A Favour

Distant flashes of explosions lit up the clouds while raging fires and burning airships turned the night skies blood red. Rumble of things blowing up rolled over the land and the crew of the two UN Icarus class airships watched the ongoing battle silently while laying hidden under the cover of the trees.

From their vantage point, they could see the entire mountain range was on fire and the flames lit up the countless airships in the skies that were constantly throwing shots after shots down at the forts. The much smaller and faster airships of the Iron Kingdom could barely even hold off the first wave of attacks and many fell.

In the end, the airships of the Iron Kingdom could only retreat leaving behind the ground defenders to their fate.

-----

The Old World, Iron Kingdom, The Old Ugly

The CH - 1 Griffin had landed on a small clearing not far from the Old Ugly that had a group of Marines providing a security cordon to keep away any prying eyes. A group of eager goblin techs barely waited until the rotors stopped spinning before they started to dismantle the transport helo and stripped it down to store into crates.

"Why do these goblins work for you?" Prince Herod looked around with curiosity and pointed to the goblins, "How did you all tame these dangerous creatures?"

"Good food and work benefits?" Mills gave a shrug. "They like us I guess?"

"Stranger and stranger," Prince Herod frowned as he observed the goblins' work. "Maybe I should see if I can tame some... They look quite useful with their hands..."

Mills gave a polite smile and gestured to the waiting officers at the edge of the clearing. "The Captain is waiting for you, your Highness."

"Captain Blake!" Prince Herod gave a bow. "I thank you with all of my soul for your help."

Blake waved away his thanks before he dropped a bomb to the Prince, "The Protectorate has invaded... And the border defences won't be able to hold..."

"What?" Prince Herod sighed before he said, "I had expected we have a bit more time..."

"But how did you get this news?" Aeguil was surprised.

"I have my means," Blake replied before he asked the Prince. "So what are your plans now?"

"I need to get to my troops and organize a blocking force against the Protectorate," Prince Herod said. "Has my troops mobilised?"

"Yes, your Highness... But... we have some issues..." Aeguil replied. "Some of the noble officers and families are rejecting your orders and also not allowing our troops to cross their lands..."

"Curses on their families!" Prince Herod growled. "How many ships have rallied under my banner?"

"Just eighteen, your Highness..." Aeguil replied nervously. "The rest have yet to arrived..."

Prince Herod kicked against a tree root to vent his anger before he spun around and faced Blake, "What do you want for lending your strength to the defence of my kingdom? I am willing to pay any price you ask for!"

"We only have a single ship," Blake replied, unsure why the Prince kept wanting to hire him and his men. "We won't be able to influence much to this war..."

Prince Herod hung his head down as he contemplated his options before he said, "I need a last favour from you... Can you bring me to my gathered ships?"

"What's the point?" Blake asked curiously. "Your fleet is seriously outnumbered and the best course of action now is to get them to fall back to another holding point while gathering more forces to fight off the Protectorate."

"If I do that, many will die under the cruelty of the Protectorate!" Prince Herod helplessly replied. "I as their Prince, I cannot see them die!"

"Good intentions, but still flawed logic..." Blake sighed softly. "I can get you to your ships, but after that, you are on your own."

"You are a good person, Captain," Prince Herod gave Blake a salute. "And I cannot thank you enough for your help..."

"Brave and stupid..." Blake shook his head at the back of the Prince as he walked through the forest towards the parked airship. He suddenly had a flashback when he was once the same, sacrificing his ship, crew and eventually his leg for the greater good.

He decided to help the Prince one last time before he continued his search for Sherene and his child.

-----

The Old World, Iron Kingdom Border, Bastion Eleven

Dozens and dozens of crimson red airships pushed through the burning forts and defences of the mountain border. To the surviving defenders' surprise, the Protectorate airships did not even bother to land troops after they silenced the bastions' steam cannons and instead continued to push forward.

But the number of Protectorate ships left the survivors in fear as they peeked out from their hiding places, seeing countless ships. They realised that the Protectorate was going for an all out invasion as ship designs not seen for decades were included in the attack.

The first line of defences was overwhelmed quickly by sheer numbers. Even with the powerful super heavy steam cannons that could sink airships with a hit or two, the sheer numbers of enemies were too much for the defenders. Volleys after volleys of explosive projectiles hammered the mountain walls until they crumbled and even buried some of the cannons, trapping the defenders under tons of rocks.

The Protectorate's doctrine for their airships was all about faith and brute belief in their strength, hence their fleets were mostly heavily armed and armoured. The fast attack airships of the Iron Kingdom were more than capable of going toe to toe with the archaic Protectorate heavy airships but the sheer number of projectiles filling the air made any mistake a costly one.

The squadrons of fast attack airships deployed almost instantly, a testimony of their capabilities but even against the numerous Protectorate's decades old cruiser and battleship designs, they were hopelessly overwhelmed. The brave crews knew that they were using their lives to buy time for their comrades to mobilise and they fearlessly threw their ships into the fray.

Sub Lieutenant Kasi was one such commander of the Iron Kingdom's 187th Sky Squadron. Her Rapier class fast attack destroyer, the Iron Needle, was one of the many defending the border and when the siren bells went off, she reflexly shoved her naked partner off the cosy bed, dressed and was gone before her partner even woke up.

Like all others, she had first assumed it was the usual raid by the Protectorate. They loved to conduct night raids into the lands of the Iron Kingdom to kidnap people to convert to their faith. But when she boarded her airship, her second in command had handed her a scrap of parchment, his face pale and his hand trembling.

She read the note and froze before she ordered her ship to make all haste to launch. Already, the heavy thud of steam cannons could be heard inside the cave where the airships were parked as the cannon crews served their weapons. The temperature inside the cave grew hotter and hotter as the boilers from the rows of park airships were fired up.

Soon one by one they hovered up and airscrew pushed the airships out from the rear of the mountain where Bastion Eleven stood. Kasi ordered her ship to form up with the rest of the 187th. When her ship rose up above the peaks of the mountain range, there was a collective intake of breath from the bridge crew including her as they stared out of the viewports at the numerous shadows highlighted by flares and explosions.

"It's... not a raid!" Someone cried out in shock. "I- It's an invasion! We are doomed!"

"Silence!" Kasi snapped angrily. "Next one who makes a noise, I will throw him overboard!"

The small bridge crew quieted down but the tension rose. Her good friend Kragen who was the second in command, whispered softly, next to her, his eyes filled with fear and doubt, "What do we do?"

"We wait for orders from the squadron commander!" She replied back before calling out. "Signaler? Is there any signals from the flagship?"

"No, Sub Lieutenant!" The signaler kept casting nervous glances at the Protectorate fleet and back to the squadron's flagship. "Nothing at all!"

"Hail them!" Kasi ordered. "Request for orders!"

The signaler officer uncovered a speaking horn and passed on the commands to the flag and signal crew on the top of the airship, who used a combination of lights and flags to request orders from the flagship. It was a moment later, when the signaler officer replied, "The... commander's orders are for all ships to engage... the enemy... We are to buy as much time for the second line of defences to mobilise!"

The orders from the squadron commander effectively sentenced everyone to their deaths. Kasi turned to her good friend who had closed his eyes and was muttering a prayer to his god before he opened his eyes and gave a shaky nod.

"All hands, prepare for battle!" Kasi's voice barely trembled under the stress and fear she was holding back. "For Iron!"

"For Iron!" The bridge crew screamed out as they vented their fear out. Orders followed down to the crew and the Iron Needle charged forward together with the other ships of the 187th. The squadron of twelve ships slashed through the dark masses from the top, firing broadsides as they passed between the Protectorate ships.

Once the squadron broke through the Protectatore fleet, two ships were missing and one ship had lagging behind, trailing smoke and steam. In one pass, a third of the 187th's strength was gone but in their wake, they too left behind their mark as a couple of Protectorate cruisers fell back smoking.

The squadron reorganized themselves and once the steam cannons were reloaded, they made another attack run. Utilizing their fast speed and narrow profiles, the 187th targeted the edges of the Protectorate fleet, their attack runs shredding metal and depleting magic barriers.

The Iron Needle shook violently when one errant projectile smacked right into the side of the ship. Almost instantly, the magic barrier dimmed as the kinetic energy from the mushroom shaped projectile drained the majority of the ship's magic reserves. Knocked off course, the cannon crew missed their opportunity to fire their volley and the helmsman fought to bring the ship back to control.

"Bring us back to formation!" Kasi nearly screamed her order out as the Iron Needle fell behind the squadron. Any ship that was out of formation was certain to be targeted as it was easier to aim at a single target as there was no other ship to help use their magic barrier to protect each other. "Hurry!"

The Iron Needle shook again as another projectile hammered against their barrier and effectively shaking it. Motes of magical energies dispersed into the air leaving the Iron Needle without protection. Kasi cursed as she ordered her ship to turn away from the Protectorate fleet and keep out of range until their magic barrier was powered up again.

From a safe distance, Kasi and her crew watched the entire mountain range burn. Airships dropped like shooting stars in the night skies and went up in spectacular balls of flames when they hit the ground. A spotter suddenly cried out in shock and fear as he pointed to the far distance. "An- Another fleet! They have another fleet!"

Kasi climbed up the ladder to the observation deck where the spotters were manning and peered through the far seeing glass. Even in the darkest, the glows of fires were enough to highlight another large group of dark shapes approaching from the Protectatore side of the border.

"Could it be transports?" Kasi asked the spotter next to her.

"They are too large to be transports!" The spotter nervously replied. "And so far we only spotted ships that are as old as my grandfather!"

"They must be sending the old ships to clear the way..." Kasi whispered under her breath. "The fleet behind... that is the real invasion fleet!"