A Queen's War
Disclaimer: I do not own anything except the plot.
(A/N: Here's the sequel, as promised. I'm so nervous, I've never thought I'd be coming back to this universe! I'll give it my best but mind you, I don't have all the plot figured out. I've done away with 'Hard' POV's, they weren't that useful in the last FF.)
Chapter 1:
Bog Isles waters
"Incoming!", The berserker lookout screamed down to his crewmates. Thunk, the berserkers ran for cover when something lodged itself into the ship deck. Boom, Wood shrapnel was shot in all directions as the ship was heaved up from the sea, the deafening explosion shattered the vessel in two. the lookout up on the crow's-nest held on as he felt the mast cracking apart. He frantically looked around, boomer cannon fire thundered all around him. the berserkers much larger fleet was being picked apart by the Bog's smaller flotilla, the burglars' ships were completely unlike their Viking longships.
Resembling galleys, their hulls were lightly armored with Hive-steel plates to preserve speed and maneuverability. two levels of boomers were mounted on their decks, one for each flank. the 'snub' barrel variants of these boomers worked well with the Bogs 'Hit-and Run' style of attacks, making short work of the bigger, slower Berserker ships.
The Bog Burglars' fleet encircled the raider's boats, keeping them in range of their island's coastal gun batteries. The anti-siege Boomer emplacements pounded the trapped ships into dust, the mortar boomers lobbed explosive shells down on ships. the unfortunate raiding crews were ripped apart by the combined fire of the older skipper launders and the newer mortar boomers.
From their secure vantage point, Big Bertha and Camicazi observed the carnage with their gifted spyglasses, "This isn't even a fair fight, Mom". The Bog heiress sets down her small telescope, "Three to one, are they underestimating us on purpose?!".
"Chieftess, another fleet on the horizon!", Bogs called out from up on a nearby watchtower.
Camicazi extended her spyglass, focusing on the ships sailing towards their island, "Hiccup... it's hiccup!".
Berserker flagship
"Great chieftess, another fleet is coming!", all around Dagny, her sailors were frantically clearing the deck of her ship. although she kept her vessel far from the thick of the battle, a pair of bog ships slipped through her escorts. the smaller boats closed in on her flagship, each firing a salvo of boomer fire before quickly escaping her escorts.
"Gah!", the deranged woman kicked a pile of debris, "Sound the retreat, Savage!". The former Outcast timidly obeyed, blowing into his horn. the surviving berserker ships broke off their attack, wildly maneuvering through the floating wrecks of their former comrades. a few stragglers picked up fellow berserkers who clung on the derelicts or large flotsam. Dagny's damaged flagship led the fleeing armada through the gap left by the bog's returning to their island.
"Chieftess, the other fleet has turned towards us", Savage pointed at the closing reinforcing flotilla. the Citadel's galleons dwarfed the Bog's frigates, at the heart of their fleet was their flagship. the massive vessel was twice the size of its surrounding ships, its four enormous sails powered it through the water after the fleeing raiders. clad in layers upon layers of hive steel plates, only the openings of its boomer cannons left a gap in its protection. four levels of boomers on either side could lay waste to anything in range, three in its hull and the fourth on its deck. two fully enclosed heavy boomer turrets were built into the deck, one on the foredeck and one on the aft. the shortest ranged weaponry the prince's personal flagship had been small swivel boomers mounted on the rails of his ship, which could be unlatched to be repositioned elsewhere along the ship's rails.
"They'll run us down!", Dagny looked around, grinning as she sees something to slow down the chasing fleet. "Savage!", he sees what his leader was planning.
"But Chieftess, they're on our allies!", he protested, making the deranged woman march over to his crew's catapult. she shoves Savage away from the controls, aiming the siege engine at a following ship. Dagny kicks the latch, launching the boulder at the boat's masts. the mercenary crew dive for cover as their ship's sails come crashing down, slowing their speed down to a crawl.
"There, wasn't that hard, you spineless worm", Dagny picks up the timid man, ordering him to get the crew working again.
Dragon Hunter's ship
"Viggo, are you alright?!", Ryker Grimborn searched the debris covered deck with the crew.
"I'm fine, brother", the dragon hunter chieftain crawled out from under the sail from their broken mast, "Is anyone else injured?".
"None so far", Ryker helped a crewman roll up the relatively intact sail, "That woman crippled our ship!". Thunk, a grappling hook latched onto their ship's rails, bringing the slow vessel to a halt. "What was that?!", another hook dug itself on the other side, "Cut us loose, men!".
A crewman rushed to dislodge the snare, "Whoa!", he barely manages to duck behind the railing. Bog Burglars riding saddled depth hunters circled them, firing bolts at anyone trying to free the ship. Repeating crossbows made by the citadel ensured the crew remained suppressed as their tribe's ships closed in on their trapped prey.
"We're trapped!", Ryker unsheathed his sword and ordered the survivors to ready themselves. the brother's boat stopped dead; a pair of bog ships pinned the bow of their ship. the crews hopped from their boat and encircled the hunters, more bog ships approached them with the hive fleet.
"Easy, brother", Viggo moved Riker's arm down, lowering his sword. "Let us try negotiating with them", the rest of the hunters followed suit, lowering their weapons.
"Talking our way out?", the older brother tensed, "You've heard the stories about the demons". Viggo glances at him with a raised eyebrow, "They chew on their slain enemies' skin like jerky!".
"I heard they scalp their foes alive, using them to trade with each other", a crewman spoke up.
"Yet those were told to use by our previous employer", the hunter chief corrected, "The same one that just used us for bait".
The Bogs and Hunters eye each other for a few moments before, "Form up, Commander on deck!", a Bog captain barks out. the female pirates relaxed; the mob makes way for a figure to move through them. the brothers quietly wait as the towering, armored man slowly approaches them through the throng. he clears the crowd and steps toward the stunned hunters. their tribe has heard of tales that the demons were led by a human-like monster, his appearance hidden by strange impervious armor. the tall warrior stops at a respectful distance from the brothers, their crew shaking in fear of the demon lord.
"Do you need help?", the demon lord offered the stunned brothers. their lack of response confused the masked Hiccup, "Can you speak Norse?".
"Yes", Viggo recovered, Ryker motioned the crew to relax.
"Very good, so do you need assistance?", Hiccup again offered.
"Yes, but if I may ask...", the chieftain composed himself, "Why are you willing to help us?".
"I saw your ship was disabled by the berserkers", the prince elaborated, "My allies and I aren't ruthless to non-berserkers, just her thugs and their allies". "Despite your crew working for them, they sacrificed your ship to escape", the surrounding bogs lowered their weapons, "Dishonorable to say the least".
"I see your point", Viggo understood his logic.
"I can order my friends to tow your boat their shipyards", Ryker and his tribesmen murmured amongst themselves, "However, I will ask of you to tell me all that you know of the deranged chieftess and her plans".
"I understand, I will tell you what we know", Viggo sighed, "In exchange for your help and the safety of my men, on my honor".
"I'll hold you to that", Hiccup grinned under his masked helmet.
Bog Isles shipyards
Ryker and the ship captain watched as the bogs repaired their vessel, the advanced machinery of the all-female tribe amazed the dragon hunter tribe. Hiccup's inventions upgraded the bogs' shipyard to maintain their warships and lay down new frigate classes ships designed by him. Although the Citadel's shipyards are able to fabricate the larger more powerful destroyers and even larger galleons, the bogs prefer the faster and more maneuverable frigates to use in their fleets.
Hiccup kept his helmet on as Viggo pointed out various places on the map, "I see, what else does she have planned?". behind the prince and the chieftain, the bog workers worked nonstop to repair the mercenaries' ship. Ryker remained silent as he examined the hybrid, the hive prince's armor retained his gold trim and accents. Hiccup's graspers rested on the pommels of his sword and axe attached to his belt, the extra limbs being the center of hushed whispers from the dragon hunter crew.
"Aside from the orders that the berserker chieftess gave us, my men learned that she has expanded her influence toward the western edge of the archipelago", Viggo pulled out smaller maps from his side pouch.
"There are only small islands in that direction, fewer still may be home to small tribes?", Hiccup pulled the maps closer.
"Indeed, she may be trying to relieve her exhausted troops with more conscripts from the conquered islands", Viggo recalled listening in on Dagny's many rants. the Anti-demon coalition, led by the berserkers, were struggling to push the warfront between them and the Citadel and the hive's allies. Bog strike groups kept picking apart coalition battle fleets out at sea. on the ground, Meathead warriors made up the bulk of the Hive alliance infantry, the more experienced Beartooth fighters served as officers.
"Despite our efforts, we've yet to break the berserker's front", Hiccup pressed his hands down on the large map depicting the archipelago in its entirety. "Unlike that mad woman, I'm not willing to throw my friends and brethren to their deaths!", he squeezed his fist tight. a bog approached Hiccup and whispered to his ear, "They're nearly done?". the woman nods, "Excellent!". he turned to Viggo, "Good news, I've received news that the workers are just finishing up the repairs to your ship".
"That fast?", Ryker finally spoke up.
"I agree, that is quite a feat, even by my standards", the chief was pleasantly surprised. "At least we'll be able to return to our home", Viggo sighed, which Hiccup noticed.
"You don't seem too happy to return?", the prince questioned the dragon hunter chieftain.
"Correct", Viggo took a breath, "Since the dragons disappeared from most of the archipelago, our tribe's main source of income dried up". "The famine only complicated our tribe's struggle, forcing my brother and I into mercenary work", behind the chief, Ryker nods.
"I'm guessing you probably won't get paid by the mad chieftess?", Hiccup sees Viggo's shoulders slump. "Hmm...", the hive prince snapped his fingers, "Your information was quite helpful". a sekär flew down and hovered next to Hiccup, "Bring me the spoils from the depth hunters", the sekär trilled and flew off.
"I am grateful that you spared my men", Viggo grinned despite his predicament.
"I can do more than that", sekär returned with a large seaweed covered chest held in its six legs. thunk, it set the coffer down and returned to the hive fleet, Hiccup wipe off the slimy greenery. "I'm quite moved that you're willing to risk yourselves to provide for your people", he opened the chest, revealing precious metal coins and jewels.
"I... I'm not sure we can accept", Viggo was skeptical.
"Why, is it not enough?".
"It isn't that, we are already in your debt for sparing our lives", the dragon hunter chief corrected.
"I see, I must insist you take it", Hiccup stood up to his full height, "Your people need it to survive, think of it like my moral obligation".
""I understand, what can our people do to repay you", Viggo swallowed his pride.
"Simple...", Hiccup walked towards the gangplank but turned back, "Go home, stay out of our war". the prince departed to his awaiting galleon.
(A/N: Whoo, it's great to be back here again. I hope you all look forward to more of this FF, I know I am)