Coming of the Red Anchor

Rebellion

289 AC

Kings Landing

He wandered around the stone corridors of the Red Keep pondering the changes the seven kingdoms had undergone over the last few years. While mostly the kingdoms had remained unchanged the North was different. Thanks to the arrival of House Britanican the North had access to better quality steel and trade routes along its west coast. Also glass was being made in vast quantities for glass houses in many northern houses that had allowed the northerners to grow more food thus reducing their dependence on the Reach and the Riverlands. This in turn made those kingdoms unhappy about taxes they could no longer afford which was causing Arryn and the Usurper trouble. 'The more trouble the better' he thought with a mental smirk. Still, the North was a growing problem. His little birds were telling stories of giant metal ships that could sink a galley in a single shot. A shot of what he did not know and if what his birds said was true he wasn't entirely sure he wanted to. However he couldn't substantiate any of the claims as they seemed ridiculous, 'honestly, metal ships, whatever next?' That said, the North was prospering unlike it had before and was changing the game without even trying. 'Rather impressive for a Northerner who wants to stay in the North' he thought of Lord Stark. 'An honourable man but unambitious, predictable and manageable.' Still Varys was concerned about how it had changed the groundwork of the kingdoms. Thankfully nothing else had changed and the North was not too powerful that it became an actual problem. Still, it was worth keeping an eye on them. Unlike the Lannisters who were causing lots of problems.

Ever since Cersei had become queen there had been an endless stream of blondes taking positions of power or attempting to have their men placed in said positions. So many that Kings Landing was more like a lion's den than the home of stags. Tywin was managing the Rock with competence and fear as was the norm while Cersei managed their capital operations with all the sensitivity of an elephant, which is to say boldly, loudly and without any concern. Or at least she tried to mange things, and thought she was, but her blunt, blatant power grabs were angering many nolbes and courtiers which would no doubt cause more problems once her son took the throne. Robert kept them in check somewhat with his Hand but only just. It was Tywin though who usually checked over her actions and either approved or disproved them while she thought what she did was done without oversight. 'Foolish woman, no sense and full of false pride and little intelligence' Varys chuckled as he walked the empty corridors. 'That's on top of her cuckolding the king with her own brother and producing two bastards so far. Not unlike the king who has produced four since he's become king' Varys tittered.

He slowly came to a balcony that overlooked the port. Normally there wasn't this much activity down there, steady and busy yes but not to this degree, but thanks to House Britanican there was now a large warehouse, which had only finished construction earlier in the year, which had regular deliveries from the North and was frequently dispatching items too. According to his little birds it had a number of guards to protect it and stored a number of products for House Britanican to market and demonstrate to prospective customers. They then somehow got messages to their headquarters who would ship the bought items from there, sometimes small amounts were shipped from Kings Landing as well. How they communicated though troubled Varys. It was quick and secure yet he saw no ravens, or any other type of bird, nor any riders leave the city and the ship docked in the port while leaving and returning often was not frequent enough to match the demand placed on the warehouse. It didn't affect his plans really but it was annoying and he grudgingly admitted that it was an impressive network whatever it was. He knew they contacted Stoneyport somehow since the product orders were dispatched from the North very quickly, far quicker than a raven being sent which would take just over four days to fly there. He grumbled to himself slightly as he walked back inside, he hoped Illyrio was keeping a close eye on the dragons, they would be needed to return the kingdom to long term stability, although the boy was showing troubling signs from what he had heard. 'Maybe the girl should be prepared instead and the boy should suffer an accident' Varys pondered as he headed deep into the castle.

Iron Islands, Pyke

"Well? Are we ready you green sons of mine?" came the coarse voice of a middle aged man who looked older than his years, thanks to the conditions on the islands, as he glared at the two younger men before him.

"Y-yes father" the younger of two men, boys really, said nervously. "All 300 ships are ready. The new ships of the Iron Fleet plus our vassals' come to a great amount. With our few war galleys and many longships we shall show the greenlanders our might and follow the old ways once again."

"For what is dead may never die" Balon called.

"For what is dead may never die!" echoed through the hall.

"Brother you are my king and we will gain revenge for Euron and the pillage the North for him. We shall reap across the North and West making them fear the names Greyjoy and Ironborn" said one man as he knelt before the Seastone Chair.

"Good, but I want you to destroy Lannisport first Victarion, they are the nearer threat. My sons Rodrik and Maron will lead assaults against Seagard next as they are the next nearest. Once done they can then turn their fleet on the North. Victarion you will then keep a large force to reap and reave against the Westerlands. Cripple and destroy them. Once finished you can go south and deal with those stuck up roses, the Reach and their knights" he said derisively. "We Do Not Sow, We Reap. And our enemies shall feel our might. Go forth and sack all before us!" The men cheered in the hall before departing to their ships. Days later, under the cover of darkness, over one hundred and fifty longboats sailed into Lannisport and sank or burnt every ship in sight before sending soldiers ashore to rape and pillage the port. Four hours later they left, leaving few behind alive and carrying away many new thralls and salt wives as well as many riches. The rebellion had begun.

Winterfell

Almost a week later an unknowing Eddard Stark watched as his son and secret nephew, Robb and Jon, practised their sword work under the watchful eye of Jory Cassel while he enjoyed the cold peace of the North. With Ser Rodrik training up House Britanican, Jory was Ned's acting master-at-arms until Jory's uncle returned. Thankfully Ser Rodrik was due back in a moon's time so Jory could relax after that. The poor boy had had to put up with his sons and training the other guardsmen until then though. He'd have to find a way to thank him. He watched as the eight namedays old boys tried to swing at each other while they wore slightly thick padded leathers to protect themselves in this early part of their training, they'd take them off completely next year and wear better training gear designed for young men. They had been slowly thinning the padding as the boys grew up and got more experience with the blades since they started training at six namedays. Ned watched the boys, spotting certain forms and methods the boys were already favouring. Jon was quicker to dodge and retaliate than Robb who in turn put more force behind his strikes. Speed versus force, they would train each other well like that and make a good team in the field.

As he watched he felt movement behind him and turned to see Maester Luwin approaching him holding a rolled piece of parchment. "Ill tidings I fear my lord" Luwin spoke softly as he handed the sealed parchment over. Ned looked and saw the crowned stag wax seal. He tore it off and read. His feeling of dread only worsened as he did until he looked as grim as he felt. "My lord?" Luwin asked in concern.

"The Ironborn have sacked and burnt Lannisport. Robert is calling the banners to deal with the rebellion. Balon is calling himself king. We are to march to Lannisport to meet other armies and then end the rebellion."

"I see. The Ironborn have always been reckless and have raided coastlines before even up North, but to rebel openly and declare Balon king? I'm surprised at how stupid they are" Luwin said, mildly stunned.

"No one ever credited the Ironborn with intelligent thinking" Eddard said humourlessly.

"Shall I send the ravens then Lord Stark?" Ned nodded sombrely.

"Call the banners. Send a warning to Warrington to be alert too, also tell him to not bother sending his troops, have them go with his fleet to defend our coastline. If they can, and feel able, they should raid the Ironborn in return. Let them feel cold northern steel" he said with a slight growl at the end. "In the meantime have our troops meet here or at Moat Calin, we'll march south after. It should take a few days for them to gather here or at the Moat and then two sennights to Lannisport." Luwin nodded and hurried off back to his tower to write the messages. Ned turned back to watch his sons as they came to the end of their sparring.

"Well done boys. We'll make fine swordsmen of you both some day. Now go get cleaned up, I'm sure you have some chores or studies to get on with. Jory come here a moment when you're done.

"Yes father" came the dual reply before the boys took off their padding, dropped their swords off on the racks and ran off to their rooms. Jory smirked at them before checking everything was away properly and heading over to Lord Stark.

"Ah to be young my lord" Jory said with a small smile. Ned smirked a little too.

"Aye, young and innocent of the cruelty of the world" he replied before turning sombre again. "How are the guards? Are they well trained and capable?"

"I've done my best my lord, I'm sure my uncle could have done better though I have got the hang of it over time. I'll be glad when Uncle Rodrick returns. I can have a break then" he chuckled lightly before panicking. "Er if I can my lord" he said quickly and glancing at Ned. Ned gently laughed at the panicked look Jory had.

"No it is fine, you have done good work considering and I'm sure I can find you a day or two's break. The only reason Rodrik is away so long is he wanted the time to make sure they are trained and can pass on what they know properly." Ned became grim then. "The Ironborn have rebelled. King Robert has called the banners. We will be off to war soon. Begin summoning the levies, guards and soldiers. While we wait for the other houses to summon their banners and march have some remedial training done for our men once they are ready."

"Yes my lord, I'll get to it" Jory said, his happy demeanour gone and replaced by a similar solemnity as his lord.

"Gods I hate war" Eddard said grimly before dismissing Jory and heading inside to tell his prepare for the coming war.

Stoney Shore

A day later Lord James Warrington rode alone along the winding road that led south from Stoneyport, riding for barely 30 minutes away from the port and up to a large hill where the former ruin of Stonefort once stood. Now though, a refurbished castle stood there. From the ashes and ruins of the old, a new one took its place. Or will do. So far only the four storey square stone keep with four corner turrets and an inner wall stood on the hill. It also possessed a further level below ground which housed a cellar and dungeon. This inner ward would contain the barracks, the rookery and maester's tower once those buildings were complete. A small library next to said tower was also planned. Currently, they were adding the finishing touches to the walls with the machicolations being placed on most stretches of the wall to allow for oil to be poured, stones to be dropped and arrows to be fired directly down upon attackers without risking lives. The curtain wall was 80 feet high and had ten circular towers placed evenly around it providing storage and housing space as well as flanking fire for the defenders. On most towers, or bastion towers, a ballista, catapult or scorpion was to be placed to allow for some artillery options.

It was set to be an impressive castle for its size, given that unlike most it was a purely defensive structure rather than acting as a town as well like the Dreadfort, Deepwood Motte or Winterfell. It was expected to cover around six acres of land in total once the walls were finished, equal to about six football pitches back home. This was much smaller than the Tower of London back home, which was around twelve acres, and slightly less than Winterfell, which covered about seven including its three acre Godswood. The main gate house into the castle was a squat, solid looking, grey stone building with flanking bastion towers on each side of the gate. It had two portcullises along with the single Ironwood gate as well as a dozen murder holes. A second curtain wall had been planned for construction to surround the nearly finished wall which would have been another ten circular towers with a few smaller bastion towers positioned to clear out any blind spots. They had, at the time of design, decided it would be around 50 feet high. The final touch would be a deep ditch in front of the outer walls to make siege towers difficult to use while giving the option to fill it with water for a true moat. In the end, due to resources and cost, the inner wall was modified to have ten towers instead of the original eight which had been planned and bastion towers were placed along the walls too. The moat would still be dug.

James sat on the horse admiring the construction when a rider started approaching from the port behind him. The man pulled on the reins and slowly came to a halt. "Sir a message came by raven from Winterfell" the man said while handing over a piece of parchment. James nodded and the man moved off slightly to allow him to read in private. The letter did not bare good news; Ironborn had raided the south and Robert had called his banners to crush the rebellion. Lord Stark had done the same. James sighed sadly, not wanting to send his people off to war but war had come to them. He pulled the reins of his horse and began to head back to the port, the messenger following dutifully behind. "Go find the admirals once we return, ask them to come to the mansion at once. I'll find Ser Rodrik en route there" James said to the man beside him.

"Yes my lord" the man said and kicked his horse to head off at a gallop while James carried on at a light trot.

James arrived in the town quickly enough. The town had grown much over the last six years with over 20,000 people now living within or around the port. He made for the barracks upon passing through the city gates which was not far. He spotted Sr Rodrik, wearing a greyish gambeson, conducting drills with the men and some women. "Ser Rodrik!" James called out. The man looked over from his place where he watched the sparring. "I'll need you to come to the mansion. We've had some news from Winterfell. Bad news." The man nodded and began finishing up with the trainees. James then nudge his horse on without waiting to head off to the mansion to get the meeting room ready.

He was sat behind his desk barely fifteen minutes later with Ser Rodrik and Maester Barneby as well as his wife of three years Dacey. Just as he was about to begin his meeting the two admirals arrived looking harried and slightly out of breath. "Did you run here per chance?" James asked, slightly smirking at the two men.

"Certainly not, admirals run for nothing. We're just slightly out of breath from the long walk" Gardner said defensively though none bought the act if the small smiles were any indication.

"What has happened?" asked Cosmo bluntly, getting straight to the point.

"The Ironborn have declared independence and made Balon Greyjoy their king. Their first act was to sack and destroy Lannisport. We can presume many ships are sunk and many are dead. King Robert has called the banners and Lord Stark has done the same. Apparently Lord Stark wishes us to begin harassing and destroying Ironborn ships and, if possible, raid or invade the outer islands such as Lonely Light and Blacktyde" James informed them. The group sat there in stunned silence. That the Ironborn would try something like this was unbelievable though given the still relatively new nature of Robert's reign perhaps not entirely.

"I see" came the gruff voice of Cosmo. "Your orders?" Despite having once not been entirely sure with following Warrington, the man had proven intelligent at strategic thinking and knowing when to allow Cosmo and Colonels Marks and Devonshire to deploy their ships and troops as they saw fit. This in turn had led to a good working relationship between the military and Warrington.

"I would suggest assembling the fleet to its fullest extent. If the Ironborn want a war who are we to deny them? Hold a few ships back, perhaps most of the steel fleet, and allow our new galleys and carracks to remove these pirates from the sea."

The galleys in question were much like the war galleys and dromonds of the other kingdoms though they took further inspiration from the Bireme and Quadrireme of Ancient Rome by possessing rams at the front of the ship along with better rigging and sails. The carracks were also much like their counterparts across this world but possessed better rigging and sails along with copper bottomed hulls thanks to the knowledge the navy had brought with them as well as being slightly larger to encompass the gun decks. With recent trades, and a bit of encouragement, a few of the alchemists from Kings Landing had come north to join with the more science minded members of the former allied fleet and together they had managed to create gunpowder. It was the primitive black powder unfortunately and not the smokeless powder needed for most of their weapons but it was a start. Enough powder was then made to equip five carracks with a top deck and a gun deck with cannons. Along each side of the ship they were able to use ten cannons; three on the top deck and seven below. The bottom deck was the cargo hold.

"Understood. I'll have the fleet begin to deploy" Cosmo said. James nodded.

"Use the subs to scout ahead and cause havoc. We can send our smaller frigates with the fleet to enhance their power. They all have scorpions and catapults safely placed on board so they have some fighting ability separate from their own guns. We want to preserve those weapons as much as possible until we can perfect the right powder. Perhaps if we get close enough to the islands we can ruin a castle or two through catapult or cannon" Warrington finished with an evil grin. Dacey grinned too and even Rodrik looked happy with that. "Ser Rodrik, I'd like to thank you for your faithful service here since I suspect Lord Stark would like you returned. You may make preparation to return to Winterfell and inform him we will begin our attacks soon enough."

"Of course my lord, if Lord Stark is heading off I will likely be needed there more than here. Your people are well trained and capable in sword and bow. You'll give many an army a run for their money I'd wager" he chuckled. "Still, it has been interesting training your lot. I better start packing so I can join my lord's war." With that he nodded and left the room.

"Ready the fleet, admirals, it's time to go hunting squid."

Out in the bay from Stoneyport vessels converged and amassed in numbers unseen in the North since Brandon the Burner destroyed the northern fleet in his grief. Admiral Cosmo stood on the command deck of the USS Lyndon B Johnson, a Zumwalt-class destroyer. Beside the vessel were the three Freedom-class corvettes and the entireity of the wooden navy; 40 war galleys and five carracks plus the Silence with its escort of ten captured Ironborn longships. All the ships, built and captured, had been upgraded above the baseline Westerosi ship with better quality sails and their layout, improved rigging types and were also given a copper plated hull for greater speed and some protection. In all it was a fearsome navy that while small compared to the might of the Redwyne fleet, numbering somewhere around 200 warships including galleys, or the Royal fleet, estimated at around 240 or so warships including about 80 war galleys, it could punch above its weight and was larger than the Lannister fleet which had, prior to its destruction in Lannisport, around 25 to 30 warships including a few galleys. All were estimates based on observations by ships travelling to Kings Landing and a dispatched submarine to map the coastline. "Report Captain" Cosmo said turning to the captain.

"All ships report ready. We can head down to Blazewater Bay and Cape Kraken at your command" he reported smartly.

"The command is given Captain O'Neill. Lets hunt some pirates."

"Aye, aye sir" O'Neill said enthusiastically. "Set a course for Blazewater, ahead half speed lets try to keep in formation."

"Yes captain" and "Aye captain" echoed around the deck as orders were issued and the helm officer adjusted the ship's course and speed. Outside the vessel, the rest of the fleet weighed anchor, set their sails and in some cases cast off from the docks. Northern soldiers and British and American marines were spread amongst the various ships armed for combat and ready to put down a group of people nearly all hated.

The journey south didn't take long, taking only two days to reach the barren, rocky west coast of Cape Kraken, they had also so far encountered no opposition from the Ironborn. Cosmo was once again on the command deck, given their arrival, and was now looking over reports from the various ships. All were performing well, which was good given that it was many ships' first time in combat rather than just out on patrol. He was just finishing off a message to send back to Stoneyport when the radio beeped and the communication officer listened carefully to his headphones. After a minute or two the man turned to the Captain and Admiral. "Admiral, report from the USS Iowa. Captain Henley reports contact with 100 longships heading north. They'll be here in approximately one day. They appear to have come from Seagard given their current course and are currently crossing Ironman's Bay along the Flint Cliffs" the officer reported dutifully. Cosmo nodded in acknowledgement and hummed thoughtfully.

"Admiral?" the captain prompted.

"Just thinking captain, on how best to deal with them. Our fleet is 60 ships strong. The war galleys should be worth two or three longships, not to mention the carracks and our American ships, plus our weapons are better with more scorpions and catapults than normal so we should be fine. Just thinking how I want to engage them."

"The coastline is rather rocky sir, perhaps try to place them between us and the coast? That way we only deal with say half the fleet with the other half pushed onto the rocks" the captain suggested.

"My thoughts exactly. We'll have to play this carefully. Move us away from the coast so they don't see us, perhaps head north 20 miles or so. Once they're in position we'll turn around and charge in while slamming them against the cliffs. Hopefully between our weapons and the rock coast we'll wreck most of their ships" Cosmo decided.

"Aye sir. I'll pass out the orders."

With the failed assault on Seagard barely five days ago and the death of Rodrik, Maron Greyjoy wanted revenge for his family so he led his remaining fleet, some 100 longships, north to pillage the growing port of Stoneyport in revenge for Euron and to prove himself to his father. The rest of the Iron Fleet either patrolled the Iron Islands or was with Uncle Victarion pillaging the Westerlands. The defeat at Seagard left a bitter taste but hopefully his assault upon the North will change that. He needed something to gain prestige and prove himself and attacking a weak greenlander kingdom like the north would be good for morale. Morale was surprisingly high given the defeat only five days ago but knowledge that they were to attack the North and that they were weak at sea had boosted it. 'Well they could only have gotten lucky with Uncle Euron and they shall pay seven fold for it' Maron thought victoriously, meant the Ironborn were uplifted by thoughts of easy pickings. Thoughts of the supposed steel ships quickly left his mind since they couldn't possibly be made of steel and they are the north so any ships they have will be weak and captained by incompetent greenlanders. Nothing could go wrong with their quick raid.

But how wrong he was. As they passed Cape Kraken on their starboard side a yell came from the viewing platform above. Maron looked up to see one man pointing to port and turned to his left and looked upon the horizon where he could just make out a shadow or two, or three, or six. He quickly realised a fleet was approaching at speed. "Gear up lads, looks like those weak northerns have come to give us their spoils. Lets take them!" The men cheered and began to pull on their boiled leather chest pieces over their clothes while a few put on mail over a gambeson they had acquired, after that they then began arm themselves by picking up swords or the rare bow. Others began grabbing boarding hooks to latch on to the enemy ships. Maron ordered the rowers to prepare for increased speed and then alerted the other ships in his fleet. He checked the horizon again and could now make out about two dozen ships bearing down on them, one of which he realised was the Silence. His uncle's ship. It's colours had been changed, being more brown now than grey, and it bore new sails that were blue with a red anchor emblazoned upon it, but it was still the distinctive shape and had the same sail layout. There also seemed to be more artillery pieces on board from what Maron could make out. The same Red Anchor sigil flew on all the other ships as far as he could see.

The vessels approached them quite rapidly which surprised many on his ship including himself. It was like the Storm God himself supported them so as to oppose the loyal followers of the Drowned God. Maron soon realised that almost all of the enemy ships were war galleys and that he was likely out numbered in terms of weapons and men. 'We can still beat them, surely we can' Baron thought desperately. "Prepare to attack. Bring us around! Hard to port! Lets send these bastards down to the depths below!" he yelled to his crew. The fleets quickly closed the gap and clashed violently as a number of galleys rammed into a few unfortunate longships, splitting them in half with loud cracks and bangs, before they could turn to engage the enemy resulting in them quickly sinking beneath the waves while sailors tried to dive overboard to prevent being dragged under. Other longships tried to draw up alongside other galleys in order to board them but then struggled with the greater height that the galleys possessed. It was quickly turning into a slaughter as large arrow bolts and rocks were launched at his fleet hitting masts and gauging out holes in the ships' hulls. His men eventually managed to board a handful of the galleys but suffered against the better armed and equipped troops on board. Added to that, snipers and archers in the rigging saw use to great affect in cutting down boarders and hitting those on the longships allowing counter-boarding to occur.

A group of ten soldiers wearing mixed styles of armour; some wore just gambesons or that with a brigandine while others wore some form of blue and black patterned clothing with a brigandine or a steel chest plate on top of it, jumped over to his ship and began to attack his own crews. Scuffles broke out on the main deck as his crew fought back but suffered from their lack of armour since most Ironborn wore only thick leathers and occasionally pieces of chain mail to provide quicker movement. The group of ten was beaten down to six but soon more started to counter board and shortly after almost 25 soldiers were storming his longship. Maron drew his sword and charged at the northerners, some of whom didn't look very northern he noticed once when he got in close. He parried and blocked an attack before slicing the stomach of one man with the real edge of his blade making him bend over in pain. He then brought his sword down on the man's neck and while not beheading him left a very deep and fatal gash which sent blood everywhere as it poured out of the man. He then saw a few arrows strike two of his men before a third seem to just randomly drop dead. Maron glanced down at the dead sailor to see a small hole in his head. Maron looked about worriedly but could not see any archers or anyone else other than the soldiers attacking his ship with swords and shields, shields which also had the Red Anchor sigil upon them. "Kill the greenlanders! Fight for our drowned god!" Maron yelled, trying to rally his men but saw even them wavering.

He moved to the side of his ship where looked out across the sea to spot a few longships crashing onto the rocks of the Cape's coastline while others were slowly sinking from large gaping holes in their wooden hulls as they rocked and bobbed about on the sea all the while taking on water and Ironborn jumped overboard to prevent being dragged under. He then turned to see the Silence crash through one longship sinking it almost immediately as it fired its ballistas down upon the remaining longships. Behind the Silence he spotted them. Gleaming in the slight sun, they were grey in colour but obviously made of steel. 'Steel ships! But it can't be, they shouldn't be possible!' Maron thought, as dread built in his stomach. The steel ships, larger than any ship he had ever seen, just sat there, occasionally shooting a scorpion at any vessel which got too close but otherwise simply held position watching as their wooden counterparts cut a swathe through his longships with their own scorpions and rams. "By the drowned god, what have we done?" Maron gasped in horror, finally realising the might against them. Steel ships that could resist any weapon they had and were larger than any other vessel were an almost impossible enemy since you could not ram them nor board them due to their height.

This was not something they could fight against. Knowing there was only one option and that his father had to know of what stood against them he gave an order he hated to give. "Retreat! Turn us around! All ships fall back to the Iron Islands!" he yelled loudly across his fleet but it was useless, the sound of swords clashing and the ring of metal on metal was too loud for many to hear, that was on top of the roar of the waves. Indeed his entire fleet was by now either sunk, wrecked on the rocks or fighting off boarding actions from the various war galleys or enemy longships. It was then, as he just made it up by the helm to attempt to turn the wheel, that he noticed that most of his men were now dead, slowly dying from their wounds or had thrown down their weapons and surrendered. Not many had, but he was now alone and he knew he would be captured. 'Well not this day, Maron Greyjoy never surrenders' he thought firmly. Two men approached him with red anchors on their blue brigandines and carried simple arming swords which were smeared with blood. A third man stood behind them and wore a blue painted solid steel chest plate with braces and a sword strapped to his side while he carried some tubular object with rectangles coming off it and holding as one would a crossbow.

"Surrender pirate, it's over now. You surrender and you'll be treated fairly as a PoW and you may be returned to your islands once the war is over" spoke the non-northerner holding the strange object. Maron bristled at the term pirate. His people weren't pirates, they were Ironborn and they pay the Iron Price.

"I am Ironborn and We Do Not Sow, We Reap. Come at me greenlanders and I shall take your lovely armour as my prize" Maron spat at them knowing he could not surrender. A Greyjoy never does. One man, the one who had spoken, just raised an eyebrow at Maron, whether in incredulity or something else Maron did not know. The one of the two men standing between him and the third, a northerner by the look of it, just grinned and charged forth. Maron dodged the strike before hitting back but was blocked by the northerner's sword. He then put his weight behind the inter-locked blades and pushed the man back before quickly swiping at him sending him sprawling as the northerner tried to dodge. The second northerner at that point then intervened to stop any fatal blow to his friend and swung a few times at Maron who dodged or blocked the strikes. It was then that the third, the one who had spoken and didn't look northern, stepped forward and raised his crossbow tubular metal thing. Suddenly there was a very loud bang. Maron felt himself being flung onto his back, his chest aching painfully and now bleeding badly. He screamed in agony, feeling weaker and weaker as the seconds passed. He tried to move but he felt limp and he could barely lift his head to look up where he saw the man who had clearly fired something at him looking down at him sadly. As the seconds ticked by the non-northerner handed his object to one of the north men and drew his sword. He placed it to Maron's neck and push it through quickly. Maron was dead before his head touched the deck. His last thoughts were of his brothers and sister and how the Ironborn had doomed themselves before the Red Anchor.

Cosmo watched dispassionately from the bridge as his galleys rammed, forced ashore or boarded the enemy fleet. He had lost only thirteen ships. Six of the captured longships and seven galleys, from boarding actions and collisions. In return, 20 longships had been captured. Another dozen were beached which the Flints were dealing with it, Cosmo had sent a message to them warning of likely survivors going ashore. The other ships were sunk or sinking due to scorpion and ballista strikes. The carracks had in fact not needed to fire their cannons since the galleys and the Silence had smashed the enemy lines allowing for his marines to board ships or for the galleys to sink them via their artillery strikes or rams. In all, nearly the entire fleet of longships had been defeated. A handful had managed to escape and return south but that was unavoidable. 'Better rest now, plus they still don't know our full capability. Only time will tell if we need to deploy it' he though as he took a grim satisfaction in winning this battle. Now it was on to the Islands themselves to prepare it for the invasion.