Twenty-nine
"Being a Captain, you have responsibility to your crew, your ship and to the sea. Being Lord adds the responsibility of an entire people. I never asked for the honour of leading our people however at the same time there are few others I would trust with this charge. It was my choice to relocate our people, a choice that I will have to live with."
Far out at sea, 00:00 hours
The sea was silent and calm as the clock struck midnight there was no moon in the sky no natural light at all. The ten Forsaken Fortresses sailed the still seas with no lights on their left hand side there was a mass of ships moving slowly, the ships were lit up like a Christmas tree. Captain Todd Dredge stood on the observation deck of his lead ship, his father the great Admiral Dredge had trusted him with ten vessels to monitor the growing formation of Forsaken Warships on the Sector 72/73 border, now Todd thought he'd struck the jackpot fifty ships sailing towards Sector 73 obvious reinforcements for this resistance movement. "Mr Gerald, prepare to give them a broadside all cannons, destroy them." He ordered looking at his XO each of his six Fortresses were armed with the most powerful weapons Kixeye had access to his own flagship had six Seige Cannons and was intended for direct combat, tonight would be a great night.
Meanwhile nearby...
Sitting at his office desk Lord Archer Leviathan was relaxed it has been his choice to move their people from Sector 65 where civil war had torn the Forsaken peoples apart initially it had been a short to Sector 71 where Leviathan had a friend however as they had closed on 71 a war between an Alliance known as Catalyst and another unidentified group had erupted Leviathan's friend had been caught up in the middle of the fight and nolonger did that Sector seem to be a good place move to, it was around that same time Leviathan had recieved a message from the Captain of Michaels Island, calling for all Forsaken forces to join his alliance against Kixeye and the Draconian Imperial Empire Leviathan did not like the idea of a great war however an entire Sector or perhaps more working together against a common enemy would perhaps be a good place to rebuild their home. Setting course for this new destination his people had accepted it although Leviathan was sure that there would be trouble for him after they arrived. Leaning over the paper map he drew in the distance his ships had covered today even though his ships were low in the water heavy with their precious cargo. Soon they would be there, very soon they would arrive at their new home their long Relocation over. His musing was thrown back into reality as his Leviathan was struck by two massive explosions "All senior staff to the bridge, battle stations battle stations" the call went throughout the ship as the ship was rocked by another impact, Lord Leviathan ran from his stateroom heading for the bridge.
"What the hell is going on?" Leviathan shouted entering the bridge, his ship the same class as his namesake was under attack and on fire but he knew nothing else.
"We're under attack sir, no radar contact with them visuals based on muzzle flashes from their turrets, we count ten ships." His XO replied
"No" Leviathan whispered looking at his own formation, namely at the centre of it, he had fifty Leviathans under his command, fifty mighty Battleships all of the same class however the middle twenty ships were the most important refitted with extended cargo holds, inside those holds his people had fashioned accommodation, schools and hydroponic gardens for his people's trip across the seas. "Concentrate on the muzzle flashes with all our fire-power, protect our transports." He ordered looking at his his crew "we can rebuild our ships but not our lifeblood we must protect our people." He stressed pointing at the formation at the centre of his ships "Communications see if we can gather any support from this area, I've heard that ships from many sectors are heading for Sector 73 to support the movement there, perhaps we'll find someone sympathetic to our cause."
On the 72/73 border...
The Captain dragged himself onto the bridge of his newest flagship a Floating Fortress, his Island's first such craft around them were four Leviathans and five Wolves from Michaels Island and nearly seventy fleets from other islands that had rallied to their cause. "What is it? More ships?" He asked entering the bridge. Ships had been arriving for days the armada was growing only a few days remained before they left for Sector 1, the newly named United Expeditionary Fleet would soon face Kixeye and the Draconians in direct combat in their own backyards.
"A distress call, nearly two hours distant some guy called Lord Leviathan, his ships are moving to Sector 73 they've been engaged by an unknown force." Captain Rose Lang reported showing the general position of the distress signal on the seas not far from the growing armada. "Repossession is closest to the combat, he says he is going to engage this force and attempt to help these people." She said it was uncharacteristic of Repossession to help another pirate perhaps their growing alliance was of more worth than just slowing Kixeye and the Draconians.
"Inform Repo it will take us time to reorientate our forces, we will support when we can." The Captain ordered as he began to bring his Fortress to combat ready it would be the first combat his ship would see and he wouldn't even see his enemy.
Kixeye formation...
Now deep within his Fortresses Citadel Captain Todd Dredge watched as the Leviathans he had been engaged with split their ranks so far they had been holding almost like a wall protecting something behind them now they broke like a splitting egg revealing a new enemy "Sir!" One crewmen shouted "Tiger coloured Hammerheads!" He warned Dredge looked at the incoming vessels and smiled ten new targets this time perhaps more of a challenge than the Leviathans he had been fighting.
"Target these new ships with everything we have left" Dredge ordered the Seige weapons that dominated Fortresses fire-power turned towards the incoming Hammerheads the Hammerhead B as Kixeye had dubbed it when Repossession had begun to field it was actually a superior craft however the Kixeye crew had long mastered fighting the Hammerhead. Instead of following standard procedure concentrating their fire-power on a single target at a time the Kixeye fortresses split their fire engaging all ten enemies at the same time using their superior weapons and crews to systematically destroy all targets at once.
Weapons discharged on both sides Repo had Seige weapons on his own vessels but not as numerous as those carried on the Kixeye vessels every punch Repossession's ships threw three more returned smashing into the incoming Hammerheads, first the flanking ships of the Hammerhead formation caved. Their concentrated fire-power had taken down two of Kixeye's Fortresses however all the remaining Hammerheads were badly damaged and now under the fire-power of six Floating Fortresses. "Target our weapons here" Dredge said pointing to an area just behind one of the Hammerhead's weapons array but before the ship's radar dome "all fire-power" Dredge ordered his XO looked at him then nodded passing the ordered, the next salvo from all six Fortresses targeted a single Hammerhead, Kixeye had watched and studied Repossession and knew how to end his threat once and for all. The six remaining vessels carried thirty-six weapons turrets between them, thirty-six weapons firing as one tore into the Hammerhead on the far left of the formation its armour, weapons and hull torn to pieces by the awesome sight set before them flame, smoke and debris flew from the craft as it erupted under the onslaught. The Hammerhead had no chance and quickly the six pieces of the craft sank beneath the waves and was gone. The remaining Hammers seemed disorientated by the loss proving Dredge's orders had been correct in his assessment Repo had become complacent choosing the same tactics time and again and now he was dead, the remaining Hammers were quickly dispatched by mass Seige weapons fire.
"Sir more vessels approaching various classes" Gerald reported as the last Hammer began to sink under the waves.
"Understood Commander, recover any of our personnel from the water and retreat, if any of our ships are salvageable make sure it is not recoverable by anyone else." Dredge said his ships carried data and information he was sure any Forsaken, or even Draconian, commander would find interesting he planned on making sure no-one would be able to make use of it. As they retreated the six remaining ships fired salvo after salvo into the former sister ships gutting the remains of these hulls before the sank beneath the waves. Dredge knew that he'd failed in his mission but won a great victory tonight, one more thorn was gone from his side.
Forsaken Alliance Fleet, 72/73 border...
Turning one fleet was easy, turning dozens that were in close formation was not trying to coordinate several dozen different shames and sizes of craft was proving more tricky than the Captain could have ever imagined so far only half of his ships were turned and less than half of them were moving to support Repossession. "Captain, message Admiral Duinhir Alpha encryption." Lang reported crossing the bridge the Captain keyed in the password and raised the phone to his ear.
"We are turning the fleet as quickly as possible Admiral, we'll soon be in a position to assist. Do we know if these people are Forsaken or Draconian?" The Captain asked intelligence was power on the sea. "What?" He asked startled by the Admiral's words "I understand, an honourable man, now we need to ensure his allies do not abandon us." The Captain said working around the news would not be easy but were definitely necessary "Yes Admiral, I agree the time is now." He said placing down the phone he stood up from his chair Captain Lang prepare the vessel for flank speed maneovering, pass the word to all ships, we leave for sector one now."
"We are not supporting Repossession?" She asked confused, she was already in the midsts of changing their course to match Repo's fight.
"He's dead killed in combat with Kixeye, now we make them pay for his life and every other that has been killed because of their actions." He said picking up the phone again this time punching in another code "this is the Captain to all ships that plan to travel with us prepare for flank speed we journey to Sector One. Lord Leviathan, welcome to Sector 73 you and your people are welcome to stay. If you choose to you will find peace however I charge you with helping those we leave behind keep the peace and keep our homes safe, we all earn our keep." The Captain said addressing every ship gathered time time to leave was now. Lord Leviathan's remaining forty-three vessels slowly sailed into Sector 73 as the Armada sailed past, if this newcomer meant ill to the Sector the Captain had ordered enough forces to remain behind and police the region, hopefully they would have another ally when they returned. All around the Captain's Fortress ships of all size from Gunboats to Fortresses to Stalker Submarines began to sail in the same direction focused on their goal, it was an awesome sight which the sea had rarely seen before, soon Kixeye Corporation and the Draconian Imperial Empire would see it also and feel the Forsaken's gathered strength.
