Vengeance.

Search lights prowled the churning sea around the Davy Jones as its crew frantically loaded everything of value onto the prowler.

Pathos: "Give up, It's useless."

Sven: "They're gonna kill us no matter what we do!"

Sal: "Do ye blokes actually wanna give up?"

Pathos: "Face it, sal. Everyone else is dead. We're all that's left. We can't run, we can't hide, and we sure as hell can't fight em. Give up while yer behind, ye arrogant fool!"

"Fine. Stay here, I'm taking off with my ship."

Miles away, amidst a collection of small islands off the mainland, the newly named Vindicator sat idly in the moonlight. A distant beacon appeared briefly through the fog, then sank into the churning sea.

River turned from the railing and picked a small white cylinder out of a crate. A chemical flare crackled to life, and the crimson glow illuminated the foggy gloom. A shadowy figure appeared just beneath the water's surface, and out from the depths a familiar looming structure emerged.

"Hello, River. I am Thanatos. You already know my sister construct Eris, correct?"

"Yeah. Does she always talk in riddles or is she just screwing with us?"

"The former, I'm afraid. I convinced her to provide a more straightforward message for you.

"From the depths of the cosmos, after nearly three centuries of preparation, they will soon return. Once again all will know and fear the Scarlet Dawn. You have much to do. Though you are few, you can change the course of history.

"I will not lie to you, this undertaking will be monumental, even suicidal to complete. The grand Steel Empire's finest warriors once stood steadfast against the Scarlet Dawn, but they are no more, and their empire is reduced to ashes."

"You're putting an awful lot of faith in a science project gone wrong, an AWOL pilot, and a traitorous admiral, aren't you?"

"No. I'm putting my faith in what my sister can see in you. Where you see an experiment and two rogue soldiers, my sister sees something else entirely. I would tell you if I knew what she sees. We are both preoccupied with other tasks, but we will help you from the shadows. As for your enemies, their surrender is very near. Contact them immediately."

The looming colossus slipped back underwater without another sound. River slid down the ladder into the bridge and flipped a switch, hailing the Davy Jones.

"What d'ye want with us? Sal abandoned us, he's the one yer after!"

"Pathos, I'm not after revenge, I'm bringing you to justice. surrender unconditionally or face the consequences."

"And how do you plan on making us walk out of our fortress with our hands in the air, sweetheart-"

A distant explosion echoed through the radio's speaker, then again through the air moments later.

Sven: "HOLY SHIT! A giant robot just zapped the prowler! It's headed this way! We're all going to die!"

"Sven, calm the hell down. River, call off your damn attack robot!"

A shadowy metal face filled the window behind the two pirate lords.

"Stand down. Pathos, when I set foot on that fort, I want a full manifest and four sets of keys. You have eighteen hours to get that ready. Do I make myself clear?"

"Inescapably."

River flipped a switch and the screen went dark.

"Thanatos, Thanks for the hand."

"My pleasure. Our paths will now part ways for some time. As your kind say, good luck."