Epic Unearthed

by Thomas Turner

  Chapter XXX

  An Unknown Hero

  Patrolling the Western Sea, Atlantean scout ships locate the enemy fleet sailing toward the peninsula. The Vice Admiral takes his heavy battlecruiser, seven new destroyers, and forty converted military cargo ships, and sets course to intercept. The Kyrenians and Mantineians are indeed planning a landing on the west side of Atlantis. The enemy ships are only twenty miles northwest from Radious’ fleet. A lieutenant from an Atlantean scout ship boards the flagship, salutes Radious, and says, “There are fifty-six ships about the size of our destroyers. Behind them are ninety-seven transport and supply ships. Within the convoy are ten more war vessels. What are your orders, Sir?”

  Radious replies, “Our enemy must be trying to outflank our men stationed at the Great West Wall… These are my orders. When we come upon the enemy warships, my flagship will break away immediately before engaging. All destroyers will break left with me as we try to lure a portion of enemy destroyers to follow my fleet. While seeming to be sailing around the engagement, the enemy will try to protect their convoy and follow me and our destroyers. Our antagonists will split up. Half of our converted cargo ships will engage the main charge from the enemy, and the other half will follow the enemy pursuing the flagship. When the enemy is divided, I will then turn my ships around and wreck havoc. Go, Lieutenant; tell the rest of the fleet.”

  The orders spread to Radious’ captains, and the Atlantean sailors prepare for battle.

  On the horizon, Radious studies the enemy fleet; he rushes to the front of his flagship. The Vice Admiral looks at his fleet’s formation, knowing his ships are in position.

  Radious yells to his captain, “All ships, full ahead!”

  Flags rise from the Atlantean heavy battle cruiser, ordering the fleet to sail forward. As all sailors assume their posts, the sails rise higher and the oarsmen pull faster. The noise of the waves intensifies as the Atlantean fleet increases speed. The Kyrenians’ and Mantineians’ destroyers sail toward the Atlanteans head-on with fifty-six warships. Three miles before the engagement, the Atlantean flagship and elite destroyers break left. Almost half of the enemy ships follow the heavy battle cruiser, just as Radious predicted.

  Two miles before the original engagement is to take place, half of the Atlantean cargo ships break off and follow the enemy pursuing the Atlantean flagship. Radious runs to the rear of the ship to witness the enemy fleet following. Out of nowhere, the flagship’s captain orders his men to turn around.

  Radious yells at his captain, “Keep going; pull the enemy further.”

  Where the original battle was going to take place, twenty Atlantean cargo ships confront twenty-eight enemy destroyers. The main Atlantean sea battle is commanded by Holtair. Both navies fire artillery and ram each other. Radious can hear the crackling of wood, thundering from the distance.

  At the main engagement, Atlanteans concentrate on the oars and sails of the enemy ships, firing rounds of artillery. Atlantean projectiles are far superior to those of the enemy ships. Holtair’s fleet is able shoot their artillery twice as fast. Even though the enemy ships have more weaponry aboard, the training and superior artillery are in favor of the Atlanteans.

  During the first engagement, Holtair sees two enemy ships stationary, firing on one of his disabled warships. Both ships are too busy to notice anything other than the kill. Holtair points at the front of his ship and yells, “Full-speed to that engagement. Fire dead center of their formation. Save our ship before we have no choice but to rejoin the rest of our battle group.”

  Simultaneously, Holtair’s ship rams the oars of one enemy destroyer and fires projectiles at the other. Both enemy vessels return fire, damaging the Commander’s ship in the crossfire. The tactic allows the other Atlantean crippled cargo ship to escape from certain destruction.

  In the first round of ship-to-ship combat, Holtair’s vessel is somewhat damaged, but still operational. The Atlanteans and enemy ships regroup, and another battle begins as both fleets gain speed for ramming. The battle goes quickly before all ships have to turn around again for another run.

  On the second engagement, six of the enemy ships are sinking or on fire and three of the Atlanteans’ ships are on their way to the ocean floor. The enemy convoy realizes that their escort is in trouble, and flees to the north. Holtair sees Commander Davin’s ship close by and moves toward his vessel. From his deck, Holtair yells at Davin, “Take your battle group and take out our main objective. Attack that convoy!”

  Davin yells back, “I cannot leave. You will have ten ships against twenty-one. You will be destroyed within thirty minutes!”

  Holtair commands, “That is an order!”

  Seven Atlantean ships leave the main engagement under Davin’s command, pursuing the enemy convoy. Holtair’s battle group starts their third run. He must keep the twenty-one enemy ships from either going after Radious, or after Davin’s fleet.

  With fewer ships, the next engagement goes poorly for the Atlanteans. Holtair loses three ships, and the enemy loses four. The Atlanteans fight on.

  A lieutenant aboard the flagship runs to Radious. The officer salutes the Vice Admiral and says desperately, “We must turn around and assist Holtair. Our forces at the main engagement can’t take much more.”

  Radious replies, “If we turn around now, we will lose our main objective. Holtair is an Atlantean warrior and he will die honorably. I will see him in the next life, applauding as I walk toward him to hug as a brother-of-war.”

  After another engagement, the enemy destroys the rest of Holtair’s fleet, but the Atlantean Commander takes seven enemy ships out of action. From the first original battle, the rest of the enemy ships set sail toward the Atlantean heavy battlecruiser.

  Holtair’s disabled fleet tries to save Atlantean warriors floating in the water. While attempting to keep his ship afloat, Holtair can see Davin’s fleet moving closer to the enemy convoy on the horizon.

  Radious marches to the stern of the flagship and tells his captain, “Raise our flags and order our destroyers to assist our seven ships sailing after the convoy!”

  Because of the distance between the Atlantean destroyers and Davin’s fleet, Davin will reach the enemy convoy first. Radious then orders the flagship to turn around to attack the twenty-eight enemy ships pursuing him. He also has ten enemy ships sailing toward him from the main sea battle, which destroyed Holtair’s fleet.

  The remaining twenty Atlantean military cargo ships, commanded by Prowless, attack their enemy from the rear. The enemy ships turn around to attack in response. The second sea battle begins with the Atlantean flagship sailing full speed toward the battle. After the first run, the Atlantean cargo ships disable six enemy ships, but lose eight of their own. Radious is moving closer to the sea battle, while the Mantineians’ and Kyrenians’ ships prepare for another attack against Prowless’ fleet.

  Radious yells to the captain, “Prepare the artillery. Fire dead-center on our enemy and then fire to our stern and destroy their main thrust.”

  As the enemy attacks, Radious’ flagship enters the battle. The Atlantean heavy battlecruiser turns her thirty-six giant crossbows on their enemy. All flagship archers bow their weapons. Radious yells, “Fire!”

  Bombardment from the Atlantean flagship is overwhelming. From the first round, three enemy destroyers are disabled or sinking before the enemy even knows the Atlantean heavy battlecruiser is battle-ready or in range. This is the first time the Atlantean flagship has seen combat, and the power of such a warship on the open seas is better than Vice Admiral expected.

  Enemy destroyers attack the Atlantean cargo ships as if the Atlantean flagship is not even there. Radious continues sinking enemy ships, while losing more of his own fleet. Because of so much confusion, Prowless’ fleet becomes divided and unable to go on the offensive. The Atlantean flagship blasts artillery and archers launch arrows onto enemy ships. The disabled Atlantean cargo ships limp to the flagship for protection.


  Radious sees that only eighteen enemy destroyers operational. The Kyrenians’ and Mantineians’ destroyers regroup for another run. The enemy Admiral has ordered his captains to destroy Prowless’ fleet at any cost.

  Combat recommences. The Atlantean cargo ships know they are outgunned, but still attack their adversary. Because the enemy destroyers are concentrating only on the Atlantean cargo ships, the Atlantean heavy battlecruiser destroys ten enemy vessels; but the enemy disables or sinks most of Prowless’ fleet. Ten enemy ships from the main attack reach the sea battle and wreak havoc on the remaining Atlantean cargo ships outside the protection of Radious’ heavy battle cruiser. However, the flagship and the rest of Prowless’ fleet cripple any thought of another offensive by their adversary. The remaining enemy fleet retreats. The Atlantean flagship was able to repel most attackers, but sustains damage.

  Most of Prowless’ fleet is sinking, and the remainder of his fleet is on rescue operations. Hundreds of Atlanteans are swimming from sinking and burning ships. Radious could not reach his fleet in time for a decisive battle. Only Davin’s fleet, Herous’ destroyers, and the flagship continue. They are the only ships left from the Atlantean fleet to attack the enemy convoy. After seeing what damage is done, the Atlanteans’ heavy battlecruiser sets course to destroy their main objective.

  Reaching the convoy, Commander Davin starts his attack. The enemy supply and transport ships have some artillery, but are very slow. The Atlanteans attack the enemy’s oars, and use projectiles to set the enemy convoy on fire. The attack is well-executed. No Atlantean cargo ship is sunk on the initial run, but all Atlantean ships take damage. Thousands of arrows are shot at Davin’s task force, killing hundreds of warriors on deck. The enemy arrows are able to speed through portals, hitting Atlantean oarsmen. Officers have to discard the dead and assist in rowing.

  During the first run of Davin’s attack, six enemy troop ships are damaged and on fire. He orders the remainder of his military cargo ships to attack enemy destroyers that stayed behind to protect their convoy. After the offensive, Davin’s fleet disables three enemy warships; however, his fleet has only three ships able to fight on.

  Although the Atlantean flagship is drawing nearer, it will still take some time, and time is something that Davin does not have. The seven Atlantean destroyers are only fifteen minutes away from the enemy convoy.

  Enemy destroyers regroup and sail full-speed to attack the last of the Atlantean military cargo ships still operational. Davin’s remaining warships are outmatched and overwhelmed. The enemy destroyers fire their projectiles. Even though Davin’s fleet is damaged, they take on one more enemy destroyer and cripple another warship. Eventually, all the Atlantean military cargo ships are compromised. Davin’s ship is sinking, but everyone under his command fires every last piece of artillery at the four enemy destroyers, annihilating one.

  At a distance, the men on the Atlantean destroyers see Commander Davin using a bow and arrow, firing at the enemy. Davin is not doing this to be heroic; he is doing this by a rush of pure adrenaline. The commander will go down as the unknown hero of the battle. This swells the morale of the men on Atlantean destroyers and they lay right into the enemy, defeating the last of enemy warships.

  As the convoy flees, the Atlanteans regroup. The remaining Atlantean fleet picks up the men from Davin’s task force, and Commander Davin climbs aboard Herous’ destroyer.

  In haste, the Atlantean destroyers come alongside the flagship and sail toward the enemy convoy, which is still on the run. When Radious’ fleet reaches the enemy, the Atlanteans use all artillery munitions, destroying thirty-nine enemy supply and transport ships. However, fifty-eight enemy ships escape and sail toward Atlantis. Because an enemy supply ship rammed into the Atlantean flagship earlier, the mighty vessel cannot continue. The Atlantean destroyers are also crippled in the water. Because of all the damage, Atlanteans are unable to keep pace with the enemy fleet, and they continue their course to Atlantis. The Atlanteans have fought all day, and are without ammunition.

  Radious sends scout ships to the shores of Masaba to inform his fatherland of the situation. There are no more Atlantean destroyers in their harbors to be deployed to engage the enemy, and the Atlantean East Fleet cannot reach the enemy convoy in time. The Atlantean adversary will hit the beaches in two days. The scout ship will reach the shores of Atlantis in nineteen hours. Once the scout ship reaches the beach, the Atlanteans have only twenty-nine hours to prepare and attack.

  Radious feels as if he has failed Atlantis. Despite the shortcomings, the Vice Admiral still has three destroyers, four Atlantean military cargo ships, and his flagship. They all limp back to Vasic for repairs.