staff on their right hand. In Merlin’s left hand was a sword that once belonged to the King of the Elves. It was named Dragonier. It was the sword made for only to be held by the King.

“Edgown your new leader heed my words. You will now not only defend your land but it will be wider. It will cover the whole of New Salem.” Merlin voiced out.

“I stand to defy your …request, Fallen One. Now that I have learned of your treachery, I will not stand to listen to you.” Leggins raised his own sword, the Elwedgwen at Merlin. He then turned to look at the Elves.

“Your so named King had betrayed you all. He created the vortex to bring us here as his army. He had us all for fools. I had long suspected of it but there was no proof of otherwise.”

“Then showed me your proof, Leggins of the bastard descendants of Tauriel.’ Merlin cut in. “The King himself told me that you were not of his blood but held sympathy for your mother, he adopted you. Is that how you repay his kindness?”

“I am not his bastard. I am his rightful heir and leader of the Elves. I carry his sword, the Sword of Orbs.” Leggins displayed his sword. “You have acquired that by deceit. More to that, you are no Elf in the blood.”

That last line drew mutterings among the Elves who was then questioning the ascent of Merlin as the King after Tauriel. It was said that Merlin was once the King’s friend. It was Merlin who convinced the King to be the custodian of the renegades. It was an arrangement that lasted for years and peace reigned in the land. Some days just before the crossing due to the vortex, Merlin had emerged from the forest bearing the dead body of the King with his sword. Merlin had told them that Tauriel was in the fight with Keb, the King of the Serpents. Just before the King was to die, it was alleged by the Inner Council of the Elves that Tauriel had declared Merlin as the new King.

“He is God and deserved to lead us all.” Tauriel had whispered to the assembled three Elves. It was how Merlin became the new King and led the Elves to the new land. Back at the Divide, Leggins glared at Merlin. It was true that Tauriel had taken in his mother for his own soon after a battle between the King and the challenger to the throne. The later was Sauriel, the younger brother of Tauriel. The battle was bitter and fierce but the King had the dealt the killer blow. In his victory, Tauriel declared two things to the assembled.

“I am the true King and none may dispute it ever again.” King Tauriel had spoken then. He then looked at the widow of his brother. “The widow and her unborn child will be mine as the blood of the family will run in that unborn child. The child if it’s a boy will carry my sword, the Elwedgwen by his side as if it was mine. If the child is a girl, she will also be mine but she will wed the warrior that I will appoint.”

The child turned out to be Leggins and was given the sword.

“Merlin, we believed in you but doubts have being brought to my ears soon after we came here. For that I challenged you to a duel of the Kings. You cannot refuse me by the ancient traditions.” Leggins thrust his sword into the ground and stood there. The challenge once issued cannot be refused by the King and must be fought to determine the next King. The last King had fought over five challengers in his time and won all.

“I will not trifle with you on such matter now. I have a war to fight.” Merlin refused the challenge. He then looked towards the Elves. “Your King commands you.”

None of the Elves moved to the command but when Leggins told them to clear a space for the duel, they did as instructed.

“I, Leggins son of Tauriel called upon the usurper of the throne to a duel.” Leggins challenged the other. Merlin looked down at the elf and then descent to the ground. His wings then spread out wide behind him in a show of defiant.

“Leggins son of Tauriel, your insolence will be dealt with in accordance to the rules of the duel. None may leave the clearing except by death.” With that Merlin flapped his wings and the strong gust from it threw the gathered off their feet but not Leggins who held onto the sword thrust into the ground.

“I called on the spirt of my father to guide me in this duel.” Leggins called out to the earth below his feet. “Hear me, my dear father.”

“Fool!” Merlin directed his strong gust of wing at Leggins. The other was thrown back by the force of the wind but I had intervened with my own craft. I called on the wall of earth to block the wind before I rushed out to look at the elves leader. Leggins landed on his back but managed to avoid major injuries when he rolled with the wind. He crouched up on his knees and then looked at his opponent. The swords still remained embedded into the ground a distance in front of him. Merlin swooped down to reach it but was thwarted by the intervention of some wolves that appeared out of nowhere.

“Merlin the Traitor shall not handle the sacred sword Elwedgwen except for those who are bestowed the right.” The voice came from the treelines. He stepped out with the support of a long staff while to his side stood the Blood Prince and the furry Great Wolf. Aladdin stood at the rear of the rear with Seth. The King was clad in armour hidden behind the cloak of leather which half covered his body on the left side. They were accompanied by a company of their followers.

“Keb of the Serpent.” Leggins called out. He had not seen the trio since they left the last realm. The sword Elwedgwen was brought to Keb by the furry wolf that had overtaken Merlin to snatch it back.

“Leggins, your father Tauriel was once a friend of the wolves and also of the serpents.” Keb told the young leader. “Once the elves were left to their own land but they never troubled us. It was Merlin who had us fighting when he influences some of ours and theirs. They declared a war then created by him to split us. It was Tauriel who discovered the treachery of Merlin but he was not powerful to confront Merlin alone. He called on me to assist, but King Tauriel was wounded in the battle. I managed to escape and during my recovery, I heard Merlin had made himself King after Tauriel died in the battle.”

Mordred 22.1

22.

The Previous Realm

Keb sat up on his resting place at the tavern where they took refuge. He reached for the bandaged hips. He felt the pain there but it was healing better than he expected. The exertion of the spell to be the giant serpent had taken its toll on his aging body. He looked at the concerned looks on the gathered there.

“There is nothing which I have not being through before.” Keb voiced out. “I have to admit the last one was tougher than the previous one. They are getting tougher by the numbers.”

Aladdin who was present stepped forth to greet the King. He was closely followed by Seth.

“My King, I wished I was there.” Aladdin replied. “I would have fought Merlin….”

“And lost my young one.” Keb replied. “I had my thoughts on Merlin but I was surprised at the appearance of Berlin. It was obvious that Lilith had a hand in it too. I have failed to see that a Fallen could be so easily apprehended. Was I a bigger fool than them?”

“Lilith…” Aladdin uttered the name. Keb heaved himself up and then sighed.

“We treated her well, and she was invited to my personal chalet. She did the expected of a …serpent I guess.” Keb smiled. “She betrayed us all. The most important thing is that Berlin did confirm the rumours of the vortex.”

“The vortex? That is only…” Aladdin in haste cut in and then bit his own lips on speaking out of line. “We all heard it before.”

“The vortex is real. Its due and we need to plan our exit too.” Keb told the gathered. They were all puzzled on how they could leave when there was no place to hide. Not in the current realm. “I need to see Tauriel.”

‘That will not be needed. I am here.” King Tauriel walked in to the room. He was a tall figure for a Elf but he stood a head shorter below the shoulder of Keb. “Tell me about Merlin.”

Across the land in the tall tower of the Academy, Merlin was pondering over the designs of the craft from the Ancient Books. He was trying to figure out the material and work to be done. It was a huge craft but unlike any that he had seen in his lifetime. He looked over to Berlin was back in his assumed disguise as the Head of the Academy. The later was pouring a drink for himself.

“This time we dealt the Serpents a major blow. They could be all dead by now but rest assured they are no more a threat to us.” Berlin smiled. “How could Keb have thought that I could as Azrael could be captured? They are so innocent.”

“Berlin, enough of your gloating. We did not survive this long without …” Merlin was cut off by Berlin.

“Meticulous planning and deceit which I have harnessed for us all this time since before our descent. Was it not me who coax Adam to sought Eve and left Lilith to be the wounded heart. I was a nasty cupid then.” Berlin laughed and then he saw Morgan Faye stepped into the chamber.

“My lady Morgan, how do you fare? I do like your current looks compared to that infernal Fangnir scaly texture.” Berlin turned to pout another goblet of wine for the lady. “Is everything as we plan?”

“Yes, we are.” Morgan took the goblet. She may be lady but drinks like a man. She gulped in all down and then voiced out her concern.  “We do have a concern. The shards of the crystal are not proportionate in their energies. Four of them may be unstable.”

“Please explain in more subtle terms.” Berlin frown his face lines and stared at the lady. “I did not…”

“Hush, my lover. I am just stating that the shards may not carry all of us.” Morgan replied. “There is a risk of us …or shall I place it as we may not all get through. Your plan of seven crafts may be too huge for the shards.”

“Morgan, seven it was for there were seven shards held by their own keepers. One cannot take what is kept but when we told them we will share, they agreed to it. Nevertheless, I have studied the crystals. It will work but nevertheless your call will be heeded. We will need to put in place an alternative plan.” Berlin looked towards Merlin. “We will miniaturize the loads to fit into a smaller craft. It will reduce the stress on the energies.”

“The miniature machine does not work.” Merlin snapped in. “I meant not properly yet. Jasmine has not been cooperating well. She gave us bits and pieces of her visions.”

“Excuses are not tolerated, Merlin. You above all should know that.” Berlin was upset. Jasmine was their prisoner after the so planned execution to subdue Aladdin. Merlin had snapped her neck but it was to incapacitate her and not kill her although then in the sight of the younger ones, she had died. Jasmine had a gift of seeing into the future and her collected images allowed Merlin to see how the futuristic machines work. One of it was the miniaturization machine.

“I do apologies for my oversight. I will make it work.” Merlin replied to Berlin. “I will get the crafts ready for our crossover.”

“An excellent thought, Merlin. Now my dear, shall we consummate our victory in wine and love?” Berlin led the lady off to his own chamber.