In the 3 day scramble after the great bombing, nearly all groups across the entire planet prepared for a hail mary, pushing industry, magic, and men to the very limit. It's said the planet shook under the rails of trains, as the 2 continental rail lines were connected for the first time in history. All of this powered by the blessings of hiems gods, pushed to their limit. Charcoal burned three times hotter, rails hardened to bedrock, technological development making leaps in bounds in combining various technologies from across faction lines. In all this chaos, even the most despicable groups on hiem, those living off of societies loosely watched scraps, helped fight back the awrks

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“Oooh, that's a big one.” Our captain quietly said, looking out the dark front window of the Axehead class bomber. 

“Rogue wave?” The first officer asked, not looking up, staring at the floor. 

“Looks to be one. Radio over to the Hammer, warning them that a…I would say 10 meter wave is incoming.” 

I look up from my sketchpad when I hear the word radio from our captain.

“Yes sir” I say, trying to betray how tired I am with an awake voice that completely fails. I pull the mic up from the back of the desk, turning up the volume knob on the radio set, before sending my message. 

~Come in, Dreadnaught Hammer, come in.~ 

I hear a voice that sounds like an equally tired tabaxi on the other end. ~Receiving. Ship?~

~Bomber Lanternfruit We have a rogue wave incoming, approximately 10 meters tall on the heading … 204 south. Might want to look out for that.~

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~Copy Lanternfruit.~

I release the broadcast key, pushing the Mic to the back of the desk, and reach up to the channel knob next to the short list of commonly used radio frequencies, twisting the knob listening to the static. No strong voices cut through the static, as I keep scrolling. 

“Seems like everyone is tired captain. Very little radio chatter tonight.” 

Suddenly a gruff voice comes through clear for just a moment, although I can’t make out anything he says before the frequency changes. I quickly reach back up the board, jiggling the knob to reacquire the frequency. 

~Rubber Duck copy. Bears ahead, should we slow down?~

~10-2 Logger. I doubt Bears would go after our convoy.~

“Hey captain. I am receiving what appear to be … pirate signals? Directions?” 

After a moment of thinking, he responds. “Make them Identify themselves, as well as their goal.” 

I slide the mic forward, before depressing the broadcast key. 

~This is the Lanternfruit of the golden dome navy. Please Identify yourselves, as well as heading.~

After a second of silence a response comes back through. ~10-9~

I scramble to grab the sheet of notebook paper with 10 code translations, pulling it out from between the radio set and wall, looking for 10-9. Repeat message. 

~This is the Lanternfruit of the golden dome navy. Please Identify heading and ships.~

~10-4. Jump over to 76.43~ 

I quickly switch the knob over to 76.43, the captain now looking over at my part of the command deck. 

~ This is Rubber duck. Our heading is 94 degrees west. 10-10~ 

~ You are aware that the whole of the golden dome and craggy peaks navies are on the same heading?~

~10-4. We are a convoy of um … civilian owned armed ships~ 

~Pirates?~

~Yes.~

~Why are you heading towards Aja? They have enough issues already.~ 

~Aja needs all the help they can get. We have guns, and men, and enough fuel to make a transoceanic flight.~

~Ok, um 10-6~ 

I quickly turn around to the captain, before asking “Should I contact fleet command? They are aiming to assist.” 

“Yes.” 

I lean back down towards the mic, looking at the list of channels. 

~10-27 94.89. Putting you in touch with fleet command.~

~10-4 good buddy. Hiem strong~ 

The channel returns to static, as the fleet command ship has to deal with this problem now. I go back to sketching, the radio remaining as silent as the rest of the tired bridge.