Re: World-Valencia

[Ulysses Septimus]

Septimus gazed into the distance, at the massive structure known to them so fondly as Cadiz. "Home, at last." He reached up, taking the skull-like mask from his face.

After strapping the mask to his belt, Ulysses allowed himself a small smile as the Interceptor sailed smoothly into the docking bay, where Deacon stood waiting.

"Welcome back, Admiral Septimus and Commodore Underhill," the clockwork spymaster nodded politely, "Bishop is awaiting your presence in his lab, Admiral."

Septimus returned the nod, still carrying Albinus in his arms.

"I shall meet you again in a moment, Commodore."He said without turning his head. "Outside Lord Kane's throne room."

[Sydney Underhill]

"Then I shall await your arrival, Admiral." Sydney nodded to confirm her understanding before beginning to walk towards the throne room, now quite familiar with the winding hallways of the fortress.

[Ulysses Septimus]

Ulysses met up with her about 10 minutes later, closely trailed by the Armada marine captain Sentus Optimus. 

Once they entered the Throne Room, they were greeted by the usual sight of Kane and his elites, as well as, surprisingly, Cristobal Auditore de la Faiz.

"Welcome back,"Kane spoke first, his smooth, commanding voice powerful with every syllable uttered, "Commodore Underhill and my trusted lieutenant Septimus, how did the invasion of Khotan go?"

"The traitor is in our hands, my lord, and we've also recovered Albinus Crassus."

"Excellent,"Kane turned his eyes onto Sydney, "do you have anything to report, Commodore?"

[Sydney Underhill]

"My Lord Kane, I am proud to say that I have begun training as an Assassin of the Armada, which has been going quite smoothly so far from my standpoint." Sydney said, bowing her head.

[Ulysses Septimus]

"Optime."The Supreme Commander gave a single nod of approval, "in this rate, the Grand Design would no doubt be completed earlier than predicted... Good."

Ulysses smiled at that notion: the faster the Grand Design is carried out, the better, because the Resistance had already grown quite annoying.

[Sydney Underhill]

"As for the traitor Mercilus...he will pay with his own flesh and blood." Sydney hissed, resisting the urge to throw back her head and laugh at the mental sight of the rouge assassin where they had left him in the lower dungeons of the Interceptor.

[Ulysses Septimus]

"Teach him a lesson, that is my command to you, Commodore."Kane's voice held no more difference than he did when they first entered, but even a fool could realize that he was angry at the spineless traitor Mercilus who had caused so much trouble for the Armada. "My faithful lieutenant Septimus, however..."

Ulysses bowed a little deeper, "Yes my lord?"

"I need your presence in the meeting room after this, as well as Royal Engineer Auditore,"the Supreme Commander tapped on the armrests of his throne, "regarding that operation..."

"As how you command, Lord Kane."

[Sydney Underhill]

Although Sydney did not show it, she could not help but wonder what exactly the Supreme Commander was speaking of.

[Ulysses Septimus]

Ulysses glanced at her, "I shall meet you at the docking bay after the meeting, Commodore." He knew exactly what Kane meant-

The human Armada admiral had been chosen to lead a squadron of the most advanced clockworks to take over a critical fortress in the world of Skull Island from the pirates. This had been proposed by Deacon, and carefully mapped over the course of several months.

Since most of the elites are busy dealing with other matters in worlds such as Cool Ranch and Mooshu, the duty came down to Ulysses, the only capable elite at that time, and the only one then who had the ability to calculate effective ways to combat the pirates...

"Are there any more matters which I should know of?"

"No, Supreme Commander, not on my part."Ulysses replied respectfully to the clockwork king.

"Commodore?"

[Sydney Underhill]

Sydney trend at the sound of her title being spoken, her eyebrows raised slightly.

"Shall I head out to the docks?"

[Ulysses Septimus]

"I would suggest you do so,"the Supreme Commander said, "and the Admiral will meet you later, after the meeting."

[Sydney Underhill]

"I shall at once, My Lord."

Sydney bowed her head once, turned swiftly, and walked out towards the docks, the heels of her shoes thudding heavily on the floor.

[Ulysses Septimus]

Ulysses met up with her about 45 minutes later, his face expressionless as though he had became a clockwork, though his eyes betraying his excitement.

"Shall we talk in the cabin?"He asked quietly when he saw her.

[Sydney Underhill]

"Of course, Admiral." Sydney stepped aside as Ulysses walked up the gangplank and onto the deck, allowing him to pass her before following him to the cabin.

[Ulysses Septimus]

The Armada admiral entered first, closing the door behind them when Sydney entered.

"Lord Kane has chosen me to lead an operation."He finally begun, "to take over one of the major fortresses in the world of Skull Island."

[Sydney Underhill]

Sydney felt the sudden rush of excitement flood her entire frame and her fingers instinctively curled in on themselves, causing her to wince as she prodded the bound wound on her palm. She wanted to laugh, but found herself with a disappointing lack of air at the moment.

"Skull...Island? The Resistance! I'll make them pay! Well make them pay..."

[Ulysses Septimus]

"Indeed we will..."Ulysses smiled, not bothering to mask his insanity, "I take that you are willing to join me in this operation then?"

He was glad that Kane had given him the option of taking a few more officers than usual along with him: "Lord Kane had also sent the Aurus brothers, though he had also given me an option to take another officer with me."

Just as he finished, footsteps echoed on the docks outside, announcing the arrival of the Marine and Musketeer elites.

[Sydney Underhill]

"Absolutely so..." She crossed her arms, shifting her weight onto one hip. "Caesarus and Optimus Aurus...hmm?"

The Commodore grinned, remembering her last encounter with the golden-armored clockworks as a 'technical' member of the resistance.

"They're beautiful."

She twisted her head around at the sound of metallic footsteps, her smile growing ever wider.

[Ulysses Septimus]

"Yes, that's them,"Septimus confirmed, "and excellent!" He paused for a moment to turn and take a rolled up map from the shelves behind his large mahogany desk.

Unfurling the map and laying it on the desk, Ulysses pointed to a fortress near the neck of Flotsam skyway--it had only been built recently by the Red Coats, though abandoned later as they saw no other use for it--close to a stormgate leading to Valencia from Avernus.

"Here, this is where we need to go."The Admiral jabbed it with one long finger, "Fort Mackenzie, currently occupied by the pirates... And if my spies had not failed in their duties, the Resistance is using it to store ammunition as well as weapons, since they thought we would not suspect such a obvious location."

Just as he finished, Sentus Optimus entered after a knock and a call of "Enter." from Ulysses.

"Lord Ulysses and Commodore Underhill,"He saluted them both, the gears in his arms and shoulders clanking. "The Aurus brothers are here and are awaiting your orders on the deck, Lord."

[Sydney Underhill]

Sydney let a short laugh that seemed frighteningly resembling to a witch's cackle, pushing off of the table and striding over to the desk.

"Ah, that's simple...with the stormgate just there, we will have no problem with entry."

[Ulysses Septimus]

"That, and if we take them hard and fast."Ulysses murmured, "they will not know what struck them. "We are leaving tonight at 3 AM, but not in the Interceptor."

As much as the Armada frigate was the most versatile among the other frigates, it was just not prepared enough in multiple ways for such a task... Thus, they would be taking the Admiral's personal flagship the Malevolence.

Septimus examined his golden pocket watch, "That would give you a few more hours to prepare, Commodore."

[Sydney Underhill]

"I don't believe I need to prepare anything to a great extent, Admiral, but I must ask: what of the pirate Edward Teach, and the traitor Mercilus that we currently keep locked in our lower dungeons?"

[Ulysses Septimus]

"Teach we can interrogate right now to find out more about the pirates' defenses.... As for that spineless traitor, I leave him at your mercy."Ulysses replied softly, rolling up the map and placing it back to where it belonged. "But I do ask of you one thing, if I may, Commodore: make Mercilus suffer for what he had done."

[Sydney Underhill]

"Yes, I suppose Teach could be of actual use. Knowledge never hurts, does it?"

She turned to head towards the lower dungeon, looking back over her shoulder towards the Admiral.

"Would you care to join me?"

[Ulysses Septimus]

"Indeed I shall."Ulysses followed, taking with him the large chain of keys he kept in one of his drawers.

Once they were back inside the dimly lit dungeon, the Admiral spoke: "Who do you want to visit first?"

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