Stormbreak (Seafire #3) - Natalie C. Parker Page 0,103

Tin shouted from the deck, where a line of crew raised shields and prepared to fire. Hime was among them, her hair bound back in a tight braid, a short sword ready at her hip.

Suddenly, the battle appeared on the water. Caledonia had an instant to take in the scene. The Net was stretched out before her, a steely line against the horizon, every stable ship exactly as it had been the last time she’d seen it. And less than two miles to the west, that strange megaship crouched at one end like a beast, watching the battle unfold through those dark tunnel eyes.

And just as she’d hoped—planned—Sledge had successfully lured Lir’s fleet beyond the megaship, into the western waters. The only thing standing between Caledonia and the rig was the Net. As her crew gave a triumphant cheer, it was hard not to cheer with them.

“Stay steely!” Caledonia cried. “Nettle, take us right up to the megaship.”

“Yes, Captain,” she responded with a grin.

They roared ahead as high on the stationary ship decks, dozens of cannons targeted Caledonia’s fleet, waiting for the moment they sailed within firing range. Nettle charted a swift course parallel to the Net, keeping them away from those cannons until there was nothing left to do but turn directly toward the megaship.

Caledonia waited with her fingers poised over the keypad as the megaship fired.

“Incoming!” Amina cried.

Still Caledonia waited. They hadn’t come this far for her to jump the gun. They needed line of sight.

Gunfire shattered against the hull and her own crew returned fire as they swiftly closed the distance to the megaship. Finally, Amina called, “Rig! Go on the rig!”

With shaking fingers, Caledonia hit the numbers, and the world around her exploded.

CHAPTER FORTY-THREE

Water and fire rose on all sides as the sea itself exploded. It tore screams from her crew and the crews of the nearest ships, punching holes in their bellies from below.

Through the mist and smoke, Caledonia could see that the bombs had been spread out across a short distance here in the open ocean. The explosion had damaged a handful of her ships, but several vessels of the Hands were shredded.

In a flash, she understood what had happened. The trigger had worked, but Lir had found the bombs and planted them here. He’d planted them for her.

“Captain?” Nettle shouted to get her attention. “Your orders?”

In the west, Lir’s fleet was peeling away from Sledge’s attack and turning toward her. In another minute, they would be on her and she would be locked in the ship-to-ship battle she’d hoped to avoid.

“Back us off from the Net,” she said, stomach plummeting. “Regroup and get ready for incoming.”

The Luminous Wake turned instantly, its thrusters churning hard to complete the tight turn Nettle demanded of it. Caledonia hurried outside the bridge, calling her command crew to join her. The wind buffeted them from all sides as they put their heads together.

“Options,” she said.

“What if we use mag bombs?” Amina said, her soft voice still so unexpected, and so very welcome. “There are several in the locker. Three or four well-placed bombs can destroy the hull of any ship. If we plant that many or more on the rig, we can take it down, but we will still need to get through the Net.”

“Good, but how do we that?” Caledonia said.

“Can we sail between the stationary ships?” Pisces asked. “We’ve seen the razor wire. One good shot will clear the way.”

“The rest of the Net’s defenses are still intact,” Oran said. “Trust me, those cannons will demolish the Luminous before you’ve made it to them, but they don’t swivel well. A smaller ship would have a chance if it’s quick and agile.”

“Too risky,” Caledonia said.

The tunnels, Hime signed with excitement. The channels they use to transport baleflowers. We can get someone through there.

“That could work,” Caledonia said. “One person to the rig.”

“We’ll have to cover them the whole way to the megaship,” Pisces said, turning to study their wake. Bullet ships would soon clutter the distance between them and the megaship.

“The Hands can help with that,” Amina said confidently.

Caledonia studied the battle reshaping itself before her. Lir’s fleet was spreading out, half pushing toward her, half continuing to engage Sledge. Her own fleet was spread thin, already struggling to manage a fight on two fronts. They were outnumbered, outgunned, and they weren’t going to be able to hold here for long. It just had to be long enough.

“I’ll go,” Pisces said. “I’m the best with the tow.