“Yes, Captain,” Harwell confirmed before relaying her orders.

A second round of bombs vaulted from the catapults. This time, the Bullets were ready for them. They opened fire at the slow-moving targets, hitting two. But instead of harmlessly bursting in the air, skintech rained down on the Bullets below, delivering their shocks wherever they landed.

It wasn’t enough to stop them, but it was enough to distract all three Bullet ships, giving Sledge and Pine the opening they needed. The Blade soared ahead and its crew launched a series of fire-bringer bombs at the barge. Where they landed a solid wall of fire stretched ten feet high before reaching outward to consume the waiting sea of baleflowers.

Ripping her eyes from the sight, Caledonia tracked the Bullet vessels. Two had gone east, one west. But it was the lead ship she was concerned with. An Assault Ship with five blades of grass painted on the hull: Decker.

“Harwell, send Piston west,” she said. “Nettle, take us east.”

In answer, Nettle issued her commands to the bridge crew. “Starboard thrusters to full; reverse port thrusters, on my mark. Mark!”

The ship spun east, then shot forward as Nettle reversed her orders at exactly the right moment. They’d run drill after drill in preparation, but nothing quite matched the energy of battle. Nothing came close to that feeling of a crew pulling together and acting as one.

“Gunners ready!” Amina’s voice was a clarion from the main deck. “Team Gale, I want you on the bow. Target the lead ship and don’t let up! Go!”

The Luminous Wake assumed a collision course with Decker’s vessel. Gunfire shattered against their nose, but still they pushed forward, moving closer and closer until—“Port spin!” Caledonia cried.

The ship lurched and spun. In a single movement Nettle pulled their nose back, letting the hull bite deep into the ocean and revealing their broadside to Decker. It was a dangerous move, but it put their starboard launcher in position.

“Fire, fire, fire!” Amina’s voice shouted from the main deck.

The pop of their hull puncher echoed in Caledonia’s chest, followed by the deep grunt of metal piercing metal. They’d landed a direct hit to the vulnerable belly of Decker’s ship.

“Give them some space!” Caledonia called.

The Luminous withdrew aggressively, wrenching the deadly harpoon free of Decker’s hull and leaving a gaping hole behind. Instantly, Decker’s ship listed to one side, making a deep gulping sound as it began taking on water. The wound was low on the hull, perfectly placed to sink a ship. Decker had just been removed from the fight.

“Come around, Nettle.” Caledonia eyed Decker’s clip, now scrambling to stay afloat by whatever means necessary. Just beyond, the second Bullet ship charged. “I want us nose-to-nose with that second ship!”