Re: World-Valencia

[Sydney Underhill]

"We should interrogate Teach first, it gives the officers time to analyze the defenses and prepare the needed troops, weaponry, ammunition, and anything else," she said, squinting in the low lighting.

[Ulysses Septimus]

"Well said."Ulysses chose a key from the ring, unlocking the cell where the privateer had been locked in-

Over the last few weeks, Ulysses had ordered for him to be kept in a status of alive but weak, after having ordered Sentus to patch up his wounds.

Teach looked up at the two officers when they entered, instinctively shrinking back a little. "What is it now?"His voice, though weakened, was respectful.

[Sydney Underhill]

Sydney strode in, crouching down near where he was laying and grabbing his face in her crushing grip, twisting it to face her as her eyes scanned over him in somewhat of an inspection. He was much, much thinner, she found, enough so that she could see the faint outline of his skull through his face.

"So you have recovered enough so that you can talk...good. That means it is definately possible. However, the question is - will you talk?"

[Ulysses Septimus]

"I-if I can be allowed to keep this existence,"Teach stuttered, "then yes... I-I'll answer whatever question there is."

"I must warn you, Teach."Ulysses tapped on the palm of his right hand with a long dagger he had drawn from his belt, "if you dare to lie, I will know... Then things will be very, very unpleasant."

[Sydney Underhill]

"All right then, good!" Sydney said, shifting her weight onto her heels. "Makes things easy." She relaxed her grip on his jaw, her hand falling back to her side. "Now...are you familiar with Fort Mackenzie?"

[Ulysses Septimus]

Teach blinked, then whispered: "Yes... That's where they used to store all the ammunitions and weapons." Not daring to look at the two officers before him, the privateer explained, or tried to, to the best of his ability all the defenses of the fort-

The fort would be heavily guarded in the morning by the best Captain Horace Avery could offer, but at night, the back gate would have virtually no defenses, plus, only a single individual would be needed to unlock the gate from the inside.

Once inside, the primary defenses would be within the main garrison building, consisting mainly of swashbucklers and buccaneers, though there may also be a few witchdoctors.

All of them, according to Teach, was lead by witchdoctor whose name was Cyrus Chamberlain and another privateer Stephen Davenport, both very skilled pirate elites.

The fort itself held not only weapons, but was also well equipped with antiseige equipment, which may only be countered if the Armada warrior manage to infiltrate the fort, without alerting its occupants.

[Sydney Underhill]

"Swashbucklers and buccaneers...hmm. Buccaneers tend to be primarily instinctive fighters, meaning that they do not tend to consider other possibilities or consequences of the outcomes of their actions. The marksman soldiers will work well against them."

She stood, pushing her white hair back behind her shoulders.

"As for the witchdoctors, if there are but a few defending an entire fort, it would require a massive amount of energy and concentration. They would need to be protected, so it is likely that there will be several larger clumps of pirates around...a few explosives will likely do the trick for those. Now, the trick is the swashbucklers..."

[Ulysses Septimus]

"The Brutes can take care of them, I sense."Ulysses sheathed his dagger, tapping on the chin of his skull-like battle mask, "as a swashbuckler myself, I can already tell you that they depend on primarily speed and stealth: if they have no stealth and the element of surprise, they are nothing. Brutes can ensure they get none of those."

[Sydney Underhill]

"We can take away their shields and leave them open and exposed and weak..." She hissed, having completely disregarded the privateer on the ground by now.

[Ulysses Septimus]

Ulysses held up his mechanical left hand, closing it into a fist as though he was crushing an insect. "They will be eradicated, like the bugs they are..."

He smiled behind the grinning skull mask at the thought of the carnage he would be able to soon reap.

"What more do you know?"Ulysses growled, kicking Teach in the shin.

The privateer inched back a few more times, "That's all, Lord Ulysses."

[Sydney Underhill]

"Oh, don't be too hard on him, Admiral..." Sydney sneered, "After all, if he ends up being of any use to us, we'll have to do all of the 'repair work'".

She walked out of the cell that Teach had been confined in, slowly beginning to head back up towards the main deck.

"Well, if he really does have nothing more to offer for now, shall we begin preparations?"

[Ulysses Septimus]

"You are right, Commodore."Ulysses followed her onto the deck, "and let us begin preparing then."

He sauntered over to where the Marines Caesarus Aurus and Sentus Optimus, along with the Musketeer Optimus Aurus stood, speaking in Latin.

The three clockworks nodded in understanding, then rushed off to carry out his orders.

He turned to Sydney, "Commodore, do you need time to make any preparations of your own?"

[Sydney Underhill]

"That will not be necessary, Admiral." She said, quickly running through her own mental list, just to be sure. "We can leave as soon as you deem the ship ready."

[Ulysses Septimus]

"Excellent,"Ulysses nodded, "then meet me here at the bay at 3 AM: by then my troops should be prepared."

[Sydney Underhill]

"Of course, Admiral." She raised her right hand to her brow in a salute. "For the glory of the Armada."

The Commodore walked across the deck and down the gangplank of the ship to the docks, beckoning Quintus and Decimus to follow her. It was good that she had this block of time, even though it was not terribly long. After all, she had orders to execute.

"Now...do either of you know the current state in which the clockwork Albinus Crassus is in?"

[Ulysses Septimus]

Ulysses returned the salute, "For the glory of the Armada." Once she had left, he left the Interceptor as well, heading for his flagship the Malevolence...

Decimus spoke first, "Bishop says he is fortunate to have survived with such extensive damage to his frame.. But other than that, it is estimated that he will be able to return to duty in time to join the operation with you and Admiral Septimus, Commander."

[Sydney Underhill]

"Perfect!" She clapped her hands together once, lacing her fingers together. "I have so many questions for him, you see..."

Sydney sighed in satisfaction, her eyes drifting about in thought.

"I'm planning the perfect punishment for the traitor, and since I will never be able to use the same idea twice, I must build each to their best."

[Ulysses Septimus]

"Commander, I believe you will find him in Bishop's lab if you wish to speak with him."Decimus added after hearing what Sydney said.

He didn't show it, though deep down, the Armada sniper was almost giddy to know the spineless traitor Atticus Mercilus would be punished for his crimes, especially for assaulting his 'brother' Albinus.

[Sydney Underhill]

"Well, the sooner the better..." The Commodore changed direction almost immediately, taking a sharp left turn and continuing down a different hallway.

When they came to the white door at the end, Sydney raised her fist and knocked twice.

"It gives us more time to think, and it is better if these plans are not rushed."

[Ulysses Septimus]

"Enter."Came Bishop's scratchy voice.

The door slid open, revealing the workshop of the clockwork mage, with the witchdoctor himself looming around Albinus Crassus, adding the last few touches to 'heal' the spider cracks in his mask/face.

By now, the clockwork spy looked much better, the gashes in his sides and torso now closed, covered by his new uniform and chestplate.

[Sydney Underhill]

Sydney softly pushed the door the rest of the way open, walking into the workshop slowly, as if trying not to cognitively disrupt the still clockwork that was lying still on the table.

"Would I be able to speak with him in a few minutes?"

[Ulysses Septimus]

"Go ahead, I am about done anyway,"Bishop replied, straightening to the best of his abilities, "there are just cosmetic repairs left."

He picked up his staff, shuffling out of the workshop to give them a bit more privacy.

[Sydney Underhill]

Sydney stepped forwards, placing two fingers gently on the side of the clockwork's face, over the spider cracks, sliding the pads of her fingers over the area.

Bishop had done an excellent job with the repairs, as she could not feel the lines of the cracks like one usually would with shattered glass.

"Albinus Crassus...respond."

[Ulysses Septimus]

With a click, the Albinus turned his head to focus on the Armada Commodore, "For the glory of the Armada, commodore."

[Sydney Underhill]

"Good..." She smiled, and this time, it was not one of utter insanity or crazed, rushed joy.

"Now, I have some things I'd like to ask you...please try your best to describe in detail."

Sydney knew that she was potentially treading on eggshells at this very moment, and although the clockwork mage had done an excellent job in healing his frame, it was possible that there were still cognitive cracks.

"When you were in the captivity of the rouge assassin, did he...inflict unusual methods of torment upon you?"

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