Chapter 3: Boarding

"INCOMING!" Rowan shouted from the bridge as the Umayar ships unleashed salvo of cannon fire towards the Genyrre.

Explosions rocked the area as the Umayar attacks were relentless. Salvo after Salvo unleashed to get a lucky shot against the land wagon. The Captain of the Genyrre glared at Rowan, who was taking his stead in the defense.

"Selena, what is your situation?" Rowan asked her on the radio.

"I am still heading to the deck, sir!" Selena replied while still on her way with her men.

"Don't come to the deck, the Umayar has started bombardment and is planning to board. Return to the lower floors and organize a meaningful resistance!" Rowan ordered.

"What about you sir?" Selena asked.

"Don't mind me. Save as many souls as you can!" Rowan replied and ended his transmission.

Selena did as what Rowan ordered her to do. She radioed all the Europan soldiers in the land wagon to gather on the fifteenth floor. Selena rushed to the objective along with the five soldiers with her. 

On the ninth floor, Adela and Henry repeatedly advised Alexi to retreat to the lower floors. Despite Alexi's earlier objections, he decided to agree with his entourage. He and the others went to the lower floors. 

"I hope you I am not making a decision I won't regret!" Alexi warned Adela and Henry.

The land wagon hit with two rounds from the Umayar attackers stopped where it stood. Two steam engines were set aflame by the explosion. The damage caused a shortage in the electrical supply. It caused the lights inside the land wagon to flicker. 

"This is not good!" Henry said.

"Let's hurry sire, we don't have much time. The enemy may board soon!" Adela told Alexi.

Alexi calmly walked towards the alley and continued on his way. There wasn't a care on his face as he proceeded. He kept his calm and composure.

Rowan, on the bridge, had difficulty in assessing the situation. He looked at the officers on the deck who panicked, "Calm down everyone, damage report!"

The first mate replied and said, "Engines one and six are hit, both are on fire. The crew are trying to extinguish the flames!" 

"Is there a way we can get both operational?" Rowan asked.

"No sir, both are destroyed and beyond repair!" The first mate replied. 

"CURSES!" Rowan shouted. He looked outside the window and saw Umayar boarding ships heading their way.

Thinking that he may not make it out as the Umayar ships were on their way to board. He decided to share the information he learned when the first mate confessed to him. The information should reach the high command and also Alexi's presence. He contacted Selena on her way down to meet up with the defenders.

"Selena, listen!" Rowan called her on the radio.

"Yes sir, what is it?" Selena replied while navigating through the stairs leading to the lower floors.

"Whatever it takes, you need to survive and report this to the high command. The Genyrre has been smuggling illegal cargo for the Umayar. I need you to confirm what was the illegal cargo and check the cargo bay!" Rowan said.

"What about you sir?" Selena asked.

"Don't mind me I'm done for! When the Umayar board the ship we'll be overrun and I'm done for when that happens!" Rowan replied.

"No, I will go there and assist..." Selena suggested.

Rowan interfered and yelled, "This is a direct order from your superior, Captain! Do as what you are told!" 

"Roger that..." Selena replied.

Rowan ended the transmission and looked at the officers on the bridge. He looked at the first mate and thanked him. Then he barked his orders to the officers on the bridge, " I want all fire from our cannons directed at the enemy ships trying to board!" 

"Yes sir!" The first mate and the other officers of the bridge of the Genyrre replied.

Clouds from the flak guns scattered toward the incoming Umayar ships, many of the ships were hit and were brought down by the guns. The Umayar on their side responded with a barrage from their cannons.

Series of cannon fire were unleashed against the Genyrre. Several shots landed on the target, including two frontal mechanical legs. It caused the land wagon to lose balance. 

Rowan on the bridge seeing the situation cursed. He knew that with the land wagon out of balance, it would be difficult for the flak guns to hit the incoming Umayar ships. The land wagon's frontal mechanical legs started to collapse and tilted it forward. 

"Everyone brace yourselves!" Rowan ordered everyone on the bridge as the frontal part of the land wagon plunged to the ground. 

As the flak guns stopped firing, Umayar ships continued their approach toward the land wagon. The dust settled, and then Umayar ships landed around the land wagon. Some landed on the deck and began disembarking troops.

Many inside the bridge were wounded. The first mate was seriously wounded, and the others sustained minor injuries. Rowan had a flesh wound on his right arm. He tore his uniform and used it to stop the bleeding. 

Outside, the Umayar tried to open its steel door from the outside. Rowan leaned at the metal wall behind him and grabbed his revolver. He had six rounds remaining and he decided not to die without a fight.

As the metal door opened, Rowan fired his pistol at the incoming Umayar soldiers. He killed three of them before he used up all his ammunition. Rowan tried to reload, but two Umayar soldiers entered and shot him in his torso. He was hit four times in his body until he succumbed to his wounds. 

The other officers on the bridge tried to resist but were shot as well. The Captain of the Genyrre was still on the floor, wounded tied on his arms and feet. An umayar General entered looked at the Captain with disgust said, "It's not supposed to be this way!" 

The captain, tied on his arms and feet let out a muffled scream as the Umayar soldiers dragged him out of the bridge. The resistance on the deck was silenced as the Umayar successfully boarded. The general ordered his troops to enter the land wagon.