Chapter 27
New Fromt part 2
The shady waves of the sea rocked the ship gently back and forth, sending small yet refreshing sprays of water across the deck when the ship crashed against a wave. The air was strong, but more like a refreshing string which helped fight the harsh sun on the sea. The ship's sails pushed forward, as if convinced that they needed to move fast, and the crewmembers didn't acted differently; their gazes were lost as they worked hard and concentrated in what they were doing. The wind was favoring the ship, but after the captain had ordered all sails to be released that had immediately cases the crew to have more work.
Louis watched the sea pass by as he stood near the prow of the boat, thinking in what was going to happen once they reached the griffon port. Would they encounter resistance from the changelings? Would it be abandoned? Would the griffons be already free and ready to greet them?
With all those question bothering his mind, Louis sighed and closed his eyes as another sweet spray of salty sea water passed by. The wind blew his short hair since he didn't have the officer cap on; he was sure it wasn't a good idea with so much air. He opened his eyes again and contemplated the barren expanse of blue before him. The water seemed to form patterns and figures with the waves as they moved, which entertained him for a while as he relaxed and tried to forget the war.
He had done that many times back on earth. Forgetting his current problems with a simple yet entertaining things, such as trying to find forms and patterns in the water or clouds. Clearing his mind had helped him remain sane, even with the horror of war around him.
He was about to turn around and head to his room when he noticed a faint shadow far away. He closed his eyes and blinked twice afterwards to make sure he wasn't being tricked by his eyes.
Instead of disappearing, the shadow started getting clearer and clearer until he was certain it was another ship. He couldn't yet distinguish the colors, but he knew it was best to notify the captain. He was turning again when he saw other two shadows beside the one he had already seen.
He looked around the ship and finally found the captain.
"Captain, you'll want to take a look at this." He passed him a spyglass and guided him to the side of the ship. The captain seemed uncertain of what was going on.
"What is it general?"
Louis pointed to the incoming ships. "There, three ships coming in out direction. I can't distinguish the colors though; they can be anything."
The captain shrugged and looked intently. He seemed to keep trying to see from where those ships came from and what were their flags.
He finally took the spyglass off his eyes. "Griffons," he said. "They carry the imperial flag. We mustn't worry about them."
"Unless they're changelings," Louis said. That made the captain and a few members of the crew look at him. "Remember the changelings stole griffon ships. They can be using their flags to approach without problem only to attack when they are close."
The captain scratched his head. "That... That is true. We can't wait to find out." He looked at his second. "Call to station, second. We want to be prepared." The pony nodded and saluted before running to a bell that hung in the main mast. Seconds later, the bells started chiming and the crew members abandoned their current posts.
"Get ready ! Battle stations!" the captain shouted. "Make a sign to the other escort ships and pull the flags to signal the transports to get on turtle formation!" he ordered. Louis looked amazed as the ponies moved around perfectly doing their jobs. Soon, the entire convoy was alert and ready. The turtle formation soon came to place.
Louis noticed the so-called turtle formation was fairly simple; the transport ships stood in the middle with the frigates around them trying to keep them from harm. With only three frigates though, it proved to be a difficult job for the navy ships.
He looked over to the captain. "There are three ships of them and three of us. We should try to keep the transport away from the attackers and instead of making a formation around them, only making a wall." The captain looked at him confused. Davis sighed. "We don't make a turtle formation around ten captain, but instead a barrier; use our ships as a shield from the coming attack only from the side the attack is coming."
The captain seemed to ponder this for a second before shouting in frustration. "Of course! Why I didn't saw that earlier." He sighed. "We'll do that General, thank you for pointing that out." Louis smiled as the captain went to order that to be done. Soon, the three ships were forming a line, placing the transports away from the incoming ships.
Now, they needed to wait and see what happened. The equestrian navy ships were ready, with the archers on the castle of the ship, ready to fire and the sword ponies also prepared to attack should a boarding happen.
Seconds turned to minutes and minutes to an hour. It was now clear that the three ships were heading towards the equestrians. That was putting more stress on the ponies and Louis himself.
After some more minutes, another ship was said to appear in the horizon, also going their way and with the griffon flag on it as well.
The captain looked around. The ships was now still, the crew prepared and ready for whatever could come to them. Now, the problem was that there was another ship approaching. Louis knew this wasn't something that would happen normally on the sea. Something was going on, and he didn't like it; threw griffon ships... That meant something bad was about to happen.
"I don't like this... I don't like is at all," the captain said. "We have now another ship approaching, with only three frigates to battle four griffon ships!" He didn't say that very much aloud, but rather to Louis. "We should have waited."
Louis shook his head. "We still don't know what will happen." He looked around the ships. They very well may be griffons."
"And what make you think that guaranties our safety, general?" the second said. "They may very well take us as slaves or something. One can't trust a griffon."
Louis wanted to answer as he felt some anger within but resisted the urge to answer. He knew a griffon... When he had been at the zebra's cottage. He had been rather interesting to talk to, and amiable too; the prospect of war was alive in him, though he knew it was a normal thing, at least in humans it was. Living it was different, but that griffon hadn't been bad at all. He had been normal, and civilized... He actually hoped to meet him again.
Louis snorted and turned away. "We should get ready captain. I don't know how you handle a battle at sea though, not with this weapons," he said, pointing at the archers now stationed on the castle ready to shoot.
The captain nodded and walked in front of him. "It's basically a jump-to-the-ship kind of thing. You board and try not to be boarded. Actually a pretty straightforward battle, if one doesn't trick with magic or p,as too much with fire; it's a rare case for a ship to be sunk." He pointed at the archers. They stay there, shooting at any enemies they see and we, the rest, ready swords and pikes."
Louis nodded. He could picture it now... Though he knew that with his rifle and his gun there could be a slight change in how the battle was fought. Hopefully they'd win. Then, a doubt entered his mind.
So this ponies knew how to fight, in difference with the recruits back at the camp. He was surprised there was a part of the equestrian military, even if it was the navy, that knew how to deal with trouble with the prospect of killing in front of them.
He expressed his curiosity to the captain, who in turn sighed.
"It is indeed a rather... Overwhelming feeling when one knows that killing is needed, but my lads know it. We received new recruit too, so some don't, but our veterans are there to help them... adjust to the change of life." He walked to the side, on a part with no ponies, and looked at the incoming ships. Louis followed. "Equestria is a land like no other. It is surprising was is almost unheard of in it, since the outside world is very much dangerous not here are a few places like equestria in terms of peace, yes, but none haven't have a conflict in so many years." He gestured around at the crew. "Since we go out of equestrian lands al, the time to protect convoys and transport vessels, we need to face the hard reality; this world is not as you were taught it was."
"But what is it that you fight with? None would dare attack an equestrian ship," Louis said.
The captain nodded. "Aye, it is hard to imagine it, but pirates run wild on the seas. That is why we have a navy at all, if not we would be just like the army; new and with no experience."
Louis didn't said anything and instead stays beside the captain watching the ships approach, waiting.
Suddenly, there was a shout from an oncoming Pegasus that the captain had sent minutes after.
"Changelings!" he shouted. "They're changelings!"
The captain immediately looked up.
"Alright lads! You know your jobs. Prepare to fight them off and ready yourselves for boarding!" The sound of swords being unsheathed and of bows being stringed. Louis took out his rifle from his back since it had been strapped there.
Soon, the ships lowered the griffon flag and pulled a grayish cloth instead. Louis distinguished a steel hoof printed on it, though it looked poorly made. Louis moved the rifle to position and pointed. The changeling silhouettes had begun to appear.
Suddenly, the captain yelled.
"Fire!"
Dozens of arrows flew whistling upwards and towards the incoming ships he saw that not all landed right, but many reached its mark. The sound of angry shouts came from the enemy ships as the changelings showed themselves. Louis saw as some strung bows slightly up from the ground, hovering with their wings.
"Take cover!" the captain shouted as a dozen arrows flew beside them. Louis saw none had hit anypony, but they needed to be careful.
"Loose!" the captain shouted again, followed by more dozens of arrows filling the sky with a whistle. He saw as some encrusted themselves on the ships' decks. He took cover as the changelings responded with another volley.
"Fire at will!" the captain ordered this time.
Ponies and changelings kept exchanging arrow shot after arrow shot, hitting the occasional unlucky pony or changeling. Louis had left his cover and was now firing with his rifle at them, hitting many. Soon, the main target for the changelings was him which caused the German to duck and stay low before managing any shot at all. The shouts of ponies made everything more dark as he tried to distinguish what was said.
"Fire to the left!" one shouted.
"Oh sweet Celestia... My leg! It passed right through my leg!"
"Take cover!" the captain shouted as he noticed the changelings preparation to fire a more organized volley. Seconds later, many arrows hit the deck.
"Unicorns! Prepare to fire!" the captain instructed. The unicorn crew members lined up, taking advantage of the changeling's slow loading time. He saw as the unicorn closed their eyes and light orbs started to grow from their horns.
"Fire!" the captain shouted. Instantly, about a dozen light orbs of different colors went flying towards the changeling ship. Louis stared in wonder as they crashed against the ship, causing a series of magical explosions to rock it and set it on fire. He was so surprised he didn't noticed the unicorns were slowly falling to the deck, exhausted. He then turned back towards the damaged changeling ship and smiled as he saw a last explosion go off and the ship slowly turn and start to sink, all the time burning with a bright orange flame.
He looked at the captain. He looked relieved, but rapidly turned his attention towards the other ship; it was preparing to board, the changelings on it readying some sort of curved blades and... Were they sharpening their horns?! The ship was turning in direction to their own. Louis looked at the other one; it was also getting ready for boarding. The one that was farther away was still too far to make up much, but he was hoping they were griffons and not more changelings.
He saw as the other two equestrian frigates fired arrows at them, though it was obvious they weren't doing much damage. He could guess they didn't have any more unicorn shots since the ones they had were laying on the deck. They needed to hope for the best now.
Suddenly, the changeling ship changed route and moved to another one of the equestrian frigates. He saw as changelings and Pegasus lifted to the air, only for many of them to be killed by arrows from the changelings. Louis looked in disgust at the changeling ship; it had sacrificed their own and killed them with their own shots!
He saw as the two ships collided with each other and as changelings, from the higher deck of the griffon ship, jumped to the equestrian deck and he heard as shouts began and the sound of clashing steel began.
The other equestrian ships turned to help the one in trouble as he other changeling ship moved towards Louis' ship. He saw the ponies getting ready.
"Alright! We're gonna be boarded! Get ready ponies!" the captain shouted to his crew. The ponies prepared their weapons.
The large griffon ship collided with their own and, seconds later, changelings jumped from their own deck just as they had with the other ship. Louis noticed many died with volleys of the equestrian archers, but it wasn't enough for them to stop; soon it was full battle on the deck. Louis placed his rifle on his back and unsheathed his sword. He was going to need it.
"There! Get the ape!" a changeling shouted. Louis turned and saw as five changelings turned to face him. He got ready just as the first one rushed at him. He parried the curved short blade and used his elbow to hit him in the back. With the rest of the momentum, he swung down his sword, the large blade decapitating the changeling. The other four attacked simultaneously. He jumped sideways and managed to evade two horns with that. With a strong and swift stroke he wounded another and sent flying one beside. The last one left charged up his horn; Louis didn't gave him a chance to fire. He swung his blade, only for the changeling to stop his spell and stop the sword with it. Louis stabbed forward, puncturing a hole on the changelings chest. With another hit he brought down the sword and immediately ended his foe.
He turned and saw a despairing sight; it appeared that the ponies were having a hard time.
Looking to the other ships, he felt his hope loosen; one of the equestrian ships was slowly sinking with fire around it. The other one was infested with changelings. It wasn't going to be long before the changelings defeated them and moved towards his own ship.
Just then, the sound of a horn echoed through the sea. The griffon ship was now close, the griffon flag proudly fluttering against the wind, and creatures half bird half lion on board. Louis smiled as he noticed the griffons shout and take to the sky, all clutching swords and axes with armor on them. He saw as ponies cheered, but resumed the fight immediately. Changelings took flight as well at the same time as arrows flew towards the approaching griffons. Louis' smile grew wider as he saw a huge ballista aim and fire at one of the griffon ships. The sound of changelings cries and the thundering cheer of griffon warriors filled the air for a few seconds.
Louis dodged an arrow and pulled the trigger as he fired at two approaching airborne changelings.
"Equestrians! To me!" he shouted trying to get the attention of the ponies. His shout clearly caused the ponies to pay attention. He saw as the crew ran to him, he starting to order them as the changelings looked slightly surprised at the sudden lack of ponies around. Soon, most of the ship's crew was beside him. Louis pulled out his sword and placed the gun on its sheath.
"Attack!" he ordered. The ponies ran across the deck, taking the changelings still confused both by the griffon attack and the strange formation of ponies. They fell fast under the equestrians' swords and soon they were being driven back to their own ship. Louis climbed aboard the griffon ship and kept stabbing. He heard the ponies around and also noticed that griffons were landing beside him, their battle cries causing the changelings to cower before them. Louis stabbed a changelings and turned to see the fight.
The changelings were turning and flying away now. The other equestrian ship was also now rescued by griffon troops, the sudden change of odds causing the changelings to turn and fly away as well before being caught by arrows.
Soon, the changelings were finished, leaving only wreckage and bloodied bodies On the now red and green decks. Louis looked around and saw the captain walking towards him, clutching his side with one hoof and walking on three.
"We won..." Louis said slowly. The captain nodded.
"Aye... But it came with a heavy price. The "little feather", that is, the other frigate, is far too damaged to continue the trip. We'll have to transfer the crew to our own ship or use on of the changeling ones." He looked at a swirling vortex that slowly faded where the last part of the equestrian sunken ship has been last. "As for them we hope the ship greeted them with open arms... We are already rescuing survivors, but most didn't make it."
Louis sighed. He saw griffons helping with the wounded and checking for ship damages, both on theirs and the equestrians.
Just then, a griffon landed beside them. He wore a navy vest and had a few medals on it. He stood with a dignified pose; he was surely the captain or a Almirant.
"Captain, general, it is an honor meeting you. My name is Davius Greyfeather, almirant of the griffon navy and commander of griffon port troopers." He looked at Louis and moved a claw in salute. "I finally meet the hero of Green Lake, the human."
Louis greeted back and slightly blushed. "Well, I'm not really a hero, but thanks."
The griffon shook his head. "Nonsense. Every warrior is a hero, but you distinguished yourself, or so I've heard. It's nice knowing our allies have able leaders such as yourself and your partner, General Davis." He turned to the captain. "Captain, I have my crew checking for damages on both your ships and my own stolen ones. You surely know the damage on your on their ship is far too much and it won't sustain any trip, not even to the closest port." The captain looked slightly dark as he answered.
"Yes, I already knew that."
The Almirant soiled. "I am really glad this battle wasn't as bad as it would have been. The changelings may be hatchlings at sea, but they've picked on fairly quick on the ways of it. I'm surprised they haven't started building their own ships." He turned to Louis again. "What is your plan?" Louis have him a questioning look. He noticed. "Well, of course you are here with five transport ships for a reason! Are they troops that will help us or simply taking a cruise to the most dangerous waters in Equs?"
Louis grinned. "We are going to start a two-front campaign. We hope that, by freeing the griffon ports, we'll manage to get a reliable supply line from the sea and to not depend solely on the provisions sent from overland, which can be easily taken out."
The Almirant nodded. "Very well. I'll escort your ships to the best port for such uses." Louis was about to say something but was interrupted by the Greyfeather. "It's not yet taken, but we are suffering heavy attacks. It has a walled fort, but the city is also surrounded by a thick wall. The problem is that the town itself is almost lost. The town walls will not withstand any other large-scale attack. If your troops come to reinforce us there, you'll not only have a safe and strong base of operations, but you will have a safe haven in case things go south or if problems arise." Louise looked at the captain, who in turn looked at the ship. "It is your best chance, and our hope of not losing the most important port."
Louis closed his eyes and sighed. That could prove to be a problem. Their original plan would be what he wanted, especially because it meant going somewhere they hadn't planned. The odds were more in favor though. He'd need to send a letter to Davis about the exact location of the port, but apart from that nothing else would be needed.
He turned and nodded.,
"I believe that is best course of action. Please, show us in a map where it is and we'll go there."
Greyfeather smiled. It wasn't a happy smile, but rather a satisfied and even excited one.
With contained excited words, he spoke:
"Very well. Let's go to your quarters captain, we'll have a lot to discuss..."