The morning of our final day of our journey to Aurevela, we are travelling through the remnants of an old rock belt that was used for mining.
The belt was mostly too dry for nations and large mining companies to justify coming here anymore, so now smaller independent vessels that use aether-propelled golem miners take up the chance to earn some extra GP.
Aether-propelled golem miners are basically magical mining drones. Using Aether power, and the directions of an aether weaver or aether manipulator, they can literally fly around mineable rocks and extract ores for rare metals.
In 'Sky Buccaneers,' this was considered a great career, and people formed mining corporations and sent out mining ships and their escorts to gather up as much metal as possible. In this world, things really aren't any different.
The belt we are passing, however, is completely empty. Not a single miner is trying their luck. I imagine this is due to the large number of pirates that have been operating in the area. Mining ships are way too tempting a target for them. Raw ore for rare metals can be worth far more than the coins passengers are carrying around.
As we continue to our destination, 6 blips appear on my mana screen, and I keep a careful eye out. We maintain our course, but I advise Kaelin to be on alert, as pirates operate around here.
Right on queue, the communication crystal on the navigator's console starts flashing red.
"Nothing too much, mostly cloth and thread, would you be interested in purchasing some?"
This is pretty typical pirate behaviour, threaten with violence and extort all their resources.
"[Skyborne Command]." I activate my skill just to be sure.
"Kaelin, target 5 of them with mana torpedoes, and then be ready to launch on my say so."
"Aye Aye captain!"
I continue to talk to the pirates as if I am trying to negotiate for me to keep my ship. They seem to be under the impression that we are in a simple passenger ship, not that it is quite well armed.
We get close enough to them that I can see they have typical low-level pirate vessels. Cobbled together and stolen ships with loose hard round cannons on the deck. The likelihood they can take us out is almost zero.
"Gunner. Fire torpedos"
Kaelin launches 5 torpedoes at once. All 5 of them arc downwards out of the ship, and travel in curves to their designated targets.
*Boom*
The first ship explodes on contact. The torpedo rips the vessel in half, splintered wood and cargo flying off in every direction. While it is falling through the air, I can see the ruined bodies of the crew flailing as they descend to their doom.
[Destroyed - Makeshift pirate ship - 99EXP]
[Slain - Pirate lvl 5 - 45 EXP]
[Slain - Pirate lvl 5 - 45 EXP]
The second and third ships don't fare much better either, both being annihilated by the mana torpedo on contact, essentially vapourising the targets.
The fourth ship explodes from inside. The mana torpedo penetrates the hull and explodes somewhere inside the ship, causing the aether propulsion system to also explode. The ship is enveloped by fire and aether mist, and quickly burns up.
The 5th ship, surprisingly manages to withstand the blast because of some kind of mana shield. It does not totally negate the damage, but I can tell the ship is left limping.
"Ok, leave the one with the mana shield for last, target the remaining ship with the mana cannons."
I bring the ship around and urge it to speed in the direction of the ship that, as of now, is untouched. We pull up close to it, and Kaelin immediately unleashes a barrage from the mana cannon.
*Boom* *Boom* *Boom*
The ship explodes and the occupants are also exploded alongside it. From our cabin we can hear their screams, but honestly, I don't care. I don't think Kaelin does either, she shows no remorse when blasting them to hell.
We level our ship, and Kaelin aims our cannon at the leftover vessel. I jump on the communicator.
"Surrender yourselves and you get to live. Fail to comply and you die"
"Set your propulsion system to 'towed' and throw your weapons onto the deck. Deactivate your shield and then come out on deck with your hands up."
Kaelin seems a little confused by my actions right now.
"Do we take prisoners?"
"In this case, yes. Firstly, that ship had a mana shield. We can use the towing harpoon and take it and sell it at the next port, plus all of its cargo is now ours. Secondly, if he has a ship with a shield, he must be the squad leader, so he knows where the pirate hideout is. We can sell that info to the Navy."
I bring the ship parallel with theirs, and activate the boarding plank. Kaelin and I and step out onto the deck, and supervise them crossing over. Me with my blade drawn, and Kaelin aiming her revolvers at them. They seem to be terrified, but neither of us care that much, they are pirates after all.
We bring them on deck, and then we bind their feet and hands, blindfold them and stuff rags in their mouths as gags. I tie them to the mast of the ship while Kaelin keeps her revolver trained on them.
While Kaelin watches them, I go downstairs and grab some navigational charts which show the area, and return.
I walk over to the first pirate, remove his blind fold and gag, and show him the chart. "Ok, I will say this for all three of you to hear. I want to know where your hideout is, you will show it to me on the map.
But there are rules. Rule 1: All three of you should point to the same place or I am going to throw you overboard. Rule 2: If you refuse to cooperate, I will throw you overboard. Rule 3: You will do this in complete silence by pointing."