Her steps carried her along the wharf, then down a long broad dock that offered a view of the harbor. At the end of that dock stood a mountain.

“Mind if I join you?” Caledonia asked as she drew up level with Sledge.

“My final crews are boarding now,” he answered. “It’s an impressive sight.”

Even against the brightening sky, the flags shimmered like stars. Somehow, it made the fleet look more expansive and powerful. This was a fleet that had recovered from loss and was ready to sail boldly once more.

“I let Donnally go.” The admission surprised her. She’d told her command crew about Donnally’s departure days ago. At the time, all she’d been able to say was that he left. He didn’t know enough to be dangerous and he left. But there was more to it than that. “I . . . I thought he might choose to stay.”

Sledge turned to face her, eyes filled with sympathy both for her and for Donnally. “You’ve given him something he hasn’t had in a long while, Caledonia. Sometimes it just takes a while for the impact to reveal itself.” He sighed. “And, in the end, you did what you could. He has to do the rest. Whatever that may be.”

She knew it was true, just as she knew there was every chance Donnally would not survive what came next.

Seeing her frustration, Sledge sighed and added, “This part of the fight was always going to be slow.”

“I know.” Slow had never been her speed, and she was afraid it was going to get Donnally killed. Swallowing hard, she changed the subject. “Are you clear on everything?”

The plan was two-pronged. Sledge was in charge of stage one. He and half the fleet would leave first, sailing due west until they reached the Bone Mouth. From there, they would turn around and approach the Net. They were the distraction.

Caledonia was in charge of stage two. While Lir’s fleet sailed out to meet Sledge, she would sweep in from the east, getting close enough to blow the rig while Lir was too far away to stop her.

“We’ll draw them out,” Sledge said with confidence. “Those flags all but guarantee it. Lir won’t be able to resist them. And we’ll distract him long enough for you to get in position and trigger the bombs on the rig, saving the Bullet Seas.”

As far as plans went, this was as simple as it got: get in, destroy the rig, get out. And let Lir’s army turn on itself when the Silt ran out. Easy.

As far as hopes went, they didn’t get higher. If they did this right, no one would be able to produce so much Silt for a long time. Maybe even ever again.