“That flare was meant to draw more attention than that of bats. The ghost flares will be useless if they can pinpoint our location.” Firus said.

We rushed back down the stairs to the lower deck and opened the door to a hellish scene. Small fires burned despite the rain. Bats were engaged in hand to hand combat. Several crewman lay motionless on the deck. I couldn’t tell if they were still alive or not.

A young man whose name I didn’t know stood there open mouthed, staring up at the sky we had just left. With a sinking feeling I followed his gaze.

Above us the pirate ship peeked through the clouds like a giant squid surfacing. That image was reinforced as a trio of mag-anchors snaked down toward us like tentacles.

“If they can out range us then why are they getting so close?”

“My baby would be a prize for any pirate and I’ll be damned if they’re going to take her from me. You help Esmil load the port cannons. I’ll get Bannon to roll the ship. REPEL THOSE BOARDERS!” Firus roared as we joined the battle.