The airship flies onwards, not so swift as on its voyage to Little Rephidim West. Beneath, there is only vast expanses of the ocean, as far as can be seen…

The rear deck has become the preferred spot for the temple-sent crew to gather, mostly because Captain Sendrick's is usually in the foredeck. Naomi stands by the railing, looking over the ocean below. The Rath'ani's eyes are somewhat distant, and she doesn't seem worried at standing by the rail's edge anymore. "So this whole thing is finally over," Naomi sighs. "Do you think the Temple will drown us in paperwork, Mr. Mircus?"

An only-slightly-airsick looking Mircus stands nearby, watching the water far below… He starts slightly, then shrugs, "I don't know." He pauses, thoughtful. "I really hope they don't, though – that must be a rather unpleasant way to go… It'd be a shame, too."

"Ironic even," agrees Naomi, trying to shift windblown strands of hair out of her face. "Still, this 'field trip' apprenticeship assignment did teach me a few things, I suppose. That reminds me, did you get all the mapping you needed for the Venerable Officer?"

Mircus' glance flicks towards the stairs belowdecks for a moment. "I don't think I could have lost any of it." He scratches his head. "After all, I didn't even take any into the… oh – you mean mapping the station?"

A shaggy Jupani climbs up the rigging to check on the airbag, carrying a small tool-pack along.

Naomi scratches her head, causing a few more wisps of hair to work free. "Wasn't that what the Venerable Officer wanted? I'm not too sure, I haven't much of a head for these kinds of things."

Mircus watches the Jupani climb up… up… then hastily looks down before he gets dizzy. He snorts, amused. "I wasn't sure what I was doing until Sendrick opened that letter. All she told me was I had to help the expidition. After we got here, I had to find the weapons… "

Mircus grimaces, and mutters, "… she didn't say anything about killer squid or airducts… "

Chiaroscuro clambers up from belowdecks, muttering "Mmm. I had not thought I would start liking those biscuits… "

"Well! I think we all deserve medals after what we went through," huffs Naomi. "I'm never setting foot on an airship again." The nurse turns as she hears Chiaroscuro. "Oh, why hello there, Mr. Waashu-Chomper! How are you?"

Envoy follows on the tail of the mongoose, flexing her fingers constantly to keep them from cramping.

Chiaroscuro smiles wearily. "Just call me 'Chipper', please, Lady Naomi. And I am quite well… glad to be aloft again." He takes in a deep breath of air, letting it out in a relaxed sigh.

Bem follows close behind Envoy. The Zelak seems to be rather twitchy now, and the crew stays a safe distance from the insectoid.

Envoy smiles to the two Rath'ani, "Enjoying the sea air?"

Mircus nods cheerfully to Envoy and Chipper, "Much better than in the station. And no minty mask."

"Ah, yes Mr. Chipper!" The raccoon nods enthusiastically, and she turns to wave at Envoy as well. "Oh my, yes, Lady Envoy. Quite a bit better than that sour smell from belowdecks. I think it must come from that unwashed captain. How are you? It's remarkable you didn't catch a cold from that swim you and Mr. Chipper took."

Envoy blinks, "I wasn't trying to catch one. Do you need to use special bait?"

Mircus scratches at his muzzle and blinks at Envoy, "Not really."

Chiaroscuro chuckles, and says, "Another idiom, Envoy."

The Exile nods to show she understands. Supposedly.

The Jupani above crosses to the other edge of the ship, holding on to support ropes, inspecting the ship's airbag as he goes.

Mircus' eyes, drawn by movement, once again follow the Jupani above for time. "I wonder if we'll get a bonus."

Naomi giggles to herself, and leans her back against the railing. "I never got a taste of your sense of humour, Bardess Envoy. Which reminds me, I never got to hear you sing either! Well, other than squid-songs."

Envoy smiles, "Oh, that's right. Would you like to hear something? I'm afraid I can't play my dulcimer at the moment though. My fingers need to rest from writing the mission report."

Chiaroscuro pats Envoy's hands sympathetically. "You did not need to write all night on those, Envoy… there still is a week's journey left, according to the Captain."

"Oh, would you?" cries the Rath'ani, clasping her paws together hopefully. "Yes, I'd simply love to hear!"

Envoy looks out over the ocean, as if seeking inspiration…

No inspiration seems to come to the Aeolun's. But… there's a small speck out on the horizon…

Envoy smiles, and finds something about oceans and islands… assuming that speck on the horizon is an island.

Envoy begins to sing, using one voice to provide a flute-like echo to the other for an ethereal effect.

Chiaroscuro listens to Envoy's song, eyes closed and ears perked, a smile curling up the edges of his muzzle.

Envoy sings…

"Days go by
Adrift upon a rolling sky.
The miracles escape my eyes
But I still hope.

Time, regret…
Is this as good as life can get?
It's only when the spirit sets me free I cope.

If I seek in every corner,
If I search in every doorway,
When the water turns to wine will I believe?

If I navigate the ocean,
Would you take me to your island?
Sing a siren song, so I can never leave.

Long, and wide
Eternity from side to side.
Lead me through the currents,
Guide me to the shore.

There's a place
That's far beyond this time and space,
When each of us comes face to face with something more.

Plans can fail,
But only fail to understand.
The pyramid will turn to sand, and I'll be here.

… I'll still be here."

Envoy lets the last notes trail off.

The Zelak near Envoy continues to swivel its head ceaselessly, observing the movements of the crew nearby. It seems interested neither with the faraway skies nor with the singing.

Mircus blinks at Envoy. "Wow."

The mongoose stays perfectly still, eyes shut and still smiling…

"Oooooohhh… that was so beautiful… " breathes Naomi wistfully, and with a touch of envy. "Now I /know/ what I have to do."

Envoy smiles to the nurse, "And what is that, Naomi?"

The Jupani in the rigging suddenly *drops* into the midst of the musician and her audience, narrowly missing them!

Mircus skitters backwards into the railing. "Hey!"

Naomi claps her paws together for emphasis. "I'm going to quit the Physician's Guild, and become go to the bards!" she says firmly. She looks rather distracted at the whump from the crewman. "Oh dear! But not before I help this poor Jupani! Are you all right, sir?"

Bem clacks as it moves quickly in front of Envoy, pressing her back from the sudden 'attack'.

Envoy peeks around Bem's bulk, "Are you okay?"

Chiaroscuro's eyes blink open, "Wha?" and he steps back as the Jupani pushes past him, running belowdecks.

"That can't be a good sign," comments Envoy.

Envoy gazes out towards that dot on the horizon again.

"Oh! Well, at least it means he isn't hurt!" says Naomi, shrugging.

Mircus peers up into the rigging from whence the Jupani fell.

The dot is larger now, though not much… and not on the horizon exactly, in fact, a bit above it now…

Bem rasps. "This unit has intercepted potentially hostile movement."

Envoy says, "Do you think he saw something that startled him? I hope I didn't make him fall with my song… "

"If so, Envoy, you ought be proud for making others fall for you with your song.", Chiaroscuro says in a semi-serious tone.

Envoy blinks at Chipper and furrows her brows (which always look strange because of the horn). "Really?"

The Jupani retursns above the decks, with Captain Sendrick alongside, the captain weilding an impressively large set of binoculars. "By the points of the Star, Astger, you had better not interrupted my lunch for a sky garden."

The Zelak in front of Envoy slowly steps away, resuming its usual guard pose. "This unit recommends scout unit Envoy exercise greater caution in performing sound test."

Mircus watches the Captain warily, just in case he decides to start harassing young Rath'ani mapmakers for no reason.

Chiaroscuro nods to Envoy. "In a literal sense, as well as perhaps a figura-" He suddenly stops, unnerved by the Captain's sudden presence.

Envoy steps back a bit. The Captain probably didn't care for the singing…

Sendrick raises his ivory binoculars to his eyes, looking out in the direction indicated by the crewman… then curses. "Bloody Mother of a Gooshurm! ALL HANDS ON DECK!"

Envoy immediately drops to her knees and places her hands flat on the deck.

Naomi's nose scrunches just slightly at the Captain's arrival. "He of the greatest 'rank' again." Her disapproval melts into uncertainty. "W-what is it? What's going on now?"

Chiaroscuro blinks at Envoy… then realizes. "Hands standing for all crew, Envoy, not literal hands, you can stand up… " He runs to the Captain's side. "What is it, sir?"

Envoy stands up and waits closer to Bem, feeling… what? Embarrassed? She'll have to ask Chipper about it later…

Savanites, Jupani, and Vartans start coming out from below, massing into a formation…

Sendrick spits twice over the side of the ship, then turns to the mongoose. "Eees. Get your little bunch belowdecks, unless they can fire a crossbow."

Envoy asks the Captain, "Do you need a translator?"

Sendrick raises his glasses up to the ship, and frowns more deeply. "Or use a sword." He turns to Envoy. "What I need is this deck CLEARED and ready for BATTLE if needed!"

Mircus blinks. Battle? Well, it was mentioned in the letter… He winces.

Envoy blinks, and guesses that means 'No'…

Envoy says, "Can't we just give them Dalagask and let each other alone?"

Chiaroscuro turns to Naomi and Mircus. "Ah… you heard the Captain. You two had better go below… "

"Battle?!" squeaks Naomi. She hops up and down. "It's not fair! We were supposed to make it home after all that misery on the Paquebot!"

The whole crew of the _Blaze Of Glory_… aside from the others of the 'Temple crew', who must be unware of what's going on… is soon in mass formation, and Sendrick snaps and barks orders to them, disregarding the others for now.

Mircus scratches his head and comments thoughtfully to Chipper, "I get the feeling if anything goes wrong that the Venerable Officer will skin us alive. I think I'd better stay above decks."

Envoy decides it would be best to get Bem away from all the weapon wielding crew. He might get nervous…

Chiaroscuro nods to Mircus, "If you insist, my friend." He taps the small carved figure around his neck over the heart, then touches his fingers to Mircus's chest in the same area.

The speck is much larger now, and presents the outline of an airship… though still too small for the naked eye to tell more. As Sendrick finishes, the crew instantly scrambles into position, and starts banking the airship upwards and to starboard…

Mircus stares at that spot on his chest for a moment, then shrugs and watches the incoming airship.

Envoy brings Bem over to a relatively uncrowded area near the middle of the deck. She doesn't want to go belowdecks, since if anything happens she won't be able to fly away.

Chiaroscuro takes Envoy's arm and whispers to her, "Envoy. I think it would be best for you to go below. I fear for your safety in a conflict… "

Envoy frowns and whispers to Chipper, "But I can't fly to safety if I'm belowdecks. And who will catch you if you fall overboard?"

Bem clacks, head swiveling back and forth as it lifts and lowers its chitinous wrist-sabers. "Increased agressive activity in area," it warns Envoy. "Scout unit is advised to seek shelter."

Chiaroscuro mulls this over in his mind. "Yes, Lady Envoy, but it might be so far to fly… and above there is chance of arrows, or… "

Some crew run belowdecks, a muscular-looking Vartan escorting a nervous Naomi. Soon the crew re-appear, minus the Rath'ani but with the ship-to-ship weapons to distribute.

Envoy frowns, and nods. "Let's go belowdecks then, Bem." She heads down the hatchway… and waits near the base of the steps.

The Zelak moves down the steps silently, moving ahead to be sure it can defend her from any threats lurking within the ship.

The next minutes are tense, as the _Blaze of Glory_ tries to outspeed the other craft despite it's heavy load. But the other airship grows closer and closer, and soon, a host of winged figures burst from it and swoop towards the ship!

Naomi huddles by the hatch with Envoy. "I couldn't go all the way in," she quavers at the bardess. "Doctor Roho would think I was a coward again. Can I wait here with you? Maybe I… I can help someone if they're i-injured."

The sound draws a sudden turn of Bem's head. The Zelak makes no further motion, assessing Naomi as not a threat.

Envoy smiles and nods to Naomi, then pats the Rath'ani's shoulder. She's seen others do that.

The crew's compliment of Vartans fly out, squawking at the Eees as they approach, and the first volley is fired. Several bats fall, and one Vartan… one of those who airlifted Mircus and Chiaroscuro from the paquebot roof.

Sendrick stamps back and forth on the deck, watching the enemy airship from binoculars. "Steady, men… " he says, with a increasingly strong tone in his voice.

Chiaroscuro taps his Rikorrel on the tail, bowing his head and whispering "Let him into your Garden, Lord Rik'Tik'Tav."

Mircus flinches and watches the Vartan fall… and fall… His eyes tear; he never has understood why anyone would want to do this.

Envoy fidgets, wondering if she should have gone to tell Dalagask about the Eeee ship…

Envoy whispers to Naomi, "I don't hear any explosions yet. Do you think they'll try to use one of the cannon?"

Bem rasps, "Combative activity detected. Scout unit designated Envoy is advised to exercise extreme caution."

Three of the Eeee break through the lines, making a dive for the _Blaze of Glory_. Sendrick raises his right hand to a squad of Jupani armed with bows and chitin-tipped arrows. . "Ready… " he says, peering intensely through his binoculars… "Aim… "

"I… ah… please don't ask me questions like that, Bardess Envoy," replies Naomi, swallowing hard. "I r-really don't know much about that… that sort of thing."

Envoy nods to Naomi, and wonders if Zelaks have a caution muscle.

Chiaroscuro tenses, holding a chitin-tipped staff… a 'spare weapon' thrust into his paws. He prays fervently under his breath as he stands.

The archers sweat visibly, as the bat trio gets closer. One is cut down from behind by a Vartan, who then squawks in anguish himself, falling like a stone, down, down…

Sendrick raises his hand a bit higher. "Aim… steady men… aim… " he calls, as his eye focus through binoculars at…

Sendrick suddenly drops the binoculars from his eyes, and yaps. "CEASE FIRE! BLUE AND WHITE! CEASE FIRE!"

Envoy perks her ears at the shout.

The crew suddenly drops their weapons, all but Mircus and Chipper. Those who can speak yell out "BLUE AND WHITE! BLUE AND WHITE!" in loud, screeching tones.

And the Eee… stop in midair, squaking back in Eeee. "WHITE AND BLUE! WHITE AND BLUE!"

Mircus flinches, watering eyes not moving from the approaching bats. His knife is still at his belt, but his hand isn't far away.

Chiaroscuro just looks stunned… and slowly places his staff to the ground.

Envoy whispers, "I wonder if blue and white is a signal for parlay?" to Naomi.

The Eeee turn in the air, squawking over and over as they return to their ship. The Vartans left alive flap back… one barely making it with a wounded wing.

Naomi shrugs in reply, wide-eyed. "I thought it was an arguement! But it would be rather silly to fight over colours, I think."

Envoy says, "This whole conflict is being fought over something silly though, isn't it?"

Both airships begin to tack… until they come side to side. The crewmen keep ther weapons still ready at their feet, as Sendrick shakes his head, pacing, muttering and grumbling.

Envoy clacks to Bem, "Is the conflict over?"

"I can't be sure," says the Rath'ani, frowning. "Nothing makes sense anymore."

Envoy hmms, and is tempted to ask Naomi when things last did make sense…

"No hostile activity presently detected," Bem replies. It cranes its head over the deck. "Possibility for conflict always exists."

Chiaroscuro ventures, "Captain sir, I must confess I do not understand what is happening."

Envoy calls up through the hatch, "What's going on up there?"

Sendrick hmmphs. "None of your business, Kavi… though If I do not tell you and your curious friend she will pester me about it all day… " The poodle smirks. "You, her, and the rest meet me in the officer's mess in thirty minutes. I have… protocol to perform.", he says with slight haughtiness.

Chiaroscuro nods to the Captain, and starts heading belowdecks… telling Envoy what has happened so far.

A single Eeee begins flapping over, one of a grayish-blue color, clothed in a gaudy outfit- though not *quite* so gaudy as Sendrick's.

Sendrick steps backwards, clearing a space on deck…

Envoy risks poking her head out of the hatch.

Naomi peers over the hatch with Envoy, whispering to her, "The very instant I see an airship captain with taste in clothes, I may very well faint."

Mircus, on the other hand, doesn't bother going belowdecks. The unhappy Rath'ani instead tries to get close enough to hear anything the Captain and his 'guest' might say.

Sendrick glares at the Rath'ani. "I said in the officer's mess, splotch-tail! Do you have squids left stuck in your ears?", he says, to the amusement of the regular crew.

"So," the Aeolun asks the Mongoose, "you don't actually know what's going on either then?"

Chiaroscuro shakes his head. "No, Envoy, no idea. I have learned very little of airships."

Mircus blinks at the captain (one tear glistening on his cheekfur) and then sticks a finger in his ear, pulls it out, and checks. The Rath'ani's tone is dull; flat… "Only wax."

Sendrick growl, "By the First ones… Astger! Get this pain in my tail belowdecks. Remember," he says with a wide smile, "That over the railing counts as below the deck."

The Jupani grins gap-toothedly, and steps towards Mircus…

The Rath'ani's eyes don't move from Sendrick, and for a moment, it appears as though he's not moving… and then Mircus turns, and walks, slowly to the stairs and then belowdecks… past the group at its base… down the dark hall…

And the last view to any of the group is the Eeee's landing on the ship, with a skreech of "White and Blue." Sendrick's voice can be heard in response, "Blue and White." in almost perfect Eeee…