Firefly Part 17 Update · 11:55pm May 5th, 2019
It's coming, but slower than I would like. The chapter currently stands north of 13.3k words and is going to be released no later than Thursday morning even if I have to break it in two--which I really don't want to do. What's holding this one is up my busy work schedule and many little scenes and battles that have to be included; they require a lot of thought and careful planning. This one is going to set a record for number of different perspectives; each one is both essential and must mesh with the others. It goes to prereaders no later than Tuesday, and launches by Thursday morning regardless.
Regardless, you've all been patient, so here's a second teaser. The chapter is big enough to allow it without giving anything away:
EAS Loyalty
Airspace over Outpost Epsilon
Pony/Gryphon Border
September 2nd, 1139 AE
0543 hours
Twas with some relief I had accepted command of the Loyalty in the Captain’s stead.
Methinks I was still very embarrassed at that point over my earlier outburst and desire to challenge the Captain for reasons I finally understood to be short-sighted and selfish, calling her a coward simply for thinking strategically, attempting to find the best balance between preserving the ships of the group whilst still finding a way to rescue the Epsilon garrison. Methinks she would have been well within her rights to relieve me at that moment, but she had not despite my grevious insubordination, recognizing it as an outburst born of fear over the fate of my family.
‘Twas during my second sojourn to the upper deck that I reviewed my actions and refocused my mind, recognizing that the Captain was right--that no matter how much I may love them, to save Firefly and Gavian was not the objective here. ‘Twas to extract the garrison, and then ourselves from occupied territory, rescuing the battalion and then running for home--a task that became nigh impossible if we arrived before the raid began, and with no more fuel for our engines.
Thankfully, cooler heads prevailed, and my loyalty to Shady only grew for it. I swore I would not let her down again, nor allow my emotions to get the better of me, and ‘twas only then I returned below decks and offered a second apology, offering to write myself up for gross insubordination and conduct unbecoming; even to resign from my post if she wished.
“‘Tis not necessary,” she told me with a smile, then reminded me that I would be needed to command the ship whilst she took the role of the absent Commodore Catamaran to direct the entire battle group in the engagement to come. In the final half-hour of approach, we reviewed procedures and likely orders, as well as wargamed contingencies and what we would do for them. The other two ship commanders were in on our discussions, as were the respective bridge crews, as ‘twas good for them to hear what orders might be issued as well.
And thus, did our twelve hours and circuitous fifteen hundred miles of approach to Epsilon reach its culmination on our final descent over the last twelve miles, the sun peeking over the horizon at our backs. ‘Twas agony to be told the final gryphon attack was going in and we were to allow it to happen, but ‘twas indeed the right decision. For it both saved us some fuel and allowed us to successfully ambush their ground forces, which were intent on their quarry and not so much on a potential threat closing from their rear.
As the Captain states, the sight and sounds of our guns opening up, the Royal Navy unleashing its might and firing its cannons in anger for the first time in half a century was a great moment of pride for us all, doubly so for the effect it had! Entire formations of gryphon soldiers disintegrated under the onslaught of our magical ballistae; I watched as two mages foalishly sought to challenge the Loyalty’s arsenal with lightning spells only to be reduced to red mist by a subsequent volley which crushed their shields and annihilated them in an instant.
Our new magic-firing artillery, courtesy of the EIS’s Office of Magical Research, did their job well while our more conventional cannons cleared the topmost skylights for entry by our own forces, gaining us the initial advantage as the remaining gryphon forces scattered in confusion and fear.
Such would not last however, as they circled out of range, trying to reorganize themselves and call in additional forces to challenge us. I did not hear Firefly’s initial call to the Captain, as the latter deliberately kept me out of that loop, perchance worrying that I might not be able to obey orders instantly if I started conversing with my daughter. I did, however, hear the order to launch lifeboats, which meant that against all odds, the battalion had survived and there were soldiers to be rescued!
I could not dwell on that fact or my fervent hope that my daughter and her son were amongst them, as I kept our gunners busy and ordered and listened to our first casualty reports; the air wing had already lost a dozen flyers and one of the Magus lightning bolts had speared through one of our belly hatches to knock out the gun and its crew stationed there. Healer teams were dispatched whilst I listened to Flash Fix frantically exclaim that the drain on the central crystal was worse than expected--“I dinnae think we can maintain charge for more than another two minutes, sir!”--forcing me to order the magical ballistae to shut down and the conventional cannon to take over the bulk of our barrage, saving our biggest and best guns for later.
Unfortunately, that was soon the least of our worries as lookouts reported a large force of Talons inbound from the south. But before I could warn the Captain, Lieutenant Commander Sterling Silver, acting Captain of the Duty, beat me to it as her transmission was overheard on the bridge.
“Ma’am? We’ve got trouble!” she called. “Fresh Gryphon cohort approaching from the south!”
“I see them,” Shady acknowledged evenly, having never once raised her voice while giving orders in the opening stages of the battle. “Commander Tailwind, they’ll be going for our ballonets. I believe you know what to do?”
I could all but hear the smile in her voice, which ‘twas one I now shared. I did indeed know, as ‘twas one of the scenarios we had planned for. “'Twould be my greatest pleasure, ma’am!” I answered, then issued new orders as Ensign Kusema then reported the first loaded lifeboat was taking off, its crew warning us it was full of wounded and immediate healer support would be needed for their care, including several critically injured ponies.
“Inform sickbay to stand by. They’ll have to perform triage right on the boarding decks. All crew, clear the upper observation platform and head below decks! Flash Fix, silence our ballistae and redirect the full power of the armament crystal energy to dirigible defenses!”
“Full crystal power to the dirigible defenses? Are ye daft sir? We’ve never tried that!” He sounded shocked, and this time, he wasn’t just affecting airs. “The overload could burn our ballonets to a crisp!”
“And so could mages with fire and lightning spells!” I rejoined as the call from Shady came in again.
“All ships! Gryphon counterattack imminent! Cohort inbound from the south! Take defensive posture and prepare to repel boarders!” On cue, her voice sounded over general quarters.
I let those words sink in for a moment. “You heard the Captain, Commander! ‘Tis certain our standard defenses will not suffice against such numbers! Transfer power to the dirigible balloons on my orders, and then take up arms! Protect engineering and the main power crystal at all costs!”
“Aye-aye, sir!” he acknowledged unhappily. There was a brief pause, and I could then hear him hissing out his next words through gritted teeth, which I took to mean he was now wielding his broadsword in his mouth. “They won’t take down my bairns, or this ship!”
I don’t think there’s any doubt who Flash Fix is supposed to be. Once again, the chapter will launch no later than Thursday morning.
5054115
Hear! Hear!!
I'd like to see them try to take Engineering from that crazy old scot!
5054115
For a time at least. *Stretches duct tape menacingly*
5054806
*Brandishes spoon* Never!
5054115 5054161
I appreciate the sentiment, but there is a good reason I want to launch then and have thus been rushing this to cdmpletion. You'll find out in the author's notes of the chapter.
5054373
Shetland, actually.
And though he'll certainly get upset if you damage his engines, there's something else you can threaten that will make him even more mad! 
5054800
Anything but that!
5054806 5054818
When spoons are outlawed, only outlaws will have spoons!
5055207
Yes, do not mess with the Shetland Pony, he has a broadsword he's not afraid to use it.
And is that other thing his distillery? I sorta imagine he'd be a bit angry at that, too.
5055207
i.imgur.com/XS5LK.gif?noredirect