Techno PoV
With me calling them to attention my crew, still laughing, started to leave the room.
In my Yasha body i pulled out two items that looked this big head phones. The difference is that the main support was made of glass on along the top and bottom ran a cylindrical tube which held a system of cameras that would shoot images onto the glass and make it work like a visor. On a 90 degree angle to the glass visor a thin metal curved and connected to the other ear phone which contained all the hardware of the visor.
Before the Tigress and Draconian princess could leave i called.
Techno: "You two didn't like the helmet visors so i made this. The systems in here are much more advanced. That includes the targeting system."
Greer: 'Why did you mention the targeting system specifically?'
Techno: "Because you two will be shooting the cannons until we get close enough to engage them."
Their eyes get a bit wide but they nod and take the new visors. Thankfully the size was correct and it fit just right. The game didn't have size adjustment so it needed to be the correct size.
They two seem happy as they walk out. They hated the helmets because; in Greer's case it covered her ears which were up on her head like a tiger or cat. In Annabeth's case her dragon horns wouldn't properly fit. Not it did since the top was open.
It took quite a while to get it working. It has much less systems but it has communication, targeting and scanners at least. It also lets them check their stats through tech instead of the magic window. With those they can't control any robots though but it has much more space to connect to things like the turrets to use the targeting with them.
Now then let’s get to teaching these shits their place.
Annabeth PoV
As we travelled alongside the transport ship we suddenly heard the clear sound of laughing coming from the command room. The laughing was so clear that it was like a child gleefully playing or laughing at something they found funny. I found it nice to listen to since most people force a laugh.
When we entered into the room we found Techno rolling around laughing with all he had.
After a bit he calmed down after Victor asked why he was laughing. When he pointed at the monitor screen we saw a clockwork knight with a resemblance to Techno's old knight body.
The video of their fight against the Lava Golem was released on the forums so they at least knew that much. The guy was furious at being laughed at.
Fake Techno: ‘To laugh at me! YOU WILL ALL DIE AT THE HANDS OF ME THE LEADER OF “THE CLOCKWORK”.
We were all taken by surprise and after a few seconds of processing what he said i had to cover my mouth. The others did the same but we couldn't hold it and started to laugh just like Techno with all our might. It got worse after Nova called him a noisy old man.
Victor, Greer and I started to tear up and hold out sides because it was starting to hurt.
After a bit we calmed down and the say the guys blowing so much steam that i was sure he was almost out.
Then Techno in his Yasha body walked up to the screen and flipped the stupid fake before cutting the connection.
What an incredible day. To hear Techno laugh, see such a stupid person and get a gift from Techno.
It’s rather simple but it works like a charm.
It gives us a scanner and a really amazing targeting system. And i can connect to the turrets and use the system.
When we left Victor, put me on the mortar at the front of the ship.
The mortar was the only one of the ball constructions that had two large construction balls.
Ball 1 of the mortar was now one meter in diameter while 2-4 were 30 cm more or less. Ball five was the last one and had a half meter diameter. As soon as i pit the last ball in the reason was made clear.
Unlike the barrel of a cannon which was two half meter sections of making the cannon barrel the mortar was much more intimidating. The mortar had three sections which was 75 cm each and aimed up.
I connect a wire that came with the new visor and found the spot it connected to. The info from the mortar appeared as soon as i connected and when i looked up at the barrel i could see a small dotted line showing the course the shell would take.
Oh you heard right, i said shell. The same kind used in tanks and real world siege weapons. Nearly 40 cm long and cylindrical ending at a sharp point. The shell is 1 cm of earth steel while the hollowed inside is filled with black powder and a pressure plate at the point that activates on impact.
I open the hatch next to the turret and grabbed a shell. Opening the chamber i put the shell in the support and close it.
Now setting up the trajectory wasn't too hard. Obviously I'm not Nova who seems to be able to hit everything she sets her eyes on. Anyway to change its trajectory i have two spinning wheels to turn it. One was to move the mortar forward and back while the other turned the entire base of the turret which moves left and right.
With the help of the targeting system i can more or less shoot where the target says it will go but there are various factors i need to take into account. As test fire i use the scanners to locate the ships. Techno hooked up the ship's long range scanner to our smaller ones and we knew where they were.
At this time, they were 3 km away but as scary as it should but they are in my range. Dual barrel turrets have a 500-1000 meter range, cannons have a max range of 1700 meters and mortars can fire off the shells to nearly 3.5 km.
The only problem is aiming. With the wind blowing strongly from the left in a tailwind i put the mortar on a 73 degree angle. After connecting the turret to the ship's steam pipe i launched.
It was really scary the mortars three sections get pushed all the way down after it shoots the shell while the shot itself sends a tremor through the ship. I looked up and saw the shell vanish as it soared upwards.
Fake Techno PoV
Those bastards!! Who do they think they are? Fucking shits don’t take me serious even when i used the name of the most feared guy in the game.
I walk outside and have some guy's bring me water. I was nearly out from my fit of rage before. The water helped cool down but only my body. I move to the front of the ship and activate a scope i built into my left eye. I could see the transport ship and next to it was another one which was where those bastards are. I zoom in as best as i could and see them moving about on the deck.
The ship was coming towards us with no intention of turning. What was strange was that weird machine on the front. The zoom got me close but it was at best a 30 times zoom so i still had trouble seeing.
Still i could see a chick lift up a big metal ball onto the machine. The next moment the thing opened up and turned into a fucking Mortar.
Fake: ‘FUCK THEY HAVE MORTARS!! DISPERSE!’
I instantly sounded the alarm to spread out so that it would have the least effect on us even if one or two get hit.
A moment later we heard the bomb but since we were far it must have been a few seconds ago.
I quickly look up and after a moment my scanners spotted the thing but it was too late. It crashed right into the ship that was third to the right and caused the two adjacent ships to catch fire.
We threw ropes over and helped any survivors off the ship but nearly three fourths of the crew got smoked. Next moment another bomb and followed by the furthest ship to the left getting crushed.
Fake: ‘Quickly move forward so we can engage!’
The ships were put on max speed and our advance got faster. The transport ship stopped and withdrew its sails while the turbines behind it pointed down keeping it stationary. The other ship started to get in front and stopped when it was perpendicular to the transport ship. I thought it was a suicide attempt to protect the ship but i was quickly proven wrong. As soon as we got 1.5 km away the sound of cannon fire came from them and took two ships down followed by another mortar. We started with 15 ships now we are only 10.
Seriously there is no fucking way someone has so much firepower to take on a large group and cause so much damage.
Moments later another barrage of shots came and dropped us to 6 ships because there seems to be another mortar at the back.
Feeling despair at this i call for retreat. The ship doesn’t follow but we only get out of range with 2 ships. All the rest were trashed and even my main ship was hit by a dud but besides that we thankfully survived.
Techno PoV
Ah~! How i love when things go perfectly. First off let’s start by saying killing a player, even a weaker one, brings in such a good amount of exp. I reckon it’s because it’s our first midair ship battle against another ship. Second it’s because PKing gives a lot of exp. Anna and Greer both leveled up tons. The smallest ships which were in bulk having 10 of that kind had about 7 people i think. As the ships go destroyed at the start those who survived jumped to the next ship but once they spread out to far they crews were killed completely. I joined in on the fun to make that bastard feel fear.
They didn't even get in range for them to attack. In the end they retreated with their tails between their legs. Obviously i wasn't about to let them go so i fired a special tracker shot and had Nova hit the largest ship which was a caravel ship like my own.
The tracker shot wasn't special but more like a package. When it hits and enters the ship it opens up releasing a drone that gives off a specific frequency that i set which i can track. Obviously they can walk and i spread them all over the ship just to be safe.
Because of that we continue on and finish the transport job. The trip by air from Southgate City to Shipyard city takes about 6 hours. It would take a month or two to cross the same distance by land.
The ship captain thanks us a ton after we arrive but after we grab supplies, water and fuel, we leave almost.
The Pirates were still being tracked and no tracker drones were found but i was sure the cannon shell was discovered already.
Eventually the pirate ship comes to a halt.
We move forward and as we get close we can't find them. At least until i look through the eyes of the drones. Being close enough i took control of one and crawled out. What i found after finding a hole in the ship leading outward a well-lit cave. Most of the lights were from the light magic system the spell Light Ball.
The cave itself was huge and the number of Clockwork, humans, gnomes and Dwarves here was rather scary. It felt like i was in a city. Anyway i discreetly work my way to the entrance of the cave and find my bearings. Almost instantly i spotted my ship and several armed guards laughing at our ship for stopping here.
Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
Seems they were going to board on single man boats made like a small fishing boat.
I opened my eyes and got to the control room and make the ship turn in a ninety degree angle and lower the ship to just over 50 meters.
Techno: "Guys get ready to fuck these assholes hiding in their fucking rat hole."
I load a cannon shell which was made for extra explosive power and aim the cannon just at the spot the tracker drone is. I left it right at the entrance.
I pull the trigger and shell blasted full power out of the barrel and right into the cave where the pirate base was.
Fake Techno PoV
Thank god they didn't follow us. I had the guys continue forward until i was sure we were safe then we headed to the base. We needed to tell the boss about this. For someone to be so strong they were either NPC or a dark gamer mercenary group and we might be hunted down.
We land in base and i quickly head to the bosses office. The cave itself had been mined out so the seven meter high ceiling and the smooth walls were a result of this. A those who could use magic created light balls and making a torch with iron and at the top butting a mana crystal we found here we set the crystal to be a catalyst for the spell so it never runs out.
The corridors were made 4 meters high and 6 wide and has been reinforced by the pet golems the dwarves have.
At the end of the 200 meter long corridor that branches off at various points was a large 15x15 meter room that was 7 meters high. The doors of the room were near one of the walls because at the far end of the room sat two large clockwork boss monster furnaces. We aren’t some specialists so it’s not like real life people can actually smith especially in this game that doesn’t use the skill system where you simply activate the skill and it instantly does the work for you.
Now to work these things it's quite difficult for living beings because of the heat. Even the dwarfs have trouble so we revived the scraped clockworks but they didn’t want to work for us since their scanners marked us as pirates. We fixed that by simply removing the motherboard and putting a receiver in its place. They take orders just as well as the dwarf’s golems but unlike the golems who are a nationwide “pet” since they are pretty stupid clockworks are much different. They are the leading race and though the main bulk isn’t that strong there are players who are good with this race.
That Techno bastard is one of them so we use his name to make our assaults better but it’s not just him. There is i think 3 other clockwork who are from different crews that are good. They are all techies so they make their own shit which is why they are so strong.
I leave the room through the other door and walked further in. This corridor didn’t have splitting corridors since it only led to the boss’s room.
As i reach a steel double door i knocked quite a bit before it opened and i went in. The room was simple like anything else in this game. The room did have pelt sofas and at the back were a polished wooden desk and a large rotating chair. If you think of a 50’s mob boss office where the guy doesn’t show his face then you should get the idea.
Fake: ‘Boss we had a huge problem with the heist.’
Boss: ‘I can tell. You came here with your tail between your legs while licking your wounds.’
Fake: ‘The transport had an escort this time.’
Boss: ‘How many ships? 20?’
Fake: ‘...One...Sir.’
He spun around and slammed his hands down on the desk which causes cracks to form. In front of me stood the black skinned leader. Yep he was a man who started as a Demon race here in the clockwork nation instead of the actual demon nation. 170 cm tall with a lean build and on his head were two short horns growing there.
Boss: ‘One...Ship...destroyed MY...fleet!’
Fake: ‘Sir. It wasn’t just some newbies. The guys were packing super long range mortars and cannons we can’t even believe exist.’
Boss: ‘Tch, fucking dark gamers must have found something good from that bitch Gaia.’
BOOM
A sudden noise that sounds all the way inside. Makes us both freeze and we look at one another.
Boss: ‘YOU WERE FOLLOWED!’
Fake: ‘NO! I was sure and i even checked the radars. The ship went ahead on their way after we escaped!’
Boss: ‘Then someone found the base. FUCK! We need to leave. As much as it sucks to leave such a huge supply of mana crystals but if we are found then we can be tracked back here. GET THE SHIP READY!’
With that i run out and start ordering everyone and the clockwork robots to get moving. Near the front we could hear bombs and bullets being fired but the amount are too much. What was it an armada or something. The clockwork knights unit with those fucking tanks.
I run and finally reach the main hanger. There was only chaos and no one knew what to do. I ran outside to try and get things in order but i froze up when i saw it. The same ship was floating some distance away and was bombarding us. In the air was a small aircraft flying easily over 100 km/h.
This can’t be! What the hell are these guys and how did they find us!
I need to get the ship ready. If we can get away quick we can survive. We still have 10 other small ships and our main ship which was a large junker similar in size to the Caravel built in Shipyard town.
I need to bail fast. I’m not staying around for more than it takes the boss to arrive.
Nova PoV
After bro shot his really big bomb and it made a really big bomb and a huge fireball. It was SO~ awesome.
Before i noticed bro was telling everyone to shoot at the spot he shot and then he turned and in the middle of the ship the cool toy in the middle popped up and started to move forward. When it stopped i heard a familiar loud noise.
Techno: ‘Nova. You can have fun today. Also you can have all your toys Just for TODAY! Okay.’
Nova: ‘YAY~! Thanks Bro~!’
I hug him and then he puts me on top of Strato. I pull the little plug and the pipe and connect it to my back and then in my eyes i see everyone about him appear just like Proto.
I start him up and in one go i make him go up fast. I hold on to the little handing while laughing. When he stops i making him move forward and i hear the fan under him move back. I flew off really fast. Still i can’t play so much when I’m on Strato. I fell off when i got to play with him the first time so bro said when I’m on him i need to stay crouched behind the little glass since it would protect me.
I do that and it was still fun while i do a whole bunch of flips and all that.
Techno: ”Nova. Those guys down near the smoke are bad guys. You can attack them. Starto has toys like Proto but you need a specific way of attacking to get them correctly”
I listen to bro while flying around a bit and when i understood what to do i smiled and thanked bro. I found the bad guys and after finding all the bumps and rocks all over the place i lean close to Strato.
His right wing slows down just a moment and the other one stays the same while the one below turns to the left. This makes us turn and when i stopped all the fans his body turned straight down and we started to nose dive. It turned the wing fans back on and at just the right time i turned the one under him with it pointing straight out. It pushes us straight and now we are flying low and really close.
I have Strato start spinning the toy and when the red lines in my eyes turn green i make him shoot.
DARARARARARARARRARARRAAR~!!
I crossed over the door of the cave and hit a lot of bad guys. I started to do lots of times.
Techno: ”Nova come back. The ships are going to leave. I have a toy you can play with if you come back quick”
I didn’t waste time and went back to bro. Next to him as one of the really cool shell thing bro uses on the toys i made.
He has me float near him and he takes one of them and puts it in a little hook behind the fan under Strato.
In my eyes i could see the thing that was connected. It said something strange like “Bomb attached. Warning doesn’t drop in current location.”
Really strange but ok.
Techno: ‘Ok there is an option to drop this right Nova?’
I nod.
Techno: ‘Good, don’t press that until you see the big boat leaving the cave right in the middle of the big circle that appears OKAY?’
I nod a lot.
Techno: ‘Good’ ”Ok the rest of you. Cover for Nova things just go more dangerous and i don’t want to see anyone slacking while she is out there”
I tilted my head but then shrugged since everyone was working even harder now and bombing the guys even more. Victor and Bulk were having lots of fun laughing at the bad guys calling them stupid. Anna and Greer just looked at the two with a blank face and shaking their heads
The big red bro was having fun shooting and the little blue bro was finishing putting the thing on Strato.
It was heavy so it was pulling us down.
Techno: ‘Ok, have fun but be careful.’
Nova: ‘KAY~~!’
I flew up again and started to circle our boat when i saw the bad guys shooting at us. I opened the toy in my arm and did the same. I hate bad guys so let’s do what bro said. I do a big turn around our boat before going after the big ship. Bro started moving as well. I flew really high up away from the stuff they kept shooting but it was annoying. The closer i got to the front the more they fired. I think it's because they saw the bomb or whatever and since it falls backwards they don’t want it.
We’ll all i do is play around a bit more and soon the circle starts appearing in a green color so i work harder and finally get the circle right in the middle so i press the button and Strato drops the thing which makes us lighter and we fly off really fast.
(A.N. Techno you sneaky bastards foolproof escape plan)
Before i could stop Strato i heard the big boom from the bomb thing and turning around i could see the ship sinking. I head a few ding noises but i didn’t care. I just went back to bro and hugged him for letting me play with Strato a bit.
Techno: ”Ok! We got rid of the ships, now let’s get those who remained. Bulk lets have fun.”
Bulk: ‘AWESOME SOME ACTION!’
I laughed at bulk and we returned to that place that was filled with smoke coming from where bro shot the big toy.
There were lots of people who started shooting again but we got close easily and then it was time to play. Bro gave me Proto again and we jumped down for round 2 for playing.