Why the Leviathan was over Austria-Hungary was the least of Deryn Sharp's troubles. At the present time, she was scaling the ratlines of the massive airship, which was in the process of being ripped apart by three Clanker flying machines. Bullets were flying every which way and, on top of that, her hair had grown out and was whipping around in her face, distorting her vision. Deryn mused that perhaps the real reason she dressed up as a man and joined the His Majesties Royal Air Force was so she could hack off the infuriating bundle.
But this was no time for idle thoughts; she needed to help Newkirk with feeding the flechette bats, though hopefully the bumrag could put aside his daft Monkey Luddite fears and make some project in the meantime. Deryn didn't want to admit it, but each time the Leviathan's beasties returned to the ship, their numbers were fewer and fewer.
Dead soldiers and officers, men she probably knew, hung from their harnesses all around her, but she forced herself not to look at their faces. Any stray bullet could fly out and hit her, and that would be it. It would all be over. She would just be another soul lost to the chaos of war another body that they wouldn't be able to return to her mother in Glaslow because she failed to attach her harness to the side of the ship.
But she was Midshipman Dylan Sharp, possibly the most valuable 'man' in the Air Force, and she would not go down without a fight.
More to come, I promise! Please review and I'm sorry if I mispelled anything, it was kind of rushed.