A Brief Tension

Sensing that Mateyo and Jafari had no choice but to cooperate, they reluctantly nodded in agreement.

"Good," Captain Ellis said with a firm nod. "We will now continue the voyage."

With the interpreters acquired, Captain Ellis ordered his crew to sail forward. Once again, the powerful engines beneath the deck roared to life, propelling the massive warship towards the Port of Maputo. The fishermen stood at the bow, feeling the vibration of the ship under their feet and watching the familiar coastline draw nearer.

Meanwhile, at the Port of Maputo, the city was busy with its routine activities. Citizens bustled about, vendors called out their wares, and fishermen prepared their boats for another day at se

Suddenly, one by one, people began to notice something unusual on the horizon. At first, it was just a distant shape, but as it grew larger, the details became clearer. A murmur of confusion spread through the crowd as they realized it was not just one ship, but a fleet of massive warships heading straight for the port.

Panic started to ripple through the crowd. Mothers clutched their children tighter, vendors abandoned their stalls, and dockworkers dropped their tools, all staring in disbelief at the approaching armada.

The local authorities quickly responded, ordering soldiers to the docks and positioning cannons defensively. 

"Those are the westerners again! They will not be tolerated," shouted a local militia leader.

The coastal artillery crews, though their equipment was rudimentary compared to the advanced weaponry of the Western nations, scrambled to prepare their cannons. They loaded the heavy shells and aimed the barrels toward the approaching fleet. The cannons, old and well-worn, had been maintained meticulously by the soldiers, who knew they could still deal significant damage if they struck squarely on the ships.

Soldiers hurriedly set up defenses along the coast, while the citizens of Maputo either fled to safety or watched anxiously from a distance. The fear of another invasion by foreign powers was all too real for the people of Zambesi, who had resisted numerous attempts at subjugation.

Captain Ellis, observing the preparations from the deck of the VNS Titan, remained calm. 

"Your people are arming up against us," Captain Ellis said.

"That's because they thought you were one of the Western powers," Jafari replied.

"Your country truly hates the West, huh?" Captain Ellis glanced over his shoulder and looked him in the eye.

"That's because of what they did to our continent. They are subjugating and exploiting our lands, our people," Jafari responded bitterly. 

Captain Ellis acknowledged his words internally before returning his gaze back ahead. 

"Clear the deck, all hands to battle stations," Captain Ellis commanded.

Immediately, the alarm blared through the ship, and red flashing lights illuminated the deck. Sailors sprang into action, manning their positions.

Mateyo and Jafari exchanged worried glances as they watched the well-coordinated chaos unfold around them. 

"Are you preparing to fight?" Mateyo asked Ellis.

"Rules of engagement dictate that if we are fired upon, we have the right to defend ourselves."

"But didn't you just say that you are here to establish diplomatic relations?" Mateyo reminded him.

"Don't worry, we are not going to hit them. Rather, we are going to send them a message—"

Captain Ellis's words had barely left his mouth when the first artillery shell arced through the sky, heading straight for the fleet. The shell splashed into the water, missing its target but sending a towering column of water into the air. 

The coastal artillery crews were doing their best, but their aim was off, and the shells continued to miss the warships, only managing to drench the decks with seawater and create turbulence.

"Okay, load a blank shell into the forward cannon," Captain Ellis ordered.

"Aye, Captain! Loading blank shell!" the gunnery officer responded.

The crew sprang into action, following naval protocol with practiced efficiency. The blank shell was loaded into the massive cannon, ready to fire a warning shot that would make a statement without causing harm.

"Ready the forward cannon, sir!" the gunnery officer reported.

"Fire!" Captain Ellis commanded.

The cannon roared to life, sending a deafening boom across the water. The blank shell soared through the air, its trajectory arcing high above the coastal defenses before exploding harmlessly in a bright flash. The sound echoed across the port, capturing the attention of everyone onshore.

Mateyo and Jafari watched in awe as the flash illuminated the sky, their anxiety momentarily overshadowed by the spectacle.

"What was that?" Mateyo asked, his voice barely audible over the ringing in his ears.

"A warning shot," Captain Ellis replied. "It's to show them we mean business but aren't here to destroy them. I hope the message was sent across."

At the Port of Maputo, the coastal artillery crews were stunned into silence by the massive explosion. They had never seen anything like it. The bright flash and deafening boom left no doubt in their minds about the power of the approaching fleet. The artillerymen exchanged worried glances, unsure of what to do next. 

"Should we fire again?" asked one of the crew.

The local militia leader was approached by an official from the office of the governor and whispered in his ear.

Seconds later, the militia leader swept his gaze across his crew and announced. "Hold your fire! Those ships aren't Westerners. The Governor wants to know the purpose of their visits."

"They seemed to have calmed down," Captain Ellis observed. "But this is far from over. They could misunderstand our intentions." 

"No, I think the message you want to deliver has been received loud and clear," Jafari said, still trying to steady his breathing. "They'll think twice before firing again."

The crew of the VNS Titan continued their advance, the imposing fleet creating a formidable sight as they neared the port. The coastal defenses remained on high alert, but no further shots were fired.

As the warships approached the docks, Captain Ellis gave another order. "Prepare the landing party. We need to establish direct communication with their leaders."

"Aye, Captain!" responded one of the officers. Sailors quickly readied a small boat to ferry the delegation to shore. Captain Ellis, five soldiers, and Mateyo and Jafari boarded the boat, and they were lowered into the water.

The small boat cut through the waves, making its way toward the docks where a crowd had gathered. Among them was a guard aiming an authentic musket at them.

Captain Ellis raised his hand as a gesture of peace. "Hold your fire! We come in peace!" he shouted, hoping the guard would understand.

Mateyo quickly translated. "They come in peace!"

The guard hesitated, his grip on the musket loosening slightly. The crowd watched in anxious silence as the small boat reached the dock. 

This was it, for the first time, a Valorian citizen would set foot on foreign soil.