Chapter 21; On seas we fight them
Characters of the chapter
Isabela Captain of the Siren'sCall II, admiral of the Felicisima armada (self-appointed)
Oden Ironborn sailor
Yara Greyjoy Master of ships on the small council of the south kingdom, commander of the royal navy, Queen of the Iron Islands
The Triumph of ice. The Triumph for short. That was the name they had chosen to give the Qunari dreadnought they had captured, in recognition to how the ship had come to be theirs. A triumph that had been hard won, as they had learned when they had done a full accounting of their casualties. Isabela's ship had a crew of around a hundred individuals, Yara's about a hundred and fifty. Both crews had been cut in half during the battle. Considering that a dreadnought could have a crew between three and four hundred, that their losses were not greater was an amazing accomplishment. It was their fortune this dreadnought had not been transporting troops to the mainland, otherwise the enemy numbers might have been closer to five or six hundred. Even so, with the small number Isabela had sent to sail Siren's Call II back to the Iron Island, what was left to them was barely enough to work this ship properly.
The winds had changed course once more, releasing them from the grasp of the ice, the sturdy hull of the dreadnought surviving the ordeal with minimal damage. A brief stop had been made where Yara's ship had been stranded, the Ironborn paying their last respects to the brave vessel that had carried them so far as it sunk beneath the waves. Now they were back on the open water, making their way towards the Iron Islands, where a full crew for this ship would be found. The Siren's Call two followed them closely for protection. Isabela had considered sending the ship to the Iron Islands separately but had decided the risk of running into the enemy while undermanned was too great. Instead she and Yara were hoping to fool the Oxmen into thinking this dreadnought was still in Qunari hands; that her ship had been taken as a prize and was in the process of being escorted back to Qunari held territories to be properly pressed into service. To better create that impression the crew had taken to wearing the clothes and armor taken from the enemy crew, as well as keeping dummies dressed in armor meant for the Kossith on the upper deck. The result was a very bizarre sight to be certain. At least Yara looked kinda nice in a Qunari outfit…
At the moment Isabela was on the gun deck, learning with the other crews how to operate the Qunari cannons. With no one there to teach them, the whole process had been one of trial and error, with more than a few minor mishaps along the way. But the importance of what they were learning to do was not lost on anyone. Not only would it allow them to operate the armaments of this vessel, but once that knowledge was passed on it would allow others in Westeros and beyond to learn to do the same. Knowledge until now exclusive to the Qunari was on the cusp of being released into the world, removing one of the key advantages their enemy had. Those onboard had taken to their studies with an enthusiasm appropriate to such a reality.
Isabela moved from cannon to cannon, having the operators fire their weapons in turn, aiming for a raft of boards and barrels they were using for target practice. Eventually a direct hit was scored, the raft exploding into a thousand splinters. Yet Isabela was not pleased. It had taken far too many shots to achieve that result. Not wanting to deflate the mod of the gunners, she hid her displeasure from the gunners and made her way to the upper deck, where Yara had been watching the exercise.
"We finally managed to hit our target it seems." The Ironborn commented.
"Yeah. We know how to operate the cannons now. But we still have piss-poor aim. I'm starting to think that if we need to use the cannons we need to get to point-blank ranges where it will be impossible even for us to miss our target. At least until we have learned to use these weapons better. Plus with the people needed on the sails there aren't quite enough of us of man all of the cannons. If we have loaded them beforehand we can move from cannon to cannon and just fire them. That will give us more or less a full volley from either side. But once those are fired…" Isabela said.
"…You'll be stuck reloading for a lengthy while." Yara finished for her. "Looks like we need to seriously consider engaging if we spot enemy vessels here. And if we end up in a fight we need to play our cards just right."
"We are still going to have to rely on the guns. There aren't enough of us to win a boarding action against any Qunari ship of decent size. Hopefully this little trick we've set up will help us get an edge if it comes to that." She mused.
"How's the arm by the way?" She asked then.
"Better, though I think it will be a bit before I have full use of it again." Isabela replied, briefly looking down at the bandage on her arm. "Still, at the end of the day I think I got lucky. The cannon shot just clipped me. I got to keep all my limbs, unlike some of the others the cannon wounded."
"Yeah. The Qunari cannons are brutal weapons, no doubt about that." Yara said. "But now we have some of those on our side. The next time we meet the Oxmen in battle it will be our turn to deal loss of life and limb on them."
"You sound rather eager to try them out." Isabela commented.
"A little." Yara admitted. "But the first time I met them they trashed my ship and I had to run away with my tail between my legs. The next time they massacred the fleet I was in command of and I can only hope the other two fleets got away from them. After that I had to flee from them again, and this time almost killed me. And you they would have surely slaughtered had they caught you while evacuating Bear Island. We won the battle that gave us this ship, but we both lost a whole lot of good people in the bargain. Battling them has been misery, danger and tragedy throughout. The way I see it we are all owed some payback. Now I have the means I need."
"Still, I haven't changed my mind about the need to be patient and cautious for a while longer. We can't take on another dreadnought. Not yet. But should our paths cross with something smaller than that I'm all for testing our new teeth on them. I'd love to score a win for the Kingdoms, even if it's just one ship." She added.
After several uneventful days of sailing she got her chance. A few hours after they had been showered by another autumn drizzle the lookout reported a ship in the distance. Looking through a spyglass retrieved from the ship's stores, Yara recognized the red color of Qunari sails.
"Hmm… too small to be a dreadnought. A transport for supplies or troops I'd wager. Headed for the mainland by the looks of its course." She voiced her findings.
"A bit far away to say for sure, but I think unless they change direction its course will be crossing with ours." Isabela commented.
"Looks that way. That could let us get really close. And a transport would be less heavily armed than one of their frontline warships would be. Thinner hull too." Yara said.
"So, will we engage, or will we let them go?" Isabela asked. "Port and Starboard cannons are all pre-loaded if you want to use them."
The Queen of the Iron Islands considered for a moment, biting her lip. Then she smiled and turned to Isabela:
"Take charge of the gun battery. Make sure the cannons are ready but keep the gun ports closed until I give the order. No reason to alert the Oxmen of our intentions. We'll be starting with the port side battery." She told the pirate.
"On it." Isabela said with a nod, a smile appearing on her lips as well, then left.
"Oden, bring us in. Calm an unhurried. As far as the Qunari know we are all part of the same fleet. Let's not dissuade them of that notion just yet. Braedon, signal Isabela's ships to stick close to us and remain behind us when the shooting starts. I'd rather not have them get caught in the crossfire needlessly." Yara then commanded.
She then turned to another crewman. "Have our banner placed on the top of the mainmast. When I give the order, have it unfurled. But only then. Wait for my signal."
They began their approach, Yara feeling her anxiety grow as the transport drew ever nearer. Below, at the gun decks Isabela and her teams awaited in silence, likewise on edge.
The Qunari transport was not changing course in response to their approach. It was a promising sign. They foe looked to suspect nothing. As they got closer Yara noted the enemy vessel was swimming rather deep. It probably meant it was laden with troops and supplies. Good. So much the more value added to the kill they were about to make.
At that point she noticed one of the enemy crewmen waving a pair of colorful flags at them, while another was flashing a mirror in some kind of pattern. The transport was trying to signal them, in all likelihood more than a little confused as to why one of their dreadnoughts was here unannounced and on approach to them and with another non-Qunari vessel in following close behind.
"Uh, any of you happen to know the Qunari signals? Even the basics?" She asked. As expected she was met with silence and shaking heads.
"Right. Figures. We'll signal them back our way then. Maybe the confusion will keep them from suspecting foul play a bit longer. Don't need long now." She said.
As the Triumph's crew began signaling back at the transport the distance between the two ships continued to it was possible to pick out individual crew on the enemy ship. Many of them were looking at them now, but there was an unhurriedness to their behavior that old Yara they were not expecting to enter battle anytime soon. The handful of gun ports she could see on the transport's hull were still closed. Likewise a pair of swivel guns on the upper deck were likewise not being aimed in their direction yet.
For all their puzzlement the Qunari still had no idea of the danger they were in.
"Just a bit longer… a bit longer." Yara said, tension soaring within her.
"Now! Hard to starboard!" She shouted. The dreadnought turned sharply to the right, bringing the port side battery to bear.
"Fly our colors!" She shouted up the mainsail, and the Kraken banner was unfurled. The sight of the banner finally made the enemy understand the situation, sending them scrambling to battlestations. But they were woefully late in this.
"Port side battery make ready!" She shouted her next command.
"Roll out the cannons people!" Isabela shouted on the gun deck. Gun ports were opened and cannons pushed forward, ready to attack.
"FIRE!" Yara shouted.
"FIRE!" Isabela echoed.
The sharp turn they had made had brought them behind the transport. And at this range it was impossible even for their inexperienced handling to miss the target, so long as their hull was pointing vaguely in the right direction. When their cannons began firing the cannonballs pierced through the rear of the transport, travelling the length of the ship, doubtless spreading terrible carnage as they went. The firing created a thick cloud of smoke that briefly obscured the transport from view. When it cleared Yara saw that the Qunari vessel has sustained severe damage. The rear of the ship had been blasted open, showing the innards of the ship. Large gashes had been torn to other parts of the hull as well. Many of the crew looked to be dead. But the transport unbelievably did not look to be sinking just yet, instead starting to slowly turn around and head toward them. As it turned two cannons on the transport spoke but hit nothing but water. Any other cannons had likely been destroyed or had none left to crew them. More alarmingly those of the enemy that yet lived began massing on the upper deck. A lot of them were the horned Qunari in full battle gear.
"They're trying to close in and board us! Bring us around quickly! Starboard guns, prepare to fire!" Yara shouted.
Below, the crews rushed to the opposite side of the ship and started rolling out the guns there. When the dreadnought had finished turning around the transport was almost close enough for the hulls of the two ships to touch, The Qunari already preparing grappling hooks. But for all their poor aim Yara's and Isabela's crews had drilled religiously in using the cannons from the moment they had got them. They were ready to fire again when the dreadnought was turned, unleashing a second volley at point blank range. The second barrage on an already weakened hull was finally enough to put a stop to the Qunari resistance. The horrendously shredded vessel began listing heavily, the rear and the side facing the dreadnought sinking below the water. Any plans the enemy had for boarding action were abandoned, those left now too few and too dazed to take action.
"We've won it seems. One less ship for these fuckers." Oden commented. "There looks to be a few of them alive. Should we take on prisoners?" He said then, pointing.
Yara did think about it. Unlike in the previous battle she actually had the luxury to consider taking captives. Stringent safety measures would have to be put in place if she brought any of the Qunari onboard, but it could be done. But then her mind was drawn to what the Qunari had done to her people when they had broken her fleet. With that her expression grew hard.
"No." She decided. "Go tell Isabela to reload the cannons and fire a third volley on the wreck to finish them off. Then have a few cannon crews brought up to handle the swivel guns. If the enemy manages to get boats on the water before they sink I want them blown apart. Any Qunari that is left swimming in the water is to be left where they are."
Her face was still stone cold as she walked away.