Chapter Three: Up in the sky
The Stratosphere banked and descended into the sea of clouds, the conning tower finally subsiding to the swirling mist. The Disith ships opened fire, the clouds spewing fire like volcanoes as the shots ran though to the enemy below. The hailing fire missed the Stratosphere by mere feet as it continued it's decent towards the Dragon's Teeth. Though the clouds cut off visibility, the bridge crew could still see rounds raining down in a bright flare in front of them.
"Mam," came the helmsman's voice, "passing 4,000 meters. Continue Decent to 3,500 meters?"
The Vice-captain raised a quizzed eyebrow towards Vincent, who nodded and went back to the charts, plotting an escape route. The route would be a tough one, for the clouds at this level were thick enough to cut with a knife. The dull light of shells zinging past the view ports lit up the area with a gold fiery sheen. Shuttering to the right, the ship took a hit to the starboard cutter blade.
"Vice-Captain, the starboard cutter has been damaged. We can no longer run silent." replied the helmsman, who was cutting from port to starboard in a zigzag pattern.
The fire stopped as the ship continued lower till the clouds subsided to a lower level, and the gigantic fangs of the Dragon's Teeth were revealed. The cliffs menaced outwards towards the center of the valley with sharp razor like formations. One could not fathom what force made this collection of fierce looking stalactites.
"Take course degree 144, half power, maintain current altitude. Ready port cannons for fire, armor piercing rounds." Vincent said dashing towards the nearest view port. The ship headed right as the port armament opened its protective shell. The cannons raised into defensive positions. "Cannons, on my mark fire at the entrance…Mark." said Vincent, who was looking through a set of binoculars. Tension on the bridge was high, with everyone's minds racing to weather or not they would make it out or not.
The rounds found their mark as the two perusing Disith ships passed underneath it. The falling debris fell upon the lead ship as it sunk rapidly; its hull flaming till its flame could no longer be seen under the clouds.
However, the second ship avoided the trap and rose, firing upon the Stratosphere. The rounds came close to the bridge as the ship took two direct hits, the first hitting the aft torpedo tubes, causing the ship to shutter. The second glanced off the prow of the Stratosphere, leaving a long charred gash in the hull. The crew gasped as the damage report came in, and the Vice-captain still said nothing, only burring her head further from sight
"Starboard cannons fire!" said Vincent running back towards the map. They were twenty Kilometers from the nearest settlement, he had to think fast. "All engines ahead full, come to bearing 014, all cannons fire at will." came Vincent as slammed a fist onto the table. He looked up towards the Vice-captain, who was quietly sitting in the captain's chair, eyes closed and feet drawn to her chest. The cannons fired, sending the ship rocking. She rocked slightly as the ship regained its equilibrium.
'What is she doing?' Vincent thought, "Ready port torpedo tubes. Tube one, target the ship, tube two target the stone pillar at bearing 179. Fire on my mark…Two fire… One fire"
The torpedo screamed into the stone pillar, as the ship took evasive action to avoid the falling pillar as the second torpedo struck the ship in its middle, tearing the ship in two with its explosives.
A hoot from the bridge signified that the crew was well pleased with their work. Vincent sighed as he turned around towards the captain's chair, expecting to see a calm cool look about the Vice-captain's face. Instead, he saw a cowering look to her face.
Jerlea was on the brink of sobbing. Her eyes were aimed towards the ground, with irregular breathing. Her heart raced with every passing moment. She always cramped up under pressure or real danger. She acted cool but would wilt in times of need. How could the future ruler of a country collapse under slight pressure? Why did the lives of the crew depend on her? Why did she join just to fail every time? She looked up at Vincent with a small tear running down her right cheek. "Vin…" she managed to whisper.
Vincent calmly walked over to the right side of the chair. He put his hand down onto her right shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze; as if to say 'Don't worry; I won't let them get you.' "Helmsman, 12 degrees down angle, come about to bearing 009, all engines ahead full. Ready starboard cannons, Load all tubes and prep for close quarter combat."
The battle had started, but was far from over…
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"What does it say?" Repeated Bren Seris.
"We…We have been called to the capital." Said Coreen shocked.
"What? Wait. Why? What for?" Questioned Caafo.
"It… it doesn't say father. It just says that we need to go to the capital right away." Now Colias was speaking.
The group just stood there staring at each other in complete shock. Nothing like this had ever happened before. Finally one of them spoke.
"So uh when do you have to be there? There isn't much day light left you know."
"It says we need to be there as soon as possible mom."
"Oh right, then you can stay till morning?"
"I Guess So" Coreen said at the last.
Together the five of them walked silently into the manor. They all spent the next few hours in silence… least Colias and Coreen did. They were in their separate rooms thinking, while Bren and Caafo Seris were talking things over with Herald.
"We can't stop them from going, it have the royal symbol and everything on it."
"I know, I just don't want them to go so far away."
"The young master and mistress can take care of themselves, that they have proved time and time again."
"Bren, he is right. They are capable of taking care of themselves, besides this is a chance to meet the Empress. They have to go, it's not like they have a choice."
"I KNOW, it's just, that…that I am afraid for them, it's a really long journey, even by vanship."
The conversation trickled into nothingness as the three sat by a fire thinking over the future that awaited the two youngsters.
Dinner was full of great food, tears, laughter, and the preparation for them to leave in the morning. Then a restless sleep took them all, Coreen didn't even need Colias to wake him up, though she did out of habit. As soon as the sun was fully up, they all made their final good byes. The vanship took off into the air and was gone, the three adults where left standing and looking at the spot where it had vanished.
"WHERE ARE WE!" the shouted words from Colias behind him.
"What? I thought you were the navigator"
"OH HAHA, I meant do you know where we are so I can tell you where to go."
"I thought you were keeping track back there."
"WELL PARDON ME FOR GETTING SOME SLEEP!"
"OK OK. I think were a few kilometers north of the half way marker, I haven't seen it yet."
"Ok, lets see, I got us I think. Turn to seven o-clock, that should bring us on the right heading."
"Alright, just stay awake back there will you."
"I should be telling you that."
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"Sir," came the reply from the Disith helmsman,"The enemy has sunk the Piranha and the Griever. Continue pursuit?"
"Yes, split the convoy in three. Have the Chesta and the Haste Maker take the northeast route to head them off. Hurricane and Op-center will take the left flank; the rest of the fleet will push on towards the end of the valley. No one sinks ships from my fleet and survives. No one." stormed the admiral, who was a self appointed leader of the splinter revolutionary group Fists of Chaos. He had under his command ten ships, two of which were now sunk. With the Guild out with a reward for the capture of the crew, he needed to take the ship while they were cornered.
The ships moved out as the central group slowed to allow full envelopment of the Stratosphere. Little did they know that the Stratosphere was ready to fight to the death, even with royalty onboard.
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"Vice-captain, the convoy has entered the dragons teeth and are splitting formation" came the look outs report. "Vice-captain?"
"Damn… we are going to have to run for it." Vincent said calculating the dangerous route to safety. The route was bad enough, but on top of having the enemy fleet hot on their heels, the odds began to favor the Disith. But the Dragon's Teeth yielded to no one when it came to close quarters maneuvering. "Until we are clear of enemy battleships, I will act as Captain. Are there any objections?" Vincent said with almost certainty that there would be an objection… But there was none.
"Captain Haven," the watch sounded, "the closest formation is about to pass overhead."
"Hmmmm" Vincent thought as he pondered a way to best the ships soon to find them. "Either we… Crew prepare for a second attack on enemy fleet. We have to sink them before they cut off our escape and trap us." Vincent said as he looked at the map. "Clever bastard…" he said as he looked to captains chair to the hunched over princess. 'I wonder if they know if she's on this ship…' he thought.
"Sir, two more ships approaching on the starboard side, same heading as the last two ships." Came the watchman's voice
"Four on one, I like a good challenge…" Vincent hummed to himself. "Helmsman, up 15 degrees. Head for that small opening in the rocks. Arm cannons with pitons and tow cables. Port, target the lead ship; Starboard, target the secondary ship. On my mark fire… Fire!"
The boom sounded as the eight cannons fired their grappling pitons, each finding their mark. The ships returned fire, missing the climbing vessel as it soared higher towards a small opening through the gnashed sires of rocks. The opening was only wide enough for one ship to cross through.
"Sir, you sure we are going to fit through those rocks?" came the helmsman voice with a little uncertainty to boot.
"No, but if we didn't, we'd be dead. Plus this way we still have a chance to fight back." Vincent said remarking the course on the map. He walked over to the still silent Jerlea and stood by her, "We have to protect the Princess after all…"
The three ships exchanged fire as the Stratosphere climbed and brought the cables taught. The ship groaned as the anchor points stressed. The firefight continued as the ships began to slowly move towards the rocks.
"Secondary cannon batteries, target the enemies Clauda units, use armor piercing rounds. Main batteries continued fire on targets armaments. 20 degrees up-angle, engines ahead full!" Vincent said as he strode towards the window.
The fire from the secondary battery hit the Claudia unit of the port side ship and the Stratosphere tilted as the weights lessened as the pull of one ship was suddenly less than the other. The turbines whined as the ship slowly started to move into the hole between the spires, pulling the other two ships towards the rocks and each other. The fire continued to blaze back and fourth as the Stratosphere began to take damage. With a final gasp of strength, the cables gave out as the first ship collided with the second ship. The flaming wrecks slammed into the rock pinnacles.
"Sir, the Claudia unit has sustained damage during the tow; we are now at 50 percent capacity. We also took damage when the cables snapped." The helmsman replied.
"Damn… get the mechanics working on that. All Batteries open fire; Fire at will!" said Vincent running a hand through his hair. It was matted thick with sweat. He turned and calmly strode to the chair in the middle of the cabin. "Your Highness, I recommend that you move to the center of the ship, rather than stay here on the bridge"
The ship rocked to the port side as the ship leaned and struggled to stay aloft. The four shots hit from the Claudia unit to the crew quarters as the ship began to drop in altitude.
"Sir the Claudia unit has been rendered inoperative by enemy fire, we a losing altitude fast." Came the panicked cry of the helmsman.
"All hands brace for impact. Send up the flares." Came Vincent who grabbed on to the chair. Four more shots made their mark as the rear half of the vessel was severed from the Claudia unit back. Vincent jumped and threw his arms around Jerlea as four more shots hit the remnants of the vessels forward section. The two made it over the left side of the cabin as the right side enveloped in flame and screams of the crew. The cold air fueled the fire as the screams we drowned by rushing atmosphere. Vincent held on tight to the Princess as he braced for impact…
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AN: This is taking a while to do so expect updates on the weekends (Sat or Sun) during the evenings.this is technicly chapter three due to the fact we uploaded one and two as chapter one.