Story #308 - Athena

Athena

“Jin!” Captain Agean called. “Hammer down those farstalls!”

His pilot didn’t answer, but the Athena banked sharply left and the frigate she was chasing came into view. As soon he’d seen the pot-bellied airship lumbering along outside the safe zone of the Aldaran border, he’d had to take a run at it.

The Athena was easily the fastest ship south of the Line, and though he’d met a few Northmen who said they could build a quicker boat he’d never been outpaced. Part of it was the ship; the Athena had been designed by Jandi himself, and part of it was the crew he’d hired. Most captains took the attitude that they and their airship were all that mattered – that crew was just collateral necessary to run the mechanics, but Agean knew better. Without Jin, the Athena would never be able to live up to her potential; the young man had a touch on the controls that Agean had never seen in any other pilot.

“Lor! Fire the hooks!” The words were barely off his lips and the thin Aldarman was moving, sending the two lis-steel grapplers out from the Athena’s front firing ports. Screaming strings of rope and metal, they easily clamped on to the running frigate and locked her tight in the bigger airship’s clutches. “Half-speed!” Agean bellowed and felt the ship slow, heard the engines spool down and the thrusters warm up. Anything less than four tressles meant the ship needed upward thrust to stay afloat, and Agean kept a close eye on the ship he’d captured; while most frigate captains wouldn’t risk their crews’ lives and their own just to evade capture, there were a few that were willing to plummet out of the sky just to make a point. Even the Athena couldn’t hold on to a ship tumbling in free-fall – the grappling hooks and the bays that held them would be ripped right out of her hull, and even getting her back to port would be a challenge.

So far, the frigate’s captain hadn’t made any foolish moves and Agean pulled the small telescope from beside his command chair to take a closer look. A white flag was running up the mast of the now-caught vessel and he smiled; at least he wouldn’t have a fight on his hands.

“Reel it in and then bring their captain to me.” He stood and strode off the bridge, not bothering to wait for a reply. His crew was paid well to be the best in the business, and to a man they got a share of the plunder – something of an oddity in the field of piracy. Most captains kept the lion’s share for themselves and gave almost nothing to their crew, instead diverting the other funds to the upkeep of their vessel. Agean had seen so much success captaining the Athena that he’d decided to spread the wealth around. Not only was his crew the most loyal and dedicated in their particular circle, but he always had men waiting in the wings if a crewman was lost or decided a life in the skies was no longer their calling.

He took his time in climbing the steps to his audience chamber. Separate from his quarters, the large round room served as an effective meeting space since it not only established his command but offered a spectacular view of the Athena, something kings and captains alike could not help but respect. It put them off-balance, which gave Agean the advantage – those who had spent their entire lives on land could not help but stare at the horizon, and other captains could not help but stare at his ship. Either way, it put him in control.

The chamber’s large oak desk was polished and gleaming in lamp-light as he entered – even his cleaning crew was paid well, and it showed. His men would escort the frigate’s captain through the ship’s underbelly, treating him like a prisoner in all but name. The captain wouldn’t see a bit of the Athena proper until he entered the audience chamber, and the effects were always dramatic. Privately, Agean had to admit he found the looks of stunned incredulity and envy almost as rich as the treasure he plundered.

Pulling pen and paper from one of the massive desk’s drawers as he sat, Agean made himself look busy and distracted. It was always worthwhile to give those captured a few moments in silence to consider their options as they stared out the floor-to-ceiling windows of the chamber’s north side; the view of the Athena’s main deck was spectacular. It took a great deal of effort not to look up from his false work – hours could disappear staring down at the pride of his captain’s career.

A sharp knock told him the guards and his guest had arrived and Agean called for them to enter, then put his head back down and returned to writing. The words on the page were nonsense, but the man being brought in didn’t need to know that.

“Captain Agean!” One of the guards said, and Agean raised his head. He didn’t recognize the tall young man; they had taken on a number of new bodies at their last stop, and he hadn’t had the time to introduce himself as yet. “Allow me to present Captain Hargraves of the frigate Musoma.”

Agean nodded distantly and then waved a dismissive hand. Both guardsmen filed out and he dropped his gaze back to the paper on his desk, leaving the room in stunted silence.

“Captain,” the other man began, and Aegan frowned. Most of those brought to see him had trouble putting two words together for the better part of ten minutes, and even then spoke with a hushed respect. This man’s tone was brash, even confrontational.

“Yes?” He raised his head and met the other captain’s eyes.

“You’re in violation of section forty-three of the Corsuan Treaty. I suggest you release my ship immediately.”

Agean laughed - such brashness was unheard of.

“Let me say it again, captain,” the man’s voice was tight, “and be clearer. The King is on board my ship. Do you really wish to pursue this course?”

A sinking feeling replaced triumph as Agean stood. Such a claim was ludicrous, but Captain Hargraves wasn’t blinking, and he wasn’t backing down. He might be telling the truth.


- D