Chapter Three Hundred and Sixty - Pirate Property

Chapter Three Hundred and Sixty - Pirate Property

Chapter Three Hundred and Sixty - Pirate PropertyDiscover new chapters at novelhall.com

The moment the Featherfall was at capacity, we drew the gangplank back and the ships crew, along with Squad C who were aboard, pulled the ship away from the tower and started to gain altitude.

Everyone on the roof had to hunker down a bit as the ship turned and its propeller wash blasted across the rooftop. The captain wasnt playing around, and for good reason. The two pirate ships that had been lagging behind were closer now, only a kilometre or so away. Technically within the longest range a ballista could realistically be expected to hit a target if given a dozen shots or so.

The Featherfall will be heading back over the forest and around, Caprica shouted. We dont know if were going to have time to load up the Lunchbox.

I winced. We still had about a quarter of the hostages left on the roof, not to mention most of our sylph soldiers.

Then what do we do? I asked.

Just then, there was a huge explosion from off to my side and I flinched back, arm rising to protect me from... nothing. The explosion wasnt on our level.

Someone cheered, and I jogged to the edge of the roof and looked down.

The big pirate ship that had been tethered to the tower was going down. Its rearmost section with the engine and all was pouring smoke and flames, and I blinked as I noticed an entire desk wedged halfway into the topmost part of its balloon, through the tin armour plating covering it.

That wasnt the only hole marking the top, though it looked as if most of the furniture wed thrown down hadnt done much more than dent the plating. I bet most of it just missed outright.

The two sylph frigates rumbled past the tower, both starting to gain altitude while they swung around towards the incoming ships.

Okay, Caprica said. Were bringing in the Lunchbox after all. She turned to a nearby sylph who quickly raised some semaphore flags and started to guide the other cargo ship in.

The Beaver Cleaver meanwhile, moved up as well, stationing itself between the tower and the incoming pirates.

Things were... going alright. The ships we had were in decent shape all around. The pirate ships werent. One of them had limped all the way over here, even.

We had the numbers advantage, and for the moment, the pirates would have to fly to us. That was great. What wasn't so great was that the remaining pirate vessels outweighed and outgunned our frigates. They were coming right at us because they knew they would probably win.

The evacuation needed to pick up the pace so we could disengage and flee.

I ran to help as the Lunchbox came close enough to toss out ropes. As a group, we grabbed hold of them and pulled, bringing the ship in close enough that the gangplank could be extended out to the lip of the roof.

Move! a soldier shouted to the hostages.

The harpy hostages, who were mostly those in better shape, ran across the gangplank with very little heed to the fall. A line of sorts still formed though, bottlenecking us.

A distant set of thumps sounded out, and I looked over to see two bolts zipping past the pirate ships from our frigates. Two misses, but close ones, and the ships were already reloading.

Squad B, get aboard! Princess Caprica shouted.

Princess-- one of her guards warned.

Im not leaving until everyone is safe and secured, Caprica snapped back. If you have energy to complain, then you have energy to help.

Just then, a pair of sylph soldiers stumbled onto the rooftop from the roof access. They were both sporting fresh wounds. The pirates are coming up, maam, one of them said. We need reinforcements down there.

Caprica froze for a moment, then glared around. Squad A, youre the last out, go down, reinforce Paladin Bastion, but make it a fighting retreat to the roof. No heroics.

A few sylph ran down the stairs, weapons out as they jumped to obey.

My friends and I glanced at each other, and we moved to the centre of the roof, where wed be right there to meet anyone coming up from below. The next few people who came up were more sylph. Some bearing injuries, others looking tired and dishevelled.

Her royal guards let out twin sighs of relief and followed her across the gap to the Lunchbox.

Even as my allies retreated to the ship, they kept firing, holding back the pirates as much as possible. My own fireballs didn't do much against foes at the level of ability, but I cast anyway.

The pirates had forced us up to the edge of the tower now. Only a few soldiers remained to escape, but we were practically in close combat now and it was looking like we may not be able to disengage.

I was caught off guard when the pressure from the pirates suddenly let up. The pirate mass parted down the middle, making room for a new figure to step up.

Immediately, I knew that this was Commodore Megumi, the Sky Killer, even if they didnt quite match what I imagined.

She was a handsome twenty-something woman, with wind-tousled blonde hair and pale brown eyes. Her long, pirate captains coat was open at the front, and it seemed as if Commodore Megumi was a bit more comfortable with exposing skin than I was.

Well well, she said as she reached up and adjusted her hat. It was an alright hat. A proper pirates hat made of red felt and with a skull and crossbones stitched on one side. She didnt look too strange beyond the pirate costume, but somehow I still felt nervous looking at her. The way Bastion tensed didnt help any. He hadnt seemed worried about all of the other pirates in the same way he was worried about the Commodore. So, youre the little rats who have invaded my home?

I glanced at my friends, then back. Um, I guess so. But really, you did kidnap a bunch of people, so its only fair that we free them.

The commodore grinned, and the pirates around her edged back. Cute, she said. Her eyes scanned me up and down. A Cinnamon Bun Bun... a young woman with rabbit ears and not a single clue in her skull. You can only be Broccoli Bunch.

You know me? I asked. I felt strangely flattered.

Ive heard of you, she said. Youre the one who caused all that trouble for Rainnewt.

So, you do know Rainnewt, I said.

She grinned. In passing, yes. If you expect to trick any secrets out of me, Im afraid I wont make it quite so easy. Rainnewt is the one with the penchant towards monologuing. Im a little more down-to-earth.

Thats okay, I said. Different strokes.

Commodore Megumi grinned. I hadnt heard that one in a while, she said.

Broccoli, what is she saying? Amaryllis asked.

I didnt dare glance back. What do you mean?

I mean, what language is that? she asked.

Uh, I dont know? I said. It sounded normal to me. But then, now that I was paying attention... had we been talking in English?

Oh? So, thats one secret out of the bag. Oh well.

Youre a riftwalker? I asked.

She shrugged. As are you. Though it shouldnt be a surprise. In a world such as this one, those of us from elsewhere have the greatest potential to disrupt the existing order and thrive. She gestured to the pirates around her. Look at this rabble. Theyre hardly impressive specimens. Its rare that youll find anyone worth your time. We, I think, are the exception.

Is this the part where you ask me to join your side? I asked. This was feeling like familiar ground again, at least.

She chuckled. Would you say yes?

Yes, I said.

Commodore Megumi stared at me, processed what Id said, then squinted. Wait, what?

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