I kinda ran out of ideas that didn't revolve around Daniel Carlos or Belleza, so i guess this might be the only one I'll wrtie that doesn't include them. There might be others, but for now, that's how it is

sorry

Dearing

THE CONCEPT OF THE GRAND FORTRESS

Five years went by, and still the Valuans and Nasreans were at war. Belleza and Carlos still lived on the streets of Valua, living off what they could. Cape Victory was discovered and the City of Esperanza built, Daniel Mackenzie had turned into a cold and ruthless Captain in the Valuan Armada, feared by all and loved by no one.

But our story takes a different turn, for it was on the eleventh day of the 3rd Autumn Cycle, when all seemed quiete in the capital, when it happened.

Captain Joseph Deloco was bored. Usually the vertically challenged man would be inventing something or other for the Empress, but the fact was…he was out of ideas.

In the last twenty years, he had created metal battleships, immense cannons that could smash through stone reefs, rifles that could double up as swords, the lot! But right now he was stuck.

"Nothing's happened that needs new stuff," he sighed to himself, "The fighting's all in Nasr. Nothing new here."

He stared down at the blank piece of paper in front of him, drumming his fingers on the desk.

"There must be something I haven't invented yet," he muttered angrily, "Some do-hickey that'll get me promoted! Something that…WAH!"
An explosion rocked the room around him, causing Deloco to fall out of his chair.

"WHAT IN THE NAME OF THE SIX MOONS IS GOING ON!" he screamed as he tried to haul himself back onto his chair, only to fall back down again as another explosion rocked the dock.

"CAPTAIN DELOCO!" An engineer suddenly burst into his office, "IT'S THE NASREANS! THEY'RE HERE! THEIR ATTACKING THE CITY!"

"What?" Deloco abandoned his attempts to get back to his desk and scuttled over to the engineer, "Where's the Armada? Why aren't they doing their jobs?"
The engineer looked sheepishly, "Well, Valua's supposed to be impenetrable, the armada is all in Nasr and Mid-Ocean. You're the highest ranking officer we've got!"

"Of all the nerve!" Deloco began to rant, his various equipment beeping warningly, "Leaving me to command the front!" another explosion pulled him out of his raving.

As he hit the floor an idea came to him.

"What's the status of the Hydra?"

"The Sky Fortress?" the engineer gulped, "It's still in the entrance dockyards, but it hasn't been outfitted with the proper engines yet!"

"Is it at the entrance to the city?"

"Yes but…"

"Are the guns facing the fleet?"

"Yes but…"

"Can we fire the guns?"

"Yes but…"

"Well find a crew AND GET IT RUNNING!" the diminutive Captain roughly kicked the engineer in the shin, causing him to hope about on one foot, "AND MEET ME ON THE BRIDGE IN FIVE MINUTES!"

"Yes Captain," the poor engineer said weakly.

The Nasrean fleet had found the opportune moment. The Valuan armada was scattered and this had been a perfect moment to try for a final assault.

"The only thing that stands in our way is that bizarre looking ship," The Nasrean Admiral mused, staring with intrigue at the giant tower like vessel that sat in the middle of the chasm that separated the Valuan capital from the rest of the world.

"The…object that is blocking our way seems to be inoperative Admiral," his first officer called out as they gazed at the ship, "We can sail right past it."
The admiral smiled, "Excellent, prepare the crews for storming. Today let us end this war!"

The First Officer smiled grimly, "Aye sir! I…Admiral look!"

The admiral turned in horror as he saw what was through the Main window.

Slowly but surely, the immense cannons that sat atop the giant pylons that surrounded the main tower began to turn, targeting their ships!

"I thought you said that thing wasn't operational!"

"It wasn't!" The Vice-Captain cried, "Sir we have to retreat! We have to retre…"

The Admiral's ship erupted into flame as the Sky Fortress let loose her first volley.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOOOOOOOOOOOM! FEEL THE WRAITH OF THE HYDRA! SO MANY CANNONS EVEN I LOST COUNT, AND I BUILT THE BLOODY THING!"

"Somebody's high on sugar," the Engineer muttered to his friend.

"Nah," His friend replied, rolling her eyes, "You know what they say about Captain Deloco, completely off his rocker!"

The engineer smirked as he read the readings in front of him, "Captain Deloco, I'm pleased to announce the Nasreans are retreating!"

"Excellent," Deloco began to rock gently from side to side on his chair with excitement, "The Hydra worked better then I thought it would! In fact…" he paused mid-rock, causing him to fall off his chair…again, "I'VE GOT IT!" he pointed a finger to the ceiling, "THE CREATION THAT WILL MAKE MY CAREER!"

And with that he scampered off the bridge, leaving a very confused crew behind.