Steamsworn by Eric Asher

Author:Eric Asher
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Fiction
Publisher: Eric Asher
Published: 2021-06-13T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

The cannon jumped as the tensioners were freed and the cables shot forward, sending the bomb whistling into the void between the Skysworn and the nearest of Ballern’s warships.

Smith cursed when the bomb didn’t travel so much as half the distance. “That is why I did not prime the bomb, Jacob.”

Jacob watched the orb fall, vanishing into the green and brown patterns etched across the desert below. “But what if it had been a good shot?”

“Then I would have been very happy. If it had missed, as it did?”

Alice leaned on the railing, tugging on her safety line. “It would have detonated too far off the ship to do any damage. Then they’d know we were above them.”

“Yes,” Smith said. “It is still only a matter of time before they spot us. We are mostly hidden here, from the nearest ships, but there are platforms all around the gas chambers, and the warships on the far side of the V will notice us soon enough.”

Jacob looked out across the mass of destroyers and shivered. The largest cannons were at least as long as the Skysworn itself. If the Porcupines shouldn’t have been able to fly, what did that say about Ballern’s destroyers? What did it say about the mind that built them?

It was then that Jacob realized they were keeping pace with the destroyers, and the Skysworn barely felt like it was moving. Mary could position them almost anywhere without the ships being able to respond quickly with the larger cannons. “We can drop the bombs onto the ships.”

“What?” Smith asked, glancing at Jacob.

“Yes!” Alice said. “Get higher.” She pointed toward the clouds gathering above them.

Smith rapidly tapped his palm on the Skysworn’s railing and then nodded. “Cabin, now.”

It was a quick jog back to the pilot’s cabin. Smith stopped only to grab the crate of explosives before he pushed the door open and they all stepped inside.

Mary was talking into the horn. “Keep the cannon focused on the second destroyer from the apex. Clip the front of the gas chambers if you have to. Its position will cause the most confusion.” She glanced up when the hatch slammed closed.

“Get above them and slightly ahead,” Smith said as he began gathering up bombs.

“They could see our shadow in that position,” Mary said.

Smith nodded. “It is possible, but not before we rain fire upon them.”

Mary’s eyes widened. She stared at the tinker as he stuffed his pockets full of bombs that contained enough power to level a city block. “You can’t hit the decks from there, but the gas chambers …

“We can make them target practice for the Porcupines, and then we can get the hell out of here.”

“Hold on.” Mary pulled back on two levers, and Jacob had learned enough by now to lean against the back wall. The Skysworn titled at a forty-five degree angle and drifted ahead of the rear ship. “Did you catch that Samuel? Drakkar?”

“We’re bombing them from above?” Samuel asked.

“Yes,” Mary said. “Same strategy.

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