>>5329007Hope swelled in Capt. Anne's breast as high as the upwelling seawater ahead as the Shipmaiden of the Seas broke through the surface tension of the oceans with a force of a depth charge, the silhouette of her citadel and highlighted by bioflorescent lights recognizable amidst the storm as it landed with a splash.
'We're saved' thought Captain Anne as Yamato's demure foghorn voice rang clear, unimpeded by the storm.
"Yamato to all vessels, rally to me, transfer any and all cargo or passengers you have aboard. I will provide cover!"
Thunderous roars of gunfire punctuated the warship's declaration of protection, an alpha barrage of Urchin and Swordfish battering the storm of flies and causing the island-sized beast to recoil with pain.
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Yamato furrowed what active eyes she possessed aboard her vessel in concentration as she surveyed the results of her latest bombardment on the approaching Amalgam. It had been ten minutes had passed since her arrival and all she could do is engage in a fighting retreat as the Island Amalgam kept up in its pursuit.
"Captain, the crew and passengers of both the 'Spanish lady' and the 'HF Majesty' have been successfully transferred onboard."
"And the 'Bonnet'?"
"They haven't transferred their crew or cargo, but they're also barely holding steady on their own." replied Yomi. "I'll admit, the captain of the 'Bonnet' is capable, as is her crew."
The helmswoman turned her gaze towards one of Yamato's many eyes with concern noting the living vessel's silence. "What's wrong?"
"The Kappa's grown stronger since we last saw it, and has developed countermeasures against me. I'm not dealing enough damage fast enough to ward it off, much less kill it."
"What about your star wave cannon?" asked Yomi.
Yamato ran the numbers in her mind, taking into account the last time she fired her main gun and the 'gift' given to her by a wandering leviathan, the results of the mental math was painful for her to bear.
"Yes. Yes! It could kill it, but-but then-!" she answered, doubt and guilt slowly flooding into the tone of her voice.
"No...I can't. I can't use it here! It's too dangerous!"
"Why?"
"I...I'd have to drop everything in order to ready the Star-wave cannon. If I drop what I'm doing in order to prepare the cannon then we'll be left vulnerable. The passengers...they'll-"
A deep baritone voice suddenly made itself heard over Yamato's shipwide intercoms.
<All hands and passengers, prepare for Star Wave Cannon firing sequence. Target: Kappa Island.>
The eyes of the helmswoman as well as the shipmaiden swiveled to focus on the Bearded FuzzBuzz who had coyly pressed a leg down on the button of the ship's intercom. "Buzzo..."
Immediately the comms went aflame with communication.
cont.