Merciless

Tonado walked through the dark corridors of the Merciless, passing his subordinate crew members throwing them grimm looks. He was, after all, a recently appointed first mate on a pirate ship, and that required the ability to earn respect. As a Skittermander, it caused him many more problems. But he did his best for his great and wonderful captain! There was no other such a wonderful and fearless raider in the entire galaxy, and him, an ordinary pirate, was awarded such a responsible position. She personally promoted him after Reh-Zar was sent to do important task. It mean, he was now the captain's right-hand man. Figuratively. Or maybe not? The captain didn't have a right hand, but a prosthesis that always failed, so maybe he really was her right hand? As he thought about it, he puffed out his chest proudly, adjusted all six sabres, and headed for the sternum

There was they second mate Gydva, the one-eyed Veska big even for her race, the halfdrow boatswain Kaert, and artillerymen Chart who were android. Gydva didn't like Tonada because he had gotten the position she wanted. However, the Skittermander will not allow herself to be intimidated, even if he wasn't able to reach her knees, and she could throw him across the room. Kaert was formidable and militant, but Tonado even liked him, and Chart loved using their plasma artillery the most in the world. There was also Tirin, their navigator, but she rarely left the wheelhouse, and engineer Gozamund did a sub-drift inspection of their ship. In the captain's chair sat she, their captain. Moonshadow.

A tall woman dressed in a loose purple cloak was leaning over the monitor and studying the information displayed there. Half-short-cropped pinkish-purple hair protruded from the hood. On her face, beneath her purple eyes, she wore a pale mask of blue glass diamond. Many said it had terrible scars there, but the crew of merciless knew the truth was different. The right arm was replaced with a metal prosthesis, but it was not fully functional, so she was mainly using her left hand, which could also summon a solarian flare. She was a formidable fighter, and of course his beloved mistress the captain.

- Hope all with ship is well Tonado? - She asked gently turning to the skitermander. She had a resonant voice only slightly muffled by the mask.

- Yes, Captain! - He exclaimed, saluting with all six hands. From the look in her eyes, he could tell she was smiling at him.

- Kaert, some of the crew may land, but be careful. This may be a dirt rock, but as far as I know it's full of dangerous bastards

- Well, we'll have to buy as many strong beverages as possible and pay out future shares if the place we're traveling to is as terrible as they say - he said, eyeing the planet's image on the screen suspiciously. The brown-green globe was called Saltmarsh, and it was almost uninhabited, except for the city bearing the same name as this world and the small groups of nomads roaming the salt deserts and swamps.

- It is doubtful that the rumors at least reflect his nature in part - she said after a moment's thought, gently reaching to her back. - We're going to need all the crew members, so be careful. We have enough… resources to pay them… - She rubbed her temple irritably. - Remember the prize and the treasures that await us there… - Captain Moonshadow said. Kaert smiled greedily, but Gydwa wasn't so sure. He looked at her superiorly. He fought for the glory of serving under the greatest captain in the galaxy. Tirin and Gozamund served for the cause of the fight against Azlanti, and they would agree to any plan that served that goal

The captain got up and looked at Gydwa. Veska was larger in every way than Moonshadow, but under her gaze she drew back a little. She spoke slowly and clearly.

- Remember that I am not an ordinary robber. I fight and kill in the name of higher goals. Therefore, do not be offended like the kid whose sweets were taken. - she said and summoned a flare which she began slowly to Gydwa's face, who looked down scared.

- But do not worry. There we find riches beyond imagination. - She added, extinguishing the flare violently so that Veska shuddered. The captain turned to Tonado.

- You will come with me. We have a few things to do. If the rumors I heard are true, we'll find something very interesting there.

Tonado felt his great Skittermander heart skip a beat. He will be on a wonderful, extraordinary and great expedition with his captain and they will have an adventure together ...

Captain Moonshadow was tired of talking to her crew, and there will be a lot of work to do in the next few days, especially if what she heard about certain people on Saltmarsh is true ... And then they'll fly into the unknown. She was afraid of that moment. She, the one for whose head the Aeon Throne had awarded a prize worth a little moon, the one who led her subordinates to the more numerous troops of the Aeon Guard, who started the rebellion on Jadehell, felt the greatest fear she remembered. But she had to travel to this ravaged area of the galaxy to get answers ... Answers to questions that had haunted her since she woke up in Absalon Station ...

She went to her cabin. The room was quite large and spacious, with almost no furniture except a sleeping mat and a few pillows. The walls were pale purple, lit by the soft glow of the elven lamps from Castroval, imitating the light of the stars… The stars… She liked their glow so much. They seemed to make an unspoken promise ... Their light brought hope that something better might be waiting for us somewhere, that it is always like the future, even if not perfect. She sealed the room and increased the pressure, then sat down on one of the cushions. She took off her mask and took a deep breath. She smiled. Contrary to what was commonly rumored among pirates and travelers, her face was not disfigured. It was not covered with a web of grotesque scars. The mask helped her breathe. A ten-month stay at Jadehelll destroyed her lungs. Toxic secretions of the local flora and spores of poisonous fungi claimed the lives of thousands of prisoners. Nature on Jadehell didn't want to kill you. She did it casually, slowly and relentlessly. She was not in danger of suffocation even if she removed it. But then her breathing became short and she got tired very quickly. She unhooked the cybernetic prosthetic hand. Her body did not tolerate implants well, and she felt the constant pain of the phantom limb when she had an artificial arm attached. She lost her arm when she touched the starstone. It happened a few years ago, and it was her oldest memory. Everything was covered with white before ... The Doctor helped her bring out three memories. She spread her translucent wings with great difficulty. They suffered a lot of damage during questioning and staying in a penal colony. Now she protected them under her cloak, for they were only good for gliding anyway. She winced in pain and said.

- The sword I need to get hold of. The hand of the one who abandoned me and the head of the invader ...