Pipp and Izzy were the first to arrive at the Star Fleet Dock, and what they saw was very alarming, to say the least. The Star Tugs were struggling with getting an enormous ship into the dock.

"Keep it up, Ten Cents!" OJ called. "We need to move her a little to starboard!"

"I'm trying but me and Sunshine don't have enough pushing power!"

"I believe you'll find it's Sunshine and I, Ten Cents!" Top Hat groaned. "Good grief. This thing is aerodynamic in the same way a brick isn't."

"Less correcting other tugs' grammar, more getting this boat into port!" Warrior said. "Where's Hercules when you need him?"

"Err, Big Mac, we've got a problem!" called Sunshine. "This boat is leaking! It's got more holes in it than a rusty sieve!"

"No wonder we can't move it!" Big Mac huffed. "Can somebody man the pumps?"

Captain Star was looking out over the scene, and ran onto the dockside. "If that thing hits the dockside, we've had it!" he said. "Pipp, Izzy, follow me!"

Without hesitating, the crew hopped onto a small boat, which Captain Star drove out to the boat. "We can use this ladder to get onto the boat! Hurry!"

"Captain Star!" Ten Cents called. "Are you sure that's safe?"

"Well, somebody needs to man the pumps!" Captain Star replied. "And your safety is my responsibility!"

The three of them were now onboard the boat, and dashed down into the lower levels. The ship was taking on water, and without a crew the pumps weren't running. It seemed as though the vessel was about to go under.

"Get those pumps running!" Izzy shouted, and she grabbed the handle of one and began turning. Pipp stopped next to another and began turning it as well. Captain Star was operating a third, and soon water was being removed.

But it wasn't enough. "The water's coming into the hull faster than we can pump it out!" Pipp called.

"We need more manpower, fast!" Izzy said.

"Where are we going to get more manpower from?" Pipp asked.

"From us, of course! Friends to the rescue!"

Just then, Sunny, Hitch, Misty, and Zipp dashed down into the hull of the ship and took up positions on the pumps. "Keep pumping!" Hitch said. "We're winning against the water!"

Outside, the Star Tugs began to notice a difference. "Hey, this thing is easier to move now!" Warrior said.

"Whatever it is they're doing in there, it's working!" OJ said. "Come on, now! We've just got a small push to make and we'll have her in the dock! Ten Cents, Sunshine, prepare to move clear!"

"Aye, OJ!"

"Top Hat, Big Mac, prepare to pull!"

"On it!"

"Ready as a salmon breakfast!"

"What?" Warrior asked.

"Never mind."

Luckily, the boat was now under control. "Now, Ten Cents! Sunshine! Pull back!"

Both tugboats dropped their lines and backed out of the way. With the combined pumping and the relentless work of the remaining Star Tugs, the boat was soon safely in the dock.

Onboard the ship, those manning the pumps sighed. "Well, that was exciting," Sunny said, wiping her brow. "But how are we going to stop it sinking here?"

"I've already got a salvage team on the move," Captain Star said. "We're high enough above the waterline here that water won't get in."

He then stopped, and looked. "I don't believe we've met."

Before he could say anything else, another horn blast tore across the harbour.

"Did you hear that?" said one of the pirates.

"Yes, I did," Allura said. "And it means our time is limited here. We'll have to put the plan forward and initiate the next stage of the operation. Load up and prepare to move out. We strike now. We either find the Nova Charm tonight, or we don't at all."

"On our way!" said another of the pirates, and they gradually started to filter out of the small port facility the pirates were using as a base. Each of them was towing equipment through the bay, keen to begin a campaign of interference.

Thy soon got to work causing mischief. One group steamed about the port, covering over the bouys and marker points with cloths and large bags, so their light could not be seen.

"The cops will have a harder time finding us in this darkness," said one.

"But they'll still be able to track us using RADAR," said another. "And the lighthouse is still active!"

"Not to worry, we'll take care of it."

The area suddenly shook to a loud blast, and abruptly the harbour was plunged into darkness by a series of pops and bangs.

Back at base, Allura picked up her radio and heard it buzz. "Report."

"Lighthouse is offline. The Lake Michigan RADAR has been disabled."

"Excellent," Allura smiled. "We can now move unimpeded in the region. No vessel can safely navigate without RADAR, after all, and with no light not even those Star Tugs will be able to follow us. It has been a long time coming, but at last the Nova Charm will be mine." She looked at one tugboat who had stayed behind. "Our date with destiny is here. Advance!"

"Did you feel that?" Top Hat said.

"I did indeed," Big Mac said. "Look! The lights are goin' out all over Chicago!"

And they were. The lights were gradually shutting off on major buildings. The lighthouse has even gone out, and the radio didn't seem to be functioning.

Captain Star looked over. "I can't raise the Port Authority," he said. "It's as if somebody has been through all the systems and disconnected every single wire and component needed for anything to work!"

"That's because that was an EMP," said Argyle, who had caught up along with the other adults.

"A what?" OJ asked.

"An EMP. Electromagnetic Pulse." Argyle then began to explain. "They can disrupt communications and equipment through large scale blasts of electrical energy. The Carrington Event in 1859 caused one, where a solar storm caused global communications chaos. But this one seems to have been triggered from some sort of device."

"And no doubt you know who," Ten Cents said.

"It's Allura, I know it," Zipp said. "She's done this so she can find the USS Nightmare without being interrupted! She wants to raise the wreck and use it to cause chaos!"

"So we need to stop her," Sunny added. "And we're here to help."

"And so are we!" said another voice.

Heads turned to see a set of familiar faces emerge from the darkness. Zorran led the other Z Stacks, towing a selection of barges and cargo devices. Standing on Zorran's prow were Anenome and Captain Zero.

"I must admit I wasn't expecting to see them here tonight," Sunshine said.

"These pirates are a threat to both of us," Zorran said.

"If that ship is raised we're all doomed," Zak added.

"Anenome warned me," Captain Zero said. "I know our families don't have the best of pasts, Captain Star, but we can't afford to let these pirates destroy our livelihoods. Anenome, fill them in."

"Yes sir," Anenome said, then indicated behind her. "Each of these barges is fitted with a searchlight and a selection of fireworks. We are each to search for pirates, and when we find them we activate the searchlights and use the fireworks. That'll allow the military to track the pirates when they get here."

"How will any of this work?" Pipp asked. "No electronics are working!"

"These ships are all steam powered," Captain Star pointed out. "No electronics anywhere. Now then, Star Fleet, hook up to a barge each and let's go!"

As the tugs hooked up, each of the humans hopped aboard a different one to join the search for the pirates. The fate of Chicago hung in the balance, and as the seas beckoned forth they advanced into the darkness.

Calla Lily looked with annoyance at the scene unfolding before her. "Pirates knocking out critical systems and now the Star Fleet combing the bay for them?" she asked. "That lot are getting in my way again. But no matter. If I can get my way there on my own, I should be able to retrieve the Charm before Allura does. Then, I am one step closer to victory."

She stepped up from her seat and began to make her way through her base, down to a lower dock where a small hatch sat floating above the waterline. She looked over to a guard. "Protect this location. Prepare the submarine for launch."

"Yes, ma'am," he said, and headed for the door.

Calla Lily opened the hatch and stepped into the sub, before closing it behind her. She moved down into the command position and pushed a few buttons to fire up the engines, before hitting another button.

Bubbles floated up the front glass as the submarine began to drop into the water. Once it was a short way down, she put the engine lever into forward.

"Let's see just how bright you are," she smiled.

Author's Note

Hello again, and welcome back for some more drama on the sea. This time, the plot is certainly hotting up.

The opening is inspired by the liner sequence in High Winds, coupled with elements from the comic. On a side note, the Danger theme from Tugs fits really well with that moment in the comic.

The ending of the chapter is a combination of a sequence from Pirate and a scene from the comic. We are getting closer to the dramatic conclusion of the story, so hold onto your hats and prepare for a thrilling finale!