Chapter Four – "The Tide"

Admiral Scurvy was awaken with the throwing open of his door. He shot up, eyes wide but weary, and furiously mad.

"What is it!" he grumped after looking at the clock. Three in the morning . . .

"Sir, my apologies for waking you, but I'm afraid there's a small situation developing -- "

"So small that you couldn't have told me about it in the morning?"

"No, sir. We need you in the command area right away."

Scurvy, groaning, pulled himself out of bed and marched out of his bedroom. Still in his bedclothes, he came to the long chamber that was filled to the brim with computers and technicians. Night detail was on, obviously, due to the hour.

"What is it?"

The aide pointed to the long window that ran the expanse of the chamber. A thick fog was half-way between the docks and the horizon. Other than that, everything seemed silent.

"What! Fog! Is that why you called me here! Because of a fog!"

"No, sir, it's what the fog is doing," stated the officer on watch.

"And just what is it doing?"

"Not only has it appeared despite going against the weather predictions, but it's also moving against the wind."

Scurvy blinked. "What? Okay. Get me a satellite picture."

"That's just it, sir," the officer replied, "we can't reach the satellite. We tried contacting the Fright Zone, but our communications aren't reaching them."

Admiral Scurvy took a deep breath, soaking in all the information revealed to him. "I am going to change. By the time I get back, I want a ship ready to make way for that fog to find out what's happening in there. Meantime, fix the communications."

Within moments, the Admiral returned. He looked out upon the sea and was surprised to find that the fog was rolling right on towards Horde Harbor. It was the speed of the fog that had caught him off guard, not so much its destination.

"The vessel Crippling Blow has just left port, Admiral," said the executive officer, a smallish man named Shrug. "We have yet to reestablish contact with the Fright Zone. However, we are in contact with the Crippling Blow, commanded by Horde Trooper # 75537-Alpha."

The Admiral watched as the Crippling Blow edged into the fog.

"Entering the fog, command," Horde Trooper # 75537-Alpha reported over a crackled line.

"Confirmed," Admiral Scurvy replied.

"Zero visibility. Repeat: zero visibility. Hold! Wait! Visibility cleared at fifty feet! Repeat: visibility at fifty feet! And - "

The comm-line went out suddenly. There was burst of light from the fog, which accompanied by a loud explosion. Four more like explosion followed, looking like lightning in dense clouds and rumbling not unlike thunder.

"We're under attack!" shout Admiral Scurvy.

At that precise moment, Admiral SeaHawk walked onto the bridge and stared at the burning hulk that was once the Horde's Crippling Blow. He turned to Commodore Smitty, who was running Brightmoon's two ships – the Avenger and the flagship, Revolution.

"Send word to the Sea Elves. Tell them to drop their fog. If the Horde doesn't know we're here yet, they'll know soon enough."

A few minutes later, the fog dissipated from around the Great Rebellion's armada. As promised, thirty ships were in the ocean, ready to attack Horde Harbor. Fourteen from King Mercia and Salinius; five from the Sea Elves; six privateers; and two from kingdom Brightmoon.

"Prepare for battle," SeaHawk commanded.

Hordak's eyes widened with shock. Before his very eyes, a hologram of She-Ra on her knees and in chains, was presented. He couldn't believe it. Why would she have gone all the way to Horde World? Surely, it was madness. Even Hordak avoided it whenever possible. But her being there only led to one thing for She-Ra and that her capture and her eventual execution.

"Jealous?" asked Inspector Darkney from across the cosmos..

Hordak snorted in annoyance. "I will confess to some surprise and some envy, but She-Ra always a hopeful fool."

"We are not sure exactly what brought her and her little band to Horde World," explained the Inspector. "But we suspect it was to make contact with Prince Zed's resistance movement."

"A bold move."

"Yes. And luckily, you can move along with your plans. Surely, without She-Ra in your way, Etheria will be yours for the taking . . ."

Was that sarcasm in Darkney's voice? If it was, Hordak wasn't surprised to hear it.

"Of course, of course. Tell me brother that I congratulate him on his prize. She-Ra was a challenge to me, but it must have been fairly easy for him."

"In all reality, Hordak, it was."

The images faded. Hordak growled darkly and spun to Shadow Weaver. "You had better find a way into the Whispering Woods, Weaver, and now!"

Shadow Weaver bowed a little and floated off, crimson robes drifting around her as she did.

A dozen heavy attack vessels were at Horde Harbor in those early morning hours, though they were thinly manned. When a small number of the 40 ships fired a volley or two (minimal damage, but that was only because they were far from shore), Horde Troopers were marched quickly to the vessels and were launched.

The first one out was the Supreme, which went straight for the Avenger and the Revolution. Admiral SeaHawk pulled out his binoculars and starred at Horde Troopers marched along the deck of the Supreme with stunning accuracy. He put them down and watched as soldiers and sailors dashed across the ships deck, double-checking everything.

"Here's where the fun begins," he muttered to Smitty. He was wearing a very formal and uncomfortable red uniform that was very much different from his usual garb.

All of a sudden, there came a terrible shout.

"DOWN! ALL HANDS DOWN!"

SeaHawk went to deck, hands over his head, as did much of the crew at the shout. There was a distant clap of sound and then three pulses of light came slamming into the front of the Revolution, sending small bits of debris all over the deck.

SeaHawk stood up quickly, the rest of the crew rallying in just the same way.

"Damage report!" shouted SeaHawk, leaving the bridge and making for the main deck.

"Minimal damage, Admiral!"

"Turn us into the wind! Arm starboard battery!" SeaHawk commanded. The Revolution turned, but received another blast to a small portion of the starboard bow. Debris spun into the air.

"RETURN FIRE!" screamed SeaHawk.

Laser cannons thundered below the deck, screeching out from the portholes. They smashed against the Supreme breaking portions of its hull. But the Supreme returned fire, blasting the Revolution with strong firepower. Despite the Revolution's superior weapons, the Supreme had more weapons overall.

SeaHawk pushed his helm officer down as another pulse blast nearly obliterated them both. Instead, a number of lamps were destroyed, along with two small computer displays.

"Prepare secondary displays!" shouted the Damage officer.

"Take the wheel back," ordered SeaHawk quietly, helping his helmsman up. The wheel was barely scratched.

Small bursts of water splashed onto both ships as weapons occasionally missed. More debris was thrown around them as the Horde fired once more.

"Smitty! We need back up! Order the Avenger to unleash some crossfire! I want the mechanical monstrosity turned into debris!"

"All ready on their way, sir!"

SeaHawk looked to his left and watched with satisfaction as the Avenger came right, pulse cannons blazing. Thunderous noise filled the air as the newest vessels of the Brightmoon Navy went against the Horde's first vessel.

Behind them was the rest of the fleet, each one with its own task in this engagement. Weapons roared in the air once more as the Avenger and the Revolution warred against the Supreme. It was no contest; the Supreme was blown to smithereens.

The pair of ships moved away from the newly formed burning debris field and set for Horde Harbor. They parted, allowing for the Privateer vessels to swarm around them.

Other ships were launched from the docks, five of them in all. As the Avenger, the Revolution, and the privateers dealt with three of them, the fourth kept a holding position near the docks. The last one made for the Salinius ships, which were being commanded jointly by King Mercia and Mermista.

The Horde vessel they were facing down was twice as large as both huge, whale-like vessels were; it was the second largest of the fleet at Horde Harbor. The largest was the one still near the docks. It opened fire, weapons striking the water as if to warn them of the up-coming exchange.

Mermista sat on the second of her fathers vessel, the Orca. King Mercia was on the flagship of his royal fleet, the Fin. These ships were quite different from the traditional ships belonging to Brightmoon. They were shaped like huge whales, but had four long lofts that ran along the sides of the ships with eight circular doors allowing for entrance and exits.

"Mermista, hold your position," Mercia ordered. The interiors of these vessels were filled with water, as to give the people of Salinius the most natural environment they could get. "Secondary vessels Shell and Reef, move into axis position two."

Two small, fish-shaped ships zoomed forward, sitting right next to the Fin. They opened fire, explosions striking the thick metal hull of the fifth Horde ship, the Crater. The Crater returned weapons fire, pulse blasts filling the air, hitting all three ships at once. Missiles returned in short order, but they had little impact on the Crater's heavy hull.

King Mercia swam out from the bridge and went to the airlock that led to the lofts. His tail suddenly became a pair of legs and he was joined by four other men, all of them in long, blue robes.

There was more than one way to attack the Horde. The five of them stood out in the opening, beneath the now-dawning sky. Their hands were lifted, magic and sorcery in the air. A great light emanated from them.

However, before they could act, the Shell exploded wildly. King Mercia hoped that some of the people were able to swim through the debris and get to safety. They continued their spell and in seconds, a great whirlpool appeared beneath the Crater and began to not only pull the ship into the water, but also actually bend it in two. Missiles fired furiously from the Fin and the Reef, eventually blowing the Crater up.

Meanwhile, as the Fin moved forward towards the next engagement with the lighter Horde ship Pulverizer, the Sea Elves used their magic to destroy the ship called Great Crusher. However, the Avenger was taking heavy damage from the Maintainer and the Privateers were struggling with the Grindsman.

From the command area, Admiral Scurvy watched the battle unfold in the harbor waters, teeth grinding with unadulterated anger.

"Word from the Fright Zone?" questioned Scurvy.

"No sir," replied Shrug. "Looks like the entire communications network between us has been sabotaged."

"Launch all ships."

"Sir!" shouted Shrug. "The Grindsman has just been destroyed! The Orca and the Privateers are making for the docks!"

The Salinius fleet broke into two. Six vessels followed the Fin into battle with the Horde ships. The other seven plus four Privateers, along with the Orca, made for the docks, weapons firing the whole time, blasting at the Horde Troopers stationed along the shore.

As the Salinius ships came to a stop at the shore, soldiers came marching out. Once the Privateers came to the docks and secured themselves, keeping guarded against weaponry, the newly appointed Swen moved towards Mermista.

"There!" he shouted, his stubby, dirty finger pointing to a tall tower in the north half of the city. "That where the prisoners are being held!"

"We'll avoid it best we can," Mermista replied. She then picked up a large seashell and breathed into it. Soldiers from the seven ships and two of the four Privateers lined up, allowing for a large line of defense for what was prepared for next.

Mermista led seventy blue-robed men and women onto a small portion of the beach that sat between two docks well defended and now taken into the hands of the Great Rebellion by Salinius and Privateer ships. They stood in a tide pool, reaching their minds and powers into the water.

It didn't take long.

Five huge columns of water shot right out of the water, spinning quickly, each one full of destructive power. They skidded onto into Horde Harbor under the command of Mermista and her fellow mages. The water columns tore into Horde Harbor, ripping into all sorts of structures.

The Horde Trooper bunkers, the power plant, the communications building, the processing plant, the security complex . . . all torn apart by the quickly spinning water columns. The water columns then came together in the center of the city, merged into one huge swirling water tower . . . and then released.

Floodwater filled the complexes, structures, roads, and pathways of Horde Harbor. Distant sounds of explosions indicated that fleet had broken through the barricade. The floodwaters moved as Mermista and her mages orders, sometimes going up hills and into the rooms and buildings.

The Avenger took heavy damage, but the Revolution was still doing well. As it ended the days of the Hordak (formerly the flagship of the Horde Navy), Admiral SeaHawk ordered the bombardment of Horde Harbor. As mid-day approached with shocking speed, all of Horde Harbor was either in flames or flooded.

Admiral Scurvy took in the sight with terrible awe. He abandoned his post as soon as the floodwaters reached the command chamber. After a quick stop to his bedchamber to retrieve his most prized possessions, he blasted off in a huff.

Horde Harbor . . . had fallen.