Storm of Tears (Book Three of the Storm Below) by JMD Reid

Author:JMD Reid [Reid, JMD]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Dreaming Between Worlds Publishing LLC
Published: 2019-04-20T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-Five

The Skyland of Antil – Haashoa 20th 399 VF (1960 SR)

The sun rose behind Admiral Uickthio’s invasion fleet. The transports hung back as her warships advanced on the shores of Antil. Its capital rested on the jutting spar of land on the eastern edge of the skyland. The city rose before its sheltered harbor. Her landing sight was to the south. It was flat farmland, ideal for maneuvering troops. The rest of Antil’s eastern and northern coasts were dominated by broken hills.

A nightmare for maneuvering and easily defended.

The field was the best landing sight, and the Vionese knew that. She examined their trenches. Militia occupied them. Most had crossbows, but she spotted thunderbusses and, worse, pressure rifles. She swallowed. The Vionese trained their snipers to take out officers first.

The Rose’s Windwarden lay flat on his back at the stern. He did not have to see to guide the winds. Losing Windwardens was costly. Without their Major Wind to power ships and summon breezes, her fleet would not be able to maneuver.

“Admiral!”

The urgency in Adjutant Aavzuimnigk’s words snapped her head around to her aide. He stood a few paces away on the stern deck, sighting the shore with his own spyglass. He lowered it and glanced at her, his face graying.

“What?”

“Look on the second rise. They’re uncovering new batteries.”

Uickthio’s stomach clenched. She peered through her spyglass. Militiamen in their brown coats removed sod roofs that had blended the hidden ballistae in with the golden grass covering the hills.

“Can we weather that much punishment?” Aavzuimnigk asked. “I’m counting ten more than we expected.”

“They prepared,” Uickthio growled. She glanced at the empty skies behind them. “Have our scouts spotted the Northern Fleet?”

“Just the same three ships ghosting us. The Northern Fleet could be back in Humy or only a day away.”

Uickthio bit her lip. Should I call for a retreat? We cannot force a landing today. We’ll be hard pressed not to lose any ships against that barrage. Her stomach twisted. She did not know what the right answer was. But she had to make a decision. She had to be in command.

“Send out the scouts and snipe the ballista crews. We’ll probe forward, look for weaknesses, and concentrate our fleet’s fire on the nearest batteries. We need to stay out of range of the farthest ones.”

“And if the Northern Fleet comes upon us?”

“My plan will still work.” Uickthio put all the confidence she could into those words. “We’ll take Antil. The Vionese cannot stand up to the might of the Empire.”

Her words sounded hollow, but the crew responded. They didn’t see the indecision wracking her guts. So long as she stood tall and barked decisive orders, they would believe in her. That belief was vital to their performance. An army was only as invincible and courageous as their commanders.

The first explosions shattered the morning.

*

Chaylene was eager to fly the scouting patrol. After sleeping in the infirmary, she’d woken up that morning to the crew celebrating her as a hero. They cheered her for uncovering the spy.

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