Four

"Even after an attack by another Pirate lord there were those who wished to remove our guns even if they were defensive. Although these people were silenced quickly but public opinion and fear it was clear that many within our small group wanted to remain the peaceful, pre-Draconian Island that we appear to have lost in our growing up period."

It took nearly two hours to return home however the attack was still under way around Michael's Island there were five ships four looked like Battle Barges however one vessel was twice as massive with a wide elaborate forward section and a tapered off aft section. "Rick to Bravo-Bravo-One"

"Go ahead, Captain" the Captain almost cursed so much for Rick not interfering.

"It looks like your island is under attack by Blackheart."

"Blackheart?" The Captain asked it didn't sound like a name.

"One of those out of sector pirate lords I mentioned." He explained "listen Captain your ships won't be able to hurt his ships but we can maybe chase him off together. My ships are more battle hardened than yours, I'll frustrate him hopefully drive him off, you watch my back just in case there's another fleet in the area Blackheart has been known to travel in packs."

"Agreed, thank you captain"

"Don't thank me, just pay me back if I'm ever attacked." Rick said his five ships quickly overtook the Captain's ships heading straight for Blackheart fleets.

"Sir orders?"

"Communicate to all ships spread out keep an eye on our backs as well as the hostile fleet. Contact the outpost tell them to hold on reinforcements are on the way." The Captain ordered watching as the battle unfolded in front of him feeling helpless wondering how many had been lost, what had been destroyed, who he'd lost.

The battle was over surprisingly quickly, a few minutes and everything was over, Rick's ships concentrated their fire on the large central flagship firing long range missiles and thud cannon fire into it while dodging Blackheart's mortar and ripper fire. Although Rick's own Battle Barge and Marauder-class vessels were out massed by those of their enemy they were nimbler and as the Captain watched he realized they really did know how to fight against other pirates. Quietly the Captain wondered how Rick's people had learned their trade however when Blackheart ships broke off their attack and turned away from the island the Captain joined the rest of the crew in cheering, their island was safe. "Move us in, let's help their salvage operations." The Captain said as the bridge began to calm down however as soon as their ships approached Rick's a missile volley flew over their bow landing in the sea less than one hundred metres away, a deliberate miss.

"Bravo-Bravo-One, to Rick, mind explaining your actions" the Captain almost shouted into the microphone as his crew prepared for their own lesson in fighting a Forsaken fleet.

"We are involved in salvage operations, Blackheart appears to have claimed some of your stored resources during his attack, we are recovering them."

"That is most appreciated however we can recover our losses ourselves." The Captain said thanking him, there was no reason for his neighbour to recover what had been looted from the island as well as helping defend it.

"You miss understand Captain, we are claiming what Blackheart lost as compensation for our battle losses. We won this battle and we won these resources, if you want them, my ships may be damaged but we'll happily fight you as well" he warned "then maybe go a round or two with your island." Rick threatened.

"Captain, I thought we were friends?" The Captain said peering out his bridge windows looking at Rick's fleets as the began to move off.

"You have a lot to learn, we're Forsaken, I am happy to work with your people but remember me and mine come first. Now mend your wounds, you're on Blackheart radar now as am I, be ready to defend yourself in the future and remember our deal." Rick said cutting off communications as his ships limped away the Captain could see two of the ships were being towed by the others and the Battle Barge was badly dented by weapons fire.

"Captain?" One of the crew asked

"Take us home, let's see the damage, communicate to all deployed ships to stay on their guard and stay at the outer marker until communications to return." The Captain said resigned to allowing Rick's forces to retreat and dreading what they would find within their battered island.

The Island was a mess even as the Captain's ships sailed through the narrow channel they could see that Blackheart's mortars had done their damage almost ever factory, resource warehouse and research facility had been damaged. The Outpost was on fire and an entire wall had been knocked in, the casualties would be excessive. The Captain raised his microphone to his mouth speaking to all the ships of his fleet "once docked all non-essential crews disembark and begin search-and-rescue operations in the base, I want all damaged buildings searched and evacuated to the nearest medical facility." He said as the Battle Barge entered the damaged shipyard, the facility itself was badly scored by battle damage and fire, repairs on ships would have to wait a while. He turned to the communication officer "stay on board Lieutenant, you will be our link to the world, keep in contact with our deployed ships and coordinate with the search-teams."

"Aye sir, good luck sir." the young man said, the Captain knew well the Lieutenant would have family in the base either at work or residing in the Outpost, wondering if they were alive, but he needed communications maintained.

The Captain left the command bridge and joined his crew as they landed on the island, even just as they made landfall the Captain could see two dead dock workers. Ship crew checked the bodies but even the Captain could tell they were gone as he stepped past them. He headed up a staircase from the shipyard heading into the Science Labs with a small team from his ship, one of his crew handed him a hand-held flash-light as they entered the hull research section "hello!" He shouted listening for a reply or any sound. Moving through the facility "is anyone there? Does anyone need help?" He shouted something moved and an upturned table fell to the ground a young woman and a small child crawled out from behind it in a small alcove which had survived the attack "get them out of here" the Captain ordered his crew as he pushed on through the facility. Pushing into the Advanced Equipment facility he heard a muffled cry for help from under some fallen roof supports "Hello" he said pushing some debris to the side seeing a blood covered arm "don't worry I'm coming for you." He said trying to lift the supports clear unable to move it he shouted for more help two crewmen from the Battle Barge arrived and lifted the crossbeam. The Captain ducked down under it trusting his crew, pushing some more debris to the side revealing more of the person who was trapped "Rachel?" He stammered shocked Dr Rachel McManus head of research and a member of the council "I'm going to get you out" he promised forcing some more rubble to the side. He was able to get a hold of the scientists shoulders and pulled. Rachel screamed out in pain but she slowly began to move "someone pull us out, I've got her!" The Captain shouted back unable to move further by himself.

"Get clear" Rachel whispered seeing the Captain now also stuck.

"Not a chance, we've lost too much today, no-more." He replied "Get us out of here!" he shouted again finally he felt someone grab his legs and his body begin to move backwards first slowly then increasing in momentum he was almost out when something stabbed him in the back the Captain screamed out in excruciating pain as uniform, skin and muscle were torn as his the crewmen continued to pull both the Captain and Rachel clear of the rubble.

"Get them clear!" Someone shouted the Captain tried to raise by himself but someone shoved him back to the ground "Captain, don't move you've done yourself some damage we'll get you clear." Someone said softly the Captain glanced up and noticed Rachel holding her left arm in her right but standing smiling down at him she was safe, one less loss today. As the Captain slipped unconscious he promised that his people would be safe going forward - no more amateur stuff from now on every life was precious.