Battleship Alamo City: A Battleship Express Side Story

It took the the rest of the week to arrive in Ride. Some delays such as refueling, ammo resupply and even one group of nomadic camel people crossing the line. This meant that the Alamo City crew had been in Saddle Arabia for 44 days now. Neighgypt had agreed to be allies when their ambassador made it to King Saddle with the help of Major Blood acting as a third party negotiator. The Neighgyptians promised a defensive pact after the war in exchange for assistance against the Cobra. Word was floating about of a revolution against the Purrsian monarchy by radicalists who believed the same communist ideals of the Usuri Union.

Ride was in a state of joy when they saw Alamo City roll into the yards. The soldiers stepped off the train to Arabians cheering the crew for the progress that had been made. This made it difficult for everyone to get places with all the praise. Ravage managed to break away from the crowds and when to the palace.

King Saddle and his wife were sitting in the throne room. Major Blood was talking to them from his wheelchair.

"Captain Ravage just messaged that the crew is in the city. Apparently, the locals are slowing his arrival." Blood said.

"Well our crew's reputation is held highly among my people. It will hopefully not take him too long." King Saddle replied.

"They should be fine darling." Queen Cantle said. Then a guard opened the door to reveal Ravage.

"Greetings your majesties and how are you Major?" Ravage said saluting his commander.

"I'm fine Captain." blood replied as the two shook hands.

"Pleasure to see you again captain Ravage. Reports from Suleiman say you helped make great gains in the Fertile Valley." King Saddle said.

"Yes your highness. We were told though that we were needed back south. What is the status their?" Ravage asked.

"The enemy are attacking the lines at night and since we haven't really mastered that warfare, they are reaching the Old Capital of Neighgypt during its unification. This means the Cobra Kingdoms occupy the lower half of their empire." Queen Cantle replied.

"I see...oh, I have mail to deliver personally to Suleiman's family. I promised him to deliver it myself." Ravage said pulling the letters out of his uniform.

"That was kind of you. His home is a short walk away from here. His wife would be very happy to here that he is doing alright." King Saddle replied. Ravage saluted and departed.

To describe he home of Suleiman extravagant would be correct. the gate into the manor was made of solid iron with the walls of white washed stone. A banner with his family name, and crest hung from the central window. Ravage knocked on the gate.

"Hello? Mail delivery!" Ravage called. A woman came to the gate and his eyes popped wide. She was tall, slender and wore immaculate silken robes. Her hair was a nice brown that fell to her shoulders and was braided.

"Who are you?" The girl asked.

"Um..sorry Captain Ravage of Alamo City. Who might you be?" He replied.

"Oh umm...Ashoka(A sho Ka) Daughter of Suleiman." Ashoka replied.

"May I come in. I have letters from the front. I worked under your father while up north he told me to deliver these." Ravage said pulling out the letters. Ashoka looked Ravage up and down for a moment.

"Yes of course. Come in." She said opening the gate. Ravage stare at her for a moment before blinking and getting his mind back on track. The two arrived in the living room where Ashoka's mother was sitting.

"Hello there madam. I bring messages from your husband." Ravage said putting the letters down on the table. The lady picked up the letters and opened them. Her eyes glistened slightly at reading them.

"Thank you kindly sir..." The mother replied.

"Captain Ravage madam of Alamo City. I served under your husband while up north. Great Field Marshal he is." Ravage said.

"Oh so you are the one who runs the Metal Goliath?" Ashoka asked.

"Second in command. My commander is currently here for medical treatment and consultant on military affairs." Ravage replied.

"I didn't know they had a Purrsian." Her mother said.

"Oh this. This is a bit of genetic experimenting. I..don't want to talk too much about it." Ravage said his voicing dying near the end.

"Well you are a kind soldier for bringing letters from my father." Ashoka said to break the sadness in the air.

"Thank you. You are both good people. I hope we can know each other better." Ravage said standing up.

"Well let me show you out Captain Ravage." Ashoka replied standing up and walking towards the gate. " I hope we meet again Captain Ravage." She said as he left the manor.

The men all woke up to the rising sun and the train was getting ready to depart. The civilians waved the crew and some even tossed flowers to the soldiers as they waved out the window.

"To the Metal Goliath!" One called

"To Alamo City!" Another said.

"Death to Those Brutes!" Other cried. It made leaving for the front all the more difficult.

The Kasbah pulled out behind them It even had small arms weapons to defend itself now just in case. It had gone from a simply cargo hauler to an armed train. It didn't have the guns of Alamo City, but it had one cannon and machine guns on the roofs of the cars for extra protection.

As Captain Ravage sat in the command car, he couldn't stop thinking about that woman Ashoka. His whole life he had felt something odd whenever he pictured her, but he couldn't understand what it was.. His past and his military career didn't really help either since he didn't really talk to many other women, but to see this girl.. was something else.

Little did he know, she thought very much the same. Her whole life was pretty typical until the war and this man had come into her life.What had originally been a simply messenger run felt different. Might it become...something more?.