Epic Unearthed

by Thomas Turner

  Chapter XXXI

  The Armada

  The day Radious engages his enemy, the sun is at its highest point; the Eastern Atlantean sea is calm. An Atlantean outpost on the far reaches of their island territories spots the Ladonean fleet. The armada is nothing like the Atlanteans have ever seen: scouts climb the tallest hill on the island to see its full scope. The island towers burn high, relaying urgency of what they are witnessing. A scout ship docks at the island and obtains information needed for Ashastonous.

  Hours later, the messenger reaches the Admiral’s Fleet. After he climbs aboard the flagship, he marches to Ashastonous and says, “The enemy has ships similar to ours. The Ladonean navy has two-hundred-twenty-five destroyers, twenty-five cruisers, and three heavy battlecruisers. Also over six-hundred supply and troop ships are sailing toward Atlantis. They are on a different course than we anticipated, but we can intercept them by mid-day tomorrow.”

  Ashastonous responds, “Daygun was right about supplies being moved by sea. We now know what we are up against. From our spies’ reports, the Sabathean, Mantineian, and Kyrenian empires are the main aggressors on land. The Ladoneans are contributing their navy to that coalition. In so doing, their presence on the mainland is limited. I have a feeling the Ladoneans are the ones dictating this war.” Admiral Ashastonous orders his captain to pull the flags for an emergency meeting aboard his flagship.

  Within an hour, the captains are aboard the flagship, standing at attention in military protocol, awaiting orders. Ashastonous walks slowly out of his quarters and looks at his officers.

  Ashastonous says, “The Ladoneans have stolen our ship technology. We have found the enemy fleet, with more ships than we can count. If I was another admiral, I would say we need to go home. Our enemy has more destroyers and cruisers than we do, and the Ladonean fleet has three heavy battlecruisers about the size of this vessel. We will fight our enemy and let our training take charge. They will have no choice but to fight. Let us give them the opportunity. I have complete confidence in everyone here. I need say no more. Go to your ships and prepare for battle.”

  No one stays to ask questions. All captains board personal transport boats back to their ships. Every ship sets sail to intercept the enemy.

  The Atlantean ships are faster than the Ladonean fleet. When Melercertis docked in the Atlantean harbor, Ashastonous observed the enemy ships. Hulls of the enemy vessels are thicker to absorb damage; in battle, thicker armor can be an asset or a disadvantage. In the impending battle, both navies will know which way they should have taken in designing their ships: slow with a great deal of protection, or fast with fewer safeguards.

  The next day the two fleets approach one another. The Ladoneans’ scout ships located the Atlantean fleet the previous day, and also set sail on intercept course. The Ladonean armada is cresting the horizon. Ashastonous is on the bridge with his captain. Looking at his captain, Ashastonous asks, “Are you afraid of what is coming at us?”

  The captain responds, “Every captain in our fleet believes in you. If you give us the opportunity, we will give our lives for our empire with your leadership.”

  The Admiral walks to the front of his ship to see the full details of the enemy armada advancing. He sees the fear in his men’s faces as he turns around. Ashastonous takes a deep breath, then in a load confident voice says, “These ships are about to attack our homeland. We are small in numbers compared to those we face. We are Atlanteans and the best navy in the world. We will go forward and destroy our adversary. We will face death or victory. I want everyone to think on this: how can any man fear an enemy who wants to take everything away from him?”

  His men are encouraged and cheer for the Admiral. Everyone rushes to their positions, despite being outnumbered. The enemy navy is so large the Atlanteans will be surrounded after the initial attack. Ashastonous does not know if all enemy ships will attack or if half will stay to delay them. The enemy supply ships are four miles behind their military escort.

  Every enemy warship sails toward Ashastonous’ fleet, away from their convoy. Understanding that the Atlantean fleet is about to be surrounded, the Atlantean Admiral orders his fleet into a defensive circle. Like clock work, all Atlantean ships row in formation. Within the circle, four cruisers and twenty destroyers will stay in reserve. The rest of the fleet will face out, posing a threat in all directions. Layers within layers of Atlantean ships are within the defensive configuration. The Ladoneans are not sure how to attack this kind of battle maneuver. They only know to push forward with their overwhelming numbers.

  The Ladoneans attack. Atlantean cruisers engage the larger ships; Atlantean destroyers work as a team, striking their antagonist like venomous snakes. The artillery from Ashastonous’ fleet correlates projectiles for maximum destruction. As the Ladoneans attack, enemy ships catch fire and are dead in the water. Each Atlantean cruiser fires at the enemy in a crossfire then repeats the action. Atlantean destroyers finish what the cruisers begin.

  Ashastonous’ heavy battlecruiser is dead center in the defensive Atlantean circle. On the flagship are thirty-six giant crossbows and thirty-six catapults. Each projectile can devastate an enemy destroyer. On deck of the flagship are also five-hundred archers for close combat.

  On the initial attack, two enemy heavy battlecruisers begin breaking through Ashastonous’ defensive line. The Atlantean flagship and cruisers are overpowering the rest of the enemy fleet. Because Ashastonous’ flagship towers over his cruisers, his artillery correlates with them and concentrates on the two enemy heavy battlecruisers. Atlanteans’ training against aggressors is becoming evident.

  Within ten minutes, both enemy heavy battlecruisers are damaged. Two Atlantean cruisers and the flagship catch the enemy heavy battlecruisers in a cross-fire. Both massive enemy ships have no option other than a full retreat from the first engagement. While the heavy battlecruisers are withdrawing, Ashastonous’ ship fires a large round boulder from its catapult at one of the massive ships. The projectile knocks a large hole in the fleeing ship’s water-line and it sinks quickly. All enemy ships break away from the attack.

  From the first Ladonean offensive, the Atlantean flagship damages every enemy ship that nears her. Some Ladonean destroyers attempt a suicide mission, trying to ram the Atlantean heavy battle cruiser, but are unable to penetrate its hull. The enemy destroyers haven’t the speed to effectively ram the Atlantean flagship.

  In the middle of the Atlantean defensive circle, supply ships deliver projectiles to the fleet. It is a dangerous task because each small ship has no protection. Hundreds of small boats dock within their task force; each projectile is raised by rope to the deck of each ship.

  Ashastonous’ ship drops anchor, simultaneously stabilizing the massive fortress in the water. The flagship will stand its ground. In so doing, the ship is completely stationary, improving accuracy of the artillery.

  To his captain, the Atlantean Admiral says, “Raise the flags to tell our ships to remain in formation and on the defensive. We are making our enemy guess; by guessing, they will make a mistake. When that mistake happens, we will destroy our adversary.”

  The second engagement begins, with the Atlantean ships in tight formation. The fight lasts twenty-five minutes, and only eight Atlantean destroyers are damaged. Little damage is done to the Atlantean cruisers. Ashastonous’ fleet is still surrounded, but the Ladoneans retreat again to regroup. The Ladonean Navy has lost one flagship, six battlecruisers, and forty destroyers in little over two hours.

  From the enemy flagship, a white-and-red-striped flag rises, meaning the Ladoneans want to rescue sailors from the sinking ships; Ashastonous agrees to a short ceasefire. The Atlantean Navy will have time to regroup. The damaged Atlantean ships enter the middle of the circle and dump as many munitions as possible before sinking. Ashastonous is trapped, and cannot be resupplied from Atlantis.

  Ashastonous observes the enemy supply and transport ships anchor at a distance. They are going to wait on their
warships for protection. The Atlantean Admiral is surprised that the enemy ships have not set sail for Atlantis, and thinks that he has saved Atlantis for a while longer.

  The ceasefire ends. The enemy fleet moves back two miles from the Atlantean fleet to regroup. Ladonean cruisers and two heavy battlecruisers move into formation. They are using their heaviest ships to hit one side of the Atlantean defensive perimeter, making an entry way for their destroyers. Fifteen enemy cruisers are in a spearhead formation, aiming at the west side of the Atlantean circle.

  Ashastonous speculates about what his enemy is doing and shouts to his captain, “Order five cruisers to the west, alongside my flagship. Order the most damaged destroyers to build a wall in front of their cruisers to slow their progress.”

  The order is obeyed. From the damaged destroyers, men abandon ship in the center of the circle, and a skeletal crew sails the damaged destroyers out to their positions. These ships form a line, and anchor for the last time. There are only five Atlantean destroyers, but they will save more than the Atlanteans are about to give. With the destroyers in position, the reserves are brought out to be aligned with the Atlantean flagship. Each archer and artillery personnel from the cruisers and flagship wait until the enemy is within range.

  By using the five damaged destroyers, no reserves are available to protect the Atlantean rear. If the Ladoneans break through, the Atlanteans will lose. Ashastonous understands this as an all or nothing risk. The whole battle will be decided at this moment.

  The Atlantean flagship turns all its artillery west. Five Atlantean battlecruisers are in position. The bulk of the Atlantean cruisers are highly defended in a ninety-degree angle for maximum firepower from their artillery. The Atlantean cruisers and flagship will fire all of their artillery simultaneously.

  The enemy attacks, and hundreds of Atlantean artillery projectiles fly toward their enemy. In the middle of the attack, Ladoneans break off from the bombardment, and five enemy cruisers sink within minutes.