574 Sea Devils (1/2)
The small corvette bobbed up and down among the wreckage spewed all over the ocean together with its motor launches. A shimmering layer of oil covered the water's surface as the crew of the UNS Braveheart dredged the waters for survivors and anything that could provide a clue to what they had just blown up underwater.
”Attention all ships! This is the Flagship Vengeance! All Flotilla except the 3rd and the 5th are to form up with the Task Force immediately!” The comms blared out from inside the bridge. ”The 3rd and the 5th are to continue rescue efforts and support the Marines on the ground! Vengeance out!”
The captain frowned as he turned his binoculars out to the distance, where the main task force lies. He could see the other corvettes speeding off from the white waves covering their bows and not long after the entire task force except for the 3rd and 5th were left behind.
”Cap,” The XO of the Braveheart asked. ”Do you think we should have reported this?”
The captain of the Braveheart shook his head, ”No, not yet. We don't even know what it is... Whether it is really a sea monster or some kind of... ship, we don't know yet!”
”Continue to dredge the waters!”
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Task Force Flag, UNS Vengeance, Command Bridge
The tactical plot table was covered in scribbles as the tactical officer and his team worked out an intercept course for the task force against Megan's loyalists' ships. Another officer made constant updates to the chart as new information coming from the AWACS recon plane shadowing Megan's fleet came in.
”They had a good head start,” Captain Nimo said. ”But our reach is longer.”
”Yes,” Commander Ford replied as he checked the updated charts. ”A hundred ships... It will take at least three to four launches to take them all out.”
”Launch both air wings?” Captain Nimo asked. ”It would cut down the number of launches...”
”We only have two attack wings,” Commander Ford replied. The Vengeance's aircraft were group into three air wings, the 1st and 2nd Attack Wing each consisted of four mixed squadrons of F/A-1N Sea Cobras and F/A - 2 Vipers while the 3rd Support Wing consisted of the attack helicopters, transport helicopters and aircraft. ”I want to hold back one air wing just in case something unexpected pops out.”
”Yes, Sir. But they do seem to be running pretty fast,” Captain Nimo added. ”Could Megan be hiding in the North Islands?”
Commander Ford looked at the display showing an aerial view of the combined fleet of Megan's loyalists and frowned. Even him a layman with magic could tell that the fleet was sailing with the help of magic. ”I don't know by they do seem to be in a hurry.”
”Still no word on Megan?” Ford asked his intel officer who shook his head. ”Damn... Where could she be hiding?”
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The Isles, Island of Sando
”What can I do for you two gentlemen?” Major James politely asked using the New World common tongue as he accepted a report from one of his aides and glanced through the papers, his attention clearly not on the two dwarves.
The dwarf without the glasses seemed to puff up like a pufferfish, his expression turning reddish while the other dwarf said some words in his ear, making the angry dwarf calm down. ”I am Grand Lord Hammerfall! Commander and Chief of all the Cartel forces in the New World!”
”Are you the... long leg in charge of these... troops?” The really short dwarf demanded, his arms stabbing into his sides. ”We demand to see the Great Lord!”
The dwarf glanced at James before he gave a sort of salute bow and said, ”We surrender and want no more war! Peace between us!”
Professor Hamlot turned to Major James and said, switching to the Old World common tongue, ”They want to end this war.”
”I know,” James replied while shaking his head. ”But they started all this.”
Seeing the shake of his head, the dwarf gritted his teeth and growled out, ”We give compensation! Peace between our nations!”
Once again, Professor Hamlot turned back to Major James and said, ”They are willing to pay compensation...”
”Of course they have to pay compensation!” Major James chuckled. The humans had long learned to collect compensation and the ransoming of prisoners from their defeated enemies. ”They will be billed!”
Professor Hamlot held back his smile and schooled his expression before he told the dwarves that they were expected to pay compensation and a bill of compensation would be given to them later. His words made the expressions of both the dwarves ugly, making Major James's smile all so wider.
”Now, since you guys wanna surrender,” Major James squat down until he was around the dwarf's height and said, ”Give me the locations of all your bases and codes or letter to tell your troops all to stand down!”
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