A/N: Aww, I love good reviews! Being added to watch lists (2 for this story, 2 for my other one) makes me feel all warm inside! It also warms up the ol' typing fingers, so please keep the reviews coming in! Tell you friends! Ahem…

Boy, those were some really wussy pirates in that last chapter, eh? Oh well. At least our heroes know where to go next. Vyse is one step closer to completing his quest for vengeance…or is he?

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Chapter 6: The Plan

Their stay on Tenkou Island was short. Upon reaching the island stronghold above the clouds, the Delphinus immediately docked and unloaded the prisoners. The remaining Tenkou upon the island were all too happy to take the twelve men.

"Thanks Vyse!" one of the Tenkou exclaimed. "We broke our sparring dummies! I'm sure we'll get a lot of use outta these guys!"

After a few quick goodbyes, the Delphinus made its way toward Pirate Isle, the landmark closest to Dangrel Island. The trip turned out to a fairly long one, so the Blue Rogues on board decided to take the opportunity to formulate an attack plan for Dangrel Island.

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Vyse folded his arms across his chest. "Alright Gilder. Any clue on how we should go about this?"

Gilder looked down a moment, lost in thought. "The way I see it, there's at least a couple of ways we can go about this."

Fina looked over at Gilder. "What are they?"

Gilder straightened his shades. "First option: launch an all-out artillery assault on the island. The Delphinus more than likely has enough ammunition to destroy Dangrel Island. This option should not only deal with all the pirates at once, but should also render the sky fortress too damaged to operate. However, this is a very expensive path and it's a bit… brutal."

Clara looked over at Vyse who was looking down at the steel floors of the Delphinus. She knew that he was seriously considering this option. Money wasn't an issue with him, naturally. This would more than likely be the safest all-around option but it would involve a massive loss of life. Vyse was never one for stuff like that. She wondered if he would actually entertain the first option.

Gilder held up two fingers. "Second option: lay siege to the island. Basically, we make sure that no other ships come to the aid of Dangrel Island. Once in a while, we could launch a volley of cannon and torpedo fire at the island, just to scare them a bit. Eventually, a supply shortage or just out-right fear may cause them to surrender. This option involves the least amount of human life-loss, but it will take a long time to win the siege. We may not have that much time."

Fina was in favor of this one. The pirates were bad people but, to her, slaughtering them would accomplish little if anything. If they could cause everyone to surrender, they may learn a few things that they didn't know before. However, it was impractical as it would take far too long to win with a strategy like that.

Gilder held up three fingers. "Third and final option: infiltrate Dangrel Island. We'd have to dock with the island and fight our way inside to wherever the sky fortress is currently being built. This is a sort of happy median between the previous two options, for taking down pirates with non-fatal attacks is no problem for us and it'll be quick to execute. However, this option will most obviously prove to be the most dangerous one to us of the three."

The other three heroes remained silent. Vyse was lost in thought and Fina and Clara were simply waiting to hear what Vyse would say.

Gilder shrugged. "That's all I can think of Vyse. No matter which option you take, I'll be behind you the entire way."

Clara nodded. "As will I, Vyse. You can count on me."

Fina walked up to Vyse and held his right arm with both of her soft hands. "Me too, Vyse. I'll do anything to avenge Aika and… and…" She paused and thought for a moment. "…and to ease your pain."

Vyse's mind stilled for a moment. Just as Clara thought, Vyse was beginning to lean greatly toward option one. However, once he heard Fina speaking to him so sweetly, his rage suppressed rage dwindled away to nearly nothing. He put his free hand on top of both of hers, turned to her, and smiled.

"Option one will do, if you guys don't mind. To make it easier, we'll launch a volley or two of cannon-fire at the island to soften it up a bit and hopefully scare away any dock defenders. Nothing terribly extreme. Is everyone ok with that?" Vyse asked.

Fina smiled back and rested her head on his shoulder. She was happy. He was learning how to cope with the rage brought about by Aika's death, meaning he was able to make more calm-minded decisions. Perhaps he wouldn't lose himself after-all.

"It's fine with me Vyse," said Fina. "Hopefully, we can finally catch their leader and make him pay for his crimes."

Gilder and Clara both nodded in unison. True, this was the most dangerous option, but they didn't care. Besides, this gave them a chance to deal with their leader in a proper Blue Rogue's fashion: face-to-face in honorable combat.

Vyse held up a clenched fist. "Alright everyone. Make any final preparations that you have to. The boarding party will consist of Gilder, Clara, Fina, and myself. Everyone else will stay on board and continue manning the Delphinus."

Vyse turned to his helmsman, Lawrence. "You're in command while we're gone. Once we're off the ship, I want you to circle the island and make sure that no one enters or escapes from the island. You are authorized to open fire on anyone that does so."

Lawrence gave his signature bow. "Aye aye, Captain Vyse. How will I know when to pick you up, sir?"

"I'll grab a flare gun before I leave," Vyse answered. "Once you see the flare, make your way back to the island with great haste. If anyone is injured, they'll need to be healed immediately."

Lawrence nodded. "Understood Captain Vyse."

Lawrence turned to the young boy Marco, who was currently washing the floors of the bridge. "Marco, you heard what was going on, correct?"

Marco looked up from his work. "Huh? Oh, yes sir, Mr. Lawrence."

Lawrence nodded. "Good. Inform the rest of the crew about what is going to happen. Dangrel Island is not too much farther from here. Move quickly."

Marco gave a sloppy looking salute. "Aye aye!" Marco ran out the door leading to the rest of the ship.

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Dangrel Island loomed in front of the Delphinus, roughly a mere two miles from their position. The ship came to a full stop as they made final preparations.

Vyse looked around at his boarding party. They were ready to go. Perhaps a little scared, but ready nonetheless.

Pacing in front of them, Vyse said, "If anyone doesn't want to go, now is the time to speak up. No one is obligated to go on this mission. It will be very dangerous… someone may be hurt or perhaps even…" He paused for a moment. "…killed," he finished.

Shrugging, Gilder said, "Bah. You should be more worried about the stupid pirates than about me!" Feeling confident, he un-holstered one gun and spun it around and re-holstered it with great finesse.

Clara just smiled. "Are you kidding? This is for Aika! Of course I'm going!"

Vyse looked over at Fina. "How about you Fina? Are you sure you won't stay behind?"

Fina looked at him with a gentle look in her eye. "I won't ever leave you Vyse. Like Clara said, this is for Aika. I'll do my best to help avenge our friend." A small but beautiful smile came to her face.

"Cuuu!" Cupil said as he buzzed around Fina's head.

Losing his look of seriousness, Vyse smiled at his crew. "Thank you everyone. I'm lucky to have such great friends."

"I'm going too," said a voice coming from the back of the bridge.

Everyone turned with a look of shock on their face. It was Juan, decked out in his old suit of Valuan armor and clutching a well cared for Valuan gunblade.

A puzzled Vyse looked at Juan. "Juan?! What are you doing up? You need to rest!"

Juan walked to the four friends with a small limp in his step. "This is for Miss Aika. She treated her crew, ex-Valuans, like they were all old friends of hers. As the sole surviving member of her crew, it my duty to assist in avenging her. Forgive the insubordination, sir, but I will not accept no as an answer."

Vyse appeared as if he was going to protest, but Clara clasped her hand over his mouth. "We'd be happy to have you come along Juan. I understand where you're coming from and it'd be wrong to not let you help us. Isn't that right Vyse?" She smiled at Juan, tuned, and gave Vyse a very evil-looking stare.

Mumbling could be heard from the captain. He eventually sighed and nodded to Juan. "You can come, Juan. We could probably use more help anyway."

Juan knelt and bowed his head. "Thank you Captain Vyse. I swear on my family's name that I will not let you down."

Fina leaned over and whispered into Vyse's ear, "Thank you Vyse. I'm sure this means a lot to him."

The friendly smile of Vyse came to him once more as he leaned over to Fina. "I was just worried about him," Vyse whispered back. "That's all."

Juan stood once more and the boarding party of five looked out of the main window of the bridge, watching Dangrel Island.

Turning to the party, Lawrence said, "Captain Vyse, we are within firing range of the island and all other preparations are complete. We await your orders sir."

Vyse looked down for a moment, thinking, as he tapped the holstered flare gun on his side. He turned to his party and they all nodded in unison to him. He gave them a thumbs-up and turned back to the main window.

"Mr. Lawrence?" Vyse started.

Lawrence responded, "Yes captain?"

Vyse closed his eyes for a moment and took a deep breath. This was it. No turning back now. "I promise Aika," he said to himself. "I promise that you'll be avenged.

His eyes shot open and he pointed forward. "Open fire!"

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The attack has begun! Juan is finally back on his feet and is ready to help Vyse avenge Aika. But will it be enough? Will they make it in time to stop the sky fortress? Tune in next time to find out! Send more reviews please!