Beneath the Surface

"Of course. I'm a strategist, not an engineer." Ician says. "So, I couldn't help but notice this ship was a little beaten up. Got caught in an engagement, I take it?"

"Just a few scratches." Sky says. "Three pirate ships that greatly underestimated me. Now they're all resting on the ocean grounds." She says with a smile. "No real damage was done to the actual ship. I suppose not even you expected it to be made out of metal underneath."

"Mm." Ician raps his hoof on the floor. "The Royal Fleet ought to get more combat airships like this. We probably need them, too; I have a feeling this battle today was just the tip of the iceberg. Equestria may well see itself going to war." He shudders. "A ghastly possibility."

Quimia stares at him, alarmed. "Do you really think so?"

"It is a possibility." He says quietly.

Sky suddenly stands up and flis a switch on the control panel, and everything outside becomes brighter. "Almost forgot to turn on the lights... the transport ship will come here soon and it's best if it doesn't crash into my ship."

"Good thinking." Ician looks out the nearest window. "Speaking of which, do you know how long it will take for the transport ship to arrive?"

Sky looks on one of the digital clocks somewhere on the control panel "...They should arrive any minute now. Unless they ran into pirates aswell." Sky says. "So... will you stay on the bridge for the trip back? I wouldn't mind.." She adds.

Just a minute later, a bigger ship could be spotted on the sky, making its way towards the encampment.

"I... suppose I can." Ician looks back. "Or not. Divine might want me with her. Considering how well she fared the last time she was on this airship, I'd better be by her side." Ician gives her a bow. "If you'll excuse me."

Quimia nods. "I will stay, if you wish."

"Up to you." Sky says and smiles as the transport airship approaches slowly and steadily.

"Thank you." Ician moves over to the part of the deck where his army is within sight. With a shout, he catches their attention, and indicates the transport ship. They all begin to move in that general direction. He then trots over to Divine's room, knocks, and enters.

Quimia looks at Sky. "About what Ician said... do you think this might become a full-scale war?"

Sky shrugs. "If it does, all I know is that I am staying out of it. I like assisting the Royal Guard, but killing just because they want to kill? That's a big no. I still hope that those pirates on my way here survived my attack. I was only defending myself."

Quimia raises an eyebrow. "You mean, the pirates whose shipwrecks currently lie at the bottom of the ocean? I suspect some amount of external help might be required to rescue them, if this incident was far out at sea."

"Unless they can swim for around 2 kilometers. It wasn't that far out..." Sky says, hoping the other airship won't accidentally hit hers while landing.

"Hopefully pirates have not lost their ability to swim after taking their ships to the air." Quimia watches the other airship closely. "... It is coming quite close, is it not?"

"Waay too close." Sky says and rolls her chair closer to controls, starting up the side propellers as fast as possible. "Come on.. come on... Who taught these guys how to fly a god damn ship?!" She says angrily as the propellers finally started fully spinning, moving the ship away from the dock and just barely dodging the other ship's hull with the main mast. She angrily waited till they landed before taking the ship back to the dock. "These Royal Captains... ugh..."

Quimia shrugged. "I am only a High Alchemist, unfortunately. The Royal Air Force is not under my purview." She touches a hoof to her chin. "Technically I outrank them, but... I know better than to instruct the veterans how to do their jobs." She gestures at the ship. "I will ask them to adhere more strictly to safety procedure, though."

"Please do.." Sky grumbles. "Some veterans they are, can't even pilot a simple airship.."

As the ship lands, the remaining troops on the ground file onto it, a restrained Theria in tow.

"So..." Quimia watches the other ship. "I suppose that we may leave as soon as Storm boards.

"That's right." Sky says, still slightly angry at the other airship. "I am going to have a word with him once we get back...."

"I will check his identity for you and recommend a reprimand to the Captain for you, if you wish." Quimia offers.

"I suppose you could do that.." Sky says and takes a sip of her coffee, waiting for Storm to come on board now.

Storm wearily climbs the dock, stopping just before the edge of the airship. "Permission to come aboard?" He shouts out in the direction of the cabins not knowing exactly where the bridge was. His rear leg was now free of ice, most of his cuts were healed, his ribs however were still a little tender so shouting like that caused him to hiss and wince in pain.

Sky popped her head out of the bridge, which was the only object with a roof above the main deck. "Ah, Storm, feel free to come aboard!" She yells. "Bridge is open if you want to visit, the rooms are... well, you know where, you've been here before!" She smiles and waves at his direction.

Storm hobbled aboard the ship and over to the bridge. "Thank you, captain." Storm said with a deep bow. "Looks like you've had a bit of trouble." Storm says after straitening up once more and gesturing to the damage in the deck. "I can do you a deal on steel. Just give me the specifications and I can make it up for you, no charge."

"Nothing serious." Sky says as he comes closer. "No real damage apart from holes in fake wooden structure. It's gonna look uglier for a bit, but the metal is just slightly scratched. It will be covered up by wood again and look as good as new again." Sky smiles. "But thanks for the offer anyways."

"So long a you keep me in mind when you do need steel or metal made. I guarantee you'll be pleased with my work." Storm said with a chuckle. "What did this anyway. Only thing I could think of would be a careless captain or another airship, and I know you are not a careless captain which means, you were attacked?"