//------------------------------// // Chapter 12 // Story: Nine Millimeter Vorpal Sword // by totallynotabrony //------------------------------// In the age of sail, the Navy was often negotiating contact with foreign countries.  Though, such things were not usually left to lone mid-level enlisted sailors.  Nancy considered Captain Magnus' offer to her as she inspected the airship moored behind the castle. “Sir, why did you want me to go to this meeting with the hippogriffs and not a pony?” “We are taking plenty of ponies,” Captain Magnus reassured her.  “I asked you because Equestria doesn’t have an organic navy.  The hippogriffs do, and they’re a semi-autonomous region under Equestria, so we can use their forces if we request, but it requires meetings like this.” This felt like it was well outside the scope of her training, role, and previous experience.  After a moment, something else came to Nancy.  “Why are you asking to use their navy?” “There’s been an issue with pirates.” Well, that Nancy could get behind. It was supposed to be a short trip, so the onload was nearly complete.  Nancy recognized a few faces that would be going along.  She wondered why the Canterlot castle guards were doing foreign relations.  Maybe that was just an additional duty of theirs, since they were so close to the princess. The guards definitely noticed her, too, but only one approached her, a copper-green earth pony.  “Hello, I’m Patina Polish.” “Oh, the temporary roommate.” “That’s me.”  Patina raised a hoof and Nancy bumped it.  “Nice to finally meet you.” As it turned out, their bunks aboard the airship were also in close proximity and they made smalltalk while getting settled. “I’ve never gone on a trip like this before,” Patina said. Technically, neither had Nancy, but getting ready to voyage somewhere did at least feel familiar. She was aboard the airship when it left.  Nancy wasn’t sure exactly how it was powered.  Steam engines seemed too heavy.  Magic, probably.  Wow, once she accepted magic’s existence, it had almost become her second nature to attribute it to everything. Captain Magnus invited Nancy to review a few proposals.  She got a look at some maps and a summary of how the naval force borrowed from the hippogriffs would be employed.  Despite Equestria’s dominance of the continent, it seemed that the central government still couldn’t always touch some of the farther-flung territories. “So pirates run a few of these coastal towns?” Nancy asked. “I wouldn’t say ‘run,’ but they’re interfering to the point that Canterlot was asked for help.”  Captain Magnus’ brows hardened.  “A fact-finding party that we sent was attacked, so - facts found - we’re bringing an entire force now.  I’m a little concerned that criminals were so quick to resort to violence - not to mention how they knew our ponies were coming.” “A leak?” “Maybe, but I’m not convinced just yet.” “If you’re concerned about that, then why are you telling me?” He gave her a brief smile.  “It’s not you.  You weren’t even here at the time.  But a leak isn’t the only possibility.” Nancy settled in to pass the time.  Since she had next to no duties on the foreign airship, there wasn’t much for her to do.  She went to bed early.  While it wasn’t the kind of ship she was used to, it rocked and swayed enough to make the bed feel close enough. The next morning, they had passed the coastline and were sailing by some kind of archipelago.  After breakfast, Nancy prowled the deck a little bit, her own experience at least coming in handy knowing how to stay out of the way.  The airship was equipped with cannons, but only the old muzzleloading powder-and-ball type. Nancy did wonder about the navigation.  She realized she didn’t know if the planet was round or what, since the princess had to force the sun and moon to rise.  She also didn’t know if compasses worked.  Hopefully ponies had them, since they had steam engines and airships, but she didn’t know for sure. She went to find the bridge of the airship, realizing she’d missed it earlier because it was mostly just the steering wheel on the aft deck.  It did also have a compass, so that was one question answered. Nancy was still standing there when one of the pegasus lookouts came down from atop the airship’s balloon and reported, “There’s a surface ship up ahead that’s flying a distress signal.” “Couldn’t hurt to check it out,” the pilot replied.  “Though, go get Captain Magnus.  It’s his mission.” The Captain was there in only a few moments.  He used a spyglass to examine the ship below them.  He said aloud, though to no one in particular, “Why would a ship with apparently good sails and no apparent damage be drifting and flying a distress flag instead of sailing for help?” The pilot and the lookout glanced at each other. Captain Magnus said, “Take us down, but carefully.”  He gestured to the lookout.  “Keep your eyes peeled.” A few minutes passed as the airship maneuvered to a hover above the sailing ship.  Glancing down, Nancy didn’t see any sign of life aboard. All kinds of things drifted out on the ocean.  Nancy had seen swamped lifeboats, refrigerators, and all manner of other things.  Maybe this ship had broken loose of its moorings.  But then, who had raised the flag? She also wondered what Equestrian maritime salvage laws were, but this didn’t seem like the time to ask. A small team of guards had already assembled, armor and weapons at the ready.  Captain Magnus gestured to them. “Hello aboard the ship!” one of them called down. No response. “Is there anypony there?” Again, nothing.  The guards pushed a rope ladder over the side that trailed down to the deck of the mysterious ship. The lookout called, “Airship spotted!” “Pull up the ladder,” Captain Magnus ordered.  He turned to the pilot.  “Get moving.” “Another airship spotted!  They were hiding in the clouds!” “Identification!” Captain Magnus bellowed so the lookout up top could hear. “None spotted!” “Everypony up!  All crew ready to fight!” Captain Magnus shouted. The lookout provided steering instructions to put the incoming airships on their tail, but starting from a dead stop, the government airship was quickly being overtaken.  Nancy leaned out from the railing, looking up.  Two airships, perhaps smaller than the one she was aboard, were gaining.  Both were painted red. There was a distant boom and something whistled by overhead, accompanied by tearing noises. “Nearest land!” Captain Magnus ordered, and then, “Counterattack!” The gun crews went to work, but it was already clear they had their work cut out for them, firing at targets higher than their own altitude.  For her part, Nancy judged the targets and didn’t think her weapons would make enough difference.  Sure, they were airships, but they wouldn’t fall out of the sky from pinholes. Unlike their own balloon, which was already losing altitude from one - boom, rip! - make that two cannonballs punching through it. Nancy looked down at the water, which was fast approaching, and made ready to abandon ship.