Prologue: The Wrecking Crew

Echoing footfalls sounded through the business office as a well-dressed men walked towards the mayor's desk. The man wore a large hat with a single feather that stood erect like a mast and had a handsome face, completed with a suiting moustache. He moved with a cane which suited his attire and apparent status of nobility with ties to the navy. Everything about him seemed perfect save for one feature. His left hand which held his cane with normal but his right was wrapped in a black glove and seemed rather rigid.
The mayor, another handsome looking man, wearily looked up from his books and gave a wicked smile when he saw his visitor.
"James, long time no see." The mayor said with a smirk." Or should I call you Captain?"
"Call me what you like, Charming." James replied as he took his seat across of the mayor's desk and placed his cane aside." You are fortunate I left my hook at home or else your tenure as mayor of Fabletown would've been a very short one."
"Ten seconds and already with the death threats, Hook I am shocked you are resorting to those already."

"You killed Bluebeard and if it weren't for the general amnesty I would've honoured the pirate's code and challenged you to a duel right now."
"To avenge your friend?" Charming cocked his head to the side.
"A colleague. You aren't a proper gentlemen if you don't respect your peers. Not that you would understand of course…" James said with venom." But that is not why you called me, is it?"
Charming kept his smile up." Indeed, I've a proposition for you."
"Are you going to give me ship back?"
"Yes, the Jolly Roger will be yours to command again once more." Charming said.
"And what is the cost?" James frowned.
The mayor leaned forward. "A mission for the good of Fabletown. Last year when the Adversary attacked our town many of our friends died and our homes were destroyed."
"I was there Charming, I remember vividly." James frowned." Get to the bloody snake in the grass already."
"Oh please my good Captain, indulge with me for just a moment longer." Charming continued." For the past year I have been preparing a war. We are going to take the fight to the Adversary and reclaim the Homelands."

James raised his brow at that." You want to reclaim the Homelands?"
"Our sanctuary has been found, my good captain. It will be only a matter of time before the Adversary sends in another legion of wooden dolls. Next time he might send Ogres or Trolls or even Dragons. And you don't need me to remind you the good people of New York will not take kindly or stay calm in face of such a war." Charming lend back on his chair." I have been in talks with the Arabian Homelands and we are forging a alliance."
"Miss White and Bigby will appreciate that I'm sure…" James said.
"What happened two centuries ago between my former wife and the Sultan is not of this day and age. The Adversary is knocking on the doorstep of the Arabian Homelands and the time to strike is now. However we need time to prepare for such a war and this is where you and your ship come in."
The Captain folded his hands together." Go on."
"Your reputation as a Pirate is on par with Blackbeard's and Long John Silver. You attacked and raided many merchant ships before you started chasing little boys in Neverland-"
"Careful, Charming." James warned.
"I meant no disrespect, my good captain." Charming apologized." You saved those children from Peter Pan of course, the mundies of course have a different version where you are the villain."
"Don't remind me." James said." So you want me to go harass the Adversary for you?"
Charming clapped his hands and pointed at the Captain." Yes, my good sir. James, wars are won or lost not just with men or weapons or tactics but also with who has the most cold, hard cash."

Mayor Charming picked up a small bell and rang it. A moment later a green winged ape flew in and landed on the desk." Yes, sir?"
"Buffkin, show Captain Hook the information Boy Blue gave us please."
"Certainly sir." Buffkin replied and flew off. A moment later he returned and dropped a book in front of them where Charming immediately began skimming through.
"Our enemy strength and weakness is the vast scale of his Empire. His goblins and trolls may not work for coin but his warlocks, men at arms and dragons do. Your job is to go here-" Charming pointed to a map of the Homelands, to one nation in specific." To Toscane. My little bluebird told me that all of the Empire's tax money goes to three separate banks."
James nodded." I get it, rob the banks and steal all the goods inside-"
"Cripple the economy." Both agreed.
"That way when we do invade we'll face a weakened Empire and the heat will be off the Arabian homelands, a little present for them." Charming smiled again.

James' eyes darted across the page." There is no information on the banks." He noticed.
"No there isn't. Boy Blue's mission was to gather as much information on the Empire and if possible slay the Adversary. He did not have much time when he arrived at the capitol and save for those three banks he found little else."
James rubbed his chin as he pondered." You are asking me to go in alone and blind. I would do this for you…for what reason? Giving me back the Jolly Roger only gets you that much."
"You can have fourty percent of the money you get from this operation. Which should be about fourteen dragon hoard's worth of plunder. Not anywhere near Bluebeard's fortune of course but close."
"Sixty." James folded his arms." Especially if I'm going to have to look for a crew for this kind of operation."

"I didn't say you were going in alone." Charming said as he opened a drawer from his desk an took out a folder." In this folder I have names of five Fables who will help you with this heist. Most will need a little convincing but I think you can do just that." The mayor threw the folder on the table on top of the book. James turned it around and opened it. The first page showed a small bearded man in a mechanic's overall as he is fixing a car. A picture of a warhammer was added to it.

"Hadgar Dainson, the last of the Seven Dwarves and only wielder of the Foehammer. He owns a car repair shop here in Bullfinch Street. He has two adopted Mundie grandchildren from his deceased wife who have are gifted in magic, Good and Evil each. So far the Vizier and Tinkerbelle are teaching them well but I'm told the tuition fees are high and he has a score to settle with the adversary for taking over his mountain and killing the brothers Snow White didn't get around to. He's a expert miner and craftsmen. Always handy to have around, especially with that hammer of his."
"Foehammer?" James raised his brow at Charming.
"It's a miniature Mjolnir of legend. Since it's a heirloom of his line it's not in our armoury."

James nodded and skipped another page. This time it was of a human sized Toad wearing a bowler hat and a coat as he watches a smaller toad like creature swimming in a river at a picturesque farm. "Mr Toad, he was a resident of Fabletown until Snow White threw him out due to repeated glamour offenses. He made his living as a cabbie here and is a expert driver. He should work well as a getaway driver."
"Let me guess, he can come back here?" The captain asked.
"Among other things. And with his share of the coin he is halfway to building himself a 2nd Toad Hall. I hope your hatred towards reptiles don't extend to toads?"
"Toads are amphibious, Prince Charming." James replied." And I dealt with that issue a long time ago." He flipped another page.

The next picture was of a small and impish looking man in well off clothing who was polishing a old looking vase in a antique shop.
"Rumpelstiltskin, the current curator of 'The Lucky Pawn' after that Crooked Man business a few years ago. He is a lot harder to get a beat on but I've been told you and him have a history together?"
"He owes me a favour, aye. I know his skill set as well, it's good to have some magic on our side."
"And one who knows the goblin mindset." Charming agreed. "His daughter is getting married next year so he would try to give her a large dowry."
James nodded and moved another page.

"Queen Odette aka the Swan Queen." James looked up to Charming." One of yours?"
"No, I did not have the pleasure." Charming frowned this time, ever so slightly, which made James smirk." Her curse of being turned into a swan at nightfall saved the lives of her and her family when the Adversary came. She and her kin fled to our world and in time the 13th floor managed to make it so that she can shift from human to swan form at will although at every full moon she will transform into a swan. It would take a lot of money to get that curse removed…"
"Aerial reconnaissance..." James nodded and flipped over to the final member of the group.

James' eyes went wide and immediately slammed the folder shut." No! Not him!"
"You will need native support in the Homelands and from what I have been told the Indian tribe is still there fighting the good fight. He might persuade them to-"
"No! I will not bring him along! I've spend centuries away from Fabletown for a reason."
"If you don't bring him along you will be in the Homelands with no support or hiding place. With the gates closed down the Jolly Roger always has to go via Neverland before it can go to the other Homelands."
"I know how my bloody ship works, Charming!" James shouted. He took a moment to compose himself and took deep breathes.
"You alright?" Charming asked.
"Peachy." James replied." One condition. I want guns. Lots of them. AK-47's. Missile launchers, C4. The works."
"Deal-" Charming began but was interrupted.
"Also the price went up to seventy percent my way AND I get to pick the rest of my crew."
"As is your given right." Charming smiled and offered his hand." Do we have a gentlemen's agreement, Captain Hook?"
James stared the hand down before he grumbled and shook it." Deal."
"Good, when do you think you will be setting off?"
"Tomorrow evening." James turned around and took up his cane." Drop the ship and supplies off at the docks by noon. Two PM sharp."

Charming stood up." James, I know I shouldn't have to say this but this operation is very much Top Secret. Can I trust you to keep your mouth shut?"
James turned around and gave a wicked grin before he left the office. He passed a janitor who wore a frog's cap. The man said something but James merely nodded and went downstairs.

In the hallway he saw a portly man with a bulbous nose and red cheeks in a limo driver's attire read a magazine."Mr Smee!" James shouted. The portly man immediately stood up and saluted at no-one in particular." A-aye aye sir?!"
"We're leaving." James said and went outside to his limousine. Smee ran past him and opened the door for him and closed it after him before he got into the driver's seat.
"Where to sir?" Smee looked into the rearguard mirror.
"Take us to Tapster's Mr Smee."
"Of course sir." Smee replied and drove the car.
"When you dropped me off there call the crew together and tell them to be at the docks tomorrow afternoon, quarter to two."
Smee looked back." You mea-"
"EYES ON THE ROAD, MR SMEE!" James shouted.
"Oh, sorry sir!" Smee said as he darted the car around thebusy New York road." My apologies, but what you said perplexed me."
"I'll fill you in all in good time Mr Smee." James grinned." It's a pirate's life for us again after all."