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“Deception, Devotion, and Destruction”

Episode 07 of the Wyvern Saga, where infiltrating a pirates’ den demands every ounce of determination

By David WhitePublished about a year ago 5 min read
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Artwork by TryingToFly at Deviantart.com

The largest asteroid orbiting Xira Glowing Five had been known as a pirate haven for decades, but no one had ever bothered to mount a sufficient naval force to take them out. One of the reasons for such reluctance was the rumor that the asteroid had some sort of ancient defensive system that could destroy any ship up to a four-decker in size without firing a shot. No admiral had bothered to challenge that rumor. Without a major fleet effort, the only way into the maw of the defenses was to sneak in as a pirate yourself.

Which is exactly what Church suggested they do.

The significant damage the Wasp had suffered, repaired enough by Yumaia’s and Kah’terra’s magical Mending spells to hold together and move under its own power, convinced the small pirate patrol craft that challenged them that they’d just escaped with their lives from a scrape with a naval blockade. One look at the motley crew, from the massive half-Giant to the miniscule old Gnome and the odd metal-man, satisfied them pirates guards that they were no Giff-manned vessel.

“Good thing we changed out of our uniforms,” Dowlin whispered, as they passed the picket line and headed towards the distant port.

“I wonder if we’ll get a chance to see what their secret defense system is?” asked Church.

Kah’terra debated whether to share with them that he may have had a glimpse of it in his most recent near-death experience, but he decided the wisest thing would be to keep his mouth shut until he knew more.

The dock area was dimly lit and crowded, with dozens of airships in various states of airworthiness. Some appeared well rigged and ready to sail, while others seemed like they hadn’t traveled in years, and had been relegated to houseboat living quarters, seedy and decrepit.

Church pulled the rickety vessel into the berth farthest from the center of the port. “Farther of a walk, but less likely to be noticed.” As they tied up, he reminded them, “Damn near everyone we meet on this rock-ball is likely to be a pirate. They’ll be willing to cut your throat for the price of an ale. Don’t trust anyone, except ourselves.” He hopped down to the main deck. “And anyone I happen to vouch for.”

For the final time, the five went over their plans, discussed at length on their long, slow journey inbound. Church and Kah’terra would infiltrate the tavern district and try to locate the pirates who’d stolen their cargo, while possibly enlisting a few extra crew members. Yumaia was tasked with finding a “living” ship, one that contained a live Treant onboard, which would automatically replenish the air and possibly help out in a fight by heaving boulders at nearby attackers.

Dowlin and Rohkud drew the most dangerous mission: locate the pirate ship that had attacked them, and sabotage it. The team agreed that the best way to do that was to load a shell backwards into the massive cannon, so that when a second shell was loaded and fired, it’d blow up the main gun, and hopefully a sizeable portion of the ship. At least, that was the plan.

Dowlin wondered how they could best sneak aboard without being spotted, since it was expected that the pirates would leave at least some semblance of a watch. What made it more challenging was that the Thri-kreen had a telepathic bond, a hive-mind, that would alert all the other insectoids if either of the team was spotted by one of the guards.

“Don’t sneak onboard,” Kah’terra suggested. “Just walk right on, like you owned the place.”

The old Gnome said it with such a sincere smile that Dowlin immediately suspected something unsaid in his suggestion. Then, it dawned on him. “Oh, like we were dock inspectors, right?”

“Right,” Kah’terra said. “Even if they don’t have actual inspections, there are probably berthing fees and the occasional bribe that changes hands. Just find yourself some official-looking paperwork, maybe a clipboard, and demand that they let you scope out the ship, while Rohkud does the heavy lifting.”

The half-Giant was unusually quick on the uptake. “Rohkud stuff gun barrel while Dowlin stuff pockets.”

“Something like that, yeah,” said Kah’terra.

After they tied up at the quay, they gathered up their meager belongings, with the understanding that if Yumaia found a better living ship, they’d transfer all their gear to that one. The Tiefling agreed that if she found a likely vessel, and if her Druidic persona was enough to win the Treant over, she’d come back to this ship and transfer their gear. Then she’d hold position just offshore so that the others would see her, signal her to come to the nearest berth, at which time they’d clamber aboard.

They thought of everything, except how to signal Yumaia when they wanted her to dock.

Wishing each other good luck, they each went their separate ways. Kah’terra and Church headed towards the main part of the boisterous town, already crowded with half-drunken crewmembers and a few passed-out lightweights. Dowlin and Rohkud began walking along the docks, searching for the ant-shaped pirate vessel, while Yumaia transformed into a falcon, soaring off to better search for any ship with a tall tree-like being sticking up from the forest of masts.

(more to be filled in here later: encounter at the tavern, dealing with insectoids, convincing a living tree)

(Ending:)

(Yumaia thinks about what else they can do, spots a sturdy hawser, transforms into a large eagle)

Before they departed, Yumaia tossed overboard the rest of the hawser that she’d tied off at the stern. As the living ship rose into the dark sky, the hawser pulled tight against the berthed ships, ripping through dozens of sections of rigging, snapping halyards, braces and stays, and snapping a few of the yardarms as well.

The Tiefling chuckled. “That ought to slow ‘em down.”

“But you only took out a few of their ships,” Dowlin commented. “Won’t they just crowd onto the other ones and come after us?”

“Have you ever known pirates to willingly allow others onto their ships?” She laughed again. “It’ll be hours before they sober up and decide who can board which ship. By then, we’ll be long gone.”

As they gained altitude and soared into the dark sky, the half-Giant sighed. “Rohkud like when plan comes together.”

AdventureFantasySci FiSeriesShort Story
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About the Creator

David White

Author of six novels, twelve screenplays and numerous short scripts. Two decades as a professional writer, creating TV/radio spots for niche companies (Paul Prudhomme, Wolverine Boots) up to major corporations (Citibank, The TBS Network).

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