"Everyone hold your positions."
"Aye, Captain."
Everyone held their breath as they approached the blockade. They hadn't expected to come across half a dozen ships from the Royal African Company on their way to Sierra Leone. Sasha knew this would end badly but she hid her worry to keep her crew calm, running through the scenarios in her head. Her biggest concern was the safety of her crew and passengers they had picked up in Charleston.
"There's no getting out of this one, Captain." Elias said solemnly. "What will we do?"
"Engaging them would obliterate the Liberty and everyone aboard." She looked over at her first mate and saw the same resolve in his eyes. "Giving ourselves up would see the crew imprisoned and most likely hanged. Which fate do I condemn them to?"
"Fight and risk the innocent passengers or surrender and let the courts decide?"
"Not the decision I had intended on making for the end."
"I will fight by your side, no matter what happens." Elias put a hand on her shoulder and squeezed it reassuringly.
"Allard!"
"Oui, Capitaine?"
"Take our passengers below deck." The Frenchman nodded and set about rounding up the men and women. "Listen up! There is no denying what is about to happen. We are not making it out of this together and for that I extend my deepest apologies."
Sasha looked out over the faces that had served under her for almost a decade. So many had joined after being freed from servitude, vowing to help do the same for others. Some had joined seeking a new life of excitement. Regardless of how they came to be crewmen on the Cry of Liberty, she would be eternally grateful.
"We stand on the precipice of our final battle against foes we know all too well. Will you raise your sword and fight with me? Fight for all those still serving cruel masters? For those we have severed their chains and given new life to? For our God given freedoms?" The crew erupted into raucous shouts and cheers.
"Man the cannons! Prepare for the fight of your lives!" Elias shouted.
The Company ships closed in on the Liberty. As soon as they were close enough, Sasha ordered them fired upon. All hell broke loose as the battle began. Company men were boarding via grappling rope but were quickly cut down. Sasha fought more viciously than normal, knowing she couldn't be taken down by mere bullets or swords. Planks were laid by the two ships that flanked them and more soldiers poured onto the bloodied deck. The cannons fired again, deafening everyone for several seconds.
Elias and Sasha fought back to back, Sasha taking the heavy blows for the both of them. Davu guarded the way below deck, slicing through foe after foe with ease. Saleem came to the rescue of the cook, taking a bayonet to the stomach as reward for his efforts. It seemed that for every soldier taken down, two more appeared to replace them.
"There's too many of them!" Elias shouted over the clanging of steel. The brunette tried to think of a quick solution but was forced to drop her sword when she and her first mate were completely surrounded. A shot rang out that startled Sasha. She looked down and saw the entry hole and smirked.
"When will they realize that I can't be killed by-" She turned to see Elias' knees buckle.
Red bloomed from his chest where the bullet had struck, having passed through her completely. Another bullet was fired, hitting him again, this time in the neck. He was gone in a matter of seconds, body dropping to the deck. Sasha cried out in distraught agony, picking up his pistol and firing it directly into the face of a charging Company soldier. She took bullet after bullet, stab after stab, determined to destroy every enemy who crossed her path.