The Horizon Talon loomed ahead like a sanctuary after a nightmare. Kade led the battered away team down the splintered dock, each step an effort to push aside the ache in her legs and the bitter taste of failure that clung to her tongue. The medics and sailors on the ship had spotted them already, and a small group rushed toward them, their faces a mixture of concern and alarm.

  "Help the wounded first," Kade ordered, waving toward Lawson and Briggs, who each supported a Marine barely able to stand. "I’m fine."

  The closest medic, a wiry woman with a no-nonsense air, darted toward her. "You’re bleeding, ma’am," she pointed out.

  "Not bleeding out," Kade replied curtly. "Triage the ones who can’t walk on their own. I’ll survive."

  The medic hesitated but obeyed, turning her attention to a Marine whose arm hung at an awkward angle. Kade resisted the urge to glance down at the gash on her own thigh, knowing it was shallow. Painful, but shallow. The ache in her pride was far worse.

  Kade pushed forward, jaw tight, ignoring the sting in her leg. Pride wasn't the only thing gnawing at her. She kept seeing the Marines who hadn't made it back, their last moments replaying in fragments she couldn’t shut out. She had made the call, led them in, and now some were gone.

  "On your feet, move it!" Briggs barked at the crew clearing the dock to make way for the wounded. His presence, battered but unbowed, seemed to steady the surrounding air.

  Lawson walked behind him, pike in hand, his expression set. The younger officer glanced toward her briefly, but Kade caught it. A glimpse of confidence that hadn’t been there before. At least someone had come out of this stronger.

  The medics and crew carried the wounded aboard while the sailors shouted orders to clear paths and secure lines. Kade didn’t linger. She squared her shoulders and climbed the gangplank to the aftcastle, each step dragging her closer to the conversation she wasn’t eager to have.

  Captain Voss stood at the railing, his silhouette framed by the fading light. He turned when she approached, his sharp blue eyes appraising her. The calm in his expression was as unshakable as a stone wall, even as his gaze flicked briefly to the blood on her uniform.

  "Lieutenant Kade, report," he said.

  Kade saluted crisply, though her arm felt like it might fall off.

  "Sir. We got our butts handed to us." She didn’t soften the statement, letting the blunt truth hit the air like a lead weight.

  "I take it the mission didn’t go as planned."

  "You could say that, sir."

  She took a moment to gather her words. "We encountered a group of pirates, of all things. They weren’t scavengers or amateurs. Their leader was named Naomi Darkmoor. She’s ruthless and knows what she’s doing. She snatched a map that I believe has the location of a fallback position that was designated in a final emergency general order."

  Kade handed the captain the folded-up flash action message she had taken from one office, calling for the fallback of all regional SMC units.

  Voss’s jaw tightened slightly, though he kept his voice steady. "This Naomi Darkmoor. You think she's a threat we're going to encounter again?"

  "No doubt in my mind," Kade said. "She played us. We were lucky to get out of there alive, and now she has a map that might lead to a safe port. That’s assuming she knows what she’s holding, but if she doesn’t yet, she will soon enough. While we're sitting out here rudderless."

  Before Voss could respond, a shout from the main deck drew their attention. Kade turned, her grip tightening on the railing as she looked past the dockyard’s scattered debris and into the harbor.

  At first, she saw nothing. Then it emerged. A sleek brigantine with dark sails cutting through the water like a predator stalking its prey. The red strips of cloth hanging from its yardarms fluttered like ominous banners, an eerie touch that set it apart even in this strange, surreal world. The red flag snapping from its mast, emblazoned with a grinning skull beneath a crown, seemed to laugh at the harbor and its watchers.

  "The hell is that?" one sailor said from the rigging.

  "That’s Naomi Darkmoor’s ship. It has to be," Kade replied.

  The brigantine glided further into view, its lines too graceful, too theatrical to be anything but a converted showpiece. And yet, there was menace in its design now, the menace that came from a predator repurposing its body for the hunt.

  The tension on the Horizon Talon grew palpable as sailors paused their work, their gazes fixed on the approaching ship. Of course she has a skull-flag. Subtlety doesn't seem to be her thing. The air seemed to thicken as Kade waited, watching the ship like a hawk, her instincts screaming that this was far from over.

  As if to punctuate Kade's last thought, the roar of cannon fire echoed across the harbor as smoke billowed from the ship. The three-cannon broadside came like a taunt, the first shot splashing harmlessly into the water. Kade’s eyes tracked the second shot as it found its target in the form of an old loading tower perched precariously on the dock.

  The tower groaned, timbers splintering and shattering as it toppled. Kade’s stomach dropped as she saw its trajectory.

  "Brace!" she shouted as she saw Bishop grabbing a deckhand and pulling them out of the way.

  The tower crashed down with a thunderous roar, debris scattering across the deck in a chaotic avalanche. Sailors yelled, diving out of the way, and a plume of dust and splinters clouded the air. Kade coughed but forced herself upright, waving her arms to rally the stunned crew.

  "Clear it! Now!" Captain Voss barked, "Check for injuries! Move!"

  The crew scrambled into action, recovering quickly under his sharp commands. Two sailors hoisted a dislodged timber, tossing it overboard, while another team began cutting through a tangle of rigging that had collapsed over the railing.

  "Sir, the rudder chain is jammed!" one sailor called out, gesturing to the debris surrounding the ship’s wheel.

  Kade gritted her teeth. Pursuit wasn’t just delayed, it was impossible until they cleared the mess. She spun toward the harbor, her gaze narrowing as she fixed on the Widow’s Grin slicing through the water. Naomi Darkmoor stood on the deck, her coat whipping in the wind, a grin of triumph visible even from this distance.

  And then the gesture. A crude wave, almost theatrical in its audacity. Kade’s blood boiled, heat rising to her cheeks. The message was clear: Naomi wasn’t just escaping. She was gloating.

  "Ma’am!" The shout from the rigging snapped Kade’s attention upward. A lookout clinging to the mast gestured wildly toward the retreating brigantine. "She’s got a nameplate! Widow’s Grin! That’s her name!"

  Kade’s fists clenched at her sides, her knuckles whitening. Of course, Naomi had given her ship a name like that. Grinning like she’d already won.

  "Keep clearing that mess!" Kade shouted. "We’re not letting her make a fool of us twice!"

  Despite her rising frustration, she kept her voice level, commanding, refusing to let the crew see the storm roiling inside her. The Widow’s Grin might escape for now, but Kade wasn’t about to let Naomi Darkmoor vanish into the horizon without consequence.

  "Get the debris cleared off the deck! Secure the cargo lines and bring the ship to ready!" Captain Voss said. "I want this ship moving in less time than it takes you lot to grumble about it!"

  Kade didn’t need to see his face to know how furious he was. The tightness in his voice said enough, and the way his hands clenched behind his back, fingers digging into his opposite wrist, told her the rest. Captain Voss was always the rock, steady and pragmatic, but even the rock was under pressure today.

  Her boots struck the wooden planks with a deliberate rhythm as she crossed the deck. Around her, sailors shouted over each other, hauling splintered beams from the aftcastle and uncoiling ropes to secure the sails. She glanced toward Lawson, who was helping guide two limping Marines toward the medics stationed near the galley hatch.

  He’s earning their respect, Kade thought, but her mind immediately snapped back to the task at hand. There was no time to dwell on the details. She adjusted her coat, ignoring the faint sting of the shallow cut on her thigh.

  "Senior officer meeting, now." He bellowed.

  Voss’s lips pressed into a tight line, and he inhaled deeply through his nose. He turned sharply, descending the stairs toward the conference room without waiting to see if she followed.

  She fell into step behind him, her mind already racing. Naomi Darkmoor. The Widow’s Grin. That blasted map. Each thought needled at her, though she forced herself to keep her expression neutral. The crew needed to see focus, not frustration, from their XO. But inside, Kade seethed. She wasn’t just angry at Naomi. She was angry at herself for letting the pirate get the better of her.

  The muffled cacophony of the crew punctuated the short walk still working on deck. Kade heard the scrape of debris dragging, the metallic ring of tools striking the railings, and occasional shouts as someone passed down orders. Although organized, the chaos still frayed her nerves. They should have been the ones setting the pace. Not scrambling in the wake of someone else’s victory.

  By the time she stepped into the conference room, Bishop and Lawson were taking seats at the rectangular table with grim expressions. Quartermaster Cole sat off to the side, absently flipping through a ledger, though his usually jovial demeanor was absent.

  Voss strode to the head of the table, his presence commanding despite the visible tension in his shoulders. He didn’t sit.

  "Kade," he said, "start from the beginning. What the hell happened out there?"

  All eyes turned to her. Kade squared her shoulders, pushing the weight of their gazes aside. The sting of failure burned in her chest, but she shoved it down, focusing on the captain’s question.

  The conference room was quiet except for the faint creak of the ship’s timbers and the distant hum of activity on deck. Kade stood near the head of the table opposite the Captain, her posture rigid and her thoughts sharp as she delivered the report to Captain Voss and the other senior officers. She kept her voice steady, professional, even her own doubts pressed against her.

  She quickly outlined the facts. The last-minute orders they found directing all SMC forces to fall back to Block Island Station, an unknown Sovereign Maritime Corps fallback position. She touched on her and Lawson’s suspicions about Operation Catalyst and its vague, clandestine origins, though she kept her language neutral. Naomi Darkmoor’s ambush at the fort came next. The sharp, tactical efficiency of her crew, the devastating battle with the ravagers, and the map’s loss to the crew of the Widow’s Grin.

  When she finished, the room remained silent for a moment. The officers were still processing the full implications, though Kade could feel the tension in the air like an approaching storm.

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  Captain Voss's hands gripping the back of his chair. "So, we know Block Island Station is where we’re supposed to go, but without that map, we’re navigating blind."

  His voice was calm, but his eyes burned with restrained frustration. "If it’s clandestine, just knowing it’s on Block Island isn’t enough. Finding it will be a challenge."

  Bishop said, "If it’s a fallback point for the Corps, it’s likely fortified to hell. What does a pirate like Darkmoor want with it? She’d be walking straight into a buzzsaw."

  "Maybe she knows something we don’t," Lawson said. "She wouldn’t risk it otherwise. That map wasn’t just a trophy to her. It was tactical."

  Kade resisted the urge to tap her fingers on the table, though her thoughts churned. Naomi knew exactly what she was doing. Every move she made so far suggested a calculated plan. The way she had maneuvered the Marines into that trap was not luck.

  "It’s possible," Voss admitted. "And if she knows something we don’t, that makes her twice as dangerous."

  Kade finally spoke, her voice measured but firm. "Then we need to catch her before she does more damage. The Widow’s Grin can’t have gone far. If we hurry, we can still pursue."

  Voss turned his sharp gaze on her, and Kade met it without flinching. She could feel the tone of the room shift. The other officers waiting for his response.

  "We’re not chasing her," Voss said, his tone brooking no argument. "Not yet. Our priority is finding out what she’s after, not running blindly into her traps. We need information."

  Kade’s jaw tightened, but she kept her face neutral, nodding once in acknowledgment.

  "There’s another naval station in Newport, Rhode Island," Voss said. "If anyone has information on Block Island Station or Operation Catalyst, it’ll be there. We’ll sail northeast along the coast."

  "What if the station’s abandoned?" Bishop asked.

  "I'll take abandoned. I'm more concerned that something else has made it home," Lawson quipped. "Those ravagers were no joke. Between the drowned, kraken, and now the ravagers, we can rest assured that pretty much every place out there is going to be dangerous and filled with things that want to kill us."

  "Then we’ll deal with it when we get there," Voss replied. "But for now, that’s our best lead."

  Kade glanced around the table. The officers seemed resolute, though unease lingered in their expressions. Voss had made his decision, and it was final.

  "Dismissed," Voss said. "Get the ship ready to sail. We leave at first light. Lawson and Kade have the away party stand down till morning. The rest of the crew can handle the ship. We will need the Marines in New Port, and for that, they will need to be rested."

  "Yes, Sir. I'll take care of it," Lawson responded before ducking out the door.

  Kade stayed a moment longer as the others filed out, her thoughts briefly lingering on Naomi Darkmoor and the ship that now felt like a ghost haunting their mission. She exhaled softly before checking on her status log; she'd received a couple of new items, and she felt she would need every edge she could get. If Naomi wants to play games, she’ll learn the hard way that we’re not on the losing side, Kade thought.

  +3 Sword Combat | Congratulations! You’re now three rungs higher on the ‘Won’t Stab Yourself’ scale.

  +2 Dirty Fighting | Congratulations! A true master of the unorthodox, you fight to win, not to impress.

  +2 Leadership | Congratulations! True leadership isn’t given. It’s earned through grit, resolve, and the trust of those who follow. Things don't always go how we want them to, but that doesn't lessen the effectiveness of your leadership.

  Kade had gotten used to the quippy and somewhat sarcastic nature of skill increases, but that response regarding leadership didn't feel like some snarky algorithm generated it. That almost felt like she had attracted the personal attention of whatever guiding force was behind the simulation. While the message had been supportive, Kade wasn't sure she wanted anything that powerful and all-knowing, taking a personal interest in her.

  However, it was the following two messages that caught her eye.

  Level up! Congratulations, you are now level four. Go forth and defend the realms mighty hunter. Warning: Current level-zero protocols prevent class choice and ability point assignment until level five. Actions taken between levels one and five will contribute to the available class selection.

  Level up! Congratulations, you are now level five. Go forth and defend the realms mighty hunter. Your skill usage determines the list of classes offered to you.

  Do you wish to choose your class now? Yes/No

  Kade wasn't sure what to expect, but she hoped that getting a class would be a real game changer. She inwardly groaned at her own terrible pun before mentally selecting yes.

  She was glad that she had taken a seat because the sheer amount of information that had filled her screen was overwhelming. Taking a moment to get her bearings, she started reading through the different options to weigh pros and cons.

  Privateer | A stealthy opportunist specializing in piracy, smuggling, and sabotage. Privateers use their cunning to gain the upper hand during naval encounters. They are the pinnacle of dirty fighting and live by the motto, 'If you're not cheating, you're not trying.' Primary stat(s): Dexterity & Charisma.

  Corsair | A seasoned maritime officer who excels at boarding actions and ship-to-ship combat. Corsairs are highly mobile and specialize in fighting on unstable terrain like decks. Corsairs lead groups into battle and often oversee the tactical situation. While they have offensive and defensive capabilities, they are truly a force multiplier with their group buffs. Primary stat(s): Intelligence & Charisma.

  Buccaneer | Trained for ship defense and amphibious assaults, Buccaneers are proficient in ranged and close-quarters combat. They are often the first line of defense in ship battles. They are just as much at home, providing offensive or defensive capabilities to any group. Primary stat(s): Strength & Constitution.

  The Privateer class was immediately out, she thought. Having a few people in the crew with that skill set would be nice, but it certainly wasn't her. She guessed it was most likely on the list because of her dirty fighting skills. She chuckled to herself at the dirty fighting skill. It wasn't dirty fighting. It was the difference between someone pretending to be a fighter and someone trained as a killer.

  If the world was the basis for many myths and legends, shouldn't someone have given her a truly overpowered and broken class? Wasn't that how these stories usually went? A plucky adventurer discovers an obvious cheat method to win that nobody else has ever thought of, or someone offers them an ultra-rare class that instantly reduces the population of any building to zero.

  While these classes certainly had a flavor tailored toward someone who had spent most of their life at sea, nothing stood out as unique. Well, I guess her last ex-boyfriend was right. Sarah Kade wasn't anything special. To say that he had reacted badly when Sarah broke up with him would have been an understatement.

  Bringing her attention back to the matter at hand, she reviewed her remaining options. Corsair was the obvious choice, while the Buccaneer class seemed more geared toward the Marines. Rather than over analyze the choices, she went with her gut. They were all decent choices, but only one matched how she envisioned herself. Without further delay, she selected Corsair.

  Congratulations! You are now a Corsair. As a Corsair, you are assigned one stat point to one of your primary stats at each level on an alternating rotation. Additionally, you receive one stat point per level to assign as desired. Due to level zero protocols, you have five stat points banked. Plus, you will receive three (3) points of intelligence and two (2) points of Charisma.

  For perhaps the thousandth time, Kade wished there was a bit more explanation of how the stats worked. She knew that would not happen anytime soon, so she put three points into strength and one each into dexterity and constitution. Given the situation, she felt being a bit more rounded would benefit her in the short term.

  Name: Sarah Kade

  Class: Corsair

  Level: 5

  Health: 260/260

  Mana: 180/180

  Stats

  Strength: 7

  Dexterity: 7

  Intelligence: 9

  Constitution: 6

  Charisma: 6

  Abilities

  Deck Fighter

  Against the Tide

  Blade Whirl

  Stormwall Stance

  Command Presence

  Skills

  Sailing: 8

  Ocean Craft: 8

  Ocean Navigation: 6

  Leadership: 8

  Sword Combat: 8

  Dirty Fighting: 6

  *The system will assess skills gained after the simulation error but before the reboot when those skills are first used after the reboot.

  Thankfully, the list of abilities had tool tips when Kade focused on them to give her additional information. She would not have been surprised if only names had been listed, given the Simulation's unhelpfulness at times with how things actually worked.

  Deck Fighter | A passive ability that increases evasion and accuracy when fighting in tight quarters or unstable terrain. Provides a small movement bonus on unstable terrain. Cost: Passive.

  Against the Tide | Your presence inspires allies to press forward against overwhelming odds, turning the tide of battle. All allies within range gain increased attack speed, critical strike hit chance, and bonus damage. Cost 75 Mana

  Blade Whirl | Execute a flurry of strikes to overwhelm enemies in close combat. Enemies struck suffer reduced movement and precision for a short duration. Cost: 15 Mana

  Stormwall Stance | Adopt a defensive stance to reduce incoming damage and temporarily enhance parry or deflect chances. You are unable to attack while in this stance. Cost: 10 Mana

  Command Presence | A passive ability that grants one (1) point of leadership skill per level divided by two rounded down. Cost: Passive.

  A smile crossed her face as she read about her new abilities. Against the Tide would come in handy, and it appeared from the description that it would stack with Officer's Command, her sword's ability. She wouldn't be able to use it often due to the mana costs, but it was undoubtedly going to be something that could act as a clutch move to save the day. Command Presence would probably sound much better if she knew more about the math behind her skills, but bigger numbers were always better.

  Finally, she took a look at the two items she had received as quest rewards from the fight with the ravagers. She had been reluctant to look at the items when she first got them as they almost felt like blood money in a way, given the losses they'd suffered to get them.

  Tempest Shoulder Guard

  Quality: Uncommon

  Enchantments: Aura of Command, Inspiring Leadership

  Description: The Tempest Shoulder Guard was designed for naval officers leading crews through perilous storms and high-stakes battles. While not the most powerful artifact, it symbolizes authority and leadership, granting its wearer the respect of their crew and the confidence to command under pressure. It was a favorite among captains who valued crew morale as much as combat readiness.

  Aura of Command grants the wearer a plus one (1) bonus to the charisma ability score. Inspiring Leadership grants the wearer a plus one (1) increase to the leadership skill.

  It was a marvellous piece of functional armor that covered her right shoulder and bicep and had nice passive bonuses that would stack well with her new Corsair abilities. Kade had to admit the piece was quite gorgeous as well. The piece featured etchings of rolling waves and gusting winds. Its surface had a deep blue tint with silver highlights. It reminded her of the beauty and danger of stormy seas. Sarah was getting annoyed with everything having the word tempest in the name, though. The Simulation needs to get some originality, she thought.

  Seafarer's Ring

  Quality: Rare

  Enchantments: Breath of the Abyss, Keeper of the Storm

  Description: Deep black etchings accent the polished silver band, a striking piece of craftsmanship, giving it a weathered but refined look. On one side, an engraved anchor symbolizes steadfastness amidst the tempestuous seas, while the crossed swords on the other represent a sailor’s readiness for battle. The ring's centerpiece is a sea foam green jewel, glowing faintly like sunlight filtering through ocean waves.

  Breath of the Abyss grants the wearer the ability to breathe effortlessly underwater, as though born to the depths. This enchantment ensures freedom of movement and survival in aquatic environments. Keeper of the Storm ensures the wearer remains perfectly dry, even in the most torrential downpours or while submerged. The magic subtly repels water, allowing for comfort and ease in harsh conditions.

  Kade wasn't sure she wanted to test out the Breath of the Abyss ability in the deep ocean, but as far as subtle life preservers go, the Seafarer's Ring checked all the boxes. For a moment, Sarah regretted not taking the Privateer class. With the ring, she could see some unique tactical advantages involving boarding enemy ships unseen for stealth missions. She knew the ring would remain useful as a Corsair, and she was confident that, ultimately, her class choice would be justified.

  Satisfied with her decisions, she worked her way back to her bunk, ready to call it a night. The cabin's dim light cast soft shadows on the walls. In her palm rested the Seafarer’s Ring, its silver band cool against her skin. The sea foam green jewel gleamed faintly, catching the low light like a drop of ocean frozen in time. She turned it over, tracing the anchor and crossed swords etched into its surface, her thoughts already elsewhere.

  Sitting on the edge of her bunk, she stretched, the day’s exhaustion settling into her muscles with a dull ache. It wasn’t just the physical strain. It was the mental weight. The choices she’d made, the battles fought, and the lingering sting of being outplayed by Naomi Darkmoor. Her jaw tightened at the thought.

  Not again. Kade had seen it in Naomi’s every move: the calculated strikes, the taunting retreat, and the deliberate chaos left in her wake. The pirate had lured her into a rope-a-dope trap once, using the ravagers and the map to bait them into reacting rather than planning. She wouldn’t let it happen a second time.

  This wasn’t just about the map anymore. It was about strategy, not being made a fool of, and proving that the Horizon Talon wasn’t a ship to be toyed with. Kade flexed her fingers, feeling the weight of the ring as if it were a promise. Next time, Naomi, I’ll be the one setting the pace.

  She sank onto the bunk, letting her head fall back against the wall as the ship rocked gently beneath her. The rhythmic creak of the Talon’s timbers was comforting, a reminder that while the day had been a disaster, they were still moving forward one step at a time. Still afloat.

  Closing her eyes, Kade allowed herself a moment to breathe. Just a moment, because tomorrow would bring new decisions, battles, and traps to avoid. The Widow’s Grin was still out there, and Kade knew they’d cross paths again. But when that time came, she’d be ready.

  For now, though, sleep. Tomorrow, she’d start setting her own traps.

  read The Grand Crusade. For those who want to get ahead or see how the story is built, .