Burning Skies Saloon Quest: Past, Present, and Future

[Yiski]

--START OF DAY 5--

--NARRATOR--

BdrLine, Ny-Lee, Roland, Shink, and Paradox all woke up before the break of dawn and made their ways back to the dock. They could already see Jun'ko and Lance awake and coordinating a group of workers on where to take the supplies and to repairs.
Morning everyone! Sleep well.

Yes, and you?

Jun'ko smiled.
It was nice with my Admiral.

On the Then It Was Fixed, Zill sneezed.

As the preparations were almost finished a strange man approached the team which caused Lance to draw his weapon and then caused the team to draw theirs, except for BdrLine.
Easy everyone, that's Zankif.

Hell of a welcoming party.

We you able to get the other preparations completed?

Affirmative, I've got your fake passes here, and the escorts will rendezvous at Orlovselo. The escorts are two pyras, one goldfish, and two squids.

Well, if everything is set, let's move out quickly before light hits Orlovselo.

Everyone nodded and the team boarded their respective ships. As the team left Starostrog, Yiski called over the alt radio.
Thanks for the help Lance.

Anytime, just don't get yourself killed.

--NARRATOR END--

[Shinkurex]

*Shink yawns and streches. It was one of the only times he could sleep without hearing Papa's snoring. As usual, Shink takes inventory over the ammo supply. Taking care not to open any ominous barrels that Zill may have lying around.*

"Shink! Stop that scurrying about! Giving me a headache"

"I tried to tell you that you had, had enough. Does anyone listen to good ole Shink? Nope.... This is what you get"

*Shink finishes up his inventory, and goes to check the weapons. As he walks onto the gun deck, he notices a blinking red light.*

"BOMB!"

*Shink tears the device off of the bulkhead, and chucks it out of gun port just in time. The subsequent explosion damaged a bit of the armor, but nothing Papa couldn't fix. A little rattled, Shink grabs a flask of WSW he was saving for a rainy day and chugged it*

[RearAdmiralZill]

-Then It Was Fixed-

*The explosion threw the boat nearly into M'Naghten. Shrapnel was all over the port side, but amazingly no one was hit. The radio static hit Zill followed by Yiski's voice.*
The Hell was that?!?

Apparently our friend isnt as friendly as we thought, or the Guild knew we were coming.

Lance wouldnt do that. Someone must of survived that blockade.

Most likely. Keep a watch up. Someone would of heard....

*Just then Zill caught a Squid in the corner of his eye. His spyglass confirmed it was flying away. It had Guild emblems on the balloon.*
Guild knows we're here.

*A long silence passes before Yiski responds.*
Moonshine?

Aye.

*They floor it to Orlovselo. Zill makes a pass with the crew to make sure they were all alright.*

[Yiski]

--M'Naghten--

By the burning skies, a bomb on Zill's ship.

*Yiski yells down to the others*
Everyone, check the supplies and make sure there's not a similar "gift" on board.

*Roland and Ny-Lee head bellow deck and checks the recent supplies, leaving BdrLine to man all the engines.*
According to Shink, there should be a blinking red light.

*Minutes pass during the search.*
Anything?

Nothing so far.

*Ten minutes pass by and Yiski decides to call off the search.*
Alright, stop lookin' for it. If we had one too, it would've gone off the same time Zill's did.

*Eventually, the team found themselves within sight of Orlovselo.*
BdrLine, call your man and tell him we're near Orlovselo. We'll need to identify our escorts.

[BdrLineAzn]

--M'Naghten--

*After checking the engines a final time, BdrLine goes over to the radio and dial in Zankif*

BdrLine to Zankif, you read me? We are nearing Orloveslo. Where are our escorts located?

*Static is heard, until Zankif voice comes up*
Yeah I hear ya. Alright the escorts will be flying a perimeter around the west of the city. Basically If you keep your heading, you'll see them in a formation.

Do they have any markings on them?

Yes they should have my logo on them. It's a wrench and a bullet round in a cross with a cog background

And one more thing. As we left port, one of our ships had a bomb planted on them. We suspect the Guild military is on to us. You think you can diverge their attention? We have enough already with these Birdmen.

Hmm, I'll see what I can do. it's going to be tough to acres the militay radios. But i do what I can.

Thanks Zankif.

*Static comes upon the radio as they disconnect the connection*

*BdrLine turns to Yiski*
Alright we should see the group flying around in a formation as we near. They should all have a wrench and bullet round in a cross on top of a cog

[Yiski]

--M'Naghten--

*As the team neared the parameter of Orloveslo, BdrLine pulled out his spyglass and took a look for ships flying around. BdrLine managed to spot Zankif's escorts.*
Yiski, they're bearing is off to the West. Wait, I'm getting a Morse code signal. "Frequency 0-3-4-1-5".

*BdrLine went up to the helm and dialed the frequency on the alt radio to what was flashed.*
BdrLineAzn verification Alpha 9-1-3-8. Please confirm.

Confirmation is verified and accepted. Hello again sir. Is your team ready to move forward?

Affirmative. Destination is Izumi. Mission is reconnaissance, but be combat ready.

Affirmative. Making for correct heading and leading.

*After the team met with the escorts and made way to Izumi, Yiski whistled.*
You have some really nice connections. Glad you're on our side.

*Yiski called over to Zill on the regular radio*
Alright, just contacted our escorts and we'll be moving out to Izumi.

[RearAdmiralZill]

-Then It Was Fixed-

*Zill kicked the radio so it would stop with the static, then spoke to Yiski.*
Good. Sun will be out soon so watch yourself. This misfit crew wont be able to take on a Guild Armada.

*Jun'ko kept her zoom goggles on her face. She ran from side to side scouring the sands for any Guild vessels.*
I feel so exposed out here. I can almost feel the eyes on us...

Me too. If they are watching though, they dont know where we are headed.

Izumi is remote last I checked. If we have to double back they may block us in.

Im planning on them to honestly. If they dont, that would be more of a surprise to me.

I trust you.

*Zill only stared on their heading, but her comment was uplifting. He hailed Yiski on the radio.*

Make sure BdrLine tells them to hold all fire until told otherwise. I dont want to start a war. And whats youre plan for Izumi? Camp out till dawn and look or move in quickly?

[Yiski]

--NARRATOR--

Together with the escorts, the team make a bee-line to Izumi. They'll reach the town by morning.

Along the way, Yiski gets a tingling feeling down his spine which extended to his limbs.
Soon.

--Narrator End--

--End of Day 5--

[RearAdmiralZill]

-Start of Day 6-

-Narrator-

The morning was dry and the wind was strong. Sand and dust blasted the fleet. They approached Izumi cautiously. The town itself wasnt much. It was once a powerful military outpost, but now all that remained was the town that had grown around it. The fleet got a good vantage point and scouted the surrounding area. No Guild or Birdmen to be found. The town itself was eerily deserted. Zill hailed Yiski.
I dont like this.

Me either, but there had to be something here.

The two squids made passes over the town. Not a soul. When they returned they did discover something.

Sir, it appears there is an access point to underground caves just south of the town. Maybe an aquifer. You could fit your Galleon in the opening.

Very well. Me and Yiski will fly in. The rest can remain out here in case of ambush.

Understood.

Zill and Yiski took their boats to the massive opening to the caves. Once inside, there was places to dock. After docking and meeting up on the massive platform, they decided to search the structure. It too was eerily abandoned. Upon searching offices and the control room of the structure, the group came to realize this was an old Guild Research and Development facility. It was decommissioned with the base at the end of the old wars.

The facility seemed to yield more questions than answers, until Jun'ko found a rather large book sporting the very same Birdman symbol they have all come to hate. Inside, they found hundreds of records of experiments performed by the Birdmen, and funded by the Guild. The experiments were, quite graphic.
By the Skies, this has to be the worst thing I have ever seen.

Biological experiments on prisoners. Why on earth would they want to do this?

Well since they want a united world, this must of been the ideas they had for dealing with those who refused. The fact its Guild funded means they wanted in on the world order. Seems the Birdmen had an ally the whole time.

This is worse than my ordeal. Mind control, chemical weapons, mutations. These make even me cringe.

Im beginning to dislike it down here, can we go?

Itll be ok. We need to find our next step.

Here. Lu Tower. All of the funds show that they were all transferred there after experiments were conducted.

Good. And take that book with you. We may need it later.

Static could be heard as BdrLine's personal radio went off.
Approaching ships! My god its an Armada! You guys need to get out of there now!

Very well! Guys lets go!

The group dashed to their ships, and the impending fight ahead.

-End Narrator-

[Yiski]

--M'Naghten--

*Yiski got on to the M'Naghten, fired up the engines and left the cavern first. As Yiski got outside, he got a signal from the escorts.*
Sir, we've spotted three galleons, three goldfishes, and two squids incoming from the North. They're about 4 km out and setting up blockade and firing positions.

Can you see who they are and what they're equipped with?

All three galleons are equipped with hwachas and have harpoons. Two of the goldfishes have lumberjacks and the other has a medium carronade. All squids have carronades.

*A few more seconds pass.*
Enemy markings belong to the Guild and Birdmen.

*Yiski calls over to Zill.*
Remember when I said the Guild would greet us. Well, they did and it looks like they want us alive.

*Yiski called down to his crew.*
BdrLine, I'll need you on the flak. Ny-Lee and Roland, ignore the side guns and keep up in the skies.

[RearAdmiralZill]

-Then It Was Fixed-

*Zill hails Yiski.*
And I have just the thing. Use our long range advantage while I make their day a little less bright.

*Zill swung his Galleon out of the cavern. The wind was at their backs, and Zill smiled.*
Shink, Papa, get that tar in the engines!

*He created a cloud so dense it was like a black wall. The wind took it toward their blockade the faster ships lifted out but the Galleons were caught. The tar clouds ran through them and devastated their systems, and their noses.*
Alright, time for some supporting fire. Port side!

Ah here we go.

Flak em.

Lets go!

*Zill's boat fired the first shots of the engagement. They rang over, pummeling the chaos in the enemy's formation.*

[BdrLineAzn]

--M'Naghten--

*As the tar clouds clear, all three enemy galleons are sitting out in the open*

*BdrLine gets on the flak and sees the damaged galleons*
This is gonna be a field day Loading in charged.

*Once loaded, BdrLine starts firing at the right most galleon in the formation*
*The other two galleons are being targeted Shink and Paradox, each having their own target*

*Eventually all three of the galleons fall from the prolong firing*

*From the helm, Yiski calls down to BdrLine*
Nice shooting Bdr, hold on turning to the next.

*From the radio, one of Zankif's escorts sounds in need of departed help*
This is the squid captain on board the Vice, we're taking heavy damage from the goldfishes. Requesting assi......

*Out in the distance, an explosion can be seen as the Vice is shot out of the sky by the twin lumber fish*

Damn, there's goes one
*Yiski turns to the radio and calls out to the two pyra's*
Pyramidion captains you think you can get those two goldfish.

Roger, heading towards the twin goldfish formation. Sal you're with me. We're heading in.

*As the two pyramidions rush towards the enemy goldfish, their lumbjack rounds bounce off the armoured plated balloons of the pyra's.*
*The two pyramidions gets into Gatling gun/small flak range, and the fighting changes from long range to short range as all four ships try to manoeuvr for positioning*

*Back on the M'Naghten, Roland spots the third goldfish and the squids heading towards the remaining four*
Yiski, we got three coming in from our 2 o'clock. I think the goldfish is heading towards to Zill

Yeah I see them. *on the radio to Zill* heads up, a blender fish is coming your way. The other goldfish and I will handle the squids. Remaning squid captain go and assist our galleon, we'll handle this

Roger, heading to assist

*As the friendly squid heads to Zill and his galleon, Yiski and the second goldfish turn to face the incoming enemy squids*
BdrLine watch your shots, these guys are going to be fast

I know, it's just going to be a pain that's all

*As the squids fast approaching, the two goldfishes open fire. The squids were able to react in time and lift up from the shots and closes in*

[RearAdmiralZill]

-Then It Was Fixed-

*Seeing the Blenderfish coming fast, Zill presented his starboard Hwachas. The squid dashed for the Blender and got behind it.*

Shink, Papa, fire!

*The Goldfish fired before the Hwacha barrage connected, taking out the balloon. Jun'ko quickly patched the hole, but not before the Galleon smacked the ground. Zill shot back up with hydrogen, the goldfish square in the sights.*

Fire!

*The squid behind it had stripped all the armor. The rockets ignited the Goldfish in a sea of smoke and fire. It fell to the ground, and Zill swung around to engage the incoming enemy Squids.*

[Yiski]

--M'Naghten--

*Yiski swing the M'Naghten around with claw and manages to engage the medium carronade goldfish (or better aptly named blenderfish) before the blenderfish was in effective range. Yiski then swung the M'Naghten in reverse.*
You've got target BdrLine, knock that bastard out of my sky. Roland get on the balloon and Ny-Lee watch the hull.

With pleasure.

Roger.

Understood.

*BdrLine's first volley made contact with the blenderfish and set the carronade on fire. The enemy blenderfish, still rushing towards Yiski, immediately pops chute vent and goes under the M'Naghten. Yiski laughs and pulls forward thrust.*
Think you'll get behind? How about... no. Ny-Lee! Get on the flamer. I think our friend's a little cold.

Loaded!

*Yiski used claw again and swung the M'Naghten within arc and Ny-Lee let a stream of fire loose on the blenderfish. After a few seconds, the entire ship was engulfed in flames. Yiski concentrated for a moment and was able to hear the screams of the crew.*
Ah... music. BdrLine, time to put them out of their misery.

*Yiski gave the flak arc and BdrLine opened fire. Two volleys later the burning blenderfish could be seen crashing into a crater.*

[BdrLineAzn]

--M'Naghten--

*On the radio, the teams second goldfish is screaming out of desperation*
Oh god oh god, we need help out here. These two squids are too much,they have us pinned and we're falling out of the sky

*On the radio, Yiski call out to the goldfish*
Hold on, help is coming

Roger... But we don't know how much we can hold out

*to BdrLine*
BdrLine start firing, by the looks of it, our goldfish might not be floating anymore

I see them, ...damn they are just flying circles around him

*BdrLine starts firing at the squids, but the speed at which they are going is causing the rounds to pass behind them*

*Bcak on the radio, the goldfish captain comes on again*
Barely holding still, we are watching our balloon to give us time, but their carronades are popping it too quickly. ...*panicking*We're 1.5 km from the ground, get them off of us!!

Roger that *To BdrLine* Bdr take them out, its life or death for them now

*BdrLine has sweat going down his brow as he aims down the sights again*
*He leads the flak on one of the squids and fires both rounds*
*This time it connects with the hull, the first ripping it's armour where the second destroys the weaken frame*

*The remain squid saw thats it lost its partner bugs out*
*Not before firing off a last carronades volley destroying the balloon once more*

*The goldfish plummets one last time, hitting the ground. But with the lowered altitude, the crash wasn't too severe and the crew survives but the ship won't be able to lift again*