Pisces licked her lips and nodded. “We’ve never been more ready in all our lives.”

They reached for each other in the same moment, their hands knotting between them. Their skin was hot and their eyes bright. They looked into each other’s eyes, each understanding what the other had not said aloud. Neither of them had ever dared to imagine they’d come so far. Now that they were here, it felt inevitable. They were going to finish what had started so many turns ago on that beach, and they were going to do it together.

Behind them, rogue ships, Bullet ships, and the Hands of the River sailed as one. All with a single goal in mind: to blow the rig.

Ahead, the first explosive sounds of a battle raged in the distance. Sledge was drawing fire.

“Nettle, take us in!”

Caledonia’s cry was met with immediate action. The engines roared and the crew roared right along with them. The Luminous Wake surged forward with so much power Caledonia felt it in her gut.

Caledonia focused on breathing. There was no way to know exactly what they would find. She hoped Sledge had been successful in luring Lir’s ships far enough away that they wouldn’t have time to intercept her, but she had to prepare herself for every possibility.

“Guns ready!” Tin shouted from the deck, where a line of crew raised shields and prepared to fire. Hime was among them, her hair bound back in a tight braid, a short sword ready at her hip.

Suddenly, the battle appeared on the water. Caledonia had an instant to take in the scene. The Net was stretched out before her, a steely line against the horizon, every stable ship exactly as it had been the last time she’d seen it. And less than two miles to the west, that strange megaship crouched at one end like a beast, watching the battle unfold through those dark tunnel eyes.

And just as she’d hoped—planned—Sledge had successfully lured Lir’s fleet beyond the megaship, into the western waters. The only thing standing between Caledonia and the rig was the Net. As her crew gave a triumphant cheer, it was hard not to cheer with them.

“Stay steely!” Caledonia cried. “Nettle, take us right up to the megaship.”

“Yes, Captain,” she responded with a grin.

They roared ahead as high on the stationary ship decks, dozens of cannons targeted Caledonia’s fleet, waiting for the moment they sailed within firing range. Nettle charted a swift course parallel to the Net, keeping them away from those cannons until there was nothing left to do but turn directly toward the megaship.

Caledonia waited with her fingers poised over the keypad as the megaship fired.

“Incoming!” Amina cried.

Still Caledonia waited. They hadn’t come this far for her to jump the gun. They needed line of sight.