Chương 139: Civil War - 8 (Sea War)
Patrick, who ended the call with Bolt, looked far out on the vast sea, where some small shapes of ships appeared in front of his eyes. His face showed an evil smile, and with a youngsters agility, he got to the forecastle giving a scare to the young sailors.
"Admiral, what are you doing here?"
"Not now, brat. Someone fetch me a telescope and have Lagos send the signal to the other ships to be combat-ready."
The sailors around Patrick quickly scattered around the ship while screaming from the top of their lungs.
"Enemy incoming, be ready for combat! It is Pops orders!"
In the officer's quarters with other guys, Lagos heard this and quickly ran outside to see nothing out of order.
"Huh, is the old man drunk again and sees the hallucinations of himself fighting the Brigs Kingdom Fleet?" asked one officer who did a check to his surroundings yet failed to notice something.
"It might be that. What do you think, brother Lagos?" asked another officer standing next to Lagos.
Lagos, who also couldn't see much in the distance, took his telescope and began searching again. Instantly when his sight got to the front of the ship, he noticed the tiny figures of ships moving toward them.
"No, the old man is right. There are enemy ships incoming. Here take a look at 12 a clock. There seems to be quite a sizable fleet the nobles brought." said Lagos while handing the telescope to the other officers to see for themselves.
After that, he walked down a floor toward the steering wheel, which was controlled by one officer of the Navy who had a calm expression, although most sailors were excited for the appearance of the nobles.
"Ohh, brother Lagos, what brings you here? Everything is fine. I got my instructions from old Patrick. But I guess I should also prepare for engagement."
"Mmmm, I guess it wouldn't be bad to stay prepared. Then I'll go to the cannoneers and have them be in top shape."
As Lagos said, he began to walk toward the main deck and the stairway down the gun deck.
The atmosphere here was tense since they knew that they were about to engage in a big fight, not something small like in the past 20 minutes.
Moving toward the biggest cannon with a team of 7 guys, led by an officer, he asked the officer, who was resting a bit.
"How is the [Judge] after having to shoot it 12 times? Can it still roar until the end of this fight?"
The officer raised his head from where he was seated, and after noticing that the one talking to him was Lagos, he made a hand gesture while saying to him.
"Sit down, brother. You should be stressed far more than us, having to look over the entire fleet while the old man does his antics. Everything in the gunner's area should be running smoothly. So far, I haven't heard any signs of the cannons giving in the pressure, especially the [Sea Judge].
This is a monstrosity that performs three times better than the standard cannons. That Faust guy is a damn genius or a lucky bastard to even think of creating such a cannon."
"I doubt it is luck. His Highness surrounded himself only with capable people. While that blonde guy seems to look a bit dumb, we can't comment much, especially after he designed [Sea Judge].
"Haha, you are right, brother. Even now, the idea that the world uses some rundown standard cannon while our fleet upgrades to the [Sea Judge] model makes most of us cannoneers laugh out loud, like some little kids proud of their toys. Ahem, I think we should guard the production blueprints to the teeth to keep our enemies in total darkness."
"Don't worry, pops thought of this, and talked with the Prince about this aspect. Only a handful of people have the blueprints." replied Lagos calmly to the officer's worries.
'
Minutes passed since the notice of the noble fleet, and every single ship that formed the grand fleet of Kaysang Navy was moving slowly forward in a strict formation like it was a ground army executing the orders of the general.
The cannoneers all had their cannonballs prepared and waited for Patrick's signal to start firing, yet minutes went by, and there was no such order.
"Guys, did something happen to the old man? I can see the enemy ships, and we have a good range to take them down." said one guy looking from the opening the cannons had to fire.
"Shut up and be patient. Haven't you heard about the old man's legend? He is the strongest Admiral in the history of Kaysang, and we are lucky to bask a bit in his glory. When he gives us the orders, we'll follow along."
The cannoneers weren't the only ones to be tense by this approach. Even the sailors on the main deck were disturbed by the tactic of the old man who was on forecastle watching as his heavy ship approached the noble's fleet.
"Old man, give us the orders, already. We will enter their fire range soon!" said one bold officer while he held his hand on the sword hilt secured by his belt and a handgun.
Lagos hit hard the wooden floor from where he was on the mizzenmast area that had most restless sailors calm down and wait for the orders.
The officer said something many sailors wanted to say to Patrick, but only this officer got the courage to question his choice.
Nevertheless, this moment didn't change Patrick, who looked coldly at the enemy ships with his hands crossed around his chest and seemed to murmur something under his breath.
"Not yet. They positioned themselves for the volley but seem not to have the guts to fire first. Do you want me to open the dance? No way, I am a frail old man. How can I jump in like an idiot?"
Looking to his left and right, he could see in the distance the formation he taught his boys to apply in the drills.
All the ships in the fleet were split into three sections. The main force was in Patrick's hands that held nine ships, while the other flanks had six ships commanded by the captains he selected among the best officers.
"In about 1 minute, I will be in your range and be able to pull this new strategy I taught them. Let's see if Nelson and Jervis are up to the challenge." talked Nius with himself while staring at the enemy ship.
Taking his dial snail, he called two times, and each of the calls was short, only some brief seconds.
"Young Nelson, once we get in their fire range, we use [The Storm] tactic. Don't panic and follow my lead from your flank. This is the most important step for you, kid. You will never be an admiral if you collapse under the stress."
"Old man, are you sure [Storm] works here? Wouldn't it be safer to use the [Volley] tactic and beat them with our superior firepower discipline?" asked someone who seemed to be a young man.
"You do as I say, boy. This is a good chance to test [Storm], especially in advance when our ships are equipped with that big cannon. This will not be our last fight, young Nelson. Our Navy will be known as rulers of seas, regardless of place, even that New World place." replied Patrick with a slight small on his old face.
"Okay, I get it, old man. I'll prepare for [Storm]."
*Gotcha*
Following that call, Patrick once again called someone, and like the first guy, Nelson, it got picked up quickly.
"Jervis, we are doing [Storm], so prepare yourself. Once I give the signal, everything will start."
"Hooah, that's more like it, old man. I was kind of thinking about that tactic you taught us since these bastards ahead don't seem to be up to a fight, instead they come here to show off their numbers. I guess this is all you wanted to say? Then, bye, I have to prepare my morons for the fight."
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Patrick started chuckling a bit after the call got closed by the captain of his fleet. Only after some breaths did he turn cold, staring like a statue at the noble ships.
Slowly they got closer to the ships, and when he got closer to their firing range, he took a pistol and fired it in the air.
"Bastards, raise the sails. Wake up the rats down the lower deck and have them open their eyes wide open. This is the tactic I taught you, [Storm]. If anyone dares to mess it up, I will feed you to the Sea Kings myself." yelled the old man with high spirit, seeming to lift even the lowest morale sailor from the ground.
"You heard him, bastards. Start jumping the ropes and prepare the ship for peak performance. The fastest speed is needed for [Storm]
The atmosphere intensified more in the lower deck, where the cannons were placed. Each team handling their cannons seemed to be in morbid silence.
.
The same situation was on Nelson formation to the left of Patrick's fleet, where a young man who had shoulder-length black hair left untied, being blown by the wind, looked at the sailors who had their morale dropped a bit by this unknown tactic.
"Guys, you got nothing to worry about. This is the first time we use [Storm] on moving targets. But have courage in your kills and also trust in the old man's skills. When did he ever fail us?"
One could use a calm way to lift the sailor's morale and prepare them, but on the right flank, Jervis, a guy in his mid-twenties, who had short red hair roared with great passion to his mates.
"My bastards, you saw the old fuck signal. It is time for us to shine and for me to get promoted to Admiral."
"Boss, what's next after Captain rank is the Commodore rank." said a sailor who among many seemed to wear some rags like a pirate.
The rest started laughing at him, finding their captain ambition quite humongous for a starting captain who only got his rank only one month ago.
"Haha, you think I am joking, you morons? Get the fuck going and raise the sails. We need top speed for the tactic to work. Also, someone has those lazy cannoneers be on top shape. Huh, wait, I will do it myself."
Saying that, Jervis quickly got to the stairway down the lower deck, and with a high tone, he said to them.
"Bastards, if you perform well, I will let you go have fun in the pink district after the war."
"Hoh, Captain, don't tell us this win is important for you?"
"No shit. I don't want to be surpassed by that smartass Nelson and his noble mannerisms."
The cannoneers laughed a bit until they stopped and turned serious, giving Jervis an okay sign.
.
Patrick's formation began advancing first, followed by Jervis and a slightly slower Nelson. They advanced in synchrony, moving like bullets toward the enemy fleet.
Meanwhile, there were some guys inside the biggest ship on the nobles fleet, seated around a table at the captain's cabin, seeming to discuss some battle plans.
"Baron Meston, you are now the leader of the fleet. It would help if you came with a battle plan against those peasants. We can suggest some things, but I think they will not suffice our needs. Our losses are significant because of that pathetic Viscount who adventured out to strike the peasants by himself." said one guy with common features wearing noble clothing, to a man with black hair and full beard, simple traits that would make him decent to the eye.
This man was tall, seeming to look down on the nobles around him, however he conducted himself calmly.
"There's no need for any other tactic. If you guys hadn't coward from the time I told you to open the first volley of shots to the enemy, the fight would have been won by now."
"Don't go too far, you Baron. When you only added two ships to the entire fleet. You got nothing to lose, but us? We have gathered this entire fleet made of 40 ships, great nobles while you commoners can only run your mouth." retorted back a noble wearing luxurious clothes that overshadowed most of the nobles.
"I see, then it seems, you don't need me? Maybe I should go home since the war on the Lacilet side should have been bad too. I only need to know the situation here, to tell the rest."
"If you do that, you would be deemed a traitor, and all your house will be removed." said coldly the guy wearing luxurious clothes.
Meston got up on his feet and stared hatefully at the guy who threatened his family.
"Count Hemniburg, you know that your status here means shit to me, and I can kill you right now for what you said."
"Hmph, as if you would dare, you commoner. It is only because of Lacilet's help that your family got out of bankruptcy, and your feeble estate is now staying afloat."
.
In this moment of tension that would spark soon in a fight, a sailor who had a panicked expression came running inside the cabin.
"A peasant dare to enter inside our presence?"
This time Meston didn't wait anymore and sent a straight right in that snobbish noble face, sending him crashing on a wall.
"Lords, they are advancing at fast speed. We need to fire immediately, or I don't know what will happen."
Baron Meston nodded his head and walked quickly out from the cabin with the sailor, and turned his head to see how the 21 enemy ships advanced with a top speed.
"What is this? This isn't a preparation for the standard tactic."
"That's why the captains of the ship sent me to get your excellencies' attention. We need the right order."
"Start shooting at them before it gets too dangerous." ordered Meston, while stopping after hearing the annoying voice of the count.
"What are you doing, you bastard. I have twenty ships in this fleet, twenty. You don't have the right to decide for my property."
Meston looked at the rest of the nobles who didn't look at the count and nodding his head. The Baron sent this time a strong hit that had the Count unconscious.
"Ahh, this is much better. I can't think straight with a dog barking at me all the time, don't you agree, gentlemen?"
"Lord Meston, the situation is harsh, right?" asked a noble-looking a bit afraid at the rate Patrick's fleet advanced.
"Yes, we are late in shooting them, and this will cost us badly. So pray you will not die in this fight or that we have absolute victory."
.
On Patrick's fleet, after getting inside their range and moving halfway to the enemy ships, he noticed their cannons staring firing at them.
"Don't panic. Keep your calm. This first volley will miss us. Maintain the current speed and keep the formation tightly.
After one minute, another volley of cannonballs flew toward them. This time it moved to the position they were in the past one minute.
"Steady boys. Get ready for the third volley."
The thunderous firing of cannons could be heard from the noble's fleet.
.
"Why are we missing our shots?! This is already the third firing, and we couldn't hit one single ship. Are those guys incompetent by chance?" asked one noble, staring at how the cannonballs flew past Patrick's ship.
"It is not that the cause of the missing shots is the enemy's fast speed that makes guessing their next location hard." explained the baron to the rest of the nobles, staring frustrated at the missing shots.
The volley of shots got sent toward the enemy, and this time some were moving toward the charging ship on the centerline.
However, as those ten cannonballs moved toward Patrick's frigate, the nobles could see the figure of an old man jumping in the sky and, with a longsword, starting slicing the cannonballs who exploded in mid-air and landing back on the mazermast as nothing happened.
"How is that even possible?! Did we saw a ghost save those peasants?" asked a noble after seeing Patrick's feat of strength.
Then just as the noble side prepared to shoot the five volley, they noticed that they would need to aim lower, disturbing the firing process.
"Your Excellency, you have to be prepared for the close fight." said a captain walking with a paled face to the nobles.
"What? But how? They are still there… Wait, where did they go?"
.
The baron had a chill run in his spine and dropped to the ground, taking some nobles along with him.
Those nobles stared confused at Meston, but not long after that, they heard the powerful voice of an old man roaring to the skies.
"Unleash everything you got, guys! Did you hear it, Nelson, Jervis? Send the flanks to the sea kings!"
.
As a response, Nelson and Jervis's formation began firing on the ship's position on a horizontal line compared to the vertical line that allowed them full strength on their cannons.
Chaos ensued, and the enemy ships began taking fire. However, this wasn't all; Patrick's formation also roared alive, along with [Sea Judge] that blew a large hole in an unprotected ship it was facing.
" CHANGE AND PUT ANOTHER CANNONBALL! WE ONLY HAVE SOME SECONDS BEFORE WE OVERPASS THEM! MOVE FAST YOU BASTARDS!" roared Lagos, who was standing on the lower deck, overseeing the entire cannoneers.
Like they caught fire, the men started moving under adrenaline, and in record time, they filled the cannons for another shop.
"FIRE AT WILL! IT DOESN'T MATTER NOW WHAT YOU SHOOT!"
Moving according to instructions, they lit their quick matches and directly lit the cannon's match, sending another blast before passing those ships. In the process, some also got sent flying, hitting the ship's walls because of the uncontrolled explosion.
"Fuck me. I think I broke my ribs and leg."
"You are not the only one."
"Likewise." replied another guy who grimaced in pain the fire shockwave of the cannons created.
"Boss Lagos, did we succeed?" asked one officer, looking toward the enemy ships but failing to see a single figure because of the ash cover the cannon blast had created.
"If you all would shut up and listen with your ears, you could hear their screams of agony."
"Haha, that crazy old man strikes again with his weird tactics." replied a cannoneer who dropped on the floor, exhausted and drained of any energy.
....................................
A/N: Here is a decent/good ship battle. Those things are rare in One Piece, even though the series itself is based on pirates and 81% or lower water surrounded earth.
I can't say this is the best I can do, this is why I call it decent. I have another ship battle planned in the future with a grander scale, those ones would be something that spans 2-4 chapters.
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Hope you liked the Navy and our actors on this side.
P.S: I thought I was on Thursday and almost stopped from writing this chapter, and not updating.
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If you liked the story make sure to give it a follow and some encouraging reviews or pointing out my mistakes with comments so I can fix them and grow as a writer.
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I am looking for editors/proofreaders to help me out with my story/stories. If you are interested and want to help me out join my discord and say something.
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Join my discord for talks and discussions. https://discord.gg/CMsHqJVDVD
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