Aquaria: The Lost Fleet

XV: The Captain of the Banshee

An artillery shell exploded on the surface of the water just a few hundred feet in front of the Black Death. "Stop her here", Graham said to the helmsman. "Wake knows I won't risk sinking that ship." Another artillery round crashed into the ocean just in front of the Black Death, this one a bit closer.

Graham stepped out onto the deck of his ship with all his men patiently awaiting his orders. "The assault begins now", Graham called out . "Take the ship! And bring me Paul Wake's head!"

"Damn", Paul said to Jacob. "He's just out of our range." They stood on their deck with their men, with their rifles loaded and the safeties off.

"Look", Jacob said. "They're launching their assault."

"Daniel!", Paul called out at the top of his lungs. "Be ready to fire all three cannons on all their recon ships that are approaching."

"Aye aye", Daniel called out as loud as he could. He gave his orders to the Dineshie men and they loaded their artillery.

Paul watched as the recon boats, roughly 20-30 began to speed their way. Instead of coming straight at the Banshee all at the same time, the boats split into thirds. One third came around the left, one came around the right, and one came center, straight for them.

"Fire the cannons at the right and left flanks!", Paul called out. "We're taking the middle", Paul said to Jacob, aiming his rifle.

The crew of the Banshee waited anxiously as the recon ships sped their way.

"Steady!", Paul called out. "Steady!"

Paul wiped some sweat from his brow and put his finger back onto the trigger. To his left, the Dineshie rifleman had the shakes. Paul turned to his right to see Jacob aiming down the sights with his rifle, poised. Paul took a deep breath.

"FIRE", Paul called out. He and the men on deck unloaded their clips and the center team dead ahead. They were met with fire at the same time, as bullet holes punched through the edge of the deck. The men tried to fire back at the same time, but their natural instinct to keep their heads down from the flying rounds overcame any heroic nature.

The artillery fired down onto the right flank and 3 of the recon boats were obliterated. A second barrage of artillery fire came down onto the right flank again catching another ship. "Fantastic shot, men", Daniel said, patting one of the Dineshie on the back.

Paul, Jacob, and the deck crew returned fire catching a number of men on a recon boat that was attempting to dock alongside the Banshee. Paul aimed his rifle with a fresh clip over the side of the deck and blind fired onto a crew on a recon ship, emptying 20 rounds into a group of men.

"Paul, the left flank!", Jacob said, nudging his captain. They're boarding the stern of the ship!"

"Take two of the men and hold them off as long as you can", Paul ordered. Jacob nodded and took two of the men on the deck crew and began the long run toward the stern of the ship. They went down the stairs into the interior of the ship. They would be fighting in the close quarters of the ship. Paul was left with one other Dineshie soldier who introduced himself as Anthony the other day.

Anthony positioned himself on the .50 cal next to Paul and began to fire on a straggling recon boat. Anthony punched holes into the boat until it was stopped dead in it's tracks and it began to sink. "Got one!", Anthony called out.

"Great job", Paul said, looking down from the deck. The mercenaries were already aboard, and they were making their way up the ship. Paul looked back at Anthony. Anthony was young, with light brown skin and short curly hair. "We're going to have to head down there", Paul said to him. With anxiety, Anthony nodded. Paul looked up towards the artillery crew. "They're aboard", Paul called out to Daniel. "Send down the rest of your men, you stay on the artillery in case they send more boats."