Free Copper Centurion (The Steam Empire Chronicles) by Daniel Ottalini Page A

possible?”
    Alexandros considered for a moment, then knew exactly where he needed help. “If you could send some men down to the artillery deck, they could use some strong arms and backs to help in winding our scorpions and ballista. If it comes down to a boarding action, we may need you to clear our decks or take the fight to them.”
    Appius immediately started barking orders to his men. “Centurion Caesar! Take six squads outside to secure the ship against boarders. Durcius, take two squads down deck to help in the artillery gallery.”
    The tribune turned back to the captain, but a voice from the loudspeaker cut him off: “Captain Alexandros to the bridge, Captain to the bridge immediately.”
    Travins sounds worried, Alexandros noted . He’s never worried. This can’t be good.
    “I’ll keep two squads in reserve to assist where needed,” Appius called after Alexandros, who was already moving.
    “Just keep your ears open!” he called back as he ran for the bridge.
    Pushing open the bridge door, Alexandros scanned the interior. His officers were huddled around the main controls, while deckhands raced this way and that, adjusting gauges and communicating with various stations around the ship.
    “Captain on deck!” a rating cried and all movement paused as the men turned to salute their captain, fist to chest.
    “As you were,” Alexandros replied. “Status update. What in the name of Jupiter is going on?”
    “Sir, less than an hour ago, skimmers came back reporting that the Nortlanders’ main airbase at Ragunda was empty. Air-Admiral Polentio ordered double lookouts in every ship and sent all skimmers back out to try to find those missing ships. According to our latest reports, the Nortlanders may have as many as ten heavyweight ships of our caliber, but we don’t know how many they may have built or converted since we got this information.” Travins shuffled the thin pile of reports, seeking any additional information.
    Alexandros grabbed his binoculars and scanned the horizon. “Where exactly am I looking?”
    A deck lookout pointed to a series of small dots just on the horizon. “Right about ten o’clock to our fore, sir.”
    The captain fiddled with the settings on his binoculars, zooming in on the small dots. He counted eight airships closing in on their fleet. “What’s the status of our fleet?”
    “I believe we’ve got about twelve ships on station currently. We finished loading up the 13th Cohort of the XIII Germania late last night, and the other ships have taken up the rest of the legion—so we’re flying a bit heavy, but we’re also well prepared for any boarding actions.”
    A small ring interrupted him. Incoming wireless message from the air-admiral, I hope, Alexandros thought as the door to the closet-like wireless room slid open and the operator emerged.
    “Message to all airships from the air-admiral, sir.”
    Alexandros took the thin sheet of parchment and unfolded it to read the hasty scrawl twice. “We’re to form up and orient ourselves on the flagship. Formation Beta.”
    Nodding, Travins gave the specific orders to the pilots and crewmembers and the Scioparto moved toward her position in formation, to the left of the flagship. The smaller Scioparto was about half the size of the H.M.A.S Seguro, t he Emperor-class airship swinging into the lead position. A diamond formation was slowing taking shape as the other airships moved into their assigned slots by class.
    Alexandros watched the slow dance from the starboard observation windows as the airships gradually created a powerful wall of firepower. He could see the entirety of the formation from the Scioparto’s position on the leftmost “point” of the diamond. The skimmer carrier Vohar took its place in the center, within the protected confines of the diamond. It continued to launch the small scout ships and collect others.
    Alexandros paced the deck awhile, as the two forces closed on each other. The Roman fleet had