Goldie's attention was suddenly drawn to the beach when a series of explosions suddenly started to light up buildings on the shoreline. "What the?"

Large objects were flying through the air and exploding on contact, sending wood and brick flying as they detonated with force. Coupled with all the bombs falling it made for a rather intense experience for those witnessing it. A fighter jet roared past the window and engaged one of the ghost fighter aircraft, shooting it down with a quick burst of cannon fire.

Another bomber roared overhead, causing the ground defence batteries to open up once more. Explosions rocked the skies and caused the Hancock Centre to shake.

"Looks like they've figured out where we are," Argyle said. "We should probably leave."

As if to show his point, one of the flying objects suddenly exploded nearby, shattering several windows.

"Get to the elevator!" Lady Haven shouted, and they dashed for their escape route. Hopefully the rest of the family was doing better.

Argyle switched to his radio. "Sunny, we're relocating position as the Hancock Centre is being targeted. I'll contact you as soon as I can."

There was no reply. The lift arrived quickly, luckily, and they dived in before Goldie punched the button for the bottom floor. "Ground floor, on its way!"

"What's the ground floor?" asked a businessman who had dived in with them.

"What you might call the First Floor," Goldie replied. "I live in the UK."

But that would quickly prove to be the least of their worries.

"I'm almost done loading the explosives!" shouted Big Mickey, as the last pallet started to be lowered.

"Didn't think we'd be doing this sort of work," Ten Cents said, grimly.

"I've towed explosives before, but not with the goal of blowing stuff up with them," Warrior said. "Where's Billy Shoepack when you need him?"

"I wouldn't want that pyromaniac within ten miles of this ship!" Big Mac replied. "The fool's a pyromaniac!"

"Agreed," Top Hat said. "I miss the days when the most exciting thing that happened was a liner coming in."

"It's probably best we stay focused now," Sunshine said. "I'd be keen to make it out of this alive."

OJ looked over. "Well said, Sunshine. Now then, pay attention. We only have one shot at this. We have to hit and destroy the USS Nightmare, or we'll all be sleeping with the fishes tonight. Anybody want to back out?"

There were no replies.

"I thought so," OJ replied. "Prepare to move out!"

The tugs all set their rudders to the correct direction.

"ALL ENGINES, AHEAD FULL!"

The dockside suddenly sounded to the roar of multiple steam powered ships getting up to speed, steam pouring into the night sky as the battle raged all around. The sailors looked on, knowing they would remember this day.

One by one, the tugs slowly drifted out of view, the tramp steamer being the only thing visible in the blackness. "Good luck!" Big Mickey called.

They would certainly need it.

On the bridge of the USS Nightmare, another battle had broken out amongst the carnage of the naval battle. Captain Mitchell had drawn his sword, and was engaging with all his might. "I've been through the worst the oceans can throw at a man!" he bellowed. "Can you think you can stand against the likes of me!"

"We can try!" Zipp said, rolling out of the way.

Captain Mitchell swung at Pipp, but Misty jumped in the way, generating a shield as she did so. "Nobody hurts my sister!" she yelled, sending Mitchell moving backwards.

The Captain shook his head in astonishment. "How can this be?" he asked, as he swung round at unnatural speed and knocked Hitch back. "The USS Nightmare was built to fight on the open waters and dominate her enemies- but she's been so much further than that! Can you comprehend such a thing?"

Sunny charged in, her energy blades slamming into Captain Mitchell's sword. "None of that gives you the right to hurt others!"

"You will all know what I have been through!" Captain Mitchell answered. "I was dragged to hell and back, through a realm of pure chaos... of pure evil! And now, I shall bring that nightmare to Chicago, so they know what it was like! THERE SHALL BE A HARVEST OF SOULS! LET CHICAGO BURN!"

Pipp moved back and looked through a window. Suddenly, she spotted something approaching them at speed. She quickly switched her phone to transmit an emergency signal.

"Steady!" OJ called. "Steady!"

"Warrior, increase engine power!" Big Mac called. "You're drifting!"

"I'm trying to hold it on my side! More power, Sunshine!"

Sunshine groaned. "My engine's in the red as it is!"

"I'll ramp up to take the strain off you!" Ten Cents shouted, as his engine roared even loader. "Blimey, I wasn' built for this!"

"Keep it on line!" Top Hat called. "We're nearly there!" Just then, he looked through his monocle to see familiar figures on the ship. "Good Heavens! It's the people from Britain! They're on the deck of that monstrosity!"

"We have to warn them!" shouted Big Mac. "Sound your whistles, lads!"

The sea near them sounded to the familiar whistles of tugboats, and the message was soon travelling across the lake to the deck of the ship.

Luckily, Pipp and most of the others had bailed, leaving Sunny acting as a rearguard. She moved backwards, blasting Captain Mitchell to slow him down.

But no amount of firepower seemed to bring him down. They couldn't stop him, only delay him. He charged forward through the corridors with his sword. "You foolish child!" he bellowed. "I have seen more than you can dream! You think you can stop me by just running around?"

"It's better than nothing, frankly!" Sunny replied, as she made her way towards the edge of the ship. She glanced over her shoulder, seeing the enormous tramp steamer approaching her position.

Mitchell stepped up to her. "DO YOU SEE NOW? DO YOU SEE?!"

Sunny smiled. "Yes. I do. I ain't afraid of no ghost!" She then jumped, flipping over and diving into the water, landing on a nearby lifeboat. Once onboard, she fired up the engine and roared away.

Captain Mitchell looked confused- and then saw the tramp steamer about to slam into him.

"Break off cables!" OJ ordered. "BREAK OFF!"

In sequence, the tugs disconnected their cables and began to move away from the scene. Moving as quickly as they could, they cleared the combat zone and moved away from the tramp steamer, which was now drifting without any propulsion. But it was now so close it could not be stopped.

The ship slammed into the side of the USS Nightmare, carving a hole into its hull. Seconds later, the explosives onboard detonated, tearing apart the tramp steamer in a series of massive explosions.

The explosions blew the hull of the USS Nightmare open even more, and the resulting fire spread through the ship, igniting fuel and other systems.

And, in one final show of destructive force, the magazine cooked off.

Captain Mitchell screamed as his ship was torn to pieces, the forecastle plummeting into the depths as water flooded into the ship. Within minutes, the USS Nightmare had plunged below the waves.

Warrior was the only one to speak up. "Nice fireworks display, that!"

OJ glanced about. "Well done everybody! We saved the day!"

"But what about our friends?" Ten Cents asked. "Did they get away in time?"

Just then, they saw a red flare in the sky, and traced its position back to a boat floating on the water. Sunshine was the first to reach their position, and he was delighted. "You're alive!" he said.

"We're kinda adrift here," Izzy said. "Could you give us a tow back to port?"

Sunshine smiled, his distinctive toothy grin a very welcome sight. "I'll be more than happy to."

The next morning, Chicago celebrated its victory over Captain Mitchell and the USS Nightmare, as well as the brave heroes who had helped save their city. As such, works soon began on cleaning up the mess from the battle that had consumed the night.

As the sun rose over Lake Michigan, the tugboats of the Star Fleet and the Zero Fleet gathered at Navy Pier, where a large stage stood. A set of instruments had been set up, and Pipp was sat at a piano.

"Good morning, Pippsqueaks!" she said. "I know it's a little late, but I got somewhat distracted. It's a lovely morning over Lake Michigan, if a tad cold, which is why I'm wearing a winter coat. But the big wait you've all been waiting is finally over!"

She checked the keys before continuing. "I am proud, at long last, to be debuting my new song, Across the Sea. I dedicate this to the Tugs of the Star Fleet! Give them a cheer!"

The crowds cheered, cheering the tugboats who had helped save their city.

A saxophone solo started up before Pipp started playing, her angelic voice soon echoing across Navy Pier.

"Far away, across the sea!
I'm missing you, you’re missing me!
But no matter how far away you are/
know that I’m here to guide you home!"

Author's Note

Well, wasn't that an explosive finale! Given just how epic the original comic is, it only felt fitting to have a sequence to match its ending in my own adaptation.

Captain Mitchell's speech is taken from the 1997 film Event Horizon, about a haunted spaceship which went somewhere no ship should go. The speech is delivered in the film by a possessed crewmember.

The song Pipp sings at the end was written for Bigg Freeze, the final episode of Tugs. Performed by Sue Glover, it was originally going to be released as a single before Clearwater Productions' bankruptcy put paid to the plan (and with it any future seasons of Tugs). In a way, Tugs and MLP G5 are kindred spirits; both burned short, but burned extremely bright.

We shall return in December with a new story, but until then smooth seas and wind in your sails!