Margrave Leonardo DiMarcus paced the observation deck of his flagship pensively as he listened to the staccato booms of cannon fire in the distance. The lone Arronax class sub had been quite a surprise when it surfaced near the Venetian Fleet's perimeter. Ignoring several warning shots as it closed on the screening cruisers, he had had no choice but to order its destruction.
It just didn't make any sense, the Covenant were not known for throwing away their military so carelessly he thought to himself. "My lord!" A breathless young sailor ran into the observation deck. His silent pondering cut short, he turned.
"Yes?"
"Unidentified vessels approaching from the west!" The surprise attack by the Submersible seemed less surprising suddenly.
"Battle stations!" His mind spinning through a whirlwind of possibilities he looked out the observation windows and caught a glimpse of the Arronax slipping beneath the waves under heavy fire from several Italian cruisers and frigates.
***
And only seconds after it slipped beneath the waves, it rocketed upward through the mid section of one of the Italian cruisers breaking it in half, kraken style. Moments later it opened its massive maw and poured an iridescent beam of power into a frigate squadron, blowing it and its terrified Italian crews to tiny glowing bits.
The fires of burning life boats are a oddly pretty sight on her majesties waters...
"Ahh, peaceful" said Admiral Ponders, with a grin.
***
Margrave DiMarcus mourned the loss of the brave sailors. A brief smile touched his face as the trap was sprung.
Appearing to almost gloat over its victory the arronax was unaware when the waves of Italian torpedo bombers struck, followed by Ucissore torpedo craft and Atlas Assault craft. The scene was beautiful, similar to a ballet, for a military mind. The lithe little triplanes and small assault craft dancing nimbly around the ponderous Aronnax. A death by a thousand cuts thought DiMarcus. The great beast finally exploded, a sickly green explosion, as a sturginium reactor was punctured by a torpedo.
***
"Sir?" asked his second, gazing at the Aronnax.
"Plans within plans." Replies the admiral of the New Londoners with a wolfish grin, watching as the final remnants of the enemy fleet dog piled the flailing Aronnax.
"What?" replied his second quizzically. After a brief pause he continued "Ahh".
Coalescing out of the invisible shadow of the Camouflage field, he was suddenly able to see the battle ships along side and carriers above of his captains fleets as well as the decking under his own feet once again, It was a most disturbing contraption, this generator of Lord Ponders newest allies.
"Shall we show these Venetians the meaning of fire power?" Asked the Captain rhetorically.
"Fire" He said softly.
With a thunderous roar of sound that was felt as much as heard, over a hundred massive gun barrels belched flames and whoosh as the water before the fleet became streaked with the paths of more torpedo's then one could count streaked toward the Venetian vessels desperately trying to bring their small guns to bear on the massive British navy.
Moments later the Venetians evaporated in a cloud of actinic fire and staccato series of explosions as the torpedo's blew the shattered ships in to ever tinier pieces.
"What about DiMarcus's Carrier?" Asked the second, watching the large pontooned ship turn about to flee at the destruction of it remaining ships.
"Wait for it." Replied the Admiral.
With a terrible grating and rending of metal, the massive Vengeance class submarine burst from the waves beneath the Venetian carrier slicing off the starboard pontoon. Slowly almost gracefully the large ship leaned to the side and flipped into the water as it began to sink, spilling planes and Venetians into the sea.
Lord Ponders mouth turned up in a smile at the curses in Italian drifting over the wind.
***
Margrave DiMarcus sighed in frustration as the Venetian Carrier, Atlas, slowly capsized. Its shield generator had done little to nothing it appeared to protect the majestic vessel. The loss of life would be tremendous, not to mention the loss of resources to the Doge. He was not however, surprised by his opponents use of camouflage generators nor the sudden use of brute force in response to the sinking of his beloved Aronnax. He had thought the Atlas would have had a little more time to get away before Britannian fleet arrived.
"Time to move our timetable up a little", he spoke quietly to himself.
"My Lord?" The noble captain standing behind him asked. DiMarcus turned to face his subordinate.
"Radio our allies Captain, tell them the time is nigh."
"As you will, my Lord." The captain turned and gave several quick orders to the crew quietly working on the observation deck.
A deep rumble was all that signaled the arrival of their new opponents. Brittanian ships began to break formation as they realized too late what was descending from above. The Vengeance was caught completely by surprised as the Austrian Airships massive Bomb bay doors opened and dropped their massive payload onto the hapless submarine. The great submarine appeared to almost shutter as it was wracked by explosions from the Austrian bombs. Finally the punishment was too great and with a great sigh the great submarine shattered into several pieces before sinking beneath the waves. In the darkness the Margrave could make out the small shapes of Brittanian sailors deperately trying to find something to cling to in the cool waters of the Ocean.
Lightning continued to arc from the great airships fore Tesla Coils and jumped between numerous ships within the Brittanian fleet. The AA fire from the Brittanian vessels was impressive but didn't seem to affect the great airships as they cut their way through the enemy fleet. Chaos and disarray ran rampant through the Brittanians, several of the smaller vessels collided causing more damage as they attempted to allude the Austrian assault. DiMarcus caught glimpses of fighting on the decks of several of the enemy cruisers. The famed Austrian Luftlancers must have already deployed in hopes of securing some prizes. The Margrave smiled to himself as he watched the Brittanian fleet fleet disperse before the Austrian Airships.
