Airship bound for Tenebrae
Ignis jumped down from the catwalk leading up to the cockpit, a grim expression marring his features. A quick scan confirmed his passengers were all accounted for in the hangar, not the most ideal space but conditions were hospitable enough. The racks meant for transporting MT units were absent from this particular model and the space had instead been outfitted with tightly packed seats equipped with safety harnesses intended for mobilizing soldiers – not that Noct or the others often saw fit to make use of them. He found them all milling about the open cargo space in various states of readiness and, once again, it was Prompto who first took notice of his approach, looking up from his phone with curiosity in his gaze. It was Noct, however, who addressed his unexpected appearance. "What's up, Iggy?"
"I've picked up outgoing reports of a train bearing refugees to Tenebrae under attack by daemons."
The information had Gladio pausing in the midst of sharpening one of his overlarge swords. "Daemons, at this hour?"
Prompto double checked the time on his phone. "Yeah, seriously, it should be broad daylight outside."
"They were likely picked up in the tunnels cutting through the mountains." And Ignis predicted that soon any amount of darkness would be enough to embolden the creatures.
Ravus appeared to consider the theory. "Curious. Day by day the nights are growing longer. Could this phenomenon be affecting the daemons as well?"
"Such a correlation is hardly impossible, though one I'd hoped we'd not experience so soon." Luna spoke low and upset, as if her own failings were to blame for the situation at hand.
"It's not out of the question. the Empire's already slain half the Six. No wonder the world's in disarray," Gladio reasoned.
"Might as well see it for ourselves," Noct decided. "This train close by?"
"Yeah, maybe we can help." Prompto practically bounced with enthusiasm at the idea.
"The train is just north of us in the Pagla region," Ignis supplied. "But I should warn you all, imperial activity is markedly high in the area."
"Tch, I smell a trap," Gladio made no qualms about expressing his suspicion.
"Likely a wise assumption," Ravus agreed. "This may very well be Ardyn's doing."
Noct scowled. "Even if it is, it's not like we can just leave those people to die."
Ravus released a weary sigh. "Noct, while I can admire your altruism, that is precisely what the chancellor will be counting on."
"Great, can't wait to punch his smug face in when we get there," Noct rebutted impatiently.
"Noct –"
Noct didn't relent. "After everything he's done I can't just stand by and let him keep hurting innocent people and doing whatever the hell he wants!"
"Kid's got a point," Gladio broke up the ensuing face off. "These may not be Lucian citizens but we'd be no better than the imperials if we left them for the daemons."
"I don't like this," Ravus stalled. "We're playing right into the chancellor's hands."
"Not like we've got much choice," Noct groused.
"Um, the Empire wouldn't just, you know, do nothing, right? I mean, if it's got bases in the area they wouldn't leave their own people high and dry… would they?"
Prompto's question ended up directed toward Ignis, the blond pinning him with a tentatively hopeful expression. Ignis was almost sorry to disappoint. "The lives and welfare of the citizenry mean nothing to the emperor or his commanders, and certainly not to the likes of Ardyn. They will not hesitate to bargain with human lives. Trap or no, every soul on that train is in very real danger."
"Super, guess we better not keep the creep waiting." Mind made up, Noctis looked to Ignis. "Can you get us there?"
"I'll alter our course." Ignis turned back toward the cockpit. He could only hope they were prepared for what lay ahead. Ardyn doubtless had made ready for them.
The forward hanger door opened with an explosive sigh, inviting powerful winds that grasped at anything not fastened down or immobile, endeavoring to drag them all out toward the yawning chasm beyond the parting metal. Lunafreya winced as her hair and clothing were tugged every which direction in the wild tempest, finding new appreciation for her recent change of dress. On occasion dresses really could be an inconvenience.
"There's the train," Prompto pointed out just as the doors pulled back enough to reveal the rails below.
"Thing's covered in daemons." Gladio frowned down at the small legion of goblins skittering over the cars and the arachne crowding dangerously close to the engine.
Prompto winced. "No kidding, how are we gonna get 'em all off?"
Noct touched a hand to his ear, activating his comm. The resulting echo in their ears as he spoke beside them was oddly dissonant. "Hey, Iggy, there's weapons on this thing, right?"
Static buzzed over the channel a beat before Ignis' voice replied, "None we could easily utilize without further endangering the passengers, I'm afraid."
"Then we've gotta get down there. Can you get us closer?" Noct leaned out over the opening, bending his knees and edging toward the end of the loading platform.
"I'll see what I can do."
"Right." Noct dropped his hand and glanced back to his friends. "Catch you guys later."
"Noct, wait –"
Noct warped down to the roof of the train before Gladio could do more than shout endearments at his blue afterimage. Further flashes of warp magic accompanied with sparks of steel tailed Noct's progress as he started picking off the goblins.
"Must he always be so rash?" Ravus sighed.
Prompto grinned. "Wouldn't be Noct otherwise."
Within but a few moments Ignis maneuvered the airship into position for Gladio, Prompto and Ravus to jump down to the train and join their wayward king. Lunafreya remained on the ship. It was not completely unreasonable that Ignis would have need of assistance in the event everything did not go as planned.
Gripping a hand hold along the wall of the ship tightly as they rose away from the train and the daemon presence below – pulling back to a safer distance – she caught a glimpse of Noct and his friends making quick work of the goblin horde before the hangar was resealed. Afterwards, she had only the snippets of conversation exchanged over the comms. The fighting sounded to be going well mostly, but a fuller picture would be available to her in the cockpit.
The disconnected chatter continued as she climbed the steps to the front of the ship.
"A number of the daemons have infiltrated the cars. I'm going in to clear them out."
"Got it. S peak up if you need some backup."
"Understood."
"Hey, watch your six!"
"I see 'em."
"Dude, nice!"
Sliding into the red upholstered seat alongside her brother granted her a somewhat limited view of the surrounding airspace; she could just make out the figures of Noct, Prompto and Gladio on the roof of the train ahead. Not the most ideal, but a marked improvement from waiting blind in the hanger.
Ignis spared a moment from keeping track of the ship's multitude of gauges to offer her a brief acknowledgment before a shrill beeping caused them both to look back to the ship's instruments. Whatever the source, Ignis seemed to comprehend it's meaning, almost immediately reaching for his comm to fill in the others. "I'm picking up something on my radar."
"So the trap has already sprung," Ravus voice came through slightly strained, rising over the panicked clamor of the train's passengers.
The others must have investigated the sky because Prompto was next to speak over the channel. "Um, guys, that's a lot of company!"
"I see them," Ignis replied, narrowing his eyes toward several incoming airships. "Seven ships by my count." Which seemed like a lot more than she was able to pick out amidst the surrounding snow clouds, but then she really shouldn't be surprised by Ignis' more comprehensive vision anymore.
"Fantastic, how're we gonna deal with them and all these daemons?" Gladio grunted with effort, most likely holding off an attack of some sort.
"We'll think of something, okay," came Noct's hurried response.
But if Noct and his friends' attention was split between the airships and the remaining daemons more of the passengers would surely perish. Unacceptable. Luna tapped her earpiece. "No, you must focus on protecting the train. We'll hold them off."
"Sure you guys'll be okay?" Noct didn't sound thrilled with her plan but at least he hadn't protested.
Ignis sent a quick look her way before answering, "We'll manage. Be cautious. The airships will likely attempt to slip past us to target the train but the daemons are the more immediate threat to the passengers."
"Roger that. We'll make sure to handle these guys first."
As soon as Noct cut off his comm Lunafreya turned to her brother. "About those weapons…"
The turrets on the side hanger doors were outfitted with double barreled canons and thick, metal shielding meant to defend against return fire. Lunafreya slipped behind its protection as she grabbed hold of the controls.
"I've taken the starboard side," She reported in, trusting Ignis to present her with a target.
"Here they come," Her brother's voice announced as the first imperial vessel came into range. She angled the turret toward the approaching ship, mentally reviewing the brief instructions she'd received and aiming for the engines in hopes of disabling the ship quickly. The kickback nearly wrenched lose her grip but she managed to keep a handle on the weapon, watching as the dual spray of red laser rounds instead found its way inside her target's open hanger. Before she could correct its path the interior of the vessel sparked in a violent explosion. The ship lost altitude rapidly after that, black smoke spewing from its innards.
"Ignis."
"I saw it. The MTs they're transporting appear rigged to self-destruct on impact. They must be planning to use them to bomb the train. We can't let any of the airships pass."
"Then we won't."
"Hold on, more ships incoming."
Ignis' warning came moments before their ship accelerated sharply, forcing Lunafreya to brace against the turret to keep her footing. She heard the roar of ammunition fire before a stream of bullets pelted the side of their hull. Ignis has angled the ship so none entered the hanger but she could hear klaxons blaring elsewhere in the ship's interior.
Another ship came along their starboard and she wasted no time in targeting the vulnerable hanger. Like the last ship, the resulting explosion crippled the vessel within moments and sent it listing to the side to scrap against the next ship trying to slip around them to the train. Hot shrapnel from the first explosion caused yet another detonation, taking out the second ship as well.
"Luna, watch out, they're trying to surround us."
Lunafreya was considering moving to the other turret for a more suitable angle of attack when she heard a crash, not dissimilar to that of bodies tumbling across the floor of the hanger, followed by a noise made awful in its familiarity. MTs were always morbidly peculiar in the way they sounded, far closer to tortured screams than anything truly mechanical.
The noise was no less unsettling when coupled with the stilted way they pulled themselves to their feet, like puppets on strings. The two MTs brandished arms that broke open, transforming into automated gatling guns before opening fire. Lunafreya thought she might've heard her brother's panicked voice amid the ricochet of their bullets against her hastily thrown up barrier. Something about ramming?
The ship twisted into a sudden turn, nearly causing her and the MTs both to hit the deck. Taking advantage of the distraction she summoned a burst of white magic, blasting the MTs clear out of the hanger.
With their ship free of hostiles, Lunafreya practically slumped in relief, inordinately glad not to have to concern herself about worrying the others with the slip in her composure. Magic, it seemed, was steadily becoming more taxing on her body, enough that it might become problematic sooner rather than later. Speaking of worrying…
"Ignis?"
"Luna –!" Ignis' voice cutout as the ship shuddered, metal grinding horribly under the impact of some unseen force before the floor tilted. Lunafreya could only surmise they must've been hit as she was sent sprawling on her knees, sliding down toward the opposite hanger door and getting a generous view of dry sand dunes intermingled with expansive swaths of snow and ice characteristic of the terrain beneath them.
Reaching out for the only obstruction in her path, she latched onto the supports of the port side turret bolted into the deck, nearly wrenching her arm lose in the process. She clung to the cold metal, gasping as she watched her feet dangle over the impressive drop below. Then, mercifully, the ship leveled out and Lunafreya quickly pulled herself up behind the turret.
"Luna, are you alright?"
She took a breath, aiming for as calm a tone as possible before reaching for her earpiece. "I'm fine, we must keep going."
"Actually, you might want to pull back; there's likely to be a little divine intervention." That was Ravus. Lunafreya turned her attention back to the train, having been unable to keep track of their progress in all the chaos. If the sudden appearance of Leviathan over the nearby cliffs was any indication, it looked as though their daemon infestation would be taken care of shortly.
The Hydraean was no less outraged for their new alliance and viciously swept up the surviving daemons and airships, spearing them on watery claws. One ship that had managed to get uncomfortably close to the train was crushed in her massive jaws. Then, just as abruptly as she had arrived, she vanished into the distance, taking with her the drowned remains of the Empire's horde.
Her intervention gave them the battle, but not before their own vessel was leaking smoke from one of its primary engines. Ravus could likely see the signs of damage from where he'd gone to investigate the train's interior as she detected a note of genuine worry in his voice over the comms. "Lunafreya, Ignis, are the two of you alright?"
"Well enough, though our ship is in need of repair," Ignis dutifully reported. "Luna?"
"I am unharmed. But what of you and the others? Are the passengers safe?" She prayed none of the daemons or MTs had broken through.
"We've removed the daemon threat, but…"
"We haven't heard from Noct or Prompto in a while," Gladio finished. "Something could've gone wrong. Either of you see 'em from up there?"
Luna looked down to the train below. Despite the condition of their ship, they were flying at a substantially higher altitude then they had been before. Noct and Prompto could very well be on the roof of the train and Lunafreya unable to spot them.
"No sign of them yet. I'm bringing us in for a closer look."
But before Ignis could begin lowering the ship Noct's voice broke over the comms, "We've gotta stop this thing!"
"Noct! What's –" Ravus began only for Noctis to cut him off, words frantic.
"Prompto fell off the train. I pushed him – I mean, Ardyn made me –"
Gladio attempted to calm his king, "Slow down, Noct. Does that mean –"
"Didn't get the chance, looked like Ardyn had a gun to his head. I don't know where he is, but we can't leave him!" Noct continued, near hysterical.
Ravus spoke more gently than she'd ever heard him, "Noct, we can't. Night will fall soon, stopping the train would endanger everyone onboard. We'd be sitting ducks for the daemons."
"But… Ignis?" Noctis pleaded, clearly hoping Ignis would offer up a more encouraging option.
Lunafreya could practically feel her brother's hesitance to disappoint. Prompto and his cheerful disposition had grown on them both in the past weeks, in spite of Ignis' aversion to the young man's camera. Prompto's optimism had been invaluable during those moments of initial awkwardness and mistrust.
"I'm sorry, Noct. We took some damage in the firefight. We're close enough we ought to be able to manage limping the rest of the way to Tenebrae. But I'm afraid if we land now I won't be able to get the ship airborne again and, given the chancellor's involvement, it's probable your friend's no longer where we left him. In any case, he may try to contact us. We've not much choice but to wait and hope for now."
"Noct, can you make your way to the engine? Gladio is with me," Ravus asked.
"Yeah… Is everyone else okay at least?" Noct finally managed.
"Yes."
"Alright, I'm on my way."
As Lunafreya listened to the heavy words exchanged over the comms, she knew she must make ready to speak with Noctis. If Ardyn was forcing their hand then the time she had to give was at an end. She would uphold her duty and Noct would know of his fate.
Welp, this chapter has taught me how little I know about imperial airships, but it was also the most fun I've had writing Luna so I hope it was enjoyable! Now if only Prompto was having a good time...