While Realmfleet attacked Oyed’s occupation force, Rochak and Weltam awaited orders back at Plunder Island Stronghold. Rochak leaned against a tree, idly looking up at the sky. “…How do you think the siege is going?” he asked Weltam.
“Probably in our side’s favor,” answered the succubus.
“…One hour.”
“Huh?”
“That’s how long the siege is gonna last before Realmfleet gives up.”
“No, half an hour.”
“…Winner’s on top tonight?”
“It’s a bet!” The two then shook on it.
“CAPTAIN ROCHAK!” called a pirate. The pirate in question, a Revenant Goblin woman, ran up to them in a panicked state.
“Whoa! Whoa! Slow down! Where’s the fire?” asked Weltam.
“Behind us!” answered the Goblin. “Enemy! Protectorate Pirates! Revenants are dying!”
“How can Revenants die? You’re undead,” remarked Rochak.
“Like so,” answered a voice. “Ensakunde!” The spell hit the Goblin right in the back and she keeled over. The veins faded and Rochak checked for a heartbeat. His eyes widened when he heard none. Weltam then saw someone come out of the trees. The voice’s owner gave a wicked grin as she oozed into view.
“REB?!” yelped Weltam.
“And how are we on this BEAUTIFUL day?” asked Reb Rojam as she adjusted her new coat.
“…I see you succumbed to Legless Syndrome,” remarked Rochak as he pointed to the slime below her waist. Judging by how the slime was shaped, her legs were now consumed by the slime.
“Yes, my legs had to leave,” sighed Reb. “However, the gains outweigh this MINOR inconvenience.”
“Where’d you learn that spell?!” snarled Rochak. Melgem then approached the group.
“From the Drows, if you can believe it,” he purred. “It was quite the interesting bit of serendipity. We had a constant line between us and our new allies.”
“What was the deal? That you would still retain your pirate ways?”
“Pirate? Nay,” replied Reb. “Privateer. Or Protectorate Pirate if you DEARLY wish to be PC about it.”
“You of all people are a Privateer?”
“On a sanctioned, CRUCIAL mission under the authority and protection of the most BELOVED All-realm Crowns.”
“You’ve sunken low, you smug…!” Rochak was stopped by Weltam’s tail.
“I’m SURE the female-exclusive slur that starts with ‘C’ was going to be used, but Weltam had the right idea in stopping you, so I MAY overlook it,” said Reb. “My friends, face facts; our sands have all but run out. There’s no shame in joining the WINNING side.”
“Oyed commands the winning side, not Realmfleet!” hissed Weltam.
“…Then I am left with little choice. …Rochak Toksar and Weltam Forsorna!” That was when the rest of Reb’s force appeared out of the trees. “For EGREGIOUS crimes committed up in the open air and out on the high seas, by the authority granted to me by their GRACIOUS Majesties, the Kings and Queens of the Three Realms, and with a goodly amount of PERSONAL satisfaction, I hereby place you in the custody of the DISCERNING Judicial Branch of the Combined Realm Governments and declare you HEINOUS villains to be my prisoners!”
“You are actually doing this, aren’t you?” scoffed Rochak.
“Such crimes do include,” continued Melgem, “but are not limited to piracy, treason, murder, torture of the cruelest sort, and for siding with a terrorist who robbed me of the limbs and eye all down my left side!” He drew his cutlass and pointed it at Rochak.
“You, a cyborg Sea Elf, DARE go against a Lighting Dragon with a metal blade?”
“With the amount of anti-conduction spells coursing through my veins, prosthesis, and weapon, I would!”
“…Aye. That be the cold breath of Fate I feel between my wings,” said Weltam. “…But, I’ll have one last fight, by the Depths!”
“KILL THEM ALL!” Rochak’s order was heard as far as the beach and assistance in the form of Revenants, Robots, Golems, and Pirates came flooding towards the jungle. With the Revenant-killing spell, however, Reb’s Privateer crew had the upper hand. The Trinity Forces were reduced to a fourth of their capacity while Reb’s crew only suffered a loss of one sixteenth. Then…it all came to a head. Weltam was run through with Melgem’s sword. Rochak shoved Reb aside and dashed to Weltam to try and help her. As he did so, Reb made her way to the communications tower in time to hear a call come through.
“Plunder Island Stronghold, this is the occupation force!” came Dr. Borg’s voice. “We’ve lost the city! Prepare to receive us!” Reb then took the call.
“My DEAR Doctor, we would be DELIGHTED to host your CHARMING forces.”
“REB?!” Dr. Borg was clearly flabbergasted.
“Did you just say Reb?! As in Reb Rojam?! What’s she doing on the line?!” demanded Oyed’s voice.
“Acting very calm about it, which means she’s not in any danger in OUR headquarters!”
“Meaning she’s reclaimed it somehow!” realized Oyed. He then roared in frustration. “The Under-realm is lost to us! Retreat to the Mid-realm!” The Plunder Island Forces got word of the retreat and activated their Realmgate, evacuating as Oyed ordered. Rochak picked up Weltam’s body and made it to the last ship.
“Captain Rojam!” called one of her crew.
“Aye?” she called down.
“The enemy must be pursued!”
“Our ship may be one of the strongest, but it IS one. Even it cannot withstand the might of a fleet of the enemy’s DREADFUL size. Nay, we were ordered to hold our position once we secured my old home. …And look at the DREADFUL state it’s in! We MUST clean it up!”
“Captain!” called another member. Reb sighed.
“Aye?”
“Wonderful news! They forgot to purge sensitive information! We know where their fallback position is!”
“You understated this bit of news! This is JOYOUS! Contact Arsha at once!”
“Aye, aye, Captain!” The crewman rushed off to obey.
“Reb, I never thought I’d say this, but thank you for this news,” said Arsha once she was told of the Enemy’s retreat. “You served us well.”
“‘Twas an EXCELLENT honor,” returned Reb. “Shall we call up our BELOVED Admiral Aldarval?”
“Sounds like a plan. Shalvey, connect us to Aldarval.”
“Aye, aye, Captain!” replied Shalvey as she obeyed. Aldarval soon appeared next to Reb.
“I understand you have news for me?” she asked Arsha and Reb.
“We do, indeed, my DEAR Admiral,” answered Reb.
“Admiral, the enemy has fled to the Caltem River,” reported Arsha.
“My DARLING crew,” continued Reb, “is so TREMENDOUSLY clever, they were able to decode their location with ease.”
“That explains the reports I’ve been getting,” grinned Aldarval. “There’s been a build-up of enemy activity in that region! So, from what I’m hearing from you girls, it’s the result of a panicked evacuation!”
“We need to strike now!” urged Arsha.
“And we have the ships to do so now,” agreed Aldarval. “Arsha, join up with the fleet congregating on the Northern Continent’s south islands. Reb, hold position until you feel that Plunder Island Stronghold is secure, then join Arsha when you can.”
“Aye, aye!” replied the two Captains. Aldarval then left the call.
“Well, it looks like things are looking up,” mused Shalvey.
“Let’s not be TOO hasty,” advised Reb.
“She’s right,” agreed Arsha, “Aldarval wouldn’t be asking the fleet to go to the islands if she were sure this would be the final battle. We need to play it smart. Reb, I’ll see you when you get to the Mid-realm.”
“It’s a date! Ta-TA!” Reb then ended the call.
“Nazay, lay in a course for the nearest Realmgate, then take us to the islands south of the Mid-realm’s Northern Continent.”
“Aye, Captain,” replied Nazay. He laid in a course and took the Endeavor up.