Continued from last time …

Alan and Jerrith were bond for transport once their wounds were tended. Squee, hidden in her master’s pack, watched as they were all transported away on the scaly backs of the strider beasts. Unnoticed, her small beady eyes were the only witness of the next few days across the Kyeta shiff.

They were brought to a vehicle of some kind, which from the Erven description would be a skimma. It was a not very much unlike an ancient trireme but with a skin of copper bands where wooden planks would be. No towering mast topped the vessel. Six sets of giant fins stretched from it’s sides and aft. Silvery fans with mechanical articulation alive with dancing arcs of lightning to keep the vehicle aloft three feet off the ground.

The two humans and her get seperated. She’s stored in a mid-decks locked pantry – the exotic scents and foods small comfort away from her friends. Days passed before she could sneak out to rejoin them. Only her nose could lead her through the slave driven musty holds, crewed by depleted-looking amphibions and fox-creatures, to the brig on the lowest deck.

The humans awoke well rested and healed, but bond. A grey skinned alien from Earth legend the first sight they saw – large black eyed and naked, humanoid only in form. It’s thoughts identified it as Koviannos, of the Kevinian species, another slave of the Ceph Nior war party commanded by Second Chiefson Lord Nevossa. Combining the human’s ingenuity and skill with the alien’s knowledge of the ship, they began to hatch a plan to escape.

The Shia’tor captive Darax was recruited, and committed his salamanderesque bretheren to the cause of escape. Numbers were on their side, although the Ceph were well rested, fed and armed. His captain, Gorus, approved but they were wary of their bondmates. The mammalian adversaries, the Ueppah, had killed many of his clan and may not be trusted. Leader Delor sent his own warrior to meet with the Earthers and ally to learn of the plan. He too consented to the agreement, with no word regarding his previous enemies.

Squee served as distration to lure the lower deck guard into an improvised trap sprung by Alan and Jerrith. Above decks, Koviannos poisoned an off duty Ceph and used his mental attacks with the captives muscle to overcome the warriors overseeing the engine hold, while the Earthers painstakingly craft a gear key to open the treasure hold of the ship.

Surprise grants them control of three fourths of the vessel. Only Nevossa, his lieutenant Margonar and four warriors are left in the top bridge – controlling navigation and with radio access, but the weary masses hold the stores, a Ceph captive and control of ship’s power. Victory is close; freedom is at hand – but there is still a fight in store. Alerted by the bellowing from below decks, the Lord plans his countermove.

To be continued

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