Today was nothing new to me, it was the usual route; just cruising along in the skyship, searching the high skylanes and looking for traders and merchantmen who had grown fat from the government and corruption.
I'd done this a million times before, and I was in fact commanding the whole thing. Including my sleek ship; the prow cutting easily through the cloud cover as we searched, a predator after its prey. I had named her the Swift Spirit - just because I practiced piracy didn't mean I had to have a horrid name marring my ship's beauty.
The Swift Spirit was a frigate class skyship, metallic and cold on the outside, yet warm and homely within. She was a fine vessel, held aloft by a set of four propellers, which were bolted very firmly to her frame, and a large sail sat in the middle of the deck, but was never really used unless we needed a bit more speed. Propulsion was provided primarily through five red hot engines that pushed us along at a powerful rate - leaving behind a trail of deep red exhaust that was one of the Spirit's signature features. The bridge deck was enclosed within a shell of thick metal that was painted blue to match the Spirit, and through the glass covering the front was a nice view of the chaos the bridge held. Within it was a mess of wiring, beeping consoles and flashing screens - and amid all that was a large wheel, which we used for precise steering; usually in combat.
Pegasi flitted across the deck quickly, checking and maintaining the flight path on the bridge, checking the propellers above and the engines below-decks while I myself stood next to the wheel, with my navigator and aide. Through the glass I keenly watched the clouds pass by, preferring to watch for ships the traditional way - flight tech always confused me.
"Cap'n Blackwing, sir. The local sonar picked up something off to the starboard., sir! Do we move to intercept?" One of my officers piped up, motioning to the screen urgently which showed a red dot off to the right side, about 700m away.
I grinned, didn't look like there was going to be much of a chase.
"Engage! Pull up alongside and begin prepping grapples. And the grape shot. You know the drill; I want cargo as undamaged as I can get it! Alert the boarding parties, and tell them to get ready!"
As I finished barking out orders all over the bridge I spread my wings and flew quickly over to the bridge roof hatch, with intent to check out my catch.
The wind rustled my blue-gold mane violently, causing it to fall in front of my eyes and block my view of the ship ahead of us. I pushed it aside, and I saw clearly the enemy - an old looking cruiser, with a fat belly and two propellers. The engines looked like they had given up trying long since; and judging from the speed, I reckoned I couldn't be too far wrong.
On their deck I could just make out around ten or fifteen crew. They were moving around the bridge area in a hurry, like ants in a panic, presumably they were warning officers.
I let out another toothy grin, that showed to me that they had a severe lack of a radar or sonar to pick up enemy locations. With a ship like this, I doubted they had much cargo, if any.
Still, I was bored. May as well have a go at them.
The Swift Spirit bore down on the smaller craft, a giant facing an insect - and a fat insect at that, if the enemy ship's belly had anything to do with it. My Spirit was capable of holding 500 ponies, and we had at least 430 on board, prepped and ready for a scrap, all of them pegasi who were used to fighting in high altitudes and on skyships.
I had also stocked us with a healthy supply of grape shot: for crew, and incendiary shot in case I needed to wound a ship and flee the scene - like, for example I got myself into a fight I couldn't win.
That had happened before, more times than I'd like to remember, but it had, and my fire shot had gotten me away fine. That, and my crew's exceptional flying skill.
For ten years we had hunted the skies of Equestria, ten years since the onset of the new government - a corrupt and evil thing run by a less than virtuous mare named Twilight Sparkle.
Oh, she had once been quite kind and benevolent I had heard, but not anymore. Adulation corrupts, and being the element of magic had sent her adulation through the roof. Now she just lived for self worship and tyranny, pushing ordinary citizens out of free trade, making it so she directed all trade routes and merchant lanes. She was a pirate king in her own right, cheating normal ponies out of buying exotic items and food they would need for business, and instead exporting more and more to the zebras in far off lands. She had named the loose collection of traders that took advantage of this her Twilight Cartel, which goes to show how prideful she can get.
The injustice of such a thing, simple as it may seem - which it most definitely, was not - actually began my career as the third most wanted pirate in the skies. Now normally, you couldn't buy a skyship unless it was for trading, and even then you needed to have an official on board at all times - except when docking - and a lengthy process of signing deals and permissions was needed to fly.
The year I discovered what was happening to our fair government, I had sought out peaceful means of preventing a catastrophe. I got nowhere, so instead I travelled far and wide, eventually ending up in a rotten city full of shady types and sleazy mares. This was the city of immorality and sin, and it went by the name of 'Pegarus'. This pit of decadence and decay was a blessed irony; it provided me the means of purchasing a ship with my life savings, which I had taken with me when I had begun.
My experience at skysailing was rather minimal at that point, but I did have some.
I had come from a rather privileged family; and they had paid for training of all kinds when I was a young, hopeful colt. I remember signing the deal for the ship with a quick hoof - and my blue hoof colliding with the dealer's red was the beginning of a new life for me.
Since then I have grown my crew and fine tuned my sailing skills through sheer, unbridled effort, taking down multitudes of the Twilight Cartel and their escorts; and returning to that rum-sodden city, Pegarus to sell my wares to the blaggards there.
The oddest thing about Pegarus was that the leering merchants who took residence here would actually sell back to regular citizens, and sometimes they would pay mercenaries to ship wares to other cities and do black market deals for odds and ends or foodstuffs. In this way, they were very much like me.
Coming out of my reverie, I saw we were almost upon the ship, and I headed back below to check the status of boarding parties and wait to give the order.
"Boarding parties 1 through 4 are prepared, guns loaded, gun packs locked firmly on, cutlasses at the ready. Parties 5 through ten are standing by. Starboard cannons loaded, lining up portside along the enemy."
I nodded to my aide, as he finished reporting, and checked the monitors for the boarding parties; they each had a unique gun pack mounted on their back, with a helmet covering each of their faces: this helmet provided a technological interface for the gun pack so it knew when to fire. If the pegasus wanted to fire, they need just use the command in the helmet. The guns that were attached to it rested under their wings, and was either dual pistols or a blunderbuss.
It was a nice bit of tech, and it cost me a pretty penny as well to get a half decent collection.
The enemy was alongside now, and I could actually see into their bridge - their crew was in a shambles, scurrying over the ship in a rush, trying in vain to speed the small craft and her tiny engines away from the Spirit's wrath.
I could see clearly the logo inscribed on the side of the vessel; a scroll with a violet six pointed star in the middle, surrounded by stars. The words In Twilight, We Flourish sat beneath the symbol; and I felt a taste of metal in mouth seeing the detested logo.
"Aim the hooks. I'm boarding this myself; with my own team accompanying me. I doubt we need more for this morsel. She can hardly fly straight! Ha!" I commanded, moving off to my cabin at the back of the bridge whilst the crew managed the aiming and grappling.
As I reached the door, I felt a familiar shake beneath my hooves, the main batteries on the starboard side being rolled out, I guessed. Those things were as heavy and thick as the cloud cover we soared above; and just as numerous.
I pushed my way into my personal cabin - it was a spacious thing with a nice reinforced glass wall at the back that provided an amazing view and also had emergency shutters if it was ever breached - and I spotted my gun pack, custom pistols loaded and ready. It was atop my workbench, and I pulled it on quickly; having done so many times before.
I heard a sound like metal on metal, screeching, drowning out all other noise for a brief moment, and a slight shake from the Spirit.
Good, we've grappled them; I thought contently, checking my gun pack in the wall mirror - to make sure everything was set correctly. I pulled my helmet on, bathing the world an eerie green, matching my emerald eyes - an interface now sat in front of my vision, the options and status meters lining my sight, along with an ammo count for the pistols that were resting beneath my wings; my burnt wing was folded atop the gun tenderly; and although it still worked just fine thanks to some unicorn magic, it still sat awkwardly on my flank.
Armed, ready and eager for a good fight, I left my cabin and went below decks.
Since the early days of the Twilight Cartel’s rise to power, there has been an upsurge in the rate of technological advances, leading onto many utilities and new inventions around Equestria. One of the biggest was the airship, which was initially a simple base, with a balloon attached for lift, with pegasi pushing it. Needless to say this didn’t last long, and the pegasi got too tired; too fast. Shortly afterward the general state of tech began to get more intricate and also started to involved magic to an extent. It is said that the Twilight princess (as she came to be known) was responsible for the modern day airships. My own airship is a bit more complex than a simple stock or factory built airship though.
My ship consists of four decks, not including the command and main decks. In descending order: the crew deck;crew bedrooms, mess hall and prep rooms - along with launch stations for boarding ops. Below this is the main gunnery deck, although there are guns mounted to the top deck too - its just that there is more in this deck. The guns on board are mostly used for damaging crew on other ships, as more often than not we capture our prey, and resell the vessels. Although some batteries on board are intended solely for pure damage to the ship; and they can be very dangerous to fire if you aren’t versed in their use, as I learnt when I first tried. The Spirit’s engine room is next; it’s a place full of just as much charred and blackened machinery as the gun deck, and even more smoke. Lastly we have my favourite, and where I sometimes go to blow off steam - the observation deck. This deck is nice and easy, on the very bottom of the ship, a medium sized deck with a large reinforced glass floor (blast shutters included) which provides a great view of the land below, funnily enough though - we also make use of it as a cargo bay; as the ship did not have one when I acquired it. Transport between floors is achieved via turbolifts, which are located at intervals throughout the decks.
At current, I was just stepping out of my private turbolift - shaking my wings to better position my pistols on my flanks, as I made my way toward my team’s door, which slid open at my approach. I trotted in to the sight of my team; one pegasus, a unicorn - the only one on board actually - and an earth pony. This team wasn’t any old random pick, it was actually my personal cadre of friends and companions; whom have been with me over a bundle of months; years in one case, and ponies I consider to be family. In fact, the pegasus had been with me the longest. He went by the name Tararus Haralson, and he was a burly grey pegasus with a red mane, with black highlights. He was unusually tall for a pegasus, and possessed a truly fearful amount of strength. He was in essence, my oldest friend, and had been with me since the start of this endeavor. As soon as I had decided to up and leave Canterlot for the pirating business - if it could be called that - he made it clear he was going to follow along. His loyalty came from when we were young, and he had not been the best flier - we had been practicing around Canterlot’s rim, and he had fallen as a result of overextending. I myself was not the best flier, but I had no choice, and dived after him. If it had not been for the help of a certain rainbow maned pegasus, who helped me catch him, he wouldn’t be at my side now. He still believes I saved his life single-hoofedly, as he had been out cold when we got him back to Canterlot, and despite what I’ve said he keeps his views the same.
Beside Tartarus sat Flinnt, the only unicorn on board, and my main gunman - due to his expertise with lifting powers. He was an exceptional loader for the batteries, and he could manipulate the gun controls on the gun command deck like nopony else. He also had the best aim using his telekinetic prowess with his pistols. Flinnt was also a relatively old member of my core team, and I had met him at Peragus, gaining his trust over several incidents and events. Regardless of his past as a Cartel soldier, I still respected him and trusted his choices. He came second in rank to Tartarus - who was my first mate. Lastly, the earth pony we knew as Sammy; she was our newest addition - very recent in fact, only a few months serving - and also our most volatile. She has a sketchy past, even to me; and she doesn’t open up much. We found her aboard one of Cartel ships we usually plunder on this route, and she offered up her services: which entails aerial combat and a fleet foot. Sammy wears a technological marvel on her back, that allows her the ability of flight, much like the rest of us - including Flinnt, who can levitate himself, and several objects at once. Sammy’s pack has a sort of hover capability, which she herself has modified for speed, utilising her knowledge of magi-technology for a great result. Sam is more or less a walking robot dressed as a pony, and its evident from the way she adds extra mods and weapons to the pack every so often, such as the rocket pod, which sadly doesn’t hold much, and is dangerously unreliable - as well as a form of ‘momentum-reduction field’ that is intended to activate in the event of an emergency or if she is in danger of falling. My friends sat in the middle of the room, looking at their gear and checking its condition prior to the boarding op. I made my way over, lifting my helmet visor and grinning at the team as I approached. The team stood to attention, Sammy having a bit of difficulty standing in her heavy pack as she did so.
“Afternoon all!”, I grinned again, “We ready to get this show on the road then? ‘Cause if we are, we’re launching in ten!”
A cough from Tartarus, looming above the rest of us, “Yes cap’n! We’re all set, and raring to go.”
I took a quick glance out the porthole, starboard side, at the enemy ship, which was getting very close to the Spirit. “Alright then, we may have to board quicker than I thought, it seems in all the time it took my slow flank to get here, the ship’s almost in boarding range!” I chuckled as I walked across to the boarding hatch, opening it. “Sammy, if you would?” I motioned to the boarding pod, and she nodded. “Yes sir, won’t be a minute!” She stepped in, looking over the various gauges and dials, flicking systems on and off, making the process look much more complex than preparing a boarding pod really is. But that’s what Sammy was good at, so I guess that’s a given.
Two minutes later she pops her enamored head out; “All’s fine with her, cap, we’re ready to go whenever you please.” she said - eagerness painted on her features. “Good work, Sam! You alright there Flinnt? You seem awfully quiet today.” Flinnt, who was staring out the window at the ship, turns his head, “Sorry captain, it’s just...something feels off, you know? I know you probably think this is odd, but I think you might want to send out a few more squads too. To be on the safe side.” I glance again at the ship outside, “Well, I suppose so. It can’t really hurt to. Alright, Sammy, send a message to the command deck to organise a few more squads - maybe the guys who need some experience, yeah? It’d be good for them.” Sammy retreats into the pod, sending the orders up to the other officers using the local intercom.
I perform one more check on my guns and pack before I feel that all too familiar crash of metal on metal as the ships collide - the slam reverberates across the ship - making me stumble slightly. Ten seconds later the close quarters boarding pods on other parts of the ship launch, the panel on the wall across from me showing pods 4 through 7 having launched, three ponies in each. I look at my team. They look at me. We smile. “Let’s go, we got this!” I yell, flying across the ship floor into the pod, the other two hot on my heels.
“Sammy, launch in 5,4,3,” the engines start - the dock prepares to drop the pod into the void, “2, 1. GO!” with an almighty hiss and vibration the pod breaks free of the dock, thrusting forward at the whim of Sammy, who sat behind the controls. “All good, sir! Thrusters fine, 23 meters to enemy ship, 1 minute to contact.” She lets out a little chuckle, clearly enjoying control over the machinery at her hooves. I watch the countdown on the dash, 30 seconds remaining. The pod’s grapple hooks: large metal claws with heated tips for latching onto metal extend, the pod slowing slightly. In front of us the enemy ship hangs in the sky, dominating the view just like Haralson in the small, cramped pod. 10. 9. 8. 7. 6. 5. 4. 3. 2. 1. Impact. Sammy activates the pod shield to absorb most of the backlash, as the grapples clamp down on the hull, and the hull-cutter emerges from the nose of the craft to do its work. The laser tool begins to slice away the outer hull, just as the other three pods are doing now. The front of the pod - the glass viewport - now recedes, being replaced by a small hatch, just outside of which is a gangplank, for access to the ship after the cutter finishes. A light flashes to show that it has finished, and I nod to the team. “Open her up Flinnt.” He moves, unhitching the latch on the doorway with his telekinesis, before stepping out before us and hopping down into the enemy ship.
Tartarus and I move out onto the tiny bridge too, hovering over it and providing cover from any aggressors that may be above whilst Sammy makes her own way across. We follow, alert and ready. We emerge into what could be described as the cargo bay, as we were surrounded in no small part by crates and metal chests. I glanced quickly around to make sure we were alone before issuing my orders. “Right, looks like the cargo bay, Flinnt, go and secure the deck, make sure no one else is around, take Sammy with you and see if you can’t find a panel or something she can interface with. Haralson, you’re with me, and we’ll be moving up to try and locate the crew decks.” I move to leave, before being stopped abruptly by Flinnt, “Captain, before you go. Before you arrived, I had a quick look around; mind you, it was very quick, but still. I think it’d be worth mentioning I found something that might be of interest. A cargo.” he said, sounding slightly flustered. “Well, alright, but quickly.”
Flinnt led us across the room, the crates and boxes going on for what seemed like miles in every direction. We arrived at a large purple, metallic chest. It had the Twilight Cartel insignia on it. Instantly I moved to it, inspecting it. “This is a high value property of the Cartel, sir. Back when I was a soldier we had these listed as high priority targets to be protected. Usually chests such as this - called Twilight Lock Boxes - contain dangerous or valuable items within. They also usually had heavy escorts...” He looked around suddenly, a scraping noise making us all jump. A lift had just opened, and within it stood a group of six Cartel guards - unicorns in heavy gold and purple armor, magi-weapons floating at their sides. “Oh Celestia damn it all. This is all I need.” I said, gritting my teeth. They yelled out, rushing out of the lift, and taking up positions either side. Flinnt, always the soldier, had already popped off a dozen shots at the nearest, clipping him and getting a hit on the magi-weapon he wielded. The rest of us moved to find cover. “Hey Flinnt! Got any of those experimental weapons you were testing?” I shouted to him, not caring if the Cartel ponies heard. “Sure do, cap!” was his reply, before I heard a small explosion in the direction of the guards, followed by a hoarse cry from two. “Haha! That’ll give ‘em something to think about!” Flinnt laughed, pulling more of the black ball-like objects from his armor, and throwing them.
Tartarus and I broke from cover, followed by Sammy on her hover-pack, and we engaged them from above whilst Flinnt took shots at them from cover, killing two more outright. Sammy had some sort of afterburn on her pack, and she decided to use it to brutal, but great effect in setting the enemy guards that remained alight. The air stank of burning fur and melted gold. The smoke was becoming quite stagnant, and heavy. When the last of the guards fell we landed, moving back toward the Lock Box. “Well, that went well.” I sighed. I knew there was going to be more guards, as per Flinnt’s warning, and he usually wasn’t wrong. He made to say again, but I stopped him, nodding to him that I knew. “Sammy, got anything that can lift this Box out of here?” I asked the earth pony. “Um. No, sorry captain, for once I don’t have anything for the job.” She mumbled, disappointed in her lack of helpfulness in the matter. “That’s fine. Tartarus, you may have to carry it then.” Haralson moved across to it, and we helped him lift it up, placing it on his back, before clamping it down to his armor. He was strong, so I doubted he would have much issue carrying it. The only issue here was now we only had two fliers. On a ship full of Cartel and sailor pegasi. I thanked him again, and we made our way to the tubolifts, our new destination the command room, where we could get more control of the situation.