Aborted

"I can't believe we're rushing this..." Wei mutters as she watches the manic-looking port which had everyone working overtime. Most of the new ships didn't even have their cannons yet, which would leave them as sitting ducks in any proper naval battle. Sure, they were invading an island, but that didn't mean there weren't other threats... It's almost as if Surtr had completely forgotten the fact that this 'Miraak' had many dragons at his beck and call.

Anti-Mate stood next to her with folded arms and Silencer at his side, "Remember that your concern over this poor state of affairs is not our role. We will accompany them, not to claim Solstheim for the High King, but to rid the world of this new menace rearing its head."

Wei sighs, "I thought you'd care more about the people that will lose their lives..."

"I do. But we can only do so much. These warriors chose this venture, it is their duty to live and die for their cause. We must honour them by thinking of the lives of their families and other innocents they seek to protect. That, is our duty."

She idly nods, seeing the logic in her words. That doesn't make it any less of a bitter pill to swallow, "If we had Michael here..." she trails off, catching herself since she knew her Master still despised Michael, even if they'd found something close to 'common ground'.

"Then we may have had to stay behind and watch him... Do remember our other tenets... To observe and guide the threats that the Daedra present."

"Including Michael..." she parrots, having heard her master say it other a thousand times since they entered this world.

--------------------------------------

Surtr slowly rocks back and forth atop the chair he'd claimed in the local tavern, eyes staring straight out of the windows and onto the street, waiting for someone...

"It's taking too long..." Surtr quietly mutters to himself.

"What was that?" Ralof asks as he leans over, not picking up the whisper.

"We need to begin the invasion soon. We can't waste any more time on this." he states, but inwardly he was extremely worried about Michael returning... If he devoured Miraak's soul, Surtr was certain his end would not be kind. There was a reason all Daedra, even 'benevolent' ones were considered extremely dangerous.

Their personalities were radical to the extreme, and he'd gone and upset his favourite whore by demanding the death of that girl named Charlotte... Perhaps he should have been more cautious? Maybe he shouldn't have drank so much... Even now the multiple bottles of mead he'd had for breakfast were one of the only things keeping him calm.

He shakes his head and stands, quickly making his way to the port with Ralof at his back. He finds Kunkka atop the Man O' War captain's ship drilling some sailors in advanced sailing tactics. Surtr ignores the niggling question of just what a 'Hard Drift Maneuver' was and marches up to Kunkka, stopping the practice.

"Surtr? Good to see you frolicking so early in the morn!" he greets after taking a swig of his rum flask as if to commiserate.

"Get the boats ready, we're headed out today." Surtr sternly orders, causing Kunkka to pause.

"I think I misheard you lad, I could have sworn I heard something incredibly fool-hardy!"

"We're invading today, Admiral." Surtr grouses louder than before, not allowing the man to claim ignorance again.

Kunkka quirks an eye at him and runs his fingers through his beard, "Now why would you want to do something as batty as that? We barely have enough sailors to man the ships, half the needed supplies, and even the ships we do have lack proper armaments! I might be the best Captain to have ever sailed, but I'm not the God of these waters!"

"It doesn't matter. We have enough to reach Solstheim, we can acquire supplies once they're defeated. I'm not asking either. I order you to have the navy prepared for the invasion today!" he exclaims, spittle flying into Kunkka's face, making him grimace in disgust.

Wiping the spit from his face, Kunkka looks up at the slightly taller Surtr and matches his glare, "Step back, 'King', and learn some manners before you start lording over us... It is alright, I forgive your lapse of judgement on this matter. I understand that most landed knaves have not a clue what goes on at sea... So, I suggest you take my warning and belay that 'order'."

...

The two glare at one another for another couple of moments before Surtr finally gives, "You have two days. Any longer and I'll have someone else take your place." he growls before quickly departing.

Kunkka just shakes his head as he watches him leave, lighting up his pipe and turning towards the sailors, "Why'd you lads stop!? You think you can dally when we're getting shot at!? MAN THE SHIP YOU BILGE RATS!"

------------------------------------------------------

True to his word, Surtr began the preparations of having his men ready for the invasion. Kunkka didn't ignore his warning either, scrambling to get the navy in top condition as soon as possible. While he disagreed with Surtr's rather suicidal order, he didn't want his men and boats to go down the drain.

In the end, the Winterhold navy had around forty-five boats, most of them formerly belonging to merchants and wealthy fishermen. Only a quarter was actually designed under Kunkka's supervision for war, which wouldn't be so bad until you consider the fact that dragon fire didn't discriminate.

War vessels were designed to take damage, isolate fires, and ensure they could fight for as long as possible. Civilian ships, modified as they may be? Not so much. It was with this reasoning that Kunkka decided to have all of Surtr's troops on the civilian ships while most of his sailors stayed on the warships. If the man wanted to risk lives, he could do so with his own army.