Boss

It was all going so well. We lowered our gun and hid it below decks, we raised our banner, we were uniformed perhaps not as usual raiders were, but that was no big issue given the lack of discipline among their ranks. We came to the perfect stop, following operating protocol to the letter. Their captain was a dumbass trying not to anger the renowned Southern Raiders. We answered our questions perfectly, stick to the story, and were given the pass, then out of nowhere, to my right as I head back towards the bridge, an explosion of fire erupts. I didn't have time to try to stop the fighting before Gordez emerged from below decks to rush to my side and fired off a crossbow bolt at the man he suspected of the unprovoked attack.

I got to my feet and before I could even draw my own weapon, Ka'lira, Zek, and Jadoh were returning fire, shooting upwards to try to suppress our attackers, but viewing the monstrosity of steel and death by our sides, I knew there was only one real option. I turned up toward the command bridge to see that Kosah was peering down, observing the carnage, not sure what to do in a situation where we were facing off against his own nation. I didn't want to kill anybody, but we had to run, and run fast. "Get us out of here, Kosah!"

He paused, looked down again, and I suppose he saw the look on my face just screaming, "NOW!" at him. He ran into the bridge to get us underway and around 15 seconds later, I could hear the engines below us hum to life.

I put a hand on Gordez's shoulder who had just fired a bolt at the enemy and told him, "Get down to the engine room and get us moving fast. I'll be on the bridge!" He nodded and slid down through the gap between the tarp and the cargo elevator, using the maintenance shaft to work his way to the engine room. I then, dodging multiple new projectiles of flame and death, worked my way towards where Zek, Ka'lira, and Jadoh were huddled behind the training gear, using it for cover, and said, "I'm heading to the bridge. Provide covering fire and get your asses inside now!"

They nodded in affirmation and as I broke for the bridge, I heard the firing of two more crossbow bolts behind me and the clang of metal across the minimal gap separating our petty vessel and their warship. The bolts didn't strike flesh but were enough to stave off a volley of fireballs, giving us the time needed to retreat into the vessel and close the steel door of the superstructure behind us.

"Zek! Get down there and help the engine crew get us out of here. Jadoh, Ka'lira, I need you on the bridge now!"

There were no complaints as Zek slid down the latter as Ka'lira, Jadoh, and I began our ascent.

We were on the bridge quickly enough and I was pleased to see that Kosah had done his part and we were set to full speed ahead. We were moving, and straight towards the blockade. Half a mile away, with minimal attention being paid on a simple interaction between two supposed Fire Nation vessels, the conflict was still unapparent, and the gap where our current enemy, "The Zodiac," judging by the name on the side, was still wide open. We had our entryway. It was now just a matter of getting through.

And so, as The Zodiac, thankfully, failed to make its turn, we made on our way, our smaller size allowing us to slip past with only 2 crossbow bolts being fired at our bridge and hitting the glass, piercing through and staying stuck in like a Hornet's stinger, but before long, we were away, and directly ahead awaited the blockade. We weren't done yet. We weren't even close.