i.
The Vilnix Pompolnius
Xelius Pulnix, Imperial Governor of Great Glade, stroked his pointed chin thoughtfully. His lips curled upwards in a smirk.
It was time for all of this nonsense to come to an end. Time for Omniphrax to fall.
Xelius Pulnix, had been alive for hundreds of years, preserved by the life-giving water of the Riverrise spring. He and Bloodhem Spikeflail were the only ones permitted access to the water, other than the Glorious Leader, Vartolius Xax himself. And, speaking of which…
"What do you want?" said Xelius Pulnix coolly, turning to face Bloodhem Spikeflail and his lieutenant, Mother Muleclaw.
"My hammerheads all want to be involved in the action," growled the Warden General of Hive. "Normally a company or two is kept below deck, but…"
"I'll allow them all to join in," said Xelius Pulnix. "And I assume you're here for a similar request, Mother Muleclaw? All of the sisters may participate."
Bloodhem Spikeflail scowled. "We came up here for your recommendation, not your permission."
"What does it matter?" said Xelius Pulnix, raising his eyebrows.
"It matters because you've gotten too big for your boots, Pulnix. You seem to think that you've become the Glorious Leader's second-in-command, and can order me around. Well, I've got a reality check for you. We're both Governors, and as such, we are equals."
"You seem to forget that the Vilnix Pompolnius is my vessel," snapped Xelius Pulnix, coloring up. "As long as you are on board, I am in charge."
"Do you honestly think that this ship would be as mighty without our goblins and shrykes?" snarled Bloodhem.
"We'd make do," replied Xelius Pulnix coldly. "Now, get out of my cabin."
Bloodhem turned and stormed out of the cabin in disgust, Mother Muleclaw and her scrawny shryke-mate following along in his wake.
Xelius Pulnix smiled. How often had they had this conversation, and how tired he was of it. But it wouldn't be long before that upstart Warden General learned his place. Whatever ferocity the hammerheads and shrykes put into the battle, it would be he, Xelius Pulnix, who got all the credit once Omniphrax was blown to open sky. It was, after all, his ship, and his weapons, and there were plenty of soldiers from the Great Glade Military on board. This time, Vartolius Xax would at last recognize him as the mightiest, cleverest, most faithful servant of the Empire. And there would be rewards…fantastic rewards…
Wait a minute…what in Sky's name was that?
Xelius Pulnix dashed to the window of his cabin and looked out into the sky. There was something there…something vast…
Xelius Pulnix fumbled inside his uniform for his brasswood telescope. Seizing it, he gazed at the strange object. His eyes widened in shock.
It was another sky ship…a sky ship almost as large as the Vilnix Pompolnius itself, and armed to the teeth with First- and Third-Age weaponry. Its flight-rock was enormous—larger than any he had ever seen—and perfectly smooth. He could just make out the name, printed in gold lettering near the bow.
"Edgesaver?" he muttered. His eyes narrowed. "Damn and blast that academic scum to open sky! How did they conceal such a vessel from the Empire all these years? This changes matters."
A wicked grin spread over his gaunt face. "This means it'll take me slightly longer to wipe them off the face of the Edge."
ii.
The Pirate Academic Fleet
"Here are the orders from High Senator Burlix," panted Philbus Venvax, tearing onto the deck where the Pirates Academic were gathered. Everyone immediately stood to attention. "We are to embark immediately, and stay in battle formation for as long as possible. Captains, be sure to stay close to nearby ships; be ready to defend your neighbors from attack. And the instant that the glisterbeam is within range, shoot whatever you can at it.
"The outcome of this initial mission will determine how the entire battle will play out. If we fail, Omniphrax stands no chance. But we shall not fail…we have the skills and the materials, and with Earth and Sky as our witnesses, we will take out that glisterbeam!"
A resounding cheer followed the Pirate General's words, punctuated by war cries and stamping. Bron looked around, and saw Raziel beckoning to him. He scurried over. As Raziel's right hand, he would be sailing with her. At the same time, Leris was also coming aboard as their stone pilot.
"Are the two of you ready for this?" Raziel said.
Bron and Leris nodded. Raziel smiled in approval and leaped off the deck of the Edgesaver, landing four feet below on the deck of her new sky ship. Bron and Leris followed suit, and looked around the deck of the ship. The Nimbuscleaver was every bit as magnificent and sleek as the Squallskipper had been.
"On my command, assume formation and advance!" shouted the amplified voice of Philbus Venvax. Bron grabbed some of the tolley-ropes and prepared to release the sails. Leris climbed up onto the flight-rock platform and readied a pair of cooling rods. Raziel strode to the helm and adjusted the bone-handled flight levers.
"NOW!" roared Philbus Venvax. Bron pulled on the ropes, and the sails billowed out. At the same time, Raziel adjusted the flight levers, and Leris chilled the flight-rock in a hiss of steam. The Nimbuscleaver leapt into the air, as all of the surrounding sky ships did the same, forming a great V in the air, just as the ancient sky pirates of the First Age had done in their epic clashes with murderous leaguesmen.
Philbus Venvax's own ship, the Vortex Slicer, led the great swarm towards the hazy figure of the Vilnix Pompolnius. The Vortex Slicer fell through the air, curving back upwards to skim the canopy of the Deadwoods. If they were to approach the Vilnix Pompolnius from below, it would take longer for its crew to realize what was happening. But they would inevitably find out sooner or later, so the Pirates Academic were taking no chances.
"Secure the mast bindings!" shouted Raziel from the helm. "And make sure the phraxcannon is bolted down!"
"Aye aye!" called back Bron, and he hastily made the necessary checks. "Everything secure, Captain! The Nimbuscleaver is ready for battle!"
The Vilnix Pompolnius now loomed before them, looking every bit as formidable and terrifying as it had on the day it attacked Twilight's Edge. Its massive glisterjets were pulsing with a blinding red light, its propulsion ducts screaming like a rampaging beast, the metal platforms and walkways on the deck covered with every kind of weapon imaginable.
Bron could feel his heart pounding. He also felt a surge of energy, a combination of exhilaration and rage. The days of Omniphrax hiding and shielding itself were gone. At last, it was time to repay the Empire for its brutality!
iii.
The deck of the Edgesaver
"There go the Pirates Academic," said Durix, leaning over the balustrade of the Edgesaver and gazing through his telescope. "In a few moments, the battle will officially begin."
"Bron and Leris and Captain Tollinix are out there," said Celestia, her eyes wide with fear. "Do you think they'll be all right?"
"They'll be fine," said Durix confidently. "After our adventure, a mission like this will be no problem."
Celestia said nothing, but continued to stare in the direction of the Vilnix Pompolnius.
"Remember," said Durix harshly, fingering the phraxpistol at his belt. "We have a mission of our own. Once the Vilnix Pompolnius gets close enough, we'll need to repel boarders."
Celestia's face hardened. "You're right," she said, gripping the handle of her own phraxpistol. "And if anything happens to our friends, we'll see to it that the Empire pays in blood!" Durix started, taken aback by Celestia's abrupt change of tone.
"You're a strong-willed lass, you are, no doubt about that!" boomed a voice from behind them. Durix and Celestia turned to see Sergeant Scythefang standing before them. "I only wish your friend was still with us…but I suppose he was always meant to be a Pirate Academic."
"When do you think the battle will reach us, sir?" asked Durix.
"Hard to say," said Sergeant Scythefang. "Depends on a lot of things. But we may not have much more time to prepare ourselves." He suddenly switched back to his usual brisk, curt demeanor. "Everyone jump to it! I want all weaponry primed for launch!"
"Wuh-wuh!" came the yodeled reply. A dozen banderbears, led by Meerowa, were marching along the deck, checking that all the catapults, harpoons, and phraxcannon were in working order. One of them stopped, eyes fixed on Durix and Celestia. "Wuh!" she exclaimed in surprise and delight. She marched over to the pair of them and pulled them into a rib-cracking hug.
"Worremol!" said Celestia "You made it!"
The banderbear looked at them fondly, and then stared out at the massive glistership drawing ever closer.
"Wurgh!" she growled, baring her teeth. Her colossal tusks glinted menacingly. She, too, was ready to fight.
"You know what?" said Celestia to Durix. "I can't wait for this battle. It's what all of our lives have been leading up to, and no matter what happens, Omniphrax will gain back its dignity."
iv.
The "escort" fleet
Nate Quarter absentmindedly played with the flight levers of the Zephyrblaster. He had very little experience flying this type of ship, but he was quickly getting better. As the sky pirates of old used to say, he was developing the touch. And, as the captain of one of the "escort" ships, it was imperative that he fly well…for he needed to do everything in his power to shield the flight-rock cage of the Edgesaver from damage.
"You really are a natural," came a voice inside Nate's head. He wheeled around to look at Verticule on the flight-rock platform. "If you had been born in the First Age, you would have been the talk of Wilderness Lair."
Nate did not answer. He glanced at the massive cage of the Edgesaver's flight-rock, and then turned to look at the blackened, brambly Deadwoods below. "It's the Empire," he said at last. "It was always the Empire. They've done all of this." he swept his hand around in an arc. "They pulled the Edge back into tyranny. They stifled the free pursuit of knowledge. And I'm sure that it was something they did that led to the Blight."
His face darkened. "It is even their fault that I was imprisoned in New Edgelands. The waifs had good reason to live in fear…to trust nobody. They narrowly escaped genocide." He nodded solemnly at Verticule.
Verticule returned the nod, looking grave. "Do you believe that we have a chance of victory?"
"I'm sure we do," said Nate, looking ahead to the approaching form of the Vilnix Pompolnius. "But the magnitude of that chance, I couldn't tell you."
v.
The Pirate Academic Fleet
"They're charging the glisterbeam!" shouted Raziel.
The air was full of a new sound, which was drowning out the screaming of the propulsion ducts; a rasping hum which was growing in volume. The power of the glisterjets was being diverted into the glisterbeam. The crew of the Vilnix Pompolnius were preparing to fire it at the Edgesaver.
"Attack the beam! NOW!" came the voice of Philbus Venvax. At once, hundreds of projectiles soared at the glisterbeam. Half of them found their mark, and the horrible machine shuddered and sparked as pipes were disconnected and wires knocked out of place. But the damage was not significant; they had only slowed down the charging rate of the glisterbeam.
All at once, the Vilnix Pompolnius retaliated with a terrible ferocity. Phraxfire globes deluged the great fleet of sky ships, and deckhands immediately abandoned their posts to extinguish rapidly spreading white-hot fires tearing through decks and sails. At the same time, several small glistercraft flew up into the air, loaded with roaring hammerhead goblins and screeching shryke sisters, waving bloody scythes and bone-flails. Most of these vessels shot off in the direction of the Edgesaver, but several of them began to close in on the Pirates Academic.
"Outer flanks, repel the boarders!" bellowed Philbus Venvax. "Inner flanks, take out the glisterbeam!" The sky ships on the edge of the great formation launched an assault on the swarm of approaching glistercraft. Some of the vessels exploded, but many more managed to dodge the mass of projectiles. These ships shot out ropes, and lashed themselves to the sides of some of the pirate ships. In an instant, the Pirates Academic drew out cutlasses, phraxpistols, and any other weapon they had, fiercely repelling the shrykes and hammerheads.
Meanwhile, the glisterbeam was throbbing and glowing with energy. It was only a matter of seconds before it would charge up enough to fire. Bron dashed to the phraxcannon at the end of the Nimbuscleaver's deck, and pulled the mechanism. With a deafening explosion, a phraxshell flew straight at the glisterbeam, and collided with the central chamber.
The glisterbeam shuddered, and a shower of white sparks emanated from the chamber. "We're almost there!" shouted Philbus Venvax. "Don't let up!"
The mechanism was now so bright that it was painful to look at. Bron could tell that it was about to fire. At that moment, a fresh volley of phraxshells from the other sky ships deluged the glisterbeam, pounding it again and again, and all of a sudden, the central chamber broke.
There was a blinding flash of light, and with the sound of roaring and shattering, the glisterbeam broke up in a mass of flying shrapnel and black smoke. Brilliant tendrils of energy snaked across the deck of the Vilnix Pompolnius, twisting and undulating, knocking Phraxguardians off their feet. When the smoke cleared, Bron saw that nothing remained of the glisterbeam except a twisted, blackened mass of metal.
Bron punched the air and yelled in triumph. Raziel and Leris were whooping. Shouts of victory could be heard from every one of the sky ships. They had done it! The glisterbeam was obliterated!
"And now," said Bron grimly, looking down at the deck of the Vilnix Pompolnius, "the real battle begins."
"Pirates, retreat to the Edgesaver!" came Philbus Venvax's voice. "Our first job is completed. It is time to fall back to the second line of defense."
vi.
The deck of the Edgesaver
"This is going to be rough!" shouted Thurt Grayle.
All around the Edgesaver, small glistercraft were closing in. Phraxguardians, shrykes, and hammerheads, all armed to the teeth with various weapons, were closing in on the great ship.
"Repel the enemy in any way you can!" roared Thurt Grayle. "But do not use the catapults or phraxcannon! They are to be used against the Vilnix Pompolnius once it is within range!"
"Aye aye, General!" yelled the mass of Twilight Marines. Many of them dashed over to the larger weapons, waiting for the Vilnix Pompolnius. The rest of them, Durix and Celestia included, joined the Undertowners and the banderbears in the efforts to turn away the smaller vessels.
Taking aim with their phraxpistols, Durix and Celestia fired at an incoming craft. Most of the shots glanced harmlessly off the hull, but two of them shattered the craft's right glisterjet. Just as the glisterjet on the Mollus Leddix had done, the chamber burst in a shower of rainbow streaks as the glister within zoomed off into the sky. However, the craft was already above the Edgesaver, so when it capsized, the party of vicious hammerhead goblins fell onto the deck. A throng of Undertowners leaped on them before they could gain their bearings, and tossed them over the balustrade, but more boarders were landing.
The chaos and explosions and screaming were just as terrible as they had been on that day at Twilight's Edge. How long ago it now seemed to Durix and Celestia. But this time, the stakes were so much higher.
The two of them hastily reloaded their phraxpistols and shot at a screeching flock of shrykes. Three of them collapsed, blood pouring from their necks, but the rest of them surged forward.
At the same time, a louder series of booms rocked the deck of the Edgesaver. The Vilnix Pompolnius was launching glisterbombs at the hull! But at the same time, the Twilight Marines responded with blazing harpoons and explosive phraxshells which slammed into the side of the great glistership, causing just as much damage as they had been dealt.
The shuddering knocked many of the boarders off their feet, but most of the Undertowners and Marines managed to remain upright, seizing their chance and dealing deadly blows. Meanwhile, the banderbears were defending the deck with terrible fury, bellowing and howling as they swiped, bit, and crushed the enemy, whose weapons were barely making them flinch.
Nevertheless, the Edgesaver was slowly but surely being overwhelmed. And now, the governors themselves were starting to arrive. Mother Muleclaw was zooming around the deck on a prowlgrin mount, and now the long-haired goblins of the New Hemtuft Battleaxe Legion were arriving, led by the Warden General himself, Bloodhem Spikeflail.
"Earth and Sky protect us all," muttered Durix, as he and Celestia continued their own efforts.
vii.
The "escort" fleet
"The Freeglade Lancers!" shouted Nate.
Hundreds of small glistercraft were heading for the "escort" ships, piloted by sinister black-robed Freeglade Lancers. At the front of the group was the Commander of the Great Glade Military, Bruto Spleethe, a terrible sneer twisting his face. "Take these ships out!" Nate heard him scream. "If we get them out of the way, their flight-rock will be vulnerable!"
Acting upon Nate's unspoken command, Verticule doused the flight-rock with chilled earth, causing it to plummet and dodge several incoming phraxfire globes.
"We must not do that again, Captain Quarter," came the voice of Verticule inside Nate's head. "Our task is to shield the flight-rock. Our own safety is second priority."
"Forgive me," said Nate. "I wasn't thinking."
"But we should certainly attempt to repair our ship should it be damaged,"amended Verticule. "And we also must try to repel the Lancers."
With that, Verticule set the flight-burners to maintain a constant temperature to hold the flight-rock in place, and leaped down from the platform. Taking aim with the Zephyrblaster's swivel-catapult, he launched a blazing ironwood missile at Bruto Spleethe's vessel. Spleethe swerved to avoid it, and the missile instead hit a Freeglade Lancer's glistercraft, which dropped from the sky and smashed into two more as it spiraled down towards the Deadwoods below.
Abruptly, the Zephyrblaster shuddered violently in a flash of light and a great bang. A glisterbomb had torn right through the side of the forehull, leaving a gaping hole. The sails flapped and collapsed, and the ship dived. Verticule instantly jumped back onto the flight-rock platform and chilled the rock, bringing the wounded ship back under control. As wind whistled through the opening in the hull, the Zephyrblaster swayed to and fro. Nate's fingers danced up and down the hull-weight levers with skill that he didn't know he possessed. The ship was slowly brought back under his control.
Meanwhile, Nate was pleased to see that the fleet of "escort" ships was holding up well against the Freeglade Lancers. For every hit to the ships, two or three Freeglade Lancers were being shot down. But unfortunately, they were vastly outnumbered, and even now, the rest of the Great Glade Military was joining the Freeglade Lancers in the assault of the "escort" ships. The enemy had clearly realized the importance of these sky ships to the safety of the Edgesaver.
"How much more will we have to take?" muttered Nate grimly.
viii.
The Pirate Academic Fleet
"The Edgesaver's in trouble," said Raziel, pointing to the deck of the ship. "They're being overwhelmed."
Bron knew Raziel was right. As good of a fight as they were putting up, it wasn't good enough. There were simply too many of them to fight off. At the same time, the Vilnix Pompolnius was less than three hundred strides from the Edgesaver, which was not faring as well in close-range battle.
It was time for the Pirates Academic to rejoin the fray.
"We'll need to split up!" shouted Philbus Venvax from the central ship. "Left flank, protect the 'escort' ships from the Great Glade Military! Right flank, assist the Undertowners and Twilight Marines! Center, attack the Vilnix Pompolnius!"
The great formation of sky ships separated into three, and Raziel, Bron, and Leris followed the right flank. The Nimbuscleaver swooped low over the deck of the Edgesaver. Taking aim with her crossbow, Leris repeatedly fired and reloaded with incredible rapidity and accuracy, hitting shrykes, hammerheads, longhairs, and Phraxguardians. Several other sky ships followed, and while few of the Pirates on board were as accurate as Leris, they were managing to kill dozens and dozens of enemy soldiers.
The Nimbuscleaver overshot the deck of the Edgesaver, and swooped low, towards the flight-rock. Here, too, the tide of the battle was turning. Not only were the Freeglade Lancers and military personnel being shot down in droves by the Pirates Academic, the large sky ships were also knocking aside the smaller vessels, sending the pilots careening out of their seats. The air was soon thick with falling glistercraft.
Bron heard a thud behind him, turned, and felt an icy chill surging through his chest. Bruto Spleethe himself had fallen from his downed vessel, and was now getting to his feet, drawing a glistergun from his belt.
Bron threw himself out of the way of the pulses of energy from the weapon. "Captain Tollinix! It's Spleethe! He's on board!" he screamed.
Raziel wheeled around in alarm. "You!" she cried.
"The famed Raziel Tollinix," growled Spleethe. He fired the glistergun in her direction. She hurled herself to the side to avoid it, and it hit the steering wheel instead, which spun wildly. The Nimbuscleaver bucked and lurched, flying straight for the wall of "escort" ships.
"Captain!" shouted Leris. "Nate and Verticule! They're in trouble!"
Temporarily forgetting all about Spleethe, Bron turned around. They were heading towards the Zephyrblaster, which was listing badly. There was a huge hole in the forehull, and the flight-rock cage was splintering. Three Freeglade Lancers were pounding it with a barrage of glisterbombs.
Raziel frantically steadied the steering wheel, pulling it in the opposite direction. The Nimbuscleaver swung around, smashing into the Lancers' glistercraft and sending them plummeting towards the Deadwoods, screaming all the way. But it was too late for the Zephyrblaster. Nate and Verticule dashed down to the side of the deck, and as the Nimbuscleaver soared past, they jumped aboard. Behind them, the Zephyrblaster broke apart in the air.
Spleethe, who had taken advantage of the confusion, was now aiming the glistergun at Raziel again. But before he could shoot, Verticule drew out a club and hit Spleethe on the back of the head. The blow hadn't been very strong, and Spleethe remained conscious, but he looked unsteadied. He took aim with his gun once more.
"Chill the flight-rock, NOW!" yelled Raziel. Leris obliged, and the sudden upward acceleration knocked Spleethe off his feet. He bounced across the deck, and, just as the Nimbuscleaver rose up past the side of the Edgesaver, he tumbled overboard. Spleethe landed on the deck, and was immediately stampeded by the banderbears. Bron looked down just in time to see Meerowa raise Spleethe above his head, and with a deafening roar, hurl him over the side. The banderbears had gotten their revenge.
By now, the deck of the Edgesaver was covered in bodies. Some of them were academics, but the vast majority were enemy shrykes, goblins, and Phraxguardians. "Look!" shouted Bron, pointing down. "Muleclaw and Spikeflail!"
The governors of Hive were dead, their bodies riddled with crossbow bolts. All over the deck, Undertowners and Marines were cheering. But the battle wasn't over yet.
Now that the boarders had been dealt with, all efforts were directed at attacking the Vilnix Pompolnius itself. Blazing harpoons, ironwood missiles, and phraxshells pounded the hull, the propulsion ducts, the glisterjets. Fires broke out all over the ship, pipes fell out of place, windows shattered. The Phraxguardians on board were frantically trying to bring everything under control, with no success.
Suddenly, a new figure emerged from the control tower at the back of the ship. All eyes turned to this individual, who was tearing across the deck.
"It's him!"
"It's Xelius Pulnix!"
"He's making a run for it!"
Bron could tell that the governor of Great Glade knew all was lost. He was sprinting towards the emergency craft at the front of the vessel, shoving aside Phraxguardians with such force that some were sent flying.
The Edgesaver responded by surging forwards, ramming the Vilnix Pompolnius. The deck of the glistership bucked. Xelius Pulnix fell flat on his face, but leapt back to his feet and kept going.
Raziel pulled a lever. The Nimbuscleaver shot forwards with tremendous speed, flying low over the deck of the Vilnix Pompolnius. Close to, Bron could see that the damage to the ship was critical. The glisterjets were cracked and sparking, and the whole vessel was vibrating uncontrollably.
"Surrender!" Raziel shouted at the fleeing figure below them.
"You'll never take me!" came the reply.
Raziel began to descend further towards the deck. As Xelius Pulnix clambered into the emergency craft, Bron took aim with the phraxcannon once again, and fired. A phraxshell flew straight into the glisterjet of the craft, causing a huge explosion which knocked Xelius Pulnix backwards. He landed back on the deck of the Vilnix Pompolnius, completely winded.
In a flash, Leris dived from the flight-rock platform, slid down the grappling rope, and came to land right next to Xelius Pulnix, drawing her cutlass from her belt. She bent down and looked at him. "Remember me?" she said icily, pulling up her greatcoat to reveal the livid scar across her stomach. "I don't believe I ever got the chance to return the favor."
And with that, she thrust her blade right through his heart.
"Get back on board!" shouted Raziel in alarm. She had maneuvered the Nimbuscleaver so that it was right next to the shuddering deck of the Vilnix Pompolnius. "The ship is going down!"
Leris turned and ran, vaulting the balustrade, coming to rest back on the deck of the Nimbuscleaver. Climbing back up onto the flight-rock platform, she plunged a cooling rod into the porous surface of the rock. The ship drifted upwards, and Raziel steered it back towards the Edgesaver.
Bron turned to look at the Vilnix Pompolnius. The glistership was now shaking violently, and issuing clouds of steam and flashes of light. Suddenly, no longer able to withstand the pressure, the damaged glisterjets blew out. The six massive propulsion ducts went dark, the ship fell silent, and the whole thing fell through the sky, gathering speed, until…
CRASH!
The fearsome, mighty flagship of Vartolius Xax's Empire smashed into pieces in the Deadwoods.
For several moments, there was silence. Nobody spoke. Nobody moved at all. The only sound was the wind blowing through the sails of the sky ships.
And then, as if by a prearranged signal, everyone erupted into deafening cheers. Everybody screamed and stamped their feet and threw their arms in the air and danced and hugged and cried with joy. The Vilnix Pompolnius was destroyed. The governors were dead. For the first time in history, Omniphrax had dealt the Empire a genuine blow.
The main doors to the Edgesaver's aftcastle swung open, to reveal Tesener Burlix, looking stunned, but beaming all the same. He raised his hands, and after several minutes, he managed to quiet everybody down.
"We have done it," he said. "It is time to return to Omniphrax. We will decide our next course of action there."