Caught Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea:
A shadow passed over Jaune's position, covering him and his fellow seaman in darkness for but a moment, emphasising it's sheer size in the minds of all, a great screech then escaped it, and it swung its right wing up and moved across the airships portside bow, and then finally it moved under the Atlesian airship and out of his view. Whilst he could not see the beast, nor hear it, as it had let loose no screeches further, he could hear, even feel, the booming of anti-air cannon below.
Jaune, and the seamen with him, turned the twenty-millimetre anti-air cannon to the starboard bow in hopes of catching it as it came back up. These hopes were dashed and thrown to the wind as it came up off the starboard stern instead. In a terrifying display of its ability to manoeuvre skilfully, and in spite of its size, the beast flipped itself so that it was right way up and moving towards Jaune's position.
A great amount of noise rose up then, borne either of the shouts and subsequent actions to take cover from one or more of the seamen present, the gunfire from some of the sailor's standard issue rifles, and the sudden and startling screech from their avian enemy. Jaune felt it was smarter to take cover in this instant and flung himself from his position at the trigger of the cannons to relative safety, having put the gun between himself and the Nevermore.
The nevermore passed by Jaune's position quickly, and then swung left off the starboard bow, flying out of the range of most of the ships anti-air weapon systems, before beginning to circle the airship. Despite the quick pass it had not neglected in its instinctual inclination towards destruction, Jaune need only stumble from his cover and back to his position on the gun to see as much. The devil had let loose a wall of quills, killing two sailors, both having been arranged via quill induced impact into what can only be describe as impalement through more than one part of the body, and then left to hang. Thankfully the destruction imposed on the human compliment of the airship was limited thusly, although one sailor suffered a scratch on his arm. In the end it was the ship itself that suffered the most damage.
The Nicholas-class frigate, ANA Glatteis (that is Atlesian Naval Airship Glatteis), was an obsolete ship; it was smaller, it was technologically inferior, it had less armour, it had outdated weapons systems and it had a crew with not a single Atlesian Knight to call its own, as compared to newer Atlesian airships. While it was manned by a competent and generally well disciplined crew, it was also where they dumped expats like Jaune, not that there were many to begin with.
Unfortunately for Glatteis, the Nevermore's quills, which were thankfully dissolving now, had torn open the some of the deck's armour plating, exposing the delicate insides. Unfortunately, or so Jaune thought, the exploitation of such a vulnerable point would not only mean the end to ANA Glatteis, but most probably an immediate and painful end to his short life as well, if the Nevermore were to pick up on that fact.
The quills then dissolved, the bodies of his comrades-in-arms fell to the deck, exposing their own delicate insides as it were. Jaune felt a sudden rage engulf him, those were men he had eaten with, drunk with, slept in the same room with for the last month that he'd been here, and now fought with. Gritting his teeth Jaune took up his gun once again, and trained it upon the Nevermore still circling the Glatteis, suddenly intent on blowing it out of the sky, protecting the now vulnerable deck near him and avenging his comrades.
"Seaman Jarvis, Seaman Brown, take Able Seaman Lyons and Seaman Tonic down below posthaste!" came the firm voice of the most senior Seaman on deck.
"Aye, aye, Seaman Blanc!", came their replies, before setting to the task before them, soon finding it much harder to carry an almost decapitated man off deck without spilling what was left of his insides on the deck than they must have thought.
"Seaman Arc I want you trained on that damned thing, not an eye off it, light him up should he come in range, and tell me of his approach." He said turning his head my way, his trepidation and determination suddenly clear upon his stone set facial features, despite a scruffy beard doing its best to hide it all.
Jaune pulled himself closer to the anti-air cannon's gun stocks, pulled out a thumbs up and put a smile on his face, feeling more assured of the situation under Seaman Blanc's seniority and experience, and hoping his positive actions would kill some of Blanc's trepidation.
"Aye, aye, Seaman Blanc!" Jaune almost shouted, enthusiasm colouring his voice.
Much to Jaune's pleasure it seemed to work, as Seaman Blanc brightened considerably and seemed to be filled with great cheer. Jaune turned back to his duty, yet he was still able to hear Seaman Blanc direct the two last sailors on deck to positions as the anti-air cannon's loaders, as well as directing Jarvis and Brown in removing the dead on deck. Having finished for the moment he took up a position next to Jaune, watching the Grimm circle just out of range in
silence. It looked like a crow, but seemed more like a vulture in behaviour to Jaune at times.
Speakers broke the silence that pervaded the deck just as Jarvis and Brown had returned and taken up defence positions, rifles brought to bare.
"BELLY HATCHES CLOSED, ANA GLATTEIS DROPPING TO 10 METRES ABOVE SEA LEVEL."
The airship lowered itself until it's belly sat but ten metres above the water line. As it did Jaune became increasingly aware of the circumstances, for one the Nevermore now couldn't duck under the airship lest it felt the need for a swim and drowing, arguably this was all good, yet it also limited where it could attack Glatteis to the bow, stern, portside, starboard and deck, which was vulnerable due to the hit taken earlier. Should that point be struck, the Glatteis would soon find itself a submersible before anyone could get out. Jaune suddenly felt as if the world were atop his shoulders, and he breathed in the familiar smell of the sea to calm himself, find comfort in it, as much of his training involved sailing at the naval academy. This was a game of pros and cons for the Captain, who undoubtedly had other things to consider as well, it was only natural Jaune thought.
"It's on!" Jaune shouted, almost not realising he did so.
It was massive, it's shadow hadn't done it nearly the justice it deserved, an old and ancient Grimm was it, and it's fury was well known by its shrieks and it's now furious charge towards the portside. But Jaune, his fellows on deck, and even those below who had now learned of the demise of their comrades, matched the devil before them in their own fury. As soon as it came into range Jaune opened fire, the deck crew did the same with small arms available to them.
In this moment merriment was to be found in Jaune and those on deck, as it seemed as if the Nevermore had charged in pure anger and lead itself to its downfall by Jaune's cannon. A devil as ancient as it is smart however, skilled also, for it dodged and weaved through incoming fire before turning left and towards the bow of Glatteis, letting its wing to skim the water, spraying, and thus blinding, the deck crew. Passing the bow it climbed high and dived, obviously aiming for the deck it had opened earlier, but Jaune would not have it, and he managed to fire close enough to ward it off.
Now it flew close to the water on the starboard side moving aft-ways, circling around the stern until it began flying parallel to the portside going forward-ways. As it flew abeam with the portside, Jaune and the deck crew struck. Blanc, Jarvis, Brown and the others all fired, aiming just in front of its beak, causing it to climb from what it may have thought to be fatal shots, only for it to fly directly into Jaune's shells, which blew chunks off it, but did not kill it.
Now it was truly angry, much of the crew could feel its anger, but cower they did not, the whole crew gave a cheer. The Nevermore became parallel with the bow before turning left, away from the Glatteis, and then turning back for another charge at the portside.
No one but Seaman Blanc said anything. He calming said to Jaune thusly, "Put a couple holes in the devils wing if not his body, let's see it fly three sheets in the wind."
"Aye, aye, Seaman Blanc.", Jaune spoke calmly.
Jaune aimed just below the right wing, and left forth three shots, each climbing slightly in height compared to the others. The Nevermore climbed to avoided them, angling itself upwards in doing so, it's wings becoming a sail, or parachute, slowing it ever so slightly. Suddenly the surface area that Jaune had to aim at increased greatly. A cry was brought from Jaune's lungs as he let loose considerable amounts of fire into the Nevermores right wing, tearing it asunder.
The cannon went empty, his loaders went forward to reload it before the Nevermore could take the advantage, but it would not matter either way, for the damage was done, and the nevermore flew as if it had three sheets in the wind. It's speed and manoeuvrability greatly reduced, it was struggling to stay in the air. Jaune then heard the sound of a missile launch from the portside and watched as it flew towards its prey. Before the devil would have easily out manuevered the antiquated missile systems of ANA Glatteis, or even out sped it, but now it was an easy kill. Jaune was filled with great pleasure when the nevermore was engulfed in an explosion, before falling to the deep dark sea. It would seem the feeling was shared for the deck crew cheer'd, and as did those below, or so Jaune's ears would tell him.
The speaker blared again.
"RESUMING STANDARD ALITITUDE, BELLY HATCHES OPENING AT 40 METRES ABOVE SEA LEVEL. STAND DOWN ORDERS NOW ISSUED. ASSUME POST-BATTLE DUTIES. COMMANDERS IN CHARGE OF EACH RESPECTIVE AREA REPORT FOR DEBRIEF. CONGRATULATIONS ALL. CAPTAINS COMPLIMENTS TO THE DECK CREW."
Jaune breathed a sigh of relief, and took one breath of the ocean as the Glatteis rose. A large hand patted his shoulder, and he found Seaman Blanc smiling at him.
"Good work, Jaune, you did good."
"My thanks, Seaman Blanc."
"No problem, I have to go to the debrief, I'll see you all later, drinks on me!"
Jaune and the deck crew cheered, and made their way below and to their duties.
The water was rough in the Atlesian port town of Tamsworth, a gale had come in from the Eastern Atlesian sea, bringing a storm with it. Anchored ships were bashed against sea walls, with thankfully little damage, and airships were forced to dock lest they find the winds too tricky to navigate properly. Wind and rain battered the hull of any water borne ship, or air borne ones. Thunder cracked overhead. At least all this could hide the tears and crying. On the deck stood the ANA Glatteis' company, and two bodies wrapped in flags were layed upon wood boards. Jaune looked to his chest, to their chests, and then to the chests of all the deck crew, now adorned with medals for bravery. The Captain stood before them all, and spoke firmly, calmly, and clearly, despite the wind, rain and thunder.
"Before you are two men. Two dead men to be exact. Able Seaman Lyons and Seaman Tonic were your friends, your comrades, your family, fellow 'seagulls' as seaman maning airships are now commonly called.", he stopped for a moment to look round, "they died doing their duty, in protecting you all, in protecting our ship, and in protecting Atlas and the world. May we all hope our lives could end thusly if we are to die at all."
The Captain looked up into the rain, then into the sea, "Neither have family, and both signed the wavier allowing for a burial at sea. We commend them to the Sea with full battle honours, as well as the posthumous medal for bravery, may the Brother's guide them."
With this the boards were lifted and they sunk to the watery depths. Jaune would miss them, his only comfort being of his memories of them, and the knowledge that they died in service.
"Company, three weeks shore leave, you are dismissed!" Called the Captain.
The company turned to the right and marched before disappearing into the ship.
"Caught Between the Devil and The Deep Blue Sea" = Caught between two difficult options.
"Three Sheets in the Wind" = When three sheets (that is ropes) are in the wind, the sail will flap about wildly, and in a way that reminded some sailors of drunkness. When something or someone is 'three sheets in the wind', they are or look drunk/disoriented.