Master of the seas

in case anyone is interested, I decided to write a story to distract me from the research I do for some chapters of this fanfic, it's called Industrial Baron in Caesar's Legion, it's more violent because there is no need to keep up appearances.

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If there are spelling mistakes, please let me know.

Leave a comment; support is always appreciated.

I remind you to leave your ideas or what you would like to see.

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''What is dead may never die, but if it burns it will never rise again..''Karl von rugen

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third person pov tenth moon 288 AC

The Prussian navy finally sprang into action after several days of waiting, the time needed for the Wilhelmshaven arsenal to complete the construction of the new models of galleys that had been ordered at the start of the conflict. It was an impressive display of naval power, and each vessel was designed to meet the specific needs of the maritime combat that lay ahead.

Until then, the Prussian navy had two main types of galleys: those equipped with Greek fire siphons and the ramming galleys, whose purpose was to ram and split enemy ships in two with their massive reinforced metal prow.

However, following a special request from the admiral stationed in the Stepstones, the Prussian navy had developed a third type of galley to expand its lethality. These new ships featured a forward platform equipped with multiple scorpions capable of launching enormous bolts with such force that they could pierce the hulls of enemy ships, causing severe structural damage and, more importantly, eliminating the rowers, leaving the rival ships adrift and completely useless in the water.

These naval innovations reflected the calculated approach of the Prussians, who had learned much from their previous battle with the royal fleet. Although it had been a Pyrrhic victory for the Prussians, most of their sailors had survived, and the material losses, while significant, would be quickly replaced thanks to the impressive productive capacity of the Wilhelmshaven arsenal, which operated at full capacity, producing up to three war galleys each day.

The experience gained from combat against Stannis Baratheon would not go to waste; every lesson, every mistake had been analyzed to improve their strategies. Now, that same experience would be used against the Ironborn, whose longships, though fast and agile, would be no match for the overwhelming superiority of the massive Prussian vessels. While the Ironborn relied on their speed and brutal boarding tactics, the Prussians had much larger, better-armed ships with crews trained to exploit every tactical advantage in naval warfare.

This combination of experience and superior technology promised to make the upcoming battle one of absolute dominance for the Prussian navy. The Ironborn would face not only an enemy that outnumbered them but also a fleet far more advanced and better prepared for any contingency.

The Prussian fleet advanced with methodical calm, their ships slicing through the waters as the wargs maintained constant vigilance. Their objective was clear: locate and attack the scattered groups of the Ironborn fleet, who were ravaging the coasts in their raids, stealing and destroying everything in their path. The Prussians, with their relentless discipline, sought to exploit this dispersion, eliminating them one by one before they could regroup into an unstoppable force.

Each day, the Ironborn longships encountered unexpected resistance. The Prussians hunted with precision, attacking isolated ships and capturing the pirates who manned them. Those who fell into their hands were executed without delay, their fate sealed as soon as their ships were sunk or captured.

However, what the Prussian navy truly desired was about to happen. After several days of hunting and eliminating the scattered groups, a crucial sighting was made. Not far away, in open waters, was the bulk of the Ironborn fleet. They had set aside their raids to face the Prussians once and for all.

Aboard the SMS König Wilhelm, the flagship of the Prussian fleet, tension hung in the air as high-ranking officers discussed the imminent battle. They knew the upcoming confrontation would decide control of the seas. Strategies were analyzed in detail, but the numerical advantage of the Ironborn, with their five hundred longships, was a formidable challenge.

"The wargs have confirmed the presence of approximately five hundred longships, father. They have nearly twice as many ships as we do," said Karl von Rugen, reporting the threat they faced.

Großadmiral Johann von Rugen, as serene as ever, processed the information, but Karl, with his experience fighting the royal fleet, took the initiative.

"But let's not be intimidated by the numbers," Karl began, addressing the gathered officers. "Our ships, especially the galleys and galleons, carry far more men than their longships. While they outnumber us in ships, we are nearly equal or surpass them in manpower. However, we cannot underestimate their speed or boarding tactics. The Ironborn will always try to get close enough to board our galleons."

A galleon captain nodded. "That's true, but their ships are fragile. If we manage to maintain distance, our larger ships will crush them."

Karl leaned over the table, pointing to the maritime map spread out before them. "That's precisely why I suggest our galleys maintain a tight formation, flanking the galleons. Their longships are agile, yes, but if we deny them the space to maneuver and board us, they'll lose their advantage. Our galleys must intercept them before they can get too close. We must not use the galleons as battering rams, as tempting as it may be. A lone galleon surrounded by their ships will quickly be overwhelmed and destroyed."

The officers exchanged glances, absorbing Karl's words. They knew that while the galleons were powerful, they weren't invulnerable in the midst of a massive boarding attack.

Karl continued, "Our priority must be to keep the galleons out of direct reach of the longships. We cannot allow them to get close enough to attempt boardings. Our galleys will absorb the initial impact and neutralize the first waves. Once we've weakened them sufficiently, the galleons can move in and unleash their hundreds of crossbowmen and Greek fire grenades."

Großadmiral Johann von Rugen listened attentively, evaluating his son's proposal. Finally, he nodded, giving his approval. "It's a solid strategy. We cannot allow the Ironborn to take the initiative. We'll maintain our tight formations, with the galleys protecting the flanks. The galleons will remain ready, but we won't engage them in direct combat until it's absolutely necessary."

"To your posts," Johann concluded.

The fog lifted as the Ironborn ships approached the Prussian galley line, their longships slicing through the waves with speed. The Prussians, formed into an impenetrable wall of wood and steel, awaited the assault, their scorpions already loaded and ready to fire. The sound of war drums echoed in the air, accompanying the roar of the Ironborn as they prepared for boarding.

The first clash was immediate and brutal. The longships crashed into the Prussian galleys, and the scorpions' bolts pierced the hulls of the pirate ships, but the Ironborn, masters of sea combat, did not stop. Despite the initial losses and the dozens of impaled rowers, the pirates pressed on, leaping from their ships onto the decks of the Prussian vessels, where brutal hand-to-hand combat erupted with savage ferocity.

On one of the Prussian galleys, a group of Ironborn landed with the impact of a furious wave. The pirates' swords and axes rose as the Prussian spears tried to stop their advance. The sound of steel clashing against steel was deafening. One Ironborn, armed with a large axe, cleaved a Prussian shield in two, followed by a blow that split the soldier's helmet, scattering blood and fragments of bone across the deck. The Prussian fell with a blood-choked gurgle, but before the pirate could shout in victory, a longsword pierced his side. Another Prussian, bloodied but unyielding, shoved the limp body overboard, only to be attacked by another pirate.

The galley's deck was pure chaos. The Ironborn, with their characteristic brutality, fought like demons, cutting down anything in their path. However, the Prussians were no easy prey. Despite being outnumbered in some areas, their discipline allowed them to regroup quickly and resist the pirates' onslaught. A Prussian knight, wielding a bastard sword, blocked an axe blow, disarmed his opponent with a swift twist, and, with brutal efficiency, drove his sword into the pirate's chest, pinning him to the deck.

But not everything was victory for the Prussians. On another galley, the Ironborn managed to break through the defenses. A group of pirates led by a hulking warrior with a tattooed face and armed with two axes unleashed a massacre. With quick and precise movements, he cut down two Prussians before they could react, and then lunged at the ship's captain. The Prussian tried to block the attack, but the pirate's axes were too fast. One slash opened his thigh, and another cut his throat. The captain fell, writhing as blood gushed from the wound. The pirates, seeing their leader advancing unstoppably, began to dominate the deck, pushing the Prussians toward the edge.

At that moment, one of the Prussian galleons intervened. They fired a barrage of bolts and Greek fire at the longship that had boarded the galley, setting the enemy ship ablaze. The pirates, engulfed in flames, screamed in agony as they jumped into the water, only to be picked off by arrows shot from a distance. But despite these losses, the Ironborn kept attacking. Another longship rammed the galleon, and the pirates began climbing up its sides, determined to capture it.

The battle on the galleon was a bloodbath. The Ironborn, armed with axes and swords, charged at the Prussians, who fought back with longswords and spears. The clash was brutal. The Prussians, protected by their armor, held the line, but every time one of them fell, a bloodthirsty pirate quickly took their place. A Prussian managed to behead a pirate with a single swing, but was knocked down by another who struck him with a hammer to the back, crushing his armor and shattering his bones.

The deck of the galleon became slick with blood, and the bodies littering the floor made the fight treacherous. A group of pirates broke through the Prussian defenses and advanced toward the central mast, where a Prussian officer was coordinating the defense. But before they could reach him, a line of Prussian knights in full armor cut them off. With swords and maces, the knights charged into the pirates, crushing skulls and severing limbs. The fight was fierce, but the Prussians, despite being under pressure, maintained control.

Meanwhile, elsewhere on the battlefield, a longship managed to flank one of the Prussian galleys. The pirates boarded en masse, and the deck turned into a chaotic inferno. The Prussians, cornered, fought with everything they had, but the pirates were too many. A Prussian, his face covered in sweat and blood, tried to defend himself with his spear but was surrounded by three pirates. They hacked at him with axes until he fell to the ground, his armor shattered, before a sword slashed his throat.

The fight was relentless on both sides. The Ironborn, despite their losses, continued to advance, pushing the Prussians to their limits. The Prussians, however, did not give ground. Every pirate advance was met with a fierce counterattack, and the decks of the ships were covered in corpses and blood. The difference in fighting styles was clear: the pirates fought with wild fury, but the Prussians, with their military discipline, resisted each wave

The sea, stained red, was filled with the debris of ships and floating bodies. Every Prussian ship, every longship, was a scene of brutality and death. The battle raged on, and as the sun began to set on the horizon, neither side showed any signs of surrender.

Finally, the massive Prussian galleons, which had been waiting for the right moment, began to move forward, like giants of wood and steel. Their sails billowed in the wind, and the enormous ships cut through the waters with unstoppable purpose. As the hand-to-hand combat intensified on the galleys, the Prussian galleons advanced to deliver the final blow.

At the same time, the galleys equipped with Greek fire siphons maneuvered to flank the Ironborn longships, which were beginning to fall into disarray from the chaos of battle. The Prussian ships, with deadly precision, began to unleash their most feared weapons. Ceramic grenades loaded with Greek fire flew in all directions, exploding on impact with the longships and covering the enemy vessels in flames that could not be extinguished.

The fire quickly spread across the Ironborn ships. The pirates, terrified, screamed as the flames consumed the hulls of their ships. Some tried to jump into the water to escape, but even those who survived the sea faced certain death as Prussian arrows rained down on them. The longships burned like floating torches, and black smoke rose above the battlefield, covering the horizon.

The Prussian galleys continued to press their attack. As the pirates struggled to control their panic, the Greek fire siphons activated, spewing columns of burning flames directly onto the unprotected flanks of the longships. The fire spread with terrifying speed, engulfing the enemy ships in a blazing inferno. The pirates who still tried to resist were consumed by the flames, their screams of agony blending with the roar of the fire and the din of combat.

The Ironborn, used to fighting on the waves, found themselves powerless against the horror of Greek fire. Their longships, light and agile, were not built to withstand such destruction. Ship after ship began to burn, and those that did not succumb to the flames were rammed by the Prussian galleys, which, with their reinforced prows, split the pirate hulls in two, sinking them into the depths of the sea.

The Prussian galleons, now fully committed to the battle, moved into the center of the conflict. From their platforms, the Prussians launched more incendiary projectiles, creating a ring of fire around the enemy ships. The longships that tried to escape were struck by ceramic grenades, which exploded in a rain of fire, burning their crews alive.

The chaos among the Ironborn was absolute. Their forces, which had begun the battle with the intention of boarding and plundering, were now reduced to a burning wreck of ships, screaming men, and floating bodies. The flames reflected in the eyes of the Prussians as they watched the enemy fleet disintegrate.

The pirates, desperate, attempted one final suicidal charge against the galleons, but were met by an impenetrable wall of Greek fire and bolts from the scorpions. The longships sped forward, but before they could strike, they were engulfed by tongues of fire that completely consumed them. The few that managed to reach the galleons were swiftly destroyed by the massive Prussian vessels, which crushed them mercilessly.

The screams of the Ironborn slowly faded as their ships burned and their men died in the water. The resistance collapsed, and soon only a shadow remained of what had once been a feared fleet. The sea, now filled with debris, bodies, and burning ships, stood as a testament to the brutal victory of the Prussians.

The Prussian galleons advanced through the smoldering wreckage, imposing and unstoppable, ensuring that no enemy ship survived. The flames still burned as the last of the Ironborn ships sank, and the smoke filled the air, obscuring the horizon. The battle was over.

The Ironborn fleet, which had arrived with the hope of dominating the seas, had been almost completely destroyed, with only a few dozen ships managing to flee the massacre. The Prussians, bloodied and exhausted, but victorious, claimed absolute control of the seas, as the last flames devoured the remains of the enemy fleet.

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Leave a comment; support is always appreciated.

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I remind you to leave your ideas or what you would like to see.

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