Free Wind Dancer: Secret War Steampunk Series - Adventure, Mystery + Mad Science by Raven Bond Page B

dreams, that is," she
finished in the same breathless voice.
    The whole room, including Tikku, howled with laughter, and
went back to their preparations. Saira crossed to the other wall and unplugged
her personal pistol, checking that the small needle showed full charge. She
placed it in the holster at the small of her back. She then chose an electric
rifle from the rack, checked it as well, and then pulled the strap over her
head.
    Ravin, standing next to her, pulled another bandoleer of
shotgun shells over his shoulder. He also had two revolving pistols at his
belt.
    “Arms−Master," he said to her, "I still do
not see why you like the sparkies so much. Once you have fired your shots, it
is just a big club. It is not as if you can carry a Tesla engine around with
you to reload it."
    Saira hefted the rifle, caressing it before placing it on a
sling over her shoulders.
    “I prefer how precise these are in the killing.” She gestured
at his shotgun, “Yon gunpowder cannons are loud, smelly, and kick like a mule.
Besides, with a sparkie, if I can see them then they are already dead. When the
sparkies are empty, why then I have these," She patted the hilts of her Sheffield
blades. The forearm length custom knives had been her uncle’s parting gift when
she left his merchant ship to go out on her own. Between her training in Naga Darkways,
and her uncle’s rough−house methods, she knew that there were few who
could stand against her in close quarters. Ravin shook his head.
    "I would rather continue to keep them at a
distance," he said patting the automatic shotgun. “I am not good with the
blades like you are.”
    Saira gave him a smile, “True, although you are not that bad.
We will see to it that you get better,” she promised. “I, on the other hand,”
her smile grew even bigger and somewhat evil, “am very good. And not bad with
the blades either.” Ravin started shaking his head at this not sure if she was
teasing him or not.
     “With respect Arms-Master,” he said diffidently, bobbing his
head. “I cannot always tell when you are serious and when you are not.”
    “That is what my mother always says,” Saira patted him on the
cheek. His face actually turned darker beneath his skin as blood suffused it.
How charming, she thought in amusement, he was actually blushing. Her eye
turned towards the movement at the door, seeing Cap’n Will enter.
    He was dressed for boarding in a black rubber suit with the
battle vest over it, the gun belt at his hips holding his repeater pistol on
one side, balanced by an equally long Bowie knife, on the other. Saira patted
Ravin on the shoulder, and walked over to stand by the Captain.
    “Listen up all,” she said. Everyone quieted, looking at her
expectantly. “Gather ‘round. The Cap’n is going down with us, and he will be
explaining the drop.” Everyone gathered quietly around Will who laid out a
rough sketch of target ship on the bench.
    “Here’s the plan. We’re closing on Hu Fan’s junk. There’s a
single breech loader on the fore deck, what looks to be two light Gatling's on
the aft deck. No other heavy guns that we can see. Reckon the crew’s about a
hundred or so all up. ” He pointed while he talked. “We’re going to steam bath
the fore deck, and drop down on her there. Dancer will be angled to give us
suppression fire over the aft deck with the Hotchkiss Guns.” He handed the
briefing off to Saira with a wave.
    “Georgios, Abdul, you will spike the breech loader,” Saira
picked up the briefing without a pause. The two strong men nodded solemnly.
Saira continued, “Miriam, you will stand with them to cover a retreat if we
need one.” The ginger−braided woman patted her long rifle cockily, “You
got it boss,” she said. Saira nodded at her.
    “I will lead one group down the port side,” Saira reminded
them, “the Captain will lead the other down the starboard side.” Will nodded in
agreement at her. She looked around at them. “You